[EN]Seiani May 2017 - Interview with Suzuki Aina

Translated by: @kuuxkat

QC by: @yujachachacha

Originally TL by: 明智梨五郎 from 七喵研究所

DO NOT USE THE SUBS FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES!



This is a CN-EN TL, there’s definitely some parts missing.

That said - HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY AINYA!

Contents under the Cut!

Part of #teamonibe



Remember: School Idols make you smile.





Since the end of 1st Live, it seems that I’ve gained a little bit of confidence. My feelings of “It’s going to be fine” or “I’m looking forward to it” are stronger now. At first, when I was at Yokohama Arena I thought the same way, but in reality I was still very nervous. So I won’t know what it will be like when we are really about to begin… (laughs). But, the fact that I’m “looking forward” to it is not a lie, so I really want to treasure such feelings. I will work very hard so I can show everyone how much I’ve grown since 1st Live.







Progress

Q: In what ways has the 1st Live caused you to advance or grow?

Ainya: I think that it would only be possible to unite a cast of such diverse personalities and have all of them strive for the same goal if each one of them was constantly keeping everyone else in mind. I guess this is something that could only be accomplished by caring for and understanding each other? This is something that everyone has come to understand without saying.



Aqours

Q: A post-1st Live message for everyone





Ainya: I’m not that good at dancing, so I probably gave the others all sorts of trouble. But, I think I’d be able to support everyone when it comes to singing, so I put my all into my singing. I really like singing and dancing happily with everyone. From now on, I’ll be in your favor!





Release

Q: What do you expect out of the release of the Duo/Trio Collection CD?





Ainya: Riko specializes in playing the piano, and Hanamaru is a choir girl. As for Mari… now that I think about it, she likes rock and punk, right? All three of them have very different interests when it comes to music. So when they come together, they would definitely create music that is refreshingly new. I’m really looking forward to it.





Together

Q: Please say a few words to the fans who are looking forward to the Aqours Next Step! Project.





Ainya: Even with the tour and the second season of the TV anime coming up, I’m not afraid at all right now. And that’s because I went through 1st Live. I received support from the audiences there, and went through a difficult hurdle with everyone in Aqours… I feel that right now, nothing can stop me. I hope that I will be able to express these feelings of mine, and I will work hard to do so through music and the anime!





Yourself

Q: After 1st Live, what part of you do you feel has grown the most?





Ainya: I am a very cowardly person, and I will get very uneasy or nervous almost immediately. But after going through 1st Live, although I won’t say that I have completely shaken off that fear, I am starting to be able to separate myself from those feelings of fear. I think I am able to change because everyone in Aqours is by my side, so I really do want to offer my thanks to them.







The deepest impression that I have is of the cyalumes that accompanied the changes in our performance.





Q: What were your thoughts heading towards 1st Live at Yokohama Arena?





Ainya: From the very beginning, I have been striving hard to eventually be able to sing at Yokohama Arena, so it really feels like the time spent there was like a dream. It is because of (Ohara) Mari, everyone in the staff, and the fans who cheered for us that allowed me to realize this wish. And even more so, it is only with everyone in Aqours that I can reach this step, so I really am delighted with all of this. At the end of Day 2, my feelings were akin to “It is already over huh…”, and it did make me feel very lonely (laughs). It really was a very precious time for me.





Q: You had very strong feelings as you stood with Mari on the stage, right?





Ainya: Yep! At that time I carried with me the feelings of gratitude for Mari, who had led me all the way there. In addition, how I should portray Mari’s disposition was also something very important. So from the movement of her fingers to the way she winks, I thoroughly researched every minute detail. When I was standing on the stage, I hope that I was able to show as much of Mari’s charm as possible.





Q: Did you feel nervous standing on that large stage?





Ainya: I was really very uneasy. And it wasn’t just the nervousness - at the same time it I had my own personal fears… In the choreography for “Kimi no Kokoro wa Kagayaiteru kai?”, there was a leapfrogging portion. When I was in my student days I had an experience where I failed a leapfrog, so I was very fearful. But during practices, Anchan (Inami), who was the support for my leapfrogging maneuver, was always very worried about me, and everyone else would comfort me too… This allowed me to feel a lot more secure, so it is all thanks to everyone that I was finally able to complete it. It felt very enjoyable! Although that might be something very minor, I have received large amounts of support. But I also do feel that it was a very important opportunity that allowed me to take a huge step forward.



Q: Are there any songs that left particular deep impressions?

Ainya: Yes, it would be “MIJUKU DREAMER”. I was very surprised when I found out that the third years were given their own solo portions for that song. Everyone changed their cyalume color according to whoever was performing. The performance was done in the order of (Matsuura) Kanan-chan, Mari-chan and then (Kurosawa) Dia, so everyone coordinated to change colors at the right time. It was really touching. As this is the song for when the third years joined (Aqours), in this way it felt like everyone had accepted the three of them joining from the bottom of their hearts, so it really made me very happy.





Q: The scene during “Pops heart de Odorun damon!” was spectacular as well.







Ainya: That’s right. We were on the trolleys and we were moving around all the areas in the arena. The audience members in that area would coordinate their cyalumes to display the colors of the members who were there. The entire area seemingly became one, like a scene of a rainbow being displayed.







Q: Speaking of the arena being one, it was the same in “Omoi yo Hitotsu ni Nare”, right?





Ainya: I felt that our camaraderie had gotten stronger, as in that very instant, the feelings of everyone in the arena really become one. At that time, all of us carried the feelings of “We wish to express our feelings to (Aida) Rikyako who was playing the piano.” Everyone else in the arena had the exact same feelings, and the place was dyed in a sea of Riko’s image color, sakura pink. I felt that I was experiencing first-hand the touching scene that you would have seen in the TV anime.







Q: Then, let’s talk about your thoughts for the 3rd Single.





Ainya: Actually, I struggled for a while in the recording of the song. I couldn’t sing it too energetically, but it also wasn’t really a song that allowed for the expression of one’s feelings, so I did not know how to bring out Mari’s style. Mari does have a very elegant side to her, but in this song that didn’t seem right either. It was only after a process of repetitive searching that I was able to remove all the portions that were deemed unsuitable, and from what was remaining, discovered the portions that “suited Mari’s image”. That was the Mari that warmly embraces everyone, so in the song I poured these feelings out strongly. I hope I did sing the song with a feel akin to that of a Holy Maiden? (laughs)



(Source: weibo.com)