Volume 13 Chapter 241-2 Shirogane Aqua, ‘Berry-Berry’ Again!!
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
We moved to the spot indicated on the map and decided where to go by checking the floor map.
”The pool is definitely suspicious. There’s gotta be something outside.”
”No, no. I think it’s better to check the kitchen or the banquet hall next door. We can search both, and something’s bound to be there.”
”There might be something in the guest rooms… but with so many rooms, it’d be a pain to search. It might be better to check the lobby, front desk, or staff room first.”
”I suggest staying here!”
Ignoring Tenga-senpai’s suggestion for now, the lobby and front desk are right at the entrance, so they seem like the best places to start exploring.
Plus, no matter how ‘Berry-Berry’ staff are, I’d like to think they wouldn’t skip the tried-and-true trick of placing important items on the nearby floors.
”Alright, let’s follow Shintaro’s suggestion and start with the front desk and lobby. The staff room is probably behind the lobby too, so if we split up, we should find something.”
”OK!”
”Yeah, I think that’s a good idea.”
”U-um. If we’re together, I should be okay…”
Once everyone agreed, we headed toward the hotel entrance.
”Excuse us!”
I cheerfully greeted as I entered the building.
Greeting is important in everything. If there are any ghosts around, I need to greet them properly before entering their home. Whether human or ghost, manners are key.
”Alright, I’ll check the front desk.”
”Then I’ll check the staff room in the back.”
”In that case, I’ll check the lobby… with Tenga-senpai.”
”Mm!”
Tenga-senpai, could you please let go of Shintaro’s jacket?
Shintaro’s jacket sleeves are stretching out!
I entered the front desk with Toa, then left Toa behind and went alone into the staff room in the back.
”Let’s check the lockers first.”
Hmm, no one seems to have left any bags, and nothing seems to be here.
While opening and closing the locker doors, I found one locker that wouldn’t open.
Could it be that I need to find the key? I’m thinking of something bad.
Producer-san said I was free to do as I wanted because the owner gave permission.
I confirm again with the staff who was watching me from afar, then roll up my jacket sleeve and spin my arm.
”Hmph!!”
Power. Power solves everything. Yeah, the teaching of the Power Faith was correct.
I forcibly pry open the locker with only muscle and check inside.
There, I find a forgotten pouch.
”Wh-what!?”
I open the pouch and widen my eyes.
”Hey, what’s wrong, junior!?”
Despite being scared of ghosts, Tenga-senpai, who was the farthest away, hears my voice and rushes over first.
Following him, Toa and Shintaro enter the room.
”Aqua, did you find something?”
”Could it be, a card?”
I spread out what was inside the pouch for everyone to see.
”Maybe this is a very important item?”
”No way! Aqua, that’s just some girl’s spare underwear she left in the locker!!”
White, huh… I guess I should keep it as a lost item.
Ugh. I look around, but there’s nothing else that looks like it.
Seems like the staff room was a dead end.
”Did anyone find anything?”
”Yeah, I found this at the front desk.”
Toa shows everyone the flashlight he’s holding.
Oh wow! But… the light doesn’t turn on.
”Yeah, looks like there’s no batteries.”
”I found some batteries in the lobby.”
WOOH!
Tenga-senpai, nice! As expected of a senior── unlike our clueless Hina-pai!
”And Shintaro?”
”I didn’t find anything either, just like Aqua.”
How rude! Shintaro. I found some white lace underwear that looks important.
I grip the underwear tightly in my hand.
”Alright, let’s move on. Next, since Aqua said the pool is nearby, let’s go there.”
”Yeah, sounds good.”
The 4 of us head towards the pool.
Whoa, this is such a luxurious pool. It really feels like it’s from another era.
Even the lobby earlier had this huge chandelier still hanging, and it made me think how wasteful it is to have spent so much money on something so nice, only for it to be unused and decay.
”Hey, isn’t there something over there!?”
Shintaro points at something he spotted in the center of the pool.
Oh! That shape, there’s no mistaking it. It’s definitely a card, like a key card or something!!
”Wait, the pool’s full of water, but how are we supposed to get it?”
”Yeah… Does that mean we need to find something like a stick?”
”No way, a stick won’t reach with that length.”
There’s only one hour left.
Known for my quick judgment, I immediately start stripping my clothes off, ending up in just my underwear, and without hesitation, I dive straight into the pool. The staff, watching from a distance, look stunned, but I don’t care.
Our producer’s putting himself on the line, so I’m doing the same to meet those expectations.
And, as expected, power──power never betrays me.
I go for the card with the loudest butterfly stroke, waking up any ghosts as I go.
”Got the card!”
”Woooooo!”
Grabbing the card, I rush back using the gorilla crawl taught by Kaede, heading straight back to everyone.
”So cold!”
”Well, of course. Aqua, you just dive in without thinking. You’re gonna get scolded by Kohina Yukari-san again, you know? Think before you act next time!”
Toa, using a towel borrowed from the staff, dries me off.
As expected from the producer of ‘Berry-Berry.’
Apparently, when I came earlier to scout the place on my own, he cleaned the pool, filled it with clean water, and even prepared a towel just in case I might swim.
Shintaro, who took the card from me, flips it over and notices something written on the back.
”Huh? This isn’t a normal key card. There’s something written on the back.”
”Hmm. Looks like the one my junior brought isn’t a room key, but some kind of special offer.”
No way… After all that struggle, it was the special offer, huh.
The producer smirks from the corner of the stage.
Damn! At least, I hope we win the private banquet hall!
I clasped my hands in prayer and listened to Shintaro reading the card contents.
”They’re giving a private bath in the large hot spring and open-air bath for Aqua-san, who went to cool off and grab a card.”
”Whoa!!”
I wasn’t expecting this, but I was honestly happy.
All right, time to get more cards like this!!
I hurried to put on my clothes and headed with everyone to the banquet hall and kitchen upstairs.
On the way, I noticed something felt off.
”Huh? Where’s Shintaro?”
I glanced back, and Shintaro, who was following, had disappeared.
I made eye contact with Tenga-senpai hiding behind my back, both of us wide-eyed.
”Aaaaaaaah!!”
Tenga-senpai, clinging to my back, shouted loudly and ran somewhere.
Tenga-senpai! Only 40 minutes left! Please be back before then!!
”Hmm? Did you hear a scream? Is something wrong?”
Whoa!? After Tenga-senpai disappeared, Shintaro peeked out from below.
Where have you been?!
”Oh, my shoelace came loose, so I was squatting to retie it.”
I see… that hidden spot blocked my view, so I couldn’t see him.
No way… that’s a miracle level of coincidence.
”Aqua, is it okay to leave Tenga-senpai alone? Isn’t that kind of cruel?”
”Then I’ll go look for Tenga-senpai. Toa and Shintaro, you’re okay alone, right?”
They nodded in response.
”All right, after checking the kitchen and banquet hall, split up to search for the cards separately, okay? Otherwise, we won’t find all the card keys, including the special ones.”
”Yeah. Let’s do that.”
”Understood. Leave that to us.”
I entrusted the card key search to the two and went alone to find Tenga-senpai.
Of course, I kicked open every door loudly, banging them as I called Tenga-senpai’s name at the top of my lungs.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply