No, no, no, no, no x1000
I feel shellshocked.
Arashi, what about your " and more"? 2 years are hardly more. Even if at one point I might understand your reasons, even if I know this isn't the end of the world, right now, I'm just beyond sad and confused and angry and so many other emotions.
Arashi, how dare you!
Breaking your fans hearts like this.
Edit: An hour late I'm still trying to process this, but the rational part of my brain apparently went on hiatus, because there're only emotions raging inside of me. I know that I will love them for sticking to their motto "Arashi is only Arashi when it's the 5 of us", but right now... I'm not at that point yet.
I tried reading their messages and with every additional word my heart shattered a bit more. I'm thinking back to the last one a half years and probably overthink a lot of stuff and try to analyse their behaviour and come to the conclusion that nothing could've prepared me for this.
Arashi has been an important part of my life these past years and they've helped me overcome so many obstacles. I know that all good things must come to an end, but I hoped that in case of Arashi it never would.
Edit 2: So a couple more hours have passed. I still haven't been able to bring myself to watch the JFC video, but I've read some more about it and somehow I read Aiba's part and there was suddenly hope. I'm going to be clinging to that.
At the same time I have been thinking, probably overthinking, about stuff I noticed the last year which has bothered me.
First of all, there was something decidedly off about Ohmiya for quite a while. Recently they acted like before, but for a while they seemed a bit more distanced than what a shipper like me was used to. Also, Aiba has been placed so often between them, it seriously bothered me. I put it down to their agency and sponsors trying to beat down all Ohmiya-ness, but now I'm no longer sure.
Then the lack of a new album. It seemed weird, but I thought what with their tour and anniversary they were planning something big. Who knows whether they just couldn't get the inspiration or motivation amongst their talks.
I also noticed that Ohno looked older (well, duh! ) than ever, he really aged this year. Well, it can't have been an easy year for him.
I'm often checking JWeb for new projects and so on and couldn't help noticing the lack thereof this month, but even before that as well. I put it down to them being busy with the tour and planning lots of stuff for the actual anniversary. They've probably been busy with other stuff.
I've also remembered other JE groups and how it was for them to lose members (namely KAT-TUN and Kanjani). Theykept going, but although I'm sad to see Arashi end (or stop), I'm glad they're not working as a 4 person group because that would never be Arashi. Ohno is irreplaceable and I'm impressed they'd rather stop than pretend otherwise.
If this it hard for us, then it is even harder for them.
I cling to the hope that he will find that what he was looking for was there all the time. I'll surely be waiting for you. And I hope he'll finally be able to become (secret) official with his Nino, because no matter what - you don't share looks like they did with your best friend but with the one you love.
💜❤💚💛💙