The Author's POV

"Thank you all for coming, and we hope you enjoyed the show!"

Doing her signature pose, Sophia waved at the crowd causing them to cheer even more loudly.

Unfortunately for them, it was already the end of the show, and therefore, giving them one last goodbye, Sophia quickly headed back to the changing rooms with her group.

Upon entering the changing rooms, Sophia slumped down on her chair and let out a long and tired breath.

"Haaaa, I'm tired."

"Tell me about."

Slumping down on the chair next to her was Penelope, her other group member.

Taking a wet towel, she covered her eyes with it and leaned her head back.

"Ugh, my legs are hurting like crazy..."

"Same."

Sophia replied in agreement.

"...but, I'm used to it by now "

Raising the towel on her face and uncovering her eyes, Penelope skeptically looked at her.

"Stop pretending, I know that you're not tired at all. You are one of the star students at the Lock, you don't need to be humble."

Sophia merely smiled in response to Penelope's comment. She then added.

"Just because I'm a student of the Lock doesn't mean that I'm immune to tiredness."

"Yeah, yeah."

Penelope completely dismissed her comment. Sophia shook her head when she saw this.

In a way, what Penelope was correct.

Thanks to her training at the Lock that she was now able to keep her stamina in check during her performances.

She also wasn't wrong when she said that she was one of the star students at the Lock as she was in fact ranked in the top fifty in her year.

An achievement that was quite considerable.

"Say, I've always been meaning to ask..."

Putting the towel down, Penelope suddenly sat up straight and looked at Sophia.

A frown appeared on her delicate face.

"Is money still a problem? I know that the Lock costs a lot of money, but if you spend your time with us, won't you fall behind the others in your year?"

"It's fine."

Bending down and taking a similar wet towel, Sophia covered her eyes.

Feeling the cold towel on her face, Sophia smiled in pleasure.

"Money is not really a problem..."

This was a bit of a difficult topic for her.

The main reason why she was an idol in the first place was because of her family's past situation.

Although they lived comfortably, they weren't particularly rich.

At least not to the point of being able to pay the Lock's yearly tuition fee which was incredibly expensive.

Despite making 7 million U per year herself, she was still unable to pay the whole tuition fee.

Had it not been for her father, she probably wouldn't have been able to attend the Lock.

Thinking about her father, Sophia felt a mixture of different emotions.

She couldn't quite explain what happened, but one day while she was still a trainee for her idol group, she came home to find that her tuition for the Lock had already been paid in advance by him.

Before she could confront him about the situation, she found out that he had gone on a long trip.

A trip that lasted a whole two years.

During that time, Sophia panicked a lot as she thought that in order to pay for her tuition fees her father had decided to undertake some extremely dangerous job, and only recently did she finally receive a call from him.

Though relieved, she was still very angry at him.

How could he just leave her like that? Without any explanations and making her worried sick for the past two years?

Unknowingly, Sophia's teeth clenched and she secretly swore to herself.

'He said that he's coming to visit me today, when he comes I'll let him have a piece of me.'

"Hey Sophia, what did you think about the girl you brought on stage today? Wasn't she just adorable?"

It was then that she suddenly heard Penelope's excited voice.

Raising the towel in her head, she found Penelope's face a couple of inches away from her.

Sophia quickly moved her back.

"Wow, move back a little."

like that, Sophia,

an image of the

the photo,

you can't tell me

the photo, Sophia

"...Sure."

it. The girl was

was then that the other group members huddled up together and stared at the image

that the girl from today's

all the lights, but

how cute. Just look

a cheerful atmosphere prevaded over the

excited? ...You perhaps

one of the group members

the girl, Sophia

"As if..."

she is, the ice queen is

lowered her phone. Her

your looks and popularity,

"No thank you."

rejected. She

don't have time for things

didn't want a boyfriend, however, she

activities, she had to

time for herself,

...and.

Well.

of them are

her mind with a longing look

when she thought about love, however, he was not someone

a brighter and more important stage

him, Sophia found all of

that he's not someone I can

was not someone that she could

her idol status, their achievements were worlds apart from each

thing she could do was focus on herself and

***

"We're almost there, Leopold."

back, I

the moment we were currently headed backstage to meet Leopold's daughter, Sophia Ray, and the group

surprise since I could use this as an excuse to help

'How convenient.' I thought.

was one

you so nervous

me a

looked extremely

This was understandable though.

two years, I'd

Click—! Click—!

I suddenly heard

"Stop that!"

found Leopold hunched up, trying

and cigarette from his mouth and pointed at Nola who was currently in

why

know

looked at me with

his pleas, I put the lighter and

means no,

"Haaiizzzz..."

sigh, I managed to drag Leopold

manager had given Leopold a special card that

thought, I don't want

door, Leopold suddenly started to get cold

I'm going to let that

his shirt, I proceeded to knock on

To Tok—!

stiffened, and I finally

'This guy...'

couldn't help but

I seen Leopold so nervous. Even when he was fighting against a

was a weird sight

Clank—!

was only after a couple of seconds

the side of the door, was one of the members

her name if

Wasn't really sure.

may I

"Hello, there."

and flashing a brilliant

wants to meet

my

"Ah! You're Sophia's father!"

the door open, the insides of the changing room

multiple eyes staring in our direction. They were the

"Father?"

familiar voice sounded from the other side of

stiff body stiffened even more as he forced a

dear, it's been a

indeed

said as she looked