The last two members of V6 I became close to were Nagano-kun and Inocchi-kun. But this definitely did not mean that it was because they were not friendly. Actually, it was very much the opposite. These two were so easy to get along with that one could feel that getting close to them was not really a matter of effort, but only of time.
I guess given the fact that I was the only one among the six that was not from Tokyo, Nagano-kun would always go out of his way to make me feel at home. For example, he would tell me of restaurants that served the best takoyaki. "You would think you’re in Osaka!" he exclaimed energetically one time in an effort to bring the feel of Osaka closer to me through food -- although, the restaurants he recommended were always outside of Tokyo. Nevertheless, I appreciated these recommendations.
But what I would probably remember most about Nagano-kun is the "mother" in him. I guess, for him, being supportive comes as easily as smiling, and always at the right time. When you’re really upset, he would sit next to you and say the right words. When you’re at your lowest, he would give you the biggest hugs. He was supportive and comforting without being intruding.
Simply put, just being with Nagano-kun already feels like home.
"Okada-kun, are you okay?" he asked me one time before one of our big performances, probably sensing my nervousness.
I nodded to him quietly and forced a smiled.
He didn’t buy it, and sat next to me. "You wanna know how you can make your nervousness disappear before a big performance?" he asked me cheerily, slinging an arm across my shoulders.
"How?" I blinked at him.
"It’s easy~!" Nagano-kun chirped, jumping up from his seat to stand in front of me. "Just close your eyes, wrap your arms around yourself and say, ‘I love me! I love me!!’"
I watched quizzically as the man proudly demonstrated how it was done. And the worst part was. . .
"Okay, now you do it," he said afterwards, motioning a hand to me.
"Oh-- no, I-- I really don’t think-- "
"Come on, just do it," he insisted nicely, pulling me up from my seat. "It’ll work, you’ll see."
Maybe it was the confidence in his words or the cheerfulness in his voice, I didn’t know what made me trust him; all I know was from thereon I began following what he was telling me to do. Hesitantly, I wrapped my arms around my shoulders.
Smiling, he then said, "Close your eyes."
Lo and behold, I obeyed.
"Now, say it."
I licked my lips, still wondering why I was letting this happen to me. "I-- I…love…me."
"Say it with feelings!" he told me.
"I love me."
"Louder!"
"I love me!"
"Good! Again!"
"I love me!"
"Yes! Now say it five times," he instructed.
Not surprisingly, I acquiesced, taking a deep breath before shouting out, "I love me! I love me! I love me! I love me!! I LOVE ME!!"
And then there was silence.
"Is that it?" I thought, eyes still closed as I waited for Nagano-kun to say something, but he didn’t say anything more.
Opening my eyes, I learned the reason why: Nagano-kun was no longer there. Instead, I saw Go standing in front of me, giving me a weird look.
"O-kay," he remarked, "and I thought Inocchi had it bad."
With that, I quickly walked away. Needless to say, the exercise did make my nervousness disappear -- but only to replace it with complete embarrassment!
I guess as sweet as Nagano-kun can be, the man can also be as mischievous.