Their New Future | BOOK 2 OF THE ANOMALY SAGA

CHAPTER 21

[Time: Not long after signing the contract. Location: On the way to Training room 302, RAVE Ent.]

"You'll usually be in this training room most of the time for dance practice and such, but keep an eye on your schedule as things can sometimes change. To start your day for tomorrow, you'll be moved into the dorms with your members and you'll be given some time to settle, though if it is easier, you can move in tonight, as we can arrange care for your son." Su-hyeok explained, pointing out rooms and their purposes.

"You'll get your full schedule tomorrow and will be updated on it constantly. For now, you have Korean lessons from 10am til 11am, then lunch, and then you'll have a full health check at 2:30pm to which you'll be escorted to the hospital and another member will be with you." Ryū pressed their lips together as the information just kept coming, Su-hyeok not even stopping for a single step.

"4pm til 6, you'll have vocal lessons and directly after will be individual lessons to gather your strengths and weaknesses. From 8pm, you'll have dinner and then dance practice with your team until midnight, and then you're free to do what you like. Your days off are Tuesdays and Sunday mornings." Ryū stared into the back of his head. They weren't really shocked by it, but when they were still in their old identity, they didn't remember training being so strict. They made a mental note of it, reminding themself to enter it into their interface later.

Su-hyeok knocked on the glass doors, make the booming music inside stop and the squeaking of shoes approaching the door as it slowly opened.

"Oh! Isn't it early for our next class?" A soft voice spoke out as they opened the door completely, their blue eyes stopping at Ryū who looked like a deer in headlights.

They had a long wolf cut, their dark brown hair framing their rounded face gently. Ryū couldn't really tell, but they seemed incredibly androgynous. They guessed that they were 6'7, maybe an inch or two more.

Su-hyeok smiled and pushed the door open, motioning for Ryū to go in. They started to feel nervous, which was rare even for them. Fiddling with their coat pocket, they stepped in and stopped at the sight of 4 other people sitting on the ground.

"Go on, introduce yourself. This is your newest member, guys."

Everyone's eyes went to them and they stepped forward and bowed, assuming they were the youngest.

"Hello, I'm uh... Kurokawa Ryū, but you're welcome to call me Kim Ryūjin. I'm 21 years old, I look forward to getting to know you all."

On their way back up, their eyes stopped at an unexpected face which was looking back in shock as well.

'Kang Jaebeom?'

'Seonbae?'

The first one to stand up was the closest to them and he waddled over excited, beaming like a golden retriever.

"Hi! I'm Zhao Huangfu! I'm the youngest here at 17, how did you get in?" He asked in English, and instinctively they replied the same way.

He had a bleached mullet, with a distinctive mole under his lip. He was fairly tall for his age and his voice hadn't dropped yet. Bright pink eyes shone with excitement as he got closer to Ryū.

"Oh, uh... through the audition yesterday. They asked me suddenly to come in today."

"Yah, Zhao, give him some space."

"I'm actually non-binary." They correct, making the wolf-cut person nod in acknowledgment and held out their hand with an excited smile.

"Me too! My name is Choi Taehee, my stage name is Atlas. I'm the oldest of this group- well, I was but I guess now you are. Those two over there are Im Daehyun, the shortest, and Kang Jaebeom-"

"I already know him." Ryū whispered under their breath as their eyes didn't leave his.

"You two know each other?" Daehyun looked between the two, keeping the image in mind to blackmail Jaebeom with it later.

"Yeah, we worked at a café together. I had no clue that he was training here of all places." They scratched the back of their head awkwardly. Taehee quickly ushered them to sit down with the rest of the group, removing their coat for them as they only looked at them in confusion.

"O-K! How about we all go out for drinks to get to know our new family member?"

"Family member?" Taehee nodded, bringing them in by their shoulders.

"We're all apart of this together now, aren't we? We'll have each other's backs, no matter what." Daehyun eyed them with his cold brown eyes, not happy with how fast Ryū was accepted.

"Easy for you to say." Daehyun muttered as he got up to his bags, putting his blue hoodie on and ruffled his black hair before putting on a cap. He was definitely the shortest, but he was very well built and had an undercut, silver nose piercing and bridge piercing that complimented his Roman nose.

"He's a hard ass, ignore him. He'll warm up to you quickly. The quickest way to his stone heart is with food." Zhao commented in English, smiling innocently. "YAH!" A sneaker flew past his head, and the group brightly laughed at him.

"Hyung, come on! I'll pay?" Zhao grinned, his pink iris' disappearing, only to be smacked by Jaebeom.

"You don't even have any money, genius." He laughed, shaking his head. Ryū watched the interactions play out and began to feel out of place. Could they even get along with them?

"Come on, hyung... Ryū?" Jaebeom gently shook their shoulder.

"Hm? Oh, uh, sure. I'll pay, it'll be my treat since I'm new."

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