Get ready for a wordy and long post hehe.
Months before AFA, when I knew from my junior that Root Five was coming and performing for the I love Anisong concert, I was super happy and excited because I WANNA MEET ROOT FIVE JUST LIKE ANY OTHER FANGIRLS.
I actually had a little trouble getting the concert tickets because I wasn't sure who I was going with, until Sarafina, an Arashi fan who loves Root Five as well, mentioned that she wanted to watch the concert so we decided to go together! Oh and we got the VIP seats which was both worth it and not so worth it.
Worth it because we got a chance to ballot for the autograph session (and both of us got in successfully omfg) and not worth it because we got the W row and it's sooooo behind I can't even see the stage properly despite changing my specs.
Anyway, the day of concert came and I went to meet Sarafina so we can go for the autograph session and omg omg omg omg when we were queuing up and waiting for them to start, the whole time I was so excited and nervous because I was gonna meet Root Five close up!! They then appeared quietly and I could see Dasoku from where I was standing and I was just like "OMG OMG OMFG ITS DASOKU NOW WHERE'S KETTARO KYAAAAAAA". The queue started to move since the autograph session started and I got to see everyone clearly and I became even more nervous wtf.
The autograph session was just a handshake with each member and the last member (which is michan) will pass you the already signed poster. This was totally not what I expected as I thought they will sign it in front of you BUT HEY A HANDSHAKE IS EVEN BETTER OMG.
Pokota was the first to offer the handshake, and he was so enthusiastic and hyper. He was like all smiley but next to him was koma'n who just sat there shyly and smiled a little so the difference between their attitude kind of disappointed me but I realise that's how koma'n is when he's shy so I'm just like "awww it's fine I forgive you". Next was OMG MY KETTARO who looked so cool with his hairstyle and he seemed to excited as well but not as much as Pokota because Pokota is just.. too hyper anyways HAHAHA. Then it's Dasoku who's just acting like the usual him and he looked so cool as well! Lastly it was michan and he was wearing a mask because he actually underwent a throat surgery before coming here so he had to wear the mask which covered the freaking face that I wanted to see for myself so much (sorry I'm crazy) and he could only lip sync. But michan looked freaking cute with the mask so I forgave him as well.
While I nervously smiled a little and bow a little to each of the member. I wanted to do much more like saying "DAISUKI!!!!😍😍😍❤️❤️❤️" to each of them but luckily I didn't because I will just look like some crazy fangirl. Which I am.
The queue was going super fast and we actually prepared fan letters to pass to them but when it's our turn we kinda gave up on that thought. Shook hands with Pokota and I could totally feel his energy wtf. Then it was koma'n who made me think that he wasn't feeling happy/good but still freaking cute. Then it was KYAAAA MY KETTARO who didn't pay attention to me when shaking my hands (sobs). He only looked at me for less than one second, said arigatou, and he moved on and look at the next person while still shaking my hands and I was like "um.... hello... me? here?" but it's okay, it was nice looking at kettaro close up hehe. Next was Dasoku whom I cannot forget how he said thank you to me omg (blush). He shook my hands, kinda turned his head and looked at me from the corners of his eyes and said a freaking deep thank you in English with a doubting tone and I was like melting over there with my hands still in his hands wtf. I guess he probably saw how nervous I was. Then it was michan who was so freaking cute omg. Didn't get to shake hands with him (sadly) because he was giving out the poster but he looked sooooo happy and you can totally see that he's smiling even with the mask because his eyes was smiling as well. & please let me say that those eye bags were cute as well.
The whole session ended very fast and we were standing near the booth after it ended to admire the poster and look at Root Five until they leave and the whole time I was just looking at Dasoku and not kettaro.. I guess that thank you really impacted me LOL.
Well I can't deny that Dasoku is freaking sexy.
We moved on to the Nico Nico Special Stage because Root Five will be appearing in the segment at 3pm and we wanted to be there early so we can like squeeze through and be as near the stage as possible. When we were there it was some other segments but the Nico Nico Douga emcee/host of live shows was there and HE'S SO FREAKING CUTE OKAY OMG. I didn't expect him to be there actually and when he was inviting the next singer on stage, he was doing this exaggerated action which is so freaking cute as well!!
During the 3pm segment that we were waiting for, there were also other Nico Nico singers that I listen to that appeared as well and I was cheering super hard along with other people as well. The whole atmosphere was just very lively and we were super responsive LOL.
Then it was Gero whom I really like as well! His voice is super power one ok!
Next was this female who danced to songs and I have no idea who she is so I didn't really paid attention to her oops.
Then it was Root Five and the whole crowd cheered so freaking loud omg and my tension was raised x1000000. Throughout the performance I was continuously, randomly, taking photos with one hand (didn't look at the phone though because I learnt my lesson to look at them directly) so I have a bunch of blur but yet memorable photos of them. Of course there were quite a few clear and hilarious ones!! (and I didn't realise that the photos were mainly of kettaro hehe but I couldn't help it)
omg STOP KETTARO OMG
Sorry but not sorry hehe. You needa chill.
KYAAAAA michan you still look so kawaii with that Santa mask.
michan why you so perfect. T_T
OMG Pokota you chill please.
Yeah that's right heh.
Dasoku, acting like always.
.... I miss them sooooo much!
Next was this Asmagna (not sure the spelling) that is a dance group which I've never heard of but I still cheered with everyone. One of the member kinda attracted my attention (apparently Sarafina's too) he wasn't that good looking but the way he dance and how he give that "seducing" look totally killed me omg.
Oh and the "sensei" of the group had an (intense) eye contact with me that lasted so long like 5 seconds? And when I blinked and kinda pursed my lips at him because I was like "wtf why you look at me I don't even know you" he smiled at me omg. Ok lah I admit he's not bad looking for his age (oldest) but it was still weird because I don't even watch them and my dear kettaro didn't even look at me.
After the special stage ended, we went walking around the exhibition booths. We went to take photo with the animax mascot because we wanted the balloon and we also took photo with domo.. just because.
Then we came to this booth that allows fans to draw one of the Morning Musume member and Sarafina went for it~
Her art is freaking cute please.
Then it was time for the I love Anisong concert so we headed the the concert hall and that was when I was kind of disappointed by the sitting arrangement because the back rows (including my row) should not be even considered ViP seats AT ALL. We were sitting at the side end some more.
Ready with our penlights!
Ungram selfie moment.
We waited a very loooooong time and the concert finally started with FLOW. I know this band because they sing Naruto's opening and ending songs so I was quite excited and cheered with everyone else. Since we were sitting at the side and everyone stood up, we got up as well to stand at the aisle instead to get a better view and we also slowly moved further and further in front in attempt to get a better view which succeeded LOL.
FLOW made the atmosphere so lively and crazy omg. Everyone was cheering so loud and hard that me and Sarafina cheered along (as loud and as hard) even though they were singing songs that we never heard of. And it was kinda cool because during different parts of the song, the way the crowd cheer with their penlights will change to suit the mood of the song so I was like trying hard to follow and slowly I knew exactly how to "cheer" at different parts which was cool, if you get what I mean! After a few songs, one of the vocalist was talking to us in English and one part he said,
"The last time we were here, we could not perform many song because there was no time. But today, since we're the first, WE HAVE LOTS OF TIME!"
And the crowd proceed on to cheer while I was like "NOOOO LATER ROOT FIVE NO TIME" while cheering with the rest wtf.
But then after that they started performing Naruto's opening and ending songs so I got super excited and sang along with the crowd like a mad fangirl (jumping around). And can I please mention that all the people around my area are guys wtf.
Next was GARNiDELiA and Eir Aoi (I can't remember who came first) and I have never heard of them before even though apparently they are like super popular but they were able to engage the crowd (including me) as well especially Eir Aoi so I was still cheering like mad and having my free arm workout session, since I was raising and waving the penlight along with the crowd and it made my arms super sore. Somemore got variations one leh the workout since during different mood of the songs have to wave the penlights differently LOL.
Also I would like to mention that we were standing closer and closer towards the stage as they perform and I was saying to Sarafina that when it's Root Five's turn, we should just get as close as possible to the stage.
And we did! When Root Five came out I was like "EH FASTER GO GO GO" while waving our penlights madly and let the fangirling began omg. We were standing sooo in front. (even though it was still not very near the stage but we were standing at where all the staffs were standing at already). However, Root Five's popularity in Singapore (or maybe just among the crowd of guys) is not really high so most people were just sitting down doing their own thing which made me feel really sad because I cheered for other groups/individual which I was not a fan of/I didn't know of, so why couldn't they cheer for everyone as well but I kinda brushed that away even though I was still thinking how Root Five would feel seeing most of the crowd sitting down during their turn.
Before their turn, we were talking about what we wish they will perform and I really wanted them to perform Next Generation since it was an anime opening song and they did as the first song so I was super happy and excited! It was great seeing Kettaro rapping live hehe!
Then they sang "ROOT FIVE" which is something like their theme song (idk how to explain) and here comes the most memorable part! When I watch the past concerts of Root Five (in Japan, Taiwan, China etc) when they sing this song, there's this part of the intro music just before the first person, Pokota, sings, the other members will signal to the crowd and the crowd will go like "POKO, POKO, POKO POKOTA!" so when it came to this part, even though the other members didn't do anything because clearly there weren't much fans of theirs, Sarafina and I shouted "POKO, POKO, POKO POKOTA!" so freaking loudly that we actually made 4 out of 5 members turn to our direction omg!! Actually I didn't know until Sarafina told me after the concert because I was looking at her while we shouted while she looked at them the whole time (I know I very smart) so I was super jelly and regretful la!! Should have seen that for myself.. us being able to gain their attention and eye contact hahaha wtf. And also apparently we were the only ones shouting that because well they turned to our direction only and we could only hear ourselves and I also asked Angela who went for the concert for Root Five as well the next day during work and she said she didn't hear anyone else shouting so I felt that it was cool and also something to be proud of LOL. I mean well, now Root Five knows that there are really fans who watch them and it probably made up the fact of unresponsive crowd even just a little!
They also performed Fairy tail's opening, Kimi no Mirai, which was the reason why they are able to appear for the I love Anisong concert, Senbon Sakura and one other song which I forgot the title and I must say that I feel really annoyed by the obvious lesser performing time Root Five had. The other bands/individuals gets 45minutes while Root Five only performed about 25minutes.. and even if Root Five's popularity is like lower, they should not do this because it's really unfair to those who came to watch them only (I believe it's not just me because there were comments about this on the AFA Facebook page) and also not worth our money!
Spent $161 ($201 including fanlight) for a seat so behind that should not be considered VIP anymore and only 25minutes of fangirling.
When they were leaving, Kettaro actually said "See you later" so we were like having the thought and anticipation that maybe Root Five will appear again but nope, to our disappointment. ):
Next up was May'n and I totally didn't have the energy anymore so I just remained seated and used my phone since I see no point in cheering for someone I don't know since the rest didn't cheer for a band they didn't know.
Oh and I would like to mention that for the first half of the concert we were standing just right behind Amatsuki and Kashitaro Ito (not sure if I spelled it correctly) omg and Ito looks sooooo fine without the mask! Sarafina and I was talking about asking for a photo with them but they left so meh ): Actually I also didn't know it was them until Sarafina started to tap on my shoulder rapidly with that shocked (or fangirl) expression and told me that it's them because I didn't really care about who was standing in front of us LOL. I really need to be more aware of my surroundings.
Concert ended at about 10.30pm (?) and we stood outside for awhile to tweet Kettaro about him saying see you later and also to each member saying that we had fanletters to passed but we didn't have the chance to.
Walked to Sarafina to the different towers before walking back to the convention hall taxi stand to wait for my dad. Thanks Sarafina for the day hehe.
It was an amazing day despite the amount of complains I had LOL. I feel really blessed to be able to see Root Five live and so up close (and handshakes omg) during the autograph session!
AFA, please bring Root Five back next year! (along with the Nico Nico special stage hehe)
Ended the day feeling overwhelmed.
Cheers.
