Banri Settsu/MANKAI Shot

Off Shot: BANRI

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2Part 3

Itaru	—HELL YEAH!
Banri	Argh, fuck me…
Itaru	Looks like that three wins for me~ You've been really slacking, haven't you, Banri? Feels like your skills aren't up to snuff at all these days.
Banri	Shut uuuup. It's only 'cuz you've been practicin' a hella lot, Itaru-san.
Itaru	It's all I've been doing the whole break. I never bothered to go outside, with how hot it's been in the afternoons until recently…
Banri	Sure……
Itaru	Hey. I know that look of pity. Stop that.
Banri	Whatever you saaaay. So like, you guys in Spring Troupe didn't do any activities together or somethin'?
Itaru	I'd like to ask you the same: Did Autumn Troupe go out together, too?
Banri	Don't answer a question with a question… Though I guess we don't do that sorta stuff. But seems more possible with you guys, right?
Itaru	You're not wrong. But they'd have to be places that I could join in for.
	Remember that new, huge outdoor theme park that became a topic during the summer? The one that's pretty far from here?
	And that large obstacle course area that they just opened somewhere close to the area—
	Those were the sort of places they were talking about for our destinations, you know?
	Can you imagine? Hanging around in outdoor sites like those? In this heat? I'd melt. May as well die.
Banri	You basically can't function without the cold, right.
Itaru	Basically.
	Speaking of going outside... You should start thinking about what to do for your turn of the project, Banri.
Banri	What project?
Itaru	The one where we make the birthday bromide sets— That candid shot project.
	The celebrant has to decide on a place they wanna go, and the rest of the guys in the same troupe have to celebrate his day according to whatever his request will be.
	Then whoever's in charge of the camera has to take candid shots in the middle of the whole thing.
Banri	Ah, shit. Right. That’s happening.
Itaru	You’re aware I'm the one who's taking the shots, right? I gotta know if I need to take a day off or not, depending on the place you pick.
Banri	You'd go as far as takin' a day off work?
Itaru	Since I’m a member of this troupe… Well, I can manage to make something out of that reason.
Banri	H~mmm…
	(But yeah. My birthday request, huh. Where DO I wanna go…)
Banri	(Right, my assignments are all done. So next is…)
???	—— (chuckle)
Banri	(Hm? Gettin' kinda rowdy by the entrance hall over there… Guessin' by the voices, it's Taichi and—?)
Taichi	We're hoooome——
	EH?! AH, BAN-CHAN!?! WHY HERE—!?
Juza	…!!
Banri	Why? Why not?
Omi	We heard you had classes today. I assume it ended early if you’re here already?
Banri	Yeah, the lecturer for our practical class this afternoon had some stuff to deal with, so the sesh' got cancelled instead.
Taichi	T-That soooo…
Banri	……
	Now, mind spilling the beans 'bout what the whole troupe's doin' without me?
Juza	!!!
Taichi	OH! Well, y'know…!! We just kinda bump into each other on the way home? Me and Juza-san were, uh, heading back from uni and then met Aa-chan!
	Then like, along the way, we came across Sakyo-nii and Omi-kun who were also on their way home from work too, sooooo, y'knoooow~!!
	R-Right!? Aren't I right, Juza-san!?
Juza	Y-Yeah…
Taichi	And then after that we started talking about uh, wanting to do some hands-on physical stuff to get ourselves active again, like going to a baseball or sports centre… That sort of topic!!
Azami	You do know you're making yourself a lot more suspicious with the way you're acting, right? …And it's just as obvious in your expressions, Juza-san.
Juza and Taichi	………
Banri	Well, I'll just leave y'all to whatevs.
Sakyo	In any case. Settsu, it's your turn for the birthday project. We're selling your bromides as part of the birthday goods, remember?
	Have you thought about where you want your birthday photoshoot to be?
Banri	Yeah yeah, I know I gotta decide on it soon.
Sakyo	We've got people who need to take a workday off depending on the situation, after all.
Banri	Itaru-san was tellin' me the exact same thing.
	………
Taichi	Ban-chan?
Banri	Just now, you said y'all wanted to do some on-hands stuff, right?
Banri	Our previous performance didn't involve a whole lotta action, didn't it? Bet everyone's got a bunch of built-up frustration by now.
Juza	… Well. When you say it like that—
Taichi	I suppose so…?
Banri	Then, I guess we gotta head to that place. For my birthday project.

Taichi	Oooohh!! The "SARUTOBI Athletics" obstacle course!! This place feels super impressive already!
Omi	Looks like there are plenty of areas where you have to move accordingly to get through the stage, huh?
Juza	Yeah.
Itaru	Uhhhhm…… May I remind you that I'm just here to act as cameraman?
Banri	Yeah, and?
Itaru	So why am I included in the people who have to wear their training outfit, too?
Azami	Well. We're here to do the obstacle course, right? It'll be easier to move around like this.
Itaru	Er, yeah, no, sure. But I'm asking why do I have to come here on the same instructions…?
Juza	But… You'll be taking the photos, Itaru-san. Means you'll join the course with us, right?
Itaru	Again. Why did you guys decide on that?
Sakyo	You should at least move your body every once in a while.
Itaru	I think this difficultly level is more than just moving your body, you know?
Omi	Ahaha… Sorry about all this. It's okay, you're free to move only as much as you're able to, Itaru-san.
Itaru	Ghh— Somehow Omi's kindness hurts more than it comforts!!
Banri	Look, s’all good, right? 'Sides, ya hafta follow the celebrant's wishes today, so just be nice to me and do as you're told, alright?
Itaru	Can't you at least level the playing field to my wishes, too?
Azami	Enough draggin' 'round, let's get started already.
Sakyo	The first stage is the "Water Steps", huh?
Taichi	They've got these paddles where we can step on one foot at a time, and the whole thing's above a pool of water, yeah? Since the paddles are slanted, it's gonna be tough not to slip off of them.
Omi	And we basically just have to cross it to clear the stage, is that right?
Itaru	Why is this the first level we gotta deal with…? And why does the look on your faces say this is all a piece of cake for you all…???
Juza	'Kay. I'm goin'.
	Hmh—!
Banri	Hup—... Hey, the hell's keepin' you, bastard!? Move your ass!
Juza	Cant'cha see it's still my turn?
Banri	Hah. It's your own fault for bein' so slow.
Juza	Haa? You're the one comin' here without askin'.
Azami	Uhh. Are those two doin' alright?
Taichi	You guys!! If you're not careful, you're gonna get——
Juza	O-Oi!!
Banri	Woah!?!
	*SPLASH*
Sakyo	The hell were they even doing…
Omi	Ahaha…
Banri	……
Juza	……
Azami	Wasn't a sight I expected to see from the celebrant, I'll say that much.
Banri	Oh shut up.
Sakyo	A fine weather like today's gonna help you guys dry off in no time.
Omi	Here, use these towels.
Banri	… Thanks thanks.
Juza	Thanks.
Taichi	Alrighty! Let's get back into gear and head for the next stage!
Omi	The next stage is… "Road of Spinning Poles".
Juza	So we gotta dodge the poles that're spinnin' in the way, huh?
Taichi	Oh!! The poles spin around like the hands of a clock, don't they? I've seen the same stuff on TV before!
Azami	Interesting. Can't wait to see how well we can handle the real thing then.
	*WOOSH*
Taichi	GYAAAH!!
	*JUMPS*
Azami	And next is… W-Woah!!
	*WOOSH*
Azami	Th-This thing's tougher than it looks.
	*WOOSH*
	*THUD*
Juza	Kuh—!
Sakyo	Guess it’s my turn. The pole's going at a counter-clockwise rotation, so I just need to time it carefully when it comes from the left-hand side and—
	*WOOSH*
	*THUD*
Sakyo	——!!
Juza	…! Sakyo-san's glasses—
Taichi	The pole smack sent his glasses flying!?!
Sakyo	Tch, now I can't see shit—
	*WOOSH*
	*THUD*
	—Ugh!!
Taichi	Awh man! And Sakyo-nii was sooo close too!!
Azami	Pffha, that was one hell of a disgraceful fall.
Banri	Okay, I think I've got the strats now.
	… Hup.
	*STEP STEP*
Azami	Damn. He's got a rhythm goin' and everythin'. He’s dodgin' those poles like they're nothin'.
Banri	Alright! Cleared!
Azami	As expected of Banri-san. That was an easy win for him.
Juza	Tch… It's annoyin', but ya really gotta be nimble for these sorta stuff.
Banri	Well, it's thanks to y'all losin' so much that I memorized the timing by the end.
	Actually, where's Omi?
Sakyo	Looks like he's about to try it out.
	*WOOSH*
	*THUD*
Omi	Woops.
	Hm? This pole's actually quite soft; that didn’t even hurt me at all.
Azami	…He's progressing while getting hit by them? How the hell is he not getting budged off-course.
Sakyo	Is that still within the rules?
Banri	… He's definitely way past them now.

Banri	Phew… Really worked up a sweat there.
Taichi	That was so much fun!! I know we're supposed to be celebrating Ban-chan’s day here, but I can tell everyone was enjoying it a whole lot!
Omi	Haha, but I'll bet we wouldn't have even thought to come to a place like this if not for Banri's request… Right, Sakyo-san?
Sakyo	I suppose so… It did feel like I was starting to get out of shape, so perhaps building up stamina here wasn't so bad.
Banri	Right? 'Course, I was enjoyin’ my time here, too. Guess I did pick out a pretty good spot after all.
Azami	… Though it seems like there's one person who regrets being here.
Itaru	……(wheeze).... (gasp).... (wheeeeeze)...
	Autumn Troupe's…… athletic skills…… are on a…….. whole monster-high level………
Juza	Are you okay, Itaru-san? Here's some water.
Itaru	T-Thanks…… How the hell can you look so... composed like that……..
Juza	??
Sakyo	Don't tell me you forgot about being in charge of the photos now, did you?
Itaru	Of course not; I didn't let it slip past my mind. I did my best to do the most low-effort role I could be tasked to.
Sakyo	As long as you did your job.
Taichi	Itaru-san, you've still got more photos to take here! Right, everyone?
Omi	Yeah.
Taichi	Without further ado then… Ban-chan—
Members	Happy birthday!
Taichi	Here you goooo!
Banri	Ooh, thanks. I take it this is my BD present?
Taichi	Yep! Open it, open it!
	*PAPER RUSTLING*
Banri	This is… An "experience ticket"?
Azami	Yeah. It's sorta what they call a "hands-on experience" sort of ticket. You got to choose whatever kind of activity you wanna use it in.
Banri	Ya don't say…
Omi	We were pretty lost on what we wanted to give to you, actually.
Sakyo	You're the type who can just buy what you want if you desired something, anyway. And you’re particularly picky 'bout it, at that.
Taichi	So we thought about giving you something that lets you choose what you wanted! That's how we picked this ticket.
Banri	Gotcha… So y'all were together to go shoppin' for my present a lil’ while back? Did I get that right?
Taichi	Uu… We did sorta go around as a group looking for what we could give to you, but…
Azami	After browsing 'round, we decided that we'd later settle on the gift voucher type of stuff, and went home after that.
Omi	Then, when we heard that you wanted to go for this obstacle course for today, we thought that maybe you'd be interested in the more active type of activities— much to our surprise.
Sakyo	So, in the end, we got you this ticket as a gift.
Juza	If you don't really need it, ya can always pass it along to someone else, too.
Banri	I ain't gonna do somethin' like that, duh.
	Alright then. Guess I can use this so that all of us can go somewhere together again, yeah?
Taichi	Ban-chan…!!!
Azami	Pfft.
Omi	If that's what you'd like.
Sakyo	Do what you want with it.
Juza	…… Weirdo.
Banri	If ya don't wanna tag along, then DON'T.
Juza	Haa?
Banri	The disapproval's written all over your face! Well, I'm gonna have a hella lot better time without you 'round anyway.
Juza	The hell? I said nothin’ ‘bout not goin’.
Banri	Then just fuckin' say that you do want to go???
	*SHUTTER CLICKS*
Itaru	I'd say that's the best shot I got out of today. Should we put this one in for the bromide set?
Sakyo	… I'll consider it.
Banri	Don't you even fuckin' dare!!!

Dita