Kazunari Miyoshi/Aim for a Peaceful Reign

A Piece of Work that Has Reached Others

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2Part 3

Kazunari	Hrmm…
	(Yeaaah, I'm really stumped on ideas right now~)
	And it's soooo cold too, wow…!!
Izumi	Kazunari-kun. I've made some hot coffee. Would you like a cup?
Kazunari	Director-chan—?! Talk about perfect timing! My body was about to freeze out here!
	Are you our director, or our absolute goddess?!
Izumi	Ahaha, you praise me too much.
	When I saw you here on the balcony earlier, I figured that you could use something warm on such a chilly day.
	You’re going to catch a cold if you plan to do all of your work here, you know.
Kazunari	I came out here hoping for a change of pace— make my mind a bit sharper, or something?
	I've kinda been on this creative rut lately… Like, nothing’s really sparking it for me~
Izumi	I see, so that's why…
	With all the design work you're handling, that would be pretty troubling for you.
Kazunari	Oh! BTW, are you going out to do some groceries later, Director-chan?
Izumi	Actually, yeah, I was just thinking of doing that.
Kazunari	Can I come with you then? Maybe it'll help switch up my mood!
Izumi	I'm totally fine with it if you want to come; it's a long list of groceries, so I'd appreciate having an extra pair of hands, actually.
Kazunari	Gotchie~! Leave all the labor work to me! Lemme finish this coffee and then we'll head out.
	*DOOR OPENS*
Izumi	We're home.
Kazunari	Home sweet hooome~
Izumi	Thanks again for coming along with me, Kazunari-kun. I hope it helped clear your head, though?
Kazunari	Totes! And since I'm feeling much better, I'm gonna get back into the work grind!
Izumi	Alright! Good luck.
	*[DOOR CLOSES*
	(... It did seem like he perked up a bit after that—)
	(But it wasn’t his “inspired-with-ideas” kind of perked up, either. Will he really be fine…?)
	(I was hoping to discuss something with him, too, but I should probably leave it for next time.)
Kazunari	Mhmm……..
	(Even after going on a shopping trip with Director-chan yesterday, it's still like this, huh…)
	(My mood certainly got better, but it doesn't feel like the creative stump went away either…)
	(sighs) … Maybe a lil' walk will do the trick…
Tsuzuru	Oh. Hey, Miyoshi-san.
Kazunari	Tsuzuroon! Are you going somewhere?
Tsuzuru	I was gonna go check out this solo exhibit that's being held nearby.
Kazunari	A solo exhibit?! Why, what's up!?
Tsuzuru	Why, you ask… Well, I've been holed up in my room writing scripts, so when I thought about taking a breather, I happened to find out about the event, so…
	I could ask you the same thing, actually. Where are you headed?
Kazunari	Ahh… Just thought I'd stretch my legs, you know.
Tsuzuru	Is that so…
	… If you're free, do you wanna maybe take a look at the solo exhibition together?
Kazunari	Wait, I can come?! Count me in then!

Tsuzuru	That exhibition was certainly worth the trip, wasn't it?
Kazunari	You said it! Looking at the works of others is def’ good stimulation for the brain!
	Though, because I've been trying to take too many breathers since yesterday, I really should get to starting my work soon~
Tsuzuru	I guess the workload's been piling up for you, huh?
Kazunari	Tell me about it~ I might be in a bit of a creative rut, but I don't know.
Tsuzuru	… Say, should we go for a detour before we head back?
	I know the feeling of wanting to get work done 'cause you need to, but… it sounds to me like you still need a bit more leg-stretching, Miyoshi-san.
Kazunari	Tsuzuroon… That’s so sweet of you…
Tsuzuru	On second thought, maybe we should head straight home.
Kazunari	It was a compliment!!
	We should totes walk around a bit more! Thanks, Tsuzuroon!
Old Man	………
Tsuzuru	Hey, that old man at that bench over there… It looks like he's drawing something, isn't he?
Kazunari	On a bright day in a location like this? I'd totally get wanting to draw, too~
Old Man	…Oh?
Kazunari	…??
Old Man	Are you perhaps… Miyoshi-kun?
Kazunari	EH?! Y-Yes, that's my name… I'm so sorry, have we met before?
Old Man	Oh, no no, I've only known you from afar.
	You see, my grandchild once took me to one of your exhibitions, so I've seen your paintings before.
Kazunari	R-Really!? So you've seen my artworks?
Old Man	I have. And I was truly touched by the paintings you made, Miyoshi-kun.
	Since then, I'd sometimes have my grandchild show me— what was it, your "Inste account"? — whenever you uploaded photographs.
Tsuzuru	Ohh, right. It's true that Miyoshi-san uploads some of his new drawings along with his pictures on Inste.
Kazunari	And that's how you recognized my face…!
Old Man	But I never would've imagined I'd get to meet you in person like this. Life is truly full of the most unexpected coincidences.
Kazunari	And I never would've imagined I'd unexpectedly get to talk to someone who saw about my work, either! It's almost like a miracle!
	Excuse me, but you're sketching right now, right? Is it okay if I can take a look?
Old Man	You want to see my sketch? Dearie me, how embarrassing… But it's not often a chance like this comes by, so… Here you go.
Kazunari	Wow…! This drawing has a really gentle and warm vibe to it.
Tsuzuru	Wait… Isn't this a drawing of us?
Kazunari	Ah— now that you mention it!
Old Man	Indeed, it is. I was merely sketching my surroundings when the two of you came into my view, so I ended up drawing you as well.
Kazunari	Oh my gosh, thank you so much!! It makes us look like we're one of the subjects of the scene— it's super flattering!
Tsuzuru	It's an honor to be part of a wonderful drawing like this.
Kazunari	The colors of the trees and leaves feel so soft. The gentle sunlit feeling is a nice touch, too.
	You even went as detailed as drawing the benches and flowers in the flowerbeds!
Old Man	Thank you. I'm really grateful to receive such compliments from the person who inspired me to start drawing in the first place.
Kazunari	Inspired you to start drawing— wait, you mean I did?!

Old Man	Ever since I saw Miyoshi-kun's work, I've started drawing as well.
	It's honestly thanks to you that even an old man like me can still find new things to enjoy. Thank you.
	I'm looking forward to what you'll be making in the future, too.
Kazunari	I… don't even have words to describe how happy I am to hear those really kind words!!
	I hope that you can keep on making a lot of your own work, too.
Old Man	Yes… I plan on doing just that.
Tsuzuru	That was quite the encounter.
Kazunari	No kidding! What a chance of fate~!
	To think that even someone who's well beyond my age and experience in life could still be influenced by the stuff that I make…
Tsuzuru	I'm sure there are plenty more people who were inspired like that, too, you know.
	… I've mentioned it before, didn't I? That your works have this effect on people.
Kazunari	I remember. And I especially remember when you said you were one of them, too!
Tsuzuru	I was hoping you'd especially forget that part…
Kazunari	Oh man, after chatting it up with that gramps, I feel like I'm starting to crawl out of my creative rut!!
	Like, I figured it was gonna come to me sooner or later, but…
	Knowing that there are people who are waiting for every piece that I make… It just makes me wanna work even harder.
Tsuzuru	I get the feeling.
Kazunari	—OH! Inspiration is flowing~!
Tsuzuru	Err… Why did you sound like Arisugawa-san just now—
Kazunari	PAUSE! Lightbulb moment! Turn your back over here, Tsuzuroon— ASAP!!
Tsuzuru	WAIT, WHAT'RE YOU—!? How did you materialize that pen and paper out of nowhere!?
Kazunari	(humming) ~♪
Tsuzuru	Don't just start drawing on someone's back like—... (sighs) Oh what the hell, sure, I guess.
	*DOOR OPENS*
Kazunari	We're baaack~!
Tsuzuru	We're home.
Izumi	Welcome home. Did you two go out together somewhere?
Tsuzuru	We took a trip to this solo exhibition that's not too far from here.
Kazunari	And then we took a detour to buy some 3-pack-pudding! Here, you can have one of them, Director-chan!
Izumi	Thanks!
	(Kazunari-kun has a huge smile on his face. It looks like he's a lot better now.)
	(And it looks like he even got to do some sketches while he was out, based on the paper he's carrying around with him.)
CHOICE 1: Let me guess; did something good happen? [+] Izumi You seem to be in great mood, Kazunari-kun. Let me guess; did something good happen? Kazunari OH! Does my face make it obvious!? Well, something great DID happen! I was just thinking of telling you all about it, actually! Izumi Really now?! When you say it like that, I'm all ears! Kazunari It was an encounter nothing short of a miracle, I tell you. How's about I tell you while we enjoy our pudding packs together? Izumi Of course. Let me prepare some tea for us. Kazunari Big thankies~!
CHOICE 2: Did you get to draw something while you were out? [+] Izumi Are you holding some sketches in your hand there, Kazunari-kun? Did you get to draw something while you were out? Kazunari Totally did! Took a little walking and then, suddenly, inspiration was flowing~! Tsuzuru He literally started spouting that line out in Arisugawa-san's tone. Scared the hell outta me. Kazunari And since I wanted to jot down my rough idea ASAP, I borrowed Tsuzuru's back to help me out while I sketch. As a drawing surface… I guess it was so-so? I mean, it sure was shaky, like it must've been ticklish or something. Tsuzuru Oh you're a real piece of work!!! Izumi (Fufu. I can only imagine how funny they must've looked.)
Izumi	(Since Kazunari-kun seems to be back to his usual self, maybe it's finally okay for me to ask him about what I wanted to talk about before.)
	Hey, Kazunari-kun? I've actually got something design-related that I've been meaning to ask you… Is it alright if we could discuss it later?
Kazunari	No proooblemo! You can totally count on me!!
Izumi	Thank you! I'll be relying on you.
Kazunari	Ehehe, "relying on me", huh? Somehow just hearing that gets me all hyped up!
	I know taking jobs from all sorts of people and places can build up some good experience…
	But getting a request from you, our very own Director-chan of MANKAI, really puts me on cloud nine~!

Dita