Time passed steadily after Ai and Miyako safely gave birth.
Kaoru took a break from activities to care for Amber, while Ai adjusted her schedule to something close to a hiatus in order to help his wife.
With the two of them effectively able to stay together from morning until night, Kaoru and Ai naturally felt like they had gone back to their newlywed days from about fourteen years ago, when they had given birth to and cared for the twins.
Watching their parents care for Amber and reminisce about the days when they had raised the twins long ago, the three siblings...
"......I'm jealous because Papa keeps hogging Mama."
"...."
"Ame too!"
When Ruby pouted with her cheeks puffed out, voicing her complaints in a roundabout way, Aqua silently nodded. Ame agreed with Ruby and joined the struggle to reclaim Ai.
"...How is the contract matter with [Piyeong] going this time?"
As Miyako got herself back in shape, she decided to switch to working from home until Hina’s first birthday.
Thanks to her past experience of working from home while caring for the twins, as well as the electronic approval system and systematic workflow the company had introduced as it grew, there was fortunately no major inconvenience.
Whenever she absolutely had to go into the office for a short while, Ai would take care of Hina in her place, which also eased Miyako’s mind.
She also heard that the employees in the MCN business division were delighted with the more flexible work environment.
< The Kaoru-Ai couple, overflowing with sweetness... messages of congratulations from overseas fans keep pouring in... >
< [Royal Blood]... intense interest in the Kaoru-Ai couple’s fourth child, Stani-On and Ichigo Production urge restraint, citing "concerns over privacy invasion"... >
The media also focused heavily on the Hoshino family’s fourth child, Amber, and covered the story feverishly for nearly three days.
True to their role as ambassadors for the "birth encouragement campaign," the power of the couple—who were enthusiastically putting that mission into practice as a family with many children—won the public’s applause, and people congratulated Amber’s birth.
Just as Kaoru had predicted, after being appointed as ambassadors, they won the election without fail as always, and the new prime minister, who had taken office in place of his predecessor who stepped down for health reasons, even invited the couple to the official residence, personally presented them with a certificate of commendation, and had lunch with them.
Not only did he share a strong academic connection with the newly appointed prime minister as a high school and university upperclassman and underclassman, but he was also his irreplaceable friend, a senior figure from the same family line as [Kitagawa Tomoya], and above all, he had generously delivered a large anonymous donation to the local support association during the election campaign—
Click, click
The prime minister, smiling broadly, shook hands firmly with Kaoru, who had received the commendation as the head of the Hoshino family.
In fact, when Amber’s name was written out in calligraphy and presented immediately after lunch, the media reported it as breaking news at once.
Kaoru received the certificate of commendation and immediately pushed forward with his promotional schedule to match the release of [Wolftail: Zero].
To help Ai, the schedule effectively given to him consisted of nothing more than promotional work for [Wolftail: Zero] and commercial shoots.
As Japan’s most famous celebrity couple temporarily entered a semi-hiatus, the broadcast industry hurriedly began searching for established stars and rookie actors who could replace the Kaoru-Ai couple and appeal to companies and advertisers.
Simply by going into a half-rest state, Kaoru and Ai had such power that they forced the broadcast industry to seek out new paths, and industry insiders could only marvel at them.
< [Wolftail: Zero] breaks past 10 billion yen in box office revenue in record time... sets a new record >
< [Wolftail: Zero] captures fun, action, and twists all at once. Theaters completely taken over... >
< From high-difficulty car chase scenes to long-take hand-to-hand combat... Kamiki Kaoru’s evolved, electrifying action! >
[Wolftail: Zero] also continued posting astonishing box office results that surpassed the previous film, rising as a storm that would relieve the chronic drought of well-made action films long lamented in the Japanese film industry.
With praise from critics and audiences alike, the summer box office was completely taken over by [Wolftail: Zero], continuing its explosive run.
Thanks to its success in the domestic market, articles even reported that, beyond the previous film’s small-scale overseas release, large-scale distribution and screenings were being planned in countries overseas such as the United States, Korea, China, and Europe.
< The drama depicting the daily lives of newspaper reporters, [Your Today Becomes My Tomorrow], wins the top prize in the feature-length category for the first time ever at the New York International Drama Awards... >
< An inexperienced rookie female social reporter captures mature acting... [Hoshino Ai]-starring [Your Today Becomes My Tomorrow] wins top prize at the New York International Drama Awards... >
In addition, the drama Ai had appeared in before giving birth was reported to have become the first Japanese drama ever to win the top prize at a prestigious international drama awards ceremony, creating a double celebration.
However, the Kaoru-Ai couple did not respond to a single interview, and aside from official messages sent through their agency, they quietly focused entirely on caring for Amber at home and spending happy time with the three siblings.
More than winning awards or seeing their dramas and films do well—
< Hoshino Aquamarine, following in his father’s footsteps? Youngest-ever winner of the [Tokyo Senior Art Critics Association Best Acting Award] >
< Like mother, like daughter! Hoshino Ruby ranks second in [New Esha]’s [Most Promising BEST Rising Star] list... first place goes to Shiranui Frill... >
The couple smiled as they displayed the plaque Aqua had received and the award Ruby had received from a major magazine publisher alongside the trophies and plaques the couple had been given.
They soothed their children so they would not feel burdened, and so they could move forward toward their dreams without fear.
The couple quietly engraved those happy days into their hearts.
And so, in the middle of August, the summer vacation season.
"Amberrrr!!!! Your big sister is hereeeeee!!!!"
After finishing swimming school and washing her hands, Ame dashed into the room where Amber was lying down.
Hearing Ame’s footsteps in the room, Ai held back a chuckle.
"Daaaaad~ Daa~"
"Ame~ Did you have a good time at swimming? 'I'm home' kiss~"
"Yeah!!! I'm home! Amber! Big sis is here!"
As soon as she entered the room, Ai greeted her by kissing her daughter’s cheek. Ame received her mother’s kiss on her soft cheek and greeted Amber, who was lying on the bed.
Though still a newborn too young to distinguish objects clearly, Amber waved her hands and feet and flashed an adorable smile.
"Daang-"
"She laughed! Mom! Amber laughed!!! Kya-hahaha- so cute~ Amber!"
Ai looked at Ame, who was hopping up and down at the sight of her younger sibling, with a fond expression and said with a smile,
"Ame. Mom made a delicious sandwich for you. Do you want to eat it now?"
"A sandwich? Yeah! I want to eat it! Ame’s hungry because I went swimming!"
"Okay~★ We can’t have you going hungry, so let’s get your snack right away. Heheh-"
Smiling brightly, Ai carefully picked up Amber and headed to the kitchen with Ame.
As Ame happily ate the ham, cheese, and tomato sandwich her mother had lovingly and carefully made, she glanced at the clock and tilted her head.
"Mom! Are big sis and big bro late?"
Since her older sister and brother, who were usually glued to their mother’s side, were nowhere to be seen, it was only natural that Ame would be curious.
"Mm-hm~ Your brother and sister each said they had their own schedules."
"Hee~ Busy! Mom, were you bored?"
At Ame’s bright blue eyes, Ai smiled softly and nodded.
"Hehehe- That’s right. A little? Mom always wants to be with Aqua, Ruby, Ame, and Amber. Because I really love you all~"
"Hehe. I want to always be with Mom too! So, ta-da~ Big sis gave Mom some merch? It’s a limited edition!"
It was a limited-edition keychain merch from Ruby’s second album, bought with the allowance she had carefully saved up for her beloved little sister.
Just like the limited-edition keychain merch from the first album that Ruby had given Aqua in her previous life, this was the very same rare item, and Ruby’s tremendous devotion shone through.
Seeing Ame proudly take it out, Ai’s starlit eyes sparkled as she gathered her hands together and cried out,
"Kyaaaaaa-!!! So cuteeeee-★"
-
"Haaam."
The train heading to the theater troupe. Since it was summer vacation, there were a lot of students on board too.
As expected of a line crossing through busy districts like Minato Ward, Meguro Ward, Shinjuku Ward, and Shibuya Ward, the train was always crowded with people.
Wearing a black cap and a black mask, Aqua stood with his arms crossed, quietly gazing out the window and idly lost in thought.
In places like this, people were so tired that they became indifferent to everyone else. In other words, they were too busy staring at their smartphones.
Even though his face was fairly well known, the fact that he could block people’s attention simply by wearing a cap and mask was very convenient.
"......"
Aqua quietly took out his smartphone and checked the message he had received.
[ I’m waiting. I’m memorizing the whole script so we can start as soon as you get here! Taiki is here too! (photo) - Akane ]
Seeing Akane’s message and photo, Aqua let out a small laugh.
Memorizing the whole script. That was so like Akane. He had seen countless geniuses in his previous life, but if Akane had gone to law school or medical school instead of becoming an actress, she would have had the kind of brain that could still make a name for herself.
Her observational skills were also innate; when he saw her perfectly imitate his speaking style and mannerisms during the talent show segment, it had been enough to give him chills.
'Taiki... he’s working hard at the theater troupe too.'
Aqua muttered while looking at Taiki, who was making a gloomy peace sign at the edge of the photo.
【 Hello. I'm Himekawa Taiki. You can just call me Taiki. I don't care about seniority or anything like that, so please take care of me. 】
The gloomy genius, [Himekawa Taiki], who had suddenly appeared with Representative Toshiro in March.
'He said he met him at the children's center where his father was volunteering.'
Since Kaoru had already given him some warning, Aqua roughly understood why Taiki had shown up at the theater troupe.
Even so, that bizarre self-introduction was, without exaggeration, something he had never seen before in either his previous life or his current one.
Representative Toshiro, standing beside him, was also letting out a deep sigh and wearing a look that suggested he was seriously debating whether to smack the back of Taiki’s head...
Fortunately, Taiki adapted well to the theater troupe in his own style. His naturally outstanding acting skills from the start also played a part.
With Representative Toshiro connecting him to broadcast-industry contacts who remembered Taiki’s parents, he auditioned for and landed a supporting role in a drama, making for a fairly successful debut.
He had started acting in earnest at the relatively late age of a second-year high school student, but—while training together with Taiki, whose natural acting ability was surprising even to Representative Toshiro, he had become somewhat close with him as well—
"......"
For some reason, Aqua found it difficult to become close to Taiki beyond a certain level.
It felt like something, an indescribable feeling, kept pushing them apart at a fixed distance from each other.
Like the same poles of a magnet repelling each other. They could talk just fine when they were together, but both Taiki and Aqua had some kind of awkwardness between them.
He wondered if it was because he still had some of the age from his previous life left in him... but he still wasn’t sure.
Still, fortunately, Akane became close with Taiki quickly and without any stiffness. Their shared, meticulous sense for acting hidden beneath gloom and innocence seemed to resonate with each other.
< The train is now arriving at... >
The announcement came over the speakers. As the train stopped, Aqua gripped the handrail tightly with his right hand.
He was preparing for the crowd that would surge in like a flood.
Taking after his father, Aqua had a very strong build compared to others his age, so he held on tightly to avoid being swept away by the crowd.
Shhhk-
Many people got off and on.
Lately, Aqua had been seriously thinking about something.
It was because he had heard a hidden story from Representative Toshiro. Namely—his father had gotten a motorcycle license in third year of middle school and ridden around on a 125cc bike...!
He himself... had recently been entertaining the strange desire to persuade his father and, once he reached third year of middle school, immediately get a license and ride a motorcycle too.
But Ai—his mother would definitely oppose it with everything she had. If he said he wanted to ride a motorcycle, she would surely stop him even if she had to grab his father by the collar.
Ruby, too, if their mother objected, might even tie him up with rope and keep him from leaving the house.
No. He was 100 percent sure. The moment he even mentioned the word "motorcycle," everyone except his father would be desperate to imprison him.
"Hngh!"
Aqua, who had inherited his mother’s excellent hearing, suddenly turned his head at the startled groan of a woman nearby.
Inside the subway car, which was packed with people.
Was she trying to hold back a sneeze? Or was it a physical reaction? Or...
"...."
The subway car was extremely crowded. In other words, it was a situation where there was no way to respond no matter whose hand touched where.
Picking up on the ominous feeling born from his previous-life experience, Aqua carefully moved toward the source of the sound, slipping through the gaps.
After taking three, maybe four steps?
"...!"
Shiny red hair and a cute beret came into view at a glance.
He had never dreamed he would run into her again like this, so Aqua was a little surprised.
Especially since it was such an unexpected person he had run into while moving because of that ominous feeling.
If it was a bad connection... maybe it was, but unlike Ruby, Aqua considered it nothing more than one of the many little incidents from childhood.
So—
"Haa..."
Like her red hair, he could not just stand by and do nothing when he saw the girl’s face dyed bright red with embarrassment, confusion, and fear.
In a crowded train like this, letting someone he knew suffer such a shameless act was absolutely not something an adult should ignore.
At the very least, that was what his father would say.
Aqua quietly took out his smartphone.
"...."
He flipped the side mute switch up and took a photo of the rough, hairy hand wearing a bracelet, blatantly pressed against the area between the red-haired girl’s waist and hips.
< The train is now arriving at... >
As the announcement played, people began preparing to get off, and as if seizing the moment, the hand became even more blatant.
The red-haired girl flinched. Tears even welled in her eyes, but as if this was the first time she had ever experienced something like this, she could not make a sound out of fear.
The blue eyes of Aqua, reflecting that sight, flashed with a cold, wolf-like light for an instant.
"Arima."
Like the wind, a boy’s voice flew into the ears of the girl trembling with fear and confusion.
Startled by her surname being called out suddenly in the packed subway, she turned her head.
The boy, who had covered his face with a black cap and black mask, approached so close that their breaths nearly touched, his blue eyes shining vividly as he stared at her.
She had frozen like stone, unable to say anything, and the boy gave a slight nod before calmly declaring,
"Don’t be scared. Stay still."
"!?"
Thud!Crack!
"Aaaaaaagh!!!!!!!!"
Inside the packed subway car.
Along with the sound of a wrist being twisted, a man’s pitiful scream rang out.
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