Chapter 282: The World Focuses On You
(Cough, the chapter title is a bit chuunibyou, but I couldn't resist.)
Backstage.
The five members of ITZY held hands, silently watching IZONE's performance on the television.
Their feelings weren't as straightforward as Li Xiuman's, but after the "fantasy fairy tale" stage began, each person's initial confidence receded like a tide.
Confidence isn't arrogance; blind confidence only blinds one's eyes.
What they never lacked on their journey was self-awareness; they never thought too highly of themselves. It was precisely because of this that the members of ITZY could better feel the gap between the two groups.
"It seems we're going to lose," Lee Chaeryeong said, rubbing her face, her tone filled with regret.
"It's not the last moment yet," Hwang Yeji said, shaking her head.
"Let's wait a little longer; the results will be out soon," Choi Ji-soo consoled.
This time, Inkigayo specially modified its rules for today. The music source score was removed and replaced with live broadcast popularity votes.
At that time, the live broadcast room would open for voting, changing the percentage of the music source score to audience votes, a true popularity contest.
In terms of national recognition and public appeal, this change was more beneficial to IZONE, but in reality, there wasn't much difference. ITZY was not a group known for its music sources, while IZONE was a genuine all-rounder, with their music source performance far ahead.
Soon, IZONE's performance also ended. Afterward, all the artists participating in this music show came onto the stage.
The candidates for first place were, without any surprise, ITZY and IZONE.
ITZY's members stood to the right of the two MCs, and IZONE's members stood to the left of the two MCs.
On the large screen, the scores of both sides and the voting numbers from the live broadcast room appeared at this moment.
Jiang Shu was stunned when he saw these data, and Li Xiuman and the others beside him had the same expression.
The reason was simple: the data for both sides were truly very close.
Aside from IZONE surpassing ITZY by nearly 30% in the live broadcast voting data, other data were not far apart, and could even be said to be neck and neck.
However, although the data were close, IZONE led in every single category, so the result was self-evident.
"Whew..."
Zhang Yuanying looked at the data on the big screen and let out a soft breath. The beautiful girl turned around gracefully, a brilliant smile gracing her face.
The next moment, the members embraced her.
"We won! We won! We won!"
"Xiao Yuan, we won!"
"We did it!"
All sorts of words floated around Zhang Yuanying's ears, and the air became fervent at this moment.
The audience below had already fallen into a frenzy, shouting the names of IZONE and its members, desperately waving their lightsticks.
ITZY's fans did not leave. Although they felt great regret, at this moment they still stood up from their seats and joined the ranks of those applauding IZONE.
Under the spotlight, countless flying colorful confetti transformed into a dazzling shower of light, slowly falling.
In that glow, Zhang Yuanying's face appeared on the large screen behind her. Surrounded by her members, the girl paused slightly as she looked at the camera on the large screen, then held up her hands to form the gestures for "1" and "2."
Wow!
The entire venue erupted in excitement at this moment.
At this moment, she was both the chosen one and the only one!
In the live broadcast room, the bullet comments scrolled wildly.
Audiences from all over the world were amazed by this scene.
【Aish... just a little bit more!!!】
【Although it's frustrating, losing to a born idol like Zhang Yuanying doesn't seem unacceptable, does it?】
【Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah!!!】
【It's terrifying... The first debut led K-pop into the girl group era, and the second debut pushed the girl group era to its true peak.】
【Will there ever be such excellent artists again? It's hard to imagine, isn't it?】
The MCs on stage were also infected by the audience's emotions, their voices filled with unconcealed excitement.
"They did it!"
"IZONE, they completed their ascent to the top!"
"Before today, many people thought that ITZY, this passionate warrior from the foot of the mountain, would overthrow the demon king and forge a legend belonging to the hero!"
"But IZONE showed those people with their performance."
"The reason the demon king is the demon king is the prestige they earned by defeating challengers again and again with their own strength!"
"The young girls have grasped the king's scepter and put on the king's crown!"
"They are the highest mountain! The longest river among girl groups!"
"They are—"
The MC extended the microphone, and the five thousand audience members present shouted their name in unison with their most enthusiastic voices.
"IZONE!!!"
Jiang Shu, below the stage, looked at the radiant IZONE on stage, then shifted his gaze to the members of ITZY nearby.
They looked a bit disappointed, but smiles were on everyone's faces as they applauded and celebrated IZONE's successful ascent to the top.
At this moment, Jiang Shu noticed Zhang Yuanying appearing next to Sakura.
Sakura, with red-rimmed eyes, was staring blankly at the first-place trophy at the very front of the stage. This wasn't her first first-place win, but it represented the first major achievement she gained after giving up her success in Japan and coming to Korea alone.
For her, an "elder" who debuted nine, almost ten years ago, this was the peak of her performing career, and also the best reward for her decision to come to Korea despite the opposition of her family, friends, and former teammates.
"Ouni."
Zhang Yuanying's voice pulled Sakura's attention back from her daze.
"Xiao Yuan." Sakura reached up to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes, smiling as she looked at Zhang Yuanying.
The girl in front of her was truly the chosen one.
"Ouni, go hold the trophy."
"Me?" Sakura looked at Zhang Yuanying with some surprise. In her mind, Zhang Yuanying should have been the first to go.
The reason was simple: no matter how much of a four-C, Zhang Yuanying was the unshakeable soul of the group.
"Ouni, you've faced a lot of doubts on your journey, haven't you? Aren't our achievements meant to break those doubts?" Zhang Yuanying said, smiling as she looked at Sakura.
They say ITZY's journey has been one of passionate girls, but Sakura debuted in 2011, going through three debuts. Who can truly speak of the hardships she's endured on this path?
In terms of passion, in terms of reasons not to lose, she also had them.
Moreover...
Sakura suddenly looked up at the audience below.
At this very moment, Jiang Shu was also looking at her.
This mentor, who had watched her go from Kagoshima to where she was now, was also one of the reasons she wanted to prove herself.
Not to let down those who held expectations for her—wasn't that also a kind of passion?
Sakura took a deep breath, thinking of this.
Under countless gazes, amidst the falling colorful confetti.
The girl with determined eyes walked step by step towards the trophy at the very front of the stage.
Behind her, the other members of IZONE consciously followed her steps, their faces beaming with smiles.
Sakura arrived in front of the trophy.
Without much hesitation, she firmly held the trophy with both hands and lifted it high!
The scene froze at this moment.
Just as Kwon Eunbi had said in the promotional video.
The world, focused on them.