Sakyo Furuichi/The Blush-Hiding Garden

The Blush-Hiding Garden

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2Part 3

Sakyo	I’ve just returned.
Izumi	Ah, welcome back Sakyo-san……wait, huh?
Sakyo	……What is it, to be staring so intently at someone like that.
Izumi	Ah, no it’s nothing. I just thought that it was unusual to see you tightening a tie……
Sakyo	Ahh, that’s because I went and showed up for the (Yakuza’s) group’s meeting.
	Come to think of it, what are you doing? You seem to be really busy, albeit frantic.
Izumi	I actually have a marriage party to attend today by my friend from a theatrical company I used to belong to a long time ago.
	But I was so held up with my preparations that it took quite a lot of time……
Sakyo	What time does that party start from?
Izumi	Well, it starts an hour later……so I thought of catching a taxi there instead.
Sakyo	……It’ll be faster for you if you fly there by car from here. No choice then. I’ll fetch you there.
Izumi	Eh, is that really alright!?
Sakyo	Who’s going to gain anything by lying here?
	Come on, hurry up.
Izumi	O-Okay! Thank you very much!
	I’m actually going to be part of the entertainment sideshows at today’s party.
Sakyo	Ho. What are you going to do?
Izumi	I’m going to be showing some performances together with my former group members.
Sakyo	……You? You’ll be doing up a play?
Izumi	Y-You don’t have to make such a grim face about it……
Sakyo	It’s not like I want to. Have you forgotten how much of a radish you are?
Izumi	Uu……I-I know. That’s why I’ve trained really hard for this……oh.
	Right! Would you be my practicing partner till we reach the venue?
Sakyo	……Me?
Izumi	Yep. Just conversation will be fine so, please!
Sakyo	……Haa. Alright. Only for a little.
Izumi	Thank you very much!
Sakyo	And so, what’s the content of the act?
Izumi	About the groom and the bride till the time of proposal , a non-fiction love story!
Sakyo	That’s hard. ……So, what supporting character’s role are you?
Izumi	Why did you jump to the conclusion that I was a supporting character! I’m acting as the bride!
Sakyo	……Are your theatrical friends serious?
Izumi	Isn’t that an awful way of putting it!?
Sakyo	It’s a given reaction to be making.
Izumi	That’s alright already! In any case, I’ll be leaving the role of the groom to you!
Sakyo	Got it, got it. Come on, hurry and begin already.
Izumi	……Ahem. Thanks for inviting me out for a date today.
Sakyo	Yeah.
Izumi	It was really fun! I want to come back again!
Sakyo	I see.
Izumi	……Eh? Something you want to tell me?
Sakyo	That’s right.
Izumi	……R-Really? I’m so happy……!
	Thanks! I love you too!
Sakyo	…………
Izumi	……Um, Sakyo-san? The conversation can’t continue unless you say something in return.
Sakyo	Y-Yeah……Right……
Izumi	It’s rare to see you get stuck, is something the matter?
Sakyo	I-It’s nothing! That’s enough so hurry up and continue!
Izumi	O-Okay. Got it……!

Izumi	We’ve somehow made it in time……! It’s thanks to you, Sakyo-san! I’m really thankful!
Sakyo	That’s great then. Well then, I’ll be leaving first――
Theatrical Friend A	Oh―! There she is!
Izumi	Oh, everyone! It’s been a long time!
Sakyo	……
Theatrical Friend B	Eh!? Wait a minute, who’s that person!? Could it be that he’s your boyfriend!?
Izumi	Boyfriend……!? No, this person’s……!
Theatrical Friend C	You have it going well too―! Isn’t he a really reliable-looking handsome man!
Sakyo	Oi, don’t misunderstand. I’m……
Theatrical Friend B	Right! Since you’re already here, how about you join us for the wedding party too, Mr. Boyfriend!
Theatrical Friend C	That’s a great idea! Isn’t it just nice since the girl at the reception told us that there was someone who cancelled due to being sick!
Sakyo	No, it’ll inconvenience the other guests if there’s an outsider mixed in the fray so I’ll refrain from doing so……
Theatrical Friend A	It’s fine, it’s fine. Come on Mr. Boyfriend, over here, over here!
Sakyo	Wait! I never said that I’d participate……!
	O-Oi! Don’t grab on my arm! Don’t drag me!
Izumi	Eh!? Hang on a minute! Don’t leave me alone―!
	I’m really sorry about that. I couldn’t stop everyone……
Sakyo	Don’t worry about it. It isn’t your fault.
	Well it’s not like they can leave a vacant seat on such a sunny day. So I guess I’ll just quietly be with the participants as one of them.
Izumi	Thank you very much……
Host	――Well then, everyone please do take your time to enjoy your meal.
Izumi	Err……I guess we should eat too.
Sakyo	Yeah. I think you already know but please keep your manners in mind.
Izumi	Amazing……Sakyo-san, your table manners are perfect.
Sakyo	Really? Isn’t this much just common sense?
Izumi	(Should I say that I’m really bad at it or should I say that his doesn’t seem to be at a level of common sense at all……)
Host	――After your meals, please do see what the bride and groom has come through till now.
Sakyo	Looking back on their early lives huh……
Izumi	It’s really strange, isn’t it. To think that I’d feel moved by the nostalgia even though it isn’t my life.
Host	―Lastly, there’s a letter from the mother and so I’ll read it.
	“I feel like the day you were born was just yesterday”
Sakyo	…………
Host	“Even though you were so small in the past, you’ve now become so fine――”
Sakyo	……Ngh……
Izumi	(S-Sakyo-san’s……crying!?)
	Um……are you alright?
Sakyo	Y-Yeah. My bad……for me to be crying over something like this, I’m old too huh……
Host	―Continuing on. The members of the Theatrical company the bride and groom once belonged in will now do some entertainment.
Izumi	Ah, it seems like it’s my turn now. I’ll be going then.
Sakyo	Ahh. I’ll be looking so do show me a performance that’s a little better.

Sakyo	(But the fact that it’s entertainment aside, to think that she’d be playing in a play…… )
	……Moreover, she’s acting as the bride huh.
Actor Playing Groom	……I love you. Please marry me!
Izumi	R-Really? I’m really happy……!
	Thanks! I love you too!
Sakyo	(Marriage huh……she’ll be doing the same too, one day, with someone……)
	……
Izumi	Sakyo-san, how was it! My acting――wait, huh?
	……Um, do you know what happened to the guy that had been sitting here?
Participant A	Ahh, if you mean the guy who was sitting there, he hasn’t returned ever since leaving his seat a little while ago.
Izumi	I see……thank you very much,
	(I wonder where Sakyo-san went? I’ll try searching for him for a while.)
Sakyo	……It’s already this late huh.
	(……If I don’t return soon, she’ll make her worry……)
Izumi	Oh! I’ve finally found you. I’ve been looking for you!
Sakyo	What are you doing here……?
Izumi	You weren’t there when I went back to our seats once the entertainment segment had ended so I came searching for you!
Sakyo	A-Ahh. I see, my bad.
Izumi	……Sakyo-san, you look pale. Are you alright?
Sakyo	……It’s because your Radish-like acting was just that bad.
	It’s probably because of that.
Izumi	Ehh!? W-Was it really that bad?
Sakyo	Indeed. I couldn’t stand looking at you, so much that I had unintentionally left my seat.
CHOICE 1: Even so, to go that far…… [+] Izumi I-I certainly never thought that it was that far-off but…… Sakyo No. Having seen that refreshing stiff reading of yours, I’ve got no idea what I should be calling you other than a radish.
CHOICE 2: I’m really sorry for that…… [+] Izumi I’m really sorry for that…… Sakyo ……Honestly. What we practiced in the car was still better than this.
Izumi	(T-To think that he’d say it till that extent…… I thought that I’d tried my hardest on the actual thing though……)
	……
	(I was aware of the fact that I’m a radish of an actor but this comes as a bit of a huge shock……)
Sakyo	……
Izumi	……
Sakyo	Haa……my bad.
Izumi	Eh……?
Sakyo	That wasn’t actually the reason I left my seat.
Izumi	It wasn’t……?
Sakyo	Yeah. The reason why I left was……
	Well……
Izumi	……?
Sakyo	……I imagined you in a wedding dress.
Izumi	Sorry, Sakyo-san. I didn’t quite catch that so could you say it again?
Sakyo	It’s not anything particularly important. It’s just me talking to myself.
Izumi	Ehh!? B-But earlier you said that there was a different reason――
Sakyo	I had matters to deal with regarding the (Yakuza) group that isn’t any of your business so hurry up and get back.
Izumi	O-Okay……
	(His face was a little red, wasn’t it……I wonder if he’s feeling unwell……?)

Ran