"Ahh~ That was so much fun!!!"
"Hehe, I'm glad Ruby enjoyed it. It makes my guiding efforts worthwhile."
Aqua watched the senior and Ruby laughing and chatting in front of him, recalling what had just happened.
"[The ones helping the youngest with revenge are our top three executives. But what you need to do is hold onto him so he can remain human.]"
'What did she mean by saying that to me? If Yume seeks revenge, will he cease to be human?'
Aqua kept pondering the senior's words in his mind, but with no answers in sight, he was haunted by that one phrase all the way home.
And even as she talked with Ruby, the senior kept her eyes on Aqua.
".....We cannot change the story. So,"
"[Only your family can change this story. So please, I beg you, hold onto him so he doesn't break.]"
Her efforts to hide thoughts that no one could hear seemed utterly alien, yet no one in this place—no, in this world—noticed.
Except for a few beings.
"[.....So you've intervened.]"
"[Well, I doubt your intervention will change much.... but since you too desire a happy ending, I'll do nothing.]"
"[I hope you struggle and strive until you take that first step toward happiness.]"
"[Hoshino Yume]"
Among those few beings, the crow girl murmured softly before vanishing.
SIDE: Hoshino Yume
Yume let out a groan. "This is uncomfortable....."
It was a morning filled with unease. For some reason, he felt like something was happening in his absence, but he pushed the thought aside and tried to peel Ai off his body.
"Ugh.... don't...."
He sighed.
This must all be filmed too. For various reasons, it'll be on TV again.....
After lying still for about 30 minutes with Ai clinging to him, Yume couldn't take it anymore. He scooped her up in a princess carry and escaped the bed.
Even in her sleep, Ai had her arms wrapped around his neck.
How did she...?
Upon reaching the living room with Ai in his arms, he—
He tossed her onto the sofa with a thud.
"Wake up."
He dumped her onto the sofa, which was firm on the outside but soft inside. A peculiar sound echoed, but he ignored it.
"Yumeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!"
"Wash up, eat breakfast, and then we're heading out."
"Huh? I don't have any schedules today?"
"We're going on a date, remember?"
At my words, Ai made a blank face for a moment, then—
"I'll wash up right away!!!!!!"
Her expression suddenly brightened, and she dashed to the bathroom faster than anyone. The sight was so amusing that I let out an involuntary chuckle.
"Now, what should I make for breakfast?"
Normally, I'd have meat even on weekends, but... maybe a light sandwich for today's breakfast? We'll probably eat a lot during the date.
After deciding on the menu, I pulled out various hams and vegetables from the fridge... oh right, there were no vegetables?
"Aha... now that I think about it, I forgot to buy vegetables yesterday......!"
Yesterday was chaotic for various reasons... so I guess the last stop on today's date will be the supermarket.
Today, we're filming mainly with GoPros in our hands, so there's no need to worry as much as yesterday.
Thus, today's breakfast menu was a sandwich packed with nothing but ham.
With the sandwich and a cup of coffee, I slowly checked company business on my smartphone.
I sensed movement behind me and realized it was Ai approaching slowly, but I didn't bother to react.
"Yume, what are you looking at!!"
"I was checking company work. More importantly, shouldn't you dry your hair?"
"You dry it for me!!"
"Are you a child?"
"Wah!!"
"Stop that!!"
Seriously, it's embarrassing, so cut it out!? This scene is definitely going on air!!
In the end, I ended up drying her hair. I brought the hair dryer from the bathroom and sat in the living room, and Ai quickly came over and sat in front of me.
"Aren't you tired of asking me to dry your hair every single day?"
"Huh? Not at all!! I always love it when Yume dries my hair!!"
"I don't like it."
"Aww......."
After somewhat drying her hair, Ai sat at the table, looked at the menu, and—
"Yume."
"What."
"Why is there no vegetables again today, just like yesterday?"
"Well, you're the one who......"
"Waaaaah!!!!!!"
Ai, probably tired of meat-only meals, asked about the vegetables' whereabouts.
I couldn't bring myself to say that she'd sent them all away yesterday when Aqua and Ruby left, so I just sighed and let it go.
"The last stop on today's date will be the supermarket, so keep that in mind."
"Yes!"
Ai nibbled away but finished the sandwich I made, while I, having eaten earlier, leisurely drank coffee and read the day's newspaper.
After confirming Ai had finished eating, I headed to the bathroom, showered, changed into comfortable clothes, and when I came out to the living room, Ai was already waiting, prepared.
"You're laaaaaate!!!!"
"It's only 10 o'clock to begin with?"
Besides, if you hadn't slept in while clinging to me, you'd have woken up earlier, but mentioning that would probably make you sulk, so I'd better not say it.
"Let's go!!"
"Wait."
Grabbing Ai's head as she tried to rush outside, I gave her a massage while calling the filming team leader.
"[Yes, Yume-san]"
"We're about to head out. How should we handle the filming?"
"[Ah, we should be arriving soon. Could you wait about 20 minutes?]"
"Yes, we'll do that."
Twenty minutes, huh. I guess we'll wait by watching TV or something.
"Ai, the filming team will take about 20 minutes to arrive, so let's wait by watching TV or something."
"Twenty whole minutes?"
Ai looked at me with a "Do we really have to wait?" expression, but without the main filming team, we couldn't start.
"Filming with just GoPros has too many limitations, so we have no choice. Let's wait a bit."
"Okay~"
After spacing out in front of the TV for about 20 minutes, the sound of a car arriving at the entrance reached us, and I took Ai outside.
"Ah, you're here?"
"Yes, shall we depart right away?"
"Yes, just like yesterday, the two of us will ride in Yume-san and Ai-san's vehicle to film."
"I see. Understood. Let's start by heading out."
Like yesterday, two people boarded the vehicle with me and Ai, and the filming team followed behind. Our destination this time was—
"So, Yume, where are we going?"
"Right. We've had a light breakfast. How about a casual stroll?"
"A stroll where?"
"How about we keep that as a surprise until we arrive?"
"Ugh~! Yume, you're so mean!!"
"Yeah, yeah."
Despite her words, Ai couldn't hide her excited expression. Or perhaps, since I was right beside her, she didn't bother to hide it.
About 30 minutes after leaving home, we arrived at none other than—
"......Yume."
"Huh? What's wrong, Ai?"
Is she too happy because it's better than she expected? Well, a 'mountain' hike after a light meal is the best.
"Yume, you're looking at my clothes right now, aren't you?"
"Hmm... it's not quite suitable for hiking, but don't worry. I've prepared another set of clothes for you to wear."
"Why!? Why!?"
"Huh?"
Well, because there's no better exercise for the body than hiking...?
As if reading my thoughts, Ai's expression gradually soured. Then—
"You idiot!!!"
"Hmm....."
Why isn't she happy about it?
More importantly, if she kicks my calf, won't she just hurt herself.....?
My thought proved correct, as Ai, who had kicked my calf with all her might, crouched down groaning.
The sight was quite amusing, so I left her be, ignoring her glaring eyes.
But eventually, under my not-so-gentle urging, Ai quietly changed clothes and came back, then—
"Sigh! From now on, when planning date courses, I'll have to stick by your side and do it myself!! I'll let it slide just for today!!"
"Okay, thanks."
I like hiking, but it seemed Ai wasn't too fond of it.
"Even so, for beginners, the mountain looks quite high. Will it be okay?"
The filming team asked, seemingly concerned for me and Ai.
"Yes, well, if it feels like a casual stroll, it should be fine."
If I went all out, I could probably climb it in about 20 minutes, but with Ai and the filming team, I'll take it slow.
"That's just for Yume....! I'll struggle!"
"But you've always exercised with me, so you should be fine with this much."
In reality, Ai's stamina is much higher than Aqua's or Ruby's. Partly because I've been training her, but she surprisingly kept up with about one-tenth of my regimen.
Ruby sometimes tries to follow, but she quickly tires and collapses.
So, while I found it amusing that the filming team was worried about our stamina, I pretended not to notice.
"Alright, shall we start heading out?"
"I don't wannaaaaaaaa!!!"
Despite her words, her body honestly followed behind me!!
And so, the haphazard hiking adventure began.