A whole month flew by before the trainees even realized it had passed.
Everyone had been too locked in—completely consumed by their performances.
It was eat, sleep, rehearse. Meetings with the production crew. Meetings with A&R. Meetings with the creative teams. Meetings with wardrobe. Meetings with hair and makeup. Non-stop. Relentless.
They blinked—and suddenly there were only three days left before the fifth evaluations.
The tension in the air thickened with every passing hour. The day was near. The one where some of their lives would change forever.
That anticipation spiked even higher when the trainees were informed that the live audience had finally arrived on the island.
And better yet—they'd be having a mini meet-and-greet.
The news sent a ripple of nerves through the group… but excitement too. They were finally going to meet the fans who had supported them since the very beginning of LEAVEN. A chance to give back. To say thank you face-to-face.
The trainees rushed back to their dorms to freshen up, slipping into brand-new outfits courtesy of LEAVEN's clothing sponsor, El'Tamora[1].
While the trainees prepped, the production crew moved through the live audience, filming quick interviews.
Production Crew: Hi! Welcome to LEAVEN. Please introduce yourself, tell us where you're from, and what you're looking forward to today.
One lucky fan nodded enthusiastically, practically glowing as they faced the camera.
"Hi!" the fan waved. "My name is Hyouka Icecream. Yes—before you ask—that is what I go by. I aspire to be like Sir Foca, so I've decided to hide my government name as well." They winked.
"I'm from the Philippines! Yes—Mabu-hey!!! And I just want to thank whoever made this possible. You are my hero!" Hyouka squealed.
"Ah yes, Hyouka," the crew smoothly redirected, clearly experienced with fandom energy. "What are your thoughts on the upcoming evaluations?"
"Oh! I'm super, super excited!" Hyouka said immediately. "I'm here to support everyone—but I'll be cheering just a little louder for my bais line, Kang Ian and Mika."
They proudly held up a handmade banner featuring Kang Ian and Mika's faces and names.
"I don't want to jinx it," Hyouka continued seriously, "but I feel it in my soul that they're debuting. I can't explain it. I prayed, attended church, did my chores, and donated what little I could to charity—all to send them positive juju, y'know?"
"Wow," the crew laughed. "You're a hardcore fan, aren't you?"
"Oh, you haven't seen hardcore yet," Hyouka replied. "There's someone in the fandom who's literal royalty. Like—Queen Elizabeth type shit. I don't know from where exactly, but they make sure the world knows they're a Kang Ian and Mika stan for life. Also a very dedicated shipper of #MikIan."
"Do you think that fan is here today?" the crew asked.
"Oh, absolutely," Hyouka said confidently. "They're probably incognito—keeping their status on the low. But I know they're here."
Hyouka pointed dramatically toward the crowd behind them.
"I can sense a fellow kindred spirit."
"All right! Thank you so much for your time," the crew said. "Any final words?"
"Yes!" Hyouka declared, waving their banner wildly.
"Please keep stanning Kang Ian and Mika! Send all your positive prayers and good mojo their way! And to the haters—may you step on Legos, stub your pinky toe, have soggy ramen, and sleep on a cold, hard bed!"
"Okay—thank you so much!" the production crew said quickly, making a strategic retreat before any more curses could be unleashed.
****
While the fans filled the audience, the trainees' families, loved ones, friends, and mentors were also present—each of them flown in personally by Foca.
As they arrived on the island, they gathered together, catching up and sharing stories, reminiscing about the last time they'd seen one another back in Switzerland. Over time, they'd formed bonds of their own, mirroring the friendships the trainees had built.
Then they noticed the fans.
Handmade banners. Cutouts. LED lights spelling out the trainees' names.
The sight alone was enough to overwhelm them.
Moved by the love and dedication on display, the families approached the fans—thanking them personally for supporting their sons, brothers, best friends, and loved ones.
What followed was a series of heartfelt, tearful, and genuinely beautiful interactions between the fans and the trainees' families.
Soon after, everyone was guided toward the LEAVEN stage—the very one they'd only ever seen through their screens.
The fans and families entered the theatre in an orderly fashion, security tight and vigilant, ensuring safety above all else. Everyone had read and signed their NDAs before flying out, and they made sure to remain on their very best behavior during their stay on the island.
Once everyone was seated, the program officially began.
Cat stepped onto center stage—elegant and radiant as ever.
Applause erupted immediately.
"Oh my God! Cat, please marry me!" someone shouted from the audience, sending the entire theatre into laughter.
"I'll have to gracefully decline," Cat replied with a chuckle.
"Anyhow," she continued smoothly, "families, loved ones, friends—ladies, gentlemen, and everyone in between—we warmly welcome you to LEAVEN!"
The audience roared.
"We sincerely thank you for taking time out of your lives to join us for LEAVEN's fifth evaluations—where some dreams will finally come true."
Cheers grew even louder.
"Now, I know you're all eager to meet the trainees," Cat said, smiling, "but first, let us take a moment to acknowledge the people who made all of this possible."
She gestured toward the wings.
"Please welcome to the stage—Tuesday, Luca, and the man himself… Focaccia!"
The theatre exploded with thunderous applause as Foca, Luca, and Tuesday entered in coordinated black-and-white ensembles—effortlessly elegant, stunning in their presence.
They waved graciously, smiles glowing beneath the stage lights.
One familiar fan completely lost it.
"KYYYYAAAAA!!! SIR FOCA, YOU ARE SO HANDSOME!!!" Hyouka screamed, waving a separate handmade banner featuring Foca's face.
Foca caught sight of them and mouthed a soft thank you—which nearly caused Hyouka to faint on the spot.
Luca and Tuesday were met with just as much chaos.
Fans shouted praises about their beauty. Others went straight for marriage proposals.
"Tuesday, my queen—WERKKK!"
"Yasss, mama!" another fan yelled, snapping their fingers dramatically in the air.
One particularly unhinged fan screamed, "LUCA, HAVE MY BABIES!"
The entire theatre burst into laughter. The fan, unbothered, stood proudly by their declaration.
"I'm sorry," Luca replied gamely, "but I'll have to pass."
After sharing a few words of gratitude and formality, Foca, Luca, and Tuesday bowed in unison before making their way to their usual seats for the evaluations.
Cat seamlessly picked the program back up, moving the show forward without a single moment of dead air.
[1] Clothing company owned by Foca's second eldest sibling, Pearl.