Homare Arisugawa/The Witness

Test of Courage Contest on the Location Grounds

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2Part 3

Homare	Mhm. The night sea is truly wonderful with its unique beauty.
Izumi	Ah. You’re out here, Homare-san.
Homare	Oh my.
	Are you out on an evening stroll, Director-kun?
Izumi	No, I was just calling everyone to gather outside.
	You weren’t around, so I was about to send you a LIME…
Tsuzuru	Oh, Arisugawa-san.
	You came out first, huh?
Azami	So he was over here?
Taichi	When we realized you were gone, we wondered where you went!
Homare	My apologies.
	The ocean’s voice was calling to me.
Chikage	Anyways, what are we doing at this hour?
Tasuku	Are we going to do some kind of special training?
Izumi	Well, actually—.
Kamo	Great work, all of you.
	Ah, everyone’s here already!
	Alright, shall we get started then?
Izumi	Sure, let’s start.
	Tonight, we’re going to have all of you participate in a Test of Courage contest!
Tenma	HA!?
Taichi	EHH!?
Homare	Hm. I have never attempted a Test of Courage on a deserted island before.
Tenma	H-hold on a second.
	You never told us about that!
Kamo	We just decided it today, so of course you haven’t heard about it.
Azami	Was this on a whim…
Taichi	Why are we doing a Test of Courage all of a sudden!?
Kamo	Won’t we get lots of usable shots!
Chikage	In other words, this is for more bonus footage?
Tsuzuru	Was the ingredients scramble game not enough?
Kamo	We plan to make several types of sales cards…
	So we require footage for that.
Izumi	I think the viewers will love seeing all of your different expressions. Would you be willing to help us out?
Tasuku	I don’t mind…
	But I’m not sure you’ll be able to capture any interesting footage from a Test of Courage.
Azami	Yeah, with these guys.
Izumi	(Good point… it seems all of them will be unfazed apart from Tenma-kun and Taichi-kun.)
Homare	I, for one, would love to participate!
	I might be able to experience a thrill like never before.
Chikage	I hope so.
Azami	In any case, I’m sure the staff will scare us.
Kamo	However… when night falls on this island… they apparently really do come out.
Taichi	C-c-c-come out? What will!?
Kamo	Those who… no longer exist in this world.
Tenma	…!
Kamo	It is said this island is home to the ghosts of soldiers who have perished long ago…
Homare	Ohh! I can’t wait!
	Why don’t we begin right away!
Izumi	Great, I’ll explain the rules.
	We want everyone to make their way to a spot with a huge stone inside the forest.
Tsuzuru	Are the directions written anywhere?
Kamo	The staff have put up signs, so you’ll get to the stone if you follow those.
Izumi	Once you get there, please make your way back with one of the marbles placed on the stone.
Tasuku	That’s it, huh?
	Sounds easy enough.
Kamo	As for the teams, let’s keep the same groupings as the ingredients scramble game…
	And have Team C head out first this time.
Taichi	That means I’ll be with Ten-chan and Chikage-san!
	Thank God I’m not going by myself~…
Tenma	I-I would’ve been fine on my own…
Izumi	There’s no streetlights so it’ll be dark. Please watch your step.
Homare	Oh, are you not coming, Director-kun?
Izumi	No. I can’t be shown on camera, so…
Homare	I was thinking of escorting you and all. ‘Tis a pity.
Kamo	Alright, we’ll begin.
	Good luck out there, everyone!

Izumi	Alright, the two in Team C will start us off then.
	Good luck out there!
Tsuzuru	We’re off.
Tasuku	We can just go like normal, right?
Izumi	Yep, we want to see everyone’s genuine reactions!
Tasuku	Got it.
	We’re heading out.
Homare	If you happen to meet a soldier, please let them know I’ll be on my way shortly.
Taichi	Can you actually have a regular conversation with them!?
Tasuku	I’m not sure if we’ll really contribute to the usable footage, but let’s hurry there and back.
Tsuzuru	Right.
	*rustles*
	Woah.
	Was there a sound just now?
Tasuku	Yeah.
	But I bet it was the wind.
Tsuzuru	Ah, you think so?
	Should we keep going?
Kamo	…They weren’t startled at all.
	This is a waste of film…
Staff	I hope we can get a good shot at the next point.
Tsuzuru	Team C’s back.
Tasuku	This is the marble, right?
Izumi	That’s it, alright. That was rather quick.
Homare	Hm, it doesn’t appear you met any soldiers.
Azami	If they were that fast, then there aren’t many gimmicks set up to scare us, huh?
Tasuku	I don’t think there was anything like that.
Izumi	(You guys just didn’t notice them…!)
	Okay then, next up are the three from Team B.
	Good luck!
Chikage	We’ll be off.
Tenma	…
Taichi	…
Chikage	Are you two not coming?
Tenma	O-of course I am!
Taichi	I-I’m going right now!
Homare	Your mouths are moving but your feet are not.
Chikage	Are you afraid?
Tenma	I-I’m not scared!
Taichi	I-I’m totally good to go…!
Chikage	Then let’s head out already.
	Come on.
Tenma	S-sure…
Taichi	Urgh…
Azami	…Are those two gonna be alright?
Tsuzuru	Well, Chikage-san’s with them, so I’m sure they’ll manage somehow.
Homare	I am praying that you encounter one of the soldiers!
	*rustles*
Tenma	GYAAA!
Taichi	S-something’s there!
Chikage	It’s just the filming crew.
	Don’t mind them. Let’s keep going.
Taichi	D-DON’T LEAVE ME BEHIND~!
Tenma	Oi, wait up!
	DON’T WALK SO FAST…!
Kamo	Now this is exactly what we’re looking for!
Staff	It’s worth filming when they scream this much.
	I have high expectations for the next scare point too!
???	WAAAHHH!
???	GYAAAAAH!
Homare	My goodness?
	Those voices are…
Azami	That’s Taichi-san and Tenma-san.
Homare	They sound like they’re having so much fun!
Tasuku	That sounds like fun…?
Izumi	Welcome back, you three!
Chikage	We’re back.
	Here’s the marble.
Tenma	…
Taichi	…
Tasuku	They look worse for wear.
Tsuzuru	Are you okay…?
Tenma	Y-yeah…
Homare	Now then, our turn is finally upon us!
	Let us head on our way this instant!
Azami	Sure… err, you really look like you’re havin’ fun, Homare-san.
Izumi	Alright, good luck Team A!
Homare	Umu, ta ta for now!
Azami	It’s real quiet around here.
Homare	I wonder where the soldiers could be.
Azami	Dude, there ain’t any.
	*rustles*
	!
Homare	Is someone over there!?
	…Hm, there’s no one.
	It appears I was mistaken.
Azami	Let’s get a move on.
Kamo	…That was close. We were almost caught.
	Anyways, this team is the least worth filming.
Staff	Since their reactions are so weak, I’ll instruct the staff at the last point to jump out in front of those two and scare them.
Kamo	Oh yeah, that sounds good!
	Let’s get ‘em.

Azami	Are those the marbles they mentioned?
Homare	I assume so.
Azami	We made it here no problem.
Homare	Indeed, we did.
	Alright, let’s take a marble and return on our way.
	*rustles*
Staff playing soldier	…
Azami	Woah… hold up. If I take a closer look, ain’t that a staff member?
Homare	Ohh! What a splendid costume you have there!
	It looks marvelous on you since you have a great physique.
	Hm? Is that sword genuine?
Staff	No…
Homare	I see. A fake sword then?
	What’s more, it’s very well made!
Azami	You’re really into this.
Staff	…*Sigh*.
	Please act a little more scared, will you?
Homare	Mm-mm. This level is not enough to scare the likes of me!
Izumi	Welcome back!
	Did you retrieve the marble?
Azami	Yeah. Homare-san has it.
Homare	Please wait a moment.
	I will wipe it with my handkerchief.
	I believe this is it.
	Here you go, Director-kun.
Izumi	Oh, wow. You didn’t have to go that far…
Homare	Whatever do you mean? There’s no way I could just hand you something that was left outside, Director-kun.
Izumi	I appreciate it.
CHOICE 1: You’re gentlemanly [+] Izumi I think this every time. But Homare-san, you’re very gentlemanly to be able to behave that way so naturally. Homare Oh, am I? I thought this much was simply expected. Izumi It might be natural to you, Homare-san, but there aren’t many people who are capable of being so well-mannered. So when I’m with you, I feel surprised or embarrassed… in a good way. Homare I am very pleased if my conduct has made you happy, Director-kun. I shall endeavour behave in a way that will continue to move your heart! Izumi Eh? T-thank you very much…?
CHOICE 2: It’s shining [+] Izumi Fufu. The marble is sparkling and shining thanks to you wiping it, Homare-san. Homare Oh, you’re right! This marble glittering against the backdrop of the evening sea… HA! Poetic inspiration has sprung forth! Rolling marble, drifting and swaying with the waves. O brilliant, you are très bie~n, dancing anthocyanin​! …How was that? Izumi Ah, yeah. It’s a lovely poem as usual. Homare It is, isn’t it! …HA! Yet another poem has come to me! In the glass bowl—. Izumi T-that’s more than enough, thanks!
	Anyways, did you experience your thrill from the Test of Courage?
Homare	Well… it’s a pity to say, but this time was no good either.
Azami	Homare-san wasn’t startled at all.
Izumi	I thought so…
Azami	If anything, the staff were troubled since he was more interested in the soldier’s props and costume.
Homare	Ah, the staff playing the soldier was truly a sight to behold!
	Their sword and costume were both very well done!
Kamo	We even went as far as throwing a scary story together before it started. It’s too bad we barely scared you.
Tenma	HAA!?
Taichi	EHH!? You made that up!?
Kamo	Yeah, sorry…
Tasuku	Well, I never thought it was real in the first place.
Chikage	I don’t see any traces that this island was a battlefield either.
Tsuzuru	It looks like Tenma and Taichi bought it though…
Homare	Did you know that was a story they spun, Director-kun?
Izumi	Yeah. I hoped all of you would show us some nice reactions… sorry about that.
Homare	Not at all. I don’t mind. I couldn’t experience the thrill I sought, but I enjoyed myself quite a bit.
Staff playing soldier	…
Izumi	(Hm? The one behind Homare-san is the staff member playing the soldier…?
	What are they doing wearing a zombie mask?)
Staff playing soldier	Arisugawa-san… you dropped your handkerchief…
Homare	Oh my, when did I—.
Staff playing soldier	…Here you go.
Homare	GYAH———!!
Tenma	What the!?
Taichi	I-it’s a zombie soldier!
Azami	A flashlight under their face? Classic…
Kamo	EHH!? Now you’re scared!?
	The cameras aren’t rolling anymore. Talk about bad timing!
	You there, too. You have to tell me if you’re going to do that…
Staff playing soldier	Right, I’m sorry.
Homare	Good grief… I yearn for a heart-racing, nerve-wracking thrill. Not a momentary shock!
Staff playing soldier	Ahaha. I’m glad I was able to startle you though.
Izumi	(The staff member looks satisfied with themself.
	They must’ve been frustrated they couldn’t scare Homare-san during the Test of Courage.)

Anna