Hokuto & Jesse- Sutonzu no Futari [Popolo 12/20]
Episode talk about Jesse, by Hokuto
---Even though he was super shy, his actions were super flashy---
I don’t really remember meeting Jesse for the first time. 10 years ago, Jesse used to be a member of a group called Hip Hop JUMP, and I was in a group called B.I.Shadow. We used to work together quite often, so it felt like we somehow came to fool around and talk to one another casually as a large group of people.
My impression of him back then? “So ugly (LOL)”. Well, this is something he has made into his selling point by himself, and something that is turned into a joke by everyone. It is more like (I think of it this way) if we look back now. (Looking at Jesse’s pictures in Popolo) It’s amazing how he has managed to become so good looking.I want to make sure you write this in, that I didn’t think of it that way back then [T/N: He didn’t think that Jesse was ugly]! Character-wise, he was really shy and reticent. But he had a playful heart, so his actions were flashy. That’s why, I thought of him as someone who doesn’t match the information I have about him. I feel like there was a weird stopper that existed till he reached the current extroverted Jesse, and that was the reason he was shy and reticent back then. I don’t know if it was because the stopper got removed, but when I realized it, he was already how he is right now.
---We were desperate during the concert with just the two of us---
There was a time in the past where we had our activities as something like a duo, and that is profoundly memorable. I still clearly remember those times, especially when we used to do concerts with just the two of us... we used to be very worried and anxious, saying things like, “No, we can’t do it. What should we do!?” until the day itself since it meant that there would only be two of us on the stage and we were still so inexperienced back then. After all, we were both just high-schoolers. The two of us discussed a lot, talking about “Should we do it like this?” until the main day, and we were really desperate during our performances too.
In our private time, we probably went for a meal around 2, 3 times in the past year. There were times when it was just the two of us, and for some reason, there was a time when Jesse joined in when I was having a meal with my best friend (LOL). I have a side of me that trusts Jesse as a working adult. I thought it was something my best friend needed too, so I had wanted to introduce them to one another someday. Then, one day, Jesse suddenly asked me “What are you doing today?” When I replied “I’m meeting XXXXXXXX (best friend’s name)”, he asked “Can I join too?”, so I thought “What kind of fate is this!?” and told him to join. With that as a start, the two of them seem to hang out together these days (LOL).
--I want him to show what’s on his mind more--
From the very start when we became a group, I felt really glad that Jesse was by my side. Jesse has a really great amount of emotional strength, but it’s not due to him having a strong foundation.
There is this strong feeling that his beliefs are supporting his foundation instead. I really love that about him, and I think that’s what makes me trust him.
Jesse always takes a back seat and only worries about other people. That’s why, if you’d ask me why I go for meals with him, it’s because I want to hear his true feelings. But even though we go for meals, he always talks about members or friends’ groups….for example, he talks about the potential of Travis Japan or other Junior groups’ potential. Stuff like “Maybe that guy really wants to try out stuff like this” or “If they do this, it may turn into a good chance”. Even if I ask, “So, what does Jesse really want to do?”, he would reply, “I have never thought about myself.” He just jokes saying “For now, if you guys get lots of jobs, I will also get it together anyway.” Even though he definitely has been thinking about some stuff, he doesn’t share them. He isn’t really talkative normally, and even though that modest side is a good point of Jesse, I want him to be more assertive from now on.
Episode talk about Hokuto, by Jesse
---I woke Hokuto, who was sleeping, up---
I don’t remember when was my first meeting with Hokuto, but the oldest memory I have of him is him wearing red sweats and doing something alone. I think I told him, “You should go to where everyone is”. Though he did reply “Oh, okay”, I totally could feel how shy he was. Though I did think, “What a gloomy person”, I talked to him normally even after that, and I used to return home together with him after our lessons too. When we sat side by side (on the train), Hokuto, who was beside me, used to fall asleep. When I thought, “It is really shaking~”, he ended up banging his head on the window behind the seat and woke up. He really tried to stay awake, but ended up falling asleep (LOL). I would wake Hokuto, who was asleep, up and say, “You have reached the destination”, and we would part, saying “See you”. It was something like that. We weren’t super close, but we would be together sometimes.
From such a relationship, we probably became closer a bit before SixTONES was formed, around 2011. I think around that time, when Hokuto came to my house for sleepover, he sprayed perfume all over his body before sleeping, and that really left an impression on me. To the Hokuto who went, “I put on perfume before sleeping, you see”, I have a memory of going “Oh~” while staring at him (LOL).
---There were times when we were a bit awkward---
After appearing together in “Bakaleya” in 2012, I have started to think of the 6 as a group, so I probably had gotten a lot closer with Hokuto by that time. Then, in 2013, when Hokuto and I appeared in “Pin to Kona”, there was an awkwardness among the 6 of us as we were separated into 2 and 4. After that, there was a period when I was active as a solo, and I felt like there were also times when it was a bit awkward. Well, as long as it is work, it can’t be helped I guess. The entertainment world is a battlefield after all (LOL)!Though his innocent side peeked out sometimes even back then, I feel like he fools around much more now. That is probably because of the relationship that he has built up with us over the years. This is a bit off-topic, but because of the situation this year, I once again feel the happiness of being able to spend time with people. Because the members have to work separately more often, I feel really happy when we meet up to film YouTube videos once in a while, and it really helps me release my feelings.
---There are times when I get worried---
When you talk of Hokuto’s distinctive characteristic, it is his abundant vocabulary, isn’t it? When it comes to social skills, I feel like I’m better than him, but Hokuto is better academically. But there are times when his words can sound a bit harsh because he is smart, and it sometimes makes me think “Ah~ maybe you shouldn’t say that right now.” Well, that’s also Hokuto’s tempo after all. I think that the way he really loves himself, and also the way he knows how to present himself are his strengths. A positive impact that Hokuto has on SixTONES…...is how he raises the visual level of SixTONES (LOL). Well, SixTONES are all good looking though! Hokuto is someone whose emotions are visible on his face, and because it is easy to see if he is in a good or bad mood, I get a bit worried sometimes. Speaking about our relationship, we gou out for meals more often after becoming SixTONES. We go out for meals sometimes even now. At those times, the one who invites is usually me. It's like "Do you want to go today?" We fool around sometimes and talk about serious topics sometimes when we talk. Recently, Hokuto, his best friend and I had a meal together. I also met up with that best friend without Hokuto being present. The thing that I want Hokuto to change......, Eh~ what could it be? There isn't any. Ah, it's how he suddenly touches my butt softly (LOL). It is probably a part of skinship for him, but if he has to touch it, I want him to touch it more voraciously! Hahah (LOL).