With Yu in the picture and counting on the School Idol Club's success. I have something to prove. I need to increase my efforts tenfold.
It also means that I must have grit to withstand surviving this TEMPORARY partnership with Shioriko.
AKI: "I'm back."
SHIORIKO: "Welcome back, Suzuki. How did it go?"
AKI: "The Literary Club, Astronomy Club, Nagashi Somen Club, Science Club and Theater Club are all okay with your conditions."
SHIORIKO: "R-Really?!"
AKI: "Yes. We compromised on a lot of things, and I was able to get them to understand that you're thinking of what's best for everyone, too."
SHIORIKO: "I am glad to hear that."
AKI: "But the Basketball Club, Softball Club and Boxing Club still haven't agreed."
SHIORIKO: "I see."
AKI: "The Boxing Club remain silent, but the other two acknowledged how hard the Student Council works, and they came back with a compromise. See? Take a look."
SHIORIKO: "Thank you very much."
AKI: "Now then, let's try and use this to find some common ground."
SHIORIKO: "Yes. Just having them present their ideas to me like this is a huge step forward. Before, we were unable to even have a discussion."
AKI: "We all want to make our school a better place. If you're sincere and patient with them, and NOT pretentious, they'll be understanding.
If we can keep this up, I don't think we'll have to cancel the School Tour."
SHIORIKO: "Yes. However, I'm surprised. I had heard that the Suzuki's were good at coordinating things, but for you to be capable of this much..."
AKI: "I don't care."
SHIORIKO: "No, you should be proud."
AKI: "I'll be proud of my own merit, not through what my family name defines me as."
SHIORIKO: "You're skilled in persuasion, perception and organizing. Such talents should not be wasted on pointless matters such as the School Idol Club."
AKI: *Sigh*
SHIORIKO: "Suzuki, please explain to me why you hold such disdain towards me."
AKI: "You look down upon others, you're trying to abolish the club I love so much, you took Nana's position from her, you believe in shorter paths rather than hardships, our first meeting-"
SHIORIKO: "Our first meeting? That was so long ago... Though I recall that it wasn't a pleasant memory for either of us."
AKI: "Don't worry, I remember..."
...
*8 YEARS AGO AT THE MIFUNE FAMILY RESIDENCE*
AKI: "I don't want to... I had plans with Ayu!"
TAKEHIKO: "Don't be difficult, the Mifune's have two daughters around your age. You can become friends with them too, correct?"
AKI: "No, I wanna go see Ayuuuu!"
TAKEHIKO: "Listen to me and stop being a brat! Do you know how important this business partnership I have with Daisuke Mifune is?!"
AKI: "No, I don't care..."
TAKEHIKO: "If I can get this partnership, then Daddy can help his career. Daddy can make you and Mommy very happy, you don't want to make Daddy fail do you? You don't want Daddy to become a bum living on the streets do you?!"
AKI: "N-No!"
TAKEHIKO: "Good, I'm sorry for yelling at you, Akihiko. But it's for your own good. This promotion will make Daddy a very happy man.
Daddy needs you to make friends with Daisuke's daughters, it will help sweeten the deal, okay?"
AKI: "...Okay."
...
DAISUKE: "Welcome, Mr. Suzuki. I take that you had no problems finding our humble abode?"
TAKEHIKO: "None at all, this is an impressive and proud residence you own. I expected nothing less from a Mifune."
DAISUKE: "Thank you, hm?"
AKI: "..."
DAISUKE: "..."
AKI: "..."
DAISUKE: "Your firstborn son?"
TAKEHIKO: "My only child...yes. Introduce yourself."
AKI: "..."
TAKEHIKO: "Introduce...yourself..."
AKI: "My name is Akihiko Suzuki, it's an honor to meet you sir."
DAISUKE: "Such sophistication at a young age. I'm impressed, Suzuki. Your house servants must be top of the line."
TAKEHIKO: "Actually, it was me and Aiko who raised him.
We raised him.
We don't own any servants."
DAISUKE: "Are you certain?"
TAKEHIKO: "Very."
DAISUKE: "I do not see why you dwell on such pointless matters. If you hired a Nanny to take care of the child then both you and your wife will have more time to focus on your political ambitions."
TAKEHIKO: "That sounds... I-Intriguing! Yes, I have been so foolish to not do this already."
AKI: "...?"
DAISUKE: "If you were capable of this much already, I'm curious to see what you're capable of when you use 100% of your time."
TAKEHIKO: "Indeed, I see only great things in our future."
DAISUKE: "Now, as we had arranged, our meeting."
TAKEHIKO: "Yes."
DAISUKE: "But first we do not want your son getting in the way of our affairs do we?"
AKI: "..."
TAKEHIKO: "Not at all, as we arranged he will spend this period of time with your daughters."
DAISUKE: "Yes, however it will only be with the youngest. For the heiress of the Mifune family fortune is currently studying and has no time for such pointless things. Follow."
TAKEHIKO: "Indeed, I'm certain she will become just as strong as you."
...
DAISUKE: "My youngest daughter. She may not be the heiress of the Mifune family fortune, however, she consistently achieves the highest grades in every one of her studies. Speak."
SHIORIKO: "..."
DAISUKE: "I said speak. This is no time to be timid!"
SHIORIKO: "My name is Shioriko Mifune. It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir."
TAKEHIKO: "So refined and so intelligent. I only wish that my own son could achieve as much as her."
AKI: "..."
DAISUKE: "You must understand that the Mifune's have always been of a higher standard than the rest of the population."
AKI: "..."
SHIORIKO: "..."
DAISUKE: "Oh? And why aren't they socializing, Suzuki?"
TAKEHIKO: "Akihiko, introduce yourself and make friends!"
DAISUKE: "Shioriko, I advise that you do the same."
AKI: "I don't want to hang out with her, I want to go see Ayu!"
SHIORIKO: "I refuse to socialize with him. I was told that Lanzhu would be coming here."
DAISUKE: "You dare defy your own father Shio-"
TAKEHIKO: "Now, now. I'm certain that they will become friends if we leave them in solitude. Shall we discuss our matters over a drink, perhaps?"
DAISUKE: "I like the way you think, Suzuki."
...
AKI: "..."
SHIORIKO: "..."
AKI: "You're not Ayu."
SHIORIKO: "You're not Lanzhu."
AKI: *Sigh* "I'm Akihiko."
SHIORIKO: "Shioriko Mifune."
AKI: "..."
SHIORIKO: "..."
AKI: "Do you like manga?"
SHIORIKO: "No, I find it to be boring and a mediocre excuse for art."
AKI: "Um, you use a lot of long words."
SHIORIKO: "And why wouldn't I? I wouldn't expect you to understand them."
AKI: "Then what do you like?"
SHIORIKO: "Traditional dance, tea ceremonies and flower arrangement."
AKI: "That sounds boring."
SHIORIKO: "Then what do you consider to be 'exciting'?"
AKI: "I play piano. My sensei says I'm really good!"
SHIORIKO: "I will be the judge of that. Follow."
AKI: "Huh? Where are you going?"
SHIORIKO: "To the grand piano. I want you to show me what you're capable of."
AKI: "Um...I'm not ready."
SHIORIKO: "Then I will assume that your playing is mediocre."
AKI: "Okay, let's go. I'd like to play the piano for you."
...
AKI: "Phew, how was that?"
SHIORIKO: "It was boring. I felt no passion from you."
AKI: "Boring? There's nothing boring about the piano! Ayu likes to hear me play it!"
SHIORIKO: "I don't care who this 'Ayu' is. She's probably as simple as you are."
AKI: "Don't say that."
SHIORIKO: "Excuse me?"
AKI: "Say mean things to me, but not about Ayu! Nobody gets to say mean things about Ayu!"
SHIORIKO: "I wasn't being mean, I was being factual."
AKI: "Talking in big words doesn't make you smarter!"
SHIORIKO: "My grades speak for themselves."
AKI: "Studying is boring! Ayu always studies and works hard..."
SHIORIKO: "I don't care for you or this 'Ayu' you speak of."
AKI: "Then I don't care about Lanzhu!"
SHIORIKO: "...Say that again."
AKI: "I think she's probably just as boring as you are. And you can both be big boring heads together!"
SHIORIKO: *THROWS SHOE*
AKI: *DODGES*
*CRASH*
SHIORIKO: *Gasp*
AKI: "...You broke it!"
SHIORIKO: "I-I didn't mean to..."
DAISUKE: "What is all tbe commotion in he- Shioriko...did you break this priceless vase?!"
SHIORIKO: "I-I..."
TAKEHIKO: "It was Akihiko!"
AKI: "Huh?!"
SHIORIKO: "..."
TAKEHIKO: "He must have broken the vase. Nobody as sophisticated as Shioriko could do that. I want to compensate you in full, Daisuke."
DAISUKE: "I thank you for the offer Suzuki, but I am not convinced.
Shioriko, tell me what happened."
SHIORIKO: "...H-He broke it."
AKI: "What?!"
...
*RETURNING TO THE PRESENT*
SHIORIKO: "I...I do not remember that day. I didn't expect you to remember in such vivid detail."
AKI: "It's been burned into my mind ever since. It's the day I lost all respect for my father."
SHIORIKO: "...I owe you an apology, Suzuki."
AKI: "No. Now that I think about it, you didn't want to be there either."
SHIORIKO: "My father told me that Lanzhu would be visiting. I did not expect to see a boy like you."
AKI: "I was supposed to meet Ayu that day."
SHIORIKO: "Uehara?"
AKI: "Yes. But my father stopped all my plans just to further his own career."
SHIORIKO: "I'm sorry that my father said such horrible things to you."
AKI: "Don't be. It's not your fault he said that. However, the vase..."
SHIORIKO: "I was weak. I feared offending my father and risking him disowning me. I can see why you hold a grudge against me."
AKI: "Yet it was my Dad who blamed me for it."
SHIORIKO: "I apologize for that moment..."
AKI: "Thank you. Though, I guess we were both out of line that day."
SHIORIKO: "We had excuses to be. Neither of us wanted to be there."
AKI: "Yet our fathers forced it all upon us."
SHIORIKO: "It appears that you hold more of a disdain towards your own father than you do towards me."
AKI: "I've already told you what I dislike about you. But that can all change."
SHIORIKO: "I will admit that without your assistance, I would have canceled the tour. You seem to share your father's skills but not his personality."
AKI: "I'd rather not be compared to him at all."
SHIORIKO: "I never thought I would say this, but I think we could achieve great things together."
AKI: "...What?"
SHIORIKO: "I'd prefer if we could bury the hatchet, and use our combined strengths together rather than against one another."
AKI: "Are you suggesting...?"
SHIORIKO: "I want you to join the Student Council and become my Vice-President."
AKI: "It's interesting to hear you're impressed by my skills. But I refuse."
SHIORIKO: "Why not? You seem very well-suited for the Student Council. I thought as a Suzuki, you would have done anything to acquire a position like what I'm offering you..."
AKI: "It's because I'm not a politician. Just like there are things you can't concede, the School Idol Club is something I could never give up on.
I want to support school idols. I want to be by their side. That is what I want to do."
SHIORIKO: "I see. However, I will not give up on you, Suzuki. Together we can end this rivalry and build a better Nijigasaki High School."
AKI: "If in another life we were partners, I'm sure that would be the case."
SHIORIKO: "If you ever change your mind, please let me know."
AKI: *Laugh* "Give me a break..."
SHIORIKO: "Now then, thanks to you, it seems we will be able to hold the School Tour. We must begin planning the program for the stage.
I have prepared this rough draft. Please take a look."
AKI: "Okay. Oh, is this...?"
SHIORIKO: "Yes. Read over it before our next meeting. And Suzuki... I'm serious when I state that we can achieve great things if you become my Vice-President."
AKI: "I'm sure we could. But I answer to no one."