Volume 13 Chapter 198 Tenga Haruka, a man named Tenga Akira
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The 24-hour television event has finally started.
Invited to the staff-only waiting room, I focus on the television set up by the team.
’Now, please watch this VTR!!’
When the screen switches, I see a small boy sitting in a seiza position in a familiar landscape.
This place is… no doubt about it.
It’s Akira-kun’s family home.
’Akira, what are you doing?’
’Just feeling the arrival of spring.’
Watching this scene, I realize that this little boy is playing young Akira-kun, and the woman speaking is portraying my mother-in-law, Yumeko-san.
’Spring?’
’Yeah, the scent of fertilizer after turning the fields. The moment when cherry blossom petals gently fall. The older girls in their new uniforms. This view here makes me feel spring the most.’
Hehe, it says “reenactment VTR,” but I thought he must have really said something like this.
As time moves forward, Akira-kun appears wearing a backpack.
’Well then, Akira-kun, shall we go to school together?’
Ah…
A girl wearing a uniform I had in middle school appears on the screen.
At that moment, I am certain she is playing my role.
’Yeah!’
Holding hands, Akira-kun and I head towards the elementary school he attends.
Even in the countryside, it’s dangerous to let a boy go to school alone.
Aqua-kun, walking alone normally, is an extraordinary case; usually, boys are accompanied by family or old acquaintances for safety.
As a childhood friend, I often accompanied Akira-kun to school, gaining the trust of the Tenga family.
’That… is correct.’
The actress playing the teacher opens her mouth to check the answer written on the blackboard.
Even back then, Tenga-kun was really smart.
I remember him understanding my middle school textbooks perfectly when he was in early elementary school, and by upper grades, he easily solved difficult university entrance exam questions.
’Tenga-kun might just be a child with exceptional talent.’
The actress playing Yumeko, called to the school, chuckles softly.
’Is that so? I’ll ask him what he wants to do, just to be sure.’
Yumeko-san knows Akira-kun’s personality well.
When Yumeko-san returned from school, she saw Akira-kun helping his grandma and her expression softened.
That’s right, Akira-kun is a really kind kid; he’s always helping someone out.
Even at school, he stays close to the student who’s struggling the most.
I heard that when I was driving him to and from school.
’Akira… don’t you want to leave here and go to school in Tokyo?’
’Why go to Tokyo?’
The actor playing Akira-kun tilts his head.
’Akira is good at studying, right? So, wouldn’t it be great to study more? That’s what the teacher said.’
’I see… but, mom, being good at something and liking it are different things. I don’t dislike studying, but I’m not really that keen on it either. However, learning something new is enjoyable. To know more about what I want to know, I have to study. So, I’m just studying as part of that process.’
That’s right.
Akira-kun used to call himself “boku” when he was in elementary school!!
The image of the young Akira-kun flashed in my mind, and I almost hit my desk with excitement at his cuteness.
’Besides, I like it here. Mom, the fact that some things never change is truly wonderful. This place is calm and peaceful. I want to stay here forever, with you, grandma… and Haruka-nee.’
My heart aches at Akira-kun’s words.
When Akira-kun was in elementary school and moving into middle school, I was right in the middle of preparing for university entrance exams.
While Akira-kun could easily solve the toughest questions from the hardest university in the country, I was barely scraping by to qualify for my desired university during my adolescence.
’I see… I realized that I like Haruka-nee…’
I see, during this time Akira-kun became aware of his feelings for me.
Back then, I was too caught up in my own issues to notice.
No, rather, I think I felt inferior to the smart Akira-kun and avoided him.
’Akira-kun, I’m thinking of leaving this town after I graduate high school.’
’Eh?’
I failed my university entrance exams.
That made it hard to stay in my hometown.
But the main reason is that when I failed the exams, I made a promise to my mother.
’You see, I’m getting married.’
A company in Tokyo, where my mother worked, is looking for the 8th wife of the president’s son.
In this world, where the number of men is extremely low, women who can get married are fortunate.
I can’t afford to be picky.
I packed my things that very day and disappeared from Akira-kun’s sight.
’Akira… are you awake? I made dinner…’
’Just leave me alone!!’
A side of Akira-kun I didn’t know.
The rough high school version of Akira-kun appeared on the TV.
The reenactment shifted from other actors to Akira-kun himself, and loud cheers erupted from the audience outside.
’Akira, I’ll leave the food here. If you don’t want it, I can make something else…’
’…Thank you, mother. And I’m sorry for yelling earlier.’
Even in his roughness, the kind Akira-kun pierced my heart.
Ugh, Akira-kun is just too good for me.
’Akira…’
The scene of Yumeko-san, now also playing herself, shedding tears at Akira-kun’s kindness was shown.
’Mother-in-law, your acting is superb!’
Kohina Yukari-san, who was nearby, said while munching on her bento, “Nothing can beat a reenactment by real parents.”
Um… isn’t that bento you’re munching on Aqua-kun’s?
Eh?
He won’t be back for several hours, so it’s fine for me to eat it, right?
In fact, shouldn’t you be grateful that I’m not letting it go to waste?
Ah… yes.
I see…
’…Grandma.’
When Akira-kun, thinking his family was absent, stepped outside for the first time in a while, he unexpectedly ran into his grandmother, who happened to be at home.
’Is that you, Akira? I bought a bit too much castella. If you’d like, would you join me in eating it?’
Hehe, for Akira-kun, who is a grandma’s boy, this offer is impossible to refuse.
I thought, perhaps Grandma always prepared sweets and waited on the porch, ready for Akira-kun every time he came out of his room.
’…Grandma, I…’
Akira-kun stumbles over his words, trying to say something.
Seeing this, Grandma averts her gaze from Akira-kun and looks toward the rice fields in front of her.
’Akira, life is long. So isn”t it okay to stop for a bit, to relax slowly on the porch like this?’
’Grandma…’
Grandma is truly amazing.
Perhaps the one who understands Akira-kun the best isn’t his mother, Yumeko, or even Aqua-kun, but Grandma.
’…What should I do?’
’Do what you love, Akira. All Yumeko and I want is for you to enjoy your days.’
’Enjoy…’
A shadow falls over Akira-kun’s expression.
This is surely my fault.
Because I left in such a way…
I thought I was not worthy of Akira-kun’s brilliance, so after leaving home, I changed my phone number and cut off all contact.
I don’t want to hold back Akira-kun who has a bright future.
No, that’s not it.
I simply lacked the confidence to stand beside Akira-kun.
Ah, I want to look away from the TV out of self-hatred.
But I need to know.
I need to know how Akira-kun has managed to recover while I was away.
’Grandma, I’m going to a university in Tokyo. I want to know more about myself… And there are too many memories here. At this point, those memories are a bit too dazzling for m
’I see. It will be lonely, but Akira’s life is yours. I’m sure Yumeko will bless you as we
Akira-kun, who passed the prestigious Akamon University exam, is coming to the city.
’Hey, you’ve got some good skills, don’t you?’
The scene when he first met Moja-san causes the venue to erupt.
From here on, all characters are reenacted by themselves.
’Hey, Akira, why don’t you sing in front of people when you’re so good?’
’I don’t sing in front of anyone. I’m just doing this to distract myself.’
After moving to Tokyo, Akira-kun played the guitar constantly, except when studying.
In a room all alone.
I am entranced by Akira-kun’s acoustic performance and singing.
Like me, the people in the venue reflected on the monitor were captivated by Akira-kun’s song.
’I really look pathetic.’
Akira-kun wears a sad smile.
’After leaving home, coming to Tokyo, and entering university, I’ve been dragging along thoughts of Haruka-nee. This guitar is my only connection to her.’
Here, the childhood Akira-kun appears again.
The first rock concert I took Akira-kun to.
That was the moment Akira-kun started playing the guitar.
I see… I see.
Hearing why Akira-kun continued with the guitar makes me hold back tears.
I can’t cry.
I have no right to shed tears after disappearing from Akira-kun’s life without knowing such things.
’Hey, there’s an interesting guy. Want to meet him…?’
A roar of applause shakes the waiting room.
This is the scene where the ace Shirogane Aqua, who later joins the same idol group, BERYL, first meets the leader, Tenga Akira.
Moreover, the footage is reenacted with their own appearances.
There’s no way the fans can remain calm watching that.
’Nice to meet you, I’m Shirogane Aqua. I’m aiming to be the best idol.’
’Uh, yes. I am Tenga Akira. N-nice to meet you, junior.’
In reality, Kanon-san, Kotono-san, Kaede-san, Emily-san, Tsukimachi-san, and Kohina-san, who were in the waiting room, all lean forward at once.
”I’m glad I recorded this properly!”
”Wow, wow, wow, my vocabulary just completely died!”
”Whoa! This is intense!!”
”I wanted to see this!!”
Kanon-san, Kotono-san, Kaede-san, and Emily-san high-five.
Aqua-kun’s wives really get along well, don’t they…
I recall my own marriage and quietly look away.
My married life was hell.
It might depend on the household, but not all women married to men get along with each other.
That was the case where I got married too.
The wives who formed factions clashed, treating me like a slave.
And the man who became my husband subjected me to violent attacks multiple times.
The other wives turned their backs on me to avoid being the target of violence.
Upon closer inspection, I noticed faint traces of violence on their faces and bodies too.
I see… that explains everything, I understand.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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