AKI: "Morning, phew that rain will not let up."
AYUMU: "Morning. The day of the info session is finally here!"
EMMA: "I was so nervous I didn't get much sleep last night."
RINA: "Same here. I'm still a little sleepy."
KANATA: "Looks like I'll be rhe perkiest one for once."
KARIN: "Really now... We've done what we could, so let's see it through!"
AI: "Yeah, for sure! All that's left now is to put all our support behind Setsu."
SETSUNA: "I guess it's kind of late to say this, but are you sure you want me to give the presentation?"
AKI: "Of course. I asked you because I thought you were the right person to do it."
SHIZUKU: "You used to be Student Council President, so you're used to giving speeches in front of people."
EMMA: "We can definitely count on you to do a good job!"
AKI: "So let me ask again, will you do it?"
SETSUNA: "Yes, I will. I'll do my very best to live up to your expectations."
KASUMI: "Don't worry. If anything happens, I'll take over for you! You can rest easy!"
AI: "You'll take over, Kasukasu?"
KASUMI: "Don't call me Kasukasu! Please!"
AI: "No way, it's so cute!"
KASUMI: "Yes, I'm very cute, but you're not allowed to call me Kasukasu!"
SETSUNA: "That reminds me, the girls from µ's and Aqours sent messages saying that they were counting on us to get all the volunteers excited during the info session."
KANATA: "I want to say again that it really is so reassuring to have 1500 people showing up to help us with the School Idol Festival."
AKI: "Well, we only need 1000. But the more the merrier, right?"
EMMA: "We're going to make a lot of new friends who'll work hard alongside us."
KARIN: "Hey, what do you think about inviting everyone to the cafeteria for a little party after the info session?"
SHIZUKU: "Could 1500 people even fit? But I bet if we add some chairs and squeeze in, it might work!"
AKI: "Girls, shall we head over to the auditorium?"
AYUMU: "Ooh, I wonder if people are here yet. I'm so excited!"
...
AKI: "1500 school idol fans, I can see it now. Together we will build a festival of dreams, a festival of hope, the School Idol Festival!
Enough talk, time to greet them all. Open the doors."
*OPEN*
AKI: "...?!"
EMMA: "Wait... What?"
KANATA: "There are so many empty seats..."
KARIN: "I don't know if we have even 100 people here, let alone 1000... Is this really everyone who showed up?"
RINA: "Umm, well, maybe it's still early?"
SHIZUKU: "No... This is the start time."
AYUMU: "Then... Oh, I know. Maybe we told the volunteers the wrong start time?"
SETSUNA: "But there are already people here, so I don't think that was what happened..."
KASUMI: "Maybe the trains are stopped or they hit traffic?"
AI: "I just checked. There's no train delays or traffic, apparently..."
AKI: "Then why didn't they show up? Something must have happened. Can someone check their messages? ...Please."
SHIORIKO: "Good morning, everyone."
AKI: "Shioriko..."
SHIORIKO: "I truly regret to inform you that these are all of the attendees for today's info session."
AKI: "..."
KASUMI: "That can't be! More must be on their way!"
AYUMU: "Yeah! Not just 1000, but 1500 people signed up to say they'd volunteer!"
SHIZUKU: "They're just late. This can't be everyone!"
AI: "Oh... Guys, look at this."
RINA: "What's the matter?"
AI: "I checked my messages, and I have tons saying they can't make it to the info session. But they said that they wish us all the best."
AKI: "..."
KANATA: "But they said they'd help us... I don't get it."
AKI: "Th...This can't be..."
SHIORIKO: "I had hoped I was worrying for nothing, but this is just how things are."
AKI: "...What do you mean, how things are?"
SHIORIKO: "This happens a lot with volunteering. People are excited when they sign up, but the overwhelming majority will end up deciding it won't be worth it or it's too much trouble."
AYUMU: "No..."
SHIORIKO: "I believe that they do truly want to support you, but they lose heart when it involves any sort of real effort on their part.
They want someone else to do it and they believe someone else definitely will, so it's all right if just one person bows out... That's the way they all think."
AKI: "But this was volunteering... They knew what they were signing up for... Why did they sign up at all if they were going to let us down...?"
SHIORIKO: "I do wish that feelings and passion were enough to get people on board. But you must accept the reality of the situation."
AKI: "......"
SHIORIKO: "That said, look at how many people responded to your passion and showed up. From my point of view, it's a shock that even this many people are still here.
You have to live up to their expectations. No matter how few people turned out, you must hold a perfectly executed information session.
Also, I can wait until a later date for you to collect enough volunteers. However as per our agreement, I do advise you to bear in mind that you may have to give up."
AKI: "Give up...? No. We'll get enough volunteers, one's who aren't lazy, one's who care for hard work, one's who share our dreams. No matter what you say, Shioriko, I will die before I give up on this. It's our dream to hold the School Idol Festival!"