If shooting the group reality show counts as tough, then overdubbing the vocals is what truly pushes every member to the brink.

By their count, collAGE had already been in this studio for over five hours. When the manager first notified them they needed to re-record parts of the debut track, everyone assumed it would just be patching a line or two—nothing that would take long before they could go home and collapse. But as the producer kept asking for take after take, they realized this wasn't going to be as simple as they'd imagined.

Especially when Lan Yu kept being told to redo his pitifully few lines—so much so that everyone had to wait for him to finish before they could move on—he quickly realized that, for whatever reason, the producer had it in for him.

The producer in charge today was an old hand at the company. His reputation wasn't great, but thanks to his seniority, few dared voice opinions about his high-handed ways; besides, he handled the bulk of the company's group recordings. As idols at the bottom of the food chain, collAGE had even less right to talk back.

So the members all knew they could only toe the line and record as they were told; and yet—knowing that was one thing. collAGE, by definition, meant variables.

"Producer-nim, it doesn't sound to me like Yu was off-key." When Lan Yu was told yet again to retake his part, Luke cut in. Everyone—including Lan Yu—was startled by the sudden interjection; all eyes swung to him.

"Does he sound like he's singing with any emotion to you? You think just because I'm not making you redo anything, you're qualified to tell other people what to do?" The producer let out a cold laugh. There was a blade to his voice.

"No, Producer-nim, that's not what I meant. I just felt Yu's last try was fine. If we keep making him repeat without giving him something specific and concrete, it'll be hard for him to know what he's supposed to do to meet your expectations."

"Oh, so now I don't know how to direct? What is it you lot are practicing every day, exactly? You can't even find your own problems, show up at the studio to make fools of yourselves, and then you want to blame me for not knowing how to teach you?" The clenched-teeth anger was plain in his voice.

"N—no, Producer-nim," Lan Yu hurried to cut in before the two could go further. "I'm really sorry my performance made you go to so much trouble and held up everyone's recording schedule. I'll try a few more takes. Please don't blame the leader—he's only worried this will slow things down."

"Isn't it your fault the schedule's getting held up? What are you even trying to show off for?" The producer swung the muzzle toward Lan Yu.

"Yes, Producer-nim. I'm sorry. I didn't prepare well." Lan Yu bowed over and over in apology. Either way, it's better if I take the heat myself.

Maybe because he'd lowered himself so far—and because more pointless wrangling would only waste more time—the producer cursed under his breath a few more times and then had Lan Yu sing several more takes. Everyone knew the last few were just senseless venting, taking it out on Lan Yu. But each time he was told to go again, Lan Yu agreed at once and did it; he didn't give Luke another opening to butt in.

When they finally wrapped, Lan Yu left the booth without a word and headed straight for the bathroom without looking back. At first Luke thought he'd just gone to pee; he sat waiting by the door with Kaede for a while. But when half an hour passed with no sign of Lan Yu, Luke realized something was wrong. He hurried to the bathroom to find him—only to discover the stall door locked from the inside.

Luke tapped lightly. "Yu, you okay in there?"

"Taking a shit."

"…Yu, you've been in there over thirty minutes."

"I'm constipated."

"…If there's anything you can tell me, I'll do my best to help."

"Can you shit for me?"

"…" Luke was at a loss—that was not the reply he'd expected. From the sound of it, Lan Yu didn't seem heartbroken; and in any case, the response was clearly telling Luke to stop asking. He genuinely didn't know what to say next.

Knock, knock. Two taps sounded behind him. Luke turned to see Kaede at the bathroom door, waving him over.

"Let him be for a bit." Once Luke stepped out and pulled the door closed, Kaede said it to his face.

"Is Yu okay right now?" Luke could only pin his hopes for an answer on Kaede.

"Probably the same as always—sitting on the toilet lid, contemplating life." Kaede answered unhurriedly, like he'd seen this scene play out a hundred times.

Luke sighed. "…He must be upset, right?"

"Aren't you?" Kaede looked at him. "If it were you in there."

"No. If I sing badly, I'll practice more next time." Luke tilted his head. He clearly didn't get what Kaede was driving at. "You can't guarantee you're at your best every session. If today was off, adjust and do it right next time, right?"

"You really are different from us." Kaede listened quietly and then said, "No wonder Yu cares so much about you." The last part was so soft and quick Luke didn't catch it; when he asked Kaede to repeat himself, Kaede clammed up.

"So," Luke knew Kaede wouldn't say it again, so he changed tack. "Kaede, do you know why Yu's upset?"

"…" Kaede glanced at Luke, then pointed at the bathroom door. "It'd be better if you asked him directly."

"But didn't you just say he's doing what he always does—hiding by himself to be upset?"

"Mm."

"So he always handled it alone before—didn't tell you what he was thinking?"

"Mm."

"Ugh." Luke pressed a hand to his forehead and let out a long sigh. "Sometimes I really don't get you and Yu. Same when he fell and got hurt. Why does it feel like I'm the only one worrying, and the two of you are here to help me—as if I were the one who needed help—instead."

"Maybe Yu isn't the person you imagine needs help." Kaede's tone made it impossible to tell what he was feeling, and Luke couldn't read it off his face either.

"…" The words landed like a punch Luke hadn't seen coming; he reeled for a second, speechless. "Kaede, are you saying I'm meddling too much?"

"No." Kaede denied it so firmly there was no room to suspect it was just lip service. "He's just the special one."

"…" Luke opened his mouth, but the words didn't come out the way he'd planned; he swallowed them back. "Then what did you do before, Kaede?" After a while, he finally asked.

"I didn't do anything." Kaede looked at Luke. "But you're Luke. Not Kaede Fujiwara."

Luke stared at Kaede, dazed.

All right. Time to go back. After Lan Yu sat on the toilet lid until his butt had gone a little numb, he stood, patted his pants, and decided to head out. He didn't expect that as soon as he pushed the door open, a familiar voice would stop him—"Yu."

"Leader-nim, why are you still here?" Lan Yu truly hadn't expected Luke to still be leaning against the wall by the door, waiting for him.

"I was really worried about you—you've been holed up in there for almost four hours." Luke came over and took both of Lan Yu's arms in his hands, eyes quickly scanning up and down as if checking for anything wrong.

"…Sometimes bowel movements are difficult." Even he didn't find the words convincing; he had to look off to the side to avoid Luke's gaze, brimming with concern.

"I know you don't necessarily want to tell me what's on your mind. It's just—seeing you like this, I can't not worry." Luke looked him up and down again and again; once he was sure nothing seemed wrong with Lan Yu, he finally exhaled, pulled him into a tight hug, and spoke.

Lan Yu let Luke hold him close and didn't refuse. He sighed. "Leader-nim, instead of worrying about my mood, you should be worrying about how I'm going to seriously slow the team down at this rate."

"Won't you fall apart first if you keep this up, Yu? You're already recording while injured. You don't have to be so hard on yourself." Lan Yu couldn't see Luke's face, but he could feel the tension in the way Luke wanted to hold him tighter while being afraid of hurting him.

Lan Yu returned the embrace lightly and patted his back. "You're the leader. You should be thinking about the whole team—and not let me be the one who drags the team down."

"What are you talking about, Yu? You're a member of collAGE. I'm not going to ignore your safety for the sake of some so-called big picture." As Luke said it, he got visibly worked up; the hands that had been so careful couldn't help tightening, pulling Lan Yu even closer.

"Leader-nim," Lan Yu eased himself back a little to give Luke a moment to settle, then looked him in the eye. "I didn't realize you were someone who doesn't care whether the other members live or die." His teasing made it hard to tell if he was putting on a brave face.

"Yu, you matter too. Without you, we wouldn't be a complete team."

"We haven't even had an official stage yet. The company still has time to replace me if they want. Is it really a good idea to be saying something that heavy right now?"

"…" Luke looked at him for a long moment. "Yu, are you ready to leave at any time?"

"I just said it as a possibility." Lan Yu only shrugged.

"Even so, you're one of us now. That's a fact that won't change. I'm not going to preemptively give up on you over a possibility that may never happen." The conviction in Luke's voice told Lan Yu there was no way he could talk him down in a few words.

Lan Yu could only pat Luke's shoulder. "Whatever the case, you're a good leader. Thank you, Leader-nim."

"If you really want to thank me," Luke caught the hand Lan Yu was withdrawing after the pat and looked at him, "come somewhere with me tonight."

"Mm?" Luke's invite surprised him, but he didn't refuse.