Year 2033.

-

“Today’s music show winner is…. Chan Hanseul!!”

A 40-something years old man wearing blue shirt watched as the bewildered-looking boy on the television got pulled by the MCs to receive a trophy. As the boy struggled to balance the trophy and bouquet on his hand, gaining laughter from the MC and his fellow artists, the man smiled, making his small, slightly mismatched eyes crinkled. He remembered clearly that day from a few years ago, when the boy first arrived at his music school, a shy, frail-looking boy in clothes two sizes too big for him, but with vocal skills that even had Park Hyoshin on his knees. After that, it was just a matter of time before the boy finally got scouted by a talent agent and debuted solo, and now snatched his first ever win in a music show.

“Now, Hanseul-sshi, how do you feel about receiving the award?” the MC asked, urging the young boy to speak.

“W-well…I’m really happy and proud, of course,” the boy chuckled nervously. “But of course I wouldn’t be able to do all of this myself, so I’m going to thank my manager Yongsan-hyung for all his support, my CEO Park Handeuk-sajangnim for scouting me, my vocal trainer Kim Joon-seonsaengnim for being so patient in teaching me…and especially I want to thank someone really special …Lee Jinki-sajangnim!”

That man froze for a second, not expecting his own name to be uttered by the boy on the screen.

“Without him, my talent won’t be discovered and I will never stand on this stage and receive this trophy,” Hanseul continued with a smile. “So thank you so much, sajangnim.”

Smiling, Jinki leaned back to his chair in satisfaction. You did well, Hanseul-ah, he thought. You’ve reached your dream to be a singer and now you’re on your way to walk on flower path… Ah, you kinda reminded me of myself years a-

His train of thoughts were suddenly interrupted when someone knocked at his door. Quickly turning the television off, Jinki shouted, “Come in!”

Yoon Chanmi, his secretary, stepped inside. “Jinki-sajangnim,” she announced, “someone is here to meet you.”

Frowning, Jinki tried to remember whom he had promised to meet today but found none. “Who?” he asked in confusion. “Is it something important?”

As an answer, Chanmi stepped aside and a middle-aged man stepped inside. Jinki hadn’t seen the man in years, but one look was enough to confirm his identity.

“You… You’re…”

-

“Manager Gyeongshik???” the blonde man with feline eyes and bow-shaped lips gasped.

Gyeongshik chuckled. “Indeed I am,” he stated. “Though I don’t know whether you can still address me as such, I’m not your manager anymore, remember? And what’s with that look?? You seem like you just saw a ghost, Kibum-ah.”

“No, I don’t mean it that way,” Kibum, the feline man, clarified. “It’s just that we have never seen each other for so long, so…”

Gyeongshik simply grinned in reply. “May I come in?”

Kibum nodded and opened the door wider so that Gyeongshik can come in. The ex-manager stepped in and looked around Kibum’s private studio.

He silently noted that, judging from the dresses and outfits around him, and the amount of paper pinned on a board, and even more paper balled and thrown all around the floor, that Kibum was leading a busy but happy life as a fashion designer, a fact more emphasized by a few certificates and awards framed on the wall and some trophies inside a shelf. Kibum had always been the biggest fashionista in SHINee, Gyeongshik remembered, and he was glad to find that the feline man had found a career best suited for him.

“What are you thinking about, hyung?”

Gyeongshik turned around and found Kibum standing there, two glasses and a bottle of wine on a tray, and the older man couldn’t help but to laugh. “Are you drinking at this time of a day?”

“Thought you would want to have a drink and reminisce a bit about the past,” Kibum shrugged and poured the wine into the glasses. “Except you have a specific reason to see me here?”

Gyeongshik inhaled. “Actually I do,” he stated, pulling out a paper from his bag. “You may see the ‘specific reason’ here…”

-

“A SHINee reunion concert???” a tall man with big, frog-like eyes asked incredulously.

Gyeongshik nodded. “Yeah. Lee Sooman, your old CEO, proposed it, and it was to be held on May 25^th, so it would be on your 25^th anniversary…had you stayed in your group, of course.”

“…And what did the others say about it…?”

“They haven’t given their answer,” the ex-manager answered, sipping on his tea. “But personally, I don’t think they would end up saying ‘no’ for that, Minho-yah.”

The frog-eyed man called Minho bit his lower lip as he studied the paper on his hand for the umpteenth time, though he knew no matter how many times he read it, the contents wouldn’t change.

He just finished a scene for his newest movie and was going on a break when a staff told him that there was someone waiting for him. He was really surprised to figure out that it was none other than his ex-manager, Gyeongshik. And the surprise went twofold as Gyeongshik revealed the very reason he was there was to gather SHINee members for a reunion performance.

In truth, he wanted to do it, to reunite with s, to sing again together on stage, and to please his loyal fans. But at the same time he was worried. At his age now, would he be able to sing and dance on stage like before? What if his performance disappointed them? What if he got so awkward with his ex-bandmates that he couldn’t form a chemistry with them anymore?

“Minho-sshi, you have to return now.”

Hearing the staff urging him to return to filming, Minho quickly leaped back on his feet, slightly relieved that he can push his thoughts and doubts about this offer away for a while. Seeing that, Gyeongshik smiled and rose to his feet as well, patting Minho on his shoulder. “I’m waiting for your answer,” he stated, turning around and leaving the filming site quietly.

-

“Alright everyone! Dance training today is over!” a man with high cheekbones and thick lips clapped his hands and smiled at a group of young boys behind him.

Upon hearing the words “dance training today is over”, four of the five boys immediately slumped on the floor, while one boy, apparently their leader, quickly gathered some water bottles and distributed them to s while talking among themselves, seemingly unaware about how their dance trainer was silently watching over them from the other side of the room.

The dance trainer couldn’t hear their conversation that clearly, but he was sure he heard the word “debut” said over and over, so he concluded they must’ve been talking about their upcoming debut. The dance trainer smiled to himself. They were young, enthusiastic kids, and they’re gearing up for their debut…

…just like he himself did, years ago.

The dance trainer blinked, one, two times as memories flooded back to him. He remembered those long trainee days he spent with his four hyungs, which eventually led to their debut. He remembered their comebacks. He remembered their awards. He remembered the tragedy they suffered before they even had the chance to celebrate their 10^th anniversary. He remembered the day when they finally decided to go their separate ways.

And he remembered Sooman’s offer when the CEO himself called Taemin to his office a few days ago.

Until now, the dance trainer hadn’t made up his mind on whether he wanted to take the offer or not. And though he hadn’t been in contact with his hyungs lately, he knew by instinct that they hadn’t decided either. He knew the same thoughts must’ve been hanging in their respective minds, which eventually led to one question: would this reunion performance be the right thing to do?

“Taemin-sunbaenim?”

Taemin – as he was the dance trainer, of course – gasped in surprise as his trainee’s voice snapped him back to reality. “S-Sungsoo-yah?? Sorry I was daydreaming… Is there anything you need…?”

“Ah, no, I’m the one who’s sorry,” Sungsoo said, scratching his head shyly. “It’s nothing, really… I only wish to thank you for making the choreography for our song, and training us so patiently all this time. We owe you big time, sunbaenim.”

Taemin couldn’t help but to smile hearing Sungsoo’s words. “No, I’m here only to help you,” he said, patting Sungsoo’s shoulders gently. “The final result will be yours…you and your members’. The five of you have been working so hard all this time and have improved a lot. And I have to say, I’m really proud of you all.”

A faint blush crept all over Sungsoo’s face and his tired eyes lit up. “Really??”

“Yes,” Taemin nodded. “Keep up the good work and I’m sure you will do well, even after debuting later.”

“I will,” Sungsoo grinned. “After all, I want to be like you later.”

Taemin blinked. “…What??”

“Oh, haven’t I told you??” Sungsoo asked, surprised. “SHINee is my all-time favorite group. I had originally wanted to be a dancer only, but after I saw SHINee, I was inspired to follow your lead and become a dancer and singer. And it’s been my dream to see you all in person… Who knows that SHINee’s Taemin himself would end up being my dance trainer…”

Taemin fell silent, unsure how to respond to that.

“…and I would love to see you performing live on stage just once more,” Sungsoo sighed rather wistfully.

Again, Taemin blinked, once, twice. “What…? What did you just say earlier…?”

“Uhm…I would love to see you performing live on stage just once more…?” Sungsoo said rather uncertainly, as he’s never seen the usually calm Taemin looked so ruffled.

Taemin took a deep breath and tried to make his voice as normal as possible. “…Just imagine that we, SHINee, are planning a reunion concert, hypothetically of course. What if we perform and it doesn’t turn out so well…? And the fans get disappointed at us…?”

“…I don’t think you need to worry that much about that. I can’t speak for all SHINee members of course, since I don’t know what’s in their mind actually…but as far as I know, you all wouldn’t like to disappoint us. So you’ll be practicing with all your might in order to deliver your best performance to us. But even if something goes wrong and the concert doesn’t go as well as planned, I’m sure your loyal fans will understand. We know SHINee, and we understand that you must’ve tried your best for us no matter how the final result comes to be.”

Taemin bit his lower lip. The next second, he already dashed outside the practice room under Sungsoo and the other members’ confused stare. Running to Lee Sooman’s private room, he quickly knocked on the door before he had the chance to change his mind.

“Sajangnim?” Taemin said rather breathlessly as he entered the room. “I’ve made my decision…”

-

So that concludes the first chapter.

I use a few OCs in this story, hope you don't mind.

Comments and constructive criticisms are appreciated!