Volume 13 Chapter 380 Kokucho Agewa, In the End, Reality Always Wins
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Sitting in the judges’ gallery for the Year-End Song Festival¹, I offered my unreserved applause to the artists delivering one spectacular performance after another.
Is this a dream? I wondered. A beautiful, fleeting dream?
Looking out at the glittering, otherworldly stage and the sea of ecstatic faces in the audience, a smile naturally broke across my face. At the start of this year, I had resigned myself to a different fate. I had decided to shoulder every sin and sacrifice myself to ensure the fall of the Kokucho family. Could someone like me truly deserve this much happiness?
Then, that prince appeared before me… Shirogane Aqua.
”…So, won’t you let me be your hero?”
The memory of that moment rushed back, and my face burned crimson. I had been so prepared to die. I thought my exit was the only way for Japan to reach its happy ending.
But he-Aqua-kun-he insisted on dragging me into that happy ending along with everyone else.
”Thank you, Aqua-kun,” I whispered. “For saving me.”
I murmured the words softly while watching Tenga Akira deliver his final, electrifying performance. It was bittersweet; this wonderful festival was finally drawing to its finale.
Neither the hosts, Ayafuji-san and Tsuwabuki-san, nor any of us performers had seen Aqua-kun’s name on the official script. This really was the grand finale.
”YEAAAAAAAH!”
”KYAAAAAAAAA!”
The crowd erupted as Tenga-kun pumped them up, men and women alike screaming in unison. He gripped the mic tight and thrust a lone fist toward the heavens.
”Come on! Eau De Cologne! And… FAIRIES!!”
The two groups who had opened the show came charging out from the red and white gates flanking the stage. Tenga-kun called out name after name, and a flood of artists poured onto the stage to join him.
”Maruo-kuuuun!”
”Kujaku-kun, you’re so cool!”
”Mom, look! Kujaku-kun is here!”
I chuckled to myself. It seemed Kujaku-kun and Yamada-kun were quite the crowd favorites. As Kujaku-kun’s mother, hearing those cheers filled me with a quiet, glowing pride.
Then, for a fleeting second, our eyes met. He looked right at me and beamed.
Oh… I really am the luckiest woman alive. Kujaku-kun rarely ever smiled, yet here he was, giving a full, toothy grin that reached his eyes.
”No way… have you ever seen Kujaku-kun look that happy?” a fan nearby gasped.
”He’s usually so cool… seeing that innocent, boyish side makes me love him even more. It’s painful!”
”Mayuzumi-kun is the same way today. Is the Kokucho bloodline just cursed to be dangerously charming? Look at Agewa-san over there…”
M-Me?! A “dangerously charming” woman? That was absurd. Back at the Shirogane Kingdom, Emily-chan teased me relentlessly. Just the other day, she claimed she’d found a new technique for “stimulating milk flow” and tried to demonstrate a n**ips massage on me and Kanon-san… Ngh! No, today is New Year’s Eve. I will take that memory and launch it into the furthest reaches of the galaxy along with the rest of the year. Yes, that is definitely for the best.
”Look! The hosts are coming out!”
”The Hana-ata² leads!”
”Ugh, if only Aqua-tan were here!”
”Where is my Yuujin-sama?!”
I smiled. Everyone wanted a glimpse of Aqua-kun, even for a moment. I knew the feeling all too well. Still, it was strange. No matter how busy he was, it was rare for him to skip even a pre-recorded video appearance. He wasn’t the type to turn down an invitation if he could help it.
Backed by the entire cast and the two hosts, Tenga-kun finished his final note with everything he had.
”TENGA! TENGA! TENGA!”
”Tenga-senpai! That was the best stage ever!”
Tenga-kun bowed deeply to the audience. As Tsuwabuki-san and Ayafuji-san stepped forward to deliver the closing remarks, they raised their mics-but no sound came out.
”Is there something wrong with the audio?” I asked.
”I think it’s microphone trouble,” Hakuryuu-sensei replied.
I stared at the stage with a worried expression, sitting beside Hakuryuu-sensei. Suddenly, the brilliant house lights cut out, plunging the entire venue into total darkness.
”Huh? What’s happening?!”
”Is it a blackout?!”
”Wait, is this part of the show? An accident? Which is it?!”
The roar of the crowd turned into a nervous buzz. Then, a single, piercing spotlight cut through the dark, illuminating the edge of the stage.
”Is it… Aqua-kun?!”
”Aqua-sama!! It’s him!!”
”A-QU-A! A-QU-A!”
As if specifically designed to betray the expectations of the netizens in the audience, Kohina Yukari stepped into the light. The crowd’s excitement turned into a chorus of playful boos in a heartbeat.
”Huff… puff… Give me a break!” she shouted. “Kaede had an emergency, so I’m the pinch hitter! Why am I the one getting booed?!”
The audience burst into laughter. They acted tough, but deep down, everyone loved Kohina Yukari.
”Ugh, forget that! Is that guy still not here yet?!”
The laughter vanished, replaced instantly by a deafening, glass-shattering scream of joy.
Everyone is so busy reacting today, I thought. Kohina-san pulled a phone from her pocket and dialed.
”Yeah, hello?”
Ah… just a single phrase. Just the sound of his voice made my heart swoon. Despite my age, I felt like a teenage girl again, my heart doing somersaults in my chest.
”Hey! You! The show already started!” Kohina-san yelled.
”Wait, what? Started? What started?”
Kohina-san nearly faceplanted right there on stage. The audience roared.
”Don’t ‘what’ me! You weren’t planning on letting the year end without you, were you?!”
”I know, I know. I’m rushing there right now.”
The spotlight on Kohina-san vanished. In its place, the massive monitor behind her flickered to life, showing a sharp, handsome profile of Aqua-kun.
”KYAAAAAAAAAAAA!”
He looked incredible. I found myself clapping along with the young girls. I hope they’ll forgive an old lady for getting carried away, I thought-but then I saw Hakuryuu-sensei, who was older than me, practically jumping out of her seat. Never change, Sensei.
”Wait, where is he?!”
”Is he outside?!”
Aqua-kun pressed a button on his earpiece, ending the call. The camera slowly pulled back.
The elegant melody of a violin began to play, only to be punctuated by the raw, aggressive growl of a high-performance engine. On the screen, Aqua-kun’s fingers danced over the paddle shifters, and the camera cut to his foot slamming the accelerator to the floor.
”THE FORMULA CAR! HE’S ACTUALLY HEREEEEE!”
”Wait, what?! Which highway is he on?!” one voice shouted.
”No, look! That’s a public road!” another yelled.
”He’s really doing it! Look, they’ve got the whole street blocked off with cones!!” a third added.
The camera feed cut from the drone to the helicopter overhead.
Wait, isn’t that the car from the movie? The one Kokucho Aqua-kun³ drove to chase down the kidnappers and save Kanon-san?!
The moment the realization hit, the girls on the message boards-no, every girl in the vicinity-let out a collective, piercing shriek that shook the air.
”The tide has turned,” Hakuryuu-sensei muttered.
”I’ve spent my life preparing to lose to reality. I am ready,” she said.
Sitting beside me, Hakuryuu-sensei turned to our fellow judge, Kuga Reira-san, with a look of absolute, grim resolve. It was the face of a woman who had accepted defeat, yet a fire still flickered deep within her eyes. She was incredible. It was no wonder the entire nation of Japan wanted to believe in her.
Down on the street, Aqua-kun sat behind the wheel of a literal racing machine, beginning the first notes of the movie’s new theme song.
”Is it actually safe to drive while singing, I wonder Nano?” someone asked.
”Oh, it’s fine. That machine is equipped with our Saba-chan⁴ system,” a girl replied.
”Right, the AI predictive assist? The one that takes over if the car is about to crash…”
”In fact, Aqua-kun said himself it can handle full autonomous driving from start to parking.”
”Man, put that in a normal car already! I need that,” a guy grumbled.
I couldn’t help but agree. If that system went mainstream, accidents would be a thing of the past. Beyond that, if Mikoto-chan managed the network, we’d probably end car theft, unlicensed driving, and DUIs in one flees swoop.
When you think about it, Mikoto-chan really is a force of nature.
Wait-does the console say AI ASSIST: OFF?! Is he insane?!
Despite the risk, Aqua-kun hit the instrumental break and threw the car into a perfect spin-turn right in the middle of the Shibuya Scramble. The fans behind the barricades went absolutely wild.
”Hold on-if he’s in Shibuya, he’s practically on our doorstep!!”
”Wait, is he actually coming here? Right now?!”
”No way!!”
”Is this actually live?! I thought this was a recording Nano!?”
Aqua-kun didn’t slow down, roaring down the street toward the National Broadcaster’s Hall before slamming on the brakes. The music shifted instantly. The new track faded out as the heavy, familiar beat of “Stay Here” kicked in.
The choreography with the dancers waiting outside was flawless-perfectly synchronized, high-octane energy that left us breathless. As the first verse peaked, Aqua-kun grabbed a microphone from one of the performers.
”Toa! Tenga-senpai! I’m heading your way! Shintaro… hold the line for me until I get there!”
”You got it, partner! Leave it to me!” Mayuzumi Shintaro-kun shouted back.
The stage lights flared back to life, and the giant monitors snapped to a close-up of Shintaro-kun standing center stage.
What? Is Shintaro-kun really going to cover Aqua-kun’s part?!
The hosts, Ayafuji-san and Tsuwabuki-san, looked just as stunned as the rest of the artists. But as the crowd held its breath, Shintaro-kun began to sing. He was perfect.
Of course he was. It hasn’t just been Aqua-kun. Shintaro-kun has been killing himself this whole time just to stand on that same level. The raw emotion in his voice rippled through the hall, turning the confused murmurs into a roar of approval.
”Oh my god… as a Shintaro-kun fan, I’m literally sobbing. I can’t see!”
”Mayuzumi-kun… you’ve really grown up, haven’t you?”
”Aqua-kun raised that boy right!!”
”It had to be Mayuzumi-kun! It had to be him!”
I find myself nodding along with the fans. As the second verse ended, Aqua-kun finally burst onto the stage, and the four members of BERYL reunite to bring the house down for the final chorus.
”EVERYBODY! SORRY TO KEEP YOU WAITING!”
We cheered until our throats were raw. It wouldn’t be a year-end special without Aqua-kun on that stage!
”Everyone, listen up! The year isn’t over yet! Keep up with us until the very last second! Don’t you dare fall behind!”
The music transitioned into “Beautiful Right?”
The quintessential BERYL anthem. As I watched the stage, completely entranced, my eyes lock with Aqua-kun’s.
Suddenly, he broke formation and started walking straight toward me.
Wait… what is he doing?!
Aqua-kun dropped to one knee right in front of the judges’ table and extended his hand toward me.
Is he asking me to join him on stage? I can’t! There’s no way!
I looked frantically at Kuga Reira-san and Hakuryuu-sensei for help.
”Congressman Kokucho, it’s time to find your courage,” Reira-san said.
”It’s alright. I’ll be joining you in defeat soon enough,” Hakuryuu-sensei added.
That’s not helping at all, Hakuryuu-sensei!
But with the two of them practically shoving me forward, I find myself stepping up onto the stage.
”Agewa-san… do you remember the last time I reached out to you like this?” Aqua-kun asked.
”Ee, of course,” I replied.
I could never forget. You didn’t just save me when I was ready to throw my life away. You took a “villainess” like me and made me a heroine. No… you took Kokucho Agewa the politician, and let me just be Agewa, the girl.
”That day, I vowed that if you took my hand, I would protect you from anything. But today… I have to take that back,” Aqua-kun said.
”What…?” I whispered.
The world went cold. He wasn’t going to protect me anymore?
But… I suppose it makes sense. It’s been a year since everything happened. Aqua-kun has carried me on his back until today. That should be enough. And thanks to Emily-chan, I have the power to stand on my own as the leader of the Saint’s Party⁵. Aqua-kun should use his hands for someone else-someone younger, someone better than an old woman like me.
I know this. I know it… so why does it hurt so much?
As the tears started to well up, Aqua-kun gave me a gentle, devastating smile.
”Because starting today, I have two people to protect. You… and our child.”
”Huh? What?!” I stammered.
The entire stadium went dead silent, then erupted into chaos.
Prime Minister Habu⁶ marched out from the wings, looking like a lawyer who just won the trial of the century, holding a medical report over her head like a trophy. Seriously?! Don’t “Victory Sign” the audience with my lab results!
”You went to the hospital the other day, remember? You were so busy you just took the test and ran back to work without waiting for the results. So, yeah… that’s the big news. Sorry for keeping it a secret until the show!” the Prime Minister announced.
”WHAAAAAT?!” I cried.
I thought I was just feeling under the weather from stress… was that it?!
I looked out at the crowd, and I saw the other Congressmen grinning like idiots, handing out flyers that say EXTRA EDITION in giant block letters. Are you kidding me?!
”CONGRATULATIONS, CONGRESSMAN KOKUCHO!”
”Now that is what I call a Minister of Baby-making!”
”If anyone can fix the birth rate, it’s our Agewa-san!”
”Keep going until you’ve got a whole rugby team, Agewa-san!”
”That’s too many kids!!” I shouted back at the crowd, and the whole hall collapsed into laughter.
”So, to protect Agewa-san, our child, and every one of you watching-to protect the future of every child yet to be born-I vow! We vow! We will make this world a place worth living in! I swear it to everyone here and everyone watching at home!”
The applause was like a physical wave. Aqua-kun clicked his microphone off for a split second, swept me off my feet into a princess carry, and whispered right into my ear.
”Agewa-san, you can yell at me all you want later. For now, can you just watch me from the side?”
”No… I’m not going to yell. I’ll be watching. I’ll always be watching… only you, Aqua-kun,” I whispered back.
Suddenly, the girls in the crowd started screaming again.
Wait-didn’t he turn the mic off?!
I glanced at the wings and saw the Prime Minister giving a thumbs-up to the audio technician. HEY! She was making a “Whoops!” face, but she definitely did that on purpose!
As BERYL finished the final notes of “Beautiful Right?”, the tempo shifted, getting darker, faster.
”PHANTOM REQUIEM! HERE IT COMES!”
”This medley is legendary! Don’t you dare stop!”
”Look, Ayana-chan is moving to the front!”
”Maron-san and Fran-chan giving her that push! Nice!”
”Kohina Yukari! You’re up next! Get out there!!”
”The whole Yuuoni crew is finally all here!!” a fan screamed from the front row.
On the massive monitor behind us, iconic highlights from Yuuoni played in a loop. Whoever edited this deserves a raise-actually. They managed to dodge every single scene that might have triggered Hizume Dai’s PTSD. Talk about professional.
Sato Aqua and the guys finished their set of [Phantom Requiem] to a deafening roar. They raised their hands to the crowd, soaking in the energy.
”””””ENCORE! ENCORE!!””””” the audience chanted in unison.
Guys, come on! I thought. This isn’t BERYL’s solo tour! And since when do singing competitions have encores anyway?!
Just as the thought crossed my mind, Emily-chan-not just any staffer, but Emily herself-scurried out from the wings holding a cue card: [WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE!] The crowd loses their minds.
Aqua-kun took a seat at the piano. The first notes of [Hanabi] drifted through the air. Wait, if it’s Hanabi… on the album, it’s a duet with Ayana-chan, and on tour, he usually sings it with Toa-chan. But both of them were already on stage, looking at each other and shaking their heads.
If it’s not them, then who?!
The audience held its collective breath. Then, a woman clutching a microphone stepped out from the shadows of the stage.
”I-it’s… it’s Kanon-sama!”
”KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”
”No freaking way!”
”The ‘Official Wife’ ⁷ duet we’ve been praying for! The Queen is here!”
Aqua-kun stood up, took Kanon-san’s hand, and pulled her into a gentle embrace. That one gesture was enough to make everyone in the room melt. They looked like they were ripped straight out of a fairy tale-a real-life prince and princess.
Actually… wait. Kanon-sama is a real princess, isn’t she? I chuckled to myself. I guess a true heroine just has that undeniable aura.
”Ugh, the ‘Legal Wife’ pressure is insane! What a way to flex at the end of the year!” a fan grumbled.
”Kanon-sama is so gorgeous today I think my eyes actually just melted…” another whispered.
”Is this really the same person the Bulletin Boards were dragging just an hour ago?”
”RIP to the trolls. The keyboard warriors are literally ascending to heaven in front of their TVs right now.”
After their soul-stirring rendition of [Hanabi], the music shifted into a melody everyone knew by heart.
Oh! It’s [Shikiori ~Season by Season~]!!
”Let’s do it! This is the last one! Everyone at home, sing along!!” Aqua-kun shouted.
He waved over all the artists and the two MCs. Before I knew it, he’d dragged the judges and the entire audience into it. We all belted out Season by Season together. It was the perfect finale to wrap up the year.
I ended up on stage sharing a mic with Kujaku-kun, who was blushing furiously because Yamada and Shintaro kept shoving him forward. Honestly, I’m so glad I took this job. I’d never have gotten the chance to sing with Kujaku-kun otherwise.
”Everyone!! Thank you so much!! Thanks for everything this year! I’m probably gonna cause even more trouble next year, but I hope you’ll stick with me anyway!!” Aqua-kun laughed.
The crowd and the cast burst out laughing at his “promise” to keep being a disaster. Then, at the suggestion of Tsuwabuki-san, we all counted down to the new year together.
”HAPPY NEW YEAR!!”
The venue erupted in cheers. But in the middle of the celebration, Emily-chan, who was standing next to Kanon-san, started looking around frantically.
”Wait… where did Hakuryuu-sensei go?” Emily-chan asked.
Huh? I thought she came out with me, Kuga Reira-san, and Kamonohashi-san?
As we scanned the stage, Prime Minister Habu noticed something and pointed toward the judges’ table.
There sat Hakuryuu-sensei. Or what’s left of her. She had turned completely white, frozen in place with a serene, terrifying smile on her face.
”She… she passed away so peacefully…” Habu muttered.
”Classic Hakuryuu-sensei… going out in a blaze of glory…!” Emily-chan added, her voice trembling.
”She’s not dead!” I wanted to yell at them as they started offering silent prayers. “She just fainted from the excitement!”
The audience was howling with laughter when Announcer Onidzuka sprouted out from the wings, looking like the world is ending. Even the serious Onidzuka-san was getting in on the bit? Come on, read the room!
Wait… no. He was white as a sheet. He lunged at Aqua-kun and grabbed him by the shoulders, gasping for air.
”P-p-please… stay calm! Morikawa is…!” Onidzuka-san stammered.
”You’re the one who needs to calm down,” Aqua-kun said, his face hardening. “What’s wrong with Kaede?”
The mood in the stadium flips instantly. Everyone goes silent, faces filled with dread.
”She… she suddenly went into labor!” Onidzuka-san cried.
What? Her due date wasn’t for weeks! Aqua-kun looked like he was ready to sprint through a brick wall to get to her.
”I get it. I’m going to her. Now,” Aqua-kun said.
”No, wait! The thing is… she already gave birth!” Onidzuka-san yelled.
What?! That has to be the fastest labor in human history!
”It’s… you won’t believe it, but she said it just… popped right out. Like she was taking a poop,” Onidzuka-san explained, looking utterly bewildered.
”Pfft!“
”Emily-chan! Don’t you dare laugh!” I hissed, but it was too late. Several people had already lost it. Aqua-kun and Kanon-san just stood there, looking like they’d been hit by a physical wave of pure absurdity ⁸ nano.
”Uh… okay. And Kaede? The baby? Are they okay?” Aqua-kun asked after a long pause.
”They’re doing great. Last I heard, she was crushing a massive bowl of katsudon… I’m sorry, I just panicked. I thought I was used to Morikawa’s nonsense by now, but I guess I wasn’t prepared for this,” Onidzuka-san sighed.
The stadium explodes into laughter. I was so worried for a second, but thank God everything was okay.
”Wait, if she’s already eating, I need to get there before she finishes the baby’s share too! Guys, I gotta go! Thanks for everything! See ya!”
Aqua-kun waved to the crowd one last time and bolted off stage.
Yep. It looks like life around Sato Aqua isn’t going to be boring this year either.
I smiled softly to myself, resting a hand on my own stomach, feeling the tiny new life growing inside.
—
Summary:
While judging a national song festival, Agewa reflects on her journey from survival to her newfound happiness, just as the event reaches a high-stakes climax. A technical glitch initially alarms the crowd, but it is revealed to be a dramatic surprise entrance by Shirogane Aqua, who appears via a video broadcast driving a high-performance formula car toward the venue.
Aqua eventually bursts onto the stage for a year-end song battle, delivering a high-octane performance that culminates in Shintaro taking over her part mid-show to demonstrate his immense growth and dedication. The emotional weight of the evening peaks when Aqua brings Agewa on stage to reveal Agewa’s pregnancy to the entire nation, followed by a moving duet between Aqua and Kanon that leaves the audience in tears.
As the New Year begins, the atmosphere shifts from sentimental to chaotic when Hakuryuu-sensei faints from the shock of the evening’s revelations. The festivities are punctuated by a frantic report that Morikawa Kaede has suddenly given birth, a delivery described so bluntly as being as easy as “taking a poop” that the monumental moment ends in a mix of shock and laughter.
—
Trivia:
- Agewa intended to die at the beginning of the story.
- Kujaku is Agewa’s son and is known for a ‘cool’ persona.
- The ‘Hana-ata’ leads refer to the protagonists of a specific series/show within the world.
- Aqua was not originally in the script for the finale.
- The ‘Grand Hizume’ (mentioned in internal thoughts) refers to New Year’s Eve/Oumizoka.
- The car Aqua is driving is the same one used in a previous kidnapping arc involving Kanon-san.
- Aqua is driving with AI assist turned OFF, highlighting his manual skill.
- Shintaro has been training specifically to reach Aqua’s level.
- The Prime Minister and other politicians are actively participating in the public spectacle.
- Agewa previously had a ‘villainess’ persona before Aqua saved her.
- The pregnancy news was kept secret from Agewa herself until the broadcast.
- Hizume Dai has severe PTSD that the staff carefully avoided.
- Kanon is a literal princess, not just a title.
- The narrator is also pregnant, as revealed by her rubbing her stomach at the end.
- Morikawa Kaede is already eating katsudon immediately after giving birth
—
Character Insight:
Agewa is struggling with ‘survivor’s guilt’ but is beginning to accept her right to be happy. Kujaku shows a rare moment of vulnerability/affection toward his mother. Aqua demonstrates his flair for the dramatic and his status as a national icon.
Aqua transitions from a protector who acts from afar to one who publicly commits to a family, symbolizing his shift toward long-term stability. Agewa experiences a vulnerability loop, moving from professional judge to emotional wreck before accepting her new role as a mother. Shintaro earns his spot as a co-lead, finally stepping out of Aqua’s shadow.
Aqua shows his deep connection to Kanon, solidifying her status as the ‘Official Wife’ in the eyes of the fans, while his frantic reaction to the birth shows his underlying care for his circle despite his troublemaker persona.
—
Behind the Scenes:
The Year-End Song Festival is a direct parody of the real-world Japanese TV special ‘Kohaku Uta Gassen’.
The ‘Minister of Baby-making’ is a satirical jab at real-world Japanese cabinet positions dealing with the declining birthrate, localized for comedic effect.
The ‘Hoge-lar Wave’ is a meta-reference to the sheer absurdity and chaotic energy often found in this series’ community memes.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Hizume Dai – A member of the crew with past trauma that the staff avoided triggering in the video edit.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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