Carmen Hikari Kagura/Bond Story

*"Carmen" is often interpreted as the story of a woman who manipulates people, but that's not its true nature. It's a story about the hardships of living freely and the charm that lies beyond. From "Carmen."*

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

Assignment Practice Time!

***Tan-tan-tan! Tan-tan-tan!! Tan-tan-tan! Tan-tan-tan!!***

 **Hikari:**\*huff\* \*huff\*

 **Lalafin:**That's right! Pay attention to the 3x4 pattern and...there we have it, a perfect Carmen!

***Tan-tan-tan! Tan-tan-tan!!***

 **Hikari:**Whew...

 **Lalafin:**Wow, I can't believe how quickly you mastered the difficult flamenco rhythms!

 **Hikari:**Thanks to your great palmas.

 **Lalafin:**Palmas...?

 **Lalafin:**Oh, you mean the hand-clapping in flamenco!?

 **Hikari:**Yeah. I used to dance flamenco before, so...

 **Hikari:**I know that your clapping rhythm was on point.

 **Lalafin:**"Before"... You mean the time when you were an exchange student!?

 **Hikari:**Yeah, did I tell you about it...?

 **Lalafin:**Heh heh! Karen and I were talking about you the other day.

 **Hikari:**......

 **Lalafin:**Aahh! It was me who got curious and asked many things, so don't be mad at Karen, okay?

 **Lalafin:**Our assignment this time is "Enhancing Performance Technique Assignment", right?

 **Hikari:**Yup. The organizers will decide on the program and cast from the most popular stages.

 **Lalafin:**Yeah! The person who performed in those stages will support you in a scene on the last day!

 **Lalafin:**We've been on the same stage together a few times before, but it's not so often that there are only the two of us like this time.

 **Lalafin:**I really want to know more and learn more from you, Hikari♪

 **Hikari:**You know you can just ask me now...right?

 **Lalafin:**It's true, but still...

 **Lalafin:**Well then, I'm going to ask away... First of all, how tall are you?

 **Hikari:**The last time I measured, I was about 5'3.

 **Lalafin:**160 meters!?!?

 **Hikari:**It's not that much...

 **Lalafin:**Heh heh, right... You're in very good shape, you know.

 **Lalafin:**So... There's a reason why I asked you that...

 **Hikari:**Yes?

 **Lalafin:**I-I was going to adjust and use the costumes from when we performed Carmen, but...

 **Lalafin:**Your costume is running a bit behind schedule, so—

 **Hikari:**Wait, what do you mean by that?

 **Lalafin:**Mmmm... You and I are very different in height, aren't we?

 **Lalafin:**So I decided to make your costume from scratch instead of just adjusting the old one...

 **Hikari:**It's all right. You don't have to feel sorry about that.

 **Hikari:**More importantly, I'm glad that you are my partner for this assignment.

 **Lalafin:**What, really?

 **Hikari:**Yup. After watching the recording of the performance, I realized that you were pretty close to my ideal Carmen.

 **Hikari:**And I thought I could learn a thing or two from you as well.

 **Lalafin:**Really!? I see...

 **Lalafin:**Heh heh! You may look cold, but you're actually pretty warm from the inside you know, Hikari. You make me feel at ease whenever you are around.

 **Hikari:**That's quite straightforward...

 **Lalafin:**So you thought of me as your ideal Carmen, right?

 **Hikari:**Yeah. Because you were the "bird".

 **Lalafin:**The "bird"...?

 **Hikari:**...All right, let's move on to the next scene.

 **Lalafin:**Huh? Wait! I want to know more!!

 **Hikari:**After the rehearsal, okay?

 **Lalafin:**Ugh... We did talk a lot...

 **Lalafin:**All right, then! We'll leave the talk for later. Let's do our best in this assignment!

 **Hikari:**Okay.

 **Lalafin:**At least give me a "Yeah!", Hikari!

Birds of Freedom

 **Hikari:****(Carmen)**
"You said Don José is hiding somewhere watching me...? It's okay, I'm afraid of nothing!"

 **Hikari:****(Carmen)**
"Where is he? I'm going to go talk to him now! Because I..."

 **????:**"Because I'm a bird!"

 **Hikari:****(Carmen)**
"You are...!!"

 **Lalafin:****(Carmen)**
"I am you, Carmen. I am the symbol of freedom that knows no fear."

 **Hikari:****(Carmen)**
"Ah, yes... You're right. I belong to no one. I will dance for myself only."

 **Hikari:****(Carmen)**
"My mind is free as I am ready to go out into the world—"

**Hikari & Lalafin:**"For I am a bird that is bound by no one!!"

 **Hikari:**Phew...

 **Lalafin:**Heh heh, surprised?

 **Hikari:**Yeah. That costume...

 **Lalafin:**Yep! I heard that your Carmen costume was ready, so I changed into my Carmen's costume to meet you♪

 **Lalafin:**I think if the two of us can improve each other through etudes, maybe we can get closer to our ideal Carmen!

 **Hikari:**The performance just now was really good. I have a feeling that we are gradually becoming the same Carmen...

 **Hikari:**I didn't think it would be possible to develop a role like this.

 **Lalafin:**Right!?

 **Lalafin:**Besides, I now know what you meant before when you told me that I was a bird.

 **Lalafin:**It's from José's line, right?... "You are a bird that flies freely wherever you are."!

 **Hikari:**Exactly. Because I think Carmen is the symbol of freedom—the "bird" herself...

 **Hikari:**For this assignment, I intend to play the scene that best conveys that message, which is the final act of Carmen.

 **Lalafin:**The final act!?

 **Lalafin:**Ah! In that case, we may have practiced too much flamenco. After all, there is no dancing in that scene.

 **Hikari:**Not really, those are vital for us to become our ideal Carmen.

 **Hikari:**This time, the rehearsal period is shorter than usual because it's an assignment. Because of that, I have even less time to forget about myself...

 **Lalafin:**Forget about...yourself?

 **Hikari:**...? W-What's so odd about it?

 **Lalafin:**No, no! I just think it's a little different from my own approach...

 **Lalafin:**For me, I will try to find out the similarities between myself and the role so that I can get a feel for it! So, forgetting about oneself is a bit...

 **Lalafin:**S-Scary...don't you think?

 **Hikari:**Scary? I don't know...

 **Lalafin:**J-Just think about it, what will become of you then?

 **Lalafin:**If you become Carmen and fly freely like a bird, where will you go yourself...?

 **Hikari:**I've never thought about it.

 **Lalafin:**No way...

 **Hikari:**Anyway, I hope I can interpret the role perfectly this time. Karen, she...

 **Lalafin:**Karen?

 **Hikari:**......

 **Lalafin:**Hikari, don't just stop half-way like that!!

 **Hikari:**The casting was decided by the organizers, right? And among them, there's...

 **Lalafin:**Karen, right!?

 **Hikari:**Yeah. That's why I have to become the perfect Carmen no matter what it takes.

 **Hikari:**Since she wants to see my interpretation of Carmen, I have to do my best to live up to her expectations...

 **Lalafin:**I see...

 **Lalafin:**(No matter how far, Hikari will become Carmen and soar high to the endless sky.)

 **Lalafin:**(In order to reach out to her, you have to be as close to her as possible... You need a pair of wings, that is.)

 **Lalafin:**(But...Karen is going to be there to greet her, so there's nothing to worry about, right?)

 **Lalafin:**(Ah no, maybe Hikari's trying her best to reach Karen's place, so she—)

 **Hikari:**What's the matter...?

 **Lalafin:**Eek!

 **Lalafin:**Ahaha... It's nothing. I was just thinking about some Carmen stuff.

 **Lalafin:**You know, Hikari—

 **Hikari:**Yes?

 **Lalafin:**It seems you, too, are a bird just like me.

 **Hikari:**I don't really get what you mean, but...

 **Hikari:**We can become one. We can become birds that soar high to the sky!

 **Hikari:**An assignment where each performer is tasked with a role from a past stage... I was ready for anything, but I guess the end result took me by surprise.

 **Hikari:**I was a bit surprised when they recommended the role of Carmen to me. It's my first time to perform as someone as wild as her.

 **Hikari:**That said, it didn't take long for me to feel comfortable in the role. Stubborn, selfish, and possessing a light that won't be trapped by anyone...

 **Hikari:**Wait, she reminds me of...someone. Either way, I really like this Carmen.