[Translation] Girl Friends #22
GIRL FRIENDS #22
"Let's eat Toshikoshi Soba and look back at 2013!"
The year is over, the two boys cooked their own Toshikoshi Soba and they talk seriously about the past eating it.
M: How was 2013? As group and individually?
S: Individually my kanji for 2012 was "To jump", I also thought to other minor kanjis and since I got sick often one of those was "Illness". That's why for 2013 I wanted to jump over the illness!
M: As complicated as usual (laughs).
S: Right, anyway, in 2013 I experienced many things for the second time. I had our second tour as 4-members NEWS, I released my 2nd novel. The things begun in 2012 got steadier, the proper kanji would be "To solidify". In 2012 there have been bad things too, in 2013 I had to show my true value.
M: You fixed yourself and you found your direction.
S: Exactly, what was your 2013 kanji?
M: 2012 was our 8th anniversary as a group, I thought that 2013 would have been quieter but...I can't choose a single kanji, it's difficult!
S: What did you do this year? You were in "Nakuna, Hara-chan", right?
M: Yes, then I was in the drama "Yo ni Kimyouna Monogatari" and the movie "Entaku". This year I understood that it's important to get ready to properly enjoy things. Playing an instrument was a big part of the year, I experienced again the "Right" and the "Fail" in it. Anyway it was a pretty plain year.
S: It doesn't sound plain at all! Maybe only in comparison to 2012?
M: Yes! 2011 and 2012 were great, both as group and as individual. In 2013 I had most of the week off, while sometimes I had very stressful periods. Being so free is exhausting, right?
S: That's when I get to write.
M: Ah, I see. I don't know how to vent, I guess that's why I began to cook. I learnt to cook and the importance of preparing everything.
S: I received a lot of weird texts from you, like "When I'm done baking do you want to go out to drink?" (Laughs). You cook and then you don't eat it?
M: Yeah, while cooking I drink 2-3 beers, when it's ready I'm full. If it's not too late yet...I invite you out.
S: You also sent me photos of your pan once, but it was all black I couldn't see anything! What was it?
M: Ah, it was a beef stew.
S: That time we couldn't meet though, soon we have your birthday to celebrate!
M: I can't wait for it! I feel it coming already!
S: I'm still researching about that portable TV. I keep asking you questions about it (laughs).
M: Isn't it great?! I thought you would just go to the store and get me one, it would have been enough, but you're so serious! It suits you, it makes me happy.
S: If you choose a full-segment one you have to buy a good brand, or the quality won't be high. The one I use can show everything, TVshows, things I recorded, DVDs, I think it's the best but the setting is quite annoying...
M: I don't stay in the bathroom that long, I don't think I will be able to watch a whole movie...
S: So it's better to buy one for TVshows and what you have on hard-disk. You can bring it in the kitchen or in the veranda too, it's portable, it follows your needs!
M: Awesome! Great! That's correct~~~!
S: That's "Kuro Coach" (Laughs). On your birthday we were rehearsing for a music show together, after we went to drink and the owner of the restaurant had a birthday cake for you. In that moment you turned 30 and you expressed your aims.
M: Right, I forgot them (laughs).
S: You said "I want to begin something new and keep on doing it until the Tokyo Olympiads".
M: Ah!
S: It's a good one. A hobby to continue for 7 years, it must be pretty difficult!
M: 7 years are a good period to work hard on something.
S: You also said you wanted to turn 30 soon.
M: Right, in my 20s I did a lot of embarrassing things, I relied on other people a lot. I will go on doing it in my 30s of course, but I want my words and ideas to be more important, I want to take more responsibilities. I want to be more creative and become a proper good old man. I want to lose the idol-like youthful look and get older.
S: Maruyama-kun, you don't look 30 at all.
M: I'm glad to hear that. I like to have a gap between my real age, my look and my mental maturity. How old are you now?
S: 26.
M: 4 years more to reach the 30. Don't you want it to be soon?
S: Not really. I'm afraid that when I'll turn 30 I'll still think I'm a little kid. I'm scared of not relying on my youth anymore.
M: I see, I guess you're right.
S: Maybe when I'll turn 30 I won't be afraid of that anymore, I will just live as myself. Becoming 25 years old was a big turning point for me, so much that I thought that I could quit my job if things went wrong. Looking back at it now, when I was 23 I wrote "Pink&Gray", I keep doing what I have to do. 30 years old...I wonder if I'll be like the old man I imagined when I was a kid...
M: Impossible. 30 years old men for kids look always older than they really are. Smoking cigarettes, drinking coffee, swearing...growing a beard!
S: Moreover my dad was 30 years old when I was born. I would never be able to be a dad at 30, it's a little stressful thinking of it.
M: You're more mature than you think.
S: Last time we met you told me I look old too (laughs).
M: You know you're not being serious when you talk like that.
S: Nah, when you're 30 there's still a part of yourself that just wants to rock on.
M: That's cool too!
S: There are so many things I can't do anymore already, not like I want to do something absurd but I'd still like to challenge myself. I want to improve my writing, I can't stop thinking that maybe there's no heart in my art, that I'm stuck. Right now I can laugh of these thoughts but when I'll be 30 I might still thinking of it.
M: There's something that Madoka's mom says in the anime: "When you're young you can make mistakes and mend your wounds quickly, when you're old you carry over your shoulders too many things and making mistakes becomes difficult." So don't be afraid to scrape your knees now!
S: Ahahahahah!
"Let's eat Toshikoshi Soba and look back at 2013!"
The year is over, the two boys cooked their own Toshikoshi Soba and they talk seriously about the past eating it.
M: How was 2013? As group and individually?
S: Individually my kanji for 2012 was "To jump", I also thought to other minor kanjis and since I got sick often one of those was "Illness". That's why for 2013 I wanted to jump over the illness!
M: As complicated as usual (laughs).
S: Right, anyway, in 2013 I experienced many things for the second time. I had our second tour as 4-members NEWS, I released my 2nd novel. The things begun in 2012 got steadier, the proper kanji would be "To solidify". In 2012 there have been bad things too, in 2013 I had to show my true value.
M: You fixed yourself and you found your direction.
S: Exactly, what was your 2013 kanji?
M: 2012 was our 8th anniversary as a group, I thought that 2013 would have been quieter but...I can't choose a single kanji, it's difficult!
S: What did you do this year? You were in "Nakuna, Hara-chan", right?
M: Yes, then I was in the drama "Yo ni Kimyouna Monogatari" and the movie "Entaku". This year I understood that it's important to get ready to properly enjoy things. Playing an instrument was a big part of the year, I experienced again the "Right" and the "Fail" in it. Anyway it was a pretty plain year.
S: It doesn't sound plain at all! Maybe only in comparison to 2012?
M: Yes! 2011 and 2012 were great, both as group and as individual. In 2013 I had most of the week off, while sometimes I had very stressful periods. Being so free is exhausting, right?
S: That's when I get to write.
M: Ah, I see. I don't know how to vent, I guess that's why I began to cook. I learnt to cook and the importance of preparing everything.
S: I received a lot of weird texts from you, like "When I'm done baking do you want to go out to drink?" (Laughs). You cook and then you don't eat it?
M: Yeah, while cooking I drink 2-3 beers, when it's ready I'm full. If it's not too late yet...I invite you out.
S: You also sent me photos of your pan once, but it was all black I couldn't see anything! What was it?
M: Ah, it was a beef stew.
S: That time we couldn't meet though, soon we have your birthday to celebrate!
M: I can't wait for it! I feel it coming already!
S: I'm still researching about that portable TV. I keep asking you questions about it (laughs).
M: Isn't it great?! I thought you would just go to the store and get me one, it would have been enough, but you're so serious! It suits you, it makes me happy.
S: If you choose a full-segment one you have to buy a good brand, or the quality won't be high. The one I use can show everything, TVshows, things I recorded, DVDs, I think it's the best but the setting is quite annoying...
M: I don't stay in the bathroom that long, I don't think I will be able to watch a whole movie...
S: So it's better to buy one for TVshows and what you have on hard-disk. You can bring it in the kitchen or in the veranda too, it's portable, it follows your needs!
M: Awesome! Great! That's correct~~~!
S: That's "Kuro Coach" (Laughs). On your birthday we were rehearsing for a music show together, after we went to drink and the owner of the restaurant had a birthday cake for you. In that moment you turned 30 and you expressed your aims.
M: Right, I forgot them (laughs).
S: You said "I want to begin something new and keep on doing it until the Tokyo Olympiads".
M: Ah!
S: It's a good one. A hobby to continue for 7 years, it must be pretty difficult!
M: 7 years are a good period to work hard on something.
S: You also said you wanted to turn 30 soon.
M: Right, in my 20s I did a lot of embarrassing things, I relied on other people a lot. I will go on doing it in my 30s of course, but I want my words and ideas to be more important, I want to take more responsibilities. I want to be more creative and become a proper good old man. I want to lose the idol-like youthful look and get older.
S: Maruyama-kun, you don't look 30 at all.
M: I'm glad to hear that. I like to have a gap between my real age, my look and my mental maturity. How old are you now?
S: 26.
M: 4 years more to reach the 30. Don't you want it to be soon?
S: Not really. I'm afraid that when I'll turn 30 I'll still think I'm a little kid. I'm scared of not relying on my youth anymore.
M: I see, I guess you're right.
S: Maybe when I'll turn 30 I won't be afraid of that anymore, I will just live as myself. Becoming 25 years old was a big turning point for me, so much that I thought that I could quit my job if things went wrong. Looking back at it now, when I was 23 I wrote "Pink&Gray", I keep doing what I have to do. 30 years old...I wonder if I'll be like the old man I imagined when I was a kid...
M: Impossible. 30 years old men for kids look always older than they really are. Smoking cigarettes, drinking coffee, swearing...growing a beard!
S: Moreover my dad was 30 years old when I was born. I would never be able to be a dad at 30, it's a little stressful thinking of it.
M: You're more mature than you think.
S: Last time we met you told me I look old too (laughs).
M: You know you're not being serious when you talk like that.
S: Nah, when you're 30 there's still a part of yourself that just wants to rock on.
M: That's cool too!
S: There are so many things I can't do anymore already, not like I want to do something absurd but I'd still like to challenge myself. I want to improve my writing, I can't stop thinking that maybe there's no heart in my art, that I'm stuck. Right now I can laugh of these thoughts but when I'll be 30 I might still thinking of it.
M: There's something that Madoka's mom says in the anime: "When you're young you can make mistakes and mend your wounds quickly, when you're old you carry over your shoulders too many things and making mistakes becomes difficult." So don't be afraid to scrape your knees now!
S: Ahahahahah!