Male Idol V13c121

Volume 13 Chapter 121 Tsukimachi Ayana, Home Ranking

---

Edited by: Kanaa-senpai

---

 As planned, the Home Run Derby has started.

 ’Alright, the Home Run Derby has finally begun! The rules are simple. The one who hits the most home runs in 2 minutes wins!’

 Hmm, I see.

 It seems anyone can throw the ball, and some players have their partners, sisters, or parents throwing for them.

 The first and second players hit the ball, and the sound echoes in the dome, causing big cheers from the audience.

 ’Alright, it’s getting exciting! So far, the most home runs is 7! But that record is about to be broken!! Here comes the 8th home run!’

 ’Woooh! More! More!’

 Tokyo Rabbits’ player Motooka hits the 8th home run, breaking the record.

 Usually, Inko-san only cheers for the Tatejimars, but Motooka call gets the Rabbits fans in the venue really hyped up.

 I see, even fans of rival teams usually competing can come together for the All-Stars, right?

 ’Tokyo Rabbits’ Player Motooka has done it! Although dhe didn’t reach the official record of 10 home runs, dhe finally took the lead with 8 home runs. Commentator Sayamu Inko-san, how was that batting?’

 ’Wow, that was intense. This year, with this momentum, I think we might see a player break the record and hit the most home runs ever, 11!’

 ’Oh! I’m looking forward to the next batter’s performance!! Now, let’s move on to introduce the next batter!’

 Kaede-san is really cool when she’s seriously being an announcer.

 But sometimes, I wonder why she… um, gets a little… ho, ho-ge?

 ”That’s why she’s Kaede. If she could do it, she wouldn’t have joined Beryl or married Aqua.”

 ”Ayana-chan, don’t think too deeply about Kaede. It’s a waste of time. A famous researcher from Stars who won some award said the same thing recently.”

 Yukari-senpai and Iria-san, who seem a bit wise, cross their arms while looking off into the distance at Kaede-san.

 ’Alright, all 12 teams have finished their turns. The best record so far is 8 hits by Plauer Motooka from the Tokyo Rabbits. Sayamu Inko-san, what do you think?’

 ’There were many players hitting 6 and 7, it was an exciting close match!! The All Aqua players and the All Platinum players did great! Thank you! We can expect a lot from the game too!!’

 A big round of applause erupts from the audience at Inko-san’s words.

 Hehe, it’s amazing that Inko-san is loved by fans from other teams too.

 ’So, next…’

 Huh? What about Aqua?

 The audience buzzes loudly as Kaede-san tries to move on to the next program.

 ’Wait! Wait! Kaede! What about Aqua-kun!?’

 ’Aqua… kun?’

 Kaede-san’s face on the big monitor looks confused.

 Voices from the audience call out when they see it.

 ”Morikawa──! You don’t need that kind of setup!”

 ”No, no, since it’s Morikawa, she might really have forgotten…”

 ”Of course, Morikawa-san wouldn’t forget her own husband!”

 ”No way… It’s possible for Morikawa!”

 ”Maybe Aqua-sama couldn’t make it after all?”

 ”Really…”

 Looking at the audience, no one seemed angry; they were talking with worried faces to those around them.

 Aqua… hurry up if you’re coming.

 Everyone is looking forward to Aqua’s arrival.

 As I was thinking this, the lights in the stadium suddenly went out, and the audience let out a scream-like cheer.

 When the spotlight was aimed at the ceiling of the dome, it opened up, and a helicopter with an open top like a convertible came down from the sky.

 ’Oh! Shirogane Aqua-san, riding in a flying car developed by Heavens Driver, based in Aichi Prefecture, makes a flashy entrance from the Aichi evening sky, bathed in sunlight! By the way, they renovated the old dome ceiling just for this performance!’

 ’Woooooah!’

 Aqua, already changed into his uniform, stood up and waved to the 360-degree crowd of fans packed in the venue.

 The fans cheered loudly in response, excited about Aqua’s appearance.

 ”A-q-u-a! A-q-u-a!”

 ”Aqua-kun, you’re so cool!!”

 ”I knew it. I was sure when I saw Morikawa’s silly face.”

 ”You were just panicking a moment ago, though.”

 ”I’m just so moved that Aqua-sama made it safely.”

 The flashy flying car that delivered Aqua to the field flew back into the sky.

 According to Morikawa-san’s announcement, it seems it was also a promotion for a new era of logistics services.

 This video will probably be used many times later on news programs and variety shows, so I thought it would be good promotion.

 ”Whoa! Kohina-senpai, why are you here?”

 ”Why not! Come on, hurry up and get ready. Everyone has been waiting for you!!”

 Laughter escapes from the audience at their exchange.

 ’Now, while Shirogane Aqua-san is getting ready… those called by announcer Jou Maron-san should head to the field and take your positions!!’

 Huh? What’s going on?

 I exchange glances with Yukari-senpai and Iria-san, who are nearby.

 ’Right field, Akami Hajime-san. Center field, Inori Hisui-san. Left field, Summer King, also known as Natsuki Sana-san.’

 With Maron-senpai’s call, Natsuki-san and the others enter the venue.

 Oh, I see. Even though they are just decorations, the kids from Beryl are properly cast.

 ’First base, Shirogane Lapis-san. Second base, Nekoyama Subaru-san, Shortstop, Sumeragi Kukuri-san. Third base, Lazuli Hauyne Noselite, also known as Lazu-sama.’

 Oh, Lapis-chan looks cute in her uniform!

 Aqua shows a lovestruck face while practicing his swings.

 ’And the pitcher is Yamada Maruo-san, and the catcher is Kokuchō Kujaku-san!’

 The audience erupts in cheers again at their appearance.

 Warm cheers come from the crowd for Yamada-san and Kokucho-san as they do some light pitching practice.

 ’Commentary Sayamu Inko-san. Actually, these two have been secretly practicing for today for 6 months!’

 ’Really!? Wow, I guess being in Beryl makes a difference. Their motivation is on another level!’

 Yeah. Since the boys in Beryl are led by Aqua, they all work hard towards their goals.

 The boys in Beryl look up to Aqua, admire him, and don’t just stop at admiration; they chase after him.

 Aqua’s talent is outstanding, but he’s not a lonely king. He’s the type of king who leads everyone.

 Sometimes Aqua’s amazing charisma can cause some strange excitement, but… well, that can’t be helped…

 ’Aqua-san. Just so you know, I got advice from a former pro, but if it’s hard to hit, please let me know!’

 ’Take your time and throw it slowly! Don’t worry, I’ll hit any pitch into the stands! Bring it on!’

 The dome filled with cheers from their exchange.

 Aqua raised his bat and pointed it towards the stands.

 In response to his home run declaration, cheers from the outfield shouted, “Hit it to the right!” “To the left! To the left!”

 Hehe, if one catch a home run ball, they can get it signed by him later, right?

 That’s why everyone is getting serious about this.

 ’Now, for the home run derby, the final challenger is from the Kusano team, the 4th batter of the Bear Cubs, Shirogane Aqua!!’

 A countdown appeared on the big screen.

 Everyone in the dome started to chant together.

 ””””””””””5!””””””””””

 Yukari-senpai crossed her arms and smiled with one side of her mouth raised.

 ””””””””””4!””””””””””

 The audience raised 4 fingers and called out the count.

 ””””””””””3!””””””””””

 On the big monitor, Kanon-san, Emily-san, and Kotono-san smiled and raised 3 fingers.

 ””””””””””2!””””””””””

 Kaede-san and Inko-san at the commentator’s desk also raised 2 fingers and called out the count.

 ””””””””””1!””””””””””

 I raised one finger and joined everyone in calling out the count.

 ’Here we go! First pitch, and it’s a home run! The ball flew to the left and went into the left standddd!’

 ’The bat speed is so fast!! Wait, Aqua-kun bats left-handed!’

 The ball hit perfectly with the bat was easily tossed into the left stand.

 Yeah, I knew it.

 I knew it, but seeing it in person is totally different.

 ’Next, the second pitch goes to center… it’s in!’

 ’Aqua-kun, the Tatejimars team is waiting for you in next year’s draft!!’

 The boys from Beryl must be having a tough time.

 They have to catch up to Aqua.

 Even if he was girls, I think he would still be stars.

 ’Third pitch, he pulled it hard and sent it into the right stand!’

 ’No way!? This could be the first-ever number one draft pick with all 12 teams competing!!’

 Really, it’s amazing.

 From the first pitch to the third, all home runs.

 And it’s like he aimed for it, hitting to right, center, and left.

 I mean, knowing Aqua, he definitely aimed for that.

 Emily-san is the same, but Aqua is really skilled at that too.

 ”Maruo, good job!! Keep it coming!”

 ”Yes!!”

 The 4th pitch is a foul ball that goes to the right, and the fifth pitch is a late swing that flies into the infield seats.

 ”It’s going! It’s going higher! It’s in! Second level!”

 ”That’s the 4th one! We can do this!!”

 The 7th pitch doesn’t go far because the ball gets jammed.

 Inori-san, running back, easily catches it and throws the ball into the stands for the fans.

 She was great at the sports festival at Otomezaki too; Inori-san seems to be good at all sports.

 And wow, she’s fast!

 ’This is… big!!’

 ’No way!?’

 On the 8h pitch, Aqua hits the ball with an amazing trajectory and speed.

 Not just me, but even Yukari-senpai, who was watching with her arms crossed and a relaxed expression, leans forward to watch the ball.

 ’Direct hit on the sign! No doubt, home run number 5!!’

 ’I wonder if there are prizes or rewards for the home run derby?’

 The moment the ball hits the sign, Yukari-senpai and I face each other, put our hands together, and jump up with smiles.

 Wow. The ball can really fly that far.

 The next ball doesn’t have enough distance, and this time Natsuki-san, who was in left field, makes a headfirst slide to catch it.

 Just like Inori-san, Natsuki-san has amazing athletic skills too.

 As she dropped her hat, cheers erupted from the crowd for her amazing catch.

 Next, Akami-kun, running desperately, managed to catch the ball that flew to the outfield, even though he dropped it.

 His effort received warm applause.

 ’Again, he did it! This time it’s a line drive home run!’

 ’That ball was over 170 km/h (≈ 106 mph)! Wow! Aqua-kun, you should quit being an idol and seriously play baseball. If you look closely, that vertical striped uniform would really suit you!!’

 From the audience, someone shouted, “Inko, don’t scout him for your team! That’s unfair!”

 Hehe, even Inko-san nearby couldn’t help but laugh.

 Maybe because of that, Aqua surprisingly hit a weak grounder.

 Lapis-chan, who handled the grounder, smiled and threw the ball to a kid in the stands.

 ’That’s the 7th one! This time he pulled it for a home run!’

 ’Aqua-kun is good whether he’s going with the flow or pulling it. Plus, he really connects with the sweet spot of the bat, and he must have good eyesight and know how to use his body well. Seeing how his batting form doesn’t break even after hitting so many in a row, it’s clear he does core training every day.’

 Inko-san, suddenly serious with her analysis, got a response from the crowd, “You should have explained properly from the start!”

 It seemed Aqua was stopped here, as he struggled to hit his 8h home run to tie for the top.

 ’What’s the air conditioning doing? It needs to work harder!!’

 ’No, no, Inko-san, the air conditioning doesn’t affect the distance the ball travels!! And he did it!!’

 ’That’s the 8h one!!’

 Now he ties the current top record.

 If it’s a tie, does that mean it will go into extra innings?

 Without a moment to think about anything else, Aqua easily hits his 9th home run, breaking today’s top record.

 ’Aqua-kun is on top! There’s going to be a 10th one!!’

 ’A-qu-a! A-qu-a!’

 Suddenly, Kaede-san went from being a commentator to just a cheerleader, and voices shouted, “Do your job properly!”

 But when I looked closely, it was just Yukari-senpai and Iria-san next to her throwing jeers at Kaede-san.

 ’Here it comes! Today’s 10th home run!!!’

 ’You can do it! But there’s not much time left!!’

 Even though Aqua was losing his batting form, he still hit a home run into the stands.

 Yamada-kun, who was pitching, seemed to be getting tired, and Aqua looked like he was struggling too.

 ’Yamada-kun, focus!!’

 ’Focus!? You need to calm down, Kaede! The sommelier is coming out!’

 Aqua’s name was called over and over from the entire venue.

 At this point, I really wanted him to break the record.

 The countdown timer on the monitor finally dropped below ten seconds.

 Just when I thought it was over, Aqua pointed one finger at Yamada-kun.

 One pitch showdown.

 Seeing that, Yamada-kun took a light breath in and out.

 The cheers that had been so loud suddenly went silent.

 With less than 3 seconds left, Yamada-kun threw a ball at just the right speed and perfect angle.

 Aqua returned the ball with a beautiful swing at an amazing angle.

 The impact sounded like the ball might explode, echoing throughout the dome, as the ball soared high into the stands.

 ’Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! Record broken!!!’

 ’Home Run Derby, the most ever with 11 home runs! No doubt about the victory!!’

 Yukari-senpai, Iria-san, and I jump around in a circle. Honestly, it feels like Yukari-senpai is the happiest, but I’m not like Emily-san or Kaede-san, so I won’t tease her and make her sulk.

 Aqua quickly hugs Yamada-kun, ruffling his hair to congratulate him, then calls over the other players in their positions to celebrate together.

 After that, Aqua steps out of the circle and bows to each player who competed in the Home Run Derby, shaking hands and saying “thank you.” The crowd and the players both applaud at her actions.

 Aqua takes the microphone from the staff and looks around the venue.

 ’Everyone! Thank you for coming to the All-Star Game today and for cheering on the Home Run Derby! After this, I’ll be doing the opening pitch, and I plan to join the commentary booth later, plus I’ll be part of the cheering squad, so look forward to that too!!’

 But I can’t just stand here. It’s my turn next.

 As everyone gets ready, Aqua comes over to me.

 ”Ayana, do you want to be the pitcher or the batter?”

 ”I’m fine with either… but don’t the fans want to see you throw the ball, Aqua? So, it’s okay if you pitch.”

 ”OK!”

 In a corner where the spotlight isn’t shining, Iria-san sits down wearing the catcher’s gear, and Aqua starts a light game of catch with her. I’ll practice my swing too.

 During that time, the players of the All-Star team, called by name, lined up on the field, surrounded by cheers.

 ’Next up, a solo performance of the national anthem by Sumeragi Kukuri!’

 We also stopped practicing and straightened our backs.

 Kukuri-chan’s singing of the national anthem was something amazing.

 It was so mystical, and everyone was captivated by the rare sight.

 After the anthem ended, Maron-senpai began announcing the starting lineup one by one.

 ”Alright, here we go!”

 At Yukari-senpai’s voice, everyone took their positions.

 The catcher was Iria-san. The referee was Yukari-senpai. The pitcher was Aqua. And I was the batter.

 ”Play ball!”

 With Yukari-senpai’s voice, Aqua threw the ball.

 Whoa, that was fast! It was so fast that I couldn’t hit it at all.

 ”Hey!”

 Yukari-senpai, without her mask, approached Aqua.

 At this point, laughter erupted from the audience.

 ”You just balked, didn’t you!!”

 ”What!? No way!”

 Hehe, this is bad.

 I exchanged glances with the first batter, and we both burst out laughing.

 Yukari-senpai took the microphone from the staff and looked towards the audience.

 ’Um, that last ball wasn’t very nice to Ayana-chan, so I’m going to do it again!!’

 ”That’s great!”

 ”Come on, let her throw like 10 more!”

 ”I’ve never heard of a redo for a ceremonial pitch.”

 ”Look at how much the players are laughing!”

 Are they really going to do a redo?

 Suddenly, Yukari-senpai and Aqua’s skit started, and all the fans clapped and cheered.

 ’Kohina Yukari, this isn’t Morikawa Kaede’s room! You can only take over Morikawa Kaede’s room!’

 ’Is it okay to take over Morikawa Kaede’s room then!’

 Inko-san’s quick comeback makes the audience laugh.

 Kaede-san is being sneaky by using her own show to get laughs.

 ’I’m sorry, players. Can I have one more pitch?’

 Yukari-senpai asks the players, looking a bit apologetic this time.

 ”Sure, sure. But let me hit!”

 ”Ah, that’s unfair!!”

 ”Coach, please let me be the substitute!”

 ”No, no, I should be the one to represent everyone as the 4th batter.”

 ”If that’s the case, I want to hit as the coach!”

 ”That’s unfair for just your team. I want to hit too!”

 ”No, let’s take turns and let me, the referee, hit Aqua-sama’s pitch.”

 ”Aqua-sama’s d*ck!?”

 ”Everyone, let’s get it together~.”

 ”It’s only Aqua-kun that has a d*ck and a ball on it. Mumble mumble.”

 For some reason, a rock-paper-scissors tournament suddenly starts among the players, staff, and referees.

 Aqua can’t help but laugh at the scene.

 After a while, one of the players raises their hand in joy.

 Oh, it seems like they decided who will hit.

 ’What? Isn’t it crazy that it’s going over 140 km/h (≈ 87mph)?’

 ’Aqua-kun… I’ll keep a spot open for the starting pitcher of the Tatejimars team. If possible, I want both you and Kaede!’

 Once the redo of the opening pitch is over, the coach rushes out to Yukari-senpai, the referee, and starts making strange complaints.

 Because of that, they end up redoing the opening pitch about 3 more times.

 As expected, just when we were about to start the 4th round, we got scolded by Maron-senpai from the announcer’s booth, and the match started normally.

 ”Come on, everyone! Let’s make some noise!!”

 After the match began, Aqua and I crashed the commentary booth and joined in the cheering battle that started halfway through, making it a super fun all-star time.

 ”Can I get your autograph, please!”

 ”Me too, please!”

 ”Aqua-sama──!”

 ”Ayana-chan──!”

 Since we had a set time, we couldn’t do much, but we managed to do a little fan service at the end and successfully wrapped up the event.

 As I was leaving the dressing room and getting into the car to go home, Aqua called out to me.

 ”Ayana, aren’t you hungry? Let’s go eat.”

 ”Aqua… yeah, sounds good.”

 I got into a taxi with Aqua, heading towards the red-light district in the city.

---

Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!

Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.