Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Today was the day that everyone was gonna the know the final members of the group...it felt like time was going by so slow. The remaining contestants were standing there nervously looking around. Before they had announced anyone, it was time for the final one pick vote.....masato already knew who he was gonna pick. Isn't it obvious?
Kim Junseo was his one pick, always and forever. He opened up the mnet plus app, pressed Junseos profile and hit submit, as he put his phone away, he locked eyes with Junseo who was looking at him with curious eyes.

"Who was your one pick?", Junseo mouthed from afar with a small smirk on his face.

Masato softly bit his lip and looked away and spotted Kaiwen staring at him from afar. Masato gave him a small wave, returned with a thumbs up and a big smile.

"Did you vote for me?", Kaiwen mouthed with a big smile, the type of smile you never wanted to go away....

Masato pretended to get distracted and turned to his other eliminated contestants, who were already occupied. After the fail distraction, all of a sudden a camera pans to Masatos face.

"Masato, how did you feel during this voting period and what do you have to say to the final contestants?", the MC says with a happy positive attitude.

Masato's mind BLANKS OUT, he had no thoughts, no encouraging words, not even a simple "hope you guys make it"....so he just goes with the first thing that came to mind.....

"I voted for Junseo..."

The room was quiet, hoping for more??...

"OH! and I just wanted to say I hope you guys take this opportunity as it is, even if you don't make it..just know that you guys all tried your best and I will always be rooting for all of you", he ends that sentence making eye contact with a sad Kaiwen trying his best to look upset, he nods.

It was now time to announce the final member, the other 7 has been announced. No Junseo...and no Kaiwen. Masato look sover at both of them giving them a hopeful thumbs up.

The name gets called....."Kim Junseo!"

Masato starts tearing up, resisting the urge to run up and give Junseo the tightest hug he has ever received. But then he looks over at Kaiwen, who looks a bit disappointed but also looks like he expected this???

The episode was over, it was finally time for all the eliminated contestants to go congratulate the debuted contestants. Kaiwen is searching for Masato in the large crowd, once he does, he spots him hugging Junseo. It was such a personal and intimate hug, Kaiwen couldn't interupt...that was something he really wanted. A hug, from the one he wanted the most. It truly...felt like forever until they stopped. Masato notices Kaiwen trying to go up to him but the situation was way too awkward so he tried to avoid him as much as possible.

Kaiwen felt the ignorance..but he still wanted to be acknowledged...atleast a "better luck next time"..was that too much to ask for?

"Why is this dude following me around?", Masato thought...

After a couple minutes of Masato practically running away from Kaiwen, he finally toughens up and goes up to him....but he was already talking to someone else...maybe next time?

All the contestants were gathered up in a room, mingling and hanging out, celebrating and what not. Masato spotted Kaiwen and tried to go talk to him but when he saw him he was talking with Xinlong. He didn't want to interrupt their conversation so he just stood there patiently waiting for Kaiwen. Soon they're done and Kaiwen turns around to talk to Masato until...Zihao walks up to Kaiwen and kisses his hand passionately, Masato notices out of the corner of his eye pretending not to mind it that much.

Kaiwen quickly snatches his hand away, feeling sorry for the potentially embarrassed Zihao but more sorry because Masato seems to have a more distanced attitude. Kaiwen places his hand on top of Masatos..

"Can we talk?"

Masato nods and they walk to a quiet corner in the room where they can talk.

"Are you upset with me? I feel like I did something wrong, it seems like you've been avoiding me all day..." Kaiwen says with a sad expression.

Masato has never seen this side of Kaiwen before, he was always so happy and bubbly. Seeing him this upset and vulnerable was different....

"I...I just don't know. If I'm being honest, I have been catching feelings but I don't want to hurt you..", he said while looking down.

"What do you mean? You could never hurt me" Kaiwen said with a sorrowful smile.

Masato hesitates for a second but communication is key.

"Well, I like Junseo but I'm not sure how he feels about me."

"Well....You like me and you know how I feel about you", Kaiwen says as he grabs Masatos hands leaning towards him slowly.

They stare deeply into each others eyes, unable to look away until Masato looks out the corner of his eye at a sad Junseo watching them from afar....

Chapter Text

Masato and Kaiwen, face to face, holding hands while gazing into each other's eyes. Kaiwen softly grabs Masato's chin, he puts another hand on his waist and pulls him in for a soft gentle kiss.

Kaiwen backed away, making sure it was alright. Masato smiles and nods slowly and they both leaned in for another kiss, this one felt more personal. They felt more connected, Masato felt safe in Kaiwen's arms. This is where he was meant to be.

A sorrowful Junseo, still watching from afar. He wasn’t exactly sure about his feelings for Masato but he felt like something was there….I guess not.

As Kaiwen and Masato break away from their kiss, Masato makes eye contact with Junseo as he's walking away.

Kaiwen turns Masato's head towards him and leans in for another kiss, Masato puts his hand on Kaiwen's lips to stop the kiss.

“Wait a second, I need to freshen up real quick. I heard we are gonna start recording again.”, he chuckles as he walks away slowly, searching for Junseo.

Kaiwen gives him a small pleased smile.

Masato is pacing through crowds of contestants, trying to find Junseo. Where could he be? He decided to check outside, there he was.

Junseo was sitting outside, on the ground looking down at his shoes, deep in thought. His eyes turned to Masato and he looked down again.

“Hey, can we please talk?”Masato says go down to his level to sit beside him.

“There’s nothing to talk about, I don’t know why you’re out here”, he says coldly.

“Look, I’m sorry you had to see that. In my defense, I had no idea how you felt about me. There were no signs, no talks and frankly, I don’t even know what you’re upset about.”

Junseo turns to look at Masato.

“It wasn’t obvious? Was it all just casual then? Was it casual when I would compliment you all those times before airing? Was it casual when I bit your shoulder? It might sound silly but I still think about that night. Does that ever cross your mind?”

Masato's face turned blank, all of those moments they had weren’t nothing, he just thought it meant nothing to Junseo.

“Of course it crosses my mind! But, gosh you seem like such a player sometimes, I see the way you look at other contestants…how can I know that you actually like me?”

“Like this..”

Junseo wastes no time placing his lips on top of Masatos, he places a hand on his waist and another cupping his face.

“So is it me or him?”, Kaiwen says from afar, arms folded with a disappointed look on his face.