Nutcracker Claudine Saijo/Bond Story

The nutcracker-turned-prince defeats the evil mouse king to be transformed back into her normal self. With Clara, who gave her assistance, she embarks on a journey to a mysterious world filled with dancing and treats.

The Wonder of the Sugar Plum Fairy

Mahiru:

Here you go, Clau-chan. The script for "The Nutracker" is done.

Claudine:

Ah, merci, Mahiru.

Claudine:

Though it still feels strange doing "The Nutcracker" when it's not even close to Christmas.

Mahiru:

Oh, right. I suppose the ballet is a Christmastime staple.

Mahiru:

It's such a heartwarming story. I adore Clara, and the Nutcracker who turns into a prince...

Mahiru:

The Sugar Plum Fairy they meet in the Land of Sweets... It's all so perfectly Christmas, I just love it.

Claudine:

Heh heh, I do too. I'll see that I do the Prince's role justice.

Mahiru:

I'm sure, after all your years doing ballet. I'm guessing you've performed it before?

Claudine:

Bien sur. But of course! I was even selected as prima for it.

Mahiru:

Whoa, that's the top ballerina, right? Did you play Clara, then?

Claudine:

La Fée Dragée. The Sugar Plum Fairy. Nana will be playing her in our production.

Mahiru:

Huh? The most skilled person in the ballet plays...the Sugar Plum Fairy?

Claudine:

That's correct.

Claudine:

The grand pas de deux that she and the Prince dance at the climax is one of the most iconic scenes in all of ballet.

Claudine:

The technical skill required for those two roles is tremendously high.

Claudine:

It's on par with Princess Aurora and Prince Désiré in "Sleeping Beauty".

Mahiru:

"Sleeping Beauty"... You mean the dance they do in Act 3? It's that difficult?

Claudine:

With no lyrics or dialogue, a ballet has to be able to captivate with only beautiful music and transcendent athletic performances.

Claudine:

The why the most challenging, expressive roles are filled by the prima.

Claudine:

People like me...or Akira Yukishiro.

Mahiru:

Yukishiro-san? From Siegfeld?

Mahiru:

Oh right, I remember Yachiyo-chan saying something like that during our exchange program!

Mahiru:

About Yukishiro-san being really good at ballet. Apparently she won all sorts of awards.

Claudine:

Yes, I doubt anyone in our age group who did ballet hasn't heard of her.

Mahiru:

Wow, if even YOU'RE saying so...

Claudine:

Mind you, out of the two of us, I'd say I was the more famous.

Mahiru:

There it is ♪

Claudine:

Still, I was surprised when I heard Akira had gone to Siegfeld.

Mahiru:

Why's that?

Claudine:

I just assumed she'd be going abroad to study ballet. She was squarely on the professional path.

Claudine:

We never went head-to-head in ballet... It feels strange to be competing on the stage now as actors.

Mahiru:

That doesn't seem very strange to me.

Mahiru:

The stage connects all of us Stage Girls. Having that connection bring us together doesn't surprise me.

Claudine:

Mahiru... I suppose you're right.

Claudine:

And since the stag has reconnected us...we should show her, too.

Claudine:

We're inviting Siegfeld, aren't we? To "The Nutcracker".

Mahiru:

That's what I hear.

Claudine:

"The Nutcracker", transformed into a revue by the Seisho Music Academy...

Claudine:

Nana and I will have to ensure that our grand pas de deux as the Prince and Sugar Plum Fairy has Akira Yukishiro and all of Siegfeld spellbound!

Claudine:

Let's start reading lines straight away, Mahiru!

Mahiru:

Sure!

I Wanna Crack Nuts!

Karen:

Aaah, it's finally lunchtime! Banana, what's on the menu today?

Nana:

Today we've got tuna steak and avocado dip sandwiches, by Clau-chan's request ♪

Karen:

Oooh, fancy!

Claudine:

Tuna's best as sashimi, but for a boxed lunch steak makes the most sense.

Karen:

Tuna's your favorite, huh, Clau-chan?

Nana:

It was quite a surprise seeing you eat an entire block of it uncut the other day ♪

Claudine:

What can I say? Sinking my teeth into a slab of red meat makes me feel alive.

Nana:

Ooh, how feral ♪ But I agree that it's important to eat what you love!

Claudine:

Which is why I'm so grateful to you, Nana.

Claudine:

You always prepare meals that are good for the body AND heaven on the palate.

Nana:

Aww, it's my pleasure ♪

Karen:

Heh heh heeeh ♪ Yes! That! Exactly!

Nana, Claudine:

Hmm?

Karen:

Good for the body! I've got just the thing. Today's Banana Lunch comes with a side of THESE! Ta-daaah!

Nana:

A bad full of walnuts and...

Claudine:

...a nutcracker doll?

Nana:

Is that the prop we used in the play?

Karen:

Bingo!

Karen:

That performance of "The Nutcracker" was sooo good! And you guys COMPLETELY nailed the grand pas de deux, so--

Claudine:

Yes, yes. Explain to me WHY that nutcracker prop is here.

Karen:

Oh, that's an easy one... To crack all these nuts!

Karen:

Did you guys know?! Walnuts are supposed to be super good for you! Tehy're full of those whatchamacallit acids and polyp...paulie...pollos?

Claudine:

Polyphenols?

Nana:

And I think she means Omega-3 fatty acids?

Karen:

Yeah, those! They're chock full of 'em!

Karen:

So today's lunch comes with a side of walnuts!

Claudine:

...Nana. What do you think she saw?

Nana:

A random TV special on walnuts that happened to be on, if I had to guess.

Claudine:

Yeah... Tha checks out.

Karen:

Hm? Hmmm? What are we talking about?

Claudine:

Walnuts. So, Karen. About that nutcracker...

Karen:

Yes, yes? What, what!?

Claudine:

That's a stage prop. It won't actually crack a walnut.

Karen:

Huh? ...Huh? Whaaaaaat!? How come nobody told me that!?

Karen:

Whoa, you're right! The mouth doesn't even open!

Claudine:

And another thing, Karen... These are all Japanese walnuts.

Karen:

What, now?

Claudine:

Their shells are several times harder than a normal walnut's. They'd crack that doll, not the other way around.

Karen:

Whaaaaat!?

Claudine:

I read that you have to soak them in water for two days before you have any chance of cracking them.

Karen:

TWO WHOLE DAYS!?

Nana:

I'm impressed, Clau-chan. How did you become an expert?

Claudine:

B-Because I...

Claudine:

I tried the same thing. Years ago, after performing in "The Nutcracker".

Karen:

Huh?

Claudine:

Just like Karen, I tried splitting open some Japanese walnuts in a nutcracker doll.

Karen:

Oh, wow! I guess that means we're nut un-cracker buddies!

Claudine:

But I'll have you know I was in elementary school at the time!

Karen:

Aww... I guess we're not buddies... AND I didn't get to crack any nuts, even after I went and borrowed this prop...

Nana:

Now, now, Karen-chan. Don't feel down. I'll bake some walnut scones for snacktime tomorrow.

Karen:

Thanks, Banana... But I wanted to eat today's walnuts today...

Karen:

You're really sure we can't crack these open, Clau-chan?

Claudine:

Absolutely. Those shells are insanely tough.

Karen:

Really, really? Not even Futaba-chan could do it?

Claudine:

Just what do you think Futaba is!?

Claudine:

Opera and ballet are different forms of expression, but the desire to entertain the audience is the same.

Claudine:

Sweets from different countries make an appearance in "The Nutcracker", though unfortunately none from Japan.

Claudine:

Apparently Kaoruko wasn't a fan of that, so she got it into her head to shoehorn in elements from traditional Japanese dance.

Claudine:

As long as the audience is entertained, I suppose. I draw the line at changing it to the Nutcracker Japanese Doll, though!