Tsuzuru Minagi/Journey of Blooming

Just a Little Bit of Something Special

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

Citron	I'm hungry~!
Itaru	Same. I kinda wanna eat something with high calories.
Chikage	I wonder what's on the menu today.
Masumi	It doesn't smell like curry. She isn't in charge of cooking today.
Sakuya	Ahaha, just what I'd expect from you, Masumi-kun. If I remember correctly, today...
	——Huh? Tonight's dinner was supposed to be made by Tsuzuru-kun, wasn't it?
Tsuzuru	Yeah. It's already finished.
Citron	It looks like you put a lot of spirit into tonight's dinner!
Itaru	True. The lineup's a bit different than usual, too.
Sakuya	The presentation of the dishes is different from usual, so it feels kind of luxurious!
Masumi	Something happen?
Tsuzuru	N-No, but isn't it fine once in a while?
Chikage	I see. Is this maybe practice in order to make this type of meal for someone?
Itaru	Understanding: reached.
Tsuzuru	Ugh, that's enough! C'mon, eat before it gets cold!
Citron	Yes! Thanks for the food~!
Sakuya	Thank you for the food!
Tsuzuru	Hmm... ginger fried pork, fried chicken... Simmered foods... I have no confidence in making those.
	It's gotta be fried rice, after all...
Citron	Ooh, are we doing food manzai next?
Tsuzuru	Whoa?!
	Jeez, where did you come from? Don't scare me like that.
Citron	Sorries.
Tsuzuru	*sigh*... I'm not thinking of new stuff for manzai right now.
	We have that plan to go along with the 2nd anniversary of the theater to all make food for the Director as a gift to show our gratitude, right?
	Right now, I'm trying to figure out what to make for her.
Citron	Tsuzuru, you're good at cooking, so anything would be great!
Tsuzuru	But everything that I make gives off the vibes of a guy's cooking, so...
	I've made stuff for my family's birthdays and for anniversaries, but I feel like this is kinda different from that.
	Plus, I already cook a lot, so even if I make something for her, I feel like it'll just be the same as usual...
Citron	No protein, Tsuzuru.
	If you put your feelings into it and make it just a little special, I'm sure your feelings of gratitude will come across.
Tsuzuru	Just a little special, huh...
Citron	Tsuzuru's cooking is very delicious! I'm sure the Director will be very happy, too!
Tsuzuru	Thank you very much. In order to make her happy, I'll do my best and try to think of a lot of ideas.
Citron	That's the spirit.
	——By the way, Tsuzuru.
Tsuzuru	Huh, what is it?
Citron	Next time, I wanna do cabbage roll manzai! Let's simmer twirly, twirly cabbage!
Tsuzuru	Is food manzai like——Wait, what the heck kind of manzai is that?!

Tsuzuru	Eggs and green onions. We should have some sesame oil, so... I should have all the ingredients now.
Izumi	——Huh, Tsuzuru-kun?
Tsuzuru	D-Director!
Izumi	What a coincidence. Are you shopping for something?
Tsuzuru	Ah, umm... I was feeling a little hungry, so I decided to take a walk to the store.
Izumi	So that's what happened.
Tsuzuru	Are you buying ingredients for dinner? If you'd like, I can carry your bags for you.
Izumi	Really? Then, I think I might take you up on that offer.
Tsuzuru	No problem.
Izumi	I wonder what I should make for dinner tonight.
Tsuzuru	No curry, please. We just ate that yesterday.
Izumi	Alright, alright. ... Ah, these carrots are cheap.
Tsuzuru	It looks like these green peppers are a good deal, too.
Izumi	Carrots, green peppers... Ah, I know, how about Chinese food?
Tsuzuru	Huh?! Chinese food?!
Izumi	Yeah, like chop suey, twice cooked pork, stir-fried shredded beef and green pepper, and also fried ri—
Tsuzuru	M-Maybe not Chinese food! How about Italian or something?!
Izumi	Ahaha, Italian sounds kind of fancy.
	But that sounds like it might be good. Then I guess I'll make pasta today.
Tsuzuru	I think that's a great idea!
Izumi	Tsuzuru-kun, have you always liked pasta this much?
Tsuzuru	I love it!!
Izumi	???
	Come in~.
Tsuzuru	I brought you lunch.
Izumi	Ah, so today's your turn for that plan where everyone makes food every day. Thank you.
Tsuzuru	You're welcome. I... made fried rice.
Izumi	Wow, it looks delicious!
Tsuzuru	Thank goodness. It might not be that much of a surprise, but it is the food I have the most confidence in, after all.
Izumi	... Ah. Is this crab fried rice? It's usually shrimp, right?
Tsuzuru	I can't believe you noticed that...
	That being said, it's just canned crab. Let's just say it's a bit of a special customization.
	... Director, thank you so much for everything.
	It's been two years since I joined this theater troupe. You've helped me a lot, and taught me so much... I'm grateful from the bottom of my heart.
	You've seen a lot of me being pathetic, too, but——
	One day, I'll bloom into a scriptwriter so good that I can make you shark fin fried rice.
	That's why, I'd like you to keep watching over me.
Izumi	Of course I will. I should be the one thanking you, Tsuzuru-kun.
CHOICE 1: "I'm really grateful, too" [+] I'm the one who's really grateful to you, Tsuzuru-kun. Of course, it's partly toward your compelling scripts that you always write, but you're also always willing to discuss the direction and performance as a whole with me—— You help me so much outside of performances, too. Really, thank you so much. Tsuzuru No, no, feel free to count on me at anytime. Being helpful to the Director, and being counted on by the Director... Both make me really happy. Izumi I'll help you at anytime, too. Let's do our best together from here on out, too! Tsuzuru Yeah!
CHOICE 2: "I always look forward to your scripts" [+] Izumi All of the scripts you write are really interesting, and I'm always looking forward to them. Using that script as a base and creating performances together makes me really happy, and it's really fun. Tsuzuru Hearing you say that makes me really happy. Me being able to write scripts for this theater is thanks to you as well. To me, you're someone who I owe so much to, and also being with you makes me relax, and gives me energy—— How do I say this, it's like... you're a sort of mysterious, special person to... Hold on, what am I saying?! Anyway, I'll do my best to keep writing scripts that you and everyone else think is interesting! Izumi Yeah! I'll look forward to that shark fin fried rice, too. Tsuzuru Right!
Izumi	Then, is it alright if I eat this fried rice right away?
Tsuzuru	Of course, please eat it while it's still warm.
Izumi	Thank you for the food.
	... Mm, this is so delicious! Heheh, even if the ingredients are different, it's still Tsuzuru-kun's fried rice.
Tsuzuru	I'm not so good at cooking that I can change the flavor.
Izumi	No, that's not what I meant. It has this gentle flavor, like it always does.
	It's why I love your fried rice so much.
Tsuzuru	T-Thank you very much.
Citron	Tsuzuru~ my tummy is rumbling, too~!
Sakuya	Citron-san! It's not good to interrupt them!
Masumi	He's got some nerve to go into her room...
Chikage	If you're hungry, should I make some fried rice for you?
Itaru	That'd be some nightmare-level spicy fried rice from hell.
Izumi	Ahaha, it looks like I'm not the only one who likes Tsuzuru-kun's fried rice.
Tsuzuru	Jeez...
	Alright, alright, I'll go make some right now!

Kou