In This World That Favors Men, I... ~Starting a Sweet School Life in a World With a 1:8 Gender Ratio~ - 151

Chapter 151: Setsubun Special

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“Good job on your exams. Now, let me explain the outline of your next job. Here’s the material. The setup is the same as last time, with both studio and on-location segments. For the studio, as long as you understand the schedule, you’re good to go. You’re in good condition, so just show up ready on the day.”

Yep, it’s back to work.

I had asked not to schedule anything until after the Central Exams. And now that the exams were over this week, there wasn’t much time left—so here I was, already attending a planning meeting for the studio shoot, which was happening the day after tomorrow.

My first job of the new year was an appearance on a special episode of EXA Kitchen. The episode was set to air at the beginning of February, and the theme was “Setsubun.”

“Everyone in Japan knows about Setsubun, and most people have experienced it. But do you know the purpose behind it?”

“Um, is it to ward off evil?”

“Correct! Setsubun is the day before the change of seasons—or more precisely, the day before a new season begins. So technically, there are four Setsubun days a year: for spring, summer, fall, and winter.”

“Really? So only the February Setsubun became a widespread public event?”

“That’s right. The spring Setsubun falls on the day before Risshun, which is considered the beginning of the new year in the old calendar. That makes it kind of like New Year’s Eve. So in that sense, it’s a little more special than the other Setsubun days, because it’s also about wishing for happiness in the new year and driving out bad luck.”

On New Year’s Eve, we ring temple bells to cleanse ourselves of worldly desires. Apparently, that tradition also originated as a way to drive off evil, so it’s a similar kind of event.

“In the studio shoot, we’ll have you make a Setsubun-themed dish. For the on-location segment, you’ll participate in a kids’ show and do a bean-throwing event.”

When she mentioned the bean-throwing, I suddenly remembered a message from Yuuki.

『On Setsubun, our shrine will be holding a bean-throwing event! This year we’re going all out. Our special guests are the popular idol group Valkyrie Flower Cutie! There’ll be a mini concert too, so come join us!』

Yuuki, who was usually pretty tsun, got really passionate when it came to drawing crowds to the shrine. A while back, I volunteered to help clean up at his family’s shrine. After that, we made a group chat on a messaging app to stay in touch with some underclassmen—and Yuuki promptly joined it to promote shrine events.

“So, is the bean-throwing going to be like the kind where someone tosses beans toward a big crowd at a shrine or something?”

“Nope. That was one of the ideas, but because the last on-location shoot got such a big reaction—and since we’re promoting a new product too—we’re taking the same approach as last time, but even flashier! We’re even going to launch fireworks to make it a truly spectacular event!”

Fireworks? I thought this is EXA Kitchen, a cooking show? It feels kind of off-topic, but maybe that’s normal for a special episode promoting a product?

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“Rolling for the main take!”

The shoot was taking place at the amusement park Kinnikutama Land.

In addition to classic thrill rides, the park had a 3D theater, an arcade game zone, a VR entertainment center, an aquarium, a pool, a hot spring, and even a golf course—making it a large-scale suburban amusement park for both kids and adults.

The mascot character, introduced as Tamaran, had a name that sounded cute, but the actual costume was a muscular werewolf-dog hybrid that looked both wild and macho.

It had both bulging muscles and a fluffy exterior, with transformation abilities to boot. Apparently, Tamaran’s character setting was that of an arrogant anti-hero, and the Full Moon Heart Sniper series shown in the 3D theater—both the all-ages day version and the more risqué adult-oriented night version—was a hugely popular attraction in the park.

This location shoot was set to be a surprise appearance during a kids’ character show taking place in the Moon Plaza of the park.

So apparently the fireworks explosion was part of the show’s in-universe special effects.

The show’s scenario was a live-action version of Full Moon Heart Sniper, where a group of girls visiting the amusement park get attacked by Tamaran and his werewolf-dog army, who were after their Innocent Maiden Pure Hearts, a form of psychic energy. Just as things were looking dire, a team of justice-fighting girls called the Werewolf Hunting Squadron, Ulwan Hunters, shows up to stop them—your classic action hero setup.

All lines were pre-recorded and dubbed, so there was no need to memorize everything in detail.

After greeting the cast and checking the flow of the show on-site, it was already time to change into costume—and before I knew it, we were rolling. The cameras were always recording, so it was hard to fully relax.

—Tamaran! We won’t let you have your way. Release the children right now! We’ll protect their Innocent Maiden Pure Hearts!

—No way! I’ll crush any fools who try to stand in my way!

At this point, a battle scene unfolded between the wild costumed muscle squad and the Werewolf Hunting Squadron, with the heroes getting pushed back—creating a suspenseful situation.

—No! At this rate, we’ll lose! We have no choice but to use our special attack!

—But the sunlight’s too weak for us to activate the Sunshine Prism Beam! We can’t do it alone!

—Everyone in the audience, please lend us your strength! Your voices will give us the power to defeat evil!

—Ready? Repeat after me! Let’s all shout Sunshine Prism Beam together! Now! Here we go! Solar Judgment—Sunshine Prism Beeeeeam!

“““Sunshine Prism Beeeeam!”””

As the high-pitched voices of the little girls echoed through the area, a rainbow-colored light show began flashing across the stage. In the original script, this was where Tamaran and his gang would deliver a final line and retreat.

But today’s script was a special irregular version. My turn was coming up soon.

—Waaaahhh! Stop it! I can’t handle sunlight! I won’t do anything bad anymore! Just stop this light!

—Did we get him!? …Wait, what!?

—Just kidding! Fwahahaha! It’s true that sunlight is my weakness, but don’t think I’ll stay down forever! As long as I have this Eclipse Shield, your attacks won’t work anymore!

—What!? The Sunshine Prism Beam didn’t work!?

—The Eclipse Shield!? Where did you get that!?

—Wouldn’t you like to know? Alright, boys! Go! Ransack them all!

“Huh? That’s different from usual.”

“Is this a new version?”

The production monitor and boom mics picked up some repeat visitors tilting their heads in confusion and whispering questions. Right. This was a special one-time-only new version. I hoped everyone participating would enjoy it.

—Troops! Go and snatch up all the innocent children over there!

The werewolf-dog army knocked down the Ulwan Hunters and surged toward the audience seats. Since this was a kids’ show, most of the audience was moms and their children. Some kids were genuinely scared, and of course, we avoided those. Instead, we picked up the eager kids holding their arms out to be hugged and carried them onto the stage.

Incidentally, the werewolf-dog army led by Tamaran was played by female performers in muscular wolf-dog suits. Despite being women, they were all impressively built and strong, carrying the kids without any trouble.

—What a haul! With this many Innocent Maiden Pure Hearts, I, the great Tamaran, will surely become the dark emperor of the underworld!

—Stop! I won’t let you sacrifice the children!

—And what do you think you can do in that state? Don’t make me laugh. There’s not a single one here who can stand against me.

—Oh really? I’m not so sure about that.

“It’s showtime!”

At that moment, fireworks shot straight up from the front of the stage with a booming BOOM!. A new dark hero made a dramatic entrance through the smoke-shrouded stage.

—The little ladies over there are precious candidates for my eternal bride. I won’t let you do as you please.

—Who the hell are you?

—Oops, pardon my manners. I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’ve lived a long time, but people call me this: the elegant ruler of darkness, ‘Vampire Prince Ruthven.’

—Vampire Prince, huh? So you’re a vampire. In other words, a fellow creature of the night. But if you get in my way, I won’t show any mercy!

“Wait, Ruthven?! This smoke is in the way! I can’t see his face properly!”

“It’s just a guy in a costume… or not?! Is that real?! Wh-who? Who’s playing Ruthven?”

—Ladies of the audience, sorry for the wait. I’ve come to defeat the bad wolf and his werewolf minions who would harm you.

“Vampire Ruthven-samaaaaaa!”

“Ah! He looks just like he did on TV! The real Vampire Prince!”

“The prince, the prince has come to save his eternal bride!”

A small child broke free from her mother’s hand and stood up tall on the spot. She looked like she was about to rush toward me in excitement, but when I turned my questioning gaze her way, she stopped in her tracks with a start, pinched the hem of her skirt, and all the little girls bowed in unison in an adorable curtsy.

—Little ladies, what a lovely curtsy. Truly fitting for my future brides. Now, stay there and watch the wolf-slaying like good girls. Those who do well will get a reward later.

And at this point, I flashed a big, gentle smile.

“Kyaa~!”

“So cool! So cool! So cool!”

“Ruthven! Take me with you right now!”

From here, it transitioned into the fight scene with the werewolf-dog army. As rehearsed beforehand, I made large, sweeping motions with the Moonlight Sword—right, left, right—and the actors fell dramatically in sync.

—Damn it, what is this guy? He’s too strong!

—The Moonlight Sword can’t take the life of a fellow creature of the night. But it can weaken them. Once weakened, they won’t be able to withstand the sunlight. You’d better flee while your wounds are still light.

—Tch, looks like we have no choice but to retreat. But I’ll land one final blow before I go! Take this, my ultimate suicide attack!

According to the script, I was supposed to dodge Tamaran’s charge at the last second and pretend to cut him down. But for some reason, the person playing Tamaran adjusted her direction mid-run and—rather than a collision—ended up hugging me straight on.

The actress playing Tamaran was tall for a woman, but still about ten centimeters shorter than me, so she basically dove into my chest. She seemed to be breathing heavily—was she feeling unwell?

“…I could die now. Go ahead and behead me. This is a memory for a lifetime.”

Huh? She said something, but with the werewolf-dog headgear muffling her voice, I couldn’t really make it out.

“Noooo! Let go of Ruthven-sama!”

“At this rate, Tamaran’s going to become the eternal bride!”

“Ruthven, run awaaay—!”

The little girls who had been brought on stage swarmed in, trying to pull Tamaran and me apart, forming a perfect little tangled ball of chaos. I panicked, worried that the show would completely fall apart at this rate.

But then, the sound crew acted quickly and played that line again. In response, the other actors jumped right back into character and moved accordingly.

—Everyone in the audience, please, lend me your strength! Your voices will give us the power to defeat the villains!

—Okay? Follow my lead and shout as loud as you can: ‘Sunshine Prism Beam’! Now’s the time! Here we go! The judgment of the sun, Sunshine Prism Beaaaaam!

“Sunshine Prism Beam!”

With the unified shout of “Sunshine Prism Beam” from the little girls’ serious faces, rainbow-colored lights lit up the stage—twice as intense as before. Tamaran was dragged off the stage by the werewolf-dog army, as if defeated by the prism attack.

—Good kids, all of you. I’m glad we met today. When the day comes that you all become true ladies, I’ll return to take you as my eternal brides. Until then, wait for me.

After that, we somehow managed to get the show back on track, and I successfully exited the stage.

《Attention, everyone in attendance. The character show ‘Aiming for the Heart on the Night of the Full Moon’ and the surprise event ‘Invasion of the Vampire Prince Rusvin!’ have now concluded. As a participation prize for the surprise event, we will be distributing sweets with trading cards that can be used in our arcade zone at the exit. Please note that each person is limited to one item.》

“They said participation prize. Is that the reward he mentioned earlier?”

“It was from far away, but we got to see the real-life prince! And not just any version—the rare Vampire Prince one. I’m totally bragging to everyone about this.”

“I already posted the info on the message board. I bet the message board is in total by now.”

《Attention, everyone in attendance. Starting at 1:00 PM today, we will be holding a bean-throwing event at the ‘Moon Plaza’ featuring a full cast of our park’s popular characters. As a special guest today, we welcome commercial talent Yuusei Takeda, appearing as Vampire Prince Ruthven. Please note that a special event ticket is required to participate. For same-day tickets, please visit the nearest ticket booth.》

“H-Hurry!”

“Same-day tickets for the bean-throwing event? Can we still get them?”

“I don’t know, but full-speed dash to the ticket booth!”

“Got it! If we can get more than two, the one who gets there first buys them—deal? Let’s go!”

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