HtH74 – The Spring Gala Performance: Of Dancing Robots And Visions Of The Future
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The girls watch the Spring Gala Performance, part one!
"Look! The robots are dancing!"
Hikari is pointing out of the window of our teahouse room, pointing at the giant stage shaped like an orange lotus petal below. The girls had gathered here to support their senior, Yukino, who would perform in tonight's Spring Gala Performance!
The third floor teahouse room overlooks the harbor stage, like a circle of exclusive theatre boxes. From here, they had a full view of the performance below; a choreography of dance and martial arts performed by a troupe of black-framed robots, clad in auspicious red and gold vests.
When the troupe does their first synchronized flip, the windowside is bombarded with 'ooohhs', 'ahhhs', and a joyous 'Piaccta wants to try that too!' Mistrál leans ever closer to falling out of the window, amazed by the show of balance, precision and co-ordination!
"Ah... The story being told here..."
While the girls of course are drawn to their counterparts, Eclair's eyes are drawn to the story being told underneath; it told a story of younglings training alongside their robot companions, sometimes as sparring partners, sometime as competitors, and with each impressive routine, the youngsters only seemed to become more excited, showing off their moves alongside their companions---
"Oh no, did he have too much to drink?!" Ablam exclaims, gripping the side of the window!
In the middle of the dance routine, just as a performing robot was raising a wooden gourd above their mouth, it collapsed right on the floor!
The audience gasps!
Three orange-clad performers rush up to the fallen performer, lying flat on its back!
Had a malfunction happened in the live performance?!
"That's a big bump!"
Piaccta is correct! This too, is part of the performance!
The strings performing in the background rise in crescendo, and as if responding to the music, the black-visored performer jolts slightly, coming back to life! When he does, he does so with such force and vitality, doing a single-armed handstand, spinning rapidly with his legs in the air! With a stupendous leap, the performer rights himself back on his feet, to the twirling thumbs-up of the three who came to 'save' him!
(a sigh of relief escapes Lumi's lips)
"So that too... was part of the performance."
"That's a spinaroonie, Lumi! A perfect one!"
Perhaps Piaccta was making up words in her head again! Even though they have no idea what a spinaroonie is, they shared her laughing sentiment!
Near the end, all the actors, robot and human alike, return to center stage; triumphant fanfare plays, and through clever use of bamboo screens, reveal a robotic figure unlike the rest. Though identical in black-visored head and body, she stands tall, double the height of the other robots. Clad in a red fairy's robe, she holds a single peach sword, tassel at the end following her swallow-like movements.
Around her raised platform, each human performer is paired with a robot performer, crossing wrists, practicing stances, and as the final pose is struck, the tall robot performer gracefully puts out an extended palm to her side; her welcoming gesture returned with warmth on her fingers.
"Hah, that's a difficult act to follow up on."
Backstage, behind the bamboo screens, Yukino exhales. As the main host of the event, she felt pride at a job well done. As a performer though... The thumping in her heart told of an emotion beyond anticipation. Soon, the audience would expect something that rivals near perfection.
The closing act is a heavy responsibility indeed.
The robot performers that are now filing in the back are being congratulated by an abnormally tall man in a red cloak. Like a proud parent, he goes up to each of them personally, shaking their hands, passing warmth to human and non-human alike. As she takes in this scene, a stage assistant in fairy robes whispers to her from the side,
"Daiyu, the performance has severely run over time. We might not..."
"It's fine. If we are lucky, we can continue to the end."
"But..."
The stage-assistant looks upwards at the sky. The moon is partially obscured by dark clouds.
There had always been a risk involved, whenever an open-stage performance was concerned.
"That's right, let's see the show to the end."
The voice comes from her side, where a young boy with white hair extends a hand outwards for her.
His dressing elaborate and his copper-green mask swapped out for one more befitting the stage, the two walk side-by-side, past the act before them. The performers make way for the pair, warm encouragement for the last item.
Fingers tighten, wrists are crossed.
What you practiced, is what you perform.
One last time, with no regrets.
