I want to join a rowing club and start rowing.
Damn it.
I should have taken the chance to post on 29th February. But instead I was still in a daze after passing my driving test. Next leap year, I'll definitely write a post! And post it!
Now on to what this post is really about. I finally watched the Mago Mago Rowing Club Saga. For a long time, I put off watching this saga because I heard that Jun threw a hissy fit and was scared to see that side of him. I didn't want to ruin the good image I had of him and, more than anything, I was scared that I would stop liking him as a result. Then I read spoilers that they were in a fight for regular positions and were having "conflicts". And I really didn't want to watch it anymore. Because Arashi is a chummy rainbow group full of love and they've never fought, ever, and I will have it no other way. So, umm, why did I watch it again? Oh, right. They were talking about it in Kotatsu DE Arashi and I was like, "STOOOOP!!! I don't want spoilers!", and I went ahead and watched it. The me after watching the rowing saga laughs at the me who was scared to watch it. How silly was I. It's Arashi. They're lovable no matter what.
I cringed whenever they showed the clip of Jun complaining to the camera (and they showed it a LOT. Like they were trying to hint that the volcano was about to erupt) that he was not having fun at all and he could not see how Aiba was enjoying all this. I was disappointed that he acted the way he did but it seemed like he really regretted it afterwards and for that I'm glad. When Ohno came to Jun after he stormed off and asked him to explain to the coach and Jun has this face where he is obviously thinking, "Dear God, what have I done? Please let the earth open up and swallow me whole" and then he follows Ohno to see the coach while dragging his footsteps, I couldn't help but find it just a little bit of funny.
The fight for regular positions became nothing because the coach withdrew and became just their coach. They weren't even really fighting. It was a rivalry/friendship kind of thing where they wanted to support each other but, at the same time, they didn't want to lose to each other either. It was not what I had imagined at all although I did sympathise a lot with Aiba.
And the "conflicts". I misunderstood that. I read that Ohno and Aiba were having conflicts and thought it meant Ohno and Aiba had a disagreement. What it actually meant was Ohno had trouble, because he was busy with his stageplay and didn't have time to practise, and Aiba had trouble, because he was tentatively designated the position of the benchwarmer. My bad.
I knew it was impossible for them to win the race with only three months of practice but I found myself rooting for them anyway. When the coach said that they were the best crew he had ever coached, I don't think he was exaggerating. Arashi's, or should I say Tempest's, only problem was that they were lacking in strength and stamina. They made a successful start dash and took the lead but didn't have the necessary brawn to maintain that lead. The college teams they were up against trained everyday for years. It was no trouble for them to overtake Tempest once the guys grew tired. Still, I am proud.
Of course I'm a proud fangirl. But Arashi didn't row the race as idols. Hundreds of fans gathered to support Arashi at the race but the guys didn't pay them any attention (at least none that were recorded and aired). That's why I think they were not there as idols but as a group of friends who started rowing to fulfill an old man's dream which, at some point along the way, became their dream too. So I admire them as people. Really, I was so silly for not watching this earlier.
The Nihon University guys were crazy. They almost stole the show for me.