Memories, Dreams, and Rock.

the pillowsWhen I heard about their breakup, I remembered my high school days.

During my high school years, a manga called SKET DANCE was being serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump (running from 2007 to 2013). It is a school comedy depicting the activities and daily lives of the Campus Life Support Club, commonly known as the "Sket Dan," set at Kaimei High School.

In one of the episodes of that series, the pillows' masterpiece Funny Bunny appears.
I want to avoid spoilers, so this is a rough explanation, but it is a song performed by the members of the Sket Dan as a cheer for a student trying to take a step toward their dream. That was "Funny Bunny".

At the time, I was devoted to metal and visual rock. It might sound strange coming from me, but since I went from being ignorant about music to diving straight into metal, skipping the rock I should have originally gone through, my knowledge was biased. In other words, what I mean to say is that I didn't know the pillows back then.

I remember thinking, "What lovely lyrics," when I read the episode published in the Jump magazine. And I still haven't forgotten the impact I felt when I first heard it.
Since then, every time I face something difficult, I listen to Funny Bunny.

My dream used to be to become a lawyer.
As you all know, I am currently in the midst of a battle with illness that has lasted over 15 years, so I could not make that dream come true.
I couldn't walk a straight path.
It was always, always a life of headwinds.
There were days I thought about just dying.
There were days I thought, "Dreams, what's the point?"
It was nothing but days like that.

Upon hearing the news of the breakup, I listened to Funny Bunny again.

I didn't live those days of constant headwinds because I chose them.
I couldn't make a single one of the dreams I had come true.

To become a lawyer.
To fall in love with someone.
Maybe get married, maybe be blessed with children.
I want to be more useful to people.
I want to be close to someone's pain.

Not a single one, I couldn't make any of them come true.

But, I can go to the place I like.
Because the ground continues on.

These long days of fighting.

The bit of happiness that lies beyond that.

After all, I will face the headwind.

My dream now is to cure all my illnesses.
For that, I will choose a windy day. Even if it's painful, I will live while singing.
And, and someday.

The shape of my dream has changed.
What I aim for has changed.
But the essence remains the same.

I want to be there for someone.
I want to be a support for those carrying pain.
Now, I hope to be that through words.
I want to make this dream come true.
On the day I make it come true, I will sing again.

Thank you, the pillows.
And, I look forward to your continued work.
If you could walk with me until I make my dream come true.

I can't stop the tears, damn it.