Click ☆
(Uuugh… No matter what I do, the TV won’t turn on!)
(I was meaning to watch a bunch of dramas today, but looks like that’s not happening. Now I won’t be able to work on my role.)
Heyyy, you’re all grumbly over there, something wrong?
Waaa!? You abruptly speaking from back there surprised me! Who…?
Ahaha, totes sorry for surprising you~. I’m Kuon Mashu from MELLOW DEAR US. You’re Mitsuru-kun, right? Nice to meet you ♪
Anyway, if you’re planning to watch TV, do you mind if Ojisan joins you?
My next job isn’t for a bit, so I came here to kick back and relax, you know~
I want to say watching together would be great. But right now that’s impossible.
—Hmmm. The TV’s not turning on, yeah?
I gotchu. I’m prettyyy sure I saw the batteries around here somewhereee… Aha, found ‘em~☆
Mitsuru-kun, can you hand me the remote for just a sec~?
Yup! What are you doing? All that looking at the remote isn’t gonna make the TV turn on.
Sometimes, what’s right under your nose is hard to see. When something like this happens, the issue is usually from a plug falling out or the remote’s batteries dying ♪
Oh, the TV really turned on! I completely overlooked the batteries being the issue. Thank you!
You’re welcome. If there’s something you wanna watch, then just let me know ♪
Just let you know…
(I’ve got it! Watching someone from a mature unit like MELLOW DEAR US would be a better model for my role than any drama…!)
I have a favor to ask! Mashu-san— I want to use you as a reference for a “mature adult” for my drama role!
…Huh?
Fade to the Shared Space, Table Area.
(Fufun, I managed to convince him to let me shadow him for half a day! But I never thought I’d get to watch the photoshoot right after!)
(He must’ve gotten permission without me knowing, right? Wow, Mashu-san is such a kind and friendly person ♪)
(But why does he call himself “Ojisan”? I’d say he’s more like “Oniisan” [1].)
Mashu-san, isn’t that spicy? Just watching you makes me feel all sweaty.
Well, it is super duper spicy mapo tofu [2] after all~. It’s delicious though, ‘kay? Besides, the spice level for Ojisan is def lacking that kick.
“A mature adult eats spicy things”… Got it.
Alright, I’m ready! Here we go super duper spicy mapo tofu, time to eat!
UWAAAA~! Way too spicy! Water, I need water!
(Ummm, I feel like this kid is a little bit off-track, but…)
So you’re trying to be a “mature adult”, yeah? How’s that going?
It’s going perfectly! Having you here really saved me, Mashu-san!
When I was told my next role would involve me playing a “mature adult”, I didn’t know what to do. But that’s not a problem anymore!
That’s good. But it looked like you were still scribbling down notes the whole time, right?
Yep! If you take super diligent notes, then you have something to look back on, right?
Ahaha, you’re totes serious~ …Huh? I’ve got an email.
(Mashu-san is looking at his Mega Phone… I’ll do the same!)
Sorry~. As I thought, it’s gonna be a bit hard for you to shadow me at my next job.
Okayyy. It sucks, but it looks like the shadowing ends here.
Ah, if that’s the case, then why don’t we meet up in the evening?
Huh, really!?
Yeppers, especially since I promised half a day and we had to end earlier than that. After all this, Mitsuru-kun, I’m curious to see the “mature adult” you become, you know~?
If you want, Ojisan can be the judge for your growth ♪
Fade to Star House, Ra*bits's Dorm.
“That’s a waste of time. I don’t need it!”
Uuugh, that wasn’t good. I need to look over my notes one more time!
I’m back~. Ah, Mitsuru! Perfect timing. I brought you some bread~♪
“That’s a waste of time.”
…Huh? W-what’s wrong? Mitsuru, I also have the sweet bread you like, okay?
“I don’t need it.”
Don’t need it!? M-Mitsuru’s acting strange…! S-somebody heeelp~!?
Oh, Tomo-chan? When did you get home? I’ve been so focused on practicing for my drama role, that I didn’t notice you!
…Practicing for your role? Geez, don’t scare me like that~. What kind of role is it?
It’s the role of a “mature adult”! That’s right. Tomo-chan, I want you to watch me for a bit! Take my notes too!
(Notes? Woah, everything is written so close together, and there’s no blank space! I can see he’s been working hard.)
(But this name in the notes. There’s no way Mitsuru learned from him!?)
Ahem. So, lemme start!
“Careful! That road is dangerous!”
So, sooo? Am I a “mature adult”?
Ummm. It’s a little energetic… Ah, how about seeing if you can sound a little tougher? If it’s possible, maybe change how you end your sentences [3].
Hmmm, does changing my voice like this work [4]?
Oh, that’s good! Now, see if you can work on your facial expressions…!
“Watch yourself. That road is bad news. Getting home early would be in your best interest, you know?” [5]
…Is he slowly sounding more like a hard-boiled [6] guy? Or am I imagining it?
I don’t understand the direction I’m supposed to take this~. My head is spinning.
I’ve decided! Today I’m showing some self-restraint and skipping the sweet bread, that way I’ll be a “mature adult”.
Ahaha. Pushing yourself is good, but do it moderately, alright…?
Fade to the Shared Space, Living Area.
Oh, there you are! Great job today~, Mitsuru-kun ♪
“Hey, want to go for a drive together?” [7]
…!? Yikes, you startled me! I totes thought there were two Ojisans.
Ahem. I pushed myself super hard today! How was I?
Hmmm~. It’s defs something fresh so I think the fans’ll be totes excited, yeah?
Fufun, I’m finally figuring out how to be a “mature adult”!
Yeppers, it’s a great vibe for you ♪ I’ll be cheering for you in the drama!
…? Mashu-san, that thing! What are you eating!?
Huh? You asked what it is? It’s just a shortcake.
I bought it a little bit ago. After all, dessert is totes yum after work~♪ Want some, Mitsuru-kun?
(Mashu-san likes sweets too? Uuugh, more importantly…!)
So unfair! That’s it! I’m gonna go eat something sweet too!
Huh, where are you going!?
I’m gonna go get some sweet bread right now! See ya around, Mashu-kun! Dash dash dash~☆
Translation Notes
[1] – “Oniisan” (お兄さん) means older brother. I left it as is because I don’t translate his “Ojisan” nickname, so it makes more sense to use the Japanese terms for both in this situation.
[2] – Mapo tofu is a popular Chinese dish from the Sichuan province. It’s a combination of tofu and minced meat (usually beef) in a spicy sauce. Here is an example.
[3] – Mitsuru ends almost all his sentences with “-da ze” (だぜ), which is considered to be a very boyish and casual way of speaking. It’s a way of ending sentences that you wouldn’t see adults use in real life. Tomoya is telling him to change this so he sounds more serious and adult-like.
[4] – It should be noted here that he still uses the “-da ze” ending, so I’m a little unsure why Tomoya praises him in the next line. I think it’s to be assumed that Mitsuru changes his voice in some way to sound tougher like Tomoya had mentioned he should do, but since there’s no voiced lines, it’s hard to confirm. However, I translated the line with that as the assumption (otherwise it would’ve just been “Hmmm, like this?” which I think is too vague).
[5] – The main different between the first time he tried this five lines ago (気をつけて!その道は危険だから!) and the second time (気をつけろ。その道は危険だ。早く帰ったほうが身のためだぜ?) are the endings, which I have bolded for your convenience. Essentially, the first time he says this line, he uses very casual endings which is why his statement comes off more concerned rather than aloof and tough. When he says the line the second time, he uses endings that come off more formally like he’s giving commands, so that’s why the translation changes a little despite the words being the same. Note that in the last sentence of his second attempt, Mitsuru’s usual “-da ze” ending pops up again, bro is not good at this “mature adult” stuff lol.
[6] – Hard-boiled can be a way to describe a gritty and tough character in detective-type fiction stories.
[7] – Deep voice Mitsuru assumedly strikes again.