The room was still tense after the initial explanation about the solo performance evaluation. Despite the clear instructions, there was one problem—no one knew who would go first.
Ji Hyo could feel the unease ripple through the trainees. Some were whispering among themselves, others stood stiffly in place, waiting for someone else to move first.
Then the main producer, seated comfortably with a tablet in hand, glanced up with a half-smile and spoke casually, "So… who here considers themselves a great vocalist?"
The question hung in the air like a trap.
No one moved. A few glanced sideways at one another, hesitant. Ji Hyo, of course, remained completely still—he was definitely not going to raise his hand.
The producer chuckled softly, amused by the silence. "No one? Not even one?"
After a few more seconds of hesitation, one trainee finally raised his hand.
Kyunsoo.
Ji Hyo recognized him from the tour yesterday—he had sharp features, a calm demeanor, and a certain confidence in the way he carried himself. It wasn't surprising he was the first to volunteer.
As if Kyunsoo's hand gave the others courage, more hands began to rise.
One by one, a total of nine trainees raised their hands, most of them with varying levels of confidence on their faces.
"Oh~? So only now we have nine great vocalists in the room?" Vocal Coach Gunmi said with a teasing grin, folding her arms and stepping forward. "I'll remember your faces. I expect heavenly voices now."
A few of the trainees chuckled nervously.
Coach Gunmi gestured toward the center of the training room. "Alright, you nine, come stand here."
The trainees shuffled to the front, forming a neat line at the center. Ji Hyo stepped back slightly, watching from the sidelines with growing anxiety. He couldn't tell if he felt relieved or more terrified.
The main producer nodded, clearly satisfied. "Good. We'll begin the evaluation with the vocal trainees, one by one. Impress us."
And with that, the first performance began.
One after another, the vocal trainees stepped forward and performed. Each had their own distinct style—some soft and melodic, others loud and confident. A few even tried to show off with vocal runs or dramatic stage gestures.
Ji Hyo paid close attention. He wasn't sure whether it was to learn or simply distract himself from his own anxiety, but he couldn't help analyzing every voice, every flaw, and every strength.
Kyunsoo, as expected, performed well. He had control and clarity, and his voice carried emotion without going overboard. Even Ji Hyo, who hadn't yet developed a critical ear, could feel the difference in quality.
When the last vocalist finished, the room quieted again.
The main producer leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Not bad. Some of you have potential… and some of you need a serious reality check."
Some chuckles erupted in the background, though most were nervous laughter.
Coach Gunmi added, "Remember, confidence without technique is just noise. But I'm glad to see you all stepping forward."
The producer nodded and then scanned the room again. "Now… who here considers themselves a great dancer?"
The question came with a hint of challenge, almost daring them to raise their hands.
Ji Hyo felt a second wave of anxiety sweep through the room. Some trainees shifted uncomfortably. Others immediately raised their hands with pride, clearly waiting for their moment.
Ji Hyo stayed still again, of course. Dancing was definitely not something he had any confidence in. He glanced around, trying to spot who the strong dancers might be.
As more hands went up, he could already feel how high the bar was climbing.
Ji Hyo was still catching his breath from watching the vocal evaluations when the main producer's voice cut through the tension once again.
"Now… who here considers themselves a great dancer?"
Before Ji Hyo could even think, a hand shot up beside him.
It was Mo Jin.
"I'm telling you," Mo Jin leaned in with a grin, nudging Ji Hyo with his elbow, "dancing is the easiest. Just go for it."
Ji Hyo gave him a blank stare. Easy? Maybe for someone like Mo Jin, who moved like his joints were made of springs and rhythm flowed in his blood. But for Ji Hyo, who barely understood the difference between a basic step and a spin, the idea of dancing was anything but easy.
Still, trainees around the room began raising their hands. One after another, they joined in, and eventually, a total of twelve hands were raised.
The coaches exchanged glances, nodding slightly.
Coach Badji clapped his hands together once. "Alright then, those who raised their hands, move to the center and form a line—horizontally. Let's see what you've got."
The twelve dance trainees moved forward, forming a straight line facing the coaches. Ji Hyo remained in the back, silently watching and quietly relieved he hadn't raised his hand.
Mo Jin was already chatting with another trainee beside him—a tall boy with soft features and dyed ash-blond hair. Ji Hyo vaguely remembered seeing him before but never caught his name. He heard them laughing about something, and then caught it.
"I'm telling you, June, this is going to be fun," Mo Jin said confidently. "I'll show them my secret weapon."
June chuckled quietly, but the conversation wasn't exactly private. Though they weren't being overly loud, the room was quiet enough that their voices carried.
Coach Badji raised an eyebrow. "Since Mo Jin seems so eager, why don't we start with him?"
Mo Jin's smile froze for a second before he quickly straightened up. "Yes, Coach!"
The other trainees snickered softly, and even Ji Hyo let out a quiet breath of amusement.
The dance evaluation began.
One by one, the trainees stepped forward and performed short dance pieces. Some showcased fluid footwork and polished moves; others had more raw energy than finesse. Ji Hyo watched each performance, noting how much more physical control and stage presence these dancers had compared to him.
Mo Jin, true to his confidence, danced with lively charisma and sharp transitions. He wasn't the most technically perfect, but his energy made his performance hard to ignore.
June followed after, showing a more refined and elegant dancing style that drew approving nods from the coaches.
The rest of the trainees did their part, some better than others, but overall, Ji Hyo could tell the dancing group had a good mix of skill and potential.
After the last dancer finished, Coach Badji offered a few comments—some praise, some mild criticism, but overall, the tone was lighter compared to the vocal evaluations.
"Alright," the main producer said, scanning the room once more. "You may return to your places."
The dancers stepped back to the sides, murmuring quietly among themselves.
"And now," the producer continued, "who here is an aspiring rapper?"
Immediately, another wave of hands shot up—eight trainees this time.
Ji Hyo, of course, kept his hands firmly at his sides. He didn't even need to pretend. Rapping wasn't just outside his comfort zone—it was on an entirely different planet.
The selected eight were asked to come forward and line up just like the previous groups. Ji Hyo stood silently, trying not to let his nerves get the better of him as he watched them prepare for their turn.
His heart, however, was beginning to race again.
Each group had their moment. Vocals. Dance. Rap.
But then… What came next?
Would there be another category?
Or…
Would that be the end of it?
He swallowed hard.
Whatever was coming, he had a sinking feeling that there would be no more hiding soon.
The rap trainees stepped forward one by one, bringing with them an entirely different energy compared to the earlier performances.
Unlike the precision of the dancers or the vocal control of the singers, the rappers carried a bold, gritty confidence. Their voices echoed across the room, cutting through the air with rhythm and attitude.
One trainee after another, they delivered short freestyle verses or prepared pieces. Some were fierce and sharp, others relied more on style than substance, but overall, the room buzzed with the liveliness of the rap segment.
Then came a boy with tanned skin and slicked-back hair—Aiku.
His turn started without fanfare, but the moment he opened his mouth, the mood shifted.
His rap flowed effortlessly—smooth, clean, and sharp. His cadence rode the beat like a wave, confident without being overbearing. Even some of the coaches unconsciously nodded along with his rhythm.
"Damn…" Ji Hyo muttered under his breath. He couldn't help but be impressed. Aiku's presence was undeniable.
Then came Jiyong—a tall trainee with a low, gravelly voice. His rap wasn't flashy, but it was steady, measured, and had a weight to it that made people stop and listen. Each word was delivered with clarity and depth, and despite his calm demeanor, there was power behind his performance.
When Jiyong finished, a few of the instructors exchanged murmurs, clearly satisfied with what they'd seen.
That was the last of them.
The rap evaluation ended.
The main producer leaned back in his chair and clapped his hands lightly. "Well then. That wraps up vocals, dance, and rap."
Ji Hyo let out a quiet sigh, thinking it was over now.
But then—
"Ji Hyo Hyun. Junkyu Kim."
The producer's voice rang out clearly across the room.
Ji Hyo's heart stopped for a moment.
He glanced sideways, and saw another boy, Junkyu, standing frozen just like him—wide-eyed and uncertain.
"Please step forward to the center."
A few quiet murmurs passed through the trainees. Everyone turned to look as Ji Hyo and Junkyu awkwardly stepped forward. Ji Hyo felt his stomach twist in knots.
Coach Gunmi tilted her head, confused. "Eh? Aren't those the only two who haven't been evaluated yet?"
The rap coach chuckled and leaned forward, resting his chin on his palm. "Vocals are done. Dance is done. Rap is done. So… what are these two supposed to be?"
Some of the trainees chuckled softly, and even the coaches wore amused smiles. Ji Hyo and Junkyu looked at each other helplessly, neither having an answer.
Ji Hyo wanted to crawl into the floor.
Then the main producer let out a low chuckle, eyes glinting.
"They're the visuals."
The room burst into laughter, even the coaches couldn't help but grin at the lighthearted remark.
Coach Badji shook his head, laughing. "Visual trainees, huh? So they'll just stand on stage and look pretty?"
"Don't tempt them," Coach Gunmi joked. "Some idols do exactly that."
Ji Hyo flushed a little, scratching the back of his head. Junkyu gave a small, sheepish smile.
"You two still have to perform," the producer said, voice light but clear. "Visuals or not, you're trainees under Glint. Let's see what you've got."
Ji Hyo swallowed hard.
So much for hoping to escape unnoticed.
He had no choice now.