Taichi Nanao/Those Efforts Will Surely

Do the Kung Fu Dance!

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2Part 3

Izumi	(We only have evening practice today, and I have no other plans, so it looks like I’ll have some time to myself.)
Taichi	Okay then, I’m off~.
Izumi	Huh? Taichi-kun? Where are you headed with your sports bag?
Taichi	To Li-san’s kung fu class!
Izumi	Ah, Li-san who instructed you on your action scenes?
Taichi	Yup, yup. Even though the performance is over, I’ve been going to get some exercise.
Izumi	I see. Sounds fun.
Taichi	Director-sensei, you should come watch if you want! It’s soothing to watch the little kids practice.
Izumi	Huh~! Well, I do want to thank Li-san again, so I guess I’ll go with you.
Taichi	...Hah!
Student A	Yah!
Izumi	(Everyone’s so serious… Taichi-kun is trying his best, too.)
Li	That’s enough for today.
Taichi	Thank you very much!
Izumi	Nice work, Taichi-kun.
Li	Ah, you’re MANKAI Company’s—.
Izumi	I’m Tachibana. Thank you very much for helping us out with our performance!
Li	No, no, I feel the same. I had a wonderful time watching the action scenes during the performance—everyone’s movements were fantastic.
	Taichi-kun has a natural aptitude, so he managed to become the exemplary student in his class with a lot of hard work in this short period of time.
Izumi	Amazing, Taichi-kun!
Taichi	Hehe!
Li	—That’s right, Taichi-kun. Could you do a solo performance as your character from the play for our next regular martial arts demonstration?
Taichi	Eh, as Chan from “Burn it Up! Manju Fist”?
Li	Yes. I’m sure everyone who couldn’t go to your performance would love to see.
Taichi	But if it’s a solo performance—does that mean I’m going to be on stage alone?
Li	I’m sure you’ll be fine, Taichi-kun.
Taichi	——.
Izumi	Taichi-kun, it’s a good opportunity. Why don’t you give it a go?
Student A	Taichi, I wanna see!
Student B	Me too!
Taichi	Uu… F-fine.

Taichi	Hah! Yah!
	Phew….
	...Hmm, yeah, it still feels a little different from Li-sensei’s video.
	*Applause*
	!?
Azami	Nice work.
Taichi	A~chan, how long have you been there!?
Azami	For a while. Here, this is from Omi-san.
Taichi	Yay! A pork bun~!
	Itadakima~su!
Azami	Where is your martial arts demonstration going to be held?
Taichi	People from all over the country are coming, so it’s at a pretty fancy hall. My knees are already shaking from the nerves~.
Azami	But you just stood center stage as the lead in our last play.
Taichi	That’s true, but… this time I’m alone.
	When I realized that everyone in Autumn Troupe wouldn’t be on stage with me, I suddenly felt really lonely.
Azami	That’s how it works?
Taichi	Yeah.
	I could stand proud center stage because Autumn Troupe stood right there behind me.
	I didn’t feel anxious or anything because I trusted you guys to have my back.
	But there’s no use saying that this time, so I’ll just have to do my best!
	So if I mess up fantastically, you can all laugh at me, okay!
Azami	….
Omi	Hey, how was Taichi?
Azami	He said thank you for the pork bun. And that he’s going to practice for a little longer.
Sakyo	He’s working hard.
Banri	He better not run out of energy before the real thing.
Izumi	Looks like he’s a little nervous because it’s a solo performance.
Azami	...Hey, I have a little suggestion. Can you hear me out?
Omi	A suggestion?

Izumi	(Woah, it’s a pretty big hall….)
	(Umm, Taichi-kun is performing fourth, right.)
Li	Yah!
Izumi	(Li-san’s movements are really on a different level. They’re so sharp.)
Student A	Yah!
Student B	Hah!
Izumi	(The little kids are hopping around… cute…!)
Izumi	(Taichi-kun is next.)
Taichi	….
Izumi	(Oh no, he’s really nervous. Taichi-kun, you’re putting the wrong foot forward!)
	(Azami-kun’s plan was probably a good idea. All right, time to send a LIME to everyone.)
	*Beep*
Banri	Oh, here we go. It’s Taichi’s turn.
Juza	Let’s go.
Sakyo	Knock some life into him with a flashy start.
Omi	We need to support him.
Banri	“What a glum dojo.”
Juza	“—Oi, bring me the sage.”
Taichi	Eh!?
Audience A	Huh? Who’s that?
Audience B	Isn’t this supposed to be a solo performance?
Banri	“Chilong alone is more than enough to take this dojo. I’ll be watching.”
Taichi	Wh-why are you guys—!?
Juza	“Didn’t you hear me? Bring me the sage.”
Taichi	——.
Sakyo	“What business do you have with me?”
Juza	“So you’re the sage.”
Sakyo	“Indeed.”
Juza	“Hand over the secret technique scroll.”
Sakyo	“What if I refuse?”
Juza	“Then I’ll just take it from you.”
Omi	“Master, I’ll fight—.”
Azami	“I can handle this guy alone.”
Sakyo	“Han, Yun. Stand back.”
Taichi	Guys—.
Sakyo	“Yah!”
	*Whoosh*
Juza	“Ta!”
Sakyo	“Kuh—.”
Omi	“Master!”
Banri	“Hey now, I’m your opponent—.”
Omi	“Tch—.”
Banri	“Yah!”
	*Whoosh*
Omi	“Kuh—.”
Azami	“Master! Han-aniki!”
Juza	“Pathetic.”
Banri	“Guess I overestimated you.”
Sakyo	“—I’m counting on you, Chan! Yun!”
Taichi	——.
Azami	“Let’s go, Chan.”
Taichi	“Yeah—!”
Azami	“Hah!”
Taichi	“Yah!”
	*Punch*
Juza	“Kuh—.”
Banri	“Guh—.”
Student A	Go, go, Chan!
Student B	I’m rooting for you, Taichi-nii-chan!
Taichi	“Yah!”
	*Punch*
Juza	“Guh—.”
Student A	He did it—!!
Sakyo	“Well done, Chan. You are now qualified to use the secret technique: Tai Chi Manju Fist. Now show us your full power.”
Taichi	“—Yes!”
Izumi	(Yup, everything went as planned. Now it’s time for Taichi-kun’s solo performance….)
Taichi	...Hah! Ta!
	*Whoosh*
Izumi	(Taichi-kun looks really relaxed. His movements are really sharp and perfect!)
Taichi	Whewwww, I’m tired~!
Omi	Nice work. You did well.
Sakyo	Your kung fu improved even more—it was better than during the play. I’m looking forward to our re-run.
Juza	Li-san praised you too.
Taichi	It’s all thanks to you guys. I loosened up because of that skit at the beginning; that’s why I could perform like usual.
Banri	Isn’t that good to hear, Azami?
Azami	Don’t tell him.
Taichi	Eh? Wait, did you plan this out for me, A~chan?
Azami	...You said you were nervous, so.
Taichi	Thanks, A~chan!
Azami	It’s nothing….
Taichi	When everyone stood on stage with me, I felt at ease. My nervousness disappeared in an instant.
	It reminded me that you guys supported me during the entire run of our play. Really, thank you so much.
	Next time, when someone else is the lead, I’ll support you even more than I did up till now!
Banri	Yup yup, that’s the spirit.
Sakyo	Well said.
Omi	We’re counting on you.
Juza	I’m looking forward to it.
Taichi	Leave it to me!

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