The rehearsal hall was already buzzing when Team 12 walked in. Polished wooden floors gleamed under fluorescent lights, mirrors lining every wall to reflect back every flaw, every misstep. The faint smell of resin and sweat clung to the air, the kind of scent that only ever belonged to battle stages disguised as practice rooms.
Three hundred idols had been divided into smaller clusters, but this room belonged to them now, Team 12. Five bodies, five babies, five wills, five burning reasons to survive.
Rika trailed behind the others, clutching her water bottle like it was armor. She hadn't slept much; excitement and dread had churned together in her gut until dawn. The sight of the room made her stomach flip all over again. This was no ordinary practice, this was Starlight Crown.
