Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 29:【Suzu’s POV】If It’s in Front of You – ①
“Will I really be able to handle this role?”
“Absolutely. I have no doubt. After seeing your performance, I was convinced—this role could only go to you.”
In a meeting room, I sat across the table from Yukio Kakogawa, the stage director, as we discussed the play.
“I’m honored by your words, but I’ve only ever played male roles… I can’t imagine portraying a woman who falls deeply in love…”
“The heroine in this play, ‘The Snow’s Magic, the Moon’s Far Side’, meets the protagonist while hiding a secret. As they grow closer, she eventually confesses her secret, and in being accepted, she learns to accept herself. When I watched your performance, I saw it—you weren’t lying, but you were definitely hiding something.”
Kakogawa narrowed his eyes at me.
Those eyes looked as if they could see right into the depths of my soul.
“Th-that’s…”
(How did he know I was hiding something? No one knows my secret…)
I froze at his accurate observation. But Kakogawa gave a gentle smile.
“It’s alright. You don’t need to tell me, and I’m not asking you to. I just want you to express that inner conflict and emotion on stage.”
“I see… But, to be honest, I’ve never fallen in love. I understand the affection for cute girls, but I’ve never felt my heart race for a man, or felt love for one. I can only portray things I’ve personally experienced or emotions that arise naturally, so I still think this role might be too difficult for me…”
I shared my honest thoughts.
“You don’t have to overthink it. Hmm… There’s a café nearby. Why don’t you go have a coffee and clear your mind? Recently, a cute boy started working there, and the coffee he makes is becoming a bit of a legend online and even within the industry.”
Kakogawa, noticing my hesitation, recommended a certain café.
But one word in particular caught my attention.
(A cute boy…? That’s it!)
A flash of inspiration hit me, and I stood up.
“That’s it! I’ll head to that café right away! Please excuse me for today—let’s continue the discussion another time!”
“Of course. I look forward to it. Take care.”
And so, I headed to the café.
○ ●
“So this is the café Kakogawa mentioned…”
I paused in front of the café, then opened the door and stepped inside.
That’s when I met Sakasegawa Atsumu(Go).
“Are you alright, miss?”
“Ah, thank you. But I’m not a miss—I’m a guy!”
“What?! You’re the cute boy who makes the amazing coffee everyone’s been talking about? That glossy black hair, those bright eyes—you’re just as adorable as the rumors say.”
At first, I mistook him for a girl because of his petite frame, beautiful hair, and charming face. But when he caught me in his arms, I realized the sensation was unfamiliar.
(Despite his appearance, he’s muscular and strong… So this is what a boy’s body feels like. I’ve never touched one before…)
Because of my reaction, things got a little awkward, but Go agreed to help me by playing the role of my “boyfriend” for character research.
“Takarazuka-san! If you’re okay with me, I’m in! I can’t just ignore a girl in trouble!”
“Go, are you really going to do this?!”
“Of course! I mean, helping a girl in need is just the normal thing to do, right?”
“Geez, Akkun, you haven’t changed at all.”
“Heh, that’s so like you, Go-kun.”
(Looking at the girls around him, it’s clear they all trust him… But does he really think I am a girl…?!)
That surprised me the most.
I attend an all-girls school, and I’m admired by the other girls as a “prince.”
Partly because of my personality and partly because of my experience playing male roles, I’ve come to behave as expected of me.
So, I’ve never once been treated like a girl… not even as a child.
“I’m the one who asked you for this favor, but… are you really okay with it?!”
“Of course!! In that case, let’s make some plans. I’m working right now, so let’s exchange contact info first… I’ll message you later, okay?”
“Thank you so much. I owe you.”
Even though this was for the sake of the role, I found myself genuinely looking forward to what was to come.
The coffee he made for me afterward was every bit as wonderful as the rumors claimed—it warmed my heart from the inside out.
● ○
Since then, we’ve kept in touch and discussed what to do.
With rehearsals starting soon, I proposed we go on a theme park date.
“If I want to quickly understand what it’s like to be a girl in love, then maybe spending a whole, intense day together would do the trick…? And if that’s the case, it has to be a date! But wait—I invited him, so now what do I do? I’ve never gone on a date with a guy before… I’ve heard girls say they go all-out when dressing up for dates, but…”
After much deliberation…
I decided to wear the outfit I felt the most confident in for the date.
(I’ve bought the bouquet, so I’m fully prepared. But I arrived an hour before our meeting time—was I really looking forward to this date with him that much? Is this outfit okay?)
As I stood confidently in front of the meeting place by the fountain, I waited for 30 minutes, feeling increasingly restless inside, until he arrived.
From a distance, I could see that he had a perfect balance of cuteness and coolness.
His up-banged hairstyle and jacket style perfectly complemented his adorable face—it suited him very well.
(He’s like a prince…)
I’ve also been called a prince before, but if I’m the cool, aloof type of prince, then he’s the sweet and kind kind—one that the people would adore. That’s the kind of prince he seemed to be.
Realizing once again that I was about to go on a date with a boy, I suddenly felt a bit embarrassed and teased him to hide my shyness.
“Here you go, enjoy—wait, that’s backwards! Or… maybe not…?”
“Haha, you’re not only cute but also funny. I can’t help but tease you.”
Seeing him a bit confused made me feel warm inside.
I’m not someone who smiles often, but a smile naturally formed on my face.
As it turned out, my outfit really did stand out too much, so we headed to a department store to pick something more suitable.
○ ●
After shopping at the department store, we strolled through the amusement park.
Even I thought I looked like a completely different person compared to when we met at the fountain.
I had put on a long-haired wig with a styled hairdo and wore a fluffy dress with heels—an outfit I’d never worn before.
“Takarazuka-san, you usually have short hair, right? It’s probably feeling heavier because of the wig. But you look really cute.”
“C-cute!? Me!?”
(I’m often told I’m cool, but cute!?)
“Yes, of course! And the silver hair with pink makeup matches perfectly. You look just like a princess from somewhere.”
“A-a princess!? I’ve played princes many times, but me, a princess? That’s a strange thought… This fluffy dress makes me fidgety. I’m used to sharp suit styles or skinny pants…”
“Suits give a masculine vibe because of their straight lines around the shoulders and creases in the slacks. On the other hand, frills and puff sleeves with softer shapes bring out femininity.”
He talked about these things with such excitement.
Even when picking clothes at the department store, his eyes sparkled.
At some point, I found myself unable to look away from his constantly shifting expressions.
“Also, a person’s background, age, family environment, and personality—all of that shows up in their appearance, which is why costumes and makeup are crucial. I read the script and materials for the play ‘Snow Magic, the Far Side of the Moon’ and imagined what kind of person the heroine is. Then I thought, what would it be like if she went on a date to an amusement park? That’s how I came up with this look. It should help you get closer to the role!”
“I-I see…”
At first, I thought he was just a cute boy, but I was wrong.
He took details from the script, processed them within himself, and expressed them externally.
I was overwhelmed by how much he had taken in.
Who are you, really?
“S-sorry! I talked too much, didn’t I…?”
Seeing my reaction, he looked deeply apologetic and sank into himself—had he remembered something?
I quickly rushed to clarify.
“No, I was genuinely impressed… I had no idea you put that much thought into the outfit and makeup… You’re amazing. Just hearing that makes me feel asking you for help was the right decision.”
It was exactly how I felt—an unexpected reward.
When I started fidgeting in the unfamiliar dress, he gave me words that meant more than I could’ve hoped for.
“You look so good and beautiful that people can’t help but look at you. That white dress really makes your sapphire-like eyes shine—it’s stunning.”
Then, I realized something—he had very little confidence in himself.
“But… it’s not just me they’re looking at. I think they’re looking at you too.”
“Huh? Me? It’s probably because someone like me is standing next to such a beautiful woman… I must be standing out in a bad way. Sorry about that.”
But it’s only natural that someone as cute and cool as him would draw attention.
Could this lack of confidence be connected to how he was earlier, when he seemed down?
He was helping me because I was struggling.
And I thought, If he ever has trouble someday, I want to help him too.
What is this feeling?
A sense of gratitude?
Kindness?
I didn’t yet have an answer.