Gangster to Idol

Riku stared at his phone, his face twisted in concern. "Oh no . . . C.C., what are we gonna do? Your image is taking a hit."

Across the room, Damien was smirking to himself, clearly enjoying the fallout.

Cain, on the other hand, didn't seem phased. "Don't care," he muttered, heading into the bathroom to shower, brushing off the entire situation.

Leo was leaning against the wall, and chuckled as he scrolled through his phone. "They really did you dirty, C.C. You've become a meme, and your reputation's taken a hit. But hey, it's not all bad. Your popularity's spiked, and there are still people digging that bad-boy image."

"But . . ." Riku hesitated, clearly still worried. "I'm concerned this might affect the fan votes later. What if—"

Leo cut him off with a small laugh, raising his hands. "Relax, the show's just getting started. We've still got a month to turn things around. Trust me, we'll have plenty of chances to flip the narrative before those votes roll in."

Despite the chaos brewing around him, Cain remained steady, his mind focused on one thing — winning. The rest? That could be dealt with later.

=== 🎵 ===

Damien's Fans (Team Inferno):

@InfernoQueen: C.C. needs to be eliminated. Who does he think he is, slapping Damien like that? So unprofessional. #TeamInferno #EliminateC.C.

@BlazeFury: Violence on stage? Seriously?! That's a HUGE red flag. C.C. shouldn't even be in the competition anymore. #InfernoForever

@DamienDevotee: First, it's a slap, next it'll be a full-on fight. He's too aggressive for the industry. This isn't the streets, C.C.! #DamienDeservesBetter

@FireAndFlame: Just because Damien's successful doesn't mean he deserves to get slapped. C.C. needs to control his temper. #OutWithC.C.

@BlazingStar: Can't believe people are defending that slap! If Damien had done it, people would be losing their minds. Hypocrites. #InfernoFamily

C.C.'s Fans:

@SharpMindWarrior: "It was a LIGHT TAP! Damien was the one provoking him. Everyone's blowing this out of proportion. #TeamC.C. #NotThatSerious

@C.C.sAngels: "Damien totally asked for it! C.C. showed a lot of restraint. Some people just can't handle real talk. #JusticeForC.C.

@UrbanLegend22: "Funny how people only talk about C.C.'s slap but ignore how Damien was trash-talking first. Editing made C.C. look bad. #FakeDrama #C.C.4TheWin

@StreetKingVibes: C.C.s not violent, he's real. People need to stop trying to paint him as the villain. Damien provoked him and got what he deserved. #StreetSmart #C.C.4Ever

@RisingRoughStar: "Honestly, that was barely a slap. C.C. showed restraint! Damien's a snake and it's obvious Blaze Productions is twisting this. #StandWithC.C.

These comments reflect the escalating fanbase war, with Damien's supporters wanting C.C. eliminated and C.C.'s fans defending his actions as justified and blown out of proportion.

The fandoms were locked in an all-out social media storm, and the chaos was exactly what the editing team had hoped for.

Drama fueled views, and the heated debates between C.C.'s and Damien's fans were doing wonders for the show's ratings.

"At least your fanbase is protecting you," Riku said as they walked toward their practice session. "Looks like the production team isn't in any hurry to eliminate you either."

"Anyone with eyes could see that wasn't a slap," Cain scoffed, cracking his knuckles absentmindedly. "If I did slap that guy, his teeth would've been on the floor."

Riku choked on the water bottle he was sipping from, coughing as he gave C.C. a bewildered look. "W-What are you talking about? You've got to watch what you say! One wrong move, and you'll be in trouble again."

"Listen to him, Cain," Fifi chimed in, floating beside them with a stern look. "You can't afford to be reckless right now. If something like that happens again, even your fans won't be able to save you. You might not be able to salvage what's left of your image."

Cain gave a short nod, his expression unchanged. "Yeah, yeah. I won't do it again."

Both Riku and Fifi let out relieved sighs. Neither of them wanted to see Cain eliminated so early in the competition, especially when things were just starting to heat up.

Days passed, with Cain and Riku practicing relentlessly for the second round, working on their performance of Electric Heartbeat.

But Cain quickly realized that just as he suspected, finding his voice was no easy feat. Freestyling was a lot harder than Riku made it look, and despite Cain's best efforts, music didn't come naturally to him.

He didn't have the foundations that the others did. His singing had improved, sure, but he was far from the level of a prodigy.

Still, his singing level was creeping up, bit by bit, showing signs of improvement.

As for Damien? He was still a thorn in Cain's side, constantly throwing jabs and provocations.

Cain bit his tongue, restraining himself from the punches he really wanted to throw.

Instead, he found other ways to vent his frustration. Late at night, he'd sneak off to the rooftop for a smoke, letting the night air cool his head.

Other times, he would purposely linger in the bathroom, forcing Damien to go to the upper floor whenever he needed it. It was petty, sure, but Cain enjoyed the small victories.

But real revenge? That was coming.

The buzz in the air was palpable as the next episode of RRR approached. Fans were buzzing with excitement, eagerly waiting to see the second round of performances.

The stage was set, brighter than ever, with a pulsating energy that seemed to throb with every heartbeat.

The show host, dressed in a sleek silver suit that shimmered under the spotlight, walked onto the stage with a confident swagger, his voice booming across the arena.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the moment you've all been waiting for has arrived! Welcome back to RRR! Tonight, our contestants will be tackling one of the toughest challenges yet — the second round: Electric Heartbeat!"

The audience erupted into cheers, their excitement charging the atmosphere. The host grinned, basking in the energy before continuing.

"Our trainees have had only a few days to prepare for this high-energy track, and let me tell you, it's not an easy one! This round is designed to push them to their limits, testing their vocal skills, choreography, and ability to work under pressure. And trust me, things are going to get intense!"

Spotlights swept across the stage as the camera zoomed in on each of the contestants backstage, capturing their nervous excitement.

"Now, let's take a look at our leaderboard after last week's drama-filled performances. Some of our contestants are riding high after their successful first round, while others? Well, let's just say they have a lot to prove tonight!"

The screen lit up, showing the rankings. Cain's name sat in the middle of the pack, but all eyes were on him after the viral clip of his altercation with Damien. Continue reading stories on m|v-l'e m,p y r

"Ah, yes, C.C. — the name on everyone's lips," the host teased with a wink. "Will he rise above the controversy, or will the pressure finally get to him? We'll find out tonight!"

Backstage, Cain rolled his eyes as Riku nudged him. "Looks like you're back in the spotlight again. Not surprising, after all that drama the past day. And let's be real — you're pulling it off. Being easy on the eyes doesn't hurt either. They can't get enough of you."

"No surprise there, my charisma is rather high," Cain japed. "But it's fine. Let them talk. I'll do what I came here to do."

Riku grinned, feeling the same determination that had kept them going through their grueling practice sessions. "Let's make it count, C.C."

As the lights dimmed and the crowd fell into a hushed anticipation, Cain took a deep breath. The next round was about to begin. He wasn't really sure about his

The battle lines were drawn, and now it was time to strike back — not with words or petty jabs, but with the one thing that mattered most on this stage: raw, undeniable talent.

If the audience was filled with anticipation for the upcoming high-stakes performance which would have an elimination round for those who wouldn't make the cut.

The audience was buzzing, and the tension could be felt.

"This is it! I can't handle the suspense — who's going through? Who's going to make it?"

"Come on, come on! I've been waiting all night for this. They have to start it soon!"

"I'm literally shaking! If they don't make it, I don't know what I'll do! Mika and Rhea should at least be on top ten or I won't watch this anymore!"

"They've been hyping this for the past hour. It better be worth it!"

"My heart's pounding! I can't even focus, just start already!"

After introducing the usual judges, the show kicked off with a twist. This time, the first to be called up were from the beginner's group.

It was clear they wanted to eliminate someone right from the start, keeping everyone on edge.

The first contestant was Kyle, sitting at 20 points. He needed another 20 to advance, or this would be the end of the road for him.

The pressure was on, and the tension in the room was electric — this performance would either make or break his shot at the next round.