First-person: Hoshino Yume
Upon arriving at the filming location, Ai and the B-Komachi members finished a quick rehearsal and immediately started shooting. President Saito and I watched from just outside the set.
To be honest, I was extremely, extremely anxious. If she spouted even the slightest nonsense, it would spell trouble. I was prepared to cause a scene and stop the whole thing if necessary.
During the filming, the host turned to Ai—who was known to have halted activities due to "health reasons"—and asked a question. I felt cold sweat trickling down my back and swallowed hard.
I sincerely prayed that Ai, with her usual whimsical personality, wouldn't make any slip-ups.
"Alright~! Ai, who's making her big comeback today! How are you feeling? Have you been taking care of yourself and eating properly?"
"Yes, I've been eating a lot!!"
That's right... keep it simple...!!
Seeing Ai answer naturally, I thought, 'She really is a pro idol after all,' and was just about to relax when...
"Yeah, yeah!! Speaking of food, last time our child..."
"Our child?"
"Pfft!?"
Shit! Why did I ever think she wouldn't cause trouble!? Cover it up, quickly...!!!
As if reading my panicked thoughts, Ai slapped her forehead with one hand and laughed.
"Ah, no! I mean our cat!! I started raising one during this break!"
"Aha~~ I see!"
Fortunately, the moment passed without any suspicion. But if even a fraction of that slip had been taken seriously...
I felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured down my spine.
In the midst of my internal crisis, the staff member shouted with a bright smile.
"Then! Let's watch B-Komachi's performance!! Everyone, please get ready!!"
"The camera will switch in 30 seconds!! Please do your best, B-Komachi!! We're counting on a great performance!!"
After the staff stepped back, I unconsciously shifted my position slightly towards a group of female staff members nearby...
I decided to eavesdrop.
Actually, the casual chatter that flows in places like this can be useful in many ways. Of course, using the company's resources could yield bigger information, but unless it was critical, I preferred not to resort to that.
"B-Komachi... Is that a group you know?"
Probably not.
"Don't know, not interested, and honestly, couldn't care less."
Right. You're probably not interested or concerned—yet.
"I listened to their music. Honestly, it's neither good nor bad. I guess you could say it's average."
"Well, stuff like this sells, but you know how it is."
You probably think B-Komachi is just another mass-produced idol group. Well, you're not entirely wrong, but...
"What can you do but force a compliment? The only thing worth praising is the center, Ai, right? Her face, maybe?"
Mass-produced idols or whatever, it doesn't matter. You just haven't seen it yet. That's why you can think that way now.
"Well, I know the name, but I haven't heard any news about them for about half a year."
"Is someone pushing them?"
"Seems like they came up from the underground scene?"
"More importantly, where is Ichigo Production? First time hearing about that agency. Does it even exist?"
"Hey, forget that. There's that girl with the big chest, right? If she did gravure, she'd probably do well, don't you think?"
"Should I invite that girl to dinner sometime? The producer would like that."
".......Hah."
There are always people like this everywhere—indulging in useless delusions and trashy thoughts. Honestly, right now, I wanted to put all those guys making such comments in the hospital for about six months. But I held back.
Because, after all...
When the music started and Ai's 'Idol Ai' persona engaged, everyone there—cynics included—couldn't take their eyes off her.
Watching that transformation, I popped the candy I was holding into my mouth and thought:
Hoshino Ai is a genuine idol (liar) that no one can deny.
By the way, our President Saito is quite something, too. If Aqua and Ruby's identities are exposed, he and the agency might lose everything.
But even someone like me can understand why he takes the risk.
Once you've seen Hoshino Ai's talent, you can't stay normal anymore.
Hoshino Ai, as a person, emits such a beautiful and intense light that people are drawn to it like moths to a flame. Just as moths burn their wings and die flying toward the fire, even if you know the danger, you can't stop.
Ah, of course, I'm no exception.
Being able to watch Ai up close like this... at first, it was unsettling. But now?
Do you know that right now, I'm happier than anyone else here?
Before I knew it, you had become so ingrained in my heart that I can't imagine a daily life without you, Hoshino Ai.
So, since you've made me care this much, you must be happy.
I'll pour out everything I have to block the ugly and dark fates coming your way. So you just live as the idol Ai, the mother Ai, and...
"As Ai, simply one person."
That's enough. Ah, it's more than enough.
Without realizing it, I forgot that I was smiling as I watched Ai's performance. And I didn't notice the glances Ai was stealing at me in between her moves.
Third-person: Hoshino Ai
Before the performance began, Ai was looking at Hoshino Yume—the man watching her from afar, the person she loves, and the precious father of her twins.
His face was as expressionless as always, but his eyes always betrayed his emotions.
No matter how hard things were, even if she clung to him and his words were cold, the person who cared for Hoshino Ai more than anyone was always Hoshino Yume.
So, Ai had no intention of doing this comeback stage half-heartedly.
If she had always used the lie of 'Idol Ai' as a mask, today, her instinct to express her true feelings took over.
As the music started, she wasn't just the false mask of 'Idol Ai'.
The figure of Hoshino Ai, the idol who truly loves everyone, and Hoshino Ai, the woman who loves Hoshino Yume, merged perfectly, captivating everyone present.
Of course, Hoshino Yume was no exception.
Hoshino Ai shifted her gaze to Yume. She expected him to be watching her stage half-heartedly while sucking on candy as usual. But the Hoshino Yume standing there was different.
Yume is watching me... and smiling brightly?
I've never seen him smile so openly before.
Why?
Ai kept thinking while she danced. She thought and thought and thought, and the conclusion she reached was:
Ah. Because I want to convey my love for Yume to everyone, I've become a real idol, not the usual liar.
Starting her idol activities with genuine feelings of love for Hoshino Yume made her feel as if everyone truly loved her back.
Even so, Hoshino Ai couldn't help but keep her eyes locked on Hoshino Yume.
Near the end of the song, she made a silent vow:
'Yume, I truly love you!!!!'
I will definitely say this when I turn 20 and become an adult.
Hoshino Ai's comeback stage was a resounding success.
Third-person: Hoshino Aquamarine / Ruby
Hoshino Aquamarine... Aqua, watching TV at home, checked that no one was around and muttered to himself.
"Really, that President is something else. If this gets found out, they might lose everything."
"But I get it. After seeing that, how can anyone stay normal?"
Looking at the TV screen showing Ai, Aqua thought:
Ah, of course. Being able to see Ai's figure up close like that... I feel sorry for the Yume I saw at the very end, but I'm even grateful to the guy who killed me.
If this reincarnation is a miracle brought about by my obsession with her, it really makes sense.
But still. I wanted her to give birth to a normal child.
Well, this is unavoidable. You can't win against supernatural phenomena. I'll just enjoy myself in my own way.
As Aqua continued to watch TV...
"Wait..."
Aqua turned around at the sound from behind. There was Hoshino Ruby, crawling over frantically.
"Ah!! The variety show has already started!!! Why didn't you wake me up!? Kyah~!! What do I do!! Mama is so cute!! Viewers really should pay a million times over just to see this!!!!"
"More than that, that turn expression was no joke, right!? It's so creepy—no, it's creepiness itself, in a good way!! What do I do, I just got my diaper changed, I might wet it again!!"
If Hoshino Yume had been there, he would have grabbed the back of his neck and fainted from the sheer complexity of her vocabulary.
Aqua thought to himself that this trait might be exactly like Ai's self-centered personality.
"Ugh~ really, her face is pretty, her style is outstanding, and she sings well.... Our mom is truly, truly talented!! I need to record it and watch it over and over!!"
"More. Than. That! Live broadcasts are meaningful only if you watch them right away, so why didn't you wake me up!! This baby body is uselessly sleepy, so let's cooperate here!"
Ruby complained to Aqua for not waking her up. Aqua, lightly brushing off Ruby's complaints with one ear, replied:
"I woke you up several times. It's your fault for not getting up."
He claimed his own innocence.
"Huh...? Really?"
Unexpectedly, Ruby accepted it easily.
"Ah, I need to watch that part from earlier again~"
"Kyah~!!! Amazing!! If you record it once, you can watch it forever! So efficient and awesome~!!!!"
I wanted Ai to give birth to a normal child. Not these weird and suspicious twins...
Swallowing these words inwardly, Aqua continued his day as a baby.