Mischievous Function

Topping from the Bottom

To their right, Dot noticed the Mountaineers excitedly bouncing up and down and chattering amongst themselves. The captain glanced Dot's way and gave her a wide smile and a subtle thumbs-up. Both quickly faded, however, when she saw Dot's forlorn look and subtle nod toward Microphone, who was still panicking slightly, and the guilty looks of the rest of the B.F.D. High students. The captain's eyes widened in disbelief as her heart suddenly swelled in remorse.

"The Showdown aims to provide its audience with a real, authentic multi-performance experience," the announcer declared. "That is why we have several rules intended to uphold this goal, including but not limited to the following: Once registered, all groups must perform the type of performance listed on the registry. All groups must perform live, to the maximum extent that their performance type allows. And most importantly, under no circumstances are performance-enhancing substances ever allowed on our stage, especially since this competition is open to minors. One group has been found in violation of one of these rules, and will be duly disqualified."

As the announcer flipped the page she was reading, Dot let out a low exhale and shut her eyes. If this was how they were going to go out, she figured, she might as well accept it. There was nothing they could do about it now. Mic was barely standing and was merely waiting for the killing stroke at this point. The rest of the girls couldn't even bring themselves to look at the podium.

"For violating the rule that all groups must perform live, the group known as サービス☆タチ, or S☆TOP, has been disqualified from the competition and will have all associated awards and honors revoked."

The rest of the girls gasped and immediately turned toward the podium in sheer disbelief. Their hearts skipped a beat as hope came rushing back into their eyes. Dot glanced at Mic and noticed a similar reaction, though she was noticeably more shocked than the others.

"After an investigation into our systems," the announcer explained, "we noticed that our speaker system had been hacked, and pre-recorded leading and backing vocals had been overlaid on the instrumental track that we had been provided. Careful analysis of S☆TOP's competition footage has indeed confirmed that the members of S☆TOP were lip-syncing to their song. As stated in the rules of the competition, all groups who intend to include singing as part of their performance must sing live, and S☆TOP intended to do so. Therefore, S☆TOP is disqualified from the Showdown, and is, in fact, the only 10–12 disqualification."

"The only one?" Dot muttered. "Wait...but that means..."

Staff members returned to stand next to the announcer with the first-place trophy and the golden medals as the disqualified idol group left the stage in a mix of confusion and shame. The announcer set her papers down on her podium and resumed her cheery demeanor. The audience had grown significantly since they had first gotten on stage, to her delight. "Which means the modified standings are now as follows!" she exclaimed excitedly. "In fifth place, with a score of 54, proudly representing our very own Yoyle Mountain District: Y.M.D. High's Mountaineers!"

The group beside them squealed and screamed excitedly as they waved to the applauding audience. The staff member carrying the fifth-place green ribbons made their way over to them and handed out the ribbons, which each of the Mountaineer girls received eagerly.

"In fourth place," the announcer continued, "with a score of 57, from South Yoyle City: the Many Loggers!"

The audience gave them a round of applause as a staff member handed out the yellow ribbons to the line dancers. "Hold on..." Suitcase mumbled. "So if S☆TOP got disqualified, that means..."