We're back.

Hey Shizuku, Kasumi, Rina. How did you go gathering signatures?

Not so good.

I asked a bunch of people, but no one really seemed that into it.

Same for you, huh?

We didn't get many signatures either. I thought it was gonna be a piece of cake, but I guess that was a bit naive of me.

I still do not think it is a bad idea to gather signatures to hold the School Idol Festival at Nijigasaki and get everybody excited from within the school.

Yeah. The girls who know about the School Idol Festival are really cooperative.

You're right about that. I feel like there's a huge difference in attitude between the girls who know and the ones who don't.

Oh, that explains it…

Yeah, I talked to many different students to gather their signatures, but I realized that there are lots of girls who don't actually know about us or the School Idol Festival.

What, really?

Nijigasaki High School has a lot of students, so there are many who do not know about us.

What a huge miscalculation. Rina-chan Board says, “Disappointed.”

Aww, but everyone in my class supports us and gave me their signatures!

I suppose we've never really thought about how well-known we are around the school…

I was happy because it seemed like we gained renown after seeing the response online and from the girls who came to the school tour, but I guess we still have a ways to go.

I see. It makes sense that they don't really care about some club they don't know much about gathering signatures for an event they want to hold.

We've been focused on spreading the word outside, but we actually needed to have a strong base within the school first.

I didn't think we were that unknown within our own school.

I guess we were stuck in our own little bubble. Rina-chan Board says, “Sad-face.”

Yeah, we need to reflect on that.

But I'm glad we realized something as important as that. Let's spread the word about the School Idol Festival within our school first!

The question is how we'll do that. How about a bunch of guerrilla gigs at the same time all around the school?

Ooh, that sounds like fun! I'll charm everyone into becoming my fans and then grab their signatures!

No, doing so may anger Shioriko. We must obtain permission for everything! However, I do think it is vital that we are seen by everyone.

Even if we offer everyone a chance to see us, no one's gonna stop to watch unless they're actually interested, right?

We need to make ourselves appealing even to those who are not interested, you say?

It's pretty tough to grab the attention of someone who's not interested.

If only there was a way to subliminally tap into everyone's eyes and ears.

Is there a way to do that? Should we put up posters on the school's notice boards?

Nah, people don't look at posters unless they want to. I wish we could grab their attention without being imPOSTERs. Get it? *Laugh*

The school will be closing soon. Students who are still present due to club activities, please proceed to tidy up and return home. I repeat…

Oh, it's already time to go home? We gotta pack up.

Hey…

What's up?

That's it! The PA system! Students are allowed to air a broadcast during lunch at school, right? Maybe we could ask the broadcasting club if we could use it during lunch.

I see. People would naturally listen to us that way.

And I believe everybody will remember us without any effort if we repeat the same thing every day!

Yeah! That's it, Shizuko!

The Nijigasaki High Lunchtime Broadcast with the School Idol Club! That might be something worth giving a try.

Yeah! Let's give it a shot!

Okay, I'll try talking to the broadcasting club tomorrow!

[Fade in/out. Taking out phone.]

Hello!

Um, Mari? Hi, are you free right now? There's something I want to discuss with you regarding the preparations for the School Idol Festival.

Of course! I could talk with you over the phone until the sun comes up tomorrow!

No, you can't! You gotta sleep! Wait, I mean… No! That's not what I meant!

[Fade in/out.]

Wow, so that's how it turned out?

Yup. I somehow managed to come to an agreement with the broadcasting club, so we'll be on air starting tomorrow at lunch.

Excellent! It sounds like fun! Hehehe, I've got something I want to say to all of Nijigasaki myself, so I'll join in as a special guest tomorrow!

What? Um, I'm totally open to having guests drop by, but there's no way you can find the time during lunch on a weekday, can you?

No problem! I've got my own secret plan!

A secret plan?

[Fade in/out.]

We should head over to the broadcasting room soon.

Yup, let's go.

What's that?

Hm?

Is it just me, or is that helicopter headed straight for us?

Huh? Whoa, it's really close! It's gonna crash into us!

[Fade in/out.]

Whoopsie, I got in trouble!

Yeah, you did! No regular person drops in all the way from Numazu by helicopter!

Yeah, I was really surprised when I saw you pop out of the helicopter.

The whole school was shocked. That's so like you to make a grand entrance, Mari.

You totally managed to grab everyone's attention, though!

I got flooded with questions about you and the School Idol Festival when I returned to my classroom after the broadcast!

There were a lot of students getting awfully giddy about the appearance of an Aqours member.

You got yelled at, but I'm glad you came.

While it was a little different from what I had imagined, we managed to complete our objective!

*Laugh* And we really have Mari's “secret plan” to thank for that.

Hehehe, it was worth the trip if I could be such a big help. Mission accomplished!