Gangster to Idol

Lexter gritted his teeth, fighting the urge to tell the truth—that it was C.C. who had punched him.

But he held himself back. If he said that, people would ask why. And he couldn't admit he was harassing Rhea. The punishment he would face for that would be far worse than anything C.C. might receive.

"It's nothing," Lexter muttered, forcing a grin through the pain. "I just slipped in the bathroom, hit my face on the basin."

The nurse didn't seem convinced, but she didn't push the matter.

Lexter stormed out, rage simmering beneath the surface as he made his way back to his team. When he entered the practice room, his teammates—Damien and Ej—immediately noticed his bandaged face, their expressions shifting to shock.

"What the hell happened to you?" Damien asked, his eyes wide.

Lexter glared at them both, not in the mood for questions. "Don't ask."

Ej, however, wasn't so easily deterred. "Did something happen?" he pressed, sensing the tension in the air.

Lexter's anger flared as he spat, "That damn C.C. punched me."

Both Damien and Ej exchanged looks, their own expressions darkening. They hated C.C. just as much as Lexter did—maybe more.

"What? What the hell did he do that for?" Damien's voice was incredulous, but it carried a hint of excitement at the idea of Lexter and C.C. coming to blows.

Lexter's eyes burned with hatred. "He's been sticking his nose where it doesn't belong. Thinks he's some kind of hero." His voice dripped with venom. But the real reason was left unsaid—he couldn't tell them about Rhea. Experience exclusive tales on mvl

Ej clenched his fists, his face contorting with fury. "That trainee is getting out of control. He's just a nobody trying to play big shot."

Damien nodded, his gaze sharpening. "Maybe it's time we put him in his place."

The room grew darker, the tension thicker as the three of them exchanged glances filled with malice. There was no need for more words—each of them knew exactly what the other was thinking.

Lexter smirked, his hatred twisting into something more dangerous. "We should get rid of him," he hissed, his voice low and vengeful. "Make sure he's eliminated from this competition. Humiliated."

Ej cracked his knuckles. "I'm all for it. The sooner that bastard's gone, the better."

Damien, ever the strategist, leaned forward, eyes gleaming with cruel intent. "We'll need a plan. Something that'll not only get him out of the match but ruin him. Completely. We can't afford to let him get off easy."

Lexter's smile was cold, the thought of C.C.'s downfall fueling the flames of his anger. "Let's do it. Make him regret ever crossing me."

The three of them huddled closer, whispering their plans in malicious anticipation instead of planning for their upcoming challenge next week.

They would wait, strike when C.C. least expected it, and when they did, they would make sure he was crushed—professionally and personally.

C.C. wouldn't just be kicked out of the competition; he'd be left in ruins, humiliated in front of everyone, and never going to recover and show his face in the idol world again.

Lexter, Ej, and Damien could already picture it—C.C., that smug face shattered, his career over before it even began.

=== 🎶 ===

Cain lay on his bed at CROSS HQ, staring blankly at the ceiling, unable to shake the thoughts that had been haunting him since that duet with Raneisha.

That duet . . .

His fingers twitched at the memory, the rush of emotions surging back, stirring something deep inside him. The exhilaration, the pure thrill of performing alongside her—it was unlike anything he had ever felt, even in the heat of battle.

"I gotta say, that was your best performance yet," Fifi chimed, her voice softening with rare sincerity. "It even brought a tear to my eye." She fluttered closer, her usual snark replaced with genuine surprise. "Wow, just singing with her raised your level so much. You even completed a Hidden Mission: 'Sing from the Depths of Your Heart.' Good job. She helped you more than you realize it.

Finally something good came out of the competition."

Cain barely registered Fifi's words, still caught in the haze of that moment. The rush, the energy—it was intoxicating.

"How am I supposed to get another duet with her?" Cain muttered, the question slipping out before he could stop himself. It was all he could think about, the one thing keeping his mind from spiraling into chaos.

The feeling of satisfaction from that performance was like nothing else. It filled a void he didn't even know existed. It wasn't like the thrill of a fight, where his fists and strength decided the outcome. No, this was something deeper. The way their voices melded together, the way every nerve in his body screamed to perform alongside her again—it was driving him mad.

Why? Cain was baffled by how intense the feeling was, as if some unseen force had taken hold of him and refused to let go.

Fifi, however, had a clue but kept her mouth shut, letting Cain figure it out on his own. She sighed, folding her arms as she hovered nearby. "Idiot. Do you even know what she meant by her last words? Do you even understand what it would be like to perform a duet with her on a real stage?"

Cain's brow furrowed in confusion, but before he could speak, Fifi pressed on.

"Forget about ever meeting her again after that lucky guest show," Fifi continued, her voice hardening with a cold reality. "Even if you become an idol, reach the top, and build a massive fanbase, you still couldn't just casually share a stage with her again."

She hovered to her laptop, her wings flapping irritably as she began typing rapidly, bringing up a screen filled with articles and headlines. "Look at this," she said, turning the screen toward him. "There's a long list of A-list celebrities, top-tier idols, and elite musicians—all lining up to collaborate with her. She's at the peak, Cain.

Even if Raneisha herself wanted to duet with you again, do you think these powerful figures would let you get ahead of yourself? Do you think her fans would? They'd tear you apart the second you got near her."