The newcomer had a round head and large ears, with bright yellow green almond shaped eyes. Its brick red nose stood out against the smooth gray fur marked with beautiful black and brown patterns.
Though small in build, it carried itself with impressive vigor. Every step had the force of a tiger's stride, giving off the aura of a heroic cat warrior.
Shizuko quickly stood up and greeted the tabby cat. "Ah, President!"
The cat inclined its head to her while walking over, then sat in the empty chair beside our table. Meeting me for the first time, it introduced itself.
"Hello. I am Hyakkiyako's Shopping Street's president, Date Meowru."
"Hello."
Date Meowru seemed familiar with the Festival Operations Department, sitting with arms folded and no trace of reservation.
Shizuko didn't hold back either, naturally letting Date Meowru join the discussion. Continuing the earlier topic, she said with distress, "What exactly are they dissatisfied with about the festival…?"
"No idea…" Date Meowru rubbed its fluffy chin. "But if I had to say something, compared to previous years, there is one major change this time."
Hearing that, I suddenly remembered. Shizuko had mentioned on the phone that they were planning an unprecedented innovation for this year's cherry blossom festival.
Date Meowru paused, then continued. "Traditionally, at the end of the Cherry Blossom Festival, fireworks are launched. But this year is different, right? I heard you're trying something new."
With a troubled expression, Shizuko nodded hesitantly.
"Yes… it's something we prepared especially for this year's festival."
As she spoke, she bent down and pulled a device out of a cardboard box beneath the table, placing it on top for display.
"This was custom ordered from Millennium specifically for the finale of the celebration."
Pina added from the side, "They say it's a super amazing device that can recreate fireworks using holograms!"
…Wait, what? A… cyber firework projector?
I stared at the obviously expensive machine, a bit lost. I guess it had its uses… like avoiding air pollution from real fireworks and reducing fire hazards…
But thinking deeper, in Kivotos this kind of thing shouldn't even need to exist. There must already be other, cheaper alternatives.
Take Abydos for example. Even when the air pollution reached sandstorm levels, the cost of fixing it each time wasn't that high.
Abydos declined simply because the sandstorms were too frequent, the living environment deteriorated, and residents and students gradually moved out until they were no longer able to sustain the academy.
I seriously doubted this hologram device would ever pay itself off before its operational lifespan ended.
This machine that could exist but didn't need to exist was indeed very Millennium like. I still remembered how Noa described Millennium's founding history to me.
But thinking again… considering Millennium's other typical trait…
This thing isn't going to just explode out of nowhere, right?
My brows furrowed. Without drawing attention, I shifted positions and placed the briefcase containing the Shittim Chest in front of me.
Date Meowru spoke again in a low thoughtful tone. "Looks like a very expensive machine… but no matter what, not everyone can easily accept change."
"That's true… but for them to cause trouble because of that…"
Shizuko's brows drooped, her eyes shimmering with disappointment. She looked so wronged. "I only wanted to make the Cherry Blossom Festival better than ever…"
I scratched my nose, feeling embarrassed and ashamed for having thought only in terms of practicality earlier.
If seen from her perspective, then the unprecedented hologram fireworks might indeed bring visitors a new kind of experience.
It was my own pettiness that kept me from understanding Shizuko's feelings first. That was my failing as a Sensei.
"In the end, these are only guesses." Date Meowru's voice was firm and cold. "And at this point, you can't go back on your decision. I simply wanted to say there may be people who can't accept it. Like wondering why students would spend this much money on something like this."
His voice wasn't loud, yet it struck with the weight of a falling stone.
And as someone who had held a similar thought, I felt a deep sense of shame.
"Yes… but we're not doing this just for fun or on a whim!" Shizuko's voice grew resolute, her gaze firm. "As the President of the Festival Operations Department, everything I do is to make the festival more spectacular! That I can say with confidence!"
Pina chimed in excitedly. "Exactly! A festival should get more and more fun every year!"
Their passion stirred something in me as well. I nodded quietly, deciding that for Shizuko and Pina's sake, I must bring Izuna back onto the right path as soon as possible, and uncover the mastermind behind the attempts to sabotage the festival.
From my view, Date Meowru's speculation didn't fully add up.
Someone who opposed changes to tradition wouldn't suddenly escalate to plotting the complete destruction of the festival without even voicing their concerns.
And someone annoyed by the cost of the machine surely wouldn't spend even more money hiring delinquents like Street Mouryo.
So the most likely motive… profit.
Whose interests were threatened by the festival's new direction?
Or perhaps the festival was only a façade, and the real target was the Festival Operations Department for making the decision to change it?
But whichever it was, the enemy was still hidden in the shadows. We didn't even have a list of suspects, let alone the information needed to narrow it down based on conflicting interests.
Unlike me, Date Meowru remained stone faced and blunt. With a short snort, he said flatly,
"Hmph. I see. Then go make it happen."
Shizuko smiled gratefully. "Even though you say that, President, you always help us. Truly, thank you for looking out for us again this year."
"Pina knows! This is what they call tsundere!"
"I am not!"
Date Meowru protested with irritation, then took a deep breath and calmed down. "So, what are you planning to do? You should really stop those troublemakers soon, or the festival is going to fall apart."
I perked up and offered the idea I had been preparing.
"How about asking others for assistance?"
Aside from using Izuna as a lead to uncover the mastermind and solve things at the source, they still needed help dealing with Street Mouryo's small scale disturbances. As said earlier, the Festival Operations Department couldn't go out to suppress them every time.
We needed more people.
For example, a certain anonymous masked swimsuit squad, perhaps they might be interested in volunteering?
Or perhaps Gehenna's overworked Prefect Head should take a rare day off?
Or Millennium's maid operatives, maybe they had time to accept a request from Schale?
All of these could be options.
As for Trinity?
Trinity was in exam week. Just a few days ago, the After School Sweets Club even asked me for tutoring help. Better not disturb the Trinity students. I sincerely wished them the best in their exams.
But after hearing my suggestion, Shizuko seemed uncertain. "Umm… there are clubs or departments we could ask… but would they really be able to help…"
"…Huh?"
I furrowed my brows. From how she said it, it almost sounded like she hadn't asked any other Hyakkiyako club for help before.
Could it be… I really was the first person she turned to after running into trouble?
The possibility of having a crush on me… faintly existed.
After thinking for a moment, Shizuko said, "Hmm, but this isn't the time to worry about that…"
Then Momoyo Hall's poster girl brightened with a smile. "I have an idea. Let's try it. But… we absolutely need your help, Sensei. You will help us, right?"
It seemed there was something she hadn't told me yet.
Thinking that, I still gave a decisive answer. "Of course. I promised to give my all."
Shizuko's smile grew brilliant as she nodded vigorously. "Mm, thank you!"