▌ EPISODE FOUR: Take a Chance. 
❪ PART FIVE. ❫

As the live audience is done voting, Moka proceeds with announcing the next class.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HANAZAWA MOKA ꜜ she/her（HOST） ― And we're done! Last, but surely not least, let's welcome Pop City on the stage!

The Pop City students get on the stage together, bringing a completely different energy than the previous class. Even people who'd usually be grumpier, like Yiyuan, seem to be doing pretty well. The audience claps, enthusiastic.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HANAZAWA MOKA ꜜ she/her（HOST） ― Hello there! I bet you guys must be nervous by now... The wait was very long, wasn't it?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ??? 1 ꜜ ???（POP CITY） ― I guess! But most plays were very fun to watch~

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ??? 2 ꜜ ???（POP CITY） ― Right? And I'm sure we'll be able to deliver performances just as fun as the ones you've watched earlier.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HANAZAWA MOKA ꜜ she/her（HOST） ― That's the spirit! I'm sure you're right.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HANAZAWA MOKA ꜜ she/her（HOST） ― Well, then, let's give Pop City another warm round of applauses!

The audience claps once again, excited to see what the last class has in store for them.

But before we see the final result, how about we check what happened during the week first?

▎ DAY ONE: First session.
❪ 📍 Pop City's Training Room ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHU MINJEONG ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― Hello everyone!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHU MINJEONG ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― Haha. I don't know what else to say... 

A bit awkward there, but she got the spirit.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ AMARI HARUHIRO ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― I'm confused. But it's OK! I will work hard.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN SOYUL ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― Mhm! Same here. Does anyone know what we have to do in detail, though...?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― This was a mission in Seiyuu Academy 1 too, so I think it'll work more or less in the same way... Except we make the characters ourselves this time!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHA YUBIN ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― Ah, right! Your sister... Yuting, was it? Did she tell you anything about it?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― Hm... No, not really. She did say it was exhausting, though.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― [sarcastic] How reassuring...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― That's fine. It just means we'll have to work harder!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN SOYUL ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― Yes!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN SOYUL ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― Then... How about we start by choosing our favorite prompt? I have them here, so let's give them a look together!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHU MINJEONG ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― Great idea, Soyul! Well, then...

The Pop City students read both sets of prompts together and make their final choices.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN SOYUL ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― I love the second one. It spoke to me.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（POP CITY） ― [nodding] Same here... If possible, I'd love to go for that.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― Alright, let's write down our preferences and see if we need to switch anyone around! Although I do think I have an idea for Yubin...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHA YUBIN ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― ... Yuji, no.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― [pouts] But you're so tiny! You'd be the perfect fit for the first promPT OK I GOT IT WHAT THE HELL WHERE DID YOU GET THAT.

Yubin throws a balloon filled with pink paint at Yulian, who promptly dodges it!

The balloon explodes as it hits the wall, leaving a huge stain on it.

WHERE DID YOU FIND IT.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHA YUBIN ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― Never again.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― [speaking very fast] I'm so sorry sweet child o' mine I won't disrespect you like this ever again pinky promise please forgive mama Yuji.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHA YUBIN ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― [claps her hands] Apology accepted! I'm going for the first prompt.

... These two are something.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ AMARI HARUHIRO ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― [scared] ... I think I'll go for the first one as well.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― I like the second one the most! Please! Please!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― Glad we're being enthusiastic here! What about you guys? Both prompts are very good, so I don't mind choosing last, but you can choose your favorite one.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― I-

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN SOYUL ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― [pulling JAYDEN towards her, YUNZHI and SUWON] We're taking him. He's perfect.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― ...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN SOYUL ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― No objections.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― ... You're safe just because I was planning to choose it already.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHU MINJEONG ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― I'm fine with whatever! I really can't choose...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ LIU YIYUAN ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― Eh, me too.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― Hey, you're not debuting if you don't start being greedier, just so you know.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ LIU YIYUAN ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― I do NOT want to debut, Yuji.

How could one forget this... He's the one who got the production to force Yew to join the show to begin with...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― ... Fair point. [sighs] Minjeong, are you sure?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHU MINJEONG ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― Mhm! Debuting isn't my end goal either... Not like I would mind! But seriously, any prompt is good to me.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHU MINJEONG ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― Why don't you choose, Yuji? This means a lot to you after all.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― You guys sure are good at replying back, huh? [chuckles] Alright... If it's fine by you, then, I'd like to do the second prompt, so are you both OK with the first one?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHU MINJEONG ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― Fine by me! I told you, I don't have any preference.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ LIU YIYUAN ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― [nods] Yeah.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― OK, then! Let's split up and start working already~

✹ ﹒ ﹒ POP CITY ― Yes!

After quickly splitting up into their respective teams, the Pop City students immediately start brainstorming together.

Let's start with the first group!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ LIU YIYUAN ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― ... This prompt is so random.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHU MINJEONG ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― Who would bring a hammer to a restaurant, I wonder?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHA YUBIN ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― We don't have to be so literal with it, though... It can be a toy from those construction sets, given the age of the main character!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ AMARI HARUHIRO ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― [nodding] Yubin is right. That, or... I don't know, Thor's hammer?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHU MINJEONG ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― Thor's hammer.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ AMARI HARUHIRO ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― [deadpan] Thor's hammer.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ LIU YIYUAN ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― ... Why do I actually like the idea?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHA YUBIN ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― Let's write it down, then. Let's keep track of all the ideas we come up with, actually!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ AMARI HARUHIRO ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― Mhm! The more ideas we have, the easier it'll be to come up with the plot. We got this!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHU MINJEONG ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― Mhm!

Things seem to be going pretty well for the first team, but how is the second group doing?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（POP CITY） ― I love this prompt.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― It shows! [chuckles] Never seen you this assertive, now that I think about it.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（POP CITY） ― [surprised] Really? I would've thought the opposite, actually...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― Mhm... I don't know how to explain, it's just you're both very direct yet gentle at the same time. It's a nice contrast to Jayden's bolder personality, but I can see why you two get along very well.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― You're very similar at core as you both value honesty and productivity, but you have different ways to go about it and you complement each other. I'm a bit jealous seeing you two, I won't lie!

They called these two gay in 782897889 different languages...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（POP CITY） ― [chuckles, slightly blushing] What are you saying, Yuji! You're great at everything you do, no reason to think anything less than that.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― [moved] Yunzhi...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― Uhm... I'm not the best at coming up with ideas, but I will help in any way I can!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN SOYUL ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― Don't worry about it, Suwon! I'm sure you'll do great~

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（POP CITY） ― And we're here to back you up... We're a team, after all!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ―  [nodding] That's right. No one is perfect at first so, as long as you do your best, it'll be fine.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― Understood! Thank you guys~

The students finish preparing the initial plans for their scripts, and it eventually becomes time for them to have a nice meal and go back to their rooms.

▎ DAY ONE: Free time.
❪ 📍 Cafeteria ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ LIU YIYUAN ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― ...

Yiyuan, currently standing and holding his food tray, is staring at a certain someone in silence.

Currently sitting at another table with his other team members...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― Ehm, sorry... Is it OK if I go back to my room? I'm feeling kinda tired...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN SOYUL ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― Of course it is! See you tomorrow, Suwon~

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― Mhm!

The students wave at Suwon as he gets up to throw away his tray and go back to his dorm...

Or so they think.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― Hi Yiyuan!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ LIU YIYUAN ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― Eek! You scared me!

In shock, Yiyuan drops his tray on the floor...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― ... Oops.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ LIU YIYUAN ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― [sighs] It's OK. What's up?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― Shouldn't I be the one to ask you? You've been staring at me for the last ten minutes without even taking a seat.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ LIU YIYUAN ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― ... You found me. That's so embarrassing. Goodbye.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― [chuckles, grabbing YIYUAN's arm] Hey, hey! Don't be like that, it's not embarrassing... Did you need anything?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ LIU YIYUAN ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― Well... Yeah... But, you know...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ LIU YIYUAN ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― OK, alright. I can't act.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― Uh?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ LIU YIYUAN ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― And you can.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― I'd say I can, yes, but... Aren't you an actor yourself...?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ LIU YIYUAN ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― [scratching his head] Ehh... No... Not a good one, at least...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― Mhm... So you want some help? Is that what you're saying?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ LIU YIYUAN ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― [getting on his knees] Yes, please.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― [clapping] Of course! I'd love to help you~ Once you guys are done with your script, let's practice together!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ LIU YIYUAN ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― Oh... OK... Thanks.

Although a bit awkwardly, Yiyuan thanks Suwon — who is now taking his leave for the night — for accepting to help him.

In the meanwhile, at another table in the cafeteria, Chu Minjeong is psychologically torturing her dormmates...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHU MINJEONG ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― You don't understand the greatness of this work... A guy who initially came off as apathetic that later turns out to be actively suppressing his emotions and attempting to live the most uneventful life possible just so his psychic powers won't get out of control... And this other guy who constantly defies the rules imposed by the adults around him in hopes to get the attention he craves, because he knows he is otherwise invisible in their eyes... But they can see each other... Even in their invisibility to the rest of the world... They don't have anyone but each other... And that's what makes it so incredibly romantic... Even if at first they don't really like each other... And despite having no reason to believe him at all... [REDACTED] believes [REDACTED], no matter what...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Minjeong. What the fuck. We literally just asked how things were going in your class.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHU MINJEONG ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― I DIDN'T EVEN GET TO THE BEST PART YET.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― I'M NOT THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THIS.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JEON NAKYOUNG ꜜ she/siri（DECONSTRUCTED CLUB） ― Me neither, honestly... Don't you read any GL? Anything to recommend?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHU MINJEONG ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― ... No. But with the power of your mind, you can replace these two with women! Look, they're pretty enough for that, I could dress them up as girls and it wouldn't even look weird! [REDACTED] looks so pretty while crying too... He's so pretty that even God starts crying with him by making the sky snow... Or, well, maybe it's just his psychic powers. But you know what I mean! And of course [REDACTED] still loves him and cherishes him despite being pushed away once already... They're so dear to me I love them so much and...

Ashina, Den and Nakyoung exchange some concerned, yet amused glances among each other as Minjeong continues rambling about her manga.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HIURA ASHINA ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― [chuckles] Totally different from the usually très chic girl she is, isn't it?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Yeah... [sighs] Good for her to find strength in something so small, though.

In the following days, Pop City continues working efficiently, everyone contributing to the best of their ability.

▎ DAY TWO: Planning phase.
❪ 📍 Pop City's Training Room ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（POP CITY） ― OK, we have a starter.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― Already?! This plot really spoke to you and Soyul, huh...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN SOYUL ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― That's right! Yunzhi, announce our idea.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（POP CITY） ― Mhm! I was thinking of having the shady estate agent as our main character, driving from a city to another to conduct his business, but the car breaks and he finds himself to push the car to the closest gas station.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（POP CITY） ― There he has some odd encounters with his previous scam victims, and by the end of the play the audience is left wondering if what they've just watched was real or just a fever dream.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― Mhm, I see, I see... So niveau seuil core of us, honestly...

We appreciate the promo! Stan niveau seuil and go read their book on Feven's profile, by the way.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN SOYUL ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― We are still thinking of a way to implement the cowboy hat, but we have a few options already... Do you guys have any idea?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― We could set it in Texas!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― That, or maybe have someone with the worst fashion sense known to mankind... A fluorescent purple top... Tightest pants with green jaguar print... Cowboy hat and boots for the worst look ever...

Suwon nearly gags as he lists the items.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― No, no. This was too much for me.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― Then why did you suggest it? [chuckles] But that could be an idea, too.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN SOYUL ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― Wait. Wait. I just had the best idea ever.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN SOYUL ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― Just yesterday I was rewatching The Amazing World of Gumball with Mire, and in this one episode Darwin's archnemesis was a hat, so... What if we turn it into a character instead of using it just as a prop?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― Wait, you're onto something.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― That sounds fun! I wonder how we could make it work, though...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― Hm... Yunzhi is good at ventriloquism, so we could play on that and have him play the hat.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN SOYUL ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― What?! And you didn't tell me, Yunzhi?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― Now, how on Earth does anything of the sort even come up in conversation...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― Jayden Im is dead and won't reply to any other inquiry.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― [raising an eyebrow] Alriiiiiight...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― With the cowboy hat as a character, we still have three others to think about...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN SOYUL ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― I'm sure we can figure it out easily from this point onwards. Here's what I think we could do...

▎ DAY TWO: Free time.
❪ 📍 Cat Dorm ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― ... And so, this is how I ended up becoming a furry. Do you like my wolf ears?

Yulian is currently resting their head on Moe's lap, recounting their day as the latter gently brushes their hair — and now their furry ears, too — with xyr hand.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ MIZUTANI MOE ꜜ she/xe（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― They're very cute. [chuckles] And it's OK... I love you even if you're a furry.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― Moe...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ MIZUTANI MOE ꜜ she/xe（POP CITY） ― [with dreamy eyes] Yuji...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KANG DOHEE ꜜ she/her（DECONSTRUCTED CLUB） ― [sighs] Dohee...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ MIZUTANI MOE ꜜshe/xe（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― [blushing profusely] ... I forgot you were still awake.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KANG DOHEE ꜜ she/her（DECONSTRUCTED CLUB） ― There's no sleep when no one else but you does their job.

Yeah... And we saw...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KANG DOHEE ꜜ she/her（DECONSTRUCTED CLUB） ― But keep going! Pretend I'm not here while I'm preparing the plot for our script. Haha.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― ...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Your prompt sounds so fun. Our team went for something more... Serious.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ MIZUTANI MOE ꜜ she/xe（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Isn't that fine, though? There's more variety this way! And not everyone is suited for comedy either...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ MIZUTANI MOE ꜜ she/xe（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― ... Wait, you were awake too?!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― I don't think anyone could fall asleep hearing you two.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― ... Oops.

These two...

The mission seems to proceed smoothly on both sides.

▎ DAY THREE: Planning phase.
❪ 📍 Pop City's Training Room ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHA YUBIN ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― I say Yiyuan should be the father and Minjeong the mother.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ LIU YIYUAN ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― What.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHA YUBIN ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― Both roles as written fit you two the best! Well, Yiyuan could also be a good server, but I don't want Hiro to be the father... At least not based on how we wrote him.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHU MINJEONG ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― Mh? What do you mean?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHA YUBIN ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― The one black guy in our team going for a role whose only purpose is being loud and rude to a kid is very... Weird...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHU MINJEONG ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― OH.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ LIU YIYUAN ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― OHHHH.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHA YUBIN ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― See? I don't think it fits Hiro anyways... And considering this is his first time in the studio, I'd like the audience to have a different first impression of him!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ AMARI HARUHIRO ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― Oh, that's... Thank you...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHA YUBIN ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― You're welcome! But I don't think this is anything I deserve to be thanked for, it's just the bare minimum.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ AMARI HARUHIRO ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― [shaking his head] I agree with that, but it still means a lot to see someone actually care. Not to mention I'm new here...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHU MINJEONG ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― And so am I! It doesn't mean you don't deserve respect, now, does it?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHU MINJEONG ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― Although I do think Hiro could be a better fit for the mother than me...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ AMARI HARUHIRO ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― WHAT.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHA YUBIN ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― ...

No no no. There's an agenda behind this.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ LIU YIYUAN ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― ... Ignoring Minjeong's comment, the script is done, right? We should start practicing already.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHA YUBIN ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― Oh, right... The interim check is tomorrow, isn't it?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHU MINJEONG ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― ... Oh.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ AMARI HARUHIRO ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― Oh.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ LIU YIYUAN ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― ... You guys didn't know?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHU MINJEONG ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― Haha... Oops... 

✹ ﹒ ﹒ AMARI HARUHIRO ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― Hey, I did know! I just didn't realize three days had passed already...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHA YUBIN ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― [nodding] Fair, fair... Considering the last few days... You were busy writing day and night, after all!

As the second team finished discussing and is ready to start rehearsing their lines, someone interrupts them.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（POP CITY） ― [clapping his hands] Hello! Now that three days have passed, I think it is time to choose our Representatives.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（POP CITY） ― We'll need someone to lead the class and reply to the teachers' questions tomorrow, so... Can those who are nominating themselves please stand up?

Yulian, Soyul, Haruhiro and Jayden stand up!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（POP CITY） ― OK, that's a lot of people.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN SOYUL ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― Can a dead man even be a Class Representative?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ AMARI HARUHIRO ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― For the last time, I'm NOT dead. Stop getting your news from Koreaboo.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN SOYUL ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― That's suspicious... That's exactly what a dead person would say...

Soyul, I get the reference, but I'm not very sure it works here...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― Hey, hey, let's not discourage the competition here.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― [praying] No repeats of last time... No repeats of last time... No repeats of last time... No repeats of last time...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHA YUBIN ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― ... What even happened last time for Jayden to be praying like that?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（POP CITY） ― Too many ties, so we had to revote multiple times... And there were complaints about the results, too.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― It better not happen here too. At this point I'm simply pulling out a gun.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（POP CITY） ― I'm sure you won't need to do that! Let's get started already, we don't have any time to lose.

Yunzhi pulls out a few papers and pens, distributing them on the table.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（POP CITY） ― Let's write down our votes and put them in this box. We'll mix and read them out loud later.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― Mhm... This should be easy enough!

Everyone writes down their votes and folds their papers before placing them inside the box brought by Yunzhi.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（POP CITY） ― Great! Let's read them together.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（POP CITY） ― Jayden... Yuji... Also Yuji... Yuji yet again... Soyul!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（POP CITY） ― Would you look at that, Yuji! Yuji again... Soyul... And Yuji again.

Yulian was voted by the great majority of the class!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― [scratching their head, embarrassed] Ah, I'm flattered! Thank you all for trusting me with this position!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（POP CITY） ― And with two votes, Soyul is our delegate. Congratulations to you as well!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN SOYUL ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― Ah, thank you! [bows] Yuji and I will continue working hard. Thanks for voting us!

Yulian and Soyul bow once again as the others clap to congratulate themselves.

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── 𝄞 ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮

❪ INTERVIEW ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ AMARI HARUHIRO ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― Zero... Votes...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ AMARI HARUHIRO ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― I don't even mind not getting the position. I understand why Yuji was so loved... They worked very hard and deserve it.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ AMARI HARUHIRO ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― But not even a vote? Damn.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― If only we could've voted for two options... I would've voted you, Hiro! You really deserved it.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ AMARI HARUHIRO ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― Nah man, it's OK, really. I'm glad I could help at least!

───────── ·  ·  ·  · ✦

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― What? I have nothing to say. It's OK not to win once in a while... I can recognize my opponents' achievements, too.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ "NANAMIN" ꜜ she/her（STAFF） ― And who said anything? Do you want a fucking cookie for that? I was about to ask something else entirely...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― RUDE?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ "NANAMIN" ꜜ she/her（STAFF） ― [shrugs] I just wanted to know what you thought of the Class Representatives, but you had to say all that...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― ...

And you can't even say she's wrong, because she's right.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― ... I can say they're good at what they do? I guess? Both know what they want and work hard for it. I like people who are unapologetically ambitious and true to themselves, instead of hiding behind fake modesty — or worse, those who blame others for their own gaps.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ "NANAMIN" ꜜ she/her（STAFF） ― [nodding] That makes sense, yes. 

╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── 𝄞 ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯

It is finally time for the Interim Check.

What will be the teachers' opinion seeing the students' performances? 

▎ DAY FOUR: Interim check.
❪ 📍 Teachers' Room ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ UESAKA SUMIRE（TEACHER） ― These scripts are so much fun! I can't believe you finished them in such a short time...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HANAE NATSUKI（TEACHER） ― The acting is still a bit stiff, but with everything considered I'd say it's fine... Just continue training hard until the day of the final performance!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ POP CITY ― Yes!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ UESAKA SUMIRE（TEACHER） ― Yiyuan, I understand the struggle as a screen actor, but there really is some need for improvement here. Everything boils down to involving the audience more: there's no camera to film you here, except the one for the public at home, but those people aren't the ones voting for you today.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ UESAKA SUMIRE（TEACHER） ― Consider the audience's point of view. They have very limited visibility, so what you need to do is take as much space as you can and make sure your voice reaches them. Let's work more on voice projection together if you need!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ LIU YIYUAN ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― ... I understand. I've been asking Suwon for help about it, I think I'd be doing even worse without his help...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ UESAKA SUMIRE（TEACHER） ― Glad to hear you guys are working well together! Suwon is also very good, you couldn't have made a better choice.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― [bowing] Thank you!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HANAE NATSUKI（TEACHER） ― Well, then, you're dismissed! For more specific tips or guidance, you can always find us here. Good luck and keep up the good work!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ POP CITY ― Yes!

After the interim check, the students continue hard to refine their performances, and everything seems to go smoothly...

▎ DAY FOUR: Post-interim check.
❪ 📍 Pop City's Training Room ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― Let's try again! I will be the mother, and you'll be the father.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ LIU YIYUAN ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― From this line?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― [pointing on the script] Yeah, just these two!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ LIU YIYUAN ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― OK... Ahem...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ LIU YIYUAN ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― "See! Your child is fucking insane!"

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― "Say that again and see what happens."

✹ ﹒ ﹒ LIU YIYUAN ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― "I said that your child is fucking insane!"

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― BZZT! Wrong delivery. We did this earlier, I know you can do it.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ LIU YIYUAN ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― [calmer] "I said that your child is fucking insane."

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― [nodding] There we go. This is how it should sound like. You hear the difference too, right? The contrast in delivery makes it sound funnier.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ LIU YIYUAN ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― I see... I will remember it. Sorry.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― Don't apologize! Let's get back to work~

... Until Soyul makes a horrible discovery last moment.

▎ DAY FIVE: Rehearsal.
❪ 📍 Pop City's Training Room ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN SOYUL ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― [slamming the door open, panicking] BUFFALO WINGS.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（POP CITY） ― Soyul? What's up?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN SOYUL ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― Hamburger.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― Why the fuck are you speaking like your character? Just say what you have to say.

Soyul takes a deep breath and closes the door behind her, frantically flipping through the pages of the script.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN SOYUL ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― So... Correct me if I'm wrong... But I am 100% sure we did not use the line we were assigned as part of the prompt.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（POP CITY） ― ...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― ...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― [with their hands in their hair] HOLLYWOOD.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― PINEAPPLE PIZZA.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（POP CITY） ― Now, that is a scary one.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― Hey, hey! Let's calm down.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― Jayden is right... [sighs] We can still fix this.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― How about having the estate agent say this as the third victim is about to transfer the money?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（POP CITY） ― That would make the most sense, yes...

Yunzhi looks at Jayden as he says this.

So now they got Bluetooth incorporated too.

We'll never be free...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― ... But what about the hat saying this to the estate agent instead? More specifically when he runs away again. We've been writing nonsense since the beginning, so we might as well continue doing so.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― Ooh, brilliant! That sounds much better indeed.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN SOYUL ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― 𝓙𝓸𝓱𝓷 definitely likes the chase.

Who the fuck is John now and how do you even speak with a font in real life.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― Let's see how to add the line while keeping the script within the maximum wordcount allowed, then!

And as the students continue practicing together...

▎ DAY FIVE: Rehearsal.
❪ 📍 Pop City's Training Room ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN SOYUL ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― Yunzhi, you're really selling the idea of a talking hat! You're so good at this~

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（POP CITY） ― Thank you! I've been practicing even more these days. I just have to practice my facial expressions at this point...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― I'm sure you'll nail them just in time for the final performance. You got this!

... They also allow themselves some time to rest after working non-stop.

▎ DAY FIVE: Free time.
❪ 📍 Dog Dorm ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― These products you have are insane, Yiyuan! [with dreamy eyes] No wonder your make-up looks amazing every time...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ LIU YIYUAN ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― The one thing money is good for, I guess... [chuckles] This lipstick in particular is my favorite. It's also scented, even if lightly, so that adds to the charm.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― [smelling the lipstick] Mhm... It's so good! I bet it looks great, too.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ LIU YIYUAN ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― Right? And it's transfer-proof... Since I'm already wearing it, I might as well show you.

Yiyuan gives Suwon a few small pecks on the cheeks, causing the other to giggle in response.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― Haha, that tickles! Are you sure you're not looking for an excuse to be all affectionate with me now?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ LIU YIYUAN ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― [chuckles] Who knows? Perhaps...

WHAT THE HELL MAN. ON NATIONAL TV?

... And leaving yet another episode of Yaoi Academy behind us, It is finally time for the final performances.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HANAZAWA MOKA ꜜ she/her（HOST） ― Let's move on to the performances, then!

───────── ·  ·  ·  · ✦

▊▍ SET ONE （POP CITY）.

SETTING ﹕ a restaurant.
CHARACTER ﹕ a 5-year-old psychic.
OBJECT ﹕ a hammer.
LINE ﹕ "And this is exactly what you're in therapy for."

▋ 📋﹒﹒﹒ CAST OF CHARACTERS

OAKLEIGH ❪ CHA YUBIN ❫, a 5-year-old psychic;
STEP-FATHER ❪ LIU YIYUAN ❫;
MOTHER ❪ CHU MINJEONG ❫;
WAITER ❪ AMARI HARUHIRO ❫.

▋ 📓﹒﹒﹒ SUMMARY

OAKLEIGH and her parents are at a restaurant for dinner, where the child — with a vocabulary way too complex for her age — announces she has reunited the two with a specific purpose in mind, much to her STEP-FATHER's annoyance: she wants to discuss her parents' ❪ supposedly ❫ failing marriage. The two, already used to her antics, still try to reason with her but it's no use, so they just let her continue with her monologue.

The WAITER eventually arrives and takes their orders, and he's horrified to hear OAKLEIGH ask for a Devil's Advocate, with no ice and an extra shot of tequila at that. In an attempt to cover up the insane request, the STEP-FATHER asks for an apple juice and a kids menu, which starts a fight between the two parents as the MOTHER reminds him OAKLEIGH hates being belittled through such means. The fight further escalates, and the kid summons a hammer vaguely resembling Thor's to intimidate her STEP-FATHER. The WAITER comes back with their order and runs away, terrified, not before tripping and face-planting on the floor first.

As the situation seems to have calmed down, OAKLEIGH asks more directly why her STEP-FATHER keeps planning to leave and moving to renowned tourist locations, which seems to be the key of the misunderstanding: right where OAKLEIGH thinks it's a sign he wants to split up, the man was simply choosing a location for their honeymoon. The girl admits to her mistake and peace is finally restored once and for all, with the three leaving the restaurant to pack their things.

The play ends with the WAITER happily wiping his tears as he reminisces the scene, satisfied the family got its happy ending... Even with all the events happening throughout the evening.

✦ ·  ·  ·  · ─────────

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― This was... Crazy.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HIURA ASHINA ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Minjeong being somehow the most normal role among these is quite funny...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHOI HANSUNG ꜜ he/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Hiro is so funny! His role might've had less lines, but his comedic timing is unmatched...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KIM JUNSEONG ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― [nodding] Bien sûr! The whole thing is mostly is creation... He was up all night, every night trying to improve the script. I would know, I sleep in the bed next to his.

As Junseong reveals this, the dreamy sound of an harp plays and introduces a flashback...

https://youtu.be/XfJsLFpSc4w

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── 𝄞 ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮

❪ FLASHBACK ❫

▎ DAY THREE: Nighttime.
❪ 📍 Fox Dorm ❫

Everyone else is sleeping as Haruhiro continues revising the script, still unsatisfied.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ AMARI HARUHIRO ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― This shit is so ass. Who wrote this?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ AMARI HARUHIRO ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― ... Wait. I did. This is my writing.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ AMARI HARUHIRO ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― I SWEAR I CAN EXPLAIN. This is not how I usually write. I can do BETTER.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KIM JUNSEONG ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― [waking up, rubs his eyes] Hiro, what are you doing?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ AMARI HARUHIRO ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― I am fighting the voices.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KIM JUNSEONG ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― AT 4 AM? T'as perdu la tête, mon pote... Just go to sleep.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ AMARI HARUHIRO ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― [throwing the notebook away] I'm going to kill myself.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KIM JUNSEONG ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― No.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ AMARI HARUHIRO ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― They're right... I can't do this... The voices... They're right...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KIM JUNSEONG ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― [sighs] Let's get you to bed already...

╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── 𝄞 ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― ... I can't even say anything. I fear he's very real for that.

Of course you of all people would say that... You're the same as him.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HANAZAWA MOKA ꜜ she/her（HOST） ― [clapping her hands] Alright! Time to move on to the next performance!

───────── ·  ·  ·  · ✦

▊▍ SET TWO （POP CITY）.

SETTING ﹕ a gas station in the middle of nowhere.
CHARACTER ﹕ a shady estate agent.
OBJECT ﹕ a cowboy hat.
LINE ﹕ "... I'm starting to like you."

▋ 📋﹒﹒﹒ CAST OF CHARACTERS

SHADY ESTATE AGENT ❪ JAYDEN IM ❫;
𝓙𝓸𝓱𝓷 ❪ QIU YUNZHI ❫, a cowboy hat;
SCAM VICTIM #1 ❪ CHEN YULIAN ❫, a wolf wannabe;
SCAM VICTIM #2 ❪ HAN SOYUL ❫, an Am*rican, supposedly from the South;
SCAM VICTIM #3 ❪ PARK SUWON ❫, a gay pediatrician with a gaming addiction.

▋ 📓﹒﹒﹒ SUMMARY

A scummy ESTATE AGENT is driving on an empty road on his way to conduct his shady activities in another city, but his car suddenly halts. He gets off to check the fuel tank and, much to his dismay, he finds out it is indeed empty. The AGENT decides to push the car in hopes to find a gas station nearby, which — luckily for him — seems to be the case; although it looks rather unsettling in its abandoned state, he decides it is better than having to push his car to his next destination.

Initially thinking it was completely desert, the AGENT is horrified to find one of his previous scam victims just as he's trying to fill up the gas tank, blocking any chance for him to run away. The FURRY VICTIM, initially angry, is about to be deceived once again with the same tactics before a peculiar entity makes its appearance: it's a huge talking COWBOY HAT, supposedly named 𝓙𝓸𝓱𝓷, resting on the head of a stiff, but otherwise normal-looking man. Both the AGENT and the FURRY are dumbfounded, initially not believing him, but the man doesn't move his lips at all even as he speaks. After the initial surprise, 𝓙𝓸𝓱𝓷 reveals the AGENT's plan, to which the FURRY reacts by chasing after him.

The AGENT, finally safe from the FURRY, later finds a woman holding a map in the middle of the road and decides to approach her to ask for help, only to find out it's another one of his previous victims, a rather gullible AMERICAN who speaks rather questionable English: the woman, in fact, only replies to his inquiries by mentioning stereotypical Americana symbols, but he seems to understand her just fine. Just as he's about to deceive her again, 𝓙𝓸𝓱𝓷 comes to the woman's rescue, and the AGENT runs away once again. The HAT can't help but admit he's starting to get fond of him despite everything.

Thinking he's safe once again, the AGENT rests against a rock, only to be approached by a PEDIATRICIAN he previously scammed as well and who, despite everything, is madly in love with him. As things seem to be finally going his way, the AGENT can see 𝓙𝓸𝓱𝓷 is coming close already and doesn't waste any time to run away for the last time, but he trips over a small dirt mound, falls and passes out as he hits his head.

The AGENT wakes up in his car, gas tank full, in the middle of the gas station — with no annoying victims in sight. He convinces himself it must've been just a dream, but there's no way to know that as he sees a rather familiar COWBOY HAT on the back seat of his car... 

✦ ·  ·  ·  · ─────────

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KOBAYASHI MIREI ꜜ they/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― A-ha! That's what Soyul meant when she thanked me for the idea... I didn't think she'd make Yunzhi do that of all people!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HONG INKYU ꜜ he/any（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― And here I thought he was the most normal one here...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KOBAYASHI MIREI ꜜ they/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Yunzhi? You wish... He's a different kind of unsettling, but he's very fun to be around! And insanely talented too... One day I will introduce you.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KANG DOHEE ꜜ she/her（DECONSTRUCTED CLUB） ― Soyul was HILARIOUS.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ MIZUTANI MOE ꜜ she/xe（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Sure, the randomness of her language had its appeal, but she pulled off the character very well too... I couldn't hold back my laughter!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KANG DOHEE ꜜ she/her（DECONSTRUCTED CLUB） ― [chuckles] It seems like Ren couldn't do that either. How surprising, actually!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― ... What do you mean by that?

You're not very famous for laughing or smiling a lot, Ren...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HANAZAWA MOKA ꜜ she/her（HOST） ― What a fun set of performances! Pop City sure knows how to entertain the public, given the reactions~

Moka claps her hands, excited to be done for the day.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HANAZAWA MOKA ꜜ she/her（HOST） ― We might be done for today, but the audience still has the students' future on their hands! You know where I'm going with this, right?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HANAZAWA MOKA ꜜ she/her（HOST） ― It is finally time for you to open Mnet Plus and vote for your Top 4 out of the Pop City students!

✶   VOTING FORM INLINE . . .ㅤ ꜜ
❪ read instructions before voting ❫

FEVEN'S CORNER !!!

Call me Amari Haruhiro the way I'm a modern day Jesus.

Your favorite author on Wattpad could NEVER do this while being drenched in olive oil and rosemary, constantly adding new scenes last moment while bleeding out of an old wound they thought was finally healed and keeps proving them right each time while their mother yells at them. THEY COULD NEVERRRRRRR. BUT I DID. HA!

Now, now, it is time to get serious again, especially now that we're finally approaching the decisive moment, and so...

ACTIVE CHECK!

Answer to the quiz commented inline here. You can score up to 45 points (which I bet no one will get, but let's see if you can surprise me), but the active check will be considered valid regardless of your score anyways; what changes is the amount of bonus points you get through it, which is very small anyways...

Failure to complete this active check will result in disqualification from the final voting. Unless you warned me of a hiatus beforehand, that is!

Confirm the completion of the active check here!

DEADLINE: MAY 11, 2025 (11:59 PM KST).