SEVENTEEN | SICKFICS - HURTFICS I

Minghao | Poison Part I

The night sky over Seoul was a soft navy blue, with faint stars twinkling above the massive Pledis Entertainment building. Inside one of its largest rehearsal halls, Seventeen was in the middle of their last run-through for the highly anticipated fanmeet scheduled for the next day. The room buzzed with energy, their trademark choreography in perfect synchronization, yet the atmosphere held an air of both excitement and exhaustion.

"Alright, let's take it from the top!" Hoshi's voice echoed as he clapped his hands twice. He stood at the front, sweating but brimming with energy.

"Again?" Seungkwan groaned, collapsing onto the floor. He wiped the sweat off his forehead with a towel and looked at Hoshi with exaggerated puppy eyes. "Hoshi-hyung, we've been doing this for hours."

"Yeah, I think we nailed it the last time," added Jeonghan, leaning back against the mirrored wall. He ruffled his damp hair, glancing at the others for support.

"We're close, but not perfect," Hoshi said firmly, turning to the group. "This is our first fanmeet in months. We can't let our Carats down."

Mingyu threw an arm around Hoshi's shoulders, grinning. "You say that, but we all know you just want to show off those new moves one more time."

The room burst into laughter, even Hoshi couldn't help but crack a smile. "Fine," he relented, his hands raised in mock surrender. "Let's take a five-minute break. But just five!"

While the members dispersed for a quick breather, Joshua and DK sat by the piano in one corner. DK playfully pressed a few random keys, while Joshua hummed along, forming an impromptu melody.

"Do you think they'll like the acoustic version tomorrow?" Joshua asked, his fingers tracing the keys thoughtfully.

"They'll love it," DK replied confidently. "Carats always love when we go acoustic. It feels personal, you know?"

"True," Joshua agreed with a smile. "Let's make it extra special. How about we add some harmonies for the second chorus?"

Nearby, Vernon and Dino were fiddling with their microphones, running through some of their parts. Dino adjusted his mic and glanced at Vernon. "Do you think we'll have time for the Q&A section tomorrow? We've got so many fun questions lined up."

Vernon nodded. "Yeah, I think so. We'll just have to keep the transitions smooth. Also, don't forget to plug your dance challenge during the fan interaction."

"Ah, right!" Dino grinned. "I hope someone actually tries it. It's harder than it looks."

At the center of the room, S.Coups and Woozi stood reviewing the schedule for the event. S.Coups, the ever-reliable leader, ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "Do you think we're overpacking the setlist?"

Woozi shook his head. "No way. This is what we do best. Carats know what to expect from us, and they'll appreciate the effort. Besides, you know Hoshi would riot if we cut even one dance break."

"True," S.Coups said, chuckling. "Okay, but let's make sure no one overdoes it. We need energy left for tomorrow."

On the far side of the room, Minghao was quietly stretching while Wonwoo sat cross-legged on the floor, flipping through his lyric sheets. "Hyung," Minghao called softly, "have you thought about what you're going to say during your solo part tomorrow?"

Wonwoo looked up, slightly startled. "Not really. I usually just go with the flow. Why, do you have something planned?"

Minghao smiled mysteriously. "Maybe. You'll see tomorrow."

"Alright, break's over!" Hoshi called out, clapping his hands. "Let's run the full setlist one last time, no interruptions."

As the music started, the members fell into their positions, their expressions growing serious. Despite the tiredness, their movements were sharp, their vocals flawless. The synergy between them was palpable, as it always was.