I finally got around to finding out what is this Bleach Beat Collection many fans are talking about. Obviously, I dived headlong into the B.B.C. featuring the Eleventh Division. There are six tracks, three songs and three instrumentals. I listened to all three songs and my favourite is We.

Comments

We

Compared to the other divisions, the Eleventh Division is more like a family. This song adorably portrays this familial relationship and gives me a warm feeling.

I love the duet between Yumichika and Ikkaku in the beginning. Yachiru's lyrics are lovely and touching. I had a hard time translating them as they are all written in hiragana. Normally I can gauge the meaning by looking at the Chinese characters. But it was worth the effort. It mainly talks about her back story with Zaraki, showing again how important Zaraki is her life.

The chorus in the end has Zaraki-taichou half mumbling half rapping in weird sounding English, which is quite amusing. The whole atmosphere is very delightful. I like this song a lot.

COME to LIKE it. This FIGHT now

Some unintelligible rapping by Zaraki, it seems. The echo becomes too loud when the volume is high, creating more like noise than music.

Funny Days

It seems like the lyrics are all written in hiragana *headdesk* I wonder who taught Yachiru how to write. Don't tell me because no one did so she couldn't use kanji. The music sounds joyous and peaceful. This is really Bleach? Yachiru is so cute.

( B.B.C. 2nd SESSION 03 )

You can say the primary reason why I watch Bleach is because of its theme songs, although the animation during which the songs are played claims a large part of the credit.

If I have to pick one - just one - song to talk a bit about, it would be Houki Boshi by Younha. It is the third ending theme, which starts from Episode 26 and ends by Episode 38, featuring the captains and lieutenants from the Thirteen Protection Squads.

The dynamics between the captain and the lieutenant of each division have always interested me. This interest also plays a major role in keeping me as a Bleach fan. I was particularly drawn to the perverse relationship between Ichimaru Gin and Kira Izuru, precisely at the moment when Ichimaru extended a hand to Kira in the MV, who was kneeling in darkness. At that point in time, I already knew there was something mysterious and dark about Ichimaru and have always labelled him as the "villian" (although my fondness for him has never diminished since the first time I set my eyes upon him). My impression of him is an aloof yet highly skilled Shinigami who will not spare a thought for anyone or anything else other than his own entertainment, so why is he displaying a gesture of reassurance, something bordering on kindness towards Kira? Who is Kira to Ichimaru and why is he so special? Is it purely due to the superior-subordinate relationship or is there something more? So many possibilities, which, of course, soon took over my sanity and turned me into a part time Gin/Izuru shipper (my main ship being Yumichika/Ikkaku).

It is heartening to review the thirteen versions of Houki Boshi. They say so much about what makes each division one of a kind, and not to mention the shippy moments that make fangirls smile like idiots (i.e. me), so much so they are even like animated drabbles. My personal favourite, obviously, is the version featuring the Eleventh Division, seeing how hard I ship the Ambiguously Gay Duo on top of worshipping the awesomeness that is Zaraki Kenpachi and Kusajishi Yachiru. There is just so much thug love and of the Dysfunctional Family in full glory ♥

( Houki Boshi - Younha )

Where do I begin?

It has been nineteen years. Many people come in and go out of my life in this short span of time. Some stayed. Of those who have stayed, how many do I remember? I know your faces, I know your name. But what I really want to know is what I am in your heart... and what you are in mine.

*

I returned from the Freshman Orientation Camp two days ago. Wow, so I made it this far. I am a freshman now. I have a lot of people to thank for this. How can my gratitude ever be enough? I am very happy to be where I am now. I know I want to be here and now that I am here, it feels... overwhelming.

I waved farewell to those childish mistakes from the past long ago, but will I remember to bring along the lessons learnt into the future? Things are turning my head in different directions, I am afraid I will forget to look where I am supposed to.

The new people are generally pleasant and the seniors are great. Can I let go of the hands I have been holding for so long now? Can I walk across this tight rope strung high above the ground? There is always an umbrella in my hand and I should not be scared. The trick is to keep looking forward.

*

I always see shadows of you in them. Maybe this is why they say first love is unforgettable. I am not thirteen years old anymore, but to me you are still ideal. Somehow I have come to appreciate the beauty of unrequited love. This is what I call the Display Glass Theory.

Weeks ago I was telling a girl over the phone about the things I used to do to catch a glimpse of this certain boy in school. At one point in time, she told me, "You like him longer than I am with my boyfriend." The funny thing about time is it passes too quickly when you least expect it to.

There is another boy. He has big eyes and an adorable smile. His voice is a joy to listen to. There are sparkles in his eyes when he talks and I am not sure if I am the only one who notices it. He has a scent on him you can get lost in and you wonder what kind of ordinary boy can pull off such a spell.

It is important to remove the dead weight in your heart because some things are gone once they are lost. I want to treat him kindly like how I treated you. He will never know how much he reminds me of you, the way my eyes and ears pick you out from a crowd not by my own will.

*

Let us start on a clean slate again.

*

And because all beautiful things are worthy of praise.

You are not beautiful beautiful. You are ordinary and beautiful. Perhaps due to the way circumstances were, I started looking at you. By a stroke of luck I spoke to you. For a few minutes, we were alone. How strange it was to feel happy knowing that. It terrifies me, the way you content me so easily.

You asked for my name when I already remembered yours. There are too many girls here, you said, you can't remember all. That was when I resigned to the reality that it did not matter what my name was. We talked about football and all I could think of was how wonderful that we both would never walk alone.

I don't understand. How is something so commonplace able to mean anything, anything at all? When things start to mean something, I know hearts are going to be hurt and smiles will be stolen. This is why I pluck flowers out like weeds in my heart's garden before they can even bloom.

This is about histories and horror stories we all heard. This is the old school game of who loved who first. This is why I dare not touch you, no matter how much I want to. Lovely things are golden and eternal, so much so that hands like mine should never ruin.

You are magical the way you are. I don't see how the addition of me in your world can make it better than it already is. But please allow me to sit here and watch you smile, watch you sleep. There is nothing more I will say or do. When it comes to certain things, just staying like this is too good to be true.

*

( it's all about you )

You can't find anything here anymore.

( I step off the train )

It was Nicolás' birthday 7 days ago. Forgive me for remembering only now. Please be healthy and happy everyday.

Inter lost to Roma 1 - 3. I stayed up to watch the game but passed out some time into the second half due to sheer fatigue. Our streak of 31 consecutive undefeated matches (25 wins, 6 draws) was put to an end by the visitors.

It wasn't until when the Chinese commentators mentioned then did I realise should Inter win that game, we could claim the Scudetto 6 matches earlier before the end of the season. With the prospect of the league title looming, our players were unnaturally nervous. The defending was lacklustre, the passing was disorganised and the attack was blunt. There had been too many mistakes and we were duly punished. It wasn't more of complacency than the overwhelming pressure of anticipation that caused our loss.

It was heartening to see the stadium filled to the brim and to hear the Nerazzuri fans chanting, "Inter! Inter!" at the top of their voices. Everyone was so eager to celebrate, but it wasn't destined to happen that night. It just had to be Roma who beat us. Now they can show that they're not that worse off as second, although the massive difference in points between us still remains.

We wanted to race to the end with a flourish, even with people telling us that the competition is long over with our huge lead over the rest. This game is really a wet blanket that dampens our spirits, but now is not the time to mope around. We'll just finish off the remaning matches one by one and grab all of the possible 18 points from them.

*

( and I'd give up forever to touch you )