[Right now, I’m flying over the Special Mission Soul Gear Academy, where the battlefield diva, Kohou Mina-san, is studying. Normally, flying over the school grounds is not permitted, but today, we have been given special permission. Look, since it’s the start of Kohou Mina-san’s nationwide live concert, it seems many are eagerly awaiting the opening.]

Watching the live broadcast on TV, I thought, as expected, the school grounds were quite large.

Oh, I need to focus on my job.

[Make sure the press crew stays with the PR team. Also, no unregistered filming staff should be allowed inside the gates. Enforce the rules. If anyone tries to intimidate, call me and I’ll handle it.]

[Understood.]

After sending instructions to the PR team through the intercom, I took a moment to breathe and looked down at the school building from the student council room, which has become our command center.

The preparation time and publicity period for the school festival were woefully insufficient.

Despite that, today is a huge success.

“Good job with the instructions, Yuu. Here’s your coffee.”

“No, it’s not that tough. Suo-senpai’s security plan was thorough and detailed, so I’m just following it.”

“Still, there are a lot of people.”

“Of course, everyone shows up when the diva is here. Even a lot of young kids have come.”

The success is not only due to the buzz of Mina’s homecoming live concert but also because it’s rare for the normally secretive Special Mission Soul Gear Academy to openly admit outsiders.

Considering the rarity and confidentiality of soul gear users, it’s surprising to invite the general public inside the academy, even with an invitation system.

Well, recently, the student body’s barbaric idea that strength equals justice has rapidly declined, and the number of external intruders has drastically decreased.

This is all thanks to Mariko-chan, who has not only crushed every sign of rebellion inside and outside the academy but has even prevented any from sprouting.

During the festival preparation, I didn’t notice her behind-the-scenes efforts, but thanks to Mariko-chan’s covert actions, we were able to focus on the preparations.

I need to thank her properly later.

“Well then, I’ll head to the stage.”

“I’ll go too. If anything happens to Lord Hinoura…”

Chairperson Naze hurriedly tries to join, but

“Chairperson Naze, please stay in the student council room. You shouldn’t leave here as the one who needs to make judgments and decisions in case of trouble.”

Kotomi gives a reasonable explanation to encourage Chairperson Naze to stay.

“But…”

“If you’re worried, I’ll take Yuu with me.”

“…Understood.”

Reluctantly, Chairperson Naze steps back.

“Let’s go then, Yuu.”

“Shall we buy something from the stalls on the way?”

“Yeah. Looking forward to it.”

With the division of tasks decided, Kotomi and I headed out from the student council room.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

“Mufufu.”

“You seem to be in a good mood, Kotomi.”

Did she sleep well last night, or is it because she indulged in my scent?

“I’ve always dreamed of going around the cultural festival like this on a date.”

Kotomi intertwines her arm with mine, looking up at me with a joyful smile.

“Yeah, I’ve also dreamed of going around my school’s cultural festival like this. Until yesterday, I was completely consumed with preparations and coordinating things, but it’s all for this one day.”

I glance around at the festival with a deep sense of emotion.

Although there was almost no preparation time, the stalls and exhibits by each class were the same.

Despite that, almost no one opposed the idea, and everyone got into it with enthusiasm.

After all, we’re all high schoolers at heart.

Even though we’re in a special position as soul gear users, many of us still long to experience a normal youth.

“Your class’s stall is yakisoba, right?”

“Yeah. However, since the student council work was too busy, I ended up being exempted from both preparations and manning the stall. I feel bad for my classmates.”

This part really bothers me.

The cultural festival preparations with the class, overcoming minor troubles together, and strengthening our bonds as a class—that was the youth I had envisioned.

“I’m the same. I couldn’t get involved with my class’s preparations at all. But, considering the content, maybe it’s better that I didn’t…”

Kotomi gives a wry smile with a slightly conflicted expression.

“What’s your class doing again?”

“A concept café. In other words, a cosplay café.”

“Oh… Like maids and such?”

“Yeah, something like that. But since I’m short, those kinds of outfits don’t really suit me, so I’ll probably end up as a kindergarten character or something.”

That’s probably because you’re always carrying around that Chuusuke plushie…

I think, but decided not to mention it.

“Well, shouldn’t you just choose a character or outfit you like? The appeal of cosplay is becoming the character you love, after all.”

“But if it doesn’t suit me, I’ll just get weird looks…”

“We’re always forced to wear military uniforms that don’t suit us, so at least during times like this, we should do what we want.”

“Yeah… You’re right! Actually, there’s a character’s outfit I want to try, so I think I’ll order it soon.”

Chatting about trivial things, we stroll around the campus and arrive at our destination—the stage.

“Whoa! Look at the crowd around the stage!”

“This is even more than I imagined.”

The outdoor stage area set up on the school grounds is packed with people.

For the general public, Mina’s stage is clearly the main event today.

“Even with restricted entry, it’s this crowded. If it were open to everyone, the concert would’ve probably been canceled.”

“Yeah. There are still a lot of people, but the flow is being managed well. It’s thanks to those people.”

Kotomi and I look at the individuals wearing the armbands of the Discipline Committee, skillfully guiding the crowd at each key point.

“The Discipline Committee has become a full-fledged organization before we knew it.”

“With Marin-chan’s skills, gathering people is no problem at all.”

[A Group, guide people near the entrance. B and C Groups, enforce one-way traffic in the central aisle where people tend to gather. D Group, report on available seating regularly.]

The reason the Discipline Committee members are moving so efficiently is that Suo-senpai is coordinating them perfectly from the command center on the hill overlooking the concert venue, using the intercom.

“The Suo siblings have really increased their influence within the school through this festival.”

“If Marin-chan runs for the next student council election, I’ll definitely lose.”

As the vice president, Kotomi is expected to be promoted to president next year, but she seems to feel a sense of crisis as that seems uncertain now.

“Well, Marin-chan is only so active right now because she wants to help her beloved brother. As long as Suo-senpai doesn’t want to be president, you’ll probably be fine.”

With this, Kotomi and I concluded that we could leave the concert venue in the hands of Suo-senpai and Marin-chan.

We then headed off to our original purpose: welcoming today’s main star, Mina.