Hyakkiyako Residential Region.
"You must be the famous Sensei from Schale!"
The one who said this was a girl smaller in stature than Hoshino, yet possessing an… asset Hoshino would likely never achieve even in a hundred lifetimes. She wore a red-and-white shrine maiden outfit that bared her shoulders, stood on towering wooden geta, and had round animal ears perched on her head, her hair tied into a tidy bun.
She was waiting at the agreed meeting spot, and the moment she spotted me from afar, she broke into a run with a bright, energetic smile, though how she managed to sprint in those shoes was a mystery. She practically glided across the ground.
Still, there was something about her tone that gave me a strange sense of discomfort, as if it was stirring up some long-buried, terrifying memory I'd rather not recall.
When I nodded in confirmation, her smile grew even warmer. She clasped my hands with both of hers and shook them enthusiastically.
"Hello, Sensei! I'm the cute and clever mascot of the Inner Discipline club, Isami Kaede! It's such a pleasure to finally meet you!"
Such a lively, extroverted personality—it felt like dealing with a cheerful child.
But wait, did she just call herself a mascot?
Kaede kept talking at a rapid pace. "So, about this request, it's really hard to explain properly in an email! It's something that has to be discussed in person, right?
"Basically, Hyakkiyako Alliance Academy is hosting the [Club Introduction Contest]! I want to make a video that can win the competition, but no matter what I try, it just doesn't come out the way I imagined…
"And then! Just when I was feeling stuck, I happened to change the channel after watching the hit show Beetle Queen, and there was a news report about Schale!
"They said you were mysterious and aloof, someone who never accepts ordinary requests, but they will do whatever it takes to achieve their goal, boasting a 100% success rate."
Was… that really about Schale?
Something about it felt off and yet, not entirely wrong.
Sure, technically the "100% success rate" was true, but that was only because I'd barely taken on any requests so far.
To avoid disappointing her later, I thought I should probably clarify that the rumors weren't quite accurate.
But then she continued, "And they said you're also kind and cool! Mature, dependable, and a trustworthy leader that students can rely on!"
I looked at Kaede's pure, innocent smile and swallowed my words, then nodded calmly.
"That's right, that's exactly what Schale is like. You can leave it to me."
As a cool and reliable Sensei, I couldn't betray a student's expectations now, could I?
Kaede's eyes sparkled like gemstones, and she jumped up in excitement. "Yay! I knew I could count on you, Sensei!"
Her open trust pricked at my conscience, so I coughed lightly.
"Ahem. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. I'll do my best, that's all I can promise."
But Kaede didn't seem to mind. "If you're helping, I'm sure we'll finish the video perfectly and win the contest too!"
That made me pause. "…Wait. You're aiming for first place?"
The request I'd received was to help her film a successful promotional video, but I hadn't realized she meant so successful that it would outshine every other Hyakkiyako club's entry.
Hands on her hips, Kaede declared as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "Of course! A contest is a battle, and battles are meant to be won! We're living in the Warring States era of competitions, after all!"
Then her expression clouded a little. "Last time, during the Hyakkiyako Karuta Grand Championship, the Yin-Yang Club snatched first place from us. I won't let them win again!"
If I remembered correctly, from the information I'd gathered online, the Yin-Yang Club currently served as Hyakkiyako's de facto Student Council.
And one of its members was a widely beloved figure, an idol across all of Hyakkiyako, if the rumors were true.
If we were up against them, we'd already be losing in both popularity and publicity.
Still, I didn't have the heart to crush her enthusiasm.
"And people always call the Inner Discipline club a 'bunch of weirdos'… If we can make a winning video this time, we might finally clear up that misunderstanding!"
I couldn't help but nod, feeling a bit of warmth toward her. It wasn't just about victory, she genuinely wanted to restore her club's reputation. That kind of reason felt far more admirable than simple pride, and it made me want to give her my full support.
Just as I was about to praise her sincerity, she clasped her hands dreamily and added,
"And if we win the grand prize, I can finally afford to buy the legendary Golden Hercules Stag Beetle model…"
Wait a second... you had such a noble reason, and that's where the prize money's going?
Sensing my puzzled look, Kaede's face flushed bright red and she waved her hands in panic.
"No, no, that's not what I meant! I mean… I'll use it as the club's activity budget! Yes, that's it! It'll also help me grow into a more refined lady! Truly, a perfect plan! Two birds with one stone! Such brilliant foresight… I bet anyone would look at me and say I'm already an elegant young lady!"
Her self-praise nearly broke my composure.
Honestly, despite her talk of becoming a "refined lady," my impression of her was more like a child pretending to be grown-up. She still had a long way to go before she could truly call herself that.
Still, I wasn't about to crush her confidence. I smiled and said gently, "That does sound like a win-win. A great plan, Kaede."
"Hehe~" She rubbed the back of her head, eyes curling into cheerful crescents. "Thanks, Sensei! If I win the contest, I'll treat you to something delicious!"
"I'll look forward to it then."
"Mm!"
She nodded, but her expression soon turned uncertain again. "But like I said earlier, when I tried filming before, I just couldn't capture that 'Yes, that's it!' kind of feeling. I can't tell what's missing…"
The next second, her frustration vanished and her confidence returned full force. Clearly, she was the kind of girl whose emotions played right across her face, much like Yuuka's.
"Of course, with a super cute Inner Discipline club mascot like me as the reporter, winning should be totally guaranteed anyway!"
Honestly… I was starting to think she might be more confident than I am.
"But, how should I put it… I feel like it needs a bit more of that, you know, bam! and wow! kind of impact! Something like that!"
She waved her hands around, making odd gestures as she spoke nonsense, but somehow, I got what she meant.
"You mean something that immediately catches people's attention, something clear, direct, and fun that highlights the Inner Discipline club's strengths?"
"Yes, exactly!" Kaede's eyes sparkled again. "So, Sensei, do you have any good ideas?"
"Hm…"
I thought for a moment. "Well, I don't actually know much about the Inner Discipline club yet, so I might not be able to give precise advice. If it's alright, could I visit first to get a proper understanding before I make suggestions?"
"Of course! That's how it should be!"
Kaede turned around and beamed. "This way, Sensei! Please follow me!"