“If you see Arisa, tell her…!” “If I come to like myself just a little more… I’ll come to see you!” - Otome Domo-yo: Change 3
-----------------
I know this post is kinda late, but I figured someone seriously needs to point this out.
This scene of Ken smiling at Karen and Arisa is just so freakin’ significant to me, especially bc I just recently cried while reading Karen’s request to Ken (and the build-up prior to that which is eerily similar to Arisa’s narrative in the rooftop scene of Heart no Shucho that made me cry as well) a day before the mv’s release. Seeing the mv acknowledge Karen and Ken’s interaction just makes this reconciliation even more emotional especially when the feelings of the chapter were still very fresh to me.
Like, Ken isn’t just smiling at Arisa bc he knew she dreamt of this moment. He’s also smiling at Karen because he witnessed first-hand how important this moment is to her as well! He saw the same longing Arisa had for her in Karen’s eyes when she confronted him and requested to tell Arisa that she’ll see her when she’ll finally learns to love herself. He was glad because he knew that Karen finally learned to love herself and is now fulfilling her promise to the woman he loved.
Prior to the girls’ reconciliation and with the exemption of the audience itself, Ken was the only one who knew the feelings of both sides towards one another. He knew very well that Karen and Arisa love each other, but they weren’t able to sort things out. He witnessed it through both of them. Now, he’s there smiling because the day when they could finally tell each other what they’ve held back for years finally came.
For just a few seconds in its opening, this mv was already perfect. I could say that I’m so blessed to just finished reading the emotional chapter that was majorly addressed in this music video before it was released. The experience is just so much more special actually. (If you want to cry, give yourself a favor and read that chapter then watch the mv lol.)
Perhaps I’m overstating things, but I just loved that chapter, and I’m really happy to be reminded of it through Ken so much!
I… I did terrible things to my friend
She tried to help me, but I was running away, waving her off and ignoring her
I was just relieved when he turned to her
I know it's unpleasant.
But it always hurts
もう違う学校だし
会わないと思って
今更「ごめん」とか私バカだ
虫が良すぎ
I'm in a different school now
I thought I'd never see her again
And now I'm saying, "I'm sorry" I'm an idiot
It's so stupid
You shouldn't hate me
You don't have to forgive me
I just wanted to tell you that you're my hero
You're laughing
Your smile breaks the thread
I can't stop the tears
About your friends, about your boyfriend
You're a joyful complainer
It made me happy
It took me a while, but I made it
"I don't hate myself the way I am now"
That's what I think
忘れた日なんてない
やるせないあの感情
今も消えず残る
それをずっと背負っていく
Not a day goes by that I don't think about it
That feeling you can't live with
It's still there
I'll always carry it with me
You can be selfish
I don't care if it pisses you off
Don't change, my hero
I can't forgive you for being this way
Even if you're clumsy
You're someone who understands people's pain
過去は変えられないから
未来変えたいんだ
「もう一度友達になってください」
I can't change the past
I want to change the future
"Will you be my friend again?"
Would you say with a bored look on your face
"I won't stop being your friend"
You're a hothead
"Oh, no, no more mistakes"
That's my heart's oath
You're laughing
"It's okay to make mistakes when we're friends"
Here we go again
Netflix Announces New Pokémon Concierge Episodes 'Are Now in Production'
From Anime News Network
Netflix announced on its official Twitter account on Tuesday that new episodes of Pokémon Concierge, the latest stop-motion animated series for the Pokémon franchise, are "now in production."
Netflix on X: "NEW EPISODES OF POKÉMON CONCIERGE ARE IN PRODUCTION!!! 🌴 https://t.co/XiJrY1vA4q" / X (twitter.com)
The series debuted with four episodes on Netflix on December 28. Netflix describes the series:
This delightful stop-motion animation tells the story of a concierge named Haru, who works at a resort just for Pokémon, and the guests who come to visit.
The series' Japanese cast includes:
Non as Haru
Ai Fairouz as Arisa
Eita Okuno as Taira
Yoshiko Takemura as Watanabe
Karen Fukuhara voices the protagonist Haru in the series' English dub. Mariya Takeuchi performs the series' theme song "Have a Good Time Here."
The stop-motion production company dwarf studios (Rilakkuma and Kaoru) animated the episodes thus far. Iku Ogawa directed the show, and Harumi Doki wrote the scripts. Tadahiro Uesugi is credited for concept art and character designs.
Appreciation Post to Kotaro and Arisa’s friendship bc why not?
Maybe here’s a thought.. I love how in the translated novel I’ve read by ramirei (spoilers ahead and beyond for this now for Heart no Shucho lol), what Kotaro said was what Arisa exactly hoped someone would feel. She wanted her message to reach Karen, but even if it seemed it didn’t to Arisa’s mind, Kotaro never hesitated to tell her it reached him, and that was such a gentle and heartfelt scene to me!!
Tbh, I believe Kotaro would still do this for Arisa even without Ken telling him. I mean, it’s such a great AriKen story which I LOVE, but Kotaro always showed no hesitation to help her like how he never hesitated to tell her what she’s hoping for, reaching out to her the moment he saw her crying on the rooftop, and handing her a handkerchief when one of their classmates or herself (I don’t know if it was Karen or those in the earlier chapters) spilled something on her materials and Arisa was panicking.
Those who didn’t read the novel don’t know how Arisa went far to even consider to matchmake Koyuki and Natsuki for Kotaro lol (since she realized Koyuki’s a kind soul and thought Yuu’d be fine with his fangirls XD). I know someone thinks that she’s just indebted to him for doing something only her future bf requested (even if I think many would agree Kotaro is not willing to be bossed by anyone, and he dd it bc he knew it was the right thing to do), but I believe Arisa did everything not just out of debt; she genuinely wanted Kotaro, the only friend she had aside from Karen, and the only one who stood by her on those sad times of her life, be happy.
Paying debt might be a factor at the beginning, but it was genuine friendship nonetheless. Isn’t being determined and genuine in making a person happy and wishing them them the best all throughout your lives considered friendship? Plus, if it was just out of debt, Arisa won’t be the captain of the KotaHina ship like how I believe Haruki co-captains NatsuYuu with Hina (I mean oh boy, Haruki helped Natsuki organized her initial confession lol. His sibling dynamic with Natsuki in the novels are so underrated too).
Tbh, Arisa rocks being KotaHina’s captain lol.
--
(haven’t read Daikirai yet since I’m still on MochiAka novel 2, but I just knew there’d be a scene like this, and I love it lol)
--
To conclude this post, I just want to appreciate Kotaro and Arisa’s friendship. I may have never gotten a Kotaro to my Hina, but I deeply appreciate the Kotaros I have in my life to the Arisa in me. Tbh, before Hiyori, Aizo and Yujiro, Arisa and Kotaro showed that male-female friendships could really work without being romantic.
Y’all read Heart no Shucho already if you still haven’t. It’s actually my 3rd fav novel next to Sekoi and Yakimochi no Kotae bc I never expected this friendship would be so wholesome and beautiful to read. I know Hina showed kindness to Arisa and so does Ken in his indirect ways, obviously, (I love AriKen!!) but I feel like many had slipped into their minds that if Kotaro was not present and ready to give her a hand on those times, she probably would have given up before Sena’s words could reach her. Kotaro’s mere presence in her life made her not give up, and that made her so dedicated to give a hand in his times of needs as well.
Her friendship with Karen led to misunderstandings that wouldn’t be cleared until years later in High School, but she found a friend in Kotaro and that’s worth appreciating. Also, I love how Kotaro showed his chaotic side to Arisa on the latter parts of the novel lol.
It’s also worth noting how right after Hina cried on Koyuki’s departure in middle school, Arisa and Kotaro spent their time together while hoping for a better future.
(like, I always love the chapters before the epilogues lol. It’s the same for Sekoi and Yakimochi no Kotae HAHHA)
y’all, thank you for reading if you survived till the end. I just love them and wanted to share my ramblings to why lol.
favorite thing about them
i love her!! i love how she dresses, i love how she has grown, i adore her relationship with ken and how they're taking their time at her pace, and i really love how a key part of her story is to be happy doing the things you love, despite what others may say :')
least favorite thing about them
i dont really dislike anything about her i just think that she deserves more screentime where's my shibarisa movie/anime/ova
favorite line
sukisugite yabai from namaiki honey :') always and 4ever
brOTP
arihina :D! their friendship is so cute and i love that story where they go clothes shopping together so much sobs
OTP
i wonder /j SHIBARISA RULE THE WORLD
nOTP
kotaari... its like... a slap in the face lmao they're just friends supporting each other esp with arisa basically playing wingman for kota i really dont see any romance between them at all
random headcanon
cats gravitate to arisa she can be walking and then several will run up to her and meow and nuzzle up to her like nyaaa :3 they luv her
unpopular opinion
hmm uh idk i prefer her song over all the others in the koishiteru album??????
song i associate with them
shoujo rei :'))))))))))))) i think about the arisa karen shoujo rei art edit i did and cry sometimes
favorite picture of them
it used to be atelier moon goddess arisa but........ im sorry the latest album cover outfit is KILLING ME (though also her standard dress has really grown on me <333)
favorite thing about them
she's just. so kind. sometimes to the point of her own detriment when she was so conflicted in heart no shuchou over not being able to help karen to the point of crying to herself it makes me so OTL also she is one of the best written tsunderes ive seen like its not like those ones that resort to violence or are kinda annoying w the "its not because etc etc" she has trouble communicating with people and closes herself off and even her prickliness is essentially a shield bc she does think people would be better off not getting involved with her and is also afraid of rejection to an extent ok i should stop before this turns into an essay,
least favorite thing about them
LOVE otokonoko no mokuteki wa nani but there is also a limit to how much i can take tsundere calling people pervs help
favorite line
do i need to say more. sukisugite yabai is literally one of the lines ever even made it into one of the chara song collection album names its so iconic and i love it so much
brOTP
i absolutely adore her and kotaro's dynamic after years she's still wingmanning for him and theyre friends!! i like those two a lot
OTP
SHIBARISA MY ABSOLUTE EVERYTHING they are so perfect. they are so messy and so bad at communicating and yet theyre still trying their damn hardest and they love each other so much a or2
nOTP
kotaari not really my thing like i said in the brotp thing i see them more like good friends :']
random headcanon
other than just skimming magazines for sena she's into fashion!! leans more into lolita style clothes in the end like her usual casual lolita fits but she likes it and window shopping :]
unpopular opinion
mmmm 2nd movie characterization seemed a bit off to me (then again i could say the same w almost every other character) and the way they made it seem like her meddling between koyuki and hina was just to be a bit petty rather than out of a genuine desire to help kotaro was kinda :[
song i associate with them
tsuki ga kirei!! its actually also sung by nao toyama and was the ed for an anime of the same name (also the op imakoko is also very shibakencore. i will not elaborate [i probably will if prompted])
favorite picture of them
the princess kaguya atelier cards are so. ethereal and gorgeous theyre everything to me i may have had to spark her in the end but its ok