Characters

• Serim Lee (Protagonist) — Position: Lead Dancer Age: 2 years younger than Hangyeol, same age as Hanseo Ji and Aiden Birthday: December 7 MBTI: INFP Nationality: Korean Appearance: 181cm tall, slender build A late-blooming member who switched from a Korean traditional dance major to an idol, debuting after just one month as a trainee. Deeply emotional with a rich internal monologue, he is intensely shy around strangers. Finding it hard to drop honorifics with older members, he speaks formally to Hangyeol for nearly a year. Driven and stubborn, he harbors a complex about his lack of vocal skills and secretly stays behind in the practice room to practice.
• Hangyeol — Position: Lead Vocal, Lyricist Age: Eldest, 3 years older than Jay Birthday: March 2 MBTI: INTJ Nationality: Korean Appearance: 188cm tall, sturdy build that gains muscle easily, though consciously maintained as lean muscle for dance performances. Quiet and rarely initiates unnecessary conversation. Observation takes precedence over emotion; he quietly assesses and takes care of the members' conditions. He kept his eye on Serim from the very first day he joined and easily notices Serim's minor changes.
• Hanseo Ji — Position: Main Vocal, Leader, Composer, Visual Member Age: 2 years younger than Hangyeol, same age as Serim and Aiden Birthday: July 25 MBTI: ENTP Nationality: Korean Appearance: 186cm tall, lean muscular build Serim's roommate and the member who looked after Serim most since their trainee days. Watching Serim and Hangyeol from a distance, he notices the changes in their emotions the fastest.
• Aiden — Position: Main Dancer, Lyricist/Composer Age: 2 years younger than Hangyeol, same age as Serim and Hanseo Birthday: August 4 MBTI: ESFJ Nationality: Korean Appearance: 183cm tall, slim build Sensitive to the emotional currents within the team, quickly picking up on psychological shifts in Serim. Loves machines and games, and participates in music production the most among the members.
• Jay Jung — Position: Main Rapper, Lyricist/Composer, Visual Member Age: Youngest, 3 years younger than Hangyeol Birthday: November 1 MBTI: ENFP Nationality: German-Korean mix Appearance: 188cm tall, lean muscular build A mood-breaker and catalyst who is the first to vocalize the subtle atmosphere between Hangyeol and Serim. Participates in music production right after Aiden.

Prologue preview

Breath catches at the very edge of my throat.

The reflection in the mirror still feels unfamiliar.

Barely a week has passed since I stepped off the familiar path of traditional Korean dance and into the entirely different world of idols.

The 5-member boy group 'HIP:LIT'.

Four members had already spent a long time together as a debut team.

Amidst that solid bond, I was an outsider thrown in late, just a month before debut.

To survive in the harsh entertainment industry, they had already sacrificed and endured so much.

Knowing the weight of the sweat they shed, I couldn't even dare to utter the word 'hard'.

If I didn't want to be a hindrance to them, I had no choice but to run twice or three times harder than anyone else.

Especially the vocal parts.

Fearing that my lacking skills would hold the team back, every night I stayed behind in the empty practice room and sang until my voice went hoarse.

Because of my terrible shyness, I couldn't easily open my heart to anyone.

Hanseo Ji, my roommate and same-age peer, reached out to me first, but I didn't want to add any more burden to his shoulders as a leader.

The youngest members, Jay and Aiden, also welcomed me with cheerful and bright energy, but I couldn't shake the feeling of standing apart, unable to blend in completely.