LE SSERAFIM Oneshots

Like the Promise we Shared Beneath the Cherry Blossoms

Deets: Ssamjin (IZ*One) - WC 7070 - Written by user @cubeflower at https://archiveofourown.org/works/50204653 - Teen and Up

I remember that particularly pretty day

We met for the first time during a warm season

prologue

9 june 2018

"It'll be fun," Eunbi had said a week before the official shooting. "You'll learn new things."

Sure, Chaewon wasn't going to disagree with the second statement. From what she had seen and heard as a trainee, survival shows were always full of different kinds of people: introverts, extroverts, foreigners, 6-year trainees, former idols, and to quote Eunbi herself, "hot girls". What Chaewon was having a hard time comprehending was the first part.

Fun? Chaewon's idea of fun was probably either lying in bed watching Netflix all day, or hanging out with her high school friends, or maybe getting dessert from the bakery down the street from her company. Whatever it was, it definitely was not going to be competing with ninety-six other girls who were way prettier and more talented than her for a spot in a temporary idol group that would disappear from the spotlight once their time was up, like a firecracker burning for a few, bright seconds.

But here Chaewon was, standing in front of Mnet's newest survival show set, Produce 48, with her "life necessities" packed tightly into a dark gray suitcase that was probably older than Chaewon herself. In front of her, a trio of older men (staff, probably) direct girls inside the building and hand them what appear to be maps of the complex.

"Hi," a voice says beside her. Startled, Chaewon whips around and comes face-to-face with one Kwon Eunbi, lugging three duffel bags and a backpack behind her.

"Why'd you bring so much stuff?" are the first words that come out of Chaewon's mouth, before she even processes Eunbi's presence. "Also, hi."

"What can I say? I'm an overpacker," Eunbi says with a flourish, attempting to flip her hair, but ends up almost dropping two of her bags. "So, thoughts so far? I told you there'd be hot girls."

"Unnie," Chaewon protests. "Restrain the gayness, let's go inside."

Eunbi makes a face at her but concedes and follows Chaewon into the building, calling out, "It's time for the journey of your life, Chae! Make the most of it!"

Chaewon sighs. One long, slow journey for sure.

—

13 march 2021

"Here's to IZ*One!" Yena yells loudly, raising her soju glass. "Everyone repeat after me! I- I- IZ*One!"

"Oh God, someone restrain her," Nako stage-whispers to Hyewon on her right, loud enough that everyone in the room can hear. On her left, Hitomi nods frantically.

"I heard that, Yabuki," Yena says, downing the glass in one go. "And I see you too, Hii-chan. None of you expect to sleep tonight."

"What the fuck? She's Hii-chan and i'm just 'Yabuki?'" Nako says, disbelief in her voice.

"Could be worse," Yuri quips. "She could've called you Nabuki Yako."

As Nako reaches over the table at Yuri and Eunbi attempts to restrain the two, with Hyewon quietly laughing behind her hand and filming them on her phone, Chaewon lets out a sigh. She knows that deep down, everyone is figuring out their own ways to deal with the harsh reality: that in a month they won't be a group anymore. The first day of their final concert has finished just an hour before, and in no time the month will slip away like sand through fingers.