Azuma Yukishiro/Elegant Ankh

Apply White Henna

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2Part 3

Izumi	Thank you very much for today!
	Just call me if you need anything else, alright?
Female staff	Thank you, same here.
	You really saved us by helping out, Tachibana-san.
	Oh right, do you have this flyer?
	I recall you liked things like this.
Izumi	This is… “Indian Festival Opening”!?
	I had no idea there was an event like this nearby!
	Thanks so much for letting me know!
	I’m so happy…! I’m gonna go for sure!
Female staff	Ahaha. I’m glad you like it.
Izumi	So many different curry stalls are set up.
	I’d love to eat this one, and I can’t forget about this one either…
Azuma	Director, it’s dangerous if you don’t look ahead while you walk.
Izumi	Ah, Azuma-san!
	Ahaha, sorry about that.
	I was absorbed in this flyer I got earlier…
Azuma	Oh? What kind of flyer is it?
Izumi	It’s for an Indian Festival being held close by.
	It mentions all sorts of food and exhibit booths.
Azuma	I see. Indian food, hm…
	Fufu, that definitely sounds like something you would be crazy over.
	Say, if you don’t mind, may I have a quick peek at that flyer?
Izumi	Of course, here you go!
Azuma	Thank you.
	I wonder if they’ll have that…
Izumi	Are you aiming for something at the Indian Festival too, Azuma-san?
Azuma	Rather than aiming, there’s something memorable from when I went there in the past. …There is it. This is it.
Izumi	…Mehndi? I’ve never heard of that before.
	What is it?
Azuma	It's kind of like body art that has been handed down from generation to generation in India, West Asia, and the Middle East.
	I had it done in India once, and I remember it was very delicate and beautiful.
Izumi	I see!
	I’m a bit interested now…!
Azuma	In that case, why don’t you try it out at the festival too, Director?
	I recommend it since it doesn’t hurt, and it’ll fade naturally in about a month.
Izumi	Ooh, really!
	…Hey, Azuma-san.
	If you’re free, why don’t we go to the Indian Festival together?
	I’m interested in the mehndi. Plus it’s a festival, so I thought it’d be kind of lonely going by myself…
Azuma	Fufu, I’m happy to be invited by you, Director.
	Of course I’ll go.
	Come to think of it, our next training camp is at a facility with an Indian motif, so this might be perfect.
Izumi	Ah, that’s right!
	Let’s have a look around as a preview then!
Azuma	I can’t wait.

Izumi	It’s really crowded here!
Azuma	It is. It looks like the guests are men and women of all ages too.
Tsuzuru	Oh.
	Isn’t that Director and Azuma-san?
Izumi	Hm? Tsuzuru-kun!?
Taichi	We’re here too~!
Juza	Hey.
Tenma	Director and Azuma-san came too, huh?
Azuma	The four Yosei students are here together?
	Are your classes done for today?
Tsuzuru	Yeah. Our classes were cancelled all of a sudden, so all of us just happened to get to go home at the same time.
Taichi	I invited all the guys to head home together. But Juza-kun said he was going to an Indian Festival, so we followed him here!
Izumi	Juza-kun did?
Juza	…I wanted to drink lassi.
Izumi	Ahaha, I see.
Azuma	Authentic lassi is often not sweet. So be careful when choosing on the menu, Juza.
Juza	Oh, really?
	Thanks for the advice.
Tenma	So you two are… err, I don’t need to ask about Director.
	Did you make Azuma-san come along with you?
Izumi	…It’s just like you guessed, Tenma-kun.
Azuma	That’s not true.
	I saw the flyer and wanted to drop by as well.
	By the way, are all of you hungry?
Taichi	My tummy’s rumbling!
Tenma	I was hungry anyways, so I figured I'd have some curry if I came here.
Azuma	Seeing as we happened to run into each other like this…
	I’ll treat all of you to curry since you worked so hard in your classes today. And to lassi too, of course.
Tsuzuru	Are you sure about that?
Azuma	Of course.
	I want us to have a fun and lively time.
Juza	Thanks.
Izumi	Azuma-san, paying for all four university students…
	Should I help too?
Azuma	It’s fine. In fact, you’re always working hard, so I’ll cover your share too.
Izumi	Ehh, even me!?
	No, no. I’ll pay for myself!
Azuma	Don’t fret, don’t fret.
	Well, everyone. Let’s head to the curry booths.
	If you can’t decide, then it’s alright to get two plates, got it?
Taichi	Woohoo~. You’re so generous, Azuma-san!
Tenma	The food’s over there.
	Wanna go?
Azuma	See? Come quick now, Director.
Izumi	Okay… thank you very much, Azuma-san.
Azuma	Fufu, don’t mention it.
Troupe members	Itadakimasu!
Tsuzuru	Mm, this tastes amazing…!
	The flavour seems really authentic.
Taichi	Yeah!
	I mean, I say that, but I don’t know what the real thing tastes like!
Tenma	The lassi tastes great too.
	Right, Juza-san?
Juza	…Yeah. It’s sweet ‘n tasty.
Azuma	Fufu, I’m glad everyone seems be enjoying it.
	It’s pretty cute seeing them scarfing it down.
Izumi	Ahaha, that’s true.
	It really does taste amazing though!
	Seriously, I wonder what kind of spices they used in this curry.
	Maybe they’re rare, or maybe it’s an unusual combination…?
Azuma	…You’re the same way, Director.
	You’re totally lost in your own world. It’s cute.

Troupe members	Thanks for the food!
Taichi	Hah, that was great!
	But I feel like I still have room for more!
Juza	There’s still stuff I wanna eat too.
Tenma	Oh, dessert?
	Alright, shall we have what Juza-san wants to eat next?
Azuma	Go for it. There are lots of Indian sweets that you don’t see often in Japan, so I think you can enjoy many different things.
Tsuzuru	What are you two gonna do after this?
Izumi	Actually, there’s a booth we want to check out…
Tsuzuru	In that case, isn’t it better to split up now?
	We’re gonna eat the sweets Juza requests and then head home.
Izumi	Right, that works.
Tenma	Seriously, thanks, Azuma-san.
	I ate my fill.
Juza	Thanks for the food.
Azuma	You’re very welcome.
Taichi	See ya, Azuma-san, Director-sensei~!
Azuma	Alright, shall we head to the mehndi shop?
Izumi	Lead the way!
Staff	Welcome.
	Which part shall I work on today?
Azuma	I suppose I’ll choose the back of my hand.
Izumi	Okay, same here.
Staff	Please select a design.
	The basic motifs are over here…
Izumi	Wow, so there’s so many kinds!
Azuma	Which design will ask for, Director?
Izumi	Let me see… I’ll go with this flower!
Azuma	Fufu, I thought you would say that.
	…I’ll choose this one.
Staff	Understood.
	I will get started then.
Izumi	Huh?
	They’re using white ink on me.
Staff	This is called white henna and it’s less irritating to the skin that the regular kind. Many people use it for weddings too.
Azuma	Ahh… that reminds me, I heard there are areas where brides always apply mehndi on the eve of their wedding.
CHOICE 1: It’s lovely [+] Izumi Oh, it’s lovely having that sort of custom. Azuma Mehndi is believed to have the power to protect you against evil and bring good luck. Izumi I see. That sounds perfect for a wedding! Azuma It’s interesting that wedding customs vary so much from country or region. Izumi So true! Just looking at the clothing, you can choose either western style or Japanese style in Japan. Azuma … Izumi W-what is it? You’re staring all of a sudden… Azuma I was just imagining which one would look better on you if you became my bride. Izumi You’re saying stuff like that again! Geez…!
CHOICE 2: It’s beautiful [+] Izumi It’s beautiful. It almost looks like the lace of a wedding dress when they draw with white ink. Azuma Actually, white henna fades in 2 to 3 days since the ingredients are different from the brown type. Izumi Eh, really? That’s so short…! Aw, that’s too bad. Azuma That’s how it is. So… Won’t you stay with me until it fades? I’ll watch over you morning, noon, and night. Izumi There’s no way that’s happening! Or rather, you’re teasing me, right? Azuma Fufu, I wonder?
Staff	You should do mehndi at your real wedding if you try it here and take a liking to it!
Izumi	(Real wedding…?
	Wait, are they misunderstanding something here!?)
Azuma	Sounds great. I’m sure Izumi would look wonderful with white henna that matches her wedding dress on.
Izumi	!?
Staff	Absolutely. Please consider it!
Izumi	H-hold on, Azuma-san!
	Can you not say things that’ll cause a misunderstanding…!
Azuma	Fufu. Sorry, sorry.
	Your reactions are so adorable, it just slipped out.

Anna