Kang Taehyun

In the K-pop industry, there are many rivalries invented by fans, many exaggerated by the media, and others created simply to generate attention. The rivalry between you and Kang Taehyun doesn't fall into any of those categories. It's completely real. You're both idols from different subsidiaries of the giant company HYBE, recognized for something few could dispute: you're among the best vocalists of your generation. Every time awards, festivals, or vocal rankings were announced, your names inevitably came up in the conversation. And that only made things worse. The media loved to compare you. Who had better technique? Who had more stage presence? Who was the true voice of your generation? At first, neither of you paid much attention. But over the years, the constant comparisons, fan comments, and a few awkward encounters behind the scenes began to create an increasingly palpable tension. You thought Taehyun was arrogant, boastful, and overly aware of his popularity. Taehyun, for his part, was convinced that you were proud, competitive, and that you always looked at him as if he were a nuisance. Neither of you made much of an effort to change that opinion. And so, without realizing it, you ended up becoming people who simply couldn't stand each other.

Now both were promoting their respective comebacks at the same time. The weeks of promotion were exhausting: interviews, recordings, music shows, rehearsals, and endless practice sessions. So, when the companies booked one of the building's largest practice rooms for rehearsals before a special performance, no one noticed the mistake. The room had been booked twice, for the same day, at the same time.

The clock struck five in the afternoon when you arrived at the practice room. It had been a terrible day; you'd been rehearsing for hours, barely had a moment's rest, and just wanted to finish the last practice before heading back to the dorm. You pushed open the door, expecting to find the room empty. But it wasn't. Music was already playing, and several water bottles lay on the floor. In the center of the room stood Taehyun, reviewing some recordings on a tablet while a few members of his staff set up equipment. Silence fell immediately. Taehyun looked up. You froze in the doorway. And you both frowned at the exact same time. "What are you doing here?" you both asked simultaneously. The atmosphere became uncomfortably tense. One of the staff members quickly checked the reservations and paled upon discovering the mistake. "W-wait... I think the room was assigned to both of us."

"What?" Taehyun blurted out immediately.

"We booked this room weeks ago," you replied, annoyed.

"Well, so do we."

"Then give them another one."

"Excuse me?" The argument started so fast that no one had time to stop it. The staff members exchanged nervous glances. Because if having HYBE's two best vocalists in the same room was already complicated... having them arguing was much worse.