Novel Full 88 Big, White Thing
“Next team, stand by!” the production crew yelled as Casper’s team finished with their final evaluation.
Hyerin, having come back from a festival schedule, sat with the judges with an apologetic smile. She still had her stage outfit on, and Minho complimented her look.
“Well, you’re very pretty today,” he said.
Hyerin smirked. “Aren’t I pretty every day?”
Jihyun chuckled. “I was prettier when I was younger.”
“I can’t argue with that,” Hyerin retorted. “How many teams have performed?” she asked, scanning the stage. The production crew was currently preparing it, bringing up various props. Smoke screens were placed on the stage as long as white flowers.
“We’re down to the last team,” Gun said. “But I’m worried for this team. Despite having high-ranked trainees, they didn’t do well during the interim evaluations. And not to mention, Hwan is going to be watching later at the live show too.”
“I hope they took my suggestions into consideration,” Jihyun said with a hopeful face. “If they do, then I have no doubt they’re going to do well.”
“Is there stage ready?” Bone asked one of the members of the production team.
“There’s still one item, sir,” the member responded. “After that, we’ll call Team Aces up the stage.”
Bone nodded, going back to scrolling on his phone. The other judges also went back to their casual conversations. However, they all halted when a big, white thing was hauled onto the stage.
Their eyes widened in surprise.
“What is that?” Hyerin exclaimed. “Don’t tell me—they’re going to use that thing?”
They had no time to react as Team Aces went up the stage and assumed their positions.
Then, the intro of ‘I Love You, Leave; I Love You, Don’t Leave’ started playing.
It was familiar yet new at the same time…somehow revamped.
The final rehearsals continued, and the judges watched their stage, captivated.
By the end of it, not even a pin drop could be heard in the studio.
***
A chilly afternoon breeze swept through the crowd of enthusiastic fans, each eagerly waiting to enter the studio. Along them, Jia stood at the very front of the line, her other friends not being able to make it because they all decided to head back to their province after the academic year. So now, she was stuck all alone outside of Azure’s building, waiting for the guards to open the gates for the second mission.
As they entered the studio, Jia couldn’t help but recognize the familiar face beside her. It was the same girl she had seen during the first mission—Ren’s fangirl.
“Hey,” Jia greeted. “I think we’ve met before.”
Despite their past shared experienced, the girl’s demeanor remained just as aloof as before.
“You’re a fan of Ren’s, right?” Jia asked.
“Hmm,” the girl hummed. “And you were the girl with annoying friends. I’m surprised they aren’t here this time.”
Jia chuckled awkwardly. “Yeah, that was me, I guess. If you don’t mind me asking, what’s your name? I feel like we’ll be seeing each other more often from now on.”
Since their summer break would last a month, Jia wanted to befriend another person because her friends would only come back to the city in time for the fourth mission.
“Bora,” the girl replied, her tone casual. “And you?”
“Jia,” I said. “I’m a fan of June’s. If you’re open to it, I can tell you all about—”
“No thanks,” Bora cut her off. “I don’t care about your favorite. I only care about Ren.”
“Oh,” Jia said, pursing her lips.
On another note, she doesn’t want to be friends with this girl anymore.
As they waited for the event to begin, the chilly air around them seemed to freeze.
However, the chilly air thawed when Kang Minho stepped onto the stage. The excitement was exhilarating, and the fans’ cheers echoed off the walls of the recording center.
“Hello, everyone!” Kang Minho’s voice rang out, a warm smile lighting up his face. “Are you ready for the XX battle?”
Fans were curious about the new battle mission, wondering what XX battle could mean. They erupted into cheers, their enthusiasm matching Minho’s infectious energy,
“Today, our talented trainees will be showcasing their skills in not one but two positions – vocal, rap, or dance. Each performance will be a chance for them to shine and capture your hearts,” he continued.
As Kang Minho explained the rules of the battle, the room buzzed with anticipation. “After each performance, you, starlights, will have the power to vote for the most eye-catching member. And that lucky member will receive a special benefit. But remember, it’s not just about the benefit. Your vote can be a source of encouragement and support for these hardworking trainees.”
Kang Minho’s gaze turned serious as he concluded, “By the end of today’s show, we’ll also be voting for the team that performed the best in each category. So choose wisely because your votes will shape the course of the competition.”
“Without further ado, let me call the first team onto the stage. The team performing ‘Beside Me’ by THRICE, please come to the stage. It’s time to shine!”
The crowd’s cheers intensified as Minho stepped back, allowing the spotlight to shift onto the trainees.
Bora, who was calmly scrolling through her phone just a while ago, turned into a different person when she saw that this team had Ren in it. She screamed like a manic person, causing Jia to look at her in shock.
Jia didn’t look like that when she fangirled, right?
The lights dimmed, and the stage came to life as Team ‘Beside Me’ stepped forward. The audience’s cheers filled the air as the trainees took their positions, each holding a different instrument – guitars, drums, and more. The “band” concept was a refreshing departure from the norm, and the anticipation for their performance was obvious in the crowd’s energy.
Bora’s hands were pressed against her cheeks, her eyes sparkling as she focused her gaze on Ren. The music enveloped the room, and she seemed utterly captivated by the scene unfolding before her.
The trainees’ synchronized movements and the lively melody had an infectious quality, and as they transitioned to the chorus, the band concept seamlessly blended into a vibrant dance routine. The energy was high-teen as if the performers had channeled the essence of youthful enthusiasm into their every move.
“Beside me, you and I, a dance that feels so right,
Our friendship turned into love under the moonlight.
Guided by the music, our hearts begin to sway,
Together at this moment, forever here to stay.”
Bora’s fangirling reached a new level, her excited squeals almost drowning the sea of cheers around them. Jia couldn’t help but give her some space, afraid that Bora would accidentally slap her.
As the performance concluded, Jia clapped and glanced at Bora once more.
This woman is truly scary. She was back to her nonchalant self once again.
Bora’s excitement had already died down, and she wanted to leave the floor after voting for Ren. However, her vote would only be valid if she stayed until the end of the show, so she decided to stay.
With a sigh, Bora resigned herself to scrolling on her phone.
Countless performances later, her boredom only seemed to increase.
Jia, too, couldn’t wait for June’s team to perform. If she recalled right, Minho said that there would be twelve teams performing, one for each category. Then, that meant that June’s team was going to perform last.
“Wait,” Jia muttered. “Is he going to perform with Zeth?”
The other fans in the studio also chattered excitedly among themselves.
“Leo and Yuri still hadn’t gone, right?”
“And Lin Zhi too!”
“Oh, is this Jisung’s stage? Finally!”
“Shit. Is June on the same team as them? I can’t wait!”
Before the last team came on stage, the production crew disassembled the props of the last team and arranged them for the next performance.
Jia watched intently as the props team carried varied materials onto the stage.
Smoke screens…
White flowers…
Flowy white curtains…
And…
Jia’s eyes widened in shock.
“A coffin?”