Answer: Louder Than Bombs

Chapter 1. New rules - new enemies

------------------------ *BTS dormitory* ------------------------

(dormitory of KPOP idols - the house where the band is living together during their career) 

- How many eggs do you need to fry? Are they supposed to shoot with oil like this or?... Jin hyung? (Hyung - the word younger boys address older boys, literally translates as "older brother")... JIN, THEY WILL BURN NOW, PLEASE LOOK HERE...!

- Ah... Namjoon, just GO AWAY! Please! Actually, it's Jimin's turn to cook today. JIMIN-A! - Footsteps and light chuckles came from the living room. Jimin and Taehyung came running at the first call of the elder and took the position of the players during the free-kick.

- Hyung, I had a live stream for Army (AMRY - fandom of BTS), so Joonn-hyung agreed to cook for me. 

- Wait, but you were going to watch a movie... AAA! - Taehyung squatted down, gripping his lower abdomen. - Yes... Yes, live broadcast...

  Jin rolled his eyes and only gave the younger ones a condescending look. Somehow he managed to save the eggs that were about to be burnt. While his three assistants were setting the table, Jin fried some more food in case the guys didn't like the dish from the chief of Namjoon. Jin's signature scrambled eggs were always seasoned with flour. It gave the edges of the eggs crunch and juiciness. He opened the top shelf (where he always hid Jimin's cookies) and pulled out a bag of flour. If the phone hadn't vibrated in this silence of the kitchen harmony, then the flour would not have fallen out of Jin's hands.

- Yah! Namjoon-ah! How many times should I say "Don't leave your phone in the kitchen!", because it can be fried or boiled! Why is it always you that I have to clean everything after!

  Namjoon slowly left the kitchen and walked into the living room, where he met the big eyes of the younger ones.

- It's okay, he just grumbles like always ... Oh, Bang Shi-hyuk? - Namjoon quickly dialed the director's number and sat down on the sofa. Jimin and V also sat around him. - Yes, sir, did you call? I left my phone in the kitchen, and there... Got it, okay... I see. - He looked at his friends on either side of Namjoon himself. - Get ready, we are going to our office.

- Oh, why? Did something happen? - Tae asked.

- Will they scold us? What have we done this time? There is nothing yet... - Jimin reasoned. Namjoon called the rest of the group, and they all sat down at the table, where breakfast was already waiting for them. Namjoon called a taxi.


*** *** *** ***


- Sir, are we in trouble? - Jimin couldn't calm down.

- Ah, these are your live videos... Why couldn't you go to the toilet BEFORE the live, huh?

- No, Yoongi, it's not you, - Bang Shi-Hyuk began. - But I want you to listen to me and take what I said seriously. Here. - Ban handed Namjoon some documents. The leader began to read. Everyone was silent and waited for the leader. Namjoon turned page after page, there were about 12 of them. Hoseok leaned against Yoongi's shoulder. Yoongi tried in every possible way to prevent this but gave up. Finally, after about 7 minutes, Namjoon finished.

- And what should we do? How... How will it be?

- What? What will happen? - Jungkook asked him. Namjoon looked back at the director. He took off his glasses and leaned back in his chair.

- Boys, you have to sweat a little to defend your place in K-POP. A law was passed on the reduction of performers by exactly 50%. Unfortunately, I was unable to prove to them the importance of BTS in the global market. You, like everyone else, will have to fight.

- That is... Some groups will simply cease to exist? - Jimin looked at the director.

- Yes, if they fail the test.- What tests? - Yoongi asked.

- I don't know. Nobody knows. They start next week. Look, - Shi-Hyuk opened the documents on page 6. - "Challenges will be conducted without repeating locations and tasks. Groups and solo artists will be notified in advance. Challenges will be divided into the following categories: power, intellectual, dance, and vocal. Groups and solo artists will compete against each other, the distribution can be found on page 11. The group or solo artist with the most points will deservedly remain in the music industry. The losing group or solo artist will be forced to end their KPOP career."

- Okay, hold on for a second, - Jungkook stood up. - The losing group... So we are competing with someone? And with whom?

------------------------ *ATEEZ dormitory* ------------------------

- Seonghwa, have you seen my lucky shirt? - Hongjoong gave up trying to find it on his own after 30 minutes of searching. He knew that if something was missing, then either Seonghwa or Mingi was in the room. Since Mingi had been playing video games all morning, the only option remained was Hwa.

- Saw it. Although it would be better not to see that... It's in the washing machine, and if I were you, I would pray that it would help.

- But I wanted to wear it today...

- Not on my shift. What is this... What does this smell like? - Hongjoong looked down. - Don't tell me you left the kitchen for...

- BURNING!!! BURNING!!! SAN, DO ANYTHING! WE ARE BURNING!

- ... Wooyon-a and San-a!

  After opening all the windows and cleaning the oven, Seonghwa called the others. All eight members of the group finally sat down to breakfast. On the table, there were what appeared to be pancakes, semi-raw bacon, fresh fruit, and chocolate milk. San and Wooyoung were sitting like mice, which was completely different from them.

- Come on, it's fine, - Seonghwa patted Wooyoung on the shoulder. - The main thing is you didn't get burned.

- I wanted to help...

- I know, look. - He took Yeosang's plate to show the younger, snatching it out. - Almost perfect pancake. You're doing fine.

- Yes... And you made ME wash it after... And you didn't let me just cut the apples... - Yunho grumbled.

- Because you tried to turn the rice in the air on the pan and dropped it on the floor.  And then you wanted to put it back on the pan!

- Nobody would have noticed!

- God...What is the possibility that I have eaten food off the floor more than once?... - Jongho shot a wordy glance in Yunho's direction.

- Huh? No no! I never... well, maybe once...

- JUNG YUNHO!

- Just kidding! I'm kidding!

- Erm... Guys, we urgently need to go to the office. - Hongjoong was holding the phone. By his face, Seonghwa and Yeosang knew immediately that this was not due to another unscheduled rehearsal.

- If this is about the screenshot I sent Mingi, then it was an accident. - San said it in a whisper so that it could only be heard by those at the table.

- Why are you whispering? - Mingi asked. San just waved it off. After quickly clearing their plates, the boys went to their rooms, starting to pack.

- HONGJOONG, PUT YOUR T-SHIRT BACK IN THE WASHING MACHINE!


*** *** *** ***


- So... We debuted just 2 years ago. And already need to pack?

- If you would collect things for washing with the same enthusiasm during the time...

- Okay, Seonghwa, it's not funny right now.

- Even then it was not funny to me...

  Seonghwa and Hongjoong read page after page, sometimes going back to previous ones, sometimes skipping unnecessary lines. They read aloud only the important parts.

- "All groups and solo artists will be required to undergo a medical examination before participating. If there is a danger to life, the test will not be stopped. All participants will be placed in special houses and isolated from communication with the outside world in order to avoid leakage of information about the tests."

- ... "The losing band or solo artist will be disqualified from the K-POP scene." And what group did we get? - Jongho asked. Hongjoong went to page 11. 

- BTS.

  There was silence. No one said anything, but thoughts were spinning around. This meant that they had to compete with the group, which inspired and motivated them. With the band whose song they used at their first MAMA (Mnet Asian Music Awards). With a group that has 8 years of practice and experience. With the group, they almost became friends.

- But... I don't want to compete with them. - Wooyoung looked at Hongjoong for support, but he just shook his head.

- Listen, - the director sighed. - I know you're scared because BTS is at a high level. But you are no longer rookies. Your performance amazed everyone. You have a strong fanbase and their support is endless. You are no worse than BTS. Clear? - everyone nodded. - Okay. Tomorrow they will send me the details of the first trial and everything. I, like you, have no idea what will happen. You can go. Don't you dare to give up already! We'll see who wins. Good? 8 make one team!

- 8 make one team! - the others shouted in unison.