*********
First-person Hoshino Yume
After returning, Dr. Goro took Ai and conducted various tests, and after confirming it more reliably than at home,
"The test results... it's 20-week twins. You probably already knew this."
"Yes... well, I did know, but the information I gave you was from a doctor we called to our home, so it's quite different from what a hospital does."
I wanted to discuss various things with Dr. Goro, but behind me,
"Twins..."
"Ai... are you really planning to give birth? I keep saying, if it gets out that you're pregnant and giving birth at 16... it's over for you and our agency."
".........."
Even though he said that, I knew Director Saito was more worried about Ai than anyone, so I didn't say anything. Because I had already given my answer that I fully respect Ai's opinion.
Of course, he tried hard to persuade me, but I made it clear to give up, and Director Saito probably won't say anything more after this.
And probably, Ai here.
"Hey... what do you think, Doctor?"
She turned the question to Goro. Meanwhile, I thought to myself, 'Please use polite speech...'
I asked Director Saito to stay in the room for now, and at Ai's request to get some air, I went up to the rooftop with her,
"Fans' opinions are arbitrary... don't you think so, Ai-chan?"
".............."
Probably, only I heard his muttering...
In the end, Ai opened the door first and stepped onto the rooftop,
"Ah, Doc?"
"Miss Hoshino and... Mr. Hoshino?"
"Yume is fine for me."
"Ahaha... then, Yume-kun..."
Dr. Goro, looking at Ai facing the night breeze, said,
"Miss Hoshino, the night breeze isn't good for your health."
"It's fine, it's fine~ I stole Yume's clothes, so I'm wearing thick layers, no problem!"
How should I deal with you proudly saying you stole my clothes...
Whether she knew my thoughts or not, Ai spread her hands and looked up at the stars in the sky,
"Hmm hmm, I chose this place on the Director's recommendation, and it's a good spot~♪ The stars are super visible even at sunset... they don't look this clear in Tokyo where I am."
"...... Is the reason you came all the way to this countryside because you'd stand out in Tokyo?"
At Dr. Goro's words, Ai showed a serious face for a moment, then changed her expression again,
"........... Huh? Did I talk about my job?"
Returning to the expression of an 'ordinary girl', Ai asked Dr. Goro,
"A while ago... I had a patient who was your fan."
"Oops~ I thought since the doctors here are all old men, it wouldn't get out... but I guess it's impossible to hide the aura that flows out~☆ Trouble, real trouble~♡ Right, Yume?"
'Such self-confidence is cute.' by-Goro
"Tsk!"
'She clicked her tongue!?' by-Goro
"Ahem ahem... so, by any chance... are you planning to quit being an idol, Miss Hoshino?"
"Why? I'm not quitting."
"But that's..."
"Hmm... well, to be honest, since I didn't have a family when I was little... oh, of course, now I have that cool Yume over there! Anyway, so I've kind of... longed for something like family, you know?"
Ai carefully stroked her stomach, then
"The things in my belly... they're twins, right?"
'The things in my belly'... please, her language... but it probably won't be fixed in a lifetime.
Ai stroked her stomach and looked at Dr. Goro, showing a sincere smile without falsehood,
"Yeah... if I give birth, it'll definitely be a noisy and happy family!! Oh, of course, Yume will be the guardian, so that's no problem either!!!"
".... Right."
That's right. Even if they're another child's children, I'll protect Aqua and Ruby until they become adults. Of course, I plan to protect Ai sincerely until she finds a genuine partner.
Upon hearing Ai's words, Dr. Goro said,
"Giving birth... and continuing as an idol... then... then..."
"Yeah. I won't announce it!"
The face that had been smiling sincerely until just a moment ago was now covered in falsehood, showing the appearance of 'idol Ai',
"But idols are idols, right? Beings that shine with the magic of lies... lies are the highest form of love, right?"
So, do you love with lies, Ai?
"Hiding one or two children is what makes a top-tier idol!!"
But if that's the path you chose, I'll cover for you as much as needed.
"Idols are a fun job where you add lies to lies, and no matter how painful things get, you sing on stage for everyone, to make everyone happy!!"
But, if someone appears who will shatter your lies,
"But as for happiness... hmm, I wish it were real. Even though no one knows, we have hearts... lives too."
Yes, your life is yours, your heart is yours, Hoshino Ai.
"Happiness as a mother and happiness as an idol... normally, you might have to choose one, but..."
So, if the ending you want is now, in this situation,
"I want both. Hoshino Ai is greedy."
Even if you're greedy, I'll back you up no matter what it takes.
Hearing Ai's inner thoughts... no, greed, I made that resolve, and it seemed I wasn't the only one who steeled myself.
"I understand."
"Huh?"
"Hoshino Ai, I'll help you give birth safely. Your healthy babies."
"Ha..."
What strong fan devotion. Amamiya Goro...
Looking at Amamiya Goro's face, it was literally filled with fan devotion.
So, Director Saito returned for now, and I stayed behind to watch over Ai,
"For now, let's use an alias at our hospital. Is it okay to keep calling you Yume-kun?"
"Yes, that's fine with me, Doctor."
"Okay, thanks. Anyway, if you're thinking about returning as an idol, the option of painless delivery..."
"No, anything's fine? I'm super healthy."
"Be quiet."
"Ouch!"
Time passed, and around the 28th week,
"... In your case, the possibility of a C-section is high." (A surgery where the pregnant woman's abdomen is incised, part of the uterus is cut, and the fetus is removed through the incision.)
Well, given Ai's physique... it can't be helped.
"If the baby's skull is large, with your physique, the opening might be insufficient..."
"A scar on the belly..."
Director Saito happened to be listening to the consultation too, but he seemed very worried.
Actually, I was quite worried too, but if a surgical scar forms, I planned to find a doctor abroad who can perfectly remove scars.
As always, whether she knew my feelings or not...
"Huh? But they're Hoshino Ai's babies, right? They'll definitely be beauties with small heads☆"
"... Ai is a pregnant woman... pregnant woman!!!"
"Hey Yume, really calm down!?"
"Ahahahahahaha★"
Once again, I held it in...!
Time passed until the 40th week due date...
"Doc, you're working hard... but if I call, you'll come right away...?"
"Yeah, my house is nearby. Yume-kun, take good care of Ai."
"Yes."
As Amamiya left the room, I suddenly felt like I forgot something, and though I couldn't remember what it was, I couldn't shake an uneasy feeling. About 30 minutes after Goro left...
".........!?"
I remembered. That the one who would be reborn as Hoshino Aquamarine was none other than Ai's attending physician, Amamiya Goro.
Why had I forgotten? My memory is better than most, and I've been reminding myself daily to not forget the original story!?
Seeing me suddenly stand up, Ai looked startled, but I looked at her and said,
"Ai. Something urgent came up. I'll be right back, so wait here, okay?"
"Yume...?"
"It's fine, there's a nurse here too... I'll be back soon."
"Ah... yes..."
After saying that, instead of going through the hospital door, I jumped out the window. Seeing that, Ai, knowing my physical abilities to some extent, reacted with a 'Huh~' and let it go, while the nurse exclaimed in surprise,
"This is the third floor...?"
She tried to shout, but after seeing me land lightly and run off, she fell silent.
I ran to Goro's house based on information I had prepared earlier.
Because I hoped more than anything that someone close wouldn't die in this way, more so than in the original story...
"Please... please... don't let me be too late...!!!"
*************
Third-person Amamiya Goro
Walking quietly home, Amamiya Goro thought,
'Yeah... that's right... I sincerely support Hoshino Ai's happiness...'
"You... are you in charge of Hoshino Ai?"
A hooded man spoke to Goro, who wondered how this man knew Hoshino Ai's real name, which wasn't public,
"... She's using an alias for her consultations... even if you saw her at the hospital, how do you know her surname, which hasn't been announced?"
Goro slowly approached the hooded man,
"Are you involved? Can you tell me your name?"
'I haven't received any information from Yume-kun. That means this man is dangerous...'
As Goro tried to grab the hooded man, the man suddenly ran into the forest,
"Hey! Wait!?"
He chased the fleeing hooded man, but
'Is he a stalker? At this timing, with the birth imminent...'
The hooded man had disappeared, so Goro used his smartphone flashlight to look around.
'I lost him...! Damn, making me run through this mountain path....'
"Where did he go?"
That was the last words Amamiya Goro uttered...
Ugh... wow, that was startling...
Huh? Suddenly my head feels white... did I misstep...
Ah, my phone...
What if Ai goes into labor...?
Where's my phone... where is it...
It's dark, I can't see well.
Besides, my body won't move well...
I need to hurry.
I promised.
To help her give birth to healthy babies...
I need to get up and deliver her babies...
"Dr. Goro!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Ah........ Yume-kun..................
I need to... witness... Ai's birth... d.............
That was Amamiya Goro's last consciousness.
**************
First-person Hoshino Yume
"Dr. Goro!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn,!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That damn original story, what does it matter when my life now is in this world!?
What kind of protector am I if I can't save even one person who supported Ai!?
Can he still be saved if I move him now!?
No, his breathing is gradually...
Ah...............................
"Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
In front of Dr. Goro's cold, lifeless body, all I could do was scream to release this insane emotion.
How much time had passed?
Did Ai's birth end safely?
Then, have the twins been safely reincarnated?
Various thoughts flashed through my mind, but the most important thing was
"........ Why didn't I remember?"
Yes, this was the most important. Why didn't the most crucial past come to mind?
As doubts began to pile up...
'Caw~'
'Caw~!'
"............ Crows?"
Crows started gathering around, and then footsteps were heard.
From the speed and weight of the footsteps, it's not an adult... a child?
A girl who looked to be in her teens slowly moved her steps this way. I thought it was strange, but my body started to be wary of that presence, and in the end, I
swung my fist with all my might, but
"Stop."
"Huh!?"
The punch I threw was blocked by something in front of her, and it felt like a solid wall.
I thought about hitting it with both hands, but the 'presence' before me didn't seem hostile, so I lowered my fist, and
"........ Who are you?"
"Me? Well, who could I be?"
"If you're planning to play word games, right here, right now"
"Are you going to kill me or something?"
"Do you think I can't?"
"No, not at all. In fact, you could have killed me long ago with the power you have, Hoshino Yume... or should I call you ㅁㅁㅁ?"
".... What...?"
How does she know my past... no, my previous life? What is this girl... this 'presence'?
"Don't worry too much. It's impossible for me to lay a hand on you."
"........ Ha..."
"I came before you to tell you that only you can change fate from now on."
"Fate?"
"Yes. Amamiya Goro before your eyes had a fate to die."
"..........."
"Your memory was confused for a moment, right? Probably the first and last time. Something like this won't happen again."
"Hmm... well, how about trying to change the fate of Hoshino Ai's death first?"
"Of course... but ultimately, it's your choice."
"Fate... is always something you seize with your own hands, right?"
"Fufufufufu......."
With those words, the girl disappeared, and Dr. Goro's body had also vanished...
"Ha... fate... fate is..."
Good... fate is something you seize with your hands... yes, I'll seize it as much as needed, for Ai's and Aqua and Ruby's happiness...
"With these hands, I will definitely..."
I vowed here. If Ai's death is fate, then I will definitely change that fate.