Masumi Usui/Ultimate Break Shot

Trick Heart Dedicated to You

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2Part 3

	*notification sound*
Masumi	—.
Tsumugi Tsukioka I’m heading over now
Tsumugi Tsukioka I’ll probably arrive in about 10 minutes
M.U I got it
Masumi	…
Male student A	Ah, could it be, you’re Usui Masumi-kun?
Masumi	Yeah I am, why? I’m in a hurry right now.
Male student A	This is sudden, but won’t you do a part-time job?
Masumi	…?
Male student A	Ah, it’s not a weird job so don’t worry.
	An acquaintance of mine is going to open a billiards café soon.
	So it’s just for the opening week, but it’d be helpful if we could get you to work part-time.
Masumi	No thanks.
Male student A	I’m begging you! The hourly wage is good too, see!
Masumi	*Sigh*… Why me?
Male student A	Because you’re a good-looking guy.
Masumi	Ha?
Male student A	If rumour spreads that there’s a hot guy there, I thought lots of customers would come.
	So then, I was thinking I had to ask you who became a hot topic as soon as you entered this school.
Masumi	That’s ridiculous.
	*leaves*
Inabe	Ah—I’m Inabe, a 3rd year in the Faculty of Economics!
	If you change your mind, give a shout—!
Tsumugi	Ah, Masumi-kun, over here.
Masumi	…
Tsumugi	Sorry for inviting you to have tea out of the blue?
Masumi	It’s fine. I wanted you to tell me a recommended café that’s close to university.
Tsumugi	Really? Then that’s a relief.
	That being said, it sure is nostalgic.
	Both the shop’s appearance and its menu hasn’t changed much from back then.
Masumi	Tsumugi, you came here often too when you were a student at Fuyou?
Tsumugi	Yes.
	It’s quiet and calm so I read books here when classes were over,
	And when I was free, I got to do a bit of my assignments.
Masumi	Your recommendation is?
Tsumugi	Here, the iced coffee is really tasty.
	I guess I like the cold brew more than the drip coffee.
Masumi	Hmmm.
Tsumugi	Masumi-kun, are you hungry?
Masumi	Kind of.
Tsumugi	The hot keema curry sandwich is also delicious.
Masumi	I’ll get that.
Tsumugi	As expected, you chose curry right away, huh?
	Excuse me, we’d like to order.
Masumi	…It’s tasty.
Tsumugi	Right? I’m glad.
	How was university today?
Masumi	…I was invited to a part-time job at a billiards café.
Tsumugi	Wow, that sounds interesting. Will you do it?
Masumi	Of course I refused.
Tsumugi	Eh, is that so? What a shame.
	It seems like it suits Masumi-kun, and it’ll definitely become great experience.
Masumi	I’m not interested.
Tsumugi	…Ah, that reminds me, I went to watch this stage today.
	Here, the flyer.
Masumi	“Romance White Paper - Colour of Circle”…?
Tsumugi	It’s a story of love and friendship between 7 men and women, but within it, there’s a scene where a pair exchanges their feelings at a billiards hall.
Masumi	Hmmm.
Tsumugi	Actually, I went to watch this stage as Director’s recommendation.
Masumi	…!
Tsumugi	It seems like Director really likes that billiards hall scene.
Masumi	I’ll take this flyer.
Tsumugi	Go ahead.
	It looks like the show is probably running until the weekend.
Masumi	I got it.

Masumi	…
???	Welcome~.
	Sorry, we’re still in the middle of getting ready—.
Masumi	…Is the billiards café here?
	I heard about it from some Inabe person.
???	Ah, are you perhaps Masumi-kun!?
	I heard the story from Inacchi~!
	I’m the store manager, Nishikido.
	Call me Nikki.
Masumi	Haa…
Nishikido	I was told he was refused at first, but seriously thank you for thinking it over~.
Masumi	Well, I changed my mind, so.
Nishikido	Uwahh, thank god~!
	Either way, you’re a real stud, huh!
	Masumi-kun, you’re super popular, right!?
Masumi	Not really…
Nishikido	That cool side is also super hot~!
Masumi	…
	(He’s annoying but good thing I’m used to it with Kazunari.)
Nishikido	Nice work—!
	Masumi-kun, you were perfect~!
Masumi	Thanks.
Nishikido	It’s alright now if you head out for the day~.
Masumi	Hey… Is it ok if I practise billiards for a bit?
Nishikido	‘Course! Ah, did you come to like billiards!?
	If you’d like, you can also stay here forever~?
Masumi	I’ll pass on that.
Nishikido	Aw, too bad! If you change your mind, say so anytime~.
Masumi	First, do the form perfectly, then after…
Nishikido	Masumi-kun… Could it be that you want to show your girlfriend your cool side?
Masumi	…Be quiet.
Nishikido	That shy face is also hot~!
Masumi	…So annoying.
Nishikido	Well there's lots of techniques that shine~.
	Do you have a technique or something that you wanna try doing?
Masumi	…Actually—.
	I’m home.
Izumi	Masumi-kun, welcome back.
	Supper is curry; are you going to eat?
Masumi	I’ll eat it.
Izumi	I’ll warm it up so wait a sec.
	Yep, here you go.
Masumi	Itadakimasu.
Izumi	All things considered, you’re late today, huh?
	Is your part-time job tough since it just opened?
Masumi	…Yeah. But it’s only for a week.
Izumi	I see. Don’t overdo it, ok?
Masumi	…Next time, Director should come play too.
Izumi	Billiards, huh…
	I saw it recently in a play, so I did become a little interested in it.
	I wouldn’t be able to go without an opportunity like this, so I guess I’ll go try it out.
Masumi	I’m glad. I’ll be waiting.
Izumi	Alright, take your time eating, ok?
	It’s fine if you leave the dishes as they are.
Masumi	Thanks.
Chikage	…Good for you, hm?
Itaru	Congrats.
Azuma	Fufu, shall we cheers to that?
Masumi	Shut up.
	(That technique, I'll definitely make it a success.)

Masumi	…Alright.
	*door chimes*
Izumi	Good evening~.
Masumi	Director, over here.
Izumi	Masumi-kun. The uniform really suits you!
Masumi	…Thank you.
Nishikido	Oh~, a bashful Masumi-kun is extremely rare.
	Can I snap a pic?
Masumi	…Stop it.
Nishikido	Ah! Could it be, you’re “Director”-san?
Izumi	Ah, yes.
Nishikido	Ah—, yes yes! I see, I see!
	Come in~, I’m the store manager Nishikido, or Nikki.
	Masumi-kun is seriously working super hard everyday~.
	Director-san, please enjoy yourself too, alright~!
Izumi	T-thank you very much.
	(He sure is a high-energy store manager…
	It feels similar to Kazunari…)
Masumi	Want to try playing billiards?
Izumi	Yes, I want to!
Masumi	Over here.
	This stick is the cue, this white ball is the cue ball, the coloured balls are the object balls.
	Hit the cue ball with the cue to hit the object ball and sink it into the pocket.
	Those are just the basic rules.
Izumi	I got it.
	*hits*
	H-huh? I can’t hit it well.
Masumi	…I’ll assist you from behind, so try getting into position once again.
Izumi	S-sure.
Masumi	Like this, from this angle—.
	*hits*
Izumi	I did it!
Masumi	You’re good.
Izumi	(…Huh? This situation is familiar…)
Masumi	I’ll go get us drinks.
	Director, wait here.
Izumi	(Hmm, this is déjà vu after all…
	Where did I see this…?)
Customer	Um, excuse me.
Izumi	…?
Masumi	Sorry for the wait.
Izumi	Thank you.
	This bottled cola is so retro and cute.
	(Hm? It’s like I saw this cola somewhere too…)
	Ah! I remember…!
	There was something similar in the play that I watched the other day.
Masumi	…Hmm.
Izumi	In a youth ensemble performance where 7 men and women appear.
	It was in a really lovely scene in the show where one of the pairs falls in love.
Masumi	Heh. Is that so.
CHOICE 1: It was a scene that I like, so I’m happy. [+] Izumi It was a scene that I like, so I’m happy. Masumi …Cute. Izumi Eh? Masumi Your smiling face. Izumi There you go again. Masumi I only say it to you. Izumi …H-how about we try playing billiards one more time? Masumi Sure. I’ll accompany you as many times as you’d like.
CHOICE 2: Such a coincidence exists, huh? [+] Izumi Such a coincidence exists, huh? Masumi It might not be a coincidence. Izumi Eh? Masumi …It’s nothing. Let’s play billiards one more time? Izumi Yeah! Will you teach me? Masumi If you want to play, I will as many times as you’d like.
Izumi	Wah, it’s already this time.
	I became absorbed without thinking.
Masumi	Was it fun?
Izumi	Yeah, it really was!
Masumi	I’m glad.
	…Hey, there’s one final thing I want you to see.
Izumi	…?
Masumi	I’ll sink all the balls on this table in one shot.
Izumi	Can you do something like that?
Masumi	You watch from there. Using this cue ball—.
	…Huh?
	(That ball is gone…?)
	There should’ve been a spare ball placed here though.
Izumi	Ahh, about that—.
Customer	Woah, this cue ball has a heart on it! Cute!
Customer	It really does, I didn’t notice!
Masumi	Wait, is that...
Izumi	When Masumi-kun left to go get the drinks, I was asked to lend it to them and I handed it over…
	Sorry, was that wrong of me…?
Masumi	…It’s ok.
	I’ll get one from another table.
Izumi	(The cue ball with a heart… Could it be…)
	Thanks for today.
	I really had fun~.
Masumi	…Me too.
Izumi	That trick shot at the end was really cool.
	It’s amazing that you made such a hard shot in one go!
	Did you practice?
Masumi	…Yeah.
Izumi	(Masumi-kun looks pretty down)
	(As expected, that cue ball…)
	Could it be… You really planned to sink the cue ball too?
Masumi	…! You noticed?
Izumi	I knew it, so it was like that, huh?
	In the stage that I mentioned before, there was a scene where the guy sunk all the balls, including the cue ball, in one shot.
	In the scene, the cue ball that was sunk has a heart mark drawn on it, and then he confesses to the heroine…
	I overheard the conversation of the customers I lent the cue ball to, so I thought that might’ve been it.
Masumi	…To be honest, that’s right.
	I heard from Tsumugi and went to watch that play.
	And then… I wanted to make you happy, so I thought I’d recreate that billiards hall scene.
Izumi	Sorry…
	Even though you put in so much effort for me, I ruined it, huh…
Masumi	That’s not true.
	I wasn’t able to recreate the scene from the play, but it’s fine if you had fun.
Izumi	Seriously, it was really fun.
	Thank you, Masumi-kun.
Masumi	If you’re happy, then I’m happy too.
	But…
Izumi	?
Masumi	I want to get revenge, so once I get paid, go on a billiards date with me.
Izumi	(Uh… If I’m invited like that then I can’t refuse.)
	(Getting so good at inviting me; he’s gotten sneaky…)
	(…I guess Masumi-kun has also grown up a little, huh?)
	Ok, sure.
Masumi	I'll definitely sink it without fail—Your heart.

Anna