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

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

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HANAZAWA MOKA ꜜ she/her（HOST） ― Let's proceed with the Diva House, then!

The students from Diva House step up on the stage as the audience enthusiastically claps for them.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HANAZAWA MOKA ꜜ she/her（HOST） ― Hi there! How would you consider this experience? I've heard both of you didn't really want to take on the Class Representative task at first...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ??? ꜜ ???（DIVA HOUSE） ― Well...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ??? 2 ꜜ ???（DIVA HOUSE） ― Not at all...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ??? ꜜ ???（DIVA HOUSE） ― More than just not wanting it, I didn't think I was useful enough to deserve such a position... But my classmates believed in me, so I tried to push myself out of my comfort zone for once.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ??? 2 ꜜ ???（DIVA HOUSE） ― Same here... I still wonder if I contributed enough, actually.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HANAZAWA MOKA ꜜ she/her（HOST） ― Don't say that! I'm sure you both did a great job, or the others wouldn't have trusted you with such a position to begin with.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ??? ꜜ ???（DIVA HOUSE） ― ... I mean, it's not like they had a choice considering no one really wanted to-

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ??? 2 ꜜ ???（DIVA HOUSE） ― [covering ???'s mouth] Thank you for the encouragement, Moka!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ??? ꜜ ???（DIVA HOUSE） ― ...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HANAZAWA MOKA ꜜ she/her（HOST） ― Any time! Now, then... Let's see what you prepared for us!

The public claps once again as the Diva House students prepare themselves for the next round of performances.

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

▎ DAY ONE: First session. 
❪ 📍 Diva House's Training Room ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Hello! I hope you're ready to start, because I sure am~

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HIURA ASHINA ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― I am too!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（DIVA HOUSE） ― I'm all set! However, please note that I will not be taking on the role of Class Representative this time.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ NATHAN CHAE ꜜ he/they（DIVA HOUSE） ― I think we got it the first time.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIN SEOYOON ꜜ she/xe（DIVA HOUSE） ― Don't talk to my wife like that or I will fucking KILL you.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ NATHAN CHAE ꜜ he/they（DIVA HOUSE） ― ... Won't happen again, ma'am.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN YIJOON ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― Wait... What do you have to do as a Class Representative again?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― It's just a fancy way to say Team Leader! Because, you know, school concept...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― It's the one leading the class, essentially. They ask us to pick two just in case...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN YIJOON ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― Ooh... And can we volunteer?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HIURA ASHINA ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Yes! You volunteer and people vote~ The two with the most votes get the role.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（DIVA HOUSE） ― Well, not always... I was forced to...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIN SEOYOON ꜜ she/xe（DIVA HOUSE） ― Yeah.

We're having war flashbacks here, I see.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Well... Haha! Shall we look at the prompts, then?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HIURA ASHINA ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Mhm! Let's read again...

The students check the prompts they've received, and...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HEO SEONWOO ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― Hm. This one isn't bad.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KWAK YOUNGDAE ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― What even is this line?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HIURA ASHINA ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Why is the first set well aligned and then you have the second being a complete mess?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN YIJOON ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― You think so? I think the second set has potential!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIN SEOYOON ꜜ she/xe（DIVA HOUSE） ― Alrighty! Then you can do that yourself~ ♪

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Me too, if possible! I have a few ideas already...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN YIJOON ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― Let's work well together!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Yes!

As they re-read the two prompt sets, the Diva House students eventually finish splitting up into their respective teams and start brainstorming together.

Let's check on the first team first...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIN SEOYOON ꜜ she/xe（DIVA HOUSE） ― I have an idea! Not too sure if it's good, though...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HEO SEONWOO ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― Don't worry too much about that. It's called teamwork for a reason, so any contribution is worth it. Go ahead.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIN SEOYOON ꜜ she/xe（DIVA HOUSE） ― [nodding, slowly] I understand... Well, I was thinking of an awkward guy who fakes to be a teacher to impress their crush and says that line out loud...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIN SEOYOON ꜜ she/xe（DIVA HOUSE） ― The students could be invited by the teacher for moral support or even just sneak in, and we could add that acapella singing idea Ashina and Youngdae mentioned earlier...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（DIVA HOUSE） ― Yes, yes... [writing down her notes] Should we include the kidnapping plot as well?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIN SEOYOON ꜜ she/xe（DIVA HOUSE） ― Yes, of course! I'm still thinking of how to do that though...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HIURA ASHINA ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― We have two actors and three idols, so... Maybe the actors could portray the teacher and the crush, one of them being the kidnapper as well, while us three could be the students' choir?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（DIVA HOUSE） ― [annoyed] Do we recognize heterosexuality now?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HEO SEONWOO ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― It'd be kinda weird considering she's much younger than me, too...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HIURA ASHINA ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Oh, you're right...

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── 𝄞 ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮

❪ INTERVIEW ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HIURA ASHINA ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Sometimes I feel like the main character of one of those weird manga or YouTube videos... How embarrassing...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ "HAO" ꜜ he/him（STAFF） ― The one by Lauren Martins?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ "HOON" ꜜ he/him（STAFF） ― You're quoting some obscure stuff there...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ "HAO" ꜜ he/him（STAFF） ― Even the most chronically offline person knows about A World Where Gay is a Norm & Straight a Minority, Hoon.

To be fair to him, I don't think most would remember who is behind that video to begin with.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HIURA ASHINA ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Yeah, how do you not know that?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ "HOON" ꜜ he/him（STAFF） ― ...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ "HAO" ꜜ he/him（STAFF） ― [with a hand on ASHINA's shoulder] Well, considering where you are...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ "HAO" ꜜ he/him（STAFF） ― You'd be right.

... He's not wrong now, is he.

╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── 𝄞 ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯

But let's move on to the second team!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN YIJOON ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― This plot sure got emotional, huh?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Right... Do we plan to go all out with it? Or just a touch of sentimentalism?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― The more emotional it is, the better we can convey the message... I think?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ NATHAN CHAE ꜜ he/they（DIVA HOUSE） ― Mhm! Same here.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN YIJOON ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― I agree as well!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Alright, then! Since we all agree on the direction we want to take, character planning shouldn't be difficult.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Hopefully not... I have some ideas myself, but I don't know if they're good enough.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN YIJOON ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― How about we leave it to you, then? We can split the roles evenly, I think writing a script in four is going to be difficult...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― I don't mind at all, but are you sure? You know, I haven't done this before... What if I screw up?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ NATHAN CHAE ꜜ he/they（DIVA HOUSE） ― C'mon, Ren! Just take a chance for once! Everyone thinks you can do it, so just try for us, will you?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― ...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ NATHAN CHAE ꜜ he/they（DIVA HOUSE） ― YOU GOT THIS.

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── 𝄞 ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮

❪ INTERVIEW ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ NATHAN CHAE ꜜ he/they（DIVA HOUSE） ― Man, this is the second mission where Ren belittles herself already... It took so much effort from Xiaoqiong to convince Ren we needed her...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ NATHAN CHAE ꜜ he/they（DIVA HOUSE） ― I ain't gonna let this happen again.

╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── 𝄞 ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― ... Alright. Seoyoon, if it's not too much... Can I ask you to finalize the plot once I'm done with the initial overview of the characters?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Of course! I love making myself helpful~

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN YIJOON ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― Then Nathan and I can write the script together!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ NATHAN CHAE ꜜ he/they（DIVA HOUSE） ― Eh, about that... There's just one tiny problem... Do you know Japanese?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN YIJOON ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― ...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ NATHAN CHAE ꜜ he/they（DIVA HOUSE） ― ...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― ... I can translate it from Korean once you two are done.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ NATHAN CHAE ꜜ he/they（DIVA HOUSE） ― Sweet! If I had a tail, it'd be wagging~

ENOUGH NATHAN.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― We're settled! Let's get started already~

✹ ﹒ ﹒ DIVA HOUSE ― Yes!

The students work hard all day, some focusing on tasks directly related to the mission while others practice their acting skills, until it is time for them to get their well-deserved rest.

▎ DAY ONE: Free time. 
❪ 📍 Penguin Dorm ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIN SEOYOON ꜜ she/xe（DIVA HOUSE） ― Are you sure you don't want to stay, Yuji? You can invite Moe here if you want!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― Ah, I'd love that! But you wanted to invite the girls from your class, right? I'd rather leave you to your Diva House things~

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（DIVA HOUSE） ― Don't say that! You are our honorary member, why not join us? This is Ladies' Night, not Diva House Night.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― [chuckles] OK, OK... I'll call Moe, then.

The Diva House girls, as well as honorary member Moe, start arriving at Penguin Dorm.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（DIVA HOUSE） ― [solemn] Welcome everyone. I'm sure you all know why I called you all here.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Well... No...?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ MIZUTANI MOE ꜜ she/xe（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― I got called by Yulian, so I don't know either...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（DIVA HOUSE） ― I have a big problem that I need your help to solve.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― And that would be...?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（DIVA HOUSE） ― My wife Seoyoon can't sing. Her singing voice is so bad that even the rusty gate sounds like a chorus of angels, a child's cry doesn't make much noise, but the sound made by the drill is like a Sade song to my ears.

Get her a new translator, I beg.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（DIVA HOUSE） ― Every time she opens her mouth and sings a low note in her most comfortable range, I want to dig my ears out and burn them with lava.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（DIVA HOUSE） ― Her high notes? Don't get me started. The more she sang, the closer I felt to death, and even the strongest earplugs couldn't fully protect my ears from the damage caused by her hoarse voice.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIN SEOYOON ꜜ she/xe（DIVA HOUSE） ― WOAH, FUCK YOU?

The others stare at Xiaoqiong in shock.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― That was... Brutal. Mistranslations and all included.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ MIZUTANI MOE ꜜ she/xe（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Wait, why does that even matter now? This is an acting evaluation, isn't it...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HIURA ASHINA ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Yeah... [sighs] But we're going to have a part where we sing together, so...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ MIZUTANI MOE ꜜ she/xe（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― I see...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Well, it surely can't be that bad... Right?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Last time someone said that about a former Class Three student we all lost our hearing for a few hours.

The Qiuye flashbacks... Goodness..

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Now you're just exaggerating.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIN SEOYOON ꜜ she/xe（DIVA HOUSE） ― Eh... They're right.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Twin, just sing already. I'll be the judge of that.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIN SEOYOON ꜜ she/xe（DIVA HOUSE） ― [sighs] Fine, fine! If that's what you want...

Xiaoqiong and Ren cover their ears as Shin Seoyoon prepares to sing.

For the sake of the Seiyuu Academy 2 audience at home, we have decided to censor her painful croaks.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― ...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HIURA ASHINA ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― ...

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

As the girls try to find the words to describe what they've just heard, the girls hear aggressive knocking at the door.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― SHIN SEOYOON. I TOLD YOU TO STOP SINGING IN THE DORMS 3 TIMES ALREADY, JUST TODAY.

It's the students from the Lion Dorm!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIN SEOYOON ꜜ she/xe（DIVA HOUSE） ― [throwing one of her books at the door] SHUT THE [BLEEP] UP YOU [BLEEP] I HOPE YOU [BLEEP] AND ALSO [BLEEEEP].

Oh, so now they censor.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（POP CITY） ― [from the other side] Hey, so... That wasn't very nice. 

The knocking gets even more aggressive, supposedly because Jayden is trying to break down the door as he falls for Seoyoon's provocation.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（POP CITY） ― Can't we all just go to sleep? It's late already.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（POP CITY） ― Sorry, Yunzhi... We have to fix this musical disaster.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（DIVA HOUSE） ― I see Qiuye sells earplugs. Listen!

No, seriously, give her a good translator.

I beg you.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HEO SEONWOO ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― [from the other side] ... Suddenly I regret criticizing Ashina's idea for the casting now.

At the expenses of the entire second floor in the Seiyuu Academy 2 dorms, the girls help Seoyoon practice all night long.

And so, the following morning...

▎ DAY TWO: Planning phase. 
❪ 📍 Diva House's Training Room ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― [yawn] Characters are done.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN YIJOON ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― ... You good, Ren?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― [with a forced smile] Yes... Yes. I am. Haha.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― [loud yawn] We need to cut Shin Seoyoon's vocal chords.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN YIJOON ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― WHAT.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ NATHAN CHAE ꜜ he/they（DIVA HOUSE） ― Ah, yeah... You've heard her sing...

With a compassionate smile, Nathan places his hand on Seoyoon's shoulder: he understands her pain. 

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Can one even call that singing?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Enough, enough... Let's talk about our characters. What do you think?

Ren shows her teammates her ideas for the characters.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― You did an amazing job, Ren!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN YIJOON ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― Right? They're so detailed already... And this is such an interesting way to play with the figure of the taxi driver.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ NATHAN CHAE ꜜ he/they（DIVA HOUSE） ― Hell yeah! This sounds fun~

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Ah... [blushing] Thank you all.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN YIJOON ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― No, thank you Ren! We're at a great point already and it's all because of your hard work... I think, at least?

Is he just clueless about everything...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Well, yes and no... There's still a lot left to do. We have yet to think of a proper plot, write the script, rehearse it...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN YIJOON ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― Damn... This seiyuu shit is getting serious... You didn't do much, then.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ NATHAN CHAE ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― ... Man. Why are you like this.

In the meanwhile, in the other corner of the class...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HEO SEONWOO ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― Wow...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIN SEOYOON ꜜ she/xe（DIVA HOUSE） ― Hm?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HEO SEONWOO ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― Xiaoqiong's Korean might be terrible, but she sure is fluent in Japanese, isn't she?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HIURA ASHINA ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Yes! She has such a way with words... And all she's doing so far is writing down a plot.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HIURA ASHINA ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― [in Japanese] Xiaoqiong, how is it going?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（DIVA HOUSE） ― [in Japanese] I have it all figured out! I think.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HIURA ASHINA ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― You think? Let's see... Mhm...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HEO SEONWOO ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― [nodding] I see, I see.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KWAK YOUNGDAE ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― Ooh...!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIN SEOYOON ꜜ she/xe（DIVA HOUSE） ― "Ooh" what?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KWAK YOUNGDAE ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― I don't know either. I just wanted to join in!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIN SEOYOON ꜜ she/xe（DIVA HOUSE） ― ...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HIURA ASHINA ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― This is perfect! We can get started writing this way~ Who wants to start?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HEO SEONWOO ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― ...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIN SEOYOON ꜜ she/xe（DIVA HOUSE） ― ...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HIURA ASHINA ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― ... I could do it, I guess?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIN SEOYOON ꜜ she/xe（DIVA HOUSE） ― Great! Knew we could count on you~ ♪

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HIURA ASHINA ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― ...

The camera suspiciously zooms on Ashina, to the point she herself notices it.

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── 𝄞 ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮

❪ INTERVIEW ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HIURA ASHINA ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― ... What?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ "MARIA" ꜜ she/they（STAFF） ― Oh, nothing! Nothing at all! Haha~ ♪

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HIURA ASHINA ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― You're trying to frame me saying something rude about the other contestants, aren't you?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ "MARIA" ꜜ she/they（STAFF） ― ... Well, yes. I live for the drama.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HIURA ASHINA ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Haha! Me too!

Ashina gives Maria a high five.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HIURA ASHINA ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― But I won't do that. Sorry to disappoint!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ "MARIA" ꜜ she/they（STAFF） ― [shrugs] At least I tried!

╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── 𝄞 ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯

The mission proceeds smoothly, the students working together with little to no problems.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HEO SEONWOO ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― ... Wait, how did we find ourselves in this situation again?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ??? ꜜ ???（???） ― I don't know either... But I don't mind at all...!

What is going on?, you might ask yourselves.

Let's go back to Day Three... 

▎ DAY THREE: Free time. 
❪ 📍 Cafeteria ❫

Most Diva House students have gone back to the dorm immediately after being dismissed from class, exhausted after a long day spent writing the script and polishing their acting; among them, only Ha Seoyoon, Ren and Seonwoo decide to eat at the cafeteria first.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― [sighs] I'm so tired... At least we're at a good point, though! We can finish the script tomorrow, can't we?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― As long as it's before the interim check, I think it's fine...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HEO SEONWOO ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― You don't sound very sure. Is everything OK, Ren?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Eh? Ah, yeah... Nothing to worry about.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HEO SEONWOO ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― [unconvinced] ... If you say so.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― What about you guys? How is your script coming along?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HEO SEONWOO ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― Well enough, I think. Xiaoqiong came up with a good plot after we made our suggestions, and she has written a starter for the script too.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Mhm? And no one else did anything?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HEO SEONWOO ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― Well...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HEO SEONWOO ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― Ashina originally offered to start writing the script, and we agreed everyone would work on it, but...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HEO SEONWOO ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― Isn't she quite the perfectionist? Not that I have anything against it... But she's going to burn herself out again this way.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― [palmface] Not like I didn't expect it, but seriously? All this only to complain later...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HEO SEONWOO ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― Hey, I get her point. As long as she doesn't dismiss other people's efforts, that is... She should let others help her too.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HEO SEONWOO ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― ... But, you know, there's something I'm struggling with myself.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Mhm? Can we help in any way?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HEO SEONWOO ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― You see...

Seonwoo explains how, although the script is incomplete, the students already know the entire progression of events and are practicing on their own. Seonwoo specifically is struggling to get in character as the teacher in his team's script, notably during the scene where he pins the kidnapper to the floor in real Yaoi Academy fashion.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Oh, I see... Aren't you a BL actor, though?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HEO SEONWOO ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― Hey, that's different.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Is it because you liked your partner there?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HEO SEONWOO ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― ... I won't speak without my lawyer present.

Checkmate!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Mhm... Nothing helps more than practice, but Youngdae has gone to bed already...

Seoyoon looks around, scanning for the perfect counterpart for Seonwoo; her search doesn't take long, as she spots the male students from Pop City entering the cafeteria in that exact moment.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― I have an idea!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― ...?

Seoyoon runs to the Pop City table and grabs Park Suwon's arm, pulling him to her table amidst the other students' confused faces. 

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― You can practice with Suwon!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― ... EH? What is going on? Why did you pull me here?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― [adjusting SUWON's position] You stand here! Seonwoo, it's your time.

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

Seonwoo looks at Seoyoon. She nods: he may proceed.

Suwon doesn't even have the time to process what is happening as Seonwoo pins him to the wall.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― [blushing like a tomato] E-eh?!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HEO SEONWOO ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― Sorry, did I make you anxious?

Seoyoon starts squealing as the two adjust their pose, and she quickly pulls out her sketchbook to draw the scene unfolding in front of her.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― [suddenly serious] Stay like that.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― ... I have a feeling this was never about Seonwoo to begin with.

I fear I have to agree with you, Ren...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HEO SEONWOO ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― Sorry, Suwon... I did not ask her to do this.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― [panicking] I-I don't mind at all! Is this for practice...?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HEO SEONWOO ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― Well, in theory yes, but Seoyoon is going a bit overb-

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Seonwoo! I need you to put a hand under Suwon's chin now. Can you do that?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HEO SEONWOO ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― ...

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

Seoyoon continues asking the two for different poses to use as a reference for her drawings...

But enough with Yaoi Academy already.

It is finally time for the interim check.

What will be the teachers' opinion as the students are halfway done with their performances?

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

✹ ﹒ ﹒ UESAKA SUMIRE（TEACHER） ― ... That was it?

Oh.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ UESAKA SUMIRE（TEACHER） ― [scratches her head] We can't evaluate you fairly... We haven't even seen anything!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HANAE NATSUKI（TEACHER） ― [sighs] What you have so far is good. What is taking you so long from finishing the script? The other team in your same class is almost done, and you've had the same time, so... What happened?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（DIVA HOUSE） ― ...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HIURA ASHINA ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― ... We might've relied too much on Xiaoqiong alone.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ UESAKA SUMIRE（TEACHER） ― Again? I'm getting déjà-vu... Girl, you need to learn how to say no.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（DIVA HOUSE） ― Oh, no, they offered to do their part but no one suggested anything so in the end I had to do it. How could I say "no" in this situation?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HANAE NATSUKI（TEACHER） ― ... Fair point.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ UESAKA SUMIRE（TEACHER） ― AAAARGH. I get it! This is not enough time for this kind of mission, but you don't get any extra time. Try to make yourselves helpful and don't leave everything up to one person!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ DIVA HOUSE ― ... Yes.

After hearing the teachers' comments, the students are finally on the right track, working together as they're supposed to. 

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（DIVA HOUSE） ― Hi Youngdae! Can you play the trumpet?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KWAK YOUNGDAE ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― No?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（DIVA HOUSE） ― [handing YOUNGDAE a trumpet] You're learning today then! Even the odd lines are okay with me. Every time we have to nominate an artist you guys are blowing the horn behind the scenes as a means of censorship.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KWAK YOUNGDAE ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― ... Sounds fun!

... You guys really want to destroy everyone's ears with this play, don't you.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― [clapping her hands] Back to work, everyone... We don't have much time left, and the criticism was harsh.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN YIJOON ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― You're right... [sighs] Ren, can you tell me what you were thinking while writing Junichi? I don't think I'm doing him justice...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Mhm... See, I don't think I'm the most qualified person to tell you what you need to fix in your acting; I'm sure that Seoyoon could give you better advice.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN YIJOON ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― [pouting] Why would you say that... You created these characters! I'm sure you are more than qualified. Haven't we talked about this?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― ...

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── 𝄞 ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮

❪ INTERVIEW ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Even now that she's been voted as the Class Representative, Ren keeps not having faith in her judgement...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― She's so helpful and hard-working! She's so precise with everything she does, and yet she doesn't see it herself... It really breaks my heart.

╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── 𝄞 ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯

And so, it is finally time for the final performances.

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

───────── ·  ·  ·  · ✦

▊▍ SET ONE （DIVA HOUSE）.

SETTING ﹕ a museum or an art gallery.
CHARACTER ﹕ an art teacher.
OBJECT ﹕ fake flowers.
LINE ﹕ "Hey, so... I've heard you listen to Van Gogh..."

▋ 📋﹒﹒﹒ CAST OF CHARACTERS

TEACHER ❪ HEO SEONWOO ❫, an incompetent art teacher;
KIDNAPPER ❪ KWAK YOUNGDAE ❫, a failure of a kidnapper;
AKEMI ❪ 暁美; GUAN XIAOQIONG ❫, one of the students;
WAKANA ❪ 和奏; SHIN SEOYOON ❫, another student;
AOZORA ❪ 青空; HIURA ASHINA ❫, yet another student.

▋ 📓﹒﹒﹒ SUMMARY

A new art TEACHER brings his three students to the local art museum for a class, but the trio immediately finds out he's definitely not qualified for the job due to very obvious mistakes on his part. The artists names mentioned at the beginning are promptly censored by Youngdae's horrendous trumpet sounds.

Despite the discovery, however, the students don't plan to expose him yet, as long as he allows them to just wander around without doing anything; the plan doesn't seem to last for long as AOZORA is abducted by very weak KIDNAPPER, further proved by how easily AKEMI and WAKANA can stop him. In a funny twist of events, AOZORA plays along with the kidnapper to get away from the teacher and eventually helps him in his plan to surprise his Tinder date with a musical accompaniment...

... Only to find out the Tinder date in question is none other than the TEACHER!

The trio, as planned by AOZORA with the kidnapper, plays an ominous, cult-like melody, disrupted by WAKANA's atrocious belting. While the latter continues "singing", AOZORA motivates the Tinder couple to move to a more appropriate location like a restaurant, only to find out they've been trapped inside the art gallery: it's past closing time.

The play ends with WAKANA's ad-libs.

✦ ·  ·  ·  · ─────────

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HONG INKYU ꜜ he/any（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― [covering his ears] ... Is the torture finally over? Why does Seoyoon sing even worse than I originally remembered?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KOBAYASHI MIREI ꜜ they/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― [imitating SEOYOON] If I ain't got you, baby!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HANAZAWA MOKA ꜜ she/her（HOST） ― [taking out her earplugs] Quite the loud performance, wasn't it?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HANAZAWA MOKA ꜜ she/her（HOST） ― Let's proceed with our second performance from Diva House, then! This one will surely leave a different impression on you~

───────── ·  ·  ·  · ✦

▊▍ SET TWO （DIVA HOUSE）.

SETTING ﹕ a subway.
CHARACTER ﹕ a taxi driver.
OBJECT ﹕ a canvas.
LINE ﹕ "We all have our strengths and weaknesses."

▋ 📋﹒﹒﹒ CAST OF CHARACTERS

OTAKE AYAKA ❪ HA SEOYOON ❫, a painter;
OBA JUNICHI ❪ HAN YIJOON ❫, a taxi driver;
OKADA HIROKI ❪ NATHAN CHAE ❫, a rebellious teenager;
TANAKA MAI ❪ SHIMIZU REN ❫, a rich girl.

▋ 📓﹒﹒﹒ SUMMARY

Late at night, three people are waiting for the last train at the subway. The wandering painter AYAKA packs away her canvas for the night as JUNICHI slumps onto one of the seats beside her. She tries to start a conversation, asking him about his day, but she's quickly interrupted by an angry HIROKI who keeps pestering JUNICHI to ask when it'll be time for the last train to arrive. It is now MAI's turn to enter the scene, instigating a fight with HIROKI as she points out his lack of manners.

The four impatiently wait for the train's arrival, with AYAKA's attempts to soothe their nerves failing miserably, but it leads the four to open up to one another: JUNICHI reveals he's been fired from his job as a taxi driver just today, while MAI had a mental breakdown earlier that day over the inheritance of her family company. The latter's story leads to further fighting between her and HIROKI, escalating to the point of no return: he ruins AYAKA's painting in the chaos.

As the four finally calm down, they all let out their feelings and comfort one another, with AYAKA bringing some hope as she acknowledges everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses: MAI has the opportunities, but not the motivation — the opposite being just as true for HIROKI; JUNICHI has a vision for himself, but no confidence to make it true; at last, AYAKA realizes this also goes for her, who can't help but settle for less than what she's worth.

At last, the train arrives. With newfound optimism, AYAKA quickly scribbles on her canvas, joining the other three as they get on their carriage.

✦ ·  ·  ·  · ─────────

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN SOYUL ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― [wiping a tear away] What a beautiful performance... Who would've thought any of the prompts could be used this way?

Yeah, don't get your hopes up... This is the only serious performance of the bunch...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― Right! Truly touching, I wish I could work with this kind of material myself...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― But I'll also show a performance that is just as good! As unserious as it is...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（POP CITY） ― That's the spirit! [ruffling SUWON's hair] You're an amazing actor either way.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ PARK SUWON ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― [blushing, with a bright smile] Thank you!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HANAZAWA MOKA ꜜ she/her（HOST） ― Alright... As we prepare the stage for the next class, I'd like to remind the audience you have the students' future on your hands!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ 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 Diva House students!

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

FEVEN'S CORNER !!!

Hello everyone! At last, here we have the Diva House... Sorry if this chapter turned out to be much longer than Bubblegum Base's... Haha! At least Deconstructed Club's is going to be shorter... Haha...

Anyways! I sure hope you liked this chapter 🙏🏽 It was very fun to write if you ask me (⁠＾⁠3⁠＾⁠♪