Starting today, I will be TEMPORARILY helping out Shioriko and the Student Council.
Geez, it sounds like something my parents would actually be proud of.
But this is merely TEMPORARY. And in this TEMPORARY partnership I'll give it my best shot.
If Shioriko's giving 100% as a TEMPORARY School Idol.
Then it's only fitting that I give 100% as a TEMPORARY Student Council member.
As a TEMPORARY part of Student Council, I must look the part. I don't think my usual outfit is formal enough. Since I don't own a suit, my winter uniform will suffice.
Nice, I've forgotten how great the Nijigasaki Male Winter School Uniform looked. I look like a professional idol producer in this!
The gloves are on now, Shioriko. I'll show you just what a Suzuki is capable of!
...
SHIORIKO: "Suzuki."
AKI: "Shioriko."
SHIORIKO: "You've done what I requested you to do, correct?"
AKI: "Yes."
SHIORIKO: "Now then, can I hear your thoughts on how we should proceed regarding discussions with the club heads at the next School Tour meeting?"
AKI: "I've read the document from the last meeting. Your goals for the Tour and for the future of the school, even if I disagree with them, they were clearly outlined and very easy to understand. I could...tell how passionate you were when writing it. But..."
SHIORIKO: "But what? You're reluctantly complimenting me, but not one of the clubs were satisfied with my proposal."
AKI: "It's all because it feels too overbearing."
SHIORIKO: "Are you just going to call me a control freak again?"
Still not over that, hm?
AKI: "No, not at all. I actually...liked some parts of it because it seemed like you were thinking of the school, but other parts didn't feel that way. Hence overbearing.
This goes for my club, too, but I think every club has something they aren't willing to compromise. That's why-"
SHIORIKO: "That goes for me as well."
AKI: *Sigh* "Yes, I know you're stubborn."
SHIORIKO: "And you aren't?"
AKI: "Believe me, I know that I am too. It's completely understandable to be stubborn. But I think the problem is you've been unable to have a proper discussion with the clubs up to now."
SHIORIKO: "What do you mean?"
AKI: "Judging by what Ayu and Setsuna told me, you and the club presidents ended up arguing. You won't get anything done if it's just like one of our debates.
It'd be fine if you proposed your ideas and asked them what they thought, but it sounds like you're being a dictator again."
SHIORIKO: "And there it is."
AKI: "No, I'm not using it as an insult, but as a comparison. A politician who doesn't listen to what the people have to say, and forces their opinions onto them. Complete Totalitarianism."
SHIORIKO: "No it's not. I told everyone to speak up if they had anything to say."
AKI: "But when they did, did you consider what they had to say?"
SHIORIKO: "If what they say is worthy of consideration, then I listen carefully."
AKI: "Ugh, once again high and mighty attitude. Let's just get off the high horse for a second and listen to what they have to say for once."
SHIORIKO: "I don't consider it pretentious. It's only natural for input to be deemed useful or pointless."
AKI: "See, you may not consider it worthy, but they probably do."
SHIORIKO: "..."
AKI: "See, it's important to see things from the other side. If anything, they probably think your ideas aren't worthy of consideration."
SHIORIKO: "So they can judge my opinions, but I can't judge theirs?"
AKI: "Not at all. What I'm saying is that we're all human, so it makes sense that, for an example, we have differing opinions.
But you need to understand that this isn't a debate, this isn't a contest. This isn't a case of proving your ideology is superior over theirs."
SHIORIKO: "If anything, that's all the both of us have done since we met."
AKI: "But we're not on opposite sides here, we've got a deal to stick to. We're a temporary team so debating is pointless.
Like we have to cooperate, you have to cooperate with the other Club Presidents. If you just dismiss people because you don't think their points are valid, nobody wins in the end. Rather than a meeting, it becomes a debate."
SHIORIKO: "I...understand, but nothing would get done if I simply listened to what everyone had to say. They would say whatever they felt like and then leave it all to me to deal with."
AKI: "That is true, but only if you agree to them. It's important to be stubborn sometimes, but to also be willing to compromise."
SHIORIKO: "My plan would achieve results for both the school and students in the most efficient manner. Even if no one likes it now, they will eventually realize I was right along."
AKI: "Once again, get off your high horse, take yourself off of the throne for a second Caesar. Thinking that your plan is absolute and that everyone will bow to it. Totalitarianism."
SHIORIKO: "But this plan can guarantee the shortest path to success, can't you see that it's what's most efficient? They will surely agree if they try it."
AKI: "You can't force them to. Total dictator action."
SHIORIKO: "I'm not forcing them to. I just want them to at least listen to it."
AKI: "Do you really think humans are that simple? They'll still want to do things even if they know they're not efficient."
SHIORIKO: "I do not understand."
AKI: "That's because you're thinking like a Mifune, an individual. Why don't you try thinking like Shioriko? A Student Council President who works in a team?"
SHIORIKO: "I don't follow..."
AKI: "Listen, it would be a shame if they never knew that you were doing all of this for them.
Rather than thinking 'I'm telling them what's best for them' try thinking 'We're trying to create what is best for us'.
Look, I think you can do this. Because, even though you think being a school idol is a 'waste of time', look at how diligently you've been practicing."
SHIORIKO: "Th-That's because..."
AKI: "Rather than thinking about how a Mifune would feel about something.
Think about how you yourself would feel about something."
SHIORIKO: "But what I am is a Mifune. That is who I am, I'd expect you to know as much."
AKI: "Keep telling yourself that's all you are. See where that's gotten you so far."
SHIORIKO: "..."
AKI: "But I know what you mean when you say that nothing will ever be resolved if you listen to everyone. That's the importance of authority, to keep people in line for the sake of creating a better society for everyone, rather than creating a more comfortable society for yourself.
That's why you need to figure out what points you absolutely can't concede."
SHIORIKO: "Points I can't concede?"
AKI: "That's right. Just like they're entitled to their opinions and ideas, so are you.
It's impossible to make them accept everything you propose, so just tell them what things YOU are set on, just like they'll tell you what points THEY are set on."
SHIORIKO: "Well, I want to easily show students the charms of each club, and I want them to know the merits of joining and how it can help them in the future. Also if they're suite-"
AKI: "GIVE ME A BREAK HERE! Once again you're just forcing a whole plethora down their throats and expecting them to hold it down!"
SHIORIKO: "These are the points I cannot concede."
AKI: "ONE THING! Tell me, what's the ONE thing that's most important to you?"
SHIORIKO: "If I had to choose just one..."
AKI: "Just ONE. Not an entire manifesto."
SHIORIKO: "I want to prioritize students' skills. Even if it means they may not get into the club of their choice depending on the tryout results. I am NOT willing to compromise on this."
AKI: "Of course you choose the hardest thing to get people to agree to..."
SHIORIKO: "Yes. But that is what is most important to me."
AKI: "Every club wants more new applicants, so no one will see this rule as a good thing. It'd be an overall negative for the school, too.
And besides, does the Student Council President even have the power to decide that students can't join a club without trying out?"
SHIORIKO: "I WILL convince everyone."
AKI: "Total dictator behavior. Abusing power to bend things to your liking.
Say, wh-why are you even so hung up on students' skills? You brought it up against Nana in the election, too."
SHIORIKO: "That is because doing something that you are not good at cannot make you happy."