HOT TAKE - Ayana was too powerful for the group
I've been thinking about the results and talking about it with my friend and rewatching the final performances and something just clicked. I love Ayana in the group she blended well while still having her own flair, and I think with a little switch up in the hair she would have ate down when they fully debuted, and I still stand by that, her experience and vocals would have been a great addition but...
She did Son's assignment too well. She found herself and that made her a threat. We have to remember that out of all the girls (prelude included) she has the most training (overall in singing AND dance), she just needed to let loose and find her individuality again. But once she did that I think they felt she stood out too much. Maybe 'stood out' isn't the right word but something changed.
When I was watching PB4P I was watching all members equally including Sakura, but with We Ride, my eyes kept going to Ayana even when she wasn't the focus. I feel like if they had solo cams like they do with Kpop music shows hers would go viral. Sakura is very different from the other girls, I still don't think she fits completely but they would have trained a lot together so we'll see when they debut, but she is different enough to add sth but doesn't threaten the other girls. Maybe that is what they were considering with this choice. Even though their wording doesn't really reveal that. I also think they wanted someone to fill the innocent youngest member - which I have concerns over but thats for another day.
This is not to say Ayana would be a threat for the group, I think she would have elevated the other girls, again they'd all end up training together for longer and I still think they are all different enough too. They'd really be able to grow as group and slay all day.
Also no hate to Sakura, I hope they are taking care of her, she is a minor who speaks little English who is completely new to the industry, hasn't done much schooling, who now has to be thousands of miles away from home. I hope the company is doing everything they can to make that process and experience smoother. I'm scared that she'll get exploited by the industry.
Also I need another company to debut a global group and include Ayana I see the vision, and HxG needs better competition.
Another note: it would have been great if the prelude girls had more say in who was in the group but that is a fantasy. (also don't get me started on the name)
Edit: I also feel like the prelude girls fit PB4P better and that the company will go more in that direction which is why they also chose Sakura (they should have had both girls do both songs tbh)