You're looking well.
I'm feeling well.
You've certainly been keeping busy.
Given who we're up against.
These last several days have been so dull,
not being able to fight nanashi in Tackfam and all.
Oh? That's strange.
Strange?
After all,
nanashi's been fighting NO NAME this whole time.
Huh!
So I can get my hopes up?
Well, I don't know.
But I've done my very nanashi best.
I see!
"Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki"
"Lv. 7: When a mentor character becomes a boss, they'll push you to the edge"
This has been the agenda for the Aoi Hinami Fan Club--
I mean...
...my campaign speech for Aoi Hinami.
That was a supporting speech from campaign manager Takahiro Mizusawa.
Now for the campaign speech from student-council president candidate Aoi Hinami.
Go right ahead.
"I support Minami Nanami because"...
Good morning.
I'm Aoi Hinami, and I'm running for student-council president.
Honestly, I bet there are a lot of people out there who are thinking:
"It doesn't matter who wins. We'll never see real change."
However!
There's just one little thing I'd like to tell those people:
You're right.
Oh, jeez--she's already going over great!
That's Hinami for you.
But we've got our strategy, remember?
We don't have to get all the votes.
Right. If we can just get the athletes with the ball pump
and the first-years with the air conditioners--
By the way...
Do you have any complaints about this school?
Like, the school store has a poor selection,
or you'd like the option of bigger portions in the lunchroom,
or our sports festival is too small,
or you want an electric ball pump?
When I'm president, I'd like to find a solution for each complaint in turn.
But I've decided to make only one campaign promise.
And that is...
...to install air conditioners in every classroom!
Wh-What now, Tomozaki?
How--? What's going on?!
We had to settle for pitching A/C to just the first-years,
and here she is in front of the whole school, making it her whole platform.
And yet...
Quiet, please! Can we please have some quiet?
Still, this is not the easiest promise on which to follow through.
Even now, the teachers over there are looking skeptical.
I can already hear those teachers talking amongst themselves
once this speech has ended and the assembly is over:
"Air conditioners in every classroom? Ridiculous!"
In their perfectly chilled teachers' lounge, of course.
Yeah!
What's going on?
A common interest.
Influential powers of persuasion.
Is this you "controlling the mood," Hinami?
And so, I pledge to work hard on this and many other issues.
If you feel the same way, cast your vote for me: Aoi Hinami!
That choice...
...is HEXactly right!
"Sekitomo"
And that's all!
Thanks!
--That was a supporting speech from campaign manager Yumiko Yamashita.
--Thanks! --That was a supporting speech from campaign manager Yumiko Yamashita.
I'm so sorry!
I stumbled over my words there...
No, no, you're totally fine!
You did a real good job, Yumi.
Senpai...
Now for the campaign speech from student-council president candidate Minami Nanami.
Here I go!
Go get 'em, Mimimi-senpai!
Let's get started.
Which is one reason, but as Ms. Kawamura said,
"Just, you know, whatever. Don't go overboard."
So: whatever! I'll work hard without going overboard!
"Settings" "Sound and Touch" "Notifications and Alerts"
All jokes aside...
I do want our school to be fun to attend, one we can be proud of.
And that's why, first of all,
--I want to enrich our core academic and extracurricular aspects,
--Watch closely, Hinami. This is how nanashi fights. --I want to enrich our core academic and extracurricular aspects,
--Watch closely, Hinami. This is how nanashi fights. --then work on expanding our school events as well.
All in the name of bumping up Sekitomo High's school spirit, of course!
Hey, Navi: Turn off the alarm.
I've turned off the alarm.
Hey, Navi: Who's going to be student-council president?
I'm Navi, your virtual assistant.
I didn't ask for an introduction!
Enough about me. How can I help?
Hey!
--You can't take a foe like Hinami head-on. You have to strike a blind spot.
--No, no! I'm asking you about the election! --You can't take a foe like Hinami head-on. You have to strike a blind spot.
--I knew how Mimimi looked to the student body right now:
--I found this information about upcoming local elections. --I knew how Mimimi looked to the student body right now:
--I found this information about upcoming local elections. --"Now there's a candidate who can really adlib in the face of a sudden blunder."
--Not that! The student-council president election! --"Now there's a candidate who can really adlib in the face of a sudden blunder."
Tell me this, Navi: Will you vote for me?
I'm sorry. I don't understand.
Oh, come on!
Well, it looks like Navi won't be voting for me,
but I certainly hope you all will!
I'm counting on you!
That was the campaign speech from candidate Minami Nanami. Thank you.
Brain!
--Mimimi-senpai, that was fantastic!
--Brain! --Mimimi-senpai, that was fantastic!
That was all adlibbed, wasn't it?!
H-Hey, uh...
Mi-Mimi-Mi-Mi!
Whoopsie!
Was that a little too much for you, Tomozaki?
Tee-hee!
Well done!
Hey, Aoi!
Nice job, Mimimi.
So, Tomozaki... you were helping out, too, huh?
Well... you know.
Skip the details!
Just know that Tomozaki did a great job!
Huh...
C'mon, Takahiro!
After all, until the final tally comes in, we're rivals.
That's right!
Bye!
The vibe of those two together...
Maybe the rumors are right and they are dating.
Eh?
We did what we could.
"Ballot" "Student Council President"
We did what we could.
"Ballot" "Student Council President"
All that's left is to wait for the results.
"Student Council President Election Results Aoi Hinami: 416 Votes (Winner) Minami Nanami: 131 Votes"
"Tropical Grape"
Good job, Tomozaki!
You were a huge help. Thanks!
Uh, sure.
Man, what a bummer!
Well, I may have lost this time, but there's always next time, right?
Fall today, rise tomorrow.
Yeah, exactly! Oh, bravo, Brain! Well said!
Always look forward, with the wind at your back!
And if you do fall, just run that much faster to catch up!
I can't tell if this is how she really feels or if it's just bluster.
But...
Right!
And you'll have other chances to compete against Hinami.
You bet!
Before we begin, I'd like to clarify something.
Hmm? What's that?
That little Navi "accident"--you had that all planned out, didn't you?
Yeah. It was all scripted.
I knew it!
That was going to get her over the finish line, but it didn't work in the end.
Not in terms of election results, no.
But you surprised me. That was fun!
Uh... okay.
Now that? That was very nanashi.
"Super Attack Families"
Seems the legend who flipped Tackfam on its head
by bringing combo tactics to a hit-and-run game really is all he's cracked up to be.
But you played dirty, crushing our entire strategy like that.
If you're going to help Mimimi, you're going to have to be a lot more discreet.
With nanashi involved, I figured there'd be some unique tactics--
so I squashed that efficient vote-winner of a campaign promise
with brute force.
I underestimated you.
I may have won this time, but I got a feel for your potential.
It was quite a surprise!
And a lot of fun!
So keep on applying yourself here in this thing called "life."
Got that?
That is the plan, but yeah.
Excellent!
Now, then--let's finish up that "go out alone with a girl" task!
Tomozaki?
Yuh?
Um...
"Library"
Aren't you going in?
"Library"
Oh, um, yeah! I am. I'm going in.
"The Angel and the Caged Bird" "Hey, do you want to see a movie this weekend?"
That's not it.
"There's this movie I'm interested in..."
"Kikuchi, did you hear? There's an Andi film playing in Shibuya right now..."
Or something.
Um... is everything okay?
Huh? Oh! Er...
Hey, um... See, uh...
There's an Andi film playing at this theater--
In Shi-Shibuya!
I... I'm sorry.
I-It's fine.
Tomozaki? Your face is all red.
So is yours.
Um, so... well, uh...
Uh-huh?
Would you...
Would you like to come see it... with me?
Uh-huh!
"Tomozaki"
I'm one step closer to my goal.
But while I'm at it, I may as well read more of Andi's books.
It'll give me something to talk about with Kikuchi.
And besides...
This guy's books?
They're good!
I'll be closing up soon.
Huh?
Wow, that late already...
Tama?
Tomozaki!
Were you in the library?
Yeah.
Aoi and Minmi are running way out ahead of everyone else.
Wow.
I think she's probably competing with Aoi.
Heck, I know she is.
Maybe so.
Too bad about the election, huh?
Yeah.
I mean, it's Aoi. You can't beat her.
Right.
See, with Minmi...
Hmm?
Even if Minmi can't win, she won't give in.
So I wish she'd quit taking on Aoi, at least.
She's a little... scary, I guess?
And that's why...
That's why I want to win.
I get that.
It sucks being the loser.
Mimimi had never practiced for that long before yesterday.
I've always been the only one still hanging around to the bitter end.
And then today, she shows up for morning practice even before I do.
Huh? Seriously?
I-I mean...
You come here after practice every day?
Yes, and...?
Like it's no big deal!
Hey...
Let me ask you something.
What is it?
You might be the same way when it comes to games--Tackfam in particular.
Checking up on your goals, analyzing your progress,
and getting what you need through trial and error.
Moving forward in this way is what we call "effort," is it not?
Yeah. Sure.
And making repeated efforts with zero compromise,
just a single-minded push forward...
Is there something wrong with that?
Huh? I mean, that's...
I don't think there's anything wrong with it.
You already have your answer!
I don't think so, either. Effort's not a bad thing.
Right. I basically feel mostly the same way.
"Mostly"?
However...
When you make a lot of effort in the game of life,
things may come up that can't be solved so easily.
In my experience, anyway.
Don't give it too much thought.
Yo, Brain!
Whoa! Mi-Mimi-Mi-Mi-Mi-Mimimi!
That sounds familiar!
Thinking about something?
Is this when you finally confess your love? To me?
N-No!
Listen...
I hear you're putting a lot of effort into your practices lately.
Yep! I'm working really, really hard! Same goes for my studies!
I've got a lot of catching up to do after losing the election.
I'm rooting for you. As a gamer.
Dude, what?
Hey, who told you about my practices, anyway?
Hmm? Hinami did.
Huh! Who knew?
Ooh, how'd she tell you?
Um... how? I mean... normally?
Like always.
Is that so?
Well, whatever.
Look, I'm heading to the lunchroom. What about you?
I'm just going to grab a pastry or something from the store.
Ah-ha!
Roger that!
Later!
Wait, was that...
Was that an invitation?
Tama?
Tomozaki.
Watching practice again?
Yeah.
Mimimi's working hard.
Yeah, she is.
Hinami said Mimimi even beat her to morning practice today.
Huh.
Ever since the election, I bet.
Yeah.
Mimimi really was in it to win.
She must have been disappointed. I know I was.
Yeah.
Was she always like that?
I'm not sure. We don't go that far back.
Oh? Really?
I thought you'd been friends for a good long while.
We first talked in... the second term of first year or so?
Huh! You don't say.
I'm not great at making friends,
so I didn't talk to anyone that first term. Not even Minmi.
Then how'd you get to be such good friends?
Because Minmi's an idiot, I guess?
Even though we hadn't talked at all that first term,
she suddenly started bugging me in the second term.
Poking my cheeks--stuff like that.
I'm not good with that kind of thing, so I acted all annoyed.
After that, I'd ignore her, glare at her...
I tried everything, but she just wouldn't stop.
I thought, "God, what an idiot."
But that's how I came to make more friends
and feel more comfortable in our classroom.
So I...
I think people who are good at making friends are really amazing.
I kinda wished I could be like that.
One time Aoi came over to talk to me, even though she was in a different class.
She said Minmi had come to her for advice.
Advice?
Yeah.
"There's a girl in our class who doesn't fit in. What should I do?"
And Aoi said, "Maybe she just doesn't want to fit in."
But Minmi wouldn't leave it alone.
"Not this girl.
She tries to fit in, but she's too awkward to make it work."
I'd been... trying not to get involved, I guess.
I was afraid, so I avoided people.
But it's not that I didn't need friends.
Minmi was exactly right.
So Aoi tells her this:
"Okay, try talking to her a little bit every day."
Huh?
Wait--so is that how...
Uh-huh. She starts poking my cheeks... every dang day.
Tell me that's not messed up!
That's Mimimi, all right.
But Aoi told me to keep our conversation between us.
That Minmi would be embarrassed,
and I should let her keep up her front.
Aoi said she wanted me to know--
and that Minmi's daily teasing was for my own sake.
Huh...
Even though I know all this about Minmi,
she acts like she's not doing anything,
then always comes to my rescue.
So I go on pretending I don't know a thing.
See?
Minmi's a real idiot, am I right?
You're saltier than usual today, Tama!
Don't go comparing how people taste!
Normally, right after practice, your sweat would be nice and fresh.
But today, the salty taste has grown concentrated over time!
That is nasty! Go deduce something else!
Anything out of the ordinary happen?
Not especially.
I met Tama on my way out of the library. We talked for a while.
Huh. I see.
A thousand pardons, Tama.
Now, if you'll allow me to snarfle your elbow...
You just don't quit! I don't get you!
All right, Mimimi. That's enough of that.
You can't keep me down! I won't give up!
Hi-yah!
Jeez, Minmi! Chill out!
--These three share some strong bonds, just like Tama said.
--Elbow! --These three share some strong bonds, just like Tama said.
--Turn it down a notch, Mimimi. --These three share some strong bonds, just like Tama said.
--Ooh, yum! --These three share some strong bonds, just like Tama said.
--Huh? Wait--hey! --These three share some strong bonds, just like Tama said.
No way...
Mimimi!
--But the next day, Mimimi wasn't quite herself.
--Sorry, sorry! I'll buy you another! --But the next day, Mimimi wasn't quite herself.