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RIIZE was convinced that Sungchan and Shotaro were dating. Now you may be wondering what was it that convinced most of RIIZE of this. The two of them were very private about their phones and about their room not allowing any of the other members in. The two of them would also sometimes vanish for hours and not answer any texts or calls but wouldalways coming back smiling and giggling.
They had their suspicions confirmed one day when Sungchan walked into practice with a noticeable hickey on his neck giving them a chance to tease Sungchan. “Hyung,” Sohee shrieked, running over to look at Sungchan’s neck.
“I know I know I didn’t have time to cover it” Sungchan muttered, bringing his hand up to rub his neck.
“So, who is your girlfriend?” Wonbin teased.
“Girlfriend?” Sungchan asked, relieved that they didn’t already know who gave him the hickey.
“Yeah we all had our suspicions and now this hickey…” Eunseok said, looking at Sungchan expectantly.
“So who is the girl?” Seunghan pressed.
“There is no girl,” Sungchan denied, awkwardly laughing.
“There totally is! Why else would you have a hickey?” Wonbin demanded.
“Fine if you can guess who it is I’ll tell you otherwise I won’t”
“Is it Karina Noona?” Anton shyly asked.
“No, she is nice but not my type” Sungchan denied shaking his head.
“What about Ryunjin?” Sohee asked.
“I have never met her,” Sungchan dismissed.
“Huh, I have no idea. What about you Taro hyung? You have been quiet this whole time,” Wonbin said, suddenly turning to stare at Shotaro.
Shotaro felt himself turning red as he stuttered out, “I I um let’s dance now. Yeah, we are running late so we should dance now,”
The other members gave Shotaro a weird look while Sungchan smirked at Shotaro when the others weren’t looking. It was Shotaro’s fault anyway. He couldn’t control himself last night and now Sungchan had a hickey and the members were asking about it and about who Sungchan was dating.
Their manager walked in halfway through their dance practice, took one look at the massive hickey on Sungchan’s neck, and called for Sungchan and Shotaro to come outside and talk to him privately in the hallway.
Once the couple left the room the other five immediately stopped practicing and began gossiping. “So it’s definitely Shotaro hyung right?” Seunghan checked with the others.
“100%” Sohee agreed.
“They don’t even try to hide it,” Eunseok said.
“The real question is do they know we know?” Wonbin asked.
“I don’t think so,” Seunghan said.
“Me either. Earlier Sungchan hyung seemed confident that we wouldn’t guess,” Anton said.
“So should we tell them?” Sohee asked.
“Nah I wanna mess with them,” Eunseok declared, grinning mischievously.
“How?” Anton asked, worriedly wringing his hands.
“Let’s keep teasing Sungchan hyung about having a girlfriend and acting like we don’t know it’s Shotaro until they slip up or Shotaro gets jealous,” Seunghan suggested.
“That sounds good,” Sohee agreed, already thinking of ways to tease the couple.
A moment later Sungchan and Shotaro walk back into the room both of them bright red and embarrassed. “Hyung, what did the manager want to talk about?” Anton innocently acted.
“Nothing nothing at all let’s just finish practice,” Shotaro dismissed, going to turn the music back on.
Shotaro hurriedly left the room at the end of practice having plans with his friends for dinner. Seeing their chance to try and crack Sungchan the members turned on him, smirking. “So hyung…” Wonbin began with a teasing lilt.
“Mmh?” Sungchan responded, looking up from packing his bag.
“We see you have a hickey,” Sohee teased.
“Ah um, My bad it shouldn’t happen again,” Sungchan assured, not wanting the members to worry about anything coming out.
“So are you going to tell us or…?” Eunseok asked.
“No,” Sungchan refused.
After that exchange, RIIZE made it their mission to mess with Sungchan and Shotaro. This meant they were going to try and make them jealous or at least confess that they were dating.
Their first plan to make Shotaro jealous was to try and “guess” who Sungchan was dating. To do this the next morning all five of them brainstormed a list of pretty much every female idol Sungchan had ever spoken to as well as a couple of male idols who they thought would make Shotaro jealous. “Hyungs I feel a little bad about this,” Anton mumbled, anxiously wringing his hands.
“Why?” Wonbin asked.
“Well, won’t this make Shotaro hyung sad?” Anton asked.
“We will stop if it gets too far or if either starts to seem upset,” Eunseok assured.
“Okay, that sounds good,” Anton agreed.
Wanting to be prepared for when the couple showed the five of them decided to head to practice early. Sungchan and Shotaro actually ended up showing up to practice ten minutes late having gone out to breakfast and lost track of time. “Hey hyungs,” Sohee happily greeted.
“Hey, Sorry we are late,” Shotaro apologized, bowing to the group.
“No worries,” Seunghan assured, waving off Shotaro’s apology.
“So Sungchan…” Eunseok began, with a teasing smirk.
“Yeah?” Sungchan asked, looking over.
“How was breakfast with your lover?” Wonbin eagerly questioned.
“What?!” Sungchan spluttered, almost dropping his phone.
“Weren’t you getting breakfast with your lover before this?” Seunghan teased.
“No! I was getting breakfast with Taro. Not a lover or anything. We are just friends. Also, stop using the word lover, it sounds so weird,” Sungchan insisted, pointedly not looking at Shotaro.
Shotaro knew why Sungchan was denying their relationship. He didn’t feel comfortable telling the others yet but hearing him deny that they were not lovers and only friends filled him with an uncomfortable sinking feeling in his stomach.
“So was it not a lover?” Wonbin pressed, leaning closer to Sungchan.
“A hook-up gave you a hickey?!” Sohee shouted.
“Hyung you need to be more careful if you are going to hook up with people,” Anton lightly scolded.
“I didn’t hook up with someone!” Sungchan shouted before continuing with, “Or well I guess I kind of did but we are dating, and like management knows”
“Management knows but not us!?” Suenghan demanded, feigning offense.
“I um uh Taro,” Sungchan panicked, looking to Shotaro for help.
“Why are you bringing me into this?” Shotaro asked, looking up from where he was sitting on the floor.
“I-urgh never mind,” Sungchan whined, flopping to sit down on the floor.
“So remember how you said you would tell us if we guessed?” Sohee asked.
“Why?” Sungchan demanded, giving him a side-eye.
“Anyway we have a list,” Seunghan announced, pulling the list up on his phone.
“Oh God, who is it?” Sungchan moaned
“Winter, Seulgi, Sullyoon,” Seunghan immediately listed.
“Is it just random female idols or what?” Shotaro demanded, growing annoyed with the others trying to guess who his boyfriend was dating.
“No, there are others,” Wonbin assured.
“Yeah, we have guys on our list too. We know hyung is bi,” Anton said.
“So who is it?” Sungchan asked, curious to see who they came up with.
“Haechan hyung!” Sohee eagerly announced.
“No! I just really?” Sungchan denied.
“Hey Haechanie is nice,” Shotaro defended his friend.
“I mean I guess he’s just not my type,” Sungchan shrugged.
“So who is your type?” Eunseok pried, thinking that Sungchan was about to confess.
“Can’t say,” Sungchan teased.
“Please just give us a hint, just say someone similar,” Wonbin begged, giving his best puppy eyes.
“Alright, I guess maybe Huening kai,” Sungchan said, picking an idol who reminded him of Shotaro.
“Why Huening Kai?!” Shotaro demanded, suddenly chiming in.
"I just mean he is really nice and kind of cute,” Sungchan awkwardly laughed.
“So you think he is cute?” Shotaro demanded, his stomach uncomfortably roiling with jealousy.
“Taro hyung, why are you getting so worked up?” Eunseok asked.
“Yeah, something you want to share,” Seunghan teased.
“No, not all. I uh just didn’t think that Huening Kai would be Sungchan’s type at all,” Shotaro sighed.
The other five could barely suppress their giggles at how quickly and obviously jealous Shotaro became. They were sure that he would crack within the week. Due to this, they decided to let the teasing end … for now.
Shotaro was relieved when the other five members ended their teasing of Sungchan. He knows that they were making fun of Sungchan and were curious about who he was dating but hearing them guess and then hearing Sungchan say he found Heuning Kai cute Shotaro could barely suppress his jealousy. While the teasing ended for the time being Shotaro felt his jealousy simmering for the rest of morning practice occasionally shooting the others glares especially Wonbin.
Taking a break for lunch Karina and Ning Ning approached the group while they were lounging on the floor of their practice room and asked if one of them was available to do a TikTok for their upcoming song. “I’ll do it,” Sungchan volunteered, standing and following after the two of them.
Wonbin and Sohee took this opportunity to start wolf-whistling and tease Sungchan. “Stop it,” Sungchan warned, shooting them a glare.
“Fine,” Wonbin relented.
Sungchan followed the girls out into the hallway to learn the dance and film. Seeing their opportunity, RIIZE turned on Shotaro. “So hyung who do you think it is?” Seunghan asked eagerly.
“What?” Shotaro asked confused as to why they were asking him.
“Who do you think gave the hickey?” Anton asked.
“Yeah, you have been really quiet on the matter,” Eunseok chimed in.
“I uh just don’t think it is any of our business and like if he hasn’t said who it is maybe there is a reason,” Shotaro said, shifting uncomfortably.
“Oh,” Seunghan said, starting to feel a little guilty about the teasing.
“Right yeah, you may be right,” Anton agreed.
“Also you guys keep guessing girls and like what if it isn’t a girl? Like what if Chanie is dating a guy?” Shotaro asked.
“Oh, that’s fine,” Sohee assured.
“What?” Shotaro asked, afraid Sohee misheard him or that they misunderstood him.
“If it's a guy we are all fine with it,” Eunseok smiled.
“Really? If Sungchan had a boyfriend and not a girlfriend you would be okay with it?” Shotaro asked, his eyes welling up with tears.
“Of course,” Seunghan smiled.
“Love is love,” Anton casually stated.
“It’s not our place to judge,” Wonbin assured.
“I just I um okay,” Shotaro cried, overcome with emotion. While he thought they didn’t know about him and Sungchan, hearing their support made him tear up.
“Hyung don’t cry,” Seunghan said, moving to pull Shotaro into a hug.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Eunseok asked, reaching out to rub Shotaro’s shoulder.
“There is no need to cry,” Sohee comforted.
“Is there something you want to tell us hyung?” Wonbin teased with a smirk.
“No, I just I need a minute I’ll be right back,” Shotaro stuttered, shoving their hands off and fleeing from the room.
“I didn’t mean to upset Shotaro like that,” Wonbin said, watching Shotaro flee the practice room.
“I don’t think he was upset, more so emotional,” Seunghan assured.
“We should definitely talk to him but for now, I think he needs a little space,” Anton said.
“Yeah, I’ll text Sungchan to let him know what happened,” Eunseok said, feeling guilty about taking things too far.
RIIZE became increasingly anxious and worried as Shotaro didn’t return for the rest of the break. “Alright, we are staring back up now,” Their manager announced walking back into the room.
“Hyung-nim neither Sungchan nor Shotaro are here,” Eunseok pointed.
“It’s fine. Shotaro wasn’t feeling well so Sungchan was taking him home,” Their manager explained.
“Oh no, what happened?” Sohee asked.
“Shotaro threw up during the break earlier so I sent him home for the day. Now the rest of you need to focus so we can practice a different formation for the dance,” Their manager stated.
Neither one of the couple came back to practice that day and by the end of the day, all five of them felt super guilty and worried about earlier. “We need to tell them that we know,” Sohee declared, packing up his bag.
“Yeah definitely,” Anton agreed.
“We also need to tell them that we support them,” Seunghan added.
“I’m not sure that we should tell them that we know,” Wonbin said, wringing his hands.
“What do you mean?” Sohee asked.
“Well Shotaro is clearly really uncomfortable with all of this so don’t you think telling him we know would make him more uncomfortable,” Wonbin explained.
“What if I talk to them alone? I can let them know that we figured it out and also that we support them but in a less intense way than if all of us went to talk to them,” Eunseok suggested.
“Yeah that’s a good idea,” Wonbin agreed.
“Great, I'll text Sungchan to let him know that I am going to stop by and Seunghan, why don’t you go spend time with Sohee in our dorm while I talk to them?” Eunseok instructed, pulling out his phone.
“Yeah, that sounds good hyung,” Seunghan happily agreed.
The five of them rode back to the dorm building in silence, anxious about how Eunseok’s conversation with Sungchan and Shotaro would go. After saying goodbye to the others Eunseok walked up to the door of the second dorm deciding to knock instead of just using the code they all know. After a moment Sungchan pulled the door open. “Hey, what’s up?” Sungchan greeted.
“We need to talk,” Eunseok declared.
“Look I saw your text but if it’s about the hickey and me dating someone can it wait? Right now really isn’t a good time,” Sungchan pleaded.
“If Shotaro hyung is feeling up for it I really need to talk to the two of you,” Eunseok stated.
“Alright, I’ll go see if hyung is up,” Sungchan agreed, stepping aside to let Eunseok enter the apartment.
Sungchan walked back to his and Shotaro’s room pushing the door open. Shotaro looked up from where he was laying on the bed. “Hey, love if you feel up to Eunseok is here and wants to speak with us,” Sungchan said, walking over to Shotaro.
“Okay,” Shotaro mumbled, sitting up.
“If you don’t feel good you don’t have to,” Sungchan promised, reaching a hand out to ruffle Shotaro’s hair.
“No it’s fine he is probably worried about what happened earlier,” Shotaro said.
Sungchan took Shotaro’s hand and led him out to the living room where Eunseok was awkwardly waiting for the couple. “Hey Taro hyung, are you feeling okay?” Eunseok asked, standing up to greet Shotaro.
“Yeah Yeah I’m fine,” Shotaro assured, smiling reassuringly at Eunseok.
“Are you sure? You left the practice room suddenly and then our manager said you went home early because you weren’t feeling well,”
“I’m feeling much better. I’m sorry about earlier I just overreacted in the moment,” Shotaro apologized, staring at the ground.
“No, you didn't, we are all just worried about why you reacted so strongly. If it was about the gay comments we all wanted to let you know that we know and we fully support you,” Eunseok reached out a hand placing it on Shotaro’s shoulder to show support.
“Wait what?” Sungchan asked, having missed the earlier conversation.
“The five of us all know that the two of you are dating and that Shotaro is the one who gave you a hickey,” Eunseok explained.
“Wait then why did you react the way you did?” Sungchan asked.
“We just wanted to tease you two a little but it got out of hand. None of us meant to hurt you or make you upset. All of us are really sorry,” Eunseok apologized.
“It’s okay,” Shotaro gave a small smile.
“No, it’s not. None of us wanted to make you think that we didn’t support your relationship. We are all really happy and have actually known for a while but we weren’t totally sure till the hickey,” Eunseok said.
“I uh thank you for telling us and um being so okay with it,” Shotaro muttered.
“Yeah, it means a lot Seokie. Not everyone who has found out has been okay with it,” Sungchan explained.
“Well we talked and all of us are okay with it,” Eunseok reassured the couple.
“While I’m glad you guys are okay with it, could you not mention it?” Shotaro shyly asked.
“Sure, I’ll text the others and let them know but if you don’t mind me asking since all of us know why can’t we talk about it?” Eunseok asked, taking out his phone to text the other about the conversation.
Shotaro felt his eyes tear up and pointedly stared at the floor. Sungchan wrapped an arm around Shotaro pulling him into his arms. “Shotaro has had some bad reactions from friends and family so…” Sungchan explained.
“I understand. None of us will bring it up again but just know that we love and support you and when you guys are ready to talk about we are here for you,” Eunseok promised, smiling at the couple.