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2023, Jan 7...

"Yeah. If our ARMYs believe in us and want us to do this, we should at least try."

"We might have just gotten out of our schedule, but this doesn't seem that bad either."

"Yeah, and since many Armys want us to participate, why not go have some fun there too?"

"That's what I thought as well. We can enjoy ourselves while still performing."

"Yeah, it seems fun now. With all the other groups participating, we can make many more friends too!"

"So, we all agree to attend the program. No more discussions, right, guys?"

"Yes! Let's get it!"

*★*──────────────────*★*

(That morning.. BTS dorm in Hannam Hill..)

The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow in the dining room where BTS gathered for breakfast.

Jin stood at the stove, his face focused as he expertly flipped pancakes and scrambled eggs. Beside him, Yoongi moved with silent steps, plating the food and carrying it to the table where the other members were seated.

It was a peaceful morning.

Jimin and Taehyung, still half-asleep, munched on their pancakes, their eyes barely open. Namjoon sipped his coffee, trying to wake up, while Jungkook, the golden maknae, devoured his food. Hoseok chatted along with the leader, his laughter echoing the room.

Yoongi returned to the kitchen, where Jin handed him another plate of food and glanced over at the table, smiling as he watched the members enjoy the meal.

"Here you go, Jungkook," Yoongi said, placing another plate in front of the maknae. "Slow down, or else you'll choke and die."

Jungkook smiled sheepishly, mumbling a thanks through a mouthful of food. Jin chuckled, shaking his head.

"You guys are like children," he said with affection. "Eat slowly and enjoy the food."

The members nodded, though their pace barely slowed. It was these simple moments, the quiet mornings and shared meals that showed their lovely bond. No matter how chaotic their lives could get, they always had each other, seven of them always being together.

They were not just BTS, the global superstars. They were seven brothers, bound by love and friendship, sharing a peaceful morning and a meal made with care.

In the kitchen, the two eldest continued the cooking and serving. The aroma of freshly cooked pancakes and eggs filled the air. Jin's skills were on full display, his hands moving swiftly as he flipped another pancake to golden perfection.

"Here, try this," he said, breaking off a piece of the pancake and offering it to Yoongi.

Yoongi paused cooking the eggs and accepted the bite. "Not bad, hyung," he said. "You've outdone yourself again."

Jin grinned with pride. "I always do," he replied playfully, turning back to the stove. "Now pass me the syrup."

Yoongi handed over the syrup and continued his work. Every now and then, Jin sneaked another bite of pancake to the rapper, who accepted each one with a soft smile.

At the table, the other members were now lost in their own world. Jimin and Taehyung had finally woken up a bit more and were now engaged in a quiet conversation, their laughter occasionally bubbling up.

Namjoon was discussing something with Hoseok, his hands freely moving in the air as he explained his thoughts, while Jungkook continued to eat, unbothered by his hyungs.

Jin handed Yoongi another plate, their fingers brushing slightly. "Here, take this to Taehyung. He looks like he needs a bit more energy. He hasn't been eating well lately."

Yoongi nodded, taking the plate and walking over to the table. "Tae, here’s some extra pancakes for you," he said, placing the plate in front of the him.

Taehyung looked up at Yoongi with wide eyes. "Hyung, I don't want to eat more. I'm on a diet," he said softly, pushing the plate away with a pout.

Jin came out of the kitchen, carrying plates of food for himself and Yoongi. He shook his head in disapproval, his voice taking on a scolding tone. "No more dieting for any of you," he said, placing the plates on the table. "We're off schedule right now, and this is the time to enjoy ourselves. That includes eating well."

Taehyung nodded at him sheepishly, his resolve crumbling under Jin's gentle stare. "Okay, hyung," he murmured, accepting the plate Yoongi had brought him.

Jin then turned to the second eldest, who was still standing. "Yoongi, sit down," he insisted. "You should eat more too."

Yoongi complied without a word, taking his seat at the table. The atmosphere lightened more as the members continued their meal, enjoying the rare opportunity to relax and spend time together without the pressures of their usual hectic schedules.

Just as Namjoon took his last bite, his phone rang, it's vibration causing it to skitter slightly across the table. It was beside Hoseok, who glanced at the screen and then handed it over to Namjoon.

"Your phone's ringing, Joon. It's our manager," Hoba said, passing the phone to him.

Namjoon frowned slightly, curiosity piqued as he took the call. "Hello?"

The room quieted a bit as the others noticed Namjoon's change in his features. They continued eating, but their attention was clearly on their leader.

"Yes, I understand," Namjoon said, his voice calm. "We'll be ready."

He ended the call and looked at his members, who were now all eyes on him. "Our manager needs us to come to the company for a meeting," he said. "He didn't give much detail, but it sounds important."

Jin's expression shifted. "But we didn't have anything scheduled for today," he said, glancing at Yoongi, who mirrored his worried look.

"I know," Namjoon replied, already standing up. "But it seems urgent. Let's finish up here quickly and get ready to go."

The atmosphere shifted as the members hurried to finish their meal. They then cleaned up and prepared to leave.

Two cars pulled up to the front of their building, the sleek black vehicles glinting under the sun. The familiar faces of the staff from their company were inside, waiting for them.

Namjoon quickly directed the members. "Okay, let's split up. Jungkook, Taehyung, you come with me and Hoba. Jin hyung, Yoongi hyung, Jimin, you guys take the other car."

The members nodded, wearing their coats, masks, and hats to shield their identities. Despite the urgency, they moved with practiced ease.

The two maknaes hopped inside the first car with Namjoon and Hoseok. Jungkook slid inbetween Taehyung and Hoseok in the back while the leader sat at the front with the staff starting the engine.

In the second car, Jin, Yoongi, and Jimin settled in quietly. Jin took the front seat, his eyes scanning the road ahead while Yoongi and Jimin sat in the back, their expressions masked by their accessories.

The drive to the company was silent and each member occasionally glanced at each other.

Upon arriving at the company, the cars pulled into the underground garage, away from the public eye. The members quickly exited as Namjoon led the way. "Let's go," he said. They walked as one, their steps in sync.

Entering the building, they were greeted by their manager, whose serious expression did little to ease their concerns. "Thanks for coming on such short notice, boys," he began, leading them to a private meeting room.

Inside of the room was spacious, the walls adorned with framed photos and awards of BTS. A large oval table was set at the center of the room, surrounded by plush chairs.

As the members settled into the seats, the room filled with a complete silence again.

After a few seconds that felt like an eternity, the door opened and Bang PD-nim walked in. The members instantly stood up, their movements sync with respect as they greeted him in unison, bowing deeply.

Bang PD-nim nodded at them. "Sit down, boys," he said, gesturing for them to take their seats.

He took the head of the table while Sejin, the manager, settled into the seat beside him.

Bang Si-hyuk began, his tone straightforward. "I don't want to keep you all waiting, so I'll address the main point of this meeting directly." He nodded to Sejin, who tapped a few times on his tablet before handing it over to him.

Pd-nim held up the tablet, showing a sleek advertisement on the screen. The image was vibrant and eye-catching, with bold text announcing the launch of a global male pop group program. The members leaned in to get a better look.

"This," Bang Si-hyuk said, pointing to the screen, "is the advertisement for 'The Kings of K-pop,' a global survival program conducted by O-net for all the male pop groups around the world. Since it says that any male group can participate, I want you boys, BTS, as a group to participate in it too."

The room suddenly fell silent as the boys absorbed the information. The eldest members, Jin and Yoongi, exchanged glances and softly exhaled while Hoseok and Jimin remained quiet, looking uneasy. The maknaes, Jungkook and Taehyung, shifted in their seats, clearly not liking the idea.

Namjoon, sensing the hesitation and unease among his members, took a deep breath and addressed the issue as their leader. "PD-nim," he began carefully, "we just got off our schedule. We were looking for some time to rest and recharge. Why the sudden push for us to participate in this program?"

Bang Si-hyuk nodded, understanding them. "I know this comes as a surprise," he said. "But this program offers a unique opportunity to showcase BTS on a global stage in a new way. It's a chance to reach even more people, to grow as artists and as a group. I wouldn't suggest it if I didn't believe in your ability to excel and benefit from this experience."

Sejin then added, "The host company is going to conduct an audition next week. From the audition, the top 20 male groups with the highest points will be selected for the main program. And the winning group of the show will get an exclusive five year contract of group projects and promotions from the host company ad well as a massive cash prize."

The members exchanged glances again. They trusted their PD-nim, but the idea of jumping into a rigorous audition after just coming off a packed schedule was daunting.

Namjoon turned to his members, reading the different emotions on their faces. He then looked back at Bang Si-hyuk. "We understand the potential benefits, but we also need to consider our well-being. Can we have some time to discuss this among ourselves before making a decision?"

Bang Si-hyuk nodded. "Of course. Take the time you need. I just wanted to present this opportunity to you. Whatever you decide, we’ll support you fully."

With that, the meeting was temporarily adjourned, and the members found themselves facing a pivotal decision as they returned to their dorm.

They were now sitting in their dorm's living room, the atmosphere slightly tense. Namjoon and Yoongi were huddled together, looking at the advertisement for the program on Namjoon's phone. Jin sat beside Yoongi, leaning in to take a peek at the screen, his brow furrowed in thought.

Across from them, the maknaes sat cross-legged on the floor, looking curious while Hoseok sat on a couch beside the leader.

Jungkook's leg was hopping up and down restlessly, a nervous habit he couldn't seem to control. Jimin, seated next to him, kept nudging him, "Stop doing that, Kook."

Namjoon finally broke the silence. "This program... it's a huge opportunity. But it also means pushing ourselves even more when we were all looking forward to a break..."

Yoongi nodded, scrolling through the details on the phone. "Yeah. A competition like this can be mentally draining too. We've been through a lot already."

Jin leaned back, crossing his arms. "We have always prided ourselves on our teamwork, but we also know our limits."

Hoseok sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I get what PD-nim is saying about the exposure and growth. But at what cost? We have to think about this carefully."

Jungkook finally spoke up, his voice filled with frustration. "It's not that I don't like the idea of competing against other groups. It's just that we are already established. Do we really need to prove ourselves again?"

Jimin nodded along, looking thoughtful. Namjoon looked around at his members. "We need to make this decision together. Whatever we choose, it has to be right for all of us."

Taehyung, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up. "What if ARMYs want us to take part in the program?" he asked.

The room suddenly fell silent as the members considered his point. The thought of their fans' expectations added another layer to the already complex decision they faced.

Namjoon nodded thoughtfully. "That's a good point, Tae. The ARMYs have always been our biggest supporters. Their opinion matters a lot to us."

Jimin chimed in. "Namjoon hyung, see if there are any comments from ARMYs under the advertisement post. Maybe we can get an idea of what they think."

Namjoon nodded, scrolling through the comment section, and was surprised by what he saw. "Guys, you need to see this," he said, his voice now filled with amazement.

He handed the phone to Jin, who began reading aloud. "It would be awesome to see BTS participating in this!" Jin read from one comment. "You guys should join for the fun and enjoy performing without your usual hectic schedule and this seems like a great opportunity," another comment said.

Hoseok leaned in to look at the screen, a smile automatically planting on his lips as he saw the whole comment section filled with their ARMYs feedback. "It looks like a lot of ARMYs want us to participate. They think it could be a fun experience for us."

Jungkook’s eyes sparkled. "If ARMYs think it could be fun and want us to join, maybe we should consider it, right?"

Jimin nodded, smiling softly. "Our fans really believe in us. If they think we can enjoy it and have fun, maybe it won’t be as stressful as we think."

Yoongi exhaled out softly, smiling as well. "ARMYs always know how to put things in perspective. If they’re supportive and see this as a positive opportunity, maybe it’s worth giving it a shot."

Namjoon looked around at his members. "Alright, let’s think about this from a different angle. We can approach it with a mindset of enjoying the performances and showcasing our teamwork, rather than just seeing it as another competition."

Jin nodded. "Yeah. If our ARMYs believe in us and want us to do this, we should at least try."

"We might have just gotten out of our schedule, but this doesn't seem that bad either," Yoongi said, looking at Namjoon.

"Yeah, and since many Armys want us to participate, why not go have some fun there too?" Jimin said, his eyes softening.

Hobi then added, "That's what I am thinking as well. We can enjoy ourselves while still performing!"

Taehyung joined in, "Yeah, it seems fun now. With all the other groups participating, we can make many more friends too!"

Namjoon smiled as he looked at all the members and asked, "So, we all agree to attend the program. No more discussions, right, guys?"

Jungkook's leg finally sat still, his voice beaming, "Yes! Let's get it!"

And finally, that was how it happened. That was how BTS had decided to participate in the audition that the host company, O-Net was conducting next week,

...not knowing they were about to fall into the traps of that toxic company.

Blinded by their love for ARMYs, they remained unaware of what lay ahead.

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Is the blurb interesting?

Is this chapter good?

I don't know...

I think I need some motivation! ✧

Well, see you all later. I have loads of pending work but wanted to update at least this, because today is update day, right?

Hope you all are doing well!🍓🍓🍓

- by Keeri, the Cruel Devil...