The Aqours Theater Troupe![]
A new stage for Aqours! Let's put on a show for the kids.
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Story 1 |
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Hanamaru: *Sigh* 
Ruby: What's wrong, Hanamaru? You've been so listless all morning. Are you sick? Yoshiko: Yeah, and you didn't have much for lunch, either. *Gasp* Could this be an omen that Armageddon is upon us? Chika: Huh?! O-Oh, no! Should we take her to the nurse's office?! Dia: There's no need to go overboard. Why don't you go home and rest before your condition gets worse? Hanamaru: Oh, n-no! It's not like that! I feel fine, and the world's not ending, zura! Ruby: Then did something... bad happen? Hanamaru: Kinda... Do you all remember the Setsubun event we held at my family's temple? You: The one we did with the kindergarten kids? Of course! We all had a blast! Riko: Everyone who played a demon really brought their role to life. So, does this mean your temple is doing another event? Chika: It is? Oh, that means we get to pitch in again! Go ahead, ask us anything! Dia: Oh Chika, there you go again, making decisions that affect all of us. Mari: What's the big deal? I'm in. Playing along with those powerful little tykes was a lot of fun. Hanamaru: Thank you... Chika's exactly right. We got such a positive feedback on the Setsubun event, the kindergarten teacher asked us to do something again soon. Hanamaru: And so, we decided to do a story time next, zura. Ruby: A story time? Awesome! That's a perfect fit for you, Hanamaru! Hanamaru: Yeah. I was really excited when they suggested it, so I jumped right into picking out all kinds of great books. Hanamaru: But the teacher... rejected every one of my suggestions, zura... Chika, Ruby: Whaaaat?! Mari: Oh, what a shame! She must be a very strict judge if she turned down all of them. Yoshiko: Uhh... I have a feeling she made the right call. Let me guess, you picked out nothing but difficult books that were way above their level? Hanamaru: I did not, zura! Riko: Well, what were you hoping to read to them? Hanamaru: Umm, well, first was Shakespeare's "Hamlet," then Japan's historical "Records of Ancient Matters" Kanan: Y-You really think those are stories kindergarten kids want to hear? Yoshiko: They'd fall asleep. Guaranteed. Hanamaru: I want to enrich their senses from a young age, zura! Exposing them to classic literature at an early age isn't a waste, zura! Chika: Th-That's true! I've heard playing classical music to babies while they're in the womb is good for them. Riko: You're on board with this? I mean, I understand what Hanamaru is trying to say, but maybe we should pick more age-appropriate books for them. You: They should probably be shorter... I guess we're better off going with picture books. Hanamaru: What about classic folktales? I feel like I had a big compendium of stories and lore from all over the world... I'll look for it as soon as I get home! Yoshiko: Don't pick anything obscure, or you'll get denied again. Chika: Picture books, huh? Man, that takes me back. I remember our kindergarten teacher reading to us. The best books got all beat up because we'd rush to grab them. You: Didn't we put on little plays and act out some of the popular books? Of course, we had multiple people playing the same role over and over... Chika: A play... You: Hmm? Chika: What if we took one of the stories and acted it out? It'd be more engaging, and I bet the kids would love it. Hanamaru: A... play? Chika: If we added a narrator, that should make it similar enough to a regular story time. What do you all think? Hanamaru: Yeah, yeah! I love it! I never would've thought of doing a play... I can't wait to see how this turns out, zura! Ruby: W-We're really doing a play? I'm not sure I'll be any good... Riko: Are you sure we should just consider this a done deal? We haven't even asked the kindergarten teacher yet. Kanan: Nah. We can do that afterwards, can't we? We're the ones who're gonna take care of everything, so I doubt she'd say no. What story should we do? Yoshiko: Hah. If worst comes to worst, I'll write a story myself! We'll tell the children the sublime tale of Yohane, from my birth until my fall from grace! Ruby: No horror stories. Riko: Please make it something appropriate for kids. Mari: If we need a horse, don't hesitate to ask. I'll go to my favorite riding club and borrow one of theirs. Dia: A horse? Why on earth would we need a horse? Mari: You need them for folktales and fairy tales! Think of the hero shouting "They'll never take our freedom!" as he gallantly gallops down the seashore. Kanan: That sounds more like a period drama mixed up with a kid's fairy tale... and a bunch of other stuff. Chika: I think we need a story that's exciting, popular, and has lots of characters. Something where the heroes fight off the bad guys. Know what I mean? Hanamaru: A tale of good versus evil, huh? That's definitely something kids can understand, and probably wouldn't mind sitting through, zura. Hmm... How about Momotaro? You: Momotaro! I like it. Let's go with that. Hanamaru: Momotaro it is, zura! Riko: We'll need a Momotaro, his dog, the monkey, the pheasant... What kind of sound so pheasants make? Dia: If you don't know something, do you research! Fortunately, we have tomorrow off. Why don't we go to the zoo and see the real thing? Chika: Oh boy, the zoo! I wanna go! Mari: You're kicking it into high gear, Dia. Dia: Once I decide on a course of action, nothing stops me. Move out, Aqours! Together: Yay! |
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Story 2 |
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Chika: Woo-hoo! We're at the zoo! 
You: It's been years since I came here. I'm so excited! Riko: Where are the pamphlets? The information desk, maybe? Ruby: This says you can hold a bunny rabbit at the petting zoo! I want to go! Hanamaru: I'mma go too, zura. Yoshiko: Goofing around and having a good time with friends at the zoo... I love it! It's so... so... normal! Kanan: It's not open yet, huh? Did we get here too early? Mari: I see a sign for ice cream in there. I wonder what the "exclusive flavor" they advertise is? Dia: I hope you all aren't forgetting why we're here today. Chika: O-Of course not! You: We're here to do research for our Momotaro play! Dia: I'm glad you remember. Chika, you're the monkey. Riko, you're the dog, and Ruby, you're the pheasant. Make sure you three observe your animals thoroughly! Chika, Ruby: Yes, ma'am! Riko: Okay... Riko: (The dog... Why do I have to be the dog...) Dia: You're Momotaro, You, the leader of the animals. Make sure you observe closely too, so as to deepen your bonds with your companions. You: Aye-aye! Mari: Dia, me and you are the old woman and old man, right? If we're playing humans, doesn't that mean we don't really have anything to observe? Dia: Not at all. People-watching is the bedrock of prepping for a role! We'll observe the mannerisms of all kinds of people and incorporate them into our performance. Mari: Hrmm... Doesn't sound all that exciting... Dia: Hanamaru, just because you're the narrator doesn't mean you can rest on your laurels. Hanamaru: Right, zura! Kanan: What about us demons? Should we try to find scary-looking people and animals to watch? Yoshiko: Goats, goats! Let's find the goats. I wanna see the ones with curly horns! Kanan: Why, because they have that demonic vibe? I don't think you'll get to wear any devil horns during the play... Chika: They're opening! C'mon, everyone! Let's go! Chika: I spy monkeys! Wow, there are so many of them! Look how fuzzy they are. They are kinda cute. You: Yikes. Th-That one looks really angry. Dia: You'll sully Momotaro's reputation if you act so spineless, You. Stand your ground! You: That's easier said than done. I can't help being afraid of something scary! Riko: Hey, they're going to let a group of people feed the monkeys. Shouldn't you join them? You: And of course we're giving them bananas... Chika: Hey, hey, You! Is that the monkey you said was threatening you? Riko: It feels like he's staring a hole through us. Did we do something to him? You: H-Here, buddy... Want a snack? You: Ooh, he likes it! Chika: It looks like he's enjoying it. Here, little guy. Try some of mine, too! Riko: Momotaro gave his companions millet dumplings to get them to join him. The power of food shouldn't be taken lightly. Hanamaru: Mmm, bananas smell so good, zura. If I could just have a little... Yoshiko: We're not gonna get anywhere if you eat them! Ruby: Eek! The monkeys are swarming me! Dia, save me! Dia: I'm coming, Ruby! Kanan: M-Maybe we should call a zookeeper. Mari: This baby monkey is so precious. I want to take him home with me! Hanamaru: Here's the avian area. I wonder if there are any pheasants around. Ruby: Eeeeeeeeek! Hanamaru: Aah! R-Ruby, are you okay?! You: Even the birds startle her. Ruby, you're something else. Ruby: *Whine* There's nothing but huge birds everywhere. Their gazes are as sharp and scary as their beaks. Ruby: I like little birdies better, like doves, parakeets, and baby chicks. You know, ones that are all soft and fluffy, with gentle eyes. They're so cute! Kanan: Hmm. Actually, their eyes do have a pretty sinister look. Maybe we can try to copy them when we play the demons. *Glare* Yoshiko: The stares of these birds of prey are as sharp as a finely-honed blade. They remind me of the eyes of the demon lord of the underworld I met long ago. *Glare* Ruby: Eek! Chika: Man, what a great day! You: It went by in a flash. Hanamaru: The ice cream was so good! I wanna come back and have it again soon. Yoshiko: You had three helpings! I can't believe you don't have a stomachache. Ruby: Somehow, eating treats at a time like this makes them taste even better than usual. Isn't that funny? I definitely wanna come back again to have some more! Mari: I still can't get over those baby monkeys. They were very, very cute! Kanan: You do go on about it. I hope you're not gonna start saying you're gonna buy the monkey off of them. Dia: Halfway through the day, this whole experience degenerated into a regular day at the zoo. Riko: *Giggle* What's wrong with that? In the end, our performances will be better for having seen the real things in person. Chika: Heh, heh, heh. Riiii-koooo... Riko: Huh? Wh-What? Chika: You must've been pretty relaxed today. After all... There are no dogs at the zoo! You: Hey, now that you mention it... Riko: Th-Th-That's not exactly true. There were lots of animals that, uhh, were classified as canines! That's close enough! Hanamaru: But Momotaro's companion was a dog, zura. Chika: Don't sweat it, Riko. I've got the best dog in the whole world waiting back at my house! You can observe Shiitake to your heart's content! Riko: N-No! I mean, I couldn't impose... Chika: I won't take no for an answer. C'mon, let's go! Riko: No... No... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! |
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Story 3 |
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| Hanamaru: Once upon a time, there was a poor, old couple.
Hanamaru: They lived a quiet, yet impoverished life. Chika: Hanamaru, you're really good at reading lines aloud! Ruby: Your voice is so relaxing that listening to it soothes my soul. I really love it! Hanamaru: N-Now you've got me blushing, zura. Hehehe. Hanamaru: I'm just so tickled to have gotten the role of narrator! I'll do my best, zura! Dia: Alright, everyone! There's not much time until the show starts! Let's get practicing! Chika: Ooh-ooh-ahh-ahh! Please give me some dumplings, Momotaro! Dia: Chika, with crappy acting like that you'll never truly become the monkey! Dia: Did you not learn anything from the monkeys at the zoo? Remember that experience and become the monkey! Chika: Ah! Oh, OK! Chika: Be the monkey, be the monkey... I am the monkey Ooh-ooh-ahh-ahh!!! You: There you go! That's more realistic! With gestures like that you look like a real monkey! Ruby: Maybe a bit too real...? Kanan: Drill sergeant... Yoshiko: That wasn't too shabby! Riko: (In order to make the play a success, I must give any role my best. Even if that role has me playing a dog...) Riko: (To give thanks to Shiitake for helping make this a possibility, starting now, I'll become a dog!) Riko: Bow! Wow! Bow-wow! Mari: Wow, Riko! You're a natural! Riko: I'm glad I could bow-wow wow ya! Yoshiko: *Cackle* The world shall soon be mine! Weak humans, grovel before the demon god, Yohane! Yoshiko: A dawn where all humans grovel before me shall pave the way for my great empire of noble darkness! This island shall be a stepping stone! Bahahahahahahaha! Hanamaru: Hey, Yoshiko! Please don't make excessive changes to the dialogue, zura! Kanan: To think there are fools who would dare step foot onto our newly acquired dominion! Know your place, ignorant humans! Hanamaru: Y-You too, Kanan? You'll make the kids cry, zura! Yoshiko: Oh, come on, this much evil should be fine. I'm the villain, after all. The more terrifying, sinister and dark a demon, the brighter Momotaro's light will shine! Kanan: It's actually more embarrassing to hold back on this sort of dialogue. Just going all out and saying it is really fun. Yoshiko: Haha! I see yet another has been tempted by the darkness... Welcome, Kanan Matsuura! Allow me, Yohane, to bestow you with a new name! Let me see... Kanan: Ah, no thanks. Yoshiko: Huh?! You: And you just put the string through the loop here, and voila... It's done! Check it out. I finished Momotaro's mask! Ruby: I've finished too! It's the pheasant! You: Woah! You're goo! Ruby: Hehe. Thanks! You: Oh, just to be honest, I wanted to have some costumes ready... Ruby: Well, things were set in motion so suddenly and all. There's no way you could've made everyone's costumes... You: True... Though by making these cute masks, we can at least brighten up the play a bit. Ruby: Yeah! You: Alright! Let's make as many as we can! Ruby: I'll start drawing a demon next! Dia: Alright, I'm going out to cut some wood! Mari: See you soon, darling. Dia: Dar...?! Mari: Welp, I guess I'm off to do the wash then. Mari: Wash on, wash off... Goodness! What in the world is that?! A huge peach is floating down the stream! Dia: H-Hey, Mari! Mari: What is it? Dia: Don't give me that lip! What's the meaning of changing the script like that? Stop playing around! Mari: Huh? I'm taking my role seriously! Dia: The old lady in the Momotaro story wouldn't say "Wash off, wash on"! Mari: Dia, anyone can act from a script, but adding original elements transforms it into a one-of-a-kind performance! Dia: Be... Be that as it may! Mari: The Momotaro story is well known. And because of that, it's been performed on countless occasions. Mari: That's way we need our team to stand out by creating something our audience will remember! It needs a little Mari-ness! Dia: Mari... You would've convinced me if I wasn't so uncertain about the "Mari-ness" you talk of! Mari: *Giggle* Whoopsie. Kanan: A good amount of mental prep is required in order to branch off the beaten path and venture into the wild. However, a new future awaits beyond. *Cackle* Dia: Huh? Mari: Woah! I could see Yoshiko saying that, but not Kanan! Kanan: Why not let her have her fun? Maybe Mari has her own version of the old lady that only she can play. Chika: Oooh! Ohh-ah-ah! Momotaro, it seems you've given the pheasant more dumplings than you gave me. Ruby: Huh?! Really? You: Ahahahaha! You speak nonsense, monkey. Your eyes are playing tricks on you! Riko: I think an equal number of dumplings is better, woof! Yoshiko: The dawn of Yohane's rule is nigh! Hanamaru: And thus the instrumentalization of the world by demonkind was thwarted by Momotaro's... Ah! Now I'm talking like Yoshiko, zura! Kanan: With a cast like us, this performance of Momotaro will be absolutely unforgettable. Dia: For Pete's sake, you girls! What kind of liberties are you taking with the story?! |
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Story 4 |
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| You: The kids are here!
Riko: Ahhh... I'm so nervous! Ruby: Wh-Wh-Wh-What if I forget one of my lines?! Mari: Relax, everyone. Relax. You'll be fine. Kanan: That's right! We've come this far already, so just push on through! Dia: I'm glad I managed to make it a decent script. Yoshiko: Hey! Why was my plan for my evil empire rejected?! Hanamaru: Do you really need me to explain it? Chika: Hey, everyone! Can I have a minute? You: What's the matter? Chika: Umm... I'm super nervous and everything, but the nine of us have made it through lots of stage shows together, so I know we'll pull through this one. Chika: So what I'm trying to say is... Let's go out there and have fun! Riko: Chika... Mari: Of course we will! Now let's go and have a blast! Kanan: Alright, everyone! To your places! Hanamaru: Once upon a time, there was a poor, old couple. They lived a quiet, yet impoverished life. Dia: Alright, dear. I'm going out to cut some wood! Mari: See you soon, darling. Dia: (Ugh... I'm really having second thoughts about allowing a "younger" old lady...) Mari: Welp, I guess I'll go and do the washing, then. Hanamaru: As the old lady was washing the laundry, a giant peach came floating down the river. Hanamaru: She took the giant peach home and tried to cut it so she could eat it with her husband. Mari: I'm gonna slice it up so it's easier to eat! Dia: Mari! Ack, I mean, H-Honey, why don't you try cutting it down the middle? Hanamaru: The peach split open to reveal a spry young boy inside! You: Aye-aye! Hanamaru: The old couple named the young boy Momotaro and raised him with the utmost care. Hanamaru: Once grown up, Momotaro learned how everyone throughout the land was living in fear of the demons of Onigashima. You: I'm going to go rid Onigashima of the demons! Dia: Take good care of yourself, Momotaro. Mari: Here, have some dumplings. Be sure to eat them on your journey. Hanamaru: On his quest, Momotaro encountered a dog. Riko: Bow-wow! Hello, Momotaro! Please allow me to join you! You: Thank you for the help. Here, take this dumpling as a token of my appreciation. Hanamaru: Momotaro and the dog then encountered a monkey. Chika: Ooh-ooh-ahh-ahh! Please allow me to join you! You: I would be thankful for your help. Here, take a dumpling. Hanamaru: Momotaro, the dog, and the monkey then encountered a pheasant. Ruby: ...! You: Ruby? Ruby: (Oh-ohh! What should I do... I'm so nervous I cant' say anything... Umm umm... I'm a pheasant... so I'm a bird... a bird says... umm...) Ruby: Coo-coo! You: Say what?! Dia: Oh ohh... dear... Hanamaru: Momotaro finally arrived at Onigashima together with his friends. Yoshiko: Foolish child! I commend your bravery for coming to face me... But now you shall know that our strength is as different as the heavens and the dirt you walk on! Kanan: We'll never lose to a human! Grrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh! Together: Uhhh... You: Come on, everyone! Let's get them! Together: Yeaahhhhh! Hanamaru: Momotaro and his friends vanquished the demons and peace was restored to the land. Everyone lived happily ever after. Chika: And that's a wrap! Great work everyone! You: The kids all loved it! Dia: I thought I was going to have a heart attack when the pigeon showed up... Ruby: S-Sorry about that... Kanan: It wasn't bad. The kids had a chuckle and all, *Giggle* so no harm done. Hanamaru: Everyone, thanks for today... er, wait every day. If it weren't for all of you, everyone wouldn't have had such a great time. Yoshiko: Hey! Why are you being so humble all of a sudden? You helped make this a success. Mari: Awww thanks, Yoshiko! You're such a nice girl that you deserve a pat on the head. Yoshiko: Shaddup! Don't "Yoshiko" me! And no patting! Hanamaru: I was a bit sour when my book reading was rejected. It's such a great story, I couldn't understand why she didn't agree. Hanamaru: I was so wrapped up in my own feelings that I didn't listen to what everyone was saying... Riko: This can go for all school idols. While our own needs are important, we shouldn't force our feelings onto others. Easier said than done, though. Hanamaru: True. I wouldn't have come to that realization without you guys. Thanks, everyone, zura! Dia: Right back at ya. I learned that the way you look when doing something to the best of your ability can be sensed by people of any age. What a good experience. Mari: Phew... It might be because we've just finished a big job, but I'm hungry! Chika: Me too! My stomach is growling... Dia: Come on, now! Don't you want to cherish this moment? Hanamaru: My grandma made these sweet rice dumplings for all of us! Let's dig in, zura! Together: Yay! |
