NOVEL NEXT Makoto didn’t really give herself enough time to think. If that airhead started coming up with weird ideas, the momentum I had worked hard to build might just slip away.
And really, how could I possibly injure that handsome face? I’d regret it if I accidentally went too hard and folded Makoto in half right then and there.
Above all, it’s acceptable to put a bullet in a student’s brow for my conscience, but actually hitting her seems a bit much. The former could be claimed as self-defense, but the latter is just plain violence.
Lowering my gun, I take a step closer to Makoto. She flinches but keeps her head held high. If only she were just a little less of an airhead, the history of Kivotos could have changed, and that’s what makes it such a shame.
“Alright, then. Hmmm… I’m not sure if we should call this ice-breaking, but it seems the awkward atmosphere has somewhat lifted. So, I’ll get right to the point now!”
Although the only things broken are the brows of the Gehenna students and your building pillars, I guess you could still call it ‘breaking’ if you argue it right? If you disagree, we might have to go for some additional breaking, right?
“Listen up, Makoto. From now on, we’re going to hold a summer festival regularly. Of course, we need to start preparing intensively now to finish the groundwork before summer ends. But that should be a non-issue as long as you don’t do anything weird, right?☆”
Both Makoto and Iroha look totally confused by this sudden topic of the summer festival. Iroha might find the direction of the conversation a bit strange.
But it’s clear that Makoto, who just a moment ago claimed to hate Gehenna, is definitely thinking, “What the heck is this summer festival nonsense?”
“At this summer festival——”
“…What does holding a summer festival in Trinity have to do with us Gehenna? Are you seriously planning to invite us to that festival? If that’s the case, then your dirty intentions must be full of traps! I will refuse no matter what! Yes, I’d refuse even if you held a knife to my throat!”
…Should I hit her?
Control yourself, the Mikael inside me.
“Hey, Makoto. For every time you interrupt me, I’ll pop five bullets into your brow. Uhm… but, it’d be a shame to mar that handsome face. Right, you wouldn’t like that either, would you? So please cooperate!”
“…Is this really how the student council president of Trinity acts?”
You really are laying the smack down, huh? Everyone’s wasting precious time because of you.
“What I mean by ‘we’ is not just Trinity, but the combination of ‘Trinity and Gehenna.’ Do you understand what I’m saying? If it’s too difficult to understand, I can say it again.”
“Huh? Who do you think you’re calling a fool?!”
“Yup☆”
“Sorry, but that’s just a fact.”
I readily spit the words out and the three members of the student council express silent agreement.
“Wait a minute. Iroha…?”
“Ugh… Please don’t look at me with those eyes. Seriously, why am I getting caught up in this troublesome matter again…?”
Iroha, whose face seems to be visibly pale in real-time, moves closer to Makoto and straightforwardly asks me.
“So what does the T-party host gain from this? A joint festival between Trinity and Gehenna? Just hearing that makes me feel like everything will be a complete mess. The two schools are like oil and water; proper cooperation will be impossible. Instead, we’ll likely clash and end up with a ton of problems. Those of us in intermediate management will undoubtedly suffer the consequences… Ugh, I can’t even imagine how troublesome that would be.”
“Right… So, your name’s Natsume Iroha, right? The title of T-party host is too formal, so I’d prefer if you just called me Mika-chan or Mica-san!”
“Yes, yes, that’s correct. It seems you already know so well, so we can skip the annoying self-introduction… Mica-san.”
“Great! So, Iroha-chan!”
“…Ugh. Excuse me, but being called that by a Trinity person is a bit much for me, you know…”
Wow, she really hates it that much. It kinda stings a bit. It’s my first time seeing that kind of expression, and it makes me want to push the envelope even more.
“Hahaha, well then, getting used to it might be good for you! So anyway, Iroha-chan, are you interested in changing jobs by any chance?”
“Sigh… Go ahead, do as you please. It doesn’t seem like anyone who could be persuaded by my words would actually listen anyway. And just the thought of changing jobs sounds tiring and annoying…”
“Huh? It’s really not that annoying. I just saw Aco-chan and thought I’d like to have a capable secretary of my own!☆”
Iroha, you’re quite capable, after all. A capable person deserves suitable treatment, don’t you think?
“Ugh, cough! I might be somewhat capable! Anything for the head of the council! You really do have an eye for talent, Mica-san.”
…But Aco’s excessive loyalty and unpredictable actions are concerns. And her personality isn’t great either. I’ll admit her looks let her get away with it.
Besides, Aco is into Hina, so recruiting her is out of the question. Even if recruitment were possible, it should never happen. If it did, Hina would truly fall apart. That’s something that absolutely cannot happen, so I’m just throwing it out there to Iroha. To be honest, it’s better if Makoto doesn’t have any capable subordinates below her.
“Are you suggesting that I work as Mica-san’s secretary…? That doesn’t really entice me at all. I’d probably end up as collateral damage under someone who works even harder than Makoto-senpai. No, that sounds annoyingly dreadful.”
“Huh? I don’t think that’s the case at all. Important tasks in the T-party must go through the student council president’s hands. So if you were to come in as my secretary, you wouldn’t be that busy at all! As per our principles, I can’t pass my responsibilities to someone who isn’t another council president, so that part is entirely on me. And…”
“Wait, what are you two talking about suddenly? Iroha, you’re not considering accepting that wicked dove’s words, are you?! Before I get dirt in my eyes——”
Bam!
“…”
“Hey, Makoto. Could you not interrupt me? It feels really unpleasant to experience that. Yeah, this time was just a light warning… but next time, I’ll shoot for real, so you better behave, okay?”
Even though I said that, I have no real intention of firing at Makoto. That would just be bullying, right? What could be worse than harassing slightly lacking individuals? I feel a little sorry for the hole in her hat, but that’s all your karma, so deal with it.
“Iroha-chan, I’ll definitely ensure proper compensation and benefits! Oh, by the way, our T-party office sofa is really big and super comfy? Plus, the Trinity Central Library is the largest in Kivotos, right? If you come under my wing, you can read any book you want, anytime you like. Snacks will always be the highest quality and unlimited, and your leisure time will probably be at least double that of your work hours. How about it, any thoughts?”
“…How do the transfer procedures work, Mika-sama?”
What? I was just testing the waters, and it seems to be actually working. Is it because of the mention of having more leisure time?
Hmm… I might be getting a little greedy now. Am I really about to take her away? What if the Manma Battle shutter really goes down?
“Uurgh…! I-I said stop!!! Iroha, you’re not actually saying you want to transfer to Trinity and betray me, are you?! Didn’t we swear under the peach tree to bring all academies in Kivotos to kneel before Gehenna?”
“Ah… I don’t remember making such a vow. But I can’t help it. No, I’ll be sticking with you, Makoto-senpai. It’s truly unfortunate, but I must respectfully decline Mica-san’s proposal… for now.”
“Alright, let me know if you change your mind, okay? I’ll give you my Momotalk ID.”
“F-For now…? Iroha, please just refuse properly without making jokes!”
Well, I’ve just collected another Momotalk contact. But why don’t I get an affinity level? Can’t I see the affinity story too, like the teacher? Isn’t it just a bit of favoritism…?
Oh, I’ve strayed too far off-topic.
“Let’s wrap up the small talk here and get to the answer for Iroha-chan’s question. What I gain… well, it’s simple. The opportunity to trample Gehenna without repercussions. Does that sum it up?”
“…?”
Ha, the hook collector’s performance is top-tier. Feeling like I dominate everyone’s emotions is surprisingly nice.
“As I mentioned, I completely loathe Gehenna… your devils. However, when it comes to declaring war between the two schools, there are way too many moderate factions in Trinity. Honestly, out of the three student council presidents, two are moderates besides me… yep, that basically sums it up.”
I try my best to recreate a crazed look in my eyes and a spine-chilling smile. I have no idea how successful I’ll be, but hey, I’ve got nothing to lose.
“So what I came up with is to jointly host a summer festival… or more accurately, it’s a true showdown masked as a festival between Gehenna and Trinity. If we can’t declare war, we have no choice but to prove our superiority through other means, right?”
“…What?!”
“I intend to make this an annual event. Essentially, it’ll be the stage and slaughterhouse for our Trinity to utterly trample you every year. Now that I’ve made myself clear, I trust you understand well enough?”
“Ah, I got it. Of course, how could I not understand?!”
Wow, just look at the fire returning to Makoto’s gaze. Incredible. If only she had actual talent, she’d be the one to make Gehenna great again alongside Hina. It’s a shame she doesn’t possess that talent.
“All the details are outlined here in this contract. To simplify, we’ll hold competitions based on the proposed events and award medals for the top three, scoring points according to their rankings. These points will be consolidated by school, and the school with the higher score will win the festival of that year.”
And the winning school will have the right to claim the first part of the festival’s title for the next year’s Trinity & Gehenna Summer Festival.
However, due to fairness, this year’s festival will be titled the 20xx Summer Festival.
The authority for budget management and oversight during the preparation process will be entrusted to the student council president to ensure that neither side suffers losses.
“Makoto, I think you’ll understand just how significant this is! Yes, this holds weight that only a school leader could truly grasp.”
“Kekekekek—!! If this is what you wanted, you should’ve said so sooner! I won’t pass up the chance to deliver a humiliating and brutal defeat to Trinity!”
“Right, we’re on the same wavelength. I’ll treat you like toys before looking down at you as worthless garbage☆”
“Kisisis! You’d better think about how to suffer just a little less before being smashed!”
Makoto, boldly declaring, picks up a pen and hastily scribbles her signature without even looking over the contract.
Hanuma Makoto, I’m grateful you’re such a simple-minded kid. I really appreciate it. It seems even such an airhead can be useful.
“…Sigh, Makoto-senpai. What if you sign without even reading the contract…?”
“Hahaha! You really don’t need to worry, Iroha-chan. I didn’t mean to mess with the content of the contract.”
Right, why on earth would I be messing around with a contract?
Signing a contract should be done carefully.
And while that isn’t wrong, just having Makoto sign it moves me one step closer to the future I desire. There’s no need to do something that would easily destroy my credibility if caught.
By the way, maybe it turns out I’m surprisingly good at acting?