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┏━━━━°⌜ 赤い糸 ⌟°━━━━┓

-ˋˏ EPISODE TWO, PART ONE ˎˊ-

┗━━━━°⌜ 赤い糸 ⌟°━━━━┛

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OVERTHROW STAGE ,, 06:00pm

The episode starts off with the rows of seats in the auditorium quickly getting filled up by audiences moments before the show was scheduled to start and we're then shown trainees preparing backstage, some feeling confident and some feeling extra anxious.

(taking a peep) Woah... there's not a single empty seat. I didn't expect this many people to come see me.

(coming in to back hug ) Come see us.

Come see us. Wow! (waves to the camera) Hi, mom we're on TV! We're famous now!

Pfft... (To Good luck, man.

Good luck! Hwaiting!!

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We prepared really really hard for this.

We gave in our 100% the past 2 weeks, I thought we were going to die.

Well, it's all going to be over soon!

Yep, hwaiting!!

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As scheduled, the show then starts on time and walks out on stage to greet the audiences who've traveled all the way to the studio to see the boys live.

Vote for your boy, . Hello, I'm your emcee for tonight, .

This will be the second evaluation from our talented boys and the results of this evaluation will be solely decided by our mentors.

The lights at the mentors' panel then turn on, revealing all 3 of them as they waved to the camera and the audience.

Our boys have prepared 3 performances - each with their own unique style and concepts - which the mentors will be judging based on their display of skill and charisma.

After the 3 performances conclude, the mentors will be ranking the performances from the best to the worst whereas the members in the team who have done the best will be placed in while the members of the team who have done the worst will be placed in .

The team placed in the middle will have to be split up. The top 2 best performing trainees, once again decided by our mentors, will join the winning team in while the rest go into .

Live audience will, however, get to vote for individual members and who they think did the best for every team; Which may or may not save the boys from elimination next week - when the final line-up will be decided and finalized.

Without further ado, let us introduce our first team performing for today.

then invites the first team up on stage, its members consisting of and . The audience then cheers for the boy, giving the boys a warm welcome before their performance.

5, 6, 7, 8...

Let us go! We're here to break the rules! Hello, we are

, as both the team's maknae and leader, what were the challenges you faced when preparing for this performance?

Uhm...

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. . .➴ 𝙏.𝙍𝘼𝙄𝙉𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙁𝙊𝙊𝙏𝘼𝙂𝙀

is seen sitting alone in a dance studio, checking himself out in the mirror, waiting for his teammates (who's identity are still being kept secret from him) to enter the room.

⸃ !!

Which trainees are you hoping to have for your first evaluation?

and -hyungI wrote them as my top four choices.

The concept I had in mind was a little... "upbeat"? So I thought they would be perfect in my team.

⸃ !!

Out of the four, who do you think will actually end up in your team?

⸃ !!

Probably -hyung... I don't think I'll get -hyung on my team. I think he has a charisma that's able to go well with any concept out there. Hence I'd believe that every other team would've picked him as one of their top three choices.

Suddenly, turns towards the door, as edited blurred out figures from the other side knock on it.

⸃ !!

(fake voice) Hello~

⸃ !!

(sighs) -hyung I can tell that's you.

The boys then walk into the room, disappointed, revealing themselves to be and . This causes to immediately freak out as he screams, surprised at his own luck.

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. . .➴ 𝙋.𝙀𝙍𝙎𝙊𝙉𝘼𝙇 𝙄𝙉𝙏𝙀𝙍𝙑𝙄𝙀𝙒𝙎

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

The four of them were my top four choices as teammates, but I kind of expected to only get 1 or 2 of them on my team. When I saw that all four of them got into the group...MY MIND WAS BLOWN.

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

Maybe the Gods shined their sparkle magic on me but HOLY COW I GOT MY IDEAL TEAM?

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

But also this means I'm the youngest so I have to lead them? (pouts) I'm babie leader, losers!

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⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

So -ssi when you picked the four of us, you most likely had a concept or song in mind.

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

Of course! I was planning to do a more upbeat or a more refreshing concept.

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

Like or -sunbaenim?

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

Yeah!! Like them!

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

(takes out his phone) Let's...go look up a couple of videos and then we can decide.

The boys bunch up around 's phone, eyes glued to the screen as they sift through performances.

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

...And for those reasons, we should choose by !

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

(bleary eyed) Uhh yeah, I agree! I was totally listening for all 15 minutes you spent talking about darwin's theory of evolution or something.

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

...I literally just talked about how I think the music matches our personalities and it really feels like we're leveling up and-

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

OKAY!

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

So we all agree with ? , what about you?

looks up from the shoelace that he's fiddling with to give a half-hearted shrug of agreement. The older boy furrows his brow at the lack of enthusiasm, but moves on anyway.

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

Sounds good! Leader, any remarks before we head out for tonight?

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

(startled) Oh, we're ending already? Uhh I don't really know what to say...sleep well I suppose? Be ready to work hard tomorrow!

The team cheers, laughing a little as the maknae struggles to create a motivational speech on the spot, before standing up and grabbing their bags to head back to the dorms.

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. . .➴ 𝙏.𝙍𝘼𝙄𝙉𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙁𝙊𝙊𝙏𝘼𝙂𝙀

With the interim evaluation one day away, the boys are hard at work. is carefully monitoring the boys' dance, calling out the beat to make sure every move is perfectly in sync.

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

5, 6, doom, doom ta-

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

move your arm closer to your ear please...yep! That's it!

Before they can continue, however, the door swings open and rap mentor steps into the room. The team immediately stop their work, and bows to the senior artist.

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

Hey boys! How's it going in here?

She smiles brightly, clipboard in hand, as she looks at the group. The boys nudge forward to speak, as he's technically the group's leader.

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

Uh- Uh yes! We've been working hard!

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

Good, good! just finished a meeting with our music production team, so I thought I'd stop by to see your progress. Mind if I watch? Maybe give a couple of pointers?

The boys vigorously nod their heads, quickly moving to their positions before the music begins.

watches intently, noting down a couple of things as they perform. They stop after a couple of minutes, panting from the exertion of singing and dancing simultaneously.

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

I see..., while the concept is a bit young for you, I can see you trying to put energy into it, the effort is appreciated. Your center is...? Yes?

The boys nod their heads, smiling slightly as they remember the coin flip they did to choose between and .

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

Good choice, looks effortless here. ...you're being a little too aggressive, ease into the performance a little more, relax, you'll do fine. , your stability is incredible. Consider me shocked; I thought you were just a ballad singer.

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

But . What the heck.

doesn't take time to sugarcoat her words as she continues.

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

Are you even trying? There's no energy at all, you're dragging the entire team down, why? You're talented enough to get through the rap sections without a lot of effort, but where's the drive? There's no fire in you and I don't understand why you're letting this opportunity slip through your fingers.

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. . .➴ 𝙋.𝙀𝙍𝙎𝙊𝙉𝘼𝙇 𝙄𝙉𝙏𝙀𝙍𝙑𝙄𝙀𝙒𝙎

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

I'm just...I guess I'm not feeling this concept at all.

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

I kind of hoped one of the hyungs would pick me...I don't know how I ended up on the baby face team.

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

It just feels childish, and not like something I can showcase my full potential with. That's really annoying because this is the last mission before the final lineup gets decided...

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⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

I hope you guys fix up the few things I pointed out for the interim evaluation tomorrow, and hopefully get some team spirit in you in time for the final performance in a week. Good work! I'm finally heading home.

As soon as leaves, and the door shuts, the boys turn to look at one another.

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

...

Were they able to pull through in time for the final performance?

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OVERTHROW STAGE ,, 06:00pm

The screen returns to the boys on stage, ready to perform.

, as both the team's maknae and leader, what were the challenges you faced when preparing for this performance?

Uhm...

While there were definitely some struggles, my teammates helped me a lot and we pushed through as a team! I'm really proud of our preparation.

That's great to hear! A little birdy told me that one of those struggles you ran into was a scolding from the stylists when you created...this mess:

The group covers their mouths in embarrassment as the screen plays a video of them rolling out an entire bolt of red fabric and posing on it as if it were the red carpet.

Paparazzi ...not a sight I thought I'd have the pleasure of seeing...

The crowd laughs as hides his face in his hands.

Well, without further ado, here's team performing 's !

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

₊❏❜ 💥 ⋮ ,,

╰┈➤ ❝ as SOOBIN ❞

╰┈➤ ❝ as HUENING KAI ❞

╰┈➤ ❝ as BEOMGYU ❞

╰┈➤ ❝ as YEONJUN ❞

╰┈➤ ❝ as TAEHYUN ❞

₊❏❜ 💥 ⋮ ,,

₊❏❜ 💥 ⋮ ,,

╰┈➤ ❝ as SOOBIN ❞

╰┈➤ ❝ as HUENING KAI ❞

╰┈➤ ❝ as BEOMGYU ❞

╰┈➤ ❝ as YEONJUN ❞

╰┈➤ ❝ as TAEHYUN ❞

╭┈──₊❏❜ 💥 ⋮ ,,

╰┈➤ ❝ ,, MINOR-B ❞

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. . .➴ 𝙍.𝙀𝘼𝘾𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 𝘾𝘼𝙈

The clip of 's winkplays and receives cheers from the group of boys up for the member.

Wah... he winks good though. I wish I could wink like that.

They really killed it with their energy, wow.

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Next up, we have our charismatic dream boy group!

The crowd all cheer as the tall men--revealed to be and--dressed in suits walk up on stage, greeting their fans.

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. . .➴ 𝙍.𝙀𝘼𝘾𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 𝘾𝘼𝙈

The boys all let out a collective "woah," impressed by how stylish the trainees look on camera.

⸃ !!

(applauding) Wah... they all look so tall...

⸃ !!

Yeah... What about you?

⸃ !!

Hyung-

The camera pans over to who looks at through the screen while staring blankly.

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. . .➴ 𝙋.𝙀𝙍𝙎𝙊𝙉𝘼𝙇 𝙄𝙉𝙏𝙀𝙍𝙑𝙄𝙀𝙒𝙎

⸃ !!

Checking him out- What- NO!!

⸃ !!

-hyung is kind of like a sibling to me... so seeing him in that open-collared shirt... took me a few seconds to get used to.

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⸃ !!

3,2,1

⸃ !!

Can we be your valentine?

The crowd cheers on as each boy pull out a rose from their back.

⸃ !!

Hello, we are !

The camera zooms in on one of the roses, before zooming out to a completely different scene: the three mentors sitting behind a table, all three teams sitting to the side.

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. . .➴

(raising an eyebrow) So what I'm hearing is you switched your song, all of a sudden, TWO DAYS AGO? Losing almost five days of practice?

Tension covered the room like a heavy blanket; even the other trainees seemed to be confused at team 's sudden change of heart...and so late too.

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. . .➴ 𝙋.𝙀𝙍𝙎𝙊𝙉𝘼𝙇 𝙄𝙉𝙏𝙀𝙍𝙑𝙄𝙀𝙒𝙎

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

Our team originally planned to use -sunbaenim's .

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

However, we kinda got cold feet after seeing how difficult the vocals were to maintain while doing such a difficult choreo.

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

Even -sunbaenim, when she came to check on us, said that it was an ambitious choice.

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

I wonder if she'll agree with us changing the song though...

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The boys shuffle nervously, not sure how to respond to 's question. Eventually, sighs and tells them to start the music in order to see how much the boys have learned in the short duration. Just 45 seconds later, signals them to stop.

⸝⸝ ⸃ !!

There's no point in us evaluating you right now. You've been practicing for two days while the other groups have made use of five. That's a decision you made, and the consequences are yours to deal with as well.