< [Breaking News] Kaoru♥Ai couple announce third pregnancy >
< [Breaking News] "Ichigo Production": "Ai is pregnant with their third child... Please continue to send your support" >
< Seven weeks pregnant... After the Kaoru-Ai couple’s box-office and ratings smash hits, a miracle gift too? >
< "Grateful every day for this miraculous blessing... We sincerely thank all the fans who have supported us" Kaoru♥Ai couple shares happy statement on Twitter >
< "Congratulations, Ai-chan!" Heartfelt messages from fans continue to pour in... Attention turns to a more mature fan culture moving away from pseudo-romantic concepts >
< "We’ve become the aunts of three little cuties!" ...Members of "B Komachi" post congratulatory messages on Twitter >
< Weekly Column - Japan’s low birthrate crisis alarm is spreading... The government should step up and pour more energy into promoting childbirth... >
News outlets raced to break the story of Ai’s pregnancy, and once again, Japan was sent into an uproar.
Before long, TV stations, newspapers, and magazines all rushed to report that the Kaoru-Ai couple, still only in their early twenties, were about to become parents of three children.
Of course, the public reaction was overwhelmingly warm. From teenagers to people in their sixties, everyone knew Kaoru and Ai’s story and had applauded the couple for taking responsibility for their family.
- This is what patriotism looks like.
- She’s the same age as Ai... Ask me anything.
ㄴ Do you have a girlfriend?
ㄴ Re: Go die.
- Congratulations!
- It was only natural for the most beautiful man and woman to marry and live under one roof!
- No matter how you look at it, the two of them are way too unfairly good-looking.
- Please have one for me too!!! With my salary, I could never dream of raising three kids in this country!!!
- The Aquamarine siblings are getting a little sibling too, lol.
- I’m jealous...
- There’s nothing happier than building a family. When the babies grow up and become adults, you’ll feel proud that having them was the best thing you ever did in your life. Congratulations! :)
- Kaoru-kun. I really hope the third one is a parenting hell.
- Wow, please let the third child’s name be Adamantium this time!!!!!
ㄴ Wouldn’t mithril be better? Or... diamond, maybe.
- Since the Aquamarine siblings’ names are all birthstones... maybe it’ll be Sapphire and Emerald, lol.
ㄴ Damn, if my name were something like Topaz, I’d blame my parents and change it 100%.
ㄴ The longest names in Japan... Chrysoprase and Alexandrite?
ㄴ What is this, some kind of Pokémon?
ㄴ Sapphire, Emerald, Peridot, lololol. A new kind of gem appraiser?
People responded in all sorts of ways, sending their support and congratulations for the Kaoru-Ai couple’s third pregnancy.
What’s more, soon after the press announcement, a greeting video was uploaded to Kaoru’s official YouTube channel.
■ YouTube
【 The third miracle to visit our family. We’d like to greet you together. 】
Upload time / 3 hours ago
Views 1,002,151 / Likes 208K / Dislikes 2K
The video showed Kaoru and Ai, along with the twin siblings, sitting on their mother and father’s laps and smiling warmly at the camera.
Kaoru made eye contact with Ai, then waved to the camera with the twins and greeted the viewers.
【 Hello. I’m Kamiki Kaoru. 】
【 Hello! I’m Ai! 】
After greeting the camera, Kaoru and Ai naturally continued with their prepared lines.
【 Yes. A third miracle has come to our family. We’re happy and excited to be able to share such joyful news with you. 】
【 Thanks to all the affection and love you’ve shown us, I’m so happy we can greet you in good health like this-★ 】
Ai, who said the fetus was seven weeks along and healthy, could not hide her happiness even for a moment. With a smile on her face, she hugged Ruby tightly on her lap, shrugged her shoulders, and bounced her feet with excitement, unable to contain herself.
By contrast, Kaoru remained calm, only hugging Aquamarine or patting his head while steadily looking into the camera and continuing his lines.
【 For the sake of stability, I’ll have to refrain from outside activities for a while, but I’ll keep communicating with all of our fans! Thank you-★ 】
As Ai and Kaoru waved goodbye, Ai smiled at Ruby and asked softly,
【 Ruby! Do you have anything you want to say to Mama and Papa’s fans? 】
【 Yes! I’m so happy I’m going to have a little sibling! Ruby gets to be a big sister too! Eeeee~★ 】
【 Hahaha. Does Aquamarine have anything he wants to say? Papa’s curious too. 】
【 ...I-I hope Mom has a healthy delivery. I want to see the baby too... so, so soon! 】
Ruby was overjoyed at having a little sibling, while Aquamarine blushed and said he hoped their mother would stay healthy and that he wanted to see the baby’s face as soon as possible.
With a short 2-minute-30-second video like that, not only fans but ordinary viewers too clutched their hearts and flooded the comments with gushing reactions.
- Ruby-chan, Aquamarine-chan. Could you say a few words for this aunt who’s about to collapse?!
- Uncle wants to see you too. But I want to see you two even moreeee!!!
- It’s so heartwarming I’m tearing up... Is this the happiness of building a family?
- Damn... I just broke up with my girlfriend yesterday...
- Te deseo buena salud. ¡Nacerá un hermoso bebé! XD
- 祝你身体健康。一个漂亮的宝宝将会诞生！
- I’m commenting from Korea using a translator. Congratulations! Please have a safe delivery! Aquamarine-chan! Ruby-chan! So cute! ^ㅁ^!!
Comments filled with heartfelt congratulations and support from fans shot past the thousands in no time, drawing an explosive response.
Major broadcast channels also joined in the excitement, reporting the Kaoru-Ai couple’s third pregnancy from the opening of their regular evening news programs.
But no matter how noisy the world became, the twin siblings weren’t particularly interested.
In fact... even Ruby, who always kept an eye on social media through her computer and phone,
"Haaahng~ Mama’s happy, overflowing scent...!"
"Ruby. Do you like Mama that much?"
"Mm! Mm! I like her more than anyone in the world!!! Just a little more than Papa!"
"Ruby~♥ Papa might be hurt if he hears that~ But Mama’s happy~!"
"...."
didn’t care much anymore about not getting enough time to cling to Ai’s arms. No matter what those lowly anti-fan bastards were spouting, every second spent with Ai felt precious, and she couldn’t waste time dealing with people like that.
Aquamarine watched his sister, who was sprawled in Ai’s arms on the sofa and breathing like a pervert, with a look mixed with envy.
Ever since he had revealed his past life... he had to be mindful of Ruby’s feelings... so he couldn’t just pretend not to notice and go hug her anymore. He had no choice but to swallow his tears.
"Hngh."
I want to be held too! I do. I want to act spoiled like that too!
Aquamarine could only sit beside Ai and suppress his envy with a sigh.
But then—
"Aquamarine. Come here!"
"Huh? I-It’s okay—"
"Yah! Mama’s special hug~★"
Sensing Aquamarine’s longing to be held, Ai quickly caught on and pulled him into a tight embrace too.
At the sweet scent of his mother’s body, overflowing with maternal love, Aquamarine couldn’t resist his babyish surrender any longer and hugged her back tightly.
The warm, gentle body heat melted Aquamarine’s heart on its own. He might deny it, but his body was honest.
His heart, following his body, was desperately longing for his mother’s arms!
"...Heh."
"......"
He ignored Ruby’s strange smile as she looked at his babyish collapse.
-
As time passed, Ai’s belly gradually grew larger.
Winter arrived, Ai’s birthday passed, and then the new year came.
Thump-thump-thump-thump
"Haa...!"
"......"
The vigorous heartbeat of the third child, heard through the ultrasound, brought an indescribable rush of emotion.
The emotion and maternal love shining in her starlight eyes gleamed brilliantly, as if proving that she had finally been given a [miracle].
Looking at the heartbeat of their third child through the ultrasound, Kaoru’s blue eyes shining, he remembered the first time he had heard the twins’ heartbeats at the obstetrics clinic in Chiba Prefecture five years ago, and a moved smile spread across his face.
It felt so vivid, as though he had been thrown back into that moment— Kaoru bit his lip and forced himself to hold back the sting in his eyes.
"Heh... Kaoru, are you crying?"
"......"
Ai wiped away her tears and looked at Kaoru with a teasing smile.
Kaoru neither confirmed nor denied his wife’s teasing. Still smiling, he wiped the corners of his eyes with a finger and held his wife’s warm hand tightly.
Now that they had passed the early stability period and the fetus was beginning to grow in earnest, Kaoru’s role was becoming more and more important.
"K-Kaoru... I’m tired... sorry... I, I—"
"Don’t worry, Ai! I already prepared pineapple and donburi for this—"
"I really want mango... sob- sorry..."
The third one was a picky eater?! Kaoru let out a hearty laugh and made a face as if he’d been dealt a blow.
"Don’t apologize. Ai, if you want mango, I’ll buy you a whole box of it."
Late at night. Less than an hour after coming home from his schedule, Ai whispered to Kaoru with a sleepy, sniffly face.
Kaoru was reminded at once of when she had been pregnant with the twins. Smiling, he kissed his wife’s cheek to reassure her.
At the same time... Kaoru, who had nearly been swept up again by a fierce storm of instinct thanks to the surge of female hormones intensified by pregnancy...
"I-I’ll be back."
"Mm! Be careful! I love you!"
He hurriedly got dressed and quietly slipped out the front door so he wouldn’t wake the twins.
Unlike before, he no longer had to worry about being discovered, so Kaoru felt much lighter.
He drove to a 24-hour supermarket near their house and, without even putting on a mask, walked in and easily bought mangoes.
"Huh?! K-K-K-K-K-K-K-K-K—"
"Hahaha... My wife said she wanted some. Could you ring this up for me?"
"Y-Yes, sir!"
He did have to work hard to calm down the young part-timer, who looked like he’d seen a ghost, but—
By now, Kaoru was so used to it that he even took a photo with the clerk first, and then he was able to drive home smoothly.
"Kaoruuuu♥"
"Ai!"
Ai, who had been waiting at the front door, slipped right into Kaoru’s arms for a hug.
After their touching reunion, she headed straight to the kitchen and devoured the mangoes like a rabbit.
Kaoru watched every moment of it with affectionate eyes, not missing a thing.
"Mmm~♥ So good... I feel like I’m going to cry because I’m so happy!"
"You can cry."
"Hwaaaah!"
As if she had been waiting for that, Ai immediately pretended to burst into tears, and Kaoru barely held back his laughter.
Clearing his throat, Kaoru picked up a piece of mango from the plate his wife had divided for him, ate it, and said quietly with his chin resting on his hand,
"I’m glad the morning sickness isn’t too bad this time."
"Hehe. Yeah. When I was pregnant with Aquamarine and Ruby, I could barely eat anything... but [Tama-chan] is a huge foodie."
[Tama-chan] was the prenatal nickname given after Ai swallowed the bead that appeared in Miyako’s dream.
After becoming pregnant with Tama-chan, Ai didn’t suffer from severe morning sickness like she had with the twins, and she ate everything Kaoru made for her without fail.
Kaoru thought Tama-chan was wonderful for growing so gently and steadily without making their mother suffer, and he sat beside Ai and gently stroked her belly.
"I just hope this one is born safely without any trouble. Haha. Look at this little guy making Mama’s belly all round like this. You little rascal, Tama-chan."
"Eheheheh-"
Ai burst out laughing with mango in her mouth, tickled by Kaoru’s touch.
Winter passed, and once again the season when cherry blossoms bloomed arrived.
Ai’s belly had grown so much that it was obvious even at a glance.
When Ruby and Aquamarine came home from kindergarten to Ai, who was now six months pregnant—
"Mama-!!!! Tama-chaaaan-!!!!"
"Huff, huff!"
"Eeee~♥ Aquamarine~ Ruby~!"
greeting Ai and the baby in her belly had become part of their daily routine.
Ruby and Aquamarine’s eyes sparkled as Ai, wearing a maternity dress, smiled and handed them the sandwiches she had prepared in advance.
"Did you have fun at kindergarten today?"
"Mm! We learned exercises and songs today! I practiced hard so I could sing for Mama and Tama-chan too!"
"Eeeee! I’m so excited! Mama wants to hear Ruby’s song soon too!"
As a former obstetrician in her past life, Aquamarine wore a deeply serious expression and checked Ai’s condition with a hawk’s eye, giving her repeated reminders.
"Mom, you’re still taking your supplements properly, right? Don’t skip them. You have to keep taking them carefully!"
"Fufufu~! Don’t worry, I’m taking them properly. Mama’s already an experienced mother who’s given birth to Aquamarine and Ruby, you know!"
"Still, when it comes to pregnant women, you always have to be extra careful! At six months, between 24 and 26 weeks, the fetus... ah, anyway!"
"Heheh-♥ Thank you, Aquamarine! I’m so happy and reassured that you care about Mama and Tama-chan just as much as Papa does!"
"......I’ll definitely stay by your side this time. Definitely."
At Ai’s gentle hand stroking his hair, Aquamarine made a promise with his blue eyes glistening with moisture.
The twins knew this was the time for Ai to focus on prenatal care, so they did their best to help, reading picture books, singing songs, and chatting about what had happened during the day.
"Fufu- Tama-chan. You’ll understand once you’re born, but this big sister is going to tell you just how happy a life you’re going to have all the way down to my bones..."
"Tama-chan. The important thing is to be born healthy and grow up healthy. Don’t give Mama any trouble, and always stay healthy..."
Watching the twins talk to the baby in Ai’s belly while rubbing it diligently and discussing it from their own different angles—
Ai smiled happily, her starlight eyes sparkling. She smiled so much that the muscles around her mouth ached.
These were no longer the days when, like during her first pregnancy, she hesitated even to step outside the house.
"You can do it!"
"You’ll have a safe delivery!"
"Wow~ How many do you want?"
At the obstetrics clinic she visited with Kaoru, she received encouragement from other expectant mothers waiting for their own appointments.
"Ta-da~! Ai! Baby clothes set for Tama-chan!"
"And I brought a baby toy set for Tama-chan~!"
"Fufu- I brought a luxury microfiber bedding set for Tama-chan~"
"Eeee~! Takamine, Nino, MeiMei! Thank you! Wuwu- thank you so much..."
She was so grateful and touched by the baby items the members had prepared for her with their own hands that her eyes grew misty with tears.
"Ugh. This is a baby bed... huh?"
"...Haha, well now. I brought a baby bed too. Looks like the director and I were thinking the same thing."
"......"
"......"
"Puhuhup!?"
"What are you two doing...?"
Director Gotanda and President Toshiro, who had come to visit and see them after a long time, had apparently agreed without saying a word and each brought the exact same baby bed set, and Ai burst out laughing.
"...Use the one the president bought first. Mine can wait until you have a fourth child or something."
"A fourth child, you say...?"
Kaoru’s face went pale, but Director Gotanda didn’t care at all. It wasn’t as if he was the one giving birth and raising them.
He didn’t especially like babies, but if they were going to keep having cute, beautiful babies like the twins, then how could a film director not be happy?
While President Toshiro was being shown around the house by Ai, Director Gotanda scratched his nose and said,
"Once Ai gives birth, we’ll have to shoot the rest of the footage again... I wanted to talk to you about Aquamarine and Ruby’s appearances too. I’ve already discussed it with President Ichigo."
"It’s a B Komachi documentary film, so why the twins...?"
"...Call it an artist’s greed."
At Director Gotanda’s unusually honest answer, Kaoru could only let out a dry laugh without saying a word.
Comments (0)
Please log in to leave a comment. Login or Register