Thread by @RinmeikanGranny

Pride always leads the fall, and even the greatest among us can succumb to the tempting wiles of jealousy. With a heart stained in fear, with a future uncertain, is there room on the stage for second chances?

名門、落つ
An Institution's Demise
Fumi’s Chapter

Chapter 3 begins with Rui in her classroom, lamenting how difficult it is to keep up with her Regular Education classes. She wonders what to do after school, and remembers the tragic words Tamao told her earlier. Unable to be at Tamao’s side, Rui is lost...

While Rui focuses on her thoughts, the other First-Years in her class start to make their move. Shouting her name to catch her attention, one girl says, “Akikaze-san! After this, how are you for time? If it’s ok with you, how about going with us to the cafe?”

Rui is surprised, completely taken off-guard by the offer.

The girl continues: “Yup. In front of the train station there’s a super great cafe.”

And another girl jumps in: “Yeah, the Special Jumbo Pancake Set is super delicious! Totally, Akikaze-san, come with us!”

Rui starts to protest, but the girls keep going.
“Well then, it’s been decided! Let’s go!”
“We’ve always wanted to become friends with you, Akikaze-san!”

First-year student A can’t keep her thirst in check at all: 😹👌
“You’re tall, gallant, and have a beautiful voice--I’ve always wanted to get better acquainted!”

Before Rui can protest, they literally take her by the hand and drag her away, and Rui calls out desperately for Tamao-senpai to help her.

(Good luck, Rui! 😹🤚)

Next, we see Fumi, who’s in the process of hearing some bad news: the restaurant she works at is closing.

Apparently the Special Jumbo Pancake Set they started selling last summer was putting them in the red, because they were giving away tons of food for only 500 yen…

Still, this restaurant isn’t the only one suffering from an economic downturn--plenty of shops on this street have also shuttered. Fumi will have to look for a new part-time job elsewhere.

With the Acting Department shutting down and her part-time job going away, things just aren’t going well at all. However, Fumi decides she’ll cheer herself up with a Ponzu Feast.

Unfortunately, when she goes to the store to pick up a bottle, she learns that it’s sold out.

Not fully defeated, Fumi asks when they expect their next shipment.

But the next shipment isn’t coming. Even worse, she learns that the company that makes her favorite “Hanamaru-Mark Natural Yuzu Ponzu” has gone bankrupt. If she doesn’t have that ponzu...

(Note: a Hanamaru is a flower circle often used to mean “well done,” like a gold star.💮)

Next, we see Fumi cackling alone in her apartment as she tries to process the series of unfortunate events that have transpired.

She has no job, no ponzu, and no stage to stand on...

As she wonders whether to cry, her doorbell suddenly rings, and she wonders who it could possibly be at this hour.

Tamao has stopped by to say hello (definitely not suspicious at all).

Tamao explains that she had something she wanted to talk about, so she went to Fumi’s restaurant...

But it was closed.

So, since she figured Fumi would be depressed, she went to go pick up a bottle of ponzu...

But it was sold out.

(Tamao even knows which type of Ponzu is Fumi’s favorite 😹🙏)

Annoyed, Fumi wonders what Tamao is here for, if she’s come to laugh at Fumi for being pathetic, abandoned by her ponzu and by everything else...

But no, Tamao is here to Scout.

Tamao explains that they’re going to perform the Rinmeikan Record, and she’s putting together the main cast.

Tamao: “The normal curriculum is no good. As the Rinmeikan Girls’ School Acting Department, we have to perform the Rinmeikan Record.”

Tamao: “Fumi...just like you would die without your ‘Hanamaru-Mark Natural Yuzu Ponzu’....”

Fumi: “No, I’m not really going to die over it…”

Tamao: “With the shutdown of the department...and being transferred to the normal curriculum, I finally understood.”

Tamao: “I was naive, foolish, and only saw dreams.”

Tamao: “Surrounded by friends, wallowing in fun days, leaving everything to others…”

Tamao: “I didn’t stand desperately on the stage, doing what I needed to do…”

Tamao: “Until I perform the Rinmeikan Record, I won’t die and leave things like this. There’s no way I’ll stay silent and accept the closure of the Acting Department.”

So, as a result of this, Tamao asks Fumi to lend her her strength. Fumi is puzzled and asks whether she’s requested this of Ichie, Yuyuko, or Rui, but Tamao says no--she’s come to Fumi first.

Fumi: “Why? If you’re asking, why don’t you ask Rui and the others who’ve always been with you--”

But Tamao says no, not the others, who have been spoiling her too much. Fumi is different. As a transfer student from Siegfeld, she has sufficient skill on the stage, and yet she also holds a certain strictness for them and the Acting Department.

Tamao: “Because it’s you, you’re the person I need the most right now. So, I want to borrow your strength, the strength of Yumeoji Fumi.”

Fumi isn’t quite convinced. “But...the things Ukashi-sensei were saying are mostly right, you know. To overrule that--”

Tamao: “It’s not whether we can do it or not. We’ll do it.”

Tamao: “--Of course, I won’t say it’s free.”

While Fumi wonders what in the world Tamao is talking about, Chapter 3 comes to an end.

Just what is it, exactly, that Tamao has up her sleeve...?

Again, twitter hid several tweets from the Chapter 3 summary as well. I've dropped them into this google doc if you'd like to see them (hide the page breaks or it'll look kinda uggo 😹):

docs.google.com/document/d/1bg…

Chapter 4 of the story picks up right where Chapter 3 left off, with Tamao having something mysterious up her sleeve. She hands Fumi a small bottle…

Tamao tells Fumi to open it, and Fumi instantly recognizes the fragrance of ponzu. However, Fumi understands this ponzu comes with a price, and she’s determined to not be swayed so easily…

Besides, she’s settled on the “Hanamaru-Mark Natural Yuzu Ponzu” brand for the rest of her life.

Tamao: “If that’s the case, then all the more reason...if you think you’re being tricked, give it a taste.”

Fumi gives it a whiff.
“The rich aroma of carefully brewed soy sauce, and the mellow, spreading sourness of citrus--”

Fumi: “Behind that, you can feel a rich flavor of bonito...this is amazing ponzu!”

Tamao: “....don’t mind me.”

Fumi takes a taste and, barely able to contain herself, blossoms at the amazing flavor. “Delicious...the boiled bean sprouts and enoki become a masterwork cuisine….!”

Fumi: “This feast...is a brand-new ponzu feast!”
(Her face😹👌💯)

As Tamao reacts with joy at Fumi’s expression, Fumi calms herself and gets suspicious. “You, this ponzu, where’d you get it from….?”

Tamao: “--’Tomoe Japanese-Style Cuisine’. It’s a traditional ponzu that’s been handed down from generation to generation of head chef.”

Fumi: “Tomoe Japanese-Style Cuisine’....your….”

Tamao: “Regarding part-time work, I made a spot for one person.”

Tamao: “Meal supplies are included, the shifts can be discussed. As for the hourly wage...”

Fumi is shocked and isn’t quite sure what to say at what Tamao is proposing.

Tamao: “This is neither a buyout nor appeasement."

Tamao: “A professional cast lends power in exchange for recompense. Right now, you’re the one I need the most.”

Fumi is impressed with how well-prepared Tamao came this evening, and admits she didn’t think Tamao could be this stubborn. Tamao says that with her back to the wall, she can’t afford to worry about appearances.

But Fumi is worried. She fears that every place she goes is destined to be destroyed. Her job, the stage…
But Tamao is determined. It’s not by any means destroyed. Fired up, Tamao tells her: “Without fail, we’ll take it back...bet your life on it! So, please, Fumi!”

Fumi sees how serious Tamao is--in her eyes, in her voice. Fumi admits that not minding appearances isn’t a bad thing. Convinced, she accepts Tamao’s proposal. “You’re the one who restored the life of a stage girl. Use it however you’d like, Tomoe Tamao!”

The scene switches to a park at night. Tamao mentions that this is where it begins, the beginning of the Rinmeikan Record, and the rebirth of the Acting Department...

Fumi warns her not to expect everything to go as well as this, but Tamao says it will. She has a hunch, just like she had a hunch when she invited Fumi back to the stage…

Tamao thanks Fumi for stepping up to the stage, both for the purpose of protecting Starlight, and now, for the rebirth of the Rinmeikan Record, but Fumi says she’s the one who should be saying thanks…

With this, Fumi dives into the tragic tale of her past. @theatricks has already done an absolutely fantastic job of translating this part, so please read their take on it! Below is the main key art that goes along with this story…

https://twitter.com/theatricks/status/1180250880773373957

@theatricks Tamao is so moved by the tale that she’s not entirely sure what to say.

Before Tamao has time to properly collect her thoughts, Fumi says: “I like it, Tamao.”

(Note: The Japanese is opaque enough that this can be read as “I like you, Tamao” and I think they were definitely going for that play on words here 😹👌)

While Tamao is taken aback in surprise, Fumi continues on: “That sincerity that you put on stage.”

Fumi talks about how the stage is wonderful--how, with Tamao, standing on it wouldn’t be such a bad thing. Tamao is the one who made her think these things--Fumi, who threw aside the stage. Tamao has turned Fumi into a stage girl once again.

With this, we get Fumi’s stage entrance lines:

“An envious heart and a body resorting to escape, climbing again, is a stage of ruin.”

“In those finished days I insert a bookmark, on this new day I go to an endless stage.”

“Rinmeikan Girls’ School Acting Department, Yumeoji Fumi. I sing the praises of the dream of life!"

Fumi: “Please use it, this life. For your dream--the Rinmeikan Record!

Tamao thanks her for being a reliable warrior, and Fumi mentions she’ll see her new employer (Tamao) tomorrow. Tamao mentions that work begins at 5am but includes sufficient ponzu for Fumi to marinate in. Fumi says that's a bit early, but Tamao’s definitely become a lot bolder.

However, Fumi is all in. “I’ll definitely pay back the favor of ponzu and a job! On the stage of the Rinmeikan Record!”

As Tamao and Fumi chuckle conspiratorially amongst themselves, Chapter 4 comes to an end. Who will be the next warrior Tamao recruits for her grand stage of the Rinmeikan Record…?

Now that Fumi’s stage lines have been revealed, I’d like to discuss a little bit about the Yumeoji sisters. Fumi’s stage lines are here below, so let’s take a look at Shiori’s….

https://twitter.com/RinmeikanGranny/status/1181229531446878208

“A protectively wrapped bud blooms, guided by a road of platinum.”

“A letter wet with the emotion of tears, a dream of jade that secretly steps forth.”

“‘Frau Jade’ Yumeoji Shori, together we will conquer the crown of the king!”

In Japanese, Fumi’s name is 文, which means “writing” or “letter.” Shiori’s name is 栞, which means “bookmark.” Their surname, Yumeoji, is 夢大路, which is something like “the big road of dreams”. You’ll notice that both of their stage entrance lines reference each other.

Fumi’s lines say “In those finished days I insert a bookmark,” referencing the fact that Shiori has taken over her mantle at Siegfeld. Meanwhile, Shiori speaks of “a letter wet with the emotion of tears,” referencing the fact that Fumi is wracked with emotion over their parting.

Both also mention dreams, like their surname. Fumi speaks of the “Dream of Life,” likely pointing to the fact that Tamao revived her Life as a stage girl and granted her a new dream. Shiori speaks of a “Dream of Jade,” since that is the title she has now taken up at Siegfeld.

Fumi’s lines also talk about her ruinous departure from Siegfeld and rebirth at Rinmeikan, while Shiori’s lines reference the fact that, no longer in her sister’s shadow, she can bloom with the guidance of Akira (Frau Platin).

And that's that! I'm looking forward to where the story continues from here!

Chapters 5 - 8, which cover Ichie's and Yuyuko's arcs in the Rinmeikan main story, are covered in this thread:

https://twitter.com/RinmeikanGranny/status/1183166586930286594