The Blue Bird

Cast -
Michiru: Niizuma Yae
Chiruru: Fudeshima Shigure
Father: Toneri Nikako
Mother: Kathrina Griebel
Old Woman: Karasumori Daikoku

Act 1 -
Brother and sister, Chiruchiru and Michiru, who were born into a poor family, were forced to work hard as servants in a wealthy man's mansion.

The two supported each other. They spent time talking while feeding bread crumbs to the pigeons that came to the garden.

"Nii-san, we can go home someday, right?"

"We can go back, I'm sure of it."

The two worked hard, believing that if they could endure the hard work, they would be able to go home and see their father again.

One day, an old woman who visited the mansion told them a legend that, "If you find a blue bird, you will be happy."

With a glimmer of hope, the two began searching for the blue bird during their short breaks. After searching several times, the two found a large birdcage deep in the bushes while exploring the forest.

"Brother, is that...!?"

"I'm sure it is, we found it...!"

Inside the large birdcage, which looked like it would fit a child easily, was a small blue bird.

Chiruchiru opened the door and gently caught the bird. Relieved that the bird didn't seem to want to escape from his grasp, he turned to look at Michiru who had come in with him, but at that moment the door closed.

In the short time that they were filled with the expectation of happiness, they were trapped...!?

Act 2 -
Chiruchiru and Michiru were trapped in a locked birdcage.

Looking around, they could see the key to open the lock lying on the ground. They reached out to pick it up, but couldn’t reach it, and even when they tried to break the netting, which looked like iron bars, the cage didn’t budge. They tried all sorts of ways to get out, but none of them worked.

And the blue bird they thought they found had disappeared before they knew it.

"What should we do... I can't believe it's locked."

"Maybe the blue bird was just an illusion, and this was a trap."

“Will we never be able to get out of here?” Michiru said anxiously, and began to cry.

"It'll be okay. We'll definitely get out of here."

Chiruchiru hugged his sister and reassured her.

They called out for help, but the rustling of the trees drowned out their voices, and there was no one passing by. Soon it got dark outside, and the night drew in, and the tired siblings fell asleep.

Act 3 -
The brother and sister, who were locked up and sleeping close together, had a strange dream. In the dream, their beloved mother, who had died of illness, appeared and gave them a blue bird.

However, when the bird landed on their hands, its feathers turned black before their eyes.

"I wonder if there really are no blue birds anywhere…"

Putting her hand on the shoulders of the dejected Chiruru, his mother whispered, "Happiness is something that is close to you. Don't give up," and then disappeared.

When Chiruru woke up from the dream, he realised that it was morning and it was light outside.

A pigeon landed in front of the siblings, who were exhausted from not eating or drinking anything.
"That pigeon...could it be the pigeon we always feed bread to?"

The siblings stared at the pigeon wandering in front of them, thinking that it was impossible for a pigeon to come to a forest like this, far from the mansion. Then, a thought came to Chiruru's mind...

Act 4 -
"The key that's lying there has a string attached to it. If we can hook it onto the pigeon's leg, maybe we can pull it over here."

Michiru nodded in agreement with Chiruchiru's suggestion, and called out to the pigeon gently but firmly so that it wouldn't be scared.

The pigeon looked in the direction the siblings were pointing, and as if it understood their wish, it hooked the key on its claws and flew over to the birdcage.

Chiruchiru quickly picked up the key and unlocked the lock. The two of them were able to escape from the birdcage.

"Thank you, pigeon!"

"Look, Michiru, that pigeon has a blue feather on its wing."

The pigeon that had saved the two siblings had a beautiful blue feather attached to its wing.

When the two siblings, who had been through so much, finally arrived at the mansion, to their surprise, their father was waiting for them. The father had found treasure by chance while working as a woodcutter, and had been able to pay off his debt to the rich man, and had come to pick up the siblings.

"I'm sure that pigeon was a blue bird, and it brought us happiness."

"In exchange for the breadcrumbs. This is our happiness."

The siblings were released from their duties as servants and returned home with their father.

Michiru, who had brought back a small blue feather from the pigeon, smiled as she looked at it.

On the way back to their old home, Chiruchiru nodded as he held Michiru's and his father's hands.

Aftertalk -
Niizuma Yae
Phew…

Fudeshima Shigure
What's wrong, Niizuma? That was a big sigh.

Niizuma Yae
The final performance is coming up soon, and there was a matinee and evening performance today, so I'm a little tired.

Fudeshima Shigure
Ah ha, if you're worn out by something like this, your reputation as a Dai Star will be in tatters.

Niizuma Yae
Shigure-chan is amazing, you're still full of energy after the performance. I'm so hungry that I'm exhausted.

Fudeshima Shigure
Well, Shigure is just as hungry as you are. Let's have a snack.

Niizuma Yae
…
Fudeshima Shigure
What have you been looking at all this time...? Haah, are you after Shigure's snack!?

Niizuma Yae
That doughnut looks really delicious. Shigure-chan has good taste when it comes to choosing what to eat.

Fudeshima Shigure
...Hmm? Well, I've brought plenty, so if you want them so much, I'll give them to you.

Niizuma Yae
Really!? As expected of Big Brother Chiruchiru. Shigure-chan is so kind♪