Souma Kanzaki: Idol Story 3

 

Chapter 3

Location: Dojo

Season: Summer

Author: Yuumasu

Souma: ♪~♪~♪~

The path to this rural “rokeeshon”1 is a difficult one indeed, but there is certainly much to be obtained here as well. I was able to procure some unexpectedly fragrant and full-bodied matcha…♪

Please excuse me!

Adonis: Oh, you’re here, Kanzaki.

Souma: Oh! Adonis-dono, you are already here!

I had planned to arrive first and make preparations, but… Have I kept you waiting?

Adonis: No worries. My work ended earlier than planned, so I came earlier. That’s all.

Thanks for inviting me today, Kanzaki.

Souma: We belong to the same “saakuru”2; there is no need to thank me. Rather, it is I who should be thanking you.

It seems that everyone else is preoccupied with work and thus will be unable to make it, but I would still like to perform the tea ceremony today in spite of that — using this matcha. 

If we are going through the trouble to perform this tea ceremony, two people are far better than one.

What’s more, if I am with you, Adonis-dono, one of my few friends, we shall surely be able to make this a fun time ♪

Adonis: Ah, I think so too.

By the way, Kanzaki, did I arrange the tea utensils correctly like this? If I made a mistake, don’t hesitate to tell me.

Souma: Hmm…

Mhm. It is perfect! You have a good memory, Adonis-dono.

Adonis: Is that so? I don’t have much skill in performing tea ceremonies, but I knew I should be able to do the preparations. That’s why I’ve been thinking about them since last night.

I’m glad it went smoothly.

Also, I heard that you would be preparing the tea, so I bought some teacakes. Here you go.

Souma: Ooh, these are the monaka that are currently being sold in front of the train station, are they not? But I had heard that this product was quite difficult to obtain...?

Adonis: You can buy them every once in a while. It looked like there were only two left when it came to my turn, so I got the last ones.

Souma: Ah, what good fortune indeed. Well then, we simply must prepare some tea to suit these monaka!

You may leave that to me. Go on, Adonis-dono, I would like for you to sit and wait right there.

Adonis: Ah. Thank you.

Ah, Kanzaki, you carry yourself so gracefully. If I remember correctly, you’ve been learning how to perform a tea ceremony from a very young age, haven’t you? 

Souma: Mhm. I was trained in the performance of tea ceremony, along with various other things, so I am quite well versed in all sorts of traditional arts.

Here. Some sweets for you, Adonis-dono.

Adonis: Ah. Thank you very much.

Mm. This monaka is packed full with red bean paste. It’s delicious.

Souma: Fufu. Not only is anpan is your favorite food, Adonis-dono, but you enjoy red bean paste as well, hm?

...Alright, the tea has been prepared as well. By all means, have some.

Adonis: Thank you.

Mm, it’s wonderful. I can’t express my feelings in detail, but… This is enlightening.

Souma: Is that so? I am glad that you found it to be suited to your tastes.

I, too, shall enjoy this, together with Adonis-dono’s monaka....♪

<Ten minutes later>

Souma: We should end today’s ceremony fairly soon. Adonis-dono, I thank you for keeping me company today.

Adonis: I should be thanking you. For helping me feel at home…

Hmm.

Souma: Adonis-dono, is something wrong?

Adonis: It isn’t a big deal. My legs just fell asleep as usual.

Souma: I see… You are not yet used to the proper method of sitting3, is that right? If that is the case, perhaps we should try sitting cross-legged from now on?

This is not a formal place, so I believe there shan’t be any problem with doing so.

Adonis: No, we can keep sitting formally. Just saying that I can’t do it and running away will make it so I’ll never be able to do it at all.

Souma: I see. What an admirable spirit. ....Fufu, it is almost as if I am looking at my childhood self.

Adonis: ? Kanzaki, was there a time when you weren’t good with sitting properly either?

Souma: Mhm. Even I have not always been good at sitting in such formal ways.

Although now it is like second nature to me, when I first started learning traditional practices, I struggled greatly to keep my legs from falling asleep, just like you.

After I was taught a way to sit that would not cause my legs to go numb, I gradually became able to endure it.

Ooh. I’ve got it! Adonis-dono, I shall teach you a way to sit formally without having your legs go numb as well. If you sit like this, you shall be able to sit properly without a single hardship!

Come now, follow my lead!

Adonis: I’m sorry, but it’s too late for that…

Souma: Hm? What do you mean?

Adonis: The numbness in my legs has reached its peak. I sincerely doubt I’ll be able to move them at all.

No, more accurately, I can move them, but… If they shake just a little, it feels like I’ll lose my balance and fall.

Souma: What?! What an awful blunder I have made… Your expression hardly changes, and so I did not notice in the slightest.

I must relieve you of your pain. What am I to do in times like these…

Adonis: You said earlier that we would end the ceremony, Kanzaki. Leave me behind, go on without me....

Souma: How unthinkable…! I could never leave my companion behind!

Adonis-dono, I recall being taught that if you were to walk backwards, the numbness in your legs would disappear. Take my hand and I shall help pull you upright, so please, let us try it!

Adonis: Kanzaki, you’re so kind. But even if I take your hand, I don't think the strength will be restored to my legs… I am… weak.

Souma: A-Adonis-dono collapsed?! Adonis-dono, are you okay?! Adonis-donooo…!

TL Notes:

1: location

2: circle

3: Referring to seiza.

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Proofread by Sei and Gigi.