Tasuku Takato/Banquet of Blooming

Starring "Tasuku"

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

Izumi	Haa, it was cold.
	I’m home~.
Tasuku	Welcome back.
Azuma	Welcome home, Director.
Hisoka	…Welcome back.
Izumi	Huh, is Winter troupe having a drinking party together?
Guy	That’s right. Tonight is rice wine.
Izumi	Fufu, that’s nice.
	Did Azuma-san get some tasty alcohol again?
Homare	Nope, it’s not that this time.
Tsumugi	Actually, we received it from Fuyuki-san.
Izumi	From Fuyuki-san?
Tsumugi	On my way home from work, I met Fuyuki who was holding a bottle of rice wine.
	I thought it was pretty unusual so I asked what was up—.
	It seems he was going to buy rice wine as a gift for an acquaintance’s stage, but accidentally bought more than necessary because of the shopkeeper’s slick talking.
Izumi	Ahaha, I see.
Guy	I understand that feeling well. When I go to the liquor store, I’m puzzled which one to choose and have ultimately ended up purchasing a number of them.
Azuma	What do you say? Won’t you also drink together with us?
Hisoka	…You’ll warm up.
Homare	There is sake that’s hot or lukewarm, which do you prefer?
Izumi	Then, I’ll take up your kind offer and I’ll have the hot sake.
Guy	I will prepare it now.
Izumi	Thank you very much.
Tasuku	…
Izumi	(From a while ago, Tasuku-san has been watching the TV with a somewhat serious look on his face…)
TV	“’A samurai’s right to cut down commoners’! Ha! TAHH——!”
Izumi	Ah, you’re watching a historical drama, huh?
Tasuku	Yeah. The main character of this work is Miyamoto Musashi.
	From now on, I’m thinking this will be useful reference for when we have our rerun performances.
Izumi	(Rice wine while watching historical dramas…
	Hmmm, how refined…)
Guy	The standing positions for the talk show seem good here.
Homare	Umu, I’m looking forward to the real thing.
Izumi	Ah, Tasuku-san. The rehearsal ended earlier than I thought,
	So if you don’t mind, would you let me go ahead and take the polaroid picture?
Tasuku	Ahh, the photo for the present that Sakyo-san was saying, right?
	Got it.
Izumi	Yep, that’s ok.
Tasuku	Yeah.
Homare	The imbalance between this pose and Tasuku-san somehow makes me laugh in spite of myself.
Guy	Isn’t it nice and fresh?
Tasuku	Haa… Everyone’s doing this pose, so it can’t be helped, alright?
Izumi	After, can you sign it and bring it back?
Tasuku	I got it.
Izumi	Alright then, for the screening party and talk show, I’m counting on you guys!
Guy	Yes, roger that.
	For this show, it was the first time the Winter troupe had a full-scale sword fight.
Tasuku	Yeah. I requested it from Minagi who was in charge of the script, and he put in it.
Homare	I was watching the other troupes, and was very interested in it as well.
	However, seeing how coach Yuzo’s training was far too spartan,
	I thought I should refrain from doing it after all.
Guy	Yukishiro was saying the same thing as well.
Audience	Ahahaha!
Tasuku	Besides our sword fight training,
	Guy-san and I went running together, didn’t we?
Guy	Yes. Running with Takato is—.
	…
Tasuku	Guy-san?
Guy	No, my apologies. Running with Takato is very worthwhile.
	He’s told me about various courses. Definitely let me accompany you again.
Tasuku	Of course. Same here, I’m counting on you.
Izumi	(It’s a relief both the screening party and talk show ended on a high-note.
	After this is the sending-off of the guests.)
Tasuku	Thank you very much for coming.
Audience member A	The screening party and talk show were both really fun!
Guy	Above all else, it’s good you enjoyed it.
Audience member B	I love “Die by the Sword”!
	I’m looking forward to the next show too. I’ll support you!
Homare	Ahh, thank you.
	We promise to deliver another wonderful performance.
Audience member C	Hey… look, look.
	—Doesn’t he?
Audience member D	Yea, that’s what I thought!
Izumi	(? What’s up?)
Audience member E	That guy with black hair, doesn’t he look like Tasuku-san?
Izumi	Eh…
	—!?
Tasuku	Thank you very much—.
Fuyuki	That was really fun.
	Ahh yeah—, as excepted Musashi really is the coolest ever!
Tasuku	…Ha!?
Fuyuki	I’ll support you!
Tasuku	T-thank you very much...

Tasuku	Oi, why is my brother here…
Fuyuki	Ahaha.
Azuma	Well, well. Look, it’s thanks for the alcohol the other day.
Tasuku	So he’s here for that but… why was he at the talk show?
Tsumugi	Isn’t it fine though?
Tasuku	Don’t tell me, you weren’t the one who gave him the ticket, were you?
Tsumugi	It wasn’t me.
	…Well, I did tell him about the screening party.
Tasuku	So wasn’t it you after all then?
Tsumugi	I didn’t think he would actually come though.
Tasuku	Haa…
Fuyuki	I made eye contact with Guy-san during the talk show, huh?
Guy	Yeah.
Izumi	Ah, could it be, that’s why Guy-san suddenly stopped in the middle of talking…
Guy	Because I was surprised, my mouth stopped unconsciously.
Homare	I see, something like that happened, hm?
Tasuku	Why didn’t you tell me…
Guy	Ah no, I thought Takato knew about it.
Tasuku	Haa…
Fuyuki	Haha, my bad, my bad. I gave you a little surprise, huh~.
Tasuku	Don’t kid with me. I wanted the ground to just open up and swallow me whole.
Izumi	(Fufu, no matter what he says, they’re brothers that get along well.)
	…Ah, this sake is also tasty.
Hisoka	Want snacks with your drink? My recommendation is marshmallows.
Izumi	Thanks, I guess I’ll have one.
	(Hm? The sound of rain…)
	Huh… here is…?
	(Somehow this room seems like it came out of a historical drama.
	On top of that, before I knew it, I’m wearing a kimono…)
	*knock, knock, knock*
	Y-yeess…
???	Sorry, but won’t you lend me your eaves for a short while?
Izumi	! Tasuku-san!?
???	Tasuku? I am Musashi. Miyamoto Musashi.
Izumi	Miyamoto Musashi!?
	(I-I can’t really grasp this situation…)
	(Ah, but this person’s kimono is soaked from the rain.
	At this rate, he’ll catch a cold—)
	Um, forget the eaves and please come in.
Musashi	Eh…
	…I am indebted to you.
Izumi	Not at all, it’s only this much.
Musashi	I will repay you with this body.
Izumi	Y-your body!? No, something like that is not really—.
Musashi	Whether it’s bodyguarding or manual labour, there’s no need to hesitate.
Izumi	…S-so that’s what you meant…That’s a relief.
Tasuku	What is?
Izumi	…!
	Tasuku-san?
Tasuku	You woke up?
Izumi	Ummm…?
Tasuku	While everyone was drinking,
	Director started sleeping, so I’m carrying you to your room.
Izumi	T-thank you very much—.
	(…Hm? Carrying me?)
	—!
	S-so sorry! Please put me down, I can walk!
Tasuku	? Is that so?
Izumi	Thank you very much.
	…T-that surprised me…
Tasuku	Anyways, what’s “a relief”?
Izumi	Eh?
Tasuku	You were sleep talking, saying “that’s a relief”.
Izumi	Ah, ummm—… It seems I saw something in my dream but,
	I don’t really remember.
Tasuku	Hmmm.
CHOICE 1: Was I saying anything else? [+] Izumi Um… Was I saying anything else? Tasuku Ahh… what you were saying? Well there’s… Izumi There’s…? Tasuku …Pff. I’m joking. You were sleeping soundly. Izumi ! Tasuku-san, you’re mean sometimes, you know… Tasuku Really now?
CHOICE 2: Sorry for causing you so much trouble. [+] Izumi Sorry for causing you so much trouble. Tasuku It’s fine, this much isn’t trouble at all. Ahh, but… our talk about the play got interrupted halfway. While we were talking over our drinks, I was caught by my brother and them, And while I was entangled, before I knew it, Director was sleeping. Izumi Ahaha, that happened, huh? Sorry. Let’s definitely chat about the continuation another time. Tasuku Yeah. …Next time let’s go drinking, the two of us. Izumi Yes! I’m looking forward to it. Tasuku Yeah, I’m looking forward to it too.
	Now then… Well, I’ve already come this far so I’ll send you all the way to your room.
Izumi	Thank you very much.
	But, isn’t that really just an excuse to sneak away from the drinking party?
Tasuku	Well, that’s half of it.
Izumi	And the other half is?
Tasuku	If Director falls asleep in the hallway, I’ll have to carry you again.
Izumi	I’m not Hisoka-san, so that won’t happen.
	…But, since you’re already here, please go ahead.
Tasuku	Sure.

Anna