Park Jihoon, a charismatic chef and entertainer known for his sharp wit and welcoming personality, stands in the cozy yet modern set of Ideal Dish. The kitchen counter is spotless, adorned with pre-prepared ingredients flour, eggs, milk, sugar, fresh fruits, and a waffle maker neatly placed at the side. Jihoon leans forward, inspecting the setup with curiosity.

"Hmm," he says, tapping his chin with a spatula. "We've got eggs, milk, flour, and... ah, a waffle maker! Could it be pancakes? No, no, no too basic. French toast? Maybe, but... waffles feel like the better guess here."

He turns to the producers behind the camera. "Am I right? Waffles, right?"

There's a brief pause before one of the producers speaks off-camera. "Correct!"

Jihoon lets out an exaggerated celebratory cheer, throwing his hands in the air. "Yes! I knew my chef instincts wouldn't fail me! Waffles are perfect midnight comfort food. I approve of today's guest already."

The producers chuckle before handing Jihoon a small card with hints about the guest. Jihoon squints at the hints written on it:
1. Fearless
2. 2000 and 2003
3. 2022

"Huh," Jihoon mutters, reading the list aloud. "Fearless? Okay, that's definitely a reference to their debut song. 2000 and 2003 those are birth years. And 2022 is obviously their debut year. This is easier than I thought! It's LE SSERAFIM!"

Jihoon grins triumphantly, looking back at the camera. "It has to be, right? They debuted in 2022 with Fearless! But now the real question is... which members? Hmm."

He tilts his head thoughtfully, tapping the card against his palm. "Okay, so Kim Chaewon is one for sure. She's one of the leaders. But who's the other one? Could it be Kazuha? Or... oh, wait! Hwang Jiah! Everyone's been talking about her performance lately. But ugh, there are too many idols born in 2003! I'm overthinking this. Producers, just tell me if I'm close!"

The producers laugh again. "You guessed one of them right."

Jihoon snaps his fingers dramatically. "Ah-ha! I'm on fire today." He then gestures toward the entrance to the kitchen. "Alright, no more suspense! Please, welcome our guests for today!"

The door slides open, and Jiah and Chaewon walk in, both beaming as they clap politely. Jihoon immediately steps forward, bowing deeply in greeting as the two idols return the gesture, greeting him warmly.

"Hello! I'm Kim Chaewon," Chaewon introduces herself first, her voice bright and cheerful. "Thank you for having us!"

Jiah follows, bowing once more before speaking. "Hi, I'm Hwang Jiah. It's an honor to be here!"

Jihoon straightens up, grinning from ear to ear. "Wow, this is such a pleasant surprise! I was right about LE SSERAFIM, and I even guessed Chaewon! But Jiah oh my gosh, I've been waiting to meet you. You've been amazing on stage lately. People can't stop talking about your performances!"

Jiah's cheeks flush slightly at the compliment, and she gives a humble laugh. "Thank you so much. That really means a lot to me."

Chaewon looks at Jiah with a proud smile before turning back to Jihoon. "We're excited to be here. We both love cooking or at least attempting to cook so this should be fun."

Jihoon raises an eyebrow playfully. "Attempting, you say? Should I be worried about the state of my kitchen?"

The two idols laugh as Chaewon shakes her head. "We'll do our best to leave it spotless, don't worry."

Jihoon claps his hands together. "Alright, let's not waste any time! I already know we're making waffles today, which is a great choice. Midnight waffles are iconic. But why waffles, though? Is there a special story behind it?"

Chaewon glances at Jiah, silently asking her to explain. Jiah steps forward, brushing her hair behind her ear. "Well, I picked waffles because they remind me of home. When I was younger, my mom used to make waffles for me late at night whenever I was stressed or feeling down. It became kind of a tradition, so now it's my go-to comfort food."

Jihoon places a hand over his chest, pretending to wipe away a tear. "That's so wholesome! I love a dish with sentimental value. Chaewon, do you have a waffle story too, or are you just here for the ride?"

Chaewon laughs. "I'm mostly here to support Jiah. But honestly, I love waffles too especially with fruit toppings. She was the one who actually put me on waffles. At night after schedule we make waffles in our dorm. So I guess we're both waffle fans!"

Jihoon nods approvingly. "A strong duo with excellent taste. Alright, let's get started! Jiah, since this is your dish, you're in charge today. Lead the way!"

Jiah and Chaewon step closer to the counter, examining the ingredients as Jihoon watches them with curiosity. The atmosphere is light and cheerful, with the three exchanging playful banter as they prepare to dive into cooking.

As the trio begins preparing the waffles, Jihoon cheerfully takes charge of guiding them through the steps while sneaking in questions. Chaewon and Jiah stand side by side, carefully measuring out the ingredients for the batter. Jiah takes the lead, cracking the eggs into a bowl while Chaewon pours in the milk and flour. Jihoon hovers near them, occasionally offering tips but mostly engaging them in conversation.

"So," Jihoon begins, leaning on the counter with an inquisitive smile, "you're both leaders in LE SSERAFIM. How does that work? Do you split the responsibilities, or is it more like 'you handle this, and I'll handle that'?"

Jiah chuckles softly, stirring the batter in front of her. "Honestly, I feel like I'm only a leader by title," she says with a light laugh, glancing at Chaewon. "Unnie does most of the 'leader' things talking to the company, making big decisions, stuff like that. I'm just here to support her in spirit."

Jihoon bursts out laughing, clapping his hands. "Support in spirit? So you're like the emotional backbone of the group?"

"Exactly!" Jiah exclaims, pointing the whisk at him for emphasis. "I keep the vibes high, make sure everyone's happy, and help when needed. But honestly, Chaewon's the one holding it all together."

Chaewon shakes her head with a small smile. "Don't listen to her. She's downplaying herself too much. I feel so relieved to have a co-leader like Jiah. She works really hard to make sure the members are comfortable and happy while I focus on making sure the company is happy with us. It's a good balance."

Jihoon raises an eyebrow, nodding thoughtfully. "That sounds like a great dynamic. It must be comforting to have someone to share the weight of leadership with."

"It really is," Chaewon agrees, glancing warmly at Jiah.

The conversation pauses briefly as Jihoon instructs them to pour the batter into the waffle maker. Jiah takes the task in stride, carefully ladling the batter while Chaewon arranges the toppings they'll use later fresh strawberries, blueberries, and whipped cream.

Jihoon, never one to let a moment go silent, shifts the topic. "Chaewon, Jiah you were both in IZ*ONE before LE SSERAFIM. What would you say is the biggest difference between the two groups?"

Jiah doesn't miss a beat, her lips curving into a mischievous grin. "Well, for starters, we actually weren't leaders then, so we could do whatever we wanted."

Jihoon laughs so hard he almost drops the whisk he's holding. "You're saying IZ*ONE was a chaos for the leader?"

"Pretty much!" Jiah teases before growing more reflective. "But seriously, I think the biggest difference would be our color as a group. With IZ*ONE, we were elegant and sophisticated it felt like we were performing for royalty. But with LE SSERAFIM, it's completely different. We're more badass now, like we own the world. I love that contrast."

Chaewon nods enthusiastically. "Jiah's right. LE SSERAFIM has this fearless, empowering energy. I feel like we've grown a lot, too, from the last time fans saw us in IZ*ONE. Even the way we approach performances has evolved."

Jiah leans closer to Jihoon, gesturing toward Chaewon with a playful smirk. "She even cut her hair and everything. Doesn't she look so much more badass now?"

Jihoon pretends to inspect Chaewon, squinting as if he's judging her haircut. "You're right. Chaewon's whole vibe is giving 'don't mess with me.'"

Chaewon laughs, shaking her head. "I'll take that as a compliment."

As the waffle maker beeps, signaling that the first batch is ready, Jihoon excitedly moves to open it. "Moment of truth!" he says, revealing a perfectly golden waffle. "Look at this masterpiece! Who knew Jiah had such steady hands?"

"Don't jinx it," Jiah jokes, carefully removing the waffle with a pair of tongs. "We still have more to make."

Chaewon takes over pouring the next batch of batter, and Jihoon uses the lull in cooking to continue the interview. "So, what's been the most surprising thing about being in LE SSERAFIM so far?"

Jiah tilts her head, thinking. "For me, I think it's how much freedom we have to express ourselves. With IZ*ONE, everything felt very polished and structured, which was great, but with LE SSERAFIM, it feels like we're encouraged to show more of our personalities. It's been refreshing."

Chaewon nods in agreement. "I'd say the same. It's been nice to explore a different side of ourselves and try new things. The group's concept really lets us push boundaries."

Jihoon smiles warmly. "That sounds amazing. I can tell you're both really proud of how far you've come."

Jiah glances at Chaewon, sharing a quick, knowing smile. "We are. It's been an incredible journey so far."

The scene continues with the trio making more waffles, the kitchen filling with the sweet aroma. The lighthearted banter between Jihoon, Jiah, and Chaewon keeps the energy lively, and the atmosphere feels like a cozy, late-night hangout among friends.

As the three of them sit down at the small table, Jihoon wastes no time taking a bite of the freshly made waffles. The moment the sweet taste hits his tongue, he claps his hands together in excitement.

"Oh wow, this is actually so good," he exclaims, looking between Chaewon and Jiah expectantly.

The two leaders glance at each other before simultaneously taking a bite of their own. Their eyes widen slightly before nodding in approval.

Chaewon swallows her bite and hums in satisfaction. "It kind of reminds me of when our schedules finish late at night."

Jiah grins, cutting another piece of her waffle. "That's because this is basically a tradition for us. Since unnie, Yunjin-unnie, and I live in the same dorm, it's a must-eat after our schedules."

Jihoon raises an eyebrow in interest. "So, this is like your dorm's signature midnight snack?"

Jiah nods enthusiastically. "Yep! At first, it started because we were all exhausted after practice, and we'd just randomly crave something sweet. But then it just became a habit."

Chaewon chuckles as she takes another bite. "It's honestly a bonding thing for us too."

Jihoon tilts his head slightly. "A bonding thing?"

Chaewon nods. "Yeah. Jiah and I were already close because we were in a group together before, but Yunjin was new. She had trained in Korea for a while but spent a long time overseas. We really wanted to get to know her better, so we made little habits like these to bond."

Jiah swallows her bite before continuing. "Leading up to our debut, unnie, Sakura-unnie, and I really tried to make sure we bonded with the newer members. We would take them out to eat, go on small trips together, and even meet each other's families when possible."

Jihoon listens intently, nodding along. "That's really nice. It must've helped you guys grow closer before debuting."

Jiah smiles fondly, resting her elbow on the table. "Yeah, it really did. The seven of us kind of became each other's family."

She pauses for a moment, eyes flickering slightly as if she just realized what she said. Jihoon doesn't seem to catch it immediately, but Chaewon does. She looks down at her plate briefly before subtly covering for Jiah.

"Since the six of us were all coming from different backgrounds, we knew we had to form a strong bond if we wanted LE SSERAFIM to really work as a team."

Jiah recovers quickly, nodding in agreement. "Right. It's one thing to train together, but actually becoming a group means learning about each other on a deeper level. We all had our own strengths and weaknesses, and making those small efforts helped us trust each other."

Jihoon leans forward slightly. "That's really touching. You hear a lot about groups that grow closer after debuting, but it sounds like you all made sure to build that connection even before stepping onto the stage for the first time."

Chaewon smiles warmly. "We knew we'd be spending so much time together, so it only made sense to put in the effort early on. It wasn't just about working well together on stage we wanted to be a real team off stage too."

Jihoon takes another bite, chewing thoughtfully before speaking again. "Since you all live together, do you ever have disagreements over dorm stuff? Like, who does the cleaning, or who takes the longest showers?"

Jiah snorts, shaking her head. "Oh, 100%. I think every group that lives together has their little arguments about chores."

Chaewon laughs. "We definitely do. But honestly, we've all gotten pretty good at figuring out a system that works. The biggest issue we had at first was deciding who gets to shower first after schedules."

Jihoon gasps dramatically. "Wait, wait who's the one that takes the longest?"

Jiah immediately points at Chaewon. "Her."

Chaewon gasps, turning to Jiah with a betrayed expression. "Excuse me?! I am very efficient in the shower!"

Jiah shakes her head, laughing. "I don't know what you're doing in there, but it is not efficient."

Jihoon bursts into laughter, clapping his hands. "This is so relatable. Every dorm group has that one person who takes forever."

Chaewon sighs, crossing her arms. "Fine. Maybe I do take a little longer than the others. But at least I'm clean!"

Jiah playfully nudges her. "We appreciate your cleanliness, unnie. Just... maybe turn the water off sooner."

Jihoon chuckles, looking between the two leaders. "It's really nice seeing how natural your dynamic is. You two seem really close."

Jiah smiles, glancing at Chaewon. "Yeah. We've been through a lot together, so at this point, she's like a sister to me."

Chaewon nods in agreement. "Same here. Even when things get tough, we know we have each other."

Jihoon smiles warmly. "I love that. It's always great to see strong friendships in groups. You can tell it really helps with the chemistry on stage too."

Jiah leans back slightly, tapping her fork against her plate. "That's what we hope. We want our fans to see us as a team, not just a group of individuals."

Chaewon nods. "Exactly. LE SSERAFIM is all about confidence, but confidence comes from knowing we can rely on each other."

Jihoon claps his hands together. "You two are honestly so cool. I feel like I just learned so much about your group dynamics."

Jiah laughs. "That's what we're here for!"

The three of them continue eating, sharing more stories and lighthearted banter as the atmosphere remains warm and comfortable. The conversation flows effortlessly, filled with laughter and genuine moments of appreciation for each other.

Jihoon takes another bite of his waffle before looking between Chaewon and Jiah with a smile. "You know, I really tried not to bring this up, but I just can't ignore it..."

Both leaders raise an eyebrow in curiosity.

Jihoon chuckles. "I can't forget that both of your moms are actresses."

Chaewon smiles, nodding. "Ah, yes. My mom used to be an actress, but she doesn't act anymore. It's something she decided to give up a long time ago."

Jihoon tilts his head slightly. "Right! Lee Ran-hee, right?"

Chaewon nods again. "Yeah. She was active back in the day, but she chose to step away from the industry when I was younger."

Jihoon hums in understanding before shifting his attention to Jiah. "Now, Baek Yerim, on the other hand, is still very much active."

Jiah grins, nodding. "Yep! My mom still acts."

Jihoon leans forward slightly, an amused expression on his face. "I have to say, I really loved seeing her in Penthouse as Cheon Seo-jin. And in The World of the Married too. She's incredible."

Jiah bursts into laughter, shaking her head. "Oh my God. Sometimes, people come up to me and tell me how intense she was in Penthouse. Like, they genuinely sound scared of her."

Jihoon laughs along with her. "I mean, she was terrifying in that role! I feel like everyone hated Cheon Seo-jin, which just proves how amazing her acting was."

Jiah nods in agreement. "Yeah, she really put her all into that character. But in real life, she's honestly so different. She's nothing like Seo-jin."

Chaewon laughs. "I feel like people must expect her to be strict with you."

Jiah nods. "Oh, definitely. I've had people assume she's super intimidating at home, but she's actually really chill. She takes her job seriously, but she doesn't bring that energy home."

Jihoon smiles. "That's nice to hear. So, have your moms ever given you any advice when it comes to being in the entertainment industry?"

Chaewon is the first to respond. "My mom always told me to stay true to myself. Even when I was in IZ*ONE, she reminded me that the most important thing is to know who I am and what I stand for. The industry can be overwhelming, and it's easy to lose yourself, but she told me that as long as I stay grounded, I'll be okay."

Jihoon nods thoughtfully. "That's really good advice. It's true that things move so fast in this industry, so staying true to yourself must be really important."

Chaewon smiles. "Yeah, definitely. She also told me that no matter what, I should always be proud of my hard work. Even if things don't go perfectly, as long as I know I did my best, that's what matters."

Jihoon claps his hands. "That's such a great mindset to have. And I can tell you really live by that."

Chaewon nods. "I try my best to."

Jihoon then turns to Jiah. "What about you? Has your mom given you any advice?"

Jiah leans back slightly, thinking for a moment before speaking. "My mom's biggest piece of advice was to not pay attention to unnecessary negativity. She always tells me not to waste my time on people who hate for the sake of hating."

Jihoon raises an eyebrow. "That's solid advice. Did she ever give you a specific way to deal with it?"

Jiah nods, a small smile on her lips. "Yeah. She told me to look at it from this perspective: These people know my name, they use it to spread hate, but I don't know theirs. To me, they're just faceless haters. So why should I let them bother me?"

Jihoon sits back, visibly impressed. "Wow. That's... actually really powerful."

Jiah chuckles. "Right? She told me that I should never let people like that take up space in my mind. If they want to waste their energy hating, that's on them. Meanwhile, I get to live my life doing what I love."

Chaewon nods. "That's really true. If you focus too much on the negativity, it just drains you."

Jiah sighs. "Yeah. Of course, sometimes it gets to me. I'm human, after all. But my mom always reminds me to focus on the people who actually support me instead of the ones who just want to bring me down."

Jihoon smiles. "That's such a great way to look at it. And honestly, I feel like your mom must be so proud of you."

Jiah grins. "I hope so! She always tells me that she's happy I found my own path in the industry."

Jihoon laughs. "Well, you're definitely making a name for yourself. Both of you are."

Chaewon and Jiah exchange smiles before nodding.

Jihoon then gestures toward their plates. "Alright, before we get too deep in conversation, let's finish these waffles before they get cold."

The three of them laugh, picking up their forks again. The atmosphere remains warm and lighthearted as they continue eating, exchanging more stories and playful banter.

As their plates sit nearly empty and the atmosphere remains warm and lighthearted, Jihoon smiles at the camera, signaling the close of the show.

"Alright, so before we wrap up, do you have anything you'd like to say to the fans watching?" he asks, looking at both Chaewon and Jiah expectantly.

Jiah, who had just taken a sip of water, places her glass down and turns to him with a bright smile. "First of all, I really enjoyed myself today, Jihoon. Thank you for having us! This was such a fun experience, and I'd love to come back again if you'll have me."

Jihoon grins, placing a hand over his heart. "Of course! You're always welcome back."

Jiah then shifts her gaze toward the camera, her expression growing soft and warm. "To all our fans watching, I hope you guys loved seeing Chaewon and me on Ideal Dish. We had so much fun making these waffles, and I really hope to see some of you trying out our recipe at home!" She pauses briefly, then continues with a sincere expression. "More than anything, I hope you enjoyed LE SSERAFIM's debut album. We've worked really hard on it, and I know there are a lot of expectations, but I promise we will continue to show you our best. Please stick around and support the six of us as we show you what we're capable of!"

A brief moment of silence follows, the weight of her words lingering in the air. Jihoon's expression softens as he nods in understanding, clearly aware of the significance of her words regarding the group's current situation.

Chaewon, picking up the cue, smiles and takes over. "I just want to echo what Jiah said. We're so grateful for the support we've received from everyone, and we promise to keep working hard to be a group you can be proud of. Our journey is just beginning, and we hope you'll continue to walk with us every step of the way!"

Jihoon claps his hands together. "Well said! I'm sure your fans will appreciate those words."

Both Jiah and Chaewon nod, smiling as they look back at him.

Jihoon then turns toward the camera. "And with that, today's episode of Ideal Dish comes to an end! We had LE SSERAFIM's incredible leaders, Chaewon and Jiah, here today, and they made some delicious waffles!" He gestures toward their empty plates. "I can confirm these were amazing."

Jiah laughs, nodding. "I'm glad you liked them!"

Chaewon smiles. "Yes, thank you for enjoying our cooking."

Jihoon continues, "Make sure to support LE SSERAFIM and show them lots of love! And of course, try making these waffles at home!" He then turns to the two girls. "Let's say our final goodbye together, shall we?"

Jiah and Chaewon nod before all three of them turn to the camera, waving cheerfully. "Thank you for watching Ideal Dish! See you next time!"

As the cameras stop rolling, the production team begins clapping, signaling the end of the recording.

Jiah and Chaewon both turn to Jihoon, bowing slightly. "Thank you for having us!"

Jihoon waves them off with a smile. "No, thank you for coming! You both did great."

The two idols then turn to the producers and staff, bowing deeply as they thank them as well. "Thank you for your hard work!"

As they straighten up, Jiah glances at Chaewon and grins. "That was fun."

Chaewon nods in agreement. "It really was. I'm glad we did this."

Jihoon chuckles, watching them. "Well, I'll be waiting for your return."

Jiah smirks playfully. "You better invite us again."

Jihoon laughs. "Consider it done."

With that, the girls give one final wave before heading off, leaving the studio with smiles on their faces, knowing they had just wrapped up another memorable moment in their journey as LE SSERAFIM.