Volume 13 Chapter 414 Shirogane Aqua, Parabolic
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
It was Tuesday, a full twenty-four hours since our broadcast. Seeking to maintain some semblance of a normal life, we headed to school, where we were met with a hearteningly warm reception.
”Aqua-kun, if anything goes wrong, we’re going to protect you with everything we’ve got!”
”Oh, please—Aqua-kun is perfectly fine even without us looking out for him.”
”Maybe, but you never know when ‘just in case’ might actually happen!”
Everyone… thank you. Truly.
I gave my classmates a bright smile and spread my arms wide, moving to give everyone a big “thank you” hug. I couldn’t get to the whole room at once, so I settled for pulling the three closest people into a tight, firm embrace.
”It’s okay. If anything ever happens, I’ll be the one protecting all of you with everything I have.”
”H-hu… wha…”
Thump.
Hm? Ayana, what’s with that look? We hugged yesterday and this morning, didn’t we? Or do you want another go? I don’t mind at all! Come on, bring it in—dive right into my arms!
As I stood there waiting, arms open wide, Ayana’s face flushed bright red and she began waving her hands frantically.
”U-um, it’s not that! It’s just… it’s not fair if it’s only those three! If you’re going to do it, shouldn’t you just hug everyone?”
”I see… You’ve got a point there.”
If that’s how it is, then leave it to me! I proceeded to make my way through the class, hugging the girls one by one.
”Hey, Aqua! We’re good on the hugs, man!”
”Yeah, I’m with him,” another said.
”Oh, don’t be like that. You’re just part of the flow!”
I kept the momentum going, pulling Shintaro and Toa into hugs as well. Of course, this was all a calculated move. Using the energy of the moment, I swept in and embraced Sugita-sensei the second she walked through the door.
”W-wait! Shirogane! This is a school! S-save that sort of thing for… well, outside of school!”
”Oh? So you’re saying it’s okay to hug you once the bell rings?” I asked.
At my words, Sugita-sensei’s face turned a brilliant shade of crimson. She didn’t say no, which means it’s a ‘yes,’ right? I’ve got you on record now, Sensei! Be ready—the moment the final bell for homeroom rings, I’m coming back for seconds!
”When you’re dealing with Shirogane Aqua, the Sage of Otomezaki, this is just how I roll.”
”In your case, Aqua, it’s less ‘Sage’ and more ‘just plain sleazy’…” Toa replied.
I averted my eyes as he delivered his stinging retort. I’d heard somewhere that when a man faces a struggle or a crisis of survival, his biological instincts kick in, spiking his libido for the sake of the species. Yeah… let’s go with that. That’s definitely the reason!
”Anyway, moving past that nonsense, what’s the plan for today’s parabolic training?”
”Ah…”
Though our live tour had been interrupted by unavoidable circumstances, we hadn’t been idle. In parallel with the World Tour, we had been undergoing space flight training since last year, aiming for a performance on the space station. Parabolic training was the most practical part of that—boarding an actual jet to experience true weightlessness.
We had already cleared Phase 1, experiencing zero-G, and Phase 2, movement and posture control. Starting today, we were scheduled for Phase 3: a special intensive for performing a live show in zero gravity.
”I haven’t heard anything specific from the Manager, so I assume we’re still on, right?”
We intended to keep our choreography sharp so we could restart the World Tour the moment the Meteorite crisis passed. It only made sense to keep up with our space-prep as well.
”It might be best to check, just to be certain,” Shintaro said. “I’ll reach out to them.”
”Then I’ll get in touch with Tenga-senpai,” Toa added.
”Thanks, you guys.”
I’d completely forgotten about Tenga-senpai. Just as that thought crossed my mind, the phone in my pocket vibrated.
[Kohina Yukari: Is the parabolic training happening today?]
Ah… right. I remembered the other senior who was part of the flight training. She claimed she was coming along as an “overseer” for the space live, but I suspect the real reason is just that she’s bored and looking to kill time. I messaged Kohina-senpai to let her know Shintaro was already checking, then powered down my phone and tucked it away.
A few hours later, once morning classes were over, we all headed out to the airport in Ibaraki. We’d be taking our afternoon classes online during the commute.
”Members of BERYL, welcome! We are honored to have you!”
As we entered the Self-Defense Forces base next to the airport, the officers stood at attention and saluted us. While parabolic training involves actual jets, I’d been told our pilots were the same ones who handled the official government transport planes—the Special Airlift Group. They’re usually stationed at Chitose Base in Hokkaido, but they’d come all this way specifically for our training session.
”We’re looking forward to your help today!”
I gave a high-spirited greeting and followed the officers’ lead deeper into the base. There, waiting in camouflage fatigues, were two very familiar faces.
”Good to see you, everyone!”
”Prime Minister Habu!? And Momiji-san too!?”
Wait—why were the two of them standing there in full camo? Dumbfounded, I traded a look with Shintaro.
”We’ll be your pilots today,” the Prime Minister announced. “I’m the Captain, and Momiji-san is my Co-pilot.”
”WHAT!?”
Is this actually going to be okay? I felt a twinge of anxiety. Sensing our concern, Prime Minister Habu gave his chest a confident thump.
”I might not look it, but I’m a former fighter pilot. I even take the stick on the government plane every now and then, so you can rest easy!”
”I’m here too if anything goes wrong,” Momiji added. “And we’ve got autopilot as a fallback, okay?”
Well… if they say so…
We split off to the changing rooms to get into our flight gear, then headed out to the runway. Kohina-senpai was already waiting by the jet, fully suited up.
”Come on! Move it!”
Why was Kohina-senpai—the one person who doesn’t have to sing or dance—the most energetic one here? I noticed she had a camera mounted to her chest, separate from the fixed units.
”Listen up, everyone. This right here is the camera. Keep your eyes on it while you’re dancing!”
Wait… so you want me to just stare at your chest the whole time? Say no more—I’m your man! I struck a sharp, determined pose. For some reason, Kohina-senpai just sighed.
We boarded the jet, took our seats, and buckled our belts. Soon, the Prime Minister’s voice crackled over the intercom.
”Alright, everyone. As you know, the space shuttle holds a maximum of seven people—the exact number we have on board today. This session is designed with that environment in mind. Let’s stay focused.”
A short while later, the jet surged into the air.
”We are nearing the training airspace. Unbuckle your belts and move into the Sector module for the suborbital simulation.”
We followed orders, unbuckling and moving into the empty, open area of the cabin. Even if the space station was roomier than this, it still felt incredibly cramped for a four-person routine.
”Reached training airspace. Commencing parabolic maneuvers. Brace yourselves.”
As we lay prone on the floor, the plane dipped slightly. The jet would drop to an altitude of 6,500 meters over 35 seconds, then pull up at a 45-degree angle, accelerating back to 8,500 meters in 25 seconds. The window for true zero-G training was only the 20 to 30 seconds at the top of that arc. We were going to repeat this process dozens of times.
”30… 20… 10… 5, 4, 3, 2, 1… Injection!”
Our bodies suddenly drifted off the floor. Here we go.
Floating in the air, we used the ceiling to kick ourselves forward, facing the camera and hitting our opening poses. In zero gravity, you can’t rely on the sharp, explosive footwork used on the ground. Instead, we focused on perfect synchronization—making sure our movements as a quartet were seamless and unified.
”Kohina-senpai! How’s it looking from your perspective?” I asked.
”To my amateur eyes, you look perfectly synced,” she replied. “I’m getting it all on video, so you can review it later.”
”Let’s run the same scene two or three more times, just to be sure,” I suggested.
If we didn’t enter the “zone” together right at the start, the rest of the set wouldn’t land.
”Don’t just watch your footing, guys! Keep those stage faces on!”
”Roger!”
”Yeah!”
”Got it!”
After three rounds of the opening, we moved to the next step.
”Next up is the position swap. Shintaro, I’m counting on you!”
”Right! Leave it to me, Aqua!”
Swapping places in zero-G is a nightmare. At first, we used verbal cues to coordinate so we wouldn’t collide and get hurt.
”Aqua!”
”Go!”
Bracing his left hand against the wall, Shintaro grabbed me with his right and swung me toward his spot. Then, he pushed off the wall to take my place. This was the tricky part.
”Toa!”
”On it!”
Toa reached out with his right hand to the wall while extending his left to catch Shintaro and stop his momentum. But in that moment, Toa’s right hand slipped from the wall. He couldn’t brace himself. Shintaro immediately reached out to find purchase on the wall, while I moved to catch Toa’s entire body as he came flying toward me.
”Sorry, my hand slipped! Dammit!”
”It’s okay, it’s okay. We’ll get it next time!”
We failed the first time, unfortunately, but I’ll chalk it up to experience. Since no other idols have ever performed live in space, we have no choice but to figure things out as we go. We’ll perform the same training again during the next zero-G cycle.
”Alright! We’re nailing it next time! Let’s keep moving!”
We changed positions and continued our rotation drills.
”Everyone, that’s time,” the voice over the comms said. “We’ll make this the last one, then we’ll move on to zero-G CPR training.”
I looked out the window. It was already twilight. Our window for zero-G training only lasted until dark. Safety regulations prohibited us from continuing any later than that.
”Let’s do the hardest one for the finale!”
”The one where we hug, spin around, and land on the opposite wall, right?”
Shintaro and I put our hands against the left wall, while Toa and Tenga-senpai took the right. I was paired with Toa, and Shintaro was with Tenga-senpai.
”Toa, here we go!”
”Got it!”
Matching the countdown, Toa and I pushed off the wall at the same time to fly toward the other side. Just as we tried to grab each other and spin, everyone messed up.
”Whoa!?”
”Sorry, junior!”
Thud! I bumped backs with Tenga-senpai as we tried to switch places. The impact knocked me off course, sending me flying straight toward Kohina-senpai. She opened her arms and caught me in a tight embrace.
”Nice catch, Kohina-senpai. Thank you very much,” I said.
”Well, you can count on me. I might not look it, but I’ve gone through this same training just to kill time.”
So it really was just to kill time! I wanted to give her a proper tsukkomi¹, but I let it slide. Failing just now was my fault for not paying enough attention to my surroundings. I’d have to review the footage later and reflect on what went wrong.
I looked back toward the others.
”Man, that’s frustrating! I was too slow letting go at the end, so we drifted, right?” Toa asked.
”No, I put too much power into it and messed up our positioning,” Tenga-senpai replied.
”If we’re doing that, then my fumbling when I tried to grab your hands was—”
Seeing them look so frustrated actually made me happy. I was grateful they had followed me this far.
”Everyone, save the reflection for later,” I said. “We still have CPR training left, so don’t let your guards down yet!”
The method for performing CPR in zero gravity is unique. You have to brace your feet against the ceiling and push against the patient’s chest as if you’re doing a handstand. Otherwise, you can’t put any weight into your arms.
”Good work, everyone. That’s it for today’s program,” the voice said. “Momiji-san and I were watching the monitors; you all did great. Go ahead and take your seats and relax.”
We returned to our seats and buckled our belts. It was good to learn what we could and couldn’t do during this parabolic flight. Even though we were flying blind and things didn’t always go smoothly, I felt like identifying our challenges was a step in the right direction.
After arriving back at the airport and changing in the locker room, we were summoned by Prime Minister Habu to a reception room on the base.
”I want to ask you all one more time,” she said. “Are you willing to fly to space?”
We all looked at each other. What was she getting at? I looked back at Prime Minister Habu, trying to read the true intent in her eyes.
”As you know, this mission to destroy the meteorite is an unprecedented ordeal that carries the risk of death. That is exactly why I want you to go to the space station. I want BERYL to show those brave people a performance unlike anything ever seen before.”
She paused, her gaze steady.
”This is also an offer from President Maitrix of the United States, who learned you were training for a space concert. Of course, this mission isn’t without its own dangers. Whether you accept or refuse is entirely up to you.”
I glanced at Kohina-senpai for a split second. She shook her head. It seemed she hadn’t known about this either.
”What about President Atori?” I asked.
”I’ve already contacted her,” Habu replied. “She said she’ll leave the decision to you.”
I turned to Shintaro, who was sitting next to me.
”Aqua… if you’re going, I’m following you,” he said. “Even if it’s to the end of the universe.”
I could see his resolve shining in his eyes behind his glasses. If there’s a God in this world, I’m thankful I met you. I looked over at Toa on my other side.
”Heh. I was a shut-in until two years ago, and now a single date is leading me all the way to space.”
Toa nodded at me, clearly intending to come along. He always seemed to know what my answer would be before I even said it. Maybe I was just that easy to read. Finally, I looked back at Tenga-senpai.
”The choice is yours, junior,” he said. “This is the story you started. Whatever path you choose, we will respect it.”
He gave my back a reassuring pat. No matter what happened, I would keep moving forward. That was the path I had chosen. I turned my attention back to Prime Minister Habu.
”We’ll do it. We’ve been training with that goal in mind from the start. If our performance can give people courage, then we have even more reason to go.”
At my answer, Kohina-senpai gave my chest a silent, encouraging tap.
”Thank you, everyone,” Habu said. “I’ll make sure you reach space safely, even if it costs me my life.”
I figured as much the moment she brought it up. She wouldn’t have come all this way during such a busy time otherwise.
”Of course, I’m coming too,” Kohina-senpai added. “As the camera crew and your guardian!”
”I figured as much,” I said.
She’d probably just follow us on her own even if we said no. And so, BERYL’s mission to hold the first space concert in human history was officially decided.
===
Afterword
And so the flow leads to a space live. Next will probably be White Day.
—
Summary:
Aqua returns to school after a major broadcast and is welcomed warmly by his classmates. He uses the opportunity to give hugs to everyone, including a flustered Sugita-sensei, claiming he is protecting them. The scene then shifts to parabolic flight training for BERYL’s upcoming space station live performance. To his surprise, Prime Minister Habu and Momiji serve as the pilots for the training session. The group practices their choreography in zero gravity to achieve perfect synchronization.
The members of BERYL undergo rigorous zero-gravity training, including complex movement drills and specialized CPR techniques. Despite several failures and a comical collision between Aqua and Tenga-senpai, the group identifies their technical shortcomings. Following the training, Prime Minister Habu summons them to offer an unprecedented mission to perform at a space station. This performance is intended to boost morale for the crew tasked with destroying a lethal meteorite. Each member of BERYL ultimately affirms their commitment to the mission, prioritizing the hope they can provide to others. The chapter concludes with the group officially setting their sights on a historic lunar-orbit concert.
—
Trivia:
- The Prime Minister’s personal involvement as a pilot suggests the government’s high level of investment in BERYL’s success.
- Kohina-senpai’s chest-mounted camera setup focuses the reader’s attention on Aqua’s reaction, reinforcing the series’ harem/ecchi undertones.
- The difficulty of zero-G position swaps foreshadows potential dangers or technical hurdles they will face during the actual space live.
- The mention of ‘crisis management problems’ regarding dark-hour training hints that the environment they are heading into is far more unforgiving than their controlled drills.
- Kohina-senpai’s ‘killing time’ training suggests she has been preparing for this contingency in secret, indicating she is more than just a manager.
- The US President’s specific interest in BERYL hints at their global influence and the stakes of the mission’s soft-power impact
—
Character Insight:
Aqua demonstrates his dominance and charisma by turning a simple hug into a class-wide event and teasing his teacher. The playful banter with Toa reveals a comfortable, established friendship despite the high-pressure environment of idol activities.
The bond between Aqua and Shintaro is solidified, with Shintaro vowing to follow Aqua to the ‘end of the universe.’ Meanwhile, Tenga-senpai transitions from a mentor to a peer who respects Aqua’s autonomy, telling him ‘this is the story you started.’
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
Introduction of the ‘Special Airlift Group’ and the detail that space shuttles in this world are limited to seven passengers, which matches the current training group size.
Introduces the unique mechanics of zero-G medical procedures and the geopolitical stakes of the Meteorite destruction mission.
—
TL Notes:
The pun involving ‘Eichi’ (Wisdom) and ‘Ecchi’ (Sleazy/Lewd) was localized to preserve the insult’s rhythm and character voice.
The term ‘tsukkomi’ was kept to preserve the light novel’s specific comedic tone, and ‘hikikomori’ nuances were maintained to highlight Toa’s growth.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Aqua – A charismatic male idol and leader of BERYL, formerly a shut-in (hikikomori) now posing as a high school student at Otomezaki Academy, he is the central figure of the Holy Aqua Faith and Church of Power, husband to Yukishiro Emily, and possesses past-life wisdom, multiple wives, and a fatherly demeanor. Physically affectionate and protective, he wields a legendary sword, emits overpowering male pheromones that incapacitate women, and can transform lesbians into submissive females through touch—viewed as an invader by the Chairman, he prepares for a world tour beginning in the U.S., guiding his companions toward a space-bound mission.
• Ayana – Tsukimachi Ayana is a kind junior/associate of Yukari, regarded as “the best” by her, and a classmate of Aqua. She often shows jealousy and flustered embarrassment over Aqua’s physical affection.
• Shintaro – Mayuzumi Shintaro is a male member of the idol group BERYL, noted for his glasses and gentle, calm demeanor. He is intensely loyal, sees his meeting with Aqua as a fated, life‑changing event, and manages logistics and training coordination for the group.
• Sugita – A female teacher (Sensei) at Aqua’s school who becomes easily flustered by his boldness.
• Toa – A male member of BERYL and Aqua’s classmate. He often plays the ‘straight man’ (tsukkomi) to Aqua’s antics. A member of BERYL who was a shut-in until two years ago. He shares a deep bond with Aqua and follows his lead instinctively.
• 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, dubbed a ‘libido monster’ by Yukari. His ‘descending god’ stage aura and massive influence shape the group’s ethics and drive global gender‑dynamic shifts.
• Tenga – The group’s senior (senpai). He acts as a supportive pillar, encouraging Aqua to own his story and choices.
• Kohina Yukari – Female idol‑actress with a striking cowlick hair, battling a severe flu and nasal congestion, portrays the General in a Taiga drama; she rolls on tatami mats, picks her nose in‑character, and often works with Shirogane Aqua. Though a shut‑in, she maintains a surprisingly toned physique and dreams of motherhood.
• Kohina – A senior (Senpai) participating in the space flight training. She acts as an overseer and handles filming, though Aqua suspects she is just killing time. An upperclassman (senpai) who provides logistical support and acting as a guardian for BERYL. She has undergone the same rigorous training as the idols.
• Chitose – Isaka Chitose. A proactive and creative student who takes initiative in class activities. She is a member of the Clothing Club and has expertise in costume design, making her a key figure in organizing the fashion show showdown. Chitose is enthusiastic and resourceful, often coming up with unique ideas to make events memorable. Her proposal for a fashion showdown against Class 2A sparks excitement and unity among her classmates.
• Momiji – Elegant silver‑haired matriarch, mother of Morikawa Kaede and grandmother to Satsuki, former national cooking show host, now associate of the Prime Minister and co‑pilot on the parabolic training program.
• Habu – Habu Chiyoko, the Prime Minister of Japan and a former fighter pilot, personally pilots the jet for BERYL’s training in camouflage fatigues; she is the authoritative figure coordinating the Meteorite destruction mission and offers the idols a chance to perform in space, embodying a strong-willed leader within the global alliance.
• Atori – President of an organization and business partner to Aqua regarding BERYL.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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