（ALERT） — AC 2.1
this is the first of a few chapters with the initial grades, i would recommend going back to the training rules before reading this to understand the scores. please do not be upset if you don't get the grade you want, not everyone can earn an a, and remember that the grades don't mean everything~~ some of the most talented trainees on produce came from lower classes initially! if you've read this, comment your favorite vocalist in any group~~

ᴄʜᴀᴛᴏʏᴇʀ - ᴇᴘɪsᴏᴅᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ
𝓼𝓾𝓷𝓻𝓲𝓼𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓾𝓷𝓼𝓮𝓽

previously on chatoyer....

CHOI EUNJAE (PLEDIS / ?): Those are not trainees... those are idols.

MOON HYORI (PLEDIS / ?): We are competing with them?

KIM AREUM (CUBE / ?): How does one simply perform in front of their bias?

KIM JIWOO (BNA CUL. / ?): No way we will compete with them... maybe they're just guest performers or something?

LEE SOJUNG (FNC / ?): In the dark, four stars light up the sky! Annyeonghaseyo, we are the trainees from FNC!

five minutes ago in the waiting room...

YANG YUNRAN (FNC / ?): Do you think they'll hate us because we've debuted before?

LEE SOJUNG (FNC / ?): They shouldn't... at this point we're just the same as them, trainees again.

CAROL LAI (FNC / ?): And if anyone tries to tell you anything, tell them they can answer to me!

DANIKA MANOBAN (FNC / ?): Carol-ah, you're like two inches tall, you couldn't hurt a fly.

CAROL LAI (FNC / ?): I am 167 cm! I'm taller than you.

DANIKA MANOBAN (FNC / ?): Sure, and i'm the Queen of England.

YANG YUNRAN (FNC / ?): I thought you were from Thailand...?

LEE SOJUNG (FNC / ?): Ok, lets just pick our grades and go. They're probably waiting for us by now.

of the four trainees, lee sojung is the only one to choose an a, the rest choose c.

（INTERVIEW）

LEE SOJUNG (FNC / ?): I think our comeback getting cancelled really took a toll on our confidence... I can't even say I deserve this a. but it's my goal to get there, and i wanted something to work towards.

（END INTERVIEW）

the fnc trainees take seats 16-19, completing the seating pyramid.

the trainees discuss among themselves for a few moments before the lights dim... the show begins.

TAEMIN (NATIONAL REP.): Welcome to Chatoyer~ where big dreams mean no limits! Trainees... are you ready?

JEONG YUNHA (KQ / ?): Wait is that really Taemin sunbae, no one told me he was going to be here, oh my-

HWANG JINAE (PLEDIS / ?): Deep breaths. In. Out. In. Out- oh my god is this real life?

XI CHEN (SOMU / ?): Let's go! I am
R E A D Y, no more stalling.

TAEMIN (NATIONAL REP.): Lets introduce the esteemed mentors, who will be judging your performances today!

Your vocal mentors will be Byun Baekhyun and Kim Hyolyn!

Your rap mentors will be Amber Liu and Moonbyul!

Your dance mentors will be Hirai Momo and Park Jimin!

MIYAZAKI YUMI (JYP / ?): All of the judges are so legendary, I'm kind of scared to perform for them now...

GISELLE AHN (SM / ?): Two of them are our sunbaes, so they will expect a lot of us... I hope we won't disappoint them.

TAEMIN (NATIONAL REP.): Lets start with a warm up performance shall we? Bouquet, including our second host Xiyeon-ah will be performing their new single: Remember Me.

REMEMBER ME + SECRET GARDEN
by BOUQUET

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

XIYEON (NATIONAL REP.): How was that?

TAEMIN (NATIONAL REP.): Stunning as always Xiyeon-ah!

XIYEON (NATIONAL REP.): What grade would you give me Taemin-ssi?

TAEMIN (NATIONAL REP.): You'll always be an ACE in my book Xiyeon-ah!

（INTERVIEW）

XI CHEN (SOMU / ?): Seeing my sister perform with Bouquet was a wake up call for me. I have so much more to prove as her sister, but I'm certain the mentors will see my skills in our performance.

（END INTERVIEW ）

XIYEON (NATIONAL REP.): Well, shall we have some trainees perform for us now?

TAEMIN (NATIONAL REP.): I'm ready for them~ are you mentors?

MOONBYUL (RAP MENTOR): You guys got this, hwaiting trainees!

XIYEON (NATIONAL REP.): Let's go over the rankings briefly!

TAEMIN (NATIONAL REP.): Our 34 trainees will be sorted into six ranks, ace being the highest, and f being the lowest.

XIYEON (NATIONAL REP.): The mentors will give a trainee a score out of ten in the following categories: vocal/rap, dance, and performance.

TAEMIN (NATIONAL REP.): Your total score will determine your overall grade~ 

XIYEON (NATIONAL REP.): Lets start strong with the trainees from SM Entertainment!

HUANG CHUNHUA (SM / ?): How are we supposed to follow Bouquet~~ they're real idols...

SONG EUNJI (SM / ?): We got this! Just like we practiced alright?

BAEKHYUN (VOCAL MENTOR): Whenever you're ready trainees...

SEMINA by GUGUDAN
performed by the SM TRAINEES

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

GISELLE as SEJEONG
EUNJI as MINA
CHUNHUA as NAYOUNG

HYOLYN (VOCAL MENTOR): I'm loving the song choice, it might be winter, but i'm living for the summer theme.

MOMO (DANCE MENTOR): The dance was pretty good overall, I think i would have liked to see a little more from you all though considering the song isn't that difficult.

BAEKHYUN (VOCAL MENTOR): I especially felt that the vocals were lacking all around. Giselle-ssi, you put that you wanted to be the main vocalist, but i could barely hear you at all!

AMBER (RAP MENTOR): I was actually pretty impressed with your rap Eunji-ssi, you have a very bright tone.

the judges discuss for a few minutes before handing their scores to Taemin and Xiyeon.

TAEMIM (NATIONAL REP.): In A class... there is none. In B class...

XIYEON (NATIONAL REP.): Son Eunji with a total score of 22... In C class...

TAEMIN (NATIONAL REP.): there is none. In D class is Huang Chunhua with a score of 16 and in F class is Giselle Ahn with a score of 13.

SM TRAINEE SCORES

SON EUNJI (SM / B): Giselle-ah, don't cry it's ok...

GISELLE AHN (SM / F): I never should have come here...

HUANG CHUNHUA (SM / D): One bad performance doesn't define you, don't give up!

（INTERVIEW）

CHOI HEEYOUNG (SOMU / ?): I was so worried when the mentors gave the sm trainees low grades... they're from such a big company, what would they think of us?

（END INTERVIEW）

TAEMIN (NATIONAL REP.): Let's have the PLEDIS trainees come up next!

HWANG JINAE (PLEDIS / ?): Unnie, hold me, I'm scared...

XI YUE (PLEDIS / ?): What happened to Jinae our fearless leader?

HWANG JINAE (PLEDIS / ?): She doesn't want an F grade...

CHOI EUNJAE (PLEDIS / ?): Then have confidence unnie, how are you going to do well if you don't believe in yourself.

CRAZY by 4MINUTE
performed by the PLEDIS TRAINEES

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

JINAE as HYUNA
EUNJAE as JIHYUN
YUE as GAYOON
JIEUN as JIYOON
HYORI as SOHYUN

MINATOZAKI LENA (BBC / ?): Woah... They were really good!

PARK NAHYUN (BBC / ?): They almost seemed like a real group already!

LEE HYENA (YUEHU / ?): They have a really strong presence... they must have trained a long time.

but what do the mentors have to say?

BAEKHYUN (VOCAL MENTOR): The song you chose requires a lot of stage presence, which i think you had. Correct me if i'm wrong, but you must have practiced together for weeks?

HWANG JINAE (PLEDIS / ?): We started practicing as soon as we were selected for the show, so some of us practiced for longer than others...

HIRAI MOMO (DANCE MENTOR): Honestly, it kind of shows in some of you that you didn't practice, or didn't practice well. It drags the whole performance down.

HYOLYN (VOCAL MENTOR): Who was the main vocalist?

XI YUE (PLEDIS / ?): Me, sunbaenim.

HYOLYN (VOCAL MENTOR): You have one of the most important parts of the song, but you let every other member overshadow you until i could barely hear you. I didn't even know you were the main vocalist.

MOONBYUL (RAP MENTOR): I thought the rapping was pretty strong overall. Some of you sounded like you were trying to sound exactly like the original artist though, next time, try to add your own twist.

the judges discuss briefly, but seem to be in agreement on the class decisions.

TAEMIN (NATIONAL REP.): In A Class...

XIYEON (NATIONAL REP.): There is one. With score of 26, Lee Jieun, congratulations! In B class...

TAEMIN (NATIONAL REP.): There is one... With a score of 24, Hwang Jinae. In C class...

XIYEON (NATIONAL REP.): There is none. In D class, there are two. Both with a score of 15 Choi Eunjae and Moon Hyori.

TAEMIN (NATIONAL REP.): Finally, in F class, there is one... Xi Yue with a score of 14.

PLEDIS TRAINEE SCORES

MOON HYORI (PLEDIS / D): Green is just not my color...

XI YUE (PLEDIS / F): At least you got a real color, gray is just a mix between black and white.

CHOI EUNJAE (PLEDIS / D): The judges were much meaner than i thought.

NA JIEUN (PLEDIS / A): I mean, that is kind of what they are paid to do...

XI YUE (PLEDIS / F): You got an A, of course you'd be on their side.

NA JIEUN (PLEDIS / A): At least i actually practiced the song for more than two days.

XI YUE (PLEDIS / F): Some of us aren't fortunate enough to be the producer's favorites all the time. First the highlight reel and now the...

HWANG JINAE (PLEDIS / B): Maybe we could not have this conversation now? Let's go back to our seats...

（INTERVIEW）

XI YUE (PLEDIS / F): Getting an F was the worst thing that's every happened to me. It's just not fair how some people just get everything, while the rest of us are doing our best and getting nowhere.

（END INTERVIEW）

XIYEON (NATIONAL REP.): Lets have another performance. Are the YG trainees prepared?

KANG JIYEON (YG / ?): C'mon, let's go Boyoung!

LEE BOYOUNG (YG / ?): *coughs* I'm going to do my best unnie!

KANG JIYEON (YG / ?): Are you okay? Are you still sick Bo-ah?

LEE BOYOUNG (YG / ?): Don't worry! I won't infect you~~ I just really want to perform.

（INTERVIEW）

LEE BOYOUNG (YG / ?): It's always been my dream to perform on a survival show, I've seen every season of produce, and i voted for the lineup too! I wasn't going to let a little cold stop me from achieving my dream.

（END INTERVIEW）

MOONBYUL (RAP MENTOR): So you have prepared two solo performances for us today?

LEE BOYOUNG (YG / ?): Yes, *coughs* I'm getting over a cold, and i didn't want to harm my unnie's performance.

BAEKHYUN (VOCAL MENTOR): Are you sure you're ok to perform?

LEE BOYOUNG (YG / ?): I will do my best!

HYOLYN (VOCAL MENTOR): Ok then, let's start with trainee Kang Jiyeon.

OUTTA MY HEAD by SOMI
performed by KANG JIYEON

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

MOMO (DANCE MENTOR): I really liked your choice of song, it suited you very well.

PARK JIMIN (DANCE MENTOR): Even though the choreography was pretty well thought out, i still thought it was a little simple, especially because you said that dance was your main skill.

HYOLYN (VOCAL MENTOR): It's alright to simplify a dance if you want to focus on vocals, but unfortunately, there were definitely parts where you were very breathy.

BAEKHYUN (VOCAL MENTOR): Let's see the next performance now, I think we've made our decision.

SOMEHOW by DIA (KIM SOHYE)
performed by LEE BOYOUNG

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

JIMIN (DANCE MENTOR): and how long have you been training for Boyoung-ssi?

LEE BOYOUNG (YG / ?): three years...

JIMIN (DANCE MENTOR): and you attend school?

LEE BOYOUNG (YG / ?): Yes, SOPA... I'm in the highest honor classes...

caption: smart bunny boyoung!

MIYAZAKI YUMI (JYP / ?): All honors classes? And training? In this economy? When does she sleep?

CHA AREUM (MNH / ?): There are so many baby trainees here... how old do you think she is Keonhee-ah?

SHIN KEONHEE (MNH / ?): Do I look like a trainee encyclopedia to you?

ITO HAYAMI (BNA CUL. / ?): She's actually eighteen...

CHA AREUM (MNH / ?): No way... she's so tiny, and short!

SHIN KEONHEE (MNH / ?): Unnie, you're shorter than her...

JIMIN (DANCE MENTOR): That is a great accomplishment, but unfortunately, lack of dedication to your training shows in your performance.

AMBER (RAP MENTOR): I don't think there's a nicer way to put it, that was the worst performance so far.

boyoung has to hide her sniffles and tears from the camera.

MOONBYUL (RAP MENTOR): She is getting over sickness, maybe you could go easier on her?

HYOLYN (VOCAL MENTOR): It wouldn't be fair to the other trainees who worked so hard to grade a trainee higher because of an illness. We can only grade based upon what we see and hear today.

（INTERVIEW）

JEONG YUNHA (KQ / ?): The judges were so harsh to Boyoung-ssi, even though she missed some of her steps and notes, calling it the worst performance was just mean.

JANG HYEJIN (YUEHUA / ?): i felt so bad for boyoung, i hope she doesn't take their criticism too harshly. one bad comment can ruin her hopes forever.

XI CHEN (SOMU / ?): The judges were mean, but that's how it works in this industry. It sucks, but i don't think it will ever change.

（END INTERVIEW）

XIYEON (NATIONAL REP.): With a score of 16, Kang Jiyeon in Class D.

TAEMIN (NATIONAL REP.): and with a score of 8, Lee Boyoung in Class F.

YG TRAINEE SCORES

KANG JIYEON (YG / D): Don't cry, don't cry Boyoung, it's going to be okay.

LEE BOYOUNG (YG / F): I'm going to get kicked out of the company for embarrassing everyone...

KANG JIYEON (YG / D): No way, they'll never kick you out, not for being sick, and not for messing up one performance.

LEE BOYOUNG (YG / F): I'm so stupid? Why did i think this was a good idea?

KANG JIYEON (YG / D): Don't say that, you're the smartest person I know. You make the rest of us look bad because no one can match you.

LEE BOYOUNG (YG / F): I wish the mentors thought that too.

next time on chatoyer...

??? (??? / ?): If she's not an ace i'm literally rioting!

??? (??? / ?): Welp time to riot i guess!

fin.

a/n — omg i'm sosososososo sorry for not updating! i've had this chapter in my drafts for weeks, but hopefully i will be able to get my updates back on schedule! 💕💕 — arden