Masumi Usui/Literary Impasse

With the Power of Love

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

Citron	Today’s breakfast is a big bowl of natto!
Banri	Gross…
Kumon	Are you having strawberry jam, Chikage-san? That’s a rare sight!
Muku	Wow, it’s a lovely colour.
Chikage	Would you two like to have a taste?
Tsuzuru	Uh, guys, that is definitely not strawberry jam…
Itaru	If you value your life, then I’mma get you to stop right there.
Kumon	Ehh, what’s that supposed to mean!?
Chikage	You’ll understand once you’ve tried it.
Muku	I-I think I’ll pass after all…
Masumi	…
Yuki	*Stare*…
Masumi	…What?
Yuki	I’m wondering what kind of glasses would look good on you.
Banri	Is this for the upcoming costumes?
Yuki	Yeah. I’m considering having Masumi wear glasses in the next performance. How does that sound?
Tsuzuru	That fits Kunishige’s image, so doesn’t that sound fine?
Sakuya	I’m sure Masumi-kun would look great with glasses too!
Yuki	I’ll ask you just in case, but do you have any design or image preferences?
Masumi	…Anything’s fine.
Yuki	I knew you’d say that. Alright, I’m choosing whatever I want then.
Madoka	Ah, Masumi.
Masumi	…Madoka.
Madoka	It’s been a little while since we’ve bumped into each other on campus.
	Spring troupe’s performance is coming up, right?
Masumi	Yeah. We have our fittings next week.
Madoka	I see. I can’t wait to see what kind of story it’ll be.
???	Oh, long time no see, Masumi-kun~!
Madoka	Is that a friend of yours?
Masumi	…I don’t know them.
???	It’s me, Inabe from the Economics Faculty.
Masumi	…Who?
Inabe	EHH!? Hey now! I asked you to help with that billiards job a while back!
Masumi	Ahh…
Inabe	Do you recall!?
Masumi	…I don’t remember your face though.
Inabe	Ah, well, I wasn’t wearing glasses back then!
	You see, my girlfriend picked these glasses out for me~.
Masumi	…Your girlfriend?
Inabe	They look great on me, don’t they? I guess that’s the power of love~.
	Yep, my girlfriend sure knows what suits me the best~.
Madoka	Umm…
Masumi	The power of love…
Madoka	Masumi?
	*ring, ring*
Masumi	…Hello, Chikage?
	There’s something I want to ask you.
	*walks off*
Inabe	Ah, hold on!
Madoka	I don’t really know what happened…
	But I’m going to head to my first class too.

Masumi	I’m home.
Izumi	Ah, Masumi-kun. Welcome back.
Masumi	Hey… do you have some time this weekend?
Izumi	Yeah, that should be fine.
Masumi	Great. I want you to choose the glasses I’ll wear in the upcoming play.
Izumi	Me? But…
Masumi	I feel like I’ll be able to work even harder if you’re the one who picks them for me.
Izumi	…I understand.
	I don’t have confidence in my taste, but I’ll do my best to choose them.
Masumi	Thanks. I’ve already decided on the store.
	Alright, I’ll be looking forward to our date.
Izumi	It’s not a date, got it?
	Woah, it’s full of stylish glasses.
Yuki	I was worried about the prices since you said Chikage recommended this store. But I’m relieved it looks like there’s a huge range.
Masumi	…By the way, why are you here?
Yuki	Don’t blame me because Director asked me to come, alright?
Izumi	I thought it’d be better if Yuki-kun came along since this pertains to the costume you’ll be wearing in the show.
Masumi	…I thought it’d just be the two of us though.
Izumi	I’ll do my best to pick out glasses that’ll look great on you, Masumi-kun!
Masumi	…Okay.
Yuki	He’s as simple as always.
	I’ll be taking a glance around the shop, so let me know when you’ve decided on something.
Masumi	Will do.
Izumi	Maybe this one… but this one is also…
	Which one do you prefer, Masumi-kun?
Masumi	I like them both. Since they were chosen by you.
Izumi	You’ve been saying that to all of them…
Masumi	I’ll leave it to the power of your love.
Izumi	T-the power of love…
	(Well, I mean, as their Director, I am confident that my love for the troupe members won’t lose to anyone else!)
	Alright…
	…Try these on, Masumi-kun.
Masumi	Sure.
	How do I look?
Izumi	Nice! They really suit you!
	I feel like they fit Kunishige’s image too.
Masumi	If you say so, then I’ll go with these.
Yuki	Have you two decided~?
Izumi	Yep. What do you think?
Yuki	Oh, not bad at all.
	But, how much are those?
Izumi	Eh?
Yuki	They do look good though.
Izumi	(I totally forgot about our budget…!)
	M-Masumi-kun… how much do those cost?
Masumi	…50K.
Izumi	50K!? D-did you get the digits wrong?
Masumi	…I think it is though.
Izumi	There’s 1, 2, 3, 4 zeros…
	(It really is 50,000…)
Yuki	Rejected.
Masumi	Ha? I disagree.
	You can just shell out 50K—.
Yuki	Would you like to appear naked on stage?
Masumi	Urk…
Izumi	…Should I choose another pair?
Masumi	…Okay.

Anna