Male Idol Extra 63

Chapter 63 Tsukimachi Ayana, Summer Memories

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Edited by: Kanaa-senpai

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 ’Summer is a battle of lips’

 I blush as I see the lip commercial I’m in on the big digital billboard in front of the station.

 I’ve been in the entertainment industry for a while, but I still can’t get used to seeing my own commercials.

 Yukari-senpai seems totally fine with it, but I wonder if Aqua feels the same way?

 While I play with the ice in my drink using a straw, I shift my gaze to Aqua’s commercial that plays right after mine.

 ’Reach for the limit and beyond!’

 Everyone around is glued to Aqua’s toned upper body.

 Yeah, I’ve gotten used to this commercial, but people still stop and watch it.

 It’s rare to see a boy in a commercial, and in Aqua’s case, he’s shirtless…

 That day, there was even an article saying that girls’ noses were bleeding from excitement in Japan. I don’t know who filmed it, but I think it’s amazing.

 ”Okay, let’s get going soon.”

 ”Yeah.”

 After finishing our break and watching Aqua’s commercial, Mom and I leave the café.

 ”That’s strange. The taxi I arranged hasn’t come… Wait, the reservation got canceled!? Why!?”

 ”Mom, there’s a station right there, and if we go to the taxi stand, we can catch one right away, right?”

 ”Y-Yeah, you’re right.”

 As we start walking toward the station, Mom and I notice something odd. There are almost no taxis on the main road.

 And while it’s normal for there to be a lot of people in front of the station, it feels like there are way too many today.

 ”Hey, I heard there’s trouble and the trains are stopped.”

 ”Really? No way!?”

 The trains are stopped!?

 My mom and I quickly check the information online.

 Train trouble, no restart time… This might be bad.

 I have to perform at the summer festival event starting in the evening.

 Eau de Cologne is popular now, but they had a long period of struggle before.

 This summer festival, where they let Eau de Cologne perform when no one else would, has been a huge help since the beginning.

 I immediately call Maron-senpai.

 ”If that’s the case, there’s nothing we can do. But can you at least head this way? Eau de Cologne is the last act, so if you hurry, you might just make it.”

 ”Yes, of course!”

 ”Ayana-senpai, Fran just thought of a good idea! Maron-senpai, can I borrow your smartphone later?”

 ”Huh? W-wait, Fran, what are you planning to do!?”

 The call suddenly cuts off. I hope everything’s okay. I just hope Fran isn’t thinking of something weird…

 My mom and I run a bit and manage to catch a taxi, but we get stuck in a terrible traffic jam.

 ”Yes, yes… We’re on our way now!”

 Mom apologizes to the staff on the other end of the phone.

 I should have gotten in the taxi right after finishing my filming job without taking a break.

 Fortunately, Maron-senpai and Fran are at the venue, so they should be able to handle Eau de Cologne without me… but I feel bad for the fans who were looking forward to my performance.

 I hope we can make it in time…

 While I was thinking about that, someone tapped on the window of the taxi stuck in traffic.

 ”Hey, Ayana.”

 ”Ah, Aqua!?”

 Aqua, who was riding a motorcycle, handed me a helmet.

 ”Get on, Ayana. I heard the situation from Fran-chan through Kohina-senpai. If it’s my bike, we’ll just make it in time.”

 Oh… right, Maron-senpai and Kohina-senpai are friends from the same nightmare generation, right? They must have exchanged contact info. Fran told Aqua about my situation through them.

 ”Aqua-kun. I’m sorry. Please take care of Ayana.”

 ”Mom, leave Ayana to me.”

 Aqua confidently thumped his chest with a cool look on his face.

 Hmm, isn’t he trying a bit too hard just because my mom is pretty?

 I thanked the taxi driver, put on the helmet, and got on the back of Aqua’s motorcycle.

 ”Hold on tight, Ayana.”

 ”Okay. Thanks, Aqua.”

 I hugged Aqua’s back.

 He’s so big… I remembered Aqua’s upper body from that commercial and my face turned red.

 Ugh! Ugh! What am I thinking at a time like this?!

 Aqua’s motorcycle, with me on it, slowly moved through the traffic and entered a side road.

 ”I’m taking a shortcut.”

 ”Okay, I trust you.”

 Aqua skillfully handled the motorcycle.

 He looks so cool. A guy on a motorcycle… might be nice.

 Is it too simple to think that way?

 ”I’m going to speed up a bit, is that okay?”

 ”U-um. That’s fine!”

 As the motorcycle engine roared louder, the scenery around us sped up too.

 I felt the G-force pressing my body against the bike, and even though I was sitting behind, it felt like I was one with the motorcycle.

 That’s nice. I think I’ll go get my motorcycle license too… Kuga Reira-san, the president of the entertainment industry motorcycle club, rides a bike, and she looks really cool.

 I hold back my racing heart and pray that Aqua doesn’t hear me.

 ”Ah, over there!”

 I point when I see our destination.

 ”Aqua-sama!?”

 ”Mom! It’s Aqua-sama!!”

 ”Aqua-sama is coming to our summer festival!?”

 ”I have to tell the people on the bulletin board!!”

 ”Wait, who’s that riding behind!?”

 ”Aqua-kun is riding with a girl!?”

 ”Lucky… wait, isn’t that Ayana-chan!?”

 ”Ahhhhh!”

 ”Could it be, a date!?”

 Everyone notices us and turns around.

 W-wait, don’t look over here too much!

 Besides, I want to go to the summer festival with Aqua too, but this isn’t a date!!

 ”Did we make it in time!?”

 ”Yeah! Thank you!!”

 After getting dropped off first, I thank Aqua again and head to the waiting area prepared by the event staff.

 ”Ah, Ayana-senpai! How was the plan from the strategist Fran-chan?”

 ”Thanks, Fran. I made it just in time!”

 I hug Fran tightly and pat her head a lot.

 ”Ayana-senpai, Ayana-senpai, you’re messing up my hair!”

 ”Ah, sorry. Then I’ll go change too.”

 After changing into my costume, I quickly get my hair and makeup done.

 I’m glad I seem to be on time. Just when I thought that, trouble isn’t over yet.

 ”Eh? The backup band got stuck in traffic?”

 ”Looks like it. Luckily, we have instruments, but there’s no one to play them… Oh, if someone can play, I got permission to let them use the instruments, but can either of you play something?”

 Fran and I exchanged glances and shook our heads.

 ”Right? I can play the keyboard, but…”

 There’s nothing we can do about it. Just as everyone was thinking that, the entrance for staff opened.

 ”Hey there! I’ve got a delivery of special breast-shaped fried egg yakisoba! Wait, huh? Is the atmosphere heavy or something?”

 ”Eh, Emily-san!?”

 Why is Emily-san here?

 Is she working part-time!? She’s a popular actress, and yet she’s doing a street vendor job at a local summer festival? What’s going on!?

 ”Um… Emily-san, can you play any instruments?”

 ”Instruments? I’ve worked part-time at a live house, so I can play just about anything, but why do you ask?”

 How can Emily-san do so many things? Is it because of her part-time job? Or is she just special?

 I should respect her… but for some reason, Yukari-senpai in my heart keeps whispering that I shouldn’t.

 ”That’s just being a jack of all trades. It’s funny to be skilled but poor, right? It’s a word made for me!”

 Emily-san said that with a carefree smile.

 For some reason, it makes us feel sad instead.

 ”I’ve heard everything!”

 ”Whoa!? Someone else is here… Wait, Tenga-senpai!?”

 I couldn’t see his face because it was hidden behind a Poison Charis mask sold at the festival, but with a 190cm (6’28”) tall big guy wearing a Poison Charis mask, there’s only one answer.

 Even a kindergarten kid can understand this simple riddle.

 ”Tenga-senpai? No, that’s wrong. I am the exiled guitar samurai…”

 ”Tenga-senpai, stop. I feel like that’s a bit off.”

 ”””””Oh, Aqua-kun!?”””””

 Aqua enters the waiting room and stops Tenga-senpai.

 The surprised staff completely freeze.

 ”Also, according to the setup, if Maron-san is on keyboard, then I’m on guitar, so Tenga-senpai is on bass.”

 ”Hmm. Then, I am the wandering bass samurai, Tenga Akira!!”

 I guess asking why “exiled” changed to “wandering” is probably not a good idea.

 Everyone in the room reads the atmosphere.

 It seems Tenga-senpai was found and caught by Aqua while he was at the summer festival with his wife, looking for someone who could play an instrument.

 ”Um… so what should I do?”

 ”””Please play the drums!”””

 Aqua hands the Midara mask he bought to Emily-san.

 Wow. They already have the Midara mask out!

 ”Wait, huh? Isn’t Aqua wearing the Heavens Sword mask?”

 ”It was so popular that it sold out…”

 Aqua puts on the Bocchi the World mask, which apparently had extra stock at the mask shop.

 Hehe, it actually looks pretty good on him.

 ”Okay, stay still. I’m going to take a picture and send it to Kohina-senpai.”

 ”Ugh.”

 ”Come on, don’t be shy!”

 I send the picture of Aqua wearing the mask to Kohina-senpai and Kanon-san.

 ”Well then, let’s go!”

 We all formed a circle around Maron-senpai and headed to the stage that was prepared for us.

 ”Yay! Ayana-chan!”

 ”Ayana-chan is so cute!”

 ”I love Ayana-chan!!”

 ”Maron-san!”

 ”Huh? Maron-san plays the keyboard!?”

 ”Maron-senpai used to play the piano a long time ago.”

 ”Fran-chan is here!”

 ”It’s the mischievous Fran-chan!”

 ”Recently, Fran-chan has been really popular.”

 ”Wait, isn’t that Tenga-senpai on bass!?”

 ”Shh! We can tell right away, but we have to pretend we don’t notice!”

 ”TENGA… TENGA… TENGA…”

 ”A quiet little TENGA call is here!”

 ”Hey, that drummer. Wow, they have such a s*xy body!!”

 ”Really!!”

 ”It’s like a real Seijo Midara (Lewd Saint)…”

 ”Pfft, someone is wearing a mask of that unpopular character, Bocchi.”

 ”Wait, isn’t that Aqua-sama!?”

 ”Wow, it really is…”

 ”I should post about this on the board!!”

 ”I need to hurry and contact the Holy Aqua Religion!”

 It’s so obvious, it gets figured out in seconds.

 Emily-san somehow wasn’t recognized, but Tenga-senpai and Aqua were so easy to spot that it made it harder to notice Emily-san. It seemed like no one realized it was her.

 ”Alright, everyone, let’s go!”

 We have 3 songs to sing.

 First, we’ll perform the classic song that we’ve been singing all summer at the festival, and then for the second song, we’ll sing the most popular song from eau de Cologne.

 And for the last song, we will perform a new track written and composed by Hoshikawa Mio-san, the vocalist of the idol band kinetik STAR, which is part of Beryl.

 ’The light I’ve lost. The broken path. In the darkness where nothing can be seen, take the first step.’

 I requested an upbeat song to get us excited for summer, and she quickly created this track.

 It has a sound that’s not typical for eau de Cologne, but you can still feel the essence of eau de Cologne in it.

 ’Where is the future we’re heading to? To seize our destiny, we raise our voices. Even if our bodies are tied up and our freedom is taken away, this singing voice cannot be stopped.’

 Fran gestures to hype up the audience. With Tenga-senpai on bass, Maron-senpai on keyboard, and Emily-san on drums, everything is stable, making it really easy to sing.

 ’Action’

 ”Thinking! Thinking!!”

 ’Fight on’

 ”Moving! Moving!!”

 The two of them harmonize with my singing.

 ’Shout a battle cry, ignite the fire in your heart’

 ”Touch the soul! Touch the soul!”

 ’Going’

 ”Let’s go together! Let’s go together!”

 ’Now, let’s go!!’

 There’s a brief pause, and Aqua’s guitar echoes through the venue.

 Here comes the chorus!

 ’No matter how tough it gets’

 ’No matter how painful it is’

 ”’As long as we can hear everyone’s voices, we will keep singing!!”’

 Maron-senpai, Fran, and I raise our voices together.

 The excitement in the venue was at its peak. With that energy, we perfectly sang through the second and third songs until the end.

 ”Yay! Thank you, everyone!!”

 We hugged the staff and Emily-san, celebrating together.

 ”Thank you too, Aqua-kun.”

 ”N-no, I didn’t do anything special.”

 I stared blankly at Aqua, who was happily being hugged by Maron-senpai. Seriously, he was staring too much at Maron-senpai’s chest. Even if it was pressed against him…! He was so cool just a moment ago. But… I thought it was nice that he was being himself.

 ”Oh, it’s time for the fireworks. I have to go, or Haruka will be waiting for me!”

 ”Wait, I left my shop unattended too! I’m off!!”

 Tenga-senpai and Emily-san hurried back to the festival. I thought I should thank them again later.

 ”Since we’re here, should we watch the fireworks too?”

 ”Eh!? Aqua-sama, is that okay?”

 ”Aqua-kun, is it alright for us to join? Um…”

 Maron-senpai kept glancing at me.

 ”Of course it’s okay! Let’s all watch together!”

 ”Yay! I love Ayana-senpai’s idea!”

 ”Well then, I’ll take you up on that.”

 We quietly slipped out the back door and watched the fireworks from a staff-only path where there weren’t many people. I was worried about how it would turn out, but thanks to Aqua and the others, we made it just in time. I gently leaned my shoulder against Aqua’s.

 ”Aqua, thank you so much for today.”

 ”Don’t worry about it. Ayana, because to me, you are…”

 A big firework went off with a loud bang, beautifully blooming in the sky.

 Hey, hey, hey!

 What did you just say about Ayana to me…? I didn’t catch that part!

 Ugh! Why didn’t I hear the important part!?

 I tried to hint to Aqua to say it again, but mean Aqua just said, “Maybe next time,” and avoided it.

 Come on! I’m such a fool! Why didn’t I listen properly!?

 When Aqua saw me looking down, he bought me a candy apple. I guess I’m pretty easy to cheer up, huh? While licking the candy apple, I watched Aqua from a little distance as he got all flustered around the girls in yukatas.

 I’m definitely going to make him look my way someday. Just you wait!

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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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