01x12 - Facing Forward

[bunniefuu]

If there's anything I lack
as a presidential candidate,

please don't hesitate to criticize me.

Thank you for listening.

Okay.

If you can do this in the actual event,

it should be fine.

Yes, I'd have to do this
in the actual event too.

Are you worried?

At the general meeting,

didn't you express yourself clearly?

That's because

I was so focused on facing my own feelings

that it flowed smoothly.

Besides, the audience tomorrow

should be more packed than before, right?

Yes.

Tomorrow, the whole school

will fill this auditorium.

But we're doing the same thing.

You just focus on speaking your mind.

I don't think that will work.

When I saw the way you spoke
at the general meeting,

I understood right away.

What should I do

to be able to talk like you?

Even if you ask me what to do,

it's the only thing
that truly requires experience.

Then let me teach you a secret plan
to soothe your nerves

and grab the audience's attention
at the same time.

A secret plan?

That's right.

This method...

How is it? It's simple, right?

But it's effective.

Yeah.

I'll give it a try.

Are you rehearsing for tomorrow?

Are you done with your work?

Yes, it went smoothly.

What's wrong, Masachika?

Your expression looks scary.

How can you say that so brazenly?

By the way,
did your ladylike mask come off?

Goodness.

See?

This is her true nature. Don't be fooled.

Okay.

Goodness, Alya.

Are you disillusioned with me?

No.

I'm not disillusioned.

When the situation changes,

one naturally reveals
the unseen side of themselves.

Besides,

you really want
to be friends with me, right?

Yeah, that's true.

Then there's no problem.

After all, thanks to you, Yuki,

I was able to reevaluate myself.

What do you mean?

Back then, you asked me

why I wanted to become
the student council president.

Tomorrow,

I'll show you the answer.

Alya, you really are a straightforward

and wonderful person.

Goodness, this is great.

I'm glad that your friendship
with Alya is intact.

Goodness. When you put it that way,

why does it sound like
my friendship with you

has developed a rift?

No, that's not true.

I'm just wondering
how dare you do such a thing.

Are you angry?

No such thing.

Making a move when the opponents are weak

is a common tactic.

Goodness.

What is this feeling?

I don't really get it though.

But if I had to say,

it's like dealing with a biting dog.

I want to pet it and love it,

but I also want to discipline it
so that it won't bite again.

If it dares to bite,

it'd better grit its teeth.

There you guys are.

Hello.

I want to do
the final confirmation for tomorrow.

First of all,

how do you want to go about

the speech order?

Last year, we had the candidates
decide by rock-paper-scissors.

I don't mind rock-paper-scissors.

No, we can't.

Rock-paper-scissors
is just a game of eyesight.

What?

Well, you're right.

Then why don't we decide by a coin toss?

That would be fairer.

I understand.

Ayano will flip the coin,

and Alya will call heads or tails.

No, someone else will flip the coin.

You're so paranoid.

All right.

Then I'll do it!

Well, Masha, if you're okay with it,

thank you.

If Alya gets it right,

she can choose to go first or second.

If she gets it wrong,

Yuki will get to choose.

Masha, can you really flip it?

What do you take your sister for?

Of course, I can.

Watch me.

If I can go first and look like
I've got it in the bag,

a landslide victory is possible.

But if I go second,

the first person who sets the bar
will still get the minimum applause.

So if I let Alya go first,
a landslide win will be hard.

I guess I should go first, right?

No. I'll go second and see
what my brother does first.

But still...

Why does he have to scare me so blatantly?

It's unlike my cunning brother
to do something like that.

Hi-yah.

I caught it.

Look, I did it, Alya.

Okay, I got it.

Heads it is then.

Hey, give it a little more thought.

That's not necessary.

Well then, I'm opening it.

Goodness, you got it wrong.

Well then, Yuki.

Do you want to go first or second?

Let me think.

Was my brother's attitude just an act?

If so, what's his goal?

Does he want to have
a head-to-head battle with me

to distract me from something?

Alya.

That's right.

Although I was unknowingly
distracted by my brother,

my original target was Alya.

Moreover, Alya's mental state
is more fragile than I thought.

She was also traumatized
by yesterday's school broadcast.

I had anticipated this

and planned to give Alya
the second spot with more pressure.

It seems like his real goal

is to draw the first spot
that gets minimum applause

so that Alya and I can tie.

If so,

I'll just stick to my original plan
and aim for a sweeping victory.

Then, I want to go first.

All right.

Suou and Kimishima will go first.

Kujou and Kuze will go second.

-Yes.
-All right.

CLOSING CEREMONY

Looking back on this semester,

I'm sure you've learned a lot from it.

In the second semester,

we'll continue
to raise awareness of public morals.

Next, we'll hear a few words from
this year's student council executives.

First, we have the student council
president, Touya Kenzaki.

Everyone.

Thank you for your hard work
this semester.

It's been two months
since the new student council took over.

Although we have fewer members this year,

all the executives are outstanding.

Everyone.

Even if it's summer break,
don't slack off too much.

Work hard on your homework

and build your muscles every day.

It's important to train hard every day.

Maybe I'll take a walk
to the park every day too.

Speaking of walks, the other day...

Now, Yuki Suou will give a speech.

Well then, let's go, Ayano.

Yes, Mistress Yuki.

I'm the student council PR officer,

Yuki Suou,
introduced earlier by the emcee.

I'm set to run

for student council president next year.

I look forward to your support.

You can do it!

I'll be rooting for you!

Thank you.

Well then, regarding this matter,

I'd like to share my vision first.

My goal after becoming
the student council president

is to make this place

an academy that reflects
the students' opinions.

Goodness.

Do you think that
it's more ordinary than you imagined?

Specifically, this suggestion box.

It's been in the school
for a few years now

but I don't think many of you
have even used it once.

Actually,

I've been promoting it
through the school broadcast.

But only a handful
have used the suggestion box.

The reason this happens

is because you think
it won't come true even if you write it

and it's just a waste of time, right?

Indeed.

I do think that way.

But I'm not surprised
that you think that way.

Most of the executives

are new to student council work.

They have a lot on their plate.

So it's hard for them to listen
and fulfill your requests.

However,

if I'm elected
as the student council president,

I'll fulfill your suggestions.

To be more specific,

I can help you change
the sports day's events

or expand the content and duration
of the school festival.

In addition,

wouldn't it be fun

to come up with something new
for Halloween or Christmas?

I believe that only someone like me,
who has served

as student council president
in junior high...

And is currently a student council member

with vast achievements and experience,
can accomplish these tasks.

Thank you for listening.

That's not fair.

She's just painting
as rosy a picture as possible

without specifying what she's going to do.

But she's good.

She just might be better than me...

Alya, are you okay?

I'm fine.

Don't worry about me now.

Seriously, at a time like this?

Who is she?

Who knew we had such a beauty on campus!

I'm the general affairs officer,
Ayano Kimishima.

Privately, I'm a servant
of the Suou family.

Currently, I'm Mistress Yuki's retainer.

What does retainer mean?

Beats me.

Also, next year,

I plan to run in the election
with Mistress Yuki.

Mistress Yuki has a good character.

She's an outstanding individual
with both beauty and talent.

However, she never gets complacent.

She's always considerate of others.

What an impeccable speech.

It seems they're going first on purpose,
aiming for a shutout.

Are you okay?

I'm fine.

That's good.

Do you remember the name of this event?

It's speeches by the executives, right?

That's right. It's a speech.

That's why we're going
to let everyone get to know you first.

I have faith that
as the student council president,

she'll be able to lead this academy well.

Thank you for listening.

Well then, our next speaker

is the student council treasurer,
Alisa Kujou.

That girl is pretty interesting.

Kimishima, was it?

Suou's pair is amazing.

She's practically
the next student council president.

You're right.

Excuse me.

I was so nervous that I spoke in Russian.

Was that a joke?

I think so.

No way.

Listen.

If you go second,

you have to start with Russian.

I'm sure Yuki and Ayano will turn
the atmosphere in their favor.

You have to speak in your native language

and throw a wrench in their plan.

Let me introduce myself again.

I'm the student council treasurer,
Alisa Kujou.

I'm set to run

for student council president next year.

I just transferred
to this academy last year.

I have yet to have any achievements
that I can be proud of.

And I can't say for sure

that I fully understand
the duties of an executive

or the heavy responsibilities
of being a president.

In my current state,

I'm sure I have a long way to go
to become the president.

But if there's one thing

that I can be proud of,

it's that...

I can work harder than anyone else.

I've always worked hard

to achieve the results that I want.

I've never become complacent
by relying on my innate talents.

I think continuous self-improvement

is the most important thing as a person.

Indeed.

This extreme way of thinking

sometimes causes friction with others,

and I've even experienced
terrible failures.

But I learn from my failures.

At last year's school festival,

our booth won the Excellence Award.

Of course,

I didn't do it alone.

I know that right now,

I still have a long way to go

before becoming the president.

I know it.

You're more sincere than anyone,

and you'll give your best
no matter what you do.

Look straight ahead, Alya.

But I'm able to speak
in front of everyone like this now

with my own mouth,

with my own words.

And from now on, I'll continue this way

and tackle my shortcomings one by one.

If I can't confirm whether I'm fit

to become the student council president
before next year's election,

I will voluntarily withdraw.

So, everyone,

please keep an eye on me from now on.

I'll use your guidance
as motivation to grow

and become the student council president
that you've all been waiting for.

Thank you for listening.

Good work.

That was really good.

Really?

Yes, you were really cool.

I think I overcame
my mental barrier a little.

Next, Masachika Kuze will give a speech.

Do your best.

Leave it to me.

Well then,

I'll secure our victory in no time.

Hello, everyone.

I'm the general affairs officer,
Masachika Kuze.

Furthermore,

the Vice President in the Shadows
who aided President Yuki Suou

is also me.

That's odd...

Hey, that fell short.

Oh, well.

I'm sure many of you know

that I used to be the vice president.

At this point, I'm sure

you're all wondering,

"What?"

"Then why didn't you run with Suou?"

"Is this an affair?
It's an affair, isn't it?"

I'd like to say one thing.

I already dumped Yuki,

so it's not an affair!

You're the worst!

You moved on too quickly.

Then, why did I dump Yuki

and support Alya instead?

Everyone,

what kind of person do you think
should be the student council president?

Is it someone who's good
at their job and responsible?

Or someone who's mentally strong?

I think neither.

The one suited to be the president

should be someone who can attract people.

Everyone,

when you heard Alya's speech just then,

what did you think?

I thought she was really clumsy.

But at the same time,

I felt like her speech
was very sincere and honest.

Alya is an honest person.

Even when I suggested
giving the speech in Russian,

she just accepted it.

The reason I didn't support Yuki

and supported Alya instead

is because I was drawn
to this trait of hers.

That's why I want to root for her.

And I hope all of you

can also root for Alya.

Even so,

I think my opinion alone

isn't that credible, right?

Therefore, I have something
to share with you.

If Alya gets elected
as the student council president,

Sayaka Taniyama and Nonoa Miyamae

will join our team
as student council executives.

What?

Can you believe it?

Our previous rivals in the general meeting

are willing to work together
in the new student council.

What? No way.

Hey, look over there.

Seriously?

That concludes my speech.

In order to create
an unprecedented student council,

I sincerely ask for your support.

Alya.

You earned this applause with your power.

We're even now.

Yes, thank you.

You're a lifesaver.

This is the only time
I'll help you in this election.

I know.

In order to get your support,

I'll work hard.

I look forward to it.

Well then, do your best.

If Alisha becomes
the student council president,

I'll come and help.

Alisha?

This is the reason why I'm running
for student council president.

From now on,
I will never give in to your resolve.

They got us.

I'm very sorry.

If only I could have said it better.

It's not your fault, Ayano.

I was too calculating.

That's why I misjudged.

Anyway,

I'll admit defeat this time.

But only this time.

Mistress Yuki.

This strong aura of yours is awesome.

No, I didn't mean to create that vibe.

It would be even cooler
if I could achieve this goal too.

That's right.

What a disappointing result.

I guess even a genius like me

has his limits.

Do you hear yourself?

So, do you regret the result?

No!

That's good. Let's go home then.

A lot has happened today.

I'm a bit tired.

Yes, you're right.

Hey, Alya.

What's the matter?

No, well,

what about the bet?

Didn't you say I'd owe you a wish
if I don't achieve it?

I'll think about it seriously.

Hold on.

Didn't you say you've thought about it?

And you said something in Russian?

Well,

it was just a casual remark.

What?

I thought for sure that you'd...

I see,

she never thought that she'd win?

Let's see, what was it again?

I think it was about my name.

Alya.

Well, we've already given our speeches
before the whole school

and have been officially recognized
as a pair in the presidential election.

At this time,

to show how close we are,

why don't we call each other
by our first names?

Well, that's a good idea.

What? Is that so?

I... I guess so.

Well, then...

Masa... chika.

S-Sure, I'm okay with that...

Is... is that so?

Well then, from now on,

I'll call you that.

Okay.

Right!

We have to change our shoes.

You're right.

Alya.

Well, summer break is coming up,

but we still have to prepare
for the election, right?

I'm sure Yuki and Ayano
will be together all the time.

So...

during summer break,
why don't we see each other often too?

Masachika.

Look ahead.

Gladly.