Opening: Awaken, Business Mind

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Scene: The field outside St. Theresa's School for Girls.

The sun was shining brightly upon the schoolhouse at St. Theresa's School for Girls. In the mid-morning, as flowers were blooming, the entire student body was assembling.

Chloe
(Yawn... Tired.)

Chloe
(Man, I had to work a late shift at my job yesterday, so I got basically no time to sleep...)

Student 1
Oh my, do you see that? Chloe seems incredibly sleepy.

Student 2
Delinquent that she is, I can't help but wonder what she was up to until so late in the night.

Student 1
She's quite difficult to approach...

Student 2
She's truly awe-inspiring...

Student 1
She's so precious...

Student 2
I super love her...

Chloe
(Hold on, what's up with this. Why's nobody standing near me.)

Chloe
(Well, not that I care...)

Chloe
Pfff... I hate morning assemblies.

???
Right?

Chelle
They're always saying we've gotta greet everyone all properly, and conduct ourselves all properly... But anyone who actually knows me would know that I don't care about any of that stuff.

Chloe
Nah, I wouldn't say that you don't care -- actually, I feel like you care a lot. Considering how big a deal you make of it yourself.

Chloe
Also, Chelle, why's a first-year like you over here? Seems like you're too junior to be in the same section as me.

Chelle
Well, I saw there was a gap in the second-years' rows where everyone was carefully keeping their distance from this loner, and I thought: hey, I know her! So I came over to hang out.

Chelle
I thought, with such a loveable puppy-dog junior on your arm, even Chloe would have to crack a smile! Chelluun!

Chloe
Oh, K.

Chelle
Two syllables! Super salty!

Chelle
C'mon, c'mon, aren't you being way too salty? If this is how you are on my puppy-dog junior days, how're you gonna treat me on my slimy slug junior days?

Chloe
Shut it. And shut up about my number of syllables. I don't want to think about metaphors and grammar the first thing in the morning.

Chelle
Chloe, don't you think you should pay a bit more attention to other people? Aren't I a splash of color on these gray school days?

Chloe
Sorry, I prefer my meal without parsley.

Chelle
Okay, rude. If you don't quit being so edgy, then how about I yank those cutesy twintails off your pretty head?

Chloe
Oh? You wanna go? Come at me, then, let's see what you're made of.

Yuni
Now, now, please settle down, Chelle. You would do well to study Chloe's behavior closely. Observe. Look at how she is running her fingers through her hair.

Chloe
Huh? So what...

Yuni
Mm, as you can see, it was an unconscious action. But approaching this from a psychological perspective, it can only be the case that you complimenting her hairstyle as "cutesy" has brought out her innate shyness.

Yuni
Or, to express things more concisely, she is embarrassed.

Chelle
Cute! Unconscious Chloe is super cute!

Chloe
N-No way. I was just reacting to you saying that you were gonna yank them out.

Chelle
Ah, she's turning her eyes away! Look at that, Yuni, that move between "cool" and "cute!" Could her unconscious mannerisms really be like this all the time!?

Yuni
Inevitably so. Please pay more attention to this, Chloe.

Yuni
From listening to passersby on the street, I recently learned the meanings of the strange colloquialisms of "tsundere" and "moe," as they relate to the concept of cuteness. In my mind, a single two-syllable word would suffice to describe the same thing. "Toxic."

Yuni
So, Toxichloe, formerly known as Chloe, you must be more aware of yourself in the future. You must not allow such cheap tricks to obscure your status as a cool beauty. Do you understand? Assuming that you understand, I will be happy to share my deep knowledge with you during your period of self-reflection.

Chloe
Um. Sorry to rain on your mysterious parade. But I'm gonna have to ask you to stop analyzing my character while I'm right here.

Yuni
Silence, surface consciousness. The two of us are discussing your subconscious right now. We have no need for interjections from conscious mouths such as you.

Chelle
That's right. What would Chloe even know about Chloe?

Chloe
Wow, you two are kinda scaring me now. How'd this morning even end up with such a spiritual discussion. Can't we just make small talk about the weather or whatever?

Chloe
Also, Yuni just appeared here all of a sudden, like it was totally natural. Why are you two here and not in your class rows? You're sticking out like sore thumbs. BFFs Club, more like Sore Thumbs Club.

Yuuki
1. "Looks like everyone is getting along."

Chloe
And now you're here too... You need to stop appearing and delivering cliche lines without any notice. At least ask beforehand, yeah? Ask if it's okay to say something embarrassing.

Chelle
Ah, Yuuki, good chellning! If you're here, then does that mean you're also skipping out on your class section?

Yuni
Chelle, that should go without saying. He is a transfer from Lucent Academy, and the only boy in this school. Within this field full of young women, he surely must have felt out of place.

Chelle
Eh, you really think he's the kind of guy who notices these things?

Yuuki
1. "I saw the BFFs Club was all together, so I also came over."

Chloe
You know, you aren't supposed to just wander over if you feel like it. This is an assembly. Everyone's supposed to have an assigned place. It's not like you can just come over and have a nice chat with whoever.

Chloe
Pfff... What's even going on. I was just chilling by myself, and now, the entire posse's all gathered around.

Chloe
Well... Whatever, I guess it's fine.

Chelle
Ah, she turned her eyes away again! Did you see that, Yuni, the cuteness oozing from that crack in her armor!

Yuni
That's too far, Chloe. Again, you must pay more attention.

Teacher
Everyone, quiet down. Good day, the morning assembly will be starting now.

Teacher
First, I'd like to say that, thanks to the cooperation of the elf guild Forestier, we were able to gain some splendid expertise on the topic of welcoming transfer students into our school.

Yuni
Hmm, she must be talking about Aoi. I wonder if that kind-hearted loner girl is doing well, having returned to her distant forest.

Chelle
I'm curious, too! I wanna see Aoi again.

Chloe
Oh, I happened to see her not long ago, and she was doing as well as always. She was mumbling to those weird dolls that she has. And every so often, she'd let out an eye-popping shriek.

Chelle
No fair, Chloe! You're an elf like her, so you're the only one of us who gets to go where she is! Did you hear that, Yuni, this girl even follows through on the aftercare!

Yuni
Though from the context, I can surmise that she did not commence a conversation.

Chloe
Uh, well, yeah... I thought it'd be better to wait 'til we were all together again.

Chelle
She's the kind of person who'd go to Carmina concert, but not do any of the calls, and just stand in the back with her arms folded, like a boyfriend or a parent.

Chloe
Hey. How about you not sum up people's delicate feelings with idol talk.

Yuni
Wait, you said a parent? Hey, explain yourself, Chloe. Are you planning to become Aoi's mother? That is going too far.

Chelle
Eh, Chloe, are you sure you have those kinds of protective motherly instincts?

Chloe
Sigh. What's this about motherly instincts.

Yuni
It certainly has an interesting ring to it. Chelle, please explain.

Chelle
Eh, I dunno, I just thought I'd try saying it. Most of what I say is just going with the flow, you know. Could you not dig too deep into it?

Teacher
... You students over there, stop conversing amongst yourselves.

Chloe
Crap, the teacher's looking this way.

Yuni
Our apologies. Please continue, Mother Hilda.

Teacher
Ahem! At St. Theresa's School for Girls, in order to create a safe place for the education of our students, our doors have long been closed to exchanges with the outside world.

Teacher
However, times change. And the time has come to re-examine our policy of isolation. Our acceptance of a male student in order to move towards becoming a co-educational facility has been one part of this re-examination.

Teacher
While recognizing the importance of the traditions built by our predecessors, we must also acknowledge the need to chart a course that is suitable for the new era.

Teacher
In that spirit, we are here to announce another new policy.

Chloe
A new policy. Huh, wonder what it is this time.

Yuni
We will see.

Yuni
However... With all of the changes this school is making, surely they wouldn't lose track of their existing policies, would they? For instance, the matter of the scholarships that we of Yunichan's are seeking to receive.^[1]

Chelle
Right? That's the whole reason we founded our guild, Yunicha --

Chelle
Ohh, uh, nothing! Just a slip of the tongue, messing up our guild name!

Yuni
Heh heh? Please, speak your mind, Chelle. It seems that you also wish for the reinstatement of glorious Yunichan's.

Chelle
No, no, no way. I already like our guild name just the way it is...

Yuni
Silence, surface consciousness. I was speaking with your subconscious just now.

Chelle
Huh? Where did that come from...

Chloe
Right? Scary, huh?

Chloe
So, Chelle, why don't we hold a memorial service for that name, buried in the depths of hell? One requiem now might keep it from being resurrected a hundred times later, right?

Yuni
Eh, but only necromancy of the highest order would be suitable for the guild name I suggested, no?

Chelle
Well, no matter what you suggested, our guild name has already been legally set in stone. And that name is "St. Theresa's School for Girls (BFFs Club)!"

Yuni
* Disputed.

Chelle
... Huh? Did I hear an extra voice just now?

Chloe
Well, there it is. Chelle said the guild name that must not be said... Salty. That's what really gets me salty. So noisy.

Yuni
Chloe, halt. I request that you refrain from sprinkling your salt over your upperclassman's stylish behaviors.

Teacher
Now then. Our special course last time wound up being quite insightful. After all, the purpose of a school is to enlighten its students through a disciplined education.

Teacher
However, wisdom does not consist simply of simply reproducing the facts that are already in one's head. To succeed in practical matters, one must also be inventive and dynamic. Just as I was provided with vocational training when I was a young girl...

Chloe
Too long. She's talking too long.

Chelle
Does she need to say all this? Like, that part about herself was just extra.

Yuni
Hmm, according to my notes, this is the twelveth time that Mother Hilda has boasted about her youth this semester...

Teacher
So, then, our school will now be offering a course on more practical matters. Let us call it a dry run for your eventual growth into productive members of society.

Teacher
We have already invited a group of successful visionaries from Landsol to teach this course...

Teacher
... The name of which will be, the "Special Course on Learning Business Spirit."

Chloe
Learning business spirit. Huh. What's that mean.

Yuni
Well, all you need do is read the name. It seems to be a course about how to found a business.

Chelle
Like, a seminar for student entrepreneurs?

Teacher
There is no doubt that the future belongs to those with business instincts. Anyone will surely be able to benefit from the insightful experiences to be gained from this course. All those interested in attending should line up behind here to register.

Chloe
Business, huh... You can make it big there, but it's kind of a gamble, isn't it? And you need a lot of money to get off the ground, so it doesn't seem like it's for me.

Chloe
Ordinary people just do honest, down-to-earth work. 10,000 rupees tomorrow over 10 rupees today. Mm... I'm just gonna get a job.

Yuni
Hmm, while I admit do have some intellectual curiosity about the contents of these lectures on business management, simply put, the business way of thinking simply doesn't match my own interests very well. Mm... I'll stay in.

Chelle
Hmm, not that I don't have dreams about being a CEO or something, but I'm young and foolish, so if my two upperclassmen are passing on it, then I'll follow along. Mm... I'll just chell.

Teacher
Wait right there. This is no time for chelling. You three... Rather, you four, absolutely must take this course.

Chloe
Huh?

Chelle
Eh?

Yuni
What?

Yuuki
1. "Why me too?"
2. "Okay, me too!"

Option 1.

Chloe
No, don't go "me too?" right now. What's up with that. Why are you acting like you're the only one who gets to dip. I thought we were all a part of the "BFFs Club."

Yuni
Indeed. Yuuki, our guild is a collective of shared, lifelong responsibilities. Once you have joined, you are a fellow member of Yunichan's until death.

Chelle
That's right. You're a fellow member of the BFFs Club until death.

Option 2.

Chloe
No, don't go "me too!" right now. The three of us had a thing going, and you broke it. Do we look excited about this to you?

Chelle
There's Yuuki's mysterious positivity again. His eyes are lighting up, but does he even know what the concept of business is? Can you just go "no" like the rest of us?

Yuni
In truth, I am curious about how that sparkle in your eyes is so well protected from your surroundings. Perhaps if I were as excited, then my eyes would sparkle, too... Allow me to try! G-Gah...! My eyes are drying out...!

Chloe
Hey? Sorry to interrupt, but I want you two to stand off to the side a bit. It's embarrassing being nearby.

End of branches.

Teacher
Quiet down! There is no room for argument here -- your attendance has already been made mandatory.

Chelle
I have rights! Teacher, isn't this harassment? Are you really okay with that?

Teacher
Don't be disrespectful. This decision is for your own educational attainment. Not to mention? You know that we are reviewing the scholarships you are receiving, yes?

Yuni
Reviewing the scholarships... You mean, the requirement that we four get along with this male student well enough to refute any worries about becoming a co-educational institution.

Teacher
Indeed, Dr. Yuni. Your performance in the coming special course will surely reflect your successes in befriending each other.

Chloe
Well, okay.

Chelle
Chellkay.

Yuni
It stands to reason.

Teacher
Then, if there are no objections. I have high expectations, members of Yunichan's.

Chelle & Chloe
It's not Yunichan's!

With that, the members of St. Theresa's School for Girls (BFFs Club) were pressed into attending the Special Course on Learning Business Spirit.