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namixart · 3 months ago

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What You Cherish Most

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Seek, and you are sure to find. But alas, you shall forever lose what you cherish most.

It wasn’t like he could hide it.

Cloud was sure everyone knew, everyone could see it, everyone could tell. They were just being gracious about it, protecting his dignity for once instead of teasing him to death. The only one who’d said anything had been Yuffie—she’d gotten on his ass after they’d escaped Corel prison, late at night, when the others were asleep in the buggy and it was just the two of them, him driving and her trying to keep the contents of her stomach inside of it.

“What the hell was that?” she said out of nowhere.

And Cloud knew what she meant immediately. He’d been wondering, himself.

The sandstorm approached, fast and dangerous. They were right in its path. His trained SOLDIER instincts told him to run, to find shelter, to bark out orders and get everyone to safety. But something else was pulling him in another direction, something much deeper and more powerful: white-hot panic at the thought of her getting hurt. He knew she was standing right beside him, wide open and in danger. Before he really knew what he was doing, Cloud grabbed her by the shoulders, pulling her close and shielding her with his body. She was smaller than him, lighter, softer. A sandstorm could blow her away, away from him, forever. Not on his watch. He held her closer to him as they started running towards Barret, with Cloud as the only thing shielding her from the storm.

He would stand between her and danger forever, if she allowed it.

If he got hurt, so be it. Just as long as she was safe.

With Yuffie, he just shrugged. “Dunno what you’re talkin’ about.”

She scoffed. “Sure you don’t.” She looked out of the buggy, over the dark plains of the desert around them.

“You got a point?” he asked.

“You ain’t slick,” continued Yuffie, leaning back in her seat and tossing a glance at their companions, making sure they were still asleep. “Something happen? You’ve been jumpy since the Gold Saucer.”

“I haven’t been jumpy,” said Cloud, keeping his eyes trained forward. If Yuffie noticed the way his grip on the steering wheel tightened, she didn’t say.

She sighed. “Fine, whatever. Dunno why I even bother. Don’t wanna talk about it? Fine. Just keep your wits about you, Blondie. Aerith can take care of herself. We all can.”

I know, thought Cloud. He knew she could, he’d known since he’d met her. But knowing didn’t help the knot of anxiety in his stomach. He glanced at the rear view mirror to catch a glimpse of her sleeping soundly, curled up next to Red, and he let out a sigh of relief. Of course she was okay. Of course. He shook his head, and realised Yuffie was still waiting on an answer. He shrugged again. “Doin’ my job,” he said, hoping it sounded casual enough.

“Right, you’re her bodyguard,” she said, with a hint of mockery in her tone. “And how’re you getting paid, again?”

“Shut your face,” he muttered. Childishly, maybe, but Yuffie drew it out in him. She laughed, and he flipped her off without looking at her.

---

Truth was, Cloud had been on edge since the Gold Saucer, now a good few days behind them. It was a gnawing kind of anxiety, where he couldn’t exactly pinpoint its cause or its beginning. He just knew that it revolved around Aerith. He’d always been protective of her—bodyguard and all—but the sheer panic was new. He felt as if, at any time, he was in danger of blinking and finding her gone forever. He didn’t know why, but it scared the shit out of him.

If Aerith noticed or minded him hovering around her more than usual, she didn’t say anything. After that first night with Yuffie, nobody did. But there was no way they couldn’t see it. Instead of jumping headfirst into the fray of battle, he kept to the middle distance, always making sure Aerith was in sight and, most importantly, safe.

Cloud had never been a protector, he didn’t think. Despite his promise to Tifa, his ambitions to become a SOLDIER had had more to do with the glory of battle than with protecting those around him. He’d dreamt of slaying monsters to prove that he was strong, not to keep them from hurting people. Maybe he’d changed, maybe Aerith had changed him.

Getting separated from her was a unique kind of hellish. He couldn’t literally follow her everywhere, and logically he knew that she would be completely safe back at camp while he and Barret went on to scout ahead. But, then again, nothing about his situation was logical.

There was a light smack on his back, and he realised he’d been looking back over his shoulder, as if he could still catch a glimpse of her from behind the bend in the path.

“Get a grip, man,” said Barret, putting his hand on his hip. “Everything’s gonna be fine. Campsite’s well-hidden. They’ll be safe.”

They. Not she. Tactfully avoiding the actual issue at hand. Cloud was grateful for it—hadn’t thought Barret had tact in him.

He just nodded. “Right,” he said. “Let’s—”

“Actually,” said Barret, holding up a hand, “I’ve been meaning to talk to you.”

Scratch that. He didn’t have any tact after all.

Cloud winced and looked away. “About?”

Barret motioned for him to follow. As they walked together down the winding path, carved between desert rocks, he sighed. “Been sleeping? You look rough.”

Cloud furrowed his brows. “Uh, yeah.” He scratched the back of his neck. “Not too well, though, I guess.”

“How come?”

He shrugged noncommittally. The same black anxiety kept him up—listening for any noises in the night, any signs of a threat approaching. He had to be ready, he had to be alert, he had to keep her safe.

Barret hummed, a pensive and loaded sort of sound.

Cloud scowled at him. “What?”

“Okay, look,” started Barret with a sigh, “I think I know what’s goin’ on here.”

Cloud looked away, back at the path. “Nothing’s goin’ on.”

“I was there, Cloud.”

That made him stop. “There?” he asked, blinking at Barret. “Where?”

He pointed his thumb back over his shoulder. “At the hotel, the night we met Cait Sith.”

“I don’t follow.”

Barret scoffed. “C’mon, man. The dumb fortune you got. You let it get to you, right?”

Cloud furrowed his brows. “The—”

Seek, and you are sure to find. But alas, you shall forever lose what you cherish most.

Any protests he may have had in mind died in his throat.

Barret, seeing the flash of understanding in his eyes, carried on. “That’s it, isn’t it? It got to you, and now you’re all jumpy thinkin’ one of us is gonna get hurt.”

Cloud just stared at him. One of us. Technically true, he supposed.

Shit.

“But, hey, it’s nothing but a whole heap of nonsense, y’hear?” continued Barret, undeterred. “Shit, we’re in danger every day, but we’ll all be fine. We got this. But you gotta relax, man. You’re no use to anyone jumpin’ at shadows.”

Cloud nodded dumbly. He was having trouble following what Barret was saying, honestly.

What I cherish most.

True or not, that stupid fortune had gotten to him. That was the origin of his anxiety. He almost wanted to laugh at Barret. It made sense, what he was suggesting. That the entire team was what he cherished most. But the truth was clear and simple.

As much as he cared about all of them, there was only one person he’d thought about protecting for the past few days. There was only one person he kept an eye on in battle like it would kill him to look away. There was only one person he’d shielded from the sandstorm.

And, damnit, Yuffie’d figured it out before him.

It was getting hard to breathe too, now.

Barret was still talking, but all that reached Cloud’s ears was static.

“Right, yeah, sorry,” he muttered, hoping it made sense with what he’d said. “I just need to rest. I’ll turn in early tonight.”

Barret hummed, pleased, and patted him lightly on the shoulder. “Atta boy. Now c’mon, let’s secure this area and get back to camp. I think Tifa’s making stew and I do not wanna be late.”

Cloud nodded absentmindedly. He wanted to get back as soon as possible, too.

---

It was supposed to be a simple job. Some monster-slaying to scrounge up the funds to pay the pilot to take them to Cosmo Canyon. But, of course, things were never ever simple.

“Take cover!” yelled Tifa, ducking behind a tree as the monster charged towards them, surrounded by a curtain of fire.

Cloud hissed through his teeth as he scrambled out of the way. The thick jungle around Gongaga was a pain in the ass to fight in. The trees made for cover opportunities, but they also gave him very little room to manoeuvre in, and he had to resort to hit-and-run tactics just to stay alive.

There was a loud crash, and the monster roared in pain. When Cloud found it again, he saw that it had slammed into a tree, only inches away from where Tifa and Cait Sith had taken cover.

“Scatter!” he shouted. He made to touch a Materia in his bangle, but the spell died in his throat.

The tree had caught on fire, and the impact of the monster running into it had crushed the thick trunk at the base. As if in slow-motion, Cloud saw the trunk bend and fall down, down, down, setting fire to the branches of other trees in its way.

And under it, focused on casting an ice spell on the monster, was Aerith.

Cloud moved before he’d even fully registered she was in danger, the familiar black panic turning to adrenaline. He ran across the battlefield, weaving between his friends who hadn’t even noticed how could they not notice she was right there in danger and she hadn’t noticed either but he was almost there almost there almost there!

He heard her surprised gasp as he collided into her at full speed, wrapped his arms around her, and pushed them both out of the path of the falling tree.

The world sped up again as they rolled together into the underbrush of the jungle, with Cloud holding Aerith tight to his chest and trying to cushion her fall.

“C-Cloud!?” she exclaimed, out of breath, when they stopped. “Cloud, you—”

He pushed himself up on shaky arms, braced on the ground on either side of her head, careful not to crush her. She was covered in soot and flushed from the exertion and the heat of the fire. She stared up at him with wide eyes, and her chest rose and fell unevenly, but surely.

Cloud finally let out a sigh of relief.

“You’re okay…” he whispered, closing his eyes.

He heard the rustle of the grass as she nodded. “I’m okay. You?”

Probably. He didn’t care. He just shrugged as he opened his eyes to look at her again.

Aerith shot him a hesitant smile, then glanced to the side, to where their friends were still fighting. “Cloud, we should—”

He balled his hands into fists in the grass as another jolt of fear shot through him. “No. You stay here. I’ll take care of it.”

She snorted and braced her hands on his shoulders. “C’mon, Cloud, don’t be silly.”

He didn’t budge. “Please, Aerith. I…” He trailed off. The noises of the battle kept on going behind them, but Cloud paid them no mind. All he could think about was Aerith, and how she’d almost died. If he’d been just one second slower—

“Cloud?” she called, barely more than a whisper.

He pressed his lips together. “Just… Just stay here. Where it’s safe.”

“What?” Aerith blinked owlishly up at him, as if he was the one who wasn’t making any sense. “But—”

“Please.” She wasn’t getting it. Cloud had to make her understand. “Please,” he repeated, leaning down. Shakily, he pressed his lips against her forehead, just for a second, but long enough to silence her protests. “Just—Let me handle this,” he said against her skin, before drawing away. Aerith stared up at him, eyes even wider than they’d been before. Her cheeks were still flushed, but Cloud didn’t know if it was from the battle or because of him. “Okay?” he asked.

After a long, excruciating beat of silence, she nodded slowly.

Cloud hummed, pleased, then carefully climbed off of her and to his feet. Immediately, she scrambled to a sitting position, but she just stared at him and made no attempt to get up. Cloud finally managed to tear his eyes away from her. With one last sigh, he took off again towards his discarded sword.

Before he could jump back into the fray, he felt the crackle of an ice spell, and from the corner of his eye he spotted the burning tree getting encased in it, and he bit down a smile halfway through fond and frustrated.

Of course she’d find a loophole.

---

Adrenaline, Cloud decided, made him fucking stupid.

It had made him damn near fly across a battlefield to snatch Aerith out from the path of a falling flaming tree, and that was all well and good, but it had also made him pin her to the forest floor, beg her to stay safe like a terrified child, and kiss her.

And now that it was gone, all that was left inside his veins was anxiety so violent that he felt physically ill. His only solace in the situation was that nobody else had noticed what he’d done in the jungle, just assumed that Aerith had gotten separated from them by the tree. Cloud had caught suspicious looks from Yuffie and Red, but had duly ignored them. He’d only picked at his food that night, and then excused himself from the welcoming overcrowdedness of Cissnei’s house to find refuge in the cool nightly breeze of Gongaga. The rest of the team hadn’t questioned him, but he’d felt Aerith’s serious gaze on him the entire time.

Cloud wandered the streets without a destination, trying to clear his mind. Unfortunately, his thoughts inevitably drifted back to Aerith. And how he’d messed everything up by being an overprotective, paranoid idiot.

He knew it was only a matter of time until she found him and demanded to know what the hell had gotten into him. Knowing that, Cloud wanted to come up with something to tell her, something that explained his behaviour without actually explaining it.

It was telling of the state of his nerves that, by the time he spotted the familiar pink dress approaching, he’d made absolutely no progress on that.

“You, mister, have got some ‘splaining to do,” said Aerith, putting her hands on her hips. She didn’t look upset, but there was a firmness in her eyes that told him that there would be no escape either.

Cloud grimaced. Great. He really wanted to have that conversation in Gongaga of all places, in spitting distance of the childhood home of her first love.

She’d found him on a bridge overlooking the stream that flowed through the village. Nobody else was around, and the only sounds to be heard were the quiet rustle of the water and the chirping of crickets.

Cloud didn’t look her in the eye. “I’m sorry,” he said quickly. “Dunno what got into me.”

Aerith huffed and leaned on the barrister right beside him. “Right. And you’ve been ignoring me all day for funsies instead of saying just that.”

He didn’t reply.

He heard her sigh. “You know, I realised I haven’t thanked you for saving me, back there. So, thank you.”

“Uh, sure. Don’t mention it.”

“But what I wanna know,” she continued, “is what happened after that.” She leaned forward to try to catch his eye, but he avoided her. “I’ve never seen you so…” She bit her lip, hesitating. “Scared.”

Yeah. Scared just about summed it up.

“I…” He fiddled with his hands over the barrister. “I, uh…”

Aerith waited patiently for a minute, but when it became obvious he wasn’t actually going to say anything, she sighed and let her gaze fall to her hands as well. “Can I ask you a question?”

Cloud hummed and snuck a glance at her. She was drumming her fingers on the wooden rail, and she looked slightly on edge.

“Barret mentioned something,” she said. “About a… fortune? Something you heard from Cait Sith back at the Saucer.”

Cloud knew that stiffening up and sucking in a sharp breath would let her know that she’d hit the nail on the head, but it wasn’t like he could help it. She looked at him and met his eyes for the first time that night.

“He said that you’re scared that something might happen to one of us, and that’s why you’ve been jumpy.”

He wished he could retreat into his shoulders. “He did, did he.”

Aerith frowned. “Don’t play dumb with me. You might fool Barret, but I know you better than that. And I pay attention.” She leaned towards him. “Where were you when Yuffie was almost crushed by Palmer’s frog robot? When Red got knocked out by that sand monster? When Barret nearly fell off that bridge in the jungle?” She bit her bottom lip for a moment, then furrowed her brows and met his gaze again, resolute. “Where were you, Cloud?”

With you.

He pulled his eyes away. “It matter what I say? Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out.”

Aerith groaned. “Why do you always have to make things more difficult?” she muttered. “Fine, you wanna play this game? Let’s play.” She spun around, leaning her back against the barrister of the bridge. He eyed the motion nervously. “Wanna know where you were? You were shielding me.” She pointed at her face for emphasis. “For a guy supposedly worried sick about the whole team, you’ve got a funny way of showing it.”

Cloud didn’t reply. How could he? His only way out was to lie, and he’d never been great at that, especially around Aerith. So, he stayed silent.

“And today,” she continued, “I know you were scared, but…” She sighed. “We’re all in this together. I can’t just sit battles out because you don’t think I can handle myself.”

That made him look at her again, his head snapping back so fast he thought he might get whiplash. “That’s what you think this is?” he said, staring at her.

Aerith blinked, a little taken aback. “Isn’t it? I mean, I don’t see you asking Tifa or Barret to stay outta trouble, right? And you’ve never—” She cut herself off and looked away for a moment. She didn’t need to spell it out. Cloud felt the heat rise to the tip of his ears as she shook her head and lowered her gaze to her hands in her lap. “I can handle myself,” she said, almost absentmindedly.

“I know,” said Cloud. “Never thought you couldn’t.” Well, maybe just for the first five minutes of knowing her, way back when.

Aerith shot him a sidelong glance. “Then… What’s really going on, Cloud?” There was a strange affect to her voice, one he’d never heard before. A little shy, a little hopeful, maybe.

Cloud swallowed a thick knot in his throat.

She faced him fully and leaned towards him. “Is it really just the bodyguard thing? Or is there something else?” She bit her lip. “If you know I can hold my own, why me? I’m just part of the team. I’m not special.”

“Yeah. You are,” he heard himself say before he could catch the words and shove them back into his throat where they belonged.

Aerith stopped in her tracks, her eyes going even wider and her mouth falling open a little bit. Cloud grimaced and looked away. He couldn’t take it back, but that didn’t mean he was willing to face her.

He crossed his arms, feeling his ears burning. “Forget it. It’s just—Whatever, okay? It’s whatever. I’m your bodyguard. Gotta make sure you’re okay, okay? Dumbass fortune got under my skin. Nothin’ more to it. Sorry I’ve been weird. Whatever.” He knew he sounded stupid and childish, but he was out of options. He was cornered like a wild animal, like a fugitive, like a goddamn idiot who couldn’t face his own feelings, much less the girl they were for.

But Aerith had other plans. Of course she did. Gently, she cupped his cheek and turned his face back to hers. He reluctantly let her. “Cloud,” she whispered, focused and tender, “what did that fortune say?” He pressed his lips together and shrugged a little. A flash of annoyance passed over her face. “Would you rather I hear it from you, or from Cait Sith? Or Barret? I’m sure they’d tell me, if I asked.”

Hell, no.

Cloud screwed his eyes shut. “Seek, and you are sure to find. But alas, you shall forever lose what you cherish most,” he recited with a grimace. “There. Happy?”

Aerith sucked in a small gasp. “What you… cherish most? You know what that could be?” she asked quietly, almost as if she was just as afraid of the answer as he was.

Cloud hazarded a glance back at her. He hadn’t noticed right away, but her hand had slid from his cheek down to his fingers, which she was holding like a lifeline. She looked almost fragile, as if her composure hung on his next few words. He didn’t like seeing her like that. He wanted her to smile again, to laugh again, to be happy again. No more of that uncertain look on her face. No more.

He swallowed thickly. “Yeah,” he whispered. “Think I might.”

She let his words hang in the air for a moment that stretched into a lifetime.

Cloud didn’t even dare to breathe.

Then, slowly, a smile spread across her face, the most beautiful smile he’d ever seen. It reached her eyes and they shone brighter than the stars in the sky. “Huh,” she said casually, cupping his face again with both hands. “Go figure.”

Before Cloud could protest—because, seriously, what the hell was that reaction?—Aerith pulled him into a hug. “Right back atcha,” she whispered, burying her face in the crook of his neck. His hands went to her waist out of pure, stunned reflex, not quite hugging back but not pushing her away either—how could he?

He blinked. Once, twice.

Right back atcha!?

“What?” he asked eloquently.

Aerith giggled as she pulled away a bit. “I cherish you too,” she said softly. “The most.”

And with that, she dragged him down to her and kissed him square on the lips.

This time, Cloud was a little faster on the uptake, as he wrapped his hands around her waist and kissed her back. It only lasted a couple of seconds, and when Aerith stepped away, she left behind the phantom sensation of her lips, sweet and tingling. She smiled up at him, and he knew he had to say something. Especially since she apparently liked him back!?

Cloud cleared his throat. “I, uh…” He scratched the back of his neck and averted his gaze for a second. “I’m… sorry about bein’ jumpy lately? It’s just—I was scared, and I don’t wanna lose—” He grimaced and cut himself off. That was not the romantic speech she deserved.

Aerith shook her head. “I get it,” she said, slipping a hand in his. “I’d have been worried too. I’ll have to give Cait Sith an earful about this—freaking you out like that.” She clicked her tongue playfully, then laughed again—Cloud’s favourite sound. He offered her a small smile, a little hesitant, a lot fond. “Still,” she continued, “I’m not going anywhere, I can promise you that.”

In spite of himself, Cloud relaxed a bit. He would make sure of that too. “I’m still gonna keep an eye on you,” he said, shrugging faux-nonchalantly. “Still my job.”

“Your job, huh?” She tapped her chin for a moment, pretending to think. “Would that be bodyguard or boyfriend?”

He felt the tips of his ears go hot. “I, uh… Whichever you want, I guess,” he mumbled, letting his eyes drop to their still-entwined fingers. “Whatever you want.”

“Hmm.” Aerith tilted his chin back up to face her. “What if I said I want both?”

Cloud huffed out a half laugh. “I’d tell you I don’t work for free. Or cheap.”

She giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I’m sure we can figure something out.”

“Think so?” he asked, returning his hands to her waist. It felt right, like they belonged there.

“Know so,” she said as she pulled him down again.

Kissing Aerith, Cloud felt the knot of anxiety that had taken residence in his stomach finally unravel. She would be okay, they would be okay. Fortune be damned, he’d make sure she’d be okay if it killed him. He kissed her a little harder—a promise, he thought. She responded in kind; another promise.

When she eventually pulled away, he followed her for a moment, until her giggling finally broke the kiss. She leaned back in his arms and gave him a bemused look.

Cloud frowned. “What?”

Aerith nodded back towards Cissnei’s house. “Aren’t you just dying to explain this to Barret? You know he’s gonna ask. The others too—you haven’t exactly been subtle.”

He groaned and let his head fall on her shoulder, holding her a little tighter. “The hell I am. Keep ‘em all guessing. I don’t give a shit.”

She laughed and ran a hand through his hair. “Know what? Neither do I.”

#lmao i keep forgetting to crosspost on tumblr #anyway here's some clerith #final fantasy vii #cloud strife #aerith gainsborough #clerith #my stuff #my writing #my fics

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patriciaselina · 7 years ago

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[VNT 60] TO THE TOP!

Komatsu: During the drinking party of the first anime I'd starred in, the one who'd kindly talked to me, who didn't know his right from his left, was Terashima-san. Terashima: Actually, at that time, Hamano-kun was also there. Hamano: Ee, I didn't know that! Terashima: That we'd have ended up in the same unit in the future seems awfully fated, doesn't it.

Voice Newtype 60 interview featuring Terashima Junta, Komatsu Shohei, and Hamano Daiki of the Idolm@ster Side M unit THE Kogadou! This is crossposted onto Wordpress for archiving purposes but the entire interview can also be found under the cut!

Interview: THE Kogadou (Terashima Junta x Komatsu Shohei x Hamano Daiki) THE Male Friendship nurtured by ramen!

THE Kogadou, a unit of physical martial artists. Introducing these three men, passionate rivals from the same generation, into the world of “Idolm@ster Side M”!

What impressions did your roles leave on you?

Terashima: With Takeru, there wasn't any of the hesitation I felt during the roles I'd previously auditioned for, so I got to portray him easily. Personally, from the beginning I was a person who gets tongue-tied easily, not the kind of cheerful, chatty person at all, so the shy parts of ourselves resemble each other. And since he's a former boxer, I tried to get into the mental state of an athlete, from his mindset to the way you'd expect him to move. Hamano: Did you go meditate under a waterfall or something (lol) Terashima-kun does things at his own pace, but he's a guy who's got stuff bottled up inside, like Takeru. Komatsu: During the drinking party of the first anime I'd starred in, the one who'd kindly talked to me, who didn't know his right from his left, was Terashima-san. Terashima: Actually, at that time, Hamano-kun was also there. Hamano: Ee, I didn't know that! Terashima: That we'd have ended up in the same unit in the future seems awfully fated, doesn't it. Komatsu: Ren, the former martial artist, has speech and conduct unbecoming of an idol, I think he lacks common sense, thinks of life as a game, seems to just have a big mouth but also has real strength to him, and I really, personally think he's an honest kid. He's a completely different type of guy from me, but I'm also quite a sore loser myself, so I think that's the part of him I understand. Hamano: Komatsu-kun is a diligent person, so without a doubt he doesn't like losing, does he. Terashima: I've been wondering why everyone just lets Ren off the hook. But when Komatsu-kun voices him I think isn't that the charm of this brat, perfectly taking on Takeru like this (lol) Komatsu: Ren also has times when he encourages Takeru when he's feeling down, so I also think he's a cute brat sometimes, and there's a lot of mysterious things about him that I want to know about. Hamano: My first impression of Michiru was “Eh? He makes ramen!?” (lol) Terashima: He was a judoka before he became a ramen shop chef, wasn't he. Hamano: I'm harsh on myself, but I've been told that I deal with people kindly [like Michiru does]. He's tolerant, and is the kind of guy one would get hooked on like [they would] his “Otoko Michi Ramen”. Terashima: Hamano-kun's the same age as me and a year older than Komatsu-kun, but you wouldn't think that, because he's the calm one. Hamano: Nope, nope, that's just my voice. Komatsu: Within THE Kogadou, Michiru's always making them large, heavy [meals], so Takeru and Ren let him do whatever he wants. Hamano: You'd pretty much see it from the first time they talk, but Michiru doesn't see it as him being saddled with those two, they're his friends and good rivals so he thinks of them as equals. The team's bonds are strong. Komatsu: I think the fact that they mutually acknowledge each other is an important point about THE Kogadou. Terashima: It's not weird that they became friends; the part where they encourage each other is good. And it ends up in Michiru-san making ramen for them. Hamano: There's an image of “Settle this in one blow! And if you end up being defeated, get along [with the winner].” Terashima: THE Male Camaraderie, isn't it.

Komatsu-san has experience as a stunt man, doesn't he.

Komatsu: In a local show, I'd engaged in battle as a hero role. Terashima: He's the reliable action leader. Komatsu: Eeh. The three of us are leaders in our own ways. Terashima: With [our own] specialties? I'm always smiling, so I wonder if I'm the smile leader. Hamano: All that I can do is at about the amount needed for rugby, yanno. Komatsu: Action, smile, rugby leader... Hamano: That last one has nothing to do with being an idol! Komatsu: Baritone leader, then!

Give us a bit about your unit songs.

Hamano: I wonder how (lol) One song is up-tempo and pitched like rock music, and within the various kinds of tones, the image of three people diligently striving with the music joins in. Terashima: You'd feel their relationship in the lyrics “We're not so soft as to have pity on those fallen brats”. They're aiming for the top together, so they think, “wouldn't we be infallible, then?” Hamano: It reminds you a bit of those nostalgic shounen manga and passionate battle anime series, doesn't it. Terashima: Like a tiger's aura would emerge from behind 'em. As for the second song, it feels like what one might expect from an idol song of yore. Hamano: THE Kogadou's music is somehow nostalgic, isn't it. Komatsu: There's some kind of dialogue-like bargaining, and it colors this with passion. If one were to dance to this while singing it would definitely be cool.

Was there anything you kept in mind while singing DRIVE A LIVE?

Komatsu: Ren is the type who doesn't wait for what the other party would say, so I sung as if he kept finishing his sentences [quickly]. Terashima: For me, more than singing well, I thought it'd be better if I took great care with [portraying] Takeru's stoic, awkward parts. Hamano: With Michiru, it feels as if he's throwing out power with all his might, so he sings earnestly. He's the kind who'd say “let's do this over again!”, trying again no matter how many times, treating [singing] as a sport.

Your unit is under 315 Productions, so what are the “best” moments of everyday life for you?

Terashima: The moment when you and your costars make a toast at a cast party for work. I wanna taste that for THE Kogadou soon! Komatsu: I've just entered this world [of seiyuu], and thanks to SideM, I've had lots of new encounters and I think that's the best part of it. Hamano: Within SideM, there are members close to me in age, as well as friends I've known for a while, and within this industry, I think [working with] people the same age as you is exciting, and the fact that we're all able to do our best together as part of the same production is the best!

Passionate, aren't we. The three of you, what kinds of things would you want to make?

Komatsu: I want to try hosting a radio show. Hamano: It would be good to call out the other manly guys and make a radio show with a rowdy feel to it. Terashima: I want us to become the kind of unit that even outsiders talk about, like “There's some kind of unit called THE Kogadou or something,” Hamano: As we get to do new things one by one, the potential that one of those might be beneficial to us in the future increases. If we keep on aiming for the highest point, as the days pass, we'll get to reach even higher up. Komatsu: [Ren voice] “You guys, let's go at it together 'til we reach the top!” Hamano: Ooh!!! Komatsu-kun, your face is all red though (lol) Komatsu: I'm still so lost as to if it's alright to call everyone “you guys”...but, if it's during a live, I'll hype everyone up fast! Terashima: I'll also enjoy lives in Takeru's way - I'll lock eyes with you all one after another! Hamano: When we'd get to spar with you, Teacher, forget everything else in the face of Michiru's resilience and have fun with us during our live!

(Left) Hamano Daiki／Born March 30／Hometown: Tokyo／Arts Vision／Known roles are Dante Mogro (Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans), Gohonmatsu Masaru (ACTORS), etc.

(Middle) Terashima Junta／Born August 11／Hometown: Nagano／Kenyuu Office／Known roles are Ichijou Shin (KING OF PRISM by PrettyRhythm), Yukimura Hyouga (Inazuma Eleven GO), etc.

(Right) Komatsu Shohei／Born April 14／Hometown: Fukuoka／Ken Productions／Known roles in My Hero Academia, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, etc.

Omake: Talk theme: 60

Komatsu: Every night before I go to sleep, I train for 60 minutes. I can't miss out on at least flexibility and weight training. Terashima: You're way too conscious about that! I can't lose to Komatsu-kun: every night, I eat pudding. I'd like to eat around 60 of 'em! Hamano: If you [Terashima] wanna discipline yourself like Takeru, first off, stop doing that (lol) I think that if I got more than 60 jobs in a month, I'd be happy.

my translation index

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The siren song of “Kogadou photoshoot and joint interview” was way too strong, so I ended up buying the magazine (I am a bad influence to myself) - all text and pictures in here are from my copy of Voice Newtype 60! I ended up translating it to practice reading Japanese but ended up using my phone camera to take pics of kanji so I can zoom in on them more LMAO

I have. Really. REALLY bad eyesight...

Please don't redistribute or otherwise reuse this translation, and/or its attached media (pictures)!

Speaking of pictures - yes! This is the article I get both my current Tumblr and Twitter headers from!

I wanna cry - in Daiki's "And if you get defeated, get along" line, there's the phrase 寝転んで, which is the te form of 寝転ぶ, "nekorobu". Daiki hosts a cat cafe show named "Nekorobi Danshi". Junta has guested in it. I'm,

The second question refers to Shohei's time as part of HIROZ, an action/stunt/idol group that used to do daily hero shows for a local theme park. For this alone, he arguably has the most experience with lives amongst the newer seiyuu.

[Junta voice, Cho Ongakusai 2017] "I'm here for NicoNico [Douga's event], but even in daily living I'm always niconico {grinning}"

Daiki used to play rugby! He's the sporty one of the three (Shohei is plenty athletic but bad with ball games, and Junta is...Junta) and tends to invite the other two out to play games with him.

The first song they refer to ("we're not so soft as to have pity on those fallen brats") is Tsuyoku Totoki Kemono-tachi (Strong, Noble Beasts); the second song (with "dialogue-like bargaining") is Jounetsu (Passionate)...FIGHTER.

The dialogue in question:

Ren (Shohei): I want to be strong, stronger than just about anyone! And I'll only knock you dead...

Michiru(Daiki): Now, now, calm down!

AND THE BEST THING IS THAT MICHIRU'S "Now, now, calm down!" IS ACTUALLY THE HIGHEST KEY HE SINGS.

Their characters' company name is a pun - in Japanese you can pronounce 315 as "sa-i-kou", "the best", hence that question "what are the 'best' moments"

The specific word Junta uses for "cast party" can either be used for a party before the start or after the end of a project. I am assuming he means 'after Kogadou release event is done', but he could also mean 'before Kogadou's major debut'.

Talk about self-fulfilling prophecy - this magazine was originally released June 2016. Come January 2017, the three of them co-hosted 315Pro Night, Side M's radio show, for the first quarter of 2017. Junta's cohosted radio before, this is Daiki's second radio as co-host (the first one being Voyage Wave), and also Shohei's first time co-hosting a radio show.

"You guys" doesn't have the same pizzazz as Ren's "omaera!!" but we'll have to make do...

"I'll lock eyes with you all one after another" - Per the in-game manga, some fans in-story have noticed that Takeru tends to look everyone in the audience straight in the eyes - he became an idol in the hopes of being found by his siblings, and thus always looks for them in a crowd.

What I translated in Daiki's last line from the main interview as "Teacher" is 師匠 ("Shishou"), a respectful term for a martial arts teacher, usually, more specifically, a judo teacher! Not surprising, considering Michiru's judo background. Michiru only refers to the player's producer character with this, and Daiki follows suit, only ever referring to Side M fans as 師匠 as well.

If you've noticed something with their cast profiles at the very end - yes, Ren is actually Shohei's first named character role, hence why his bit, at the time the interview was printed, only has series titles listed. (Shh I am not emo)

Anyway, thanks for reading, I hope you liked it!

#seiyuu #idolmaster sidem #terashima junta #komatsu shohei #hamano daiki #the kogadou #my translations #interview translation

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