3 years later
Inside the quarters of Strawberry Production, a very nervous Ichigo Saitou could be seen pacing back and forth, while occasionally grunting by himself.
His wife, Miyako Saitou, watched him in the corner of her eyes, while checking out the recent hoard of commission requests on their website.
"She said she might be running late, but how long...?"
The president muttered, glancing at his watch.
Miyako sighed.
"You are being needlessly anxious. She will be just fine."
"That doesn't make it any better. We have a huge performance tonight at the Tokyo Dome. It is necessary to check things with the girls, providing any remaining touches before going onto the stage," he replied.
While the discipline of Strawberry Productions was always solid, even with their growing popularity in the last few years due to the splendid performance of B-Komachi, the President still couldn't afford to cut any corners. He believed that, letting your guard down when you are almost reaching the peak, would lead to one's crushing demise. It was the main reason they have been able to steadily make good progress under his leadership.
"Hah...if only that kid was around, I guess Ai would have had it a bit more easy," he unconsciously said.
"....are you talking about-?"
"Nevermind that. While she is on the way, I might as well check in with the production team, to see if everything's in the green."
Ichigo dismissively said, as he quickly left the office.
The Hoshino Residence
"Mama!"
"Mama!!"
"Yes~ Ruby?"
"Look at this one! Isn't it cute?"
The mother and daughter pair was busy sorting out and selecting clothes. The living room they were staying in was a scattering mess. The son only watched them from afar, not wanting to get involved in the crossfire.
"Hmm.....I think this one will look even cuter."
Ting Ting
"...?"
Hoshino Ai glanced at her phone, which just received a new message.
'Unknown number?'
She thought, wondering if it was someone from the production team or anyone else. She clicked on the notification panel, to see a very suspicious and weird message:
Location: xxxxxxx
Time: 3:32 p.m.
'Who in the world...?'
Ruby and Aqua looked at their mother's figure, who stood up and took her black cap and jacket, before wearing them over her white T-shirt and jeans. She grabbed her long hair and tied it in a bun.
"Mama, where are you going?"
Aqua also curiously looked at her.
Ai smiled at them.
"Mama will be back in a tinsy bit~ okay?"
Saying so, the young lady left the house, leaving her children in confusion.
It could be a prank, but the cell phone number was her personal, which only a few had. And the message seemed too peculiar to just ignore it. It was a public place anyway, so she didn’t think anyone could approach her with malicious intentions.
Ai reached the place at exactly 3:32.
It was a children's park, beside a busy street, which was full of people. The park itself was almost empty at the moment. The girl looked around everywhere, but didn’t see anyone remotely familiar. She decided to just sit on a small bench and wait.
Two minutes past by and nobody had arrived. She already informed her manager beforehand that she would be running late. She sat there, and emptily stared at the birds that were flocking around the fallen food crumbs of some passerby.
All of a sudden, the birds flew away from the place, confusing Ai.
"Did you wait long?"
The cold, yet familiar voice from right behind her sent chills down her spine. She didn’t even sense someone was there until they spoke. Abruptly, she stood and turned around, her starry eyes shining with a glimmer of hope.
The moment she saw his face, she instinctively jumped over the bench, and wrapped her arms around that person.
"Kiyotaka!!"
She couldn’t suppress her joy at seeing her friend. Her cap fell off in the process, as a hand held around her small waist, and another was placed over her head, patting her.
It's been three, no, four months since she last saw his face. Just four months ago, Kiyotaka had decided to leave their old apartment, because his father required his presence urgently. It was a matter of integrating himself in the world of politics, following his father's footsteps.
These past few months, he had been attending many parties, getting to know all the current powerful individuals in Japan, both enemies and allies. After his father's comeback a year ago, he has been attempting to make his own son into a member of the House of Representatives in the National Diet of Japan.
Following Secretary Naoe's death, and the soon to be fall of Prime Minister Kijima, Ayanokoji Atsuomi was now an insurmountable force in the political world.
The main reason for this sudden rise in power is due to the complete success of the White Room project, which had helped him gain powerful allies in the business world, as well as an army of super citizens, who are former White Room students. In addition to it, his own son was the top student of the said institution. And the news of Kiyotaka himself joining politics have shaken many of his father's enemies. It was a given, since his inhuman feats and achievements inside and outside the White Room was enough to make even the most fearsome of people anxious. Because their heirs wouldn’t even stand a chance against a Level 4 student.
Kiyotaka, for helping his father, has gotten his own freedom in exchange. While he would still carry out his orders, he wasn’t bound to do so or even could reject if he wanted to.
This was his primary goal from the beginning. His life might be a bit hectic, but he still had like, five years more before joining the Diet, since 25 years was the required age for it. But knowing his father, he might pull a few strings to make it even earlier.
"Ah Kiyotaka-kun's smell~"
The boy snapped back to the situation, as the super idol of Japan was currently snuggling in his chest.
"Ai..."
"....."
"........."
"Ai!"
"Ah-!"
He pinched her cheek, as she yelped back in surprise.
"We are still in public. Here," excessively cautious of his surroundings, he put the cap over her head.
The girl looked at him properly. He wasn’t gone for long, but Kiyotaka certainly looked quite different. His built was strong and sturdier. She could still feel the weight of his hand on her waist. He had gotten much taller as well in these three years. If something was still unchanged, it would be his poker face, but Ai had gotten used to it by now. She loves to always try and get a reaction out of him.
Her body again moved on its own and gently hugged the boy, as if she didn’t want to let him go anytime soon.
"I missed you..."
She softly muttered, with a content smile. Something about his presence always puts her at ease. She had gotten so used to it that, when he said that he would be gone for a while, she didn’t know how to react. He never specified his matters to her, so she guessed it must be regarding his father's business. After he was gone, she moved out of the apartment with the kids, and moqved in to a new house, that she bought.
"Really? It hasn’t been that long though."
"...."
"......"
"Ai...it hurts."
The girl pinched his skin harder through the fabric of his shirt.
"You couldn’t be more monotonous when you say that...."
"While my demeanor may exude a lack of outward expression, the intricate labyrinth of my neural architecture continues to receive the potent stimuli of agony-"
"Oh please, spare me that big brain mouth of yours. I know you do this intentionally to distract others and mess with their psyche!"
"......"
Kiyotaka never perceived it in such a manner. From the depths of his memory, he had been innately ingrained with such proclivities. Did he inadvertently inflict cognitive distress upon individuals with his opulent lexicon and profound philosophical expressions?
Oh.
"My apologi-"
He coughed once, as Ai's glare pierced him.
"I mean- I am sorry. For this....and not contacting you for months."
She couldn’t really tell if he was sincere or not, but there was a slight little change in his usual tone, as Ai sighed and looked away.
"So?"
"Hm..?"
Seeing him tilting his head in confusion, Ai resisted the urge to pinch his cheeks, and maintained a stoic look.
"What made you decide to visit me?"
Kiyotaka was confused. It was obviously to see her, wasn’t it? He barely had any people in contact of the same age he can actually call a close friend. In fact, Hoshino Ai is the only individual who falls in that category. And wasn’t she just now hugging him close and muttering how much she missed him?
Sigh.
I suppose understanding women wasn’t his forte yet.
"Oh? Now you want to see me? Well, as you can see, I am doing just fine on my own. You can go back to whatever you were doing. No need to worry," Ai haughtily replied.
The boy sighed. Her acting wasn’t bad at all. But it wouldn’t really work on him. For the last few years, it was their usual friendly banters, and he had certainly grown used to it at some point.
He could act to walk away now, and break her act, but Kiyotaka decided a different approach this time.
He suddenly closed their distance, alerting the girl.
"H-huh? Wha-!!"
After sensing nobody in their radar, Kiyotaka threw her cap on the ground, and hugged her. He reached her lower back, and started caressing it smoothly with his left hand, while using his other hand to touch her bare nape.
"But I really missed you Ai."
His seductive whisper, much like a devil's, send a chill throughout her entire body. The poor girl felt her body heat rising rapidly, mainly around her ears and cheeks, as Kiyotaka could even listen to her heart pounding loudly against his.
He stepped back and looked at her. Her eyes were spiralling around as her face showed beads of sweat forming. She was frozen in place.
'I might have just broke her,' he thought.
"T-t-ta-"
"Well then, why don't you show me to your new house? I am sure the twins have been waiting for a while."
He patted her head, as Ai strongly snapped out of it.
"Uwa!"
".....uwa?"
The girl stared at him with an incredulous and flustered expression, before quickly putting on the cap, and lowering it down as far as she possibly could.
"Y-yeah. L-let's go."
She stuttered, and quickly went ahead, with Kiyotaka following her.
'She knows that it was a joke....right?'
★---★---★---★
"Ne... Mama sure is late, isn’t she?"
A concerned Ruby asked her brother, who seemed worried too.
"Yeah...she's already gone for more than 20 minutes. Where did she even go?" Aqua wondered, glancing at the clock.
Just then, they heard a sound from the door, as footsteps could be heard.
"I am home kids! And we have a guest!"
Hearing their mother's voice, both of them sighed in relief, but then frowned in confusion.
"Guest?"
Both of them eagerly waited in the living room. They saw Ai enter, looking unusually happier than usual and slightly blushing. When they saw the figure of the guest, both of their mouths hung open in shock and astonishment, as silence ensued in the living room.
"Uh...hey," not knowing how to react, Kiyotaka raised his hand awkwardly.
Ruby's eyes shined brightly as well as her smile.
"Kiyo-nii chan!!"
She ran towards him, as Kiyotaka picked her up.
"I really missed you!" Ruby hugged him with her small arms, and said so.
Kiyotaka's eyes met Ai's for a moment, surprised how both of them had the same reaction. Ai simply giggled in response. He looked at Aqua, who standing near him, as both of them nodded towards each other, while the latter was smiling in relief.
After catching up properly, they are now sitting on the couch, as Ruby excitedly went on about her mother’s soaring popularity and achievements. He was also informed of Aqua's debut as an actor in a horror movie, and Ruby's own desire to follow her mother’s footsteps.
"Ai, can I have some water?" Kiyotaka asked.
"Right away!"
"Oh, and juice for me!"
"Hai~"
"Still the spoiling little brat, huh?" Kiyotaka said, after Ai went to the kitchen.
"You spoiled her too, so don't complain," Aqua interjected.
"I did not- well, maybe a little bit."
"Hey! Stop being so mean you two!"
"Also, Kiyo-nii..."
He looked at Ruby, who was pouting. It was fascinating how the mother and daughter pair looked exactly the same with their reactions.
"Why didn’t you contact us in these few months? At least, a call would have sufficed."
"I am interested too. Did something happen?" asked Aqua, in concern.
"Hmm...nothing out of the ordinary."
Ruby sighed.
"Not again with these dumbass vague replies..."
"Well, it's fine if you keep it a secret. But you don’t blame us, right? Since we have been so close, all of us including Ai has been curious about your circumstances."
"Yeah. Mama's only not prying because she considers about your own feelings too," Ruby added.
'My own feelings huh?'
Kiyotaka thought for a moment, before he spoke.
"Well, I suppose there is no harm in saying it. Brace yourselves kids," he said, a bit dramatically. It seemed to work, as both of their ears perked up.
"But not now."
"Aww c'mon!" Ruby whined.
In truth, Kiyotaka had already considered telling them that he was getting involved in politics. It's necessary that they understand his circumstances, and decide whether they still want to be involved with him or not. According to his father, Hoshino Ai was envisioned to be a top superstar of Japan in the near future. So keeping her close would be a good move, strategically. Kiyotaka knew his father only saw people as convenience, and he was no different either. But his original purpose was never involving Ai for his personal gain. It was simply because of his own interest in her.
"It may be a sudden question, but have you guys met your father?"
The twins momentarily paused and looked at each other, before shaking their heads.
"Weren’t you ever curious about him?" he further asked.
"....were we?" Ruby wondered.
"I was a bit curious, but never gave it any serious thought," Aqua admitted.
Both of them didn’t realize, that spending time with Kiyotaka these three years seemed to have filled the gap of a father figure in their lives.
"I see."
If that's the case...
"I brought the drinks everyone," Ai cheerfully responded, as she entered with a tray in hand.
Each one of them took a glass, as Kiyotaka glanced at Ai.
'You heard the last part, didn’t you? Let's see what action you will take. But knowing how you are, I can certainly more or less predict your movements.'
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
After the performance that night
Ayanokouji POV
After taking the twins to Ai's big show at the Tokyo Dome, we were currently at the celebration afterparty, in a private karaoke room.
"That was one hell of a show tonight!! You nailed it girls! Hahaha."
"Thanks President."
"Thank you for your hard work too, Ichigo-san."
The B-Komachi girls, the Strawberry Production team and stuff, were celebrating after a hard fought battle of entertainment dominance.
I was sitting with the twins in a corner, while Ichigo's wife, Miyako Saitou sat beside me.
"How did you like today's performance, babysitter-kun?"
She posed such a question, with a drink in her hand.
"It was certainly something worth leaving all my work for. And it's Ayanokoji."
Miyako giggled at my response, as she drank from her glass.
"Still dull as ever since the last time I've heard you."
I had encountered this woman a few times in Ai's old apartment. Her frequent visit to watch the twins, seemed to have formed an odd connection between us.
"Want some?"
"I am good. Thank you."
The twins were engrossed in watching the others antics. So nobody was currently paying attention to us.
"Sigh, well Ai sure is a lucky one."
"I wouldn’t simply dismiss hard work as luck, Miyako."
I took a sip from a glass, which contained non-alcoholic beverage. I should save the beer for another time.
"That's...not what I meant, Ayanokoji."
She sighed and shook her head.
"Her performance tonight was extraordinary, yes. But if you compare it to her other ones of the past few months, you will notice that she seemed much more livelier and enthusiastic today. As if she finally found something she had been missing for a while."
Her analysis confused me.
"I didn’t hear anything like that from President and the others."
Miyako smirked.
"That's because only a woman ca-"
"Right. If it’s something woman related again, please count me out," I quickly interrupted her, ending the conversation.
Miyako looked baffled for a while, then started chuckling.
"That won’t do Ayanokoji. You can't ignore something that's been in front of you all this time."
"I will keep that in mind."
Her implications had reached me loud and clear.
After everyone sung their hearts out, got drunk and high, the celebration party came to an end. We departed soon enough. Ai, unlike me, imbibed a few pithers of beer, but not nearly enough to get drunk.
As usual, I carried the twins, as we strode towards the house. I am sure they are big enough to walk on their own by now, but I figured they just wanted to exploit my delicate arms.
I suggested to take a taxi, but Ai wanted to walk tonight with all of us together. I wouldn’t have approved if she was doing this on her own, alone in the night, but since I was here, there was no problem. Maybe it’s precisely I was here, that she was doing this.
"Hm mh mm.."
Ai started humming along the last song of the karaoke earlier.
"You don’t seem very fond of parties."
Aqua pointed out.
Well, all I've been doing is attending social gatherings a lot lately, and it's bound to take a toll on me eventually. More so, since my social battery doesn’t really have the largest capacity of stored energy.
"Not everyone is good with social stuff, I guess," Ruby surprisingly said a good thing.
"Hey, Kiyotaka-kun.".
Ai suddenly called my name, as all of us looked at her.
"Do you like sweet potato?"
I looked at the direction she was staring at. I see. It might be a good time to actually try one.
"Let's have some."
After buying sweet potatoes for everyone (one shared by the twins), we took a seat in a nearby bench on the river side. The atmosphere was calm, and the night breeeze was gentle. The moon above was partially hidden due to the cloudy sky.
I decided it was the best moment to say what was on my mind.
"Ai."
I called, as
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