The fifteen students entered the facility with measured steps, taking in the simple yet purposeful interior of the building. Sparse decorations and functional layouts gave a sense of efficiency rather than comfort, reminding them that this was a place of discipline and training. Right inside the entrance, the five main instructors stood waiting, forming a line that brought an unexpected sense of ceremony to their arrival.
Instructor Seung-hyun, tall and formidable, took the lead.
"Welcome to your training grounds for the next month," he began, his voice echoing off the plain concrete walls. "This place might look modest, but it was designed to strip away distractions and allow you to focus solely on your skills and teamwork."
He paused, letting his words sink in.
"This is where you'll push beyond your limits, so let's make sure you're ready."
The students exchanged glances, each sensing the gravity of the next few weeks. Then Instructor Min-ji stepped forward with a warm but steady gaze.
"Alright, split up. Men to the left with Instructors Seung-hyun, Ji-woo, and Dong-soo. Women, to the right with me and Instructor Hye-won," she directed.
There was a bit of a shuffle as the students divided, exchanging brief nods of encouragement. The men lined up behind Instructors Seung-hyun, Ji-woo, and Dong-soo, feeling the authority that radiated from the trio. Each instructor had a distinct reputation, and standing together, they embodied NexaCorp's highest standards.
With Instructor Seung-hyun at the head, the men were led deeper into the facility. They passed down narrow corridors lined with closed doors and simple, unmarked rooms, the function of each one a mystery for now. Instructor Ji-woo, the Marksman expert, gestured towards one of the rooms on their left.
"This room is designed for reaction training," he explained. "Where your agility, decision-making, and speed will be hone."
His tone held a hint of challenge, and the men couldn't help but lean forward, intrigued by what lay ahead.
Instructor Dong-soo, the Assassin mentor, took over, gesturing to another room up ahead.
"This one's a bit more... intensive. It's where we'll be working on stealth and sensory refinement. By the time you're done here, no movement, no sound, and no shift in the air will escape your attention."
The instructors guided the group down one last hallway, stopping at the end where they opened a door to what seemed like the designated resting space. But as the boys walked in, they exchanged glances, surprised by the room's bare simplicity. It was a spacious but utterly plain area, devoid of the usual dormitory furnishings. Instead, a single stack of neatly folded bedding and pillows sat in one corner, a quiet indication that they'd be sleeping on the floor for the entire month.
Instructor Seung-hyun, noticing their expressions, gave a faint, knowing smile.
"This may not be what you're used to, but comfort isn't the goal here. Adaptability is. You're going to need it."
Once the instructors left, the boys took a moment to size up their surroundings, walking over to the bedding and grabbing what they needed Tae-young, the self-assured one, cracked a smirk as he glanced around, looking less fazed than the others.
"Well, sleeping on the floor? If anything, it'll toughen us up. Not that I need it," he added, settling himself near the centre of the room with his bedding. He stretched out his arms as if to test the floor, then lay back with a casual air.
Joon-ho rolled his eyes, unbothered by Tae-young's usual display of confidence.
"Right, because all this is designed just to make you a better player, Tae-young," he teased, nudging Min-jae beside him.
Baek-hyeon, still holding onto some tension from his scuffle with Min-jae earlier, stayed quiet, though he kept shooting Min-jae occasional glances, clearly still a bit wary.
In-su chuckled softly, folding his bedding next to Kyu, who nodded silently, as was his usual way. Kyu was a quiet presence, often speaking only through gestures and expression, and he seemed just as unphased by the sleeping arrangements. He gave a brief nod, already making himself comfortable in his corner of the room.
Kyung-mi shrugged, looking around at the others.
"It's not that bad, guys. Just think of it as part of the experience. We're here to become the best, right?"
Kang-dae, always good-humoured, let out a laugh as he rolled out his blanket next to the others.
"You mean the second best, right?" he joked, nudging Tae-young, who shot him a playful glare in response.
As the boys settled into the makeshift sleeping space, the subtle divisions between them began to show. Joon-ho, Kang-dae, and Kyu naturally gravitated towards one another, forming their comfortable little group on one side of the room. Having known each other the longest, they often exchanged familiar glances and easy conversation, punctuated by inside jokes that made it clear they had each other's backs.
On the other side, In-su and Chin-hwa formed a quiet pair, leaning against the far wall as they arranged their bedding. They shared a bond of respect and mutual understanding but remained fairly reserved around the rest of the group. Every so often, they would share a glance at the others, their expressions guarded, as if still assessing who else might be worth trusting.
Meanwhile, the lone wolves were scattered across the room, each one marking his own space. Tae-young lay sprawled out, his posture and occasional smirk radiating his usual air of self-confidence. He glanced around at the others, particularly at Joon-ho's group, as if to remind them he didn't need anyone to feel comfortable. Min-jae sat on the opposite side, brooding slightly and still visibly holding onto some tension from past conflicts with Joon-ho. He kept to himself, occasionally glancing up when the others laughed, but otherwise stayed quiet.
Baek-hyeon lay a bit apart, eyeing Min-jae with a mixture of wariness and frustration as if still reeling from the sucker punch incident. He glanced at Kyung-mi, who also seemed to prefer his own space, quietly fiddling with his phone. Kyung-mi seemed aware of the unspoken dynamics around him, looking at the others with a neutral expression, content to observe for now.
Despite the divisions, some of the boys occasionally made an effort to bridge the gaps. Kang-dae, always the friendly one, tried to lighten the mood by telling a story from one of his past matches, aiming his words toward anyone willing to listen.
"And just when I thought it was over, bam! Right out of nowhere, I got hit with the strangest move—one I'd never seen before," he chuckled, looking around at the others, hoping to spark conversation.
In-su and Chin-hwa listened politely, nodding at the right parts, though they kept their responses brief. Joon-ho and Kyu laughed, encouraging Kang-dae, but the lone wolves remained mostly detached, their thoughts and attitudes keeping them distant from the rest.
Still, there was a tentative sense of camaraderie building. The reality of being part of this team, chosen to represent Korea, was a weight each of them felt deeply, even if they expressed it in different ways. They all knew that, like it or not, they would need to work together—trust each other—if they wanted to make it to the top.
As the conversation quieted, a subtle sense of anticipation filled the room. The boys might've been divided into groups and isolated as lone wolves, but each of them knew that soon, they'd have to pull together in ways they'd never had to before. This wasn't just a few friendly matches on campus; this was their chance to make a mark on the world stage. The weight of that realization settled over them, and for a few moments, even Tae-young's usual confident smirk softened, though only slightly.
Joon-ho glanced around, his gaze lingering on each face.
"Well," he said, breaking the silence. "Whether we're friends or not, we're all in this together now. It'll be us against the rest of the world soon."
He shrugged, giving a half-smile.
"Might as well make the best of it."
Kang-dae gave an enthusiastic nod, nudging Kyu beside him, who offered his usual silent but affirming response with a slight nod in agreement. Across the room, In-su and Chin-hwa exchanged a glance, each silently recognizing that Joon-ho had a point. Even Min-jae, though he kept his distance, shifted slightly as if grudgingly accepting that this wasn't just a competition for him to tackle alone.
One by one, they started settling into their bedding, adjusting pillows and laying out blankets. As they did, the silence between them grew comfortable, like an unspoken truce. Whatever rivalries or resentments they harboured had to be put aside for now.
Tomorrow, they'd wake up to a new reality—a month of intense training and preparation under Korea's finest instructors. They didn't know exactly what was coming, but one thing was certain: they were here to prove themselves and represent their country with pride.
As they lay down, the dim lights overhead casting soft shadows, a quiet determination settled over the room. Each boy stared at the ceiling, thoughts racing about the gruelling month ahead and the expectations they all carried. For some, like Tae-young, it was about showcasing skills they'd honed to perfection.
For others, like Joon-ho and Kyu, it was the prospect of representing not only themselves but a team, a responsibility they were still growing into. With the comforting weight of the blankets, the initial tension started to ease, replaced by an unspoken resolve shared among them. No one voiced it, but they all felt it in the air: a mutual commitment to put aside differences, if only for this one, pivotal shot at glory.