The New Year had passed. Time, as always, moved quickly. Since I met Ai and Aqua and Ruby were born into this world, time for me had become, just as Producer Sojiro had said, like gold dust that slipped through my fingers no matter how tightly I tried to grasp it.
As time flowed on, I now had to accept the seasons of change.
With graduation from the beloved Kaisei High School approaching, the time had come for me to live on as a student of [Tokyo University], or [Todai] for short.
My friends naturally seemed to expect that I would go on to Tokyo University, and even brought over other friends I didn’t know had been accepted there, helping us exchange contact information.
Quite a few of them were entering the Faculty of Law, the same as me.
There were also plenty of teachers and classmates who had assumed that, since I was an actor, I would apply to the theater department at Waseda University’s Faculty of Letters.
I had brushed it off with them, but what mattered most to me was not my major. That was also the answer to why I had passed over so many high schools and chosen this prestigious one in the first place.
These connections would become a power in my life more valuable than countless sums of money.
Just as I had felt in my previous life, the connections of elites across every layer of society held power and value far beyond what ordinary people imagined.
That absurd unwritten rule of this world, the so-called [industry custom] where law and principle did not apply, would never. Not as long as I was here, never.
They would never be able to lay a hand on my family or the people who were mine.
< Kamiki Kaoru passes Tokyo University’s Faculty of Law... his first step from actor to legal professional? >
< The genius actor of the century, Kamiki Kaoru... accepted to Tokyo University >
< Weekly Column - Is he dreaming of becoming a prime minister from the entertainment world? The pros and cons of Kamiki Kaoru’s entry into politics >
< Weekly PICK: Did every prime minister in history have a university senior? The surprising truths about Tokyo University’s Faculty of Law >
< Ruling party spokesperson: "The rumor that a certain actor was invited to join the party is absolutely false... I’ve never even heard of it." >
< Stani-On says: "The rumor of entering politics is baseless... we will consider legal action if necessary." >
"..."
"...If you ever run for the House of Councillors later, I could hold a sign for you or something."
"I’m not running."
"Still, you never know what life will bring. By then, the troupe could benefit from it too."
"...Haah."
After putting down the newspaper, I could only press at my temples with the oncoming headache from President Toshiro’s easygoing teasing.
I never understood why everything I carefully arranged always seemed to veer off course and explode like a nuclear bomb, but by now I had learned to let it pass.
The drama my wife had appeared in also wrapped up with solid ratings. It didn’t surpass the numbers from the episode Ai and I had appeared in, but Director Gotanda said it still ended on a good note with respectable results.
After her drama appearance, Ai had apparently developed a taste for acting, and whenever she had time she started pestering me to give her acting lessons like I did at the troupe.
Ai had successfully shut down all the concerns around her first supporting role and made a successful debut as an actress. Since her talent was now recognized not only as an [idol] but also as an [actor], I couldn’t just sit still as her husband.
"...Someday, I want to appear in the same work as Kaoru. Hehe~☆"
At my wife’s shy whisper, I touched her cheek and asked,
"What kind of work? A romance? A thriller?"
I was genuinely curious. What kind of project would Ai want to do with me? I asked as both an actor and a husband, but it seemed she hadn’t really thought about it. Her eyes wandered for a moment as she thought, then she clapped once and answered with that bright smile of hers.
"A horror movie!"
"..."
Why???
I almost asked it out loud, but just laughed and said I understood. If Ai wanted to film a horror movie together, what could I do? I’d have to be a ghost, a killer, a demon, an exorcist... or maybe a crying coward running away with her. Something like that.
But then!
I hadn’t known. I really hadn’t known. It turned out Director Gotanda had already planned to shoot a horror film with Ai and Aqua.
So that was why she had said horror movie. My wife, whose greatest strength was her uniquely straightforward simplicity, had gotten the better of me.
When I asked why they were making a horror movie in early March instead of midsummer, Director Gotanda launched into an uncharacteristically long explanation.
And on top of that, Aqua gave me a distinctly suspicious feeling, as if he was trying to persuade me about something without telling me the secret, so I told him to discuss Aqua’s matter with Miyako, Ai’s manager.
In short, to sum it up:
Feel.
He said it was an artist’s Feel.
He also earnestly told me to make sure Ai and Aqua didn’t catch even a cold. I had been about to tell him to just handle it himself and hang up, but I couldn’t bring myself to do that because I was worried.
Sure enough, I was also offered a cameo appearance, but I politely declined. It should end as a necessary "help" for Ai’s acting debut. If I appeared as a cameo in every production she was in, suspicion would naturally arise, and more than anything else, the value of Ai’s work as an actress would be buried under my name recognition. I did not want that. Ai had to stand tall and be recognized as [actor] Ai.
That was respect as a fellow actor, and manners as someone in the same industry.
Fortunately, Ai didn’t ask me first whether I would appear as a cameo. She didn’t seem to have even thought of it. She was only worrying about how she could perform a chilling yet sorrowful, fragile role well.
Her earnest effort without any complicated thoughts made her even cuter to me, and I couldn’t help but smile. I kept telling her over and over again to please not catch a cold.
Fortunately, that winter was warm. It hardly snowed, and there were no severe cold waves. In fact, Ai even said she was disappointed there hadn’t been any snow.
Miyako and the twins also went to the filming set. I heard Aqua did a good job with his acting too. Director Gotanda seemed very satisfied.
Ruby hadn’t originally been scheduled to appear, but for some reason her appearance was suddenly decided, and she apparently filmed a very brief scene as a little hospital ghost in the story.
I couldn’t even imagine how adorable that must have looked, so after hearing Miyako’s story I ended up laughing until I held my stomach.
Praising one’s children always makes parents laugh. For procedural reasons, Aqua was also listed under [Ichigo Production], and before I knew it, Ruby had been added too. My wife, son, and daughter were all now listed under the same company. I wanted my name on that list too, but since I couldn’t do that yet, I decided to leave it as a dream for the future.
"Kyaaa?! T-th-this, this is—!!!"
"Thank you for always taking care of the twins."
As thanks for all her hard work, I bought Miyako a top-class handbag and accessories from a famous overseas brand as a gift.
It cost several hundred thousand yen, but it wasn’t a burden. Compared to everything Miyako had done for us, it was by no means too expensive.
To Miyako, who was receiving the bags and accessory cases with tears welling in her eyes from emotion, I handed her an envelope with Ai’s handwritten signature on it.
"W-what is this?"
"Haha. Open it."
What came out of the envelope was none other than a [Hawaii travel voucher] Ai had made herself with colored pencils and markers. Miyako stared blankly at the brightly colored voucher, then waved it back and forth as she looked at me.
"I don’t know when it’ll be, but I want to send you and the president on a full Hawaii package trip. For however long you want, and I’ll book you a five-star hotel."
"Hic— sob— sniff! K-K-Kaoru! Waaah! You’re the only ones for meeeee~~~~~~~~"
Overwhelmed as her long years of hardship were finally repaid, Miyako burst into tears and hugged me. I patted her back and thanked her in return.
"Now then, the honor of the first Best Supporting Actor award goes to... Kamiki Kaoru of [Usurper]! Congratulations!"
At the [Tokyo Television Drama Award], the first drama awards ceremony held this year, I received the Best Supporting Actor award.
[Usurper] also won the grand prize, and many of the people who had played major roles in the drama received awards as well. It was no exaggeration to say that [Usurper] had dominated the event.
I had won Best Supporting Actor, and among all the actors receiving awards that day, I was the youngest.
Standing before the bursting camera flashes, I gave my acceptance speech and received congratulations from many people.
But—
"..."
At that moment, I missed my family the most. I wasn’t acting just to win awards, but I desperately wanted to show this one to Ai and the twins.
Even when I won an award after filming [Flight Cloud], I hadn’t felt this happy....
For reference, Ai had also recently taken third place at the [Best Star Awards to Brighten the Future], a massive event hosted by [New Aisha], the headquarters of [lon-lo]. She had placed highest among idol singers, and had missed second place by only a few dozen votes, so it was undeniably an incredible achievement.
"Congratulations! Kaoru!!!"
"Papa! Congratulations!!!"
"Congratulations!"
It took three days after the award before I could finally see my family, but once I was embraced by Ai and the twins and congratulated, the delayed joy finally rushed in.
More precious than the camera flashes before dozens of reporters was the embrace of my beloved family.
"Congratulations. I’m so happy! Kaoru. Should we make a display case too!?"
"Ai."
I nodded in response to Ai’s words as she kissed my cheek and sparkled with starry eyes, happier than I was.
Making a display case now, one that would eventually be filled with the awards I, Ai, and far in the future Aqua and Ruby would receive, didn’t seem like a bad idea.
Time passed a little more, and graduation day from high school drew near.
The graduation ceremony at a prestigious high school was held in a solemn atmosphere, just like the entrance ceremony.
But the expressions that had been full of tension and excitement three years ago had now changed into excitement and tension for a new beginning.
Looking closely at the faces of my friends, who had changed and matured over the past three years, I was seized by a strange feeling.
I wasn’t the only one who had changed with the flow of time. My friends had all spent those three years together, changing, growing, and moving forward.
Even for me, who had already lived far more lives in my previous existence, this graduation felt especially meaningful.
Memories of everything I had gone through at this school drifted through my mind. Balancing busy entertainment work, troupe work, and studies.
If not for Ai’s love and support, and the twins’ adorable smiles, could I have endured it?
Could I even have set a goal and moved toward it in the first place?
At this moment, on July 27, about four months before my birthday, I thought of one face that had passed through my mind.
'...Hikaru. The world without you shines so brilliantly. Time never stopped just because you were gone.'
I gritted my teeth and ran forward, determined to live even more happily in your place.
So the world would not remember you.
So the world would no longer long for you.
I have lived my life openly, together with the people I cherish, and I am making my dreams come true.
"...Next, we have a special graduation address from Kamiki Kaoru, who devotedly raised the honor of Kaisei High School over the past years. Please welcome him with applause."
Clap clap clap clap
Rising from my chair, I bowed to the hundreds of classmates, parents, and teachers looking at me, then strode up to the podium.
The school had specially allowed a few reporters from several media outlets to enter, and I could see their cameras pointed at me from the back of the auditorium.
I didn’t need a sheet of paper for a script. I had already memorized it in my head, so all I had to do was hold the microphone and speak.
"First, I would like to thank the principal for arranging such a special opportunity for me."
Clap clap clap
After offering a polite bow, I continued with the usual words of thanks. I borrowed famous quotes from great figures, told my graduating classmates to keep working hard, and spoke about the unforgettable memories I had made at this school—
The time I spent with Ai. When Ai gave birth and I held the twins. Buying food she was craving, staying by her side whenever she felt anxious.
When Ai embraced me, and love filled those starry eyes of hers. Her smile and embrace, sparkling like the Milky Way. Her sweet scent and voice.
Worrying about my pregnant wife’s morning sickness and cooking many dishes she could actually eat, then slathering on stretch-mark cream because I was worried about stretch marks.
The excitement of buying baby supplies for the twins and opening the delivery boxes, the happy look on Ai’s face. Ai telling me to dress warmly in cold weather because she worried I’d catch a cold.
The red bean rice and birthday meal Ai made for me. The rabbit plushie. The phone call where she whispered that she loved me. The nights we went out together, walking under the cover of darkness to avoid people’s eyes, sharing stories from the day and laughing happily.
The first time I held the newborn twins, and the first time I called Aqua and Ruby by name.
The first time you two took your first steps, and the first time you came over to me.
The way you babbled sweetly to this inadequate father. The first time I fed you baby food, and the first time you properly called me "Papa."
The way you walked over to me and Ai and hugged us, smiling in a way that resembled Ai’s and acting adorably. The way you grew up so well, without crying much or getting sick often, healthy and strong.
The surprise gift Ai prepared for me at her first comeback stage. The fact that I was able to watch that unforgettable moment with the twins.
When I was happy, when I was sad, when I was on the verge of collapsing from pain and exhaustion.
My beloved family, who had always stayed by my side.
"..."
In the midst of all those memories, piled up one by one over countless moments, I finally couldn’t hold back a tear. Wiping it away, I spoke into the microphone.
"Time waits for no one. For the people we love, let us do our best each day. Let us live happily. Without regret. Without restraint. Thank you."
Clap clap clap
After bowing in time with the applause and stepping down from the podium, I received hugs and handshakes from my friends and returned to my seat.
Every one of them had red-rimmed eyes, and they gave me thumbs-up or nodded in silence.
Even the class president, who looked like a gorilla and seemed the least likely to cry, was sniffling and wiping his eyes with tissue.
"...When did you prepare such an amazing speech? Seriously, you’re incredible all the way to graduation."
"Man, the moment you started getting choked up, I just lost it too. You cheater."
"..."
Sorry. The truth was, I hadn’t been crying because of you guys.
Unable to tell the truth, I could only awkwardly rub my nose in silence.
Yes. Some truths are better left buried. Since I was already practicing that well, I nodded back at my friends’ heartfelt thumbs-up until the graduation ceremony came to an end.
"Hey! Let’s take a picture! A picture!"
"Take a picture!"
"Mister reporter, please take our photo!"
"Hey, put Kaoru in the center. Center. Center. Tall guys, move to the back on your own!"
"Don’t close your eyes!!"
"Okay, taking it!"
"But is it okay to take it without the homeroom teacher?"
"Shut up and take the picture already, Kaoru!"
Only after taking photos with my friends did the graduation ceremony finally come to an end.
Now it was time to begin anew.
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