Chapter 158: This Moment, the Right Position!
【Lily is here! Lily!!!】
Suddenly, Lily’s figure appeared in the camera, and the netizens in the bullet comments instantly became excited.
They had been discussing trainees like Kim Minju and Ahn Yujin who had appeared in Jiang Shu’s videos, but with Lily’s appearance, the topic instantly shifted.
There were only six seats left on the stage: the top three (1, 2, 3) and the bottom three (46, 47, 48).
Knowing that the three members of IVE would be coming, no one wanted to provoke the Fufan, who were currently in a state of revival and had an exceptionally strong desire to fight, so the top three positions would definitely not be touched.
And no one wanted the last three positions either, as no one wanted to admit they were useless.
Thus, the current strange situation arose, with both the top three and bottom three seats remaining empty.
Lily didn't expect that she would have to make a choice as soon as she arrived.
Should she choose the last three positions to show humility, or the third position to show confidence to everyone?
She definitely wouldn't consider the first or second positions; those were for her two twin stars, and sitting there would just invite criticism.
Lily thought for a second on the spot, then decisively walked towards the last three positions, finally sitting down in position 46.
【Lily actually chose 46 instead of the third position?】
【She really is our IVE's low-key main vocalist!】
【It doesn't matter where Lily sits, she's still our IVE's best main vocalist!!!】
After Lily took her seat, three figures ascended the stage.
“Hello everyone, we are Miyawaki Sakura / Hitomi Honda / Yabuki Nako.”
As some of the few Japanese trainees, and also idols from the same AKB group, the three chose to ascend the stage together.
【Sakura!!!】
【God Seven fans are here!】
【Wuwuwu, Nako is so cute~~~】
The bullet comments surged after the three ascended the stage. As early as when “Produce48” released the list of forty-eight trainees, some people had already noticed these three idols from Japan, especially Sakura, who had a considerably high popularity in Japan.
【They have three people, Karina and Yuan Ying haven't appeared yet, and Lily is sitting at 46, which means someone will definitely sit in the third position.】
【Why can't it be first or second?】
【It can't be! Sitting in the first position with Karina and Yuan Ying? Is that a death wish?】
【Maybe they're ambitious.】
【This isn't ambition, this is asking for trouble.】
The bullet comments scrolled by, and the three on stage also made their choices after their self-introductions.
Yabuki Nako sat in position 47 next to Lily, while Hitomi Honda went to the very last position, 48.
And Sakura…
The camera showed Sakura’s side profile, revealing her looking up at the highest point, the throne-shaped position 1.
Sakura’s big eyes revealed a resolute gaze as she stepped forward, walking upwards.
【No way?】
【Don't! Really, don't!】
【Kura fans: What? I'm fighting Karina and Zhang Yuanying?】
【Sis! Don't mess around! Sis!】
【Stop! Stop it!!!】
Bullet comments flashed like snowflakes, their speed far exceeding that of any previous trainee’s appearance, but the calls to stop in the bullet comments did not affect Sakura. She continued to move forward resolutely, step by step, reaching the second to last step. After she stepped onto this step, her body paused.
【Is she going to stop?】
【Just stop here! Really! Just stop here!】
【Choose third, I beg you, Kura, I really can't out-curse the Twin Stars!】
【This is the right thing to do, the first position is for our Karina!】
【Bullshit! The first position will only be for our Yuan Ying!】
【She sings and dances like a zombie girl with uncoordinated limbs, and she's still trying to snatch our Karina's first place?】
【An auntie whose side profile looks like a seventy-year-old grandmother, who relies entirely on Photoshop and those two pieces of flesh to flirt with fans, dares to compare herself to our Yuan Ying?】
As the Twin Stars’ fans entered the fray, the bullet comments instantly turned into a massive cursing battle.
But the comments in the bullet screen did not affect Sakura in the picture.
Sakura only paused slightly on the second-to-last step, then she moved her feet again, steadily reaching the highest point among the forty-eight trainees, standing directly in front of the throne!
When the choice of destiny appeared, Miyawaki Sakura, just as before, firmly chose to move forward.
This moment, the right position!
As Sakura took her seat, the bullet comments completely erupted.
Liu Zhimin’s fans, Zhang Yuanying’s fans, Sakura’s fans, and passersby who loved to watch the drama mingled together, and the viewership reached its first peak at this moment.
And at this moment, the name Sakura, Miyawaki Sakura, also spread rapidly like a plague.
The chaotic bullet comments attacked each other, so much so that even Liu Zhimin and Zhang Yuanying’s appearance on stage was overlooked.
However, it wasn't long before the bullet comments were forced back by a screen full of 【Karina】 and 【Yuan Ying】.
“Huh? Only positions 2 and 3 are left.” Zhang Yuanying looked at the two top positions in surprise, “Is Sakura in the first position?”
“Yes.” Liu Zhimin nodded, “Where do you want to sit?”
“Anywhere is fine.” Zhang Yuanying shrugged, “If Ouni doesn’t mind, then I’ll go to position 2.”
“Okay.” Liu Zhimin nodded calmly.
The casual demeanor of the two instantly thrilled their respective fans.
【What is the confidence of a strong person?】
【What if you sit high? We have enough strength, it's the same no matter where we sit!】
【Oh come on, if you didn't know, you'd think they were IVE's main vocalist and main dancer?】
【Lily: Thanks for the invite, don't cue.】
【Lily: Me fighting Karina and Yuan Ying?】
【Your main dancer is a bully, why are you barking?】
【Lawsuit filed, please be informed.】
As expected, Liu Yuan’s fans started arguing again. The two were on good terms, but their fans argued every time they met, almost as if they were sworn enemies.
Little Lemon and Little Ice Cube hadn't been born yet, but Liu Yuan had already started to tear each other apart.
After all the trainees appeared, Jiang Shu, Park Jin-young, and Min Xizhen, the three main judges, took the stage. There were no vocal teachers, dance teachers, or the like arranged, as the three companies already had such teachers. Therefore, unlike the original “Produce48,” this time there were only three main judges.
After a brief introduction, the initial evaluation performance began.
The 48 trainees were divided into four grades: A, B, C, and D. There were six spots for A-grade, ten for B-grade, fourteen for C-grade, and eighteen for D-grade.
The debut positions were not exclusively for A-grade, but it would certainly have an impact. If you were in D-grade and still wanted to get a debut position, such luck…
It's unrealistic.
Just as “Produce48” was airing, related hot search terms also dominated various trending lists, especially Sakura sitting in the first position despite Liu Zhimin and Zhang Yuanying being present. This hot search, full of 話題度, instantly attracted countless eyeballs.
These were the former twin Cs of IVE, the universally recognized top two female group popularities in South Korea. Yet, a former idol from Japan actually sat on the highest throne right in front of them?
Regardless of this or that, at least in terms of popularity and discussion, the name Sakura had already been remembered by everyone.