Aqua's phone rang again.
The caller ID blinked: Mem-Cho.
"Mem-Cho?" Aqua said, picking up.
"Wow, you picked up fast, Aqua-tan," she chirped. "Do I rank above Kana and Akane now?"
"You texted me twice before this. Thought it might be urgent."
"Aww, you do care. That's kind of cute."
She paused for a second, her tone shifting. "Okay, okay. I'll get to the point. I actually need a favor. Not like, 'help me pick an outfit'—more like, 'please help me not die.'"
Aqua's tone turned serious. "...What happened?"
"So, someone's been sending me creepy DMs," she said. "Real serial killer energy. At first I thought it was just a troll, but… they've been getting personal."
"What kind of messages?"
"Stuff like, 'I liked you better before you became fake.' Or, 'I miss the real you. The one who smiled on streams just for me.' That kind of thing."
"A stalker fan?"
"Probably. But here's the scary part—they know things I haven't posted anywhere. Like the name of the café I used to work at back when I was juggling part-time jobs and streaming. He even knew the building I lived in before."
She took a breath. "I mean, yeah, I lied about my age, but this guy's acting like I betrayed him personally. Like I owe him my real self. Gross, right?"
"Did he try to meet you?"
"Not directly. But yesterday, they sent a picture of me walking near the station. I didn't even know anyone was behind me."
Aqua's eyes narrowed. "Did you report it?"
"My manager knows," she said with a sigh. "But she told me not to say anything publicly. 'Might hurt the group image.' You know how it is."
"So… I thought, hey. Who do I know who's a little scary, kind of mysterious, and disturbingly good at digging up dirt?"
"You want me to find out who it is."
"Bingo! You get me." She giggled. "And hey—if he turns out to be a producer or some gross exec, I won't stop you from punching him."
"Send me everything you've got. Don't go anywhere alone. Keep someone with you if you can… I'll take care of it."
"Of course you will. You're weirdly dependable for someone who talks like a final boss."
Aqua ended the call.
But his mind kept spinning.
First Kana gets attacked. Now Mem-Cho is being stalked.
All of them who are targeted are connected to B-Komachi.
Is it… Hikaru?
It must be him.
His grip on the phone tightened.
Wait… if I can contact Ai and tell her to not open the door when Ryosuke came to attack her?
Or I can just call her before she tells her address to Hikaru.
Aqua brought out his phone—modified by Tsukuyomi. He adjusted the date.
The day I was talking with Ruby about our father. When we were around three years old.
But there's a chance she might not believe me. She might not take me seriously.
I need someone who will.
As he opened the contact list, Aqua noticed something strange.
Now my phone has a contact list of every person I know and met earlier…
This must be part of the modification by Tsukuyomi.
He typed: Ichigo Saitou.
His finger hovered over the "Call" button.
I'll contact him before she tries to reach Hikaru—early in the morning, before anything can go wrong.
He set the time and initiated the call.
The line clicked.
"Hello?" Ichigo's voice came from the other side.
"Ai is going to contact her ex today," Aqua said firmly. "Make sure to track her and everything she does. She's going to tell him her current address."
There was silence.
"There's also a stalker after her," Aqua continued. "He's preparing to kill her soon. If she gives her address to Hikaru, she will probably be found by that stalker. And everything you have built till now will be ruined."
"…Who is this? Who are you?" Ichigo asked, sharp.
"I can't tell you. I have my reasons. And you won't be able to track this number, no matter how hard you try."
"Give me a reason to trust you."
"Watch Ai today. Watch everything she does. You'll know soon enough that what I'm saying is true. When that happens, you'll understand I'm trying to help—and you will take my words more seriously."
A pause.
"Make sure to improve security around her," Aqua added. "That stalker is dangerously real."
"Oh, and this stalker's name is Ryosuke Sugano. I'm sure you'll handle it the right way from now on. I'm counting on you," Aqua added, his voice low but firm.
Ichigo didn't respond for a few seconds. But in his mind, something clicked.
This voice… It feels familiar.
Aqua hung up.
The world around him began to shimmer.
Light bent. The street twisted. His balance faltered.
A flash—
And everything was still again.
Same place. Same sky. But something had shifted.
Is everything changed? Aqua wondered.
His phone buzzed again.
The screen read: Ai Hoshino.
He picked it up, heart pounding.
"Aqua? Where are you?" came Ai's voice—warm, casual, alive.
"Don't tell me you forgot about today's shoot."
"Come home fast."
His hands trembled.
To Be Continued...
Next Chapter: "The Life I Never Had"