In the end, we decided to eat at a renowned restaurant near Central Park. Since walking together and talking afterward had somehow become our natural tradition, my plan was to grab a meal and then take a stroll through the park.
Vrrr—
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● Hoshino Ai ●
- Hide, get ready and come out quickly! (≧∇≦)
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Ai was clearly excited since it had been quite some time since we had a meal just the two of us. On the other hand, I was actually quite nervous.
Ever since that 'kiss' we shared before I left for the States, we had stayed in touch through messages, but we hadn't seen each other's faces alone like this. I was feeling flustered by the way this kid—whom I had thought was just a child—was now crashing into me with such [sincerity].
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● hide ●
- I'm on my way.
- Let me put on a disguise first.
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As I stepped out of the hotel, I saw fans wearing Enfants Terribles t-shirts standing guard in front of the building despite the late hour. It was a luxury hotel, so the security guards were holding them back; if it hadn't been for them, the lobby would have undoubtedly turned into a chaotic mess.
Unlike my old self, I used a hat and sunglasses to hide my face, avoiding the fans as I carefully slipped into a pre-called taxi. Having spent time grinding in the mainstream industry, I now knew exactly how devastating a dating scandal could be for an idol.
'If we were actually dating, I would have just walked out normally, but since we aren't, it's even more troublesome.'
The taxi driver stared at me intensely, muttering something that sounded like, "He looks like Hide..." but once I handed him a generous tip in advance, he began to focus on his driving with a beaming smile. The reason I was being so cautious compared to the past was that anyone associated with me now became instant tabloid fodder, whether I liked it or not.
'Damn... what the hell am I even doing? This isn't like me at all.'
I sighed as I headed toward Central Park where Ai would be waiting. Yet, at the thought of visiting a tourist spot for the first time since arriving in America, my heart was beating quite fast.
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"Uh... have you been doing well?"
The moment we actually met face-to-face, I tripped over my words. In reality, there was no reason for me to be flustered. To me, Ai was like a daughter, and I didn't feel even a shred of romantic attraction toward her. I was just stuttering because I was nervous about the different environment at Central Park. I mean that with total sincerity, not as a lie.
"No, I wasn't doing well at all because I missed you, Hide! ☆"
Ai answered my question with a bright smile, the starlight in her eyes shining even more brilliantly. This was definitely strange. Usually, Ai would offer answers tailored to fit the situation, but she rarely did that when she was with me. However, that smile and that answer were [sincerity] itself.
"Uh..."
"Do you hate that Ai missed you...?"
She was clearly turning gloomy all of a sudden. I only failed to respond because I was stunned by her unexpected, shocking answer, but she was already beginning to radiate an aura of severe depression.
No, I mean, if she asks if I missed her... honestly, I did miss her. It wasn't easy for someone like me, who had never even been on an overseas trip, to go on a tour in a far-off foreign land. It was only because I had Yokishi and Shuji with me that I was able to run wild across the United States.
In that situation, naturally, the existence of Ai—someone I had always been glued to—crossed my mind quite frequently.
"It's not that I hate it... I missed you too. Quite often, actually."
Ai looked surprised for a moment at my response, and then she broke into a smile. It was brighter than anything I had ever seen from her before.
.
.
.
After that, we walked carefully down the street where people occasionally passed by. Since I was someone who usually walked around brazenly causing trouble even after becoming famous, I felt a certain thrill, as if I were filming a scene from Mission Impossible.
'But why is she holding my hand...?'
Ai was walking while holding my hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world. From the hand she held onto, a warm heat began to radiate, contrasting with the still-chilly weather.
"Ai, why are you holding my hand?"
"So we don't get lost! (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧"
In response to my question, Ai gave me a cheerful thumbs-up as she replied.
Seriously, what happened in just a few months...? She's come back looking like a completely different person.
"Stop messing around and look where you're going."
As I said that, I adjusted her scarf and hat, which had become messy while she was busy giving me a thumbs-up. No matter how much her vibe had changed, Ai was still Ai. She was still that clumsy kid who made me feel like I needed to look after her. That thought finally allowed me to relax my tension.
"Ehh...? As expected, Hide looks like he doesn't care, but he's actually really attentive, isn't he?"
"It's only because you're so clumsy."
"You're not doing it just because I'm Ai?"
Her brightly shining, starry eyes—the ones that felt like they could suck a person in—curved into crescents as she subtly leaned her weight against my body.
I take back what I said about relaxing.
It was clear that if I let my guard down for even a second, I would be sucked into those eyes.
I have to keep my wits about me and hold on.