The First Assignment (3)

The music began to play.

A single phrase. A single movement.

In that instant, the entire atmosphere shifted.

Lee Seo-yeon was an A-Class trainee — which meant she was one of the members who was supposed to start at center stage. Even so, her grade evaluation looked as if the whole stage had been built for her alone.

Of course, right now, it really was a stage for her alone. But the song she was performing was unmistakably a group number. And yet, somehow, it looked like a solo.

"...Whoa."

Someone swallowed a gasp of admiration. They had every reason to. This was no ordinary trainee evaluation. It felt like watching a polished fancam from a music broadcast.

Pitch, rhythm, emotional line — not a single element wavered. Everything was filled in to perfection. Every one of her movements had been refined, a current that pulled your eyes along whether you wanted them to follow or not. Even inside the group choreography, she was in a league of her own.

There were no lights, and yet she shone as if a pin spotlight had found her. Even if a hundred people danced the same dance — even if you stuck her in the far back as backup — wouldn't your gaze still go to her?

The trainers watched the stage in silence. So did the other trainees.

The final move landed, and the music cut out. Silence stretched on for a long moment after.

Lee Seo-yeon slowly caught her breath and lifted her gaze.

"Thank you."

Only then did a trainer let out a short laugh.

"Was this a solo?"

"This is basically her debut track."

Another trainer rested a hand on their chin, looking at her.

"You can tell she practiced like crazy."

Lee Seo-yeon drew a short breath. Then she answered without a hint of wavering.

"Yes. As much as I could."

The trainer smiled.

"That was too good."

"Whew, I feel like I can finally breathe."

"Feels like the air just cleared."

Just from the reactions, the result was obvious.

A-Class maintained.

After the re-evaluation ended, the trainees held their breath. A short while later, the grade changes were announced.

More than half of the existing A-Class trainees dropped to B or C. Even the ones who'd been fairly confident hung their heads. On the flip side, a handful of trainees who'd been sitting in B or C seized the opening and climbed to A. There was even someone who jumped from F all the way to A in a single leap.

"We will now announce the trainees who maintained A-Class."

The trainees already seemed to have a sense of the results.

"Lee Seo-yeon."

Applause slammed against her eardrums.

"Han Yu-ri."

Yu-ri's eyes went round. She clenched her fists as if she couldn't quite believe it.

"Yu Na-bin."

She offered a light, easy smile.

But with more than half of the original A-Class dropping, the mood sank in a peculiar way. The ones it had actually happened to, especially, had gone stiff-faced.

A survival show is a zero-sum game in the end.

After the grade announcements wrapped, they moved on to the center reveal — the most closely guarded of all the stage positions.

"The trainee who will take center for this stage is Lee Seo-yeon."

The moment the announcement dropped, a wave of applause wrapped around me.

I'm the center?

I'd hoped for it a little. But honestly, I'd thought it would be Na-bin. I think I might have wanted it to be her a little more, too.

"The center position is a chance to get your face out there. But at the same time, it can be the position that carries ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the heaviest responsibility. Think carefully about how you come across on stage."

There was one announcement left.

"The trainees who will not be able to take the stage are..."

Everyone held their breath.

"None."

For a moment the trainees stared at each other, bewildered, tilting their heads.

"This was a fake notice, prepared in the hope that all of you would give it your very best. Please don't forget the process of preparing so fiercely to stand on that stage."

Some faces flooded with relief. Others soured.

"What the hell? They're just messing with people."

"Still, thank god. I was F — I was freaking out."

"This is so annoying."

Did they not realize the cameras were rolling? Or were they pissed off enough to forget for a second?

But honestly, I wasn't sure what to make of it. This notice that made you feel like you'd been played. It would only breed resentment among ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the contestants. And looking at the fact that it didn't exist in my memories, it wasn't even a fun beat that made it to broadcast.

So why do this at all?

That question lasted only a moment. With the final grades locked in, rehearsals for the music show began.

It was completely different from practice. It wasn't just about matching the choreography — you had to account for the cameras, even think about where to put your gaze. At first, everyone was awkward. I was the same, but I adapted faster than I'd expected.

"Seo-yeon's got a good sense for the camera."

At the trainer's words, Yu Na-bin, practicing beside me, flicked a glance my way. Han Yu-ri shot me a thumbs-up.

Music show day.

The me reflected in the mirror looked like a stranger. My face, finished with makeup, was smooth without a single blemish, and the eye makeup — far more vivid than usual — made my gaze look deeper. Hair with a natural curl spilled down softly, moving along the line of my face. And then the stage costume, glittering under the lights.

"It really feels like we're debuting."

The words slipped out of my mouth, and the makeup artist smiled as she set down her hand mirror.

"Right? Everyone says that at first. But once you've stood on stage once, you'll get used to it from then on."

Get used to it. I couldn't even begin to imagine that right now. My heart was already pounding like this before debut — how much more nervous would I be standing on an actual debut stage?

"Lee Seo-yeon! You ready?"

A familiar voice came from the doorway. It was Han Yu-ri. Her orange-tinged hair was pulled up high in twin tails, and she was already in full costume. Behind her, Yu Na-bin poked her head in.

"Holy crap. Unnie, you look like a total idol."

"I didn't before?"

"It wasn't that kind of feeling. You looked more like an actress than an idol, but now it's like... a real top-tier idol."

Yu Na-bin let out a small gasp of admiration as she circled around me. Han Yu-ri crossed her arms and nodded.

"Now you actually look like a leader."

"I'm not the leader."

"Oh, right. Center."

Na-bin, who'd been giggling beside Han Yu-ri, suddenly grabbed both of my hands tight.

"Our center! We're counting on you!"

My heart nearly exploded. I almost collapsed before even getting on stage. Was that on purpose? She's a total fox.

"Let's go. The others will be waiting."

We moved backstage. The other trainees were already gathered, every last one of them looking tense. And among them, the two wearing the most confident faces were, of course, Han Yu-ri and Yu Na-bin.

"We've gotta do this."

I naturally held out my fist. Yu Na-bin's eyes sparkled as she bumped hers against mine. The moment our hands met, it felt like I was receiving energy from her.

It was really time to go on stage now.

In-ears in, heading out onto the stage, the staff waved us forward. The lights came on one by one. And once everyone had taken their places, a grand sound began to roll out from the speakers.

My breath caught without me meaning it to.

This moment had arrived. It was really starting now.

Two hours after the group song with Lee Seo-yeon at center had dropped, the internet had well and truly lost its mind.