Masumi Usui/Promising Young Employee

Putting High Hopes into Lightbulbs

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

TV	“Stay tuned for next week!”
Muku	*Sigh*, it was a lovely development today too…!
	Like I thought, romance dramas are interesting, right?
Taichi	It’s so frustrating those two aren’t getting any closer…!
Muku	I guess so.
	But I really like that frustration too.
Taichi	Was there a part that you liked, Masumi-kun?
Masumi	Not really; I was just brought here suddenly by you two, and it’s in the middle of the drama so I didn’t really understand what was going on.
Taichi	We sorta forced you, huh…?
	I feel bad now…!
Muku	Sorry about that…
Taichi	But I thought that you might like this drama, Masumi-kun, so I wanted you to watch it!
Masumi	…Well, I didn’t hate it though.
Taichi	Really!?
Masumi	There were a few scenes that I could use as reference.
Muku	Then I'm glad!
Masumi	If I’m free, I can watch it again next week.
Taichi	It was worth inviting you if we could make you say that, Masumi-kun~!
Muku	Ah, but in that case, I definitely recommend watching it from episode 1!
	The scene where the two of them meet in the first episode is really wonderful…
	The girl tried using a stepladder to change the lightbulb in the hallway, but right when she was having trouble since she couldn’t reach, the guy just happened to pass by!
	So then when the guy replaced the lightbulb for the girl in her place, she became more conscious of him.
Taichi	Aw man~, I totally get that feeling!
Muku	Your heart would really skip a beat if that happened to you, right!
Masumi	Change the lightbulb… Stepladder…
	When she’s troubled, I’ll replace the lightbulb in her place…
Taichi	That’s Masumi-kun for you—of course he’s thinking about Director-sensei, huh~.
Muku	Well, he said it might be helpful, right?
Masumi	…What?
Taichi	Nothing!
Muku	This drama’s been recorded from the very beginning, so please watch it if you’d like!
Masumi	Got it, I'll do that.

Izumi	(Alright, I bought a lightbulb for the one that went out in the hallway, so let’s change it to the new one while it’s light out.)
	Hm, but like I thought, I can’t reach it without a stepladder, huh?
Masumi	Hey, what are you doing?
Izumi	Ah, Masumi-kun.
	You see, I was thinking I’d replace this right now…
Masumi	—!
	The lightbulb…!
	I’ll do that.
Izumi	Ehh, are you sure?
	Thank you, that helps.
Masumi	*Sigh*… You saying thank you to me is the best.
	It’s cute that your hand can’t reach the lightbulb too…
	Ok, I’ll be back.
Izumi	Wait, where are you…
	*leaves*
	…And he’s gone.
	I guess he’s going to change the lightbulb later?
Omi	Is something wrong, Director?
Masumi	(Where’s the stepladder…)
	There it is.
	(If I change the lightbulb using this, then just like that drama, towards me, she'll…)
	…I better get back quickly.
Izumi	Thanks, Omi-kun.
Omi	You’re welcome.
Masumi	…!
	…Did you change the lightbulb?
Izumi	Yeah, just now, Omi-kun—.
	Oh, Masumi-kun, don't tell me you went out of your way to go get a stepladder!? S-sorry…
Masumi	It’s not your fault.
	I’m the one who didn’t tell you properly.
	…Omi, did you reach it without a stepladder?
Omi	Y-yeah…
	Sorry about that, Masumi.
Masumi	It’s fine.
Izumi	(So Masumi-kun says, but I still can’t help but feel guilty.)
Masumi	I meant it’s fine since I just need to be tall enough that I don’t need a stepladder, just like Omi.
Izumi	EHH!?
Masumi	I'll quit water and tea starting today, and I’ll have milk for all my drinks.
Izumi	No, you don’t need to go that far…!
Omi	I think Masumi is tall enough already… But if you’re going to say that much, then I’ll come up with a menu that’s full of calcium too.
Masumi	…Really?
Omi	Sure thing.
Masumi	Then I’ll leave it to you, Omi.
	Please do.
Omi	Haha, understood.

Anna