The contestants finally reached their hotel in Seoul late at night. Exhausted from travel, they were quickly checked in by the staff and told they could choose their roommates this time. Naturally, some moved toward friends they had made during the first stage, while others paired up with different contestants if their roommates had been eliminated. Dayo and Min-Jae didn't hesitate—they had clicked back in Tokyo and decided to remain roommates.

Once they reached their room, Dayo looked through the window at the city lights of Seoul glowing brightly. He took a deep breath, dropped his bag on the floor, and sighed. Min-Jae stretched, letting out a long yawn.

"Finally. A bed," he muttered.

Just as Dayo sat down, there was a knock on the door. He glanced at Min-Jae, who only shrugged.

"Uhgh such a lazy bum" Dayo sighed a he stood.

"Haha yeah yeah i know" Min-Jae laughed.

Shaking his head at the lazy roommate he stood up Dayo opened it to see a man in a dark suit holding a small envelope.

"Dayo Jason?" the man asked quietly.

"who is asking?" Dayo replied with a frown at the stranger.

The man smiled thinly and handed him the envelope. "A message for you. Consider it… advice for the next stage. A head start."

Dayo frowned and took it reluctantly. Inside was a small card with a single line:

Theme: Collaboration & Harmony.

Confused, Dayo looked up. "Wait—why are you giving me this?"

The man's smile deepened. "Some contestants get help. Some don't. Let's just say someone wants to see how you handle being prepared."

Dayo's instincts flared. He gripped the card tighter, his voice sharp. "And who told you to bring this to me?"

The man leaned in slightly and whispered one word:

"Michael."

Dayo froze. A shiver ran down his spine. He stared at the man, but the messenger only straightened his suit and added, "Whether you use it or not… that's your choice."

Then he walked away, leaving Dayo holding the card.

For a long moment, Dayo stood there, his pulse racing. He thought of Michael—the games, the manipulations, the way the industry always seemed to revolve around power plays. The idea of being tested unsettled him, but with a sharp breath, he quickly tore the card in half and dropped it into the trash.

"I don't need it," he muttered under his breath.

What Dayo didn't realize was that the man hadn't truly left. He lingered silently in the hallway, half-hidden behind a corner, watching everything—the rejection, the torn card, the determination in Dayo's eyes. He smirked to himself before finally disappearing.

Back inside, Min-Jae raised an eyebrow. "Who was that?"

"Nothing important," Dayo said, forcing a small smile. "Just… noise."

But his heart was still beating faster than usual.

Michael had just made his intentions known, and Dayo could no longer claim ignorance. "Ah… so much headache," he muttered.

He sighed. He felt cornered, because Michael's influence ran too deep. Compared to him, Dayo was just a small fly. He knew now that he had to tread carefully and start looking for a way to remove Michael's eyes from him.

***

Later that night, after a shower and some quiet moments of reflection, Dayo did something he hadn't done since the start of the competition—he called home.

He felt guilty; he had promised to call often but hadn't. Now he wanted to make up for it. He dialed his father's number.

The screen lit up with familiar faces: his mom, his dad, his younger sister, and his brother, all gathered in their living room back in the United States. The moment they saw him, the room erupted with cheers.

"Dayo!" his sister shouted, practically shoving her face into the camera. "Oh my God, you're in Korea?!"

Then her face changed. "You cheated me. You promised to call every day, and it's been more than a week. Have you forgotten me?"

Dayo smiled gently. "Oh, my baby Janet… it's not like that. A lot has been going on, but I will never forget you."

"And more so, you didn't even congratulate me, huh?"

"Hehe, alright. I was angry, that's why. Congratulations!"

"That's my girl. Now give the phone to Mom."

His mom laughed, tears in her eyes. "Look at you! You look tired, but you look strong. We're so proud of you."

His dad gave a small nod, his usual quiet approval, while his brother grinned wide. "Bro, you're trending. Do you even know how crazy this is? People in my school are talking about you like you're already a superstar."

Dayo chuckled, his chest warming. "I miss you guys so much. I just… needed to see your faces tonight."

At that moment, Min-Jae walked into the frame, curious. "Who are those?"

Dayo waved him closer. "My family. Mom, Dad, my brother, and my little sister. Come and say hello."

Min-Jae bowed politely toward the camera. "Annyeonghaseyo. Nice to meet you. I'm Min-Jae."

Dayo's sister squealed. "Wait—are you Min-Jae?! The one trending on K-pop forums? OMG!"

Min-Jae laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck with a weak smile. Dayo just shook his head, amused.

His sister leaned closer to the screen. "Oppa, you're in Korea with my brother. That means you better take care of him!"

Everyone burst into laughter. Even Dayo couldn't help but smile wider than he had in weeks. The stress of Michael's test, the pressure of the competition—it all melted for a while in the warmth of family.

They talked for nearly an hour, catching up on small things—his brother's classes, his mom's restaurant business. Eventually, they said their goodnights, and Dayo was left staring at the black screen of his phone, his heart calmer, steadier.

***

The next morning, all contestants were gathered in a spacious hall of the hotel. The atmosphere was different this time—anticipation buzzing in the air. A tall man in a sleek suit walked onto the stage, the new director for the South Korea leg of the competition. His presence was calm and composed.

"First," he said, bowing slightly, "congratulations on making it this far. You have overcome the first stage, and now begins the true test—not just of talent, but of unity."

The room fell silent.

"The next stage," he continued, "is the Group Stage. From now on, your ability to collaborate, to adapt, and to perform not just as individuals but as part of a team will decide your fate."

Some contestants exchanged uneasy glances. Others, like Min-Jae, sat straighter, already confident.

The director smiled faintly. "By tomorrow evening, we will announce the top six contestants picked by the fans. Each of them will serve as a group leader. These leaders will personally select three members of their team. The final two members will be assigned randomly. That will form six groups of five contestants each."

Whispers spread across the hall—excitement, nerves, a buzz of energy. This stage was unlike anything before.

The director raised his hand. "Rest well today. Tonight, you are going to get busier."

As the contestants were dismissed, Dayo sat quietly, reflecting. And though Michael's shadow lingered in his thoughts, he knew one thing for sure: whatever came next, he would face it on his own terms.

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