Juza Hyodo/MANKAI Memory

Childhood Memory: JUZA

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2Part 3

???	Done~!!
Izumi	?! That voice just now...
Sakoda	Ah, boss lady! 'Scuse me for intruding!
Izumi	I knew it was Sakoda-san. And I see Juza-kun's also here.
Juza	Yeah.
Izumi	(Were they writing something together since there are calligraphy papers and brushes?)
	Ah, could that be...
Sakoda	Yep! "Simplicity·Frugality·Temperance Lifestyle"! The dorm's slogan!
	It's been a while since I made the last one, and people have been forgetting the slogan lately...
	So Aniki told me to remake it.
	And I heard that Juza-san can write calligraphy too, so I asked him to write with me!
Izumi	I see.
Juza	......
Izumi	(Juza-kun's writing the slogan with a really serious look...)
	But what are you going to do with so much writing?
Sakoda	Whaddya mean? We're goin' to write a bunch of 'em and use the best one as the slogan of course!
	'Sides, I thought I'd put this slogan here and there in the dorm so people wouldn't forget.
	That's why Juza-san really saved my butt by helping out!
Izumi	I see.
	(Sakoda-san's writing is just as beautiful, but Juza-kun's writing is so much more beautiful when he writes with a brush...)
Juza	...It's done.
Sakoda	Ooh! Just as you'd expect!
Izumi	Yeah, your writing is really beautiful.
Juza	Thanks.
Sakoda	I bet Aniki will be happy, too!
Izumi	...Oh, right. By the way, Juza-kun.
	I wanted to talk about the dates for your birthday bromide shoot.
Juza	Bromide...
Izumi	It's a commemorative bromide we make for each member's birthday month.
	We're shooting with props from the storage room, but you also have to choose one accessory by yourself for the shoot.
Juza	Oh yeah, that's right. We're supposed to bring something from the time before we joined the troupe, right?
Izumi	Yeah. Everyone brought something from their home, so maybe you can look for one when you go back to your parents' house.
Juza	Got it. I was already planning to go home with Kumon soon, so I'll look for one then.
Izumi	Thanks.
Sakoda	Ooh, you're printing new bromides, huh!
Izumi	Do you want one, Sakoda-san?
Sakoda	'S that okay?! Yaay!
	Of course I'm looking forward to Aniki's, but I'm also looking forward to Juza-san's bromide!

Juza	Something memorable... Do I have anything...
Kumon	I'll help you find one! I wonder what would be good~
	Ah, this is?! It was when we played catch on the riverbank...
	Hm, wait? That's my memorable item!
	Umm, then the other ones...
Juza	(I'm grateful that Kumon's helping me search.)
Kumon	Hmm, it's hard to think about it like this...
Juza	!
	This kakizome...
Kumon	Huh?
	Ah! That's the one where you won an award for it at school, right? Mom told me about it!
Juza	Yeah.
	(It's neatly decorated. This kakizome was--)
Juza	Winter break homework, huh...
Juza's Mom	There's also calligraphy.
Juza	Yeah. There're some samples, and I was allowed to choose any word I wanted to write from them.
	I'm...gonna choose this word.
Juza	...Ah.
	I failed again...
	(I can't seem to write as well as I'd like.)
	(...Right, the calligraphy teacher told me to "face myself and write.")
	...Face yourself
	Su, ha...
	......
	...Alright.
	(This was written well.)
Juza's Mom	Good job, Juza.
Juza	Mom. Since when were you there?
Juza's Mom	You were concentrating on writing, so I tried not to get in the way. I made you a snack, so why don't you take a break?
Juza	! ...Yeah.
Juza's Mom	That kakizome is really good. I feel like I can see who you really are just from your writing.
Juza	?
	(Who I really am?)
	(I don't really get it, but... I guess that was a compliment.)
Juza	(Everyone's kakizome homework is on display in the corridor.)
	(Where is mine...)
	(Ah, found it.)
	(! ...It has a sticker that says "winner" on it.)
Juza's Classmate A	Wow, Juza-kun is so good at writing.
Juza's Classmate B	Heh, way to go!
Juza's Classmate C	Wow! That's so cool!
Juza	...!
	(It's hard to believe that people are praising me without being afraid of me...)
	(Somehow, I feel like they're accepting me. To think that it's making me this happy...)
Juza	......
Kumon	Ever since I was little, I've always thought that your handwriting was super good.
	It's really neat, but I could also feel how serious you were through it.
Juza	...!
	(Mom also said that she can see who I really was from my writing...)
	...That so.
Kumon	...Ah! But of course I like your regular handwriting as much as your calligraphy! Since it's Onii-chan's handwriting--
Juza	Thanks, Kumon. I'll bring this kakizome for the bromide photoshoot.
Kumon	Yeah!

Izumi	Happy birthday, Juza-kun!
Taichi	Happy birthday!!
Juza	Yeah, thanks.
Banri	Aside from the other food, this amount of sweets... I don't care if it's your birthday, are you insane?
Juza	You don't hafta eat it if you don't like it. I'll eat 'em for you.
Banri	I never said I didn't like 'em! Don't you dare try to eat someone else's food!
Sakyo	Oi! Don't get rowdy on the dining table! Shut up and eat when you're supposed to eat.
Taichi	No way, that's just lonely...!
	Besides, it wouldn't be complete without Juza-san and Banri-san arguing, right!
Izumi	Ahaha, I think so too.
Omi	I'll add some more sweets if it's not enough.
Juza	Thanks. ...Nom nom.
Izumi	This is heaven for Juza-kun!
Azami	No, all that sweets will be bad for your skin and body, you know.
	I'll let it slide today, but tomorrow you're gonna have to start taking thorough care of your skin...
Taichi	Achan is as strict as ever!
Juza	Sakyo-san, aren't you gonna eat?
Sakyo	No, you go ahead.
	You like that cake, don't you? I'll just have a bit.
Juza	'Kay, thanks.
Izumi	(Really, these sweets are just the perfect gift for Juza-kun...)
CHOICE 1: I also baked madelaine. [+] Izumi I also baked madelaine. Juza Did you make 'em? Izumi Yeah. I did a taste test and I think it's quite tasty. Juza Thanks. Itadakimasu. ...Nom nom. So good... Izumi Really? I'm glad to hear that! Juza Yep. I really like the sweets you make, after all. Izumi Fufu, thanks. I'm happy to hear you say that.
CHOICE 2: Actually, those cookies are... [+] Izumi Actually, Taichi-kun and Azami-kun helped bake those cookies. Juza Really? Azami I worked on it with the help of Omi-san and Director. I've had them both taste it, and they said it's delicious. Omi Yeah, it is. They were a really great help. Taichi By the way, Ban-chan and Sakyo-nii were in charge of decorating the room and buying drinks! Banri Taichi just won't shut up so I didn't have a choice but to help. Sakyo I bought a lot of drinks. Drink what you like. Juza Thanks. Izumi (Juza-kun seems a little embarrassed, but he seems happy. This is pleasant to see.)
Sakyo	Speaking of, the slogan that you wrote turned out well.
	Sakoda's is also good, but yours is just impressive.
Taichi	Juza-san, your handwriting is so beautiful when you hold a brush!
Banri	Really? Anyone can do that much.
Juza	Haah? Why the hell are you actin' all conceited?
Banri	Hah? I definitely ain't.
Izumi	U-umm! Right! Even for the bromide, Juza-kun brought a kakizome, didn't you?
Juza	Yeah. It was a kakizome homework that I got when I was in elementary.
Azami	I saw it when I went to help with the shoot, and it's amazing that you were able to write that well in elementary.
Izumi	Yeah, I also thought it was really good.
Banri	I mean, just like the slogan, you can tell how much of a stick in the mud he is just from his writing.
Juza	...!
Omi	Haha, Juza's earnest and nice side definitely shows.
Sakyo	A person's writing tends to embody the writer.
Taichi	How nice~ It's like saying that I am who I am! I wish I could write like that, too~
Banri	You're the only one with a messy handwriting.
Taichi	Eeh~!
	Juza-san, do you have any tips for writing neatly?
Juza	Tips...
	...Face yourself, and pick up the brush.
	(The words that I didn't understand very well back then, I think I understand them now.)
	(I'm sure I'll continue to face myself in the future, so that I can proudly say that this is who I am.)

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