Taichi Nanao/My Ideal Way to Soak

The Legendary Collaboration Sweets

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

	―Lounge (Day)―
Taichi	Uwaaah~!!
Izumi	Taichi-kun...? W-what's wrong?
Taichi	Can't believe I forgot about it until Kazu-kun sent me a LIME...!
Izumi	?
Taichi	It's the collab between Akapoyo-kun and convenience stores! Look, these super cute exclusive sweets are out now~!
	I planned to go to the store first thing in the morning since today's the first day, but it completely slipped my mind~!
Izumi	It starts today, right? There should be still some of them left.
	There are many affiliated stores nearby, so let's go there together by car.
Taichi	I'm super happy to hear that but... is that really okay?
Izumi	Eh? I'm fine with it though...? I don't have any big plans anyway.
Taichi	Is that so... I'm sure you'll understand in a few hours later...
Izumi	Okay...? For now, I'll go take out the car.
	(He sure look serious... I wonder why?)
Taichi	It's not here...
	Not here...!
	Nothing...!
	Uwaahh~! In any store we go, not a single sight of Akapoyo-kun is found at all-!
Izumi	I didn't expect it to be that hard to get...
Taichi	Akapoyo-kun's collab products always go viral every time!
	There were lots of things in the past, but all the foods and goods immediately disappear from the store as soon as they're released.
	You can't even be sure whether you'd get the pre-order goods or not, even if you wait patiently and quickly place an order when they're available.
Izumi	H-he's THAT popular, huh...
Taichi	Convenience store collab products are especially fast and super easy to sell out~.
	Well, I'm happy that Akapoyo-kun is loved by many people, so I've got no choice but to give up this time...
Izumi	Hmm, I see...
	If only there's a person who's quite familiar about this kind of stuff...
Taichi	Nah, there's no way that kind of person exists-.
	...Wait, there is! Come on, you know who it is, Director-sensei!
	―Room 103 (Night)―
Itaru	...And so, that's why you came here.
Taichi	I thought you'd know a lot about it since you always go around stores to find meal toys and such!
Itaru	...It's pretty tough in the first place since there are small numbers of chain stores of this convenience store.
	As a result, the number of customers is also little. There were times people went panic-buying since there's no limit...
Izumi	A-as expected from Itaru-san...! You sure are well-informed.
Itaru	Well, yeah. I've suffered a lot from it after all.
Izumi	(That's kinda pitiful...)
	*rustle*
Izumi	...?
Taichi	Itaru-san?
Itaru	Come on, we're gonna go buy those Akapoyo-kun sweets, right? I'll be driving this time.
Taichi	Y-you're okay with it?! Thank you...!

Itaru	This store should be good since the customers are mainly families and there are relatively few geeks...
Izumi	Ah, there's a sign that says "Sold Out"...
Taichi	Akapoyo-kun s popular not only with those types of people, but with children too, so that's why...
Itaru	I see, stores in residential areas are no good, huh.
Taichi	It's not here either...
Itaru	I thought there's a chance it could be here in business disctrict, but there's actually a lot of people who think the same, huh.
	Can't go wrong with this store here...
Izumi	What's this place?
Itaru	It's my secret spot. I often go to this store that deals with collaboration products, and surprisingly there are always unsold goods.
Taichi	Ahh! It's written here that it's sold out too...!
Itaru	You serious? Can't believe he's this popular...
Izumi	Ahaha, I thought the same thing a while ago.
Taichi	If it's not even in Itaru-san's special secret spot, then it can't be found anywhere else...
Itaru	...Ah.
	That person should know something... I should try asking him.
	Hello.
Tsumugi	"Itaru-kun, what happened? At this hour too..."
Itaru	We're going around convenience stores looking for Akapoyo-kun's collab sweets right now, but they're all sold out.
Tsumugi	"Really? Ahh, so that's why you called me."
Itaru	Yup. Glad you're quick on the uptake~.
Tsumugi	"Now I understand. In that case, maybe..."
Itaru	Hm... Hm... Ohh~... I'll try going there. Thanks, you're the man.
Taichi	S-sounds like we got some great info!
Izumi	(To think there are many experts in our dorm...)
	*beep*
Taichi	Did you find a good store?
Itaru	Yeah. I don't know if it's there yet, but worth a try.
Taichi	Got it!
	Is it this store? Looks like a residential area though...
Izumi	Didn't you just say that this type of area is no good because the sweets tend to sell out due to its popularity with children?
Itaru	Now now, let's just check it out first.
Taichi	Okay, the sweets area should be... Ah, it's not here of course...
	Hngh... We've come this far but we still haven't found it. I've got no choice but to completely give up now...
Itaru	Don't be sad just yet. Wait a lil bit more.
	It should be arrived by now.
Taichi	A truck?
	*ding dong*
Supplier	Hello, delivery's here.
Clerk	Ah, welcome. Please leave it over there~.
Taichi	...! The Akapoyo-kun sweets...!
	E-excuse me! I would like to buy one of the products you're currently stacking up, please...!
Clerk	This? Sure, here you go~.
Taichi	YAYY! Thanks!!
Izumi	Good for you, Taichi-kun!
CHOICE 1: I feel relieved. [+] Izumi I'm so relieved to see that you finally got Akapoyo-kun's collaboration sweets. Taichi Eh? Izumi I said something like "There will be one!" so nonchalantly during the noon, so... Taichi I was happy that you were willing to give me a ride, so you don't need to worry about that! I had a lot of fun going on a convenience store tour date with you! Izumi Haha! Thank you, hearing you say that makes me feel better. Taichi Thanks to you too, Director-sensei!
CHOICE 2: Show it to me! [+] Izumi I wanna see the real thing too! Taichi Sure! Look here...! See, this pose and his expression that looks like he's about to drown at any moment, and his usual bloodshot eyes! They're all so cute! Izumi Uhh, um, yeah... It's so chilling and yummy looking... I guess? Taichi I knew you'd get it, Director-sensei! Ah, but I also feel like it's a waste to eat it... Hnghh, what should I do! Izumi (Fufu, he's in high spirits like a child.)
Taichi	I'll say this once again... Thank you so much for this time, Itaru-san!!
Itaru	Nah, you should give thanks to Tsumugi instead.
Izumi	But how did you know that the sweets haven't been delivered to the store yet, Itaru-san?
Itaru	There was a day when Tsumugi and Juza went there to buy some sweets, and the shelves were empty.
	They were so surprised that they went to ask the clerk. Apparently, the store has delivery delays compared to other stores due to the problems with delivery route.
Taichi	So that's why~.
Itaru	And thus, it's thanks to Tsumugi who remembered about the store that you get the collab sweets.
Taichi	Even so, you were the one who asked Tsumugi-san because you remembered about it, and you also gave us a ride too!
Izumi	That's right, you were a big help to us!
Itaru	You don't need to insist that much.
Taichi	But, it really IS all thanks to you...! Oh, I know! I can just buy something as thanks for you!
Itaru	Nah, no need to. I'm fine.
Izumi	But...
Itaru	You really don't need to. Besides, I've also got my harvest.
Taichi	Harvest?
Itaru	Ta-dah♪
Izumi	Bag full of goods...? What are those?
Itaru	Lottery prizes of JewelPri. I saw the poster and it seemed like there was a little bit more until the last prize, so I bought it all.
Taichi	Since when?!
Izumi	'A little bit more' you say, but how many was it until the last one...?
Itaru	Just 8 draws. Ahh, but still-.
	I never would've thought that I could get the last prize of Amethyst-tan figurine in a different colour version at a place like this...!
Izumi	Somehow... it feels like the one who's the happiest here is...
Taichi	It might be Itaru-san...

Meena