Brilliance Potential - Stage Girls Training Camp/Story

* Part 1
* Part 2
* Part 3
* Part 4
* Part 5
* Final Part

Training Camp!

 **Karen:**It was after we'd boarded the plane to go to the camp.

 **Karen:**Sitting next to me is Aruru-chan, then Tamao-chan, Koharu-chan, and then Yukishiro-san.

 **Karen:**I'm more excited about getting to go somewhere with everyone than about the camp. I feel like I'm on vacation.

 **Karen:**But all of a sudden...the world goes dark.

 **Karen:**Thud! Bam! A noise loud enough to make you want to cover your ears... The plane shakes and my body floats in the air.

 **Karen:**I can hear everyone's screams and the plane plummets, just like a roller coaster.

 **Karen:**I feel a strong impact like we had hit something. I look out the window to see the glass has cracked and water is gushing in.

 **Karen:**I'm cast out into the ocean and I desperately try to swim for my life... My vision begins to go black... I can't move my body... And then...

 **Aruru:**...chan... Karen-chan... Karen-chan!

 **Karen:**Aruru...chan...?

 **Aruru:**Karen-chan, are you okay?

 **Karen:**Ngh... My mouth feels really dry, but...I'm okay.

 **Aruru:**Thank goodness.

 **Karen:**Where...are we?

 **Aruru:**Probably some island.

 **Karen:**Island?

 **Aruru:**Yeah, I also only just woke up. When I went searching for other people, I found you.

 **Karen:**What about Yukishiro-san and the others?

 **Aruru:**I haven't found them yet.

 **Karen:**Then we've gotta go look!

 **Aruru:**Yeah! Can you walk?

 **Karen:**Yeah, let's go.

 **Aruru:**We've walked around the island, but it doesn't look like there's anyone else.

 **Karen:**\*sigh\*... I'm hungry.

 **Aruru:**Wait here! I'll go look for something to eat!

 **Karen:**Wait... Over there!

 **Aruru:**It's Tamao-chan! Thank goodness, you're all right!

 **Tamao:**......

 **Aruru:**What's wrong? Are you hurt...?

 **Tamao:**And stop.

 **Aruru:**Wha—?

 **Tamao:**It's almost time for lunch. Let's end the etude there.

 **Aruru:**Etude? What are you talking about? We're on a deserted island...

 **Tamao:**No, this is the coast of Atami.

 **Aruru:**Ah-ta-me?

 **Tamao:**The moment we got to the training camp, the two of you started doing an etude. I kept looking for a good time to step in, but...

 **Aruru:**Um...

 **Karen:**I guess that's the end.

 **Aruru:**Aww! Tamao-chan, you should join in! We're just about to get to the exciting stuff where we survive on this deserted island!

 **Tamao:**I'd love to join, but we're in the middle of our training camp right now.

 **Karen:**Aruru-chan, let's continue next time.

 **Aruru:**Yeah... Okay! Tamao-chan, it'd be a lot more interesting if you took part as well, so you should join next time!

 **Tamao:**Yes, next time for sure.

 **Tamao:**Miss Yakumo is calling for us. Let's go.

**Karen & Aruru:**Okay!

 **Karen:**I wonder what we're getting for lunch.

 **Aruru:**Something like roasted rattlesnake?

 **Karen:**I wouldn't want to eat that even on a deserted island!

 **Tamao:**...They sure are carefree.

 **Aruru:**Ahh, I'm so full.

 **Karen:**We ate a lot, so we gotta be sure to move around a lot in the afternoon practice!

 **Aruru:**Now that you mention it, what DO we do at training camps?

 **Karen:**I have no idea, but it's exciting!

 **Akira:**This IS Miss Yakumo we're talking about. I'm sure this training camp won't exactly be straightforward.

 **Tamao:**Yes, let's stay focused.

 **Koharu:**I'm here as a representative of Seiran, so I have to work hard.

 **Karen:**I can take any kind of rigorous training!

 **Aruru:**Yeah! Try us!

 **Yakumo:**I'm glad you all made it here safely. I'm Kyoko Yakumo from Seiran General Art Institute and I'll be your instructor for the Joint Training Camp.

**All:**Thank you!

 **Yakumo:**Let me just briefly explain the camp.

**All:**Okay!

 **Yakumo:**There are four meeting rooms in this Performing Arts Training Center we can use.

 **Yakumo:**The gymnasium for action scene and dance practices. Studio for making big props.

 **Yakumo:**There's also a mini theater set up with lighting and audio equipment. It's the best facility for a theater training camp.

 **Yakumo:**We'll be here until 5pm tomorrow. You're free to use all the facilities here. You have full freedom – within reason of course.

 **Akira:**Freedom...?

 **Yakumo:**That's all from me. If there are no other questions, you may leave now.

 **Tamao:**Leave?

 **Koharu:**Miss Yakumo, what about practice?

 **Yakumo:**There's none.

 **Koharu:**Huh?

 **Yakumo:**You're free to use the remaining time to go the beach, the nearby hot spring, sightseeing – whatever you want.

**All:**What!?

 **Yakumo:**I'm giving you "freedom" with this training camp.

Freedom

 **Yakumo:**I'm giving you "freedom" with this training camp.

 **Koharu:**......

 **Karen:**...Freedom?

 **Yakumo:**I can understand why you might feel lost, because you've always had everything given to you.\

 **Tamao:**What do you mean by that?

 **Yakumo:**Okay, let me give you girls one assignment.

 **Yakumo:**I want everyone to perform a short story together on the last day. That'll be your assignment for this training camp.

 **Yakumo:**The casting and theme is all up to you. I want to see a story that came from your own ideas. That's all.

 **Koharu:**......

 **Aruru:**Freedom... Freedom.

 **Karen:**It's hard to come up with what to do all of a sudden.

 **Tamao:**It certainly is quite a difficult assignment.

 **Karen:**Huh?

 **Tamao:**Even if we have free reign over the casting and theme, it's a short story and not an etude, meaning we have to write a script from scratch in such a short time.

 **Karen:**Yeah. And neither Banana or Yuyuko-chan is here...

 **Aruru:**With no theme, I don't know what to do...

**Karen & Aruru:**\*sigh\*

 **Karen:**Huh? Where's Yukishiro-san and Koharu-chan?

 **Tamao:**They left the meeting room earlier...

 **Koharu:**Miss Yakumo, there's something I'd like to ask.

 **Yakumo:**What is it?

 **Koharu:**What's the goal behind this training camp?

 **Yakumo:**And what do you plan on doing with that information?

 **Koharu:**I thought if I knew what your goal is, I could be of help somehow.

 **Yakumo:**There's no need for that.

 **Koharu:**But...

 **Yakumo:**Let's be honest here. You want to know why only you were chosen from Seiran for this training camp... Right?

 **Koharu:**......

 **Yakumo:**You want to know why I picked you, right?

 **Koharu:**...Yes.

 **Yakumo:**Wanting to know the answers right away is a bad habit of yours. There's still plenty of time. Think about it by yourself.

 **Yakumo:**Because it looks like someone has found the answer already.

 **Aruru:**Me! Me! Me! What about this? The Freedom Rangers!

 **Tamao:**Freedom Rangers?

 **Aruru:**Yeah! A story about heroes who fight against villains who steal freedom from the people!

 **Karen:**Ooh, superheroes! Sounds interesting!

 **Aruru:**I've decided on the cast too! Ahem... Listen up, please.

 **Aruru:**Freedom's passionate leader, Free Red, is Karen-chan!

 **Karen:**Yes!

 **Aruru:**Freedom's model student, Free Pink, is Tamao-chan!

 **Tamao:**Free...Pink?

 **Aruru:**And Freedom's mood maker, Free Yellow, is me!

 **Aruru:**And Koharu-chan will be Free Blue, and Akira-chan will be Free Black! What do you think?

 **Karen:**It sounds like superhero stuff! Good, good!

 **Aruru:**Coming up with a victory pose will be fun!

 **Tamao:**Um... Who will be the villain then?

 **Aruru:**Oh no! I forgot about the villain role!

 **Aruru:**Superheroes are always in teams of five, so I don't want to change that... Let's have Miss Yakumo be the villain...

 **Tamao:**Then there'll be no audience...

 **Aruru:**Oh, now we've lost our audience!

 **Tamao:**What if one of the members turns into a traitor and sides with the villain?

 **Aruru:**That might be a good idea!

 **Karen:**Then we'll need a proper reason for her to betray her friends. What would that be?

 **Aruru:**Hmm... A reason...

 **Koharu:**I'm back.

 **Karen:**Koharu-chan, welcome back!

 **Aruru:**Oh! Perfect timing! Koharu-chan, look! Here's the cast list!

 **Koharu:**Freedom...Rangers...?

 **Tamao:**We're trying to come up with a short story together right now.

 **Koharu:**Are we doing a superhero story?

 **Aruru:**No, this is just one of the ideas. If there's something else more interesting, we'd go with that.

 **Tamao:**Is there anything you'd like to try, Yanagi-san?

 **Koharu:**Something I want to try...

 **Aruru:**It's so difficult when you're suddenly given full freedom.

 **Karen:**We're having trouble because we can't come up with any good ideas.

 **Koharu:**Where's Yukishiro-san?

 **Tamao:**She hasn't come back yet. We'd also like to get her opinion though...

 **Aruru:**All right! Let's go out to search for Akira-chan and take a break! Mulling over it in the meeting room isn't going help us come up with any good ideas!

 **Karen:**Yeah! A change of pace would be good!

 **Aruru:**Then why don't we go and do some sightseeing as well? Miss Yakumo did say we were free to use the time however we please.

 **Karen:**Good idea! Let's look up some sightseeing spots nearby!

 **Tamao:**Wait a minute. Um... Why don't we discuss this a little more?

 **Tamao:**We probably don't have any ideas because we haven't been thinking for very long. I think if we discussed it together a bit more, we might be able to come up with something.

 **Karen:**Hmm. Discussing things is important, but I also think getting stimulation from the outside world is necessary too.

 **Karen:**What do you think, Koharu-chan?

 **Koharu:**I...feel like we're being tested.

 **Karen:**Huh?

 **Koharu:**Perhaps Miss Yakumo gave us free time to see what we can accomplish during this training camp.

 **Koharu:**If this training camp is testing the students' independence...then I don't think we have the time for sightseeing.

 **Karen:**I see. That's true too...

 **Akira:**Looks like the meeting hasn't gone anywhere.

 **Karen:**Yukishiro-san!

 **Aruru:**Welcome back! Where have you been?

 **Akira:**I went for a walk around the camp. We're surrounded by a magnificent forest and beautiful ocean. This really is a wonderful place.

 **Aruru:**Akira-chan, you went sightseeing by yourself...?

 **Tamao:**That's surprising.

 **Akira:**What's this written on the whiteboard? ...Freedom Rangers?

 **Aruru:**Yeah! You're the lone wolf, Free Black! Red is Karen-chan and Yellow is...

 **Akira:**I see. If you're free, come along with me.

 **Aruru:**Wait, Akira-chan! Once you hear the setting I came up with, you'll definitely be hooked!

 **Karen:**Heh heh. We should go too.

**Tamao & Koharu:**...Yes. ...Okay.

 **Aruru:**Whoa. The sun is setting over the ocean... So beautiful.

 **Karen:**The breeze from the ocean feels so nice.

**Karen & Aruru:**\*yawn\*

**Tamao & Koharu:**......

 **Akira:**Do you two dislike this kind of stuff?

 **Tamao:**No... I would like to take things easy, but we're in the middle of our training camp, so...

 **Koharu:**I feel the same. We should be focusing on our assignment right now.

 **Akira:**Our assignment... Then what is the assignment from Miss Yakumo?

 **Tamao:**A short story with freedom over the cast and theme.

 **Akira:**Yes, freedom. Then what is freedom?

 **Tamao:**Huh?

 **Akira:**Yukichi Fukuzawa explains freedom as the ability to act according to one's own thoughts without restraint. Meaning freedom isn't something other people give you, but something you think about and act on your own accord.

 **Akira:**So if you don't know yourself, you can never be free.

 **Akira:**At school, I'm busy with my student council duties, so I never have the chance to take it easy. This training camp has turned into a good opportunity to reflect on myself.

 **Koharu:**Reflect on yourself... That's the assignment from Miss Yakumo?

 **Akira:**Yes. We all have responsibilities. That's why we end up losing sight of ourselves at times.

 **Akira:**Don't you think it's okay for us to be "free" during this training camp at least?

 **Tamao:**...Heh heh. You're right. Just like those two.

 **Akira:**Huh?

 **Karen:**Look, Aruru-chan! I made a sandcastle!

 **Aruru:**Nice! I wanna make one too!

 **Akira:**Pff, we should learn from their innocence.

Pajama and Pillow

 **Karen:**It's huge!

 **Aruru:**The beds have been prepared for us already!

 **Karen:**It's so soft. I can fall asleep just like this.

 **Aruru:**You can't, Karen-chan! The night's just begun!

 **Karen:**You're right! It'd be a waste to fall asleep like this when I can stay awake with everyone!

 **Koharu:**......

 **Tamao:**Yanagi-san? What's the matter?

 **Koharu:**Oh, it's nothing... I just didn't think we'd all be staying in the same room.

 **Akira:**This is a training camp, so there's nothing we can do about it. I'd like to sleep by the window if possible. Does anybody mind?

 **Aruru:**I want to be in the middle! This way I can talk to everyone!

 **Karen:**Then I'll be next to Aruru-chan!

 **Tamao:**Yanagi-san, where would you like?

 **Koharu:**Oh, um... I'll take the side by the door.

 **Tamao:**I'll take the spot next to Yanagi-san then.

 **Aruru:**All right! We've each called our beds, now let's go to the hot spring!

 **Karen:**We have to bring our towels and pajamas.

 **Koharu:**Paja–!

 **Tamao:**Yes?

 **Koharu:**I-It's nothing...

 **Aruru:**I wanna see Karen-chan's pajamas!

 **Karen:**Heh heh. The title of the Training Camp Pajama King is mine, Aruru-chan!

 **Aruru:**Not so fast, Karen-chan! I also went and got new pajamas just for tonight!

 **Karen:**Who will be the Pajama King...

 **Aruru:**You're on!

 **Akira:**Hm. Let's go.

**Karen & Aruru:**Okay!

 **Tamao:**Yanagi-san, we should go too.

 **Koharu:**...Yes.

 **Aruru:**Ahhh, that felt so nice.

 **Karen:**The hot spring was spacious too.

 **Aruru:**All right! Entry number 1! Aruru Otsuki coming in!

 **Aruru:**Heh, what do you think?

 **Karen:**So cute! It looks really good on you!

 **Aruru:**Yeah, I wanted to try out these cute demon-like pajamas. Okay, Karen-chan, now it's your turn.

 **Karen:**Entry number 2! Karen Aijo coming in!

 **Karen:**Ta-dah! Kanihaniwa pajamas!

 **Aruru:**Whoa! Your favorite Kanihaniwa! It's so cute!

 **Karen:**I saved up my allowance to buy this. When I put the hood up, I can become Kanihaniwa.

 **Aruru:**Nice! That's so you! High points!

 **Akira:**I'm coming in.

**Karen & Aruru:**...!!

 **Akira:**...What's the matter? Do I look weird?

 **Aruru:**Not at all. It looks great on you!

 **Akira:**...Really? I've never worn pajamas in this design before.

 **Karen:**It doesn't look like something you'd usually wear, but it suits you and is adorable!

 **Akira:**Aijo, can I ask you to help me take a photo later?

 **Karen:**Take a photo?

 **Akira:**Yeah, I have to send a picture of the pajamas to Michiru.

 **Tamao:**Ahh, that was a nice soak.

 **Tamao:**I'm coming in.

**Karen & Aruru:**So cute!!

 **Akira:**T-That's...! You don't cut corners even when it comes to pajamas... I'm impressed.

 **Tamao:**That's not it... I only bought the pajamas the staff had recommended to me.

 **Aruru:**Fluffy pajamas are all the rage now!

 **Karen:**Can I touch it?

 **Tamao:**Sure. It's very warm.

 **Karen:**So soft.

 **Aruru:**Huh? Where's Koharu-chan?

 **Karen:**Is she still in the hot spring?

 **Aruru:**Hm? I can feel a presence from outside the room! Over there!!

***\*bam\****

 **Koharu:**...!!

 **Koharu:**I'm sorry! Please don't look at me! I didn't think we'd all be staying in the same room...

 **Koharu:**I only brought my usual pajamas.

 **Karen:**Not at all! You look great, Koharu-chan!

 **Koharu:**Huh...?

 **Karen:**You're always so serious and stoic, but your pajamas look soft and gives off such a gentle vibe.

 **Karen:**I like how you look in your pajamas.

 **Koharu:**Aijo-san...

 **Akira:**You can see someone's personality through their choice of pajamas. It's quite interesting.

 **Akira:**Well, Michiru chose my pajamas for me though...

 **Karen:**When you put it that way... Our choice of pajamas could also be another way of facing ourselves!

 **Aruru:**Yeah! So we can learn more about ourselves... Hiyah!

 **Karen:**Ah!

 **Aruru:**Pillows can start flying at any moment. Don't let your guard down.

 **Karen:**Now you've done it! Argh!

 **Aruru:**Ahhh!

 **Karen:**Take that! Aruru-chan!

 **Aruru:**It's not a training camp without a pillow fight at night! Hah!

 **Karen:**Aruru-chan, you ready—? I say as I target Tamao-chan!

 **Tamao:**Ah! ...You've done it now. Hiyah!

 **Aruru:**Ohh! Tamao-chan joins the fight!

 **Karen:**Take that! And that! And that!

 **Tamao:**Nrgh... Aijo-san's pillow throwing is too fast to avoid.

 **Aruru:**Tamao-chan, let's team up on her.

 **Tamao:**Yes.

**Aruru & Tamao:**Aargh!

 **Karen:**Too slow! Hup.

 **Koharu:**Pfft!

 **Aruru:**Oops. Right in the face.

 **Tamao:**I'm so sorry!

 **Koharu:**Hiyah!

 **Aruru:**Whoa!

 **Koharu:**Heh. Returning the pillow that's been thrown... That's Seiran for you.

 **Karen:**Yeah! We're just getting started. Yukishiro-san, join in!

 **Akira:**Very well. Pillow fights can be enjoyable.

 **Karen:**All right! Everyone, let's... Pff!

 **Akira:**Heh, don't let your guard down.

 **Aruru:**Karen-chan!

 **Karen:**Aruru-chan, I'm counting on you... Oof.

 **Aruru:**Medic! We need a medic here!

 **Koharu:**Couldn't even see...

 **Tamao:**The pillow...

 **Akira:**Who's next?

 **Tamao:**We'll all get destroyed at this rate. Let's work together!

**Aruru & Koharu:**Yeah! Yes!

 **Akira:**Ready... Arrrrgh!

 **Aruru:**Ahh, that was fun.

 **Koharu:**This was my first time going all out in a pillow fight.

 **Karen:**Playing hard like this isn't so bad once in a while.

 **Tamao:**Yes. We're constantly only thinking about the stage, so a break like this may have been necessary.

 **Akira:**Indeed.

 **Aruru:**This just came to my mind, but if we didn't get into theater, what would we be doing now?

**All:**Huh?

 **Aruru:**We would never have met and we'd all be a different person.

 **Tamao:**...I've never thought of myself in that way.

 **Akira:**Not being a stage girl...

 **Koharu:**A different me...

 **Karen:**That's it!

**All:**Huh?

 **Karen:**The short story theme! "If We Weren't Stage Girls"... What do you think?

 **Aruru:**Karen-chan! Good idea!

 **Akira:**I see. Acting out another possibility.

 **Tamao:**Sounds interesting.

 **Koharu:**Let's do it.

 **Karen:**All right! Let's think of the story together!

Brilliance Potential

 **Karen:**Miss Yakumo, we'd like to begin our short story here.

 **Yakumo:**That's fine with me. The theme, casting, and location is all up to you.

 **Karen:**Thank you.

 **Karen:**The title is "Brilliance Potential". This is a story of another version of us – another future... Let's begin.

 **Tamao:**...Is she almost here?

 **Aruru:**This IS Karen we're talking about. She might've fallen asleep on the bullet train.

 **Akira:**That is a possibility.

 **Aruru:**We'll probably hear from her soon, apologizing and telling us she overslept.

 **Akira:**I can see her panicking on the train already.

 **Aruru:**Like running around on the train in the opposite direction?

 **Akira:**Yeah. Or pressing her face up against the window and yelling for the train to stop.

 **Tamao:**Heh heh. How long has it been since the five of us have gotten together?

 **Aruru:**Since high school graduation... So...

 **Akira:**Seven years.

 **Aruru:**What? It's been that long already?! Time sure flies.

 **Tamao:**Right? Especially since we've started working.

 **Aruru:**We'll be grannies before we know it!

 **Tamao:**Heh heh. I want to age gracefully.

 **Koharu:**Huff... Puff... Sorry. I'm late.

 **Aruru:**Koharu! Long time no see!

 **Koharu:**Yes, it's been a long time. Cleaning up the hall took a while.

 **Akira:**You're working at the theater in the civic hall, right?

 **Koharu:**I work at the rental reception desk and as a tech staff in the hall, so I'm always running around. They're trying to cut down labor costs, so we're always short staffed.

 **Koharu:**Huh? Where's Karen?

 **Aruru:**Late as usual.

 **Koharu:**She still hasn't fixed that habit of hers?

 **Tamao:**She's never late when it comes to the stage though. So strange.

 **Akira:**Let's forgive her. She's coming all the way from Tokyo.

 **Tamao:**I wonder if she's changed after becoming an actress in Tokyo.

 **Aruru:**I wonder. I can't wait to see her.

 **Karen:**Sorry, I'm late!

 **Akira:**Speak of the devil.

 **Aruru:**Karen! Everyone's here already!

 **Karen:**Huff... Huff... Sorry, everyone. Can't believe I'm late despite being the organizer.

 **Aruru:**Don't worry, we're used to it.

 **Karen:**Rude.

 **Aruru:**Karen, you haven't changed at all.

**All:**Hahaha.

 **Karen:**Wha—?

 **Tamao:**How long did it take you to get here?

 **Karen:**I live on the outskirts of Tokyo so...about two hours?

 **Akira:**Two hours. Closer than I'd thought.

 **Koharu:**Then you should come back more often.

 **Karen:**Okay.

 **Koharu:**How are things with the theater troupe?

 **Karen:**Yeah... Well...

 **Tamao:**You're our star of hope, so you better be doing your best.

 **Aruru:**That's right. You're the only one from our student theater troupe who became an actress.

 **Karen:**You say that, but I'm still not able to make a living as an actress.

 **Tamao:**Let's catch up over "Kappo Tomoye's" special delivery lunchbox.

 **Karen:**Yay! I've been waiting to eat this for forever!

 **Akira:**...How nostalgic. You'd often bring us this lunchbox when we had performances.

 **Tamao:**There's no better lunchbox for us, right?

 **Aruru:**As expected of the beautiful restaurant manager!

 **Tamao:**Stop teasing – I'm still just the apprentice.

 **Karen:**This rolled dashi omelet! A flavor that only "Kappo Tomoye" can create. ...Mmhm! Delicious!

 **Aruru:**Isn't it tough being the manager?

 **Tamao:**Yes. We've been around for a long time, so we have a lot of customers who are quite particular about food.

 **Tamao:**Food is a given but we also can't skimp on service, so I always have to be on my toes.

 **Akira:**You're going to take over "Kappo Tomoye" one day, right?

 **Tamao:**Yes. That's what I'm currently being trained for. I can feel the pressure behind continuing the tradition.

 **Aruru:**You've grown up, Tamao.

 **Tamao:**And you, Aruru? What have you been up to?

 **Aruru:**Me? Well... Heh heh.

 **Akira:**Treasure hunter, right?

**Karen & Tamao & Koharu:**Treasure hunter?!

 **Aruru:**Yeah. I've talked about it a little with Akira. I got really into treasure hunting a year ago. Now I go searching for Tokugawa's buried treasure with friends...

 **Aruru:**Searching for treasure hidden on sunken ships in the sea near Japan... Anyway, stuff like that!

 **Karen:**Wow, that sounds like a fun job!

 **Aruru:**It's not a job. It's not so easy to find treasures... It's more like a hobby that I end up spending money on instead...

 **Aruru:**I've been contemplating on giving up my dream and finding a proper job.

 **Karen:**I see...

 **Karen:**What about you, Akira? You're a coach at the ice rink, right?

 **Akira:**Yes. I'm currently taking lessons for training figure skaters.

 **Karen:**Then soon enough, you might have students turning into Olympic athletes!

 **Akira:**No, that's impossible at our rink. We don't have any students with the guts to become a top athlete.

 **Aruru:**You did complain about that. Students quit immediately when you become strict with them.

 **Akira:**It's our policy to praise students instead of reprimanding to encourage them. Because they end up quitting right away if you so much as lecture them a little...

 **Akira:**Keeping students happy is a part of my job.

 **Karen:**And you, Koharu? How's your work going?

 **Koharu:**Same as usual. It's related to the stage, but I'm swamped everyday with theater duties.

 **Karen:**I see... Everyone's having a tough time.

 **Koharu:**What about you, Karen?

 **Aruru:**Yeah! Everyone's here to hear about you!

 **Karen:**......

 **Tamao:**What's wrong?

 **Karen:**...Do you remember? This is where we had decided to create a theater troupe together.

 **Akira:**Of course we remember.

 **Tamao:**Yes.

 **Karen:**...We knew nothing about the stage, so we had trouble with even renting a theater. We also got scolded by various staff members...

 **Karen:**We finally made it to the opening show, but some audience members left in the middle of the show and the reviews were terrible.

 **Karen:**Even so, we reflected on that and continued to think about the next stage together while crying.

 **Karen:**We'd decided to only continue our theater activities until graduation, so we all went out separate ways afterwards... But I can't forget how I'd felt during our final performance...

 **Karen:**That curtain call. The audience's warm applause. I couldn't forget that dazzling moment...and that's why I could never leave theater.

 **Karen:**After going to Tokyo, I've managed to make money from standing on the stage, but...I can't give the kind of performance that I want... I feel like I'm moving further and further away from the stage I'm aiming for...

 **Karen:**I had loved and enjoyed the stage so much... So, why? I don't know anymore.

 **Koharu:**Karen...

 **Karen:**I thought if I got to see everyone, I'd be able to go back to those days. With everyone at the place where we first created our theater troupe...

 **Tamao:**You can't go back to those days.

 **Karen:**Huh...?

 **Tamao:**Because we aren't stage girls anymore.

Brilliance Potential Sequel

 **Tamao:**It's unfortunate, but we can no longer go back to those days.

**Aruru & Koharu & Akira:**......

 **Tamao:**We're always rooting for you and we respect you too. Of course, we still love the stage and we want to take part.

 **Tamao:**But I'm responsible for "Kappo Tomoye's" employees. Akira has to coach her students. We're not as free as we were as students.

 **Karen:**I guess...you're right. Everyone has their own lives.

 **Karen:**Haha, sorry I said something weird! Forget I said anything!

 **Aruru:**I see... We aren't stage girls anymore.

 **Akira:**We've turned into adults.

 **Aruru:**It's about time for me to become an adult too and wake up from my dream!

 **Koharu:**Why?

 **Aruru:**Huh?

 **Koharu:**Do you have to give up your dreams once you become an adult?

 **Aruru:**Koharu?

 **Koharu:**Tamao, Akira, Aruru – none of you look happy. Aren't you actually having a tough time giving up on your dreams?

**Aruru & Tamao & Akira:**......

 **Koharu:**It's tough for me... It's always been tough.

 **Koharu:**But that's my own fault. I didn't have the courage to try to make it as an actress.

 **Koharu:**That's why I keep telling myself there's nothing I can do about it.

 **Koharu:**I've always regretted not giving it my everything as a stage girl...

 **Koharu:**I'm sorry, Karen. I never came to watch your stage even though you've invited me so many times.

 **Karen:**No, well, that was just more like me giving you my life updates. Going all the way to Tokyo is quite far!

 **Koharu:**That's not it!

 **Koharu:**...I was scared. I was scared I might want to stand on stage again after seeing your stage, after seeing you.

 **Karen:**......

 **Koharu:**I had planned on giving up...but it looks like I can't. I want to stand on the stage. I want to stand on the stage with everyone again.

 **Karen:**Koharu...

 **Koharu:**Karen. I'm the same. I could never forget those dazzling moments.

 **Karen:**...?! Is this the script from our final performance? Oh, it even has the stage blueprints and the rough sketches for the costumes!

 **Aruru:**You kept all the materials! Whoa! Isn't this Tamao's writing?

 **Tamao:**Yes. I remember... Brings back memories.

 **Aruru:**And this is the stage blueprint sketch that Akira drew.

 **Akira:**We went over budget and it ended up getting nixed though.

 **Tamao:**The lines were rewritten so many times... We sure worked hard.

 **Akira:**Yeah.

 **Tamao:**But...

 **Akira:**Could've done more.

 **Karen:**Have you been holding onto these all along?

 **Koharu:**Yes. I thought the day when the five of us would stand on stage together again might come.

 **Aruru:**Then let's do it! I want to stand on stage again too!

 **Akira:**You can't just decide something so easily.

 **Karen:**Do you want to just start with what we're able to do? Like work on weekdays and rehearsals on days off?

 **Akira:**Like doing it as a hobby?

 **Karen:**Even if you start off as a hobby, someday it could become something serious!

 **Akira:**......

 **Koharu:**Leave the theater to me. I'll use my benefits as a hall staff member to the fullest.

 **Aruru:**It's three against two. What do you say?

 **Akira:**Hm. I suppose I can join, but on one condition.

 **Karen:**What is it?

 **Akira:**Go all out, right from the start. No compromising.

 **Aruru:**There she is! It feels like the old Akira has come back!

 **Tamao:**...Oh, you guys. What were you thinking, bringing these materials with you?

 **Koharu:**Tamao...

 **Tamao:**There's no way I'd feel nothing after being shown this stuff.

 **Karen:**Then...

 **Tamao:**That said, I do have a few conditions.

 **Karen:**What is it? If there's anything I can do, tell me!

 **Tamao:**First, I will be the one to manage the budget. I won't allow any sloppy accounting like when we were students. Receipts have to be kept for everything.

**All:**Okay! Yes.

 **Tamao:**And absolutely no tardiness. Especially you two, Karen, Aruru.

**Karen & Aruru:**O-Okay!

 **Tamao:**We have to actively promote. Update the blog every day. There will be a penalty fee if you forget.

 **Akira:**Blog...

 **Tamao:**Promotional flyers are a given, but we also have to make promotional inserts whenever other theater troupes have performances.

 **Tamao:**We also have to go and get corporate sponsorships!

**All:**Uh, okay...

 **Tamao:**Don't think that it's fine to do this at a loss! If we're putting on a performance, then we have to make a profit to connect us with the next show!

 **Akira:**...Has she become even stricter than before?

 **Koharu:**Might be because she's a restaurant owner now.

 **Tamao:**You there! If you have something to say, say it out loud!

 **Akira:**Uh...

 **Koharu:**It's nothing.

 **Tamao:**And also...

 **Karen:**What? There's more still?

 **Tamao:**We must order our lunchboxes from "Kappo Tomoye".

 **Karen:**Agreed!

 **Aruru:**We're reestablishing our theater troupe!

 **Koharu:**That reminds me. What about the Tokyo theater troupe that Karen belongs to?

 **Karen:**Oh, it's fine. I already quit.

**All:**What?!

 **Karen:**I wanted to perform with everyone again, so I quit before I came here.

 **Tamao:**Wait a minute. What were you going to do if we said we weren't going to do it?

 **Karen:**I didn't think so far. Haha.

 **Tamao:**You're kidding, right?

 **Akira:**Such a hit-or-miss...

 **Aruru:**I suppose in this instance, it's a hit?

 **Tamao:**You stage-crazy.

 **Karen:**Teehee.

 **Akira:**We're also quite the stage-crazies for attempting to go back to the stage.

 **Aruru:**Guess you're right.

 **Tamao:**Karen, Koharu, thank you.

**Karen & Koharu:**Huh?

 **Tamao:**Thanks for turning us back into stage girls.

**Karen & Koharu:**Heh heh.

Training Camp Results

 **Karen:**...This concludes our performance.

**All:**Thank you!

***\*clap clap clap\****

 **Yakumo:**Excellent. I'm impressed with what you girls have accomplished in such a short time.

 **Akira:**Miss Yakumo's assignment was to "reflect on ourselves". We decided that acting as ourselves instead of a role was the best answer.

 **Yakumo:**I see. So that's why you played different versions of yourselves.

 **Aruru:**We tried thinking about it. What would we be doing if we weren't doing theater...?

 **Karen:**Me not in theater... Hmm...

 **Akira:**I...

 **Karen:**Yukishiro-san, did you come up with something?

 **Akira:**Well, if I had to pick something, I might have become a figure skating coach.

 **Karen:**Oh, that's right! You used to do ice skating when you were in elementary school!

 **Akira:**...? Who did you hear that from?

 **Karen:**From Yachiyo-chan. Siegfeld had that performance at the skating rink... Heme... He...

 **Akira:**"Hemitheos".

 **Karen:**Yes, that! Your skating was so amazing. When I went to the dressing room to say hi and asked Yachiyo-chan about it, she told me.

 **Akira:**Yachiyo is such a loudmouth.

 **Aruru:**What would I do? Oh! Treasure hunter!

**All:**Treasure hunter?

 **Aruru:**Yeah! Looking for treasure sounds like something fun and filled with excitement.

 **Aruru:**It might not be a real job, but looking for treasures hidden by people in the past sounds like fun!

 **Tamao:**I'd probably take over the family business. If I hadn't met the stage, I would want to continue the restaurant's tradition and learn restaurant management.

 **Karen:**And you, Koharu-chan?

 **Koharu:**I...would probably still be doing something related to the theater. We learn about stagehands' tasks at Seiran, so maybe something related to backstage.

 **Karen:**Hmm. Everyone has a lot of ideas.

 **Akira:**What about you?

 **Karen:**I've been thinking hard about it, but I can't see myself as not a stage girl.

**Aruru & Tamao & Akira & Koharu:**Me neither! Same for me! I'm the same!

 **Karen:**...!!

 **Akira:**None of us can see ourselves as anything other than a stage girl, but we all tried our best to come up with something.

 **Aruru:**Karen-chan, you were the one who brought it up first, so try using your imagination.

 **Karen:**Hmm.

 **Karen:**But I just can't seem to come up with anything...

 **Aruru:**So that was how we ended up with Karen-chan being the only actress.

 **Yakumo:**That's fine.

 **Karen:**Huh?

 **Yakumo:**I gave all of you freedom and not roles. Because, just like Yukishiro-san said, I wanted you to reflect on yourselves.

 **Yakumo:**If this expression is a result of your reflections, then that's fine.

 **Koharu:**Miss Yakumo...

 **Yakumo:**Looks like you got some great inspiration, Koharu.

 **Koharu:**Yes!

 **Yakumo:**As long as it's interesting, then it's fine! That's what the stage is all about!

 **Yakumo:**And this is the end of the training camp. Good work, everyone.

**All:**Thank you!

 **Tamao:**It went by so fast.

 **Akira:**Yeah, in the blink of an eye. I'm a little tired now.

 **Koharu:**We ended up pulling an all-nighter to rehearse the short story.

 **Tamao:**I feel like I can pass out on the train ride home... Huh? Aren't these...Aijo-san's pajamas?

 **Koharu:**Otsuki-san's pajamas are here too.

 **Tamao:**They just left them lying here... Yanagi-san, let's fold them up for them.

 **Koharu:**Okay.

 **Akira:**Pfft, I see. So that's what this was about.

**Tamao & Koharu:**...?

 **Akira:**I've been wondering why we were the ones chosen for the training camp and I've finally figured it out.

 **Akira:**The three of us have responsibilities at our own schools and burdens we must shoulder. In other words, stage girls who can't be free.

 **Akira:**She probably wanted to see the chemistry between us and Aijo and Otsuki who are the embodiments of freedom.

 **Akira:**She really is such a cunning teacher.

 **Karen:**Yay! The fire started! Aruru-chan!

 **Aruru:**Now we'll be able to survive the night, Karen-chan!

 **Akira:**Hm? What are they doing on the beach?

 **Koharu:**A...bonfire?

 **Tamao:**That's...

 **Akira:**What is it?

 **Tamao:**Probably an etude.

 **Akira:**Etude?

 **Tamao:**Yes. Getting washed ashore on a deserted island...

 **Akira:**Aijo! Otsuki! It's time! Get ready to leave!

**Karen & Aruru:**Okay!

 **Akira:**\*sigh\* Being too free isn't good either.

 **Tamao:**I hope the five of us will be able to perform together again.

 **Koharu:**Yes. I look forward to the next time we meet.

 **Akira:**All right, let's go home!

**Tamao & Koharu:**Okay!