Itaru Chigasaki/Thankful Pink Rose

Tsukioka-sensei's Flower Arranging Lecture

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

Itaru	I’m hooome.
Izumi	Welcome back.
Taichi	Welcome back!
Itaru	Here, Director-san, I’m giving you this.
Sakuya	Wow, what a fancy bag!
Izumi	Thank you very much. What is it?
Itaru	A perfume sample. I got it from a client, and it seems like it’s marketed towards women.
Izumi	Perfume! I’m happy! Can I open it?
Itaru	Go ahead.
Taichi	Woah, even the packaging is stylish!
Izumi	Let’s see… “A sweet and gentle rose fragrance,” is what’s written on it.
Taichi	It’s gonna smell nice, for sure!
Izumi	Then since we’re here, want to try putting some on?
Taichi	Eh, can I!?
Izumi	Sure. Hold out your hand.
	*sprays*
Taichi	It smells way nice!
Sakuya	It has a mature scent, too…!
Itaru	It got such an enthusiastic reception. I’ll let my client know it got rave reviews from everyone.
Sakuya	Speaking of roses, weren’t you participating in the Rose Festival, Itaru-san?
Itaru	Ahh. Yeah. I guess I am.
Taichi	Us too! As soon as Yuki-chan finalizes the designs, I’m gonna help out with making the outfits!
Itaru	The costumes, huh…Please spare me and make a costume an adult man wouldn’t feel uncomfortable wearing, thanks.
Izumi	It’ll be fine! If it’s Yuki-kun, I’m sure he’ll make a wonderful costume that’ll suit you, Itaru-san.
Itaru	….Well, that’s not the point I’m really worried about.
	I said I’d be an escort, but I practically have zero EXP in knowledge about flowers.
	I should probably just study it or something.
Sakuya	How admirable of you, Itaru-san!
Izumi	I’m relieved it seems like you’re facing it relatively head-on!
Itaru	As a geek, I should at least learn the bare minimum.
	For the time being, I’ll try finding some time to look stuff up on the internetーー
Taichi	In that case, we have an even better method of learning rather than using the internet!
Sakuya	A better method?
Tsumugi	I’m home.
Taichi	Ooh, nice timing!
Itaru	A better method, you say…
Taichi	That’s right! It’s Tsumugi-san!
Tsumugi	?

Tsumugi	ーーWith that, I’d like to begin our study session on roses.
	…Does this feel comfortable?
Itaru	Yes, please go ahead, Tsumugi-sensei.
Taichi	Looking forward to it, Sensei!
Tsumugi	I’m used to it with Taichi-kun, but Itaru-kun calling me sensei makes me feel a little embarrassed.
Itaru	But still, you readily took on the teacher’s role for us, Tsumugi.
Tsumugi	That’s because you said you wanted to learn about roses, so I was happy to. I’ll also do my best.
Taichi	As expected of the Garden Gang Leader!
Itaru	Speaking of which, what’s with that nickname?
Taichi	It sounds like it’d be popular for a man who’s well-informed about roses!
Itaru	As always, you have such impure motives.
Taichi	You could at least say I’m enthusiastic about studying!
Tsumugi	Then, let’s begin.
	First, about the different varieties and breeds of roses…
Tsumugi	ーーAnd so, not only do the colors of roses have a meaning in flower language, but the number of roses also change the meaning as well.
Taichi	I see, that makes sense!
Itaru	As expected of an actively working home tutor. Your explanation was easy to follow.
Tsumugi	Alright, time to apply what you learned.
	I think it’d be easier to understand if you actually had some hands-on experience, so I brought a variety from the garden.
Taichi	Woahh, there’s a bunch of colors!
Tsumugi	I couldn’t bring that much though.
	Now then, today I’ll have you try doing a flower arrangement.
Itaru	You’re going all out, huh.
Tsumugi	Feel free to use as much as you’d like.
Taichi	Yayー! Wonder what colors I should go with~
Itaru	….
Tsumugi	Looks like the two of you are done.
	Taichi-kun’s…mostly uses red roses, it’s gorgeous.
Taichi	Hehe, if we’re talking about roses, red’s passion, for sure!
Tsumugi	Itaru-kun roses are pink, and the arrangement is also lovely and gorgeous.
Itaru	Actually, I just put together 24 roses into a bouquet.
Tsumugi	Why is that?
Itaru	In flower language, the meaning of pink roses is gratitude. “Twenty-four roses for the 24 hours I’m thinking of you.”
	I have deep gratitude for games, so I filled the bouquet with my feelings because I’m always thinking of them.
Tsumugi	That reasoning is very like you, Itaru-kun…
Taichi	As you’d expect from him!

Ri