The first day of the highly anticipated variety show event was finally here, and the air buzzed with energy. Multiple stages, obstacle courses, and music booths had been set up across the massive studio complex, as the show was mixing both athletic challenges and musical competitions into one chaotic, exciting spectacle.
Mitsunari arrived early, wearing a black hoodie with his name stitched across the back. He was immediately greeted by staff and handed a schedule for the day, which included everything from relay races to live remix battles. The lineup was stacked with artists from across the industry there were soloists, idol groups, rappers, dancers. It was a true celebration of talent.
One of the biggest highlights for Mitsunari was finally meeting Jeren, the charismatic and sharp-tongued main rapper from the group TurnUp. The two had exchanged messages online before, admiring each other's work, but this was their first face-to-face. The moment they met, it felt like a meeting between two creative forces.
During a break between events, Mitsunari and Jeren found a quiet spot behind the stage. They talked shop plus music, writing styles, beats. Both had mutual respect for the other's lyrical depth and performance energy. Before long, the conversation shifted toward collaboration. By the end of their chat, they'd agreed to start working on a track together soon.
As Mitsunari made his way toward the next challenge, he spotted Bella from MASH, someone he hadn't seen since an award show months ago. The two caught up quickly, with Bella teasing Mitsunari about his new studio track, and Mitsunari complimenting her group's latest performance. They had always had an easy chemistry, grounded in mutual admiration.
Later in the afternoon, Mitsunari reunited with Luna and Yuri from KIK UP. Luna's bright energy instantly brought a smile to his face, and Yuri's calm demeanor added balance to the trio's conversation. They talked about the challenges ahead, with Luna already fired up to dominate the sprint event.
It was also Mitsunari's first time meeting the remaining members of KIK UP, Lilia and Wonyoung. Lilia had a fierce vibe, the kind that matched a stage queen, while Wonyoung had a quiet, graceful presence that surprised him. Despite not having met before, they connected easily through shared laughs during warmups.
The introductions didn't stop there. Mitsunari also met the full MASH lineup for the first time. Alongside Bella, he was introduced to Yujin, a lively leader-type with sharp wit, Chaewon, who had a cool, low-toned voice and confidence to match, Danielle, full of bubbly charm, and Maria, a powerhouse vocalist with an infectious laugh.
Mitsunari found the energy of TurnUp infectious. In addition to Jeren, he finally met Johnny, who was the group's dancer and jokester, Hoya, the intense and competitive vocalist, Suho, who had a laid-back energy that contrasted nicely with the others, and Mark, the group's youngest, full of curiosity and charisma.
Another group Mitsunari hadn't interacted with in full was MAYZE, a rapidly rising girl group. Meeting Victoria, Mina, Seunghee, and Gahyeon was a highlight. Victoria had an elegant, leader-like aura, while Mina was sporty and loud. Seunghee came off intellectual and witty, and Gahyeon had an unexpectedly chaotic sense of humor.
The first event of the day was the Team Obstacle Relay, which grouped artists randomly. Mitsunari found himself teamed with Mina from MAYZE, Suho from TurnUp, and Chaewon from MASH. The four had to climb ropes, balance on narrow beams, and jump hurdles. Their teamwork clicked quickly, with Suho acting as the quiet strategist.
Although their team didn't win first place, they placed high enough to make a mark. Mitsunari especially enjoyed how everyone cheered each other on, regardless of team alignment. Even artists competing against each other showed support. The atmosphere was competitive, but not cutthroat.
Next came a Dance Freeze Challenge, where music played and artists had to dance freestyle, freezing the moment the music cut out. Mitsunari, despite being more of a rapper than a dancer, gave it his all, even making the audience laugh with a dramatic fall during one of the freezes.
He ended up going head-to-head with Wonyoung, who surprised everyone with her agility and precision. In the end, she edged him out, but Mitsunari bowed dramatically and praised her performance, earning a playful fist bump from her.
The musical challenge that followed was the Live Hook Flip, where each artist had to improvise a new hook over a randomly assigned beat. Mitsunari nailed his performance with a smooth melodic flow that turned heads especially from Yuri and Gahyeon, who whispered excitedly during his performance.
During lunch, many of the artists gathered in one area, bento boxes in hand. Mitsunari ended up sitting at a long table with members of MAYZE and MASH, laughing over stories from their early debut days. Yujin and Maria kept teasing each other, which had the whole table cracking up.
As the afternoon progressed, a new challenge called Lyric Tag had artists jumping into freestyle sessions, passing lyrics like a baton. Mitsunari went toe to toe with Jeren in the final round, thrilling the crowd with their back-and-forth synergy. Even the hosts were hyped by their chemistry.
Throughout the day, Mitsunari also spent some time speaking with Seunghee from MAYZE, who had a deep interest in songwriting. They discussed possible studio collaborations in the future, with Seunghee asking if he'd ever consider helping write for girl groups.
A surprise moment came when the producers unveiled a Survival Karaoke Challenge as artists sang while riding a mechanical bull. It was chaotic, hilarious, and memorable. Mitsunari managed to hold the mic and stay on for a full verse, belting lyrics between laughs.
By evening, the energy was still high. Mitsunari found himself chatting with Mark from TurnUp, who asked about his writing process. Mark seemed eager to learn and even pitched a few beat ideas. Mitsunari promised to check them out once the event was over.
Before the final challenge, a staff member pulled Mitsunari aside. Apparently, the producers wanted to capture some behind-the-scenes content. He was filmed talking about how much he respected the diversity and talent of everyone there and how these kinds of shows helped build real connections.
The day wrapped up with a Group Rhythm Game, where teams had to clap and step in sync. MAYZE ended up taking the win, with KIK UP and TurnUp close behind. Mitsunari's team messed up early but played it off with silly moves, winning over the audience's hearts anyway.
As the sun set, Mitsunari looked around at all the artists gathered under one roof. The laughter, the music, the sweat as it was all real. He had come expecting a fun show, but he was leaving the first day with new friends, new collaborators, and renewed excitement for the industry he loved.
The final photo of the day was a massive group shot with everyone smiling, arms thrown around each other. Mitsunari stood in the center, Jeren on one side, Bella and Luna on the other, with countless other faces beaming around him.
The producers promised an even crazier day two, but for now, Mitsunari was content. He had shared stages, built friendships, and set plans into motion that would influence his next few songs. If this was just the beginning, the rest of the event was bound to be unforgettable