Chikage Utsuki/MANKAI Glitter

To ARIES: Chikage

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2Part 3

Citron	This scent.... guess it must be curry for dinner tonight!
Itaru	What’s there to guess if director-san’s on cooking duty.
Sakuya	Is Chikage-san still at work, by the way?
Itaru	I saw him making his way to the conference room when I was heading home, I don’t think he’ll be back for a while.
Izumi	Ah, speak of the devil, I got a LIME DM from Chikage-san.
	“Looks like I’ll be late today, so I’ll just eat dinner on my own.” … is what he said.
Citron	Chikage’s in detention!
Tsuzuru	It's overtime, not detention.
Izumi	I was really proud of the masterpiece of a curry I made today, and I was looking forward to hearing what’d he’d say.
Masumi	I can give you my own review. I could write up to a 100,000 word count.
Itaru	He’s gonna morph into a curry critic.
Tsuzuru	Y’know, Chikage-san seems to be really busy lately.
Sakuya	I saw him talking to someone about work in the courtyard the other day. I couldn’t understand what language they were speaking.
Tsuzuru	He’s always working away at his PC at different times of the day...
Itaru	I can vouch for that, he’s glued to his PC even when he’s in our room these days. Don’t think he’s been surfing the net, though.
Izumi	Until when will Chikage-san be busy?
Itaru	We work in different departments so I wouldn’t really know, but he’s always been the type to make himself busy to begin with.
Sakuya	He’s been hard at work as a salaryman but he’s also been attending rehearsals at the theater company.
Izumi	(Other than that, I’m sure he’s got his own dirty work to worry about too...)
Tsuzuru	All that work could drive someone crazy.
Citron	Chikage is a barkaholic!
Itaru	You mean workaholic.
Sakuya	I hope his body’s doing okay.
Izumi	I’ll try not to put too much pressure on him when he’s busy with company work.
Itaru	Speaking of, it’s almost that day already.
Tsuzuru	That’s right, but Chikage-san, does he even have the time for it...?
Chikage	Morning.
Sakuya	Chikage-san, good morning, um, can I talk to you for a minute?
Chikage	Sure thing.
Sakuya	You see.... Chikage-san it’ll be your birthday soon, right.
Chikage	Aah.... now that you mention, you’re right. I’ve been so busy I totally forgot.
Masumi	Knew it.
Sakuya	If you want to, why don’t we all go on a day trip to a hot spring resort today?
Chikage	Hot spring resort?
Sakuya	You always seem to have such a hard time at work, so we figured it’d be nice to soothe your senses.
Tsuzuru	It’s nice to relax in a hot spring resort every now and then, right?
Citron	We can eat onsen manju, too! Let us go, Chikage!
Itaru	It’s like Labor Thanksgiving Day and Respect for the Aged Day’s happening all at once.
Chikage	Could’ve left out the ‘Respect for the Aged Day’ part.
Sakuya	But you’ve been so busy lately that, we were worried you wouldn’t have the time...
Chikage	Thanks for worrying about me. I’ll make sure to make some time.
Sakuya	Alright!
Chikage	Ah, but you don’t have to bring whatever that celestial globe sphere thing is.
Tsuzuru	Why not?
Chikage	It’s that thing that grants wishes for a day, right? Well, I’m not exactly someone who’s good at making wishes.
Itaru	That’s such a Chikage thing to say.
Citron	What a waste of a special occasion.
Chikage	I appreciate the sentiment.

Citron	We have finally arrived at the hot spring resort of my dreams! I can smell the surfer!
Tsuzuru	Sulfur.
Sakuya	Woah, it’s so atmospheric!
Izumi	Sorry for tagging along.
Masumi	You look really good in your yukata you know.
Sakuya	The more, the merrier!
Chikage	Rather, I wanna thank you for coming along, director-san.
Tsuzuru	With our hot spring tickets, we can spend the whole day at any of the springs if we want to.
Izumi	It’s such a bargain to be able to visit the hot springs like this.
Sakuya	The hot springs here have so much variety. It looks fun!
Citron	It is so spacey here!
Tsuzuru	Go on and pick the first hot spring we’ll go to, Chikage-san, you’re the star of the day after all.
Chikage	Hmm.... here then.
Itaru	This one’s good for headaches, stiff shoulders and eyestrains. It’s perfect for our senior citizen.
Citron	I will dive right in!
Izumi	Ah, the women’s bath is this way. Well, I’ll see you guys later after I get out.
Tsuzuru	Sure. Over here, Masumi, the men’s bath is this way.
Masumi	…..... I know that.
Tsuzuru	No you don’t, it’s written all over your face times two.
Izumi	(I can’t wait to see all the different hot springs they have here.)
Citron	Haa~. My body feels all warm and fuzzy. I feel like I have become a human body warmer.
Izumi	All of the hot springs were really nice.
Tsuzuru	I loved the hot tub. Felt like I had my shoulders massaged.
Sakuya	I liked the carbonated spring. The tingling feeling it gave was pretty nice!
Masumi	Mine’s the footbath. Director was there too.
Izumi	Chikage-san, which of the hot springs is your favorite?
Chikage	I guess mine’s the....
	*Phone Rings*
	Sorry, it’s my phone. I’ll be back in a minute.
Masumi	Definitely work.
Sakuya	He said it was his day off today......
Itaru	Well, it is what it is. It’s no good, but when work gets busy, things like this can happen.
Tsuzuru	But what’s the point of coming here if he’s not gonna be able to relax?
Citron	I knew it, the only way to get Chikage to rest is to use our secret weapon!
Izumi	Huh......?
Chikage	Sorry to have kept you waiting. Ready to go?
	….. Wait, this is....
Masumi	“Hello Celestial Globe.”
Sakuya	Sorry, we brought it with us even though you told us not to.
	Everyone’s done it and I thought it’d be a good way to make memories.
Chikage	You don’t have to apologize. But like I said, I’ve always been bad at making wishes― I mean, I can’t think of anything in particular. I don’t know what to wish for.
Tsuzuru	Not a single one?
Chikage	Hmmm......
Sakuya	Anything is fine, really! Even if it’s something small.
Chikage	….. Ah, then I wish for everyone to fall in love with spicy food. Then we can have a spicy curry party and eat 30 spicy meals a day.
Itaru	That’s gotta be a lethal dose.
Masumi	I don’t want to put my life on the line.
Chikage	I’m kidding.
CHOICE 1: Anything else? [+] Izumi Is there anything else? Chikage Hmm...... I still can’t think of anything else. Izumi Anything else you want, or want to do? Chikage There’s nothing in particular that I want, and what I want to do is come to the hot spring resort with everyone like this. Citron Chikage you are too selfless! You should learn something from Itaru! Itaru You’re making it sound like I’m just a mass of wordly desires. Chikage Sorry I really got nothing.
CHOICE 2: I’m all in for curry parties! [+] Izumi I’m all in for curry parties! Chikage I knew director-san would be up for it. Izumi It’s already such a dream to have curry three meals a day! Let’s make that wish come true! Itaru MANKAI Company will be destroyed but k I guess? Tsuzuru My survival rate is close to none. Chikage But I can’t really think of anything else to wish for....
Sakuya	….... Well, I have a suggestion.
Sakuya	How about? (whispering)…....
Chikage	Eeh?
	Hmm... I don’t know about this.
Citron	Why not, it’s nerve or nothing!
Masumi	All or nothing.
Chikage	Alright. Then...... Hello, star of the Aries constellation, please give me a world where I don’t work.
	(Other than that one job... that’s more or less it.)

Chikage	…...
Itaru	Ah, senpai. Good morning.
Chikage	…... How much did you lose?
Itaru	Hah?
Chikage	Never mind, Chigasaki I thought you went crazy after having the biggest gacha whale in your life or something since you’re getting ready for the day this early.
Itaru	It’s work. I gotta get up early for a call due to timezones......
	“Good morning. How is the weather over there?”
Chikage	(English? He’s got an overseas business client? That’s rare......)
	(I’ll get ready too, then.)
Chikage	Morning.
Izumi	Good morning. Wait, why are you wearing a suit?
Chikage	Because I got work.
Izumi	Eh? You’re supposed to be on your day off today. Chikage-san, are you sleepwalking?
Chikage	…...?
	(Day off......?)
	(…... It’s true. It says I’m on paid leave on my phone’s scheduler.)
	(Maybe it’s because of the wish I made on the celestial globe...?)
	(… It’s hard to believe, but I guess the power of that celestial globe’s real.)
	(Haa...... I don’t know what’s going on, but I guess I’ll take the day off then......)
Matsukawa	Eh!? Whooray, hoorey, yes yes! Parrdoun? Exusie mi? Hoowa?
Chikage	…... Who’s the manager calling?
Izumi	There’s an overseas client who wanted to film MANKAI Company’s performance.
Matsukawa	Oh, naicesu! Paurdon? Wan more aspekku purin!
Chikage	Want me to take over?
Izumi	No can do. It’s your day-off today, Chikage-san.
Tsuzuru	Umm.... wha, what language is this? It’s definitely not Arabic or something... right?
Chikage	What are you looking at, Tsuzuru?
Tsuzuru	It’s a proposal sent to us from overseas. But I’ve never seen this script before.... do you know what language this is?
Citron	This must be Cretan Hieroglyph dayo! They’re mysterious characters once carved onto stone!
Tsuzuru	Who uses that for a business proposal!?
Chikage	This is...
	(This proposal looks like the one I’ve been working with. Why does Tsuzuru have it?)
Tsuzuru	Ah, Chikage-san, you don’t have to take a look at it. It’s your day-off, so please take it easy.
Chikage	(…... No way, are these guys doing all this work because I’m on a break?)
Masumi	Nǐ yuànyì jià gěi wǒ ma? Wǒ ài nǐ, wǒ ài nǐ.
	[t/n: he’s saying “Will you marry me? I love you, I love you.”]
Sakuya	Woah, Masumi-kun, you’re really pumped up this morning!
Masumi	A business partner taught me.
Chikage	(What kind of chaotic situation is this...)
Chikage	…...
	(Feels like that dream made more tired than anything......)
Itaru	Yawn.... it’s morning already, ugh...
Chikage	… Didn’t think I’d be relieved to see you be such a lazy mess.
Itaru	Could you not diss me first thing in the morning?
Chikage	Morning.
Sakuya	Chikage-san, good morning!
Tsuzuru	Good morning.
Chikage	…... Good. You’re all back to normal.
Tsuzuru	? What are you talking about?
Chikage	Oh, nothing.
Izumi	Chikage-san, please try out the new curry I’ll make today.
Masumi	I’ll eat it if Chikage won’t.
Chikage	I have a meeting to attend, I’ll be a little late, but I’ll make sure to eat it.
Sakuya	I know there’s not much we can do, but if there's anything we can help with, please let us know!
Citron	Do not overwork yourself, Chikage!
Izumi	That’s right. Please take breaks when you can.
Chikage	…... Thank you. I appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Adriemori