Tsuzuru Minagi/MANKAI Birthday

Along with Handmade Sandwiches

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2Part 3

Tsuzuru	--sure sure, I got it already. Then, see you.
	…phew. Geez, it's finally ove-…
	*knock knock*
	Ah, yes. Who is it?
Chikage	It's me, can I come in?
Tsuzuru	Chikage-san? Yes, I'm opening right now.
	What happened so suddenly?
Chikage	Nothing big you see. –there you go.
Tsuzuru	Woah!?
Tsuzuru	What are you… wait, a sash? And there's "Today's Birthday Boy" written in huge letters on it… what's up with that.
Chikage	For now, just come with me while wearing it. If you do so everything will come clear.
Tsuzuru	…huh.
Izumi	Tsuzuru-kun!
Spring Troupe	Happy birthday!
Tsuzuru	Thank you very much. I'm happy that you went out of your way to celebrate for me
Itaru	But anyway it really suits you, this sash. Asking Yuki for help was the right thing to do.
Citron	We're bearably faithful for Yuki who made it in a short time!
Tsuzuru	Terribly grateful! Anyway, I kind of predicted it but as I thought you guys came up with this!
Sakuya	Y-You're wrong! We all decided together on giving you a sash.
Tsuzuru	Eh… for real?
Sakuya	Yes! We all discussed it together, and decided to do something different from what you did for Masumi and for me…
Masumi	And you got this as a result.
Chikage	If it's Tsuzuru it would fit him – it was a consensus.
Tsuzuru	I really appreciate it, but wasn't there something else…
Citron	Ohh! As I thought you preferred doing birthday cake catch with your face?
Itaru	So that's what you wanted. Then let's--.
Tsuzuru	The sash is just perfect! Thank you very much!
Izumi	Come on guys, if we don’t eat soon, the food will get cold~!
Sakuya	Ah, you're right! Then I'll serve Tsuzuru his dish!
Citron	I help too! Itaru join the buffet too!
Itaru	Right right. Get me a plate too.
Masumi	Then, I'll serve Director…
Izumi	You don’t have to worry about mine! Masumi-kun you take what you want to eat okay?
Tsuzuru	…Before, I was the one celebrating for others, but when it comes to celebrating for me it makes me feel uneasy.
Chikage	I can't say I don’t understand how you feel.
Tsuzuru	…even so, it was a bit surprising.
Chikage	Hm? What was?
Tsuzuru	Chikage-san accepting the role of coming to get me, and actively participating in this kind of thing.
Chikage	Ah, you meant that. …well, I just thought that this kind of thing is alright from time to time.
Tsuzuru	Director, I'll help you with the cleaning.
Izumi	At least for today you should forget about doing housework, and take it easy you know?
Tsuzuru	It's fine. I can't relax when I'm doing nothing.
Izumi	If that's the case, then I appreciate your help. …by the way, did you get birthday calls from your family?
Tsuzuru	Yes. Before I came here I got a call from my brothers, urging me to come back home on the weekend since they want to celebrate for me.
	So, I will go back home on my next day off.
Izumi	I see. Ah, if you like on that day, want me to give you a ride?
Tsuzuru	Eh, it's fine, it'll make me feel bad! Director you must have plans too…
Izumi	It's all good, I just happen to be free. As a bonus for your present, won't you at least let me give you a lift?
Tsuzuru	Uh… got it. Then, I'll take you up on that… please do.

Tsuzuru	You can drop me here. Thank you for giving me a ride.
Izumi	No, don't worry about it.
Tsuzuru	Then, I'll get going.
Izumi	Ah, wait a moment!
Tsuzuru	Eh?
Izumi	Here, take it.
Tsuzuru	…a basket?
Izumi	Tsuzuru-kun, you have many brothers, I thought it would be a nice addition to the party, so I made sandwiches.
Tsuzuru	Eh, you especially went and made them!? I'm happy, my brothers would be glad too.
Izumi	Have fun with your family on the weekend.
Tsuzuru	Yes!
???	--Onii-chan.
Tsuzuru	Woah!? Wait, it's you Kaoru…
Kaoru	You don't have to be so surprised.
	You just got out of that car right? …that person, can it be she's your girlfriend Onii-chan?
Tsuzuru	Girlfrie…!? Y-You're wrong! That person was the Director from our theater!
Kaoru	Director…? So that was her? If that's the case I should've greeted her properly…
	…by the way, what's with the basket?
Tsuzuru	Sandwiches. Director made them for us.
Kaoru	Eh? She's even doing those kinds of things for you?
Tsuzuru	Our Director is this much of a considerate person.
Kaoru	I see… as I thought I want to meet her properly after all.
	Say, are you free on your next day off? I want to give her a greeting as fast as possible, also as thanks for the sandwiches…
Tsuzuru	Got it, I'll try asking her at the very least.
	I'm back.
Izumi	Welcome back, Tsuzuru-kun. Did you have fun on your day off with your brothers?
Tsuzuru	Ah… yeah! Your sandwiches were a favorite, they said they want to eat them everyday…
Izumi	Ahaha, I'm happy they liked them.
Tsuzuru	…damn it, because that Kaoru said such weird things, somehow I'm oddly nervous…
Izumi	? What's wrong, Tsuzuru-kun?
Tsuzuru	N-No, it's nothing! Ah, err… you see, about my brothers!
	The oldest of my little brothers, he wants to meet you Director no matter what… if it is fine with you, could you meet with him on your next day off?
Izumi	Speaking of which, he did say he wants to meet me since before. It's fine of course.
Tsuzuru	Thank you. My brother, he always said how he wants to properly greet you and thank you, so it's a great help.
Izumi	I understand why he would want to give his greetings to me, but to thank me?
Tsuzuru	To thank you for the sandwiches you made Director. Seems like he totally liked them, and he wants to tell you directly.
Izumi	Ahaha, so he liked them that much.
	Ah, since we have the opportunity, how about the 3 of us have a picnic? I'll make sandwiches again.
Tsuzuru	No, that's too much! Even though we're the ones who want to show our gratitude…
Izumi	It's alright. As the one who takes care of his older brother, I want to at least do this much for him.
Tsuzuru	…I understand. But, let me help you too.
Izumi	Yup, go it. I'll leave it to you.
Tsuzuru	Thank you. Then, I'll let my brother know.

Tsuzuru	Director, this is the fourth son of our family, Kaoru.
Kaoru	Nice to meet you. I'm Minagi Kaoru. Thank you for always taking care of my brother.
Izumi	(He's really mature… as expected from Tsuzuru's little brother)
Kaoru	Since a while ago, I've been really looking forward to meet you Director.
Izumi	Fufu, me too. Let's have a good time today, Kaoru-kun.
Kaoru	The sandwiches Director made for us are delicious after all!
Tsuzuru	So much that they caused my brothers to vie for them. You guys, when it comes to food you really show some terrifying power…
Izumi	Ahaha, if you liked them that much then I'm happy. If you just tell me I'll make them for you again.
Kaoru	Really… choughs!?
Izumi	Kaoru-kun!? Are you okay!?
Kaoru	I-I'm fine. I just choked a little…
Tsuzuru	It's because you're devouring them in such a hurry. Today no one will steal them from you so you can eat calmly okay.
Izumi	For now, we should get something to drink… wait, eh?
	…the vacuum flask with the tea, I forgot it at the dorms…
Tsuzuru	Then I'll go and buy something. Can you wait with Kaoru?
Izumi	No, I'll go! I'm the one who forget it after all…
Tsuzuru	It's all good. Please take your time to talk with Kaoru.
Kaoru	Director, please! There are so many things I want to talk about with you.
Izumi	Uuh… then if that's the case. Tsuzuru-kun, I'm leaving the drinks to you.
Tsuzuru	Yes!
Kaoru	…Director.
Izumi	Hm? What is it?
Kaoru	Um… I heard from my brother about the circumstances that led him to join your company.
	Thank you for finding my brother.
Izumi	Eh…! No, I didn't do anything that deserves your thanks…
Kaoru	Don't say things like "I didn't do anything" okay? I'm sure my brother doesn't think it either.
	…the truth is that when my brother Tsuzuru was in high school, he was forced to give up his acting dream because of us…
Izumi	Ah…
	(That, what Tsuzuru-kun said back when Spring Troupe had its first performance…)
Kaoru	…I still have regrets about what happened back then. Because when our youngest brother had a fever, all I could do was cling in tears to Tsuzuru.
Izumi	Kaoru-kun…
Kaoru	That's why, when I entered high school, I told my brother that the house is going to be alright, and that I want him to go after his dream.
	Since I won't be a little brother that clings to his brother forever.
Izumi	Kaoru-kun you gave Tsuzuru-kun a push forward right.
Kaoru	Is that really the case…? But, if that's the case I would be happy!
	And also, I wanted to thank you Director no matter what for making my brother a playwright…
	Thank you very much, Director. And please, take care of my brother from now on too.
Izumi	Kaoru-kun…
	Tsuzuru-kun is always saving us both as an actor and as a playwright, so I'm grateful to him.
	From now on too, I'll take good care of your brother.
Tsuzuru	I just bought whatever for drinks- wait, what are you doing, bowing you head to each other?
Kaoru	I just told her to take care of you from now on too Onii-chan.
Tsuzuru	…what's that supposed to mean. It's embarrassing to be talked about when I'm not present…
	I'll take this luggage. Director you hold this lighter luggage here.
Izumi	Ah, thank you. Then, I'll take you up on that.
Kaoru	…Onii-chan and Director, it would be nice if you just get married.
Izumi	Eh!?
Tsuzuru	K-Kaoru! What are you saying suddenly…!
Kaoru	Since I've always thought that I want an older sister like Director…
Izumi	Kaoru-kun saying that makes me happy. I'm a single child, so I kind of look up to siblings.
Kaoru	If that's the case then by all means come to our place next time! We're waiting for you!
Tsuzuru	Hey Kaoru, if you get home late everyone will be worried.
Kaoru	You're right, it's already this late. Then, Onii-chan, Director. See you another time!
Tsuzuru	Director, thank you very much for today. Looked like Kaoru had fun, and I had fun too.
Izumi	Same here, thank you. Thanks to you two I had fun as well.
CHOICE 1: Kaoru-kun can tell some funny jokes [+] Izumi B-But anyway… Kaoru-kun, he really can tell some funny jokes…! Tsuzuru A joke, it would be good if it was one…
CHOICE 2: I was a bit surprised [+] Izumi But, I didn't think I'll be told something like that, I was a bit surprised… Tsuzuru That was really unexpected for me too…
Tsuzuru	I'm really sorry my brother said troubling things…
Izumi	It's alright, don't mind it.
	Rather, him telling me that he wants a sister like me is a honor.
Tsuzuru	I'm thankful for you saying that…
	And, um… the rest of my little brothers besides Kaoru want to meet you too, if you like then sometime soon, please come to hang out in our place.
Izumi	Yup. When I come, I'll make sandwiches again.
Tsuzuru	Yes. The Minagi household is waiting for you Director!

Hoshiko