Now that everyone seems to be present, I'd like to begin the meeting.

　The Vice President stood up and spoke the first word.
　The participants in the meeting were the head of the academy, the vice head of the academy, the head of the school year lined up, and the student council members. As for the members, the top brass of Sei Sei Seijo Academy were all present.
　The vice principal seems to be facilitating the meeting, and of course, all the attendees are women.
　All the participants on the teacher's side, from the dean on down, are dressed in suits and are sitting quietly.
　The dean has neatly arranged his long gray hair, and although I've heard that he's already close to 60 years old, his demeanor has a dignity and grace befitting the head of the academy who is in charge of education, and he sits in the center of the front of the conference room.
　Each of the attendees were given a handout containing the agenda of this meeting and other information, and Mizuho immediately looked through the handout.
　Unbeknownst to Mizuho, today's meeting had already been held several times, and today's central agenda seemed to be how to select the boys to invite on a trial basis.
　Mizuho hadn't intended to participate that actively, but there was something she really wanted to ask, so she raised her hand.

''I'm sorry. May I have your permission?

''Yes, dear, you're Shitenji-san, I believe. You are attending today, aren't you, Shitenji-san?

　The Vice President tilted his head at the new member Mizuho, placing his hand on his glasses and giving Eikura Masako, the student body president, a visual confirmation. Realizing the intentions of the vice principal, who has a picture-perfect appearance of sincerity, Masako nodded.

''Yes, I apologize for the delay in reporting due to my urgent participation. Since Hougetsu-san, who is serving as the secretary of the student council, is not feeling well and is unable to attend today's meeting, I asked Shitenji-san, who was an associate member of the student council, to attend in her place. I have no problem with her qualifications and abilities. Also, I have informed her of the importance of this meeting.

　The vice-dean nodded at Changko's explanation and turned his head to Mizuho.

''I see, I understand. Now then, Shitenji-san, do you have any questions?''

Yes, there are some things I don't understand as this is my first time here, and there are some things I don't understand because of my hurried participation, so I'd like to ask you, why did you come up with the idea of coeducation here at Sei Sei Seijo Gakuin?

''Hmm ... yes. I wish you had confirmed it beforehand, but if that's the situation, it can't be helped. Now, let's talk about that again, albeit briefly. I'm sure you are all aware of this, but please listen to this as a confirmation.

　Then, as he was about to start explaining, the assistant dean raised his hand and the dean stopped him.

''Well, let me explain it to you first.

　When the dean said this, the vice-dean bowed his head lightly and sat down. The Dean propped himself up on his elbows and clasped his hands.

Why would this prestigious and historic Seong Seong Academy, which took care of the upper class of women and produced fine ladies, think of going coeducational now?　That's what it means. Shitenji-san?

Yes, sir.

Well, the answer is simple...

　Even though the dean laughed to himself and said that, Mizuho couldn't understand it, everyone could not see it.

''Well I'm not very popular.''

What?

That's why the number of applicants is decreasing every year. It's not very popular.

　Unexpectedly, the reason for this makes Mizuho fall out of step. The senior teachers in attendance also let out a sigh and lightly dropped a few words or turned their faces upwards.

You can't get away with this one, no matter how much you say it's upstream, prestigious and historical. You can't stay in the upper class forever. Some families can't stay upstream forever. Recently, some newly emerged upper-class families have been admitted to the prestigious Seong Seong Academy, but that kind of trend is now becoming a minority. However, such tendencies are now becoming a minority.

'Huh...'

'There's a current trend in education for upper-class families. Well, it's not surprising, but more substantial higher education and study at the world's top universities are the norm. In the future, women will be more active in society, right?　Then ... depending on your point of view, it could be said that there is nothing to look for in this Holy Seine Academy.

....

'Of course, we now have an excellent group of teachers with an abundance of donations, but when it comes to the toughness of being in an international school before high school, or the toughness of the experience of studying abroad, or the immediate impact of actually going out into the world, it's hard to.....here. It cannot be recreated. Rather, it's because Seisei Academy spends a lot of time focusing on the etiquette and manners of the upper class families.

How real....

Well that's the social trend, that's the reality. And there are two more practical reasons.

Yeah, what is it?

For one thing, it's simply a lack of future funding due to a drop in students. Of course, that's not a problem right now. In fact, I'd say it's rather plentiful, but...

　As he said this, the dean looked at the assistant dean.

''Yes, the enrollment numbers for the last three years, they've been decreasing by five percent each year.''

That's the reality. As you can see, this school spends a lot of money on its operations. Of course, you can see that these funds are funded by the generous donations of each parent, right?

'Yes..... So what's the other one?

'Well as I said before, it's not popular for one reason or another, don't you see?

I'm sorry, I just don't know.

That's a good thing, you're a fine student of Saint Sei Sei Academy.

　

'Kukku, well, it's simple. They don't like the absence of the opposite s*x, girls these days. It's really high class, whatever you call it, girls these days don't seem to like school life without a love affair...

'What?　I don't know, is that why...?

'Not so surprising, is it?　We are not looking for chastity and Yamato Nadeshiko now. I can't say anything about it, but the fact is that it is true. And we have to take the necessary steps to continue this academy before it is too late.

Yeah, and I'm getting ready to go co-ed...

Yes. Of course, we can't degrade the dignity of this academy. I'm naturally thinking of the upstream lads who will be invited to co-educate in the future.

'What?　Well, it's upstream....

　A certain boy's face, far from being upstream, came to Mizuho's mind.

''.........the head of the school, which means that some of the boys we're inviting in on a trial basis this time......''

Well, of course you think it's a good idea to have a son from a good family.

　The headmaster's expression as if to say what is obvious.

''I'll be looking for coeducation in the future for this academy, but it's only natural that we can't allow anyone to enter, right?　While we are considering going co-educational, the first and most important thing is to think about the students who are currently enrolled in the school. I have also told their parents that. I'm not trying to degrade this academy to its prestige. This prestige is what this school stands for, and I will never change this principle.

　Mizuho listened to the head of the academy and could see the faint anticipation that had boiled over earlier crumble away with a sound. She was ashamed of her shallowness in getting excited at the thought of attending the same study hall with that boy, even for a short period of time.

'Well, that's the gist of what we've been doing. That's why we require recommendations and introductions from the families who send their students to our school in order to make it co-educational without changing the way the school is run. Are you listening to me?

　The Dean tilted his head at Mizuho's visibly depressed expression, but as if to encourage the meeting to proceed, he looked at the Vice Dean and the Vice Dean nodded and stood up.

''Then, today's agenda. It will be how exactly to select the male students, inviting them to be tested.......

　In this way, this super-important meeting for the future of Sei Sei Seijo Academy proceeded as if leaving Mizuho, who for some reason lost her motivation all at once, behind.



　At that time, Marion carried Houzuki Akiko, who had fallen ill, to the infirmary and laid her down on a bed that was rather large for an infirmary bed, and Marion, who was waiting for the doctor who was permanently present at the academy, looked at Akiko's distressed profile in a suspicious and serious manner.
　I hadn't noticed it when I brought her to the infirmary.
　But when Marion is worried about Akiko, who is clearly getting more out of shape than before, and holds her hand, Marion feels a slight discomfort and discomfort, and Marion narrows her eyes.

''This is... no?　But this dim vibration that surrounds her... It's like the exact opposite of our blessing.

　Marion gathered spiritual power in her hand and was about to hold her hand over Akiko's forehead when the sliding door to the infirmary opened and Marion pulled her hand back.

'Sir, please!　Mr. Marion, may I?

Oh, yes!

　When the homeroom teacher and the doctor came into the infirmary, Marion vacated the side of the bed and gave it to the doctor.
　The doctor quickly took Akiko's pulse and checked her condition.
　From behind him, Marion watched Akiko's condition. However, Marion was now looking at Akiko as a gifted person and as an exorcist.
　Behind the homeroom teacher and the doctor, Marion wrapped herself in her soft spiritual power and identified Akiko with her eyes.
　That Marion's face turns pale as she looks at him.

(This, this is........no way, it's a spell!　Why Akiko-san?　(No, who on earth!)

　Marion couldn't stay this way, so she left the infirmary to find Mizuho.