Azami Izumida SR - Flower-like Beauty [BACKSTAGE TRANSLATION]

[mimosacafe]

" This role's got me feeling complicated, that even when I've got it figured out, trying to get into it is a struggle. Still, I gotta do what I gotta do. "

"Utilizing One's Knowledge of Poison - Part 1”

⚠️ DISCLAIMER BEFORE READING: This story will contain content that comes from "BANANA FISH" the anime. Please only continue if you are willing to encounter possible spoilers.⚠️




Friend A: Catch ya later, Azami.
Azami: See ya tomorrow.
(... What should I do after this?)
(I wanna do some script reading on the next performance… Maybe I'll just head straight back home.)
—Ah.
(Actually, there was this cosmetics product I was hopin' to get. It might be helpful for future plays too… Guess I'll do a quick detour first.)

——　——　——　——　——　——　——　——　——　——　——
Azami: (Who would've thought I'd nab the last of their stock? The hype on social media really did something.)
(Can't wait to try this out.)
Tsumugi: ……
Azami: (...Huh, isn't that…?)
Tsumugi-san?
Tsumugi: Ah, Azami-kun.
Good work with school today. Were you on your way back to the dorms?
Azami: Yeah. What about you? … Did you stop by the flower shop?


Tsumugi: Yes. I was merely passing by the shop and saw these beautiful orange cosmos flowers, so… Here they are.
I figure we could put them up somewhere in the dorms after this.
Azami: Hoh… They do look nice, yeah.
Tsumugi: If you're headed home as well, why don't we walk back together then?
Azami: Sure.　

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Tsumugi: I'm excited for your Yut Lung, Azami.
Azami: Same with me for your Eiji. Itaru-san has been really insistent 'bout how there could be no one else for the role other than you.
Tsumugi: Ahaha. But I could say the same about you, Azami-kun.
Azami: I guess… All the casting was left in Itaru-san's hands, after all.
Tsumugi: That's right. Eiji and Yut Lung may be on opposing sides, but I hope this show could let us bond more, too.
Azami: … Look, I get your sentiment, Tsumugi-san. But wouldn't it be better for us to not get too close— y'know, for our role's sake?
As far as I've observed, doesn't Yut Lung feel sorry for Eiji?
Tsumugi: I… Suppose I can see that.
Azami: … Well, I guess having to act this dynamic between our roles is a first for us. Maybe just the right amount of distance is fine for it.
Tsumugi: Fufu, I'd agree.
[FOOTSTEPS]
Tsumugi: …Ah, is that a wolfsbane flower? To think it can bloom in a place like this…
Azami: It can grow on the roadside? … It's a pretty flower, though.
Tsumugi: It looks pretty, yes. But it's poisonous.
Azami: Poison… For real?
Tsumugi: Yut Lung has abundant knowledge on poison, doesn't he? It might be a good idea to take note of this.
Azami: … I'll keep it in mind.

——　——　——　——　——　——　——　——　——　——　——

Azami: (... Alright, guess I'll pick it up from where I last left off on the anime.)
Taichi: Ah! Aachan, were you about to continue watching "BANANA FISH"?
Azami: Yeah.
Taichi: Awh what! You should've called for me! Didn't we talk about wanting to watch it together?!
Azami: No, I'm pretty sure it was only you who decided on that…
Taichi: But watching it with two people is better than one, don't you think? Okay! I'll go ahead and press play, yeah?
Azami: (Here I thought I'd be able to watch this peacefully by myself… No use getting out of this when I've been caught.)

——　——　——　——　——　——　——　——　——　——　——
Yut Lung: "You will be obeying my orders from now on."
"Consider my words to be my brother's words."


Shorter: "Just from a kid like you—"
Yut Lung: "Lee Wang-Lung of New York is my eldest brother. I'm the 7th child, the youngest of the family."
Shorter: "Eh….?"
Yut Lung: "But the head of the family only has 6 sons… Or so you thought, is that right?"
Shorter: "......Yeah."
"A bloody history is inevitable when you are the ruling clan."
"The bloodshed in the shadow of prosperity is like darkness behind the light; I was destined to rule that darkness."
"That's why I was given the 'moon' in my name"^[1]
"I see now why my brother felt the need to send me here. Ash Lynx… What an interesting and formidable foe indeed."

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Taichi: … Yut Lung's the guy you're playing, right, Aachan? He's really beautiful… He's got the kind of beauty that'd make you mistake him for a woman, even!
I'm sure if I were in the same world, I'd really think he's a girl at first glance~
Azami: I get what you mean. All the more reason I should be sensitive 'bout his gestures.
Taichi: That's a VERY important part! I remember being told I was dead awful at being a girl the first time I took on a female role!^[2]
So my advice is: you gotta be careful about NOT dragging your feet around and twirling your body TOO much!
Azami: When have I ever ‘twirled’ my body?
Taichi: If you're not careful about them now, you might not be able to do it at all when showtime comes.
Oh, I know! Until the main show starts, we should have sessions where you demonstrate to me the kind of movements you've been practicing, and I can be the one to say what's good and what's not!
Azami: Ha? …Uhh, no. I don't think I really need that—
Taichi: No need to be so bashfuuuul! When it comes to playing female roles, you know you can trust me!
Azami: … Are we serious right now.

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Azami: … (sighs) Taichi-san really had me under his watch like a hawk.
Azuma: You certainly look troubled.
Azami: Azuma-san…
Taichi-san has just been really enthusiastic, y'see. Maybe a bit too much.
But then again, it's for my role study, so I'm still taking it seriously.
Azuma: In that case, here's a present for our serious little Azami.
Azami: This… This is the foreign-brand face pack that's been all over the review blogs?! Are you sure?
Azuma: Of course. Good luck with your role study.
Azami: …Thanks. I'll definitely be using it when the time is right.

✦——✦——✦——✦——✦——✦——✦——✦——✦——✦——✦——✦——✦——✦

"Utilizing One's Knowledge of Poison - Part 2”


Izumi: We'll wrap it up here. Make sure to get a good amount of rest, everyone.
Juza: Yes.
Kumon: Pheeeeew, I'm beat…
Omi: We had it pretty rough today, too.
Tasuku: We can probably continue watching the anime once we get back to our room.
Tsumugi: Sounds good.
Azami: That's fine and all, but there better NOT be anyone doing all-nights. And if you even think about forgetting your skincare…
Banri: Yeah yeah.
Tenma: You got it.

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[FLIPPING PAGES]
Azami: (... Yut Lung's quite the tricky role, isn't he. I've been thinkin' it during rehearsals and script-reading sessions, but man.)
(I'm not doing any flashy action scenes like Banri-san and Juza-san, but…)
(Between his complicated inner thoughts— his jealousy towards Ash, and his pity towards Eiji— and the feminine gestures he moves with…)
(I knew what I was getting into, but there sure is a hella lot for me to do.)
[DROPS STACK OF PAPER]


Azami: ……(siiiiiigh)
Oh yeah, doesn't Yut Lung specialize in knowing all 'bout poison?

— — — — — FLASHBACK — — — — —
Tsumugi: …Ah, is that a wolfsbane flower? To think it can in a place like this…
Azami: It can grow on just the roadside? … It's a pretty flower, though.
Tsumugi: It looks pretty, yes. But it's poisonous.
Azami: Poison… For real?
Tsumugi: Yut Lung has abundant knowledge on poison, doesn't he? It might be a good idea to take note of this.
Azami: … I'll keep it in mind.
— — — — — FLASHBACK END — — — — —

Azami: (Something as pretty as that flower can still hold poison in it… I'm sure there are more like it. Maybe I'll look 'em up.)

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[DOOR OPENS]
Azami: … Hup.
Citron: Oh! Azami, what is with this thick book you have here?
Azami: It's an illustrated guidebook on poison and stuff. I borrowed it from my school's library.
Kazunari: EH!? Don't tell me you're planning to poison anyone, Azamin!?


Sakyo: … If you're gonna do it, then be secretive about it.
Citron: Making it a cold-blooded crime….!!
Kazunari: I think 'a perfect crime' suits that sentence better! ☆^[3]
Azami: It's for role study! GEEZ!

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Azami: (... Phew. I feel a lot more refreshed now.)
(As I thought, the levels of exhaustion are really different when I'm in the spotlight of a scene.)
(It's a good thing I took the time to expand my knowledge on poison. The scene we rehearsed today would've played out differently if not for that.)
(Feels like I managed to understand Yut Lung better just by learning more 'bout the subject— and THAT is a hell of a confidence boost.)
… Now's a good time as any to use that face pack that Azuma-san gifted me.
Pretty sure I tucked it away as it was given to me over here by the sinks…
There it is… Huh?
(It's a 3-pack set, but one's already gone… I haven't even used this yet.)
Tasuku: What's up?
Azami: One of the face packs I got from Azuma-san has gone.
Sakuya: EH?!
Kazunari: What sort of pack was it?
Azami: It had yellow packaging, just like this box—
Tasuku: ......
Azami: —with a flower design and green accent colors on it.


Tasuku: …………
Sakuya: Tasuku-san, is something the matter?
Azami: …Did something click for ya?
Tasuku: I guess, maybe… Sorry. I was the one who used that face pack.
Azami: HA?
Kazunari: No cap?!
Tasuku: It wasn't out of ill will.
Izumida reminded us to take proper skincare, right? Remembering his words, I happened to glance over the box with the packs, so I…
No, I'm just making excuses. I'm sorry for using it without permission. And it was even something you got from Azuma-san, too…
Azami: Nah… It's fine, really. It's on me for leaving it 'round the communal area. You did it to make sure you were paying attention to your skincare, right?
—So? What's your verdict?
Tasuku: Excuse me?
Kazunari: It's something from Azuu, after all! It MUST be the real fancy stuff!!
Tasuku: My verdict… Well… I guess it felt completely different from the usual stuff.
Azami: ———...

Azami: HAAAAAH?! Are you even taking this seriously?!?
I take back everything I said!! If you don't even get just how precious that face pack is— the PRICE TAG that came with it— and think you have any right to use it willy-nilly, well THINK AGAIN!!
Sakuya: Azami-kun, calm down…!!
Azami: If you do the same thing again next time, I'm gonna sneak poison into your protein powder, I swear!! Just you wait!!!!
Tasuku: P-Poison…
Kazunari: AZAMIN! You can't just say that as a joke, you knooow!!!


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[1] Yut Lung's name is written as 月龍, with 『月』= moon
[2] Events from Autumn Troupe 2nd Performance: Stranger
[3] 寒冷犯罪 (kanrei hanzai) vs 完全犯罪 (kanzen hanzai), translated as is