The First Day in the Lion's Den
The sleek elevator doors slid open to reveal a pristine lobby bathed in white light.
Jiho stepped out, heart steady but senses sharp. This was no ordinary trainee dorm.
BlackHaze's Development Division was a fortress — polished floors, glass walls, digital monitors flashing trainee stats and company mottos: "Talent is common. Legacy is rare."
He swallowed the lump in his throat.
The few other trainees there moved with quiet confidence, heads held high, smiles practiced.
Jiho didn't smile.
He studied.
The Rival: Min Jun
Jun was impossible to ignore.
Six feet tall, flawless skin, with a smile that seemed both genuine and cunning.
He was the unofficial leader of the new group — charismatic, aggressive, and fiercely protective of his territory.
On the first day, Jun approached Jiho with a slow, calculating smile.
"So, you're the new wildcard."
Jiho's eyes didn't flicker.
"Just here to see how far the rabbit can run."
Jun laughed softly.
"Watch yourself. In here, everyone's fighting for the throne. And the throne is small."
The Secret Mentor
Days later, Jiho found an unmarked envelope slipped under his door.
Inside was a card — plain black with silver lettering:
"In the game, power isn't given. It's taken. Watch closely."
- K
Jiho's breath caught.
He was no longer alone.
The mysterious K had returned.
Jun's Challenge
Jun cornered Jiho during vocal practice.
"Why don't you try out for lead on the next track?" Jun challenged.
Jiho raised an eyebrow.
"Think you can handle the pressure? This isn't your playground anymore."
Jiho's voice was low, steady.
"Pressure creates diamonds. Or it shatters fools."
Jun's smile thinned.
"This place chews up fools. Good luck."
The Hidden Game
Jiho realized quickly this was a game layered with traps.
Practice schedules were shifted last minute to sabotage rehearsal time.
Leaked info twisted to turn staff against him.
Even friendships felt like currency — some bought, some traded, some stolen.
But Jiho also found allies in unlikely places — a stylist who slipped him notes on where to be for cameras, a vocal coach who believed in his raw talent, and of course, the phantom K, who began sending encrypted messages with advice.
Betrayal Cuts Deep
Seungmin appeared unexpectedly one night.
"Jun told me what you're doing."
Jiho's stomach twisted.
"Jun? Why are you listening to him?"
Seungmin's voice cracked.
"Because he offered me a place to survive. You left me behind."
Jiho's heart clenched.
"I never left you behind."
"But you stopped fighting for me."
The silence between them was thicker than any accusation.
Jiho's Decision
Standing alone in the rooftop garden, Jiho texted a single word to the burner phone:
"Teach me."
The reply was almost immediate:
"The throne is only for those willing to bleed in the dark."
Jiho closed his eyes.
He was ready.