Trainer Song gestured toward the clearing behind us.
I turned.
Eight stone markers formed a wide circle, each one placed far enough apart that reading someone's expression required squinting. The distance felt deliberate. Isolating.
"Stand at one marker each."
We moved slowly, still catching our breath.
I chose the marker closest to the valley view, then immediately questioned whether positioning mattered.
Yuhyun took the one to my right. Sejin claimed the opposite side of the circle. Woobin positioned himself with geometric precision between Harin and Jaehyuk.
Trainer Song waited until we'd settled.
"First verse through pre chorus of Eight Letters."
My pulse kicked.
"No backing track. No piano. No microphone."
Seungho shifted his weight.
"And no conductor."
Sunwoo's expression went carefully blank.
Trainer Song's gaze traveled across the circle.
"If one person runs out of breath, the other seven adjust."
The instruction landed differently than expected.
