Chapter 7: A nickname?

The kitchen was quiet. Too quiet for someone who had woken up early, made breakfast for five people, and was now staring at a table full of untouched food like it had personally offended him.

Felix sat at the edge of the counter, chewing slowly on a piece of toast, his expression unreadable. The morning light poured in through the window, sharp and annoying. His plate was the only one disturbed—everything else looked like a carefully staged photo set, not something made by hand before 8 AM.

He tapped his fingers against the counter. Once. Twice. Then stopped himself.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Stay calm. Everyday can't be a lucky day, I have to stay calm. Then maybe find out what made yesterday...curseless.

Rika’s text from last night buzzed around in his mind like a fly:

“YouTuber coming to vlog behind-the-scenes tomorrow. No need to act. Just be chill. Normal. Real. And be early."

He had followed the instructions. Woke up, showered, dressed neatly, kept his glam minimal—just some eyeliner and a tiny cross earring. He even played one of his Odetari playlists on loop while slicing fruit and frying eggs, trying to keep the intrusive thoughts and transformations at bay.

But now?

Nothing. No one. The dorm was silent.

He didn’t yell. Didn’t rant. Didn’t throw the dish towel in frustration even though he wanted to. He just sat, cold toast in his mouth, staring blankly at a table of effort wasted.

If they’re not out in five minutes, I’m going alone.

Actually, scratch that—I’ll leave now. Let them explain it to Rika.

Just as he was standing up, the hallway door creaked open.

Kelvin.

Of course.

His hair was still damp, shirt half-buttoned, expression calm in that irritating “I don’t rush for anyone” way. He moved with quiet precision, heading straight for the fridge like he hadn’t just left Felix to drown in silence for the last hour.

“You’re up early,” Kelvin said, grabbing a water bottle.

Felix didn’t respond right away. He sat back down, slowly. Took another bite of toast like he hadn’t just made that decision to ditch everyone two seconds ago.

“I made breakfast,” he said finally.

Kelvin blinked. “You… cooked? Is the sun purple today?”

Felix nodded once. “Yes, I cooked. Your's might be poisoned though.”

Kelvin opened the bottle. “Okay. I most definitely expected it but I'm not dying soon.”

Felix didn’t rise to it. He just stabbed a grape on his plate with a fork, the motion sharp and deliberate.

“No one else is up,” he said flatly.

“Well. Rika said to ‘keep it normal.’ Maybe they’re just living that dream.”

Felix stared at him, his voice low. “She said we needed to leave early.”

Kelvin leaned against the counter. “You wanna go ahead? Qifei would come pick them up with the van later."

Felix paused. “What?”

Kelvin shrugged. “I’ve got my car. You’re clearly done playing house with these guys. Let’s just go.”

Felix narrowed his eyes slightly. “You’re offering to drive me?”

Kelvin raised a brow. “Don’t make it weird.”

Felix didn’t answer. He stood up, grabbed his jacket, and headed for the door without another word.

Kelvin followed, tossing him a mask and sunglasses.

By the time they were in the car, the tension had settled into something quiet. Not comfortable—but familiar.

Felix buckled his seatbelt, reached for the aux cord, and plugged in his phone. And Kelvin let him.

The bass drop hit almost immediately. Odetari. Distorted synths, gritty phonk beat. It echoed like a heartbeat on fire.

Kelvin blinked. “Oh god. Not this again.”

Felix didn’t look at him. “It is music."

Kelvin didn’t argue. He just drove.

The music filled the silence. Neither of them said a word.

But for the first time in a long time, Felix didn’t feel like he was going to explode.

-

By the time they arrived at G-ENT's building, the whole company was already buzzing with life.

The security team at the entrance greeted them respectfully, and a few junior idols stopped mid-stretch to bow deeply when they passed. Felix gave a polite nod, while Kelvin offered a lazy wave.

They were respected here—not just for being part of Rune, but because they'd earned it. Practice, discipline, consistency. Years of it.

But Kelvin couldn’t stop glancing sideways.

Felix was quiet. Too quiet.

He greeted staff, smiled when necessary, even laughed once at a joke someone made in the elevator—but it didn’t reach his eyes. Not like yesterday. Yesterday had been... chaotic, yeah. But it was also the first time Kelvin had seen Felix breathe like a normal person. Eat like one. Argue like one. Look alive.

Now?

Now he was back to being that Felix—the Felix who carried too much behind his pretty face. The one with all the perfectly timed sarcasm and mechanical charm.

Kelvin didn’t know why it bothered him so much. It just... did.

What happened yesterday that made him loosen up?

And what happened between then and now that made him snap back into this locked-up version of himself?

They reached their practice room and kicked off their shoes. The space was sleek and huge, walls lined with mirrors, polished floors, the Rune logo painted boldly in the center. No one else was there yet.

Felix dropped his bag in the corner and began warming up with the same efficiency as always. Kelvin grabbed a water bottle and turned toward him.

Felix didn’t even look up. “Let’s not waste time. We can start without the others.”

Kelvin blinked. “Seriously?”

Felix shrugged. “You’ll mess up a dozen times before we get through half a set anyway. Might as well get it out of the way now.”

Kelvin rolled his eyes. “Wow. So inspiring.”

But he didn’t argue. He just joined him on the floor and pulled up the choreo file on his phone.

Ten minutes later…

Kelvin was already sweating and muttering under his breath.

Felix sat against the mirror, water bottle in hand, grinning behind the rim. “That move isn’t even hard.”

“It is when your body hates you.”

“It’s your stiff arms. You’re fighting the beat.”

Kelvin dropped dramatically to the floor. “I’m fighting for my life, actually.”

Felix chuckled softly and shook his head. Then stood.

He walked over and offered a hand. “Come on. You need to stretch or you’re going to pull something.”

Kelvin looked at him suspiciously. “You offering to help me? That’s suspicious.”

“I’m being generous.”

“You’re being weird.”

Felix raised an eyebrow. “I just don’t want Rika to yell at me when you injure yourself trying to body-roll with your shoulders.”

Kelvin hesitated. But then—

“Fine.”

Felix moved behind him and dropped to his knees. Gently, he guided Kelvin’s arm back and tilted his torso to one side.

Kelvin tensed instantly.

“Relax,” Felix muttered. “You’re not that fragile.”

Kelvin grumbled, “You say that, but you also called me ‘cardboard with joints’ once.”

“I stand by that,” Felix replied calmly, and something about the way he said it made Kelvin exhale—just a little.

They shifted positions. Felix pressed gently on his back. Kelvin’s breath caught slightly when he felt how steady Felix’s hands were. He wasn’t mocking anymore. He was focused.

“Does it hurt here?” Felix asked, nudging a muscle at his side.

“Not really. Just tight.”

“Hm.” Felix paused, then added under his breath, “You’ve gotten better though.”

Kelvin turned to glance at him. “What?”

Felix didn’t repeat it. Just said, “Tilt your head back—like this.” He gently adjusted Kelvin’s neck. His fingers brushed against his collarbone.

Kelvin swallowed.

And then Felix said it. Quietly. Almost like he didn’t mean to.

“Relax, Kel.”

Kelvin froze.

Felix noticed. The second the nickname left his mouth, he realized what he’d done.

They both paused. Neither said anything. The air was thick.

Kelvin’s heart thudded. He’s never called me that before.

Felix cleared his throat and stepped back, brushing imaginary dust off his pants. “There. You won’t snap in half now.”

Kelvin stayed on the floor, staring at him.

Felix didn't look back. He just returned to his bag and sipped his water.

Okay. What the hell was that? A nickname for me?