Two weeks later
Today is the day of the Parade Ceremony.
Junior students walk in pairs, carrying their little stools and heading to the square.
The student performers line up on the stage. Some palms within those white gloves have even become slightly sweaty out of anxiety.
Sonetto: You weren't in the dormitory last night.
Vertin: ...
Vertin: Were you on duty yesterday?
Sonetto: Yes, as I am today.
Sonetto: I know you are planning something behind the instructors' backs. Please do not act against any regulation stipulated in the Student Handbook.
Sonetto: Otherwise, I'm obliged to report this to the instructor as the monitor student on duty.
Vertin: ... Okay.
Vertin: Doves are hovering above the square.
Vertin: The principal walks onto the stage from the side stair—this can be clearly seen from the stage.
“The Ring”: Are we ready?
Vertin: Yes.
Isabella: We got this ...!
Student B: Let's do this!
Student B: Good luck to us all!!
The whispering words of encouragement go from one to another and go on.
Sonetto: ...
Principal: Today, I am honored to be accompanied by the young representative of the St. Pavlov Foundation Committee, Ms. Z;
Principal: the principal of our close partner, Mr. Claude Smith of Zeno Academy; and the outstanding alumni who graduated last year—
Principal: to our annual Parade Ceremony!
Principal: The Parade Ceremony where we show our best image and morale once a year. Each year, the best students would be selected to take a three-month intense training, and become the honor guard of our school and present the fabulous demeanor of our students.
Principal: And now everyone, the first part of the ceremony—school song.
Principal: "Peace Lives On."
...
Looking down the stage, many people sit in lines like those pegs on the pipe organ.
Isabella is the leading singer. Her voice is trembling.
Isabella: ...
Isabella: Nor happiness, nor harmony, nor fame, nor pride, nor strength, nor skill in arms or arts ... ♪
Isabella: Shepherd those herds whom blindness makes tame ... ♪
Sonetto: ...!
Sonetto: What ... what are you singing ...?
Sonetto: Sonetto is in shock. Mesmer Jr. skips her lyrics and keeps singing in her tender voice.
Sonetto: The voice is thin and hesitant at first, but it later becomes gentler, stronger, and brighter.
Sonetto: And the principal sitting under the stage finally understands what they are singing.
Principal: ...?!
Principal: What ... what are they singing?!
Music Instructor: Mister, Mister! They are singing that poem ... the one on the back of the pamphlet ...!
Music Instructor: She almost loses her beautiful voice in shock. She sounds tongue-tied.
Principal: Stop! You stop right now!
Music Instructor: Sopranos and tenors, stop right now! I forbid you to sing along!
Instructor: Sonetto! Stop them!
Sonetto: ...!
Sonetto: I ...
Sonetto: The song that should not have existed comes out from all around.
Sonetto: From the front, the back, her left, and her right. The sound of the unfamiliar lyrics engulfs her like an inescapable trap.
Sonetto: Sonetto has never felt her heart beating so fast. She becomes dizzy because of this.
Vertin: Sir, please, listen to us.
Vertin: Please, give us a chance. Let us be ... let us be ourselves.
Principal: ...
Principal: ——
The principal's face becomes pale. He turns to the security guard on the side.
Principal: Get the girl on the right off the stage. NOW!!
Guard: Copy that.
Safety Supervisor: Move! Get the water pipe attached on the tap and prepare for the Dumbitter Potion!
Safety Supervisor: Splash!!
Isabella: Um ...! Let, let go of me!
More security guards run onto the stage from the side stairs. Isabella, standing on the fringes of the crowd, has been taken down by the guards with their batons.
They can barely open their eyes in the spraying potion.
Vertin: ... Isabella!!
Vertin: Isabella looks at her. This tiny girl gives her a sad smile while being pushed and pulled around by the guards by her side.
Vertin: Protect Isabella!!
COMBAT
Behind them, more and more people join in the singsing.
The bewildered and helpless children have finally come to realize the adults don't see the world as they do.
They only have each other in this.
With fear, anger, and the feeling of being deprived of the rights to know anything about the outside world for 12 years.
Against the potion, they sing with crying voices and refuse to stop.
Vertin: Step back! Step back! Protect yourself. Don't get hurt!
Vertin: Listen, stand in circle, hand in hand! Short guys inside!
Principal: Bloody, it doesn't stop! I just want them to shut up! Is the tear gas in position? Shoot it above them!
Safety Supervisor: Tear gas is here ...
Vertin: Watch out for the guard batons. Don't get hur ...
Vertin: Pap!
Principal: I said shoot it ABOVE them! Why did you shoot it AT them?!
Safety Supervisor: It, it, it slipped in my hand ...
Safety Supervisor: This is a song with a surprising opening and a forbidden ending.
Safety Supervisor: The end of the farce.