Chikage Utsuki/Thoughts Pouring From the Choushi

Reason For Leaving the Office On Time

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

Chikage	I'm home.
Izumi	Chikage-san, welcome home.
Citron	Chikage, look at this!
Chikage	This is... a picture of a Hina doll?
Itaru	Yeah. The manager is lending them to other theater groups right now, but it seems like he left reference photos behind.
Citron	I told him that I wanted to see them! Hina dolls are so cute♪
Itaru	Are you interested in it, too? This Hina doll.
Chikage	There's no way I would be interested in this tasteless doll.
Izumi	It's not tasteless! It's such a pretty Japanese doll.
Chikage	Rather, I'm surprised that something like this was here.
Izumi	It seems like it was previously used as a small prop for a play.
Chikage	... This weird thing shouldn't have anything to do with an all-men place.
Itaru	I mean, this place is full of people who love seasonal events, so it's a little late to think that.
Chikage	I guess that's true.
Citron	This one is holding a watering can. They're a garden caretaker like Tsumugi, too!
Chikage	I think that's a hisage. It's a type of chōshi.
Citron	Oh, this one is holding a ladle.
Chikage	That's a chōshi with a long handle. You're supposed to use that to serve people alcohol.
Itaru	To think the culture of pouring alcohol for other people existed since this kimono era. It's abuse of authority.
Izumi	But it might not be compulsory!
Itaru	Actually, Senpai, you're pretty well-informed. ... Did you say before that you have a female sibling?
Chikage	I did... I do have one.
Itaru	Huuh?
Izumi	Huuh!?
Chikage	I share a younger sister with you, Chigasaki.
Itaru	... Ahh...
Izumi	?
	... Whaa!? You were talking about that!?
	(I just remembered that both Itaru-san and Chikage-san have told their colleagues from work that I'm their younger sister...!)
Chikage	Haha, kidding. Well, I just have the general knowledge, or more like, the amount of information a regular person would have on Hina dolls.
Itaru	Are you for real. I have an older sister, and I feel like we decorated with Hina dolls, but I didn't know that much.
Citron	Chikage is belligerent~.
Chikage	I'm guessing you mean intelligent.
Citron	Yeah, that one!
Izumi	... Ah, right. I'm sorry to change the conversation, but about tomorrow's practice.
	Because of a different appointment I have, I'd like to start practice a little earlier than usual, but is that okay with everyone else?
Citron	I'm okay with it!
Itaru	My workload is pretty calm right now, so I'm pretty sure I'll be able to leave on time.
Chikage	Yeah, me too.
Izumi	Thank you so much! But, don't push yourselves, okay.

Chikage	(Work ended on schedule. If I go home now, I should make it in time for practice.)
	(... Hm? The person approaching me is... the head of Chigasaki's section?)
Togawa	Hello, Utsuki-kun. Good work. Are you heading home now?
Chikage	(This is definitely... going to turn into something annoying. I'll evade him by saying whatever.)
	Yes, I am. I was planning on heading home early today, so I cleaned up a bit more work than usual yesterday.
Togawa	I see, that's perfect. Want to have a drink with me?
Chikage	Haha, I would love to, but I have a prior engagement today.
Togawa	Isn't it fine? I'd also like to hear about your, um... complicated relationship with our Chigasaki-kun.
Chikage	(If I remember correctly, this person thinks the Director is my fiancée and Chigasaki's ex-girlfriend.)
	(*sigh* Everyone here loves gossip...)
Togawa	I noticed during a previous company-wide drinking party, but the sake tastes better when you pour it, Utsuki-kun.
Chikage	(This is starting to seem like the story of the three court ladies from yesterday. Jeez...)
	I'm sorry, but my family is waiting for me.
Togawa	F-Family...?
	I-I see... So that's how it was. I did something rude.
Chikage	No, I'm sorry that our schedules couldn't match up. I would love to join you on a different day.
	Well then, I'll be excusing myself.
	I'm home.
Izumi	Ah, Chikage-san, welcome home. Tonight's dinner is minced-meat curry!
Chikage	I'm looking forward to that.
	Ah, you're already home, Chigasaki.
Itaru	I just got home a little while ago.
	By the way, Senpai... Did you say something weird to my boss yesterday?
Chikage	Something weird?
Itaru	Truth is——.
	*flashback*
Togawa	Chigasaki-kun.
Itaru	Boss? Is there something wrong?
Togawa	Yesterday, I talked to Utsuki-kun, but——.
Itaru	(With Senpai? I have a bad feeling about this.)
Togawa	He got married, huh.
Itaru	(!? Somehow things just got even more complicated...)
Togawa	Well, if it's him, I'm sure he'll make her very happy. Chigasaki-kun, I hope you find a nice person and can be happy with them, too.
Izumi	Wait, whaaat!?
Chikage	Oh, that. ... Well, you know.
Izumi	Wait, Chikage-san, just what did you say!?
Chikage	Hahaha.
Izumi	Don't "Hahaha" me!
Itaru	*sigh*... I just want our relationship chart to reset itself.

Kou