Volume 13 Chapter 438 Shirogane Kanon, a Destiny Promised to a Great Victory.
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I entered the airlock, the block connecting the Space Shuttle to Izanami, and closed and locked the door leading to the shuttle’s interior.
[Decompression of the airlock will now begin]
A red light flickered inside the airlock.
The remaining air level was displayed as a percentage, the numbers ticking down from 100 toward zero.
[92% remaining]
Hey, Aqua….
I knew it.
That you would sacrifice yourself to protect everyone if it came to it.
Because that’s the kind of person you are, the kind of person I fell in love with.
[88% remaining]
Hey, Aqua, did you know?
Seeing you like that just made me fall for you all over again.
Yes, ever since that day I first met you at the shrine.
That summer festival when we went on our first date. The feeling of that kiss that night is still imprinted on my lips.
(Marriage) When I saw you dive into our wedding, I realized I couldn’t escape this love.
I was truly happy when you helped our Big Sisters from the stars where the political upheaval occurred.
The day we held our (Marriage) ceremony with everyone from the Verification Team is like a treasure chest of memories for me.
When I was kidnapped and you came to get me, being held in your arms made me feel safe from the very bottom of my heart.
When the world was on the brink of crisis, you jumped into the World Conference with Grandmother, didn’t you?
I’ve fallen in love with you over and over, and even now, I’m still in love with you.
[72.1% remaining]
Hey, Aqua, you actually realized it, didn’t you?
Kohina Yukari-san and President Atori were intentionally drawing a line with you.
And you were drawing a line back so you wouldn’t advance your relationship with them, right?
I was a little jealous. But I know those two were special to you, Aqua.
[61.6% remaining]
Hey, Aqua, is it really okay to leave those two behind?
Leaving nothing in their hearts but memories of you.
That’s so sad it almost makes me cry.
But I understand.
Even if it meant putting them—putting us—through such pain, you still wanted them to live, didn’t you?
Out of the limited options available.
That is what you chose.
The best future you could possibly build for everyone.
But… that isn’t the best future for my favorite idol, Shirogane Aqua, to seize!!
Because you, Idol Shirogane Aqua, have always shown us the most beautiful scenery.
That’s why I, Shirogane Kanon, his wife and a maiden who is a fan of Idol Shirogane Aqua, will take it.
I’ll lead us to the strongest, best happy ending—one worthy of you, Idol Shirogane Aqua, for Kohina Yukari-san, for President Atori, and for us and this world!!
[47.3% remaining]
Hey, Aqua, be honest with yourself.
You, who made our selfish wishes a reality, are allowed to be more selfish yourself.
[38% remaining]
Hey, Aqua, can you honestly say with your head held high that you have no regrets in this world, not even one?
You’re not going to watch the moment when Mayuzumi-kun—the person you have higher expectations for than anyone—stands side-by-side with you? Not after you co-starred in a blockbuster movie with Tenga-senpai, who succeeded as an action star, and dueled in a duet with Toa-chan, who became a world-class singer?
You’re not the type to easily throw away a future where the three of you, having reached the pinnacle, can become a better BERYL than ever before.
[11.5% remaining]
Hey, Aqua, I know.
You’re the type who gets fired up the more rivals you have, the higher the wall you have to climb.
Your rival, Ayana-chan, will become the strongest idol in a world without you.
Your mentor, Kohina Yukari-san, will surely become the greatest actress in a world without you.
But if you die, Aqua, you won’t be able to compete with them and reach for the heights together.
Aqua, I’ll say it one more time.
I know. Deep down, you don’t want to end it in a place like this, do you?
So… this time, it’s my turn to save you.
[Decompression complete. The outer door of the airlock will now open]
The door in front of me slowly began to open.
[Kanon! You only have one chance. I’m counting on you!!]
My name is Shirogane Kanon.
The destined heroine who loves destiny and is loved by it.
There is no way my life could end in anything but a happy ending.
Because, from the day I was born into this world, I am the only girl promised a great victory.
”Aqua, I’m coming to see you now.”
I used the thrusters on my suit to launch myself into space.
On the display inside my helmet, Aqua’s coordinates appeared.
I made fine adjustments, aiming for those coordinates.
Who would have thought that setting my FPS sensitivity to a high 4.73cm turn would come in handy at a time like this?
I was convinced that the destiny I’ve carved out is leading to today’s victory.
Seeing Aqua’s silhouette and his Heaven’s Sword, I raised my voice.
”Aqua!”
I called out over the line connected to Aqua.
I don’t know if this voice reached him.
I spread my arms and legs wide so I could catch him securely.
I won’t brag, but I’ve been banned from every arcade in the Kanto region for winning too many prizes in crane games.
Emily-senpai, who used to work at an arcade, laughed at me, but even that was all for this day’s victory. Destiny is on my side!!
Just a little more, a little more!
[Kanon-san!]
[You can do it!]
[Go, go, go, go, go!]
I hugged Aqua’s body tightly.
Gotcha! I’m never letting go again!!
I grabbed Aqua’s body firmly with the “I-Love-You-So-Much Hold” taught to me by Emily-senpai.
”Aqua, Aqua!”
No response.
I immediately connected the cable from Aqua’s Heaven’s Sword.
As expected, he has almost no air left.
I quickly connected the hose and sent air into Aqua’s suit.
”Pull him up, quickly!!”
[Leave it to me. Power!]
Kaede-senpai began pulling up the rope that connected me to the shuttle.
We entered the shuttle’s airlock and immediately returned air to the chamber.
[Pressurization of the airlock will now begin]
Please. Hurry, hurry!
Suppressing my impatience, I watched the percentage on the monitor climb from 0 toward 100.
[7%]
Hey, Aqua, can you hear my voice?
You did well. Just a little more. We can go home soon.
To our home, to the home where everyone is, to the home where the children are.
So please. Wake up.
[21%]
Hey, Aqua.
Everyone on Earth, everyone on Izanagi—you protected them, you know.
Everyone is waiting for your return.
For the hero who saved Earth and humanity, Shirogane Aqua, to come back.
[35.1%]
Hey, Aqua. Respond to my voice.
Breathe my oxygen. Please.
Wake up, and call my name with that loving voice of yours, just like always.
[47.6%]
Hey, Aqua.
Are you planning to make not just Kohina Yukari-san, but me cry too?
I won’t forgive you for that. …Actually, I think Kohina-senpai would say that.
[55%]
Because you said it yourself, didn’t you?
That you only make girls cry in bed.
Hey, Aqua. If you don’t wake up, I’m going to start crying.
Is that really what you want, Aqua?
[77.4%]
Hey, Aqua….
You can take my lifespan or whatever you want, just take it all.
So please. Listen to this one, once-in-a-lifetime selfish wish of mine.
[89.6%]
I’m sorry, Aqua.
You’ve already worked so hard, and here I am, trying to push you even further.
But please, don’t give up on living. Just a little longer, just a little more!!
[92.2%]
Hey, God.
Please, don’t take Aqua away from me—away from us.
This world, this star, still needs him!!
[Pressurization of the airlock is complete. The inner door of the airlock will now open]
When the airlock door opened, a worried Emily-senpai rushed in.
”Kanon, what about Aqua-sama?!”
”It’s no good. He’s not breathing!”
Kaede-senpai, who was with her, unzipped Aqua’s suit and immediately began chest compressions.
I took off his helmet and began blowing air into Aqua’s body.
”Kaede-paisen, let me take over!”
”Yeah! I’m counting on you, Emily!”
Hey, please. Aqua. Wake up.
I blew air into Aqua over and over again.
Only time drifted by.
”Kanon, I’m next!”
”Mikoto-san, please handle the controls!”
Kaede-senpai switched places with me and blew air into Aqua’s body.
Then, switching with Emily-senpai, Nee-san began heart massage.
I don’t know how much time had passed.
”I’m begging you. Aqua-sama, wake up!!”
”Aqua… hey, please wake up.”
We managed to save him, so don’t do this to us.
Fighting back the tears that threatened to spill, we desperately called out to Aqua.
My spirit felt like it was being crushed by a duration that felt like eternity.
”Aqua-san, please wake up!!”
”Everyone is waiting for you to come home, Aqua-kun!”
I felt like Aqua’s lips moved slightly.
At that moment, Mikoto-chan, who was gripping the controls, turned back to look at us.
”I confirmed Aqua-sama’s heart rate! But…!”
Mikoto-chan choked on her words and made a grim expression.
”How many minutes have passed since his heart stopped…”
All of our gazes were fixed on Aqua.
But Aqua didn’t wake up; he didn’t even twitch.
In the heavy, oppressive silence, Emily-senpai slowly opened her mouth.
”In a situation like this, we need to protect his brain with therapeutic hypothermia. Let’s start immediately. It’s alright, he started breathing again. His life—Aqua-sama is still connected to us!!”
”Then please use the medical pod Maria-sensei developed!”
I had studied how to use the medical pod in advance.
We carefully carried Aqua’s body to the pod, trying not to shake him, and secured him with belts so he wouldn’t move.
Nee-san switched places with Mikoto-chan at the controls, and Mikoto-chan came over to operate the medical pod.
”I’ve set the temperature inside the medical pod to 33 degrees, and I will now put Aqua-sama into an artificial suspended animation. Inside this medical pod, the Meissner effect is generated through superconducting technology, so there won’t be any issues with gravity when we enter the atmosphere. However… if it has been more than five minutes since his heart stopped, please understand that the outlook is grim. Also, even if he miraculously wakes up, there is a possibility that some aftereffects or memory impairment may remain. He might even forget who we are…”
I tapped Mikoto-chan on the shoulder and smiled at her, though she looked like she was about to cry.
Then, as if telling myself, I spoke to Mikoto-chan.
”Even if Aqua loses his memories, or if he’s different from the original Aqua… for now, let’s just think about Aqua waking up. Okay?”
”That… is true. Understood!”
I have to stay strong.
We’ve come this far to take Aqua back to Earth, back to everyone—I can’t let everyone’s resolve break here and now.
I swallowed the tears that were about to fall and looked ahead, acting as stoically as I could.
”Hyper-booster, reconnect!”
”Hyper-booster reconnection complete!”
After reconnecting the Hyper-booster, Nee-san made a stern face.
Perhaps there was some unexpected trouble.
”Everyone, can I have a moment about what comes next?”
We nodded at Nee-san’s words.
”Because we used the medical pod, we don’t have enough fuel to enter the atmosphere as things stand. That said, it doesn’t mean we’re out of options. Do you remember the Orbital Star Lynx?”
The Orbital Star Lynx is an unmanned space station dedicated to Hyper-boosters orbiting in satellite orbit.
What could that possibly have to do with this?
”I’m in the process of contacting the government and relevant agencies right now, but we’re going to use the power remaining in the Orbital Star Lynx. To put it simply, we’re going to connect to the Orbital Star Lynx, siphon its power, and use that power to return to Earth. The problem is what comes after that.”
Nee-san let out a small sigh.
”The debris field we avoided earlier is headed in the same direction. In other words, there is a possibility that some kind of damage has occurred to the Orbital Star Lynx. So, depending on the situation…”
Nee-san stopped talking there.
Seeing that, I opened my mouth immediately.
”Let’s go see for ourselves. There is still hope.”
Everyone nodded strongly at my words.
”Kanon is right. Let’s struggle as much as we can until the very end!”
”Yes, you’re right. I was acting a bit weak.”
”Weakness is bad! Mikoto will blow that away!”
I turned my gaze toward Emily-senpai.
Emily-senpai looked at my face and gave me a grin.
”Let’s go home. All together!”
”Yeah, let’s take Aqua and go home together!”
That’s right. I am definitely bringing Aqua home.
So, Aqua. You’ve worked hard enough already, but just a little more, please, just a little more—hang in there.
When you do, we’ll make sure to wake you up!!
—
Summary:
Shirogane Kanon heroically rescues an unconscious Aqua from the vacuum of space by entering an airlock and manually retrieving him during a high-stakes decompression event. Despite successfully bringing Aqua back into the shuttle, he remains unresponsive, forcing the team to initiate emergency resuscitation and protective medical pod protocols. The group now faces a critical fuel shortage while approaching Earth’s atmosphere, pinning their remaining hope on siphoning power from the potentially damaged Orbital Star Lynx space station.
—
Trivia:
Kanon was banned from arcades in the Kanto region due to her skill in crane games.
Aqua and Kanon’s relationship includes specific, intimate roles and promises.
The medical pod utilizes superconducting technology and the Meissner effect to protect occupants from gravity.
The team is currently facing an atmospheric reentry problem caused by fuel consumption from the medical pod.
The reader-participation project mentioned in the afterword is a rare event in this series.
Notes:
• Aqua – Aqua (Shirogane) is a charismatic male idol, BERYL leader, and student with sharp eyes, sleek hair, and strong convictions. Initially perceived as dense, he wields past-life wisdom, once saving Shintaro and leading space evacuations. Caught between public image and private vulnerability, he plays games with rival Yukari. Currently, he is drifting in space after a collision, making him the target of a crucial rescue mission.
• Kohina Yukari – Female idol-actress and technical support worker known for her striking cowlick hair, toned physique, and shut-in lifestyle. While battling a severe flu, she portrays a crude General in a Taiga drama—rolling on tatami and picking her nose—alongside Aqua Shirogane. Off-camera, she coordinates machinery operations and emergency contingencies, balancing her technical career with dreams of motherhood.
• Kohina – A blunt, sharp-tongued professional actress and mentor currently away in space, she masks her deep concern for Shirogane and hidden, vulnerable emotions behind a prickly, aloof facade. Values strength and self-reliance, yet possesses an altruistic streak. As a dedicated leader, she uses her wit to guide the group in their final mission, ensuring others survive despite her tough outward appearance.
• Yukari – Tall, broad-shouldered, and sharp-eyed, Kohina is a cynical actor and idol. Senior to Aqua but junior to the legendary Kohina Yukari, he is also a rival to Aqua, quietly navigating his romantic feelings. He mentors Ayana and dismantles the performances of Aqua and his relative Emiri with biting precision. Though he overexerts himself, he secretly joins a high-stakes meteor destruction mission.
• Atori – A poised, silver-haired executive, she is President of Beryl Entertainment, where she coordinates their space mission participation. As Shirogane Aqua’s trusted business partner and professional associate, she delivers critical logistical support for the organization.
• 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.
• Shirogane Kanon – Pregnant high‑profile idol known as Kanon‑sama/Tashinami, once cringey edgy, now bashful with long hair. Protagonist, narrator, younger sister of Victoria, Verification Team member, loyal to Aqua, teased by seniors, recently gave birth.
• Kanon – Internet master and fashion icon Kanon-sama is Aqua’s devoted wife, mother, and Verification Team member tasked with his final recovery. Close to Ayana and Emily, the youngest sister hid her emotions behind a brave, cool, yet jealous exterior. She left a note for Hakuryuu-sensei before vanishing, having shared a helmet kiss with Aqua and watched his turmoil with Kukuri with tender exasperation.
• Mayuzumi – Mayuzumi Shintaro is BERYL’s calm, bespectacled male idol and a vital operative on the Izanagi’s critical mission. Pivotal to his group’s formation, he handles logistics and training coordination with intense loyalty. As a reliable anchor, he views meeting Aqua as fate and supports her growth and stability. During crises, he is a trusted contact to alert, balancing his performer and crew identity.
• Tenga – Rough BERYL senior and Izanagi crew member Akira (King Tenga-senpai/Kamishiro) handles sound engineering for the fourth plan. Fierce yet loyal, he once fought Aqua but became his supportive pillar during crises, proving his integrity. Deeply tied to Earth, he lives near a farm with his partner Haruka and their children, balancing fear of removal with devotion to his crew and family.
• Toa – Toa is a male BERYL idol, livestreamer, and AI interface who uses broadcasts for space communications and city navigation to safely explore the world. Aqua’s classmate and straight man, he shares a deep bond with him, always following his lead. Once an isolated shut-in, he has grown significantly, maintaining a teasing, cheerful demeanor with a dual “cute-cool” aura and camera winks.
• Ayana – Aya Tsukimachi is a cool, charismatic Japanese top idol, Eau De Cologne’s ace leader, and a joint live concert performer. Identifiable by her short hair, school uniform, and cherished plushie, she is fiercely determined to protect others’ smiles. She acts as a kind junior to Yukari, and is Aqua’s lover, friend, rival, and classmate, often getting jealous yet flustered by Aqua’s affection.
• Emily – Emily (Yukishiro Emily)—the graceful, heavily pregnant Yukishiro heir, “Impression King,” and high-academic Verification Team member—co-hosts variety shows with her husband, Shirogane Aqua, and serves as a skilled, albeit anxiety-prone, technical co-pilot. Kukuri’s “oneechan” and Aqua mediator, she stalks him as a reporter, has an intimate bond with Hakuryuu-sensei, and aided Yui. Unseen lately.
• Kaede – Tall, silver-haired Morikawa Kaede is an eccentric Mary’s scholarship student, Satsuki’s mother, and a Church of Power Intelligence rep. This Verification Team mentor provides high-academic technical and operational support during missions, teaches body language, and advocates the Power Birth Method. Aqua’s predecessor and Emily’s acquaintance has lately been missing from her chants.
• Su – A young child who is still in the Shirogane Kingdom.
• Mikoto – A self-proclaimed genius robot with a synthetic body, she exhibits human-like emotions and deep learning after inputting bulletin board data into her system. As an advanced AI, she supports her team during the crisis by providing vital technical data, precise calculations, and mission navigation, serving as their primary, reliable source of information.
• Nee-san – A veteran board user and member of the Verification Team. Feared for her temper.
• Fi – A member of Milk Dipper. A support staff member for the concert.
• Maria – A female American-born medical genius and Japanese citizen affiliated with the Saint Claris and Mary Foundations. Renowned for her humanitarian research, she is a doctor and cybernetics researcher who helped develop the Heaven’s Sword medical suite.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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