Chapter 2

Hm. I was actually hoping you’d be a little more persistent and try submitting more proposals until one passed, Tori.

I’m always willing to look over it, so my hopes are that you’ll keep taking up the gauntlet without getting discouraged.

Ngh… I did try making some changes, but I couldn’t finish it before today.

And it’d be impossible to pull it off at this point even if it did manage to pass, right?

…Did you bring that revised proposal with you? If so, I’d like to see it.

Uh, yeah… Here. I talked to Yuzuru a bunch since then, and I tried making some of my own changes too.

Hmm… Wait just a moment; I’d like to take the time to look over this. I could speed read it, but that wouldn’t allow me to grasp the finer details.

Wouldn’t it be better to read over it while we’re on the move, Eichi?

I can already hear the music coming from the auditorium! Star Fes is about to begin!

Nn… In the morning half, we don’t have a set schedule; the units who want to take the stage and perform, will…

So in the worst case scenario, we have the leeway to just make our way there slowly.

But I do have some work to do as overseer of the student council, so I shouldn’t drag my feet too much.

Well, I can also leave that to Keito, since he’s already gone on ahead.

Oho, so he’s already gone to the auditorium?

I keep trying to find my chance to pack him up inside a box, but he’s quite slippery… I would like to have captured him before the day is over, though.

Oh, you did say you were going to give Keito to me as a present, didn’t you?

If he goes missing, that’ll hinder the work of the student council, so cut him some slack if possible.

Besides, it’s not very interesting to receive a gift when you know what’s inside already.

Hm… However, this S1 is quite unusual, isn’t it? That’s true for every S1 we’ve had, though.

The morning half is meant to be a game of survival, or a fierce battle for victory, I suppose?

Yes. It feels somewhat similar to the Duels that Knights specializes in… but even more harsh and rigorous.

First, two units take the stage, each of them deciding on their own timing.

Then, those units will compete in a live showdown. As usual, the results will be determined by popular vote.

And the loser is eliminated and forfeits their right to stand on the stage.

This process repeats over and over, and the unit who earns the highest score is named the victor.

In the second half, starting in the afternoon, we will hold a hugely large-scale and extravagant live.

The number of units who can participate in the second half are predetermined and those with the highest scores will get preferential treatment.

If you don’t want to walk after the first half finishes, you’ll need to get as high a score as possible.

But the rules are strict: if you lose once, you’re eliminated instantly.

I do have some concerns that people will keep their distance and won’t want to get on stage.

If no one steps up, the event will stagnate…

And so we’ve had talks about getting fine or Keito’s Akatsuki on stage to fill the gaps.

So that we can be prepared for a situation like that, we’ve essentially planned to stand by and wait without performing.

Which is why we can relax in the student council room like this.

Hm… It doesn’t quite fit the atmosphere of Christmas; it’s a dreadful project which can leave you dead in no time at all if you don’t tread carefully. It’s like a battlefield.

It doesn’t feel like something Anzu-san would create much at all. …Anzu-san did plan this, correct? Since it’s an S1.

Yes. I don’t know why, but she changed her direction drastically in the middle of planning, and the project was taken to considerable extremes.

I feel as though she’s gotten a hang of things, and I had no particular reason to turn her down, so I accepted it.

Mm… I always thought Anzu would wanna come up with a plan to make everyone smile, not fight each other to the death.

I don’t get it—It feels weird somehow.

Fufu. She stared down the abyss of death when she was hospitalized, so maybe that changed her mind about things… Of course, I’m kidding~ ♪

Excuse me.

H–hello?!

Hey now, you’ve gotta knock before you just barge into the student council room!

I did knock, actually. You guys were probably just being so loud that you didn’t hear me.

Th–the way you said that pisses me off…

You’ve gotten way too cocky, huh! The student council still rules over Yumenosaki y’know, so how about you show some respect!

There’s no need to snap at him so much, Tori. It makes you look cheap.

In any case, it’s been a while, Hokuto.

You were once a member of fine, so I’d love if you would come to visit us more often.

I am Trickstar. Which means you guys are my enemies, and I have no intention of being friendly with you.

A pity. …But keep in mind, Hokuto.

You are going to participate in SS. Idols from all over the country will gather there, and so we, as fellow students of Yumenosaki Academy, are your allies.

So don’t be so distant; you can rely on us. Of course, I understand if you can’t put your full trust in us.

But I genuinely am eager to see your efforts in SS, all right?

I’d like to live up to your expectations, but first…

Trickstar would like to make a proposal regarding Star Fes.

Since I’m the leader, I’ve come here to represent the unit for that reason.

I thought we’d be able to meet in the auditorium, but you guys were taking too long to show up.

We have our own circumstances too, Hokuto.