Little Women

Cast -
Meg: Otori Kokona
Jo: Kathrina Griebel
Beth: Yanagiba Panda/Sasuga Chisa
Amy: Niizuma Yae
Mrs March: Shizuka

Act 1 -
In 19th century America, which was in the midst of a civil war, there were four sisters living in Massachusetts. Their father had been called up to fight in the war, and there were only the four sisters and their mother at home.

The eldest daughter was Meg, who was homely but beautiful. The second daughter was Jo, who had beautiful long hair and was a little short tempered. The third daughter, Beth, was shy but kind hearted, and the youngest daughter, Amy, was cheeky but sociable.

The four sisters had very different personalities, but they lived together happily under the watchful eye of their kind mother, Mrs March.
One day, just before Christmas, the four sisters received a letter from their father. After giving them an update on the war and recent events, he ended with a message for them all.

"The year until we meet again will be a long one, but don't waste a day. Fight bravely against the enemy in your hearts, and by the time your father returns, you will have grown up to be lovely and proud.”

The four of them took this message to heart, and decided to spend their days trying to be good children. At Christmas, they put on a little play at home, and on New Year's Eve they went to a party they had been invited to. At the end of that year, they all worked together to live as good children, and their days became a little more fulfilling.

Act 2 -
"Oh, how I wish I could live like that all year round, reading books and relaxing every day, going to parties and receiving bouquets of flowers, and riding in carriages on the way home."

The eldest daughter, Meg, was doing the housework when she murmured this, after the excitement of Christmas and New Year's Day had died down.

"It would be fun if it was always Christmas and New Year's, wouldn't it?" the second daughter, Jo, replied, but Meg shook her head.

"But that's not possible. So, instead of complaining all the time, we have to live cheerfully like Mother."

Even though she had said it herself, Meg seemed unable to suppress her dissatisfaction.

"Oh, I hate this! We can't enjoy life every day because we're poor. I'm sure we’ll grow up to be grumpy old women!"

Everyone was a little surprised when the usually gentle Meg suddenly burst out in anger, and then they all started complaining about their daily frustrations, and before long they started to complain about each other and began to fight.

Even though they had promised to be good girls in the letter from their father, they ended up fighting.

At times like those, Mrs March always calmly mediated between the four sisters and guided them.

And so the four sisters continued to live their lives, quarreling and reconciling, clashing and cooperating repeatedly, until one autumn, when the seasons had finally come full circle, another letter arrived.

It was a letter informing them that their father was in critically ill.

Act 3 -
After receiving a letter informing them that their father was in a critical condition, Mrs March hurried to a hospital near the battlefield, and the four sisters were forced to live without their parents.

They were all the best they've ever been, but as soon as they received word that their father's condition was improving, they all seemed relieved and went back to normal.

They gradually became more selfish, which led to more fights, but since their mother wasn't there, no one could mediate between them.

The four sisters began to feel awkward with each other, but then they had to go to do the volunteer work their mother was doing.

"I don't want to go. That house is so dirty."

The sisters kept repeating this, and in the end, Beth, the kind and shy third daughter, ended up taking on the volunteer work. However, through the volunteer work, Beth caught an infectious disease.

The youngest daughter, Amy, was sent to live with her aunt so that she wouldn't catch the disease, and the March family was completely different from when their mother had left the home.

Should I tell them in a letter? Maybe it's bad to keep secrets, but I don't want to worry them.

Should she write to tell her parents? Maybe it's bad to keep secrets. But she doesn't want to worry them. Naturally, the fights decreased, but the whole house became gloomy.

The eldest daughter, Meg, was unsure, but she didn't write about it in the letter.

Meanwhile, Beth's condition worsened rapidly, and she eventually couldn't even recognise her sisters.

The doctor also said, "You should contact your parents," so Meg decided to send a telegram.

"If God helps Beth, I'll never complain again," Meg muttered as if praying, and Jo nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, Amy, despite being treated more harshly than she had ever been at her aunt's house, built a small chapel and also prayed for Beth's safety.

Act 4 -
After receiving the telegram from Meg, Mrs March hurried back to the sisters. And so, the family's wishes were answered, and Beth's condition improved, and they were able to rejoice in their reunion.

After a short break, Mrs March went to fetch Amy.

"I thought that the enemy in my heart was probably selfishness and self-centeredness."

Amy spoke, feeling extremely safe and happy, sitting on her mother's lap for the first time in a long time.

"Beth is shy, but she's always willing to help others, and I realised that if I was like that, others would be willing to help me too. I want to be like that as well."

Her mother smiled and nodded in agreement.

The next few weeks were calm, as if a storm had passed. They received a letter from their father saying that he would be home in the New Year, and the house was bright and cheerful.

Beth's illness helped the sisters to cherish and respect each other.

And so the next Christmas came.

As the four of them, including the recovered Beth, opened their Christmas presents, Beth, who was munching on a grape, said, "I'm so happy."

Meg and Jo nodded in agreement and said “Me too,”, and Amy replied confidently, "Of course I am too!"

Their mother smiled happily.

At that moment, someone knocked on the front door.

"Now, another Christmas present has arrived for the March family."

The four sisters tilted their heads to one side, wondering what was going on, when the tallest member the March family peered in from the front door.

"Father!"

And so, the four sisters, who had grown up, welcomed their father home as promised.

Aftertalk -

Shizuka
That was a heart warming story about sisters.

Yanagiba Panda
Katorin's Jo was a great role for her too!

Kathrina Griebel
What do you mean by that?

Yanagiba Panda
Nothing, nothing, it's just that your beautiful, long hair is perfect for the role.

Kathrina Griebel
I see.

Otori Kokona
N-Now now! Let's get along, shall we? Just like the four March sisters!

Sasuga Chisa
The five Sirius sisters and Shizuka-mama, huh?

Shizuka
It's enough that I’m looking after Kokona already…

Niizuma Yae
Heh heh, I was happy to feel like I was a real sister to you all. Right, Kokona onee-chan?

Otori Kokona
Y-Yae-chan...! You’re right, the five Sirius sisters might not be so bad...!

Shizuka
Absolutely not!

Kathrina Grebel
Hey, Shizuka-mama, shouldn't you be happy that the sisters get along so well?

Shizuka
Absolutely not!

Sasuga Chisa
Shizuka-mama, what's for dinner?

Otori Kokona
Ah! I want curry!

Yanagiba Panda
In that case, Panda would like some meat and potatoes.

Niizuma Yae
Hee hee, then I'd like some stew.

Shizuka
Come on, someone help me!