The days passed slowly but it was still too fast for those who didn't want the last day of July to come. A lot of people were very afraid of it. A week before some members of Kodama Shichiro's directorate warned the abdicating director that they have to count with the secession of at least seven boy's schools. Maginot's school director proposed to assign Sensha-Do teams to the crisis areas. Kodama rejected the idea saying that it would only cause further troubles.
On the 31th of July the Federation gathered together again in Tokyo at the HQ to choose the new director. Not all the boy's schools were present; Bannockburn and Stromboli have boycotted the vote. The girls and the chairpersons were sitting in the well-known conference room in different spiritual state. Some looked at the boys with fear, some with contempt. Today it was Ami who led the meeting.
"Everyone, please stand up for the march of the Japan Sensha-Do Federation!"
Everyone in the room stood up. So did the boys for the sake of pretense. The instrumental march of the Federation has been played then all sat back.
"And now I would like to ask the candidates to hold their final speeches before the vote!" said Ami. Aizawa, Hayakawa and Tsuji all spoke up again to convince the JSF about their own suitability.
"Thank you Aizawa-san, Hayakawa-san and Tsuji-san! Then respected Federation, I think it's time to make our decision!"
Miho's POV
Miho took the prepared piece of paper in front of her and wrote the name she chose. Yuzu heard her commander whispering.
"What did you say taichō?"
"I am praying for Hayakawa's success Koyama-san." Miho replied. "If one of the other two will win… I don't want to imagine."
When everyone was ready, they stood up and brought their ballot papers to the urn which was standing on the director's table.
"Thank you everyone!" Ami said. "The meeting is now dismissed for today. Please be here tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. when we announce the result!"
After this the conference room became empty and the delegations went back to the Sakura Hotel again.
At that night just a few could sleep. Kiyoshi wasn't among them. He was counting in his head. All the boy's schools have voted for Hayakawa. But there were fewer boys' schools than girl's schools and moreover, two of them were not present. And who knows who the chairpersons, secretaries etc. have voted for? The waiting was unbearable. Under these circumstances how will the votes disperse?
Next morning the Federation gathered together one more time. The whole situation was dancing on their nerves. When Miho saw Ami coming in she was worried about her expression. It showed fear and uncertainty. The whispers in the room disappeared and everyone was listening nervously.
"Dear ladies and gentlemens!" Ami began but her voice sounded like she didn't want to finish her speech. "After counting the votes I proclaim now the name of the new director of the Japan Sensha-Do Federation. May I ask the technical stuff to show it on the screen? Our new director is…"
It was just a few seconds but it felt like eternity. Miho was watching the screen and waited and waited and waited… Then the result appeared.
"God please, no, no, no, no!" No it cannot be true. He has got 40%. Hayakawa got 39%. "God please, please! Count it again! Save Us!"
"Our new director is Tsuji Renta-san." Ami finished looking at the floor. It happened. Tsuji is the director of the JSF.
At night Kodama Shichiro received seven letters in his apartment.
The first one said:
"Dear Kodama-san,
I hereby inform you that with respect I resign my mandate as a representative of Landsknecht Boys High School in the Japan Sensha-Do Federation. The interests of my beloved school led to this decision.
Yours sincerely,
Hasegawa Kiyoshi"
The other six letters came from Aoto, Isato and the four other student council members of Landsknecht.
"Well." Kodama thought. "It has begun. I very sorry that I have to finish my time in office with the storm on the horizon. It would have happen even without that voice recording. At least I don't have to regret that I've sent it to them."
And with this he sighed and went to sleep confused about the morning.