Tasuku Takato/VIVID WINTER

NIGHT FLOWER ~Orchid~

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

Azuma	It’s not often that you’d call everyone to a place like this, Tsumugi.
Homare	Are you perhaps about to disclose a secret you cannot tell anyone——
Tsumugi	No, that’s not it... I just thought this was the perfect place for what I’m going to talk about.
Guy	I’ve been to this cafe with Tsukioka before. Compared to back then... the flowers look more beautiful to me now.
Tsumugi	Guy-san... I’m happy you feel that way.
	Ah, everyone, let’s order some drinks first.
Tasuku	Yeah. I’ll get a black coffee.
Azuma	As for me... Ah, maybe I’ll get this one.
Homare	I shall order black tea, of course.
Hisoka	Marshmallows...
Tsumugi	Fufu, marshmallow hot chocolate for Hisoka-kun, right?
Tsumugi	Is this everything we ordered? I’ll get right to the main subject then.
	Apparently there will be an event called “Midnight Garden.” It’s an event where guests would be able to enjoy the botanical garden at night——
	We were asked to perform improv acts while walking around the garden.
Hisoka	Just Mankai Company?
Azuma	It’s certainly perfect for our theater company.
Tsumugi	Each day a different group of three from each troupe will participate; in addition to the troupe leader, we’ll need two more people.
	The event is held during the night and it’s pretty short notice, so I want to take everyone’s work circumstances into consideration...
Guy	I see. That day works fine for me.
Azuma	Sorry, I have plans that day...
Homare	I have an autograph session that day. I’m sorry.
Hisoka	Zzz... I can’t do it either... Zzz.
Homare	Hm, only the marshmallows have disappeared from your drink.
Tasuku	I’m free that day.
Tsumugi	That’s great, we have just enough people. Shall we go with these members then?
Tasuku	Sounds good.
Guy	Yeah, let’s give it a try.
Tasuku	Has it been decided what type of roles we’re doing?
Tsumugi	The premise is flowers transforming into humans at midnight. Apparently we’re free to choose which flower we’re acting as.
Tasuku	A flower, huh... Sounds difficult.
Tsumugi	And so, I listed a few examples of flowers from the four seasons. The Winter Troupe will be in charge of the winter flowers, of course.
	I’d like for us to decide who’s going to do which flower now...
Guy	Which flowers did you choose?
Tsumugi	Narcissus, orchid, and ranunculus.
Guy	Ranunculus, huh...
Tsumugi	Do you like that one?
Guy	...Yeah, I do.
Tsumugi	Fufu. I actually thought you’d say that. I’ll leave the ranunculus to you then, Guy-san.
Guy	Understood.
Tsumugi	The ones left are the narcissus and the orchid... Tasuku, is there one you’d prefer?
Tasuku	Either one is fine. Flowers are flowers. Choose the one you like.
Tsumugi	Hmm, they both seem interesting...
Tasuku	Then you’ll never get to decide...
Homare	In that case, why don’t I choose the one that suits you!
Tsumugi	You will, Homare-san...?
Homare	Mhm. My artistic sense shall choose the perfect flower for you.
	Hmm... The narcissus’ simplicity yet firm presence is Tsumugi-kun.
	The orchid’s majestic and dignified appearance is Tasuku-kun. How about that!
Hisoka	You’re right on the mark, for once.
Homare	When did you wake up, Hisoka-kun?
Azuma	I also think that’s good.
Tsumugi	For some reason, being told that is embarrassing...
Tasuku	In any case, it’s settled.
Tsumugi	So I’ll be the narcissus, Tasuku will be the orchid, and Guy-san will be the ranunculus.
	We’ll be checking out the location with the Director soon, so I’m thinking we should grasp the image of our characters there.
	I’ll also give you the illustrated reference books I recommend.
Tasuku	Okay.
Guy	Understood.
Tasuku	(Tsumugi handed me this illustrated reference book of flowers and told me to read it because it might give me hints, but——)
	(When I’m in the room he hovers too much...)
	(When he looks at me with eyes that say “hurry up and read it” I can’t help but feel uneasy.)
	I wouldn’t have to worry about anyone staring at me here.
	(...Huh. This even has information on flower language.)
	Plus there’s more than one meaning... I see.
	(This must be the hint Tsumugi was talking about.)

Izumi	Wow, it looks so magical!
Guy	Yeah, it’s very beautiful.
Tsumugi	Where should we start?
Tasuku	We probably want to look at different places, so why don’t we each go on our separate ways until it’s time?
Izumi	You have a point.
Tsumugi	Okay, then let’s meet back here when it’s time.
Guy	Understood.
Tasuku	Got it.
Izumi	(This feels different from viewing flowers in the daytime; the flowers look so magical and beautiful during the night.)
Tasuku	Director. Do you have a moment?
Izumi	Ah, Tasuku-san. What’s wrong?
Tasuku	I’ve built my character to some extent, but I also want to hear opinions from an audience.
	Can you watch me for a bit?
Izumi	Of course.
Tasuku	“——You’re...! No, that can’t be...”
Izumi	(As expected of Tasuku-san... His refined acting instantly draws you in.)
	Um, did something happen...?
Tasuku	“I don’t think you’ll believe me. But... you and I were friends in our previous lives!”
Izumi	What!?
Tasuku	“You don’t have to be so surprised... I did tell you that I doubt you’d believe me.”
Izumi	Oh, I’m just surprised; it’s not because I don’t believe you!
Tasuku	“In our past life, the circumstances made it so that we had to be separated, but...”
	“I’m happy that we’re able to fulfill our promise from those distant days.”
Izumi	What kind of promise?
Tasuku	“We promised that we would surely meet again in our next lives. ‘No matter how you look at it, that’s still in the next life,’ was what I thought, but.”
Izumi	Fufu. It’s certainly not what you’d normally promise someone.
Tasuku	“...”
Izumi	——!
	(His expression has completely turned into a serious one... It’s captivating me and I can’t look away——)
Tasuku	“Even so, back then I could believe only in the words we exchanged, more than anything else.”
	“I may be the only one who remembers that promise now, but I still wanted to fulfill it no matter what.”
Izumi	(Tasuku-san’s words... They strongly convey his feelings of wanting to fulfill that promise.)
	(Tasuku-san may have been much more compatible with the orchid than I thought.)
Tasuku	...That’s about what I came up with.
Izumi	I didn’t expect to be talked to about past lives, but it was new and interesting.
Tasuku	Among the orchid meanings in flower language, there were things like “unchanging love” and “I will never forget you.”
	I interpreted it as a flower that must constantly think about that person important to them, no matter how much time passes.
Izumi	I see... That somehow resembles Tasuku-san and Tsumugi-san.
Tasuku	Huh...?
Izumi	It reminded me of you two, who constantly thought about wanting to stand on the same stage together no matter how much time passed... That’s just my own interpretation though.
Tasuku	Ahh...
	I see. That’s true, I guess there’s a little overlap in some ways.
Guy	Tsukioka, they’re over here.
Tsumugi	Ah, so you two were together.
Izumi	Speak of the devil!
Tasuku	Heh, that’s right.
Tsumugi	...Hm? Speak of?
Guy	It looks like there are some shops nearby. Why don’t we take a little break?
Izumi	Good idea!
Tasuku	Good timing, I’m just starting to get a little hungry.
Tsumugi	Let’s go.

maria