Akeshan’s farewell message to Roselia and Rinko after her official graduation on September 17, 2018.

Original: http://ch.nicovideo.jp/ak-republic/blomaga/ar1669796

Graduation from Roselia.

Thank you for coming to the Roselia Fan Meeting today.

With this, I graduate as Roselia’s keyboardist as well as the role of Shirokane Rinko.

Although these one-and-a-half years since our introduction to the public was short, I gained a lot of experiences and had fun.

Actually this message isn’t written on the day itself. In front of everyone I’d be unsure of how to express my gratitude. I would surely be overflowing with words.

Going back to roughly two-and-a-half years ago.

Just before a Milky Holmes Live, Mr Takaaki Kidani (Bushiroad president) started talking to me.

“Would you like to try doing real Lives?”

It’s true that I have 10 years of piano experience, but I also had a gap of more than 10 years, so it was a significant challenge. But the idea of having in-character Lives every half a year seemed interesting to me, so I accepted the offer immediately.

And then it was August 5th.

The first meeting between the Roselia members. It was also our first practice session, so our chaotic playing was met with pointless positive encouragements like “it’s alright, it’s alright”. I honestly had doubts whether we’d be able to do well (laughs)

But straight after practice, Meguchii called out to everyone. Yurishii with her outstanding communication ability mediated the conversation. Kudoharu, who became a seiyuu in similar circumstances as me, spoke about practice periods and how everyone was feeling. Aiai with her boundless enthusiasm lifted the atmosphere.

I would have fun performing with these people, I thought, as I adjusted my expectations upwards a little.

From then on, it was nothing but practice, in preparation for the surprise performance in two months.

Whenever we had zombie-like faces and simply went through the motions like we’re playing in air, or whenever we felt like crying, Yurishii’s “When we stand on the stage, we are the world’s coolest band.” was a magic spell she cast on us.

When I look back upon it now, although it was tough and full of obstacles, I think it was because of hearing those words during those times that the five of us were able to be strongly bonded together.

Then it was the hurriedly decided Bushiroad Live.

Being a somewhat novice band, us being able to go to a venue this huge is all thanks to the support of people who became our fans within these two months. We also had a little bit of confidence, that from this point onwards we’ll be able to meet more people and start moving forward on our own.

Then there was the one-man Live in June, additional show in July, Anisama in August, and 2nd Live in October. A big turnout in the huge venue, the usage of projection mapping, the overnight training camp… The performances and number of songs and venue capacities kept on increasing. I thought, Where did the “every half a year” go? To that extent I gained all kinds of experiences.

Nevertheless, from here on my body slowly started to deteriorate with the increasing opportunities.

During January’s Garupa Live, I had cramps in my hand and caused problems for the other members by not completing the song. While consulting the management team, I myself felt that my body couldn’t keep up with the pace of Roselia.

After February’s Live in Nagasaki, when we started practising for Ewigkeit near the end of March, my right ear temporarily went deaf.

It was diagnosed as sudden hearing loss. It was explained to me that it concerns the inner ear, will recur, and every time it recurs my hearing will deteriorate, and at worst I will need a hearing aid. Thus I knew it would be difficult thing to continue being in the band.

I knew this was the time to pull out, but May was just around the corner…Ewigkeit shall be my last Live…It wasn’t only Yurishii. I, too, prepared for it with emotions of graduation.

After that, there was a discussion to shift the graduation date, and it was decided to be during the Fan Meeting. There’s a chance to meet the fans! I thought, but the time was really short wasn’t it. Sorry there wasn’t any event or anything. It would’ve been great if we had more time (´・ω・｀)

Although it was a delicate period as the second generation hadn’t been decided yet, after the graduation announcement I was glad to be able to perform in front of everyone. I wanted to perform with a fully healthy body but I’m sorry that my right foot hasn’t completely healed.

My voice will still be in the game for a short while. It’ll make me happy if everyone continues to play.

And that was what I wanted to say!

I’m not Roselia now. Please don’t say things like “Roselia which includes me”.

The next Shirokane Rinko, will be someone who wins an ordinary audition which doesn’t look at whether you’re an amateur or a professional. She might be a middle school student, or someone with no experience in bands and performances.

I’m different from Yurishii. I’m returning to work as a normal seiyuu in the same industry.

For the activities that you are visible to you, behind the scenes there is a lot of practice that needs to be put in. The 15 songs that I have learnt have to be played to a similar level. To be able to commit musical scores to memory to perform a one-man Live requires at least 1 year. And games and anime and much more.

At such a time if someone were to say “Roselia which includes Akesaka”, I think it would be a very heavy remark. No matter how difficult it is, or how much you might curse about it, to have the person taking over accomplish all the above roles to perfection is an unfair thing to ask. Therefore, although it might be irresponsible to put it like this, but please view me as a person of the past, and give the as-yet-unknown girl your support. Those that are unable to do this, you will graduate from Roselia with me (laughs)

In this way, I will look forward to the character that the new Rinko creates with her new fans.

Lastly.

With this drawing, the “Shirokane Rinko” who is loved by lots of people shall step down with my deepest regrets.

For your support in these one-and-a-half years, I sincerely thank you.