Wonder Game - outbreak 10

[bakemonoremy]

Location: Student Council Room (Afternoon)

- Late Spring, One Year Ago -

Tsumugi: Hm~m… So there’s no choice but to reject the proposal for “Wonder Game”, is there.

Hiyori: But why? Eichi-kun is the only one against it!

Tsumugi-kun and I are both in favor, and Nagisa-kun is probably of the same opinion as me, so wouldn’t the proposal be accepted 3 to 1?

Eichi: It wouldn’t. There’s no rule saying that the activity plans for fine are decided by majority vote.

And I think it’s definitely an issue that Hiyori-kun claimed Nagisa-kun for his own faction without even asking for his opinion.

Nagisa: …...Nn~nh. I still don’t know a lot about most things, so, Hiyori-kun’s opinions are also my opinions. As well.

Eichi: Devoting yourself entirely to someone else is both neglectful and dangerous… Nagisa-kun?

Oh well, I’ll accept it for the sake of this argument. But personally, I don’t think that majority votes are a prudent decision-making process.

If the majority was always right, this world would be simple and uncomplicated, but reality is different.

The majority of people being in favor of something merely means that not enough people are dissatisfied with it… It just means there’s the lowest possibility of a dispute happening, nothing more.

“There’s strength in numbers, and being strong equals being right”… That way of thinking is the same as affirming that it is acceptable to force your own will on others by violence.

If we accepted the opinion of the majority to be righteous without any skepticism, we would be nothing but animals. No, we would be insects, and couldn’t be deemed intelligent life forms at all.

Hiyori: That’s not the point in question. I’m not just being a stubborn old man, if there was any reason to your opinion, I’d agree with it. But as things stand, I can’t assent.

I’m not opposing you simply because I can’t stand you.

“Wonder Game” is supposed to be our debut as fine, right?

From what I saw of the proposal draft, it’d be a suitably flashy and extravagant setting, I think?

Of course. I don’t believe it’s possible to implement the plan Tsumugi-kun sincerely crafted in every detail.

But that’s to be expected, since don’t we have any know-how, not having even been born yet.

Eichi: ...Sigh. Fine, since you want to hear it, let me explain my rebuttal in detail. There’s two major points of discontent, the visible problem and the invisible one. 

Hiyori: What’s that supposed to be, a riddle? How very “Alice in Wonderland”-like, could it be that Eichi-kun is actually kind of enthusiastic about this after all?

Eichi: Don’t interrupt me. ...Firstly, the visible problem is that this plan isn’t suited to the “unit” system that only just built its foundations a short while ago.

Take a look at this document. We have established “A1” to be the debut lives of newly founded “units”.

But we don’t fulfill the requirements to perform in an “A1”.

Hiyori: Hm~... Aah, I see. This will be the first time we are standing on stage together with this lineup of members, but fine as a unit already existed beforehand, so--

Fine has, officially speaking, already appeared on stage*. A “unit” that already has experience can’t face off in a rookie match like the “A1” anymore.

...Why did you implement a rule like that, Eichi-kun?

Eichi: It’s not like I decided the rules all by myself, and there were many complicated reasons behind them, too.

Since “A1” is supposed to be the first step in idol activities for new “units”, the threshold is low and you can gain a lot of rewards from participating in it.

It’s contrived to make it possible to make a large profit without expending a lot of effort.

The money earned there will become your funds, and are supposed to be used to fuel your future idol activites. 

When the majority faction at Yumenosaki as it stands… These people, who do nothing but carelessly indulge in their own interests, find out about this contrivance, what do you think they will do?

Tsumugi: Fufu. Of course, they will form “units”, make easy money at the “A1”, disband immediately afterwards… And then repeat this over and over again.

Well, that might be reading too much into things, or rather, malicious conjecture.

If one can fill their pockets with money without even trying hard, one would usually go for it. Especially if it’s the current Yumenosaki student we’re talking about.

Eichi: Yeah. But if the “A1” were to be used that way, it would be not just troubling but also pointless.

The “A1” is merely supposed to be a contrivance to give newly-born idols an exciting celebration when they start out.

That’s why we had to put a ban on cheats like the one Tsumugi just mentioned. For that reason, fine cannot perform in an “A1” anymore.

Of course, we are the ones who came up with the “unit” system. We can put in as many loopholes as we want, as amendments. 

However. If we, who established these laws, were to go and break them carelessly, and used loopholes for ourselves, we’d set a bad example for others, and there’d be no merit or meaning to the laws in the first place.

If necessary, I’m willing to do it, but I’d like to avoid it if possible.

Right now, the “unit” system is still not well-known, and hasn’t really sunk into the masses yet.

That’s exactly why I think we need to show them how to make use of it… I want us to become an example, so others will model themselves after us. 

Hiyori: You have a point. Then, how about we make “Wonder Game” not into an “A1”, but instead a normal “S2” DreamFes or higher?

Eichi: If we made it an “S2” or higher, the expenses and rewards of “Wonder Game” won’t match up.

I think we would incur a major loss, and I don’t want to use up all our strength during our debut and end up a one hit wonder.

Tsumugi: Ahaha. You told me to spread the wings of my imagination freely for now, so I ended up writing a pretty unrealistic plan…

The flashy and extravagant parts of it would definitely cost a hefty sum of money.

Besides. Since we are still unknown as idols, we can’t expect a lot of profit to come in through ticket sales and merchandise, etc.

Hiyori: If money is the problem, I don’t think we really have any reason to worry, though? Japan’s no.1 moneybag is one of our members, after all?

Eichi: I am honored by your kind words. However, as of right now I have no intentions to pour my own funds into idol activities. But when the times comes and I deem it necessary, I won’t hesitate to do so.

My assets are the ultimate weapon that stands out compared to every other idol.

And… Since it is just that powerful, I want to carefully choose the timing of when to use it.

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* I am not 100% sure on this, but during Checkmate Eichi mentions that fine exists on paper already, and he and Tsumugi performed together on stage back then even though the DreamFes system wasn’t fully implemented yet. They may be referring to this here.