お誕生日おめでとうと莉子ちゃん♡

Happy birthday Riko-chan! It's been another year again hasn't it? I feel like we've both grown so much since your last birthday. Last year I spent Riko's birthday with my friends in my cramped apartment. I bought an ice cream cake, shared it with everyone and built a shrine for her. This year I went to Numazu with the same friends and visited her this time. I had to go to Mito beach and look at the same ocean she did. In some ways I never understood what she was searching for. But going there with my friends, the beach felt so small and the ocean was so big. I can see how hard it was to feel like you lost something and how she was so desperate to find it again. But being there with my friends, I realized that there's so many new things to discover together across that large ocean.

Because of Riko and Love Live I met all of the friends I love and still hang out with today. Along with some of them, I created an Aqours dance team (double points if you know which one haha) and it changed my life? Haha, so dramatic... When I started going to university I was so lost and in this weird rut of everyday routine. I met people that wanted to cosplay Love Live, we eventually became friends and that kinda sparked that flame. But Riko's character really pushed me to keep going with it and to cherish those friendships. Now that I'm graduated and working full time, she still inspires me to keep trying my best and to not be afraid to ask for help when I'm in a tough situation. She's so passionate about what she creates and isn't afraid of trying new things and it pushes me to get out of my comfort zone and discover things about myself I was too scared to try before.

In addition to the cosplay photos I took at Numazu, I have my shrine I haphazardly put together for the occasion;; I sewed an itawall for her haha! And the cover I sang! I was waiting so long to cover Pianoforte Monolgue... please enjoy it!

Until next year Riko! I love you! Never stop shining! ♡ RikoFanAwards2019