Sakuya Sakuma/The Luminous Circus

Swing Set Memories

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

Izumi	(I’m glad I made it in time for the supermarket’s limited-time sale!)
	(I was able to buy so many ingredients, so today I’ll make a colorful curry chock-full of everyone’s favorite summer vegetables! Hehe, I can’t wait.)
	…Huh?
	(Is that… Sakuya-kun on that swing set over there?)
	Sakuya-kun!
Sakuya	Ah, Director! Are you on your way back from shopping?
Izumi	Yeah, I just bought lots of ingredients for dinner tonight.
Sakuya	Whoa, that’s a lot of vegetables! I’m sorry, I should’ve gone with you so I could help you carry things.
	I’ll help carry stuff home!
Izumi	Thanks. Why don’t you take these then? What are you doing in the park, Sakuya-kun?
Sakuya	Well, I’m playing a trapeze artist for our upcoming circus performance, so…
	I was wondering if there was any way for me to do even a little bit of a role study, so I decided to swing on a swing.
	A circus trapeze and a park swing really aren’t the same thing at all, though…
Izumi	Yeah. But they are both kinds of swings, so maybe it’ll help give you an even better idea for a role study.
	Ah, I know. Why don’t I push you?
Sakuya	Huh, are you sure?
Izumi	Of course.
	Let me just set the groceries down on a bench first. …Alright, now I can push you. Here goes.
Sakuya	Wah… Ahaha, it really does feel different than when you’re just swinging by yourself!
	It’s been a long time since someone’s pushed me on a swing.
Izumi	Hehe, it’s been a long time since someone’s pushed me on one too. It’s kind of nostalgic to think about.
Sakuya	I loved swings when I was little, and used to swing on them all the time.
	I used to take turns pushing my friends, or sometimes we’d have competitions to see who could make their shoes fly the furthest.
Izumi	Ah, I used to do that too! We’d play hopscotch from the swings to go and get our shoes back.
Sakuya	Ahahah, I remember kids doing that!
	I also like the way it feels like you’re flying when you look up at the sky while swinging on a swing.
Izumi	Yeah, I get that.
Sakuya	I bet it feels even more like being in the sky on a circus trapeze.
	Crossing from swing to swing while maintaining your balance—.
	…Ah!
Izumi	Huh?
Sakuya	Sorry, Director! Stop the swing!
Izumi	H-Huh!? O-Okay.
Masumi	…What the hell are you two doing happily swinging together like that?
Izumi	M-Masumi-kun!? What are you doing here…?

Izumi	M-Masumi-kun!? What are you doing here…?
Masumi	On my way home from school. I went to buy a CD and happened to see you and Sakuya.
Izumi	(I see. Sakuya-kun told me to stop the swing so suddenly like that because he saw Masumi-kun coming.)
Masumi	You were pushing Sakuya… and smiling.
	Trying to get with Director… I’m never forgiving you, Sakuya.
Izumi	No, no, no, no one is trying to get with anyone!?
Sakuya	You’ve got it all wrong, Masumi-kun! This is just part of a role study! I ran into the director by complete accident…!
Izumi	Exactly! I was coming back from shopping and saw Sakuya-kun, so I called out to him, just like you did, Masumi-kun.
	Sakuya-kun is playing a trapeze artist in our upcoming circus play, so he wanted to swing on a swing for that role.
Masumi	…
	…Since it’s coming from you, I’ll believe you.
Sakuya	Thank goodness…
Masumi	Hold it. Just because I believe her doesn’t mean I’m forgiving you.
Sakuya	Huh?
Izumi	What do you mean you’re not forgiving him…?
Masumi	It means exactly what it sounds like.
Sakuya	W-What should I do? Is there any way to make you forgive me?
Masumi	…If Director pushes me on the swing, I’ll forgive you.
Izumi	Huh!?
	(THAT’S what will make him forgive Sakuya-kun!?)
	I suppose that can be done, but…
Masumi	Really? …I’m glad.
	Okay, push me.
Izumi	O-Okay, fine. Make sure you hold on.
	And, push.
Masumi	Your hand is so warm on my back… This is just like a park date…
Izumi	Err, this isn’t a date, but whatever makes you happy, Masumi-kun.
Masumi	Okay… Next time, let’s switch, and I’ll push you.
Sakuya	Ahahaha…

Juju