“Alright~, then The Dawn! We’ll start the Either-Or game!”
The Dawn’s fan meeting, held in one of Yokohama’s stadiums, was massive—clear proof of the popularity they had built up.
‘Either-Or’ was a mini-game where choices appeared on the left and right screens, and each member had to move to the space corresponding to their pick.
“The first Either-Or question!”
〔If you had to put up with one person’s antics for the rest of your life, which would you choose?〕
〔Seo Hoyun, who ends every sentence by calling you ‘baby’ vs. Kang Ichae, the unstoppable aegyo runaway train〕
“Isn’t that already our daily life....”
“I’ll pick Hoyun!!”
“I’d rather be the one dishing it out, not on the receiving end, so I’ll go with Hoyun-hyung!”
Sung Jiwon and Kang Ichae dashed straight to Seo Hoyun’s side, sticking their thumbs up. The crowd erupted in cheers.
Meanwhile, The Dawn’s maknae, Jung Dajun, couldn’t shake off a nagging unease. He quietly walked over to Kang Ichae’s option, sneaking glances at Seo Hoyun.
‘Something feels off....’
But he couldn’t even pinpoint what exactly was bothering him.
Dajun kept his smile bright for the fans, careful not to let his turmoil show on his face.
“Okay, next question!”
〔If you had to spend your whole life with one of them, who would you choose?〕
〔Sung Jiwon, who stays forever in comeback-one-week-away practice mode vs. Jung Dajun, who feeds you three homemade meals a day with no option to refuse〕
“I’ll choose Sung Jiwon.”
Everyone jumped to their feet and headed in the same direction. Even Kim Sunghyun—who’d just been avoiding Seo Hoyun earlier—quickly turned his back and went straight to Sung Jiwon.
Seeing his hyungs do that, Jung Dajun silently pouted.
At that moment,
“I’ll take the maknae.”
“...?!”
Seo Hoyun, alone, sauntered toward him.
Dajun’s eyes went wide. Out of all the members, the one who bullied his cooking the most was none other than Seo Hoyun.
“If he keeps trying, one day he’ll serve something edible.”
“Wow, is this true member love?! How heartwarming!”
Dajun’s pupils shook violently.
After a few more questions, the Either-Or game ended, and it was time to take live-streamed questions from Japanese Noeul.
〔Q. Dawn!! Thanks for coming! Tell us the most memorable thing your roommate has done!〕
Each member shared little stories in turn. When it was Dajun’s turn:
“I share with Hoyun-hyung, but honestly, he just knocks out the second his head hits the pillow. Not much of a story there. Ah! But I really like rooming with him! ...Though hyung might be a little uncomfortable—”
“No.”
Dajun, mid-ramble, froze and slowly turned his head. Seo Hoyun was smiling at him, gently.
“I like it too.”
The fans screamed in delight, while inside Dajun let out a silent scream of terror.
Seo Hoyun was being kind—frighteningly kind.
Dajun clenched his fists tight, reminding himself over and over that this was being broadcast live.
‘Hyung must have realized something.’
Had Jung Wonha contacted Seo Hoyun too?
Or was his own lie just too obvious?
Dozens of possibilities swirled through his head, each one making him more anxious.
He barely remembered the rest of the fan meeting. By the time he came to, they had already filmed the group video and returned to the hotel.
‘Han Chaehyuk wasn’t someone just anyone could imitate....’
Han Chaehyuk was the mastermind protagonist Min Jiheon had played in Campus Thrill Love, always manipulating those around him to achieve his goals.
Dajun had thought he could pull off the same act—but clearly, he hadn’t even reached the man’s ankles.
Dragging his exhausted body, he washed up, threw on the yellow hoodie lying on top of his suitcase, and grabbed his phone.
[ Jung Wonha-sunbae: Jung Dajun-ssi, if you really want to finish this properly, you should at least apologize.... ]
Another message at the top.
It had been like this for days. He already knew what it said without even opening it. He ignored it and opened the portal app, only for a headline to stab into his eyes.
【Min Jiheon cast as lead in Netflix’s mega-budget original drama Before the Moon Sets... First shoot imminent!】
“Gasp!!!”
Dajun clapped both hands over his mouth before frantically opening the article.
It was described as a “Korean-style fantasy drama unraveling mysterious cases rooted in exorcism.” Reading that, his fingers trembled. He dropped his phone on the floor, then jumped onto the bed, pounded the cushion with his fists, then leapt down to bounce in place again and again.
After a while, he finally calmed his breathing, but a dilemma weighed on him.
‘Should I... send a text?’
But in the end, unable to contain his joy, he grabbed his phone again and scrolled to the contact.
[ Me: Min Jiheon-sunbae! Congratulations on your drama casting. As a fan, I’m so happpy.]
“Ah, typo!!!”
He’d already hit send before spotting the mistake. He tried to delete and resend, but the little number next to the message vanished.
And then, a call came through from Min Jiheon.
Dajun stared at the saved name on the screen, took a deep breath, and answered with reverence.
“Yes, sunbae!”
[ Dajun-ssi. How have you been? ]
That voice, so familiar from countless devices, now felt strangely warm.
“Yes!! I’ve been doing well, sir!”
[ Ah-ha. ]
“I’m in Japan right now—”
Jiheon just gave small responses, letting him talk about his current life.
Then, out of nowhere, a familiar name slipped from Jiheon’s mouth.
[ And Seo Hoyun-ssi, is he doing well too? ]
Dajun’s soaring mood plummeted.
“Uh, well... maybe?”
[ What’s that? Why so unsure? ]
He had no idea how to respond.
While he fumbled, Jiheon didn’t press further. He simply waited.
“...Min Jiheon-sunbae, you... you’re in touch with Hoyun-hyung often, right?”
[ Hm? ]
“Uh, I mean—has hyung said anything to you? How’s he seemed lately?”
[ Huh? How would I know that. ]
There was clear bafflement in Jiheon’s voice.
[ Aren’t you in Japan together anyway? Just check yourself. ]
“Oh... ah... r-right......”
Deflated, Dajun slumped onto the bed, shoulders drooping.
[ From your voice, sounds like you’ve gotten into trouble. ]
“...I think so.”
[ Ahahaha. ]
Jiheon’s laugh rolled through the receiver, finding amusement in the situation.
[ I don’t know what’s going on, but Seo Hoyun hasn’t mentioned anything to me. And really, if you’re that curious, asking him directly will work better. ]
“...What?”
[ Seo Hoyun likes honest people. Just like Jung Dajun-ssi, right? ]
...Like me?
Dajun muttered the words over and over, blinking in confusion, while Jiheon added softly, almost to himself:
[ I’m really honest too. Don’t know why he hates me then. ]
But Dajun, lost in thought, didn’t even catch it.
“Ah, yes! Goodbye then! Good luck on filminggg...”
They exchanged a few more words and hung up.
For a moment, Dajun just stared at his phone, then dropped back onto the bed.
‘Honest people....’
He knew it.
Digging traps and waiting for someone to fall in wasn’t his style. Honestly, he didn’t even regret snapping back at Jung Wonha.
—But,
‘I should never have lied to hyung!’
Shaking his head hard, Dajun jumped up.
Then he headed for Kim Sunghyun’s room, where all the members were likely gathered. Whenever they stayed at a regional hotel or went abroad, they always somehow ended up there.
Sure enough, clustered around the living room sofa were all the members, Kang Ichae in the middle, strumming his guitar.
“Hyung!”
There was no camera set up, no sign of a live broadcast.
Eyes darting nervously, Dajun dashed in and called out to Seo Hoyun.
“Hoyun-hyung! Hyung! I have something to say!”
Seo Hoyun, lounging on the sofa and snacking on the treats Dajun had bought the day before, arched a brow at him.
“Alright, say it.”
But when permission came so easily, Dajun found his throat locked tight.
Now that the moment was here, he was terrified.
“Uh, well, hyung, could we, um, just over there for a moment...”
“Do it here.”
Mumbling and stammering, Jung Dajun met Seo Hoyun’s gaze and hastily revised his plan. Better to confess with everyone present and maybe get some backup than face that cold stare alone.
“Uh, hyung, hyungs... remember when I said I just stayed «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» quiet when Jung Wonha-sunbae said something last time....”
“Yeah.”
Avoiding Hoyun’s pitch-black pupils, Dajun squeezed his eyes shut.
“...Actually, that wasn’t true. He told me, like, if I wanted to be an MC too, I should appeal for it... that no cloud fluffier or cotton candy sweeter than me could ever exist! That’s what he said!”
“Wh-what the... cough—”
Startled by the raw, 100% confession, Kim Sunghyun choked and coughed. Sung Jiwon handed him water with a concerned look, while Kang Ichae just looked amused, clearly waiting for what would come next.
Feeling the weight of everyone’s attention, Dajun bowed deeply in apology.
“Sorry for lying....”
“I see.”
“...What?”
Dajun jerked his head up, thinking he must’ve misheard.
“Good job. From now on, don’t just sit there and take it. Handle it smartly so you don’t give them anything to use against you.”
...No scolding?
Well, that was a relief—but still....
Hesitating, Dajun dared to ask,
“...You’re not going to say anything else?”
“Why would I?”
Hoyun shrugged, licking snack crumbs from his fingers.
“It’s about time you figured things out yourself.”
“....”
“Anyway, Dajun came in and cut the conversation off, so just now—”
Hoyun started to speak, and all eyes shifted toward him. But—
“Wait, hyung.”
Dajun’s voice cut in again.
“Why do you sound so cold about it?”
He stepped closer to the sofa, his voice rising with each step.
“Doesn’t it bother you? I mean, it’s true Jung Wonha-sunbae insulted you....”
“...”
“Then why aren’t you angry even once?!”
Face flushed red, trembling with emotion, Dajun spat out each word in bursts.
“Ha....”
Hoyun exhaled deeply, like he couldn’t be bothered. The sound hit Dajun’s ears like a slap.
“Jung Dajun, how old are you?”
“...Huh?”
“If you’re an adult, handle it yourself.”
The irritation beneath Hoyun’s tone was clear.
“...I....”
Where was the man who had carried him to the hospital when he fell during Victory Is Mine?
The one who had comforted him, telling him everyone makes mistakes, when he cried after messing up a stage thanks to Jung Wonha’s scheme?
Something surged, hot and unstoppable, all the way to the top of his head. If he didn’t let it out, he’d suffocate. His face burned, his breath came fast.
And so, suddenly, Dajun blurted out the truth he had kept bottled up.
“—I picked a fight with Jung Wonha for your sake, hyung!!!”
Silence crashed down.
The others were stunned, completely blindsided, while Dajun clenched his fists and glared at Hoyun with blazing eyes.
“...Me?”
Hoyun, dumbfounded, pointed at himself a beat late.
“Yes! For you, hyung! Because you’ve been acting different lately, and I wanted you to go back to your old self, so I picked a fight with Jung Wonha!!!”
“—Hold on, hold on. Jung Dajun.”
Kim Sunghyun raised both hands, stopping Dajun mid-rant, and pressed his palm against his forehead.
“What does wanting Hoyun back to normal have to do with picking a fight?”
“Because if I pick a fight—!”
Dajun puffed out his chest proudly.
“Hoyun-hyung gets happy!!!”
“....”
“....”
It should’ve been a reason worthy of praise, but somehow the atmosphere grew even heavier than before—or so Dajun thought at the time.
“...Hah.”
Hoyun’s usually composed expression twisted. But Dajun had nowhere to retreat, so he stood firm—or at least tried to, ignoring the tremor in his fingers.
“...Hahaha... ha...”
Hoyun suddenly burst out laughing, ran a hand through his hair, then looked Dajun dead in the eye.
“Jung Dajun. Sit down.”
“Ha! Now you’re pretending to care? I saw that sigh earlier, you know?!”
“Stop talking back and sit the fuck down.”
“No! You told me to handle things myself! Don’t order me around!”
Even as Hoyun’s voice grew sharper and scarier, Dajun kept yelling, teeth clenched, retreating step by step.
“I’m sorry for lying. But I don’t regret it! I’m not reflecting either! Even if you want me dead, I won’t die! I’m not dying! And you’re in the wrong too, so I’ll leave with my head held high!!”
Firing off words in a rush, Dajun bolted before Hoyun could even move, his eyebrows practically flying as he dashed out of the room.
“Ahahahahhh, pfft hahahaha!”
Kim Sunghyun clutched his chest, staring blankly at the front door in shock. Kang Ichae slammed his fist against the sofa armrest, laughing so hard he couldn’t breathe. Sung Jiwon, wearing a troubled smile, stood up.
“Hoyun, I’ll go after Dajun.”
“...Sung Jiwon, I’ll come too.”
“Oh, really?”
He gently tugged along the still-dazed Sunghyun, who staggered like his soul had left him.
Only then did Kang Ichae, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes, stagger to his feet.
“Ah, I laughed so hard my jaw hurts... ha.”
“....”
“Isn’t the maknae just adorable?”
He grinned at Hoyun, who was rubbing his forehead with a sigh.
“Should I go pick a fight somewhere too, just to cheer you up?”
“Fuck off.”
“Or maybe I should just do it myself?”
Hoyun’s expression soured further. Delighted, Ichae cackled louder and skipped out the door.
“Ah, fuck....”
Left alone in the quiet, Hoyun leaned his head back, staring at the ceiling.
“Never imagined that was the reason.”
After the second hand of the clock on the table circled twice, he dragged his hands down his face with a rough sigh and sat up.
“Fine. I’ll give our puppy what he wants.”
His eyes glinted sharply.
