The slow, steady rhythm of heels echoed through the corridor, a distinct contrast to the cheers booming from outside. She finally stepped out, taking her place in front of the crowd with a smirk on her lips.

"As you know, there's been an announcement," she began, her eyes on Professor Ozpin.

"This school has long been about making its presence felt seen, but not necessarily heard. But we value a third element, one that runs deeper: to be understood."

"Self-expression is at the heart of it. It's something that can make you stand out, but just as easily make you fade, a perfect match for society's expectations."

She paused and scanned the crowd.

"Recently, a student suggested we hold a talent show. At first, I wasn't impressed," she admitted, "But then I thought: there's a beauty in the idea of being seen, taking pride in what you do, and making yourself heard. It's the id, craving expression; the ego, wanting to impress within the rules; and the superego, pushing a message. When you look at it like that, a talent show is truly something special."

Her voice held a passion rarely seen before it quickly faded behind her usual demeanor.

"So, by the end of this month, we'll be hosting a talent show. All students from any kingdom are invited to listen, share, and be a part of it. We're looking forward to seeing what you bring to the stage," she finished with a sly, almost sinister smile, setting the microphone back on its stand before striding away.

Roman sat back, his feet kicked up on the table, cigar clamped between his teeth. Bandages covered his face and body as he took a quick puff with his eyes closed.

"A talent show, huh?" he muttered, cracking one eye open. "So, all the little Huntsmen and Huntresses will be busy playing entertainer." A smug smile stretched across his face as he rose, walking toward a board covered with plans and blueprints.

He grabbed a marker and crossed out Plan 92. "Plan 93 is a go. Let's see just how much we can steal from a kingdom that's left its guard down."

Time passed, and Jacob was in the middle of his rap until Neo's whistle cut through the beat. He stopped while out of breath, as he shot her a look.

"What now?"

Neo pointed at him, mimicking his heavy breathing, then gestured to herself. She capped it off by throwing her hands up, closing the space between them.

Jacob sighed, nodding in resignation.

"Yeah, yeah... I'll try to keep my movement in check so I'm not dying for air on certain lines," he replied.

His eyes drifted over to the other girls in the room, busy prepping for their own performances. He wouldn't be the only one up there; the talent show announcement had stirred everyone up, and now, students were lining up for a chance to shine.

Jacob rubbed his throat absently. Moving while rapping wasn't new to him. But having to adjust his voice to sound more feminine was more challenging than he thought. Keeping his movements prim and proper while staying energetic was also throwing him off, like trying to mash together two parts of himself that didn't quite fit.

Neo stood there, hands on her hips, watching him with a blank expression.

He gave her a side eye. "I don't see you practicing with your semblance. How's that fair if you're judging me?"

She raised an eyebrow, gesturing to herself, then crossed her arms in an X. Use of semblances was strictly off-limits for performers, no exceptions.

Jacob nodded, then leaned back onto her bed, Neo joined him near his side. For a moment, they sat in silence, until her hand slowly found his.

After a second, he glanced down at her. "What about your parents?" he asked, his voice softer now. "Did you let them know you're doing this?"

She shook her head, glancing down sadly.

"What're you waiting for?" he murmured, giving her hand a squeeze. "You've only got one chance. You might not get another shot like this."

Neo's hand trembled slightly before she finally took his hand.

Jacob looked down at their joined hands, then up at her, smiling.

"Look, I'm not gonna tell you not to be afraid of messing up, we all do. And I know that might not be what you want to hear. You probably want someone to say you won't mess up, that you'll nail it perfectly. But I gotta be real with you. As creatives, we can get lost in the small stuff, obsessing over the tiniest things that only another artist would notice. It's more exhausting than anything else."

He turned, meeting her eyes. "What I'm trying to say is, have fun with it. Let go of perfection, whether you're dancing, hyping the crowd, or designing the whole show. Sometimes less is more, sometimes it's the opposite. But most of all, this is about expressing yourself and just having a damn good time. Your parents may want you to be perfect, but all you need to be is the best version of yourself. That's as close to perfect as we get. And I'm sure they'll see that when you're on stage."

With a quick pat on his skirt, he stood up, giving her a mischievous look. She got up slower, but with a smirk.

"So, you think you got one more practice in you?"

Neo matched his expression, grabbing the whistle and pointing to the floor, signaling for him to take his place and get set. Then, with a nod, she started the beat again.

The time had come, the closing act of the Talent Show was here. The room filled with anticipation as the announcer stepped up to the mic. Performances that night had been all over the board: some applauded, others met with silence, even embarrassment. But for this last act, Jasmine and Trivia Vanille were about to take the stage, and the air felt intense.

In a hidden room, Lady Beat watched from a screen, her silver triskelion pin camera broadcasting every detail. "Perfect… gossip, aspirations, dreams, and ambitions… all on display," she murmured with a smile.

In the crowd, Carmel sat with a nervous look, hand resting between her chest, while Jimmy sat beside her, arms folded and expression harsh as he watched the stage. Back in the changing room, Jacob put on his stockings and turned to Neo, who was already dressed but looked a bit shaken.

"We've done everything we can," Jacob said, putting on his outfit. "If we mess up, we mess up together, but that's not gonna stop us from going all out. We're not here to embarrass ourselves, we're here to send a message." His eyes looked passionate, and Neo's gaze softened.

As the announcer introduced them, the crowd's roar was deafening, glow sticks raised high in colors of white, pink, brown, and green. Jacob and Neo walked out, and Jacob immediately walked to the mic, gripping it firmly. His expression morphed into a smirk as he took in the crowd.

But Neo, scanning the faces before her, froze when she saw her parents in the audience. Her father's expression was a scowl as he whispered something to Carmel, likely about her new appearance. Neo's shoulders slumped, but the music began and she felt her heart pounding as she clenched her trembling fists.

Jacob started rapping, his voice growing in intensity as he moved across the stage. Neo followed behind, stiff, but she found herself compelled by his words. Lyrics of abandonment, loneliness, and the struggle to find one's self filled the air. In a bold move, she used her semblance, conjuring illusions of their pasts above them. The crowd stilled, lowering their glow sticks as they watched.

Jacob spoke about the story of loss, sacrifice, and the fear of fading into nothingness. Neo's illusions cracked and shattered as she grew more nervous, but the audience stayed mesmerized.

She managed to see her father's gaze, his expression softening just slightly, while Carmel sat utterly engrossed.

Then came the chorus. Jacob's voice strained as he sang. Neo's semblance faltered, then reignited, as the crowd fell silent.

In a pause between verses, Jacob lowered his head. Neo, unsure, paced the stage edges, casting more images to keep their story alive. When he raised the mic again, he began a second verse solely about her.

The hatred directed at her, the pain of forced perfection. A family portrait appeared, only to shatter into pink shards. Jimmy looked shaken and Carmel watched with a hand over her mouth.

Jacob's words hit harder, each one unraveling Neo's demons: was she Trivia, the rejected daughter forced into society's mold? Neo, the rebellious teenager wanting freedom, friends, and to be understood? Or Neopolitan, the combination of both? His voice grew hoarse, and then he quieted, crouching down and leaving her in a spotlight as the illusions shattered into particles around them.

The room fell silent for a moment. Soft sobs began to sound from different corners, and then applause erupted, louder than anything that night.

Neo's eyes widened, and a tear slipped down her cheek as she met the crowd's gaze. Flashes of cameras captured her every expression and Jacob rose beside her, smiling as he eyed her.

Neo covered her face, wiping her eyes as the crowd's cheers filled her ears, and then finally, she looked up with a proud smile.

As the performance ended, Jacob and Neo were ushered off stage. Just before they parted, they shared a glance.

"I'm gonna go mingle," Jacob said with a shrug. "Get my name out there, y'know? All that promo crap."

Neo rolled her eyes, a smile still on her face. She lightly punched his arm, then pointed back toward their room.

With a grin, Jacob leaned in, planting a kiss on her cheek. Her face instantly went bright red as she glanced around. She looked at her mother, who was chuckling softly. Neo pouted before turning her back.

Her father, meanwhile, watched in awe, his posture stiff but his expression softened.

As Neo made her way back to the dorm room, she noticed the twins waiting against the wall.

She tried to walk past them, but their voices cut through in unison.

"Where are you going?"

Neo stopped, glancing over her shoulder with annoyance. The serious look in their eyes made her turn fully, clenching her fists.

The twins looked down before Melanie stepped forward. "We're not here to fight. Actually, we're here to reveal some… information."

Neo huffed, crossing her arms.

"It's about Jacob. You've been seeing him, haven't you?" Melanie's voice had a pitying tone.

"Hate to break it to you, but he hasn't been as loyal as you think." She stepped closer, a mocking smile on her face.

Neo scoffed, chuckling dryly as she turned and began walking away, waving her hand dismissively.

Behind her, Miltia's voice echoed in the hallway, halting Neo's steps.

"We have proof. Undeniable proof that your boyfriend isn't who you think he is. Hiding his identity was only the start," Miltia sneered, stepping closer as she spoke. "He's not just any dog, he's a disloyal mutt."

Neo gritted her teeth, turning to face them.

Both twins took a step forward in sync. Melanie pulled out her scroll, displaying a voice message icon. She tapped it, and the sound of Jacob's voice filled the hallway.

"You think I'd like someone that sadistic? No way. Me and Trivia have nothing going on; I'm just using her for that semblance of hers. Besides that, we're nothing more. So, if you're interested in dating, I wouldn't mind it,"

Another voice responded. "I mean… I wouldn't mind dating you. But I'm not into guys, sorry." The voice sounded identical to Azure's.

Neo's eyes widened in shock, her jaw clenched as a tightness coiled in her chest. She looked up at the twins, who watched her with unsettlingly blank expressions.

Words materialized behind her like the voice in her mind screaming to stay grounded: "THAT'S FAKE!" "EDITED!" "NOT REAL!"

The twins simply shook their heads. Miltia tapped her scroll again, showing a video.

Neo watched as Jacob sat at a table with a plate of stuffed sulfuric fish, chatting with Kurri. The very conversation from the recording played out, word for word.

Neo's face drained of emotion, her mouth parted in disbelief as she stared at the screen. She felt her heart drop, and the twins exchanged a glance and smile.

"Just thought you should know, you know, as friends," Miltia stated sarcastically as they turned and strolled away.

Neo's breathing quickened, her fists clenched so tight her knuckles went white. Her face twisted with rage, trembling as she heard footsteps behind her.

Azure and Soraria came down the hall, chatting with a smugness she could sense without even looking. Turning, she locked eyes with them, a wave of pure hatred flashing across her face. Their grins fell, quickly melting into looks of fear.

Before either could react, two blasts of pink gust struck them square in the stomach, slamming them into the wall with enough force to crack it. Their auras shattered instantly; they crumpled to the floor, blood seeping from fresh cuts on their foreheads.

Neo looked at them with no emotion and pure bloodlust. Stepping past them, her heels clicking through the corridor, past her dorm and the pool of blood, her steps echoing as the sound of applause and cheers from the talent show grew fainter in the distance.