"Ah, shibal!" You cursed under your breath as the claw machine betrayed you for the third time in a row. The stuffed toy you had been eyeing for half an hour tumbled back into the pile, just out of reach. You groaned in frustration, pressing your forehead against the glass.

How did Se-mi make this look so easy? She had won her prize, a soft, pastel-colored bunny, in a single round, while you were bleeding coins into the machine with nothing to show for it. Maybe she just had an absurd amount of luck.

"Need help?" Se-mi’s voice broke through your sulking. She stood beside you, holding her plush bunny like a cherished trophy. There was an unmistakable glint of amusement in her eyes as she watched you struggle.

You pouted, glaring at the machine as if sheer willpower could bend it to your favor. "No, I don’t need help." You crossed your arms stubbornly but sighed a second later. "...okay, maybe I do need help," You admitted, your shoulders slumping in defeat.

She chuckled, a soft, melodic sound that made your ears burn. Without hesitation, she set her bunny aside and stepped closer, sliding two coins into the machine. "Here. Let me guide you," She murmured.

Before you could react, she was right behind you, her warmth seeping through your clothes as her chest pressed lightly against your back. Your breath hitched. Then, she placed her hand over yours on the joystick, her fingers curling around yours with gentle confidence.

"Alright, first, move it a little to the right," She whispered, her breath fanning against your ear. Your pulse quickened, but you forced yourself to focus. The cool touch of her rings contrasted against the warmth of her skin, the smooth metal pressing against your knuckles as she guided your movements with effortless precision.

"Anddd... you got it!" She cheered triumphantly.

You barely registered the moment the claw released the plush toy into the chute. Your brain was too busy short-circuiting from her proximity. But as soon as you snapped out of it, excitement took over.

"Yes! Thank you, Se-mi!" You exclaimed, spinning around and throwing your arms around her in a tight hug. She stiffened for a moment, clearly caught off guard, before she relaxed into your embrace.

Then, your stomach betrayed you with a loud, unmistakable growl.

Heat rushed to your face as you pulled away, rubbing the back of your neck sheepishly. "Uh... sorry, I haven’t eaten since last night," You confessed, avoiding her gaze.

Se-mi’s playful expression instantly shifted into concern. "Are you serious? No wonder your aim was off!" She scolded, crossing her arms. Then, with a huff, she grabbed your wrist. "Come on. We’re finding food before you pass out on me."

You laughed, shaking your head but letting her drag you toward the exit. "You’re right. Let’s go!"

With your newly won plushie tucked securely under your arm, the two of you dashed out of the arcade, hand in hand.

─────

The two of you finally arrived at the restaurant. The air was thick with the mingling aromas of sizzling meat, spicy stews, and freshly cooked rice. Conversations buzzed around you, overlapping with the clinking of chopsticks against bowls. Despite the crowd, you both managed to find a small table tucked near the window.

A waiter approached, notepad in hand. "One bowl of kimchi jjigae and a glass of water, please," You said, offering a polite smile.

"I'll have what she’s having," Se-mi added casually. The waiter gave a brief nod before disappearing into the bustling kitchen. Se-mi turned back to you, resting her elbows on the table. "So, have—"

Before she could finish her sentence, a hesitant tap landed on her shoulder. She twisted around, her expression shifting to curiosity. Behind her stood a girl, hands clasped nervously behind her back, her face a deep shade of pink. "Um, excuse me, but... are you Se-mi from The Black Stones?" she asked in a hushed voice, practically trembling with excitement.

Se-mi blinked, caught off guard. "Ah, yeah, I am. How did you know?" The girl giggled, barely able to contain herself. "Oh my gosh! I’ve been a fan ever since you guys debuted!"

Se-mi let out a small chuckle, shaking her head in amusement. "Wow, I didn't expect to run into a fan here. But hey, that's a nice surprise." The girl hesitated for a second before mustering up the courage. "Um... can we take a picture?"

Se-mi smiled warmly and nodded. "Of course." The fan fumbled for her phone, her hands trembling slightly as she positioned it for a selfie. The two of them posed, and the girl snapped a few quick pictures.

As soon as she checked the photos, she let out an excited squeal. "Oh my god, thank you so, so much! My friends are going to freak out! Thank you, unnie! Thank you!" She bounced on her feet before scurrying off, nearly tripping over herself in excitement.

You watched Se-mi settle back into her seat, your brows furrowing in disbelief. "Wait, hold on. You're in a band?"

Se-mi winced slightly, rubbing the back of her neck. "Ah... yeah. I, uh, meant to tell you about that, but I guess I forgot." She said it so nonchalantly, as if it wasn’t a big deal at all.

"You forgot?" You gawked at her. "Se-mi, you have fans coming up to you in restaurant! How does someone forget to mention that they're in a band?"

She laughed sheepishly. "I mean, it’s not like we’re crazy famous or anything. We’re known, sure, but not that well known, you know?"

"Still!" You shook your head in disbelief. "I can't believe I'm hanging out with a rockstar."

She rolled her eyes but smiled. "Even rockstars need to eat, you know." She let out a light laugh before suddenly leaning in, her eyes flickering with an idea. "Hey, why don’t I introduce you to my bandmates? They’re really cool— you’d like them."

Your stomach twisted with hesitation. Meeting new people was one thing, but meeting Se-mi’s bandmates? That felt intimidating. You hesitated, glancing down at your lap. "Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude or anything..."

Se-mi reached across the table, placing her hand gently over yours. She gave it a reassuring squeeze. "You could never intrude. And I know they’ll love you." Her voice was soft, her gaze unwavering. "Please?"

How could you say no to that?

You let out a small sigh before nodding. "Fine. I guess making new friends wouldn’t hurt." Se-mi’s face lit up instantly. "Really? That’s great! We have practice at my place tomorrow, you should come!"

You laughed, shaking your head at her enthusiasm. "Alright, alright. I’ll come."

But deep down, a nervous thought lingered. Would her bandmates actually like you?

─────

A/N: hi !! i have a very important question. since semi is in a band, do you think she'd be the vocalist, or the guitarist? or maybe the drummer?

moreover, what do you think thanos, minsu, namgyu and gyeongsu would be if they're in a band?

UGH i cant WAIT for yn and se-mi's fallout/downfall. in fact, i wanna write it right NOW. but i cant. i gotta wait...i gotta wait...

speaking of which, i plan on slipping in a few of nana reference, if you guys dont mind (i.e the strawberry glasses. heh..heh....*insert the smiling devil emoji*)

anyways, tysm for 4k reads omg?!?! AND over 180 votes?!? adkmkfswkfnjksn you guys are crazy !! <33