Gangster to Idol

Felice blinked, her gaze shifting to Jaxton before arching a perfectly sculpted eyebrow.

"I don't know the kid yet," she said, her tone sending a shiver through the room. "I'll refrain from commenting until I see him perform."

Jaxton's confident grin faltered, and he quickly looked down, realizing his mistake. He had almost forgotten that Felice had just arrived and hadn't had a chance to familiarize herself with the trainees yet.

Embarrassed, he gave a sheepish nod, while the other judges exchanged amused glances.

"Alright, Trainee Riku, please come to the stage!" the host announced, and the crowd immediately buzzed with excitement.

"I've heard he's the one with insane rap skills," someone whispered.

"Yeah, he's definitely going to rap again. But it's not just about rapping today — it's about stage presence and charisma."

"I remember him being super shy, though. His baby face didn't match his intensity."

"Is he going to be fine?"

"He's an independent trainee — probably didn't have a glam team. He'll look the same, right?"

However, when Riku stepped onto the stage, every voice in the crowd fell silent, their jaws hanging open in disbelief.

The man who emerged wasn't the timid, baby-faced kid they remembered. Riku had completely transformed.

His hair was styled in a messy wet look with vibrant pink and red highlights that framed his face perfectly. The edgy hairstyle, paired with expertly applied eyeshadow and makeup, gave him an almost mischievous, devil like charisma.

His soft features were now strikingly accentuated, creating a contrast that was both playful and dangerous.

With his baby face still intact but his overall look elevated, his charisma hit like a tidal wave.

The moment he began to rap, the entire crowd snapped out of their shock, erupting into wild cheers.

Riku's voice was crisp, clear, and commanding, perfectly complementing his new, daring image. The fast-paced lyrics flowed effortlessly from his lips, each word sharper than the last.

His playful, mischievous vibe was reflected in every line, drawing the audience deeper into his performance.

It wasn't just Riku's talent that was mesmerizing — it was the way everything about him now fit together. His look, his rap, his energy — it all made sense in a way that left people captivated.

Even the mentors were visibly impressed, their eyes wide as they watched him dominate the stage.

"Whoever did his hair and makeup deserves an award," Evelyn muttered under her breath, unable to hide her admiration.

Riku owned the stage completely, and as his performance intensified, the energy in the room skyrocketed. His confidence, combined with his raw talent and stunning transformation, had everyone on the edge of their seats.

There was no denying it — this was the performance of someone who knew how to leave an impact.

The boy with the shy smile and baby face was gone. In his place stood a true contender.

Even the trainees from the big companies couldn't deny Riku's performance, their guarded expressions shifting to concern. They knew it — he was a real threat now.

"I'm surprised, Riku," Evelyn said, her eyes sparkling with amazement. "Your rap skills completely match your image now without loosing your baby face. It's impressive. 10 points."

"I'll give you 10 points as well," Mitchell added with a nod. "Well done."

The crowd went wild at the perfect scores. Riku had nailed it with his singing and stage presence, earning respect from even the toughest critics.

Kalista, however, leaned back, her expression more measured. "I don't see much improvement in your dancing, but your style is on point. 5 points."

Jaxton nodded in agreement. "Five points from me as well. Your energy in singing was there, but it didn't match your dancing at all. Honestly, you were barely moving."

Despite the critique, Riku beamed, his heart racing with excitement. He had just scored 30 points, and that alone felt like a victory.

But now, all eyes turned to Felice. How would she score him? What would her critique be? The trainees and audience alike were on edge, eager to see how she'd set her standards.

Felice blinked, her lips curling into a soft, pretty smile. "10 points."

The room went dead silent, waiting for more. But a minute passed and there was no follow up.

That's it?!

Everyone exchanged awkward glances, unsure what to make of the simple response.

Cain slapped his palm to his face. Was it really okay for her to be here?

Fifi was laughing so hard at the side. "What's with that woman?!"

Evelyn leaned in, whispering gently in Felice's ear. "You need to explain more. Expand on your explanation on your score."

Felice kept smiling. "I liked it. So, 10 points."

The mentors stared at her, disbelief in their eyes. The audience wasn't sure what to think either, a stunned silence filling the room.
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But after a few moments, it clicked. The crowd erupted into cheers. If Felice had decided on it, who were they to question? Her hundred million followers certainly agreed — if Felice said it was worth 10, then it was worth 10.

Riku's face lit up. He had just become the first trainee to ever score 40 points, pushing his total to a jaw-dropping 105. He was the first to break into triple digits.

Riku gave his thanks to the mentors before running offstage, heading straight for C.C., his look completely contrasting with his usual soft personality.

"C.C.! Thank you! This is all because of you!" Riku was about to throw his arms around him in a hug when Cain stopped him with a single hand to the face.

"Thank me later if we win this competition," Cain said, pushing him back gently.

Riku beamed, nodding eagerly, before pulling out his phone and turned it on to call his grandfather. He paused when a series of notifications rang. "Oh, C.C.! I'm gaining followers — like, a hundred thousand just now! When did that happen?!"

Cain smirked. "Congrats." It must be because of his new look and Felice's approval of him.

While Cain and Riku were talking, the show continued, and up next was an influencer. Despite having a glam team backing him, the performance didn't match the carefully curated image. His over-the-top outfit and accessories became a hindrance, with one of them even getting caught during a dance move, throwing off his rhythm.

The crowd cringed as the influencer struggled to recover, proving that sometimes, all the glam in the world couldn't hide a lack of skill.