Don José Fumi Yumeoji/Bond Story

*Simple and honest soldier who falls in love with Carmen. His longing for her eventually leads to a tragic fate. From "Carmen."*

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

Raging Tempest

 **Lalafin:**1, 2, 1, 2... All right, warm-up is done! What shall we do today?

 **Tsukasa:**Let's see... Since there is only us, how about we rehearse for the third act?

 **Lalafin:**I'm all for it! Even on days when there's no joint rehearsal, I want to immerse myself in Carmen!

 **Lalafin:**Heh heh, let's perfect the exchange and surprise everyone after the break♪

 **Tsukasa:**Hehe, okay—!

 **Lalafin:**Still, we've been with Fumi and the others since rehearsals started...it feels a bit lonely without them...

***\*slam\*... \*BANG\****

 **Ichie:**I'm begging you!!!

 **Tsukasa:**Ah, Otonashi-san!?

 **Lalafin:**What!? What is it!?

 **Ichie:**\*huff\* \*huff\* I'm sorry for this suddenness, but...!

 **Tsukasa:**Kneeling on the floor...!?

 **Lalafin:**Wh-What's wrong, Ichie!? You're acting somehow different than usual...

 **Ichie:**I've come to ask you for a favor...!

 **Ichie:**Please allow me to perform in Carmen!

**Lalafin & Tsukasa:**Whaat!?

 **Tsukasa:**Just hold on a minute! I don't understand what you are getting at...

 **Ichie:**...I know it's an impossible favor to ask. And I also know that you're already working with Fumi, Rui and Yuyuko...

 **Ichie:**But any minor role will do... I really want to be a part of Carmen!

**Lalafin & Tsukasa:**......

 **Tsukasa:**I see... Okay...!

 **Lalafin:**I don't know, but I can feel the flame within you, Ichie!

 **Ichie:**Oh...thank you!!

 **Tsukasa:**But for now, can you tell us what sparked this?

 **Lalafin:**Right! We have to talk to Shizuha and come up with a plan to convince the teacher...!!

 **Ichie:**Ah, that's right! I got the order wrong... I was rushing for nothing.

 **Lalafin:**Heh, things like that can happen! But what got you all heated up?

 **Ichie:**Yeah, actually...

 **Ichie:**Earlier, I went to the lodge to invite Fumi to the morning practice, and...Fumi was trying on her costume in front of the mirror...

 **Lalafin:**And?

 **Ichie:**I was flabbergasted when I tried to call out to her...

 **Ichie:**I can't believe she even went so far as to cut her hair just for this role!

**Lalafin & Tsukasa:**...Huh?

 **Ichie:**Fumi's hair was really smooth and shiny, and I loved it.

 **Ichie:**I never thought Fumi would sacrifice so much for the role... I can sense her passion.

 **Ichie:**An unwavering passion for this role... I will deeply regret it if I miss this chance to be on stage to watch her from a close distance!!

 **Tsukasa:**Th-That, that's why you came all the way to Frontier...?

 **Ichie:**Exactly!

 **Lalafin:**Whoa...!

 **Tsukasa:**Um, you know... Now listen calmly...

***\*footsteps\* \*bang\****

 **Fumi:**Ichie, you here!?

 **Ichie:**Fumi... Huh?

 **Ichie:**Your hair—it grew back!?

 **Fumi:**It's always this long! I was just wearing a wig!!

 **Fumi:**What... You had quite a shocked face and rushed out, so I was wondering what happened...

 **Ichie:**Ah... Heh heh...

 **Ichie:**Are you all surprised? It was just a prank...☆

 **Fumi:**Your prank went too far!!

 **Tsukasa:**...Prank?? Lalafin, did you think it was a prank?

 **Lalafin:**Not at all, I thought it was real!

 **Lalafin:**Ichie's face looked like when José runs after Carmen!

 **Tsukasa:**José is played by Yumeoji-san, though...

 **Fumi:**Come on, Ichie! You need to apologize to them properly!

 **Ichie:**Whoa, I'm sorry!!

José's Love, Fumi's Love

 **Fumi:****(José)**
"Let's go, Escamillo!"

 **Rui:****(Escamillo)**
"Enough of this nonsense.... Even if you kill me, Carmen's heart won't return to you!"

 **Fumi:****(José)**
"Shut up!!!!"

 **Fumi:**...Okay, I think it was great. The beginning of the duel between José and Escamillo in act three seems to work out just fine.

 **Rui:**Oh... It's okay if you move a bit faster, by the way.

 **Fumi:**Heh heh, you're right. Considering your usual movements, I would say they felt less sharp this time...

 **Fumi:**After this, you have to sing while moving around, right?

 **Rui:**Right... Only changing the intensity of my moves in the fight scene won't be enough to control the tempo...

 **Fumi:**Precisely. You need to save your energy to move around even after you finished singing.

 **Rui:**O-Okay...!

 **Fumi:**Heh heh, you and Yuyuko are doing well enough, so it's okay. Don't worry too much and just let José beat you.

 **Rui:**Thank you very much!

 **Rui:**...That said... Even if Escamillo gets to keep his life, he still loses the duel...

 **Fumi:**Oh... You think it's not fair?

 **Rui:**Well, if I have to be honest...just a little. I'm not saying that I understand love enough to talk about it.

 **Rui:**But for me, I want to protect my loved ones... There is absolutely no way I'd hurt them!

 **Rui:**...I don't know if it's because I'm me, or because I'm performing as Escamillo, but I just cannot bear the thought of losing to someone like José.

 **Fumi:**I see—I can relate to that. When I play José, I do think...

 **Fumi:**Can this violent passion even be called love.

 **Rui:**Huh...? But that's...

 **Fumi:****(José)**
"...Anger and hatred turn into unsightly emptiness. Am I really in love with Carmen?"

 **Fumi:****(José)**
"Pursuing her until the very end... Perhaps I have been cursed."

 **Rui:**José...

 **Rui:****(Escamillo)**
"...If it's not love, then what is it?"

 **Fumi:**Huh...?

 **Rui:****(Escamillo)**
"If it is not love, Carmen, Micaëla, and I are too undeserving..."

 **Rui:****(Escamillo)**
"Admit that it's love, José. Otherwise I will take you down this time!!"

 **Fumi:**Rui...

 **Rui:**Urgh...!!

 **Rui:**I'm so sorry! The Escamillo inside me just...!

 **Fumi:**Heh heh... Ahaha!

 **Rui:**F-Fumi-senpai??

 **Fumi:**I'm sorry, but...I feel somewhat happy.

 **Fumi:**José is at the mercy of Carmen, and even though he has tried to keep himself away from her in an attempt to control his emotions, he still clings to her in the end, unfulfilled.

 **Fumi:**If he keeps on doing that, eventually it will ruin his life, perhaps?

 **Rui:**I think so. Although he's an honest and serious person... Actually, no—it's because he is that kind of a person that he could not help but do what he did...

 **Fumi:**Indeed. What an absurd life he was leading.

 **Fumi:**And yet I can understand his feelings. That was a little scary and...sad.

 **Fumi:**But I think he found his salvation the moment he heard the word 'love' coming from someone who adores Carmen...who adores the stage.

 **Rui:**The stage...?

 **Fumi:**...It's alright—no need to worry about it. Now, let's get back to practice!

 **Rui:**O-Okay!

 **Fumi:**Get ready... I'll show you how strong my feelings are!

 **Fumi:**I'm glad I talked to everyone at Frontier about this. I was wondering if I was being too overprotective.

 **Fumi:**The moment I shared my concerns with everyone, I felt like we understood each other more. We can all agree that we cannot just leave our lovely junior behind, right?

 **Fumi:**I intend to repay this favor by creating the best stage possible... No, that's what I should do every time.

 **Fumi:**Right... I think I'll make some refreshments with Tamao. Let's keep this a secret so that Ichie doesn't pull any pranks on us!