??? ; why is it so dark?

??? ; ow

the trainees were filtering into
a pitch-black room just when the
lights dramatically turned on

of course, this new appearance of light
also revealed hoyeon on the floor

KIAN HWANG [ 1 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; woah- [catching himself after almost stumbling over them]

JI YUJUN [ 2 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; woah! [staring at the lights causing him to run into kian's back]

JI YUJUN [ 2 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; what the-?

ANN KIM [ 1 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; what are you guys doing? you're blocking the entrance [looks curiously]

SEO KAIRO [ 1 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; wow this room is prettier than that first room

kairo is also distracted by the lights,
but his eyes quickly found the
pile up in front of it

SEO KAIRO [ 1 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; what's going on? [tilts head]

DO DAEWON [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; [peaks in] what's the hold up?

sadly, daewon doesn't get an answer,
but he does get to watch ann rushing
the rest of her group to get to their
seats. even though she did let
kian help hoyeon up first.

BAEK SOORAM [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; oh they split us up by star amount

BAEK SOORAM [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; but... [frowns]

what did she see...?

MIN SUHO [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; [screeches] DANGER ZONE?!

MIN SUHO [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; MOM HOLD ME I'M SCARED!!!

suho clutches onto aurae for dear life

JEONG AURAE [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; [flinches cause he literally just screamed in her ear]

JEONG AURAE [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; calm down. do you have no confidence?

there are literal flames in aurae's eyes

JEONG AURAE [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; none of my children are getting eliminated

BAE JEONGHOON [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; rae... i don't think that's statistically possible

BAE JEONGHOON [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; especially in my case...

flashback to jeonghoon getting
last place in the initial rankings

JEONG AURAE [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; did i raise losers? what is this mindset?

JANG GYEONG [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; don't mind him, you know he's just nervous

JANG GYEONG [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; he'll be confident again soon, remember when he kept dying in that game like a noob

JANG GYEONG [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; he bounced back

BAE JEONGHOON [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; [offended] would a noob have a maxed-out account?

DO DAEWON [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; if they have an obsession, yes.

can they just take their seats?
the producers are crying

HEARTBEAT ;; THE WHEELS ON THE BUS GO ROUND AND ROUND

the entire hearts team comes marching
out in a line, with a hand on the shoulder in
front of them and with sooyun at the front

JI YUJUN [ 2 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; [leans over to kyuhyun] were we supposed to do a special entrance?

JI YUJUN [ 2 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; like this is ******* 101??

kyuhyun is taken aback
because i'm pretty sure he's
never talked to yujun before

SHIN KYUHYUN [ 2 ☆ diamond ] ; [shrugs] they didn't say to...

HEARTBEAT ;; ALL THROUGH THE TOWN

after their beautiful entrance,
diamond and 4-leaf-clover are left
in confusion. it doesn't help that the
lively group that entered is almost
all safe from this elimination

MIN SOOYUN [ 2 ☆ Heartbeat ] ; 1, 2, 3! hello! we are heartbeat!

like dominos the group bows as
a greeting and quickly went
to their seats, a bit reluctantly
since the producers definitely
told them to be quick

AUDREY STEWART [ 2 ☆ Heartbeat ] ; [frowns and makes grabby hands from her seat] yijae...

KWON YIJAE [ 1 ☆ Heartbeat ] ; [using her fingers to act out a smile for her] smile audrey~

HEO JUNGJIN [ 2 ☆ Heartbeat ] ; if we were to successfully capture the president and make a deal for his safety that they just debut us all in a group

HEO JUNGJIN [ 2 ☆ Heartbeat ] ; i think we'd be completely set

MOON SEONGMIN [ 2 ☆ Heartbeat ] ; wouldn't we get in trouble for that..?

HEO JUNGJIN [ 2 ☆ Heartbeat ] ; not if we don't harm him

KANG JAEHYUK [ 2 ☆ Heartbeat ] ; that's kidnapping

HEO JUNGJIN [ 2 ☆ Heartbeat ] ; does the president look like a child to you???

SEOL YERIM [ 2 ☆ ACE ] ; if you want to make it to the next round, i'd suggest you stop making plots to kidnap people

yerim and the rest of ACE
had quietly and quickly
made their entrance

YOON SOOYOUNG [ 2 ☆ ACE ] ; soosoo~!

sooyoung greeting sooyun
is a great way to end
this entrance section

NOW THAT ALL THE TRAINEES
ARE SEATED BASED ON THEIR
STAR COUNT, SHALL WE
REFRESH THE VIEWERS
MEMORY ON WHO SITS
IN EACH SECTION?

the trainees seated in the space
marked as "safe" have received
their second star from the previous
mission and are therefore safe
from this elimination

meanwhile, the trainees that
occupy the "danger zone" have
yet to receive a second star and
are up for elimination today

WITH 15 TRAINEES ALREADY
SAFE, WHO WILL BE ABLE
TO ESCAPE THE DANGER ZONE
AND SURVIVE ANOTHER DAY?!

after the dramatic voice ended,
the lights began to flash once again

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; ARE WE READY TO RUMBLE?!

cue the post editing music here

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; DID YOU HEAR ME?!

if anyone could get nervous trainees
to cheer it was definitely misun
cause i think some of them forgot
what this was for a second

LEE HANEUL [ 1 ☆ ACE ] ; [standing up] LET'S GOOOOOOOO

LEE NAYEON [ 2 ☆ Heartbeat ] ; WOOOOOOOOO

LEE NAYEON [ 2 ☆ Heartbeat ] ; MISUNNNNNNNN [voice cracks cause she's screaming too loud

eventually, the mood calms down

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; [clears throat] i want to start off by saying sorry to the producers

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; i'm not really, but you guys told me to come out here as seriously as possible

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; so, i figured i'd at least address it

misun isn't getting hired again i believe...

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; anyway, [glances at notecard] welcome trainees to our first elimination

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; i can only imagine how some of you must be feeling

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; specifically in our danger zone

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; but i assume some of you in the safe zone may still be feeling a hint of sadness

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; whether you're worried for a specific individual or your whole group

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; i wish everyone the best possible outcome today

a dramatic pause for lingering
shots of the trainees to be seen

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; HOWEVER, we all know that with an elimination there is no GOOD outcome

another edited pause for suspense

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; today, any trainee in the danger zone with less than 2300 EXP will be leaving street casted to return to their normal everyday lives

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; but this also means everyone with over 2300 EXP will be able to stay here to continue their journey [smiles]

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; are you interested to know how many will be earning another star today?

dramatic tones as a platform
is revealed behind her

as well as an image on the screen

LEE HANEUL [ 1 ☆ ACE ] ; [counting] oh! so 8 of us don't survive

DO DAEWON [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; it's 7

DO DAEWON [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; there're 24 seats and 31 trainees

DO DAEWON [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; 31 minus 24 equals 7

ah yes the platform that was
revealed consists of 24 seats

LEE HANEUL [ 1 ☆ ACE ] ; [grins] so that means my chances just increased!

PARK ROSE [ 2 ☆ ACE ] ; they are only showing 4 numbers?

KAWAHARA KEI [ 2 ☆ ACE] ; [sighs] mnet's being dramatic again

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; [coughs] ah! trainees!

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; it seems i've skipped a card :D

what did misun forget this time...?

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; considering all our rankings today include the extra exp you've received as a reward

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; it'd be important to share who received first place in our suit mission, correct?

the atmosphere is a mix of emotions
considering their attention is
being drawn in multiple ways

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; each team has received extra exp based on their overall ranking in the online voting

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; but one group has received a total of 400 extra exp!

pause for dramatic effect

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; congratulations to HEARTBEAT!

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; additionally, every group's center received extra EXP, but one specific individual also received a first place benefit

hello again

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; it seems HEARTBEAT had everyone's heart beating, seeing as their center took the crown as well

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; congratulations to audrey for winning the official center benefit!

heartbeat more like destroy my
eardrum, why are their screams
making the whole place shake???

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; [stands there wincing but proud]

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; not to ruin the fun, but let's get back to the task at hand

the atmosphere is made tense
again especially with the post
editing dramatic music

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; 9 trainees in the danger zone will survive

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; which is something you can see on screen

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; but you may be wondering why only some EXP totals are shown?

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; well to save a little surprise for our overall ranking announcement

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; we've decided to keep some scores hidden

BAE JEONGHOON [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; do you think the 4 of them just make up the top 4 overall?

BAE JEONGHOON [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; and that's why they can't show their EXP?

BAEK SOORAM [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; i mean... possibly?

BAEK SOORAM [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; wasn't kairo first place in the initial ranking?

two rows infront of them

SEO KAIRO [ 1 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; did i just hear my name?

MO HOYEON [ 1 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; [no answer cause they're not here right now]

ANN KIM [ 1 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; they just called you cracked in 4 languages

SEO KAIRO [ 1 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; what now???

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; hmmm

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; that 3260 looks like a nice place to start right?

what is this jeopardy? i'll
take danger zone for 3000

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; our first trainee to receive a star today has clearly captured the attention of the audience

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; whether that be through their ability to deliver fighting phrases or their perseverance when the situation doesn't seem all that fair

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; no matter the case, let's give a hand for...

dramatic music

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; ann kim! congratulations!

ANN KIM [ 2 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; eh? when did i show perseverance???

KIAN HWANG [ 1 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; [mutters] don't ask questions, just go up there

ANN KIM [ 2 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; oh yeah [stands up]

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; wait wait! you don't need to come up here until the rankings section

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; but if you'd like to say anything, they'll give you a mic

ann hesitates there for second to
the point that she ends up with a mic

ANN KIM [ 2 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; so i guess i want to thank all my teammates for helping me and for making living here he- i mean fun, for making it fun

ANN KIM [ 2 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; and thank you to my fans

ANN KIM [ 2 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; if you want to continue supporting me i'd REALLY appreciate a new pho-

the rest of ann's words were muted...

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; up or down?

misun questioned in regard to the reveal

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; up? okay!

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; our next trainee to gain a star is well known for their looks

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; if we didn't know better, we would've thought they were a model rather than a student

KWON YIJAE [ 1 ☆ Heartbeat ] ; [points at herself] do you think it's me?

MIN SUHO [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; i think it's hoyeon :D

this feels like an attack idk

JANG GYEONG [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; but suho... it feels like it's you?

WHO IS IT???

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; congratulations, do daewon!

ah yes the visual prince

hm...

SPEAKING OF VISUALS....!

[ TWO DAYS AGO ]

HAK SEUNGJUN [ 2 ☆ ACE] ; oh, we're doing this here too?

ah yes, produce veteran seungjun
isn't surprised by the wall of faces

meanwhile...

JANG GYEONG [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; [blinks] are those our faces...?

MIN SUHO [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; AHH there's soooo many EYES

MIN SUHO [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; [jumping around] I SWEAR THEY'RE FOLLOWING ME

they aren't...

STAFF ;; today we'd like you to choose the top visual on the show

BAE JEONGHOON [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; top visual? isn't it me [points at himself seriously]

STAFF ;; [stares]

BAE JEONGHOON [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; i'm kidding i'm kidding~ it's...

jeonghoon searches for the face
on his mind before grabbing
and returning with it

BAE JEONGHOON [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; [flips the paddle] it's daewon!

a point for the prince daewon

LEE NAYEON [ 2 ☆ Heartbeat ] ; [dramatically reveals her paddle of choice] sooram!

LEE NAYEON [ 2 ☆ Heartbeat ] ; have you seen her? this is the obvious choice!

AUDREY STEWART [ 2 ☆ Heartbeat ] ; wa bam! [flips her paddle] yerim!

YOON SOOYOUNG [ 2 ☆ ACE ] ; everyone is so pretty, but...

YOON SOOYOUNG [ 2 ☆ ACE ] ; [reveals her paddle] the real choice is sooyun!

YOON SOOYOUNG [ 2 ☆ ACE ] ; she has very pure visuals!

JEONG AURAE [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; hm... there is someone who'd make a very pretty princess

JEONG AURAE [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; [reveals] princess sooyoung~

JEONG AURAE [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; i believe my lil bro would approve as well

MOON SEONGMIN [ 2 ☆ Heartbeat ] ; hoyeon!

MOON SEONGMIN [ 2 ☆ Heartbeat ] ; what can i say, the pretty privilege came in clutch!

PARK ROSE [ 2 ☆ ACE ] ; [already has her paddle revealed] i chose kei

wow everyone's choosing quite quickly

well... except for two people

ANN KIM [ 2 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; [holding kairo and daewon's paddle] only one?

ANN KIM [ 2 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; uh...

ANN KIM [ 2 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; kairo i guess?

this actually almost exactly
what happened in another room

KIAN HWANG [ 1 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; [also holding both kairo & daewon's paddle]

KIAN HWANG [ 1 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; [talking to himself] well i couldn't take my eyes off of him when i first met him...

KIAN HWANG [ 1 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; but our center...

i feel there's an easy answer here...

KIAN HWANG [ 1 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; i choose daewon [frowns] sorry kairo

meanwhile, kairo is holding
neither of their pictures

SEO KAIRO [ 1 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; [holding kyuhyun's paddle]

SEO KAIRO [ 1 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; as someone who has never set foot into a gym my whole entire life,

SEO KAIRO [ 1 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; kyuhyun's abs are something i will always dream to have like- you get it right?

yes, yes i do

SEO RYEON [ 2 ☆ ACE ] ; why did i choose her? [holding sooram's paddle]

SEO RYEON [ 2 ☆ ACE ] ; she's beautiful and idol like

ONCE ALL THE TRAINEES VOTED,
THE VOTES WERE TALLIED UP

AND DESPITE THE WINNER'S
OWN VOTE FOR THEMSELF

THEY STILL CAME OUT
WITH THE MAJORITY

THE TOP VISUALS OF STREET CASTED

( excluding daewon's vote for himself,
he still received 3 votes. sooram,
sooyun, and yerim each received 2 )

DO DAEWON [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; what can i say? [flashes a pose]

DO DAEWON [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; of course i'm pretty

this scene fades out as
daewon starts laughing

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; moving along, let's reveal our trainee with the highest EXP in the danger zone!

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; despite this trainee having poor skills, they've charmed everyone with their nerd rizz

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; [off script] who wrote this???

suddenly yujun is getting looks
from his teammates although they
are on the other side of the room

JI YUJUN [ 2 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; [raises his hands] it wasn't me!

sure...

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; anyway, i assume there is no room for surprise here

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; congratulations, seo kairo!

SEVYN LEE [ 2 ☆ ACE ] ; was that obvious? [confused]

KAWAHARA KEI [ 2 ☆ ACE] ; [shrugs] i don't know, i thought it was hoyeon

JI YUJUN [ 2 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; hoyeon has loser rizz, get with the program

SHIN KYUHYUN [ 2 ☆ diamond ] ; [mumbling] loser rizz...?

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; next up... oh! we are revealing another known EXP trainee

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; who has 2747 EXP?

KANG JAEHYUK [ 2 ☆ Heartbeat ] ; i don't know, but that's a nice number

MOON SEONGMIN [ 2 ☆ Heartbeat ] ; why?

KANG JAEHYUK [ 2 ☆ Heartbeat ] ; because it has two 7s

ok???

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; this trainee has taken a hit to the chest multiple times

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; but they are still standing here determined to do well

the image is revealed on the screen

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; congratulations, kwon yijae!

AUDREY STEWART [ 2 ☆ Heartbeat ] ; YIJAEEEEEE

KWON YIJAE [ 1 ☆ Heartbeat ] ; [buffers because she's surprised]

yijae does end up with a mic in hand

KWON YIJAE [ 1 ☆ Heartbeat ] ; after not gaining a star with my group, i didn't expect to make it

KWON YIJAE [ 1 ☆ Heartbeat ] ; especially since there're a lot of trainees here that are more popular than me

KWON YIJAE [ 1 ☆ Heartbeat ] ; but i've found that to be a poor mindset

KWON YIJAE [ 1 ☆ Heartbeat ] ; [smiles] we all work hard, but i'll make sure to work harder to gain your support

KWON YIJAE [ 1 ☆ Heartbeat ] ; thank you <3

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; it seems there's a random empty space on the screen

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; shall we fill it?

misun is referring to the question
mark between ann and yijae

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; this trainee is a helpful spirit even when they should be spending a little more time on themselves

i like dramatic spaces

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; congratulations, kian hwang!

and then there were 4

YOON SOOYOUNG [ 2 ☆ ACE ] ; [frowns] doesn't this confirm someone from diamonds is eliminated?

PARK ROSE [ 2 ☆ ACE ] ; [nods]

there are 5 trainees from diamond
that have yet to be called...

MIN SUHO [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; mom hold me i'm scared!

JEONG AURAE [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; what did i tell you?!

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; oh, we're dwindling down...

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; and this won't help, but

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; our next two safe trainees will be revealed together!

SEO RYEON [ 2 ☆ ACE ] ; they are going to make the lowest two be revealed last aren't they?

SEOL YERIM [ 2 ☆ ACE ] ; that sounds right

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; the first trainee is often found lighting the fire

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; whether that be with their loud voice or their competitive attitude

SHIN KYUHYUN [ 2 ☆ diamond ] ; [mouths a name] min suho

HAK SEUNGJUN [ 2 ☆ ACE] ; haneul?

KAWAHARA KEI [ 2 ☆ ACE] ; [shakes his head] he's loud, but he isn't very competitive

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; the second trainee is a princess with eyes of fire

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; ...

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; these clues are too obvious

JANG GYEONG [ 1 ☆ diamond ] ; [claps] aurae~!

WITHOUT FURTHER ADO,
2 MORE SAFE TRAINEES

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; congratulations, min suho and jeong aurae!

SEO KAIRO [ 1 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; and then there were 2...

MO HOYEON [ 1 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; don't do that

SEO KAIRO [ 1 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; oh sorry

SEO KAIRO [ 1 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; [coughs] and then there was 1

MO HOYEON [ 1 ☆ 4-leaf-clover ] ; wha- that's not what i meant-

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; if you'd turn your attention to the screen again

MISUN [ the recruiter ] ; these are the four trainees that might have enough EXP to stay here today

WHO'S ON THE SCREEN?!

WHICH 2 TRAINEES WILL
GAIN A SECOND STAR?

FIND OUT AFTER THE BREAK!

a/n ; i just wanted to mention that
the form to create groups for
the next mission will be at the
end of the next chapter ^^