The 14-hour flight finally touched down in Tokyo. Haneda Airport glowed in the late afternoon light. Through the glass windows, the city stretched out in every direction—neon signs beginning to flicker awake, orderly streams of cars flowing like veins, and a skyline that looked futuristic yet steeped in history.

Stepping out of the plane, Dayo inhaled deeply. The air smelled different—clean, sharp. He felt a strange mix of familiarity and strangeness. In his old world, he had been here before—once to record with an artist in Shibuya. The streets, the station names, even the faint chatter in Japanese around him stirred old memories. Yet now, standing here again in this new life, it felt foreign. A déjà vu he couldn't shake.

Strange… but familiar, he thought.

Waiting at arrivals was a welcoming team from the Global Competition Committee, holding placards with the logo everyone already recognized. They guided the contestants into buses lined up outside.

The drive into the city was surreal. Most of the contestants pressed their faces to the windows, whispering in awe at the flashing billboards and towering skyscrapers. For many, this was their first time leaving their country. Excitement mixed with nerves.

Tokyo at dusk felt alive—crowds moving briskly across crosswalks, trains rushing by, restaurants glowing with paper lanterns. Dayo leaned back in his seat, headphones in, watching silently. It feels the same as before… yet not the same at all.

After about an hour, the buses finally pulled up in front of their destination—a massive five-star hotel lit brightly against the evening sky. The hotel had been fully reserved for the 60 qualifiers, its grand lobby already buzzing with activity. The ones who were familiar with each other had already started talking; those who were new just stood, wide-eyed, soaking it all in.

Inside, the air was thick with energy. Contestants from across the world filled the space. Different accents, different clothes, different styles—yet all with the same determined eyes. People laughed, whispered, pointed, and even threw cautious glances at their rivals. Everyone was sizing each other up.

Dayo wheeled his suitcase through the lobby, scanning the room. He could feel it. The competition had already begun—even if no one had sung a single note yet.

The next evening, the entire group of contestants was summoned to the hotel's main conference hall. Rows of seats were filled with chattering voices, laughter, and murmurs in different languages. The air carried both tension and excitement.

Then a man in his mid-forties walked onto the stage. Sharp suit, square shoulders, no-nonsense aura. The chatter didn't stop immediately—people still whispered and giggled.

He stepped up to the mic and cleared his throat. Nothing. Then he coughed into it, the sound echoing through the speakers. A few heads turned, but most kept talking.

Finally, he leaned forward and spoke. "Good evening, everybody."

A few polite claps, a scattered cheer.

"Welcome. I'm sure you're all excited to be here. After all, this is the Global Competition—the biggest stage in the world."

That line got louder applause, some whistles. The man raised his hand, signaling for calm, but the noise didn't stop right away. A few contestants were still whispering, still chuckling under their breath.

He let it roll for a moment, then his voice sharpened. "Yes, be excited. But also—look around you."

The hall quieted slightly. His gaze swept across the room. "Take a good look at the faces sitting beside you, behind you, across from you. Size them up."

The murmurs died. People shifted in their chairs, glancing at their neighbors. The atmosphere suddenly grew heavier.

"Because by this time next week," the man continued, "half of you will be gone."

The silence that followed was sharp—a total pin-drop silence. Not a single whisper. Some swallowed hard. Others froze in their seats.

"That's right," he said firmly. "Half of you will be eliminated. That is the truth of this competition. You've worked hard for years to be here, but this is not just about talent—it's about survival. Treat every performance as if it's do or die… because for many of you, it will be."

He paused, letting the words sink in. Then he nodded slightly, his tone softening. "For those who stay, push harder than ever. For those who go home, remember—you made it here, and that in itself is no small feast."

He adjusted the mic. "Now, before you scatter, a few rules. Curfew is 10 p.m. sharp. No exceptions. Security will be monitoring all floors. The hotel has five fully equipped studios available to you for rehearsals—schedules will be posted every morning. Respect your time slots. And above all, respect each other."

A screen behind him lit up, showing room assignments. "You'll be paired by twos. Step forward, collect your key cards, and find your rooms. Move your luggage, settle in, and rest. Tomorrow, the competition framework will be explained in detail."

He gave one final nod. "All the best. From this moment forward, you are no longer just contestants—you are challengers to the world stage. Treat it that way."

The crowd remained silent for a few seconds longer before the noise picked back up—quieter now, more cautious. Contestants began stepping forward to collect their keys, each one more aware than before.

Dayo, watching from his seat, could feel the weight of the moment. The Global Competition had truly begun. And though the pressure was heavy, he loved it.

He stepped forward and scanned the board. His name flashed beside another: Min Jae Park — South Korea.

Dayo nodded and turned back—only to nearly bump into a tall, slender figure. The boy had pale skin, soft pink lips, and striking brown eyes that seemed to gleam under the lights.

"Are you Dayo?" he asked, his English careful but clear.

Dayo nodded. "Yeah, that's me."

The boy smiled politely and extended his hand. "I'm Min Jae Park. Your roommate."

"Nice to meet you," Dayo said, shaking his hand firmly.

Min Jae's grip was softer than expected, but there was confidence in the way he stood. He seemed a little younger, maybe nineteen, with sharp features and a quiet composure.

Before they could exchange more words, another voice called out from behind. "Jae!" A shorter guy with dyed brown hair jogged over, speaking rapid Korean.

"그는 네 룸메이트야?" (Is he your roommate?)

Min Jae nodded. "Yeah, yeah." Then he turned slightly, explaining in English, "This is my friend, Sunwoo."

Sunwoo gave Dayo a quick up-and-down look, his expression curious. Then, almost without thinking, he muttered in Korean:

"그는 어려 보이네." (He looks young.)

Dayo's lips tugged into a small grin. He answered back in Korean, his accent that would fool anyone if they didn't see him tgat he is korea.

"네, 어려요. 스무 살이에요." (Yeah, I'm young. Just twenty.)

Both Min Jae and Sunwoo froze for a second. Their eyes widened in surprise.

"너… 한국말 할 줄 알아?" (You… you speak Korean?) Min Jae asked, switching back to English halfway.

"Not perfectly," Dayo admitted with a small shrug. "But I can get by."

Sunwoo let out a laugh, nudging Min Jae. "우린 잘 지낼 수 있겠네." (We're all going to get along just fine, then.)

Dayo chuckled. The tension eased quickly. For a moment, it didn't feel like rivals standing in the same space—it felt like regular students meeting for the first time.

But still, beneath the smiles, Dayo could sense it: the competition. Every handshake, every laugh, every word carried a hidden edge. They might get along, but soon enough, they'd be standing on opposite sides of the stage.

He decided to check his roommate stats to see how powerful he is.

Status

Min Jae

....

Dayo froze and decided to check again to make sure he was seeing the right stats.

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