Stealing Spree

Chapter 2393: Presentation

The short break passed quickly and soon Tachibana-sensei called the remaining participants back to order.

Those who were eliminated were turned into spectators, who could also cast votes on which of the remaining six classes would receive additional funding.

Apparently, while three classes could be picked to get it, it wasnʼt restricted to one in each year level. Two classes from the same year could be chosen and one year level would get nothing.

The criteria remained to be creativity and viability of its execution on the day of the Cultural Festival. It should be balanced to prevent a disastrous occurrence like last year when the whole 1st floor became flooded when the inflatable pool broke from one of the classes.

Soon, after a short refresher from Tachibana-sensei, the groups from each year level were brought forward to present their ideas in turn.

To keep up with the excitement, she decided to draw lots on the order of presentation. That way, the presentation will be more unpredictable.

The first group to go up to the front was Year 1 Class 3.

Maaya and Misaki stepped up for the presentation with their characteristic elegance and enthusiasm.

Maayaʼs soothing voice rang clear as she described their ʼGrand Ball Cafeʼ. Misaki was her trusted assistant who would provide the topics and exaggerate them a bit with her boundless innocent enthusiasm which Maaya would smoothen out.

They detailed how the classroom would be transformed into an elegant ballroom, complete with themed decor, period costumes while minding the cost, and a ʼroyal menuʼ of snacks and drinks. There would be a mini-stage for performances and even a small dance floor for participants willing to join the noblesʼ ball.

And with Maaya emphasizing the presence of royalty, The designated ʼQueenʼ or ʼKingʼ, depending on what they will agree on later is going to be a part of their boothʼs highlight.

Maayaʼs charisma and Misakiʼs energy carried their presentation as they provided a polished explanation of their logistical plans. They had a solid concept and the applause at the end reflected the audienceʼs approval.

As they returned to their seats, Maaya looked at me with a triumphant smile while Misaki just cutely waved like she always did.

Well, Iʼm proud of them but that doesnʼt mean we wonʼt try to best their presentation.

Chii nudged me with a playful smirk. ”Think we can top that, Kii?”

”Absolutely. Weʼve got the mystery factor. Everyone loves a good scare.” I matched her grin before turning to Nami whoʼs acting a bit restless already. She couldnʼt wait to stand up there and present our ideas.

Unfortunately, we got a little unlucky at the draws. Our class ended up being the last class to present.

Due to that, Nami puffed up her cheeks and felt bummed out. To vent her frustration, she turned to me, her hand sneakily moving to places she shouldnʼt be touching in a public space. I thought Chii would help me out but she, too, acted mischievous as their hands naughtily slipped into my uniform or even my pants.

They were so discreet about it that not even Shimura noticed what was happening.

My only reprieve was that they stopped before our turn, allowing me to calm my erection down. And obviously, I reciprocated their naughtiness, just that, I dialed it down a lot that the furthest I did was to glide my hand on their thighs while occasionally slipping inside their skirts.

Among the other classes, I only paid attention to the presentation of Arisa and Izumi as well as Marika.

They presented unique ideas too that didnʼt use the classic cafe or haunted house as the base theme.

Arisaʼs group from the second year had a fascinating concept called ʼTime Travelerʼs Marketʼ They planned to transform their classroom into a bustling, multi-era marketplace where visitors could ʼtravelʼ through time. Each section of the room would represent a different era -Victorian England, Sengoku Japan, a futuristic utopia, and even a prehistoric barter system. The twist? Visitors would be given tokens to ”trade” in each section, allowing them to interact with actors in character, learn snippets of history, and purchase themed trinkets or snacks.

Arisaʼs delivery was methodical and compelling, while Izumi brought a touch of precision to the presentation, acting out interactions between ʼtime travelersʼ and the shopkeepers. Their presentation was met with enthusiastic applause, as it was both educational and engaging, clearly targeting a broader audience.

It also became a stage for Izumi to not just be known as the unreasonable delinquent. It showed that thereʼs more to her than just her outward appearance.

Arisa and I couldnʼt help but exchange thumbs up when the applause focused on Izumiʼs performance.

It was such a sight to behold.

Of course, when Izumi noticed that, she glared at me before gesturing how she wanted me to meet with her later. Will she scold me? Probably not. I mean, their punishments and scoldings are often rewarding for me.

Marikaʼs group from the third year went a different route with their ʼPrison Lock-up Serviceʼ. The concept involved turning the classroom into a huge prison facility to hold students for 15 minutes up to an hour. They will act as wardens who will lock up anyone for a fee.

Thereʼs going to be a mockup trial that can make the one who paid to be locked up as well. But thatʼs if the prisoner managed to provide a reasonable excuse for them to turn on their clients.

In order to not make it feel like a dark place to be and keep up the fun and entertainment, participants will be handed a puzzle or a questionnaire they can answer to lower their jail time.

Honestly, that wasnʼt what I was expecting from Marika but when they finished their presentation, the golden ringlet girl looked at me as if she was already thinking of locking me up there with her.

Anyway, their attention to detail was evident, with backup plans for technical issues. Furthermore, considerations for those who might resist were addressed in detail.

When it was our turn, Nami stepped forward first, her mischievous smile remaining on her lips yet her posture radiated quiet confidence. There wasnʼt even a trace of her earlier naughtiness as she introduced our concept succinctly, emphasizing its unique blend of thrill, challenge, and interactivity.

Her voice was steady, drawing the panel and the audienceʼs attention immediately.

She explained the scare elements in detail while using me to mime a few of the jump scares, earning chuckles from the audience and a nod of approval from the panel.

Then after that, it became my turn to the mechanics of the difficulty levels and how the layout would adapt to different participants.

”The Haunted Mystery Room will provide an immersive experience to scare anyone and everyone. Each section will be designed to keep participants engaged, whether theyʼre solving puzzles or facing their fears. And with clear pathways and adaptable setups, we ensure that every individual or a group can enjoy or dread the atmosphere.” I raised the volume of my voice a bit, drawing the attention of everyone.

Nami continued after me and together, we presented everything we listed there and answered

the questions from the panel, clearing out their doubts.

By the time we wrapped up, the applause felt genuine and I could tell from the panelʼs expressions that we had left a strong impression.

I saw Tachibana-sensei with a pleased grin as if she was ready to give the award right away. I also saw Shio, Ryouko-san, and Orimura-sensei who arrived to spectate at some point in time. All of them had this proud look as they watched me and Nami take our bow.

Really, we put a lot of thought into this. If we didnʼt win then I guess itʼs still fine. The experience alone is enjoyable enough for us.