"Hmph," Vil huffs as the four leave the room. "Theirs was a grade school recital- clearly the work of amateurs with the thinnest veneer of competence. They're out."
"...Interesting, interesting," Rook mumbles in thought as he heads out to the hall. He clapped his hands, getting both the remaining entrants and those who performed attention. "Attention, entrants: the audition is now over." The news made them groan, some angry at the fact that it was over. "We will notify the group that passes tomorrow. You will receive either some news, or no news!" Rook happily announces.
"So we find out tomorrow?" Grim says. "Now I'm gettin' all antsy."
"I was a whole key off during the A melody..." Deuce mumbles.
"Singing and dancing sure burns a lot of energy," Ace sighs. "Let's get back to the dorm and eat!" The others nod and leave, with the other participants following their lead, knowing that they can't do anything about the result and carried on, heading to do whatever they had planned instead. Once everyone cleared the lounge, Rook simply closed the door, leaving just him and Vil in the ballroom.
Vil sighs. "The turnout was half casual spuds on a lark, and half amateurs with at least some proper mindset. Losing is NOT an option at this year's Song & Dance Championship. Let us start by sorting these scores in descending order..."
"A moment, if you would, fair Vil," Rook says as Vil looks up from his notes. "Gems already polished shine with a predictable luster, yet with sufficient effort put into polishing, it is possible for rough-hewn ores to be reborn as shining gems. Brighter than the ones you hold now, I daresay," he emphasizes.
"..." Vil look at him in thought, thinking about his words. "You speak soundly, Rook. It will take more than conventional thinking to lay claim to the fairest beauty of all. What matters most for our needs is the ability to ascertain what KIND of gems our labors will produce for us."
"Heh..." Rook chuckles at his thinking. "I sensed the most unpolished potential from the last group of performers. The freshmen," he states.
"Really?" Vil asks in bewilderment. "Those little spudlings?"
"If you would indulge me a metaphor, Vil- you are a grand diamond whose radiance draws the eyes the world over. Now imagine, if you will, a tiara packed with precious stones all crowding one another out. Sounds like a flattering headpiece, non? But another option is a tiara with a single, grand diamond has a smaller, more colorful array of gems inlaid around it. Personally, I would find the latter more tasteful and appealing." He sees Vil thinking about the idea. "Of course, the final call is yours to make. I'll take no offense if you dismiss the thought outright," he reassures.
"..."
"But I trust you know deep down...that simply brushing up our status quo will never be sufficient for taking on the dazzling Neige LeBlanche," Rook emphasizes. "And that we will need a more innovative mindset."
"...Yes, I suppose so," Vil reluctantly says as he looks at his notes. "The entrants appearing in this year's Song & Dance Championship will be..."