!!!!! DON'T YOU DARE READ MISSION THREE BEFORE THIS EPISODE !!!!

and if you did..... no spoilers !!

ᴄʜᴀᴛᴏʏᴇʀ - ᴇᴘɪsᴏᴅᴇ ᴛʜʀᴇᴇ
𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓘 𝓦𝓪𝓼 𝓑𝓸𝓻𝓷 𝓽𝓸 𝓓𝓸

（PREVIOUSLY ON CHATOYER）

XIYEON (NAT. REP.): How was your debut performance?

a chorus of 'awesomes' and 'so cools' can be heard from the trainees.

TAEMIN (NAT. REP.): Well the work has only just begun! Are you ready for your next mission?

XIYEON (NAT. REP.): It's group battle time!

TAEMIN (NAT. REP.): The theme of the performances will be rookies vs. veterans!

XIYEON (NAT. REP.): Meaning one group will be performing a song from a rookie group against a song from a veteran group.

TAEMIN (NAT. REP.): We'll let you choose your own teams this time. The top six trainees in a and ace class will get to choose their teams!

XIYEON (NAT. REP.): And once your teams are chosen, you'll get to pick one of six songs to perform.

TAEMIN (NAT REP.): The six songs are stuck to the wall on the other side of the room. When your group decides the one you want, your captain will have to run across the room to get it. You'll have to be quick because the other captains will also be getting their song, and they might want the same one as you!

caption: but where are the song titles??

XIYEON (NAT. REP.): Of course there is a twist, you won't know the song beforehand. Just a hint about its  concept.

TAEMIN (NAT. REP.): Shall we begin?

XIYEON (NAT. REP.): As our first center, Sato Minako will have the honor of choosing her first team mate.

minako steps up to the microphone stand, but she's too short.

caption: our 147 cm center fairy, minako!

SATO MINAKO (AKS / A): Um- Hi!

taemin leans over and pushes the microphone stand down for her.

SATO MINAKO (AKS / A): T-thank you. For my first team mate I will choose Jang Hyejin from Yuehua from ace class as my first choice.

（INTERVIEW）

DANIKA MANOBAN (FNC / D): I wasn't surprised when Minako-ssi chose Hyejin-ssi as her first choice... I'm sure the rest of us in lower classes will just be stuck waiting until the very end.

（END INTERVIEW）

TAEMIN (NAT. REP.): The next captain will be Son Mara from ace class.

mara makes her way to the microphone, much more confidently than minako.

XIYEON (NAT. REP.): Who will be the first member of your team?

SON MARA (CUBE / ACE): I will choose a really strong vocalist- Lee Hyena from Yuehua.

（INTERVIEW）

JEONG YUNHA (KQ / B): Both Yuehua girls were the first picks... Their company must be really proud of them.

（END INTERVIEW）

XIYEON (NAT. REP.): Our third captain will be Xi Chen from ace class.

chen makes her way to the mic stand. she barely pauses before announcing her choice.

XI CHEN (SOMU / ACE): Kim Aera - Source Music, A class.

（INTERVIEW）

KANG JIYEON (YG / D): I don't know if anyone has said this- but the source trainees are all so pretty, like save some visuals for the rest of us.

-

CHOI HEEYOUNG (SOMU / B): I wonder what the captain's strategy is... i suppose it's sort of hard to tell with just the first pick right?

-

KIM JIWOO (BNA CULTURE / C): At first- i really wanted to be a captain because it would be good to choose your members, but now i think that it's a huge responsibility! I think i'd rather be on the side lines.

（END INTERVIEW）

TAEMIN (NAT. REP.): The fourth captain is Kim Areum from a class.

before even being called, areum starts coming down from her class.

she checks her hand, where she has written all of her picks.

KIM AREUM (CUBE / A): For my first pick... Hwang Jinae from PLEDIS.

（INTERVIEW）

HWANG JINAE (PLEDIS / F): When she called me... I was like "whaaaaaaat" — i did not expect that at all.

-

MIYAZAKI YUMI (JYP / F): Seeing Jinae get picked... that gave me some hope. But at the same time, is that really a good strategy to pick someone from a low class?

（END INTERVIEW）

XIYEON (NAT. REP.): Carol Lai is in the fifth position, so she will be our next captain.

carol shyly makes her way to the microphone.

CAROL LAI (FNC / A): I'll choose Yang Yunran from FNC entertainment.

（INTERVIEW）

MINATOZAKI LENA (BBC / C): We were all wondering which team was going to be the "avengers" team - everyone was thinking Chen-ssi or Mara-ssi, but Carol-ssi has two debuted idols on her team... so maybe it will be her.

-

CHOI EUNJAE (PLEDIS / A): I was a little disappointed to be honest... I worked hard to get to a class, but the captains are picking a lot of girls from the lower classes instead of the higher ones.

（END INTERVIEW）

TAEMIN (NAT. REP.): The last captain will be Cha Areum from a class.

areum takes the microphone and confidently announces her pick.

CHA AREUM (MNH / A): How has no one chosen her yet? Lee Sojung from FNC!

（INTERVIEW）

AMATERASU WATANABE (YGK+ / D): Sojung-ssi is really talented for sure... but Areum-ssi has cute visuals and Sojung-ssi fierce... how is that going to work?

（END INTERVIEW）

the pick continues until the last trainee is chosen and shin keonhee of mnh joins cha areum's team.

XIYEON (NAT. REP.): That was pretty easy, huh?

TAEMIN (NAT. REP.): Now comes the hard part. You'll have to choose your song.

XIYEON (NAT. REP.): Your team captain will have to run across the room and pull off the sign of the song of their choice. Remember- no pushing and shoving, just speed will help you get your song of choice!

TAEMIN (NAT. REP.): We'll give you a few moments to discuss...

（INTERVIEW）

KIM AREUM (CUBE / A): I took one look at the song hints and mentally face palmed. Cute and vocals or Dark and rap? I needed cute and rap!

-

XI CHEN (SOMU / ACE ): I think that teen crush will suit us perfectly... the only question... rookie or veteran?

-

CAROL LAI (FNC / A): There was already some turmoil in the group... some wanted youthful and some wanted dark...

（END INTERVIEW）

XIYEON (NAT. REP.) Alright! Let the race begin in 3... 2... 1!

the trainees set off- there aren't too many issues.

xi chen is quick to claim the veteran teen crush concept.

kim areum decides on the rookie youthful concept.

carol lai ends up with the veteran dark concept while cha areum takes the rookie dark concept.

TAEMIN (NAT. REP.): I think we've kept you waiting long enough, should we reveal the songs. 

there is a resounding yes from the teams (and probably the audience too).

XIYEON (NAT. REP.): We'll start with the rookie dark concept. Cha Areum's team step forward.

they step forward nervously.

（INTERVIEW）

SEOK GUNYOO (BNA CULTURE / C): please be everglow, please be everglow, please be everglow.

（END INTERVIEW）

TAEMIN (NAT. REP.): A legendary rookie girl group comeback from March 2020...

XIYEON (NAT. REP.): Dun Dun by Everglow!

（INTERVIEW）

LEE SOJUNG (FNC / A): The song is really popular and catchy... I think we will do well with it.

-

CHOI HEEYOUNG (SOMU / B): I thought i knew what i signed up for with "dark" concept but i don't know if i can pull this off...

（END INTERVIEW）

TAEMIN (NAT. REP.): And for Carol Lai's team, the veteran dark concept song...

XIYEON (NAT. REP.): This song is also from early 2020, and was from a veteran girl group that promoted with six members.

TAEMIN (NAT. REP.): Carol Lai's team will be performing Scream by Dreamcatcher!

（INTERVIEW）

CAROL LAI (FNC / A): scream is a lot darker than dun dun... i don't know if that's a good or bad thing.

-

LEE MIAH (SOMU / D): Dark concept? We got this in the bag.

（END INTERVIEW）

TAEMIN (NAT. REP.): Our teen crush teams shall learn their songs now.

XIYEON (NAT. REP.): The rookie team will be performing something on the more 'crush' side of the spectrum and the veteran team on the 'teen' side of the spectrum! But- i think you'll be evenly matched.

TAEMIN (NAT. REP.): Our rookie team, Son Mara and members... step forward.

（INTERVIEW）

XI CHEN (SOMU / ACE): it's got to be itzy... maybe we should have taken that one.

（END INTERVIEW）

XIYEON (NAT. REP): Son Mara's team will be performing Icy by Itzy!

（INTERVIEW）

PARK NAHYUN (BBC / B): ok... itzy... i think we can work with that.

-

SON MARA (CUBE / ACE): I love Icy, don't get me wrong... but I think most of us are a little old for that concept... maybe we should have gone for veteran.

（END INTERVIEW）

TAEMIN (NAT. REP.): Xi Chen- your team will be performing the veteran teen crush song.

XIYEON (NAT. REP.): Another summer themed song... any guesses?

（INTERVIEW）

SON EUNJI (SM / C): no more guesses!! just tell us!!

（END INTERVIEW）

TAEMIN (NAT. REP.): Xi Chen's team will be performing Red Flavor by Red Velvet!

（INTERVIEW）

KIM AERA (SOMU / A): some of the members might be concerned, but i think this song suits us really well! we got this, hwaiting!

（END INTERVIEW）

XIYEON (NAT. REP.): We have just two teams left... are you ready?

TAEMIN (NAT. REP.): Of course they're ready! Kim Areum~ you chose the rookie song, and you'll be performing...

（INTERVIEW）

HWANG JINAE (PLEDIS / F): since we are rookies... at least we can't get gfriend? i don't think we have the dancers for that...

（END INTERVIEW）

XIYEON (NAT. REP.): Rookie of the year nominee Rocket Punch's debut song Bim Bam Bum!

（INTERVIEW）

LEE BOYOUNG (YG / D): well at least we are cute enough to pull it off...

-

KIM AREUM (CUBE / A): there's no rap part in that song is there...

（END INTERVIEW）　

XIYEON (NAT. REP.): The last group is the first seed group. Sato Minako's team, step forward.

TAEMIN (NAT. REP.): This veteran song is a classic... clocking in fifteen music show wins in 2016.

XIYEON (NAT. REP.): Minako's team will be performing Rough by Gfriend!

（INTERVIEW）

SATO MINAKO (AKS / A): i'm really happy with the gfriend song! i think it's a classic song that will get our group a lot of attention~

（END INTERVIEW）

the screen blacks out as the trainees make their way to a corner of the room to start practicing.

then, the two national representatives appear on the stage for the group battle live performances!

TAEMIN (NAT. REP.): Ah, the songs for the group battles get better every time. What was your favorite song from Épanoui Xiyeon?

XIYEON (NAT. REP.): I Love You of course! It will always be the superior group battle in my heart~

TAEMIN (NAT. REP.): What about on Chatoyer? Which performance will win the crown this time?

XIYEON (NAT. REP.): I'm not sure yet- but i guess we will find out tonight! National producers, are you ready for some amazing performances?

the live audience cheers excitedly, having waited all day to secure tickets to the event.

TAEMIN (NAT. REP.): Well, before we bring the first group out... let's see how their rehearsals went!

the screen changes to show...

fin.

[ end episode 3 ]

AC 3.3 — QOTD
what do you think of the trainee's songs for the group battle? sorry for making you wait so long for it hehe <3