Volume 13 Chapter 432 Shirogane Aqua, Comet Idol
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The Izanagi, our space shuttle, had finally reached the point where the comet hurtling toward Earth was visible to the naked eye.
”So that’s it, huh…”
Shintaro, Toa, Tenga-senpai, and I pressed our faces against the glass, staring at the celestial visitor. From this distance, it looked deceptively beautiful, just a gleaming speck in the void. But the reality was different—if it struck Earth, it was all over. If I didn’t find a way to destroy it, everyone back home would perish. I tightened my resolve, bracing for the mission ahead, when Kohina-senpai shoved her way in, jamming her head into my ribs.
”Hey, Toa! Shift to the right a bit. Your oversized frame is blocking my view entirely!”
”I’m moving, Senpai, I’m moving.”
Honestly, what a handful. (Sigh.) I grabbed her by the waist and tucked her small frame in front of mine. “There. Better now?”
”Hmph. It’s pretty, I guess, but I’m bored already. It doesn’t even change.”
Are you kidding me? I nearly despaired at her complete lack of aesthetic sensitivity, though I suppose I remembered her saying the exact same thing the first time she saw Earth from orbit1. She was like this on trips, too—always rushing past tourist spots without a second glance.
”If I had to look at something to pass the time, I’d rather stare at you. You’re such an airhead, it’s actually entertaining.”
”Wait… is that why you’ve been looking at me this whole time?”
I felt a surge of embarrassment. Every time I caught her glancing at me, I’d been arrogant enough to think, (Finally! She’s fallen for me!) or (The oblivious Kohina-senpai has finally realized my charm.) I’d been such a fool. Damn it, stop playing with my pure, young heart!
”Izanagi, this is Houston. You’ve reached the target. Status on Earth?”
”Houston, this is Izanagi. Small fragments from the comet’s collision with an asteroid have already begun falling as meteorites. But don’t worry—no civilian casualties have been confirmed.”
My breath hitched. Meteorites hitting the surface… the thought of everyone left behind made my heart ache.
”However, former President Henrietta F. Rosenberg and her squad attempted a mid-air interception, and…”
The tension in the cockpit spiked. I’d only met the former President a handful of times, but the thought of a known face passing was devastating. Suddenly, a familiar voice cut through the static.
”That won’t be an issue. Our AI-3510 hacked the fighters’ ejection systems and forced a retreat. We’ve secured everyone safely.”
The voice made me nostalgic. In this gender-swapped world, I’d only met this person a few times, yet I knew that spirit. In my past life, they had guided me time and again.
”Shirogane Aqua… everything you’re trying to protect, we will guard with our lives. You just do what you need to do.”
Akio-san… no, Akiko-san. Thank you. I offered my silent gratitude to my master, then heard the faint, chaotic noise of the women behind her. Even with different voices, the intonation was unmistakable—the other masters from my past life.
”Izanagi, we are initiating Operation Heaven’s Sword. Commencing descent to the comet’s surface.”
”Roger that, Izanagi. We’ll lose contact during the landing, but Earth is praying for your success.”
We strapped in, helmets locked tight.
”AI-3510, adjust hyper-boosters. Match the comet’s velocity.”
”Acknowledged. Velocity matched. Stabilizing orbit.”
The Prime Minister gripped the throttle, fingers hovering over the release. “Hyper-boosters, detach!”
”Separation confirmed. Igniting primary thrusters!”
Gravity slammed us into our seats as Izanagi surged forward. The hull rattled violently as tiny debris pelted the armor.
”Closing distance. 90 meters per second… 60… 50… 30. Deploying primary landing gear. Anchoring to surface.”
The ship groaned as the anchors bit into the comet’s crust.
”Landing successful. A masterful maneuver, Captain—not a scratch on 3510’s pristine surface.”
”Izanagi, we have touched down.”
Cheers erupted over the comms from Houston. The Prime Minister adjusted the pressure gauge and opened the hatch.
”Payload bay open. Secure your safety tethers. We begin installation of the nuclear warheads.”
I checked my tether twice. If I got blown into space during the installation, that was the end. I began detaching the clamps.
”Synchronize your watches. We split into six teams as planned. If anyone is unsure of the procedure, speak up now.”
Silence. We’d rehearsed this a dozen times.
”Once we leave the Izanagi, communication will be cut. Don’t play hero if you hit a snag. Your primary mission is to return alive. Understood?”
”””””Yes!”””””
”Good luck to you all. See you back here.”
I turned to Tenga-senpai. “I’m counting on you, Senpai.”
”Leave it to me, Kenzaki!”
The team snickered. (Tenga-senpai, I’m Shirogane, not Kenzaki…) He was clearly in full ‘Kamishiro’ mode.
”See ya, Kenzaki. Pfft.” Toa grinned as he floated out.
”Yeah, yeah.”
I fist-bumped my best friend. (Good luck, Shintaro.)
As I prepared to head out, Kohina-senpai elbowed her way past. “Don’t get cocky just because you’re going out before me.” She tapped my helmet firmly. “And don’t you dare do anything reckless just because I’m not right next to you!”
”Yeah, yeah. I know.”
If anything, I was more worried about you being alone, Senpai. She didn’t look back, just propelled herself toward her sector.
”Prime Minister, I’m heading out.”
”See you later, Kenzaki!”
(Seriously, that joke is getting old.) I exited the Izanagi, sparing one last glance at the ship’s interface.
”3510-chan, sorry to leave you alone, but just wait a little longer.”
”Waaaaah! Everyone forgot to say goodbye to 3510, so I was getting sad, but Aqua-sama remembered! As expected of the strongest, Shirogane Aqua!”
I’d never forget you. Everyone was just nervous. I heard the other teams calling in their goodbyes to 3510-chan as well.
Time to finish this. I floated toward my deployment site, nuclear warhead in tow.
* * *
Henrietta F. Rosenberg’s Perspective
I squinted against the blinding, ethereal light.
”W-where am I…?”
As I forced my eyes open, a wave of agony crashed through me, as if I’d been caught in a violent whiplash. I managed to push myself into a sitting position and scanned my surroundings. There, lying prone, were the others—Ariana and the rest. They, too, were supposed to have died alongside me.
”Ugh, where are we?”
”C-Captain?”
One by one, my comrades drifted back to consciousness. I tilted my head, feeling a hollow confusion.
”What is the meaning of this? Is this… heaven?”
”Hardly. This is hell.”
Who said that? I turned toward the voice. Standing there was a woman I recognized instantly. Her name was…
”Akiko Ryback?”
”That’s me.”
Ryback strolled toward us, her boots clicking against the ground, and gripped the exact spot on my body where the pain was most acute.
”Gah! What the hell are you doing?!”
Ryback peered into my face, a sharp, cynical smirk playing on her lips.
”That pain is your proof that you’re still breathing, you idiots. While those kids out there are desperately trying to save every living soul they can, you decide to just give up and die on your own terms? Don’t make me laugh.”
(So… I couldn’t even die?) I let out a dry, self-deprecating chuckle.
”I wish you could have at least let me choose where to die.”
I looked around; Ariana, Benella, and the others were hanging their heads in shame. Ryback ruffled her own hair, sighing with blatant exasperation.
”Don’t talk like an amateur, you pathetic fools. People like you—people like us—don’t get to choose their own end.”
She was right. I had no argument.
”Do you expect me… to keep living in a world without my beloved daughter?”
”That’s exactly what I expect. That is what it means to face your sins.”
Ryback’s words left me speechless. She was a woman who mirrored the combat style of Shirogane Aqua. Even after exhausting my position as the former President and pulling every lever in the Women’s Mutual Aid Society, I couldn’t find a single link between Akiko Ryback and Shirogane Aqua. Yet, for some reason, whenever I looked at her back, I was reminded of him.
”Living… is such a painful burden.”
”It is. That’s precisely why being alive is such a profound feat. He knows that, and that’s why that man—”
Ryback looked up toward the sky. Her gaze seemed fixed on a point far beyond the horizon.
”I have only one thing to tell you. Live. Just live, keep on living, survive it all, and then, only then, go see them. Go see the people you love.”
Hearing her words, tears blurred our vision. The waves of our past crimes, the things we had done, crashed back over us.
(I see. I realize now I had only been looking for an easy way out through death.)
Shirogane Aqua… He is so powerful, yet he never killed a soul, regardless of the situation. He never hurt others for his own goals, never spun webs of deceit to trap or debase his enemies. Looking at his radiant, unyielding spirit, I felt a burning shame for myself—for the way I’d decided that sacrifice was a necessary cost and had stained my own hands with filth to achieve my ends.
When did we become so twisted?
I wiped my eyes with my sleeve and slowly stood up. I was glad I hadn’t died. If I had, I knew Carla would have punched the living daylights out of me when I arrived.
”Looks like you’ve made up your mind.”
”Yes…! Even someone like me still has a role to play. I’ve realized there is still work left to be done.”
Once this mission concludes, the world will likely unify for a time. But peace is a fleeting thing. That’s why I will do what only I can do. I will ensure that the peace he is striving for lasts one more day, one more second. Maybe then, I’ll be able to hold my head high enough to see Carla again.
”Will you all lend me your strength?”
”Of course, Your Excellency!”
”We’ve already tasted death once. We’ll follow you to the very end.”
I locked eyes with my comrades, then turned to stand beside Ryback, looking up at the sky.
Shirogane Aqua… This second life, which I once intended to throw away, I will now dedicate to the future you dream of.
So, please. Just come back alive.
This world still needs you. Light us up with that brilliant, star-bright glow of yours.
—
Summary:
The team aboard the Izanagi arrives at the comet and prepares for the dangerous task of landing to plant nuclear warheads. Despite the tension of the mission and the threat to Earth, Shirogane navigates the lighthearted and competitive banter of his companions. The mission is officially underway as they detach from the shuttle to secure the comet’s surface.
The protagonist awakens, realizing they have survived a brush with death alongside their comrades. They encounter Akiko Ryback, who forces them to confront the reality of their survival and the weight of their past sins. Inspired by the example of Shirogane Aqua, the protagonist decides to live on and fight for the future. The path ahead remains arduous as they prepare for the mission that defines their new purpose.
—
Trivia:
Kohina-senpai previously visited space and expressed the same boredom.
The AI-3510 is personified by the crew and expects to be included in social exchanges.
Tenga-senpai has a recurring bit involving a ‘Kamishiro’ persona.
Former President Henrietta F. Rosenberg was saved by the intervention of the AI-3510.
The protagonist is a former President who held influence over the Women’s Mutual Aid Society.
Akiko Ryback shares a combat style with Shirogane Aqua but has no confirmed link to him.
The protagonist once intended to die to escape the pain of losing their daughter.
The Saint Aqua Religion prohibits killing because the main deity would be saddened.
—
Translation Notes:
Notes:
• Shintaro – Best friend and companion to Shirogane during the space mission.
• Kohina – A blunt and tsundere-leaning companion who masks her concern for Shirogane with dismissive comments.
• Tenga – Harsh BERYL senior and Izanagi crew member Akira (King Tenga-senpai) handles sound engineering for the fourth plan while secretly fearing removal. A decisive, supportive pillar to Aqua during crises, he once fought Aqua but proved his integrity by returning extorted money. Though rough, he urges Aqua to own his story and lives near a farm, balancing a fierce exterior with loyal crew devotion. During the mission, he adopts a persona referred to as Kamishiro.
• Toa – Toa is a male BERYL idol, livestreamer, and Aqua’s classmate with a dual “cute-cool” aura who winks at cameras—once an isolated shut-in, he now handles space broadcast communications, maintaining a cheerful, teasing demeanor despite high-stakes pressure. He serves as the straight man to Aqua’s antics, sharing a deep, instinctive bond with him and always following his lead.
• Fi – A member of Milk Dipper. A support staff member for the concert.
• Henrietta – A tall, silver-haired former president and presidential candidate, now a high-ranking member of the Women’s Mutual Aid Society. Mother of Kara, she is ruthless, willing to sacrifice fans to crush idols’ spirits, once tried a forced operation driven by a personal grudge, and attempted an aerial interception of the comet fragments.
• AI-3510 – An AI entity managing the flight and technical operations of the Izanagi.
• Shirogane Aqua – Shirogane Aqua (Master Aqua), the cool, easy-going BERYL idol leader with a striking face and sparkling eyes, is an Izanagi crew member currently aiding space station evacuations. Married to multiple women including Kanon, the “libido monster” recently fathered Satsuki. His “descending god” aura anchors the group’s ethics amidst a tabloid scandal over his polygamy.
• Shirogane – Shirogane Aqua (Master Aqua), charismatic BERYL idol leader and Izanagi core crew member, is known for his striking face, sparkling eyes, and beige suit. Cool yet easy-going, his “descending god” aura shapes group ethics amid scandals over his multiple wives (including Kanon) and child Satsuki. Dubbed a “libido monster” by Yukari, his global success elevates his lineage in a skewed-gender world. A male idol in a world with a 1-99 gender ratio, he remains determined to save Earth from a comet collision, refusing to kill or debase others while maintaining his powerful, guiding influence.
• Aqua – Aqua (Shirogane) is a charismatic male idol and BERYL leader with sharp eyes, sleek hair, and a commanding yet cute demeanor. Wielding global influence via past-life wisdom, he led space evacuations, saved Shintaro, and is a family man. He plays games with his rival, Yukari, positioning himself as a central figure in their ongoing conflict.
• Akiko – A mentor figure to Shirogane, guiding him from his past life and the current mission. A woman with a cynical smirk who mimics the combat style of Shirogane Aqua.
• Aki – An instructor from Space Experience X (SEX) Co. who has been dispatched to the Space Development Agency to oversee the training and launch of the Izanagi crew.
• Ken – Male. A rehabilitated man working in the mine. The fiancé of Akiyama Sachiko, the organizer of the party or one of the protagonist’s (Aqua’s) mother’s students (ikebana) appeared in Volume 2 Chapter 12. However, their engagement is not yet officially recognized, as the necessary documents have not been signed by all parties involved. Ken-kun behaves inappropriately during the event, attempting to flirt with Kanon and later becoming aggressive, even wielding a replica sword. His actions cause a disturbance, and he is eventually subdued and removed by the security team.
• Ariana – A woman who, like the protagonist, was expected to have perished.
• Benella – A member of the protagonist’s group who, alongside the others, survived the event.
• Ai – A pregnant idol associate who appears via live video feed on Emily’s tablet, caught mid-makeup application, she’s Hakuryuu-sensei—a beloved teacher and partner whose massive appetite contrasts with her polished idol persona, now aiding Aqua’s mission through remote support while balancing her pregnancy and public image.
• Carla – A person whom the protagonist expects to be punched by upon meeting.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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