It could be called "obvious" or "natural," but the teachers didn't give permission for the middle-school students to participate in the treasure hunt.
However, as a result of Mami-san's repeated visits to the staff room to try and persuade the teachers, the middle-school students were allowed to participate in the second-chance draw.
"Last year, the middle-school teachers caught a number of their students trying to join in, so it seems like they'd been thinking about how to crack down on it this year."
Mami-san said, looking out the hallway window towards the middle-school building.
It was after school.
It looked as though Mami-san had only recently received permission for the middle-school students to participate in the second-chance draw, and had caught Yoshino on her way out of the classroom after cleaning to happily relay this information. At any rate, they had another meeting today, so they were going to meet at the Rose Mansion anyway, but apparently Mami-san couldn't wait until then. Well, she probably had a sneaking suspicion that Yoshino was interested in the result.
"It seemed like the teachers were in a bit of a bind. Their students wouldn't accept it if they just blindly said it was forbidden, and there's some girls that would do it regardless of the punishment, right? Last year, some students even went as far as putting on a high-school uniform."
In which case, the teachers wouldn't be able to check. It seemed unlikely they'd be able to look at each and every face and determine whether they were in middle-school or high-school.
"Ah, like Shouko-chan."
Yoshino raised her finger.
"Shouko-chan? Ah, Tsutako-san's."
"Yeah. Tsutako-san's."
The pair giggled as they watched their familiar classmate exit the classroom, camera in hand. Probably going to the clubhouse. She walked boldly, not noticing Yoshino and Mami-san chatting in the hallway.
Where on earth was Tsutako-san and Shouko-chan's relationship headed?
No. It would be bad form to demand some sort of speedy resolution.
Yoshino thought it was better to take a long-term view, like Yumi-san. To do what she could do now, and leave it at that.
"So they're going to use participation in the second-chance draw as a bargaining point, and ban all middle-school students from taking part on the actual day."
At some point, Mami-san had resumed their earlier conversation.
"They'll still be able to legally participate, albeit indirectly. The teachers think that the students will abide by those rules."
Even though the likelihood of the second-chance votes coming into play was extremely small, since the ballots would be rendered invalid if all of the cards were found on the day itself. And in the one-in-a-million chance that some middle-school students won the ballot, they'd only have to keep an eye on those one or two students.
"Well, it won't necessarily go the way the teachers imagine."
Mami-san smiled daringly. Although obviously she hadn't shot holes in the teachers' theory at the staff room.
"So, there you have it. What are you going to do, Yoshino-san? Are you going to go and tell Nana-chan about it?"
"Mm."
Yoshino started by stretching. During those one or two seconds she thought about it and came to a conclusion.
"Not now."
"Oh?"
"Well, there's no need to rush, right?"
For some reason, Yoshino wanted to try and imitate Yumi-san. Nana was not Touko-chan, and Yoshino herself was not Yumi-san. So they couldn't be measured by the same scale.
But even so, Yumi-san's words resonated with her. Yoshino found them frankly admirable.
Putting them into practice was simple. And if she lost interest in it, Yoshino could always go back to rushing around everywhere.
"Well then, I guess we should get going."
To the Rose Mansion. To discuss the Valentine's day event, with a mix of boredom and just a tiny bit of excitement.
"Besides."
Yoshino mumbled as they walked.
"They're all different, but, surprisingly, at their core they're all the same."
"Who?"
Mami-san asked.
"Soeurs."
Yoshino declared.
"Shimako-sa~n."
Yoshino called out, waving to her friend walking ahead of her.