Sun slowly painted the Tokyo sky in shades of orange in the early morning hours. For Ai Hoshino, the famous idol, such scenes usually marked the end of exhausting all-night rehearsals or long filming sessions. But today was different. Today was an exception. Ai's schedule was completely free — no interviews, no rehearsals, no performances. It was a rare day off. And most importantly, she wasn't alone.
Ai lay on the couch in the living room, holding a cup of coffee. Her eyes were still sleepy, but her soul felt at peace. Ruby, dressed in her pink pajamas, was running around the room while Aqua sat quietly in a corner. The living room glowed with the morning sunlight as Miyako Saitou, from the kitchen, prepared breakfast. Stretching and yawning, Miyako said, "Days like these are rare, Ai... You should really enjoy it." Ai took a sip of her coffee without responding. Miyako shook her head and added, "I can't believe you — a free day and you're still not relaxing!" Ai smiled and nodded. "Today, I'm just a mom and an ordinary young woman," she said.
At that moment, the door opened, and in walked Ichigo Saitou, head of Ichigo Productions and Miyako's husband. Wearing sunglasses and his usual serious demeanor, he approached Ai. "Today's your day off, right?" he asked. Ai smiled faintly. "Yeah... Why? Are you planning to book me something anyway?" Ichigo sighed deeply. "On the contrary. No work. Just be a mom today, okay?" Ai chuckled and nodded. "Being a mom" still sounded strange to her, but she was doing her best.
The doorbell rang. Ai opened the door to find Takamine, Watanabe, Meimei, and Aril standing there, dressed casually and smiling brightly. Watanabe grinned, "It's one of those rare days we're all free. So, you're coming with us, Miss Popular! Let's go!" Ai blinked in surprise. "Now?" she asked. Meimei chimed in, "Of course! We can't waste your day off!" Aril added, "We don't want to drift apart, Ai!" Ai smiled warmly. After everything she had been through with Fuyuko, she had made promises to herself — and now her teammates were reminding her of them.
Just then, Ruby clung to Ai's leg and cried out, "Take me too!" Aqua quietly approached and said, "I should come too." Ai patted their heads affectionately. "Of course you're coming. Okay... Today we're all hanging out together!" she declared. Miyako laughed and joined in. "Then I'm coming too. Managing two kids and five idols is not easy!" Ichigo sipped his coffee and sighed heavily. "Good luck with that," he muttered.
They set out into Tokyo's bustling streets, their first stop being a cozy café. Ruby and Aqua ordered pancakes and juice, while Ai and the B-Komachi members enjoyed coffee. Takamine grinned, "Ai, doesn't it feel weird not being an idol today?" Ai laughed. "Definitely! Today, I'm just a mom and an ordinary young woman!" she replied. Watanabe looked at Ruby and Aqua and muttered, "I still can't believe you have kids." Ai narrowed her eyes playfully. "Why not? Can't an idol be a mom too?" she teased. Meimei laughed and held Ai's hands. "No, it's just... sometimes you seem so unreachable, so bright, that we forget you have a real life too."
The café chatter continued for hours. Later, the group headed to a game center where they tried to grab prizes from UFO catcher machines and took silly photos together in a photo booth. Ruby and Aqua were having the time of their lives with their mom and the B-Komachi members.
The most exciting part of the day was their trip to the amusement park.
As soon as they arrived, Ruby and Aqua rushed toward the colorful game stalls. Ai and the others followed. Ruby tried her best at the water gun target game, while Aqua focused on the ring toss. Meimei and Takamine competed in the strength hammer game, but in the end, Ai won the big plush toy. Later, they all ventured into the haunted house. Watanabe, who had insisted she wouldn't be scared, ended up screaming the most. Ai held Ruby and Aqua's hands tightly as they navigated the spooky tunnels. When they exited, Ruby proudly boasted, "I wasn't scared at all!" — but Ai noticed her trembling hands.
They grabbed some snacks — cotton candy, caramel apples, and hot corn — and sat on the benches to rest. Their laughter and conversations mingled with the sounds of the park. Ai cherished every moment spent with her children.
Finally, they made their way to the giant Ferris wheel.
As the sun began to set, Ai, Ruby, and Aqua rode in the same cabin. The sky turned into a palette of warm oranges and the city lights slowly blinked on. Ruby gazed out the window and whispered, "It's so beautiful..." Aqua quietly asked, "Can we come here again?" Ai smiled, patting their heads. "Of course... But one day, you'll be able to come here on your own too." Ruby and Aqua's eyes widened. Ai wanted them to stay small forever, but she also longed to see them grow into strong, independent individuals.
When the Ferris wheel reached its highest point, Ai silently made a wish: "I want these moments to last forever."
Afterward, they gathered with the B-Komachi members, Miyako, and the kids to take a group photo, capturing the day's joy in a single frame.
When they returned home, Ruby and Aqua were already dozing off. Ai gently changed them into their pajamas and tucked them into bed. As Ruby's eyes fluttered closed, she whispered, "Mom, will you tell us a story?" Ai smiled and sat at the edge of the bed. Remembering a story she once heard at the orphanage, she began, "Once upon a time, there was a little star. It traveled across the sky, searching for its own light. It faced many hardships, but even when all the other stars disappeared, it kept shining. Because it believed in itself."
Ruby was already fast asleep. Aqua stared quietly at the ceiling. Ai stroked their hair gently and whispered, "You must find your own light too, okay?"
And under the shining lights of Tokyo, Ai and her loved ones completed yet another beautiful day together.
To be continued...