The faint, pre-dawn light crept through the high windows of the modest room, casting a soft glow over the nine boys sprawled out on their makeshift beds. For a moment, the scene was one of quiet calm, each lost in the deep slumber they'd fallen into hours ago.
Closest to the door lay Kang-dae, stretched out flat on his back with an arm draped over his face. His breathing was slow and steady, his chest rising and falling with each deep inhale. Even in sleep, he seemed calm and composed, like a fortress at rest—solid, immovable, and unshaken by dreams as he was by reality.
Beside him, Kyu lay curled on his side, one arm tucked beneath his head, the other resting loosely at his side. True to his silent nature, his expression was serene, almost blank, save for the slight twitch of his fingers now and then, as if he were reacting to some unspoken thought or hidden reflex. Even at rest, there was a quiet intensity about him, a sense that he'd be instantly alert and ready if he chose to wake up.
A few feet away, Joon-ho was sprawled out haphazardly on his mat, limbs stretched out in all directions. His mouth was slightly open, and a soft snore escaped him now and then. Unlike Kyu, Joon-ho's sleep was anything but guarded—he seemed blissfully unaware of his surroundings, sinking deeply into his dreams with an abandon that left him vulnerable, but at peace.
Meanwhile, Min-jae had curled himself into a tight ball, his knees drawn close to his chest, his hands resting in loose fists near his face. His expression was neutral, but his posture was tense even in sleep as if he were bracing for something unknown, wrapped protectively around himself in a way that belied any sense of comfort. It was as though his mind refused to let him fully relax, even as exhaustion pulled him under.
Near the far wall lay Tae-young, in a posture that was both relaxed and confident. He lay on his back, arms folded behind his head, his face calm but almost smirking, as if even in his dreams he was aware of his reputation. He exuded an effortless ease, even here on the floor, and seemed to be sleeping soundly, undisturbed by his surroundings. There was no vulnerability in Tae-young's slumber—he seemed as composed as he would be in the midst of a match.
In-su and Chin-hwa lay side by side, mirroring each other in their unassuming sleep postures. Both were on their backs, arms loose at their sides, their expressions tranquil. They slept with the steady calm of those who were simply at peace with themselves, unbothered and unaffected. It was as if they shared an unspoken agreement even in sleep, a unity that echoed their bond on the battlefield.
Baek-hyeon, however, seemed to be in a different state altogether. Unlike the others, he lay on his stomach, his face pressed into his pillow and his body sprawled over the mat in an almost chaotic tangle of limbs. He was far from peaceful—his sleep seemed restless, with occasional twitches and grumbles escaping him. It was as though even in rest, he struggled against something unseen, never quite able to fully let go.
And finally, Kyung-mi lay on his side, facing the wall, his arm flung casually over his pillow. His breathing was soft and even, his posture loose and comfortable, exuding a casualness that was rare to see. He looked entirely at home, like someone who could sleep just as easily on a bed of leaves as on the finest mattress.
The room was filled with the soft symphony of their breathing, a blend of calm and vulnerability, strength and restlessness. Some were relaxed, others tense; some appeared peaceful, while others wrestled with sleep. It was an oddly harmonious scene, one that hinted at the unique challenges and dynamics they'd face together in the days to come. The fleeting stillness was perhaps the last moment of calm they'd experienced for a long time, as the shadows of dawn gave way to the first light of a new day and the trials waiting just beyond it.
The early morning stillness was broken by the nearly silent, practised movements of three figures slipping through the room. They moved with the stealth of seasoned hunters, creeping up to the unsuspecting students, buckets in hand. The boys, still deep in sleep, were blissfully unaware of the impending chaos.
Then—BAM. Freezing water splashed across the room, hitting the sleeping boys with an icy shock that jolted them awake. Kang-dae lost in his calm slumber, caught the brunt of the first wave, sputtering and jerking up as the cold seeped through his clothes. Min-jae balled up on his mat, gasped in surprise, clutching his drenched pillow, while Tae-young, too relaxed to react, found himself soaked from head to toe, his cocky posture utterly shattered by the sudden onslaught.
Yet, for a few, instincts kicked in just in time. Kyu, ever silent and always on edge, stirred the moment he felt a shift in the air. With a swift roll to the side, he narrowly avoided the torrent aimed at him, the freezing droplets grazing his shoulder. In-su and Chin-hwa, perhaps through some unspoken bond or sheer luck, managed to twist away just as the water splashed, leaving them mostly unscathed. Meanwhile, Joon-ho, half-awake and instinctively aware of the looming threat, scrambled backwards, saving himself from a full drenching but not escaping a spray across his legs.
The lights flickered on, illuminating the drenched and startled faces of the boys now standing in a shivering line. Some were dripping from head to toe, their hair plastered to their faces; others were partially wet, blinking in surprise as they registered the icy shock that had torn them from sleep. A few, like Kyu and In-su, stood mostly dry, glancing around with a mixture of alertness and confusion.
Facing them were the three figures responsible for the ambush: Instructor Dong-soo, Instructor Seung-hyun, and Instructor Ji-woo, each with an expression that balanced between sternness and amusement.
"Well, well, looks like some of you were ready," Instructor Dong-soo said, his voice carrying the satisfaction of a teacher whose lesson had struck home. "But the rest of you… I can't say the same."
Instructor Seung-hyun, arms crossed and surveying the line of soaked students, added.
"We warned you yesterday—yesterday was the last day of peace. From today, expect no comfort, no coddling, and no mercy. You're here to train, and that means being ready at all times."
Instructor Ji-woo stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over each boy, pausing on the ones still dripping and shivering.
"This was a drill. A wake-up call to test your alertness. Some of you passed, and some… didn't," his tone was light, but there was a seriousness beneath it that couldn't be ignored.
The boys stood in silence, the cold water still trickling down some of their faces, a sharp reminder that things had changed the moment they'd stepped into this facility. The message was clear: this wasn't just training; it was a test of endurance, awareness, and readiness.
Instructor Dong-soo gave a small nod, gesturing for them to get ready.
"Today's only the beginning. If you want to survive this training—and if you want to succeed in the championship—you're going to need every ounce of grit, determination, and awareness. So, get used to this. Because hell starts today."
At the girls' side, the morning began with a quiet, creeping disturbance as Instructor Min-ji and Instructor Hye-won entered the dimly lit room, clad in sleek, dark training suits that hugged their forms like shadows. Their footsteps were light, a mere whisper on the floorboards, but a few of the girls, ever alert, stirred at the faint sound, their eyes blinking open in drowsy suspicion. Soo-jin and Jin-kyong, both tuned to the slightest disturbances, sat up with furrowed brows, sensing the shift in the room's atmosphere. With a calm nod, they caught each other's eyes, and the instructors moved on, signalling that these girls had passed the test.
The instructors then pressed forward, slipping closer to the unsuspecting girls who remained deeply asleep, blissfully unaware of the impending drill. In an instant, Min-ji and Hye-won pounced, descending upon the sleepers with swift, playful aggression, throwing themselves over the girls in a lighthearted yet sudden mock assault.
Hana's eyes snapped open as she felt Min-ji's weight pin her down, her initial shock giving way to a startled scream. Sang-hee, who had been deep in a dream, jolted awake as Hye-won leaned over her, an arm feigning to lock her in place, evoking shouts and wide-eyed stares as the unsuspecting girls grappled with the unexpected wake-up.
Chaos erupted briefly as the girls squirmed and yelped, voices overlapping with startled laughter and groggy protests. A few of them, struggling to comprehend what was happening, shouted in disbelief while others rolled to the side, trying to evade the instructors' mock attacks. Jin-kyong chuckled from her bed, catching Soo-jin's knowing smile; they both had avoided the playful ambush, well aware that this was part of the new regiment designed to shake them from any sense of complacency.
Then, with a loud click, the room flooded with light, casting the girls' wide eyes and tousled hair into sharp relief. Instructors Min-ji and Hye-won stood before them, arms folded, with expressions that mixed amusement and a bit of stern expectation. As the girls collected themselves, they lined up in a haphazard row, some with embarrassed laughs, some still blinking away their disorientation.
Instructor Hye-won addressed them, her voice calm but firm.
"Yesterday was your last day of peace. From here on out, expect the unexpected. This is a drill, meant to test your alertness and readiness at any time. Some of you were prepared," she nodded at Soo-jin and Jin-kyong, "and some… not so much."
Min-ji glanced over the girls, her sharp gaze settling on each of them in turn. "This isn't just about physical strength or skill. You need to be aware of everything around you, even in your sleep. If you can't adapt, if you're not ready at any moment, it will be noticed. And it will impact your chances of representing your team and, ultimately, Korea."
The girls, now fully awake, listened in solemn silence, the weight of the instructors' words settling on them. This was no simple training; it was an unrelenting test, pushing them beyond comfort and complacency, teaching them to remain vigilant—even when they thought they could relax.
As the instructors finished their message, they left the girls standing in thoughtful silence, fully aware that today marked the beginning of a new level of challenge.