PD Kwon's voice cut through the lingering applause.
"And now—Sweet Team B! Performing 'Cherry Heartbeat!'"
The stage plunged into darkness.
My pulse kicked up despite myself.
When the lights returned, they bathed the stage in warm cherry-red hues mixed with clean whites.
The LED backdrop displayed an animated high school rooftop at sunset, oversized cherry blossoms drifting lazily across the screen.
Modular white platforms created varied levels across the stage—clean, geometric shapes that looked like classroom blocks.
Ten trainees stood frozen in their starting positions.
Sejin and Harin commanded center stage, flanked by their teammates in perfect symmetry.
The costumes struck immediately—crisp white polo shirts under fitted varsity jackets in cherry red and navy.
Tailored black trousers, some cropped at the ankle. White trainers with thick soles.
Each trainee wore subtle cherry-themed details: embroidered patches on jackets, a pin here, red-striped socks there.
