Trainer Song's stool creaked faintly as he settled his weight on it, hands resting loose over his knees. He let the silence expand until the walls felt close.
"Roughly ninety seconds," he said. "Accompaniment optional. Choose any song that represents you as a vocalist."
Yuhyun leaned forward slightly.
"Is this part of the semifinal evaluation?"
"No."
Relief rippled through the room.
"But it will influence how I approach your training over the next five days. So I suggest you don't waste my time."
The relief evaporated.
I scanned the room.
Eight of us.
Sejin and Harin sat near the front, their heads bent together in quiet conference.
Yuhyun held his score like a lifeline.
Two trainees I barely knew looked at their shoes.
Seungho—ranked twenty-second, the last person to claim Vocal—shifted his weight nervously.
Nobody volunteered.
Trainer Song didn't repeat himself.
He simply... waited.
Ten seconds.
Twenty.
Thirty.
Finally, Seungho stood.
"I'll go."
