The lights dimd completely, and the stage plunged into darkness.
For a mont, the only sound in the studio was the soft rustle of anticipation.
Then, the LED screen behind the stage flickered to life. Slowly, a hauntingly beautiful scene erged: five gravestones, each surrounded by a bed of flowers. The audience watched in silence, the emotional weight of the performance still fresh in their minds.
As the screen continued to change, faded letters began to appear above each gravestone. The letters were faint at first, barely discernible, but gradually they beca clearer.
YAMZH
The audience murmured in confusion, the aning of the letters unclear.
"Yams? Like sweet potatoes?"
"Please don't ruin this experience for ."
June, too, frowned in confusion.
He had ntored the team for two whole days, but the girls failed to ntion it to him.
Therefore, the aning was unclear to him.
Fortunately, it seed like Gun actually had a sharp mind as he let out a small gasp.
"It's their nas," he said. "The girls are standing below their own nas."
June, sitting at the back, felt a sudden ringing in his ears. He blinked, trying to clear his mind, and looked around. The glow-in-the-dark light sticks held by the audience mbers created a soft sea of light, like stars twinkling in the night sky. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was sothing more to these initials.
His eyes returned to the screen once again.
YAMZH. It was an odd combination, but then realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. They were initials. The initials of the girls: Yeri. Ara. i. Zonya. Hyuna.
June's mind raced as he considered the glow-in-the-dark light sticks. What if they ford so kind of pattern or ssage, much like the initials on the screen? He turned his head, trying to see the bigger picture, trying to piece together this sudden revelation.
Then, the briefcase flashed in his mind, the glow-in-the-dark letters suddenly making more sense.
They appeared like nothing but jumbled letters, but what if they were initials?
June's thoughts were interrupted as i's team went down the stage and was replaced by the second perforr.
The other teams took their turns on stage, each bringing their own strengths to their performances. Despite their efforts, none could quite capture the vibe that i's team had provided. The magic of 'We're All Going to Die' still lingered in the air.
However, Jeemin and Mina's team brought the house down with their energetic and nearly flawless performance of Kaleidoscope. Their song was upbeat and catchy, and the audience responded with the loudest cheers of the night.
June watched with a knowing smile.
Although he felt that i's team did the best in terms of concept and performance, June couldn't deny that Jeemin's and Mina's popularity were unrivaled.
As the last performance ended, the staff escorted the audience out of the studio.
Then, Yena provided the ntors with a copy of the results.
Amira held the envelope in her hand, about to open it, when Lee Sik suddenly stopped her.
"Before all of that, I want us to guess," he smiled.
"It's June's team," Gun and Ji-hyun said at the sa ti.
June's eyebrows raised in surprise, and he quickly bowed at the two of them.
Ji-hyun, not being able to take his handsoness, reached her hand and pinched his cheek, causing June's eyes to widen.
Lee Sik clicked his tongue. "Your opinions are invalid. The two of you are the greatest June simps."
Amira scratched the back of her neck. "I think the first perforrs also did the best. Although the other girls had undoubtedly did their best, I felt sothing in the first performance that I didn't quite feel from the others."
"Who knew that death was actually so beautiful?" she asked.
"Not if it's for the people you love, though," Ji-hyun muttered. "Imagine June dying. Thousands—I an, millions of fans would be devastated."
June shook his head in amusent. "Will that really be the case?"
"Of course!" Gun exclaid. "I'd be the first one to cry and visit your funeral if ever that happens. However, you're not allowed to get sick. You're going to outlive us!" he exclaid, causing June's heart to have a dull ache.
"Ah, whatever," Lee Sik said. "I made all that fuss, but I agree with you, guys."
"They captured the essence of 'Were All Going To Die' perfectly. I don't say that word so easily—especially since they made so technical mistakes. But, from an emotional perspective, it was brilliant."
"You already know how it is," Bone chuckled. "I also like the first perforr, but I also already have a hunch on who won."
The other ntors nodded, watching Amira open the envelope.
June peered over her shoulders and saw the song that had won.
Kaleidoscope.
"Ah, I knew it," Lee Sik said. "They did good, too."
"Well, of course," Gun smirked. "I ntored them! Although, they were already a talented bunch, so I don't have much to say."
"You just said you liked June's team the most," Ji-hyun chuckled.
"That's out of the question," Gun smirked. "I like everything involving June."
***
June was now back in their dorm. He still had to shoot for Rising Stars tomorrow for yet another announcent, but he was looking at the glow-in-the-dark letters of the briefcase instead.
GMJEPK.
"G," June muttered. "What starts with the letter G?"
He stayed silent for a mont before his head tilted to the side.
"Grandma?" he asked.
Then, he burst into chuckles, finding his conclusion ridiculous.
However, as he tried to decipher the other letters, it seed like it wasn't a joke after all.
"G for Grandma," June muted.
"M for Minjun?" he continued.
"J? Do I even know a J?" he asked.
"Jay? Nah!"
Then, his mind imdiately strayed to a particular pretty girl who helped him at the most unexpected tis.
"Jia," he smiled.
"E? I think that's for EVE."
"And P is definitely for Pablo," he continued.
"What about K?" June muttered. "Could it be Kumo?"
June felt that such things were ridiculous, but as he turned the fourth number to the number eight, which was the number of mbers in EVE, the panel suddenly lit up, causing June to let go of the briefcase.
It fell to the floor with a loud bang.
Then, the door and lights imdiately opened.
"Are you alright?" Casper worriedly asked.
June stayed silent and continued looking at the briefcase. Now that the lights were turned on, June could see his reflection clearly on the tal briefcase.
"You," he muttered.
"Is this briefcase intended to be mine?"
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