Masumi Usui/Cool×Rocker

Evolving Drums

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

TV	“Coming up next is a popular band who are quickly gaining attention!
	We will also cover their superb drumming technique!”
Izumi	Wow, a person who can play the drums like that is so cool.
Masumi	…!
Taichi	Twirling the sticks is also one popular technique!
	Oh yeah, Masumi-kun’s a drummer in the next model photoshoot, right!
Masumi	My set-up is a cool drummer.
	I’m definitely going to become a drummer you think is cool, so look at me.
Izumi	Y-yeah, sure.
	I’ll be expecting it!
Taichi	Masumi-kun’s hella motivated, huh!
Izumi	(It looks like he’s motivated, so I can't wait to see how it turns out.)
Masumi	…
	*tap, tap*
Tsuzuru	…Hm?
	What’s that sound?
Masumi	…
	*tap, tap*
Tsuzuru	Oi, Masumi.
	What are you doing in the middle of the night…?
Masumi	Drumming practice.
Tsuzuru	Ahh, for the model photoshoot coming up?
Masumi	We don’t have real drums, so I’m beating a cushion.
	I was able to borrow genuine drumsticks from the Manager though.
Tsuzuru	Makes sense. But you don’t actually need to play them since you’re just taking photos as a drummer, right?
Masumi	It’s pointless if I can’t play for real.
	I have to become a drummer who she thinks is cool.
Tsuzuru	…This is related to Director, huh?
	No wonder you’re so motivated.
	*Yawn*…
Izumi	You look sleepy, Tsuzuru-kun.
	Do you have your hands full with school assignments or something?
Tsuzuru	Ah, no, Masumi-kun was hitting a cushion in the middle of the night so I could barely sleep.
Izumi	A cushion?
Masumi	It’s drumming practice.
	But that's because it's absolutely necessary.
Tsuzuru	I got it, I didn’t say you couldn’t do it.
Izumi	Ah, speaking of drums…
	…Ah, found it!
Masumi	Cardboard? It's a weird shape.
Izumi	It looks like it can become a drum set when it’s assembled.
	I’m not sure why we have something like this at the dorm, but…
Masumi	Heh. Then I might be able to practice more if I put it together.
	Thanks for searching for it for me, Director.
CHOICE 1: I’m glad we found it. [+] Izumi Don’t mention it. I just had the feeling I saw it before and I wasn’t sure… But I’m glad we found it. Masumi You’re also the absolute cutest when you’re searching with all your might. Izumi I-I appreciate it… Thanks for looking for it with me too, Masumi-kun. Masumi This time it was for something I’m using, so of course I would help you. But even if it isn’t, I’ll help you as much as I can. So call me whenever you need a hand. Izumi Fufu, alright.
CHOICE 2: Good luck with practice. [+] Izumi Good luck with drum practice using these. I’m cheering you on! Masumi If you say so, then there’s no way I won’t do my best. I'll work hard and drum every day, and I’ll get as good as the drummer you saw before. And then one day, I’ll become an actor who can also play the drums. Izumi You don’t need to go that far, you know…!?
Masumi	By the way, how do you assemble this?
Izumi	Hmmm, there doesn’t seem to be an instruction manual, huh?
	I think Chikage-san or Tasuku-san would be able to put it together though.
Masumi	Then I’ll try asking those two.
	And I’ll practice with this and get better for you, Director.
Izumi	Ahaha, I'm looking forward to it!

	*knock, knock*
Tasuku	Are you in, Usui?
Masumi	Yeah.
	*door opens*
Tasuku	Your drums are ready.
Masumi	…Really?
Chikage	We’ve placed them in the rehearsal room with Director-san’s permission.
Tasuku	The size is the same as a real drum set.
	Want to try playing it right away?
Masumi	I’ll do it.
	…
	*drums*
Tasuku	You’re skilled, as expected.
	You look just like a real drummer.
Chikage	Are these the results from hitting your cushion?
Masumi	This much still isn’t good enough at all.
	I have to improve even more…
Chikage	Well, good luck.
	I think it’s fine for you to use the rehearsal room for the time being.
Tasuku	Don’t keep at it too much and overdo it.
Masumi	I got it.
	…Thanks, you two.
	…
	*drums*
	*door opens*
Tasuku	Have you been drumming this whole time?
Chikage	I thought that might be the case.
	I’m glad we came to check up on you.
Masumi	You also helped by dropping by.
	…This part broke while I was drumming.
Tasuku	I see.
	We reinforced it as much as possible though…
Chikage	Well, it’s cardboard to begin with, right?
	I guess that’s reasonable if you hit it that much.
Masumi	…Can you fix it?
Chikage	The framework is simple, so I think we can fix it.
Tasuku	Can you wait a day for us to finish the repair?
Masumi	Got it, I’ll leave it to you.
Tasuku	Look, it’s all fixed up now.
Masumi	Thanks… uh, what are these?
Chikage	Ahh, the decorative lights?
Tasuku	If we were going out of way to repair the drum set, then we figured it’d be better to liven it up too.
Masumi	They’re unnecessary.
	Hurry up and take them off—.
Chikage	Really? But Director-san complimented them saying they were sparkly and pretty.
Masumi	It’s fine if you leave them.
	…I’m going to practice.
	*drums*
	…Sorry, it broke again.
Tasuku	So it ended up this way after all.
Masumi	I wasn’t trying to play on them that hard though.
Chikage	It’s not your fault, Masumi.
	It’s cardboard in the first place.
Tasuku	We need to make it even sturdier.
	We could also revise the materials a little more…
Chikage	The two of us will think it over a bit, so can you wait until tomorrow again?
Masumi	Alright, go for it.
Tasuku	It’s done, Usui.
Chikage	I think it turned out more solid than before.
Masumi	This is… pretty much the real thing.
Tasuku	When we were considering how to make it so it wouldn’t break no matter how much you hit it, we unintentionally put lots of effort into it. It was worth making.
Chikage	When we changed the paper parts to wood or plastic, we just ended up replacing the whole thing.
Masumi	Is it alright if I play it?
Chikage	Of course.
Tasuku	I think the sound has improved from last time too.
	*drums*
Masumi	…It sounds legit.
Chikage	I’m glad you’re happy with it.
Tasuku	Now you can practice as much as you’d like.
Masumi	Yeah.
	Thanks, you two.
	*drumming*
	*door opens*
Sakyo	Oi, I can hear you from all the way outside!
	You’re causin’ a neighbourhood nuisance, y’know!
Masumi	…I’m just practicing the drums though.
Sakyo	I heard you’re playing fake, handmade drums in the rehearsal hall to prepare for your role for the model photoshoot—.
	But no sound escaped outside up until yesterday.
	Why’d it suddenly get so loud?
Masumi	…Say that to those two who made this.
Sakyo	Oi, this is…
	The hell are you guys makin’ again…
	Ain’t that basically a real drum set?
Chikage	Haha, whoops.
Tasuku	It just happened.. as we were repairing it.
Sakyo	Geez… that’s way beyond the level of a repair.
Masumi	But it sounded really good and I’m happy with it.
	*drums*
Sakyo	Well, it's loud as hell so stop playin' that drum already!

Anna