And then I see them. TeenValentine. An eight-member group that debuted three years ago. My gaze slowly drifts over to a familiar face, and my breath catches in my throat.

It’s Akari Masuda. My former best friend and fellow DB trainee. That is, before she was traded to another label and I never saw her again.

Okay, not never. I saw her from afar at the RARA awards ceremony in Tokyo not too long ago, and I know we’ve been at a lot of the same events, but we’ve never crossed paths. Not like this. Not so close.

She’s definitely changed, but it’s unmistakably Akari. I can tell from the gracefulness in her steps, a ballerina walk I used to be able to recognize in the DB halls from a mile away, and by the way her eyes widen in surprise when she sees me here on the beach. It’s the same look she used to get when I’d tell her horror stories about my encounters with Choo Mina in our trainee days.

“Okay, ladies, gather around!” The host of the show is MC Yang, a famous comedian who’s been hosting popular reality shows since I was a kid. Appa and I love him. He’s basically all of Korea’s uncle. We gather as he starts explaining the rules of the game. Something about a series of competitions around the island and how points will be distributed. Honestly, I’m only half paying attention. All I can think about is what I’m going to say to Akari if I get the chance. What can I say? Hey Akari, sorry I was a shit friend to you when we were trainees and haven’t been in touch at all since you were traded, but it’s so good to see you now!

Even thinking the words inside my head makes me cringe. I wish I knew exactly how to make amends and tell her how guilty I feel for the way our friendship fell apart, but so much time has passed between us that I hardly know where to begin.

“Are you ready?” MC Yang asks, pulling my focus away from thoughts of apologizing to Akari and back to the task at hand.

“Yes!” all the girls shout.

“Just what I like to hear,” MC Yang chuckles at our enthusiasm. “Then here we go: One. Two. Three. Win!”

As much as the girls and I were more excited to be in Singapore than to be on the game show itself, now that we’re playing, we’re determined to claim victory. I can feel the competitive fire spreading through our group.