i just took a moment to analyze the epilogue of whirlpool and i feel like i sorta understand why yuuta's doing what he's doing..? it's like he wants hinata to show everyone else the hinata he once knew as a little kid but hinata is too busy thinking about making his little brother shine rather than himself which is putting a strain on what yuuta thinks is his true potential for the idol world. with this in mind yuuta also considers how hinata has always ignored his emotional needs for his selfish desires so the reason why he's trying to be a better hinata is also sort of a revenge at the same time?? idk it's pretty complicated.. also random tangent but whenever yuuta calls himself a "bad boy" i think he's both self loathing (i think that's the right word.?) and he's labeling himself what he thinks the rest of society would call him for his morally grey actions
(What’s wrong…? Yuuta-kun looked so happy, smiling during our live, but… With the sun at his back, I can’t really see his face right now…)
[Read on my blog for the best viewing experience with Oi~ssu ♪]
Season: Summer
Location: Outside the Mega Sphere Tower
About one hour later…
Yuuta: …I’m all good to leave the equipment here?
Oh, no worries at all! I just couldn’t walk past after seeing someone in trouble!
There’s nothing else you need help with? Alright, I’ll be heading back then!
Thank you for all your hard work today! Please continue supporting 2wink in the future, okay?
Hinata: Ah, there you are, Yuuta-kun! You disappeared, so I was looking all over for you~!
…Huh? Why are you over in a place like this?
Yuuta: I was just helping out a staff member. They looked like they were struggling to carry everything by themselves.
Hinata: You should’ve asked me to help, too! We’re two-in-one, aren’t we? ♪
Yuuta: …You sure seem to have a lot of energy, Aniki.
Hinata: ‘Cause today’s live was a huge success!
The audience’s response was really great, too! So I think we were able to introduce a lot of people to us 2wink!
Who knows, we might find ourselves flooded with offers when tomorrow comes!
Well, I don’t expect things to go that smoothly… But still, I’d love for this to continue. Us working together and having fun, just like today!
Yuuta: Do you really?
Hinata: …Huh? What’s wrong, Yuuta-kun? You suddenly stopped walking…
Yuuta: …Hey, do you really feel satisfied with how today’s live went?
Hinata: Wha? What do you mean?
(What’s wrong…? Yuuta-kun looked so happy, smiling during our live, but… With the sun at his back, I can’t really see his face right now…)
Yuuta: I wasn’t satisfied with it at all, you know. I can’t accept a lackluster performance out of that, not out of “Aoi Hinata”.
Hinata: Huh, what’s with all that? Do you think I wasn’t giving it all that I’ve got?
I did put in my 100%, you know…? But, next time, I’ll—
Yuuta: “Next time” is too late. Because that means you didn’t do well enough for the attendees that came in today.
Just to confirm. We—2wink, want to become top idols, no?
Hinata: Of course! That’s why, even with my packed schedule, I’m doing my best with my work…
Yuuta: Ah, I knew it. What I was doing wasn’t the wrong thing to do at all! ♪
Hinata: Yuuta-kun?
Yuuta: …You know, Aniki. You swallowed that lie of mine, about doing it to give you a break, all without a second thought, didn’t you?
Hinata: …Wha?
Yuuta: The real reason I was swapping out with you isn’t because I was worried about your poor health.
—I did it because I thought I could be “Hinata” better than you could.
Hinata: H-Hold on a second! What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?
Yuuta: If we want 2wink to find success, then we need to make “Hinata”, whose currently flaring up in popularity, to actually make an overwhelming impact.
You went on and on to me about this ideal world of yours, how you don’t want me to stay hidden in the shadow of “Hinata”’s fame and all that, but, you know… if you ask me, that’s just way too naïve.
Hinata: Naïve…? But, I just wanted to… Together with you—
Yuuta: Is this or is this not a make-or-break moment for 2wink? If we want to succeed, we can’t afford to make talk of overly-optimistic, rose-colored nonsense.
I’ve… faced reality, Hinata-kun.
Yuuta: (Back then, you used to take me by my hand and lead me to where it was warm… That Aniki from that time had shone even more brightly.)
(So there was always this mysterious feeling—That as long as Hinata-kun was there, everything would be alright.)
(But, the Aniki right now is…)
Hinata: …T-Then, what’ll happen to Yuuta-kun?!
If you completely took my place, and started all doing my jobs, then… “Aoi Yuuta” will disappear from the world!
Yuuta: It won’t.
After all, “Yuuta” is beginning to sell well, too.
Hinata: Huh…?
Yuuta: On my end, I’ve been making the most of my individualities—which are different than yours—and getting work done and producing results as “Yuuta”. I’m gradually gaining recognition in the industry, too, you know.
I’m getting everyone to see my good qualities and recognize me, and yet… To think the one person who I want to notice them most hasn’t one bit.
Hinata: … …
Yuuta: You’ve been so wrapped up in chasing that ideal of yours and fussing over me that you’ve completely lost sight of what’s going on around you, haven’t you?
Always thinking like, “I’m the only one who’s popular”, “I have to take the lead for Yuuta-kun”… Forever stuck in the past.
Even though I’ve been standing by your side for so long now, Aniki. …You haven’t been paying attention to what “Aoi Yuuta” has become able to do at all.
Seriously, Aniki. You don’t get anything at all.
Hinata: Y-Yuuta-kun… I’m sorry, I…
Yuuta: So you see, Aniki… If you can’t become the perfect “Hinata-kun”, then I’ll do it for you.
I can’t stand to let the value of the you I believe in and love be dragged down any further.
I’m done swapping in and out for you for work. Starting now, I’ll be “taking over” for you, Aniki.
You see, I have been putting in preparation work in case this happened.
Like how I gave you perfume so we’d smell the same, and I’ve been getting used to your sense of taste, too. And outside of work too, I’ve been pretending to be “Hinata” even in personal life…
Hinata: What…?
Yuuta: You never realized? I got to befriend Tsuzura-san, too, you know.
“I’m” not really good at forging relationships, so I was a bit worried, but… By thinking about how you would do it, Aniki, I managed to pull it off.
And I think I’m on track with getting along with Tetora-kun as well…♪
Hinata: … …
Hinata: …I don’t want this.
Yuuta: Why not? Didn’t you say you’d happily give up your own existence for my sake, Aniki? You used to aaalways say that, you know.
Hinata: That’s…
Yuuta: …Well, I suppose you wouldn’t. I can’t imagine it feels nice to be told someone’s gonna be taking your place.
—But I’m going to be doing it anyway, okay? That’s what you’ve aaalways done to me, after all.
You’ve always ignored what I want and did as you pleased, no matter what I said, so I figured this time, it’s my turn to do the same to you.
See? I told you I was a bad kid.
Ahh, what a relief! I actually managed to get completely ahead of you this time!
Hey, Aniki, how’s it feel to have your entire being taken away from you?
Hinata: … …
Hinata: (…I… I can’t breathe.)
(Everything I’ve done, thinking it was for Yuuta-kun’s sake… Have my own selfish ideals warped his heart to this extent?)
(He’s supposed to have the same face as me, but… Yuuta-kun, with his cold smile, looks like a completely different creature…)
…Then, where will you go, Yuuta-kun?
Yuuta: I’m not going anywhere.
Even the setting sun rises again when dawn comes, right? It’s the one and same “sun”, after all.
We’re two halves of the same whole. So let’s walk down that bright, sun-bathed path together, okay? …Hinata-kun. ♪
Hiiiii!!! May I request a translation of Yuuta's second solo song? (...I forget the name right now... A way of Light?)
☀️Yuta "A Way of Light" — Solo Song☀️
(Disclaimer: All translations are my own work, please do not use without proper credit!!)
⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹
I stood on the orange line that splits the world in two.
Ahead appears a land like pure darkness,
But I noticed the setting sun’s rays serve as a road.
At my back, a shadow of myself watched me.
It seems ordinary days always continue into the adventure of an unknown future.
Never give up your wish to chase the challenge,
‘Cause if you do, you won’t ever make it.
Don’t look back at your past regrets,
‘Cause the place you’re looking for isn’t in your past.
Tie your resolve together like wind-tousled hair to keep it from straying.
No matter how far you are, even if atop a misty peak,
The time you walk will become a road of light.
A star’s ray observed me on my way.
The feelings I’ve always suppressed are also a part of me.
I grow up and in my heart,
The pain is proof of my journey.
Trying my luck now—
That I know what’s ahead.
I hear that the sparkling wishing star
May be an exit from the tunnel of night.
Let’s go, I want to show you how—
The radiant sunlight is waiting just beyond.
Never give up the challenge to improve,
So walk along the line you’ve drawn.
Don’t look back, ‘cause with you by my side,
It’s my way of light
⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹
(Sorry it took me so long to get this done! 💦 This was my first time translating a song, and a lot of the process I went through was ensuring it retained the sorta poetic nature that songs usually have. I had also never heard this solo song before, so I wanted to listen to it and make sure that the lyrics match as best as they can with the rhythm while still being accurate to what Yuta is saying! Anyways, I hope you enjoy and thank you for the ask! 💕)
Why is it when I vent to you that I'm falling apart
You just smile? I hate you; that’s a lie, I’ve never yearned harder
Ah, look at that huge crowd — nothing would change if I was gone
Don’t take me so seriously, I’m just sulking
If a shooting star pushes itself to top speeds, is it just a glory hound?
Make me your Polaris, I swear I won’t get in your way
Capture me in your eyes, I’m sick of being a lost star¹
Freedom doesn’t have to be this lonely, right?
That must be what's best for us
The world is getting destroyed, almost like I wished
I just wanted to be loved, ended up all alone instead
I can't get rid of this selfish twinkling on my own
Hey, comfort me, tell me I'm not alone
Let me swim in your eyes, I'm sick of being a straggler star²
Doesn't matter where you're headed
Make sure you keep your eyes on me
Even if I'm feigning ignorance
Or laying it on thick with my best smiles
I want you to see right through me
Just make me feel special
I can get over my self-esteem being scattered by the cosmos
If someone ignited me with their reassuring gaze; I'd want nothing more
Capture me in your eyes, I’m sick of being a lost star
Freedom doesn’t have to be this lonely, right?
That must be what's best for us
Tonight I'm still a free shooting star, ah
Streaking the sky as I please
But your eyes remain fixed on me
Maybe I can be your Polaris after all
Find me in your night sky, and I'll find you too
Notice my signals already
I’m showing off my selfish twinkling
So keep your eyes on me, wherever you are
Translation Notes:
迷い星 is another way of saying 惑星 (wakusei, meaning 'planet').
while はぐれ星 comes from 逸れる (hagureru, meaning 'to stray') and 星 (hoshi, meaning 'star'), it could also be derived from the astrology term 青色はぐれ星, or "blue stragglers". these are stars that are brighter and bluer than the stars in nearby clusters.
What if my entire identity is just saving you. What if I only eat because I know you will worry if I go hungry, what if I only sleep because I know you check on me at night. What if-
