Even in Hell 4

Eichi: Hmm. Either way, we have Sakuma Rei, well-known among third years and alumni, at the top of our list...

Then there’s Hibiki Wataru and Shinkai Kanata, who both have strong influence with second years, the other departments of the school, and the surrounding community. Itsuki Shu, who is highly regarded by both teachers and the entertainment industry at large.

That’s four. I’d like to have one more person; are there any spirited, well-behaved children in the first year? This is the area we’re lacking in currently.

If we had a representative for the first years, or at least some kind of presence among them, the puzzle would be complete.

Tsumugi: Hm, good question. The first years have only just started school, so I don’t know them very well yet.

If I had to say, there was a lot of buzz around Hidaka Hokuto when he enrolled.

Eichi: Ah, the thoroughbred of the entertainment industry... It’s hard to make a judgment about him yet; it could be that he’s merely riding his parents’ coattails.

In that regard, I’m still reserved about Akehoshi Subaru, as well.

Tsumugi: Huh? Akehoshi? As in, that Akehoshi?

I didn’t know he had a son... He was probably the biggest superstar that came out of our school.

Eichi: And the biggest disgrace. Anyway, I’m hesitant about the first years...

But you’ve at least become acquainted plenty of them, so if you’re able I’d like you to ask around.

Who they admire, who they hate...

If you can find that out, I’m sure you’ll make your way to the eye of the storm. And therein will be our fifth Oddball.

Tsumugi: Sure, I can talk to them. Personally speaking, I’ve had my eye on someone named Sakasaki.

I keep hearing his name mentioned whenever I talk to the first years.

Eichi: Hmm, Sakasaki, you said? Not Sakaki? What an odd name.

Tsumugi: Apologize to all the Sakasakis out there.

It seems he’s the son of a famous fortune teller who’s often on TV, and now he’s carrying on his mother’s business. Apparently he’s gotten quite a lot of clients for himself.

Students keep hearing rumors about him and go consult with him about their worries.

But I don’t know anything about his merits as an idol.

Supposedly he gives great advice, though, so everyone has come to rely on him.

There are also rumors floating around that he’s psychic because he’s managed to predict a number of things.

Eichi: It smells so fishy it brings tears to my eyes. Hm... I don’t have much interest in the occult, admittedly.

...Oh, we’ve just been prattling on, haven’t we? I was supposed to help you with your work, but it looks like I’ve only managed to hinder it. Forgive me ♪

Tsumugi: No, it’s okay. I’ve been working while we talked~ ♪

Eichi: You must be a very talented person, then. You don’t excel at anything in particular, but you can do just about anything with ease.

If one were to misunderstand things, they would think you a highly convenient pawn.

Tsumugi: Ahaha, you can do pretty much anything if you just dedicate the time and effort to it.

Not just me, but anyone.

Eichi: Yes, I agree. There are fewer distinctions between individual humans that one might believe.

Anyway, the library committee must do more than simply maintaining the library, correct?

Such as creating pamphlets and other print materials that are distributed at lives.

Tsumugi: That’s right~ We make posters to put up on bulletin boards, distribute free literature...

We also collaborate with third-party vendors to publish photo books and the like.

And recently we’ve expanded past print materials, too. We’ve also moved online now with the help of the broadcasting committee.

We manage the in-school social media and function as a sort of bank, giving out loans according to the market value of the in-school currency.

Unlike clubs, which are concentrated more around hobbies, the committee is actually a professional organization that does a lot of work.

The library committee, the broadcasting committee, and the student council are all like that.

Through them we can learn skills that give you an advantage when you go to work in the entertainment industry.

Not all of the students who graduate from Yumenosaki can become idols, after all.

Even still, many of them pursue a career in the industry by making use of the connections they made while they were in school.

And when you’re looking for a job, you can get preferential treatment in those fields.

Of course, you can take classes to acquire the same skills.

But it’s possible to gain more specialized knowledge and skills through the work you do in a committee.

People these days are pretty unmotivated, though; it’s no longer cool to work hard...

Only a small minority in our committees actually take their work seriously.

No one puts in the study time and effort to develop their skills...

Just by belonging to a committee, they can get that preferential treatment for themselves.

Eichi: They’re all idiots, aren’t they? Committees have a horrifying amount of power.

They have the media, banks... politics in the palms of their hands, and yet they make no use of it.

It reminds me of corrupt royalty on the eve of revolution.

They indulge in decadence—eat, sleep, play, repeat; they have no comprehension for what they possess.

Tsumugi: There’s no helping it. People always prefer taking the easy route.

If we were offered a happy life without having to work hard, there’s no one who would turn that down.

Eichi: This is precisely why you’re so admirable, Tsumugi. You still work diligently despite that.

Tsumugi: I just don’t have a knack for it. But if I can make others happy by taking on more work...

If I can make them smile, that makes me happy. Rather, I’m honored if I can do that much.

Eichi: Such is the joy of a slave, Tsumugi.

I won’t deny that such a saint-like lifestyle is worthy of respect—

But we can’t overlook the fact that our current circumstances were created through the sacrifice of those respectable, virtuous souls, onto whom the burden was shoved.

We ought to fire the arrows of revolution at the idiots who idle away their time, toasting to each other with goblets of blood wrung from those slaves.

Tsumugi: You always say such perplexing things, Eichi-kun.

I’m honestly fine with how things are now... I’m sure the adults and better people than me will smooth out all those difficult problems.

We’re still in high school, right? This is our youth; we should focus on making these the best years of our lives ♪

Eichi: This is my life.