Chapter 2

Hmm… Will you be all right by yourself, sir?

Mm… I do feel like if you were there, I’d just let you handle all the explanations and stuff.

So I’ll do my best on my own. I’m the one who brought up this proposal, after all.

And besides, I shouldn’t keep relying on you for everything forever, Yuzuru.

I wouldn’t mind that, though. But it is true that I might try to interfere from the sidelines, just as you said…

So in that case, please try to do it on your own, first.

And I shall come to support you once I’ve finished shoveling snow.

Okay. Then I’ll see you later.

Of course. …Oh, sir. Would you care for a snow hare, as well? I couldn’t stop myself from making more, and now they’ve become a big, happy family ♪

Quit messing around and get back to work, slave. It’ll melt from the heating once I go inside anyway, so why not just line them up here?

Hm. I thought it was quite well-made, so I wanted to gift it to you, but…

It’s kind of surprising you like doing these kinds of things so much. You made a huge snowman in our garden at home too, didn’t you?

It freaked my sister out so much ‘cause it looked like a caterpillar when it was dark out.

Oh, did she not like it? Perhaps I should have gone with the Japanese-style, then, with two snowballs stacked on top of each other…?

As if I care. Seriously, you look so pleased with yourself… What’s the point in that?

I’m such a bundle of nerves I couldn’t even get my breakfast to go down this morning.

Well, whatever. You’re an idol too, so you should always have a smile on your face.

E–excuse me!

…Oh! Oh?

Ah—Sorry, Prez! Were you about to leave?

There’s no need to apologize; You’re always so lively, Tori…

I was planning to leave, yes. Or rather, I was headed home, since I don’t have any pressing matters to take care of today.

Just like last night, it’s supposed to snow heavily today, as well…

Jack Frost seems to have taken a break until about noon, but it looks like we’ll see some severe snowfall soon enough.

There’s a chance it will stop traffic, so we’ve been advised to go home as soon as possible.

Or did you not hear the broadcast at lunch?

Umm… Ngh, I’ve just been thinking about a bunch of things, so I must’ve missed it.

I see. When you’re in politics, you ought to keep your ear to the ground. Though, I don’t think you need to be so thorough quite yet.

…Hey, Prez.

Hm? What’s wrong? You should head home soon too, you know.

All student council matters have been postponed for the day; even Keito said he would take care of anything urgent at home.

Um! Actually Prez, I came here to submit a proposal, or like um…? There’s just something I need to talk to you about!

Oh but, if you’re going home for the day, then I guess we could do it tomorrow?!

Whoa there… Calm down, Tori. Deep breaths, deep breaths ♪

There’s something you wanted to tell me, right? If that’s the case, I don’t mind listening to you… I can’t imagine it’s snowing already, anyway.

I’ll prepare some tea for you. You preferred yours on the sweet side, correct?

Wait, Prez, you’re way higher up on the totem pole than me, so you don’t have to get the tea…?

Fufu, just let me do it. I quite like making tea for people.

…Now then. Have a seat, Tori. You can start talking while we wait for the water to boil.

Y–yeah, okay. …Ehehe, I feel like it’s been a while since we were alone together.

It certainly has… Fortunately, it’s always lively wherever we go.

Yeah, I really appreciate that.

It’s way better than being alone in my mansion with no one around. And thanks to that… I always look forward to coming to school every day.

Anyway um, so first off, can you take a look at this?

I came up with a proposal for StarFes. I don’t think I can really explain it out loud well, so I wrote it down…

So I wanted you to look over it first.

…Hmm. It’s unusual for you to come up with a proposal. Actually, this is your first time, isn’t it?

I–is it that bad…? I thought it might look like I’m copying off others, but…

Not at all. With the unit system, the authority is concentrated on the leader, so it’s easy to forget.

But all idols are equal on a fundamental level.

Whoever thinks of and executes the most interest idea is the winner. Or rather, I believe that to be fair and just.

But it’s more convenient and efficient for the system for the leaders to spearhead operations, so that’s what’s more common.

The ideal is for everyone to stay on their toes in order, always thinking critically about things, to work toward being the best idols they can be.

If all you can do is accept whatever is given to you, then you have no right to call yourself an idol.

……

Everyone should aim to be not the tail of a giant monster, but rather the head of something, anything, even if it’s tiny and short-lived.

If you can do that, then even if you can only inch forward… you’ll eventually get to where you want to go.

Each and every one of us can forge the future we desire for ourselves without being picked up by the scruff of our necks and dragged along by some irrational fate.