Later that night before the shooting took place.
Kana lowers her head, feeling heavy about the upcoming first acting of Akane on the show MyLove.
"They say only Top-notch actors exist in the lala lai troupe...and Akane Kurokawa is the young ace there."
Present Time —
The scene continues about on Akane, walking closer to Aqua, his walking style... His expressions... they all perfectly imitate Ai.
Kana continues:
"She might not shine that much on reality shows...but as an actress, you have no choice but to call her a genius."
Aqua eyes widened, he opens his mouth slowly, Stuttering.
"A— (supposedly Ai)... Akane?"
Aikane tilts her head.
"What's wrong, Aqua? Did you see a ghost or something?"
Aqua steps back, looking away.
"No..." he said in a low voice.
Mem-cho and Yuki approach Akane excitedly. Happily welcoming her.
"Akane, welcome back!"
AiKane clasps her hands with Yuki.
"Thank you for waiting, guys."
Mem-cho:
"You can say that again."
Yuki joyfully replies.
"Let's have fun together!"
Nobu and Kengo approaches them, happy for Akane but cautious.
Nobu:
"We're glad that you look lively, but...are you sure you're okay?"
AiKane raises her hands her eyebrows, confused.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Everybody felt silent... Feeling the vibe of Ai through Akane.
Nobu replies, trying to clear his words.
"What do I mean? That's..."
AiKana recalls.
"Oh, are you talking about when everyone flamed me online?"
She waves her hand. Shaking it off.
"Yeah, it was bad, wasn't it? But it's pretty common! So I'm totally fine!"
Yuki smiles nervously.
"Akane...you seem different somehow."
AiKane puts a lip on her mouth, looking up at the ceiling.
"Hmm...a little, maybe?"
AiKane approaches Yuki, leaning in closer with a smile.
"Yuki, do you hate me...like this?"
Yuki shakes her head nervously.
AiKane smiles — then approaches Aqua, leaning in closer to his face.
"Aqua, let's hang out together today."
Aqua stutters.
"O-okay..."
AiKane winks at Aqua. She walks towards the nearest sit, swinging her arms gently.
Aqua's thoughts:
Everyone was drawn...in an instant. The cast, the staff, and the cameraman.
She's got the charm that forces you to look at her...and the same charisma...that Ai possessed.
Aqua follows Akane.
AiKane then lean closer to Aqua from behind, whispering.
"I heard...about that video. You stayed all night for days just to finish it. I was so happy.
Thank you, Aqua."
Aqua nods, sitting on a chair.
"Sure."
Meanwhile —
Mem-cho whispers unto Yuki's ear.
"We all know that something's weird with Akane, but don't you think something's weird with Aqua, too?"
Yuki shuts her eyes hard, thinking.
"Hm...?"
Mem-cho squints eeriely. Looking unto Aqua from far behind.
"Let's confirm it."
Mem-cho grins.
"Hey, Aqu-tan. Give me that pouch over there."
Aqua — crossed legs, his hand on his chin, in deep thought.
"Get it yourself. I'm thinking."
AiKane turns her head to Aqua, scolding him.
"It's a simple task. Just give it to her already."
Aqua quickly stands up, taking the pouch.
"Okay. Here you go."
Mem-cho runs to Yuki, pointing to Aqua's weird behavior.
"See? He only listens to Akane!!"
Mem-cho and Yuki approaches Aqua, Whispering unto his ear.
Mem-cho:
"Aqu-tan really likes that kind of girl, huh?"
Yuki puts on a hand on her cheek, concerned yet proud.
"Akane's playing her role perfectly."
Aqua replied dryly
"That's not true."
Mem-cho pats Akane's shoulder's, shaking her. Then turns her head to Aqua, teasing.
"Do you like her?"
Yuki did likewise to Aqua, turning her head to Akane, too.
"Do you like this Akane."
Aqua starts shaking uncontrollably, Akane looks at his nervous face.
Aqua:
"Hm...? I said..."
Mem-cho and Yuki notices his shaking and took a look on his face too. Eyes widened.
Aqua covers his face, trying to hide the embarrassment. Blushing.
"Stop it..."
Yuki removes her hand slowly, trying to process out the situation. Trying to force a smile.
"No way, his reaction...are you for real?"
Aqua stands up and left the room, closing the door behind him with a slight slam.
Yuki, Mem-cho, Akane stares at the door. Still swallowing Aqua's reaction.
Yuki and Mem-cho turns their head to Akane, clutching their hands nervously.
Yuki:
"Akane, what are you gonna do?!"
Mem-cho:
"He's totally serious about it!! What now?! Tell us!"
Akane takes out her book, blushing and stuttering.
"Wh– what should I do...?"
Yuki and Mem-cho's shoulder lowered.
"Oh! She's back to the old Akane!"
Mem-cho:
"If he means business are you going to return his feelings too?!"
Yuki clutches her hand harder, feeling excited.
"Is it possible for you guys to be a real couple?!"
Akane stood up slowly, trying to process their questions.
"Well, if the answer is yes or no..."
Akane looks away, trying to cover his face of embarrassment, blushing.
"Yes."
Mem-cho and Yuki clasped hands, jumping excitingly for Akane.
"Eeek...!"
Mem-cho:
"In that case, you have to stay true with your feelings and press him behind the scenes, too!"
Yuki:
"For real? For real?"
Yuki and Mem-cho's ey s starts spinning crazy, shouting.
"THIS IS GETTING INTERESTING!"
Meanwhile — Ichigou Productions dorm.
Kana who was watching this recent MyLove, couldn't help but squint her eyes in disgust.
"This is boring."
Kana puts down her phone, shaking it off.
"I'm sick of it already. I'll stop watching."
Kana's voice starts to get louder.
"In the first place, the concept of watching someone's love from afar Is quite unpleasant. Who'll make a good pair for so-and-so? What's with that? Are they house owners...who are they trying to breed a horse for that famous horse race in Kyoto*?"
Kana raises her arms to her head, trying to relax.
"Haah...I'm done with that show. I don't want to see Aqua's face, either. Bye adieu!"
Ruby looks at Kana, but her thoughts are not connected to it for now. She watches the performance once again, taking a deeper observation unto Akane's performance.
"...Mama?"
Later that night — Aqua's room.
Aqua sits upon his chair, trying to process the things that just happened.
"I loved with Ai..for a few years when I was little. But in the end, I feel like I don't know anything about her at all. I can't understand her. Where is the line...between lies and truths?
What is Ai for me? Am I her fan? (Gorou Amamiya) Is she my mother? (Aquamarine Hoshino) Or...
The next day — On a mall.
Ai was smiling, raising both her arms, holding the bags of clothes and items she and Akira bought.
All people were looking unto Ai's wondering about who this girl is — they murmured.
"Woah... She looks like that idol, who is it again?"
They girl whispered back
"Its Ai Hoshino..."
Meanwhile — Akira's perspective.
"Are they doing this unintentionally, I can clearly hear their murmurs, it's not like only I, i'n sure Ai can, too."
Akira sighed deeply, trying to relax.
"I'm just gonna make sure there will be no camera's taking Ai's face."
He noticed a camera starting to record Ai, Akira takes out a hat and covers Ai's head.
"You'll need this, we're close to the door."
Ai smiles, thanking Akira.
"Thank you!"
Ai puts on her hat.
Other people starts gathering upon her, some people gathered up courage to ask for Ai's name and cellphone number.
Ai waves, pretending to be Airi-chan/A-chan , her figure when she's in public —
"I'm Airi-chan, you can call me A-chan instead. And...the phone number...?"
Airi puts a finger on her lips, hushing.
"It's a secret~"
The guys blushes, hiding their face.
Meanwhile — Akira
Some young girls gathered around Akira.
Akira shakes his hand, lowering his hat. Keeping a straight face to the exit.
"I'm sorry, we need to go."
The girls, flirting.
"How old are you mister? You somehow still look handsome. Can we have your number?"
Akira breaks through, leaving.
"The number is 110."
The girls were left behind — their shoulders lowered.
"Did he just gave us the police number?"
"He's cold."
Akira leaves the mall. Ai who was waiting, watched the recent MyLove episode. Witnessing Akane's performance. Her eyes widened. Stopping at a red light.
"Hm...? She's like the old me..."
Akira sighed.
"It's probably an act to boost her performance. You were charismatic, even back in the day. It will for sure leave a mark."
Ai lowers her phone. Gasping.
"Aqua! H–he's blushing!! Wait... What?! Am I his ideal girl? Did he love his mother so much...?"
Ai turns her head to Akira, pointing to the vid.
"Look! Look! Aqua's face! H–he just blushed!"
Akira scratched his head, silent.
"Hmph? Yeah... He did."
Suddenly, a voice came up to them, asking.
Kana's voice echoed.
"Sorry, but what do you mean, 'Did he love his mother so much...?'
He's your ideal girl? Are you proclaiming you're Ai the idol?"
Kana takes a good look unto Airi — her eyes widened, looking at the perfect resemblance. Seeing through her sunglass and cap.
"Wh–"
Ai starts to shake nervously, Akira was still calm, in the other hand.
Aqua pats Kana's shoulder, asking her out. "Arima. Kana Arima. Hey... Do you wanna skip school and hang out?"
Kana turns her head over Aqua, her eyes widened further — blushing.
"Heck yeah."
Aqua and Kana slowly leaves, Aqua, meanwhile, also takes a look unto Akira and Airi'e appearance, leaving.
Ai snaps back, watching their figure fade.
"Wha– what did he just say?! Skip class! I never taught him that! You–"
Akira pinches Ai's ear.
"Stop acting irrationally."
Akira turns his head, looking at Aqua and Kana.
Akira's thoughts:
"The truth...is starting to reveal itself."