I had to work until about 6pm, then rush off for a one hour half tutoring session. I was exhausted as hell... but was energized the minute I saw my student again. She smiled so excitedly and squealed, "Hisashiburiiiii!!" so cutely, I just. My ovaries. ;; Why are kids so cute?
A-Anyway.
It's been a while, but--
Aiba Masaki.
Aiba-chan. In short, he's cute.
He's cute, he explodes, and he's also energetic.
♥ - Aiba's so cute that even a man like himself can say he's cute. Takeuchi never thought he would ever call someone of the same sex "cute".
♥ - When he told his female Arashi-loving friends that he found Aiba cute, they told him that was a good thing; don't lie to yourself, they said, if you find something cute, just say it's cute; it's that simple.
♥ - Takeuchi has the image of a boy running about catching bugs in the middle of summer when he thinks of Aiba. Someone who expresses joy with his whole body, who doesn't hide anything, who has a kind personality.
♥ - Nakayama, host of the NTV show "Rajikaru" that Aiba went on as a guest once, said, "Aiba has wonderful manners, and he's very respectful to his seniors." Takeuchi adds that, indeed, along with the rest of the Arashi members, Aiba is well-received by the entertainment industry in Japan. He believes that the honest sincerity of Arashi is preserved by Aiba's presence.
♥ - He believes that Aiba's smile is the epitome of an Idol Smile. He has a firm conviction that Aiba's fans -- male and female -- fell for him because of his smile. It's as cute and innocent as a beaver.
♥ - Takeuchi also believes that Aiba is the one who strengthens Arashi's tight bond. Behind the boyish youth, is a strong man. When Aiba has a serious expression, it strikes you hard, because there's an air of strength behind it. He's a courageous man with lots of guts, evident from his attempts on the giant kite for Odoroki no Arashi and his encounters with aggressive predators on TSD.
♥ - He thinks Aiba looks best when he's running. A straw hat suits him best - exactly like the main character of One Piece, Luffy. Clean, without filth, Aiba is the pure type. And he really loves Arashi; he can't hide that love at all. Takeuchi brings up the Time tour, where Aiba sang "Friendship". In many ways, this song reflects a lot of Aiba himself, as well as his feelings for Arashi. A line in friendship: "Unmeiteki na gosaro, hitotsu ni tsunagari tsuzuite yuku" = "Our pre-destined five branching paths continue to be bound into one". Even the other Arashi members agree that this was a good song. And while these touching words were better suited for a slow ballad, Aiba sang it in his adorable, adorable fashion, and with such enjoyment, that Takeuchi couldn't help but find Aiba very cute.
♥ - Because Aiba can sing about his love for Arashi so openly, because Aiba can love so openly, he has persuasive powers. Arashi members are aware of that, and so are the staff. According to the interview pamphlet: "Aiba's strongest point is that he's the one who treasures all the members most."
♥ - In the pamphlet, Nino said that his favourite song in the Time album was "Friendship". Oh-chan also said that the song touched him, without trying at all. Sho said the title could've referred to Arashi, but Aiba said:
♥ - "I'm singing about Arashi in this song. But I want people to take this as a song for their own friends."
♥ - That's why he made the title "Friendship". While he's singing about the miraculous friendship he has with Arashi, he wants everyone to think about their own miraculous encounters with this song; yes, the title holds a deep meaning. "Caring" is a good word for Aiba.
♥ - Three years ago, when Arashi hosted 24-hour TV, Aiba surprised everyone with his letter. Watching Aiba read the letter in a trembling voice and a teary expression, it was incredibly touching. As he went through it, the other members watched over him fondly. When Takeuchi rewatched this recording again, he wanted to say to Aiba, "Your pre-destined five branching paths do continue to be bound into one - and they always will."
And now, lunch! Where I shall watch Kokuritsu DVD again and ooooooze.