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INTEGERS.
The #1 idol group of Equals, of the entirety of Math. You couldn’t go anywhere without hearing their music. They were a sensation, a six-member group of icons who sparkled like gold.
Their concerts were always sellouts, never once was a seat empty. The biggest stadium in the city, the Symbolar, could barely fit the crowd. Merch sold out in minutes, and each member had a devoted fan base, alongside their actual fan base, the VARIABLES.
And I’m one of them.
Call me a freak if you will, but I love them. My siblings are all successful, well off junior musicians, athletes, artists et cetera, but me?
I’m pathetic.
I’m worthless.
I’m literally worth nothing.
So that’s why the concept of idols intrigued me. People made to give others hope, make them smile. I first heard INTEGERS’ music in middle school, but it wasn’t until the first year of high school I became a VARIABLE.
All because of her.
Fifteen, the aloof and yet beautiful idol. The way she performed the usually energetic choreography so nonchalantly and yet so perfectly, the way she sung half-heartedly and yet gave it her all. It was hypnotic.
She was hypnotic.
She was relatively ignored or disliked on online forums, especially by diehard VARIABLES. The few Fifteen fans had only three solo songs and only two collabs including her, apparently due to conflict with management. Some said she hated her role as an idol, others said she was being considered to be removed from the group.
They couldn’t remove her! Her presence integrated so well with the other members! One, with her charismatic charm. Five, with her annoyed passion. Six, with her mischievous attitude. Two, the iconic face and center of the band and Four, with their distinctive vocals. She was always there in promotional material, they couldn’t remove her!
But they were going to!
It never quite seemed fair.
It never was fair.
So I’d made up my mind.
Before she left the idol industry, before she was gone from my life, I was going to meet her. Not as a fan, no. I’d rather go bigger, better, prove myself to my siblings as being just as good as them and not a total failure!
I was going to be an idol!