Chasing stars

A newbeggining

Aren Daichi Nakamura still wasn't sure why he had left behind a lucrative modelling career in Japan for the unpredictable world of K-pop.

Three weeks ago, he had been walking fashion runways in Tokyo, surrounded by designers, photographers, stylists, and people who knew exactly what to do with a face like his.

Now he was standing in a small apartment in Seoul, staring at his suitcase and wondering whether his sister had finally lost her mind.

“You're going to be late!”

Ichika's voice came from the hallway.

Aren groaned and buried his face in his pillow.

“I heard you.”

“Then get up!”

“I am up.”

“You're lying.”

Aren smiled despite himself.

That was Ichika. She had always known when he was lying.

They were half-siblings, but the distinction had never mattered to either of them. Their parents' complicated history had given them every reason to become distant, yet somehow they had grown up closer than most full siblings.

Ichika was twenty-one, only two years older than Aren, and already preparing for her group's debut. She had been the one who convinced him that coming to South Korea was a good idea.

Apparently, having an established modelling career wasn't enough.

Apparently, he needed a new adventure.

And apparently, that adventure had to involve becoming a K-pop idol.

Aren finally dragged himself out of bed.

“Happy now?”

Ichika looked him over.

“No.”

“No?”

“You look like you haven't slept.”

“I haven't.”

She sighed.

“I knew it.”

Aren grabbed a shirt from the chair.

“I was thinking.”

“That is usually dangerous.”

He threw the shirt at her.

She caught it easily and laughed.

“Come on. Your first day matters.”

Aren stopped.

That reminded him exactly why his stomach had been twisting all morning.

His first day.

Until recently, modelling had been the only career he had ever seriously considered. He had started when he was seventeen, and within two years he had built a reputation that allowed him to work regularly.

But lately, every runway had started to feel the same.

Walk.

Pose.

Change clothes.

Smile.

Repeat.

He wanted something more.

That was how Seoul had happened.

HJS Production had seen his potential and offered him an opportunity that was difficult to refuse.

The strange thing was that Aren still wasn't entirely sure what they saw in him.

He knew he was attractive. He wasn't arrogant about it; modelling had simply taught him to accept it as a fact.

His mixed heritage gave him an unusual appearance. His father was Japanese, while his mother, Noemie, was Haitian. His golden-brown skin, dark hair, and distinctive features had always made him stand out.

Standing out was useful in fashion.

Whether it would be useful in K-pop was another question.

“I still think this is crazy,” Aren admitted.

Ichika smiled.

“That's because you're scared.”

“I'm not scared.”

“You didn't sleep.”

“That proves nothing.”

“You've been staring at the same shirt for five minutes.”

Aren looked down.

She was right.

He pulled it on.

“Fine. Maybe I'm a little nervous.”

“A little?”

He glared at her.

She grinned.

“You'll be fine.”

Aren wanted to believe her.

They left their apartment with barely enough time to spare.

Seoul was already alive when they stepped outside. Cars moved steadily through the streets, people hurried toward work, and huge advertisements covered buildings around them.

This city was different from Tokyo.

Not completely different.

But different enough.

There was an energy to Seoul that Aren couldn't quite explain.

Maybe that was why he had come.

He wanted something that made him feel alive again.

They took a taxi to HJS headquarters.

Aren watched the city through the window, his thoughts racing.

He had heard enough stories about the Korean entertainment industry to know that talent wasn't everything.

Image mattered.

Discipline mattered.

Connections mattered.

And, perhaps most importantly, the company behind an artist mattered.

HJS was still relatively young, but it was already making a name for itself.

Aren had been told he would begin with Korean-language lessons and training.

He was already fluent in Japanese and English and spoke French well enough to hold a conversation.

Korean was another matter.

“You'll be fine,” Ichika said, apparently reading his expression again.

“You say that a lot.”

“Because you need to hear it.”

The taxi stopped outside HJS headquarters.

Aren looked up at the building.

His stomach tightened.

This was real.

He had actually done it.

He had left Japan.

He had left modelling.

And now he was about to step into an entirely different world.

Ichika reached for the door.

“I'll see you later.”

Aren looked at her.

“You're leaving me?”

“You're nineteen.”

“And?”

“You can survive an hour without your big sister holding your hand.”

“I never said I needed you.”

“You're welcome.”

She climbed out laughing.

Aren shook his head.

He waited until the taxi pulled away before turning toward the building.

For a moment, he simply stood there.

Then he took a breath.

One step.

Then another.

Inside, everything moved quickly.

Staff hurried through the lobby. Trainees walked past carrying dance bags. Someone rushed toward an elevator with a stack of documents in his arms.

Aren suddenly felt very aware of himself.

He adjusted his jacket.

He was used to people looking at him.

Today, however, it felt different.

Today they weren't looking at a model.

They were looking at a potential idol.

A receptionist directed him toward the training area.

He thanked her and walked down the corridor.

He didn't know it yet, but somewhere inside that building was the man who was about to change his life.

Hyun Shik Jong had already seen his face.

He had already watched him dance.

And he had already begun wondering why he couldn't stop looking at him.

Aren had no idea.

All he knew was that this was his first day.

And he had a feeling he was about to discover that leaving Japan had been the easiest decision he would ever make.

The difficult part was going to be everything that came next.