The day has finally arrived for the twenty trainees on Épanoui to have their big debut on the MCountdown stage... and for the center of the performance to finally be revealed.

Dressed in the signature pink uniforms, ever trainee is granted their own microphone for when they perform on stage. Unlike with the Produce Series, all trainees will have the opportunity to sing, though C class trainees will only get to perform the final chorus.

Kwon Choonchee (Yuehua // C): Finally! Some pink for the rest of us.

Hwang Hayun (IND // C): Honestly, i liked the green better, pink doesn't suit my concept.

Jung Yena (JYP // C): I think you look really cute Hayunnie!

Hwang Hayun (IND // C): *blushing* Oh... thanks!

Jung Hoseok (Dance Mentor): C class to the stage please! This is your last rehearsal~ and i'll be choosing one of you to be the representative center for your class.

The girls race over to the stage and take their positions. As the familiar music begins to play, all the nerves and excitement fade from their faces as they perform their best for their mentor.

[INTERVIEW]

Kim Herin (BigHit // C): I was so nervous to perform, I barely slept last night, but in the last rehearsal, I just felt so confident! Like I could take on the whole world... the dance was like a second nature by that point, I could probably do it in my sleep.

[END INTERVIEW]

Jung Hoseok (Dance Mentor): Wow... everyone I'm really impressed with how much you've improved since the first rehearsal, Li Mei... your dancing has improved so much and Yena... you just seemed so confident... I'm beyond proud of  you all.

Kim Namjoon (Rap Mentor): Even with what you may lack in skill, you make up for in confidence... you guys are going to kill it on stage today!

Next, the B class trainees are called to the stage. The large group of trainees makes their way to the stage. As the music begins, Chungha and Hyuna keep a watchful eye on them.

Kim Chungha (Dance Mentor): Come on! You are performing this in 2 hours, I need you to clean up your arms! Sunhi, you are in B class now, you need to perform like it!

[INTERVIEW]

Park Sunhi (PLEDIS // B): I can honestly say that Kim Chungha is the scariest mentor... I thought JHope was terrifying but this just takes it to a whole new level

[END INTERVIEW]

Kim Chungha (Dance Mentor): Chowon! I am loving those expressions! Weilan, your moves look way more clean... this is what I'm talking about!

Kim Hyuna (Rap Mentor): Charlotte your vocals are sounded great all the way from here~ *she turns to a tech* Could you turn her mic up for the performance?

Jeon Jungkook (Vocal Mentor): Looking better B class! Can we get A class up here?

The six A class trainees rush up to the stage, dressed to perfection, smiling wide. They've been waiting for the news on the next center, and perhaps after the rehearsal, it will finally be revealed. The music plays, and it's clear why these six trainees were chosen for A class.

Tiffany Young (Vocal Mentor): Yes girls! Work it!

Jeon Jungkook (Vocal Mentor): Just watching them makes me want to get up there and dance too...

Jung Hoseok (Dance Mentor): What's stopping you? *he starts dancing to the chorus* Pick me, pick me, pick me up!

The performance ends and Park Jimin summons all the trainees to the stage.

Park Jimin (National Rep): I suppose you all are waiting for the center announcement. We have about thirty minutes until we record, so I guess it's time... There were six excellent candidates for center, but we've managed to narrow it down to one. After tallying the votes, it's time to reveal Epanoui's first center!

In third place.... a dancer who received 14 votes....

??? (???): ****** is just so so pretty dear lord, she is really charming and confident too!

Park Athena (PLEDIS // A): She is just really charming AND talented. she is also very very very pretty- not gonna lie, i think she is the prettiest trainee here!

Choi Seohyun! Congratulations, you'll be standing to the right of the center position (earning a benefit of 30,000 votes).

In second place, with 19 votes, also a dancer....

Bae Chowon (IND // B): Of course I would vote for her, since being the center is about being a good dancer who can sing well and have a great visual and that is what ******* is.

??? (???): she is one of the best, if not, the BEST dancer out of all the trainees here...

Park Athena! Congratulations, you'll be standing to the left of the center position (earning a benefit of 40,000 votes).

Finally, the very first center of Épanoui... the face of Épanoui's theme song... with 32 votes...

??? (???): You can't bring her down. I think we should have her as the center because she shows leadership, promise, and shines the most other than the other trainees.

Kwon Choonchee (Yuehua // C): ***** was the one who surprised me the most during the auditions. everything was spot on.

??? (???): During our training together, ******* would be the first one to step up whenever the trainers asked her to volunteer. To be honest, i stand no chance against her. Her expressions were spot on and she hit her vocals and dance perfectly.

Lee Chaerin! Congratulations for the achievement (earning a benefit of 60,000 votes).

In addition, the mentors for each class have also chosen centers for the remaining classes. Each one will receive a benefit of 10,000 votes.

(kind of mad because my gif edit wouldn't convert to a form for wattpad so please enjoy this one instead)

Park Jimin (National Rep): Now that everything is settled... it's time to record!

After the performance was recorded, the girls all return to the dorms, the adrenaline still coursing through their veins.

[Room Five]

Choi Seohyun (IND // A): What a rush... that was absolutely amazing!

Lee Somin (IND // A): But the amount of times the microphone almost flew out of my hands... i was so scared i was going to launch it right into the mentor's faces.

Lee Chaerin (BigHit // A): Can you even imagine that? They're just peacefully watching and then a microphone comes flying at them....honestly i would laugh so hard if that happened...

Choi Seohyun (IND // A): Chaerin! Don't get me started~ you did so well! You were a really great center... i can't imagine anyone else doing it.

As the lights went out in the dorms one by one, the girls fell asleep happy with their performance. The next morning, they'd soon be awoken again to the sound of "pick me! pick me!" as they made their way to the large group rehearsal studio.

Surprised by the giant glass bowl filled with slips of paper, they are filed into rows based on their classes to be sorted into groups for the next mission.

Park Jimin (National Rep): Annyeonghaseyo everyone!

Jung Yena (JYP // C): *whispers* No matter how many times we see him, i can't get over the fact that he's actually here.

Yang Li Mei (Yuehua // C): *whispers* Believe me... I pinch myself every time.

Park Jimin (National Rep): As the center of Épanoui, Lee Chaerin will get to form the first group.

Chaerin excitedly leaves her position and heads to the front, standing beside Jimin.

Park Jimin (National Rep): On this sheet of paper, are four songs... but without the title, only the number of members and a brief description. You will have the first choice.

Lee Chaerin (BigHit // A): *reads the options* I choose song #2.

Park Jimin (National Rep): Okay, go ahead and read the clue about it for us.

Lee Chaerin (BigHit // A): This song has a girl crush concept, but it also is more mature and sexy. It has a balance between rap and vocals, but also requires members be strong in dance. It is from an older, but well known group's recent comeback.

[INTERVIEW]

Lee Chaerin (BigHit // A): I tried to act really cool and confident when I was talking to Park Jimin.... but I mean it's Park Jimin and I was actually dying on the inside the whole time. My inner fangirl was screeching, but I had to act cool because he was there and there were so many cameras on me!

[END INTERVIEW]

Park Jimin (National Rep): And your first choice is?

Lee Chaerin (BigHit // A): For her **** and ****, my first choice is **** *****

???? (???): *whispers* Wow.... she's building an avengers team....

??? (???): *whispers* I can't believe she chose her...

??? (???): *whispers* what song do you think it is?

[INTERVIEW]

??? (???): Why didn't she choose anyone from C class? Does she just think we're awful and not good enough?

[END INTERVIEW]

[INTERVIEW]

??? (???): I would do anything to get on that team... seriously... what would it take???

[END INTERVIEW]

So who exactly has top trainee Lee Chaerin chose? Who will be in the remaining groups? And most importantly... who will survive the first elimination? Find out next week on the third episode of Epanoui!

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Note: So it has come to my attention that there is growing tension between some trainees/groups and I want to make it clear that nothing is meant to be personal and that while there will be disagreements, this whole thing is really just meant to be fun. As for me, everything I write is meant to be my interpretation and/or just for fun... I don't mean to favor certain trainees or make people seem untalented. I do my best to make sure everyone gets screen time, this episode is really short, but I promise the next one will be longer! Épanoui fighting! :)