Juza Hyodo/MANKAI Birthday

Chinatown Memory

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2Part 3

Izumi	Let's see, we have practice tomorrow after the meeting so--.
	(…eh. Thinking of which, it's Juza-kun's birthday soon)
	I have to think about a present for him soon…
	(As I thought, would sweets be good for Juza-kun?)
Izumi	(In the end the day of his birthday has come… I can’t think of a present…)
	Yeah, I wonder if sweets are good after all.
Taichi	Aah, Ban-chan! Your decorating is sloppy~!
Izumi	Hm?
Banri	For something we're gonna give Hyodo it's fine to do it unseriously.
Taichi	You can't! We're going to do a decorating that won't lose to the showiness of the sweets!
Sakyo	Is that right for the cream?
Omi	Hmm… it still looks soft. You have to mix it a bit more.
Izumi	Hm? You're all making sweets?
Taichi	Yes! It's a sweets tower, a present for Juza-san!
Izumi	Macaroons and, cookies, chocolate, even mini cakes…! There're so many.
Sakyo	It was tough to get a hand on them too.
Banri	More like, why do I have to do something like this for Hyodo.
Taichi	It's fine isn't it! It's the once in a year birthday after all!
Omi	I'm going to leave the decoration of the top to you Banri.
Banri	Huh?
Taichi	Put into it your gratitude for Juza-san!
Sakyo	If you tear it down I won't show any mercy.
Izumi	Do your best, Banri-kun!
Banri	I don't get y'all!
Taichi	Ah! Right! There's something I want to ask from you Director-sensei--.
Izumi	Eh?
Izumi	Juza-kun, hurry up!
Juza	…oi, where're we going.
Izumi	You'll get it if you come. Ah, we'll be there soon.
Juza	...
Juza	!?
Taichi	Juza-san, happy birthday!
Omi	Happy birthday, Juza.
Juza	Birthday…
Izumi	Congratulations, Juza-kun!
Sakyo	You're one year older now. Act accordingly.
Juza	…thanks.
Banri	...
Taichi	Here, Ban-chan you too!
Banri	Tch.
	Just so ya know, I still don't feel like losing to you.
Juza	Hmph, bring it on.
Taichi	Alriiight! Then, just when the mood became all nice!
	Tadaa! Have a look at this perfectly decorated garden table!
	For Juza-san, a special sweets present!
Juza	...
Izumi	All the Autumn Troupe members, prepared it for Juza-kun. I only helped with calling you here.
Taichi	By the way, the one who decorated the top is Ban-chan! It's filled with his gratitude for you!
Banri	I only did it since you were too fussy I didn't have a choice.
Omi	It's a sweets tower, filled with all of Juza's favorites.
Sakyo	Eat and enjoy it.
Juza	…'kay.
Banri	Oi, don't take your sweet time and eat it already. I'm getting heartburn just from looking at it.
Omi	There's lots of cream too. If you want second helping do tell.
Juza	…yeah. I'll eat then.
Izumi	(Juza-kun and the guys from Autumn Troupe, it's a good thing they seemed to have fun)
	...
	(A present… I thought about going with something sweet but if I go with that it'll be similar to what Autumn Troupe members did)
	Hmm, what should I do…
	Hm?
	This flyer, was it always here.
	--.
	"Chinatown in Autumn – Sweets Eating Tour" …?

Juza	Director?
Izumi	Yeah, sorry for the hour.
Juza	No… if you need Settsu he isn't here now.
Izumi	It's fine! I came because I have business with Juza-kun.
Juza	With me?
Izumi	I too tried to think about a birthday present for Juza-kun.
	Look, this flyer! "Come! Chinatown in Autumn - Sweets Eating Tour!"
Juza	--!
Izumi	It has a different feel from Japanese sweets or Western sweets, you usually don't get to eat them right?
	So, I thought about going together as a way to celebrate.
Juza	...
	Is that okay… with someone like me.
CHOICE 1: Of course! [+] Izumi Of course! Since it's Juza-kun's birthday celebration. Juza 'kay.
CHOICE 2: If it's fine with you [+] Izumi Yeah! Only if Juza-kun is fine with it--. Juza …there's no way I'm not fine with it.
Izumi	Great! Then, I'm looking forward to it!
Juza	…yeah.
Izumi	Wah, there're much more shops than I thought.
Juza	…right.
Izumi	Egg tart, tapioca… seems like there're sweet chestnuts over there too.
Juza	Everything looks good I don't know what to do.
Izumi	Ah! Look! A Taiwanese style shaved ice!
Juza	I've seen it on TV before.
Izumi	It's really popular. I want to eat it, but I guess it's a little out of season?
Juza	We can still go for it can't we.
Izumi	You're right! Then, let's start with the shaved ice.
Izumi	Let's eat!
Juza	Let's eat.
Izumi	--yup, it's delicious! The ice is so fluffy! The mango is melting!
Juza	Yeah, it's good.
Izumi	I thought it was a bit cold, but seems like I can totally eat it.
Juza	…munch munch.
Izumi	--ah.
Juza	?
Izumi	Stay still for a bit.
Juza	--!
Izumi	Here, got it! Juza-kun, you had some syrup around your mouth.
Juza	--!
	…my bad.
Izumi	Ahaha. It's tasty, so it just makes you want to stuff your cheeks with it.
Izumi	The shaved ice, was so good right!
Juza	Yeah.
Izumi	What should we go for next. There're so many things it's difficult to choose.
Juza	Right --.
Juza	--!
Izumi	Juza-kun? Did you find something good?
Juza	No...
Izumi	What are you looking at—ah, so cute! Panda shaped Chinese buns!
Juza	...
Izumi	Seems like there're many different flavors too, I think we'll go for that.
Juza	…there're many other things right.
Izumi	Eeeh! Even though they're so cute and look so delicious!
Juza	…they don't suit me.
Izumi	(Can it be that Juza-kun, he feels resistance to their appearance. If that's the case--)
	--got it. Wait over there for a moment!
Juza	Director…?

Izumi	Sorry for the wait! I bought the panda buns.
Juza	...
Izumi	There were many flavors, so I decide on two. This one is a normal red bean paste, and this one is custard.
Juza	Why…
Izumi	…because, you looked at them so zealously. The truth is you wanted to eat them right?
	Today we're here to celebrate your birthday Juza-kun, so don't pay attention to what others think and let's enjoy it!
Juza	...
	…you're right. Director went with the trouble to bring me here.
	Thanks, Director.
Izumi	You're welcome.
	(Juza-kun, looks like he's happy, that's great!)
Izumi	Here, take this. Juza-kun you are fine with red bean paste?
Juza	Yeah.
Izumi	As I thought, they're so cute it's a waste to eat them.
Juza	Munch munch.
Izumi	Wait, you're eating it already!?
Juza	If you don't eat them while they're fresh, it'll be a waste right.
Izumi	Y-You have a point.
	(Thinking of which, back then with the Kamekichi manju he didn't hesitate either…)
	Then, I'll eat too! –Yup, the custard flavor is delicious!
Juza	Munch munch… the wrapping is good too.
Izumi	(Juza-kun, he's eating it happily)
	The red bean paste one looks good too.
Juza	…want to, eat some?
Izumi	Eh?
Juza	Here. I'll give you a half.
Izumi	Is that okay?
Juza	…it's as thanks for earlier.
Izumi	Thank you! Then, I'll give you half of mine too.
Juza	Director, you cut it into half without hesitating either.
Izumi	I don't want to hear that from Juza-kun!
A Mysterious Woman	My oh my! You two over there!
Juza	Ah?
Izumi	Are you talking about us?
A Mother of China	That's right! I'll offer you a palm reading! If it's up to this mother of China everything will become visible!
Izumi	I- I see.
A Mother of China	Then, starting with the boy. Here, let me see your hand!
Juza	Oi….!?
A Mother of China	My, such a big hand! Then I'm going to see them. Your future… past… present…
	I can see, I can see it-!
Izumi	(S-Somehow it's really intense)
A Mother of China	First of all, you're a returnee right?
Izumi	A, a returnee?
Juza	…you're wrong.
A Mother of China	As for your past… hmm… my! You, in your previous life you were an alien!
Juza	Huh?
A Mother of China	An exalted star, one hundred million light years away from earth… It's a planet that emits light just like a jewel--.
Juza	…say, is that really safe.
Izumi	F-For now, it might be better to stay quiet.
A Mother of China	And as for the fortune of your present… my? Well well… my my oh my.
Juza	…what is it.
A Mother of China	You… seems like you were able to happen across very previous people. You're having a lot of fun right now.
Juza	--!
A Mother of China	I'm certain that from now on, your precious memories will increase. I hope you would spend your days smiling.
	Because right now, you're happy.
Juza	…yeah. That might be true.
Izumi	W-We were finally set free…
Juza	I wonder if that's how palm reading goes.
Izumi	Hmm, I feel like that person was a bit unique. She didn’t get anything right it was almost funny…
Juza	There was… one thing that was right.
	So… I think it's okay to believe in it.
Izumi	Juza-kun…
Juza	Alright, let's go.
Izumi	Eh?
Juza	I didn't have enough at all. Director, you too can eat more right?
Izumi	Of course! Today I'll keep you company to the end!

Hoshiko