▌ EPISODE TWO: Anywhere But Here. 
❪ PART SIX. ❫

⚠️ LOTS OF CUSSING AHEAD... Not like it's surprising at all and my usual audience doesn't mind ♡ But still. ⚠️

The trial period for Class One is finally over...

Who will become Class Representative?

▎ DAY TWO: The Selection of the Class Rep.
❪ 📍 Class One ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（CLASS ONE） ― Well, then... Who are the candidates?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（CLASS ONE） ― I'm going for it.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ MIZUTANI MOE ꜜ she/xe（CLASS ONE） ― Ah, that's nice to see! Me too!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（CLASS ONE） ― OK, Jayden and Moe for now... Yiruri also told me she'd be going for the position, didn't she? What about you, Ijun? You said you'd consider the position, too.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEOK IJUN ꜜ he/him（CLASS ONE） ― Nah, I don't think I should... Maybe as a delegate! But full-time is a bit...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（CLASS ONE） ― I see... Then it's Jayden, Moe and Yiruri. Is everyone here?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ MIZUTANI MOE ꜜ she/xe（CLASS ONE） ― And you're not going for it, Yunzhi?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（CLASS ONE） ― Me? It'd be nice, not going to lie here... But I think I'll leave it to you all instead.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（CLASS ONE） ― Let's put down our votes, then! Candidates can also vote, just not for themselves... Let's not cheat, mh?

Class One students put down their votes after a few minutes of reflection. As Yunzhi reads the results out, the class gets incredibly tense.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（CLASS ONE） ― Oh...? Class Representative is clear, but there's a tie for Delegate. We'll have to do another voting for it.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（CLASS ONE） ― One vote for Jayden... Second vote for Jayden... Third... Yeah, Class Representative is clear. Congratulations, Jayden!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ DEJA NAM ꜜ she/they（CLASS ONE） ― Wow, had we decided this at the beginning it would've been anyone but him... This is so funny.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（CLASS ONE） ― You don't approve, Deja? Let me know if there's any concern!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ DEJA NAM ꜜ she/they（CLASS ONE） ― Oh no, I do! I even voted for him. I was just pointing out the character development... Not to mention, his idea to wait and see who contributed the most in class was also great.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ MIZUTANI MOE ꜜ she/xe（CLASS ONE） ― [grinning] Right? Hehe... I knew he'd prove me right in the end~ My intuition never fails!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HUR YIRURI ꜜ she/they（CLASS ONE） ― Heh... In the end I'm destined to lose, huh...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（CLASS ONE） ― ... It's not that serious? Get a grip.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HUR YIRURI ꜜ she/they（CLASS ONE） ― Tsk. I'm not being serious either, it was a joke!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（CLASS ONE） ― [sarcastic] Uh uh... If you say so...

I swear to God, these two...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（CLASS ONE） ― Let's calm down, shall we? It's time to vote for our delegate... Now, Ijun said he'd try going for it, but given we have a tie between the other two candidates for Class Representative I think it's better to keep the voting between them to avoid other ties. Is it OK?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEOK IJUN ꜜ he/him（CLASS ONE） ― Oh, sure!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（CLASS ONE） ― Great then. Vote for either Moe or Yiruri, please!

Voting seems to proceed just fine as the students vote with clear ideas in mind...

The same can't be said about Class Three.

▎ DAY TWO: The Selection of the Class Rep.
❪ 📍 Class Three ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（CLASS THREE） ― ... Are you kidding me? I reject! I won't be the Class Representative.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HONG INKYU ꜜ he/any（CLASS THREE） ― I mean... Did you expect any of us to take on the position? You contributed a lot so far and even ranked second in the pre-vote, so you should just take it... You're likely among the ones who will survive until the very end.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（CLASS THREE） ― ... I DO NOT CARE? All the classes have people volunteering and here we are with you having this role thrust upon me...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（CLASS THREE） ― Why do you speak as if you put your sentences through Google Translate?

Because she does.

Congrats for finding out!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIN SEOYOON ꜜ she/xe（CLASS THREE） ― Actually... If Xiaoqiong is the Representative, can I become Delegate?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HONG INKYU ꜜ he/any（CLASS THREE） ― Yes! This is the approach I-

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HONG INKYU ꜜ he/any（CLASS THREE） ― Wait a fucking minute... No. You're not. You two together are a recipe for disast-

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（CLASS THREE） ― Shut the fuck up, Kyu. [grins] Suddenly I like this role way more!

How is the production letting them cuss uncensored all this time.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JEON NAKYOUNG ꜜ she/siri（CLASS THREE） ― She's so pretty... And she can sing, clearly, so I'll take it. Welcome on board, Class Representative.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（CLASS THREE） ― Nakyoung... [dramatically holds back tears] Because of the trust you and my kin girlfriend have in me, I will be the best class representative I can be... and I won't let you down!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HONG INKYU ꜜ he/any（CLASS THREE） ― I am going to kill myself.

HOW IS THIS UNCENSORED.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（CLASS THREE） ― OK, but... Xiaoqiong did contribute a lot, Kyu. You were the one to push this role on her too, so as long as this pair gets their work done you shut up and accept the consequences of your actions.

Harsh as usual, but she keeps it real.

We love you Ren!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（CLASS THREE） ― Perfect, then! [clapping her hands] Tomorrow we face Rain, so let's work hard and prove that we're better off without that dog whelp!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（CLASS THREE） ― ... Yes, she takes sentences off Google Translator. I knew it.

It is finally time for the trainees to show the teachers what they've done so far...

But how will it go?

▎ DAY THREE: Test simulation.
❪ 📍 School Theatre ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEULGI（TEACHER） ― [sighs] ...

Uh oh. That doesn't sound promising...

The students gulp as both teachers refuse to say anything in front of their performances.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ RAIN（TEACHER） ― ... Who chose the songs?

Everyone looks at XIAOQIONG and YEW.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ RAIN（TEACHER） ― The girls' song is alright, you're just horrible as groups... As for the boys, what the hell? It's clearly out of your league.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ RAIN（TEACHER） ― [sighing] Let's calm down now... Listen, I know we're three days in but... We're three days in.

No shit, Sherlock!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEULGI（TEACHER） ― What Rain-sunbaenim means is that it's a short time, but the time you have is limited in itself and this is the most you can show us... Frankly I'm worried, more about Class Three than Class One. So let's start with them.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEULGI（TEACHER） ― Both performances were terrible.

Ouch.

The students stand still, refusing to say anything as they lower their heads.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEULGI（TEACHER） ― Yul is... Alright, I guess. He's a vocalist with a decent foundation and good vocal intuition... But that's not enough.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEULGI（TEACHER） ― With such a vocal heavy song, you're clearly all at a disadvantage, and I understand it's not easy. But, aside from training to make up for what you lack, you should also invest in the other aspects of a performance: the emotion, the charisma... You're not showing me anything. I can't even feel sorry, because it doesn't seem like you're even trying at all.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEULGI（TEACHER） ― I want you to know I see lots of potential, and I'm excited to see what your final performance will be... So work hard, and don't take this to heart, alright?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CLASS THREE ― Yes ma'am!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEULGI（TEACHER） ― As for the girls-

✹ ﹒ ﹒ RAIN（TEACHER） ― What even was that. Did you rehearse outside of the sessions with me?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEULGI（TEACHER） ― ... Whoever is the Class Representative, if you don't mind, can you tell us what happened?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（CLASS THREE） ― Ahem... Yes... In short...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（CLASS THREE） ― Our teacher is an irresponsible asshole.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ RAIN（TEACHER） ― ...?!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIN SEOYOON ꜜ she/xe（CLASS THREE） ― ... Oh, she really said that.

Everyone in the room freezes at her statement, some of them admiring her audacity while the others are just confused about what happened behind the scenes.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEULGI（TEACHER） ― [holding back her laugh] C-can you explain what you mean, Xiaoqiong?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（CLASS THREE） ― Many times we asked our teacher for advice on how to improve, as our male teammates were unhelpful in this regard, but he always refused to give us an opinion and we were left on our own.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（CLASS THREE） ― We already had to coach the boys' team's performance, and even that was incredibly slow because we didn't have the help of a mentor.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ RAIN（TEACHER） ― I don't understand a single thing out of everything she said.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（CLASS THREE） ― Of course you don't, you annoying dog whelp!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEOK IJUN ꜜ he/him（CLASS ONE） ― [to YUNZHI] ... Dog whelp? What kind of insult is that?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（CLASS ONE） ― ... She meant 'son of a bitch'.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEOK IJUN ꜜ he/him（CLASS ONE） ― Oh... Wow!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（CLASS THREE） ― Every time we asked for help, you kept saying "It's none of my business", and now you're trying to play it cool and backing off. Things won't go well like this.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEULGI（TEACHER） ― OK, OK, let's calm down a little... Is this true? Can you guys confirm?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ MIAO QIUYE ꜜ he/any（CLASS THREE） ― Yeah...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HONG INKYU ꜜ he/any（CLASS THREE） ― I've never seen his face once in our training room.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIN SEOYOON ꜜ she/xe（CLASS THREE） ― Xiaoqiong hasn't slept in days either! "Did you rehearse outside of the sessions with me"? What sessions, Rain-sunbaenim? Xiaoqiong was the one leading us up until this point!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEULGI（TEACHER） ― ... That's a huge problem. Teachers can have different approaches and I don't expect the same one as me for everyone, but really? That's way too much.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEULGI（TEACHER） ― Let's do this then: we'll have a joint lesson tomorrow, and students can help out each other even if they're in different classes. It probably won't do too much, but it can definitely help at least a bit. How does that sound?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIN SEOYOON ꜜ she/xe（CLASS THREE） ― ... Definitely better than working with an absent mentor!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEULGI（TEACHER） ― [smiling] Great then! Looking forward to it~ Moving to Class One...

As SEULGI writes down a few notes for herself, the students look at each other, tense.

What will be her final judgement?

▎ DAY FOUR: Joint lesson.
❪ 📍 Class Three's Training Room ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（CLASS ONE） ― ... Let's switch back to the boys' team.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（CLASS THREE） ― ... We haven't even started? You just finished with them, are you planning to sabotage us?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（CLASS ONE） ― If I wanted to do that, I'd let you train when your leader is about to pass out of exhaustion and leave you all to perform alone.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JEON NAKYOUNG ꜜ she/siri（CLASS THREE） ― I still think the boys are in better care in Yunzhi's hands. Didn't Seulgi-sunbaenim say that too?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（CLASS ONE） ― ...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JEON NAKYOUNG ꜜ she/siri（CLASS THREE） ― Let's focus on our vocal parts without Xiaoqiong... Thanks Jayden, I guess? [sarcastic] You helped a lot...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHOI HUIRYEON ꜜ she/her（CLASS THREE） ― Actually, I think you should focus on your class's girls' team, especially if all you want us to do is look around us and feel dejected. Thanks anyways...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（CLASS ONE） ― ... Tsk, whatever.

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── 𝄞 ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮

❪ INTERVIEW ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（CLASS ONE） ― I don't think they understand I have no obligation to help them and that I'm doing it solely out of desire of a fair competition. Yes, Seulgi-sunbaenim asked us to help each other, but I have no reason to train them extensively when I'm also focusing on my own thing. Who do they think they are?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（CLASS ONE） ― If they want to be the bunch of idiots they are and risk disqualifying the only one who can actually perform among them right now, then they can do as they please. But I don't think it's a good idea, and I'm even being too kind by telling them this.

──────────────

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHOI HUIRYEON ꜜ she/her（CLASS THREE） ― I'm grateful to Jayden for... Caring? But we don't have time to waste waiting for Xiaoqiong to feel better, especially when all the teachers can say is that our performance is so terrible they're giving up on us... Well, only Rain-sunbaenim said this, actually.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHOI HUIRYEON ꜜ she/her（CLASS THREE） ― The point is... Genuinely thanks, but you're not helping.

╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── 𝄞 ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（CLASS ONE） ― [sighs] I didn't sign up for this shit, I swear to God... Let's continue with you.

Jayden already had a reason to be mad today, but there the devil comes and finds yet another one...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（CLASS ONE） ― ... Can you do anything productive instead of standing there like an idiot? Or at least tell me what's your problem? I don't want slackers around, and neither do the teachers. Stand up.

... Oh Jesus Christ.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HUR YIRURI ꜜ she/they（CLASS ONE） ― I don't get why you of all people got the Class Representative role.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（CLASS ONE） ― You don't? [scornful] We had a trial period for each candidate and I convinced the others I was more capable than you... Which is clearly right, since you're being an uncooperative ass right now. Calm the [BLEEP] down and help us out instead of sulking like a baby.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HUR YIRURI ꜜ she/they（CLASS ONE） ― You know what? Maybe you're right. I'll leave you all to it, then. [about to leave the room] Sorry if I inconvenienced you!

Yiruri eventually storms out of the room, shocking everyone else in the room - including Seulgi.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ MIZUTANI MOE ꜜ she/xe（CLASS ONE） ― ... What the hell just happened?!

FEVEN'S CORNER !!

... Oops! I might have exaggerated something that initially happened during the mission and made it out to be a bigger deal than it is. Whether it gets solved or not, we'll leave it for the next part~

Sorry for the lack of GIFs, but the only fitting one I found was that Jay one... I'll make sure to use more media for the next parts (well, aside from the voting graphics).

On to the important stuff... What better time than now to have an active check? Not predictable at all, right? Haha. Ha. H.

ACTIVE CHECK!

Based on a suggestion from May in the last active check ─ thank you so much for this one! ─ we'll soon have an AMA ❪ Ask Me Anything ❫ session!

Your task: Write one or more questions for any of the trainees, but it can't be one of yours. It can be a question of any type, except anything invasive that has to do with sex life or anything of the sorts... Keep it SFW. Please. The more questions you ask, the more activity points you get!

Tip: for those of you with no idea on what to ask, look up any K-Pop group Reddit AMA session and take inspiration from what fans usually ask. You can take it to the next level with crazy questions, just reminding you once again that NSFW is not allowed. Thank you!

Unlike originally planned, whoever doesn't complete this active check without prior hiatus announcement will be kicked out. This is especially valid for repeating offenders, while I will try to be more lenient with people who are unusually inactive compared to their standard performance. Merin is the only one I excuse completely due to receiving a hiatus note in advance, as well as Neiya ❪ long-term situation ❫. Let's see if I have to get mad this time around!

Complete the active check here!

❪ CHECK THE EXAMPLE BEFORE SUBMITTING. ANY RESPONSE SUBMITTED IMPROPERLY WILL NOT BE COUNTED. ❫

DEADLINE: MAY 8, 2024 (11:59 KST)