#a3! igawa

[mxddyhero]

are these anything.

#im gonna be transparent with yall here. lin inspired me to make these #going a little insane over the o high song does that to folk #anyway #tenma sumeragi #taichi nanao #a3! igawa

[emilycollins00]

Getting there (Tenma centric)

Igawa is not Tenma’s father.

And yet, he ends up caring about him like one— he’s a bit awkward about it though.

OR three times Igawa is there for Tenma, and one time Tenma steps up for him.

Anyone that sets foot inside the acting world in Japan knows what type of power comes from the Sumeragi’s agencies.

Premium status. Fame. Validation.

One of the best of the current generation according to the media. Their buildings and workers emanate class, authority, and it wasn’t easy to manage a job there— which is why many agreed one could be called lucky just to be considered.

Igawa adjusts the collar of his suit. Ignores the prominent beating of his heart. Pushes his glasses up his nose. Repeats it all over. He is conscious how much sweat he is producing with only empty chairs staring back at him, and wonders if it would be possible to ask for a cup of water without crying.

How in the world he had managed to get so far was still out of his comprehension. A blur. After the first shock, a few more interviews and some phone calls, today was the day he would sign the final contract to become Sumeragi Tenma’s personal manager and guardian, the agreement outlining the terms of a two-year commitment and providing an option for renewal.

That is if he managed to leave the room without having a panic attack.

He stirs in his seat, taking for the sixth time a look at his watch, anxiety rising. Seven past ten. They hadn’t guided him into the wrong room, had they? As a test?

Oh god, he really hopes not.

Just when the young man is contemplating the idea of discretely checking the number of the room the door swings right open behind him, barely giving him time to swallow his scream. Two figures enter while he scrambles to get up and bow, drying his sweaty hands on the back of his pants.

“Igawa, I presume.”

“Y-yes, sir! I- it’s a pleasure!”

The man in front of him nods, taking his hand in a strong grip. “Thank you for waiting longer than necessary. I was needed to sign some documents before coming here and they took longer than expected.” His face is stoic and his voice profound while they shake hands.

“Oh, no! Not a problem!”

There was something about Sumeragi Eiji that instilled respect even from afar. But having the real deal in front of you? Downright terrifying. His acting had been leading the masses for many years. One wrong move and you could be done soon enough, to which Igawa imagined extended to his son.

His son.

It’s right there when Igawa takes his first good look at Sumeragi Tenma.

At the ripe old age of ten, Tenma is of course shorter than him. He seems to feel his gaze, because not even a heartbeat later the boy lifts his head up to meet Igawa’s— piercing, captivating purple eyes focused in a way the young man had never seen before in a kid.

"Tenma, this is the man your mother and I informed you about. He’ll be your manager and act as your guardian while we are abroad for the time being."

The young boy nods, half of his face twisted up as he keeps staring at Igawa thoughtfully. He wasn’t the son of two the current biggest celebrities in the country for nothing. "Nice to meet you, Igawa-san. I will be in your care."

His voice is childlike, although there is a slight effort being put on a low-pitched tone. The clear attempt to sound more mature, maybe trying to imitate his father’s powerful voice. Igawa nods and bows as quickly and politely as possible. "L-likewise! It’s a pleasure to finally meet you too, Tenma-kun." he holds his hand out awkwardly towards him, and they shake hands. “I’ll be in your care from now on.”

.

.

.

It doesn’t take Igawa long to learn the young actor exudes an aura that inherently draws others, just like the rumors said. His rising fame is an ongoing talk in the media— never seen another child actor behave more like an adult, treating every co-worker with the seriousness and respect they all displayed.

“He really is perfect!”

“Eiji-san must be proud.”

“Could we have some words from the upcoming young star of this movie?”

Of course, Igawa also comes to notice certain walls. Given his status and young age, Tenma was many times unaware that not everyone shared his privilege, which left many of his remarks about others seem cruel and hurtful. It was difficult, to try to explain the difference between honestly and bluntness.

Still, Tenma was a good kid with a dream he was determined to reach. Seeing how Tenma pushed forward to improve, hanging on to any advice or criticism he received from veteran actors or directors with a spiteful passion, practicing his movements or voice projection for hours after his personal instructors had left— all that effort made Igawa want to support him the best he could.

Which makes the time he failed to enter his planned middle school such a big deal.

They had just renewed Igawa’s contract a few weeks prior, meaning he had been able to feel once again an incredible mix of confusion, appreciation, and horror at the same time. The amount of press recognition Tenma had gotten over the years was more than many had expected. Although not his parents, apparently. They kept sending him emails with offers and used their connections daily, which made passing the entrance exam for middle school a much bigger issue than the ordinary person.

“Tenma-kun?! Tenma-kun, can you hear me!”

Igawa would have never expended the young boy to run away from the school grounds like that. Maybe— maybe he hadn’t made himself clear? Tenma was supposed to wait for him inside the car as he signed some documents so once he entered the vehicle and found it empty, it only took him less than a minute for his anxiety to spike through the sky.

Oh my god.

They had just renewed his contract and he had already lost his actor.

"Tenma-kun! Tenma-kun!!"

Igawa calls out of breath as he looks around desperately, gaining looks from other passers-by. For the first time he doesn’t take notice of being the center of attention or rather, he doesn’t even notice. How could he? He has no idea whatsoever where his twelve-year-old genius child actor, who captivates masses way beyond his regular piers, could probably have gone.

The thought makes Igawa want to vomit.

It’s only fifteen minutes later, just when Igawa is on the verge of having a breakdown and calling the police when he catches a glimpse of familiar hair. Tenma is sitting on a bench, looking exhausted and a little worse for wear. His shoulders are hunched and jaw set as he meets him. "Igawa...?"

“Tenma-kun!”

The young boy starts to rise as the Igawa runs in his direction, all his strength fading away. He can’t even manage to pretend to be angry, just confused. “I-I’ve been looking for you for…! Why did you suddenly leave like that?!”

“What do you mean?” Tenma frowns. “I left a message in the car saying I was going back home alone. Didn’t think you would come to look for me.”

“The car…? But— you, I didn’t think you—” Igawa doesn’t know how to explain this without damaging his confidence. “Tenma-kun this is… the opposite, um, way. I’m afraid…”

They stare at each other, and seconds later the young boy’s cheeks redden, sitting back on the bench and evading looking at his eyes. "I— of course I know that! I just had more stuff to think about so I decided to walk around some more!”

He then looks to the ground ashamed, gritting his teeth while Igawa finds himself still regaining air.

“...What did my parents say."

“Uh?”

“It wasn’t a difficult question, Igawa.” Tenma spits. The boy regrets the tone as soon as the words come out of his mouth though, because Igawa indeed looks worried (although he always does in the youngster's mind) but he’s too proud to take them back. “Whatever, the press will cover it soon and they’ll know.”

And then it finally sits on Igawa. The press.

Working the media industry is dangerous. No matter how long you have been at the top, one can always count on something happening, even the smallest thing, to rise and flop your career. Young Tenma knows. And Igawa knows too.

So that’s why he looked a little more than desperate.

“Forget it, let’s go home.”

Because Tenma has never been the best student— and he knows, despite feinting otherwise. He is always painfully aware when his professors let him go with a free pass, the thought ‘you didn’t earn this’ nagging at the back of his mind each time he moved up a year only because of his parent’s influence.

Next time he won’t even have that. Pathetic.

"But—" Igawa tries to interrupt but Tenma’s jaw tightens again, and his eyes narrow, casting his ashen face in shadow.

“...Who cares about working hard!” He suddenly declares out loud, turning his hands into fists. “Everyone is right. Everyone should be angry and disappointed with me. You are too, right Igawa? I saw it the moment we looked at the results. All I have is because of my parents and their connections. If I can’t even get in a stupid school like that one everyone will—”

“TENMA-KUN!”

The unexpected shout— for both of them really, Igawa doesn’t remember ever raising his voice in front of him for anything— cuts his speech off. Once the shock ends, Tenma reverts back to the expression he had come in wearing, like a man ready to be condemned. Igawa's anxiety rises again.

"Sorry! Sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled. It’s just, you are not at fault, Tenma-kun," he explains, leaning forward as though the action would force the young boy to accept his words. “I’m not, angry or— disappointed. I was just worried.”

He blinks, his face painfully surprised. "What do you mean?" He asks, feeling dumb.

Igawa sits next to him on the bench. He speaks again. "...I was worried because you didn’t look okay, and then I worried again when I couldn't find you. Not because I thought you did anything wrong or failed the entrance exam, but because you could have gotten hurt, ah— even if you were going home."

"Worried?" Tenma repeats, looking even more confused. He doesn’t seem to know what to do with this information. He blinks once. Twice. "You mean... you don't think I’m stupid?" Tenma asks slowly.

Igawa’s stomach sinks.

He looks at Tenma's face. He is ashen and looks exhausted, little bags showing under his eyes. He had been on a full stride of commercial the last few days with irregular working hours. It looked like nothing held him together but pure desperate, stubborn will. And even with all of that, he did the exam.

You don’t think I’m stupid—  how could a child ask an adult that?

“No!” he shakes his head, vividly scared at the mere thought. "I— Tenma-kun I never thought you were. Not even once."

“But— but I failed!” Tenma shut his mouth, face flushing from embarrassment, adverting his eyes at the memory. He can’t help the disappointment that wells in his gut as he stares at the ground.

“A-and there’s nothing to be embarrassed about that! You did your best. That’s— that’s what’s important, right? Your parents know this as well.”

“Right. Because they told you that.”

He hadn’t called them, but Igawa finds himself nodding nonetheless. It’s not like he was actually lying. Because why would they mind? They were his parents. Tenma’s face contorts as a result and it occurs to him that whatever the young actor expected him to say, Igawa gave him something else entirely and the boy didn't know how to deal with that.

"Oh." He says, sounding as lost as he looked. "Well— okay, I guess.”

.

.

.

Most fourteen years old have specific interests or hobbies that they enjoy. Sports, crafts, music, games, you name it. And yet, after all these years, Igawa could have a gun pointed at his head and he still wouldn’t be able to say what exactly did Sumeragi Tenma in his spare time.

It’s not weird, right? Oh please don’t let it be weird, he begs as he presses the doorbell.

Was he crossing a line he shouldn’t? Would his parents say something? What if—

"Igawa?" Tenma squints, peeking outside the apartment at the tensed manager. “What are you doing here?”

"H-hello Tenma-kun!" his voice comes out a little breathless and rushed, but does his best to smile nonetheless. “May I come in?”

The young teen gives him an odd look, but apparently decides the point wasn't worth pressing as he shrugs and turns to let him enter. As he sits again in the living room, Igawa notices the young teen has scripts all over the dinner table.

“A-are these the offers I sent you yesterday? You have gone through them so quick! I’m impressed as always.”

"Right..." the young teen repeats slowly, staring at Igawa like one would a madman. "So? I thought I had no schedule this week.”

"Mhm? Oh! uh, you don’t." the teenager frowns in confusion. He then pays attention to the box the man has been carrying all this time.

“What’s that?”

“Uh?”

“Inside that box.” Tenma points with his head. “Fan letters?”

Igawa gulps down. Maybe it hadn’t been the best idea after all. He scratches his head. “W-well, um, actually I was thinking of showing you this…”

He takes up the object from inside the box, and immediately Tenma frowns puzzled.

“A bonsai? I thought they were pretty much for old people.”

Igawa tries to laugh it off, placing the tree on the table next to the scripts. Tenma steps forward, touching it with the tips of his fingers with a spec of curiosity. He had never seen an actual bonsai. “W-well, it was um, my late father’s. He enjoyed taking care of them.”

Tenma quickly retracts his hand from touching the plant anymore. “Ah. Sorry.”

“Oh no! It’s fine.”

Tenma doesn’t seem to think it’s fine. Even though they have been together for so many years, he actually knows so very little from Igawa aside from being prone to having mental breakdowns yet being strangely skillful when coordinating his hundreds of different schedules. “So… why have you carried it here then? Bonsais are supposed to be impressive but this one looks more than a little runty and small.”

“This particular bonsai...” Igawa starts to explain quietly. His own father told him it was going to die years ago— even his mother asked if it was even worth watering. “I brought it to my house, hoping I could nurse it back to health. And you know, it did! Kind of? It’s, um, kind of a stubborn Bonsai. It fought for every one of its roots, and it managed to survive when I showed it some care and attention. I thought- maybe you would like to, um, give it a try.”

“Like a pet? You know I don’t have time to take care of it, Igawa.”

“Not like a pet! I— well. I know it’s not the best uh, gift but it helped me when I was down. N-not that I think you are sad, of course just, um, thought it would also brighten up this apartment…?”

Tenma stares at the tree, and proceeds to sight in resignation. His manager was so weird sometimes.

.

.

Tenma steps out of the bathroom, towel around his shoulders as he heads towards the living room. He keeps reading the message their parents sent— another too-long note about how they hadn’t been able to come to see him due to some issues, along with a promised video call that would probably not happen given the time.  

He closes the phone and yawns, heading to the sofa to eat the bento box the cleaning lady uses to leave him for dinner. It has carrots, and while he entertains himself in separating them, a sudden feeling makes him stop and lean back on the sofa, head looking at the ceiling. His head then turns to the right, finding the bonsai Igawa had left still in the same position he had left it.

Of course it was in the same position— he lived technically alone by now. If he didn’t take care of it, no one would.

M-my late father enjoyed taking care of them.

He stands up and walks towards the small tree, staring at it for some time, analyzing every inch of its form. It really wasn’t the best-looking bonsai. And yet he couldn't bring himself to stop staring at it.

“...Sorry for making fun of you.”

There’s a silence after he says that sentence out loud, and Tenma almost cringes at his own actions. Who talked to plants?

He sighs, scratching the back of his head, and looks away. He stares at the phone in his hand, and then back again at the little tree. The young actor traces a finger along its leaves, softening his gaze once he notices how brittle they feel.

“You should just grow at your own pace, you know. You for once are lucky to have all the time to be the best”.

Hearing those words almost feel they were for him too.

.

.

Two days later Igawa calls the doorbell. They have an audition and need to be there early, since they are one of the first ones to go.

He rings again. No one opens the door. There is no sound coming from inside, which sets an alarm. Begging this just like when the now teen forgot to wake himself up as a child, Igawa looks into his keys, finding the copy from the apartment. “Tenma-kun?” he calls. He runs to the bedroom, and then to his living room.

Usually Tenma is brazen, so it’s strange even for Igawa to see him so out of his element. The manager blinks to make sure he really is seeing the young teen on the couch, curled around a book about bonsais as if he’s fighting an inward battle. 

“How do they make them so small?” he mutters to himself, unaware that he’s even in the room. He holds a bag of soil and scissors like they might get up and start dancing.

“Tenma-kun?”

Tenma jumps "Wha—! Igawa, you could at least ring if you are coming inside!” he exclaims, trying to hide everything he can to no avail. His ears are red.

“Sorry! I, uh, rang?” his eyes turn to the Bonsai that’s been sitting next to the orange-head. “Did you buy all of that for—”

“D-don’t get me wrong! It’s not that I enjoyed taking care of it, I have far too many things to do, but— it’s not really smelly and, uh, it really brightens the apartment so… yeah.”

Igawa has to force himself to bite his lip in order to not smile.

“Of course! Please let me know if you have any question. I still have some things back at home if you would like to have them!”

Tenma knows Igawa is happy— he’s not an idiot. He can see he’s barely containing his excitement, which is embarrassing on its own. But for this time, he’s gonna ignore it.

“…Thanks.”

His manager really was weird.

.

.

.

As the passing years turns out, it gets settled in Igawa’s mind that while Tenma has become and actual celebrity just like he always wished, he isn’t exactly well in the emotional department. He wonders -not for the first time- if he should say anything. Do something. But then again, who is he to meddle in his employers' family matters?

So for now, he does his best from where he can help.

Please be there, please be there, please for heaven’s sake be still there.

Among the immense crowd at the entrance of the school, Igawa stops the car and rolls down the window. There are groups of students and families walking out, and he’s about to give up when he’s finally noticed by who he’s been looking for. Motioning from inside the car, he waits until the back door opens and hears the muffled sound of something dropping. Tenma holds his middle school graduation diploma in his hands. He is half slumped over the car seat; legs stretched as he stares blankly at nothing in particular.

“…I thought today was your day off.” He comments flatly.

“A-ah, that! It’s just, uh, Yamada-san suddenly got some urgent matters to attend to and I was already in the area so it was decided.” Igawa looks over the car’s mirror. “So, uh, how… was the ceremony? Did you take photos?”

"It was okay." Tenma responds dully. "Aren’t you going to start the car?"

Igawa stares again at the teen, worry churning in his gut. After all the school Tenma had missed— not his fault or on purpose, Igawa never blamed him for that— the preteen knew how important keeping his attendance up was and he desperately didn't want to be held back. He worked hard to catch up, trying to get to know other students who one day could be called friends. He just wanted some normalcy, to keep whatever regularity in his life he could.

That unfortunately, wasn’t always the case.

After arriving at the apartment, Igawa glances at the clock and bites his lip. He closes the door as gently as he can while watching the young actor walk down to the hall.

Igawa tries to understand the situation. He really does. With a heavy heart, he picks up his cell phone remembering the call, barely an hour ago.

We won’t be able to make it back home today. Congratulate Tenma for us.

“They sent sushi.”

There’s no emotion in the teen’s voice coming from the kitchen. The lights in the living room are still off, the only light coming into the luxurious flat from the opened blinds left by the cleaner that very morning.

"Tenma-kun," Igawa calls, seeing him leave the backpack to the side, blank face as he stared at the feast in front of him. He clears his throat. “Tenma-kun your parents… they couldn’t make it in time, it seems.”

“Mhm.”

No comments. Not a resemblance of surprise in his purple eyes as they eye the beautifully presented food.

“They, um— they told me they were truly sorry and they wish you spent a…” he felt dirty saying it outloud. “…wonderful day! I— I can confirm they’ll see you as soon as their own schedules free them on the—”

“It’s fine, Igawa. See what you can do about the food, I’m gonna go change.” Tenma informs dismissing the matter. He walks away towards his room, still clinging to the diploma like a lifeline, his knuckles almost white. He closes the door and proceeds to seat on the floor, curling up. His eyes are squeezed tightly shut.

He is fine, Tenma tells himself.

He just needs to calm down and change his uniform. He knows Igawa, and he will most likely come to get him if he doesn’t come out soon. There was no way he would make a fuss over it— he was not going to make his own manager worry. Impotence arises when he feels tears gathering in his eyes.

What was he, five?

“T-Tenma-kun?”

A few knocks come from outside the door, and his eyes snap open when he hears his name being called, panic practically oozing out of them.

"One second!" his breathing is erratic, coming out in strangled gasps as he leans over slightly, bracing his hands on his knees tighter. "Just— give me a second!"

Great acting. That was such a blatant lie the soon-to-be summer troupe member didn't know if he wanted to laugh or cry. He also knew Igawa hadn’t believed him. He wasn’t an actor’s agent for nothing -no matter how much of a nervous wreck and worrywart he was.

"…You know what, you can leave, Igawa." he croaks, his voice shattered. “You didn’t even had to come get me and now I’m acting like a child.”

"P-please! You have nothing to be sorry for!" Igawa exclaims. Tenma can’t see his face, yet he can picture it perfectly. He scoffs.

“I’m not that stupid you know. I expected something like this.” He tries to regain control of his voice, but it still sounds heartbreakingly shattered.

Embarrasing.

It wasn’t the first time they hadn’t come to see him. Nor the second one. Not even the tenth one.

But he had worked so hard this last year.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the door, Igawa thinks he might be sick.

Because Tenma was already fifteen. A young actor still rising who worked day and night, whose fame stared in multitude of adverts. But for heaven’s sake he was also only fifteen too, sitting at the moment in the middle of his cluttered bedroom and trying to understand why his parents couldn’t spend one day with him on the day he wasn't working on a movie or practicing for a casting call.

"You know Tenma-kun, You don't always have to be strong. Nobody will think any less of you." The manager mutters.

Tenma barely looks up. The dying sunlight from the lone window in his room cast his face half in shadow, half in warm glow, eyes half masked in tears that had yet to drop.

"You— Tenma-kun you are without a doubt… the strongest person I've ever had the privilege of knowing." He repeats, and feels the teen moving. Not that he can be sure, so he continues talking.

“...Do you— mind if I stay? If you want, of course!” he hopes he doesn’t sound as awkward as he feels. “I, um, can put some plates and eat a bit. S-seems a waste of food, right?”

Tenma doesn’t make a sound, but that wasn't a no, so he stayed.

“Congratulations on your graduation, Tenma-kun.”

 Again, he doesn’t respond, but Igawa hadn't really expected him to.

.

.

.

Sixteen-year-old Tenma stares at the flyer left on his bed. “Igawa,” he calls as he picks it up and reads the address. “Do I have anything planned after the fitting custom today?”

“Let me double check! Let’s see… it seems that would be the last thing programmed. Were you thinking about doing anything?”

“I want you to drop me in one place. Don’t say anything to my parents.”

.

.

.

"Do you realize the shame you've cause us? What this offer meant for your career?!"

“Dad, if you only—"

“I DON’T WANT TO HEAR EXCUSES!” The hand slamming onto the table makes Tenma’s jaw tightens and scowl.

They have been in the Sumeragi’s household for less than ten minutes and Igawa feels he can barely breathe already. He knew that it was just— just discipline, and Igawa was merely a spectator. A horrified one at that.

Still, he can’t leave the teen to confront this obstacle alone.

"U-um, Eiji… san? Sir?” Igawa weakly intervenes next to Tenma, raising his hand. The tension in the air felt physical and his mouth dry. “M-maybe you should hear him out?"

Sumeragi breaks focus on his son and stares Igawa down, his face unreadably menacing.

"You…” Eiji’s voice is deeper than he remembers, intimidating him more than enough as he gets up from the sofa and points at him. “Lying to us for months... Making us believe whatever you wanted… and for what? What did you gain from this?"

Even though Tenma-kun might have inherited his talent and aptitude from you, he never wanted to depend on that alone. He wishes to push himself with his own strength. He thinks. But that is no appropriate answer, because again, their dynamics have always remained business-like. So he stays silent.

Sumeragi however, doesn’t.

“Tell me who are YOU, of all people— to decide what is best for my son?!" his voice is a raw shriek by now, and before Igawa can process anything, he is grabbed and yanked from the sofa onto the floor.

“DAD!” Tenma gets up as a reflex, wide-eyed and horrified at the view. “Are you— out of your mind?! It’s me! It’s me who told him to lie to you two!”

Igawa hears both of them arguing in the distance. He wishes the situation hadn’t turned like this. Oh, how he wished there was something after all the years he’s been Tenma’s manager and guardian he had had courage to do.

He looks up toward the concerned teenager. Now instead of shiny purple eyes, he sees himself reflected in a sea of fear and anxiousness. “Tell him, Igawa! Please!” Tenma keeps begging him.

He shuts the option down. At this point that would only make things worse, he knows it would make it worse. Igawa stands up.

Who are YOU, of all people— to decide what is best for my son?!

Of course, he knew he wasn’t his father. Nor his family, or friend. But it didn’t matter. It really doesn’t.

“I’m Tenma-kun’s manager. I work to help him reach his dreams.”

“Igawa…” Tenma trembles and Sumeragi barks a laugh.

“His manager, you say… his dreams, you say.” he steps closer, and grabs him by the collar of his shirt. “We believed you understood how important Tenma’s future was. That you cared. We thought you knew the amount of work we do is to provide him with everything he might need to have a successful life! All I ever asked in return, Igawa, is for a little respect from MY employee.”

Igawa knows Tenma has never looked happier than where is now. His place is in Mankai, and so he will stand by what he said.

“Look me in the eye when I’m talking to you!”

Sumeragi raises his hand, and Igawa closes his eyes, ready for the impact.

.

.

.

“Bear it a little bit more… that’s it.” Izumi smiles as she sees the summer actor flinch one last time at the contact the cotton does on his swollen cheek. It’s late at night, so there’s no one in the living room besides them and Igawa. “Did your father hit you because you joined our theatre as you please?”

Tenma feels Igawa tense.

“No, it’s because I refused a movie offer without asking him.” Tenma lies without missing a beat. “I’ve already apologized for it though. And I’ve told him this play is an important step in my career as an actor.”

“Because you don’t have any experience in theatre-?”

“I— um…” Igawa interrupts. Both of them turn to him. “I think Tenma-kun is in good hands. So… I will be leaving now.”

“Oh! Sure, Igawa-san. Thank you for everything.”

He bows to Izumi and heads outside. As he is about to open the car door, a figure comes running out of the dorm. Igawa barely looks at Tenma— he does and is sure will break, the memory flashing through his eyes like a nightmare already.

“You should rest. It’s. It’s been a hectic day and you have school tomorrow.”

“Igawa I—”

"It's fine. We talked plenty with your father. He apologized and so did I, for both of our actions." Igawa mutters faintly. “and you should never do something so—“

Tenma rolls his eyes, like he does everytime he thought Igawa was exaggerating. “I told you, it’s not that big of a deal. In a few days no one will-“

“But it is a big deal, Tenma-kun!” he turns to him, shuddering with the effort of holding back tears. Another thing Tenma used to roll his eyes to. “You were hurt! You can't. You are— precious! You shouldn’t just— do such things without thinking!”

“Well I would do it again!” Tenma shouts back, and Igawa’s stomach flips. “Because it wasn’t your fault. It never was! Because I made you lie and worry all this time for my own selfishness and because I’m sorry!” the waver in his voice makes it all too real.

Igawa had never seen the teen like that. 

“I… I’m sorry, Igawa.” Tenma tries again, voice cracking this time. The summer leader frowns frustrated, not knowing what else to do. “I’m sorry.”

Igawa can't listen to him apologize anymore. He can't see the young teen on the verge of tears. The same boy who at eleven ran to him when he got the main lead in his first drama, the very same little boy who hid in the bathroom of his own apartment for hours until Igawa came and killed that cockroach. All of them make the cluster of emotions already begin to disappear, pulling out like the tide. "Tenma-kun please, no. No, stop. You can't— you can't be sorry for helping me. That's not fair." 

“W-well you can’t either!”

Tenma doesn't say anything after that for a long moment, and neither does Igawa. 

"I just... I got so mad because you weren’t saying anything. Because I had ruined everything. I know it's, it's not been fair for you. It's. It's not. I don't know. I'm sorry." 

Tenma feels pathetic. What kind of explanation was that supposed to be? He notices Igawa steps forward, his hand finding its way to Tenma’s hair, threading fingers through it. He is slow about it and oh so gentle.

"Igawa?"

Tenma looks up, bewildered at Igawa’s gaze. It’s a gaze that he’s seen more and more, as years passed by. 

A softness reserved solely for him. 

Coming from anyone else, it would make him feel uncomfortable. Like pity, leaving him feeling strange and sticky. But on Igawa’s face, Tenma sees the melting-brown-eyes look for what it is. 

Love. 

"Tenma-kun, I’m proud to be your manager. I’ll always be." the man says. His voice comes out clean, just like he always did the few Tenma found himself nervous before an audition. "You are an incredible actor and an even better person. I already know you have what it takes, now you just need to show it to your father. To everyone else. I... promise I’ll be right behind."

And then he's hugging Tenma, incredibly awkwardly and everything of course -because that’s just who Igawa is- but also as though his life depends on it. 

It sinks on Igawa that in the end, Tenma does mean a lot to him. That's why he choose to care about him. On purpose and despite everything, he will care about him.

He notices Tenma takes a while until he hugs him back, equally awkwardly.

"…Sure." Is all he manages to say. Because words cannot properly encompass the emotion building in his chest right now, cannot possibly give meaning to the tears stinging his eyes.

.

.

.

Mornings tend to get chilly at Mankai. Tenma notices this everytime he has to leave his room early, just enough to feel the wind brush across his skin. It’s not cold, but the wind is brisk. It wants to be known. 

He has a shoot in an hour, so he yawns and stretches his back in front of his room, noticing from upstairs Tasuku arriving from his morning jog and Omi and some other early bird -probably director or Guy- heading towards the kitchen to prepare for the day.

He himself heads towards the courtyard for the bonsai trees zone. His zone. Where five of them stand on intricately designed and expensive ceramic pots.

He’s there for his prized possessions, the reason why he listens to the wind talk so loudly in the morning, ignores the slight chill on his cheeks. To check their soil is rich and dark. To stare and their leaves full and green before leaving the dorm.

“Morning.”

Greeting them had become somewhat of a routine. Now if he imagines hard enough, he can see the leaves open toward him, showing their health in all their waxy green glory.

He checks if there’s anything he needs to pay extra attention to. After all these years, of course, he’s learned how to painstakingly trim branches when they have gotten too unruly. He also counts down the days until he needs to turn the soil, has mapped out the places where they get the most sunlight thanks to Tsumugi, and watches intently for when they start to protest because the rays in the form of dry soil and drooping, crack their leaves.

Yes, Tenma takes pride in seeing them grow. To be the one who is able to help them, to pay them the attention they deserve to become the majestic bonsais he raised from seedlings to saplings.

Then, there’s this bonsai, the smallest of them all: a runt on its own right. It struggles to reach its branches toward the sun, one drinks up water from Tenma’s watering can hungrily. This last bonsai is always his last stop. Always.

It’s a stubborn one. A tree that needs lots of coddling and care. A tree that no matter how many years might have passed, doesn’t grow any taller or bigger or stronger at all.

“Still looking tiny as ever today, uh.” Tenma hums, but he’s speaking softly, lifting with care a stray branch with one hand and holding gardening scissors with the other. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d even think you shrunk.” he punctuates his quip with a snip.

Because it is actually fine.

Then the entrance door opens and a pair of panicky and already known into his core steps run towards the courtyard.

“I’m so sorry I’m late, Tenma-kun! I forgot the passing cards and had to go back into the office a-and then there was a lot of traffic in the last few blocks so I had to…!”

Igawa’s voice reaches the garden, and the teen stands up. “Well, I’m going.” he mutters to his bonsais. Their brittle leaves move with the wind, a light shimmer covering the surface as if saying take care, see you soon.

“They look healthy.”

He scoffs once he reaches Igawa’s side and gives a proud look back at the garden. “Of course they do. I never do half-hassed jobs, you know that.”

The man gulps down and nods as they head back once again to the entrance. “R-Right!”

“So? What was it today.”

“Well, you have…”

And as he watches the man trying to make sense of the three identical files he carries -he really should label those- warmth floods Tenma’s chest. A smile makes its way into his mouth, and his eyes soften for a few moments. There’s admiration. Respect. Fondness.

Because Igawa was the weirdest manager Tenma had ever had in his acting career. No matter how many years they had spent together he kept apologizing, always nervous and stressed regarding his packed schedule and whatnot. Enough to make the summer leader sight in all honestly.

Other times though, Tenma couldn’t be thankful enough.

________________________________________________________

I was so excited to post this because it’s been a WIP for years!! Igawa has always been one of my favorite background characters. He deserves recognition.

Hope you all enjoyed it! Have a wonderful day! 💕

#a3! #a3! act! addict! actors! #a3! tenma #a3! igawa #a3 #props to @icharchivist as well #forever in love with your insights icha!

[galaxystar17]

Been thinking about gekka and igawa's bdays because of my juligawa brainrot. Well im going stereotypical now but igawa gives me very structured virgo vibes (im saying stereotypical because look at settsu fucking banri - a virgo but never fucking structured ehem). And as virgo starts late august/early september that gave me an idea. yes i wont let july live peacefully, your honor.

I mean imagine july getting shocked and caught off guard at Igawa's bday date if he was indeed a virgo born in late august. Igawa talking about a month and July misinterpreting it because of guilt creeping deep inside of him that he tries to ignore. Something along the lines of this:

"Igawa-kun, when's your birthday~?"

"why do you ask?"

"Well just because... Plus you celebrated mine already so I kinda got curious"

"Ehm, I dont think its that important to know but my birthday is at the end of August"

"August?!"

"Yeah, why are you so surprised, Kagerou-san? August, 8th month of the year, a summer month?"

"Ah y-yeah right. Of course thats what you meant."

"What did you think I meant?"

"Its... nothing really. I'll remember that, thanks"

No but listen it would be quite interesting seeing him all panicked like "wait fuck did he figure it out? shit I thought I was careful when did it happen what do I do? The organization will kill me if he knows. Okay, July just play it cool like always so he wont notice a thing" as he's usually quite composed and igawa is just unaware and confused in guy looking at him like "why u panicking I just simply asked. Are you okay? Im sorry, didnt know that a month can get someone this startled".

*Kagerou is a name people on ao3 picked for July as he didn't have any mission name stated in canon unlike chikage, hisoka or august.

TLDR: juligawa birthday talk gone wrong.

#a3! #a3! july #a3! igawa #juligawa #gekkagumi #first post #Kinda stereotypical zodiac im sorry #Galaxy random thoughts the chronicle #Birthday date talks i guess? #I just generally thought that they could celebrate eo's bdays? #Plus he was probably kinda aversed towards bdays after he deemed august as traitorous #I also have it written but without much details about july celebrating igawa's bday along the summer troupe idk i might post it here too #Sounds cheesy probably but Igawa trying to show July importance of birthdays after him not seeing anything valuable in them

[ryukogo]

forcing my tumblr followers to also see babygirl igawa against their will btw

#a3! #a3 game #a3! game #a3 #igawa (a3!) #classo's art #a3 igawa #igawa a3 #shunichi igawa #<--- shunichi is a fanmade name for easy tagging for me

[howdidiendupshippingthispoll]

Round 2, Bracket 2, Side A, Fourth Poll

Art of Juligawa by @ryukogo

Hiccup Horrendous and Jack Frost [FrostCup], How to train your dragon and Rise of Guardians vs July and Igawa [Juligawa], A3! Act Addict Actors

Story of Juligawa:

When twitter bots were still active there was this bot called the Cursed Prompt Guy (@a3_promptbot) that randomly generated prompts and characters together. One fateful day, it generated this prompt .

[ CHARACTERS: Tenma Sumeragi, July // PROMPT: Butterfly kiss, Loyalty ]

As you may notice there is no slash, meaning it's just the two characters, no ship whatsoever. this is important.

See the thing here is that the character, Tenma Sumeragi, is the son of two world-famous actors. He was a child actor for TV before he decided to choose his own path and become a theater actor (since A3! is about theater boys), being a child actor means he had a manager, right? Enter: Igawa.

I was staring at the prompt, and for an entire moment, I just randomly thought 'now why would July swear loyalty to Tenma Sumeragi?'. This thought was immediately followed by '... hmmm (goes on Twitter/Discord servers) hey guys how old is july/igawa again', and then my friends, indulgently, answered me on both platforms - they were within the age range of each other as respectable adults

And then I just SAT THERE because at that very moment my brain EXPLODED like I was JIMMY NEUTRON because this ship did NOT make sense at all and YET, AND YET EVERYTHING MADE SENSE in my head suddenly for some reason.

See the first doddle I made of them with a caption

And my friends were like 'AYO HOLD ON HOLD ON RYU ARE YOU OKAY' and all I said was smth like 'sometimes things happen' and then about five hours later I published the first fic for them on Ao3. Apparently i wrote the fic at 8-ish PM on the same day I made the first doodle (at 6PM) then finished the fic around 11-ish PM.

And then my friend who is one of my ride-or-dies also published a fic around 12 midnight soon after me. I think the majority of the English-speaking fandom/western fandom who knows us thinks we're kinda crazy. It's okay we just like to indulge.

#round 2 #bracket 1 #side a #fourth poll #tumblr polls #shipping polls #hiccup horrendous #jack frost #frostcup #how to train your dragon #rise of guardians #july a3 #igawa a3 #juligawa #a3 act addict actors #how did i end up shipping this poll

[kanjukucompany]

【A3! Translation】 Sumeragi Tenma SSR: Dancer of the Sun (2/3)

PART 1 / PART 2 / PART 3

sorry abt the wait!

(translation under the cut)

(glitch text ignore)

Bollywood Dream

Tenma: And that wraps up work for today. Igawa's car is....

Igawa: Tenma-kun, over here!

Tenma: Oh, hey.

Igawa: Good work today.

Igawa: Oh, by the way, you've been offered to do a magazine interview about Bollywood films.

Tenma: Bollywood films? Why'd they choose me for that?

Igawa: A magazine company got wind of your last interview and wants to expand on it.

Tenma: Ah, yeah, that magazine interview from the other day...

Tenma: I mean, I mentioned watching a Bollywood film, but I never said I'm super well-versed in them.

Igawa: You should be okay, the company mentioned they weren't looking for pure knowledge on the subject.

Igawa: Instead, they'd like Tenma-kun, a popular actor, to share his impressions of Bollywood films he's actually seen.

Igawa: They were pretty enthusiastic about their offer... what'll it be?

Tenma: .....

Kumon: Ehh!? A Bollywood movie-themed interview!?

Yuki: You don't really know much about them, I'm surprised you accepted.

Tenma: Well, apparently knowledge won't be necessary.

Tenma: Plus, Igawa mentioned they were really excited about the offer, so I would've felt bad declining.

Izumi: Pairing Tenma-kun and Bollywood films together is pretty unexpected, but I think it could be interesting.

Tenma: Speaking of, when I was doing my initial interview, the writer then was surprised too.

Kazunari: I'm sure Tenten'll be just fine! It's not like it's gonna be some super in-depth interview by a rabid fan.

Tenma: It is going to be a special feature though, so I need to make sure I have at least some knowledge beforehand.

Kumon: In that case, let's have an appreciation party!

Kazunari: A Bollywood party, sounds epic!

Yuki: Well, I never get tired of seeing the films' wardrobes.

Muku: So many sparkly outfits appear!

Misumi: I wonder if there'll be triangles, too~?

Tenma: Jeez, it's as if you guys are the ones getting interviewed.

CHOICE 1: They're all rooting for you.

Tenma: Well, watching it with a bunch of people is more fun away.

Izumi: Fufu, you might be right.

Tenma: I'm sure my interview will inspire others to watch Bollywood films, too.

Tenma: For that reason, I need to make sure I know at least the basics of the industry.

CHOICE 2: Bollywood films are really popular!

Tenma: It’s fun watching them on a screen.

Izumi: Like Yuki-kun said, the costumes never lose their marvel, and the dances are really interesting with their unique choreography.

Izumi: I'd like to see Tenma-kun's Bollywood dance~.

Tenma: I'll do it, but only if you join me, Director.

Izumi: Ehh! I'd prefer not to...

-

Kazunari: C'mon Tenten, the movie's about to start! Hurry~!

Tenma: Right.

*fade to white*

Tenma: (What's this feeling... I feel as light as air.)

Tenma: ....!?

Tenma: (I'm riding on a magic carpet....!?)

Tenma: (And what's with this costume!?)

Tenma: What the hell is going on...

Izumi: King! Did you see that!?

Tenma: ....Director!?

#brief orientalism warning at the end #cmon man... #a3 #a3 game #a3 translation #my translations #tenma sumeragi #izumi tachibana #yuki rurikawa #muku sakisaka #misumi ikaruga #kazunari miyoshi #kumon hyodo #igawa

[the-himawari]

A3! Sumeragi Tenma - Translation [SSR] MANKAI Feature (2/3)

*Please read disclaimer on blog

---

Tenma: …

Tsuzuru: Thanks for waiting, Tenma.

Tenma: No problem. I didn’t wait long.

Tsuzuru: Were you reading something?

Tenma: It’s the profile of the dog actor that’s going to co-star with me soon.

Tsuzuru: Ah, yeah. You’re going to co-star in a commercial, right?

Tenma: Right. I’m reviewing it one more time since our shoot is tomorrow. It looks like this dog actor… Albert has been appearing in movies, dramas and commercials ever since he was a puppy.

Tsuzuru: Nice. He’s kind of like you, Tenma.

Tenma: That’s true, huh? Come to think of it.

Tsuzuru: In any case, I’m here about your spin-off script. You can leave it to me. But if there’s any idea you’d like to try out, then I’ll listen to your request too.

Tenma: Let me think… If it’s Rio, then he has a strong sense of justice since his owner is a police officer. He’s brave, gallant… and a good boy.

Tsuzuru: That’s true.

Tenma: Going off of that, I think a story where Rio bravely throws himself in action… like in solving a case would work well.

Tsuzuru: Ah, like a story where the coolness of a beloved policeman’s dog stands out?

Tenma: I bet you could throw some action scenes in too. Sounds interesting.

Tsuzuru: Alright, I’ll start writing in that direction for now.

Tenma: Thanks, I’m looking forward to it. Good luck.

-pause-

Tenma: Good morning.

Staff A: Perform a check over here as well!

Staff B: Excuse me, we need a repair over here too!

Tenma: Hm…? Everyone’s in a flurry.

Igawa: Indeed. I wonder what happened? Excuse me. Is something the matter?

Staff A: Well… Albert went on a rampage and he broke some props and part of the set.

Tenma: I see…

Staff A: We’re trying to fix them as quickly as we can, but the start may be a bit delayed. Our apologies.

Owner: I’m terribly sorry about this… This is the first time this has happened…

Staff A: That’s right. He’s always such an obedient and good boy…

Tenma: … (…Yesterday, Tsuzuru said that Albert and I are similar.) (…Oh right. That reminds me, when I was a kid…)

*flashback starts*

Tenma’s dad: … Tenma, did you damage the film set?

Tenma: …There was a soccer ball… and I was free. I thought I’d have a little fun. But then it just happened to crash into the set… And then…

Tenma’s dad: I can understand that waiting is boring. However, you have been working for many years now. You should know how to spend your time and what will happen if you play soccer. Am I wrong?

Tenma: I’m sorry… (He doesn’t have to get so mad… I always try my best to be a good kid, so that much is…)

*flashback ends*

Tenma: Hmph…

Albert: …*Whimper*…

Tenma: Nice to meet you, Albert. I’m your co-star, Sumeragi Tenma.

Albert: …Arf…

Tenma: …You just wanted to play around a bit, didn’t you? It’s not good to trouble so many people. But let’s take that energy and film a great commercial together.

Albert: …! …Woof!

-pause-

Staff A: Great work. Thank you very much!

Tenma: Great job today. Thank you very much as well.

Igawa: Good job!

Tenma: Sorry, Igawa. I’m going to make a quick phone call.

Igawa: Ah, for sure!

*ring, ring*

Tenma: Hello, Tsuzuru-san. Sorry for the sudden call. …Yeah, the shoot went perfectly. When I get home, I’d like to talk to you about the script…

---

previous | next

#a3! #a3! translation #sumeragi tenma #act! addict! actors!

[icharchivist]

okay so. tenma thoughts. like 90% of this is conjecture. so like, I remember I read through act 1 summer in the like. first 3 days of playing a3 or something. was wild. and I remember loving all of the characters and being rly attached to yuki (Gender) and I enjoyed tenma’s dynamic with him + his growth from start to finish! like wow… it’s so cool how he did all that adlibbing for the closing show, and yuki’s “…thanks” at the end was so good!! and then like months later I reread act 1 summer and I was like wait. wait. what the fuck do you mean tenma got a black eye and came back to mankai and went. it’s fine nbd. what??? (side note I think this vaguely reflects how I think tenma might, if ever, think on the situation—he’d be like yeah joining this troupe was a life changing experience and I really grew from it and then years later he’ll be like oh huh the black eye was a little fucked up)

it just like, really interests me since. the story never addresses it again but to me who’s been mulling over the details, it rly… paints a picture? here’s all my rambling conjectures.

like I think I’ve talked abt this already but I’ve been thinking abt the fact that both muku & tenma just… picked up a flyer for romijuli. muku makes sense—he seems to love book and stories and stuff, so I think he’d really like to be around veludo way and theatre? and obviously he likes princes so the concept it totally up his alley. but for tenma all he says is the play is bizarre for the all-male cast, and then he… goes and sees it anyways. I have to imagine it’s not the only play he saw on veludo way… to me I think he must’ve been thinking about his like trauma related to the stage again, and come to veludo way to see if he’d see anything that helped him in that regard. and by chance, he saw romijuli, and was entranced by the adlib for the closing night performance.

so like we can guess vague what brought him to veludo way but. what rly made me think about it again is in act 2 summer, tenma says that prepping for audition, normal summer practice, and training kumon is “nothing” to him, and then igawa says “back then, you couldn’t even sleep” which… hm. my personal thought is that tenma visiting veludo way was specifically done during like. a perhaps self-mandated personal break. because he turns down a movie offer when joining the troupe but igawa makes it sound like tenma’s schedule in his younger years was way more hellish. and seeing as how he’s never been to any school events… nowadays in mankai he gets to go to them, so I have to imagine like. tenmas parents were overseas, he got a magical break from work, decided to capitalize on it, joined mankai, and decided to basically. choose himself a little more. or choose natsugumi as the thing he prioritizes most. and living there actually like… frees up his time in some ways. I mean it’s clear tenma still takes filming work but I’d suspect it’s at a much more healthier rate. im not saying his parents were deliberately overworking him but I am saying that I think tenma was prone to overworking himself and they were like yeah that’s normal.

anyways all of this gets much more :/ when you remember that tenma’s like label / agency is literally “sumeragi agency” and so like his parents like explicitly manage his career. like not just in a parent way in a literal like agency way. and it shows in the way that tenmas parents only realize something is happening when he rejects a movie offer.

which. im obsessed with the exchange where izumi is like. did your dad punch you because you went behind his back? and tenma was like no. he punched me bc i rejected the movie offer without telling him anything about it. like the way he just reframes their relationship as not like a parenting thing but like a Career Thing. I think about it.

and then tenma tells izumi something like. then i apologized, we had a serious talk, and i got him on board. considering that statement we can imagine the series of events went. tenma went home, got IMMEDIATELY punched, apologized with a growing bruise on his face, and then kept it together and talked about his desperation for theatre to his father. it’s like. okay. okay. they’re lucky that somehow the injury healed before it could show up on stage.

and the only time tenma is actually resentful is like, “they’ve ignored my existence long enough as it is? and NOW they decide it’s time to speak?” when they’re coming to get him to quit the play. and I solely believe he would’ve NEVER said something like that out loud unless he felt backed into a corner about not wanting to leave natsugumi + theatre. like he makes that blog post about it even tho he literally didn’t want to sell tickets based on his fame. it’s just rly indicative of a sort of like. desperation he’s feeling. when he returns with a black eye he’s already gotten permission for doing the play which is why I think he’s so calm about it. like he hisses and says the ice pack is cold but he doesn’t once say that his injury hurts.

when they’re finding out abt tenma going behind his parents back, tenma mentions that his parents are basically uncontactable when they’re overseas so igawa’s basically his guardian, which makes it sting all the more when his mother attends the closing night performance and is like tenma! you should call us more often! and his father approves bc he’s like oh tenma you’ve grown as an actor. bc like yeah. he rly only seems invested in tenma’s Career over anything else. this is part of why I think comedy is so good for tenma—he describes that grade school play he messed up at as his first dose of like, real humiliation, and I think like. having great parents who Expect you to be better than them and never fuck up is not the greatest way to cope with failure. what also really gets me is like.

the story doesn’t ever bring this up explicitly, so I assume it’s not an intentional comparison, but the fact that tenma goes to paris for a WEEK and calls yuki while he’s on break from filming is just so. like tenma basically says he can’t contact his parents at all when they’re filming overseas, and here’s tenma, filing overseas, taking the moment to check in on yuki and natsugumi.

i think that’s what really gets me? bc everything you see of tenmas parents r like. they’re impossibly cool and competent movie stars. they’re still out of tenmas acting reach. and then you see tenma and how just. deeply earnest he is and how much he loves mankai and it’s Iike. they don’t know. they don’t know the treasure they have that they haven’t raised.

woooow welcome back :3c

SLJHSJD i remember you being really unnerved by the black eye at the time of your first read tho, i suppose the overwhelming emotions of the rest made you forget about how strongly you initially reacted.

But yeah i could imagine Tenma having the same thought process of like, burrying it at the time because he managed to get such a nice time, that it's only years later that it would catch up to him how fucked up the black eye thing was.

I don't have any like, details and deep dive to say paragraph by paragraph, but i do agree with the timeline of event/the way it probably all ended up happening. Makes a lot of sense with the infos we do have.

Anyway nice catch on the sumeragi agency thing, it must be way more controling and yeah.

And i think that yeah the framing on it being about his carreer probably works both as like, well, a bit of the reality that his family relationship isn't as much a family one as a work one, but also in a way to justify to himself that what happened was because he was unprofessional. Compartimentalizing that it wasn't a father punching a son (reprehensible) but a boss punching an employe (bad, but if the employe misbehaved, it's a ground to discuss) (this is not my thoughts in the parenthesis, but what i think Tenma would think, it's bad either way lol) It creates an emotional distance that's easier to process, especially since his parents set up such a distance on a family standpoint.

Everything you say about him feeling backed in a corner is on point i think. Also completely agreed on the whole next paragraph about how his parents are uncontactable but yet seems to care the moment it is about progressing Tenma's carreer.

Oh the Paris's communication thing you bring up is actually so interesting??? i could totally see it being intentional in a way though, it really puts into perspective how much Tenma considers the troupe his new family and also how he is deliberately distancing himself from the way his parents' raised him. It's fair to think that, like, a lot of the way he was originally behaving with the Summer Troupe is stuff he picked up from filming stuff, but he probably got a lot of it from his parents as well, so him deliberately walking away from the way his parents's taught him how to support (or therefore, lack of support) people, in order to find his own way, deliberately challenging the way his parents had treated him… makes a lot of sense to me.

And god that last paragraph/last sentence is making me teary. yeah. We are built up that his parents are so damn cool and everything as movie stars, but in the end they're terrible parents who don't even know the Tenma we know and love and care about. They don't know the type of person Tenma is nowadays, they probably never discussed it other than on Tenma's accomplishment on stage, rather than Tenma's reframing his whole life.

Man it's just. really sad and heartbreaking. I'm glad Tenma has Mankai now, but talk about shitty parents….

thanks for sharing your thoughts again though <333

#long post for ts #aranarumei #ichafantalks a3 #ichareply

[valderaa]

“Whatever,” Tenma said. Even though Yuki was ostensibly smiling, it had a hollow, bitter ring to it. He frowned, staring at his placid expression for a few moments before asking, “What’s up with you, anyways?” Yuki frowned, eyes wide and unassuming and also completely lying. “What’s up with me?” “You know,” he said, and gestured at Yuki like it meant anything. “Your face got all weird the moment Igawa stepped in.”

come on if u wanna read abt tenma and yuki awkwardly being friend-roommates

#my writing #tenma sumeragi #yuki rurikawa #dialed in #a3

[ippenx]

A3! Act 2 Thoughts (4) | Reread

Man. THE CHANGE IN HIS DEMEANOR when he saw it’s about Mankai Company.

I’m gonna fucking strangle you to death, you piece of shit.

Yuki you are incredible and immensely strong and I am sorry you’ve had to learn how to be that way.

I am so glad Muku is holding him because I can’t.

Everyone indeed, Misumi, you are so correct.

Tenma you have an excellent point but I am BEGGING you to say it nicely.

I wanna see him and Itaru nerd out.

KAZU YOU GO! GO GET THOSE GENUINE BUDS! (Misumi already is one)

Also, haha. Buds … flower buds … nice.

I’m glad they spared us the Igawa sprite here because … tbh he’s hot and I would not have the emotional capacity to handle it.

Well played, Tenma.

I like how we kinda get it through the crumbs here that this REALLY mattered to him.

… I feel bad knowing what’s coming up.

I think cloning would also require thinking, Izumi …

I forgot this too, Tenma basically forced his father’s hand there by making a blog post about being in the troupe.

He really is powerful, damn.

I’m not even sure what to make of this. He talks about it like that’s a normal resolution process for conversation or something? Ugh. Screw Tenma’s dad.

Summer troupe are a family, summer troupe are a family, summer troupe are a family.

Like holy fuck how hard was that punch?? I’m clumsy as fuck and no stranger to bruises, things don’t go black and blue just outta nowhere! Even in terms of physical punishment (read: abuse), there’s a slap and then there’s absolutely pummeling it into their face. Geez, the fuck is Tenma’s dad’s problem, does he have to be the worst in his chosen category of shittyness?

Hi. I love that Yuzo can talk to Tetsuro too. Actually … hmmm … I feel like @ofgoatsandmagicks surely must have a yuzo/tetsuro fic somewhere ...

Misumi grandpa lore! I am taking very detailed notes.

And then he can’t even see Misumi act … I’m not crying … who’s cutting onions here?

THE MOST IMPORTANT TRIANGLE

He’s so nervous, poor baby.

Man, they really blasted Tenma online for that genepro …

First name basis :) Love that for them.

Izumi, I absolutely adore you and would watch all of your plays ever. For days.

The show must go on!!

TasuIzu fic notes, don’t mind me …

Oh Muku, you adorable thing, I LOVE YOU.

Next: Act 2 Part 5 →

← Previous: Act 2 Part 3

#a3! #a3! reading club #act 2 #summer troupe

[beyondtheborderridiculous]

Mankai Stage Summer 2022

Aaaaah, this is a review that is long overdue, and since it’s been a while since I’ve watched it, I won’t even be able to do it justice. But life got away from me, so I haven’t really been active in the Tumblr and A3/Mankai Stage community for a while, and I miss it so much!!! And I haven’t had much time to translate, so Autumn is taking longer than it should, and apologies to everyone who’s been waiting!

But alas, onto the review.

First of all, I am continually amazed by how the casting is just so... PERFECT!!! The actor for Kumon, is just, so perfectly Kumon. 

The performance opens with Kumon having an anxiety attack. And then as the lights dim, we transition to a very different opening scene.

The scene opens with Kumon’s point of view, as he’s recording all the happenings that’s going on backstage while Natsugumi is performing Water Me. And I don’t know if I can explain this scene well, but it’s just. So well done. It’s so creative how they did this and I absolutely adore it! You can see the actors both backstage and onstage, and it must’ve taken a lot of coordination to be able to pull that off.

Then a rewind in time happens, where we first see Kumon get introduced to the company, saying he wants to join Akigumi. Everything that happens after pretty much follows the story.

And gahhh, I wish I wrote this review sooner, because I can’t remember much of it, so I might just rewrite this review when I watch it again once it comes out on DVD.

But anyway, I stinking looove the relationship between the Hyodo-Sakisaka cousins!!! It’s so beautiful to finally be able to see it on stage!

One of my favorite scenes has got to be Misumi introducing his room to his new roommate. The song was very cute, and just the staging for it is phenomenal. It’s so different from their previous stages, that I’m still thrown off, but still, it’s so good!

Azami also got introduced, and omfggg... He’s so perfect as Azami too! And it was also funny to watch the troupe realize that he’s super influenced by Sakyo. He and Kumon just become such cute friends.

Also, I’m really surprised by how big this franchise has gone. In their other stages, they would only hire one extra (Mizuno, Ryou, Madoka) that wasn’t really part of the main reoccurring cast (Matsukawa, Yuzo). But here we had both Igawa (Tenma’s manager) and Yamaguchi (Kumon’s club friend). But then again, in Spring, Masumi’s dad had his secretary too, and he had a speaking role as well. Oh geez, look how much this franchise has grown.

Also, another favorite scene of my hands down, has got to be Natsugumi dressing up as girls to cheer Kumon up! Kazunari went all out with the trends, throwing the gyaru peace sign here and there, lol. And then JUZA!!! Juza tries so hard to act like a girl, and it’s just so awkward, and clumsy and so hilarious!!! I died, lololol. It was soooo cute too.

The play portion was also very cute. Yuki was super adorable as usual. But to be honest, it’s not my favorite play from the game, probably because I’m not really that much of a sports person. But to my memory, the stage’s play was pretty faithful to the play in the game.

Overall, I enjoyed this play very very much. I love Kumon, and I love his story, since I relate to crippling anxiety so much. And I just think Mankai Stage did my baby justice, just like usual.

#Mankai stage #a3! #natsugumi #fan review

[hajimariwaquartet]

a compilation of a3 art i made the past months bc guess what!! being obsessed with this silly actor training game helped me get better at art (both writing and drawing)

mankai memory-esque izumi (it was just me playing around with a new brush i found then decided to finish the piece)

yae miko azuma (bc my irl said they were both pretty and purple)

a bunch of jusakus that i think are neat!! (the right one was inspired by fortune festival in jp)

pocket no uchuu got me obsessed bc it's so harugumicore (and from two of my fave enstars units too)

i don't remember why, but i drew this after seeing the enstars mika chainsaw card

delinquent sakuya!! (i was also experimenting with another brush here hehe)

juligawa leg kabedon (no you will not get any context for this)

then, fanart born from ssr family!!!!!! ritsu my angel + harubunnies (i'm still surprised these two pieces took just 2 hrs ever since the new content dropped)

#a3! #a3! act! addict! actors! #a3! fanart #a3! izumi #a3! azuma #a3! sakuya #a3! juza #a3! masumi #a3! tsuzuru #a3! itaru #a3! citron #a3! chikage #a3! igawa #a3! july #izumi tachibana #azuma yukishiro #sakuya sakuma #juza hyodo #masumi usui #itaru chigasaki #citron #chikage utsuki #igawa #july #jusaku #sakuju #juligawa #feb draws

[haru-desune]

Oh man I forgot how soft Tenma was in this episode 😭

#You really do love them 🥺 #a3! #act! addict! actors! #tenma sumeragi #a3! igawa

[galaxystar17]

Okey listening to french songs made me realize just now that july would probably sound nice (read:hot) speaking french🫣

Just imagine him learning french because organization sent him on a mission to France once or something and he wanted to blend in well, so he knows it on a communicative level.

That brought quite an idea (the post will be a bit long im sorry).

Imagine a Juligawa scenario like this:

For example let's say july knows quite a lot of languages because of work. Igawa aint that great at them, so he knows japanese and maybe some english because this is all he needs anyway when it comes to being tenma's manager. And at some point july would say something like "je t'aime, mon chéri/mon amour" teasingly with a half smile, half smirk on his face as he knows igawa wouldnt understand him. So he would probably ask him in japanese what did he say and july would answer with 'no no its nothing igawa-kun, dont worry about it. I was just teasing.'

Later igawa would research with a translator (or maybe ask someone like chikage that knows languages well) what it meant and once learning the meaning he would become a shocked but blushing mess 😂😂 Also my mind came up with chikage teasing the shit out of igawa while translating that phrase with a big grin on his face lmao something like "oh you got a confession in french, igawa-san. Who's that lucky date of yours, hmm? Going international now, are we?" and igawa answering with "no no its nothing like that chikage-san. Forget i said anything." To that chikage would be like "haha, okay okay. Good luck with your international date then."

Also i can imagine igawa stumbling across tenma on his way out of the dorms, with tenma later guessing that the whole thing was about july all along and told igawa that he should talk to him about it or answer the confession (sort of at least) and igawa going with "...well i guess i can try."

#a3! #a3! july #a3! igawa #chikage utsuki #tenma sumeragi #juligawa #Love confessions(sort of) #But in french #Chikage being a useful translator #i also imagined itaru coming back to room 103 seeing chikage with a big grin on his face #Then going “wtf senpai why are you smiling like that? Its scary” #“You used some of your cheat codes again didnt you?” “not really actually i was translating smth for igawa-san and giving him love advice” #“love advice? You? Youre the unromantic senpai.” “yeah i can give advices too you know regardless of your view of me” #So itaru would ask him what was it all about then and chikage would be like #“i cant tell you chigasaki its confidential. All i can say is that he might be caught up in some international date.” #“a what now? You know what im gonna go game now idk youre weirder than usual” #Yes i had a whole vision about it lmao #How hilarious it could be when igawa later would try to explain to july that he understood it (doesnt matter that someone helped him lmao) #And july going 'oh really? Then what did i say?' #Theyre so stupid i luv them #Brainrot caught up to me again #Okay ill excuse myself now #galaxy random thoughts the chronicle

[quenie-azryneth]

Just when I thought...

That I would see Tenma's parents, they hit me with a "They have to catch a flight" excuse!

(I guess Igawa is the replacement... 😐)

#a3! #エースリー #act! addict! actors! #イケメン #乙女ゲーム #a3! game #ブルミング #blooming #a3! anime #A3! Spring and Summer #Tenma Sumeragi #皇天馬 #Sumeragi Tenma #A3! Igawa #Oh well

[howdidiendupshippingthispoll]

Round 1, Bracket 1, Side A, Eight poll

Art of Juligawa by @ryukogo

Ichie Otonashi and Fumi Yumeoji [Ichifumi], Revue Starlight ReLIVE vs July and Igawa [Juligawa], A3! Act Addict Actors

Story of Ichifumi by @insertbrowsinghere

This goes back to, specifically, May 16th of 2022. I was trying to get into the Revue Starlight mobile game, since there was apparently a lot of my other favorite ship from the franchise, Junnana, in it. The problem was that I was having the problem I always have with new games of its nature, that being difficulty getting attached to the new characters. So, I decided to look through their descriptions on the loading screen during a big update. Two characters caught my eye, those characters being the character Michiru, and, more importantly, Ichie.

I posted that I think she was going to take over my brain (I was right) and a pal of mine mentioned that she and Fumi were a little gay together. I responded that I hadn't seen them together and was awaiting to see them, but I didn't expect to love them together. I just expected to know that they existed. I was so very wrong and as I am currently gazing at the exact moment I learned of them as a couple while looking for the exact moment I fell in love with them, I can only laugh at old me.

Suddenly they were hitting all my ship dynamics and Ichie became a primary reason as to why Fumi is even in the main cast. Surely, though, they wouldn't grow on me that much, I thought. They were silly together, but there was only so much depth there, right? Not anything that would soon rot my brain, anyways. Boom, Ichie reassuring Fumi that she beloved her and Fumi seeking out Ichie when the performance department was shut down. Boom, heavy emotional reliance between the two which transcended their usual dynamic. Boom, the ducking "Selfie-Master's Seminar" memoir. That last one ruined my life so much and by that point, I was in too deep.

I pathetically added them to my bio alongside my other three main ships, turning that trio into a life-ruining quartet. I began hunting for cards with stories centered around them but it couldn't get worse, I told myself. Then came Arcania Arcadia chapter 3/main story chapter 15. This ruined me, and it was all because of the fucking Ichifumi revue. There were other reasons attached, but that revue destroyed me.

The not at all serious reveal that Fumi had been supporting Ichie's streaming silently and secretly. Ichie calling out Fumi on her glamorization of the idea of beauty in death, since she saw it as an excuse. Ichie telling Fumi that she wanted to know more about her. Ichie's wish to see a stage that Fumi alone formed, in a franchise where this kind of thing is just sort of a love confession most of the time. Ichie letting Fumi win out of trust in her and Fumi doubting if she was truly the victor. All the impact this had on Fumi later. I was dying at this point, and then this game decided to beat my corpse down a little more by putting in the later scene where they reflected on their revue, Fumi tried to apologize, Ichie told her not to and they both resolved to move forward together.

Another stab was taken at my corpse with the scene in the final chapter where Ichie finally got to see a stage belonging to Fumi, and got to hold pride in it. I realized then I was in too deep. The characters I originally only expected to ship a little if at all had ruined my life. I could do nothing about it. I still can't and I am still in Ichifumi hell. Help.

Story of Juligawa:

When twitter bots were still active there was this bot called the Cursed Prompt Guy (@a3_promptbot) that randomly generated prompts and characters together. One fateful day, it generated this prompt .

[ CHARACTERS: Tenma Sumeragi, July // PROMPT: Butterfly kiss, Loyalty ]

Ss you may notice there is no slash, meaning it's just the two characters, no ship whatsoever. this is important.

See the thing here is that the character, Tenma Sumeragi, is the son of two world-famous actors. He was a child actor for TV before he decided to choose his own path and become a theater actor (since A3! is about theater boys), being a child actor means he had a manager, right? Enter: Igawa.

I was staring at the prompt, and for an entire moment, I just randomly thought 'now why would July swear loyalty to Tenma Sumeragi?'. This thought was immediately followed by '... hmmm (goes on Twitter/Discord servers) hey guys how old is july/igawa again', and then my friends, indulgently, answered me on both platforms - they were within the age range of each other as respectable adults

And then I just SAT THERE because at that very moment my brain EXPLODED like I was JIMMY NEUTRON because this ship did NOT make sense at all and YET, AND YET EVERYTHING MADE SENSE in my head suddenly for some reason.

See the first doddle I made of them with a caption

And my friends were like 'AYO HOLD ON HOLD ON RYU ARE YOU OKAY' and all I said was smth like 'sometimes things happen' and then about five hours later I published the first fic for them on Ao3. Apparently i wrote the fic at 8-ish PM on the same day I made the first doodle (at 6PM) then finished the fic around 11-ish PM.

And then my friend who is one of my ride-or-dies also published a fic around 12 midnight soon after me. I think the majority of the English-speaking fandom/western fandom who knows us thinks we're kinda crazy. It's okay we just like to indulge.

#round 1 #bracket 1 #side A #eight poll #tumblr polls #shipping polls #ichie otonashi #fumi yumeoji #ichifumi #revue starlight relive #july a3 #igawa a3 #juligawa #a3 act addict actors #how did I end up shipping this poll