The next morning, the sunlight streamed through the small window of the cabin, casting a warm glow on the rustic interior. Aiko stretched lazily, enjoying the rare tranquility that surrounded them. She felt Ryo's arm draped over her, his warmth a comforting presence beside her. As she turned to face him, she found him already awake, his gaze fixed intently on something across the room.
Curiosity piqued, Aiko followed his line of sight to the far wall where a slightly tattered poster hung. It was an old one, clearly a relic from years past, depicting a young woman with bright eyes and a radiant smile. The colors had faded with time, but the energy of the image was still palpable.
"What are you looking at?" Aiko asked, her voice still soft with sleep.
Ryo blinked as if snapped out of a trance. He glanced at Aiko, a small, sheepish smile playing on his lips. "Oh, it's nothing special. I'm just… enjoying the view."
Aiko narrowed her eyes at him, sensing there was more to it than he was letting on. "Don't lie," she teased, nudging him with her elbow. "Just spit it out already."
Ryo chuckled, running a hand through his hair as he glanced back at the poster. "Well, if you must know, that's Sumire Hoshino. She was my favorite idol back in the day. I used to be a huge fan of hers when I was younger."
Aiko's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Sumire Hoshino? The legendary idol? I didn't know you were into that kind of thing," she said with a playful smirk.
Ryo shrugged, his smile widening. "What can I say? I was a teenager with a crush. Her music, her energy… it was infectious. She had this way of making you feel like anything was possible."
Aiko studied the poster more closely, noticing the way Ryo's expression softened as he talked about Sumire. There was a certain lightness in his eyes that she hadn't seen in a while, a reminder of a simpler time before life became so complicated.
"You know," Aiko began thoughtfully, "I could be an idol too."
Ryo turned to her, his eyes widening slightly in surprise. "You? An idol?"
"Why not?" Aiko said with a grin, sitting up and tossing her hair back dramatically. "I've got the looks, the charm, and the voice. Plus, if it makes you smile like that, it's worth a shot."
Ryo laughed, the sound rich and full of warmth. "I'd pay good money to see that."
Aiko playfully punched his shoulder. "You think I'm joking, but I'm serious! Maybe this is exactly what I need—a new challenge, something exciting and different. Besides, I bet I could be even better than Sumire Hoshino."
Ryo leaned back, propping himself up on his elbows as he looked at her with a mixture of amusement and admiration. "You're really serious about this, aren't you?"
Aiko nodded, her eyes sparkling with a newfound determination. "Why not? Life's too short to play it safe all the time. And I've always loved singing. Maybe it's time I take it to the next level."
Ryo's smile softened, and he reached out to take her hand. "If anyone can do it, it's you, Aiko. You've got the talent and the drive. And I'll be your number one fan, just like I was with Sumire."
Aiko's heart fluttered at his words. There was something about Ryo's unwavering support that made her believe she could do anything.
As they sat there, a new dream began to take shape in Aiko's mind. The idea of becoming an idol wasn't just about the glitz and glamour it was about finding a part of herself that had been buried under the weight of recent events.
"Watch out, world," Aiko declared with a grin. "Sumire Hoshino better step aside, because Aiko is about to take center stage!"