Aruvia stood in line with the other idols in her group as they sang in front of the handlers.

  When the idols are still young they would all practice together in a choir-like formation. In that stage it's less about refining and more about learning the basics so that it's easier to shape and fine tune it later on. But when they reached puberty and their vocal chord fully developed, they would be separated in voice training based on which pitch they sounded naturally best in.

  Aruvia has always had a very squeaky high pitched voice. It's what made the aliens market her as this cutesy, hyper feminine, innocent doll that could do no wrong. So it was only inevitable that she would be stuck with kids five years her junior.

  It felt only slightly infantalising to be talked to like a toddler when you're two years away from becoming a legal adult. But unfortunately she was already quite used to it.

  The voice training didn't take long to conclude. When most of the idols have been singing since they could talk it would be odd if they needed hours of practice every day.

  What came afterwards was conditioning, the part that Aruvia hated most. It was held in the biggest room in the whole artificial facility. A large factory that had been renovated to imitate a gymnasium, without the weights and equipment of course.

  On every interior wall there was a mirror that could be folded in or out. The interior itself being mostly empty, safe for the wide monitors constantly displaying tutorials.

  Aruvia was never one for physical exercise. Her stamina was terrible and her core stability was incredibly lacking even with years of training. But she wouldn't see a reason to complain if it came down to just lifting weights or running.

  Yes, it was hard and painful. Even in spite of all that she only had to focus on getting through it without fainting or falling over.

  What she truly hated was the dancing aspect. Moving for hours on end without any breaks while also trying to look elegant and put together.

  The feeling of dread only intensified as she entered the gymnasium. She had practically rushed over there as soon as voice training had concluded. Hoping to arrive earlier than the other girls so that she wouldn't have to change in front of them.

  Alas she wasn't fast enough.

  Her hope was crushed before she even entered the locker room by the overbearing smell of perfume, and indistinctly shrill laughter echoing in the corridor.

  Aruvia rubbed her throat, preparing herself to mimic their cadence. Counting to three she opened the door gently.

  She was instantly greeted with a rapid arpeggio of hi’s and hello’s, which she tried to return warmly.

  Aruvia found a quiet spot in the corner to change, away from where most of the other girls were complaining about the strict schedule.

  “Why do we have conditioning at the start of the damn day..?” Christina groaned, still in her regular uniform.

  “I know…!” Zofia sighed, “I can't even tell right from left right now- And they somehow expect me to remember a 30 step dance plan with 4 different alterations each?!”

  Aruvia hurriedly changed, taking off her regular uniform and putting it on the moving conveyor belt, which transported it to the laundry room.

  Everyone inside was simultaneously aware and unaware of each other, like a play that regularly breaks the fourth wall.

  Interacting with the other people and props beside them, yet occasionally having to acknowledge that there is something watching them. It was naturally impossible to ignore the cameras or heavy machinery that operated beside them- but to preserve even the illusion of privacy, they had to resort to the oldest trick in the book: denial.

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  To preserve it they created a separated bubble in the tiny locker room. As long as nobody pointed out the fourth wall, it may as well have never existed.

  “But look at US Christina! Complaining in front of Aruvia, who’s had it twice as hard!” Zofia suddenly called out, putting the spotlight on Aruvia, who was currently changing into her dancing outfit.

  “Yeah, sorry, Aruvia-” Christina coed, “that was, like, so insensitive of us, we should’ve known.”

  Aruvia hurriedly fumbled with the hem of her pants before she turned back to answer them, “No it's totally fine!”

  “Besides,” She patted her neck, “It was my fault for bothering her in the first place.”

  Every single girl in that locker room gasped. Surrounding Aruvia in a tornado of furious no’s and absolutely no way’s. The main instigators being Zofia and Christina. Exactly the reaction Aruvia wanted, but was still deeply unsettled by.

  “Aruvia you’ve always been so nice,” Christina shook her head exasperatedly, “But you gotta realise that some people just don't deserve that kindness.”

  “I know but…”

  “No buts!” Christina interrupted.

  With that the locker room calmed down again, Christina and Zofia were still loudly talking about who knows what.

  “Speaking about harsh schedules, how did your evaluation go?” Zofia turned to Aruvia again.

  “I heard you had to take a couple days off due to your…” Zofia began, trailing off as she remembered the cameras in the room. The other girls seemed to stiffen at the reminder, some shielding their naked forms even harder than before.

  “It went sooo good!” Aruvia finished for her. “Luckily- I only lost like two points due to gaining a couple of pounds, the handlers forced me to take a break due to the injury.

  “Wait really-” Zofia exclaimed, looking Aruvia up and down. Focusing a little extra on her chest and ass. “That's so unfair, you look as cute and small as always though!”

  Aruvia stiffened, nodding wordlessly to prevent the disgust from coming out.

  “That’s certainly a relief, I was kinda worried for you actually dying back there..” Christina commented.

  Aruvia froze, `If Christina was there? Why hadn't the handlers come earlier then?′

  “Injury?” Lotte echoed “Dionne practically assaulted our poor Aruvia!”

  “Lotte…” Zofia warned through gritted teeth, subtly nodding to the cameras.

  “ALL I'm saying is that Aruvia shouldn't have lost any points for an injury she didn't even cause.”

  “Yeah, it is kinda weird how she always gets away with things..” Christina nodded solemnly in agreement.

  Aruvia didn't have time to react as Christina's hands took hold of her body, still just in the process of changing.

  “I mean look at this!” She cried in outrage, cranking Aruvia’s neck to the side and urging the others to see. “If Bereinger didn't stop her Aruvia would’ve been dead.”

  Lotte and Zofia gasped, wincing at the display.

  “Poor Bereinger, how lucky you are Aruvia- having a top idol sacrifice themselves for you.” Zofia said dreamily.

  “And a cute one at that!” Lotte added, Zofia and Christina hurriedly nodded enthusiastically.

  “He’s the first boy I’ve seen with some meat on his bones, like did you see how easily he shoved and confronted Dionne?!” Christina drolled.

  “His outfit was so tight around his broad shoulders I could hear the fabric ripping!” Lotte fawned, reminiscing fondly.

  “Ladies you're thirsting after a taken man here, he clearly has eyes for Aruvia.” Zofia said, shooting Aruvia a teasing glance.

  “Why’s it always gotta be Aruvia who gets the hot ones..?” Lotte grumbled, earning her a scrutinising look from Zofia.

  “He probably only did that to get in your good gracious- boys will do anything just for a monochrome of attention.” Christina said, sulking beside Lotte.

  “Yeah, he’s gonna expect Aruvia to worship him as her `hero′ or some bullshit like that!” Lotte hurriedly added, trying to sway Aruvia’s opinion.

  Aruvia felt disgusted by the obvious hypocrisy. Here they were; sexualising Bereinger and painting his motives as purely performative, while they did nothing but watch it happen. She knows they’re probably right in some regards. She isn't stupid enough to trust a man she doesn't even know. Hell, she doesn't even have the right to be angry at their inaction- as in reality she had purposely angered Dionne to instigate the fight.

  But to see them openly discredit him really puts things into perspective for her.

  Maybe she’s just naive for believing that anyone would help her without an ulterior motive in mind. She’s too selfish to deserve that kind of kindness

  With that Aruvia finally finished changing.