MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; but when comes love, heart break seems to follow

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; let's welcome our next group to the stage~!

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; HEARTTHROBS performing BROKEN HEART~!

the team enters the stage

HEARTTHROBS ; One look at us will mend your broken hearts. Look out! It's us the HEARTTHROBS!

why did the producers choose two songs related to hearts? cause i don't think we can handle our hearts shaking and throbbing

KAWAHARA KEI [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; can't get me out of your mind, I'm kawahara kei~

YOON SOOYOUNG [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; [sings] It's a broken heart~ but my blooming vocals can fit it! I'm yoon sooyoung~!

JI YUJUN [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; Don't even need to read your mind, I know your heart is beating for mine~ It's yujun~!

PARK ROSE [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; roses are red, violets are blue, would you be mine cause my heart beats for you~ Hello, it's rose!

following their introductions, they
begin to prepare for their stage
and just as the song starts, the
footage transitions to an empty,
quiet practice room...?

wait... what's that noise?

YOON SOOYOUNG [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; [happily humming while using the mirror as a whiteboard]

if i didn't know better,
i'd think she was studying

what kind of psychopath looks
that happy while studying???

[coughs] ahem-

oh look! an arrival!

KAWAHARA KEI [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; and you see, THAT'S why i need to borrow your toothbrush

JI YUJUN [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; you can have it, but i DON'T want it back

PARK ROSE [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; [actively not listening to this conversation] oh! sooyoung! this is where you were!

yujun and kei both direct their
attention to sooyoung as well

YOON SOOYOUNG [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; ah! [smiles] sorry I was too excited to sort everything out

JI YUJUN [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; [gets closer to the mirror] woah! a whole distribution already?!

YOON SOOYOUNG [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; well [taps her chin with the back of the marker] it's only the first few verses so far, I spent too much time figuring out our positions [gestures with the marker to the start of the board]

PARK ROSE [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; [looking over the positions] hm... main dancer...? but isn't kei the better option?

street casted trainees seem to have
been conditioned to doubt themselves

YOON SOOYOUNG [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; well, he's our center, so it seemed unfair to have him be both

"sharing is caring" is the street
casted motto apparently

[in street casted, we're all fam
(i swear i didn't just make
this joke ignore me LMAO)]

KAWAHARA KEI [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; [nods] you're a good dancer anyway rose

JI YUJUN [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; oooo the kei stamp of approval! i heard that's hard to get

PARK ROSE [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; [rolls her eyes but is smiling] tell me about it

KAWAHARA KEI [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; [crosses his arms] what? should i take it back?

PARK ROSE [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; no no sensei kei! [bows slightly]

JI YUJUN [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; SENSEI KEI?! WHERE HAS THIS NICKNAME BEEN ALL MY LIFE?!

KAWAHARA KEI [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; not again... [turns his focus back to the positions]

but why did he just furrow his eyebrows?

YOON SOOYOUNG [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; [tilts her head] is something wrong..?

KAWAHARA KEI [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; does it say lead vocalist right here? [points to the board]

omg you can read /jk

i think he's just trying to give
the benefit of the doubt

YOON SOOYOUNG [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; oh shoot! [quickly goes to change it] that was supposed to say lead dancer!

JI YUJUN [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; i mean you've could've just left it [grins at kei] there's a first time for everything right?

KAWAHARA KEI [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; not when the first time will get me eliminated

PARK ROSE [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; now you're just being too harsh on yourself...

PARK ROSE [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; your voice isn't bad

KAWAHARA KEI [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; sureeeeeeee

PARK ROSE [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; i'm gonna ignore THAT energy. [switches her attention] can i take lead vocal then? even though the song doesn't have many vocal parts

YOON SOOYOUNG [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; of course! [adds it to the board]

JI YUJUN [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; oh oh! then can we write dancer on mine?

the three stopped their
actions and looked at him

JI YUJUN [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; what? is it that bad to want to be a jack of all trades?

JI YUJUN [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; you all look like I just killed your mother

PARK ROSE [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; your mama so- wait, nope wrong place for that one haha

KAWAHARA KEI [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; [quirks his brow] what were you going to say?

PARK ROSE [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; [clicks her tongue and smiles] don't worry about it

YOON SOOYOUNG [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; anyway~! yujun don't take it to heart, we are all dancing today, just with only 4 people it's pointless to have any more dance positions really

KAWAHARA KEI [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; that's a very political answer

JI YUJUN [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; and I'll take it!

well, it seems everyone is satisfied
[you'll never be satisfied]

as the audio of them chattering
while finishing the line distribution
became softer and softer until it
was completely gone along with
the practice room, the known
interview space appeared instead

[ trainee interview ]

STAFF ; what did you do in the recording studio?

YOON SOOYOUNG [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; we practiced growling :)

JI YUJUN [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; we channeled our inner wolf [howls]

very accurate depiction

but not the point, who is
directing them to growl?

JI YUJUN [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; [just got to the door of the studio with the others] ha ha why am I suddenly nervous?

KAWAHARA KEI [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; what are you on about?

PARK ROSE [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; no i felt it too [rubs her arms slightly] i just felt a chill

YOON SOOYOUNG [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; chill? is it the ac?

PARK ROSE [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; i hope so...

they stood there with no one
reaching to open the door

KAWAHARA KEI [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; this is ridiculous, yujun just open the door already

JI YUJUN [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; alright...

yujun, albeit very cowardly,
peeks his head through the door,
gasps, and shuts it again.

JI YUJUN [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; i don't want to go in...

PARK ROSE [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; was it a ghost?

YOON SOOYOUNG [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; a zombie?

KAWAHARA KEI [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; a perfectly normal producer?

JI YUJUN [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; you're no fun [pouts]

KAWAHARA KEI [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; yeah yeah, but i'm right aren't i?

JI YUJUN [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; well... i wouldn't say they're normal...

YOON SOOYOUNG [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; a ghost producer!

KAWAHARA KEI [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; [sighs] i'll just open the door then

KAWAHARA KEI [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; and i swear if you guys are just trying to get back at me for for the water bucket- [is left speechless at the sight behind the door that he wordlessly starts closing the door again]

...

??? ; if you don't just come in, i'll have to drag you

PARK ROSE [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; wait a minute... that voice...

following the threat, the four
finally enter the room
and what do they see?

BAEK HANWOOL [ the rap expert ] ; are you guys finally ready to record?

YOON SOOYOUNG [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; you're here?!

BAEK HANWOOL [ the rap expert ] ; well yeah, i wrote the song for you

the four are simply shell shocked

BAEK HANWOOL [ the rap expert ] ; I am surprised to see that rose is rapping today as well

PARK ROSE [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; well... it is rap heavy...

BAEK HANWOOL [ the rap expert ] ; [nods] you're right, but I'm intrigued, shall we have you go first?

i'm learning that speaking
just makes you go first-

nonetheless, rose followed and went
to record. they started off with the
vocal parts without any issues, but
at the rap and the recording of
the "broken" lines, it seems
that Hanwool realized an issue.

BAEK HANWOOL [ the rap expert ] ; It's sounding too light and floaty, with these parts there need too be some grit in your voice

BAEK HANWOOL [ the rap expert ] ; like you're trying to get something out of your throat

BAEK HANWOOL [ the rap expert ] ; ah! or better yet, it needs to sound like you're growling

KAWAHARA KEI [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; [whispers] growling...? what are we, wolves?

BAEK HANWOOL [ the rap expert ] ; [swivels around] kei, if that's the image you need, then yes.

BAEK HANWOOL [ the rap expert ] ; now, rose, could you try growling the line?

PARK ROSE [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; [attempts it but it kinda sounds like a baby wolf]

BAEK HANWOOL [ the rap expert ] ; closer... hm... let's have everyone out here try as well

the room was reluctant at first but
with the expectancy of hanwool, they
eventually attempted it. It got the point
that hanwool was just having them
repeatedly trying it to the point that
the room was just filled with
overlapping "broken" growls.

but you know what, it truly helped
the rest of the session go off
without any major stops or issues.

the scene changed and now the four
members were relaxing on bean bag
chairs that just happened to be
arranged in a circular fashion.

but this obviously presents late
night energy directed discussions

JI YUJUN [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; i know this topic is taboo and all in this world [lazily waves his hand around]

JI YUJUN [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; but how are your love lives?

YOON SOOYOUNG [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; peak sleepover discussion jun

JI YUJUN [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; is that not the vibe?

YOON SOOYOUNG [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; i guess [shrugs and extends out an arm to rose, who oh so kindly placed a gummy in her hand]

JI YUJUN [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; so...?

YOON SOOYOUNG [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; hm... i think it's obvious, but I do have a crush on sooyun

KAWAHARA KEI [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; pause [sticks out a hand out of his blanket cocoon] we're actually doing this

KAWAHARA KEI [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; it's risky

PARK ROSE [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; relax, they'll probably just cut this anyway

yeah, of course

JI YUJUN [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; that means i should put all cards out on the table

JI YUJUN [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; i'm into kairo

PARK ROSE [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; quick act surprised! [giggles]

KAWAHARA KEI [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; dude, everyone is, tell us something different

shall we unbox that?

no.

JI YUJUN [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; [splutters and suddenly feels like this is a competition]

JI YUJUN [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; i- i- I HAVE A POSTER OF KAIRO UP IN MY DORM!

ALERT! totally real dorm room footage!

YOON SOOYOUNG [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; OH MY! I think I have to go share this with kai

yet the only move she makes
is to further curl into her chair

JI YUJUN [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; [gasps] don't you dare! this is a secret circle!

PARK ROSE [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; we're being filmed [points at the camera]

KAWAHARA KEI [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; didn't you JUST say that they were going to cut it out?

PARK ROSE [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; shush

JI YUJUN [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; [ignores them] if you do that then I'll... uh... tell sooyun! yeah, that's what i'll do!

YOON SOOYOUNG [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; go for it she already knows

MA'AM what now? you can't
just drop information like this

YOON SOOYOUNG [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; anyway, [smiles in anticipation] someone else go

PARK ROSE [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; um... i kinda have a crush on my cats

the group immediately send her looks

PARK ROSE [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; not in a weird way of course, just they're cute!

JI YUJUN [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; by chance, do you have any um... human crushes?

PARK ROSE [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; no, not right now

the roann shippers are crying
somewhere on the internet right now

KAWAHARA KEI [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; honestly, i wasn't going to say anything, but I don't think i can be quiet after that one

KAWAHARA KEI [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; remember this is it save you [sends a pointed look at rose]

KAWAHARA KEI [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; late last year I was dating someone who ended up cheating on me

YOON SOOYOUNG [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; CHEATED ON YOU? were they insane???

JI YUJUN [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; yeah wHAT THE F

KAWAHARA KEI [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; I was really hurt over it and it generally hurt my trust, but I've since realized how much of a red flag they were anyway.

PARK ROSE [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; what red flags? [pops another gummy in her mouth]

KAWAHARA KEI [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; they were always trying to tear me down when I was happy or proud about something

YOON SOOYOUNG [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; wow, I hope they step on a lego

JI YUJUN [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; just one? no they should step on a bucket full of legos

PARK ROSE [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; i hope that every single place they step, a lego suddenly appears

KAWAHARA KEI [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; dark [chuckles] but thanks

KAWAHARA KEI [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; anyway, are we done? I was thinking of just taking a nap here [closes his eyes]

the three other members look at each
other, making a silent agreement

YOON SOOYOUNG [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; yeah, we're done, but before you do that "sleep" thing

kei reopens his eyes confused, but
his cocooned body is suddenly
enveloped by the other three in a hug

this hug is the final scene before
they appear on stage again.

☆☆☆

BROKEN HEART by HEARTTHROBS

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

(don't mind the name in the actual
video i think my brain short
circuited when I was making it-)

KAWAHARA KEI ; center, lead rapper

YOON SOOYOUNG ; leader, main vocalist

JI YUJUN ; main rapper, sub vocal

PARK ROSE ; main dancer, lead vocal

CENTER

☆☆☆

after giving their ending poses and
catching their breathes, HEARTTHROBS
are met onstage by Misun again.

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; I think your power truly broke my heart

YOON SOOYOUNG [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; will this fix it? [sends a kiss to the audience]

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; hm...? maybe? What do you guys think? [points her mic to the audience for effect]

the audience shouts back
with very adamant 'no's

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; [chuckles] how 'bout a little more to mend their hearts?

clearly this is a preplanned
section, but we'll allow it

JI YUJUN [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; will this fix it? [sends an array of different hearts]

PARK ROSE [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; will this fix it? [pretends to blow a bubble that pops as a heart]

KAWAHARA KEI [ 4 ☆ heartthrobs ] ; will this fix it? [a little reluctantly does hand hearts on his cheeks, ending it with a wink]

the crowd is so loud that their
final goodbye isn't even heard
before they officially exit the stage

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; really enjoyed it, huh? [laughs]

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; well then, you'll enjoy our final performance as well

disappointed noises fill the
crowd at the word "final"

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; but I must warn you, our next performance is a little sinful~

TO BE CONTINUED

a/n

if you find the hamilton reference
i'll give you some extra EXP lmao

hello, it's me here with an actual
update! i hope you enjoyed it!

slow updates for school reasons
obviously, but the next chapter won't
be a whole month after this one bc i
have thanksgiving break to write it 🤩

in that chapter, there will be a voting
form for this mission which also includes
extra parts for the last episode! as it also
has a section for choosing which song your
trainee wants to perform in the last mission,
the mission will automatically begin after all
current trainees have chosen or once i'm on
winter break (about 2 weeks after it opens).

This is just to let you know beforehand.
additionally, ep 8 will have 4 parts
in total, the last one revealing scores
and introducing the mission for the finale.

EXTRA EXP (if you know, you know)