Muku Sakisaka/Like a mirror

Aspiring Campus Life

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

Kazunari	As for what’s happening right now…
Muku	Wow, so many events are being held around here.
Kazunari	Yep, there’s quite a lot going on.
	By the way, why’d you ask me to show you some exhibition flyers?
	Is this for role study?
Muku	Hah… it was weird of me to ask you to show me the flyers all of a sudden, wasn’t it?
	I knew it, I’m just a paint brush that didn’t get washed after being used and got all stiff and prickly…
Kazunari	Woah, woah, chill out! I don’t think it’s weird at all!
Muku	S-sorry, I just…
	I mean… the exhibits Summer troupe held together the other day to prepare for our roles were lots of fun.
	So that’s why I wanted to see more exhibits like that for my role study. And if possible, I’d like to make one of my own…
Kazunari	Aha, gotcha!
	I’m glad to hear it caught your interest.
	Hmm, exhibitions… AH!
	I got it! It might be a tad different from an exhibition, but I think there’s a place where your wish will be granted, Mukkun!
Banri	…So, why’re you here of all places?
Kazunari	Settzer, my man. I heard you were working as a guide at Amabi’s open campus ♪
Muku	I’m so sorry. It’s because I said I wanted to go…
Banri	Nah, I don’t mind or anythin’. But…
Kumon	Uwahh, this is so cool! Is that huge thing a piece of art!?
Misumi	Wowie, it’s full of triangles~!
	I wonder if this person likes triangles too.
Tenma	What is this…
Yuki	Hold it. Keep your surroundings in mind when you take off your sunglasses.
Izumi	Be careful not to touch the art, alright, everyone?
Banri	Did ya really need to bring Director-chan and the rest of Summer troupe along?
Kazunari	It’s chill, it’s chill. Just call it role study ♪
Banri	Geez, conveniently pulling the role study card.
	Well, whatevs. Here’s the pamphlet for today.
Tenma	Great, thanks.
Muku	There’s so many different exhibits…!
	I have no idea where to start.
Banri	You wanted to go to a workshop, didn’t you, Muku?
	If you’re lookin’ for something easy to do, then there should be some around the painting building…
	There was also some interesting 3D stuff.
Yuki	Heh, look at you acting like a proper guide with the introductions.
Banri	Well, yeah.
Izumi	The workshops sound interesting.
	There’s so many different kinds, it’s hard to decide which one to try.
Kazunari	Alright, let’s start with the spot Settzer recommended for now!
Muku	Wow…!
Misumi	Amazing, amazing! Where should we start~?
Yuki	There’s an oil painting replicating class…
Kumon	And over there’s a sculpture workshop!
Tenma	Workshops are being held for every major.
Muku	Ah, there’s a mosaic art workshop…!
Kazunari	Ooh, did that catch your eye, Mukkun?
Muku	Yeah. There was a solo exhibit of a mosaic artist in the flyers you showed me the other day.
	I thought it looked incredible when I saw it.
	I’d love to give mosaic art a shot too.
Izumi	That sounds fun. Perhaps I’ll give it a try too.
	Can I go with you, Muku-kun?
Muku	Of course, be my guest!
Kazunari	Okay!
	It looks like everybody has a class they’d like to join—
	Let’s go to the spots we wanna go and regroup again later!
Kumon	Sounds like a plan!
Misumi	See you guys later~.

Izumi	Mmm…
	(Mosaic art where you arrange stones of all sorts of different colours…
	The tool is different from when you paint. Using coloured stones to draw is harder than I imagined.)
	(Muku-kun is…)
Muku	Next up… maybe this colour.
Izumi	(I was worried, but he’s placing the stones just fine.)
	(…Ah, a shape is slowly forming.)
	Is that a cat?
Muku	You got it!
Izumi	Wow, you’ve got a knack for this, Muku-kun!
	It’s looks adorable.
	Even though it’s stone, it feels it conveys your warmth and softness.
Muku	Wah, thank you very much…!
CHOICE 1: It’s hard but fun. [+] Izumi Mosaic art is hard but fun. Muku Yeah! I’m getting more and more absorbed into it. I mentioned this earlier, but it caught my interest when Kazu-kun was showing me a bunch of different exhibition flyers. Experiencing it myself, I felt the charm of mosaic art even more, and I want to visit a solo exhibit now! Director-san, if you don’t mind, won’t you come with me to an exhibit next time? Izumi Sure! I’d love to. Muku Thank you! Fufu, I can’t wait.
CHOICE 2: What colour would work here? [+] Izumi I was thinking of making a flower. What colour would work here? Muku Let me see… what do you think about this colour? Izumi I see. That looks cute. Yeah, I guess I’ll go with that. Thanks, Muku-kun. Muku Not at all! I’m happy that I get to create this art with you too.
Instructor	Oh my, this is…
	Why, this is just stellar. It came out really well.
Muku	! Thank you very much…!
Instructor	Is this your first time?
	You might have talent for this.
Muku	Ehh!
Izumi	That’s great, Muku-kun!
Muku	Ehehe, does this bring me a little closer to my role?
	I was able to learn so much from the mosaic art experience.
Izumi	Yeah, same here.
Student	There’s gonna be a lecture held in this hall later on.
Muku	A lecture?
Izumi	Ah, there’s a poster over here.
	The lecturer is…
Muku	Woah! It’s Yumeka-sensei!
	They’re the author of a shoujo manga that I love!
Izumi	I know them too! They’re a famous writer, aren’t they?
Muku	I knew they were an alumni of Amabi university, but I never imagined they’d be here to hold a lecture...
	I’d love to attend it too!
Student	Those who have a numbered ticket, please enter through that entrance.
Muku	Eh…
Izumi	It looks like you need a numbered ticket to go in…
Muku	O-oh, you’re right…
	It’s too bad, but there’s nothing we can do about that.
Banri	Oh, ain’t it Muku and Director-chan?
	Did you guys go to a workshop?
Kazunari	How’d it go?
Izumi	Banri-kun, Kazunari-kun.
Muku	…
Banri	?
Kazunari	Mukkun? You look like someone rained on your parade.
	Did something happen?
Izumi	The truth is…
Banri	I see.
	Oi, Muku.
Muku	Y-yes.
Banri	Take this. It’s a numbered ticket for the lecture.
Muku	EHH!?
Banri	I was assigned to help take care of a guest at another lecture this time.
	I got that as thanks for that.
	I think that’s actually a staff seat ticket? They said two people can enter with 1 of ‘em.
Muku	Eh, but…
Banri	I’m gonna be stationed somewhere else so I originally couldn’t go anyways. I’ll let you have ‘em, Muku.
	Aight then, I’m heading out.
	See ya.
Kazunari	Catch you later, Settzer!
Muku	Thank you so much, Banri-san…!
Izumi	Good luck, Banri!
Kazunari	Good for you, huh? Now you can go to the lecture!
Muku	Yeah…!
Kazunari	You know the writer too, don’tcha, Director-chan?
	You two should go together.
Izumi	Ehh, are you sure?
Kazunari	No give backsies! Have a blast, ‘kay ♪
Yumeka	When I draw coloured illustrations, I…
Muku	…
Izumi	(Muku-kun is listening really intently.
	He’s even taking notes… I’m glad we were able to come.)
	*applause*
Muku	*Sigh*, that felt like a dream.
Izumi	That was interesting. We got to hear all sorts of different stories.
	Ah! They’re selling books to be signed by the author after this!
	It looks like they’ll be signing them in person.
Muku	! U-um, I’d love to buy one!
	Is that okay?
Izumi	Yeah, of course! Let’s go!
Yumeka	Hi there.
Muku	H-hello! I really love your works, Yumeka-sensei. They always make my heart flutter!
Yumeka	Wow, I’m happy to hear that.
Muku	Can I have your autograph…!
Yumeka	Yes!
Muku	U-um… can I ask you a few questions?
Yumeka	I don’t mind. What would you like?
Muku	You works are so bittersweet and they’re full of lovely plotlines and heart-skipping scenes…!
	Among them, the scene in "Thunder Love" where Rai-kun and Sora-chan try to convey their feelings for each other—.
	Did you already come up with that at the beginning of the story?
	And how did you draw the scene in “Draw a Heart” where Spica-chan summons her magic?
	A-and also, for the manga being serialized right now…
Izumi	(Woah, Muku’s flooding them with questions…!)
	Kazunari; Ah, they’re back!
Misumi	Welcome back, Muku, Director-san~.
Yuki	I heard you went to the lecture of a manga author.
	How was it?
Muku	It was the best thing ever…!
	I asked them for an autograph too.
Kumon	Seriously! That’s awesome!
Tenma	Good for you, Muku.
Muku	Yeah!
Izumi	(Muku-kun looks satisfied.)
	(That being said… I wonder if that barrage of questions was helpful for his role study?)
Muku	Yumeka-sensei was such a nice person!
	Their stories were so interesting, and…
Izumi	(Oh well. He looks really happy, so it’s fine.)

Anna