Volume 13 Chapter 351 Shirogane Aqua, Kumamoto Campaigns and the Legendary Power Salad
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The nationwide tour of BERYL¹ was finally drawing to a close. We had touched down in Kumamoto Prefecture to coincide with the final week of November, just in time for our scheduled live performance.
”And so! You all are going to promote the concert starting right now!”
A staff member from Berry-Berry², who usually accompanied us on tour, approached with a delighted grin, carrying a box. Was I the only one who felt a prickle of dread at this moment? Beside me, Toa immediately fixed the staff with a look of pure exasperation. Truly, the only people capable of clouding Toa’s expression so effortlessly were myself and the Berry-Berry staff.
”The plan is simple: everyone will draw a lot, and you must carry out the promotion written upon it!”
”Wait, is ‘not drawing’ even an option?” I asked.
The Berry-Berry staff ignored my protest entirely, thrusting the box toward me with insistent force. Only Kohina-senpai or this staff would treat me with such lack of ceremony. I felt a strange sense of gratitude toward these staff members who refused to show even a shred of favoritism.
”Who goes first?”
”Rock-paper-scissors! Shoot!”
Wait, Toa! You moved far too quickly! Having caught everyone off guard and winning the bout decisively, Toa wore a look of immense triumph.
”Hehe. It is my win,” Toa said.
”Dammit! I lost!”
Shintaro, Tenga-senpai, and I displayed our frustration for the cameras. Honestly, this was not acting. I hated losing any kind of contest, and my chagrin was genuine. Toa, being the first to draw, opened the slip to check the instructions as the staff directed.
”Let’s see… ‘Promote the concert while riding the streetcar,’” Toa read.
”The streetcar?”
The Berry-Berry staff produced a sash in Toa’s signature color, emblazoned with concert details, along with an outfit that looked remarkably like a conductor’s uniform. I see, so the task was to promote while dressed like that. Tenga-senpai and I dropped to our hands and knees in exaggerated despair.
”Blast it! Why did I lose at rock-paper-scissors? I could have been the conductor!”
”Gwaaaah! My right hand failed me at the crucial moment!” Tenga-senpai cried out.
Looking over, I saw that Shintaro was also down on his knees, looking equally devastated. Every boy wants to try being a train conductor at least once in their life! Seeing our reaction, Toa looked a bit awkward.
”Um… well, that was kind of a surprise attack earlier. If everyone wants to do it that badly, should we trade?” Toa asked.
”No, that was your strategic victory, Toa. Besides, once things are decided in a variety segment, you cannot go back on them, right?” I said.
Tenga-senpai and Shintaro nodded at my words. In moments like this, it was important to accept defeat gracefully.
”Well, if you say so… Should I go change now?” Toa asked.
Toa stepped into the location bus used for wardrobe and emerged a moment later wearing the conductor’s suit and sash.
”Sorry, I think the size might be a bit too big,” Toa said.
Seeing Toa looking slightly swallowed by the oversized clothes, the staff members gave a small, secret fist pump. I knew it… they chose the large size on purpose! This is exactly why people on social media call the Berry-Berry staff ‘dirty’ and ‘sly’!
”Very well! Nekoyama Toa-san will now promote the concert aboard a specially prepared streetcar, traveling from Tasaki Bridge³ to Kengun-machi⁴, and from Kengun-machi back to Kamikumamoto-machi⁵! We are short on time, so let’s move!”
”Eh? We’re leaving already?” Toa looked startled and turned back to us.
”Um, well then, everyone, see you later!” Toa said.
”Yeah! Leave things here to us!”
”Indeed! Entrust the promotion on this end to me!” Tenga-senpai declared.
”See you later,” Shintaro added.
Toa waved while jogging toward the station following the staff. The people watching nearby seemed to sense the hurry and kindly made a path.
”Now then, who will draw next? We can do rock-paper-scissors again.”
”I shall draw!” Tenga-senpai raised a hand instantly.
Knowing the Berry-Berry staff, there was bound to be a ‘dud’ hidden in the box. Sensing this, Shintaro and I moved in perfect sync to let Tenga-senpai take the lead.
”In that case, Tenga-senpai, please!”
”Umu!”
”Good luck, Tenga-senpai,” Shintaro said.
Tenga-senpai concentrated his spirit before plunging his hand into the box. Shintaro and I watched, our hands clasped in silent prayer. Please… let Tenga-senpai draw the short straw…
”This is it!”
Tenga-senpai pulled the slip and opened it with a look of absolute conviction.
”Hm? Bungee jumping?!”
Tenga-senpai froze, his mouth hanging wide open. Behind him, Shintaro and I shared a silent high-five.
”Yes! Tenga Akira-san will be promoting the concert via bungee jump during a live broadcast in collaboration with a Kumamoto television station! Incidentally, we felt it wouldn’t be right to only make BERYL members jump, so all of us staff members came here ahead of you and did the jump ourselves!”
As expected of the Berry-Berry staff. Their level of resolve was on another level.
”Of course, we won’t force you to jump! If it is impossible, we will change the plan, so please do not hesitate to say so.”
At those words, Tenga-senpai twitched.
”No… rather, I shall do it! Life is a series of challenges. Yes, humans must surely be able to fly one day!”
Tenga-senpai, that is physically impossible-ssu. I almost bit my tongue to keep from saying it, but then I remembered I had recently jumped from ten thousand feet. I suppose what matters is the will to try; nothing is truly impossible.
”Then, since we have the broadcast timing and the concert to consider, let’s head out immediately!”
”Umu!”
Tenga-senpai boarded the location bus along with the Berry-Berry staff and the local TV crew.
”Juniors, I leave the rest to you! I shall become a bird!”
”Understood! Leave it to us, Tenga-senpai!”
”Tenga-senpai, please be careful!”
Shintaro and I watched the broad back of our senior as he boarded the bus with such coolness. There was no longer any trace of fear regarding the bungee jump or the act of falling. Our senior really is cool.
”So, Shintaro. Which of us should draw last?”
”In that case, may I go first?”
Perhaps influenced by Tenga-senpai, Shintaro stepped forward on his own. That is my best friend for you. Shintaro drew the slip and checked the writing inside.
”Promoting the concert on the radio?”
Oh, that is a good one. Honestly, I would have liked that. Mainly because I love to talk! But wait, Shintaro, why the long face?
”The radio… I wonder if someone of few words like myself will be alright?” Shintaro asked.
”Isn’t it fine? There are plenty of people who prefer a calm, quiet radio show,” I replied.
Radio broadcasts come in all shapes and sizes. Some people like talkative hosts, while others prefer an MC with a composed voice who speaks slowly, like Shintaro.
”Thank you. But since it is a promotion, I will try my best… I might not be able to do it like Aqua, but I will speak in my own way,” Shintaro said.
I was moved by Shintaro’s growth. Toa, Tenga-senpai, and Shintaro were all clearly evolving from the people they were when we first met. I felt I had to work even harder so they wouldn’t leave me behind.
”I’m off then!”
”Yeah, see you later!”
Shintaro gave me a fist bump before boarding the bus for the radio station. Well… that leaves me.
I pulled the final slip and read the contents aloud.
”Uh, ‘The person who draws this will promote today’s concert while strolling through Kumamoto’!”
The most vague one of all has arrived! These are the hardest to deal with! Couldn’t you have thought of something more elaborate like a live bungee broadcast, a streetcar, or a radio show? Did you run out of energy at the very end?!
”Here, please take this!”
I put on the sash in my signature color. I felt like I was running for office. I took the microphone and waved to the people watching nearby.
”Hello, everyone in Kumamoto! I am Shirogane Aqua from BERYL! We’ll be performing here for three days starting today, so please come and see us!”
The crowd erupted at my words. On the other hand, voices of sorrow also rose up.
”I couldn’t get a ticket, so I can’t go, but do your best!”
”I missed out on tickets, so I’ll be watching the live stream from home!”
There are only so many seats in a venue. I had heard from the staff that even with restricted-view seats, back-stage seats, and public viewing venues, it still wasn’t enough.
”I’m truly sorry to those who couldn’t get tickets! Instead, with the cooperation of the prefecture and city, we’ll be holding a parade at Torichosuji⁶, so please come see that!”
A massive cheer went up. BERYL generally holds thorough prior consultations with every prefecture and city where we perform. A frequent request from local governments is that they want as many people as possible to see us. In response, we’ve done street locations, joined events, appeared on local TV and radio, and just wandered the towns during our off time. This parade was part of that effort.
”I’m looking forward to seeing you all!”
Cheers erupted once more. Now then, I was supposed to promote while strolling through the streets, right? I waved to everyone and entered the shopping arcade.
As I walked along the street, I spotted an elderly woman holding one of my Akusta⁷.
”Grandma, you’ve got something nice there!” I said.
”Isn’t it? It’s a Kumamoto original!”
Wait, there are Kumamoto originals?! To be honest, I haven’t kept track of every single piece of merchandise. I looked toward Komachi-chan, who was accompanying me, to check if it was official or unofficial. Oh, so there really is an official 47-prefecture collaboration Akusta series.
”I’m holding a tomato!”
”That’s right. Tomatoes are a specialty of Kumamoto. We’re number one in Japan for production!”
A greengrocer’s shop came into view. Since I was here, I figured I should try a local tomato.
”Aqua-sama, would it be alright to take a photo together?” she asked.
”Of course. I was the one who spoke to you, after all.”
I took a commemorative photo with the elderly woman and then headed toward the greengrocer.
”Excuse me. One tomato, please!”
”Aqua-kun?! Ah, yes. Here… no, wait. This one might be tastier.”
After paying for the tomato, I said my thanks and bit right into it.
”Delicious. Vegetables really are best when they’re fresh.”
As I chewed the tomato, I was reminded of the legendary salad segment Kaede did for the national broadcaster’s ‘Daily Meals’—the Power Salad⁸. Kaede’s Power Salad, which involved biting into raw vegetables without any preparation or dressing, had apparently gained attention on social media as a new health craze…
”Thank you! That was delicious!”
”No, thank you for the promotion!”
Promotion… come to think of it, shouldn’t there be promotional posters? I checked with the staff. Someone from the prefecture brought over a poster they had made for the concert.
”Hey, this is great! If you had something this good, you should have told me from the start!”
The poster announcing BERYL’s arrival featured our photos and the concert schedule.
”Excuse me, miss. Is there any space to put this up here in the shop?” I asked the clerk.
”There is! Use this spot, it’s the most noticeable!””
”I conveyed my gratitude to the shop clerk and proceeded to affix the poster in a prominent location. Right then! From here, every passerby on the street will be able to see it. It was positioned perfectly.
”Aqua-kun, since you’re putting up that poster, would you mind writing a ‘pop’ for those tomatoes you just ate?”
”My, you certainly have a head for business, don’t you? Very well!” I replied.
Accepting the marker from the greengrocer, I scrawled across the display card: [Shirogane Aqua’s personal recommendation! The Power Tomato⁹ you can sink your teeth into just as they are!]
”Now, miss, in honor of my signature ‘White’ color, let’s set these at 460 yen a pack, tax included. A special commemorative sale for the live show. Ah… but please, if that would put you in the red, feel free to decline. I wouldn’t want you to lose money,” I said.
At my attempt at price negotiation, the customers gathered around the shop clapped their hands in delight. Phew. It was a stroke of luck that I’d already heard about the profit margins from Emily, who, despite only working a part-time job at a supermarket, had somehow been entrusted with everything from procurement to pricing by her third day.
”Since there is some space left, I shall add a little something extra in the margins,” I said.
”Eh?” the clerk muttered.
Not only the greengrocer, but the onlookers, the city officials, and even my own staff suddenly took on rather dubious expressions. My word, what had come over everyone so suddenly? I, however, was never one to be bothered by trifles. Facing the blank space on the card, the artistic brilliance of Shirogane Aqua began to sharpen to a fine point.
Kumamoto… a bear… Koguma-senpai¹⁰… Kogumamon¹¹… that was it! I began to sketch the image that had surfaced in my mind onto the margin of the card.
”Aqua-san, what exactly is that?” Komachi asked.
My manager, Komachi-chan, peered at my drawing with a look of profound concern. It was perfectly fine. I had never drawn anything strange in my life! When I said as much, Komachi-chan returned a look that was quite impossible to describe. How odd.
”Look, everyone! This is Kumamoto Prefecture’s newest character, Kogumamon! It may be small, but please be careful, as it’s dangerous enough to bite you immediately!”
I held up the completed pop for everyone to see, ensuring my creation was visible to the entire crowd.
”Ah—ah, I see. I get it!” someone in the crowd said.
”Hehe. Look, it says ‘Gao—’. It might actually be quite cute,” another added.
”It certainly has a bit of a Kohina Yukari vibe to it!” a third person remarked.
”First it was the Great Kaiju Yukari-gon¹², and now this. There’s a theory that Aqua-kun is mysteriously talented only when it comes to drawing deformed versions of Kohina Yukari,” someone said.
”I agree. Her face—or rather her design—fits Aqua-kun’s art style with almost exquisite precision.”
Ha! For a fleeting moment, I had feared my artistic skills might be lacking, but it appeared such concerns were entirely unfounded. My art teacher back at school had always told me that Shirogane’s drawings possessed a ‘unique sensibility.’ They said that even if my grades in art were low, I should treasure that sense. They claimed the era simply hadn’t caught up to me yet.
A representative from the prefecture slowly raised a hand after seeing the drawing.
”Um… would it be alright if we used this ‘Kogumamon’ as a PR character for our prefecture?” they asked.
”Of course, that would be fine! I’ll secure the permission from Koguma-senpai myself, so please, rest easy!” I replied.
At that time, having given my consent with such a light heart, I had no way of knowing. I would only learn much later that the Kogumamon I had drawn would go on to effectively rule over all of Kumamoto…
—
Summary:
The idol group BERYL arrives in Kumamoto for their tour finale. The staff forces the members to draw lots for unique promotional tasks: Toa becomes a streetcar conductor, Tenga-senpai courageously takes on a televised bungee jump, and Shintaro prepares for a radio appearance. Aqua is left with the vague task of ‘strolling’ to promote the live show. During his walk, he interacts with locals, discovers regional merchandise, and enjoys a fresh Kumamoto tomato, eventually helping to put up concert posters.
—
Character Insight:
This chapter highlights the growing maturity and camaraderie within BERYL. Tenga-senpai’s willingness to face a bungee jump—traditionally a ‘punishment’ in variety shows—as a sincere challenge reflects his ‘hero’ persona and inspiring leadership. Shintaro’s move to challenge himself with a radio slot despite his quiet nature shows a desire to step out of his comfort zone for the group’s sake. Aqua’s natural charisma remains his greatest tool, as he turns a ‘boring’ task into a meaningful community interaction.
—
Behind the Scene:
The ‘Power Salad’ mentioned is a recurring joke in the series regarding Kaede’s lack of cooking skills being rebranded as a ‘health trend.’ Kumamoto’s status as the top tomato producer in Japan is a real-world fact, often used in regional ‘tabearuki’ (eat-and-walk) segments in Japanese media.
—
T/L:
”¹ [BERYL] The male idol group consisting of the main characters. ↩
² [Berry-Berry] The management agency/staff responsible for BERYL. ↩
³ [Tasaki Bridge] A notable stop on the Kumamoto City Tram. ↩
⁴ [Kengun-machi] The eastern terminus of the Kumamoto City Tram. ↩
⁵ [Kamikumamoto-machi] Another major terminal for the Kumamoto streetcar system. ↩
⁶ [Torichosuji] A famous central shopping and business district in Kumamoto City. ↩
⁷ [Akusta] Short for ‘Acrylic Stand,’ a popular type of anime/idol merchandise. ↩
⁸ [Power Salad] Usually a salad with protein/fruit, but here a parody of ‘raw, unchopped vegetables’ eaten for health. ↩“
”⁹ [Power Tomato] A reference to the ‘Power Salad’ trend mentioned in the previous chapter, implying eating the produce raw and whole. ↩
¹⁰ [Koguma-senpai] Aqua’s nickname for Kohina Yukari, meaning ‘Little Bear Senior.’ ↩
¹¹ [Kogumamon] A portmanteau of Koguma and Kumamon, the official mascot of Kumamoto. ↩
¹² [Yukari-gon] A previous monster-like caricature Aqua drew of Kohina Yukari, parodying Kaiju names like Godzilla (Gojira). ↩
Notes:
• Ken – Male. A rehabilitated man working in the mine. The fiancé of Akiyama Sachiko, the organizer of the party or one of the protagonist’s (Aqua’s) mother’s students (ikebana) appeared in Volume 2 Chapter 12. However, their engagement is not yet officially recognized, as the necessary documents have not been signed by all parties involved. Ken-kun behaves inappropriately during the event, attempting to flirt with Kanon and later becoming aggressive, even wielding a replica sword. His actions cause a disturbance, and he is eventually subdued and removed by the security team.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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