Song Yuna clutched the strap of her duffel bag so tightly her knuckles turned white. The polished glass doors of Polaris Entertainment loomed before her, reflecting the bright Seoul skyline. Her heart thudded in her chest as she stared at the golden letters engraved above the entrance.

This was it—the start of her dream.

Inside, the lobby buzzed with energy. Trainees shuffled in groups, chatting in low voices, while staff members darted around with clipboards. Yuna tried not to look too overwhelmed, but her wide eyes betrayed her nerves.

“First day?”

A cheerful voice broke her trance. She turned to see a girl with short, choppy hair and a dazzling smile standing beside her.

“Uh, yeah,” Yuna stammered.

“Thought so. You’ve got the ‘deer in headlights’ look,” the girl teased, extending a hand. “I’m Lee Minhee. I’ve been here a year, so if you need tips on surviving, I’m your girl.”

Yuna shook her hand, grateful for the friendly face. “Song Yuna. Nice to meet you.”

Minhee leaned closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Word of advice: don’t let Eunji intimidate you. She smells fear.”

“Eunji?”

Before Minhee could answer, the sharp click of heels echoed through the lobby. A tall girl with perfect posture and a cold expression strode past them, her sleek ponytail swishing as she walked. She didn’t spare Yuna a glance but shot Minhee a quick, dismissive smirk.

“That’s her,” Minhee murmured, rolling her eyes. “Park Eunji. Top trainee. Queen of sass. Thinks she’s already debuted.”

Yuna’s stomach twisted. She’d barely set foot in the building, and already, there was someone to be wary of.

“Orientation starts soon,” Minhee said, nudging Yuna toward the elevators. “Let’s go before you end up on Eunji’s bad side for being late.”

The training center was even more intimidating than Yuna had imagined. Mirrors lined the walls of every studio, reflecting the determined faces of trainees practicing their routines. The air buzzed with energy, sweat, and the faint sound of music filtering through the walls.

A strict-looking trainer clapped her hands at the front of the room, silencing the chatter. “Welcome to Polaris Entertainment. For those of you who are new, congratulations—you’ve passed the first hurdle. But let me make one thing clear: the road ahead will not be easy.”

Yuna straightened her posture, her nerves mixing with excitement.

“Only a fraction of you will make it to debut,” the trainer continued. “This is not a place for the weak or uncommitted. If you’re here, it’s because you have potential. But potential means nothing without hard work.”

The trainer’s gaze swept over the room, landing on Yuna for a split second. Yuna felt her chest tighten.

“You’ll be assigned practice schedules based on your skill level. Each month, there will be evaluations. Fail too many, and you’re out.”

Yuna swallowed hard. She already knew this. She’d prepared herself for it. But hearing it out loud made it feel real.

By the time the orientation ended, Yuna’s head was spinning. She wandered into an empty practice room, hoping for a moment to breathe.

The room was quiet except for the faint hum of the air conditioning. Yuna dropped her bag and stared at her reflection in the mirror.

“This is it,” she whispered to herself. “No turning back.”

She stretched her arms, then pressed play on her phone. A familiar beat filled the room, and her body moved instinctively, following the rhythm. Dancing was where she felt the most free, the most alive.

Lost in the music, she didn’t notice someone watching her from the doorway.

“Not bad for a rookie,” a deep voice said.

Yuna froze mid-spin, nearly tripping over her own feet. She turned to see a tall boy leaning casually against the doorframe, a smirk tugging at his lips.

“Who—”

“Kim Hyunwoo,” he said, cutting her off. “You’ll hear my name a lot around here. Remember it.”

Yuna blinked, unsure whether to be annoyed or intimidated. “Song Yuna,” she replied, her tone a little sharper than she intended.

Hyunwoo chuckled, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before he turned to leave. “Good luck, Song Yuna. You’ll need it.”

As the door swung shut behind him, Yuna exhaled, her confidence rattled but not broken.

“Let the games begin,” she muttered, determination flaring in her chest.