Finally, it was time for the heavy hitters — the trainees from the big companies — to take the stage.
"Let's take a short break before we proceed," Evelyn said, stretching as she stood up. "I'm getting hungry."
"We'll have a thirty-minute break!" Mitchell announced to the room, his voice echoing through the space.
Riku turned to no one in particular, his eyes scanning the room. Even on a short break, he couldn't sit still. "I wonder who's going first. Everyone from the big companies looks promising. Do we even stand a chance against them?"
Cain was lost in his own thoughts, and wasn't paying much attention. "Will we get a lunch break?" His stomach growled, reminding him of the chocolate bar he had stashed earlier.
Riku gawked at him, wide-eyed. "How are you even thinking about food right now? My stomach's been in knots all day — I can't even imagine being hungry!"
Without a word, Cain casually pulled the chocolate bar from his pocket and took a bite, completely unfazed by the tension in the room.
"Where on earth did you even hide that thing?" Riku asked, staring at the bar in disbelief. "You better be careful! If the cameras catch you munching on that, you'll get turned into a meme!"
Cain shrugged, chomping down another bite, ignoring the eyes around him.
Riku swallowed hard, his nerves momentarily forgotten as he stared at the chocolate bar. The sight of food awakened something deep inside him, and his stomach growled loud enough for a few trainees nearby to glance over.
He wasn't the only one. The other trainees glanced at C.C.'s snack, their eyes gleaming with hunger. Not a single one of them had thought to bring food — their minds had been laser-focused on their performances.
But now, post-show adrenaline fading, hunger hit them like a punch to the gut.
Stomachs growled in unison.
"Is the production team ever going to feed us?" The thought echoed in everyone's mind, a silent plea as they eyed C.C.s chocolate bar like it was the last meal on Earth.
The break was short-lived, and passed quickly, and soon enough, the stage lights flared back to life.
The show continued, and it was time for the trainees from the big companies to step up and prove why they were here.
"I hope the big companies bring their A-game," someone whispered.
"He's already perfect."
"Think the judges will give him a perfect score?"
"I don't see why not. That performance was flawless."
The mentors exchanged approving glances, relieved that the first trainee from one of the major companies had set the bar high. EJ had more than delivered; he'd set the stage ablaze, raising expectations for the rest. If this was the level Starlight Entertainment was bringing, the others had better come prepared.
The mentors gave him a solid 36 points. While they docked 4 points for improvement — because, of course, perfection was rare — the high standards they'd set for big company trainees were clear. But even with a slight deduction, EJ had dominated the stage, and everyone knew it.
His performance had left an undeniable mark, setting the tone for what the others would have to surpass.
EJ was the first trainee to break the 30-point barrier, setting the stage for the rest. Next up was Jinwoo Park, a skilled dancer with an intense gaze that could cut through steel. Hailing from Radiant Studios, Jinwoo had been hyped as the next big thing, and his performance lived up to expectations. His sharp moves and undeniable stage presence earned him a solid 34 points.
Then came Mika Asano, a Japanese trainee under NeonWave Productions. Her voice was mesmerizing, a captivating blend of power and emotion that left the audience spellbound. However, while her vocals were top-tier, her dance performance lagged behind, preventing her from reaching the top. She walked away with 34 points as well.
Rika Lee from Galaxy Entertainment followed, a charming performer known for her sweet, angelic voice and breathtaking visuals. She wowed the crowd with her vocals, but her dance lacked the same fire, pulling her score down to 32 points.
With each trainee from the major companies scoring over 30 points, the gap between independent trainees and those from industry giants became painfully obvious. Each performance reinforced just how high the stakes were — and how much further the independents like Cain had to climb.
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