No one talked on the way there.
The hallway felt too quiet.
Too still.
Seoryeon walked with the others, her steps steady but her chest tight.
This was it.
The room filled quickly.
All trainees gathered.
Staff already waiting.
No music.
No warm-up.
Just silence.
SYSTEM ALERT:
Major Event Initiated
A staff member stepped forward.
"You've all been training hard."
A pause.
"But today… we're announcing the next step."
No one moved.
No one spoke.
Seoryeon's fingers curled slightly at her sides.
"…A new survival program will begin."
Her heart dropped.
Even though she already knew.
"Through this program, a new girl group will be formed."
The room shifted.
Barely but enough.
"This project is called"
A pause.
"Sixteen."
Silence.
But it wasn't empty.
It was full.
Of realization.
Of fear.
Of anticipation.
SYSTEM UPDATE:
New Arc Unlocked — PRE-SIXTEEN COMPLETE
Next Phase: SURVIVAL PROGRAM
Seoryeon exhaled slowly.
It was real now.
"Not everyone will participate."
That hit harder.
A ripple moved through the room.
"Participants will be selected."
Seoryeon's chest tightened.
Selected.
Not guaranteed.
SYSTEM NOTICE:
Uncertainty spike detected
"Evaluations will determine who qualifies."
Her thoughts raced.
Everything she had done
Every improvement.
Every moment It all came down to this.
The room emptied slowly.
No one rushed.
Everyone thinking.
Seoryeon stepped out into the hallway.
"…You okay?"
She turned.
Jihyo.
"…Yeah."
Jihyo studied her.
"You don't look it."
Seoryeon exhaled slightly.
"…It's just a lot."
Jihyo nodded.
"It is."
A pause.
"But you're ready."
That again.
Ready.
SYSTEM NOTICE:
Confidence reinforcement detected
Affinity: Jihyo +3
Further down the hall voices.
Some trainees whispering.
"…What if we don't get picked…"
"…I'm not ready…"
"…This is everything…"
Seoryeon looked away.
She understood.
Because she felt it too.
She didn't go to the practice room.
For once.
She sat in the dorm instead.
Thinking.
Everything felt like it was shifting.
SYSTEM STATUS:
Evaluation Phase Pending
"…This is where it starts."
Not training.
Not preparation.
Reality.
That night she stood in front of the mirror again.
Same reflection.
But this time she didn't question it.
Didn't doubt it.
"…I'll make it."
Not a hope.
A decision.