僕は...I...I just cannot explain it. This feeling, I mean.

Good day, everybody. How is life? It had been a long time since I found the time and motivation to write it. I was too caught up with gaming and working. No guarantee that I won't have a long gap in between blog posts, just like the time between the post on AiScream and the post on BokuYaba anime. Regarding that AiScream post, it was a fun dive into how a light-hearted song using the "ice-cream" pun became a viral hit and captured the hearts of fans, even though I had a hard time completing it due to my day job's workload and trying too hard to integrate multiple AI chat suggestions. As for that Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu (BokuYaba) post back in May, it was once my really huge obsession.

Remember this moment?

Oops, it looks like that first paragraph might be a bit too long. Umm....whatever. It's fine, I guess. Anyway, this time, I will continue from that BokuYaba post that I published back in May to talk about a song that still gives me an emotional vibe: BokuYaba season 2's opening theme song,「僕は…」(Boku wa) by Atarayo. Oh, oh man, this song is ain't just any energetic song, its lyrics are the reason why I love this song so much. The delicate, awkward and deeply human lyrics are such a beauty. OK, let's not waste any more time and move on to it.

WARNING:-

Although this post is just me talking about a certain anime song, there might be SPOILERS from the anime. If you plan to watch the anime without any spoilers, you can continue reading or move on.

P.S. If you want to be spoiled, well, go ahead and read it, you HAVE been warned.

Introduction

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Album cover

The song "Boku wa..." is the opening theme song for the second season of BokuYaba. This song is performed by the band Atarayo. The song is composed by the members of Atarayo, with Hitomi as the lyricist and composer, and Mashi as the arranger. The only non-member involved in the composition of the song is Soma Genda, who was also involved in the composition of the first ending song for BEYBLADE X, "ZOOM ZOOM".

Kyotaro

This song stands out for the way it weaves Ichikawa Kyotaro’s inner thoughts into music. Unlike many anime OPs that aim for energy and spectacle, this one lingers—inviting you to slow down and step into the fragile, conflicted heart of its main character. Well, it is not that this song lacks energy or spectacle, but it's much deeper than just energy and spectacle. In fact, the song has energy and has a viral dance sequence in the anime season 2 opening sequence.

That OP sequence that got viral...

Lyrics

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Original

君が僕に見せてくれた
世界はとても綺麗だったな

書架の隙間に住まう
一輪の花は
僕には届かぬ存在で
言葉の奥に住まう
本音の種はもう
日の目も浴びずに枯れていた

周りと比べてはまた
自己嫌悪落ちてく
怖くなるんだそれでも
君の全てに
救われて

君が僕に見せてくれた
世界はとても綺麗だったな
まるで僕が僕じゃなくなっていく
そんな日々もどこか愛おしくて
また君に恋を知る

君の隣では
何故だか前より
息が楽に思えるんだ
些細な不安も
高鳴る鼓動も
僕を走らせる魔法だ

君が僕に見せてくれた
世界はとても綺麗だったな
まるで僕が僕じゃなくなっていく
そんな日々もどこか愛おしくて

はぁ、ぶつけるんだ僕の全てを君に

「空っぽで弱い自分から目を背け
見たいものだけを見ていたあの頃
僕は自分を特別だと思っていた
当たり前と思っていた日常も
君に出会ってからの僕には
まるで違う特別なものに思えた
大袈裟だと君は笑うだろう
でも本当なんだ
今の僕を創ったのは
他の誰でもない君だ、君なんだ」

「ありがとう」と素直に言えたのは
君の笑顔が傍にあったからで
いつしか僕の世界が広がったのは
君の言葉が僕を変えたから

君が僕に見せてくれた
世界はずっと忘れないよ
まるで僕が僕じゃなくなっても
そんな日々に君が居るのなら
永遠に僕ら恋をする

This moment...

Romaji

kimi ga boku ni misete kureta

sekai wa totemo kirei datta na

shoka no sukima ni sumau

ichirin no hana wa

boku ni wa todokanu sonzai de

kotoba no oku ni sumau

honne no tane wa mou

hinome mo abizu ni kareteita

mawari to kurabete wa mata

jiko keno ochiteku

kowaku narun da sore demo

kimi no subete ni

sukuwarete

kimi ga boku ni misete kureta

sekai wa totemo kirei datta na

marude boku ga boku janaku natte iku

sonna hibi mo dokoka itooshikute

mata kimi ni koi wo shiru

kimi no tonari de wa

naze da ka mae yori

iki ga raku ni omoerun da

sasai na fuan mo

takanaru kodou mo

boku wo hashiraseru mahou da

kimi ga boku ni misete kureta

sekai wa totemo kirei datta na

marude boku ga boku janaku natte iku

sonna hibi mo dokoka itooshikute

butsukerun da boku no subete wo kimi ni

karappo de yowai jibun kara me wo somuke

mitai mono dake wo miteita ano koro

boku wa jibun wo tokubetsu da to omotteita

atarimae to omotteita nichijou mo

kimi ni deatte kara no boku ni wa

marude chigau tokubetsu na mono ni omoeta

oogesa da to kimi wa warau darou

demo hontou nan da

ima no boku wo tsukutta no wa

hoka no dare demo nai kimi da, kimi nan da 

"arigatou" to sunao ni ieta no wa

kimi no egao ga soba ni atta kara de

itsu shika boku no sekai ga hirogatta no wa

kimi no kotoba ga boku wo kaeta kara

kimi ga boku ni misete kureta

sekai wa zutto wasurenai yo

marude boku ga boku janaku nattemo

sonna hibi ni kimi ga iru no nara

towa ni bokura koi wo suru

That moment after the sports event...

English Translation

The world that you showed me

It was incredibly beautiful

In the gaps between the bookshelf

What lived was a flower

It's an existence I can't reach

Resides in the depths of words

The seeds of honest feelings

Withered, never seeing the light of day

Comparing myself to others

Makes me loathe myself

It's scary, but still

In everything about you

I find salvation

The world that you showed me

It was incredibly beautiful

It's like I'm becoming someone else

Those days are somehow dear to me

Once again, I come to know love through you

 

By your side

For some reason, more than before

Breathing feels easier

Even the slightest anxieties

And the pounding heartbeat

It's the magic that makes me run

The world that you showed me

It was incredibly beautiful

It's like I'm becoming someone else

Those days are somehow dear to me

I'll give you everything I have

"Avoiding the empty and weak self,

Back in the days when I only looked at what I wanted to see,

I thought I was special,

The everyday life I took for granted,

Since meeting you,

It felt like something completely different, something special.

You'll probably laugh at how exaggerated it sounds,

But it's true.

It's you, and only you, who created the person I am now."

"I could say 'Thank you' honestly

Because your smile was by my side,

Before I knew it, my world expanded

Because your words changed me."

The world you showed me

I'll never forget

Even if I become someone else

If you're there in those days,

We'll forever be in love

That moment when Kyotaro hugs her

Note: I combined the translation from Anime Song Lyrics and Lyrical Nonsense.

Mandarin Translation

你向我展示的世界

是如此美丽啊

在书架间隙中的那朵花

是我始終无法触及的存在

在话语之中蕴含的真心之种

未能沐浴阳光就已枯萎

与自己周围的人比较后

又陷入自我厌恶之中

縱使如今还是害怕不已

你的所有一切

把我給拯救了

你向我展示的世界

是如此美丽啊

仿佛我变得不再是我

那样的日子在某处也令人怜爱

我再次在你这里学会了恋爱

只要在你身旁

不知为何

呼吸比以前得更顺畅

那些许的不安

那澎湃的心跳

都是让我向前的魔法

你向我展示的世界

是如此美丽啊

仿佛我变得不再是我

那样的日子在某处也令人怜爱

啊——我要把我的全部都倾向你

「从那空虚而薄弱的自己逃避，

只敢面对自己敢面对的东西。

我曾以为自己很特别，

甚至认为那是理所当然的，

但与你相遇之后，

一切都变成截然不同和特别。

也许你会笑我夸大其词，

但我所的一切都是事实——

成就了如今的这个我，

不是别人，正是你，正是你啊。」

之所以能坦率地说出「谢谢」

就是因为你的笑容就在身边

不知不觉我的世界变得如此广阔

那是因为你的话语改变了我

你向我展示的世界

我永远不会忘记

即便仿佛我变得不再是我

若在那些日子里有你相伴

我们便会永远坠入爱河

Oh my...that moment...AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

Note: I did the translation with ChatGPT and two other sites, Bilibili and home.gamer.com.tw.

Malay Translation

Dunia yang kamu tunjukku

Ianya begitu indah

Di celah-celah rak buku bersemayam

Sekuntum bunga

Ia adalah kewujudan yang aku tak dapat mencapai

Benih kejujuranku yang mendiami dasar kata-kata

Dah layu, tak sempat melihat cahaya hari.

Bila ku berbanding dengan orang lain

Aku hanya akan benci sendiri sekali lagi

Walaupun masih takut,

Segala tentang dirimu

Menjadi kekuatanku.

Dunia yang kamu tunjukku

Ianya begitu indah

Seakan-akan aku menjadi tak semacam diriku

Setiap detik itu terasa begitu indah, entah kenapa

Aku sekail lagi jatuh cinta padamu

Semasa di sisimu, entah mengapa,

aku dapat bernafas dengan lebih lega

Kerisauan sekecil apa pun,

Dan degupan jantung yang tak terkawal,

Menjadi keajaiban yang mendorongku terus melangkah.

Dunia yang kamu tunjukku

Ianya begitu indah

Seakan-akan aku menjadi tak semacam diriku

Setiap detik itu terasa begitu indah, entah kenapa

Ah…aku akan curahkan seluruh diriku untukmu

“Aku berpaling dari diri yang kosong dan rapuh,

Melihat hanya apa yang ingin aku lihat.

Aku sangka aku istimewa,

Namun hari-hari biasa ni,

Sejak aku bertemu denganmu,

Telah berubah menjadi sesuatu yang luar biasa indah.

Kau mungkin ketawa, menganggap aku berlebihan-lebihan,

Tapi ini kebenarannya—

Diriku hari ini,

Tidak lahir daripada sesiapa pun,

Selain darimu. Hanya kamu.”

Kini dapat aku ucapkan “terima kasih” dengan sepenuh hati,

Kerana senyummu sentiasa di sisiku.

Tanpa sedar, duniaku turut terbuka untukmu,

Kerana kata-katamu telah mengubah aku.

Dunia yang kamu tunjukku

Aku tak akan melupakannya

Walau aku berubah,

Jika kau masih di hatiku,

Cinta ini akan kekal selamanya.

Interesting moment between Kyotaro and Anna

Note: This translation is done with the help of ChatGPT. Man, I really thank God for such a convenient tool.

Commentary

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What a moment in the opening sequence

Such is the beauty of this opening song, so much energy, yet so touching...AHEM! Back to the topic. This song captures the emotions of Ichikawa Kyotaro so well that it captures my heart. Everything about the delicate, awkward, and deeply human emotions is presented with such energy and emotion. But, at the same time, it feels both painfully raw and strangely comforting, like being handed someone’s diary just to realise that every word from that diary echoes your own feelings and state of mind.

What a scene...

This song is such a tonal shift from the opening theme song of the first season, which is 「斜陽」(Shayou). Well, when I asked Gemini, it mentioned this song from the first season. I only agreed with Gemini on the part where it said that it is a significant tonal shift from the first season. For me,「斜陽」is a more gentle song with a soft, humming rock music, which mirrors the first season's general tone of the contrasting personalities of Ichikawa Kyotaro and Yamada Anna. The soft and hard, the gentle and chaotic natures of both people really stand out in the anime. As for 「僕は…」, it is a more emotional, raw and explosive song spilling out Kyotaro's feelings towards Anna and perfectly reflects the deepening relationship between Kyotaro and Anna.

That moment during the weekends...

Here, I just wanna ask you one thing: Besides that dance in the anime sequence that went viral, don't you feel that「僕は…」 really reflects the state of mind that so many of us are in now? I'm NOT even talking about ROMANCE. Yes, you can apply to that, but I wanna go deeper than that. Oh man, this song makes me wanna believe in miracles again. I wish I had that one person who would bring me out and show me that the world can be beautiful. BUT, let me be CLEAR. We won't see Kyotaro the way he is in season 2 if he doesn't open his heart to Anna the way he did. The lesson of the story is that we DO have to make changes and be open to find the right person, the right opportunity, etc. We might not have or find someone like Yamada Anna whose presence, smile, and actions make our world feel brighter and more colourful, but so what? We can find that one thing that makes our world feel brighter and more colourful, regardless of whether we found our "Yamada Anna" or not. Taking calculated risks and making your life better, or chicken out and stay the same way? THAT is your choice to make.

This is in the opening sequence...OOOOOHHHH

Anyway, I ran a bit far from the topic. Let's come back. I have asked Gemini and ChatGPT, and agree with them on one thing: The song is symbolic of Ichikawa's personal journey throughout the anime. The song is filled with doubts, insecurities and hidden desires throughout his journey with Anna. Dang! I love that those emotions are so raw, so genuine but yet so tender and shaky, and so... relatable to me in a way. The song is truly the perfect introduction to a season that moves from the cute, naive and simple adolescent crush into a much deeper, endearing and beautiful budding romance. I wish, bro. I wish that I were you. Ahem! Time to move on.

LMAO!!! Kyotaro!!!!

Conclusion

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O.O...AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

The song 「僕は…」 is a song with raw energy that expresses doubts, longing, and romance in a way that touches my heart deeply. I really agree with what Gemini and ChatGPT talk about the anime that this song represents. The song reminds us that BokuYaba is, at its core, a story about how connection can transform even the darkest corners of the heart, just like how Anna is that light that threads through Kyotaro's dark world. Her smile and passion are like a warm embrace, underscoring the shift in Kyotaro's perspective from a cynical loner to someone who is finally opening his heart to another person. AND, this song represents that PERFECTLY.

Both of them are on the train...

Well, that's the end, I guess. It's longer than I expected. Wow. AI is quite amazing. It makes the writing more professional, but again, my blog has always been geared towards casual. So, I would rather keep some of the casualness in the blog. But, I admit, it's really helpful in speeding up my blog writing, so now, it's more about my willpower and my schedule arrangement skills. Before I go, I really wanna say one thing: I really love the chorus of this song! Anyway, I hope that you enjoy reading and browsing this blog. Goodbye, and God bless you!

Oohhh...Christmas feels, eh?