"……."
"Kaoru! I thought you said you weren’t coming out!"
Goro had no idea how to define the emotions that had just been hurled into total chaos by this situation.
Should he laugh? Greet him with, "Hello, husband?"
Should he cry? Grab him by the collar and shout, "You bastard, you got Ai—"
Should he be shocked? "Damn it! You’re Ai’s husband?! You said it wasn’t you directly, that you’d retired!" and collapse to the floor?
Goro’s mind had gone completely blank. He stood there dumbly, staring at Ai, who had already trotted over to Kaoru and looped her arm through his with a blissful smile.
'Wait. Among Ai’s fans, am I the first one to know this? Ooooh!!!! ...Huh?'
Even in this absurd panic, Goro shook his head hard to fling away the ridiculous pride of a fan who had gotten a scoop on his favorite idol, then jabbed a finger at Kaoru and shouted, "W-w-what the hell are you, anyway?! You said you retired! You said it wasn’t true!? You said all those rumors about you dating Ai were just you meeting her as a friend, and that you were wronged, and then you retired?!!"
At Goro’s furious pointing, Kaoru calmly shook his head and said, "That was a lie."
"What...?!"
So shameless that his face had to be thicker than concrete!!!! What kind of filthy scumbag was this, the bastard who stole Ai’s heart and even got her pregnant?
Goro’s trembling fingers drooped uselessly toward the floor. He was about to charge at Kaoru, yelling that this was ridiculous, but Kaoru’s next words were faster.
"I did it to protect Ai."
"...!?"
The boy, Kaoru, firmly took Ai’s hand, which was looped through his arm, and lifted his brilliantly shining blue eyes to meet Goro’s.
Again. That look.
A gaze filled with the courage to throw away everything he had into a furnace because there was someone he needed to protect.
For a split second, Goro felt a strange sensation, as if his mind were being sucked into those blue eyes.
"I was most worried that people would drag Ai through the mud and make a scandal out of me. Ai is an [idol], after all. I could never stand by and watch that dating rumor follow her around like a stain and torment her. So I forced my retirement."
"H-huh...?"
Forced?
All of that retirement was forced—
He gave up everything on purpose, sacrificing his entire career and life as an actor, all to protect Ai?
Unable to close his mouth at this shocking revelation, Goro let out a breathy laugh of disbelief.
What? Was he insane?
After the dating rumor with Ai, Goro had done his own investigation into Kaoru and concluded that he was simply a genius child actor who had grown disgusted with the entertainment industry after his privacy was violated and left.
He had dismissed him as some guy with a huge ego, thinking, "Well, then, don’t block Ai’s path again."
But now that he knew all of it had been Kaoru’s [sacrifice] for Ai’s sake, Goro had no choice but to seriously wonder if the philosopher Nietzsche’s [superman] was actually this boy—Kaoru—standing right in front of him.
"Why... why would you go that far? You were famous, weren’t you? Your dramas were doing great—interviews, everything—I mean, I-I looked into it, and you should’ve had a bright future—"
"Because I love Ai."
"Heh-♥"
"......Huh?"
Kaoru held Ai’s hand and pulled her into his arms as he spoke. Goro looked at the girl, her face flushed red as if she had finally realized [happiness] in the boy’s embrace, then turned his gaze back to Kaoru and met his eyes.
He had not forgotten his resolve as a fan: that for Ai’s happiness, he would support her in anything.
He was just too shocked for his brain to function properly.
That girl had finally met the person she loved and decided to move forward toward true happiness.
Even if that future was a thorny road, she would not walk it alone—together, the two of them would endure the pain and fear and move toward the future.
The girl.
That girl.
In the arms of the person she loved.
'Sarina-chan. Are you seeing this?'
For a moment, Goro thought of Sarina and could only let out a dry laugh at the strange feeling he had never experienced before.
So that was why he had been so confident.
Setting aside his fan feelings, Goro suddenly felt jealous of Ai.
A lover who would willingly sacrifice every result she had achieved for his sake.
What kind of life would it be to live with someone like that?
As a doctor in his early thirties, he had never understood that feeling even once in his life, and he had never even met someone like that, so he was completely lost.
And without realizing it, Goro had reached the point where he was dying to know exactly what kind of person that "thief of the century" and "damn bastard" who had gotten Ai pregnant actually was.
"Fine... I’ll help."
"Really!?"
As Ai’s starry eyes lit up and her face brightened, Goro smiled and nodded.
Whatever the case, he was a [fan] prepared to give any help he could in order to protect his [oshi]’s happiness.
Putting aside his questions and curiosity about Kaoru, Goro decided he would protect the smile and happiness of the little girl who was trying to find and guard her own happiness at her husband’s side.
"I’ll do everything I can to make sure you can give birth to the twins safely and in good health. And... I’ll support you. For the happy future you’re dreaming of, I’ll truly support you from your side."
"Waa★ Thank you so much, Doctor!!!"
"And—Kaoru-kun."
"Yes."
At Goro’s call, Kaoru’s unwavering blue eyes flashed with a different light.
Goro, startled by the cold, piercing gaze so unlike Ai’s, quickly steadied himself and said to the boy, "As a fan, I’m asking you. Maybe this is a warning, yes. Never. Never make Ai... cry."
It was a painfully cheesy line that made his skin crawl, but Goro wanted to say these words no matter what—no matter how embarrassing it was.
That was the best and only thing he could do for Ai.
Because this was the conclusion he had reached after agonizing over what was truly best for her in the short time he had.
Feeling that [sincerity], Kaoru smiled faintly and said, "I’ll remember that."
-
July passed quickly.
On July 27, Kaoru’s birthday, Ichigo bought a cake, and they held a small birthday party with [sekihan], the traditional birthday food Ai had made herself.
Even though she was the [ultimate idol], her cooking skills seemed to be ultimately lacking, and the red bean rice had turned into five-layer rice instead of three, leaving Ai flustered beyond belief—but Kaoru ate every last bite of the sekihan she had made with her heavy body for his sake. He even finished the rest of Ichigo’s sekihan after Ichigo had only taken a few bites. Kaoru hugged the teary-eyed Ai tightly and thanked her sincerely.
Of course, Ichigo, who had bought the cake, was reduced to a forgotten extra and shed tears as he longed for Miyako back in Tokyo.
August.
Since that day at the clinic, Goro’s attitude toward Ai and Kaoru had visibly softened.
He exchanged contact information with Kaoru, asked about Ai’s condition every day, and did everything he could to offer medical advice.
Using his authority as a doctor, he even actively helped arrange for Ai to be admitted secretly under an alias in a private room.
He also shared Ai’s chart with another obstetrician so there would be a backup doctor ready to respond to any sudden emergency while he was off duty, doing his best to look after Ai as a doctor.
"Hey, Doctor."
"Hm?"
Goro, checking Ai’s condition as she lay in bed, looked over at the girl who had called him.
Ai blinked her starry eyes, thought for a moment, and then spoke in a small voice.
"What happened to that patient... the one who said he got you into being a fan? Did he get better and go home safely?"
At Ai’s question, Goro froze for a moment, then gave a bitter smile and turned away, pulling the chart from the bed and writing something down with his pen.
"Yeah... he got better. He was discharged about four years ago... and seems to be doing well."
"Really? Haa! That’s a relief!"
"That kid was a real die-hard fan of yours. Look at this. This is the keychain he gave me."
"Waaah!? That merch—! It was a limited-edition keychain that came as an album bonus four years ago—! It must’ve been really hard to get!"
"Oh, you even know that kind of detail?"
Surprised, Goro asked, and Ai struck a pair of V signs like the [idol] she was, gave a starry wink and smile, and shouted proudly, "Of course—Ai is the [ultimate idol]! If you want to truly remember the love of your fans, this much is nothing~★"
"...As expected!!!"
To think he would get to see Ai’s signature pose right in front of him! Thrilled beyond words, Goro puffed out his chest like a true fan and clenched both fists.
Ai, watching him, let her starry eyes sparkle and, excited by the fan’s cheers, said, "Doctor! Could you tell me that patient’s name? If he ever comes back, I want to give him proper fan service and thank him."
Goro flinched at Ai’s question.
He wanted to brush it off with a lie... if possible.
But Ai, with her kind heart and her deep appreciation for fans’ love, was not someone who would let even a small story like that pass carelessly.
Goro tucked away his pen, slid the chart back into the bed holder, and gave an awkward smile as he shook his head.
"I can’t just tell you a patient’s private information. I’m a doctor, so I can’t help it. Sorry~"
"...Ah. R-right. Now that I think about it, yeah? Mm~ It’s okay! If he’s Ai’s fan, he’s definitely thinking of the doctor! Heh-★"
"Yeah. I’m sure he is...."
Goro managed a smile and encouraged Ai.
Then he turned for the next round of rounds, and after glancing at Kaoru, who had been standing quietly behind him, he gave a slight nod and passed by his side.
Kaoru watched Goro leave the room, then walked over to Ai, who was clutching her maternity notebook and thinking deeply about something, and said, "...Do you want to know? That patient’s name?"
"Huh? Ah, um, n-no? Not at all?"
So honest.
Kaoru couldn’t hold back a chuckle at the sight of Ai flustered and babbling as if her thoughts had been seen through, hurriedly opening her maternity notebook and grabbing a pen.
Ai’s face reddened slightly, embarrassed by Kaoru’s laugh. She closed the notebook again and glared at her husband.
"Doctor Goro said so! You absolutely can’t tell anyone a patient’s private information! Kaoru promised too, okay?"
"Right. I know. I promise."
Defeated by Ai’s warning, Kaoru let out a quiet breath and took her hand tightly. Warm, soft skin. A hand that was lovable and impossible not to want more of whenever he touched it.
"When you give birth safely and come back, make sure you thank him. Ask if he’s healthy and doing well. Ask if he’s still active as Ai’s fan. Tell him you were able to come back safely thanks to meeting such a good doctor...."
As Kaoru gently brushed his wife’s forehead back with his hand and said that, Ai pressed her lips together and nodded with firm resolve, determined to do exactly that.
"Mm. I will. Definitely."
-
Time passed quickly again, and it was late August.
With school about to start, Kaoru had no choice but to return to Tokyo.
After hearing Goro’s diagnosis that the birth was close, Kaoru couldn’t help feeling conflicted and worried about leaving her side at the most important time.
Ai felt the same way. Even as she smiled as if nothing was wrong while helping Kaoru pack for his departure, every so often she couldn’t hide her sadness, and the corners of her mouth drooped.
Ichigo, who had come down to hand things over to Miyako, pointed at the nauseatingly sweet scene between the two of them that he had seen far too many times and said to Miyako, "You have no idea how long I’ve been left alone while those two acted like lovebirds."
"Sniff—this is so sad..."
"Miyako!?"
To think she would see such ideal marital affection from a drama or movie in real life! Miyako wiped away her tears with a handkerchief and felt heartache over the couple’s painful parting.
Ichigo, who had instantly become the most cold-hearted, emotionally starved bad uncle in the house, tore at his hair and suffered over the sad reality that his side had never existed from the beginning.
"Kaoru."
"Hm?"
"Here. The rabbit Ai made herself."
"......"
Kaoru took the mysterious creature Ai had identified as a rabbit and quietly stroked it.
Wanting to knit mittens for the babies before they were born, Ai had studied knitting books and YouTube videos and practiced with all her heart.
True to the name of the [ultimate idol], Ai’s craftsmanship was also ultimate, and along with mittens so huge they looked like they would still fit the babies even when they were adults, she had created a mysterious creature... that was supposed to be a rabbit for Kaoru.
Ai, who wasn’t at all embarrassed by her ultimate handiwork and instead proudly boasted that it was well made, pointed at the rabbit doll she had carefully decorated for her husband’s long journey and said, "It’s a lucky rabbit filled with Ai’s love and affection, so you have to stay strong and do well in Tokyo, okay?"
"...Ai."
Moved by his wife’s smile, Kaoru suddenly felt emotion swell in his chest and carefully pulled Ai into an embrace.
Ai, feeling Kaoru’s heart, held back her tears and patted his back.
It was so sad and lonely that he wouldn’t be by her side when she missed him most, but Kaoru would definitely come back—so Ai was confident she could endure it.
"I’ll come back down again, so until then, make sure you stay healthy. I’m really sorry I can’t be with you. Ai. I love you."
"I love you too... Kaoru."
In the late afternoon, Kaoru left the house and went to see Goro one last time.
Because when he was gone, Goro was the only person who could protect Ai.
By then, the sun was beginning to set.
The two men who met on the hospital rooftop looked at the sunset for a while without saying anything.
"……."
To be honest, Goro still found Kaoru a little awkward.
It wasn’t simply because he was the culprit who had gotten Ai pregnant or the thief who had stolen her heart.
Of course, that feeling was there too, to some extent.
But the biggest reason Goro felt awkward around Kaoru was his boyish lack of boyishness—his adult composure and mature personality.
His seriousness and behavior were more mature than Goro, who was in his early thirties.
On some unconscious level, he was uncomfortable around this boy who had achieved a level of mental growth at such a young age that Goro himself had never managed.
So with Kaoru, Goro still couldn’t help acting a little stiff and awkward.
Damn it. You’re an adult, Goro! Say something!
He wet his dry lips with his tongue and agonized over what to say, when Kaoru, still looking at the sunset, spoke quietly.
"Please take good care of Ai, Doctor."
At Kaoru’s words, Goro turned and looked at the boy.
The boy was holding the sunset in his blue eyes, his gaze filled with regret and worry.
The boy—Kaoru—looked at the always-beautiful sunset and let out a quiet breath.
In his memories from his past life, the sunset had been beautiful in Vienna. In Zurich. In India. Everywhere.
But this was the first sunset he wanted to remember for a long time.
Feeling the ache of this moment, with her not beside him now.
Kaoru spoke in a clear voice, as if making a vow.
"I will never lose someone precious again."
"...!"
Goro’s eyes widened.
Kaoru turned away from the sunset and looked at Goro, smiling as he said, "She is the person I love most in this world. Please take good care of her, Doctor."
Goro could only stare blankly at that smile.
The person he loved.
The boy asking him to look after the person he loved.
As both a doctor and Ai’s fan, Goro could only swallow hard at the unfamiliar feeling boiling up in his chest.
For Goro, who had lived with a wound since birth, the boy’s request became the spark that awakened the truth he had buried deep inside his heart.
As a doctor—as Ai’s fan—
To the boy leaving his precious person in his care, Goro nodded firmly with steely eyes and shouted at the boy far younger than himself, "I’ll definitely protect Ai! I’ll take responsibility for her!"
"......"
"Don’t worry, Kaoru-kun!"
At Goro’s firm answer, Kaoru finally smiled in relief and nodded.
Then he turned his gaze back to the fading sunset.
Goro, too, felt his heart pounding and steadied his resolve as he looked at the sunset.
The two men kept their eyes on the view until the last of the dusk faded away.
-
Ding-dong
It was almost closing time at the bank.
New bank clerk Kohaku let out a tired sigh and pressed the queue bell.
The reality that she had to take her last customer and then keep working on closing tasks until nightfall was miserable, but what could she do?
A handsome boy wearing a hat had placed his queue ticket into a small box.
At the appearance of a beautiful youth so handsome he could have passed for a model, Kohaku’s fatigue vanished in an instant, and she put on a genuine smile instead of a customer-service one.
"Hello. How may I help you today~~?"
The boy smiled faintly and said in a quiet voice, "I’d like a printout of my bank deposit transaction history. For the past year."
Deposit transaction history? From a boy? Tilting her head in confusion, Kohaku tapped at the keyboard and said, "Are you a minor? And what’s your name?"
"It’s 'Kamiki Kaoru'."
"Yes. Kamiki... wait? Kamiki Kaoru-?!"
Startled by the familiar name, Kohaku stared at the boy with wide rabbit eyes—
"Shh. It’s a secret for now."
The boy winked with one eye and pressed a finger to his lips, and Kohaku barely managed to calm her pounding heart before nodding.
He had become her favorite character in that drama! She had been so sad when he retired without warning because she wanted to see him so badly, and now he was standing right in front of her!
As a fan, Kohaku’s heart thudded wildly, and she forced herself to steady her trembling voice as she said, "C-could I see your ID—"
"Yes. Will my health insurance card work?"
"Yes! Yes! Of course!"
Kohaku verified his identity using the health insurance card the boy handed over.
She compared the account information in the bank system with the personal details on Kamiki Kaoru’s record and the information on the health insurance card. After handing back the card with shaking hands, she told him to wait a moment.
How long had it been?
Kohaku returned carrying a document envelope stuffed with dozens of A4 sheets and handed it to the boy, saying, "H-here is your deposit transaction history! It also includes all the debit card withdrawal records and ATM withdrawal records you requested, so there’s quite a lot of it!"
"Thank you. Um... Kohaku-san?"
"Kyaaa!! T-thank you. I’m a fan!!!"
"Yes. Take care!"
Watching the boy leave with a small smile, Kohaku was overwhelmed by the thrilling satisfaction of living the fan life she had always dreamed of. She collapsed into her chair and muttered that she had no regrets even if she died right there.
"Haa. Huh? But Kaoru-chan seems a little smaller than I remembered. Did he just look bigger on TV?"
Kohaku tilted her head at the sudden thought, but it didn’t matter. Just seeing a former child actor who was that handsome was already an unforgettable memory.
"......"
The boy who left the bank looked up at the fading sunset for a moment.
Then he took out the health insurance card from his pocket, unfolded it, and rubbed the section with the personal information using his thumb.
『Kamiki Kaoru』
As the letters gradually wore away, the original writing slowly emerged.
『Kamiki Hikaru』
"......"
The boy, Hikaru, felt a thrilling rush at having obtained his brother’s precious information so easily.
He smiled quietly, savoring the feeling that everything was dancing in the palm of his hand.
It was a completely different smile from the one he had shown the bank clerk just moments ago.
"Shall we go? It’s about time..."
Seeing the chilling smile reflected in the window—one with a faint, eerie killing intent—Hikaru erased it in an instant, readjusted his hat, and started walking.
It looked like a sudden downpour was about to break.
Black clouds were already rolling in from far away like an approaching storm.
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