THE first team of [Over the Edge] started moving as the music began. They stepped to the side in a slow, controlled motion, dragging their back foot before placing it down. Their hips pushed forward and pulled back with the beat, bodies rolling from the chest down to their knees. One hand slid up along their stomach and stopped just below the neck, fingers pressing lightly against their own skin. Their heads tilted back slightly, eyes half closed, as they moved through the opening of the song. The audience cheered loudly at every move.

Then the chorus hit, and the second team walked onto the stage to join them. Eunwoo stood at the center alongside the other team’s center. The eight contestants moved together, dancing through the chorus in perfect sync.

The contestants shifted their weight, moving at a sharp angle. One hand rose to lightly touch the side of their neck, lingering for a moment before falling back to their side. Their other arm remained loose. Despite their still upper bodies, their hips rolled in a slow, steady rhythm that mirrored the music.

When the eight contestants did the signature move together, the audience erupted into loud screams. People waved their banners and light sticks more frantically, caught up in the energy of the performance.

The chorus ended, and the first team exited the stage. Haneul’s team remained. By the time they took their positions when they danced the chorus, Haneul had already shed any self-consciousness he might have had. He knew it was the only way to fully commit to the dance and deliver a convincing performance.

Sweet lies dripping like wine

Every taste pulls me inside

Blink twice, reality cracks

This thrill’s got me under attack

Haneul stepped to the side with his right foot, then slid his left foot to meet it, keeping his knees slightly bent. He raised his right hand to his chest and slowly lowered it to his stomach before letting it drop, while his left hand remained relaxed at his side. Shifting his weight to his back leg, he smoothly pushed his hip out to the right, then repeated the movement to the left. He tilted his head down, glancing up at the camera from under his brows, held the look briefly, and then turned his body at an angle, repeating the hip movements.

Crowd moves like a single wave

Every voice calling my name

I know this ends in disaster

Still, I beg it to stay

Haneul straightened his posture and raised both arms to the sides, palms up. He rolled his shoulders back once, then slowly lowered his arms. Stepping forward with his left foot, he bent his knees into a shallow dip, one hand reaching toward the audience as if to grasp something. He held the pose for a second, then pushed back up and turned to face the side. He lifted one hand to the back of his neck and slowly dragged it down the side of his throat before dropping it back to his side. He repeated the step and dip, this time reaching out with his other hand.

Too close, too deep, can’t turn around

My pulse is screaming, hear that sound

Say stop, but I want more

Drag me down onto the floor

Haneul dropped into a low stance, one knee bent more deeply than the other. He placed a hand flat on his thigh and slowly dragged it upward as he straightened his leg. His eyes remained locked on the camera, lids lowered, mouth slightly parted. He brought his other hand to his collar, tugging it down just enough to reveal more of his neck before releasing it. He took two slow, deliberate steps backward, his hips rolling with each movement. Once he stopped, he tilted his head to the side, wetting his bottom lip with his tongue before pressing his lips together. Then, he spun his body to face forward again and ran his fingers through his hair, pushing it back from his forehead.

Then the chorus came around again, and the first team moved back onto the stage without missing a beat. The eight of them danced through the chorus together, just like before. They kept going like that through the bridge and into the final chorus, staying in sync until the music faded out.

Haneul knew the cameras would eventually focus on each contestant individually. So when his turn came, and the lens pointed at him, he pressed his index and middle fingers together against his lips, then curled them into the shape of a gun and pretended to shoot toward the camera. He ended that with a little wink.

As soon as the music stopped, the audience burst into loud applause and cheers. People were on their feet, clapping and shouting. The noise filled the entire hall, bouncing off the walls and the ceiling. It was clear the performance had been a success.

Lily walked back onto the stage, a wide smile on her face. "Now that was a hot performance, don’t you think?" she said, turning to the audience.

The audience responded with a loud, unified cheer, nearly everyone shouting "Yes!" at the same time.

Lily waited for the cheers to settle, then continued. "Now it’s time to vote. Choose the contestant who stood out to you the most in that performance. Use your voting devices to make your selection."

While the audience voted, Haneul kept a small smile on his face. He glanced out at the crowd from time to time, but he didn’t overdo it. He didn’t want anyone to think he was desperate for votes. A balanced approach was best in situations like this.

Once the voting ended, the two teams headed backstage. A staff member guided them to a room where they would wait for the results. Just like during the vocal performance, the room had two couches, and a screen mounted on the wall. Their voting scores would be shown there once the results were ready.

Haneul and his teammates took the second couch. He sat down next to Eunwoo, and Suho sat on his other side, which put Jeon Hyunsik at the far end. Haneul felt quietly thankful for that.