Two weeks before debut—
they were dressed, seated, and told to relax.
"Just answer honestly," the staff said.
Bella leaned forward immediately. "That's dangerous."
Joanne sighed. "For you, yes."
Susu smiled quietly.
Mili adjusted the small camera in her hands.
Leah sat still—
hands folded,
eyes observant,
already thinking ahead.
The Interview Begins
A camera turned on.
Not for fans.
Not yet.
This was internal—
to build their official profiles.
To decide how the world would see them.
"Let's start simple."
"Name, age, and height."
Bella groaned. "Why height first? That's an attack."
Joanne went first.
"Taziko Joanne. Born March 3, 2000. 169 centimeters."
Clean. Direct.
The interviewer nodded. "Leader?"
Joanne glanced briefly at the members.
"…yes."
Susu followed.
"Bai Xui Xui… Susu. August 14, 2000. 167 centimeters."
Her voice was soft—but steady.
"Main vocalist?" the interviewer asked.
She nodded.
"Next."
Leah didn't move immediately.
Then—
"Leah Kim Vogel. July 10, 2001."
A pause.
"176 centimeters."
Bella turned instantly. "Say that again."
Leah didn't look at her.
"176."
Bella leaned back. "Yeah, that makes sense."
Joanne added dryly, "We live with it."
A few quiet laughs.
"Mili."
She sat up straighter.
"Park Mi Li. November 22, 2001. 169 centimeters."
She glanced at Joanne.
They shared the same height.
A small smile passed between them.
"And finally."
Bella grinned.
"Kang So Ji. December 30, 2001. 171 centimeters. Youngest—but most important."
"No," Joanne said.
"Yes," Bella replied.
The room softened.
"Languages?"
The interviewer looked up. "Let's talk about communication."
Joanne answered first.
"Korean, English, Japanese."
Efficient.
Susu followed.
"Chinese, Korean, English… and a little Japanese."
She looked slightly unsure.
Leah spoke without turning—
"You're better than 'a little.'"
Susu blinked.
"…thank you."
"Mili?"
"Korean, English, Japanese… and a little French."
Bella leaned in. "Say something in French."
Mili froze.
"…no."
Everyone laughed.
"Bella."
"Korean, English, Japanese," she said confidently. "Fluent in vibes too."
"That's not a language," Joanne said.
"It should be."
Then—
"Leah."
Silence settled slightly.
Not heavy—
just expectant.
Leah exhaled quietly.
"Korean. German. English. Japanese. Mandarin. Spanish."
She paused.
"Basic French."
Bella's eyes widened.
"Wait—are you done?"
Leah added, almost as an afterthought—
"I understand Thai."
The room went quiet.
The interviewer blinked.
"…how?"
Leah shrugged.
"My grandmother."
"Background before training?"
Joanne spoke like she'd prepared it.
"I trained for two years."
Susu nodded. "Me too."
Mili followed. "One and a half."
Bella stretched slightly. "One year. I was clearly a natural talent."
"No," Joanne said again.
The interviewer turned.
"Leah?"
She didn't hesitate.
"Eight months."
The staff paused.
Bella turned slowly.
"Eight…?"
Joanne didn't look surprised.
"…we know."
Susu looked at Leah differently now.
Not confused.
Impressed.
"Any allergies?"
Joanne answered first, like always.
"Dust," she said. "And I don't react well to overly sweet food."
Bella blinked. "That's not an allergy, that's a personality trait."
"It affects me," Joanne replied.
Susu spoke softly.
"…peanuts."
The room shifted slightly.
Bella immediately turned to her. "Wait—serious?"
Susu nodded.
Leah spoke without hesitation—
"Then we don't order anything with peanuts."
It wasn't loud.
It wasn't dramatic.
But it was decided.
Susu looked at her—
a small, grateful smile forming.
"Mili?"
"…shellfish," she said quietly.
Bella groaned. "We're losing all the good food."
Joanne sighed. "We'll survive."
"Bella?"
She raised her hand like she was in class.
"None. I'm built different."
"No," Joanne said. "You're just loud."
Then—
"Leah?"
She paused slightly. She was actually allergic to some few things
" pollen, ant bites, kiwi, mold and dust mites" everyone's mouth was left hanging. "Jesus how do you survive" Bella said "no wonder you're a total neat freak" Mili added Joanne and susu both chuckled the interview just shaked her head as she jotted down.
"Personality?"
"MBTI," the interviewer added.
Joanne: "INTJ."
Susu: "ISFP."
Mili: "INFP."
Bella: "ENFP—obviously."
They all looked at Leah.
"…INFJ," she said.
Bella nodded slowly.
"Yeah… that makes sense."
Something Unscripted
The interviewer flipped a page.
"Is there anything people misunderstand about you?"
No one answered immediately.
Then—
Leah spoke.
"They think I'm cold."
No one interrupted.
She continued—
"…I just think before I speak."
Bella looked at her.
"You also stare."
Leah blinked.
"…I observe."
Susu smiled softly.
"That's not a bad thing."
Mili nodded.
"It's comforting."
Joanne added quietly—
"It means you notice things."
Leah looked at them—
really looked.
And for a second—
she didn't look distant at all.
Mili's Camera
In the middle of it—
click.
Bella turned. "You're taking pictures during this??"
Mili nodded.
"I want to remember."
"Remember what?" Susu asked.
Mili looked at all of them.
"…this version of us."
Leah's gaze softened slightly.
"What are you actually good at?"
Bella sat up immediately.
"Oh this is my question."
"Wait your turn," Joanne said.
Joanne went first anyway.
"Piano," she said. "And… games."
Bella turned slowly. "Games?"
Joanne didn't look embarrassed.
"I win."
"…we need to test that," Bella said.
"We won't," Joanne replied.
"Susu?"
She hesitated—
then answered softly.
"Piano… and guitar."
Mili's eyes widened slightly.
"You never told me that."
Susu smiled. "You never asked."
Bella pointed. "So you're just hiding talent??"
Susu laughed quietly.
"Mili?"
"…painting," she said.
Bella nodded. "That makes sense."
"It does?" Mili asked.
"You look like you paint," Bella said.
No one questioned the logic.
"Bella."
She sat up straighter.
"Pottery."
The interviewer paused again.
"…again?"
"Yes," Bella said confidently. "I'm consistent."
Joanne added, "She's actually good."
Bella looked offended. "Why do you sound surprised?"
Then—
"Leah."
Silence again.
Not uncomfortable—
just expectant.
"…drawing," she said.
Mili blinked. "You draw?"
Leah nodded once.
"Very well," Joanne added.
Leah glanced at her.
"You've seen it?"
"I notice things," Joanne replied.
A small pause.
Mutual understanding.
"Creative involvement?"
"Do any of you write music?"
Susu raised her hand slowly.
"…a little."
Leah spoke right after—
"…we both do."
Bella turned. "WE?? Since when?"
Susu looked shy.
Leah didn't.
"…we've worked on things."
Joanne nodded slightly. "They stay up late for it."
Mili smiled softly.
"That's nice."
Bella crossed her arms.
"I feel excluded."
"You sleep," Joanne said.
"I need rest to be amazing."
Bella sat up. "Tell them the other one."
Leah glanced at her.
Bella grinned. "Don't hide it."
Leah sighed softly.
"…taekwondo."
Bella raised her hand again. "Me too."
"That explains a lot," Joanne muttered.
Between Questions
Mili lifted her camera again.
click.
Joanne mid-sentence.
click.
Bella pretending to look serious.
click.
Susu smiling softly.
She hesitated—
then turned the lens slightly.
Leah—
not looking at the camera,
but at them.
click.
A Different Kind of Knowing
"Interesting," the interviewer said, reviewing notes.
"You're all very… balanced."
Bella leaned forward. "That's because of me."
"No," Joanne said.
"Yes."
"No."
Susu laughed softly.
Mili tucked her camera closer to her chest.
Leah sat back—
but not distant.
Just—
comfortable.
Something Quiet
"Do you think these details matter?" Mili asked suddenly.
The interviewer paused.
"They help people connect."
Mili nodded slowly.
"…even small things?"
"Yes."
Bella grinned. "Good. Then they'll love me."
"They will," Susu said gently.
Leah looked at them all again.
All these small things.
All these pieces.
Individually—
they were just details.
But together—
they were something else.
One Last Question (Off Camera)
The interviewer spoke again, softer now.
"Do you think people will understand you?"
Silence.
Then—
Joanne: "Not immediately."
Susu: "Maybe slowly."
Mili: "If they look closely."
Bella: "If they have taste."
Then—
Leah.
She thought for a second.
Then said—
"They don't have to understand."
A pause.
"As long as they feel something."