Muku Sakisaka/Premonition of Budding

Please Ticket: From Muku

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

Izumi	(I think this is everything I need. Now before I go home...)
Muku	Director-san!
Izumi	Ah, Muku-kun. You also came to the shopping district, huh.
Muku	Yes, a manga that I wanted was released today, so I went to the bookstore.
	Were you shopping Director-san? I’ve finished running my errands, so I’ll help you out.
Izumi	Thanks. If that’s the case, then could you accompany me for a bit?
	I’ve finished shopping but I received a raffle ticket earlier so I thought I would go back to redeem it…
Muku	Ok, understood!
Izumi	Alright then, let’s head over to the raffle drawing area.
	[A bit later]
Muku	Ah… that’s right. Director-san. When we go home, could I give you my「Please Ticket」?
	I kept thinking about giving it to you, but I couldn’t find the right timing…
Izumi	Yeah, I don’t particularly have anything else to do today, so you can give it to me whenever you want.
Muku	Thank you. If there’s anything you need from me, please let me know.
Izumi	Fufu, thank you.
	[Later]
Izumi	(Alright, we’ve arrived at the raffle drawing area… But come to think of it, I didn’t check what the prizes are.)
	I wonder what the grand prize could be?
Muku	Umm… over there it says that it’s a shopping district shopping voucher worth 100,000 yen.
Izumi	You’re right! I definitely have to win now…
Raffle Staff	Alright, next in line please~
Izumi	Seems like it’s my turn. Since we’re here, are you going to draw one too, Muku-kun?
Muku	No, I don’t have any luck when it comes to these things. Could I ask you to do it for me, Director-san…?
Izumi	Fufu, alright then. Make sure to root for me.
	(If possible, please let me win the shopping voucher…!)
Raffle Staff	… Congratulations! You’ve won the 3rd place prize!
Izumi	T-thank you very much.
	(3rd place huh…. Guess winning the grand prize really isn’t easy.)
Raffle Staff	Here’s the prize, a puzzle. Please take it with you!
	[Mankai Dormitory]
Izumi	(I ended up just coming home … I guess I’ll open the puzzle that I got as a prize earlier.)
Muku	Director-san, thank you for waiting. Here’s my 「Please Ticket」.
Izumi	Thanks, Muku-kun.
Muku	Is that the puzzle you won from the raffle earlier?
Izumi	Yeah, it seems like the finished puzzle is a picture of a cute cat.
Muku	That’s right. This cat looks similar to the cat puzzle we put together before, Director-san.
Izumi	It really does look similar. I hope I can complete this cat puzzle just like we did last time.
	(Is what I said, but doing this 500 piece puzzle alone is definitely going to take a lot of time…)
	…Ah, that's right!
	Muku-kun, I know this is kind of sudden but I’m going to write down that favor I want from you on the ticket now.
Muku	“I want you to help me complete this puzzle,” is your request?
Izumi	Yeah. If it’s alright, could I ask you to help me?
Muku	Of course. Let’s complete Mr. Cat together!
	[A little later]
Muku	…We’ve completed the corners of the puzzle, for now.
Izumi	We’re doing good so far. Then, for this next piece…
Yuki	What are you two doing?
Muku	Ah, Yuki-kun. Everyone else too…
Izumi	I won this puzzle as a prize at the shopping district's raffle, so I asked Muku-kun to help me put it together.
Kumon	Sounds fun-! Can I help a little too?
Tenma	If you need extra hands, I’ll help too.
Kazunari	OFC, me too!
Izumi	Yes, please! It’ll be reassuring if everyone in Summer Troupe is helping me.
Yuki	Since the corners have been completed, it seems like we need to start working on the border next.
Kazunari	Ah, I’ve heard that if you start by grouping the pieces by color, it’ll make it easier to put together.
Tenma	Then let’s try grouping the colors together. The white pieces can go here…
Misumi	I found a triangle~! If I connect this piece and this piece together, then it makes Mr. Cat’s triangle ears.
Kumon	That’s right! Sumi-san, you’re amazing-!
Yuki	Just as expected from the Triangle Alien.
Izumi	Fufu, since everyone has come to help, it’s gotten pretty lively.
Muku	Yes, this is so fun!

Muku	Urgh…
Izumi	There’s only a little bit left, but the remaining pieces don’t have any color or designs on them, so this is going to be difficult.
Muku	Yes, I can’t figure out at all which pieces go where anymore…
	Director-san, I’m sorry. I’m just completely useless…
Izumi	That’s not true at all. If it weren’t for Muku-kun, we definitely wouldn’t have been able to get this far.
Muku	But…
Izumi	(Muku-kun’s expression looks glum. He’s been focusing for so long, so it seems like he’s gotten pretty tired.)
	…Right. Muku-kun, do you want to take a break and go on a walk together?
	[Later]
Izumi	Just as expected, getting some fresh air really clears the mind.
Muku	You’re right… For some reason, I feel like my body has also gotten lighter.
Izumi	(Yeah. Muku-kun’s expression has also become a bit brighter.)
	Oh? This is…
Muku	Is something wrong?
Izumi	Look. Last time when we were building that puzzle together, we ended up sleeping in late the next day.
	I just remembered, on that day I ended up running late so you took my hand and led me to this shortcut.
	You were running really fast, so I was surprised.
Muku	It’s because Director-san was troubled that day…
	And well, I was also running late myself.
	But, whenever Director-san is troubled, I’ll always be there to take your hand and run with you just like I did that day.
Izumi	Fufu, I see.
CHOICE 1: Be gentle with me, though [+] Izumi Please be gentle with me. Muku Of course I will. It would be terrible if Director-san were to trip and fall. Izumi Actually, maybe I should start training my body so I can keep up with Muku-kun whenever that time comes. Muku Then, I’ll also take up some training so I don’t end up dragging Director-san down.
CHOICE 2: You’re really dependable! [+] Izumi Muku-kun is really dependable, as expected. Muku I’m not dependable… it’s just that, that’s all I can do for you. Izumi That’s not true at all. Like today, you helped me build that puzzle didn’t you? And besides that… you’ve helped me out more than you think, Muku-kun. Muku Eheheh, then I’m glad.
Izumi	(When we came here before, Muku-kun talked about how he used to be good at running in the past.)
	(But, now… I’m happy that Muku-kun is able to talk about running so enthusiastically.)
	[Mankai Dormitory]
Izumi	Alright, put this piece here and…done!
Muku	Congratulations, Director-san!
Izumi	Thanks a lot for today, Muku-kun. If it weren’t for you helping me, I’d never be able to complete this puzzle.
Muku	I’d like to thank you as well. I had a lot of fun building a puzzle with you again, Director-san.
	The cat on this puzzle is super cute, isn't it?
Izumi	Fufu, you’re right. I’ll set this aside for now and probably buy a decorative picture frame for it tomorrow.
Muku	…Um. Would it be ok for me to go shopping with you too?
Izumi	Yeah, of course. I’m looking forward to it tomorrow as well, Muku-kun!
Muku	Yes!

RedBungyMK