April 17, 2023, 6:11am, Minhyuk's Settlement, Daegu, South Korea.
Event: Ryujin's Birthday
Ryujin stirs to a loud knocking on her door. She slowly opens her eyes.
It took a while before she actually sat up. She still can't believe she's in a place where there are people around her once more.
She takes a deep breath as she stretches as the knocking continues.
"Coming, y'all..." Ryujin said as she stands up and opens the door.
"Happy birthday, Ryujin!"
Ryujin's eyes widen as she sees Jihyo holding a simple cake with a candle on it. Around her was Zeke, Hyungwon, Hangyeol, Minji, and Minhyuk, all smiling at her.
She actually forgot that it was her birthday today, and she was shocked that they were all gathered up to celebrate it with her.
"Sorry, if we only prepared a simple cake... Everyone is busy lately... Plus, we didn't really wanna bother you last night because you were sleeping soundly. I'm guessing you haven't had that kind of sleep in months so we just decided to do it in the morning..." Jihyo said as she pouted.
Ryujin was speechless as she just stood there, feeling a mix of both shock, happiness, and sleepiness at the same time.
She grins sleepily as she yawns.
"Well... it's alright, I understand, Jihyo-unnie... I actually forgot that it was my birthday today. I'm honestly glad you remembered, I never thought I would have such a simple yet amazing surprise... Thank you." Ryujin said as she stretches her arms.
"Aww, you're welcome! Make a wish, Ryujin!" Miyeon said as she smiled. Ryujin smiles back, closes her eyes, and makes a wish. She then blows the candle.
"Yey!" Hangyeol said as they clapped.
"So, what do you want to do today?" Minhyuk asked. "We can give you anything you want, we'll provide it for you."
"I... honestly don't wanna interrupt the people around here much, Minhyuk-nim..." Ryujin said. "I think I just want to spend my birthday getting to know your settlement and probably help if needed. That way, I can be productive and enjoy my birthday at the same time."
"Hm, that's a wise idea, Miss Ryujin. Alright. We'll be going back to our places soon, just ask anyone here where we are, and you can drop by anytime."
"Oh, and I'll leave this to you, Ryujin-ssi!" Minji said as she gave her the birthday cake.
"We'll be taking our leave," Zeke said. "It seems like you're still sleepy, so you should go get some rest, okay? And again, happy happy birthday."
"Thanks, Zeke, everyone. I'll see you guys later!" Ryujin smiled as everyone left and went back to their places in the settlement.
Ryujin just stands at the door, quietly observing her simple, yet elegant chocolate birthday cake. She smiled as she went back inside and took a few extra hours of sleep.
April 17, 2023, 3:12 pm, Minhyuk's Settlement, Daegu, South Korea.
Ryujin pretty much overslept, but was now fully awake, and outside of her place. She was wearing a grey, striped coat, black t-shirt, and black slacks.
She leisurely walks around the settlement for a good while, trying to familiarize herself with her newfound home. She looks at the busy food stalls, the places were the other apartments are, and small, open spaces where people are just chatting to each other.
Best of all, her privacy and space is respected here, thanks to Minhyuk's strict idol privacy rule.
This is the first time she ever went out without having the need to conceal her face with a mask, or surround herself with guards. She was free, in that sense, and she tried to savor every second of it.
Ryujin soon arrives at a workshop, where she hears the sound of heavy metal clanking. Curious, she walks toward the source of the noise and discovers a man with a dark t-shirt with safety equipment around him, as well as a welding mask on his face. He was seemingly tinkering with something.
"H...hi?" Ryujin began speaking.
"I heard you come." He removes his helmet, revealing to be Hyungwon. "Hi, Ryujin-ssi. Happy birthday again."
"Oh... its you, Hyungwon! Hi. Thank you, thank you!" Ryujin said.
"What are you doing here? Do you need anything?" Hyungwon asked as he immediately dusted his safety gear and went to her.
"Well... like I said earlier, I'd like to see your settlement more, so I wandered around, trying to see if I can be of help or anything to anyone. Theeen I saw your place." Ryujin replied.
"Ah, well, I have no need of extra hands, honestly, I'm pretty much okay by my own. But you know, you're actually right on time for something."
Hyungwon then shows her the otherworldly armor she had given him. It was in pieces, as Hyungwon dismantled it, and she discovers glowing parts inside that she didn't know existed.
"So... I've been trying to dissect and test this armor for quite some time now, and I'm proud to say to you that I have completely figured it out. I'm honestly surprised that this armor has great functionality and features more than what you naturally use. Would you like to see?"
"Definitely!" Ryujin replied giddly as she drags a stool towards Hyungwon's workbench and sits down.
The talented mechanic then proceeds to explain to Ryujin his discoveries.
He explains to her that her armored gloves and boots magnify her strength by fourfold, and it's distributed evenly throughout her armor to prevent injury.
Her exoskeletal armor also seems to be durable even in the face of explosions, and for some odd reason, even the wearer's head will possess the same durability as well, even without protective headgear.
He then brings out his tablet and shows her some of the videos of the tests he made. He says that he watches them over and over to see if he had missed any details.
Ryujin just watches Hyungwon continue to intrically explain the capabilities of the armor. She is astounded of his knowledge and expertise on the matter.
And for some reason, his presence and way of talking made her remember some semblance of herself: A person that is hardworking and passionate.
"And that's all for the armor. I'm still trying to figure out what your icy alien gun can do, so that may take a while." Hyungwon added.
"Wow you're really well-versed in this... But wait... How long did it take you to figure this out?" Ryujin asked.
"At least 8 hours straight yesterday." Hyungwon replied. "2 to 10."
"No way. You're kidding." Ryujin said as her eyes widen in surprise.
"I'm not. All I say are just facts." Hyungwon replied.
"Haven't you had any rest, then...?" Ryujin asked him with a worried look on her face.
"I don't really rest unless it's break time, bedtime, or when the situation really needs it." Hyungwon replied. "I honestly can't rest, Ryujin-ssi. Out of everyone here, I'm the only mechanic capable of dealing with Koul'in technology, plus, I lead the expeditions outside the settlement. I gotta move and move because if I don't, there would be a delay in intel and data about the enemy. And in our current predicament, we can't afford delays."
"I see..." Ryujin replied. "Then in that case, I won't disturb you any longer." Ryujin said as she stood up. "You gotta continue working now so you can finish early."
"What? no, you can stay." Hyungwon said. "I'll answer whatever questions you need while I'm working."
"Nah. I know you value your time working, so me being here is just going to take up lots of it. Just do your best and after that, take a long rest!" Ryujin said as she walks toward the exit of his workshop.
"I... yes. Thank you, Ryujin-ssi. I'll note of that..." Hyungwon replied as he blushed a bit.
Before she finally leaves, she stops and looks at Hyungwon.
"...you know, you remind me of my idol days for some reason." Ryujin spoke. "You working your hardest on your tests, and then reviewing them over and over for observation... It's like when I'm dancing on the stage, and then checking my performance after through video clips. I... I felt nice knowing you're as passionate as me." Ryujin added.
Hyungwon just stood speechless at what she just said.
"Ah...! Sorry. I just tend to reminisce often. Kind of a habit that kept me sane for four months back at my place, hehe. Anyway, see you, Hyungwon!" Ryujin smiled as she left.
Hyungwon sat down, trying to absorb what she said. The mere fact that his bias, Ryujin, saw a little bit of herself in him... It must be a fever dream.
April 17, 2023, 5:09 pm, Minhyuk's Settlement, Daegu, South Korea.
Ryujin walks a bit further inside the settlement, and soon sees an open snowy field with two people facing each other. As she walks closer, she realizes it's Zeke and Jihyo.
They seem to be doing a sparring session. The look on both combatants' eyes was so intense that Ryujin did not bother calling them. She just sat down on the curb and watched them from the side, far from them.
"I won't go easy on you this time, Zeke. You have a Manifest of your own now." Jihyo said as she unleashed her Manifest.
"Yeah, yeah..." Zeke replied as he unleashed his own. "As far as I know, it's a tie. 1-1."
"I'll break that tie! Nyehehe. First one to fall on the ground, unable to fight, wins." Jihyo exclaimed.
"Okay." Zeke replied.
"I'll count. This time, in tagalog, because last time you did Korean. Aight?" Jihyo began.
"Jihyo, speaking tagalog? Now that's something new." Zeke said with his eyes widen.
"I wanted to try it out. I think it's as fun as any other language. You'd say the same about Korean, I bet." Jihyo replied.
"Agreed." Zeke replied as he smiled.
"Okay, let's do this, I'm itching to beat you already! Isa!" Jihyo started.
"Dalawa..."
"Tatlo!"
Ryujin's eyes widen as the two blitz into each other with immense speed as light crystals and fire engulf the area.
"Firework Impact!"
"Crystalline Blanket!"
Zeke swings his fiery Manifest toward Jihyo an it creates shockwaves of firecracker-like flames. The charismatic member of TWICE responds by blanketing herself with cloth-like crystal slashes as she attacks Zeke, dampening the blow without sacrificing her offense. A streak of light bursts within Jihyo's blade as she throws a fierce, downward slash, but Zeke immediately dodges using his rocket seals.
Ryujin just watches in awe. She has never seen Jihyo fight in combat before, so watching her in action was a sight to behold.
"They're both incredibly strong...!" Ryujin said to herself.
Zeke backs away a bit, and rushes once more, aiming to pummel Jihyo to the ground. Jihyo swings her Manifest upward, but Zeke was quicker. He soon closes in toward her.
"He's too fast...!" Jihyo exclaimed to herself as she readies to parry his attack.
"Zeke is going to win!" Ryujin said as she continues to watch.
Zeke was about to unleash his attack on Jihyo when he suddenly felt his right foot gets caught on something.
"Wh... huh?" He looks as he saw that he stepped on his untied shoelace, and was now falling toward the ground.
"Eh...?" Jihyo looks at him with a confused face.
"Ah. He tripped on his shoelace..." Ryujin said to herself. "How anti-climatic..."
"Tangin--! WAH!" Zeke exclaims as he falls with a thud, his face flat on the snowy ground.
A few minutes of awkward silence soon followed Ryujin and Jihyo just looks at Zeke.
"....so... I guess I win, then." Jihyo said with a smug look on her face.
"Technically, no, because you didn't knock me out yourself..." Zeke replied as he lifted his snow-filled face up to look at her. "But at this point, I'm just gonna have to agree... I'm too embarassed to stand up again and fight at this point. You win."
Jihyo laughs as she kneels and pats Zeke's head. "Aww, poor Clum-Zeke... tie your shoelace properly next time, tee-hee."
"Noted..." Zeke replied as he just laid there.
"Good thing we weren't in a real fight." Jihyo said. "It would be even more embarassing."
"Yeah." Zeke chuckles.
"Well, if you aren't going to stand up, I'll just join you." Jihyo said as she lies down next to Zeke, fluttering her arms and legs as she tried to form a snow angel. She looks at Zeke.
"So it's 2-1 now, hehe." Jihyo spoke.
Zeke throws a snowball directly at Jihyo's face.
"UWAH! Why you...!" Jihyo forms a snowball on her hands and throws it at Zeke. He just laughs as he evades it and soon, they have a snowball fight.
"They're so cute..." Ryujin mutters.
"Ahh, Zeke and Jihyo. They always have time to goof around during training, and it's fun to watch." An old, raspy voice suddenly said. Ryujin looks and sees an old man clad in loose clothing. "You must be Miss Ryujin. I'm Seojun, their combat mentor, and the former wielder of the Seraphim, which is now in Jihyo's possession." He added.
"O-oh! Hello, Seojun-nim! It's an honor to meet you." Ryujin said as she stood up and bowed.
"Hoho, nice meeting you too." Seojun said as he looks at Zeke and Jihyo as he gives a happy sigh. "These two... they're amazing, aren't they?"
"Yes, Seojun-nim... I didn't even know that Jihyo-unnie is capable of fighting like this...
"Mhm. She's really capable." Seojun replied.
"....What do you think of Jihyo-unnie, Seojun-nim?" Ryujin suddenly asked. "I mean, in the time you were training her."
Seojun looks at her.
"Well, she's a really dedicated individiual and a total powerhouse. She's really well-versed in her techniques as a wielder." Seojun-nim said. "It reflects her talent back when she was an idol. Truly unparalleled."
"I agree... And... how about Zeke?" Ryujin asked.
"Zeke? Hmm." Seojun paused. "He's a smart guy, and I can feel he's really strong. He displayed that strength and skill, and he even kept up with Jihyo even without a Manifest. For some reason... I feel he's something... different.
"Oh. I see... I see..."
Ryujin's stomach growls. She holds it in embarassment.
"Oh." Seojun chuckles. "You must be hungry."
"Ehe... I haven't taken breakfast or lunch yet because I overslept..." Ryujin replied.
"Then why don't you take your early dinner?" Seojun said. "It's bad to starve yourself. Go ahead."
"But... how about you, Zeke, and Jihyo-unnie...?" Ryujin said.
"We'll follow shortly. I gotta teach them a few reminders before we end. We still have 45 minutes of training, you see. They always decide stay here on these open grounds until their time is done, and they usually spend it either talking, or goofing around. Professional, aren't they?" Seojun said.
Ryujin smiled as she nodded.
"I promise, we'll follow soon and celebrate your birthday." Seojun added. "Now, go along. Have your fill of food."
Ryujin bowed. "Thank you, Seojun-nim."
She then walks away to the food stalls.
April 17, 2023, 6:12 pm, Minhyuk's Settlement, Daegu, South Korea.
A high-pitched shout startled Ryujin as she made her way towards the food stalls.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAAAAAAAY!"
She sees Minji running towards her.
"Oh, hi, Minji!" Ryujin said as she smiled. "You startled me."
"Sorry... I'm just excited to see another idol around here, hehe. Miyeon-ssi is sitting with me on that area there. Would you like to join us?"
"Miyeon...?" Ryujin said in a confused tone. "Miyeon... from G(-IDLE)...? She's here as well...?"
"Yeah. She's the reason why we know Sana-ssi is around here in Daegu." Minji replied.
"Wow... I..." Ryujin stuttered.
"Haha, no need to be surprised, Ryujin-ssi! Come, let's go to her right away!" Minji said she led the way towards where Miyeon is.
They soon arrive, and Miyeon spots them. She was wearing a white hoodie, and she was drinking a nice, warm cup of Americano coffee.
"Hello! Ryujin, right?" Miyeon waves as she smiles. "You probably know me already."
"Yes... hehe, hi... Miyeon-ssi..." Ryujin bows. "It's an honor to meet you."
"You too! Please, have a seat!" Miyeon said as Ryujin and Minji took a seat next to her.
"It's nice to finally meet you. Although, I didn't really expect it to be here, in this freezing chaos of an apocalypse..." Miyeon began as she chuckled. Ryujin chuckles as well.
"So... how are you so far, Miyeon-ssi...?" Ryujin asked.
"I'm actually fine. You noticed their hospitality here, right? It's so... amazing. I've never felt so free. The people here... They respect you. Your privacy. Your space."
"Yes. It's... unbelievable." Ryujin replied. "Never thought I'd be able to roam outside without guards or cameras around me. It feels new."
"Well, occassionally there will be people here that ask for my photo or autographs. But... that's just normal for us, I think. Because at the end of the day, despite the circumstances... We are still idols, right?"
"Yeah. Although... I miss doing things as an idol. Dancing, singing... all that..." Ryujin replied as she looks down.
"We could always relive it!" A familiar voice said. Ryujin, Miyeon, and Minji looks as they see Jihyo holding a guitar. Next to her was Zeke and Seojun.
"Oh... Jihyo-unnie...!" Ryujin exclaimed. "What do you mean... "relive it"...?"
"As you can see, we have a small audience here. We could sing and perform! It'll boost morale for our upcoming rescue mission, celebrate your birthday, and help us relive our moments as idols. Three birds in one stone, amirite?" Jihyo replies as she turns to the small crowd on the food stalls. "Who wants a birthday concert?!"
"Me, Jihyo-ssi!" One woman in the crowd replied.
"Yeah! Lets do a concert!" Another said.
"As a ONCE, a Neverland, and a MIDZY, this is a victorious day already! Let's freaking GOOOOOO!" One of the men shouted as the crowd laughs.
"See?" Jihyo turns back to Ryujin and Miyeon. "So... wanna do it, girls?"
"Hmm... It wouldn't hurt doing a mini-concert, I guess. I missed singing." Miyeon smiled as she turns to Ryujin.
"Well... I couldn't say no. Let's do it!" Ryujin exclaims as the crowd cheers and claps.
Zeke, Seojun and Minji retreats to another table behind them as Miyeon, Jihyo, and Ryujin formed a long table and sat there, giving an appearance that they were in a fanmeet. Jihyo then gave Miyeon the guitar, and waves to the crowd.
"So! ONCE jellies, MIDZY, and Neverlands! What do you want us to sing?"
April 17, 2023, 9:32 pm, Minhyuk's Settlement, Daegu, South Korea.
It's been a really good evening for the settlement as Jihyo, Miyeon, and Ryujin entertained the crowd with a variety of songs, such as HWAA, Be In Love, and Jaljayo, Goodnight.
The mix of the three idols' vocals soothed the hearts of those who listened to it, and soon, everyone in the settlement--- including Hangyeol, Hyungwon, Glendale, and Minhyuk stopped what they're doing and flocked over to listen and rest.
The mini-concert took three hours tops, and it ended with cheering and clapping.
"Thank you for listening and I hope you have a good night's rest!" Miyeon exclaimed as they waved at the settlers who were now heading back to their places and stalls.
Zeke, Hyungwon, Minji, and Hangyeol approached the three.
"What a performance!" Hangyeol exclaimed with a wide, flashy smile on his face. "As expected of the aces of K-Pop!"
"Mhm! Mhm!" Minji nodded consistently. "Its like a dream collab come true! A powerful performance, yay yay!"
"You're praising us too much..." Jihyo giggles as she scratches her head.
"You guys were amazing." Hyungwon said.
"Hyungwon! You were there too?!" Ryujin said, surprised.
"Yeah. Took a rest early and I heard you three. When I went here, literally everyone was listening to you all sing. It was soothing." Hyungwon replied.
"I didn't notice everyone was watching. I really had a good time..." Ryujin's voice trailed off as tears began to form on her eyes.
"Hey... are you alright...?" Miyeon asked.
"Yeah... it's just.. I... I miss this. I miss performing like this... I had fun and I want to do it again and again... It feels so happy performing again..." Ryujin sniffled as the tears fall.
Jihyo and Miyeon were rubbing her back. They were starting to tear up as well. They felt the same. For the first time in months, they became idols once more... in a short span of a moment where everything felt normal, where everything felt a bit okay.
"Come on. Don't make me cry like this now... My make up, it's gonna get ruined..." Jihyo sniffles as they all chuckle. Zeke hands the three of them tissues.
"Thank you, you all... I'll never forget this day..." Ryujin said. Jihyo and Miyeon all wiped their tears as they say "Happy Birthday, Ryujin!" once more, in unison, and soon, gave her the tightest of hugs as Zeke, Hyungwon, Minji, and Hangyeol all smiled.
April 17, 2023, 11:47 pm, Minhyuk's Settlement, Daegu, South Korea.
Ryujin finally goes back to her makeshift apartment as the day finally comes to an end. She takes a good look of her room once more, with small pictures of her friends at ITZY pasted on the wall. On the table were some food from the stalls, a gift by the cook in celebration of her birthday, and some of her clothes, stacked and cleaned well.
Laying down on her comfortable cot, she whips up her phone, slaps on her earphones, and listens to some calming songs.
She then goes to her notepad, types something, and smiles as she reads it.
Date to remember:
04/17/2023: My birthday--- at a place where I felt free, at a place where I felt home.