"Next team, stand by!" the production crew yelled as Casper's team finished with their final evaluation.
Hyerin, having co back from a festival schedule, sat with the judges with an apologetic smile. She still had her stage outfit on, and Minho complinted her look.
"Well, you're very pretty today," he said.
Hyerin smirked. "Aren't I pretty every day?"
Jihyun chuckled. "I was prettier when I was younger."
"I can't argue with that," Hyerin retorted. "How many teams have perford?" she asked, scanning the stage. The production crew was currently preparing it, bringing up various props. Smoke screens were placed on the stage as long as white flowers.
"We're down to the last team," Gun said. "But I'm worried for this team. Despite having high-ranked trainees, they didn't do well during the interim evaluations. And not to ntion, Hwan is going to be watching later at the live show too."
"I hope they took my suggestions into consideration," Jihyun said with a hopeful face. "If they do, then I have no doubt they're going to do well."
"Is there stage ready?" Bone asked one of the mbers of the production team.
"There's still one item, sir," the mber responded. "After that, we'll call Team Aces up the stage."
Bone nodded, going back to scrolling on his phone. The other judges also went back to their casual conversations. However, they all halted when a big, white thing was hauled onto the stage.
Their eyes widened in surprise.
"What is that?" Hyerin exclaid. "Don't tell —they're going to use that thing?"
They had no ti to react as Team Aces went up the stage and assud their positions.
Then, the intro of 'I Love You, Leave; I Love You, Don't Leave' started playing.
It was familiar yet new at the sa ti...sohow revamped.
The final rehearsals continued, and the judges watched their stage, captivated.
By the end of it, not even a pin drop could be heard in the studio.
***
A chilly afternoon breeze swept through the crowd of enthusiastic fans, each eagerly waiting to enter the studio. Along them, Jia stood at the very front of the line, her other friends not being able to make it because they all decided to head back to their province after the academic year. So now, she was stuck all alone outside of Azure's building, waiting for the guards to open the gates for the second mission.
As they entered the studio, Jia couldn't help but recognize the familiar face beside her. It was the sa girl she had seen during the first mission—Ren's fangirl.
"Hey," Jia greeted. "I think we've t before."
Despite their past shared experienced, the girl's deanor remained just as aloof as before.
"You're a fan of Ren's, right?" Jia asked.
"Hmm," the girl humd. "And you were the girl with annoying friends. I'm surprised they aren't here this ti."
Jia chuckled awkwardly. "Yeah, that was , I guess. If you don't mind asking, what's your na? I feel like we'll be seeing each other more often from now on."
Since their sumr break would last a month, Jia wanted to befriend another person because her friends would only co back to the city in ti for the fourth mission.
"Bora," the girl replied, her tone casual. "And you?"
"Jia," I said. "I'm a fan of June's. If you're open to it, I can tell you all about—"
"No thanks," Bora cut her off. "I don't care about your favorite. I only care about Ren."
"Oh," Jia said, pursing her lips.
On another note, she doesn't want to be friends with this girl anymore.
As they waited for the event to begin, the chilly air around them seed to freeze.
However, the chilly air thawed when Kang Minho stepped onto the stage. The excitent was exhilarating, and the fans' cheers echoed off the walls of the recording center.
"Hello, everyone!" Kang Minho's voice rang out, a warm smile lighting up his face. "Are you ready for the XX battle?"
Fans were curious about the new battle mission, wondering what XX battle could an. They erupted into cheers, their enthusiasm matching Minho's infectious energy,
"Today, our talented trainees will be showcasing their skills in not one but two positions – vocal, rap, or dance. Each performance will be a chance for them to shine and capture your hearts," he continued.
As Kang Minho explained the rules of the battle, the room buzzed with anticipation. "After each performance, you, starlights, will have the power to vote for the most eye-catching mber. And that lucky mber will receive a special benefit. But rember, it's not just about the benefit. Your vote can be a source of encouragent and support for these hardworking trainees."
Kang Minho's gaze turned serious as he concluded, "By the end of today's show, we'll also be voting for the team that perford the best in each category. So choose wisely because your votes will shape the course of the competition."
"Without further ado, let call the first team onto the stage. The team performing 'Beside ' by THRICE, please co to the stage. It's ti to shine!"
The crowd's cheers intensified as Minho stepped back, allowing the spotlight to shift onto the trainees.
Bora, who was calmly scrolling through her phone just a while ago, turned into a different person when she saw that this team had Ren in it. She scread like a manic person, causing Jia to look at her in shock.
Jia didn't look like that when she fangirled, right?
The lights dimd, and the stage ca to life as Team 'Beside ' stepped forward. The audience's cheers filled the air as the trainees took their positions, each holding a different instrunt – guitars, drums, and more. The "band" concept was a refreshing departure from the norm, and the anticipation for their performance was obvious in the crowd's energy.
Bora's hands were pressed against her cheeks, her eyes sparkling as she focused her gaze on Ren. The music enveloped the room, and she seed utterly captivated by the scene unfolding before her.
The trainees' synchronized movents and the lively lody had an infectious quality, and as they transitioned to the chorus, the band concept seamlessly blended into a vibrant dance routine. The energy was high-teen as if the perforrs had channeled the essence of youthful enthusiasm into their every move.
"Beside , you and I, a dance that feels so right,
Our friendship turned into love under the moonlight.
Guided by the music, our hearts begin to sway,
Together at this mont, forever here to stay."
Bora's fangirling reached a new level, her excited squeals almost drowning the sea of cheers around them. Jia couldn't help but give her so space, afraid that Bora would accidentally slap her.
As the performance concluded, Jia clapped and glanced at Bora once more.
This woman is truly scary. She was back to her nonchalant self once again.
Bora's excitent had already died down, and she wanted to leave the floor after voting for Ren. However, her vote would only be valid if she stayed until the end of the show, so she decided to stay.
With a sigh, Bora resigned herself to scrolling on her phone.
Countless performances later, her boredom only seed to increase.
Jia, too, couldn't wait for June's team to perform. If she recalled right, Minho said that there would be twelve teams performing,? one for each category. Then, that ant that June's team was going to perform last.
"Wait," Jia muttered. "Is he going to perform with Zeth?"
The other fans in the studio also chattered excitedly among themselves.
"Leo and Yuri still hadn't gone, right?"
"And Lin Zhi too!"
"Oh, is this Jisung's stage? Finally!"
"Shit. Is June on the sa team as them? I can't wait!"
Before the last team ca on stage, the production crew disassembled the props of the last team and arranged them for the next performance.
Jia watched intently as the props team carried varied materials onto the stage.
Smoke screens...
White flowers...
Flowy white curtains...
And...
Jia's eyes widened in shock.
"A coffin?"
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