Chapter 31
"Honoka's condition isn't good? It's because of the news about the school closing, isn't it?"
Seeing the message from Mineo, Sonoda Umi was stunned for a moment. A second later, her slender fingertips tapped rapidly across the phone screen.
"Kotori must have told you, Mineo-kun. Right now, it's not just Honoka; all of us are feeling quite depressed over this matter."
"But a major issue like this isn't something we can solve ourselves. Mineo-kun, perhaps you can comfort Honoka. Kotori and I have been trying to talk sense into her all day."
"Umi, have Honoka take her phone. I'll talk to her."
"Understood!"
Umi replied to Mineo, then walked over to where Honoka was slumped and crouched down beside her. Tapping Honoka's shoulder, Umi spoke in a resigned tone:
"Honoka, can you please cheer up a bit? Looking at you like this makes all of us very worried."
Honoka remained face-down on the table, her eyes clouded and vacant.
"Umi-chan... is our school really going to close? Is there really no way for the academy to get new students?"
"Honoka, this is something beyond our control. Even the Chairwoman and the Student Council are powerless against this problem, so what can we possibly do?"
"Buck up. Mineo-kun sent you a message. He wants to talk to you, so answer him."
Honoka, who had been lying there without a shred of enthusiasm, sat bolt upright the instant she heard Umi's words.
"Right! There's still Mineo-oniichan! Quick, Umi-chan, give me my phone!"
"Mineo-oniichan is so smart, he'll definitely have a way out!"
Watching Honoka desperately grasping for a lifeline, Umi let out a weary sigh.
Mineo-kun is indeed amazing, but even for someone like him, a problem of this magnitude isn't easily solved with a good idea.
Moreover, Mineo-kun is far away in China and doesn't fully understand the intricacies of the situation here.
Seeing that Honoka had regained a spark of spirit, Umi didn't say anything more. She picked up Honoka's phone from the desk and handed it over.
The moment Honoka received the device, she immediately replied to Mineo.
"Mineo-oniichan! I'm here, I'm here!"
"Mineo-oniichan, our school is in big trouble!"
"Honoka... I already heard the gist of it from Kotori-chan... but right now, being in a daze isn't going to solve a thing... To face this crisis, you first need to pull yourself together!"
"Only after that can we calm down and think of a solution!"
Seeing Mineo's message, Honoka bit her lower lip.
"Mineo-oniichan, I've tried thinking of ways all day... But... but everyone says... we should just enjoy our final time at the academy... Is there really no way... to... to keep this school alive?"
"It's not just me, but Kotori-chan, Umi-chan, and everyone else—we don't want the school to just disappear like this!"
"Honoka, I told you, don't get too emotional! To save the school, there is still a way!"
"Really? Mineo-oniichan really has a way?"
"Yes! There is a way, but it will require immense effort from your side to make it a reality!"
"Immense effort? I'm willing, I'm totally willing! If it can save the school, Mineo-oniichan can tell me to do anything!"
"Honoka, it's not about me telling you to do something!"
"Rather, it's about you doing something for your school!"
"After hearing about the problem from Kotori-chan, I looked up some information online regarding the actual situation your school is facing."
"I won't talk about Otonokizaka Academy's past glory. But right now, the number of applicants for your school is almost at zero."
"Without new students, the school loses its reason to exist, so the education department's decision to shut it down is completely understandable."
"So... to solve the crisis at its root, your school has to find a way to attract a large number of new students."
"Have you ever heard of School Idols?"
"School Idols? What's that!?"
"You can look up what a School Idol is yourself. The solution I'm giving you now is... you should think about forming a School Idol group at the school."
"Just like any other star music group, as long as the School Idol group you form can capture widespread attention and gain positive recognition locally, then naturally, many people will be willing to apply to your school."
"By doing that, the crisis will resolve itself."
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