Songwriting Retreat[]
At Maki's summer home. Will we see Eli doing ballet?
|
Story 1 |
|---|
| Maki: What's this... "Training Camp Guidebook"?
Hanayo: Yep. We've got a training camp soon to prepare for our new songs. Rin: And we are doing it at Maki's vacation home! Hanayo: Me and Rin made it. We thought the camp would go a lot smoother if we made a guidebook. Maki: Wow, you guys are serious. Can I take a look inside? Rin: Of course! Maki: Page one is... Is the picture of my vacation home? Hanayo: Yeah. Drawing a picture means everyone will understand that we are doing this training camp at your vacation home. Maki: I'm pretty sure everyone already knows where we're going. Anyway, what's on the next page? Rin: This is a picture of our practice outfits, and this is a picture of a backpack, and this is a picture of a purse and some snacks to go in the backpack... Hanayo: These pictures are a checklist of things to bring. Maki: Wa-wait a minute! Rin: Huh? Maki: How come you went ahead and drew picture of the stuff we should bring. I mean, this guidebook doesn't have a single word in it! Hanayo: We thought drawing pictures would help people understand instantly what they need to bring. Maki: What are you on about? The next page... and the next! Don't you think it's better to explain in writing rather than pictures? Hanayo: Maybe, but... Rin: What's the problem. If we draw pictures, then people who can't read Japanese will still be able to understand. Maki: Everyone in µ's CAN read Japanese! Rin: Humpf! Maki: Unbelievable! There is no need to put in so much effort for this. Rin: But we were so, so excited about going to hang out at your vacation home... Maki: We aren't going to hang out! Besides, it isn't a place for having fun. Hanayo: But your vacation home is such a lovely place. Rin: Right! It's so big, we can invite loads of people and it won't be a problem. Maki: Inviting loads of people WILL be a problem. Hanayo: Huh? Maki: Look, you can't just invite anyone you like. The only people who can come are µ's members. Rin: Oh... Maki: No one else is allowed. You guys are OK, because it's you. Hanayo: Oh, Maki! Maki: Don't expect so much, you two. Rin: You are looking forward to the training camp as well, right? You can't wait, can you, Maki? Maki: .... I suppose. Honoka: Yay! We're here! Kotori: Talking really makes the journey fly by. Eli: OK! Let's split into three teams and get to work. Umi: One team each for lyrics, music, and costumes, right? Nico: Huh? What's the rush? Let's just chill out and have some snacks first. Umi: It's better to get work out of the way first. That will make the relaxing and snacking even better. Rin: Me and Nico will help Kotori. Nozomi: Honoka and I will help Maki with the music. Honoka: What can we do to help with writing music? Maki: I came up with a general idea before we came, so we should be able to start writing straight away. Honoka: Wow! It's the first day of training camp and we are almost done already. That is so like you, Maki. Maki: But I can't get the end quite right. Sorry, but do you two mind waiting a little? Nozomi: OK! It'd be great if there was something we could help with, but I guess that's pretty hard. Honoka: Well, we'll cheer you one with some rousing hurrahs! Nozomi: Huh? Shouting "hurrah" while she's composing will damage her concentration. Maki: ...................... Nozomi: Oh, are you mad, Maki? Maki: Quite the reverse! You two have given me a good idea. Honoka: Huh? H-How? Nozomi: I don't really understand, but that's lucky. Maki: It's fine every now and then. Seeing you two carefree girls seems to bring a melody to mind. Honoka: Hehe! Maki paid us a compliment. Nozomi: Was that a compliment? Well, that's OK! |
|
Story 2 |
|---|
| Umi: Maki told me her idea for the song, so let's try to think of some lyrics.
Hanayo: OK! I'm a bit nervous, actually. Umi: Hehe! Don't worry. This isn't a test. Umi: First off, why don't we all think of the first words that come to mind. Hanayo: I see... Lyrics don't just come out fully formed, right? Eli: ...................... Umi: Eli? Is something wrong? Eli: No. I was just thinking that we can really rely on your leadership skills. Umi: Really? I would say you are the one who is more like a leader. Hanayo: We can really rely on both of you. If you two decide on something, then there is no need to worry about anything. We know we're in good hands. Umi: Hanayo, that's going too far. Eli: That's right. If you weren't here to spur us on... Hanayo: Huh? Eli: How about this time we let Hanayo take the lead in writing the lyrics. Hanayo: Whaaat?!? I'll... I'll try my best... Umm... I wonder if I can do it. Umi: Of course you can. You're uniquely qualified for this job. Hanayo: Uniquely qualified? Umi: Yes. Your unbridled enthusiasm for school idols is a wonderful thing to behold. Eli: I see... Lyrics that capitalize on Hanayo's skills. OK, why don't you tell us about the school idols you like? Hanayo: Errr... Ummm... Well, these girls are so hot right now. Umi: Hanayo, you always have a school idol magazine on you, don't you? Hanayo: They are boyish, but with a refreshing girly charm. The girl on the left is a cool, long-haired beauty, and the one on the right is known for her glasses. Hanayo: Their songs have up-beat melodies, but a lot of their lyrics are heart-breaking. The juxtaposition is fascinating. Hanayo: Lyrics don't necessarily have to be happy. I think what's important is that they come from the heart. Hanayo: Oh, look at me getting all carried away. Eli: Hehehe! The gleam in your eyes is totally different when you're talking about school idols. Umi: Amazing, Hanayo! Such deep thoughts about school idols will definitely come in handy for writing lyrics. Hanayo: Re-really? Don't embarrass me! Eli: Hehe! I think we should let Hanayo take the lead in writing the lyrics this time. Hanayo: OK! Rin: Ouch! Kotori: R-Rin, are you OK? Did you prick yourself with the needle? Rin: I... I think I'm fine. Say, Nico, there isn't a hole in my finger, is there? Nico: Don't be so dramatic! You only pricked yourself with the needle. Here, Rin, I'll put a Band-Aid on it. Rin: Phew! Thanks, Nico. Kotori: Rin, leave the rest to me. Rin: Really? So I'm done for the day? Can I take a nap? Nico: No! Rin: Huh! Why? Besides, I wasn't talking to you, Nico. I was talking to Kotori. Nico: Didn't you just say you would do it all yourself? You said it, so you should do it. Rin: Meow! You're right. Don't worry about it, Kotori. I'll do it myself. Kotori: Nico, you're amazing. I always just tell her to leave it to me. Rin: You mean you take care of other people's stuff as well? I think that's great. Nico: Doesn't that mean Kotori doesn't have faith in other people? Kotori: You reckon? No, I don't think so. Nico: For your information. I'm great at sewing, and I'm super-amazing at altering skirts. Nico: Rin, it's not like you always stab yourself with a needle. If you calm down, you'll be able to do it. Rin: OK! Leave it to meow. Kotori: I understand, but I don't think it's good that you two help so much. Nico: Why do you have to fuss over us like that? Kotori: Huuuh?!? Nico: I'm saying you should rely on us more. We are all part of µ's, right? Kotori: Nico... Nico: These clothes are for everyone to wear, so it's only natural that we lend a hand. Don't try to do everything by yourself all the time, OK? Kotori: Nico... Thank you! Rin: Nico... Nico: Stop gawping at me and get those hands moving! We have to get these clothes made while we are on training camp. Rin: Roger! Kotori: Hehe! Nico, you are so like a mom or a teacher some times. Nico: I am neither a mom nor a teacher. You should call me the cutest and most beautiful lady in the universe! Kotori: Yes, oh cutest and most beautiful lady in the universe! Nico: Heheh! You have good sense, Kotori. I'll keep helping you make the costumes. Rin: Hey, mom, can you teach meow how to sew this bit? Nico: Rin! Did you listen to a word I just said?!? |
|
Story 3 |
|---|
Kotori: We got the music and lyrics finished quickly, huh? It's amazing we got them both done in the first half of the training camp. 
Honoka: Maki had most of the music done when we got here. Maki: True, but Honoka and Nozomi helped me finish it off. Umi: Hanayo was in charge of the lyrics. Rin: Really? I can't wait to sing Hanayo's lyrics. Hanayo: Thanks, Rin! The three of us put our heads together and came up with some good lyrics... I think. Nozomi: The costume making team seems to be coming along nicely as well. Kotori: Yeah! Nico is really helping with that. Rin: She's like our mom. Nico: Stop saying that. We should hurry up and think about the choreography. Eli: Yeah. Anyone got any ideas? Honoka: Hmmm... Well, how about this? Umi: Honoka, what's that pose supposed to be? Honoka: This is my magic pose for thinking up choreography. Nozomi: Oh, how spiritual! Hanayo: Magic pose?!? Rin: Like this, Honoka? Honoka: Yes, yes! Come to me, choreography. Come to me! Rin: Come to me! Honoka: .......... Nothing's coming! Rin: Rats! Nico: Aimlessly hoping for something to spring to mind isn't going to give you inspiration for dance moves. Umi: Nico, do you have any ideas? Nico: Of course! Honoka: Oooh, tell us, Nico! Nico: It seems the time has finally come for me to teach you the dance techniques I learned on Broadway. Nozomi: Broadway!?! Nico-cchi, you know some Broadway dance techniques? Nico: Of course! Rin: Wow! Trust Nico! Maki: I'm not convinced... Going on then, show us these techniques. Nico: Sure. Everyone, pay careful attention. Umi: *Gulp* Nico: Nico Nico: Nico Nico: Ni! Honoka: Huh? Maki: What was that? Kotori: Ummm... It was just Nico being her normal cute self. Nozomi: Sorry, Nico-cchi, but we didn't really get it. Can you show us again? Nico: Nico-Nico-Ni! Umi: All I see is the standard Nico pose. Eli: Let's find out a few more details first. Nico, did you go to Broadway and get taught this dance? Nico: I learned a Broadway dance and then adapted it to Nico style. Maki: I don't think she went all the way to Broadway and studied... Didn't you just see it on TV? Nico: Huh?! That's not it! Honoka: Oh! Nico's shaking! Hanayo: So, you learned a Broadway dance you saw on TV? Eli: Amazing. To think you could learn a Broadway dance just from watching TV. Nico: But... but it was an amazing program. Naturally the quality of my dancing improved from watching it. Rin: If all you need to do is watch the TV, anyone can say they studied on Broadway. Nico: But it really is an awesome dance... See! Kotori: Nico the Broadway star is so cute! Nozomi: Hehehe! I love it when Nico-cchi makes such huge fibs. Nico: Huh... Umi: I guess it can't be helped. Let's leave the rest for tomorrow and start preparing dinner. Nico: ...................... |
|
Story 4 |
|---|
| Eli: We didn't settle on anything today, but I hope we can decide on the choreography tomorrow.
Nozomi: Yeah... The curry this evening was delicious. I'm sure we can give it our best tomorrow. Eli: I was surprised. With that much curry, I was sure there would be some leftovers, but everyone kept coming back for more. Nico: ........................ Eli: Nico? What's up? Nico: .......Nothing. Nozomi: Are you felling down? Maybe you should have had some more curry. Nico: Actually, it isn't nothing. I wasn't joking. I was being serious. Nozomi: Huh? What are you talking about, Nico-cchi? Eli: Ah! Is it the Broadway stuff we were talking about at lunchtime? Nico: Yes! OK, all I did was watch a 30 minute special feature on Broadway, but still... Eli: Hehe! So you didn't actually go to Broadway, right? Nico: No! But... but I thought I understood the Broadway techniques. Nozomi: Really? Sorry, Nico-cchi. Nico: As long as you understand... Eli: You get lonely if people don't understand you, right? There, there! Nico: Oi! There's no need to stroke my head! Nozomi: I'll also make sure I take care in the future. *Stroke* *Stroke* Nico: Grrr! Don't make fun on me. Nozomi: We aren't making fun of you. Right, Eli? Eli: Right! What's more, your dance technique was... errr... even cuter than normal. Nico: R-Really? Eli: Really. However, it didn't really fit with the feel of the new song. Nozomi: If we make a song that fits your dance, we'll definitely add it to today's choreography. Nico: OK... Nico: Hey, Eli, ballet also has choreography, right? Teach me some ballet. Eli: That's right. OK, I'll explain the basics. Kotori: Morning! Did you sleep well? Honoka: Yep! I woke up and it was morning already. Umi: Hehe! Honoka is the same as always. Maki: We have to come up with some moves today. Rin: I'll help too! Nico: Listen, ladies! School idols are complete works of art. Maki: As always, I have no idea what you are talking about. Nico: It's not enough that a song is good or a dance is good. School idols have to have a balance of everything. Hanayo: I need to write that down... Nico is kind of cool today. Eli: Everyone's ideas for the choreography were good, but none of them really fitted the feel of the song. Honoka: The feel of the song? Up until now everything has kind of fallen into place. It's hard to have to rethink. Nico: That's where Eli comes in. Honoka: Oh? Nico: Right! Get to it, Eli! Maki: Hold on! Eli isn't your underling, Nico. Nozomi: The three of us were talking about the choreography yesterday. Eli: We thought maybe we could include some ballet in the choreography... Kotori: You've been doing ballet for years, right, Eli? Rin: But aren't ballet and school idols totally different? Eli: Ballet doesn't rely on music. Expression is what is important. You have to be able to communicate the story and express emotions. Umi: So what you're saying is you have to be able to act? Eli: There are certain stock poses. For example, if you stand like this with one hand on top of the each and place them beneath your heart, it means "love." Rin: Oh, wow! So they have real meanings, like sign language. Eli: If you add facial expressions, you can really communicate the meaning. Kotori: Wow! Adding a pained expression makes it even more dreamy. Honoka: I see. Even within a single song, there are happy moments and sad moments, right? Hanayo: I get it. The end of the song is when the emotions build to a crescendo, so maybe we should make our movements bigger. Eli: We don't need to have the same movements as ballet, but I think this is probably a good approach. Nico: Well done, Ell. I'm overflowing with ideas now. Maki: Is that so... Kotori: Speaking of which, we still haven't seen Eli perform any ballet. Nozomi: True. I want to see Eli's ballet performance as well. Rin: I want to see it too! Eli, show us some ballet! Eli: Errr... OK, just a little. Honoka: Yay! Eli, you're the best! |