Kazunari Miyoshi/Store Your Passion in the Details

The Painter, Ninja, and Reality of Dreams

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2Part 3

Izumi	Yawn…
	(I’m sleepy… I’ve been coming back late at night these days to help other theatre troupes)
	Morning~
Homare	Oh, morning. You have such an amazing face today, Director-kun.
	You’re spurring my imagination.
Izumi	That’s not a compliment…
Azami	…Director.
Izumi	–
Azami	…
Izumi	(He’s staring at my face intently…)
	I know what you want to say, you don’t need to say it.
Azami	…Then, here.
Izumi	Concealer…?
	(It’s to hide my eye bag huh… To be handed this kind of thing silently, it’s such a complicated feeling…)
	Thank you…
	(I’ll make sure to get plenty of sleep when I’m done helping them)
Kazunari	Ah! Wait! You can’t eat it yet!
Misumi	Eh~
Kazunari	Just a bit more!
Misumi	I can’t take it anymore~
	I want to eat Omi’s triangle sandwich.
Izumi	What are you guys doing?
Tenma	Kazunari is getting Misumi to model for his sketch.
Muku	Recently, it seems that he’s been looking for more drawing materials.
Izumi	He~, I see.
Kazunari	Alright, I’m done! You can eat now!
Misumi	Yeay~! Let’s eat!
Muku	It was done in no time.
Yuki	As expected of an art student.
Kazunari	Hehe. What should I draw next~…
Izumi	I guess, I’m going to eat some sandwich too.
Kazunari	…
Izumi	…Hmm?
Kazunari	Director-chan, is it alright if I draw you too~?
Izumi	!!
	Now is an absolute no!
	(I can’t let my eye bag to be in the picture…!)
Kazunari	Eh~, too bad.
Izumi	I’m home~…
	(I’m pretty late today too… Everyone seems to be sleeping already, I should just go back to my room quickly)
	…Hmm?
Kazunari	Zzz..
Izumi	Kazunari-kun…?
Kazunari	Zzz…
Izumi	If you sleep in this kind of place, you’re going to get a cold you know.
	(…Ah, it’s his sketchbook. I wonder if he was drawing here.
	Anyway, that’s an amazing amount of sketches…
	This is… Tsumugi-san’s flower bed. This one is… Dancing Citron-kun and Hisoka-kun? Hisoka-kun looks so sleepy over here)
	Fufu…
	(I can totally picture this scenario in my mind. This one is…)
Kazunari	…Hmm?
	…Director-chan?
Izumi	Ah, sorry for looking without permission.
Kazunari	No problem~ It’s fine.
Izumi	Are these all your recent sketches?
Kazunari	Yep. I had so much fun when drawing that I couldn’t stop myself~
Izumi	I can tell that you’re having so much fun just by looking at you.
	Everyone has such a lively appearance in your sketch too.
Kazunari	Right~
Izumi	It’s fine to chase your dream, but don’t force yourself.
	If you sleep in this kind of place, you’re going to catch a cold.
Kazunari	If you say so, Director-chan too isn’t it.
	You just came back right?
Izumi	Ahaha, you’re right. I don’t have the rights to tell others.
Kazunari	Yawn~…
Izumi	Make sure you’re back to your room.
	Good night.
Kazunari	Good night~

Izumi	Haa~ I’m so tired…
	(I’m finally done helping out, I’m just going to get a good sleep now~)
Kumon	The ninja’s so cool~!
Muku	The production is so elaborate.
Misumi	I want to try this kind of action too!
Izumi	I’m home~
Muku	Ah, Director-san, welcome back!
Yuki	Welcome back.
Izumi	What are you guys watching?
Kumon	It’s a historical drama about ninja!
Yuki	Just nice it’s being broadcasted on the television.
Tenma	The production is really well done.
	It might be a good reference for the rerun of our performance.
Izumi	He~
Muku	This story is a tragic love story between the ninja and the princess.
Yuki	…Talking about that, what actually happened to the princess of Tanuki Castle in “Shinobi Misadventuring” at the end.
Izumi	The young lord from the Crane Castle got married with the princess from Fox Castle right, isn’t she left broken hearted?
Muku	No way! At this time, usually there will be a love story with another person in the spin off!
Tenma	Another person?
Muku	Yes. Maybe the heartbroken princess will finally realize Kiichi’s kindness who’s been staying by her side.
Yuki	It came out, your Shoujo Manga brain.
Muku	For example, Kiichi was trying to take responsibility for the princess’ broken heart and he would take the princess out to places as a distraction.
	The tsundere princess’ heart will be healed due to the bright and friendly Kiichi…
	On their journey, Kunoichi Sae will make a reappearance and she would finally realized her true feelings!
Izumi	I, I see…
Yuki	You actually daydream to that extent.
Kumon	But somehow, it feels that it can really happen!
Tsuzuru	That sounds interesting indeed, dinner is ready.
Misumi	Yeay! I’m hungry!
Muku	It’s hamburger!
Tsuzuru	The triangular one will be Ikaruga’s.
Misumi	Tsuzuru, thank you~!
Izumi	That looks delicious… But, I kinda miss curry…
	Let’s make curry tomorrow…
Yuki	I thought you just ate that yesterday.
Tenma	Let’s eat.
Tsuzuru	Anyway, the story from before, Muku’s amazing to be able to think of such development to that extent.
Muku	Ehehe…
Tsuzuru	I’ve never written a cliché love story like that until now, it might be interesting to try something new.
Tenma	We don’t have anyone to play the princess role isn’t it.
Izumi	You’re right…
Yuki	How about Kiichi’s solo performance?
Kumon	It’s too lonely!
Izumi	Speaking of Kiichi, where’s Kazunari-kun?
Tenma	He’s been in the atelier since morning, it seems that he has something that he wants to draw.
Izumi	I see.
	(Then, I should bring over dinner to him later)
Izumi	Kazunari-kun, I brought dinner over.
Kazunari	Ah, thank you, Director-chan.
	My hand’s full right now, you can leave it over there.
Izumi	Yeah.
	(I wonder if he’s drawing the pictures he has in his sketchbook…)
Kazunari	…Hmm?
Izumi	–
	Ah, so, sorry. I shouldn’t distract you.
Kazunari	Not at all! I’ll take a short break.
	Let’s eat.
Izumi	Earlier, Muku were making a love story between Kiichi and the princess of Tanuki Castle.
	Their love will begin during the spin-off.
	It seems that it’s going to be a love triangle with Kunoichi Sae too.
Kazunari	Hee~, sounds pretty good!
	Maybe I will ask Tsuzuroon to write it out in the script during the rerun performance.
Izumi	There’s no one playing the princess role though, but maybe we can just take a short story out of it and perform it in the lobby.
Kazunari	Yep yep!
Kazunari	Thanks for the meal!
	That was delicious~
Izumi	Are you going to continue?
Kazunari	Yep. I just need to sharpen it a bit more.
Izumi	Is it alright if I observe you for a bit?
Kazunari	Of course!
Izumi	Thank you.
Kazunari	…
Izumi	(Woah… His facial expression changes instantly when he’s facing the painting…
	It’s a different serious expression than the one when he’s performing a play.
	It’s like a totally different atmosphere)
Kazunari	…
Izumi	(So Kazunari-kun looks like this when he’s drawing
	It’s pretty silent…
	I can see that Kazunari-kun’s concentrating)
	…

Izumi	…Hmm.
???	Princess?
Izumi	…Kazunari-kun?
Kiichi	What are you daydreaming about.
	It’s Kiichi.
Izumi	Kiichi…?
	(What? Why am I wearing a kimono…
	But anyway, where is this?)
Kiichi	Are you okay, princess?
	The thing with the young lord of Crane Castle is a bit disappointing but cheer up!
Izumi	Eh, umm…
	(Is this the continuation of the script?
	Maybe I ended up seeing this kind of dream after listening to Muku’s story)
Kiichi	Right! This lily is blooming in the mountain.
	I’ll give it to you, princess.
Izumi	…Th, thank you.
Kiichi	…As I thought, I’m no good.
Izumi	Eh?
Kiichi	Princess has a very cute smile you know.
	Why won’t princess smile again?
Izumi	–
	(Kiichi feels loose and bouncy in the main part of the story, but when it comes to romance, he suddenly looks quite cool…)
Kiichi	I’ll do anything for the princess’ sake!
	Princess, would you like anything?
Izumi	Uh, umm… Curry maybe…?
Kiichi	Cu, curry?
Izumi	(Eh, I wonder if it doesn’t exist in this time period yet)
Kiichi	Understood!
	I’m going to look for this “Curry”!
Izumi	Ah! It’s fine, that kind of thing!
Kiichi	But, it feels so painful to see the princess in this state–
Izumi	Kiichi-kun…
Kiichi	What if, what I actually feel about princess–
Izumi	–hn.
Kazunari	Ah, Director-chan, you’re awake?
	If you’re sleeping in this kind of place, you’re going to catch a cold~
Izumi	…So, sorry, I was sleeping by the time I realized.
	(What a weird dream I had…)
	Ah, you gave me the blanket?
	Thank you.
Kazunari	I was thinking of carrying you back to your room, but my hand’s like this.
	My bad.
Izumi	(Woah, it’s full of paint)
	Don’t worry about it.
	Me too, even though you did your best painting, I ended up sleeping, sorry.
Kazunari	Nah, actually you saved me. Thank you.
Izumi	Saved you…?
Kazunari	Alright, let’s wrap up for today~
Izumi	Good work.
Kazunari	Thank you for bringing the food earlier.
Izumi	No problem. Then, good night.
Kazunari	Good night~
Izumi	Yawn…
	(I slept a bit just now, but I’m still very sleepy.
	I took a bath already, I guess I should just go back straight to sleep)
	…Hmm?
	(A paper’s stuck on the door…)
	This painting is… Kazunari-kun’s?
	(It’s a portrait of a beautiful woman… What a beautiful painting…
	But wait, this outfit, isn’t it similar to mine…)
	!!
	(Is it me!?
	No, but, isn’t it a bit too beautiful!?
	Anyway, since when did he manage to paint this…)
	Ah, something’s written on the back.
Kazunari	“Your sleeping face is great, but Director-chan’s cute when smiling, next time, let me draw you properly, kay~”
Izumi	–
	(It’s overlapping with my dream somehow… This is so embarrassing…)
Azuma	Eh, Director?
Guy	You’re just standing there, did something happen?
Izumi	–Eh.
Guy	Your face is red.
	The estimated temperature is… 36 point 9 degrees. You are slightly heated.
Azuma	Is that, a letter maybe?
Izumi	No, nothing’s happening!
	Good night!
Guy	…?
Azuma	Fufu, what is it I wonder.

Chiaki