"Isn't that gloves Akira-sama's? He's exchanging you for a minor; Ai Hoshino, a 17 year old."
Kuyumi froze as she stare at the phone — heartbroken.
After Hikaru left, Kuyumi breakdown on her knees, clutching her chest in disbelief. She decided to confront Akira later and go to his house, but it seems it doesn't have to wait for too long as Akira arrived to visit Kuyumi. Akira runs up to her, noticing her in the ground. Akira takes her hand and helps her stand up. As Kuyumi stood up, she shows Akira the photo Hikaru showed unto her (Hikaru sent her the exact same photo as he left earlier)
"Be honest Kiyoshi-sama, is the person here with Ai you?"
Akira froze — caught off guard, he bites his lips in nervousness. He looks down on the floor, guilty; not knowing how to explain the misunderstanding. Instead of making Alibis, he went for a direct explanation, explaining Hikaru's corruption and the reason why he kept Ai's number and why it was essential and strategic for him. He broke down in his knees, crying .
"I couldn't save my mother back then. I couldn't stop Tokoro back then. I can't let Hikaru kill an innocent blood whom I also helped like I once did to Tokoro; I can't afford to make another monster. I can't let a child lose their mother like me, my heart ache viewing them as me and my siblings..."
Kuyumi couldn't help but doubt, but she also knows, Akira also isn't the type of guy who can lie about his past and twist the events from before, especially when it comes to his family. She covers her mouth as she watches Akira for the first time breakdown and cry in vulnerability; she cries likewise. Akira soon stood up; avoiding eye contact he waved bye. Kuyumi stops him in the way by grabbing his arm from behind. She caresses Akira's warm hands for the last time, she cries as she lays her forehead in his hands.
"I believe in you...promise me, once this hatred and guilt are all over, let's get back and make another new life. Promise me you'll won't leave me. Aunty Sofia just died a week ago. I have no one with me. Mother and Father died without me even feeling their warmth when I had the consciousness to feel so. Please...promise me you'll return for me... Sobs."
Akira shakes her hands off gently, as he continues to walk away as he warns her not to expose herself in public anymore as Hikaru might use her as a wild card again; live at remote areas where signals are cut off.
And so, Kuyumi went and lived and the mountains of Okutama, picking a best place where the other half has no signal yet the half does have one. There, Akira had visited once at night after reviving Ai. He sat down at living room, drinking his coffee
"I've revived her, it's a miracle that she still lived. Considering it had already been hours when she died."
Kuyumi couldn't do anything but give him a warm smile for his success; she hugged him from behind
"That's great to hear."
Akira puts away Kuyumi's arm slowly as he began to stand up, telling her he won't be too long and must leave early. Kuyumi waves bye to Akira. He heart like of a shattered glass, every best was piercing watching Akira change so much in just a short amount of time.
---
PRESENT
Ai looks down at her lap, clutching a fist.
"So that's when Akira truly stopped being himself, also because of Hikaru?"
Kuyumi nods
"That's it. But I don't really wanna say "exactly."The only time he's turn out like that is when Hikaru tried Manipulating me. I understand he was scared and very guilty. He couldn't answer my question without being straight forward about it; his conscience is too strong to lie that time. Plus, as I said; when it comes to his family, he doesn't lie about them."
"Then why not continue you two's relationship? Can't he do that while protecting me?" Ai asked
Kuyumi replied, "That's no easy; first of all, Akira is always under attack by Hikaru and probably his subordinates, they might be able to teach his daily activities and this common place and find me here."
"Huh? Isn't this place completely remote?" Ai asked in wonder and confusion
Kuyumi chuckles, explaining that even though it is indeed a remote area, she picked an area where the other half of the house has quite the signal while the other half is completely dead. Kuyumi shows her the place where the signal is very strong and suprisingly, it is true, but when she goes back near or in the living room, the signal is cut off. Ai raises her phone in amazement; asking Kuyumi how she knew if this place; praising her genius. Kuyumi waves her hand; flattered by Ai's praises saying that it was nothing.
After a brief silence, Ai then asked again why did Akira advice her to live in a remote area.
Kuyumi answered saying, "As you might know or not know, Kiyoshi-sama trained and mentored Hikaru when he was young in science computer and like hacking. If Hikaru finds me, he'll use me again as a wildcard or worse; get killed."
Ai smiles toward Kuyumi
"So Akira-sama still loves you, he cared so much about you."
Kuyumi blushes, taking the compliment in, but she denied it at the same time, telling Ai that even though it does seem he care, Akira's love for Kuyumi is not too strong or not too weak. Lukewarm it is. She doesn't understand whether he truly still loves her the same or not; or had his heart hidden in the mists of him. Ai frowns telling Kuyumi not to be discouraged about it for she'll ask Akira about it later and kick him if he did answer he no longer loves Kuyumi.
Kuyumi chuckles saying that it is fine, she completely understands Akira. Ai irritatingly said she isn't joking. Kuyumi liked her honest expressions and asked about what she liked about Akira the most.
Ai looks down on her lap, a small smile escapes her lip.
"Akira-sama...I'm glad he saw me as family...even Ichigo-san considered me as a daughter though, he still sees me as a valuable asset as an Idol.
Akira-sama? No, he doesn't, he's all so genuine about everything. I don't know how or why but if like you said that responsibility pushes him; I didn't see that in his eyes because I'm his responsibility for his guilt but just someone he has to protect; he took care of me like I'm just another stubborn and immature daughter at her 20's-30's. Akira-sama is also considerate at most cases where he always checks my outfit before going out, telling me not to wear any clothes that shows too much skin. I only wore this shorts now because we forgot to do laundry yesterday because of my last night's request to see my daughter, Ruby perform at stage."
Kuyumi smiles, seeing all the genuine words of Ai. She chuckled.
"About the clothes thing. Yes, Kiyoshi-sama very considerate of them. I remember him one day scolding his sister Ayame about being too revealing with her waist out or even a skirt that's too short and clothes that show shoulders; we tend to call him grandpa that time, ha ha ha."
Ai laughs as they continue to talk about Akira; Akira listens from the other side of the room, he sighed in relief that Kuyumi and Ai could get along. Akira sits down a chair and sets his laptop. Being notified of another attacking attempt through his defenses. Akira locks it with another firewall. In total of 5 and that are all strong defenses for a long-term defense. For now. Akira wants to rest from the long trip — he sleeps, laying his head on the table while Ai and Kuyumi in the other room starts to feel comfortable to each other like they're long lost twins. Ai cherished the moment, she never expected her second Life is to have such father and a friend. All of this felt like a dream for Ai, from her rough past to this, she could feel all her senses being shutdown and focus on being happy. She thanked Akira more about it; seeing all the options Akira showed her that she never experienced from Ichigo's — a simple life like this.