Masumi Usui/Dedicated to a Dearly Beloved Person

The Reason I Want to Play

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2Part 3

Tsuzuru	Phew… I guess I’ll do about this much today for the time being.
Masumi	Hey.
Tsuzuru	Hm?
Masumi	Lend me these classical music materials.
	I’ll read and return them right away.
Tsuzuru	Materials?
	It’s fine, but it’s unusual for you to read those things.
Masumi	It’s to study.
Tsuzuru	Heh~. Good for you.
Masumi	Since it’s a perfect opportunity to make her fall in love with me again.
Tsuzuru	No no, like I said, from the start she’s not… Well whatever.
	If you’re briefly reviewing the history of classical music, the books around here are simple and fine.
	And for studying musical terms, there’s these over here.
Masumi	Hmmm.
Tsuzuru	I borrowed and listened to various music CDs from the university’s library but I’ve already returned them.
	Before this, I was asked by Director to lend her some, so it would’ve been better to borrow a bit more.
Masumi	Her too?
Tsuzuru	Yeah.
	She said she wants to find and listen to various things herself—.
Masumi	—.
	*leaves*
Tsuzuru	Oi, Masumi?
	Geez, his footwork is really only light when Director is involved…
Izumi	Hmm, are the documents alright to be submitted like this…
Masumi	…Hey.
Izumi	Ah, Masumi-kun, what’s up?
Masumi	Tell me your recommended classical music CDs,
	Since I want to use them as reference for role-making.
	I heard from Tsuzuru that you said you were searching around.
Izumi	Oh I haven’t listened to that many music CDs yet either though.
	But I guess I like Mozart’s String Quartet No. 4.
	I thought that movement in particular was bright and perfect for Spring troupe’s image.
Masumi	String Quartet No. 4…
	I’ll try listening to it while thinking about you.
Izumi	O-ok?
	(Just how will that listening method go... But, I'm happy that Masumi-kun is properly thinking about preparing for his role.)

Izumi	(I said I’d give Masumi-kun some recommendations, so I have to listen around to more things.)
	(When rehearsals start, everyone in Spring troupe might also need music CDs, so I’ll go search for other ones as well.)
	(Heh—, a classical music fair?
	They’re holding a classical music CD sale. This is perfect!)
Masumi	—.
Izumi	Ah, Masumi-kun!
Masumi	…
Izumi	M-Masumi-kun? What’s wrong?
Masumi	I’m savouring my happiness…
	Even though there’s a countless number of CD shops on this planet, it's fate that we’re able to meet here…
Izumi	You’re exaggerating! The CD shops on Veludo Way are really limited at the moment!
	Masumi-kun’s shopping too?
Masumi	I came to search for the CD of the song you recommended yesterday.
Izumi	Oh you searched for it right away.
Masumi	And you?
Izumi	I thought there might be other good, classical music songs so I’d try looking for more.
	I want to recommend some to everyone in Spring troupe too.
	If it’s alright, won’t Masumi-kun search together with me?
Masumi	Of course.
	There’s no way I’d turn down your request.
Izumi	Thanks!
	Quartet songs really are nice, right?
	Mozart’s string quartet pieces are, overall, easy to listen to.
Masumi	Then, around here.
	There’s a lot of them but…
Izumi	Ahh, even for the same song, its impression changes quite a bit depending on the player, right?
Masumi	In that case, it’s better to compare the same songs by doing a test listen.
Izumi	That’s true. Let’s do that!
	Ah, there’s a test-listening machine over there.
Masumi	…These aren’t earphones.
Izumi	Eh? Are headphones no good?
Masumi	I can’t take half and listen together with you… Just buy them all…
Izumi	Then there’s no point in test listening!
	I’m going over there to try it out, ok?
	It’s great we found various CDs.
Masumi	I didn’t realize there are this many classical music songs.
Izumi	Right. I only vaguely knew the famous ones too,
	But when I started searching, there were songs that aren’t very classic as well, so it’s interesting.
	I was saved thanks to Masumi-kun.
	If I was by myself, I wouldn’t have been able to search through such a number of them.
Masumi	If it’s with you, I can even stay and test-listen for 24 hours.
Izumi	It seems your ears would start hurting though.
	Oh right, shall we eat lunch somewhere too and then head back home?
Masumi	A date… It’s fate after all…
Izumi	Hey, enough with that already.
Clerk	Thank you very much—.
Izumi	—Huh?
	A violin’s been placed in a place like this?
Masumi	It says it’s a sale on a beginner violin.
Clerk	The place above us has turned into a musical instrument store.
	If you’d like, why don’t you try playing it?
Izumi	Won’t you play a little?
	Testing how it feels using a different instrument might be helpful.
Masumi	I still can’t play at all, but if you want to hear it…
Clerk	Go ahead, go ahead.

Clerk	You put the violin on your shoulder like this to hold it—.
Masumi	—.
	*violin plays*
Clerk	Ah, you can play it already, huh?
Masumi	…
Izumi	(Even though he said he played for the first time a few days ago, he's already looking good…)
	What’s this song now?
Masumi	Gossec’s Gavotte.
	It was written that it’s good for practise.
Izumi	You can already play different songs, huh?
Clerk	How many years have you played violin?
MasumI	I just started the other day.
Clerk	The other day!? That’s amazing!
	If you have talent, your rate of improvement is different, huh?
	Oh right. Do you have any interest in orchestras?
	The public orchestra I belong to is actually recruiting violins right now.
Masumi	Not interested.
Clerk	Come on now, just come watch a rehearsal!
Masumi	I’m simply trying my best because I want this person to hear it.
	I don’t feel like practicing for any purpose other than that.
Izumi	(Right to the chase…)
Clerk	Oh I see. That’s too bad, but it can’t be helped.
	I also started cello back when I was a university student, so I understand how you feel.
	It doesn’t matter what age or timing you start an instrument.
	Why you want to be able to play the instrument;
	It’s because that reason exists, you can work hard, right?
	Do your best so you can have your girlfriend listen to a great performance!
Izumi	No, I’m not his—.
Clerk	Please come again, alright?
Izumi	(It’s a misunderstanding though… Well, it’s fine.)
	Masumi-kun, it’s amazing that you just started the other day, and were invited to an orchestra.
Masumi	I don’t care if I’m praised by someone other than you.
Izumi	(My acknowledgment is important to Masumi-kun, huh…)
	(That reminds me, the time they were rehearsing for the theatre's opening show, I told him once that I wanted him to try hard not for me, but for his own sake…)
	(And I think right now, it's definitely not solely for me.
	Masumi-kun himself is having fun working hard for the play.)
	(It’s fun to act with everyone in the Theatre troupe, so he prepares for his roles willingly now too.)
	(Even so, if I remain Masumi-kun’s motivation to grow, I’m genuinely happy.)
Masumi	There’s three curry shops around here… The recommended one is…
Izumi	(He’s checking out curry shops even though I haven’t said a thing…!)
Masumi	…What is it?
Izumi	Ah no, I feel grateful.
	Since I’ll be watching closely to how Masumi-kun will grow for this performance as well. I’m looking forward to it.
Masumi	…Yeah. Watch me. Closer than anyone else.
	But just you doing it is unfair.
	I want to look at you too.
	I’ve always been thinking this but… can’t you be part of the audience every show?
	I want you to place a platform or something and stand right in front of the stage.
Izumi	No matter how you think of it, I’ll be in the way!
Masumi	But you’d be easy to see…
Izumi	Geez, it’s not like I’m a conductor…
Masumi	Then right in the middle of the front row of the audience is fine.
Izumi	How about no.
	(He’s the same as ever with things like this, but regarding acting, he’s more serious and polished than before, huh?)
	(I'm really looking forward to being able to watch Masumi-kun who grew even more, once again, during this time's Quartet performance.)

Anna