Taichi Nanao/Contrast Twins: Youngest

Aim for a Smile!

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

	―Lounge―
Izumi	(...Hm? It's Taichi.)
Taichi	......
Izumi	What are you reading there, Taichi-kun?
Taichi	Ah, Director-sensei! I'm reading a manga that I borrowed from Mucchan! The story takes place in a Gymnasium, you see.
Izumi	Ohh, is that for your role study?
Taichi	Yup! I heard that Kyu-chan borrowed these as his reference when he helped with the doll exhibition before!
	I'm studying like this since I don't really know much about Gymnasium~.
Izumi	Fufu, it's remarkable to see you studying hard.
Taichi	Yay~! I got praised by Director-sensei!
CHOICE 1: How's the manga? [+] Izumi Seems like you're still in the middle of reading it, but how was the manga? Taichi Awesome! Not only it's informative, but it's also really interesting! As expected from Mucchan's recommendation! Izumi I see. Maybe I should borrow it too, since I'm kinda interested now. Taichi In that case, I'll tell Mucchan that I'll lend you this after I'm done reading it! My commentary will be included as well, so it's a great deal~! Do look forward to it! Izumi Hahaha, thanks. I'll be waiting for it then!
CHOICE 2: Got a feel for it yet? [+] Izumi Have you got the feel of the Gymnasium yet? Taichi Can't say it's perfect yet, but I think I got a bit of it! Oh! If you don't mind, can you tell me what your image of a Gymnasium is? Izumi Hmm, based on the theme of Gymnasium that I've been exposed so far, it's like the life of beautiful young boys who attend an all-boys boarding school. Taichi Mm-hm! It does feel like that! Alright! I'm gonna do my best on my role study to match your image perfectly!
Izumi	...Ah, right. You should try asking Hisoka-san.
	He heard about the Gymnasium from Takao-san when he helped with the doll exhibition previously.
Taichi	Takao-san... You mean Homare-san's butler?
Izumi	Yeah, he had been to Europe before and visited the real Gymnasium.
Taichi	Woahh, that's so cool!
Izumi	I also listened to his story with Hisoka-san and Homare-san, so I remember a lot of things as well...
	But I think it'll be more helpful to hear directly from Hisoka-san, who actually served as the guide for the exhibition.
Taichi	Got it! I'll try asking him then!
	Thanks, Director-sensei!
	―Room 206―
	...And so, I was wondering if you could tell me what Takao-san told you about Gymnasium!
Hisoka	What Takao said about Gymnasium...
Homare	Hisoka-kun, don't tell me you already forgot?
Hisoka	That's not it... Takao was very scary at that time.
Taichi	S-scary?!
Homare	Indeed, he was very intense at any time back then.
	He would hit the table with a pointing stick when I was about to fall asleep, and he warned us to refrain from having private talk after just a few words.
Taichi	Seriously?!
Hisoka	Yeah, he said it's because Gymnasium is a solemn and disciplined place...
Taichi	S-sounds like a lot of work...!
Hisoka	But it was helpful. In fact, I created my role by overlapping what I heard from Takao and the setting of the role I was given.
	...What is your role, Taichi?
Taichi	The younger brother of a twin, who's bright and kind popular type! So, after listening to your story...
	I think my character would probably be a kid who can do anything flawlessly even in a Gymnasium environment!
Hisoka	I'm sure there's a child like that.
Homare	What a dexterous young boy.
Taichi	Also, they say it's okay to not show it when guiding visitors at the exhibition, but it seems like my character is a camera lover.
	And that my twin older brother who is a complete opposite of me, smiles only when in front of camera... That's their setting!
Homare	Hoh, the character settings are quite deep.
Taichi	Even if they say I don't need to show it, the fact that he has a fixed setting surely means it's an important point that I need to keep in mind.
Hisoka	I think so too.
Taichi	In that case, I should play with a camera for my role.
	And when you think of cameras...

	―Room 105―
Taichi	Please teach me how to use a camera, Omi-kun!
Omi	I don't mind, but why the sudden?
Taichi	The role I'm going to play in the upcoming doll exhibition is a camera lover...
Omi	I see, so that's why.
	If that's the case, should we go and take some photos together while we're at it? I'll lend my camera to you.
Taichi	EH! You'd lend me your precious camera...?! I-is it really okay?
Omi	Yeah. I know you'll treat it with care, so it's fine.
Taichi	Omi-kun...! Thank you!
Omi	That said, what should we take a photo of? Do we go to the park, or to the riverbed?
Taichi	I've already decided on what to take!
Omi	Really?
Taichi	Yep! I wanna take a photo of Kazu-kun who'll play the role of my twin brother!
	―Courtyard―
	Oh! Kazu-kun spotted!
Kazunari	Hey~ It's Taicchan and Omimi~!
	Y'all gonna go somewhere to take photos right now?
Taichi	Hehe, yup! I'm actually thinking of taking a photo of your smile, Kazu-kun!
Kazunari	EH! Me?!
	Oh right, your role this time is a camera lover!
Taichi	Yeah! For that, I want you to let me take it!
Kazunari	Ofc, it's A-OK! Take lots of it~!
Taichi	Is this the right way to hold it, Omi-kun?
Omi	It might be better if you keep your arms close to your body a bit more.
Taichi	Got it!
	*snap*
Kazunari	Next is... this pose!
Taichi	Looking good~!
	Let's see...
Kazunari	Wow, looks great!
Omi	Yeah, it's all taken beautifully.
Taichi	Hmm, they look good but...
	I feel like Kazu-kun is too skilled at being photographed...!
Kazunari	Ahaha! I like both taking pics and having my pics taken, that's why.
Taichi	*stare*
Omi	...Hm? What is it?
Taichi	I've decided! I wanna take a photo of Omi-kun too!
	Remember the time we went to the hot springs? I took a really good photo of you back then!
	I think I'll be more confident in my camera skills if I can get a best shot of your smiling face again like I did then.
Kazunari	I agree~! That's a good idea!
Omi	No, but... you sure you want me?
Taichi	Yeah, absolutely!
	Ah, if you don't mind, of course...!
Omi	It's okay, I don't mind. ...Well, I do feel a bit embarrassed.
Taichi	So, you'll let me take it?
Omi	Sure, it's fine.
Taichi	Yayyy! I'll definitely get the best shot of your smile!
Kazunari	Show it to me when you're done!
Taichi	Of course! Thanks for hanging out with us, Kazu-kun!
	I know! Let's take your photo outside the dorm, Omi-kun!
	―Veludo Way―
Taichi	......
Omi	...It's a bit nerve-wrecking when you're holding that camera so firmly.
Taichi	Ah! Of course, you're conscious of the camera since I keep holding it looking super obvious...
	Man, I wish I could take photos as casually as you do, Omi-kun~.
	You're so good at capturing people's natural expression.
Omi	Well, I like taking photos of casual expressions in everyday life, so I think I've learned some things after doing it over and over again.
Taichi	I always look back at all the photos you took since I can recall what happened in all of them. That's why I really love your photos!
Omi	Haha, is that so? I'm happy to hear you say that you like them.
Taichi	―!
	*snap*
Omi	Eh?
Taichi	You had a reaaally good smile just now! Look, look!
Omi	...You're right, I look very happy.
Taichi	Omi's smile: Captured!
Omi	It's because you did well in bringing out my expression that I was able to make this kind of face.
Taichi	...Hehe! Hearing you say that makes me happy too!
	...I think I can understand how my character feels when taking photos like this.
	It's not just that he likes cameras, but he must've started liking them because his brother would smile at him through the lens.
Omi	When you take a photo of someone's smile, it makes us happy in return as well.
Taichi	Yeah! Omi-kun, thank you so much for being with me for today~!

Meena