#liella!

Watching Season 2 of the TV Anime: "I Was So Moved, No Words Came Out"

──It has been four years since the second-generation members joined. How do you honestly feel right now?

Yabushima Akane (below, Yabushima): When I compare who I was at debut with who I am now, there are so many parts where I can tell I've grown, and that really makes it sink in just how many years have gone by. So... it feels "long" and "short" at the same time.

──In what ways do you think you've grown over these four years?

Yabushima: Honestly, everything! At first, I couldn't even stand in front of people, put what I wanted to say into decent shape, and get it across to everyone, but now I can. It makes me feel how packed these four years have been.

──Then, tell us the moment that has left the deepest impression on you so far.

Yabushima: That would have to be watching Season 2 of the TV anime and seeing Mei-chan, the member I play, moving on screen. It made me feel, "I'm so glad I kept working hard all this time."

Yabushima: Back when Liella! was still active with just the five 1st generation, we 2nd generations were in lessons the whole time. Our goal then was "joining Liella!," but I was often eaten up by anxiety, thinking, "If I keep at it like this, it should be fine. But is it really okay to just do what's right in front of me?" Like running toward a goal I couldn't see... So when I watched Season 2, I finally felt like it had all paid off. All of us second-gens watched the broadcast of episode 1 together, and I was so moved, no words came out. Every time Mei-chan appeared on screen, I kept thinking, "I wish this moment could go on forever."

──What are the 2nd generations, who have run alongside you all this way, to you?

Yabushima: Hmm... They're not friends, and they're not family either, but there's no question they're something special to me.

──That shows just how concentrated the time you've spent together has been.

Yabushima: That's right. By now, what they're feeling and what I'm thinking get through without either of us putting it into words. So I feel like it's a bond that goes beyond friendship.

A Venue Dyed Entirely in Mei-chan's Color: "I'll Never Forget It"

──Tell us what you keep in mind when performing live.

Yabushima: I get to stand on stage as the voice of Yoneme Mei, so I'm always thinking, "How would Mei-chan sing this?" or "What kind of expression would Mei-chan make?"

Yabushima: I believe a song is only truly complete once we perform it in front of everyone who came to the live, and their calls and everything else come together with it. With new songs, though, the volume and type of calls aren't set yet, so a lot gets decided by the energy in the venue that day, and the song evolves as we perform it over and over on tour. What matters, I think, is being able to respond as Mei-chan no matter what happens. I'd love to keep leveling up through the performances themselves.

──Specifically, what kinds of gestures turn you into Mei?

Yabushima: I picture Mei-chan as someone who enjoys lives with everything she's got, so I make a point of performing with a smile. Especially in the all-member songs, I express "This is so fun!" with my whole body.

──Also, please tell us live that has stayed with you the most so far.

Yabushima: The fan meeting where I stood on stage for the first time (the Osaka leg of Love Live! Superstar!! Liella! LIVE & FAN Meeting Tour ～Welcome to Yuigaoka!!～). I was originally on the side that watches the stage from the seats, and when I stood up there that day, I never imagined the blades (penlights) would be pointed at me. But partway through, everyone dyed the entire venue in Mei-chan's color... In that moment, I remember the relief washing over me, like, "Ah, maybe they've accepted me." It's a sight I will never, ever forget.

──If we remember right, the second generation only appeared for part of that fan meeting, correct?

Yabushima: That's right. We appeared in the talk corner but didn't take part in the live itself, and only joined in through the dance for "Tu Tu Tu!," the final song of the day. Although... I actually don't remember the details from back then. I was way too nervous (laughs). Which makes that view of the audience, the one thing I remember vividly, all the more precious to me.

──Next, tell us one Liella! song that is special to you.

Yabushima: "Yuragu wa". It's the first song where Mei-chan stood as center, but at first I thought, "It's impossible. I can't do this."

Yuragu wa

──Why was that?

Yabushima: There was so much I had to work on, like "I need to get better at singing" and "I need to get better at dancing," and I was completely maxed out. On top of that, "Yuragu wa" has these strong lyrics about holding onto your core and pushing forward, so I kept thinking, "As I am now, I'll lose to these lyrics."

──So you were backed into a corner mentally too. You'd slipped into a bit of a negative mindset, in a way.

Yabushima: That's right. It was a period when I couldn't really face forward. It even got to the point where I told the people around me, "I can't sing this song." It's a song I kept practicing while wrestling with myself like that, so it holds a special place in my memory.

──When you pulled off its first live performance, you must have felt a real sense of accomplishment.

Yabushima: I went into it with sheer determination, telling myself, "See it through, don't lose to yourself!" so I'm glad we got to perform it. Since it's a nine-member song from before the third generation joined, we haven't performed it recently, but I'd be happy if we could bring it out again somewhere.

For the Love Live! Series, Liella!, and Mei-chan: "I Have Nothing but Gratitude"

──On July 8, the mini-album was released. What is your personal "highlight" of the new song "Hyper Glowing!"?

Yabushima: There's a part in the lyrics where everyone can call out "Liella!," and I'm itching to do it at a live already. I don't think our songs so far have had many spots where we can do call together, so I'm looking forward to all of us saying "Liella!" in unison. Beyond that, I'm already wondering, "What kinds of calls will everyone add?"

──From what we hear, this is the first time the group's name appears in the lyrics.

Yabushima: That's right. Which makes me look forward to it even more. The song is up-tempo too, and it keeps coming at you one moment after the next, so I'm sure it'll get everyone's energy up. Also, I personally love rap, so I want people to listen for that part too!

──So for you, what have the Love Live! series, Liella!, and Mei come to be?

Yabushima: What connects me with everyone who supports me. I think about this a lot lately while reading the letters I receive: being able to get letters regularly like that, or being able to think at a live venue, "Ah, they came again today"... none of that is a given, is it? When I realize how much happiness I get to feel simply by being here as the cast member behind Mei-chan, it truly makes me happy.

Yabushima: If I hadn't been cast as Yoneme Mei, I might never have met all of you, and even if we had met some other way, I don't think we would be tied together as strongly as we are now. For the Love Live! series, Liella!, and Mei-chan, I have nothing but gratitude. Thank you for giving me all these connections, and for supporting me... that's how I feel.

──Finally, the relay interview question. The question you received from Ookuma-san (Ookuma Wakana, voice of Wakana Shiki) was, "Tell me a food you're personally into lately?" And by the way, she added, "No pumpkin allowed!"

Yabushima: Ahaha! That's because pumpkin is my absolute favorite (laughs). My latest obsession is kuromame natto [TL note: natto made with black soybeans]. One day my parents bought some, and when I tried it, the beans were so firm and delicious that I got hooked. It doesn't look photogenic at all, though (laughs).

──It is pitch black, after all.

Yabushima: But it's genuinely delicious, so I recommend it. Regular natto comes with mustard, but kuromame natto comes with wasabi, and that's tasty too. I've been eating it every single day lately.

──By the way, Ookuma-san said this about you: "She's truly kind," and "Behind the scenes, she looks out for everyone, and if someone seems to be having a hard time, she goes and talks to them." In other words, a considerate person.

Yabushima: No no no! That's not true at all...

──We were wondering if that's something you make a conscious effort at as part of working in a group. What do you say?

Yabushima: No, I'm not conscious of it at all. But it makes me happy to know she sees me that way.

──Then, what do you respect about Suzuhara-san (Suzuhara Nozomi, voice of Sakurakoji Kinako), who appears after you?

Yabushima: There are so many things I respect about her, but if I had to pick one, it would be how strong she is. At first glance, Suzuhara is small and looks delicate, so you get this urge of "I have to protect her!" but she's been a strong girl from the very start. She keeps working hard without ever setting limits for herself, all so that Kinako-chan's performances can be even better. People tend to change once years pass and they get used to their surroundings, but the strength of Suzuhara's core hasn't changed one bit, and her feelings for Kinako-chan have never wavered. That is genuinely cool, and I respect her for it.

──Please give us one question for Suzuhara-san.

Yabushima: We go out together a lot, so I want to ask her, "If you were going out with me right now, where would you want to go?"

──Where do the two of you usually go?

Yabushima: We mostly go cafe-hopping. And while we're there, we talk about books, since reading is a hobby we share. Also, Suzuhara loves fries, so next time we're going out to try all sorts of french fries together.

──That sounds fun. Do you like fries too, Yabushima-san?

Yabushima: About as much as anyone! Nothing close to Suzuhara's passion, of course (laughs). But... I'm really looking forward to it!

"My Desire to See Things From All Kinds of Angles Has Grown Stronger"

──This year marks four years since you joined Liella!.

Ookuma Wakana (below: Ookuma): While I'm in the middle of Liella! activities, I think "it's only been a year" or "only two years, huh," but looking back like this, it really flew by. It hits me like, "Wait, it's been four years already!?", and I've been given the chance to experience so many things in these four years. I'm incredibly grateful for that, but at the same time, it's true that a little anxiety follows me around. I've started thinking more often, "Was I able to give my absolute all to each and every thing?" or "Couldn't I have gotten better results?"

──Maybe that's because you've built up experience and can do more now? You were giving it everything back then, but looking back, you can't help thinking, "I could have done more."

Ookuma: I think that's exactly it.

──So in what ways do you think you've actually grown over these four years?

Ookuma: My perspective has widened, and I've calmed down inside. In the beginning, all of us 2nd generation members were really nervous. Adding a 2nd generation to an existing group was a first for the Love Live! Series, so we were desperate to leave our mark. We were always throwing everything we had at it. But now, my feeling has shifted to "I want to support the group."

Ookuma: When you've been active this long, each of the eleven of us naturally finds our own position and our own strengths. We've entered the stage where each member is honing what she's best at. And for me, what I'm trying to hone is stepping back to look at the bigger picture. I think that with my wider perspective, my desire to see things from all kinds of angles has grown stronger.

──That sounds like a vice president's way of thinking, somehow. It overlaps with the member you play.

Ookuma: Ahaha (laughs)! True. Shiki-chan is the school idol club's next vice president, after all.

──Has anything happened during your activities so far that you never could have imagined?

Ookuma: Hmm... (thinking it over for a while) Getting to meet famous people, maybe? For example, when I get to work with YouTube creators I watched growing up, like HIKAKIN-san, I feel like I'm in a dream, thinking, "I was supposed to be in a whole different world...!" I'm calm while we're actually working together, but afterwards it's like, "Something amazing just happened!" (laughs).

Ookuma: Even now, I can't believe I'm in this world. When friends from home tell me, "You were on TV, I saw you," or, "I've been keeping an eye on your activities," it feels so strange. Because at the end of the day, the one who became famous is Shiki-chan.

Her Own Interpretation of "Wakana Shiki"

──What do you keep in mind when performing live?

Ookuma: Not letting myself show, I'd say. I stand on stage with the mindset "I am Wakana Shiki." Of course, the one physically standing there is me, and I know there are lots of people watching who support Ookuma Wakana. That genuinely makes me really happy, but for my own part, my mindset is "I am Wakana Shiki" and "I want to be seen as Wakana Shiki." During the MC segments, a bit of the real me does slip out, but even then I make sure not to forget Shiki-chan.

──Do you also trace Shiki-chan's movements?

Ookuma: I do. But it's not just directly tracing her dance scenes as they are. I try to build it up through imagination, like "this movement isn't shown in the anime, but Shiki-chan would probably do it this way." It can only ever stay within my imagination, but I stand on stage with my own interpretation of "Wakana Shiki."

──Amazing. It's like you've reached a state of enlightenment with this.

Ookuma: When I do that, things happen that could only happen live. Even with ad-libs that come out in the moment, there are instants where I can express them as Shiki-chan. Things that never came out in rehearsal suddenly well up. In those moments, it feels like I'm having a conversation with Shiki-chan inside my head.

──You're already quite in sync with Shiki, then.

Ookuma: I'd like to think so!

──Next, tell us which of your concerts so far is especially memorable.

Ookuma: I've mentioned this in all sorts of places, but it's when I rode the trolley during the encore of the Aichi show on our 4th live tour (Love Live! Superstar!! Liella! 4th LoveLive! Tour ~brand new Sparkle~). Someone who had probably come from overseas caught my eye, fully decked out with all kinds of merch and blades (penlights).

Ookuma: He had this sharp, businessman-like air about him, so I assumed he'd be the type to watch quietly, but he was cheering with everything he had, so much that his energy spread to the people around him. It really took me by surprise. It only lasted a moment, but it left such an impression that I ended up talking about it in the MC that same day. I don't know if he came from overseas for the concert or is someone from abroad living in Japan, but it was a moment where I could feel how far Liella! has spread, like "so this is how we connect with the world."

Liella! Is Like "School" to Her: "I'm Savoring My Youth"

──Tell us which Liella! song is special to you.

Ookuma: UNIVERSE!!. I love that song. Also, it has solo versions by each of the nine 1st and 2nd generation members, and when my family listened to Shiki-chan's solo, they complimented me, saying, "Your voice comes through really nicely. It's good." And my family hardly ever compliments me to my face.

──Did you feel something different yourself when you recorded it?

Ookuma: No, if anything, it was the song that frustrated me the most. It's a wonderful song, but I felt like my voice came out a little different from when I was practicing. Even when I listened to the rough mix with my voice in it, I kept thinking, "Is this really okay?" But once it was actually released, the response from my family and everyone around me was really positive. That whole experience, including realizing "huh, so that can happen," is why it stays with me.

[1st Anniversary] "UNIVERSE!! / #Liella!" (from the Liella! 4th Live BD BOX, released May 15)

──Your latest mini album was released on July 8. Tell us what to listen for in the new song Hyper Glowing!.

Ookuma: It's a bit of an unusual song. Rather than flowing smoothly from one line into the next (TL Note: legato-ish delivery), it's more like you sing it phrase by phrase, with a clean break each time (TL Note: staccato-ish delivery). That's what makes it interesting to me, and I really like it. Also, it was made for a project to liven up Harajuku, a place with deep ties to Liella!, and the areas around it (the "Liella! to Musubu Project"), so if you visit the Harajuku area before a concert and soak in the feeling of this song first, I think you'll be able to immerse yourself in the show even more. [TL note: In case anyone forgot, musubu (結ぶ) means "to tie together, connect", and its kanji is the same 結 that opens 結ヶ丘 (Yuigaoka), the girls' school]

──Next, tell us what the Love Live! Series, Liella!, and Shiki mean to you now.

Ookuma: School, I'd say. In high school, I was in the drama club, and I loved the time I spent with everyone there. I kept thinking, "I wish this time could go on forever," and "I wish the drama club could just become my job as it is." So joining Liella! after graduating was like that dream coming true. And since there are senpai and kouhai, it feels all the more like school. I really get to savor my youth here.

──And within that, what has Shiki become to you?

Ookuma: Shiki-chan is my other self at this point. Over these four years with Liella!, I've been pulled closer and closer to her, and I feel like the parts of me that resemble her have grown. Honestly, I wanted to be the one pulling Shiki-chan along, though (laughs). Before I knew it, I had become a supporting presence like her, seeing things with a wide perspective and offering suggestions when everyone is stuck.

──So the vice president quality we mentioned at the start came about through all this. Then, to finish, let me ask the relay interview question. The question for you from Emori-san is: "How do you switch between on and off?"

Ookuma: Switching, huh...!

──According to Emori-san, you're the type who fully channels your character, and the moment you step on stage, it looks like a switch flips on. She says that's what amazes her.

Ookuma: Ahh, honestly, there's nothing you could really call a switch. It's just that I change when there are eyes on me. At home I'm a shapeless lazy lump, like some kind of youkai, but the moment I take even one step outside, my back straightens right up. If I so much as walk into a cafe, I'll be sitting there sipping tea with perfect posture.

──I see. So it's not that there's a switch, you just shift over without realizing it.

Ookuma: Probably, yes. I think it's that wish of mine, "I want even one more person to see me in a good light," that switches me over naturally. But I'm glad she'd say something as nice as "amazing" about it.

──Then next, please tell us what you respect about Yabushima Akane-san (voice of Yoneme Mei), who appears after you, along with your question for her.

Ookuma: Yabushima-san is truly kind. Out front, she'll say things like "Oi!" or "Omae!" [TL note: rough, boyish ways of calling someone out, very in character for Mei], but behind the scenes she's looking out for everyone, and if anyone seems even a little worn out, she'll check in like a mom: "Are you okay?", "Don't push yourself, alright?" And at the same time, when it's better to leave someone be, she leaves them be.

──She has a good sense of balance, then.

Ookuma: She does. I respect how she can be that attentive to the little things. As for my question... what should I go with?

──It doesn't have to be related to what you respect about her.

Ookuma: Let's see... Ah, I've got one. Yabushima-san loves food, and she eats around so much you'd think she's covered every cafe in Tokyo. So I'll go with, "Tell me what food you're really into lately?"

──Nice, that sounds like something she can answer casually.

Ookuma: But please tell her, "No pumpkin allowed!" If you don't, she'll answer pumpkin for sure (laughs)!

The Liella! Cast Is My "Pillar of Support"

──The 2nd gen members mark their 4th anniversary with the group this year. First off, how do you honestly feel about the journey so far?

Emori Aya (Emori below): Honestly, it flew by! It feels like we debuted about a year ago, so when I realize we're actually in our fifth year now, it really hits me how fast it's been. Somebody must be bending spacetime without asking us (laughs).

──(Laughs). Why do you think it feels that fast?

Emori: Maybe it's because so much happens in parallel day to day. We'll be doing one live while rehearsing for the next, or recording whatever song is coming out next. When you're spending every day at full power with that much to think about, it feels like all this time went by without me even noticing.

──In the middle of all that, has anything memorable happened that made you feel, "I'm so glad I joined Liella!"?

Emori: Meeting the Liella! members, the cast, and everyone who supports us. Taking it all together, I feel really lucky to have found this environment.

Emori: I think little rifts happen easily when it's all girls, but everyone in Liella! is genuinely such a good kid. To the point where I wonder, "What do you even have to do to raise kids this sweet?" (laughs). On top of that, everyone supporting us treats us with so much warmth too, so I'm happy I get to be in a place like this.

──Is it, say, a sense of unity with the rest of the cast?

Emori: More than unity, I'd say they've become my pillar of support. Time spent with the cast is more fun than time spent alone, and I really love that calm atmosphere where someone's always laughing and chatting. Every time I feel that, I think, "I'm so glad I got into Liella!"

──And meeting the fans has been a big part of it too.

Emori: It has. Lately I've been getting more and more comments from supporters like "this part of the latest live was great" or "you've grown so much." It makes me think, "I want to live up to their expectations even more!", and that pushes me to keep working hard.

"I Try to Make Each Show Different Through How I Bring Out Natsumi's Personality"

──What do you keep in mind when performing live?

Emori: I make a point of never doing the same show twice. Delivering a stable performance is the baseline, and on top of that, I try to create variety through how I bring out Natsumi's personality.

──What does that look like in practice?

Emori: Even within Liella!, Natsumi is a girl with two sides to her. The "true self she keeps hidden inside" and "the self she shows to the world" are complete opposites, so performing as either one gives the show its own flavor. I decide beforehand, "Which Natsumi should I go with today?", and try to change how Natsumi comes across at every single show.

──That's amazing. That's only possible because you understand who Natsumi is as a person.

Emori: For songs that have an MV, people can already enjoy the performance by watching that, right? So at lives, I want to deliver the kind of singing and dancing you can only get from meeting face to face.

──So, out of all the lives so far, which memory has stuck with you the most?

Emori: I've already talked about the older lives in interviews from back then, so let me go with something recent. That said, it's hard to pick just one... (laughs). If I had to, it would be my solo stage at the 7th live (Love Live! Superstar!! Liella! 7th LoveLive! ~Fly! MUSIC WORLD♪~).

Emori: The 2nd gen members have already appeared in five of the numbered lives, and we've stood on all kinds of other stages too, fan meetings, festivals, and so on, but the amount of practice we put into each live just keeps growing. For my 7th live solo stage, I started far earlier than ever before, four months out from the show, and really drilled into it. Thanks to that, my technique improved, and so did my grasp of what Natsumi's performance should be. Hearing people say "you've really polished it up" left a deep impression on me. It made all the hard work worth it.

Emori: The 2nd gen members have already appeared in five of the numbered lives, and we've stood on all kinds of other stages too, fan meetings, festivals, and so on, but the amount of practice we put into each live just keeps growing. For my 7th live solo stage, I started far earlier than ever before, four months out from the show, and really drilled into it. Thanks to that, my technique improved, and so did my grasp of what Natsumi's performance should be. Hearing people say "you've really polished it up" left a deep impression on me. It made all the hard work worth it.

──What exactly did you drill into?

Emori: The voice. My natural voice and Natsumi's voice are completely different to begin with, so producing Natsumi's voice consistently is actually quite hard. You have to tighten your throat to make it, which isn't really suited to singing in the first place, and for a solo you're singing a full chorus in that voice the whole way through. On top of that, Pastel Collage, the song I sang at the 7th, was especially tough to do in Natsumi's voice...

──So the bar was on a whole different level.

Emori: It was my personal nightmare. Practice literally began with me crying for help, going, "What am I supposed to do here!?" Even mid-practice I'd get told, "That was just Aya-chan's singing voice right now," and I'd go "Nooo!" (laughs). But if you keep at it long enough, you do find it. That sweet spot where you can sing in Natsumi's voice without straining your throat. I started four months before the show, and I found it two weeks before.

──Persistence won out. That must have felt like a real achievement.

Emori: I really felt it was worth going that far. With the skills I have now, I think I could bring so much more to my first solo song, Eye wo Choudai, if I sang it again. I hope I get the chance!

Natsumi, Liella!, and the Love Live! Series: "The Reason I Can Keep Working Hard"

──Which one Liella! song holds the most memories for you?

Emori: Sticking with solo songs, I love (Sakurakoji) Kinako-chan's Tekuteku Biyori. At the 7th live, Tekuteku Biyori came right after Pastel Collage in the setlist. Because of how the show was structured, we practiced them as one block, and it's such a bright, heartwarming song, with lyrics that lift the listener's spirits. Back when I was fighting with Natsumi's voice, that song became the thing that set my heart free. So it holds a special place in my memories. I've been telling Nozomi (Suzuhara Nozomi, voice of Sakurakoji Kinako) about this forever, including, "If we ever get to do a shuffle performance, I want to sing Tekuteku Biyori!" (laughs).

てくてく日和 / Tekuteku Biyori

──Then, staying on that thread, let's talk about Liella!'s newest song. What was your first impression of Hyper Glowing!, and which points do you personally have your eye on?

Emori: The first time I heard it, I went, "What on earth is this?!" In a good way, of course. We've shown plenty of cool Liella! before, but choosing this moment to drop a track that charges in this hard and loud... personally, that gets me fired up. Also, there are so many parts where the audience can shout along, and the part where you get to yell the group's name, "Liella!", is a highlight too. We've released dozens of songs under the Liella! name, but this is the first time the group's name appears in the lyrics, so I want everyone to belt it out at full volume.

──So what do the Love Live! series, Liella!, and Natsumi mean to you now?

Emori: If I hadn't passed the Liella! audition, I'd be working a completely different job somewhere right now, but I don't think the longing to stand on stage would ever have gone away. That's how much I've dreamed of this world. The Love Live! series, Liella!, and Natsumi truly saved me.

Emori: Like μ's-san and Aqours-san before us, our group activities as a cast will surely reach a turning point someday. I doubt Liella! alone will be the exception, so I want to charge through the present as Liella! with everything I have, so that even if that day comes out of nowhere, I won't have any regrets. In that sense, Natsumi and the others really are the reason I can keep working hard.

──To wrap up, the relay question. The question from Yuina-san is, "How can you be that disciplined?" She said she respects how you can still go do strength training or Pilates even after a full day of work leaves you exhausted.

Emori: That makes me happy! But to be honest, it's purely for my own satisfaction. On days when I do nothing, my mental state completely crashes. It probably comes from my low self-esteem, but I end up absolutely hating the version of me that did nothing. So I want to do something even if I have to force it, and off I go to training no matter how tired I am.

──Yuina-san also said, "She keeps getting cuter and cuter."

Emori: Huh? Aww, that makes me so happy!

──What's your mindset when it comes to polishing your look?

Emori: I'd say it's the feeling of not wanting to go back to my old self. It would be unbeatable if I could love my old self too, but I haven't reached that place yet. So my mindset is, "I'm never going back to those days!" and "I'm going to love who I am now!" That's why both the workouts and the looks are things I do to affirm myself. People sometimes tell me, "You're tired today, right? Just skip it!", but I know that if I don't do it today, tomorrow's me will regret it like crazy. Unless I'm too tired to move, I push through!

──Lastly, please share what you respect about Okuma Wakana-san (voice of Wakana Shiki), who appears after you, along with your question for her.

Emori: I think she's the type who lets the role take her over. The moment she steps on stage, every nerve in her body snaps on. The way she switches like that is genuinely incredible, and I respect it.

──So she's a different type from you.

Emori: I'm the opposite. If I'm not keeping my energy up even in the dressing room, I risk dragging that low energy onto the stage with me. So I basically don't switch off until I get home, but Wakana is someone who can switch off anywhere outside the stage or the recording booth. That's exactly why she can throw every ounce of energy into the moments that count, so I'd love to ask her, "How do you switch between on and off?"

"I Started Out Alone, So I Was Really Happy to Become One of Them"

──It's been three years since you officially joined Liella!.

Yuina: You could say these three years flew by, but for me, they feel like three years I properly lived through. Ever since I met Margarete-chan and joined Liella!, every day has been full of new things. I have this real sense that I've planted my feet firmly in each and every day.

──Then out of everything so far, is there one moment that made you feel especially glad you joined Liella!?

Yuina: It has to be the first time I stood on stage with everyone in Liella! from beginning to end. My first Liella! concert was the 3rd tour (Love Live! Superstar!! Liella! 3rd LoveLive! Tour ~WE WILL!!~), but at that point, I wasn't part of Liella! yet.

──Right, Wien Margarete originally stood as a rival to Liella!. At the 3rd tour, you appeared as a guest and performed her solo songs.

Yuina: Exactly. The 3rd tour went around seven cities, and at every show I performed two songs (Butterfly Wing and Edelstein) all by myself, and every time, I watched the final "We were Liella!!" greeting from the side. I was already close with everyone in Liella! back then, but part of me deliberately kept my distance, thinking, "As Margarete, the stage will shine more if I stay a step apart" and "I have to fight this alone."

Yuina: That's probably exactly why my longing to have friends beside me grew so strong. At the 4th tour (Love Live! Superstar!! Liella! 4th LoveLive! Tour ~brand new Sparkle~), when I got to sing the very first song as part of Liella! and stay through the final greeting, I thought, "I'm so glad I joined Liella!!" For the first time, I felt like I could enjoy every single part of that space we call a live.

──And you weren't alone in the third gen, either. You have Sakakura Sakura-san (voice of Onitsuka Tomari) right there with you.

Yuina: That's right. Though Saku (Sakakura) wasn't in the 3rd tour, so the 4th was her first live, and I think she must have felt uneasy, like "I'm the only one who came in this late." So at the start, I wanted our time together, just the two of us, to be a time where she could feel safe, so she wouldn't get anxious. And through that, I hoped I could be a bridge to the first and second gens, so Saku could settle into Liella! even a little faster.

The Joy of Getting to "Live" as Margarete-chan

──By the way, is there anything that makes you feel you've grown since joining Liella!?

Yuina: Hmm, I wonder? I'm the type who never really gets used to things (laughs). Even after joining Liella!, I get super nervous right before a show. And every time, I'd look back on it and blame myself, but just recently I finally started thinking, "Isn't enjoying the live what matters most?" I saw the line in Margarete-chan's solo song Luca that goes "refine your skills to the limit, but don't corner yourself" (sukiru tsukitsumete mo oitsumenai), and something clicked. My whole mindset changed.

──Meaning it's not good to blame yourself too much.

Yuina: You should absolutely push your skills as far as they can go, but that belongs in the practice stage. Once you're standing on stage, all that's left is to trust the self you've built up and enjoy it. Being able to change my thinking like that... I'd call that growth. Since then, even my post-show reflection has changed. Instead of flatly shooting myself down with "this was bad, that was bad too," it's turned into a positive kind of reflection, the kind that ends with a little music note: "Ooh, I love how she performs this part. I want to try that too♪"

──So is that also what you keep in mind during your live performances?

Yuina: Yes! Meeting (the song) Luca was a really big deal for me. If I had to name one more thing, I also perform with Margarete-chan's "elegance" in mind.

──She comes from a family of musicians in Austria. When she first appeared, she truly was elegant, overflowing with confidence, with a cool, standoffish air about her.

Yuina: Since TV anime season 3, she's gotten pretty bubbly at times, but at her core, she's still elegant and dignified, beautiful, the kind of girl who shows a flash of maturity when you least expect it. So I want to hold onto that. I keep my legs fully extended, stay aware all the way to my fingertips, and try to carry myself with grace.

──Next, tell us about a live that's especially memorable for you.

Yuina: The 6th tour (Love Live! Superstar!! Liella! 6th LoveLive! Tour ~Let's be ONE~) is the one I remember most. It was a live that built around the TV anime season 3, so it made me feel all over again that I'm really in Liella! now, and I strongly felt how reassuring it is to have the girl I play right there behind me. I thought, "This is what I wanted to do!" I'd already traced TV anime season 2 through the 3rd tour and learned how good a live that carries the anime can be, and that made it land even deeper.

Yuina: Season 3's Margarete-chan grows with every episode. So even within the 6th tour setlist, her feelings shift again and again. Getting to "live" as Margarete-chan through the whole show was so much fun. I really feel like we became one, body and soul.

"Margarete-chan and I Are Always 'Back to Back'"

──Among Liella!'s songs, which one has stayed with you the most?

Yuina: Just one...! There are so many, but I'll go with Dazzling Game. I love a good rock sound, so from the very first listen I thought, "Oh, that's my type!" And the structure is rare too: the eleven of them split three against eight, singing as they battle. The lyrics express that structure as well, and I think it's the most beautiful portrayal of them sharpening each other.

Yuina: When you're working as a group, getting along is a wonderful thing. That's the baseline. But these girls are aiming to win it all as school idols, right? With nothing but a lukewarm "wouldn't it be nice if we all just had fun together!" attitude, there's no way you could ever win. Recognizing each other's strengths, saying it straight when something isn't good enough, going "I won't lose to you," "well I'm the one who's not losing!" with sparks flying... that's how a group grows. This song captures exactly that in lines like "this is no cozy friendship, it's resonance / this is no game, it's proof" (nareai ja nai no sa kyoumei / asobi de wa nai no sa shoumei), and it hits me hard. I listen to it a lot when I need to psych myself up. Highly recommended for workouts!

Dazzling Game / Liella!, Shibuya Kanon, Wien Margarete, Onitsuka Tomari [TV Anime Love Live! Superstar!! Season 3, Episode 8 Insert Song] (TL Note: the official is region locked so I share the fan uploaded one)

──You also released the new song Hyper Glowing! in July. What should we be listening out for?

Yuina: The part where "Liella!" is right there in the lyrics! I believe this is the first time the group's name appears in the lyrics as is. It feels like a confident declaration of "together, we are Liella!," and I love it. I can't wait for all of us to shout "Liella!" together. The choreography and the live debut are still ahead of us, but I'm excited to see what kind of performance it turns into. I'm also curious how the calls and claps will fit in.

──Your feelings for Liella! have already come through plenty, but let us ask once more. Yuina-san, what do the Love Live! series, Liella!, and Margarete mean to you now?

Yuina: Every one of them is a treasure, something I couldn't be without. Without them, the me of today simply wouldn't exist. It's been close to four years since I joined Love Live! Superstar!! as a cast member, and through everything here, my feelings have shifted in so many ways.

Yuina: And with Margarete-chan, the image I have is that we've always stood "back to back," then and now. We're not the type to face each other and smile sweetly, you know? Even in places with no direct connection to the Love Live! series or Liella!, I think she'll always stay with me at exactly that distance. That's Margarete-chan for you.

──Lastly, let us pass along the question from Sakakura-san in relay interview Vol.1: "If you could go on a one-week trip with me, where would you want to go?"

Yuina: A whole week... that's surprisingly hard (laughs)! The first thing that popped into my head was going abroad, but if it's a week, I'd actually rather hop all around Japan. Hokkaido and Okinawa are a must, cutting straight down the country from north to south, eating tons of delicious food along the way! I feel like that would make for a fuller week than going overseas.

──And with Sakakura-san, you feel like you'd enjoy every bit of it.

Yuina: Right! I'm actually the type who can't relax around people I want to get close to, I get all polite and considerate with them. But with Saku, I think we're already past that. We're super close, we can say anything to each other, there's none of that awkward tiptoeing, and it's just so comfortable being around her. We've never gone anywhere overnight together, but I'm sure a whole week together would be totally fine. Even if I got tired, I could just say "I'm tired, let's take a break," and we'd both get to be our natural selves.

──By the way, Sakakura-san said this about you: "The way she brightens up the room just by being there is amazing. I really respect her."

Yuina: Whaat..., that makes me so happy! That's the best compliment there is. We've been together so long that we never actually say these things to each other, so I'm grateful.

──So, keeping that going: tell us what you respect about Emori Aya-san (voice of Onitsuka Natsumi), who's up next in Vol.3.

Yuina: What I respect is how disciplined she is. Apparently she recently started doing body-toning workouts at the gym, and no matter how exhausting her day was, she'll go, "Maybe I'll still go, even just for 30 minutes." Even when I tell her, "No no, today of all days you should just go home!? You're exhausted!", the next day it's, "So I ended up going after all." I'm not the type who can push myself that hard, so that discipline honestly amazes me. I respect her for it.

──Then please give us your question for Emori-san too.

Yuina: Exactly that: I want to ask her, "How can you be that disciplined?" Also, lately I feel like her looks keep getting more and more polished. She's turning into someone who has cuteness, beauty, and coolness all in one. I want to know how she polishes herself up like that too!

"At first, I didn't even have the room to feel anxious"

──This year marks three years since you joined. How do you honestly feel right now?

Sakakura: I know this will sound like the usual answer, but it feels fast and slow at the same time... something like that. Between concerts and all kinds of other events, I've been given so many opportunities and made more memories than I can count, and yet I catch myself thinking, "It's only been three years!?" The pace of daily life before and after joining Liella! is completely different, so it's a strange feeling.

──You joined Liella! by passing an open public audition. Did you feel lost or anxious at the beginning?

Sakakura: Right after joining, I was so overwhelmed that I didn't even have room to feel anxious. There was just so much I had to think about and so much I had to learn... Dance was especially hard, since I had no experience at all. Tomari-chan is athletic and great at dancing, so I felt like I was going to be crushed by the pressure of being entrusted with a girl like her. It was only from my second year on that I slowly started to have some room to breathe. That's when I finally started feeling the anxiety too.

──Tell us about something especially memorable from your activities so far. For example, a moment that made you think, "I'm glad I joined Liella!"

Sakakura: Rather than one specific moment I could point to, I think I feel it in our day-to-day activities. For example, when the people supporting us say kind words at concerts and events, or when all eleven of us in Liella! are together, it quietly sinks in: "I'm glad we became teammates," "I'm glad we met." Of course it's not all fun, and there are plenty of hard and painful times too, but the warmth I receive from people outweighs all of that. So I feel "I'm glad I joined Liella!" daily

──By the way, from your point of view, what are the third generation members like?

Sakakura: This might be a strange way to put it, but we're young (laughs). Not in terms of age, I mean, we're a noisy bunch with this student-like energy. Emori Aya-chan (voice of Onitsuka Natsumi) told me, "The atmosphere in Liella! got even brighter after the third gen joined," and "Even when things start going quiet, the third gen livens it up, so I'm grateful." Though I think the main reason we get told that is Yuina (voice of Wien Margarete) (laughs).

──Yuina-san is a bright person, isn't she?

Sakakura: She really is. I feel like Yuina pulls everyone along and the whole mood gets brighter because of her. For me, and everyone else too.

Her most treasured memory: the 4th live tour, where "a view like a starry sky spread out before me"

──As a third generation member, you have been performing since the 4th live tour (Love Live! Superstar!! Liella! 4th LoveLive! Tour ~brand new Sparkle~). What do you keep in mind when you perform?

Sakakura: Tomari-chan, the member I play, is cool and efficient, the complete opposite of me. So at concerts, I always tell myself, "Don't let the real me show."

──Meaning that if your own vibe comes out on stage, it stops feeling like Tomari.

Sakakura: Right. The thing is, I've always tended to favor "the classic cute type" of characters, so cute poses and cute gestures were all I had in my repertoire. To become Tomari, I studied the TV anime and the animation MVs, then put them into practice at concerts. The 'free' (TL: the MC parts) sections between songs where we can move however we like are a kind of showcase, in a way, so that's where I'm especially conscious of Tomari's cool mannerisms. And as I kept at it, I could feel the distance between Tomari's heart and mine gradually closing. These days, becoming one with Tomari feels pretty natural to me.

──By the way, is there a cast member whose performance especially draws your eye at lives?

Sakakura: I think every one of them is amazing in their own way, but Nako-chan (Misaki Nako, voice of Arashi Chisato) and Wakana-chan (Okuma Wakana, voice of Wakana Shiki) have dance experience, so they really are cool. When we practice as 5yncri5e! (the unit made up of Misaki, Suzuhara Nozomi, Okuma, Emori, and Sakakura), they casually pull off moves that make me go, "How are you even using your body like that!?" They're at a level I don't think I could ever reach, no matter how much I practice.

──5yncri5e! is known as the unit that goes all out on dance numbers. Combined with that, your first year must have been brutal.

Sakakura: It was. When I first saw what the unit was about, I somehow didn't even panic. It was more like, "Oh my... this is going to be rough" (laughs).

──Next, tell us about a concert that is especially memorable for you.

Sakakura: It has to be day one of the Chiba shows on the 4th live tour, my first time ever on that stage. It's my most treasured memory, and I don't think I'll forget it for the rest of my life. The first song was Jump Into the New World, and the choreography had us whip around to face the audience right on the opening line, so that was the very first moment I saw the crowd. And then... everyone was watching the stage while waving their blades (penlights), so all at once, a view like a starry sky spread out in front of me. It was so beautiful.

──That sounds like the kind of moment you could get completely lost in.

Sakakura: Seriously! I actually almost cried, but I desperately pulled myself back together, thinking, "I can't cry here!" (laughs). But it really was beautiful. It gave me chills.

[Preview] "Jump Into the New World / Liella!" (from the Liella! 4th live Blu-ray box, released 5/15)

The Love Live! series is like life itself to her

──If you had to choose one Liella! song that is special to you, which would it be?

Sakakura: What would it be...! There are so many that it's hard to choose, but the one I've loved ever since I was auditioning is Watashi no Symphony.

──That's one of the songs on the debut single.

Sakakura: That's right. There's the nine member version re-recorded after the second gen joined, and the eleven member version with the third gen, so it's a song that keeps changing with the times. Another thing about it is that the staging changes at every concert, and it makes me feel like this song has grown right alongside Liella!. Also, listening to it always puts me in a really positive state of mind. I don't think I've ever forgotten why I started, but hearing it brings back how I felt back when I was desperate to make my dream come true. It's a song I want by my side forever.

Watashi no Symphony

──You also performed it on the 4th live tour, your first tour.

Sakakura: Yes, we did. The lines were split so that the third gen opened the song and passed it on to our senpai, so it felt like the senpai were right behind us, pushing us forward. During the chorus, a flurry of cherry blossom petals was swirling through the air... I still remember how lovely it was.

──Then, while we're on the topic, tell us about the new song Hyper Glowing!. What do you want people to pay attention to?

Sakakura: When I first heard it, I thought, "This is a type of song Liella! has never had before." It's less about belting it out and more about having fun, and I thought it would really get the crowd going at a concert. The biggest point is definitely the calls. A song where everyone who comes to see us can shout along with us is sure to be exciting, so I want to perform it as soon as we can. And also, this is actually the first song ever with "Liella!" in the lyrics. The "L, i, e, l, l, a... Liella!" part is where you can call along, so I want everyone to shout it with everything they've got!

──What do the Love Live! series, Liella!, and Tomari mean to you now?

Sakakura: The Love Live! series has been around since I was in about the middle grades of elementary school. I've loved it ever since those days when I was completely absorbed in μ's, so I've spent more than half of my life with the series. So... it's like life itself to me. Whenever I look back, it has always been there beside me.

Sakakura: And Liella! is what introduced me to so many experiences and emotions. There are so many things I could never have done, people I would never have met, and feelings that would never have grown in me if I hadn't joined. The name Liella! carries the meaning of "connecting," and I really think that's exactly right. As for Tomari... at first, I couldn't shake the worry, "Will I be able to truly understand this girl?"

──You did say she was your complete opposite.

Sakakura: Exactly. I kept wondering, "How can I get closer to her?" But at some point, I found myself thinking more and more, "Maybe Tomari and I aren't such complete opposites after all." Now she's like a second self who is always in my heart. Even when I'm feeling down or can't find any motivation, I think, "Tomari would never give up," "Tomari would see it through to the end." Having Tomari is what keeps me going.

──It's a curious thing, isn't it? At first, you thought you were so different.

Sakakura: Sakakura: I wonder why? Did I move closer to her? Did we both move closer to each other? I don't really know, but she's someone very close to me now, and she supports me.

──What a lovely relationship. Now, to close, a segment fitting for a relay interview. After you, Yuina-san's article will be published next, so tell us "something you respect" about Yuina-san and "something you want to ask" her.

Sakakura: There are so many things I respect about Yuina, but if I had to pick one, it's how bright she is. A lot of the Liella! cast are serious types who face themselves head-on and push themselves really hard, so sometimes things just naturally go quiet. Yuina is the one who softens that air. And she's not just cheerful, she genuinely pays attention to the people around her, so I think there are times when she's being bright on purpose, out of consideration for us. I respect that mature side of her too.

──Then, what would you like to ask Yuina-san?

Sakakura: Yuina and I go out together a lot, but we've never gone anywhere far. So I want to ask her, "If you could go on a one-week trip with me, where would you want to go?" I'm curious what her answer will be. It's something I could just ask her directly (laughs), but I want to find out by reading the article, like everyone else.

──Also, since you are the first runner in this relay interview, we have a question for you from the anchor, Date Sayuri-san (voice of Shibuya Kanon). Would you answer it for us?

Sakakura: Ooh, of course!

──Here it is: "If you could become a cat, who would you want as your owner?"

Sakakura: That's such a laid-back question (laughs)! Hmm, who would it be!? Picking just one person is insanely difficult. So... for now, can I say I want all of them to keep me (laughs)?

──(Laughs). As a hypothetical, you mean?

Sakakura: Right. I'd have everyone in Liella! live together in a share house, and I'd move in as their cat. Non-chan (Suzuhara, voice of Sakurakoji Kinako) said she's not good with cats, but maybe this could be her chance to become a cat lover. I'd try to stay in her line of sight as much as possible (laughs). Also, Pei-chan (Payton Naomi, voice of Heanna Sumire) and Wakana-chan have cats back home, so they seem used to taking care of them, and Nako-chan and Yuina both seem like animal lovers, so I bet they'd dote on me. I don't know if I could ever pick just one in the end, but as long as I get to be with everyone, I'd be happy (laughs)!

premise

in yuigaoka girl's high school, two delinquent gangs are in a constant tussle to claim the status as the top gang - the reigning oni otome bōfū gang (鬼乙女暴風隊), and the up-and-coming bokkoboko no gittagita no mettameta ni suzzo gang (ぼっこぼこのぎったぎたのめっためたにすっぞ隊).

oni otome bōfū tai (鬼乙女暴風隊) aka oni girls whirlwind gang

the current no. 1 gang in yuigaoka. led by takoyaki and IMO, two delinquents with an infamous reputation even outside of yuigaoka, and a crew of equally strong members. however, lately they're finding their status being increasingly threatened by the bokkoboko no gittagita no mettameta ni suzzo gang.

president: misaki nako aka takoyaki • year 3 • signature weapon: yo-yo

leader of the oni otome gang. there's a legend that the source of her strength comes from her twin hair buns - the rounder they are, the stronger her power (as well as her kansai accent). do not EVER refer to them as "doorknobs" or pretend to "open the door" with them, or you will suffer her full wrath.

vice-president: aoyama nagisa aka IMO • year 3 • signature weapon: fan

second-in-command in the oni otome gang. don't be fooled by her smarts and "good-girl" vibes - she's vicious and easily obliterates her opponents. loves japanese sweet potatoes and bases her entire personality off it.

secretary: liyuu aka dongfang mingzhu • year 3 • signature weapon: none (she wears gloves)

transfer student from shanghai who's incredibly tall - hence the nickname (i.e. oriental pearl tower in shanghai). beneath her quiet and somewhat airheaded demeanour, she's actually incredibly strong and shouldn't be messed with. the leader of the bokkoboko gang can attest to that.

member: yabushima akane aka kabocha • year 2 • signature weapon: axe

a second-year member who has incredible potential, unofficially acknowledged by all as takoyaki's protégé (as seen by her single hair bun). can send other weakling delinquents running just by her glares alone. loves pumpkins.

member: sakakura sakura aka hana • year 1 • signature weapon: bamboo sword

youngest and newest member of the oni otome gang. used to be from the kendo club. infamous for her beef with cookies and cream from the bokkoboko gang. hates it when people mispronounce her first name "sakura" as "hana" but by the time she had a chance to correct all the members the nickname had stuck with her.

bokkoboko no gittagita no mettameta ni suzzo tai (ぼっこぼこのぎったぎたのめっためたにすっぞ隊) aka gonna-beat-you-up-into-pulp gang

the up-and-coming dark horse gang in yuigaoka. led by fuwafuwa and date, nobody expected this ragtag bunch of weirdo delinquents to rise in power and pose a real threat to the reigning oni otome bōfū gang.

president: suzuhara nozomi aka fuwafuwa/cockroach • year 2 • signature weapon: spiked baseball bat

leader of the bokkoboko gang. nobody knows how a soft girl like her managed to climb up to the leader position of a delinquent gang, yet her members are fiercely loyal to her. once got challenged to an one-on-one fight by dongfang mingzhu and ended up flailing on the ground like a cockroach (hence the second nickname), but everyone knows not to bring up this incident in her presence. ever.

vice-president: date sayuri aka date • year 3 • signature weapon: boxing gloves

second-in-command in the bokkoboko gang. loves bringing up the fact that she's a descendant of date masamune, probably to mask her complex about her short stature. if you ever cross paths with her, do not mention anything about her height. DO NOT.

secretary: payton naomi aka peitun • year 3 • signature weapon: mace and chain

an airhead who lays all her cards on the table the moment she comes to a fight, putting herself at a supposed disadvantage. nonetheless, she's extremely strong and can easily beat her opponents to pulp. extremely loud girl.

member: ookuma wakana aka cookies and cream • year 2 • signature weapon: nunchaku

a formidable second-year member who pays zero attention to rules and niceties - for example, walking all over tatami mats with outdoor shoes. has beef with everyone but especially hana from the oni otome gang. the only member that has an imposing presence in the bokkoboko gang.

member: emori aya aka fujisan • year 2 • signature weapon: wolverine claws (?)

it is rumoured that she was recruited because fuwafuwa said "we need someone tall in our gang, especially with the president and vice-president being this short". given this nickname because of her height and her hometown of yamanashi. loves ice-cream and is high-key jealous that cookies and cream got an ice-cream-themed nickname instead of her.

member: yuina aka dajare • year 1 • signature weapon: megaphone (??)