Board Thread:Fun and Games/@comment-24187738-20180225155956/@comment-34878382-20180303090931

Think of what you will. This is my story:

How has Love Live! Sunshine!! changed my life? Well, before I can truly respond to the question, I need to provide you with some background information.

The year is 2015 and I found out that I will be moving to South Korea for my job. I just lost one of my best friends to cancer, my hometown was struck with multiple typhoons leaving it wrecked, and my dad fell ill from a heart disease. Life’s good right?

March 2016 – I left home and was headed to live my new life in South Korea. A long 18-hour layover in Narita Intl. Airport led me to getting out and heading down to Tokyo. For someone who doesn’t know any Japanese, I eventually found myself in Akihabara. It was during this 31st March trip that I saw posters/ads about this idol group “micro’s” or something and a “Final Live”. Whatever. Cute red head though! (It wasn’t truly the first time I was exposed to Love Live, as I’ve heard of them before. It was just the first time I’ve seen it in person).

(I’d like to first state that I am the type of person that will put in a lot of effort into my work, get what needs to be done, and overall, do the best I can with whatever it may be. Secondly, I apparently have some luck in my hands. For those who know of me would be aware of how unfortunate things usually like to wrap their hands on me. I guess this was no different).

South Korea. This is going to be fun and exciting right? Well… It was then I realize how different my life was going to be. It didn’t take long for things to go downhill. A boss who only cared about himself and how he looks to his own boss. Supervisors that are power hungry and overtly sensitive who reprimand you because you are “disrespectful” and do not talk a certain way to them. Co-workers who ostracize you and make you feel unwelcome. Horrid 10~14 hours workplace that exudes an atmosphere that you are the failure and embarrassment of the organization. A mother struggling to live in the Philippines. Being blamed for causing a friend to be hospitalized. Relatives hustling you for money because they think you are rich and have all the money in the world. Losing another friend. Your significant other breaking your heart the day before Christmas, leaving you and never talking to you again. Effectively cutting it close to being demoted, blacklisted, and fired from your job. (I hope I’ve glittered it enough to sound okay, as reality was actually a lot darker than it was. There was many more to list, but these are the “big ones,” as I would say).

Would it surprise you if I told you that during my time in South Korea, there were 3 occasions that I actually attempted to end my life? At one point, it took a former co-worker, who I confided my problems with, who noticed a difference in my personality that ended with his boss contacting my boss’s boss to intervene. What helped me survived was that I found a friend, who helped put me at ease, humoring me by travelling all over South Korea with me whenever we could.

What I didn’t mention was that in the middle of this chaos, I got away from the toxicity for a 2-week vacation to Japan. Of course, the adventure included trips to places like the Akihabara, Odaiba, Shibuya, and Kyoto. Of course, it was also the time that I made numerous trips to the arcades. It was in the arcade section that I was enamored by these fast-paced rhythm games. In particular, this one called “maimai” and that one with the “micro’s” idol group. I was so impressed by what I saw that when I came back from my vacation, I looked up rhythm games on mobile and this “Love Live School Idol Festival” with that “micro’s” idol group came up. It was then, things changed for me.

Music that was upbeat. Songs that made me feel like everything was going to be okay. The mobile game became the trigger that got me to check out more about the franchise. An anime that was so light-hearted and so “kawaii” (NICO! NICO! NII!) that just made me let go of my depression even for just that ~20 mins. Maybe I’m a little biased because though I’ve watched many anime, LLSIP was probably my first “slice of life” anime genre. Regardless, the songs, the anime, and the seiyuu’s performing as their characters (I didn’t know this was a thing) made me feel hopeful and happy. Despite my hardships, Love Live helped me get through it because you got to “faito da yo!” (Too bad that the day I finished LLSIP, the group’s successor, “ack-ours?” was having their first concert and I couldn’t attend. That’s an impossible thing for me. Besides, how would I even get to?)

Months later, I would be well-tuned to the Love Live franchise and I would find out that Aqours 2nd live is a tour on three venues. Moving out of South Korea, attending this would be practically impossible. Let’s just buy this BD7 because it has the group cover. But seriously, what would be the chances for this? Oh well, so there I entered the lottery with no actual intention of winning. Results come out and I actually win. With no friends who are into idols, interested in going, or are able to go to Japan with me. I took to Reddit. It was then I would meet a good friend from Australia who would introduce me to a great community and attend our first Love Live concert in Saitama. It was then my eyes was opened to how welcoming and great the LL community could be. Total strangers who will become your best friends overnight just because you share the same passion for your favorite girl/idol group. It was a life-changing experience that I got to be a part of this group:

2L Saitama

So how has Love Live! Sunshine!! changed my life? Well, I’m still alive, aren’t I? It gave me motivation to stay here, keeping it straight, moving forward, and just continue living (Maybe that’s why I love my best girl and her catchphrase). I think that’s the biggest change it has had on me, aside my current addiction to rhythm games and sporadic merchandise whaling. Haha. The giveaway is not really my concern. I just wanted to share my own story. Besides, I doubt anybody would know who I am, haha.

ヨーソロー