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1. Cheonghyeon
“Kiyeon, get in quickly!”
Contrary to Cheonghyeon's excited invitation, Kiyeon entered the car calmly.
“You're too excited,” he said.
Sitting beside Cheonghyeon in the front, Daeyeon asked them with a light smile.
“Where should we go now?”
“The arcade!”
“Alright. We'll be there in ten.”
It's a rare occurrence—both Kiyeon and Cheonghyeon's classes ended early, and while they still had to go to practice, they weren't pressed for time, like in their previous comebacks.
Before Daeyeon dropped Kiyeon off earlier at his school, Cheonghyeon told him about a plan he thought of.
Instead of heading to the company to start practice earlier than usual, they'll go to the arcade near Kiyeon's school and play until their usual practice time.
It's not the first time they both went to an arcade. Kiyeon had brought him there multiple times when they were still in middle school.
Still, since they became trainees and after debuting, the time to play was dedicated to practicing.
The car slowed down to a stop at the parking lot of a small shopping center. Wearing caps, the two entered the arcade inside the shopping center, followed by Daeyeon who watched them from a distance.
“Come on, Kiyeon! We have two hours to play!”
Standing before the token exchange machine, Kiyeon patted his pockets.
“I didn't bring money with me. You suddenly dragged me here.”
Cheonghyeon grinned, eyes almost curling, then raised his wallet.
“This hyungnim will pay for everything. Just enjoy playing, Kiyeon-ah.”
“Whose hyungnim are you?”
While Cheonghyeon exchanged several bills into tokens, Kiyeon looked around the arcade. Since it was a weekday, it was mostly empty. The nearby schools still had classes going on, and students from his school either went home immediately or headed to practice.
Kiyeon lightly scratched the back of his neck. He felt a little guilty for going to play when he could use the time their early school dismissal gave him.
It wasn't that he was a very studious kid. He just wanted to put more of his time into practicing to improve his performance.
“Kiyeon, let's go play!” Cheonghyeon called him, holding too many arcade tokens in his hand.
Well, if his same age friend is excited about playing, then he'll play as well.
The dozens of tokens were spent so quickly that they went back to the token machine several times for the two hours they played there.
They especially spent too much time on the basketball hoop where they made bets on who will win—Kiyeon did, barely—and will be treated by the loser to snacks.
Cheonghyeon also burned money on the claw machine, trying to get a keychain cat plushie that looked like their eldest hyung. Kiyeon warned him it was a scam and that the claw is loose, but he only believed after his tenth attempt.
They tried almost every arcade game—from the new rhythm games to the arcade classics like shooting games.
As he promised earlier, after they exhausted themselves playing games, Cheonghyeon bought snacks from the convenience store nearby.
“Aren't you buying too much?”
“Forget diet for today. We're dancing a lot later anyway.” Cheonghyeon answered while putting more in the shopping basket. He even asked Daeyeon what he wanted.
Back in the car, Kiyeon quietly ate the biscuits he got, and sat next to the snack haul Cheonghyeon bought and the plushies he got from the claw machines and from all the tickets they won. The snacks were to be shared with the hyungs but Cheonghyeon had separated their favorites, which will be stored in their room. And all the plushies… they will be in Kiyeon's bed.
“Did our Kiyeon enjoy playing?”
Cheonghyeon's tone was annoying and obviously teasing him, but since he actually enjoyed playing, he could only nod and give a short response.
“Yeah, thanks.”
Kiyeon could see Cheonghyeon's satisfied smile through the rear view.
“Let's go out again next time!”
“If the schedule allows it.”
It felt quite nice to come out and play. He had almost forgotten but this was how he and Cheonghyeon used to play after classes, and before they went to the company for training. Kiyeon felt like a kid again.
Since there was still time before they arrived at the dorm, Kiyeon took his phone from his bag and opened it. He had left his bag when they went to the arcade.
On his lockscreen, Kiyeon found multiple message notifications, all sent by Iwol in their group chat.
If his meticulous Iwol-hyung came with them, he would've been scolded to death for not taking photos of them in the arcade.
Cheonghyeon didn't also have his phone earlier, but their manager Daeyeon was with them. Hopefully, he took photos for them.
However, when Kiyeon opened the messages, it felt like ice was poured over him.
Iwol-hyung
@Lee Cheonghyeon @Kang Kiyeon where are you?
sent two hours ago
“Cheonghyeon, you didn't tell Iwol-hyung?!”
(The hyungs all know. Cheonghyeon just wanted to give Kiyeon a little scare.)
2. Joowoo
Joowoo liked to clean the dorm as a way to clear his mind and pass the time. Even though the members kept their rooms tidy, he would still offer his help around to clean.
Of all the rooms, it was the maknaes’ room that was too difficult to clean. It wasn't that they were messy—they had too many items in their room.
It was when he was cleaning Kiyeon's side of the room that he noticed something in the shelf where he kept his comic books.
“Oh, no…”
Dust behind the shelf had accumulated.
Moving the shelf and dusting it off was easy now, but if Joowoo stopped at that, it might be difficult to clean the next time around since Kiyeon had been collecting more books lately.
Joowoo did what he could for the meantime—cleaning off the dust—and spent the rest of his day researching how to properly store books.
In his pursuit of cleaning methods, Joowoo encountered a terrifying possibility in the maknaes’ room: book molds.
That night, filled with resolve to not let Kiyeon's books grow mold, he asked the owner's permission to clean his shelf.
“My shelf?”
“Yeah… I read that books can grow mold and insects could get into the pages.”
Kiyeon shivered. The idea of the comic books he bought with his own money, the Kingdom Cafeteria ~Another~ limited edition that Iwol-hyung got him, being damaged was too horrifying.
“What should I do, Joowoo-hyung…?”
The next day they had free time, Joowoo and Kiyeon, both geared with masks and gloves, began their operation to save the future of Kiyeon's comic books.
They started with putting all the books in one place. Joowoo suggested moving the shelf to another spot to avoid the sunlight.
After cleaning the shelf, they started collecting the books to put a cover on it—which gave Joowoo the opportunity to take a closer look at the books Kiyeon loved to read.
“Kiyeon, you read a lot of fantasy?”
“They're fun. Do you want to try reading them, hyung?”
Joowoo smiled at him. “What would you recommend then?”
The time that would've taken them to put back the books doubled as Kiyeon talked about every comic book he held. Joowoo attentively listened to every word he said—all while his hands continued to cover the books in plastic.
When they finished, all books were carefully returned to the shelf. Joowoo ensured the books weren't tightly packed and pushed back to the wall. He even slipped silica packets because moisture is the enemy that would cause mold to appear.
Most importantly…
“You should put this in a proper case. It's a limited edition…”
He bought Kiyeon a small acrylic box that also doubled as a display case.
“Hyung, you didn't need to get me this.”
Joowoo only smiled and gently put the book inside the case.
“It would be sad if the things you liked were damaged. Kiyeon, tell me if you need help with cleaning them.”
“Thank you, Joowoo-hyung.”
His hyung was smiling so much that Kiyeon ended up smiling as well.
Joowoo returned to his room with a book in hand, one with a cleaning fairy character.
3. Seongbin
Idols are beings with the most irregular job schedule. There were days when all of the hours of the day weren't enough for practice, and there were days when he could fit school in his schedule.
Today was the latter.
“Kiyeon, take a taxi when you go to the company after class. Send a message or call to us.” Iwol reminded him while he put his shoes on the doorway.
“You've said that five times already.”
Most of the time, when he had to go to school, he and Cheonghyeon were sent and picked up together by either of their managers. Unfortunately, since some members, including Cheonghyeon, had individual schedules today, Kiyeon wouldn't be picked up from school.
Kiyeon wasn't a kid who needed to be picked up. He could ride a taxi on his own.
That's why he was completely taken aback when he saw someone familiar at the gate.
“Seongbin-hyung…?”
Even if he's hidden himself with a cap and a mask, Kiyeon was certain that it was their leader who stood next to a car.
When he saw Kiyeon, he waved his hand and gestured to him to come close.
“Hyung, what are you doing here?”
Seongbin pulled down his mask and smiled.
“I'm picking you up."
“What? Why?”
“Why can't I pick you up?”
Kiyeon stared at him. He was sure this was his Seongbin-hyung, and not Jeong Seongjun.
“Get in quickly.”
Seongbin sat next to the driver while Kiyeon sat in the back comfortably. Now inside the cab, Seongbin took off his lousy disguise. The car started moving upon Seongbin's direction to head to UA.
“You didn't need to pick me up.”
“I'm hurt. Kiyeon doesn't want to go home with me anymore.”
He immediately shook his head, waving his hands even.
“Hyung, you know that’s not what I meant…!”
His kind Seongbin-hyung has become more and more like Iwol-hyung since they became roommates.
“I mean, you didn't need to trouble yourself with picking me up. I can go home on my own.”
Seongbin looked at him with a smile.
“I know. I just wanted to.”
Kiyeon tilted his head at Seongbin's words. The older understood without him saying anything.
“We went to school and left together back then. I figured it might be lonely if you go home on your own.”
That was true.
Since they attended the same arts high school, despite being in different grades, they always went together. Seongbin would also wait for him so they could go to the dorm together.
Back when they were unknown trainees, they would ride the bus to the company. They would either chat during the ride, or Seongbin would let the younger Kiyeon to nap on his shoulder to catch up on sleep.
He was right.
It did feel a little lonely now—especially when he would wait for Manager Daeyeon and Cheonghyeon to pick him up.
Seongbin sighed playfully.
“I guess it was just me who felt lonely.”
Kiyeon pouted.
His kind Seongbin-hyung had become more teaseful.
4. Jeho
Working out had been a part of spArk's daily routine since they were trainees—at Iwol's insistence for Kiyeon to grow taller.
Although they have a designated personal trainer for their work out session, there was someone in the group that works out intensely whom Kiyeon wanted to learn from.
Kiyeon had long learned how awful he was at teaching so he just gave up.
Until one morning when he didn't have classes, Jeho suddenly invited him.
“I'm going to work out. Do you want to come?”
Kiyeon squinted his eyes at him.
“Would you teach me properly now?”
“... yes.”
“If you make me just watch you, I'll get Iwol-hyung to scold you.”
“I got it.”
Kiyeon quickly changed into his work out clothes and packed his bag. The two headed to the gym—without the other members who were still sleeping or had already left for a schedule (like Iwol).
Fortunately, Jeho held his words true.
“Don't squat too low.”
“Your form is wrong.”
“Don't do it like that.”
Of course, not in the kindest way.
Of the five hyungs he has, that hyung was the worst at communicating. However, seeing how he's making an effort to talk to him, Kiyeon will give him the grace of an understanding maknae.
Kiyeon did the routine their personal trainer had given him, all while Jeho checked his form and taught him how to effectively move his body.
When they finished their work out session, before leaving to get refreshed, Jeho taught Kiyeon something.
“Remember to do cool down stretches after work out.”
“What kind of stretches?”
At that point, Kiyeon had learned and accepted that Jeho was a “showing is teaching” kind of person and just watched him demonstrate the stretches first.
However, Kiyeon appreciated his Jeho-hyung's feedbacks, even if they weren't phrased kindly.
After getting a quick shower and changing clothes, while they were about to leave, Jeho handed him a tumbler.
“What is this…?”
“Smoothie.”
Seeing Jeho drink his own, Kiyeon could only accept it and mutter a soft “thanks”. It tasted good, although it tasted too much of the banana that he couldn't identify what else Jeho put in it. He was sure of the protein powder though—that hyung never missed out on protein powder.
Jeho didn't stop there. He even handed Kiyeon several energy bars, which Jeho made sure he ate it on their way back to the company because he only stopped watching him when Kiyeon started eating.
Back in the company, after exercising, they went on another round of physical activity that they always did—dancing.
5. Iwol
It was common knowledge to Sparklers that Iwol often had a hand in spArk's stage outfits as a producing member.
From spArk's behind the scene or waiting room vlogs, Sparklers learned that he was the mastermind behind some of the spArk looks that made them crazy—such as Kiyeon's light yellow hanbok in Idol Dynasty Chronicle.
spArk's dedicated stylist was overworking as well today.
Kiyeon's closet only consisted on practice clothes that varied in shades of black and white—that's why the addition of bright colored shirts stood out.
He immediately asked his roommate.
“Cheonghyeon, is this yours?”
“It's yours. Iwol-hyung put it earlier.”
“Why?”
“Ask him yourself.”
Unfortunately for Kiyeon, Iwol had already left the dorm for a solo schedule so he ended up just sending a message.
Me
Hyung, what are the new clothes for?
The reply came instantly.
Iwol-hyung
Wear them. I picked them up somewhere.
Kiyeon scratched his head upon reading Iwol's reply.
“What the…? Is he some kind of tsundere?”
He just sent a short ‘thanks’ and went back to the closet. There were several shirts and sweaters, both that he liked wearing. The colors varied from yellow to orange, some having cartoon prints.
“That's minipang, right?” Cheonghyeon asked from his bed.
“Yeah.”
Since Iwol had given him clothes, it would be rude not to wear them. For today's practice, he put on a yellow minipang graphic shirt on top of his gray sweatpants.
Kiyeon made sure to take a photo in the practice room and sent it to Iwol. A proof-shot of wearing the gift.
It's only a few days later that more bright-colored clothes appeared in Kiyeon's closet. There were even accessories—berets, scarves, gloves, socks.
Kiyeon's closet now had more colors. Iwol kept putting so many items and his black and white clothes were reduced to a small pile.
He decided to corner Iwol at a moment when he couldn't run away—during Iwol's styling time at the waiting room.
He stood next to Iwol who was sitting with his eyes closed, getting his eye makeup done by the stylists.
“Iwol-hyung, you need to stop.”
“Stop what?”
Kiyeon squinted his eyes. Iwol was bad at lying but he was good at avoiding saying the truth.
“The clothes. My closet has more clothes from you than the ones I bought before. I'm pretty sure you took some of my black shirts."
Seeing how Iwol only pursed his lips, Kiyeon continued speaking.
“You even bought berets. When in my daily life would I wear berets when I just go to school and the company?”
“But it's cute!”
“What about the colored socks?”
“It would look cute with you when you wear shorts.”
“The scarf?”
“It's cute too…”
The stylist finished his eye makeup and moved away with a smile. She had been with spArk since their debut and already knew their behaviors.
“Hyung, look at me.”
“My makeup isn't finished yet."
“Noonim already finished it. Look at me.”
Iwol opened his eyes and looked at Kiyeon through the vanity mirror, slightly trembling.
“Stop buying me clothes,” Kiyeon firmly told him.
“But it's cute…!”
“Return my black shirts.”
“No… That's what you'll always wear if I return them.”
Seeing as neither of them wanted to back down, Kiyeon suggested a compromise.
“What do you want?”
Kiyeon expected a longer answer from him, knowing how Iwol always speak too much, but his answer was brief.
“Wear the clothes I gave you.”
He tilted his head. “Why? I have clothes.”
With a smile Kiyeon knew as sincere, Iwol repeated what he had been saying earlier.
“Because it's cute if you wear them.”
In the end, it's the maknae who yields to the eldest hyung and wears a yellow beret hat.
+ 1
Kiyeon's birthday fell in between Christmas and New Year's eve. Growing up, relatives and friends always gave him one gift for Christmas and his birthday. His parents however made sure to celebrate three consecutive times—Christmas, Kiyeon's birthday, and New Year.
For the first time since becoming an idol, his birthday had coincided with another event.
This year, they were invited to a broadcast agency's year end music show on Kiyeon's birthday.
Since rehearsals begin early and they still had to go to the salon, there was barely time to breathe.
Still, his five hyungs made sure to greet him.
At exactly 12 midnight, Cheonghyeon greeted him. In the morning, they all greeted him. Iwol even made him seaweed soup full of beef for breakfast.
After that, they were hammered to exhaustion with their hectic schedule.
They did a quick rehearsal at the company, headed to the salon to get prepared for the red carpet event of the music show, then drove to the venue.
During the commute, while some members slept, Kiyeon was busy with reading greetings from family, friends, and Sparklers.
Their fancafe, with the banner of a greeting for him, had been filled with his photos and wishes from Sparklers.
- happy birthday to our eternal baby kang kiyeon!!
- kiyeon-ah happy birthday make your hyungs obey all your orders for today
- happy birthday kiyeon even if you turn 30 you will always be our baby maknae
- thank you for being an idol kiyeon-ah happy birthday
Kiyeon replied to the greetings as much as he could until they arrived at the venue.
At the red carpet, Sparklers who had been waiting for them waved their banners and shouted for them. Of course, they made sure to greet him as well.
“Kiyeon-ah, happy birthday!”
“Thank you!”
It felt like he was going to burst with happiness.
So many people had greeted him. Almost everyone he had encountered wished him a happy birthday.
With that many people, Kiyeon didn't even need to hold a party as what the hyungs wanted to do. He was already so happy with the people that wished him to be happy.
At the waiting room, their friends from Berion even visited them to say hi and greet him—even though they already did through messages earlier. They even gave him a gift.
The long, exhausting waiting time and rehearsal passed like nothing to Kiyeon. Before he noticed, it was time to get on stage.
It was his first time performing on stage in his birthday.
“Kiyeon, let's go up now.” Iwol called him.
It was a strange feeling. He still felt nervous—but that was just him wanting to give the best performance—but excitement filled his heart.
Since it was a grand music show with many idols, the audience was filled with multiple fandoms, but Kiyeon easily spotted their fans. A distinctly bright orange light, those were Sparklers.
He waved his hand to their direction, making the same orange lightsticks move as well.
Maybe it was because he was excited or it was his birthday, but Kiyeon performed better than his best.
After their stage, while returning to their waiting room, Kiyeon was pulled back by Cheonghyeon into a tight hug.
“Hey—”
Joowoo put a hat on his head.
“—what—”
And Jeho suddenly came holding a cake, followed by Seongbin holding a lighter. Behind them was Iwol, holding a box.
“Happy birthday to our maknae!”
It was a birthday ambush.
Cheonghyeon loosened his hug, though still didn't let go of him, as they sang to him.
“Quick, make a wish…!” Joowoo told him after Seongbin lit the candle on the cake.
Despite the urgings of his hyungs, Kiyeon took his time and looked at each of them. With five hyungs taking care of him and all the people that loved him, what else was there for him to wish aside staying together for a longer time?
Before the candle wick burned more, Kiyeon closed his eyes and blew the candle. A round of cheer followed, with Cheonghyeon being the loudest.
“Kiyeon, open your gift.”
Iwol handed him the box; it was a little heavy that Kiyeon couldn't figure out what it was.
Upon opening the box, there were five envelopes—letters from each hyung, he assumed.
“Read them later! It's embarrassing,” Cheonghyeon said, with both hands covering his cheeks.
Kiyeon can tease them later if that's what he wanted. He carefully took out the envelopes and pulled another box.
It had a familiar cover.
“Huh?”
Seongbin happily helped him take it out, and Kiyeon became certain after seeing the box fully.
“Come on, try it immediately so we can see if it fits you.” Iwol told him as he pulled Kiyeon to a chair.
Cheonghyeon was giggling so much, seeing how surprised Kiyeon was. “I was right to pick this gift!”
It was the pair of branded shoes that Kiyeon had been saving for months.
“How did you even know?” Kiyeon asked him while taking off the shoes he was wearing.
Since they had to perform, he wore boots with long laces. His hands were trembling in both adrenaline and surprise that it took him a while to take both shoes off.
“Roommate perks,” Cheonghyeon smugly answered.
Kiyeon slipped into the new pair of shoes. It comfortably fit him.
“How was it? Does it hurt your feet? It's a little chunky. Is it heavy? Try walking and jumping to see how it feels.”
Kiyeon was so happy that he could ignore Iwol's neverending nagging.
And he was so happy that he didn't change back into the boots he originally wore for the previous performance when they returned to their seats. It's only after the event that he found in the fancafe that Sparklers noticed he changed shoes, given that he was the only one who wasn't wearing boots after the performance.
@spArk_official
Happy birthday to our maknae, Kiyeon!
[photo 1: kiyeon smiling wide while wearing a birthday hat, holding his cake. photo 2: spArk surrounding kiyeon with a birthday hat, joowoo and seongbin are holding birthday banners they all made. photo 3: kiyeon sitting on the couch while reading the letters from his hyungs, his new shoes are visible. photo 4: spArk on the stage for the final group performance of idols, kiyeon was wearing a birthday hat placed by jeho on him]