Tsumugi Tsukioka/Florist Blanc

Morning Air

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2Part 3

	*door opens*
Tsumugi	*Yaaawn*… good morning, everyone.
Sakuya	Ah! Tsumugi-san, good morning!
Masumi	Zzz…
Sakuya	Ahh. Wake up, Masumi-kun!
	You have class first period, don’t you? You have to eat quickly!
Announcer	“Capricorn is second in today’s horoscope ranking.
	Both your studies and your work will go swimmingly today.”
Citron	All that’s left is Taurus and Liber…
	This moment will decide our day’s fate!
Taichi	It’s Libra!
Yuki	You’re sure making a huge deal out of your fortunes.
Taichi	But today’s the day I submit my report, so I hope I’m first place!
Citron	Today’s the day of an important taiyaki sale, so I won’t let you have first so easily!
Tsuzuru	It wouldn’t matter if you’re 12th place for that though.
Announcer	“Ranked 12th place for today is… whomp, whomp—it’s Taurus.
	You won’t have much energy today. Your lucky item is red bean paste!”
Citron	It suddenly feels like all my energy left me…
	I don’t feel motivated to do anything…
Tsuzuru	You’re influenced way too easily!
Taichi	But hey. Your lucky item is red bean paste, so it’ll be perfect if you eat taiyaki!
Citron	That’s true! I’ll run in as soon as the store opens!
Omi	Tsumugi-san, we’re having poached eggs this morning.
Tsumugi	Thank you.
	They look delicious.
Izumi	*Sigh*…
Tsumugi	Is something the matter, Director?
Izumi	Ah, no.
	I’m just a little sleep deprived…
Tsumugi	…I feel pretty sleepy this morning too.
Tasuku	That’s the norm for you, isn’t it?
Izumi	Do you have your home tutoring job today, Tsumugi-san?
Tsumugi	Yes. I’m a bit nervous since it’s my first time going to this home for a short-term, trial course.
Izumi	So you get nervous too, huh?
Sakuya	I thought you were always calm and collected!
Tsuzuru	That’s surprising.
Tsumugi	There’s all kinds of different families, after all. They might have complicated circumstances, or the child might not be happy having a tutor…
Hisoka	Or there’s a worrywart parent who goes 3 hours overtime discussing with you after every class…
Tsumugi	Haha. Some parents are like that, yes.
	There are parents who don’t have the greatest impression of tutors to begin with, and it all depends on your luck and chemistry. That’s why it’s always nerve wracking at first.
Izumi	Your luck and chemistry… I see…
Tsumugi	…
Student’s mother	Thank you very much for today, Mr. Tsukioka.
	I’m overjoyed it seems my child could relax and enjoy their class.
Tsumugi	The pleasure’s all mine. Thank you very much.
Student’s mother	By the way, Mr. Tsukioka. Do you live at your parents’ home?
Tsumugi	No, I’m living at a dorm of a theatre—.
Student’s mother	I wonder if there’s a space to decorate then…
	If you’d like, why don’t you take these flowers?
	My brother-in-law runs a flower shop in the neighbourhood. He happened to share some leftover flowers with me today.
	I’m sorry if I’m asking too much…
Tsumugi	Not at all. I love flowers, so I’d be delighted.
Student’s mother	I’m glad.
	I get bread from time to time, so I thought that would’ve been better. But the timing didn’t work out.
Tsumugi	Bread?
Student’s mother	My brother-in-law was originally a baker, but he took over his family’s flower shop many years back.
	He’s still baking bread on the side even now.
Tsumugi	Oh, that’s how it is.
	Both a baker and a florist sound lovely.
Student	You like flowers too, teach?
Tsumugi	Yes.
	I raise all sorts of different kinds in my dorm’s garden.
Student	In that case, why don’t you pass through the camellia park near by on your way back to the station?
Student’s mother	Yes, that’s right.
	They’re beautifully in full-bloom right now, so please have a look.
Tsumugi	Thank you.
	I’ll drop by.
	Now then, if you’ll excuse me.
	(Camellia park, they said. Is this it…?)
	Wow, it’s amazing.
	They’re in full-bloom.
	(Oh, right.
	Since I’m here, I’ll get my camera…)
	*click*
	Hmm… it’s dark, so I can’t get a good shot.
	(Kazu-kun took a great picture of the night view a while back. How did he manage to do that? I wish I asked him.)
	(Even so, it sure is pretty…)
	(It’s nice seeing the camellia all lit up like this, but I’m sure they would look even more beautiful in the morning sun while it’s light out.)
	(I’ll come back another time.)

Homare	Gentlemen, I’ve brought the tea.
Itaru	Don’t mind if I do.
Muku	Thank you very much!
Kazunari	What do you guys think about this?
Yuki	That’s pretty spot on.
Kumon	What about this?
Tenma	That looks like it’ll be tough to prepare.
	*door opens*
Tsumugi	I’m back.
Izumi	Welcome home.
	How did work go today?
Tsumugi	Both the parent and their child were relaxed, so the lesson went smoothly.
Izumi	That’s great to hear!
Kazunari	It’s gotta be something like this, after all~.
Misumi	I wanna make this a triangle!
Tsumugi	What are all of you talking about?
Kazunari	The weather’s been nice and sunny these days, so we were thinking of spending a morning out some time.
Muku	We were making all sorts of plans while looking at inste.
Tsumugi	Wow, that sounds fun.
Yuki	We were inspired by sensible lifestyle inste accounts.
Kumon	I like this sorta picnic style too.
Muku	The food is simply placed in a basket, but it looks delicious.
Misumi	I wanna eat a triangle omelette~.
Kazunari	Ah, this bread sure looks yummy!
Kumon	There’s so many flowers… ah, it runs as a flower shop during the day.
Kazunari	It says they’re only open as a bakery in the morning.
Tsumugi	—Where is that store?
Kazunari	Lemme see, the location is…
Tsumugi	Ah, that place is close to the home where I did my tutoring job today.
	Also, considering that last name…
Muku	Do you know it?
Tsumugi	My student today has an uncle who’s a florist and a former baker.
	They share the same last name, so that might be his store.
Itaru	Whew, what a fancy career change.
Tenma	You don’t come across many people like that, so I doubt you can go wrong with this shop.
Kazunari	I’d love to try their food.
Tsumugi	I’ll go buy some tomorrow morning then.
	I should know where it is, more or less.
Itaru	Tsumugi? Are you sure?
	I’m not one to talk though.
Tenma	If you’re going to buy bread for breakfast, then you’re gonna have to leave pretty early in the morning.
Tsumugi	I’ll manage if I set my alarm clock.
	Ah, but if you’re worried about me going alone—.
Izumi	?
Tsumugi	Won’t you come with me, Director?
Izumi	Me?
	Of course. No problem.
Tsumugi	Great.
	I’m looking forward to it.
	…Huh? It should be there if we turn right…
Izumi	Tsumugi-san, the arrow on the map is pointing this way. Isn’t it in the opposite direction?
Tsumugi	Eh? Ah, you’re right.
	So then, if we head a little further this way—.
	There is it. That’s the place.

Izumi	It’s smells amazing.
Tsumugi	There’s table sets. I wonder if that means we can eat here?
Izumi	It looks like they have a morning menu.
Tsumugi	A toast and drink set…
	Sounds delectable, doesn’t it?
Izumi	Why don’t we grab a little bite to eat first?
	I got hungry from all the walking.
Tsumugi	Same here.
	I’m digging in.
Izumi	The blueberry jam you got looks tasty.
Tsumugi	I’d like to try the strawberry jam as well. Why don’t we share halfsies?
Izumi	Thank you!
	…Mm~, yummy!
Tsumugi	Bread is the most delicious when it’s freshly baked. It’s crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
Izumi	It sure was worth waking up early and coming all the way here.
Tsumugi	Shall we tell everyone else about this next time?
Izumi	Good idea!
Tsumugi	We bought more than we expected, huh?
Izumi	Yeah, you get lured in by the smell at bakeries and end up wanting to take home a bunch of different things.
Tsumugi	I even got a souvenir when I thanked him for the flowers I received the other day.
Izumi	Now that we've had a chance to relax, let's hurry home before the other guys wake up.
Tsumugi	Ah. There’s a spot I’d like to stop by, if that would be alright?
Izumi	Wow… it’s beautiful…
Tsumugi	I knew it would look absolutely dazzling in the morning light.
	When I passed this way on my way home from work the other day, I thought for sure it would look even more beautiful in the morning.
	We had just been talking about the bakery, so I figured I’d stop by here too.
Izumi	So that’s what happened.
Tsumugi	I also wanted to show this place to you too.
Izumi	Me?
Tsumugi	Well, you’ve been looking a bit down lately.
Izumi	Ahaha… you saw right through me, huh?
	It’s not that big of a deal, but the site I’m going to help out at starting today is famous for having a lot of troubles…
	I was a bit worried whether I would make a mistake or whether I would get along with the others on set…
Tsumugi	I see.
	…Please wait a moment.
	*click*
Izumi	?
	*notification sound*
	Is this a picture of a camellia?
Tsumugi	In flower language, camellias mean “overcoming difficulties”.
	So, when you find yourself feeling tired, please take a look at that and remember this view and the delicious breakfast set we had.
	Perhaps you’ll feel a little lighter.
Izumi	I see…
	(When I look closely, the picture is a bit blurry…
	Classic Tsumugi-san.)
	Fufu.
Tsumugi	?
Izumi	Thank you.
	I feel like I’ll be able to do my best today.
	*notification sound*
KAZUNARI MIYOSHI☆ Did y’all get the bread?
Omi Fushimi Tsumugi-san, Director. Would you like fried eggs, scrambled eggs or omelettes?
Izumi	It looks like everyone’s up now.
Tsumugi	Shall we hurry home?
Izumi	Lead the way!

Anna