A new day dawns. In the morning after the first evaluation, the girls filter into a large gym room adorned with High Rise banners and branding. Team by team they gather onto a set of stepped platforms that lets everyone, even the shortest Kaori, be plainly seen.

Each of the teams are wearing a uniform of white shorts or pants with shirts of slightly different shades of the deep blue with Corvus having the darkest and then Cygnus with a medium shade and Columba with a lighter shade. Then Pavo filters in and their uniforms are the lightest with the barest hint of blue shirts.

The girls seem relaxed together until the door opens once more and the girls rapidly stand to attention.

"Good morning!" Chanhee calls out as he enters. Behind him the other mentors enter as well. 

"Good morning!" the girls echo back at varying levels of energy. Some, like Taeri, look absolutely ready to get to action. Some, like Ari, look like they'd like nothing more than to fall back into bed and sleep.

"How was your first week at High Rise?" Chanhee asks. "Are you getting used to the dorms?"

── ⋆⋅💬⋅⋆ ──

"I have a story,"  Moon Taeri┋🐦┋says with a cheeky glint in her eyes. "So at one point during the group practice period there is just this ear-splitting scream somewhere in the Corvus dorm-"

"There was just a scream out of nowhere!" Kang Eunbin┋🐦┋continues the story in her own confessional. "It scared the hell out of me!" 

"You could hear the scream through the floor," Hwang Cheonsa┋🕊️┋says with wide eyes. "I thought there was a ghost." 

"I was ready to fight a sasaeng!" Han Sunwoo┋🐦┋says. "I heard the scream and I thought someone was being kidnapped or there was a pervert or something-"

In her own interview, Moon Ara┋🐦┋laughs awkwardly. "I got the habit to scream when I feel frustrated," she admits. "It really works to relieve stress! But it is a little awkward in , eh, social situations? I was have trouble grasping the dance of Pretty Savage and I just screamed in the laundry room and all of a sudden Sunwoo burst through the door holding a mic stand ready to use it as a blunt force weapon." She buries her face into her hands. "Ahhh it was so embarrassing!!"

── ⋆⋅/💬⋅⋆ ──

Back in the room the girls all nod. "Yeah, absolutely nothing weird happened," Kim Sarang says. "It was totally normal."

 Sunhee narrows his eyes. "The way you're saying that is sus as hell."

"No time for distractions, we're on a schedule." Chanhee claps his hands. "I'm already on producer Pyo's shitlist for derailing episode 1 filming and I would like to survive this."

"Unfortunately as you might notice, we are missing a handful of trainees," Chanhee continues. "Jingyi, Anshi, Yoonji, Seoyeon, and Dalal will no longer be able to participate in the program and we wish them luck on their future endeavors in the industry."

"Back to the challenge at hand! We are all gathered here today to give you your first ranking," Chanhee says. "After the next evaluation mission, 4 girls will be leaving us. This week's elimination will be team-based which means that every team will lose one trainee."

── ⋆⋅💬⋅⋆ ──

Each team loses one trainee?" Moon Yeona┋🦢┋ looks worried. "That means we're really competing with each other in the team, doesn't it? I thought we were collaborating?"

"I'm not ready to say goodbye to someone just yet!" Seo Hyejin┋🐦┋says. "It feels so soon."

── ⋆⋅/💬⋅⋆ ──

"Now before I announce a fun little bonus round," Chanhee says. "First the mentors will announce the current rankings to give all of you an idea of how you're doing and who has to step up their game in order to stay in the competition."

── ⋆⋅ 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐯𝐮𝐬 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 ⋅⋆ ──

1. Raon

2. Ara

3. Alissa

4. Taeri

5. Hyejin

6. Sunwoo

7. Plum

8. Sarang

9. Eunbin

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

── ⋆⋅💬⋅⋆ ──

"I had no idea I would be ranked so low right from the start," Kim Sarang┋🐦┋says. "I really have to step it up, this was a real wake up call."

"I'm second?!" Moon Ara┋🐦┋looks completely thrilled and amazed by the new. "This is beyond my wildest imaginations! You have no idea how much this means to me."

"It's such a relief that I'm doing well," Noh Raon┋🐦┋says. "I don't know if I could have handled being around the bottom after all of this time. I just- I'm so very relieved that I'm first, thank you so much."

── ⋆⋅/💬⋅⋆ ──

── ⋆⋅ 𝐂𝐲𝐠𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 ⋅⋆ ──

1. Aera

2. Eunsun

3. Areum

4. Rosalynn

5. Iseul

6. Yeona

7. Xiang

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

── ⋆⋅💬⋅⋆ ──

"It feels so good to be first!" Kim Aera┋🦢┋says. "I was worried after I wasn't able to show off my rapping last week but this really relieves some of the burden. Not that I'm going to stop showing you exactly why I deserve to stay nr. 1 anytime soon."

"Of course it's disappointing to be dead last," Han Xiang┋🦢┋says. "I'm really nervous about the eliminations now."

── ⋆⋅/💬⋅⋆ ──

── ⋆⋅ 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐚 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 ⋅⋆ ──

1. Mariya

2. Ari

3. Chrysanthemum

4. Kaori

5. Chau

6. Yena

7. Bitnarae

8. Cheonsa

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

── ⋆⋅💬⋅⋆ ──

"Second is almost worse than being lower," Kim Ari┋🕊️┋ says. "I'm so close but just coming up short. It's okay, I will just work harder to make up the difference."

"I'm first?!" Ito Mariya┋🕊️┋looks absolutely ecstatic. "I really hard no idea, I mean I know I come across pretty confident but this is better than I had dared to hope."

── ⋆⋅/💬⋅⋆ ──

── ⋆⋅ 𝐏𝐚𝐯𝐨 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 ⋅⋆ ──

1. Chaeri

2. Aecha

3. Mizu

4. Inhye

5. Hyemin

6. Persephone

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

── ⋆⋅💬⋅⋆ ──

"I'm not ready to leave this competition yet," Persephone┋🦚┋says.  "I have to show this week why I deserve to stay."

"There's so few of us left now in Pavo," Park Inhye┋🦚┋says. "It really puts more pressure one the individual."

Yoon Chaeri┋🦚┋excitedly claps her hands. "I'm first, do you see that?!" 

── ⋆⋅/💬⋅⋆ ──

"Now we won't always be showing you the rankings," Chanhee says. "So take this advantage to heart and let it fuel you to fight even harder. I'm sure with the mentor's help all of you will be achieving new heights.

"And now there is one last surprise for you," Chanhee says. "Now, since we are missing a handful of trainees, the execs at MNET and CJ E&M have scrambled to find us replacements-" 

Chanhee looks off-camera at one of the producers who's furiously signing at him. 

"I mean, have endeavored to bring us worthy trainees from MNET-affiliated label WAKEONE to graciously fill up the ranks we are missing. Each of the mentors chose the trainees themselves and will now introduce their picks."

── ⋆⋅💬⋅⋆ ──

"What?! New contestants?!" Lee Iseul┋🦢┋exclaims. "I mean sure it has only been one mission but damn, just when you think you know what you're up against."

── ⋆⋅/💬⋅⋆ ──

Eunha steps forward first. "Since Cygnus has lost 2 trainees, I had the task of finding two new swans to join our team and I do think that I have done a fine job of it," she says. "Let me introduce Tsukomo Kaida and Ahn Mia"

In come two girls who have an unquestionable air of confidence about them. Both of them are the picture of elegance with one being quite tall and modelesque but the other somehow looks even taller with sheer presence. Some of the other girls gasp in recognition. "Kaida?" the name is whispered among them.

── ⋆⋅💬⋅⋆ ──

"One Produce legend goes and another one comes in her place," Yoon Chaeri┋🦚┋looks super excited. "Tsukomo Kaida!! Can you believe it?? Ohh she's going to be perfect for Cygnus!"

"I really thought I would debut after Produce," Tsukomo Kaida┋🦢┋says in her interview. "Sure, I had only gotten to #23, but I had a decent following at the time and so I stayed and trained at MMO. Then Produce 48 happened and I was sure I'd debut with Seoyeon or the Stone girls but nothing happened and then the label became WAKEONE and still nothing happened. And now here I am, once more on an MNET survival show."

"Of course al the attention instantly goes to Kaida," Ahn Mia┋🦢┋says with a glint o

f annoyance. Then she composes herself and winks at the camera. "Some of us don't  have the luxury of an existing fanbase or history that makes them gasp as you walk into the room but don't worry, I'll make you gasp at my talent instead."

── ⋆⋅/💬⋅⋆ ──

"Our beautiful peacocks of every feather have also lost two trainees," Sunhee steps up. "So here are the two girls who will be joining your ranks: Ahn Mari and Lim Yeolmae!"

The two girls emerge from the door to take their place in the Pavo lineup, one looking quite confident as she steps in while the other teller girl smiles nervously.

As Mari takes in the other trainees, her eyes lock with Raon's and both of them startle.

── ⋆⋅💬⋅⋆ ──

"Yes, I know Mari," Noh Raon┋🐦┋says in her interview. "We were both in Future 2NE1 together but I haven't seen her years. It's good to see that she's doing well. She's going to be fierce competition for sure."

"I had no idea Raon was on this show!" Ahn Mari ┋🦚┋says. "Truth be told I thought she'd given up idol life altogether. She was a legend at YG, I don't envy the Corvus girls for going up against her!"

"Hi, I'm Yeolmae and I'm a singer!" the tall nervous looking girl is identified as Lim Yeolmae┋🦚┋. "Honestly, it's all sorts of crazy, being here. One minute I'm doing one of my occasional Sunday busking sessions in Seoul and the next I'm being offered to become a Wakeone trainee and then I'm being shipped off to this show. Everything went so fast but I'm really excited to be here!"

── ⋆⋅/💬⋅⋆ ──

"And finally it's my turn," Chaerin steps forward. "I had just one girl to cover for. Come on out Lorelai!" 

A glamorous looking girl comes into the room and stops right in front of the other girls. "Time is money, I'm expensive. Hello, I'm your future It girl Lorelai!!" she says with a little twirl. 

── ⋆⋅💬⋅⋆ ──

"She definitely looks... confident," Eto Mariya┋🕊️┋says.

Sakai Kaori┋🕊️┋laughs. "Talk about an intro!"

"I'm very excited to be here," Lorelai┋🕊️┋says. "And I hope the other girls are ready for me because I'm sure ready for them." Lorelai winks. 

── ⋆⋅/💬⋅⋆ ──

"Now that all of the surprise changes have been done, it's time to talk about the final mission before the first round of eliminations," Chanhee says. "And this will be the first round in front of a live audience!"

The girls gasp. On the Columba block, Chau grabs Yena's hand. "We get to perform in front of people," she whispers.

"For this round, each team is going to be split into 2! Each mentor is going to select a team of the top trainees and a team of the bottom trainees. The Top and Bottom teams will compete against each other and whichever team wins will gain 3000 points for each member."

Hana of team Corvus is the first to step forward and divide her team into two. She smiles at her team. "We're the only team who didn't need any additional members," she says with pride. 

"For the Top girls, the first girl I choose is Noh Raon, who should need no introduction," she says. "You've shown outstanding skills in the last performance and I look forward to what else you bring to the table."

"The second Top girl will be Moon Taeri," Hana announces. "Your experience speaks for itself. No universe could put you in the bottom."

"The third Top girl will be Moon Ara," Hana continues. "Though your inexperience shows, you held your own admirable in Pretty Savage and your star power is undeniable."

"Then the next Top girl will be Kim Sarang," Hana says. "And finally, the last Top girl will be Kang Eunbin."

"The rest of the girls will be in the bottom team," Chanhee says. "Sorry, girls."

── ⋆⋅💬⋅⋆ ──

"I was so overexcited to be back in a survival show and have a group to perform with again," Moon Taeri┋🐦┋says. "That I'm scared I wasn't able to show my best side. Now I'm just happy that I was still chosen as a Top trainee."

── ⋆⋅/💬⋅⋆ ──

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Next up is Cygnus. Eunha steps forward to announce her division. "Now for the newcomers, since I haven't been able to see you in action I have put you in the bottom team. I look forward to familiarising myself with your skills."

"The first girl in the Top group will be Rosalynn," Eunha announces. She laughs when Rosalynn's eyes widen and she points to herself like did you mean that? "Yes, you Rosalynn! You show great potential and I hope that putting you with the top girls will help them bring about that potential."

Rosalynn shrugs. "Alright, it's your funeral," she says with a wink.

"The next Top girl will be Na Eunsun!" Eunha announces. "Your vocal tone impressed me as did your charisma and I'm sure you are one of the frontrunners of the team as it stands now."

"The third Top girl," Eunha continues. "Will be Moon Yeona. And finally, the last Top girl is Choi Areum."

── ⋆⋅💬⋅⋆ ──

"That sounds perfectly fair," Tsukomo Kaida┋🦢┋says. "I neither want nor expect special treatment for coming in late and I will do my best to be an asset to the bottom team and make even the top girls wish they had been in the bottom."

"Me? A top trainee?" Choi Areum┋🦢┋seems genuinely perplexed. 

── ⋆⋅/💬⋅⋆ ──

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

"Our time!" Chaerin steps up to the Columba block to face her trainees. "I only picked out 3 trainees as my Top girls. Honestly I think all of you are outstanding so I think both teams will be fine regardless, but I can't be the only one who would get really excited about a performance with Kim Ari, Eto Mariya, and Park Yena.

── ⋆⋅💬⋅⋆ ──

"To be both on the bottom of the ranking and in the bottom team..." Lee Bitnarae ┋🕊️┋trails off. 

"I did not expect to be on the top team!" Park Yena┋🕊️┋says. "It feels very good to be recognized. Back at RBW I was one of the most senior trainees and often held to an example. I'm happy to see that it wasn't just their bias but that Chaerin sees my potential too!"

── ⋆⋅/💬⋅⋆ ──

"I'm doing it a little bit differently," Sunhee says with an impish smile. "Instead of thinking about who the top and bottom trainees would be, with the lineup shakeup I think it would be more interesting to pit the new trainees against the old ones. As such, my Top nominees are Ahn Mari and Lim Yeolmae."

"Sunhee!" Chanhee scolds. "What are you doing them?"

"What can I say? I love some good drama," Sunhee says.

── ⋆⋅💬⋅⋆ ──

"Wait, can he do that?" Park Hyemin┋🦚┋ asks. "Do we have to prove ourselves against them?"

"Oh, now I'm definitely nervous!" Lim Yeolmae┋🦚┋bites her lip. "Just the two of us against the others? They look so experienced."

"Damn, that's a tough situation for the Pavo trainees," Kim Aera┋🦢┋says. "Imagine losing to someone who hadn't been in the competition 5 minutes ago. I wis them luck and I'm rooting for them."

── ⋆⋅/💬⋅⋆ ──

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

"Alright! Now everyone has their teams ready, it's time to start the second mission!" Chanhee announces. "Good luck and I shall see all of you on stage!"

3000 points is a bit inflated for narrative purposes but comes down to if 15 people voted for the character so it's a significant bonus!

With the space that the introduction of the new contestants and such took in this chapter there wasn't anymore room for the photoshoot mission so I'm moving that one to next episode. You'll be able to pick anew who your girl is challenging to include the new girls in the next voting round. Sorry about that! The loss of the other girls threw some things out of whack  and this round is going to be a bit chaotic as a result but after this episode we can get back on track.

The new girls are going to be immune from elimination as well for this round! The other girls have multiple rounds of voting behind them so it wouldn't make sense to put the new girls in the line of fire as well.

Also voting for the most noteworthy contestants was for dividing the tops and bottoms! Whoever was voted highest was sure to make it into a top position so congrats to Raon, Rosalynn,  and Ari!

So the next 4 chapters are going to have "live voting" which means short term voting right after the chapter ends. I'm planning to publish them next saturday, tuesday, and friday with 2 days of the votes being open so be sure to check wattpad on those days if you want to vote!