Ai raised her arms – stretching – looking at the view on top of the mountain.
"Ahh! It's so windy up here!"
She turns to Akira – Akira, feeding fishes in a pond.
Ai:
"They'll get dependent if you keep doing that." she said with a dry tone lowering her shoulders.
Akira stood up, finished, brushing his hands off.
"It's only the third time I did that ever since I lived here, so don't worry." he replied in a casual tone.
Ai looks at him – huff.
"Whatever, let's go to the town, I want breakfast there."
They walked down to town.
Ai is ahead of Akira.
Akira – hands on the pocket.
"Tired if Italian foods already?"
Ai sighed.
"It's not like that, I mean. I just wanna eat something new rather than just those."
Akira in a bored tone.
"È convincente" (Convincing enough)
Ai turns her head to Akira, unimpressed.
"Show off."
6 Minutes Later.
Ai stops in a nearby rock, sitting.
"Hah! This is tiring." closing her eyes, she looked up at the sky, catching her breathe.
Akira who kept walking down the mountain. Leaving Ai behind.
"Considering that, you were already walking down hill and still get tired."
Ai opens her eyes – turning her head to Akira – she saw him not even waiting for her this time. She runs up to him, jumping on his back. Akira was caught off guard but catched her legs, and continued walking.
Ai:
"I told you to wait for me!!" she said with a mix of frustration and playfulness.
Akira, not glancing at her.
"I never heard you did." he said in a casual tone
Ai pouts, hitting his back playfully with a little hint of annoyance.
They arrived at the town.
Ai entered a small shokudō run by an elderly couple. The old woman behind the counter waved cheerfully.
"Oh! Airi-chan, Akira-kun! Welcome back!"
(In this town, Ai was known as "Airi-san" or simply "A-san" — the mysterious girl who always wore a hat and glasses.)
Ai smiled and waved back.
"Hello, Mio-san! We'd like a rice egg and a miso soup, please!"
"Okay! Coming right up!" Mio beamed.
She turned her head toward the kitchen.
"Hotaru, darling-sama! Two rice egg sets and two miso soups for our first customers!"
"Yes~!" came Hotaru's cheerful voice from the back.
Ai and Akira took a seat near the window.
Ai leaned her chin into her palm, elbow resting on the table, gazing out the window and admiring the greenery.
"I remember the first time you brought me here... Akira-sama."
Akira flipped through a newspaper without looking up.
"Why bring that up?"
Ai smiled gently, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"Well... a lot of things has happened to me. And this is the first time in my life I've ever really felt peace—without the pressure of being an idol."
"It's like... my death and your revival of me were both a blessing and a burden. I got to rest... but vanish in the public's eye."
Mio returned with their meals, placing them gently on the table.
"Here's your food, Airi-chan~" she said with a warm smile.
"Thank you, Mio-san," Ai replied with a bright smile as she took the tray.
Mio placed Akira's tray next and then leaned in, whispering into his ear with a sly grin
"It's been twelve years now... Are you sure she's just your roommate? Really,really and very sure??"
Akira sighed, eyes still on his newspaper. He whispered back calmly
"I've already told you, Mio-san... she's just like a daughter-friend to me."
He glanced at Ai, who had her hands together in prayer over the meal, then began eating quietly.
Meanwhile on the Entertainment Department
Ruby Enters her classroom– looking left and right, admiring the other students.
"Beauties on my right. Hotties on my left!"
Ruby went blank.
"Even if it is the entertainment department, I thought it might be relatively blah."
"Boy, was I wrong?"
"This is clearly nothing like my local middle school!"
Ruby slowly and shyly walks to her sit.
"That said...I've got mom's genes. I'm not below in looks in this entertainment department."
Ruby sat at her chair.
"I refuse to be dazzled."
Ruby notices one of her classmates beside her, gazing at her. She looks at her chest.
"Wow, hat girl... Just wow!"
"Oh, I'm sorry about that, it's just that... You're very pretty ya' know?" the girls said.
Ruby shakes her head.
"No,no. You're beautiful yourself. Are you a model?"
The girl scratches her cheek shyly.
"Well, gee, I guess I am."
The girl introduces herself.
"I am Minami Kotobuki. Nice to meet ya."
Ruby searches her up in the internet.
"Oh, you're a pin-up girl?"
The Women was embarrassed, smiling gently to ease the embarrassment.
"Ain't it a bit inhumane to search me up in front of my face?"
Ruby eyes widened as she scrolls further.
"Woah, a g-cup! These are sexy."
Minami raises her hands, waving them in embarrassment.
"Stop it!" in a embarrassed tone.
Ruby turns her head to Minami and asked.
"This is my first time hearing a genuine Kansai Accent. You from Osaka?"
"The way I talk is just a uh... A vibe." Minami replied.
"WHAT!? i IT'S FAKE?" Ruby shouts.
Hours later.
Ruby points her hands to Minami, introducing her to Aqua.
"... And just like that, me and Minami-chan became friends."
Aqua sighed in relief.
"Well, I'm glad you're making friends."
"How about you, did you make friends, Onii-chan?" Ruby asked.
Aqua went silent for a moment.
"I'm not going to this school to make friends, after all."
Ruby looks at him in disgust.
"Oh... He didn't make any friends."
Ruby slightly turns away.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked. We don't have to talk about what happens in class."
Aqua turns at Ruby, Annoyed.
"Look, I did find people to talk to, all right!?"
"Guys don't acknowledge people as friends right off the bat."
"In the first place, unlike your program, the Gen-ed department starts in middle school. It's not like i'm all by myself here. Got it?"
Ruby looks at him with confusion and concern.
"You really just got talkative."
She then turns her head to Minami.
"Minami-chan, please be Aqua's friend, okay?"
Minami chuckles shyly.
"Ah haha, well... Sure I can."
Aqua turns to Ruby with a serious tone, Saying.
"Worry about yourself, not me. This is a unique environmen. It's not what you're used to."
"That's so true. Knowin' everybody else is a pro... Makes me pretty nervous." Minami replied.
Ruby turns her head to Minami, Assuring her.
"There's no need for that. This isn't a training school or a film studio. It's a regular school. Just be yourself."
"Ruby-chan..." Minami whispers, touched by her words.
Aqua sighed. crossing his arms.
"Those words sounds awfully familiar. Well there were plenty good-looking people at the entrance ceremony... But only a couple I'd seen before."
He turns to Ruby
"You don't have to be so nervous."
"No..." Ruby whispers.
Ruby:
"There was one person. Somebody incredible."
Lately, on Ruby's room.
Teacher:
"All right, let's begin our first class–"
???:
"I'm sorry. I had a live promo broadcast this morning... I wanted to make it to the entrance ceremony."
All students turned their heads to the door, revealing Frill Shiranui. The famous young actor, a multi-talenter.
Back to the present.
"Frill Shiranui was there!" Ruby said excitingly.
"She scored a huge hit in that primetime drama. A multi talent who can sing, dance and act."
"When people hear the term "Beautiful Girl" she's the first person that comes to mind for basically everyone!!! "
Aqua tries to recall his memories.
"I know who she is."
Ruby clasps her hand together.
"I didn't know you were into her, though. She's my biggest fave right now."
Aqua turns away.
"hmm"
Ruby leans in closer to him, annoyed.
" "Hmm?" He says! This is theFRILL SHIRANUI, okay!?"
Aqua in a casual tone.
" I don't care. My biggest fave is Ai. Always been and always will be."
Back to Akira's house.
Ai choking after eating some buldak black noodles.
"Akira-sama... Ack! Give me some water or milk!!
Coughs wildly.
Akira calmy gives her his 1 liter bottle, and fills Ai's bottle too.
"I told you, yet you insist."
Back to Aqua and Ruby
Ruby was silent for a moment. Calming down.
"Yeah, same here, but... this is different!"
Ruby noticed Frill walking near them and points her out.
"Ohh... See! There's the real one right there!"
Ruby's thoughts:
"Hah, even from here, she's cute." she whisper among herself, clutching her cheeks and twisting her uncontrollably in excitement.
Aqua turns his head slightly to Ruby.
"You really are just a fan. She's your classmate right?"
Ruby:
"Yes, but–"
Aqua approached Frill, greeting her.
"Hello Shiranui-san."
Ruby was in deep embarrassment and shock.
"Hey!"
Aqua:
"My little sister's in your class. I hope you'll be her friend."
Frill pauses for a moment.
"I know you... Are you the one who was in Sweet's today?"
Aqua was embarrassed, but keeps his composure.
"... You know about that? That's impressive. It didn't exactly blow up."
Frill, tilts her head, not glancing.
"i heard people talking about it... So I watched it."
Aqua eyes widened.
".... Thank you."
Frill notices Minami's presence.
"Oh, I've seen you on the cover of mid jump."
"Minami-san, Isn't it?"
Minami claims it nervously.
"It sure is."
Ruby was in deep shock, covering her mouth.
"Woah! Frill Shiranui knows both of them."
Frill approaches Ruby closer.
"And you are?"
"I'm sorry what do you do?"
Ruby was caught off guard and starts stuttering in embarrassment and guilt.
"I... Uhh... Right now, not very much..." feeling like a Commoner.
Frill tilts her head.
"I see. Uhm...Good luck?"
After school. Evening.
Ruby:
"Miyae-mooon! Make me an idol stat!"
Miyako ducks her head slightly.
"Don't rush me. We can't say we are forming a group... and then jump straight to the auditions."
Miyako look at the ceiling.
"There are some procedures to follow. If we're going to make a proper group, we have to hire proper scouts and so on."
"But at this rate." Ruby cries, imagining her classmates gossiping about her as a Commoner.
"AT THIS RATE THEY'RE GONNA BULLY ME!"
Miyako lays her cheek on her cheek. Frustrated.
"Cute girls aren't that easy to find."
"Most of the one who's be interested gets snapped up in the major label's auditions."
Ruby tries to make way, raising her finger, pointing out to Minami.
"There us this girl names Minami Kotobuki-chan in the Entertainment Department , she cute. And got gigantamongous chest..."
Miyako was caught off guard and couldn't help but deny.
"And an agency, right? We can't use her."
"It would be one thing if she was free-lance... But we don't need some fight with some other agency."
Aqua suddenly spoke up.
"If you want free-lancers... We know somebody."
Ruby and Miyako turns their head to Aqua, curious.
Aqua, eyes on the book he's reading.
"She's free-lance, her name sells, but she doesn't have much work.... And she's cute." (referring to Kana Arima.)
Meanwhile on a mochi shop
Ai eats her bag of mochi, holding her cheeks in sweetness, savoring the taste.
"It's so sweet. This for sure will ease the spice lately."
Akira facepalmed – sighed.