First Person POV: Hoshino Yume
"Hmm... Aqua is appearing in a drama?"
As usual, after finishing my acting work for the day, I was at home reading scripts for dramas I might take on, while also reviewing information my agency staff had gathered.
Unexpectedly, I was surprised to hear that Aqua intended to do a drama.
However, once I heard the director's name, I understood why Aqua wanted to take the role.
"Director Kaburagi Masaya, is it?"
I had quite a bit of contact with Director Masaya back when I was Ai's manager.
He was the director who actually hooked Ai up with several programs.
Ai had told me with her own mouth that he had even asked her about things like where she went on dates with me.
Though, it seemed like there were other things besides just that.
I could feel my memories of my 'previous life' fading more and more.
My memory is generally good, but as I get older, the trivial events are vanishing from my mind as if someone is erasing them.
Since the events I currently know about are mostly the major accidents, I had written them down in a notebook separately.
Just in case they were erased from my memory at some point.
It had been a while since I was home alone without Ruby, Aqua, or Ai, so I was planning to enjoy a relaxing cup of coffee, but...
BANG!
"Yume!!! Ai is home!!"
"Are you a child?"
More importantly, no matter how many hundreds of times I tell her to open the front door gently, she never listens.
She's over 30 now, so I wish she'd grow up a little...
But I suppose that's impossible for Ai.
"Diving into Yume's arms~♥"
"That's dangerous, you know."
The moment she saw me sitting on the sofa, she dove into my arms and naturally used my lap as a pillow.
I feel like her technique is improving these days.
While doing so, she took the smartphone from my hand.
"Ehhh~ Aqua is doing a drama?"
"Yeah, it was about time Aqua started walking the path of an actor."
Aqua has his own circumstances, so saying this should satisfy Ai.
"Yep, yep! Aqua is mine and Yume's son, so naturally, he'll do well at whatever he does★"
"I suppose so."
Having watched Aqua and Ruby closely, I realized that Ai's talents were inherited separately by the two of them.
Her talent as an idol went to Ruby.
All of Ai's personality traits, excluding the idol talent, went to Aqua.
However, if there is a difference...
Aqua occasionally shows a side that resembles my personality, which often makes me think, 'Ah, he really is my kid.'
Unfortunately, aside from my hair color, Ruby didn't seem to inherit much from me.
"By the way, what drama is he doing?"
"Hmm... hold on."
If it's the drama Director Masaya is working on right now...
"It's a work called 'Sweet Today.' It's based on a shoujo manga."
"Ah~ that one~! I enjoyed reading that with Ruby!!"
Do you have any idea how much I suffered because of that?
"Well! Since it's Aqua, won't he do well?"
"He is your child, you know. Show a little concern."
"I was already in my prime when I was Aqua's age★"
"Yes, yes. Ah, and also."
I stroked Ai's hair as she mumbled like a baby in my arms.
"There is a project offer for you and me as well."
"Really!?"
At my words, Ai shot up from my lap.
"What is it, what is it? What kind of roles do Yume and I have!? We're a married couple, so do we appear as a couple!?"
"Calm down for a second."
"Mmph!?"
If I let her keep talking, she looked ready to go on all day, so I pinched her lips with my fingers.
"Let's see. The drama is based on a manga called 'The Dangers in My Heart'."
"'The Dangers in My Heart?' What's that? Even the title sounds dangerous?"
It certainly does sound dangerous, but...
"Apparently, it's a surprisingly popular series."
"Ehh? With a name like that?"
"The reviews say that while people initially wonder why the story is the way it is, it becomes a sweeter and sweeter pure love story the more you read."
"Pure love (Jun-ai)? You mean obediently (Jun-sun-hi) bearing my child (Ai)★?"
"Why would you interpret it like that?"
Usually, when people hear "Pure Love," isn't it normal to think of innocent love first?
"But Yume, didn't you already do that 'pure love' to me?"
"........"
Wow, I didn't expect her to come at me like that.
"Ahem! Well, anyway, the manga author requested that they want you and me for the male and female leads, so it's a project we might end up doing."
"Hmm~ 'Might end up doing'?"
"If you aren't really up for it, it's fine if we don't do it."
"No! I wanna do it!! Yume and I have appeared in the same works before, but this is the first time we'd appear clearly as a married couple or lovers!!"
"Okay, then I'll let them know we'll do it."
I need to report this to Miyako-san first...
For reference, Ai's schedule is still managed by Miyako-san, but I help out occasionally.
Since my schedule is mostly adjusted by my company, I was able to look after Ai's schedule too.
"By the way, doesn't the male lead in this look nothing like you, Yume?"
"Hmm... Well, strictly speaking, I guess so..."
I couldn't exactly tell her the detailed reason: that the author is a personal fan of mine and declared they would only allow the drama adaptation on the condition that I appeared in it.
But if asked, "Can you play the protagonist?" I can answer "No problem."
That's because acting as a character is something anyone can do as long as they analyze the role.
Ai, too, would be fully capable of acting it out if given a little time.
"But Yume."
"What is it?"
"When are we getting married?"
".......Hmm."
I thought she had quieted down about this lately, but I guess not.
Actually, when Ai announced her relationship with me, we received a lot of congratulations, and there was a lot of talk about marriage.
However, the reason I still can't marry Ai is...
"Wouldn't it be better to wait until at least Aqua and Ruby have established themselves and become adults?"
"Ehh~ Well, if that's what Yume wants to do, that's fine!! It would be nice if we could just announce that Aqua and Ruby are mine and Yume's children..."
"We will announce it someday, so let's endure it until then. Okay?"
"Okaaay~"
Right. One of the memories I retained was a scene where, due to a misunderstanding by Arima Kana, Aqua revealed that the deceased Ai was his parent without consulting Ruby.
If we are going to reveal it, it would be better to do it around that time based on the timeline.
However, since I couldn't remember exactly what incident Arima Kana was involved in, there was nothing I could do until that time came.
"Then, shall we go pick up Aqua and Ruby?"
"Yep! Let's roll out to Ichigo Pro★"
I'll have to check the video later.
After seeing Ai head out first, I noticed the video for 'Sweet Today' was open on my laptop screen.
When Ai and I arrived at Ichigo Productions just in time.
"Mama~ Papa~!!!"
"Ruby~★"
Ruby naturally ran and hugged Ai. Since Ruby had grown even bigger than Ai now, it looked more like Ruby was hugging Ai.
But since the two of them are happy, it doesn't really matter, right?
Leaving the mother and daughter to express their affection...
"Aqua, I heard you decided to do a drama this time?"
"Yes."
"What! Aqua, you're going to be in a drama!?"
Ah, I guess he hadn't told them yet.
Aqua's gaze seemed to say, 'Why did you say that?' but knowing I didn't do it on purpose, he didn't say anything and just let out a small sigh.
Sorry about that.
"Even if Yume hadn't said anything, I was going to tell them, Aqua. Don't glare at Yume so much."
"I know."
"And Aqua, don't forget that you are technically a talent belonging to Ichigo Pro. Promoting our talents is the agency's job."
Since there was nothing wrong with what Miyako-san said, Aqua didn't reply.
And Ruby, holding Ai in her arms, spoke up.
"Mama said it before... that I would be an idol in the future, and Aqua would likely be an actor!"
"That's right! Aqua didn't forget what Mama said! Good boy, good boy!!"
Ai slipped out of Ruby's embrace and tried to pat Aqua's head, but unexpectedly, the height difference was too much...
"Good boy, good boy!!"
"Could you stop naturally climbing onto my back?"
She climbed onto my back and then patted Aqua's head from there.
For reference, Ai is still 151cm, Ruby is 158cm, Aqua is 172cm, and I have grown a bit taller to 182cm.
Aqua blushed while being patted by Ai, but he didn't seem to hate it as he continued to let her do it.
Even while being patted, Aqua was thinking:
'I didn't start this just because of what Ai (Mom) said.'
'I'm only doing this job to make contact with Producer Kaburagi Masaya, who had interactions with Ai (Mom) when she was alive, to find traces or evidence of the culprit. That is enough.'
'I have never once had such noble thoughts as doing this to grant Ai (Mom) or Yume (Dad)'s wishes, or because I admire actors.'
Looking at Aqua's expression, the first thought that crossed my mind was that it would still take a long time for him to walk the path of an actor in earnest.
Well, if he starts slowly like this, someday Aqua will come to understand his own feelings too.
Just like Ai did.
"So, Aqua, what work are you appearing in? Do Mama or Papa know?"
"Yup★"
"I received the report a long time ago."
"Usually, isn't a son's private life protected...?"
"Haha, it can't be helped. Given my position, a lot of information comes in. The information I look at first is just our family's information."
"As expected of Papa!"
"Are you a doting parent or what..."
A doting parent... that might not be exactly wrong.
"Anyway. It's a work called 'Sweet Today.' It's based on a shoujo manga."
"If it's 'Sweet Today,' that's the one Mama and I enjoyed watching so much!! It was in Aqua's room, and I watched it with Mama!"
"Don't read my stuff without permission. And Mom read it too?"
"Ehe★"
"Well, it happens."
"The difference in treatment is too extreme!?"
Our Aqua crumbled instantly before Ai's cuteness.
Even you can't win against your favorite idol's aegyo, Aqua.
While we were having our family chat, Miyako-san, who was looking up information on her laptop, spoke.
"Family comedy time is over... First, it's a drama produced by a recently established internet TV station. It has a total of 6 episodes, and 3 have already aired. The main actors are mostly rookies, and for a drama production, the scale is a bit on the small side."
Certainly, the information I briefly read before coming here indicated the scale was quite small.
"And they say Aqua is the villain appearing in the final episode?"
A villain, huh...
"It suits him. He has an evil face."
"Shut up."
Ruby, you shouldn't say that. You and Aqua are twins, you know.
"Can we watch that drama?"
Since Ai and I arrived just as we were planning to watch it...
"Since it's a net TV drama, we can watch it right now."
"I wanna watch, I wanna watch!!"
"Ai too!!"
Of course, I wanted to see it too, and Aqua, seemingly curious as well, cautiously approached and sat next to me.
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