Morning arrived sooner than Ren expected.
Sunlight slipped through the curtains.
Ren slowly opened his eyes.
He reached for his phone.
9:30 AM.
His eyes widened.
"WHAT?!"
He shot out of bed.
"I am Late!"
He nearly tripped while getting out of bed.
The performance was supposed to begin at noon.
He had barely two hours.
Ren rushed into the bathroom.
A few minutes later, he emerged with damp hair, grabbed his bag and ran out of the hotel.
By the time Ren reached the auditorium, his breathing was heavy.
He looked at his phone.
10:00 AM.
I made it.
Ren stopped for a moment to catch his breath.
Then he saw three familiar faces approaching.
"Ren!"
Shuuya waved.
Yuuto walked beside him.
Shou followed.
Ren smiled.
"Sorry. I overslept."
It's okay, You look messy. Shuuya laughed.
His messy hair somehow made Yuuto freeze for a couple of seconds before he just passed him without waving back.
Ignore him, he is just like that when he meets new people.
"We thought you weren't coming."
"I wouldn't miss this."
Shuyya was still analyzing Yuuto's strange behaviour, he was not so cold to me when we first met.
Why is he so distant with Ren?
The four entered the auditorium together.
There was barely any time left.
They immediately began rehearsing.
The music started.
Ren moved.
One step.
Then another.
His body flowed naturally with the rhythm.
The other three stopped.
Shou stared.
Yuuto's expression changed slightly as he is mesmerised yet hidden his emotions behind his aloof face.
Shuuya smiled.
"Wow."
Ren stopped.
"What?"
"You're really good."
Ren laughed awkwardly.
"Thanks."
They continued.
But after several attempts, another problem became obvious.
The song wasn't working.
More specifically—
The vocals weren't working.
Shou's voice wasn't bad.
But the song required something stronger.
Something that could carry the performance.
Yuuto frowned as the song couldn't meet their expectations.
"Shou."
Shou looked at him.
"What?"
"Didn't you say you were a good vocalist?"
Shou's expression immediately hardened.
"I am"
"Then why does it sound like that?"
Shou's eyes narrowed.
"Can any of you sing better than me?"
"And you have to make do with me as this is a group performance and everyone needs to lead something"
The atmosphere immediately became tense.
Shuuya stepped between them.
"Yuuto, calm down."
Yuuto scoffed.
"This isn't about being better than you."
"Then what?"
"We need to sound good."
Shou looked away.
His pride had clearly been wounded.
Ren remained silent.
He looked at the song sheet.
Then at the others.
They had very little time.
They couldn't afford to fight.
Before anyone could say anything else, a member of the selection team approached them.
"Candidates."
Everyone stopped.
"I've come to explain today's rules."
They gathered around him.
"All performances will be recorded."
He paused.
"These recordings may be used for your future activities and promotional purposes."
Everyone listened carefully.
"And there is one more important point."
The coordinator looked around.
"This is not a team selection."
The contestants froze.
"What?"
Confusion spread through the room.
The coordinator continued.
"The scores will be awarded individually"
A few contestants exchanged glances.
"Your performance partners will not determine whether you advance."
He pointed toward the stage.
"We will judge each candidate based on the individual talent they display"
The meaning immediately became clear.
Even if your team was bad…
You could still advance.
Even if your team performed brilliantly…
You could still be eliminated.
The coordinator smiled.
"So don't blame your teammates if you fail."
His expression sharpened.
"And don't rely on them to save you."
Everyone became silent.
"Show us everything you have."
He turned and walked away.
Yuuto looked toward Shou.
A faint, sarcastic smile appeared on his face.
"Well…"
He crossed his arms.
"Looks like you're on your own, kid."
Shou's face darkened.
Ren sighed quietly.
This is going to be a long day.
Across the hall, Ren suddenly spotted someone familiar.
Alex.
Their eyes met.
Ren immediately smiled and waved.
Alex's face lit up.
He waved back.
For a brief moment, the noise around them disappeared.
Neither needed to say anything.
They both understood.
Good luck.
You too.
Then the first group was called.
The auditorium fell silent.
One by one, the teams stepped onto the stage.
Music filled the hall.
The judges watched.
Scores were written down.
Contestants returned from the stage with different expressions.
Some were relieved.
Some disappointed.
Some looked confident.
Others looked devastated.
Soon, Ren's group would be called too.
He could feel his heartbeat increasing.
His palms were becoming sweaty.
He clenched his fists.
This is it.
This was no longer about getting an opportunity.
He had already received one.
Now he had to prove that he deserved it.
Alex stood backstage with his group.
He looked at the stage.
The lights.
The judges.
The cameras.
Everything he had dreamed about was right in front of him.
His teammates weren't perfect.
Their coordination was decent, but the performance still lacked the polish he had imagined.
It didn't matter.
Not anymore.
The coordinator had made it clear.
They would be judged individually.
Alex smiled.
His heart was racing.
But this time, it wasn't fear.
It was excitement.
This is my chance.
He looked at the stage again.
Even if I don't qualify…
His fingers tightened around the microphone.
Even if this is the only time I ever get to stand here…
A determined smile appeared on his face.
I'm going to give it everything I have.
He had spent years dreaming about this moment.
He wasn't going to waste even a second of it.
The stage lights brightened.
"Next group!"
Alex took a deep breath.
Then stepped forward.
For the first time in his life…
He was walking toward the spotlight.