Tuesday was the first to step forward, flipping her hair like she was about to launch into a TED Talk titled "Survive or Die Trying."
"What's poppin', everybody," she drawled. "I'm Tuesday. I'm usually very chill — like coconut-water-and-a-face-mask chill — but when it's time to get down, I get down. I've been a survival show savant since I was in diapers, so being here? Pure joy."
Her gaze swept across the trainees like a laser scanner in a dystopian sci-fi movie.
"For some of you, you only get one shot. One chance. And once you mess that up? That's it."
A few trainees gulped.
One looked like he was reconsidering every life decision he'd ever made.
And then her eyes landed on one specific young man.
Kang Ian.
Poor Ian felt that sh*t in his soul.
Tuesday's words hit him like a personal attack from the universe, because he knew he was living on borrowed time — a second chance he never thought he'd get.
When Tuesday paused her gaze on him just a beat too long, his heart did a full Olympic dive.
Then Luca stepped forward, hands in his pockets, smiling like a friendly mentor right up until he said something that made the whole group sweat.
"As for me," Luca began lightly, "this experience will give some of you a reality check. You're about to find out whether this life is truly yours… or if you just convinced yourself it was cool."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Make no mistake. When artists get cut, they bleed their craft instead of blood. Are you one of those?"
Even Tuesday went, "Damn" under her breath.
Then it was Foca's turn.
Calm.
Soft-spoken.
Deadly.
"As for me," he said, "I made this company to help those who truly deserve to shine. Speak to me with your hard work, dedication, passion, and talent. If you're looking to sway me with a sob story… then unfortunately, you're in the wrong place."
Twenty-five years old and sounding like an immortal emperor.
The trainees swallowed hard.
Luca bumped his shoulder playfully.
"Foca, don't scare the kids before we even start."
Foca turned to Cat, completely straight-faced.
"Did I sound too harsh?"
Cat lifted a brow like a cool aunt sipping mimosas at brunch.
"Not at all. I think that's exactly the heart of this program."
The trainees blinked.
…Were these people really this casual with each other?
The bosses weren't just powerful — they were real.
Genuine.
Down-to-earth in a way that felt comforting and terrifying at the same time.
Tuesday clapped her hands, beaming.
"Anyway! I'm excited to see what you've all got!"
Luca nodded.
"You only get one chance to make a first impression."
And then Foca, absolutely serious again, declared:
"Do your best, and may the odds be in your favor."
Luca burst out laughing.
"Dude, they're not trying to kill each other—"
Foca shrugged with a tiny smirk. "I was referencing the movie."
The trainees laughed — some awkward, some relieved, some like they'd just avoided death.
But the ice?
Shattered.
The mood?
Lifted.
The stage?
Set.
LEAVEN had officially begun.
****
And with that, everyone filed into the Jenga Building and began filling a colosseum-style arena. The stage sat in the center, surrounded by rising rows of seats. On the north side were three plush couches, each paired with a glass side table topped with a bottle of water and a thick, intimidating binder. A fourth couch sat a little farther to the right—reserved for the host.
The trainees filled the audience. Foca, Luca, and Tuesday settled onto the three evaluator couches, while Cat slipped into place on the host's seat.
Once everything was set, the evaluations officially began as the first trainee stepped onto the stage.
As he crossed to the marked spot in the center, soft murmurs rippled through the trainee seats. They recognized him—he'd already made a name for himself on another survival program.
"Alright, our very first trainee," Cat said, bright and warm. "Please introduce yourself."
"Hello, my name is Kang Ian. I'm twenty years old, from Korea. It's a pleasure to meet you." Kang Ian bowed deeply. He was nervous, sure—but the boy hid it like a pro.
"Alright, Kang Ian. The floor is yours."
He took position. A breath. Silence. Then the music slammed in.
His entire aura flipped like someone lit a fuse. His eyes sharpened, his movements snapped clean and precise, and when he opened his mouth, a rich, energetic tone filled the air. Every step held intention, every note had weight. Years of training poured out of him like he had been waiting his whole life for one song, one performance.
By the time he hit his final pose, the arena froze for a heartbeat… then exploded into applause and cheers. Even the trainees who'd sworn they wouldn't react were losing their damn minds.
Kang Ian returned to the center spot, chest heaving. He'd sung, danced, and rapped. Calling it "impressive" felt like calling a tsunami "a little splash."
"That was excellent!" Cat said, clapping. "You might've just set the bar way too high. Good luck to literally everyone who has to follow that."
"Thank you." Kang Ian bowed again.
Then all eyes slid toward the evaluators—three unreadable faces, three storms brewing behind calm expressions.
Foca spoke first. That alone shocked the room.
"Can I be extremely and brutally honest?" His voice was calm but cold, sharp like tempered steel.
"Y-yes, please," Kang Ian stuttered, his heartbeat thundering up his throat.
"I am feeling… nothing but pure frustration toward you right now."
The temperature dropped. It felt like the Arctic wind swept straight through the hall. Even Tuesday and Luca blinked in surprise.
"You are an excellent and talented artist," Foca continued, passion cracking through the ice. "And it frustrates me to my core, because all of this could've been avoided in the first place."
Kang Ian understood instantly. His eyes reddened, tears slipping quietly down his cheeks. He felt the same frustration—the same regret—toward himself.
Luca stepped in when he noticed confusion spreading among the trainees.
"For context," he said, "before this program even began, Kang Ian was one of the artists we personally reached out to sign under Bread Music—along with some familiar names: August, Ahn Jae, and Silas. The other three accepted. Kang Ian rejected our offer."
A few gasps. A few "no way" whispers.
"Now," Luca added, "I feel exactly what Foca's feeling. You could've had a guaranteed debut spot already. You could've skipped this entire audition program. But you chose otherwise… and here we are."
****
PS -
Jenga Building inspirations - (https://pin.it/55DpHeqbX) (https://pin.it/5CHbUWlhM)
Kang Ian performed "Growl" by EXO.