The rehearsal studio for Section D was unusually quiet.
The hardwood floor, usually alive with pounding footsteps, now just held seven boys sprawled out in a loose circle, their backs against the mirrored wall, staring at the ceiling as if inspiration might drip down from it.
"Guys," Hyun finally broke the silence, his tone heavy with urgency, "we only have three weeks until the competition… and we haven't even started yet."
Eunjae let out a low hum of agreement, nodding without lifting his gaze.
Daehyun sighed and dragged a hand through his hair. "You're right. But the other groups have already snagged all the good concepts. Section B is going for that seductive, dark theme, and it fits them…ugh, so annoying. Section C is doing a cute concept—honestly, it suits them perfectly."
Chan groaned. "And the worst part? They already have their music, choreography, and costumes ready. Meanwhile, we're still sitting here doing nothing."
Jiho leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "If I am correct, the whole point of this competition is to test whether we trainees can handle everything ourselves without help from the agency. It's not just about picking a concept—it's about making something so impactful that it outshines the other idol groups, no matter the theme."
"This is hard. Unlike other agencies where they are picked out on their skills, we have to face other sections and make our own song." Groaned Seojun
Hanuel rubbed his chin like a philosopher deep in thought. "In that case, we need something unique. Completely original. Something that makes the judges sit up straight and remember us." He paused, staring at the floor. "But… what?"
Seojun raised his hand slightly, his voice casual yet confident. "I've written a bunch of songs we could use."
Jiho's eyes lit up instantly. "Great. Let's hear them."
Seojun slid his phone out of his pocket, scrolling through his files until a list of song titles appeared on the screen. The others leaned in, curious.
"I've got ballads, hype tracks, even a few experimental mixes," Seojun said, swiping through. "But I feel like none of these… fit exactly what we're looking for right now."
Hyun tilted his head. "Then maybe that's the problem. We're trying to think of something that'll work in here—" he gestured to the four studio walls— "but we're not seeing anything new."
Daehyun crossed his arms. "What are you suggesting? We just… go for a walk?"
"Actually, yeah," Jiho said, standing up and dusting off his sweatpants. "If we're stuck, maybe we should see the outside world for a bit. Get some air, people-watch, find something that sparks a concept. Just like Jack London said "You can't wait for inspiration: you have to go after it with a club."
Eunjae grinned. " A club? Who is Jack London?"
"You don't need to know that, ok!" Hyun said whilst petting Eunjae's head
They stepped out of the building and into the late afternoon glow of the city. The air carried the scent of roasted chestnuts from a street vendor nearby. The sound of buskers strumming guitars drifted from the corner of the block, mingling with the laughter of children chasing bubbles.
"See?" Jiho said, walking backwards to face the group. "Inspiration everywhere."
As they wandered, they passed by a fresh fruit stand where the vendor was slicing open a bright, juicy watermelon. The red flesh glistened under the sunlight.
"Whoa, that's refreshing," Daehyun said, stopping to watch.
Further down, they saw a group of teenagers in brightly colored streetwear filming a dance video in front of a graffiti wall. The vibe was energetic, bold, full of life.
The group went to sit on a cemented stair whilst eating the watermelon from the vendor stall earlier. They were looking at everything that could bring inspiration
"This," Hyun said slowly, eyes following the dancers. "This feeling. Colorful, youthful, alive."
"Like something fresh? New? Full of energy?" Hanuel said munching on his watermelon like a rabbit.
"Mhm-mm" Hyun replied
"esh, Fresh. Fresh…That's it. That could be the concept." Seojun's eyes widened
Jiho grinned. "Not dark. Not cute. Just… vibrant. Fun. Something that makes people feel alive."
"Fresh," Eunjae repeated, tasting the word like it was already a hook in a song. "Yeah… I like it."
They all exchanged knowing glances, and for the first time that day, the spark of an idea lit up between them.
They burst back into the studio, almost tripping over each other in their rush to hold onto the idea before it slipped away.
"Okay, okay—let's not lose the momentum!" Jiho called, kicking the door shut behind him.
Seojun was already plugging in his laptop and opening his music software. "If 'Fresh' is our concept, the track has to feel like a burst of color. Something upbeat, not too heavy, but still strong enough to leave an impact."
Hyun grabbed a whiteboard marker and scribbled Fresh in bold letters across the board. "Brainstorm time: Words that come to mind when you hear this."
"Vibrant," said Eunjae immediately.
"Sunlight," Daehyun added.
"Breeze," Hanuel offered, "like standing on a rooftop in summer."
"Energy," Chan said, bouncing slightly on his toes.
Seojun tapped the desk. "Okay, so high BPM—around 128 to 132. Funky bassline, maybe some retro synths, layered with crisp claps and snaps."
"I'm hearing brass," Jiho said, mimicking a trumpet sound. "Something that hits on the chorus, makes you feel like you're marching in your own parade."
Hyun wrote down trumpet drop in chorus. "Got it."
Seojun played a quick loop of a beat—punchy kicks, playful hi-hats. The room lit up instantly.
"Yes! That's it!" Eunjae said, already standing in the center. "For choreography, we need moves that are bouncy but clean. How about street dance plus idol precision?"
Daehyun got up to join him, testing out a groove step to the beat. "And we could add a signature 'Fresh Move'—something simple the audience can copy."
"Like a brand," Hanuel said. "When people hear the song, they have to do that move."
For styling, Chan opened his phone gallery, showing a mix of neon jackets, patterned shirts, and sneakers with mismatched laces.
"Street-style, but coordinated," he explained. "Each member has their own main color, but the outfits look like they belong in the same world."
Hyun nodded. "And stage set—bright LED panels with animations of abstract expressionism using impasto paint techniques, city lights… oh or maybe even bursts of confetti at the end."
"Perfect," Jiho said, already picturing it. "This is going to stand out from the dark and cute concepts. It's just… us."
Seojun hit save on the project file, naming it Fresh v1.
Hanuel leaned back, satisfied. "Alright, tea. We've got our vibe, our song, our style. Three weeks… and we're going to make it unforgettable. If I can do the dance well."