Amaterasu Maya Tendo/Bond Story

*Amaterasu is the sun goddess who rules over all the inhabitants of Takamagahara, and rids the world of darkness with her light. Even she had troubles with her subjects and her family. An excerpt from "Founding Day Celebration Performance."*

* Chapter 1
* Chapter 2
* Bond Level 15 Talk
* Bond Level 30 Talk

Prankster's Advice

 **Maya:**(The Amaterasu that Rinmeikan performed was closer to how I idealized it, even though it was completely different from the one Kagura-san portrayed...)

 **Maya:**(Still, why did their performance resonate so much with me...? Is it because Amaterasu threw her life away for her beloved brother?)

 **Maya:**(If I don't even know why, I won't be able to fill her role.)

 **Ichie:**Maya-chan! What are you doing here?

 **Maya:**Otonashi-san. Can I help you with something?

 **Ichie:**You didn't go back to practice after the break. Afternoon practice isn't compulsory, but I just came to ask you what you were going to do.

 **Maya:**I apologize. I was just thinking about something.

 **Maya:**I think I'll use the afternoon to go over a problem I have with the role of Amaterasu...

 **Ichie:**Hmm... If there's anything I can do, let me know.

 **Ichie:**I might come up with something you overlooked, considering we have such different personalities.

 **Maya:**That...is true.

 **Ichie:**Besides, since you're here let's do something you can't normally do.

 **Maya:**Heh heh. And that would be exchanging opinions with you. Well then, let's do it.

 **Ichie:**In the myths, Amaterasu shuts herself in the Ama no Iwa cave to punish her brother Susanowo...

 **Ichie:**...But in Rinmeikan's play, she does so to stick up for him.

 **Maya:**Yes, she sacrifices herself for him. I find that very beautiful, but...

 **Ichie:**It's hard to understand why she did it, right?

 **Ichie:**Hmm... I got it!

 **Maya:**That was quick.

 **Ichie:**There's no point in thinking too much about it. Just let your words out!

 **Ichie:**So I have a question for you! If I played pranks on people, what would make me regret my actions more?

 **Ichie:**A: Being scolded badly, or B: Seeing someone being scolded on my behalf?

 **Maya:**...I see. Definitely B.

 **Ichie:**Correct!

 **Ichie:**It's one thing when your actions come back to hunt you, but it's very eye-opening when they affect other people.

 **Maya:**Amaterasu exposed herself to danger to hasten Susanowo's repentance.

 **Ichie:**Well, that's if Susanowo acts like me.

 **Maya:**...Thank you, Otonashi-san. I guess being a trickster can be useful too.

 **Ichie:**Right? You never know what could come in handy.

 **Ichie:**Maya-chan, you don't look like the prankster type.

 **Maya:**I don't think I am. At least not in the way you are, Otonashi-san.

 **Ichie:**...I see.

 **Ichie:**Oh, there. A present to a beginner prankster! Heh heh heh!

 **Maya:**Hm?

 **Ichie:**Here you go!

 **Maya:**What is this?

 **Ichie:**It's a fart cushion. Don't you know what they are?

 **Maya:**...

 **Ichie:**Ah, is it too stupid...? Are you mad?

 **Maya:**...

 **Ichie:**Hmm... I guess you don't need stupid stuff like this!

 **Maya:**Otonashi-san!

 **Ichie:**Y-Yes!?

 **Maya:**Thank you very much. I'll accept it.

 **Ichie:**Whoa! Don't startle me!

 **Maya:**Heh heh.

Together, someday...

 **Tamao:**I didn't know Ichie was on such good terms with Tendo-san.

 **Fumi:**It looks like Ichie is just bothering her...

 **Fumi:**Tendo-san, is Ichie bothering you? If she is, I'll give her a scolding.

 **Ichie:**That's mean! I'm not bothering her! We were just talking about the festival scene in "Amaterasu".

 **Maya:**Yes, we were discussing how to make it more exciting.

 **Fumi:**Huh? That sounds pretty serious.

 **Maya:**Yeah, we thought we'd have candy rain from the stage, or something outside the box like that...

 **Ichie:**Maya-chan! You didn't look so convinced when I suggested that idea!

 **Maya:**No, that's true.

 **Fumi:**I worried for nothing...

 **Tamao:**Well, when you think that they offer mochi at shrines, I guess the idea would go well with the play.

 **Tamao:**Tamao, I knew you'd understand me!

 **Fumi:**Ngh... It's just a coincidence.

 **Maya:**When you put it like that, I guess it would make sense to have candy at the play.

 **Maya:**How about we incorporate the idea into practice?

 **Fumi:**...Look at that. She only had a brief discussion, and she's already progressed this much in the choreography.

 **Tamao:**Yeah, but...

 **Ichie:**We can't just stand here and look amazed!

 **Fumi:**"Here is Takamagahara - the land of the eastern festivals. I'll dance too!"

 **Ichie:**"Whoa! This festival looks fun! I'm going to join in—!

 **Tamao:**"The banquet of the gods - it crosses time and the oceans..."

 **Maya:**(They're all adapting to my dance--!)

 **Maya:**...Let's rest now.

 **Ichie:**Yeah. \*huff\*.... \*huff\*...

***Yes!***

 **Ichie:**Everyone performed their best dance in coordination with Maya-chan, but despite that...

 **Fumi:**...Not a single breath fell out of sync.

 **Tamao:**...Say, Tendo-san. Did you test us halfway through?

 **Ichie:**...She did!?

 **Tamao:**She increases the pace, and changed dance partner...

 **Tamao:**It was like she was trying to test us.

 **Ichie:**Oh, I did notice that it got more difficult all of a sudden. But why did you do it?

 **Fumi:**Is it because one day we'll all stand on the same stage?

 **Maya:**...Yeah, that's precisely why.

 **Maya:**I wanted to learn more about you all to prepare for that day.

 **Ichie:**You were thinking all that while also dancing...!?

 **Maya:**Well, you all kindly followed my steps, so I didn't have to think about that part at least...

 **Ichie:**It was all worth it!

 **Ichie:**And I really hope we can stand on stage together.

 **Maya:**I look forward to competing for Position Zero with you all.

 **Fumi:**Me too.

 **Maya:**My practice at Rinmeikan today proves invaluable.

 **Maya:**I found a completely different Amaterasu than the one Kagura-san performed. And it was all thanks to the performance of Rinmeikan.

 **Maya:**And the insight on Amaterasu and Susanowo that Otonashi-san gave me.

 **Ichie:**Heh heh. You'll make me blush.

 **Maya:**An improv dance with a myriad of gods... From traditional Japanese dance, to jazz, ballet...

 **Maya:**Everything combined to make the sound of the drums even more chaotic and passionate...

 **Tamao:**I'm really glad you found it inspiring.

 **Fumi:**I'm looking forward to your performance for the founding of Seisho.

 **Maya:**I promise you that whatever the script or the direction will be, you will leave satisfied.

 **Maya:**This time I took the role of a loving Amaterasu, but next time I'd like to perform as a powerful Susanowo.

 **Maya:**They say that old Japanese rituals were performed to cleanse impurities.

 **Maya:**I think I know what they meant by cleansing impurity, rather than evil.

 **Maya:**Heh heh. I tried performing a misogi purification ritual to get more in my role. It felt enhancing!