Another Me | Debut or Die x Reader

Chapter 2

??? POV

'He's way out of his league,' I thought, raising my head slightly. '...This is gonna be a little complicated.' I watched as he stepped onto the stairs, and another thought crossed my mind.

'Even with his stats, he still ranked lower than me.'

The man I had been thinking about gradually made his way over and took a seat beside me. Considering how he acted, it was best to stay vigilant. I gave him a slight nod before turning my attention back to the stage to observe the next participants.

'Ha... There's still a long way to go.'

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The First Evaluation, which seemed never-ending, was finally halfway done. A sigh escaped me; sitting through over 40 performances was truly exhausting. And as more participants took the stage, my ranking steadily dropped. Though, it was no surprise given my late start and stats.

In the midst of the participants settling into their seats, a hushed murmur rippled through the crowd, drawing my attention back to the stage. In the stage emerged a figure, moving with a quiet confidence that immediately captured the room's focus.

His charismatic aura was so captivating that it felt like a spotlight was cast solely on him, making his teammates, whom I only now noticed, seem invisible.

And unlike the previous performers, there was something strikingly unusual about this one. His gaze, though fixed ahead, seemed to drift somewhere far away, lending an air of detachment to his demeanor.

I observed him closely, intrigued by the contradiction. His appearance was refined, dressed in an elegant outfit that contrasted with his seemingly aloof attitude. It made me wonder, while others had exuded urgency and nervous energy, he seemed to glide effortlessly, as if guided by some unseen force.

My thoughts wandered as I considered the details of his presence. There was a calmness in his eyes, a tranquility that suggested he was unfazed by the competition.

I wasn't interested in his performance per se, but rather in what he would do next, given his enigmatic demeanor and seasoned aura.

As he stepped into the spotlight with his friends, a soft gasp escaped the audience—a collective acknowledgement of his magnetic presence. Without even speaking a word, his mere presence commanded attention, igniting a spark of curiosity within me, and hidden intimidation for the others.

I leaned back, more curious than ever to see how this peculiar participant would navigate his time on stage considering his high stats and unbelievable characteristic. Would his experience shine through and outshine his teammates despite his dreamy disposition? It was a curious contrast that left me contemplating his true potential. 

And then, with a voice that resonated with quiet authority, he introduced himself. Though brief, his introduction left an indelible impression, imprinting his name upon the canvas of everyone's mind.

"Hi, I'm L/n Y/n, it's a pleasure to meet all of you. Let's aim for a competition that's worth our while, so please give it your best effort, everyone..." He bowed gracefully, "Please take good care of me."

As he concluded his introduction with a polite bow, a tense silence settled over the stage. Some participants exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions a mix of intimidation and resentment at what they perceived as an act of arrogance. Murmurs of discontent rippled through the crowd, their actions overshadowed by Y/n's intimidating presence.

On the judges' panel, however, there was a different reaction altogether. A few exchanged impressed nods, their expressions betraying admiration for the boldness of the words spoken. One of the judges leaned forward, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips as he whispered to his colleagues, "Now, that's how you make an entrance."

While some participants bristled at L/n Y/n's confidence, the judges simply rejoiced in the potential of this individual. As the stage lights glinted off his steely gaze, it became clear that L/n Y/n was not here to play small. And whether the others liked it or not, he had already left an indelible mark on the competition.

Then without a moment's hesitation, anticipation gripping their minds, the judges chimed,

"Alright, the stage is yours!"

3rd Person's POV