Volume 13 Chapter 388 Tsukimachi Ayana, BERYL’s Tour Final
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I had come to a special venue built specifically for this event to witness BERYL’s tour final.
”Seriously, this is a madhouse!”
I grabbed the hand of Kohina Yukari-senpai, who was currently being swallowed by the sea of people, and hauled her toward the entrance. If I remembered correctly, today’s concert had a record-breaking attendance of over 300,000. To gather the population of a mid-sized city for a single show- even for us in Eau De Cologne, that was unthinkable.
And yet, BERYL was doing a three-day run here. That meant nearly a million fans would pass through these gates. I realized then that BERYL really was in a league of their own.
”Look, Yukari-senpai, we’re in the clear now that we’ve reached the VIP line.”
We ducked into a restricted passage¹ where the crowds finally thinned out, though not before having our chests crushed by the endless stream of passing women.
”Ugh, I shouldn’t have gone to the merch booth just because I was a little hungry. I thought I was going to be trampled to death out there,” Yukari-senpai grumbled.
Despite her complaining, she was already busy stabbing pieces of “Shirogane Aqua-kun’s Signature: Great Kaiju Yukari-gon Fried Chicken” with a toothpick and munching away. Hehe. If Shirogane Aqua-kun saw this, he’d definitely say something annoying like, “Kohina-senpai, is that cannibalism?” and they’d immediately start bickering like children.
”Hey, look. Why is there such a massive crowd gathered over there?” Yukari-senpai asked.
”Oh, you’re right. We still have time, let’s go check it out,” I replied.
I followed her toward the commotion. A heavy velvet rope had been set up to keep the fans back.
[This area is a designated staff corridor. Please enjoy this brief glimpse into the behind-the-scenes of the live show.]
Wait, what?! It’s one thing to see this as a bonus feature on a Blu-ray, but is it really okay to show this in real-time? While I stood there with my mouth hanging open, staff members with BERYL IDs around their necks went sprinting past. Following them, a person appeared pushing a rolling rack full of shimmering stage outfits.
”Whoa! Are those the costumes?!”
”Wait, whose are they? Based on the size, they aren’t Toa-chan’s, right?”
”Oh no, is this a spoiler?”
”Yeah, the sign said ‘Look away if you don’t want spoilers!’”
The moment the outfits appeared, the fans around us erupted. Looking closely, I saw a staff member running alongside the rack, sewing on a button mid-sprint. That was intense- These costumes had traveled the whole country for a year to get here. Just like the members of BERYL, the outfits that had endured every punishing dance and performance were battered and worn. Looking at them, I couldn’t help but see the reflection of our own tour final.
”Are we allowed to take pictures?”
”Yeah, but they said no posting to social media until after the tour ends.”
”If you break Beryl’s rules, you’re banned from the Fan Club for life. Watch yourself!”
”More importantly, the scary Bosses from the Bulletin Board Dwellers² will doxx you and tear you apart online. If you value your life, don’t even think about it.”
At those words, several girls started visibly trembling. Just how terrifying were these Bulletin Board Dwellers that they were scarier than the official management? I wore a complicated expression.
”Look! Here comes the scariest one of them all!”
”It’s the Queen of the Bulletin Boards!”
”Boss! Thanks for the hard work today!”
”Idiots! You’re supposed to say: ‘Nee-san! Respect for your service!’”
Kotono-san emerged into the hallway, shooting a smiling glare at the people talking nonsense. In an instant, the rowdy crowd went dead silent. Everyone watching the passage snapped into a rigid, military salute.
”This is the Bulletin Board Dwellers’ specialty: The Freeze³.”
”When you see Nee-san, you stop moving. Movement is forbidden.”
”Morons,” Yukari-senpai muttered.
Yukari-senpai?! You shouldn’t say that loud enough for them to hear!! Wait… she was saying it on purpose. I see…
”Ah! It’s President Atori!”
”President! Good luck with the show!”
”Ako-cchi! The fried chicken was great!” Yukari-senpai shouted, mixing in with the crowd.
Yukari-senpai, you don’t need to add your food review to the cheering! Atori Ako-san⁴ seemed to notice her voice and gave a wry smile while waving our way. I’m so sorry, I know you’re busy! I bowed my head frantically.
Staff continued to hustle back and forth, and I was just thinking we should head to our seats when Aqua-kun⁵ appeared. A cheer that sounded more like a collective shriek went up.
”KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”
”AQUA-SAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”
”He’s… he’s actually real!”
”No way… He isn’t CGI…”
”I’m the one who should say ‘no way.’ Were you actually doubting it?”
”I get it, though. I didn’t believe he actually existed until I saw him with my own eyes.”
”Total mood…!”
Aqua-kun waved with a smile, then his expression sharpened into one of serious focus. It looked like he was mentally locking in for the performance. He probably didn’t even notice me or Yukari-senpai. I whispered to her as she stood unusually quiet beside me.
”Yukari-senpai, aren’t you going to say something to him?”
”I don’t need to,” she replied.
She crossed her arms, watching Shirogane Aqua-kun with a surprisingly gentle gaze.
”There’s nothing left for me to teach him when he’s in ‘Idol Mode.’ Even without me, he knows exactly what he needs to do.”
Um… Yukari-senpai, you should really say that to his face. Seriously, both she and Aqua-kun were so stubborn. I wish they’d realize how it feels for me, always stuck in the middle.
”…I don’t know who this ‘Master’ of his is supposed to be, but I’m starting to feel a little jealous,” she whispered.
Hm? Did she just say something? When I looked at her, she was still just watching his retreating back with that same gentle look. Maybe I imagined it.
”I see… so this is the ‘Protective Parent’ pose…”
”I’m the one who raised Shirogane Aqua-kun…”
”I feel you, Kohina Yukari. Watching from the sidelines is the best part.”
”Ugh! It’s frustrating, but I’ll allow it since it’s Kohina Yukari!”
The fans were really leaning into it. Given their VIP seats and clear financial power, they had to be the Bulletin Board regulars. Someone once said the Bulletin Boards were a den for “Big Nee-santers” who had too much money and time- the ones who had great bodies but never even held a boy’s hand because they were too intimidating. Looking around at the ladies near me, I realized the average cup size was easily an H.
”Oh, Shintaro-kun and the others are coming out!”
”It’s true!”
”Toa-chaaaaan!”
”TENGA! TENGA! TENGA!”
Aqua-kun and Mayuzumi Shintaro-kun locked hands at eye level, whispering a few words to each other. What were they talking about? I couldn’t hear, but it was surely something about the show. Seeing Aqua-kun’s serious profile made my heart do a little flip.
”Wait, is Ayana-chan a pushover too?”
”Yes! Give us more of that sweet side!”
”Let’s see it! Have his babies already!”
”Classic Bulletin Board Dwellers, always jumping the gun!”
STOOOOOOP! You guys are so annoying!! So what if I’m a pushover?! Fine, call me whatever you want!
”Ayana-chan, let’s go,” Yukari-senpai said.
”Ah, right.”
I followed her as she walked away from the corridor.
”Um, Yukari-senpai, we still have time. Are you sure you don’t want to keep watching?”
”It’s fine. I saw what I needed to see to know he’ll be okay.”
She looked a little relieved. Hehe. Yukari-senpai, you really were worried about him, weren’t you? I fought the urge to tease her with a nudge.
”Sigh. I wasted all that energy being nervous for his sake.”
Wait, you were nervous? But despite that… No, never mind. Unlike Aqua-kun or Emily-san, I know when to keep my mouth shut.
”Ah, welcome back you two. You’re late. Was the fried chicken stand that packed?” Maron-senpai asked.
Hoshizaki Maron-senpai was already in her seat, licking a banana ice cream bar drizzled in white chocolate. Oh, that was the “Shirogane Aqua’s White-Chocolate-Dipped Banana Bar.” It was officially Kaede-san’s idea, but everyone knew Emily-san had egged her into it. While all the other fans were blushing and hesitating in front of the shop, Maron-senpai just went and bought it like it was nothing…
”The staff passage was open, and we stopped to watch Aqua-kun come out. That’s all,” Yukari-senpai explained.
”Eh? What’s that?! Maron-senpai, Fran wants to see that too!!”
Fran started tugging frantically on Maron-senpai’s sleeve.
”No, Fran. The show is about to start.”
”Oh, right. I guess I have no choice then,” Fran said, slumping her shoulders.
Here, I’ll show you the pictures I took. Okay? I whispered.
”Whoa! Ayana-senpai, thank you!!”
Fran beamed at the photos on my phone. Hehe, she could be so childlike sometimes.
”Ah, looks like it’s starting,” Yukari-senpai noted.
Everyone looked toward the stage. A countdown timer appeared on the monitors. We stood up and joined the 300,000 voices, shouting out the numbers in unison. When the final count hit zero, a thunderous roar shook the stadium. Then, a sudden, heavy silence fell. For just a heartbeat, there was perfect stillness- and then, as if rising from the depths of the stage, Shirogane Aqua-kun appeared alone at the center.
”KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”
”AQUA-SAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”
”TEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!?”
”Yuujin-sama kitaaaaaaaaaaaaa!⁶“
”Ugyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
Eh? Eh? It was normal until just a second ago, wasn’t it!?
Don’t tell me, he changed clothes after passing through that passage just now!?
Aqua-kun in Yuujin mode⁷ immediately sings Otome-iro no Kokoro.
Ah, it’s the very first song from when Aqua-kun first came out to the world as an idol.
Between Yuujin appearing as a surprise and the combo of Otome-iro no Kokoro, the damage to the audience is Dai-huge.
Several big Nee-santers, so as not to cause trouble, were fainting while standing perfectly still and upright.
As expected of BERYL’s… no, Aqua-kun’s fans.
To faint while standing upright just to avoid disturbing the live performance, they’re on a different level.
”Ah, Hakuryuu-sensei…” said one fan.
”It’s no use. She’s fainting while standing up…” another replied.
”Grandma Mary and President Fuji Ranko too…”
”Guhehe, Kanon. Even though you came all this way to the live, if you’re fainting, I’m gonna rub your b**bs~”
Even in the VIP area, everyday scenes unfold.
After all, Kanon-san had better wake up soon….
”Ah, Tsuwabuki-san!”
”Ayafuji-san came too!!”
”Wait, Tenga-kun!?”
”It’s Mayuzumi-kun!”
”Toa-chan also came!!”
Eh? Eh? Everyone’s outfits… could it be, the original characters from Hana-ata⁸, are they all here!?
At first, they struggled with things like using CG to fill in the gaps for other cast members.
Now, after nearly two years have passed, the main cast following the original work-the full members-are gathered here.
”The Hana-ata we wanted to see is kitaaaaaaaaa!”
”Are the original fans who died in front of the screen watching the first broadcast of the drama back then seeing this? Your Hana-ata is right here.”
”Thank you. Truly, thank you.”
”The flow… has changed. Yes, the one who muttered that on the real-time Bulletin Board⁹ was none other than me.”
”You’re the 137 from back then!! By the way, the 136 right before you was me!!”
”I’m here too, the 135!!”
See, I thought so, since they’re the kind of people in the VIP seats.
I mean, remembering even the response numbers, what the nano.
When I quickly averted my eyes to the side, Emily-san, who was looking after Mary-sama and Kanon-san, came into view.
I called out to Emily-san in a small voice, asking if I should help.
”Look at this smile,” Emily-san said. “He’s alive, even like this…”
Ah, yes…. It looks like he’s Dai-okay. Let’s leave them be.
Aqua-kun finished singing Otome-iro no Kokoro, then performed the songs from the Hana-ata musical with everyone in that same flow.
Once they finished singing, he took the microphone and thrust his fist toward the audience.
’I’m back, Tokyo! Everyone, are you getting excitedaaaaaaaaaaaaa!’
””””””””””Uooooooooooooooooooooo!””””””””””
All the fans raised their hands too, responding to Aqua-kun’s words.
’Everyone, after Hana-ata, do you remember what I did!?’
””””””””””Runwayyyyyyyyyyyyyy””””””””””
Come to think of it, back then too, sealing off the Shibuya scramble crossing was amazing.
When the lights illuminating the Stage dropped, footage of Kaede-san from back then was projected on the monitor.
Ah, ah, come to think of it, the announcer back then was Kaede-san.
”This country has Shirogane Aqua.” It even won the Dai-Grand Prize for buzzwords, didn’t it?
It was only 2 years ago, but somehow it feels nostalgic.
’That’s right, this country has me-it has us!!’
At the same time as Aqua-kun’s voice, the monitor footage disappeared, and the spot-lights installed in the passage from the main Stage to the sub-Stage activated.
Wa, wa! The reproduction of the runway is kitaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Mayuzumi-kun kicked it off. After him, Yamada-kun, Kokucho-kun, and Akami-kun, with the research students, and Tenga-senpai also came out.
And the one who decorated the final closing was….
”A, a, a! Is that the legendary…!?”
”From that magazine that Aqua-kun and Toa-chan appeared in!”
”Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
”A reproduction of that magazine that became a national family heirloom!?”
”It’s the beginning of the Sex-Scripture¹⁰. A-ku-a!”
Toa-chan and Aqua-kun come out together as if reproducing that time.
Uwa, how nostalgic!! When this came out, it was a total frenzy.
There were lines in front of the bookstores, and the news reports showed clerks being surprised, saying things like “I’ve never seen a line like this before opening,” or “Is it the release date of Dragon Fantasy 3¹¹!?” “Did we slip back into the 80s!?”
’Hey, Aqua-kun, this biscuit is…’
’Of course, it’s decided that it’s MorinagaMerry biscuits. Right, Merry-san?’
Aqua-kun snapped the biscuit he’d broken in half once more and handed it to Merry-san who appeared from the wings.
Biscuit sales were through the roof back then. The Fuji Department Store collab was also amazing, but now they’re all just good memories.
Following Toa-chan and Aqua-kun, Mayuzumi-kun and Tenga-senpai also come out in school uniforms.
Wa! Tenga-senpai in a school uniform is a total SSR¹² rarity. Seeing the three of them like that, looking like their usual selves, I laughed a little.
The four of them performed Shikiori (Season by Season) in school uniforms.
Uruha-chan, Lisa-chan, Kokona-chan, and I got excited watching them.
As the song ended, they pulled a quick-change and slid into the next track.
”Ah, sounds like the Yuu-oni set is next,” I noted.
”Yeah!”
Yukari-senpai and I watch the Yuu-oni stage closely for the sake of tomorrow.
The full-scale Yuu-oni collab is only on day two.
Conversely, the Hana-ata collab is likely only today, so you can enjoy it even if you buy PPV tickets for all three days.
I am also scheduled to do a duet with Aqua-kun as Hanabi during that set.
”Fufun, keep that relaxed face while you can,” Yukari-senpai muttered. “In tomorrow’s stage, I’m going to eat you alive!”
”Haha…”
Go easy on me, Yukari-senpai…. Though I know she never holds back when it’s time to act.
Go for it, Aqua-kun! Just as I was shaking my penlight with a carefree face, Yukari-senpai shot me a sharp look.
”You too, Ayana-chan. Don’t get too comfortable. I don’t plan on pulling any punches with you either.”
”Eh?”
Wait… so tomorrow isn’t just an idol live. I need to bring my A-game as an actress, too.
I fire myself up once more.
Aqua-kun, let’s both work hard tomorrow so we don’t get eaten by Yukari-senpai.
—
Summary:
Ayana and Yukari attend BERYL’s massive tour final, navigating a crowd of 300,000. They use a VIP passage that offers a rare glimpse of the staff and idols backstage. The chapter culminates in the explosive start of the concert as Aqua takes the stage.
Aqua Shirogane performs a high-energy reunion concert for the ‘Hana-ata’ series, bringing together the original cast for the first time in two years. The performance includes a recreation of a legendary magazine cover runway and classic songs. Ayana and Yukari-senpai watch, building tension for their own performance on the second day.
—
Trivia:
- The massive scale: 300,000 people per night, 1 million total for the venue.
- The staff passage is a deliberate fan service feature by the venue management.
- The Bulletin Board folk (netizens) have their own hierarchy and strict ‘unspoken’ rules like ‘The Freeze’.
- The average breast size of the VIP fans is significantly above average (H-cup).
- The controversial ‘White-Chocolate-Dipped Banana Bar’ merch was actually Emily’s idea.
- The ‘Yuujin’ mode is a specific cool persona Aqua adopts.
- Fans fainted standing upright out of politeness, a recurring trope for this fanbase.
- Anon 135-137 in the VIP seats are likely wealthy/influential internet users from the series’ early history.
- The ‘Shibuya Scramble’ runway was a major past event in the story’s timeline.
- Ayana is performing as the character ‘Hanabi’ tomorrow
—
Character Insight:
Yukari reveals a deep, protective pride in Aqua, acknowledging his growth as an idol while hiding her own nervousness. Ayana struggles with being labeled ‘easy’ or a ‘pushover’ by the fans who recognize her.
Aqua shows his growth as a ‘perfect idol’ by managing his personas and nostalgia. Yukari-senpai demonstrates her predatory acting instinct, viewing the concert as a battlefield for the next day’s performance.
—
Behind the Scenes:
The ‘TENGA’ chant from the crowd is a crude meme reference, highlighting the chaotic and uninhibited nature of the female fans in this reversed world.
The author confirms that the ‘Anons’ mentioned in the text are based on actual comments from the story’s real-world serialization thread.
—
TL Notes:
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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