misfits (PUBLISHING FOR BRYNN 🙄)

INTRO: Step One

INTRO: Step One. 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"Jae-Sik, I don't care what you do! We haven't debuted any artists since the incident with KAYOTIK, even before that our artists weren't received well." The woman pauses, letting out a muffled noise of frustration before continuing. "Listen Jae-Sik, I cannot afford to keep the business running if we don't debut a new group soon. Go round up the female trainees, we're going through with the plan." The boss says sternly, her eyes watching Jae-sik slowly deflate at her words.

"But-" Jae-sik mutters under his breath before he is cut short by his boss signalling to be silent with her fingers.

She clicks her tongue with frustration, "No buts Jae-sik! This is our final shot at keeping Arcane afloat. We need to debut this group successfully or we lose everything! Do you understand that?"

Jae-sik sighs in defeat and nods his head in acknowledgement, "I'll go alert them now." 

His boss's voice stops him before he can leave the office, "Jae-sik, I am entrusting this plan to you. Please decide wisely or else we both lose our jobs." 

Jae-sik freezes up before gritting his teeth and leaving the office without saying anything else. Despite his opinion on his boss's rash actions, Jae-sik knows his boss is correct in the end. Ever since they had debuted their male duo - KAYOTIK - Arcane had gone under. He can't deny the odds are against Arcane now since then.

The man scans his surroundings as he walks down the corridors of the building. Even though Arcane Entertainment is a small company, his boss had managed to buy a comfortably sized building that could help hold their label together for the meantime. For the last few years, the building had started to feel more like home. Jae-sik reminiscences over his frequent visits to the company in the past. Before all that mess had happened, his lips twitch upwards into a small smile, recalling the times he once felt like he was at home.

Jae-sik stops in front of a dressing room, his eyes falling to the fading sign. In bold letters, it reads KAYOTIK. Jae-sik sighs, his hand hovers over the door rusting, metal door handle for a second before he shakes his head and resumes his journey. 

He stops once again, his gaze narrowing on the shoddy plastic door labelled "LOUNGE". If his intuitions were correct, the female trainees he is looking for will be right behind this door. Jae-sik takes one last deep breath and opens the door, revealing a small but comfy room inside.

"MANAGER!" A female voice shouts and a young girl with shoulder-length brunette hair runs over, tackling the male into a hug. "What are you doing here manager? Don't you have a meeting with Mrs Song?" 

Jae-sik pulls himself away from the clinging female and dusts himself off. He glances for a brief moment at the four other females in the room, then his gaze returns to the one standing right in front of him. Jae-sik sees the confusion in her eyes and shakes his head furiously, snapping him back to focus.

"Well Mirae, that's why I am here. Go join the other girls on the seats, I have to tell you something." He whispers, watching Mirae smile and nod her head as she skips over to the seating area and seats herself down next to one of the other females.

Jae-sik walks over and stands in front of the five girls. Every one of them staring at him with curiosity and confusion. The news he has ready to present isn't the easiest, especially knowing the burdens that will follow. This results in Jae-Sik's thoughts starting to trail but they are cut short by an irritated voice.

"Manager, are you just going to stand there wondering all day or are you here to say something?" The tallest girl speaks out, her eyes furrowing with annoyance. She shifts uncomfortably in her seat as Jae-sik's attention snaps to her.

He clears his throat and counts to three in his head before speaking out, "Girls, I have to reveal something. What I am going to tell you now is life-changing and what Mrs Song has entrusted into my hands. I can't think of any other trainees that are better for this than you, so please hear me out." 

"Continue." Haeun prompts, an eyebrow quirking at Jae-sik's plea. He swallows down the knots of anxiety forming in his throat and forces a smile onto his face. 

"You five; Sakura, Emi, Haeun, Soohyun and Mirae will be debuting in our next group. Since the disbandment of KAYOTIK, Mrs Song and I have been planning to debut a new girl group. This feels rushed but the future of Arcane depends on this debut. I understand if this is sudden, especially for you Mirae but we do not have much longer left to procrastinate. Out of all the trainees here, you five show the most potential in terms of what an idol needs - passion, talent and teamwork. Any questions?" 

The room falls silent after Jae-sik's revelation.