Azami Izumida/Caressed by the Spring Breeze

Cleaning Professional

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

Izumi	(The sound of sweeping I’m hearing has to be from the head priest. I should greet him…)
Azami	Director?
Izumi	Azami-kun? Why are you cleaning the temple precincts?
Azami	The head priest complained about being wide and giving too much work, so I thought of helping at least sweeping it.
	Since I was free, I wanted to return the favor for taking care of us.
Izumi	Oh, I see. Then, I will give you a hand.
Azami	Are you sure?
Izumi	Yes, I am! I’m going to take this broom here.
Azami	Thanks. Then, I leave you that part over there, Director.
Izumi	Mhm. Understood.
	Anyway, these precincts are pretty wide. How much have you swept, Azami-kun?
Azami	I’d say I’m around halfway through.
Izumi	You’ve swept half of it?! Wasn’t it too much work for you alone?
Azami	It’s not that extraordinary. I’ve done that much at home.
Izumi	Ah, that’s right. Your house has an ample garden.
	So you’re good at sweeping because of it?
Azami	Yeah, I guess. I always wanted to finish it quickly, so I figured out efficient methods while sweeping.
Izumi	Heh, and what are those?
Azami	Don’t gather the trash only in one place, do it in small bunches and then throw it. It’s faster, and your chances to fail will decrease.
Izumi	That makes sense… I can see how the side Azami-kun cleaned is now pretty clean.
Azami	Yeah. I researched others more, but that’s the main one.
Izumi	Thank you! I’ll try out the method you just explained to me.
Izumi	I think we’ll finish after gathering these fallen leaves.
Azami	We did it faster than I thought it’d take. Thanks, Director.
Izumi	I did nothing. It was all thanks to the method you explained to me.
Head Priest	Look at you, how fast. Are you already over? You’re surprisingly skilled at it.
Azami	Yeah, it was because Director helped me.
Izumi	Most of it was Azami-kun’s work. He had already finished more than half of it when I came.
Head Priest	No, but you seriously made it pretty clean. Thank you for sweeping every corner.
Azami	It wasn’t much what we did.
Izumi	You’ve been taking care of us, so we will clean it again if you ask us to. I’m going to help next time as well.
Head Priest	…Are you sure I can? In that case, I would like to take your word and ask you one more favor if it’s not much trouble…
Azami	?
Izumi	What will it be?

Izumi	(So the favor was cleaning the temple garden in another part of the precincts. I wouldn’t have guessed it…)
Azami	Two areas do make you tired.
Head Priest	Oh my, you’ve saved me. These are to show my gratitude: a bit of tea with dangos. Be welcome to eat them.
Izumi	Thank you.
Head Priest	By the way, your name is Azami-kun, isn’t it? Your cleaning abilities are truly remarkable.
Azami	Well, that’s because I’ve swept the garden since I was a kid.
Head Priest	If you don’t mind, would you… consider inheriting this temple?
Azami	What?!
Izumi	(Azami-kun as the next head priest of the temple?!)
CHOICE 1: That might work... [+] Izumi That might work. Azami No, it won’t! Izumi I-It was just a joke. Ahm, but still… Azami-kun is still a student. Those sudden words might trouble him… Head Priest I can understand that. And yet, I don’t think there’s any harm in choosing a career path early on.
CHOICE 2: That might be... [+] Izumi That might not be possible. Azami-kun is a precious member of our theater troupe. Azami It’s kinda embarrassing hearing you say it dead serious. Izumi But, it’s the truth. In any case, suddenly luring him away might trouble us as well… Head Priest I’m not luring him away from you. I’m still in active functions here, so he can keep being at your troupe.
Head Priest	Then, how does it sound; would you positively consider it?
Izumi	(The head priest is unexpectedly pushy…)
Azami	Ah… I’m sorry, but I’m in my family business. So it’s more like I can’t inherit this in the first place.
Head Priest	…So that’s the reason.
	As unfortunate as it is, there’s nothing we can do about it if you are in your family business.
	Well then, I have some work to do. Please feel free to stay longer.
Izumi	…It surprised me when he suddenly mentioned wanting you to inherit the temple.
Azami	In the first place, I’m part of a Yakuza family. I can’t inherit a temple.
	Besides, was he going to scout me only for being skilled at cleaning?
Izumi	The head priest was quite pleased with you, Azami-kun.
Azami	Even so, I ain’t interested in being the head priest.
	…I want to concentrate on the troupe and makeup now.
Izumi	Azami-kun…
Azami	…Plus, I don’t wanna shave my head.
Izumi	(Yep, that’s an Azami-like reason…)

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