A huge crowd had formed in front of the library.

It was hard to believe that over fifty people had assembled in front of such a quiet place.

"K!!

Things are getting interesting today!!

That's Maebara-san! He's our leader today!!"

"""Yo!! Glad to meet you!!"""

Kameda-kun had brought a bunch of athletes with him.

They were all very tall and full of spirit.

Being greeted by a bunch of big people at once made me feel uncomfortable.

Whoops, I shouldn't feel so intimidated!!

The commander can't act bashful in front of his troops!

Following after them were our nameless comrades who sympathized with our plight at Angel Mort yesterday.

...I hate to say it, but I never expected any of them to actually show up.

Seeing them all here to support us made me feel glad.

They seemed plenty pumped up too, raising up fervorous cries (shrieks?).

Kameda-kun did so much for me. He brought not only his teammates, but also people from Angel Mort...

I couldn't thank him enough.

"Don't worry, K! We're all brothers at Angel Mort!

I heard from the people who went to the Dessert Fiesta today that... the dessert named 'Innocent Blue Sundae' is the best one!

Let's eat it together this summer!!"

"Keiichi-kun!

This is incredible!

You gathered this many people by yourself?"

"Hello.

I never expected you'd get this many people here.

Good job, hee hee."

"Tomitake-san, Takano-san!

Why are you two here?"

"Oh, you didn't know?

They told us they'd come at the meeting last night.

The coach is supposed to be here too..."

"Sorry I made you wait so long!

I'm sorry for being so late.

It took me a while to leave the clinic."

"Woooow!

Coach, that's amazing. It's amazing!!"

Coach had brought some sashes, headbands, and banners with him.

...He was so well-prepared!!

The sashes and headbands read "Save Satoko Houjou!" and "The consultation center must take action immediately!". They were perfect for our protest!

He had brought lots of extras along, too. Takano-san and Shion handed them out to other supporters.

"You know, Coach, I loathe that style of yours...

but you've earned some respect today."

"You know, I really like these things.

Not all sixty of us know each other,

but when we all wear the same headbands, I start to feel a real sense of unity!"

"It feels like I'm back at the dam conflict.

The people of Hinamizawa were wearing headbands and sashes just like these. It was like they were invincible.

No one could make them stop!"

Tomitake-san was exactly right.

Even the kids from Okinomiya were willing to wear the headbands.

It was like we were supporting a baseball team.

"Here, Rika-san.

It took us a while to get all of these made..."

"......Irie..."

"I'll do everything I can!

I'll do my very best to help us rescue Satoko-chan!"

"Here, these are yours, Keiichi-kun!

It felt like a field trip yesterday, but today it's totally different!"

"Yeah, I agree...!!

I figured showing up in greater numbers would intimidate them, but this has way more impact!!

Bluffs really are important after all!!"

"It's just about time.

Call us to attention, captain!"

"Captain...?

I'm just the person who set this up..."

"Keiichi-kun, you need to act more like a leader!

Get up there and stand strong!"

I walked out in front of everyone while Tomitake-san took pictures.

Everyone went quiet and turned their gaze to me.

......I felt so nervous.

But at the same time, I also felt really thrilled to see all of our comrades here.

"Thanks for being here today, everyone!!!

As you know, it's been four days since my classmate Satoko Houjou was taken by her uncle!!

How can he claim to be her legal guardian? He used to beat her, and he neglected her for a whole year so he could live with his lover here in Okinomiya!!

The child consultation center must urgently take care of this matter and save Satoko from him!!

However, they're putting her case on hold!

They just don't understand how much of an emergency this is!!

Today we're going to attempt our third appeal, so as to get them to save her as soon as possible!!!"

"For those who saw Satoko-chan at school today, you should all know!

She was at her wit's end after only four days!

We can't leave her in that environment any longer!!"

"This is our third attempt!

We have so many people on our side, too!!

Let's let them know how important this is!!

We're not going to neglect our friend!!"

"...Amazing!

This really is the return of the dam conflict!"

"Maebara-kun wasn't even living here when that happened.

This is quite interesting.

There must be something about this village that brings people together..."

"That's just the culture here, I think.

Something like this happening was inevitable."

"I come from a city where neighbors don't even know each other's faces... I'm a little jealous."

"...That's a bit rich coming from someone who keeps complaining about the lack of trains."

"All units prepared for assault!

Give us the order to lay our lives down today, Your Excellency!!"

"Press our demands, rescue the target!!

Everyone, follow K's command!!"

"Yeah!

Yeah!

Yeeeeeeeah!!!"

Everyone had that much vigor before we'd even entered the building.

They had to have heard what was going on outside.

In fact, panicked-looking people were staring at us out the windows.

"Well, here goes nothing!"

Irie pushed me forward, and I took the first step of our third attempt, with the weight of sixty people on my shoulders.

We went through the automatic doors, and slowly crossed twenty meters to the counter...

"...How will they take this?

The first day it was just a counselor. Yesterday was a manager.

Think we'll get the guy in charge today?"

"I don't know...

but I'm sure they'll understand just how much we care about her...!"

"H-Hello... How may I help you today...?"

"Same as yesterday.

We're here to appeal for immediate action on behalf of Satoko Houjou!"

At the far end of the office, I saw the manager from yesterday talking to a guy sitting behind an important-looking desk.

I could tell he was intimidated to see so many people.

Shion said that this was the day we'd finally close the deal, but I couldn't be that optimistic yet.

...To be honest, our current numbers were probably the maximum number of people that I could get.

So what would we do... if things didn't work out today?

I put up a brave front, but internally I was nearly cracking with the anxiety.

But looking at the hopeful, encouraging expression on Rena's face as she walked beside me helped disperse those timid feelings.

Rena might hold the very same worries inside of her heart.

Everyone must be wondering if we can really save Satoko or not.

But today, we were supporting each other by hiding those worries.

That was unmistakably our team's strong point.

We could never have gathered so much energy and strength if we were alone.

That power can only be created when people work together!

It takes forever for a drop of water to wear away at one rock, but a tsunami can break it into pieces in a second!

The manager approached the counter.

He started speaking to me,

saying that as the meeting room wasn't open today, he couldn't let us all into one room.

However, the head of the office was willing to see us, so we could use the reception area in front of his desk.

Since the room is so small, however, he asked us to choose three representatives to come inside.

"I am truly sorry...

We hope you'll understand this is out of concern for our visitors, and show that you're willing to cooperate."

We were here with all these people, and they were only letting three of us inside?

I wanted to refuse their offer, but Mion told me to take it.

"If we occupied the office with our numbers, they could fault us for obstructing their business.

I think they're intimidated enough.

The head of the office is willing to talk with you today. I think that's the best treatment you can get from them."

"......They're all shaking like scaredy-cats."

"Ahahaha! Meow meow!

Still, it's definitely a lie that the meeting room isn't available today."

"I think so too.

But Mii-chan is right. I think they're intimidated enough."

"The head of the office is the top of the whole organization.

If he's willing to talk to us, we might have to compromise as well."

"...If we refuse to see him, that will go on the record.

We don't want them to be able to claim that we refused to talk to him."

"I think we should make it clear that we're here to have a conversation..."

Hmm.

It was good to get suggestions from so many different people.

If it was only me, I would've just gotten pissed off and left.

That was probably not the best idea.

...Once again, I felt how important it was that we were a team.

"I understand.

Three of us will go talk to him, then...

...But who should it be?"

"Keiichi-kun, you have to go.

Other than you, I think Coach and Mii-chan would be the best choice!"

"If the head of the office recognizes me, they'll think that this is the Sonozaki family's doing.

...I can't let him think that, since my family has nothing to do with this case.

...Mm, I'm really sorry, but it's those adult circumstances again."

"Saving Satoko is our fight. That old hag has nothing to do with this anyway.

How about you, Rena-san?

You should go and talk with them!"

"I don't mind... but how about you, Rika-chan?"

"......Meep?"

"As Satoko-chan's best friend, I think you should be a representative."

"..............."

Rika-chan is a quiet girl, so it'd be hard for them to understand what she's thinking.

However, she's Satoko's best friend.

She had been living with her for the past year, as if they were family.

She has the strongest bond with Satoko out of any of us.

"All right. Coach, Rika-chan, and me! We're going in!"

"Roger.

I'll get everyone under control."

Mion winked at me and started explaining the situation to everyone else.