Stranger/Episode 1

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Stranger
Episode 1

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"Hey, check out this suit. Cool, isn't it!" In that suit, spreading both hands out as he spoke, Nachi looked, to say the least, terrible. It was like some sort of 7-5-3 celebration. The other members of 『Wolf』 were nodding vaguely, as if they too could find nothing praiseworthy in it. Without paying any heed to that sort of thing, Nachi drew himself up and framed himself in front of me. "Alright, put some spirit into it and take the best shot of me, yeah?" "What are you going to use that sort of suited up photograph for?" "Just a little something, y'know." Though he didn't even let me know why, at Nachi's request I had reluctantly borrowed my pa's old camera from the house. It was a film camera, unusual in this day and age, and not knowing well how to use it, I simply pressed the shutter. "I took it. This is fine, right." "Take it more properly." "Even if you say that, I don't know how to use it." "It'll be fine. You've got a talent for photography." "On what grounds are you......" "It's fine; hurry up and take it." "I pretty much already did." "Just one? Take a hundred." "Surely you don't need that many." With a wry smile, I continued to press the shutter. "Won't the photos all turn out the same?" mumbled Ryo, one of the members, as he watched Nachi hold his puffed out pose, completely immobile. When I nodded deeply, Nachi shook his fist at us. "Idiots! The me of that moment today only exists in that moment!" "We're going to see your face again tomorrow anyway." The members of the 『Wolf』 group Nachi had started gathered every day at the usual haunt. When these members nodded countless times at my solid argument, Nachi raised his voice further. "You guys don't understand at all! Line up over there for a bit! If you take one, you'll understand!" After that, in accordance with Nachi's confusing insistence, I was forced to take a group photo of the 『Wolf』 members. Though we were a team with a strong sense of unity, it was our first time doing such a thing. Everyone except Nachi, me included, had no idea what sort of expression to make. We had the feeling we looked awkward. Nachi was the only one who seemed satisfied. These mundane back-and-forths between friends. I had thought these days would continue forever. Until that day ―― "Nachi! Open your eyes, Nachi ―― !!" Nachi was gone. The members of 『Wolf』 all went their separate ways as well. I lost my friends. I could no longer return to those days. "We should have been more honest; we should have taken more photos. Right, Omi." Omi ―― ngh. (A dream, huh.) ……*sigh* Taichi ……Omi-kun? Are you alright? You were tossing in your sleep. Omi Sorry. Did I wake you? Taichi Nah, I was having a suuper bad dream too......! Omi A bad dream? Taichi A giant sewing machine needle was hunting me down. Even though I tried to run away, my body automatically went towards the needle......! Omi Haha......It seems like helping out with the costumes for the Summer Troupe's play was quite hard on you. Taichi Is that the reason after all......I can still hear the sound of the sewing machine, so I don't think I'll be able to sleep anymore. Omi You should sleep a little, at least. Kazunari asked me to take new profile photos tomorrow. Taichi Ah! That's right! If there are bags under my eyes I won't be popular with the girls! Omi I'll be up, so if you start tossing around again I'll wake you. Taichi Thanks! Omi ...... (That dream brought me back......I haven't dreamed of that time at all lately.) (What did Nachi want to use that photo for back then? He wouldn't have been suiting up to go to an interview......) ...... (In the end, the film from back then wasn't developed......) (Everything from the past, bike and all, was sealed away.) (I'm scared of looking back on that time; it's like I'm running away from having to face the past......) Taichi This one's better. Omi I see...... Izumi What are the two of you staring at the PC for? Taichi Organising photos! Omi Since we've decided to have new profile pictures, I thought we could sort out the other photos too. There are quite a few more photos from events as well as the plays, so it might be nice to make an album. Izumi That'd be nice! Taichi It'll be a memento! Omi Choose some with us too, Director. Izumi Okay! Ah, this photo of the debut play takes me back~ Taichi Juza-san's smiling in this photo! Izumi How rare......! Omi Ahh, this, hm. I caught his interest with a soufflé cheesecake I'd made. He smiled in surprise over its softness. Taichi You're like an animal photographer attracting cats with catnip! Izumi There are cameramen like that in child photography studios too! Taichi Omi-kun, being a cameraman is your calling! Izumi Speaking of which, why did you take up photography? Did you always like it? Omi No, that's not quite it......Why was it, I wonder. It might just be that I was invited to the group when I entered university. Izumi I see. Taichi And then your talent flowered beautifully, right! Omi While we're at it, shall we put this photo of Juza in the album...... Izumi But looking at it, there aren't any photos of you, Omi-kun. Taichi Huh!? You're right! Omi I'm the cameraman, so it's not really...... Taichi Nope! Let's take a photo of you, Omi-kun! Omi I'm fine. Ahh, rather, shall I take a shot of the two of you? There aren't many photos where it's just you and the Director. Taichi Eh!? Really!? I'll be able to show it off! Izumi Then let's take a two-shot with you next, Omi-kun. Omi Come on, line up, line up. Taichi Miss Director, what pose are you making? Izumi Eh? Umm ―― Sakyo What are the two of you doing...... Izumi Ah, Sakyo-san, we're currently taking photos for an album ―― Sakyo It's 1pm, so we have a briefing session for the Autumn Troupe's play. Izumi Eh!? Is it that time already!? Sakyo Honestly......Well, Fushimi's here too, so it's just right. Omi ? Sakyo I've already settled things with Minagi. The protagonist for the Autumn Troupe's second play......will be Fushimi. Omi ......Eh?
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