Volume 13 Chapter 364 Kokuchō Kujaku, There’s No Way There’s Nothing
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
We stepped into the family restaurant we’d reserved, and the women who’d arrived early sat waiting, their faces tense with nerves. When we hesitated, unsure of what to do, Shirogane Aqua, who’d just walked in, took the lead without hesitation. ¹
”Today, let’s make it a great one, everyone!” he declared with a smile.
”Looking forward to it!” the group chimed in.
Following Aqua’s lead, we bowed our heads slightly. The women looked surprised—they hadn’t expected Aqua to show up.
”I’m Shirogane Aqua! Since our organizer, Yamada Maruo, caught a cold, I’ll be filling in today. Thanks to all of you for coming out like this!” he announced warmly.
”Oh, I see. Thank you so much for setting this up,” one of the women replied.
Aqua shook hands with the woman who seemed to be their representative. I wasn’t sure about the dynamics, but this felt like a typical group blind date setup. When Aqua turned back to us, he had a determined look on his face.
”Alright, listen up. Normally, you wouldn’t do this at a group date, but I’m here to shake things up. I’m going to break the mold of these cynical modern dates. Guys, don’t hold back. If you want someone to like you, pour your heart into it! Be bold and honest! That’s what you need—not just today, but moving forward. It’s okay to fail. Even if you do, you’ve got me and everyone here to back you up. Don’t hide—let yourselves shine!”
I had to admit, I wasn’t even sure what a normal group date looked like, and Aqua was already raising the stakes. The guys here were already nervous around women, and like me, they didn’t know how to approach them.
But… even as I thought that, I couldn’t help but feel there was something to his words.
We men aren’t usually expected to take the lead or be vulnerable. We’re often told, ‘Just be yourself; don’t change.’ But Aqua’s words struck a chord—there was something inspiring about being encouraged by someone like him.
”Alright, let’s huddle up!” Aqua called out.
Huh? A huddle? But no one questioned him.
We formed a circle, shoulders touching, right at the restaurant’s entrance.
”Let’s do this!” Aqua shouted.
”Yeah!” we echoed.
After shouting from the depths of our lungs, I felt a strange confidence—like I could actually talk to the women.
Wait, had Aqua planned this all along? ²
”Alright, you guys, take your seats—starting from the back! And when you sit down, don’t forget to say, ‘Looking forward to today!’” Aqua instructed.
Following his lead, we sat down at the tables where the women were waiting. I took a seat, placed my bag down, and looked at the woman across from me.
”Uh, looking forward to today… I mean, nice to meet you,” I stammered.
”Likewise, nice to meet you. And don’t worry about the formalities,” she smiled.
I nodded slightly and settled into the sofa. The other guys did the same, introducing themselves to the women.
”Once everyone’s seated, go around and introduce yourselves—names, hobbies, special skills, anything you’re into. It’ll make the conversation flow better later on!”
That made sense. I looked around at the others at our table. Looks like I was up first.
”I’m Kokuchō Kujaku, 19. Our organizer, Yamada Maruo, couldn’t make it due to a cold, but we’re idols together. My hobby is cleaning—especially scrubbing bathroom grime and kitchen grease. I’m here to do my best for his sake, so take it easy on me.”
I hoped that was enough. The others followed suit.
”Uh, I’m Miyauchi Tomoya, 18. I’m a senior in high school, heading to university next year. I don’t have any particular hobbies, but I’m thinking of joining a club to find one. I’ll do my best today for Yamada’s sake!”
”I’m Yokogawa Masashi, 24. I love home appliances and work at an electronics store. My hobby is collecting toy cars. I’m here to give it my all for Yamada and Aqua-kun!”
It seemed like Miyauchi and Yokogawa had caught Aqua’s enthusiasm. That was Aqua’s magic—he had a way of inspiring everyone around him.
”I’m Uchida Reina, 17. I’m a junior in high school and Aika-senpai’s underclassman. I’m in the cheerleading club. I work part-time at Seijo Mart—we’ve got a sale on meat buns right now, so come by! I don’t have specific hobbies, but I love watching dramas, movies, and manga. Let’s talk about that if you’re into it!”
She seemed straightforward. Being Aika’s junior, Uchida felt a lot like her. She was energetic but not pushy, which probably made her popular with guys.
”I’m Ito Saori, 21, a student at Mary Women’s University. I want to be a high school teacher, and I tutor part-time at Household Teacher Seijo. Actually, I tutor Reina-chan, and I was surprised when she invited me here. My hobby is playing the piano, and I go to classical concerts on weekends. Nice to meet you all.”
Ito seemed calm and mature. She spoke slowly, which probably helped ease the guys’ nerves.
”Uh, I’m Endo Ayane, 17, a high school junior. Reina and I go to different schools, but we were in the same middle and elementary schools. I never thought I’d be invited to something like this, so I’m pretty surprised. I’m in the handball club—right side, though that’s not very interesting. My hobby is listening to music while running, and I walk to school every day for training. Nice to meet you.”
Endo seemed a bit nervous, fidgeting slightly, but she wasn’t pushy, which probably made her easier to talk to.
”Alright, introductions done? If anything’s bothering you, come find me!” Aqua said.
Everyone at the table looked at me. Guess they expected me to start the conversation.
”Earlier, Uchida-san mentioned she likes movies and dramas. What kind of shows do you enjoy?”
I gestured to Uchida, who was sitting across from me. If she was anything like Aika, she’d pick up on my hint.
”Oh, right! I love Aqua-kun’s Heaven’s Sword! And recently, Double Ooz has been so exciting!”
Masked Driver, Double Ooz is the sequel to Heaven’s Sword, starring Maruo as Hino Ren and me as Suga Anku.
”Yeah, Double Ooz is great lately. With Ren-kun taking charge and Anku-kun struggling with human kindness, it’s so cute.”
”I get it! Now that Ren-kun’s leading instead of being led by Anku-kun, it’s more interesting.”
”Haha, I kinda see what you mean.”
”Kujaku-kun seems like the type to be tossed around, like a troublemaker character.”
Ouch. Why was I typecast like that in real life and in the show? And stop smirking at me like that! Save it for somewhere else!
I coughed lightly to hide my embarrassment.
”Are you guys watching Heaven’s Sword this New Year?”
”Of course!”
Good answer. Maruo, who couldn’t watch it live, had been complaining about it. Me and Maruo would be performing on the New Year’s song contest, so we’d be in the studio during that time.
”What’s your favorite episode of Heaven’s Sword?”
”Umm, it’s hard to choose just one.”
”Heaven’s Sword has so many good episodes, right?”
The conversation at our table was heating up. When it came to Aqua, talking about him always got things going. I looked around at the other tables. Some were lively, while others were quieter. Aqua moved around, sparking conversations at the quieter tables, then moved on to the next.
As always, he was great at taking care of others. But I liked that about him.
”Ah, I’m getting hungry. Let’s eat something,” someone said.
”Right, let’s do that.”
We all headed to the buffet. While everyone was getting their food, I quickly prepared water and wet towels for everyone. Then, Aqua approached me.
”Kujaku, did you find anyone interesting? I personally recommend Ito-san—she’s got a figure like Agewa-san’s.”
Hey, don’t lump me in with you as a breast man!
I glared at Aqua.
”Well, they all seem nice, but I’m not sure if I’d want to date any of them.”
To be honest, what did it even mean to ‘like’ someone or ‘date’ someone? I felt like I hadn’t even reached the starting line yet.
”I see. Well, just enjoy yourself today. The first step is to become friends with them. You can do that, right?”
Hmm… I guess I could try that.
”Got it. I’ll try to make some friends.”
”That’s the spirit!”
Aqua, always looking out for others, moved to another table and started talking to both guys and girls who weren’t used to the atmosphere. Just then, I realized something. Aqua and I were both the caring type, but why was I the one being tossed around, while he was the one tossing people around?
Wait, Tenga Akira and Kohina Yukari were like that too. They were also caring but ended up leading others.
I noticed something all three of them had in common. They were all the type to care for others, but they also created situations where they needed to be cared for. So, what I lacked was that kind of openness…
But for someone like me, who even Agewa found annoying to care for, it was probably impossible to show that kind of openness.
Damn, I was frustrated with my own personality.
”Kujaku-kun, what’s wrong? Does your head hurt?”
”Ah… no, it’s nothing.”
I smiled at Ito, who was concerned. Then, Uchida approached us with her tray.
”Wow! You prepared water and wet towels for everyone, Kujaku-kun. Thank you!”
”Ah, no problem. I just did it because I felt like it.”
Then, Endo and Miyauchi, Yokogawa came back with their trays.
”Kujaku-kun, thank you.”
”Kujaku, thanks. You should get some food too!”
”Thank you, Kujaku-kun. It’s really helpful.”
Being praised made me a bit embarrassed, so I left to get my own food. Looking around, I noticed more tables were having lively conversations than before. Aqua was amazing. He was great at warming up the atmosphere, just like when he hosted that matchmaking party.
”The hamburgers here are delicious, right?”
”I agree. I often come here during work breaks.”
”Oh, Miyauchi-kun, you’ve got ketchup on your mouth.”
”Ah, thank you.”
”Kujaku-kun, could you pass me the napkins over there?”
”Sure, here you go.”
We enjoyed our meal while continuing the conversation from earlier. At first, I was worried, but surprisingly, the conversation flowed smoothly. Gradually, everyone seemed to relax a bit more.
”Once you’re done eating, guys, gather here!” Aqua called out.
Aqua asked if anyone had caught our eye. Then, he gathered the women and probably asked the same question.
”Now, the people I call, come over here!”
Aqua called out pairs of names, one man and one woman. I see, at this point, he’s pairing people who seem mutually interested or at least one-sidedly interested, so they can talk individually. Smart move. Next, I think I’ll be expected to take over as the organizer, so I’ll pay close attention.
”Those who weren’t called, let’s shuffle things up a bit!”
At our table, it seemed Miyauchi and Endo were mutually interested. Uchida and Ito cheered for Endo, while Yokogawa and I encouraged Miyauchi.
”You two, give it your best shot!”
”Yeah, do your best!”
”We’re cheering for you!”
Our table was now down to four people. Aqua called Yokogawa over and instructed him to move to another table. In his place, a new woman and two men joined us.
I see, Aqua was observing the overall situation and rearranging people based on who he thought might get along. ³
”Alright, let’s introduce ourselves again.”
”Yeah, that’s a good idea.”
At Uchida’s suggestion, we introduced ourselves again. Since it was similar to before, we could introduce ourselves without much tension. After about ten minutes, Endo and Miyauchi returned to our table.
”Everyone, um, we’re going to look at the illuminations now, just the two of us.”
”So, we’ll be leaving early. Thank you all for today.”
The two looked at each other a bit shyly. I see, so this is what it meant to hit it off. Even someone like me, who’s clueless about romance, could tell. We applauded to congratulate them, and the two left the restaurant looking happy.
”I’m going to the restroom.”
I left my seat and headed to the restroom, where I messaged Maruo. However, there was no reply, even after some time. Maybe he’s already asleep.
I left the restroom and looked around. About 20% of the people were gone. It seemed some couples had formed and left early, like Endo and Miyauchi.
”If you’re interested in someone, feel free to use the empty tables to talk one-on-one!” Aqua said.
At Aqua’s words, some people mustered the courage to invite others for a one-on-one chat. Amazing, the guys who were hesitant earlier looked like completely different people now.
Aqua’s enthusiasm is contagious, Mayuzumi Shintaro once said.
”Alright, from now on, it’s free time. Everyone, feel free to move around and talk to different people. If you’re interested in someone, you can talk to them individually, and if you find it hard to approach them directly, you can come to me. Oh, but when you leave, make sure to let me know!”
At first, everyone was hesitant, but some brave women approached Aqua. I see, even though he’s the organizer, he’s also a participant, after all. About an hour later, less than half of the original group remained.
”Anyone still up for more?”
”Everyone who’s still here, raise your hands!”
Everyone remaining raised their hands. Ah, I guess it’s time to wrap up.
”For those with time, Emily has reserved a spot at Ramen Bamboo for a second round, so let’s all head there. For those who need to leave, make sure to exchange contact info with anyone you sat with!”
Come to think of it, Yukishiro Emily mentioned something like that in the group chat earlier. I also exchanged contacts with the people I sat with. Right now, I think this might be the first time I’ve exchanged contacts with someone other than Agewa or work-related people.
”Kujaku-kun.”
”Hmm?”
Uchida, who was sitting at the same table earlier, stretched and got close to my right ear.
”Next time, let’s have a meal with Maruo-kun and Aika-senpai. Since they couldn’t make it today.”
”Yeah, that sounds good.”
I smiled at Uchida’s suggestion. Maruo, who worked hard for today but couldn’t participate, would probably be happy too. While Uchida and I were talking, Aqua approached us.
”Alright, Kujaku, I’m leaving now, so I’ll leave the rest to you. I’m off to enjoy an early White Christmas.”
”Huh!? Wait a minute!”
”Hurry up, let’s go.”
”No, wait…”
What the heck!? Aqua hugged the first woman he talked to, Ito, and another woman, and left the restaurant waving.
”Aqua-kun… He’s amazing.”
”He took two girls home at once.”
”There’s no way I could do that.”
”Aqua-sama, you’re amazing.”
”As expected, breasts… Breasts surpass everything… Ugh!”
”The two girls he took home both had the biggest chests.”
Hey, you guys, don’t just stand there in awe!
I’ll send a message to the Shirogane Aqua emergency contact network, just in case.
”Hey, Kujaku. Next up is Ramen Bamboo, right? Let’s go.”
”Yeah, I’m counting on you, substitute organizer.”
Damn, even though this isn’t my style, I guess I have to take care of these guys until the end. I slapped my cheeks and pumped myself up like Aqua.
”Alright, you guys, follow me!”
”Yeah!”
And so, we headed to the second round at Ramen Bamboo. By the end, more than half of the participants had formed couples.
”Kujaku, thanks a lot today.”
”Even though I couldn’t find a girlfriend, it was super fun!”
”Tell Maruo thanks for me too!”
”Kujaku-kun, thank you so much!”
”It was really fun today. Please tell Maruo-kun thanks for planning such a great event.”
”Thank you very much today. If you plan something like this again, please let me know!”
Even those who didn’t find partners left with smiles on their faces. Just seeing everyone’s happy faces made something well up inside me.
Not being cynical, but passionate… huh.
It’s not really my style, but if it brings smiles like this, maybe it’s not so bad to give it a shot.
”Alright, I guess I’ll head home since I’m worried about Maruo.”
When I got home, for some reason, Aika and Maruo were sitting apart, both turning their backs to each other with red faces. Hey, what happened while I was gone? You two, your lies are too obvious!
—
Summary:
Shirogane Aqua steps in as organizer for a group blind date after Yamada Maruo falls ill. He energizes the event with his charismatic leadership, encouraging participants to open up and connect. Several couples form by the end, with even the initially hesitant participants finding confidence and enjoyment.
—
Character Insight:
Kokuchō Kujaku struggles with social interactions but grows more confident under Aqua’s guidance. He begins to understand the value of openness and passion in relationships, though he still finds it difficult to apply these lessons to himself.
—
Behind the Scene:
The author uses this chapter to highlight the contrast between Aqua’s extroverted, passionate personality and Kujaku’s more reserved nature, emphasizing the importance of balance in social dynamics.
—
T/L:
Notes:
• Tomoya – 18 years old, high school senior. Nervous but eager to find hobbies in university.
• Masashi – 24 years old, works at electronics store. Collects toy cars.
• Uchida Reina – 17 years old, high school junior. Cheerleader and part-time worker at Seijo Mart.
• Ito Saori – 21 years old, university student. Aspiring high school teacher. Plays piano.
• Endo Ayane – 17 years old, high school junior. Handball player. Enjoys running with music.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply