Third-person: Hoshino Ruby
"Don't put it so bluntly... besides."
"Besides?"
Miyako was about to say something more but closed her mouth again.
"No, it's nothing. More importantly, Ruby, it's about time for your audition results to come in, right? If you pass, you'll join that agency under their contract. They're a more reliable agency for idol activities than ours, anyway."
Miyako thought it might be better for Ruby to join another agency for her idol debut, as Ichigo Production was already stretched thin just managing Ai's acting career.
"Well, that's true, but..."
Still, Ruby's dream was to be in the same agency as Ai and do idol activities together.
Trrrrrr....
"Speak of the devil."
As if on cue, Ruby's phone rang. She answered it immediately.
Her expression gradually hardened as she listened. And then...
"Sniff... sob...!! I failed..."
Ruby's voice trembled with tears. As she cried, her body shaking, Miyako carefully hugged her from behind.
"Reality is like that. Politics are everywhere, and you shouldn't expect fair judgment based on skill alone. Not everyone can be like Ai."
This was an unavoidable reality. But still...
Third-person: Hoshino Aquamarine
"Then, we look forward to your next participation."
Aqua tossed the phone he had been talking on onto the couch behind him.
"Thanks, Director."
He sat back down, facing the Director. Seeing this, the Director looked at Aqua skeptically.
"You're skilled enough as an actor to deceive even your twin sister. But what if the real person in charge calls?"
As if the Director's worry was unfounded, Aqua replied calmly.
"No need to worry about that. I used Ruby's phone to contact the person in charge and decline the offer myself. Then I set the number to reject calls. No gaps."
He spoke as if it were the most obvious solution in the world. Seeing Aqua like that, the Director sighed.
"I don't understand. Why go so far to crush your sister's dream? She's quite a beauty and might unexpectedly succeed, you know?"
He spoke as if genuinely puzzled. Aqua's eyes instantly darkened.
"Do I have to say it? At the very least, I won't let my sister end up in the same rough situation as Ai. So, I have no intention of letting Ruby become an idol."
"You siscon. You're overprotective."
"Still... if Ruby gets an opportunity and shows definite resolve, then I won't actively stop her."
'Because of the promise with Father.'
Yume had agreed to block Ruby's path to becoming an idol initially. However, if Ruby refused to give up her dream and continued to move forward with unwavering determination, then Yume would support her seriously from the shadows.
And that meant assigning at least two bodyguards to watch over Ruby at all times.
First-person: Hoshino Yume
"Scouted!?"
"As expected of Ai's daughter!"
Our family and Miyako, gathered at the Ichigo Production office after a long time, were shocked by Ruby's announcement.
Ah, of course, excluding Ai.
"Yeah! It's a so-called underground idol group, but still!! I think this is fate! I've seen underground idol recruitment ads before, but Mama was scouted and became an idol just like this, right?"
"Yeah, right? The Director suddenly approached me, and I was so surprised! I almost called Yume to chase him away~★"
No matter how true that is, saying it out loud would hurt Saito's feelings.
"Eeeek!! Anyway, don't you think this is a chance given by heaven to Ruby!?"
"Is that a real idol group?" — This from Miyako.
"Isn't it something suspicious?" — This from Aqua.
"Hmm~ Well, aren't they all similar?" — This from Ai.
Ai, they're all similar underground idols, so they might not survive...
"For now, can you wait while I look into it?"
The most important thing is gathering information...
"It's not like that!? And Papa, absolutely don't do it!!"
I was just going to investigate, but Ruby refused immediately. Meanwhile, she tapped her smartphone a few times.
"Look!! There's a video on YouTube too!!"
The video Ruby showed clearly displayed girls performing as underground idols.
"Wow~ nostalgic~★ I wonder if I was like that back in the day?"
"Certainly, we did a lot of events like that in the old days. But around the middle of your career, B-Komachi was no longer 'underground'. The scale became incredibly large compared to that, so that says it all."
Ai watched the video nostalgically, and I also found myself missing the time when she was active as an idol.
"Well, it seems to exist for sure."
"See, I told you!!"
Aqua still seemed somewhat dissatisfied.
"More importantly, Ruby? Did you check the contract details?"
As Miyako said, the contract is the most critical matter. Back when Ai was a child, Saito explained it in detail, but since reputable agencies are rare in that sector, you need to examine everything carefully.
"Umm~ They said they'll show me a live performance next time, and the contract signing seems to be after that!!! Huhu~!! I'm excited~!!"
Ruby said that and went home first with Ai. The remaining people in the office were me, Aqua, and Miyako.
By the way, Miyako has heard some of the circumstances from me and Aqua, so she's cooperating with our lies. Saito also knows, but he's currently swamped with work and doesn't even have the leeway to worry about this.
"Sigh. It's become troublesome again. I have to make her quit somehow..." Aqua muttered.
"Again with that...."
"It can't be helped. Aqua suffered a lot from the incident Ai went through. And since Ruby might experience the same thing, he's worried as her brother."
Lately, I feel Aqua's siscon tendencies getting stronger, but I suppose this is also family love.
"It's not that I don't understand, but honestly, I agree with Aqua and Yume. Frankly, me too... if you hadn't been there back then, Yume... if Ai had died... I don't even want to think about it. I wouldn't have been able to work like this. Of course, my husband would be the same."
Miyako...
"And Ruby is definitely your and Ai's daughter, but in society, she's registered as our daughter. So, I've been raising Ruby like a different daughter from Ai."
"But Aqua, Yume, you know, right? Ruby's heart can't be stopped. Her face is gradually resembling Ai's more and more. I don't know what you think, but unfortunately, Ruby also has the talent to be an idol. It was bound to happen like this."
"Maybe it's okay to let her do it? Aqua, you're doing various things under the Director too. From my perspective, I think both are similar risks. But as the father of both, what do you think, Yume?"
".....That's true."
Well, if she continues to want to be an idol, I have no intention of stopping her. But...
Aqua is concerned about various dangers, so I can't let him decide recklessly either.
Seeing me pondering Miyako's words, Aqua spoke up.
"Before discussing good and bad, I have something to do. I'll borrow some company business cards. I'm going out, Father."
"Aqua?"
"Hey, what are you planning to do?"
Miyako and I couldn't stop Aqua from taking the business cards and leaving. We could only watch his retreating back.
As Aqua left the office, I sat on the nearby sofa and drank the coffee Miyako gave me.
"Hoo...."
"If it's yours and Aqua's choice, I'll understand. But you're keeping it a secret from Ai too, right?"
"That's right..... It's the first time I've lied to Ai, so I'm not very comfortable with it either."
"Well, that's natural. You've never lied to Ai even once from the start."
"Haha... You know me well."
"I'm one of the people who've been with you the longest. Of course I know that much. So, do you really intend to block Ruby's path to becoming an idol permanently?"
At Miyako's words, my mouth hung open for a moment, but I answered firmly.
"No. If Ruby continues to dream of being an idol, and there's a clear opportunity, and her will isn't broken... then I will permit it. And Aqua will follow my lead at that time, too."
"Right. You were always like that—always putting Ai first and doing your best to let her do what she wanted. So of course, you'd do the same for Ruby. I was worried for nothing."
"Not at all. But still, the only one thinking about Ruby this deeply is you, Miyako."
"My husband is there too, isn't he?"
"Saito is..."
Lately, when I ask the company, they say he's being worked to the bone by upper management. Partly because he's so good at his job, but... I sometimes hear rumors of him begging for help when the muscle-head executives come running to drag him into exercise sessions.
In the end, Miyako and I were talking until Aqua returned. He brought with him an idol from the underground group Ruby was scouted by.
Upon seeing the idol Aqua dragged in, I spat out the tea I was holding in my mouth, shocked by Aqua's lightning-fast action.