The final beat of the song hit, and the studio fell into silence.
Raine stood tall, chest rising and falling with controlled breaths. She had done it—she hadn't just kept up with Zayne and Kairo. She had matched them.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then—slow, deliberate clapping.
Kairo Lin.
His golden eyes gleamed with amusement, but there was something darker beneath the surface. Curiosity. Intrigue. A silent question he wasn't voicing.
Zayne ran a hand through his sweat-dampened red hair, his silver earrings catching the light. "Not bad, sweetheart."
Raine scoffed, wiping her brow. "Was that supposed to be a compliment?"
Zayne's smirk widened. "More like a warning. You're playing in a league where people get eaten alive."
Kairo chuckled. "And yet… she's still standing."
Madam Lei glanced at her clipboard. "Pass."
Raine exhaled slowly. Another step forward.
As the trainees dispersed, Kairo leaned in, voice low. "You're not just some newbie, are you?"
Raine met his gaze, unflinching. Don't crack. Don't let him see.
"I'm exactly who I need to be."
Kairo's smirk deepened. "We'll see about that."