Azuma Yukishiro/MANKAI Playback

The Opportunity to Start Professional Cuddling Services

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

Izumi	Azuma-san!
Winter Troupe	Happy Birthday!
Azuma	Thank you, everyone.
Tsumugi	Everyone discussed and decided to make a fruit cake for you. Fruits are good for beauty.
Hisoka	We asked Kumon about the foods that are good for your health.
Homare	Azami-kun taught us recipes that'll make your skin glow.
Tasuku	We also ordered Azuma-san's favorite sake.
Izumi	Omi-kun helped me cook dishes that are good for your beauty.
Azuma	Fufu, you really put so much thought into it.
	I have mixed feelings about celebrating my birthday at this age but it was nice to have everyone celebrate with me.
Homare	Speaking of, I may have asked this before but how old Azuma-san is now?
Tasuku	I tried asking him about it during a drive one time but he dodged my question too well.
Hisoka	I want to know Guy and Azuma's age.
Tsumugi	Certainly, they're roommates too.
Guy	Age, huh... I do not wish to pry too much about it but whenever I am talking to him, I feel like our ages might be close.
Azuma	My age? Shall I tell you?
	...It comes with a hefty price though. Is it still alright with you?
Izumi	Ehh!?
Hisoka	Azuma is scary.
Azuma	Fufu, I'm kidding.
	Look, the food is getting cold. Let's eat.
Tasuku	Azuma-san, you don't sound like you're joking at all...
Izumi	Huh? Where did the marshmallow tower go?
Hisoka	I ate it.
Izumi	E-everything!?
Hisoka	Un.
Homare	Hisoka-kun!
	Didn't we prepare it especially for Azuma-san!?
Azuma	It's alright. He shared a little.
	It was delicious, wasn’t it?
Hisoka	Un. It's sweet and delicious.
Homare	I knew this thing was going to happen hence, I also ordered mizu manju!
Azuma	Mizu manju it is. I am happy with it.
Homare	I am a genius who can take precautions in a situation like this...
Hisoka	Munch munch... It's delicious.
Homare	Hisoka-kun!
	Do not eat before Azuma-san!
Azuma	Fufu, it's fine.
	Shall we eat, everyone?
Azuma	The flowers on the table are beautiful. Did Tsumugi prepare them?
Tsumugi	Yes. I picked it with Azuma-san's image in mind. How is it?
Azuma	Yes. They are very lovely and beautiful.
	So this is how Tsumugi sees me...
Tsumugi	Fufu, I am glad you liked it.
Tsumugi	Let's give our presents to Azuma-san.
Guy	Can I have a minute?
Tasuku	What's the matter?
Guy	The truth is, the present I prepared for Yukishiro is inside the warehouse. May I excuse myself to get it?
Hisoka	Why in the warehouse?
Guy	Because I am sharing the same room as Yukishiro, I thought he would find out about the gift no matter where I put it in our room.
	I asked the manager to hide the present inside the warehouse.
Tsumugi	I see.
Homare	Fumu...Well then, we shall wait for you to come back before we start giving our presents.
Guy	I'm sorry. I will go back in as soon as I can.
Guy	......Where did the manager keep it?
	The warehouse appears to be in a worse state than when I last visited it....
	He kept it in such a place...!
	I was worried it was lost. I am glad it is safe.
	*shuffle*
	Hm? This....

Izumi	Ah, he's back.
Guy	I'm sorry for making you wait.
Tsumugi	Alright. Since Guy-san is already here, let's---
Guy	Before that, can I have a minute?
Homare	What is it this time?
Guy	I found this in the warehouse.
Izumi	A magazine?
Tasuku	It looks like an old issue.
Hisoka	Ah, the person on the cover looks like Azuma.
Azuma	Ah, how nostalgic.
	Actually, the model on the cover is me.
Winter Troupe	EHH?!
Tsumugi	This is.....Azuma-san...!?
Homare	It is indeed Azuma-san when he was young!
Azuma	I did a little bit of modeling before I became a professional cuddler.
	I am mostly doing parts modeling so this is the only time I modeled for a cover.
Izumi	So that was it!
CHOICE 1: "Why are you on the cover of the magazine" [+] Izumi But parts models are modeling mostly with just hand or foot, aren't they? Why are you on the cover? Azuma It's a mere coincidence. Apparently, the husband of the person filming me was the chief editor of this magazine. When they asked me to be on the cover, I agreed to do it once. Izumi I-I see.... ( It's an episode you would never experience unless you are Azuma-san)
CHOICE 2: "Azuma-san as a model is cool" [+] Izumi Azuma-san as a model is cool. Azuma Fufu, you think so? Is it because I am still young at this time? Izumi Of course the Azuma-san right now is also cool! Azuma Aww, I am glad to be praised. Thank you, director.
Tasuku	Come to think of it, what inspired Azuma-san to start professional cuddling services?
Tsumugi	Certainly, it's intriguing!
Hisoka	Un.
Azuma	Ah, looking back, I haven't talked about it before, have I?
	Let's see. Actually, I---
	"Azuma-san, good work."
	"Good work"
	"Your next shoot will be..."
	After graduating from high school and returning to Tokyo, I was introduced to modeling work. I was extremely busy every single day.
	I was finally getting used to shooting little by little.
	One day, I was hired by a certain accessory company to be the model of their new product.
	The shooting for the new product reached a good stopping point and we went on a break. I had a little more time left before the next shoot. ..
	"It's not a good idea to go home around this time"
	So I decided to spend my precious break time in the dressing room.
	I heard a door opening from behind on my way to the dressing. When I looked back, I saw a little boy walking alone.
	"What's the matter?"
	"I'm waiting for mama's work to finish."
	"Where is your mother working?"
	"She's in the room with number 3 written on it"
	Come to think of it, studio 3 is shooting for the new product of a female designer who is popular overseas.
	"Perhaps, this boy is the designer's child?"
	"How about we wait together? I'm also waiting for my next shoot"
	I gently held the little boy's hand and headed to the dressing room with him.
	While waiting on the dressing room's sofa, the little boy began to drowsily rub his eyes...
	" Are you sleepy? I'll get a blanket for you."
	"No, I'm fine."
	".....You know, mama is always working and I'm always alone"
	"I don't tell mama about it but when I'm alone I feel lonely and I can't sleep much..."
	That time, I saw my past self in the eyes of the little boy who was looking somewhere far away.
	"I understand how you feel. I, too, have always been alone."
	That child knows the coldness of the night spent alone. He feels lonely but there is no one he can rely on.
	Thinking about it, I couldn't help but reach out to him.
	" Then, let's sleep together. I want to take a nap too,"
	"I am here with you. You are not alone."
	"Un..."
	The little boy curl his lips into a smile and eventually closed his eyelids. His body temperature gave me a strange comfort. It's something that I have experienced for the first time. That moment, I too, fell into drowsiness---
Azuma	When I took off my uniform at home after my high school graduation ceremony, I thought I had to learn how to stand alone as soon as possible.
	With that determination, I moved to Tokyo and started my work as a parts model.
	However, working as a parts model was also hard.
	I started to think that the job is not for me---
	I eventually changed my job to a professional cuddler because of that event.
	I thought it would be nice if I could share my loneliness with other people who share the same loneliness as me...
Izumi	So that was the case...
Azuma	I stopped offering professional cuddling services but from now on, I'm going to make the customer smile through acting.
Izumi	Azuma-san....!
Tasuku	That's right,
Hisoka	Did Azuma become a theater nerd too?
Homare	Isn't it great~!?
Tsumugi	I think it's a good thing.
Azuma	Fufu.
	Everyone, please continue to take care of me.

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