Banri Settsu/Fire up, Mantou Fist!

Autumn Troupe's Core Strength Championship

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

Banri	Alright, I’m hitting play.
Sakyo	This Kung Fu movie is known for its realistic action sequences. It should be a good reference for role-building and action movements, so watch closely.
Izumi	There should be comical scenes too, so those will also be useful references.
Azami	The lead actor is famous and popular, too.
Taichi	I’ll be sure to watch closely so I can show off some cool, flashy action!
TV	“Hai! Hah! Hoah!”
Omi	Even the training scenes are impressive.
Juza	All sorts of weird training methods keep popping up….
TV	“Ha—….”
Taichi	Amazing! He’s doing the invisible chair while balancing bowls on his head, shoulders, and legs!
Omi	Are these… squats?
Azami	And there’s water in the bowls.
Taichi	That’s definitely difficult…!
Sakyo	...If we do the same training, our kung-fu forms might shape up.
Azami	Hah?
Omi	I see… If we train like that, we can probably find out who here has the best core strength.
Izumi	Autumn Troupe does lots of action scenes, so it might be good to test out all sorts of training methods.
Juza	It might be useful for future performances.
Sakyo	Alright, when we’re done watching, we’re going to train together.
Taichi	Seriously!? Just like the movie!? That sounds hard, but I’m hyped!
Banri	Why should we bother….
Sakyo	Oh… So you can’t do it?
Banri	Hah? Who the hell said that?
Sakyo	If you don’t think you can handle it, feel free to sit it out.
Banri	Tch… Fine, fine.
Izumi	(Sakyo-san really knows how to deal with Banri-kun….)
Manager	Well then! Erm… “I’d like to begin the First Who Here Has the Best Core Strength Contest”!
	Starting now~!
Azami	...It’s so hot outside. Why do we have to do it in the yard?
Sakyo	You saw how they trained in the movie. You need to sustain your balance while keeping bowls of water on your head, shoulders, and legs.
	If we do it inside, the floor’s gonna get soaked when you lose your balance.
Manager	I’ll explain the rules. It’s a one-on-one tournament where the first person who loses his balance loses the match-up.
	The first round is Furuichi-san vs Settsu-kun! Contestants, please step forward!
Banri	...Be careful—make sure you don’t hurt your back.
Sakyo	I’m not that old. No need to worry—make sure you don’t get too careless.
Banri	Of course.
Omi	Well then, contestants, please do the invisible chair.
Azami	Banri-san, I’m gonna place the bowls.
Banri	Ok~.
Juza	Sakyo-san, is this good?
Sakyo	Yeah.
Taichi	Placing the bowls is difficult too!
Izumi	I’ll be pouring water into the bowls now.
Banri	….
Sakyo	….
Taichi	Woah~! Both of them are holding their balance!
Omi	They’re well built.
Manager	Are you ready~? Then let the battle begin!

Taichi	I-I was expecting it, but holding this pose is really super tough…!
Juza	….
Tsuzuru	Woah, Autumn Troupe is doing something crazy again.
Tsumugi	I don’t think I’d last a single second….
Omi	This is… pretty tough.
Azami	Kuh—.
Kazunari	Omg! I gotta snap a thousand pics of this! Azamin, smile and pose!
Azami	Like hell I can do that…!
Izumi	Next is Omi-kun vs Banri-kun.
Banri	——.
Omi	The second round… is even tougher than the first because I’m already tired….
Citron	Mental concentration is critical for mastering kung fu! You need an unshakable heart of steel….
	That’s why I’m going to show off the goofy faces I’ve recently learned!
	Ha!!
Omi	...Pfft!
Banri	Guh…! Fucker, I’m gonna get you later…!
Taichi	I didn’t even make it past the first round, but my legs are dead…. They’re shaking….
Azami	I feel like I used some muscles that I never use….
Manager	And we’ve arrived at the championship round!!
Omi	So Banri and Juza were the ones who made it this far.
Taichi	Will this battle actually reach a resolution…?
Banri	Now’s your chance to run, you know?
Juza	Aah? No way in hell I’d lose to you.
Manager	Are you ready~!? Let the battle… begin!
Banri	….
Juza	….
Manager	Ooh! Both contestants are completely still!
Taichi	Amazing!
Izumi	Even though you guys had matches before this! Amazing!
Sakyo	Looks like they both have more core strength than we thought.
	*Evening light*
Banri	Kuh….
Juza	….
Azami	It’s been a while, but this battle doesn’t look like it’s ending….
Taichi	But man, it’s hot….
Omi	Oh, now that you mention it. Ice cream was on sale when I went shopping yesterday, so I bought some.
Manager	Ice cream! Sounds good!
Azami	...I want some soda ice.
Taichi	Yeah, hot days like these call for ice cream! Let’s eat together!
Omi	I bought a couple that weren’t too sweet, so you should join us too, Sakyo-san.
Sakyo	Ice cream… I guess I can have some once in a while.
Izumi	Banri-kun and Juza-kun, why don’t you two take a break?
Juza	...No, it’s fine.
Banri	Hyodo, you fucker, don’t put up a front. I know you want to rest.
Juza	Speak for yourself. I’m completely fine.
Banri	Well I’m obviously taking it easy…!
Taichi	You sure? We’re gonna head inside and cool off~?
Manager	Ice cream, ice cream~.
Izumi	(I wonder if they’ll be okay….)
Taichi	Phew~! The ice cream was delicious~!
Manager	A great treat for an exhausted body~!
Sakyo	You did nothing.
Azami	...Oh, right, are those two still at it?
Taichi	Ah! Now that you mention it!!
Juza	Guh….
Banri	Kuh—!
Sakyo	So they were still at it.
Omi	Did they keep this pose this entire time?
Taichi	That’s incredible…!
Azami	No, I mean, it’s amazing but… At this point I’m more exasperated than amazed.
Juza	...Come on, just give up now.
Banri	Right back at you, fucker!
Izumi	I think it’s time to stop them….

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