Tsumugi Tsukioka/Die by the Sword

Zabi Nerikiri Showdown!

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

Tsumugi	My character in the next performance is a wagashi craftsman...
	(I guess I should try making wagashi to get into character.)
	(But I don’t know how. It would be better to have someone familiar with it to teach me.)
Omi	What’s wrong, Tsumugi-san?
Tsumugi	Ah, Omi-kun.
Omi	You had a serious look on your face. Is something bothering you?
Tsumugi	I wouldn’t say so, but rather... That’s right. If it’s okay with you, can you teach me how to make wagashi?
Omi	How to make wagashi? Of course.
Tsumugi	Thank you. I was wondering if there’s anything that could help me get into character, since I’m playing a wagashi craftsman in our next performance.
Omi	I see. So that’s what it was.
Tsumugi	Is there something that even I can make?
Omi	If it’s wagashi... Then how about nerikiri? It’s surprisingly easy to make.
Tsumugi	Nerikiri looks difficult, but... I guess I’ll give it a try.
Omi	Mix the shiratamako you melted in water with the shiro-an, and knead them together well.
Tsumugi	Like this?
Omi	Yes, that should be good. Then we’ll split them into parts, add some colouring, and roll them into balls.
Tsumugi	Got it.
Omi	This can be eaten as it is, but from here we’ll sculpt it into a flower shape.
Tsumugi	I see. I thought it would be more difficult, but it really is easy.
Omi	Why don’t we sit over there as we mold them into shape? I think it would be easier that way.
Tsumugi	You’re right.
Tsumugi	...Like this?
Omi	The way you drew the lines is unique; it’s nice.
Tsumugi	Really? Thanks.
Tasuku	I’m home. ——What are you doing?
Tsumugi	Ah, Tasuku. Welcome back.
	Omi-kun is teaching me how to make nerikiri right now. Want to join us?
Tasuku	Nerikiri...? Oh, for Heiroku.
Omi	Heiroku?
Tsumugi	It’s the name of the character I mentioned earlier –– the one I’m playing for our next performance.
Omi	Oh, I see.
Tasuku	But, still——
	I can tell that Fushimi’s is a flower, but Tsumugi, what did you make...?

Tsumugi	Huh? I meant to make a flower just like Omi-kun...
Tasuku	...It doesn’t look like a flower.
Omi	But I think that Tsumugi-san’s nerikiri looks nice and original.
Tsumugi	It’s pretty difficult to make shapes... You’ll understand if you try it too, Tasuku.
Tasuku	Well, it’s a good opportunity... I guess I’ll give it a try.
Omi	It’s already this late... It’s about time I go shopping.
Tsumugi	In that case, we’ll help you.
Omi	That’s okay since I don’t have a lot to buy, so can you finish making the rest of the nerikiri?
	It’s hard to mold it into shape once it dries.
Tsumugi	I see. Then, if you say so...
Tasuku	Take care.
Omi	Thank you very much. I’ll be heading out then.
Tasuku	There isn’t a lot of nerikiri left.
Tsumugi	We sure made lots of different things, like flowers and fruits. Don’t you think this watermelon turned out well?
Tasuku	It doesn’t look like a watermelon to me though...
Tsumugi	Hmm, not this one either huh... I worked pretty hard to make it though.
	Oh. While I’m at it, I might as well make Zabi. I think I’d be able to make it pretty well if it’s Zabi.
Tasuku	Zabi... I miss him. I guess I’ll make him too.
Tsumugi	Hmm, I think this should be good.
Tasuku	I’m done too.
Tsumugi	Mine resembles him more. Don’t you think I really captured his features well? Like his round eyes for example.
Tasuku	No, mine resembles him more. I recreated his droopy ears and his fur.
Tsumugi	But doesn’t the face look a little scary? I think my Zabi looks like the original more.
Tasuku	Your Zabi is too long and thin...
Kazunari	Wait just a minute!
	I, Kazunari Miyoshi, heard your conversation perfectly–!
Tasuku	Whoa!
Tsumugi	K-Kazu-kun...?
Kazunari	I’ll submit them to Inste anonymously, and we’ll decide whose is better based on the number of likes they get!
Tasuku	No, we weren’t competing to begin with...
Kazunari	But but, won’t it be uncomfortable for you two if we leave things as they are? Won’t you feel so much better if we let everyone decide?
Tsumugi	Ahaha... That’s true. That kind of thing may be good once in a while.
Tasuku	Oi, Tsumugi...
Tsumugi	I was actually feeling a little frustrated since Tasuku kept saying that my nerikiri don’t look realistic.
Kazunari	In that case, then we got no choice but to do it~!
	The winner gets the right to eat both of the Zabi nerikiri!
Tsumugi	That sounds good.
Tasuku	*sigh*...
Kazunari	I’ll go submit them then! First is Tsumutsumu’s~! Then Takusu’s!
👍 💬 0 likes Kaz-PIKO #NerikiriShowdown! #WhichOneIsBetter?
👍 💬 0 likes Kaz-PIKO #VoteByPressingLike!Yoropiko☆
Kazunari	Oh! They got likes right away!
Tsumugi	This is exciting for some reason.
Tasuku	Geez...
Kazunari	Tada–! The results are——
	By a slim margin, it’s Tsumugi-senshu’s victory~!
Tsumugi	All right...!
Tasuku	Well I guess that’s that... Tsumugi, you can eat them.
Tsumugi	Yeah...
Tasuku	Oi, what’s wrong?
Tsumugi	Erm... How should I put this...
	When I think of them as Zabi, I can’t eat them... Ahaha...
Kazunari	Oh shoot! Did you like, end up becoming fond of the nerikiri!?
Tasuku	Heh... That’s so like you.

maria