The practice room door swung open at exactly 9:03 a.m., and the air changed.
It thickened with the scent of expensive cologne, fresh coffee, and the quiet power that only people who sign million-won checks carry.
Three Eclipse Entertainment scouts stepped inside: two men in crisp black suits, one woman with a sleek bob and eyes that missed nothing.
They carried clipboards, tablets, and the kind of polite smiles that could end careers before lunch.
Ae-Ri zipped straight to the ceiling corner like a mischievous moth, wings silent for once.
She settled there, legs dangling, watching everything with those hot-pink eyes wide and sparkling.
She didn't speak.
She didn't need to.
Her grin said it all: *Showtime, baby girl.*
Chaewon lined us up in formation the second the door clicked shut.
"Annyeonghaseyo! LUNARIS will now perform our pre-debut showcase set for your review."
Her voice was steady, practiced, the perfect leader tone.
Minseo gave a small bow, Hyejin flashed her signature cheeky wink, Sera tilted her chin just so—sharp, confident, visual royalty.
And me?
I stood in my usual spot, second from the left, heart thundering so hard I thought it might crack a rib.
The music started.
A pulsing bassline, synths like starlight, the kind of beat that makes stadiums shake.
We launched into the choreography.
Steps I'd tripped over a thousand times now snapped into place like magnets finding home.
My hips rolled exactly on the downbeat.
My arms sliced the air with precision I'd never owned.
Every turn, every pop, every body wave—perfect.
Not good.
Not improved.
Perfect.
The lead scout—the one with the silver watch that probably cost more than my entire wardrobe—leaned forward.
His pen stopped moving.
The woman beside him lowered her tablet.
The third man actually let out a soft, surprised "Oh."
I felt their eyes lock on me.
Not the group.
Me.
Every time I hit a center position, their gazes sharpened.
When I delivered the bridge—high note, head tilt, slow hair flip—the woman's eyebrows shot up.
She whispered something to the man in the middle.
He nodded once, slow and deliberate.
Ae-Ri couldn't stay quiet anymore.
She floated down until she hovered just behind my left ear, voice a delighted hiss.
"Look at them, superstar! They're drooling. Drooling! You're the one they can't stop staring at. Not Chaewon's leadership. Not Sera's face card. You."
The song ended on a sharp group pose, lights we'd imagined now feeling real even in this dim practice room.
We held it.
Five seconds.
Ten.
Sweat glistened on our skin like diamonds.
The silence stretched, thick and electric.
Then the lead scout cleared his throat.
"Kang Yoona-ssi."
My name in his mouth sounded like a contract being drafted.
He stepped forward, eyes never leaving mine.
"That was… remarkable. Your stability, your presence, the way you command attention without trying. Have you had recent training changes we should know about?"
I opened my mouth.
The answer should have been no.
I should have mumbled something humble, grateful, trainee-appropriate.
Instead, the words came out smooth, confident, voice like warm honey.
"I've been working very hard, sunbaenim. Every day. Every night. I just… finally found my rhythm."
Ae-Ri squealed in my ear, too quiet for anyone else to hear.
"Liar! You found me! Say thank you, princess~"
The woman scout smiled, small and knowing.
"We'd like to speak with you individually after this. All of you, of course. But especially you, Yoona-ssi."
Chaewon's smile tightened at the corners—just a flicker.
Minseo shot me a quick, confused glance.
Hyejin's eyes went wide, excited.
Sera crossed her arms, studying me like I'd become a puzzle she hadn't noticed before.
The scouts filed out to wait in the conference room down the hall.
We bowed again, deeper this time.
The door closed with a soft click.
Silence.
Then Hyejin exploded.
"YOONA! What the hell was that?! You ate that choreo! You devoured it! You looked like you were born on stage!"
Minseo laughed, soft and warm.
"I've never seen you move like that. It was… wow."
Chaewon said nothing.
She just watched me, head tilted, something unreadable flickering behind her leader mask.
Ae-Ri landed on my shoulder, kicking her tiny feet in glee.
"They're hooked, baby girl. Hooked! One little trade and poof—you're the main event. Imagine what happens when we do the next one."
I swallowed.
My throat felt too perfect, too smooth.
No lump.
No nerves.
Just calm.
Cold, glittering calm.
I looked at my reflection in the mirror across the room.
The girl staring back had perfect posture, perfect skin, perfect everything.
And for the first time in five years, she didn't look like she was begging to be seen.
She looked like she already was.
Ae-Ri leaned in, lips brushing my earlobe.
"Ready for round two, superstar? Because the price just got higher… and the spotlight just got brighter."
I didn't answer.
I didn't need to.
The scouts were waiting.
And somewhere deep inside, a tiny, hungry part of me couldn't wait to see how much more perfect I could become.