Chapter 34

## Name

**Background Listening** (捨すて耳みみ, *Sute Mimi*?) is the **34th** chapter of the Akane-Banashi manga.

## Summary

In Yasakatei, Asagao mentions that the first day is over and congratulates them since they worked hard except for one person, at that moment Akane is seen tired from her first day Asagao approaches her and mentions how many times she has to fail To satisfy herself, Akane thinks that she didn't pay attention to the basic tasks because she was paying attention to the stage and made mistakes and wonders what she should do.

Asagao mentions the plan for the next day and tells Karashi that he will perform the first performance while Unun will set the stage to which Akane is surprised, Asagao asks if she wonders why she gave Karashi a performance and mentions that Tate Zenza is in charge of choosing the people who perform the first performances and that is a reward for their hard work, the program changes every 10 days so if he does not see progress in Akane he will not give Akane any performance.

During their return home, Akane asks Karashi why he's so good at his job when he's only been a month older than her, Karashi replies that it's because of **background listening** and explains that it's when you do an activity but you're paying attention to the sounds in the background, Karashi tells her that it should be easy for her since she is a rakugoka after all and Akane asks the reason why Karashi became a rakugoka, Karashi tells her that she doesn't have to tell her and that he is only gaining experience before an audience.

Because of this Akane promises to practice this the next day, the next day Unun tells Akane to prepare tea for Master Senba while doing this Akane tries to focus on Karashi's performance and is jealous as she wants to perform in At that moment Asagao approaches her and tells her not to stand still, the days go by and Akane continues to make mistakes so Asagao tries to correct her, on the sixth day Asagao asks Akane to turn the cushion over, which Akane had already done done surprising Asagao, Unun asks him to do the thing that Akane had already done surprising Unun as well.

In the locker room, Asagao asks Unun if she thinks what Akane did is just luck as she doesn't think she got better that fast at which point Karashi interrupts them and tells Asagao that Akane caught the attention of a rakugoka because she she didn't use fresh leaves in the tea which unun belies, Asagao mentions that this person doesn't need valid reasons to bother the new ones.

The rakugoka introduces himself as Rien Konjakuan and begins to claim Akane to which Asagao enters the room and apologizes to Rien since being the Tate Zenza is his responsibility, Rien mentions that he looks pathetic since if he had allowed him Making fun of his teacher Asagao would be Futatsume rank at that moment Akane looks at him with a furious look so Rien mentions that he is a futatsume one rank above them so they should know their place leaving the room.

Asagao apologizes to Akane for the situation since Rien has something personal against him, Akane tells her not to worry as she wasn't paying attention to her insults because she was listening to the performances in the background but she was furious when she insulted Asagao already. that there is nothing wrong with defending your teacher when another person insults him, Asagao mentions that the only time a Futatsume appears is for the beginning and that in Rien's performance, Akane will be the one to open and thus be able to show him her skills Akane agrees and tells him that she will show up the next day.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Asagao Konjakutei
* Karashi Sanmeitei
* Unun Kenputei
* Akane Arakawa
* Senba (Mentioned) (Debut)
* Rien Konjakuan (Debut)
* Chocho Konjakutei (Flashback)