Homare Arisugawa/Last Planet

Comforting Tasseography

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

Homare	Hmmm… Ah- no, that won’t do…
	Then, what should I do…
Izumi	(It seems like Homare-san’s thinking hard about something…)
	(Maybe he’s stuck on a poem?)
	Homare-san, do you want tea? I’ve just made some.
Homare	You did, Director-kun?
Izumi	Is that weird?
Homare	It’s not weird, but isn’t it usually myself or Guy who makes tea for you?
	Director-kun taking the initiative… I suppose it is weird after all. Did you accidentally eat something strange?
Izumi	That’s rude. Hisoka-san’s the one who does that kind of stuff.
Hisoka	But that’s also rude to me, I think…
Izumi	Wah-! Hi-Hisoka-san?
Homare	As always, where did you appear from!?
Misumi	We were having an afternoon nap with the cats on the roof~
Izumi	Misumi-kun too…
Homare	Honestly… you both are far too ghostly. It’s bad for my heart.
Izumi	Actually, would you like to join us? I brewed some black tea.
Misumi	Drinks, drinks~! My throat is kinda dry~!
Hisoka	Black tea and marshmallows is a good combo…
Izumi	Well then, let’s go inside.
Homare	Indeed, let’s.
Izumi	Okay, I’ve got marshmallows and cookies too.
Misumi	Wa~h, it looks delicious!
Homare	Oho, this is a good fragrance. Is this… earl grey tea from “Tedou Marianne”?
Izumi	Correct! As expected from you.
Misumi	Getting the name just from the smell is amazing, Arisu!
Hisoka	Tea nerd…
Homare	Fufu. I’ll include Hisoka-kun’s comment as praise, too.
	“Tedou Marianne” is a well known store among black tea lovers.
Izumi	I got it from someone at a job the other day, and I’ve been obsessed with drinking it out of this cup.
Homare	Oho, a teacup with a nice butterfly pattern.
Misumi	Cute~!
Izumi	Right?
	It was love at first sight, and I bought it a while ago, but I can rarely find the time to use it.
Homare	I see.
	Drinking out of your favourite teacup is very enjoyable. I understand your feelings well.
Izumi	Haha, right? Ah, how about I brew some more-
Cat	Meow-!
Izumi	Wah-!?
	*shattering sound*
Cat	Meoow!
	*cat leaves*
Izumi	Ah…! The cup...

Hisoka	Ah-…
Homare	That is… quite a tremendous crack.
	Are you injured?
Izumi	N-no… but, the cup…
Misumi	That cat was one of the ones we were sleeping with. It might’ve come in because it wanted to play with us…
	I’m sorry~
Hisoka	Sorry…
Izumi	There’s no need to apologize.
	I was careless, and made a loud sound, so the cat must have been shocked too.
Misumi	But your important cup broke…
Izumi	D-don’t mind that, let’s just clean it up right away…
Homare	…Hm.
Izumi	Hah… done…
Homare	How about some tea?
Izumi	Thank you very much.
	Huh…?
Homare	Ah, I borrowed your tea leaves.
Izumi	I don’t mind that, but the leaves in the cup…
Homare	The leaves are coarse and just right. …For tea-based fortune-telling.
Izumi	Tea-based fortune-telling?
Homare	You look at the remaining leaves in the cup, and it tells you your future.
Izumi	Eh…
Homare	Now, drink up. Go slowly and think of what you want to be told.
Izumi	Y-yes.
	(Delicious… this tea is so good.)
	…Thank you for the drink.
Homare	Now, what fortune did you ask for?
Izumi	Ah…
	The tea was delicious, so I just focused on the taste instead of fortune-telling.
Homare	I put my heart into brewing it, so that’s to be expected.
Izumi	Hehe, of course.
Homare	So then, let’s say it’s a rough fortune of your future, and see what it says.
	Lay the cup upside down on the saucer, and turn it over once it’s dry.
Izumi	(What kind of shape will appear… I’m getting excited…)
	(I think this should be enough…)
	(Turn it over, and…)
	…Hm?
	(This is… what can I say about the leaves’ shape…)
Homare	What does mine look like?
Izumi	It’s…
	Ah, here! I think I see a face? Look, here’s the mouth, the nose, the eyes-
Homare	It’s a smile.
Izumi	And the part up here looks like a flower.
Homare	I see, I see.
	Then soon, a poem to make everyone smile will suddenly pop up like a flower.
Izumi	So you asked whether you’d come up with a good poem or not, huh?
Homare	Exactly.
Izumi	(Thinking back, he did seem like he was stuck before.)
	I’m glad it was a good outcome!
Homare	Thank you. Now, it’s your turn.
	Hmm…
	Ah. I see a butterfly taking flight.
Izumi	A butterfly?
Homare	Indeed. Here’s the wings…
Izumi	Ah, now that you mention it, it is!
Homare	A butterfly has various meanings. Depending on the area, it can be a good or bad omen.
	The interpretation also differs depending on the person, but… in my case… I view it as good fortune.
Izumi	Eh…
Homare	A fluttering dance from flower to flower, bringing luck as sweet as honey.
	This came for Director-kun, so from now on, surely only good things will happen.
	So, cheer up.
Izumi	Homare-san…
	(Is he trying to comfort me about my broken cup…?)
	Hehe, thank-
Homare	Ah! I’ve got it!
	The butterfly’s dance is elegant, my own heart is brilliant, by my feet a giant ant is…
	No, maybe like this…
	The excellent butterflies’ flower garden dance is elegant, a thumping heart is a brilliant diamond…
	Director-kun, thank you! This is all thanks to you!
Izumi	Eh? Ah, uh, you’re welcome.
Homare	I must leave to write this poem down before I forget! Thank you, truly!
	*Homare leaves*
Izumi	…Fufu, thanks to you as well.

Lesli