"it seems that you have settled everything," miyako entered the room.

"president," y/n greeted her with her usual blank expression.

"you don't have much until the big day," miyako added. "we're gonna have to pick up the pace. i've found someone who can help, so make sure you work him hard."

"a helper?" ruby questioned.

kana perked up at this, "could it be... aqu--"

"hey," a man in a mask appeared.

"not you again!"

"oh, pieyon! long time no see!" ruby waved at him enthusiastically.

"what? he's the real deal?" mem-cho questions.

"pieyon...?" y/n tilts her head slightly curiously. she has seen pieyon's videos before due to mizuki showing it to her, thinking he was funny. she was a bit confused as to why he was wearing a tracksuit today... something tells her that's not actually pieyon.

"you're our biggest earner, right? i'm begging you, just go back and do your normal work!" exclaimed kana.

"you used to be a professional dancer, right?" mem-cho asked him. "you mentioned in the video that you also worked as a choreographer for idols..."

"i see!" ruby hummed lowly.

"as a pro, what do you think of us? i think we've started to take shape, but--"

"well, there are certainly idols who can perform on stage on that level, but if you really mean business... you have to start with stamina."

'pieyon' has worked the girls' asses off, making them run laps and dance over and over again. it had become a routine.

"pieyon is busy, but he comes every day for us. he's really nice, isn't he?" ruby smiled as she, mem-cho and y/n watched 'pieyon' talk with kana.

"yup! he's completely different from the one i've seen in the videos!" mem-cho piped up. "for instance, i thought he looked really buff, but he's surprisingly slender in person. his stature is pretty much the same as aqu-tan, don't you think?"

both y/n and ruby laugh.

"ha ha ha. i'd laugh for the rest of my life if my brother ever made that duck voice!"

-

while the other girls were sleeping, y/n went downstairs to see if her suspicions were right. she gasped softly when she saw aqua drinking a monster. the pieyon mask was right beside him. he had sweat dripping from his forehead and was wearing a black t-shirt.

aqua turned his head when he heard her gasp. he was caught off guard, thinking she was kana but his eyes softened when he saw it was just y/n.

y/n smirked at him and approached him, putting a hand on the back of his chair, "i knew it."

aqua just rolled his eyes slightly, "don't tell kana or ruby about this."

"why not?" her smirk widens. "are you perhaps embarrassed? your duck voice is pretty cute, no?"

the blonde just stood up, "you should be sleeping."

"you two," y/n bluntly said.

he finishes his drink, throwing it in the trash can. "then good night."

he then left and y/n simply watched him. she snickered again.

it was now the night before the jif.

after practice, 'pieyon' handed both y/n and kana water bottles.

"thanks, pieyon-san!" they both smiled at him. kana seemed more lively with him around. y/n, now knowing pieyon was aqua, was smiling wider than usual.

A/N
short chapter today sorry