Chapter 36 – End of Round One
Souta stood, papers in hand, and made his way to the podium.
Kotarō didn't expect nerves. He expected sharpness.
Souta adjusted his collar, gave a brisk nod, and began:
"Good afternoon. As the third speaker for Government, I will clarify the core clash points of this debate and explain why the Government bench holds ground not just in theory, but in moral and practical execution."
He didn't look at the page once. Just held it casually in one hand as he began to dissect.
"First, fairness. The Opposition speaks of structure, but fairness without access is scaffolding over a pit. We have shown how homework rewards privilege, not effort."
He transitioned seamlessly.
"Second, discipline. We're not asking students to abandon structure. We're asking schools to take responsibility for it inside the classroom, not export it to uneven home environments."
His voice was fast, clipped, but not rushed. Strategic.
"Third, global precedent. Finland isn't Japan, sure. But data is data. We adapt—not mimic. Refusing to learn from successful models because of pride is academic arrogance."
He stepped slightly aside from the podium.
"Opposition painted us as the team of removal. But we're the team of renewal. We're not taking away work. We're redefining where learning happens and why it must be accessible to all."
He nodded.
"For those reasons, and for the future of equitable education, we propose this motion."
(Kotarō Internal)
"Guy didn't even look at his script. Like the paper was just emotional support. Clean structure, sharp turns, dramatic emphasis? I would've hated him if he wasn't on our side."
The final Opposition speaker didn't hesitate.
Koganei's third speaker stood tall and calm.
"Let's return to the heart of the debate," he said, smiling slightly. "The Government claims to protect students. But their motion removes tools instead of fixing them."
He flowed through his points:
Reframed fairness: Discipline isn't tradition—it's resilience.Questioned feasibility: Who enforces learning if homework disappears?Cultural fit: Finland isn't Japan. Motivation structures differ. So do values.
He landed his closer cleanly:
"Government wants fairness through removal.
We offer fairness through readiness."
(Kotarō Internal)
"Ah yes, the good ol' smooth talk closer. Safe. Neat. Forgettable in ten minutes unless you tattoo it on a pillow."
The judge stood.
"Thank you. Both teams."
Feedback began:
Haruka was praised for clarity and pacing.Koganei's rebuttal structure was described as "concise and responsive."Kotarō was noted for logical progression, but the judge added: "Some hesitations during delivery. Smoothness matters in high-level rounds."Souta received a confident nod: "Strong structural close. A bit fast, but controlled. Well done."
(Kotarō Internal)
"Smoothness, huh? Great. Add that to my collection of near-compliments. Right next to 'surprisingly fluent' and 'you looked like you meant it.'"
Outside the prep room, Kotarō stepped out for air.
Near the water cooler, he found himself shoulder-to-shoulder with Koganei's third speaker.
The boy offered him a small towel.
"Nice line about mimicry," he said. "That landed."
Kotarō blinked. Took the towel with a small nod.
"Thanks."
Then came the voice he was starting to recognize even when he wasn't looking.
"Yo, Nozomi!"
Aizawa. Loud. Friendly. Grinning like they were teammates. Like they had some years of bonding. Like he hadn't just met him this morning.
He strolled over with crackers in his mouth, brushing crumbs off his hands like it was recess.
"Didn't expect you to rebut like that. You've got bite, man."
Kotarō blinked. What.
He offered a neutral, possibly legally obligated nod. "Uh… thanks?"
Aizawa clapped him on the back like they were scheduled to hang out this weekend.
"Told you Haruka only lets sharp ones stand next to her," he said to his teammate. Then turned to Kotarō again. "She beat me once. Middle school finals. Absolutely destroyed me. My therapist still brings it up."
Haruka appeared. No warning. A pink carton was slipped into Kotarō's hand like a contract.
Strawberry milk. Of course.
Aizawa raised both brows.
"Oooh? That your victory drink now?"
Haruka didn't even glance at him. "We have ten minutes until prep begins."
She walked back inside.
As Aizawa turned to leave, he gave Kotarō a wink.
"That round was close," he said, already walking. "But next round, I'll show you what I'm really made of. Don't blink."
(Kotarō Internal)
"This guy talks like we've been friends since diapers. I don't even know his blood type. Did I just gain a rival or accidentally sign up for a sitcom subplot?"
Back in the prep room, Mikako was already drawing arrows on the whiteboard.
Souta cracked his knuckles and said, "Alright. Now that was fun. But I think I can push harder next time."
Haruka sat next to Kotarō, sipping her own milk.
For a moment, it was quiet.
Then she said:
"We did alright."
She looked at the board.
"But we can't afford 'alright' twice more."
(Kotarō Internal)
"No pressure. Just the entire team, motion, and rhythm of the universe depending on it. Cool. Cool cool cool."
Chapter End