Banri Settsu/With the Dawn of NY

Dawning into Him

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2Part 3

Omi	—Dinner's ready, everyone.
Taichi	Ooh!! And it looks as delicious as always!!
Banri	Chicken-over-rice and clam chowder, huh?
Omi	I have some chili sauce and yogurt prepared too, so if it's a little lacking for you, go ahead and these to your liking.
Chikage	I'll have some of that chili sauce, then.
Izumi	We have curry sauce as an option, too!!
Masumi	I'll have that. Give me the whole batch.
Citron	Curry sounds like it would go so well with chicken-over-rice! Let me have a bite of that!
Tsuzuru	You guys would just be eating chicken curry at that point!
Guy	It's as if the MANKAI dorms have opened up their own gourmet festival indoors.
Sakuya	Even though we're in Japan, eating this makes it feel like we're in America!
Tenma	It's making me remember the time the Summer Troupe went to America together.
Misumi	The pepperoni pizza we had yesterday was just as tasty as the one we had on our trip~!
Azuma	Now I'm simply excited to see what we'll have for tomorrow's meal.
Kumon	So we had pepperoni pizza yesterday; today we're having chicken-over-rice… Oh, I know! Are we gonna have steak next!?
Kazunari	Nuh-uh, we've GOTTA have BBQ next! Like the pulled pork and brisket kind. And also cornbread!!
Hisoka	… If we're doing a barbecue, I wanna roast some marshmallows.
Juza	That sounds good. If we have choco's an' biscuits, we could have s'mores, too.
Yuki	None of those foods has anything to do with your role studies, right? Besides, you guys already eat plenty of barbecue and marshmallows on normal days.
Sakyo	It's as Rurikawa says. If we were to cook barbecue in this house full of men, just how much meat do you think we're gonna need!? We ain't got the budget.
Azami	Cheap-ass as always.
Omi	But now that you mention it, it's certainly about time to do some groceries. We're about to run out of eggs, too.
Tsumugi	No eggs? That'd be troublesome…
Itaru	I mean, if BBQ is a no-go, then the standard route is to go for pizza and cola, don't you think?
Banri	You're just sayin’ that ‘cause that’s what YOU want. Didn’t we just say we already had pizza yesterday; why're ya asking for the same thing again?
Itaru	But that was the regular American pizza. We gotta have Chicago-style pizza next. Loooots of cheese on that one.
Banri	…Tasuku-san's makin' quite the face over there.
Tasuku	… Don't mind me. I'm doing my role study.
Homare	Your words don't quite match your expression!
Itaru	Speaking of role study, though. I don't think Banri needs to do much for his part.
Banri	…? The hell do you mean by that?
Itaru	If you have no idea what I mean, then it means you haven't watched Episode 12 of "BANANA FISH", have you?
Banri	Episode 12? I'm getting there. I just finished Ep' 10 a while ago… S’there something 'bout Ep' 12 in particular?
Itaru	Keep up with your binge and you'll see soon enough. Look forward to it~
Banri	What's got everyone gathered over here?
Citron	Banri! We heard you were going to continue watching "BANANA FISH", yes?
Banri	Hang on— are you saying all of the members here paused on the same episode as me?
Muku	I just finished watching Episode 10 myself, so I thought it would be interesting to watch it with everyone, too.
Taichi	We wanted to see how everyone reacts while watching! 'Sides, Itaru-san suggested it's better to watch it with someone and sit through the same emotions together!
Homare	I believe we're not that behind with each other's pace in the episodes, so it won't be much of a problem, no?
Banri	Guess no arguments there. Alright, I'm gonna press play.
Muku	Waah… Even Episode 11 had me all nervous, too…
Taichi	Next up is the one Itaru-san was talking about, right? Episode 12.
Banri	(...Now then, what exactly did he mean when he said I didn't even need to role study for this?)
Ash	"What's this?"
Eiji	"Dried horse mackerel and boiled spinach. Some rice and miso soup— And that's natto.
Ash	"(sniff sniff) …It's rotten? It smells."
Eiji	"That's just how they are."
Ash	"How do you eat it?"
Eiji	“You add soy sauce, mustard, and green onions. Next, mix it up until it's all nice and sticky."
	"There, you got it! Then pour it over the rice… and dig in!"
Ash	"........"
Eiji	"Mm~! It's so good!! Well? Like it?"
Ash	"I'm going to throw up."
	"...This stinks, too… Uegh."
Eiji	"It's supposed to."
Ash	"Do Japanese people only eat stinky food?"
Eiji	"Ah… Healthy Japanese food is good for guys like you who only eat meat."
Ash	"Uh-huh. It's 'cuz of that I've grown 2 inches since last year but haven't gained a pound."
Eiji	"Lucky you. I think I've stopped growing."
Ash	"I'm in the middle of my growth spurt. Not like some old geezer."
Eiji	"...(grumble)"
Ash	"What's wrong, 'Onii-chan'? Even with just the 2-year difference, you'd have to go back 15 years if you wanna beat me up."
Eiji	"Don't I wish it! I'd beat you to a pulp!"
Taichi	So Ash hates natto!! Just like Ban-chan then!
Muku	So when Itaru-san said you didn't need to role study…
Citron	Banri! You were sushi'd up for Ash!?
Banri	You mean set up for? Well, set up ain't the right way to say it, but I do get how he feels.
Homare	I doubt there are a lot of foreigners who could have acquired a taste for our local delicacies.
Taichi	Oh, y'know what! We should have a traditional Japanese breakfast for tomorrow morning!!
Muku	I've gotten a bit of a craving myself now, too…
Banri	Uegh, you guys serious? Sounds more like hell to me.
Homare	Fufu. There really isn't anyone who's more like Ash than Banri-kun, is there?
Banri	Thanks for the compliment, I suppose.
	(I do see what Itaru-san was saying now…)
	(But so what if we hate the same food; I'd really rather get a better grasp of my role here…)

Banri	—We should probs wrap it up here.
Kumon	Ehhh!! But it was getting so good! Just a little mooooore!!
Banri	It's either that, or an earful from Azami, y'know that.
Taichi	Sakyo-nii even mentioned how there've been more people staying up late 'cuz they've gotten too into binging the anime, so he's made an order to forbid it now.
Citron	Alas, but I must raise my white flag… My eyelids can take no longer…
Homare	Then let's pick it up for next time. It's a shame to pause now, but this way we get to enjoy this piece of work slowly, no?
Muku	Thank you so much for the group watch, it was so fun!! Hope everyone gets a good sleep.
Kumon	Nighty niiiiight!!
	*DOOR CLOSES*
Banri	…(sighs)
	(The plot really doesn't catch a break. And even though I'm just sitting down and watchin' Ash and empathizin' with him, it's got me all exhausted.)
	(... They've gotta get the heavy parts out there to progress the story, after all. It's hella interesting, though.)
	But thanks to that, I'm all wide-awake.
	(If I don't head to bed soon, I'll be dragged into Azami's sermons too.)
	…Maybe I'll go walk it off.
Banri	(Now let's see if anyone wants anything—)
	(Crap. I nearly dropped message in the LIME GC like I always do.)
	(I bet I'm the only one awake at this hour… And Itaru-san who's grinding for an event, too, I guess.)
	(I came in just for a little detour, but it's not like I'm really lookin' or cravin' for anything in particular right now…)
	(—Oh, didn't they mention we were almost out of eggs? Pretty sure they're 'round this shelf…)
	…Geh.
	(Why the hell are the natto packs right by the eggs? Outta all the things?)
	(And I'm pretty sure those guys were sayin' they wanted to have some Japanese breakfast tomorrow…)
	(If I'm gonna sleep at this hour, the sun'll be high in the sky by the time I get up. But the thought of havin' natto prepped for me when I do makes me gag.)
	(Who the hell can stomach this sticky, stinky mess first thing in the morning? If it weren't for the others, I sure as hell wouldn't be buying it now.)
Clerk	Thank you for coming~
Banri	…It's already morning? No wonder it's gotten chilly.
	The temp’ is… 12°C? Huh. Wonder what New York's is right now…
	Hoh? So the temp’ in New Yorks pretty much the same as here. Guess dawn and dusk may have their differences, but they've got their similarities too.
	*BIRDS CHIRPING*
Resident A	Good morniiing!
Resident B	Morning~ Fufu, nice weather today, huh?
Banri	……
	(The town's looking pretty… The birds are chirping out loud… The neighbors are out and about greeting each other too…)
	… It's so peaceful. Way too peaceful.
Banri	Compared to my peaceful world and New York— Ash's world— it's like night and day.
	(It's only ever been on the stage that I get to experience worlds that are absolutely different from the one I'm living. Even now.)
	(But this time, the scenes are gonna show a lot more than what the anime did. I could say it's just 'cause of information overload that I feel this much difference in my role, but…)
	(Normally, I'd be able to picture the perspectives and setting of the stage when I read the script, but even then, that's only been my imagination's work.)
	… Goddamit.
	(The life that I live, and the life that Ash's lives. How do I even begin to fill in the gaps between our worlds?)

Banri	(I still don't feel sleepy at all, but maybe I should head to my room already. But if Hyodo's snorin' when I get there… Then I'll go for another walk.)
	… Hm?
	(Someone's at the courtyard? The flowerbeds are 'round this spot… Is it Tsumugi-san?)
Hisoka	… Banri.
Banri	Mornin' there, Guy-san, Hisoka-san. So it was you two.
Guy	Don't tell me you stayed up all night outside…?
Banri	As if I'd do something like that.
Guy	I kid.
Banri	Couldn't even tell…
Hisoka	… Early morning jog?
Banri	I ain't Tasuku-san.
	I went out for a walk and stopped by the convenience store, that's it. I was fully awake after watching the anime 'till late last night.
	But what 'bout you two? You just got back home from the bar too, right? Whatcha doin' here?
Guy	Since Tsukioka has had his hands full with rehearsals, we thought that he could use some support from us. So we took over the taking care of the flowerbeds for him.
Banri	Gotcha.
Hisoka	… Are you okay, Banri?
Banri	Why do you ask…
Hisoka	You seemed a little lost.
Banri	—...
Guy	We may be doing something now, but we'd still like to give you a hand, if we can.
Banri	Ah…
	How do I say this… I'm strugglin' with uh. Closin' the gap between me and my role, or somethin'?
Guy	I see…
Hisoka	I don't think we can help you with that.
Banri	Figures. It's all good, though, I should manage it somehow.
Hisoka	… But you have Tsumugi with you. You'll be fine.
Guy	Indeed. He'd be your one and only best answer.
Banri	——...
	… Tsumugi-san, huh. You're not wrong there.
Guy	Although, the person in question is still sound asleep as we talk about him, I believe.
Banri	For sure. Mornings are a no-no for him.
Hisoka	Mh-hm… (yawn)
Banri	(yawn) … Man, the drowsiness kicked in all of a sudden. Feels like I might pass out at any moment.
	Guess I'll head to bed. 'Night, you two.
Hisoka	… Sweet dreams..
Banri	(...Is how that happened, didn't it? It was literally just a while back, yet here I am reminiscing 'bout it already.)
	… So bright.
	(Never thought the city would look this beautiful in the dawn. …Betcha you know all about that huh, Ash?)
	*SHUTTER CLICKS*
Banri	——...
Tsumugi	… Mhm, I think I'll call this shot, "Banri-kun by the window."
Banri	Well good morning to you, too. Since when didja get up? Hadn't noticed at all.
Tsumugi	You must have something on your mind if that's the case, hm?
Banri	Actually…
Banri	I just felt like I got a little closer to Ash, s'all. After all this time.
	That and… Well, guess New York has hooked me good.
Tsumugi	That’s good to hear, then.
Banri	‘Nyway, looks like someone's finally recovering from his jet lag.
Tsumugi	Mh-hmm. Although it has me waking up much earlier than I usually do back home.
Banri	If you wanna wake yourself up even more, then how's 'bout a walk?
	There's this bagel shop 'round the area. Found it just before sleep caught up to you and your jet lag curse.
	The coffee's just as good as their bagels too, 'course. And I bet the interior suits your tastes perfectly, Tsumugi-san.
	I'm pretty sure they start workin' early in the morning. If we go now and walk a little ways away, we'll make it just in time for opening.
Tsumugi	Fufu, you really have settled yourself with the city already, huh?
	But you know, I've been wanting to have a taste of some good, old-fashioned Japanese breakfast again. Something that has like…
	Natto, perhaps?
Banri	Nooooo thank you. Why should I have that while I'm all the way here in New York too?
Tsumugi	Mm, you have a point. Some good bagels and coffee, then. I can't wait to try them.
Banri	Alright, let's head out then.
	— Off to the city of New York.

Dita