So, is the principal / mayor off the arc by this point...? Haven't read in over 2 months because of that nasty shit.
@TwilightFaze
I'll chime in, but in a different direction. What you say makes sense, but not quite in context of how the story worked itself out.
In short, the only thing that seemed to be important to the mayor / principle, ever, was their own personal gain. Forget the MC's happiness, it doesn't even seem like she is trying to make use of "idol culture" to her benefit. She's literally being played as the town's money-cow, not as an aspiring-athlete that also makes use of the nasty idol-culture.
In less short; From the start of the story, she never gave her own personal opinion about being the figurative slave of those two people. The mayor's and principle's inclusion in the story is nothing but foolish and unnecessary; in particular because the author has almost nothing to say about idol-culture. Those two characters are just there to be an obstacle to overcome for the romance tropes, they're literally just there to be annoying for everyone, and the MC just seemed to naturally roll with it, for no particular reason what so ever.
If only the MC herself would express that "it is important for me to maintain my public image, to some degree, to raise my chances to represent Japan in the Olympics".....Then there wouldn't be a problem to bitch about. We'd be able to see how everyone's goals and motives coincide together, and why they're okay with that kind of interaction and treatment. The only reason "because idol culture" is an annoying, unacceptable answer right now -- is because the story *never* made it apparent what the MC has to gain from being objectified to such a literal level.
P.S: And yes, we can all post-facto start to create and add arguments as to why they make sense. But judging how the story is built, made, and progressed -- the mayor and principle are literally just there to be annoying / be the obstacle that the. That is their role. To put a wall around the romance, and make the main-couple fight for their love. That cliche is understandable, but not the way it was written.