"Starlight."
It's the story of goddesses drawn by the glow of the heavens.
We can fight and argue and disagree, but there are ties that bind us together...
Yet we may be pulled from one another, never to meet again.
It is a sad story.
The tale of these eight women captivates us.
The song of these eight women draws us in and compels us.
Let's go...
To that stage, to that shining star... Together!
Karen-chan, get up! It's time! You cannot be late today, right?
Day Duty
Karen-chan, come on!
Okay.
Jeez!
You asked me to get you up, so you need to get up!
Okay.
It's not like I'll be on wake-up duty forever, you know!
Yeah. Sorry.
Okay, let's go!
Mahiru-chan, stop!
What?!
Karen-chan!
I can't believe you came back for that...
Good morning, Karen-chan.
Yup. Good morning!
Nice! First!
I'm student number 1 of Seisho Music Academy's 99th class, Aijou Karen!
Aijou Karen
Student Number 1
On stage!
The center of a stage. Position Zero.
Mahiru-chan!
Huh?
Okay, let's stretch.
Yup.
Student Number 17
Tsuyuzaki Mahiru
I'm student number 17, Tsuyuzaki Mahiru. On stage!
Ow...
Try to focus on your thighs and your butt.
This is impossible!
Student Number 25
Hoshimi Junna
Oh. It's open.
Of course! After all, I'm on day duty today!
Aijou-san... Last time, you slept in and were last to arrive, correct?
To think the day would come when Karen-chan...
Student Number 11
Saijou Claudine
could actually get up on time!
That's a big non, non!
This stage girl, Aijou Karen, will just get better day by day.
I'm at my newest right now!
I'm gonna give it more than ever!
Karen-chan, I swear... It's all thanks to Mahiru-chan that you got up properly, right?
You're the only one who gets it, Banana-chan!
Student Number 15
Daiba Nana
I know all about it, don't worry.
Come on, wake up already!
Kaoruko!
How boorish to disturb a young maiden's slumber...
Cut it out with that half-asleep talk!
Student Number 22
Hanayagi Kaoruko
Even Karen is here already!
Student Number 2
Isurugi Futaba
My, what a handful.
You've sure got it tough, Futaba-chan. With your roommate being such a sleepyhead and all...
You're one to talk.
Futaba! Could you not just let me go like that?!
Please don't do that, Futaba-shan~
What are you going to do if I got injured!?
Good morning.
Student number 18, Tendou Maya. On stage.
Student Number 18
Tendou Maya
Student number 11, Saijou Claudine. On stage.
Student number 25, Hoshimi Junna. On stage.
Student number 22, Hanayagi Kaoruko. On stage.
Student number 2, Isurugi Futaba. On stage.
I'm gonna give it my all today!
Sakuragi Rei
2 - A Teacher in-charge
Okay, is everyone here?
Yes!
Actor Training Department Class 2-A, all present.
No absences! Everyone, greet our teacher.
May 14th
Day Duty Aijou Karen
Good morning!
This is Seisho Music Academy
It's a respected girls' school with a 100-year history.
It was made to foster the next generation of theatrical talent!
The students of Class A in the Actor Training Department work daily
to improve their skills in singing, drama, dance, traditional Japanese dance, and elocution.
Class B in the Stage Production Department studies presentation, scripts, costumes, props...
They work hard to learn the technical aspects of putting on a play!
We in the academy's 99th class are in love with the theater,
so it's the life we've chosen to pursue.
Yes... We are theatre girls!
We all work together to bring the theatre to life...
but we're all rivals to become the next star!
Ahhh! Banana-chan, your lunch looks delicious!
I've got plenty of it, so...
Man, those lessons wore me out!
Karen-chan, we haven't even started afternoon classes yet.
What's our next class again?
Um... English!
English, huh? I think I'll fall asleep.
Hoshimi-san!
Here.
The "Seisho Festival"!
We're about to start prepping for it.
Uh, but that's not till next year.
You can never have enough time.
Play "Starlight" Main Cast: Claire, Flora Total Cast: 8 Members
There's a lot that has to be done.
Yeah, but we're still doing "Starlight," right? The lines are done and everything.
What's more important is that we do it better than last year!
Oh, yeah.
Still, that sure was fun. Doing "Starlight" as first-years...
Yeah!
With Class B backing us up, Class A got to sing and perform...
We in the 99th class did a production that was all our own.
It was a single, unforgettable moment that will last forever.
But it was completely amateurish.
Next year, our performance has to be more polished.
That's why, for our three years here, we're doing "Starlight."
It's the only show we'll put on.
Yeah...
She's right. We get to do "Starlight" over again! Talk about bliss!
You sure do like that story, don't you, Karen?
I mean, it's beautiful but it's sad and passionate and...
What's not to like?!
W- Well, I... I do like it.
Right? I sure hope we get named roles again!
M- Me too. Maybe next time we... I mean, you and I, we could even be the fated pair!
Nah, I bet Tendou-san and Kuro-chan will be the leads again.
Huh? Oh, yeah...
I mean, those two are in a whole different league from us!
Their singing, their dancing... The way they shine when they're up on the stage.
There's no way we can compete with 'em...
We haven't even had auditions yet. Don't assume that the leads have been decided.
Uh... Okay.
J... Junna-chan!
Did I make her angry or something?
When she gets worked up, she's all over the place.
Let's put on the best show we can, okay? Like when we did "Starlight" before.
Ooooh, yeah!
This stage girl, Aijou Karen, will just get better day by day!
For our next "Starlight," I'm gonna wow everyone with a side of me they've never seen before!
Let's do our best.
You okay, Karen-chan?
I just can't stop... thinking about sandwiches.
It's way too early for you to be throwing in the towel.
Karen-chan! That's the wrong textbook!
Tokyo Tower?!
Wow...
Amazing!
Eh? But, why the great view?
Oh, yeah. This is where we bought them... that hairpin.
But I won't be able to fulfill...
My promise... with that girl.
K... Karen-chan!
Are you okay, Karen-chan?
She's fine. Karen-chan's very sturdy!
You're so heartless, Banana-chan!
Hey, you all right, Karen?
Sure, no problem. Thanks!
Audition Day 1 "Hold it in your hand. The star that you have always wanted."
Uh, so we have a transfer student who'll be joining us here in the Actor Training Department.
I know it's unexpected but, everyone, please give her a warm welcome.
That sure was a weird dream...
I'm Kagura Hikari.
Huh?
Eh?!
Hikari-chan...?
Student Number 29 (Transferee)
Kagura Hikari
Hikari...chan?
Aijou... Sit down.
I'm sorry!
Kagura-san is a transfer student from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in England.
What?!
It's been about twelve years since she's been back in Japan, so help her out with everything, okay?
Yes, ma'am!
Let's see, today for day duty we have...
Me! Right here!
I'll help Hikari-chan with everything!
What? Do you know her?
Aijou...
I'm sorry!
Oh, it's that girl...
When homeroom is over, please show her around the dormitory.
And there's no need to stand up.
Yes, ma'am!
Tsuyuzaki, go with them.
I worry about her doing that alone.
You're really, truly Hikari-chan, right?!
It's been a super long time! How many years now?
Twelve years.
What?! That long?
You left for England when we were five, and you're back so suddenly. I was so surprised!
But this is amazing.
Isn't the Royal Drama Academy the hardest institute in the world to get into?
Huh? For real?
You don't know about it? It's really famous!
You sure are amazing, Hikari-chan!
Not especially...
But you haven't changed it at all!
You wore it the whole time! You know... the thing we promised on.
I guess.
Yay! We're here!
Karen-chan, this is our room, you know.
Yep! From now on, there'll be three people in our room.
Mahiru-chan?
Wait, Karen-chan! This is all too sudden!
But she'd be lonely by herself, right?
I don't want three people in here!
I mean... it's impossible!
Huh?
Hikari-chan?
This is an inconvenience, right?
That isn't true, though...
Hikari-chan!
Hikari-cha-
Sorry. I'm going to get ready now.
Hikari-chan...
Welcome back.
From here on out, let's do our best...
and let's become stars together.
We promised... right?
Karen...
Wow, Hikari-chan was so good!
Her jump was amazing! Oh man, she was like a grasshopper!
Her grand fouetté was very pretty, too.
Your old friend is pretty good, Karen!
Isn't she?
But considering all that, she does seem to be an impressively cold person...
That means she's cool and mysterious!
What? What are you saying?!
Kagura Hikari.
Huh? So she's reprising her role?
It says that the villain from last time will be the lead this time.
Huh?
What?
Karen-chan?
Banana, do you know where Hikari-chan is?
I see... Thanks!
Kagura Hikari, huh?
It's like a rival has appeared, right?
But, that girl... I can't see her heart.
Huh?
Hikari-chan? Hikari-chan?
Hikari-chan?
Oh, look at this.
Hikari...chan?
Excuse me! I forgot something!
Hikari-chan?
An elevator?
Did we have something like this?
Huh?
Seisho Music Academy
Underground Theater
Well then, we will now begin day one
Underground Theater Center Mark
of the auditions for this passionate revue.
Position Zero
a.k.a.
Aim to become the Top Star. Sing, dance, and take from one another.
The rage which lit up the darkness first, now shines upon the girls’ yearnings
闇を先灯った激昂が、少女たちの渇望を照らす
Hoshimi-san?!
Hikari-chan too?!
Is this... "Starlight"?!
But... What are the two of them doing?
Stop, Hoshimi-san!
They understand.
A giraffe?!
The "Revue"... has already begun.
This is the Revue?
It makes its way up to heaven, and its flames consume me
天までとどく、炎私を焼き尽くすの
Yes, song and dance woven into a mesmerizing stage.
To the one who presents us with the most radiant revue...
When the stars which shone upon the gate fall upon the Earth
扉に惹かれた、星が落ちてくる時
Sekai wo Hai ni Suru Made Until the World is Turned to Ash
the path to become the Top Star will be opened.
A Revue of Passion
I have a dream I can’t give up on, I have a sky I want to protect
譲れない夢がある、守りたい空がある
The one to obtain the tiara
and become the Top Star... Who will it be?
The arrows which look like shooting stars will follow them
流星を象った矢が、追いかけていくわ
What are you talking about?!
They understand.
But... They are desperate, aren't they?
That's why they are "Stage Girls."
A far away memory that’s becoming smaller will someday disappear
遠く小さくなる いつか消えてしまう思い出
Huh?
The normal happiness, the pleasures of a young girl, all burned away to aim for a distant twinkling...
The vow we secretly took, is being fiercely hit by a headwind
向かい風にひどく煽られ、密かに立てた誓い
That is a "Stage Girl"!
Is that determination within you?
I won’t let it interfere, until this world is turned to ash
きっと邪魔させない、この世界を灰にするまで
That cloak...
If it falls, the revue is over.
My passion will keep on burning hotter than anyone else's
誰より熱く燃え続ける、私の情熱は
Hikari-chan!
You can't stop them.
Those that can't wake up on their own in the morning...
Those that don't mind not playing the lead...
Those people... will not be called upon.
Well then... I must ask you to leave...
Huh?
Giraffe! Outta my way!
I made a promise to Hikari-chan!
I... No, we...
We will absolutely become stars, together!
I am reborn.
On a stage overflowing with stardust,
I am reborn, and clad in flowers of love made to bloom magnificently,
I will dive onto the sparkling stage!
Student of the 99th class...
Aijou Karen!
I will show everyone The Starlight!
Don't get in the way!
I believe I also must have a dream I can’t give up on
譲れない夢なら私にも、きっとある信じてる
No...
No, Karen!
In this violently beating heart of mine, there’s a quiet passion shining now
高鳴るこの胸の奥深く、灯ったの静かに情熱が今
Position Zero!
The first day of auditions is over!
Hikari-chan!
Stupid...
Karen, you idiot!
Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight!
I understand.