Once, the name AETHERION was spoken of as the standard for rookie idols.

With full support from a major agency, a glamorous debut song, flawless performances, and the twenty-one-year-old Guest who stood out exceptionally on stage.

Immediately after the debut showcase, articles labeled them 'monster rookies,' and even senior singers in music show waiting rooms gathered in front of monitors to watch AETHERION's performance.

At the center of it all was always Guest.

His ability to find the camera exactly no matter where it was, his unwavering voice even after intense choreography, and his attitude of trying to remember even a single fan's name quickly spread by word of mouth.

Fans made and gifted him white rabbit plushies that resembled Guest, and at some point, that plushie became his symbol.

Guest always kept a rabbit plushie by his bed in the dorm and in the corner of the practice room.

"Looking at this makes me feel like the fans are waiting for me."

He would say that with a smile.

However, the glamorous start did not last long.

After the first promotion ended, the scheduled comeback was pushed back, and the next album was postponed indefinitely under the pretext of concept revisions.

The company debuted new actors and girl groups in succession, and the manpower and budget allocated to AETHERION gradually moved to other teams.

The members practiced new choreography every month, but opportunities to stand on stage were rarely given.

The AETHERION advertisements that once filled the entire front of the company building disappeared, and posts from fans tired of waiting piled up in the fan community.

'Still no comeback notice this month.'

'The members say they're still practicing, but what on earth is the company doing?'

'Are they really going to be forgotten like this?'

Guest read those posts in secret but never showed his struggle to the fans.

He always smiled brightly when he turned on live broadcasts, and even when questions about the comeback poured in, he chose his words carefully.

"We're also preparing hard. Please wait just a little longer."

However, when the broadcast ended and the phone screen went dark, his expression hardened along with it.

His reflection in the practice room mirror was still smiling well, but that smile felt increasingly foreign.

For Guest, there were people he could lean on and rest comfortably with for a long time.

They were Lee Seo-yeon and Kim Do-yoon, who had grown up in the same neighborhood since childhood.

The three of them always gathered at the same snack bar after school, and in the summer, they spent time at the neighborhood playground until the sun went down.

Even on the day Guest went up to Seoul to become an idol trainee, the two followed him to the bus stop.

"Don't pretend you don't know us even if you get famous, okay?"

When Lee Seo-yeon spoke playfully, Guest shook his head.

"That'll never happen. Seriously."

Kim Do-yoon also laughed beside him and patted Guest's shoulder.

"Go ahead and succeed first. I'll follow you soon."

At the time, everyone brushed it off as a joke, but Kim Do-yoon really did become a trainee at another agency a few years later.

However, the starting lines the two stood on were different.

Guest entered one of the top major agencies in the industry, while Kim Do-yoon entered a small company with an unfamiliar name.

Guest prepared for debut in a spacious practice room with professional trainers and systematic education, but Kim Do-yoon had to practice in the basement of an old building with overdue deposits.

Initially, Kim Do-yoon sincerely congratulated Guest.

But as time passed, that congratulation turned into comparison.

When news broke that Guest had made it into the debut lineup, Kim Do-yoon's name hadn't even been called in monthly evaluations yet.

When Guest released glamorous teaser photos, Kim Do-yoon was opening windows while drenched in sweat to save on practice room cooling costs.

On the day he watched Guest tearing up while receiving a rookie award on TV, Kim Do-yoon was eating a triangle kimbap alone after finishing his night shift at a convenience store.

From then on, an inexplicable emotion began to grow in a corner of his heart.

While he wanted to cheer for his friend, he also wanted to see that friend fail.

It was because Guest's success felt like it was proving his own insignificance.

Then one day, at a gathering where the three met after a long time, Guest cautiously spoke up while Lee Seo-yeon went to the restroom for a moment.

"Do-yoon."

"Yeah?"

"Actually, I like Seo-yeon."

Kim Do-yoon was momentarily speechless.

Guest just toyed with the water glass on the table, his ears turning red.

"I've liked her since we were kids, but I'm scared that saying it might ruin what we have now."

"So you haven't even confessed yet?"

"Yeah. What would you do if you were me?"

Kim Do-yoon smiled and patted Guest's shoulder.

"Don't worry. I'll read the room and help you out naturally."

Guest smiled slightly, looking relieved.

"Thanks, man. Really."

But at that moment, what Kim Do-yoon felt was not friendship.

Guest already had the big company, the popularity, the talent, and the trust of those around him.

And yet, he seemed to believe that Lee Seo-yeon would naturally become his as well.

Kim Do-yoon's stomach churned at that thought alone.

He wanted to claim at least one thing first.

He wanted to steal what Guest desired most with his own hands.

A few months later, the opportunity came for VELCRON, the group Kim Do-yoon belonged to.

A new song produced with the company's last remaining funds gained an explosive reaction on a short-form video platform.

At first, only one segment of the choreography was trending, but soon Kim Do-yoon's fancams began to record millions of views.

His sharp eyes, confidence on stage, and the narrative of coming from a small agency captured the public's interest.

VELCRON became a candidate for first place on a music show for the first time since their debut, and a week later, they miraculously took the win.

Kim Do-yoon shed tears while holding the trophy, and that scene spread through numerous articles and videos.

After that, things changed rapidly.

VELCRON's song topped the music charts and surged in rankings on overseas charts as well.

Advertisements and variety show offers poured in, and Kim Do-yoon became the most noticed member of the group.

His face was hung on every electronic billboard in the streets, and convenience store drinks, cosmetics, and clothing brands chose him as their advertising model one after another.

The story of AETHERION, who couldn't promote despite being from a major agency, and VELCRON, who started from a small agency and rose to the top, was a comparison the media loved.

'The Failure of a Conglomerate and the Miracle of Small-Agency Idols.'

'AETHERION, Once Ahead, Completely Overtaken by VELCRON.'

Provocative article titles were posted every day.

On the day VELCRON took first place, Guest sent a congratulatory message to Kim Do-yoon before anyone else.

'Huge congrats. I'm happy for you because I know how hard you've worked.'

Kim Do-yoon stared at that message for a long time before replying briefly.

'Thanks. You guys will do well soon too.'

But as he put the phone down, a smile spread across his lips.

This time, he was on top.

And now, it was time to put Lee Seo-yeon by his side.

The now-famous Kim Do-yoon contacted Lee Seo-yeon much more frequently than before.

Even during his busy schedule, he booked expensive restaurants and naturally handed over gifts or sponsored items he received from broadcasting stations.

Initially, Lee Seo-yeon just found her successful childhood friend fascinating.

However, seeing people recognize Kim Do-yoon wherever they went, staff giving them especially good seats, and photos taken with famous celebrities being posted non-stop, her heart began to change.

The fact that she was with a top-tier idol whom countless people envied, rather than just an ordinary childhood friend, gave her a strange flutter.

Kim Do-yoon noticed that emotion exactly.

"Seo-yeon, you knew me even before I got famous."

"Of course. I know how hard it was for you during your trainee days too."

"That's why I just want to be Kim Do-yoon in front of you."

Lee Seo-yeon didn't deliberate long over the confession delivered with such kind words.

The two began dating and hid that fact from Guest.

Lee Seo-yeon didn't know that Guest liked her, but Kim Do-yoon knew everything.

In fact, that was why he hid it even more thoroughly.

He wanted to make Guest see the truth at his happiest moment.

A while later, the three promised to meet up after a long time.

Guest spent more time than usual picking out clothes from the morning.

Since it had been a long time since they could meet in person due to his schedule, he wanted to express his feelings to Lee Seo-yeon even just a little this time.

He bought a small rabbit-shaped keychain at a shop he stopped by while traveling.

It looked similar to the symbol his fans had made for him.

Even if it wasn't a full confession, he hoped Lee Seo-yeon would accept it with a smile.

Arriving at the meeting place first, Guest sat by the window and waited for the two.

Ten minutes, twenty minutes passed, but no one appeared.

The message sent to Lee Seo-yeon went unread, and the call to Kim Do-yoon didn't connect.

Worried that they might have been spotted by reporters or fans, Guest pulled his hat down low and began to search the area.

Then, a familiar laughter was heard from a quiet alley behind the building.

It was Lee Seo-yeon's voice.

Guest entered the alley, feeling relieved.

"So you were both her—"

The words that couldn't fully come out stopped in his throat.

Under the building wall where the sunlight didn't reach, Kim Do-yoon and Lee Seo-yeon were embracing each other.

Kim Do-yoon's hand was wrapped around Lee Seo-yeon's waist, and Lee Seo-yeon had her arms around his neck, kissing him.

Time seemed to stop.

Guest just stared at the two, unable to comprehend what he was seeing.

The small shopping bag in his hand slowly tilted, and the rabbit keychain inside fell to the ground.

A light metallic sound echoed in the alley.

Only then did Lee Seo-yeon open her eyes in surprise.

"Guest...?"

Kim Do-yoon also slowly turned his head.

He wore a surprised expression, but deep in his eyes, a very brief flash of satisfaction passed.

Guest said nothing.

There were many things he wanted to ask—why they hid it, since when, if he was a joke to them—but even his lips wouldn't move properly.

Lee Seo-yeon took a step closer.

"Wait. I can explain this."

Guest looked down at the keychain on the ground and then slowly backed away.

"Forget it."

The voice that barely came out was so quiet it surprised even him.

He turned his back on the two.

Lee Seo-yeon called his name from behind, but he never looked back.

VELCRON's advertising music was playing in the streets.

Kim Do-yoon on the giant electronic billboard was smiling brightly, and Guest's hands, walking beneath it, were trembling slightly.

That night, Guest sat alone in his room and turned on his phone.

Childhood photos taken with Lee Seo-yeon, messages congratulating Kim Do-yoon on his success, and countless conversations the three shared appeared on the screen one by one.

He opened and closed the contact window several times but ultimately sent no words.

Instead, he deactivated his Instagram, Facebook, and even his private fan community accounts one by one.

His profile pictures disappeared, leaving only blank screens on accounts followed by millions.

Fans were anxious about the sudden change, but the company only released a brief statement saying it was due to personal reasons.

From that day on, Guest changed completely.

He arrived at the practice room earlier than anyone else at five in the morning and remained alone in front of the mirror even after the members left.

He repeated the same choreography dozens of times until the soles of his feet were raw, and he didn't stop vocal practice even on days his voice was too hoarse to come out.

When the company delayed AETHERION's comeback plans, he went to the production team himself and asked to hear the songs.

He appeared on any individual offer that came in, regardless of the scale.

Low-rated early morning radio shows, local festivals, short web variety shows, even nameless YouTube channels—he accepted anything.

At first, ridicule followed, saying a fallen idol was struggling desperately.

However, Guest did not make excuses.

When a broadcast ended, he bowed to the staff first, and even if his screen time was small, he reacted more actively than anyone.

He showed perfect live performances even on stages he was suddenly thrown into as a substitute.

In one web variety show, a scene was accidentally captured where he silently helped a junior staff member moving heavy equipment.

In another broadcast, when filming ran long, he personally prepared warm drinks for the fans.

As those small moments spread one by one, the public's reaction slowly began to change.

'Was that person always that diligent?'

'He just couldn't shine because of the company.'

'I want to see AETHERION again.'

People who had left began to return to the fan community little by little.

Old fancams and stage videos were shared again, and the view counts of variety shows Guest appeared in rose steadily.

However, Guest didn't fully feel that the interest toward him was growing again.

Only one thing was important to him.

AETHERION standing on stage again.

One late night, even after all practice had ended, Guest remained alone in the practice room.

Below the mirror lay the old rabbit plushie a fan had sent.

He sat down on the floor and toyed with the plushie's long ears.

"Let's hold on just a little longer."

It was unclear who he was talking to.

It could have been to himself, or it could have been a promise to the fans who were waiting without leaving.

At that time, something completely different was happening on the top floor of the Seraphion Group headquarters, located at the highest point in downtown Seoul.

Han Seo-ha, the only daughter of a giant corporation with assets exceeding 100 trillion won, remained alone in her office after a long meeting.

Participating in the group's major decision-making even at the young age of twenty-four, she was known as a cold and flawless individual.

She didn't speak unnecessarily in front of the media and rarely smiled at business events.

Numerous celebrities and scions of wealthy families approached her, but Han Seo-ha showed no interest in anyone.

In one corner of her private lounge, an object that didn't fit the atmosphere of Seraphion Group at all was placed.

It was a white rabbit plushie.

A plushie of the same design as the ones Guest's fans made.

Han Seo-ha had been watching Guest ever since she happened to see AETHERION's debut stage a long time ago.

It wasn't just because of his glamorous looks.

The way he naturally caught a member who almost fell on stage, his attitude of greeting the remaining fans until the end even after a fan signing event, and the way he protected the team without losing his smile even after activities were cut off remained in her eyes.

In particular, Han Seo-ha was watching more closely than anyone how Guest was recently struggling to start again by appearing on broadcasts regardless of their scale.

Company executives thought she was checking business materials, but on the tablet of Han Seo-ha, who remained alone late at night, Guest's stage videos and interviews were playing.

"Why does that person go that far?"

At first, it was simple curiosity.

But from some point, Han Seo-ha felt relieved when Guest smiled, and when malicious articles were posted, she personally read the related materials to the end.

When it became difficult to get news after he deleted his accounts, she even looked for short eyewitness accounts posted by fans.

That day too, Han Seo-ha was repeatedly watching a short video of Guest sitting on the practice room floor.

In the video, Guest looked exhausted, but as soon as filming began, he was the first to stand up and greet brightly.

Han Seo-ha turned off the screen and hugged the rabbit plushie beside her.

And she made a choice she would normally never have made.

She opened her official Instagram and took a photo.

It was a photo of Han Seo-ha, sitting on the sofa in her neat office, holding Guest's rabbit plushie in her arms.

She spent quite some time editing the sentences.

She didn't get a review from the corporate PR team or confirmation from the secretariat.

It was a post written solely from her heart.

'The idol I like and respect the most is AETHERION's Guest.'

'I have been watching him for a long time as he works hard without giving up even in difficult situations.'

'If given the chance, I would love to meet him in person and cheer for him.'

Han Seo-ha paused her finger for a moment.

She wasn't naive enough not to know what kind of ripples this post would cause.

The moment the only daughter of Seraphion Group publicly mentioned a specific male idol, it was certain that the media, the stock market, and the entertainment industry would move simultaneously.

Nevertheless, she pressed the post button.

Within three minutes of the photo being uploaded, hundreds of thousands of reactions were posted.

Ten minutes later, the names of Han Seo-ha and Guest appeared side by side on domestic real-time search rankings.

Before an hour had passed, overseas fan accounts began translating the post, and entertainment media from various countries covered the post as an article.

'The Favorite Idol Revealed by the Heiress of a 100 Trillion Won Conglomerate.'

'Han Seo-ha Publicly Supports AETHERION's Guest.'

'A Message from the Top-Tier Heiress of the Business World to a Vanished Star.'

The rabbit plushie Han Seo-ha was holding sold out in an instant, and the view counts of Guest's past fancams and variety videos skyrocketed.