The Next Morning
Akira sat by the table, scrolling through the internet on his laptop.
Meanwhile, Ai watched TV — lazily munching on chips.
As the show progressed, a reality dating show popped up. Her eyes widened when she saw Aqua appear on-screen.
Ai turned to Akira, excitement on her face.
At the same time, they both said:
"Aqua/-kun is on a reality dating show."
They paused.
"What? Oh? You already knew?"
A brief silence followed — both turning their heads away, awkward from the jinx.
Ai took another bite of her chips, eyes glued to the screen.
Few seconds later.
Ai squinted her eyes at one of the girls on the show, recognizing her.
"Who was she again? Meh...? Mey show...? Huh?"
Akira sighed, still focused on his laptop.
"You mean Mem-cho? The YouTuber?"
Ai put a finger to her chin, thinking.
"Hmph... Oh yeah! That's her. I met her in that arcade before!"
Akira raised an eyebrow — finally looking at her.
"You did?"
Ai smiled and nodded, raising her finger like she was about to teach a lesson.
"Yup! I danced with her at the arcade, but it's not like she ever saw through my disguise—"
TV audio in background:
Mem-cho: "Whaaat? You're so handsome! I really admire actors!"
Aqua: "You're cute yourself, Mem-cho. I'm feeling all bashful now."
Ai's head snapped toward the screen, her jaw, dropping.
"What? I don't remember raising a playboy."
Akira turns his head back to the laptop — continuing his work.
"It was probably just for an act. Observing Aqua's face deeper, he looks disgusted of himself and was simply forcing himself to fit." (Akira studied psychology before )
Ai turns her head to Akira— munching on another chip.
"Should we vote him off?"
Akira sighed, face palming.
"That's not how it works, Hoshino." he said with a dry tone.
Meanwhile on the Ichigou productions building.
Miyako — explaining that Aqua was just acting to fit there.
Kana and Ruby:
"So he's just acting,huh?"
Kana turns her head to Miyako
"I know that, but—"
Silence
"At the end of this show. They will really confess their feelings and become a couple, right?" Kana's voice, soft and wary.
Miyako closed her eyes — crossing her arms.
"Yeah. Even as a formality that's probably what will happen in the plot."
Kana went silent, worried — she wrapped herself in a ball.,Whispering.
"Why would he... accept this offer?" with a hint of jealousy.
Miyako tilts her head, noticing Kana's reaction.
"But... If you continue to be an actress. Sooner or later, you'll have to do the kissing scene yourself."
Miyako turns away, walking back to her chair.
"Coming to a clean decision is part of your job. If you insist on keeping virtue in this industry, you're the one who'll suffer later."
Kana:
"I know, but –"
Meanwhile at the shooting place.
Mem-cho, showing Aqua a photo of her dog.
"So my doggy is..."
Aqua,nodding and smiling back at her
"Uh-huh."
Mem-cho shows him her phone, showing the picture of her pup.
"Take a look, isn't he adorable?"
Aqua scratches his head. Embarrassed but keeping his smile.
"He sure is."
Aqua's Thoughts
"What a pain in the ass." keeping a straight smile outside.
Aqua's thoughts:
"Why is it so hard for me to keep up with these young people's conversations? And why did I accept this offer to begin with?"
Aqua remembers Mr. Gotanda's words.
"If you appear in my show. I'll tell you Ai's inside story in detail that even her agency didn't know about. For example, Ai's relationship with men."
Aqua (thoughts):
"Anyway, I have no choice but to do this completely... Because I need the information about Ai from producer Kaburagi."
Aqua's eyes widened, still in thoughts:
"It could be a hint that leads us to our father. This is the show. They're filming."
A Few days hours before.
Director:
"You're free to talk with each other. Just be careful with the camera angles. When the cameraman gets closer, I'd like him to summarize the conversation you're having at that time.
Aqua's thoughts:
"Reality dating shows have been around for 20 years, so there is some amount of knowledge on how to get this done."
Aqua pauses for a moment, and continues:
"They're leaving the production method to each individual... While ensuring the entertainment nature of the program."
Back to the Present
Akane approaches the director slowly.
"Uhmm... Director... Is this good enough?
"Yeah, i think it is good for enough for starters" the director replied.
"But next time, I'd like you to move a little closer to him when you talk. After all, the audience wants to get excited too."
Akane whispers to herself.
"I see."
Meanwhile On Yuki and Aqua
Yuki:
"So this kind of show doesn't have any script huh? I have no idea what to talk about."
Aqua smiles at her — relating.
"Yeah, I can relate."
Aqua's thoughts:
"There aren't any scripts any scripts in reality shows...
But they do give direction to the actors. It depends on each person, whether they want to take the director's advice... And instruction, or not, though."
Yuki sighed — closing her eyes.
"I'm timid, I can't just step into the spotlight. And I'm not good at communicating either. I'll definitely live in the shadows of others."
Aqua stares at her, confused.
"Why did you take this job in the first place?"
Aqua said with a calm and curious tone.
Yuki turns her head to Aqua.
"The leading girl in my agency has never downed an offer. She'll take all the jobs that come to the office. As a result, I've always been inactive."
Yuki turns away, looking on the ground.
"It made me want to make every effort, before I knew it, Kaburagi-san offered me this job." she said — her voice, gentle but firm, as if trying to convince herself as much as Aqua.
Aqua turns away, understanding.
"I see."
Yuki smiles. Pointing her finger up —Questioning herself.
"Is that that what you call a timely offer.
Even though, I've never been in love... Nor had a boyfriend before.
Aqua smiles — still looking at the ground.
"Liar." in a teasing tone.
Yuki turns her head slightly to Aqua.
"I'm telling the truth, I'm still in my first year of highschool you know?"
"Just because we're performers doesn't mean that everyone has been in love." Yuki said gently.
"How about you? Are you interested in love?" Yuki, following up the conversation.
Aqua glances at her for a moment — then turns away. Silent for a moment, gathering up courage and turned his head back to Yuki.
"Of course I am. I'm a man after all."
Ai's figure, flashes before Aqua's eyes.
"But... I haven't been able to move on from my past love."
Meanwhile —
Ai — grabbing on branches, holding on tight. Fighting for her life.
"I already told you Akira-sama, I can do this!" catching her breathe.
"Just... A little bit more effort and we'll be fine." groaning.
Akira, standing near the top – glanced back at her.
"You'll need to eat more than that."
Aqua's voice in the background continued:
"No, Actually... I don't even know if it was love. I don't understand so I can't tell.
Akira offers Ai a hand.
"Come on."
Screen — back to Yuki
"Hm? So it's complicated" replying back at Aqua with a confused tone.
Realization hits Yuki.
Meanwhile — back to Ai.
Yuki's voice echoed faintly in the background:
"Oh, I know! Did you fall in love with your teacher or something?"
Ai's gaze locked on Akira's eyes — quiet, thoughtful.
Then she looked up at him, her breath catching ever so slightly.
Akira extended a hand, calm and steady.
"Come on. Or you'll have to start all over again."
Ai finally sets her pride away for now, she smiled, soft and grateful, and reached for his hand.
"Fine... Thanks."
Aqua's voice overlapped, from the distant present:
"You could pretty much say that."
—
At the summit, Ai stood still, her eyes widening.
Tokyo stretched out before her — endless, brilliant, alive beneath the blue sky.
"Woah..." she breathed, awestruck.
"Ai."
Akira's voice called her back — not stern, just gently grounding.
She turned to him — and her eyes landed on the pond behind him.
There, Akira sat beside the water, fingertips brushing against the delicate bloom of a white-red lotus, its petals like painted silk.
Drawn in, Ai walked over and sat beside him.
"Woah... A white-red one? Aren't those rare?"
Akira didn't look at her. He held out a small seed — slightly scarred, just beginning to sprout.
"You can plant one too," he said.
"This place is mine anyway."
Ai hesitated, unfamiliar with the act. She took a breath.
Akira, noticing her pause, moved his hand closer — his tone softer than usual.
"Come on. It's already scarred... and it's ready."
Ai carefully took the seed, studying it with wide eyes.
"When did you even get this? I never saw you have one."
Akira leaned back slightly, eyes drifting toward the pond.
"I keep one in my room," he replied — tone flat, distant. Not cold… just uninterested in explaining further.
Ai looks at the seed for a moment before handing it over to Akira.
"Mind if you teach me how to plant it?"
Akira sighed — not mad,just relieving the pain in his leg, taking the seed
"Observe, Ai."
Akira — planting it to the muddy bottom of the pond.
While planting, Ai looks at another lotus not far from where Akira's lotus floating is.
A beautiful white-blue lotus, floating gracefully in the middle.
"So... Who's lotus is that one?" pointing to the Nymphaea caerulea lotus.
Akira finished planting Ai's
"I'd rather not tell." His gaze fell on the white-blue lotus —
his eyes softened, shadowed by something unreadable, like a memory too precious to speak of... or too painful.
Ai understood it's something personal and didn't question further — she closed her eyes and then turns to Akira, smiling.
"Thank you for sharing this with me, Akira-sama." she said, greatfully, gently and soft.
Akira glances at her for a second — then turning back to the lotus's.
Back to Yuki and Aqua.
"In that case you have to get over it, huh?"
"Did you know know that the couple from the last seasos... Kiss in the end?
Aqua glances at her slightly — confused of the topic.
"Well, I did my research."
Yuki tilts her head, smiling at Aqua.
"I was worried about whether or not could I find a nice guy here, but..."
Yuki leans in closer to Aqua's ear, whispering.
"If it was you, I might as well kiss, after all."
Aqua turns her head to Yuki, unsure of how to react.
"Wha—"
Yuki:
"Behind us. There is a cameraman filming. Don't look at the camera. I'm sure they'll use this cut." Yuki said softly.
Yuki turns around — walking away.
"Let's get along."
Aqua looks at her, still confused of the things that just happened.
Aqua's thoughts:
"She has a good personality, but she's not timid at all." the wind, howling.
"This is definetely... A reality show."