In the entertainment world, where all kinds of big and small affair scandals broke out every other day, there was a joke people liked to tell.
【It isn’t stealing love. It’s sharing a love that’s already outside the house.】
Some dismissed it as a disgusting line used to justify infidelity, but for people who worked in this world, it was also an unwritten rule they all accepted.
In a private room that ran strictly by reservation, the thrill and sense of betrayal born from secretly exchanging sticky, intimate looks and touches, and whispering love to someone other than the already-chosen beloved, eventually turned human beings into beasts unbound by moral restraint.
Or rather, humans had always been beasts to begin with.
A married first-term Diet member from the ruling party, popular for his young and smart image.
A model-turned-actress with two children, who was usually known for her sweet, loving marriage, being photographed sneaking separately into a luxury hotel in Roppongi with him, then leaving together.
In this world, that wasn’t especially shocking.
Everyone was so beautiful, so handsome, so capable, and since they had been intoxicated by popularity from a young age, people who came equipped with the kind of love and marriage values that let them put everything on one person were rare.
Was there really anyone in this industry who could keep their love pure, whether by choice or not?
"......"
Kaoru deliberately ignored the famous female models, actresses, beautiful designers, and celebrities standing in front of and beside him, all of them looking his way with seductive, sticky gazes.
"......slurp."
"K-Kaoru. Um— I should probably go say hello to some of the others too..."
"You’re not the one who needs to go around greeting people, are you?"
"......Could you maybe be a little considerate?"
"Haha. No."
With his usual cool, indifferent eyes, he completely brushed them off and, as if to make a point, clung to Rentaro’s side and drank champagne.
Disappointed sighs and glances spread through the crowd, but Kaoru didn’t even blink. He simply let his blue eyes gleam with detached coolness.
A burning Friday night.
Kaoru, who had been invited to a fashion show by a famous designer at the Tokyo Grand Convention Hall, had "insisted" on bringing along Rentaro, the head of his agency.
Being invited to the fashion show itself was framed as an extension of work, and even at the VIP party held afterward, Kaoru did not engage with any other women at all. He exchanged only brief greeting-level conversation, keeping a cold expression the entire time.
"Um— Mr. Kamiki? If it’s not too much trouble, would you like to join our table...?"
"Standing is more comfortable."
"I was really impressed by your work. If it’s not too much trouble, could we discuss it for a moment in my private room...?"
"I only discuss things with my agency head."
"Mr. Kamiki. Hoho, my husband is a fan of yours, so if you could take a picture outside..."
"I’m not good with heat. Let’s take it here."
Of course, the flirting wasn’t completely absent, but Kaoru, without so much as a smile, successfully shut it all down.
Unshakable firmness. In the end, as time passed under Kaoru’s iron wall, everyone except a tiny handful of challengers stopped coming anywhere near him.
Like the void of space, people—more precisely, women—disappeared from within a certain radius around Kaoru.
Rentaro, who had watched the whole process from the side, felt his eyes sting from the strain.
Only after there was no one left around him did Kaoru finally sit back comfortably in his chair, take out his phone, and send his wife a message.
The blue eyes and smile at the corner of his mouth, overflowing with a warmth and affection completely different from how he treated other women...
Rentaro let out a long sigh and said, "I’m cutting fashion show invitations from now on...."
At Rentaro’s near-dead voice, Kaoru gave a snort and finished off the champagne in his glass.
At the same time.
Ai, who had finished filming her drama, gathered her bag and left the waiting room to head home from work.
"Ai-chan. If filming’s over, want to go have a drink at a decent bar? Kenshiro-kun’s coming too, apparently."
At the subtle flirtation from the famous actor Matsuda Shun, who suddenly appeared in the hallway and was also in the drama, Ai blinked her starlit eyes and tilted her head.
The wedding ring on the ring finger of his left hand gave off a cold glint.
Seeing one of the male actors from the "watch list" Miyako had specially drilled into her before, Ai quietly opened her mouth.
"Huh? Why would I?"
"......"
At the question, so innocent it was almost like a child’s natural curiosity, Matsuda Shun blinked stupidly for a moment and opened and closed his mouth like a goldfish.
"N-No, I mean— well, Ai-chan’s married too, right? Kenshiro-kun’s married, I’m married. We’re coworkers, and there’s nothing wrong with being safe with each other. I’ve been having some trouble with my wife lately, too. I just meant we could talk over our problems as people in the same boat, sort of?"
"Ah, I see. Hehe— I’m not really suited to brainy things like problem counseling."
Ai, her starlit eyes sparkling, smiled sweetly and naturally let Matsuda Shun’s flirtation slide past her. Matsuda Shun’s face cracked with wounded pride, and just as he was about to keep pushing in a more sleazy way—
Ai’s phone vibrated. After checking it, Ai instantly broke into a bright smile. The wedding ring on her left ring finger shone brilliantly, like her starlit eyes.
"Kaoru just contacted me. Well then, I’ll see you at the next shoot."
"......"
Leaving the petrified Matsuda Shun behind, Ai went into her call log, tapped her husband’s contact, and called him right away.
"Kaoru~♥"
- Ai? Are you done filming already? You startled me by calling all of a sudden.
"Hehe~ Surprise, I guess? We finished everything without a single NG! So it ended really quickly. I did well, right?"
Like a rabbit perking up its ears to be petted, Ai’s starlit eyes shone as she gave a thick, eager smile, waiting for her husband’s praise.
Kaoru’s hearty laughter boomed through the phone.
- You did great. Really great.
"...That’s all?"
- Hah-hah. The rest when I get home. I’m about to head out with Rentaro too. It’s the banquet hall, so... we should head home to the babies soon. Oh, did Miyako come to pick you up?
"Yep! Ah— the elevator’s about to close! Wait a second~!"
Ai hurried toward the elevator as the doors were about to shut. As the staff bowed to greet her while she rushed in, Ai also smiled with her eyes and returned the greeting.
- You’re on?
"Yep! Kaoru. I love you! See you when I get home?"
- Got it. Be careful on your way back. I love you.
"Heehee—★"
After ending the call, Ai held her phone close to her chest, her face overflowing with a brilliant starlit smile.
Talking to her husband always made her chest ticklish. It felt as if the husband she couldn’t see was right in front of her, and that only made her want to touch him, hug him, kiss him even more.
The staff, who had unintentionally overheard the conversation, all stared weakly into space with bitter expressions.
"Huu...."
A deep, bitter sigh escaped from someone whose side felt painfully empty.
-
Love comes in many forms. Heterosexual love between men and women, family love, the bond between a person and an animal, friendship with an old friend, and so on—there are many kinds.
And regardless of form, the emotional power love brings is very strong.
It enriches and colors a person’s life, and gives them courage and hope to overcome difficult obstacles.
But on the other hand, it also has a brutal duality: it can invite jealousy and resentment, blind people with twisted desire and malice, and in the end wound not only others but even the ones they love.
"......"
The kindergarten teacher for the twins’ class quietly closed the book she had been reading and looked at the twins with eyes full of thought.
At a kindergarten attended by children from wealthy families, popularity wasn’t determined solely by their parents’ background.
Family background mattered, of course, but kindergarteners were still people with eyes, so they naturally liked those who were pretty and handsome.
Background and looks. The twins had both.
That was why the children always gathered around them like clouds.
And on top of that, on the first day back after break, now even the children from other classes were secretly peeking at the twins from outside, regardless of gender or age.
"Oh my, they’re so cute."
"They seem a little taller than before the break, too?"
Even the other teachers?!
Well, that was only natural.
The movie [Wolf Tail], in which Kaoru appeared, had surpassed 18 billion yen in box office revenue, riding the same success wave once again after [You in the Time That Falls Like Rain]—
And the drama [Cheerful Girl], in which Ai appeared, was creating what people were calling the "Cheerful Girl sensation," recording an astonishing 28.1 percent viewership rating with only a short time left before its finale.
The kids’ merchandise for [Kaisei], which the twins had filmed, still had about three weeks left before release, yet it had already monopolized the giant outdoor billboards installed in department stores and shops.
"......"
The teacher was increasingly curious how far the Hoshino family’s influence would go. If the twins grew up and appeared on a TV show ten years from now to talk about their kindergarten days... what kind of stories would they tell?
Probably precious, charming memories with a kind teacher and innocent friends...
"Hey. Stay away from my brother. How dare you link arms with him..."
"Eh— u-uh— eeeh?"
Ruby’s voice, heavy with killing intent, rumbled low like a growl.
The startled girl flinched and quickly backed away from Aqua.
With a pained groan swallowed in his throat, Aqua rubbed his forehead and said to his little sister, "Ruby. You need to use nice words. She’s still little."
"Yep~ Got it! Sorry~★"
With an adorable smile, Ruby clung tightly to Aqua’s side and linked arms with him, then sharply scanned every girl approaching him with a keen look in her eyes.
Of course, that included the children who usually played house with them. They didn’t usually go up to Aqua first, of course, but they were all clearly flustered by Ruby’s 180-degree change from before the break, when she had become a total brother devotee.
When lunchtime came, Ruby deliberately sat beside Aqua, who was eating with another group, and ate there too.
"Oh my, Ruby~ You should eat with your own group~?"
"Teacher~ Ruby wants to eat with her brother~★ Could you please let me?"
"Oh my goodness—"
At Ruby’s gaze, teary-eyed like a pitiful kitten looking up at her, the teacher ended up clutching her chest.
A child who knew how to use her cute and pretty face like this!? Leaving behind the teacher, who had fallen for the old trick despite knowing better, Ruby placed a chair next to Aqua and sat down to eat.
"Ruby."
"I know. Hehe— but it tastes better when I eat with you, doesn’t it?"
That was true, though.
Aqua, looking helpless, picked up a few pieces of sausage with his chopsticks and put them on Ruby’s tray.
At her brother’s kindness, Ruby grinned and happily picked up the sausage to munch on it.
After lunch ended, Ruby followed behind her brother like a puppy, staying with him through everything he did.
She brushed her teeth with him, practiced together for the upcoming school performance, and played with him during playtime.
"Who wants to play soccer!"
"Aqua! Let’s play soccer together!"
"Okay."
"Ruby wants to do it too!!!"
"Huh! Ruby, can you even play soccer?"
"It’s just a ball game played with your feet! Ruby can totally do it!"
Soccer with my brother! I want to do it together!
With a spirited expression, Ruby clenched both fists and shouted it out.
Aqua was a little worried by his little sister’s enthusiasm, but since it was just soccer among kindergarteners, it would amount to nothing more than running around on the grass with a small ball, so he decided it wouldn’t be a big problem.
Ruby was trying soccer for the first time in both her past life and this life. In her previous life, her body had been too weak to run around freely, but not now.
"Aqua! Catch!"
"Okay."
Aqua received the ball and ran forward stylishly. Ruby also ran after her brother, dashing ahead with quick little steps.
"This is fun! So this was what it felt like to be reborn!"
Being able to run and play as much as she wanted with Aqua on the playground—Ruby’s face was full of a bright smile like dazzling sunlight, even if she was out of breath.
"Kyaa! Goal! Big brother is the best!!!"
When Aqua kicked beautifully and scored, Ruby bounced up and clapped her hands.
Aqua smiled and waved to his little sister.
In the still-hot midday weather, the twins’ blond hair, damp with sweat, sparkled in the sunlight.
After scoring and starting to walk away again, a girl who had been playing ball nearby just like the others tripped over her own feet and fell.
"Waaahhh!"
It was grass, and she hadn’t fallen very hard, but she was still young and burst into tears anyway.
Aqua, who had once been a doctor, quickly went over to the fallen girl and checked on her condition.
"Waaahhh—"
"It’s okay. Let’s get you up."
Smiling gently, Aqua supported the girl and helped her to her feet.
Ruby watched the scene with her lips jutting out, her expression faintly hurt.
"...Dummy big brother. You’re way too nice to other people, even when you don’t notice it."
That had been true in her past life, and it was true in this one too. Ruby liked Aqua’s kindness, but she couldn’t help wanting to keep it all to herself.
"Eek—! L-look out!"
Then the boy who had just kicked the ball shouted in alarm. Ruby, who had been looking at her brother, turned toward the sound—
Thwack!
"Kyah!"
The ball flew in and slammed into Ruby’s head.
It was a safe bouncy ball, not a soccer ball, and it had been kicked by a small kindergarten child, so it wasn’t dangerous, but the impact still carried some force for such a small body.
As Ruby collapsed onto the ground with a sharp sting of pain—
"Ruby!!!!!!"
Aqua let out a tearing scream and rushed over to his little sister at once, pulling her into his arms and checking her condition.
"Ruby?! Are you okay? Can you hear me?"
His small hands cupped Ruby’s face, desperately checking for any abnormality in her injuries or pupil response.
Ruby slowly opened her eyes to slits, and at Aqua’s reaction—so completely different from when the girl had fallen just a moment ago—her mouth twitched upward on its own.
So? Want to try it once?
Ruby, having come up with a good idea, immediately burst into tears.
"Waaahhh~ Woe is me~ It hurts~ Big brother~ Ruby hurts~"
As soon as Ruby started crying, Aqua turned pale and shouted over his shoulder, "Get on my back right away! Let’s go to the infirmary!"
"Waaahhh~ Hehe— yep! Waaahhh~"
With the strange strength that surged from her tiny body, Aqua hoisted his little sister onto his back.
Ignoring the children gathered around them with sparkling eyes, Aqua clenched his teeth and ran to the infirmary with Ruby on his back.
"Teacher!"
"Aqua? Gasp, Ruby—?!"
The school nurse, who had been idly reading a magazine, was startled by Aqua suddenly rushing in with Ruby on his back and shot to her feet.
After hearing the story from Aqua, the nurse immediately seated Ruby and checked her condition.
"Ruby, does your head hurt or do you feel dizzy?"
"Yep~ I did before, but I’m okay now!"
"Do you see double, or feel nauseous?"
"Yep! I’m fine! I can see my brother’s face... really well! Ruby’s totally fine now."
Unable to stand it anymore, Aqua hurriedly asked. Ruby shook her head and laughed, "Hehe."
The nurse judged Ruby’s condition to be normal, but just in case, she told her to lie down on the bed for about thirty minutes.
Ruby walked over and lay down on the bed, and Aqua sat beside her.
Looking at Aqua’s face, which was full of worry, Ruby realized her acting had been way too real and let out a little grin.
"Ruby’s totally fine~ Don’t worry, big brother. I just cried because I was surprised earlier."
"......Right."
Letting out a quiet breath, Aqua reluctantly nodded and smoothed Ruby’s bangs back from her forehead with careful fingers.
Memories of Ruby suffering in her past life kept flashing through his mind, and even the slightest sign of pain from her made Aqua’s heart drop.
If he could, Aqua wanted Ruby never to get sick or hurt at all, but he knew that was impossible.
"...Hehe."
Ruby, apparently loving Aqua’s gentle, warm touch, blushed and smiled sheepishly.
Though it had not been her intention, Ruby had finally monopolized Aqua’s kindness, and she pulled the blanket up to her mouth before giving him a sweet little eye smile.
Aqua flinched for a moment at that smile, because it felt so familiar.
That gaze was exactly like Ai’s—an aura that captivated people and stole their hearts.
"Now... it’s just you and me, big brother."
At Ruby’s tiny voice, shy and excited at once—
"Yeah. So... don’t get hurt."
Because every time I see you hurting, I get scared....
Aqua swallowed the rest of the sentence and, at his little sister’s cute eye smile, ended up letting out a small laugh and nodding.
The dragonfly sitting by the window spread its wings again, following the cool breeze that drifted in.
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