SCI MYSTERY (idol au)

Chapter 16: Balancing Acts

The whirlwind of their debut had left Eclipse on a high, with the energy of the crowd still echoing in their minds. The success of their first live stream brought a sense of accomplishment, yet, as the excitement faded, reality began to set in. For Bai Chi, it meant a return to the demands of school, a responsibility he had nearly forgotten amidst the frenzy of training and performances.

"Alright, guys," Bai Chi announced one evening during a break, his tone bright but serious. "I need to focus on my studies. Exams are coming up."

The rest of the members looked at him with a mixture of admiration and concern. "But you've been skipping classes!" Zhao Hu exclaimed, leaning forward. "You can't just cram everything last minute, right?"

"Yeah, don't be too overconfident!" Mahan added, his expression half-joking, half-serious. "We all know how scary exams can be!"

Bai Chi chuckled, shaking his head. "You guys worry too much! Studying is my strong suit, remember? I'll be fine!" He waved his hand dismissively, trying to assure his friends, but the playful banter had done little to alleviate the tension in the room.

Despite his casual attitude, the group couldn't shake their concern for him. They were used to comforting him, but now it seemed like the tables had turned. Bai Chi, with his natural optimism, found himself in the strange position of comforting his friends. "Seriously, I've got this! I've been studying a lot, and I promise I'll do my best," he said, attempting to reassure them.

"I just hate that you have to balance so much," Bai Yutong said, his voice laced with worry. "We want you to succeed, and if you're feeling overwhelmed, we'll support you however we can."

The group had already canceled most of their training and idol photoshoots to give Bai Chi some breathing room. Even Gongsun Ce and Bai Jingtang, usually calm and composed, found themselves fretting over him. "Are you sure you don't need any help with your studies?" Gongsun asked, his brows furrowed as he tried to gauge Bai Chi's stress levels.

"I'm good, really!" Bai Chi insisted, his smile unwavering. "I've studied everything we've gone over this semester. I promise you don't need to worry."

As the days passed, however, Bai Chi noticed the atmosphere around him was different. The other members seemed tense, hovering around him as if he were a delicate vase that could shatter at any moment. Despite their concern, he continued to reassure them, diving into his studies with a focus that surprised even him. His ability to remember what he read made the material seem easy, though he didn't let on how hard he had worked to reach that level of confidence.

While Bai Chi was knee-deep in textbooks, two other members were navigating their own journey: Bai Yutong and Zhan Zhao had finally decided it was time to come clean about their feelings for each other. After weeks of unspoken tension and subtle glances, they were ready to face the team together.

"Let's do it," Zhan Zhao said, his tone determined but nervous as he stood with Bai Yutong in the practice room, surrounded by mirrors that reflected their anxious expressions.

Bai Yutong nodded, steeling himself. "We'll just tell them straight up. No beating around the bush."