First-person: Hoshino Yume
Ai's dome concert was delayed by a week. However, that delay only built up the anticipation, resulting in the absolute best performance possible.
I watched Ai's performance from start to finish.
I could tell that Ai's expression had clearly changed. Anyone else might not have noticed that subtle difference, but having spent so much time with her, I could see it.
Ai had definitely changed because of the incident that day.
That change would surely bring good things for her, and it was my role to continue watching over that transformation. Now that I've become the man responsible for Ai's life—in every sense—there will be even more things to pay attention to.
But even so, I will definitely manage.
Because I'm greedy. I want to continue our daily life with Hoshino Ai, Hoshino Aqua, and Hoshino Ruby forever.
Until the very last note of the performance, I couldn't take my eyes off her.
Third-person: Hoshino Aqua / Ruby
After the concert, Ruby watched the crowd leaving the venue from inside the car, while Aqua was continuously scrolling through something on his smartphone.
Breaking the silence, Ruby spoke up.
"Mama said, 'You can become an idol too, can't you?' Aqua, do you think someone like me could do it?"
Ruby had always been encouraged to pursue the idol path by Ai, who would often say, 'Our Ruby can definitely become the best idol! After all, she's my daughter!!' Since the incident, however, Ruby had been troubled by the idea.
But Ruby wasn't the only one feeling the weight of reality.
"Well, if you want to do it, you can, right? Honestly, if you want to make money, other jobs would be faster. And even if you become an idol, fans will always be selfish. If you find a man you truly love, you'll surely get hate comments."
Aqua gave Ruby the most realistic, cynical talk he could muster. Ruby just smiled brightly while watching the fans disperse.
"Yeah... but Mama shone so brightly."
"Certainly. This dome stage was practically Ai's solo performance."
Ruby and Aqua had watched Ai's dome concert from the seats next to Yume. They witnessed firsthand how amazing an idol Ai was now that she had broken through the wall of lies.
Aqua realized that Ruby, seeing that sight, was determined to continue walking the path of an idol. But for Aqua, it was no longer possible to share Ruby's optimism.
After seeing Ai nearly killed and Yume suffering a near-fatal abdominal wound trying to protect her, Aqua realized a dark truth: the higher you rise as an idol, the more dangers surround you.
Moreover, although he was somewhat happy that Hoshino Yume was revealed to be his biological father, he felt that a life where he couldn't even express that truth publicly had its own suffocating constraints.
While lost in these thoughts, a sudden realization struck Aqua.
First-person: Hoshino Aqua
That stalker... and the man who killed me in my past life... they are probably—no, definitely—the same person.
But how did he find the hospital where Ai was admitted back then?
And even if the hospital was one thing, how could he have found out the address of the house we live in now?
According to Yume, the information about this house is top secret. He even said that the people living in this neighborhood are all employees of the same security company.
The culprit was just an ordinary student with no special skills. It doesn't seem possible for him to play detective and find this place on his own.
There must be an informant.
And it might be someone quite close to Ai.
I can't say for sure yet, but the culprit might be in Yume's company or close to our inner circle.
As far as I know, only the Director and Yume knew about the hospital. The Director would never do such a thing to the star of the company he cherishes so much.
And Yume kept it a secret from all the employees. From what I heard, he even kept it a secret from the Director when he came to the hospital. Besides, before being our father, Yume is someone who loves and cherishes Ai more than anyone. Suspecting him is absolutely impossible.
Then a colleague? No, that can't be either. According to Yume, Ai actually gets along well with the B-Komachi members. If there was any strange behavior, Yume would have handled it.
And of course, I know Ai has no relatives. Even if she did, she doesn't seem to have their contact information.
Then what remains?
Someone in Yume's company, or someone who was close to Ai in the past.
Originally, she probably didn't tell anyone about her personal circumstances except Yume—not even the Director. Her social circle was narrow. So the other party might be an 'entertainer'. Or, since Yume is always in contact with employees, it could be a leak from there.
This informant is either in the entertainment industry or in Yume's security company.
The guy who tried to have Ai killed... the guy who nearly caused Yume's death... if he's not in the entertainment industry, he's close by.
Surely, that bastard will approach again as long as Ai—and I, Yume's child—are around.
Ah, yes...
What I must do for Ai, Yume, and Ruby to be happy is clear.
I must find this bastard with my own hands... and put an end to him with my own hands!!
First-person: Hoshino Yume
After the concert, I handed Ai, who was clinging to me, over to the other B-Komachi members for a while. I stood talking with Director Gotanda Taishi, to whom I had sent an invitation.
"It seems to have ended quite successfully."
"Yes. Of course, it's a natural result."
"Hahaha, you're quite fond of her, aren't you?"
"For a manager like me, the greatest joy is seeing the idol I'm in charge of do well, isn't it?"
"Well, if you say so, then that's how it is."
While exchanging trivial conversation, I saw Aqua walking toward us. Though puzzled, I approached him.
"Aqua, what brings you here? I told you to wait in the car."
"Yume, just a moment."
"Aqua...?"
Aqua's demeanor seemed somewhat off—like a screw was loose. Just as I was wondering if something had happened, Aqua walked past me and approached Director Gotanda.
"Director."
"Oh, the precocious brat. What's the matter? Did you come to brag about how much you liked Ai's dome concert? I've already heard so much from the manager over there that I'm starting to get bored."
I didn't talk about it that much, though.
"No, that's a given."
"A given, huh."
It is a given, Aqua.
"Praising Ai can be done later. Instead, there's something I want to ask you."
"What is it?"
"Have you ever thought about raising an apprentice? Specifically, me?"
"What?"
"Aqua?"
At Aqua's words, Director Gotanda seemed flustered and dropped the cigarette dangling from his mouth. It was quite an amusing sight, but then, a realization hit me.
I suddenly remembered the original story.
That requesting demeanor... that look in his eyes...
In the original timeline, this was the moment Aqua realized his father (the mastermind) was in the entertainment industry after Ai was murdered. To kill the culprit, he entered an apprenticeship under Director Gotanda to learn the necessary skills.
Even though Ai is alive, Aqua has reached a similar conclusion about the mastermind.
It seems the time has come to have a serious talk with Aqua.
=================================
A full edit of this fanfic has begun. All published chapters have been revised.
The website for reading paid chapters is available on my Patreon. The number of chapters on Patreon: 39
Link: patreon.com/UltraMagnus_T