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Knock! Knock! Someone knocked on the dorm door. A moment later, the door beeped, and RIIZE’s manager walked into the dorm. Stopping in the doorway, RIIZE’s manager called out, “Shotaro, I’m here.”
“I’m coming,” Shotaro called back from somewhere further in the dorm.
A moment later, Shotaro stumbled down the hallway, already dressed for the day. “Shotaro, are you ready to go?” RIIZE’s manager asked.
“Yep,” Shotaro responded, walking over to the door.
Shotaro hurried to put on his shoes and grab a coat. Hearing the noises coming from the hallway, Eunseok stuck his head into the hallway. Spotting Shotaro getting ready while their manager was waiting by the door, Eunseok tilted his head in confusion. None of them were supposed to have a schedule this morning. “Hyung, where are you going?” Eunseok asked, shuffling into the hallway.
“The optometrist. I am having my eyes tested to see if I need new glasses,” Shotaro said, grabbing the last of his stuff.
“Ha, loser,” Eunseok laughed, sticking his tongue out at Shotaro.
“It's not my fault, my eyes are bad,” Shotaro huffed.
“Shotaro,” RIIZE’s manager said, reminding Shotaro that he had somewhere to be.
“Right, sorry I’m coming. Eunseok, I’ll see you at the legal meeting later today,” Shotaro said, waving to Eunseok as he headed out the door.
Going through the various eye tests, it became increasingly clear that Shotaro would need a new, stronger pair of glasses. Finishing up the refraction test, the doctor pulled the machine away from Shotaro’s eyes and said, “Alright Shotaro-ssi, for the final part of the eye exam, I am going to dilate your pupils to examine the retina.”
“What?” Shotaro asked, not understanding what the doctor was saying.
“These eye drops will cause your pupils to relax and expand, and then I can examine your eyes,” The doctor explained in simpler terms, holding up an eyedropper.
“Oh, okay,” Shotaro nodded, doing his best to stay still.
Walking out of the exam room, Shotaro rapidly blinked, trying and failing to focus his vision. Shuffling into the waiting room, Shotaro squinted, trying to find his manager. Spotting a blob that vaguely looked like his manager, Shotaro began shuffling across the room. “Umph,” Shotaro gasped, his leg colliding with a chair he hadn’t seen.
“Shotaro, are you okay?” RIIZE’s manager asked, hurrying over to check on Shotaro.
“Yeah, just the doctor dilated my pupils so everything is really fuzzy,” Shotaro said, taking a step back and steadying himself.
“Alright, be careful. Careful,” RIIZE’s manager fussed, reaching out to help guide Shotaro.
Placing a hand on Shotaro’s shoulder, RIIZE’s manager carefully guided him out of the doctor’s office. Arriving at the street, RIIZE’s manager stuck his head out, checking to make sure the street was clear. The car was only a couple of meters away. Forgetting to warn Shotaro, RIIZE's manager stepped down from the entrance, causing Shotaro to stumble. After making sure Shotaro was okay, RIIZE’s manager asked, “Did the doctor say how long it would take for your vision to go back to normal?”
“She said it could be a couple of hours before my eyes went back to normal and that I can’t wear my glasses or contacts until they do,” Shotaro responded.
Nodding, RIIZE’s manager guided Shotaro to the van, helping him inside before running to the front and climbing into the driver's seat.
As soon as the car parked, RIIZE’s manager rushed to unbuckle himself and exit the car before Shotaro.“Be careful,” RIIZE’s manager warned, running to grab the door for Shotaro.
“I’m fine,” Shotaro insisted, brushing his manager off.
Giving Shotaro a sceptical look, RIIZE’s manager stepped back, letting Shotaro climb out of the van on his own. Climbing out of the van, Shotaro slowly made his way over to the SM building entrance, doing his best to stay straight and not hit anything.
Shotaro isn’t sure when, but his manager must have texted the others about his poor vision because as soon as the elevator opened on the conference floor, Sungchan and Wonbin were waiting for him. “Let me help you,” Sungchan said, rushing to wrap an arm around Shotaro before he could even leave the elevator. “I am fine. I can still see. It’s just very blurry,” Shotaro huffed, trying to bat Sungchan away.
“Are you sure, hyung?” Wonbin asked, watching as Shotaro stumbled slightly, making his way out of the elevator.
Letting a small huff, Shotaro pushed the two of them away. Making his way down the hall, Shotaro saw something silver blocking the way. Squinting his eyes, Shotaro tried to make out what the object was, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t get his eyes to focus enough to figure out what it was. Stepping to the side, Shotaro attempted to side step whatever it was, only to miscalculate and have his hip collide with the edge.“Oomph,” Shotaro groaned, his hip throbbing.
“Hyung, be careful. Are you hurt?” Sungchan asked, scrambling to help guide Shotaro around the garbage can.
“I’m fine. I just hit my hip,” Shotaro assured.
“Are you going to be okay during the meeting with management?” Wonbin asked, watching as Sungchan helped guide Shotaro down the hall.
“Yeah, I don’t need to see anything management has to share,” Shotaro said.
“Don’t say that,” Sungchan weakly scolded.
“Why not? It’s true,” Shotaro huffed, already dreading what would no doubt be a long and tedious meeting about why SM wouldn’t take stronger legal actions against stalkers.
“It’s only supposed to be an hour and then vocal recordings,” Sungchan said;
“I get to go home after the meeting,” Shotaro said, perking up when he remembered that he got to go home early.
“What? Why?” Wonbin asked.
“My eyes aren’t supposed to go back to normal for several hours, and I need to get a new, stronger prescription,” Shotaro said.
“Ugh, I wish I could go home after the meeting,” Wonbin groaned.
“And I wish I could see,” Shotaro responded.
Before their bickering could continue, the trio arrived at the conference.
The legal meeting dragged on for what felt like forever. All of them were handed papers that Shotaro was pretty sure were important, but he couldn’t read any of it; the text was nothing but a blurry black blob. Figuring he could read it later when his eyes weren’t dilated and he had his new prescription, Shotaro put the papers down and zoned out, hoping that nothing important was said.
“Any questions?” Legal asked, wrapping up the meeting.
“No? Alright, all of you, but Shotaro have vocal recordings. Shotaro, since you still can't really, someone will take you to the dorms and then pick up your new glasses once they're ready,” RIIZE’s manager said, ending the meeting.
Not having much to do, Shotaro lounged around the dorm waiting until his manager called to let him know that there was a pair of glasses ready for him with his new prescription. Hearing a knock at the door, Shotaro hurried over, opening it to reveal his manager holding a small bag. “These were the only ones available at the store. Your contacts and another pair will be in another couple of days. I don’t have the time to go anywhere else to get you other glasses,” RIIZE’s manager said, handing him the bag.
“No worries. I’m sure they are fine,” Shotaro assured, grabbing the bag from him.
“Alright, I have to run. The other members should start coming in about an hour. I’ll see you tomorrow at 7 in the morning for the photo shoot,” RIIZE’s manager said.
“Yeah, see you tomorrow,” Shotaro said.
“Hyung, Sungchan, and I are back!” Eunseok called, walking into the dorm.
Shotaro walked out of the kitchen to greet them, his new thick-rimmed black glasses perched on his nose. Spotting Shotaro’s new glasses, Eunseok burst out laughing.
“I know the glasses are bad, but these were the only option available today. I’m supposed to get new contacts in a week and a new pair of glasses in a couple of days,” Shotaro whined.
“They are cute, hyung,” Sungchan assured, walking over to Shotaro.
“Really?” Shotaro asked, looking up at Sungchan.
“No,” Eunseok cut in.
“Yes, I like them,” Sungchan insisted.
“You have to like them, you're my boyfriend.” Shotaro huffed, pouting.
“So? The glasses are fine, plus they really do look cute on you,” Sungchan insisted.
“Well, I’m going to be wearing them for a couple of days, so you better like them,” Shotaro said.
“I do,” Sungchan said, leaning down to give Shotaro a kiss.