He let out a sigh.
As I struggled to sort out my confused thoughts from the sudden information about the girl and calm my rising emotions, I was left sitting dazedly in the living room, unable to do anything for almost two hours.
"Shooting starts the very next day, so what am I supposed to do with this kind of information?"
I tried to push the thought from my mind—wouldn't it have been enough to tell me after the shooting?—as I checked the things I needed to prepare in advance.
Even to prepare for any unforeseen situations, since Ai probably wouldn't keep to such behavior given her personality, I felt it was crucial for me to know properly.
If an accident happened because of Ai, I'd feel sorry for the broadcast staff in more ways than one.
"There aren't any particularly problematic behaviors... but maybe it's better to refrain from excessive skinship on the shooting day?"
No, from the staff's perspective, they might even encourage it.
"Well, I guess understanding this much is enough." He let out a sigh. "My head's a mess; maybe I'll go get some air."
I threw the paper I was holding onto the table, dressed roughly, and decided to go outside.
Fortunately, the area around my house was mostly inhabited by company personnel, so even wandering alone didn't attract much attention, and the occasional greetings from employees on break were mostly light acknowledgments.
"The best place to catch your breath is definitely this park."
The place I had come to was the center of the lake park, with a gentle lake in view. Whenever I came here and looked at the lake, for some reason, I felt inexplicably at ease.
Especially at sunset, viewing the scene with the twilight could even be quite moving.
He sighed. "What should I do from now on?"
Too many things are happening that I don't know about.
Not only that, but the memories I knew are gradually fading away.
If things continue like this, I might not be able to protect my 'family' when something truly dangerous happens.
What should I do?
I don't want to lose my family 'again'.
I don't want to lose my family pointlessly a second time.
He sighed. "Sighing like this won't solve anything, but for some reason today, I don't want to think about anything."
But the moment you stop thinking, you can't grow, so you have no choice but to rack your brains even more, right?
"Grr...!! Well, I guess I'll be satisfied with this much moping around?"
If someone caught me, nearly 30 years old, moping around like this, I'd be so embarrassed I couldn't show my face.
Just as I was about to head back home, I felt someone's gaze on me, and when I turned to where it was coming from.
"Ah."
"Hey there, junior?"
There, the 'senior' I absolutely didn't want to see me like this was looking at me with an expression that seemed to say 'I know everything~'.
[I'm done for.]
Immediately, I turned and ran, but within less than five minutes, I was caught by the senior's hand and ended up being sat back down in the spot where I had been moping.
"There, there, our junior, why were you moping around like that?"
"Ugh... Do I have to say?"
Seriously, I don't want to say anything. If it's okay with you, can I go back home?
"Not a chance."
"How!?"
My inner thoughts!?
"Other people might not, but who do you think is the person who has worked with you the most in the company?"
"Ahaha... That's true."
Now that I think about it, in the company, I had always worked more with the senior. Although most of it was ordered by President Kuma.
"Now, now, so shall we start with a consultation on why our junior was moping like that?"
He sighed.
There's no helping it. If the senior is like this, there's no way for me to stop her. Well, maybe it's better to just talk with an open heart.
"Senior, in the company, the person who has worked with me the most is only you."
"Then~ of course I know. Well, that President Kuma naturally paired us up~"
"That's part of it, but the biggest reason is."
Because we're both crazy bitches with similar personalities, probably. I didn't say that, but the senior seemed to understand what I was about to say just from my expression.
"That's right~ To be honest, working with you, junior, is when I feel most at ease. Having a junior who understands everything without me having to hide my true feelings is so comfortable~"
"I feel the same. But the most similar point is."
""An excessive obsession with family.""
"For me, as always, the safety of Ai, Aqua, and Ruby."
"For me, the safety of my husband who loves me."
""For that, we could even kill people without hesitation, right?""
"Hmm, the reason you brought this up suddenly is because you're worried about having to deal with someone?"
"No, it's not exactly that. But...."
Whether I can protect my family in situations where I don't know what will happen in the future.
"Hmm~ Wouldn't it be okay to leave worrying about the future to future you?"
"What?"
Even so, isn't that too irresponsible?
"If you don't feel it's irresponsible, then it's fine, isn't it? From the start, even at this moment, we don't know what will happen, so worrying about a future that hasn't even occurred seems like a useless thing, at least in this senior's opinion."
"That's... true, but."
It's such a sound argument that I have nothing to say.
"Our junior has softened up a lot~ If it were the old days, you probably wouldn't have worried like this."
"Well, isn't it better to live a bit more comfortably after having a family?"
After all, I never expected that the twins Ai was carrying would be my children, so I couldn't help but be sensitive.
"And it's not just me who has softened; hasn't senior become much gentler too?"
How surprised all the executives who had seen the senior from the old days were when she said she was getting married.
"Ufufu. People say everyone changes, right? And someone said that the most change happens when you fall in 'love,' which seems true, doesn't it?"
"That's right."
After all, I never expected that the child I initially took care of out of sympathy would at some point bear my child, and at some point, the feelings I felt for her would change from mere sympathy to love.
This is why they say no one knows how things will turn out in the world.
"Well then, have your worries been somewhat resolved?"
"I'm not sure. But to this extent."
It seems sufficient.
"Aish~ Since I still have to look after you, our junior will always be the junior."
"But now that I'm approaching my thirties, being treated like a kid is a bit..."
"Once a junior, always a junior~"
Haah... It seems I'll be the junior until a new executive joins.
Well, not that a new executive would be chosen so easily in the first place.
What's the conclusion? It just means I'll be the junior until the other seniors retire.
"But if it gets too hard, you can always rely on us, you know."
"........I'll do that."
"Fufu, then this meddler will excuse herself first. And from Friday, I should look after Aqua-kun and Ruby-chan, right?"
"Yes, apparently they'll be setting up the cameras from Friday evening."
"Mmm, it'll be two fun days~"
"Haha... Please don't torment Aqua too much."
"Torment? It's just because Aqua-kun, who's still a high school student but acts mature, is cute~"
"Haha..."
If I consider Aqua's past life, he's probably older than me or the senior now, I think.
"Then let's meet tomorrow~ I'll specially come to pick you up~"
"Understood. Be careful on your way home."
Leaving behind the senior's back as she hummed and walked away, I also returned home with my thoughts somewhat sorted thanks to her.
At home, Ai, who had returned from her schedule, was waiting for me, and thanks to that, I had to hold Ai in my arms all day until Aqua and Ruby came, but at this moment, I thought I was happier than anyone else.
"Ai."
"Hmm? What's wrong, Yume~?"
I hugged Ai in my arms even tighter and whispered carefully into her ear.
"I really love you."
"Hehe... I love you too, Yume~!!"
It seems I'm an incurable lover after all.
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