Male Idol Extra 21

Chapter 21 Sayamu Inko, The Room You Can’t Leave Until Clearing The Otome Game

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Edited by: Kanaa-senpai

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 ”Sumi-chan, when are you coming back? All of our relatives are already here!”

 ”I told you it’s impossible! I’ve been working since New Year’s!”

 ”Don’t say that again! Are you eating properly over there? You’re not causing trouble for your colleagues, right? You’re playing Big Hizume…”

 ”Enough! Fine then. I’m ending the call because I’m about to start streaming. Also, tell Aunt Setsuko that I might be back in a year, even though it might take that long!”

 ”A year…”

 I hung up the phone there.

 If I’m not careful, talking with Mom on the phone could easily take a year.

 ”Well then, shall we begin?”

 I clicked the start streaming button.

 ”Everyone, it’s time for my duty.”

 I glanced at the comment section to check the gathering of listeners.

 [Good morning, Beryl]

 [Good morning, Inko]

 [Today, let’s energetically stream a death game!]

 [Don’t run away from the otome game]

 [Thank you for your duty]

 [Let’s overcome the cursed week for now]

 [No one can reach the second week, LMAO]

 [Nice game streaming since New Year]

 Looks like I have a decent number of people.

 I called out to the listeners and started the game.

 ’I wonder if something good will happen tomorrow.’

 As the game started, it began from the previous save point, which was right before going to bed.

 In this game, there are limited points where you can save.

 First chance is before going to bed on the first day, and the next save point is before going to bed one week later.

 In other words, you can only save once every week.

 Of course, if you make a wrong choice during that time, you have to start from the beginning of the week again.

 So even if you save before going to bed on Monday and work hard until Saturday, if you mess up on Sunday, you’ll go back to Monday again. Because of this wicked system, no one has been able to overcome the cursed week yet.

 ’Inko-san, good morning. What should we do today? What do you want to do?’

 President Atori’s words are followed by a list of options.

 [A: I want to go with Aqua-kun to his work!]

 [B: I want to go with Toa-chan to his work!]

 [C: I want to go with Mayuzumi-kun to his work!]

 [D: I want to go with Tenga-senpai to his work!]

 [E: Let me see Ako-san’s work]

 [F: I want to go with Manager Kirika and learn about work]

 [G: The shop is short-staffed, so I’ll go help]

 [H: I want to join the event meeting]

 [I: I haven’t had breakfast yet, so I’ll go to the cafeteria]

 [J: I’m not feeling well today, so I’ll go home]

 [K: I’ll pretend and skip work]

 First, I tried A through D, but they’re all horrible traps that take advantage of girls’ desires to interact with Beryl members.

 I was led to encounter Wild Kohina Yukari or Wild Morikawa Kaede, and I would definitely get a game over.

 Of course, I to K are out of the question too. For a moment, one player thought K was possible, but in the end, all the patterns connected to some kind of wild something, except for one. Even if you manage to get past that, the deadly weapon Manager Kirika will find out you skipped work and you’ll get a game over.

 That leaves E through H. Among these, E and F were the only correct routes.

 But if you choose either one, you won’t be able to go home for a week. In other words, you can’t save your game.

 Even if you make it to the save point 2 weeks later, you might pass out and get hospitalized from lack of stamina points because you’ve been working instead of going home. That will lead to a certain game over.

 That leaves G and H. Either option will lead to a route where you can advance to the next day…

 ’I’ll go with H today. I feel like it has more potential for the future.’

 I selected H and clicked it.

 [Intuition is important]

 [Inko’s predictions are spot-on sometimes]

 [Good luck!]

 [The mandatory Beryl event has started!]

 [I also think the H route is more likely]

 [Hagetoru, who joked that the H choice would lead to R18 adult scenes, turned out to be right!?]

 [I’m struggling at rate A like this, so who can clear rate Z…]

 After separating from Ako-san, I would normally head to the conference room where the event meeting is held. But it’s considered a staple for this route.

 However, I decided to stop near the conference room here and wait for some time to pass.

 There’s just one thing I need to be careful of in this route.

 As I was thinking about that, a familiar character came walking briskly from the opposite corridor.

 [Wild Kohina Yukari has entered!]

 [Whoa. She’s walking around the company more confidently than the CEO]

 [She works for a different company, LMAO]

 [That would be hilarious even in real life]

 [Inko, run!]

 [The final boss is strutting around Beryl]

 [Seeing this makes me realize that ordinary people can’t become Beryl employees]

 I hide behind the copier that’s around the corner here.

 In terms of height, it would be better to hide behind the stack of cardboard boxes, but that would put me within Kohina Yukari-san’s line of sight due to the angle.

 That being said, my upper body would be exposed if I hid behind the copier. I’d be found out either way, but I had a secret plan.

 ”Charge!”

 I pressed the prostration reaction button with perfect timing.

 This is a reaction I learned on the first day of the event, when I saw Morikawa-san prostrating in front of Manager Kirika.

 I hid my body perfectly by prostrating behind the copier at the right time. Kohina Yukari-san passed by without noticing me.

 [Wowwwww!]

 [As expected of Inko]

 [Inko, I knew you could do it]

 [There’s a new route to explore!]

 [Kohina Yukari is so scary]

 [As expected, being chosen as the MVP of the 2022 Horror Game Awards is quite something. Kohina Yukari, who roams the company as part of the judging panel, said there’s no horror scarier than her. LOL, that’s funny.]

 [Wait a sec, if this is the correct route, then not bowing on the first day and saving the game is a dead end, isn’t it? LOL]

 [So, it’s a crap game after all.]

 [Back then, thanks to Inko’s hesitation, witnessing the bowing scene led to a positive outcome, right?]

 [In other words, progressing through the event without hesitation, and the godly event route where Aqua-kun bids farewell turns out to be a trap route!?]

 [The fact that avoiding that route was the right answer, despite many streamers crying at that scene, is beyond ridiculous, isn’t it? LMAO]

 I understand everyone’s feelings.

 But you know, this is Beryl’s game.

 You can’t do it with half-hearted determination anymore.

 Even if there was a godly event, you have to avoid it while shedding blood and tears with gritted teeth!

 After avoiding Kohina-senpai, I stick around near the entrance until the meeting starts.

 ’What’s wrong?’

 H-He-Here it comes!

 I couldn’t help but stand up from my seat and do a fist pump.

 [Yesssssssssssssss!]

 [A new route is here!]

 [Did you see that, production company? This is our Sayamu Inko!!]

 [In this game, there’s Kohina Yukari, but we have Sayamu Inko!!]

 [LOL, there’s someone saying Morikawa-like things!]

 [Am I the only one praying towards the game screen?]

 [What a coincidence. I’m also praying.]

 I click the message box to proceed.

 ’Sayamu-san, right? What brings you here?’

 Aqua-kun gently smiles and asks me that.

 This flow… another choice!

 [A: Um… I wonder if it’s okay for me to come in]

 [B: I’ve been waiting for you to come!]

 [C: Um, I’m a bit nervous… I feel like I’m going to leak poop]

 [D: Laugh and play it off]

 [E: Awawawawa]

 C is a no-go!!

 When I saw the choices, I couldn’t help but make a funny comment.

 D and E seem like they’re out, and B seems a bit too aggressive, doesn’t it?

 Normally I would just pick A, but this game is a piece of crap….

 ”Let’s go with D for now. If that doesn’t work, then I’ll try E next.”

 When I tried to click on D, I accidentally clicked on C instead.

 Oh nooooooo!

 Damn it. This right hand of mine, this right hand that’s beloved by the god of comedy, went for C all on its own!

 ’A…are you okay?’

 Aqua-kun blushed a little, then looked at me worriedly.

 ’If things get tough during the meeting, let me know. I’ll be watching.’

 Hey, wait a minute? Is this the right path!?

 [People say that the only choices that matter are Aqua-kun’s.]

 [Basically, there’s no way to get stuck in a conversation with Aqua-kun. That’s what Shumi said.]

 [I guess that’s what makes it a real otome game.]

 [Seriously, why did the staff add the wild something!!]

 [I can understand why the staff did it. After all, you wouldn’t be able to come back to reality once you got used to the Aqua-kun route.]

 [Kohina Yukari and Morikawa Kaede are a warning to teach young girls about the harsh realities of life.]

 Well, the production company did say in their apology that they didn’t change the basic story or Hakuryuu-sensei’s script.

 Besides, if Shumi-san said so, then it’s probably true.

 Or rather, I just wish she would stream already.

 If she did, then I would be free and at home now, eating osechi while watching Heavens Sword.

 Why do I have to sit here in the office, eating convenience store bread and watching Heavens Sword all alone?

 Oh, man, before I knew it, all the other employees were gone!! I’m seriously considering spamming the stream with NG words and getting the company in trouble.

 ’We will now begin our meeting about the next Event. Please pay attention to the screen in front of you.’

 The meeting went on as usual.

 Everything was the same from here on out.

 The meeting’s agenda concerns the final confirmation of the event on the 22nd featuring Announcer Morikawa and Aqua-kun’s Fuji Talk Show.

 By proposing a reconfirmation of the suppliers during the meeting, we can move forward.

 Under no circumstances should we go to pick up Announcer Morikawa, who is running late due to the previous job pressing on her.

 ’Okay, Sayamu-san. Please reconfirm the suppliers.’

 ’Sure.’

 The afternoon task involves reconfirming the suppliers.

 We need to smoothly handle the outdoor event, avoiding Wild Kohina Yukari-san.

 This concludes the Monday event on the second day.

 The progress for Tuesday, the third day, depends on whether F was chosen the day before.

 ’Sayamu-san, count on you today.’

 Those who chose F can either accompany Ako-san for work or do something else. But if you enter the third day through a route other than F, there will be a mandatory event to accompany Manager Kotono for the day.

 Despite the tempting choices of Toa-chan and Aqua-kun, we must not be swayed.

 We need to resist this sweet temptation with unwavering patience.

 ’Today might be a day off…’

 Wednesday, the 4th day, is essentially a day off, so we should take a good rest. There’s a pattern where we might encounter Beryl’s members when we go outside, but it’s crucial not to be lured by the traps set by the production team and diligently focus on recovering our energy.

 We shouldn’t settle for instant noodles or retort pouch meals. Instead, we should silently have a meal like an athlete with the salad chicken and protein we bought on the way back from work on the third day. Of course, the bedtime is at 8 PM, ensuring a full rest until tomorrow morning, keeping the energy gauge full and fatigue level at 0.

 ’Now then, shall we go to the office?’

 On Thursday, the fifth day, and Friday, the 6th day, we need to diligently handle regular tasks to increase our status points without encountering the usual 2.

 Regular tasks involve simple mini-games such as typing and deliveries, which help boost trust and work level. The level-up of status points affects various aspects, and it’s rumored that how much we boost here will have an impact later on.

 This place might have other events, but we’re totally ignoring all that.

 You can’t move forward if you don’t leave behind the idea of enjoying the game and stuff.

 ’Is today Saturday?’

 And on the morning of the 7th day, it’s supposed to be a day for a reward event here.

 Even this brutal game guarantees that we’ll meet the Beryl members today.

 [Reward time is hereeeeeeeee!]

 [If you’ve made it this far, you can see some kind of event on Saturday or Sunday!!]

 [I’m already satisfied just getting this far.]

 [Most of the people who started game commentary here are already satisfied and have stopped.]

 [Please, Inko. Show me a new possibility!!]

 I leave home and head to work.

 I don’t know about the actual Beryl, but in the game, Beryl has a 2-day weekend, with Wednesdays off for sure, and they have to go to the office on either Saturday or Sunday. However, when there’s an event on the weekend, Monday becomes a substitute holiday.

 ”Alright, I’m off.”

 It’s okay, I’ve got all the patterns from here down.

 I’ll be fine no matter what comes my way!

 ’Sayamu-san.’

 Huh!? Aqua-kun calls out to me from behind, and my body twitches.

 [A new pattern has arrived!

 Aqua-kun is hereeeee!

 Did that event lead to this?

 Was the choice the right one?

 The right choice is poop, LMAO.

 Aqua-kun accepts all choices, so the choice shouldn’t matter. The key is whether to step into that event itself.]

 When I turn around, there’s Aqua-kun in casual clothes.

 He’s cool in the game too. I can’t help but be captivated.

 ’Have you gotten used to the company? Not nervous?’

 Ah… that time, I said I was so nervous I felt like I was going to poop…

 Ugh, even though it’s not about me, it’s embarrassing.

 Even though I made a mistake in choosing, there’s no way a girl would talk about poop in front of a guy. And especially not the coolest guy in the world. If I said that in front of real-life Aqua-kun, I might never recover again…

 [A: Y-Yes, thanks to you, I’ve gotten a little used to it.]

 [B: Um, since I’m not used to it yet, could you guide me in that empty room over there?]

 [C: Sorry, I’m going to leak poop…]

 [D: I’m sorry. I’m going to pee…]

 [E: Oh no, I got approached by Aqua-kun…]

 [F: My throat is dry, could you give me the tea from the PET bottle you’re holding?]

 [G: Run away]

 How much does this girl need to go to the bathroom!!

 And she even mentioned the option of peeing!! What kind of game is this!!

 [There’s a possibility for both C and D]

 There’s no way that’s possible!!

 [B is a fake. The correct answer is either C or D, take them to the toilet for a pee or poop!]

 Both are crimes!!

 [If I choose pee, will Aqua-kun drink it all up for me…?]

 Admin! Ban this girl!!

 [Let’s not be greedy and go for an indirect kiss with F]

 That’s also clearly not allowed, you know?

 [Darn it, even though I know it’s bad, I still want to click B]

 [B’s temptation is dangerous]

 [Aqua-sama and a locked room, Aqua-sama and a locked room, Aqua-sama and a locked room…]

 [No, the production staff fully understands the instincts of a faithful female driven by desire]

 Ahhhh, what should I do.

 Aqua-kun said it’s okay to choose any option, but I feel like the production team is intervening from around this point. Especially options B, C, D, and F seem suspicious.

 I’ll drink some water to calm myself down.

 First and foremost, the most likely option here is A. Next would be E. G probably doesn’t exist.

 But still. If the poop earlier was the right answer, I can’t completely disregard the possibility of C and D. Of course, B and F are completely out of the question.

 As I’m pondering, the countdown numbers suddenly appear on the screen.

 [Inko, did you notice?]

 [Hurry!]

 [Only 3 seconds left!!]

 [Bet on the poop you believed in!!]

 [Choose B, show us a dream!!]

 [Don’t be deceived! Let’s go for F and securely get the PET bottle]

 [Drink up the pee]

 Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

 Hey, you guys have been making too much noise!! It’s a crime to bring in pee bottles and believe in poop!

 Oh… I lost track of time getting mad at viewers like usual, and ran out of time to make a choice…. This is bad….

 ’Are you tense and have a stomachache again?’

 Huh?

 The screen cut, and Aqua-kun moved closer and gently put his hand on my stomach.

 No!! Stop!! This is definitely a sign that he’s going to imp***nate me!

 ’**Ouchy, ouchy, fly away!** (Just kidding) How about that? Did it help ease your nerves a bit?’

 I got even more nervous! If it wasn’t for Aqua-kun, I would have punched myself for being such a tease!

 [Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!]

 [Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!]

 [Inko is the best! You pulled off a miracle!]

 [Inko-chan, I’ll follow you forever!]

 [Wait, was that not fertilization?]

 [Stop making those sweet noises that resonate in my uterus!]

 [Wait, this is for all ages? Really?!]

 [This is from the Reality Certification Committee. Here’s your Reality Certification certificate.]

 [What’s the rating for this game? Z?]

 Aqua-kun told me to do my best and that I could come to him if anything happened, and then he went inside the company.

 [Your relationship with Shirogane Aqua has progressed. The titles “Senpai” and “Crush” have been unlocked.]

 Waaah! I don’t know what’s happening, but it’s happeningggg!

 I can do this! I can totally do thissssss!

 I followed Aqua-kun into the company and had a meeting about my second appearance on M-Stage on Sunday, and then I progressed through conversation events with President Atori and Manager Kirika to prepare for the big day.

 ’It’s my second appearance on M-Stage today! Let’s do this!’

 Okay, here comes the fateful 8th day. I took my hands off the keyboard and mouse and shook them lightly.

 If I can make it home safely from here, I can create a save point. Inko, this is it!

 The key to the morning and afternoon is to conserve energy.

 I suppressed my excitement and waited at home for the rest of the morning, and I didn’t leave the house until before noon.

 Eating lunch at home may seem like the right thing to do at first glance, but it won’t make your energy last till the end.

 The right choice is to eat eel for lunch using the money you’ve saved from cooking at home!!

 Eating eel can increase your energy gauge to 120% for one day. That extra 20% is pretty big.

 ’Let’s go then’

 After eating our lunch, we arrive at the venue and help out backstage to keep the Event going smoothly.

 One thing you have to be careful about here is to avoid running errands outside.

 There are a few Events where you’ll be asked to run errands for Beryl members, but if you go outside, you’ll definitely run into those 2 guys whose names I don’t even want to mention. If that happens, it’s game over, and you’ll have to start all over again.

 Of course, it’s impossible to get past that point, so you won’t even get an Event where you return from an errand and run into Beryl members. Quite a few players have fallen here.

 ”Ok, I’m back!”

 I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve done this. The second special Event, the M-stage live, starts.

 The footage has been re-edited specially for this game, and it’s amazing.

 It might be the same footage, but Beryl’s live is great no matter what.

 As I watch the screen with a slack-jawed expression, the video cuts to a scene that I’ve never seen before.

 ”Huh? Wait a minute, what’s this!?”

 Normally, the chorus would show all 4 members.

 But this time, the camera is focused entirely on Aqua-kun.

 W-w-what’s going on!?

 [Isn’t this because of the title you got earlier?]

 [Maybe you progressed in relationship with Aqua-kun only, so now you’re on his route?]

 [What!? Wait, does that mean there’s a separate pattern for each of the 4 members in addition to the normal one!?]

 [Damn it, it’s a terrible game yet they’re doing something that’s like a godsend!!]

 [Indeed, one must overcome hardship and suffering to obtain something. Oh Aquaa-!!]

 [Ughh!? The candy’s so big, I forgive you for everything. Tickle, tickle]

 [Lol, there’s already someone who’s been tamed by the production staff]

 The live continues with the second and third songs.

 Just when I thought the 4th song was the last one, they played the fifth song, Maiden’s Heart, which everyone has been wondering why it wasn’t there.

 [Why is this song not included? I’ve been wondering about that.]

 [Oh nooooo. Do I have to improve my relationship with Aqua-kun to see this scene?]

 [Finally, I can hear “Maiden’s Heart.”]

 [Inko, thank you so much!!]

 After Aqua-kun and the others finish singing, a system message appears.

 [In the Movie Library, a special expanded version of the Music Stage, with a separate perspective of Shirogane Aqua, has been added.]

 Woahhhhh!

 A new perspective is hereeeee!

 [In the Music Library, an a cappella version of “Maiden’s Heart” has been added.]

 It’s hereeeee!

 Inko-chan, great victory! I almost shouted, but I hold myself back.

 Not yet. I haven’t reached a save point yet.

 Even if I don’t save the Movie Library and Music Library, what I want to see is the scenery ahead! Please!

 ’Sayamu-san, let’s go for a celebration and have a party together.’

 If I refuse here, something will happen on the way back, so I absolutely can’t refuse.

 But if I go here, it’s a guaranteed game over. I can barely make it past midnight with the 20% strength left from the eel I had for lunch, but I won’t be able to endure it if my stamina gauge reaches 0.

 Is it really impossible after all…?

 While thinking about that, I continue to progress the event.

 And here, there is another change.

 When I leave my seat to go to the bathroom and come back, someone approaches me from the other side.

 ’Sayamu-san, you look tired. Are you okay? I’ll let Ako-san know from my side, and if you want, I can leave now and take you home.’

 Woahhhhh!

 An unexpected mid-route departure! The embarrassing experience of poop is now coming back to haunt me.

 [I was touched.]

 [I cried my heart out.]

 [Thank you, Inko.]

 [Finally, finally, will I be able to see tomorrow?]

 [It was Inko after all.]

 [I believed in it from the beginning!]

 [So Aqua-kun was the key point, huh?]

 [I wonder if in other routes, other characters would come to my rescue?]

 The screen changes, and Aqua-kun’s back appears in front of me. Could this be…?

 Thinking that, I move the mouse to check the situation.

 Oh, oh, I’m riding on the back of Aqua-kun’s bike!

 [This must be the ending, right?]

 [Congratulations, Inko!]

 [Wishing you happiness]

 [They’re definitely a couple now]

 [Is the next event marriage?]

 [Everyone is too eager, LOL]

 [I understand how you feel]

 It was a happy time.

 Occasionally, when Aqua-kun stopped, he turned back and spoke to me in a gentle voice.

 Oh no, tears are coming out.

 He cared for me so much that it felt like all the hardships I went through were worth it.

 ’Goodbye. See you the day after tomorrow at work.’

 I send Aqua-kun off near my house.

 As soon as I return home and get into bed, a system message appears.

 [Save the game?]

 It was a long journey. It really took a long time to get here…

 [Congratulations]

 [You did great.]

 [I believed in you, Inko.]

 [Thank you. Really, thank you.]

 [Ah~ Even in the game, Aqua-kun is still Aqua-kun.]

 [Aqua-sama is really a hero who helps girls.]

 [Aqua-kun is kind and reliable even in the game.]

 [I was truly moved.]

 [The ending was amazing.]

 [Yeah, events with Aqua-kun are the best.]

 [I thought the staff wouldn’t do anything extra, but thanks to them, the impact is huge, haha.]

 [Now that I think about it, the choices were crappy. They’re definitely suspicious. It feels like a trap made by the staff.]

 After savoring the lingering emotions, I click the save button.

 ”Everyone, thank you so much. Today, let’s end it here, but see you again tomorrow.”

 I look at the comments for a while and then press the stop streaming button.

 At that time, I still don’t know that because of this choice, I will have to start over from the beginning in a few months.

 This Death Game has just begun…

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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.