Azuma Yukishiro/Like a Beauty

First Ozashiki game

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

Izumi	Sorry for being late! My work had me toiling far longer than I thought it would…!
Homare	Ahh, director-kun. Good work.
Tsumugi	That’s alright. We’ve only just finished changing into our costumes.
Yuki	How’s the size?
Guy	There’s no problems with it.
Izumi	So the 3 of your costumes are being done up first?
Yuki	That’s right. I’m sure the muscle training dumbass’ size will change yet again–
	And the amazing sleeper himself was sleeping while the measurements were being taken. There were errors due to that so it’s currently being readjusted.
Tasuku	I told you that I was sorry, didn’t I? My arms just got a little thicker than it was previously…
Hisoka	Mngh…
Yuki	And I’d have to rethink the poet’s costume design once more since it seems like he’ll be getting a rather extravagant hairstyle this time round.
Homare	I’m playing the role of a young master, you see! The attire has to be a glamorous yet gorgeous, one truly befitting of my title!
Yuki	Really! I always have my hands full with this guy since he’s so picky about everything. And yet, he’s still one of the older members amongst us? You should try being in my shoes for once-
Tsumugi	Erm, but I still think that it’s really chic and cool compared to how flashy the Summer Troupe’s kimonos were for their ninja play!
Azuma	Yup, there’s certainly some taste in it.
Hisoka	Feels stylish.
Guy	…I think the colours and patterns are really interesting.
Yuki	Well, yeah. I spent quite a lot of time picking out the patterns since I didn’t want them to look too plain.
Izumi	(T-Thank goodness. It seems like he managed to put Yuki-kun back in a good mood by modestly nudging the subject into a different direction.)
Tsumugi	It’s refreshing to see everyone in traditional Japanese clothes.
Izumi	Right? Azuma-san’s the most eye-catching one after all since he’s the first one to play a female role in the Winter Troupe.
	(He’s beautiful, beyond my expectations even. There’s also some surprising sex appeal in play and it’s almost as if I could fall in love with him at first sight…)
Azuma	Fufu, if that’s so then can I think that I’ve met your expectations…?
Izumi	(Y-Your face is too close!!)
	O-On the contrary, you’ve exceeded my expectations so much that it’s bad for my heart!
Azuma	Really? I’m glad to hear that.
Guy	Was the role you were playing one of a former geisha?
Azuma	Yup. Although I’m a shamisen teacher now.
Hisoka	Are you going to do anything to build the role further?
Azuma	Right…The director did already give praised about it but I want to make it feel more real.
Izumi	(It’s already realistic, though…)
Homare	Hm. In other words, you’re wondering what would help you further build your role?
Tsumugi	How about a geisha’s dance or something…?
Yuki	Azu-nee already knows how that works.
Azuma	Yeah. I did teach Yuki how it was done before.
Tasuku	How about the shamisen then?
Azuma	I’ve actually managed to pick up quite a bit of that back during the days where I slept alongside people. There was someone who knew how to play it and taught me how to. I can play anything so long as it’s simple.
Tsumugi	Azuma-san’s really like a jack of all trades…
Yuki	Maybe you don’t have to build up on your role any further anymore?
Guy	I wonder if there’s anything else…
Hisoka	…The Ozashiki game.
Izumi	Huh? The Ozashiki game?
Tasuku	Really makes one wonder how you came up with that.
Hisoka	I saw it on the television recently.
Azuma	I see. I’ve never done that before, even as a geisha.
Guy	The Ozashiki game…I’ve heard of it but how is it supposed to be done?
Izumi	I don’t really know anything about it… Does anyone have any experience with it?
Hisoka	Nope.
Tsumugi	Neither do I.
Tasuku	Me neither. Besides, it feels like something only the rich can afford.
Homare	I’ve experienced it countless of times, having been the receptionist for the editorial department.
Azuma	So that means everyone other than Homare and I has never experienced it before?
	Fufu…Then I shall be the one to teach you how to play the game of adults.

Tsumugi	I’m kind of looking forward to learning about the Ozashiki game even though it’s a part of your role building.
Citron	Yes! How exuding~!
Tasuku	That’s fine and all but why’s Citron here?
Azuma	I thought that we could all pair up with everyone from the Winter Troupe and the Director included but–
	I realised we made up an odd number so I invited the prince who said he was interested in the Class kinda game.
Citron	Thanks for inviting me, Azuma.
Azuma	You’re welcome.
	If we’re all pairing up then how about pairing up with your roommates? Citron will be paired with the director.
Guy	Understood.
Homare	So that means that I’m with Hisoka. Let’s do our best together!
Hisoka	……zzz.
Azuma	Of course, we’ve also prepared a prize for the winning team.
Hisoka	A prize… It might be some high-quality marshmallows…
Azuma	Hehe, I wonder?
Homare	Then let’s hurry and get the game started, shall we?
Azuma	I was thinking of starting it off with a game of eliminative rock, paper and scissors that everyone knows about.
Citron	Oh, I’ve heard of it! It’s the one where you whack everyone off with rock, paper and scissors, right?
Tsumugi	It’s also part of the game of adults? I see.
	Ah, but stripping if you lose is a little…I mean the director’s here and all…
Izumi	Y-Yeah, that’s a little…
Azuma	Fufu, that’s only in the case of it happening in a variety show and the like. In the Ozashiki game, you take a shot every time you lose.
	Of course, those who want to strip can feel free to do so too.
Tasuku	Why are you saying that while looking in my direction? Stop saying it as if I’m the one who’s itching to strip down.
Homare	Alright, let’s start from my team! Who’ll be our opponent?
Tsumugi	I win.
Guy	Again…? How many times does this make it?
Homare	Uuugghhh, I can’t win against you no matter how hard I try, Tsumugi-kun…
Citron	Soon, Homare will turn into a dunk cryer !
Azuma	I suppose that means a crying drunk?
Hisoka	Come to think of it, he’s really strong at Rock, paper scissors.
Izumi	That’s right…
	Rock, paper and scissors was banned whenever we had to decide something within the company but it totally slipped my mind since we haven’t had anything to decide on for a while now.
Tasuku	I don’t mind since I’m on the same team as him but at this rate, everyone but us is going to get drunk.
Azuma	We can’t have everyone drunk right off the bat either. Let’s proceed on to the next game then.
	We’ll be using this next.
Tsumugi	That’s one beautiful fan.
Homare	Ohh, this must be Japanese fan tossing, hic
Azuma	Bingo.
Citron	Japanese fan tossin-?
Azuma	It’s a game where you toss the fan at the target placed on the table-top.
Homare	The name and the score you get depends on the folding fan’s shape and the way it falls. Ah what a deliriously difficult game it is indeed…
Guy	I see. It’s quite intriguing.
Azuma	How about the prince start first this time round?
Citron	Alright! I have to aim well then~
	…… Hah!!
Tasuku	That was a magnificent miss.
Tsumugi	The fan didn’t open at all so it wasn’t able to catch the wind and fly like it was supposed to.
Citron	Oh, how difficult…This game is really deep.
	Director, I want you to take revenge for me!
Izumi	Alright, this is where I pull out the high scores…!
	Is what I’d like to say but…Can I even throw the fan right? Uhh, how should I be wielding this…?
Azuma	Then how about I teach you a trick, just for you?
	First, hold the fan like this. Then, relax your shoulder…
Izumi	L-Like this?
Azuma	Yup, just like that. Now, try tossing.
Izumi	Oh, it hit the goal!
Azuma	Yup, that was a great throw, Director.
Izumi	Thank you! It’s all thanks to you!!
CHOICE 1: You’re great at being hospitable. [+] Izumi I’ve been thinking but you’re really good at being hospitable. Azuma Really? Izumi You explain things in a way that’s easy to understand, hype up everyone with the games and you even play the shamisen and the like. The role you made as Orin, a former geisha as well as a shamisen teacher’s also perfect! Azuma Thank you, it makes me happy to hear that. Izumi I’m sure you’d be popular if you were really a geisha. Azuma Fufu, I’m always hospitable so please pick me whenever you feel up for a round of the Ozashiki game.
CHOICE 2: The Ozashiki game’s really fun! [+] Izumi Izumi The Ozashiki game’s really fun! Tsumugi We don’t normally get the chance to play Japanese fan tossing all that much either. Homare Uuuggh, the fluttering of the fan and the beautiful, moving emotion it exudes… Guy This game seems like it would catch the interests of the other Troupes too. Hisoka The Summer Troupe would love it. Azuma That’s true. The minors won’t be able to do the drinking elimination version of rock, paper and scissors but we can all do the fan tossing game together. Tasuku You’ll need good motor skills to be good at this game but I think that it’ll be a pretty good match. Citron Sounds like fun~! I’m going to undergo special training till then!
Homare	It’s my turn next…! I won’t lose this time…!
	There…!
Tasuku	——Ow.
	Hey, where are you aiming that thing!?
Homare	How can this be…! For you to be hit by the fan…Ahh, please forgive me Tasuku-kun!
	The sense of soaring dances ,my sense for throwing fans, the returning essence…
Guy	He’s pretty drunk, isn’t he?
Tsumugi	He probably drank too much in the elimination rock, paper and scissors session just now…
Izumi	Amazing! The Azuma-Guy team is closely matched with the Hisoka-Homare team!
Citron	The Drunk Homare’s just being extra baggage but Hisoka’s raking in all the points!
Tsumugi	He’s good at darts too if I remember correctly. I guess he has an affinity for games like this?
Tasuku	Only one match left.
Hisoka	High-quality marshmallows…
Azuma	What sheer willpower.
Homare	Not yet, we can attain higher points! Uuuuuugh, how brilliant…! Hic-!
Azuma	Hisoka’s going really strong in times like this, just like I expected.
	But…I won’t lose out either.
Homare	T-This is…The dream-like arc!!
Izumi	Isn’t that the shape that scores the most points!?
Guy	As expected of Yukishiro.
Tsumugi	The Azuma-Guy team wins.
Hisoka	I lost…
Tasuku	He was leading in terms of points after the drinking elimination but the tables were still turned against him in the end, huh.
Citron	Congratulations, Azuma and Guy!
Azuma	Fufu, thanks.
Tsumugi	I lost the game but it was really fun!
Izumi	That’s true. It felt like we were with a real geisha and playing a real Ozashiki game.
Azuma	I’m glad everyone enjoyed themselves.
Tasuku	So what was the prize in the end?
Azuma	This.
Guy	This is…Japanese liquor?
Citron	Oh! That was in the pauli box!
Tasuku	You mean the Paulownia box, don’t you?
Izumi	Looks like a luxury good just from the looks of it!
Azuma	Let’s all open it after the performance, okay?
Guy	Right.
Tsumugi	Alright! Let’s do our best for the performance!
Tasuku	Yeah.
Hisoka	Yup.
Izumi	Huh? I was thinking about how quiet it got all of a sudden. Where’s Homare-san…?
Homare	Zzzz…snore-…
Guy	It appears that he has fallen into a drunken slumber.
Homare	Mmnfh, hic! Winter Troupe, fight~ …

Ran