Masumi Usui/MANKAI Memory

Childhood Memory: MASUMI

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2Part 3

Izumi	All of the birthday bromides came out really well, huh~?
Tsumugi	It also looked like they were really popular with our fans, so I’m glad.
	*door opens*
Izumi	Ah, Masumi-kun.
Masumi	What are you doing?
Tsumugi	We were looking at Winter troupe’s birthday bromides. Have a look.
Izumi	It's fun seeing all the accessories and costumes we used at the Theatre lined up along with everyone's memorable items like this.
Masumi	What’s this in Tsumugi’s?
Tsumugi	That’s a dog plushie.
	It’s a memory from my childhood.
Masumi	Heh.
Izumi	Your birthday bromide photoshoot is coming up too, isn’t it, Masumi-kun?
	Like I mentioned before, you have to choose one accessory yourself to use in the photoshoot.
	The theme is a memorable item from before you joined the Theatre.
	Think about which accessory you’ll bring, alright?
Masumi	A memorable item…
Izumi	Do you think you have anything?
Masumi	…
	*bzz, bzz*
	…It’s a call from grandma.
Tsumugi	From Hatsue-san?
Masumi	I’m gonna step out for a second.
Izumi	Of course, go ahead.
Hatsue	“—In any case, I’m glad to hear your cheerful voice, Masumi.”
	“Also, it’s almost your birthday, isn’t that right?
	I wanted to wish you a happy one.”
Masumi	Thanks, grandma.
Hatsue	“I’ll let you know whenever I come back again, alright?”
Masumi	Great.
	…Ah.
Hatsue	“What’s the matter?”
Masumi	I have a birthday bromide photoshoot coming up.
Hatsue	“Oh my, a bromide of Masumi?
	That sounds wonderful. I’d love to have one too.”
Masumi	No problem. I’ll send one over once they’re finished.
Hatsue	“Thank you. I’m looking forward to it.”
Masumi	Oh, and… I want to use a memorable item from before I joined the troupe as an accessory in the photoshoot.
	Grandma, does anything come to mind when I mention a memorable item from when I was little?
Hatsue	“Let me think… there are many that come to mind…”
	“But isn’t the most memorable one that piano?”
Masumi	Piano?
Hatsue	“Don’t you remember? That toy piano you used when you were young.”
	“At that time, I was still living with you…”
	“I’m the one who handed it to you, but it was a gift from your parents.”
Masumi	—.

	*flashback starts*
Masumi	♪~♪~
Hatsue	Oh my, you’re in a good mood. What song is that?
Masumi	I hear it all the time on TV.
	That song is everywhere right now.
Hatsue	Oh, really? You’ve been teaching me all sorts of songs, so I’m getting to know more of them too.
	Anyways, you sing so well, Masumi.
	Would you let grandma hear some more?
Masumi	Yeah, sure.
	♪~♪~♪~
Hatsue	Oh my. Welcome home, Masumi.
Masumi	I’m back.
Hatsue	Perfect timing. I have something I’d like to give to you.
	Here you go. Open up the box.
Masumi	? What could this be…
	…! A piano…
	Did you buy this for me, grandma?
Hastue	No. This is a present from your mother and father.
Masumi	My mother and father…?
	…
Hatsue	If you’re interested, then perhaps you could practice together with grandma?
Masumi	…Sure.
	*flashback ends*
Hatsue	“You were practicing simple songs with me at first, remember?”
	“But before I knew it, you learned to play all kinds of different songs on your own. I was so surprised.”
Masumi	I also felt shocked back then since I never expected that would be a present from mom and dad.
Hatsue	“Well, I suppose I can tell you this now…”
	“Your parents must have been so busy that they didn’t have time to give you the gift in person.”
	“But they suggested preparing a birthday present for you at the very least.”
Masumi	Really…
Hastue	“I told them you had been letting me hear you sing lots of songs you learned and told me about recently.”
	“Because of that, it seems they misunderstood that you were interested in music. They wanted to get you a real piano as a present at first.”
	“But I told them that it might put too much pressure on you, so a toy would be just fine for now.”
Masumi	…I had no idea.
Hatsue	“You looked so happy playing that piano for me—.”
	“Later, I realized that a real piano might have also been a good idea.”
Masumi	—Hey, grandma.
	Do you know where that piano is?
Hatsue	“I have it with me now.”
	“Oh, right. Actually, that piano…”

Masumi	(The package I got from grandma…)
	*opens box*
	(It’s the piano we talked about on the phone.)
	…This brings me back.
	*plays a key*
	…
	*flashback starts*
Hatsue	“I found your piano while I was packing my luggage to move to America.”
	“But it’s an old thing, so it was already broken…”
	“It didn’t make a sound, so even Misaki said there was no point in keeping it.”
	“But I told him that we couldn't just throw it away because it was a memorable item that you cherished.”
	“When Misaki heard that, he personally took it and got it repaired.”
Masumi	Dad did?
Hatsue	“I was taken aback as well.
	But it was nice to see a fatherly side to him.”
	*flashback ends*
Masumi	…
	*knock, knock*
Izumi	Do you have a minute, Masumi-kun?
Masumi	—.
	You came to my room… I’m so happy.
Izumi	I wanted to discuss the date for your birthday bromide.
	Err, huh? That piano…
	Could that be your memorable item you told me about the other day?
	The international package already arrived, huh?
Masumi	Yeah. I just picked it up earlier.
Izumi	That’s great it made it in time for your photoshoot.
	Anyways, you love music, so it really suits you to use a piano as your memento.
	What kind of songs did you play?
Masumi	I just played simple songs as my grandma taught me…
	♪~
Izumi	That’s Masumi-kun for you. You still remember them, huh?
CHOICE 1: It sounds nice. [+] Izumi It sounds nice despite the fact it’s a toy. Masumi I’ll play it for you whenever and as many times as you wish. Izumi Oh, you’re too much. But I appreciate the thought. Thanks.
CHOICE 2: How does it feel playing it again after so long? [+] Izumi How does it feel playing it again after so long? Masumi I remember more than I expected. I’m surprised too. It’s a toy piano, but I guess it's not that bad playing it like this now. Izumi Fufu, I see.
	Maybe next time, you could try out a real piano?
	If it’s you, then I’m sure you’d be able to pick it up quickly.
Masumi	Alright. If you say so, then I’ll become an actor slash pianist.
Izumi	I didn’t go that far!?
Sakuya	Happy birthday, Masumi-kun!
Citron	Happiest of births, Masumi!
Chikage	Happy birthday, Masumi.
Masumi	…Thanks.
Izumi	Here’s Masumi-kun’s specially-made curry, as requested. I put my all into making it!
Masumi	Curry that you made for me… I’m glad.
	Can I go ahead and dig in?
Izumi	Of course. Help yourself!
Masumi	…It tastes great.
	The curry you make is most delicious in the entire world.
Izumi	Thanks.
	It was worth making if you say so.
Citron	Masumi’s bromide was also sky-ish~.
Masumi	Sky?
Chikage	Do you mean stylish?
Itaru	Your memento was this piano, wasn’t it?
	Somehow, it fits your image perfectly.
Tsuzuru	I know, right?
Sakuya	So you’ve always loved music!
Izumi	Masumi’s grandma, Hatsue-san, sent it over via international mail.
Masumi	That’s right.
Chikage	It’s something you used when you were young, but it’s look like it’s been cleaned up.
Masumi	…It was broken, but apparently my dad got it fixed for me.
Sakuya	He did!?
Itaru	I see.
Izumi	(It looks like Masumi-kun and his father are closing the distance between them… albeit, little-by-little.)
Citron	I want to hear you play the piano, Masumi!
	It’s the perfect chance, so hold a passion with me!
Tsuzuru	By that, you mean session, right?
	I mean, when did you whip your violin out!
Masumi	…What a pain.
Itaru	Consider my interest piqued too. I’d like to hear it.
Izumi	I got to hear him play the other day and he was really good.
Chikage	Both of you played violins during our Quartet show, but wouldn’t a violin and piano be great as well?
Sakuya	That’d be wonderful!
Citron	I could also sing and dance along with Masumi’s piano.
Masumi	*Sigh*…
	…
M.U I got the piano. Thanks for fixing it for me
Itaru	What’re you doing, Masumi?
Citron	Hurry up, let’s hold our section!
Masumi	…Session.

Anna