June hadn't even settled into his seat before he realized just how out of place he felt. He was flanked by Haruki on his right, whose face was lit up like he was at a candy store, and Jay on his left, already rifling through a stack of papers.
Across the room, executives from the board murmured among themselves, discussing the agenda.
"So," June leaned towards Jay, lowering his voice, "how do these company auditions usually work? They must screen them beforehand, right?"
Jay glanced up, looking momentarily confused, then gave a sheepish smile. "Screen them? Not exactly."
"What do you mean, 'not exactly'?" June's eyes narrowed.
Before Jay could explain, one of the talent scouts, a woman in a sharp, tailored suit, stood up and addressed the room.
"We're looking for the new June!" she declared, her voice brimming with enthusiasm.
June nearly choked on his own spit. "The new what?"
