Because watching the Hoshino family eat breakfast had made them hungry, the dark-circled producer hurriedly had the youngest AD buy burgers and fries, then ate a modest breakfast of his own while staring at the monitor.
"...Wow. That’s really something."
"What is?"
The glasses-wearing producer, a junior to him, asked at the dark-circled producer’s words.
What was so amazing that he’d stop eating to talk about it?
The dark-circled producer sniffled his perpetually runny nose, which he seemed to drag around with him 365 days a year, and went on.
"The Kaoru-Ai couple. They’re honestly amazing. There are so many celebrity couples who are just show-window marriages, you know?"
"...Right? Honestly, when you work in this industry, you hear every kind of story. At this point they’re practically a protected natural monument."
"Exactly. This couple doesn’t feel performative at all. They really seem like a family that gets along incredibly well. And the kids are bright and polite, too. I was walking around the set earlier and they came over first to greet us, remember?"
"Oh, yeah. They greeted me too. Miss Ai even kept handing me snacks and telling me to eat them."
"Miss Ai???"
"I’m a B-Komachi fan, so... Didn’t you know? I even got her autograph earlier. Heh-heh~"
"......"
Judging by that thick black-rimmed glasses, he’d seemed like an otaku, but was he an idol otaku?
With a sigh, the dark-circled producer gulped down more cola, finished his sandwich, and stared at the family chatting cheerfully at the table.
That same Kamiki Kaoru, who had sat across from him and the station director during the contract signing and torn into them without a shred of mercy.
And now, in front of his wife and children, he was smiling and talking like such a gentle father.
Anyone could tell at a glance that he was happy beyond words.
Ai, too, sat beside her husband holding their youngest daughter, chatting with the twins while her starry eyes sparkled.
"......Hah."
The simple, harmonious daily life of Japan’s most famous celebrity couple.
A strong desire welled up in him to build a family that happy and peaceful for himself someday, too.
The dark-circled producer, who had been living work-soaked days with no thoughts of marriage, began seriously considering it.
Glancing at him, the glasses-wearing producer clicked his tongue and pointed at the fries.
"Uh, senior. If you’re not eating those fries, can I have them? It’s been a while and my appetite is just—"
"Yeah, yeah. Take them. Take them all. I’m on a diet these days."
"......"
Wasn’t it exhausting to be on a diet 365 days a year?
Instead of answering, the glasses-wearing producer stuffed fries into his mouth as the dark-circled producer stared at him, then shook his head with a sigh.
-
After breakfast, Kaoru brewed coffee by hand for his wife and brought it to her.
The couple sat together on the sofa, sipping their coffee in a quiet moment.
From the room, they could hear the twins playing with Ame.
Though there was a big age gap, the twins had become sturdy pillars for Ame in place of their parents.
Hearing the lively sounds from the room, Kaoru smiled, took Ai’s hand, and said, "You worked hard, Ai."
"Hehe~ Thank you, Kaoru♥"
Making sandwiches wasn’t really that hard, but there was no way she wouldn’t feel good when her husband praised her so prettily.
As always, Ai rubbed her head against Kaoru’s shoulder like a cat and looked toward the camera.
"...So what do we do now?"
"Haha. Well..."
"...Mmm... I don’t think the ratings will be very good... Would people even be curious about how we live like this? Would they find it interesting? I don’t think so..."
Ai’s blunt, no-holds-barred comment from his shoulder made Kaoru unable to hold back a laugh.
Even his wife, who had plenty of variety-show experience, seemed to be sensing that things were starting to go wrong.
Kaoru recalled the guide script for after breakfast and said, "The weather’s nice and warm... How about we take the kids for a walk in the park and then go shopping? Or maybe a drive? Toward Uminomori Park?"
As soon as he mentioned Uminomori Park, Ai immediately realized that Kaoru was skillfully steering the situation according to the guide script.
"Mm~ Okay~★"
Since they did need to restock groceries anyway, Ai nodded and smiled.
While the couple prepared to move on to the next scene—
in the room, the twins and Ame were still deep in pretend play.
"Yes, what seems to be hurting today, patient? This is already your fifteenth visit~"
With a toy stethoscope in his ear, Aqua looked at Ame, who was lying flat on her back with a tired expression and a faint smile.
Ruby, standing beside him, was playing the nurse to Aqua’s doctor.
Ame grinned mischievously and patted her belly.
"My tummy hurts!"
"Your tummy hurts~? But... I already gave you medicine earlier~"
"Oh~ Ame ate it all!"
"Wow~ You already ate it all~? Then in that case—Nurse Ruby?"
"Yes! Then I’ll give you a shot! Shoo-shoo~"
Ruby lifted the toy syringe and, for the eleventh shot, deliberately made exaggerated motions as she brought it to Ame’s belly.
"Does it hurt? Does it sting?"
"Kyaaaahahaha—! Hah-hah-hah—! Ame’s ticklishhhhh!"
It was basically tickling with a syringe, but Ame wriggled around and burst into laughter under Ruby’s attack.
Aqua nodded, looking very satisfied with Nurse Ruby’s effective treatment technique.
They had to make her laugh like crazy and drain her energy!
Even if babies seemed like endless batteries that never ran out, in truth their discharge and recharge cycle moved very quickly.
If Aqua and Ruby didn’t keep Ame laughing like this...
her hospital visits might really go past fifty?!
"Yes~ Nurse Ruby’s injection treatment is finished~ I’ll put a bandage on it now! Tap-tap~ There, all better?"
"Kyaaah~! Ticklish~"
Ruby, proud of having made her little sister laugh so much, pretended to wipe her forehead with her hand and then rubbed Ame’s belly with both hands.
Apparently liking her sister’s touch, Ame giggled and squirmed happily.
"Yes, treatment is complete. You may go now?"
Aqua, declaring the fifteenth treatment over, waved at Ame.
"......"
Ame stared at Aqua while still lying down, then pointed at her belly again and said, "My tummy hurts!"
"Kya-hahaha!"
"Ugh..."
When the sixteenth visit began, Ruby finally fell backward and burst out laughing.
Aqua clutched his head and swallowed a pained groan, unable to escape the endless loop of hospital pretend play.
Ame’s stamina and persistence were more formidable than expected?!
At this rate, they might really make it to fifty rounds?!
He had considered using complicated medical terms from real practice to kill Ame’s interest, but with the camera there, that was impossible.
Scratching his head, Aqua could only smile in the end.
He was playing with his adorable youngest sister.
However hard and tiring it was, if his beloved Ruby and Ame were this happy, then it was the duty of an older brother to keep going!
Aqua nodded once and picked up the toy stethoscope again.
"What seems to be hurting today?"
Just like in his past life, salvation came to Aqua, trapped in an endless cycle of treatment.
"Aqua, Ruby~ Should Mama and Papa go for a drive? Heeey~? Ame~! You were lying on the floor playing, weren’t you~?"
Ai entered the room, her starry eyes sparkling. Seeing Ruby holding a toy syringe and Aqua holding a toy stethoscope, she knelt down and smiled.
"Wow~★ My babies were playing hospital, huh? Aqua’s the doctor and Ruby’s the nurse?"
"Yeah! Ruby’s the nurse!"
"Mama~~~"
At their mother’s arrival, Ruby and Ame both stood up at once to greet her.
Aqua finally realized that the endless treatment hell was over and smiled quietly, his face gone pale and crumbled.
It was over.
He could rest now.
"Doctor Aqua! Mama’s tummy hurts too! Please treat her~★"
"......"
Aqua’s hope was shattered to pieces on the spot.
-
The Hoshino family arrived at a large supermarket in Minato Ward!
After they had already asked the supermarket for cooperation and brought in the staff for filming, everyone inside the store turned to look at them all at once.
"Huh? Isn’t that Kamiki Kaoru?"
"Ai came too, it looks like~!"
"Oh, it’s Aqua and Ruby-chan. The Aqua-Ruby siblings are here too!"
"The youngest is so cute~!"
Some of the people inside even raised their smartphones to film the Hoshino family, trying to preserve this rare phenomenon(?) for the record.
Kaoru and Ai, accompanied by VJs with cameras, naturally let the attention slide off them and walked toward the grocery section.
Even though the VJs with cameras were right in front of them as they pushed the cart, the couple, like true actors, did not look at the camera and simply scanned the shelves as if they were ordinary shoppers.
Aqua and Ruby, following behind them, also checked the shelves with their parents and put items in the cart.
"We should probably buy ponzu, too."
"Ponzu... Aqua, could you grab that for us?"
"Mama~ I brought some okra too!"
"Thanks, Ruby~!"
The couple carefully checked prices and quality before buying anything.
They handled household expenses by keeping a shared living-expenses account and paying from that, but Ai, who had an ingrained habit of being frugal, often took an even more careful stance than Kaoru when it came to shopping.
Even while buying snacks for the twins and the household necessities they needed, the Kaoru-Ai couple avoided unnecessary spending.
But of course...
"Häagen-Dazs...!"
"Waaah~!"
How could a sparrow pass by a mill and not stop in?
Seeing the Häagen-Dazs on display, Ai and Ruby both sparkled with starry eyes, and Kaoru and Aqua ended up smiling at the same time.
Just as Ai couldn’t resist Häagen-Dazs, Ruby also loved ice cream.
As expected of mother and daughter, their eyes gleamed as they sent affectionate looks toward the Häagen-Dazs, so for the sake of his wife and daughter—
"All right. We’ll make it a special two. But you can’t eat too much, Ruby?"
"Mm~★"
"Okay~★"
He meant the warning for Ruby, but Kaoru’s gaze was on his wife, whose eyes were sparkling. As Ruby’s mother, she had to set a good example! Ai answered brightly with a big smile.
As they paid for the moderate amount of items in the cart—neither too many nor too few—Ai, holding a sleeping Ame in place of her husband, carefully checked credit-card discounts and point rewards as well.
"Put the fragile eggs on top."
"Yes. Oh, Ruby. Could you hand that to your brother?"
"Okay!"
The twins quickly packed the goods into bags, while Kaoru, unable to use his arms because he was holding Ame as she slept soundly, was coached skillfully so the items could be packed properly.
As they organized and packed everything, Ai quickly checked the receipt and updated the spending list in a smartphone household-accounting app, each of them carrying out the role they had taken on.
"......"
"..."
The VJs, who had captured every last bit of it, exchanged glances.
The family’s idealized harmony was so perfect that it almost felt unreal.
They had expected at least some sign of the youngest, Ame, throwing a tantrum, or Aqua and Ruby pestering their parents to buy things, or the siblings fighting, or the couple disagreeing over groceries—something, anything!
But the Hoshino family, just as always, finished their family shopping in such a harmonious, ideal way that they were already heading to the parking lot in no time.
"Isn’t this a little too unrealistic?"
"Haha."
The veteran VJ muttered while lowering his camera for a moment, and the VJ beside him gave an awkward laugh.
Any man who had built a family... especially any married man with kids... would have to agree that the Hoshino family’s daily life was truly extraordinary!
After letting out a long sigh, the junior VJ patted the veteran on the shoulder and moved on, clicking his tongue bitterly.
-
Why Uminomori Park of all places?
Compared with the other tourist spots and amusement areas scattered all over Tokyo, Uminomori Park had little to see and wasn’t even a particularly good place to bring children for a drive.
A small island floating in the middle of the sea thanks to land reclamation. A place crossed by a road built over the water. There was a recycling center and a factory to the west, and a watersports venue to the southeast, but it wasn’t a tourist attraction to begin with.
The center of the park was maintained, but only just maintained, so the grass grew wild and it was used more as a camping ground than a sightseeing spot.
Still, there were more people than there used to be.
There were plenty of tents and campers’ vehicles, and lots of children were running around the park.
They had thought about stopping home after shopping and then coming back out after lunch, but the roads were smoother than expected and the twins and Ame said they weren’t very hungry, so the couple informed the production staff that they would stop by Uminomori Park first and then head home.
"Waaah~! This is Ruby’s first time here!"
"It’s pretty spacious, huh?"
"Ruby-nee~! Ku-a big bro~!"
"Haha, Ame. I’ll hold your hand. Slowly now~"
It was winter, so there were no blue lawns or green trees to welcome them, but thanks to the warm sunlight and clear sky, the three siblings walked ahead with smiles blooming on their faces.
The VJs swarmed forward and took positions in front of the three children to capture them on camera.
Likewise, with the staff carrying cameras alongside them, Kaoru and Ai also walked hand in hand, looking around the area.
After walking for a few minutes, a familiar bench came into view, and Ai smiled before running toward it first.
"Yah!"
As Ai sat down first on the bench, Ruby and Ame hurried over so they wouldn’t lose, plopping down on either side of her and hugging her tightly.
"Mama~★"
"Mama~★"
"Kya-haha~♥ Uhh-huh-huh~ It’s warm when Ruby and Ame hug me~?"
Ai sat Ame on her lap and lifted her right arm to pull Ruby close, then smiled at Aqua, who was standing awkwardly in front of them.
"Aqua, won’t you come sit next to Mama too? I need Aqua’s warmth so~ much!"
"......Yes!"
Aqua, embarrassed but happy to comply, quickly walked over and sat on his mother’s left side, pressing himself close.
"Seeing this, it really does look like a baby penguin and its mama penguin, doesn’t it?"
"Eeh? Ruby’s a baby penguin too?"
"Of course~ Our Ruby is still a baby penguin too."
Kaoru smiled as he looked at his wife surrounded on three sides by the siblings, then took out his smartphone and snapped a picture.
"Hehe~ Kaoru’s a daddy penguin, too."
"Hahaha!"
Laughing at Ai’s words, Kaoru sat down on the bench and pulled Ruby onto his lap.
The production team worked hard to capture the picture-perfect sight of the whole family sitting together on one bench.
"......"
Kaoru quietly lifted his gaze and looked at the staff.
Even the production team, let alone the two producers, still did not know the detailed reason they had come here. They had only been asked to take the family to a "special place" and had not been told much about the reason or memories tied to it.
They planned to reveal the full story in an interview after filming ended, but for this moment, the only person who fully shared the secret and memories tied to this place was—
"Kya-haha! Ruby~ Mama’s ticklish~"
"Hehe! Mama, you’re so pretty!"
"Mom, do you see that? I looked it up, and that side over there is the watersports venue!"
"The watersports venue is~ whaaat~?"
Ten years ago. The girl who had sat on this bench and cried in fear of losing someone precious again... had returned as the mother of three children.
With the happiest smile in the world, as the mother of three children, having realized and treasured true love, the happiness of life, and its meaning in her heart.
Kaoru thought the same of himself.
The red [starlight] that had faintly bloomed in his blue eyes had crossed from the past into the present.
To protect the family he loved—he continued to shine like a supernova, just as brilliantly as ever.
Kaoru turned his ocean-blue eyes toward the blue sea he had once looked upon with his own eyes.
Even after ten years, the scenery was still the same.
That day, on the freezing winter day when a cold wave had swept in.
The Kaoru who had sworn that he would protect his beloved wife even if he had to give everything he had looked back at Ai.
"......"
"......"
Meeting his gaze, those radiant starry eyes curved into a beautiful crescent in a smile.
Realizing that his wife had been looking at the same place, he lifted his large, warm hand and took hers.
"Kaoru."
"Yeah."
"Thank you for staying with Ai, for telling me you love me. And... thank you for keeping your promise to protect us."
On the bench at Uminomori Park, revisited after ten years, the Hoshino family layered new happy memories over old ones.
Hoping that someday... if they came here again, they would be able to return with an even larger family than they had now.
The couple held each other’s hands and shared their warmth.
-
"Thank you so much for all your hard work!"
"Thank you!"
By the time the interview ended, the sun had already set completely and it was evening.
The staff came into the house, disconnected all the cameras, gathered them up, and busied themselves preparing to leave.
Kaoru and Ai waved off the two producers, feeling awkward at their ninety-degree bows.
"No, no. The production team worked harder than we did."
"Thank you for capturing our family’s memories!"
The glasses-wearing producer, a fan of Ai’s, was so overwhelmed by his favorite’s gratitude that he covered his mouth in intense emotion.
Wasn’t this the happiness of doing the work you loved?!
The dark-circled producer carefully handed the couple his business card, saying that once editing was finished, he would send them the final review request through their agency.
Taking the card, Kaoru nodded and saw the two producers out to the entrance.
"Take care on your way home."
"Take care~!!"
"Ame too says bye-bye~!"
The two producers, receiving the siblings’ farewell, waved both hands with exaggerated enthusiasm.
After seeing them off, Kaoru looked around the house, now returned to normal with the cameras gone, and after confirming that the three siblings had gone into their room—
"Hehehe~★"
he spoke in a quiet voice to Ai, who had rolled up her sleeves to start cleaning.
"Honey."
"Mm?"
"......What do you think about... having a fourth?"
"......"
Ai silently stared at him for a moment, and Kaoru, seeing that look in her eyes, thought, ‘Oh no, was that too sudden?’
He watched her reaction and pressed his lips together.
Maybe she was busy, and maybe from the perspective of the one who would actually give birth, she felt differently about a fourth child—
Realizing his mistake, Kaoru hurriedly shook his head and started to explain.
"Of course I don’t mean right this second.
Both of us are busy, and the kids are still growing fast.
I can’t say when it would be, but if you’re okay with it, I was thinking we could slowly plan for it and take care of ourselves once things calm down a bit.
If it feels like too much, or if you want to focus more on your entertainment work, or if you’re already happy enough with just our babies, then don’t feel pressured. Whatever you want, Ai, I’ll—mmph?"
Ai drifted closer, pressed a finger to Kaoru’s lips with a soft chomp, and in a face flushed red, said quietly, "I’ve been waiting... for you to say that all this time, Kaoru."
"A-Ai?!"
"Shh. We have to make it a ‘surprise’ for Ame, after all—★"
"......I-I mean, not right now... and your drama shoot is soon, too..."
"I know. I know, so..."
Confirming that the twins were still in the room, Ai rose onto her tiptoes, wrapped both arms around Kaoru’s neck, and whispered in a sweet, sultry voice.
"Starting today, let’s begin lots and lots of [rehearsal]♥"
"......"
At the desire blazing in Ai’s eyes like starlight...
Kaoru swallowed dryly, thinking that they were probably in big trouble, and quietly nodded.
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