my strawpage; https://juniba.straw.page/
Every Story reference from the Song Melting Rouge Soul (+ me trying to convince myself it's about ibajun)
im using the translations of ForeverAsia for the song, and hyena hunt+MireiArchive tls for the story respectively.
(https://ensemble-stars.fandom.com/wiki/Melting_Rouge_Soul_(Lyrics)
(https://hyenahunt.tumblr.com/post/742356493479903232/translation-chocolat-an-exceptional-rouge-and)
let's start with the song:
Nagisa: A half-hearted shyness, barely covered by a Fig leaf
With all of these new feelings waiting to be openly exposed
To elaborate on the lyric, I need to explain the specific scene in the story here. In chapter 5+6 Eden talks about the upcoming Chocolatfes, while Ibara sees it as a great money-making strategy (because they were working with some COMP project??) and a good way to get eden to the top, Jun doesn't see it like that at all and starts disagreeing with Ibara and everything he has stated before. Jun says that Chocolatfes is supposed to be about actual romantic love and not about making money. Even both Hiyori and Nagisa have already agreed to the whole thing, so Ibaras was relieved to finally convince them for once. But since Jun usually agrees to Ibaras plans, but this time didn't, he was surprised and pissed.
I'd also like to mention that Ruby Love was only meant for the audience and is not actually referencing the story like Melting Rouge Soul, because that is what Jun wanted, a song to make the audience enjoy Valentine's day.
so that's all the context for now, getting back to the lyrics-
Nagisa: A half-hearted shyness, barely covered by a Fig leaf
With all of these new feelings waiting to be openly exposed
the shyness mentioned, is juns hesitation to speak up. While a Fig leaf is supposed to cover an act considered embarrassing or shameful, this can't really be applied to the scenario here, but it could be used as a metaphor for juns hesitation. These "feelings" are indeed new, since Jun has never really disagreed with Ibara before.
Both: Purity can’t be obtained when you only have the falsity of sweetness
I: Melt away this bitter taste of sin
N: And let it soak into your chest
The first verse is probably supposed to be from Ibaras view, he assumes that Jun has a false view of "sweetness" or romance. But the next two verses are supposed to make Jun realize that romance isn't only about sweetness? I'm not sure honestly maybe I'm just delusional
I: With this dedication, I want more and more *
N: As the soul itself is tested *
Both: This pain that burns my heart up in flames is the price I pay
N: Even delicate flowers can carry poison that takes away lives
I: This can’t be changed nor can I be given in
*: Ibara could be wanting more from Juns opinion but ignores most of it at first because of his anger and the fact that he doesn't really understand "love". His soul is tested by Juns disagreement, since this is so unexpected he starts doubting himself later on.
The "pain" is the doubt of himself. He couldn't reject the offer of the COMP project because he wanted to satisfy the higher ups. Ibara left Jun there and just said how annoying his whole speech was because of how frustrated he was with the whole situation. "Delicate flowers" are supposed to represent Jun, since, again, he never really disagreed with Ibaras plans and seemed like someone who would just agree to everything. But Ibara cannot change anything about Juns personality but still doesn't really understand what Jun means by "love"
I: A wish in my hand, I always pray for only you
ALSO the "wish" here is to always get approval of higher ups, most likely still a habit of his military days.
Now, ibara has thought about the whole thing himself, but what's with Jun??? Well, he talked to Hiyori.
Jun keeps thinking about what happened with him and Ibara, Jun then thinks about it and says that maybe he was too harsh to Ibara. They talk it out but then Hiyori says that Jun is basically the "warrior of love" and that's why he was able to see so easily through Ibara and voice his opinion.
you know... Inner struggle.. kinda gives me idea that Jun "unlocked" Ibaras soul. And you know how Jun's solo is called? "Unlock The Soul" funny right.
As these flames wrap me up
In the name of love
Swear your love
Fall into me
As you take everything I lust for away
In the name of love
Jun does kinda unlock his soul and wraps Ibara with his care/love, taking his lust for acceptance from the higher ups away.
then, finally, jun gets to ibara and apologizes for lashing out so suddenly. but ibara has already been over the whole thing a few days prior.. jun was the only one who kept overthinking lmao.
I: Even when I realize that you won't even look at me
Jun also mentions that they avoided eye contact with each other during the time the "conflict" wasn't resolved so this verse is probably referencing it.
aannd... I think that's it! Thanks for reading thru this mess if you even got to this point Lol.
Honorable mention:
Jun treating Ibara to breakfast, since Ibara helped Jun back in his own center story: EXCEED / Solid Stage
Can also be read here: https://hyenahunt.tumblr.com/post/664126828471107584/translation-exceed-beating-wings-the
