Prelude

"So, in the end, the event is capped to just one day this year, too?"

said first-year General Affairs officer Kouta. "Even someone like the

president couldn't pull enough strings to make it work."

"It wasn't simply capped," said Sumire. "We're reaching a reasonable

compromise with the faculty and one that could give us an advantage. We'll

make them practically double the budget compared to last year and remove

a number of restrictions. If things go as anticipated, giving up on having a

two-day event will still be worthwhile."

"But capping the cultural festival to just one day…sets a bad

precedent, doesn't it?" said the Public Relations officer, another first year.

"I heard that year after year, no one really gets excited about it, and this has

to be why. This is too much, even for a public school."

"Not much we can do about that though, right?" said Sumire. "Well,

this is how it ended up, so we'll have to just turn that to our advantage and

get everyone fired up because it's only one day. This is the last large school

function that I'll work on."

"That speech was magnificent," said the Secretary. "You said, 'Year

after year, the student council has had a legacy of boring cultural festivals!

We could abandon that legacy, or I could turn it around!' right? The acting

chairperson of the third years was so moved that she gave you a standing

ovation."

"It's too early to get carried away. We're going to get all fired up for

this year's cultural festival. No, we'll make them get fired up. I went so far

as to make that declaration, so I'll show them what I'm like when I'm

serious. You all make sure to follow my lead."

"Well, we will," said the Treasurer, "but…uh, we're being supported

by Market Kanou, right?"

"I'll use any resources I have available to me—even my parents. Hey,

don't hog all the fries."

"Aren't you eating all the nuggets yourself, president?" replied

Kitamura. "Please, please don't put ketchup on them. Aren't you too old to

be eating like a kid?"

"I'm only eighteen, I'm still a kid! Give it over! I said give it to me!"

"Ah, stop, stop!" Kouta cried. "Don't fight!"

"No, you can't! That's not how you're supposed to eat them! It's an

insult to the fries. Senpai, here, I'm passing it to you! Protect them!"

"Eeeeek! Don't touch my glasses with your oily fiiingers!"

This transpired on a certain Friday at a certain fast food place after

school. Unbeknownst to anyone, a certain high school's six student council

members made plans for a certain event as everyone around showered them

in awkward stares.