Yes, No, or Maybe? by Michi Ichiho

Author:Michi Ichiho [Ichiho, Michi]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: light novel
Publisher: Seven Seas Entertainment
Published: 2020-10-04T00:00:00+00:00

***

10:23 p.m.

The show was progressing smoothly—everyone was invested in the conversation, and there was a good back-and-forth going. So far, no major mistakes. The only problem on my mind was the upcoming commercial break.

No matter how heated the arguments got, we still had to cut to commercials—that’s TV broadcasting for you. But this next commercial was a long one, clocking in at two and a half minutes. Misjudge the timing and it could impact the discussion or even cost us viewers. But we were already three minutes overdue, and I was running out of wiggle room. Nobody was looking at the cue cards, and the floor manager’s frustration was palpable. I needed to steer the conversation to a good cut-off point.

Guess I’ll just have to do this the hard way. “I hate to interrupt, but it’s time for a word from our sponsors.”

That should have been enough, but unfortunately, it wasn’t.

“We’re having a very important discussion right now!” one of the party leaders roared back at me.

In terms of house seats, his party was a small minority, but after decades spent working in politics, this old man was more than opinionated enough to make up for it. Everyone had warned me in advance that he’d be tricky to deal with.

“We’re trying to talk about tax hikes. If you’re not going to contribute to the conversation, then just sit there and shut up!”

Not contributing? Who the hell do you think you’re talking to? I inhaled ever so slightly, so the cameras wouldn’t pick it up.

“I understand exactly how important this discussion is,” I said. “The thing is, I find your arguments to be flimsy at best.”

One of the other guests let out a snicker. That really set the guy off. “I beg your pardon? Then perhaps you need to do some research!”

“Are you sure about that? I may be the host of this debate, but at the end of the day, I’m an ordinary citizen; on election day, I go to the polls and cast my vote, same as anyone else. So as a representative of the people, I must ask: is it your party’s policy, then, to write off any opinions you don’t like by claiming they come from a place of ignorance?”

“I never said that!”

“Well then, could you explain it to me? Prior to the election, your party manifesto called these tax hikes ‘unavoidable.’ But after a dramatic decrease in house seats, your official position flipped a full 180 degrees. To the average person, it would appear as though you’ll say anything to stay elected—is that correct?”

“Excuse me?! I find that notion extremely offensive!”

The mood in the room was now dangerously tense. Some of the staff members were openly concerned; hell, even I was mildly terrified of what I’d done. I was just trying to push for a commercial break, and now this? How was I supposed to recover?

And yet, for some reason, I felt excited in equal measure. Just look at him boiling with rage! Now this is

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