A knock on the practice room door jolted Damien from his thoughts. He turned to see Song Yejun peering in, a shy smile on his face.
"Hi, Damien," Yejun said, pushing the door open. He was already changed into casual clothes, backpack slung over one shoulder. "I've been looking for you. You're not going to language class?"
Damien shook his head. "No. I tested out of it. Now I have my Monday nights free—well for now."
Yejun chuckled quietly as he stepped fully inside the practice room. Once inside, he leaned back against the wall. "Lucky you. I have mine tomorrow night."
Yejun's hesitation and nervousness was almost palpable. Damien noticed how Yejun fingers fiddled with the strap of his bag as if he were working up the courage to continue talking.
After a brief pause, Yejun spoke. "By the way, you were solid in dance class today. I mean... I wanted to tell you earlier, but I didn't get a chance." He rubbed the back of his neck and let out a nervous breath. Then, he met Damien's eyes. "Also, I was wondering... Would it be okay if we hung out more? I—I mean, maybe we could be friends?"
Damien blinked.
That was unexpected...
Damien was taken aback by Yejun's direct sincerity, the felt a warm smile tug at his lips. The bit of caution in his eyes was replaced with something genuine and kind. "Aren't we friends already?"
Yejun's face brightened up. "Really? You mean it?" He asked, breaking into a broad grin. Encouraged by Damien's response, he stepped forward a little. "Then... If it's alright, how old are you? Can I call you Damien-hyung?"
"I'm sixteen. How about you?" Damien answered.
Yejun paused and blinked before letting out a tiny laugh of surprise. Running a hand through his hair, he admitted, "I'm seventeen. I honestly thought you were older than me. You just seem so mature and calm."
Mature and calm? Me...?
Then, the system spoke up with its robotic voice.
System: [Honestly, this system does not see it either.]
Damien: "..."
System: [Dangerous levels of malicious intent from the host has been detected.]
Damien tried to calm down.
He shifted his attention back to Yejun.
"Look's like I'm the one who should be calling you hyung now."
"Ah—no, no, that's not really necessary! You don't have to do that if you don't want to, seriously," Yejun blurted out, waving his hands, clearly flustered.
Damien shook his head with a soft laugh and gave a nod.
A comfortable silence settled in.
After a few moments, Yejun glanced at the clock on the wall. It was getting late and nearing curfew. "We should probably head back."
Damien nodded and grabbed his bag. He figured it was a good time to stop anyways. Together they turned off the lights and left the practice room. The hallway was nearly empty, the last few trainees straggling off. As they walked toward the entrance, the conversation naturally flowed.
Yejun's voice echoed softly, "How are you feeling about the evaluation coming up?" In the dim light, his expression was pensive. "I know everyone's anxious, even if they don't show it."
"I'm feeling determined..." Damien considered his answer. Honesty, at least with Yejun, felt right. "There's pressure of course, but I'll prepare the best I can." He then glanced at Yejun. "How about you? Have you been through something like this before?"
Yejun nodded. "I've been a trainee at another company before transferring here. In total... I think it'll be my thirteenth time." He said. "It's never been easy. Last time, one of the guys in my group performance suddenly got his heat in the middle of the song. Of course, we were given a chance to perform without him, but after something like that... we kind of forgot what we had practiced." He sighed, adjusting the strap of his backpack. "The omega quit the next week after. I think the pressure got to him."
Damien stayed quiet, just watching Yejun. It was only after a moment when he said, "I'm sorry. Were you close with him?"
"Not super close, but he was a really good guy." Yejun replied, lips pressed into a thin line at the memory. "Moments like that... this industry can really break people." He then shot Damien a sidelong glance. "I've noticed you keep your cool. Actually, you don't seem rattled by much."
Damien shook his head. "I try not to be. Panicking doesn't improve performance, so I try to focus on what will."
Yejun chuckled, "See what I mean? You're kind of inspiring. A lot of trainees—myself included—sometimes second-guess ourselves a lot. You seem different."
Different.
Damien pondered the word as they exited the building.
"I have my doubts too," he said, "but I just try to have a clear plan on where I want to go."
Yejun smiled. "That's what makes you admirable. Oh—by the way, I'm heading this way, to the alpha dorms. What about you?"
So he's an alpha...
"I actually don't live in a dorm room since my house is close by."
"Then before we separate ways, I should tell you something I've heard."
Damien raised a brow. "Rumours?"
Yejun nodded, then glanced around before continuing, "It's about what might happen after this evaluation. I've heard some trainees whispering that the company's preparing for a new group debut. That they might be using this evaluation to decide who goes into the debut lineup."
Damien's eyes slightly widened. He heard this from the system before. Damien wondered if someone leaked the news. Or maybe it was pure speculation by the trainees. "There hasn't been official news about a new group, right?"
"Nothing official, no," Yejun said quickly. "It might just be wishful thinking, but there had been signs. Higher up staff have been heard slipping words like 'upcoming concepts' while chatting. It honestly could have been nothing, but you know how gossip spreads." He gave a little shrug. "People are speculating that Starlite might form a debut group pool out of the top trainees soon."
"It makes sense," he said slowly. "Starlite Media hasn't debuted a new idol group in a while. They've probably been waiting for the right moment."
But how did he get hold of all of these rumours in just a span of a day?
Damien was thoroughly impressed and confused at the same time.
Yejun nodded. "We have some really strong people right now, just from our dance class alone—Choi Hajoon, Li Xingyuan... Not to mention the vocalists and rappers we have yet to meet..."
Yejun slumped his shoulders, getting discouraged.
Damien patted his shoulder, trying to cheer him up.
"Thanks." Yejun smiled at Damien. "Anyways, who knows what's true. It could all just be nerves making people invent scenarios. But... I thought you should know what's been going around. Information helps, right?"
"It does. Thank you, Yejun." Damien said sincerely.
"Then, I'll be going. Good night." Yejun said, waving goodbye.
"Night."
...
Meanwhile, at the company headquarters, various department heads sat at a long glass table. CEO Ji Yoonseok sat at the head of the table, fingers placed under his chin as he surveyed the team.
The room was quiet, to the point one can hear a pin drop.
Director Han Jihoon, leading the creative team, cleared his throat and broke the heavy silence. "The concept proposals for the new group are in front of you, sir." He gestured to the concept boards spread out on the table. On each board, vibrant images outlined two competing visions for the group planned to debut in two years. "Option A leans into a cute and youthful theme. Option B is a darker, fantastical, and somewhat futuristic concept. We need to finalize which direction we're taking today."
Park Soyeon, head of trainee development, flipped through the boards carefully. She glanced up towards the CEO and then to Director Han. "Both concepts have merit," she said. "But I'm concerned about whether our current trainees can pull off Option B convincingly. The darker concept demands a certain... maturity."
Director Han Jihoon's jaw tightened. "Most of our top trainees are at the age range of 18 to 20. They can handle maturity," he countered, tapping a finger on the Option B board. "And the market is oversaturated with cute or high-school-boy-next-door concepts. Option B could set us apart."
At this, Nam Yoonseo, director of public relations, chimed in from across the table. "Setting ourselves apart is good, but we should consider the company's image too. Starlite Media has always promoted an uplifting, positive brand. A very dark concept might be a jarring change."
CEO Ji Yoonseok leaned back in his chair, the faint creak turning heads. "Our last group, Cosmiq, had a bright concept," he said, voice calm but weighty. "I'm inclined to agree with Director Han, but Director Nam raises a valid point." He looked at the images of Option B before continuing. "We can refine Option B to incorporate a more hopeful undertone. Or perhaps... how about this—a storyline concept?"
The suggestion made everyone pause.
"We could have a flexible storyline concept—one that isn't tied to a single genre or theme, but evolves with an ongoing narrative."
The room remained still, but eyebrows lifted in curiosity. This concept was almost unheard of in their current industry.
CEO Ji Yoonseok spoke with a slight enthusiastic tone. "This approach gives us adaptability. We can align each comeback with current trends and market needs without contradicting the group's identity." He interlaced his fingers on the table and leaned forward. "In other words, if dark, moody concepts are popular one year, our storyline's next chapter can naturally take a darker turn. We'll be prepared to ride any trend's wave while maintaining a consistent narrative."
A few enthusiastic nods come from Director Han, whose eyes shined at the mention of varied themes. "From a creative standpoint, I have to say this is incredibly exciting," he chimed in, a slight smile on his face. "We could really differentiate Starlite's group as artists who push creative boundaries each time."
However, Director Han toned down his excitement with a dose of realism. "My main concern is the narrative coherence," he said. "If we promise a storyline, we must deliver a story that makes sense and keeps fans engaged. That means careful planning of the lore. And we might need to bring in or designate a writer to for cohesiveness. We wouldn't want plot holes or a concept that starts to contradict itself by the third comeback."
"Agreed, Director Han." CEO Ji Yoonseok raised a hand slightly in acknowledgment. "Draft the skeleton or outline. Nothing too detailed—just enough to anchor our themes. Maybe even develop a short web-novel or webtoon to accompany the comebacks, to help fans follow along. We can adjust as we go."
Now Director Lee Sanghoon, head of Starlite Media's A&R, cleared his throat softly. He had been scribbling thoughts in a notebook beside him. "From the music side," he began in a low, thoughtful voice, "I find this approach refreshing. However, not all singers are equally versatile. Among our top trainees, some are outstanding in bright, poppy songs but struggle with the seriousness of a dark concept song, and vice versa. We need to ensure the final lineup has a good balance of strengths, or that they can be trained up to handle a wide range." Lee Sanghoon looked to Park Soyeon, inviting her input.
Director Park Soyeon, head of trainee development, spoke up in a confident but respectful tone. "That's true," she said. "We've been training these boys to be all-round performers, but naturally each has their comfort zone. It's a lot to ask." She paused, frowning slightly as she considered the weight on the trainees. "We'll have to identify those who are quick learners and adaptable. During upcoming company-wide trainee evaluations," she glanced toward the CEO, "we can incorporate tests across different concept styles."
A few heads bobbed in agreement.
CEO Ji Yoonseok intertwined his fingers again, absorbing the details. "That's a great idea, Soyeon-ssi," he said. "We'll tailor the evaluation to gauge versatility. And you're right, Sanghoon-ssi," he addressed the A&R head, "we will pick members who complement each other. Perhaps one has the deep vocal tone suitable for dramatic songs, another has the clear bright tone for pop, etc. As a team, they can cover more bases."
With the current concerns met with a solution, the initial wariness in the room melted away.
After a bit more discussion on minor points—the CEO checked the time on his watch and gently guided the meeting toward a close. He sat up straight and the side chatter died down instantly.
"Alright," Ji Yoonseok said, voice steady and authoritative once more, "let's summarize where we stand." He glanced at each person in turn. "We will proceed with the flexible storyline concept for the new boy group. This means our group's theme will adapt each comeback according to a planned narrative."
Hearing it stated officially caused a few people to straighten up.
"Marketing," The CEO nodded toward the marketing director, "you'll start devising how to brand this concept to the public. Focus on the idea of a 'story-driven group'. Also think about long-term brand identity that can withstand these visual changes."
"Creative," he turned to Director Han, "begin outlining the narrative arc. Work with whomever you need. I want a draft of the storyline roadmap in a two weeks. Also, start concept designs for the debut chapter. We should start off with what we can."
"Will do, sir," Director Han said.
"A&R," CEO Ji spoke to Lee Sanghoon, "quietly start gathering sample songs or instrumentals in a few potential genres we've discussed. We'll refine once the story outline is set, but no harm in getting a head start on the music direction for at least the debut and possibly the second comeback."
Lee Sanghoon nodded. "Yes, I'll begin the scouting process for composers immediately."
"Trainee development," CEO Ji looked toward Park Soyeon, "We need to use the company-wide trainee evaluation to identify who can handle this concept. Make sure your coaches know what's coming, but keep the exact concept plans confidential. We don't want rumours spreading to trainees yet. We'll observe how they adapt on the fly."
Park Soyeon nodded firmly. "Understood."
"Alright. Meeting dismissed."
....
As Damien walked through the dim streets, he suddenly heard a familiar ring.
[Ding!]
[Concept Finalized!]
[Ding! New Task Mission Assigned]