Hi hi hello, everyone! Happy Valentine's Day! I’ve been inspired to bring you guys my own song picks for Shunsuke and Yuuichi as a pair by wintershope posts (check em’ out if you haven’t, by the way! Very good read), so I’ll be giving you just that! Shunyuu music! A playlist!
This post is going to be a REALLY long one, so prepare yourselves! I’ll be writing about how I associate certain songs with Shunyuu and how, plus just general rambling about the two, so… Prepare yourselves!
First of all, a quick ramble on how I perceive Shunyuu!
It is entirely optional for you to read this part, since I will very much express such points as I talk about the music, so do feel free to skip it. But if you want some crazy man rambling on the meaningfulness of the relationship between two fictional characters, you’re free to read this part! LOL
To me, the two are a pair that, if they had met in different circumstances, would have been inseparable. As for the circumstances shown in-game, their chances are very much doomed. Despite it, the way their dynamic manifests speaks a lot about them as characters and how things could have been.
To me, the most notable thing about them is how they are parallels to each other. Shunsuke could have very easily ended up like Yuuichi. Yuuichi could have moved on as Shunsuke did. It was simply a matter of how late things could have been realized. If Shunsuke had been given such an outlet such as the storybook, to manifest his pain before he could figure out his coping mechanism of fooling himself, if his grief had exploded into anger before he could do anything… He likely would have ended like Yuuichi. Things apply similarly to Yuuichi, that if he had found something, a reason to hold onto the world that rejected him so much—just something like that, not even an erasure of his pains, just the slightest bit of reassurance in company… He could have lived. He could have had a motivator as to not give in to his anger. And in-game, this motivator is explored to be…Shunsuke. What truly doomed them as a pair was just how late they could have met, two boys with such similar circumstances connecting them. Yet such an unforgiving world is what brought Yuuichi to the mentality that he would be put down and hurt before he even had the chance to reach Shunsuke. Once he did, he had already been hurt enough to believe it was pointless.
Where am I going with all that?!-- you may wonder, my dear reader www. It’s the fact that their connection could have been so strong, so meaningful, as shown through their interactions, which makes them a really noteworthy pair. Despite the circumstances, even through it all—Outside of just simple kindness, Shunsuke chooses to be the one to keep Yuuichi going, even if it meant being by his side for the rest of their lives. He was the first one to acknowledge him and make him feel seen at all.
Through the symbolism in-game, of them having similar wishes to look for at the bottom of the sea, that they could have been there for the others’ sorrows, yet it all being kicked over by the pain brought through a world that wouldn’t understand them and rejected them (be it by the denial of their struggles and mental health, and the hints of homophobia being a factor in town); that to me shows a pair of boys who could have meant it all for each other, connected through their similarities if not due to how things turned out. Even through the undeniable actions that cannot be undone, even if there lies the complex truth of being unable to say one cares, the truth is that the way both open up to each other shows to me that they could have meant THE WORLD, TO EACH OTHER. But as things stood in the true ending, they are very much doomed.
Anyways yes, that’s my ramble on why I ship Shunyuu, I just. Really adore those parallels they have and just. The fact that they had had each other from the beginning, if such an unforgiving world hadn’t convinced them otherwise, they could have been a pair who understood each other deeply. Even in such a world, how clear it is truly fascinating to me. I am a genuine believer in the fact that such connections can help someone move forward, despite how painful and how awful the world can be, especially when you’re a child stuck in a world that won’t treat your sorrows seriously to begin with. I find they encapsulate it tragically and beautifully. (I could go on and dissect certain scenes directly, but the length of my ramble here is already comically long www)
Ramble done! So… (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.) It is time for the music.
I have prepared a playlist for them and divided songs based on whose perspective they could apply to the relationship, as well as songs that can be used to encapsulate both. I’ve also sorted them out so as to illustrate the way events fall down in-game to their eventual doom😇… Because of course I did. I love my doomed BL. (I would add a joke tone indicator, but let’s be real, I do actually dig doomed pairings WWW)
Of course, I won’t detail every single one in long rambles, since they’re 20 songs and that would make this post really long! I’ll try to be brief, but I can’t say I won’t let go for certain songs www. I will specify these aren’t all love songs directly, but I find my way to associate it to be about them (source: me trust trust).
1. kamiyado - Grizzly ni Osowaretara
As goofy of a start as it can be, we begin with Grizzly ni Osowaretara! This one isn’t deep or anything, it is just a fun song that can be boiled down to: “ok, but if a bear appeared on my way home and it was to attack me, what would you do? Come save me at this instant and don’t even doubt my words before coming to my aid”.
This is a Yuu song. This is very much a manifestation of how he just dances around things like they’re a game before revealing his actual motivations regarding his actions, and thus, how exactly he perceived Shunsuke, albeit also teasing how he wants him in particular to empathize with him. So funny song it is!
2. 物語シリーズ – mathemagics
Moving on, motivations revealed! This song is here to express how Yuuichi came to choose Shunsuke as the one he wanted to understand him the most. In a world full of lies, as he searched for a possible answer as to what he could want, he found Shunsuke. Even if there were other candidates in the form of those in the Friend’s Game, through what Yuuichi describes as weakness, he finds Shunsuke to be the most correct answer to hold onto. He who he would like to be with. That’s what this one represents.
3/4. vocaliod-P(noa) - 1/6 -out of the gravity- & Coyote Theory - This Side of Paradise
Ok, sit down, I have like one million songs over this single line. ( ⓛ ω ⓛ *) Of course, that makes these the first Shunsuke songs.
The first one is about wanting to free someone and fly together to a place where gravity is so light that it can lift their loneliness and burdens. Someday, by going far away together. The second one is about sharing that loneliness. Releasing those worries together in the water, if you may. It also hints towards the commitment Shunsuke has chosen to place on saving Yuuichi.
I could write paragraphs about this line, honestly (this line forever haunts my mind), but I’ll let the songs speak for themselves. 😇
5/6. Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars & Kobato - Ashita Kuru Hi
These two songs belong to both of them. They symbolize the promise of letting go of those pains together and forgetting everything, even if it is just for a moment in spring. The joy and sorrow they hold closely, hand in hand.
7/8. glamscure - Que Sera Sera & ItimatuSuzuka - Curse
These are about Yuu’s direct feelings on the matter. The first one is about hope. Fondness over that reaching hand, and that want to see forward to that very promise given by the one who smiled and stayed by his side as he opened up. Despite the fear he felt of leaning on someone, whatever would happen now, hopefully everything could be fine if it was by his side.
This, though, is with the knowledge of how this had never happened to him before. Something he had wished for and felt was impossible to get. That is what Curse stands for. The pain and how long he has been stuck, acting like he’s been fine. In a way, I see it as also standing for that inner awareness of what he will soon be about to do. To congratulate Shunsuke on his future, feeling cursed, yet wanting to be told there’s nothing to be afraid of, as if he isn’t about to be gone soon. Yet even then, the promise has been made despite it.
9. mathru@KanimisoP - Counting Songs in the Darkness
This one continues off in both of their perspectives. Together, the two of them are lonely, yet in the unknown and scary darkness, they remain together side by side.
There are no translations for this song online that I could find; however, I gave it my best shot in translating it for you! I only have two years of studying Japanese under my belt and could definitely grasp it better (I’d say I have a very basic understanding of it), but I did my best for the lyrics to be understandable for you guys.
In a room with no one else, let's turn off the lights. Surely, within the darkness, everything will begin to melt away. I can hear someone's voice calling for me. The darkness is scary; so come closer to me. You are lonely; And I am lonely [too]. Wherever it is, it's right here. "Is it here?" "Here it is." For the sake of me being able to find you, I'll hand you a bright red sign As I look for you with closed eyes. The darkness may be scary, but everything's [already] okay. You are so dear [to me]; And I am so dear [to you]. I'll be counting for you; To your heart. The darkness is lonely; The darkness is so cherished. Wherever it is, it's right here. "Is it here?" "Here it is."
I hope the lyrics express my vision regarding Shunyuu in this part. (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.)
10. wowaka - and I'm home -Original Master Version.-
Following up on the same feeling as the last one! So, it belongs to both of them. Very much the same feeling I wanted to express with the last one, but this one is A DUET!! (╹ڡ╹ ) And actually has an available translation online, so it didn’t need its own section like the previous song, LOL!!
11. gingerbee - Feeling Like Children
I’ve visualized this one from Shunsuke’s perspective. This is to show the part he truly commits to being there for Yuuichi, staying there for him, and holding him close. I would place this about when he makes the decision to enter Yuuichi’s room without a word after Hiroto explains to him how he’d have to be such a big support for Yuu.
Now I will be a little bit insane speaking here, breaking my proper wording here, and reverting to my keyboard insanity over one thing about Shunsuke’s actions here that drives me insane because. Holy shit
Did he have to do all that NOOOOOO did he have to recite poetry to him in the Sakura trees scene? NOOOO NO HE DIDN’T!!! SIMPLE KINDNESS DID NOT REQUIRE ALL THAT. That to me. Shows, like. Even though the last monologue speaks of him not being able to care about Yuu (OH AND I WILL GET TO THAT) THESE THINGS SHOW A GENUINE CARE FOR HIM TO SUCH A FAR EXTENT I’M. SUCH A GENUINE AFFECTION BEING PRESENT ALBEIT SURROUNDED BY VERY COMPLICATED FEELINGS DUE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
So that’s what this song stands for: that contradictory affection as he makes his choice to remain committed to being by Yuuichi’s side in there \(￣︶￣*\)) Sudden incoherent talk over!
12. SURL - Dry Flower
Okay, remember the awareness Yuuichi has of what he’s about to do, I expressed via Curse? Here is where it comes right back in full force. The expression of how, even though he had spent so long waiting for someone like Shunsuke to come around, through the endless cycle of endlessly waiting and being unsure as to how to even approach him until it was too late, he now feels like he has already withered. There is no point. He has already dried up and withered, even if Shunsuke is here.
13/14. Barrett Wilbert Weed,Ryan McCartan – Seventeen & nulut - Lower
Standing for how Shunsuke attempts to hold onto Yuuichi and prevent him from leaving, to remind him of that promise they had made, are these songs. Starting with a song from Heathers!
This actually isn’t the only Heathers song here, and in each one, I would place Shunsuke as Veronica and Yuuichi as JD. Though Heathers is quite a black comedy a lot of the time, I find Seventeen to be a beautiful emotional duet, fitting of this moment in the story. Rather than asking “Can’t we be Seventeen?” It would be much less, since they’re much younger (which in a way makes it much more devastating THEY WERE BORN UYESTREDAYY😭😭😭).
Anyway, the idea with that one would be the expression of “Didn’t you want to see cherry blossoms together?" If Yuu still has the right, can’t they just be normal children together? Can’t he just stay and keep on living?
Which moves onto the next song, Lower. If he could get him to stay, if he could keep Yuuichi from leaving, he could still be saved by this feeling. This one is also quite a vulnerable song, with the singer expressing feelings of unease they have had to bury deep down, for it weighed on them terribly. This would stand for the moment Shunsuke himself speaks about his own sorrows to Yuuichi, sharing how maybe, as Shunsuke could fool himself, Yuuichi could hopefully be saved by doing that too.
15/16. Rebecca Sugar - Love Like You & Barrett Wilbert Weed, Ryan McCartan - I Am Damaged
And here are Yuu’s final songs. I believe their lyrics speak for themselves on what they mean alongside the scene I’ve placed here, so I’ll let you do the listening here(❁´◡`❁)
17. C!naH, Rubyeye - My Clematis
A final duet I felt was fitting for the moment it’s all over. A duet sung with a smile, even by the one who knows he will die right then. In here, Yuuichi, who despite knowing it’s all impossible, in this song, plays along a little bit as a final charade before he dies, an expression of how he himself in-game would die still playing the part of a clown despite his own pain. And Shunsuke is left behind, singing alone.
18. Malice Mizer – Au Revoir
Shunsuke’s final goodbye to someone who is already gone. A goodbye from the him who had connected so deeply with Yuuichi’s sorrow.
19. Nelly Furtado - Say It Right
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOW!!! This song is a stand-in as to how Shunsuke distances himself from the concept he liked Yuuichi, calling himself as being just as underhanded in using him, and that he couldn’t actually care for him. As I stated previously in this post, I believe this is simultaneously a truth and a lie given the circumstances. Because I do think it is true, he wanted to deeply connect with Yuuichi.
So that’s why this song is here. One interpretation for this song could be the longing for a deep connection with someone, albeit being afraid of that vulnerability. So, with that, you distance yourself; it would be either saying it all or nothing, liking someone or using them, if you will.
20. Yuri – Maldita Primavera
And here’s the final song! It is about having fallen in love as quickly as the seasons pass and being haunted by the remainder of it.
This is more of my belief that I think Shunsuke would be left with a big daily reminder of what had happened between him and Yuuichi, including his own contradictory feelings. So, I wanted to include a song that would express such an aftermath that isn’t shown in the game.
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And those are all! Those are all the songs I’ve associated with Shunyuu, explained, put into a playlist! Thank you so much for listening to my rambling! I know that was a rrrrrrrrreaaaaaaallly long post, but I wanted to give something good for you guys to chew on! Special mention once again to wintershope for inspiring this post. Happy Valentine's!
