"I'm not an enemy. Please, calm down." Aqua said gently to Akane — covering her head from the rain with his hand.
Akane was all confused. Full of questions. She stutters.
"Aqua-kun... Why?"
"Mem called me. She said that you went out in the middle of the storm.... and hadn't returned yet. She's been looking for you."
Aqua paused —
"So I followed the route to the convenience store and..."
Aqua's eyes relaxed — relieved from stress.
"You fool."
Akane looks away — Ashamed of her actions and started crying.
"Uh... ah..."
A security arrive, spotting them both.
"Hey, you two! It's dangerous there!"
The Security guard paused for a moment — Eyes widened.
"What are you doing?" referring to Aqua
Meanwhile — Ichigou's Production Dormantory
"Akane Kurokawa is getting tons of haters, huh? It's not a suprise considering what she did, though." Kana said, uninterested.
Ruby stops sipping on her drinks for a sec — then turns her to head Kana, confused.
"I thought those who are in the spotlight were used to this kind of things?"
Kana closes her eyes — crossing her arms.
"More or less, but each person is different if you're not used to it, you can never be."
Kana stares at he ceiling. In deep thought — her voice, gentler.
"It happened to me, too. Depending on my mental state, there are times I just want to die."
She paused —
"Even more so... We are talking about a naive girl who just got exposed to a stream of insults for the first time here. I'm sure you can't imagine how this has affected her mental state."
Kana eyes went blank — in dark thoughts.
"She's probably hallucinating right now, thinking that her life is over."
Miyako approaches them from behind — then said.
"Reality dating shows are popular all over the world. But nearly 50 people committed suicide because of it."
Miyako looks up, recalling memories.
"In some countries, the law even requires counseling for the performers."
Kana turns her head to Miyako, replying —
"The fact that 50 people have died means that... Three at ten times as .any people haven't... but you shouldn't think that they've never thought of commiting suicide themselves."
"Reality dating shows are a program that exposes it's peeformers. People won't attack the show as much as they will the actor. It's tough out there." Kana continued.
Miyako replied —
"Aqua told me once, 'Lying is the best way to protect yourself' "
Kana crosses her arms, huffing.
"Well said."
Ruby's eyebrows raised, feeling worried.
Kana continued —
"The more you expose yourself, the more you'll get hurt...so you may want to make-up a character and hide behind it."
"People are use social media as a platform to attack celebrities...by abusing their freedom of speech and declaring 'Justice For So-and-so' as an excuse. Everyday, there's always a new victim." Kana said, her voice, whispering.
"They drive people into a corner, thinking that they're an exception. Not realizing that their words might end up killing people."
Ruby crosses her arms. Feeling worried if her Brother. Aqua had received any hates yet.
"I wonder if Aqua is okay."
Kana sighed — not glancing at Ruby.
"Don't think that you're safe if you're careful. Like they say 'Nobody is perfect.' Everyone has flaws no matter how small they are. You'll always have a reason to criticize someone."
Miyako's voice grew louder in the back — speaking to the phone call.
"What? Really? Yes, sir... I'll be there soon."
Kana turns her head to Miyako, curios.
"What's wrong?"
Miyako's voice changed into a whisper
"Aqua...is detained by the police."
Ruby and Kana's eyes were widened, shocked.
"WHAAAT?!"
Meanwhile — Shibuya Police Station
Akane trembles — Crying loud. Releasing all of her depression through it.
Akane's mother replied to the officer.
"My daughter told me not to watch her show... And I don't go online that much."
Akane's mother's eyes starts building tears in grief for her daughter.
"I had no idea this was happening...why didn't you tell me?"
Akane looks down, sobbing.
"Because... I don't want you to worry about me."
"You silly girl..." her mother replied.
Meanwhile outside the room
Miyako arrives, removing her jacket — sighing in relief, she sits beside Aqua.
"When they call me, I was ready for the worst."
Miyako then pats Aqua's head.
"Well done, Aqua. I'm proud of you."
"You don't seem to be interested in other people's affairs, but you actually lay attention, huh?" she said with a soft and gentle smile.
Aqua firmly rejects her thoughts.
"That's not it." he said dryly.
A flashback of Ai's face just after she died pops in Aqua's mind.
"People die so easily, so when they scream for help, we have to move as soon as possible before it's too late."
Meanwhile — Akira's house.
Akira closes the lights in Ai's room after fixing her on her sleeping position, closing the door.
Ai murmurs on her dream.
"I'm sorry..."
Shibuya Police Station.
Akane walks out of the door. She was met by Yuki, Mem, Nobu and Kengo — Worried.
Yuki runs up to Akane — slapping her, crying.
"You fool...! Why...? You made us all worried...!" her voice, raised a bit.
Yuki grabs and then hugs Akane.
"You can tell us... Everything!!"
Akane gives back the hug... Tears starts to form in her eyes.
Aqua then approached them, interrupting the moment.
"Akane."
Akane turns her eyes to Aqua.
"What are you going to do now?" Aqua continued.
Akane wipes her tears away.
"Me...?"
Aqua sighed —
"You have the option to quit the show if you want."
Nobu approaches Aqua — worried.
"What about her contract...?"
Aqua replied boldly —
"The staff should be responsible for this considering the way they deal with minors. After what happened. I don't think they would say no if she decides to quit."
He pause —
"However, you're using you real name for this. So you'd better be certain with your decision."
Akane looks down... Thinking for some seconds before replying.
"Ive'd...been working hard so I can continue acting and become a famous actress. I've received help from everyone too... But then, this happened... She said, hoarse.
Yuki whispers, feeling worried about her decision.
"Akane..."
Akane continues —
"I'm scared... I'm really scared..."
She paused for a moment, fidgeting her fingers.
"But I'll keep going."
Akane takes the courage — looking into Aqua's eyes, full of determination.
"I don't want to quit like this!"
Aqua stares back.
"Understood."
Aqua then turns his head to the others.
"She's made her decision. There's no problem, right?"
Kengo replied —
"Of course not."
Nobu too —
"I've said it from the beginning. No matter what people say. They'll work together to finisht the show."
The other's walk away, holding Akane's shoulder's, supporting her out.
Aqua watches them leave. He then turns away — murmuring
"But I feel sick about this whole situation. The haters who say things are as they planned...and the TV crew who investigate them."
He paused — his eyebrows furrowed further.
"Honestly, they've made me so mad."
There's this things knows as a press club at the police station. The reporters are given a single room at the station...so they can obtain the newest information 24 hours a day — basically, they're always waitiing for new material."
Aqua's eyes widened, his rage ignites further.
Minutes Later.
Woman:
"You've done it, I feel stupid for praising you." (Aqua published a story about Akane's suicidal attempt anymously)
The girl squints her eyes —
"You know what's going to happen, right?"
Aqua picks up items inside the box, looking for a camera.
"Yeah, I don't know if things will go well..."
Aqua takes the camera on his hand — then turns his head to the woman.
"...But it's time for a real reality show."