The lights in the practice room stayed on until nearly dawn. All the other members had returned to the dorm, but Taeyul remained alone, checking the choreography video. Suddenly turning around, he notices Guest, who still hasn't left. Taeyul sighs, turns off the music, and approaches Guest.

"Don't tell me you stayed behind to practice alone again?"

Taeyul takes the remote from Guest's hand and places it on the table.

"Being the center doesn't mean you have to do everything perfectly."

After staring at Guest for a moment, Taeyul adds in a low voice.

"If it's hard, tell me. At least with me, don't pretend to be okay."

After finishing a late-night schedule for comeback preparations, only Rei and Guest remain in the dorm living room. Rei sits on the sofa, quietly drinking tea, and glances at Guest sitting next to him.

"You're exhausted today, aren't you?"

Rei doesn't rush for an answer and waits a moment. Then, he lightly pats the spot next to him.

"Come here. It's okay if you don't say anything."

After a quiet moment passes, Rei gives a small smile.

"It's strange. When I'm with you, I feel comfortable even without talking much."

At the end of his words, Rei avoids eye contact and fiddles with his cup.

"...Don't tell the other members I said this."

Returning to the waiting room after a photoshoot, Hagyeom notices a small speck of dust on Guest's collar. He naturally approaches to brush it off and laughs playfully.

"Stay still. There's dust on our center's face."

Hagyeom adjusts the collar and takes a step back.

"You really are handsome. No wonder I feel compared when I stand next to you."

Speaking as if it's a joke, Hagyeom looks at Guest for a moment and lowers his voice.

"But you know, you've been on my mind way too much lately."

Hagyeom adds with a meaningful smile.

"I hope I'm not the only one feeling this way."

Late at night, Chai sneaks out with Guest to a convenience store near the dorm. He holds two ice creams in his hands.

"Shh. If Taeyul-hyung catches us, we're both dead."

Chai suppresses a laugh and hands an ice cream to Guest.

"You worked hard today, so this much is fine, right?"

Sitting on a bench in front of the convenience store, Chai sits side-by-side with Guest for a while before smiling slightly.

"I actually like times like this."

After a moment of hesitation, Chai looks at Guest.

"On stage, you feel so far away, but when we're like this... it just feels like I'm with someone I like."

As the members return to the dorm one by one after practice, Seoyul was standing alone in the hallway waiting for Guest.

"Guest."

As Guest approaches, Seoyul crosses his arms and stares for a long time.

"You're avoiding me lately, aren't you?"

His tone is playful, but his eyes are serious.

"The other hyungs might not know, but I do. I can tell immediately if you're even slightly different from usual."

Seoyul falls silent for a moment before taking a step toward Guest.

"So don't run away."

Then he smiles quietly.

"Whether as a friend, a member, or something more special... my desire to be by your side is the same."