On a dark night where even the moonlight was faint, Ai, wearing a hat pressed down low with a mask and over-sized clothes to avoid being recognized, was swinging her legs on a sofa inside Strawberry Productions, waiting for her beloved.
It was well past closing time, so the other members of B-Komachi had long since gone home, and the employees of Strawberry Productions were packing their things and clocking out.
"Oh my~ How cute! Are you waiting for Hide?"
"To think our Strawberry Productions' top troublemaker has been turned into such a proper lady... He really is something!"
The day Ai had brought Enfants Terribles to Strawberry Productions had become legendary within the agency; there wasn't a soul who didn't know about the relationship between Ai and Hide.
For the record, Hide hadn't finished work yet.
Though the songs were complete, he was in a private meeting with President Sato, discussing the finer details of the album's concept. Ai fiddled with her phone, debating whether to send a text, but after much thought, she closed it.
'I can't interfere with his work as a fellow pro!'
However, Ai intended to pull her beloved into a crushing embrace the moment his work as the 'Superstar' Hide ended and he returned to the usual, slightly clumsy 'Hide.'
How hard had she worked in the practice room just a while ago to avoid showing their relationship? Ai had suppressed the urge to initiate physical contact at will—her usual style—with superhuman patience.
'Hide is always so busy...'
Though Ai was usually insensitive to news within the entertainment industry, she was well aware that Hide had become someone monumental since the release of the second album.
Ever since Enfants Terribles had jetted off to America last December, Ai had spent every spare moment scrutinizing every interview and broadcast appearance the band made. There was no way she couldn't know.
She obsessively followed the band's activities and shared her daily life with him, trying to understand the growing weight on Hide's shoulders as his work became more demanding. Before his massive success, Hide enjoyed his work and overflowed with positivity, but recently, she got the strong impression that he was barely holding on by sheer force of will.
"Hide... you've become way too famous!!!"
Truthfully, when she first began stalking him, she never imagined they would end up in a relationship like this. She recalled those days when Hide used to avoid her, saying things like, "I'm going to end up in jail at this rate!!"
Their first encounter began with [Admiration].
An admiration for his [Sincerity].
Then, as she followed his busking sessions, that emotion turned into [Interest]. As time passed and their meetings repeated, that feeling transformed into [Love].
And now, for her, life with Hide had become her [Daily Life] and her [Happiness], occupying more than half of her existence. One year was more than enough time for a girl who used to scream "Love" with [Lies] to fill a [Void] to finally love someone with [Sincerity].
"Ah, Ai, I'm sorry! I was caught up in discussions with President Sato!"
Lost in thought and failing to notice her surroundings, Ai jumped like a startled rabbit, her eyes widening at the sudden voice.
Hide was actually more surprised by her reaction, but Ai had no way of knowing that. Her only thought was to dive into Hide's arms.
"Ai, this is a public place...?!"
"Hehe—it's inside Strawberry Productions, so it's fine!"
Ai and Hide walked home hand-in-hand as they always did.
Though they contacted each other frequently, it had been a long time since they shared body heat and conversation in person. Both Ai and Hide were laughing and talking more lightheartedly than usual.
"What did you talk about with President Sato?!"
"Since the B-Komachi concept is changing, I suggested it might be better to manage it in a way that highlights the individual colors of the other members more. We were consulting on that."
"Heeh... certainly, Hide... you said I was like a first love... that I was prettier than in photos... isn't that right? ★ So Ai is just a 'caught fish' now? Was that your preference all along, Hide?!"
"Ah! No, I just said exactly what I felt... and I said you were 'like' a first love, I didn't say you 'were' one... wait, my first love is you anyway, Ai!"
"Ugh...!!"
She had been walking with her arms crossed, glaring at him sharply during the conversation, but Hide's sudden shock declaration made her face turn beet red and practically explode.
Once Ai's rationality crumbled, her already wide strides—which usually showed no consideration for others—became even wider and faster. To an onlooker, it looked concerning enough that one might fear her hip joint would pop out.
"Ai, you're going to hurt yourself at that rate."
However, Ai's height was only around 151cm. From the perspective of Hide, who stood at a tall 186cm, no matter how much Ai widened her stride, it was almost laughable.
As if mocking Ai's 'wide' steps, Hide strode forward and effortlessly overtook her, blocking her path.
"Eeeeeek!!!"
Ai, lamenting her short height at Hide's behavior, shot him a look full of pettiness and sulking.
"Ah, did I tease you too much? Let's go to the convenience store. I'll buy you some Häagen-Dazs."
"I'm definitely not going to be swayed by something like that~ ☆"
Despite her words, Hide watched with a warm smile—one he had never shown once in America—as Ai hurried toward the convenience store with light steps. He began to follow her.
"Häagen-Dazs~ Häagen-Dazs~ ☆"
"Is it really that good?"
At a convenience store table located in a secluded spot with little foot traffic, the handsome man and beautiful woman created an intimate atmosphere.
It was now October, and the temperature fluctuations between day and night were significant. A chilly wind was blowing, but Ai had stacked Häagen-Dazs cups beside her and was shoveling it in as if it were bibimbap.
It was just a plain plastic bench under a parasol, but talking face-to-face in a place like this had its own charm.
"Come to think of it, Hide, why do you always refuse whenever I say I'll treat you?"
The blonde young man watched her, carefully wiping a drop of chocolate Häagen-Dazs that had fallen on Ai's clothes and was slowly melting, as he pondered the answer.
Honestly, buying a few Häagen-Dazs for a woman was zero financial burden for a man like Hide. Even now, his albums were flying off the shelves worldwide, and money was flooding into his bank account. Since he was still legally a minor and couldn't invest yet, the money was essentially rotting away.
"Because buying things for you is one of the joys of my life?"
Having lived his entire past life as an ordinary citizen, Hide had almost no desires outside of music. For food, a pork cutlet from a cheap diner was enough, and as long as his home was reasonably comfortable, Hide was a man who lived a satisfied life.
Ai wore a look of incomprehension at his answer, but that was simply Hide's nature.
"Eh..? How can that be a joy of life...?"
"Because it's you. You look [Sincerely] happy when you eat Häagen-Dazs. Seeing that look is my joy in life."
As she listened to Hide, Ai was suddenly struck by a question. If he was going to spend money, he could spend it on Uncle Shuji or Uncle Yokishi, or even his own parents. Why specifically her? Come to think of it, Ai had never heard Hide talk about his parents.
"Hide, couldn't you spend it on your family too?"
"You're the only family I have though?"
Hide had been unfortunate with family in both his past and present lives. In his past life, he was abandoned at age five and raised in a facility. In this life, it seemed he had a proper home at first, but before he was reincarnated, he had been abandoned by his parents and raised by an uncle—though where that uncle went, he didn't know.
Of course, he had luck with people. In his past life, he grew into an adult with the help of mentors who cared for him, and in this life, he met colleagues like Tanaka Shuji and Yokishi.
"It's exactly as it sounds. Did I not tell you? I was in a similar situation to you, Ai."
"Huh...? That..."
Ai looked flustered by my response, as if she had asked something she shouldn't have, but I smiled gently and met her purple eyes.
"Is there any reason to be that flustered? My family is already right here in front of me."
While I had no family connected by blood in this life, I had made many whom I could call family. The members of Enfants Terribles were nothing short of brothers, and Ai had become the being who allowed me to exist as myself.
"You might not believe it, but I'm always leaning on you. To the point where I can call you my other half."
Hide spoke while looking directly at Ai with blue eyes full of conviction.
"So, you aren't the only one who loves me. You've seemed anxious ever since we were in the practice room, haven't you?"
At Hide's words, Ai didn't say a thing, merely nodding with a bright smile as her answer. Seeing her smile, Hide wore an identical expression and took her small, delicate hand that was resting on the table.
"In the first place, you're the only woman I meet privately, Ai. You're the only person I text or call besides for official business."
"Eh? Is it okay to be like that...?!"
"Why wouldn't it be? I'm saying you're the only one who can take as much of my precious time as they want, infinitely."
"Eh... isn't that just because Hide is too busy?"
"I'm trying to set the mood here, geez... Could you please play along? My dear self-proclaimed Ultimate Idol?"
Until the night grew deep and all of Tokyo fell asleep, silencing the city—until even the moon, which had asserted its presence in the faint black sky, hid its trace behind the warm sunlight—the two shared stories they hadn't been able to tell while apart, their conversation blooming like flowers in the dark.