You're flyer than a plane

Ryota

Regarding this matter I personally feel lonely with Mandy’s decision. We have been active together for more than 13 years. Eventho he is our oldest member, we could always joke around with him and he’s someone I consider like a brother. Not having Men-san around will be lonely.

But it is also because of how long we’ve known each other and that he hasn’t reveal anything concrete in his plans yet so I can’t help but feel worried for his future.

But I also respect his decision and will support in this road he has taken

Ryuto

Thank you for everyone coming to our sudden press conference and to all the fans warmly watching over us from live broadcast.

Regarding Mandy’s decision, I still have split feelings. Half of me is impressed at how Mandy wants to stand on his own and creating something new from zero. I understand how hard that is to accomplish, so I want to support him.

But there is still half of me who is still not satisfied with his decision. Just like Alan, I can’t help but wonder if it’s not something that can be done within our group. I’m not against but I can’t fully support him yet either.

But since he has come this far, there is nothing else but to watch over him.

As Hayato mentioned, I came back to Japan for this press. Currently I am studying overseas and will be returning to school as soon as this is over. So can Mandy upgrade my flight to first class since it’s because of you I have to come back Mandy: I’ll do what I can…. Ryuto: Flights nowadays can be done with just your smartphone so yeah, please do so after this. Mandy: Ryuto: Please and thanks.

Yuta

I'm sure a lot of our fans has been worried ever since yesterday and had a hard time sleeping. I'm also as nervous and didn't sleep much myself. I truly apologise for the concerns we cause.

When Mandy came to us talking about him leaving the group, at first I felt really sad and lonely. But when we started discussing among us, I'm not satisfied with his reasoning at all. So right now, I'm really annoyed and mad at him.

But when I think back on why I feel so strongly, it's because I love Mandy a lot. He's someone who helped me out a lot and met many people because of him.

I'm really mad, btw.

So I hope that Mandy's future activities will reassure and convince me that he's doing the right thing.

And if by that time he hasn't done anything worthy and wants to come back to the group, I will also reject him.

I will support him as a friend and as a teammate

But I'm still angry at him.

So I hope that every Dreamers who's watching understands my rage and how strongly I feel about this. Please keep Mandy in your mind as well. Don't forget him

Hayato

Mandy first came to me with his thought about leaving and I didn't want him to and talked with him on how we can work this out while still being in the group.

When his decision of leaving is finalised, I myself started to think that it's a road I might take one day as well. I'm also very anxious about my future and there have been nights where I think about the possibilities of quitting.

But I have since changed my mind. instead of thinking of when to quit, when the time comes where I feel like quitting, instead I'll think about starting again as a Gene member.

I still feel strongly that I want to continue gene with all 7 members. I still can't stop thinking why did it has come to this… I'm also very saddened by Mandy's decision.

But just like how Mandy wanted to make his own path, I believe that us 6 members will also continue to a path on our own. So I hope that Mandy's future endeavors will be ones that will satisfy us and reassure us that he's done the right thing

Please walk a path that you won't regret Mandy san. I'll support you.

Reo

Before I start I really want to point out how arrogant it must seem for us to make a sudden press conference. Right in the middle of everyone spending their Golden Week holidays. I honestly thought no one would come. Thank you to everyone who has looked after us all this time

I think among everyone, I'm the one who's closest to him. We've known each other even before I entered LDH and he's known me since I was a middle schooler.

Mandy is the prominent figure of our group, you can always hear people saying "Oh, it's Mandy! Mandy!" even kids know him. It was reassuring to have him in our group

I also feel saddened by his decision just like the rest of our members. I personally don't want him to quit. And up until yesterday night I kept thinking, "this is a prank isn't it?" I even imagined HIRO san coming to us with a toy hammer to our head and said "You got pranked! Good job for surviving!". But this isn't a dream

We celebrated our 13th year and last year we've done a lot of concerts for our 10th anniversary. I would like to thank HIRO san, all our senpais, staffs who has helped us throughout all these years. And especially our fans that has supported us. It's thanks to everyone that nobodys like Mandy and I are able to come this far.

While we walk our different roads, I still think we are working on the same goal of giving dreams to people.

While Mandy is no longer a fellow member, he is still my friend. And I'm someone who helps my friend. So if there's a time where he wants to come back, I'll bow my head together with him

Mandy's response to members

Mandy -> Alan: Alan isn't only my leader but also a fellow EXILE member. Thank you for keeping the group together. I'll do my best to produce results that'll answer your expectations Mandy -> Ryota: He's really worried about me. He always had this parental need to help me out and going forward I think I'll still cause him to worry. Mandy -> Ryuto: Ryuto has always treat me to meals and such and as our vocalist he's helped the group a lot. I'm really thankful to him. And as a token of my gratitude, a flight back to school is in order… Ryuto: THANK YOU VERY MUCH! Mandy -> Yuta: When I told him, he really did got mad at me. And I love him a lot too. I'm happy he's being honest with me. He's doing a lot more body building than me so I will leave the title of "macho member" to him. Yuta: I can't build muscle more than this. Give me a break. Mandy -> Hayato: He's always helped me out at variety shows. We might be taking different paths but we're still living in the same world, so let's work hard together Mandy -> Reo: I talked with him the most regarding my decision. I'm thankful that he's willing to continue to be my friend and support me. I'll do my best. I hope we can continue to hang out and play around as we always do Reo: *slurps his empty glass* Huh? What was that?

Mandy: Like Alan said, I'm not leaving because we fought and broke up. All of us will continue to make people smile in our ways.

Regarding future group activities

Will there be anymore activity with all 7 members? Alan: The last will be a performance for music show CDTV Live! Live! on 6th May. After that we will continue our activities as 6 members.

Regarding activities with 6 members

Ryuto: As mentioned, when all our individuals works are done we will continue our group activities in July. Just like how we started our musha shugyo with 6 members, we will continue our activities with the feeling of restarting in mind. Ryota: We will hold a tour with 6 members starting this autumn. Just like Ryuto kun mentioned, this will become a musha shugyo for this new 6 member Generations group. I don't really know how much we can reveal for now...

Mandy: Can I chip in like provide refreshments and such? Alan, Yuta, Hayato: NO. Yuta: We don't need your snacks. Hayato: He's still mad at you Mandy: You're still mad huh Ryota: Yes we are

Reo: We've thought about ways to change or upgrade our performance. We will not be introducing any replacement member instead will be recruiting support members to help with performances. Not to be mistaken as backup dancers, but support members. Reo: Just like how Machida Keita was once our core members, and when he left to pursue his acting career, it was the five supporting members who helped us a lot

- Gene already has a group of supporting members that have been helping them since musha shugyo: Taiki, (Iwaya) Shogo, Shohei, Itsuki, Makoto - As all of the current support members are already active in their own activities, so it's implied that new supporting members will be added into the roster

Q&A session

Q: When did the thought of graduating came up?

Mandy: It was around 2022 when I first brought up the topic with Hayato. But it was finalised around the time we entered the new year

Q: How did HIRO san react to your decision

A: He also expressed his sadness and loneliness like my fellow members, but he also took it in a positive light. If it's something that Mandy wants to do then I'll wholly support Mandy's new dreams.

Q: How was the response from your seniors?

A: When it was decided, I called my senpais from EXILE saying I have something important to discuss. The senior members all asked if "are you having a yome-ndy [yome: bride]?", implied if i was getting married. But no I said, I'm gonna be "yamen-dy" [yame(te): quit]. Even yesterday I saw Takahiro san and Akira san and they all joked, "Hi Yamendy!" to me.

Q: From this conference, there were hints that you might return to LDH/gene. Do you have any plans to?

Mandy: I hope not. And I don't have any plans to. I intend to take responsibility for my actions of leaving. I hope that my activities from now on are ones that would make me look forward instead

Q: Please give a word in your usual -ndy catchphrase