#homecomings

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日程：2023年7月15日（土） 開場：10時　開演：10時30分　終演：12時 会場：twililight（世田谷区太子堂4-28- 10 鈴木ビル3F/三軒茶屋駅徒歩5分） 参加料金：2500円 定員：20名さま 出演：柴田元幸（朗読）、福富優樹（ギター）

訳者の柴田元幸さん自身、2003年に寄せたあとがきのなかで「これまで訳したなかでいちばん好きな本」と語る叙情溢れる名短編集『シカゴ育ち』。

Homecomingsの福富優樹さんはライブツアー中『シカゴ育ち』をお守りがわりに持ち歩いていて、『SALE OF BROKEN DREAMS』と『WHALE LIVING』というアルバムは『シカゴ育ち』との出会いがきっかけで生まれたそうです。

『シカゴ育ち』が大好きなお二人による、『シカゴ育ち』の増刷を祝うセッション。『シカゴ育ち』を好きな方はもちろん、未読の方もこの機会にぜひ出会っていただけたら！

また、『シカゴ育ち』収録の掌編「ライツ」を、画家・nakabanさんの絵と、訳者・柴田元幸さんによる手書き原稿でポスターにしました。このセッション当日に、初売りいたします。

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申込：[email protected]

件名を「柴田元幸＋福富優樹」として、お名前（ふりがな）・お電話番号・ご予約人数を明記の上、メールをお送りください。

＊このメールアドレスが受信できるよう、受信設定のご確認をお願い致します。2日経っても返信がこない場合は、迷惑フォルダなどに入っている可能性がありますので、ご確認ください。

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プロフィール：

柴田元幸（しばた・もとゆき）

©️島袋里美

1954年生まれ。翻訳家・アメリカ文学研究者。 ポール・オースター、スティーヴン・ミルハウザー、スチュアート・ダイベック、スティーヴ・エリクソン、レベッカ・ブラウン、バリー・ユアグロー、トマス・ピンチョン、マーク・トウェイン、ジャック・ロンドンなど翻訳多数。『生半可な學者』で講談社エッセイ賞、『アメリカン・ナルシス』でサントリー学芸賞、『メイスン＆ディクソン』で日本翻訳文学賞、また2017年に早稲田大学坪内逍遙大賞を受賞。 文芸誌『MONKEY』（スイッチ・パブリッシング）責任編集。

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福富優樹（ふくとみ・ゆうき）

“Ha!” Phones suddenly dropped to the floor as arms wrapped around Nao from behind, Natsuya planting kiss after kiss against his cheek as he squeezed his boyfriend close. “Surprise! Guess who flew back to Japan!”

“And you still can’t put your shoes away.” Nao tsked softly, turning around to properly look at Natsuya. His hair was messy from the trip and there were dark circles beneath his eyes, but it was him. It was Natsuya.

Natsuya was home.

“Aww, come on, babe! I’m finally home and that’s the first thing you say to me?” Natsuya tsked, putting on his best pout. “You're so mean!”

Nao laughed, shaking his head as he pulled the other man close, kissing the pout away. “Welcome home, my love.” He breathed against him, letting the pounding of his heart finally show as Natsuya tugged him closer, rocking them gently as they melted in each other's embrace.

~~~

“Did you really not miss me at all?” Natsuya asked after dinner that night, the dishes clean and any leftovers stored away. “I know I called you almost every night since I’ve been gone, but still?”

Of course Nao missed him. The lilac haired man couldn’t tell you how many nights he stayed up staring at his phone after their call ended, aching for the brunette to be back by his side. How dream Natusya appeared during his sleep and how much strength it gave Nao to get through the worst days. How on one of Natsuya’s calls he left a message of him singing Sam Smith’s “One Call Away ''- terrible as the rendition was, Nao saved it and played it when he really needed to hear Natsuya’s voice.

He could and was willing to tell Natsuya all these things.

He would, eventually.

For now, he wanted to tease him a little. It was only fair, right?

“I knew you’d come back eventually.” Nao kept his voice light and matter of fact, avoiding looking directly at his boyfriend. He knew the minute he did he’d break, unable to hold down the giggles at Natsuya’s shock. “You always do, so I figured why worry?”

“Damn, that’s ice cold.” Natsuya snorted, shaking his head. “And here I thought you’d be happy to hear I’m staying for good.”

Staying for good! “That’s good to know.” Nao couldn’t fight down the smile pulling at his lips. “I’ll get the spare bedroom ready.”

“Nao!” Natsuya whined, flopping forward and wrapping his arms around his waist. “You’re being so mean to me! You can’t tell me all my serenading over the phone did nothing?”

“Besides giving me an ear ache?” Nao pretended to think about it. “Hm…maybe.”

“Oo, you little minx! Come here!” Natsuya quickly sat up, pulling Nao into his lap. “I’ll show you for teasing me!” With that, his fingers wormed their way along Nao’s torso, scribbling and prodding gently. “Take that!”

“Ah! Ahehahahahhaha! Nahahahhatsuya, wahahahhahait!” Nao yelped, wriggling in his boyfriend’s arms as his sides were prodded, soft breathy giggles raising to his lips and filling the air around them. “Yohohohou doohohohon’t neehhehed to dohoohoho thihihihis!”

“Oh but I must! It seems you’ve gotten too used to me being gone, so now I’m gonna have to remind you of all the reasons why you should miss me.” Natsuya let his hands move upward, tapping along his ribs with rhythmic pressure. “Starting with number one- I’m super cuddly!”

“Mohohoohohre like clihihihihngy! Ahehahahaha, Nahahahahhtsuuhuhuuh!” Nao weakly pushed at his boyfriend’s chest, only opening up more tickle spots. “Dohohohohon’t stahhahahhahart!”

“Start what? Tickling you?” Natsuya giggled as he wormed his hands up and into Nao’s armpits, making him yelp. “But you have such a cute laugh, babe! And look at that smile!” Natsuya reached up to gently take off Nao’s skewed glasses, leaning forward to kiss the space between his eyes. “I missed this the most. I want to wake up to your smile everyday for the rest of my life.”

“Stahhahahhahy arohohoohohund and yohohohoohohu wihiihihihihll!” Nao squeaked, cheeks flushed and painful from how much he was smiling. Eventually, when he was nearly breathless and at his limit, Natsuya finally stopped, pulling his hands back and encasing his boyfriends instead. “Ahehehe…hehehe…yoohohu’re tehheherrible!”

“You love me.” Natsuya laughed, leaning up and kissing his forehead.

“Shuhuht up…” Nao closed his eyes as he took a breath. Then he dared ask. “Do you…truly mean it? Are you staying for good now?”

“Yep! I got it all figured out.” Natsuya grinned as he snuggled Nao closer to him. “I’m already prepping for classes here- I’ve got a sweet gig downtown that pays good, and best of all: I have my number one by my side.” Natsuya reached up and brushed lilac bangs from a smiling face, leaning in and kissing him gently. “I’m staying by your side and never leaving again.”

“You're such a dork.” Nao let out a wet laugh, kissing him again and again as he finally let the reality of his new life settle. Natsuya was staying. Natsuya was home for good.

“I really did miss you.” Nao breathed when they finally pulled away, no longer feeling the need to hide it. He waited for Natsuya to hoot in joy, to poke him playfully and declare how he knew it.