Tsumugi Tsukioka/Die by the Sword
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Zabi Nerikiri Showdown!
Backstage Stories| Tsumugi | My character in the next performance is a wagashi craftsman... |
| (I guess I should try making wagashi to get into character.) | |
| (But I don’t know how. It would be better to have someone familiar with it to teach me.) | |
| Omi | What’s wrong, Tsumugi-san? |
| Tsumugi | Ah, Omi-kun. |
| Omi | You had a serious look on your face. Is something bothering you? |
| Tsumugi | I wouldn’t say so, but rather... That’s right. If it’s okay with you, can you teach me how to make wagashi? |
| Omi | How to make wagashi? Of course. |
| Tsumugi | Thank you. I was wondering if there’s anything that could help me get into character, since I’m playing a wagashi craftsman in our next performance. |
| Omi | I see. So that’s what it was. |
| Tsumugi | Is there something that even I can make? |
| Omi | If it’s wagashi... Then how about nerikiri? It’s surprisingly easy to make.[1] |
| Tsumugi | Nerikiri looks difficult, but... I guess I’ll give it a try. |
| Omi | Mix the shiratamako you melted in water with the shiro-an, and knead them together well.[2] |
| Tsumugi | Like this? |
| Omi | Yes, that should be good. Then we’ll split them into parts, add some colouring, and roll them into balls. |
| Tsumugi | Got it. |
| Omi | This can be eaten as it is, but from here we’ll sculpt it into a flower shape. |
| Tsumugi | I see. I thought it would be more difficult, but it really is easy. |
| Omi | Why don’t we sit over there as we mold them into shape? I think it would be easier that way. |
| Tsumugi | You’re right. |
| Tsumugi | ...Like this? |
| Omi | The way you drew the lines is unique; it’s nice. |
| Tsumugi | Really? Thanks. |
| Tasuku | I’m home. ——What are you doing? |
| Tsumugi | Ah, Tasuku. Welcome back. |
| Omi-kun is teaching me how to make nerikiri right now. Want to join us? | |
| Tasuku | Nerikiri...? Oh, for Heiroku. |
| Omi | Heiroku? |
| Tsumugi | It’s the name of the character I mentioned earlier –– the one I’m playing for our next performance. |
| Omi | Oh, I see. |
| Tasuku | But, still—— |
| I can tell that Fushimi’s is a flower, but Tsumugi, what did you make...? |
| Tsumugi | Huh? I meant to make a flower just like Omi-kun... |
| Tasuku | ...It doesn’t look like a flower. |
| Omi | But I think that Tsumugi-san’s nerikiri looks nice and original. |
| Tsumugi | It’s pretty difficult to make shapes... You’ll understand if you try it too, Tasuku. |
| Tasuku | Well, it’s a good opportunity... I guess I’ll give it a try. |
| Omi | It’s already this late... It’s about time I go shopping. |
| Tsumugi | In that case, we’ll help you. |
| Omi | That’s okay since I don’t have a lot to buy, so can you finish making the rest of the nerikiri? |
| It’s hard to mold it into shape once it dries. | |
| Tsumugi | I see. Then, if you say so... |
| Tasuku | Take care. |
| Omi | Thank you very much. I’ll be heading out then. |
| Tasuku | There isn’t a lot of nerikiri left. |
| Tsumugi | We sure made lots of different things, like flowers and fruits. Don’t you think this watermelon turned out well? |
| Tasuku | It doesn’t look like a watermelon to me though... |
| Tsumugi | Hmm, not this one either huh... I worked pretty hard to make it though. |
| Oh. While I’m at it, I might as well make Zabi. I think I’d be able to make it pretty well if it’s Zabi.[3] | |
| Tasuku | Zabi... I miss him. I guess I’ll make him too. |
| Tsumugi | Hmm, I think this should be good. |
| Tasuku | I’m done too. |
| Tsumugi | Mine resembles him more. Don’t you think I really captured his features well? Like his round eyes for example. |
| Tasuku | No, mine resembles him more. I recreated his droopy ears and his fur. |
| Tsumugi | But doesn’t the face look a little scary? I think my Zabi looks like the original more. |
| Tasuku | Your Zabi is too long and thin... |
| Kazunari | Wait just a minute! |
| I, Kazunari Miyoshi, heard your conversation perfectly–! | |
| Tasuku | Whoa! |
| Tsumugi | K-Kazu-kun...? |
| Kazunari | I’ll submit them to Inste anonymously, and we’ll decide whose is better based on the number of likes they get! |
| Tasuku | No, we weren’t competing to begin with... |
| Kazunari | But but, won’t it be uncomfortable for you two if we leave things as they are? Won’t you feel so much better if we let everyone decide? |
| Tsumugi | Ahaha... That’s true. That kind of thing may be good once in a while. |
| Tasuku | Oi, Tsumugi... |
| Tsumugi | I was actually feeling a little frustrated since Tasuku kept saying that my nerikiri don’t look realistic. |
| Kazunari | In that case, then we got no choice but to do it~! |
| The winner gets the right to eat both of the Zabi nerikiri! | |
| Tsumugi | That sounds good. |
| Tasuku | *sigh*... |
| Kazunari | I’ll go submit them then! First is Tsumutsumu’s~! Then Takusu’s! |
 👍 💬  #NerikiriShowdown! |
|
 👍 💬 #VoteByPressingLike!Yoropiko☆ |
|
| Kazunari | Oh! They got likes right away! |
| Tsumugi | This is exciting for some reason. |
| Tasuku | Geez... |
| Kazunari | Tada–! The results are—— |
| By a slim margin, it’s Tsumugi-senshu’s victory~![4] | |
| Tsumugi | All right...! |
| Tasuku | Well I guess that’s that... Tsumugi, you can eat them. |
| Tsumugi | Yeah... |
| Tasuku | Oi, what’s wrong? |
| Tsumugi | Erm... How should I put this... |
| When I think of them as Zabi, I can’t eat them... Ahaha... | |
| Kazunari | Oh shoot! Did you like, end up becoming fond of the nerikiri!? |
| Tasuku | Heh... That’s so like you. |
maria
Notes
- ↑ Nerikiri is a type of wagashi (Japanese confection) made from sweet bean paste called “shiro-an” and glutinous rice paste “gyuhi”. It’s often coloured and molded into different shapes, as shown in the story
- ↑ Shiratamako is a type of glutinous rice flour used to make mochi
- ↑ Zabi/The Bee (ザビー) is the name of Tsumugi’s dog; you see him in Tsumugi and Tasuku’s practice doodles and in Tsumugi’s unbloomed Mankai Birthday SSR. Until the official spelling of his name in romaji is confirmed, I’ll be going with ‘Zabi’ for now
- ↑ Senshu is a title for athletes
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