A Long Time

Iris stared at the monitor, squishing her cheeks with her loose fists as her elbows propped her head up on the work desk. Cindy, passing by, saw this and commented on Iris's pensive, but silly posture.

"What's up, cuz?" Cindy placed one hand on the back of the chair and leaned forward on the left of Iris to see the computer screen.

"You're editing our latest YouTube video." Cindy stated more than asked.

"Yup," murmured Iris with a little nod. "It's done, but I'm just thinking about whether I should keep this cut or leave it in."

"Leave what?" Cindy peered closer as Iris indicated with her clicker. "Oh, is this the scene where we mentioned our surprise upon having learned about our survival show being aired?"

"Hm." Iris dumbly nodded again. "It's technically a spoiler, so I thought I ought to keep it out, but now the cut seems unnatural in the conversation and flow of events."

Considering it for a few seconds, Cindy then suggested, "How about inserting a funky transition where you say cut for spoilers? And then put the date of the survival show premiere?"

"Oh! Great idea! I can't believe I didn't think of that!" Iris jumped up in her seat and began deftly maneuvering the clicker across the screen, adding a transition and some short text in a homely font.

Ever since debut with the confirmation of Iris in Big Hit's New Girl Group, the fans were pleasantly surprised with discovering the pre-debut connection with Rinah's YouTube channel and Iris. She had helped behind the scenes and could only be recognized by the sound of her voice.

Funny enough, no one realized previously that the voice of Rinah's helper was uncannily the same as Iris. But that might be due to people remembering Iris mainly for her singing voice.

Regardless, the fans had a hay-day connecting the dots between the two girls and then further connecting Cindy, Ahreum, and Jiyeon's pre-debut YouTube account as a trio. Since their social media challenge in Big Hit's internal survival competition, the trio had kept up with their channel. But they didn't post that often or with as long videos long videos like before.

It was only Rinah that was more consistent after a short break when she didn't make the initial cut. But then when she officially joined the group, her videos became sparse as well. These coincidences made the fans spin up all sorts of theories since they had no clue about the auditions, competition, or Rinah's delayed addition to LUXIA.

Big Hit planned to release a short series on LUXIA's formation on their YouTube channel starting in the fall of 2021. By this current point in time, LUXIA was now a one month old rookie girl group. And they returned to YouTube now as a complete group under an official account connected to Big Hit's.

Similar to BTS's Bangtan Bomb channel, LUXIA had the support of their staff filming their silly moments, playtime, and pranks on one another. The third person videos and personal vlogging all contributed to the public's continuing interest and approval in them.

They witnessed how well the LUXIA members got along with one another like sisters. The amount of 'skinship,' such as hugging, tackling, and squishing of cheeks, mainly of Ahreum's, between the members quickly led to fan pairings of the idols.

For instance, Cindy x Jiyeon was a popular pairing because they got along so well, and yet despite their similar confident and cool auras, they were otherwise so different. This contrast, and their story and concept 'roles' as queen and king made them a clear and fast 'ship.'

Two hotly contested pairings were Iris x Ahreum and Iris x Rinah. All of the fans quickly knew from behind the scene clips and variety and television appearances that Ahreum was a huge fan of Iris since Produce 48 days. And it was because of her that Ahreum got the courage and motivation to seriously become an idol.

For many of Ahreum's fans now, she was an example of how hard work and perseverance truly achieved miracle-like feats. Not only had Ahreum, stage name Ariel, debuted in one of the biggest entertainment companies, but it was even with the very idol she adored! Ariel was deemed a very lucky girl. Or "luxy" girl as the fans joked.

As for Rinah and Iris, this pair was popular for the quiet admiration on Rinah's part and warm, heartfelt support on Iris's side to Rinah before she was known as Reina. Their YouTube video link solidified the special bond between these two girls who had become fast friends since meeting one another.

While the "Aris" and "Reiris" shippers went head to head, "Jiyella" ship floated cooly in calm waters. They were the "jelly" duo who often acted like grannies and sometimes showed their roguish childishness. Once in a while though, the Jiyella ship adopted a young, fluffy chick as their child, aka Ahreum.

For the LUXIA members, the fan pairings made them amused to no end. Perhaps because they were girls, they didn't feel as uncomfortable with the ships as male idols might feel. But even though this double standard of a mentality existed, that didn't mean they were okay with fan fiction shipping.

Still, the fans hadn't gotten to that point yet since LUXIA was still new. And besides, they couldn't do anything about it anyway and didn't care about something that trivially affected them. Once again, this was a quirky part of the South Korean idol industry.

Nonetheless, the LUXIA members did find it funny how quickly their fans picked up on their internal connections and dynamics between the girls. Their openness and genuine closeness with one another was a joy for fans to discover. They likened it to BTS's familial brotherhood and hoped that LUXIA would stick together just like them.

"All right. And that's set!" Iris lifted her hands up in satisfaction before placing them assuredly on the table.

"This our fifth group vlog now?" Cindy doubled checked. "Wow, it's amazing how we debuted and should be busier than ever, and we definitely are, that's for sure!" she chuckled, "—but somehow the videos keep piling on by themselves, like default! I guess that's what happens when you become an idol and are in front of cameras so much while trying to connect to your fans."

Iris nodded in agreement. "Well, at least while the LUXIA series airs, we don't have to worry about making our group vlogs that much since the show will essentially be doing it for us."

"Yeah, and then we have our world tour coming up after." Cindy added while bouncing on her toes and holding onto the back of Iris's chair.

"Hm! It's amazing that our company organized everything so quickly. I know it's only professional, and I sorted expected it, but I wanted to keep my expectations low just in case we weren't so successful, but still—! It feels so surreal!"

"What?" Cindy smirked mischievously. "Surreal for you even after several tours and concerts as IZ*ONE?"

"Pft! Duhh~" Iris snorted and rolled her eyes. "I loved them all, but being in a smaller group is more exciting somehow, like I can really shine on the stage, especially now that I have full creative freedom with our own works.

"Also. I didn't have any solo tour much less concerts, so there's that too."

Cindy slouched lower while leaning on the chair, smiled widely, and poked Iris teasingly. "What? Thinking of leaving us so soon oh master Iris?"

Cindy jumped and blocked Iris's incoming, playful punch. "Rude! You—!" Iris exclaimed in amusement and defeat at her cousin impishness.

"Ahah, yes, I love you too, cuz." Cindy grinned.

"Shut up, I love you too." Iris laughed heartily while uploading their final, edited group vlog to YouTube.

"Hm?" Ahreum just popped into the room. "I don't get an 'I love you' too?"

"Haha, I love you too, Ahrie," replied Iris.

"What's that?" said Jiyeon while passing by along with Rinah, the both of them having just come back from getting food for the group.

"...." Iris paused and then swiftly turned to Cindy in rebuke. "See? Look at what you started!"

"Huh? What'd I do?" Cindy asked innocently with wide eyes.

"Aye aye~" Iris shook her head in mirth. "And now I'm stuck with my crazy cousin and you three doofs for seven or plus years."

"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?" Cindy stuck out her tongue while Ahreum giggled, Jiyeon raised an eyebrow, and Rinah smiled confusedly.

'Yup.' Iris thought to herself with a sly smile. 'I'm happily stuck with these four girls for a very long time.'

With a group series and tour on the way, LUXIA was quickly and steadily making their way in the world together. Just for these small moments, they could breathe happily and peacefully until their biggest competitor debuted soon and a historic rivalry would ensue.