Meanwhile, the μ's (Muse) group at Otonokizaka Academy was also working hard for the upcoming 'School Open House'.
If there were too many negative reviews for the school open house, then the decision to close the school would be set in stone.
If enough middle school students who came to observe showed interest, the decision to close the school could be temporarily postponed.
After all this time, the μ's (Muse) group finally gathered nine members, becoming the most proper group.
After another arduous, sweat-soaked training session, the conversation once again turned to the upcoming school open house, filling everyone with both pressure and motivation.
"On the day of the school open house, Maki, why don't you just invite your boyfriend, ah no… friends, to come along, nya~"
Suddenly, someone started this, and the topic of conversation immediately shifted.
"Hmm, Rin, do you mean Maki's rumored middle school classmate?"
"Boyfriend? Nico is very interested!"
"Maki's friend, huh~ Hehe."
…
"Wait, Chihiro isn't a middle school student, nor is he a girl. There's no point in him coming to the school open house!"
Nishikino Maki's expression immediately panicked.
"Does the school rule say that boys or high school students aren't allowed to come on the day of the school open house?"
"It doesn't seem like there's such a rule, right? After all, this is an all-girls school, and boys with a little self-awareness wouldn't come. But… actually, it's quite normal for parents to bring their children, so not having a rule is normal."
"Doesn't that settle it?"
"The school open house should be a very important event for us, and for Maki, right? So, having a close friend witness it in person would definitely have a special meaning, wouldn't it?"
The others also started to egg her on.
Because gossip is a woman's innate talent.
Especially when everyone else is single, and one member seems to have a budding romance, the others naturally couldn't wait to strongly assist.
"Alright..."
Nishikino Maki hesitated for a moment, but still nodded in agreement.
As a friend, it's perfectly normal to occasionally get in touch, right?
She sent an invitation text message and quickly received a reply.
"I'm certainly happy to see Maki's growth, but I wanted to ask, can I bring others along?"
"Is that okay?"
Nishikino Maki turned her head to ask.
"Of course, we'd be thrilled! We also want more audience members!"
The other members of the group readily agreed.
...
"Sagiri, Mashiro, do you want to come with me? To a live school idol performance."
Izumi Chihiro asked for their opinions.
Sagiri and Mashiro exchanged glances.
"Ni-san, why do you suddenly have a hobby of chasing idols? Are you that idle? School idols... could it be that Love Live?"
There was a hint of questioning in his sister's gaze.
"That's right."
He nodded.
"As for why I'm going, it's mainly because of a friend's invitation. She and her friends became school idols because they want to use it to boost the school's popularity and get the'school closure decision' revoked... I plan to go support them."
Izumi Chihiro explained without reservation.
"?"
Mashiro's eyes suddenly brightened a bit.
"This plot, does it really happen in reality? I thought it was only a story setting found in anime or novels!"
Sagiri exclaimed in surprise.
"I want to go."
Mashiro said seriously.
"It seems Mashiro is very interested."
Izumi Chihiro said.
He knew that Mashiro was currently considering ideas for the Newcomer Award a few months later. The setting of the theme would be a crucial matter, and a novel theme could easily attract everyone's attention immediately.
As for the previous submission theme, it wasn't very outstanding and had nothing worth lingering over. Its only value was providing Mashiro with an experience of failure.
"Manga, I want to try it."
Mashiro expressed her 'interest' clearly for the first time.
"What about Sagiri?"
He turned his head to ask again.
"Of course I'm going too!"
Sagiri wouldn't hesitate at all. She missed the chance to play games together last time, so this time it was even more impossible for her to refuse.
Kani Nayuta: Senior ~ It's been so long since I've seen Senior! I really want to go out with Senior! Wuwuwuwu ~ If Nayuta can't see Senior anymore, she's really going to die!
Izumi Chihiro looked at this message again, thought about it, and decided to make this outing a bit livelier. It wouldn't hurt anything anyway.
He sent an invitation to Nayuta.
Izumi Chihiro: Nayuta, in a few days I'm planning to go out...
Kani Nayuta: Could this be a solo invitation?
Izumi Chihiro: Of course not, my sister, and possibly a few friends, will all be coming along.
Kani Nayuta: Eh, Senior's sister?
"Senior's family... that day, I must perform well!"
As soon as she thought about meeting her sister-in-law soon, Kani Nayuta's mood soared.
On the other side, Eriri rejected his invitation.
"Eriri, are you really not coming with us?"
"No interest. I'm a professional manga artist now, and it's very hard work! I don't have any extra time to waste."
"Is that so, I understand."
Izumi Chihiro confirmed his childhood friend's true thoughts through this call, and it was indeed not an tsundere-style statement.
It wasn't surprising; becoming a manga artist was a long-cherished wish for Eriri, and it was right for her to value it.
In the room.
The twin-tailed girl, dressed in a tracksuit, wearing black-rimmed glasses, and looking very dishevelled, sighed as she looked at the distant sky, then turned her attention back to the computer on her desk.
"Now is not the time to rest. I need to draw more interesting manga. I need to prove myself... I'm not inferior to that person!"
Eriri's expression was resolute, and flames burst forth from her eyes.
One day.
"School idols, huh? I don't have anything else to do, so I might as well go watch."
Yamada Elf suddenly brought this up.
"I haven't mentioned this to Miss Elf, have I?"
He raised an eyebrow.
"What does it matter? It's the same if I go alone!"
Miss Elf said, with her hands on her hips.
"Alright, one more won't make a difference."
He nodded in agreement.
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💯 PS = 2 bonus chapter