"So we're starting the Grand Live planning meeting."
"Wow."
"This is what it is."
"Tea, please."
"Sorry, thank you."
In the trainer's room, Light Hello had been invited in, and the team gathered around for the first official planning session. Hello looked visibly confused.
"Um… Mr. Trainer?"
"I'm Viola Regina. I'm the trainer."
"I wasn't there for the tour at that time!?"
"Look—trainer badge."
"…It's true…"
Apparently, she hadn't realized I was a trainer until I showed her the badge. At school, my purple hair and reputation had made it common knowledge, but outside? I needed to be more careful.
"Let's introduce ourselves properly. I'm Viola Regina, the main trainer."
"Team leader Rice Shower, middle school year."
"Team member Sanei Thank You, first year of middle school."
"Event producer Light Hello. The Grand Live project I explained earlier—were you interested?"
"Well, yeah. It's not hard to gather people. But predicting box office success? That's another story."
"What do you mean?"
"This is a first-year junior high group—including me. Recruiting students at this level isn't difficult. We've got time before our debuts. But we're not well-known. That makes attracting a crowd harder."
"Ugh…"
"Current students are busy. Retired, high-profile horse girls won't come without a solid return. If we only gather lesser-known retirees, we won't draw a crowd."
"Mmm…"
"So yes, we can gather numbers. But what are our chances of winning?"
I worried I'd said too much. But Hello surprised me.
"If we can gather enough first-years, we'll have the numbers."
"Ha… well, maybe."
"Then there's no problem."
"Eh?"
"A Grand Live for the whole school is a dream. If we can make it good, it'll succeed."
"…"
"We were planning to start small and solid. But if we can gather enough people, it'll be a hit."
"But we're still pre-debut…"
"When it comes to audience turnout, parents are the first line. If the weather's good, they'll come. And I've got another idea."
She pulled out a proposal she hadn't shown before.
"Let's find promising horse girls before their debut and start fan clubs."
"A fan club…?"
"It's like a supporter's association. Fans who support horse girls early will feel more connected. And the girls will feel supported. It's win-win."
"I… see…"
"We'll only recruit those who want to participate. We'll handle the planning and fan service. Full support."
Oh no. She's dangerous in a completely different way than I expected.
I thought Hello was just a cheerful salesperson. Turns out she's a sharp, strategic producer. She's already expanding the project from one spark.
Maybe that downcast look after the trainer meeting was just a bluff.
"Well, I think we can plan it—especially with Viola Regina, the youngest genius trainer, on board. Thank you for joining Grand Live."
"Ah-yes…"
In the end, the cast was set.
And part of my trainer's room was now permanently occupied by Light Hello.
There was no escaping the Grand Live performance.