Phoenix Stage 
Phoenix Stage
Yuka
This place is packed. It really feels like a big anniversary show.
Yuka: This place is packed. It really feels like a big anniversary show.
Seiichi
Yeah, it does. But this also feels so strange...
Seiichi: Yeah, it does. But this also feels so strange...
Seiichi
Who would've thought that the first show I'd see in Japan after all this time would be "The Happy Phoenix."
Seiichi: Who would've thought that the first show I'd see in Japan after all this time would be "The Happy Phoenix."
Yuka
Haha. Small world, huh?
Yuka: Haha. Small world, huh?
Yuka
At the same time, the cast must be feeling the pressure. I mean, Amami, I have to think they know you're here.
Yuka: At the same time, the cast must be feeling the pressure. I mean, Amami, I have to think they know you're here.
Seiichi
Speak for yourself. Also...
Seiichi: Speak for yourself. Also...
Seiichi
Anyone who buckles under this sort of pressure really doesn't belong on stage in the first place.
Seiichi: Anyone who buckles under this sort of pressure really doesn't belong on stage in the first place.
Seiichi
All audience members are on equal footing. It doesn't matter if you're a king or a starving student.
Seiichi: All audience members are on equal footing. It doesn't matter if you're a king or a starving student.
Seiichi
We're no exception...
Seiichi: We're no exception...
Seiichi
As such, I believe actors who lose sight of that fact don't belong on stage.
Seiichi: As such, I believe actors who lose sight of that fact don't belong on stage.
Yuka
Hehe. You and your stubborn stage philosophy. Still...
Yuka: Hehe. You and your stubborn stage philosophy. Still...
Yuka: I hope you're right.
Yuka: Break a leg, Nene.
Western Forest Swallow
"Hey, do any of you know about the really beautiful bird living deep within this forest?!"
Western Forest Swallow: "Hey, do any of you know about the really beautiful bird living deep within this forest?!"
Western Forest Swallow
"There's no one like her in the western forest. I wish there were a way for me to talk to her."
Western Forest Swallow: "There's no one like her in the western forest. I wish there were a way for me to talk to her."
Eccentric Crow
"Do you speak of the phoenix? You poor fool. She may look ravishing, but her heart is made of ice..."
Eccentric Crow: "Do you speak of the phoenix? You poor fool. She may look ravishing, but her heart is made of ice..."
Featherbrained Duck
"Oh, Swallow, that's right. It's only been two days since you came to this forest... Or was it a week? I forget..."
Featherbrained Duck: "Oh, Swallow, that's right. It's only been two days since you came to this forest... Or was it a week? I forget..."
Gossiping Starling
"Regardless, allow me to tell you all about her. She's..."
Gossiping Starling: "Regardless, allow me to tell you all about her. She's..."
Birds: "♪————"
Yuka
(Their singing and acting is stupendous. I suppose they're nationally-renowned cast for a reason...)
Yuka: (Their singing and acting is stupendous. I suppose they're nationally-renowned cast for a reason...)
Yuka
(But the meat of this show involves...)
Yuka: (But the meat of this show involves...)
Phoenix
"That creature over there looks unfamiliar. So small and helpless... How repulsive."
Phoenix: "That creature over there looks unfamiliar. So small and helpless... How repulsive."
Phoenix
"It must be a human. A child at that."
Phoenix: "It must be a human. A child at that."
Phoenix
"My hate for it knows no bounds."
Phoenix: "My hate for it knows no bounds."
Phoenix: "♪————"
Yuka
(She was so little when I performed alongside her, but she definitely had this spark... Still, I never thought that she'd blossom like this so soon...!)
Yuka: (She was so little when I performed alongside her, but she definitely had this spark... Still, I never thought that she'd blossom like this so soon...!)
Yuka
(There's no question that she's the future of show business. I can see why Nene was so anxious...)
Yuka: (There's no question that she's the future of show business. I can see why Nene was so anxious...)
Yuka
(But you also have some tricks up your sleeve now...)
Yuka: (But you also have some tricks up your sleeve now...)
Yuka
(So, show me what you've got!)
Yuka: (So, show me what you've got!)
Rio
"Wait, please... Phoenix!"
Rio: "Wait, please... Phoenix!"
Rui
The phoenix leaves Rio far behind and them becoming separated marks the end of the first act...
Rui: The phoenix leaves Rio far behind and them becoming separated marks the end of the first act...
Emu: Yeah, which means...
Emu
The next scene's where Nene and Tsukasa meet for the very first time! I can't wait to hear her sing!
Emu: The next scene's where Nene and Tsukasa meet for the very first time! I can't wait to hear her sing!
Rui: Yes, me neither.
Nene: ...
Rui
(She's more focused that usual. We probably shouldn't do anything to break her concentration.)
Rui: (She's more focused that usual. We probably shouldn't do anything to break her concentration.)
Rui
(In any case, we shall see what she's gained over this short period and how she performs...)
Rui: (In any case, we shall see what she's gained over this short period and how she performs...)
Rui
We'll be on the edge of our seats...
Rui: We'll be on the edge of our seats...
Rio
"No, I lost her again..."
Rio: "No, I lost her again..."
Rio
"At this rate, I'm never going to catch up to her, let alone capture her..."
Rio: "At this rate, I'm never going to catch up to her, let alone capture her..."
Rio
"*Sigh* If only I had wings like her..."
Rio: "*Sigh* If only I had wings like her..."
Emu
Oh, that's Nene's cue...
Emu: Oh, that's Nene's cue...
Rui
(The Cowardly Canary's personality involves "speaking through song". Thus, her first line on stage it not spoken but sung.)
Rui: (The Cowardly Canary's personality involves "speaking through song". Thus, her first line on stage it not spoken but sung.)
Rui
(Starting by humming. Then, she slowly transitions to singing...)
Rui: (Starting by humming. Then, she slowly transitions to singing...)
Rui
(Which reaches Rio's ears...)
Rui: (Which reaches Rio's ears...)
Cowardly Canary: "♪————"
Emu
She sounds totally different compared to before...!
Emu: She sounds totally different compared to before...!
Rui
Yes, her tone's much lower.
Rui: Yes, her tone's much lower.
Rui
(It's normal for anyone to believe that a canary would sing in a high pitch based on its natural size.)
Rui: (It's normal for anyone to believe that a canary would sing in a high pitch based on its natural size.)
Rui
(Nene initially went with that image during our practices it seems.)
Rui: (Nene initially went with that image during our practices it seems.)
Rui
(But she's lowered her tone... Is it to conserve stamina? She likely won't have any trouble getting through this song now...)
Rui: (But she's lowered her tone... Is it to conserve stamina? She likely won't have any trouble getting through this song now...)
Rio
"Who's singing? Is it that bird...?"
Rio: "Who's singing? Is it that bird...?"
Rio
"What a beautiful voice... I'd like to hear it more up close..."
Rio: "What a beautiful voice... I'd like to hear it more up close..."
Cowardly Canary
"♪————..."
Cowardly Canary: "♪————..."
Cowardly Canary
"H-Huh?! Who's there...?!"
Cowardly Canary: "H-Huh?! Who's there...?!"
Rui: That felt...
Emu
How did she do that? Her line matched her singing so perfectly just now!
Emu: How did she do that? Her line matched her singing so perfectly just now!
Rui: Yes, it did...
Rui
So, when the director said her singing "sticks out", he meant that her acting and singing felt completely disconnected from one another.
Rui: So, when the director said her singing "sticks out", he meant that her acting and singing felt completely disconnected from one another.
Rui
She's thrown aside singing in a high pitch like a real bird and went with something closer to her regular voice.
Rui: She's thrown aside singing in a high pitch like a real bird and went with something closer to her regular voice.
Rui
A brave decision on her part... As a result, her singing and acting are meshing together much nicer compared to when she was trying to "become a canary".
Rui: A brave decision on her part... As a result, her singing and acting are meshing together much nicer compared to when she was trying to "become a canary".
Rui
Now, she sounds like a real canary that "speaks through song".
Rui: Now, she sounds like a real canary that "speaks through song".
Emu: Yeah...
Emu
I really like this version of her... And she looks like she's having so much fun...
Emu: I really like this version of her... And she looks like she's having so much fun...
Emu
This is Nene's Cowardly Canary...
Emu: This is Nene's Cowardly Canary...
Cowardly Canary
"U-Umm... Thank you for praising my singing."
Cowardly Canary: "U-Umm... Thank you for praising my singing."
Cowardly Canary
"I really love to sing... I mean, it's how I communicate."
Cowardly Canary: "I really love to sing... I mean, it's how I communicate."
Cowardly Canary
"No, it might be more than that... Unfortunately, I'm not very good at talking to other people..."
Cowardly Canary: "No, it might be more than that... Unfortunately, I'm not very good at talking to other people..."
Cowardly Canary
"But since you said that you enjoyed my song so much, I wouldn't mind singing another one for you..."
Cowardly Canary: "But since you said that you enjoyed my song so much, I wouldn't mind singing another one for you..."
Cowardly Canary
"It's been so long since someone last heard me sing..."
Cowardly Canary: "It's been so long since someone last heard me sing..."
Yuka
(Good. Her training seems to be paying off...)
Yuka: (Good. Her training seems to be paying off...)
Yuka
(If she can keep this up, that other scene should be...)
Yuka: (If she can keep this up, that other scene should be...)
Rio: "Phoenix...?"
Rio
"Wh-Why did you come back...?"
Rio: "Wh-Why did you come back...?"
Rui
(Here comes the climax... Rio thought he'd never see the phoenix again after she dropped a feather for him to use to recover.)
Rui: (Here comes the climax... Rio thought he'd never see the phoenix again after she dropped a feather for him to use to recover.)
Rui
(But his mother only has until sunset, which is just moments away. The phoenix appearing before Rio once more out of her own volition means...)
Rui: (But his mother only has until sunset, which is just moments away. The phoenix appearing before Rio once more out of her own volition means...)
Phoenix
"It is true that I wished to continue living. However, I also enjoyed these past few days we spent together..."
Phoenix: "It is true that I wished to continue living. However, I also enjoyed these past few days we spent together..."
Rio
"You enjoyed spending time with me...?"
Rio: "You enjoyed spending time with me...?"
Phoenix
"No, that is not quite correct... To be more precise, I enjoyed laughing and frolicking with you."
Phoenix: "No, that is not quite correct... To be more precise, I enjoyed laughing and frolicking with you."
Phoenix
"However, if you lose your mother, that smile of yours will surely vanish along with her. If that were to happen..."
Phoenix: "However, if you lose your mother, that smile of yours will surely vanish along with her. If that were to happen..."
Phoenix
"I would deeply regret not giving you my heart."
Phoenix: "I would deeply regret not giving you my heart."
Rio: "Phoenix..."
Phoenix
"Which is why... I have decided that it is not worth living if it means you will no longer smile."
Phoenix: "Which is why... I have decided that it is not worth living if it means you will no longer smile."
Phoenix
"So, take this knife... Plunge it into me and take my heart."
Phoenix: "So, take this knife... Plunge it into me and take my heart."
Rio: "B-But... I... Um..."
Phoenix
"Hehe... You truly are a weak, little coward."
Phoenix: "Hehe... You truly are a weak, little coward."
Phoenix
"However, I shall leave you with some parting words."
Phoenix: "However, I shall leave you with some parting words."
Phoenix
"Becoming friends with you filled me with so much joy..."
Phoenix: "Becoming friends with you filled me with so much joy..."
Rio: "...!"
Rio
"Wh-Why...? Really? Now...?"
Rio: "Wh-Why...? Really? Now...?"
Rio
"What am I supposed to do...?! How do you expect me to...?!"
Rio: "What am I supposed to do...?! How do you expect me to...?!"
Emu
I can feel Rio's pain wrapping itself around my heart...
Emu: I can feel Rio's pain wrapping itself around my heart...
Rui
Me too... Seiryuin's also putting on a tremendous performance. Her voice and facial expressions are so captivating...
Rui: Me too... Seiryuin's also putting on a tremendous performance. Her voice and facial expressions are so captivating...
Rui
(These two really are something else. They're the protagonists in every sense of the word.)
Rui: (These two really are something else. They're the protagonists in every sense of the word.)
Rui
(However, one person must bring them together.)
Rui: (However, one person must bring them together.)
Rui
(This is a key moment in the story... A perfect performance will be required to compel these two to come to an agreement.)
Rui: (This is a key moment in the story... A perfect performance will be required to compel these two to come to an agreement.)
Rui
(So, we shall see how this plays out...)
Rui: (So, we shall see how this plays out...)
Rio
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, Phoenix..."
Rio: "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, Phoenix..."
Rio
"For my mom's sake... I... I...!"
Rio: "For my mom's sake... I... I...!"
Cowardly Canary
"W-Wait...!"
Cowardly Canary: "W-Wait...!"
Cowardly Canary
"Please, wait...! Stop, you two...!"
Cowardly Canary: "Please, wait...! Stop, you two...!"
Phoenix
"Fear not, Rio..."
Phoenix: "Fear not, Rio..."
Phoenix
"I do not fear death for I am a majestic phoenix..."
Phoenix: "I do not fear death for I am a majestic phoenix..."
Cowardly Canary: "..."
Cowardly Canary
"I... I have to tell them... They don't need a phoenix's heart to cure Rio's mother of her curse..."
Cowardly Canary: "I... I have to tell them... They don't need a phoenix's heart to cure Rio's mother of her curse..."
Cowardly Canary: "But..."
Cowardly Canary
"My voice... I'm so scared..."
Cowardly Canary: "My voice... I'm so scared..."
Witch
"So, you have figured out my secret... But if you tell those two, your life is forfeit!"
Witch: "So, you have figured out my secret... But if you tell those two, your life is forfeit!"
Cowardly Canary
"I-If I tell them... She'll take my life... But... But..."
Cowardly Canary: "I-If I tell them... She'll take my life... But... But..."
Cowardly Canary
"Rio said that he likes my singing... He became friends with me even though I'm afraid of just about everything..."
Cowardly Canary: "Rio said that he likes my singing... He became friends with me even though I'm afraid of just about everything..."
Cowardly Canary
"So, I... I don't want him to feel sad... I don't want him to stab Phoenix... I don't want him to stab his friend...!"
Cowardly Canary: "So, I... I don't want him to feel sad... I don't want him to stab Phoenix... I don't want him to stab his friend...!"
Cowardly Canary
"I have to stop them... I'll never forgive myself if I don't."
Cowardly Canary: "I have to stop them... I'll never forgive myself if I don't."
Cowardly Canary
"But just telling them isn't going to work... No, I can sing to them..."
Cowardly Canary: "But just telling them isn't going to work... No, I can sing to them..."
Cowardly Canary
"With this song!"
Cowardly Canary: "With this song!"
Cowardly Canary
"♪————~~!!!"
Cowardly Canary: "♪————~~!!!"
Emu: Nene...!
Rui
(Her voice... It's going straight for my heart as it leaves her mouth, and I can feel her desperation so clearly...)
Rui: (Her voice... It's going straight for my heart as it leaves her mouth, and I can feel her desperation so clearly...)
Rui
I had no idea she could sing like this...
Rui: I had no idea she could sing like this...
Yuka
(She's overcome all of the walls she ran into during our training...)
Yuka: (She's overcome all of the walls she ran into during our training...)
Yuka
(Youth really is a scary thing...)
Yuka: (Youth really is a scary thing...)
Rio: "This song...!"
Phoenix
"This must be that canary... I believe she is trying to tell us something..."
Phoenix: "This must be that canary... I believe she is trying to tell us something..."
Phoenix
"What...? The heart of a phoenix is not required to dispel the curse that has been placed on Rio's mother...?"
Phoenix: "What...? The heart of a phoenix is not required to dispel the curse that has been placed on Rio's mother...?"
Phoenix
"Instead, we must defeat the witch...?!"
Phoenix: "Instead, we must defeat the witch...?!"
Rio: "R-Really...?"
Rio
"The witch had me fooled this whole time...?"
Rio: "The witch had me fooled this whole time...?"
Phoenix: "Rio..."
Rio: "But..."
Rio
"Phoenix, this means I don't have to use this knife anymore."
Rio: "Phoenix, this means I don't have to use this knife anymore."
Rio
"Thank goodness... I'm so relieved..."
Rio: "Thank goodness... I'm so relieved..."
Phoenix: "..."
Phoenix
"Oh, for the love of... Why are you crying? Quickly now. Stand up."
Phoenix: "Oh, for the love of... Why are you crying? Quickly now. Stand up."
Rio: "Wait, what...?"
Phoenix
"Time is of the essence for the sun will be setting soon. We must hurry and defeat the witch before then."
Phoenix: "Time is of the essence for the sun will be setting soon. We must hurry and defeat the witch before then."
Phoenix
"I shall follow you... She will not be easy to fall, we should be able to win if we fight together."
Phoenix: "I shall follow you... She will not be easy to fall, we should be able to win if we fight together."
Phoenix
"Because we are friends..."
Phoenix: "Because we are friends..."
Yuka
(The entire audience has their attention focused on the stage...)
Yuka: (The entire audience has their attention focused on the stage...)
Yuka
(They even seem overcome with relief that Rio and the phoenix were able to find a solution...)
Yuka: (They even seem overcome with relief that Rio and the phoenix were able to find a solution...)
Yuka
(Those two obviously did a magnificent job of immersing us into the story, but...)
Yuka: (Those two obviously did a magnificent job of immersing us into the story, but...)
Cowardly Canary
"Thank goodness..."
Cowardly Canary: "Thank goodness..."
Cowardly Canary
"I'm so glad they heard my song..."
Cowardly Canary: "I'm so glad they heard my song..."
Yuka
What an incredible performance.
Yuka: What an incredible performance.