Azuma Yukishiro/MANKAI Party

BIRTHDAY VLOG: Azuma

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2Part 3

Azuma	This black tea smells so sweet and delicious.
Izumi	That’s right...!
Homare	This was actually a gift from a fan.
Izumi	I see.
	Recently, I started doing new things to study characters and one of them is joining a tea party.
	We often do tea parties in the dorm and in my mind, black tea is a go-to.
	But you guys sure know a lot about black tea. How did you obtain all that knowledge?
Homare	I’m a black tea lover in the first place. I brew it often back home too.
	I often receive it as a gift from acquaintances, editorial department members and fans so I naturally learned about it.
Azuma	I had plenty of chances to learn about black tea, since my clients taught me every now and then.
	I went to have some tea with an acquaintance the other day too.
	Oh, that reminds me. I received an unusual liquor that time. Maybe I should open it and have that with everyone next time.
Homare	Sounds nice. I’m excited.
Izumi	Hmm. Going out for some tea with acquaintances and receiving nice liquor...
	I’ve lived in the same dorm with you for a long time, but there’s just so many mysterious sides of you, Azuma-san.
Azuma	Are you that curious about me?
Homare	Hm, hm. I sure do.
Izumi	I am curious...!
Citron	I am!
Izumi	Huh, Citron-kun? I didn’t notice you.
Citron	Sniff, sniff. I smelled something nice and found out you three are having a tea time!
	I want to join too!
Homare	Sure, feel free.
Azuma	I will pour some tea for the Prince.
Citron	Many thanks! I will drink it right away.
Izumi	(This sight of Citron-kun having tea is so elegant. He looks so good.)
Citron	Mhm, this is..! I’ve had this before. A madam gave it to me.
Homare	It’s a tea leaf from a well-known store.
Izumi	(I s-see..! I had no idea...)
	(Citron-kun, Homare-san and Azuma-san, all of them have wide social connections, eh.)
Homare	That’s right, Azuma-san. Have you decided what to do for the upcoming birthday vlog?
Azuma	Me? Oh right, I haven’t given it a thought yet.
Izumi	There’s still plenty of time so do record something that you will be satisfied with.
Azuma	Yeah, I’ll do that.
	[Time skip to Journey]
	(The event vlog that the director mentioned earlier.... What should I do?)
	(The three said that they are curious about my personal life, right?)
Guy	Yukishiro. Is there anything that bothers your mind?
Azuma	A little. It’s nothing huge though...
Citron	Azuma is worried about the vlog, right!
Guy	Citronia.
Azuma	That’s right. I suppose it’s showing on my face.
Citron	Huhu. Everything is butt-through for me.
Guy	All-through? I did ask Citronia to help out at the store today but I believe not all day.
Azuma	I believe it should be see-through?
Citron	That’s it!
Guy	I see.
	Vlog is the thing we do for the birthday event. Do you have any choice in mind?
Azuma	I was thinking of showing a part of my personal life.
	But I wonder if such footage will be enjoyable...
Guy	Wouldn’t it be good if you try to record and think over it again?
	If you’re not satisfied with it, just record it again.
Azuma	Huhu, you’re right.
Citron	Come in!
Syu	Hey now. Am I entering the wrong place?
Azuma	Oh, Syu-san.
Guy	He’s our regular these days.
Syu	Regular, you said... Well, point taken.
Azuma	(That’s right. This kind of scene...)

Citron	Oh, Azuma. Are you going out somewhere?
Azuma	Yes. I’m going to have some tea with an acquaintance.
Citron	Huh! I know. You’re going to carry out that plan!
Azuma	That plan...?
Citron	Infiltrating...! It’s Azuma’s personal life report!
Azuma	Huhu, this is no longer a vlog, then?
Citron	You’re right. We should cut this out.
	Madams, sorry for suddenly being here. Thanks for letting me join!
Majo	You are Azuma-kun’s friend. Of course you are welcomed.
Citron	Everything alright with the camera?
	I made sure to respect everyone’s privacy.
Azuma	Huhu, I’m relieved to hear that.
Majo	Go ahead, I don’t mind.
Azuma	Thank you.
Madam A	Speaking of which, the video that you’re recording right now is called vlog, is it?
Citron	Yes!
Azuma	There will be a segment where we watch the vlog together with those who come to my birthday event.
Madam A	Oh, how wonderful.
Majo	That’s right. Azuma-kun’s birthday is coming soon.
	I’m sure many people will greet you at your birthday event.
Azuma	Yes. ....To be honest, I wasn’t very happy with the thought of growing older.
	But to be celebrated by people who I am connected to such as my fans and Majo-san.
	Not to forget those people in Mankai Company too.
	Perhaps, as I grew older, I’ve started to gradually stop seeing it in a negative light.
Majo	Maybe that’s true.
Madam A	It’s not a bad thing to grow older.
Majo	Yes. Huhu, actually I’ve more things I want to do at this age.
Madam A	Yes.
Citron	Madams, looks like you’re enjoying yourself.
	I enjoyed the tea time with everyone. Where are we heading next?
Azuma	Are you recording even when we’re on the move?
Citron	It’s to expose Azuma’s mysterious personal life! I cannot waste not a minute or a second!
Azuma	Huhu, I see.
Citron	Those madams are lovely people. They really care about you, Azuma.
Azuma	...Yes.
Citron	Azuma, why do you join their tea parties?
Azuma	Hmm, I wonder. One thing, yes, it’s because they invited me....
	I believe I get to learn so much through their stories from the people who are seniors in life.
	I hated aging but if I were going to, I might as well age beautifully like these ladies.
Citron	Huhu.
Azuma	...What is it?
Citron	Azuma who is already wonderful is going to be even more wonderful. I look forward to it.
Azuma	Huhu, thank you.
	That’s right. Can we go back to the dorm for a moment?
Citron	? Did you forget something?
Azuma	Just a quick moment.
	[Time skip to Journey]
	Here’s the next place. I suppose alcohol is like my brand.
Citron	Absolutely!
Azuma	Ah!
Syu	..!
Azuma	Syu-san...
Syu	You again, huh?
Azuma	Today you came in first, unlike the other day.
Syu	Hm? That guy behind you, what is he taking?
Citron	A vlog!
Azuma	I plan to use it for my upcoming birthday event.
Syu	Don’t record me.
Citron	No, no! Don’t cover the lens with your hand! Let’s record together! Give us some fanservice!
Syu	I said don’t record me. Fanservice too-
Azuma	Syu-san, here.
Syu	...!
	This liquor is said to be rare... Why bring this...?
Azuma	Huhu, there’s something I want to ask you.

Tasuku	Azuma-san, he’s late.
Omi	I guess it’s taking time for him to get ready.
Citron	I’m sure he wants to appear in front of the fans in his best look.
Azuma	I kept you waiting.
Izumi	Oh, speaking of the devil.
Tasuku	You look so psyched up.
Azuma	Yeah. I want everyone to see me in my prettiest look.
Citron	I expect nothing less. Gotta make sure to keep snapping your photos!
Azuma	There will be one at the end of the day, right? Photograph session.
Izumi	Yes, please keep that in mind!
Azuma	While we’re at it, how about a photo here?
Omi	Leave it to me.
Tasuku	Sure, but please don’t be late to the event.
Azuma	I know. Geez, you are such a worrywart.
	Hello everyone, thank you for coming to my birthday event.
Audience A	Azuma-san!~ Happy birthday!
Audience B	Azuma-san, happy birthday!
Audience C	You look beautiful today too...!
Azuma	Thank you, I will call our guest today.
Citron	I’m the guest! It’s Citron! Happy bday, Azuma!
Omi	It’s Fushimi Omi. Azuma-san, happy birthday. Everyone, please wish the best for Azuma-san today.
Tasuku	I’m Takato Tasuku. Uhh, Azuma-san. Happy birthday.
Citron	Hm? Tasuku, why are you squeaking today?
Tasuku	You mean acting awkward. I just think that wishing him a happy birthday feels a little odd.
Azuma	Huhu, especially when we’re in the same troupe.
	Now, without further ado, let’s start with the first segment.
	[Cuts to Vlog video]
Citron	Infiltrating...! It’s Azuma’s personal life report!
	[Cuts back to the theater]
Audience A	Personal life report...!?
Audience B	So Citron-kun is the cameraman? That’s surprising!
Tasuku	I think this part should be edited out.
Citron	What a meanie, Tasuku! That’s my chaotic title call!
Omi	Chaotic?
Azuma	Maybe you’re talking about energetic?
Citron	That’s it!
Audience A	A tea party at the hotel lounge.... How elegant.
Audience B	They look so graceful even though they were just having an idle talk. It’s giving off a tea time in a castle vibe.
Azuma	We often do afternoon tea at the dorm these days.
	Sometimes we bring back snacks, sometimes Omi prepares the sweets himself.
	I should have brought the photos from that time.
	Omi is not only good at cooking but he also can make sweets. They are so delicious.
Omi	Oh, please stop. I’m flattered but this somehow makes me embarrassed.
Audience C	Omi-kun is bashful!
Audience D	Cute~
	[Cuts to Vlog video]
Syu	Hm? That guy behind you, what is he taking?
Citron	A vlog!
	[Cuts back to the theater]
Audience A	Ehh, Syu-san?!
Audience B	Wow, I didn’t expect Otomiya Syu-san to be in this..!
Tasuku	I’m impressed how you managed to get an okay from him.
Azuma	Actually, I keep this bottle of liquor that I received.
	I have plenty and even those are too much for us. So I gave it to him even though I actually planned to share it with you guys.
Citron	In other words, it’s a bribe!
Omi	Hey, now.
	[Cuts to Vlog video]
Citron	Syu, fanservice! I want you to do this!
Syu	Geez, do I have a choice? Only exception for today.
	[Cuts back to the theater]
Audience C	Ahh! He’s winking to the camera while making a heart finger!!
Audience D	A wink and heart finger from Syu-san! Oh my gosh, he’s too cool!
Citron	Huhu, we got an SSR level fanservice!
Tasuku	That’s right. Syu-san doesn’t seem the type who does fanservice to the camera.
Omi	I expect nothing less from Azuma-san and Citron.
Azuma	Everyone, how do you find the vlog? Did you enjoy it?
Audience A	I enjoyed it so much!
Audience B	I’m so glad I got to see Azuma-san’s personal life...!
Azuma	Thank you.
	The vlog was titled ‘my personal life’ but that was just one part of it.
	I thought I was growing mature as I age...
	But I am surrounded by wonderful people who age beautifully.
	Talking to these people makes me feel open-minded with my own life. That’s how I feel.
	I cannot resist aging from here on but I hope to stay my beautiful self and walk a wonderful life.
Citron	To wrap up the event, we’ll take Azuma’s picture!
Tasuku	We have the perfect person for that job.
Omi	Yeah. I’ve got the camera ready.
Azuma	Omi, I leave this to you.
Tasuku	What pose will you do?
Azuma	Let’s see... Maybe I should do the same one with Syu-san.
	It’s frustrating that Syu-san got the spotlight even though it was my vlog. Huhu, just kidding.
Citron	That’s nice. It’s a heart throbbing pose!
Omi	All ready? Say cheese!

currytantou

Notes

• This translation is reproduced with permission. You can read the original post here