The auditions continued.
One team after another was called onto the stage.
The contestants waiting in the hall watched every performance carefully. Some studied the choreography. Others paid attention to the judges' reactions. A few were already comparing themselves to the people who had performed before them.
For Ren, every performance was a lesson.
If he wanted to survive this competition, talent alone wouldn't be enough.
He needed to stand out.
He needed to be remembered.
A familiar name suddenly appeared on the screen.
LEO — GROUP 3
Ren's eyes immediately moved toward the stage.
Leo walked onto the platform with the confidence of someone who belonged there.
He was both a vocalist and a dancer.
The moment the music started, he moved effortlessly with it.
His movements were sharp but graceful, and his voice carried easily through the auditorium.
The crowd quickly became captivated.
Ren couldn't help smiling.
He's really good.
There was something about Leo's stage presence that made it difficult to look away.
He wasn't simply performing.
He looked like an idol already.
Ren leaned slightly toward Shuuya.
"His performance is really good."
Shuuya nodded.
"Yeah. He knows how to use the stage."
Ren continued watching.
By the time Leo finished, the auditorium erupted in applause.
Ren clapped along with everyone else.
Leo bowed before leaving the stage.
As he walked down, his eyes briefly swept across the crowd.
They passed over countless faces.
Then stopped.
Ren.
Leo's expression softened for the briefest moment.
Ren was smiling.
And somehow, that smile made Leo feel more satisfied than the applause he had just received.
He quickly looked away and returned backstage.
The performances continued.
Ren's team was still waiting.
They had gone through their choreography countless times.
Yet his nerves refused to disappear.
Then another name appeared.
Ren looked toward the screen.
A familiar face walked onto the stage.
The same Alpha who had caught his attention the day before.
The same person whose arrival had changed the atmosphere of the entire auditorium.
Ren's eyes widened.
Him.
The young man walked toward the center of the stage.
The lights illuminated his face.
His hazel eyes seemed to shine beneath them.
He adjusted the microphone.
"Hello, everyone."
His deep voice echoed through the auditorium.
"My name is Kai."
The crowd immediately became louder.
"I am a song composer and musician."
A few contestants exchanged impressed looks.
Ren stared.
That voice…
Even before Kai performed, Ren could already tell there was something different about him.
Kai didn't seem nervous.
He looked completely at ease beneath the lights.
His outfit was simple but elegant, perfectly suited to someone who already looked like an idol.
Then he began.
The first notes filled the hall.
Ren's eyes widened.
His fingers unconsciously tightened around the edge of his seat.
He's really good.
The melody was smooth.
Controlled.
Beautiful.
Kai's voice carried a depth that made the entire hall quiet.
For a few moments, Ren forgot he was waiting for his own performance.
He simply watched.
The same person who had impressed him yesterday had now proven that he wasn't simply good-looking.
He was talented.
Very talented.
"He'll definitely become an idol," Ren whispered.
Shuuya glanced at him.
"Why are you so sure?"
Ren didn't even take his eyes off the stage.
"He has everything an idol needs."
He smiled.
"Maybe he's already one."
Shuuya laughed.
"You sure talk big."
Ren finally looked at him.
"I'm serious."
Shuuya shook his head.
"You've already become his fan."
Ren's cheeks warmed.
"Maybe."
He turned back toward the stage.
Kai finished his performance.
The auditorium erupted.
Ren clapped harder than he realized.
His smile was bright.
He felt genuinely happy for someone he barely knew.
On the stage, Kai bowed.
Then lifted his head.
His eyes moved across the crowd.
He had seen plenty of reactions.
Excitement.
Admiration.
Envy.
People trying to get his attention.
But then—
His gaze stopped.
Ren.
Among all those people, Ren wasn't trying to impress him.
There was no deliberate gesture.
No attempt to attract his attention.
He was simply smiling.
A genuine smile.
The kind that seemed to say—
You did well.
Kai's eyes remained on him for a moment longer than necessary.
Something about that expression caught him off guard.
He couldn't explain why.
He finally looked away and stepped down from the stage.
But before leaving, he glanced back once.
Ren was still smiling.
Time passed.
Eventually, the coordinator called out the next group.
"Group Seven!"
Ren's heart jumped.
He stood.
Shuuya adjusted his guitar.
Yuuto moved toward the stage.
Shou picked up his microphone.
The four of them walked forward together.
The lights suddenly seemed much brighter from the stage.
Ren could feel hundreds of eyes on him.
His heartbeat quickened.
Don't be nervous.
He took a breath.
They stood before the judges.
Shuuya stepped forward first.
"Hello, everyone. My name is Shuuya, and I wrote the song we're performing today."
He picked up his guitar.
Yuuto followed.
"Hello. I'm Yuuto. I'm the music composer."
His deep voice immediately drew attention.
He moved behind the drums.
Ren stepped forward.
"Hi, everyone."
He smiled.
"My name is Ren. I'm a dancer and supporting vocalist."
The judges' eyes lingered on him.
Ren could feel it.
His appearance had already caught their attention.
He forced himself not to think about it.
Then Shou stepped forward.
"Hello…"
His voice cracked slightly.
"I'm Shou. I'm the main vocalist of our song."
His nervousness was obvious.
One judge raised an eyebrow.
Ren glanced toward him.
He needs to calm down.
But there was no time.
The judge smiled politely.
"Alright, everyone."
He gestured toward the stage.
"Welcome. You may begin."
Shuuya and Yuuto exchanged a glance.
Then the music began.
The opening was quiet.
Shuuya's guitar created a soft melody.
Yuuto followed with the drums.
The rhythm slowly built.
Shou lifted the microphone.
His voice entered the song.
For the first few seconds, everything was fine.
Then Ren moved.
His body followed the rhythm.
One step.
Another.
A turn.
His movements became faster as the music intensified.
The lights followed him.
His silver hair moved with every motion.
The nervousness disappeared from his face.
The stage was where Ren belonged.
The moment the music reached its peak, Ren joined Shou with the supporting vocals.
His voice was softer than Shou's.
But it carried a clarity that complemented the song perfectly.
The audience became silent.
Then—
Someone cheered.
Ren didn't hear it.
He was completely immersed in the performance.
His movements became sharper.
His brown eyes reflected the stage lights.
Every movement matched the rhythm.
Shuuya watched him while playing.
He's incredible.
Yuuto felt the same.
The music seemed to come alive whenever Ren moved.
Their performance was no longer simply a song.
It had become a story.
And Ren was at its center.