Masumi Usui/MANKAI Encore

Encore: Alice

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2Part 3

Citron	Tsuzuru, pass the banana!
Tsuzuru	This isn’t a picnic,
	So I didn’t bring that kind of thing.
Citron	Oh—, you’re faceless!
Tsuzuru	Isn’t that the spirit from that movie…
	You mean heartless, right?
Izumi	It’s neither a picnic, nor an excursion,
	Because it’s a local performance!
Chikage	Well, if we’re all travelling together by car I understand that it becomes this sort of atmosphere.
Masumi	Haa, I feel drunk…
Sakuya	Eh?
	A-are you ok?
Masumi	…on Director.
Tsuzuru	That’s what you meant?
Sakuya	Thank goodness that your condition isn’t bad.
Izumi	Ahaha…
Itaru	…Haa.
Izumi	Huh, is Itaru-san also car sick?
Itaru	No… tonight, my favourite character’s gacha is releasing so I’m just anxious.
Citron	Itaru, because of that you’ve been restless since morning, huh!
Masumi	If you mess up the play because of a reason like that, I’ll kill you.
Itaru	I won’t mess up though.
	Hey Senpai, we still haven’t arrived?
Chikage	According to the navigation, it’s just a little more.
	It’s hard to tell since the scenery doesn’t change on country roads.
Itaru	It’s endless countryside in every direction…
	—Ah.
Izumi	Itaru-san, is something wrong?
Itaru	No, it’s nothing.
Izumi	?
	—Ah, something came into view.
Citron	Ohh! There’s no doubt it’s there!
	How exciting~.
Izumi	This… is Japan, right?
Chikage	It’s the very picture of the English countryside.
Tsuzuru	It's understandable that a performance request for Alice came too, huh.
Visitor A	What’s with those guys?
	Maybe they’re filming something?
Visitor B	Those bunny ears and cat ears, maybe it’s animal cosplay.
	Cute~
Visitor C	Ah, by any chance isn’t it Alice in Wonderland?
	I wonder if something will start?
Izumi	Fufu. The atmosphere of this venue is perfect.
Masumi	I’m working hard only for you.
	I’ll show you my acting as a perfect Alice, so watch me.
Izumi	There, let’s act for the guests.
	(University student Alice drinks the medicine he received from his professor,
	And loses his way in Wonderland—)
White Rabbit	“Oh goodness, I’ll be late at this rate. I must hurry.”
Alice	“Are you trying to cosplay a white rabbit?
	…Before, you were pleased to be told they're cute and stuff, weren’t you?”
White Rabbit	“S-shut up! For me, these are ears I take pride in!”
Izumi	(Alice, who separated from the White Rabbit, sits there and waits to wake up from his dream.)
Cheshire Cat	“Hey, that’s my napping spot.
	Won’t you get out of the way?”
Alice	“After the rabbit, it’s cat cosplay, huh? This is a headache inducing dream.”
Izumi	(Fufu, both the lines in the script and the adlibs are very light,
	And you get drawn into their view of the world.)
Mad Hatter	“If you drink my tea you’ll wake up, you say?
	I’ve never heard of such a story. Right, guys?”
Alice	“There’s nobody here except us but from awhile ago,
	You’ve been talking to someone.”
Mad Hatter	“There’s nobody here? Was that really so?”
	“…Reality isn’t just the things you can see with your eyes. Isn’t that right?”
Alice	“I’m getting a headache.”
Izumi	(Itaru-san and Masumi-kun’s mood is perfect too.
	They’ve improved a great deal since the first performance!)
	(Being told he’d wake up by meeting the King of Hearts,
	Alice headed towards the castle.)
Card Soldier	“You bastard, could you not hear what the King said!?”
Alice	“I’ve never played something like croquet!
	More than that, there’s another thing—"
Card Soldier	“Ugh silence, silence! What the King says is absolute!”
Alice	“It can’t be helped, I’ll learn by watching…”
	*swings*
King of Hearts	“—Ouch!”
Card Soldier	“You bastard what are you doing hitting the King with your hedgehog!”
	“King, what shall we do about this insolent fellow?”
King of Hearts	“It’s the death penalty.”
Alice	“Ha?”
King of Hearts	“Death penalty.”
Alice	“I don’t understand. I just—”
King of Hearts	“Death penalty.”
Alice	“Why do I have to be sentenced to death!?
	That’s too absurd!”
Izumi	(Fufu, Citron-kun is in high spirits.
	Chikage-san’s Card Soldier as well is perfectly compatible with the King of Hearts!)
	(Itaru-san was saying that the March Hare is great, but no wonder Citron-kun definitely wouldn’t yield when it came to the Card Soldier either.)
	(…Everyone in the Spring Troupe really enjoyed themselves with the performance.)
	(More than anything, it feels like Masumi-kun is having the most fun.)
	(His facial expression hasn’t changed, but it’s properly conveyed, Masumi-kun.)
Alice	“…”
Izumi	(Just now he looked here and smiled? Was it just my imagination…)
Professor	“Good morning, Alice-kun. How are you feeling?”
Alice	“The worst. I wasted a considerable amount of time.”
Izumi	(He was saying things like he was working hard for me,
	But that’s definitely not the only reason.)
	(Masumi-kun, acting together with everyone in the Spring Troupe is fun… isn’t it?)
Alice	“Because I’m done with the tea for now.”
Spring Troupe	Thank you very much!

Izumi	Everyone, good work.
	It was really great!
Citron	The guests were so happy.
	I also had fun!
Chikage	We don’t easily come across an opportunity to perform at a place like this.
	It was a valuable experience.
Tsuzuru	I was a little nervous though, not to lose to the scenery.
Employee	Sorry for the wait—.
Sakuya	Wow, our meal is also British food, huh?
	It seems tasty!
Tsuzuru	That reminds me, the hotel rooms were also amazing.
Izumi	The English Country style sure was cute!
	I instinctively took a picture.
Itaru	Here you go, Director-san.
	It’s a meat pie.
Izumi	Eh?
Itaru	Lend me this plate too.
	Masumi as well, here.
Izumi	I-Itaru-san is serving the food…
Masumi	This feels wrong.
Itaru	Senpai, your glass is empty.
	Shall I pour some more?
Chikage	Could it be that you…
Citron	Ah ha—h, I got it!
	Itaru, you’re accumulating virtue for your gacha, right?
Tsuzuru	Oh I seeee.
	But, will such sudden virtue have any effect?
Itaru	…It’s worth a shot.
	Gacha God, out of respect for my virtuousness,
	Please grant me the best gacha luck…
Sakuya	If it’s Itaru-san, I think he’ll definitely be able to pull it!
Masumi	…
Tsuzuru	What’s wrong, Masumi?
Citron	Masumi also has a fave gacha?
Masumi	Not a chance.
	…No, maybe that’s right.
Tsuzuru	Huh?
Masumi	It’s nothing.
Izumi	?
Masumi	…Heh.
Izumi	(…He’s looking at me?)
	Masumi-kun, what’s wrong?
Masumi	In the middle of today’s performance, Director, you looked at me and smiled.
	I’m happy.
Izumi	Ahh, now that you mention it…
Masumi	That’s why I’ve decided.
Izumi	On what?
Masumi	It’s still a secret.
	Later I’ll tell only you.
Izumi	(What in the world could it be…?)
	(The place written down in the LIME from Masumi…
	I think it’s around here but—)
Masumi	Director, I was waiting.
Izumi	Masumi-kun.
	You called me to a place like this, what’s wrong?
Masumi	I wanted to come here with you.
Izumi	Here… so it was a chapel.
	It’s a small, rustic and cute place.
	The thing you were saying you decided during dinnertime,
	Was that you decided to come here?
Masumi	That’s not it. What I decided is—.
	To propose to you.
Izumi	Eh!?
Masumi	During the performance, you were looking at me and smiling.
	At that moment, once again, I thought I loved you.
	This place, I want to make it our commemorative place.
	That’s why right now, I’ll propose.
Izumi	Eh!? H-hold on a minute, Masumi-kun.
Masumi	Director, will you—.
???	Ahhh daaamn, I can’t take it anymore—!!
Masumi	!?
Chikage	Oi, don’t shout at a time like this.
Itaru	Ah, m’bad.
	Haa… even though I built up so much virtue…
Citron	Itaru, you drank too much in despair, huh!
Chikage	Oh, Director-san and Masumi.
	What are you two doing?
Masumi	…
Izumi	Um well, I was called here by Masumi-kun and…
Itaru	By any chance, have we disturbed you?
	Haha, sorry sorry.
Masumi	…
Citron	Oh—, if I take a better look, it’s a chapel!
Itaru	So you were fidgety at the after-show party because of something like this.
	Masumi really doesn’t waver, huh?
Masumi	…Shut up.
	You as well, it’s embarrassing yelling out loud over a game even though you’re an adult.
	You really don’t change.
Itaru	I… I have nothing to say to that.
	But like flubbing your fave’s gacha, isn’t Masumi right now also pretty similar?
Masumi	Wrong. Don’t lump us together.
Izumi	Ahaha…
	(This sour mood doesn’t seem like it will be fixed so easily…
	For the time being, it's good that the show is finished...)

Izumi	Everyone, you didn’t forget anything?
Sakuya	It’s fine!
Citron	We left Masumi and Tsuzuru behind.
Izumi	Eh!?
Tsuzuru	Ahh, it’s okay.
	I just had a hard time bringing this guy.
Masumi	Guu—…
Chikage	Well it Looks like everyone’s gathered.
	Then I’ll close the trunk.
Itaru	Ah, Senpai.
	I’ll drive us back.
Chikage	…Well I don’t particularly mind.
Itaru	That openly suspicious look.
	There’s nothing though.
Chikage	I wonder about that.
	Anyways, I’ll take your word for it and leave the drive home to you.
Citron	Sakuya, can we buy sous vides somewhere?
Sakuya	Sous vides?
Tsuzuru	No, it’s souvenirs.
	Wait weren’t you able to properly say souvenirs until right now?
Sakuya	If it’s that, it looks like there’s a roadside station up ahead.
Izumi	Then shall we properly stop by?
	Itaru-san, is it ok if we drop by the roadside station on the way?
Itaru	Roger.
Chikage	Chigasaki, it doesn’t seem like the roadside station is that way though?
Izumi	Oh true. We’re off from the navigation?
Itaru	Well well.
	It’s just a bit of a detour, ‘kay?
Izumi	Here is…
Tsuzuru	It’s a game centre.
Chikage	Haa…
	As expected, I shouldn’t have left the driving to you.
Itaru	When we came, I found the billboard and was interested.
Sakuya	Somehow there’s only seasoned game consoles, huh?
Citron	This is amazing!
	There’s only retro games that are rather hard to see in the city!
Itaru	Right right. Since things like these are quick to be replaced.
	It seems there are games you don’t usually see nowadays so it’s exciting.
	Hmmm, which should we start from?
	—Ah.
Masumi	…
Itaru	Masumi, remember this?
Masumi	…I don’t remember.
Itaru	Liar. It’s the game I remember completely wrecking Masumi in during the premiere of Alice.
Sakuya	Ah, the time Itaru-san came all the way to school pick Masumi-kun up, right?
Itaru	To encounter this machine on the way home from our performance rerun…
	This is also fate, so Masumi, will you battle me for the first time in a while?
Masumi	…Fine by me.
Group members	EH!?
Tsuzuru	That’s unexpected… I thought for sure he’d refuse.
Masumi	I’ll get revenge.
Sakuya	For the time during the premiere?
Citron	That’s not it!
	It’s for Itaru disturbing his proposal yesterday!
Sakuya	Proposal!?
Masumi	Both.
	Today, I’ll definitely win.
Itaru	Nice.
	I accept your challenge.
Game announcement	YOU WIN!
Itaru	Yep, my win.
Masumi	Damn it…
Citron	Masumi, you were really cornered.
	It was regrettable.
Masumi	One more time.
Itaru	That’s the spirit.
	Then one more round.
Masumi	…Hey, Director.
	Say good luck to me.
Izumi	Huh?
Masumi	It’s fine so say it.
	Please.
Izumi	O-Ok, I got it.
	…Good luck, Masumi-kun.
Masumi	—I definitely won’t lose.
Chikage	The colour of his eyes changed, huh.
	Isn’t this also dangerous for Chigasaki?
Citron	Masumi, go go—!
Game announcement	FIGHT!
Itaru	I’m gonna go all out from the beginning.
	Yeah, low-kick high-kick propeller, kick festival.
Tsuzuru	Itaru is skilled as expected.
Sakuya	But, Masumi-kun is also catching up!
Citron	Amazing speed, those two!
Itaru	You’re good, you’re good.
	But I’ll be finishing up…
	Motion cancel!?
	You’re kidding, shortening 3 frames here—
Game announcement	YOU WIN!
Citron	Ohh!? The emergency hidden combo was triggered!
	It’s Masumi’s win!
Itaru	Seriously…
Izumi	That’s amazing, he really managed to win.
Masumi	Heh, naturally.
	You told me to do my best, so I couldn’t lose.
Itaru	If I knew that kind of thing would come out,
	I would’ve ducked 5 frames before that…
Masumi	If I can see a resentful face like that,
	Games might be good too once in a while.
Itaru	Uwahh—, what’s with that laugh just now. I’m piiissed—.
	Tch, one more round.
Masumi	…Seriously, you’re childish.

Anna