Tsukiuta. Boys’ 4th Season CD 5 – Story of colors Drama (1)

[nebulancer]

1. Drama – "Winter – Spring is Still Far Away"

Passerby 1: What’s up? What’s going on? Is something happening in the park?

 

Passerby 2: I don’t really know what it is, but it looks like they’re recording for something.

 

Passerby 3: Ehh? I can’t go through the park?

 

Staff member: Our deepest apologies. We’re currently preparing for filming, so I know this will be a nuisance to the people who use this route.

If possible, could you pass through using the path over there?

 

Passerby 1: Excuse me, may I know what type of photoshoot is going on here? Are you filming for TV? Or for a drama?

 

Staff member: We’re filming for a certain commercial. We haven’t yet disclosed the details, so I can’t go into specifics.

My deepest apologies!

 

Passerby 3: Ooh. I wonder if there are any celebrities?

 

Passerby 1: Like, what if there are idols here...!?

 

[Arata and Aoi walk past the onlookers.]

 

Arata: Too bad~ Yeah, we’re idols, but we’re guys~ No girls here~

 

Aoi: *hissing* A...ra...ta...! Shush!

 

Arata: It’s fine, totally fine. If we’re out here in the open, they surprisingly don’t notice, Aoi-kun.

Anyway, this is perfect filming weather.

 

Aoi: *chuckles* You’re right. It’s a relief.

The tree over in that area... it’s a cherry blossom tree, I think?

It hasn’t budded yet, since it’s still December.

 

Arata: We’ve got one more shoot here by the time the cherry blossoms are supposed to bloom, right?

 

Aoi: That’s what I heard.

Spring arrives after the long season of winter. Efforts bear fruit. Cherry blossoms bloom.

That’s the concept of the cram school commercial we’re filming. The thing we’re filming today is the winter arc, and the next session will be for the spring arc.

 

Arata: Winter. Spring. Cherry blossoms bloom, huh?

Students preparing to take entrance exams... Just a while ago, we were the exact same way, but at this point, those words feel like a blast from the past.

 

Aoi: Th-that didn’t happen all too long ago, you know...?

Ah. Back when we were in our third year of high school, December was the time we considered the final stretch. We were completely at wit’s end then.

We’d put reference books and vocabulary flash cards in our bags, and when we had any spare time, we studied like our lives were on the line.

 

Arata: Without a doubt, I studied the most I’d ever done in my life back then.

 

Aoi: Ahaha. I think I could say the same.

 

Arata: We never ended up going to cram school, huh.

With the help of our unit’s private Iron Claw tutoring school, we splendidly managed to go on to university.

Much obliged for that~

 

Aoi: Oh, yeah, that was a thing! *chuckles* The ultimate tutoring school.

When our exam prep and Kakeru and Koi’s test prep happened at the same time, the teachers Hajime-san and Haru-san split up to help us all.

 

Arata: When Yoru and You joined in, Shun-san also helped teach.

 

Aoi: Yeah, yeah. We’d start up little study groups here and there in the dorms.

 

Arata: Judging by the results, that was a huge success. Since we dorm, we were basically with the teachers 24/7.

Whenever there was stuff we wanted to ask or didn’t know, we could ask ‘em immediately.

Also, we didn’t need to spend time commuting.

Seeing someone studying put us in a mood where we felt compelled to study, too.

Really was the ultimate cram school.

 

Aoi: *chuckles* No doubt about that.

Even now, exam-taking students like our previous selves are doing their best at their studies, huh?

 

Arata: True. ‘Kay then.

We’re here to film the commercial meant for our hardworking juniors throughout the nation. Let’s get hyped up and go.

*stretches* *yawns*

...The weather’s so good that it’s making me feel sleepy, though~

 

Aoi: Incredible. You declared that you’d do your best, but five seconds after, you immediately slacked off.

 

Arata: Heheh~ Did you expect anything different from me?

 

-

 

Arata: Whew. *sits down*

 

Aoi: Welcome back. You’re done with your makeup, too?

 

Arata: Yeah. All that’s left is to be on standby here until they call for us, huh?

 

Aoi: Mmhmm. ...Wow. Arata, you’re wearing a gakuran.

Now that’s new!

 

[T/N: The two main types of school uniforms in Japan are blazers and gakuran. For examples, they wore blazers in Hyakunen Aoharu, while SOARA wore gakuran as students.]

 

Arata: I could say the same right back to you. Our school’s uniforms were blazers the time we were there.

 

Aoi: Yeah, that. Plus, even though we have jobs where we’re wearing these kinds of school uniforms... It’s just coincidental, but all the previous ones have been with blazers.

I’ve never worn gakuran.

 

Arata: Me neither. I guess I wanted to try wearing one before, but who knew that I’d have an opportunity to wear it when I became a working adult?

 

Aoi: *chuckles* It’s something that’s only possible in this line of work, huh?

...How is it? Do I look like an actual high schooler?

 

Arata: Totally. For sure. It doesn’t feel off-putting at all.

How ‘bout me?

 

Aoi: You’ve also got the high schooler look down perfectly.

I guess there’s still some time left before we gain enough mature dignity or adult calm to make school uniforms look ill-fitting for us.

 

Arata: So basically, we look at this positively, we can still keep doing student roles, right?

 

Aoi: Ahaha.

...By the time we have that next filming in spring, it’ll have been two years since we became working adults.

 

Arata: Sorta happened all in the blink of an eye, huh...

 

Aoi: For sure.

Back when we’d just graduated, every day, my friends would complain about how exhausting it was to visit the companies, or how much they hated wearing business suits.

Once I realize, they’ve become honorable working adults.

And yet, just a little while ago, everyone was wearing school uniforms just like this.

 

Arata: I know, right?

Imagine my surprise when they told me about how there were new graduates coming in, so they’d be getting subordinates. Dude, subordinates.

 

Aoi: Getting subordinates doesn’t sound all too bad.

But who knows when we’re gonna get contacted with the, “I’m married now,” or, “This person’s my wife,” or whatever?

 

Arata: Sounds totally possible, huh?

There were people who brought their babies to their coming-of-age ceremony, anyway.

Subordinates, company duties, marriage... Wooow~

Imagine that happening to yourself? I can’t even. It’s unbelievable.

 

Aoi: Though from the viewpoint of people working for companies, our lifestyles are the more unbelievable ones.

They’re the vast majority, while we’re the scarce minority.

 

Arata: The scarce minority...

Back when we were in school, our conversation topics still had some points in common.

But from now on, our daily lives are going to get further and further away.

Aoi: Daily lives... getting further away...

 

Arata: ...Oh, hey. Speaking of daily lives, gotta take this moment to...

*pulls out his phone* “Going to do a certain photoshoot right now. Currently. Presently. On stand-by.

Gonna do my best. (Star mark) ☆” And post.

 

Aoi: Tweeting?

 

Arata: Yep. Making use of my waiting time to update with detailed info.

 

Aoi: You sure become dedicated only when it comes to tweeting.

 

Arata: Hey, what warranted that phrasing? It makes me sound like I’m not dedicated to anything outside of tweeting.

 

Aoi: Did I say anything but the truth?

 

Arata: Nope, it’s the complete and absolute truth.

 

Aoi: *laughs* You acknowledged it so readily.

 

Arata: Well, it’s ‘cuz I’m aware of it~

 

Aoi: Also, whenever you tweet, you’re energetic and talk a lot.

 

Arata: Yeah, exactly.

My internal passion, typically hidden within me, becomes extremely easy to understand when it’s unleashed through written word. ✨

 

Aoi: ...Passion...

 

Arata: Yep. Passion. Fervor? AKA... YOLO’ing it.

 

Aoi: Y-you’re saying that about yourself... I guess that’s an ideal YOLO’er for you...

 

Arata: *bashful* Sheesh, don’t compliment me~ You’re making me blush, Aoi-kun~

 

Aoi: I can’t tell what mood you’re in today, but interacting with you has never been harder... *laughs wryly*

 

Arata: So with that said, Aoi! Let’s not waste any more time, and spruce up my daily life tweets, why don’tcha?

Take a selfie with me.

 

Aoi: I don’t get what kind of correlation that “so with that said,” is supposed to connect to!

Not like I particularly mind.

 

Arata: Here, here, come closer?

*snap!*

With our single selfie, there are people out there who’ll gain enough vitality to get them through the day.

Awesome, don’t you think?

 

Aoi: Well, yeah, I guess it is...

 

Arata: Ah. Hold on a sec.

 

Aoi: What is it this time?

 

Arata: If we’re doing it anyway, let’s take a pic outdoors.

With the cherry blossoms, y’know?

And then, during our next filming session in spring, we’ll do it under the same tree. With the same pose.

This time, we’ll be taking the picture before the flowers bloom.

 

Aoi: Ahh! Good idea.

The filming’s already split in between winter and spring sessions, so we might as well. It sounds like fun.

Ah, but is it okay for us to go outside?

 

Arata: Don’t want people to see you? Is your skin doing that bad today?

 

Aoi: *exasperated* God, no! I was worried whether or not we’d be bothering others.

 

Arata: It’s fine, isn’t it~? The staff members were stopping passersby at the entrance for us.

The plans are, for the next two hours, only affiliated workers are allowed in this area.

 

Aoi: Oh, I see. In that case, I... guess it’d be fine?

 

Arata: It’ll be fine, totally fine~

 

-

 

[They’re taking selfies.]

 

Old man: Hey, you boys. What’s this?

What’s the disturbance going on around here?

Can we not go through that area?

 

Aoi: *whispering* No matter how I slice it, this person definitely isn’t an affiliated worker, yet he’s right here, Arata!

 

Arata: *mumbling* Welp, that’s true~ ...Wait, huh~?

 

Aoi: Er, uh... Th-there’s filming going on for a certain TV commercial, and they’re currently preparing for that.

Until the filming finishes, which won’t be for some time, I believe the normal passageway will be blocked...

 

Old man: Good grief! What’s with that nonsense? What a bother.

No one told me about that!

 

Arata: For what it’s worth, a formal request was made to the official management agency, and there’s permission to film here.

 

Old man: The management agency, yes, but that’s the park’s. It has nothing to do with me. I need to go through this spot, or else I can’t leave my house.

It’ll trouble me.

 

Arata: Your... house? This might come off as prying, but where do you live...?

 

Old man: Hrm? My home is the white-walled house over there.

The backyard exits directly out into this park, and if I go through that road...

I come out close to the supermarket.

 

Aoi: *whispering* I bet he brute-forces his way and shoves through that hedge to get out. I... honestly don’t think you’re supposed to do that?

 

Arata: *whispering* Makes me remember the path to the secret base we built in the park thicket back when we were kids.

 

Old man: Regardless, I’m going to be passing through the way I usually do.

 

Aoi: *chuckling nervously* U-umm...

 

Arata: Ah! In that case, I’ll accompany you on the way to the road closure.

I don’t think there are enough staff members to guide you there, and it’d be dangerous to go alone, what with all the equipment here.

 

Old man: I’m always going through this road. I don’t need a guide.

Don’t treat me the way you normally do the elderly.

 

Arata: Well, I guess~. I’m not treating you like an elderly person; more that I’m treating you politely like the way I would a guest.

We’re the ones who left a bunch of unusual obstacles in the way of your usual road, so just to be safe.

 

Old man: *groans* Well... it’s right over there. Do what you want.

 

Arata: Ah. Yes, sir.

(to Aoi) I’m gonna go see him off.

 

Aoi: Ahh... sure.

 

-

 

Arata: All right, here we are. Do you see that person standing over there? You can leave from the spot next to them.

 

Old man: All right.

 

Passerby 1: Hey, isn’t that Uduki Arata?

 

Passerby 2: Huh? ...Whoa, you’re right!

 

Passerby 3: Eh? For real? Where? Where?

 

Old man: ...Hrm? ...Boy, are you perhaps... a celebrity?

I thought you were a staff member.

 

Arata: If you consider the performer to be a staff worker, then technically, I am one.

 

Old man: I did think you were oddly spindly, in a frail beanpole sort of way.

 

Arata: Isn’t that where you’re supposed to phrase my description as being “slender and tall” instead~?

 

Old man: Uduki...?

 

Arata: It’s Arata. My name’s Uduki Arata.

I usually work in a six-member group that sings songs. We’re what people call “idols.”

 

Old man: I...dol... Uduki Arata... Never heard of ‘em.

 

Arata: Hmm. I’ll keep working hard, then.

Should I do my introduction, since we’re on the topic already?

 

Old man: Introduction...?

 

Arata: I’m Uduki Arata, part of the group Six Gravity, which is nicknamed Gravi.

When my birthday comes, I’ll be 23.

My image color... Ah, that’s the color that’ll be on my stage costume and stuff. It’s orange, and my image motif?

Ah, and that’s like my signature mark. That’s a cherry blossom.

Hope you’ll check me out.

 

Old man: Are you orange, or are you a cherry blossom? *laughs* It’s all getting muddled up!

 

Arata: It’s easy to remember, so as long as you can remember, that’s all that matters.

Along with this handsome hottie face~✨

 

Old man: ...You’re a weird one, aren’t you?

 

Arata: I’m often told that.

 

[A wind blows past, and the trees rustle.]

 

Old man: ...Cherry blossoms, eh?

I don’t watch TV and the like very much, but from my point of view, you’re not the only one.

All celebrities... resemble cherry blossoms to me.

 

Arata: Huh... Celebrities... are cherry blossoms?

 

Old man: They’re vibrant and are attractive to the eye. They’re praised quite extravagantly.

However, that takes place during a brief instant. When the height of their season passes, they’re fated to scatter and fall.

During seasons they’re not blooming, like now, they’re not worthy enough of catching people’s attention.

In the end, it’s a flighty occupation dependent on public favor, testing one’s stability and durability in order to fit in.

 

Arata: I see. So that’s why we’re like cherry blossoms? That’s a profound reason.

Your input is appreciated.

 

Old man: ...You aren’t upset at me for saying it?

 

Arata: You convinced me faster than I could get upset.

 

Old man: *sighs*... My opinion of you hasn’t changed. You truly are a strange one.

 

Arata: I’m often told that.

 

Old man: Heh! I’m going to the supermarket.

 

Arata: Yessir. I’ll see you off. Stay safe, sir.

 

Old man: Hrm.

*walks off*

 

Arata: He sure was an interesting person~

We’re cherry blossoms... is that so...?