From 2016 to 2019, stories I wrote tended to follow a really similar pattern…

I can summarise for you what almost all of these involves in three words: ghosts, guns, gore—because as a newbie writer and storycrafter, that seemed like the cool thing at the time!

And don’t get me wrong—all of these are perfectly fine to write about, but I had neither the wherewithal nor ability to pull a single thing off, except maybe some characters but- they’re irrelevant to me now I guess.

There was one series I had that went on for around 10 instalments, and the third “season” has always been memorable—because out of over 100 characters introduced, only 7 walked out alive!

To give you a picture on how that got whittled down, some of the more memorable deaths included:

• A character who got their limbs torn off one by one by an alien.
• Several characters who drowned after being trapped in a train that derailed into a river.
• One character who was killed in a mine collapse.
• Three characters killed in a helicopter crash after said chopper was swung out of flight by… another alien (=^▽^)σ

I could go on, but from here it’s a lot of bullet wounds doing the work—and somehow these deaths got more ludicrous as the series went on, but because of how often I’d just drag someone in, then immediately delete them, character friendships never really got a chance to shine through.

Fast forward almost four years, and I’ve just completed a manuscript without any named characters dying, and whose main plot revolves around a very-unlikely friendship… (((o(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)o)))

And I think my shift in writing’s really down to one thing: time, and how quickly those fun days with friends fade as early adulthood sets in.

That proverb “I’ve no friends, so I make my mind my friend” is really one of the few options left once everyone’s committed to their own paths in life—and perhaps this is part of why Omori really hit something emotional in me, but instead of wallowing about this, I’d like to dedicate today’s recommendation to… well, friendship!

Now Yakusha Damashii (役者魂!!) may not be the most popular drama out there, but its theme song is something that’s stuck with me since I first heard it online: Minna Hitori (みんなひとり), written and produced by Mariya Takeuchi (竹内まりや), and first recorded by Takako Matsu (松隆子)-!

Takeuchi’s version from her 2008 album Expressions has become a staple of my city pop playlists nowadays—but I also have a lot of love for Matsu’s versions- specifically this live performance here-!

For me, both of these versions strike “beauty” in different ways—from the minimalism of the former, to the slightly-higher key and wailing strings of the latter- and honestly, I can’t tell you which one I love more—for such a fitting and poignantly-penned tribute to friendship in general, I think it’s only appropriate that it can be performed in two different yet equally-moving ways… ʕ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ

“Even the strongest person hides weaknesses, carrying wounds that can’t be revealed” goes one line before the second chorus—and it’s simple!

Simple, but definitely relatable for all of us, because whatever that pain may be—well, it’s a part of what makes us human, isn’t it?

No plugs or promotions this time, I think it’s best I just let this ode to friendships speak for itself-!!

And wherever, whoever you are—I wish you and your loved ones a great day~!

Because, as Takeuchi and Matsu sing, even if we’re all alone when we’re born and when we pass, we can all enjoy that bit of warmth while it lasts ♪(*^^)o∀*∀o(^^*)♪