Volume 13 Chapter 455 Shirogane Aqua, Desperate Remedy
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Come to think of it, it’d been ages since I’d been on TV. Not since I’d come to this world.
I took my seat, and Morita-san—the moderator—and I grinned at each other.
”Well now, I’ve been doin’ this show for years, but you’re the first guest we’ve ever had in a hospital gown, Aqua-kun!” she said, her Northern warmth cutting through the studio buzz.
”Ha ha, I never thought I’d be doin’ a live broadcast in hospital pajamas either,” I replied, matching her easy tone.
Laughter rippled through the audience. But mixed in, I caught a few worried murmurs too—people actually concerned about my health.
”Oh, speakin’ of which—I brought a present from Manager Matsumoto.”
”Ehh!? You shouldn’t have. She’s always so thoughtful.”
I handed the paper bag from Manager Matsumoto to Morita-san. She reached inside and pulled out—
”Oh! Is this a promo poster? Hey—someone, put this up!”
A staff member came out from the wings, took the poster, and stuck it on the wall. I glanced toward the still-chattering audience and gestured toward it.
”Most of you probably already know, but this new Driver movie features three of our agency’s juniors: Yamada Maruo, Kokuchō Kujaku, and voice actor Akami Hajime. It’s headin’ into an explosive climax from here. Please, cheer ’em on until the very end. Thank you.”
I stood up and gave a small bow toward the audience and the cameras. Cheers erupted from the crowd, along with warm calls—”We’ll be watching!” and “We’re looking forward to it!”
Sitting back down, I gave Morita-san a sheepish smile.
”Sorry for usin’ your time to plug another network’s show.”
”Don’t worry, we don’t mind that sort of thing here. Ah—speakin’ of which, thank you for this too.”
Morita-san pulled out the Driver goods that were also in the bag. Oh, it’s the new card case designed after the buckle on the Heaven’s Sword belt—the one attached to the waist.
”Morita-san, if you want, I can autograph that for you.”
”Really!? Hey—someone, get me a pen!”
I thanked the staff member who brought one over and signed the back of the card case. Morita-san started laying out the other Heaven’s Sword goods from the bag alongside it.
”Make sure you write ‘To Morita-san’ on it properly!”
”””””Sooo jealous!”””””
Morita-san glanced at the audience with a smug grin.
”Right? But don’t worry—Manager Matsumoto prepared presents for everyone too, so relax!”
”””””KYAAA—!!!”””””
Ah, these are the promo Heaven’s Sword cards with our signatures printed on them. While I’d been signing, Morita-san handed the bag of cards to a staff member and instructed them to distribute them to everyone in the venue.
”By the way, did you actually get permission to leave the hospital?” she asked, her tone shifting to something more pointed.
”Ah…”
My hand stopped mid-autograph.
Right. I was supposed to get discharge permission before leaving…
The audience burst out laughing at my completely blank expression.
”Uh, hold on a second.”
Okay, this is actually bad.
I pulled out my phone to message Inko-san or Manager Matsumoto to request permission for me—and noticed a message from Inko-san.
”…Looks like Inko-san already got permission for me afterward.”
””””Ooooh!””””
As expected of Inko-san. They don’t call her the most considerate member of Nightmare Generation for nothing.
”But seriously—how’d you get permission!? Normally, you’d still be on bed rest, right?” Morita-san pressed, her Northern bluntness cutting through.
I made a face—one of those “I can’t even explain” faces—to brush it off. Morita-san played along and started making ridiculous faces too. Not wanting to lose, I made faces right back at her. We kept going in silence, trading expressions, until the audience started giggling.
”Fufu—what even is this segment!?” a voice called from the crowd.
”Hey, you started it, Morita-san!” I shot back.
We both doubled over laughing.
Oww, oww, oww—I forgot I’d fractured a rib. I laughed too hard and now it hurt. Morita-san looked worried, but I waved her off: “I’m fine.”
”Anyway, we’ve also received a ton of flowers for you,” she said, changing the subject.
”Oh wow.”
I stood up and, in Manager Matsumoto’s place, offered my thanks to everyone who’d sent flowers. Then the producer came out from the wings carrying a bouquet.
”Morita-san, here.”
”Right.”
Morita-san took the bouquet, her expression turning serious as she rose from her seat.
”Well… Aqua-kun. I know your official return is still a ways off, but I’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you—from me, personally. Aqua-kun, thank you for protecting Earth. For protecting all of us. And… welcome back!!”
””””””””””WELCOME BACK!!!””””””””””
Ha ha. That was a little embarrassing.
I accepted the bouquet, blushing slightly, and turned a calm look toward the cameras and the audience.
”Let me also say thank you—from me. When I was unconscious, it was all of your voices that woke me up. The family I love, my children, the three members of BERYL, my friends and comrades, and all the fans—the reason I can stand here with all of you again, the reason I can say these words of thanks right now—is all because of you. Thank you so much!”
I bowed deeply, and a huge round of applause rose from the audience, the staff, and Morita-san beside me.
”But… I can’t take live flowers into the hospital. So… what should I do with these…?”
Then it hit me—a good idea.
I took a selfie with the bouquet. Then I untied the ribbon, peeled the foil from the base, and started pulling the flowers one by one from the green foam inside.
”Aqua-kun, what are you planning!?” Morita-san demanded.
”Like this.”
I took a single rose and offered it to her.
”Morita-san… Thank you for always bringing smiles into our livin’ rooms. Right now—especially now—I think there’s real meanin’ in this show airin’ like normal. So please—take this flower as a token of gratitude from one viewer.”
Morita-san turned her back to the camera, slipped off her sunglasses, and pressed her hand to the corner of her eye.
I took another rose and handed it to the show’s producer.
”I know there’s goin’ to be criticism. Probably more than a little. But still—you made the call that this show was worth bringin’ back, that it could be a pillar of support for everyone. Producer-san… I give this flower to honor your courage.”
”Aqua-kun…” the producer whispered, voice cracking.
I pulled the teary producer and Morita-san into a comforting embrace. As applause rose from the audience, I looked their way.
”This is what they call ‘havin’ flowers in both hands,’ right?”
Warm laughter echoed through the studio.
Releasing the two of them, I picked up the remaining flowers and headed to the front of the audience.
”Who wants flowers~!?” I called out.
I raised my hand, and the audience raised theirs back. I picked the first person who’d shot their hand up.
”Can you come up on stage? Ah—only if you’re comfortable, no pressure.”
”Ehh~!?” the older sister exclaimed, surprised but smiling. Her friends nudged her forward, and she made her way onto the stage.
”I’m goin’ to give you a flower now—but before that, is there anythin’ you’d like me to say?” I asked gently.
”Eh!?”
She froze for a second, glancing nervously toward her friends.
”Um… actually… I heard about the meteorite comin’ down, and I was really scared and anxious. So, um… I’d be so happy if you could just tell me… that I did a good job holdin’ on.”
”Got it.”
I gave her a warm smile, took her hand, and gently pulled her into an embrace. A near-scream rippled through the audience. I softly patted her now-bright-red head.
”You did so well. You were brave.”
”Wha—!?”
Flower in hand, the sister stumbled back to her friends, face still flushed. Morita-san smirked.
”You’re smooth, I’ll give you that. But everyone—take a good look. No matter how cool he acts, that’s still a hospital gown! And he’s got a walkin’ aid in his right hand!” she announced, her Northern bluntness on full display.
”Come on, Morita-san! I’m literally tryin’ to stop people from lookin’ at that! I’m doin’ my best here!” I protested.
Laughter erupted at our exchange.
I raised my hand again and pointed to the next sister.
”Tell me you love me!” she demanded.
””””””””””EHHHH~!?””””””””””
Hey now—that’s not against the rules.
Morita-san waved her arms like a conductor, hyping up the crowd’s cheers. The audience clapped along. I schooled my expression and slowly approached the sister. Leaning in close, so close she forgot to blink—her eyes locked on mine—
”I love you.”
”””””””””KYAAAAAA—!!!”””””””””
She nearly collapsed from hearing those words at close range. I caught her, flustered, and handed her off to a staff member.
I looked down at the walking aid I’d been using.
Wait… do I even need this anymore?
I’m moving fine. Why did I even bring it in the first place…?
Ah, whatever. Overthinkin’ the little stuff is a waste of time!
”Three more people!” I called out.
For the next one, I wanted a kid. I called up a little girl who’d come with her mom.
She climbed onto the stage, stared at me with big eyes, and said—
”Tell me you’ll marry me!” she declared in her simple childish voice.
””””””””””OGYAAAAAAHHHH!!!””””””””””
Whoa there, everyone, calm down. It’s just a kid bein’ a kid.
Suddenly, Emily’s serious face floated through my mind.
”Aqua-sama. Be careful around little girls. They’ve got no filters, and that means they’re deadly serious about what they say.”
No, no, Emily-san. She’s literally a child.
It’s just one of those “I want to marry my dad when I grow up” kind of things.
And by the time this girl’s all grown up, I’ll be in my thirties. She wouldn’t even look twice at me.
I knelt on one knee to meet her gaze.
”Will you marry me?” I asked, playing along.
”Yes!” she squealed.
The girl wrapped her arms around my neck and squeezed me tight in a hug.
I gave her a gentle pat on the back, then handed her back to her mother, who’d come to pick her up.
”Mama~, I got it all on record, okay? When I marry Aqua-sama, we can have a parent-child bowl special, okay?”1
Huh? What’d she just say? Must’ve been my ears playing tricks on me.
I shook it off and went through the same routine, handing flowers to the two older sisters next. For the last batch, I left them with the audience and asked them to pass them around to everyone.
”Aqua-kun, you’re still at it, huh? Heh heh heh. This is how it always is with your wives, is it?”
”Nah, nah, it’s usually way worse than this.”
My reply set the audience off in laughter.
”Oh, speaking of wives—listen to this! This morning, while we were doing rehab together, Kanon from my place got all red in the face from an indirect kiss!”2
I launched into a one-man act, reenacting the whole scene with my own performance. The audience’s energy hit max.
”Aqua-kun… you sure you should be saying that on TV? This is nationwide, y’know—live broadcast, no edits. You’re not gonna get an earful from Kanon-san later?”
”Oh…”
I froze up, and a ripple of chuckles spread through the audience.
Eh, whatever. With Kanon, I can always just kiss her and smooth things over, right?!
”So, how’s the hospital life treatin’ ya? Getting used to it?”
”Nah, it’s not really about getting used to it—more like, now that I can move around again, it’s just boring, y’know? I’ve been thinking I could probably get discharged already, but my pair of Great Kaiju Ren-tachi—uh, I mean, Kohina-senpai—she’s been a little overprotective…”
Morita-san’s eyes went wide at my words.
”Oh-ho? Wait, what? That’s a thing now?”
”Yeah. Ever since I woke up, she’s been glued to my side everywhere I go… I get where she’s coming from, knowing how we left things in space and all, but the way things are now, I feel like it’s getting a bit much. You got any advice for me?”
Kohina-senpai’s state right now is worrying even from an outsider’s view. I know it’s my fault for making her like this, but that’s exactly why I have to bring her back to her old self.
I figure we need some kind of trigger. Maybe this whole thing could be just that.
As I was mulling that over, I heard commotion from backstage.
Huh? Something happen?
Morita-san and I both turned to look, and there was Kohina-senpai in her hospital gown, stepping out from the wings.
Her unexpected appearance drew applause from the audience.
”Kohina-senpai…”
She slowly descended the stairs, making her way toward me. When she saw my face, she buried her head against my chest, tears in her eyes.
”…I was so, so worried about you.”
The audience stirred a little at that. Yeah, figures. That’s so unlike Kohina-senpai. A meek and quiet Kohina-senpai is cute and all, but I want her to always be herself.
’Course, you don’t want to see someone you love like this, right?
I took her by the shoulders and gently pushed her away.
”Kohina-senpai, look.”
I stood up from my chair, whispered something to Morita-san, and walked to center stage. To be blunt, my muscle strength had tanked, and the ribs I’d broken in that meteorite blast were killing me.
Even so, for her sake—for Kohina-senpai’s sake—I had to prove I was okay!
The stage lights dimmed, and “Stay Here” started playing.
””KYAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!””
I began to dance and sing.
Damn, just this little bit of effort is already hard with how much my strength has faded. Hitting the right notes feels like a struggle.
But I’m on stage now—I got no choice but to go through with it!
I steeled myself.
I did terrible things to you, so many times.
That’s why I knew I had to change.
I flashed a smile and kept singing and dancing on pure willpower and pro-idol grit.
All to bring back one girl’s smile—I’d force through the impossible no matter what!
Search the whole world over,
you’d never find her equal.
So don’t ever leave my side.
Listen to this song, Kohina-senpai.
This is a concert for you and you alone—the only one in the world.
I make mistakes. Regret them.
Then I act wrongly again.
And I stole your time away.
I never saw how much you were thinking of me.
Man, these lyrics really hit different—they’re literally about me and Kohina-senpai right now.
That’s why I picked this song.
I’m at my end. I don’t even want to think about you not being here.
I did terrible things to you, so many times.
That’s why I knew I had to change.
Search the whole world over,
you’d never find her equal.
So don’t ever leave my side.
Maybe I did something irreparable to you.
That’s why I knew I had to apologize.
Because—search the whole world over,
you’d never find her equal.
So wait for me!
I landed a backflip right in front of Kohina-senpai, completely forgetting about my broken ribs.
THAT HURT LIKE HELL!
The pain was so bad I could’ve jumped through the roof, but I gritted my teeth and endured it.
See? Power, guts, and perseverance can get you through just about anything!
As I finished the final line of the first verse, I dropped to one knee before Kohina-senpai.
”Hah… hah… sorry, Kohina-senpai. I wanted to sing the whole thing, but the first verse already wiped me out.”
I reached out to her and offered a single lily I’d taken earlier.
Thank god I learned a few simple magic tricks from Emily—she’s great at parties. Knew it’d come in handy.
Kohina-senpai clutched the lily I offered with both hands, squeezing it tight.
”…Why do you always have to go and do such reckless things?”
”Sorry. But even if it’s reckless, I wanted to see you smile. I felt the same way back then.”
I slowly rose to my feet.
”I wanted you to live. Even if I had to give my own life, I didn’t want to lose the person I love.”
”What’s that supposed to mean! It’s the same for me! Even if I died, I wanted you to live!”
I smiled at Kohina-senpai, tears streaming down her face.
”Yeah, exactly. We both made it out safe, right? So isn’t that what matters?”
I pulled her in and kissed her right there in front of everyone.
Kohina-senpai froze, caught completely off guard.
Shrieks from the audience echoed through the studio.
”See? My lips were warm, weren’t they? That’s what it means to be alive.”
”Aqua, you idiot!!”
Kohina-senpai, sobbing, threw herself at me, and I wrapped my arms around her.
Everyone watching burst into applause.
”…Ugh, I’m getting so frustrated all of a sudden!”
”Oh, that’s great. That’s a good sign, Kohina-senpai.”
See? Get even more irritated. You’re starting to get annoyed with me again, right?
”An overprotective Kohina-senpai’s not bad either, but save that side of you for the bedroom, okay?”
”Excuse me?! The hell are you on about, you useless Aqua! Like I’d ever let you coddle me!”
I turned to the camera with a pitiful look.
No, wait, please DO coddle me… Come on…
Seriously though… this atmosphere. How do I wrap this up?
Seeing me floundering, Morita-san threw me a lifeline.
”Heh heh heh. That was quite the show. But Aqua-kun, our segment’s about to end—mind introducing the next guest?”
”Ah…”
The next guest, huh… Yeah, if there’s anyone who can smooth this whole mess over, I can only think of one person.
I pulled out my phone and called the person I needed.
”Oh, hello? This is Shirogane Aqua. Is this the Prime Minister?”
’Oh! Aqua-kun?!’
The voice echoed from behind me through the TV speakers.
Nice—if he’s watching, this makes things easy.
I handed my phone to Morita-san.
”Prime Minister. You’re the only one who can salvage this atmosphere! Think you could apologize on my behalf for tomorrow?”
’It’s Okay to Laugh! If that’s the case, leave it to an expert like me! Morita-san!!’
Laughter and applause broke out from the audience.
As expected of the Prime Minister. I had to give him credit for his ability to smooth over any situation.
The studio lights shifted—the live broadcast had cut to commercial.
”Alright, commercials are on—we’re leaving!”
Kohina-senpai grabbed my arm and started yanking me along.
”Wha—?! I was planning to just act natural and join the next segment, y’know!”
”Don’t be stupid! Sorry everyone, this guy’s a total idiot! C’mon, we’re out of here!!”
Ah, hey, wait a sec.
”Kohina-senpai, if you pull that hard, my ribs from the meteorite—ow ow ow…”
”Excuse me?! Your broken ribs aren’t from the meteorite—it’s obviously from Kaede’s brute-force CPR! There’s no way a little meteorite bump would break your bones!”
No… way…
Kohina-senpai dragged me off, my face frozen in shock.
The studio filled with laughter.
—
Summary:
Aqua appears on live TV in a hospital gown after protecting Earth from a meteorite, blending humor with emotional gratitude as he interacts with the studio audience. He gifts flowers to Morita-san and the producer, then distributes the remaining blooms to fans who come on stage. After a playful “I love you” moment that nearly collapses a fan, he kneels to accept a marriage proposal from a little girl, closing the chapter on a warm note.
Aqua navigates a live TV broadcast where his teasing about wives and an indirect kiss gets him into trouble, before Kohina-senpai unexpectedly appears on stage. He performs an emotional concert to prove he’s recovered, culminating in a public kiss and a heartfelt exchange about wanting each other to live. The Prime Minister helps smooth over the awkward atmosphere, but Kohina-senpai drags Aqua off-stage, revealing his broken ribs actually came from Kaede’s CPR, not the meteorite.
—
Trivia:
Aqua’s walking aid disappears from mention after the “I love you” scene, suggesting his recovery is accelerating.
Morita-san removes her sunglasses to cry during Aqua’s gratitude speech, a rare emotional break from her comedic persona.
The “Nightmare Generation” nickname for Inko-san implies she belongs to a group or generation with that reputation.
Emily’s warning about little girls suggests she has prior experience or a protective instinct toward Aqua.
Aqua’s internal reflection about being in his thirties when the child grows up implies he is currently in his early twenties.
The “fufu” laughter from the audience is written as soft giggles, contrasting with the louder “KYAAA” screams.
The meteorite reference connects this chapter to an earlier crisis where Aqua was injured.
Aqua’s selfie with the bouquet is a promotional gesture, though never shown to the audience directly.
The Heaven’s Sword belt buckle card case is merchandise from the Driver movie, indicating cross-promotion.
Aqua uses “livin’ rooms” in his speech to Morita-san, a deliberate dialect shift to match his casual persona.
Aqua’s broken ribs were caused by Kaede’s CPR, not the meteorite explosion.
Kohina-senpai has been overprotective and clingy since Aqua woke up from his coma.
Aqua performed a backflip with broken ribs during the concert.
Emily taught Aqua simple magic tricks for party entertainment.
The indirect kiss with Kanon happened during rehab this morning.
The Prime Minister appeared on a live variety show and offered to apologize on Aqua’s behalf.
Aqua can always smooth things over with Kanon by kissing her.
The concert was a one-man performance of “Stay Here” dedicated to Kohina-senpai.
The broadcast was nationwide and live with no edits.
Kohina-senpai’s appearance on stage was unplanned and unexpected.
Morita-san has a distinctive “heh heh heh” chuckle.
The spin-off is on hold waiting for the script.
The author is writing the “Church of Saint Aqua” arc.
Kohina-senpai’s meek and quiet demeanor on stage was out of character for her.
—
Translation Notes:
Notes:
• Aqua-kun – Aqua (Shirogane), or Aqua-kun, is a charismatic male idol, BERYL leader, and student with sharp eyes and sleek hair. Deeply treasured by his crew for saving Earth from crisis, he wields past-life wisdom, once saving Shintaro. After a space collision, he is currently unconscious in a comatose sleep inside a medical pod/shuttle, making him the target of a crucial rescue mission.
• Aqua – Shirogane Aqua is a world-famous idol, BERYL leader, student, and tokusatsu actor with sharp eyes and sleek hair. Wielding past-life wisdom, this legendary figure is deeply treasured by his crew for saving Shintaro and destroying a meteorite. After a space collision, he lies comatose in a medical shuttle, making him the target of a crucial worldwide rescue and awakening effort.
• Hajime – A training institute member who shared barbecue memories with Aqua at Awaji Island.
• Kujaku – A male bulletin board user and training institute member often depicted sleeping. He supports Yamada online and inspired Agewa to oppose Kokucho exploitation through his idol audition efforts.
• Yamada – A male actor and bulletin board user, he displays a versatile range from comical to hot-blooded. Often seen eating lunch early, he balances a relaxed, hungry persona with a combative spirit when he joins the fight. He maintains a distinct presence that shifts easily between his grounded, everyday demeanor and his active, participatory role in conflicts.
• Akami – A popular male voice actor who has recently increased his live-action acting roles.
• Maruo – An ally of Kujaku who fights alongside him, this training institute member also shared memorable barbecue moments with Aqua.
• Inko – Beryl, the bold, fashion-forward shut-in gamer idol of the Generation of Ruin, is known as the “Fairy Princess of the Great Electronic Sea.” Boasting a massive bust, long skirt, and braided pigtails, she also mentors others in body language. A supportive staff figure managing reserve power and rallying collective strength, she plays the “I Love You” game with Aqua and helps friends through a flu.
• Emily – Emily (Saint Emily) is the graceful, heavily pregnant Yukishiro heir, respected church official, and high-academic Verification Team junior. Known as the “Impression King” and a comedic intercom clown, she co-hosts variety shows with her husband, Shirogane Aqua, whose child she expects. An Aqua mediator, she is Kukuri’s “oneechan,” close to Hakuryuu-sensei, and secretly helps classmates.
• Su – A young child who is still in the Shirogane Kingdom.
• Kanon – Internet master, fashion icon, and Verification Team member Kanon-sama is Aqua’s devoted, jealous wife, famed for her elegant appearances and celebrated marriage announcement. Hiding her emotions behind a cool exterior, this underage, chunibyo youngest sister roasts friends Ayana and Emily. Heavily sleep-deprived, she left a note for Hakuryuu-sensei before blacking out under 6G of ship gravity.
• Kohina – A blunt, sharp-tongued professional actress and space-faring mentor, she is oddly known for fighting stray cats in Tokyo parks. Behind her prickly, aloof facade and tough outward appearance lies an altruistic leader. Masking her deep concern for Shirogane and hidden vulnerability, she uses her wit to guide her group through their final mission, ensuring they all survive.
• Ren – The lead character in a special drama, a transfer student who seeks to establish an Idol Club in an all-male environment. He is portrayed as stoic and observant, communicating through presence rather than words.
• Shirogane Aqua – Shirogane Aqua (Master Aqua), the cool, easy-going BERYL idol leader with a striking face and sparkling eyes, is an Izanagi crew member currently aiding space station evacuations. Married to multiple women including Kanon, the “libido monster” recently fathered Satsuki. His “descending god” aura anchors the group’s ethics amidst a tabloid scandal over his polygamy.
• Shirogane – Shirogane Aqua (Master Aqua), charismatic BERYL idol leader and Izanagi core crew member, is defined by his striking face, sparkling eyes, and beige suit. Cool yet easy-going, his “descending god” aura shapes group ethics amid a 1:99 male-to-female world ratio. A powerful global success despite scandals over his multiple wives (like Kanon) and child Satsuki, he works to save Earth from a comet.
• Kaede – Tall, silver-haired Kaede Morikawa is an eccentric Mary’s scholarship student, Church of Power Intelligence rep, and host of a Power Price charity auction. Momiji’s daughter, Satsuki’s mother, and Emily’s acquaintance, this freakishly strong Verification Team mentor teaches body language, advocates the Power Birth Method, is Aqua’s predecessor, and supports her team even at 12G.
• Yui – A dedicated Sperm Extraction Officer and researcher at the National Confidentiality Bureau, she maintains a professional demeanor despite her striking G-cup figure, which draws Aqua’s gaze. Bound to him by a link-contract holding rights to his reproductive cells, she balances her work responsibilities with fierce loyalty to Aa-sama and safeguards a device entrusted to her by Emily.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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