The Past That Caught Up

[nebulancer]

 

Eichi: All right! With this, we’ve decided the plan for the next music clip.

All we have to do next is gather up the materials to make it a reality.

Shu: Who would’ve thought that we’d get a hint to it after buying things on a day off?

Eichi: That object in the central plaza looked cool, huh?

Imagining Shu, Isse, and Icchi standing there with that view…

Hah~ It’s picture perfect~

Shu: Jeez, you’ve left yourself out, Eichi.

Recently, I was thinking that you’re the one who’s most fun to look at, though.

Eichi: Eh?

Shu: You’re taller than I am, and your physique is good.

If we do an outdoors shoot next time, you’ll stand out a lot.

And, you often show us unexpected faces.

They’re completely different from your usual affectionate, friendly expressions.

For example, you show a cool face, or a provocative one?

That gap makes even my heart skip a beat.

You could actually make a good model.

Eichi: A-a-are you sure…?

*knock on door*

Eichi: Ah— Yes! Please come in!

Staff 1: Sorry for coming in while you’re talking, Shu-san, Eichi-san.

Eichi: Satou-san! We were just finishing up what we were going over, so it’s all right.

Do you have something to talk to us about?

Satou: Yes. I’d like to talk with Shu-san about something.

Shu: With me?

Satou: It’ll be right to the point.

Have you ever interacted personally with a Mr. William Spencer?

Shu: William… Spencer?

Satou: Yes.

Eichi: By William Spencer, do you mean… Ah, could it be?

That famous composer William Spencer, who writes songs for movies?

If memory serves me correctly, he was nominated for an Academy award two, three years ago.

Satou: Indeed.

Spencer is still in his late forties, but he’s an English composer who has done great work in Hollywood.

Shu: William Spencer… William…

…I don’t remember hearing that name before.

If he was nominated for an Academy award, I might have heard some of his songs before at least, but…

Eichi, you’re quite in the know.

Eichi: *chuckles proudly* I like TV to the point I became an AD, but I love movies just as much.

I watch a huge variety no matter which genre it is.

When I was a student, I’d watch as many as ten in a week!

I caught the eyes of staff members, and I’d even work part-time at a theater.

Shu: That’s the first I’ve heard of it.

Eichi: Really? Next time, I’ll show you some of my recommendations.

Ah, uh, let’s go back to the main topic.

How does this relate to Spencer?

Satou: Well, to promote a movie that has a soundtrack that he’s in charge of, he’s coming to Japan next month.

He asked if he could meet with Shu-san somehow in that time period…

The call came from his agency.

Shu: With me…?

Satou: Yes. Shu-san, you really don’t remember meeting him?

Shu: Hmm… I don’t.

I thought some memories would be stirred up somehow while we were talking, but…

Nothing comes to mind.

Satou: *sighs* Of course.

I’ve only been Shu-san’s appointed manager for about a year, so I thought you may have had some kind of work that I didn’t know about…

I tried asking past company members, but…

Eichi: Hmm. It’s strange, isn’t it?

Satou: Yes. Going by what Spencer’s agent said, he was very impassioned over the meeting with Shu-san.

It’s possible that he was more excited over it than he could have thought.

Eichi: That’s very… that’s quite the intensity.

Satou: You’d think so too, right?

Shu: Is it talk about work?

Satou: *laughs* If so, we’ll have to celebrate that!

However, you haven’t talked with the man in question, and I don’t think the other party would go out of its way to ask for work.

I believe it’s purely a personal talk, as that’s how it was conveyed.

Shu: A personal talk, huh…?

Satou: Can you believe it?

Shu: No, not at all.

Eichi: Um, we can’t ask the other party directly about it?

Like, “What topic is it about?”

Satou: I asked, of course, but every time I did, they persisted on talking with Shu-san in person.

Hmm… How worrying.

What’ll we do?

Shu: Mm. It seems to be a mysterious conversation, doesn’t it?

Eichi: The best possible outcome would be that Spencer himself is a fan of Shu.

Shu: *chuckles* If that were so, it really would be the best, as well as an honor,  but… I don’t believe it’s very realistic.

Eichi: You’re right…

Satou: *gets up* All right!

I’ll tell them that, even if it’s a personal matter, if no details are disclosed to the agency, it cannot be brought to the person himself.

Eichi: T-that’s a very drastic solution. Is that okay?

Satou: It is. It’s a given that the agency keep the talents’ safety in mind, after all.

Nothing strange about that!

Eichi: Whoa! How reassuring!

Shu: Thank you very much.

But, well, this time is someone whose position is clear, and I don’t believe it’ll be anything uncivilized.

Tell them it’s okay.

At this rate, since we’ve talked this much about it, I’m getting restless myself about what he wants to say.

Eichi: If I were in your shoes, I’d be curious too.

Shu: Right?

Satou: Shu-san, is it really okay?

Shu: Yes. I won’t forget about the jobs that we’ve been talking about all the other days either, so please don’t worry.

With that, could I count on you to coordinate the appointment so that I accept it?

Satou: Roger that. Then, I’ll create a schedule with the other party, keeping the time and place in mind, and I’ll let you know.

Shu: Yes. I’m counting on you.

Satou: I’ll get started right now. Excuse me for the talk.

[door closes]

Eichi: William Spencer wants to meet Shu in person…?

What is it, really?

Shu: Even if you ask me, the answer will be the same each time.

I honestly don’t have a clue.

Since he’s going as far as to meet me in person, I might be able to get an autograph.

Eichi: Whoa~! I’d like that!

Shu: *chuckles*

Eichi: It might be too late to ask this, but Shu, do you speak English?

Shu: Maybe enough for daily use at least.

I haven’t studied it so much, but in the past I worked with an American actor who could speak both English and Japanese for a year during a project.

I learned it as we became better friends.

Eichi: Gh! A destined high-specs man with no blind spots!

Shu: What’re you saying?

...The ring of English sounds nice to my ears.

It has a different flow from Japanese and strangely sounds like music.

Eichi: Oh, Shu… You use it pretty frequently in songs, too, huh?

The words end up getting stuck on my tongue.

Shu: Seeing you try to pronounce the verses for the first time…

Is actually fun to watch.

Eichi: Hmm!? I think I heard something I can’t excuse!?

Hmph, Shu...

Shu: *laughs* I’m just joking.

Now then, I wonder what will happen…?

—

[door closes]

Ichiru: Excuse us~ We’re here to receive the documents.

Issei: Excuse us.

Ichiru: Hrm. Huh? No one’s here.

Issei, we’re on time, right?

Issei: Let me check.

…We’re all right.

We’re a bit early, but we’re on time.

They just might not be ready yet.

Let’s sit over there and wait.

Ichiru: Okay.

*sounds of sitting down*

[Staff 2: *groans* This happens every month. The end of the month really gets you having to work hard!]

Ichiru: Hm? Sounds like the guys from the agency came back.

Issei: Yeah.

[Staff 2: We have to deal with all sorts of stuff.

Looks like we just have to do them one by one.

Uh, for Soushi-kun and Morihito-kun, I have to hand the records for the first half of next month’s program… I did that.

For Sora-kun—]

[Staff 3: Ah, he’ll be at the leaders’ meeting, so you can give it to him directly then.]

[Staff 2: Oh, got it. The last one’s— who’s going to be getting it again?]

[Staff 3: QUELL’s Kuga Issei-kun and Ichiru-kun, right?

The details are in that light blue envelope over there.]

[Staff 2: Uh, uh… Light blue, light blue…

Ah, found it! Thanks.

I give this to them, right?]

Issei: Sounds like they’re about ready.

Ichiru: Yup. Uh, sorr—

[Staff 3: Ah, that’s it!

Take out the yellow files from it and give it to them.]

[Staff 2: Huh? Why?]

[Staff 3: It seems they ended up refusing the offer.

We checked in with Shu-san, and that was apparently his final decision.]

[Staff 2: Eh?! It’s a golden variety program, so wouldn’t the exposure be great?]

[Staff 3: Take a closer look.

Over at that.]

[Staff 2: Ah. I see…

A test where young idols face off to challenge their knowledge?

*sucks in breath* So that’s what it is.]

[Staff 3: That’s what it is.

Those two are… You know.

A lot happened, and they only graduated from middle school.]

The ones in charge are definitely expecting the two to not get enough points and fail.

What bad taste.

I hate that kind of stuff.]

[Staff 2: Isn’t that right.

All right, this one’s sealed off!]

Issei: Hm.

Ichiru: Hm… Issei.

You heard, right?

Issei: I heard.

Ichiru: *sighs* You know, I kinda…

Issei: Mm. I kinda…

Issei & Ichiru: Feel depressed.

—

Eichi: It’s this late already?

I wonder if Isse and Icchi are already downstairs?

Shu: They should’ve gotten the documents by now.

Eichi: You’re right.

Let’s meet up and go home.

It might be good to get something on the way for dinner.

Shu: Good idea.

That one we were talking about—

*phone buzzes*

Sorry, Eichi. A phone call.

Oh. It’s from my aunt?

Eichi: Your aunt’s gotten better now, right?

Shu: Yes, that should be the case, but…

Eichi: Oops, sorry. I got in your way, right?

Go ahead, pick it up.

Shu: Sorry about this.

Could you wait a bit?

Eichi: Don’t worry.

Don’t mind me; take your time.

Shu: Hello?

Eichi: …Maybe I should get the car to go home.

And then we can go to the drugstore too…

The paper towels are about to run out.

What we can buy here is…

*phone falls to the ground*

Eichi: …Shu?

Shu, your phone. It fell.

Shu: Mm. Ah— ah.

Sorry. I was just… a bit surprised.

Eichi: Did your aunt fall ill again…?

Shu: …No. That’s not it.

She’s doing well.

So… It’s all right.

Eichi: *laughs nervously* S-Shu, sorry, but you don’t look all right.

…Something like this happened before, didn’t it?

I thought you were someone who could do pretty much everything by yourself, but that’s why you can take it easier on yourself.

I want you to rely on us more.

Didn’t Isse and Ichiru get upset at you before, saying that you should do that, and they want you to do it?

Shu: Mm.

Eichi: Shu?

Shu: The dorms…

Eichi: Hm?

Shu: Can we talk about it, not here… but when we’re back home in the dorms?

Eichi: Shu…

Yeah. Thank you.