Banri Settsu/Midsummer Headliner

My favorite song ♪

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2Part 3

Izumi	ーーA ticket to a rock festival?
Manager	Yes. I'd really like you to take it......Some business came up, so I can't go.
Izumi	But I'm not that knowledgeable about rock, so wouldn't it be better for someone who liked that sort of thing more to have it......
Manager	No no, you're always looking after us.
	This is the pamphlet for the festival. Isn't there a band you like there?
Izumi	Hmm......Ah! 'Spinutz' is a band I used to listen to a lot in school!
Manager	That's good......! Please take these two tickets!
Izumi	Two?
Manager	Yes, it's lonely going by yourself, so please invite someone you're friendly with and enjoy yourselves!
Izumi	(It's been a long time since I last pulled out this Spinutz Live DVD.)
	(For a time, I was watching it every night. The vocalist's voice was really cute.)
Banri	Ahh. I'm hungry......
Izumi	Ah, welcome back, Banri-kun. I'll get lunch ready! Today is Omi-kun's special cold pasta.
Banri	Seriously? That gets me pumped up.
	ーーSay, aren't you watching a Spinutz Live?
Izumi	Eh......you know Spinutz?!
Banri	They're a girl band that was trending just a little while back in the indie scene. It seems they've been doing more solo work these past few years, but they're releasing a new song this autumn.
Izumi	Amazing, Banri-kun......! You're so knowledgeable!
Banri	It was published in a music magazine.
Izumi	(The festival information would be published in a music magazine too, wouldn't it?)
Banri	......Hm? What's up, Director?
Izumi	Um, the truth is ーー.
Banri	Huh. The manager did a good job scoring GuilSummer tickets.
Izumi	Eh, could it be that you can't get them easily?
Banri	Well, out of all the summer festivals, they're pretty rare? It's the biggest festival in Japan, after all.
Izumi	Guilty Summer Festival......so the tickets were that amazing.
	I took them easily, just because Spinutz was appearing.
Banri	That's fine, isn't it? Luck's like that. And you like Spinutz so much you own a DVD of them.
	This year I couldn't match dates with the pal I always go with, so it looks like there won't be any festivals this summer for me.
Izumi	Eh! Did you apply for these tickets too?
Banri	No, the rate's really low for GuilSummer, and it's a pain if you miss out, so I didn't.
	Though in terms of the line-up, I'd want to go.
Izumi	Then if you're okay with it, why don't we go together? I do have two tickets.
Banri	Huh? Are you saying that for real?
Izumi	Yeah, it's next weekend, so if your schedule's still open ーー.
Banri	Of course I'll go ♪ Rather, I'd clear my schedule for it.
Izumi	That's good. Then let's go together.
	Ah, but it'll be my first time at a rock festival, so I might cause you trouble here and there.
Banri	Trouble?
Izumi	Are there rules and things? I don't really know about that.
Banri	That's easy~, easy~! Leave it to me! I'm used to festivals.
	Let's enjoy GuilSummer together, Director!
Izumi	Yeah, thanks!

Izumi	Banri-kun, aren't the bags heavy? I'll carry some too.
Banri	Ah? It's fine, it's fine.
	Thanks to you, the tickets were free, so I've gotta do at least this, you know.
Izumi	Really? If they get heavy, don't hesitate to let me know.
Banri	Sure.
Izumi	Still, what will we do with such big luggage? Didn't you tell me we were only bringing the bare minimum yesterday?
Banri	Well, wait 'til you see it. Say, it's starting to get crowded. It'll be a pain if we get separated, so give me a hand?
Izumi	Eh? Sure, I don't have much luggage. I can't let you carry any more than that ーー.
Banri	Not like that; I mean let's join hands. Here, this way.
Izumi	Woah......
	That's a lot of tents.
Banri	GuilSummer's a huge festival, after all. There aren't many events of this scale in Japan.
Izumi	Huh, I've gotten really excited somehow!
Banri	Well then, let's go secure our base too, shall we.
Izumi	Our base?
Banri	Ya. Ahh......mm, ーーright, around here should do it.
	As I thought, you need a tent for shade.
Izumi	That huge bag was a tent!?
Banri	Yeah. It'll be tough on you if you're always in the sun.
Izumi	Thanks. I hadn't thought about that sort of thing at all.
Banri	Aren't you glad you invited me?
Izumi	Yeah! I'll help set up the tent too!
Banri	It's fine. This is a one-touch design.
	ーーRight, it's done. Bring out the chairs too......and. Come in this way, Director.
Izumi	You're skillful. As expected.
Banri	Flattery won't get you anywhere.
	For the time being, we've secured our location, so next is to check the timetable.
	Mmkay, the band I really want to see is ーー.
	Ah, they're the closer for the grand stage!
Izumi	The grand stage?
Banri	It's the biggest stage at GuilSummer.
	Oh, Spinutz is before the band I want to see, isn't it? We can see them one after the other. Lucky ♪
Izumi	That's right! Thanks for looking everything up.
Banri	No problem. So, what shall we do? Go to the ones before and lock in our place?
Izumi	Is it difficult to see the grand stage up close?
Banri	If we go now, we might be able to see from fairly close, but it's pretty tough?
	It's seriously hot today, and the standing shows have tons of people up front, so I think the mosh will be awful.
Izumi	The mosh......?
Banri	Yeah, the mosh is where you bump into the rest of the audience heaps when you move naturally to the music.
Izumi	I see. This is the first time I've been to an actual live so I kind of wanted to see Spinutz up close, but......
Banri	Then shall we try going to the front?
Izumi	Really? If you're okay with it, I might like to try......
Banri	I'm used to festivals, so I'll be fine. Like, I was planning on going along with you anyway.
	If the mosh gets really bad I'll protect you.
Izumi	You're reliable, Banri-kun. Thanks!
Banri	Then let's go to the front.
Izumi	(Eek.....This is bad. I underestimated how hot lives can get. I might have gotten a tad dizzy......)
	(But I was the one who said I wanted to go to the front. I'll try my best for a little longer......)
Banri	Aren't you tired, Director? There's still a while to go before Spinutz.
Izumi	I-I'm fine! I've gotten used to the mosh, too!
Banri	Don't push yourself.
	Your true aim is just before the finale. It'd be a waste if you exhausted yourself before then.
	C'mon, let's return to the tent for a bit.
Izumi	(Sigh......You understand once you're away from the stage, but it really was incredibly hot......)
	(It feels like after you get out of a sauna......)
Banri	You're sweating a lot, and your face is bright red. Put this on your forehead. This one's for behind your neck.
Izumi	You even brought cold packs. They're chilly; it feels good~.
Banri	Cool down properly and then take sips of water. Here, I've taken the caps off for you.
Izumi	Your service is impeccable......thanks.
Banri	I'd like to recover our strength before Spinutz.
Izumi	Sorry, Banri-kun. I'm the one who said I wanted to go in front.
Banri	No biggie. There's no point if you're not enjoying yourself.
Izumi	If there's a band you're interested in, you can go; don't worry about me.
Banri	I'm telling you that I want to enjoy this with you.
	I can listen to music after this too, so don't worry about it. Here, cool down, cool down.
	The sun will set in a bit, so if you're up to it, we could challenge ourselves to going up the front again after you've cooled down?
Izumi	Yeah. Really, Banri-kun, thank you.

Banri	I hadn't thought we'd be able to come this far front.
Izumi	You're right; the stage is so close. We might be in luck.
Banri	No mistake about it.
Izumi	......Thanks for before. I've cooled down, so I think I'm fine now.
Banri	I told you not to worry about it. Look, aren't Spinutz about to start soon?
Izumi	Ah! They really did come out! I can see them really well! Ah, did our eyes meet just then!?
Banri	Nice, huh.
Izumi	Yeah!
	Spinutz was really good......! It really is different to seeing them on DVD~!
Banri	Right. It got super exciting~. Say, the new song's pretty banging.
Izumi	It's a song you want to listen to again, isn't it. I've definitely got to buy the CD when it comes out.
Banri	I'm just asking to be sure, but you're fine staying up front like this?
Izumi	I'm fine. Rather, it's so fun I'm getting excited!
Banri	That's good then.
Izumi	Next is the band you like, isn't it. I wonder if they'll come up soon?
Banri	Any time now, I think?
	ーーAh, that's right. Listen carefully to the last song.
Izumi	Eh......?
Banri	ーー Oh, here they are.
Vocalist	ーーAnd so, GuilSummer's seriously fun! We're seriously getting power from you guys!
Banri	These guys are good at MCing too.
Izumi	Yeah, and their songs are good. The time passes quickly.
Vocalist	I'm sad that this next song is our last, but we'll put all our emotions into it and sing for real!
Izumi	(ーーAh, the intro's started. It's a ballad. All the previous songs were high-tempo ones.)
Banri	............
Izumi	(This song is in English. ......Somehow, it's a slightly melancholy singing style?
	(I don't understand the lyrics, but it's a song that matches Banri-kun's atmosphere.
Banri	Ahh. I hadn't thought I'd be able to hear this song live. GuilSummer is seriously the best!
Izumi	It really was extremely good!
	Ah.......Hey, Banri-kun. About the last song.
Banri	......What did you think?
Izumi	The song was a little like you, maybe. The melody and, though I didn't understand everything, the atmosphere of the lyrics.
Banri	Did you like it?
Izumi	Yeah. I liked it.
	But why were you drawn to that song, Banri-kun?
BanrI	Ahh......Well, sort of like, I empathised a bit with the lyrics?
Izumi	Empathised?
Banri	Yeah. Well, I'm happy as long as you enjoyed it.
	Still, that was a god-tier set list.
Izumi	Now that you mention it, how did you know what the set list was?
Banri	The band's bassist uploaded it to Insta last night.
Izumi	I see. Your preparation was perfect. As expected of the festival magistrate!
Banri	What's with that. Well, I don't mind if it means you enjoyed it.
Izumi	Thanks to you, I was really saved today, and I had a lot of fun too. Thank you very much!
Banri	Then shall we come again next year, the two of us?
Izumi	That sounds good. I'll look forwards to it!

Krhs