Electric Pulse by Neon Abyss – An upbeat, electronic track with a driving bassline. It's energetic and would test his ability to maintain strong vocal control during fast-paced sections.
Fifi rolled her eyes, "Oh, please. You'd short-circuit before you even hit the chorus. Stick to something that doesn't require superhuman breath control for now."
Heartstrings by Velvet Sky – A mid-tempo ballad with a blend of acoustic and synth elements. The song has emotional depth, allowing him to showcase his vocal range and emotional expression.
Fifi snorted, "Vocal range? Emotional depth? You sound like a cat stuck in a washing machine! Let's not pretend you've got the voice of an angel when you're still trying to find the right key."
Wildfire by Phoenix Echo – A powerful, rock-infused anthem with dynamic shifts between intense verses and soaring choruses. It requires a strong, confident vocal presence.
Fifi chimed in, "Really? I mean, you're not tone-deaf anymore, but let's be real — you're not exactly a vocal powerhouse yet. You sure you want to risk blowing out a lung?"
Starfall by Astral Waves – A dreamy, atmospheric pop track with an ethereal quality. It has intricate harmonies that would challenge his ability to blend his voice with layered backing vocals.
Fifi snickered, "You? Singing that? It's like putting a dragon in a tutu. It's more of a woman's song, and I don't think you can pull off the high notes without scaring a few birds."
Midnight Run by Dark Horizon – A high-energy, fast-paced song with a mix of rap and melodic hooks. It's intense and rhythmic, requiring precise timing and articulation.
Fifi burst out laughing, "Rap? You? Please, you couldn't rap a present, let alone spit bars. Stick to something where you don't need to talk so fast you bite your own tongue."
Cain shot Fifi a sharp look. "Instead of insulting me, why don't you help me figure out what to sing?"
Fifi floated in the air, twirling lazily. "You still don't get it, do you?"
"Get what?"
"You haven't found your own voice yet. Singing those songs will just make you sound mediocre. Sure, you can mimic tones and voices with your [Sharp Mind], but the judges won't be impressed if all you do is copy someone else's voice. They want to see something real, something that's yours."
Settling into a chair, Cain watched as staff members called out names, guiding trainees one by one into a room at the far end of the hall. That must be the production room where they'll be filming the first episode, he mused, tapping his fingers on the armrest.
"Hey there," a voice broke through his thoughts.
Cain glanced to his side, where a guy with pink hair and a cute, almost delicate appearance stood. He looked about nineteen, with a small frame that contrasted sharply with the intensity of the situation.
"You're C.C., right?"
Cain nodded, giving the guy a once-over. "Yeah."
The pink-haired trainee beamed, his youthful face lighting up. "I'm Riku. I saw your latest video. You're awesome and so cool!"
"Thanks," Cain replied, hoping to end the conversation with that.
"I never thought you'd want to be an idol," Riku continued, still grinning. "I'm surprised!"
Cain shrugged, playing it off. "Been a dream of mine," he lied smoothly, the words rolling off his tongue.
Riku glanced down at his hands, the smile faltering slightly. "Maybe I should've started building a following too? One of the challenges here is to create a social media account and gain followers, but you and the other influencers already have a head start."
Cain raised an eyebrow. "What's stopping you? Start one right now."
Riku blinked, clearly taken aback. "Right now?"
"Wouldn't take more than a few seconds," Cain pointed out, leaning back in his chair, eyeing him closely.
With a slight hesitation, Riku pursed his lips, realizing he had no choice under C.C. scrutinizing gaze. He pulled out his phone and quickly created an account on InstaPic, the easiest platform to gain a quick following.