Not long after Aqua took down the molester, posts started appearing one after another on social media and in the news.
"The person Aqua-kun saved... that’s Arima Kana, right? There was definitely nothing like this in the message he sent me. Why was it that girl of all people? Why were you on the same subway? Can you explain this in detail?"
"...Uh... wait, Akane? I think you’ve got the wrong idea, so calm down?!"
"...A savior-type protagonist who saves a heroine in danger...?"
"Taiki-nii!?"
As soon as they arrived at the practice room, Akane shoved her smartphone in his face and, with a face so shadowed it looked completely expressionless, demanded a detailed(!) explanation.
Taiki, pushing up his thick, gloomy glasses, also started taking an interested look at Aqua’s budding womanizing(?) tendencies, as if to say he’d expected this all along.
After Aqua finally explained himself and cleared up the injustice of being treated like this after doing a good deed, as if this were some pathetic, childish romance comedy and not something to be upset about just because, as his father had said, he had gone out and done a good thing...
"I-I see..."
"..."
Hearing Aqua’s explanation, Akane seemed to snap to her senses, realizing she had almost made a huge mistake by suddenly flying off the handle for no reason. Her face reddened as she stole glances at him and swallowed her embarrassment.
Without even properly knowing the facts, she had impulsively blown up just because he’d gotten tangled up with Arima Kana... she had almost left Aqua with a bad impression.
While Akane fidgeted with her fingers, Taiki quietly nodded and said,
"Anyway, so you did a good thing."
"Th-that’s right! Aqua-kun, that’s amazing! If it were me, I might have been too shocked to do anything...!"
"No matter how you look at it, this is just fishing for praise."
With a long sigh, Aqua rubbed his forehead and practice resumed.
In the middle of practice, Akane came over, brushed her blue hair back behind her ear, and asked casually,
"Aqua-kun."
"Yeah."
"...You and Kana... are you two acquainted?"
"Hmm... well. ‘Old grudge’ is too much... I know her face and name. Long ago, when my mother was filming a movie, we were in the waiting room together."
"Eh? Really? If it was the movie you were in together during your child actor days, then that was during the filming of That Is the Beginning!"
"Yeah. You know it? Anyway, after that, the last time we saw each other face-to-face was... almost ten years later."
"I-I see... I just thought maybe Aqua-kun and Arima were close or something..."
"Even if we weren’t close, if it’s a situation like that, of course I’d save her."
The blue eyes calmly looked at the blue-haired girl.
"If it had been you, I would’ve saved you too, of course."
"...!"
Akane’s pupils trembled slightly, and a hot flush rose to her face as a sharp breath escaped her lips—but—
"Aqua. A cup tipped over and my script got soaked. Can I borrow yours?"
"That’s my script, though? You borrowed it earlier, remember?"
"...Ah."
Fortunately or unfortunately, Aqua didn’t see it, and instead he and Taiki ended up clutching their heads and sinking into deep thought.
-
< Caught a subway molester! The identity of the wrist-twisting boy who went viral on social media >
< Already 11 prior offenses... calls grow louder for harsher punishment of habitual subway molestation... >
< Boy actor who saved a colleague, Kaoi couple’s child-rearing method becomes a hot topic... >
< Hoshino Aquamarine-kun releases statement through Ichigo Production: “I only did what had to be done.”... mature charm draws attention >
< Kamiki Kaoru: “A proud son. We will work to prevent secondary harm.” >
< Metropolitan Police Department reviewing award for the “Brave Tokyo Citizen Award”... if selected, youngest recipient in history confirmed >
< Stani-On: “The stability of our contracted actors is the top priority. We hope for strict punishment.” Takes a hard-line stance >
"Kyaaaaaaah-!!!!"
"Ugyaaaaaaah-!!!!"
Ai and Ruby screamed when they saw Aqua on social media twisting the molester’s wrist.
They were worried sick that their son might have been hurt, even though he had done a good deed, but at the same time, seeing their son’s cool wrist-twisting move, so much like his father—
"So, so cool-★ You’re such a good boy~ our Aqua~♥"
"Ghk! Mom!"
She turned into a total son-obsessed mom, hugged Aqua tight, and bounced up and down. Thanks to that, Aqua was buried in his favorite person’s warm, generous maternal love and ended up blushing in embarrassment.
On the other hand—
"...You rode the subway with that bell pepper gymnastics guy?"
"That’s a familiar line of questioning?!"
It was true that her brother had done a good deed, but for Ruby there was something else that mattered most.
Whether that obnoxious bell pepper gymnastics guy had been on the same subway as the brother she loved, adored, and cherished, and the reason for that was what she was so seriously curious about.
Aqua desperately explained himself to Ruby’s red eyes, which were much like Akane’s but without a single spark of light.
After listening to her brother’s explanation in full, Ruby acted as if nothing had happened and snuggled into his arms, rubbing her face against him.
"Big brother, you’re the best! You’re seriously so cool!!! If Ruby’s ever in danger, you’ll come save me, so I feel safe!"
Aqua gently stroked his little sister’s head as she hugged him and smiled.
Bang—!
"Aqua big broooooo! Teach Ame that too! The wrist-twist!"
Ame burst in, flinging the door open and shouting with sparkling eyes.
Of course, as always, when she saw the twin siblings hugging each other tightly, Ame puffed out her cheeks.
"Ame wants a hug too!"
"No way. Big brother belongs to Ruby! Ame can have him later!"
"Ruby."
At Ruby’s ironclad defense, Aqua smiled, spread one arm, and said to Ame,
"Come here, Ame."
"Okay! Hehehe!"
Tap-tap-tap— Ame ran over, threw herself into her brother’s arms, and hugged her sister tightly.
At their adorable little sister’s affection, Aqua and Ruby both finally burst out laughing too.
-
After Aqua’s takedown of the molester, time passed quickly as always, and the opening day of Shirayamagakuin Middle School arrived.
Second semester of second year in middle school. Perhaps one could call it a period as precious as first and second year of high school in life—a season of storm and stress, and a season when spring blossoms are in full bloom.
By the time students reached third year of middle school, class atmosphere could vary wildly because some students were taking entrance exams for high school while others, trusting the escalator system, only needed to maintain a certain level of grades!
Anyway, Class A of Shirayamagakuin’s second year was noisy from the morning on, thanks to the arrival of the school’s most popular stars: the twins.
Murmur-murmur—
There had always been plenty of people whispering whenever the twins passed by, but this time it was even more so.
Having inherited his father’s blood and, from his past life’s personality, the discomfort of being popular, Aqua sat down in his seat behind Ruby and gently shook his head.
Ruby couldn’t hide her quiet delight that her brother’s popularity had risen even higher than in first semester, and with sparkling eyes like a kitten, she said,
"Hey, sen—"
"...You should call me ‘big brother.’ Why?"
"Yeah~ You know everyone’s attention is totally focused on big brother, right?"
"..."
Silence was a strong affirmation, someone had once said.
Ruby, who wasn’t particularly interested in studying, also recalled that famous quote and broke into a bright smile.
"Looks like they really want your attention, big brother. Look over there!"
When Aqua turned his head toward where Ruby was pointing, a group of so-called popular boys from another class were glancing out the window and showing interest in him.
Second year of middle school. The age of storm and stress.
It was only natural that the boys would be intrigued by Aqua’s terrifying secret technique(?) that had crushed a grown man’s wrist.
Even kids he had never spoken to except during gym class soccer or basketball between classes were coming over here.
"I’m not interested, Ruby. You know how much of a loner I am, so could you stop putting me on a pedestal?"
As expected, Ruby giggled at her brother’s indifferent reaction and propped her chin on his desk, looking at him with a pleased expression.
"But you’re cool!"
"...Thanks, I guess?"
As expected, the only way to break through her father’s spitting-image ‘ice prince’ brother’s solid defenses was with his little sister’s blooming, beaming smile.
Aqua, who had been keeping his expression under control, finally let out a soft "puhuh—" laugh and surrendered to Ruby’s cuteness.
Ruby spent the time until class started chatting with her brother, chatting with friends she hadn’t seen in a while, and finally stretching her smooth arms—so much like her mother’s—high above her head to wake up both body and mind before class.
And then—
"Zzz..."
She slept.
She wasn’t openly sleeping, but she was sleeping.
Aqua didn’t bother waking his little sister, who was asleep in the seat in front of him.
Just like their parents had said, as long as she was healthy and working hard toward her dream, Aqua didn’t need anything more.
"I’m hungry~!"
"Ruzzaaaang~! Let’s eat together!"
"You were too busy during vacation to make plans, Ruby-chan~ We have to do girls’ talk to celebrate the start of school~"
Ruby had intended to eat with her brother, but her close friends clung to her, saying they wanted to have lunch and chat to celebrate the start of school, so she had no choice but to bring her chair and lunch tray over.
Aqua also ate with his younger(?) friends for the first time in a while and exchanged greetings.
Ruby, who was in a growth spurt and thus very hungry, happily ate her delicious curry rice, munching away.
Then one of Ruby’s friends glanced toward Aqua and whispered softly,
"Hey—um, Ru-chan!"
"Munch munch— huh?"
"Does Aqua-kun... maybe have a girlfriend or some girl he’s kind of seeing?"
"Pffft—!"
As food was going down her throat, Ruby suddenly choked so hard it was like her throat had thrown a one-two jab to punch the food back out, and she clapped a hand over her mouth.
"Cough. Cough! W-why are you asking that all of a sudden?"
"No~ it’s just!"
"Momo-chan!"
Another friend tried to stop her, but the girl called Momo-chan pressed on, ignoring the warning.
"This is a real secret, okay? I was walking by the clubroom earlier and overheard some third-year seniors talking. Apparently the girls are all in a standoff, trying to be the first to confess to Aqua-kun."
"..."
"Aqua-kun doesn’t really use social media, right? He hardly uses Twitter or Instagram. So they’ve been going around asking whether he has a girlfriend or not!"
"A-and actually, I saw Mahiro-kun, who’s sitting next to Aqua right now, talking with some seniors in front of the restroom earlier too."
"..."
"Wow, but look at him acting like he doesn’t know anything and sticking close to him. If it were me, I’d at least give him a heads-up!"
Ruby’s red eyes lost their starlight and sank into the abyss.
Having inherited her mother’s blood and the fierce passion for someone precious, the sensitive emotions of a second-year middle school girl blazed even hotter.
‘I was just happily cheering because my brother got more popular.’
She hadn’t even predicted in advance that his popularity would rise on its own and the girls’ interest from every direction would skyrocket.
Ruby, who wasn’t interested in studying but was as sharp and clear-headed as her father when it came to judgment, started thinking hard.
She remembered her papa’s warning that the truly dangerous things happen beneath the surface, not above it.
‘...’
Ruby’s fighting spirit began to burn brightly. To protect the precious brother she adored.
Ruby made up her mind to get stronger.
Ding-dong— dang-dong—
And then...
"Hi, Ruby-chan? Nice to meet you~"
Talented in both literature and martial skill, impeccably beautiful. One of the undisputed power players among Shirayamagakuin Middle School’s third years: Yanagi Toroko.
Her father was the CEO of a famous securities group, and her mother came from a powerful political family—she was a precious daughter born with a silver spoon in her mouth.
Toroko, whose beauty was so striking that she had refused to run in the student council president election because it would only add unnecessary obligations, came to Ruby with several members of her faction.
It was a swift move befitting a young lady from a prestigious family, someone raised from childhood to believe that if she wanted something, she must have it.
"Hello, senior."
But Ruby was calm.
She had already expected that one or two people would approach her to get information or points about her brother.
Judging the situation calmly, Ruby smiled brightly just like her senior and looked at her.
Toroko looked down at Ruby in silence for a moment, then shrugged with a friendly mask on and said,
"Oh my, I was worried you’d be startled, but—just as I heard, you really are cheerful, aren’t you?"
Toroko felt a faint suspicion at this side of Ruby’s that was quite different from the information she had gathered beforehand.
She had heard that, unlike the serious Aqua, Ruby was very lively and carefree, not someone who cared much about studying.
But that wasn’t important. The little sister wasn’t the main target.
"Hey. I’ve got something I want to ask you."
"Sure~ Ask me anything."
At Ruby’s cheerful reaction, as if she had been waiting for this, Toroko frowned slightly.
She felt strangely like she was being toyed with, but she couldn’t show displeasure to a mere second-year underclassman. So she brushed back her silky black hair and said,
"I’ll be direct. I’ve developed romantic feelings for your brother, Aquamarine-kun. But I thought going straight to him and telling him my feelings right now wouldn’t be proper courtesy between us. So I came to you first, Ruby-chan, his little sister. Since your brother has become a ‘precious person’ to me, I want to approach this carefully."
"Yes~"
"Heh, so please, as his little sister, could you help me for his sake—"
"Nope~"
Toroko narrowed her eyes at Ruby’s short answer, which had been given with a bright smile as if she would agree to the request.
Had she just said ‘no’?
Feeling offended, Toroko asked again in a colder voice than before.
"...What? No?"
"Yes! Ruby’s just too dumb to understand why I should help you for my brother’s sake, senior?"
"..."
Ruby lowered her head slightly to show regret, then lifted her eyes—now dark and sunken like the abyss—to look at her.
At Ruby’s openly hostile energy, Toroko took a step back, but—
"My brother is busy. He’s working every second, without wasting even a moment, to make his dream come true. In fact, the time he can spend with Ruby is getting shorter and shorter day by day. I’m training hard too!"
"...What does that have to do with Ruby..."
"So, could you please stop getting in the way of my brother and Ruby?"
Ruby cut Toroko off and declared it with a radiant smile.
At the unexpected turn of events, Toroko was left speechless for a moment, staring at Ruby’s smile.
She had never had a twin sister, so she didn’t really know, but at the very least, this inexplicable ‘hostility’ Ruby was showing...
‘Can a twin little sister... interfere with her twin brother’s private life like this?’
Toroko, having inherited the foresight of her father, the CEO of a securities group, decided to end this matter immediately.
It was obvious that a headache-inducing future was waiting if this went any further.
Besides, it wasn’t as if she had seriously considered Aquamarine as a romantic target from the beginning—
‘It wasn’t like that.’
Toroko’s cold face, chilled by Ruby’s dismissive attitude, nodded once.
"I see. I understand. I hope you’ll support your brother well so he can achieve that dream."
"Yes."
Ruby smiled back, easily taking in Toroko’s icy gaze.
She didn’t seem to care how many people were in her faction.
As befitted the child of Japan’s top celebrity couple, Toroko failed to see that every single expression on Ruby’s face had been calculated with meticulous precision.
Not being stupid enough to cling to a target she’d lost interest in, Toroko soon left with her faction.
"..."
Ruby quietly exhaled and looked down the hallway where Toroko had disappeared.
Whatever else, there was absolutely no way she would hand over her precious brother to some black-hearted fox of a woman who only measured her own value like that.
A faint black starlight flickered and vanished in Ruby’s red eyes.
Ding-dong— dang-dong—
"Ahh— I’m gonna be late, I’m gonna be late!"
When the bell rang, startled Ruby hurriedly ran toward her classroom.
-
"Big bro~!"
"Ghk! Ruby?"
After school.
Because of theater work and training, the twins were both in the commuting club, with no club affiliation, and as always they went home together.
Ruby hooked her arm through her brother’s like a puppy and rubbed her head against him.
Aqua smiled at his little sister’s familiar affection, then suddenly thought of something and spoke to her.
"Ruby."
"Mm?"
"School started today. How’s school life? Is it fun?"
"Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! So~~~~ much! It’s so, so, so, so fun and happy! Every day feels like a dream! How could going to school with big brother not be fun!"
At Ruby’s huge reaction, Aqua couldn’t help laughing.
For Ruby, who was living out the happiness she hadn’t been able to achieve in her previous life, Aqua’s top priority was always protecting her happiness.
"That’s a relief. You have to always be happy, Ruby."
"Mm! Ruby is always happy because big brother is by my side. Mama’s here too, and Papa too! Ame and Amber too!"
Taking Ruby’s happy smile into his blue eyes, Aqua quietly nodded and gently pulled several envelopes from his pocket.
Without letting his little sister notice, Aqua threw the stack of envelopes into the trash can right beside them, and he did not think his choice was wrong, even if it was cold.
"..."
He couldn’t possibly hand over the precious little sister who had miraculously remained with him since his previous life to some other half-baked guys yet.
He had only done what a brother should do. If it had been their father, there was no doubt he would not have let the guys who sent those letters off with just a ‘physical’ warning.
He had resolved it as peacefully as he could, within his own limits.
In the end it went straight into the trash, but either way, he had delivered them as promised.
Having finished that thought, Aqua walked home with his sister and talked with her along the way.
The clear September sunlight shone on the twins’ brilliant blond hair.
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