< [Exclusive] Kamiki Kaoru♥Ai couple to hold joint fan signing event at Tokyo Grand Convention Hall >
One sudden exclusive report shattered a peaceful Tuesday lunch.
Without any warning, Stani-On Promotion announced the first fan signing event in about ten years, along with an unprecedented joint fan signing event for the married couple.
Fans were stunned into silence and immediately began calling every contact number at Stani-On Promotion.
Riiing, riiing—
"What the hell!?"
Somehow, even the office phones in Rentaro’s room were ringing nonstop, along with the company lines, to the point that the staff could not get any work done.
Before long, even Stani-On’s website was paralyzed, and Rentaro hurriedly released another statement through the official Twitter, Instagram, and the media.
< [Statement] Stani-On Promotion: "Schedule for Kamiki Kaoru♥Ai couple’s joint fan signing to be announced later" >
< Stani-On and Ichigo Production websites crash one after another amid news of Kaoru♥Ai couple’s joint fan signing >
< "The king’s return": Japan buzzes over news of the Kaoru♥Ai couple’s joint fan signing >
< First fan signing in 10 years & first official joint fan signing since marriage… >
< [Reporting from Okinawa!] - "I’m a student, but I want to go to Tokyo for the fan signing!" >
Stani-On quickly pushed the story out to the press, the reporters spread it again, and the fire only burned hotter.
The shockwaves even reached Shiroyama Gakuin Middle School.
"...U-um. Ruby?"
"Yes!"
Ruby, buried among her friends as the most popular girl in school, lifted her head at her homeroom teacher’s call.
Ruby walked over with her blond hair swaying, then tilted her head when she saw that her homeroom teacher looked strangely tense.
"Teacher! What’s wrong? Did something happen?"
Even after Ruby asked, the teacher hurriedly led her by the hand toward the staff lounge, fingers fidgeting as she spoke.
"I-I know I shouldn’t ask a student something this personal, but..."
"Huh?"
Ruby blinked blankly, and the teacher squeezed her hand tighter, cheeks red as she asked, "D-do you happen to know when your parents are holding their joint fan signing!?"
"...Eeeh!?"
Y-You were that curious!?
Ruby’s eyes went wide like a startled rabbit as she let out a shriek, and then the lounge door flew open as the female homeroom teacher from the next class shouted in outrage.
"Teacher! That’s too much!!!! You said we’d get tickets together!!!!"
"...Hiiik!?"
W-Was that really something to get angry about!?
Ruby’s eyes spun from the absurdity of the situation.
'Onii-chaaaan— save meee!'
-
The ticketing ended the moment it began.
Literally.
The moment it began, it was over.
@YoneZ_TAishi_
- GET. (Likes 13.8K)
A successful ticketing proof post from Yonezu Taishi, a longtime fan of Ai, went up on Twitter.
His longtime fans were apparently so bitter over his success that they vented by retweeting photos of curse dolls and his own embarrassing graduation pictures like crazy.
The true fans of the married couple were in a real battle of wills. The ticketing server could not handle the 400-seat sale, and in the middle of it all the traffic exceeded capacity and the server went down.
But as fate would have it, the people who were meant to get in got in, and the 400 seats were confirmed.
@KI_YORIKO_NANG
- Kyaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!! (Likes 8.4K)
Kichijoji Yoriko, the author of the wildly popular shoujo manga Today’s Gentle Flavor, became a huge topic of conversation when she posted a ticketing success proof shot with her manga manuscript scattered into the air.
"......"
And yet! No matter how much the world was being turned upside down in real time, Ai just frowned deeply and glared at the monitor as though something displeased her!
Sitting on her husband’s thigh while clicking the mouse here and there, Ai moved her starlit eyes around before letting out a long sigh and shaking her head.
"Haa..."
"Didn’t get it?"
"Yeah.... It’s already rare enough to find an event like this... sniff...."
The ultra-special event where you could buy a top-grade wagyu set at 50 percent off had failed because of traffic overload, but still!
♬♪♩-
"Ah, it’s Nino-chan! Yes, Nino-chan! You got it? Kyaaa-★ Congratulations! Congratulations!"
"Kgh-!?"
Thanks to his wife getting wildly excited over her friend’s success and bouncing on his thigh—
"......"
Kaoru had to close his eyes and bite his lip hard just to control a very natural male reaction.
Whether his wife intended it or not, this was cheating!
Of course—
"...Mm, ah, Nino! Wait?"
"Eek! A-Ai?"
"Hehe-★"
Ai answered the hot reaction pressing through his clothes by moving her hips and rubbing against him with a wicked little smile.
The door was slightly open, and the twins were in the living room watching TV on the sofa!
As soon as Ai saw Kaoru’s troubled look, her smile deepened even more and she whispered into her smartphone.
"Nino-chan, I’ll call you back in a bit.♥"
Creeeak—
Click—
"......"
Aqua’s blue eyes fixed on the sound of his father’s study door closing.
Clearly, his parents had gone into the study together, and though he couldn’t hear them well, he had heard their voices... and then the door suddenly closed because...
"Uuuuu—! Ngh! Haa~ mmh~ hmnya~"
Ruby stretched out and wriggled like a baby puppy, then leaned her head against Aqua’s shoulder and wrapped her arms around him tightly.
That ruined Aqua’s rather gloomy imagination about the study, but—
He absentmindedly stroked Ruby’s warm, soft cheek, so familiar and gentle, and ended up smiling with a warmth that resembled his father’s.
-
May 15, when the weather was gradually getting warmer.
The long-awaited fan signing event finally opened at the Tokyo Grand Convention Hall.
The selected 400 people were allowed in, and while each person could bring one companion, some fans came with family or friends, while others came alone.
Online, people had already maliciously coined the cringeworthy title of "the 400 heroes" for them.
To interview these 400 heroes(?) the press and broadcast vans had also swarmed in front of the convention hall like a cloud, grabbing whoever they could like bears catching salmon swimming upstream and conducting endless interviews.
"Ah! It’s Yonezu Taishi!!!!!"
"I-I’m a fan! Please sign this! I listen to ‘Lemon’ all the time! Sob—"
"......"
Even though he had disguised himself so no one would recognize him, his 188-centimeter height made it impossible to avoid being spotted, and he signed for the fans who had come to the event with him.
"Kichijoji-sensei! I-I-I love your manga so much! My mom’s a huge fan too!"
"Ah, ahaha- yes~ thank you. Oh? You even brought the manga volume with you?"
"I brought it just in case after seeing your ticketing proof on Twitter! C-could I ask for your autograph!?"
"Of course~"
Kichijoji Yoriko, who had been holed up in a tiny room working on manuscripts and was seeing sunlight for the first time in a while, awkwardly looked around along with her assistant, Samejima Abiko.
"......"
Yoriko had wanted to give Abiko, who was now leaving her side to debut with her first work, Tokyo Blade, an unforgettable and wonderful memory!
Of course, it had taken a lot of effort to persuade the even more shy Abiko, who was terrible with crowds!
But what did that matter?
"Hehehe- I failed ten years ago, but a gentleman’s revenge is never too late, even if it takes ten years!"
"...Kichijoji-sensei, it’s our turn now."
"Roger~! Forward march~"
Unlike the excitement and anticipation outside the convention hall, once inside, fans were subjected to metal detectors and bag checks under the stern watch of security guards.
"What? N-no water either?"
"Yes. As announced, we’re providing bottled water, coffee, and ion drinks, so please write your name on this sticker, leave your bottle with us, and pick it up after the event ends."
"Please come this way, go through the metal detector and bag check, then enter!"
The official explanation was that this was because of the incident where Kaoru had been attacked by a stalker, but in reality, the request had been to enforce extremely strict security for Ai’s safety.
And unlike other fan signings, they also inspected and collected all liquids, which was another of Kaoru’s requests.
It was a measure to completely prevent a terrorist attack in which someone might secretly bring in a container of strong alkali or strong acid and throw it.
"It’s huge~"
"The air conditioning’s on. Nice and cool!"
"Our number is... over there!"
Guided inside, the fans entered a spacious 1,000-seat corridor.
With trembling hearts, the fans waited for the first married-couple joint fan signing in ten years.
Everyone carefully took out the goods and placards they had brought and got themselves fully equipped!
From age to occupation to place of residence, all kinds of people had gathered in one place for the very first married-couple joint fan signing of Kaoru and Ai.
"Hoo."
"Puhuhu-! Kaoru, you’re really nervous, aren’t you? It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you this nervous."
"......"
The genius actor who could carry a play all on his own in front of thousands of spectators had actually gotten nervous over nothing more than a fan signing.
Ai, who was thrilled by the long-awaited fan signing and had her brilliant starlit eyes sparkling, found her husband’s reaction so adorable that she burst into a grin.
She carefully fixed his styled hair again, then placed both hands on Kaoru’s shoulders as he sat there and kneaded them gently.
"Nervousness, go away~★ Just watch what Ai does today and follow along! Leave it to me, okay?★"
Kaoru smiled at Ai’s starry-eyed cutesy act and looked at his wife’s face reflected in the mirror.
"Haha... How were you able to do this every day? Even ten years ago I felt it, but... now that I’m experiencing it myself... this is definitely not something just anyone can do."
Honestly, it would be easier to just meet people on the street and shake hands and sign for them than to do a fan signing.
But for Ai, this was work and a way of life.
Ai, who knew how to enjoy popularity and had been born with an aura and charisma that could enchant people, suddenly looked even more impressive to him.
Ai met Kaoru’s blue eyes and immediately flashed her signature V sign and winked.
"Ai will always be
[the invincible idol]!"
Because her starlight had never once lost its shine, just like the "morning star" that lights up the night sky.
Even after becoming the mother of three children, Kaoru could only stare blankly at Ai’s eyes, still shining without change.
Knock, knock, knock—
"It’s time to go on stage!"
When a staff member knocked on the dressing room door and called out from outside, the couple immediately switched into veteran actor-and-idol mode and left the room.
"Fighting."
"Wait—!"
"Mm?"
"Mwah.♥"
The soft, moist sensation touching his lips.
With his wife’s smile and love carried to him along with a sweet fragrance—
"Hah! Let’s go!"
-
"Kyaaaaaa-!!!! Ai-neeee-san!!!!"
"Ai! Ai-chan!!!!"
"Ai!!!!!"
"Kaoru-sama!!!!!! Kaoru-sama!!!!!!"
"Holy crap this is insane holy crap this is insane holy crap this is insane!!!"
"〔 Kaoru-kun!!!!! 〕"
At the roar of cheers mixed in a colorful blend of Japanese, Korean, English, and more—
Kaoru and Ai stepped onto the special stage and linked arms, waving to the fans.
The heat was so intense that the roar of 681 people sent a tremendous vibration through the floor.
Seated in their chairs, the two of them were photographed nonstop by people using prepared cameras and smartphones.
Kaoru felt as though the exact same moment was repeating itself, just as it had ten years ago, and was seized by the strange sensation of déjà vu.
"Here, Ai."
- Waaaah—!!!
- Kyaaaaaa!
Even the tiny act of pouring water into a paper cup and handing it to his wife caused an uproar.
Ai chuckled softly and took the cup from her husband’s stiff-faced hand, then drank the water.
For some reason, it felt as though there was a teasing whisper in Ai’s gaze as she looked at him, as if asking whether it wasn’t about time he got used to this...
"We’ll now begin the question time where fans can ask the two of you questions!"
At the host’s cue, Kaoru clapped and showed his usual indifferent smile.
Ai, by contrast, seemed unable to contain her excitement and clapped while shrugging her shoulders.
"Now then, number 55! You’re both famous as the entertainment industry’s most lovey-dovey couple, so do you ever have even small arguments? Ah... I’m curious too!"
At the host’s question, Kaoru looked at Ai for a moment, then took the microphone and spoke in a very serious voice.
"We try our best to be considerate and avoid fighting as much as possible. I’m not sure what counts as a small argument... but we’ve never once hurt each other’s feelings."
"Kaoru and I both know each other very well, so~ we’ve never fought or argued!"
- Ooooh~
That was the general reaction.
It was so obvious that even fans had started saying, "If the Kaoru-Ai couple ever gets divorced, then the entertainment industry has no hope left."
Deciding the question was useless, the host quickly moved on to the next topic.
"Yes. Number 41. Hahaha. Ah, this question... A lot of people don’t know this, but the two of you are actually an older-woman-younger-man couple. Kamiki-san is one year younger than Ai-san, but when you watch the two of you, you never call her ‘big sister’! Why is that? I’m really~~~ curious!?"
Kaoru failed to keep his expression under control, lowered his head, and rubbed his forehead, and the audience erupted into thunderous applause and cheers.
- Waaaaah!!!
- That’s right!!!!!
- Big sister!!!
Even Ai, covering her mouth as she laughed, searched through her memories with her starlit eyes moving back and forth—
Wait! He was one year younger!
And he had never once called her big sister?!
Even when they first met at the troupe, after she told him her age, he drew a hard line and called her "Miss Ai." Even after they became close, started dating, had twins, and even got married—
He had never once called her "big sister"?!
'Eh... so I’ve basically been treated like I was younger than him for nearly 13 years!?'
Ai’s starlit eyes flared with fire as she realized this unexpected fact.
No matter that he had once been a CIA agent in a past life, wasn’t he now literally her younger brother by one year!?
And yet her husband had never once treated her like an older sister, and had always protected her as if she were a careless little sister!
She was still one whole year older!!!
'Though it’s only a seven-month difference?'
That was one thing, and this was another!
Sensing his wife’s stare, Kaoru tried to act calm, looked away, and gulped down water from the bottle.
Kaoru quickly sorted out a response in his head, took the microphone, let out a low sigh, and said, "...It’s an unspoken term of endearment. Honestly, Ai is just so cute. And ever since we first met at the troupe... well... maybe it was my pride as a man? I didn’t want to admit I was younger than Ai. So I never called her ‘big sister.’ As for my wife... she never specifically asked me to call her that. Haha."
- Kyaaaa~
- Waaaah~!
To get out of the situation, Kaoru shamelessly flaunted his affection, and the women in the audience, including Ai, erupted into cheers regardless of age.
By contrast, the male fans showed a variety of reactions, either sympathizing with Kaoru’s words or rejecting them outright.
But Ai had no intention of letting this go so easily.
Zzzzt—
Ai shot laser eyes at the host!
The host caught the meaning in an instant and quickly lifted the microphone again.
"All right! Then, to commemorate today’s first joint fan signing in ten years, let’s do a little event for the fans... How about Kamiki-san calling Ai-san ‘big sister’..."
The moment the host finished speaking, an explosive cheer burst from the audience.
By contrast, Kaoru’s face was instantly filled with visible distress.
At the historic moment when his usual cool poker face completely collapsed, Kaoru’s fans gasped in admiration and kept taking pictures.
"......"
Holding the microphone, he looked at his wife, who was staring at him with sparkling, bright starlit eyes and a face full of anticipation.
It was the first time since they met that he had ever tried calling her "big sister," and now he had to do it in front of everyone...
His voice barely came out because of embarrassment and shyness, but Kaoru bit his lip lightly, felt blood rush hotly to his reddened ears, and...
"Bi-big sister... Ai big sister."
"!"
At her husband’s voice, red with embarrassment, Ai’s rabbit-like eyes flew wide, and her heart dropped with a thud.
Without realizing it, she covered her mouth, which wouldn’t close, and at the sight of her reaction, her face turning as red as her husband’s—
- Kyaaaaaa!!!!
- Waaaaaah!!!!!
The fans naturally went into a frenzy, applauding and springing to their feet, unable to contain their excitement.
"A-all right, e-everyone! Calm down! Calm down!"
Only after the host barely managed to settle everyone down could the actual fan signing begin.
Kaoru and Ai had prepared 400 autographs in advance over the course of two weeks, and they shook hands with fans and took photos with them.
"I’m Yonezu Taishi. S-senpai. You’re really my absolute favorite, senpai. It’s such an honor to meet you!"
At Taishi’s shy greeting, his usual blunt expression gone and his hands covering his mouth like a bashful teenage girl—
"Eeh!? Waaah- yes! I saw an article about you before. I was so happy and moved that I’m your favorite! I’ve been listening to your songs a lot. You’re incredibly tall, aren’t you?"
Ai skillfully and expertly shook Taishi’s hand and took the lead in the conversation, showing off her legendary idol skills.
By contrast, Kaoru quietly glared at Yonezu Taishi, who was sticking far too close and fawning over Ai compared to the other male fans—
"......"
with eyes cold as frost.
Shouldn’t a fan meeting their favorite actually keep a proper distance?
The sight of Yonezu Taishi, who clearly didn’t know the meaning of moderation, was deeply, deeply, extremely, very, very irritating.
On the other hand...
"Ah, hello! I’m Kichijoji Yoriko! I’m a manga artist! And this is Samejima Abiko!"
"...Hello."
"I-I’m the a-author serializing a work called Today’s Gentle Flavor...!"
"Ah— so you’re that famous shoujo manga artist?"
"Oh!? Yes! Yes, yes, yes! That’s right! Oh my! How— kyaaa! How did you know my, my, my work, my humble work..."
Kaoru gave an awkward smile and, thinking of Kichijoji-sensei’s complete collection that was perfectly stored at Rentaro’s home, said, "Our agency president is a fan."
"Gasp—!?"
Yoriko clapped both hands over her mouth and nearly forgot how to breathe, and Abiko hurriedly patted her back, signaling her to calm down.
"I-it’s an honor! Thank you so much! Ah! Th-this girl, Abiko, is also debuting this time with a work called Tokyo Blade, so p-please take good care of her!"
"P-please take good care of her?"
Abiko, who had been dragged into greeting him by her teacher, seemed a little clumsy at reading the situation, perhaps because she was still young.
Kaoru smiled at the harmony between the kind teacher and her good student, then nodded.
"I wish you both success. Let’s shake hands."
"Y-yes!"
Yoriko could not pass up the once-in-a-lifetime chance to shake Kaoru’s bare hand, so she clasped it with both hands and shook it vigorously.
Abiko also had her own plan to touch Kaoru’s hand and obtain the luck of a top-star actor so her work would do well, so she took his hand with both of hers as well.
"......"
They were not flashy or especially skilled at acting cute, but the two disciples, both fair-skinned and pretty, stood beside Kaoru and smiled happily—
and Ai’s starlit eyes suddenly sank into a dark abyss.
They’re too happy, aren’t they? My wife is right here. Keep your distance.
Yoriko, blooming with happy smiles as she took photos without knowing she was building up karma, and Abiko, who wore a calm but faint smile.
After sending the two women off, Kaoru suddenly remembered that he had forgotten to get an autograph for Rentaro and shook his head.
Then he met his wife’s eyes...
"Do you like them?"
"...Huh?"
"Do you like them?"
"......"
At his wife’s cold question, Kaoru’s blue eyes trembled like a quaking aspen.
The problem was—
'I have no idea what I did wrong!'
Cold sweat began to bead on the forehead of a man who had survived every kind of pursuit the CIA could throw at him.
-
After the famous fan signing wrapped up, and the fans’ proof posts kept pouring in on social media, time moved quickly again.
June. Summer.
With one month left until summer vacation, a new member joined the Rararai Theater Troupe.
"......"
"Aqua."
"Yes?"
As usual, Aqua had been rehearsing lines on stage with the troupe members when President Toshiro called him, so he stood up and came down from the stage.
Once he got down, he saw, for some reason, a girl with familiar blue hair and familiar glasses standing awkwardly beside President Toshiro.
'The child actor who appeared in the same drama as Ruby...'
It was definitely that child actress.
Seeing that Aqua recognized the girl standing beside him, President Toshiro nodded, crossed his arms, and said, "She’s a new recruit who joined us this time. She was selected through a formal audition, and we’re holding a welcome party tonight anyway, but you should introduce yourselves first."
"Ah, um, I-I’m [Kurokawa Akane]. P-please take care of me..."
Despite her timid expression, as if she were very shy around strangers, the pure longing for acting flickering in her ocean-clear eyes looked very strong.
Aqua gave his usual smile, nodded, and slowly extended his right hand in return.
"I’m [Hoshino Aquamarine]."
"Y-yes!"
Akane awkwardly and cautiously took Aqua’s warm hand and held it tightly.
She had naturally known Aqua’s face and name through mutual follows with Ruby on Twitter and Instagram, but this was the first time they had met face-to-face like this.
As their hands met and exchanged warmth, the two of them awkwardly let go, and President Toshiro pointed toward the stage with a bored voice.
"You two get along on your own. Aqua, show Akane around the troupe. I’ve got a meeting right away."
"Ah, yes..."
"......"
Akane, who had flinched and was standing politely with her hands folded awkwardly, watched President Toshiro’s cool retreating back with a stunned look.
"...U-um..."
Then she sent Aqua a trembling look that seemed to ask what she should do now.
She looked like a frightened bluebird, and Aqua let out a small chuckle before slowly walking toward her.
"Here, you can just call me by my name casually."
The boy’s warm, radiant blond hair and the light shimmering in his blue eyes.
Akane stared at him blankly for a moment, then came to her senses, nodded, and exclaimed, "Y-yeah! O-okay! P-please take care of me! Aqua-ma, Aqua-kun... y-you can call me by my name too."
"Sure, Akane. First, let’s go up on stage. That’s the audience seating area, and this side is..."
The two of them walked together onto the stage while talking.
The bright stage lights shone down on the two figures standing on stage.
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