So, I was just watching the latest AKB to XX episode and one of the ranks was this episode that aired way back in 2010, which by the way had some real good Mayuki moments in it as well but it seems there was more. Since I wasn’t into these things back then the fact that Acchan, Yuko and Takamina were fumbling over Yukirin’s foot totally went over my head at the time should be forgiven!

It was a time when Yukirin was still not close to the Kamis, in fact she wasn’t a Kami at the time. If I remember correctly, she was 8th at the time since it was Dec of 2010. There wasn’t a Kami 8 then, that would be happening the following year’s SSK. Anyway, someone (Sae) pointed a finger at Yukirin when the question was who had smelly feet.

Acchan who was right in front of Yuki was the first one to attack, followed closely by Yuko who was sitting next to Acchan. Miichan who was behind Yukirin went for restraining her then Takamina teleported over to do her Takamina Check! From this angel it looked less smelling and more like licking (Bad Geki, bad!). It turns out her feet weren’t smelly at all though even if the same can’t be said about her training shoes. But there is a good reason for that as we found out not long ago actually when it is said that she keeps those old shoes because they were a present from her mother.

Even then Yukirin seemed to be mottemotte with the Senpai. Kind of makes you wonder if it was inevitable, the happenings of the following SSK I mean. It got me wondering, which is why I decided to go and watch that documentary and learned more about those Yukimina caps…

 

Enter the 2011 SSK, probably the most destructive or interesting, however you wanna look at it,  SSK to date! Having only just listened to Yukirin talk about how she had set her heart and mind to supporting and caring for Mayuyu from behind, always watching her back, this goes and happens! What was most striking was how conflicted Yukirin looked behind the scenes. She looked more like someone who had lost, someone who was devastated than what she was supposed to be, someone who was the most happy!

First of all there is Mayuyu. Even though Mayuyu seemed happy for Yukirin and she might have been, Yukirin must help felt like a betrayer at the moment. I don’t think I saw her make eye contact with Mayuyu in that scene! Not only did she break the seemingly impenetrable Kami wall at the time, she went so far as to push Mayuyu back a place, push Tomochin of all people all the way to 8th position and land herself right behind the two Queens who were battling it out for dear life, Acchan and Yuko.

 

Then there is Tomochin…Jesus, I hope Yukirin didn’t see this! Then again seeing as TomoTomo were standing right next to the make-up room, I have a feeling that she did! Even I, a person countries and years away cried seeing Tomochin here, can you just imagine how Yukirin felt had she seen Tomochin like this!?

Even Souchan was like, Nope! I ain’t going anywhere near them’. Souchan did not go over to comfort Tomochin! That says a lot! I mean Acchan was okay, she had already taken care of her and it’s not like she needed comforting seeing as she had just re-claimed the Crown after Yuko took it from her the previous year. So this scene really called for Souchan to go over to Tomochin, give her some Takamina wisdom. But she did not! I was really surprised by that!

 
 

 
 

Speaking of Takamina comforting, as Mayuki were walking, someone called out to Yukirin by her surname and at first I thought it was Mayuyu trying to lightening the mood but a second time showed it had been someone from behind them, which prompted Yukirin to turn around (and Mayuki separate) and who did it turn out to be?

Souchan of course! Not even wasting a precious second she pulled Yukirin in a hug and Yukirin fell into her arms like it was what she was waiting for! Actually forget about pulling, it was more like she ran into Yukirin’s arms as if they were some long lost lovers meeting again for the first time in a long time! I just had to make a gif of it! What a DAWW moment!

So yeah, turns out that it wasn’t Yukirin comforting Takamina but rather Souchan congratulating Yukirin on her getting third place (achieving the impossible!). Then after the hug, Souchan then gave her hand a shake, which is strange! I mean it would be the other way around, right? Shake hands then if it’s not enough, embrace. But I guess there is a way to look at it being this way. It was like being congratulated twice, first on a personal level then on a professional level. But that’s just me.

Probably means nothing too but I it is worth mentioning that she went to Yukirin first before going to Acchan and that the way she handled the two was almost the same. Her time with Yukirin was cut short though when Sae and Sashiko showed up to congratulate her too. That Sashiko even went so far as to shed a tear for Yukirin! Kind of not surprising seeing as they had been together in the same team for a while before then. Probably were already bros even at the time.

That 2011 SSK man, FEELS everywhere. And don’t get me started on seeing Yuko crying by herself in the shadows after the Crown was taken back from her by Acchan! Thank the Lord Mariko-sama and Kojiharu were there to comfort her.

Even when winning, Yukirin’s road so far hasn’t been a happy one, eh! And yet even after this she managed to get close to Tomochin! Seriously Yukirin, what kind of clay did God mold you from!?!