Chapter 31: Embarrassment lasts longer than you think (2)

“Well, then I need to prepare materials. I’ll get up for a moment.”

When Senior Tachibana suddenly got up and went out to get the documents, only the three of us were left in the meeting room.

I leaned back slightly on the back of the chair as the tension was released for a moment, and Mizuki, who saw me like that, poked me as if she had been waiting.

“Rina, do you really think something like sponsorship is possible?”

Mizuki whispered next to me.

Just by her expression, it seemed like she was shouting ‘Are you serious?’.

“I also heard it for the first time. What are you going to do?”

Aya, who was listening from the side, also tilted her head with a surprised expression.

I smiled lightly and answered confidently.

“Yes, it’s possible.”

“…Don’t lie. You’re a transfer student. You’re unlikely to have connections with local businesses or famous brands.”

Mizuki pointed out sharply with an uncharacteristically serious expression.

“What era are we living in?”

I smiled and took out my smartphone.

And I turned on T-witter, the most active SNS platform in Japan.

Aya and Mizuki looked at the smartphone screen with puzzled expressions.

“…SNS?”

Aya tilted her head and asked quietly.

Mizuki still looked half-doubtful.

“That’s right. These days, companies value ‘word of mouth’ much more than traditional advertising.”

I continued to speak confidently.

“Our academy is a nationally famous academy. In particular, there are quite a few companies run by alumni of our academy. Besides, there are actual celebrities and influencers attending our school. If they post just one post related to the festival, it will receive tremendous attention.”

Mizuki looked at me, letting out a ‘Oooh—’ exclamation.

“So, you’re saying that by using SNS, we can naturally make companies realize that ‘our festival is worth investing in’?”

“Exactly!”

I smiled and snapped my fingers.

But Aya pointed out a critical flaw.

“Then, there’s one problem left. How to contact those people directly?”

Sponsorship cannot be achieved through SNS promotion alone.

In the end, a process of direct contact and negotiation is necessary.

I looked at Mizuki next to me and held her hands tightly.

“That… Mizuki, I’m asking you!”

“…Huh?”

Mizuki made a face that said she couldn’t believe it, and then she let out a deep sigh.

Then she shrugged and grinned.

“Yeah, this is what we have to do.”

Mizuki said, lightly tapping my forehead with her finger.

“But if there’s something like this, tell me in advance, I was surprised.”

“Ouch, sorry.”

I rubbed my forehead because of the tingling pain, and Mizuki still had an unbelievable expression.

But since it wasn’t a serious expression, it seemed that she accepted it as a surprisingly good plan.

It was then.

The meeting room door opened again and Senior Tachibana returned.

She was holding documents with densely printed tables.

“What, what were you all talking about?”

“Rina suggested a promotion method using SNS.”

Aya answered calmly.

Senior Tachibana raised one eyebrow slightly and showed an interested expression.

“SNS?”

“Yes… It’s about promoting using SNS and increasing local participation. Actually, there are celebrities and influencers active in our academy.”

“Hmm, it’s an interesting idea. But I’m not sure if sponsors will come just by promotion?”

Senior crossed her arms and stared at me.

Since I had already expected the question, I calmly said the answer I had prepared.

“It’s not just about promotion, we need to create a reason for companies to invest.”

I held up my smartphone again and continued my explanation.

“Takamori Academy is a prestigious academy that attracts attention from all over Japan. There are also classmates who are actual celebrities or influencers, and I don’t think it will be as difficult as we think to make companies interested in the academy event. The important thing is ‘what kind of promotional effect can those companies see through this festival’, and if the SNS reaction is explosive, I’m sure they will judge it as valuable.”

Senior Tachibana seemed to be lost in thought, flipping through the documents for a moment.

Her eyes seemed to have a hint of interest, as if she had heard a much better answer than expected.

“Certainly, if we cause a real-time reaction with SNS, not just aiming for media outlets like in the past, companies may also be interested. The problem is who, how, and when to move… the execution.”

I smiled and said confidently.

“First, I’ll ask for cooperation from people with high SNS influence in the academy. And I’ll also prepare a proposal so that we can receive sponsorship.”

Senior Tachibana nodded in satisfaction.

“Okay. Then organize a specific action plan and bring it to the next meeting.”

Senior Tachibana said, tapping the organized documents with her fingertips.

And then she turned her gaze to me.

“Now, I have something to talk about with Miss Kurosawa.”

Ah… it has come.

This heavy pressure.

And… that pile of documents.

I glanced at the pile of documents Senior Tachibana brought.

It seemed neatly organized, but every time I flipped a page, I felt the unique analog sensibility of Japan, which might be the point where the world in the novel became reality…

‘It would be easier if everything were processed digitally…’

But reality was not like that.

Under the name of this school’s tradition, manual work still remained, and the document organization method was also the same as before.

I sighed with resignation.

“Well then, let’s begin.”

So, I was trained in work by Senior Tachibana until just before the end of lunch break.

Document organization, approval stamp location, student council document classification method.

Even while doing it, only one concern came to mind.

‘How can I save this on a PC and manage it…?’

Actually, just digitizing it would be a big deal in this academy…

After a long meeting with Senior Tachibana, I returned to the classroom with a deep sigh.

The lunch break was almost over, so the classroom was busy preparing for class.

“Ah, I’m finally back…”

I sat down at my seat, put my arms on the desk, and rested my forehead.

Student council activities… are much harder than I thought.

The meeting is one thing, but the paperwork is really… I can’t get used to it.

“Oh, you’re finally here~?”

A familiar playful voice.

When I raised my head, Mizuki was leaning on my desk and smiling.

Next to her, Aya was quietly looking at me.

“…Yeah.”

When I answered weakly, Mizuki smiled and said.

“We were talking with Ayaring. About what Rina said earlier.”

“Yeah. I didn’t know it was such a great plan.”

Aya also added, tilting her head slightly.

I thought that Aya, who is thoughtful, would have already expected it.

She might not have known that the method would be SNS, but she must have known that it was necessary to do this thoroughly.

The protagonist in the novel also received help from Mizuki, so I thought it would be okay if Mizuki played an active role this time as well.

“Just… somehow.”

I smiled awkwardly and answered.

But Mizuki and Aya still had interested expressions.

“Rina, Senior Tachibana really liked you, right?”

“Huh? What?”

“Senior Tachibana, she’s not usually that kind to people she meets for the first time.”

“Eh… I see.”

Well, judging from her cool-headed personality, she didn’t seem like the type to easily get close to people.

“Come to think of it, Rina, you seem to fit in quite well with the student council~? Why were you trying to avoid it so much?”

“Is, is that so?”

I answered awkwardly.

Actually, I was trying to live a mob-like life…

Honestly, I thought I wouldn’t be able to do the student council work.

“Thank you so much for doing well, Rina.”

But the anxiety that arose in my heart quickly subsided at Aya’s soft praise.

Mizuki also nodded and chimed in.

“That’s right~ You were totally professional when you talked about that sponsorship today?”

“Th, that’s just…”

I scratched my head for no reason.

It feels like I’m becoming more and more the center of attention… but it can’t be helped if it’s to help Aya.

While I was thinking about that, suddenly the classroom door opened and the teacher came in.

Mizuki hurriedly straightened her posture and returned to her seat.

“Okay, okay, quiet down and get ready for class.”

The classroom atmosphere quickly calmed down.

I also straightened my posture quickly.

As expected of a prestigious academy, the class atmosphere is tight.

After school, when the class bell rang, I stretched and loosened my body.

It felt like a long day. But today, there’s no student council work after school, so I can go home comfortably.

At that time, Mizuki, who had packed her schoolbag, got up from her seat first and said.

“Let’s go! Home~!”

At that lively voice, I also naturally got up.

“Shall we go to the convenience store like last time?”

Aya suggested with a slight smile.

“Okay!”

I agreed without hesitation.

…While saying that, I remembered what happened at the convenience store before.

The incident where Aya and Mizuki shared pudding and ended up in an indirect kiss situation.

‘Ugh… I remembered something unnecessary.’

I felt my face getting hot for a moment, but I quickly followed the two to hide my awkwardness.

Still… what’s different from that time is that I’ve gotten used to hanging out with these two people?

Going to school together, going home together.

I wished this moment could last forever…

As we were walking out of school and heading to the convenience store, Aya suddenly brought up the story of lunch break.

“By the way, Rina.”

“Yes?”

I turned my head and looked at Aya.

“Earlier at lunch time, you were serious when you talked about sponsorship.”

“That’s right! You were totally like a professional~”

Mizuki also playfully chimed in from the side and poked my side slightly.

“No, I just said it because I thought it would be possible.”

I hurriedly waved my hands and answered.

Then Mizuki looked at me with sparkling eyes.

“But how did you come up with that idea? It’s not something an ordinary student would think of.”

“That… maybe I just saw it on the internet…?”

I made an excuse as naturally as possible.

But Aya was still looking at me with a subtle look.

“Hmm~ Is that really so?”

“…Why?”

I flinched for a moment.

Aya was looking at me with a more cautious expression than usual.

“Just, sometimes Rina seems to know things we don’t.”

“Eh, hey, no way.”

I laughed awkwardly and shook my head.

Besides, when Aya makes that kind of expression… ugh……

“It’s not like that, I tell you?”

“Hmm… well, okay.”

Aya smiled slightly and backed down.

But she still looked like she was thinking about something.

As such light conversations continued, we arrived at the convenience store.

“Chocolate, where’s my chocolate~”

Mizuki hummed and entered the store, and we looked at each other and laughed and followed her into the convenience store.