Gangster to Idol

Heartstrings by Velvet Sky – A mid-tempo ballad with a blend of acoustic and synth elements. The song has emotional depth, allowing him to showcase his vocal range and emotional expression.

Fifi snorted, "Vocal range? Emotional depth? You sound like a cat stuck in a washing machine! Let's not pretend you've got the voice of an angel when you're still trying to find the right key."

Wildfire by Phoenix Echo – A powerful, rock-infused anthem with dynamic shifts between intense verses and soaring choruses. It requires a strong, confident vocal presence.

Fifi chimed in, "Really? I mean, you're not tone-deaf anymore, but let's be real — you're not exactly a vocal powerhouse yet. You sure you want to risk blowing out a lung?"

Starfall by Astral Waves – A dreamy, atmospheric pop track with an ethereal quality. It has intricate harmonies that would challenge his ability to blend his voice with layered backing vocals.

Fifi snickered, "You? Singing that? It's like putting a dragon in a tutu. It's more of a woman's song, and I don't think you can pull off the high notes without scaring a few birds."

Midnight Run by Dark Horizon – A high-energy, fast-paced song with a mix of rap and melodic hooks. It's intense and rhythmic, requiring precise timing and articulation.

Fifi burst out laughing, "Rap? You? Please, you couldn't rap a present, let alone spit bars. Stick to something where you don't need to talk so fast you bite your own tongue."

Cain shot Fifi a sharp look. "Instead of insulting me, why don't you help me figure out what to sing?"

Fifi floated in the air, twirling lazily. "You still don't get it, do you?"

"Get what?"

"You haven't found your own voice yet. Singing those songs will just make you sound mediocre. Sure, you can mimic tones and voices with your [Sharp Mind], but the judges won't be impressed if all you do is copy someone else's voice. They want to see something real, something that's yours."

Cain mulled over Fifi's words, his mind beginning to turn with an idea. Something that was uniquely his — maybe that was the key.

=== ⭐ ===

As the day of the first episode of RRR finally arrived, the excitement was electric. It was all anyone could talk about — social media was ablaze with speculation and anticipation.

The buzz surrounding RRR wasn't just among fans — major entertainment companies were paying attention too. In a bold move, several of the biggest names in the industry had sent their most promising trainees to compete, adding an extra layer of intensity to the already high-stakes competition.

"Did you hear? Storm Entertainment is sending in their top trainee, Kyra," one fan posted on a popular forum. "He's been training for years. This isn't going to be easy for the newbies."

"Not just Storm," another user replied. "Nova Records has two of their elite trainees in the mix too. They've got the backing and the skills — this is going to be a bloodbath."

On the streets, the chatter was similar.

"Man, with all these industry-backed trainees, I'm worried the competition's going to be rigged," a guy said as he scrolled through the latest news on his phone.

"Nah, this is RRR. If anything, it'll make it more exciting. These trainees might be polished, but they've also got the most to lose. Imagine the pressure!" his friend replied.

Even industry insiders were talking.

"Everyone's sending in their best. It's like they're using RRR as a scouting ground for future idols. This could either make or break these trainees," one agent commented in an interview.

Online, the speculation was wild.

"Who's going to crack under pressure? The trainees who've been groomed for this or the dark horses with nothing to lose? This is going to be epic," someone tweeted, capturing the anticipation.

With the major entertainment companies backing their own, the competition had never been fiercer. Everyone was waiting to see if these polished trainees could hold their ground — or if an underdog independent like C.C. could rise to the top.

Cain stepped into the massive hall, scanning the sea of trainees that had already gathered. There were about a hundred of them, all of whom had successfully passed the grueling interview process. The atmosphere buzzed with a mix of nerves and excitement, the tension could be felt as everyone awaited their turn.

Settling into a chair, Cain watched as staff members called out names, guiding trainees one by one into a room at the far end of the hall. That must be the production room where they'll be filming the first episode, he mused, tapping his fingers on the armrest.

"Hey there," a voice broke through his thoughts.

Cain glanced to his side, where a guy with pink hair and a cute, almost delicate appearance stood. He looked about nineteen, with a small frame that contrasted sharply with the intensity of the situation.

"You're C.C., right?"

Cain nodded, giving the guy a once-over. "Yeah."

The pink-haired trainee beamed, his youthful face lighting up. "I'm Riku. I saw your latest video. You're awesome and so cool!"

"Thanks," Cain replied, hoping to end the conversation with that.

"I never thought you'd want to be an idol," Riku continued, still grinning. "I'm surprised!"

Cain shrugged, playing it off. "Been a dream of mine," he lied smoothly, the words rolling off his tongue.

Riku glanced down at his hands, the smile faltering slightly. "Maybe I should've started building a following too? One of the challenges here is to create a social media account and gain followers, but you and the other influencers already have a head start."

Cain raised an eyebrow. "What's stopping you? Start one right now."

Riku blinked, clearly taken aback. "Right now?"

"Wouldn't take more than a few seconds," Cain pointed out, leaning back in his chair, eyeing him closely.

With a slight hesitation, Riku pursed his lips, realizing he had no choice under C.C. scrutinizing gaze. He pulled out his phone and quickly created an account on InstaPic, the easiest platform to gain a quick following.