(Alright...)

(We don't have much time left until the Sports Festival. Today will be my only chance to tell them about my idea.)

...

(Hehe...

I made my decision to tell them, but I keep looking for reasons to postpone this discussion.)

(I never thought that I'd be this apprehensive. This thing really has an annoying hold over me...)

Alright, the Sports Festival's just around the corner! Time to get in another good practice for the cheering competition... Huh?

Rui?

Why's he standing in front of the door like that? Is something wrong...?

(Come to think of it, he was acting kinda weird yesterday too. It's like he wanted to say something but decided against it at the last minute...)

(What if...?)

Hey, Rui.

What are you doing standing in front of the door?

Huh? Mizuki...?

And what's with the face?

Does what you wanted to say yesterday have anything to do with it...?

A sharp eye as usual...

How long have we known each other?

Anyway, what's up?

There's something I want to say, but can't muster up the courage to do so...

I'm afraid that saying what I want to do will drive everyone over to the other side again.

I can't seem to help it...

I see.

You should be fine, Rui...

What?

During the School Festival, you made me believe that you aren't stuck on the rooftop anymore. You can go to the other side...

You can be with everyone now...

Mizuki...

So, why don't you just say what you mean?

I'll be looking forward to hearing your idea, Mr. Directing Genius♪

...

Thank you...

Alright, we're doing full runs from the top pretty well now! All that's left is to keep practicing and polishing it up!

The part where we stand and turn is still giving me some trouble, so I'd like to work on that.

Same. Particularly when the captain and I have to cross swords...

May I have your attention for a moment, everyone?

Ah, Kamishiro, you're here.

Is there something you'd like to say?

Yes, so...

I'd like to make a fairly significant change to our performance...

What?!

So I'd like to try working this idea into the opening scene of our performance...

Currently, the blue fire is our central motif where it starts by burning quietly and ends up becoming a roaring flame. The “calm” before the “storm” if you will...

However, the “calm” takes up far too much time as it stands. I fear that our audience will quickly lose interest if we're not careful.

My new idea would help make our opening scene much more explosive. By including it, I'm sure our audience will stay immersed in the world of the cheering competition until the end.

K-Kamishiro, we get what you want to do, but we'd need a lot of time to practice it...

To get it down perfectly, we'd be cutting it very close... Just in time for the day of, I suspect.

But...

It's already just around the corner...

And this plan... You seriously think we can do this?

Naturally, I'll do everything I can to ensure your safety. I promise that none of you will get hurt.

If we do somehow manage to pull off Kamishiro's idea, we'd look so awesome. We should be fine as long as we use some of those bungee cords as lifelines.

Still, do we really have to go that far...?

Right. On top of the Sports Festival being right around the corner, we should probably avoid doing anything dangerous. Things the way they are seem fine, you know?

...

Hang on...

Wait.

Huh...?

Captain...

Kamishiro, you're certain that your idea will make our performance for the cheering competition just that much better?

Of course.

As our trusted director, even if we do end up cutting it extremely close, you believe this will lead us to putting on the best performance we possibly can?

Yes.

And I need all of you behind me to make it happen...

Understood.

Then, there's no reason not to.

Am I right...?

...!

B-But...

Yeah...

We went into this wanting to make this the best cheering competition ever.

So I'm for Kamishiro's idea if it means we can make that a reality!

Shiraishi...

This is gonna take some courage to pull off, but I agree that this is probably gonna make the crowd go absolutely wild.

Our current ideas are pretty good too. Throwing in something like this is bound to make us look that much better, you know...?

This could be cheering competition history in the making...

Let's do it, you guys!

Everything we have until the day of!

...

Awesome!

Now that we've settled that, let's start practicing!

Right. We don't have much time left.

Buck up, Kamishiro! We can't do this without your directions...!

Oh...

Okay!

(I wasn't sure how this would go down at first, but...)

(Good for you, Rui.)

Whoa... So many people...

(I just came to get the worksheet they gave us for homework. I completely forgot that the Sports Festival was today.)

(I'm guessing the classrooms are being used for seating. I'm kicking myself for leaving behind something on a day like this, but I'll just get out of here once I have what I need...)

Huh? Ena?

Oh, Mizuki. Hi.

What are you doing here?

Night school students don't have to participate in the Sports Festival, right?

Wait, I know!

You're here to see Li'l Bro.

He is on the cheer squad after all!

Huh? No, that isn't why I'm here.

Also, the cheer squad?

Wait, you don't know?

Li'l Bro's on the cheer squad for the red team, and I'm on the cheer squad for the blue team.

You are?

Yup.

Things sort of just happened and...

Oh, I need to go get ready!

Later!

Hey, wait...!

The cheer squad? Mizuki and Akito?

That sounds kinda fun.

Maybe I should stay and watch.

Mizuki, there you are!

Where were you?

Sorry, sorry.

I ran into Ena just now.

Ena?

Oh, is she here for Akito?

The first-years' scavenger hunt will begin momentarily. Entrants, please start making your way to the grounds.

Wait, huh...?

Mizuki, aren't you supposed to be in that?

Crap, you're right!

Gotta go!

Good luck! I'll be rooting for you!

Okay!

Thanks, An!

(The Sports Festival's really starting...

On top of the cheering competition, I need to do my best during all the other events!)