Gangster to Idol

Cain returned to the Rising Radiance Revolution building one day before the third episode and was surprised to find Riku already there.

"Riku? You're early," Cain said, stuffing his things into a drawer.

Riku hesitated, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah . . . well, my grandpa's in the hospital right now, so I don't have anyone at home. I figured I'd just come here early."

Cain paused for a moment, unsure of what to say. He wanted to comfort Riku, but his own mind was already in game mode, fully focused on tomorrow's performance. Besides, Riku didn't seem like the type to want pity.

Cain knew the feeling all too well. No man liked being pitied.

"I see . . . Anyway, are you ready for tomorrow?" Cain asked, changing the subject instead.

Riku rubbed his neck and looked away. "Ah, yeah. I'll just use some old outfit I have and rap my way through the third elimination."

Cain froze, his expression softening. "Wait, you didn't prepare any costume? What about the prize money you got? Didn't you buy some clothes and makeup with it?"

Riku gave a sheepish grin. "Ah, that . . . I used it for the hospital bills."

"You didn't buy anything for yourself?" Cain's voice lowered in surprise.

"It's fine," Riku said, forcing a smile. "I have some clothes at home. They'll do."

Cain didn't respond immediately, but his mind was already racing. He had thought his life was rough, but Riku had it even harder.

The guy was doing his best despite all the problems weighing him down. It hit Cain — those trainees with little to no budget, who struggled just to make ends meet, had it twice as difficult in the competition.

Riku wasn't just competing; he was surviving.

"I would lend you my clothes, but . . ." Cain eyed Riku from head to toe. "They wouldn't fit." But maybe he could find something that would fit.

Riku gave a weak laugh, the weight of his situation showing. "Sorry I'm short," he joked, though it was clear he was trying to hide his frustration. "But don't worry about me, C.C. I'll manage with what I've got."

Cain took a deep breath, feeling a pang of empathy for the guy. Without saying a word, he rummaged through his wardrobe and tossed a few pieces of clothing toward Riku.

"Huh? What's this?" Riku asked, catching the clothes in confusion.

"You can borrow them," Cain said nonchalantly.

"What? I can't!" Riku stammered, holding up the clothes as if they were made of gold.

"Yes, you can," Cain shot back. "I won't be using them in the third episode anyway. You're doing a rap, right? These will suit you. The sleeves are long, and the coat's baggy — it'll work with your style. Though I can't lend you any pants since those really won't fit you."

Cain handed him a long-sleeve shirt and a sleeveless white coat. He tossed a few pieces of jewelry in Riku's direction as well.

"W-wait, C.C., this is too much!" Riku's eyes widened in disbelief.

"I'm not giving them to you, idiot. I'm just lending them," Cain said, shaking his head. "I've already got my own outfit planned for the episode. You'll need these more than I do."

"B-but . . . are you sure?" Riku asked, his voice hesitant.

Cain raised an eyebrow, looking at him like he'd asked something absurd. "What kind of question is that?"

Riku sheepishly rubbed his nose. "It's just that . . . we're competitors at the end of the day."

Cain resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "I know. And I want to beat you at your best. So when I win, you won't have any excuses."

Riku stared at Cain, his eyes shining with gratitude. "C.C. . . ." A wide grin spread across his face. "Thank you.

I'll definitely return these after the episode."

"Of course you will," Cain said with a smirk. "They're not yours."

Riku let out a laugh, lightening the mood. "I hope we both get perfect scores tomorrow."

Cain didn't respond. He didn't need to. His mind was already racing ahead, fully focused on the performance. His style would be his key to standing out in the next episode, and he intended to give it everything he had — charisma, stage presence, and all.

This time, he would bounce back from last time.

===🎶===

The day of the third episode finally arrived, and the backstage was a flurry of activity. Tension filled the air as everyone prepared for their performances.

Cain stood off to the side, observing how the trainees from the big companies were surrounded by entire teams of stylists and makeup artists. Dylan, EJ, Lexter, and the others had full glam squads working on them, even pulling out intricate props for their stage setups.

Meanwhile, it was just Cain and Riku, helping each other out.

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"You didn't hire a stylist?" Leo asked as he passed by, noticing their lack of a professional team.

"We can't afford it," Cain said flatly, shrugging it off like it was no big deal.

"Can't afford it? But you've got millions of followers now," Leo replied, genuinely surprised.

Cain let out a short laugh. "I only hit a million followers not too long ago. I haven't exactly cashed in on that yet."

"Oh, I see," Leo nodded. "Well, if you need—"

"It's fine," Cain cut him off, shaking his head. "I'll manage."

"You sure?" Leo asked, glancing at Riku, who looked out of place next to the fully prepped trainees.

Cain gave him a reassuring nod. "Yeah, we've got this."

Leo hesitated for a moment before backing off. "Alright, good luck then."

As Leo walked away, Cain noticed Riku nervously fidgeting beside him. They were surrounded by trainees who looked like they were ready for a full-blown concert — styled to perfection with cutting-edge outfits, flawless makeup, and professional-grade props.

Meanwhile, Riku was in the clothes Cain had lent him. Although the look suited him, he didn't have the polished sheen of the others.

"I . . . I wonder if I look alright," Riku mumbled, glancing at himself in the mirror. The oversized clothes fit the vibe, but he barely had any makeup on, and the lack of a professional touch was making him doubt himself.