Chapter 34

Scene 34 is the first chapter included in Volume 7 of Urakata!!

## Summary

Tomu, lover and believer of real-life superheroes, is excited when the Art Squad takes on a project to create superhero costumes for a collaboration between the SFX Movie Club and the SF Club, but is soon disheartened by his inability to help the Squad with the work. That is, until an untapped talent of his is discovered by an important old man.

## Plot

Tomu is playing in the park with some kids, showing off by doing a flip out of a tree branch when Ranmaru urgently rushes towards him, announcing the news that the Art Squad will be helping with a movie that the SF Club and the SCM will be collaborating to create together. Tomu is elated at the idea of creating a superhero movie. They pass an elderly man who was watching the whole scene at a park bench as they head into the university.

At the production meeting between the three groups, Tomu enthusiastically pitches his idea for the hero of the story that is being created, but is shut down by the director of the film in favor of his own idea. Ruka considers whether the Art Squad will be able to take on the large undertaking of creating 5 costumes for the movie, but Tomu energetically announces that with his love of superheroes, he can create a whole army of cool superhero costumes.

Back at Tenba Motors, the Art Squad's headquarters, Maasa scolds Tomu for getting the Squad in over their heads by accepting the job without any reservations. Meanwhile, Ryuuji thinks about designing the main hero's costume himself but Ranmaru stops him, reminding him that directing his movie should be his first priority and that he should only be playing a supportive role in Art Squad activities. The Art Squad begins work on creating the costumes, making use of clay, plaster, and foam to create the helmet and armor. Tomu, excited as ever, wants to help with everything, but ends up leaving disaster everywhere he touches, leaving the rest of the Squad to fix up his contributions. To make matters worse, when Tomu's dad comes to check in on what Tomu is doing, he inadvertently insults Tomu's creation.

Tomu ends up going out to get cold drinks for the Squad but stops by the river bank to clear his head. He considers how cool the rest of the Squad is and compares that to his apparent inability to do anything. Meanwhile, Ranmaru has just noticed that Tomu has gone missing. Many of the Squad members are worried about having been too hard on Tomu when he was trying to help, but Ryuuji comments that Tomu will be fine because he bounces back quickly and is able to keep smiling thanks to his low expectations of himself, which is its own kind of strength. But he also adds that although Tomu may think of himself that way, he believes that Tomu is capable of much more than he thinks.

At the river bank, Tomu notices a little girl's sunhat being blown off her head. Tomu reacts quickly, making an epic jump off of the bridge to save the hat before it flows down the river. After returning the hat to the girl, Tomu is approached by the old man who had been watching him from the park the other day. Tomu is led back to the university by the man who turns out to be a professor and the advisor of the SFX Movie Club. The professor declares that he wants Tomu to be in the movie, to act as one of the superheroes! Tomu immediately begins training with the other actors cast to be superheroes in the movie, learning how to control his movements and coordinate with his co-workers.

Tomu announces the news of his casting to the Art Squad to their surprise and excitement. As filming for the movie begins, Ryuuji watches with amazement as he sees Tomu monitoring himself and working hard to improve and make the movie better. Ryuuji feels inspired and starts recording the moment on his phone.

## Characters

* Tomu Tenba
* Ranmaru Kurisu
* Ryuuji Gouda
* Izumi Samura
* Ruka Enjoji
* Maasa Rokubu