Page 2
Title: As It Was Then
Page 3
Title: As It Was Then
Page 4
4.2
Kazusa: No!
Kazusa: Setsuna… This isn’t…
4.3
Kazusa: Let go… Haru…ki…
Mmph…
4.4
Woman: Oh, my…
Page 5
5.1
FX: Push
5.2
Small FX: Bite
Haruki: Ow!
Large FX: Shove
Small FX: Huff huff
Kazusa: Don’t ever touch me again!
5.3
Narration: I’m sorry, Setsuna…
5.4
Narration: That your final memory of me…
5.5
Narration: should be a painful separation like this.
Page 6
6.1
Caption: Old Vienna, Austria
6.3
Kazusa: …
Narration: Again, at the same spot…
6.4
Kazusa: Snow…
6.5
Narration: Snow always reminds me…
Kazusa: It’s coming down again.
Narration: of everything that happened then.
Page 7
7.1
Kazusa: At the end of the year… in Japan?
7.2
Youko: Yes.
Youko: This year’s year-end concert will be held in Japan.
7.3
Kazusa: I never heard about that.
Youko: Well, now I’ve said it.
7.4
Youko: Kazusa…
You’re coming, too.
Kazusa: What?!
7.5
Kazusa: No way!
Kazusa: I’m staying here!
Page 8
8.1
Youko: What are you talking about?
Youko: I’ve already told the maid that she doesn’t have to come at all for the start of the new year.
8.2
Youko: Also.
Youko: I don’t want…
Youko: to come home and find my daughter dead of starvation or the cold.
Kazusa: I’ve told you, I can live on my own…
8.3
Youko: More importantly, have you decided…
Youko: what you’re going to play at tomorrow’s recital?
8.4
Kazusa: Mm-mm.
Youko: There’s the matter of your introduction, too.
Youko: I called a friend of mine and reserved the café at the concert hall.
8.5
Kazusa: Why don’t I just play what I played at the competition?
Youko: The Transcendental Étude? We already know how well you can play.
Youko: No, it’s Christmas. It should be something everyone can enjoy.
Page 9
9.1
Youko: You know…
Youko: Lately, it’s seemed like you can’t focus very well.
Something’s missing. I get bored listening to you.
9.2
Kazusa: Huh?
Kazusa: What do you mean, “Something”?
FX: Flare
9.3
Youko: What, indeed?
Youko: Oh, I know!
You’re missing the “moe” factor!
Youko: “Moe” is very popular in Japan right now.
Asterisk note: *Around 2010
Kazusa: Moe?
9.4
Youko: I wonder what that Guitar-boy is up to right now?
FX: Ba-thump
Kazusa: Eh?!
What does he have to do with…
9.5
Youko: See? You have to go back to Japan and stock up on some ingredients.
Youko: Like, you know, that?
Youko; Have him pour something into you?
Kazusa: Don’t be stupid, Youko.
Kazusa: Put the wine down.
Kazusa: No way am I going.
Youko: Oh, come on…
Page 10
10.1
Kazusa: I’m boring? I’m missing something? Any other insults for me?
10.2
Narration: I know all of that already. I have for a long time.
10.3
Narration: Since I was young, just shutting my eyes has been enough for my mother’s music playing to come bubbling up.
10.4
Narration: Pursuing that, imitating that, kept me from feeling lonely when I was left at home by myself.
I had no personality as a kid.
Left alone, ignored.
The heat in Japan gave me nightmares; the intense cold here cooled me down.
When I came to Vienna, I became keenly, almost painfully aware of my own inexperience.
I spent two years refining my skill, making up for the past several years of inadequate practice.
10.5
Narration: Fortunately, I had someone around who gave me something to aim for.
Caption: Martin Flügel
Kazusa’s teacher; formerly Youko’s teacher as well
Narration: How to play, to approach that sound…
To approach that woman.
Martin: Kazusa…
10.6
Martin: Why don’t you try entering a competition?
Page 11
11.1
Narration: At the competition, I simply played as the score told me…
as the composer intended…
as Flügel directed me.
11.2
Narration: I was satisfied with the results.
11.3
Narration: The results of try after try, boosting my technique to its utmost limit.
11.4
Man: Yes!
FX: Jolt
11.5
Narration: The man who took first place…
seemed deliriously happy.
Man: Thank you! Thank you!
Page 12
12.1
FX: Heh
Narration: Practically jumping up and down…
12.2
Narration: It reminded me just a bit of him.
12.3
Youko: Gut. [Good.]
Page 13
13.1
Arrow note: Written in German
Banner: Celebrating Kazusa Touma
Runner-up in the piano division of the Trusty International Music Competition
Youko Touma’s Christmas Chamber Music Performance
FX: Chatter chatter
Kazusa: What on earth…
13.2
Kazusa: Huh?
Small FX: Whee
Large FX: Bustle bustle
Small FX: Ha ha
Kazusa: What?
Small FX: Tug
Girl: What are you gonna play today?
Woman: Ahaha…
Girl: So pretty!
Small FX: Yay
13.3
Youko: My friend here and I…
Girl: Teacher! Teacher!
FX: Boing boing
Youko: We run a music school for children.
13.4
Youko: They’re all so adorable! I wish we had just one more.
Youko: Oh!
Kazusa: Don’t make this family even more complicated, please…
FX: Sigh
Girl: Teacher!
Other child: Play with me!
13.5
Youko: Then, you make one!
Kazusa: Wh-Who?!
FX: Ba-thump
Page 14
14.1
Kazusa: Is this where you’ve been going once a week?
Youko: I listen, praise them, and occasionally interrupt, that’s all.
Youko: It just has my name—or my face, I suppose.
Since I’m bad at teaching.
14.2
Youko: We need to get them up to successor level.
Kazusa: Successor…?
Youko: Up until just now, have I ever observed your practicing?
Kazusa: …No, you haven’t.
14.3
Youko: That’s right. I’ve never given you anything more than an assessment of “good” or “bad.”
Kazusa: You’re leaving it up to someone else to find your successor? Seriously?
Youko: You’re my successor, aren’t you?
Kazusa: …
14.4
Youko: I’m your target, and your rival, aren’t I?
Kazusa: Y-Yeah, obviously!
FX: B-tmp b-tmp
14.5
Announcer: And now, for today’s special guest, Youko Touma’s daughter, who made such a magnificent showing in last month’s Trusty International Competition…
Youko: Listen, they’re calling you.
Kazusa: Ah…
Page 15
15.2
Narration: I never did decide what to play…
What do I do?
15.3
Narration: It’s been long enough…
FX: Tap
Narration: Maybe I’ll try playing that.
15.5
Youko: Hmm…
Narration: Liebestraum No. 3, from Liszt’s Three Nocturnes…
Page 16
16.1
Narration: I thought she would play the usual Transcendental Étude…
Narration: She’s been hiding this from me.
16.2
Narration: Or, maybe she just didn’t want to bring it out?
16.3
Narration: The last time I played this…
may have been back then…
16.4
Narration: I intentionally left it out of my repertoire because I didn’t want to remember that time.
Even though I loved the piece.
Page 17
17.1
Rina: Ah!
Rina: Coming here was worth it!
17.2
Narration: I wanted him to hear more of my playing.
17.3
Narration: I remembered how much fun the piano could be…
thanks to him.
17.4
Narration: I really did…
enjoy myself, back then.
17.5
FX: Clap clap clap clap
FX: Roar
17.6
Audience: Zugabe! [Encore!]
Page 18
18.1
Audience: Zugabe!
Kazusa: Whoa…
Audience: Zugabe!
FX: Chatter chatter
18.2
Audience: Zugabe!
Kazusa: Um… What should I…
Magdalena: Could we ask you to play one more piece?
Audience: Zugabe!
18.3
Narration: One piece…
18.4
Narration: All right.
I think I can play it now.
FX: Shf
Large FX: Roar
18.6
Kazusa: Sie tat, einsam zu sein?
18.7
Kazusa: Warum? Ich kann ‘aufhören, darüber nachzudenken
Narration: My singing voice is nowhere near hers, but…
Kazusa: Bevor ich weiß es, ich habe von Ihnen fasziniert worden [Then, before I knew it, you fascinated me more than anyone]
Page 19
19.1
Kazusa: Was muss ich tun, um diese Herz im Spiegel haben? [How can I show my heart in the mirror?]
Narration: I still hear Setsuna’s voice in my ears.
19.2
FX: Clap clap
Kazusa: Danke!
Kazusa: Thank you for the flowers!
19.3
Girl: Your piano playing and singing were both amazing.
19.4
FX: Clap clap
Kazusa: Is that so? Are you working hard practicing the piano?
Girl: Yep!
19.5
Youko: Look at you, playing and singing at the same time!
You were a big hit.
Kazusa: It’s not that big a deal.
19.6
Rina: Oh, there you are!
Rina: Sorry I’m late, Auntie.
Page 20
20.1
Rina: It’s been a while since I last saw you…
Rina: Auntie Youko.
20.2
Youko: Ahh!
Youko: Rina-chan?!
Narration: Rina?
I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere before…
20.3
Narration: Huh…?! Rina Ogata?!
Youko: I’m so glad you made it!
FX: Chatter chatter
Rina: I came as quick as I could!
20.4
Narration: Rina Ogata—a popular idol and entertainer, currently based in New York.
In recent years, she has appeared in a CATV drama, gaining further popularity.
20.5
Narration: And she’s standing right here!
Youko: I have a session to do with the children, so sit here and make yourself comfortable, Rina-chan.
Rina: Sure.
Page 21
21.1
Rina: So nice to meet you! I’m Rina Ogata.
Kazusa: Uh-huh!
FX: Ba-thump
Rina: Congratulations on placing second in the Trusty International Competition, Kazusa Touma-san.
21.2
Narration: She knows about me?
Kazusa: Huh?
Rina: You look like you’re wondering why I know who you are.
21.3
Rina: It’s written right up there, on that giant banner.
Banner: Celebrating Kazusa Touma
Runner-up in the piano division of the Trusty International Music Competition
Youko Touma’s Christmas Chamber Music Performance
Asterisk note: *Written in German
Magdalena: Miss Touma! There are stairs over this way!
Youko: Hup!
Kazusa: Oh… Right.
FX: Blush
21.4
Rina: Just kidding!
Kazusa: Uh?
Rina: Aha!
Rina: I’m a fan of yours.
21.5
Kazusa: You are?
Rina: I’ve always been a big fan of Auntie Youko…
Rina: Every time I come to Europe, I make sure to see her concerts.
Page 22
22.1
Rina: But, last month, I came to see the competition you were in.
Rina: Initially, I was invited to see “Youko Touma’s daughter”…
22.3
Rina: But, the moment I first heard you, I became a fan.
Kazusa: What? But, I’m still far from the level of…
Rina: Don’t be so humble!
22.4
Rina: You didn’t need the label of “Youko Touma’s daughter.”
22.5
Rina: You were an astonishing player in your own right.
22.6
Rina: By the way…
What was that wonderful song you just played?
Rina: For the encore.
Page 23
23.1
Rina: It sounded like a pop song…
Kazusa: Oh… That, well…
23.2
Kazusa: It’s a song I wrote in Japan, when I was in high school.
It’s nothing that big…
Rina: No, I loved it. There was a lot of feeling in it.
Rina: It was overflowing with feeling.
23.3
Rina: So, was it a boy?
FX: Ding
Kazusa: Urk
Rina: I bet so.
23.4
Youko: Oh? What are we talking about?
Look at you, making friends already.
She’s a fan of yours, you know, Rina-chan.
Youko: Is that black lump over there my daughter?
FX: Slump
Rina: I think I hit a sore spot.
Rina: I was just asking what that encore song was.
Narration: I’m not gonna be Rina-chan’s fan any more…
Youko: How funny!
Youko: The encore?
23.5
Kazusa: Please don’t remember!
Youko: Fa Mi Do Re, Re Mi Fa Fa Fa So Mi…
Narration: Ah… She was there, huh…
FX: Tremble tremble
23.6
Youko: Hm? Well…
I do feel like I’ve heard it once before…
Youko: Oh, I remember!
Rina: Oh?
Youko: Was it an arrangement of the song you played at your high school festival?
Page 24
24.1
Youko: This girl wanted to get the attention of the boy playing guitar with her.
But the boy wound up with another—
Kazusa: You can do it. You can do it.
Kazusa: Quit blabbing!
24.2
Youko: Scandalous, right?
Kazusa: Stop talking about my memories that way!
Rina: Oh… Um, sorry…
24.3
Youko: It was remarkable.
That performance was something more than the haphazard playing you’d been doing.
Youko: I could tell that you had taken a step toward becoming an expressive player…
which is why I brought you here to Vienna with me.
24.4
Magdalena: Hey!
24.5
FX: Jab
Magdalena: Over there! Touma-sensei! Silence, please!
This is the students’ performance! Shut up and listen, please!
Caption: Magdalena
Youko Touma’s European manager
Flautist (still learning Japanese)
24.6
Kazusa: “Shut up and listen…”
Rina: “Please…”
Youko: Sorry, Maggie.
Page 25
25.1
Youko: So sorry, everyone…
Girl: Teacher, you have to be quiet!
FX: Boooo boooo boooo
Girl: You always tell us to listen when someone is performing!
Boy: I’m sleepy…
Boy: Not fair!
25.2
Youko: Well, I’ve been told off…
Kazusa: I was the one yelling, but…
Kazusa: You keep getting carried away making fun of me…
Youko: Sorry.
Youko: Oh, dear.
25.3
Rina: Hey, so…
Kazusa: Yes? …Huh?!
Rina: Right?
25.4
Rina: Could I ask you a favor?
Magdalena: Hm?
25.5
FX: Chatter chatter
Rina: Merry Christmas, everyone! Sorry for making so much noise.
Rina: I don’t know whether to call this an “apology,” exactly, but I’m going to sing something for you now!
25.6
Rina: Ready?
Kazusa: Yep.
25.8
Kazusa: “White Album.”
Page 26
26.1
Rina: Though the number of days we miss each other is growing,
Rina: The feelings we have for each other are just by our sides.
26.2
Caption: Mothers of Japanese students
Women: Wait, this song…
Is it an English cover of Yuki Morikawa?
Is that really her?
Rina Ogata? What’s she doing here?
It’s Rina-chan!
26.3
Rina: To say that it’s okay for us not to see each other…
26.4
Youko: Well, well!
Youko: How wonderful!
26.5
Rina: It’s a façade, twined with a sigh.
Narration: Something about this… feels familiar.
Maybe I’d forgotten how much fun that time was, focusing constantly on the most painful memories?
26.6
Narration: Setsuna… What’s she doing, now…?
Is she still singing…?
Page 27
27.1
Woman: Rinaaa!
FX: Roar
Woman: Rina-chaaan!
Rina: Let it fill all the emptiness in this album.
27.2
FX: Tug
Youko: Unbelievable…
Starting something this much fun without me…
FX: Click
Narration: But I’m the star!
FX: Rattle
Rina: You just invited yourself in at the climax?!
Kazusa: So immature…
Asterisk note: Interlude: alto sax solo
27.3
Audience: Rina-chaaan!
Youko! Youko!
Woo! Woo!
Youko!
Rina!
Audience: Zugabe!
Audience: Zugabe!
Narration: The recital was an enormous success.
27.4
Rina: It can’t be easy, having a genius so close by.
FX: Zzz
27.5
Kazusa: Genius, airhead… Such a thin line.
Youko: Can’t drink any more…
Rina: Yeah, maybe so.
27.6
Rina: I have a lot of respect for Youko Touma.
Rina: A Japanese woman, flourishing abroad…
She’s become a touchstone. You don’t see many artists like her.
Page 28
28.1
Rina: I see… Your best friend and romantic rival…
Kazusa: I left all of that…
Kazusa: behind in Japan…
28.2
Rina: Are you afraid to remember?
Kazusa: …
28.3
Rina: You could say I ran away, too.
I talk about expanding my activity overseas, as an excuse…
Rina: But I kind of wonder…
whether I don’t belong in Japan any more.
Kazusa: Rina-san…
28.4
Rina: But, I have a dear friend who’s working hard in Japan.
She’s going to be participating in the New Year’s Eve singing competition for the first time in a while.
Rina: Thanks.
Rina: So, I’m planning to sneak in and support her.
28.5
Rina: If I can, I’d like to bring her out with me.
Rina: Bring Yuki to the world.
Page 29
29.1
FX: Vrooooo
29.2
Youko: It’s rare for you to come all the way to the airport to see me off.
Kazusa: I’m not coming to see you off, I’m coming for Rina-san.
Rina: You two…
29.3
Rina: Kazusa-san…
Kazusa: Yes?
29.4
Rina: Even painful memories will eventually turn into pleasant ones.
Rina: It took ten years for me to feel ready to go back to Japan.
What about you?
29.5
Kazusa: I’m still not sure.
29.6
Rina: Well, keep it up in the meantime.
Kazusa: I will.
29.7
Youko: Kazusa…
When I get back, would you consider helping me at the music school?
Kazusa: Huh?
Youko: The children liked you quite a bit, you know.
29.8
Youko: You could learn a lot from teaching others.
Kazusa: I know.
29.9
Kazusa: Well, I’ll ask the old man about it first.
Page 30
30.1
Youko: Also, I’m sorry to push this on you…
Youko: But I don’t have the time. Will you get this reimbursed?
30.2
Kazusa: Huh?
Youko: It’s a ticket for a flight to Japan that I was supposed to be taking the day after tomorrow.
I’ve paid the cancellation fee. You could take it in your name, if you wanted.
30.3
Kazusa: I’m not using this.
30.4
Youko: Kazusa…
Youko: I’m going to give my best performance in Japan.
30.5
Kazusa: What’s that mean?
Youko: I’m going to give a performance you could never match…
to make the name of Youko Touma known to the people of Japan.
30.6
Youko: Anyway, off I go.
Kazusa: Seriously, what do you mean?
I told you, I’m not going!
Narration: I’m going to put up a hurdle for your debut in Japan.
30.7
Rina: See you, Kazusa.
I look forward to your next performance.
Rina: Have a happy new year!
Page 31
31.1
Kazusa: Well…
FX: Turn
Kazusa: Practice, practice, practice.
31.2
Kazusa: Maybe I’ll talk to the old man about the music school thing.
31.3
Rina: Say, Auntie Youko…
Youko: Hm? What is it, Rina-chan?
31.4
Rina: The one who invited me to the recital. Was it…
Youko: Mm?
Hmm…
31.5
Rina: Well, it was a lot of fun, so it’s all the same to me.
Youko: Being a parent…
means doing absolutely everything for your children.
31.6
Youko: You should try having one, Rina-chan! It’s very interesting.
Rina: Oh, really?
End caption: To be continued
White Album 2 Drama CD: One-Night Triumphant Return
Page 32
Afterword: Thank you so much for picking up this booklet. I got sick at the start of autumn, which delayed my starting work on it, and as a result I wasn’t able to add color to the cover, but I believe the content fits in with the rest of my work.
At the time that I was producing “Amore Furioso,” my adult-oriented work about Setsuna, I found myself thinking, “What would Kazusa be doing right now?” I listened to the White Album 2 drama CD, “One-Night Triumphant Return,” and the question of why Kazusa would decide to go to Japan occurred to me. That was the base point for this story. Only the original creator knows her real motive, so I wasn’t able to reach a conclusion, but I feel like I’ve at least set a flag with this, or something. (lol)
Also, the matter of Rina Ogata’s appearance… Her age is around 30, aged up from the very first Windows edition of White Album. (The timelines in the anime and comics conflict a little.) It started when I rewatched the sealed White Album anime in early autumn, and then, at the White Album Only event in November, as I was drawing Rina Ogata for a circle signboard (shown to the right), I thought I might try involving her in the story. I think I managed to add a little color to the black-haired mother and daughter that way (lol).
Including photocopy zines and event-restricted works, this is my ninth WA2 book, but if I can, I’d like to include it in the 10th, to mark that big milestone. The White Album 2 Mini After-Story is supposed to arrive this winter! And, on the same day that this book gets published, there’s going to be a Club Radio recording happening elsewhere… What new announcements could there be?! (Since I’ll be with my circle, I won’t be able to go and listen. ;o; )
Anyway, I hope this has touched your heartstrings in some way or another.
December, 2014 Xanadu
In the word balloons for this one, I wrote lines for foreign language conversations horizontally, and Japanese conversations vertically. It may be a bit difficult to read, but thank you for understanding.
Also, as usual, your author is not especially strong with foreign languages. I would be very grateful for your sympathy regarding any typos or mistranslations.
Page 33
Publishing info: White Album 2 Fan Books 9
As It Was Then
Published: December 30th, 2014 CM87
Natakuga-yuku! Xanadu
Contact: xanadu_kenji@yahoo.co.jp
HP: http://xanadu2.blog8.fc2.com/
Printer: Sunrise Publication
Unauthorized reproduction, digitization, or sharing online is prohibited.
Page 34
34.1
Narration: That your final memory of me…
34.2
Narration: should be a painful separation like this…
Haruki: Don’t go, Kazusa…
Sign: Departure Inspection
Kazusa: Don’t follow me!
34.3
FX: Ding-dong
Staff: No entry.
Haruki and Setsuna: Kazusaaa!
Kazusa: Huh?
Woman: This way, please.
34.4
Haruki and Setsuna: Kazusasaa!
Kazusa: What could it be?
FX: Beep beep beep
Woman: Your phone?
34.5
Staff: You can’t bring any liquids on board.
Narration: That your final memory of me…
Kazusa: My sugar water!
FX: Doom
Haruki and Setsuna: Kazusaaa!
Narration: should be a painful separation like this…
Page 35
Title: Another story in Vienna
White Album 2 Fan Books 9 Natakuga-yuku! 2014 winter