A3! CHIKAGE UTSUKI [SSR] Backstage Story: Seagull in the Echo (Part 1)
"<<I am a seagull.>>"
Employee A: Utsuki-san, I apologise for disturbing you like this when you're busy...
Chikage: What's wrong?
Employee A: Actually, it's about the novelty items for the maiden voyage party of the cruise ship I'm in charge of, but...
Employee A: The client requested us that we need to use small plates from a certain store.
Employee A: It seems to be a store that is run by a foreign couple, but when I asked for an appointment, they said they don't understand both Japanese or English.
Chikage: They can probably handle casual conversations, but business conversations are hard to follow.
Employee A: Yes. I somehow received the permission to meet them directly, but the interpreter we have a partnership with is unable to meet our schedule.
Chikage: So, you came here to ask me to accompany you as an interpreter.
Employee A: I'm sorry for always bothering you!We only have a handful of employees who can speak slavic languages.
Chikage: Ah, I think I'll be available on this day.
Chikage: I just happened to have my business trip rescheduled, so I will be free on that day.
Employee A: Really?! Thank you very much!!
Employee B: Excuse me for interrupting. Utsuki-san, there's a matter for the next meeting that I'd like to coordinate with you beforehand...
Chikage: I understand, I'll be right there.
Chikage: ...Well then, please send me the details about this accompaniment later.
•••
Employee B: --So, thank you for your cooperation.
Chikage: Good work. It's good that we were able to finish this ahead of schedule.
Employee B: It's all thanks to the opinions you gave beforehand. I'll take care of the tidying up, so Utsuki-san, please go on ahead.
Chikage: Thank you.
Chikage: (The details about the interpreting accompaniment from earlier have arrived. Maybe I'll take a look at it once I get back to my desk—)
Chikage: ...No. I guess i should get some of my work done here after all.
Chikage: (A Japanese tableware store by the sea, huh. It seems to be a small shop, but that client of ours really found a good one.)
Chikage: (...The name of the store is 'Chaika.')
Chikage: (Seagull, huh. I see. As a souvenir for a maiden voyage, it certainly is fitting.)
Chikage: (The small plates in the photo must be of their signature product. The picture of a seagull and... something written in Cyrillic.)
Chikage: Ya Chaika.
Chikage: <<I am a seagull.>>
•••
April: Where in the world are they? The place of the meeting was supposed to be around here...
December: Zzz....
April: Good grief, how are you sleeping so well? We're not home yet, you know.
August: Welcome back, April. Good work.
April: I'm back. ...and that book is?
August: It was on the ground, so I was reading it. I wonder if someone forgot to take it back?
April: People are so careless.
August: Well, the mission is over. Isn't it okay for me to be a young man of literature?
April: 'A young man of literature', you say...
August: By the way, have you ever read this before?
April: ...Chekhov's 'The Seagull', huh. I read it a long time ago.
August: I guess this type of story isn't really your cup of tea, April.
April: Or rather, the only thing I remember was not understanding why this story was considered a comedy amongst the readers.
August: See, that's just like you.
April: So, what are your thoughts?
April: Let's see...
•••
Chikage: (...What did he say back then?)
Chikage: (I think...)
∆ Part 2 / Part 3 ∆
Divider credits: @uzmacchiato ∆
