The end of summer was right around the corner.
My not-so-pitiful friend Makoto surprisingly decided to kick off the summer festival without me, effectively executing his plan to cheat. In the process, he paid a total of 60 million yen to Heungsinso 68…
Yet, the very target of that kidnapping request—yours truly—returned safely to Trinity. The next day, I began strolling around the site where the festival would soon take place. What a real shame it was.
Especially since a third of the money Makoto threw around made its way into my hands, and another third was headed for Iroha’s pocket. If the person who dispersed the cash found out, it’d be a story that would sting in every way possible.
Honestly, I have a feeling Iroha would clumsily put the money back into the Manma Battle fund… If she really does, I might as well take good care of her myself.
“How about it? Isn’t this construction filled with the spirit of our Red Winter Service Department amazing? One can only admire it! Since the top construction experts from Kivotos worked hard on it, that’s to be expected!”
“Definitely impressive! Although I have to take a closer look, at first glance, I think it’s perfect!”
“Rest assured, there’s absolutely no shoddy work as promised, so you don’t have to worry about that. A sea spectator’s seating that can accommodate up to 10,000 people! With such a construction, our Red Winter Service Department will surely be talked about for a long time! And I, Yasumori Minori, am the principal person responsible for this project!”
Minori proudly showed off the magnificent sea spectator’s seating that was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Then naturally, she took a spoonful of pudding and brought it to her mouth.
“Mm~! This taste is the best. I’ve become so used to Trinity’s pudding that I can’t live a day without it…!”
She shivered and fussed. That pudding? I’ve tried it, and it’s not really that great.
…Or maybe it’s because I’ve gotten so accustomed to the top-tier desserts at Trinity that I’m just jaded.
“Phew, I’m worried about when this contract is over and we return to Red Winter. Everyone is completely tainted by bourgeois capital. By the time I noticed the absurdity, it was far too late. Ugh, not just the drinks and pudding from my hometown, but even wages surpassing industry standards—they’re toxins I can’t possibly resist!”
“Aha! How about we find our origins again with a light revolution after returning to Red Winter? You know, like sharpening our dulled days.”
“…Wow! That’s some pretty good talk coming from an unkempt bourgeois…?!”
By the way, Minori, wearing her plain work uniform, definitely looked less cramped. Compared to that thick fur coat… Ugh, it’s like the difference between a Samoyed before and after it’s sheared. The difference being, while Samoyeds shouldn’t be shaved, Minori can shed her clothes without a problem.
“Hmmm. I’m curious, did you skip building accommodation because of construction period issues? Or was it a budget problem?”
“Um? Well, that’s a bit complex. The size of the accommodation that will be built next year will depend on how well this festival goes. I expect at least one condo for both us and Gehenna. In fact, right after the spectator seating was completed, there was an enterprise that wanted to build a hotel here, but considering the competition between the two schools, that means two hotels would essentially get built.”
If a hotel is built on Trinity’s side, it’s clear that Makoto would shout something like, “What?! Those pigeons plan to build a hotel? Then we’ll build one even bigger! It must be much grander than theirs!” creating chaos.
But having two hotels here might mean both sides would have their rooms fully booked during the festival, which would be fine, but after the peak season, they’d turn into total liabilities. We must think realistically.
While it’s natural to expect an increase in tourists due to convenient accommodation… simply completing such a huge spectator seating is sufficient for this year.
“Well, that’s why we decided to operate several shuttle buses this year as a realistic solution.”
We could either park at the temporary parking lot set up nearby and walk here or take a free shuttle bus. This year, this is the best we can do. If it proves successful, starting next year, this place will truly become a serious resort.
As soon as construction wrapped up, I looked around the bustling beach preparing for the festival, mentally counting my beans.
As soon as the completion news broke, multiple broadcasters rushed in to secure live broadcast rights for this guaranteed hit festival. How successful this festival ends up being will affect my own standing. Makoto may not care if it fails, but for me, it’s entirely different.
If this festival flops, it’ll be a swarm of factions clawing at me, claiming the host dug his own grave. Having just dealt with the recovery of Arius, my standing wouldn’t waver for simple matters. However, once the news of me being re-elected as host gets out, the number of resentful onlookers will undoubtedly rise. All thanks to this mess Seiya has created.
At the time of promoting this, I thought I’d step back anyway, so even if it fell apart, I could wash my hands of it, yet somehow it ended up like this.
To thoroughly block the slightest chance of the festival going awry, I took special measures in coordination with the Student Council President: to call for some forces from SRT Academy just in case.
The forces that the Student Council President was about to provide were the FOX Squad, the best of SRT, well-equipped to handle any significant incidents. I was confident that the Student Council President wouldn’t be let down; I had previously confirmed that these guys were the ones who had emerged in the process of single-handedly stopping Kaiser Corporation’s illegal weapon development.
The basic outline was that the members of the Student Council and Justice Realization Department would patrol the beach, and only if someone from either the Onsen Development Department or the impending Seven Sins were to make trouble would the FOX Squad step in directly.
Since various competitions would see plenty of members from the Justice Realization Department and Student Council participating, it was necessary to be prepared for unexpected situations. Especially during team events when the numbers would significantly dwindle, it was unavoidable.
This situation wasn’t completely bad for the FOX Squad either. As long as nothing serious happened, it practically meant a week of relaxing at the beach for them.
The reason I didn’t involve the Gourmet Research Club is that even if Haruna was absent, they rarely caused accidents. Akari wouldn’t need worrying as long as the eating competition was there, and Izumi would be too busy exploring food stalls.
The biggest issue was Haruna, who wouldn’t listen even if I told her not to cause trouble at the shops. So on the days she comes, I planned to take her myself to ensure she wouldn’t create any problems.
Because of Nagisa’s insistence that I must call her over on the days Haruna is supposed to come, I felt a little uneasy about what might happen afterward. But this was something that wouldn’t just get pushed aside indefinitely.
“By the way, Minori-chan, are you really not planning to enjoy the festival?”
“Huh? Ah, I’m done with that. I don’t want to see the rolling sea or endless white sand anymore. I never thought I’d say this, but now I miss Red Winter…”
“Well, if that’s the case, there’s no helping it. You’ve worked hard until now!”
“Well, I’m getting paid for this, after all. Plus, I’ve been enjoying a level of welfare that’s incomparable to any working environments I’ve experienced before. Especially three puddings in one day… Ugh, I wonder if I’ll ever have to do such a luxurious task again?”
“Looks like you’re already eager to grab next year’s work! I might think about it!”
“…The Red Winter Service Department is the best in Kivotos! Never forget that, Secretary comrade!”
“Aha! We’re not supposed to be overly reliant on that…”
There might be a time in the future when I have to visit Red Winter for business.
I just hope she can hold back from saying such things in front of Cherino.
Seriously.
*
To be honest, I had something more important than the rise and fall of this festival.
Down with Gehenna.
I cannot lose to Gehenna. I ended up desperate due to a ridiculous bet on a not-so-funny slave pie.
In a way, it might be beneficial to think like Makoto when your mind is empty.
While I stress over the possibility of losing, Makoto wouldn’t be worried at all since he believes in his victory.
That said, it’s not like my opponent is slack; Gehenna will clearly find it shameful to lose to Trinity.
From the planning stage of this festival, I spared no expense on training our academy’s students. I brought in water sports instructors and provided separate training for students who would handle the boats.
Here, I realized we had quite a few advantages over the other side.
Gehenna’s students are mostly those who barely show up and cause trouble. Just looking at the main members of their named clubs, it’s hard to expect the unity that Trinity has.
Onsen Development Department. Heungsinso 68. Gourmet Research Club.
Are they really going to unite to snag points in a team competition? That’s preposterous.
In terms of personal skills, there’s no space for us—having secured Arius—to falter against Gehenna.
While I wouldn’t arrogantly claim victory, if everyone does their best, we should have ample chances.
One worrying aspect is if there are draws in things like beach volleyball, causing our academy students to exhaust each other. But that should be equally problematic for Gehenna too.
So, as I got the T-party kids moving to speed up the final stages of festival preparation,
“Kiheheheek!!!”
“Ts, Tsurugeee senpaii!! Puff! W-That’s too fast!!!”
I was supervising our representative athletes training at a beach different from where the festival would be held.
In other words, I came here to enjoy some nice weather.
But watching someone getting dragged along behind Tsuruge’s boat and struggling as they drank water made me worry.
Can we… really win this?
