The door to Y/N's room clicked shut, muffling the distant murmur of the hotel hallway. Lara stood just inside, leaning casually against the doorframe with a faint smirk. Y/N, on the other hand, busied herself tidying up though the room was already neat enough to put a showroom to shame.
"You know, you could sit down," Lara said, her tone light but teasing.
Y/N sighed and dropped onto the edge of the bed, shooting Lara a look. "Happy?"
"Very," Lara replied, grabbing the chair by the desk and spinning it around to sit with her arms draped over the back. Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she added, "Though I think you were happier pretending to be busy."
"I wasn't pretending," Y/N shot back, her voice tinged with mock offense. "I was being productive."
"Oh, sure. Straightening a pillow that's already perfect is very productive."
Y/N couldn't help the small laugh that escaped her as she shook her head. "You're impossible."
"And yet, here I am," Lara quipped, her grin softening into something less playful. "Big day tomorrow. Feeling ready?"
Y/N paused, her gaze dropping to her hands. "I think so. Just...the usual nerves, I guess."
"You'll crush it," Lara said confidently. "You always do."
The sincerity in Lara's voice made Y/N glance up, their eyes meeting briefly before Y/N was about to respond when she knocked her water bottle off the nightstand. The lid popped off, and water spilled all over her pants and shirt.
"Seriously?" Y/N groaned, mess spread.
Lara burst into laughter, the sound filling the small room. "You really are a magnet for chaos, aren't you?"
Y/N glared at her. "Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up."
"I am," Lara said, still grinning. "Want some help, or are you going to keep standing there looking tragic?"
Y/N muttered something under her breath and grabbed a clean shirt from her suitcase. "No thanks. I've got it under control."
She hesitated for only a moment before pulling her damp shirt over her head. She felt Lara's gaze linger, though when she glanced over, Lara was looking at the wall.
"Awfully quiet all of a sudden," Y/N teased, slipping into the fresh shirt.
"Just trying to be polite," Lara shot back, though the faint color rising in her cheeks didn't go unnoticed.
Y/N smirked, shaking her head. "Polite. Sure."
The mood lightened after that, their conversation going back to safe topics rehearsals, travel accidents, and favorite snacks. By the time Lara finally left, Y/N felt a strange mix of exhaustion and warmth, though she couldn't quite place why.
The next morning, the air was thick with anticipation. It was the day of the event, a significant milestone in both groups' schedules. Cameras were everywhere, capturing every detail for the live broadcast that would air on TV.
Y/N, still feeling the weight of last night's charged moment with Lara, tried her best to focus as she finished her makeup. However, her thoughts kept repeating the way Lara had looked at her, teasing and yet...warm.
Across the room, Karina noticed her distracted expression. "Earth to Y/N. You good?"
"I'm fine," Y/N replied quickly, shaking her head.
"Right," Karina said, unconvinced. "Just make sure you don't trip on stage while daydreaming about a certain someone."
Y/N shot her a glare, but the heat rising to her cheeks betrayed her.
Meanwhile, Katseye was getting ready in a nearby room. Lara, who had also been awfully quiet, was fidgeting with her outfit when Sophia nudged her.
"You seem distracted," Sophia said, her tone light.
"Just focused," Lara muttered, adjusting her mic pack.
"Uh-huh," Sophia replied knowingly. "Let me guess. It wouldn't have anything to do with a certain member of Aespa, would it?"
Lara froze, then shot her leader a warning glance. "Don't start."
Sophia grinned. "Relax. You're not exactly subtle, though."
As both groups gathered backstage for their final checks, the tension between Y/N and Lara became increasingly apparent.
"You two are acting weird," Ningning whispered to Y/N.
"We're not acting weird," Y/N whispered back.
"You're definitely acting weird," Ningning said with a smirk, before nudging Yoonchae, who was quietly observing the interaction.
The schedule was tight, with Aespa performing first, followed by Katseye. The energy in the venue was electric as fans cheered for each group's arrival. Y/N stepped onto the stage, her heart pounding not just from the adrenaline of performing, but from the thought of Lara watching backstage.
Aespa delivered a flawless performance, their choreography sharp and vocals breath taking. As Y/N exited the stage, she caught Lara's eye for a brief moment. The small smile Lara sent her way was subtle but enough to send Y/N's heart racing again.
Katseye's performance was equally mesmerizing.
The two groups mingled as they waited for the final speeches and announcements to wrap up the event. The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement and relief.
"You killed it out there," Lara said to Y/N as they found themselves standing near the refreshment table.
"Thanks," Y/N replied, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You were amazing, too. Your stage presence is...intimidating."
Lara smirked. "Intimidating, huh? I'll take that as a compliment."
"It is," Y/N said quickly, then cursed herself for sounding too eager.
Before the conversation could continue, Karina and Sophia appeared, each carrying drinks.
"Are we interrupting something?" Karina asked, her tone just innocent enough to be suspicious.
"Not at all," Lara said smoothly, though her ears were slightly pink.
Sophia raised an eyebrow but said nothing, her knowing smile saying plenty.
Nearby, Winter and Megan were chatting about their shared love for vintage fashion, while Giselle and Daniela compared notes on Tokyo's best food spots. Ningning and Yoonchae, however, had positioned themselves strategically to observe Y/N and Lara from a distance.
"They're so awkward," Ningning whispered, stifling a laugh.
"It's kind of cute, though," Yoonchae replied, nodding toward the pair.
"Cute isn't the word I'd use," Ningning said, grinning. "Hilarious is more like it."
The morning air was crisp as both groups piled into vans headed for the amusement park. It was their last day in Japan, and the promise of a free day with no schedules had everyone in high spirits.
At the park, Y/N found herself sticking close to Lara. The groups split off into smaller clusters, laughing and exploring the vibrant grounds.
Y/N and Lara ended up in a group with Winter, Megan, Ningning, and Yoonchae. The six of them tackled ride after ride, starting with a towering roller coaster that had Ningning clutching Y/N's arm and Yoonchae screaming in delight the whole way down.
"That was insane!" Yoonchae said breathlessly as they stumbled off the ride.
"Insanely fun," Y/N agreed, her grin wide.
"Insanely nauseating," Ningning countered, holding her stomach dramatically.
Lara laughed, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You're the one who begged to sit in the front row."
"Poor decision-making," Ningning muttered, though her lips twitched upward in a smile.
They moved from ride to ride, laughter and easy conversation filling the gaps in between. At the bumper cars, Lara managed to corner Y/N, grinning as she rammed into her.
"You're ruthless!" Y/N accused,as she spun the wheel to escape.
"Only when necessary," Lara replied, her voice lilting with amusement.
By the time they stopped for snacks, the group was buzzing with energy. Y/N and Lara shared a box of donuts, arguing over whether powdered sugar or chocolate syrup was the superior topping, while Yoonchae and Megan took selfies in the background.
Everything felt easy, until it wasn't.
It started with an innocent enough comment.
The group strolled through the park, energized by the buzzing atmosphere. As they passed a game booth, Yoonchae pointed excitedly. "Let's try this one! It looks fun."
"Sure," Y/N said, already moving toward the booth. She picked up the plastic dart, narrowing her eyes at the row of balloons.
"You don't actually think you're going to win, do you?" Lara's voice rang out, teasing but with a pointed edge.
Y/N paused, glancing back at her. "Why not? It's just a game."
Lara shrugged, folding her arms. "I'm just saying, these things are rigged. You'll end up frustrated and out of tickets."
"And you know this because...?" Y/N shot back, raising an eyebrow.
"Because it's common sense," Lara replied, smirking. "But hey, if you want to waste your time proving me right, go ahead."
Y/N bristled, her grip tightening on the dart. "Why do you always have to do that?"
"Do what?" Lara asked, her smirk faltering slightly.
"Act like you're above it all. Like you're smarter than everyone else," Y/N said, her voice rising.
Lara's expression hardened. "I'm not acting like anything. I'm just being realistic. Sorry if that's a problem for you."
"It is when you make it sound like I'm stupid for trying," Y/N shot back, her cheeks flushing.
Lara stepped closer, lowering her voice but not her intensity. "You're putting words in my mouth. I never said that."
"You didn't have to!" Y/N said, her frustration bubbling over. "Every time I try to do something, you have to point out why it won't work or why it's not worth it. Do you know how exhausting that is?"
"Exhausting?" Lara's tone sharpened. "Coming from the person who acts like the whole world revolves around proving herself? Maybe if you weren't so obsessed with winning everything, you'd see that not every comment is an attack."
Y/N's mouth fell open, her pulse quickening. "You think I'm obsessed with winning? I just want to have fun, but apparently, even that's a problem for you."
Lara hesitated, her jaw tightening. "Maybe it's not about fun. Maybe it's about how you can't handle not being the best at something."
The words hit like a slap, and for a moment, Y/N was too stunned to respond.
"Okay!" Megan's voice sliced through the rising tension, her hands raised in a calming gesture. "Let's not do this here."
Both Y/N and Lara fell silent, their faces flushed Y/N with anger, Lara with something more guarded.
"What's going on with you two?" Winter asked, stepping forward, her brow furrowed in concern.
Y/N crossed her arms, her tone sharp. "Ask her. She's the one who has a problem with everything I do."
Lara scoffed, shaking her head. "I don't have a problem with everything. Just the way you always take everything soâ"
"Don't," Karina cut in, her tone firm as she stepped between them. "Not now."
"It's definitely not nothing," Ningning said carefully, her gaze darting between them. "You've both been on edge all morning."
"Maybe they just need to talk it out," Yoonchae suggested quietly, though her wide eyes betrayed her discomfort.
"Later," Karina repeated, her voice leaving no room for debate. "Let's not ruin the day over this."
Y/N exhaled sharply, biting back another retort as she looked away. Lara mirrored the motion, crossing her arms as they reluctantly fell in line with the group.
That evening, back at the hotel, the groups gathered for a casual dinner in the lounge. The usual lively chatter and laughter were no longer there, the tension between Y/N and Lara undeniable. Y/N sat stiffly at the edge of the table, her jaw tight and eyes fixed on her plate. Across the table, Lara leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed, exuding a calmness that only highlighted the contrast between them.
The others tried to fill the silence with lighthearted conversation, but the fight lingered like a storm cloud. Karina glanced between Y/N and Lara, her concern evident, while Sophia subtly nudged Lara under the table, her expression saying, Do something
As the dinner wound down, Karina pulled Y/N aside, her voice low but firm. "You need to talk to her, Y/N."
"She's the one who keeps acting like nothing's wrong," Y/N muttered, her frustration spilling over. "Why should I be the one to fix it?"
Karina sighed, giving her a look that was both sympathetic and exasperated. "Because it's not about who's right or wrong. You two clearly care about each other, so stop letting your pride get in the way."
Meanwhile, across the room, Sophia cornered Lara by the coffee station. "You know she's upset, right?" Sophia asked bluntly, her tone leaving no room for argument.
"I know," Lara admitted, her voice softer than usual.
"Then do something about it," Sophia urged. "You're good at pretending nothing bothers you, but Y/N isn't like that. She's probably beating herself up about it right now."
Lara hesitated, her usual composure slipping. "What if I make it worse?"
"You won't," Sophia said, her confidence unwavering. "Just be honest with her."
Later that night, Lara paced outside Y/N's door, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Every time she raised her hand to knock, doubt crept in, holding her back.
Inside, Y/N sat on the edge of her bed, her phone in hand but her attention elsewhere. The knock startled her, and she hesitated before crossing the room to open the door.
When their eyes met, the silence between them was heavy, but neither turned away. Whatever they needed to say, they both knew it was time to face it.
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only motivated to post this chapter cuz of Sophie...girl