Chapter 76: Second Class 1-5 Replacement Battle [Live Commentary by Tanaka, Tendou]
After witnessing the exchange between Osada-san and Satsuki, I went to club activities after school for the first time in a while.
Since I was absent yesterday, everyone was worried about me.
I worked up a sweat with a clear mind for the first time in ages, it felt great!
Yeah, maybe it's better not to overthink things if I'm just going to stress myself out.
I want to get even better.
The next day, a hard disk is handed to me as if it's the most natural thing in the world.
Tanaka-kun? Is this that thing again?
Tanaka: "Kousuke-kun! You were on fire yesterday! After that, things got crazy in Class 5, you know?"
Yeah... well, Osada-san implied that Satsuki was the reason for their loss.
She made sure everyone knew about all sorts of things that could sow discord...
Has it already started to sprout?
I go home, eat dinner, take a bath,
and take out the hard disk. I can't stop thinking about it!
So, I connect it to my PC and, like last time, click on the video file.
Second Class 1-5 Replacement Battle
That's the title.
The title appears more naturally than last time.
You can really see how much Tanaka-kun has improved from his practice.
Like last time, it's the film club's clubroom.
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Occasionally, there will be commentary from Tanaka-kun and Airi-senpai.
It might be a little hard to follow, please be aware.
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Tanaka: "Hello! Due to popular demand, this is our second time! I'm Tanaka, a first-year, here to provide commentary."
Tanaka-kun bows his head with a quick nod.
Airi: "I'm Tendou from the second year, hello."
Unlike last time, Airi-senpai is in her uniform, with her hair and makeup perfectly done.
Her smile is natural and beautiful, too.
Tanaka: "At senpai's request, we made sure to schedule time for makeup and check appearances, so Airi-senpai is all set!"
Poko! Poko!
Airi-senpai hits Tanaka-kun—the way she does it is really cute.
Airi: "Why would you say that! Seriously!"
Tanaka: "I think I've learned a lot about women's dedication to beauty over these three months."
Airi: "...It must have been tough for you..."
I guess word got to Airi-senpai; she didn't say anything during club, though.
Tanaka: "This time, I asked Nagase Aya-san to do commentary, but she turned me down. So once again, I'm counting on you, Airi-senpai."
Airi-senpai looks stunned as Tanaka-kun bows his head.
Airi: "Wasn't I called because last time was well-received? Or... was it just because Nagase-san turned you down?"
The screen darkens as Airi-senpai is left in shock.
Tanaka: "From here on is the play-by-play. Class 1-5 is Mishima Satsuki-san's class. Last time, Second Clique girl Akino-san made a fierce comeback, with each group leading their own autumn events, and in the end, Mishima-san barely managed to hold on with a near-draw. The top girl was to be decided again."
Tanaka-kun explains to Airi-senpai.
Tanaka: "Senpai, Class 5 was competing against Class 6 in festival sales. Even before the results were announced, Class 6, with Tomonaga Yukari on their side, was dominating. The bet was that the winner would get priority at the girls' toilet washroom, and the loser would have to speak politely to the winner for the rest of the year. For the personal bet, if Mishima Satsuki-san won Miss First-Year, she'd win; if she didn't, she'd lose. But since Tomonaga Yukari-san won Miss Hokusho, Mishima Satsuki-san lost."
Airi: "I see, that's what happened. I was busy making yakisoba at that time..."
Tanaka: "Yakisoba? Now I'm curious... Right before this, Osada-san from Class 6 came charging in. Even though they won, Class 6 wanted to get along with Class 5, so they eased up a little on the priority thing, and even the polite language rule was softened to just using nicer words. So the bet between Class 5 and Class 6 ended under more relaxed conditions."
Airi: "That's pretty tolerant. Among girls, grudges can run deep, so if there's no hard feelings, that's a really neat way to smooth things over."
Tanaka: "Actually, there's a chance that Tomonaga-san's Miss Hokusho title will be revoked. Our side filed an objection, saying it was unfair to the other contestants. So Osada-san took the opportunity to look good by easing the terms, and got a reputation for being kind to the girls in Class 5, all without risk."
Airi: "Smart move. If you look ahead, being spoken to politely or getting washroom priority isn't that meaningful. As long as your reputation stays intact, that becomes your strength."
Airi-senpai might seem gentle and mellow, but just like last time, I'm impressed she's still a top girl.
Tanaka: "On top of that, Osada-san said Class 6 wanted to get along with Class 5 and respected them, but only Mishima Satsuki-san was not forgiven. Osada-san demanded Mishima-san use polite speech, but Mishima-san clammed up and didn't. If you stay quiet, you don't have to use polite speech, so that was her little rebellion. But during that talk, Osada-san said, 'The festival must have been tough. I know you worked hard. If you lost the bet, it's on the top girl who accepted it. We want to get along with Class 5, but... we still see Mishima Satsuki as an enemy.' That was the message. The scene picks up right after that."
Here, the screen changes.
The caption shows yesterday's date and that it's the end of lunch break.
There's a noisy group of girls gathered.
The girls from Class 5 are, of course, talking about what just happened.
Satsuki, who's in the center, speaks to everyone.
Satsuki: "But hey! It's good that nothing actually happened, right?"
....
The chatter suddenly stops dead.
The tension is so thick that even watching through the camera makes you nervous.
Akino: "Isn't that something you, Mishima-san, really shouldn't be saying? Whose fault do you think this all is?"
Akino-san's face is tight with strain...
Satsuki looks displeased.
Satsuki: "But nothing really happened in the end, so it's fine, right? I'm the one who has to use polite speech with Osada?!"
Ehh... But... Isn't it just how it is?
The girls murmur restlessly.
Commentary
Tanaka: "Now! The first one to speak up was Mishima-san! Like last time, she acts first to take the lead as the top girl. The challenger, Akino-san, immediately objects! She presses Mishima-san on who's responsible for saying nothing happened. Then Mishima-san snaps back, saying, 'I'm the only one who has to use polite speech!' and plays the victim! It's rough! Is she just selfish? Or is she being spoiled? Hard to say!"
Airi: "...Just looking at her face, she really seems to believe she took the hit for everyone... Did she accept the bet herself?"
Tanaka: "That's right. She basically said 'fine' and agreed to Osada-san's proposal on the spot."
Akino-san is pressing even harder than last time! Was she lying in wait for her moment to strike?
Airi: "Last time was as good as a win for her with that draw... but now, there's no way she can coexist with Mishima-san anymore, right?"
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Akino: "But that was the condition you accepted, Mishima-san! We tried to stop you, didn't we? You went ahead and accepted it on your own, didn't you?"
That's right, honestly, this whole bet...
You can hear the girls murmuring too.
Satsuki: "But hey, in the end, nothing bad happened, and even if we didn't get the top prize at the festival, we'll probably get an award, right? ...So it was a huge success overall, wasn't it? Even if I lost, I entered the beauty contest and helped draw in a crowd, right? Does anyone here have the guts to enter the beauty contest?"
Satsuki smiles and asks the girl right beside her.
Girl: "...There's no way I could enter a beauty contest..."
Commentary
Tanaka: "Mishima-san is insisting that although she took the bet, there was no real harm done, and the festival was a success, right...?"
Airi: "...Yeah, and she's putting pressure on everyone around her, like, 'Could any of you take my place? Maybe I lost, but I still contributed to the class, right? Could any of you do more for Class 5 than I did?' Like, if you're going to criticize her, you'd better have accomplished more. Honestly, this girl is scary..."
Tanaka: "...I always thought she was just being selfish... She's beautiful and intimidating, and the girl she spoke to just shriveled up right next to her."
Airi: "She's really making an appeal that she's the top."
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Akino: "We're not talking about whether you could enter the beauty contest or if you contributed. We're saying you took the bet on your own, lost to Tomonaga Yukari-san in the contest, and put the class at risk!"
Satsuki: "But! No harm was done, right? The event was a blast! Isn't that enough?!"
Akino: "It's not just about having fun! Last time, we all decided to work together, didn't we?!"
Yeah, they said that—let's cooperate, both sides!
But... yeah, for us...
The girls are at a loss for words.
Commentary
Airi: "Mishima-san realizes her argument doesn't really hold up. But she's pushing through: the bet may have been a mistake, but there was no harm! And at the end last time, she wrapped it up by saying they'd decide the top clique based on the event results. And since the festival sales were almost second place, they got good results and she's insisting she proved herself as the top girl!"
Tanaka: "The sports festival was exciting but they couldn't win, so she's relying on the festival results as her achievements... It's scary when you realize what she's really saying..."
Airi: "But even though she's a top girl, no one's backing her up, huh?"
Tanaka: "Ah, maybe that's because of Osada-san from earlier."
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Mishima: "Why isn't anyone saying anything? Isn't everyone cold to me since the festival ended?"
Akino: "Mishima-san, you left right after the beauty contest on both the first and second day, didn't you? Why?"
Mishima: "Why? Because I was exhausted from the contest and had to get ready, that's why! Akino-san's the only one speaking up, but is that how all of you feel?"
Akino: "Is that so? The Tomonaga-san who beat you, Mishima-san, came right back to class after the contest on both days and worked as a maid until the end at the maid café, you know?"
Mishima "I haven't lost! I just had votes taken away by the film club's sneaky commercial tactics!!"
Akino "That's what losing means! Work seriously as a maid! Appeal through commercials too!"
Mishima "I complained about it too, but that was unfair, wasn't it! If I lost because of that, then the beauty contest and the maid café should rightfully be our win!"
Akino "I've heard rumors about possibly stripping the Miss Hokusho title. But, that excitement, popularity, and the maid café's buzz were all because of that. A portion of our sales came from Class 6 customers being sent over or coming to us, you know?"
Mishima "So, that's just Class 6's leftovers, isn't it?"
That's right. It's like we did it together with Class 6.
Side by side, you know? Osada-san proposed a partnership...
Commentary
Airi "Mishima-san won't acknowledge her own mistakes, and honestly, she's already annoyed at having her qualities as a top girl questioned."
Tanaka "On the other hand, Akino-san is declaring that Mishima-san is losing in terms of attitude and contribution to class events, and Mishima-san got mad?"
Airi "Yeah, she's not admitting it. ...If she did, it might just be a fall from the top... but leaving midway through a class event... it's too pitiful after this, it gives me chills."
Tanaka "I'm also curious why Kageno-san, the No. 2 of the top clique girls, has been silent this whole time. After all, calling it Class 6's leftovers directly denies Class 5's efforts and is like admitting total defeat in her own ability to attract customers."
Airi "Right? Akino-san also knows this is the critical moment, so she brought up cooperation with Class 6 as a topic! Mishima-san wants to endure without a conclusion and settle for a draw. Akino-san wants a clear winner! Which way it goes depends on those around them, and it'll be decided by their past actions, right?"
Tanaka "If that's the case, the result is already clear... She's been too reckless."
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Mishima "Going back to the topic, shouldn't it be about who can produce results through the event's excitement or outcomes?"
Akino "...I know you worked hard for the beauty contest. But, Mishima-san, didn't you just leave everything hanging? If you're the top of this class, why didn't you take the lead for everyone? Why didn't you show up for preparations and left everything to Kageno-san?"
At that moment, Kageno-san, the No. 2 of Mishima-san's faction, opened her mouth!
Commentary
Tanaka "Mishima-san is still fixated on judging by the event's results, isn't she?"
Airi "That's her only chance to win, right? On the other hand, Akino-san has started appealing to the audience."
Tanaka "Will Kageno-san's statement here decide everything?!"
Airi "It's dragged on this far? If she practically managed the event, then depending on her statement, Kageno-san? This girl could be the next top...!"
Tanaka "What will Kageno-san say?"
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Kageno "This isn't getting anywhere. Shall we ask everyone? Let's decide by majority vote?"
Akino "...That's fine, isn't it."
Mishima "Why should it be a majority vote!"
Kageno "Because we can't reach a conclusion, right? Let's decide with everyone's opinion. The cultural festival's excitement, its preparations, the beauty contest, the trouble with Class 6, let's put it all together and ask the class girls for their support?"
Commentary
Tanaka "She proposed a democratic method... unexpected. I thought she'd side with Akino-san or support Mishima-san and decide the top clique girls, or even the top girl, with Kageno-san's judgment, but...?"
Airi "Does Kageno-san's expression look mad?"
Tanaka "Ah, she must be proud of successfully running the maid café that was completely dumped on her by Mishima-san, yet she was told it's Class 6's leftovers, so... "
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Akino "I had fun preparing for the cultural festival and performing on stage with everyone. We lost to Class 6, but we worked hard together, and I want to get along with Class 6! I owe them a little too, you know? ...I'll just say it. Mishima-san isn't fit to be the top. If Mishima-san is the top, she'll make enemies with Class 6, she'll just take the spotlight at events and dump the work on others, slack off, and she can't manage the class! It doesn't have to be me, I think Kageno-san is the right person!"
Satsuki was asserting something, but the majority vote overwhelmingly supported Akino-san, and since Kageno-san also supported Akino-san, Satsuki's fall from the top was decided.
Even if the top clique girls change, or the top girl changes, powerful girls often remain in their positions without change.
Like an ace player from a relegated team in the J-League transferring to a J1 team.
Akino-san nominated Kageno-san and her followers as assistants.
Class 1-5 started a new system with Akino-san as the top and Kageno-san remaining as an assistant.
No one spoke to Satsuki, who stood alone.
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Tanaka "Mishima-san said something at the end, but... no one listened... It was more overwhelming than I thought..."
Airi "As Tanaka-kun said at the beginning, it feels like the seeds Osada-san sowed all sprouted at once, right? There's not a single reason to keep Mishima-san as the top; in fact, considering the debts with Class 6, she could be seen as harmful... Her past attitude of dumping work and being uncooperative at events earned her resentment, scary, isn't it."
Tanaka "The fall event decided the Class 1-5 top clique girls' replacement battle! Will she accept falling in the caste system like this? Mishima Satsuki-san's face is downcast and unreadable... Third term? Or at the time of advancing to second year? Will there be a comeback for Mishima Satsuki?! And with that, the live commentary is brought to you by Tanaka from the film club and."
Airi "Tendou, the basketball club manager♪"
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It was scarier footage than I thought...
Satsuki, I hope you understand with this...?
But, a long time ago, my close friend Sho said,
Sho "If someone can understand when you say it, they'd understand even without saying it!"
In the end, I thought Satsuki probably wouldn't get it.
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It's been a while since the last commentary episode.
Was it hard to read? Sorry about that.
Thanks so much for all your support this year, I'm very grateful to everyone who read this.
Well then, happy New Year!
Aru