Jin was in the middle of reviewing the results of a public survey when he got a call. Without even looking away from his screen, he picked up the phone receiver and answered with the usual, company phrase.

Jin: Hello, thank you for calling BigHit Inc. You're with Kim Seokjin, how may I assist you?

???: Wooowww! So formal! How come you won't talk to me like that in real life, hyung?

Jin stopped what he was doing and turned in his chair as he smiled. He could recognize that voice anywhere.

Jin: Hoseok? What are you doing calling my business line?

Hoseok: Oh c'mon. We both know you're too busy looking at a computer screen to even notice a fire, let alone pick up your cellphone.

Jin: Uh, not true.

Hoseok: What if your mother was calling saying she was in danger and you don't pick up?

Jin: First of all, she'd probably call my dad if he's not with her, and if that doesn't work, she'll fend for herself.

Hoseok: Even against burglars?

Jin: Yeah, she'll fight them. And win.

Hoseok: Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised. Your mom can be pretty scary.

Jin: What are you talking about? She's the sweetest, haha.

Hoseok: Mhmm, sure, hyung. She's just like a certain someone I know, who gets a little scary when they're mad.

Jin: Okay, look, I always have a good reason. Remember that time in high school when I yelled at that girl—

Hoseok: Yu So-hee.

Jin: Yeah, her! She didn't know personal space! She kept getting super close to me and it bothered me, and I even told her not to do that, but she was, like, no. And I wasn't having it, so I yelled at her.

Hoseok: I remember that day. Everyone was calling you Spicy Seokjin.

Jin: Ugh, don't remind me...

Hoseok: You barely breathe when you rant so your face looks like a red pepper.

Jin: I said don't remind me!

Hoseok: Haha, anyway, Spicy Seokjin, I called to ask how you were doing.

Jin: I'm doing just fine. Still the usual routine. How about you? Are you okay? I never get to see you anymore.

Hoseok: I knoooow. I'm so busy with work and my dancing. Sometimes I barely have time for myself...!

Jin: What about your girlfriend? How is she doing?

Hoseok: girlfrie?—oh, y-yeah, Eun is doing well. I still try to make time for her...

Jin: Remember that your health is the most important thing, Hoseok. Are you drinking plenty of water? Eating meats and veggies? What about rice—?

Hoseok: I'm healthy, hyung! You know I always stay in shape.

Jin: For dancing?

Hoseok: Haha, I think the kids at the daycare make me exercise more than dancing.

Jin: The kids! How are they?

Hoseok: Still as high-spirited as ever. Some of them ask for you, you know.

Jin: Aw, really??

Hoseok: Yeah, they ask where Spicy Seokjin has gone.

Jin: Yah, I told you to stop! It's not even funny.

Hoseok: The fact that you still get embarrassed over that name after all these years is what makes it funnier.

Jin: Whatever, Hobi.

Hoseok: See, the difference between you and me is that I actually like when you call me that.

Just as Jin was about to continue talking, another employee came to him asking to fill out a report. Once the paperwork was set on his desk, he returned to the phone.

Jin: It's nice to hear your voice again, Hoseok, but I'm going to have to get back to work now.

Hoseok: Wait! I called to tell you something else.

Jin: What?

Hoseok: Well, this Saturday I'm free and...Eun will be out of town...so I was hoping we could get together! We could get some drinks at the bar we used to go to, remember?

Jin: How can I forget? The first time we went, you got drunk off your ass and I had to carry you on my back out of there.

Hoseok: Hey, maybe we can reenact that! For old times sake. But I'll be, like, actually drunk.

Jin: Oh, stop. Of course I'll see you this Saturday.

Hoseok: Great! I'll text you later, then. Bye bye, Spicy Seokjin.

Jin: Haha, bye, Hobi.

The call was ended and Jin was back to sitting in his cubicle in silence. With a sigh, he slumped in his chair and stared at the little knickknacks he's gathered over the years. It really has been a while since he's hung out with Hoseok. He remembered a time when the two of them practically couldn't go a week without each other. Now it's been months since their last meet up.

Jin and Hoseok met in high school. Hoseok was an underclassman who didn't have many people to talk to. Jin didn't know who he was, and was so caught up in his studies to really get to know anyone else at all, until one special day after school.

Knowing he had to stay in shape for college, he started running in the track field after school ended. Lots of other students did that as well if they didn't have time for the gym. The field was always open for other sports teams practicing. It was a clever exercise plan.

Jin has run for three miles, even if he could barely hold out for one. Drenched in sweat and dying for a drink, he made his way to the water fountains. As he drank, he heard the muffled sound of music coming from one of the athletic courts. He's never heard this sort of thing before, so of course he got curious.

Quietly, he made his way to the building and peeked through the windows on the door to see what was going on. What he saw was absolutely stunning.

Hip-hop music echoed throughout the court from a speaker as one boy danced along with the rhythm and beat so perfectly. Every move was swift, every step was firm and seemingly calculated. It was just him, free to move around as much as he wanted, free to dance like there was no tomorrow, with no eyes to pry—except Jin's.

Jin was so starstruck by the boy's seemingly professional dancing that he didn't realize he was leaning on the door. It creaked, very loudly (and that door was horribly infamous for creaking), and the noise caught the dancer's attention. He stopped so abruptly, Jin didn't have time to duck out of sight. He was caught and he quickly tried to run.

Unfortunately, he forgot there were steps. He missed them and tripped over them onto the concrete. Just his luck.

The door to the athletic court opened and the dancer stepped out. Jin scrambled to stand up but tripped on his own feet in the process. Meanwhile, the dancer just stared at him—with a little bit of judgement.

Jin: Um, I-I just, uh, I was passing by—ow—and I, well, I just took a peek, I wasn't watching or anything...

Once it was obvious the dancer wasn't buying it, Jin sighed and finally stood up.

Jin: Okay, I was. You...You dance really, really...really well. I couldn't look away, haha...

Still not receiving an answer, Jin continued trying to break the ice.

Jin: My name is Kim Seokjin, by the way. And...you are...?

The dancer finally gave an answer through a wary tone of voice.

Hoseok: My name is Jung Hoseok.

Jin: H-Hi. Are you in my grade? I've never seen you before.

Hoseok: I'm an underclassman.

Jin: Oh, really? You don't seem that way. Um, not that that's a bad thing, I just—

Hoseok: It's okay, hyung.

Jin: Haha...ha...

The older student was a little taken aback by the sudden honorific.

Hoseok: Um...thanks, by the way. For the compliment.

Jin: Well, it's the truth. You're amazing! There's that talent show coming up. You'd be great in it.

Hoseok: Oh, I don't know. I...don't dance in front of people.

Jin: Oh...is that why you were alone in the court?

Hoseok nodded. Jin smiled at him, the kind of smile that you couldn't help but adore.

Jin: I say you're amazing. Not many underclassman sign up for it. You'd blow the whole show away. If you're afraid of judgement, I doubt anyone else in this school can dance as well as you. So, they have no room to criticize you.

Hoseok: Thanks, hyung. That...means a lot, actually.

Jin: No problem, dongsaeng. Ah, wait, what time is it? Damn, I should be going.

This time, Jin successfully began walking away, all the while waving at Hoseok.

Jin: It was nice meeting you, dongsaeng! Continue dancing! It's a work of art—AH!

He forgot about the light pole on the side of the sidewalk, and ran into it with a loud thunk. Hoseok couldn't restrain his smile. Jin noticed it and was pleased at seeing such a big grin. Little did he know that that grin would be one of the best things about Hoseok.

From then on, after school, Jin would stop by at the athletic court that Hoseok borrowed for his dance practice. Eventually, it came to the point where Jin could sit inside and watch him. There were days where he completely skipped exercise and just watched his younger acquaintance dance his heart out. Hip-hop, classical, electronic—Hoseok wanted to broaden his horizons, condition his body to flow with anything, and Jin was impressed by his progress. Once, Hoseok even offered to teach Jin, which didn't end so well for Jin as he's never seriously danced a day in his life. But it was still fun to be with Hoseok, learn from him, hear how excited he gets about dancing, and see that sunshine smile.

After school became something to look forward to, and Hoseok gradually became more comfortable with his dancing thanks to Jin's company. Eventually, all that encouragement and interest led Hoseok to trying the talent show like Jin suggested. At first, it sounded like a great idea, having the school gawk at him like a wonder. But one day, his confidence was faltered when he overheard a conversation among some upperclassmen.

Upperclassman 1: All these girls screaming over stupid boy bands. 'Oh my god, oppa, oppa, he's so amazing!' All those guys do is sing like girls and dance around like monkeys.

Upperclassman 2: Yeah, and there's guys here willing to give themselves up to become an idol—like they'll ever make it! Dumbasses. They're going to crash and burn just like the rest of these other idols. Idiots should get a real job to help their families instead of wasting time training to be a joke.

Upperclassman 3: I bet you those show-off guys here are going to try out the talent show. Sing and dance and all that stupid crap.

Upperclassman 1: You know what we should do? We should go throw shit at them. I mean, it's just a talent show, right?

Upperclassman 2: What are you, five? I say we get their names and start spreading shit about them online. You know people will eat it up.

Upperclassman 3: Yeah, that sounds like a better plan, haha. Stupid wanna-be idols.

Although being an idol was not Hoseok's intention for his dancing, the negative sentiment behind it was enough to scare him.

On the day of the talent show, Hoseok didn't want to leave his house.

Jin: Hobi! C'mon, you'll be late! Are you alright? Did you get sick? Answer the door, Hobi.

Suddenly, the front door to the underclassman's house opened and he finally showed. Jin froze, taken aback by the intense scowl on Hoseok's face. He's never seen an expression like that on him before.

Jin: Are you okay? What's wrong?

Hoseok: What's wrong? What's wrong is that I'm gonna be a laughing stock at that stupid talent show.

Jin: What?

Hoseok: You heard me, Jin!

That was the first time Hoseok's ever called him by his first name. It's always been 'hyung this, hyung that'. At first, Jin thought the problem was stage fright. This wasn't stage fright.

Jin: Hoseok, tell me what's going on. Why are you upset?

Hoseok: These—These assholes are going to make a fool out of me, talk crap about me. I'm the only guy doing a dance performance right? Every other guy is just doing, like, instruments and funny bits? I'm the only dancer.

Jin: And that's really cool, Hobi—.

Hoseok: I'm going to look stupid! Tch, what did I think, pursuing dancing? I'm gonna hit rock bottom. I'll never be anything more than this. I'm not a dancer, I'm not some spectacle, I'm nothing! I won't get far in life this way!

While Hoseok stood there, on the verge of tears, Jin came closer and grabbed his shoulders.

Jin: Are you hearing yourself right now? Sunshine Hoseok, who would do anything to dance, who gets this look of pride on his face every time he talks about it, saying he'll be nothing? This isn't how you really feel.

Hoseok: How do you know how I really feel?

The underclassman tried to shove Jin away, but he held firm.

Jin: Since the very first day I met you, I knew there was a spark of greatness in you. But you're scared. You're scared to ignite it because you're going to get burned. Well, you know what? We all get burned one way or another. What matters is that we trudge through the flames and come out with a full fire in our hearts! Hoseok...you don't have to be afraid of your spark, and you shouldn't be afraid of people putting you out. I won't let them. I'll keep you alight, even if it puts me out, okay?

Hoseok: Hyung—.

Jin: Okay???

Hoseok couldn't say anything for fear his voice would crack under his heavy emotions. Again, flashing that smile you couldn't help but adore, Jin went on.

Jin: You dance for you. No one else. Not me, not your family, not even the prime minister. It's all for you, because it's what makes you happy and free.

He couldn't take it anymore. Unable to hold back his emotions, Hoseok hugged onto his friend and held tight. There, in Jin's arms, he released all of his frustration and worry through tears and sobs.

In the end, Hoseok had convinced himself to go to the talent show with Jin. Students and teachers all watched the stage with intrigue. Hoseok was left backstage to wait since he was the next act. Through the curtains, he could see Jin, eagerly waiting to see his dongsaeng.

Hoseok has practiced his routine so many times, he's lost count. Again and again, he ran through this moves in his head, until he was interrupted by a teacher calling him up. This was it.

Suddenly, in the bright beams of the stage lights, he drew a blank on his routine. He stood in front of a crowd of waiting eyes. It chilled his bones and nearly stopped his heart.

And then...

Jin: HOPE, HOPE, HOBI! HOPE, HOPE, HOBI! WOO!

Gradually, other students joined in for the fun of the chant, but it gave Hoseok a newfound hype and confidence. Although he forgot his routine, he knew he could rely on his free style.

That night, he realized something. Even though Jin told him he should only dance for himself, that wasn't the case. Because seeing Jin's smiling face among the crowd made him realize that he could dance for other people too—as long as they were the ones that mattered.

They had been friends for a while, but that night was when their friendship became an unbreakable, incomprehensible bond.

With a sigh, Jin looked up at a picture pinned to the wall of his cubicle. Among family photos, and his biggest events like his high school and university graduation, he spotted the picture that still warmed his heart to this day: him and Hoseok, smiling, holding a first place medal won in a high school talent show.

Suddenly, the employee from earlier came by.

Employee: Seokjin-nim. The paperwork?

Jin: Ah, yes, I've got it! Don't worry.

Once the employee left, Jin got to work on the report, with a smile on his face.