Tasuku Takato/Still Waiting for You

Still Waiting for You

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2Part 3

Izumi	I’m back—
Tsumugi	“That matter should have already been settled.”
Tasuku	“There’s still room for discussion. Surely, there must be a way. Even the schedule itself can afford some changes.”
Tsumugi	“Give it up. We can’t afford to be delayed by those sentiments of yours.”
Tasuku	“You’re calling those sentiments——!?”
Izumi	!?
	H-Hey, what’s going on between the both of you——
Homare	I wouldn’t worry too much about it if I were you. That’s all normal.
Izumi	Huh?
Tasuku	“Do you intend to repeat the same thing all over again just like before?”
Tsumugi	“What are you talking about?”
Tasuku	“How many people do you think left this place due to that project!?”
Izumi	(This is normal? Those two would never have an argument like this——)
	Oh... an Etude?
Yuki	That’s right. The theme’s "salaryman".
Homare	We were halfway through talking about how we should act out our roles for this time’s play. An Etude just started up somewhere along the way, you see.
Izumi	I see... Tasuku-san’s playing an ordinary salaryman named Kota this time around, isn’t he?
Yuki	He’s still as much of an acting-obsessed bumble-head as ever.
Tasuku	... I guess this is it.
Tsumugi	Yeah.
Kazunari	Great work~!
Muku	It was as if I was watching a drama...
Izumi	You were hooked onto the conversation between a hot-blooded salaryman and a calm and collected one, weren’t you?
Tasuku	Well... I think that it’s still not realistic enough.
Tsumugi	The details might certainly be a little complicated to solve.
Tasuku	The fact that we don’t exactly have any experience working as a company employee is crystal clear.
Tsumugi	I figured that it would work out if it was a service-line of business where we could treat each other as customers but I guess that wouldn’t work for salarymen.
Kazunari	Yeah yeah~! If you’re talking about it being realistic, you guys need some suits, no?
Azuma	Indeed. If you were to wear a suit, your actions might become more natural.
Tasuku	You mean that we should start from appearances first?
Tsumugi	How about we try that out?
Tasuku	Even if you say that, suits are a little...
Itaru	How about you borrow mine? I’m pretty sure Tsumugi can fit into mine.
Tasuku	It’ll be... impossible for me, huh.
Itaru	It’ll rip so, no.
Yuki	How about borrowing the suits used in the Tales of Chivalry?
Tasuku	Is there even a salaryman out there that looks THAT shady?
Izumi	I think a suit will suit Tsumugi-san.
Tsumugi	Really? I’ve never really worn one myself so it’s hard to imagine.
Tasuku	What about when you were working?
Tsumugi	I didn’t wear a suit.
Izumi	I’m pretty sure Tasuku-san will suit it... too? I guess...?
Itaru	Doubtful.
Izumi	I can’t really match his image to one when I try to imagine it in my head...
Azuma	It’s not as if it’s weird but... he doesn’t seem like he’ll fit as a salaryman that way.
Hisoka	... He’ll end up looking like more of a bodyguard than a salaryman.
Izumi	Ahh! Now that you mention it!!
Itaru	He’ll look like some kinda celebrity if that happens.
Izumi	That’s true! It looks like his side-job’s being a salaryman when his main job’s an athlete.
Tsumugi	He’s way too built that it goes to waste.
Tasuku	To think that you’d be the one saying that...

Kazunari	... I think this part should be more slender after all.
Yuki	... You’re right. Else he’d look like an old man while putting it on.
Kazunari	Yep yep.
Izumi	?
	(I wonder what they’re talking about?)
Kazunari	Oh, Director-chan!
Yuki	Heading somewhere?
Izumi	I’m going grocery shopping. What would you like for dinner?
Kazunari	Hm~ Anything’s fine so long as you’re the one making it, but how about pasta~?
Yuki	Omurice.
Izumi	Omu-curry-soup-pasta, I see.
Kazunari	Ehh~!? That’s what you’re planning to cook up!?
Yuki	As one would expect of a curry alien, anything can be made into curry.
Izumi	I’m joking. So omurice and pasta it is. I’ll be heading out then.
Kazunari	Have a safe trip~!
Izumi	It’s already this late, huh. Must be because I went around quite a bit. I have to hurry back——
Tasuku	......
Izumi	... Mn?
	Tasuku-san?
Tasuku	Hm? Oh, it’s you.
Izumi	What are you doing in a place like this? Are you perhaps, waiting for someone?
Tasuku	No, I’m observing salarymen who are on their way home from work.
Izumi	I see. Is it a part of your process to integrate yourself into the character you’re playing as?
Tasuku	I have a classmate who works as a salaryman but I wanted to see how they naturally act like with my own eyes.
Izumi	I see. Oh, there’s also a salarymen back in the dorms.
Tasuku	He’s way too unique.
Izumi	(I can’t deny that... )
	Come to think of it, have you tried on a suit since then?
Tasuku	... Haa. Don’t you go pouring salt in the wound too, Director.
	Fushimi said that he’d lend me his dark suit but it seemed like I’d be told off even more if I complied, so I turned him down.
Izumi	Ehh~ I wanted to have a look, even if it was only for a while. I bet that you’d look superb in it!
Tasuku	I won’t wear one even if you try heaping praises onto me.
Izumi	What a pity.
Tasuku	... Geez.
	Those bags you’re holding there are the ingredients for dinner, no? Are you sure you should be dawdling around here?
Izumi	Oh! You’re right! I have to hurry—— You should head back too.
Tasuku	I was thinking of observing them for a little longer but... Hand over your things. We’re walking.
Izumi	Okay!

Izumi	...Hm? Where’s Tasuku-san?
Azuma	Seems like he isn’t back yet.
Izumi	I see...
Homare	Is something the matter?
Izumi	I wanted to talk to him regarding his acting for this time’s play...
Azuma	Hmm, He’s a little late but I think it’s about time he returns.
Izumi	(Could he be in front of the station again...?)
Drunken Salaryman A	Let’s go for another round!
Drunken Salaryman B	We’re gonna drink the day away today~!
Izumi	......
	(Hmm, he isn’t here. Seems like my guess was off...)
Drunken Salaryman A	Whoa there——
Izumi	——!
	Sorry——!
Drunken Salaryman A	Not at all——!
Drunken Salaryman B	What are you doin'——Oh, aren’t you a cutie. Let’s go drinking together, missy~
Izumi	No, I——
	(T-They really stink of alcohol...)
Drunken Salaryman B	Come on now, don’t be like this. Even one cup’s fine~
Izumi	(This is troubling...)
Tasuku	So you were here all along, Izumi-san.
Izumi	Tasuku-san!?
Tasuku	I was worried since you didn’t turn up at our promised meet-up time.
Izumi	Huh...?
	(C-Could this be an Etude...? He’s dressed like...a bodyguard, I think? ...If so, then...)
	“S-Sorry. I’ve made you wait, haven’t I?”
	(Having a bodyguard kinda makes me feel like a celebrity...)
	“But I’d be troubled if you didn’t keep a watchful eye on me no matter where I am. Protect me. That’s your job isn’t it?”
Tasuku	“——Yes, well... that’s true...”
Drunken Salaryman B	What, so you do have an escort after all?
Drunken Salaryman A	Come on now, let’s get going. Sorry bout’ that~
Izumi	Phew...
	Thanks a lot, Tasuku-san.
Tasuku	Not at all. That’s some pretty bad luck you have there, though.
Tsumugi	Are you alright, Director?
Izumi	Oh, you were together with Tsumugi-san?
Tsumugi	We actually wanted to cut in by acting as your co-workers but I chose to watch since it looked like it might be interesting.
Izumi	Wait, so you guys weren’t doing a bodyguard etude?
Tasuku	So you did misunderstand just like I thought. I thought that you were acting rather strangely.
Tsumugi	Ahahaha, I guess she misunderstood because of how you’re dressed.
Izumi	Speaking of which, why are the two of you dressed like that...?
Tsumugi	They were forced on us by Kazunari and the others when we talked about doing up a salaryman themed etude on Veludo Way.
	He prepared them for us after fussing over the details with Yuki.
Tasuku	Honestly, I don’t look like anything near a salaryman with this, right?
Izumi	(Come to think of it, Yuki and Kazunari were both animatedly chattering about something when I saw them earlier. I guess they really did have their fun...)
Tsumugi	You were in pretty high spirits though, Tasuku.
Izumi	You’re actually wearing a suit in the end despite how insistent you were about not wearing one. It’s just like I told you, isn’t it? It really suits you!
	(Putting the matter of looking like a salaryman aside...)
Tasuku	............
Tsumugi	——Ohh, I see!
Tasuku	What do you see?
Tsumugi	Nothing. I just came to realize why you were in such high spirits earlier.
Tasuku	Don’t laugh.

Ran