Sakuya Sakuma/I Want to Send My Heart

Because You're Precious to Me

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

TV	‘Next up is a special feature. Here are some of the latest trends!’
Juza	…
	*Door opens*
Sakuya	Oh, Juza-kun. Don’t you have school?
Juza	Nah, lecture was canceled.
Sakuya	Gotcha.
TV	‘Today’s theme is White Day! Here’s a collection of the most popular sweets as of late!’
Juza	!
Sakuya	(Juza-kun is watching so intently… Those sweets do look really good, though.)
Juza	…That parfait’s real good. ‘N those chocolates ya can buy as souvenirs to take home are real good, too. I recommend ‘em.
	I see! That’s incredible that you know so much, Juza-kun.
	Nah, it really ain’t that much…
Sakuya	…
	…It really is almost White Day, huh?
Juza	? …’S somethin’ the matter?
Sakuya	No, nothing’s wrong or anything!
	It’s just… I’ve already decided on what I’m gonna give back to the people at my part-time jobs, but I still don’t know what I should give the director…
	I just get kinda stuck around this time every year.
	I’d like to ask everyone else for help, but I’m sure they’ll think of something and then just give it to her themselves, so I don’t know if I should ask everyone every time…
Juza	I don’t think that’s that big of a problem.
Sakuya	Really?
Juza	I don’t think anyone’d have a problem with that.
	…I mean, I asked Rento-san ‘bout it before.
Sakuya	Rento-san?
Juza	Yea. Apparently, he’s been gettin’ a lotta chocolate for some time now ‘cause of his job. That’s why he’s so used to White Day.
	If you’re strugglin’ to ask people, why don’t ya try talkin’ to Rento-san, Sakuya?
	Plus, he ain’t someone from the dorms, so he’s prolly the perfect person to try talkin’ to.
Sakuya	Yeah… I guess you’re right! I’ll try asking next time I see him.
Juza	…Also, it ain’t really advice or anythin’, but I can help ya out too if ya want.
Sakuya	Wait, really?
Juza	Yea, if my knowledge can be useful to ya.
Sakuya	Thanks! I’ll do my best to come up with something to give her.
Juza	Cheerin’ for ya.
Izumi	Alright, I guess that’s about it for the meeting. Thank you so much, Akashi-kun and Rento-san.
Rento	Yeah, thanks much.
Akashi	Thank you… very much…!
	*Door opens*
Sakuya	Um… excuse me!
Izumi	Sakuya-kun? What’s up?
Sakuya	Wait, Director!?
	(What do I do? I came to the theater to see if Rento-san was here now, but I didn’t think the director would be here too…!)
	Er, umm… Well… there’s something I wanted to ask Rento-san…
Rento	Me? What’s up?
Sakuya	Ahh, umm… Well, I wanna talk to you about something…
Akashi	…
Rento	(Is there some kinda specific reason?)
	Sorry, Director-san. Can ya give us a minute?
Izumi	Huh? I can, but… Well, just give me a call if you need anything else.
Rento	You bet. Thanks~.
	*Door closes*
	Aight, what’s up?
Sakuya	Ah, it’s nothing, just, umm… Well, I wanted to ask you about what I should give the director…
Rento	Well, damn~! So you wanted to talk about White Day! So that’s why ya couldn’t talk with Director-san around~!
Akashi	T-Thank goodness. I thought there might’ve been… something bothering you, Sakuya-san… What a relief.
Sakuya	Ahaha… Sorry about that.
	Juza-kun said that you might know a thing or two, Rento-san. Something about you getting lots of chocolates for quite some time now…
Rento	I mean, there’s just a lotta people involved in this kinda job~. That’s why I’ve gotten so many.
Sakuya	I never thought about it like that…!
Akashi	That’s… amazing… I don’t… get that many, though…
Rento	I mean, they were all just ‘cause of social obligations ‘n all that.
	How do I put it… it’s just doin’ the polite thing, ya know? It’s easier to give somethin’ to someone ‘cause you’re obligated to~.
Sakuya	It’s easier with people you’re obligated to give something to…
Rento	I mean, pretty much. If you’re gettin’ stuck like that, at least it means ya care about her.
Sakuya	…!
Rento	If I’m bein’ honest, my advice prolly isn’t gonna help ya. If you’re talkin’ about someone who’s precious to you, that is.
	You got somethin’ to add, Akashi?
Akashi	Oh! …I don’t really… have anything…
	B-But… I’m sure that… anything that you come up with… will bring a smile to her face, Sakuya-san.
Rento	Anyway, you don’t gotta worry. I mean, ya can just keep askin’ people until you’re satisfied, can’t ya?
	You’ve still got until White Day!
Sakuya	…You’re right. I’ll try thinking about it a little bit more!

Sakuya	Hmm…
Kasumi	Ah! Sakuya-kun!?
Sakuya	Kasumi-san!?
	Wow, what a coincidence. Are you out shopping too, Kasumi-san?
Kasumi	I am. I’m looking for sweets to give to everyone in my department.
	But more importantly, you looked pretty troubled while looking at that sweets collection—.
	Could it be that you’re once again looking for a gift for that person who’s so precious to you…!?
Sakuya	Actually, I’m just trying to pick out a gift to give to her for White Day…
Kasumi	WHAT!? C-Could it be that she’s your significant other…!?
Sakuya	Ah, um! I just want to convey how thankful I am to the director every day for always looking out for me…!
Kasumi	Ah, I-I see…! Ahaha, I guess I just misunderstood you.
	But affectionate feelings like those are definitely important. I’d love to help you out if you’d like!
Sakuya	Thank you so much! As of now, I’ve just been looking around at these shops that Juza-kun told me about, but—.
Kasumi	What!? This entire list is from Juza-kun!?
	That’s incredible. You could do several magazine features just based on this list alone…!
Sakuya	I’m sure all of them are delicious, but every one of them has its own special characteristics, so I’m really lost on deciding which to go with…
	Akashi-san also told me that ‘my feelings are important,’ but that honestly just made me even more lost…
Kasumi	…
	Sakuya-kun, I’m sure that…
Sakuya	?
Kasumi	What you choose is important, but more than anything, I think what’s most meaningful is that you yourself give it to her directly, Sakuya-kun.
Sakuya	That I…
Kasumi	Besides, if you’re not able to express how thankful you are to the director the way you want to—.
	Simply ‘wanting to convey how you feel’ is already a kind of gift itself.
Sakuya	Kasumi-san…!
Kasumi	I mean it. Your actions have more influence than you think they do, Sakuya-kun.
	I was able to finally take a step forward, thanks to you. You see? I’ve experienced it firsthand, so how could I possibly be wrong?
Sakuya	…Thank you so much!
	Director… Will you please accept this? It’s a White Day gift for you.
Izumi	Aww…! Thank you, Sakuya-kun.
CHOICE 1: What's inside? [+] Izumi The way it’s wrapped is so cute. What’s inside? Sakuya All the cookies and macarons looked really good, so I was kinda lost on what to get, but… This time, I ultimately went with chocolates! Izumi Hehe, you must’ve given it a lot of thought. Sakuya Actually, I tried talking to a bunch of different people because of how lost I was. But it’s thanks to everyone’s great advice that I was able to finally pick something out for you myself! Izumi (Sakuya-kun really put a lot of thought into choosing something for me. I really am thankful.)
CHOICE 2: Is it chocolates? [+] Izumi Is it chocolates inside? Sakuya Wait, how’d you know? Izumi Because of the wrapping paper. This place is famous for its chocolates. Sakuya Actually, the store worker let me sample some, so I had a little bit, too, but… it was really good! Izumi I see! I’ll have to take my time and savor them then. Sakuya Yeah! I’ll be really happy if you savor them!
Sakuya	So yeah, there are chocolates inside, but… I really just wanted to let you know how I feel by giving them to you.
	I really am thankful for you every day, Director. If it weren’t for you, I’m sure I would’ve just about lost my mind by now.
	That’s why I truly am so happy to be able to put my feelings into words like this. And I’ll keep trying my hardest so that I can express how thankful I am again next year—.
	Director. I hope that you’ll stay by my side for a long time to come.
Izumi	…Hehe. That was kind of like a proposal.
Sakuya	Ah!
	Umm… Well—.
Izumi	I hope so, too. To the Fleur Award and beyond.
	That’s why I’ll be relying on you.
Sakuya	…Yeah!
	(I hope my feelings were able to get through to her, even if only a little…)

Juju