Days later, Kairo finished a late-night practice session, exhausted and lost in thought. As he reached for his water bottle, he noticed a small envelope propped against it. Opening it, he found the letter Yuna had written. The words struck a chord, capturing emotions he hadn't voiced.
"I see beyond the persona. The real you deserves to be recognized. Remember, not everyone wants the image the company creates some of us are here for you, the person."
The words felt personal, almost eerily insightful. He glanced around, half-expecting to see someone nearby, but the practice room was empty. He folded the letter, tucking it into his bag, grateful yet curious about the writer. Whoever this person was, she seemed to understand his struggles.
The campaign continued to spark a frenzy. Fans, enchanted by the photoshoots and staged interactions, began shipping Kairo and Yeseo heavily. Fan pages filled with edits, theories, and hashtags celebrating their chemistry. But among the praise, a few skeptical comments started to emerge, doubting the authenticity of what they saw.
Yuna's own fake account joined in, encouraging this line of thought. She subtly planted seeds of doubt, hoping Kairo would feel validated and even closer to whoever was challenging the company's facade.
Kairo and Yeseo were scheduled to attend an exclusive industry event that evening, where the company hoped they'd display the chemistry that was gaining them so much attention. Kairo felt himself tense as he adjusted his jacket, feeling more like a puppet than a person. Yeseo, sensing his discomfort, reached out to him gently, her hand brushing his arm.
But Kairo pulled back, his mind lingering on the words from the letter, wondering if he was losing sight of who he really was. Yeseo, hurt but masking it, couldn't understand what was holding him back from her.
Back in his room after the event, Kairo pulled out the letter again, feeling strangely comforted by the words. He didn't know who had written it, but there was a sincerity in the message that felt genuine, as if someone out there truly saw him. The warmth he felt didn't come from the countless glances and smiles he'd shared with Yeseo on screen it came from the unseen "friend in the shadows" who understood the pressures he faced.
In the quiet of his room, Kairo opened his Weverse app. For a moment, he simply stared at the blank post box, thinking about the letter he'd received. He didn't want to expose too much especially about something that felt so personal but he felt an urge to let his true supporters know he appreciated them. That someone out there had reached him in a way words on screen rarely did.
He typed slowly, each word carefully chosen:
"It's easy to get lost in what people see and expect from you. But sometimes, you find little reminders that remind you of who you are beneath all of that. Thank you to those who see me… truly. I hope you all know I'm grateful for you, always."
The post was cryptic, but heartfelt. Kairo hoped it would speak to the right people those who understood the weight of his world, who saw beyond the staged smiles and orchestrated moments. And somewhere, hidden in that broad, devoted audience, Yuna read his words and felt a thrill course through her.
She knew this message was for her, even if he didn't know it yet. The silent bond she had with him was growing, just as she'd planned. Kairo had noticed her, even if only in the shadows.
As he folded the letter, he whispered, "Thank you, whoever you are." The words lingered in the silence, and far away, Yuna knew her influence was beginning to take root.
Kairo's post quickly spread across Weverse, sparking waves of responses. His devoted fans rallied behind his words, sharing supportive messages and expressing their admiration for him as an artist and individual. Comments poured in:
"We see you, Kairo. We're here for the real you!"
"It's okay to feel lost sometimes. We'll always be by your side."
"Stay true to yourself, Kairo we love you for who you are, not just what we see."
But while many celebrated his sincerity, others couldn't help but bring up the growing chemistry between him and Yeseo. Fan discussions soon split between those who felt his message was a cry for authenticity and those who saw it as a deeper connection with Yeseo:
"Is he talking about his 'real self'? I bet Yeseo understands that side of him!"
"Maybe this is him hinting at something with Yeseo? Their connection just feels so genuine!"
"We love you, Kairo, but we also really love you and Yeseo together!"
The company's campaign had embedded itself so deeply that even Kairo's heartfelt post couldn't escape its reach. Yuna, scrolling through the comments from her account, felt a surge of irritation with each mention of Yeseo's name. Her message had reached him, and yet fans were already twisting it into something about Yeseo.
She clenched her fists, a new determination forming in her mind. If she wanted Kairo to truly see her, to know that someone understood him beyond all the noise, she'd have to make herself a constant presence in his life whether he realized it or not.