Recently, I've fallen in love with this J-drama called Last Friends. It is really really good. The more episodes I watch, the more I want to watch it, but alas, the subs for episode 7 and above are not out yet. Sigh.

Anyway, for those who are wondering and have yet to suffer my going on-and-on-and-on about this drama, Last Friends is mainly about 5 people who are in a relationship with each other, be it good or bad. It focuses mainly on 3 people though -- Michiru, Ruka and Takeru.

Michiru is this really sweet and generally optimistic girl who aspires to be a hairdresser. Her mother found a new boyfriend and Michiru, to escape the troubles she faces in her own family, moves into her boyfriend's home. In a bid to find her own happiness, Michiru unwittingly becomes a victim of domestic violence.

Her best friend since school days (I think it is high school.... I can't really recall the proper term nor do I know how the school system in Japan is like), Ruka, is a tomboyish female motorcross racer. Despite Ruka's close friendship with Michiru, and her good relations with her own family members (especially with her father), she finds herself harboring a deep, dark secret that she is fearful of telling anyone about.

Takeru is a really kind guy who befriends Ruka and helps Michiru a lot (in terms of her troubled relationship with her boyfriend). Despite Takeru's outward optimism, his kindness and gentleness, he is actually fearful of intimate physical contact. Like Ruka, Takeru also has a secret from his past that has to do with his phobia of sex.

(Note: If my above synopsis of the plot sounds anything like the one in wiki, my apologies. But I did not intentionally lift or follow anything written there, and what I type here is purely based on my own thoughts and understanding of the show thus far).

Aside from the drama itself, I've also fallen in love with the theme song, Prisoner of Love by Utada Hikaru. The drama and the song are so perfect for each other, I can't not feel the shivers everytime I listen to the song and not think of the drama, especially the relationship between Michiru and Ruka. Below's the PV of the song:



Japanese lyrics:
平気な顔で嘘をついて
笑って 嫌気がさして
楽ばかりしようとしていた

ないものねだりブルース
皆安らぎを求めている
満ち足りてるのに奪い合う
愛の影を追っている

退屈な毎日が急に輝きだした
あなたが現れたあの日から
孤独でも辛くても平気だと思えた
I’m just a prisoner of love
Just a prisoner of love

病める時も健やかなる時も
嵐の日も晴れの日も共に歩もう

I’m gonna tell you the truth
人知れず辛い道を選ぶ
私を応援してくれる
あなただけを友と呼ぶ

強がりや欲張りが無意味になりました
あなたに愛されたあの日から
自由でもヨユウでも一人じゃ虚しいわ
I’m just a prisoner of love
Just a prisoner of love

Oh もう少しだよ
Don’t you give up
Oh 見捨てない 絶対に

残酷な現実が二人を引き裂けば
より一層強く惹かれ合う
いくらでもいくらでも頑張れる気がした
I’m just a prisoner of love
Just a prisoner of love

ありふれた日常が急に輝きだした
心を奪われたあの日から
孤独でも辛くても平気だと思えた
I’m just a prisoner of love
Just a prisoner of love

Stay with me, stay with me
My baby, say you love me
Stay with me, stay with me
一人にさせない

English translation:

With an indifferent face you tell a lie
Laughing until you feel sick
“Let’s have nothing but fun” you said

Feeling blue over desiring the impossible
Everyone is seeking tranquility
You're contentedly struggling
Chasing after a shadow of love

Since the day you appeared,
My dull “everyday”s have begun to shine
Now I‘m able to think, “Feeling loneliness, being in pain - that’s not so bad”
I’m just a prisoner of love
Just a prisoner of love

Through painful times and healthy times,
Stormy days and sunny days, let’s walk on together

I’m gonna tell you the truth
I chose an unforeseeably painful path
You, the one who encouraged me,
are the only one I can call a friend

Fake displays of strength and avarice have become meaningless
I’ve been in love with you since that day
Even having freedom, or time to spare, there’s no life in being alone
I’m just a prisoner of love
Just a prisoner of love

Oh... Just a little more
Don’t you give up
Oh don’t ever abandon me

If the cruelty of reality tries to tear us apart
We’ll be drawn more closely to one another
Somehow, somehow, I have a feeling we’ll be able to stand firm
I’m just a prisoner of love
Just a prisoner of love

Every day banalities quickly begin to shine brilliantly
You stole my heart, that day
Loneliness and pain, I thought I could deal with
I'm just a prisoner of love
Just a prisoner of love

Stay with me, stay with me
My baby, say you love me
Stay with me, stay with me
Don’t leave me alone again

Source of lyrics: Arisa