KASUMI: "Did we really just bet the ENTIRE School Idol Festival?!"
AKI: "We sure did. Which is why I'm not laying around waiting for anyone to come to us. Now is the time for action!"
AYUMU: "Action?"
AKI: "I'm gonna need you all to help me here. But first, I'm gonna make some phone calls. I'll let each of you know when we're heading out."
KARIN: "Always so quick to act..."
SETSUNA: "That's our Chief!"
If I can schedule a meeting with every one I have in mind, then we will be in business.
This will require a lot of movement around the city, but I'm prepared to do anything to save the School Idol Festival.
...
FIRST, why bother leaving Nijigasaki yet? We've got school idol enthusiasts within our own walls!
Me and Ayu are about to ask two of the biggest school idol fans we know, for their assistance.
YU: "You want me to help at the School Idol Festival?!"
SHIRO: "It's been a dream of mine to work on an event like that..."
AKI: "Come on, Yu, we need your organizational skills in this. This is a festival where school idols and school idol fans nationwide come together and dream together!"
AYUMU: "I know you both can do it!"
SHIRO: "Heh, well, if Ayumu thinks we can do it. After all... I was the first person to agree to volunteer."
AKI: "Oh yeah, almost forgot about that. Looks like we didn't start at zero then."
YU: "A School Idol Festival... I kinda feel like I was born to help out with something like this! Count me in!"
AKI: "Yes!"
YU: "Ayumu, are we still hanging out tomorrow?"
AKI: "Hm?"
SHIRO: "Yeah, it's a day off! Are you still up for it?"
AYUMU: "I look forward to it!"
AKI: "..."
...
Okay... *Sigh*
SECONDLY, I need Rina to help me convince some of her classmates who seemed rather interested in school idols.
AKI: "That's them, right?"
RINA: "Yeah, my classmates."
AKI: "From the School Newspaper?"
RINA: "Yes."
KYOKO: "Rina, hi! Oh? Have we met before?"
IROHA: "Isn't he the guy who came to karaoke that one time? You know, that guy whose friends with Ai."
KYOKO: "Which one?"
IROHA: "No! I mean, he's the one who manages her and stuff."
AKI: "I also happen to manage Rina here, too."
RINA: "He's right."
ASAGI: "Oh wow, you've gotta be busy handling all that managing work. Even if the School Idol Festival wants to be held here."
AKI: "About that... Rina has something to ask you."
RINA: "Will you volunteer for the School Idol Festival? Rina-chan Board says, 'Please!'"
KYOKO: "Our help? *Laugh* If it's for Ai and Rina then you got it!"
ASAGI: "Yeah, and if it's a festival of school idols then it's guaranteed to be a fun time!"
...
That was easier than I thought. I guess that's the power of friendship that Rina and Ai hold.
Speaking of Ai, it's about time we stepped foot outside of Odaiba and into Tsukishima.
It's about time we paid a familiar face a visit.
MISATO: "You want my help?"
AKI: "Yes. You and the entirety of the Ai Pals."
MISATO: "The Ai Pals, I can see if they're up to the task. However me? I'm not so sure..."
AI: "Sis, come on, all you've talked about since the Joint Solo Live Show ended is about the School Idol Festival and how excited you are for it!"
MISATO: "I suppose you're right about that."
AKI: "The way you organized the Ai Pals to create those shirts and wear them for Ai's performance. It's apparent that you're pretty talented at organizing people. A skill that could be really useful for the School Idol Festival."
MISATO: "My, my, nobody has ever told me that I'm skilled at something before."
AI: "Sis..."
MISATO: "However, Ai has done so much to help me out over the years, I think it's about time I returned the favor.
Count me in!"
AI: "Sis... You're the best! I love you so much!"
...
There's nothing like a bond of friendship. Glad we've got Misato and the Ai Pals on board.
Ai's family even offered to set up a monjayaki stall at the Festival, so that's a bonus!
My next stop is to visit someone I only met recently. But however, I know she has a lot of school idol experience. And even if she isn't to perform at the Festival, I would love to see her at the event and I know that Emma would too.
MAI: "The School Idol Festival?!"
AKI: "Yeah, kinda forgot to tell you that I'm the Chairman of the thing."
MAI: "I would have loved to have taken part! Except... I'm not a school idol anymore. I'm retired."
EMMA: "Don't worry Mai, we respect that. Which is why we're not here to ask you to perform at the event."
MAI: "Huh?"
AKI: "You've got a dream to make the Natsukawa Photography Studio a success, right?"
MAI: "Right."
AKI: "How about promoting the studio at an event as big as the School Idol Festival by providing photography for the event?"
MAI: "A-Are you sure?! That could help put business through the roof!"
EMMA: "We said we'd help you out. That doesn't stop after you retired."
MAI: "To provide photography for the School Idol Festival... Looks like my time with school idols hasn't ended just yet. The Natsukawa Photography Studio would love to volunteer!"
...
Nice one! To get the help of a photography studio as talented as Mai's is a great move!
However, my next move is going to my favorite coffee place with Shizuku.
SHIZUKU: "Are you sure about this? I don't want you to waste your time on me."
AKI: "Of course I'm sure, the coffee place you wanted to show me didn't go as planned. However, here's a place I'd like to show you."
SHIZUKU: "Café Manmaru? Is that the family who own it?"
AKI: "Nah, it's the mascot. But you're not far off with family..."
KANON: "¡Hola Akihiko! Ooh, I see you brought Shizuku, long time no see!"
SHIZUKU: "It's nice to see you again Kanon. Wait... Does your family own this place?"
KANON: "Si, mi madre, mi padre y mi abuela. ¡Mi familia!"
SHIZUKU: "Wow! I love the atmosphere here, it would make a perfect place to read my scripts!"
KANON: *Giggle*
AKI: "Anyway, Kanon, we've come to ask you of a favor."
KANON: "A favor? Is this for the School Idol Festival? I'll do whatever I can to help!"
AKI: "Glad you say that, because we need volunteers. Any clubs or students in Yuigaoka interested in school idols?"
KANON: "Of course! We're all first-year students there, after all the school only reopened this year. Ren is the Student Council President, so I could ask her about that."
AKI: "That's great!"
Another Student Council President? I don't see what's the big deal with every one of them having something to do with school idols.
Well, Shioriko didn't help herself when she stormed into our clubroom declaring war.
KANON: "However, is it okay if I ask for something in return?"
AKI: "Sure."
KANON: "At the School Idol Festival, there will be a lot of refreshments stalls, right?"
SHIZUKU: "Right."
KANON: "Well, ever since mi familia found out that Liella! would be performing at the event, they've been interested in setting up a café stall there."
SHIZUKU: "That's a wonderful idea!"
AKI: "We should be asking you that! We would love to have the best café in Tokyo at the Festival."