~Reminiscing an all-time favorite drama series continued…. and we’re all the way up to episode 10!! Tonight’s episode is chock full of inspirati0n, revelations and both highs and lows along the way and just think… we still have one more to go! Plenty of fireworks in this one! ^^*….
my Long Vacation DVD box set
「ロングバケーション episode 10」
(English subtitled)
So I’ll be posting each episode singly one episode per week every Friday …all 11 episodes here ^^.
And as aforementioned I think “Long Vacation” is the best drama ever written! Stars Kimura Takuya, Yamaguchi Tomoko, Takenouchi Yutaka, Matsu Takako, Ryo, and Inamori Izumi…. not to mention it also has one of the most iconic theme songs of all-time in Kubota Toshinobu’s “La La La Love Song” and if by chance you don’t know it, trust me you’re gonna fall in love w/ it head over heels I promise and even the opening credits remains as one of the very best cast montages!!
So I got the idea to watch and comment along with this episode before actually publishing this post publicly, as my thoughts/ reactions came to me in “real time”, so hopefully this acts like a conversation starter if you reply to any of the comments below and add new ones of your own thoughts if you’d like, as this great episode rolls along =).
モーニングBerryz48...the morning after..... "Always wear protection before reading…(^q^)." 
And Minami did get into Tetsuya’s car after all and Mmmmm…. feel so bad for Sena. =(
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This was a soothing transition when Sena runs into Ryokochan just then, I mean a sight for sore eyes literally as Sena and Ryokochan’s relationship has grown into a true friendship… something I wouldn’t have even fathomed to be possible going back to when she was his love interest. Sweet!
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Heeeey! So I was away for quite awhile, touring around with Perfume and watching them play. I just got back and am well rested, so I want to first comment on this episode and then watch the last episode. Sorry for the massive delay in my response! I hope you are doing well though and can’t wait to launch into this discussion with you!
And yes, Ryokochan was very much a kind of healing salve for Sena’s soul in this moment. Who would’ve thought it would’ve ended up like that between them?
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Ah! you’ve been going to all of their shows and traveling?? That sounds amazing!! You must be still exhausted and yet energized by your favorite group! ^^
Their relationship dynamic was a really sweet aspect of this drama throughout, you know once it became a true friendship where they could lean on one another openly.
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Huh ‘lacking energy…’ as in she’s got Sena on the brain and heart REAL bad!~!
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This was heartwarming listening to Ryokochan express her lack of confidence with men while Sena’s words reassure here that if feelings are true then everything’s okay. =)
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agreed. You put it simply and beautifully here!
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Every time I see Rumiko as of late I’m sort of expecting some sort of landmine to go off xD. Here though it’s very calm albeit she appears to be grasping onto straws of what once was with Animal Shinji. =/
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And this time Ryokochan indeed turns around and waves bye-bye….. okay so their situation is 100% different now but still I totally think this scene’s ending was paying homage to their past putting that very missed gesture into its proper place now. =)
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The hanabi still there unused in Sena’s apartment is now a solidly symbolical thingy representing the void left in Minami’s departure.
These little coinciding scenes between Sena and Minami as they’re in their own apartments doing likewise things and looking likewise like something or rather someone’s missing…. love how these were shot and edited together this way.
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Didn’t even catch the hanabi reference there but I do think that the symbolism of all the little things that they each do is really kind of a nice throwback to their time together in the beginning of this series. Very cool and very sad at the same time, but in a sad kind of nostalgic way.
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Deep and sweet & bitter nostalgia always finds its way in the little details of life, so true. The hanabi left by Minami played such a major role once Minami moved out as you just say Sena looking at it repeatedly as it reminded him of “someone.” =)
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Great to see Sena back at practice and so committed this time!~! And success this time around! And there’s that ‘playing for someone’ wall busting revelation!! Great going Sena-kun!!
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YEAH!!! Sena-Kun is awesome!
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I chuckled a bit in seeing Minami’s now purchased a camera! =P And despite all of giddy photo taking going on with Momochan at her playful best….. their conversation here reveals all that’s in Minami’s heart as Momochan knows all. ^^
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It was a little quirky segment that definitely was a typical Momochan/Minami interraction. Cool and fun but mostly a demonstration of Momochan’s wisdom.
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Like Sena & Minami/ Shinji & Minami…. Momochan and Minami also played out like a realistic relationship or rather friendship in their case and ditto on Momochan’s wisdom reigning superior at all times.
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The somewhat chaotic sounding piano in the background is symbolic of Shinji’s love life or lack of a true one at this point. Ironic how the smoldering handsome playboy seems to be getting tugged in more than one direction now and this conversation with Ryokochan only cemented that sentiment that much more. On a side note: I love watching Takenouchi Yutaka eat!! haha and that’s why I posted him on Bistro SMAP not too long ago here! =)
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Lol, you and your references. I love it!
I liked this part too, but you are right… it’s another symbolic setting that these characters have been placed in.
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My minds always wandering at all times it seems, even when engrossed deeply into a single obsession. =)
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LOL Minami is sooooo quick to poke insults at her brother!! Either that or she’s hitting him on the head with something or another =P. And there it is! The hit upon his head after asking for coffee LOL! Ah and Mom’s still waiting for her daughter to be married, the story of all of our lives xD. Hopefully soon I say!!
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Oh the piano exam to get to the big competition is finally here! So funny that and ironic that it’s Ryokochan who’s nervous and not Sena here and that she put her watch on backwards =P. Ahhhh so sweet how he fixes it for her =). Mmm Sena ‘writes’ the character for person (hito) upon Ryokochan’s wrist, and with the magical spell notion you can’t help but smile so much!
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What is the meaning of this? Is it a famous spell in Japan? I didn’t catch it. When I was waiting in line for Perfume this weekend, I was talking to a Japanese person the entire time the one day, and at one point, he wrote something on my back in hiragana. I asked him what it meant and he said something about it helping? I am curious if it’s the same kind of thing that happened to me happened here with Sena and Ryokochan?
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Un Japanese have like a zillion means of making kanji characters into charms in some form or another. Likely it was exactly the same in intent and with a character’s meaning you wish that upon a person this way. ^^
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ah, just read thru your comments. Arigato! And thanks for explaining the whole thing with the hiragana spellings and stuff. Very cool.
Yes, very tired still from touring around with Perfume this past week, but happy to be home. I have to prepare for an upcoming trip to Japan, as I have research to do for another book I’m writing and also I want to try and go to the AKB Janken Tournament and also celebrate my friend’s clothing company’s grand party opening in Osaka, in which another favorite performer of mine, Toriena, is going to perform, and I have all access VIP to the show. So yeah, to say I’m exhausted is an understatement for me lol. But I seriously can’t wait to play catch up tonight and then cap off my evening with the final episode of Long Vacation! So excited, and so happy with this already dorama perfection of a show!
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Arranged marriage? Straight to the garbage I say!!! xD
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Yeah, never understood the whole arranged marriage thing. A remnant from another time perhaps.
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And thank goodness for that!!!!!!!!!!!! If I had to peruse a man-catalog as a means of getting married I would run away and elope =P!~!
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lol….you and your words… man-catalogue? LMFAO!!!!
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A ‘date’ for Minami as in seeing Sena perform…. but will she really go in? Now Sena play like never before!!!! Play for Minami! The opening so gorgeous with all of those cascading notes… and alas Minami’s made it in to see Sena. It’s mesmerizing this part, how they go through the history of Minami and Sena as he plays magnificently. ^^* And you can totally hear “Minami’s” song inside of this much more complicated piece he’s playing now….now love that! And she and Ryokochan knows that Sena’s done it! That has to be good enough, or rather great enough! Right?!
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Yeah, I had tears in my eyes. It was soooooo beautiful. So perfect. I kept thinking that Sena would’ve heard Minami when she came in, like the door would slam shut or something. Thankfully it didn’t happen like that. I really enjoyed this moment.
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Ah I didn’t even think of the door wreaking perhaps havoc on this amazing moment! Ohh you’ll be needing much more Kleenex a bit later on and into the final episode I promise!! =D
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And I’ve been wondering if Minami was going to address the other night when she saw Sena there but still got into Tetsuya’s car, I mean she was definitely in between a rock and hard place and yet I know all of the audience thought that she would not leave just then that way.
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Oh good luck charms are HUGE in Japan!! I mean they have them for everything from health to school exams to pure luck! =) Those two girls whom were passing by when Minami was photographing Momochan were talking of how one of those charms had failed…. and now we see that Minami did indeed overhear them…not the failing part but the need for a good luck charm!~* =).
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I was surprised by Sena’s response to Minami’s charm~* here. =O! Did not see that coming although what he says speaks volumes to his vision of their relationship and just where it stands if anywhere at all now. And we’ve got a few sparkles of fireworks now between them…..such a look of despair upon Sena as is words have now set off a fight and when he picks up the charm it’s so written all over his face.
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This fight between them was hard. It was so mean and yet coming from a place of reserved passion between those two that, I think, symbolizes the whole Japanese… custom (not the right word I think) of keeping those feelings repressed until the last possible moment lol. It was cringe-worthy for sure.
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And yet so real, like you can totally relate to something like this happening this way in real life and as you say when emotions are all kept bottled up the results are usually negative.
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I”m beginning to feel uneasy for Tetsuya, it’s like whenever he sees Minami now, she’s in a different place mentally and emotionally and I’m sure he senses it much more than he leads on. It was soooooo wonderful that Minami opened up with the truth about her attending Sena’s piano competition. And now we have emotionally trouble…. can’t blame Tetsuya for reacting that way and YET woah!!!!!!!! a marriage proposal right there in the car! =O The fact that Minami doesn’t readily answer says pretty much all one needs to know you’d have to believe?
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Yeah, at this point Tetsuya’s days are numbered. I’m really, really starting to feel like my dream of team Sena/Minami is coming true, though after the fight between them, I’m not sure. I think when I saw Tetsuya’s kid though, I kept thinking there’s no way Minami would do that to Tetsuya…it’s kind of cruel to that kid. So I was just wondering where this was all going to go. Hmmm…
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Well he played the child card to perfection or rather his child did albeit with no planned purpose…. rather with need and innocence. Yup you surely get that feeling about Tetsuya at this point! =)
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I love that Minami’s wine box/ dining room table remains in Sena’s apartment. =)
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And now the big revelations~*!!! Did Sena pass??
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135!!!! There it is!!! Yokatta~! \(^o^)/
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YOKATTA!!!!!!!!!!!
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And Sena indeed took Minami’s charm~* along with him….♥!
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I’m glad that Sena got the guts to call after saying such mean things just before, and so so hilarious how Minami initially tries to mimic her answering message LOL!! And complete with odd sounding beep…. =). Okay I don’t know what’s funnier here, Minami’s faking her answering machine or Sena actually falling for it as he begins to leave a message….too cute and funny!~!
Relieved that Sena apologized properly and amusing how Minami’s got it all as water under the bridge in an instant albeit I’m positive it was equally weighing upon her mind too all this time since they fought.
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OMG that ‘talking like a ‘fag’ comment by Minami hit like a missile just then LOL! =O How can a character so wonderful be soooooo sooooooo blunt? =D
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Again, remnant of a different era perhaps of thinking. You can’t say things like that today or else protest groups would be all over this show to the point where it would get ended fast. I mean, I get why she said it and it doesn’t bother me one bit, but my gay friends would probably raise their eyebrows at this for sure.
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Un and upon another examination of the dialogue, I think the translator could just have easily said it as “sounding feminine…” but with the brash delivery perhaps that was much more of the context here and thus the translation.
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Now that’s the true reaction of someone who cares!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Minami even seems giddier than Sena himself doesn’t she! So so cool how they made it appear as if Sena and Minami were actually seated upon the same couch just then. And now the reveal of going to Boston if he passes…. hits like a ton of bricks on Minami just by her reaction. And leave it to Minami to tell Sena not to ‘take advantage of the Caucasian women’ while in Boston LOL =P! A marriage proposal, possibly going to Boston in a month and Sena and Minami feel miles apart now =(. Sena’s “encouragement” on keeping Tetsuya is delivered so uneasily here and speaking of traditional marriage wardrobes for women in Japan, a lot of couple’s favor going “American” for their wedding attire and like Minami says ohhh that headpiece must be soo sooo uncomfortable to wear xD,
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Caucasian women…that was hysterical. Pure Minami. Gosh, I wish she was real! I really do! I wish I could go see Sena and Minami down the street for like a party or get together! They seem so real to me with this conversation here.
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I think we’d all ask Sena to move in =P!!
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It’s like Sena and Minami are now saying their goodbyes to one another in this conversation and then Minami’s request to hear Sena play ‘that’ song one last time for her was a wonderful moment~♥ ^^* Never has a single song resonated so beautiful. Even Shinji has taken notice downstairs as he returns home to Sena’s apartment. =)
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Did you notice just then Sena’s facial gestures as he was playing? Playing for someone, playing for Minami just then.
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Didn’t notice but now that you mention it….
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You know I was beginning to wonder if we were ever going to meet Tetsuya’s boy and there he is!! Kawaii!~! And as they say, kids say the funniest things!
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Sena’s like a new man now….. he’s like broken down that wall and it’s like all of his self doubt and inhibitions that were holding him back and down are now all gone! =) More like destroyed that wall! Even just an episode ago you’d never imagine Sena readily wanting to play so openly with so many people all around =). The Sena all locked up inside for years and years has finally revealed himself here. It’s a powerful little moment too when Shinji hits just a few notes of Minami’s song and Sena’s reaction says it all. He’s moved on….? Boston, Minami’s getting married to Tetsuya, it’s all falling into place it seems.
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Hm …. the sight of hanabi/ fireworks btw that’s one of my top 5 (or better) all time favorite Mr.Children songs, here the symbolism of fireworks is on full display just by reading Minami’s face as Tetsuya’s boy presents some.
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So thaaat was Mr. Children!!! I knew it sounded familiar!
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Oh no not in this drama as I was just making the “fireworks” a trigger word for my brain and how that instantly reminded me of this song~♥. ^^
There’s something very Beatles like too in the way its music video was shot as one of the scenes is quite reminiscent of The Cavern…. and it’s such a catchy song!~!! Here’s a great live performance of this gem:
https://morningberryz48.wordpress.com/2013/07/27/tonights-concert/
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Ahh….sorry, I see what you mean now. Thanks for explaining…I’ll check out the song but I think I know it already. Been listening to Mr. Children awhile, but it’s been awhile since I listened to them, if you know what I mean. Thanks for the link!
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Yup! those fireworks left in Sena’s apartment. Call Sena, she’s so gonna call him right! Oh no it’s Momoko after all and what a cute new answering message by Momochan~♥! =)
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I laughed so hard at Momochan’s message!!!! Too funny.
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And a perfect answering message for my phone too! =P
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And the sinking boat question once again…. was kinda hoping Minami would answer it in regards to Tetsuya and Sena. Ah but the clever Momochan proposes an all new question with fireworks in it this time around! =D And by saying “I’m not the one you want to be with…” to Minami, Momochan’s once again the brightest one. =) Makes you wonder if she’ll go to Sena’s or Tetsuya’s…?
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Even the way Inamori Izumi here say Bye-Bye is too cute!
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It has to be Sena’s right! And just as Minami was about to leave, those fireworks save the day!~!
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Good thing that one was a dud LOL =P. Oh wait it was okay LOL. Can you even imagine Sena’s sudden surprise to see Minami there upon his apartment’s rooftop just as he’s finally lighting those very fireworks which have been a symbol of her absence since she’s left.
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This was really good. I started to feel goosebumps at this point. I felt probably how Sena did. It was just too lovely of a moment.
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The surprise yes the wonderful surprise!! Scene of a guy being so caught off guard here. ^^
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They’re going to KISS!~! At first by Sena’s initial reaction and nonchalant peck upon Minami’s cheek I soooo thought it wasn’t going anywhere just then. =/
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But THEN! Fittingly right in front of the hanabi sparkles… a magnificent KISS!~! ^^*
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So much came to light in this episode, honesty was on top all the way through from everyone and for the best of reasons. And yet so much is unresolved yet, I mean what of Tetsuya? The marriage proposal? The big competition? The possibility of Boston? And Sena’s impending leaving Japan….? And what of Animal-Shinji? Rumiko? Ryokochan? Hmmmmm?!
And we’ve just one incredible final episode to end it all coming next Friday~*!~!
The ending to our long vacation…. how will it all finish up? Tanoshimi~ni~ne~! ^^*
ps. Derek~kun I hope your Perfume concert was awesome tonight!!!!! \(^o^)/
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Re: Perfume concert
Yowsah!!!!
(not sure how to spell that)
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Ahhhhhhhhhhhh… they kissed, and it was a great, great kiss. I felt it so much. I cried so much. I almost wished they had ended the show right here, but as you said, there’s so much more left to be resolved. I really felt this and I hope the next episode starts with both of them in bed, next to each other, finally sealing the deal, and then working on a plan to tell everyone about their union together. So, so perfect. The long vacation is almost over and I don’t want it to be at all. I’m going to really miss Sena Kun and Minami san. It was sooooo much for me to love and adore.
I’m going to be watching the final episode tonight, since I finally am well rested enough from seeing Perfume and have set aside the time tonight to make this happen. Thank you again for this posting and helping me through this incredible journey feel like we are watching this together. I wish we could’ve watched it in the flesh, side by side, since it’s so lovely and I would love to hear you laugh at the funny parts and you could make fun of me when I cried at the sad parts. But this is the next best thing. Seriously, just way too beautiful!
Until tonight!
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A~h the sign that you’re liking a drama a whole lot! When you anticipate and then actually have that empty and lonely feeling when a drama has ended =(. LOL you have a most vivid visual to begin the next episode I see! =D I’ll just say that you’re so gonna love this ending as it’s drama perfection/ drama heaven!~!!
It’s been wonderful for me too!! To relive all of these memorable moments in a deeply endeared show with you has been nothing short of memorable in itself. So much to take away and store in our hearts and minds here collectively. Okay enjoy the final episode and just prepare yourself for something special!! ^^* Can’t wait to hear your final thoughts~….!
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