#hd:evaluations

miru had never considered herself much of a leader. sure, she has experience being the captain of her volleyball team but even that was solely because of seniority and the fact that the head coach simply found her easiest to order around. however, once she saw the group of trainees she'd be performing this month's evaluation with, she felt a sort of uneasiness handing the leader position to anybody else.

it's not that she didn't trust any of them, but she found herself thinking the evaluation would go much smoother if she simply took on the responsibility. the choreography for vista was nothing too difficult, but it did require a lot of sharp movements that would otherwise look sloppy if they weren't in sync, so that's what miru wanted to focus on most.

seeing as how this evaluation was miru's first official time working as the leader, she was bound to make some mistakes. she likes to think that she did her absolute best to keep her teammates on track and work out any bumps in the road, but there was no doubt she was lacking in some areas.

nevertheless, she's quite proud of how the evaluation turned out. vista wasn't an easy song when it came to the overall attention needed to details, but she believes she focused on the right parts and tried to sort it out with all her teammates.

what this evaluation has taught miru is that being a leader was hard. however, she doesn't think it's too unfitting for her. before this evaluation, she would've never imagined herself in the spot, but she found a bit of comfort of being left in charge. sure, there was a lot of pressure that came with the position, and she'd have to be responsible for all sorts of things. but there was also some relief in seeing how nobody seemed to strongly argue against her thoughts and opinions.

practice ran smoothly and so did the actual performance. while she isn't entirely sure how the trainers saw it, miru definitely saw how well they all worked together and she didn't want to tickle her feathers too much, but she likes to think she had a lot to do with that.

of course, everybody followed along so well and was serious with the task on hand, which helped, but she doesn't think anybody could deny the influence she had.

all in all, she's satisfied with the performance they put on. yes, it was quite difficult, and miru probably lost too much sleep as she had to think about everything they had to perfect. however, it was a great experience, and it opened some new doors for miru. to her, that was enough for her to count this evaluation as a success.

The faint hum of the city filled the air as Riyan strolled along the Han River, the crisp winter breeze nipping at his skin. His hands were tucked deep into the pockets of his oversized Moncler coat, his breath forming soft clouds against the cold. The evaluations were over. Just like that. A month of preparation, agonizing over details, pushing himself past exhaustion—it all boiled down to a few minutes on stage under the scrutinizing eyes of Hydra’s executives.

He should be relieved. Instead, a strange mix of emotions churned in his chest.

Reaching a bench overlooking the water, he pulled out his phone, staring at the blank screen. No new messages. Not that he expected one. His father and Shi-hwan weren’t the type to check in unless there was something in it for them. If he wanted their attention, he had to win—no, dominate. Anything less than exceptional wasn’t worth their time.

His mind replayed the performance, dissecting every movement, every note. Was my voice stable enough? Did I carry my weight in the group? He knew he wasn’t the strongest vocalist, but he made up for it with presence, flair. He delivered every line with conviction, his expressions sharp, his dance precise. Yet, was it enough? The Debut Candidate title felt like a shimmering mirage just out of reach. He wasn’t naive, he's only five months in. Rookies like him had to claw their way up, proving themselves over and over.

A small scoff escaped him. They probably saw me as nothing more than a flashy showman. A rich kid trying to play idol.

The thought stung, but he wouldn’t let it consume him. If Hydra didn’t see his worth yet, then he’d make them. That’s how he’d always survived. By proving them wrong.

With a slow exhale, he unlocked his phone and started a new note.

Things to improve before the next eval: — Vocal stability. Find a coach if necessary. — Expression. Don’t just perform—command the stage. — Stamina. One moment of weakness is all it takes to lose momentum.

EVALUATION SEASON, PRACTICE ROOM — W/ LEE JUN-MYEON @hdcarmine

Riyan adjusts his posture in the practice room mirror, running a hand through his styled hair before flashing a smirk at his reflection (this kid). Even in a room full of hopefuls, he knew he had something the others didn’t—presence. And that's exactly why he will secure the FACE position for Team A. His sharp angles, expressions on point, and ability to draw attention? Unmatched.

With that in mind, he turns to Carmine. “Alright, Carmine,” Riyan says, rolling his shoulders back before facing his teammate. “Let’s be real for a sec—Growl’s all about energy, attitude, and stage presence. I don’t think anyone’s doubting my ability to own the camera, but I wanted to check in with you before we finalize anything.”

He leans against the barre, arms folded. “I’m aiming for the face position. It’s where I shine the most, and honestly? I’ve been working on my expressions and angles like crazy. I know you’re gunning for something strong too, so I figured we should talk it out. If we’re on the same page, we can make sure our group’s lineup is solid and everyone plays to their strengths.”

His gaze is steady, confident, but there was an openness to it—despite his self-assured nature, he isn't here to step on toes. If anything, he knows securing his role meant strengthening the team as a whole.