/Ai Pov/
Location: Akari's House
Okay, to sum everything up, my Son Aqua tried to kill my ex-boyfri-
Wait no, I mean that frustrating jerk, Hikaru, who planned my entire death! Not only that, but he's a member of a shadowy organization that kills people?!
*Sigh* Anyway, I was sitting in my baby chair, listening in on their chat. I couldn't forgive myself when I discovered they had sacrificed their happiness for my sake. I wished that I could talk, but being in this baby body that is only around 3 months old prevents them from understanding me. I wished to see them smile as they used to.
It's all my fault. I assumed they were doing well because I worked so hard to provide for their education and had committed their safety to my boss and his wife. So I assumed they were fine without me... But I was wrong.
And when I found out that Akari will be assisting them in pursuing their vengeance. I was concerned because I wanted my children to be happy and not waste their lives seeking revenge. And when I found out that Akari would also do it, I felt even more guilty. Because of me, they are all like this. It hurts...
Not only that, but they are all endangering their own lives. The Grim beepers? Dreadful leapers? I can't believe I still have trouble remembering names. Anyway, Hikaru is a member of them, and they have killed many people.
I wish... I wish I hadn't been born so they wouldn't have had to go through this. I wish my children were born to someone else's child rather than mine... Or maybe I shouldn't have done it...!
{Don't even think about it, Ai!}
Uhk! My head hurts. I-It's fuzzy, who...is that?
{Ai!}
Who are you?
{Ai!}
Why do you look so-
"Ai!", as I blinked my eyes to clear the fuzziness, the familiar face of Akari emerged before me.
"Is she alright? She seems to be in pain," Ruby inquired, moving closer with concern etched on her face.
Was that a dream?
"What could have caused her pain? Did I feed her something bad?" Akari worriedly wondered as she carefully lifted me into her arms.
As I glimpsed the concern in her eyes, a wave of worry washed over me as well.
Ugk! The pain is still there. I need to work on controlling my emotions a lot more. Looking at their expressions, it appears that I did something to cause them great concern. But... Who was that person? All I could remember was her crying right in front of me, but her face was too hazy for me to recall. Ahk!
My brain began to ache the more I tried to remember.
"I guess you need to go and take care of her now," Aqua gently suggests, noticing Akari's evident concern. "We'll be on our way now. And thank you for the meal, by the way."
Akane offers a slight bow as a sign of gratitude and says, "Thank you for everything."
Kana waves her hand as she heads out the door and says, "Thank you!"
Before Ruby heads out the door, she leans closer to me and whispers, "Be good to your mom, okay? You're so cute!"
I couldn't help but giggle in my head when she said it. I've been saying Ruby is adorable since she was a baby. And now the tables have turned, tee-hee.
As Aqua was about to leave, Akari hurriedly approached him and grabbed onto his shirt from behind, saying, "Don't forget to come back in three days for a check-up, alright?"
Aqua reassures her, "Don't worry, I won't forget. And next time we come, we'll bring a gift for Ai."
Akari smiles and reminds him, "Hehe, thanks. Make sure to change your bandage daily," she points at Aqua's injured shoulder, looking genuinely concerned.
Aqua chuckles and reassures her, "I will, don't worry."
I noticed Aqua looking a little better than usual, which made me wonder what kind of feelings he displayed before Akari intervened. All I heard was that he was blinded by vengeance, therefore he must've treated people coldly, right? Though they are all aiming to find Hikaru, which makes me sad, I suppose I should be grateful that I can see my children this close. I'm sure not everyone has this opportunity.
Ruby calls out to Aqua from the house gate, her voice filled with impatience, "Come on, brother! What's taking you so long?"
Aqua responds with a smile, "I'm on my way!"
Akari smiled warmly as she witnessed Aqua's relief as his sister shouted out to him.
Aqua is coming to our house in three days because Akari will be the one who treats his wounds. Because if Aqua goes to the hospital, many people will begin to question his injury, thus endangering his career. Ruby, Akane, and Kana will also visit us in three days due to their busy schedules for the movie's fan meet. Though I'm disappointed that I won't be able to see them for three days, I suppose it's understandable given that they're all celebrities now.
I'm actually thrilled that Aqua became an actor and that Ruby, like me, became an idol! Is it possible that I'm a psychic? Or...maybe it's because I'm overconfident that my children, like me, have incredible talent! HAHAHA!
As they all left, Akari took me to my room, laid me in my crib, and began checking to see if there was anything wrong with me. I realized how worried she was and began to smile and giggle to make her feel better.
Observing my content expression, she smiled and inquired, "You look happy. Do you like being with them?"
I kept on smiling and waving my baby arms.
Akari giggles and settles into a chair beside the crib. Her eyes are filled with warmth and love as she looks at me. She speaks softly, "Your name really surprised them. The way the twins reacted shows how much they care about you. I shouldn't have interfered, as I'm sure Ai wouldn't want them risking their lives, especially after I told them about the Grim Reapers."
Oh, so it's called the Grim Reapers, I'll try to remember that.
Akari's smile slowly fades, and a hint of determination appears on her face. She speaks with conviction, "But I, too, want revenge for Ai."
I became concerned, and seeing her make those faces made my heart hurt even more.
"Why do I go so far for Ai? Well... Ai just means so much to me. Pfft, I'm really saying all this to a baby."
Did I really make that much of an impact to my fans?
The more I thought about it, the more I realized how much I am appreciated by fans like Akari. I was the one who stood on stage, therefore I had no idea how my fans felt until that day. I was hurt when my fan killed me because I deceived them. It made me wonder if all of my fans are like that...
But, considering how Akari loves my past self, the idol Ai. I suppose in the end I did also make some people happy. It's also been a long time since I've been a fan of an ido-
Huh?
A thought occurred to me.
Wait, I don't recall ever being a fan of anyone in my previous life. When Boss invited me to become an idol, I wasn't even excited. So, what made me say that?
{Ai, look! I got a new magazine of our favorite idol!}
Aghk! My head...
Why does my head hurt every time I try to remember something? Let's not think about it any longer, or I'll worry Akari even more.
I noticed the sadness on Akari's face, and she made a heartfelt promise, saying, "Ai, I promise to protect them and bring back the happiness you brought to their lives."
W-What?
Tears started falling from my eyes. I started crying, and crying and I didn't know why.
Why am I crying? Stop crying Ai!
"Oh no, calm down," Akari says as she notices me crying, "that's why people say that if you say sad things to a baby, they will cry."
Akari begins singing the same lullaby she has always used to calm me.
I believed she told them all for vengeance, but it was also to get closer to them and bring back the smile they had lost. Akari, you're really nice.
Thank you... Akari.
__________
/Narrator's Pov/
Date: 2 Days after meeting Akari
Location: Strawberry Productions building.
"Don't go, Kana!" Ruby exclaimed, her voice filled with a mix of pleading and sadness. She clung onto Kana's arm tightly, pouting with a hint of desperation on the couch.
"I'm not going anywhere, Ruby! So, can you please let me go?" Kana pleaded, gently trying to remove Ruby's grip from her arm.
"Kana, Ruby wants you to keep being an idol. She doesn't want you to quit," Mem-Cho explained, trying to clear things up.
Kana sighed and met Ruby's gaze. "Listen, Ruby, I want to pursue acting, not being an idol. It's just not the right path for me, and I didn't become an idol by choice anyway."
Kana remembered when Aqua had begged her to be an idol. "(But, honestly, I only did it for him at first. Acting makes me happier than being an idol. I want to do what truly makes me happy.)"
Kana stands up abruptly and points at Ruby, asking, "What would you do if someone tried to make you do something against your will? Would you listen?"
Ruby stammers, "N-No, I wouldn't..."
"See? So quit pouting and go find a new member for the group to replace me," Kana then looks at Miyako, who is in charge of Strawberry Productions and also took care of Ruby and Aqua when Ai died. Kana then asks, "Have you thought about who will be the person to replace me?"
After Miyako set her coffee down on the table, she responded, "It's quite challenging to find someone, especially since B-Komachi is already so popular."
Mem-Cho then inquired, "Why is it difficult?"
"Well, it would take a lot of time because many people would definitely want to be a part of the B-Komachi group. Not only that, but if that member isn't that good, not only she will get backlash, but the entire group will," Miyako responds.
Mem-Cho exclaimed in surprise, "So there's a risk of our entire group failing?"
Miyako agreed and added, "Yes, there's a big chance that the group might not do well. Plus, the new member could get a lot of hate because people will compare her to Kana who was the center of the group before."
Kana scoffed and remarked, "I suppose I was too good as the center."
"What confidence!" Mem-Cho exclaimed, while Ruby nodded in agreement.
Miyako sighed, "Anyway, we have almost 10,000 applicants who want to join. It's going to take a while to pick one from such a large pool."
Mem-Cho stammered, "T-Ten thousand? Th-That's a huge number!"
Kana exclaimed, "What the heck?! That's an overwhelming number of people!"
"Here are some application forms I received last week; you can go and see if there is anyone who piques your interest," Miyako said, placing the paperwork on the table for everyone to view.
Mem-Cho, Kana, and Miyako were talking about the new member when Aqua barges in unexpectedly.
"What's going on?" Aqua asked, noticing the commotion as he stepped into the room.
Miyako explained, "We're in the process of finding a new member to replace Kana."
Aqua's response was nonchalant as he said, "I see." Then he shifted his gaze to Ruby and inquired, "Will Ruby be the new center of the group now?"
Kana chimed in, "Well, Ruby has gained quite a bit of fame, and her singing has improved, so I suppose she will be the new center of the group now."
Ruby exclaimed, her face turning red, "Me? The center?!"
Aqua nodded and suggested, "It's best if you officially announce Ruby as the new center, so that the fans won't speculate about the new member of B-Komachi."
Miyako pondered for a moment and responded, "Hmm, then let's make the announcement immediately. It's been months since Kana revealed her leave from B-Komachi, so I'm sure the fans are eager for some updates."
Ruby abruptly stood up and exclaimed, "W-W-Wait! Wait! Wait! You didn't even ask for my opinion!"
Aqua looked at Ruby and smiled, saying, "Didn't you once mention that you wanted to be the center of an idol group when you were younger?"
Ruby notices and remembers her previous life when she informed Garou Sensei, the doctor in charge of her, that when she grows up, she wants to be the center of an idol group.
Ruby smiles, reflecting on her thoughts, "(It's been a few months since Aqua and I discovered our past lives. I'm grateful that he continues to support me no matter the circumstances. Having someone I cherish by my side brings me great happiness. Although I had romantic feelings for him in our past lives, I'm content that he is my brother now.)"
Ruby sits down feeling embarrassed and stutters, "Well... I did say I wanted to, so I guess it's alright for me," everyone starts laughing at her reaction. Ruby suddenly turns to Kana and asks, "It's alright with you, right? For me to take the center role..."
Kana happily replies, "Of course! But don't you think you should also ask Mem-Cho if she wants to be the center?"
Ruby realizes her oversight and quickly turns to Mem-Cho, "I'm sorry, Mem-Cho! I didn't mean to forget about you. Do you want to be the center too?"
Mem-Cho stutters, "N-No, it's fine! I don't want to be the center. It's too much pressure for me, hehe."
Miyako suddenly claps her hands and declares, "Alright then! It's settled. Ruby will be the new center of B-Komachi!"
Everyone started clapping and cheering for Ruby. But Aqua reminded them, "We still need to find someone to replace Kana."
The others groaned in response.
Kana browses through the applications, pondering, "Uhh, but who would be a good fit?"
As Aqua searched through the bags and cabinets, he couldn't find what he was looking for. He turned to Miyako and asked, "Do you happen to know where my bandage is?"
Miyako responded, "Oh, I thought you would change at the house, so I left it there. By the way, are you going to meet the person who treated you tomorrow?"
Aqua nodded and replied, "Yes, we're all going there tomorrow to have a discussion."
Mem-Cho's eyes widened as she expressed her frustration. "How about me? You guys are keeping so many secrets from me! Just two days ago, I found Aqua injured and overheard you talking about this girl whose name I don't even know! All I know is that she saved Aqua from that serial killer dude," Mem-cho pouts.
Aqua pov, "(Umm, it's actually me who was about to kill him.)"
Miyako sighed and replied, "I understand your concerns, Mem-Cho. Let's prioritize your well-being for now. We'll take you to the hospital and get you checked up."
Aqua then explained, "You know I can't go to the hospital. If I do, I'll be questioned and potentially arrested for attempted murder."
Miyako gave Aqua a cold glare and said, "But wasn't putting yourself in prison part of your plan all along?"
Everyone was startled by Miyako's comment, their faces filled with surprise and concern. Aqua, however, remained composed, though a hint of sadness flickered in his eyes.
Aqua's mind wandered, realizing the lingering effects of his past actions. He couldn't help but feel a pang of regret for leaving Miyako with an unsettling letter before he embarked on his mission to confront Hikaru. The weight of her worry weighed heavy on his heart.
Aqua's expression turned somber as he spoke from the depths of his remorse, "I know I've said it before, but I genuinely mean it—I'm truly sorry for my past actions, and I promise I won't repeat them."
Mem-Cho pov, "(I shouldn't have said those words. Aqua is already going through a tough time since his mom died. I'm just a bit sad that I don't really know anything. When I saw Ruby got that letter and read it with her, I found out that everyone knew what was going on with Aqua except me. Am I really just nothing but a member of B-Komachi?)"
Miyako apologized, "I'm sorry too. If you trust that girl, I'll trust her too." She smiled and patted Aqua's head, which made him smile.
Kana clapped her hands and exclaimed, "Alright! Let's stop with the gloomy atmosphere and start looking for a new member to replace me so that I can go home! Hmph."
Aqua chuckled quietly, grateful for Kana's intervention.
Everyone then began to examine the applications, looking for the ideal candidate.
Ruby started contemplating the qualities they were looking for in a new member. "(Someone with a great voice like Kana, who is also attractive and has a magnetic personality. Someone with a radiant aura that will captivate people's hearts. That way, they won't be easily criticized.)"
Ruby then comes to a realization.
Ruby pouts, "(AHH! That person can only appear once in a billion years! The only person I know who has that exceptional personality and talent is Mama! Ugh, how can I find someone who is just like her... Just... like... her...)"
Then, a thought entered Ruby's mind.
Ruby suddenly stood up, capturing everyone's attention. "I KNOW!" she exclaimed.
Kana get's startled and ask, "What do you mean by, 'I know'?"
Ruby rushes over to them and exclaims, "I know the perfect person who could replace Kana! That person literally has all the characteristics of an idol, and she also reminds me a lot of Ai!"
Aqua recognizes what Ruby is talking about but continues to ask, "W-Wait, you don't mean?"
Ruby says with a joyful grin, "Yep! The one who is most suitable to replace Kana is...
"Akari!"
*Achoo!*
"(I think someone is talking about me)", Akari wonders as she sweeps the floor.
"(Akari's sneeze sounds so cute!)" says Ai, smiling.