~Han Jae-min POV~
The alarm blared at six sharp groans filled the hallway as trainees stumbled out of their rooms, hair messy, voices husky with sleep the scent of alphas filled the air.
I tugged on my hoodie, making sure the bindings were still tight under, and slipped out behind Do-hyun, he looked annoyingly awake, towel slung over his shoulder like mornings didn't faze him at all.
"Move faster," he said without looking back. "You'll fall behind."
"I'm fine," I muttered, clutching my water bottle.
Downstairs, the main practice hall buzzed like a beehive over a hundred boys gathered, stretching, whispering, stealing glances at one another, posters of the survival show logo blazed across the walls: Rising Stars – Season 9.
The head trainer strode in, whistle sharp between her teeth and the room fell silent.
"Listen up!" she barked. "Your first evaluation begins today each of you will perform individually, vocals, dance, rap.... show us what you've got. You'll be graded A through F and these grades determine your ranking, your teams, your future."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
My stomach twisted performing once had been nerve-wracking then performing again under harsher eyes, with over a hundred alphas watching felt like walking a tightrope over fire.
The trainer's eyes scanned the crowd. "First up... Candidate 021!"
A tall boy jogged to the front his movements were sharp, his rap clean, his confidence spilling into every bar the trainers nodded, unimpressed but not disappointed. "Grade C."
One by one, trainees took the stage some stumbled, some shone. The hierarchy began to form in whispers.
"See that guy? Definitely A."
"That one's a disaster, F for sure."
"Who's the skinny kid in the corner? Haven't seen him before."
Skin prickling, I adjusted my cap lower.
"Candidate 087!"
That's me, it's my turn.
I walked forward, every step heavy the lights seared, too bright, too exposing.
"Introduce yourself," the trainer ordered.
"I am Han Jae-min, Eighteen years old." My voice held steady, deeper than my natural tone.
"Show us what you've prepared."
The music started and my body responded before my doubts could catch up each step crisp, each beat pounded into muscle memory an every lyric I sang came from my gut, not my throat, raw with desperation.
When the final note rang out, silence followed, one trainer scribbled and another leaned forward. The head trainer tilted her head.
"…Interesting," she murmured.
The male trainer frowned. "Too fragile, stamina won't last."
"Fragile?" The woman's voice cut sharp. "That kid's presence filled the stage, so, grade B."
Gasps rose from the trainees and I was shocked because, B? For someone like me?
"Th...thank you." I bow my head and rush down from the stage.
"Not bad," a voice drawled from the back.
I turned, my pulse jumping. Do-hyun leaned against the wall, arms folded, a faint smile playing on his lips and his eyes met mine across the crowd, steady and piercing.
"Didn't expect that from you, roommate."
Heat rushed to my ears but I just smile, the practice room stank of sweat, mirrors lined the walls, reflecting over a hundred exhausted faces.
"Pair up for dance drills!" the trainer barked.
Groans filled the air, but everyone scrambled nobody wanted to be left behind. I clutched my water bottle, scanning the room and before I could move, a sharp voice came through the noise.
"Han Jae-min, right?"
A boy with dyed silver hair stood in front of me, his smirk was lazy, but his eyes glinted with arrogance.
"I'm Min Seok-jin, heard you got a B on evaluation." He clicked his tongue. "Surprising, for someone who looks like a stiff breeze could knock them over."
I forced a polite smile. "Grades don't mean much this early."
"Oh, they do." He stepped closer, his scent sharp.... alpha, dominant. "It means the trainers noticed you and I don't like when nobodies get noticed before me."
Before I could answer, Do-hyun's voice slid into the space. "Problem?"
He appeared at my side without a sound, sweat still dripping from his face his gaze locked on Seok-jin, unreadable but heavy enough to silence the smirk.
Seok-jin scoffed. "Relax, Kang, I'm just introducing myself."
"Mmmh." Do-hyun's tone was cool. "Sounded more like barking."
The tension cracked like electricity and trainees nearby pretended to stretch but kept stealing glances, rivalries were currency here; everyone knew it.
The trainer's whistle snapped the air. "Pair up, I said!"
Seok-jin sneered, stepping back. "Fine! I'll see you on stage, B-grade, but remember... don't trip."
He strode off.
My shoulders sagged. "Thanks, but you didn't have to...."
"I wasn't helping you." Do-hyun's eyes slid to me, sharp. "I was testing him and you."
"…Me?"
"You shrink when cornered." He tossed me a towel. "That won't work here because Alphas smell weakness."
I caught the towel awkwardly. "I'm not weak."
His lips curved, not quite a smile. "Then prove it, partner with me."
"What?"
"You heard me." He turned, heading to the center of the room. "Or are you too scared?"
Heat rushed to my ears, partnering with him meant close contact... too close. Every move, every breath, every slip would risk my exposure but refusing would raise suspicion.
I exhaled hard, forcing my legs to move. "Fine!"
The music started and his hand caught my wrist, firm but precise, guiding me through the steps. He was natural... every move sharp, controlled, yet standing this close, his presence was suffocating.
"Keep up," he murmured.
"I am," I snapped back, trying to match his energy.
Our eyes met in the mirror for a second, the whole room faded... the noise, the sweat, the other trainees. Just his gaze, steady and unrelenting, pinning me in place.
The music cut off, sweat dripped down my back and my lungs burning.
"Enough!" the trainer barked. "Pairs, line up!"
We fell into rows, chests heaving, Do-hyun barely looked winded because his sharp gaze stayed on me, as if measuring every flaw in my movements.
The trainer stalked past, eyes scanning. "Han Jae-min, Kang Do-hyun, you tried but too stiff on transitions, good synchronization though."
Do-hyun smirked faintly. "Hear that? We make a decent team."
I wiped my forehead, avoiding his eyes. "Don't get used to it."
Before he could reply, Seok-jin's voice rang out. "Trainer, request to switch partners!"
Murmurs rippled because switching was rare and risky.
The trainer narrowed her eyes. "Reason?"
Seok-jin flashed a smile. "I want to push myself against stronger competition, Kang Do-hyun, for example why waste his skill on…" His eyes slid to me, mocking. "…someone second-rate?"
Heat flared in my chest, but I bit my tongue because I know any outburst could unravel me.
The trainer considered. "Denied! Learn to work with whoever you're given, that's an idol's job."
Snickers rose from the crowd and Seok-jin's jaw tightened his glare found me like a knife.
When practice ended hours later, my legs wobbled as I stumbled back to the dorm every of my muscle screamed, I collapsed on my bed, too tired to think.
The door shut softly.
Do-hyun dropped onto his own bed, tossing his towel aside. "You handled him well."
"Handled who?"
"Seok-jin." His tone was calm, but his eyes were sharp. "Most trainees would've snapped but you didn't."
I forced a shrug. "Not worth the energy."
"Or," he said slowly, "you're used to hiding reactions."
My chest tightened. "Do… you analyze everyone like this?"
"Only the interesting ones."
I shake my head and turned toward the wall, pretending to be unfazed then his voice came again, soft.
"Han Jae-min."
"…What now?"
"You move like you've been trained before but your body… doesn't match, something's off."
I froze, he didn't press further just lay back, closing his eyes as if the conversation had ended but I couldn't sleep