Business Advisor of the Chamber of Commerce (7) The Wall of Funding, Unity of the Shopping District, and a New Trial [#CreativeAward2025 #WorkNovelCategory]

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“Since the Chamber of Commerce won't support us, we have to come up with all the operating funds ourselves.”
Yuto handed the printed estimate to Akiyama.
Venue setup costs, advertising and promotion expenses, safety measures—everything was essential.

“...We need at least this much.”

Akiyama was speechless at the numbers before her.
“This much...!? How are we going to raise that?”

“We have no choice but to find sponsors.”
Leaving those words behind, Yuto went around visiting local companies and organizations.

—But reality was not that kind.

“An event without the backing of the Chamber of Commerce is too risky.”
“If it fails, it will affect our reputation.”

While choosing their words carefully, everyone refused him clearly.
The only thing that increased was the number of business cards, and his heart, which should have been filled, wore down without a sound.
With every smile exchanged, a somewhat empty wind blew through his chest.

On a rainy evening, in front of the deserted station, Yuto clenched his fists tightly.
“Damn it... if I don't have the funds, I can't start anything...”

—That night, people began to gather one by one at the Sakuragawa Chamber of Commerce office, which was about to close.

“Morita-kun.”
Shigeru Tanaka, the greengrocer, handed him an envelope.

“...What is this?”

“It's money we all chipped in a little at a time.”
“It might not be a large amount. But we were moved by your passion.”

Behind him were his friends from the shopping district. Shimada from the barbershop, Matsuda from the confectionery shop, Hori from the stationery store...

“Even if the Chamber of Commerce won't help you, we believe in you.”
“So, please fill this town with smiles once again.”

Yuto lost his words and simply bowed deeply.
“...Thank you very much... I will definitely make this Marche a success.”

And right there—
“If there are no sponsors, why don't we create the funds ourselves?”
At that remark from someone, the atmosphere changed.
“Let's do a pre-event. Let's hold a 'prelude' to the Sakuragawa Marche!”

Tanaka's greengrocer shop would attract customers with a 'super-discount sale' using seasonal vegetables.
Matsudaya would contribute to creating buzz by selling limited-edition 'special manju'.
The restaurants would jointly open food booths to bring vitality back to the street.
Akiyama began promoting it by making full use of social media.

“Let's prove that we can do it on our own, even without the support of the Chamber of Commerce!”

At those words, Yuto clenched his fists again.
“Alright, let's give it our all!”

A glimmer of genuine hope was lit in the Chamber of Commerce office at night.
It was the first step toward a dream that had once been nearly abandoned.

The following evening.
The sky was dyed in madder red, and a pleasant breeze blew through the town. At the entrance to the shopping district, several posters for the pre-event scheduled for next week were posted.

"It's finally time."
Yuto gazed at the posters with deep emotion. After a long preparation period, they had finally made it this far. He felt he had done everything he could to make it a success.

At that moment, his smartphone vibrated in his pocket. Looking at the screen, he saw an incoming call from the city office. Feeling a sense of foreboding, he pressed the call button.


"I am very sorry, but it is difficult to hold the event under these circumstances."


For a moment, he could not understand what he had just been told.

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