𝐓𝐎𝐆𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑, 𝐭𝐱𝐭

anything, even now

passing out,
mentions of suicidal thoughts (not really)

november, 2022.

the survival program was tough enough for the asakura boy, yet training to finally make his debut with his new group proved itself a hundred times tougher.

he knew it'd be a challenge debuting under one of the biggest, most successful entertainment companies in asia — the years of training in his homeland seemingly weren't enough in teaching him to handle the pressure and stress that'd come with living in a new, unfamiliar country with teammates he hardly knew. it was all so new to him.

sure, he'd quickly gotten used to being around the loud group of eight.. but he couldn't find that one person to run to when he needed a shoulder to cry on.

the boy was locked in a practice room, hours had passed of his isolation. he knew he was good enough to not make their team behind, he just needed some alone time. he couldn't let the others see him like this.

jo was homesick. he so desperately needed to be back in japan — so desperately needed to cry the tears being restricted, needed to relieve the stinging ache bubbling in his throat.

he froze as the doorknob began to shake, lowering the volume of the speakers as the door to the room right beside his was opened and closed again. a girl's voice echoed through the room, a girl speaking in both english and japanese. his eyes widened, he knew exactly who it was — he hadn't at all planned to officially meet misaki like this.

jo had been observing the girl for a while, amazed with her situation and how professionally she'd dealt with it all. he didn't know how she'd done it, he knew he himself would've given up on his dream after having an accident as traumatic as she'd had.

he knew he, himself, wouldn't have been living if he'd had an accident as traumatic as she'd had.

yet here she was — part of the group leading the fourth generation of k-pop. here she was, always putting on spectacular performances, seeming non-human as she never, ever let her tiredness show to the public.

he looked up to the girl, to say the very least. he'd always wished to grow a close relationship with her, yet with her busy schedule and his slowly picking up it's pace, he hadn't gotten the chance to.

he sighed as she ended her phone call and connected to the speakers, txt's presumable next title track now blasting through her practice space. he looked down at his clammy hands, shaking his head as he shied away from his idol, like always.

he increased the volume just a few clicks up, zoning back into his individual practice time.

nearly an entire hour had passed, and jo hadn't taken a break once. mia heard the repeated, countless steps next door - increasingly becoming more and more worried as she'd even taken multiple breaks because of her currently weakened stamina. she found a sliver of the shared mirror that'd been divided with walls covered in soundproof boards - finally catching sight of the hardworking company mate next door. she saw the boy's fair skin, recognizing jo's shiny black hair. she softly smiled, happy to see the company slowly growing with talented idols.

she sat on the floor, heavily breathing as the choreography paired with the high-energy song was proving itself more difficult than normal. the remained close to the small sliver she'd found, discreetly keeping an eye on jo as he continued his practice. mia wondered if the boy ever got tired - she'd been supporting the new group since their survival show had been announced to the company, never missing a broadcast or a voting period. jo had been one of her picks, if she was being honest.