Volume 13 Chapter 205 Shirogane Aqua, The Man Called Me
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Hah-hah, hah-hah…”
I’m panting as I aim for the checkpoint.
The map says it’s over 65 km one way with a mountain climb.
On the way back, instead of an uphill, there’s a downhill—also over 65 km.
That’s a total of 130 km.
As expected of the Berry-Berry staff.
They clearly don’t want me to reach the finish line.
”Ako-san, how’s the time looking?”
I call out to Ako-san, who’s following me in a car at the rest stop between Sagamihara City and Taiida Town.
”So far, 40 km in 4 hours… uh, are you sure it’s okay to maintain this breakneck pace? The staff who planned this are kinda panicking…”
”I wanted to climb the mountain while it’s cool at night, so this is fine. Besides, I run full marathons in 2 hours and 10 minutes. I’m basically on vacation right now.”
I could even walk from here to conserve energy for the return.
Climb the mountain nice and easy, go down at a slow pace, then cruise comfortably over the last flat 40 km.
After finishing my water break, I start the climb, dramatically reducing my speed near Tsukui Lake—exactly as planned.
It takes almost 5 hours to cover just 25 km.
”Aqua-kun!”
”Oh, Yachiyo-san!!”
At the turnaround point stands Nanama Yachiyo-san, owner of Café Tomarigi.
I rush over to her and thank her.
”Huh? Normally, when people reunite, it’s more like—”
The staff, clearly expecting some dramatic, slow-motion hug, stare blankly as our totally normal exchange unfolds.
”Ah… I actually went to Tomarigi last week to discuss cakes for the Shirogane Kingdom store.”
”Hehe, Aqua-kun still visits about once a month even after quitting his part-time job. Just between us, we were super busy the other day, so I had him dress up and help out for an hour.”
Even now, I’m still on good terms with Yachiyo-san.
I use the same beans and tea leaves she does, she taught me her secret recipe, and we’ve worked on shop layouts together countless times.
Looking back, landing Tomarigi as my first part-time job was a miracle.
”Hey, did you know? Aqua-kun gets hit on by female customers even when he’s cross-dressing! Just the other day, I saw a handsome guy in a suit slip him a phone number with his bill.”
Haha, I give a wry smile at the camera.
I wonder if that lady would be shocked seeing this broadcast.
”Aqua-kun, it must be tough, but hang in there for the second half. I’m cheering for you!”
”Yes! Please watch. I will reach the goal!!”
I look at the flag Yachiyo-san hands me, filled with messages of support.
[Aqua-sama, thank you for being born into this world!!]
[I love Aqua-kun! But please, rest sometimes!]
[Aqua-sama is definitely the best!]
[You’re so kind and cool! Keep going—I’m cheering for you!]
[Thank you for creating BERYL!!]
[Because of Aqua-sama, everyone’s spirits feel brighter. Thank you!!]
[I’ll support the universe’s strongest idol forever!!]
[Aqua-sama, you will always be number one in my heart!]
[Waiting for the live tour! But also, please take care of yourself!]
[I’ll follow you anywhere! So, please, look back at me sometimes!]
…Everyone, thank you so much.
I love all of you from min-nano.
I wrap the flag around myself like a blanket, soaking in their warmth.
”Aqua-kun, what’s the plan? Rest now?”
”It’s exactly 6 AM. Let’s descend before sunrise. We can rest after that.”
Falling and breaking my legs on the way down would be suboptimal.
I take 3 hours to return to the rest stop.
9 AM.
9 hours and 30 minutes to go.
”Alright, nap time. I wanna return looking fresh.”
”Got it.”
I sleep a solid seven hours.
Sleep is important.
Even baseball stars who shook America, European soccer aces, and shogi legends all sleep at least seven hours—usually more than ten.
So I snuggle into the fan-signed flag and get proper rest.
”Alright, back at it.”
”Yeah, good luck!”
4 PM.
Avoiding the hottest hours with sleep? Genius.
I warm up lightly, then blast towards the National Stadium.
People are shocked at my newfound speed.
I clock the last 40 km in 2 hours and 10 minutes.
”This is ridiculous!! Why are you an idol?! You should be a marathon runner!”
”No, no, no! Why is that your first reaction to my return?!”
Kohina-senpai, eyes wide, looks like her brain short-circuited.
Also, a pro marathon runner would need to cut over 10 minutes from that time to be competitive.
They should know how insane that is.
Look, nano, I’m just an average guy.
And in this world, there are only female runners.
If I entered, I could win gold…
But that’d be so unfair.
Besides, I don’t want to run—I want to be an idol.
They’re both four-character words in katakana, but the paths are totally different.
”So, what’s this rope for? Huh? A three-legged race?! WAIT—”
I wondered who I’d be running with. Turned out, it was mother and the others.
No way, it’s not a 3-legged race!?
Mother, Lapis, Shitori-onee-chan, and Mommy Mikuni were all here too.
”Hehe, who would argue about doing a 3-legged race with Aqua-chan…?”
I see, so that’s what happened…
They must have had a childish argument.
The three adults—aside from Lapis and Lazuli—look down, suddenly very interested in the ground.
”Well then, shall we all walk together?”
”Yeah!”
And so, we all lie down and walk along the course together.
”Aqua-chan, it’s amazing that all the fans are supporting you like this.”
”Yeah. It’s all thanks to mother and the others. Thank you. And…”
I turn to mother walking beside me.
”Mother, thank you for pushing me when I said I wanted to be an idol. Because you helped me back then, I, along with all the fans, the staff, and BERYL, can be here now.”
”Hehe. Hearing that makes me a bit shy, but Aqua-chan is my child, so don’t worry about that! So, while mom is alive, make sure to rely on me a lot!!”
…Rely on her a lot? That sounds like a scam. A motherly scam.
Still, I pat her head gently.
Back then, mother didn’t just give financial support—she also gave advice to the still-inexperienced Ako-san as a senior president and even helped with the company’s operations behind the scenes.
Shitori-onee-chan helped while juggling university when we were short on staff. Lapis, still a middle schooler, ran errands and did chores after school.
Coming from a past life with no family, I got to experience being supported by one for the first time.
I express my gratitude once again.
”We’ll stop here. Well then, Kanon-san and everyone, please take care of Aqua-chan.”
”Yes!”
My next walking group is… Kanon and the others.
Next to Kanon stand Emily, Kotono, Kaede, Yui, Ai, Ayana, Lisa, Uruha, Kokona, and Pegonia-san.
…Wait. Kanon and Pegonia-san are walking too?
It’s only 30 meters, so it should be fine, right?
”Aqua, are you okay? You haven’t secretly fallen or hurt yourself where the camera can’t see, right?”
”I’m fine, really. I had a good long nap along the way. More importantly, don’t overdo it, Kanon.”
I glance at Kanon’s growing belly and feel a wave of emotions.
Soon, I’ll be a parent, just like my mother.
”Aqua. Just so you know, you don’t have to cut back on work just because our child is being born.”
”That’s right. Aqua-san, that’s why we’re here.”
”And don’t worry, I will take care of the young lady.”
”This is Emily. I even have experience working as a babysitter!”
”Oh, what a coincidence, Emily! Actually, I also worked as a babysitter during my student days. Even the crying kids would stop in seconds when I peeled an apple.”
”That’s just because Kaede-chan scared them by crushing the apple with her bare hands… Kids are honest like that.”
”Shh! Hakuryuu-sensei, you shouldn’t say that!”
Haha… Kaede is terrifying.
For a moment, I seriously consider what I’d do if our child inherits her strength and overthrows me one day.
I glance at Ayana and the others on the other side.
”Aqua-kun, Ayana-chan was too shy to come out.”
”Ugh…”
”Hehe, no need to be stubborn. Everyone already knows.”
”Ayana-san, since you’ve already been embraced, it’s time to brace yourself.”
Ayana, completely betrayed by her three classmates, turns red.
Ah, classic Ayana.
”Still, thank you for coming out. I’m really happy to walk with everyone. If it weren’t for this opportunity, I wouldn’t have been able to walk with all of you. And it’s because you’re all here that I can do my best.”
In the world I came from, idols showing their home lives was taboo.
But in this world, it’s seen with a lot of goodwill.
It took a year of adjusting, but I’ve finally gotten used to it.
”Well then, this is where we part ways.”
After walking 30 meters, Kanon turns to the next person.
”The remaining 70 meters. Please take care of Aqua.”
”Leave it to me, Kanon-san. I’ll make sure to get her to the next point safely.”
Gah gah gah!
Of all people, it’s Kohina-senpai next!?
Did Kanon and the staff miscalculate this decision!?
Huh?
Is this really okay?
No way…
Reluctantly, I tie my leg to Kohina-senpai’s.
”Ah.”
”That was close!”
I catch her just as she almost faceplants.
”Kohina-senpai, falling instantly is definitely a joke, right!?”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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