The breakfast buffet displayed a Halloween-themed spread—black-bun sandwiches with orange pumpkin spread that looked more convincing on camera than on actual plates.
I grabbed one anyway. Turkey and something vaguely sweet beneath charcoal-colored bread that tasted of nothing except the production's commitment to theme.
The corner table accepted me without complaint, its scarred surface empty except for my tray.
Voices drifted from nearby clusters—teams already bonding over shared themes, discussing leaders and line distributions with the casual confidence of people who knew their place.
"—heard Gothic Vampire got Haejun and Sejin both—"
"—Twisted Circus is going full theatrical; apparently Jisoo's already pitching concepts—"
I bit into the sandwich. Bland turkey. Chemical sweetness from the pumpkin spread that didn't quite mask the staleness of bread left overnight.
My jaw worked mechanically, swallowing without tasting.
Nine strangers, one spotlight, and Hyunki.
