Chapter 33: The Third Trinity (2)

“The night market… if we can revive it, it would be a huge accomplishment,” Hiiragi-senpai mused, his arms crossed.

The night market… an event that had disappeared from the Spring Festival five years ago, according to the novel’s timeline. The reason Takamari Academy’s Spring Festival had originally been a much larger event than the Autumn Cultural Festival was its connection to the local Shirasaki Street Festival. And Shirasaki Street had ties to the Shirazuka family, explaining the amicable relationship between the Asakura and Shirazuka families. But an incident five years prior had caused a rift, leading to separate festivals. The cause of the rift was only vaguely described in the novel, but I knew the general gist: a conflict of interest between the Takamari Alumni Association and the Shirasaki Merchants’ Association. It had driven a wedge between Takamari and Shirasaki, and the night market had disappeared completely.

But Aya was determined to revive it.

“Reviving the night market… it’s better to leave it alone. Poking the bear will only cause problems,” Shirazuka-senpai warned, her voice calm yet firm, sipping her tea. It was a valid concern. This could reopen old wounds.

“No,” Aya said firmly, her gaze unwavering. “It’s possible.” She looked at me, a faint smile playing on her lips. “Rina is being so proactive in the student council. It’s truly remarkable. I can’t just stand idly by.”

Even if I’d left her to her own devices, like the Aya in the novel, she would have found a way. But I knew that trying to solve this problem could lead to her collapse.

‘…I don’t want Aya to collapse.’

I looked at her with concern, but her resolve seemed unshakeable.

“So, how are you planning to proceed?” Tachibana-senpai asked, her gaze sharp and analytical.

The room fell silent. Aya took a deep breath and spoke calmly. “First, we need to secure the cooperation of the Shirasaki Merchants’ Association.”

Shirasaki Street, once a bustling hub during the Takamari Spring Festival, was now estranged from the academy.

“To revive the night market, we need to mend our relationship with them.”

“Hmm…” Hiiragi-senpai rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought. “That’s easier said than done.”

“Indeed,” Shirazuka-senpai agreed, nodding slowly. “The rift between Shirasaki Street and the academy happened five years ago. Don’t expect those wounds to heal easily.”

“I know,” Aya acknowledged. “That’s why we need to create an environment where the Merchants’ Association wants to participate, instead of the academy taking the lead.”

“For example?” Tachibana-senpai raised an eyebrow.

Aya opened her notepad, as if she’d anticipated the question.

“First, encourage individual merchants to set up booths at the Takamari Academy festival.

Second, use social media to promote the festival and subtly highlight the merchants’ participation.

Third, propose collaborative projects between the student council and the Merchants’ Association.

Fourth, create events that encourage interaction between students and local residents during the actual festival.”

“…That’s quite detailed,” Tachibana-senpai said, a hint of amusement in her voice.

“But the most important thing is…” Hiiragi-senpai added, his arms crossed, “whether the head of the Shirasaki Merchants’ Association will agree.”

His words hung heavy in the air. The conflict between the Takamari Alumni Association and the Shirasaki Merchants’ Association wasn’t just a difference of opinion; it was a deep-seated resentment that had festered for five years.

Would it be that easy to resolve?

“We’ll have to see how the head of the association reacts. I believe the social media campaign will be successful,” Aya said calmly. “If we can attract enough visitors, we can start discussing concrete collaboration plans.”

“…Hmm,” Tachibana-senpai said, organizing the documents. “Fine. The Spring Festival is the first-years’ responsibility, after all.”

Aya bowed her head slightly. I, finally understanding the situation, was taken aback.

This… wasn’t the approach Aya had taken in the novel. The Aya in the novel, driven by her rivalry with the protagonist, had marched into the Merchants’ Association and made demands. This Aya was different.

****

Back in the classroom, I was lost in thought. My intervention had changed Aya’s approach. The night market issue would be resolved naturally, with the Shirasaki Merchants’ Association coming to the academy, thanks to the successful social media campaign.

But… would the social media campaign even be successful? I nervously checked my phone and gasped.

‘W-What is this?’

A picture retweeted by the Takamari Student Council account. And the retweeted account was the official Spring Festival account.

“Ah…”

[Takamari Academy’s Trinity invites you to the Spring Festival!]
Retweets: 1.0k Likes: 3.2k

‘This… this quickly?!’ I stared at the numbers in disbelief. The response had exploded in just a few minutes.

Trinity?! Is this real?

It’s a promotional picture for the Takamari Academy Spring Festival, and they look like models!

These girls actually exist?!

I’m looking forward to the festival… this year seems different.

…I couldn’t bear to read all the comments. They were too embarrassing!

Even Takamari Academy’s celebrity and influencer students had retweeted the picture, adding their own comments about the festival. Mizuki and Kamisaka-senpai must have been working hard. And this was before Kasumi-san’s tweet, since it wasn’t her official activity day yet.

‘This is… bigger than I expected…’

Even in the novel, the social media campaign hadn’t been this successful. The protagonist hadn’t used the “Trinity” concept or pictures of beautiful girls…

‘I guess… I’m just a bonus.’

Just then, the door opened, and Mizuki returned, just as lunch break was ending.

“Oh, Mizuki, you’re back?”

“Aya-ring~ I’m back. I just finished talking to the middle school students.” She grinned at Aya.

“This… seems to be a success already…” I said cautiously, trying to hide my trembling hands.

Mizuki glanced at my phone screen and nodded. “It’s a bit embarrassing that it’s our picture, but this is pretty good, isn’t it?” She seemed to take being a model for granted.

‘Is this the confidence of someone who’s been beautiful since birth…?’

“Mizuki, thank you for your hard work,” Aya said.

“Aw~ it was nothing. It’s my job as the public relations officer. By the way, Aya-ring, I heard you’re reviving the night market?”

“You already know?”

“I stopped by the student council room earlier…” Mizuki seemed lost in thought.

Seeing that Mizuki and Shirazuka-senpai were still close, perhaps their families also wanted to mend the rift between Takamari and Shirasaki.

But… was the conflict really just about business interests? I had a feeling there was something more, something deeper.

‘What could it be?’

If the underlying cause wasn’t addressed, this temporary truce brought about by the social media campaign would eventually crumble. I needed to find the root of the problem and solve it. Perhaps… I should ask someone who had experienced the night market firsthand.

I naturally thought of Yukikawa Reina, Aya’s older sister. She’d been at Takamari for six years. She must know something about the incident five years ago…

****

But finding Reina-senpai proved to be more difficult than I’d anticipated.

I visited the infirmary the next day, wandered the school grounds during lunch break, even peeked into her classroom… but Reina-senpai was nowhere to be found.

I hadn’t entered her classroom, afraid of causing rumors, since my face was now recognizable thanks to my constant presence with Aya and Mizuki.

As I wandered aimlessly, Aya found me.

“Rina, what are you doing, sneaking around like that?”

“Uh… that’s…” I flinched and turned around. Aya stood there, arms crossed, her blue eyes filled with suspicion.

“Tell me the truth, or I’ll be angry.”

I knew she didn’t mean it, but… the thought of Aya being angry with me…

‘Aya… angry at me…?’ My heart sank. It was an unbearable thought.

“I’m sorry…” I mumbled.

“I was looking for your sister.”

Aya’s eyes widened slightly. “My sister? Why?”

“I thought she might know something about the conflict between Takamari Academy and Shirasaki Street.”

“…” Aya’s lips pressed together in a thin line. Had I made things worse by saying that? I nervously watched her.

After a moment of silence, Aya finally spoke. “Rina.”

“Y-Yes…”

“Are you…” she hesitated, lowering her gaze, then looked at me, her eyes meeting mine, “…planning to run for vice-president?”

“…Huh?” I blinked, surprised. “W-What…?”

Flustered, I waved my hands frantically. “No, no, of course not…! You’re the next vice-president, Aya.”

“But, what you’re doing now—!” She started to say something, then stopped, as if the words were caught in her throat.

“Aya, no. It’s not like that!” I said quickly, trying to reassure her. “I’m just… trying to help you because I thought you might be overwhelmed.”

“…” Aya stared at me, her eyes filled with uncertainty and doubt.

But I had to resolve this. I couldn’t bear the thought of Aya misunderstanding me, of her being angry with me.

“Please believe me, Aya. It’s true.”