Volume 13 Chapter 407 Chairman, Ideals
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
As the head of the Women’s Mutual Aid Society¹-the shadow organization that effectively runs this world-I arrived at the venue for BERYL’s concert, my administrative secretary in tow. My secretary, who usually hides her face under a hood, followed behind me with her eyes sparkling like a wide-eyed tourist in the big city. (I never realized she looked like that under there…)
”You’re incredible, Chairman! I can’t believe you actually scored tickets for BERYL! Serving you has never felt more rewarding than it does today!!”
(Hmph. Who do you think I am?) I am the leader of the Women’s Mutual Aid Society, the power behind the throne for over a millennium! No matter how high the demand for BERYL might be, there is nothing I cannot bend to my will!!
”Oh, are you with the contractors? The staff entrance is right this way~”
I tapped my Staff ID with a sharp beep and headed inside. I could feel the weight of the glares from the real staff members boring into my secretary’s back-she was clearly overdressed for “work.”
”…Chairman?”
”Not a word! BERYL tickets are strictly non-transferable. This was the only way!!”
Beryl Entertainment has a zero-tolerance policy for scalping. Of course, I could have secured seats by other means-theft, or perhaps blackmailing someone into ‘donating’ theirs-but that would violate the core tenets of our Society. We do not trample on the happiness of the young women who live for shows like this.
”Besides,” I added, “this way we get a look at what happens behind the curtain. It’s a tactical advantage.”
”Th-That’s true! I guess this counts as a ‘Behind the Scenes’ exclusive… wait, does this mean we get to see the making-of process in person?”
(Good grief…) I caught a glimpse of what was in her bag. Was that a Shirogane Aqua fan and a penlight? Between those, the plushie charms, and the ita-bag² style display of pins and Akusta³, I’m going to pray she’s just being a really dedicated undercover agent.
I came to a halt in the shadow of a pillar as I spotted a target. “Speak of the devil. Look there.”
”Oh, it’s Mayuzumi-kun.”
Mayuzumi Shintaro. Supposedly the most level-headed member of BERYL. But that’s just the PR spin for the cameras. At the end of the day, he’s still a man. I’m sure that once the lights are off, he’s barking orders and shoving staff around. The last Kichiku Megane⁴ I dealt with forced me into a formal apology and spat on the floor just for being in his line of sight. (Ugh! Just thinking about it makes my blood boil!) That sadistic bastard… The girls of the world might be fooled by the glasses, but I know the truth!
A staff member approached Mayuzumi. “Watch,” I whispered. “The mask is about to slip.”
”Sure…”
Mayuzumi noticed the staffer, closed his script, and stood up. (Come on, Shintaro! Show me! Give me that condescending sneer! Push your glasses up and tell her, ‘You can’t even handle a simple task like this? Pathetic.’ Let me see those cold, elitist eyes!!)
”Thank you for everything. I’m looking forward to working with you again today.”
…Wait, what? My jaw dropped as I watched him offer a genuine, pleasant smile. Where was the mocking laughter? Where was the “Trash like you shouldn’t keep me waiting” line?
My secretary leaned in and whispered in my ear. “Mayuzumi-kun is basically Aqua-sama’s star pupil. There’s no way he’d be anything but a sweetheart to the crew.”
”I… I see…”
Well, fine. Statistically speaking, if you have four men, one of them is bound to be a decent human being by sheer luck.
”We’re wasting time here. Let’s find the others.”
”On it!”
There were three other members to vet. If Mayuzumi was too smart to crack, surely one of the others would expose the vile nature of the male species. I just knew it!! We went hunting for our next target and found a figure talking to a group of stagehands.
”Look, it’s Toa-chan!”
”Hmph. So that’s Nekoyama Toa…”
(Wait. Is that actually a boy? Not a girl in drag?) Seeing him in the flesh was even more disorienting than the videos; he was disturbingly cute. (Well, some girls look like boys, and I guess some boys just look like… that. ) I forced my brain to accept it.
”Um, about this outfit…”
”Ah… yes?”
(Aha! Here we go!) Complaining about the wardrobe? What a little diva! He looks like a porcelain doll, but underneath it all, he’s just a demanding brat! I can hear it now: “Ugh, I don’t wanna wear this! It’s totally not my vibe today! Get me something else!” They say the “cute” ones are always the worst behind the scenes. (Show me your true colors, Toa!!)
”I’ve been trying to keep my weight steady,” Toa said, looking genuinely concerned, “but between the extra dance rehearsals and not eating as much since we arrived, I think I’ve leaned out too much. Should we take the waist in a bit? I’m so sorry-I know you worked hard to get the measurements perfect.”
”Oh! No, that’s totally fine,” the stylist replied. “It’s an easy fix. I can just adjust the fasteners and you’ll be good to go.”
(You’ve got to be kidding me.) Toa wasn’t throwing a tantrum; he was collaborating.
”Also,” Toa continued, “during the quick change between the sixth and seventh songs, this part catches a little. I’m worried that if I fumbled it during the set, it’d be a total disaster for the show. It looks amazing, but the functionality has me a bit nervous…”
”You’re right, it is a bit snug there. Since this ribbon is just on a safety pin, what if we move it to the back? It’ll stay out of the way but still look great.”
”Oh, that’s perfect! Yeah, it actually looks cuter this way. And now I won’t trip over it! Thank you so much!!”
This wasn’t how “cute” boys were supposed to act. My mind flashed back to my days in the Drama Club. A boy had joined us once, saying he wanted to be in a musical. We poured our hearts into it. We worked part-time jobs until we were exhausted just to fund the stage and the costumes. We rewrote the script a dozen times just to satisfy him. And in the end? He spat on all of it. He decided he “wasn’t feeling it” right before opening night, shredded the handmade costumes with a knife, and just went home.
And yet, this kid… these guys…
”Toa-chan, let us know if anything else feels off, okay?”
”I will! Let’s make this the best show yet. And don’t forget-like Aqua says-we only get to shine on that stage because of the work you all put into these clothes. We’re going to give it everything we’ve got!”
I clenched my fists. A scene I never got to see… a world where effort was actually respected… it was happening right in front of me. (No! This has to be a fluke. A beautiful, cruel fluke.)
”Sorry I’m late! I got the supplies you asked for!!”
I froze as I looked at the staff member who just ran in. She was from my old Drama Club… (Ah. So you survived that nightmare, and now you’ve finally found a place where your hard work actually matters.) I felt a sting in my eyes and quickly turned away, dragging my secretary’s sleeve.
”Toa-chan is adorable,” the secretary chirped, “but he’s actually the most hot-blooded member of the group after Aqua-sama. He’s got this quiet, burning passion in such a tiny body. That gap is what makes him so top-tier!”
”Whatever…”
We moved toward the main stage, where I spotted Tenga Akira sound-checking a guitar. (A guitar…) I still have a bit of trauma from the time I was beaten with one while trying to protect a pregnant woman. I’ve always hated loud, aggressive music. But as I turned to leave, a gentle melody drifted through the air. (Wait… a guitar can sound like that?)
”Ah, it’s Maiden-colored Heart. Wow, I’ve never heard Tenga-senpai’s acoustic take on this!”
Maiden-colored Heart… Aqua’s debut cover. It was different from what I expected-melancholic, echoing with a strange sincerity. Do they all sing with such kindness? I looked at my secretary.
”Wait, Chairman, are you a ‘Purist’? Like, if it’s not Aqua-sama’s version, it doesn’t count? I get it! His version feels like a warm hug for your soul. Tenga’s is cool, but Aqua’s is definitely the gold standard. Totally.”
”I didn’t say a word…”
(Please tell me you aren’t actually a BERYL fan…) My secretary just hummed. On stage, Tenga Akira stopped playing and looked at the producer, Kobayashi Daigo.
”Given the size of the venue, do you think we should tweak the levels here?”
”Actually, I think doing it this way is also an option…”
Seeing these men-these boys-working with such genuine, professional intensity… it shook me.
It was just like that time-the memory of everyone struggling together, desperate to make the musical a success. No, because they were professionals, they were far more constructive than we had been. I could see the intensity of their commitment, a fierce devotion to the very idea of BERYL.
(Ah… if only all men were like them. No! That’s not it! That’s not it at all!)
”I’m going to the restroom for a moment,” I told my secretary. I walked away with unsteady steps, my mind reeling.
I used to believe we would all be happier if men simply didn’t exist. That was why the Women’s Mutual Aid Society⁵ resolved to fight for the sake of all women. But was that truly the only righteous path? What, exactly, were we fighting for? Who were we doing this for? As I walked with my head down, lost in a cycle of self-questioning, I collided with someone and stumbled.
”Oh, no!”
My secretary was always telling me to look where I was going. At this rate, I was headed for another hospital stay! I closed my eyes and braced for the impact, but before I could hit the ground, someone caught me with incredible gentleness.
”I am so sorry! Are you alright?” said a voice.
I recognized that voice. I slowly opened my eyes to find a familiar man peering down at me with a worried expression. It was Shirogane Aqua.
”I-yes, I’m fine,” I said, trying to feign composure and hide my racing heart.
”Forgive me. I was distracted for a second,” Shirogane Aqua said.
”Hahaha… don’t worry about it. I’m a small target. Besides, I wasn’t looking where I was going either,” I replied.
(Ah… what a dazzling face.)
I averted my eyes from the sparkle in his gaze and looked at the empty floor. That was how I had always walked. I was so afraid of the way men looked at me that I grew my bangs out to hide my vision.
To disguise my large chest, I would hunch my small frame, staring at the ground so I wouldn’t catch anyone’s eye. I am the Chairman of the Women’s Mutual Aid Society, a title inherited from my ancestors, but the truth is that I am more cowardly than anyone.
”Did something happen?” Shirogane Aqua asked.
I flinched at his words. Of all the people in the world, he was the one I least wanted to notice my weakness. As I opened my mouth to say “it’s nothing,” Shirogane Aqua smiled warmly.
”You have a kind soul, don’t you?”
”What?” I asked, my mouth hanging open as I stared at him through the gaps in my hair.
”Some people say you won’t find anything if you walk with your head down, but I don’t think that’s true,” Shirogane Aqua said, gesturing toward a staff member who was sleeping like a log from sheer exhaustion. “There are people resting because they’re tired, people collapsed from the weight of it all, people who just can’t walk another step… You won’t notice those people unless you’re looking down for them. That’s why I think people who walk with their eyes on the ground are actually the kindest ones.”
He stepped away from me and gently lifted the exhausted woman from the floor, laying her on a breakroom bed.
”Sorry for pushing you so hard. But thank you. We’re going to give it our all to make this the best show ever,” he whispered.
(It would have been better if he were a jerk. To think that I, the person I am, could be considered ‘kind’?)
”Why…?” I asked.
”Hm? Why? Oh, that was probably just wishful thinking. I just felt like it would be nice if you were that kind of person. Haha, sorry if I’m wrong,” Shirogane Aqua said.
I relaxed my tightly pursed lips and allowed a faint smile to surface.
”Thank you for the help. Good luck with the concert,” I said.
”Yeah! Leave it to me!” Shirogane Aqua replied.
Seeing his smile, I decided to leave quietly. It wasn’t because I was admitting defeat! I just saw those women on the staff working so hard and didn’t want to get in their way. I left him and headed back to where I’d left my secretary.
(Where did they go? Honestly… I’m the one who wandered off, but I told them not to move.)
As I searched, I heard panicked staff members talking nearby.
”What do we do? The show is starting and we can’t reach Security Team C!”
”The signal is dead over there. Can someone go check on them?”
”Sorry, I have to go the other way!”
I looked at the security map on the wall. I hadn’t checked that area yet. I could check it out while looking for my secretary. (Yes-it’s only because I’m looking for my aide! Don’t get the wrong idea!)
”If you’d like, I can go check,” I said.
”Oh, thank you! That would be a huge help!” the staffer replied.
I nodded and marched toward the area guarded by Team C. A few minutes later, I arrived at my destination and found a unit in security uniforms.
”Are you Team C? Headquarters was worried because they couldn’t reach you,” I said.
”Ah, is that so? Our apologies. The signal seems to be poor in this hall,” one of them replied.
I felt a sudden chill. Their equipment was far too professional for event security. These weren’t non-lethal suppression tools; this was…
The entire squad suddenly snapped their rifles up and aimed directly at my chest.
”Wait. This person is on our side,” a voice said.
I knew that voice. One of the guards removed their helmet and smirked at me.
”It’s been a long time, Chairman. I figured you would be here,” the guard said.
”Former President Henrietta F. Rosenberg. I thought you were at least sane enough to know when to quit,” I said.
Henrietta laughed loudly. “Oh, I’m perfectly sane. That’s why I won’t let this opportunity slip away. No matter how strong Shirogane Aqua is, he can’t fight while protecting a stadium full of fans. Even if we don’t kill him, if we sacrifice a few fans, it will leave a permanent scar on their hearts. They’ll never be those ‘pure, innocent idols’ again!”
”You disgusting piece of trash,” I spat.
But who was I to judge? I was the head of the Society. I was cut from the same crooked cloth as these people.
”Now, Chairman. Come with us!” Henrietta said, reaching out.
The concert must have started, because the heavy thrum of the intro music began to echo through the corridor. I looked at the screens lining the walls.
”One-the pale dusk sky bleeds into a starlit blue!”
The stadium erupted as Mayuzumi Shintaro appeared, a gentle warmth behind his glasses.
”Two-we scale the peaks to sail the sea of stars, as wild and free as cats!”
Nekoyama Toa took his place, winking at the fans. The costume we had tweaked at the last second looked even better under the spotlights.
”Three-our passion pierces the clouds that shroud the moon, burning through the edge of the sky!”
Tenga Akira thrust his fist toward the rafters, his voice pulling the crowd upward with him.
”Four-bathed in moonlight, shimmering like silver, we return to the stage today!”
Shirogane Aqua appeared last, descending like a god. He turned his microphone toward the audience.
”Five-we wave our lights and wait for you to come!” the fans screamed in unison.
”Six-WE ARE BERYL!”
The four of them, the fans, and the staff-everyone’s voices fused into a thunderous roar.
”Logic, reality, the impossible-the past and the future! Everything that poisons your heart, we will smash it to pieces!”
Watching the fans on the screen, their faces bright with joy, I felt a laugh bubble up. A thousand years… I had been so twisted by ancient dogmas that I had forgotten the only thing that mattered.
”I refuse,” I said.
”Chairman? What are you saying?” Henrietta asked.
(Henrietta… this is why you lost to Ernie Maitrix. This is why you could never lead us.)
”Have you forgotten? The Women’s Mutual Aid Society was founded to protect women. All women. I remember now. And because I do, I will never sanction your path-nor the path this Society has walked for far too long,” I said.
I stepped forward and spread my arms, barring the way. “Put the guns down. If you want to move another inch, you’ll have to go through me!”
”Tch! It seems the Chairman has finally lost her mind! Aim! She’s no longer one of us! She’s nothing but a traitor!” Henrietta screamed.
A dozen muzzles locked onto me. I prepared for the end, but then, a figure blurred through the air, dropping from the ceiling to stand before me.
”Now that’s my Chairman! I knew sticking with you was the right call!”
”S-Secretary!?” I stammered.
My aide looked back and gave me a sharp thumbs-up.
”Secretary! You’re turning traitor too?” Henrietta yelled.
”Traitor? I’ve been protecting this Society from the start. Protecting it from people like you who forget our mission and drag our name through the dirt! If that makes me a traitor, then I’ll wear the title with pride!” the secretary shouted.
The monitors suddenly hissed with static. The concert feed was replaced by an avatar wearing a strange mask.
”We’ve heard enough. Madam Chairman, we thank you for your resolve,” the avatar said.
My aide smirked.
”Who the hell are you!?” Henrietta aimed her gun at a screen. The mask on the avatar shifted into a wide, mocking grin.
”The last of the Twelve Bishops of the Holy Aqua Faith: The Duo.”
”We’re here to protect everyone’s precious show! Let’s go!!”
The mechanical filter dropped, revealing a girl’s voice. Then, a figure in a shrine maiden outfit⁶ and a cat mask landed right before our eyes.
—
Summary:
The Chairman of the Women’s Mutual Aid Society sneaks backstage at a BERYL concert, expecting to find evidence of men’s typical cruelty. Instead, she is confronted with the members’ extreme professionalism and kindness. This challenges her deep-seated trauma from a past betrayal in a drama club.
The Chairman of the Women’s Mutual Aid Society experiences a moment of self-discovery after a kind encounter with Shirogane Aqua. This epiphany leads her to defy Henrietta Rosenberg’s plan to terrorize a concert. The Secretary reveals a hidden loyalty as ‘The Duo’ arrives to intervene.
—
Trivia:
- The Women’s Mutual Aid Society has been active for over 1,000 years.
- The Chairman is using a fake Staff ID because ticket resales are banned.
- The Secretary is a ‘closet’ fan of BERYL, specifically Shirogane Aqua.
- The Chairman has physical trauma from being beaten with a guitar.
- The staff member Toa talks to is a survivor of the same drama club incident as the Chairman.
- The Chairman hides her appearance (bangs, hunched posture) due to a fear of men’s eyes.
- Henrietta F. Rosenberg lost a previous election to Ernie Maitrix.
- The Secretary has actually been acting as a triple-agent to protect the organization’s ‘original’ purpose.
- The song lyrics performed by BERYL use a numeric countdown motif (One, Two, Three, etc.)
—
Character Insight:
The Chairman’s worldview is based on a ‘Kichiku Megane’ trope which BERYL completely subverts. Her misandry is a defense mechanism born from past trauma where her hard work was destroyed by a man.
The Chairman transitions from a passive observer bound by dogma to an active defender of the Society’s original humanitarian goals. Henrietta Rosenberg represents the ‘corruption’ of those goals into pure malice.
—
Behind the Scenes:
The title ‘Ideals’ refers to the Chairman’s hypocritical but earnest attempt to stick to the Society’s morals while breaking the law to snoop on idols.
The author uses BERYL’s performance as a rhythmic counterpoint to the tense standoff in the corridor, emphasizing the theme of ‘protecting smiles’ versus ‘destroying purity’.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Chairman – Petite leader of the Women’s Mutual Aid Society, head of a secret committee and shadow ruler for over a millennium. She wears a corset to support a fresh back fracture, her large chest contrasting with her small frame. Prone to temper tantrums and high‑blood‑pressure spikes from salt, she harbors deep prejudice and trauma toward men from a past Drama Club incident.
• Shirogane Aqua – Male idol and BERYL’s central figure, known as Master Aqua or Aqu‑tan, sports a dazzling face, sparkling eyes and a beige suit on live broadcasts. Easy‑going yet cool, he’s a Berry‑Berry member, recent father of Satsuki, married to several women including Kanon, and dubbed a ‘libido monster’ by Yukari. His ‘descending god’ stage aura and massive influence shape the group’s ethics.
• Aqua – A male public figure or idol planning a world tour starting in the United States. Perceived as an ‘invader’ or rival by the Chairman. The central figure of the Holy Aqua Faith and the Church of Power. A student at Otomezaki Academy. Possesses the ‘legendary sword’ and the ability to turn lesbians into submissive females through physical contact. The central male figure of the Church of Power. Husband to Yukishiro Emily. Possesses a powerful scent and male pheromones that incapacitate women at close range.
• Mayuzumi Shintaro – Member of BERYL. Wears glasses and has a gentle expression. Member of the idol group BERYL. Known for a calm and polite demeanor, even toward staff behind the scenes. Wears glasses.
• Nekoyama Toa – Member of BERYL. Described as being extremely cute, almost androgynous. Possesses a hot-blooded, passionate spirit beneath his small frame. Member of BERYL. Described as cute and energetic, known for winking at fans.
• Tenga Akira – Member of BERYL. Charismatic and passionate, often leading the group’s intensity. Member of BERYL. Plays the guitar. Shows a serious and professional side when discussing stage logistics.
• Kobayashi Daigo – Also known as MojaP. Music producer for BERYL.
• Henrietta – Former President of the United States. A high-ranking member or associate of the Women’s Mutual Aid Society. Merciless and willing to sacrifice fans to break the spirits of idols.
• Secretary – She serves as the Chairman’s administrative secretary and heads the Women’s Mutual Aid Society, a role passed down from mother and grandmother. A virgin, she hides her face behind a hood, clutching a bag of idol merchandise, and is a secret hardcore BERYL fan.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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