The story is set in an elite private boys’ high school in Showa-era Japan, an institution originally famed for producing naval officers that has since become a pipeline for the nation’s most powerful politicians and bureaucrats. The ultimate prize for any student is the presidency of the student council, a position that virtually guarantees a future career in the national cabinet. For Teiichi Akaba, a brilliant and ruthlessly ambitious first-year student, winning this presidency is the first crucial step toward his ultimate goal of becoming Prime Minister and building his own political empire.

The live-action television spin-off, Teiichi no Kuni: Gakuseigai no Kissaten, shifts the focus away from the main election battles and onto the backroom dealings and personal dynamics that unfold away from the school auditorium. The series is an omnibus story that takes place primarily at Kaitei, a coffee shop located on the street adjacent to the school. This establishment serves as the unofficial headquarters where students hold secret strategy meetings, form alliances, and plot their next moves in the cutthroat campaign for student council president.

The central characters from the main film reappear, each navigating the political landscape in their own way. The series focuses on Kikuma Tōdō, Teiichi’s underhanded classmate and childhood friend, along with other students like the handsome strategist Kōmei Sakakibara, the charismatic Dan Ōtaka, and the favored candidate Roland Himuro. While the titular protagonist Teiichi Akaba is a pervasive force in the story, he only makes a physical appearance in the final episode. As the students scheme over coffee, the shop’s proprietor watches them closely, but his interest is not political; he is secretly evaluating the young men to find a suitable husband for his daughter, adding a layer of domestic comedy to the high-stakes political drama.

The narrative arc of the series runs parallel to the events of the film, depicting the days leading up to the student council elections. Each of the five episodes delves into the perspectives and schemes of different characters, showcasing the betrayals, tactical alliances, and personal sacrifices they are willing to make for power. The show blends live-action segments with illustrated manga panels, directly incorporating art from the original source material to emphasize key comedic or dramatic moments. While the film focuses on Teiichi’s grand, overarching strategy to conquer the school, the television series provides a more intimate look at the foot soldiers and rival players in the political war, turning the seemingly ordinary coffee shop into a microcosm of backroom political maneuvering.