Sakyo Furuichi/Cool Compassion

Memories Lost in the Ramune Foam

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

Izumi	(For once, nobody’s around in the dorms today. Looks like everyone headed out.)
	(It’s always lively here, but when nobody’s around, it’s so quiet…)
	(Oh, right. There’s a festival today--I should buy lunch at the stands.)
Izumi	(Wow, the festival is full of energy. There are lots of stands, too. What should I get?)
???	Huh? You…
Izumi	Eh? Ah…! Makita-san!
Ichiro	So it is you, Director-neechan! It’s been a while! How’ve you been?
Izumi	I’m doing well! How are you, Makita-san?
Ichiro	Been doing good, thanks. How are the troupe members--same as usual?
Izumi	Yes, they’re all working hard.
Ichiro	Glad to hear it. You know, I go watch your performances every now and then.
Izumi	Really! That makes me really happy! Please feel free to drop by during practice as well.
Ichiro	Yeah, when I get the time, I’ll go visit.
Izumi	I’ll reach out again when we start preparations for the Autumn Troupe’s next performance. We’d love to have you in the ensemble cast again…!
Ichiro	Haha, I’m looking forward to it. Are you on your own today?
Izumi	Yes, I wanted to buy some lunch.
Ichiro	Oh, if that’s the case, go buy some takoyaki.
	Furuichi’s at the takoyaki stand over there right now. He’s really really good at flipping takoyaki.
Izumi	Eh!? Sakyo-san is flipping takoyaki!?
Ichiro	Yeah! Keep going and the stand will be on your right. Go check it out. Well, see you!
Izumi	Ah, yes, see you…!
Izumi	(Is this the takoyaki stand Sakyo-san is working at…?)
	Ah.
Sakyo	Here you go. Be careful.
Child	Yaaay!
Sakyo	I gave you one extra.
Child	Really!? Yay! Thanks!
Izumi	(Sakyo-san is smiling so gently. So he can make that sort of expression, too…)
	(Well, if I’m here, I might as well buy some too.)
	Excuse me, may I have one order of takoyaki?
Sakyo	….!
	I thought I heard a familiar voice… why the hell are you here.
Izumi	I came to the festival to buy some lunch and ran into Makita-san. He told me you were here.
Sakyo	Tch, dammit, that guy….!
Sakoda	Oh, Director-neesan.
	Perfect timing! Aniki, neesan is here, so you should take your break!
Sakyo	Hah? I don’t need to…
Sakoda	Come on, come on! Just leave the stand to me!
	Director-neesan! Here are some takoyaki Aniki just made! Please take them!
Izumi	Are you sure? Thank you.
Sakyo	Geez… *Sighs* Let’s go.

Sakyo	But man, it’s hot…
Izumi	Yes… Ah, the bench over there is open.
Sakyo	Yeah. Sit there and wait for a sec. I’ll go buy some drinks.
Izumi	Ah, yes.
Sakyo	Here, this is for you; the classic festival drink.
Izumi	Thank you… Ah, it’s ramune!
Sakyo	Do you know how to open it?
Izumi	Don’t make fun of me! Of course I do.
	*Ramune marble drops*
	See! Look at that.
Sakyo	….
Izumi	The last time I had a bottle of ramune was when I was a child, but I still remember how to push the marble in.
	I guess you don’t really forget this sort of thing.
	...Yup! The ramune is delicious, but so is the takoyaki that you made, Sakyo-san!
Sakyo	Glad to hear it.
CHOICE 1: Make some at the dorms, too. [+] Izumi Please make some at the dorms next time! I’m sure everyone will love it. Sakyo No. Fushimi is way better than me at cooking anyway. Izumi These takoyaki are just as delicious as Omi-kun’s cooking! Plus, you were really good at flipping them. Sakyo Nanao or Miyoshi would be happy to take on the job; I don’t need to do it. Izumi Boo…. But I bet it’d be fun to host a takoyaki party with everyone! Let’s do it! I’d really love to eat this at the dorms. Sakyo ...You really like it, huh. Well then… I’ll consider it.
CHOICE 2: Sakyo-san, you should have some too. [+] Izumi Here, Sakyo-san, you should have some too. Sakyo No, I’m good. That’s your lunch, anyway. Izumi It’s fine, Sakyo-san. You’re on break too, right? It’s really delicious! Sakyo Sigh… then I’ll have one. Izumi How is it? Sakyo I made it--of course it tastes good. Izumi Ahahaha.
Izumi	By the way, about the ramune… You remembered what to do with the marble, huh.
	Yes, I think someone taught me when I was little. I don’t remember who, though.
Sakyo	I see…
	Well, you were tiny back then--of course you don’t remember.
Izumi	Eh?
	Could it be… you were the one who taught me, Sakyo-san?
Sakyo	Yeah.
Izumi	…!
Sakyo	You were all delighted that the glass bottle was so beautiful, but you just couldn’t open the cap.
	When I showed you how to open it, you were so amazed—“Wow! Wow!” Haha. Then you spent the rest of the time staring at the marble in the bottle.
Izumi	P-please don’t laugh at me! I was young!
Sakoda	--Ah, there he is! Aniki~~~!! W-we’re in trouble~~!!
Sakyo	Sakoda? What’s wrong?
Sakoda	Well! It seems like people really liked Aniki’s takoyaki, and the word got round, so now there’s a huge line in front of the stand!
	Which is great, but we’re almost out of ingredients!
Sakyo	What!?
	You idiot! Stop fumbling around and get in touch with the supplier!
Sakoda	A-aye-aye, sir!!
Sakyo	Sorry, Director-san. I’m leaving now. Will you be okay on your own?
Izumi	Yes! See you later! Good luck with everything.
Sakyo	Yeah, see you later.
Izumi	(Sakyo-san looks so busy. But the takoyaki really was delicious, so it’s no surprise.)
	(And… I see, so Sakyo-san was the one who taught me what to do with the marble in the ramune bottle…)
	(Maybe there are other things that Sakyo-san taught me that I don’t remember…)

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