Good video that one. It's somewhat a shame that it was just a shuffle group since it was one of the best combinations i can remember. They just worked really well as a group. Well that and i was biased because Aibon was the center of the group
But i think that shuffle group was when i thought of Niigaki and the other 5th gen members as something more than just there. Before that came about i honestly found them a bit boring but Niigaki was able to flourish with this group and the appearances they made. I think hanging out with Kago bought out her funny energetic side or something.
First time i saw her in general was watching a recording of the 5th gen auditions though i can't say i really noticed her much or remembered her name. I think i was calling her "Morning Musume fangirl" for a while until i learned her name poperly