“It’s so nice for you to come today Se7en.” The manager was smiling widely as he led Se7en thro ugh the building to the practice room. “I know that the boys will be very much honored to have you here today, especially with their comeback approaching.” Se7en merely smiled and nodded as they walked down the hall. The finally approached the practice room where music was booming from within.

The manager opened the door quietly. He was about to call their attention, but Se7en stopped him and put a finger to his lips. He wanted to watch them work and see their drive.

“One, two jump!” Yelled out Daniel. Everyone jumped along in synchronization before moving onto their footwork.

“One and two and three and jump!” Yelled out Changjo as they jumped once more. They were sweating profusely in the practice room with broken air conditioning. Summer was approaching, but they could already feel the heat.

“One last time!” Yelled out Minsoo before they jumped once more. They finished the last bit of choreography before they stopped. Daniel and Minsoo both immediately turned and bowed with smiles on their faces. Everyone else turned and bowed quickly as they realized that both Se7en and their manager were standing there.

“Good rehearsal boys!” Their manager called out. They all stood and smiled as they listened to their manager. “Today I brought Mr. Choi Dong-Wook, also known as his stage name Se7en to speak with you guys!” The members clapped and smiled while the younger ones- Niel, Changjo, and Ricky- cheered and celebrated.

“Nice to finally be able to meet you guys,” said Se7en. “I won’t be able to stay long, but all of you have impressed me so much, but I have a request from all of you, including your manager.” Every one of the members and their manager looked up to Se7en expectantly. “Neither YG nor my wife know I’m here. They think I went to the studio with TOP, so don’t let anyone know I’m here. Okay?” Everyone nodded frantically. The younger half of the group put a finger to their lips and shushed the elders who were clapping.

“Alright, I’ll leave you all alone, and I’ll come back when you call,” said the manager. He swiftly exited the room and before there as a chance for the room to become awkward, Se7en spoke.

“From what I have seen, all of you are really charismatic and intense. So how about this, first I’ll speak with you all as a whole, and then I’ll break you all up in groups of two. Sounds fair?” Everyone nodded their heads silently, but Daniel looked around and sent to get a chair for Se7en.

“Here’s a chair Se7en hyung.” Se7en accepted it and smiled mischievously at Daniel.

“Who said you can call me hyung?” Daniel looked up to him with slight hurt in his eyes and one of the members snickered.

“Shut it,” hissed Changjo. There was a whine, but it quieted. Daniel and Se7en just stood there, for what to the others felt like a while, but then Se7en broke out into a soft and playful smile before ruffling Daniel’s hair.

“I’m kidding,” he said. “You all can call me hyung,” he yelled out happily with a smile and open arms. He quickly pulled Daniel in for a hug before letting him go and sit with the other members. They looked at him and Minsoo and Changjo decided to pick on him a little.

“Why do you get a hug?” Minsoo joked.

“I want a hug too!” Changjo yelled out as he jumped in his seat.

“If they get one, I want one too!” Added L Joe. Se7en chuckled at how they childish they seemed, but found it all endearing, so he raised his arms signaling that they may have a hug.

They all stood and went over to Se7en for their hugs. Changjo hugged him and smiled as he sat beside Daniel and leaned in just a little closer than before. L Joe had quickly jumped and hugged Se7en, as he is known for his love of skinship, and let him go only to sit beside Daniel and hold him close instead. Changjo glanced a look over, but quickly looked away before he saw the small playful smile splay across L Joe’s lips. Ricky ad Chunji received their hugs as well, and sat back down and Changjo noticed that Ricky’s smile was a little too wide to be true. Minsoo was the last to hug Se7en, and the way that they hugged seemed so natural to the others. All except Daniel marveled at how their hug seemed so strong and familiar, and they couldn’t help but admire Minsoo for it.

Once they were all situated on the floor and comfortable, they started.

“First and foremost, you all were very impressive with your choreography. How long have you been practicing?”

“A month and three days,” answered Chunji. He was always the one to count the days, not because he wanted to quit, but because he wanted to see how long it took them compared to their other comebacks. Se7en wasn’t going to question it though, because he could see the quiet determination and confidence in his eyes.

“Well it is impressive how in synch you are, but everything can improve. There is no such thing as perfect, but you can get as close to it as you can.” He smiled down at them as they nodded. Ricky raised his hand eagerly and Se7en couldn’t help but smile at the small boy. There was a hint of familiarity with him, but he pushed it aside and motioned for him to speak.

“If there is no such thing as perfect, then what are we working towards? I mean, we’ll basically be working towards nothing.” Se7en chuckled at the sincere look of confusion on Ricky’s face.

“Perfection may not be real, but we have an idea of what it is. It’s is the complete and absolute. For us, as artist, we have to work hard to get to the best that we can achieve. I know that there a lot of us that still try to attain perfection with their music, but they are aware that, to be perfect, everyone must accept you. That is why it is impossible to be perfect, because there will always be someone that will dislike it or you.” He took a deep breath before closing his eyes in a type of meditation. “Don’t try to please everyone, but also don’t throw your fans away. If you make your music and performances as close to perfect as you can, you will be happy and so will your fans.”

The members nodded their heads in understanding. Se7en looked at them and noticed L Joe writing on his arm. L Joe was always the type to carry around pens and pencils, simply because he would think of things all the time. He would usually have a small notepad, but he had forgotten it in the dorm that day. He didn’t write a lot, and as Se7en looked at him, he couldn’t help but to feel nostalgia.

“So now I’ll break you guys up in two’s based off of what I observed. I know that there’s a small room across the hall, so we’ll go there. I first want to talk to Ricky and Chunji.” He looked at them with a smile that made his eyes decrease in size before turning towards the door. Chunji and Ricky quickly jumped and ran after him.

The door was shut rather loudly by the maknae, and the room was left in silence for a while until L Joe decided to break the silence.

“That was Se7en.” He said. Minsoo and Daniel nodded in acknowledgement. “That was Se7en,” he repeated. “We met Se7en and he’s going to give us advice.” Minsoo and Daniel chuckled at how L Joe was slowly starting to freak out.

“I know,” said Changjo. Daniel and Minsoo smiled at how their members seemed so mesmerized by him. They sat mostly in silence for a while before Chunji and Ricky came out, but only for them to leave shortly after. He called L Joe and Changjo in, and after a while, they left as well, although Changjo moved more slowly and kept looking back.

“Niel, CAP,” Se7en said as Changjo left. He left out and went into the office as Daniel and Minsoo followed behind. They sat and waited for a few minutes to make sure the others had gone before anyone spoke.

“What brings you over here, Wookie?” Minsoo asked as he ruffled Se7en’s hair and pulled him in for a hug. Se7en merely laughed as he pushed Minsoo off and hugged Daniel tightly.

“I can’t come to see my twin brother and nephew without reason?” He asked. Minsoo laughed and shook his head as he sat on the table. Daniel sat in the chair next to Se7en and waited.

“It’s nice to see you again!” Daniel said happily. Se7en nodded with a smile. “Did you propose yet?” Daniel asked. Se7en chuckled and shook his head.

“No, not yet. I came to talk to you two about something, and I guess that it relates,” he said.

“What is it?” Minsoo asked.

“I’m going to enlist next year,” he said. Daniel’s mouth opened in surprise and Minsoo leaned back in thought.

“Did you tell the company yet?” Se7en shook his head.

“I got the letter last week, and I wanted to tell you two and Han Byul first. Since she already knows about all of this, I told her immediately. I’m going to tell YG after this, and start doing preparations for next year.” Minsoo nodded as he clasped his hands together. “At least you’re exempt with your disability and all.”

“Are you going to get married when you come back?” Daniel asked excitedly. Se7en nodded and Daniel skipped over to him before embracing him into a tight hug. “Finally!” He exclaimed. “Why did you wait so long to propose?” He asked. “You two have been together for ten years now, and now she has to wait two more years, but I know that she will have the wedding of her dreams!” Daniel jumped excitedly and Se7en just smiled on at his nephew.

“You’re going in as a regular soldier, right?” Minsoo asked, with the utmost seriousness.

“Of course,” replied Se7en. “I want to serve my country like the regular citizens.” They both stood facing each other, eyes level, and chests just barely touching. Their gazes were steeled and their breathing was steady.

“I’m counting on it, soldier.” Minsoo broke into a smile before bringing his brother into a hug.

“You two are the first on the wedding invitations.” They smiled at each other before Se7en noticed the clock on the wall. “I have to go now, but I’ll try to call you guys later.” He quickly fixed his hair before walking out of the office. Minsoo and Daniel walked out shortly after a small smile on both their faces. They walked silently until they reached the exit.

“You still haven’t left?” Daniel looked up to see Changjo standing next to the exit. He shrugged his shoulder as he walked up to them.

“I didn’t feel like leaving you two behind.” He took his place next to Daniel and walked with them out. Minsoo looked after him from the corner of the eye. Daniel held onto Changjo’s arm and leaned in just enough and Changjo smiled just wide enough for Minsoo to notice. Even though it was hot outside, Minsoo could just tell that the light blush was more than the heat.

“Hm.”

This is for referencejust in case anyone got confused: