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... one year later...
"so tell us, niko," the interviewer began, his hands folded on his desk as he smiled strangely at the singer/songwriter. "it's been an entire year since you debuted with your first album, space cadet. since then, you've released multiple solos, albums, and have collaborated with some pretty big names. you were even nominated for best upcoming female artist a month after debut. how do you feel about all the success?"
niko beamed respectfully at the interviewer. he was one of the top rated talk show hosts in korea, and his team had personally asked ruby entertainment to let him have niko on his show.
"thank you, mr. seokjun. honestly, i'm still shocked every time i open my twitter or instagram and see the amount of people using my songs in their videos or wearing my merch. it's surreal..."
seokjun nodded, glancing down briefly at his script before pursing his lips and pushing it away. "now, my writer wants me to ask about your friendship with the band vybe, but i think our listeners are more interested in what we heard from vybe's mark lee the last time he was here." niko swallowed as seokjun asked his team to play the clip.
"dude, it's like, nothing has been confirmed by anyone, and yet her fans attack me like i'm some supervillain or something..."
niko stiffened. she tried for keep her face neutral, but she could practically feel her disgust leaking from her pores.
"... like, i'm not a bad guy! i don't even know niko like that, you know? she wrote a few of our songs, and i released that statement regarding something i did when i was in high school. people change."
her fist clenched around a pen, and she pulled her hand beneath the table in case anyone was watching. raising her chin, niko waited until the clip was over to look at the interviewer.
seokjun had a knowing smile spread across his lips. "what's your take on this, ms. tsukina? vybe fans worry that you think you're too good to stand up to your own fandom. what do you have to say to those people?"
niko knew she was being baited. she knew that no matter what she said, the talk show would find some way to flip it for a headline.
feigning a look of innocence, niko shrugged. "well, as you said, i have a good friendship with vybe. it's something i've cherished since before debuting, since, as many of you know, i worked for them." niko shot a sickly sweet smile at seokjun. "i learned a lot from them. maybe that's why my sales are so much higher than theirs."
it was a cheap shot, niko knew, one that would likely earn her backlash. she didn't care. she also knew that vybe was on the verge of disbandment, and ruby entertainment had already signed two of the five members with exclusive contracts. she wasn't going to mention that, though.
seokjun's ears were tinged pink, but niko couldn't tell if it was from embarrassment or frustration. still, he kept his voice neutral as he spoke. "that's right. you sold over three million copies of your newest album in just twenty-four hours. that's quite impressive."
