When My Childhood Friend, Now a Popular Idol, Discovers I Might Marry Someone Else…
When My Childhood Friend, Now a Popular Idol, Discovers I Might Marry Someone Else…
Japanese Manga in English
Manga video to learn English
Japanese Manga in English
Manga video to learn English
Category
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LearningTranscript
00:00My name is Gaku Watanabe, 21 years old.
00:03I was born and raised in the incredibly rural village of Koiwa,
00:07and I currently work in the Community Development Division of the village office.
00:12However, there isn't much in the way of tourist attractions here,
00:16but even in a place like Koiwa, there's one thing we can take pride in.
00:20Oh, Arisa's in the spotlight again!
00:24My, my, she's such a beaut!
00:28Ugh.
00:29Our village chief is fixated on none other than the ultra-popular idol, Arisa Ikeda.
00:36She made her debut on some audition show a few years back,
00:40and now she's all over the place, singing, doing commercials, you name it.
00:45Everyone in the village supports Arisa Ikeda,
00:48and that's because she's one of us, born and raised here.
00:52And she's my childhood buddy.
00:54Well, she used to be.
00:56Arisa and I have been tight since we were knee-high to a grasshopper.
01:01Practically family.
01:02We used to hang out together day in and day out.
01:05Aren't they just the best of friends?
01:08Are you two gonna get hitched?
01:11I'm kind of jealous.
01:13Arisa, let's be together in this village forever!
01:16Yeah, you bet! It's a promise!
01:20But as time went on, Arisa, who grew even more outgoing and vibrant,
01:25ended up becoming the village's idol.
01:27On the flip side, I turned into this gloomy, introverted, idol-worshipping nerd.
01:32Arisa would still strike up conversations with me,
01:35but I'd get all self-conscious and act distant.
01:38Still, during my second year of high school, when spring rolled around,
01:42I'd entertain these sappy thoughts like,
01:45what if we really do get married, just like we swore back then?
01:50The TV broadcast of the idol audition show had begun.
01:54As Mai and Arisa's mother watched,
01:56they began to get excited about the idea of Arisa participating.
02:00Yes, I helped her fill out the application.
02:04We're rooting for her!
02:06No way, Arisa must hate this kind of thing.
02:10Hey, Gaku?
02:12So, what do you think about me becoming an idol?
02:17Is she actually interested?
02:19Honestly, she's cute enough to pass with flying colors,
02:22but that's what makes it scary.
02:24What about our promise to always be in this village?
02:27I was thinking of giving the application a shot, you know?
02:31It's not as easy as you imagine, you know.
02:34Uh, yeah, you're right.
02:38I guess I shouldn't after all.
02:40Ugh, why am I putting up such a front?
02:44I'm the only one who remembers that promise, obviously.
02:47At any rate, it seemed like the path to becoming an idol was closed off for Arisa.
02:52Or so it seemed.
02:54The chosen one is...
02:56Arisa Ikeda!
02:59By the way, what made you apply?
03:02Oh, well, I think my parents just sent it in on their own.
03:07Ugh.
03:08Chosen from thousands of applications,
03:11she successfully made her idol debut.
03:13After that, she left the village, transferred to a city high school,
03:17and quickly rose to stardom in the blink of an eye.
03:20That's Arisa's situation,
03:22but the truth is, she hasn't publicly revealed that she's from Koiwa Village.
03:27I guess the agency thinks her image would suffer if they knew she's from such a rural place.
03:32The village secretly supports her, though.
03:35Arisa herself hasn't come back since her debut.
03:37Well, I'm sure both the village and I have been forgotten.
03:42Ah, Gaku, you're just in time.
03:45What is it, Mom? And Arisa's mom, hello.
03:49How about a matchmaking meetup with the daughter from the Eastern District?
03:52You know, the rice farming family's girl?
03:56Oh my, Gaku, you're already at that age?
04:01Not again.
04:03Sorry, but I'll have to decline.
04:06Oh, come on, don't be like that.
04:09Could it be that you're still thinking about Arisa?
04:14It's not like Arisa has anything to do with this.
04:17Anyway, I'll head back first.
04:20Even though he used to be such a fan of idols,
04:23he hasn't been the same since Arisa debuted.
04:27Oh, is that so?
04:29But marrying into a rice farming family isn't a bad idea.
04:33Exactly. You'd get unlimited fresh rice, after all.
04:38Yeah, I've stopped being an idol-worshipping nerd, at least on the surface.
04:43There's no way I'm not supporting her.
04:45It's just that it would be too obvious if I attended her live shows or handshake events.
04:51I just don't want to face the reality of being forgotten,
04:54so I'll keep supporting her as a lone nerd.
04:57However, just as I thought that...
05:00Last night, the highly popular idol Arisa Ikeda
05:04announced her sudden retirement on social media.
05:07Huh?
05:09However, her management agency denies this, guessing it was Arisa's decision.
05:14Is that true?
05:16Will I not be able to see her as an idol anymore?
05:19The next meet-greeting event is the last one.
05:22I have no choice but to participate.
05:25A meet-greeting event is a one-on-one event
05:28where you can have a 15-second video call,
05:31essentially an online handshake event.
05:34In the chaos caused by the sudden retirement announcement on the internet,
05:38I gathered my resolve and somehow managed to secure two tickets.
05:42What should I say? It's been a while.
05:45No, no, she must have forgotten about me.
05:48I'll just express my gratitude like a regular fan, and that should be enough.
05:54Start!
05:55Uh, uh, uh...
05:57Huh?
05:58Oh no, she's too cute! My vocabulary!
06:01Ten seconds to go.
06:03Five...
06:04Can we do it again?
06:06Finished!
06:07Using the second ticket. Are you ready?
06:10Calm down me! But wait, did she seem surprised too?
06:14Five, four, three...
06:17Could it be, she remembers me? Anyway, I'll convey my feelings.
06:22Start!
06:23Uh, um, hey!
06:25Wait, what is this? No way! What was I going to say?
06:30Five, four...
06:33I'm coming back tomorrow!
06:35Huh?
06:36Finished!
06:38Why was she crying? Coming back tomorrow? What's going on?
06:42In the end, Arisa Ikeda retired for real, erasing her presence from social media after that day.
06:49Her management agency announced it was due to her strong wish and portrayed it as an amicable departure,
06:55but naturally, fans were unsettled.
06:58Her agencies were quick to try to sign her, and weekly tabloids followed the aftermath.
07:09The air in the village is so good! Just as I remembered!
07:14Arisa Ikeda was in Koiwa Village? Why on earth?
07:19You surprised us all by coming back so suddenly.
07:23It's Arisa! Arisa really came back! H-hey!
07:28Um, welcome back.
07:30You haven't changed.
07:32Huh?
07:33Mom! I want some horse tails too!
07:36Wait, is she not mad at me anymore? What was yesterday all about?
07:40Anyway, on that day, the village was in an uproar as the village's idol returned.
07:45Among them, the village chief was overjoyed, hosting a grand feast at the community center and bombarding Arisa with questions.
07:53It seems she didn't reveal her hometown due to her agency's request, and she hadn't even had time to visit due to her busy schedule.
08:01I wanted to announce it and get the village excited even just a little!
08:05But why did you quit then?
08:08Well...
08:09The city air stinks. Out of everywhere I've been, nowhere beats Koiwa Village.
08:14It's been a while since I heard Arisa's dialect.
08:18Hey, truly the idol of Koiwa Village! Let's celebrate today!
08:24Yeah!
08:25The media would never think Arisa is drinking local sake in a place like this.
08:31A few hours later...
08:33Can you take Arisa home?
08:36Ugh, I can't drink anymore.
08:40Seriously, just hold on properly.
08:43Ugh...
08:45It's hard to believe she was an idol until yesterday, but talking like this...
08:50It's like we're back in the old days.
08:55Look, back then you used to rescue me when I fell into the rice paddies, remember?
09:01Oh yeah, that happened. We both got scolded by my mom.
09:06Exactly. Then we ended up sleeping in your room.
09:10In the end, we always ended up eating together. You remember things like that so well.
09:16Of course I remember, because...
09:19Welcome back, both of you. And I'm sorry.
09:23Arisa's room is so full of merchandise you can't even step in.
09:28Huh? I'm happy, but my sleeping space...
09:33Tonight at least let her sleep at your place, Gaku.
09:36No, no, we're not kids anymore.
09:40Yes!
09:41Huh?
09:42Well, how about we could go into your room, Gaku?
09:46Was our dialect really this cute?
09:50Okay then, I'm coming in!
09:52Wait a second, you can't just come in.
09:55I guess I'll go back.
09:58Huh?
09:59I said I'm going back.
10:01Why all of a sudden?
10:03Besides, you were supposed to have a matchmaking meeting, right?
10:07If that's the case, you shouldn't take a girl in your room.
10:10No, I didn't.
10:12Huh? But my mom said you were going on a matchmaking meeting with a rice farmer's daughter.
10:18I turned it down.
10:20No way! She said it's all you can eat new rice and you were excited about it!
10:26That's just my mom.
10:28But... but still...
10:31Gaku, you're not supporting me after all.
10:35Here you go.
10:36Huh?
10:37What's this?
10:39You really, really like me, huh?
10:45Whoa!
10:46Oh this? You're totally a fan of Idol Arisa.
10:51Fine, just for now, please step back.
10:55It's so good to be back.
10:58Hmm...
11:03Hey, don't fall asleep!
11:06In the end, I'm the one sleeping on the floor.
11:09But still, I'm so happy she's back.
11:12No, no! I can't keep thinking about Arisa.
11:15I need to focus on work more.
11:18Excuse me?
11:20All right!
11:21Wait, though...
11:23Arisa, if you're just joking around, cut it out.
11:27Aw, I thought of returning my residency registration to the depopulating Koiwa village.
11:33I apologize. Esteemed villager, please fill out this form.
11:38That's settled then.
11:41But Gaku, it feels strange to see you working at the municipal office.
11:46But you're working hard for the village, so that's amazing.
11:50Being an idol must have been tougher, you know? That's more amazing.
11:55You look surprisingly good in a suit.
11:58And you looked good in every single outfit as an idol.
12:05Gaku, bring the marriage certificate!
12:08Hold on, village chief!
12:10Afterward, Arisa started helping out with fieldwork as a Koiwa village resident.
12:15She seems more relaxed and radiant than during her being idol days.
12:20Could it be that she didn't like being an idol?
12:23If that's the case, she probably just came back because she was tired.
12:27Well, regardless, it's not for me.
12:32Shoveling dirt still feels better than holding a microphone.
12:35I'll get ready then! See you at the shrine at six!
12:38Got it!
12:39Well, for now, let's just enjoy the moment.
12:42After all, today is...
12:44Sorry I'm late.
12:46How about this? I borrowed it from my gran.
12:50So cute!
12:52The summer festival is the best time of year!
12:55But anyways, as always, there's so many people out for the festival.
13:00Alright, let's have a blast today just like we used to.
13:04Yeah, yeah. Okay, let's get going.
13:07No, not like that.
13:10Huh?
13:11Back in the day, we used to hold hands so we wouldn't get separated.
13:17Gulp!
13:18Uh-oh, she's too cute. My vocabularies!
13:22Honestly, Gaku, you try to act tough, but your emotions always show on your face.
13:28Come on, let's go.
13:30Y-yeah!
13:32And so, for the first time in years, I thoroughly enjoyed the summer festival with Arisa.
13:37Her overwhelming cuteness occasionally made me dizzy,
13:41but being with Arisa was still the most calming thing.
13:45I really do love Koiwa Village.
13:48Is that so? There's not much here, though.
13:51No, there's not much here, but that not much means a lot.
13:57There's nowhere like this in the city, where it's so free and warm.
14:02I see. Even a place I thought had nothing is precious to someone.
14:08And you're here too, Gaku.
14:12Huh? Did you say something?
14:15Isn't that Arisa? For real?
14:18Uh-oh, students from the neighboring town!
14:21Let's escape from here for now!
14:23Yes! It's like a drama or something.
14:27Yeah, Arisa didn't really go far away.
14:31It was me who was running away.
14:33That's why I need to fulfill that promise once more.
14:36However, after that day, whether due to the students from yesterday spreading the word or not,
14:42a large number of media and fans gathered at the village office.
14:46After discussions with the village chief,
14:48they decided to handle the situation with a no-comment policy until things calmed down.
14:54Is this Arisa's hometown? Where is she now?
14:58While you're here, why not take a look at the vegetables?
15:03Vegetables! See anything you fancy?
15:06Answer our questions! Oh, I'll have one radish, please.
15:10The village chief seems to be enjoying this.
15:13So, where is Arisa in all of this?
15:16Why are you at my place?
15:19Oh, welcome back! Because you have so many manga and stuff here.
15:23But I really want to go out soon. I wanna go out! Let's go!
15:28I understand how you feel, but until things settle down...
15:32Oh, you two?
15:34We have a good idea.
15:36Huh?
15:37Hm?
15:39A good idea that involves cosplay? Seriously?
15:43Blending in with the students is a clever idea!
15:46Besides, I've only worn this for a year and I thought it was a waste.
15:50And you guys managed to keep it without throwing them away?
15:53Weren't you planning to wear it yourself?
15:56Oh, that vending machine brings back memories.
15:59Yeah, I remember buying from there on the way back from middle school.
16:03I see. If she hadn't become an idol, we could have had a youth like this.
16:08Hmm, I'll share half.
16:11Are you sure?
16:13Well, a regular high schooler would share about this much.
16:17And besides, we're childhood friends.
16:20Childhood friends, huh?
16:22Hey, listen, I know you probably forgot, but when we were kids...
16:26Ah, it's Arisa!
16:28She's really here!
16:30I need to handle this situation before expressing my feelings!
16:34In the end, even in a school uniform, she was found out, and even more people flooded into the village.
16:40As the situation became increasingly chaotic, a special room on the second floor of the village office was set up to hide Arisa.
16:47I ended up being assigned as her guard.
16:50There are so many people waiting for Arisa, is it really okay for her to be here?
16:55But then again, she became an idol because of me.
16:58Hey, Gaku, do you think it might be better if I weren't here?
17:04Uh, it might be.
17:08Hundreds, thousands, no, tens of thousands of people are waiting for you.
17:13What's the point of you being here with me?
17:16I know that to some extent!
17:18But even so, I came back for your sake, you know?
17:21Huh?
17:23I seriously considered auditioning to become an idol, wondering if I could have Gaku liking me forever that way.
17:30But I wanted you to stop me!
17:32So, even though I was told it wouldn't be easy, I gave up on that idea.
17:37But then, my mother...
17:40Of course being an idol was fun, but there were many difficult moments too.
17:45Even so, I believed that you were waiting for me.
17:49You heard about the arranged marriage and decided to retire on your own?
17:54But you know, we made a promise that we'd always be together with this village chief.
18:01I kept that paper displayed in my room all this time while I was working hard as an idol.
18:06But in the end, I realized that you only liked the idol version of me, Gaku.
18:11It's true that I liked the idol Ikeda Arisa.
18:15After all, it was me who sent that application form.
18:18Huh?
18:20At that time, regretting my denial of your challenge and pretending to be tough, I later put that form into the mailbox.
18:27But it was silly, wasn't it? I regretted it even more as I got lonelier.
18:31Arisa, I'm really sorry for doing something so thoughtless.
18:34So, let me take responsibility for it.
18:37Gaku...
18:39I have an announcement for the media!
18:42Arisa Ikeda and I, Gaku Watanabe, are getting married!
18:46What?
18:48If it started with me, I'm going to end it too. And I won't pretend anymore.
18:53I love Arisa Ikeda, my childhood friend and a fellow villager of Koiwa Village.
18:58So, let's live together in this village for the rest of our lives.
19:02Gaku...
19:04I've been waiting for those words.
19:06Yes!
19:08I, Arisa Ikeda, is getting married to her childhood friend, Gaku Watanabe.
19:14So, if anyone has any objections, please address them to me.
19:18Oh no! We just wanted to make sure Arisa is safe and we'll be happy in the future!
19:23I thought I might be criticized, but Arisa truly has amazing fans.
19:28And also, for any future interviews or inquiries, please go through the Community Development Division of this office, okay?
19:36Huh? This might make us quite busy.
19:41Afterward, as expected, the village office was filled with people,
19:45but Arisa began accepting interviews on the condition that she introduce the positive aspects of the village chief.
19:52Before long, Koiwa Village became famous as the village that birthed the legendary idol.
19:58I also succeeded in branding the vegetables and rice my mother and others were producing, and the region truly prospered.
20:05As for Arisa, nowadays, she is a true villager of Koiwa Village,
20:10working diligently in the fields every day and an active member of the community.
20:14However, surprisingly, there are times when her idol instincts kick in and sudden performances start.
20:20Thank you for coming today!
20:23Wow! Arisa, you're so cute! Give us a shout out!
20:28Hm? Alright then.
20:31This one's special, you know.
20:34Until now, and from now on, Arisa will remain my extremely cute idol and my beloved wife.