The second round of the National Dance Competition (NDC) was just two days away, and all five members of the KPT University Team were rehearsing as if their scholarship depended on it. But no one looked more possessed than Daniel. Limp or no limp, he kept going, eyes burning with a level of obsession that made Terrence, Ben, Kai, and even Sean quietly reconsider their life choices.
On the evening before the second round, as they were leaving the studio, Sean, in his usual blunt fashion, shattered Daniel's dreams.
"You should sit this round out."
The silence that followed was deafening.
Ben, ever the peacekeeper, tried to soften the blow. "He's just worried about your ankle, hyung. Don't take it the wrong way."
Daniel gasped as if he had been mortally wounded. "How DARE my own children abandon me in my time of need? Appa is disappointed."
Terry immediately smacked him on the back of the head. "Shut up. And, no. We are making sure you don't overdo it."
Kai simply nodded. "Yeah, I don't trust you at all."
Daniel sighed dramatically. "No faith. None at all."
Sean, meanwhile, was just confused. "Why do you keep calling yourself 'Appa'?"
Daniel turned to him with a solemn expression. "Because I have taken you all under my wing, little one."
"I'm taller than you."
Daniel ignored him.
***
The day finally came, and unlike the battle royale, the 2nd Round was a Test of Memory.
Rules:
-Seven different 30-second Idol dance practice videos.
-Teams get TWO HOURS to watch and memorize them.
-Every participant must perform each routine alone.
-Any mistakes = Points deduction
…This was brutal.
And if that wasn't enough pressure, they found out that no one was allowed to see the other teams perform. This meant zero references for what would impress the judges.
When Daniel heard that last part, he simply shrugged. "Well, obviously. It's a competition. The winner is gonna be a single contestant, not a team."
That silenced everyone.
Ben hated it when Daniel said things like that so casually, dropping truth bombs that reminded them this wasn't just for fun.
***
Their team, Team KPT University, was up 11th place.
The judges were terrifying. Among the seven judges, one was missing. The other six of them sat like they were royalty, exuding an aura of power and judgment. Ben felt himself shrink a little just from their collective stare.
There were two female judges and four male judges. Ben didn't recognize most of them, but two faces jumped out immediately.
One was a woman with shiny nails and ageless beauty: Yoon Byeol. She had been a huge idol back in the previous generation. Though she had to be in her forties by now, she looked like she hadn't aged a day. Her name had always been synonymous with elegance and precision, especially in dance. It made sense that she was here.
The second familiar face was a man in glasses, Kang Ha-joon. Ben had seen him credited on some of the most viral K-pop choreographies. Rumor had it he could spot a synchronization error from a mile away and had once made an idol trainee redo a sequence fifty times. Ben mentally noted to stay off his radar.
There was also a bald man who looked like he'd been carved from concrete. His stern face rang a bell, but Ben couldn't quite place the name.
Before he could dwell on it, Daniel leaned in and whispered, "That's Min Jang-nim. I met him during a part-time gig; he manages staging for high-profile concerts. Big-shot level stuff."
Ben nodded, lips pressed into a thin line. Of course, Daniel had crossed paths with stage royalty like it was no big deal.
Daniel motioned subtly toward a poised woman on the far left, dressed in an elegant, minimalist outfit and sporting a sleek bob. "That's Kim Soojin nim," he murmured. "I've seen her with my mom a couple of times. She's a choreographer too."
The remaining judges were strangers to both of them, their expressions unreadable.
One of the judges with a particularly sharp gaze looked Daniel up and down and asked bluntly, "Did you injure yourself recently?"
Daniel smiled, utterly unfazed. "Ah, just pulled a muscle."
The judges exchanged glances. They were already writing him off.
Ben clenched his fists.
They had no idea.
***
TERRENCE
Terrence went first.
His execution was sharp, clean, and confident. Every movement landed with clarity, and aside from one or two minor slips, he hit every routine like he'd been born doing them. When the music ended, there was a brief, stunned silence followed by a respectful round of applause from the judges.
Kim Soojin nodded, her voice calm and precise. "You were very detailed, and your execution was crisp. The way you memorized and recalled each moment showed strong internalization. Well done."
Another judge, Ahn Ju-yeon, a stern-looking man with a buzz cut and eyes sharp enough to slice through glass, added, "You've got raw talent. But you're using excessive strength in places where finesse would be more effective. Work on your flexibility. That said, your memory work is excellent."
Terrence bowed deeply with a respectful "Thank you," and walked off, posture tall, face unreadable, but the subtle twitch at the corner of his lips gave him away.
He was pleased.
KAI
Kai stepped up next.
Ben watched his teammate fidget slightly as he took his position. Nervous energy buzzed off of him like static. The music began, and Kai moved, but it wasn't his usual self. A few missteps early on broke his rhythm. His arms were too stiff, his transitions too jerky.
But then, somewhere near the midpoint, something clicked. Kai exhaled, and his body loosened. The routines flowed smoothly. He found the beat again.
When it ended, Kang Ha-joon was already scribbling on his evaluation sheet. He adjusted his glasses before speaking.
"The technical foundation is strong. Your attention to detail is apparent," he said without looking up. "But you let your nerves rattle you, and your improvisation is lacking. It's okay to make mistakes. Just make them look like part of the act."
Kai gave a sheepish smile and bowed. "Thank you for your guidance."
He walked off with a look that was half-relieved, half-kicking-himself.
BEN
Ben's turn came.
And all at once, his stomach dropped into his shoes. He wasn't just nervous. He was full-on spiraling. His anxiety was the loudest thing in the room, second only to the pounding of his own heart. His palms were clammy.
He took a deep breath and walked in.
The music started. His body moved stiffly at first, like a mannequin going through a rehearsal tape. But somewhere during the second routine, muscle memory and adrenaline overpowered the nerves. He found his beat, control, and enough of himself to finish strong.
When it ended, he was panting but steady.
Yoon Byeol gave him a warm smile. "Good execution," she said kindly. "But you lack confidence. Let yourself enjoy it more. You've got potential."
Another judge, Kim Do-yun, the eldest in the panel with soft eyes and a gentle tone, added, "Your technique is decent, and your memorization was solid. But you need to work on your confidence. Dance isn't just about movement. It's about communication."
Ben exhaled, practically collapsing into a bow. "Thank you for your guidance."
He walked off on shaky legs, ears ringing, heart still doing parkour in his chest, but it could've been worse.
SEAN
Sean came next, and something was clearly wrong. He was pale. His hands were shaking. His feet shuffled toward the stage like he was walking toward a firing squad. All four of his teammates tensed in unison.
Sean took a few deep, controlled breaths; his face remained a blank slate, but his body straightened. He walked to his mark with quiet determination.
The music started. His first movements were hesitant, like someone fighting off an invisible straitjacket. But then he moved through it, breaking free one beat at a time. He forgot a step midway, but he recovered with improvisation so smooth it was hard to tell.
Kim Do-yun beamed at him. "You have talent. You started stiff, but your musicality and effort to push through the nerves were commendable. However, you need to work on your facial expressions."
Min Jang spoke next, voice cool but approving. "You used the stage well. You didn't confine your presence to one corner; you filled the space. That's an important instinct."
Sean bowed with his usual minimalist flair. "Thank you."
He stepped off, a little steadier than before.
DANIEL
As he limped onto the stage, a flicker of skepticism ran through all six judges' faces like a shared static charge. Whispers passed between them.
Ben's jaw tightened. They didn't know Daniel the way he did. The guy could do twenty sets of one-minute routines in a row with a busted ankle and still walk off like it was a warm-up. Sean's expression was stony. Terrence's shoulders were tight. Kai's hands were clenched. And Ben was holding his breath.
The music started.
And Daniel danced.
It was flawless. Not one error. Not even a hesitation. Seven different routines, each with its own tempo, style, and transitions, and he wove through them like he was born to. His limp didn't hold him back. The intensity in his movement was tempered only by the sharp intelligence in his execution.
By the time it ended, the judges looked stunned.
Kim Soojin smiled widely. "Your injury limited your power, but your memorization and clarity were exceptional."
Even the famously stoic and perfectionist Kang Ha-joon fumbled with his words. "If that was you injured… I'm scared to see what you'd do at full strength."
Kim Do-yun leaned back in his chair like he was watching a rising legend. "I look forward to seeing you again."
That was a guaranteed pass.
****
All four of Daniel's teammates were shocked, but they had come to expect this of their dance genius. Terrence, in his usual manner, nodded in approval. Sean and Kai looked genuinely awestruck, patting Daniel's back as if he were some untouchable star. Ben joined in, too, at least he tried to.
The moment he saw their friends crowding around Daniel, a strange, sinking sensation settled in his stomach. His chest tightened as if someone had knocked the wind out of him. The more people surrounded Daniel, the further away he seemed. The more they praised him, the more distant he felt.
And Ben hated it.
Because the more Daniel shone, the more people would gather. And the more they gathered, the more Ben felt like he was losing him.
And for some inexplicable, selfish reason, he wanted to be the only one Daniel saw.