Chapter 17 - A Short Break
It was an unusually quiet evening in the Le Sserafim dorm, the hum of post-dinner contentment settling over the members. The warm glow of the living room lamp illuminated Eunchae sprawled on the couch, scrolling through her phone, while Sakura stood at the sink, humming softly as she washed dishes. Yunjin shuffled down the stairs in mismatched socks, eyeing the leftover desserts.
Just as Y/N walked past Kazuha’s room, the sound of light, quick footsteps approached her.
"Hey, unnie!" Kazuha called, her voice soft but eager as she peeked out from behind her door. Y/N turned around, tilting her head curiously.
"What’s up, Kaza?" she asked, smiling brightly.
“I was wondering…” Kazuha hesitated for a moment, her hands clasped nervously. “Could you help me practice my Korean again today?”
Y/N’s face lit up instantly. “Oh, of course! I’d love to.”
“I’ll just grab my drink real quick,” Y/N said with a small grin before darting into the kitchen. Less than a minute later, she reappeared holding two bottles of juice and a pack of gummy bears. She handed one bottle to Kazuha, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush as she opened the door wider for Y/N to enter.
“Thanks,” Kazuha said, now full-on blush. “Oh, gummy bears too? Are these part of your ‘Korean-learning snack strategy’?” she teased, holding up the pack with a playful grin.
“Maybe,” Y/N replied with a giggle, shaking her head. “They make everything more fun.”
From the couch, Eunchae’s voice broke through the scene, drawing Sakura’s and Yunjin’s attention.
"Unnie, what should I wear to Game Caterers? Is it dressy or casual?" Eunchae asked, her brow furrowed as she scrolled through her phone.
Sakura, rinsing a plate, smiled warmly. She walked over to the couch, patting Eunchae’s hand gently. "Don’t worry, love. I’m pretty sure the staff will pick our outfits."
“Eunchae, we don’t even have a set date yet,” Yunjin chimed in, leaning lazily on the couch’s armrest, nibbling on a cookie she’d swiped from the kitchen.
“Yeah, but still. Seventeen sunbaenim is going to be there, and I don’t wanna look dumb!” Eunchae whined, flashing her trademark gummy smile.
Yunjin couldn’t resist. She leaned over, ruffling Eunchae’s hair with exaggerated affection. “You won’t, cutie. No one can resist your charm.”
“Besides,” she added, stroking Eunchae’s head dramatically, “isn’t it supposed to be a sports or dance thing? I think manager-unnie said something like that.”
Eunchae’s expression shifted, her eyes lighting up. “Oh? In that case, I think we’ll win for sure.”
Sakura tilted her head, curiosity sparking. “Why’s that?” she asked, setting a dish towel aside.
“Easy,” Eunchae replied, stifling a giggle. “We’re rookies. They’re not gonna let us look bad in front of everyone.”
Yunjin and Sakura exchanged a knowing glance. The logic was sound, albeit cheeky.
“Okay, fair point,” Yunjin said with a grin. “I just hope I don’t trip over my own feet or something.”
Sakura, still uncertain, smiled nervously. “What if I embarrass us?”
“Oh, unnie,” Yunjin said dramatically, wrapping Sakura in a playful hug. “Don’t worry about embarrassing us. You know what people want to see from you—just be your cute, clumsy self!”
Sakura pouted but couldn’t hold back her laugh as she swatted Yunjin away. “Whatever. I’m going to play a game in my room. Eunchae, there are leftovers in the fridge if you’re hungry.”
Eunchae nodded.
Yunjin pouted, “What about me?”
Kazuha repeated the sentence slowly, her accent charmingly imperfect. Y/N clapped for her. “You’re getting so good! At this rate, you’ll be correcting my Korean.”
Kazuha giggled, a soft flush blooming on her cheeks. “Not likely, but thank you. You’re a great teacher.”
Their laughter carried through the quiet dorm, as Yunjin, sprawled on the couch, grinned knowingly. “They’re so cute,” she whispered to Eunchae.
“Yeah,” Eunchae whispered back, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “They’re like the lead couple in a drama.”
“Shh!” Yunjin scolded her, worried they’d be too loud while eavesdropping.
About two hours later, Kazuha and Y/N were still in Kazuha’s room, sitting cross-legged on the bed with textbooks and notebooks sprawled around them. The study session had initially started off strong, with Y/N diligently helping Kazuha practice Korean, but somewhere along the way, they had drifted into an easy, comfortable conversation about their favorite foods and hobbies.
“I mean what’s not to like about Korean food,” Kazuha said, twirling a strand of her hair absentmindedly. “But I miss Japanese food sometimes.”
Y/N tilted her head curiously. “What’s your favorite Japanese dish?”
Kazuha’s face lit up. “Hmm… at this rate, anything that reminds me of home. I miss my mom’s cooking. What about you?”
Hearing this made Y/N sad for Kazuha. “You know, I’ll ask Kkura unnie to teach me some Japanese dishes. I’ll make them for you,” Y/N said with a smile.
While Kazuha wanted to deny this offer, a part of her liked the idea of Y/N wanting to cook for her to make her feel at home. She nodded shyly.
“Sushi and udon are at the top of my list, so basic” Y/N replied with a smile, her eyes sparkling. “But honestly? I miss my mom’s chicken katsu. She used to make it so crispy, and I haven’t found anything that comes close. She learned it from her friend in Japan.”
Kazuha nodded, her expression softening. “I know what you mean. I want to learn how to make Korean food—to share with my family and friends someday.”
Y/N blinked, touched by Kazuha’s thoughtfulness. “That’s so sweet. And honestly, you’re so hardworking. I admire that about you.”
A faint blush crept onto Kazuha’s cheeks as she looked away, pretending to adjust the blanket they were sitting on. “Oh, it’s nothing,” she murmured. “I just like learning new things. It makes me feel closer to everyone here.”
Y/N’s heart warmed at the honesty in her words. “Well, it shows. You’ve been doing amazing, Kaza.”
Their conversation meandered through childhood memories, favorite hobbies, and random anecdotes, their laughter bubbling up in the quiet of the room.
“Hey,” Kazuha said suddenly, her eyes lighting up with an idea. “Do you wanna watch a movie? I think Eunchae already claimed the living room TV, so we can use my laptop.”
“Sure, what do you have in mind?” Y/N asked, scooting back to make room as Kazuha grabbed her laptop from the desk.
“Harry Potter?” Kazuha suggested.
Y/N grinned, raising an eyebrow. “That depends. Which one? There are right and wrong answers here, you know.”
Kazuha tilted her head, considering. “Oh, any of them except Prisoner of Azkaban.”
Y/N laughed. “Okay, you’re officially a woman of culture. Let’s go with Goblet of Fire?” Kazuha nodded.
Kazuha giggled as she queued up the movie, and they both settled in, Y/N grabbing her pillow and fluffing it against the headboard. The room fell into a cozy silence as the opening scenes played, both of them engrossed in the familiar world of magic and mystery.
About halfway through, as Harry entered the maze during the Triwizard Tournament, Y/N glanced over and noticed Kazuha’s head leaning against the pillow, her breathing even and soft. She’d fallen asleep.
A small, fond smile crept onto Y/N’s face. Kazuha looked so peaceful, her face illuminated by the dim glow of the laptop screen. Y/N gently adjusted the blanket around her, careful not to wake her up.
Although they had shared moments like this before, something about this one felt different. Y/N’s eyes fixated as she watched Kazuha’s serene expression. She hesitated for a moment before deciding to leave Kazuha undisturbed. Carefully, she stood, closed the laptop, and tiptoed out of the room, casting one last glance at the sleeping ballerina.
Back in her bed, Y/N lay awake, her mind buzzing. She stared at the ceiling, trying to push away the thoughts that refused to quiet down.
The next day, the Le Sserafim practice room buzzed with quiet determination. After a well-deserved three-day break, the members were back to rehearsals, the thrum of the speakers and the squeak of sneakers against the wooden floor echoing through the space. It was exhausting, but there was comfort in the rhythm of it all—working together, perfecting their moves as a team.
“Alright, ladies,” the choreographer’s voice finally broke through the music. “One more time, and we’re done for today!”
A collective sigh of relief filled the room. The members exchanged tired smiles, wiping the sweat from their brows.
Kazuha, still catching her breath, jogged over to Y/N with a bright smile. Her ponytail had come loose during practice, leaving wisps of hair framing her flushed face. “Hey, unnie! Thank you so much for helping me with my Korean yesterday. I feel like I’m improving so much because of you!”
Y/N looked up from tying her shoelace, her heart doing a little flip at the sight of Kazuha’s earnest expression. She tried to keep her voice steady. “Oh, of course. Anytime! You’re already doing great.”
Kazuha tilted her head slightly, her brow furrowing as she studied Y/N. “You okay? You seem a little... quiet today.”
Y/N froze for a second, wondering if her thoughts were somehow plastered all over her face. “Oh, no, I’m fine. Just... tired from the break, I guess. Getting back into the groove is always hard.”
Kazuha didn’t look entirely convinced, but she nodded anyway, her voice gentle. “Okay. But if there’s anything I can do, let me know, okay? You’re always helping me, so it’s only fair.”
Y/N couldn’t help the small smile that crept onto her face. “Thanks, Zuha. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Before the conversation could go any further, Yunjin sauntered over, her signature mischievous grin firmly in place as she grabbed a water bottle sitting near Y/N. “So…” Yunjin drawled, her eyes glinting with mischief. “Did you have fun studying with Kazuha last night?”
Y/N immediately felt her cheeks flush, and she fumbled for a response. “It was just a study session,” she said quickly, trying to sound nonchalant.
“Right, right.” Yunjin nodded, clearly not convinced but enjoying herself far too much. “I’m sure it was all very academic.” She wiggled her eyebrows playfully.
Y/N sighed and shook her head. “You’re ridiculous, you know that?”
“Maybe,” Yunjin said, flashing a toothy grin. “But you’re fun to tease, and your reactions make it worth it.”
Eunchae popped her head around the corner just then, having overheard the tail end of their conversation. “Unnie, what are you teasing Y/N about now?”
Yunjin immediately turned to the maknae, her smile turning innocent. “Oh, nothing important. Just Y/N’s tutoring sessions.”
Eunchae’s eyes lit up with curiosity. “Wait, tutoring who? Zuha unnie?”
“Yes, it’s going well. Hey, do you know what we’ll have for dinner?” Y/N quickly changed the topic, while gathering her things up to leave.
As she then left the practice room with Eunchae, her gaze caught Yunjin standing by the door, her arms crossed and that same knowing smile plastered on her face.
“What?” Y/N asked, feigning innocence.
Yunjin just shook her head, her grin widening. “Nothing. Just... watching the story unfold.”
Y/N rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop the smile tugging at her lips. Maybe Yunjin wasn’t entirely wrong. But, she knew that she needed to keep her feelings in check, she just couldn't help but feel drawn to the Japanese girl.
As everyone else went out to change, Chaewon remained sat on the floor, legs stretched out, her back resting against the wall. Her breathing had finally steadied after hours of dancing and vocal drills. Yunjin, full of energy from teasing Y/N just a minute earlier, plopped down beside her, tossing her hair back with a dramatic flair.
“You know, I’ve been thinking a lot about my voice lately,” Chaewon said, her gaze distant, staring at the reflections in the giant mirror.
Yunjin tilted her head curiously. “What do you mean?”
“I finally feel comfortable in it. For the first time in a long while.”
Yunjin blinked. “Finally? You’ve always been one of the lead vocalists. Even back in Iz*One, you were known for your voice.”
Chaewon smiled faintly, letting out a small breath. “Yeah, I was. But back then, everything felt so… set. The tone was so cutesy, the concept was so structured. It felt like I had to fit into this box that was designed for me, and I struggled to find my real voice in it. I mean, don't get me wrong, I loved the group and the memories, but it wasn’t fully me, you know?”
Yunjin nodded thoughtfully, understanding the sentiment. “I get that. I mean, back then you had to follow the concept, which was super sweet and youthful. I can see how it might’ve felt limiting. But honestly, unnie, you can fit any concept. Your voice is so versatile. You just need to find your connection to the melody.”
Chaewon gave Yunjin a grateful look, feeling a bit lighter for having shared her thoughts. “That’s what I’m trying to focus on now. I want to connect with the songs in a way that feels true to me.”
“That bob too, unnie,” Yunjin fake fanned herself dramatically, earning a push to her shoulder.
“Aniya!” Chaewon rolled her eyes but smiled at the compliment.
“No, it goes with the concept, I love this look for you. It makes your aura so… cunty.” Earning her another push because even though Chaewon didn’t know what that meant, she didn’t like how Yunjin smirked at her.
Yunjin laughed and leaned back, her voice taking on a more reflective tone. “You know, when I was doing opera and those theatrical performances, it was a completely different world. It’s all about pushing beyond your limits and controlling every tiny aspect of your voice. I loved it, but I didn’t always feel like me. It was like stepping into a role that wasn’t my own.”
Chaewon looked at Yunjin with curiosity. “How did you manage to handle all of that?”
Yunjin smiled softly, her eyes lighting up as she recalled those days. “It was hard, but there’s something powerful about embodying a character that feels larger than life. You learn so much about your voice, and your capabilities. But what I love is what we’re doing now—this powerful voice I get to use, blending strength and emotion in a way that feels authentic. I’m so happy I get to do this, especially with you all.”
Chaewon nodded in agreement, her heartwarming at Yunjin’s words. “I’m so glad HYBE saw your potential. You’re such a perfect match for the team. I can’t imagine this group without your vocals.”
Yunjin chuckled and waved her hand dismissively, though she was touched. “Thanks, but you know, I’ve been thinking. People always talk about us as main vocalists and who should get what lines, but I don’t see it like that. I don’t think there’s a need to be territorial.”
“Yeah,” Chaewon agreed quickly, “we’re friends before anything else. And we both bring something unique to the table.”
“I was thinking about the other members too,” Yunjin continued. “Like Zuha’s voice? It’s so deep and rich. Perfect for rapping and those lower-register parts.”
“Exactly,” Chaewon smiled. “And Eunchae—she can hit those high notes, but she’s got this surprising depth to her lower register. For someone so young, her vocal control is already impressive.”
Yunjin nodded enthusiastically. “She’s going to be a real powerhouse soon. And Kkura unnie, well… I know she’s still a bit insecure about her vocals sometimes, but she’s improved so much. If she gains a little more confidence, she’ll be able to nail it.”
Chaewon’s eyes softened. “Unnie's come a long way. It’s just a matter of her realizing how capable she is. She doesn’t need to be perfect, she just needs to trust herself.”
“And then there’s Y/N,” Yunjin said, smiling. “Her voice is so soothing. It’s like you could listen to it for hours. But what surprises me is her ability to just jump into rapping when you least expect it. She shocked me when I first heard her rap.”
Chaewon laughed. “Honestly, HYBE did an incredible job assembling us. They’ve pushed us all to our best version yet.”
Yunjin sighed, leaning her head back against the mirror. “Yeah, but there’s always room for improvement, right? We’ve got so much more to learn.”
Chaewon nodded, her expression thoughtful. “We’re still growing, and we’re just at the beginning of this journey. But I feel good about where we’re headed. We have something special.”
Yunjin turned to Chaewon, a mischievous grin forming on her lips. “You know what it’s really about though, right? It’s about the path.”
Chaewon raised an eyebrow, confused. “The path?”
“Yeah,” Yunjin sat up straighter, her tone growing more serious. “Remember what the staff member said about the concept? It’s about being our authentic selves. We’ve got to keep working hard, and that needs to show in everything we do. But if we stay true to who we are, I think we’ll be fine. Because, girl…” Yunjin leaned in closer, her eyes wide with intensity, “we. are. good.”
Yunjin clutched Chaewon’s shoulders and gave her a playful shake, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
Chaewon laughed, batting her hands away. “Right! We are good.”
The two shared a moment of quiet laughter before sitting back, both feeling a renewed sense of purpose. Despite the challenges they had faced and would continue to face, they knew that they were in this together. As long as they kept moving forward, their voices—both literal and metaphorical—would continue to resonate.