Chapter 4

Now, why don’t we take another look at the outline for Setsubun Festival.

The theme is Setsubun, and the rank is S3… However, due to various factors, it has grown to the size and scope of an S2.

The number of participants, the money invested, the attention it’s garnered—everything is extraordinary.

Well, it hasn’t quite reached the level of influence an S1 as, but this S3 will certainly be a massive, unprecedented event.

There may never again be a festival of such a scale in our lifetimes.

And so, let us rouse our spirits and indulge in the merrymaking.

In any case, it has already been determined that Setsubun Festival will be aired as an in-school TV program.

Due to that, this will not simply be your typical live performance.

As it stands, it will also incorporate elements of variety shows.

In this era, singing and dancing skills alone won’t suffice if you want to be an idol.

I imagine there are many people who have interest in the field, or who otherwise wish to gain experience in it.

They may not be able to compete with powerful units in lives, but if other elements are incorporated, it becomes possible…

It seems a good group full of vitality has gathered here with the intention to turn the tables in this very way.

It is already stated in the recruitment outline, but allow me to reiterate the promise here. The winner of Setsubun Festival will earn the right to perform on a special stage constructed on campus.

With the exception of the winner, all participants will perform as backup dancers or take on other roles to make the performance exciting.

They will become the flowers that color and decorate the stage upon which the winner of Setsubun Festival stands.

And at the center of it all, the Setsubun Festival winner will perform… Do you all understand the significance of this?

It is a way for those who have been buried in the background up until now to finally play a leading role, whether they want it or not.

It is a good opportunity for the seniors to blossom before their graduation, and for the underclassmen to gain momentum for their activities in the coming year.

It will be an unparalleled chance to make a name for yourself and gain tangible results.

Those who have made little progress and have been hidden in the shadows of other units…

Or perhaps those who are planning to burst into full bloom and are watching vigilantly for the opportunity to do so…

……

……

Kukuku. This Setsubun Festival will be the ideal stage for such hot-blooded young men.

It will be the door to success for those who have not been able to achieve it due to various misfortunes that befell them.

You are boys, are you not? Then you can grasp what you desire with your own two hands, even if you must take it by force ♪

However, the situation is different from the usual; kindly take care so as not to rampage out of control and get yourselves hurt.

Setsubun Festival will be a tad violent, you see.

At its core, the festival is structured similarly to a variety show. Or perhaps I should call it a survival game…?

No, no. It is a game of tag. A children’s game, how fun ♪

We, the idols participating in Setsubun Festival, shall run around the school acting as demons.

And because it’s Setsubun, naturally the others will be throwing beans at the demons.

By the way, it will be the program staff who throw said beans.

Naturally, it would be quite sad for the fans to be the ones driving us away with beans, and this is also a good way to prevent a tragedy…

Well, considering they’re only beans, getting hit would result in nothing more severe than a small cry of pain.

Nevertheless, a direct hit to the eye could cause blindness, and of course there is also the risk of slipping on the beans and falling.

We’re thoroughly aware of all the hazards this presents. So feel free to run amok within those limits.

That said, the demons are not allowed to attack. You are only permitted to flee for your lives.

During the set time limit, the demons will be running around the school.

The boundaries within which we can move is strictly enforced—Essentially, it is the idol courses building, and outside in the courtyard and around the fountain.

A map has been distributed to every participating member, so reference that as needed.

If you set foot into a prohibited area, you will be disqualified immediately. Please be aware of that.

Yumenosaki Academy is vast, and we have a large group. It is unlikely that every single demon will be caught…

But be on your guard, and know that if you lose focus, you will meet your end.

The devices that were distributed before are equipped with a GPS. The staff will always know where the demons are roaming about.

Escape will be close to impossible.

It’s additionally a violation of the rules to throw away your tablet. There is a loophole, but as I, too, am participating in Setsubun Festival…

I can’t just reveal my secrets so carelessly to my rivals ♪

Keep in mind that once the beans strike you, the demon is purged instantly by something purifying within the fukumame. This is the scenario under which we are working.

Those purified demons will then join the staff who hunt us demons and cast us out.

As time passes, more and more demons will be eliminated… and thus the number of people chasing us will increase.

It has a similar feel to a zombie movie. Those who are struck become the enemy; the pursued become the pursuers.

With every passing moment, the number of surviving demons will continue to dwindle, until suddenly you find yourself cornered.

And this is essential to note: There is no way to distinguish between the demons and the staff.

We are all wearing the same outfits designed for Setsubun Festival.

Should you approach someone believing them to be demons, you may very well get hit by beans and be eliminated… Such a possibility is not out of the question.

If you wish to survive, then it would be in your best interest to trust no one and keep away from suspicious figures.

Setsubun Festival is not one for units; rather, it is a festival for individual participation. You only have yourself to rely on, so toss away all your dependencies and weaknesses.

It is survival of the fittest, and the weak will be eliminated.

In order to find success as an idol, and in order to earn the right to perform in an extravagant live that will help you achieve that success…

In order to stand in the spotlight on that grand stage, this will be a necessary hardship.

It is a cruel struggle for survival. Of course, no one will truly die, so you should try to enjoy yourselves.

Out with the demons, in with the fortune. I wonder—Which of us will be the one to embrace that joy within ourselves? I look forward to seeing it; my heart is racing for the first time in a long while… ♪