Tasuku Takato/Gorgeous Masquerade

MASQUERADE PARTY

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

Yuki	Cheater butler, how is the mask?
Guy	It doesn’t seem as if it will fall in the middle. So I am good with it.
Itaru	If I’m not wrong, the winter troupe’s next play is about the phantom of the opera… I wonder if I’ll have to wear a mask for a role one day.
Yuki	Maybe one with cat ears or bunny ears instead.
Itaru	No way in hell.
Tsumugi	Itaru-san would look good with a mask.
Azuma	Agreed. But animal ears suit him as well.
Itaru	A mask is enough. Maybe at a masquerade.
Yuki	A masquerade ball? Are those in popular festivals from overseas?
Izumi	You usually see them in movies.
Tasuku	A masquerade also appears in the phantom of the opera.
Azuma	Chatting without knowing their faces seems interesting.
Tasuku	You think so…? It would be scary not knowing how my partner looks.
Azuma	Exactly. Since you can’t see them, trying to find out their identity is fun.
Tasuku	I can’t agree with you…
Azuma	I can see that.
Tsumugi	Masquerade balls are mostly an overseas practice, aren’t they?
Guy	It’s not a common practice in Zafra.
Itaru	Neither in Japan, it seems.
Azuma	It might seem like that, but they do exist here.
Izumi	Huh? Do they?
Azuma	They seem to be parties hosted by companies. An old client gave me an invitation ticket.
	As you see in movies, the participants wear a mask to hide their faces.
Tsumugi	Heh. So, there are place like that in Japan as well.
Izumi	Impressive. You have a lot of connections, Azuma-san.
Azuma	Unfortunately, I already have plans so I won’t be able to go.
	She specially invited me, but it would be good if someone could in my place…
	Is anyone free next Saturday night?
Guy	I have plans that day.
Tsumugi	I have to work as a private tutor.
Azuma	What about you, Tasuku?
Tasuku	I’m not interested in something like that.
Yuki	It might be hard to find one. There seems to be a dress code too.
Izumi	Indeed…
Itaru	It could be a good acting reference for the winter troupe play, tho.
Tasuku	–!
Azuma	I get your point. That’s why I thought to give to someone.
Tasuku	…
Tsumugi	…Tasuku. You’re interested in it, right?
Tasuku	No…
Izumi	That’s right. Why don’t you give it a try since you’re free? The experience might be good as a role study.
Azuma	I would be happy if you could go, Tasuku.
Tasuku	…Guess I will. Everything for the play.
Azuma	By the way, you need to be accompanied by a partner…
Izumi	A partner?
Tsumugi	In that case, wouldn’t be Director perfect for it?
Izumi	Eh? Me?
Yuki	Well, you’re the most suitable for it.
Guy	I agree.
Itaru	Sounds good. Seems like it will fun. Tell us the details later.
Azuma	Who knows, maybe it could be a good reference for the play.
Izumi	But, me as a partner…
Tasuku	I don’t mind going with you.
Izumi	Eh, are you sure…? Well, since you are alright with it…

Izumi	I’m feeling a bit uneasy. I don’t wear this type of dress often…
Azuma	It suits you pretty well. The size seems to be perfect as well.
Yuki	As expected of Azu-nee, choosing one in trends.
Tasuku	We should get going.
Yuki	Both of you have the masks I made, right?
Tasuku	Yeah.
Izumi	Of course! Thanks again for making them.
Yuki	No problem. After all, we can use them in the costumes or as stage props.
Izumi	Even so, I appreciate it. Then, we are going.
Yuki	Be careful to not mess it up, can you?
Izumi	I hope so…
Azuma	Tasuku, remember to escort her properly. Otherwise, it won’t be a good role study.
Tasuku	…I know that.
Izumi	?
	Wow… it must be obvious, but everyone is wearing a mask here.It feels like I suddenly entered a different world…
Tasuku	Everyone looks the same while wearing a mask with formal attire.
Izumi	You’re right… it feels like you’re going to get lost among them…
Tasuku	…Don’t disappear from my sight.
Izumi	G-Got it!
Host	Then everyone, please pay attention to the champagne tower!
Masked woman A	Wow…!
Masked woman B	It’s pretty.
Izumi	Amazing. The champagne tower is all lighted up.
Tasuku	It’s gorgeous, I guess.
Izumi	It’s a bit difficult eating while wearing a mask, but all the food in the buffet is delicious. As expected of Azuma’s connections…
Tasuku	Yeah, this will be good for role study.
Host	Continuing with the main for today! We would like to start our guess your partner game.
Tasuku	Guess your partner game?
Host	All the participants will wear the same mask, and you have to try to find your partner.
Izumi	Everyone wears the same mask!?
Tasuku	Even without being the same is hard, and now it will be harder to recognize it.
Izumi	Finding another person in the middle of all these people will be extremely hard…
Host	Well then, once you separate from your partner, please gather up at the right and left of the hall.
Izumi	In any case, let’s try it out.
Tasuku	…Be careful, okay?
Izumi	…H-Hmm.
	(It’s really hard to tell apart. Women’s dresses are uniques, but there isn’t a big difference in men’s suits…)
Masked woman A	Hah? There’s no way you could get it wrong!
Masked man A	It’s not like that, you see…
Masked woman A	You don’t look at me at all! We’re done!
Izumi	(Are they breaking up!? The situation scaled so fast…! That’s scary…)
	(Even if women’s dresses are different from others, there are a lot of people wearing dresses. He won’t recognize her so easily…)
	(Will Tasuku-san be able to find me?)
Masked man B	…You, you’re my partner, right?
Izumi	Huh?
Masked man B	Yes, there’s no doubt.
Izumi	Ahm, I think you got the wrong person…
	(His voice and physique are totally different from Tasuku’s…)
Masked man B	That can’t be. My cute lady, stop teasing me.
Izumi	Wait, wait, wait, wait!
	(I can’t remove the mask to show him my face. What should I do…!?)
Tasuku	…So you were here.
Izumi	–
Tasuku	Excuse me, but the lady right here is my companion.
Izumi	T-Tasuku-san…?
	(His voice and physique look like his, but his personality…)
Masked man B	It can’t be, right–
Tasuku	Please, come here and dance with me.
CHOICE 1: Tasuku-san, right? [+] Izumi Tasuku-san, right…? Tasuku Why are you asking, my lady?Could it be that you already forgot my face? Even when we spent all this time together… you hurt me. Izumi – (Even if he tell me that, it’s completely different to him…!) Tasuku Let’s go, my lady.
CHOICE 2: Tasuku-san…! [+] Izumi Tasuku-san…! (Anyways, I’ll try to join Tasuku-san’s setting). I felt so lonely. You should have come faster…! Tasuku —Pardon me. You had those terrible feelings because of me. I won’t ever leave your side again, my beloved lady. Masked man B …Please, excuse me! Izumi (G-Good… it seems like he understood) Tasuku Let’s go, my lady. Izumi (By the way, this person is Tasuku-san, right…?)
Tasuku	…Sigh.
Izumi	(Ah, it was Tasuku-san after all.)
	Thanks for helping me back there, Tasuku-san.
Tasuku	Didn’t I tell you to be careful?
Izumi	Bu, you could recognize me even with the mask.
Tasuku	Yeah… I thought I wouldn’t find you. But, as soon as I caught you in my sight, I knew it was you.
Izumi	–
Tasuku	…Well, the dress was of help too.
Izumi	I know, right! Azuma-san chose it after all!
	(That almost made me lose a beat…)
	By the way, you were really cool earlier, Tasuku-san. As if you were a prince!
Tasuku	…Forget about that. It was for the role study.
Izumi	You’ll be perfect in the performance too!
Tasuku	I guess so. All thanks to Azuma-san… and you, Director.

Moonlight