The manager's baby was becoming an everyday presence for the girls. Unfortunately for Winter, this meant that she had to learn how to properly interact with this foreign creature. At times, she felt mysteriously envious of the baby.

Lunch at the company's cafeteria hours before their evaluation would have been tense and nerve-wracking for the girls. Luckily for them, Hajoon was present, successfully distracting the girls from perhaps one of the most important evaluations of their life. 

In addition to happily eating their own food, the girls took turns feeding the baby, except for Winter. The manager was grateful that the girls didn't mind her son and even welcomed him with open arms, but she couldn't help but feel as if he were being treated as a puppy at times. 

"Oh, I almost forgot!" The manager said, interrupting the girls' playtime with Hajoon. The girls sat in anticipation at the table as their manager clasped her hands together excitedly. "I invited some of your friends to watch. They are all really excited."

Although the leader was normally composed, her hand that was holding the baby spoon couldn't help but waver. 

"Who?" She asked tentatively. Karina's mind raked through numerous faces. Since beginning their training period, the girls hadn't had any opportunities to socialize with trainees outside of SM, let alone trainees from other companies. 

She wouldn't say that they are antisocial, as most of the group were extroverts except Winter, but they found it difficult to interact with other trainees and soon-to-be idols with the company watching their every pre-debut move. 

"Your friends from JYP, of course!" Their manager replied matter-of-factly. 

"Don't tell me you mean ITZY?" Karina asked, facepalming. 

"Who else would I be talking about?" Across the table from Karina, Ningning, Giselle, and Winter squealed. 

"Wait, really? It's been so long since we talked to them!" Giselle excitedly rushed out. Winter agreed, nodding her head quickly.

"Yay! I'm excited. I don't think I'll be as nervous now." Winter said gratefully, a hand on her chest.

Across the table, Karina sighed, and instead of commenting on their guests, simply dipped Hajoon's food into his apple sauce and continued to spoon-feed him. Noticing Karina's lack of a response, Winter rolled her eyes.

"I don't get why you don't like them, Jimin." Winter stated with a pointed glare. Karina's head snapped toward her with innocent eyes.

"What? Who said I don't like them?" She asked defensively, returning her focus to the baby. 

"We barely get to interact with them but each time we do, your attitude completely changes." Winter's tone changed.

From being excited just moments earlier, she was now serious. Ningning and Giselle instantly sat up in their chair, pausing their excited chit-chat amongst themselves.

Winter continued, "It wouldn't hurt to be nice to them, for once. Especially since they are our seniors."

Although ITZY had already debuted months ago and was quickly gaining fame and a position of authority in the music industry, the groups met during the beginning of their training periods.

The CEO had arranged for them to meet with the intent of the girls sizing up their competition. But instead, the CEO was surprised that the girls, with the exception of Karina, were not tense or critical of the other girls but were instead friendly and amicable. 

"There's nothing wrong with them." Karina answered vaguely, her attention still on Hajoon. Winter scoffed.

"Yeah, but clearly there's something wrong with you." An 'Oh, God' was collectively heard around the table from the other girls and their manager. 

Wanting to not cause a scene hours before their evaluation, Karina took a deep breath before calmly answering the other girl.

She turned her head, finally acknowledging Winter's gaze. "No. There is nothing wrong."

"They are our friends." 

"They are not our friends, they are our competition. They are acquaintances, at best. Our debut dates are close together, so there's no doubt that we would immediately be compared to them. They are..." She paused, trying to find the right words to say. "Friendly." She inwardly cringed.  "But, we shouldn't let that distract us."

"Um, Jimin. I think you are the one who is distracted." Winter stated in disbelief. As Karina's eyes were dead set on Winter's she failed to notice the changing reactions of the other people at the table, whose faces turned into a look of concern and shock. 

"Don't mock me, Minjeong. I'm just saying we sh