𝐈𝐍 𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐌 / zerobaseone

𝐨. prank

january , 2O24

anyone that knew tanaka kazuyuki knew that he loved to sleep, the boy always being found asleep whenever he wasn't eating or working. true to his reputation, kazuyuki was sleeping, thus oblivious to the members and staff setting up cameras around the living room sofa he was asleep on.

the members all got into position, with their manager in front of them, setting up like they were all preparing for a meeting as the hidden cameras focused on kazuyuki. when given the signal by a staff member, which was a simple thumbs up, matthew woke the japanese boy up.

"hyung," matthew called quietly, shaking kazuyuki's shoulders gently. kazuyuki didn't even stir, too deep in sleep to hear or feel matthew. the candadian shook him a bit more violently, calling him louder with a smile. "hyung! yuki hyung! tanaka kazuyuki!"

at the use of his full name, he groggily opened his eyes. "what?"

"hurry up, we're having a meeting," ricky leaned forward in his seat, looking at kazuyuki through the fake glasses he wore.

kazuyuki's eyes widened in panic once he realized all of the members and their manager were all waiting for him to wake up. he quickly sat up and attempted to smooth down his now messy hair, muttering small apologies and giving half bows. in his half asleep state, he was too busy focusing on their manager to notice the cameras propped around the room.

"now, i have called this meeting for a serious reason." their manager looked at his phone, face deadpan. "i'm sorry to tell you this, but it has been revealed that there has been rigging in the voting for the rookie of the year award." kazuyuki's eyes widened, and he reached for the person next to him's hand, his victim being gyuvin. "i'm sorry... but zerobaseone lost the rookie of the year award by close to 3OO votes."

kazuyuki felt his eyes water and his chest constrict. he nodded and visibly fought back tears with his head hung, the members fighting back giggles obliviously. kazuyuki didn't look at anyone as he gave a small bow to their manager and a mumbled 'thank you' before he left, the japanese boy slumping onto the sofa.

"do they know who rigged it?" the boy's kept playing along, putting their acting skills on display as they engaged in conversation to keep the bit going.

kazuyuki bit his lip and zoned out, leaning against the arm of the sofa and matthew that was sitting on it. he picked at the skin around his nails, thoughts running rampant around his mind. a singular tear fell from his eye and he quickly sniffled and wiped it before any of the members noticed.

"hyung," matthew gasped regardless of kazuyuki's efforts to hide his face. "are you crying?" the member's attentions all went to kazuyuki and the room fell silent.

kazuyuki sat up and shook his head, wiping his eyes. "no! no, i'm ok. i'm just disappointed. i'm pretty sure it was my fault as well, a lot of people don't like me and-"

"no, it's not your fault yuki," hanbin interrupted him and hugged him close, kazuyuki immediately returning the hug.

zhang hao wiped kazuyuki's tears gently with the pads of his thumbs. "the votes weren't actually rigged, zuzu." he pointed at a camera behind him. "it was a prank."

kazuyuki's eyes watered again and he laughed, letting go of hanbin to fall against the sofa. he buried his face into his hands. "oh my gosh. i cried over a prank."

gunwook laughed and sat next to him, putting an arm around his shoulders. "it's okay, hyung. we honestly thought you were going to cry more than you did." kazuyuki hit his shoulder and pushed him away with a smile, knowing he was joking.

"i'm sorry, i didn't want to prank you," yujin muttered, hugging kazuyuki as well. kazuyuki smiled and hugged him back.

"this is why yujinnie's my favourite," kazuyuki told the members jokingly, smiling widely as he forgot all about the prank and the tears that had been shed dried on his cheeks.

author's notes

this is shit ik but shhhh