Shadow perspective

      - Hi there! Rion from “Sweetie” on the line! Cute hugs for our sweetest caramels! What do you want to do today?       Blackhaired girl of age 25 was sitting with her feet down in a gaming chair, dressed up in bunny hoodie and sportive pants of marshmallow colour. There was a tripod with smartphone and light devices in front of her. Lights and shadows, made by equipment, were intended to clear the beauty of the girl. Papers and undone ramyeon were stacked in a place that was unreachable for camera.       “Yep, tutrle-bunny trend, new dance challenge from another choreographer, end of year ceremony… and nothing about our songs. Again…” - she thought with sadness or hidden anger while reading live stream chat. The chat of people, who considered to be called “Sweetie”’s fans. - “Oh, found something new, so it’s time to start and speak”.       - The time we’ll upload “Beastie”’s dance practice video? Honestly, I don’t know, manager keeps quiet. - she told a white lie, knowing that agency just didn’t want to spend money and director’s time on such a nonprofit event. - But we have a plan! A part will be released on tiktok by me amd Lee-li.       Positive reactions filled the chat. Rion offered to listen to her guitar play, keeping smile on her face. After audience’s approval, she took an instrument and started a warm up, being lightly sweet and flirty at the same time. She played several group songs and checked audience number. It stuck at 300 and showed to trend to grow. Disappointed on the inside, but smiling on the outside, the singer suggested that her fans throw in some ideas of what she could play for them today       A variety of global new classics were performed: Rion played everything from Metallica to ballads from her homeland. She sang where she could, and the number in the corner grew. At the end live stream was visited by almost a thousand people. “Solid quantity now” – she thought, - “and such a miserable one in front of the one we’d got five years ago.”       She asked “caramels” again for next song after finishing another composition. Suddenly, unlike last time chat began to glitch with a high speed: someone asked to play “Heritage”. The song that started golden era of Huntrx. The song that slayed other artists of industry. The monopoly of trio started as it was released and lead to some agencies’ failures and loss of many up-and-coming singers. Rion’s heart rushed for a second, her smile frosted, but girl pulled herself together and answered with a swallowed pride:       - OK, let’s play it! But hey, don’t dare to compare me and Huntrx! Hope they won’t mind my voice faults, made because of emotions.       As soon as the first chords rang out, the counter practically exploded: the number of viewers shot up to three thousand in just ten seconds. After finishing the song, the girl ended the stream, citing a sore throat from too much singing. Her face immediately froze in a grimace of anger and disappointment. The guitar was gently set against the table. In the silence of the tiny room, a soft melodic voice sounded:       - At least the viewer quota in the contract is met… They won’t disband us for another month…       Burying her face in her knees, the girl sat in silence for a long time, lost in her thoughts. Then, there was a knock at the door.       - Lee-li?       - Yes, that’s me, Rion. In our room… A-Ra burst into tears again on the top bunk, refusing to eat. Someone had once again compared her to Mira in a post, calling her stocky and plain. She’s crying hard now.       - Understand, I’ll try to talk to her later. Just give me a second to calm breathe.       - OK, - agreed Lee-li, - By the way, I’ve cooked the dinner for all. Don’t worry, we meet plan: some of ingredients were bought on sales.       - Thank you, - whispered Rion gratefully and stood up from a chair then.       

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      OK, It seems that I’ve succeeded to calm down our one and only visual member. Looks like it’s time for dinner. It was not for nothing that Lee-li, our kitchen fairy, conjured over the saucepan for two hours.       Ugh, look at what we've come to! We got moved from the spacious apartments provided by Chief Pak to a dorm where we lived even when we were still trainees. All because the group stopped being profitable. A small, cramped apartment not suitable for five young ladies! Though I reminisced about this place with warm in interviews, no one of “Sweetie” truly wanted to return into three tiny rooms. Eyes have caught a piece of wall paint on the floor. Yep, this place was renovated years before us last time.       Television was turned on in living room that was combined with kitchen. While we were working hard with chopsticks and spoons, mood was slowly rising from abyss. Soup was warm and had gentle taste. However news literally made appetite disappeared: excited anchorwoman told us about Huntrx’s new hit. The band decided to make world tour dedicated to their new song.       Yes, I have no chances to be blind to another song of these impudent gang (I have no powers to call that trio an actual band). In the end, now all the artists try not to release songs parallel to the damn top-1 of the charts, waiting for a relative lull so as not to lose their fans completely.       I put away chopsticks and stared at dish. Without any permission thoughts pulled out memories. I saw three year old “Sweetie” getting invitation to IDOL Awards, encouraged and talking about newcomer award. And then I saw us getting life punch when network got blew up because of small band’s debut. We evaluated potential competitors and felt safe hearing they were produced on their own.       I discovered danger on ceremony when I saw them. It looked like they were shining inside. And I’d never seen such a light from any of colleagues. Sixth sense shouted: they differ. Especially Rumi, the leader. Her voice, as regrettable as it is to admit, is simply amazing. I wouldn't be surprised if it guarantees half the success of literally every Huntrx’s song.       "Heritage", the song that group released a year later, quite literally blew up the country and swept across the globe. Huntrx played it dirty, releasing the track in memory of Sunshine Sisters—a legendary group still remembered by many. And yes, those... performers did have a strong reason—Rumi’s mother—but it was still a low blow. Then again, winners aren’t judged, and the industry itself often demands morally questionable choices.       But after "Heritage", a dark age of pop culture began. Every new single from the trio sent people into a frenzy, while everyone else got constantly compared to the newcomers and shamed for their "low quality." We lost nearly two-thirds of our fan club back then. It was... rough. In the end, swallowing my pride and whatever was left of my self-respect, I went to Bobby—the manager of our rivals—myself. Sweetie saved themselves by releasing a collab track and appearing in a variety show episode with Huntrx. Smiling through it all, we endured Mira’s awful temper and Zoe’s non-stop antics, while Rumi didn’t even bother to control her teammates. I still don’t know how my eye didn’t start twitching from the stress that day.       The trio was somehow both too perfect and too provocative—unacceptable, really. Maybe that’s exactly what drew fans in. God, they didn’t even bother naming their fandom! As if they didn’t care at all. Ugh, I wish that had come back to bite them—but the years passed, and Huntrx had fewer and fewer rivals on stage. Even male groups disbanded, overshadowed by the girls’ charisma. Honestly, I kind of miss the hot local boys we used to drool over every evening... I hate Huntrx for that too!       

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      Damn right! Finally, karma caught up with those overachieving workaholics for their greed! Rumi’s voice cracked from overwork right in the middle of a live performance. And not just once—twice! I’m ready to get drunk tonight!       My laughter echoed through the dimly lit stream room. On my phone, a live broadcast was playing, where Bobby was doing his best to save face in front of thousands of fans, earning every cent of his salary. A sharp pang of envy hit me—it should’ve been us filling stadiums by now.       Are our songs really any worse? Both “How It’s Done” and that dumb “Golden” were written in the most generic way possible. Our group—and plenty of others—had songs just like that. Practically every second group that survived their debut year had a track about “their journey.” But only with those damn Huntrx did that kind of song blow up as a single and shoot straight to the top of the charts!       My mood soured again. Trying not to wake the girls sleeping behind the paper-thin walls after another grueling practice, I whispered the bitter truth:       — Well... as soon as Rumi’s throat heals, they’ll be the music industry’s overlords all over again.       

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      It was a miracle. A freaking miracle. Reckless rookies, timing it just right, debuted right after Huntrx's crash. Damn it, it was the first debut in the industry in the last three years! No company had been willing to pour money into an obviously doomed project, but somehow these guys made it through. Saja Boys. They really were brave—like lions. And even though they didn’t instantly shoot up to the trio’s level, they carved themselves a solid spot in the tiny bit of space that had opened up, immediately locking in with the fanbase.       It was the perfect mood for a walk, so I left the dorm, pulling on a cap and a medical mask to cover my face. I wanted to stroll through the city center, which meant catching a bus and hoping no one would pay attention to a tired, makeup-free girl in sweats, a t-shirt, and an open button-up.       I got there without incident. Bittersweet. Happy and annoyed at once. Huh, what's that ice cream over there? Damn, way too expensive. I’d never forgive myself for splurging like that—I’d be eating instant noodles for a week. But those corn dogs? Not bad at all, and the price is decent. Decision made! Time to get in line.       Music started playing. Light, with a catchy looping hook—it fit the vibe of the district perfectly. Probably a live performance by some rookies. Whatever, just one person ahead of me—no time for distractions!       Damn it, my shoulders are moving on their own. This melody is demonically addictive. Oh, and there’s my food—just need to add the sauce. Ugh, too bad I’ve never managed to make it look good enough for my feed. While I was thinking, my hand suddenly felt... weightless.       The snack was gone.       MY. FOOD. GOT STOLEN!       But the moment I looked up, I froze in disbelief. Jinu?! What the hell was Jinu doing right next to me?! And not just standing there, but singing, casually drizzling sauce onto a corn dog with that dazzling smile, while the rest of the boy band played along in the background. Handing my snack back—now so perfectly dressed it deserved a prize for “Most Seductive Street Food”—the leader of Saja Boys danced off down the street like it was all part of the show. And what about me? I stood there, jaw on the pavement. I only snapped out of it when a trio of strange girls suddenly snatched the corn dog and stomped it into mush. A chill ran down my spine. Were they that jealous of Jinu? Or were they anti-fans maybe? Either way, they were way too aggressive. As I quietly stepped back, heart pounding, the crazy trio sprinted after Saja Boys, vanishing into the crowd now gathering to hear what I assumed was the group’s latest hit. All that remained was me… and the wreckage of my snack. My chest ached. My eyes stung .And right alongside that sadness bloomed something bitter and burning: the need for revenge—to throw my anger back into the world, to make someone feel what I just did. Sniffling, I pulled out my phone and snapped a photo of the flattened corn dog. People in the line sighed in sympathy.       The vendor looked at me, clearly having seen the whole thing. He finally gave in, handed me a fresh portion, and said:       – I can tell you respect food and the work that goes into it. Don’t worry—this one’s on the house. Sorry that happened to you.       – Thank you! — I replied sincerely, smiling despite it all.       This time, the sauce didn’t land as artistically as before, but I wasn’t about to tempt fate again. The guys’ song hit its climax, and the world around me suddenly felt like it had been painted in warm colors—joy, love, and passion bleeding through every note. I snapped a selfie with Saja Boys performing in the background, feeling a strange certainty settle over me: They’ve got a new fan now. Count me in.       

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      Jinu’s band climbed the pedestal, seizing the moment when Huntrx had all but abandoned fan engagement on social media. Their strategy was devilishly clever: they dropped a light, catchy song that was easy to sing along to, paired it with a slick choreography, and then simplified it into a challenge a five-year-old could nail on the first try. And that show with the trio of huntresses… Damn, I could bow to their leader’s cunning! The moment he saw Huntrx looming above? He went and made a meme of the girls in leather bodysuits trying to slide down a playground slide.       It was like someone had breathed life back into the industry. Even we managed to release that dusty old album we’d shelved for being financially hopeless. Our monthly budget went up, and our manager actually smiled for once. Oh, and that pouty corn dog post I uploaded when I was feeling down? It blew up. As ridiculous as it sounds, that post helped us slip back into the public eye without too much resistance. And the livestream we did three days later on A-Ra’s tip? Five thousand viewers.       - Rion, Rion! You won’t believe it! – Mia — Sweetie’s main vocalist — burst into the bedroom, eyes glistening.       Our former high-note queen, recently dethroned by Rumi, looked genuinely happy. I couldn’t even remember the last time I saw that kind of unfiltered joy on her face. My lips curved up, reflecting her excitement.       – What happened?       – We’ve been invited to the IDOL Awards! Mr. Park just called! Okay, he said there’s no way we’re winning anything, but still, Rion — the fact that we’re invited!       It was the best news we’d had in ages. That kind of grand ceremony, and we were going to be there. It meant all wasn’t lost. That “Sweetie” still had a fighting chance. I poked my head into the hallway and saw the girls bouncing around, hugging each other. Warmth bloomed in my chest, and for the first time in years, I yelled out with a spark in my voice:       – Alright, let’s melt them all with our sweetness!       That evening, Soda Pop won on Weekly Music. The sour faces of Huntrx were enough to make me believe that nothing could ruin my mood — at least not until next week.       

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      I had just stepped away to the restroom when I heard a commotion in the hallway. Peeking carefully around the corner, I saw a group of people in Huntrx shirts trying to push their way toward the Saja Boys. Damn — was Abby rubbing his hand? Did someone hurt him?       I didn’t go any closer to the scuffle. Instead, I slipped quietly back into the auditorium and took my seat beside the girls. Saya, our group’s dancer and choreographer, caught the tension behind my pop-star smile. She leaned toward Lee-Li and whispered something, and then Lee-Li turned to me and murmured in my ear:       – Rion, is something wrong?       I whispered back what I’d just seen. So when Mr. Baek came onstage and announced that Saja Boys’ performance was being postponed, none of us were surprised. Then Golden started playing. And Huntrx — as always — were dazzling Guess miracles don’t last forever.       Or… do they? What was that sudden shift in the track?Why did the mood twist into something so aggressive, so dark? Just like the first time we’d met, my instincts screamed:“Something big is about to happen.”       Wow, Rumi. Just… wow.       You really went ahead and covered practically your whole body in tattoos? And that voice — did you blow it out? Sounds like it. Either way, Mira and Zoe just tore your shared future and the group’s career to shreds — live, on stage. Seems like things inside Huntrx were far messier than their polished image.I can already hear the media vultures circling, tearing your trio apart. And you know what? I’m not even sorry.       

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      The ceremony was canceled — they just announced the results on TV. And that’s when it hit me.Standing outside with the girls, I realized: this was the end. We had traded one devil for another, and for the foreseeable future, Saja Boys would rule the scene. And unlike Huntrx, they weren’t going to share the spotlight. Those boys had their fanbase on lock, tightly knit and fiercely loyal.       I had let the girls down.       No matter how talented I was, I’d never break through those walls.       And I certainly couldn’t drag the gods of the music world down to my level by force.       A wave of bleak emotion washed over me. I listened to the Lions’ voice message, then looked up at the massive stadium atop the hill. Once, I dreamed Sweetie would perform there. We were so close. But now... maybe I’d go there just once — as part of the audience.       I let myself get swept up into the crowd, eventually finding a spot near the stage. Still in my deep burgundy evening gown, with my dramatic makeup — a femme fatale in a sea of strangers. No one recognized me. The anonymity stung, and tears welled in my eyes.       And then — the music started.       Hell, I felt something like true release. The boys had nailed it. Unlike the smug, polished trio before them, this quintet sang not about the light, but about the shadows. The dark side. And that was exactly what I had been missing. Offhand, I noticed their costumes were flawless — intricate, deliberate, down to the last detail.Even their makeup deepened the immersion, pulling the audience into their world.       And then Rumi interfered — again. Huntrx crashed the boys’ concert with some impromptu performance, clearly unwilling to go down without a fight. Their song stirred something in me — a deep, aching melancholy. Memories of all those years spent in their shadow came rushing back. Despair wrapped around me like a second skin.       The world turned violet. Everything around me seemed to burn in the agony I carried. And then — at the very edge of consciousness — I heard His whisper: “So why stay in the shadows, Rion? Become part of something greater. And I’ll help you.”       People around me began to sing, their voices lifting something — a light I once glimpsed in Huntrx during our first encounter. But I remained engulfed in violet flame, trapped in my own torment. Then I noticed them — glowing filaments of white and blue, stretching from the crowd toward the girls.       I wanted that light too. I craved it. “But you can’t,” – the whisper hissed again, trying to break me. And then — I saw them. Lee-Li. A-Ra. Mia. Saya. They stood hand in hand, their eyes scanning the crowd. They weren’t singing — but they shone like everyone else. Then Lee-Li spotted me. She shouted something, pointing, and the others turned. I read their lips just as they called out in perfect unison:       – Rion!       I can do this. I don’t know how I know — I just do. I wanted to grab my guitar right that second. The melody was already forming on its own in my mind. Each note like a heartbeat.       And then — the fire recoiled, hissing with fury.       And, for the first time,       I saw my own light.       

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      Saja boys disappeared after that show, but Huntrx weren’t in a hurry to take their throne back. Rumi flaunted her white tattoos, which had instantly become the season’s hottest trend. Rion still didn’t like her—or Huntrx, for that matter—but she was far too buried in her work to dwell on it.       “Sweetie,” as if supercharged, dropped their single Dark Chocolate at lightning speed. Riding that wave of momentum, they clawed their way back into the spotlight—not quite the global blaze of five years ago, but enough to matter. Most importantly, they found their niche among their peers, making a bold leap into rock. The contrast between their sugar-sweet faces and the heavy sound hit like a spark to dry grass—it caught fire fast.       Sometimes, when the pressure piled too high, Rion could hear the lavender flames licking at her heels, see the world tint itself in shades of rose and violet. But the pride she’d reclaimed smothered the sparks before they could spread, whispering back: You shine too.       And she would. She would shine.