Chapter 197

"...Wow, this result——"

“It’s terrible.”

"Is this the crushing of experience..."

"…What is the overall result?"

"The first place goes to the new winter group of the Mankai Theatre Company."

"I'm so scared—"

"It's time to go out and announce the results. Let's go."

After the curtains on all the stages fell, all the idols gathered on the central stage again, waiting for the producers to calculate the final results and announce the final ranking of the Wanhua Awards.

"So, who's going to study today?"

Backstage, the producers who were about to go on stage together began to discuss new issues.

"The two days before, it was Mr. Kamisaka Reni and Mr. Tachibana Yukio from the New Mangeki Awards Executive Committee, but today the Shodai Mankai has two performances - they didn't come back from the meeting before, and now they are probably standing outside like everyone else."

"The Central King District Yanzhiye Party?"

“They hosted ISB.”

"Then I'll go and announce it." Ritsuka Fujimaru, who was leaning against the wall, raised her hand. "It just so happens that our Animusphia Office didn't have any works submitted today, and we didn't have any corresponding competitions either - it's very suitable, isn't it? And today's results are quite interesting..."

"To be honest, I want to see the first two days of nervousness."

"Then just go ahead and apply for the first-generation category award—" Kiriya Aoi, who had already advanced to the next level in the Love Live division, urged Fujimaru Ritsuka in a tone that seemed to be looking to stir up trouble. "Although I think they know what's going on, they will definitely get nervous when they hear that the first-generation category has been awarded continuously."

"No, the question is, did they get the award today?"

"Good question." Fujimaru Ritsuka complained as he flipped through the cue cards everyone had written at the previous meeting. "We just wrote down the results, and you forgot about it... There's only one award - but since they got all the awards, it's almost like they didn't get any. But it did help them distance themselves from the first generation team."

So Fujimaru Ritsuka walked to the center of the stage surrounded by the producers, and just as he had planned backstage, he started by announcing the awards won by the first generation Mankai Theater Company.

"Best Actress, Kasumi Hinamori, Kimiku from the original Mankai Theater Company's Shinsengumi."

"Best Actor, Hijikata Toshizo - Otomiya Hiiragi from the first Mankai Theater Company's Shinsengumi."

"Best Supporting Actor, Kondo Isami - Hinata Hiromu from the original Mankai Theater Company's Shinsengumi."

"Best Director, Yukio Tachibana, the first generation of Mankai Theater Company's Shinsengumi."

At the same time, listening to the announcement of the awards, the freshmen in the theater troupe became the most nervous group.

"Although I thought the first generation would be amazing..."

"Ah, after all, we beat them with 'Dream Trail', so..."

"Did I underestimate the first generation after all?"

"It's not impossible from a rational point of view. After all, Mr. Yukio didn't instruct them face to face during the production of "Dream Trail" - and that was their first collaboration after leaving the Mitsuru Theater. Now that they see each other almost every day, even if we can't restore the familiarity and tacit understanding of the first generation, it's better than us who haven't gotten over the running-in period yet."

"…We haven't gotten over the adjustment period yet—we've definitely gotten over the adjustment period between us, we just need more time."

"Tsumugi, how many awards do you think the first generation of "Shinsengumi" can win?" Takato Makoto stood beside Tsukioka Tsumugi, still wearing the space police costume that belonged to the Mankai performance. "The only award that "Shinsengumi" has no chance of winning is the Art Award - because the feature of their performance is that there is no set, and it all depends on the actors and lights to create the atmosphere..."

"I just think Mr. Tomo may not be able to get an award under his grandfather's hands." Tsukioka Tsumugi pulled the hat on her head and counted the total number of awards won by the first generation group. "At least I think that Kou's professionalism in the costumes is unquestionable - and even if I don't have confidence in myself, we have a performance with 24 people."

"Even if you don't believe in yourself, you should believe in your companions who are standing on the same stage with you. This is what you taught me that winter."

"But..." Tsukioka Tsumugi turned her head, narrowed her eyes and smiled at her childhood friend, "Our number one may be in danger."

"...The first generation Mankai Theater Company, a total of six awards, currently ranked second." Fujimaru Ritsuka changed the order of the cue cards in his hand, smiled and looked at the position where the new winter group of Mankai Theater Company stood, "It looks like I can congratulate you in advance on your promotion - the Excellent Play Award, "Last Pl"."

"... All in all, the final result was not a big surprise." After returning to Chaldea, Fujimaru Ritsuka sat in his seat in the control room, supplementing the content of the report on the special point while re-explaining the final result to the members who had not heard it at all, "The music award goes to "Faust", and the Uta Prince Award will most likely go to this group..."

"As for the Best Partner Cup... well, from the data I've collected, there doesn't seem to be a discontinuity in the pairs competition - but there's a chance that the senior will come back and become a dark horse, just like the first generation did today."

"As for the Queen of Starlight... I'm not 100% sure, but I think it should be this one - eh?"

When Fujimaru Ritsuka turned around, he saw Lancer Mello standing behind him with a complicated look in his eyes.

"Fujimaru." Lansemero looked at the sheet music in his hand and sighed helplessly, "Don't talk about your speculations about these developments outside in the future. Also, this is an urgent task you asked Mozart and the others to do before - your final song has been produced, so you should find a chance to practice it."

"After all, the competition from now on is not just a competition of various dramas."

"yes!"

The last three matches are over, and the final list of qualified players is announced:

"The Starlight Queen Cup, Kanzaki Mizuki."

"Best Buddy Cup, Masquerade."

"Love Live, Soleil."

"Idol Song Battle, AMP48's A Division."

"The Wanhua Award goes to the new winter group of the Mankai Theatre Company."

"The Uta Prince Award, QUARTET☆NIGHT."

The member who was responsible for announcing the semi-final rules again was Bi Guan He Huan from the Yan Zhi Ye Party in the Central King District.

"The semi-finals will be a round-robin competition, and the first place winner will advance to the finals." Bikan Hehuan looked at the six groups of qualifiers standing on the stage in front of her and confirmed the semi-final divisions again. "Semi-finals Group 1 - Kanzaki Mizuki, Masquerade, Soleil; Group 2 - Group A, Winter Group, QUARTET☆NIGHT."

"First, we have the first group match." Bi Guan He Huan continued to announce calmly. The big screen behind her began to change as she spoke. "The participants of the first match and the byes will be determined according to the random results of the program."

"Ritsuka, what do you think of the other side's results?" Kirshtalia sat down next to Fujimaru Ritsuka and asked the junior for his opinion on the next match. "According to the popularity gap of the Best Partner Cup, today's match over there is a matter of whoever runs into the masquerade will finish the match first, right?"

"No, I think only Masquerade has no chance of advancing." Fujimaru Ritsuka glanced at Mashu who was sitting on his right, "Mashu and I participated in the Best Partner Cup. The Best Partner Cup is a popularity ranking, so you guys think the result is terrible - Masquerade was only performed on the stage once, and it won the first place in the gap."

"Doesn't that mean that the semifinals and finals, where the winner is ultimately decided by the popularity 'idol element', are also a system that favors them?" Kirshtalia asked.

"That's because Masquerade is a comeback group - they are a disbanded group that is making a comeback." Mash looked at the broadcast screen in the lounge area, which showed photos of the two idol groups in the first round. "From the perspective of comeback alone, it is indeed an advantage, because all our schedules are squeezed into the time period when the 'comeback fever' has not subsided - but from other aspects..."

"Being an idol is also a physically demanding job." Fujimaru Ritsuka explained briefly, and then he lowered his voice to complain, "At least we have an advantage in terms of physical strength - after all, who would walk across North America?! When Masquerade debuted, she was about the same age as Kitaoji Sakura is now, and now..."

"One of the members is the principal of Seikou Academy, and the other has retired from the idol industry - at least both of them have not continued to exercise for a long time. Considering their age...their physical strength is no longer enough to support them to perform continuously, and their opponents, although they have a gap in experience, have more energy."

"And their Okukaku system has a special effect called 'Special Appeal' that consumes a lot of energy - they can't give up this, so even if they win the first game... they will lose the second game."

While the members in the rest area were discussing the situation of the semi-final group, the order of the three round-robin matches on the central stage had been finalized - Masquerade and Soleil would compete as opponents in the first round of the round-robin.

The most regrettable thing is that Masquerade will continue to compete in the second round of the semi-final group.

"Now let's decide the order of performances." Bi Guan He Huan threw up the coin in his hand and announced the rules. "The front side is Masquerade first, and the back side is Soleil first. The front side, Masquerade first."

"Masquerade, please go backstage and prepare. Soleil and Kanzaki Mizuki, please go to the nearest audience seats and take your seats."

Backstage, the two members of the Masquerade quietly lifted a corner of their masks to each other, and then smiled as they placed the idol cards of the group costumes on the corresponding positions on the idol's locker room.

“It’s a little inappropriate to say this after the disbandment, but I still want to say it.”

"I have something to say, too, Miya."

"Then let's talk about it together?"

"OK."

"Prepare—"

"Just stand on Ji's left side as always - I'll never have any problems!"

"As long as I stay on the right side of the palace, as I always have, I can overcome all difficulties!"

"It's 'forever'... No wonder you said it's inappropriate." Mitsuishi Origami laughed, "But there's nothing wrong with 'forever' itself. Moreover, from a personal point of view, I also want to stand with Miya 'forever'."

"Then let's go."

"Well, towards the gorgeous stage."