It all started with a glittery pink envelope.
Haru found it stuffed into his locker after choir practice. The envelope was shiny and bright, making it stand out. There was no name on the outside—just a shaky heart sticker holding it closed, as if it were hiding something special inside.
He stared at it for a moment, feeling like it might explode with excitement.
Minju, of course, lost her mind the second she saw it.
"OH. MY. GOD!" she shrieked, suddenly appearing beside him as if she'd flown through the locker door like a ghost on a mission. "YOU GOT A FAN LETTER!"
"Shhh!" Haru hissed, nearly slamming the locker shut again to muffle her.
"A FAN LETTER!" she repeated—louder this time—as if she were broadcasting through an invisible ghost megaphone.
Haru clenched his jaw. "Stop yelling," he muttered under his breath, glancing around to make sure no one noticed he was arguing with... no one.
Minju hovered closer, completely unfazed. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she zoomed in front of his face, blocking his view.
"Read it! Read it right now. Or I swear I'll start reciting K-drama monologues until you give in," she threatened, arms crossed in a dramatic pose.
Haru sighed. "You are the worst haunting," he whispered, reaching for the envelope despite himself.
With a deep breath, he carefully peeled the heart sticker off the envelope, feeling a mix of curiosity and nervousness. What could it possibly say? Who could have written it?
His heart raced as he slowly opened the envelope, ready to dive into whatever surprise awaited him.
Back in the dorm, Haru sat on the edge of his bed, clutching the letter as if it were something cursed or dangerous. He felt a mix of excitement and anxiety.
Riki, who was always curious, peeked over Haru's shoulder to get a better look."Ooh, do you have a secret admirer?", he teased, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Shut up," Haru replied, trying to brush off the teasing, but he couldn't hide the small smile forming on his lips.
Minhee, who was lying on his bunk upside-down, chimed in with a playful grin."I bet it smells like cherry perfume and obsession," he joked, imagining the sender of the letter as some lovestruck fan.
Jae, who was sitting across the room and slurping his noodles, looked over briefly."If it has glitter, it's definitely dangerous," he added—half serious, half laughing at the idea of glitter being a sign of overly dramatic feelings.
Minju floated above them like a sparkly storm cloud, her excitement palpable."Open it! Open it! OPEN IT!" she urged, practically bouncing with anticipation.
"Fine!" Haru groaned, feeling the weight of their excitement. He ripped the envelope open, his heart racing.
Inside was a neatly folded sheet of stationery, and as he unfolded it, he saw words written in careful handwriting:
To Haru Kim,I saw your smile video and the dance evaluation. You looked nervous, but also… brave.I know I'm just one person, but I think you're amazing.Keep going. I'm rooting for you.—From someone who believes in you
A heavy silence filled the room as everyone processed what Haru had just read. Even Minju—usually so chatty—didn't say a word at first.
"Wow," she finally whispered, breaking the quiet. "That's… kind of beautiful."
Haru stared at the letter, his mind racing. "Someone believes in me," he said softly, the words sinking in. It was a strange feeling—realizing that someone out there saw him that way.
"Looks like you've got fans already," Riki said with a small smile, trying to lighten the mood.
Haru felt a swirl of emotions building in his chest. "I don't know how to feel," he admitted, still a little overwhelmed.
"Try being happy for once! Someone actually wants you!" Minhee said, grinning.
Haru managed a faint smile, his heart warming at the thought."I guess that's new," he replied, not quite believing it yet but feeling a flicker of hope.
The letter wasn't just words; it was a tiny spark in his heart, reminding him that he wasn't alone in his journey.
A few days later, more letters began to show up in unexpected places.
Some were stuffed into his bag, while others were slid under the practice room door. There was even one taped to the vending machine—which was kind of funny.
It wasn't a huge number of letters—just a small handful—but it was enough to leave him feeling a bit stunned and confused.
Some of the letters had doodles on them, which made them look colorful and fun. Others had just short and simple lines written on them, like:
"Keep dancing.""#13 stan here!""You remind me of my little brother. He quit, but you didn't. Thank you."
Minju, on the other hand, started to panic when she saw the letters.
"They're stealing my emotional territory!" she exclaimed dramatically, throwing her hands up in the air. "I was the one who told you not to quit! I'm your founding fangirl!"
He couldn't help but roll his eyes at her."You're literally haunting me. That's not the same thing at all."
She looked at him with a serious face."You're mine, Haru."
"That's not creepy at all," he replied sarcastically, trying to lighten the mood even though he felt a bit uneasy.
The letters were strange, but they also made him feel a bit special. He didn't know who wrote them or why they cared, but it was nice to know that someone was cheering him on. Still, he couldn't shake off the feeling that this was all getting a little too intense for him.
One evening, Haru made a decision. He thought it would be a good idea to respond to his fans.
He picked up a notebook and a pen from his desk.
Then he just sat there, staring at the blank page.
And… nothing came to his mind.
At that moment, Minju—his ghostly friend—floated upside-down from the ceiling, looking curious."What are you doing?" she asked, her voice playful.
"Trying to write back to one of the fans," he replied. "I want it to be something simple."
Minju's eyes lit up with excitement."Aw! That's cute! Write something like: 'Dear fan, thank you for your letter. I cried a little when I read it. Please ignore my ghost problem!'"
Haru rolled his eyes."I'm not writing that. It sounds silly."
"Okay, okay! But at least add a heart doodle. Fans love that stuff," she suggested, eager to help.
He shook his head again."No, I'm just gonna be real with them."
Haru began to write, scribbling for about ten minutes. But after reading what he wrote, he crumpled the paper and tossed it aside.
He took a deep breath and tried again. He put pen to paper and wrote more—but after a few moments, he crumpled that paper too.
Minju sighed, floating closer to him."You're overthinking it. Just say what you feel."
"But I don't know how to talk like an idol," he replied, feeling frustrated.
"Good! You shouldn't try to act like someone else. Just talk like you normally do," she encouraged him, smiling brightly.
He looked at her, surprised."You sound strangely supportive right now, Minju."
She made a funny face and stuck her tongue out."I'm still a little jealous of you, but I'm also… proud of you. Is that gross?"
"Totally disgusting," he joked—and they both burst into laughter, the tension easing.
Haru realized that writing from the heart was more important than trying to impress anyone.With that thought, he picked up his pen again, ready to give it another try.
That night, Haru finally found the time to write a short reply to one of the letters he had received. It was just a simple note of thanks, carefully written in his neatest block handwriting. He signed it only with his name: "Haru."
The next morning, he quietly slipped the note into the trainee mailbox, making sure no one saw him.
Minju stood nearby, watching him with pride.
"Look at you! You're making ghost history and idol history at the same time!" she said with excitement.
Haru rolled his eyes in response."Can we please go one day without calling this 'ghost history'?" he asked, a little annoyed.
Minju shook her head with a smile."No way! It's just too good to ignore."
Later that week, Haru discovered yet another letter—this time, it was hidden under his notebook in the studio where he worked.
It was folded in an unusual way. There were no sparkles or sweet smells that usually made letters feel special.
Instead, there was just a single line written in tiny, neat handwriting:
"Not everyone who disappears wants to be forgotten."
Haru felt himself freeze in place.
Minju, who was floating next to him, leaned in closer to read the letter over his shoulder.
"…That's not one of the cute ones," she whispered softly, her voice barely above a hush.
"Do you recognize whose handwriting this is?" he asked, feeling a chill run down his spine.
"No, I don't," she replied, shaking her head slowly.
They both stared at each other, their eyes wide with confusion and concern.
The air around them seemed to grow colder, thick with an uneasy feeling that wrapped around them like a heavy blanket.
And somewhere in the distance, the lights flickered, casting strange shadows that danced across the walls.