Episode 11: Step by Stage! ~ I Can't Believe I'm the Leader of a Dance Circle! ~...~...~...~...~...

Episode 11: "The Return of Normalcy and a Sense of Trouble That Won't Stop."

1. is the air at the university cold after the camp?

　Good morning, everyone. Good job at the camp!"
　The week after returning from the training camp, we were gathered as usual in the circle practice room on the university campus. Everyone was a little tense, perhaps still feeling the heat from the training camp.
　But when I walk down the corridor of the classroom building, I feel an unusual cold wind blowing through the air. That's just as well, for the season is almost upon us.autumnThe main event. It is also evidence that the cultural festival is approaching.

　I check the faces of the members again. Thanks to the camp, teamwork has improved, and the beginner group has also improved considerably. But on the other hand, there is one big problem - yes,Makoto's ankleIt is.
Hey Makoto, how's your leg?"
　I, **Koharu Sakurai**, gently ask, and **Makoto Sato** shakes his head with a stubborn smile.
Well, I'm feeling much better, but it still hurts. The doctor told me to keep my movements down for a while.
I see. ...... don't be in a hurry. You have another month before the show, and you need to heal properly."
　Makoto nodded, "I know, ......," with a frustrated look on his face.

　To what extent will this ankle problem affect future formations and choreography - to be honest, I am very anxious. But as a leader, I have to deal with it realistically while encouraging everyone.

2. notice from the festival committee

　Koharu, can I have a word?"
　After the first practice after the camp, a seniorRika Aoyamahas approached me. He is a senior who is busy with job hunting, but at this time of year, when the cultural festival is approaching, he has more opportunities to show up at the circle again.
Rika-senpai," she said, "thank you for your hard work. Is something wrong?"
I got a call from the festival committee. They have decided on the stage program and rehearsals. They have some very detailed requests, such as time schedules and sound checks.
I see. ......"
　Come to think of it, I have heard that every year at the festival, various groups besides the dance circle use the stage, so the rehearsal and performance time is jam-packed.

　The materials that Rika senior showed me included specific restrictions such as "Dance circles are to have no more than 15 minutes. The specific restrictions were lined up, such as "Equipment backstage is minimal," and "Rehearsal is only 30 minutes in the evening of the day before the performance.
30 minute rehearsal ...... is pretty tough.
I think we had a little more time last year, but this year there seem to be a lot of other performance groups. Last year we would have had a little more time, but this year there seem to be a lot of other performance groups."
　Indeed, our medley was a little over 10 minutes long, including the four parts and the joints. Considering the transitions and entrances and exits, the actual performance would barely fit into 15 minutes. I was worried about how much we would be able to confirm the movements during rehearsal.

Also, if you don't get costumes and accessories in and out smoothly, you may feel rushed at the show. Please think about what you will do.
I will discuss this with Mayu and Sho! I will discuss this with Mayu and Sho!"

　The camp has increased unity, but realistictime constraintand ... andStage RegulationsI am made keenly aware that there are going to get busier and busier. ......

3. shocking news: change of stage acoustic plan?

　The next day, even bigger news came. From the university's festival committee,Stage Sound SystemThe band was notified that the sound check might be cut short due to an equipment inspection on the day of rehearsal.
What do you mean by that?"
　Apparently there are not enough student staff to manage the sound equipment, and they need to move other event equipment during rehearsal time.
Could it be that we have very little time for our sound rehearsals?"
　**Sho Ohtani** turned pale when he heard the information. He was in charge of the disco part and was particular about the fine editing of the music and the timing of the acrobatics.

　I feel impatient too. We've been working on the dance side of things at the camp, but we're actually in the show.Acoustic TroubleIf there were a
In the meantime, I need to get in touch with the person in charge of the committee at ......."
　I tried to contact my acquaintances who were on the committee that day, but the committee seemed to be in a state of flux, and their replies were slow-paced. It was a sign that the whole university was getting noisy for the festival.

4. Makoto during ankle healing, impatience and conflict

　Meanwhile, Makoto, who still has pain in her ankle, is now feeling the sting of not being able to move as much as she would like. She was stretching in a corner of the practice room when I approached her with concern.
Makoto, how are you today? I'd prefer you not to push yourself, but would you like to try moving just in case?"
'Well, I took a few steps, but I'm still sore ......, but I should get my senses back by the festival.'
　In her expression,Accident on the last day of the campMakoto is usually laughing her head off, but this time, she is biting her lip. Makoto would have laughed it off, but this time he was biting his lip.

　Shizuku Miyata**, who couldn't help but notice, advised, "I understand your impatience, but the only thing you can do is to think of ways to practice to compensate for the parts you can't move. Try changing the choreography to reduce the burden on your legs," she advised.
Eh, that would reduce the impact of the rock part. ......
　No wonder Makoto was dissatisfied. It would be a shame to cut back on the big moves they had worked out at the camp.
　But Shizuku continued calmly. If you think about the risk of not being able to move during the actual event, it's realistic to do the best you can right now. If we can expect recovery, we will prepare a plan B while keeping an eye on the situation until the very last minute.

　I watch over their interaction. As a leader, I am endlessly worried about whether I should respect Makoto's wishes while prioritizing the perfection of the team as a whole.

5. costume team run amok again? Mayu's new items

　In the back of the practice room,Mayu Suzuki, again with a fashion magazine in her hand, asks, "What do you think of this?" Mayu Suzuki, with a fashion magazine in her hand again, asks, "What do you think of this? This time, LED gloves.Instead, they have stocked up on the idea of applying glowing paint to their arms.
During the disco part, wouldn't it be so much fun to make your arms light up as the lights went dark?"
"Another light story: ....... Come to think of it, you used to call them LED gloves."
You said, "Yeah, gloves cost too much and they're hard to dance with. But with these, they're cheap and all you have to do is apply them!
　Mayu explains this and shows me an image of a glowing paint job she found on the Internet. Indeed, it would be interesting to see a hand or an arm emerge in the dark.

　But then Sho said, "Wait. How dark can the stage be? The lighting facilities are limited, and I think the executive committee's document says that the stage can be completely darkened for no more than three seconds. ......
I'm not sure if this painting will be useful or not. So if the darkening time is short, it's not so clear that this painting will come to life. ......"
That's right. ......"
　Mayu and Sho drop their shoulders in disappointment. They were having so much fun talking about their ideas, but the constraints of the site made it difficult to realize them. This gap between the two is quite a painful experience.

　I, the leader of the group, follow up. But even though the darkening is short, the stage darkens for a moment when the scene changes from the cool part to the disco part, right? Couldn't we use just those few seconds?"
　Then they both said, "Oh, that's a good idea!" and their eyes light up again. The possibility is not zero yet. The problem was that they had to negotiate with the organizing committee, but it was too late to throw away the staging idea.

6. leader Koharu, again in a storm of adjustment

　As such, we each had our own problems piling up - Makoto's ankle, lack of sound rehearsal, costume and lighting restrictions, etc. I am back at it again.scheduleand ... andTask Management Memoto open and hold their heads up.
I thought I had it all together at the camp, but I still have so much trouble ......."
　But I suppose this is the "pre-festival reality. The whole university is floundering and there are strong personalities in the circles. There is no magic that can solve all problems at once.

　I have a notebook.To Do ListWrite the

1. Makoto's ankle problem
   • It is undecided when full recovery will occur. If not fully healed, remove or simplify acrobatics in rock part. Can someone else support instead?
2. Lack of time for stage sound rehearsal
   • In consultation with the committee, how can we minimally confirm this? Possible to rehearse in advance in a different way so that song connections and volume control do not fail in the performance?
3. Darkening and Lighting Plan
   • Mayu & Sho approached the executive committee for staging ideas. How many seconds of darkening time can be secured?
4. Finalizing the novice group
   • Even though he has improved at the camp, he continues to follow up with basic practice so that he does not get nervous and make mistakes in the performance.

　Hmmm, my head is spinning just writing this out. But as a leader, I have to deal with them one by one.

7. an unexpected helper? Rika Senpai's Job Hunting Comes to an End

　In the midst of all this confusion, a bit of happy news comes in. It seems that Rika senior has received a job offer,I can make relatively little time until the festival.This is called.
　After practice the following week, senior Rica showed up and said.
Koharu, it sounds like you're going through a lot. I have contacts on the stage committee, and I know some of the senior sound staff, so how about some coordination?"
Really?　Thanks for the help ......!"
　I am the one who is thankful for the opportunity to put my hands together. This may allow us to extend the stage rehearsal time somewhat, and the darkening time restrictions may be made more flexible if the senior staff speaks to me.

　Rika-senpai smiles as she swings her usual ponytail. The first thing to do is to make sure that you have a good time at the festival. Koharu and the other second-year students will be the leaders, but I will support them behind their backs."
　A reliable ......! Thus, I felt I had found a way to somehow overcome the team's crisis.

8. unexpected troubles of beginner groups

　However, things did not go so well. This timebeginner's groupSince then, several members have said that they are too busy with classes and cannot attend practice, or that they do not have enough time because of part-time jobs and seminars. Although motivation was high immediately after the training camp, more and more members here are now struggling with realistic schedules.
"I've improved at camp, but if I spend less time practicing here, I won't be able to catch up again. ......
　When I was puzzled, Nakamura Saki told me in a whisper. I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to get some help. I also had to do a midterm presentation for my seminar, and it was difficult to allocate time. ......"

　Even though we are university students, balancing classes and part-time jobs is a common challenge for all of us. It is not possible to put all one's energy into the festival alone.
I understand. Then we'll try to practice mainly on weekday evenings, and on weekends we'll mainly practice on our own. ...... Let's upload videos and stuff so we can all share them, and keep each other updated on LINE?"
Yes, I will! Then I think I can manage to hang on."
　Saki's face becomes a little relieved. I realize once again that I have no choice but to get over it while exchanging details like this.

Koharu's determination, now it's time to put the finishing touches on the project.

　We are still waiting for the festival with a lot of troubles.3 weeksThe stage was about to be set. Rehearsal time for the stage sound is still uncertain, and Makoto's foot is just barely expected to heal. The beginners' group cannot participate every day.
　Nevertheless, the unity we have developed at the training camp and the support of the senior Rica members will be a great support. As a leader, I willcoordinating roleI will try to talk to everyone so that I don't lose my motivation - that's what I've decided to do.

　One day after school, after practice, Makoto spoke to me.
"Koharu, if Atashi's leg doesn't heal by any chance, I might replace the center of the ...... rock part with someone else. It's bad for everyone that Atashi can't lead the whole stage now, and ......"
What? Oh, no. ......"
　I swallow my words at Makoto's words. She is the centerpiece of the rock part, though, and that's what makes the impact. But Makoto must be very prepared to say that herself.
"......Well, I haven't given up yet, and I'll try to recover as much as I can. If something happens, I'll talk to Koharu about it."
　His eyes were filled with frustration, but also with a determination that seemed to have blown something out of the water. I nodded strongly and simply said, "Okay. Don't ever keep it to yourself," was all I said back.

epilogue

　Thus, a new daily life after the training camp was set in motion. The team has certainly grown, but numerous problems still stand in the way until the cultural festival stage.

• Whether Makoto's ankle will recover.
• Possible lack of acoustic rehearsal.
• Darkening restrictions on costumes and staging.
• The beginner group is busy with part-time jobs and seminars.

　However, we areone step at a timeWe cannot stop our progress toward the next stage. Rather, if there are challenges, we must overcome them with ingenuity.
Step by stage" - every time I chant this phrase in my mind, memories of the training camp and everyone's smiling faces come back to me. I am sure that this time, just like that time, we will be fine. As a leader, I believe in my friends and intend to run through to the end.

　Only three weeks to go until the festival.
　The hands of the clock never stop. But our passion also never stops.