Just as Kiyoshi expected, nothing special happened during the rest of the first meeting. Tossing with proposals and debates about changes in the rules and finances back and forth. The boys didn't even say a word all the time.
"At least they were not screwing us today." Kiyoshi whispered to Isato, when the meeting was close to its end.
"Don't be sure about it! There is no sign of dealing with our case." The president replied.
"Ladies and gentleman, our first day is about to end." Shimada Chiyo said into the microphone. "Is there anything else in your mind to talk about?"
"Alright, I'll break the silence now." Isato said and raised his hand. Chiyo saw the boy high in the rows.
"Yes, Hayashi Isato-san?" She asked in a more bored tone as before. "The word is yours." Isato stood up to speak.
"Thank you Shimada-sama. This morning I and my fellows from the other boy's schools passed a jointly formulated document about our common wishes and a cooperative group of ours. Until now it was not on the agenda. I would like to ask you to deal with our issue because with this we want to create a better, renewed Sensha-Do for everybody. Thank you!" After this he sat back. He has got applause but it looked like only his friends did it honestly. Whispers filled the air.
"Cooperative group? What is he talking about?"
"What is this renewed Sensha-Do stuff?"
"Don't care about it; they are just puffing a little. Tomorrow there will be nothing." Like these.
"Thank you Hayashi-san." Chiyo said in a neutral tone. "We… We will discuss about it tomorrow. Thank you everyone for being here today, I now close the meeting. Good bye!" Everybody stood up and started to leave the conference room.
"I'm sure it would have been a miracle if they have dealt with us today." Isato said to Kiyoshi while walking out.
"Maybe it could even hurt them to do so." The commander replied.
"No problem, no problem! Tomorrow we'll not let it to be pulled down in the toilette!"
The second day came and the JSF gathered together again at the HQ. Whether if you believe it or not, one of the first points was the cause of the boys but not really in the form they wished. This time the spokeswoman was Nishizumi Shiho herself.
"As for the requests of the so called "Advocacy Alliance" we didn't think that its propositions are reasonable and therefore we do not give space to them. Furthermore we see this Alliance as a one-sided, illegitimate organization which is unacceptable for the unity of the Federation and that's why we decided to instruct its founders the abolition of it." Shiho just finished the sentence and at that very second angry shouting and a concert of whistle filled the air. Even she looked surprised not to mention the others. All the boys in the conference room were shouting and gesturing ardently.
"No! Do you understand down there? No!"
"We are not your slaves anymore!"
"Not reasonable, really?!"
"Do not lie Nishizumi!"
"Just don't you instruct us anything!"
"ORDER!" Kodama Shichiro, the director shouted. Under his term of office things were pretty peaceful for he didn't form any new measure to further discriminate the boy's schools. But now his term in office was about to end. At this point Wallace asked to speak.
"Your word Kasaya Ichita-san." Shiho said rudely. Wallace stood up and began his speech.
"Dear federal directorate members and chairpersons! Don't you really feel how nonsense this whole thing is? We were ready for a dialogue but you want only monologues and only by you! And forgive me but saying that we are not in disadvantageous position compared to the girl's school is a complete lie! And you know why? Because the Federation's leaders have never moved on with the time!"
"So that is it!" A girl from Maginot's student council shouted angrily. "You do not like our leaders!"
"You are completely right!" Wallace said back. "As we do not like the idea – like many other things - of being observed by so called "instructors" when these instructors are not like the ones at the girl's school but like imperial procurators who we did not want on our backs!"
"Bandogs!" Ivan interrupted loudly.
"That's abusing!" Lady Grey from St. Gloriana shouted from the ranks of the directorate. "Get him fined!"
"It was not me who said that!" Wallace said back. "But I will take the fine!" He dug into the pocket of his dark blue suit and slammed multiple banknotes on the table. "Here you are! If this is enough the next fine can be paid of it too!" This caused laughing among his friends. Harsh opinions could be heard again.
"What does he think of himself?!"
"That's scandalous!"
"We do not step away from our proposal! And we do not let it to be adjourned even if you force us with the cannons of your tanks!"
"Kick him out!"
"Well ladies?" Wallace asked. "Is my money still enough? Because I say that nothing can stop us! Nor silencing, nor fines!" The boys applauded him again, while most of the girls shouted insults.
"ORDER!"
Miho's POV
"Didn't you say that this whole thing with them is nothing? Miho asked Yuzu.
"I… I don't know. Something has changed." She replied confused
"I can't remember scenes like that before either." Anzu said more seriously than she used to.
"ORDER!"
"I live with my right as a chairperson." Shiho said firmly. "Today Kasaya Ichita from Bannockburn Boys High School cannot speak up again nor the other members of the Advocacy Alliance for with their conspiracy they offended the dignity of the Japan Sensha-Do Federation and we warn them again to…" Miho was watching the boys as anger and frustration grew on their faces then something absolutely never seen happened. They just… stood up and walked out. One by one without saying a word. Eugen was the last of them in the conference room then he also left the scene and closed the door behind him. Silence sat in the room; nobody expected this when they got up in the morning. Harsh arguments happened during the years but this was new for everyone.
"Well then." Shiho said after a whole taciturn minute. "I think we shall continue."
Reporters waited for the boys in the HQ's hall.
"Excuse me Kasaya-san!" One of them said to Wallace. "What happened inside there? Don't you think that you've got carried away?"
"No I don't." Wallace replied. "We are just reacting the way like they have always treated us."
"Will your actions change anything?"
"Idleness has never changed anything." Hunyadi said. "Sometimes people must take their fate into their own hand."
They replied for some further questions then went back to the hotel to work on. At night Kiyoshi was sitting in the room when Isato came in furiously.
"They are in a good form again!"
"What happened Isato?" Kiyoshi asked.
"They submitted a proposal about us! They want to exclude us nearly completely from decision making! Technically we can just sit in there and listen to them! They will only take our votes into account when they think! And other stuff, like we will have to announce every single match of ours, even if it is just a practice match between us!"
"What?"
"You've heard right. The assembly will vote about it tomorrow."
"Oh no, no, no! We will not play this shitty comedy! Tomorrow we will give them a rough day!"
3rd day of the conference
The conference wasn't meant to be about the boy's schools but it has become a boy's schools vs. JSF situation. This day they voted about the new rule which was named by the boys as "slave rule". Obviously they all voted with no and some girls (including Miho) have also listened to their conscience but they finally voted it. The proposal for objection was rejected. The conference room was completely in chaos.
"Because it looks like a civilized debate is impossible I dissolve the meeting!" Lady Grey the chairwomen for that day said.
"We do not close the subject yet!" Edward shouted. "We continue! Choose a new chairperson! Kodama-san!"
"That's defiance!"
"Rebellion!"
Again the boys left the scene but before that Ivan sent a message to the directorate.
"You are playing a dangerous game ladies! Just do not be surprised when it will really hurt you!" They've held a news conference for the press on the street before the HQ.
"Today the Japan Sensha-Do Federation proved that they are only interested in the interests of one certain group. If that's the situation why our schools shall even took part in it?"
4th (last) day of the conference
All the invited were sitting in the conference room. The atmosphere was nearly unbearable, anger and antipathy filled the air. Today the chairperson was Kodama Shichiro himself.
"Dear ladies and gentlemens! As you know this is the last occasion when I lead a meeting. Today we will give our votes to Aizawa Kodama-san, Hayakawa Ayano-san, and Tsuji Renta-san to make them director candidates. Could the three of them pleas step forward and present their programs? Aizawa, Hayakawa and Tsuji appeared on the stage and began their speeches. Tsuji was the last one. While listening to him Kiyoshi and the boys were more certain that they will never obey him. Nothing concrete just empty promises on that cold unpleasant voice. The most sympathetic for them was still Hayakawa. She looked like a commiserating women who has feelings. Aizawa was nothing special. After the speeches the vote started. Kiyoshi pushed the button and voted for Hayakawa. After a minute the result appeared on the screen of the projector.
He succeeded. Tsuji got enough votes to become candidate. But there was something wrong. Bannockburn's student council president asked to speak.
"Excuse me! It shows that I and my schoolmates abstained but we have all voted." Shiho replied.
"Based on your behavior during the conference we decided that you delegation is not eligible to make a decision in this case." Bannockburn and the boys were just staring. Then they slammed their fists to the table and stood up rampaging or sent their papers flying. Except Kiyoshi who just sat and stared. Now he asked to speak up. Everybody went silent.
"Yes Hasegawa Kiyoshi-san?" Kodama Shichiro said. Kiyoshi leaned forward to the microphone. He was silent for a couple of second then took a deep breath and a short-tempered sinister warning sounded in the speaker.
"Do not think that the Federation will avoid the hell! Or even the collapse! Because if you do not give up your old ways it is the only possible scenario!" He shouted with the angriest face he ever had. At this point the real chaos prevailed in the room.
Miho shook her head to wake up. No, this isn't happening. The hell itself came to the earth and its flames are burning them.
"CALL THE SECURITY GUARD! GET THEM OUT!" Somebody even threw papers and small objects in the direction of the boys. But the boys stood up and started to sing a well-known song.
Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.
It was the masterpiece of Bob Dylan.
"ORDER! ORDER!"
"For the times they are a-changin'!"