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

It is finally time for the Acting Evaluation to start!

We're currently in the school theatre, the most fitting place considering the nature of the evaluation.

Let's see what the students have in store for us today! 

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HANAZAWA MOKA ꜜ she/her（HOST） ― Hello, everyone!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HANAZAWA MOKA ꜜ she/her（HOST） ― Time sure flies, huh? I remember starting out as a host just yesterday... Look at us now!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HANAZAWA MOKA ꜜ she/her（HOST） ― But enough about my nostalgia for the early days of this show, it's time to watch our dear students' performances! Are you ready?

The public unanimously screams "YES"!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HANAZAWA MOKA ꜜ she/her（HOST） ― Sweet! Let's get started with the pieces written by the Bubblegum Base, then~ 

The students from Bubblegum Base step up on the stage as the audience enthusiastically claps for them.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HANAZAWA MOKA ꜜ she/her（HOST） ― Hi guys! While the staff sets up the stage for you, is there anything the Class Representatives want to share with us?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ??? ꜜ ???（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Ah, yes...! I think that this time it went way better than during the Class Tournament, and I'm proud of the final result.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ??? 2 ꜜ ???（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Mhm, we did well...! I hope it shows in our performance...!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HANAZAWA MOKA ꜜ she/her（HOST） ― I'm sure it will!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ??? ꜜ ???（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Everyone contributed in their own way, be it by planning the plot, writing the scripts or working on the finer details... Nothing to be worried about!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HANAZAWA MOKA ꜜ she/her（HOST） ― That's wonderful news! Let's give Bubblegum Base another warm round of applause to motivate them~

The public complies, excited to see the performances already.

As Moka and the two Bubblegum Base representatives discuss the progress of the mission, the staff finishes preparing the stage behind the scenes.

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

▎ DAY ONE: First session. 
❪ 📍 Bubblegum Base's Training Room ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KIM JUNSEONG ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― You know what? Bubblegum Base makes me think of Bubblegum K.K....

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Real! Great taste there.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KIM JUNSEONG ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― [chuckles] Mais oui, of course! In this house we love Animal Crossing...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KIM JUNSEONG ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Well, I haven't picked up the game in a year, actually, but I'm K.K. Slider's biggest fan.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN JUNKYU ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― I regret buying it, honestly...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KIM JUNSEONG ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Understandable... It requires so much investment and time, two things I cannot give.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN JUNKYU ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― What? Oh, no... It's just there's not enough violence for me in it.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HONG INKYU ꜜ he/any（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Excuse me what.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN JUNKYU ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― I feel like I should have the right to fight the villagers I don't like!

He's right.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ MIZUTANI MOE ꜜ she/xe（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Alright, enough with Animal Crossing talk... I don't want to hear about violence on animals now!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Moe is right... Let's read the prompts and get started already!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ BUBBLEGUM BASE ― Yes!

Den opens the envelope that was left in the room by the staff, revealing the two set of prompts assigned to them; although visible to the students, the text is blurred for the audience at home.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― I want the second one at all costs. I have so many ideas already...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HONG INKYU ꜜ he/any（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― I'm fine with either one... I'll just take what is left for last!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KANG EUNKYUNG ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Mhm...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ MIZUTANI MOE ꜜ she/xe（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Any idea that caught your eye, Eunkyung?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KANG EUNKYUNG ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― ...

Eunkyung points at the first prompt.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ MIZUTANI MOE ꜜ she/xe（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Ah! That sounds good.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KANG EUNKYUNG ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― I think I have some ideas already for that... Yes...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KIM JUNSEONG ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Me too! Write me down for Prompt 1 as well~

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HONG INKYU ꜜ he/any（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Hold on, I'll write everyone down here... Junseong and Eunkyung for Prompt 1, and Den for Prompt 2... Who else?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN JUNKYU ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― With what we have for Prompt 2, I think it'd be funny if the oldest went there...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― No no, hear me out: the irony of having the youngest say that line would be hilarious, wouldn't it?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN JUNKYU ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Woah... Wait... Now that I think about it, this is a great idea...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KOBAYASHI MIREI ꜜ they/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― How about having both choose that prompt, if they're OK with it? We can decide as we write how we want to develop it that way.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ MIZUTANI MOE ꜜ she/xe（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Fine by me! Sign me up~

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHOI HANSUNG ꜜ he/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Mhm... I don't know yet...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HONG INKYU ꜜ he/any（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Well... How about we do this one together? Ah, unless Zheng Huan wants to...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ZHENG HUAN ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Oh, no no! Go ahead! Don't worry, I will adapt!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHOI HANSUNG ꜜ he/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― OK then! Hehe... Sounds great to me~

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── 𝄞 ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮

❪ INTERVIEW ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHOI HANSUNG ꜜ he/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― What do I do now... Ah, I'm shy...!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ "MARIA" ꜜ she/they（STAFF） ― Mh?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHOI HANSUNG ꜜ he/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― You see... That's literally my croomf... Kyu and I... Working together...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ "NANAMIN" ꜜ she/they（STAFF） ― ... TELL ME YOU'RE JOKING?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHOI HANSUNG ꜜ he/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Hehe...

... He's not, I fear.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ "MARIA" ꜜ she/they（STAFF） ― You're NOT going to "hehe" your way out of this...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHOI HANSUNG ꜜ he/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― You two don't get it!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ "NANAMIN" ꜜ she/her（STAFF） ― And I fear it's going to stay that way forever.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHOI HANSUNG ꜜ he/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― ...

The hell are you pouting for? They're right!

╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── 𝄞 ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯

By Day 2, the class is already split into two independent teams. Let's see how the first team is doing...

▎ DAY TWO: Planning phase. 
❪ 📍 Bubblegum Base's Training Room ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KIM JUNSEONG ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Alright, let's look at this prompt again...!

Junseong reads the prompt out loud to Eunkyung, Junkyu and Huan, which gets censored by the Seiyuu Academy 2 production.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KIM JUNSEONG ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― I think I have some ideas already.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN JUNKYU ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Already? That was fast...!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KANG EUNKYUNG ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― [nodding vigorously] Please, share your ideas with us...!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KIM JUNSEONG ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― I was wondering... Can the dead one be the author? The funeral would be for him... And can said author be a ghost, thus being a... ghostwriter?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ZHENG HUAN ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Wait... You're onto something...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN JUNKYU ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― I LOVE this idea!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KANG EUNKYUNG ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Mhm! So do I.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN JUNKYU ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― And what if we made the rival author in charge of the funeral procession, trying to tank the funeral as much as possible...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN JUNKYU ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Maybe by playing a song that sounds awful and lying about it being the ghostwriter's favorite? That'd be funny.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KIM JUNSEONG ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― C'est super! Which song could we choose, though...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ZHENG HUAN ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― How about "Dance Monkey"? That's bad enough...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN JUNKYU ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― You know what? Real.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN JUNKYU ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― But wait! Maybe I have another song that would work even better...

Junkyu pulls the other three closer and whispers his idea, to which the others reply excitedly.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KIM JUNSEONG ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Génial!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KANG EUNKYUNG ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Yes, yes... Of course...!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ZHENG HUAN ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― How did I not think of that earlier?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KANG EUNKYUNG ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Should we talk about roles, then?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KIM JUNSEONG ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Mhm! Anything in mind? Aside from the author...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KANG EUNKYUNG ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Well... We talked about a rival author and the CD collector, but... What about adding a funeral director? Considering the setting, a great plot twist would be having them as the author's killer...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ZHENG HUAN ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Amazing! I like what we're coming up with so far~

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KIM JUNSEONG ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Right? Totally different from what happened last time...!

Why would you bring that up again, Junseong...

Meanwhile, in the other corner of the class...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Alright, not bad! We're off to a good start~

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KOBAYASHI MIREI ꜜ they/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Yes yes! [clapping their hands] Writing the script comes next, then.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Now that we've established the basics we can do that, yeah.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HONG INKYU ꜜ he/any（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― [checking the notes] Wait, who wrote down that the treasure box should contain "sticky remnants of what used to be lollipops"?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KOBAYASHI MIREI ꜜ they/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― [proudly] 'Twas me!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HONG INKYU ꜜ he/any（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Amazing idea! But I'm hungry just thinking about it...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ MIZUTANI MOE ꜜ she/xe（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― ... What is wrong with you, Kyu?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Ew?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HONG INKYU ꜜ he/any（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Lollipops... Sweets... Too bad I left mine in the dorm... [sighs]

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHOI HANSUNG ꜜ he/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Oh... I have just what you need!

Hansung pulls out a chocolate pudding cup for Kyu.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HONG INKYU ꜜ he/any（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― MY SAVIOR. I knew I could count on you!

Kyu quite literally jumps on Hansung and smothers him with kisses in front of very concerned Den, Mire and Moe.

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

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── 𝄞 ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮

❪ INTERVIEW ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KOBAYASHI MIREI ꜜ they/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― In this episode of Hong Inkyu's Gay Harem, we're having yet another addition to our cast...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ "MARIA" ꜜ she/they（STAFF） ― Wow! Did you follow your idol's footsteps? Editing wise, I mean.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KOBAYASHI MIREI ꜜ they/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― What? Oh, no... I asked Kyu himself to make this one!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HONG INKYU ꜜ he/any（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― [counting the banknotes received by MIRE] This whole thing is stupid, but money is money!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― [punching KYU] DON'T INTERRUPT.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HONG INKYU ꜜ he/any（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― OW.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KOBAYASHI MIREI ꜜ they/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― [ignoring KYU and DEN] What's up with this guy? Everywhere he goes, something gay happens.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ "MARIA" ꜜ she/they（STAFF） ― Oh, I'm sure!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ "NANAMIN" ꜜ she/her（STAFF） ― You can't say th-

✹ ﹒ ﹒ "MARIA" ꜜ she/they（STAFF） ― He's Hansung's croomf.

Den and Mire stare at Maria in shock.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― What.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KOBAYASHI MIREI ꜜ they/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― [grabbing MARIA by her shoulders, shaking her] WHAT DO YOU MEAN MARIA.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HONG INKYU ꜜ he/any（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Hah! Knew it! Qidus owes me money.

... I completely forgot we were betting on this.

╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── 𝄞 ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Ignoring... Whatever this is, I actually wrote something already. You can always suggest any changes, of course!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KOBAYASHI MIREI ꜜ they/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― As efficient as usual! Let me see...

Mire reads what Den has written so far, making a confused face...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KOBAYASHI MIREI ꜜ they/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Mhm... This does sound quite weird.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HONG INKYU ꜜ he/any（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Ah, really? Hold on... [checking the script] It is correct, though? I wouldn't flag it for being wrong.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KOBAYASHI MIREI ꜜ they/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― I don't really know how to explain, but I can't find an alternative way to say it either...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Well, I get what you mean! But we can always get back to it later, no need to focus on it now of all times.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ MIZUTANI MOE ꜜ she/xe（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― I agree. We'll have to revise the scripts later anyways, so it's better to write out the ideas first and improving the writing later!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KOBAYASHI MIREI ꜜ they/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Mhm! Yes, you're right.

Both teams continue working on their scripts all day until it is time for them to have a meal and get their well-deserved rest.

▎ DAY TWO: Free time. 
❪ 📍 Cafeteria ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Mhm... How could I fix this...?

... Well, almost everyone.

While most students are either sleeping in their dorms or eating in the cafeteria, Den is still focused on her team's script even as she sits in the cafeteria on her own.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― [mumbling to herself, scribbling on her draft] We could write this part this way, cut this out... I feel like this would work, yes...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― [sighs] I wonder what's wrong this time... Everyone is very cooperative for once, and yet...

As Den talks to herself...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHOI HANSUNG ꜜ he/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Oh, it's Den!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KIM JUNSEONG ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Here you are! Mind if we join you?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Not at all! If you don't mind having me...

Hansung and Junseong happily sit at Den's table, trying to start a conversation with her.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHOI HANSUNG ꜜ he/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Still working on the script? You can leave that to tomorrow... Get some rest!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Mhm, that's right... But I think I can do better than what I've done today, so I'm trying to check what Mire pointed out earlier.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KIM JUNSEONG ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Now, I don't know what they said... But that can still wait until tomorrow, can't it?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHOI HANSUNG ꜜ he/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Yeah! You don't have to prove anything to anyone either, you've done a lot already. Have you eaten already?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― No, nothing... But I'll be fine!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHOI HANSUNG ꜜ he/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Wait right here!

Den and Junseong look at Hansung in confusion as he runs to grab a new tray with more food than what he previously had.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHOI HANSUNG ꜜ he/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Here we go... You need nutrients! Eat well!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHOI HANSUNG ꜜ he/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― [placing a pudding cup in front of DEN] And I saved this for myself, but I guess you can have it... It will boost your mood!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Oh... Hansung...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHOI HANSUNG ꜜ he/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― We're a team, so this is nothing. Let's get along well and work hard together! You shouldn't try to force yourself to do things alone, everyone will do their part.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― [wiping a tear away] Man, do you want me to cry... Seriously, though, thank you...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― I believe you, I'm just scared of letting people down.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KIM JUNSEONG ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Mon Dieu, Den... People here have let you down first, haven't they? Hansung is right! People here will help you out, so don't shoulder the burden all by yourself.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHOI HANSUNG ꜜ he/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Seriously, though, try this pudding! It will lift your spirits, I'm sure~

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Alright... Let's have a try.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― [nodding, content] Mhm... You're right. I feel much better already.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHOI HANSUNG ꜜ he/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― [chuckles] Told you!

By the third day, both teams are done with their rough drafts thanks to everyone's dedication.

But what will the teachers' opinion be as the interim check's day finally comes?

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

✹ ﹒ ﹒ UESAKA SUMIRE（TEACHER） ― Not bad, actually! I think this type of comedic acting naturally suits you, it's all about finalizing the scripts and polishing your performances now~

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HANAE NATSUKI（TEACHER） ― [nodding] That's right! I see the singers here can project quite well already, and most of you can speak clearly too, but we can do even better. 

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HANAE NATSUKI（TEACHER） ― Eunkyung, we think that you in particular are capable of great things, but your voice tends to be rather flat. I'd work on that before the final performance.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KANG EUNKYUNG ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Mhm... I understand.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ UESAKA SUMIRE（TEACHER） ― This is all, then! Feel free to come to us before the final performance if you have any questions~ We're here for a reason, after all.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ BUBBLEGUM BASE ― Yes!

As the teachers are done, the Bubblegum Base students head back to their training room.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KANG EUNKYUNG ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― ...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KIM JUNSEONG ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Any problem, Eunkyung?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KANG EUNKYUNG ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Hm? Oh, no...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KIM JUNSEONG ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Alright! Let me know if there's anything.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KANG EUNKYUNG ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― ...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KANG EUNKYUNG ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Well... Actually...

Eunkyung takes a deep breath before speaking.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KANG EUNKYUNG ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Could you help me...?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KIM JUNSEONG ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Sure! Is this about the tone thing?

Eunkyung nods vigorously, pausing for a bit before speaking again.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KANG EUNKYUNG ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― I get told often that my voice is monotonous... So I'm not surprised. But I don't know what to do? It's always been like that.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KIM JUNSEONG ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Mhm... I see, I see...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KANG EUNKYUNG ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― I never learnt how to mask that well. Maybe that's why?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KIM JUNSEONG ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― No, I don't think it's that! You shouldn't have to change yourself over a role, and I'm sure that's not what the teachers meant anyway.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KIM JUNSEONG ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― How about doing a character study together? I can act out Masuyo's lines and you can try repeating them after I'm done!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KANG EUNKYUNG ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― I think that would help. Thanks!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KIM JUNSEONG ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― No problem! We're a team after all, aren't we?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KANG EUNKYUNG ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Right!

And so, the Bubblegum Base students continue working hard together...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Alright, with this we've finalized the script! No more revisions~

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HONG INKYU ꜜ he/any（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― [clapping his hands] Hell yeah! We did a great job!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ MIZUTANI MOE ꜜ she/xe（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― I'm not surprised, considering how good Den was at leading the team. Thank you for your hard work!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Hey, it's thanks to everyone's efforts as well! I wouldn't have been able to do anything had you guys been as lazy as... Well...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KIM JUNSEONG ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― [from behind DEN, placing a hand on her shoulder] Yeah... But be proud of yourself! Moe is right: both you and Eunkyung led the team well.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KOBAYASHI MIREI ꜜ they/she（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Ah, Junseong! Eunkyung! Are you guys done too?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KANG EUNKYUNG ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― Mhm! We just finished our first full reading. I still have to improve a lot...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KIM JUNSEONG ꜜ he/him（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― You're doing much better already! You'll be perfect by the time we'll perform on stage in front of the others.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KANG EUNKYUNG ꜜ she/her（BUBBLEGUM BASE） ― I hope so...!

... until it is finally time for the final performances.

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

───────── ·  ·  ·  · ✦

▊▍ SET ONE （BUBBLEGUM BASE）.

SETTING ﹕ a funeral.
CHARACTER ﹕ an author who doesn't sell.
OBJECT ﹕ a music CD.
LINE ﹕ "But this is nothing; I merely brought to life the character you gave to me. Wait, is this how surrogacy works?"

▋ 📋﹒﹒﹒ CAST OF CHARACTERS

MASUYO ❪ 益世; KANG EUNKYUNG ❫, a murderous funeral director;
HARUKI ❪ 陽生; KIM JUNSEONG ❫, the "ghostwriter" and narrator;
FUMIO ❪ 文夫; HAN JUNKYU ❫, a rival writer and "secret admirer";
YUTAKA ❪ 裕; ZHENG HUAN ❫, a shady CD collector.

▋ 📓﹒﹒﹒ SUMMARY

HARUKI, a failed author, dies in mysterious circumstances. He attends his own funeral as a ghost to find out the culprit, with his main suspect being his rival, FUMIO. His suspicions grow stronger as he realizes the latter is planning to ruin the funeral with the help of a shady CD collector, YUTAKA, who lends him a CD playing CBAT; FUMIO then claims it as HARUKI's favorite song and a last request before dying, but the funeral director MASUYO saves the day by stopping the music immediately - although in a rather violent way.

FUMIO gives the eulogy and makes the funeral even more embarrassing than it already was, HARUKI is more and more convinced the former is behind his death. As everyone leaves and FUMIO and MASUYO are left alone, however, he realizes he was wrong all along: it becomes clear that MASUYO was the one behind his death as she mentions giving HARUKI her business card right on the night of his murder, as well as the blood stain on her copy of his book. As the idiot as he is, FUMIO falls for her lousy lie and she is free to go, while HARUKI can't do anything but move on to the afterlife.

✦ ·  ·  ·  · ─────────

✹ ﹒ ﹒ AMARI HARUHIRO ꜜ he/him（POP CITY） ― This sure was... Something.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHU MINJEONG ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― All I can see and hear is rivals yaoi and I'm HERE for it.

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

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHU MINJEONG ꜜ she/her（POP CITY） ― I didn't say anything.

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

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KANG DOHEE ꜜ she/her（DECONSTRUCTED CLUB） ― Wow... Eunkyung was amazing! I would've never thought she could act like that.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JEON NAKYOUNG ꜜ she/siri（DECONSTRUCTED CLUB） ― Hearing that from an actress like you would surely make her ecstatic.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ DEJA NAM ꜜ she/her（DECONSTRUCTED CLUB） ― [nodding] Indeed.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HANAZAWA MOKA ꜜ she/her（HOST） ― We may now proceed with our second performance from Bubblegum Base!

───────── ·  ·  ·  · ✦

▊▍ SET TWO （BUBBLEGUM BASE）.

SETTING ﹕ a road trip.
CHARACTER ﹕ a high school dropout.
OBJECT ﹕ a treasure chest.
LINE ﹕ "When I was one of them young folks..."

▋ 📋﹒﹒﹒ CAST OF CHARACTERS

CHIYO ❪ 千代; MIZUTANI MOE ❫, the oldest in the friend group;
HARU ❪ 陽; CHOI HANSUNG ❫, a high school dropout;
EIKO ❪ 栄子; ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ❫;
REMI ❪ 麗美; KOBAYASHI MIREI ❫;
MAMORU ❪ 葵; HONG INKYU ❫.

▋ 📓﹒﹒﹒ SUMMARY

CHIYO's dorm in the Criminally Invasive Academy (CIA). MAMORU storms in the room, gaining access in some weird way, and reveals HARU has dropped out of high school. The rest of the friend group comes in and HARU himself admits to his action as he claims he wants to "sell it on the street"; while initially thought to be a sexual innuendo, REMI quickly realizes he means selling his scientific experiments on the street instead. For no reason at all, CHIYO decides to go on a road trip with the other four.

As CHIYO drives, she asks HARU to explain in detail the nature of his experiments, much to EIKO, REMI and MAMORU's dismay: it turns out his concoctions are supposed to be "healing potions" made up of expired ingredients, but he conveniently forgets to mention he's never tested them on anyone before. As the five fight over the topic, CHIYO's car crashes into what turns out to be a sealed box.

The friend group tries different methods to open it: the first one is EIKO, who borrows a wrench from CHIYO and uses it to smash the box, but without any result; MAMORU then serenades the box, later joined by REMI, but this attempt also fails; at last, HARU tries to drink one of his potions (allegedly capable of giving superhuman strength), but MAMORU pushes him to the ground to stop him as he considers the potion suspicious. As CHIYO comments on the energetic nature of her younger friends, saying the line that was assigned to the team as part of the prompt, the box finally opens, revealing rather questionable objects inside it.

[...] The car turns on again and the quintet finally prepares to leave, only for it to stop on its tracks again.

✦ ·  ·  ·  · ─────────

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HIURA ASHINA ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Oh, this one was fun!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（DIVA HOUSE） ― Right? And it's clear they had fun too...!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ NATHAN CHAE ꜜ he/him（DIVA HOUSE） ― I reckon it's 'cause everyone knew each other closely already! Ain't no one who knows Kyu better than me, though.

JESUS CHRIST. YOU'RE GAY. WE GOT IT. ENOUGH.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ 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 Bubblegum Base students!

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

FEVEN'S CORNER !!!

I'M WRITING THIS LAST MOMENT FUCK. I forgot I had an upload scheduled for today considering all the preparations for Easter... Haha! Haha. (I hate this).

From now on, the updates will be much longer than the previous ones! Considering I have to show all OCs at least once...

This being said, the password to the voting form will be sent on the Discord server soon! For any external readers who wish to vote, DM me there (@/kongsonhei).