Mura Raku: When All is Said and Done
Simply one of the best days of my life. Probably the best day of my life.
I had a feeling it would come to this all along, but... I didn't cry nearly as much as I thought I would.
That's not to say I didn't cry at all, of course. It's impossible not to be moved to tears when shown how much everyone loves and supports Alice-chan.
Like how Tomu had a GIANT love letter for her in Taiyouzoku that said ALICE DAISUKI in big sparkly writing. Apparently it took her THREE HOURS TO MAKE.
That, my friends, that is love.
Actually the entirety of Taiyouzoku was love, easily the best thing in the whole show. I kind of, um, audibly squealed a lot.
Because after the giant love letter, when Ayumi-san helped her take off her coat and glasses... She also gave Alice-chan a headband of white flowers with a short veil attached.
After Tomu and Alice-chan cross the ginkyou, usually Alice-chan gets to the other side first and finishes her solo, while Tomu is busy making kissy faces at the audience. Today, she blew one kiss and then waved like "sorry, have to go back to my girl..."
Got back to Alice-chan and PICKED HER UP IN A PRINCESS LIFT. WITH THAT VEIL ON HER HEAD, IT WAS SERIOUSLY LIKE SHE WAS GOING TO CARRY HER OVER THE THRESHOLD.
Then they ran back to center stage like they were supposed to, but Tomu kept holding Alice-chan's hand while she sang "Makkana Taiyou", so Alice-chan had to play along and imitate her dance moves.
And of course at the end instead of just saying "I'm so happy... I'm the most happy when I'm with you", this time it was "when I'm with you, Alice".
When Alice-chan sang with Mii-chan and Chii-chan in the chuuzume, at the end they suddenly whipped out these big long-stemmed sunflowers from under their jackets and gave them to her.
It was the only time Alice-chan really lost her composure. She lamented at least twice at the farewell party that "I made a face that you really shouldn't make onstage". Apparently she cried buckets after she escaped into the wings.
But she never showed us any tears, not during the performance, not through her whole speech -- not until the farewell party.
Everyone, everyone told her over and over that her speech was かっこいい and 男前, "cool" and "manly / studly". She was amused, but got kind of tired of hearing it. ;P
Everyone who came to the farewell party, roughly in this order and these groups:
* Hasumi Yuuya, as the emcee
* Kotobuki Tsukasa, Suzuna Saya, Oozora Yuuhi
* Nagina Ruumi, Junya Chitose, Himiya Sakura, Miyabi Ouka
* Hoshibuki Ayato, Sorahane Riku, Nanase Ririko, Aishiro Moa, Yuino Kanari, Yumesuzu Rian, Aizuki Hikaru, Yukino Kokomi, Kazami Keito
* Momochi Ito, Matsukaze Akira, Tsukie Juma, Sumireno Rei
* Toki Irisu, Koumi Maito, Chisuzu Mayu, Amakaze Ibuki, Fujisaki Eri, Hanasato Mana, Sumiki Sayato, Ayase Akina, Maika Kurumi
* Yuumi Hiro, Suzu Haruki
* Ranju Tomu, Mikaze Maira
* Hokushou Kairi
* CHISA REINA SHE LEFT HER OWN FAREWELL TO COME SEE US along with her emcees Amaki Tonika and Yumeri Miko
* The Usual Suspects aka the unstoppable 88ths
That just leaves who DIDN'T come...
* Upperclassmen Amou Tamaki, Kazari Jin and Oomi Ako :(
* 89ths Aihana Chisaki and Nanami Hiroki, who I suppose are excused because they were probably emcee-ing at Maiki Ayumi's farewell
* 90ths Houju Ichi, Mikage Rin, Kanon Mai, Kotoha Sakurako and Kazahane Reia. Don't know what their excuse is :P
* Tenrei Mion, the only 91st who didn't show her face besides Sumika :\
* Seoto Risa, the only 93rd unaccounted for! *pout*
* All the 94ths and 95ths
It was amazing. It was amazing seeing how Alice-chan is such a role model and big sister to the underclassmen, and yet still a little sister to the upperclassmen. With every group of underclassmen she always ended with "please continue to support all of these girls". With all of the upperclassmen it was like "please help me through until the end", and lots of bowing.
It was amazing to hear all their memories and stories of her, and her reactions.
When That Lot finally came, the last group, they burst in to "Lucky Star" playing overhead, and put their hands on each other's shoulders like they were rockettes crossing a ginkyou. When they got onto the dias they automatically yet unintentionally divided themselves into the three otokoyaku - Alice-chan - the two other musumeyaku.
And as Rena and Kuu-chan were sharing their memories with Alice-chan, Dai-chan and Chii-chan were TOTALLY not listening and instead bumping shoulders and giggling about something.
After everyone had said a few words, Mii-chan announced that they had a special present. They all sang a song for Alice-chan, some pop song about "I'll love you forever, in 100 years I'll still love you, we'll always be together" etc. There were only two mics but the hotel staff quickly provided them with two more, and it ended up that Dai-chan was the only one without one. She was also the one being the most overdramatic and cheesy in singing the lyrics to Alice-chan. I find it terribly hilarious and a little bit fortunate that she didn't have a microphone ;)
I'm also more convinced than ever that my characterizations of the "88th family" are spot-on X3
That was when Alice-chan finally cried, when they sang for her.
It was beautiful. This whole day was so, so beautiful.
And it didn't rain, so thank you all for your thoughts and prayers :)
This isn't even a fraction of the stories I could tell, but I think I'll stop here for now.
And remember, you guys, there's still Tokyo and the ACTUAL last day to get through :P
I had a feeling it would come to this all along, but... I didn't cry nearly as much as I thought I would.
That's not to say I didn't cry at all, of course. It's impossible not to be moved to tears when shown how much everyone loves and supports Alice-chan.
Like how Tomu had a GIANT love letter for her in Taiyouzoku that said ALICE DAISUKI in big sparkly writing. Apparently it took her THREE HOURS TO MAKE.
That, my friends, that is love.
Actually the entirety of Taiyouzoku was love, easily the best thing in the whole show. I kind of, um, audibly squealed a lot.
Because after the giant love letter, when Ayumi-san helped her take off her coat and glasses... She also gave Alice-chan a headband of white flowers with a short veil attached.
After Tomu and Alice-chan cross the ginkyou, usually Alice-chan gets to the other side first and finishes her solo, while Tomu is busy making kissy faces at the audience. Today, she blew one kiss and then waved like "sorry, have to go back to my girl..."
Got back to Alice-chan and PICKED HER UP IN A PRINCESS LIFT. WITH THAT VEIL ON HER HEAD, IT WAS SERIOUSLY LIKE SHE WAS GOING TO CARRY HER OVER THE THRESHOLD.
Then they ran back to center stage like they were supposed to, but Tomu kept holding Alice-chan's hand while she sang "Makkana Taiyou", so Alice-chan had to play along and imitate her dance moves.
And of course at the end instead of just saying "I'm so happy... I'm the most happy when I'm with you", this time it was "when I'm with you, Alice".
When Alice-chan sang with Mii-chan and Chii-chan in the chuuzume, at the end they suddenly whipped out these big long-stemmed sunflowers from under their jackets and gave them to her.
It was the only time Alice-chan really lost her composure. She lamented at least twice at the farewell party that "I made a face that you really shouldn't make onstage". Apparently she cried buckets after she escaped into the wings.
But she never showed us any tears, not during the performance, not through her whole speech -- not until the farewell party.
Everyone, everyone told her over and over that her speech was かっこいい and 男前, "cool" and "manly / studly". She was amused, but got kind of tired of hearing it. ;P
Everyone who came to the farewell party, roughly in this order and these groups:
* Hasumi Yuuya, as the emcee
* Kotobuki Tsukasa, Suzuna Saya, Oozora Yuuhi
* Nagina Ruumi, Junya Chitose, Himiya Sakura, Miyabi Ouka
* Hoshibuki Ayato, Sorahane Riku, Nanase Ririko, Aishiro Moa, Yuino Kanari, Yumesuzu Rian, Aizuki Hikaru, Yukino Kokomi, Kazami Keito
* Momochi Ito, Matsukaze Akira, Tsukie Juma, Sumireno Rei
* Toki Irisu, Koumi Maito, Chisuzu Mayu, Amakaze Ibuki, Fujisaki Eri, Hanasato Mana, Sumiki Sayato, Ayase Akina, Maika Kurumi
* Yuumi Hiro, Suzu Haruki
* Ranju Tomu, Mikaze Maira
* Hokushou Kairi
* CHISA REINA SHE LEFT HER OWN FAREWELL TO COME SEE US along with her emcees Amaki Tonika and Yumeri Miko
* The Usual Suspects aka the unstoppable 88ths
That just leaves who DIDN'T come...
* Upperclassmen Amou Tamaki, Kazari Jin and Oomi Ako :(
* 89ths Aihana Chisaki and Nanami Hiroki, who I suppose are excused because they were probably emcee-ing at Maiki Ayumi's farewell
* 90ths Houju Ichi, Mikage Rin, Kanon Mai, Kotoha Sakurako and Kazahane Reia. Don't know what their excuse is :P
* Tenrei Mion, the only 91st who didn't show her face besides Sumika :\
* Seoto Risa, the only 93rd unaccounted for! *pout*
* All the 94ths and 95ths
It was amazing. It was amazing seeing how Alice-chan is such a role model and big sister to the underclassmen, and yet still a little sister to the upperclassmen. With every group of underclassmen she always ended with "please continue to support all of these girls". With all of the upperclassmen it was like "please help me through until the end", and lots of bowing.
It was amazing to hear all their memories and stories of her, and her reactions.
When That Lot finally came, the last group, they burst in to "Lucky Star" playing overhead, and put their hands on each other's shoulders like they were rockettes crossing a ginkyou. When they got onto the dias they automatically yet unintentionally divided themselves into the three otokoyaku - Alice-chan - the two other musumeyaku.
And as Rena and Kuu-chan were sharing their memories with Alice-chan, Dai-chan and Chii-chan were TOTALLY not listening and instead bumping shoulders and giggling about something.
After everyone had said a few words, Mii-chan announced that they had a special present. They all sang a song for Alice-chan, some pop song about "I'll love you forever, in 100 years I'll still love you, we'll always be together" etc. There were only two mics but the hotel staff quickly provided them with two more, and it ended up that Dai-chan was the only one without one. She was also the one being the most overdramatic and cheesy in singing the lyrics to Alice-chan. I find it terribly hilarious and a little bit fortunate that she didn't have a microphone ;)
I'm also more convinced than ever that my characterizations of the "88th family" are spot-on X3
That was when Alice-chan finally cried, when they sang for her.
It was beautiful. This whole day was so, so beautiful.
And it didn't rain, so thank you all for your thoughts and prayers :)
This isn't even a fraction of the stories I could tell, but I think I'll stop here for now.
And remember, you guys, there's still Tokyo and the ACTUAL last day to get through :P