#Numazu tour

[junk-story]

Interview: Ongaku to Hito and Sakurai Atsushi - Ichikawa Tetsushi x Kanemitsu Hiroshi, Part II

This interview is on pages 52-57 of the magazine. Footnotes are included in numbered parentheses and can be found at the bottom. For Part 1 of this interview, click here.

~~~~~~~

Ichikawa: It may have been a shock, but in short, [BUCK-TICK's] material elevated. Really, because they were able to turn their work into art, we can grasp now how they were able to bring forth a decadent rock masterpiece like 21st Cherry Boy. Although that kind of dark decadence is seen as a negative, they established it as an excellent form of entertainment, which is fantastic. When I listened to that, I wondered, “Why has Sakurai made a breakthrough to this point?” What did you make of that? 

Kanemitsu: I think he was able to gradually create distance between himself and the band - in a good way. It wasn’t because their relationship had worsened, and there were still times where they’d be up until the morning drinking, but, as you might expect, after nearly 20 years had passed since they debuted, their relationships with people had expanded too, right? When that happened, this sort of scene, where Imai-san would finish an interview and the other 4 were drinking while they waited for him, it almost completely disappeared. This positive sense of individualism is how BUCK-TICK came to be born. 

Ichikawa: I see. In the 21st century, I was listening to the works of B-T as a fan only, so I didn’t bear the weight of that darkness. 

Kanemitsu: What I call acting out the darkness, that elevated their work as entertainment. But normally, when you have this individualism come to be, it leads to actively pursuing solo activities…and that can be troublesome, certainly. 

Ichikawa: That’s the self-indulgence I talked about earlier. (laughs) When that happens in a regular band, they disband and it’s over. Suddenly some new thing starts, and the other members end up not knowing what to do. But Sakurai ended up feeling guilt about this, because he was a man with a kind heart. Thanks to that, the unique worth they had as a band that continued for 35 years with its original members came to be. 

Kanemitsu: In what ways did you feel Sakurai-san’s kindness? 

Ichikawa: Well, in many ways, the Sakurai Atsushi I carry with me is still a yankii(1), you know, a good-looking yankii full of chivalry. We talked about the time when his mother passed before, but there is no shortage of that kind of material. For instance, the launching issue of Ongaku to Hito. I asked Sakurai to be in it as well, and even though it wasn’t around the timing of any [album] release, he said, “Well, since it’s a magazine Ichikawa-san is creating, I’ll do it”, and in the middle of a national tour he came back to Tokyo from Numazu after the concert was over, and it was after midnight at an oden food stall in Sendagaya where we had a no-makeup photoshoot and interview. He was a man who could simply do such things. 

Kanemitsu: What about Sakurai Atsushi made us so charmed by him, do you think? 

Ichikawa: Hmmm…his face? 

Kanemitsu: Well, that’s some brutal honesty!(2) But certainly, it was important. (laughs)

Ichikawa: Wahahaha. There’s that issue with Sakurai Atsushi on the cover where he’s wearing an unremarkable white shirt and has a slight smile, right?(3) That one is among my top three favorites. For some reason, it was a time where there weren’t any interesting releases, and there was no content to be had during this lull, so we ended up in a tight spot for an artist to put on the cover. To be honest, we made the offer to Sakurai like, “heeeelp!”, and I was grateful when he readily consented. They also didn’t have any releases coming up, so I suggested we try a risky(4) cover with no decadence, where Sakurai had a casual appearance and is looking into the camera with a smile; he had also become more concentrated(5) at that time and said, “Let’s do it!”

Kanemitsu: That’s why he cut his hair without anyone’s permission. (laughs)

Ichikawa: I’m glad we didn’t go that far with it. (laughs) But really, Sakurai Atsushi could not be detached from my magazine. There were always plenty of guys skillful at conversation, but I have never met another frontman who, even though he wasn’t good at speaking, could expose his inner thoughts to such a point. Of course, there were also those with negative feelings, like, “It’s all just to tickle the B-T girls’ fancies”, but I hoped, even without him knowing, if we could drain the low-water swamp called Sakurai Atsushi, something amazing would happen. I wanted to do something with this man. It was the same for you too, right, Kanemitsu? 

Kanemitsu: I didn’t have that “I want to do something”. But I did have something like a maternal instinct. (laughs)

Ichikawa: (wry laugh) I understand that too. You can’t leave him alone. 

Kanemitsu: Because at some point, there were only a few articles about the album releases outside of ours. 

Ichikawa: Why was that? As I said earlier, during my time, he spoke frantically as if it was needed to confirm something to himself - so in other words, something must have changed where he could become more self-contained. 

Kanemitsu: It was like Sakurai-san created his own style. As though, dressed up in decadence and gothic imagery, he tried to act out his ideal Sakurai Atsushi. 

Ichikawa: The same as kabuki. The great name of “Sakurai Atsushi” was focused as he would be in the traditional Japanese arts. 

Kanemitsu: Yes, yes. I think that was a good thing. 

Ichikawa: It finally makes sense to me. So that’s why it happened. That Prince of Darkness character was created. 

Kanemitsu: There was what you call the Prince of Darkness character, but he also loved cats, which brought out his playful face. If such a person were to appear on TV with Shiina Ringo, everyone would be hooked. 

Ichikawa: A rare creature, really. (laughs) This may be inappropriate, but it seemed to me that Sakurai could only bring the curtain down(6) on Sakurai Atsushi in the way he did, or by going into a life of seclusion, unknown to anyone. Because he was carrying such sin(7) with him. 

Kanemitsu: Well, as someone who saw him from the 21st century point of view, I feel that he’d aged well in this way, and he wanted to enjoy the rest of his life happily. It’s just that he was a sensitive person, so he was affected by things like children being displaced by war, the oppression of people based on gender, and so on, and when he tried to get closer to the emotions of the weak, he would be forced to remember his own pain, so I suppose in the current era, it was hard for him to live…that’s what I think, anyway. 

Ichikawa: Hearing the talk about the Sakurai Atsushi of the 21st century from Kanemitsu today, it makes sense now. For me, who only knew the Sakurai of the 20th century, the Sakurai of the 21st century is like a different person. I was very fascinated with him all the same. I don’t mean this in a bad way, but it’s like he established a whole separate persona. How can I say this…maybe I could call it guilt. I could see his guilt so clearly through his songs in the 20th century, and it was made invisible in the 21st century. And, invisible things aren’t bad ones. Because that just shows how accomplished he was at fulfilling his role as Prince of Darkness. That’s also how he elevated to being a charming big name. 

Kanemitsu: As a musician, an artist, the purity of his expression had reached a level so high as to be incomparable [to anyone else]. 

Ichikawa: His skill in the 21st century clearly went up. But, although the Sakurai Atsushi of the 20th century was still a work in progress, that progress had turned into a serious dead end that was plain to see. So there were many people who were able to empathize, and I think he himself, the band, the media, and the fans all came together, able to become a community with a shared destiny. It’s strange, but in other media, BUCK-TICK was just shown as a cool band, right? However, at Ongaku to Hito, it wasn’t like that in either the 20th or 21st century. 

Kanemitsu Because we got to see them as 5 people with 5 different styles of character. 

Ichikawa: In other words, they’re “Osomatsu-kun”(8).

Kanemitsu: Hahahahaha!

Ichikawa: When I was doing it, they were “Osomatsu-kun”, and while Kanemitsu’s been doing it they’ve been “Osomatsu-san”. Their appearance between the Showa and Heisei eras was totally different, but the original people were the same. In both the 20th and 21st centuries, Sakurai was Sakurai, and his foundation and attitude didn’t change, only his appearance from that of an unusual self-deprecating man to the Prince of Darkness did; as a result, he was popular in both cases. So, as Ongaku to Hito, speaking from our beginning, he is the person we should be the most grateful for, and he was the kind of man who made me feel like I had to include him in our publication. 

Kanemitsu: He was. No matter how cool Sakurai Atsushi looked on the stage, everyone knows that he actually also had these traits. 

Ichikawa: Of course, with that presence, that appearance, and the look in his eyes, no one would know he was actually this cute and loveable character. 

Kanemitsu: Through the medium of Ongaku to Hito, you and I wrote about those parts of him, so now everyone knows. 

Ichikawa: That’s true…a long time ago, when I was doing a late-night Friday FM radio live broadcast, I had Sakurai on as my first guest. We were at the Satellite Studio in Ginza, and even though I hadn't asked them to come, Takuro and Hisashi [of GLAY] came. We finished at 3 AM and the 4 of us were drinking when Sakurai said, “Will you come to my place?”, which was unusual. When we went there, the windows - all of the windows - had these pitch black curtains on them, it was like being at a planetarium. (laughs)

Kanemitsu: Hahahahahaha!

Ichikawa: We drank in that dark room until we eventually were struck by sleep, but even when I woke up, it was pitch black and I had no idea what time it was. (laughs) When the sun was at its peak, I woke those 2 [from GLAY] up and they went home, but while that was happening, Takuro said to Hisashi, “If you’d told me 10 years ago that I’d go to the home of BUCK-TICK’s Sakurai Atsushi and drink together with him, I never would have believed you”, and I’ve never forgotten that. It was purely moving, emotionally. 

Kanemitsu: Everyone wanted to become like Sakurai Atsushi. 

Ichikawa: It must have been a dream for them. However, it’s a dream that no one could achieve. This sounds misleading, but I think you have to want to be like Yoshiki [of X JAPAN], if you’re going to abandon yourself to despair(9). (wry laugh) But no matter what gimmicks you make use of, you’ll never be Sakurai Atsushi. And for better or worse, it was tough. 

Kanemitsu: I’ve said this many times, but him finding that gothic style was big. 

Ichikawa: The gothic atmosphere seemed like maybe the one he was most comfortable in. The decadence created a kind of surreal and abnormal worldview. But Sakurai Atsushi himself was not abnormal at all, nor was he trying to intentionally deviate strongly from what’s accepted(10). It was just the suit of armor(11) that best fit when he was confronting the world, definitely. 

Kanemitsu: It was Sakurai Atsushi’s suit of armor, wasn’t it. But whether he ended up putting it on or not, he empathized with people’s sadness, and he was a person who could shed tears. And because that seeped out, everyone loved him. Those feelings [of empathy] were expressed in what became his last album, Izora. 

Ichikawa: I see. Well, perhaps he would have continued on expressing it, if he could. 

Kanemitsu: I really think so. There were yet many things he could do, and many he would have wanted to do.

~~~~~~~ Footnotes: (1) I think most people into this scene are familiar with this term, but in case you aren’t - yanki/yankii refers to a young delinquent, usually one who dresses in a sort of street/biker style. (2) If someone has ever said to you, “wow, tell us how you really feel!”, it has the same sort of feeling to it as that, although a bit more polite since Ichikawa is the elder of the two, lol. (3) I believe he is referring to the January ‘95 issue cover, based on his description. (4) Risky in the sense of something not usually done. “Nikopachi” is the type of photography he describes, and online sources generally spoke negatively of it as something not befitting professional photography. (5) Literally “boiled down”. I think this is a reference to paring back his visuals from what they were earlier in their career. (6) This is a metaphor for Sakurai’s passing - but I liked the nuance of his wording and tried to retain it. (7) This word really does not translate well - in different contexts it can be sin, guilt, karma. I translate it again as “guilt” below as it’s more befitting the context, but in all cases here, it’s a sort of heavy emotional load brought upon oneself. My husband’s preferred definition translated to “a living with the burden of past wrongdoings and feeling a sense of remorse”. (8) Per Wikipedia: a comedy manga that revolved around of group of brothers who cause all sorts of mischief. (9) I asked for more clarity on this - what he is getting at is, it’s possible, if you really want to, to become like Yoshiki, but no matter what you do, you can never become like Atsushi. (10) The direct translation for this was “be a heretic”, but heretic is a loaded word in English, and this does not have any Christian overtones. (11) He specifically says “mobile suit”, as in the suits from Gundam.

#buck tick #buck-tick #sakurai atsushi #ongaku to hito #quartz translates

[lonelypond]

20 Fanfic Questions

@ryqoshay tagged me in this (yeah! answering questions is fun); if you are reading this and write fanfic, consider yourself tagged. I also like reading other people's answers.

How many fics do you have on Ao3?

105. Just broke the 100 barrier recently.

2. What's your total AO3 words count?

933,098

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Mostly Love Live. I'm excited about Wednesday and Wenclair, but I've only written one short fic and one unfinished LL crossover so far there. Have also written (crossovers with Love Live): Star Trek, Monthly Girls Nozaki Kun, Little Witch Academia and (pre JKK terfdom) Harry Potter.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Casual Lunacy (complete) NicoMaki College Theatre Coffeeshop Werewolf AU, with Pablo Neruda poetry and Fangs, a musical adaptation of Dracula on the side. Maki's a werewolf, Nico's Nico, Rin's also a werewolf, Maki gets grounded, at least one universe cracks open, and all this happens before opening night.

Idol Protection Program (one shots) Present and future μ's. Nico (Idol) and Maki (Doctor) sneak off and get married, have two small children, DIa and Ruby, and end up hiding out from fame in Numazu. Lots of non linear short fics, some mainly with Aqours characters. Lots of shenanigans.

Parent Trap (ongoing) The official summary: Dr. Nishikino Maki is a single mother, not in search of anything besides a few quiet moments. Yazawa Nico is a singer on the rise who did a favor for an old friend. Are they more connected than they realize?

tl;dr Famous Nico and single mom Maki try to get together, but parents and paparazzi keep intruding,

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve (complete) My first Hallmark/Lifetime movie style Christmas fic. Doctor Maki Nishikino has new neighbors, celebrity singer Nico Yazawa and her siblings. HOA president Eli Ayase is not happy about someone famous in the neighborhood. Maki's business partner, Hanayo Koizumi is a HUGE Nico Ni fan. With her limited dating experience, how will Maki navigate all this extra holiday bustle?

Moonlight Becomes You: Apocalypse Midnight Dance Party (ongoing) Los Angeles: Maki's a DJ, Nico's an actress, Eli's a werewolf, we have BOTH μ's and Aqours, plus time travel, pizza, dancing, selkies, fallen angels, prophets, whatever the heck Hanamaru is, and a Mari party.

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Yes. First off, I think it's polite to respond, although I understand when authors don't. Mostly, I reply because I'm grateful when people take the time to interact. For Casual Lunacy, as sprawling as it is, it was a big help to me having a several regular commenters who helped me realize if things were unclear or if there were characters they wanted to know more about.

I don't get many comments now so there's an extra bounce in my step when someone posts one on a story.

6. What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

The Star Trek ones end on deliberate cliff hangers with characters actively endangered due to the format.

Perilous Pastel is one of the rare times I just let the characters be upset. Nico is not in the Christmas spirit, Covid has cancelled her tour, and she's feeling useless. There are also a couple of other Idol House stories that deal with bullying and rumors: Rooftop Run-In and Protect All Idols

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve, my first Christmas movie based fic, I think, because it has an actual ending. You get the whole rom com experience in a neatly wrapped package.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

I have gotten some really awful comments on fanfiction.net. And sometimes, but only sometimes, I get a sense that certain people do not enjoy my NicoMaki perspectives.

9. Do you write smut. If so what kind?

Nope. I much prefer setting a mood to graphic descriptions. Plus, I think I'd be pretty bad at writing smut.

10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?

I love crossovers. Reading and writing them. My theory is the more crossovers I write, the more people who might fall in love with Love Live ; ) For craziest, I think it was Teenage Mutant Ninja Idols, my Love Live X Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle one, where thanks to a Tumblr vote, *spoiler*, all the Love Live characters involved were werewolves. I want to revisit it.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Don't know.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Not aware of one.

13. Have you ever cowritten a fic before?

Yep. Adventures Of The U.S.S. Helicon

I'd been wanting to collaborate and vnvDarkangel and I were chatting about Maki as a Chief Medical Officer and general Star Trek lore one night on Twitter and decided to dive in. So far, we have five full episodes and one in progress.

14. What's your all-time favourite ship?

NicoMaki. I love their dynamic. It resonates and makes so much sense to me. I started reading NicoMaki and Love Live doujins, then fanfic, then watched the anime. As a demisexual, I get excited about media when it has a relationship I understand: NicoMaki, Korrasami, Wenclair. But NicoMaki actually got me writing. First major project was filling in the gaps I thought the anime had left: Choreography: Steps To A First Date and The Dance: Lead Me To I Love You.

15. What's a WIP you want to finish, but doubt you ever will?

*sighs* technically, I've started the sequel to Casual Lunacy, but I'm wary of picking up that story again. I am reluctant to mess with the original.

More practically, Parent Trap keeps getting more involved. The original pace in my head had more dramatic flareups, but they seemed fake-y so I followed what was building between the characters and it's turning into more of a slice of life story, which could continue indefinitely. But I also want to give the readers closure so I've been mulling plot arcs and character dynamics. A lot.

16. What are your writing strengths?

Conversations. I do love reading snappy patter so I put a lot of effort and thought into the dialogue I write for my stories.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Describing settings. I'm used to theatre scripts. We build sets rather than describe a room. I always go through a draft specifically to add more of a picture. I also research fashion to know what the characters are wearing.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

I could maybe manage French. I do strive to use Japanese honorifics properly when the fic is actually set in Tokyo or at high school. I sometimes throw in poetry but drop a translation in the notes.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Buffy. I needed to ease my way into No Buffy when it was cancelled so I wrote a Willow Kennedy Tara Oz fic. It's not posted anywhere. It was before I discovered there was fanfic out there online.

20. Favourite fic you've ever written?

I'd like to say Casual Lunacy but it's too long to reread in one sitting. Which I sometimes do with my Christmas fics when I need cheering up or reminder that I have written some fun and cool things. My favorite of those is probably Santa Cutie And The Christmas Cookie Queen because it has all of μ's and is darn fun. I took a chance on magic and whimsy and it went really well. The μ's personalities fit into their individual roles, everybody gets some romance, and Eli is as much of an obstacle as she ever is in canon. Christmas and Maki really is a magic combination; Nico adding that essential heart eyes Idol sparkle.

If you've read this far, do you have a favorite of my fics? Or one you're now wanting to try? I'd really like to know.

#fanfic #personal #Love Live School Idol Fest #NicoMaki

[dyreatic]

AnchanBlog 2017.11.03 (´꒳`) Terminal Station ⇾ NEXT Stage!!

date,08.19~20 Hello, everyone |ω｀). Inami Anju here.

Alright! I’ve kept everyone waiting…! Love Live! Sunshine!! Aqours 2nd LoveLive! HAPPY PARTY TRAIN TOUR On the two days of September 29 and 30 in 2017, We finally arrived at Saitama, the terminal station, without issues! I carved all of the great moments into my heart, And we held on to all our new feelings And were able to return from Saitama to Numazu.

Nagoya → Kobe → Saitama! Everyone who came to see us, And everyone who watched at a live viewing! Everyone who made this stage even more passionate too!! And then, all the feelings of the 9 members together!!! You were able to experience this great time too.

In truth, it felt like a whoosh. Heh. I was so happy to meet everyone, So I was really motivated and sang and danced with my all ´ω`)ﾉ By the time I realized it, it was already the last song. 💦

Even so, it was all the greatest. I will never forget these days that we fired up with everyone Together with  “compassion” and “love”!!

I love everyone’s smiles!! I love them so much until the tears fall!! (laughs)

Next up is this! Dododon ι(｀･-･´)/

Badge of compassion! In the end, there were 3 of them 🍊. I was speaking casually during the Nagoya MC parts, But during Kobe, it increasingly got to me and I was really moved ( ˃ ⌑ ˂ഃ ) By the way! Here’s the HAPPY PARTY TRAIN outfit!!

Mikan 🍊 is on the hat too! Even more mikan! (laughs) I’m so happy that I get more tense every time! I really appreciate the love poured in by the costumer.

The costume for our important debut single Kimi no Kokoro wa Kagayaiteru Kai? Is actually upgraded from its first debut! Did anyone notice?

The first one is from our first debut. The second one is from the 2nd Live Tour. Shuka was with me for both. Back then, and from here onwards. ... Sounds fun, doesn't it? (laughs)

And now! Kanan-chan! Osuwa!! The HAPPY PARTY TRAIN Has already taken us to many places So I’m very thankful. I will never forget the sparkling mikan fields that we saw together (laughs).

Last of all, this picture. (Taken by Manager-san) This light message really struck my heart. I thought, “This really was made by everyone”!!!

When I was going around on the carts, No matter where I looked I saw lots of smiles back at us, Lots of hands waving back at us, and lots of calls of our names. I got really teary-eyed… But I didn’t cry ( ´艸`)? (laughs)

There are so many. The people who came to see Aqours, And the people who gave us their love.

I have lots of thanks from my heart. Really, thank you, thank you very much!!!!!!!!!

There’s still lots that I need to keep on working hard for, But I’m sure that we’re going to make even more wonderful stages together with everyone!! I’ll keep on working hard for the sake of everyone who supports us ( `･ㅂ･)و

And now Aqours’ NEXT STAGE is? Aqours CLUB Activities LIVE & FAN MEETING ~Landing action Yeah!!~!! It starts tomorrow in Osaka!!!

It’s our first CLUB activity!! Everyone, please look forward to it!! The warm parka and the T-shirt. Don’t forget water too \( ･ω･ )/ (I’ve said this in Uraraji but here’s another reminder ✨) Also, don’t forget your towel and blade! Be considerate of the people next to you and the people in front of you as well ✩

With all the feelings of thanks, we’ll go full strength from tomorrow!! See you next time!

Inami Anju, the voice of Takami Chika

#love live #love live sunshine #aqours #2nd live #happy party train tour #nagoya #kobe #saitama #numazu #inami anju #anchan #anchanblog #seiyuu #formal #oops im late #thanks eter #eternith

[frozenmikan]

We’ll make sure to keep our activities going, to tell everyone about how Aqours is doing, about where Aqours is from - Inami Anju, Aida Rikako, and Saito Shuka’s unwavering resolve

First years interview: https://aikyan.dyreatic.moe/post/624225195452940288/before-a-new-departurekobayashi-aika-takatsuki

Third years interview: https://ganbaramen.tumblr.com/post/625147563563204608/their-intention-is-always-to-be-by-your-side-the

If I gave up, Chika-chan would stop growing too

Love Live! Sunshine!!’s school idol group, Aqours, has just celebrated its 5th anniversary. The “Aqours 5th Anniversary Jimo Ai! Take Me Higher Project”, which includes the franchise’s first dome tour, has also been announced.

Inami: I expected quite a few big things to happen, since it is our 5th anniversary. But even I was surprised at how huge the entire thing turned out to be.

Saito: There really is quite a lot happening, huh?

Aida: We have Aqours CLUB 2020 too, and…

Saito: There are so many things happening that I can’t wrap my head around them!

Inami: Since the phrase “Jimo Ai” is in the title itself, it’d be nice if I could shout out to everyone that we’ve come all the way from Numazu, loud and clear!

What did you think of “Fantastic Departure”, the theme song of the dome tour, when you first heard it?

Aida: I feel like our songs have gotten more and more mature over the years.

Saito: Yeah, totally! It feels like our songs are growing alongside us.

Aida: Yeah, they’re songs from a genre that Aqours could never touch in the past.

Inami: It does seem like the melody was written to conform to current trends.

Aida: You’re right, it does sound pretty stylish. It also makes you want to dance to the beat.

Inami: As an artist, I feel like we’ve managed to establish exactly what it means to be Aqours. Of course, that includes the lyrics too!

Aida: You can just feel Hata Aki-san in every phrase!

Inami: Yeah, yeah! Especially the “dolphin” and “whale” lines.

Saito: Having words related to the ocean in the lyrics makes it feel really Aqours-like. I think it’s pretty interesting how there’s a gap between the mature-sounding melody and the lyrics.

How was the recording?

Inami: It was really tough…!

Aida: If I focus too much on singing in my character voice, my sense of rhythm goes haywire!

Inami: Yeah, that! When I first heard “Fantastic Departure!”, the first thing I worried about was how I’d sing it!

Aida: Our songs started becoming really difficult around “Jump up HIGH!”.

Saito: No matter the song, the first thing I think about is how You-chan would sing it, but you’re right, it was quite difficult at the start.

Inami: So what do you do?

Saito: I just sing the entire thing as You-chan.

Aida: For me, I let my character voice out when I can, and pay more attention to the rhythm when I need to. That leads to the up-and-downs in my voice, I guess?

Inami: For me, I try singing it once with my own voice, paying attention to the syllables I’d stress. This expands my horizons and gives me more ideas. After that, I try to think of even more ideas as Chika-chan, and that makes my singing more expressive, I guess?

Aida: I think it’s amazing how Chika-chan sounds like Chika-chan whenever she sings.

Inami: I’m so glad to hear that! I’m sure all of us feel the same way, but if there was something I couldn’t do and I gave up on it without trying, Chika-chan would stop growing too. Because I feel very strongly about not wanting to stop Chika-chan from growing and developing, I challenge myself and do my best in everything I do.

Everyone in Aqours is the type to just go for it instead of worrying about it

How about the coupling song, “Aqours Pirate Desire”?

Aida: The lyrics certainly are very forceful. Our lyrics used to be things like “Got it!” and “Heave-ho!” after all, so they’ve definitely have gotten a lot more forceful compared to back then. There’s that, and how the pitch has become really low. It’s almost a full octave lower, so I was certainly a little flustered at the start.

Saito: The first thing I thought after hearing it was, “It’s so low!”

Inami: Yeah, I was like, “Dang, this is gonna be a tough one” (laughs).

Saito: I couldn’t help but wonder whether You-chan would be able to do it. That’s why I asked them to let me listen to my own singing over and over again during the recording.

The song’s atmosphere gives off the impression of a rather wild Aqours.

Inami: You’re right. It’s the first time we’ve had “pirates” as the theme of a song, after all.

Saito: They told us to go all out with the coolness during the recording!

Aida: It is a rather cool song, after all.

Inami: Maybe it’d be nice for Aqours to appear on stage while showing off our cool side. Up until now, we’ve always had a refreshing, cheerful, or straightforward look, so I think it’d be pretty fun to show off Aqours’ unyielding and firm side too.

Aida: The atmosphere Aqours gives off has changed quite a bit too, huh?

Inami: Yeah. Personally, I want to show off even more different sides of Aqours!

Tell us about your favorite parts of each song.

Aida: I like how the lyrics of “Fantastic Departure!” tells a story of us not knowing what’s in store for us in the future. But after seeing many, many things on our way here, we still want to continue discovering what’s ahead of us, and that there are still places for us to go. That made me really happy, and they’re all phrases I really love.

Inami: I’m really glad that the lyrics strongly convey how Aqours will keep pushing forward while also giving off the feeling that this is a new start for us. For “Aqours Pirates Desire”, I like the phrases like “Snatch it for ourselves!”, phrases that Aqours has never really had before. What about you, You-chan (Saito-san)?

Saito: I guess I like the lyrics in the chorus of “Aqours Pirates Desire”. I feel like it really gives off the feeling that Aqours will do anything, that we want to be given the opportunity to do anything and everything.

Inami: All nine of us are the type of people to just go for it rather than worrying about it, and maybe that personality of ours got through to Hata-san as well. For “Aqours Pirates Desire”, I find the part where we say we’ll “sail the seven seas” and “go beyond even that” interesting. We don’t usually end our sentences so forcefully too, and the word “crossbones” really packs a punch… The song is just packed with the new Aqours.

Saito: Though Riko-chan’s a part of Guilty Kiss, so I guess she’s already used to the “crossbones” part.

Aida: I wonder… Though you have to admit that there’s something about how all nine of us can now perform a song like “Aqours Pirate Desire” together, and not just as our subunits.

Inami: Yeah. Most of the Aqours members already like cool songs, and that’s being put to good use here. Maybe we’ll be able to go even further with this concept now that we’ve sung this song, and that gets me really excited.

Aida: It’s quite interesting how although the song is quite stylish, it still feels undoubtedly like a “Love Live!” song when the nine of us sing it.

The entire arena dyed in orange: “Memories never fade”

This January, you performed at Love Live! Fest together with μ’s and the Nijigasaki School Idol Club, breaking the walls between the franchise’s groups. What left the deepest impression on you at Love Live! Fest?

Aida: Can I talk about something that happened when we were off-stage? It’s got to be μ’s “Snow halation”.

Inami & Saito: That really was something!

Inami: We were waiting on the ship for our turn to perform, and because we just enjoy ourselves fully once we’re on stage, the wait before we go on stage leaves the strongest impression on us.

Saito: Yeah, that. The peak of our emotions happened when we were waiting. At that moment, I just felt really glad that I was part of Aqours.

Aida: Seeing the arena glow orange during μ’s “Snow halation” made me realize that memories truly never fade. It’d be nice if we could make the people watching one of our lives feel the same way one day.

Inami: Maybe this dome tour is our first step to achieving that. I’m also really glad that we’ve become capable of considering “sometime in the future”.

Any memories of your own performance during Love Live! Fest?

Inami: When we appeared on stage on our ship, I was really thankful that we were here as Aqours. When I first heard that we’d be appearing on the ship, we talked it out and agreed that we wanted to dance. We acutely felt the meaning behind us having to live up to the animation, as well as the power the nine of us have together, so we wanted to put that in our dance on stage.

After our performance, what we saw from the ship felt really special, and that made me really glad that we performed on the ship. Realizing that made me emotional once again.

How about you, Aida-san, Saito-san?

Aida: We were the opening act for both days, kicking the performance off with “Mitaiken Horizon”. That left a very deep impression.

Saito: Love Live! Fest was our first time performing “Mitaiken Horizon”. Also, it had been quite some time since our last concert, so I was really nervous.

Inami: I knew that I’d be frustrated if we didn’t manage to capture the attention of the people in the audience who were seeing us for the first time. I really gave it my all to make sure that we fulfilled the role of being the opening act and passing the baton on to the next performers.

How were the performances by the members of the Nijigasaki School Idol Club? They even put on some solo performances, right?

Inami: It’s really amazing how they performed on stage alone!

Aida: Fest was right after their 1st Live (Love Live! Nijigasaki School Idol Club First Live “with You”) too. Adding on to that, they even performed on the same stage as μ’s did. So that’s quite something.

Saito: If that were me back when I first debuted, I’d probably be terrified.

Aida: Yeah. Just having the courage to perform solo on that stage is already really amazing.

Inami: Amidst an audience that’s focused on them, and only them, I could tell that they really wanted to dye the entire venue in each and every one of their colors. That was just really emotional.

“We’ve started communicating with just our eyes”: The second years are the balancers

After five years, do you feel like you’ve grown?

Saito: I guess I now know how to look better in photos?

Inami: That’s really important!

Saito: I used to look terrible in photos! But now, I realize that I'm at the point where if I spot the camera cranes during a concert, I'll be like “C'MON LOOK OVER HERE" (laughs).

Inami: I used to be bad with photos too… I really wish I could change my artist photo I took way back then.

Saito: Yeah! Seeing that photo being used for some TV performance just makes me want to scream: “Just change it already!”

Inami: Exactly. Also, I used to be a very negative person, but I’ve definitely become overwhelmingly more positive over the years. Chika-chan is cheerful no matter what, and nothing can break her. She has so many ideas that it’s almost funny, and she still influences me to this day!

Chika-chan is so positive that sometimes I wonder whether she even knows the meaning of the phrase “giving up”. She’s been pulling me along, in a good way. Even now, I still have a lot to learn from her actions.

Aida: For me, it’s definitely my stamina. I really had no stamina at the start. I think I was the worst among everyone in Aqours. Especially during our 1st Live (Love Live! Sunshine!! Aqours First LoveLive! ~Step! ZERO to ONE~), I’d lose my breath halfway through a song, and just singing my solo part was pure suffering.

But I could feel myself slowly becoming more fit, day by day. There are still times when I feel like it’s too much, but it doesn’t show on my face anymore, so I guess I’ve grown in that regard.

Inami: Yeah, I get you! I’m really glad that I can now perform “Kimi no Kokoro wa Kagayaiteru kai?” with a smile on my face the entire time (laughs).

Saito: “KimiKoko” is still pretty tough, even now…

Aida: Other than that, I feel like I’ve changed in lots of ways, so many that I can’t even begin to count.

Inami: During these five years as Aqours, every one of us has managed to take on and overcome different challenges, so I think about how much we’ve grown almost every day.

What do you think about the bond between the second years?

Aida: If we’re talking about the anime, the bond between the second years really solidified around “Aye-aye, My Friend” (episode 11 of the first season of the anime). I feel like after that, we took on the role of watching over the other year groups, with You-chan and Riko-chan supporting Chika-chan together.

Inami: And Chika-chan just throws her everything at anything she’s doing.

If I were to talk about myself, I’ve become much better at grasping Chika-chan’s emotions during our concerts. I’ve become able to find joy and perform songs alongside both of them with a smile on my face, even though they used to be songs where just singing and dancing took all my effort and concentration. I guess that’s when I feel the bond between us.

Aida: For me, because I know that their dances will definitely be perfect, I feel like I have no choice but to keep up with them.

Saito: Our songs as the second years are really energetic, so that shows how close we are.

What’s something that you’d never lose at versus the other year groups?

Inami: How we can be both playful and serious at the same time! That’s something I love about us too.

Saito: When push comes to shove, we’ll definitely get things done, but when we joke around, we go all out too.

Inami: Yup. We’ll mostly be fine, no matter what happens. We’re able to follow up on absolutely anything.

Aida: That’s also because of how much we trust each other.

Saito: We’ve started communicating by our gazes alone a lot more recently, right?

Inami: We can tell what the others are thinking just by looking at their eyes.

Aida: Working together as a year group feels really reassuring, in a different way from when we’re together as nine or in our subunits.

Inami: Even without talking it out, we’ll end up saying, “OK, we’ll give it a try, we’re fine!”. That’s why it’s really easy to be with this group.

Saito: The three of us as a group are pretty balanced, huh?

Inami: Yeah. Because the three of us often have to keep the conversation going during MCs and such, we have quite a lot in common. When my mind is completely occupied with reading the script in front of me, the two of them will follow up or respond to what I say with something appropriate. That’s something I can really count on, so I get to enjoy myself during livestreams and such with them around!

That, and our sense of time is pretty similar. Just when I start thinking that our MC segment during a concert has gotten a bit too long, and that now’s a good time to wrap things up, Riko-chan (Aida-san) will wrap up the conversation, and so on...

Aida: That’s something I tend to do… I’m the type to want to move on to the next thing right away. That, and to stop the first years from going on any longer (laughs).

Inami: It’s clear-cut, easy to understand, and interesting. I really like that part of you (laughs). You-chan is really good at following up when I pass the baton to her, so I can throw a topic at her without worrying too much. That’s why I feel like we’re balanced as a group. No matter what happens, our energy levels are just right, and I think that’s one of the second years’ strong points.

Be proud of the fact that you made our dome tour possible!

There’s still some time before we get the full details, but is there anything in particular that you’d like to do for your dome tour?

Aida: We’ve ridden on a ship and a steam locomotive, so I wonder what’s next.

Inami: If we’re going with the lyrics, it’s going to be a whale next. How about whales in our member colors?

Saito: I feel like people will just wonder what we’re riding on (laughs).

Aida: I guess I want to try all kinds of things without being constrained by what we’ve done up until now. Since being able to do a dome tour isn’t a given, I’d like to reflect on the fact that we’ve been given the chance to do this and leave no regrets behind.

Inami: Aside from our numbered lives, we’ve also been given the opportunity to perform an Asia tour and fan meetings. And now we have a country-wide dome tour; I think that’s really amazing. That’s why I’d like this tour to be one where we enchant everyone with Aqours’ radiance.

Saito: I wanna mess around during a concert…

Inami: Yeah, I do want to play around with some of the songs. Of course, there are songs with the choreography set in stone, so we’ll show that off when we can, and mess around when we can.

Aida: It’d be nice if the concert were something like a festival.

Inami: Yeah! I want the tour to be one that’d get everyone’s heart pumping, one that’ll make everyone in the audience realize their love for Aqours and the songs we perform!

Is there anything you’d like to be able to do by the time the dome tour starts?

Inami: There are quite a few songs that we haven’t performed yet, right?

Aida: I think there’s more than ten of them. Like “Bouken Type A, B, C!!”, “KOKORO Magic ‘A to Z’”, and “Dance with Minotaurus”.

Saito: Yeah! I can’t wait for “Dance with Minotaurus”.

Aida: That, and some more new songs, right?

Saito: The Aqours CLUB song too.

Inami: …Wow (laughs). They’re all songs with different styles and genres too, right?

Saito: Yeah. Especially the tour’s theme song.

Aida: The bridge seems pretty tough too.

Inami: Err… As soon as we can perform our new songs, I hope we can have fun while performing them! (laughs)

I’m sure your fans are looking forward to the 5th anniversary project too.

Saito: I was actually pretty surprised myself. We definitely only managed to make a dome tour happen thanks to everyone supporting us.

I’m really excited that we’ll be able to perform at huge venues, but I’ll make sure to not forget my roots too. To do that, I’m already thinking about re-watching the first and second seasons of the anime, as well as the movie before the tour kicks off. So, I hope everyone reading does the same too! Also, do watch over Aqours, who’ve surely leveled up since our 5th anniversary!

Aida: I never expected to be able to put on such a large-scale concert for our 5th anniversary. It's definitely thanks to all the fans who have been supporting us all this time that we're being given the opportunity to do this. 

I think all of our fans should be proud of themselves because they’re the ones who brought Aqours all the way here to our dome tour. I hope to make this tour one where I get to express my gratitude to everyone, and I look forward to your support!

Inami: I hope even more people get to know about “Love Live! Sunshine!!” and Aqours through this interview, and I’d be glad if we left an impression on you. Aqours is in the process of challenging ourselves in all kinds of directions, and I think there are still many words and songs we can bring to everyone.

Although we already have an anime and a movie, personally, I want to start writing a new story with the nine of us in Aqours! With that desire in my heart, in order to tell everyone about how Aqours is doing, and about where Aqours lives, I’ll make sure to keep our activities going. I’d be grateful if you’d come along to witness Aqours’ world for yourself, and I’ll do my best to gain your support from now on as well!

What are the charm points of each of the second years?

Inami Anju -> Aida Rikako

Aqours is a group of voice actresses, actresses, singers, and many more, so all of us had different levels of experience when we first started out. Riko-chan (Aida-san) was never constrained by any of those roles, and she has a very clear idea of what she wants to do as “Aida Rikako”. I thought she seemed rather mature.

What’s more, Riko-chan really loves acting, and I myself love acting too. As we attended more recordings together, we gained the ability to throw all kinds of different lines at each other.

Throughout these five years, I think the person I’ve always talked with the most about “what I should do for Aqours” is Riko-chan. No matter what I talk to her about, she’ll definitely reply with a message or some idea that’s uniquely hers. What she says is very encouraging. We’ve been pouring out our love for acting and our characters together this entire time, so I think she’s the person I can open my heart to most easily.

Inami Anju -> Saito Shuka

You-chan (Saito-san) is very friendly, and since she’s the closest to me in age, from the very start our relationship was somewhat similar to that of childhood friends—just like our characters. Although she’s friendly, she knows where to draw the line, and she’s the type to take the feelings of the people around her into consideration without realizing it.

She never lets it show, but she’s really responsible. She’s really serious, and I believe she was given the leapfrog (in “Kimi no Kokoro wa Kagayaiteru kai?”) and the center position for the 2nd single, “Koi ni Naritai AQUARIUM”, because she always challenges herself to do her best.

All three of us second years are serious, and we’re all balancers, so we just grew closer naturally without needing to work ourselves up over it too much. In the end, I usually have the responsibility of wrapping the conversation up. But both of them always watch over me by my side, to share in that burden of mine. There are things that I’d only share with the two of them, and all three of us have worries that only the other two understand. But, even if we don’t put them explicitly into words, we somehow can understand each other, and our emotions resonate with one another. So, I really appreciate and trust both of them.

Aida Rikako -> Inami Anju

When Aqours was first formed, Anchan was still a teenager, but she was the perfect leader from the very start. She really has her life together, and she has no weaknesses whatsoever. I was actually quite worried for her at the start… To me, it looked as if she constantly had a huge weight on her shoulders. But, at some point, it looked like the weight was lifted off her shoulders, and she became better at depending on the people around her. So, I think she managed to strike a good balance.

That, and she cares the most about the other Aqours members. She’ll be the first to come to our rescue no matter what happens, and she’ll be the first to notice and follow up if someone is feeling down. She’s really mature and dependable, despite being three years younger than me (laughs). When we’re performing together, I feel like I can leave everything to her, and our performances only manage to happen because of her.

Aida Rikako -> Saito Shuka

She’s so capable that you wouldn’t think that she’s the youngest. She’s been hard-working ever since our 1st Live, and the professional attitude of the other two second years is something I really need to push myself to keep up with.

Shuka will never let her exhaustion show on her face; she’s always smiling. She’s usually the mood maker, the energetic one in the group, but she actually pays a lot of attention to her surroundings. She’s also a kind girl who’s capable of noticing the subtle changes in the facial expressions of the people around her.

Saito Shuka -> Inami Anju

Even among the nine of us, she pays a lot of attention to crafting her role. Since Anju’s the leader, I’m sure she felt a lot more pressure than the rest of us when we just started off. But, she managed to overcome that together with Chika-chan, and she’s now our dependable leader. Aqours would be nothing without Anju as our leader, and we can rest assured because she’s our leader.

Saito Shuka -> Aida Rikako

How she pays attention to her surroundings, and how she always has her life together. That, and I really like how she’s a little out of it (laughs). Because she’s serious, there are times when my jokes don’t get through to her, but that’s because she really values the franchise as a whole, and because she has a very strong will. I like the ups and downs in her personality.

Q&A with Inami Anju, the voice of Takami Chika

Q1) Tell us something you love about Takami Chika-chan!

There’s too many, so this is going to be hard… Among the many things, I really love how she’ll never break, and how she can continue chasing her own radiance for her entire life.

Q2) Is there something you want, or something you want to do right now?

I guess it’d be time.

That, and I really want to get a scuba-diving license someday. When I first experienced it through one of the interviews for “Love Live! Sunshine!!”, I was told that I had a knack for it. Seeing a sunfish in Numazu’s oceans is one of my dreams!

Q3) Is there a book or a game that you’ve been hooked on recently?

Because I’ve been casted in “Boku no Hero Academia” (as Toga Himiko in the stage play), I’ve been reading it recently. If it’s a game, it’s gotta be “Pokémon”.

Q4) What did you want to be when you were a child?

This is really embarrassing (laughs), but a pâtissier. Oh, that, and becoming a mermaid. That was a serious dream of mine. 

Q5) What do you normally do on your days off?

Sleep, play games, work out, and go for chiropractic sessions. There are some days where I just spend the day taking care of my body.

Q&A with Aida Rikako, the voice of Sakurauchi Riko

Q1) Tell us what you like about Sakurauchi Riko-chan!

How she really cares for Chika-chan. She’s always the first to notice if Chika-chan’s feeling down. Of course, she loves everyone in Aqours, and she’s always caring for everyone. I like how she’s usually the support for all of the Aqours members.

Q2) Is there something you want, or something you want to do right now?

It’s not easy to do this at this point in time, but I want to go on a solo trip someday.

I’ve always wanted to visit France. I love “The Rose of Versailles”, and I really want to visit the Palace of Versailles. Also, visiting some hot springs would be nice.

Q3) Is there a book or a game that you’ve been hooked on recently?

“The Promised Neverland”. I’ve always liked the comics in “Young Jump”. I also have the complete set of “GIGANT”.

Q4) What did you want to be when you were a child?

A singer.

That was my first dream, though along the way I became open to more than just singing.

Q5) What do you normally do on your days off?

I don’t set an alarm and sleep in until midday. Then, I watch TV, and just laze around mostly. I usually don’t go anywhere except for places around my house, so if I had the entire day free, I’d like to visit a shopping mall or something a little further from where I live.

Q&A with Saito Shuka, the voice of Watanabe You

Q1) Tell us what you like about Watanabe You-chan!

Can I talk about something physical…? (laughs) Since she’s in the swimming club and the school idol club at the same time, I really admire her discipline, and I also really like how strongly she feels about wanting to do something together with Chika-chan, and how she really cares for her friends.

Recently, I’ve really taken a liking to her curves.

She’s not too fat but not too thin; her body is the epitome of a healthy high school girl, and that’s really great!

In episode eleven of the first season of the anime, “Aye-aye, My Friend”, there’s a scene where the camera focuses on her thighs; the thought that went through my mind was, “That’s perfect!”. Her face also looks really pretty from the side. I like how she’s so beautiful that I don’t even have the words to describe it (laughs).

Q2) Is there something you want, or something you want to do right now?

I wanna go to a grilled meat place for some beef tongue! If the beef tongue is sliced thinly, I could eat that forever. But, I’ve started asking for a larger portion of rice with my meals, like a high school boy, so I think it’s about time for me to start cutting down.

Q3) Is there a book or a game that you’ve been hooked on recently?

I’ve liked this for the longest time, but “Bokura ga Ita (We Were There)”. I really love the character Yano Motoharu from “Bokura ga Ita”, and I seriously wonder whether he’d appear in real life. My brain is infected with shoujo manga, so I really want the heart-throbbing scenes in shoujo mangas to happen to me too.

Q4) What did you want to be when you were a child?

I really wanted to say “an idol”, but that was embarrassing, so I said I wanted to become a preschool teacher. But, ever since I was a child, I was dancing in the center for the dances we did in preschool performances, and I often thought that someday I’d become someone who’d be performing on stage.

Q5) What do you normally do on your days off?

I guess I go shopping by myself most of the time. Recently, I’ve started using my days off to go for massages or to visit a beautician, to keep my body in top shape. Most of the time I end up shopping somewhere on the way back.

TL: xIceArcher

TLC: arbshortcake

QC: Cornsplosion, Yujacha

#love live #love live sunshine #aqours #inami anju #anchan #aida rikako #rikyako #saito shuka #shukashuu

[gdwessel]

Kizuna Road 2021 Night 4 - 6/18/2021; Two Title Matches Announced For Summer Struggle In Sapporo As Naito/SANADA Prove Trolling Works; Ota Ward Gymnasium Running Shows Again; Kojima Wins Impact Tag Team Title Shot

The tour resumed today, with a show that was not streamed.

- 6/18/2021, Shizuoka Kira Messe Numazu

Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata d. Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma & Yota Tsuji (Nagata > Tsuji, Nagata Lock II, 10:42)

Minoru Suzuki & DOUKI [SZKG] d. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Yuya Uemura (Suzuki > Uemura, Gotch Style Piledriver, 13:32)

Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & Toru Yano [CHAOS] d. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Dick Togo & Jado [Bullet Club] (YOSHI-HASHI > Jado, Butterfly Lock, 11:51)

SHO, YOH & Kazuchika Okada [CHAOS] d. Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo & Gedo [Bullet Club] (Okada > Gedo, Money Clip, 11:06)

Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI [Los Ingobernables] d. Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru [SZKG] (Takagi > Kanemaru, Last Of The Dragon, 17:05)

Minoru Suzuki turned 53 yesterday. He wins today.

The Summer Struggle tour will be soon upon us, and two title matches for the Summer Struggle in Sapporo shows at Hokkaido Makomanai Sekisui Heim Ice Arena.

On 7/10/2021, El Desperado will make his 2nd IWGP Juniorheavyweight title defense, this time against Bullet Club’s Taiji Ishimori, as that match is now official. Ishimori may already be holding a title when this match occurs, as he and El Phantasmo challenge Roppongi 3K for the IWGP junior tag straps this coming Tuesday.

The next night, on 7/11/2021, Dangerous Tekkers’s first defense in their 2nd reign as IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions will come against Tetsuya Naito & SANADA. As revealed in the Backstage Comments video for Wednesday’s show, the autographs Naito was trolling Taichi & ZSJ for, were actually signing a legally dubious match contract written on a program, despite also having NJPW Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi’s signature on it as well. Even so, the match has been made, so clearly the trolling worked.

No other matches have been announced for Summer Struggle as yet, and indeed, we’re still waiting to find out about the rest of Kizuna Road.

Meanwhile, it appears Tokyo Ota Ward Gymnasium has opened up again, as STARDOM (now also owned by Bushiroad) ran their Tokyo Dream Cinderella Special Edition PPV show there this past Saturday, 6/12/2021. The next day, the postponed GAEAism Decade Of A Quarter Century show, reviving the old GAEA Japan brand of joshi, was held in that arena as well, and from what I understand the 6-woman  Sendai Girls v. Marvelous elimination match is a must-see, so I apparently must see it. (And I do plan to!) The attendances were not high, only 1,240 & 1,500 reported respectively, but then, Ota Ward Gymnasium normally holds just over 4,000, and there is still a state of emergency (and pandemic!) going on, so limited attendances are not too much of a shock right now. Still, this venue did cancel or postpone AJPW, NOAH and NJPW cards in the last few weeks. All Japan’s Champion Night 2021 is still on the books for its rescheduled date of 6/26/2021, a card with all titles on the line, headlined by Suwama defending the Triple Crown against Champion Carnival 2021 winner Jake Lee. As the government is dead set on lifting the state of emergency on Sunday (although Tokyo, Osaka and other prefectures will remain under quasi-emergency until 7/11/2021, as detailed last post), we’ll see if events or attendances will grow.

Satoshi Kojima continues his stay in Impact Wrestling, whilst somehow still managing to make NJPW dates! AMAZING! (It’s pre-taped.) On last night’s edition of Impact’s TV on AXS, Kojima defeated ECW legend Rhino, therefore obtaining a shot at Violent By Design’s tag team titles. Kojima will partner with Eddie Edwards, who’s been a tandem with Kojima since his arrival in Impact. Edwards himself is a former Pro Wrestling NOAH GHC Heavyweight champion, incidentally. No date is set on the match yet, probably at Slammiversary if I had to guess. Meanwhile, Kojima v. JR Kratos will be later tonight on NJPW Strong.

The tour takes a day off tomorrow, and resumes Sunday.

- 6/20/2021, Ibaraki Lily Arena MITO

Ryusuke Taguchi & Yuya Uemura v. El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru [SZKG]

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma & Yota Tsuji v. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Yuji Nagata & Master Wato

Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & Toru Yano [CHAOS] v. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Dick Togo & Jado [Bullet Club]

SHO, YOH & Kazuchika Okada [CHAOS] v. Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo & Gedo [Bullet Club]

Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI [Los Ingobernables]  v. Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru [SZKG]

Strong Style Story Podcast Episode 75 on PWOM

#NJPW #new japan pro wrestling #Kizuna Road #njkizuna #Minoru Suzuki #tokyo ota ward gymnasium #stardom #world wonder ring stardom #gaea japan #sendai girls #marvelous #summer struggle #njsst #tetsuya naito #sanada #taichi #Zack Sabre Jr #EL DESPERADO #taiji ishimori #Satoshi Kojima #impact wrestling #eddie edwards

[kobayashi-aika]

AikyanBlog 6-30-20: Five years😈

Five years of Aqours! Congratulations! Thank you!

The last five years I've spent with everyone have been more meaningful than anything else could be

Every day, I'm reminded that I'm truly living out the days of my youth

I treasure everything we've done on the path we walked together

I'm thankful to everyone, and I'll have love for them forever. And ever!

The days we worked up a sweat were filled with love and joy That was a first for me

I thought, "Forever! I want this to go on forever!" "I want to be with Yohane forever," "And be with Aqours forever!" "I want to sing with them forever! Together!"

Meeting Aqours Meeting Yohane Meeting everyone And meeting all of the people who support us It made me really happy.

Thank you so much for everything! I'll keep counting on you from now on, too

We were all surely bound by fate Friends destined to meet each other So together, we'll keep on taking on all sort of new challenges

Aqours will always be challengers.

It's cooler that way!

I'll do my very best to bring Love Live!, Love Live! Sunshine!!, Numazu, and Aqours to more and more people!

That goes for the Dome Tour, too. It'll make it to you!

And... It's almost July, and almost my beloved Yohane's birthday...!

I can't go to Numazu on 7/13 for Yohane's birthday this year... But once everything has calmed down, I'd love to stroll down the town where she lives!

If every little demon celebrated Yohane's birthday at home, I'm sure she'd be happy😈😈

I'm sure Yohane will descend wherever you may be!❤️ Give summoning Yohane a try!

I'm still thinking about what I want to do this year...❤️❤️❤️

I'm not sure if my feelings got across to you or not...( ´•ω•` ) This has gotten a little long,

So for this wonderful anniversary, I'll say Thank you. ❤️

Aikyan_ ☺︎

#kobayashi aika #aikyan #aikyanblog #i'm back

[lunawings]

I... really like Rina. 

It’s kind of a problem?

It might be more of a problem if I were still in Japan...? Depending on what I actually mean by “problem” of course. Because I would definitely have a sizeable Rina collection by now and be embarking on a quest to see Nijigaku live. And if I succeeded, Rina might..t... ev..en... repl...a..c.e... R..u...by.....

But instead, past me sabotaged myself by encouraging me to avoid Nijigaku for as long as I possibly could. Because I knew from experience (from the transition from μ's to Aqours), that as impossible as it seemed, it would not actually be impossible at all for Nijigaku to replace Aqours in my heart someday. And past me did not want that to happen. 

And thus I’m left with irreplaceable memories of Aqours, and no significant experiences with Nijigaku. 

But even though the memories I have from my year of being a hardcore Aqours Love Liver truly are irreplaceable (following the Live and Fan Meeting tour, 5th Live, all the trips to Numazu, etc...), it doesn’t mean I couldn’t make new and different memories with the Nijigaku girls...

Well, I can’t now... 

And then there’s that awkward joy I felt when they cancelled Nijigaku’s 2nd live for a livestream-only event, meaning I wouldn’t have gone anyway. 

But either way I’m in this weird transitional phase, where I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to move on. And it’s just... odd. 

[sukutomo]

🗾 Awashima Marine Park 🐬🐧🐸🐟 announced a pdf version of the stamp booklet for Numazu tours is now online! #LoveLive #ラブライブ #LoveLive_Sunshine #ラブライブサンシャイン #Aqours https://t.co/1u298RspqW

— LoveLive! School Idol Tomodachi (Sukutomo 友) (@schoolidolu) April 15, 2019

#LLSIF #Love Live School Idol Festival #Love Live #School Idol Festival #LoveLive #SchoolIdolFestival #スク友

[kuuxkat]

[EN]VOICE BRODY Magazine - Interview with Aida Rikako

Original CN TL and Pictures: here

CN TL： Toraiba食堂 (逢田文明博物馆)

Disclaimer: This is a Chinese to EN TL, there would be things that would be lost in translation between the languages.

I’m not posting the image of the TL, sorry about that. Stealing images aren’t cool.

Please refer to my policies for more details and do not use the translations for commercial use.

Since there’s no QC - pardon my bad engrish.

The contents are under the cut.

With regards to the point of not giving up,

It has a very strong resonance (with me).

Q: We can see that in a recently published magazine about Aida-san, you really do like curry?

Rikako: Yes, I love curry the most. Although I’m not that picky about it, but what I really like is a certain franchise’s limited curry soup. And also I can cook some by myself too.

Q: …. Do you really make them?

Rikako: I REALLY DO MAKE THEM!!!

Q: Did you make the sauce yourself too?

Rikako: I used pre-made stuff (laughs)

Q: Not bad (laughs). But today’s interview and shoot is after the 2nd season of the TV anime has ended, in what frame of mind were you in when watching episode 13?

Rikako: I watched it together with the fans and everyone during the screening at the end of the year (2017), and it feels different from what we saw at home. To be able to see each other’s joy first hand, there’s a feeling of security to it. And as expected, as I love everyone in the TV anime, I would still feel lonely although there’s still a movie version. But, thinking that it is a “happy end”, then there aren’t any regrets. Although at the end the school has to close down and they would have to combine with another, but everyone in Aqours did do their best. This can be said to the style of Aqours. So I do not doubt the ending for a single moment.

Q: Speaking about the unique points of Aqours, as the stage isn’t at Tokyo, they are still able to get a different resonance as compared to μ’s.

Rikako: That is the case. For (Sakurauchi) Riko-chan, it’s the same too. As I was born in Tokyo too, it did broaden my vision. But there would be a girl somewhere in this world who is living in a place like that, with similar thoughts right? Thinking in that way would have lots of it’s own rewards as well, for children like that, we could say that they are mentally strong right?

Q: Having performing on stage since 16 years old, what are the parts where Aida-san, who had went through rigorous training, empathize with?

Rikako: Indeed there’s parts like this huh? For myself, the degree of the thoughts of: “I can’t give up at this level”, could perhaps be a little stronger than the others. So, for children who worked hard to progress, and the feelings of not ever giving up, I do have a strong resonance to that. And, for school idols themselves, isn't that something that they can only do when they are in high school? So as they legitimately do have that limitation, it’s exactly because of that that when it is nearing the time to end, they could give off that dazzling shine in that very instant. I could deeply and sincerely feel that particular point.

Q: For Aida-san yourself, as a member of Aqours, when you step on an actual stage for an event, would you consciously leave behind flashbacks or moments behind you?

Rikako: Holding 1st Live, 2nd Live Tour and Live&Fan meeting all during last year (2017), it does feel that time flew by quickly. So there would be feelings of anxiety and a little loneliness. Events are being completed one after another, and 3rd Live is in the midst of preparations too, of course there’s a far way of before it ends… but I do feel that time has flew by in a blink of an eye. And wondering whether the days of being part of events with Aqours would gradually decrease, there would be feelings of loneliness. At the very moment where I start feeling that at any single moment I would be able attend an event like this. It would mean that every single precious feeling would also start flowing into the depths of my memory instead. I can’t let it end up like this.

Q: What was asked previously: “What was the shine that everyone found?” what Aida-san wrote was: “To not regret” That answer and this topic are connected to together, right?

Rikako: I feel that to shine is something very difficult to do, but to be able to do it to your full extent and not leave behind any regrets, wouldn’t you say that your life is already shining? Until now, I’ve always lived a life without missing anything. So right now, it does seem to be the shiniest time of my life (laughs)? Of course all this is due to everyone in Aqours, I’ve never once imagined to be able to stand on such a big stage to conduct events.

Q: Should we say that it’s a sparkling and shining world then?

Rikako: I originally just wish to be a voice actress, so I didn’t crave to be on stage and perform. Of course the work that I have right now is very fun. It’s because of that, that I wish to put in my all to properly finish my work here. As it’s something that was achieved with much difficulty, so I wish to unreservedly put in my all into it, not carrying with me any doubts of whether I can do it, and instead put my all in and do it.

Q: Going back to Aida-san’s replies from before, we can see Aida-san’s thoughts on the process of moving forward. You did say before that: “You wish to chase the backs of μ‘s”. Moving on one  year later, it changed to the thoughts of: “The time where we only looked up to is already over”.

Rikako: I did indeed say something like that (laughs). It’s probably when I was replying to last year’s interview, and I felt that if we continue this way, it won’t do. If we just look up, nothing would ever change. I now feel very happy being part of the members of Aqours in my work, so thoughts like to surpass members of μ‘s or to be shoulder-to-shoulder with them, it changed to how I wouldn’t even consider these. I guess, it’s at this point that changed.

Q: You won’t confuse yourself with μ’s right?

Rikako: That’s the case. Although we are both projects of “LoveLive!”, but if we are able to separate the two, we would instead be happier. It’s how I think so recently. As we hope to work hard as part of Aqours.

Q: To chase and search for “the light belonging to oneself”, you’ll be able to properly find that light, right?

Rikako: We aren’t engaging in a comparison, I feel that the songs by Aqours have their own uniqueness to them too. There’s a kind of power that came from somewhere unknown. It’s the same for (Takami) Chika too. It’s exactly because Chika doesn’t stop trying to express these to us, can the members work hard together as a team.

Q: But  it's because she (Chika) felt that because she was ordinary, that this story could begin.

Rikako: I feel that being ordinary is itself a very amazing thing, there’s limitless potential, it’s exactly because Chika is that ordinary, that is the reason why everyone could resonate with Chika, and isn’t that even more attractive? Especially for me who doesn’t have a single specialty, very ordinary, and I did think that way when seeing everyone at the recordings. Everyone have such distinct personalities, everyone of these children are a little odd (laughs).

Q: You did think that huh (laughs). As for the positives and style of songs by Aqours, “WATER BLUE NEW WORLD” really did sang out the past and future of Aqours, right?

Rikako: When I first heard the sample tape, I felt: “This is an amazing song”. This song can be said to a culmination of many things to be something great. It wasn’t the right time to sing this song at the 1st season, and it’s a song that can only be sung now. The lyrics themselves are also trying to showcase this. I’m confident that this song can move many people, although it wasn’t made by me (laughs). But when I was singing this song, it really encompasses lots of feelings inside.

Q: Are you able to foresee the “light that will come” then?

Rikako: The days where I'm part of Aqours, I wish would never end any time soon, I believe that there are lots and lots of very amazing things waiting for us. We can still continue walking forward. I feel that we haven’t gone all out yet. I believe that there would even more people who would know about us. This allows us to continue working hard, and to be even more united. I guess I would forever never be satisfied with the current situation? No matter where we end up, there would always be another step forward, as I do wish to keep in my heart the feeling of always improving. It won’t do without that intent, but when I am dancing together with everyone, that instant, I really am very happy. When I dance, I carry with me the feelings of, if I can convey this feeling more to everyone, it’ll be great.

Q: For last year’s 2nd Live tour, I was blessed to participate in Numazu and Fukouka’s Live&Fan meeting. At that venue, the atmosphere could be said that: “we’ve already sent the message” right? Especially at the venue itself, it’ll have a totally different feel to it.

Rikako: I really felt it’s simply amazing! We can say it’s passionate, that it’s sincere, but it felt amazing. In “Landing action yeah!!”, the part where Suzuki Ainya-san would sing “Tsugi no basho wa doko darou?/I wonder what place will be next?” solo , was very fitting to how it felt then, I especially like that part.

Q: At that time, your tear ducts were easily hit right (laughs)?

Rikako: I carried with me feelings of wanting to continue on endlessly, and wishing to go to where everyone was and share in everyone’s feelings of having met them. At the same time I felt the loneliness of it all coming to an end hitting me, so it’s really a very very amazing song.

Q: Did you think about what you want to do in the days from the TV anime ended till the movie version where you would meet with Riko once again?

Rikako: I’m trying my best to leave my hair long (laughs). And it’s also because everyone has worked so hard in the TV anime, so for it to end like this is impossible. From this point on, the actors everyone, would have to continue working hard too. Riko too would always be by my side accompanying me.

Q: If you were to say something to Riko now, what would you wish to say?

Rikako: For Riko, she’ll be able to endlessly continue on, and she’ll be able to emit even a more dazzling shine than before. But for now… what are you doing now? If I think of it this way, I’ll feel a little lonely. But as expected if it’s them, they’ll be in another world living on fine, right?

Q: I look forward to that the day where the two of you would meet. Lastly, Aida-san, if you were to look at “LoveLive!” again, what would it’s charm points be?

Rikako: As expected it’s cohesiveness, everyone’s feelings have become one. Even the staff too. The actors and fans, everyone’s feelings have become one. I feel that everyone is inseparable now.

Q: And this particular “feeling” is?​​​​

Rikako: What will happen this year, and what would happen next year, what will happen on the road to the final destination is something no one can foresee, but is something everyone are eagerly anticipating… that is the feeling I meant. Mm, the road to the future.

#chinese to english #my translations #seiyuu #rikako #lovelive sunshine #逢田文明博物馆 #interviews #translations

[ganbaramen]

Ultra Jump March 2018: 100 Questions for Ai Furihata [EN Translation]

Profile

Ai Furihata (voice of Ruby Kurosawa)

Nicknames: Furirin, Aiai, Shokunin [TL: Artisan]

Birthdate: February 19

Blood type: B

Hobby: Cameras

Skills: Illustration, photography

Major roles include:

TV Anime: "orange" (Saku), "Itsudatte Bokura no Koi wa 10 cm Datta."

Games: "Mahoutsukai to Kuroneko no Wiz" (Kaede), "Dare ga Tame no Alchemist" (Lisbeth)

Voice Comic: "Tottemo Yasashii Amae-chan!" (Amae)

Questions

What food do you like? Meat! Especially salted beef tongue!

What food do you dislike? None!

What snacks do you like? Calpico!

What do you enjoy most from your family's cooking? Karaage.

What color do you like? Pink.

What scents do you like? Ylang-ylang and the smell of the sun.

What season do you like? Autumn.

What's your favorite event of the year? My birthday!

What sports do you like watching? Basketball.

What sports do you like playing? Badminton.

What animal do you like? Pandas!

What animal do you resemble? A small animal...

Are you a dog person or a cat person? A dog person! I like a Shiba Inu and Pomeranian mix.

What manga do you like? Rumiko Takahashi's works.

What genres of manga do you like? Romantic comedy and slice of life.

What was the first manga you read? Ranma 1/2.

What was the first anime you watched? It might be Pokemon.

What film do you like? The Devil Wears Prada.

What artist do you like? Daichi Miura.

What songs do you listen to every day? Daichi Miura's songs.

What was the first CD you bought? One of Porno Graffiti's CDs.

What's your karaoke specialty? Something like Sayuri Ishikawa's ��Amagi-goe”!

What's on your phone's lock screen? DiCaprio.

What brand of clothing do you often buy? I buy from second-hand clothing stores.

What’s your best outfit? Maybe a white one-piece dress.

What's your favorite place in your home? Perhaps my living room.

What do you want most right now? Free time.

What's certain to be in your bag? Taiwanese candy.

What have you been unintentionally collecting? Pink things and yumekawa things. [TL: yumekawa (ユメカワ) is a fairy tale-like style; literally "dreamy and cute"]

What do you treasure? Everyone ♡

What were you like as a kid? I was shy and didn't say much.

What did you treasure as a kid? A teddy bear that I'd had since I was a baby.

What did you dream of becoming as a kid? Being a veterinarian or mangaka.

Who’s someone you respect? My father.

Where would you go on a trip to? I want to go to space.

What country do you want to try going to? Europe! Particularly France!

Do you have any bad habits? Recently, I've been inadvertently touching my earlobe.

Do you have a catchphrase? Outlook on life has changed.

What's your charm point? The mole on my left ear! Don't miss it.

What's your strong point? I don't get angry very much.

What's your weak point? My thoughts sometimes slip out of my mouth.

What's your special skill? Drawing portraits.

What don't you like doing? Exercising.

What are you weakest against? I'm no good with ghosts or horror...

What about yourself do you want to improve? I should listen more carefully to what people say.

What can you confidently imitate? I think I'm good at imitating Ikue Ootani, who voiced Mitsuhiko from "Detective Conan" and Chopper in "One Piece".

What one thing could you live solely off of? My smartphone.

What's your current obsession? Collecting (aroma) diffusers.

What's a buzzword that you've been using? Enjoy!

What's your favorite motto? Have as much fun as you can!

How would you describe yourself in one word? Scatterbrained.

What do you unintentionally fuss over? I keep looking up references for Ruby's eyebrows! [TL: probably in the context of drawing them.]

Fill in the blank with something positive in "Actually, I/I'm ___". I care a lot for my younger sister.

Fill in the blank with something negative in "Actually, I/I'm ___". I'm very boyish and crude (laughs).

Anything but this! Don't call me tiny!

What do you want to disappear from the world? Conflict.

How do you kill time? Katamari Damacy.

How do you relieve stress and refresh yourself? I get Thai-style massages.

What app have you used a lot recently? Animal Crossing.

What do you always do after you wake up in the morning? Look at my phone.

What do you always do when you go to bed at night? Look at my phone! (laughs)

What do you do when riding a train? I keep a mask on, so since people can't see, I make weird faces (laughs).

Is there anything you do to maintain your health? A mask is indispensable.

What do you do on your days off? I go to clothing stores.

What do you do when you're alone? Reading magazines.

What do you do when you're out with friends? We go looking for Insta-worthy places.

Where do you want to go on a first date? A museum!

If you were to confess to someone, what kind of situation would you be in? I'd confess directly at my place!

If someone were to confess to you, what kind of situation would you like to be in? I'd want it to be really romantic, in a place with beautiful lighting ♡

What memories do you have of Valentine's Day? When I was in elementary school, I gave a boy I liked chocolates that my mother had incidentally made for me, and said that I made them myself.

What have you enjoyed recently? Meeting all our fans at the fan meetings!

What’s something sad that happened recently? I couldn't make a recording of the FNS Song Festival...

What funny thing has happened recently? Today, on the bus for our photoshoot, I heard a bird tweeting early in the morning, and I thought it was one of the staff's alarms. But when I asked whose it was, it turned out to be mine (laughs).

What do you want to erase from your past? The time I fell down while playing jump rope in 5th grade.

What moment made you think "It's a miracle!"? Meeting all my fans.

What moment made you think "I'm glad to be alive"? Seeing a sea of pink lights during a live.

What do you want to happen in the future? An Aqours worldwide tour!

What did you wish for that happened? Continuing as Aqours in season 2 of the Love Live! Sunshine!! anime.

What did you enjoy in 2017? The whole year was fun, but going to Los Angeles, perhaps.

What went wrong in 2017? On the last day of 2nd Live, during the MC after "SKY JOURNEY", I was explaining the dance move we called "Sky Walk". But I kept calling it "Aqours Walk", so I ended up doing a dogeza [TL: you may know the pose better as OTL] in front of everyone...

What do you aspire to do in 2018? I'll put all my strength into accomplish everything that falls onto my plate!

What would you do if you won 100 million yen in the lottery? I've been saving up to buy a house. If I had 100 million yen, I'd just buy one (laughs).

What would you do if you had a time machine? I'd go back to the past and practice my jump rope skills.

What would you do with your last day on Earth? I would be with my family.

What would you eat on your last day on Earth? Salted beef tongue, of course! I want to eat the things I like!

If you went to an uninhabited island and could only bring one thing, what would you bring? Everything you need for camping (laughs).

If you were reborn in another world, what would you want to become? A final boss. I want to be strong.

If you were reborn [in this world], what would you want to become? A sloth. I don't want to think about anything.

If you were reborn, would you want to be male or female? Male.

What challenge do you want to take on? I want try startling someone with a prank (laughs).

What's good about being a girl? Growing out your hair and trying different hairstyles with it.

If you were a guy, what would you want to try? Nanpa (laughs). I want to try seducing girls (laughs).

What role do you want to try taking in the future? Maybe an adult woman, someone stable.

What job would you want to do outside of voice acting? Something like dealing with second-hand clothes at a tailor's shop.

What has made you the happiest out of what people have said to you? That I seem like a type A person. [TL: probably blood type.]

Are there any secrets you've kept from the Aqours members? Nope! I'm very open! I have faith in everyone.

Where in Numazu would you want to visit again? I want to go to Marusan Bookstore with King (Kanako Takatsuki).

Praise yourself as highly as you can! You sure did your Rubesty, didn't you! ♪

What are your thoughts on today's photoshoot? It feels fresh to do a photoshoot in personal clothes, and I'm very happy that we could do it as CYaRon!. It's been a long time since I went to the aquarium, and that was a lot of fun!

Finally, a word for your fans! I'll keep doing my Rubesty as a member of Aqours. I really want to surprise everyone and show everyone a variety of sights. I'll continue to be in your care!

Happy birthday, Furirin! (Again.) I hope you’re having a wonderful time on your favorite day of the year.

Please consider buying the magazine! Along with the 100 questions feature, it has an interview and a photoshoot involving all three members of CYaRon!, featuring some wonderful photos. You can order it on Amazon Japan at https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B079NBWSZS.

Translation: @ganbaramen QC: @yujachachacha

#love live! #seiyuu #ai furihata #translation

[swordandcat]

Coming Home

(AO3 Link)

NSFW Warning! ChikaYo smut

disclaimer: Yo is bi

It’s remarkable how much things can stay the same, even after years have passed.

Yo looks out of the window as she drives her pickup truck down the lazy roads of Uchiura. It’s like a page out of a history book; a lazy coastal town forgotten by the passage of time, forever trapped in an idyllic limbo. Even over the rumble of the engine, Yo can hear the nostalgic gurgle of the waves rushing up onto shore, ebbing and flowing in a mesmerizing pattern. She can smell the salt and slight sweetness in the air, a blend of the scents of mikan groves further uphill and the salty brine from the ocean blue. It’s the same squat houses lining the street, the same traditional shopfronts, maybe a little more worn and battered but still holding out.

Still, as she looks, she notices that inevitably civilization has crept its way into the little town. A few of the older stores have been replaced by newer stores, some of them chain stores from Numazu. The town must’ve refurbished some of the public facilities as well - she spots rows of benches, sometimes, and that old playground they always used to go to looks a little cleaner than before.

Spotting a familiar driveway, Yo coaxes the truck to a gentle stop, parking it in front of a large, traditionally constructed building. The front looks the same, at least, Yo muses, poking her head out of the window to look around. The dog houses seems to have multiplied even more, she notes, and the old flowers in the gardens swapped out for newer bushes. But otherwise everything looks like not a day has passed since Yo's last been here.

Yo tries to make an effort to visit, but work just piles up, and adulting is harder than she expected.

“Ah— Shiitake, no! You’re gonna leave drool all over my— Bad girl! Let go!”

Yo's ears perk up at the sound of a certain voice, burned into her memory since forever. Yo doesn’t think she could forget that voice even if she tried. A woman stumbles out of the front of the Tochiman inn, dragging along a large shaggy dog which has latched itself onto her leg. She struggles for a moment, before she looks up and notices Yo waiting.

“Yo, Yo!” She waves.

Yo rolls her eyes. “Are you ever going to stop using that line?” She asks, getting out of the truck and shutting the door behind her. Shiitake’s eyes seem to light up as Yo approaches, detaching itself from Chika and pouncing at Yo. “Whoa, girl! Down!”

Chika grins, shaking her head as she steps up to give Yo a hug. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it; that’s the Takami family way. Well, mostly my way, but Takami family also!”

“I guess some things never change,” Yo says wryly, returning Chika’s hug after administering satisfactory belly rubs to Shiitake. She holds the hug for a moment, and Chika continues the hug for maybe a second longer than is necessary before she pulls away, giving Yo a brilliant smile, her eyes gleaming happily. “How are you doing, Chika? You look… different.”

Chika’s grown her hair out; she looks almost like Shima, but she still keeps part of her hair braided, and she still has a bit of an ahoge. Her figure has definitely filled out, though. While Yo's been busy working out and building up the physique of a professional athlete, Chika’s body has rounded out into a figure more fitting of a woman than a girl.

“Hey now, eyes up here, hotshot,” Chika says, and Yo's eyes shoot back up to Chika’s face, flustered by being caught. Her cheeks burn a little from embarrassment. “That a good different, then?”

“Yeah,” Yo nods. “Great different. Definitely.”

Chika smiles, satisfied. “Good.” She scans Yo up and down, noticeably brisker than Yo's appraisal. “You look good, too. You’ve been working out.”

Yo flexes an arm. She’s buffer than ever, but she’s mindful of her routine so she’s not grossly ripped like those workout junkies. She doesn’t skip leg day, for one. Chika titters, but pushes Yo's arm down. “Spare me the gun show, Yo. God knows Kanan does it enough already.”

Yo laughs, and with a pat on the butt sends Shiitake back into the house. As much as she wants to catch up with the doggo, she promised Chika she’d take her for a joyride on her truck, and there’s only room for two in the pickup.

“I need to hit her up sometime. We haven’t had a proper talk in a while,” Yo says, sighing.

“Mm… who do you keep contact with? I barely see you online in the chatroom anymore,” Chika asks, as she circles around the truck to get to the passenger side. She pulls the door open, and gets into the truck. “Ooh. Soft seats. Comfy.”

“It’s well loved,” Yo laughs, patting the seat on the driver side before getting into the truck as well. As she starts the engine back up, she thinks about Chika’s question. “Well, Yoshiko’s still crashing in my apartment, but I don’t go home really often because training. Uh… When I have time I try to track down Ruby too, she’s still working at that fashion agency I think.”

“Well, I know for a fact that Kanan has time tomorrow, you can totally go see her then,” Chika says. “Mari’s probably there, too.”

“Tempting, but…” Yo shakes her head ruefully. “I gotta head back today. I don’t really have the time.”

“Aw. That’s a shame.” Chika sighs. “So… Yoshiko’s still trying to make it as a writer?”

“Yeah. It’s slow going but I think she managed to get the attention of a publisher a while back,” Yo says. She checks the mirror, and drives the truck back out onto the street. “She might be moving out soon. She mentioned maybe going to live with her girlfriend, but she’s not sure yet.”

“Dang. Look at her, having a meaningful relationship.” Chika says, kicking back to enjoy the ride. She glances at Yo. “So, where are you planning to take me, exactly?”

Yo shrugs. “Remember that time Mari took us all for a road trip, before the school closed down? It’s kinda like that. I just wanted to see you, I guess.”

“Aww. I missed you too.” Chika smiles.

Yo glances at Chika as she says that, and breathes out. “I’ve just been so busy recently.”

“Work?”

“That and school.”

Chika nods her head slowly, and the interior of the truck lapses into a comfortable silence.

Yo is a professional swimmer, but on the side she’s also furthering her studies in marine engineering. Chika once said she was being overambitious, but back then Yo had reassured her that nothing was going to change.

The frame of the truck rattles as it goes over a speed bump, and the µ’s bobbleheads on the dashboard jiggle vigorously. The truck gradually pulls away from the main street and into the outskirts of town, where there are more trees and hilly swells than houses.

“Oh, I saw your last competition,” Chika mentions.

“Did you now?”

“Well, I try to catch them whenever they’re being broadcasted.” Chika says. She gives Yo a small smile. “I want to know what my favourite person in the world is up to, you know? Especially if she doesn’t come online to chat.”

Yo's cheeks flush. “I said I was busy.”

“It can’t be that hard to come online once in a while,” Chika pouts. “Is competitive swimming really that intense?”

“Well I—” Yo starts, before she hesitates, falling silent for a moment. Finally she only meekly says, “Sorry. I’ll try harder in the future.”

“It gets kind of lonely here, now that Riko’s left for that concert tour,” Chika says. “I’d appreciate a call now and then.”

“I’ll call,” Yo nods. “I promise. I came back, didn’t I?”

“After what - a year of radio silence?” Chika says. “For a solid six months the only things I’ve heard of you came indirectly through Yoshiko and Ruby. The last private message I’ve got from you was from last year.”

Yo swallows, her mouth feeling dry.

There’s a quiet accusation in Chika’s tone; not openly hostile, more an undertone of disappointment. And it’s entirely justified. Chika’s acting as friendly as ever, but Yo is sure that she’s hurt Chika by avoiding her these few months.

“There was a lot going on,” Yo says weakly.

“Like what?” Chika says, her carefully controlled voice betraying just a hint of emotion.

“I, uh,” Yo breathes out slowly, keeping her eye on the road. She doesn’t dare look at what Chika’s expression is like. “It’s…” She falls silent, her mouth feeling dry.

“Yo,” Chika interjects, sensing her hesitation. Her voice is firm, but when she speaks again she’s gentle and supportive. “If there’s something going on, you know you can tell me.”

Yo glances at Chika. It’s easy to forget that, with how ditzy Chika can act even after graduating from college and settling down to run the inn, she’s always had this knack for noticing when things were wrong ever since they were kids. Chika’s surprisingly observant and sensitive like that.

Chika’s eyes seem to bore into her own, and Yo finds herself incapable of avoiding her gaze.

“…Fine.” Yo looks around for somewhere to stop. She spots a lay-by along the road, overlooking the ocean and the outskirts of town, and eases the truck into it. “It’s… kind of a long story.”

“We have time,” Chika says.

Yo glances at the clock on the dashboard. “True,” she admits. She leans back, sitting comfortably in the seat.

“I broke up with my boyfriend.”

Chika breathes in sharply.

Yo's been dating him since she was in college, and she’s even talked about possibly proposing. Chika’s tone softens immediately. “Oh…”

As though sensing Chika’s worry, Yo quickly shakes her head.

“No, it wasn’t like, bad or anything. It was sort of a long time coming. Between work, study, and everything else I just… didn’t have enough time. He said he couldn’t bear to see me run myself ragged trying to make time for him, too. Plus he wants kids, and I’m just… not ready for that kind of commitment. And… well, there’s just lots of little things that built up over time.”

Yo closes her eyes, recalling the night when they had talked over a home cooked dinner. It was a calm and reasonable affair, wherein they laid everything on the table and talked extensively about whether or not it was going to work out. Time was just one of the issues they discussed. After the decision was made, her ex left her apartment amicably, bidding her good luck in all of her future endeavours.

Yo had smiled and wished him the same, but once the door was shut the facade broke down and she bawled her eyes out. It wasn’t until Yoshiko got back after midnight that she got any consolation at all. The morning after Yo made Yoshiko promise not to tell anyone else what happened, because she didn’t want anyone to worry.

“How long ago was this?” Chika asks, quietly interrupting Yo's account.

“A couple months. But things were going downhill a long time before that.” Yo breathes out, and gives Chika a wry smile. “I guess you were right, going for that degree at the same time as going pro was a pretty terrible idea.”

Chika shakes her head incredulously. “I wish you’d believed me when I told you that last year, instead of putting yourself through this gauntlet.”

“Sorry,” Yo says weakly. “And… sorry for only coming back when things get messy. You deserve better.”

“Hey, listen. I’m always here, okay? I’m a little sad you’re too busy to talk more, but…” Chika gives Yo a comforting smile, putting a hand on her shoulder. “If you need a shoulder to lean on, I’ll always be there for you.”

“Thanks, Chika,” Yo sniffs, reaching out and holding Chika’s hand. Chika gives Yo's hand a soft squeeze. Yo takes a shuddering breath, and asks quietly, “I… did I make a mistake? Should I have fought harder for it to work?”

Chika bites her lower lip, hesitating for a moment before answering. “I… can’t really say, Yo. I wasn’t there. But I think you made the best decision you could have. You talked it out calmly, and… your ex agreed, didn’t he? Sometimes relationships just aren’t meant to last. Even if it was a good one. Like— me and Riko, right?”

Yo nods slowly. Chika and Riko had briefly gotten together after they graduated high school, and had a whirlwind romance for the next few months. She remembered how happy the two of them were. But it eventually became obvious that, with Riko having to study out of town, the distance was straining their relationship.

“I… guess,” Yo says hesitantly. She glanced at Riko. “How… did you deal with that?”

“Well, we kinda had the thought that it wouldn’t work. And sure, I was really upset for a while but eventually I realized it was healthier to be friends with Riko. I feel like recognizing that the change is positive is very important,” Chika says, “like for me, once I stopped fretting over Riko and our relationship I got rid of a lot of stress. I think you need to remind yourself why you two broke up in the first place. It’s because you didn’t have enough time, right?”

“Yeah…” Yo nods.

“You love diving. And I know better than anyone that you’re practically born for sailing,” Chika says kindly. “When it comes down to it, if you really do love those things… I don’t think it’s a mistake to keep pursuing them.”

Yo sighs. “But doesn’t that make me selfish?”

“Your ex wants you to be happy, Yo. It’s why he agreed with the decision. Can you honestly say that you won’t be miserable if you couldn’t do either of those things?” Chika asks. Yo grimaces, but eventually shakes her head. “See? It’s not selfish to want to pursue your passions. It’s not wrong to want to be happy.”

“I mean, I’m not saying you can’t be sad. It’s natural to be sad,” Chika adds hastily. “But… I don’t really want to see you being like this, all miserable like. You look better with a smile.”

Yo's reservations finally crumble under Chika’s optimism, and she sighs in defeat, before turning to give Chika a small smile. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. I’m pretty fed up with being downtrodden.”

Chika breathes out in relief, and grins sunnily. “I’m glad,” she says, and Yo believes her. One thing that hasn’t changed about her. Chika emanates positivity, inspires hope and optimism. The grin is infectious and Yo can’t help but smile wider.

“So what do we do now?” Chika asks, and Yo smirks.

She slams a foot on the gas, and the pick-up jerks forward, causing Chika to squeak in surprise as she’s flattened against the back of her seat. The engine roars, and with a chassis-shaking growl, the truck screeches down the road, the wind whipping past, audible even through the windows.

“I don’t know,” Yo says, her voice buzzing from adrenaline. “But I wanna get outta here.”

Chika laughs breathlessly, recovering from the shock of the start. “Sounds good.” She rolls down the window, and her orange hair gets whipped back by the wind, fluttering behind her like a fiery trail. “Can this rust bucket go any faster?” Chika shouts over the rushing air.

“You bet,” Yo floors the accelerator and the truck hurtles forward. Chika’s laughing, the noise muted and drowned by the wind, and Yo feels the cobwebs surrounding her heart loosen a little.

* * * * *

A few hours later, Yo and Chika stagger out of the pick-up, giggling and leaning on each other. At some point in the road trip Chika decided it was a great idea to stop by a shop to buy booze. A few drinks later both women are pretty tipsy, and Yo determines it’s a little dangerous to drive when the road is swaying. Parking in a lot for a secluded beach, they barely manage to stumble down the steps leading up to the beachfront.

Yo takes a tarp she has in the trunk and throws it onto the sand to serve as a makeshift mat, and Chika falls forward, the fall cushioned slightly by the loose sand under the tarp. She laughs and gestures for Yo to join her.

“The sand’s still warm,” Chika says. The sand’s been baking in the sun for the whole day, and despite the fact that the sun’s now setting the grains have retained some of the heat. She turns over belly-up, then extends her arms, lying down spread-eagled on the tarp. “It’s like a hot bed. Come on!”

Yo rolls her eyes at her antics, but sits down next to Chika, setting the half-finished pack of Sapporo beer down in the sand. The sand is warm, and she grins, running a hand through the grains. “You’re right,” She says. “It’s comfy.”

“You know, this is almost like the beach we used to play on as kids,” Chika says, looking up at Yo. “Remember?”

Yo laughs. “How could I not? That’s my childhood,” she pauses to take a drink. “Our childhood,” She corrects herself. “Remember when Kanan thought she saw a dolphin off the coast and tried to swim to it? It took the two of us to stop her.”

“Oh yeah, the tide was wild that day. Even Kanan couldn’t have handled it,” Chika grins toothily. “Hard to believe Kanan’s practically a homebody now.”

“Can’t believe she actually married Mari,” Yo hums, leaning back so she’s more comfortable. She stares over at the golden horizon, and the flecks of white over the waves. “I thought for sure her parents would object.”

“It’s Mari. I’m not sure her parents can do anything about it.”

“True,” Yo concedes, “she’s always done what she wanted.” She smiles. “Well, at least they’re happy, right?”

Chika nods. “I heard Mari’s planning to take Kanan to the Bahamas.”

“Rich people,” Yo snorts. “Well, Kanan’d like that. There’s good diving to be had there.”

“Mm…” Chika nods ponderously.

There’s a lull in the conversation as they fall silent, listening to the crashing waves.

Yo's cheeks feel hot from the alcohol. The sea breeze playing across her face and the rumbling of the surf is like a lullaby, and she finds herself getting drowsy. The sun continues to set, most of the glowing orb dipping into the horizon and leaving the sky a lovely dark purple.

“Hey Yo,” Chika says suddenly.

Yo looks away from the sun. “Hm?”

“Sit in seiza,” Chika says. Yo tilts her head questioningly, but obliges, folding her legs beneath her to sit formally. To her surprise, Chika lays her head on Yo's lap, giving her a mischievous grin. “The sand’s not very comfortable,” Chika says, as though that explains everything.

Yo shakes her head incredulously. Chika’s always like this. She complains about Mari doing whatever she wants, but Chika does that too. Still, without really thinking about it she starts to run her fingers through Chika’s hair, petting her in slow, long strokes. It just seems like the right thing to do.

Chika’s hair is really nice. Yo's almost jealous, but having long hair would get in the way of her sports. Yo wonders if Chika uses any product. Maybe it’s just the hot springs in the inn. Her skin is really smooth, too.

“Are you feeling a little better now?” Chika asks softly. There’s a love and affection in her voice that stems from some twenty years of friendship, and Yo's heart flutters slightly.

“Yeah,” Yo murmurs. “Thanks, Chika.”

Chika closes her eyes, the corners of her lips tugging up in a satisfied smile. “I’m glad. I really don’t want to see you sad.”

Yo absentmindedly brushes Chika’s cheek with a thumb as she continues. “I don’t think you realize how important you are to me,” Chika confesses. “I was so worried.”

“I’m sorry,” Yo apologizes weakly, glancing down at Chika.

“Don’t apologize.” Chika murmurs. “You’re here now, and that’s what matters.”

Yo's heart flutters again. Maybe it’s the sunset, tinting everything rosy gold. Maybe it’s the babbling waves putting her mind at ease, and reminding her of better times. Maybe it’s the realization that in the years they’ve lived apart, Chika has really gotten beautiful. Maybe, it’s just the alcohol.

Whatever the reason, Yo leans in and tilts Chika’s head up slightly, planting a gentle kiss on Chika’s lips. Chika’s eyes flutter open in surprise, and their gazes meet for a moment. For a moment Yo worries she overstepped her boundaries, but then Chika smiles and all her worries melt away.

“Y’know, I’ve always had a small crush on you,” Yo admits.

“Yeah?” Chika asks softly.

“Yeah.”

“Well,” Chika grins cheekily. “Go on, then. What’s next?”

A withheld laugh rumbles in Yo's chest as she kisses Chika again, this time firmer and more confident. Chika leans forward into the kiss, the ends of Yo's hair tickling her cheeks. Chika hums happily, a hand winding around Yo's neck and tangling in her hair, pushing her closer. Chika’s lips taste like hops, alcoholic. Yo can get drunk with that.

After a few seconds they move apart, a silver thread momentarily connecting their lips before breaking off. “Let’s get a little more comfortable,” Chika says, her voice low and husky. Yo is bent over herself trying to kiss Chika while she has her head on Yo's lap. Chika sits up, shifting so she’s half-kneeling and eye-level with Yo. “You want to do this, right?”

Yes, Yo wants to say immediately. God, yes. But the voice of reason in the back of her mind says this is Chika asking if Yo is really okay. She was so heartbroken just a few hours ago, is it really okay to do this with someone so soon? She’s still heartbroken.

But Chika’s there for her, and it’s like she said, he’d want her to be happy.

She reaches out, resting her hands on Chika’s waist. “Yes,” Yo murmurs. Chika grins, and pulls her close, their lips meeting halfway. It’s a little less tender now, needier, hungrier. Yo laps at Chika’s lips, parting them and venturing further. Her tongue touches Chika’s, glides over her teasingly, just barely staying out of reach. A game of cat and mouse.

Chika allows this go on for a few more moments before she attacks, catching Yo's tongue in her teeth and gently nibbling on the tip of it. Yo lets out a “mmm!” of surprise, and Chika resists the urge to laugh. The kiss is sloppy, but neither of them mind. There’s a heat coiling up inside Yo, and kissing Chika only feeds the flames.

Yo leans in, trying to reduce the distance between them even more. She sort of straddles one of Chika’s legs, pressing their bodies flush together. Chika’s hot - so hot, her skin feels like it’s going to catch on fire. Yo might be bright red.

The sun has set fully now, and Yo's glad. She doesn’t want Chika to see how furiously she’s blushing. They’re so far out in the middle of nowhere that the only light comes the stars starting to twinkle above, and the pale crescent moon overhead. Yo pulls away briefly to take a look at her partner.

Chika looks gorgeous lit by starlight, her long ginger hair cascading over her shoulders and back, her red eyes twinkling with a fierce affection. Yo feels like she has a lump stuck in her throat, momentarily at a loss for words. There’s a desire roaring inside her, the coiling heat now almost unbearable. She pushes back into a kiss, and Chika gladly acquiesces, allowing Yo's tongue entry to her mouth.

As she deepens the kiss, Yo suddenly feels Chika’s hand on her butt, and her knee grind up against her. Caught off guard, Yo moans into the kiss, an electric sensation passing through her nethers. Chika chuckles, breaking off the kiss to whisper in Yo's ear. “You like that?” She asks, her breath tickling Yo's skin.

It’s been so long since Yo has felt the intimate touch of another person. She nods, sensing a rapid shift in the mood. It’s still sensual, but there’s something else in the air now, a primal desire that Yo is more than willing to oblige.

“I want you,” Yo murmurs, and that’s all it takes. Chika almost tackles her, and Yo lets it happen, falling backward into the tarp. In a single smooth motion, Yo shrugs off her top, then reaches behind her and undoes the latch on her bra. Within moments her chest is bared to Chika, who eyes them hungrily, giving Yo a sly smirk before leaning down and taking a nipple into her mouth.

Yo takes a shuddering breath, her back lifting slightly off the ground as she leans into the pleasure. Chika grins, and flicks her tongue over the sensitive nub, relishing as Yo groans from the sensation. Cupping the other breast in her hand, Chika runs her thumb over the erect nipple as she starts to suckle on the one in her mouth, causing Yo to moan and writhe as pleasure fills her mind.

“Holy,” Yo pants, her voice degenerating into a low moan as Chika runs her teeth gently over her nipple, the other hand alternating between teasing pinches and brushes over the other teat. “Chika,” Yo moans, driving Chika wild with desire. “Please.”

Stopping her oral ministrations (and eliciting a small whine from Yo,) Chika takes a moment to appreciate Yo's toned body, running a hand along the lines of her abs, humming in approval. “God, Yo,” She murmurs. “You’re like a Greek goddess, hot damn.”

She reaches down, her fingers trailing a line down Yo's middle, past her belly button, resting right above the waist of Yo's jeans. “You should take these off, too,” Chika suggests, before leaning back to start stripping herself.

As she unbuttons her jeans and pushes them down, Yo watches Chika undress, pulling the sweater over her head and revealing her ample bust. Once there was a time when their sizes actually matched pretty well, but it was obvious Chika still had some growth left in her after high school; she’s at least a size larger than Yo, and her whole figure is soft and curvy. By the time Chika has stripped off her skirt as well, Yo has fully disrobed and eager to continue.

Chika smiles, and shuffles close, pressing their bodies flush together. Yo can feel Chika’s body heat, the softness of her skin, the beat of her heart through her chest. “Let’s keep things going,” she whispers in Yo's ear, then leaning in to gently nibble on her ear lobe. Yo gasps, her breath catching slightly at the sensation, though she starts even more when Chika sneaks a hand between her legs, teasing her entrance.

“You’re soaked,” Chika notes, sounding pleased. She gently brushes a finger over her slit, the lips parting slightly at the touch.

Yo whimpers, her hands clutching Chika’s shoulders. Chika smirks, and continues to tease Yo, rubbing up against her entrance, dragging a finger across, coming painfully close to her clit before drawing back again, relishing in the feeling of her finger coming away almost dripping.

Yo's breathing gets heavier and heavier as Chika goes on, her heart racing in her chest. She grips Chika tightly, and breathlessly whines, “Chika, please.”

“Please what?” Chika asks teasingly.

Yo's cheeks flush even more. “Chika…” She whines, before burying her face in the crook of Chika’s neck and muttering, “Please fuck me—!”

Her sentence ends in a strangled grasp as Chika presses her thumb against her clit. Her legs give out under her, and she ends up holding onto Chika for dear life as the woman pushes a finger inside, revelling in how hot Yo is inside.

Instinctually Yo bucks her hips, and Chika smirks, carefully sliding in another finger, before slowly pulling both fingers back again, stopping just before she pulls out completely. Yo whimpers at the torturous pleasure Chika’s inflicting on her, garbled words begging for Chika to just fuck her.

“Your wish is my command,” Chika says, thrusting her fingers back in. Yo gasps, falling forward as Chika works up a rhythm, thrusting in and out of her and trying her hardest just not to embarrass herself as her hips roll automatically in time with each thrust.

Her mind is so clouded she doesn’t even realize Chika gently laying her down, and with the new position, manage to thrust even deeper into her, causing her to cry out and arch her back from the pleasure of it all.

Yo's throat fails her, her words garbled as Chika pumps in and out, stretching her and filling her up with each deliberate motion. Chika drags her thumb against Yo's clit again, and she almost kicks out, digging her heels into the tarp and the sand beneath as waves of pleasure wracks her brain. She draws circles around the sensitive nub and Yo can’t do anything except desperately bucking her hips in time with Chika and babbling between ragged breaths.

The heat inside her is coiled tight beyond return now, wound up so much Yo feels like she’s going to explode.

“Chika,” she gasps, breathless and hoarse. “Chika, please, I- I’m—!”

Whatever she’s about to say is drowned out by a ragged cry as Chika presses down, hard, on her clit. She clamps down on Chika’s fingers and her whole body shudders, her back arched till her whole body is lifted off the tarp, fingers digging into Chika’s back and toes pointed.

She jerks once, twice, lets out a gasping breath, and falls heavily back onto the tarp, completely spent. She’s covered in a thin sheen of sweat, her breathing heavy and uneven. Her eyes are slightly glazed over as she lies there, trying to recover some semblance of control of her body.

For a minute or two she just lies there, trying to catch her breath.

“Was it that good?” Chika asks teasingly, leaning in to plant a tender kiss on her lips. Yo rolls her eyes, weakly pushing Chika away after the kiss.

“Shut up,” she mumbles, rising unevenly to her knees.

Her legs are still weak, but she’s quickly regaining control of her limbs. Shuffling over to Chika, she pushes Chika down onto her back, and gives her a grin. “I have to return the favour.”

As Yo drops down between Chika’s legs, Chika’s suddenly intimately aware of how wet she is, an aching need rising up inside her in the wake of Yo's orgasm. She spreads her legs wide, inviting Yo closer, a hand reaching up to cup her own breast.

Yo leans in, and tentatively, laps at Chika’s slit, her tongue just barely touching flesh. Even at the sparse contact Chika groans, and encouraged, Yo continues, running her tongue over Chika’s entrance again, this time savouring the bitter juices leaking from her. She smacks her lips, and just as Chika’s about to tell her to get going already, she dives in, causing Chika to moan and fall back as her tongue traces circles around Chika’s clit, drawing close but never quite getting there. From time to time she gives Chika’s clit a teasing flick with her tongue, causing a shock of pleasure that never quite lasts for long enough.

“Yo… c’mon, don’t do this to me,” Chika pleads, struggling to keep her head up and keeping eye contact with Yo. Yo simple grins, and dives right back in.

Chika hisses as Yo switches tactics, giving her clit a final flick before she drags her tongue straight down, drawing a line right over Chika’s labia from top to bottom. Then just as quickly she pulls her tongue back up again, for once giving her clit a slow, deliberate lick as she reaches the top. Chika moans loudly, her breathing hitched and uneven, and her back arches as Yo repeats the motion, working up a mind-blowing rhythm sliding her tongue up and down her slit.

“Fuck, Yo, since when did youUUuuUU—?” Chika chokes on her own words as Yo suddenly breaks off the motion and directly sucks on her clit, causing her entire body to jerk from the overwhelming sensation of pleasure. Her hands fly to Yo's head, fingers tangling in her hair as she practically shoves Yo’s face into her entrance. Her legs, too, curl in around Yo, trying to press Yo as close and far in as she can manage.

Yo wants to laugh at Chika’s reaction but with her face buried in between Chika’s legs all she can do is continue her ministrations, lapping and licking and sucking at Chika’s sensitive bud, relishing in the sensation of Chika’s moans and gasps and desperate cries reverberating through her entire body.

She shifts up a little, easing a finger into Chika, and Chika jerks her hips, her tongue lolling uselessly out of her mouth. She slips another finger into Chika, and begins to thrust, timing each thrust with a lazy lick of her clit.

She thrusts once, twice, then pushes deeper, three knuckles in, and she sucks on Chika’s clit and suddenly Chika practically screams, her fingers digging into Yo's scalp as she cries out and comes messily, a flood of warmth hitting Yo's tongue. She pulls her fingers out and continues to lap at Chika’s entrance until she stops shuddering, lying breathlessly on the tarp.

Yo carefully extricates herself from between Chika’s legs and crawls along the tarp, lying down beside her, her chest heaving as they both try to catch their breaths.

Chika’s hair is a mess, but probably so is hers, and her cheeks are flushed red and sweaty, but the way her ruby red eyes gaze into her own makes Yo feel loved in a way she hasn’t felt in months. Chika reaches out with a shaky hand, brushing a thumb across Yo's cheek.

“God, Yo,” She says, her voice hoarse and dry. “That was… amazing.”

“Mhmm.” Yo hums, snuggling close to Chika. They’re both gross and sweaty, but in the throes of their lovemaking Yo finally realizes the beach is starting to get cool. “You’re the best.”

“No you,” Chika says, and they both laugh because it’s like everything is fine, and they’re back to their old bantering selves.

Eventually though their laughing dies down and they both shift slightly to stare up at the starry sky above. It’s not as clear as it used to be years ago, the neighbouring city’s lights have finally begun to block out the natural light as the stars, but sitting where they are and looking up it’s like staring into a sea of glittering jewels.

“Kanan would know what these constellations are,” Yo murmurs idly. “But… even not knowing, they’re really pretty.”

She feels something brush against her hand and she instinctively holds on - it’s Chika’s hand, and their fingers move to interlace together. She can sort of feel Chika’s pulse through her palm, the frantic beat of her heart still trying to calm down.

“So what are you going to do now?” Chika asks, still staring up at the starry sky.

“Hmm?” Yo glances briefly over at Chika. “What do you mean?”

“You’re going to go back to Tokyo, right?” Chika says, “and I’m still staying here.”

There’s a lingering silence in the air as Yo considers her words.

“…I suppose so,” she says finally.

“Then,” Chika’s voice is even as she says, “is this… just for tonight, then?”

Yo breathes out slowly, the sky seeming to wheel about above her. “Do…” She pauses. “Do you want it to be just for tonight?”

Chika stays quiet for a few seconds before saying, “…Honestly? Not really. I want to try and make it work.”

“Me too,” Yo murmurs. But then she hesitates, and points out, “But then this’ll be just like the time with Riko. I’m going to be living in Tokyo, and you have to run the inn.”

“Well, things are different now. I’m not a kid fresh out of high school anymore.” Chika says. She shifts slightly so she’s looking at Yo, resting her head on her arm. “I think it could work. You won’t spend as much time on me either, if I’m all the way out here. Plus, we can still call and message each other.”

“We won’t meet much,” Yo warns.

“Are you worried that this is going to be a repeat of what you went through?” Chika asks gently. “If you’re not ready, that’s okay. I won’t hold it against you.”

After a long pause, Yo nods hesitantly, squeezing Chika’s hand. “I think I need a little time to think.”

“That’s okay,” Chika says softly. “I can wait. I’ll always be here, remember?”

Yo glances at Chika, giving her a small, grateful smile. She doesn’t deserve Chika, not really. Chika’s so kind, and welcoming, and optimistic. But just as she said, Yo does want to try and make it work. She’s just… not sure if she can do it right now.

As Yo thinks to herself, a cool breeze sweeps across the beach, and Chika sneezes. Yo laughs, and stands up. “We should get going. There should be a tap to hose all this sweat off somewhere.”

“Hey, Yo?” Chika tugs on Yo’s hand.

Yo stops, looking back at Chika.

“It’s pretty late,” Chika says slowly. “Why don’t you stay the night at my place?”

Yo hesitates, biting her lower lip contemplatively.

“Well…” She sighs, and gives Chika a small smile. “I guess if it’s just the night.”

“Then we can go see Kanan in the morning!”

“But I—” Yo stares at Chika, grinning widely back at her, and finally rolls her eyes. “Oh, fine. If it’s just the morning…”

“And the afternoon!”

“…And the afternoon…”

Chika laughs, and Yo can’t help but laugh along with her.

#fanfic update #fanfic #chikayo #chika takami #you watanabe #smut

[lonelypond]

Idol Protection Program: Chapter 31

NicoMaki, NozoEli, Love Live, 1.4K, 31/?

Summary: Nico's on tour, the family's there too. Bonus: NozoEli

Cutie Check

Dia walked with such confidence for a four year old, while Ruby, though sturdy enough on her feet, tended to cling to one of her mothers while Dia was leading the way. Today, Nico had a concert so they’d stopped by for the afternoon soundcheck before the next generation of idols needed their nap. Dia and Ruby were both wearing their hearing protective gear, Dia showing Nico where the microphone was as Nico talked to the stadium’s sound guy. The Idol Branch of the Yazawa Clan had dressed for the public appearance with matching sparkly silver flair to their original Minami Kotori outfits.

Maki reached down to pick up Ruby. She wanted to be able to judge the level of competence of the venue’s staff, which could be easily done by hovering while Nico discussed the contractual set up. It was important that the live backing tracks were handled well and there were no glitches with Nico’s mic. Nico’s management was still a little wary about the live vocals, but Nico had worked years to develop the stamina needed. Maki was proud of her. Nico put in as much time to master each part of her job, her calling. Her dance had always been top tier, her rapping sharp, but with Maki’s help, her vocals had caught up. She had earned her sold out concerts, platinum records number one idol status, mastering her craft to seize the stage as a solo artist rather than part of a group.

“Your momma’s really pretty today, Ruby. Her eyes have that pre show sparkle.” Maki whispered as she held her daughter close. “She’ll be amazing on stage tonight.”

Ruby made a raspberry. Maki wasn’t sure how much Ruby understood, but she’d been getting restless, screaming randomly, and then running to Maki or Nico and crying, demanding to be comforted for hours. They hadn’t figured out what was scaring her, Dia was starting to glare at them whenever Ruby cried, and Maki was beginning to wonder if taking Ruby home to Numazu was the best thing. But Ruby loved when Nico held her and the nights when Nico sang them all a lullaby and Dia was loving all the attention she got on tour. Just like Nico. Maki didn’t want to lose this family time with all of her family.

Ruby was pounding on Maki’s shoulder.

“Hi Ruby. Are you hungry?”

“No.”

“What can Mama do?”

“Sing.”

“All right.” Maki held Ruby close, singing “Cutie Panther” in a near whisper, but Nico still heard, turning to silently question Maki, who shrugged as she cuddled Ruby. Nico smiled and blew her a kiss, then continued her conversation with the sound guy.

“Join in, Eli, and maybe Nico will gift us a Bibi performance for our anniversary.” Nozomi’s drawl sneaked its way into the soundscape.

“Your anniversary is in June.” Nico frowned.

“It’s the anniversary of our first…”

“Thanks for getting us passes, Nico!” Eli cut off her wife’s overshare with the ease of familiarity.

“Always for you, Eli.”

Dia detached herself from the group at the mic, reaching into the pocket of her coat to pull out a small, be-ribboned bag of chocolates. Which she immediately offered to Eli.

Eli crouched down, a broad smile on her face, “Thank you, Dia. Let’s share.”

“Bzzzt.” Dia frowned.

Eli was taken aback but then she noticed Dia glaring at everyone else. “It’s okay, Dia. You and me, we’re the only ones who’ll be sharing. It’s our secret.”

Dia grinned; Nozomi giggled; Nico rolled her eyes.

Eli and Dia were in chocolate heaven for several minutes

“Did your mom make these?”

“Mom found the recipe, Aunt Eli, but I asked her to. I picked the toppings. And tied the ribbons.” Dia shoved a raspberry topped chocolate at Eli.

“Dia was a big help.” Taking a break, Nico now had her hand on Dia’s shoulder, beaming proudly.

Meanwhile, Nozomi had approached Maki, reaching to take Ruby from her, “You can’t perform with a baby in your arms.”

Nico could, Maki thought, glancing at her amused wife. Nico could do anything, but Maki wanted to avoid encouraging any Nozomi vs. Nico rivalry that might lead to friction. The Ayases rarely traveled without the twins. This visit to Korea was a rare adults only adventure for the parents of very active nine year olds. Maki wanted them to enjoy it.

“How are Vic and Teddy doing?”

“Alisa and Yukiho are managing.” Nozomi chuckled, “I think growing up with Honoka prepared Yukiho for anything. She’s got them learning how to make dango. They’ve been getting up so early they pass out before they remember to booby trap anything.”

Maki chuckled, remembering her own adventures in twin sitting.

Nozomi leaned down as if Ruby were talking to her, “Ruby can’t wait to see “Cutie Panther.”

Ruby waved her hands in the air, burbling.

Eli shook her head, “Really, Non-tan, using sweet Ruby as your enforcer.”

Nozomi winked, as shameless as ever. “Maki might say no to me, but not her baby.”

Nico pushed her oldest forward, “Nico has to save her voice for later so Dia, you’ll have to stand in for me. Just follow what your Mama and Aunt Eli do.”

“Nico-chan?”

Nico shrugged, “Can’t I be as shamelessly in love with my talented and gorgeous wife as this per…” Nico noticed Dia paying attention to her every word, “ky friend of ours.”

Maki blushed.

“Come stand between us, Dia.” Eli said, the remaining chocolate sliding into her coat pocket.

Dia, green eyes as serious as Umi targeting an arrow, nodded. Eli and Maki shared a glance, Eli stretching her arms out in front to warm up. “I might not remember all of the choreography.”

Maki nodded. “Same. But I remember this.” She crouched to be at Dia’s eye level, raising her hands up to claw at the air, “Cutie Panther’s signature gesture is this, Dia.”

Dia repeated the motion, brows tightened as she concentrated.

“That’s right, bun. If you can’t keep up, just do this.” And Maki clawed again, Nico hearing a soft growl.

“Oh my goddess, Nico-chi.” Nozomi whispered in her ear, for once not wanting to disturb, appreciating the mother-daughter ultimate cuteness moment. “How do you cope with all that adorable?”

“Keep them all as close as I can.” Nico let Ruby claim two of her fingers, “Hi, Ruby, mom’s so proud of you.”

Ruby bounced, knocking into Nozomi’s chin with her excitement.

Nozomi was careful to keep whispering while Eli, Maki and Dia sorted out moves, switching Dia to the front and Maki to Nico’s spot. “I never expected Maki to be so soft around children.”

“She’s pretty amazing. She was always great with my sibs, but to see her everyday with Dia and Ruby…” Nico never cried in public and sometimes it was only because she was pinching her hand hard enough to divert the tears.

Eli stepped up, a boldness in her blue eyes that came out when she performed, “You’d better be ready for this.”

And she and Maki seamlessly began with the chorus of one of the silliest, cutest songs the Nishikino-Sonoda team had ever written.

“I'm a cutie panther, following you wherever you go I'll steal your heart away, just you watch I'm a cutie panther, following you wherever you go I won't, I won't let go of your heart”

“Our cutie panthers.” Nozomi leaned into her old friend.

“Yep.” Nico hummed along, reclaiming her youngest daughter and blowing a kiss to the other redhead in her life. “The cutest.”

“Cutie!” Ruby screamed, pointing to the trio.

And suddenly Nico and Ruby were wrapped up in a sweaty hug, “Gotcha!”

Nico felt someone grab her leg. Dia, eyes bright.

“Me too, Mama!”

“I got mine.” Eli shouted, her arms around Nozomi, several quick kisses already landed.

“What next, Nico-chan?”

Nico shivered at the breath caressing her ear.

There was a pause, while Eli put a restraining hand over Nozomi’s biting mouth and Dia shouted, “Lunch” and looked confused when the adults laughed.

“Lunch it is.” Nozomi decided, “Number One Idol’s treat.”

“C’mon, mom.” Dia tugged on Nico’s leg. "We're hungry." Nico very deftly handed Ruby to Maki while taking Dia’s hand with one of her own.

“Smooth.” Eli grinned at Nico.

“Nico juggles it all, children, fans, songs, tours, wives…” Nozomi chanted.

“One wife.” Nico corrected.

“Only one wife.” Maki growled.

“Love you.” Nico kissed Maki and Ruby on their cheeks. “C’mon Dia, help Nico sing a song for Ji-Hoo, while your Mama finds us a restaurant.”

And Dia picked up the chorus of Cutie Panther again, Nico joining in.

A/N:

Happy Pride. Stay safe, stay queer, and wherever you are, thanks for being you and taking the time to read this.

#NicoMaki #Idol Protection Program #Nishikino Maki #Yazawa Nico #baby Dia #baby Ruby #NozoEli #Ayase Eli #Tojo Nozomi #fluff #so much fluff

[dyreatic]

DIVER Magazine May 2017 - Aqours Special Feature ENGLISH Version

[Raw] [EN Typeset]

Team ONIBE has fully translated and typesetted the key parts of the Aqours Special Feature in the May 2017 Edition of the DIVER magazine, featuring Anchan, Rikyako and Suwawa! The trio goes around Osezaki and Numazu, giving an introduction to recommended spots in Numazu as well as the diving spots of Osezaki!

If you’re planning or have already planned to go to Numazu in the future, do check out the Numazu feature for some places you could stop by on your trip!

TL: Dyrea TLC: Lucia(@luciahunter6​) QC: Mega, MarcoPolo TS: Eter (Thanks a lot!)

Page 1

Osezaki Part. 1

Aqours becomes real sea girls!

First dive in Osezaki & Numazu Pilgrimage

The school idol project Love Live! Sunshine!!, set in the seaside stage of Numazu, Shizuoka, where the youth story of the high school school idols Aqours unfolds. Because Numazu was the stage, it received popularity and proceeded to acquire an unstoppable boom by fans who endlessly continue to visit it after the series. And in the middle of that, 3 members from the cast of Aqours have transformed greatly into real sea girls! They challenged Osezaki, a sacred spot for divers, by personally taking part in diving, and travelled around the recommended spots in the hometown of Numazu.

From the left, Aida Rikako, performing as Sakurauchi Riko, Inami Anju, performing as Takami Chika, and Suwa Nanaka, performing as Matsuura Kanan, all from Aqours. They are at the eye-catching lighthouse at the tip of the cape.

Page 2

Introduce

In the small high school within Uchiura in the neighboring area around the sea in Numazu, Shizuoka, the 9 member school idol group Aqours was formed. It is the youth story of the struggles and growth of the girls who dream of participating in the school idol festival Love Live!. (TV Anime Season 1 aired in 2016. Season 2 is confirmed for this Fall.) One member of Aqours, Matsuura Kanan, is a diver and also helps out at her family’s diving shop. Because there are a lot of important scenes in the story that take place near or in the water, a collab with this magazine was soon realized.

Photo taken at Wannai, the location of this SPECIAL EDITION’s cover. The diver-look suits the cast well.

Page 3

Successive heart-clenching feelings from the underwater world and fish viewing.

March has arrived, with the gentle rays of the spring sun falling down. Within Suruga Bay, Osezaki Cape juts out from land. Looking out at the magnificent Mt. Fuji, which stands out distinctly in the background, made it a great start for the three. Osezaki is an outstanding diving spot within Izu, with an abundance of topology and biodiversity, so divers from all around the country come to visit.

This time, the three of them are aiming for a half-day diving course that can be done even without a license (C card*). All the equipment is rentable, and one session of freely exploring the sea starts from around 10,000 yen.

The diving point is Wannai. Being calm all year round, both popular and rare species exist in this wonderful field. The trio is tense at first, but thanks to the lectures from the experienced instructors Takao Masayuki-san from Divers Inn Fujimi and Horiguchi Kazushige-san from Osezaki Marine Service, both prominent long-standing diving services in Osezaki, their worries were put to rest. “Take it slow when breathing and moving underwater, okay?” was the careful support given to the divers as they entered Wannai. They gently descended to medium depth and enjoyed the feeling of weightlessness, and seeing schools of black rockfish, spottedtail morwong, pearl-spot chromis and others in a once in a lifetime encounter excited them to no end. As they approached 10 meters deep, there were objects scattered around relating to Suijin and Pooh. Since it was a rare chance, they paid a visit to Suijin-sama, and they thus ended their first dive with a smile.

“It was so fun that I didn’t want to surface. It was like a dream~” said the girls captivated by Wannai, a place where Yellow Pygmy-gobies and other popular species are present. The wide open sea of Suruga Bay boasts Japan’s deepest depths, and also has monkfish and other deep-sea fish frequenting it, making it a newsworthy super beach.

“I want to come next time to get my license!” “I want to meet Pooh next time!” bursted the trio with dreams of strolling under the sea.

After you become a diver, you will surely have a desire to dive in the open sea. Although it will require the additional skill of dealing with the tides, but there are beautiful coral fields and schools of fish, and you will get photogenic scenes.

Takami Chika

With her feelings of aspiring towards school idols, she is a protagonist who gathered the other members with her natural forcefulness and cheerfulness. Her family runs a ryokan.

Inami Anju

I love both the sea and fish ♡

Matsuura Kanan

With her outstanding reflexes, she is excellent at diving and boating. She helps out in her family’s diving shop. A mature 3rd year who is also Chika’s childhood friend.

Suwa Nanaka

This is my second time diving!

Sakurauchi Riko

A transfer student coming from Otonokizaka in Tokyo. A graceful 2nd year whose skill is in the piano. She composes music for Aqours, which is brought to life by her musical talent.

Aida Rikako

I yearn for the world within the sea!

Page 4

Osezaki Cape is full of scattered important spots! What are some spots to explore after diving?

Small fish can be barely seen living within the colorful coral in the open sea, and schools of half-lined cardinal are all over the place.

For their diving experience, they are learning how to use the equipment as well as how to swim underwater. The trio are smiling as they are preparing for their first time.

Ose Shrine, where the people of Suruga Bay worship the guardian deity of the sea. It is also a designated Tangible Cultural Property of Japan.

A large undersea Shinto shrine archway! In addition to Ose Shrine, you can also pay your respects to Suijin here.

Wannai has gravel to make entry and exit simple. Because it’s a wide shallow beach, even beginners need not worry.

Seeing the sunlight streaming through from undersea in Wannai, and being spellbound by the silhouettes of the fish swimming back and forth

Into the admired undersea world. Their smiles are perceivable even through the masks.

Beside the sea lies one of the Seven Wonders of Izu, Kamiike freshwater pond. Tens of thousands of koi and other freshwater fish live there, and specialized food is available for all to enjoy feeding them.

The cape is abundant with Juniper trees, and their twisted trunks are a featured natural memento within the country. The girls are receiving power from this honorable 1500+ year old tree!

Divers Inn Fujimi’s famous Mikan jiruko, made from the hometown’s specialty mikan blended into sweet white bean paste. The sourness of the mikan and sweetness of the red bean paste matches very well, and the trio have such high praises that they have gotten extra helpings.

Page 5 + 6

Aqours is off! We love Numazu ♡

Love Live! Sunshine!! is set in Numazu. In the work, the corresponding locations and scenery are faithfully reproduced, and many fans come to visit, in order to personally experience the place that Chika and the others are living in. The trio will are going around the locations related to Love Live! Sunshine!!.

Anchan: There are also a lot of gourmet spots

A diver’s holy ground

(1) Osezaki

Suwawa: They became our instructors!

Their perfect support and hospitality shines bright Divers Inn Fujimi (Ocean View - Fujimi) 993 Nishiuraenashi, Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture 410-0244 Tel. [phone] Hours: 07:00 - 18:00 / Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays: 07:00 - 21:00 Open daily Website: ose-fujimi.com

A long-standing diving service open for 50 years. It is a complete facility situated in a location with easy access to Wannai as well as the open sea, with staff offering perfect support and hospitality with warm hearts, resulting in many repeat customers attached to it. The meals in the renewed lodging location made with the abundance of local ingredients are also popular. Personal dive: 10,000 yen + tax / 2 beach fan dive: 9,000 yen + tax / Diver 1 night 2 meals: 7,200 yen + tax

The guides and complete facility that even pros depend on Osekan Marine Service 325-1 Nishiuraenashi, Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture 410-0244 Tel. [phone] Hours: 08:00 - 17:00 (Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays: 06:30 - / Night diving dates until 21:00) Unspecified closing dates Website: fuji.ne.jp/~osekan

A top class complete facility in Osezaki that has set up a long-standing diving service. It also manages the large lodging facility Seaside Inn Osekan. Horiguchi Kazushige-san (center) leads a group of capable young guides who are stationed there, and they freely use all the latest information regarding the biology there to guide both veteran divers and famous cameramen, all of whom place great faith in them. Half day personal dive: 10,000 yen + tax / 2 beach fan dive: 9,400 yen etc.

Exquisite lunch & sweets amidst the atmosphere of a boat trip

(2) Seaside Cafe, Umi no Stage 768-9 Nishiurakishou, Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture 410-0231 Tel. [phone] Opening Hours: 10:00 - 18:00 Closed on Thursdays (Except during Summer)

Opened 17 years ago by an owner who loves the sea and boats above all else. There is also a museum about the cruise ship Scandinavia, which used to moor at the bay at the shopfront but now lies at the bottom of the sea near Wakayama. This serves as a conversation topic among its fans. Pictured up top is umami condensed into the “My Lunch Steak” set, while pictured below that is “Sea Grotto”, a delicious mix of Tokoroten with ice cream that is a product of Osezaki. These two are some of the popular dishes here.

A member’s luxurious ocean harvest

(3) OH!MOS Farmers’ Market 14-10 Uchiuraomosu, Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture 410-0225 Tel. [phone] Hours: 08:30 - 17:00 Open daily (Except end and beginning of the year)

A shop directly selling Numazu’s fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as a collection of other products. It carries the locally branded Jutarou Mikan, harvested in January, which is special for its rich taste. It was also featured in episodes 1 and 6 of the TV anime, and fans from all over the country have rushed over to buy it (The original Takami Chika cover illustration edition in the photo has sold out).

An established ryokan also loved by the great author Dazai Osamu.

Anchan: It’s Chika’s home!

(4) Yasudaya Ryokan 19 Uchiuramito, Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture 410-0223 Tel. [phone] Hours (Baths): 11:00 - 21:00 Open daily Website: mitoyasudaya.com

Started in Year 20 of the Meiji era. It is a genuine Japanese-style Sukiya-zukuri building that has been designated a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan, and Awashima and Mt. Fuji are also visible from within, and you are able to bathe in the famous Yunohana Onsen even if you’re on a day trip. In the anime, this was featured as a ryokan managed by Takami Chika’s family, so this is a place fans continue to visit even after the anime.

A member’s luxurious ocean harvest

(5) Restaurant Rikyuu 186 Uchiurashigedera, Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture 410-0221 Tel. [phone] Hours: 11:00 - 16:00 (Last Order 15:30) Unspecified closing dates

A seashore dining spot within Awashima Marine Park. Freshly harvested seafood is prepared in a luxurious manner and assembled into a donburi that you are able to taste, and thanks to the anime featuring Awashima island, the Aqours Donburi (1800 yen, Karaage and soup not included) exploded in popularity. The seaweed with members printed onto it is also irresistible to the fans.

Fine coffee in a classic dining area

Rikyako: Calm down and relax

(6) Coffee Specialty Shop, Azumino 2976-2 Shimokanuki, Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture 410-0822 Tel. [phone] Hours: 08:30 - 22:00 (Last Order 21:00) Closed on Mondays (Except public holidays)

Opened in 1975 and specializing in traditional Nel Drip coffee, the shop-owner makes coffee with vertical drips. Clear and smooth, the dense, mellow coffee infused with sweetness is an original blend, which is available along with other types of rare coffee in abundance. There is also a grand piano inside, so there are also plenty of things suited for Riko-chan.

If you were totally immersed in the Anime’s world

(7) Yudai SUN! SUN! Sunshine Cafe 3 Chome-1-1, Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture 410-0801 Tel. [phone] Hours: 11:00 - 20:30 / Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays: 10:00 - 20:30 Open daily Website: yudai.co.jp

A Love Live! Sunshine!! collab cafe in front of the south exit to Numazu station. The food and sweets are related to the members, and you can take the drink coasters with you. There are also special menus during the members’ birthday months, so you can satisfy yourself with seeing the anime world!

Focusing on brightly colored cakes seasonally

(8) Shunsaisouka Kanan 926 Higashishiiji, Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture 410-0302 Tel. [phone] Hours: 10:00 - 19:00 Closed on Tuesdays

This is a cake and baked sweet shop whose owner, Ootake Yoshiki-san, is a pastry chef who won an award at the winner East Japan Pastry Exhibition Grand Gateau division. Plenty of fans drop by because it shares a name with Kanan, and the featured sweets “Ootake Shoe” and “Torokeru Burin” draw in repeat customers.

Page 7 + 8

Aqours speaks! Special Interview

Shining while facing their dreams, their failures and successes, their friendships and bonds… Those are Love Live! Sunshine!!’s many radiant messages. The trio talks about the work’s charm, and also that of Numazu, where they dived.

The maturing members add the gleaming ocean to their list of stages

What was your impression of the underwater world after diving for the first time?

Inami: I had more fun than I ever imagined, and it felt like I was in a dream underwater for much longer than I actually was! I’ve loved the sea ever since I was small, and I was good at free diving and high diving. I also practiced swimming for 6 years, and I love fish to the point that I often went to aquariums too, so I feel really blessed that I was able to dive after yearning for it all along!

Suwa: In elementary school, I went diving in Okinawa during the summer, and it was really fun this time too. “Since we’re going underwater today our eyes will probably be opened to what diving is like!” I said to everyone else, and while I was actually diving, I suddenly thought, “I want Kanan to teach me”.

Inami: Yeah, really~! I also want to get my license and start diving normally! I was uneasy at first, but as I learnt more I got more comfortable, and by the time I had realized it I was smoothly breathing in and out without my nose, and was able to keep my mask clear of condensation.

Aida: Ah~ that was really great! Water isn’t really my strong point, so I was nervous at the beginning, but as expected, the experience and scenery underwater was completely different from up on land! There was also a scene in the anime where Riko was diving with Chika and Kanan, so I had a desire to dive as well, which made this a truly valuable experience. And also, there were so many cute fish!

Inami: “I’m truly diving, and the fish are really there!” was something I felt with each consecutive encounter. Osezaki is a rare sea that even has a shrine underwater. Anyone can explore shrines on land on foot, but the underwater shrines are quite inaccessible, so it’s even more interesting.

Suwa: Even the feeling of being suspended while swimming underwater is something that cannot be done on land, which feels really great. I can feel at ease and relax.

Inami: Yeah! I had a dream of becoming a mermaid, and I was able to swim freely underwater just as if I had turned into one!

Suwa: It was great! These are Kanan’s words, but the greatness of the sea and diving as well as “It feels great to be able to clear your head while swimming in the sea” as she had said within Sukufesu (Love Live! School Idol Festival, the smartphone game from the same series) and also “Let’s stroll in the sea!” have made me able to enjoy diving with the hope that I will be able to stroll in the sea with everyone~.

Inami: That would be great! This story revolves around the sea as an important keyword, where the name Aqours was also decided from, and everything also started from a sandy beach. A lot of hints came from the sea.

Aida: Riko was able to overcome her piano slump because she dived into the sea.

Inami: Yep, that was the case. Chika was also lost and frustrated, and went into the sea in search of something. And there, she was able to take one step forward once again, and I really felt the support that the sun, the sea, and all of Numazu’s nature gave to the girls. This time, I tried diving in the sea with the thought, “Having seen a sight like this, I wonder if the words from that time would come out”, and I felt that I got closer to the girls’ feelings more than ever before, so I ended up loving the sea more and more!

How was hunting around Osezaki and Numazu?

Aida: I’ve been to Numazu multiple times, but this was my first time in Osezaki. I was especially moved when I saw Mt. Fuji from the cape; it was the first time I was able to see such a beautiful sight all the way down to the base of the mountain. I really felt like I received great power and energy!

Suwa: My memories of Kamiike are also strong. I wanted to try counting the large number of koi that drew near me (laughs). I cannot forget the mysterious atmosphere that felt as if the lord of the pond was dwelling there.

Inami: I know, right? As for me, Ose Shrine, with the tengu decorating it all over, left a mysterious impression on me (Ose Shrine worships tengu and has a lot of it remaining). It’s as if those history and legends were unfurled, and my curiosity made me excited, while I pray for everyone’s future.

Aida: Every time I visit Numazu, I think, “Such a wonderful place exists!” and am able to discover new attractions.

Suwa: There’s still a lot left, so I want to discover more.

Inami: When we go to the locations or the scenes in the casual town that appeared in the anime, we also happily go, “Ah, that scene is here”, while merely thinking, “If the girls were here I wonder what they would do”, which makes us excited. These feelings are the same as the fans’, and I believe that because everyone is coming down to visit, this has once again become a special place.

Aida: I would be happy if from here on, people could come visit all these places, and meet all these warm people while experiencing Numazu.

What kind of existence is Love Live! Sunshine!! to the three of you?

Inami: 2 years have passed since I met the girl known as Takami Chika, and I think that I really changed a lot. Back then, our personalities were complete opposites. I was pessimistic and naive, but Chika was a bottomless pit of cheerfulness, and she gave me the courage to take a step forward with her smile and energy. Chika’s undauntable way of looking ahead was really radiant. She expressed her emotions straightforwardly, and her foundation of unwaveringly facing her dreams really empathized with me.

Aida: I too, really respect Riko in a lot of aspects. Even though she wasn’t the type to take initiative, ever since she became a school idol, she didn’t stand out, but was still an indispensable part of Aqours, acting as a strength from below. She was pessimistic, and while she didn’t have confidence in herself, she worked hard to give her support to the other members when they needed it most. I admire Riko for being this type of girl.

Suwa: Even though Kanan was separated from everyone else by being away from school in the beginning, she made her appearance in a scene in the sea, and she is the sort of leader who would lead everyone along in exercising, calling out to everyone to follow her to bond by the sea. Kanan placed #1 in the center elections, and she took the center spot for the new song HAPPY PARTY TRAIN, and even though I was astonished I was also really happy! Season 2 of the TV anime is also airing this Fall. All 9 members were gathered together in Season 1, and from Season 2 onwards they can have activities as a full group from the very start, which I’m really looking forward to!

Aida: Mhm, in Season 1 Episode 13 they were able to participate in the preliminaries of Love Live!, which was their heart’s desire, and so we were able to welcome the “shine” that the girls had become. And that’s precisely why from here on, I want them to also aim to become the top school idols in the country within Love Live!. I was able to see the ways that they have matured in Episode 13, so I want to see the 9 of them mature more and more.

Inami: I feel completely the same, and just as I thought, Chika’s goal is Love Live!, so I wonder how the outcome will be. And because of that, I want to face that and go and see more of the girls who are shining even brighter.

Suwa Nanaka Debuted as a seiyuu in 2013’s Aoi Sekai no Chuushin de. Voices Matsuura Kanan in Love Live! Sunshine!! from 2015 onwards. She is taking on the center role for Aqours’ 3rd Single HAPPY PARTY TRAIN, released on April 5th.

Inami Anju Debuted as a seiyuu in Hinata no Aoshigure, released in 2013. She takes part in activities as a seiyuu, actress and singer. She voices the protagonist of Love Live! Sunshine!!, Takami Chika, from 2015 onwards.

Aida Rikako A girl who returned from overseas after living in Los Angeles for four years during elementary school. Debuted as a seiyuu in Pac-world in 2014. After that, she voices Sakurauchi Riko in Love Live! Sunshine!! from 2015 onwards.

#love live #love live sunshine #inami anju #anchan #aida rikako #rikyako #suwa nanaka #suwawa #diver #diver magazine #interview #numazu #tour guide #travel guide #diving #dive #seiyuu #translation #formal #aqours

[frozenmikan]

B.L.T September 2018 ft. Aqours - Interview with Inami Anju

“Please look at the 9 of them, who struggled with all their might to overcome their obstacles”

Q: As a member of Aqours, please give us your thoughts about your activities up to today.

A: Upon reflecting on everything that has happened, it feels like we’ve been pushing forward with all we had every single moment. Since “Love Live!” came before “Love Live! Sunshine!!”, there were a lot of things that made me overthink and worried me. As we continued along this path, it was as if we finally made it out of the forest and saw the scenery that spread out before us… The year leading up to our 1st Live felt really long. After that, it was as if our emotions and horizons broadened a lot, which made time seem to fly after our 1st Live.

Q: After performing in Hakodate in April, the 2 members of Saint Snow joined you for your 3rd Live, causing quite a stir.

A: The first time we performed together was during the Hakodate Unit Carnival, which seemed very much like a performance by the 4 different subunits individually. Since they brought to the table something none of us could bring, it was really exciting. At the same time, I also saw them really nervous, even if it was just for a while. I’m sure they felt the same uncertainty that we held in our hearts up till our 1st Live, as well as the emotional moment of hearing everyone’s loud cheers on stage. That’s what I felt after observing them.

Q: Looking back on the project as a whole, are there any parts of it that you’d want fans to pay particular attention to?

A: I guess it’d be how Aqours are “School idols leaping out of Numazu”. All 9 of them struggling with all their might and overcoming their obstacles. To me, those are the most impactful scenes of the anime. In particular, after the end of the anime’s second season, I felt like I gave it my all, until I no longer remember anything about it. What Chika thought, what Chika felt, I put all of that into one single moment. I gave my all for her, so much so that I didn’t have the time to think about anything else, in a good way, of course.

Q: Please give us a few words about the upcoming Live & Fan Meeting 2018 – Subunit Battle Tour.

A: CYaRon currently has a two-time losing streak in these subunit battles, so I really want to win next time (lol). The part I’d like everyone to pay the most attention to is the light and warm atmosphere only the three of us can create. Both Aiai and Shuka are really kind and warm and since we’re a subunit that’s really laid-back and free, I’d like everyone to experience that very laid-back feeling during our fan meetings.

Q: In commemoration of your 4th Live in November, its theme song “Thank you, FRIENDS!!” was announced a while back.

A: When I first heard it, it gave off a feeling of a first encounter. It’s a song that made me think “Oh, it’s our song”. It’s a song that makes one tune in to the lyrics and look back on the many things that have happened. It makes one feel a little lonely, but also warm at the same time. Towards the end, one gets excited, since it’s a song that foretells the creation of even more wonderful scenes in the future.

Q: Do you already have an image of how this song will be performed at Tokyo Dome?

A: Not really, no. This goes for the lives that we’ve already performed too, but I’m really amazed by how everyone at the venue naturally becomes one, it’s an atmosphere that I can’t fully grasp until I see it with my own eyes. I always take off my ear monitors to hear everyone’s voices clearly. It’ll be nice if we could come up with lots and lots of things to deliver on stage on that day, to recreate a similar scene at Tokyo Dome as well.

TL: xIceArcher QC: Mega Scans: @picup

#love live #love live sunshine #aqours #inami anju #anchan

[gdwessel]

Kizuna Road 2021 Night 3 - 6/16/2021; Government Likely To Lift State Of Emergency Except Okinawa, Go To “Intensive Measures” Elsewhere, Set Hard Attendance Cap At 10,000; Wrestle Grand Slam In Tokyo Dome Rescheduled to 7/25/2021 With Shingo v. Ibushi, Yokohama Stadium Cancelled, Saitama MetLife Dome 9/4 + 9/5/2021 Added; Josh Alexander Debuts On NJPW Strong This Week

The tour continued today, in a show you can see now on NJPWWorld. A 10-man Elimination Match was the headliner today.

- 6/16/2021, Tokyo Korakuen Hall (NJPWWorld)

Yuya Uemura Trial Series: Hiroshi Tanahashi d. Yuya Uemura (Texas Cloverleaf, 13:17)

Yota Tsuji Trial Series: Kazuchika Okada [CHAOS] d. Yota Tsuji (Toque Espaldas, 8:53)

Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata d. Kota Ibushi, Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma (Kojima > Honma, lariat, 11:56)

Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru [SZKG] d. Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI [Los Ingobernables] (Desperado > BUSHI, El Es Claro, 11:30)

Elimination Match: EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Dick Togo, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo [Bullet Club] d. Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI, SHO & YOH [CHAOS] (31:28) Order of Eliminations: - Yujiro > YOSHI-HASHI, OTTR - SHO > Yujiro, OTTR - Ishii > Togo, DQ - EVIL > Ishii, OTTR - Goto <> EVIL, OTTR - Phantasmo > YOH, OTTR - SHO > Phantasmo, OTTR - Ishimori > SHO, Bloody Cross

Ishimori taunted RPG3K post-main in the run-up to their title match next week. Naito and SANADA took their autograph trolling to ZSJ tonight. Okada’s finish is one I don’t think I’ve ever seen him do, a lucha finisher that starts like an abdominal stretch before pinning his opponent’s shoulders. Really good looking if done right.

The government seems poised to lift the state of emergency on 6/11/2021 for all covered prefectures except Okinawa, who will keep theirs until 7/11/2021. That date is also set for seven of the other nine prefectures under the state of emergency (Tokyo, Osaka, Aichi, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Kyoto and Fukuoka) to go into “intensive anti-virus measures,” whatever the Hell that means at this point because the state of emergency was treated as anything but. Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa Prefectures will continue their own “intensive preventative measures” until 7/11/2021 as well, whilst Gifu and Mie Prefectures will completely end their states of emergency.

In addition, the government also looks set to institute a hard attendance cap at major events of 10,000 persons. This will take the place of the incredibly vague “5,000 persons or 50% of capacity” rule that has been in place this whole time, as they finally figured out that making the rule of 5,000 or 50%, whichever was highest, is a good way to have a superspreader event. Of course, these Olympics are very much headed to be that as well. All of this could be for naught, and this Olympiad is still very much at risk of being a complete disaster.

NJPW released some updates today regarding the fate of the Wrestle Grand Slam baseball stadium shows.

Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome, which was supposed to take place 5/29/2021 and be headlined by Will Ospreay v. Kazuchika Okada, has now been moved to 7/25/2021, and will instead feature Shingo Takagi’s first defense of the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship v. Kota Ibushi in the main event. This will make Shingo’s first time ever headlining the Tokyo Dome in his storied career. No other matches are announced yet, however no other matches were announced the first time either, so at least that’s not changed.

The Yokohama Stadium event that was postponed from 5/15/2021 has now been fully cancelled, with NJPW stating they could not figure out a suitable date to reschedule the event to. That said, they have announced two days at the Saitama MetLife Dome, home of the Saitama Seibu Lions baseball team, for 9/4/2021 and 9/5/2021. NJPW have not run this arena since the final weekend of G1 Climax 24 back in August 2014, when it was still the Seibu Dome. 

Of course, given the run of luck these shows have had so far, I wouldn’t entirely count on them happening until the opening bell is rung.

Yota Tsuji and Yuya Uemura aren’t the only Young Lions in a trial series right now, as Alex Coughlin seems to be in one himself over on NJPW Strong. This week, he will face the debuting Josh Alexander, the current Impact Wrestling X Division champion. This isn’t the first time the reigning X Division champion has been on NJPW programming recently, as Chris Bey took part in Super J-Cup 2020 whilst holding that belt. However, unless you want to count TJP’s frequent appearances, this will be the first time a current member of the Impact roster has come to NJPW programming since the new co-promotion deal was announced. Now if we can get some AEW talent working Strong (besides Jon Moxley, who just had his first child yesterday! Congratulations to Renee Paquette and Johnathan Good on the birth of Nora.). That show is Friday night at 10pm EDT / 9pm CDT on NJPWWorld.

The tour takes a day off tomorrow, before resuming Friday in a non-streamed show.

- 6/18/2021, Shizuoka Kira Messe Numazu

Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma & Yota Tsuji v. HIroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata

Hiroshi Tanahashi & Yuya Uemura v. Minoru Suzuki & DOUKI [SZKG]

Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & Toru Yano [CHAOS] v. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Dick Togo & Jado [Bullet Club]

SHO, YOH & Kazuchika Okada [CHAOS] v. Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo & Gedo [Bullet Club]

Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI [Los Ingobernables]  v. Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru [SZKG]

Strong Style Story Podcast Episode 75 on PWOM

#NJPW #new japan pro wrestling #Kizuna Road #njkizuna #taiji ishimori #Kazuchika Okada #yota tsuji #Zack Sabre Jr #tetsuya naito #sanada #COVID-19 #Tokyo Olympics #tokyo 2020 olympics #wrestle grand slam #njwgs #josh alexander #njpw strong #njpwstrong #alex coughlin #njoa #njpwworld

[kobayashi-aika]

Seiyuu Animedia September 2018: Interview with Kobayashi Aika (Part 1)

The first of two interviews in the recent Seiani. This one was Saint Aqours Snow themed.

Scans from Dyrea. QC from Mega.

“I can feel a ring around Aqours”

Q: Now that the 3rd Live Tour is over, tell us some of your honest thoughts.

A: It went by even faster than the 2nd Live Tour. We gave it our all, and had a lot of fun, but it still feels like there was a hole left in my heart. There were days after the tour ended where I would think “Oh, I guess there’s no rehearsal today?” (laughs).

Q: Were there any challenges you set for yourself during the 3rd Live Tour?

A: Definitely my solo song! Having everyone’s eyes on me in such huge venues, and basking in the glow of penlights in my color… just thinking about it makes me shiver. Being able to give input into the design of our performances made me really happy, too. It was a performance filled with things that we wanted to do, and so I wanted to let everyone fall in love with Yohane. I designed the performance thinking, “I want everyone to see how charming Yohane can be”.

Q: Was singing while sitting on a chair your idea?

A: Ever since I first heard the song, I had the mental image of sitting on a throne while singing, and the costume I imagined looked a lot like the SIF Punk Rock set costumes, so I suggested those for this performance. Also, the title of the song is “in this unstable world”, so I had the image of constantly going back and forth between Yoshiko and Yohane. It’s about what’s there between an angel and a fallen angel, so I also put a black and white wing on the back. Yohane was wearing white on the cover of Season 1’s Blu-Ray Volume 4, and I think white looks good on her. So I tried to convey the idea of Yohane and Yoshiko’s coexistence. I’m glad I was able to get that across in my solo song; the costume turned out even better than I imagined.

Q: Did you have any goals or challenges for the group songs as well?

A: I’m always performing to look like just Yohane does, but this live focused on Season 2, so I made it my goal to focus on getting the little details down. For example, in MY Mai☆TONIGHT, there’s the  “O” shaped mouths. It hasn’t really come up before, but in the song, there are a lot of places where we stress the “O” syllable, so I took a good look at how they’re done. I also made sure to check exactly how many times I need to wink, and I’ve become more conscious about what the other members are doing. I feel like I want to become a vessel to for Yohane to descend into and perform in.

Q: You’re really mindful about the details, aren’t you?

A: Right. There’s the “Yohane Bun”, but I also make sure my bangs are just like hers, and I dye my hair a little blue. I think it’s nice that I can become a vessel for Yohane, and let the audience connect with her, even for just one moment.

Q: Did anything in Aqours’ performances leave an impression on you throughout the tour?

There’s two things. One is definitely MIRACLE WAVE. I know how hard Anchan has been working, so I was really moved by her. At the moment of the jump, there’s a part in the choreography where she looks right at me, and I can see her holding in her emotions, and her nervousness right up close. I don’t know what kind of face I should show her...and when I see her expression, it makes me want to cry. But I feel like I have to cheer her up, and I think Yohane is the kind of person to do that too, so I always tell her “Go for it! You can do it!”. I’m so happy that she didn’t get hurt across the 3 venues and 6 performances.

Q: And what’s the other thing?

A: WONDERFUL STORIES. It’s the tour title, so I thought it might come sometime in the middle or at the end of the main performance, but it turns out that we did it at the end of the encore. I feel like the song being an insert song at the very, very end of episode 13 has a lot of meaning. It’s a summary of Love Live! Sunshine!!, as if the song was our curtain call. Having that be our last song gives even more meaning to the place that this franchise has brought us to. I think it’s really significant.

Q: How was performing on stage as Saint Aqours Snow?

A: I bet everyone was excited to finally see “Awaken the Power”, and I was really happy to be able to perform in front of everyone as Saint Aqours Snow! It’s an insert song in a very important episode of Season 2, so I think everyone had high expectations. Standing at center stage and being enveloped in everyone’s cheers felt really great… I was so surprised at how hyped up everyone was (laughs). It was fun feeling the power of the Numazu school idols and the Hakodate school idols coming together.

Q: From the 1st Live and the 2nd Live Tour, up until this 3rd Live Tour, what part of you do you think has grown the most?

A: I feel like our camaraderie has gotten even stronger. We were somehow able to make it through the 1st Live, but since then, our bonds have gotten even deeper. We went from being just friends to best friends, and from best friends to being like family by the time the 3rd Live Tour came around. Our individual feelings are all connected, and I’m excited to see where we’ll go from here.

Q: And what comes after becoming family?

A: As Yohane would say, everything will become one...something like that. (laughs).

Q: Do you feel like anything about Aqours has changed or grown with the 3rd Live Tour?

A: We do two days at every venue, and the first day is always nerve-wracking, but when I look at everyone’s faces, they look like they’re having fun. It’s different from the debilitating nervousness we felt during the 1st Live; even though we’re nervous, I can feel that we’re enjoying ourselves. I might feel pressure, but I also feel like I want to have fun. It’s probably because I feel like everything will be okay when I’m with everyone.

Q: You mentioned becoming “like family” earlier. Your bonds must have gotten a lot stronger since then.

A: I can feel a ring around Aqours. Of course, there’s the ring that we form right before every performance, But also, the bonds between all of us in Aqours, and everyone in the audience who comes to see us, form an even bigger ring around us. That makes me feel at ease.

Q: Lastly, what do you think are Aqours’ strongest points?

A: There’s the “ring”, but also, our unity! Our performances are never something we make by ourselves. Whenever we rehearse, I never feel like our performance is fully completed. The fact that people come to our lives and get excited is what completes it. I think that’s one of the charms of Aqours, and it’s our strongest point.

I’m excited to see where these deepened bonds will take us

Q: Any memories from lives, fanmeets or overseas events?

A: At LA, the fans gave us a special surprise with their penlights by making a rainbow. I wasn’t sure about how well we would be accepted in a different country, but that showed us that everyone was happy to see us. When I saw it, I just started crying.

Q: Did anything fun happen during the 3rd Live Tour?

A: During rehearsals, Aida Rikako-chan fell right asleep while we were backstage (laughs). It was really funny, so everyone was taking pictures and videos. But then her eyes started opening and she kept sleeping with her eyes half open (laughs).

Q: Any thoughts from the Hakodate Unit Carnival?

A: The 11 of us singing “Yume Kataru yori Yume Utaou” left a deep impression on me. Also, for the people listening, seeing the units go AZALEA-CYaRon!-Guilty Kiss was probably a breath of fresh air.

#kobayashi aika #aikyan #seiyuu #animedia #aqours #saint aqours snow #wonderful stories