Itaru Chigasaki/Attention-Magnet Star Performer

Road to King of Burlesque

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2Part 3

Waiter	One order for dry martini?
Izumi	Ah, over here please!
Azuma	It’s quite nice to have drinks while watching a show like this once in a while.
Tsumugi	It does feel pretty lavish.
	*NOTIF SOUND*
Izumi	Oh, a LIME text from Itaru-san.
Itaru Chigasaki will be there soon. order some anchovy fries n beer for me
Banri	I’ll add that to mine and Tasuku-san’s orders then.
Zen	I’ll take care of the order for you.
Izumi	Zen-san!
Zen	Here’s some pintxos with avocado and ham. On the house.
Izumi	Thank you very much.
Tsumugi	Sorry for the hassle as always.
Guy	Speaking of, I noticed that there’s been a cameraman running around. Are you perhaps doing a photoshoot?
Zen	Right. He’s here to cover a culture mag article. He said he wanted to capture the state of our show.
Izumi	I see.
	….Huh? That cameraman. I feel like I’ve seen his face before.
Azuma	Isn’t it Abukawa? He was our cameraman for the burlesque shoot before— the one Misumi, Omi, and I modeled for.
Izumi	Ahh!!
Zen	Burlesque? You guys would do even that kind of work?
Izumi	We did some modeling photoshoots w/ a burlesque theme, yes. Though it’s been some time since then…
Azuma	I had to play the role of a sexy veteran dancer myself. I would say it was a rather fun, stimulating experience.
Izumi	(Since we were in his care before, I should probably go greet him later.)
Abukawa	I figured it was you! It’s been a while since we got into contact.
Azuma	Thank you again for letting us be part of your burlesque photoshoot.
Izumi	I was also surprised to see you here.
Abukawa	Well, I only did come here just for camera work today…
	Yet, while I was in the middle of taking photos of the show, I kept thinking about how I wanted to capture photos the same way I did from the burlesque photoshoot before.
Izumi	Is that so?
Abukawa	Perhaps it’s fate that we were able to meet up like this again. If it’s alright with you, would you accept another modeling job from me again?
Izumi	(The previous shoot became such a buzz online. It even promoted the names of our members considerably. It might be fine to take this chance optimistically….)
Itaru	Good work today everyone. Ah, seems like I came just in time for my beer and anchovy fries.
Izumi	Ah, Itaru-san! Good work!
Abukawa	Uhm…….Is he also part of MANKAI Company?
Izumi	Yes. He’s Itaru Chigasaki from Spring Troupe.
Abukawa	Ah, I was just surprised… To think such a dazzling man like him could exist…
Itaru	…I’m flattered.
Abukawa	Please! Would you come and be my model for next time?
Izumi	For next time, you mean…….
Abukawa	Won’t you become the next King of Burlesque?
Itaru	………..Eh?
Itaru	………….
Tsumugi	Such a stern look on your face, Itaru-kun…… What is it that you’re looking at on your phone?
Itaru	A video from a burlesque show. I thought it’d be fine to just accept the modeling job, but the real thing’s more different than I thought…
	If I even attempt this, my spine is cooked.
Tsumugi	Ahh…….
Banri	Itaru-san? King of Burlesque? Ain’t no way.
Tasuku	They make you do some light and flexible moves, right. It’s rather reckless to ask that from Chigasaki, who has zero core and zero flexibility.
Izumi	Uhm…….. Should we ask him if we can switch members?
Itaru	Even coming from Director-san…….
	I may be grumbling, but since I already accepted the job, I’ll have to manage.
	Besides. It’s a modeling job, so at the end of the day, it’s the face that matters most, right?
Banri	That’s your counter?
Tsumugi	Well, it’s still better than being negative about it, right?
Izumi	….Ah, seems like Abukawa-san already sent in the brief of the work. Looks like we’ll be having character roles for each model again.
Tsumugi	What sort of roles?
Izumi	Itaru-san will be playing the role of a star dancer. For the other two characters, he wants someone to be an elegant dancer, and another who plays like a little devil.
Tsumugi	For the elegant one, then that’d be….
Itaru	Homare-san would suit it, right? Or rather, I can see him complaining if we were to pick anyone else.
Banri	I was thinking Yuki might’ve been good for the little devil chara, but it’d be too much to ask a minor to do this theme.
Itaru	If we’re looking for someone who’d be good for a cunning role, maybe Kazunari would be fit for it.
Tasuku	Miyoshi’s quite dexterous too, that’s true. He’d be able to do that character pretty well.
Izumi	I’ll call over Homare-san and Kazunari-kun then.
Itaru	Meanwhile, I’ll be putting more effort into my skincare than usual. Yep, only skincare.
Izumi	(Itaru-san seems to be taking it easy now. Will he really be alright……?)

Itaru	Ahhhh~ I’m so beat. My shoulders and my hips are about to give.
Yuki	Grandpa alert.
Kumon	Oh right, you’ll be modeling for a burlesque shoot right, Itaru-san?
Chikage	Wouldn’t it be better to ask Tasuku and Omi for some muscle training menus and diet plans?
Itaru	I’ll have to reject you on the idea. Besides, since there’s a character sheet to follow, I’m instead working on some posing training that would favor the vibes of the role.
	*DOOR SLIDING*
Yuki	Talk about timing. Your burlesque senpai has just arrived.
Misumi	You mean me~?
Chikage	As I said, getting muscles similar to Misumi’s would work better in your favor, don’t you think?
Itaru	……
Yuki	….He’s comparing himself, isn’t he.
Chikage	Looks like it.
Itaru	…..Impossible.
Kumon	Don’t give up so soon!!!
Itaru	Doesn’t matter. This face of mine is the winning face anyway.
Itaru	(Do I really have no muscles at all……?)
	(......Guess not.)
Chikage	If you’re gonna be that bothered by it, you may as well do some muscle training.
Itaru	Senpai, you should know me by now, but that sort of thing is really not something I’m cut out for.
Chikage	I also know you’re someone who hates to lose, surprisingly. You’ll never know ‘till you try, right?
Itaru	My likes and dislikes have their limits. But even more surprising is how you’d think so highly of me, Senpai.
Chikage	I applaud your optimism.
Itaru	Alright…. Fresh out of the bath means a fresh can of cola.
Chikage	Grab water instead.
Kazunari	Ah, Itaroon! Glad we bumped into ya!
Itaru	??
Homare	We were just about to go have a stretching session. We expect it should help us with our flexibility by the time we do our burlesque photoshoot.
Kazunari	It will help with our core muscles too. Since you just got out of the bath, do you wanna join in too?
Itaru	……I guess I should at least do that much, huh.
Itaru	OW OW OW OW….!!!
Chikage	I barely even pushed you. Just endure even a little bit.
Kazunari	Your body really is stiff as a stick, Itaroon!
Homare	Tsumugi-kun is also stiff, but something about Itaru’s stiffness just inspires a poem out of me.
Kazunari	Getting inspiration in this time and place!? Your sense of art is as crazy as ever, Aririn!
Itaru	It really is NOT the right time and place at all….
Chikage	Gonna rotate your knees now.
Itaru	…!!!! UNCLE UNCLE!! MAKE IT STOP!!
	Dammit, why does it have to be with Senpai of all people…
Kazunari	I figured you’d get used to it if your stretching partner was someone already flexible! Did I miss the mark?
Itaru	It’s not about hitting the mark or not—
	*NOTIF SOUND*
Homare	Oh, a LIME message from Director-kun. They have the outfit designs for the photoshoot all ready, it seems.
Kazunari	They look so cool!!
Homare	Truly, they’re fitting for burlesque! The designs provoke such sexiness.
Itaru	So we have to……. expose some skin…..
Chikage	Don’t tell me you want to back out now?
Itaru	…..I’m still doing it. I accepted it myself.
Chikage	You really do hate to lose, don’t you.
Itaru	Can you please not grin like a madman?
Chikage	What are you going to do now then?
Itaru	….I’ll force myself to get enough muscles until the real show.
Kazunari	Itaroon!! So cool!!!
Homare	I think that enthusiasm is most spectacular indeed. But if you want to build up muscles, you will need to have proper training in the soonest.
Itaru	That’s exactly the plan.
	Asking Tasuku….. would make the hurdle way too high, probably. Guess I’ll consult with Tenma first….
Kazunari	We’d better do our best too! We can’t let Itaru hog all the glory!
Homare	Absolutely. If we are to make ourselves like first-class burlesque dancers, then we must devote all of ourselves to it

Abukawa	My pleasure to work with you all today.
Izumi	The pleasure is ours.
Abukawa	Let us start immediately. We’ll begin shooting Homare-san’s part first.
Homare	But of course. Please take care of me.
	*CAMERA CLICK*
Abukawa	Yes, that’s it!
	*CAMERA CLICK*
	Super gorgeous!
Izumi	(As expected of Homare-san, he carries his form with such elegance…!)
Abukawa	Next up, Kazunari-kun please!
Kazunari	No probs! Pleasure to work with ya!
	*CAMERA CLICK*
Abukawa	The little devil point is shining through!
	*CAMERA CLICK*
	Next, without looking here…. Stunning!!
Izumi	(Kazunari-kun too. His aura here is a whole lot different from the usual….)
Abukawa	And last up, Itaru-san, if you could please.
Itaru	Of course.
Izumi	Uwah, it suits you so much!! Your body line is looking gorgeous too.
Itaru	Do I look the part?
Izumi	Completely!
Itaru	I didn’t have enough time, so there was no way to shape my body similar to Tenma’s or Tasuku’s, even with a strict regimen. But if the fruits of my labor are obvious enough, then that’s fine with me.
Izumi	I think it shows more than enough!
Abukawa	Ready on set.
Itaru	Ready.
	*CAMERA CLICK*
Abukawa	So dazzling!
	*CAMERA CLICK*
	So cool!
Izumi	(You can feel him brimming with self-confidence in that expression…..)
	(A look that anyone would fawn over… That anyone would see as plain as day… that he is the star dancer!)
	Good work today! It was amazing to watch!
Itaru	It was a lot of trouble to get here, but hearing that makes all the effort worth it.
Abukawa	Please do let me take pictures of you again in the future. It’d be nice to see you and Misumi-kun pair up for next time.
Itaru	…..That would be nice. Thank you.
Izumi	(He’s smiling but not saying “yes” or anything…… Itaru-san must be dreading the thought…….)
Itaru	Good morn’~
Izumi	Good morning. Want some breakfast? We have bread and—
Itaru	…….
Izumi	What’s wrong? Are you having a heartburn or…?
Banri	Your body must be reacting from all the pizza and ramen you’ve been eating.
Itaru	It’s not that…. Just that my button-up feels tighter for some reason.
Tasuku	You must be imagining it.
Chikage	There’s no way it’d change to that degree.
Itaru	You guys should be building me up, not putting me down.
Chikage	With how you build yourself up enough as it is, I don't think you can get any higher.
Tasuku	Well. After all that’s been said and done though, have you finally found interest in muscle building, Chigasaki?
Itaru	Hm………… I’ll think about it.
	……..Oh, Omi. Sorry, but I’ll just have some salad for today.
CHOICE 1: Improving your eating habits…? [+] Izumi Are you starting off by improving your eating habits first…? Itaru I was thinking I should set myself up this way so I can eat more appetizing foods later for lunch. Izumi ?? Itaru For lunch, I’m thinking of getting a tenshidon rice set with ramen with marinated egg and char siu on the side. Oh, and of course, cola and potato chips for dinner. Both with pizza too. Izumi Ehh……
CHOICE 2: Getting a more muscular image….? [+] Izumi Are you really considering getting a more muscular image….? Itaru Me? ‘Course not. I just wanna make space for my stomach for the stuff I want to eat later. Plus, we’ve already got Tasuku and Omi being our representatives for our muscle gang. No way there’d be plans for me to join them, especially this late. I’ll just consider it again if I have to wear another midriff-exposing outfit. Izumi So…. No plans to make training into an actual everyday habit…? Itaru Not in the slightest. Itaru Or are you maybe saying….. I’m not good enough as I am for you, Director-san? Izumi No, I just think that this morning you’re——H-Hey, your face is too close!! Itaru Sorry, sorry.
Itaru	In any case, getting muscles or having a good body has never been an agenda of mine. Never ever.
Chikage	……..I suppose it’s useless to hope otherwise.
Izumi	……You’re right there.

Dita