Answer: Louder Than Bombs

Chapter 4. Walls are listening

*BTS*

  Noting the confidentiality of the competition and the fact that they do not want to tell them something, Namjoon made a loud statement.

- Don't sign any more papers.

  He knew that they still had a lot of paperwork, since the most important document, on consent to participate, was still not presented to them. The conversation with Suho haunted him and, being a leader, he understood all the responsibility that fell on his shoulders that morning when he received a call from the director. It is impossible to change the past, but it is possible to affect the future.

- Hyung... - Jimin tugged at his shirt sleeve. - What if it's a trap? What if there is no competition and they just want to kill us?

- I doubt. Okay with us, but how did ATEEZ harm the music world in a year and a half? - Namjoon patted his friend on the shoulder. - Don't worry. There is no danger to our lives. Well... At least for now.

  The guys were brought to a hotel that had no name. They could not remember the road either, since the van that was waiting for them downstairs at the end of the meeting had time to transform: the windows became black and nothing could be seen. They didn't know where they were being taken. 
  The territory of the hotel was large enough, so the guys had a suggestion that this was an operating hotel since it was impossible to build anything new in such a short time. One detail only raised doubts - the wall. When the group entered the area, a large gate closed behind them. That was the conclusion Hoseok made, the sound was too loud. The hotel itself resembled something like a hive - in the middle of the gate stood the main building, two floors high. As it turned out later, it was the reception and a place for competition holders to stay at. On either side of it were small houses, each of which was surrounded by a strange white fence.

- It's electric, - explained the accompanying guy, 28 years old. - From 9 am to 9 pm. They will explain it to you later.

- In prison it's more comfortable, you know... - Yoongi rolled his eyes.

- Have you been there? - Jungkook asked.

- Yes, many times when I played monopoly. - Jungkook appreciated the joke with a ringing laugh.

  Jin and Namjoon returned from the main building with keys in hand, which looked like a white card with a blue hologram. They promised to bring the guys' things tomorrow morning, for today they were given pajamas of the same blue color as the card hologram.


- Blue doesn't suit me very well, although I look great in any color... - Jin remarked.


  Their "house" turned out to be pretty cute and didn't look like a place where dreams are about to break down. It had 4 rooms, a large bright kitchen, a living room with a TV, and a backyard equipped with a special place for a fire and boards for tree trunks that were benches.

- I'm sleeping alone! - Taehyung was the first to voice that wish.

- Hey! Why so? I also want to stay alone! And I'm older! - Hoseok crossed arms on his chest.

- Kid, give a road to the old man. - Yoongi was about to head for the room when Jin stopped him.

 - I think the best thing to do is give this room to Namjoon. He is the leader, and most of the headaches will fall on his shoulders.

- How can a headache fall on your shoulders? If... it's in the head? - Jungkook only got a light slap on the head in return. - Okay... I agree.

- Me too, - Jimin held up his hand. Everyone else follows him.

- Thanks hyung! - Namjoon put his arm around Jin and retired to his own quarters. He had a lot to think about, having no specific questions or answers. Many things were still unspoken. Why didn't EXO receive an application? And if they did, why did Suho lie to Namjoon? If he didn't lie, would he ask the competition management to lie? What does EXO have that others don't?

- What if SM Town hid the application? (SM Town - company that is producing EXO band and many others).

- Hyung. - Tae knocked on the door. - Can I come in?

- Sure.

- I just remembered, all the groups and solo artists received the news on the same morning, right?

- Yes, we were told so.
- When we were scheduled to meet at the head office, at the same time Minho wanted to meet and discuss the script for his drama.

- So what?

- Well... If he had information about the competition, do you think his head would be filled with such trifles as the script and kdramas?

- So... Wait... It turns out that... SHINEE didn't get anything either?! (SHINEE - another group that is under SM Town company)

*ATEEZ*

- It's weird that they put us in such a fancy hotel, even though one of us will never call ourselves an idol again. Somehow it's very... Very... Cruel. - San looked around the house with Mingi. - And EXO... Why don't they participate?

- Maybe it's all a joke? - Mingi refused to see only bad in everything.

- If it was April now, I would think about your theory.

- Hey, uhm... - Yunho ran to them. - I think I broke something...

- WE ARE HERE ONLY HALF AN HOUR! - Seonghwa, being the oldest and the most responsible one, facepalmed himself.

- What is it? - Wooyoung was holding something similar between the flashlight pen and a car part.- It was on the underside of the couch... I just... I didn't think it won't handle me!

- How many times have I asked not to jump on sofas? AND? - Seonghwa examined the already broken sofa and shook his head. - Pray that they won't count it as a minus.

- Guys, stop. It seems to be a hidden camera. Look, here... - Hongjoong twirled it in his hands several times.

- How? We did not have such a clause in the contract.

- San, we haven't had a contract yet. - Seonghwa took the camera in his hands. - Does sit also record sound?

- Probably. So this room is still clean, but it won't be for long. Tomorrow they will fix or install a new camera. We need to pretend that we don't know anything. - Hongjoong took the phone and called the number given to him at the reception.

- Hello? Hello... I know that we have been here for only half an hour, but one of us accidentally broke something and... No, he didn't hurt himself, but we don't know if we can use the sofa normally... Yes, it seems that one of the inserts that hold back the pressure when sitting... - Yeosang and Jongho looked at each other.

- Yeah... Ah, great! Thank you very much, I promise not to jump anymore... Good night!

- What's the pressure, huh? - Jongho raised an eyebrow.

- If they find out what we know about cameras, it's only a disadvantage for us. We will do everything as always, but if you want to discuss something, then do it somehow differently. Let's think of it.

- We need to warn BTS. They don't know about cameras probably! - Mingi was right. All 8 people plunged into minutes of thinking. 

- Maybe we should sing? - Yunho suggested.

- I don't know any songs called "Hidden Camera" or anything like that.

- Hyung, that would be too obvious. You can focus on the clip. Remember their song "N.O."

- And this is a nice idea...

  San built a fire in no time. Childhood in the camp has served as a good experience now. When everyone sat down, they decided to lure BTS out of the house.

"Geonbaehaja like a thunder..." - San began. They sang as loud as they could. They needed to get the "opponents" out of the shelter. Jimin was the first to answer their call. Mingi noticed him and waved. The fence was not visible as well, plus they and BTS were separated by the distance to the football field. Jin followed Jimin, so it seemed to Jongho. When Hongjoong spotted Namjoon, he abruptly stopped the guys.

* BTS *

- Why are they singing this particular song? - Jungkook looked at Namjoon, who was peering in the direction of his opponents.

- As I recall the video... - Yoongi squatted down. - We are so white under the gun of all these...

- I understood! - Taehyung ran up to Namjoon and whispered something in his ear. - Maybe?

- Exactly. One second... - Namjoon went inside and returned after 5-7 minutes. - You're right. We are now exactly under the gun, as in that video.

- I mean... Behind us... - Namjoon stopped Jin and nodded. - Can anyone sing the song "Thank You" SEVENTEEN? - Jungkook stepped forward and started singing the chorus.

- Well, we sorted out communication.

* ATEEZ *

- "Thank you"? Did they understand? - Mingi asked. Hongjoong nodded.

- I think yes.