Thread by @RinmeikanGranny

Trust is a currency measured in actions, and not merely by words. Only the most faithful stake their lives on a vision lost to time. In the cycle of death and rebirth, who will be left standing on the other side?

名門、落つ
An Institution's Demise
Rui’s Chapter
Final Chapter

Chapter 9 (Rui’s chapter) begins the following morning at the start of school, near the Rinmeikan gate. Rui gets hounded by girls already asking her what her plans are after school.

First-year girl A: “Today after school, how about meeting up for a cafe tour?”

Before Rui can even answer the first offer, one of the athletic club girls interrupts.

Second-year basketball club girl: “Oops, sorry for the invitation, but...for today, it’s been decided that Akikaze-kun will be coming to observe the girls’ basketball club.”

As first-year student A regretfully wonders if that’s the case, Rui mentions that the second-year student is really just “volunteering” her, and at the same time Rui realizes that she hasn’t spent time with Tamao-senpai since the last time they (unhappily) parted.

As Rui mulls over that fact, a commotion starts up outside and the girls all gaze upward.

Second-year basketball club girl: “Hey, hey, what’s that…? Someone’s up on the school roof doing something?”

As Rui looks up to the rooftop in surprise, a firm, familiar voice trails out across the campus, reciting lines:

“‘You, with a mere five people, how were you planning to prevent the shutdown of the department?’”

Tamao: “‘Without even producing results to convince the adults, someday, someone will do the favor of protecting the acting department...did you honestly think so?’”

Tamao: “Those words pierced a deep part of me.”
“That’s exactly right--spoiled by others, clinging to something, unable to grasp anything by my own strength.”
“That’s right...the stage up until now--”

Tamao: “However--it’s different now!”
“Scattered blossoms bloom again, same as the flowers of the Empress Tree, strong, gentle, beautiful--”
“On the stage they blossom, and on the stage they scatter!”

Tamao: “This, on the final stage--the history of the Rinmeikan Girls' School Acting Department, I will not let it die. This is the evidence of our life--’The New Bloom Rinmeikan Record’ performance begins!”
Rui hears this and is struck with surprise. “New Bloom Rinmeikan Record?”

Second-year girl A: “That’s...Tomoe-san from the former acting department, isn’t it!?”

First-year girl A: “‘The performance begins’... they’re doing a stage on the school rooftop like that!?”

First-year girl B: “But the acting department...it was shut down, right?”

Ukaji-sensei isn’t having any of it, however. She angrily demands to know what the girls are doing--they promised to surrender their classroom today. With mention of the Rinmeikan Record she realizes that they were preparing a stage this whole time--Ukaji-sensei has been tricked.

With this, we begin to see a re-enactment of the events of the previous chapters. The play begins with Tamao recruiting Fumi word-for-word like she did in her earlier chapter. Tamao admits her weaknesses up to now and requests that Fumi lend her her strength, and Fumi obliges.

Meanwhile, on the ground, the other girls and Rui wonder if this is an impromptu Guerrilla Live performance--no, not quite a Guerrilla Live, but rather a Guerrilla Stage, put together by Tamao-senpai...

Next, on the rooftop, we see a re-enactment of Ichie’s chapter, replete with Tamao doing the Dogeza (again) and Ichie acting incredulous about it (again). However, just like in her chapter, she happily offers to join Tamao’s band of theater rogues.

As the crowd builds, the other girls cheer the fact that yet another companion has joined Tamao’s party, and then they look to Rui, curious.
2nd-year girl A: “Hey, Akikaze-san. This… is it maybe--”
Rui: “...Absolutely. It’s a story about the acting department that was shut down”

Next, the Rinmeikan Record tale moves to Yuyuko’s recruitment, where she regales the crowd about what the acting department means to her, how it was a refuge for her interests. As before, she says that a Rinmeikan with no acting department is like Rakugo without a punchline...

Tamao: “In this way, we, as Stage Girls, decided on our resolution to once again step forth.”
“To be reborn anew, and to allow for the resurrection of a new ‘Rinmeikan Record’!”

The crowd gathered on the ground gets swept up in this fiery play. The girls chatter excitedly about the thrill of this performance, how the acting department, despite being shut down, is making splendid use of the roof as a grand stage.

Ukaji-sensei thinks performing on the rooftop is nothing short of absurd, but Rui finds a new flame kindling within:
Rui: “That’s...that’s the Rinmeikan Girls’ School Acting Department...”
“...And, that’s Tomoe Tamao Senpai.”
“That’s right...I’m--”

Rui: “(Standing on stage, my heart stolen by Tamao-senpai’s brilliance--)”
“(Chasing after her, standing at her side…)”
“(I understand it precisely because we couldn’t meet, I understand it precisely because we were apart…)”

Rui: “The place where I exist--!”

Ukaji-sensei: “Ah, where are you going, Akikaze-san!”

Rui: “To the rooftop...to my stage!”

In a fury, Ukaji-sensei demands that Rui stop what she’s doing.
“Stop it, Akikaze-san! What those girls are doing, it’s insubordination against the school’s decision--no, it’s mutiny!”
“Even though you just started working hard in the regular curriculum...you’d throw that away!?”

Rui: “That answer is on that stage..! On that stage with her!”
“The place where I exist, it’s not here! It’s not going to cafes after school, it’s not in days aiming to be Japan’s best in basketball!”

Rui: “For Stage Girls, there’s a stage that dies if it isn’t performed upon now. If that’s true, then I, too--! Tamao-senpai!”

As Rui’s resolution crests in a wave, she cries out to Tamao, who hears her from the rooftop and stops her performance.

As if expecting this moment, Tamao cries back at the top of her voice, beckoning Rui to stand beside her atop this grand stage:

Tamao: “RUI-CHAN--COME!”

Rui answers back “YES!” without hesitation, and as she clambers up to the rooftop, we get her stage entrance lines.

“Embraced by longing for a distant, beautiful jewel, those young days were spent within a sheath”

“Separated, I realize the beginning of my feelings; with the readiness of a drawn sword, come, I must run upward.”

“Rinmeikan Girls’ School Acting Department, Akikaze Rui! The whereabouts of my life, I’ll find it on this stage!”

Having reached the rooftop, Rui apologizes to Tamao for being late, and then upon spotting Yuyuko, she asks why she didn’t call for her.

Yuyuko: “There are some circumstances that are unavoidable...here, have this.”

Rui: “Eh…? The ‘New Bloom Rinmeikan Record’ script?”

Tamao: “Rui-chan, go to page 22!”

Rui: “Page 22...Act 2, Scene 3 ‘Rui, who comes and leaps onto the stage’ !?”
“T-this...you knew? That I’d return to the stage?”

Ichie jumps in to explain who was behind that decision: “That’s right. Tamao and Yuyuko were like, ‘she’ll definitely come’☆”

As Rui expresses her joy for Tamao and Yuyuko, Tamao smiles in relief. “With this, everyone is here.”

But from the ground, Ukaji-sensei rages:
“That’s no good, Akikaze-san...no good!! Tomoe-san has trampled on you...trampled on your feelings!”
“The Rinmeikan Record’s fate is to disappear! Disappear, despite fate!”
“Since it’s come to this...KOROSU! ELIMINATE THOSE STAGE GIRLS!”

As Korosu appear on the school grounds, the girls find themselves in their Revue outfits. While Yuyuko asks why Korosu have appeared within the school, Tamao braces for battle:

“Whoever comes...our ‘Rinmeikan Record’ will not end! I will not allow the curtain to be lowered!”

The chapter comes to a close as the Rinmeikan Girls’ School Acting Department prepares to fight on their final stage.

Tamao: “Come, the curtain rises on the final chapter!”

Before we move onto the final 3 chapters of the Rinmeikan story, I wanted to take a moment to discuss Rui's stage entrance lines, which flat-out revolve around Tamao:

https://twitter.com/RinmeikanGranny/status/1188996744664813568

Tamao's first name in Japanese is 珠緒. Taken separately, these Kanji are 珠, which is something like a Pearl, Gem, or Bead, and 緒, which can mean a Thread, String, or a Beginning.

When Rui says she's overcome with longing for a beautiful jewel (美珠), she means Tamao.

Likewise, when Rui talks about noticing the beginning of her feelings (想いの緒), it's referencing the second Kanji of Tamao's name--and, likewise, Tamao is the origin of Rui's awakening as a Stage Girl.

Bonus: the Sword/Sheath part is an obvious reference to Rui's Kendo.

Blessed Akikaze Rui hours thread 🙏

https://twitter.com/RinmeikanGranny/status/1189034235501469696

Chapter 10 begins with Rinmeikan in the midst of battle. As Korosu flood into the training room, Yuyuko and Ichie urge Tamao and the others to push forward. The two of them will hold the line here.

Yuyuko: “Tamao-senpai, don’t worry about us! Please don’t stop the stage!”

The two of them entrust Tamao to Fumi and Rui and urge them forth.

Yuyuko: “Rui...diligently, protect Tamao-senpai.”

Fumi and Rui take this responsibility with utmost seriousness, and depart with Tamao.

Meanwhile, Yuyuko muses on the fact that she’s performing on such a big stage together with just her and Ichie. Upon reflection, Yuyuko realizes she’s never done something like this before.

Ichie likes it, though.

Ichie: “Even within things that end, there are things that begin. That sort of thing is the ‘Rinmeikan Record’, isn’t it ☆”

Yuyuko: “Strange...today, Ichie-san really seems like a senpai.”

Ichie: “I’m in perfect form today! And it’s not going to end~!”

With this, Ichie and then Yuyuko both say their stage entrance lines, and then together they engage in battle against the Korosu.

By this time, Tamao and the others have reached the upper floors of the school.

Tamao: “Ancient times, the Heian, Kamakura, Muromachi, Sengoku, Bakumatsu--the soul of the stage continues, unbroken, even into the modern age!”

Tamao: “I want to protect that! To protect, to inherit, to tell, that’s why I’m on this stage!”
“I will not allow you to slay it! Even if I have to give up the life of a stage girl, my life, in exchange!”

Ukaji-sensei approaches Tamao and the others with her Korosu.

Ukaji-sensei: “No, the ‘Rinmeikan Record’ dies here. All of you, together with the acting department--”

Rui interjects, and Ukaji-sensei focuses her rage on her.

Ukaji-sensei: “Akikaze Rui...Why don’t you understand? Tomoe Tamao...”
“Your cherished days...your sweetly childish days, she cut them down and threw them away, that girl!”

Rui’s not about to take any of it, however.
“You’re wrong!”
“Certainly, those were naive, young days--”
“However, precisely because I had those days, through the pain of losing something, I was able to get the determination to rise up!”

Rui: “Through injury, collapse, failure, I am reborn anew into something better. That itself is the real Stage of the Rinmeikan Girls’ School Acting Department!!”

Rui: “Those days, and those hours, I embrace it all within my chest and move forward! That’s the answer that I’ve found—”
“The place where I stand is this stage!”

Ukaji-sensei is rendered speechless by this.

Fumi is impressed.

Fumi: “Fufu, you’ve reached the point where you can say that, Rui!”

Rui: “It’s thanks to the training I received from you, Fumi-senpai”

Fumi: “The days when we crossed swords in practice for ‘Onikurenai’s Ninja Scroll’..you’ve been growing better by the day”

Rui: “This, too, is thanks to a master”

Fumi: “In that role you were the teacher, though. ...Fufu, you’ve become a bigshot”
“Well then, the way of life of a Shinobi and a Samurai...no, a Stage Girl’s way of life--let’s show them, shall we?”

Rui: “Yes!”

As Fumi and Rui brace themselves for battle against Ukaji-sensei and her Korosu, they each say their respective stage entrance lines again.

Worried, Tamao calls out to Rui and Fumi, but they tell her to keep going.

Fumi: “We’ll clear a path for you! Tamao, if you can barricade yourself in a classroom--”
“Continue the stage!”

Rui: “Tamao-senpai! Leave this to us!”

Tamao accepts their help and runs off. Ukaji-sensei, furious, screams at Tamao to wait, but Fumi and Rui block off her path.

Rui: “Sensei, your opponent is us!”

Fumi: “Our ‘Rinmeikan Record’--we won’t let you get in the way!”

Meanwhile, as the entire school building rattles with the sounds of fighting, the students still gathered outside wonder what in the world is going on. One of the second-year students points to the acting department classroom...

Battered and bruised, Tamao shuts herself in the acting department classroom, bathed in a light with the tint of blood.

Tamao: “That, a flame unknown when it was lit--”
“However, certainly, a bud blooming, a flower stretching large”
“This flower does not burn. This flame does not wither—”
“Even if here we exhaust all our strength, surely any number of times we will be resurrected”

Tamao: “Together with this stage dress carved by 100 years of history—”
“Like Rinmeikan’s symbol--the flower of the Empress Tree, and the acting department’s symbol--the ‘Rinmeikan Record’!”

Tamao: “The undying life exists not within eternity
The unending play is, too, like a dream
If a fate burns fleetingly
It does not carve the stage, a moment’s flicker
Rinmeikan Girls’ School Acting Department, Tomoe Tamao
With dignity I bloom until the end of my life!”

Tamao: “No matter who, our stage cannot be stopped—”
“When the stage ends--that, too, is the moment when our life ends!”
“Because that’s what it means to live on the stage!”

Outside, the students point to the school building, or rather the stage, which has started to collapse…

At this, Tamao appears:
“For coming today to the Rinmeikan Girls’ School Acting Department’s ‘New Bloom Rinmeikan Record’, sincerely, thank you very much!!”

The curtain falls, and the chapter closes with the credits for the Rinmeikan Record Re LIVE:

-Appearance-
[Lead] Tomoe Tamao

Otonashi Ichie
Yumeoji Fumi
Akikaze Rui
Tanaka Yuyuko