I love u mirror selves I love u doppelgangers I love u parallel versions I love u physical manifestations of alter egos I love u shadow versions I love u clones I love u dark but not inherently evil reflections of the self
It all started when I walked into the dressing room of a talk show I was scheduled to appear in.
I had just entered the unoccupied dressing room, taking a few steps forward, when I felt a disquieting presence from behind.
“Hn!!”
I quickly turned around and caught as it flew by—
“Is this.. a pebble?”
It was a small stone, only about three centimeters in diameter.
“Who is it? This kind of thing…”
“Oho? Looks like you caught it, Ichinose. You're pretty good.”
My eyes widened at the sight of the figure looming behind me and emerging from the shadows next to the lockers.
“Camus-san!? Was this pebble yours…?”
“Indeed. It allowed me to see just what kind of a man you are. It seems, as I predicted, you're no ordinary person.”
Camus-san nodded his head gravely. I assumed the dressing room was unoccupied, but it appears he'd been waiting there for some time.
“To see…? I really don’t follow, but I don’t quite approve of the prank.”
I would expect this from Kotobuki-san, not from Camus-san, who I believed to be a relatively serious man.
Who knew he’d do something like this…
The pebble wasn't thrown very hard and wouldn't have hurt even if it did hit me, but it still would have made me upset.
Camus shrugged his shoulders with a nonchalant look on his face when I expressed my thoughts.
“For that I apologize. But I thought it was for the best. Besides, I knew you would avoid or catch it.”
Camus replied and gracefully sat himself down in a folding chair.
“Or could it be that it was just a fluke?”
“No… I believe I can catch the next one you throw at me.”
“Well, then no harm, no foul.”
Is that right…
I was still left feeling frustrated, but decided not to press the issue any further and settled down in a chair a short distance away from him.
I open the book I brought with me, looking at Camus-san.
What was he trying to accomplish? Aijima-san is a man of many mysteries, but his senpai even more…?
“You seem to still like books.”
“Huh…?”
I didn't understand what he had said for a second, but Camus-san continued indifferently.
“You had brought one with you when we had last performed together.”
“Was that so…?”
“There is no need for you to speak so formally with me, you know. You are the industry veteran here.”
I finally figured it out.
It has been a while since I last shared a dressing room with Camus-san.
He must be remembering that time long ago.
I initially believed him to be a weird man, but perhaps this calls for a new perceptive.
“Not at all… Because I am Tokiya Ichinose, a rookie who has just made his debut.”
“Hm. You’re a man of integrity.”
Camus-san opened his own book and started to read, and I went back to reading myself.
“...”
“...”
I like to be able to focus before work, so I prefer to be with someone who doesn’t talk, but I still could not get over the pebble thing.
What book could he possibly be reading?
I’ve heard Camus-san to be a knowledgeable and well-read person.
It might be a literary work, or…
I glanced over and noticed the title.
‘Everything on Curry Udon.’
Everything on Curry Udon?!
I almost dropped my own book for a second, but I quickly got myself back together.
Everything on Curry Udon…
No, of course, one is free to read whatever books they like.
But this is something someone would never imagine Camus-san to pick.
“...Dostoevsky. You're quite cultured.”
Camus-san suddenly raised his head, looked over at the book in my hand and spoke.
All the while, Camus-san continued to hold the copy of Everything on Curry Udon in his hand.
“No, I wouldn't go as far as to say that… But I have found this translator's take on it intriguing as of late.”
“Hm. …you’re very different from Aijima despite coming from the same class. He only ever reads rubbish.”
“It's probably still hard for Aijima-san to read books in Japanese.”
“That's no excuse. How can someone live in a foreign country without mastering both reading and writing to perfection? That cat is ill-prepared for everything. Don’t you agree?”
“That’s hard for me to say…”
I was at a loss on what to respond, and Camus-san's furrowed brows deepened as he pondered for a moment.
“I have heard you've been working with Aijima recently, I hope he hasn't been causing you any trouble.”
“I have worked with Aijima-san several times, and it's always went well.”
Speaking of working together, Otoya mentioned that he and Camus will be co-starring in an upcoming variety show.
Since Otoya is unpredictable, I worry he'll be a problem.
Camus-san snorted in a dull tone when I told him.
“Hmph. I've gotten used to nuisances, having Aijima around.”
“You say that, but I’m still not accustomed to Otoya’s level of outlandish behavior.”
“Aijima too. That guy has no common sense.”
Both of us nodded at each other in silence, as if we'd just both reminisced.
“That cat lacks wisdom but is unnecessarily proud. Has he experienced any run-ins with the people he’s worked with?”
“From what I know, everything’s been fine. I think Aijima-san possesses a peculiar charm that endears him to people.”
“...I hope that’s the case.”
Camus let out a small sigh and pulled out a new book from his bag, probably having finished reading Everything on Curry Udon.
The new book was… The Curry Udon Lexicon.
Curry udon again.
Is it a favorite of his?
No, it’s probably required reading for work.
It may also be because Camus is a foreigner and is genuinely interested in Japanese food culture…
“...What?”
“It’s nothing. Are you just, by any chance, interested in curry udon?”
“Hm. It's said that even when hunting rabbits, lions put forth their fullest effort.”
That’s entirely unhelpful.
…I don’t understand what that means.
“By the way, Ichinose. I have a question for you. Do you know of a way to eat curry udon without getting your suit dirty?”
“Come again?”
I responded a bit dumbly.
“...I'm asking if there's a way to eat udon without splattering it all over your clothes.”
“I-I see…. The splatter is always unpredictable, so it's difficult to prevent it based solely on how you try to eat it. I recommend using a napkin or something similar.”
“Very well. I suppose there are limits to how refined one can be when trying to eat a commoner's meal.”
“I think it's good manners to make noise when eating foods like udon.”
“To make noise, but with grace… That proves challenging. But if this continues, Kurosaki will be justified...”
Camus thought for a while, then suddenly looked up as if he had just had an idea.
“Which do you think pairs better with curry udon: sugar or honey?”
What?
…This time I didn't have to vocalize anything.
It seems you have to be quick on your feet when talking with Camus-san.
“That's a tough one to answer, but since the soup is sometimes made sweet, neither of them would necessarily be a bad choice. Honey is occasionally added to normal curry as a secret ingredient, so I would personally go with that.”
“That makes sense. Your thinking is very logical.”
“I always strive to be that way. It makes me happy to hear you say so.”
Camus-san nodded gravely.
“If I recall correctly, you’re from Kyushu. Does Kyushu have any speciality udon curries?”
“Any specialty…”
“To tell you the truth, Kurosaki, a simpleton as you are probably aware, mocked me by remarking I didn’t even know what curry udon was. Therefore, I want to present him with a curry udon even he doesn't know about and knock that bastard down a peg.”
“You want to knock him… down a peg.”
“Mhm.”
He looks completely serious about this, but to what extent?
But being counted on for advice isn't something I necessarily dislike.
I told him everything I knew about curry udon.
“Alright. I’ll look further into it. Thank you, Ichinose.”
“It’s no problem at all. I’m happy to help.”
Camus gave a huff and a small smile.
“You have a truly exemplary way with words.”
“Thank you.”
“I'm still nowhere near as proficient as a native speaker. I would like to learn from you. Next time, I'll ask Tsukimiya to show me some of your past TV appearances.”
“That’s fine, although…”
I was anxious for a second.
“How do I put this… It’s not common to add ‘nya’ to the end of words. That’s only…”
“Got it. I understand.”
“That’s good…”
Camus-san flipped through the pages of his book with a contented look on his face.
His eyes suddenly widened.
“Oh!”
“What is it?”
“Look at this!”
The page that was thrust before me contained a picture of a giant curry udon dish attempting to qualify for the Guinness World Records.
“That’s probably about 100 servings. It's certainly very big, but what's this have to do with…”
“Actually, Kurosaki didn’t just mock me. He also threatened to stain my suit with curry udon.”
…What are these men doing?
I thought Kurosaki-san would be more of a serious person, too.
“I have been trying to devise a response, but upon further consideration, a defensive attitude is unbefitting of me, the Queen's Sword.”
“Is that how it is…?”
“Absolutely. Therefore, I will make this udon and serve it to him. Kurosaki, always hungry as he is, will no doubt stand there and weep for joy.”
“R-Right.”
“I will then take my aim… and push him into the udon from behind!”
I started to develop a headache, and Camus-san wore a wicked grin on his face, as if very pleased with himself.
“Hehehe… ...Kurosaki, since you insist on staining the front of my gentleman’s suit yellow, then I shall cover you entirely in curry. I see it clearly… Your face twisted in shame and covered in udon. Hehehehe.”
If someone like, say, Kotobuki-san had made this comment, I would have thought it ridiculous and stood up from my seat.
There was, however, inexplicable power in Camus's laughter that rendered me motionless.
The Devil.
That name is all I could think of in that moment.
“Hm. There's no need to worry about wasting the udon. Kurosaki would probably eat it all up in that situation.”
“G-Got it. Um…”
That was when someone knocked on the dressing room door and a staff member peered inside.
“Camus-san. Ichinose-san. It’s almost time.”
“U-Understood.”
“Very well. We’ll be there shortly.”
In the blink of an eye, Camus wore a serene smile and quickly responded to staff, who I in turn turned to smile softly at them.
“Well then, pleased to be working with you today.”
He rises effortlessly and moves gracefully, without missing a beat, following behind the staff member.
I remain frozen in place for a moment, stunned by how quickly everything changed.
Slowly working on finding out what all of the HEAVENS members are called and call others... any help would be appreciated... if anyone has access to the wiki, feel free to use these...
[BIRTHDAY] On February 14 is Jinguji Ren’s birthday. From Kanagawa Prefecture. Musical instrument specialty is saxophone. Good at darts. Likes spicy food but, when it comes to sweets, tiramisu is preferred. “It’s going to be a lovely day”
Utapri is about mortality and change and identity and that means is death worth it what if my fame is my lifespan what do I do if I fade from relevance after a few hits, can I kill the person I was to become someone I want to be more, can I kill the person I was forced to be and become a truer version of myself, can you kill an idol can you kill a concept, what about memories? Will they outlast you or will you outlast them? And I'm like slow down there cowboy
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