School Idol Trip 2[]
Edo, Kamakura, even a farm. Our day trips are a blast!
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Story 1 |
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Kotori: Oh! So this it the area they've designed to looks like historical Edo. It's kinda cute! 
Hanayo: Look, everyone’s wearing kimonos! I wonder if they’re all here on vacation, too Honoka: This is so cool. It’s like we’ve gone back in time! Hanayo: It’s so nice that we’re all getting a chance to wear kimonos, too. It’s not like wearing costumes onstage. Kotori: Yeah. Simple kimonos have a kind of modest charm to them. Hanayo: It might be fun if we had a µ's song that would go with traditional Japanese clothes. Honoka: Ooh! Great idea, Hanayo! Hanayo: Oh, the historical play experience is starting! It looks like we get to pick our roles. What do you all want to do? Honoka: Heh, heh. I wanna be a cool heroine that vanquishes the bad guys! Kotori: That's the perfect role for you, Honoka. What about you, Hanayo? Hanayo: I'm leaning towards being a tea house girl. I think it'll be easier to play a role that similar to who I am normally. Honoka: Sounds good to me. Who're you gonna be, Kotori? Kotori: Me? *Giggle* Honoka, Hanayo: Hmm? Hanayo: *Screech* S-Someone help! Kotori: Mwa, ha, ha! You're quite a cute little dumpling, aren't you, pretty lady? Hanayo: Someone save me! Honoka: Hey, hey, hey! What's the big idea! Kotori: Who are you?! Honoka: Someone who won't stand for a ruffian like you trying to abduct a helpless young girl! Kotori: Oh yeah? Who's gonna make me? Honoka: I said let the girl GO! Young lady, come over here! Hanayo: R-Right! Kotori: You'll pay for this! Honoka: Are you okay, young lady? Hanayo: Th-Thank you! Please, I must know your name. Honoka: I'm no one whose name is worth knowing. Take care, young lady. Hanayo: Oh, Honoka! That was so cool! Honoka: *Giggle* Hanayo, you're making me blush. Kotori: Hanayo, Honoka! The play isn't over yet! Hanayo, Honoka: Huh?! Hanayo, Honoka: Oops! Hanayo: Sorry, I got carried away! Honoka: I just said the first thing that came to mind. Sorry! Kotori: Ha, ha. It's not a real play. We're just taking part in the acting experience. Hanayo: Acting is pretty tough, isn't it? Still, it's amazing to think that someone can become a completely different person. Honoka: Yeah! Kotori, I had no idea you wanted to be the bad guy! Kotori: *Giggle* I could never pull it off outside of a place like this. Hanayo: I get butterflies before going onstage with µ's, but this was a different kind of nervous feeling. Honoka: Actors and school idols both have to perform onstage, but if you can't fully become your character, you can't succeed as an actor. Kotori: And you won't put on a good performance if you don't understand who your character is, and how they think and feel inside. Hanayo: Yeah. I actually don't know if a tea house girl would be bubbly and energetic, or quiet and gentle. Honoka: We don't have to become different people when we're onstage as µ's. Hanayo: We always sing and perform in more or less the same way. Honoka: What if we tried putting on some kind of play, in a way that works for us? It'd be our very own period drama! Hanayo: Our own period drama? Kotori: Something like this? Ahem. Good morning, Honoka and Hanayo. It's another beautiful day here in Edo! Hanayo: Hee, hee. I get it! We'd all play ourselves, right? Honoka: Exactly! Care to buy some more of our Homura bakery dumplings today? Hanayo: Dumplings? Oh, Kotori, let's get some and eat them together! Kotori: But it's almost time for our poetry lessons. We must hurry! Honoka: Aww, we still have to go to school, even in old Edo? Hanayo: I don't get to have any dumplings! Kotori: Ha, ha, ha! You two are hilarious. Clearly you're the same people no matter what century it is. Hanayo: Agreed! Kotori: That was a lot of fun. The Edo motif of the town was really charming, our outfits were adorable, and the two of you couldn't be any cuter if you tried. Hanayo: Don't forget the delicious tofu skin! Although I did want to have some dumplings... Honoka: This was the best day trip ever. I'm really glad we all took the challenge! |
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Story 2 |
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| Alpaca: Haw.
Alpaca: Haaaaaaaaw! Maki: Eek! Why am I the only one surrounded by alpacas?! Maki: I knew coming to a farm for our day trip was a bad idea. Eli! Nico! Help me! Alpaca: Haw? Nico: Less snooty, more cutie, Maki! Call for help like a school idol would! Maki: Just get me out of here, you doofus! Nico: D-Don't call me a doofus! Now I'm definitely not gonna help you. Maki: Come on! Stop tormenting me! Eli: Maki?! Oh my gosh, you need help! Hold on Maki, I'm coming for you! Alpaca: Haaaaw! Maki: I'm saved... Thanks, Eli! Maki: Boy, is Nico unreliable, or what? C'mon, Eli. Let's go! Nico: Grrr... What the heck is your problem? Nico: When you get to be as cute as me, you can even tame animals with your irresistible charms. Cow: Moo. Nico: Eek! Cow: Mooooooooo! Nico: *Squeal* Cows! Nico: *Pant* *Gasp* Wow, cows sure are big... Eli: So after we left, you got surrounded by cows? Are you okay? Maki: Hmph. Serves you right for being mean to me! Nico: I wasn't being mean! I was trying to help you grow as a school idol. Eli: Yes, yes, that's quite enough of that. Now, what say we go get some fresh-made ice cream? Nico: All right. I'll allow it! Nico: Mmm! This is incredible! This is just regular old soft-serve? Maki: I can't believe it tastes so different when it's made fresh... It's delicious. Nico: It's so thick and creamy... Yum, yum! The farm is awesome! Eli: *Chuckle* Glad you're enjoying it. Eli: Aww, look at this horse. His eyes are so big and glassy. How precious. Eli: Nico, do you want to ride him with me? Nico: Urk... Y-You're not scared? Eli: I'm sure we'll be fine if we go together. Give me your hand. Nico: N-Not so fast, okay? I'm really nervous. Eli: Then all you have to do is hold on to me nice and tight. Nico: *Screech* I'm scared! Eli: Hee, hee, hee. Oh, this is so much fun! Nico: Quit smiling, Eli... You're making fun of me! Maki: Ha, ha, ha! Oh, this is hilarious. Nico, you've totally been suckered into doing things Eli's way. Nico: Cut it out, you guys! I was terrified! Maki: I was terrified when the alpacas all boxed me in. Now we're even. Maki: To be fair, I haven't laughed like that in a long time. I guess the farm isn't all bad. Nico: We got way off course from my school idol development plan, but I can't deny that today was lots of fun. Eli: You said we need to act more like school idols... But maybe we don't need to think about it so much. Eli: Both of you were very cute, and you didn't need to put on an act. I thought you made for very charming school idols. Nico: Oh... Eli: Same thing goes for our live shows. Eli: Sure, we practice a whole lot, and have plenty of conversations about how to stage the show before we go out and perform.... Maki: But once we're standing in front of the audience, the emotions we want to express start bubbling up well before we're consciously thinking about singing. Maki: I know what you're trying to say, Eli. Nico: ............................... Eli: I think your way of thinking is important too, Nico. What you said about wanting to ascend to greater heights was very inspirational. Eli: But I also think it's important for us to stay true to ourselves. Nico: So what you're saying is that µ's has its own unique charms that no one else can duplicate. Nico: I can't argue with that. µ's is the greatest school idol group in the world... No, in the whole galaxy! Maki: You can never resist a good hyperbole, can you? Of course, you wouldn't be our Nico if you acted any different. Maki: Hmm? Oh, look over there. Some of the farm workers are calling us. Eli: I wonder what they want. I'll go see. Eli: Guess what! Some of the farmhands are fans of µ's! One even asked if we'd be willing to sing in their amphitheater! Nico: Whoa, really?! Awesome... The three of us get to perform onstage! Maki: Wait, we're going to sing right now? No way. That's way too sudden! Nico: Huh?! Do you hear yourself? We can't waste a chance to show people what we can do. Maki: But we're completely unprepared... Nico: I'm not asking if you're prepared. I'm asking how you feel about it inside. Maki: *Gasp* Eli: Maki, do you want to sing, or not? Maki: Oh, you're really pushing my buttons now. Of COURSE I want to sing! Eli: *Chuckle* Then that's that! Nico: I can't think of a better way to cap off a school idol day trip than with a stage show! Maki: I'll give everything I've got. I want our song to reach peoples' hearts, even out here on the farm. Eli: Yes. Let's do our best! |
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Story 3 |
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| Rin: Hey, so, our travel plans should be taking us to the beach pretty soon, right?
Nozomi: The Great Buddha is gigantic... It feels like he could embrace anything that comes his way. Umi: Yes. And the way he sits so calmly... It puts my mind at ease just being near him. Rin: Hello-ooo! C'mon, let's move on to the next stop! Nozomi: Shame, shame, Rin. Did you even greet the Great Buddha? Rin: Huh? I'm suppose to say hello to a statue? Umi: Absolutely. Rin: Umm... H-Hello... Umi: Very good, Rin. See? You can do it if you try. Nozomi: Atta girl! So, what temple is next on our list? Rin: Another temple?! All we've done so far is see temples and the Great Buddha. Umi: Well, we're Japanese school idols. We need to keep in touch with our native culture. Nozomi: Exactly. I can feel the spiritual power growing inside of me with every stop! Umi: I'm so glad we decided on a tour of Kamakura's most famous spots. Rin: Whaaaaaaaat?! Umi: What's the matter, Rin? Rin: This isn't what I signed up for. I thought we came here to go to the beach? Nozomi: The beach? You wanted to go to the Kamakura shore? Rin: Of course! We kept talking about the "you-know-what." I thought the "you-know-what" in Kamakura was the beach! Nozomi: Oh, geez. No wonder I felt like we haven't been on the same page. Umi: It all makes sense now. I'm sorry, Rin. We really should've made sure the plan was clear to everyone before we left. Nozomi: Since it's winter, the beach wasn't even on my mind. Sorry, Rin! Rin: I thought Kamakura would have plenty of cafes where we could sit and enjoy looking out at the water. Rin: In fact, I've been looking forward to doing just that this whole time. Rin: If we don't get to go... I'll be crushed... Umi: Rin! Let's go now. We'll head straight there! Nozomi: Yeah! Let's hurry down to the shore, find a cafe with a nice ocean view, and have some tea. Rin: Umi... Nozomi... Nozomi: Oh, wow. The water's so beautiful. Rin: It's chilly, but it feels great out here! Umi: The cold air is actually refreshing. Rin: So this is the Kamakura seashore. The water and the sky seem to stretch on forever! Nozomi: Psst. Look at your feet. Umi: Hmm? Are these... Rin: Seashells! They're all so pink and pretty. And the water... *Screech* The water's freezing! Rin: Well, we can't go swimming, so let's just take a walk down the beach. Nozomi: Sure! And again, I'm sorry it took so long for us to get to the beach, Rin. Rin: No, I'm the one who should apologize. I was just so sure that we were going, I got carried away. Umi: Thank you, Rin. If it weren't for you, we never would've gotten to come to the seashore like this. Nozomi: I had no idea the beach could be so nice in the winter. And I never would've realized it if it hadn't been for you, Rin! Rin: Umi... Nozomi... Rin: Well, thanks to you two, I think I'm a little more interested in the history of Kamakura now! Nozomi: *Snicker* I was worried about it for a minute there, but it looks like we had a great trip, after all. Nozomi: This time we'll have to stop with the beach walk, but when it warms up, the three of us should come back again. Rin: Yeah! It's a deal! Umi: ........................... Rin: Umi, you've got a big grin on your face. What're you thinking about? Umi: Hee, hee. I'm thinking about how glad I am that I became a school idol. Umi: Thanks to our different interests and ideas, I got to spend a wonderful day and make some beautiful memories with two of my closest friends. Nozomi: Although I guess even close friends will have misunderstandings sometimes. Nozomi: It was our fault for making all the plans without talking everything over. Nozomi: But we apologized and made up without any drama. Only good friends can get away with that. Rin: Yup! It never turned into a fight in the first place, but it made me realize that we can still grow even closer as friends! Rin: Achoo! *Sniff* And it's still freezing out! Umi: We might catch colds if we stay out here too long. Let's find ourselves a seaside cafe, like we talked about before! Rin: Woo-hoo! Nozomi: The air might be cold, but I feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Umi: Indeed. My heart's hotter than a summer day! Rin: Whoa, isn't that pushing it a little? Umi: Y-You think? Nozomi: Ha, ha, ha! Enough talk. Let's race to the cafe! |
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Story 4 |
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| Honoka: Hmm... Umm... Oh, what about this book?
Kotori: How to Write Newspaper Articles. That's perfect, Honoka! Hanayo: Between that book and the pamphlets we brought back from our day trips, we should be able to write an article. Rin: I think this is the first time I've ever come to the library to look for a book. Maki: Unbelievable... This isn't a nap room, understand? Rin: Yes, ma'am! Kotori: I've got our trip pictures, too. Honoka: Yippee! Lemme see, lemme see! Nico: What the heck are you all wearing? Hanayo: We all participated in a historical play experience. It was a blast! Nico: Neat. Those outfits look really good on you three. Can I come with you next time? Honoka: You bet! Nozomi: Hmm? Hey, Eli, are you singing in this picture? Eli: Yes! We had the opportunity to put on a mini-show at the farm. Nozomi: Wow, that's awesome! Nico: Right? It went really well! Eli: I thought the plan was for the article to be written by the school newsroom. Is it really all right for us to handle everything ourselves? Nozomi: Sure! We're the ones who went on the trip. I wanna make sure we record all the little details in our own words. Umi: Right! Nico: School idols need to be able to self-promote themselves. We can pull this off easily! Eli: *Chuckle* All right, then. I'll tell the newsroom people that we'll write everything ourselves. Maki: Hmm... I've never written a newspaper article before. I'm at a bit of a loss for how to get started. Umi: Well, it's the school paper, not a major publication. I don't see why we need to think about it too hard. Eli: Yes. I think it's more important that we relay what we thought and felt on our trips. Hanayo: Oh... I see. Honoka: What's wrong, Hanayo? Hanayo: It's kinda the same thing as writing lyrics. Sometimes it's hard to put your thoughts and feelings into words. Nozomi: Good point. Maybe we should be talking about the pros and cons of each place, and change the writing reader-focused. Rin: Why don't we just draw pictures? I'll draw myself as a cute, smiling kitty cat! Maki: I understand wanting to smile, but is that really appropriate for a newspaper article? Kotori: Now, now. A picture diary would be very easy to read! Plus, I bet it would make our feelings about each trip perfectly clear. Hanayo: Wow, there are all kinds of ways we could take this! I get it now. I'll try to brainstorm, too. Nico: How's this for a title? "Hot in the School Idol World--the Farm! Discover its Secrets with Us!" Eli: The farm's secrets? *Chuckle* That's a very intriguing title. Nico: You need to grab the reader's attention with a catchy title. Our battle begins at the headline! Honoka: It's a battle?! Umi: I suppose a good title is important to get people interested. Nozomi: You're the coolest, Nico. You never let even the tiniest detail slip by you! Nico: You know it. Kotori: Our title would be something like... "Tasty! Cute! Fun! A School Idol Day Trip!" Honoka: We definitely experienced all of those things. Hanayo: Yup! Maki: How did you all fare, Rin? Was it cold? Rin: Yeah! It was really cold... but really warm, too! Maki: Huh? What's that supposed to mean? Umi: Allow me. The weather was cold, but the memories we brought back are warm. Rin: Not even warm. Burning hot! Right, Umi? Umi: Yes! Maki: *Chuckle* I don't quite follow, but I can tell you all enjoyed yourselves. Rin: We sure did. Eli: Let's all work together and make this a great article that everyone will want to read! Together: Yeah! Rin: Come on... Come on... Where are they... Rin: Ah! Everyone, come here! They posted the new school paper! Honoka: Finally! The edition with the school idol day trip article is up! Nico: *Squeal* The pictures of me are nice and big. They're even edited to be heart-shaped! Eli: It looks like they posted the article as we wrote it, without any changes. I'm so happy! Maki: It looks like everyone in my class is checking it out. I wonder what kind of comments they'll have? Hanayo: I'm nervous to find out... but excited, too. Honoka: I hope they feel like they've gotten a little closer to the school idols after they read it. Nico: I'd rather be told it inspired more people to become school idols themselves. Maki: That's really grandiose! Kotori: Do you think anyone will follow the same travel plans we did? Umi: I wonder. I certainly hope so. Nozomi: It's not exactly about getting them to follow the same itineraries down to the letter, but... Eli: I hope the memories we brought back from our trips come across to everyone who reads the article. Rin: Yup! |