The Difference between Aimiya and Sakumoto (Arashi ni Shiyagare 2011.02.19 with Yuzu)

Pairings-wise, I honestly don't think there is a single one within Arashi that I don't find myself flailing over. I mean, Arashi's a bag of rainbow-colored fun, and you can mix-n-match and combine the members however you want; all combis turn out to be magical and charismatic! ^.^  But of course, each combi is also different, and as I was rewatching this one episode of Arashi ni Shiyagare (with Yuzu as guests, aired 2011.02.19), I noticed this detail that I couldn't help but tuck away as a little memo to myself. 

Basically, Yuzu are introducing Arashi to some lovely Chinese food, and as the chef brings the steaming bowls of noodles to Arashi, we notice, first of all, that there are only three bowls for five members. 

That's right. One bowl on the table between Sho and Jun, one bowl for Leader alone in the middle, and one bowl for Aimiya, who are both properly chanting the customary "itadakimasu~!" 

The noodles smell really really delicious (as Sho-kun remarks with glee), and Arashi wastes no time digging in. I mean, these men have braved the cold waters of Tokyo Bay in paper boats together; they've pinched each other's nipples, asses, even crotches, and what's more, they did all that on air. So what's the big deal with making them eat from the same bowl, right? 

I mean, just look at our adorable Ninoai combi ♥ They don't mind getting cheek to cheek and real close to the steaming action when there's delicious food to be devoured! In fact, Nino looks like he's quite relishing getting his tongue burnt with Aiba here. 

Leader also looks like he's enjoying his meal, but on the other side of him, there's one member who isn't eating at all, despite his enthusiastic remarks about how delicious it smelled just a minute ago: 

Yup, it's one Sakurai Sho! Dear gluttonous Sho-kun, why aren't you eating? Is MatsuJun's faux-hawk getting in your way? 

Ah, as expected, our Sakurai-san is just too polite to invade our MatsuJun's personal space!And MatsuJun's a little too busy enjoying his noodles to extend an invitation for an Aimiya-style head-bump. I like Sho's face here, biting his lip as he patiently waits his turn like the well-mannered man we all know he is. 

That's all I wanted to share, really. It's not anything hugely noticeable, and I didn't even give it a second glance when I first watched this episode, but it's a little detail I noted because I think it just goes to show the different dynamics in different Arashi pairings. Red and purple don't make the same color that green and yellow do, after all! 

Though of course, they all blend beautifully in the end, because no matter how different they are from each other, they're all still Arashi, all still parts of a single entity, beloved and inseparable. 

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥