Tsukiuta. Boys’ 5th Season CD 11 – Wagamama Drama (1)

[nebulancer]

 

Summary – Iku and Rui have become participants for a certain charity program. With the program’s name being titled “Swapping Challenge,” Iku will have to try out Rui’s specialty of piano, and Rui will have to try out Iku’s specialty of track and field.

The two of them struggle against the difficult tasks that are in no way their strengths, but...?

“Let’s keep going stair by stair together, shall we?”

“We’ll keep going step by step. We’ll get up there, smiling all the while.”

 

1. Drama – “Swapping Challenge”

Sawada: Hello, hello! I’m the presenter, Sawada.

 

Rui, Iku: Thank you for having us.

 

Rui: I’m Minaduki Rui from Procellarum.

 

Iku: I’m Kannaduki Iku from Procellarum.

 

Sawada: Yes, thank you for the introductions. From Procellarum, which has reached their activities’ tenth anniversary, we have Minaduki Rui-kun and Kannaduki Iku-kun. We’ll have them try out the charity challenge!

 

Rui: We’ll be in your care.

 

Iku: We’ll do our best!

 

Sawada: Let’s head right into it. Could you tell me how you feel about it?

 

Rui: I wonder what kind of challenge it’ll be? I’m anxious, but... also excited for it.

 

Iku: It’d be nice if our challenge could be a good act of encouragement to all those watching. Of course, we definitely plan on succeeding and contributing to the charity.

 

Sawada: Whew, you boys sure are brimming with motivation!

By the way, what are each of your specialties?

 

Iku: I used to be in Track, so I’d have to say... all sports as a whole. In particular, I’m best with running!

 

Sawada: Ooh, an athlete, eh? Nice, nice.

Wouldn’t it be nice if your challenge was running a whole marathon through?

 

Iku: A marathon? I specialized in 400m sprints back when I was participating actively, so a long-distance run would make for a new and unique trial.

Heh, the sound of that fires me up!

 

Sawada: Ahaha. Sounds good to me.

And, uh... Rui-kun, whatcha doing?

 

Rui: Hm? ...Oh. I’m doing a little sketch.

 

Sawada: You’re one free spirit!

Er, Rui-kun’s specialty... we don’t need to ask, since everyone knows already. It’s piano, perhaps?

 

Rui: Yes. No matter how difficult the song is, I’ll face it head-on, fair and square.

 

Sawada: That’s one confidence-inspiring statement. Now that we’ve gotten a grasp for both your specialties, let’s get right to business and—!

...Hmm?

 

[Rui finishes drawing.]

 

Rui: Here you are. I have another specialty aside from piano.

 

Sawada: Oh, what is it?

 

Rui: Sketching. ☆

 

Iku: Ru... Rui...?

 

Sawada: Whoa, you’re also good at sketching? Now that you mention it, you’ve been drawing something for a while.

 

Rui: Yes. I tried drawing you, Sawada-san.

 

Sawada: Oh? Y’drew me? Why, you have my thanks. Lemme have a look-see.

 

Rui: Ta-dah.

 

 [Rui shows off his artwork.]

 

Iku, Sawada: Oh—

...Ohh... *unsettled*

 

Sawada: Erm, uh! This is, uh... It’s like that, you see? Quite the impactful work of art. It’s like your artistic sense is just exploding right on the scene.

It’s going “ka-bloomy!” “ka-blammy!”

The me inside your art is exploding like, “ka-bloomy, ka-blammy,” isn’t he?

 

Iku: This is...! Umm.

Wouldn’t it be Sawada-san dragging out explosive laughter from the crowd? *chuckles nervously*

...I’m sure...

 

Rui: Wow, now that’s Ikkun for you. That was correct.

 

Iku, Sawada: That was the right answer...? / That was the right answer!?

 

Sawada: *chuckling* I-I see now. Thanks, I’m pleased as punch.

You drew me even more handsome than I really am—Hey, shush! The studio’s working itself into a fuss again.

So, uh, it’d be nice if it could be a challenge that falls in one of your specialties, Rui-kun, whether it has to do with piano or your avant-garde sketches.

 

Rui: Yes.

 

Sawada: The contents of what you’ll be trying out are written inside of this envelope.

Well, then! What type of challenge is awaiting you? Are you ready, boys?

 

Rui, Iku: Yes!

 

Sawada: Without further ado, Rui-kun. Take the card out of the envelope... Ah—

Don’t look at it just yet, all right? Announce it in front of the camera.

 

Rui, Iku: Oh...!

 

Sawada: All right! Turn the card to face the camera and announce it! The challenge we’ll have you two try out is...?

This one!

 

Rui, Iku: Swapping... Challenge...?

 

-

 

[Iku plays Burgmüller’s La Candeur, Op. 100 No. 1.]

 

Iku: Phew...

 

Rui: Ooh~... *clapping*

 

Iku: Ahaha. Thanks, Rui.

Hrmm. I can’t help but end up playing stiffly and awkwardly. It’s been around half a year since you last taught me, huh?

Argh, if I knew things would turn out this way, I should’ve practiced regularly.

 

Rui: These days, I’ve been in the piano room to practice for recitals, so I’ve been hogging it all to myself. Sorry about that.

 

Iku: Ah, no, don’t worry! It’s not your fault. Even if the piano room weren’t busy, it’s not like piano is enough of a habit for me to casually start practicing.

Though there was a time when you really put me through the grinder...

 

[Iku plays a few notes.]

 

Iku: But... Swapping Challenge, huh? I didn’t expect them to do this.

 

Rui: I’m going to challenge myself with Ikkun’s specialty, track sports...

 

Iku: And I challenge myself with Rui’s specialty, piano.

If we manage to clear the tasks laid out for us, we’ll get money for the charity program, huh...?

 

Rui: The program’s trial itself is worth giving a shot, so they said that we don’t need to actually succeed in the challenges...

 

Iku: From our perspective, we definitely want to also succeed in the challenge and add to the charity funds.

 

Rui: Yeah.

 

Iku: So, with that being said, there’s around two weeks left until the real deal. I’m counting on your guidance, Instructor Rui!

 

Rui: Very well. ☆

 

Iku: Ahahaha!

 

Rui: Hm. When I last taught you piano, you became capable of playing Burgmüller-level songs, huh?

 

Iku: That was the practice song I just played, right?

Honestly, I don’t even know how I managed, but technically... Yeah, I did.

 

Rui: It’s said that Burgmüller is meant for intermediate-level players.

 

Iku: Intermediate level...

 

Rui: Yep. In Japan, they’re common practice songs.

 

Iku: Back then, I could only play The Flea Waltz. Thanks for raising my skill to intermediate level!

 

Rui: You’re welcome.

I raised Ikkun ✨

 

Iku: Heh, you have my thanks for graciously raising me.

 

Rui: Fufu. So what this means is that you’re intermediate-level, but the song you’ll be trying out is a song from the sonata album.

 

Iku: Oh, I’ve heard the word “Sonata” before.

 

Rui: The word derives itself from the Italian word, sonare, to mean “sounded” or “played.”

In Japanese, it’s also called a “soumeikyoku." There’s even an album of small sonatas, the sonatina album. That one’s meant for intermediate players.

 

Iku: Huh? If the small sonatas are meant for intermediate players... then does that mean...?

 

Rui: Mhmm. The sonata album consists of songs that are meant for advanced players.

 

Iku: Aargh! I knew it! For advanced players...

 

Rui: If you could succeed in it so easily, it wouldn’t be much of a challenge, would it?

 

Iku: That’s true...

 

Rui: Let’s do our best. Ikkun ☆

 

Iku: Eep. Rui’s eyes are serious about this.

 

Rui: Of course I’m serious about it.

Okay, Ikkun, let’s have you keep practicing through the power of recall.

 

Iku: Urk... That familiar hell is descending upon me once more...

 

Rui: At least you’re not starting from zero, so I’m sure it’ll be easier than before.

Then, well, once again, from the top.

 

Iku: Roger that!

...Phew.

 

[Iku plays Burgmüller’s Arabesque, Op. 100 No. 2.]

 

Iku: Phew... Aaahahah. The familiar sensation of my fingers cramping...!

 

Rui: Ikkun, you’re exaggerating. You’ve still got a ways to go. It’s just getting started, you know.

 

Iku: You’re a harsh trainer, as always...

 

Rui: Fufu. I rarely get to teach you, so it makes me a little happy. I can’t help but get passionate about teaching you.

 

Iku: I’m terribly grateful for your passionate instruction, but please... a little easier...?

 

Rui: Next, we’ll up the difficulty a little and have you try out this song.

 

Iku: Urrgh...

 

Rui: Ikkun. Where’s your response?

 

Iku: Yes, sir...!

Phew...!

 

[Iku plays Burgmüller’s Tender Blossom, Op. 100 No. 10.]

 

-

 

[Rui is running and panting.]

 

Rui: Haah, haah, haah...

 

Iku: Rui~! Hang in there! You’re on the last spurt!

 

Rui: Hah, hah, haah...

 

Iku: Goal!

 

Rui: Dwaaah...!

 

Iku: That’s incredible, Rui! You’ve set a new record for yourself!

 

Rui: Haah... Aah...

 

Iku: Er... Um. Are you okay?

 

Rui: No. I’m not okay. I’m no-kay. It feels like the 1500m pain is hitting me all at once.

 

Iku: *chuckles* I guess so.

 

Rui: ...Phew... hmph!

 

Iku: Here, Rui. Make sure to drink up, all right?

 

Rui: Thanks... *gulping water* Phew...

So, how was my time just now?

 

Iku: It was great! You set yourself a new record, Rui! Exactly six minutes!

Haha, that’s amazing! You shortened your time a whole ten seconds!

You can keep this up and—

 

Rui: AAARGH... *collapses*

 

Iku: R-Rui!? Are you okay?

 

Rui: I worked so dang hard... for ten seconds...? I still have thirty more seconds to go before I reach my goal...!?

 

Iku: Your challenge is to clear a kilometer and a half within five minutes, thirty seconds.

It’s just a little more, come on!

 

Rui: Ikkun... You’re so lighthearted about this...

 

Iku: *groaning* It’s just... a little more to go...! Don’t die on me, Rui!!

 

Rui: And now you’re too weighty...

Phew... You were complimenting me a bunch, so I got my expectations up. I’d thought I’d gone even faster.

 

Iku: Ahaha. But still, I wasn’t joking when I praised you. It’s incredible to shorten your running time by ten seconds.

After all, when I was at my prime, I’d get worked up over not even a second, but a 0.1 second. If my time increased by 0.1 second, I’d get depressed, and if it shortened by 0.1 second, I’d be over the moon.

True, you haven’t reached your goal, but the fact that you managed to shorten your time by ten whole seconds is definitely amazing!

I hope you can use that to fuel your confidence.

 

Rui: ...Sure. Thanks. You’re right.

I need to take this step by step, don’t I?

 

Iku: Yep, exactly. Whether you’re suddenly aiming for a lofty goal or comparing yourself to people who are much better than you, looking up constantly will tire you out.

Think about it this way: you can do more than you did before. You’ve done something successfully, and that success is no short of admirable. Let’s accumulate those little moments over time, all right?

 

Rui: Yeah. ...If I did this when I first joined Procella, I’m sure I would’ve been even further away from my goal. My past self... probably would’ve been so out of breath, I couldn’t respond to you.

 

Iku: Mm~... That’s very possible.

 

Rui: Hehe. They’re the results of our dance lessons and our running practice.

 

Iku: Heh, in reality, your basic physical strength and stamina have improved by leaps and bounds.

Singing while dancing is a pretty high-level exercise, and you’ve been keeping it up throughout the years. Even someone like me, who has confidence in my stamina, finds it tough depending on the song.

 

Rui: I’m... impressive, aren’t I?

 

Iku: Yeah! So absolutely impressive!

 

Rui: Heh-heh!

...That being said, the issue is my speed...

 

Iku: Yep, for sure.

 

Rui: I guess I was supposed to try and bring out more speed while running.

 

Iku: Mm... For running, wouldn’t it be more fun to run together, while maintaining a pace where you have some ease to spare?

I hope we can keep treasuring moments like that from now on.

 

Rui: Heh. ...You’re so unfair, Ikkun.

 

Iku: Huh? Did I say something weird?

 

Rui: Fufu. No, you said something very good.

I... want to keep treasuring them, too.

 

Iku: Ahaha! That’s a relief.

 

Rui: ...By the way. How long did you take to run the same distance back when you were an active athlete?

 

Iku: Me? Hmm... The 1500m runs weren’t my specialty, so this isn’t my official time... But I do remember managing four minutes. It’d be up in the air whether I got more or less than that, though.

 

Rui: ...Ughhh.

 

Iku: Rui!?

 

Rui: Yes. I already knew. You’re too fast. Your time was a whole minute and a half less than mine.

 

Iku: Ahaha! Rui, step by step, right?

 

Rui: Ah... You’re right.

 

Iku: And if you’re talking about that, my task of playing piano is nothing compared to your skill. Let’s stop looking at others and getting all down in the dumps when we compare ourselves to each other.

...At least, I’m trying to convince myself of that.

 

Rui: Oh...! Ikkun, you struggle with that sort of thing, too?

 

Iku: Yeah, it can’t leave my brain~...

When I screw up, the statement, “Even though Rui could handle this sort of thing effortlessly,” flashes through my mind.

I somehow manage to shake it off so that I can properly focus on my own task.

 

Rui: ...I see... You go through those struggles, too...

 

Iku: Well, yeah, of course! ...Mm...

......

...

AAARARGGH!! *collapses*

 

Rui: Wh... Ikkun?

 

Iku: I still have tons of tasks to finish!! The songs are way too hard to play!!

I’M NOT THE DEXTEROUS TYPE, GOSHDARNIT!!! AAAGGGGHHH!!

IT’S SUCH TOUGH WORK!!!

 

Rui: Ah...! Fufu. Me too. *collapses*

I ran so much, and I’m just so exhausted!! It’s such tough work!

The 1500m is too long~!!

 

Rui, Iku: Fufufu...! Ahaha!

 

Iku: Mmhmm! Now that we’ve aired out our complaints, let’s stop the break here.

Come on, let’s flip our motivation switches back on and practice.

 

Rui: Yeah. Let’s do our best again.

 

Iku: So, about the practice after this. I think you should first get accustomed to running while increasing your speed.

 

Rui: Mmhmm.

 

Iku: Still, considering the amount of time we have left until the real deal, I’d like to consider your stamina. It’d be good to make sure you can hold out.

Increasing your overall physical strength won’t just impact you for this challenge. It’ll definitely have a good positive effect on our activities as Procella from here on out.

 

Rui: Yeah. I want to improve.

 

Iku: Heh, now that’s what I like to hear!

And because of that, I have a type of training I’d like to recommend to someone like you...

 

Rui: Goodness, me. You had such a thing?

Now that’s Ikkun for you.

 

Iku: It’s called interval training.

 

Rui: Mmhmm?

 

Iku: Run 200m at full speed, run the following 100m while gradually maintaining your breaths, and run the next 200m at full speed again. Let’s try repeating ten sets of that.

 

Rui: Uuh... ...I have a question.

 

Iku: What is it, Rui-kun!

 

Rui: Would it... possibly be... super-duper tiresome?

 

Iku: Yeah!! It’s super-duper-absolutely-totally tiresome!! ✨

 

Rui: Urk... Ikkun’s smile... is too dazzling...

 

Iku: Come on, let’s go, Rui!

 

Rui: Eeergh...

-

(part 2)