Ch.75 : The Final Begins

Before the event was officially dismissed, the committee made an important announcement regarding the final round. It wouldn't be just another fashion competition—it would be combined with a performance element. Each contestant was required not only to wear stylish costumes but also to perform according to the concept they presented.

The final would be split into two categories:

• First, group performances of three people per class. The team had to wear outfits under a shared theme. It could be anything—as long as it was creative, cohesive, and visually impressive.

• Second, a duo performance. The pair had to present completely contrasting themes—opposing in concept, color, or philosophy. Things that shouldn't go together, yet somehow work in harmony on stage.

Upon hearing the announcement, Chloe hurried toward Nic with an excited expression. She was ready to ask him to be her partner for the contrasting theme.

But before she could say anything, Jack suddenly appeared behind her.

With a pleading face and desperate tone, he said,

"Chloe, let's be partners! We'll definitely win if we do this together! You have to trust me! Please, Chloe!"

Chloe froze for a moment. Her gaze shifted toward Nic, hoping for some kind of sign. Nic gave her a small smile and nodded gently, as if to say, "Just accept it. Let's not make this more complicated." He then turned and walked away without another word.

Chloe looked back at Jack and finally said, "Alright... but you'd better be serious. This is the final."

Jack nodded, full of confidence. "We're gonna win. Trust me!"

Meanwhile, Nic approached Selfi and Erina—his teammates from Class E.

"You two ready to go first tomorrow?" he asked calmly.

The girls exchanged confused glances. They honestly thought Nic would perform with Chloe since the two of them always stood out together.

"I thought… you'd be with Chloe," Erina said, puzzled.

"If it's with us… are you sure?" Selfi added hesitantly.

Nic smiled. "You girls are awesome too. Don't look so down. Let's just focus on rehearsing. I already have a theme in mind."

He leaned in and whispered their theme into Selfi's ear.

Her eyes widened. "Whoa, that's… unexpected! I don't think anyone will see that coming!"

---

Later that day at the UNITY base, the atmosphere was quiet. Nic walked into the lounge but didn't see anyone around. He opened the game room door and found Rika and Talia deeply focused on a match.

"Where is everyone?" Nic asked, stepping inside.

"They just left," Talia replied, glancing back. "Everyone was tired after playing."

Nic smiled and pinched both of their cheeks playfully. "Let me guess—you didn't let them win?"

Rika just chuckled and scratched her head.

Nic then invited them to the lounge.

"I want to practice my butler act for tomorrow. Mind if I try it out on you two?"

Talia and Rika were shocked. "You're really going as a butler?!"

But before the rehearsal started, the door opened again. Vivi, Leona, and Nia entered, looking to unwind at the base.

"What's going on here?" Vivi asked curiously.

Nic explained that he was about to rehearse his butler routine. Naturally, the three girls became intrigued and decided to watch.

A few minutes later… the atmosphere completely changed.

Nic, in full butler mode, stood tall with charismatic calm. His voice was soft, gestures graceful yet firm. Every move he made exuded elegance and charm.

"Welcome, beautiful ladies. May I offer you a cup of tea?" he asked, pouring with mesmerizing precision.

Rika, Talia, Leona, Vivi, and Nia were left speechless. Moments later, they all collapsed onto the couches, completely disarmed by Nic's devastating aura.

After a bit more practice, Nic sat down, sipping his tea calmly.

"Guess that's enough training for today."

---

The next day, the main auditorium was buzzing with excitement. The long-awaited fashion final was about to begin.

Each class had submitted their themes. Costumes were prepared, and the grand stage was bathed in dramatic lighting with energizing music blasting through the speakers.

One of the female committee members smiled to herself as she read one of the group themes. She murmured, "That boy always comes up with something wild…"

The competition began with the first category: free-theme fashion for teams of three.

First up: Class A – Vivi, Yui, and Jenny.

Their theme: Dream Carnival.

Spotlights flashed as Vivi entered first, portraying the Carnival Queen. She wore a jewel-studded gown with feathered wings extending behind her and a rainbow-colored crown. Her steps were poised and powerful, radiating both elegance and mystery.

Then came Yui, dressed as an adorable living doll. She carried an oversized paintbrush and twirled playfully across the stage, bringing smiles to the audience with her sweet, animated movements.

Lastly, Jenny burst in with a flip, dressed as a colorful masochistic clown. Her wild costume and energetic performance had her tripping on purpose, laughing the whole time and engaging directly with the crowd.

The audience laughed and cheered loudly.

Even the judges couldn't help but smile. They exchanged glances and began writing down their scores.

Judge 1: 90

Judge 2: 90

Chloe's mom—known to be the toughest judge—smiled and said, "Fresh, fun, and full of color. Very good."

She gave them a 95.

Next: Class B – Leona, Nia, and Fanny.

Their theme: Cyberfunk Street Queens.

Leona entered first, wearing a glowing leather jacket lit with neon tech. She had a sleek visor over her eyes and wore chains and belts shaped like digital currency. Her strut was commanding—oozing wealth and dominance.

From the opposite side, Nia appeared dressed like a street scientist. Glowing pants, a half-zipped jacket, and multiple futuristic gadgets attached to her body. She occasionally flicked a holographic screen from her wrist as she moved.

Then Fanny stormed the stage wielding a glowing baseball bat. A light-up mask covered part of her face, giving her the look of a futuristic street brawler. She twirled her bat, winked at the audience, and gave off raw energy.

The room roared with cheers. The lighting, pounding electronic music, and strong presence of all three girls dazzled the crowd.

The judges were clearly impressed.

Judge 1: 95

Judge 2: 90

Chloe's mom gave a 95 with a nod. "Strong, modern, and full of personality. You all performed with confidence."

The audience began to murmur.

"Whoa, Class B is beating Class A now!"

"Class E hasn't gone yet, right?"

"I wonder what Nic's gonna pull out to beat them..."

In the corner of the room, Chloe watched, curious. She still had no idea what theme Nic had prepared—he'd kept it completely secret.

Jack, sitting next to her, said with confidence, "Relax. Selfi and Erina are solid. They'll win this round for sure."

Chloe glanced at him and asked quietly, "You're not even mentioning Nic? Do you really hate him that much?"

Jack fell silent for a moment. Then he smiled faintly without looking at her.

"Well I hate it so much."

To be continued...