Juza Hyodo/In the End, a Dim Red Light

Non-slip Required?

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

	―Studio―
	*drum sound*
Juza	――.
	...Phew.
Omi	Here, I brought the thing you asked for.
Juza	Thanks.
Omi	You’re doing self-training for drum?
Juza	Yeah.
	I wasn’t used to doin’ different kind of movements with my hands and feet recently, but I feel that it’s finally takin’ shape now.
	Also, feels like I still need to practise more of keepin’ the sense of rhythm and other techniques.
Omi	With that much motivation, I’m sure you’ll be good at it in no time.
	I can’t give you some advice since I’m not that good at it either…
	If you’d like, I can accompany you when you’re training.
Juza	Thanks.
	―Dining―
Taichi	The meal after practice is so delish~!
Omi	Haha, there’s more for another fill.
Kumon	Thanks, Omi-san!
Azami	...Do you hear that drumming sound?
Banri	True, I’ve been hearin’ that. Where’d that come from?
Juza	.....
Sakyo	...Oi, Hyodo. Stop tapping the table with your fingers.
Juza	―!
	...My bad, did it unconsciously.
Banri	The heck, it was YOUR doing?
Taichi	Juza-san’s role for the next performance is a drummer, after all~.
Citron	It’s a proof that you’re so “imbursed” in your role study!
Azami	Not “imbursed”, but “immersed”.
Taichi	But even I sometimes beat out a rhythm unconsciously!
Kumon	I can’t wait to see Nii-chan playing drums~!
Manager	Ah, there you are, Hyodo-kun!
Juza	What’s up?
Manager	I found the electronic drum pads that I bought a long time ago, so please use it to practise for your next performance!
Omi	Ooh, it’s compact-sized so it’s good to practise in your own room.
Juza	It’s helpful.
Citron	Isuke, you sure are useful sometimes!
Sakyo	Bring that even sooner if you have it in the first place.
Manager	Even though I brought it all the way here, you guys are so mean~!
	―Room 104―
	*drum sound*
Juza	――.
Banri	...Hyodo! If you’re gonna practise, get the sense of rhythm properly!
Juza	Aah?
Banri	Your way of gettin’ the rhythm is all over the place that it’s distracting! I can’t focus on my script!
Juza	You sayin’ I should stop practisin’?
Banri	I didn’t say that! I meant that you should do it properly, that’s all!
Juza	...I know that.
	*drum sound*
Banri	...*sigh*. Do it more like this―.
Juza	―Ah.
Banri	?!
	Be more careful, you asshole! That stick was about to take a direct hit to my face!
Juza	Wasn’t on purpose. You avoided it, ain’t that a good thing?
Banri	――.
	You... Are you freakin’ kidding me?!

	―Dorm Hallway―
Juza	.....
Izumi	Oh, Juza-kun. What are you doing while holding that electronic drum?
Juza	Was tryin’ to find a place to practise, but there’re guys at the balcony and courtyard. Don’t wanna bother them so...
Izumi	Is your room no good?
Juza	Settsu’s bein’ annoying. Been pesterin’ me every single time yesterday.
	Seems like he’s goin’ out today, but he’ll bother me again if he comes back.
Izumi	Ahaha... I see.
	A place to practise, huh... I could open the theatre―
	...Ah, I know!
	―Garage―
Juza	...Why here?
Izumi	Do you know garage band?
	Back in the old days, there were many amateur bands that practise in garage. Seems like that’s how the term was created.
	I remember seeing it when I did research on music and bands.
Juza	I see...
Izumi	That’s why I thought here would be a cool place to practise.
Juza	No one’s around here, so I don’t have to mind when I play.
CHOICE 1: Can I watch you practise? [+] Izumi Since I came all the way here, can I watch you practise? Juza I don’t mind, but I don’t think there’s any interestin’ to watch. Izumi That’s not true! I wanna try to feel the garage band vibes! Juza Doubt it’s gonna have that vibes... But I’ll try hard to live up to your expectation.
CHOICE 2: Anything else I can help you with? [+] Izumi Is there anything else I can help you with? Juza Then, can you watch me practise? I want you to point out if my rhythm’s off. Based on what Settsu said, my way of gettin’ rhythm is all over the place. Izumi I wonder if I can understand? Juza As long as you notice, should be fine. Izumi Got it. I’ll speak up if I noticed something weird, okay? Juza Yeah, countin’ on you.
Omi	Huh? Juza and Director?
Banri	...Why the hell are you here?
Izumi	Oh? Did you two went out together?
Omi	I met Banri by coincidence while I was riding my bike on my way home. Then we both went home together with him on my back.
	A garage band practice, huh? That’s nice.
Juza	That guy over there’ll be annoyed if I practise in my room.
Banri	Your way of playin’ drum is so wacky, ya know.
	He didn’t even give an apology for throwing the drumstick.
Juza	Didn’t throw it. Was just a coincidence.
Banri	Even so!
Izumi	Now, now. You guys should be fine if it’s here since you’re not bothering each other, right?
Omi	Yeah. Since we’re here, how about you play something for us?
Juza	...’kay.
	*drum sound*
Omi	It’s great so far.
Izumi	You’re doing so good!
Banri	...Hmph.
Juza	―!
Izumi	?!
	(The thing that just passed by in front of me... That was a drumstick, right?)
Juza	My bad, Director! D’ya get hurt?
Izumi	It didn’t hit me, so I’m fine!
Juza	Sorry. Seems like the stick slipped through my hands when I got too absorbed while playin’.
Izumi	I’m really fine, so don’t feel bad.
Omi	Guess we’ll need non-slip kind of drumsticks then.
Banri	Hey, the way you treat Director-chan is hella different than mine.
Juza	You didn’t get hit by the stick.
Banri	That’s not the freakin’ problem here! First of all, you’re just―.
Omi	In the end, it’s always like this no matter where he practises...
Izumi	Yeah...

Meena