Volume 13 Chapter 421 Shirogane Aqua, A Charismatic Male Idol And Beryl’s Leader, Commands Global Broadcasts With Booming Shouts That Spark Hope
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
May 5th… Children’s Day¹.
For me, it is an unforgettable day. ‘To You, Where the Flowers Bloom.’ This was the day that Yuujin, the character I play in this series, made his first appearance. Long before that actual day arrived, I pulled up to the abandoned school we were using as a set, parked my bike, and stepped onto the filming location.
”Good morning!”
”Good morning!!”
I exchanged high-fives and high-energy greetings with the crew. The staff members on this shoot were almost entirely people I had worked with on previous dramas and movies.
”Aqua-kun, the day is finally here,” Director Hongou said while offering a handshake.
”Yes!” I replied.
I shook hands with the director and then turned my gaze toward Tsukasa-sensei, who was watching from behind a nearby wall.
”Tsukasa-sensei, why are you hiding over there?”
”No, well… I’m just a little nervous…”
The shy Tsukasa-sensei emerged bashfully from behind the wall. When it came to writing the script for the special drama I had envisioned, I knew there was no one better for the job than her.
”Tsukasa-sensei, please have confidence. Everything I wanted to do was in there. It exceeded my expectations.”
”R-really!?” she asked, her face lighting up before turning a deep shade of red.
If we weren’t on a recording set, I might have pulled her into a tight hug. However, I was currently in the middle of getting into character, so I settled for a gentle pat on her head.
”Well then, I’m going to go check in at the waiting room!”
”Yeah, okay,” she said.
I stood in front of the waiting room door, exhaled slowly, and centered my emotions. From this moment on, I had to flip the switch. I opened the door and surveyed the room in silence.
Men. Men. Men. Men. Men everywhere.
In a world where the gender ratio is supposedly 1 to 99, this room was likely the only place on Earth with such a high density of males.
The massive shared dressing room was packed to the gills with them.
Shintaro, Toa, Tenga-senpai, Tsuwabuki-san, Kamonohashi-san, Hajime, Maruo, Kujaku… everyone.
(Thank you… truly.)
I wanted to hug each one of them and express my gratitude right then and there. But I was already slipping into my role.
From this very second, the character took over. Because of that, I chose not to speak to them.
I walked to my locker, tossed my gear inside, and began to change. There was a dedicated changing room, but I didn’t care about that.
If anything, I wanted to show off my toned physique to start putting pressure on everyone. The newcomers might be intimidated, but Shintaro and the others were veterans; they could handle the heat. I pulled on my student uniform and slammed the locker door shut.
”Let’s go!” I shouted.
At my command, Toa, Shintaro, and Tenga-senpai stood up in unison. I didn’t even need to look at their faces to confirm their resolve. If I closed my eyes, I could see the fire in their expressions.
”Oh!!” they shouted back.
We marched out of the waiting room in a single line with me at the head. Director Hongou was right there, filming us head-on.
”Good, good! I’m definitely using this shot!” Hongou said.
The director would roll the camera whenever there was a gap. I didn’t know where she’d use that footage, but I was looking forward to seeing it on the air.
”Alright, let’s start with the scene where Aqua-kun transfers in,” the director said.
The setting of this drama was a rough all-boys school, back before I appeared in this world. The story follows my character, Kuzuhara Ren, as he transfers in and begins to change the school’s fate. This was the symbolic scene that started it all.
”Okay, let’s move to the next shot,” the director called out.
I turned my gaze toward Tenga-senpai. (Tenga-senpai… thank you.) This scene was done with our actual bodies, no stunts; it wouldn’t have been possible without him. I closed my eyes for a moment, giving thanks for all the encounters that had led me here.
”3, 2, 1…”
The moment the countdown hit zero, I snapped my eyes open.
”Hey! Transfer student, what the hell are you looking at?”
Shikishima Nagito, played by Tenga-senpai, was a third-year student who ruled this school through violence.
Noticing my presence, Shikishima released the boy he was choking by the tie—the classmate Minato Kanae, played by Shintaro.
I stared into Shikishima’s eyes and spat out the lollipop stick I’d been chewing toward the trash can.
”That guy is the first club member I recruited. I don’t know what happened, but give him a break.”
Shikishima smirked and shared a laugh with the surrounding boys. Born into a wealthy family, Shikishima had no freedom. This school was the only place he could truly be himself. He only knew how to vent his pent-up stress and rage through violence.
”Oi, did you hear that, boys? A ‘club member’! Clubs are for girls, didn’t you know?”
In this world, boys generally didn’t participate in club activities. I remember how shocked people were when I first reincarnated here and joined a club at Otomezaki. I laughed back at him.
”A bunch of you ganging up on one guy like a pack of dogs? Sounds like you’re doing the same thing I am.”
”You bastard!”
Shikishima roared. I watched him and provoked him further.
”Come on. You’ve got all that stress and nowhere to put it, right? I’ll be your opponent.”
I used the Charleston steps² from hip-hop to glide effortlessly around Shikishima’s attacks.
This was the big highlight for Kuzuhara—the moment he proves that an Idol Club³ belongs in this school. I dodged his strikes by a hair’s breadth and landed counters.
(Thank you, Tenga-senpai.)
Because Tenga-senpai had polished his action choreography to perfection, I could step with total confidence.
I had asked the crew not to stop the cameras no matter what happened, but if even one hit connected, the shoot might have been ruined.
Even if we finished, the station might have cut it for being too realistic. Still, I kept pressing the attack. I wanted this single scene to be a masterpiece.
”Huff… huff… what are you? What the hell are you?! Just hit me already!”
Exhausted after all his attacks were evaded, Shikishima doubled over with his hands on his knees.
”You’ve got great movement, you know? How about it? Why don’t you try being an Idol with me?”
”Stop screwing around! Come on, we’re leaving!!”
Shikishima retreated, leading the other boys away. Normally, we’d cut here, but it seemed Director Hongou wanted to go straight into the next beat. I walked over to the fallen Shintaro.
”Hey, you alright?”
Minato Kanae slapped my hand away.
”…I told you I wasn’t joining your stupid club. Just leave me alone.”
Minato stormed off. Left alone, I just scratched my head. (Well, I guess it wouldn’t be that easy. That’s reality for you.) I realized that meeting Shintaro, Toa, and Tenga-senpai in real life really was a miracle.
”And… cut! Great work, everyone!” Hongou shouted.
I headed to the next location. This was a scene involving the homeroom teacher Tsurugi Gaku (played by Tsuwabuki-san) and the vice-principal Yashiro Hayato (played by Kamonohashi-san).
”Kuzuhara, what’s with that red blood on your shirt?”
I was intercepted in the hallway by Vice-Principal Yashiro.
”It’s ketchup!”
”Like hell it is!!”
I crossed my arms and dropped into ‘The Freeze’⁴ posture with a look of total innocence. I made sure to act in a way that made it obvious I was lying.
”No matter how you look at it, that’s blood, isn’t it?”
Yashiro, who was hyper-sensitive to school trouble, glared at me with suspicion. That’s when my “lifeline” arrived—Tsurugi, the teacher who would later become the Idol Club’s advisor. He came jogging over.
”Vice-Principal, did our Kuzuhara do something?”
Yashiro explained the situation, and Tsurugi jumped in.
”Oh, no, Vice-Principal. This is actually my fault. I was eating a burger in the cafeteria and splashed ketchup right onto this guy’s shirt.”
Yashiro looked skeptical, but he eventually grumbled and accepted the story. Once he was gone, I turned to Tsurugi.
”Sensei, that was a pretty weak excuse, don’t you think?”
”Hey, it’s your fault for trying to pass off blood as ketchup!”
Tsuwabuki-san and I went back and forth like old classmates. For Kuzuhara, who had no allies, the presence of Tsurugi—who was desperately trying to save the school—was everything. The shoot continued smoothly.
”Cut! Alright, next scene. Toa-chan, you ready?” Director Hongou asked.
”Yes! Ready whenever!”
Kuzuhara was on the verge of giving up. But his spirit is revived when he hears the singing voice of Watari Chiaki, played by Toa.
Lured by the melody drifting from the rooftop against the backdrop of the sunset, Kuzuhara climbs the stairs. I stood there, listening to the song while looking at Chiaki’s back.
”Wh-who’s there?”
Realizing he wasn’t alone, Chiaki turned around with a bright red face. For a boy who sang in secret, being seen was the ultimate embarrassment.
”You have a beautiful voice,” I said.
Kuzuhara’s praise only made Chiaki turn a darker shade of red.
”Ah, um… I-I have to go!”
Chiaki grabbed his bag off the floor and tried to bolt past me. I reached out as Kuzuhara, catching him by the shoulder.
”Hey. Have you ever thought about being an Idol?”
Kuzuhara explains his dream of starting the club.
”I… I love idols, but… it’s impossible for me!!”
With that, Chiaki shook off my hand and ran down the stairs. (Not “I’m not interested,” but “it’s impossible.” If that’s the case, there’s still hope.) The ever-optimistic Kuzuhara felt his fighting spirit flare up again.
”Cut! That’s a wrap for today. Oh, wait—should we run a practice for that scene?”
”Yes!”
We lined up—the students in their blazers and the teachers—as if we were posing for a graduation photo. This scene was the absolute mountain we had to climb.
This wasn’t like a BERYL performance where it was just the four of us. This was a massive dance number involving every single male actor in the production.
We had practiced this in the studio countless times, and we had never—not once—gotten it right. There wasn’t much legwork, but the spacing was so tight that people were constantly hitting each other.
”One take only, people! 5, 4, 3…”
I began to walk forward, weaving through the crowd to take my place dead-center in the formation. The moment I faced the camera, the music kicked in. Everyone moved in unison. Like a wave building in the ocean, we swayed from side to side before exploding into the high-energy choreo.
”Hi! Hi! Hi, hi, hi!!”
The inspiration for this was the cheering squad performance I did during my first sports day in this world. Everyone moved up and down like they were doing squats, their arms snapping upward in perfect synchronization.
”Hi! Hi! Hi, hi, hi!!”
The wave rippled outward, the movements growing larger and more intense. But then, as usual, the cracks started to show. Someone’s hand clipped a face; someone else lost the rhythm. The whole thing started to wobble. I knew it wouldn’t be perfect. But we kept going until the very last beat.
”Dammit! I messed up! Everyone, I’m so sorry!!”
”No, I missed my mark too.”
”Man, that’s frustrating! We practiced so much!”
”Crap. I want to do it again right now.”
I let go of the “actor” persona and went around, silently patting everyone on the back. I didn’t need to say anything. They all knew. Even if I were to disappear from this world tomorrow, these guys would be just fine. I was sure of it.
”Thanks, everyone.”
”What are you talking about, Aqua? We just started filming! Save the sentimental stuff for when we actually nail the shot!!”
Everyone burst into laughter at Toa’s words. Seeing them like that made my heart swell. (Thanks, guys. Seriously.) And so, on the very last day of the shoot, we finally, narrowly, got the perfect take.
—
Summary:
Aqua prepares for and executes the filming of a special drama alongside his friends and colleagues.
The narrative highlights the intense focus required as Aqua slips into his delinquent persona, Ren Kuzuhara, while maintaining a sense of gratitude for his companions.
The production progresses through challenging action sequences and emotional rooftop encounters as the cast strives to complete the project.
—
Trivia:
- Aqua’s past life wisdom allows him to handle high-pressure filming environments better than his peers.
- The ‘male density’ in the dressing room is an extreme statistical anomaly in this world.
- Kuzuhara Ren is a persona that reflects a world where all-boys schools were rough, mirroring pre-reversal social dynamics.
- The Idol Club’s formation is treated as a subversive act within the drama’s fiction.
- Tenga-senpai is specifically noted for polishing his own action choreography
—
Character Insight:
Aqua shows significant professional growth, moving from a mere idol to a leader who sets the tone on a professional film set. His decision to stay in character to ‘pressure’ the rookies demonstrates a commitment to quality over personal comfort.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The author notes suggest future chapters might pivot to the perspectives of Kanon or Kohina-senpai to show the external impact of the drama.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Aqua – Charismatic male idol and BERYL leader with sharp eyes, sleek hair, a confident stance, and a well-trained physique, once a hikikomori now posing as a high-schooler at Otomezaki Academy, he serves as the central figure of the Holy Church of Aqua, known for light footwork, spontaneity, and kindness; husband to Yukishiro Emily and father of a newborn, he wields a legendary sword, emits pheromones that subdue women, loves baseball, and emotionally juggles multiple wives, children, a U.S. tour, a space mission, and a mascot sub job amid a skewed gender ratio.
• Shintaro – Mayuzumi Shintaro, a bespectacled, gentle‑calm male idol of BERYL, handles logistics and training. Deeply loyal, he views his chance meeting with Aqua as fate and, as her schoolmate and friend, receives an accidental White Day gift.
• Tenga – The group’s senior (senpai). He acts as a supportive pillar, encouraging Aqua to own his story and choices.
• Toa – A male member of BERYL and Aqua’s classmate. He often plays the ‘straight man’ (tsukkomi) to Aqua’s antics. A member of BERYL who was a shut-in until two years ago. He shares a deep bond with Aqua and follows his lead instinctively.
• Kohina – Small‑statured veteran actress and mentor, wearing a wool belly warmer gifted by Yukari, oversees space‑flight training, handles filming, and supports logistics while guarding BERYL. Perceptive, blunt, protective, she’s suspected by Aqua of merely passing time, having endured the same idol‑level training.
• Kanon – Kanon‑sama, an idol‑group member and chapter narrator, is Aqua’s cool‑jealous domestic partner and celebrated Internet Master/fashion icon. She warmly accepts Aqua’s hand‑knitted socks, shows a tender side, is close to Emily, and recently became a mother. She watches the turmoil with Aqua and Kukuri, mixing admiration and exasperation.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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