Taichi Nanao/A Hymn to Call for Snow

The Sound That Gathers People

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2Part 3

Taichi	I'm home!
Juza	I'm back.
Izumi	Oh, you guys came home together today.
Taichi	We saw each other at uni, so we decided to go home together!
Izumi	By the way... Taichi-kun, is the keyboard practice going well?
Taichi	There’s a lot of songs, so it’s kinda hard...
Juza	Speakin' of keyboard, it’s for the Veludo Town Music Festival, right?
Taichi	Yup!
	I never thought Rento-san would ask MANKAI Company to perform at a music festival!
Juza	Yeah.
Izumi	There might be some people who aren’t interested in theater at the music festival.
	It’s a great opportunity for people like that to get to know the MANKAI Company!
Taichi	I’ll do my best at practicing the keyboard for the sake of advertising our theater!
Izumi	Taichi-kun, you can play keyboard in the first place, so you ran for it again this time, huh?
Taichi	Yeah, I was in charge of keyboard when Autumn Troupe did a band back then. I’ll definitely perform well at the music festival this time too!
Juza	I won’t be playin' there but tell me if there’s anythin' you’re troubled with. I’ll help you out.
Taichi	Juza-san... Thanks! That’s so reassuring!
	Well, I think it’s time to practice. I can’t let myself make mistakes at the festival later~!
Juza	Do your best.
Izumi	I'm looking forward to it!
Taichi	Alright!
	♪~♪~
	I did it! If it's like this...
	♪~♪~
	...Agh!
	Uuu... Even if I can do well at one part, another hard part will come out again...
	(I wonder if I’ll be able to play all these songs...
	(No, I just have to continue practicing!)
	♪~♪~
Omi	I'm back.
Taichi	Welcome back! Wait, it's already this late?!
Omi	No, I finished my work early today.
Taichi	Oh, okay.
Omi	Have you been practicing ever since you came back home?
Taichi	Yeah! It’s kinda hard ‘cause there’s a lot of songs... But I’m gonna take a break now.
Omi	Oh right, Director said she made a dinner a while ago.
Taichi	Really?! Man, I’m so hungry right now~.
Omi	You sure are motivated to practice if you become this hungry.
Taichi	I want to perform without making a mistake in the actual performance later!
Omi	Then, you have to fill your stomach first before continuing your practice.
Taichi	Ok! I'll head there and have dinner now!
Izumi	It's Butter Chicken Curry today.
Taichi	Thanks for the meal!
Omi	It's rich and delicious.
Muku	Umm, how was the practice...?
Tenma	Hm? Oh, come to think of it, everyone here is a performer at the music festival.
Taichi	Ah, I'm struggling a bit...
Tenma	Keyboard does seem difficult.
Taichi	I’ve been practicing in my room a while ago, but it didn’t work out at all.
Muku	Maybe Taichi-kun will improve if you have someone listen to you while playing.
Taichi	Have someone listen to me...?
Muku	Various people listened to me when I played the accordion throughout the town... I think that’s how I improved.
Izumi	Oh, that might be a good idea!
Tenma	You can also get some advice that way.
Taichi	I see!
Omi	I don’t think I can give you any advice, but I’ll always listen to you, so if you need to, please call me.
Taichi	Thank you so much!

Taichi	Phew, my stomach's so full now!
Omi	Are you going to practise after this?
Taichi	Yeah. It’s already nighttime, so I’ll practice wearing earphones!
	Oh, right...
	Omi-kun, I’m going to play one song for practice, so can you listen to it?
Omi	Sure, that's fine.
Taichi	Thanks a lot! Then, Omi-kun can put on this earphone.
Omi	Hm? But Taichi, can you play it even if you can’t hear the sound?
Taichi	You’re right! I can’t play properly if there’s no sound.
	Is it okay if we share earphones?
Omi	That's okay.
Taichi	Alright, let's start now!
	This song only has melody lines, so I think it’s easy for Omi-kun to listen to it!
	...How was it?!
Omi	I’m not an expert, but it was amazing that you play it without getting stuck. I was able to listen to it properly as a song.
Taichi	Yes! I didn’t make any mistakes at all... This counts as success, right?
	Thank you, Omi-kun!
Izumi	Sorry, Taichi-kun. Even though you have practice to do, I had you help me with shopping...
Taichi	This much is fine for me!
	Oh! There’s a piano over there!
Izumi	It says here it’s Street Piano. Seems like anyone can freely play it.
CHOICE 1: Why don't you try playing, Taichi-kun? [+] Izumi I know, why don't you try playing, Taichi-kun? Taichi Me?! Play here?! Izumi I’m not forcing you to do it, but... The other day, we talked about how you would improve by having someone listen to you, right? I was wondering if it’s a good idea... Taichi True, I don’t have many opportunities like this, and I’m starting to be able to play most songs already... Might as well play it. Izumi Ok, so your best!
CHOICE 2: Playing in public is nerve-wrecking, isn't it? [+] Izumi But it’s kinda nerve-wrecking to play in public. Taichi True. There’s also a lot of people around us... But it might be a good practice, so let’s play it. Izumi Eh? Taichi Mucchan said that I would improve by having someone listen to me. After he said that, I asked Omi-kun to listen to my performance. I was able to play pretty well, so I’m sure it’ll be fine... Izumi I see. So, you're going to play it? Taichi I'm nervous, but I'll try it!
Taichi	(It’s like the real thing that my heart’s pounding...)
	(Piano and keyboard are a little different, but I practiced a lot... I’m sure I can play it!)
	♪~♪~
Shopper A	Wow, it's a Christmas song.
Shopper B	It's almost that holiday, huh?
Izumi	(People are gathering around Taichi-kun after hearing him playing the piano. Everyone seems to be listening attentively to the sound of the piano...)
	(I’m glad that Taichi-kun is also playing calmly.)
Taichi	...Whew.
	*audience claps*
	?!
	(Before I even know it, so many people are here...?!)
Shopper A	It was wonderful~.
Shopper B	That was a good performance!
Taichi	T-thank you.
Izumi	Fufu, welcome back.
Taichi	I-I’m back! I was so surprised when I saw lots of people around me.
Izumi	Everyone gathered to listen to Taichi-kun’s piano.
Taichi	How was my performance....?
Izumi	It was lovely!
Taichi	That's good to know...
	(Wait, having this many people gathered by the sound of the piano means that...)
	(Maybe I’ll be popular if I play the keyboard at the music festival?!)
	I gotta do my best for the music festival!
Izumi	Oh, do your best!
	(Taichi-kun, you sure are motivated.)

Taichi	It's finally time for the real thing!
Sakuya	There are more people than I thought.
Muku	I'm getting nervous...!
Rento	Lookin' forward to work with ya today.
Izumi	Thank you for coming to help us.
Rento	I'll be at the back, so if there's anythin'... Wait, Isuke-san?!
	A-are you going to perform too?!
Manager	Yes, this time I’ll also participate with them~
Itaru	Only as a conductor.
Rento	That's fine by me!
	Isuke-san’s conduct, I will burn the vision of it firmly into my eyes!
Manager	Thank you~
	Oh, come to think of it, I had something to talk to Mikage-kun! Mikage-kun, do you have time now~?
Rento	I’m so lookin’ forward to Isuke-san’s conduct...
Announcement	Next is “The Mothers of Veludo Shopping District”.
Sakuya	Oh, that’s the butcher and the fish shop in that shopping street!
Tsuzuru	You’re right. That group is made up of people who are doing shops in the shopping street.
Itaru	I see. So that’s why the group name's like that.
Omi	They have a nice, homely atmosphere.
Izumi	It’s about time for everyone, so let’s go to the side stage.
Taichi	It's already our turn.
Omi	Time sure passes by so fast.
Muku	I-I'm very nervous right now...
Tenma	Muku, you'll be fine if you just calm down.
Yuki	You’ve practiced already, so you should be able to do it.
Hisoka	*sleep soundly*
Guy	Mikage, it's our turn now.
Taichi	It's time to show the results of my practice!
Announcement	Next is the MANKAI Company.
Izumi	Do your best, guys!
Itaru	Director can sit there and listen to us play with peace of mind.
Taichi	I'm gonna go ahead first!
Sakuya	Director, I'll be going now!
Izumi	Take care, you guys!
Manager	...Seems like everyone is done getting the instrument ready, so I’m about to go now.
Izumi	Okay, see you later!
Manager	.....
Audience A	Eh, that patchwork suit...?
Audience B	A conductor in rags...
Taichi	(The audience are all watching the manager?! I’m not sure why, but I think my nervousness just got loosened up!)
	(Everyone’s playing properly so far...)
	(Next is the last one... It’s the most exciting song, but also the most difficult song on the keyboard...)
	(I might be popular if I succeed at playing this!)
Manager	.....
Audience C	Oh my, who's that conductor?
Audience D	It's like he's a famous conductor.
Audience E	He's really good.
Rento	T-that's... such an excellent conducting!
Taichi	(Oh, it's over...)
	(I feel like this is the best I’ve ever played!)
	(This should make me popular now... Wait, huh? All the audience are looking at the manager?!)
	(Even though I tried my best to play it... I’m not popular at all!)
	*sigh*
Izumi	You all did a great job!
	Taichi-kun, the keyboard was amazing! You’ve achieved results from your practice, huh?
Taichi	Did you watch me play?!
Izumi	Of course I did!
Taichi	Director-sensei...!
	(Director-sensei watched me properly... I’m glad I did my best and practiced the keyboard!)
	Thanks! I'm so happy right now!

Meena