Tasuku Takato/In the Resonating Cheers

Awkward Kindness and Warmth

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2Part 3

Izumi	Make sure I’m not forgetting anything…. Okay.
Tasuku	You’re heading out, Director?
Izumi	Ah, Tasuku-san.
	The script’s finished, and I heard they’ve set a special venue for us around the skating rink. I thought I’d check it out.
Tasuku	I was just about to go for a run but, could I join you?
Izumi	Are you planning on practicing for the performance?
Tasuku	Yeah.
Izumi	Figured. Of course you can, let’s go together!
Izumi	It’s pretty crowded.
Tasuku	There’s more people than last time I came.
Izumi	Huh? You’ve been here before, Tasuku-san?
Tasuku	Yeah, with Minagi for practice. It might’ve been because we came before winter vacation, but there wasn’t nearly this many people.
	Speaking of, can you skate?
Izumi	Technically yes, but it’s been so long I’m not sure if I still can…
Tasuku	…I see. Don’t hurt yourself.
Izumi	Thank you.
Tasuku	The skate rental’s over here. Let’s go.
Izumi	I’ve got my skates on, I’m ready to go!
Tasuku	You’re not wearing gloves?
Izumi	Ah! ….I forgot.
Tasuku	You should wear some. I’m pretty sure you can rent them over there.
Izumi	Okay. Hang on just a little longer!
	–Wah!
	*thud*
Tasuku	….That was a close one.
Izumi	Sorry…!
Tasuku	Don’t worry about it. It’s easy to fall if you’re not used to wearing skates, so be careful.
Izumi	Okay!
Izumi	Thanks for being patient, Tasuku-san. Let’s go!
Tasuku	Alright.
Tasuku	…..
Izumi	(Wow, Tasuku-san is skating so fast…)
	You said you wanted to practice, but you already seem more than prepared.
Tasuku	Well, I’m just skating normally.
	But acting on ice is different from acting on a stage. It’s better for me to be fairly familiar with skating so I can concentrate on my acting.
Izumi	I see…
	(He’s as stoic as ever… That’s part of Tasuku-san’s charm, though.)
	(I think skating side-by-side with Tasuku-san is helping me get used to this.)
	I think I’m getting the hang of this! I might even be able to surpass you, Tasuku-san!
Tasuku	Oi–.
Izumi	Uwah–!
	*thud*
	Oww…
Tasuku	Jeez… don’t get carried away.
Izumi	Sorry…
Tasuku	Here, give me your hand.
Izumi	Thank you.
Izumi	(My fingers are getting cold…)
	Brrr….
Tasuku	Are you cold?
Izumi	When I fell, my gloves got wet. They’re a little cold.
Tasuku	……
Izumi	Tasuku-san?
Tasuku	It’s nothing. Are you ready to go home?
Izumi	Huh?
	But, Tasuku-san, don’t you want to skate a little more? Don’t worry about me!
Tasuku	No, I got enough practice in. Besides, I don’t want you to catch a cold.
Izumi	(Maybe this is Tasuku-san’s way of being considerate?)
	Thank you. Now, let’s head home.

Taichi	The advent calendar’s opened up a lot!
Azuma	I thought it would be too small to hold everything, but it seems I’m mistaken.
Tasuku	It’s bigger than I expected.
Misumi	I drew a triangle on my day~!
Tsumugi	Yeah, this triangle symbol on the calendar, that’s Misumi-kun’s day.
Azami	I could’ve guessed that.
Taichi	Winter Troupe’s advent calendar is about to start~!
Tsumugi	You’re right. What did everyone put in it?
Misumi	I put a triangle flower~!
Tsumugi	Ah, so that’s why you came ask me about flowers.
Misumi	Yep! I’m glad Director-san was pleased~.
Azami	I put a face mask. Winter dries you out.
Tsumugi	Speaking of, I think Juza-san said he put some sweets he ordered.
Azuma	Fufu, everyone put what they like.
Taichi	Each one is unique, it’s fun to look!
Tsumugi	Taichi-kun, what did you put in?
Taichi	I put some curry-flavored ramune candy!
Tasuku	Curry-flavored…?
Azami	That exists?
Taichi	I found some at a candy shop nearby, since Director-sensei loves curry, I figured it was perfect!
Tasuku	…I can’t even begin to imagine what that tastes like.
Azuma	It sounds interesting.
Taichi	Has everyone in Winter Troupe decided on their presents yet?
Tsumugi	Well, I’m still thinking.
Azuma	I think I’ll put in something that Director and I can use together.
Taichi	H-How mature…!
Azuma	Hisoka said he was going to make gingerbread cookies, he’s going to eat them with her.
Taichi	That’s a lot of sweets~! Oh, Tasuku-san, have you decided on what you’re gonna put?
Tasuku	No, not yet…. Well, I have an idea, at least.
Misumi	What are you gonna put~?
Tasuku	I’m not saying.
Taichi	Eh–!
Azuma	I wonder what kind of gift Tasuku will give.
Tsumugi	I’m curious.
Tasuku	Sigh… This is why I didn’t want to say anything.
Misumi	Tasuku, here! I’ll give you triangle rocks, so don’t get angry, ‘kay~?
Tasuku	No, it’s fine…
Taichi	Ehh!? Tasuku-san, are you angry!? I-I’m sorry~!
Tasuku	I assure you, I’m not angry.
Azuma	Fufu, I’m looking forward for your day.
Tasuku	Good grief…

Izumi	Oof… I did a lot of shopping. There’s so many bags…
Theatre Company Member	“–Rise! Knights of the Holy Night!”
Izumi	….Hm?
	It’s a street act! I’m gonna go watch.
Theatre Company Member	–Thank you for watching!
	*applause*
Izumi	(That was funny!)
	–Brrr!
	(I’ve been standing out in the cold, so I caught a chill…)
Tasuku	Director?
Izumi	Ah, Tasuku-san! Were you watching the street act too?
Tasuku	Yeah, I was just passing by. It was pretty interesting.
Izumi	I thought the same thing while I was watching!
Tasuku	I want to try and approach like that, too.
Izumi	That’s a good idea.
	That bag… You also did some shopping, didn’t you?
Tasuku	…Well, a little.
Izumi	? Oh, that’s right! I bought a lot of stuff too—Brrr!
Tasuku	…We should hurry home. You’ll catch a cold if we don’t. *takes bag*
Izumi	Ah, those are heavy!
Tasuku	I don’t mind. Besides, we’ll get home quicker if I carry them.
Izumi	(Tasuku-san, you may be blunt, but you’re kind.)
	Fufu, well then…I’ll take your word for it. Thank you very much!
Izumi	The advent calendar, today’s Tasuku-san’s day, right?
Tasuku	Yeah.
Izumi	Then, I’m going to open it!
	Huh? Isn’t this the bag you had yesterday?
Tasuku	…..
Izumi	….Gloves?
	(But, this fabric is awfully thin for winter clothes…)
	They’re a little unusual.
Tasuku	They’re made for pro ice skaters.
Izumi	For pros!?
Tasuku	When we were skating the other day, you fell. These gloves are water-repellent, so even if you fall, your hands won’t get wet and cold.
Izumi	(Tasuku-san remembered that?)
	Fufu, thank you so much.
CHOICE 1: They seem easy to use. [+] Izumi I can see why pros use these, with the fabric and all. They’re thin and lightweight, so they seem really easy to use. Tasuku I don’t know what presents women like… I figured this would be practical. Izumi Yeah, gifts like this are typical of you, Tasuku-san. I’m really happy with it. Tasuku What’s that supposed to mean… Well, anyways, I’m glad you’re pleased.
CHOICE 2: So my hands won’t get cold even if I fall, huh. [+] Izumi If that’s the case, even if I fall, the gloves won’t get wet and my fingers won’t get cold. Tasuku What happened the other day was dangerous. Izumi Ahaha… sorry about that. I want to be able to skate as well as Tasuku-san. Tasuku It’s safest not to fall.
Tasuku	Use them, and get some more practice.
Izumi	Eh?
Tasuku	….I plan on inviting you again.
Izumi	….Yeah! Let’s go skating again!

BAYLI