The Clockwork Heartbeat/Episode 6

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The Clockwork Heartbeat
Episode 6

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Izumi Sorry for calling you out when you're busy. Mizuno No, thank you for giving me your time. Have you considered our offer of support? Izumi Yes. As mentioned, we cannot accept your offer. Mizuno Is that so......It's a pity. Izumi May I be frank with you? Mizuno Yes. Izumi You said that you offered the theatre your support because you are a fan of MANKAI Company. Mizuno Yes. Izumi But that's not actually true, is it? Mizuno Eh? Izumi You're a fan of Tsuzuru Minagi, not the troupe, or rather, you have some sort of fixation with him, do you not? Mizuno ――. T-That's......Of course, the scripts at MANKAI Company have a great charm...... Izumi It's a more personal reason than the scripts, isn't it? Mizuno ――. Izumi Please tell me the truth. Mizuno ......It's as you say. Izumi What sort of relationship do you have with Tsuzuru-kun? Mizuno ......I first met him when I was an elementary school student. When we switched classes in Year 6, Tsuzuru-kun and I became classmates for the first time. Up to that point, I hadn't spoken to him once, but due to the order of our last names, we were sat directly behind and in front of one another, and we soon became friends. I lived in a bubble because of my family circumstances, and Tsuzuru-kun, who has been good at looking after others since elementary school, often looked out for me. I was raised in what you would call an affluent household and lived in comfort, but due to the educational policy which brought me up as the successor to the family business, I was seldom permitted to engage in child's play. I was often brought along to gatherings of adults, and since I wasn't accustomed to interacting with other children I tended to stand out in class. I was able to make friends with others the same age as me for the first time thanks to Tsuzuru-kun. He loved writing stories back then, too, and I always looked forwards to reading the tales he'd write in his notebook. One day, Tsuzuru-kun came to me to discuss a birthday present for his older brother. He had little pocket money and was troubled over what to buy, so I attempted to prepare a splendid bouquet for him with my own allowance. I was intent on repaying him for always allowing me to read his interesting stories. But Tsuzuru-kun wasn't happy. On the contrary, it was the first time he was genuinely angry with me. There's no meaning in that, he said. Even if it cost money, if there was no heart in it his older brother wouldn't be happy. But I didn't know what to do. I simply recall being extremely frightened of having the first friend I'd made hate me. While I was like that, Tsuzuru-kun took me to the embankment and suggested me pick dandelions together. He said he'd like my help to make a bouquet of dandelions together like this on his older brother's birthday. The dandelion bouquet we practised to make for his older brother wasn't flashy like a splendid bouquet, but I was full of pride. Thanks to Tsuzuru-kun, I realised that a present with heart isn't just one which costs money, but one made by one's own hands. And then I thought: What if Tsuzuru-kun gave his older brother one of his stories? Because I loved Tsuzuru-kun's stories, I thought his older brother was sure to as well. While Tsuzuru-kun was surprised by my proposal, he was happy. And so we invited his younger brothers too, and we all performed one of his stories as a play together. We practised every day after school until the real thing. The costumes, props and backdrops were all hand-made. It was a kid's play, but it was filled with their feelings for their older brother. Mizuno The day of the birthday party. The play was a huge success. His older brother was happy, and he praised us. Tsuzuru-kun seemed satisfied too. Being told that it was thanks to my idea made me truly happy. Izumi (......I see. For Tsuzuru-kun, Mizuno-san is the person who gave him his reason for starting to write plays.) Mizuno When he asked me to do another play with him for his younger brother's birthday the next month, I agreed without hesitation. The party at Tsuzuru-kun's house didn't have any fancy delicacies. Even the cake was a small, handmade affair. Even so, that was the only time in my life that I was able to participate in such a warm, joy-filled party.
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