After finishing their conversation, Prim returned to her post, while Kent and Bobby sat facing each other across a table.
“Wow, I’m surprised. You’ve got a lot going on, Kent. No wonder you can get along with Josette and the noble kids from the first year.”
“Does that have anything to do with business talk?”
“Hmm, maybe not directly, but good women are drawn to capable men.”
“What about you, Bobby?”
“Me? When I was talking to Prim earlier, my heart was pounding. I never get a chance to talk to such a beautiful woman.”
As Bobby said this, he watched Prim working at the school cafeteria counter. Perhaps noticing his gaze, Prim shyly averted her eyes.
“Man, that was a great meal, a great meal. There’s no meal as delicious as a free one. That’s thanks to you too, Kent.”
“I didn’t do anything?”
“Oh, come on, don’t say that.”
Bobby said, looking satisfied.
“Speaking of which, Bobby, have you given up on Patty yet?”
“Nah, she used to seem so unfashionable. No one paid her any mind… No, that’s not right. There was just one aspect that male students in the class enjoyed as eye candy. It’s a shame I can’t even see her now, since she’s so well-guarded.”
Back when Patty changed into her summer uniform, her side cleavage was visible when she dozed off during class, making her somewhat popular among the male students as eye candy. However, at some point, Patty started wearing underwear, and they could no longer see it.
“But ever since she started guarding herself more, she’s suddenly become beautiful. People were saying she might have a boyfriend, but it doesn’t seem like it.”
“Oh. You know a lot.”
Kent said, looking surprised.
“But even though so many people are approaching her, she doesn’t seem to be dating anyone. She’s so friendly, so everyone ends up holding onto hope.”
“True, she’s also good at taking care of her younger siblings. I think she’s a good person.”
“Oh, she has younger siblings?”
Bobby replied, as if hearing it for the first time.
“Oops, the preliminary bell is ringing. Let’s clear our dishes and head back to the classroom.”
“Yeah, let’s go back.”
At Bobby’s urging, the two returned their dishes to the return slot and headed back to the classroom.
After school, Josette came to Kent.
“Kent, I’m sorry I couldn’t join you for lunch. Today, there’s a meeting for the school festival executive committee. Marie has been told I’ll be late, so you can relax.”
“Thank you, Josette.”
“You’re welcome.”
Kent and Josette headed towards the room where the meeting was to be held.
“We’ve arrived. This way.”
Kent didn’t know how they had walked, but led by Josette’s hand, they walked through the school building and arrived at the room for the school festival executive committee meeting. Upon entering, several people were already seated, waiting for the meeting to begin.
“Our class’s seats are over here.”
“Thank you, Josette.”
“No, this is nothing. Come, let’s sit and wait.”
One male and one female student from each class were representatives, sitting in their designated seats for each class. Currently, about half the seats were filled.
“There are quite a lot of people.”
“Yes, this academy gathers students of the same age from all over the country. So the numbers are high.”
After a little while, almost all the seats were filled, and they were just waiting for it to begin. Some classes had only one person attending. The start time arrived.
“Thank you all for gathering for the School Festival Executive Committee despite your busy schedules. I have been appointed the Executive Committee Chairman for this time, Gordon. I look forward to working with you all.”
Gordon, the country’s 2nd Prince, spoke with a condescending air as he brushed back his beautiful blonde hair.
“The School Festival Executive Committee Chairman is always the person of the highest rank among the third-years. Incidentally, if things continue like this, I will likely be taking on this role next year.”
Josette explained to Kent, who looked puzzled.
“And Teacher Tia will be serving as the advisor for this meeting.”
“I’m Tia. I’ve been appointed as the advisor for the School Festival Executive Committee. Please take care of me.”
Tia, introduced by Gordon, said her greeting nervously.
“That’s a very impressive pair of glasses. Are your eyes bad?”
“It seems so!”
“You know a lot… Kent.”
Josette glared at Kent with a narrowed gaze.
“Uh, she was the teacher in charge of my summer remedial lessons.”
“Is that so? With Kent’s abilities, I thought you would have finished the remedial lessons in a day. I thought it took so long because you were getting friendly with the teacher?”
Josette’s face had clearly turned displeased.
“You two, please refrain from private conversations.”
“Y-Yes, sorry.”
“I’m sorry.”
Told by Gordon, Kent and Josette apologized.
“Oh? If it isn’t Josette?”
“Yes, it’s been a while, Lord Gordon.”
When Gordon, noticing Josette, spoke, the entire room buzzed.
“Why is a Duke’s daughter like Josette taking on such a troublesome role?”
“I didn’t even realize she was here until you mentioned it.”
The female student representative from another class, sitting next to Josette, seemed to have noticed her as well upon hearing Gordon’s words and froze.
“Silence. As class representatives, status is irrelevant. Each of you will simply perform the work assigned to you. Josette, you understand what the School Festival Executive Committee does, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Then it’s fine.”
Gordon then cut short the discussion.
“Now, the first task I will assign to you all is to find sponsors who will approve of each class’s event. Then, the class events will be decided in accordance with the intentions of the approved sponsors. This is how it’s been done in previous years.”
Gordon began explaining the executive committee’s first task: finding sponsors.
Potential sponsors are typically chosen from aristocrats with considerable financial means, merchant guilds that run shops, or craftsmen’s workshops. In the case of aristocrats, they often provide only money to showcase their influence, leaving the details to the students, which makes them popular. However, it significantly increases the difficulty because the executive committee members must visit the aristocrats to gain their approval. Conversely, merchant guilds and workshops can advertise their products, and if they catch the eye of aristocrats or wealthy parents visiting the school festival, it can lead to significant business deals. Those with financial means are generally more willing to accept. However, this often involves promoting and selling the products they handle according to the sponsors’ wishes.
The role of the school festival executive committee often requires a lot of bowing and scraping to ask for sponsorship. Therefore, unless a sponsor is from one’s own family or among acquaintances, children of aristocrats or wealthy families rarely take on this role. It’s usually forced upon them, or people who don’t mind humbling themselves become executive committee members. The chairman, by the way, only oversees the coordination and doesn’t need to search for sponsors. The success of the school festival is then attributed to the chairman’s management.
“Please find a sponsor by the next meeting. I hope each class’s event will be a great success. I apologize, but I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now.”
With that, Gordon left the room.
“Then, please discuss among yourselves as committee members, and for classes that have decided on a direction, please go and find a sponsor. The deadline is the next meeting, so thank you for your cooperation.”
Teacher Tia said, and the meeting was adjourned.
“So, what shall we do?”
“Well, it would be easiest to ask Marie, based on the flow of things.”
“That would be the case. Let’s ask Marie about it later then.”
While Kent’s class’s direction was easily decided, representatives from other classes, many of whom had been forced into the role and had no connections, seemed to be struggling with where to begin their search for a sponsor.
