The fist day of rehearsal for the finale is bittersweet, the twelve trainees have spent so much time in these training rooms, together in their dorms, but soon, it would all be coming to an end.

[ DORM ONE ]
•featuring lee chaerin, park athena, kim sora, shin eunjin•

lee chaerin (3 // bighit): wake up! everyone~ athena i can see you moving, sora your eyes are definitely open, and eunjin... might actually still be asleep.

park athena (2 // pledis): why do they insist on making us wake up so early??

kim sora (10 // jyp): is it 7 already..? we need to hurry to get to the practice hall.

shin eunjin (7 // individual): five more minutes mom...

lee chaerin (3 // bighit): yah! jinnie i am not your mother and you need to get out of bed or you'll end up with the fifth sub vocal part.

shin eunjin (7 // individual): ugh... but it's so early.

athena tosses their shirt uniform at eunjin from the closet, hitting her in the face.

kim sora (10 // jyp): excellent aim athena! now come on, if you want to eat before practice we have to go now!

[ CAFETERIA ]
•featuring bae chowon, choi seohyun, hwang hayun, lee suran•

bae chowon (9 // individual): can you believe that we're already at the last episode... it seems like just last week we were getting evaluated by the mentors for our letter grades.

hwang hayun (8 // individual): there's only three rappers left...

lee suran (4 // cube): that's still pretty good though! i'm glad that we're all here together.

the three rappers make their way to the front of the cafeteria to get their food.

choi seohyun (6 // individual): hello lovely rappers!

bae chowon (9 // individual): hey seohyun... still doing your morning work outs?

choi seohyun (6 // individual): yep! it's just me now though... everyone is always too tired.

lee suran (4 // cube): wait... you do more workouts than the ones the mentors do??? how do you even have the strength??

choi seohyun (6 // individual): *giggles* well i've kind of been doing it for my whole life, it's just routine by now.

hwang hayun (8 // individual): *serving herself some rice* i was thinking that they might serve us something special because it's the finale, but i guess it's just the same as usual.

bae chowon (9 // individual): ok, but the kimchi is way better here than in canada.

choi seohyun (6 // individual): better than france too... we should ask if they'll make us pancakes on the day of the last ranking.

lee suran (4 // cube): oh definitely... the food here is good, but i miss pancakes and pizza.

hwang hayun (8 // individual): as long as we're trainees i doubt they'll give us pizza, we're supposed to stay healthy, so that means extra salad.

lee suran (4 // cube): boo... *she finds a camera* mnet please give us pizza!

choi seohyun (6 // individual): and pancakes!

[ IN THE REHEARSAL ROOM ]

tiffany young (vocal mentor): for the finale, you'll be performing two original songs written for the show. one with a youthful concept and one with more of a crush concept.

kim namjoon (rap mentor): in one song, you'll decide your positions, and in the other, the national producers have chosen your positions.

kim chungha (dance mentor): we'll start with the youthful concept, which you'll decide the positions for.

kim namjoon (rap mentor): The song is called 'La Vie En Rose'. It has one main vocal part, one rap part, three lead vocal parts, and seven sub vocal parts.

[ INTERVIEW ]

yang li mei (1 // yuehua): seven sub vocal parts??? i guess i can kiss any hopes of a decent amount of lines goodbye... i don't know how i'm supposed to show the national producers my skills if i don't get any lines. *she sighs*

[ END INTERVIEW ]

tiffany young (vocal mentor): we'll start with the first rank girl, who will choose her position. then, each ranked trainee will choose a position. if you want a position that has already been taken, you may choose it, but you must move the girl in that position to another part.

[INTERVIEW ]

charlotte ashbourne (5 // sm): so that really gives the lower ranked trainees a lot of power... i hope no one has any enemies...

[ END INTERVIEW ]

kim namjoon (rap mentor): let's begin with our first ranked trainee ; yang li mei!

yang li mei (1 // yuehua): i'll choose the first lead vocal part...

[ INTERVIEW ]

yang li mei (1 // yuehua): i didn't want to seem too confident, and the first lead vocal part had a lot of lines that i was really confident in performing. i hope i get to keep the part!

[ END INTERVIEW ]

[ CURRENT POSITIONS ]

**pardon the blank space i screwed up the i initial edit and it was too much to fix it so there's just a hole sorry 😭

kim namjoon (rap mentor): then the second ranked trainee ; park athena!

park athena (2 // pledis): i would like the first lead vocal part as well.

kim namjoon (rap mentor): and where will you move the current holder of the position, yang li mei?

park athena (2 // pledis): i will give her the first sub vocal position.

[ INTERVIEW ]

park athena (2 // pledis): forgive me li mei! i've seen too many people in the top get kicked out of the debut line up in the finale, i really need this spot!

[ END INTERVIEW ]

[ CURRENT POSITIONS ]

kim namjoon (rap mentor): next, the third ranked trainee ; lee chaerin

lee chaerin (3 // bighit): i would also like the first lead vocal part.

kim namjoon (rap mentor): and which position will you give the current holder of the position, park athena?

lee chaerin (3 // bighit): i will give her the first sub vocal part.

kim namjoon (rap mentor): and which position will you give the current holder of the position, yang li mei.

[ INTERVIEW ]

lee chaerin (3 // bighit): i didn't want to do it... but this is the finale, and i really want to earn the center position in the finale. li mei is the only other person who has been able to get first in the rankings.

[ END INTERVIEW ]

lee chaerin (3 // bighit): i will give yang li mei the seventh sub vocal part.

there is a chorus of gasps from the trainees... the seventh sub vocal part had the least lines of anyone in the song.

[ INTERVIEW ]

yang li mei (1 // yuehua): *crying* i can't believe chaerin would that... i know we weren't really friends, but that's like a stab in the back.

[ END INTERVIEW ]

[ INTERVIEW ]

kim sora (10 // jyp): top ten anime betrayals...

[ END INTERVIEW ]

kim namjoon (rap mentor): next, the pick of the fourth ranked trainee, lee suran.

[ INTERVIEW ]

lee suran (4 // cube): i've been doing a lot of rapping on this show, so i wanted to show some other skills in the finale. i had wanted the first lead vocal part... but seeing what had just gone down for it i decided to try for a different one.

[ END INTERVIEW ]

lee suran (4 // cube): i'll take the second lead vocal part.

kim namjoon (rap mentor): *nodding* and for our fifth rank ; charlotte ashbourne.

charlotte ashbourne (5 // sm): i'll take the main vocal part.

[ INTERVIEW ]

charlotte ashbourne (5 // sm): i was really confident in my ability to pull off the song, so of course i chose the main vocal position.

[ END INTERVIEW ]

kim namjoon (rap mentor): and the sixth pick, choi seohyun?

choi seohyun (6 // individual): I would like the  third lead vocal position.

[ INTERVIEW ]

choi seohyun (6 // individual): The third lead vocal part had a lot of lines and didn't seem too difficult, i thought i could pull it off well.

[ END INTERVIEW ]

[ CURRENT POSITIONS ]

kim namjoon (rap mentor): the seventh pick ; shin eunjin.

shin eunjin (7 // individual): I would like the third lead vocal part.

kim namjoon (rap mentor): and which position will you give the current holder of the position, choi seohyun?

shin eunjin (7 // individual): i will give seohyun the fourth sub vocal part.

[ INTERVIEW ]

choi seohyun (6 // individual): I was mad, i won't lie. but the fourth sub vocal part had some good lines, so i guess i'd be okay with it.

[ END INTERVIEW ]

[ CURRENT POSITIONS ]

kim namjoon (rap mentor): the eighth pick is hwang hayun.

hwang hayun (8 // individual): *confidently* i will take the main rap position.

[ INTERVIEW ]

hwang hayun (8 // individual): unlike all the other trainees who were trying to show a new skill, i wanted to show that national producers that i could be a stable rapper no matter what.

[ END INTERVIEW ]

kim namjoon (rap mentor): for the ninth pick, bae chowon.

bae chowon (9 // individual): i'll take the second sub vocal part.

[ INTERVIEW ]

bae chowon (9 // individual): i'd feel so bad if i kicked someone out of their position, so i just chose one that nobody was in yet.

[ END INTERVIEW ]

kim namjoon (rap mentor): the tenth pick, kim sora?

kim sora (10 // jyp): i'll take the main vocal position.

kim namjoon (rap mentor): and which position will you give to the current holder of the position, charlotte ashbourne.

kim sora (10 // jyp): the fifth sub vocal position.

[ INTERVIEW ]

charlotte ashbourne (5 // sm): i'd like to say that it's fine, that sora just wants to make it into the final group, but it's really not. i really wanted that position, and the fifth sub vocal barely has any parts.

[ END INTERVIEW ]

[ CURRENT POSITIONS ]

kim namjoon (rap mentor): then the eleventh pick, kang hyunjin. which position will you choose?

kang hyunjin (11 // sm): i would like the main rap position.

the room is shocked... hyunjin has never taken a rap position before, and she has chosen the sole rap position in the finale.

[ INTERVIEW ]

hwang hayun (8 // individual): to say i was upset was an understatement. now i'll probably end up in a sub vocal position that won't suit me while a girl who has never rapped on the show takes the part.

[ END INTERVIEW ]

kim namjoon (rap mentor): *surprised* and which position will you give the trainee currently in that part, hwang hayun?

kang hyunjin (11 // sm): i will give her the third sub vocal part.

[ INTERVIEW ]

kang hyunjin (11 // sm): i'm sure no one expected that. but, it's the finale, and my rank has been falling so i wanted to do something unexpected.

[ END INTERVIEW ]

kim namjoon (rap mentor): and in the final rank, number twelve, kwon choonchee.

kwon choonchee (12 // yuehua): i would like the third lead vocal position.

kim namjoon (rap mentor): and which position will you give the current holder of the position, shin eunjin?

kwon choonchee (12 // yuehua): i'll give her the sixth sub vocal position.

[ INTERVIEW ]

shin eunjin (7 // individual): disappointed, but not surprised.

[ END INTERVIEW ]

[ FINAL POSITIONS ]

the trainees are sent of to the rehearsal room, where they practice their parts. after learning the choreography and lines, it's time to choose the center for the song.

[ INTERVIEW ]

lee chaerin (3 // bighit // lead vocal 1): i chose xx because she is really talented and has never been the center before.

[ END INTERVIEW ]

[ INTERVIEW ]

yang li mei (1 // yuehua // sub vocal 7): normally i would have chosen xx because she makes a good center, but after what happened earlier, i'm choosing xx.

[ END INTERVIEW ]

[ INTERVIEW ]

bae chowon (9 // individual // sub vocal 2): not throwing shade or anything, but after what happened during choosing the parts, there is no way she should be the center of the song.

[ END INTERVIEW ]

WHO WILL BE THE CENTER??

find out during the final episode of Épanoui lmao

while the trainees are hard at work practicing 'la vie en rose' and the second song 'highlight' the mentors discuss who they think will be in the final lineup... and the new group's concept.

[ MENTOR CAM ]

kim hyuna (rap mentor): so i was talking to psy yesterday and he says that they've already started writing the group's debut single.

jeon jungkook (vocal mentor): ooh what's their concept??? do they have a group name???

jung hoseok (dance mentor): you really think she'll tell you while the cameras are rolling?

kim hyuna (rap mentor): well i'm not supposed to say anything... but they're sticking to the initial concept of épanoui...

kim chungha (dance mentor): so not a girl crush then huh

kim hyuna (rap mentor): *she puts her hands up in mock surrender* you heard nothing from me.

kim namjoon (rap mentor): the trainees prepared messages to their fans... should we watch them?

tiffany young (vocal mentor): i'm excited to hear what they have to say.

[ CHAEWON'S MESSAGE ]

bae chowon (9 // individual): i'll keep my message short. i want to show the nation that even individual trainees are able to debut without a training in a company. it's also always been my dream to be part of a girl group. i might be a foreigner, i might be young, but i want to show that you shouldn't underestimate me! thank you for your support!

kim namjoon (rap mentor): chaewon has been pretty underrated in this competition. she did well in the rap mission, but hasn't been super consistent in the other missions in terms of rank.

kim chungha (dance mentor): but she worked really hard for her team in the battle evaluation. even though her team was all rappers she really stepped up as the main dancer.

jeon jungkook (vocal mentor): based on hyuna's concept spoilers... she seems like she would suit the concept well.

tiffany young (vocal mentor): but against two other strong rappers ; suran and hayun, will she be able to have enough popularity to debut?

[ CHAERIN'S MESSAGE ]

lee chaerin (3 // bighit): ever since I left china at a young age to train in bighit, it had always been my dream to make my family proud. i would often grow sad seeing my friends make their parents proud and their parents bragging it to my parents as they only listened and congratulated them.
it was hard for me to go through as I knew I would never be as talented as them. when i took my first step inside bighit I was determined to be the best I can be for myself, and for my parents. i want them to be able to have a talented daughter who they can brag about as the other parents did. i trained hard and waited patiently but with each passing year my chances diminish i knew I wouldn't be able to debut in bighit making be believe I wasted all the time training for nothing... when I discovered épanoui I knew this was the chance for me to reclaim and show what I've learnt in 6 years. I always pushed myself to become number 1 just to show that I was determined to debut because I didn't want to go back to china seeing my parents smile and assure me it was okay even though they pitied me. I wish to debut to show people my experience and emotions I've been keeping inside myself and finally prove myself worthy of being able to be called an idol.

jung hoseok (dance mentor): sometimes i forget that chaerin is a foreigner, she fits right in with the other korean trainees.

tiffany young (vocal mentor): her message is so touching... it's been so hard for all of these trainees who were all rejected for some reason or another.

kim namjoon (rap mentor): i mean chaerin's odds are extremely odd to debut, she's never left the top three.

kim hyuna (rap mentor): but when it comes to the final group, with national producers choose her to be in it, or is she too limited in concepts?

[ EUNJIN'S MESSAGE ]

shin eunjin (7 // individual): i have worked hard to come this far on this competition, i have learned a lot from every mission and every trainee teaches me a better way to improve. i think that I am far from shin eunjin that everybody met on the first episode. i think I deserve that debut spot.

kim chungha (dance mentor): eunjin has really been a dark horse on this show, she went from being completely unknown to an A rank and rose up the rankings really quickly.

kim namjoon (rap mentor): but at the same time, she's been out of the debut line up more than she's been in it... will she be able to earn enough votes to make the top six?

jeon jungkook (vocal mentor): i honestly hope she does, she's a very talented vocalist and dancer. seeing people like her without a company makes me lose faith in the entertainment companies.

tiffany young (vocal mentor): she has such an underrated visual as well. i have high hopes for her even if she doesn't debut...

[ SORA'S MESSAGE ]

kim sora (10 // jyp): i know i'm not the most talented trainee or  seem like the friendliest but I'm here trying to improve. i'm here in Epanoui to improve my skills, personality and learn so much more... it's been hard for me ever since I had left JYP but maybe after Epanoui things will start turning upside down for the better.  everyone here deserves a second chance and we all will get that.  we should never look down upon ourselves or doubt what we can do and I hope you all take my words to your heart and do whatever it takes to reach your dreams.

jeon jungkook (vocal mentor): sora always seems nice, even with all the drama, she still only says nice things.

kim hyuna (rap mentor): i feel like the trainees have gotten a lot more savage in their opinions lately.

kim namjoon (rap mentor): she was voted the visual center of épanoui, but it's still not a guarantee that she'll debut. she dropped pretty far out of the debut line up last week.

tiffany young (vocal mentor): her vocals would make a good addition to any group. but, we'll see what the national producers have to say about it.

[ SEOHYUN'S MESSAGE ]

choi seohyun (6 // individual): Ever since i was a child i wanted the whole world to notice me. but it was all ruined when no company in Korean would accept me. Even though i have no training experiences, I've learned a lot of things here in Epanoui, I've learned my flaws and the abilities should i improve. I've seen a lot of trainees here do their best just to achieve their dream and I'm one of them.  Ever since I wasn't accepted to any companies here in Korea my self confidence got very low, so at first i thought it was a bad idea to join the competition, but i regret saying it. If i will not be in the final line up it's okay,  the good thing is I learned that this isn't the direction I shouldn't be going, but I won't  regret being here. there's a lot of stuff that Epanoui really helped me, I now realize how Idols risk their lives just to be a K-Pop Star, I now know that what god gives you should be happy and you'll get there. I now thank you to everyone who supported me throughout this journey. remember, to believe in yourself.

kim chungha (dance mentor): seohyun is a good dancer and her voice carries a lot of emotion.

kim namjoon (rap mentor): i heard that she got an offer from an entertainment company if she doesn't make the debut line up.

tiffany young (vocal mentor): wait really?? i knew some of the trainees had... but the show isn't even over yet!

jeon jungkook (vocal mentor): i remember how surprised i was when she won the vocal evaluation!

jung hoseok (dance mentor): she is certainly a force to be reckoned with, definitely earned a spot in the line up.

kim hyuna (rap mentor): but couldn't you say that everyone here has earned a spot?

jeon jungkook (vocal mentor): why can't the final group just have twelve members...

[ SURAN'S MESSAGE ]

lee suran (4 // cube): why should i debut? that's a question i've  been wondering ever since my group had disbanded and I left Cube. i trained so hard in Cube for years to become a talented rapper, wrote and composed my groups songs and what happened in the end? mistreatment from my company... I would have told myself that maybe being a K-pop Idol plus rapper wasn't for me bought I worked so hard to become one and now I am here. i won't fail anyone else twice because I don't want to. this is my dream and I am not going to give up on it.

kim namjoon (rap mentor): suran is by far one of the best rookie rappers i've heard this year.

kim hyuna (rap mentor): i was still under cube when sky bleu disbanded, such a disappointment. i don't know where half those girls have gone.

jeon jungkook (vocal mentor): suran has been steadily climbing the ranks in the evaluation, but there's no guarantees in the finale.

kim chungha (dance mentor): if someone pulls a gaeun or a chowon i swear i'm going to fight someone.

jung hoseok (dance mentor): well we can't do anything at this point, we don't get to use our votes in the finale.

tiffany young (vocal mentor): well, whatever happens, happens for a reason. i'm confident in the national producers.