Chapter 1: An Unexpected Funeral
The summer festival had come to an end.
The film crew's shooting schedule in town was nearing its conclusion, with only a few simple pickup shots remaining. Most of the staff had already packed their bags, preparing for the return to Tokyo. The Hoshino family's tickets were booked as well; a flight at noon tomorrow would carry them back to that familiar metropolis.
Before leaving, Hikaru Hoshino decided to take one last stroll through the small town.
Ai wore a wide-brimmed hat and a mask, tucking every strand of her signature long purple hair beneath the hat, leaving only her bright eyes visible. Following her performance at the Tokyo Dome and the summer festival, her fame had skyrocketed; even in a remote countryside town like this, she could be recognized by enthusiastic fans at any moment.
The air was thick with humid heat, though it was far more bearable than the night of the festival. The drone of cicadas drifted down from the tall roadside trees, and the occasional passing car kicked up a breeze that offered a fleeting moment of coolness. Most of the shops along the streets had reverted to their usual appearance, with only a few lingering festival decorations serving as a reminder of the revelry from days prior.
As the group passed by Miyazaki Hospital, Aqua suddenly felt a strange tug at his heart. He stopped in his tracks, looking toward the hospital entrance. There, two elderly people dressed in somber black kimonos were speaking with a nurse. Due to the distance, their conversation was inaudible.
"What's wrong?" Hikaru looked in the same direction but saw nothing out of the ordinary.
He observed the group closely and searched his memory, but no bells rang. Hikaru trusted his memory, so he was certain these were characters who had never appeared in the original work.
Aqua took a deep breath, his expression smoothing into a calm mask.
"It's nothing. I'm just a bit curious."
In truth, Aqua wasn't just "a bit" curious; he was intensely so. He was baffled by the presence of these two seniors and felt a desperate urge to know why they were there.
Because those two people were the grandparents of his past life—Gorou Amamiya.
However, he didn't intend to get too involved. Gorou Amamiya was dead; he had no lingering attachment to his life as an obstetrician. His only unfinished business had been Sarina, but since she had passed away too, Gorou was truly gone. The person standing here now was Aqua Hoshino, a brand-new individual who merely happened to inherit those memories.
Hikaru was puzzled by Aqua's reaction. After a few seconds of thought, he walked straight toward the hospital gate. Aqua let out a silent sigh and followed him.
"Is something the matter? Do you need any help?" Hikaru inquired politely.
The nurse shook her head and was about to decline when the elderly woman spoke first. "It's nothing major. We are just discussing the arrangements for my grandson's funeral."
*A funeral... it couldn't be for Gorou Amamiya, could it?*
"My grandson worked at this hospital. He unfortunately went missing four years ago, and just over a month ago, the police found his body. We came here to learn more about his life before he passed."
"Dr. Amamiya was an exceptional physician—highly skilled and utterly dedicated to his patients," the nurse added. "He saved countless mothers and newborns and was a mainstay in the ER. He was the backbone of this hospital."
Aqua recognized the nurse's face; they had been colleagues, after all. Though there were so many people at the hospital that he wasn't familiar with everyone, hearing such high praise made him feel a flicker of warmth, and the corners of his mouth tilted up slightly.
*So it really is Gorou Amamiya's funeral. Which means these two are...*
Hikaru stealthily observed Aqua's face but found no unusual reaction.
Ruby, however, turned deathly pale upon hearing the news, her small hand instinctively gripping the hem of Ai's clothes. Ai bit her lip and remained silent.
She gave Hikaru's sleeve a sharp tug, and he understood her immediately.
Ai wanted to attend this funeral.
*Sending off Aqua's past self... yeah, that's no problem at all.*
"I am very sorry to hear this news," Hikaru said sincerely. "I have always deeply respected the medical profession, and it saddens me to hear that such a talented doctor has passed away."
He paused, then continued, "If it isn't an intrusion, may we attend Dr. Amamiya's funeral? We don't have any pressing plans and would like to pay our respects. Could you tell us the time and location?"
"The funeral is scheduled for the day after tomorrow at 10:00 AM, at Takachiho Shrine," the old woman replied. "It's just a simple ceremony with few attendees—mostly family and hospital colleagues."
"If you wish to come..." She paused for a few seconds, looking as if she were momentarily stuck. "You are very welcome. Gorou would have been happy."
"We just haven't decided on the burial site yet," the old man beside her interjected, his voice low and gravelly. "I still believe he should be brought back to our hometown to be buried with his mother."
"Gorou loved Miyazaki best," the old woman countered. "It's where he worked the longest and where his heart was. I want to respect his wishes. Now, let's not talk about this here."
"I apologize for that," she said to Hikaru's group, and Hikaru smiled, saying it was quite alright.
*Still arguing over where to bury Gorou Amamiya, huh...* Hikaru pondered the question himself, eventually finding himself staring at Aqua.
*I could just ask Aqua directly.*
"What are you staring at me for?" Aqua asked, unable to take the scrutiny.
"Nothing." Hikaru ruffled Aqua's hair.
"We can discuss the burial after the funeral," the nurse cut in timely, then turned to Hikaru. "We look forward to seeing you there."
"Thank you for the invitation," Hikaru nodded in thanks, then led the group away.
It wasn't until they were well out of the grandparents' sight that Aqua let out a long, heavy breath, as if a weight had been lifted.
In his previous life, Gorou had never gotten along with his grandfather, and the tension still made him feel pressured even now.
"Dr. Amamiya... he was the doctor who delivered my babies," Ai said softly, clutching Hikaru's hem. "He was a wonderful person—dedicated, caring... and he was a fan of mine."
"If he hadn't gotten involved with me, Ryosuke probably wouldn't have targeted him."
Ai drifted into her memories, falling silent for a long time. The atmosphere grew somber. Everyone wore a heavy expression—except Hikaru.
"I am so sorry about what happened to Dr. Amamiya," Ai finally said.
It wasn't a lie; she truly grieved for the doctor's death.
Aqua opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to comfort Ai, but he didn't know in what capacity he could possibly do so.
Ruby simply turned her head away.
"Ai, you just went to the hospital to have your children, and the doctor was simply doing his job," Hikaru said, shaking his head. "Neither of you did anything wrong. It's not right to take that responsibility onto yourself."
"The responsibility clearly lies with Ryosuke."
*And Hikaru Kamiki,* Hikaru added silently in his mind.
Aqua said nothing, but a complex light flashed in his eyes. He was about to attend the funeral of his own past self—an experience he didn't even know how to begin to process.
Nearby, a crow perched on a branch, its crimson eyes silently watching the group before it finally took flight and disappeared into the distance.
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