▌ EPISODE FOUR: The First Eliminations. 
❪ PART THREE. ❫

⚠️ PLEASE DON'T TAG THE APPLIERS INLINE TO THEIR OC'S RANKING. It hasn't ever happened in any of my applyfics, but better be safe than sorry. It's plain disrespectful towards both me as the author and the applier in question, so don't do that. Please. ⚠️

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― Now, then... I wonder if there's any other survivor among the TWIT performers?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― There's no one else. The remaining students may now proceed back to their original seats.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― Before you think you're eliminated already, remember that if you weren't called right now, you might still be one of the lucky ones who got into the Top 7 or the riskier Rank 27. Don't worry just yet!

The male students from Class One and Three that haven't been called yet return to their seats.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― Last, but not least, we have the ladies who performed Pretty U before we get to the Top 7!

As everyone claps, the last batch of students steps on the main stage.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― How are you girls feeling? I bet you must be anxious right now, so let's start announcing the results already.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― First of all we have Rank 8, right below the Top 7.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HA SEOYOON ꜜ she/her（CLASS FOUR） ― Oh, that's... I don't know, stressful? Imagine being only one step away from the final group...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHEN YULIAN ꜜ she/they（CLASS FOUR） ― Right? Thank goodness it's just the first ranking... Whoever it is has still time to rise.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― This student's rank in the pre-vote was quite low, but she significantly rose as her quirky personality resonated with the public at home.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JEON NAKYOUNG ꜜ she/siri（CLASS THREE） ― [pensive] Ren, maybe?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（CLASS THREE） ― ... I know damn well you don't mean it and you're not funny.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JEON NAKYOUNG ꜜ she/siri（CLASS THREE） ― [chuckles] I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHOI HUIRYEON ꜜ she/her（CLASS THREE） ― Well... Isn't it more likely to be a Class One student? Benefit and all...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― Great logic there, Huiryeon!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― ... But you'd be wrong, because it's a Class Three student as well.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（CLASS THREE） ― Oh! Seoyoon! That must be you! Or maybe not... Let's hope you're in the Top 7 with me instead~

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JEON NAKYOUNG ꜜ she/siri（CLASS THREE） ― ... How are you so confident you got there, Xiaoqiong?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（CLASS THREE） ― [furrowing her eyebrows] Eh?

... Uh oh.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JEON NAKYOUNG ꜜ she/siri（CLASS THREE） ― Oh, don't get me wrong, it definitely makes sense. I just think most wouldn't assume they're always safe, not even if they ranked high once.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（CLASS THREE） ― ...

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── 𝄞 ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮

❪ INTERVIEW ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（CLASS THREE） ― Uh...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（CLASS THREE） ― At the time I didn't see the point she was trying to make, and even now I struggle with replying in Korean, so I didn't know how to reply while expressing myself properly. Actually... I don't really understand even now.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（CLASS THREE） ― "I just think most wouldn't assume they're always safe," well... If not me, then who? Call me a bitch all you want, but you won't go anywhere without confidence. Of course I believe I got in Top 7 again!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JEON NAKYOUNG ꜜ she/siri（CLASS THREE） ― [chuckles] Hey, it's OK. I do admit I was also trying to rile you up.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（CLASS THREE） ― I mean, it's a competition! [laughs] I don't hold grudges over such things.

╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── 𝄞 ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― ... Well, shall we find out together who's Rank 8?

SHIN SEOYOON
❪ CLASS THREE ❫
1,186,650 Points

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― After a rather low initial rank, Seoyoon's popularity skyrocketed thanks to a multitude of factors. You're one of the most researched contestants on Twitter in particular!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIN SEOYOON ꜜ she/xe（CLASS THREE） ― Hehe... Just as it was supposed to be! I promise I will work even harder and debut in the end~ ★

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIN SEOYOON ꜜ she/xe（CLASS THREE） ― Ahem... I'd also like to dedicate this achievement to the one person who always motivates me to do my best, which is... My dear twin!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― Aw, that's so sweet, Seoyoon! Do you have anything to add to that?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ YEW ꜜ he/him（CLASS THREE） ― [terrified, turning towards QIUYE] ... He did not say that. He did not just-

✹ ﹒ ﹒ MIAO QIUYE ꜜ he/any（CLASS THREE） ― Oh oh... This is going to be fun.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIN SEOYOON ꜜ she/xe（CLASS THREE） ― My dear sister, my dear Jaeyun... If you're watching this, I hope you're WAILING in ANGER at home. I'm living YOUR dream and I'm going to CRUSH you soon... Let that sink in!

A great majority of the students are in shock as they hear Seoyoon's dedication to her twin.

Xiaoqiong and Qiuye seem to be cheering somehow; Yew and Deja are disappointed but unimpressed, likely because they know her story already.¹

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― ... Get the [BLEEP] away from me.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIN SEOYOON ꜜ she/xe（CLASS THREE） ― Fine, fine...

Seoyoon drags her feet as she heads towards her seat.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― ... Pretending that whatever-this-was didn't happen, let's proceed with the next student!

... I don't think anyone will be able to forget this, I fear.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― Rank 12, similarly to Seoyoon, was also ranked much lower during the pre-vote session, but she proved her worth by helping her team in multiple ways throughout the preparations for the Class Tournament.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ DEJA NAM ꜜ she/they（CLASS ONE） ― This has to be Moe.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ BEON HANA ꜜ she/they（CLASS ONE） ― Mhm! I don't think we would be anywhere without her guidance...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JEON NAKYOUNG ꜜ she/siri（CLASS THREE） ― Mhm... Our Huiryeon was also very helpful, though?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHOI HUIRYEON ꜜ she/her（CLASS THREE） ― Eh? No, no... Ren was much more helpful... We were able to move on and have a good performance because of her tips while distributing the lines!

Now, I wouldn't say good performance, but you're right...

Let's forget that it happened in the first place, shall we?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― Well, then... Rank 12 is Class One's...

MIZUTANI MOE
❪ CLASS ONE ❫
903,725 Points

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― As the Delegate for the Class Representative, things must have been difficult... But you carried on flawlessly and you stole the public's hearts at home. Congratulations, Moe!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ MIZUTANI MOE ꜜ she/xe（CLASS ONE） ― Ah, thank you! You don't know how happy I am to be able to reach this point... It truly means a lot.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ MIZUTANI MOE ꜜ she/xe（CLASS ONE） ― I would like to thank all my fellow Class One members for not giving up despite the hardships, and also to Yuji for staying by my side despite having so much to deal with on her own. I'm so grateful for everything you've done for me.

This is actually so wholesome? Hello?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― That's so nice to hear... And normal too. I, too, am thankful... To have someone normal here.

Damn, no need to put emphasis on that...

YOU signed up for the job. Your fault!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― Once again, congratulations Moe! Please, go reach your seat so we can proceed with Rank 13.

Moe runs up to hug Yulian before reaching her designated seat.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― This student's rendition so far has been pretty consistent, with their ranking suffering barely any change at all.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（CLASS THREE） ― ... Who was up there during pre-vote? It's difficult to remember who were right in the middle.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JEON NAKYOUNG ꜜ she/siri（CLASS THREE） ― [shrugs] Who knows...? I don't think it was me, though.

Nakyoung, it was literally you.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― From Class Three, Rank 13 is...

JEON NAKYOUNG
❪ CLASS THREE ❫
887,600 Points

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JEON NAKYOUNG ꜜ she/siri（CLASS THREE） ― ... Oh right, it was me.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（CLASS THREE） ― [palmface] ...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― Congratulations, Nakyoung! Keeping a spot this up high isn't an easy task, especially considering you didn't earn the benefits from the mission.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JEON NAKYOUNG ꜜ she/siri（CLASS THREE） ― Mhm, that's right. [bowing] Thank you all for giving me another chance. I will work hard to rise in the ranking and not disappoint any of you~

After bowing once more, Nakyoung walks her way to her seat.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― Let's move on to the next empty rank, not that far apart, which is Rank 16.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― OK, so... No...

Junyeol squints, seemingly confused.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― No, this can't be.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HUR YIRURI ꜜ she/they（CLASS ONE） ― ...?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― Sorry, I was just making sure I was reading properly.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― [fixing his tie] This student fell down quite a few ranks and was originally ranked pretty high. I wonder who that could be...?

The screen changes behind Junyeol, revealing Rank 16!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HUR YIRURI ꜜ she/they（CLASS ONE） ― H-huh?!

KOBAYASHI MIREI
❪ CLASS ONE ❫
785,050 Points

✹ ﹒ ﹒ BEON HANA ꜜ she/they（CLASS ONE） ― [jaw dropped] A few ranks?! That's an understatement...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HUR YIRURI ꜜ she/they（CLASS ONE） ― And we even got the benefits...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KOBAYASHI MIREI ꜜ they/she（CLASS ONE） ― [shrugs] I mean, that means someone more deserving got my rank...! I'm here just for fun~

✹ ﹒ ﹒ DEJA NAM ꜜ she/they（CLASS ONE） ― This type of observation doesn't help either... [sighs] Mire, is it really OK?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KOBAYASHI MIREI ꜜ they/she（CLASS ONE） ― Thanks for the worry, Deja! But I really am~

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── 𝄞 ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮

❪ INTERVIEW ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KOBAYASHI MIREI ꜜ they/she（CLASS ONE） ― I don't think it's that big of a deal! I didn't have great expectations, and it's not like I'm here to debut either...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KOBAYASHI MIREI ꜜ they/she（CLASS ONE） ― The comments were kinda annoying, though... If I were serious about this, hearing what Yiruri had to say would've irritated me immensely; does that sound reassuring to you? Because to me, it's not.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KOBAYASHI MIREI ꜜ they/she（CLASS ONE） ― So even if I don't really care about debuting or whatever, I appreciated Deja stepping in. Was that comment really necessary?

╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── 𝄞 ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KOBAYASHI MIREI ꜜ they/she（CLASS ONE） ― What can I even say? If you voted for me, thanks! If you didn't, hope you voted for Den and Kyu! And Yew!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ YEW ꜜ he/him（CLASS THREE） ― ... HAH?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― You can go to your seat, Mire.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KOBAYASHI MIREI ꜜ they/she（CLASS ONE） ― Mhm!

Mire runs to her seat as Junyeol prepares himself to announce the next survivor.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― Next up we have Rank 17, which might be even more surprising than the name we announced just now for Rank 16.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIN SEOYOON ꜜ she/xe（CLASS THREE） ― ... Huh? It's not Xiaoqiong, is it? It can't be her... No...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ DEJA NAM ꜜ she/they（CLASS ONE） ― ... Judging from what he's saying, it's either her or Yiruri, but... I can't imagine either one dropping this low? What even happened...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― Without further ado, let's announce the next survivor. Rank 17 is...

HUR YIRURI
❪ CLASS ONE ❫
781,300 Points

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HUR YIRURI ꜜ she/they（CLASS ONE） ― ...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― [grimacing] Ah... Uh...

Poor Junyeol... If I were him, I also wouldn't know what to say in this situation...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HUR YIRURI ꜜ she/they（CLASS ONE） ― [sighs] I've learned my lesson long ago... I won't let this take me down! I will show you what I'm capable of and rise in the ranking again~

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― That's the spirit, Yiruri! Do you want to add anything else?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HUR YIRURI ꜜ she/they（CLASS ONE） ― Eh... No, not really... No.

Yiruri reaches her seat in no time, allowing the host to move on with the announcement.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（CLASS ONE） ― Well, she did NOT take it well.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ DEJA NAM ꜜ she/they（CLASS ONE） ― I don't think you would have in her place, either...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（CLASS ONE） ― ... Fair point.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― If you were keeping up, you might've noticed already that we're at our last survivor before we get to the Top 7 and Rank 27.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― The last survivor for now, Rank 26, is actually the only student who has kept her rank intact since the pre-vote. Isn't that surprising?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（CLASS THREE） ― ... Who was it again?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（CLASS THREE） ― [shrugs] I don't remember.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ CHOI HUIRYEON ꜜ she/her（CLASS THREE） ― Me neither...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― Coming from Class Three, Rank 26 is...

SHIMIZU REN
❪ CLASS THREE ❫
520,000 Points

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― Congratulations on surviving, Ren! Being stable in the ranking sure is an achievement... But if you work hard, I'm sure you'll be able to rise instead of staying on the low.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（CLASS THREE） ― I will do my best. [bows] Thank you all for believing in me and keeping me in the competition... I will work hard and not let you down, I promise.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― We're sure of that, Ren! There, you can go to your seat.

As Ren walks up to her seat, Junyeol turns his back to the students, preparing himself to announce the current Top 7.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― Before proceeding with the Top 7 announcement, let's have a short recap with all the students we've called so far.

❪ FEVEN'S NOTE: This is a GIF, so wait for it to fully load before proceeding. Each frame lasts 2 seconds each, except for the last one which lasts 8 seconds to show the full list with romanized names before moving onto the next part of the ranking. ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN SUNGYEON ꜜ they/it（CLASS ONE） ― I still can't wrap my head around some of these results, you know...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ QIU YUNZHI ꜜ he/they（CLASS ONE） ― Me neither... With the benefits, you'd think some people in our class would rank higher, wouldn't you?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KOBAYASHI MIREI ꜜ they/she（CLASS ONE） ― I mean...! It was just 18,000 bonus points, and the lowest was Ren with more than 500,000 points in total... Does that really make a difference?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN SUNGYEON ꜜ they/it（CLASS ONE） ― ... You have a point.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― Well, then! It is time to move on to the Top 7. I've noticed that the trend in the ranking change is mostly positive...! So let's see how that worked~

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― In 7th place, the only student who goes against the trend aforementioned, even if it's not a significant change. From Class One...

DEJA NAM
❪ CLASS ONE ❫
1,228,750 Points

Did You Know?   ◌ ◌ ◌   Deja was already friends with fellow contestants Hur Yiruri and Shin Seoyoon prior to Seiyuu Academy 2 due to meeting them at school and on the set of her first acting role respectively.

━━━━━━━━━

✹ ﹒ ﹒ DEJA NAM ꜜ she/they（CLASS ONE） ― Thank you all for the support. [bows] I promise I will keep showing you the best of me and work hard to debut.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― ...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ DEJA NAM ꜜ she/they（CLASS ONE） ― ...?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― Oh, is that all? Don't you have anything else to add?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ DEJA NAM ꜜ she/they（CLASS ONE） ― Ah... No, not really. I think this is corny, actually, but I really am grateful so... I thought I should say that at least, since I didn't get here through my efforts alone... I just don't think I should pull out a boring speech to convey that.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ DEJA NAM ꜜ she/they（CLASS ONE） ― Can I go now?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― ... Yeah, sure.

Junyeol sighs as he watches Deja walk up to her seat.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― Let's proceed with Rank 6. This student...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― Is one of the Class Representatives.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ NAM HANEUL ꜜ she/they（CLASS TWO） ― I bet they're all there, huh? Even someone like Den...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（CLASS TWO） ― ... Do you mind repeating that?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ NAM HANEUL ꜜ she/they（CLASS TWO） ― ...!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（CLASS TWO） ― Yeah, thought so.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HIURA ASHINA ꜜ she/her（CLASS FOUR） ― Den dear...! Please, can you not?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HIURA ASHINA ꜜ she/her（CLASS FOUR） ― Not saying you're wrong... [whispering] If anything she deserves it...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ NAM HANEUL ꜜ she/they（CLASS TWO） ― EH?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HIURA ASHINA ꜜ she/her（CLASS FOUR） ― But there's no use fighting, is there? Save the energies, dispose of the annoyance later~

Ashina sure is... Scary... What the hell...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（CLASS TWO） ― ...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― [slamming his hand against the wall] Quiet, I said. Don't make me repeat it a third time.

With Junyeol's threat, the studio is once again quiet enough for him to proceed with the ranking announcement.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― Perfect.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― With that being said, Rank 6 is...

ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE
❪ CLASS TWO ❫
1,271,550 Points

Did You Know?   ◌ ◌ ◌   Despite complaining about being broke, Den keeps a shoe collection currently worth around $100,000.

━━━━━━━━━

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― Both you and Deja have kept a pretty stable position in the ranking. Congratulations!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（CLASS TWO） ― [bowing] Ah, thank you...!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（CLASS TWO） ― Frankly speaking... I didn't have high expectations. I am a hard worker, yes, and I will do what needs to be done, but... It didn't go like I wanted. You've seen it, right?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ ADELAIDE BEAUCHÊNE ꜜ she/her（CLASS TWO） ― Still... For me to be here, it means people have acknowledged my efforts, and for that I'm extremely thankful. Please, keep looking over me!

As Den bows again, the others clap for her, watching as she walks up to her seat right next to Deja.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― ... Surely an improvement from the last speech. Let's move on to Rank 5, shall we?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― Contrarily to Deja and Den, this is their first time in the Top 7, even if they were very close to it even during the pre-vote.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HAN JUNKYU ꜜ he/him（CLASS ONE） ― Oh?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ BEON HANA ꜜ she/they（CLASS ONE） ― There were quite a few solid picks, weren't there?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― From Class Three, Rank 5 would be...

HONG INKYU
❪ CLASS THREE ❫
1,286,350 Points

Did You Know?   ◌ ◌ ◌   Despite not being really invested in recent K-Pop groups, he has a few connections in the industry, the main one being POPPING PARTY member Haesol.

━━━━━━━━━

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HONG INKYU ꜜ he/any（CLASS THREE） ― ... No.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― ... No?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HONG INKYU ꜜ he/any（CLASS THREE） ― Thanks, but no. Give it to someone else.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ KOBAYASHI MIREI ꜜ they/she（CLASS ONE） ― [palmface] Ah, there he goes...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HONG INKYU ꜜ he/any（CLASS THREE） ― This is why I didn't want a main role... Why did I have to be the only remotely good singer in that class aside from Yul... Are you [BLEEP] kidding me?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SHIMIZU REN ꜜ she/her（CLASS THREE） ― Is he... Complaining? Boasting? What even...

I am just as confused, Ren...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― ... Kyu, that's not how it works.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HONG INKYU ꜜ he/any（CLASS THREE） ― Does it look like I give two [BLEEP]s? Give it to someone else... I don't know... Anyone but me...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― I see...

Junyeol pulls out a notebook from one of his pockets and starts writing down some notes.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― [writing on his notebook] And after Yew and Yiyuan, we add Kyu to the list of victims for this season...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HONG INKYU ꜜ he/any（CLASS THREE） ― ... HAH?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― Anyways, off to Rank 4 we go!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HONG INKYU ꜜ he/any（CLASS THREE） ― ...

... You played yourself.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― This is also Rank 4's first time in the Top 7... Much like most of the top rankers this time around, actually.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JEON YUL ꜜ he/they（CLASS THREE） ― ... That's right. Half of last time's Top 7 ranked between 9th and 17th place...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― Well, then. Also from Class Three, Rank 4 is...

NATHAN CHAE
❪ CLASS THREE ❫
1,297,275 Points

Did You Know?   ◌ ◌ ◌   Despite suffering from astigmatism and having a prescription, he refuses to wear both glasses and contact lenses; he is scared of the latter in particular.

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✹ ﹒ ﹒ NATHAN CHAE ꜜ he/they（CLASS THREE） ― Huh?!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― [sighs] Don't tell me you also have complaints...

✹ ﹒ ﹒ NATHAN CHAE ꜜ he/they（CLASS THREE） ― Ah, no no! I'm just surprised I got this high... I really did not expect it!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ NATHAN CHAE ꜜ he/they（CLASS THREE） ― [bowing] Thanks for believing in me! I'll do my best~

Nathan reaches for Kyu's hand and, after holding it, he pulls the other towards their seats with the others.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ NATHAN CHAE ꜜ he/they（CLASS THREE） ― Ending in the Top 7 together and in ranks close to each other at that... It must be fate!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HONG INKYU ꜜ he/any（CLASS THREE） ― OK, OK, fine... [chuckles] Let's go.

Ah, I love me some Yaoi Academy.

No one does it like them.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― At last, we've reached the fearsome Top 3! Who will make the Top 7 and potentially be in 1st place?

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― Let's find out together who are the candidates for 1st place.

❪ FEVEN'S NOTE: This is a GIF, so wait for it to fully load before proceeding. Each frame lasts 2 seconds each, except for the last one which lasts 8 seconds to show the full list. ❫

✹ ﹒ ﹒ GUAN XIAOQIONG ꜜ she/glam（CLASS THREE） ― ...!!!

✹ ﹒ ﹒ JAYDEN IM ꜜ he/him（CLASS ONE） ― Ah, that's nice.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ HIURA ASHINA ꜜ she/her（CLASS FOUR） ― Mhm! Just as expected~

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― The three remaining Class Presidents, essentially...! Who among you three will earn 1st place tonight?

The three candidates stand all next to each other, looking at one another as they try to guess who will be the highest ranker among them.

✹ ﹒ ﹒ SEO JUNYEOL ꜜ he/him（HOST） ― It is with great pleasure I can announce Rank 3 is...

Find out in the next part!

FEVEN'S CORNER !!

¹ Deja and Yew both know Seoyoon already from working with her in The Value Behind Promises.

At 3:33 AM of the day of the scheduled update, I am DONE.

I was originally supposed to finish the ranking announcement in this part, but I was about to hit the media limit and the word count was getting pretty high, so... I have ultimately decided to add a Part Five and finish the ranking announcement in Part Four instead.

The schedule will suffer a bit due to these sudden changes (and also my health deteriorating... I love it here /s), but rest assured; I will finish this episode by the beginning of November. Parola di Roberto Carlino. 😇