... one year later...

"so tell us, niko," the interviewer began, his hands folded on his desk as he smiled strangely at the singer/songwriter. "it's been an entire year since you debuted with your first album, space cadet. since then, you've released multiple solos, albums, and have collaborated with some pretty big names. you were even nominated for best upcoming female artist a month after debut. how do you feel about all the success?"

niko beamed respectfully at the interviewer. he was one of the top rated talk show hosts in korea, and his team had personally asked ruby entertainment to let him have niko on his show. 

"thank you, mr. seokjun. honestly, i'm still shocked every time i open my twitter or instagram and see the amount of people using my songs in their videos or wearing my merch. it's surreal..."

seokjun nodded, glancing down briefly at his script before pursing his lips and pushing it away. "now, my writer wants me to ask about your friendship with the band vybe, but i think our listeners are more interested in what we heard from vybe's mark lee the last time he was here." niko swallowed as seokjun asked his team to play the clip.

"dude, it's like, nothing has been confirmed by anyone, and yet her fans attack me like i'm some supervillain or something..."

niko stiffened. she tried for keep her face neutral, but she could practically feel her disgust leaking from her pores.

"... like, i'm not a bad guy! i don't even know niko like that, you know? she wrote a few of our songs, and i released that statement regarding something i did when i was in high school. people change."

her fist clenched around a pen, and she pulled her hand beneath the table in case anyone was watching. raising her chin, niko waited until the clip was over to look at the interviewer.

seokjun had a knowing smile spread across his lips. "what's your take on this, ms. tsukina? vybe fans worry that you think you're too good to stand up to your own fandom. what do you have to say to those people?"

niko knew she was being baited. she knew that no matter what she said, the talk show would find some way to flip it for a headline.

feigning a look of innocence, niko shrugged. "well, as you said, i have a good friendship with vybe. it's something i've cherished since before debuting, since, as many of you know, i worked for them." niko shot a sickly sweet smile at seokjun. "i learned a lot from them. maybe that's why my sales are so much higher than theirs."

it was a cheap shot, niko knew, one that would likely earn her backlash. she didn't care. she also knew that vybe was on the verge of disbandment, and ruby entertainment had already signed two of the five members with exclusive contracts. she wasn't going to mention that, though.

seokjun's ears were tinged pink, but niko couldn't tell if it was from embarrassment or frustration. still, he kept his voice neutral as he spoke. "that's right. you sold over three million copies of your newest album in just twenty-four hours. that's quite impressive."

"thank you." niko replied, more genuine this time.

clearing his throat, seokjun scooted himself closer to his mic. "while we're on the topic, there are quite a bit of break-up and heartbreak songs on this album. do you mind telling us who they're about?"

niko shook her head with a breath that sounded more like a scoff than a laugh. "the person i write my songs about knows exactly who he is. i was told that i'd be nothing without him. so i proved him wrong."

niko
fuck that guy

yuta
i just saw wtffff

yuta
he wanted to get a rise out
of you so bad what a loser

niko
right?

niko
i know i said we could make dinner
tonight but can i grab some takeout
on my way home? it feels like a sit
on the couch and watch movies night

yuta
i was gonna suggest the same

niko
ugh this is why i love you

yuta
i love you tooooo 🖤🖤

eunbin
holy shit

eunbin
he literally will not stop kicking me

ami
dude

ami
i will beat him up

eunbin
NO 😭😭

eunbin
his brain isn't fully developed yet

eunbin
actually no his brain was emitting
waves at seven months

niko
so he's just a dick

ami
basically

eunbin
okay BUT HES MINE

ami
the way i would sacrifice myself for
this bully and he isn't even born yet

niko
oh my god so real

niko
aunt niko will be his favorite 🖤

ami
UH NO

ami
AUNT AMI 💗💗

niko
aunt niko 🖤🖤🖤

ami
AUNT AMI 💗💗💗

eunbin
ladies

eunbin
we all know haechan is
going to be his kids god

ami
.. true

niko
have you guys decided on a name yet?

eunbin
we can't agree

eunbin
i liked hyunjin but jihoon said
he'll get compared to that artist
from stray kids so no

eunbin
he likes jinsol but my sister used
to date a guy named jinsol so..

eunbin
we're gonna have another name
meeting tonight. i'll let you know
what we come up with ;)

niko
does hoshi still want you
to name the baby hoshi?

eunbin
🙄 what do you think

eunbin
at least he stopped asking to
be in the delivery room

ami
we love a dedicated man

eunbin
SPEAKING OF

eunbin
HAVE YOU AND TAEYONG
SET A DATE YET?

ami
NOT YET

ami
but i know i want a big wedding

niko
eun and i got it

ami
which is why i'm thinking of having
it later. we can't have eunbin distracted
with diapers

eunbin
LMAO it's sad how true that is :')

eunbin
i need him out NOW

niko
we should have a spa day

niko
is your back still hurting?

eunbin
along with everything else yes

ami
OH MY GOD SPA DAYYY

ami
i'll charge it to yong's card 😎

niko
PLSSS remember when we spent
like a thousand dollars shopping but
he was upset about the three dollar
slice of cake we shared without him?

ami
he's so

ami
dreamy sigh

ami
we will be getting him cake this time

niko
noted

eunbin
deal

•
🫶