Carmen - Song of Freedom/Story

* Part 1
* Part 2
* Part 3
* Part 4
* Part 5
* Part 6
* Part 7
* Part 8
* Part 9
* Part 10
* Part 11
* Final Part

"Carmen" Performance Day!

 **Rui:**An important place, protected by an important person.

 **Yuyuko:**We love it here and ask for nothing more.

 **Rui:**That's why everything else is unnecessary.

**Rui & Yuyuko:**That's why...we don't need freedom.

 **Rui:**\*inhale\*... \*exhale\*

 **Yuyuko:**Rui, if you take such a deep breath like that, you might end up floating off like a balloon!

 **Rui:**No way, I was just...

 **Rui:**I was just nervous because we get to accompany Fumi-senpai!

 **Yuyuko:**Well, it certainly feels a little different from the usual joint program.

 **Fumi:**I mean, you should have that kind of feeling, right?

 **Fumi:**After all, you're not just accompanying me this time, but actually starring alongside me, Rui.

 **Rui:**H-Hurray!

 **Yuyuko:**Did you just bite your tongue...?

 **Rui:**Ugh... Anyway, I will do my best not to be a burden to everyone...

 **Lalafin:**No need to fuss over it!

 **Fumi:**Everyone...!

 **Lalafin:**Eheheh, I cannot wait any longer so I came here to greet you guys!

 **Lalafin:**I really wanted to pop the poppers and shower you guys with confetti, but...

 **Tsukasa:**Yesterday, she fell asleep while murmuring she was going to make confetti and holding a piece of origami, didn't you?

 **Lalafin:**N-No... It was just that the hot milk from Shizuha really put my mind at ease!

 **Shizuha:**I'm glad you got some good rest... I remember you told me that you were so excited that you couldn't sleep at all lately.

 **Tsukasa:**Ah, that reminds me. The books I read to put you to sleep turned out to be related to the program, and my plan backfired!

 **Shizuha:**We, too, were thrilled with excitement as we were really looking forward to this day.

 **Fumi:**Hehe, I guess we're both on the same page, aren't we? Well, once again...

 **Fumi:**...I'll be joining as a guest performer from today. I am Fumi Yumeoji from Rinmeikan Girls School.

 **Rui:**I'm Rui A-A-Akikaze!

 **Yuyuko:**I'm Yuyuko T-T-Tanaka.

 **Rui:**Stop it, Yukko!

**Fumi & Lalafin & Tsukasa & Shizuha:**Ahahaha!

 **Shizuha:**Let's make this performance an unforgettable one!

 **Tsukasa:**It's going to be a great show for sure. Because this time—

 **Lalafin:**It's the world-renowned play..."Carmen"!

A Sudden Guest Performance Offer

 **Lalafin:**And so here we are, Fumi, Rui, Yuyuko!! Welcome to Frontier♪

 **Rui:**O-Oh!

 **Yuyuko:**Oh... Your voice echoes all over the school...

 **Tsukasa:**Hahaha! It's good to be full of energy.

 **Shizuha:**Right? It's kind of like having Aruru-chan and Misora-chan around.

 **Tsukasa:**Yeah, but Aruru and Misora headed to Rinmeikan, right?

 **Tsukasa:**Shizuha must be lonely, so why don't you two cheer her up?

 **Rui:**Huh!? Um... Uh...

 **Yuyuko:**I don't think I can replace them, but I'm really good at being spoiled.

 **Rui:**Y-Yukko!

 **Shizuha:**Heh heh. You don't need to bother them, Tsukasa.

 **Shizuha:**Besides, you felt lonely too without Aruru and Misora around, right, Tsukasa?

 **Tsukasa:**You know me too well!

 **Rui:**Heh heh...

 **Rui:**Ah... Sorry, I got carried away.

 **Tsukasa:**No, I'm glad to see you smile!

 **Shizuha:**Yeah, I do feel lonely, but at the same time, I also feel super excited to be able to perform with everyone.

 **Rui:**Kocho-san, Ebisu-san...

 **Fumi:**......

 **Lalafin:**Hehe, I can see that Fumi is also smiling.

 **Fumi:**Oh... Was it that obvious? I was just so impressed with how well you guys were able to break the tension.

 **Fumi:**They were quite surprised to be selected... I think they put lots of efforts into it.

 **Lalafin:**I see. The guest performance offer just came out of the blue, right?

 **Lalafin:**We found it shocking too!

 **Fumi:**Ah, is it about the thing from that day?

 **Lalafin:**Yeah! Was it about a month ago? The day when you got selected as a guest performer—

**Lalafin & Tsukasa & Shizuha:**Decline!?

 **Fumi:**Yeah... It's a heart-breaking thing to say right after the offer, but...

 **Fumi:**I've made up my mind. I have no choice but to do this...

 **Fumi:**I decline this offer...

Rinmeikan's Problem

One month before the date of the meeting

**Shizuha & Tsukasa & Lalafin:**You turn down the offer!?

 **Fumi:**Yeah... It's a heart-breaking thing to say right after the offer, but...

 **Tsukasa:**Hmm... I had a bad feeling when your message came, but I didn't expect you to decline.

 **Fumi:**I'm truly sorry... I really wanted to talk to you guys first before I told the teacher.

 **Fumi:**I'm a little tied up right now, so I can't go into detail, but I will when things get sorted out—

 **Lalafin:**...But why?

 **Fumi:**Um...

 **Lalafin:**Fumi, we don't just want to hear your apology.

 **Lalafin:**We want to know why and what we can do to help.

 **Fumi:**Nonomiya-san...

 **Fumi:**...You're right. I should have been more resolved when it came to stage-related things.

 **Fumi:**I know this may sound a little complicated, but...you all came to the Rinmeikan stage the other day, right? What did you think of the performance?

 **Lalafin:**It was really good!

 **Tsukasa:**Yeah, I have to admit that it was truly amazing. It took my breath away...

 **Shizuha:**Indeed. Yumeoji-san, your performance was very convincing, not to mention Akikaze-san's radiant fighting scenes along with Tanaka-san's melodious dialogues.

 **Tsukasa:**Hehe! After the performance, Lalafin was begging me to make her a 'great samurai sword'.

 **Lalafin:**I-It's a Rinmeikan's performance, after all!

 **Lalafin:**The sword fights, the beautiful kamae postures, the dancing... Everything was great!

 **Fumi:**Yes, that! Rinmeikan is really good when it comes to Japanese-related stages...

 **Fumi:**That's the reason why I decline the offer.

 **Lalafin:**Huh? What do you mean?

 **Fumi:**What I meant to say was that Rinmeikan doesn't have much experience with Western musicals...

**Shizuha & Tsukasa & Lalafin:**...!!

 **Fumi:**You guys know that Rinmeikan Performance Department closed down, right?

 **Fumi:**It pains me to say this, but...there's not much you can learn now regarding Rinmeikan's situation.

 **Fumi:**Right now, we are only trying to finish as many performances as we can with the remaining old scripts and props from the seniors...

 **Lalafin:**B-but it shouldn't be the reason, right!?

 **Tsukasa:**Yeah, I'm still not convinced. On the contrary, I think this performance would be a great experience.

 **Fumi:**Um... It's not me I'm worried about—it's...Rui and Yuyuko.

 **Lalafin:**Rui and Yuyuko...?

 **Fumi:**Those two did not have as much time learning the basics like us second-years, so you know...

 **Lalafin:**B-but aren't their acting skills incredible!?

 **Fumi:**I'm not saying that they are not good. I, myself, have seen their tireless rehearsals more than anyone else.

 **Fumi:**Because of that, I believe that they still lack the ability to distinguish themselves from the rest.

 **Shizuha:**I see. Akikaze-san and Tanaka-san are like diamonds in the rough, indeed.

 **Shizuha:**That said, they have not yet mastered either dancing, fighting scenes or singing, so...

 **Fumi:**Yeah. We just have to expose them to different techniques from now on.

 **Fumi:**Still, even with our regular joint program, we have been struggling with reinforcing our weak points.

 **Tsukasa:**What about Tomoe-san and the others...?

 **Fumi:**Of course, they've also noticed the same problem too. Because Tamao, Ichie and I have been training those two in between our extra practices...

 **Shizuha:**...And yet, there is always a limit to what one person can teach.

 **Fumi:**I'll have to admit it—that's why I can't leave Rinmeikan and those two unattended. I just can't...

 **Fumi:**At this rate—

 **Fumi:**At this rate...Rui and Yuyuko's brilliance will go to waste...

Hidden Brilliance

 **Lalafin:**Rui and Yuyuko's brilliance will go to waste...?

 **Fumi:**Yes. What I need most right now is time to teach those two some new techniques. I can't just leave them like that.

 **Fumi:**I'm really sorry, but I have no choice but to turn this offer down...

 **Lalafin:**That's what you're freaking out about?

 **Fumi:**Huh...?

 **Lalafin:**It's simple!! We can just let Rui and Yuyuko become guest performers as well!

 **Fumi:**Whaat!?

 **Tsukasa:**Ah, great idea! The upcoming program is an authentic Western musical, which can be a good experience for them!

 **Shizuha:**Though it may be difficult to place them in the lead role like you...

 **Shizuha:**I believe the stage of "Carmen" can be a good trial to address some of the issues you mentioned.

 **Lalafin:**I think that's a super cool idea! Let's do that♪

 **Fumi:**Is it okay if we just do it like that!?

 **Fumi:**(Nonomiya-san managed to have Rui and Yuyuko become guest performers in Frontier...)

 **Fumi:**(And then... After discussing with Ms. Ukaji, we also had her permission...)

 **Fumi:**(...along with the message "I know you can be a great mentor, Yumeoji-san!")

 **Lalafin:**Fumi, Fuuumi! \*poke\*

 **Fumi:**Eek! Wh-What's wrong, Nonomiya-san!?

 **Lalafin:**Heh heh, I saw you were lost in your thought so I couldn't help myself.

 **Lalafin:**...Don't worry, Fumi. Rui and Yuyuko will definitely grow after this performance!

 **Lalafin:**They will find their freedom like "Carmen"!

 **Fumi:**Freedom...? Nonomiya-san, what does that mean—

 **Tsukasa:**Hey, you two! Enough with your chit-chat, go to the rehearsal room!

 **Lalafin:**Hehe, sorry about that... I was trying to calm Fumi down since she was all tensed up.

 **Yuyuko:**Fumi-senpai got nervous...?

 **Rui:**It must have been because of the heavy burden of being a guest performer... Oh no, I'm getting nervous again...!

 **Fumi:**Not really, I was thinking of a suitable way to train you guys.

 **Yuyuko:**Which means we'll have one more thing to worry about...

 **Shizuha:**Hehe, you don't have to get so worked up about it, okay? It was just that we really needed Akikaze-san and Tanaka-san's help.

 **Tsukasa:**That's right! And the Rinmeikan performance we were invited to was amazing, too!

 **Lalafin:**Yeah! Yuyuko's lines were inspiring. Not to mention Rui's singing!

 **Lalafin:**Rui, I thought you excelled more in fighting scenes, but your singing was truly amazing as well! It was powerful, heartfelt, and it took my breath away...!

 **Rui:**Th-Thank you so much! We couldn't have done it without the help of our seniors—

 **Yuyuko:**Yeah, somehow we pulled it off.

 **Shizuha:**...Oh?

 **Yuyuko:**Is something wrong...?

 **Shizuha:**O-Oh, no! It's nothing!

 **Shizuha:**(Are they doing this subconsciously just now?)

 **Shizuha:**(We were praising them for their amazing traits, but they gave all the credits to Rinmeikan instead...)

 **Tsukasa:**Alright then, the ensemble students are waiting for us, so let's start the meeting right away, shall we?

 **Lalafin:**Okay! Let the stage of "Carmen" begin♪

The Story of "Carmen"

 **Lalafin:**Okay, I guess we can start the read of Carmen then! Let's do our best!

**All:**Let's do our best!

 **Fumi:**Shall we go over the story?

 **Lalafin:**Okay! Let's see... "Carmen" is set in the passionate land of Spain!

 **Lalafin:**Carmen, who works in a leather factory, is a very independent and strong woman♪

 **Fumi:**One day, she gets arrested by a soldier named José in a fight that she started.

 **Fumi:**And then, she tries to charm him even though he shows no interest in her...

 **Lalafin:****(Carmen)**
"I don't care about the rules... Even if you don't love me back, my love for you won't change!"

 **Fumi:****(José)**
"O what stern eyes you have. And the fragrance from your thrown flower is irresistible..."

 **Lalafin:**José has become completely enamored with Carmen...

 **Lalafin:**So he lets her free and becomes a prisoner in her stead!

 **Fumi:**After that, José's life becomes more and more miserable...

 **Shizuha:****(Zuniga)**
"Give me Carmen! That's an order!!"

 **Fumi:****(José)**
"Never! Over my dead body!"

 **Shizuha:**José escapes after tying up his superior Zuniga, who is trying to flirt with Carmen.

 **Tsukasa:****(Le Dancaïre)**
"You chased after Carmen until here?"

 **Tsukasa:****(Le Dancaïre)**
"Then why not help with her smuggling business!"

 **Tsukasa:**And with that, José abets Carmen in many of her smuggling business...

 **Tsukasa:**But by then, Carmen's lost her heart to another man...

 **Lalafin:****(Carmen)**
"My dear, Escamillo! I have never loved anyone more than you!"

 **Rui:**......

 **Lalafin:****(Carmen)**
"Escamillo?"

 **Rui:**Oh...!

 **Rui:****(Escamillo)**
"...Me too, Carmen! Pray let me call your name in times of distress!!"

 **Fumi:****(José)**
"I can never allow that...!!"

 **Yuyuko:**The duel between José and Escamillo has risen to the breaking point until Micaëla, José's ex-fiancée, suddenly shows up and stops them.

 **Yuyuko:****(Micaëla)**
"José, pray come to your senses! Your mother is on her deathbed!!"

 **Fumi:****(José)**
"Very well... I'm going to leave for now. But I will return to you, Carmen—you are my destiny!!"

 **Lalafin:**And in the final act, Carmen and José reunite, but their love for each other has faded, and then...

 **Fumi:**José forces his sword into Carmen's heart—and that's the end of the story.

As Glamorous as an Opera

 **Shizuha:**—and that concludes the read through.

 **Fumi:**Although there have been some changes in the name and overall content, the stage this time still sticks to Georges Bizet's original work, right?

 **Lalafin:**Yeah—what a wonderful story! The characters and their personal development are really interesting!

 **Fumi:**Yeah. It's interesting how the embodiment of freedom, Carmen, manipulates José...

 **Tsukasa:**Not to mention the complicated relationships between characters! The build-up tension of the story could even rival the one in a real opera!

 **Yuyuko:**Besides, the singing and dancing parts are amazing, too...

 **Fumi:**Indeed. Basically, the whole play is composed of songs which don't require us to repeat every single line.

 **Fumi:**It was made this way to resemble the style of the opera as much as possible.

 **Yuyuko:**I looked up "Love Is a Rebellious Bird - Habanera", "Toreador Song", and "Romani Song", and...

 **Yuyuko:**...to my surprise, I'd heard all of them before.

 **Fumi:**That's why Carmen is the world's most renowned play!

 **Lalafin:**It also has flamenco with its unique tempo. I can't wait to perform it!

 **Shizuha:**You mean the "compás" rhythm...? I think they also change the song a little by adding a finishing touch to the 12-beat rhythm.

 **Tsukasa:**I'm really looking forward to the smuggling troupe scene! I bet there is going to be a huge rumble when we and the ensemble students step on the stage all at once!

 **Yuyuko:**Oh... There are also many of Micaëla's songs. Some of them are original songs, right?

 **Yuyuko:**It makes my head spin to think that we have to dance and sing back and forth...

 **Fumi:**Yeah... It's best to let you and Rui practice your breath-control in order to cope with the intense movements later.

 **Fumi:**We also need to find a way to save our energy while singing.

 **Yuyuko:**I see. After all, most of the stages in Rinmeikan feature fighting scenes, right?

 **Yuyuko:**If I have to sing for a long time, I will need to control my breath throughout the entire performance. Hmm, this is going to be quite a pain.

 **Fumi:**...Don't worry. Like I said, I will train you within the best of my ability.

 **Yuyuko:**Oh...!

 **Yuyuko:**It means we really have to brace ourselves for this, Rui.

 **Rui:**Huh...? Y-Yeah...

 **Yuyuko:**You blanked out just a moment ago. Are you okay, Rui?

 **Rui:**Oh, um... It's nothing.

 **Rui:**Nothing, really...

One Step Away from Freedom

**Rui & Yuyuko:**Aaah♪

 **Fumi:**No. You shouldn't put too much pressure on your abdomen or your voice won't sound as clear.

 **Lalafin:**You can tighten your belly a little, but remember to relax it when you let your voice out!

 **Yuyuko:**\*huff\* \*pant\*...\*huff\*

 **Rui:**One more time please!

 **Tsukasa:**The two of them are having a hard time...

 **Shizuha:**Yeah. Their belly breathing is perfect, their vibrato is beautiful and their voice travels well, but...

 **Shizuha:**They will easily run out of breath before the end of the performance if they don't change the way they sing.

 **Tsukasa:**Right... There's a lot more singing in this stage, so—

 **Tsukasa:**Hey, isn't their singing technique—

 **Shizuha:**Yeah, it's the "German technique". Is that what they taught them in singing classes?

 **Tsukasa:**Ah, I knew it... When you think about it, Rinmeikan mostly teaches Japanese techniques so it's no wonder they learned that first.

 **Tsukasa:**Historically, the first musical techniques introduced in Japan came from Germany... You can see how most of Japan's famous stages adapt to the German style.

 **Shizuha:**Well, yeah. But...

 **Shizuha:**You will have a hard time using the German technique in a stage filled with continuous singing like opera.

 **Tsukasa:**Indeed! After all, the German technique requires a lot of stamina to thicken your vocals!

 **Shizuha:**Yeah... You will struggle to finish all the songs using it unless you have a lot of stamina.

 **Tsukasa:**Well, it would be great if they could adjust their singing style to various settings.

 **Tsukasa:**For me, I will put more pressure on my belly to create a more impactful voice and gradually relax it when the scene continues.

 **Shizuha:**You make a good point there. I think each technique has its own strengths and weaknesses.

 **Shizuha:**Tsukasa is right. If they can learn to adapt various techniques to the stage they are in, they will become better in no time.

 **Shizuha:**I hope they can break the habit of singing with the German technique and relax themselves more.

 **Tsukasa:**The two of them have been singing for two hours so there's no doubt they can do it!

 **Shizuha:**Yeah. I also have high hopes for them, but—

 **Shizuha:**Having to change their way of singing just to pursue their "freedom"...

 **Shizuha:**I wonder if they truly desire it...

Silenced Song

Rehearsal time

 **Shizuha:****(Zuniga)**
"Ngh! How dare you tie me up like this... Release me now or face horrible consequences later, José!"

 **Fumi:****(José)**
"As long as I am with Carmen...I have no fear for such infamy!"

 **Tsukasa:****(Le Dancaïre)**
"Well said, José! Let Carmen show you what true happiness is!"

 **Lalafin:****(Carmen)**
"Heh heh! Let the world be free from any laws or boundaries... Let us soar high to the limitless sky!"

 **Yuyuko:**Amazing! I can't believe they delivered every single line correctly after singing for so long!

 **Yuyuko:**Rui, let's practice using what we just learned, okay?

 **Yuyuko:**Especially in the next fighting scene in act 3...

 **Rui:**Relax my diaphragm, relax my diaphragm...

 **Yuyuko:**Rui?

 **Rui:**I need to relax... I need to free my voice...

 **Yuyuko:**Are you all right...?

 **Rui:****(Escamillo)**
"—Oh, yes. It is I, Escamillo, Carmen's true love!"

 **Fumi:****(José)**
"It appears we have no choice but to settle this once and for all..."

 **Fumi:****(José)**
"My sword will cut down your meaningless words. For I am Carmen's one and only love!!"

 **Yuyuko:**(Rui will make her appearance as Escamillo in act 3, and...)

 **Yuyuko:**(...after some dialogues, they will have a duet while engaging in a fierce duel, then...)

 **Yuyuko:**(I, as Micaëla, will try to stop them—)

 **Rui:****(Escamillo)**
"D-Don't make me...laugh..."

 **Yuyuko:**(Rui is having trouble keeping up with her lines...! Could it be that she is running out of breath...?)

 **Rui:****(Escamillo)**
"I've never thought...I w-would...lose my life for...the sake of love..."

 **Fumi:**......

 **Fumi:**Let's stop for now, shall we?

 **Rui:**Ah...

 **Fumi:**We can continue after the break, right, Rui?

 **Rui:**Y-Yes! Of course...!!

 **Shizuha:**Alright then, let's take a break for 30 minutes... Akikaze-san, here's your towel!

 **Tsukasa:**It's okay, just take a deep breath!

 **Rui:**Umm... Please...

 **Rui:**Please excuse me! I need some fresh air outside!

 **Yuyuko:**Rui!

**Shizuha & Tsukasa:**Oh...

 **Fumi:**......

 **Fumi:**I'm sorry, Nonomiya-san. I know we are taking a break now, but...may I have a bit of your time?

 **Lalafin:**Of course!!

Unbeloved

Empty classroom

 **Rui:**I should've relaxed my diaphragm... I need to free my voice more...

 **Rui:**Just why...why can't I be Escamillo?

 **Yuyuko:**—Of course you can't be him.

 **Yuyuko:**Because you don't understand why Escamillo falls in love with Carmen, right?

 **Rui:**Yukko—!!

 **Yuyuko:**Heh heh, I finally caught up to you... May I sit here?

 **Rui:**Umm...

 **Yuyuko:**It's alright, you don't have to say anything.

 **Rui:**Actually, I was just wondering...

 **Rui:**When we first read about Carmen, it surprised me how selfish Carmen and José were...

 **Rui:**José loved Micaëla and Carmen loved José, but in the end, they curse their own fate by pursuing love selfishly...

 **Yuyuko:**Hmmm...

 **Yuyuko:**When we had our first read through, I could see from your troubled face that...

 **Yuyuko:**You hate Carmen, right?

 **Rui:**It's not like that...

 **Rui:**Well, yeah... I hate her. I just hate how they use freedom as an excuse to hurt themselves and others like that...

 **Rui:**But I guess what I really hate is...myself.

 **Yuyuko:**Yourself...?

 **Rui:**We've been told by Tamao-senpai and the others that we shouldn't depend too much on the German singing technique, right?

 **Rui:**But...I am a Rinmeikan student so...

 **Yuyuko:**Rui...

 **Rui:**I've always told myself to only cherish what I learned from Rinmeikan and that nothing else matters!

 **Yuyuko:**......

 **Rui:**I childishly bound myself to that and told myself that I didn't need freedom...

 **Rui:**I just wanted to be bound to Rinmeikan... The place where I belong to...

 **Fumi:****(José)**
"O Carmen! What a woman!"

 **Yuyuko:**That voice...

Desire to Love

 **Fumi:****(José)**
"O Carmen! What a woman!"

 **Yuyuko:**That voice...

 **Rui:**Fumi-senpai and Nonomiya-san are doing an etude...!?

 **Fumi:****(José)**
"The flower you threw has pierced my chest like a bullet..."

 **Fumi:****(José)**
"An intense scent and challenging look—you are more beautiful than this flower!"

 **Lalafin:****(Carmen)**
"That's right, José! The flower I gave you is a magical flower... It doesn't matter if you've thrown it away!"

 **Yuyuko:**Oh...José and Carmen are...

 **Rui:**They're melting in the bright, red sunset...

 **Lalafin:****(Carmen)**
"I will give you a light and vibrant dance... Keep your eyes on me, señor!"

 **Fumi:****(José)**
"You've already captured my eyes—do you intend on taking my heart as well?"

 **Fumi:****(José)**
"But that is what I desire... I give all of myself to you!"

 **Fumi:****(José)**
"My heart, the world... You are a bird that flies freely—tied down to no one!!"

 **Lalafin:****(Carmen)**
"Yes, I am a rebellious bird... I am freedom!!"

 **Yuyuko:**Breathtaking...

 **Rui:**Yes, resistance is futile... You can't help but be captivated.

 **Rui:**Yukko, I want to give off that kind of brilliance.

 **Yuyuko:**Rui...

 **Rui:**I've decided. I...will stick with the German singing style.

 **Yuyuko:**What!? Don't be ridiculous.

 **Yuyuko:**The German style requires so much power for each song. You need to use a more relaxed method, otherwise—

 **Rui:**But this is the 'freedom' I desire.

 **Rui:**I don't want to forget what I learned in Rinmeikan... I want to treasure it.

 **Yuyuko:**Even though Carmen dies chasing after freedom?

 **Rui:**Yes. She's only that beautiful because she sacrifices her life!

 **Fumi:**(I woke up way too early.)

 **Fumi:**(I ended up in the park because I can't use the rehearsal room at this hour...)

 **Fumi:**(I can't help but think of what happened that day when I'm alone—)

 **Fumi:**(I'm sure that's also the reason why I couldn't sleep very well.)

 **Fumi:**(I wonder what they felt after watching our etude?)

 **Fumi:**(I hope it was enough to motivate them to learn a new singing technique.)

 **Lalafin:**\*fweet\* Break time is over!!

 **Fumi:**(Hm? Is that...Nonomiya-san?)

Their Starting Point

 **Lalafin:**Break time is over♪ Come on, stand up, you two!

 **Yuyuko:**Whaaat... But we just finished our 10km run of hell...

 **Rui:**Come on, Yukko! We're not even close to being done.

 **Fumi:**(Why am I hiding... But what are they doing here?)

 **Lalafin:**Let's see. According to Rui's secret training schedule, it's 30 squats next...

 **Lalafin:**Okay, let's make it 35!

 **Yuyuko:**Noooooo!

 **Yuyuko:**Ugh... It wouldn't have been as tough if Lala-san hadn't found that training schedule...

 **Rui:**You say that, but you got up even earlier than me today too.

 **Yuyuko:**Erm...a coincidence.

 **Lalafin:**Come on, enough chit-chat! You can do this♪

 **Lalafin:**You want to surprise everyone, right? Show me what you've got!

**Yuyuko & Rui:**Yes!!

 **Fumi:**......

 **Fumi:**(Tamao, Ichie, Ms. Ukaji... These two hate to lose and are more stubborn than we had thought.)

 **Fumi:**They're Stage Girls.

The Day of the Performance

***\*clang\* \*clang\****

 **Le Dancaïre:**"The bell has rung! It's break time! Carmen, the men are waiting for you!!"

 **Carmen:**"Unfortunately, I don't follow anybody's orders!"

 **José:**"What rude behavior. Does that woman work in the leather factory?"

 **Micaëla:**"What's the matter, José?"

 **José:**"Oh it's nothing, my dear Micaëla."

 **José:**"Nothing at all..."

 **Zuniga:**"Ngh! You picked this soldier over an officer like me... José, I order you to leave!"

 **José:**"Yeah, I'll leave...together with Carmen!"

 **Carmen:**"Yes, José will live his life with me—like a free bird!"

 **Carmen:**"José...you have your mother back home, don't you? You ought to go back... We should go our different ways!"

 **José:**"Are you leaving me, Carmen!?"

 **Carmen:**"No, you are leaving me..."

 **Carmen:**"...I will be killed by you some day."

 **José:**"That brilliant voice! I knew it..."

 **Escamillo:**"—Oh, yes. It is I, Escamillo, Carmen's true love!"

 **José:**"It appears we have no choice but to settle this once and for all... This sword will prove whose love is true!!"

 **Escamillo:**"What a predicament. I could laugh! To look for my love only to put my life at risk!"

 **Micaëla:**"Stop! Stop, José!! Forget this horrible woman!"

 **José:**"Micaëla...!?"

 **Micaëla:**"Please, your mother is on her deathbed..."

 **José:**"My mother!? Surely you jest..."

 **Escamillo:**"Looks like taking your life will have to wait."

 **Escamillo:**"Before I say goodbye...allow me at least to invite you all to the bullfights in Seville."

 **Escamillo:**"I will accept your challenge to a duel at any time—with our beloved at stake!"

 **José:**"Ngh...! Be satisfied! I'm going..."

 **José:**"But we shall meet again, Carmen! It's our destiny—!!"

Freedom in Your Hands

"Carmen" Final Act

 **Le Dancaïre:**"Carmen, a word of advice! Don't stay here in this bullring!!"

 **Le Dancaïre:**"It's him, Don José! Look, he's hiding among the crowd."

 **Carmen:**"I'm not afraid of anything... I'll speak to him!"

 **Carmen:**"José!"

 **José:**"Carmen!! I have lost everything..."

 **José:**"O my Carmen, let me save you—and save myself with you!"

 **Carmen:**"Save me, you say... I know that you are going to kill me."

 **Carmen:**"But even if I die, I shall not give in to you!"

 **Carmen:**"I will never yield... I was born free and I will die free!!"

***\*stab\****

 **José:**"Ngh..."

 **José:**"Punish me! Arrest me! I was the one who killed her!"

 **José:**"O Carmen! My beloved Carmen—!!"

 **Rui:**It's...over...

 **Yuyuko:**You pulled it off...

 **Rui:**Yes... My throat, lungs, and chest are burning...

 **Rui:**But...it felt so good!

 **Yuyuko:**Heh heh... You're so silly, Rui.

 **Rui:**So are you for going through it with me!

 **Yuyuko:**Yes... It does feel amazing...

 **Fumi:**......

 **Lalafin:**Fumi, good work!

 **Fumi:**Nonomiya-san, Kocho-san, Ebisu-san...

 **Shizuha:**They were wonderful.

 **Tsukasa:**Yeah! I didn't think they'd stick to the German singing style all the way till the end!

 **Fumi:**Yes...I didn't expect that either.

 **Fumi:**That etude I did with Nonomiya-san's Carmen was supposed to persuade them.

 **Fumi:**It was supposed to make them want to try singing and shining in a different way—instill the desire to learn a new technique... I wanted them to forget the German singing style.

 **Lalafin:**They're not going to forget it. It's what they learned at their beloved Rinmeikan.

 **Fumi:**Heh heh, you're right... I underestimated their potential and stubbornness.

 **Fumi:**They further polished their skills and brought it to a different level.

 **Fumi:**I didn't think they'd be able to accomplish this much already.

 **Lalafin:**I knew they could do it.

 **Fumi:**Huh...?

 **Lalafin:**I knew they'd be able to find their own freedom.

 **Lalafin:**Because I'm Carmen, after all!

 **Fumi:**Yes, you're right...

 **Fumi:****(José)**
"Thank you, Carmen. You will live on forever in our hearts..."