The camera lights were so bright, Minchae couldn't see the crowd. She stood frozen for half a second, clutching the mic like a lifeline. The stage was massive, larger than any she had ever trained on. A blinking red light from a front-row camera signaled Go.
"3, 2, 1—" she whispered with her members before the music hit.
LoveKit's debut song, "Bloom Rush," exploded into the arena. A hyper-pop melody laced with sweet harmonies and pulsing bass filled the air. Minchae's feet moved on their own—every step memorized, every turn flawless. She was flying.
Until the end.
Just as the final pose struck and the confetti burst into the air, she caught a glimpse of her former best friend—now a member of a rival girl group. Their eyes locked, and Minchae's heart stuttered.
They hadn't spoken since the trainee breakup.
Backstage, her members were laughing, hugging, crying tears of joy. But Minchae's heart thudded in a different rhythm.
She had debuted—but why did it already feel like it's just the beginning?