3 months had passed since Kaede's breakdown in the dance studio, and in that time, she had slowly started to get used to the grueling routines of trainee life. The constant physical exhaustion never really went away—some days, her muscles felt like they were on fire from the intense training—but she had learned how to push through it. Her stamina had improved, and even though dancing was still her biggest challenge, she wasn't the same girl who had struggled with every step a few months ago.
Today was different. Today marked the trainees' first official evaluation.
Kaede could feel the tension hanging in the air as all fifteen remaining girls gathered in the large practice room. The number of trainees had already dwindled from twenty to fifteen—five girls had dropped out, unable to handle the pressure of the relentless schedule. Today, though, wasn't about girls voluntarily leaving. Today was about being cut, whether they wanted to stay or not.
The producers and directors who oversaw their training would decide who was good enough to continue and who had fallen too far behind. Everyone knew that if they didn't meet the high standards, they would be sent home. The thought of it made Kaede's stomach twist in knots. She had worked so hard, yet there was still a fear gnawing at the back of her mind. Was it enough?
Kaede glanced around at the other girls. Every single one of them was nervous. Even Mirei, usually so composed and confident, had a tight expression on her face. The pressure weighed on all of them.
One by one, they were called to perform. The trainees had spent three months perfecting their singing and dancing, and now it was time to show everything they had learned. Kaede's heart pounded in her chest as she waited her turn, watching as each girl stepped up, performed, and returned to their spot, eyes wide with anxiety as they silently hoped they had done enough.
Finally, it was Kaede's turn.
Her legs felt shaky as she stepped to the front of the room, but she forced herself to focus. She had practiced the routine hundreds of times, the song engraved in her mind. She had spent countless hours perfecting each movement, each note. She couldn't let her nerves take over now.
As the music started, Kaede began to move. The familiar rhythm of the song and the dance flowed through her, but her mind raced. She tried to keep her expression calm, to hide the fear gnawing at her insides. She sang, hit the notes, and did her best to keep her body in sync with the music, trying not to think about the producers and directors watching her every move.
It felt like an eternity, but eventually, her performance was over. Kaede bowed slightly and stepped back in line with the other girls, her heart still racing. Now all that was left was to wait.
After all the performances had finished, the producers dismissed them to rest while they deliberated. The girls gathered in one of the smaller rooms, the tension still thick. Everyone was on edge, pacing or sitting silently, their faces pale with anxiety.
Kaede sat next to Mirei, who was staring at the floor, her hands clenched into fists. No one spoke much, the silence filled with the unspoken fear that some of them would be sent home. Kaede found herself biting her nails, a nervous habit she hadn't done in years.
Finally, after what felt like hours, one of the staff members entered the room and asked them all to gather. The moment of truth had arrived.
Kaede's heart pounded harder as they were led to a larger room, where the producers and directors stood at the front. The air was thick with anticipation as the girls waited for the announcement.
The head producer stepped forward and began to speak, his voice steady but serious. "As you know, today's evaluation was the first major step in determining which of you have what it takes to continue as trainees. We've reviewed your performances, and unfortunately, three of you will be cut."
Kaede's breath caught in her throat. She couldn't breathe. All she could do was stand still and listen.
The producer began to call out names.
When the third name was called, Kaede's knees almost buckled with relief. It wasn't her. But the relief was short-lived as she saw the faces of the three girls who had been cut. They were crying, their dreams shattered in an instant. The remaining trainees, including Kaede, Mirei and Yukina, moved to comfort them, offering hugs and whispered words of encouragement.
The goodbyes were quick and painful. The girls who had been cut left, their faces streaked with tears, and the atmosphere in the room was heavy with the weight of their departure. Kaede felt a knot in her throat as she watched them go, feeling guilty for being relieved that it wasn't her.
But the harsh reality was clear: this was the nature of the industry. Only the strongest would survive.
After the evaluation, training resumed immediately. There was no time to dwell on what had happened. The producers handed out new material, a new song for them to practice. Kaede looked down at the sheet of music in her hands, and when she saw the title, her heart nearly stopped.
Startline.
It was Celestial's debut song.
Kaede felt a shiver run down her spine. She knew this song by heart. As a fan, she had listened to it countless times, memorized every word, every note, every beat. The melody, the lyrics—they were all exactly the same. Even the choreography, as they would soon find out, was identical to the one Celestial had performed in their debut.
Mirei noticed Kaede's shocked expression and leaned over, whispering, "Are you okay? You look pale. Are you sick?"
Kaede shook herself out of her daze, forcing a smile. "I'm fine," she whispered back. But inside, her mind was racing.
How could this be? The situation was different, the people were different, but here she was, a trainee performing Startline, the very song that had launched Celestial's career. It felt like she was walking a path she had already seen before, but with enough differences to make it unsettling.
Is this real? she wondered. How can everything be so similar?
As the music played in the background, Kaede thought about how surreal all of this was. The song, the choreography—it was as if fate had brought her here, to this moment, to this song. But was it truly fate? Or was there something more to this mysterious new life she found herself living?
Yet, in the midst of her confusion, one thing became clear: this could be her advantage. She knew this song. She knew the choreography. She had spent years as a fan, studying every detail of Celestial's performances. Now, it was her turn.
As the other trainees began to murmur excitedly about the new song, Kaede clenched her fists, a newfound determination building inside her. If she was going to stay, if she was going to make it through the next six months of training, she would use everything she had. Every ounce of her passion as a fan, every drop of knowledge she had gained from obsessively watching Celestial perform—she would channel it all into this new version of herself.
For now, she would keep the mystery of this world to herself, but one thing was certain: she wasn't going to let this opportunity slip away.
Not when she had been given this second chance to save Mirei.