542 - I Was Genderswapped and Reincarnated as a Villainess, but I’m Making this My Personal Yuri Game
On Monday, April 15th, a procession of luxury cars began arriving one after another at the entrance of Toka Academy's elementary division. The occasion was the inaugural performance at the newly constructed small hall of the elementary division. For many nobility, such events are opportunities for social interaction; however, that was not the sole reason for their gathering. The performance for the inaugural event was to be presented by Kujo Sakuya and her faction. Those who had previously attended their concerts had sung praises universally, with many expressing their eagerness to hear them again. Even those who hadn’t experienced the performance firsthand were enthusiastic, having heard reports of its excellence. Additionally, the event received support from four of the Five Northern Houses, including the influential Konoe family. The event also attracted participation and sponsorships from many within the Seven Clean Houses. Those who chose not to attend such an event would be considered unworthy of their noble status. At the very least, a representative, and ideally the parents together, were expected to attend. Dedicated fans sometimes even brought along grandparents and siblings to the concert. Due to the large number of vehicles arriving at once, creating a traffic jam at the main entrance rotary, the gates to the school grounds were opened, allowing cars to line up there as well. Beyond the gates, the ground was reinforced with asphalt and concrete, specifically to manage large-scale events that attracted significant vehicle traffic, serving its purpose on days like this. "Ah, good day!" "Oh, indeed! Good day to you!" All around, greetings were exchanged in a lively fashion. However, among the new first-year students' parents, there was a clear sense of unfamiliarity. Unless they had older siblings who had already attended the academy, this was the first experience for parents whose children had only just enrolled. They were overwhelmed by the event's vibrant energy and excitement. "Our child is attending Toka Academy for the first time this year, so we didn’t know what to expect... but the excitement here is quite tremendous, isn’t it?" "Oh, is this your first time? Then it’s understandable. Anyone who has heard a performance by Kujo-sama and her group before is eager for another opportunity to hear it." Those who had attended a previous concert had eagerly anticipated this day. Given the chance to hear such a performance again, people were understandably fervent. But those who hadn't experienced it before couldn’t quite grasp the reason behind the extraordinary buzz. "So, I heard it was quite the talk in some circles..." Anyone frequently watching television or browsing the internet might have seen glimpses of the event taking over public screens or heard snippets of the music and footage, raising public awareness. However, for those less interested or aware, it wouldn't be surprising if they hadn’t come across such content. "Once you hear today’s performance, you’ll understand the reason for this excitement." "Is that so...?" The person who understood the buzz couldn’t help but smile knowingly at the puzzled expression of the other. --- The students of the elementary division and their guardians, gathered in the new small hall, were astounded by its grandeur. Although termed a 'small hall,' it was anything but modest. It rose from the site of the old cafeteria, and while spacious enough, its facilities extended well beyond expectations. The hall surpassed many inferior concert venues, and its rapid construction exhibited stunning craftsmanship. It matched the quality of luxurious halls available to the public. "Now, I would like to invite Konoe-sama, one of the hosts for the completion celebration of the small hall and its inaugural performance, to speak." With these words, simple greetings transitioned into formal congratulations from various representatives, culminating in a speech by Madam Konoe, who was referred to as "one of the hosts." Despite the title, many assumed the planning and execution were largely thanks to the efforts of the Konoe family and Madam herself. That is, until her speech clarified things. "Hello, everyone. Thank you for coming to celebrate the completion of the small hall and attend its inaugural performance. But it seems there’s a misunderstanding I should address. First of all..." Madam Konoe's speech brought murmurs from the audience gathered in the hall. Her words outlined the actual progression of events thus far. She spoke of reconstructing the cafeteria, introducing new systems, improving menus, and more. Despite prevalent belief that these tasks were led by the Konoe family, Madam Konoe clarified that Kujo Sakuya and her faction were truly responsible. Some were already aware of this narrative but others remained skeptical, believing the credit was falsely attributed to Kujo Sakuya in order to impress Konoe family. Yet hearing the entire account had a convincing ring to it. Kujo Sakuya was not merely replacing the cafeteria and updating systems; her efforts extended to upgrading the broadcasting and sound systems of various departments, repurposing the old cafeteria site into the new small hall, and ongoing construction of a large hall on the expansive land between the high school and university. She was the one who proposed these initiatives, consolidated them, and secured the necessary budget. The realization was staggering: a child from the elementary division managed these ambitious proposals and tangible execution, including fundraising efforts, which culminated in a project costing hundreds of millions—a feat unthinkable for any elementary student. "I understand it seems unbelievable. However, even the budget itself centered on contributions from major families like the Kujou, Tokudaiji, and Saionji families. It was actually the Konoe and other family members who joined in on that initiative." "You’re saying all that’s true..." "Yes, but there were such rumors even back then." "No, no, this has to be propaganda, right? Wasn't it all just a scheme for Kujo Sakuya to prove her worth to join the Konoe family?" Different reactions abounded: those who believed from the start, those newly convinced by what they heard, and those who remained skeptical. However, the truth was singular. "Doesn't the fact that the main entities involved in the hall's construction are all from the Kujo faction serve as proof?" "Well, that's..." In large-scale construction projects, Joint Ventures (JVs) or consortiums are often formed for various reasons. Sometimes, the scale of the project is simply too large for a single company to handle, or the companies owned by the project initiator are insufficient but still need to be involved. Furthermore, in public or similar projects, such arrangements prevent a single entity from monopolizing profits. These factors can sometimes overlap or occur separately, forming the basis for such collaborations. Regarding the construction projects at Toka Academy, it was common for construction companies owned by influential families to form a JV to undertake the work. For the new cafeteria, the partnership was nearly equally split between the Konoe-affiliated construction company and the Kujo Group. In contrast, the hall construction was dominated largely by the Kujo Group. While the Kujo Group did subcontract work to other companies, the main contract remained predominantly with them. This clearly indicates that the entire project was essentially intended to be led by the Kujo Group. "The band performing today belongs to the Konoe Production, but they are not exactly talents managed by Konoe Production. I simply wanted to support and protect Sakuya-chan and her activities. So, I persuaded Sakuya-chan and her group to join Konoe Production through sheer force," declared Madam Konoe. A burst of laughter erupted from the audience. It was the kind of laugh you'd expect when Madam Konoe spoke candidly. However, while it may have been amusing to some, to the involved parties, it was far from a joke. Though Madam Konoe’s words carried sincerity, everyone present understood that calculated moves and strategies were in play behind the scenes. What this suggested was that Kujo Sakuya was someone of immense value. Even a formidable figure like Konoe Yasuko had to resort to negotiations and possibly aggressive tactics to secure Sakuya within her circle. The narrative reinforced the powerful impression that Kujo Sakuya was a person of exceptional prominence, capable of gaining such respect and interest. For those who had some prior awareness of Kujo Sakuya's capabilities, accepting these claims was natural. The statements transcended mere flattery or falsehood, making perfect sense. "Thank you for your patience in listening to me. Let us get right to the performance!" With those words from Madam Konoe, the curtains rose, and she left the stage to cheers and clapping from a section of fervent fans. "There are some quite young ones in the group." "Are they really up to this?" Even the youngest among them was already in the fifth grade, but their appearance seemed implausible for delivering the "amazing performance" that rumors had described. However, those doubts lasted only for the briefest seconds before the music began... "What!?" "This is...!" "Shh! Please be quiet!" The audience was immediately captivated from the first note. Many had learned instruments from childhood and encouraged their children likewise. They were regulars at music competitions and concerts, and often attended performances by some of the world's finest professionals. Yet, no matter their breadth of experience, this band's performance left them speechless. When faced with something truly extraordinary, a person can be struck silent. An ability to chatter away means it wasn't that remarkable. Conversely, when something genuinely exceptional is encountered, it commands an awe-filled silence rather than verbose commentary. Upon first hearing the band, initial reactions were whispered exclamations of surprise. But without needing reminders, they quickly became fully engrossed in the music. The reverberations of awe faded almost immediately as everyone turned their full attention to the captivating performance before them. So utterly absorbed were they that over two hours passed unnoticed, and the concert ended. The audience's demands for an encore were so insistent that an unscheduled encore was performed, bringing the day's inaugural concert to a close. "Sniff... It was incredible... So incredible..." "Yes, indeed. It certainly was." First-time listeners of Kujo Sakuya's concert were left with tears, not only this woman, who was deeply moved, but many others who had attended previous concerts, too. And the woman who had earlier shared knowing smiles nodded with satisfaction as she saw her companion thoroughly charmed. "Do you understand now what I meant?" "Yes, absolutely... It was truly remarkable... Next time, I'll bring my entire family." Hearing this promise incited grins from veteran Sakuya fans, even if it didn’t pertain directly to them. They knew that expanding this fanbase might eventually convince Sakuya and her group to make a formal debut. Driven by this hope, they remained dedicated to spreading the word. After all, it brought joy to see one's favorite thing gain appreciation and affection from others. "Oh! I want to hear them again! When can I hear them next?" "The Kujo group usually doesn't perform publicly. You might not get another chance." "What!? But Madam Konoe mentioned they were signed with Konoe Production!" "Konoe Production only manages them to protect the rights to their recordings and videos; they don’t engage in entertainment activities." "No! That’s just heartless! I can’t imagine living without that performance now! It's not fair!" Cries of frustration erupted everywhere upon learning the truth. Many lamented knowing such a splendid performance because if they hadn’t known, they wouldn’t suffer this yearning. "I have a child in the middle division, so I can attend tomorrow as well!" "What!? That’s not fair! I want to attend the concerts tomorrow and the day after too!" "There aren’t enough seats." "Hmph!" Tensions flared as some could attend the middle or high division concerts, while for others, this was a one-time experience. Unbeknownst to Sakuya, the clamor and hopes for future performances were growing. However, to Sakuya and her companions, these hopes were simply not their concern. Previous Next Table of Contents Bookmark Write a Review To use the bookmark feature, please log in. Support with a Like Currently Closed for Reception Support the author by allocating points! Please log in to rate. When writing a review, please log in. +Notice+ Unless otherwise specified, all works listed are fiction and have no relation to actual persons or entities. 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