Misumi Ikaruga/Bursting☆Starmine

Spending 30 Days with a Cat

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2Part 3

Misumi	President-san, I’m here~!
Izumi	Thank you for coming. To tell you the truth, a new job offer has come for you Misumi-kun.
Misumi	For me? What kinda job?
Izumi	It’s a project from an animal variety show. The show is called, “All Out! Fluffy Share House”—
	The contents say that you’ll have to look after a rescue cat within the span of a month, and take some pictures while doing so.
Misumi	A rescue cat!?
Izumi	You often post videos and pictures playing with stray cats on social media, don’t you, Misumi-kun?
	The people in charge of the variety show saw that side of you, and reached out asking if they could put you up to the challenge.
Misumi	After seeing me with those cats…!
Izumi	There will be a camera set up in the room at all times, but there will still be situations where you’ll have to take some pictures yourself, Misumi-kun.
	So caregiving aside, there still seems to be a bit of a burden…but what do you think?
Misumi	I wanna do it!
Izumi	Thanks. I had a feeling that you would say that, Misumi-kun.
	Then, I will contact the staff and let them know that you’ll take on the challenge.
Misumi	I’m looking forward to it!
Izumi	And you’ll have to take care of the cat here in the dorms, so I’ll let the other members know as well.
Misumi	O—k!
	[Later]
Misumi	Kitty, this is your new home~. It’s not scary, so take your time coming in.
Facility Staff	This little one’s name is Salmon.
Misumi	Salmon-chan! I’m looking forward to it~.
Salmon	…
Facility Staff	This little one has gotten somewhat used to being around people, but it seems like they’re still a little timid…
	I would appreciate it if you were able to slowly become acquainted with one another.
Misumi	Got it!
Facility Staff	If anything happens, feel free to contact me anytime. Well then, I’m looking forward to it.
Misumi	Thank you very much!
	Now it’s just the two of us~. Salmon-chan, let’s get along from here on out.
Salmon	...
Misumi	(They’re staring at me from inside the cage all the way over there… They must be feeling stressed since they just got here.)
	(Maybe they’d like to be left alone for a while~…)
	Well then Salmon-chan, I’m going to step out for a bit so call me if you need anything!
	[Leaves]
Salmon	...
	[Outside]
Kumon	Ah, Sumi-san! The cat has finally arrived, right? How’s it going?
Misumi	They seem kind of stressed.
	So, to make sure they get used to our room I was thinking that I should give them some alone time~!
Kumon	I see. Then, I’ll make sure not to go into our room for the time being as well!
Misumi	Sorry for dragging you into this, Kumon.
Kumon	No worries! If anything, when I heard that we were going to be living with a cat, I was really really looking forward to it!
Misumi	Kumon, thank you!
Kumon	Anyways, those clothes are really animal variety show-esque! Did the staff prepare them for you?
Misumi	That’s right~! These overalls are nice, aren’t they!

Misumi	Salmon-chan, I’ve brought you some food~. Make sure to eat a lot~.
Salmon	Meow~.
Misumi	Wah, they’ve quietly let me pet them…!
	I should take a picture of this.
Kumon	Compared to earlier, it seems like they’ve become fairly attached.
Misumi	Yeah! So I was thinking that it’d be nice to let them come out of their cage to get used to their surroundings.
	Salmon-chan, I’ll keep the cage open from now on, so try to come out at your own pace.
Salmon	Meow.
Kumon	Shouldn’t we try to be careful when leaving our room so they don’t end up slipping out?
Misumi	That’s right~. We should try to be careful when leaving!
	You too Salmon-chan, make sure not to leave through that door.
Salmon	Meow.
	[Later]
Misumi	(For Salmon-chan’s snack…this should be enough.)
Tenma	So you were here, Misumi. The President says that she wants you to come to her office.
Misumi	Got it~! But, why are you telling me Tenma?
Tenma	She more or less sent you a LIME message, but thought you were too busy taking care of the cat, so she asked me to tell you.
Misumi	Eh?
	You’re right! She messaged me.
Tenma	Since you’re busy taking care of the cat, she said you can come whenever you have the time.
Misumi	Tenma, thank you~! I’ll go after giving Salmon-chan their snack!
	[Later]
Misumi	President-san! I’m here~.
Izumi	Aah, Misumi-kun. The magazine questionnaire has been sent out in advance, so could you take a look at it?
Misumi	U—m…oh~. There are so many questions!
Izumi	Also, they said that they’d like to include some of your best recently taken shots, so they asked if you could send them some pictures.
Misumi	The theme is… triangles?
Izumi	They chose a theme that would suit you, Misumi-kun.
Misumi	I’m so happy~. But, it’ll probably be really hard to choose!
Izumi	Give it some thought until the deadline.
Misumi	Got it!
Izumi	Now that I think about it, how’s it going with the cat?
Misumi	Once I started feeding them, they let me pet them!
	I feel like I’m becoming friends with Salmon-chan one step at a time~.
Izumi	Fufu, I’m glad. Your kindness and consideration seem to be contagious, Misumi-kun.
	[Later]
Misumi	I’m back….huh, Kumon’s not here~. Did he have work to do?
	Salmon-chan, I’m back!…Seems like they’re not in the cage.
	Where could you be, Salmon-chan~?
	[A little later]
Misumi	Not here…! Where are you Salmon-chan!?
	(I’ve searched the entire room, but I can’t find them… Don’t tell me they left our room!?)
	[Outside]
Misumi	Salmon-chan!
Kazunari	Sumi, what’s up?
Misumi	Ah, Kazu! You see, Salmon-chan seems to have left our room…!
Kazunari	Eh, that’s not good! Let’s get everyone else to help search!
	Lemme send a message in the group chat….alright, ok!
	I’ll help you look too!
Misumi	Thanks, Kazu…
Kazunari	It’s ok, Sumi! We’ll definitely find them!
Misumi	Yeah…!

Muku	Ah, Kazu-san! Did you find Salmon-chan?
Kazunari	Nuh uh, not yet. We’re looking all over the place with Sumi but…
Yuki	I just checked the lounge area and the kitchen myself, but they weren’t there.
Misumi	Where could they have gone…
Yuki	There are still places we haven’t checked yet. Don’t feel discouraged until we‘ve searched every place we possibly can.
Muku	We’ll go look in the storage room as well!
Misumi	Thanks you two….!
	[Later]
Misumi	Ah, Juza!
Juza	!? Why’re you in such a rush—
Misumi	Juza, have you seen Salmon-chan!?
Juza	Salmon… I-I haven’t…
	Could they have gotten lost?
Misumi	Yeah, I left their cage open and before I knew it, they’d disappeared.
	Even though I told them not to go past the door…
Juza	Then, they could still be inside your room.
Misumi	Eh? But I had thoroughly searched my room~?
Juza	Or maybe they could be hidin’ in a really obscure spot in your room which made it so you still couldn’t find em even after searchin’ everywhere…
	I dunno much about cats but, I heard from Kumon that the cat you’re takin’ care of got really attached to you, Misumi-san.
	You told the cat not to leave your room, so I kinda get the feelin’ that they actually followed your orders…
Misumi	I see… yeah, that could be the case too. I’ll go search my room thoroughly one more time!
	[Later]
Misumi	Ah—! Salmon-chan!
Salmon	Meow?
Misumi	I found you—!
	And, you’re on the cushion!? You weren’t there before, were you?
Salmon	Pu~rrr.
Misumi	Eh, you hid on purpose just to surprise me?
	Could it be…. that you like hide and seek?
Salmon	Meow!
Misumi	So that’s what it was… I’ll make sure to find you wa—y more quickly next time!
	Ah, I need to let everyone else know that I found you, Salmon-chan!
	[Later]
Variety Show Staff	Alright then, let’s start shooting the farewell scene—.
Misumi	(This day has finally arrived…)
	Salmon-chan… I had a lot of fun with you throughout this past month. I’m really grateful.
Salmon	… Meow.
Misumi	Take care.
Salmon	Meow~ …
Tenma	Misumi seems really sad.
Kazunari	Salmon-chan also looks really sad being pet by Sumi…
Yuki	And to think how shy Salmon was at first.
Muku	Now they’ve become so attached to Misumi-san…
Misumi	.....
Kumon	Right! How about we all take one final picture together?
Variety Show Staff	Ah, in that case I will take the photo.
Misumi	Is that really ok!? Thank you so much…!
Variety Show Staff	Alright then, everyone gather around Misumi-san as he holds Salmon-chan in his arms—.....
Misumi	(Right. I was contemplating on what to send to the magazine people as my best shot…)
Salmon	Me~ow.
Misumi	(I took so many pictures with Salmon-chan, so I’ll choose one out of those that sticks out to me the most.)
	[Later]
Variety Show Chairman	Well then Misumi-san, cue the VTR!
Misumi	Ye—s! Alright then…
	Please enjoy watching my life with Salmon-chan!

RedBungyMK