AKB48 – Koike. Lyrics Meaning: That Ex You Suddenly Want Back

Why do we only seem to want something the moment we can’t have it? This hilarious song by AKB48 Team A perfectly captures that messy feeling. It’s a short story about running into an ex and having a complete meltdown.

    The Cringey Story Inside “Koike” by AKB48 Team A

    The song is basically a girl’s inner monologue. She’s feeling a little lonely and down on her luck with love. She’s gotten older and realizes finding the “perfect” guy isn’t so easy. Then, the universe decides to throw her a curveball.

    A Chance Meeting at the Konbini

    Picture this: It’s after a hot summer, and our main character is in a convenience store. Who does she see? Her ex-boyfriend, a guy named Koike. They lock eyes while he’s holding a popsicle. Just a normal, everyday moment, right? Wrong.

    The “Wait, Is That Koike?” Glow-Up

    She hasn’t seen him since graduation, and wow, he’s changed. He’s not the same guy she remembers. Suddenly, she’s seeing him in a whole new light. She’s shocked to find herself thinking he actually looks… good.

    Sotsugyoushiki buri no Koike wa
    The first time seeing Koike since graduation
    SHAREta SHATSU o kichatte
    He was wearing a stylish shirt
    tongatta kamigata mo
    And even his spiky hairstyle
    chotto IKETERU kamo ne
    might be kinda cool

    You can just imagine her brain short-circuiting. She starts to wonder if she made a mistake breaking up with him. It’s that classic moment of second-guessing everything.

    The Awkward Twist

    She decides to be brave and say hi. But as she gets closer, she notices something. Koike isn’t alone. He’s with a cute girl. His new girlfriend. Ouch. To make things worse, he asks our girl, “Are you here alone?” Mortified, she pretends she’s waiting for someone outside. It’s a total train wreck, and she knows it.

    What AKB48’s “Koike” is Really About

    This song is all about the classic saying: “The fish that got away looks bigger than it really was.” Our narrator dumped Koike, probably thinking she could do better. But now that she’s single and he has happily moved on, he suddenly seems like an amazing catch. It’s a perfect tale of regret fueled by a bruised ego.

    Nogashita sakana
    The fish that got away
    ookiku mieru nante…
    looks so much bigger now…

    She didn’t want him when she had him. She only wants him now because someone else does. It’s petty, it’s relatable, and it’s painfully funny.

    The Hilarious (and Painful) Lesson from “Koike”

    The biggest takeaway from this song is a warning: don’t take people for granted. The spoken-word monologue in the song reveals her true thoughts. She admits she was keeping Koike in her back pocket as a “safety net.”

    Koike dake wa, KIIPU shiteita tsumori datta n desu.
    I thought I was keeping just Koike on the side.
    Koi no suberidome tte iu ka…
    Like a safety net for love…
    Saigo no saigo, doushiyou mo naku nattara,
    If it came down to the very end and I had no other options,
    Koike demo ii ka natte…
    I thought even Koike would be okay…

    She saw him as her last resort. But Koike wasn’t waiting around for her! He went out and found his own happiness. The song teaches you that your backup plan has their own main plan, and you’re probably not in it. Appreciate people while they’re in your life, not after they’ve left.

    So, what do you think? Is she just feeling lonely, or did she genuinely miss out on a great guy? It’s fun to think about how Koike’s side of the story would go! Let me know your take on this hilariously real song.

    Lyrics: "Koike" by AKB48


    AKB48 – Koike [Lyrics KANJI]


    (Team A Version)
    「この歳になると、嫌でも、現実って奴が見えて来ます。
    十代の頃は、恋の理想も高くて、あれも嫌、これも嫌って、
    彼氏を減点式で見ていたんですが、
    二十歳を過ぎて、覚えました、”妥協”って言葉を・・・。
    私も、あの辺で手を打っときゃよかったかな・・・」

    (Shuffle Version)
    「あんなー、聞いてや、最近思うねん。
    ホンマは嫌やねんで、嫌やねんけど、
    現実見えてくんねやんか。
    昔はあいつもあかん、
    こいつもあかんって減点式言っとてんけど、
    ねぇ、分かるか、
    減点式って?引くことや、引くこと。
    もう20過ぎて覚えてん、妥協っちゅうもんを。
    そうだなぁ、うちもあの辺で手打っときゃよかったんなぁ・・・」

    激しい夏が過ぎて
    2度目の恋が終わり
    焼けた肌が
    褪せる頃は
    偶然の季節

    コンビニのレジに並ぶ
    見覚えのある横顔
    目が合った時
    がりがりくん 手にしてた

    卒業式ぶりの小池は
    シャレたシャツを着ちゃって
    とんがった髪型も
    ちょっと イケてるかもね

    どうかしてる!
    昔の彼氏に
    心が動いた
    逃(のが)した魚
    大きく見えるなんて・・・
    どうかしてる!
    近頃 私は
    弱っているんだ
    何だか 淋しくて
    思い出にまで手を出す

    (Team A Version)
    「『おまえのことを永遠に愛してる』なんて言ってた小池が、
    彼女連れだったことがショックでした。
    もう着ないと思って、友達にあげた洋服を、
    その友達が着ているのを見て、
    急に惜しくなったような気分でした。
    自分には似合わないのに・・・」

    (Shuffle Version)
    「有華のこと、焼きたてのたこ焼きよりも熱く愛してんねん、
    とか寒いこと抜かしとったこいつがこうとった女、
    うちよりもレベル低いのは確かやねん、
    だけど、うちよりもめっちゃ巨乳ってことが、悲しかった。」

    先に声掛けちゃった
    私は そう負け組
    なつかしさに
    甘えたくて
    近寄って行った

    ぎこちないリアクション
    気がつけばよかったね
    その隣には
    かわいらしい女の子

    私が振ったはずの小池に
    「1人?」なんて聞かれて
    (Team A Version) 「まさか!」て 外 見ながら
    (Shuffle Version) 「ちゃうって!」って 外 見ながら
    誰かが待つふりして・・・

    ついてないわ!
    世間の男は
    見る目がないのね
    秋から冬の私は
    脂が乗る
    ついてないわ!
    疲れたハートは
    夏バテしてるの
    つぶやく独り言
    こんなはずではなかった

    (Team A Version)
    「小池だけは、キープしていたつもりだったんです。
    恋の滑り止めっていうか・・・。
    最後の最後、どうしようもなくなったら、 
    小池でもいいかなって・・・」

    (Shuffle Version)
    「小池だけは、電話したら吹っ飛んで来るような奴やってん。
    まぁ、滑り止めに入れといたろっていうか・・・。
    最後の最後、どないにもどないもあかんかったら、 
    小池でもしゃあないかなって・・・」

    小池なんて
    忘れていたのに
    おいしく見える
    恋もお腹減ると
    間食みたいに
    (Team A Version) つまみたくなるの
    (Shuffle Version) つまみたくなんねん (なんでやねん!)

    どうかしてる!
    昔の彼氏に
    心が動いた
    逃(のが)した魚
    大きく見えるなんて・・・
    どうかしてる!
    近頃 私は
    弱っているんだ
    何だか 淋しくて
    思い出にまで手を出す

    (Team A Version)
    「小池!
    冗談じゃないよ。
    何で、私があんたに嫉妬しなきゃいけないのよ?
    小池!
    彼女ができたなんて聞いてないよ!
    小池!
    こんな所で、彼女とうろうろしてんじゃねえよ!
    はい、はい、私は一人です。
    こんな時間に、一人で、がりがりくんを買っていました。
    小池!
    何とか言え!
    やさしい言葉のひとつも掛けやがれ!」

    (Shuffle Version)
    「小池!
    ちょい待ちいや!
    あんたにうちが嫉妬?はっはー、笑わせるな!
    あんな、小池!
    彼女ができたんやったらうちに見せに来んのが普通やろ。
    なぁ、ちょいと聞いてんの?
    コンビニデートなんかしょぼいっちゅうねん。
    はい、そうや。うちは一人です。
    まぁ、彼女は置いといて、今度またうちと食い倒れ行こうや。
    え!行かへん?行かへんっちゅうの?
    なんでやねーん!」

    (Team N Version)
    「うちな、この年になると嫌やねんけど現実見えてきたわ。
    何やこの…ついこないだまでは恋の理想っちゅーかな、あれも嫌これも嫌って彼氏を減点式で見とったんやけど二十歳を過ぎて覚えました、妥協っちゅーもんを。
    あ、しもうたな。あそこで手を打っといたのよかったんかな…」

    激しい夏が過ぎて
    2度目の恋が終わり
    焼けた肌が
    褪せる頃は
    偶然の季節

    コンビニのレジに並ぶ
    見覚えのある横顔
    目が合った時
    がりがりくん 手にしてた

    卒業式ぶりの小池は
    シャレたシャツを着ちゃって
    とんがった髪型も
    ちょっと イケてるかもね

    どうかしてる!
    昔の彼氏に
    心が動いた
    逃(のが)した魚
    大きく見えるなんて・・・
    どうかしてる!
    近頃 私は
    弱っているんだ
    何だか 淋しくて
    思い出にまで手を出す

    (Team N Version)
    「『お前のことが、ホンマに好きやねん!』なんてゆーとった小池が、女の子と歩いてたマジでショックやったわ。
    もう着ひんと思うて友達に上げたT シャツ、その友達が着こなしとるのを見て急に惜しくなったような気分やった。
    うちには似合わへんけど。」

    先に声掛けちゃった
    私は そう負け組
    なつかしさに
    甘えたくて
    近寄って行った

    ぎこちないリアクション
    気がつけばよかったね
    その隣には
    かわいらしい女の子

    私が振ったはずの小池に
    「1人?」なんて聞かれて
    (Team N Version) 「まさか!」って 外 見ながら
    誰かが待つふりして・・・

    ついてないわ!
    世間の男は
    見る目がないのね
    秋から冬の私は
    脂が乗る
    ついてないわ!
    疲れたハートは
    夏バテしてるの
    つぶやく独り言
    こんなはずではなかった

    (Team N Version)
    「小池だけは、キープしとったつもりやったん。
    恋の滑り止めっていうか、最後の最後、どないもこないもいかんてなったら、小池でもさーないかなって。」

    小池なんて
    忘れていたのに
    おいしく見える
    恋もお腹減ると
    間食みたいに
    つまみたくなるの

    どうかしてる!
    昔の彼氏に
    心が動いた
    逃(のが)した魚
    大きく見えるなんて・・・
    どうかしてる!
    近頃 私は
    弱っているんだ
    何だか 淋しくて
    思い出にまで手を出す

    (Team N Version)
    「小池、ちょい待っちーや!なんでうちはあんたに嫉妬しなあかんの?
    小池、彼女ができたなんて聞いてへんよ?
    小池、こんなところで女とうろうろしてんちゃうわ!
    はいはいそうや、うちはひとりです。
    こんな時間にひとりでガリガリくんを買って食べといました!
    小池、なんかいいや!優しい言葉の1個や2個をよう言わんの?
    もうあんた、アホちゃう?」
    AKB48 Team A – Koike

    AKB48 – Koike [Lyrics ROMAJI]


    (Team A Version)
    “Kono toshi ni naru to, iya demo, genjitsu tte yatsu ga miete kimasu.
    Jūdai no koro wa, koi no risō mo takakute, are mo iya, kore mo iya tte,
    Kareshi o genten-shiki de mite ita n desu ga,
    Hatachi o sugite, oboemashita, “dakkyō” tte kotoba o….
    Watashi mo, ano hen de te o uttokuya yokatta kana…”

    (Shuffle Version)
    “Annā, kiite ya, saikin omou nen.
    Honma wa iya ya nende, iya ya nengedo,
    Genjitsu miete kun nen yanka.
    Mukashi wa aitsu mo akan,
    Koitsu mo akan tte genten-shiki ittotteten kedo,
    Nē, wakaru ka,
    Genten-shiki tte? Hiku koto ya, hiku koto.
    Mō hatachi sugite oboeten, dakkyōcchū mon o.
    Sō da nā, uchi mo ano hen de te uttokuya yokatta nnā…”

    Hageshii natsu ga sugite
    Nido-me no koi ga owari
    Yaketa hada ga
    Aseru koro wa
    Gūzen no kisetsu

    Konbini no reji ni narabu
    Mi oboe no aru yokogao
    Me ga atta toki
    Garigarikun te ni shiteta

    Sotsugyōshiki-buri no Koike wa
    Shareta shatsu o kichatte
    Tongatta kamigata mo
    Chotto iketeru kamo ne

    Dōka shiteru!
    Mukashi no kareshi ni
    Kokoro ga ugoita
    Nogashita sakana
    Ōkiku mieru nante…
    Dōka shiteru!
    Chikagoro watashi wa
    Yowatte iru n da
    Nandaka samishikute
    Omoide ni made te o dasu

    (Team A Version)
    “‘Omae no koto o eien ni aishiteru’ nante itteta Koike ga,
    Kanojo-zure datta koto ga shokku deshita.
    Mō kinai to omotte, tomodachi ni ageta yōfuku o,
    Sono tomodachi ga kite iru no o mite,
    Kyū ni oshiku natta yō na kibun deshita.
    Jibun ni wa niawanai noni…”

    (Shuffle Version)
    “Yūka no koto, yakitate no takoyaki yori mo atsuku aishiten nen,
    Toka samui koto nukashitotta koitsu ga kō totta onna,
    Uchi yori mo reberu hikui no wa tashika ya nen,
    Dakedo, uchi yori mo meccha kyonyū tte koto ga, kanashikatta.”

    Saki ni koe kakechatta
    Watashi wa sō makegumi
    Natsukashisa ni
    Amaetakute
    Chikayotte itta

    Gikochinai riakushon
    Ki ga tsukeba yokatta ne
    Sono tonari ni wa
    Kawairashii onna no ko

    Watashi ga futta hazu no Koike ni
    “Hitori?” nante kikarete
    (Team A Version) “Masaka!” te soto minagara
    (Shuffle Version) “Chau tte!” tte soto minagara
    Dareka ga matsu furi shite…

    Tsuitena i wa!
    Seken no otoko wa
    Miru me ga nai no ne
    Aki kara fuyu no watashi wa
    Abura ga noru
    Tsuitena i wa!
    Tsukareta hāto wa
    Natsu-bate shiteru no
    Tsubuyaku hitorigoto
    Konna hazu de wa nakatta

    (Team A Version)
    “Koike dake wa, kīpu shite ita tsumori datta n desu.
    Koi no suberidome tte iu ka….
    Saigo no saigo, dōshiyō mo naku nattara,
    Koike demo ii kana tte…”

    (Shuffle Version)
    “Koike dake wa, denwa shitara futtonde kuru yō na yatsu yatten.
    Mā, suberidome ni iretoitaro tte iu ka….
    Saigo no saigo, donai ni mo donai mo akan kattara,
    Koike demo shaanai ka natte…”

    Koike nante
    Wasurete ita noni
    Oishiku mieru
    Koi mo onaka heru to
    Kanshoku mitai ni
    (Team A Version) Tsumamitaku naru no
    (Shuffle Version) Tsumamitaku nan nen (Nande ya nen!)

    Dōka shiteru!
    Mukashi no kareshi ni
    Kokoro ga ugoita
    Nogashita sakana
    Ōkiku mieru nante…
    Dōka shiteru!
    Chikagoro watashi wa
    Yowatte iru n da
    Nandaka samishikute
    Omoide ni made te o dasu

    (Team A Version)
    “Koike!
    Jōdan ja nai yo.
    Nande, watashi ga anta ni shitto shinakya ikenai no yo?
    Koike!
    Kanojo ga dekita nante kiitenai yo!
    Koike!
    Konna tokoro de, kanojo to urouro shiten ja nē yo!
    Hai, hai, watashi wa hitori desu.
    Konna jikan ni, hitori de, Garigarikun o katte imashita.
    Koike!
    Nantoka ie!
    Yasashii kotoba no hitotsu mo kake yagare!”

    (Shuffle Version)
    “Koike!
    Choi machi iya!
    Anta ni uchi ga shitto? Hahhā, warawaseru na!
    Anna, Koike!
    Kanojo ga dekitan yattara uchi ni mise ni kun no ga futsū yaro.
    Nā, choito kiiten no?
    Konbini dēto nanka shoboi cchū nen.
    Hai, sō ya. Uchi wa hitori desu.
    Mā, kanojo wa oitoite, kondo mata uchi to kuidaore ikou ya.
    E! Ikahen? Ikahen cchū no?
    Nande ya nēn!”

    (Team N Version)
    “Uchina, kono toshi ni naru to iya ya nengedo genjitsu miete kita wa.
    Nan ya kono… tsui konnaida made wa koi no risōcchū ka na, are mo iya kore mo iya tte kareshi o genten-shiki de mitotta n ya kedo hatachi o sugite oboemashita, dakkyōcchū mon o.
    A, shimōtana. Asoko de te o uttokuita no yokattan kana…”

    Hageshii natsu ga sugite
    Nido-me no koi ga owari
    Yaketa hada ga
    Aseru koro wa
    Gūzen no kisetsu

    Konbini no reji ni narabu
    Mi oboe no aru yokogao
    Me ga atta toki
    Garigarikun te ni shiteta

    Sotsugyōshiki-buri no Koike wa
    Shareta shatsu o kichatte
    Tongatta kamigata mo
    Chotto iketeru kamo ne

    Dōka shiteru!
    Mukashi no kareshi ni
    Kokoro ga ugoita
    Nogashita sakana
    Ōkiku mieru nante…
    Dōka shiteru!
    Chikagoro watashi wa
    Yowatte iru n da
    Nandaka samishikute
    Omoide ni made te o dasu

    (Team N Version)
    “‘Omae no koto ga, honma ni suki ya nen!’ nante yūtotta Koike ga, onna no ko to aruiteta maji de shokku yatta wa.
    Mō kihin to omoute tomodachi ni ageta T-shatsu, sono tomodachi ga kikonashitoru no o mite kyū ni oshiku natta yō na kibun yatta.
    Uchi ni wa niawahen kedo.”

    Saki ni koe kakechatta
    Watashi wa sō makegumi
    Natsukashisa ni
    Amaetakute
    Chikayotte itta

    Gikochinai riakushon
    Ki ga tsukeba yokatta ne
    Sono tonari ni wa
    Kawairashii onna no ko

    Watashi ga futta hazu no Koike ni
    “Hitori?” nante kikarete
    (Team N Version) “Masaka!” tte soto minagara
    Dareka ga matsu furi shite…

    Tsuitena i wa!
    Seken no otoko wa
    Miru me ga nai no ne
    Aki kara fuyu no watashi wa
    Abura ga noru
    Tsuitena i wa!
    Tsukareta hāto wa
    Natsu-bate shiteru no
    Tsubuyaku hitorigoto
    Konna hazu de wa nakatta

    (Team N Version)
    “Koike dake wa, kīpu shitoitta tsumori yattan.
    Koi no suberidome tte iu ka, saigo no saigo, donai mo konai mo ikan te nattara, Koike demo sā nai ka natte.”

    Koike nante
    Wasurete ita noni
    Oishiku mieru
    Koi mo onaka heru to
    Kanshoku mitai ni
    Tsumamitaku naru no

    Dōka shiteru!
    Mukashi no kareshi ni
    Kokoro ga ugoita
    Nogashita sakana
    Ōkiku mieru nante…
    Dōka shiteru!
    Chikagoro watashi wa
    Yowatte iru n da
    Nandaka samishikute
    Omoide ni made te o dasu

    (Team N Version)
    “Koike, choi macchī ya! Nande uchi wa anta ni shitto shinakya akan no?
    Koike, kanojo ga dekita nante kiitehen yo?
    Koike, konna tokoro de onna to urouro shiten chau wa!
    Hai hai sō ya, uchi wa hitori desu.
    Konna jikan ni hitori de Garigarikun o katte tabetoimashita!
    Koike, nanka ī ya! Yasashii kotoba no ikko ya niko o yō iwan no?
    Mō anta, aho chau?”

    AKB48 – Koike [English translation]


    (Team A Version)
    “When you reach this age, whether you like it or not, reality starts to become clear.
    When I was a teenager, my ideals for love were so high; I’d say ‘I don’t like this, I don’t like that,’
    and I’d look at boyfriends with a demerit system.
    But after turning twenty, I learned the word “compromise”…
    I wonder if I should have just settled for someone around that time…”

    (Shuffle Version)
    “Hey, listen up, I’ve been thinking lately.
    Honestly, I don’t like it, I really don’t,
    but reality just keeps hitting me.
    In the past, I’d say ‘he’s no good, he’s no good’ with my demerit system.
    Hey, do you understand?
    What’s a demerit system? It’s about subtracting, subtracting!
    Now that I’m over 20, I’ve learned about “compromise.”
    Yeah, I guess I should’ve just settled for someone back then…”

    The intense summer has passed,
    My second love has ended.
    As my tanned skin
    Starts to fade,
    It’s a season of chance encounters.

    Lining up at the convenience store register,
    I see a familiar profile.
    When our eyes met,
    He was holding a Garigari-kun ice pop.

    Koike, whom I haven’t seen since graduation,
    Is wearing a stylish shirt.
    His spiky hairstyle
    Might actually look a little cool.

    This is crazy!
    My heart was stirred
    By an old boyfriend.
    To think that the “fish that got away”
    Looks so big…
    This is crazy!
    Lately, I’ve been
    Feeling so weak.
    Somehow, I’m lonely,
    And I’m even reaching out to old memories.

    (Team A Version)
    “It was such a shock that Koike, who used to say ‘I’ll love you forever,’
    was with a girlfriend.
    It was like seeing a friend wearing clothes I’d given them, thinking I wouldn’t wear them anymore,
    and suddenly feeling a pang of regret.
    Even though those clothes wouldn’t even suit me…”

    (Shuffle Version)
    “This guy, who used to say cheesy things like ‘I love Yuka more passionately than fresh takoyaki,’
    was with a girl who’s definitely a lower level than me,
    but the fact that she had much bigger breasts than me, that was sad.”

    I ended up speaking first,
    So I guess I’m the loser.
    Wanting to indulge
    In nostalgia,
    I approached him.

    His reaction was awkward.
    I wish I’d noticed sooner,
    Because right next to him
    Was a cute girl.

    Koike, who I was supposed to have dumped,
    Asked me, “Are you alone?”
    (Team A Version) “No way!” I said, looking away.
    (Shuffle Version) “Of course not!” I said, looking away.
    Pretending someone was waiting for me…

    What bad luck!
    Guys in this world
    Have such poor taste.
    From autumn to winter, I
    Become more appealing (literally “put on fat/flavor”).
    What bad luck!
    My tired heart
    Is suffering from summer fatigue.
    I mutter to myself,
    “This wasn’t supposed to happen.”

    (Team A Version)
    “I had intended to keep Koike as a backup.
    Like a safety net for love, you could say…
    At the very end, if everything else failed,
    I thought, ‘Koike would be okay, I guess…'”

    (Shuffle Version)
    “Koike was the type of guy who’d fly over if I called him.
    Well, I thought of him as a safety net, you know…
    At the very, very end, if nothing else worked out,
    I figured, ‘Koike might be an acceptable option…'”

    Koike…
    Even though I’d forgotten about him,
    He suddenly looks appealing.
    When love makes you hungry,
    He’s like a snack
    (Team A Version) You just want to pick at.
    (Shuffle Version) You just wanna grab! (Why, though?!)

    This is crazy!
    My heart was stirred
    By an old boyfriend.
    To think that the “fish that got away”
    Looks so big…
    This is crazy!
    Lately, I’ve been
    Feeling so weak.
    Somehow, I’m lonely,
    And I’m even reaching out to old memories.

    (Team A Version)
    “Koike!
    This is no joke!
    Why do I have to be jealous of you?!
    Koike!
    I didn’t hear you got a girlfriend!
    Koike!
    Don’t be loitering around here with your girlfriend!
    Yes, yes, I’m all alone.
    At this hour, by myself, buying a Garigari-kun.
    Koike!
    Say something!
    At least say one kind word to me!”

    (Shuffle Version)
    “Koike!
    Hold on a sec!
    Me, jealous of you? Haha, don’t make me laugh!
    Listen, Koike!
    If you got a girlfriend, it’s only normal to come show her off to me, right?
    Hey, are you listening?
    A convenience store date is so lame.
    Yes, that’s right. I’m alone.
    Well, put your girlfriend aside, next time let’s go on a food tour together again!
    Eh?! You’re not going? You’re saying you’re not going?
    Why not?!”

    (Team N Version)
    “Well, for me, as I get older, I don’t like it, but reality has started to sink in.
    What’s this… until recently, my ideals for love were, you know, ‘I don’t like this, I don’t like that,’ and I’d look at boyfriends with a demerit system, but after turning twenty, I learned about compromise.
    Ah, I messed up, didn’t I? I wonder if I should have just settled for someone back then…”

    The intense summer has passed,
    My second love has ended.
    As my tanned skin
    Starts to fade,
    It’s a season of chance encounters.

    Lining up at the convenience store register,
    I see a familiar profile.
    When our eyes met,
    He was holding a Garigari-kun ice pop.

    Koike, whom I haven’t seen since graduation,
    Is wearing a stylish shirt.
    His spiky hairstyle
    Might actually look a little cool.

    This is crazy!
    My heart was stirred
    By an old boyfriend.
    To think that the “fish that got away”
    Looks so big…
    This is crazy!
    Lately, I’ve been
    Feeling so weak.
    Somehow, I’m lonely,
    And I’m even reaching out to old memories.

    (Team N Version)
    “It was a real shock that Koike, who used to say cheesy things like ‘I truly love you!’, was walking with another girl.
    It felt like when I gave a T-shirt to a friend, thinking I wouldn’t wear it anymore, but then seeing my friend wearing it so well made me suddenly regret giving it away.
    Even though it wouldn’t suit me anyway.”

    I ended up speaking first,
    So I guess I’m the loser.
    Wanting to indulge
    In nostalgia,
    I approached him.

    His reaction was awkward.
    I wish I’d noticed sooner,
    Because right next to him
    Was a cute girl.

    Koike, who I was supposed to have dumped,
    Asked me, “Are you alone?”
    (Team N Version) “No way!” I said, looking away.
    Pretending someone was waiting for me…

    What bad luck!
    Guys in this world
    Have such poor taste.
    From autumn to winter, I
    Become more appealing (literally “put on fat/flavor”).
    What bad luck!
    My tired heart
    Is suffering from summer fatigue.
    I mutter to myself,
    “This wasn’t supposed to happen.”

    (Team N Version)
    “I had intended to keep Koike as a backup.
    Like a safety net for love, you could say; at the very, very end, if nothing else worked out, I figured Koike might just have to do.”

    Koike…
    Even though I’d forgotten about him,
    He suddenly looks appealing.
    When love makes you hungry,
    He’s like a snack
    You just want to pick at.

    This is crazy!
    My heart was stirred
    By an old boyfriend.
    To think that the “fish that got away”
    Looks so big…
    This is crazy!
    Lately, I’ve been
    Feeling so weak.
    Somehow, I’m lonely,
    And I’m even reaching out to old memories.

    (Team N Version)
    “Koike, hold on a minute! Why should I be jealous of you?
    Koike, I didn’t hear you got a girlfriend, you know?
    Koike, don’t be strolling around here with a girl!
    Yes, yes, that’s right, I’m alone.
    At this hour, by myself, buying and eating a Garigari-kun!
    Koike, say something! Can’t you even say one or two kind words?
    Seriously, aren’t you an idiot?”

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