Invitation to Ryugu-jo
Tamao:~~♪ ~♪ ~~♪
Rui:*sigh* I can hear Tamao-senpai singing from the kitchen...! She sounds just like a nightingale! I can feel my heart melting...!
Yuyuko:I can see it in your face...
Yuyuko:Still, Tamao-senpai is in a better mood than usual...
Yuyuko:Did something nice happen?
Rui:I wish I could hear her voice every day... Ah! If I record it on my smartphone, then... No, that would be going too far...
Yuyuko:Hello? You're not listening at all, are you...?
Ichie:Teehee! You're wide open, Rui!
*thump*
Rui:Ah! What's happening!? I feel so heavy...!
Ichie:That's mean! I'm not heavy...!
Fumi:I'm pretty sure anyone would react the same if you suddenly jumped on their back.
Rui:I can't see anything, but it's Ichie-senpai and...?
Yuyuko:Welcome, Fumi-senpai.
Fumi:Hello there.
Rui:Fumi-senpai, did you come here to hang out, or...?
Tamao:I called her, actually.
Rui:Tamao-senpai!
Tamao:Okay, everyone. Sit down. I've made some tea.
Fumi:Thank you. But what's the occasion...? Is it something that couldn't wait until after the weekend?
Tamao:Heh heh. Let me explain...
...Perform at the town's Cultural Promotion Event?
Tamao:Yes! Well, my grandmother went to Rinmeikan too, and yesterday she called me.
Tamao:Her friend in the event committee asked her if we could perform during the event. She was impressed by our rendition of Tales of Onikurenai...
Rui:U-Us!? Are you kidding!?
Tamao:Not at all. She specifically asked for us.
Fumi:I can't believe our past performance is giving us another chance to on a play! This is great, Rui!
Rui:I'm so happy!
Yuyuko:Do we know what play we have to perform?
Tamao:Yes. She'd like something "familiar and historically interesting"...
Tamao:so she's asked us to do a rendition of Urashima Taro based on this script.
Ichie:Hwaah! The one were the guy is kidnapped by the turtle, and then he turns into an old man!
Fumi:You just skipped over half of the story, and you also managed to get the main points wrong...
Rui:Hmm, I believe the story went something like this... This fisherman called Urashima Taro saves a turtle that was being bullied by some kids...
Yuyuko:As a sign of gratitude, the turtle invites him to the underwater palace of Ryugu-jo. Then Urashima meets the princess Otohime, and spends many days and nights at the palace.
Yuyuko:The time flies, and many years later Urashima decides to return to the surface. upon his departure, Otohime gives him the tamatebako...
Yuyuko:...A box that he "must never open".
Fumi:When Urashima reaches the ground, both his house and his village are gone. An old man tells him that no one by his name lives in the area...
Yuyuko:Urashima realizes that much more time had passed at the palace that he'd realized...
Yuyuko:So in an act of desperation, he opens the tamatebako...
Ichie:And poof! A white smoke comes out, and he transforms into an old man ~♪
Fumi:Your ending makes it sound like a comedy...
Tamao:Heh heh. You can look at it from different angles, but the story doesn't change much.
Yuyuko:The original written in the "Otogizoshi" is slightly different actually.
Fumi:Oh, you're well-informed.
Yuyuko:It's used fairly often in rakugo, so I read it some time ago.
Yuyuko:...Let's see... Where's the script?
Ichie:It's pretty old! Ah! It says "Urashima Taro - Rinmeikan Version"!
Tamao:Yeah. Apparently it's been passed down for years and years.
Ichie:Rinmeikan is amazing! so much history in a script!
Fumi:Well, that means that the set and props are probably still in the Resource Room.
*flip* *flip*
Yuyuko:"...Prelude. Invited by the turtle, Urashima Taro walks toward the center of the stage"
Yuyuko:"Urashima Taro arrives at Ryugu-jo. Sea breams and flounders dance with him..."
Ichie:Huh? This is a musical!
Tamao:It is indeed. And the dance parts will be overwhelming if we 5 perform it.
Fumi:...We'll need tons of practice and skill.
Tamao:Yeah. But I still want to accept the challenge.
Tamao:It's going to be hard, considering it'll count as an extracurricular activity and we'll still have to do assignments and go to practice...
Ichie:Let' s do it!
Fumi:This is a rare opportunity to perform by ourselves somewhere that isn't our school.
Rui:Yes! I want to perform Urashima Taro with everyone too!
Yuyuko:It'll be a test to show what kind of play we can put on using past props and materials.
Tamao:Thank you, girls! It's a good chance for us, so let's do our best!
Fumi:Okay, let's decide who's gonna do what now, so we can focus on this overall theme.
Fumi:Of course, that includes the casting too.
Rui:A-Already...?!
Ichie:We won't have the support of the school. Which means, we have worry about the direction, the script...
Ichie:Ah! Time scheduling too! It sounds like we won't have a moment to lose!
Yuyuko:I see. We better not lose time in small details then. On to the main roles then...
Rui:"Urashima Taro" and "Otohime", right?
Fumi:Yes. And while we are at it, also "Ryugu Attendant", "Ryugu Dancer" "Bully", "Old Man", and "Narrator"..
Tamao:We can just group together the last three.
Fumi:Good idea. That leaves us with 5 roles in total then.
Tamao:Now we can focus on everyone's specialty, and decide the roles.
Ichie:I wanna be this "Ryugu Dancer"! I'll dance like there's no tomorrow!
Rui:Hmm... I think you'd do very well at that part. Your dancing is mesmerizing, Ichie-senpai. Any objections?
Ichie:I also think no one could do it better than me! The audience won't be able to take their eyes off me.
Fumi:...True. I agree. You won't have any problems getting the hang of difficult dance either.
Ichie:Oh yeah! Happy dance ~♪
Tamao:Now... Rui-chan, Yuyuko-chan. What's your opinion? Do you have any role you want to perform?
Yuyuko:Me?
Rui:W-Well... I vote Tamao-senpai as Otohime!
Tamao:Whoa! Me...?
Yuyuko:I'm in favor. Your singing is unparalleled and you're graceful like Otohime...
Ichie:You are! Besides, you're good at setting the mood as well, so the play will have a nice feeling to it.
Fumi:...It's a tough role with many scenes, are you up to it?
Tamao:I am...! Thank you for putting your trust in me. I will do my best!
Fumi:That leaves... "Urashima Taro", "Ryugu Attendant", and the three "Narrator" roles...
Tamao:...Hmm... Yuyuko-chan, do you mind revising the script?
Yuyuko:Not at all. I'll be in charge Of the whole narration, so it'll go smoother if take full responsibility.
Yuyuko:I'll rearrange the script so it's easier to perform for the 5 of us, and better received by the audience. It's going to be quite an interesting task.
Fumi:Two birds with one stone...
Fumi:I'll do the "Ryugu Attendant" then. Let's think about the direction and the choreography, Ichie.
Ichie:Let's show them what we can do...! We'll be a sparkling dancing pair!
Tamao:Thank you, everyone...!
Rui:W-Wait... Doesn't that make me Urashima Taro...?
Fumi:NO need to panic. It's perfectly suited for you. I was actually gonna vote you.
Fumi:Your voice doesn't break at a low pitch, so you'll be able to sing Urashima Taro's par wonderfully. Besides, you're taller than Tamao, so you'll be perfect for each other.
Rui:P-P-Perfect for each other...!
Tamao:Let's do it, Rui-chan.
Rui:Y-Yes! I'm not worthy of this honor!
Yuyuko:"It was at that moment that Urashima knew he'd be with her through thick and thin..."
Ichie:Ahaha. Everyone's so enthusiastic!
Tamao:I'm glad the casting went this smoothly.
Tamao:I'll take care of supervising the whole play and keeping in touch with the committee.
Fumi:Are you sure? You're already taking on such a big role...
Tamao:Absolutely! I want to.
Fumi:Okay...
Fumi:(She's so eager, even though the committee has asked Rinmeikan or rather, all of us to perform...)
Ichie:I'm sure you'll be fine, but if you seem overwhelmed let us know!
Ichie:We're all behind you!
Tamao:Thank you, Ichie.
Ichie:Let's try and get as many things done as possible for now. How about the dance choreography?
Fumi:That's right. Let's head to the rehearsal room.
Rui:Yeah! Time is of the essence!
Yuyuko:That's what Urashima Taro would have said as well.
Fumi:Let's do it, everyone!
Tamao:Let's make our rendition of "Urashima Taro - Rinmeikan Version" a success!
YES!
Tamao:(I feel so happy...! I can't believe such a big audience is going to see our performance. I have to do my best!)
Otohime's Struggle
Tamao:...And spin, turn, turn one more time, and stop like you're about to stumble over...
Tamao:Well done, Rui-chan! You moved very smoothly, and you didn't lose momentum until the end.
Rui:*huff* Thank... *puff* you...!
Rui:...Phew The scene where Urashima Taro dances by himself is very hard. The rhythm isn't consistent, and the steps are meant to look comical, but at the same time refined.
Tamao:Yes, it's extremely elaborate. It's meant to reflect the inner struggle between his days in Ryugu-jo, and the life he wants to go back to.
Tamao:The steps show both his side as a powerful boy, as well as his weakness.
Rui:I can't wait to see how Ichie-senpai and Fumi-senpai will rearrange it.
Tamao:True... I wonder how Yuyuko-chan is going to implement it in the final script.
Rui:(Tamao-senpai keeps looking at the clock... She must be worried about everyone's progress.)
Rui:(Besides taking on the role Of Otohime, she's also managing the whole project...)
Rui:Tamao-senpai! There's still time until the stage rehearsal. Shall we see what Yukko is up to?
Tamao:Sure, but... What about you?
Rui:Don't worry! I've gotten the hang of it. I'll be fine.
Tamao:That's great! Let's go have a peek then.
Rui:That reminds me... Shall we bring Yukko something? I happen to have some sweets she's into at the moment.
Yuyuko:And...done! This should be fine. Now to test how it sounds...
Yuyuko:AHEM!
Yuyuko:"T-That's impossible! You're the turtle from that time...?"
Yuyuko:"Yes, Taro-sama! It was I!"
Yuyuko:"I always wanted to see the world above, but after what happened I swore I'd never transform again..."
Yuyuko:"You are what brought me back!"
*clap clap clap*
Yuyuko:Thank you so much for the warm applause... Ah! Rui, Tamao-senpai!
Tamao:That was great, Yuyuko-chan.
Rui:We came to see how you were doing. Here, these are for you.
Yuyuko:Tomato chips? You must be highly cultured to have picked this out. Thank you.
Tamao:Heh heh, glad you like them.
Rui:...Were you doing the ending scene?
Rui:You made Otohime into the turtle. That's very original!
Yuyuko:Hmm.„ Well, actually, it's like this in the "Otogizoshi" version.
Rui:Really...!?
Yuyuko:This idea goes back to the "Tango no Kuni Fudoki", but it was in the "Otogizoshi" that Otohime, the turtle, and Ryugu-jo were all featured together.
Yuyuko:It looks like the Rinmeikan version Of the script takes from that version...
Yuyuko:In it, Otohime falls in love with her savior, and invites him to Ryugu-jo under the guise of a turtle. There, she desperately tries to make him stay, but, painfully reluctantly, urashima Taro refuses.
Yuyuko:When he leaves, she tells him that even though they might never meet again, she prays that they meet in paradise.
Rui:Whoa... The original story is pretty tragic...
Yuyuko:Wait, that's not the end Of it. Otohime gives Urashima Taro the tamatebako, right? When he opens it, he doesn't become an old man.
Rui:What!?
Yuyuko:He turns into a crane, and flies back to Otohime to fulfill his promise...
Rui:I-I wasn't expecting that at all...! I think it's more romantic this way!
Tamao:I'd heard about the ending where he becomes a crane, but I had no idea where it was from.
Rui:Why is the old man version more widespread... ?
Rui:...To be honest, I felt something was Odd when I read Urashima Taro as kid.
Rui:He saves the turtle, and goes on to spend a long time enjoying his stay in Ryugu-jo...
Rui:Good deeds bring good results, basically. I can get behind it, but...
Rui:I always felt it was too harsh a punishment that he turns into an old man just because he broke the promise not to open the tamatebako.
Tamao:...This is just my opinion, but I think storytellers adapted the story to convey a moral.
Rui:...A moral?
Tamao:Promises shouldn't be broken. I think this is what they were trying pass on to later generations.
Yuyuko:I think they didn't need to do that. Most people wouldn't do it anyway.
Rui:Huh? Didn't Urashima Taro break the promise and open the tamatebako in all the versions, though?
Yuyuko:Yes, but he kept the most important promise: to go back to Otohime.
Rui:Ahh, that's right...! I'm glad you told me. Urashima Taro kept to his promise, and Otohime fell madly in love with the person that saved her...
Rui:I think I understand Urashima Taro more now.
Yuyuko:"...And that's when Rui realized she knew how Otohime felt..."
Rui:W-What!? What's with that narration!? Like I said earlier, please don't do it...!
Yuyuko:Hehe, I was just practicing.
Rui:Cut it out, Yukko!
Tamao:Heh heh. I'm glad to see your preparations are going well.
Tamao:If you run into any trouble, please let me know. I'd be happy to help.
Yuyuko:Oooh! Well, if you must then...
Yuyuko:The script is done, so if you have any advice on how to incorporate it into the play, I'd be grateful.
Tamao:Of course!
Tamao:I'll let you know tomorrow then. Can I make a copy of the script?
Yuyuko:Sure, but I can do that myself...
Tamao:Don't worry about it. You must be tired from all the work. Why don't you take a break? You too, Rui-chan.
Yuyuko:Oh... All right. Thank you.
Rui:Th-Thank you very much!
Tamao:Well, I'll see you later, then.
Rui:*sigh* Tamao-senpai, never forgets to be kind... I wish I could become like her...
Yuyuko:"Urashima Taro's cheeks became the color Of coral..."
Rui:I-I told you to stop with the narration...!
Ichie:Fuuumi! ♪
*thump*
Fumi:Ngh!? Why are you jumping on my back...?! You did it to Rui as well!
Ichie:Hehe! I'm here to help you get into character! Do you know how the turtle felt when it gave Urashima Taro a lift?
Fumi:How am I supposed to know how a turtle feels!? Get off my back already...
Ichie:Oookay! ♪
Fumi:*sigh* Back on the topic... Did you collect any visual material we can refer to for the welcoming scene?
Ichie:I did! I got quite a different selection of lively comedies. A few feature scenes with pair dances that we can use as reference...
Tamao:Fumi, Ichie! Good thing I decided to look for you in the classroom.
Ichie:Hwaah! Tamao! What's with all that stuff you're carrying!? Is that for us...?
Tamao:Heh heh. Bingo! Ichie, you told me you were looking for visual material to use for the dance scene...
Tamao:So I thought I'd help you with it.
Ichie:Hwaah! There are study guides, and even old videotapes in there!
Tamao:These videotapes are from the school's archive. I borrowed them under my name, so let me know when you want to give them back.
Fumi:...Thank you, Tamao. This is of great help
Fumi:It must have taken you a long time, though. You're already plenty busy, so please focus on yourself and don't stretch yourself thin.
Tamao:Don't worry, I'm not. Thank you for worrying, Fumi. I'm gonna get back to practice now.
Fumi:Thank you again. We're going to go through these first, and then meet you there in a bit.
Ichie:See you later, Tamao!
Tamao:See you...!
Yuyuko:*yawn*
Yuyuko:(Ngh... Practicing until late last night wasn't a good idea... I have to roll up my sleeves and get busy.)
Yuyuko:...Yuyuko Tanaka, first year student in the Performance Department ready to begin.
*ker-screech*
Rui:"Otohime-sama, when you talk about the turtle I saved, you always mumble something..." Huh!?
Rui:Hey, Yukko!
Yuyuko:Hello, Rui. Were you practicing by yourself?
Rui:I was. Tamao-senpai was here until a while ago, but..
Rui:Someone from the committee called her for an urgent meeting.
Yuyuko:She's running around like crazy...
Yuyuko:...I'm worried about Tamao-senpai. Does she have any time for herself She was helping with the script before, as well...
Rui:I'm sure Tamao-senpai is fine! After all, she is Tamao-senpai...!
Yuyuko:Interesting logic.
Rui:A-Anyway, she's doing all this extra work for us, so we should do our part!
Yuyuko:Well...l guess so. Well, shall we start with practice?
Rui:Yeah!
Sinking Underwater
Rui:"l had no idea there was such a beautiful castle underwater! I'm lost for words...!"
Rui:"Oh? Is my mind playing tricks on me? The waves are getting calmer..."
Tamao:"Welcome to my castle."
Rui:"...Who goes there!?"
Tamao:"I'm Otohime, the lady of Ryugu-jo."
Tamao:"You crossed the billowing sea, and arrived at my castle from faraway lands. I'm grateful."
Rui:"I-I should be the one grateful. I'm sorry, I don't know how to greet you properly..."
Yuyuko:"Lost for words at the sight of the beautiful princess, Urashima Taro stood with his mouth agape, bubbles rising up from it."
Yuyuko:"These bubbles slowly rose to the surface unraveling. All the while, the princess and the lowly boy's eyes were fixed on each other."
Rui:...Whew. Scene 2 is done. The next scene is where the Ryugu Dancer and Ryugu Attendant come in!
Tamao:Fumi and Ichie will walk in from two sides...
Fumi:.....
Ichie:F-Fumi?
Fumi:...Tamao, what was that performance? Did you forget who you were playing?
Tamao:Huh? l, uh...
Fumi:...You can't answer, can you? Ichie, show her the recording.
Ichie:Sure. Tamao, this is the recording...
Tamao:...Thank you.
*click*
Rui:"I had no idea there was such a beautiful castle underwater! I'm lost for words...!"
Rui:"Oh? Is my mind playing tricks on me? The waves are getting calmer..."
Tamao:"Welcome to my castle."
Fumi:...Do you get it now, Tamao?
Tamao:Yes...
Tamao:Urashima Taro wasn't just moved by Otohime's presence. He also sensed her overflowing kindness and felt perplexed.
Tamao:The character feels out of place because Rui's energy and mine are on different level...
Fumi:Exactly. You haven't practiced enough with each other, let enough yourself.
Fumi:...Rui, you saw that in the video too, right? Your performances are not in sync.
Rui:...! I did, but... I thought it was because I wasn't good enough to follow her...
Fumi:No, that's not all of it...
Fumi:Tamao... You moved like the script says, and read your lines. But that's it...
Fumi:That wasn't Otohime... That was the usual you.
Tamao:You're...absolutely right. I'm so sorry, everyone!
Yuyuko:Hmm, can I say something...?
Yuyuko:Tamao-senpai helped me a lot putting together the script...
Rui:A-And she advised me on my dance scene alone too!
Fumi:I know that. She helped Ichie and me gather reference materials too.
Fumi:...Overall, everyone's doing a really good job this early on. That's surely thanks to her help.
Fumi:However, that means she couldn't make time for her own practice. In other words, you put the cart before the horse, Tamao.
Rui:B-But Tamao-senpai did it for us...
Tamao:...Rui-chan, Yuyuko-chan, thank you. But this is clearly my responsibility.
Tamao:...Thank you for the reality check, Fumi.
Fumi:You don't have to thank me. We both have a part in this play.
Fumi:Are you confident you can take on this role the way you are now, though?
Fumi:If I were you, I'd practice much harder. Urashima Taro would stand out more if I played Otohime.
Fumi:...Do you see where I'm going with this?
Tamao:...Yes.
Tamao:If I feel that I won't do Rinmeikan's Otohime justice, I'll pass her role to you, Fumi.
Fumi:Glad to see you understand. If you don't improve, I'll take over your role.
Rui:No...!
*ker-SLAM*
Rui:Huh!?
Yuyuko:...Ichie, why did you open the window?
Ichie:I thought I'd let some air in!
Yuyuko:...That was some timing...
Ichie:Fresh air will help us focus more on our practice! Well, why are you standing there? Let's practice!
Ichie:Tamao will practice her scene with Rui by herself...!
Ichie:Fumi and I will practice our choreography. Can you review it for us, Yuyuko?
Fumi:Sure, no problem.
Tamao:...Thank you, Ichie.
Ichie:Ahaha! I only let some air in! ♪
Ichie:Don't forget what I told you earlier, Tamao. We're behind you.
Tamao:You're right...! Okay, everyone. Let's split up and practice!
Tamao:.....
Rui:Practicing hard until late, Tamao-senpai! Here, this is for you.
Tamao:Rui-chan... It smells nice. What is it?
Rui:I found some herbal tea. I thought it'd help you relax a bit.
Tamao:That was very kind of you. Let me clear the table...
Rui:...Wow. You've taken notes all over the script.
Tamao:Yes. I thought I should get closer to the story.
Tamao:I would have liked to practice instead, but the rehearsal room closed earlier.
Rui:Um... About today...!
Tamao:...I'm sorry I caused so much trouble...
Rui:Please, don't be! I thought you'd still be worried about it, so...
Tamao:Yeah... I can't say I'm not. That would be a lie.
Tamao:Fumi was so upset... And I can't blame her...
Rui:"I'll take over your role"...
Tamao:I can't believe I didn't see it myself until someone close to me pointed it out for me...
Rui:...What do you mean...?
Tamao:...Rui-chan, what did you think Of her Ryugu Attendant performance today?
Rui:...H-Her performance today? I thought she was very thorough.
Rui:She started out with relaxed steps to emphasize the perplexity in Urashima...
Rui:But as soon as the scene moved to the sea, her steps became more accentuated and fluent.
Rui:That's when I realized that she was really channeling a sea dweller, rather than herself. I was shocked in awe...
Tamao:Yeah. Urashima Taro leads the dance scene at the beginning, but the Ryugu Attendant completely stole the spotlight.
Tamao:...I'm amazed at how quickly Fumi was able to master such a complicated routine.
Tamao:That's not to mention how she managed to do her job directing the play as well as fall into character.
Tamao:It's obvious she wants to stick to her role until the end. She doesn't want to play another role.
Rui:Ah...
Tamao:Even then, she told me that she'll take over my role, if I don't improve.
Tamao:I think she said that because she believes I can improve.
Rui:(Ah...l see. That makes sense.)
Rui:(And here I was worried the situation might get worse...)
Rui:(l didn't even realize that Fumi and Tamao trust each other so inherently...)
Rui:(...And I couldn't even see how flawed my acting was...)
Rui:(Why couldn't I spot the problems in Tamao-senpai's performance like Fumi-senpai did?)
Rui:(Yes...I know why all too well.)
Rui:(This time I'm performing the closest to Tamao-senpai. That is my greatest joy, but at the same time I've been unconsciously depending on her.)
Rui:(Ugh... This anguish... I know what it is.)
Tamao:I'm so sorry, everyone! I didn't do well enough!
Rui:That's not true, Tamao-senpai! You tried your best!
Ichie:Yes, it's not your fault!
Tamao:But... But I...
Kaoruko:Tamao-han's right. She's to blame for your defeat.
Kaoruko:"Worrying so much about others that you can't focus on what you're doing yourself."
Kaoruko:"How about you actually make an effort and put everything on the for a change?"
Tamao:...Rui-chan?
Rui:Ah!
Rui:S-Sorry! ...I spaced out for a second.
Tamao:Hehe. It's late after all.
Tamao:...Thank you for the tea. It was delicious. I'll do the dishes, so--
Rui:N-No, don't worry! I'll do it...! Good night!
Tamao:...Rui-chan...
Rui:(l can't let it end like this...)
Rui:(l couldn't fight back that time, but I've grown stronger since then... I should know what path to take.)
Rui:(For Tamao-senpai... For everyone...)
Bitter Memories
Rui:...Fumi-senpai, Ichie-senpai! Do you have a moment? I'd like your advice on something...
Ichie:Is it something serious? Let this senpai help you!
Rui:Th-Thank you very much! Well, about yesterday's practice...
Fumi:...About Tamao?
Rui:A-Ah, not about her... About my scene with her.
Fumi:Huh?
Rui:Fumi-senpai, you pointed out that my acting and hers were not in sync.
Rui:I still think it's mostly my fault.
Rui:We have a lot of scenes together, so I wanted your advice on where I should be more careful.
Rui:That's why I'm asking you both.
Fumi:I was gonna say it's not your place to solve her problems, but...
Ichie:I'm glad you're thinking about your problems together!
Rui:Th-Thank you. Ah... You can stop patting my head now...!
Fumi:...Well, first of all, Tamao will do something about her lack of practice, so don't worry about that.
Fumi:Moving on to you, how did you prepare yourself mentally for the role? What was your frame of mind?
Rui:M-My frame of mind? I guess...
Rui:I tried to keep a clear head so that my lines wouldn't sound garbled. Kinda like swinging a bamboo sword!
Fumi:I see. "Like swinging a bamboo sword"... You channeled that strength in your performance.
Rui:...Did I come on as too strong?
Ichie:No, considering it's a lively musical... But maybe...
Ichie:...You ended up overshadowing Otohime's stage presence.
Rui:Ah, right! I was paying too much attention to my acting, and forgot to match Otohime's energy.
Fumi:Exactly. I understand you two didn't have enough time to practice together, and you came in very motivated, but...
Ichie:Overall, your performance was too rushed.
Rui:I was going at full speed the whole time. I need to think about my partner, and adjust the pace...
Fumi:Yeah. Take Ichie here, for example. Her sense of rhythm is well-balanced when she dances and when she performs.
Ichie:Yaay! Fumi praised me! ♪
Ichie:Okay, Rui. Let's rehearse all together later. You, Tamao and me. Put into practice what Fumi told you!
Rui:Ichie-senpai, Fumi-senpai... Thank you!
Yuyuko:"What are you asking me all of a sudden? ...Urashima...?"
Yuyuko:"Hmm... That name sounds familiar... Ahh! That's the name of the family that lived in the village that was abandoned."
Yuyuko:...It's still not right. I'll try sounding more discouraged.
Yuyuko:"Hmm... That name sounds familiar..."
Rui:Yukko!
Rui:Oh, sorry. Were you practicing?
Yuyuko:...Nope. Not at all.
Rui:...You were reading the script...
Yuyuko:...Let's not focus on the details. Anyway, what's the matter?
Rui:...Did you notice anything important about my performance with Tamao-senpai yesterday at rehearsal?
Yuyuko:Hmm... Let me think...
Yuyuko:I thought your acting stood out too much, and it'd be very hard to watch you perform the whole play, let alone be on the same stage with you.
Rui:Ahh, as I thought...
Yuyuko:What do you mean as you thought?
Rui:I spoke with Fumi-senpai and Ichie-senpai, and they told me the same thing.
Yuyuko:I see... You're going around asking for advice to improve your scenes with Tamao.
Yuyuko:Your crush on Tamao-senpai hasn't changed I see, Rui.
Yuyuko:And to top it all, you play her husband this time. Congrats.
Rui:Th-That's not it...at all...
Rui:...Do you remember what Hanayagi-san from Seisho told us that time?
Yuyuko:Oh... I try to forget bad memories.
Rui:So you do remember.
Rui:...Tamao-senpai can't perform at her best, because she has to pay attention to what others around her do. When I heard that, I felt mortified.
Rui:Because I knew it was true...
Yuyuko:........
Rui:Ever since, I've never forgotten Hanayagi-san's words.
Rui:That's why I--
Yuyuko:...Rui. You're not the only one that feels like that.
Yuyuko:I won't forget the frustration I felt that time. But we're no longer under Tamao's wing.
Yuyuko:That's why you decided to take action, and I'm practicing here by myself, right?
Yuyuko:I'm sure...we're growing up. Our play will prove that.
Rui:......
Yuyuko:What? Why are you giving me that shocked look?
Rui:I-I'm just surprised you feel exactly the same way I do.
Rui:So...you were practicing after all.
Yuyuko:...Uh? What was that? I feel sleepy all of a sudden...
Rui:Ack, I'm sorry! I'll pretend I didn't notice, so don't lie down.
Tamao:Rui-chan!
Rui:T-Tamao-senpai!?
Tamao:Yuyuko-chan, you're here too. I was about to go looking for you.
Tamao:If you're free at the moment, can we practice all together?
Rui:O-Of course!
Rui:(I'm so happy... I always ask her to practice together, but this time she asked!)
Yuyuko:Oh... You two go ahead. Yesterday, I found a few things I want to fix, so I'll work on the script for a while.
Tamao:Hm? What is it? If there's anything I can help you with... Ah!
Tamao:I have to stop doing that...
Rui:T-Tamao-senpai...!
Tamao:R-Rui-chan, what's wrong?
Rui:Like me, Yukko might be lacking in knowledge and experience compared to you, but she's watching over all of us!
Rui:She even restructured the script to make it easier for us to perform, and for our individual strengths to stand out. plus, her voice is so beautiful that her presence on stage is overwhelming, so...
Rui:P-Please don't you worry about her!
Yuyuko:...Rui, what are you talking about?
Yuyuko:You're amazing too, you know?
Rui:Y-Yukko...!?
Yuyuko:We may be lacking in those things compared to our senpai, but your boundless curiosity and your strong motivation to get into character are extremely reliable.
Rui:S-Stop it, Yukko!
Rui:Anyway, let's go, Tamao-senpai! Let's focus on our practice!
Tamao:Oh, uh, okay...
Tamao:See you later, Yuyuko-chan.
Yuyuko:Sure.
Yuyuko:...l can't believe she made me say that...
Looking Up at the Sky from Underwater
Fumi:...The welcoming dance scene at Ryugu-jo? It's the highlight of the first half... Was there anything wrong with it?
Ichie:Not so much a problem, but I just thought we could improve it!
Ichie:The same scene in "Urashima Taro - Rinmeikan Version" was structured around 20 dancers, right?
Ichie:There's even a part where me and Fumi put our hands on our hips like line dancing...!
Fumi:Ah... Now that you mention it.
Ichie:Movement is limited, so the large number of dancers conveys the splendor of the dance instead, but... If it's just Fumi and I, the whole meaning is lost!
Ichie:If we don't change it drastically, Ryugu-jo won't look like a fantastical place at all!
Ichie:That's why I came up with new steps! ♪ Come take a look at this. I recorded myself trying them out.
Fumi:I see. You're using the whole stage to convey how large the palace is... That's a great idea!
Ichie:Yay! You praised me! Hehe, I'm good at doing dance scenes after all!
Fumi:You pull Otohime and Urashima in halfway through too. We should ask everyone's opinion on this...
*clatter*
Tamao:Tamao Tomoe, second year student in the Performance Department, ready to begin.
Fumi:Good timing, Tamao! What do you think of this dance?
Ichie:...Huh? Why the long face?
Tamao:I-It's nothing...
Fumi:...Is something wrong?
Tamao:Ah, well...
Tamao:I-I'm worried Rui-chan and Yuyuko-chan are pushing themselves too hard...!
Huh...?
Tamao:I feel that they're overworking themselves, and it's my fault. What should I do...
Ichie:Ngh...!
Fumi:Pff...!
Ahahaha!
Tamao:W-Why are you two laughing...?!
Ichie:I'm sorry! It's just that you had such a serious face, but that's all it was...!
Fumi:You had me worried for nothing.
Tamao:Don't make fun of me. I was serious...
Ichie:Heh heh heh ♪ What should Tamao do? Let me tell you!
Ichie:Just trust in Rui and Yuyuko's progress!
Tamao:Wh-What?
Fumi:She's not gonna understand what you mean by that... Make it simpler...
Ichie:Ahaha! Sorry, sorry!
Ichie:...Friends are not just there to help each other.
Tamao:Huh...?
Ichie:Watching over someone... Crying and laughing together...
Ichie:Friends should trust each other, rather than worry together all the time!
Tamao:Trust each other...
Ichie:Yes! I think you should trust them more, and allow them to take care of you. With your body, and dance, dance!
Fumi:You spoiled the mood with your dancing.
Fumi:Tamao... You should learn how to watch over them without worrying more.
Tamao:Y-Yes... I know that, but still I worry...
Fumi:(Well, she's not gonna change one day to the next. Still, hehe... Who knew she was this stubborn...)
.......
Fumi:...Oh.
Fumi:Rui, Yuyuko!
Rui:Y-Yes!
Yuyuko:...Sorry, we didn't mean to pry, but we said hello and you didn't notice us.
Tamao:Oh...sorry.
Fumi:...Good timing.
Fumi:Tamao... Do your scene with Rui.
Tamao:What!? ...Here? Now?
Fumi:Yes. Do you remember our promise?
Fumi:If you feel that you won't do Rinmeikan's Otohime justice, you'll pass her role to me...
Fumi:
Fumi:It doesn't matter which scene, I just want to see how much you've changed since then.
Tamao:B-But...
Rui:Tamao-senpai! Let's do the ending scene until the lights go out.
Tamao:Rui-chan!?
Rui:It's okay. Please trust me. I trust you.
Tamao:...! Okay.
Tamao:......
Tamao:"T-Taro-sama... Did you really say you're going back to the surface...?"
Rui:"l did. My stay at the palace has been fantastic, but I worry my father and mother are waiting for my return..."
Tamao:"Will you not regret leaving the palace...?"
Rui:"Hmm... I sometimes worry about the fate of the turtle I saved..."
Tamao:"Ahh, you're so kind, Taro-sama... That's exactly why I--"
Tamao:"l cannot hold the truth from you any longer... That turtle you saved was...me."
Rui:"Wha-!?"
Tamao:"I always wanted to see the world above, but after what happened I swore I'd never transform again..."
Tamao:"Even then, I went looking for you with my attendant. You are what brought me back. You can laugh at my sorrow..."
Rui:"Wh-Why did you go to such lengths?"
Tamao:"Because I...long for you..."
Rui:"...!?"
Tamao:"Taro-sama... I will not use words like 'love' or 'affection'..."
Tamao:"l just want to be someone you will miss...!"
Rui:"...Thank you, Otohime-sama. Now more than ever, I must go back to the surface."
Rui:"I must tell my father and mother that I have found my true love!"
Rui:...Whew...
Rui:Thank you!
Tamao:Thank you...!
Ichie:Yaaaaaaay!
*clap clap clap*
Ichie:Otohime's lines were very powerful, but also full of compassion. They really tugged at your heartstrings!
Ichie:Her calm movements also made it look like we were underwater!
Yuyuko:Indeed. Urashima's pauses were brilliant. Truly worth listening to...
Tamao:Thank you, everyone...!
Tamao:Thank you, Rui-chan! I felt like I was completely lost in Urashima Taro!
Rui:...No need to thank me. It was all thanks to you, Tamao-senpai!
Tamao:Why...
Rui:...Tamao-senpai. I always want you to shine like you did today.
Rui:That's when we won't lose sight of your brilliance, and we'll be able to run forward next to each other!
Tamao:.....!
Tamao:(Her eyes are full of determination... I had no idea she had grown so much...)
Fumi:...Tamao. Now you get it, right?
Tamao:Yes. Watching over someone is not so hard...
Tamao:...I didn't know it was such a good feeling.
Fumi:Hehe. Even I'm glad about it.
Fumi:Okay, then let's do this one more time from the top!
Yeah!
Urashima Taro - Rinmeikan Version
Ryugu Dancer:
"O-Otohime-sama! Please don't cry so much! Urashima-sama promised he'd come back... "
Urashima Taro:
"She's right! He won't be gone forever..."
Otohime:
"Taro-sama... I must give you this as our parting gift."
Urashima Taro:
"A tamatebako...? I cannot take such a splendid gift...!"
Otohime:
"No... This box contains a fate that no living being can escape."
Otohime:
"Whoever leaves Ryugu-jo must receive this. However, be warned. You must never open it... "
Urashima Taro:
"...Finally. I'm back to the surface. It's been three months since I've left... Everything looks different."
Urashima Taro:
"Huhh? Where's my house gone...!?"
Old Man:
"Heave-ho..."
Urashima Taro:
"Hey, you there! Do you know where the Urashimas live?"
Old Man:
"What are you asking me all of a sudden? ...Urashima...?"
Old Man:
"Hmm... That name sounds familiar... Ahh! That's the name of the family that lived in the village that was abandoned."
Old Man:
"That was more than a hundred years ago. I heard that they've moved to a faraway land..."
Urashima Taro:
"More than a hundred years ago...!? What do you mean by that...!? Otohime-sama, Ryugu Dancer, what should I do...!
Urashima Taro:
"I know! The answer must be in this tamatebako..."
Urashima Taro:
"Otohime said this box contains a fate that no living being can escape. There must be some sort of mechanism inside...!"
Narrator:
"...And that's when Urashima opened the box, forgetting what the princess had said."
Narrator:
"As soon as he opened it, a thick fog came out of it."
Narrator:
"His skin began to grow old, and his hair turned white... Urashima finally understood everything."
Narrator:
"l see... What she meant by 'a fate no living being can escape' is 'time'. She stored away the time I wasn't spending on the surface, so that we could be together at the palace."
Narrator:
"While his vision was getting blurry, Urashima realized the truth."
Urashima Taro:
"Ahh... If I have to give back all the time I spent in Ryugu-jo, I wish I could at least become a crane in my next life."
Urashima Taro:
"That way I could fly to Otohime, as she - an incarnation of a turtle - would live a hundred years."
"'The night of meeting you is like Urashima opening the tamatebako, when night turns to dawn the regret and my tears.'"
Narrator:
"...'The night I met you went by so quickly. That night I slept alone. When night turned to dawn, you unfortunately opened the tamatebako..."'
Narrator:
"This is the song Otohime sang when Urashima left the palace."
Narrator:
"Unfortunately, Urashima never replied to her in song..."
Narrator:
"That's because he became a crane, and he replied to her in person."
Narrator:
"Their profound feelings for each Other bound them together, and they promised each other to stay together in their lifetime, and the ones that would follow. "
Narrator:
"I ask of you all: What binds you so strongly to another person?"
Narrator:
"Is it love? Or friendship? Or maybe...trust?"
Narrator:
"I'm sure it is all of them."
Narrator:
"A boss and their subordinates, siblings, a child and their parents, and even juniors and seniors at school..."
Narrator:
"All these relationships are so very precious, don't you think?"
Fumi:...Whew. These are all the backdrops, right? Good job, everyone! It was an amazing performance!
Rui:Yeah! My heart is still racing at all the applauses we received...! I'm so glad everyone in the audience enjoyed it!
Yuyuko:Huh? Where's Tamao-senpai?
Ichie:Someone from the committee called her over after we finished cleaning up the stage...
Tamao:Great job, everyone!
Ichie:Ooh! Welcome back ♪
Tamao:Everyone in the committee was deeply moved by our play. My grandma was grateful she could see "Urashima Taro - Rinmeikan Version" one more time...!
Rui:I-I don't know what to say! I'm so happy they gave us this opportunity...!
Yuyuko:This would be a good time to erupt with joy.
Ichie:I agree! WE DID IT!
Fumi:Ichie, lower your voice! We're still backstage...
Tamao:Hehe...!
Tamao:...When the play ended, I remembered something.
Tamao:The story that ends with Urashima Taro becoming an old man...
Fumi:Ahh, the version we all knew...
Tamao:Well, I had a chat about that with Rui-chan and Yuyuko-chan.
Tamao:How our ancestors changed the story so that their morals would be passed on...
Rui:Yes, I remember that chat...
Tamao:I thought that, in a way, what they did is similar to what I did when I was helping Rui-chan and Yuyuko-chan.
Tamao:I worried about them, and ended up meddling in their affairs...
Tamao:I understand what our ancestors were trying to do, but as a result, Urashima Taro's story became a sad one.
Tamao:Trusting someone, and watching over them without interfering... That's how the story would have had a happy ending.
Tamao:I feel that "Urashima Taro - Rinmeikan Version" taught me this.
Ichie:Yeah, yeah! The ending where Urashima Taro becomes old is interesting, but I like the original ending better!
Fumi:Me too.
Rui:I-I do as well! It's a better ending than the sad one...
Yuyuko:...I agree.
Tamao:Heh heh. So do l. I love what we've worked on all together!
Tamao:I hope I can...rely on all of you more from now on.
Rui:T-Tamao-senpai! *sob*
Yuyuko:Rui, you're gonna ruin Urashima Taro's outfit if you keep crying. Let me get something to wipe them off...
Yuyuko:...Huh? Where's my handkerchief?
Ichie:Everyone calm down! Here, you can use my sleeve...
Fumi:Ichie! You're still wearing your outfit!
Tamao:...There you go, Rui-chan. Use this.
Rui:Th-Thank you...!
Yuyuko:Ngh... Excellent timing, Tamao-senpai. It looks like we still rely on you.
Fumi:Heh heh. Don't worry. Let's take it slow from now on, everyone.