That was great, you guys!
Our morning practice was so wonderhoy!
Yes, it was.
I thought the scenes with your canary were particularly notable, Nene!
You've captured your character's namesake cowardly nature very well!
Yeah, I thought so too!
The director always looks really grumpy, but he said your acting wasn't bad!
Staying up at night to practice seems to have been worth it.
...
Nene...
Is what he said about your singing bothering you...?
I was really happy when he praised my acting...
I knew that my acting still needed a lot of work and had to do my best as I practiced moving forward...
But I felt that I was able to produce some results today because all of you helped and gave me pointers.
It felt that way until...
Until I was told that my singing just “simply won't do”. That was a huge shock...
Nene...
I bet it was...
You sang so beautifully, Nene...
And you've been putting more effort into this show than any we've done before.
Yeah...
I think I was feeling more confident about my singing than I realized...
That might've been why I was expecting to receive more comments about my acting compared to my singing...
I mean, I practiced my singing.
But if someone asked if I worked just as hard on it as I did with my acting, then probably not.
Even so, I'm practicing harder than I ever have for the real thing. But still...
Was I really that bad...?
(I've been worried ever since then...)
(Yes, I took a break for a while...
But I still should have more stage experience than most people my age.)
(And yet...)
(With each performance, Tsukasa just keeps getting better and better. Before I realized it, we were pretty much on the same level.)
(But that also has to do with me having a lot of confidence in my singing...)
You've proven that you may be worthy of being our rivals. But you'll need to maintain this standard for your next show!
(Seiryuin specifically acknowledged me for my singing. I became convinced that I was good at something. That I had talent...)
(Even though my acting still leaves a lot to be desired, I was sure that my singing would more than allow me to keep up with those two...)
(Maybe a little too sure...)
(But...)
As for your singing, it simply won't do at this rate.
(I have to do something...)
(Because if I don't, my canary won't come to life. Not only that...)
(My dream of becoming...)
Nene, are you okay?
...
I don't wanna put on a half-baked performance...
What?
Emu's right.
To me, singing means everything...
It was the one thing I thought I was good at. My only talent. So...
So...
I need to figure out something before the show...
I have to find a solution...
A way to really sing like a canary...!
Nene...
(My acting is at best average.)
(I'm keenly aware of that fact.
Which is why I've been working so hard on other things to make up for it. Still...)
(My singing...)
(I don't wanna lose to anyone there. So...)
(I have to do everything I can.)
Sorry, you guys!
Wait, Nene, where are you going...?
E-Excuse me, sir... I apologize for disturbing you during your break! I was hoping to discuss what you told me just now...
When you said my singing “sticks out”, what did you mean exactly?
She certainly seems motivated...
Yes, she does.
However, it is nice to have someone comment on her singing.
To be honest, I don't really know how to criticize someone's singing since I'm not all that knowledgeable.
That's understandable. If anything, Nene was essentially our troupe's singing instructor.
I mean, she's easily the best singer out of all of us!
Very true. But the Phoenix Stage places an emphasis on both singing and acting...
Unlike when we put on shows by ourselves, we have an opportunity to work with some experts.
It's a chance to learn things that we normally wouldn't.
Oh...
Nene stands to grow quite a bit through this show.
Yeah...
Nene has been practicing super-duper hard for this show.
Which means she's gonna sing really, really, reeaally amazing during the show and become an extra special Nene!
Yes...
We can only provide her with some words of encouragement, but let's help her however we can. Then...
We can look forward to hearing just how much more beautiful the Cowardly Canary's birdsong will become!
Yeah!
Okay, let's begin our afternoon practice.
Let's pick up from where we left off. The scene by the lake...
(I'm glad I was able to talk with the director during our break.)
(Still...)
Frankly, Kusanagi, you're just not seeing the big picture for this show.
The big picture...?
As I mentioned earlier, your singing sticks out.
If it were you singing alone up there on stage, Kusanagi, you would undoubtedly be able to put on a moving performance.
However, it would not be as the Cowardly Canary...
But as Nene Kusanagi.
...
Unless you change the way you sing, the scene where the canary sings will not be a scene from “The Happy Phoenix” but your own personal recital.
Wait, what you're saying is...
The way I sing could end up completely ruining our show...?
Precisely.
This isn't going to be an easy problem to solve since it will likely involve breaking some old habits.
However, becoming aware of such habits is difficult. For as long as you remember, they were probably what your mind considered “normal” or “right”.
This process can take quite a toll...
But if you wish to keep moving forward, you'll need to start by figuring out what your habits are.
(I never thought to see things from that sort of perspective until now. I always thought that my singing style suited me really well...)
(But...)
However, becoming aware of such habits is difficult. For as long as you remember, they were probably what your mind considered “normal” or “right”.
(If the way I sing now may ruin the show, then...)
Oh, they're starting.
I can't wait to see the scene with the Great Eagle.
Yeah, me neither.
Huh...?
“Now, my friends, hear me sing.
Your eyes shall glimmer with hope as I bestow upon you the courage to rise!”
“And dance up a storm!
Until the gloomy shroud over this forest is lifted!”
“♪————~~!”
...!