A3! Event Story Summary:Ā TRY! A Brilliant Stage Collaboration
And without much further ado, a fairly detailed summary (almost reads like a translation) of the event story for the A3! x I-Chu collaboration. Enjoy!
Episode 1
The scene opens in the dorm living room, with everyone marveling at something on TV. The Director wonders what all the hubbub is about, and Muku explains that a music program is on, featuring āi-chuā. Yuki elaborates that itās short for āIdols-in-training.ā Taichi and Muku in particular are captivated and want to try it themselves, but Yuki doesnāt seem convinced that singing and dancing are in their field, which Azuma and Sakyo refute. The latter in particular emphasizes how pervasive song and dance are in theater even outside of musicals (and how nobody should expect to put on a half-assed show). Masumi is as usual preoccupied with earning all of the Directorās attentions, even if it means becoming an idol himself.
Later, as the director is explaining Sakyoās thoughts to Itaru, Tasuku, and Tsumugi, Taichi and Yuki head out shopping for costume materials. As they leave, the remaining adult crew mention offhand that Sakuya and Masumi, and Homare and Hisoka went out together too.
Episode 2
Sakuya and Masumi are out on the town for none other than scoping out potential date spots (curry restaurants) for Masumi to take the Director to. They set off for a curry restaurant after Sakuya gets over his bewilderment of how crowded the streets are.
Meanwhile, Homare seems to have lost track of their original goal of buying marshmallows and composes poetry instead, much to Hisokaās dismay. Just when Homare is back on task, Hisoka chases after a cat and disappears, Homare in pursuit.
After already having some shopping done, Taichi and Yuki consider going to a newly opened store. Taichi is confident he knows the one and insists on leading the wayā Yuki relents, figuring anyone who isnāt Tenma should have a decent sense of direction.
All three groups end up losing their ways and find each other in front ofā¦?
Episode 3
Everyone does a quick recap on how they ended up here, and try to make sense of their location. Homare remarks the building looks like a school, but before they can figure out where exactly they are, Hisoka once again gives chase to the cat and enters inside. Fearing getting booked for trespassing, the remaining MANKAI members go off to try and catch him.
Hisoka (and the cat) are finally secured, but it isnāt long before they are noticed by Seiya Aido, who had been practicing his singing in the area. Seiya mistakes them for new students, but Sakuya and Taichi are quick to clear up the situation. However, as they make to leave, a lightbulb goes off in Seiyaās head and he brings everyone along to a practice studio.
When they arrive, Seiya explains to the students already practicing inside that heās brought the theater company members to tutor them on the skit theyāll be doing in their upcoming performance.
Episode 4
After Seiya clarifies that the name of the institution is āEtoile Vio Schoolā, each idol-in-training introduces themselves with their personal names and the names of their units. The stark similarities between some of the i-chu boys and the MANKAI boys become readily apparent.
Seiya reiterates that heād like for the theater company members to teach them a little acting for the skit in their upcoming live performance, since none of them have any acting experience. Although hesitant at first, given that the gig comes with no strings attached and would probably get them off the hook for trespassing, the MANKAI boys agree with the proposal.
MANKAI put on a quick skit of an idol group at practice, where Yuki is apparently the weakest link and keeps making mistakes. Homare is especially critical, to which Masumi is in agreement, whereas the others try to be supportive. Yuki almost threatens to quit because heās holding everyone back, but Hisoka (presumably the leader of the group) absolutely wonāt have it, and insists that theyāve achieved this success precisely because they all worked together. Everyone makes up, and the practice session continues.
After the demonstration, the actors explain that whatās important in these kinds of performances, among other things, is knowing your fellow performers and considering how you are going to react next, but it should not be obvious to the audience that youāre thinking on your feet.
Taking the advice into consideration, the idols-in-training give the skit a shot.
Episode 5
The scene opens with Kokoro and Seiya acting out a scene, only to be interrupted by Seiyaās flubbing his lines. The actors say their synergy has at least improved since their first attempt, and that itās good to see progress. Masumi is led to reminisce about how awkward Sakuya was in the beginning.
The remaining characters give some more comments regarding the art of acting (i.e. how there are no do-overs, or how fellow actors can cover for your mistakes, etc.).
Grateful for their advice, Seiya puts out the idea of doing something as thanks for the actorsā teachings, to which the other i-chus are in agreement. Although most of the MANKAI boys are hesitant, Masumi and Hisoka are ready with their requests of a curry recipe (for the Director, of course) and 10 yearsā worth of marshmallows respectively.
In a more practical approach, as a result of recalling Sakyoās comment about the possibility of singing and dancing on stage, Sakuya asks if they could teach them their idol performance skills.
Just when Seiya and Kokoro agree, school principal Mr. Bear makes an appearance. Having overheard the conversation, the stuffed animal of an administrator suggests that the best way to learn how to be an idol is to actually get up on stage as one, and insists the actors participate in the upcoming program.
Episode 6
Mr. Bear explains that he was looking for an opening act for the i-chu performance, and that this arrangement between idols-in-training and actors would work out just perfectly. He gives permission for them to enter the school for practice sessions leading up to the performance.
At present, Kokoro and Yuki work on dancing while Ban and Taichi look on in the pratice room. Seiya, Saku, Sakuya, and Masumi are out in the courtyard, although their break time descends into a pity party for Masumi and Saku both missing their respective Director/Producer. Hikaru and Homare are in the gym doing vocal exercises, while Hisoka and Mutsuki hit the hayā but wake up to start rehearsal for the main event.
Episode 7
The scene opens in the Etoile practice room, with Seiya commenting that after just a few days the actors are now able to dance on an individual level. This session will be their first time dancing as a group.
Kokoro gives Yuki a passing mark, Ban comments on Taichi standing out too much, Saku has concerns about Masumiās lack of enthusiasm, Hikaru praises Homareās Shakespearean voice, but Mutsuki reminds him to keep pace with the dance moves. Meanwhile, Hikaru mentions to Hisoka that he gets a bit complacent with his moves because of his good coordination and should thus should focus more on each motion. As for Sakuya and his lack of confidence, Seiya encourages him to keep his chin up and remember that heās in the center along with Yuki.
After the critiques, Mr. Bear passes by and stays to inspect the groupās progress. After their second attempt at performing as a group, the principal expresses reservations about having them perform on stage, providing similar critiques as the other idol students. He is especially harsh on Sakuya, questioning if he truly understands the level heās performing at.
Episode 8
Seiya finds Sakuya in low spirits out in the courtyard, the latter questioning if he should even go out on stage at all. Seiya reminds him that being in the center means you can rely on everyone around you, and thatās why he enjoys it. He still has his doubts too, of course, and there was even a time he couldnāt consult with his friends about somethingā when the person who inspired him to become an idol, Tsubaki, told him that he had no sense of self, that he needed to find his personality. Keeping it to himself brought him and his friends down, but they were also the ones that brought him out of the rut, and now heās doing great.
Sakuya recalls the reason why he wanted to be an actor (that pirate play he saw in grade school) and the concept of āThe Show must go onā. He realizes that even though theyāre just actors-in-training, they have the rare opportunity to open for i-chu, and so he wants to work hard as the center. With his new resolve, Sakuya and Seiya follow Yuki and Ban back in for practice.
Episode 9
Itās almost showtime, and Taichi and Homare have their nerves quelled by Hikaru and everyone enjoys a lively discussion about the costumes.
Shortly after, the program begins with Seiya introducing their guest performers. After the formalities, the MANKAI performance startsā only for the music to cut out suddenly. The idols-in-training are ready to suspend the performance and wait in the wings, but Sakuya goes all-out and starts going a cappella. He encourages the audience to join in, with Homare and Hisoka quick to back him up on vocals. Yuki leads the choreography with Taichi and Masumi backing up. The music finally comes back on, and the performance goes on full throttle, earning solid praise from the audience and the i-chu themselves.
Now itās the idolsā turnā¦
Episode 10
The guest performers are enraptured by the quality of the real deal. For the last song of the night, Seiya and the others invite the MANKAI boys to join in as well, and they all go out with a bang.
Afterwards, congratulations ensue backstage among all performers involved. The i-chu performers were especially moved by the actorsā quick-thinking when the music went outā the same problem actually happened to them when they were first starting out their idol training.
The character pairs say their respective goodbyes, most of them promising to keep in contact. In particular, Seiya has to have Sakuya re-teach him āThe Show must go onā mantra again after fudging it, after which Sakuya praises their amazing performance and how it inspires him to want to act ASAP. Seiya promises to go see him perform one day.
EPILOGUE
Back at the MANKAI dorm, the boys enjoy a post-performance meal. Taichi raves about how well the performance went to Sakyo and Kazu, also praising Yukiās rush costuming job. Yuki mentions there being a Masumi-level āpsycho stalkerā among the i-chu, to which Itaru congratulates Masumi on finding a friend, although Masumi doesnāt think of him as a friend. Homare was extremely pleased with Hikaru, and also comments how happy Hisoka seeemed in finding a friend in Mutsukiā worrying Tasuku that there were more of their kind out there.
After they reminisce about how well it all went, especially Sakuyaās a cappella save, Sakyo wonders if this means theyāre ready to do a production with singing and dancing anytimeā although itās just a idea.
Seiyaās i-chu unit is heard on the television, and at the closing part of his speech Seiya quotes Sakuyaās mantra.
āThe Show must go on.ā
As long as it is, this was remarkably faster than a full translation, so I will likely continue to post these until the translation gap can be filled. Stay tuned!