[ENDLESS RAIN ~Mune no Naka de Nemurasete~]
Original (Novel): ENDLESS RAIN ~Mune no Naka de Nemurasete~ (ISBN: 4795293465)
Author: 水月真兔 Miduki Mato
Cover Illustrator: 甲田イリヤ Coda Iriya
Released: 8/15/2001 Leaf Sound Novels
Catalogue Number: LCD-004
Price: 2800 yen (with tax), 2666 yen (w/out tax)
Cast:
森川智之 Morikawa Toshiyuki (正木由里 Masaki Yuri) x 石田 彰 Ishida Akira (東堂貴臣 Toudou Takaumi)
松本保典 Matsumoto Yasunori (加藤 篤 Katou Atsushi)
Summary + Review:
First let me state that as much as I dislike Endless Rain, it is still a highly recommended drama. Reason #1: Ishida Akira, reason #2: Morikawa Toshiyuki, and reason #3: the FREETALK. Read below for details.
Let's start off by summarizing the story. The plot of Endless Rain is very straightforward...(Insert Ken's 5-sentence uber-simplified summary) Toudou Takaumi (Ishida Akira), who is raped by his students (don't ask me why the raping has anything to do with the story progression O_o) confessed to his old college friend Katou Atsushi (Matsumoto Yasunori). Katou rejected Takaumi, and the crying Takaumi is picked up off the streets by Masaki Yuri (Morikawa Toshiyuki). Yuri and Takaumi have sex (LOTS...*sweatdrops* but how did THAT happen!?!? O_O) and fall in love, but Katou comes back and says that he also loves Takaumi, after all. Poor Takaumi is almost raped by Katou, but Yuri comes to the rescue (or not O_o because Takaumi can't escape from H-ing, anyways *ROFL*). End of story, everyone applause for the incredibly simple summary!!! XDDDDDDD
(Ken's insert: Want MORE simplified summary?: H, H, H, H, H, H.....)
Perhaps I was being over-biased against Endless Rain, but for Ken, a drama isn't called a good drama if there isn't any basic character development or plot twist. For Endless Rain, I barely feel the personalities of Takaumi and Yuri other than that they are "uke" and "seme." There's only a bit of interaction between the main characters in order to lead into the H scenes, but none to further outline their relationship. Therefore, Yuri and Takaumi's relationship (and even Katou's turnaround) always feel a bit of a stretch. Overall, I would say the plot is very convienient for lots of H scenes, but that's about it -_-. Feel free to flame me if you happen to like this drama.
Let's say something about the seiyuus. Morikawa x Ishida IS one of the most classic seiyuu pair in all BL drama history *lol*. Both seiyuus are excellent at voice acting, not to mention that Morikawa's infamous seme attitude goes perfectly well with Ishida's all-time uke-ness XD. Those two seiyuus alone can make any underdeveloped character personalities become alive and any crappy storyline become perfectly believable, enjoyable, nosebleeding, whatever you call it. Since the Endless series host such a great couple *aherm*, it automatically becomes one of the most famous BL drama series existent (and that is no overstatement). Minus the story, the voices of Ishida-san and Morikawa-san alone can make one melt properly when listening to this CD (and I'm not even talking about the H scenes).
It seems a shame not to mention the omnipresent H in this drama (since that seems to be the focus), but Ken gives herself a break from trying to describe Ishida-san's uke voice...let's just say that an hour after Ken decided to stick this "Endless Rain" drama into the mp3 player, she was quite knocked senseless by Ishida-san's performance (uuuughhhh...the rape scene...*still haven't recovered*)...sometimes I wonder how seiyuus can scream, cry, groan, heavily breath, etc, etc...CONTINUOUSLY for one hour @_@...anyways I seem to be getting way off track. But if you haven't guessed by now, Ken is not a great fan of Ishida-san's uke voice, however nice and nosebleeding and exciting and arousing and enticing it might be as other people always tell me, Ishida-san just sounds...too painful, too high-pitched, too heart-wrenching for me to listen to him T___T poor Ishida-san, gomenasai!!
Skipping all the rest of the rant that I normally do for drama reviews since this drama doesn't have much else to rant for except Ishida-san and Morikawa-san, and I'm sure I'll rant about those two in excessiveness in future drama reviews to come so I'll safely avoid doing that for now...The REAL interesting part of this drama is actually the FREETALK XDDDDDDDDDDDDDD. In this special freetalk, Ishida-san, Morikawa-san, and Matsumoto-san all play their respective characters. So it's actually a mini interview for the main couple Takaumi and Yuri XDDDDDDDD. In order to fully appreciate the nosebleeding-ness and hilarity of this freetalk, here's the unabridged, uncensored, full translation below. Enjoy!!
[Warning #1: Be prepared to withstand psychological disturbance]
[Warning #2: Rumor has it that this freetalk is completely improvisational by the seiyuus]
[Warning #3: Morikawa-san...please don't be so....*still recovering*]
Morikawa (Yuri), Matsumoto (Katou), and Ishida (Takaumi): Otsukaresama-deshita!! [Great work, everyone!!]
Matsumoto: Arara~~*laughs* Ehh~~now is a Question & Answer session, which will answer the questions I (Katou) have collected concerning Masaki Yuri and Toudou Takaumi in "Endless Rain". Especially Masaki's offenses, let's reveal them all!! (really enthusiastic XDD;;;)
Morikawa: Hmpf! What a despictable fellow.
Matsumoto: (really fast reaction lol) What did you say!?
Ishida: Yuuuriii~~! Katou you too, quit it, please!
Matsumoto: Then, this question is for Takaumi~~
Ishida: for me?
Matsumoto: What subject does Toudou-sensei (Takaumi) teach?
Ishida: Math.
Matsumoto: Is that so~~but you look so much more like a humanities type~~
Ishida: I don't like to explain lots of things...(I think he meant that math is more straightforward)
Morikawa: That's just like you, Takaumi.
Matsumoto: Hai~the next question is for you. Eh, which part do you like about Takaumi?
Morikawa: (without hesitation O_o) the H part.
Ishida: Yuuriii~~!! (slightly embarrassed XDDDD)
Matsumoto: (laughing and cursing) Daaammit!!
Morikawa: (To Ishida) Don't get angry at me~ You look so pretty lately, my heart pounds (doki doki) everytime I look at you. I think I like Takaumi's eyes the best! They feel much more mature, and they are so intense...
Matsumoto: Aah you blushed, Takaumi!! I mean, your eyes! (not quite sure what he meant) Eh excuse me...The next question is...Yuri's body...eh, ooh the body...Ahhh (gawks a little at the nature of the question O_o)...which part about his body do you like the best??
Ishida: Body...? (slightly embarrassed again XDD he sounds so cute when his voice becomes shaky)
Morikawa: Hey don't be shy, tell me already! (voice suddenly becomes really deep and luring @_@ Ken melts) Ore no doko ga ii? [Which part of me is the best?]
Matsumoto: (cracks up) Touch kinshi!! [touching is prohibited!!] Stop touching, you, Masaki!!
Ishida: Me...although I really like Yuri's blue eyes...I also like his fingers! They are so long, and really pretty, and they would touch me so gently...(Ken sweatdrops...)
Morikawa: Wakatta! Ippai sawateru~ [I see! Then I'll touch you all you like!] (Morikawa's "resolution" sounds adorable XDDD)
Matsumoto: (bursts) I SAID NO TOUCHING ALREADY!! OI!
Ishida: Oh and your...back!
Morikawa: Ahh~~my back, you mean the dragon?
Matsumoto: You (in awe)...that's a tattoo? (Yuri has a dragon tattoo across his entire back)
Morikawa: Yeah.
Matsumoto: Then, what do you do in swimming class?
Morikawa: (as-a-matter-of-factly) It's reputed in school that I always skip (swimming) class. Same with elsewhere, so I always avoid public places like beaches or pools. For hot springs, I only go to our private one. Ah that reminds me, Takaumi, let's go together next time; my private vacation house with a open hot spring!
Matsumoto: Your purpose is way too obvious~! (cracking up again XD;;;) Eh~~? Anyways moving on, other than a hot springs trip, is there anywhere else that you two want to "do" it together? (Ken falls off her chair...what kind of question is THAT!? @_@)
Morikawa: Hmm...doing it once in a car would be fine~~
Ishida: In a car!?...aren't we already always together by ourselves?
Matsumoto: Oi~oioioi what's this two-person thing Takaumi!? Then, what about Takaumi?
Ishida: Um...I think, I'm pretty content right now. I'd be fine keeping the way things are...
Matsumoto: Then, don't you have anything to complain about like "I don't like this, stop it!!" or something like that?
Ishida: About H...(Ken: I think this is going off in a rather dangerous direction XDDD)
Morikawa: (protesting loudly XD) If we stop the H, Takaumi would be lonely all by yourself!
Ishida: I meant like doing things in front of Katou and other people intentionally!! (Ken: Oi...you ARE saying this right in front of Katou, aren't you? -_-;;)
Morikawa: I WANT to show Takaumi off on purpose! I want Takaumi to be more honest (about his feelings, probably), not just saying "you're so great" while in bed...(Ken: this IS going in the wrong direction, after all *ROFL* and Morikawa sounds so smug saying that XDDDD)
Ishida: It's enough just to say it while in bed~!
Matsumoto: Uuuu Takaumi~~~(I think he got shocked ^^;;; poor Matsumoto-san) Damn you~~(not quite sure what he said there)~~Eh, what is the favorite sentence that your lover says to you~?
Ishida: Ahh of course it's the first time Yuri says "I like you."
Morikawa: Although I like the first time you tell me you "want it," but I like it best when in bed you would look at me gently and say "Yuri~~suki!!" (Damn this guy XDDD he imitated that sentence with lots of breath and panting too)...It'd be great if you say that some more~~ (Matsumoto is cursing "kono yarou" in the back ROFL...and even Ishida can't stand it anymore XDD;;;;;)
[Morikawa keeps on babbling about Takaumi...Ken doesn't know whether to laugh or curse anymore...]
Ishida: (interrupting Morikawa for good XDD) Katou, what's the next question?
Matsumoto: (losing strength big-time there XD;;;; Ken is too) You STILL want more? Dammit...(Ishida: Please) The next one is; have you ever fought?
Ishida: I don't think so...
Matsumoto: Not even once?
Morikawa: I've argued with other people, but I kinda want to fight with Takaumi once...
Ishida: Want to try me? (This is more like a temptation with his voice...*_*)
Matsumoto: Yeah, yeah go for it! Try it! There!
Morikawa: It'd be pretty bad if you make Takaumi angry though, he would break ALL of our _____...
Ishida: Baka.
Matsumoto: (properly terrified XDDDD have you guessed what the blank stands for?) You guys...ah-ehh...(falters) The next question is, with the story development, you two just keep on playing H scenes. If you keep on H-ing, is it okay with your bodies? This type of H, do you really want to do it? I want to know too (laughs)~~eh? So?
Morikawa: I would NEVER feel enough no matter how many times I do it (another fast answer...Morikawa-san...I REALLY don't want to believe that this is improv...X_x)
Matsumoto: Kedamono!! [Beast!!] (Morikawa snort-laughs) Kedamono!
Morikawa: Don't call me that~! It's normal to want to touch each other when you're with a person you like, right?
Matsumoto: Still, kedamono.
Morikawa: (Self-justification) It's perfectly safe, it feels fine, and when I insert it also feels good~~Ouch--
[Ishida probably pinched Morikawa XDD;;;]
Ishida: Muu...don't SAY things about "inserting"!! (his pouting is SO CUTE XDD)
Morikawa: I say it because...(still wincing from the pain ^^;) I like you~~(this is the first time Ken feels that Morikawa is properly playing a school student XD kawaii~)
Ishida: Eh!? Well that's...because it's you...(voice falling lower) I would only do it with you, you know...
Morikawa: (really softly) Takaumi...(the atmosphere is turning in a weird direction again...Ken SWEATDROPS...)
Matsumoto: (is using all his left-over strength to bring the situation back to normal XDD;;;) What are you two doing? Separate now!! The limbs too! Come on, let's move on...Masaki's question: If it's Takaumi (as seme), can you be "inserted"....? (you can feel Matsumoto-san's endurance slowly going out of control XDD)
Morikawa: Sure, no problem~~ (Ken feels like strangling someone slowly...Morikawa, you...)
Matsumoto: No problem..? You---(he's at his limit...).......(deep-breathes).......YOU CAAAAN'T!!!! (that nerve finally popped XD) Geez...(Ken ROFL and cheers for Matsumoto-san XDDDDDDDDDDDD)
Morikawa: I won't refuse it, if Takaumi feels fine, reversing positions is perfectly okay for me...(to Ishida) How about we try it tonight? (Ken trots away and brings out a knife from the kitchen...)
Matsumoto: I already said you can't (he has barely any breath left for laughing XD), okay? Takaumi, listen up okay? Okay? Yuri, what if Yuri turns into a child?
Ishida: Child!? O_o
Matsumoto: Just think of it as a new type of game (Everyone chuckles)
Ishida: That would be cute--
Morikawa: I...we can reverse...(why are you STILL thinking of that!?!? *dies*)
Ishida: I don't want that! I like it when you embrace me...(but "daite" can also be translated as "take me"...X_x)
Matsumoto: Are we talking about the same subject? Ehh? Here, here, look this way!! (He's trying so hard ^^;;;;) Masaki, the next one is for Masaki: What type of flower would you compare Takaumi to?
Morikawa: He is much more beautiful than flowers~~(start listing flower names)...the one with spikes is...the rose!
Ishida: How do I look like I have spikes?!
Morikawa: I like spikes better than the safe flowers~(eh O_o) Chu~
Ishida: (softly) Baka. (the two starts kissing...Ken supposes Matsumoto-san is raining some heavy sweatdrops there -_-;;;;;;;;)
Matsumoto: Ho--hold on, is it better if I leave? (sweatdrop, sweatdrop, SWEATDROP) Eto...ano...enough! Takaumi!! The next one is yours! If anyone wants to hurt Yuri, what do you do?
Ishida: (Didn't quite get it...anyways it's...well just look at Matsumoto's reaction:)
Matsumoto: Ah, sore de...ano, never mind -_-;;; it's a bit scary ^^;. Hai, the next one is; Masaki! When doing it with Takaumi, what type of clothing would you like him to wear?...Whose question is that!? (Everyone lols)
Morikawa: With clothing on is better~ ah but, I like the style that's more sexy, and easier to remove...
Matsumoto: The type that shows his shoulder blades is better, right?
Morikawa: shoulder blade, huh...
[Matsomoto says more...he sounds quite excited by this topic -_-;]
Ishida: What are you two talking about~~!? (GOD that sounds so feminine *shivers*)
Matsumoto: (laughing) Ah excuse me, excuse me...jaa, the last one! The last question for both of you: when do you feel most loved by your other part?
Morikawa: When he calls my name in sleep. (he sounds so happy about it too XD)
Ishida: I talk in my sleep?
Morikawa: Lots of times~
Ishida: Oh...mine is, when he washes my body for me after sex...(Ken doesn't know Ishida had it in him X_x...GIVE ME THE ROPE DAMMIT I have to strangle...)
Matsumoto: (Apparently severly disturbed again XDD;;;) Hai domo, OTSUKARESAMADESHITA!! (His endurance finally wears out XDDDDD) Enough, SAYONARA!!!
[Music ends]
Ishida: (laughs) If Katou said so...
Morikawa: Just ignore him! Soreyori...(Chu) Let's do it again, okay? (Ken X_x)
Ishida: Un...well...
Matsumoto: I SAID it's over already~~X_x;;;