"I see..."
Yuri wore an intrigued expression.
"Kikou Academy's school festival is invitation-only, isn't it? You’d better make sure I’m on the list."
"I know, I know."
"Good....I'll be looking forward to it."
Yuri smiled cheerfully.
Seeing her like that, I felt certain I was on the right track.
"You're right."
At my sudden agreement, Yuri tilted her head in confusion.
"A school festival really is something to look forward to, after all."
Yuri tilted her head even further.
A hint for the breakthrough I'd been searching for was hidden within that brief exchange. While I wanted to re-examine the survey results once Hinako finished sorting them, our next course of action was already more or less decided.
I looked toward Tennoji-san and Narika on the monitor.
"I've come up with a plan."
I explained the details to them. At first, they were surprised, but as they listened, their expressions shifted to ones of understanding. Both of them shared the sense of conviction I felt.
Once the idea had occurred to me, it felt like the only possible solution.
Since none of us could think of a better alternative, we moved on to fleshing out the details. After re-checking the surveys Hinako had sorted and confirming that this plan was indeed effective, I continued to refine the strategy, intending to stay awake until the very last second before exhaustion claimed me.
The exhilaration of finding a path forward drove my battered body.
However, that was precisely why I failed to notice until the very end.
Upon learning what Minato-senpai had done to us, Narika had said, "We must win." She had also said, "We must set him right."
But she never once said "I."
I failed to realize the significance of that omission until it was too late.
◇
After the video call ended, Narika let out a quiet sigh.
It was already late. She had to get to sleep. When they had first started talking, she had been fully prepared to pull an all-nighter, but once drowsiness actually set in, her mind had slowed to a crawl. She realized how inefficient it would be to continue.
"Two more days..."
She whispered the remaining time in the election period that Itsuki had mentioned. Today was Thursday; that left tomorrow, Friday, and then Monday of the following week. In those two days, the election would be over.
She had to reach a resolution by Monday.
"I have to... put an end to this dilemma."