Volume 13 Chapter 196, Part 2 Shirogane Aqua, 24, Part Hour Television Starts Now!
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”I keep turning the doorknob.”
The sound echoes in the arena.
”Wait a sec, it won’t open!”
”Aqua, what’s wrong?”
Laughter comes from the audience, thinking I’m just pretending the door won’t open.
”Wait, seriously, it won’t open…”
”Aqua, we’re already late, so stop messing around!”
Toa’s lazy tsukkomi brings another round of laughter.
”Hey, can you hear me, staff?”
”Are you okay, junior!?”
Tenga-senpai approaches the box I’m in and tries to open the door from the outside.
The next moment, I hear something snap.
”Whoa!?”
”Tenga-senpai!?”
”Did you… break it?”
It seems Tenga-senpai shook it too much, and the doorknob came off.
Seeing that, a big laugh erupts.
I hear hurried footsteps of staff coming onto the stage.
The next moment, the lid of the box blocking my view opens all at once.
”What now!?”
”Junior!?”
”Are you okay, Aqua!?”
I put on a surprised face and place both hands on the glass in front of me.
Trapped in a glass case with a doorknob inside, I start shaking the doorknob again.
Kaede and Kohina-senpai, who were watching from behind, come out from the wings.
”Aqua-kun, still not out!?”
”Hey, we’re running out of time, so stop fooling around and get out already! Or are you planning to keep me waiting?”
The audience chuckles at our Kohina-senpai, who stands with her hands on her hips, just like they saw on TV.
”No, no, I really can’t get out!!”
”Huh? I can’t hear what you’re saying! Speak more clearly!!”
”Hey, someone who can read lips, come here!”
”Huh? What did you say!? I told you I can’t understand what you’re saying! When you want to say something, say it properly, like I always tell you!!”
Everyone who saw our exchange laughs at our usual skits.
But the fun stops here.
Water bursts from the bottom of the box.
”Whoa!”
”It’s water!!”
”Huh? What is happening!?”
”Junior!!”
Tenga-senpai quickly pounds on the glass wall.
The force of the water coming into the glass case was strong, soaking up to my knees all at once.
”Hey! Stop messing around and get out here already!!”
I grasp the doorknob again, desperately turning it.
Ah… it came off.
”What are you doing, seriously!!”
Seeing that, Kohina-senpai has a panicked look and strikes the glass wall.
”Staff! If we don’t do something, it’s going to be a disaster!!”
The script handed to everyone doesn’t include this act.
The audience, initially skeptical if this was part of the act or real, panics seeing us flustered on stage.
I thrashed my legs inside the box, swimming up to the ceiling.
Water gushing from under the box surged up towards the ceiling.
When I took a deep breath, the water completely swallowed me.
”Hey, you. Hold on! I’m going to help you now!!”
I nodded with my cheeks puffed out.
Everyone watching from the audience seemed to think it was serious, as a loud scream echoed.
”Everyone, get back!”
”Kaede-paisen, stop! Please don’t hit with your fist!!”
Emily, coming from backstage, stops Kaede who was swinging her arms.
I was glad I had told Emily in advance it was part of the act.
She gives me a signal with her eyes.
I placed a hand on my throat, opened my mouth, and pretended to drown, sinking down to the bottom of the opened box.
”Aqua-samaaaaaaaa!”
”No way!?”
”Ughaaaaaaaaaaa!”
”No, no! Aqua-kun should be fine for sure!”
”Aqu-tan, say it’s a lie!!”
I sank below the box and opened the double door to go outside.
”Change your clothes!!”
While running, I changed my clothes and took off the wig I was wearing.
The foundation tape I applied at the borders prevented water from soaking into my real hair.
The makeup artists and hair stylists waiting outside the exit quickly wiped their faces and tidied me up.
”Thanks, everyone! I’m off!”
I thanked everyone and got on the device heading up.
The stadium, wrapped in loud screams, changed to a huge cheer as I emerged from the spotlight.
”Hey! Are you okay!? Nothing happened!? How’s your health!?”
Kohina-senpai, surprisingly worried, rushed over to me, circling around.
”Were you surprised?”
”Surprised is an understatement! Everyone was seriously worried, you know!!”
I felt bad for causing that.
I raised my hand and apologized for making everyone worry.
”You always take too many risks! I really thought you were going to drown! Just like last time…”
”Huh? Is this a public lecture for me starting now?”
Everyone watching the exchange between me and Kohina-senpai burst into laughter again.
”Good one!”
”I think Aqua-kun should get scolded sometimes too.”
”Only Kohina Yukari can lecture Aqua-sama.”
”Here comes the re-evaluation of Kohina Yukari, who says things we can’t!”
”I bet she’ll lower her stock 100% after that…”
I somehow calmed Kohina-senpai down.
Since we were a bit behind schedule, a serious-looking staff member was tapping a sign that said [hurry up] with a pen.
Emily, understanding the staff’s feelings, stepped forward.
”Then, let’s start the first program from Yukishiro Emily’s room!”
”Wait!? It’s my room, Morikawa! Or are you planning to hijack my show, Emily!?”
The audience erupted with laughter at Emily’s joke, not mine or Kohina-senpai’s.
Nice ad-lib, Emily.
Emily really knows her stuff when it comes to variety.
Announcer Onidzuka, one of the hosts, quickly grabbed the microphone to seize the opportunity.
”Um, this program is made possible with the cooperation of all broadcasting stations and sponsors, including private and national broadcasters, as well as Beryl Entertainment and various volunteers.”
The costs of this program are covered by those people.
Also, we, who appear here, are doing it for free.
That’s why I bowed my head and asked Kohina-senpai, Emily, and Kaede to appear.
”So, everyone watching the program, if you think this is good, please press the button on your TV remote. For every ‘like’ that comes in, donations will be made to the government from the Shirogane Foundation and Beryl Entertainment. This money will be returned to you all in terms of social welfare… to put it simply, for children’s school fees or lunch costs, medical expenses in case of accidents or illnesses, improvements to roads and transportation, or as basic income and pensions, so please press away! Oh, for more details, scan the code at the bottom of the TV to check the purpose of the donations on the government website!!”
Honestly, I feel there’s no point in just saving it.
If left alone, it just piles up, and I want to talk with everyone and spend it on things we can use.
”Alright, now we’ll take a commercial break. Everyone, please take your positions during this time!”
I moved to the designated spot as instructed by the staff, while trying to please Kohina-senpai, who was puffing her cheeks.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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