First-person: Hoshino Yume
After returning to the hospital, Dr. Goro took Ai in for various tests to confirm the pregnancy more reliably than we had at home.
"The test results... it's twins, 20 weeks along. You probably already knew this."
"Yes... well, I did know, but the information I gave you was from a private doctor we called to our home, so it's quite different from a proper hospital examination."
I wanted to discuss various things with Dr. Goro, but from behind me came a heavy voice.
"Twins..."
"Ai... are you really planning to give birth? I keep telling you, if it gets out that you're pregnant and giving birth at 16... it's over. For you, and for our agency."
"......."
Even though he said that, I knew Director Saito was more worried about Ai than anyone else, so I remained silent. I had already given my answer: I fully respected Ai's decision.
Of course, he had tried hard to persuade me earlier, but I made it clear he should give up. Director Saito likely wouldn't push the issue any further.
Then, Ai spoke up.
"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 the time being, and at Ai's request to get some fresh air, I went up to the rooftop with her.
"Fans' opinions can be fickle... don't you think so, Ai-chan?"
"........"
I was probably the only one who heard his muttering.
Ai opened the door first and stepped out onto the rooftop.
"Ah, Doc?"
"Miss Hoshino and... Mr. Hoshino?"
"Yume is fine."
"Ahaha... well then, Yume-kun..."
Dr. Goro looked at Ai, who was facing the night breeze, and 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 am I supposed to react to you proudly admitting you stole my clothes...?
Whether she knew my thoughts or not, Ai spread her arms and looked up at the stars.
"Hmm hmm, I chose this place on the Director's recommendation, and it's a good spot~♪ The stars are super visible... they don't look this clear in Tokyo."
"... 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 her expression shifted 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 of me~☆ Trouble, real trouble~♡ Right, Yume?"
'Such self-confidence is cute.' — Goro's face seemed to say.
"Tsk!"
'She clicked her tongue!?' — Goro flinched.
"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, I've kind of... longed for something like a family, you know?"
Ai carefully stroked her stomach.
"The things in my belly... they're twins, right?"
'The things in my belly'... please, watch your language... But knowing her, that habit probably wouldn't be fixed in a lifetime.
Ai stroked her stomach and looked at Dr. Goro, showing a sincere smile without a hint of 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 are another man's children, I will protect Aqua and Ruby until they become adults. And, of course, I plan to protect Ai sincerely until she finds a genuine partner.
Upon hearing Ai's words, Dr. Goro stammered, "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 a mask of falsehood, showing the perfect '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.
"Being an idol is a fun job where you add lies to lies! 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... and 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 right 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, her greed—I solidified my resolve. And it seemed I wasn't the only one who had steeled himself.
"I understand."
"Huh?"
"Hoshino Ai, I'll help you give birth safely. I'll deliver healthy babies."
"Ha..."
What strong fan devotion. Amamiya Goro...
Looking at Amamiya Goro's face, it was literally filled with determination.
Director Saito returned to the hotel, 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 quickly, the option of a painless delivery..."
"No, anything's fine? I'm super healthy."
"Be quiet."
"Ouch!"
Time passed. Around the 28th week:
"... In your case, the possibility of a C-section is high."
Well, given Ai's physique... it couldn't be helped.
"If the baby's skull is large, with your physique, the pelvic opening might be insufficient..."
"A scar on the belly..."
Director Saito happened to be listening to the consultation, and he looked very worried. Actually, I was quite worried too, but if a surgical scar formed, I planned to find a doctor abroad who could perfectly remove it later.
As always, unaware of my internal fretting...
"Huh? But they're Hoshino Ai's babies, right? They'll definitely be beauties with small heads☆"
"... Ai, you are a pregnant woman... a pregnant woman!!!"
"Hey Yume, really, calm down!?"
"Ahahahahahaha★"
Once again, I had to hold myself back...!
Time passed until the 40th week—the 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 had forgotten something. Though I couldn't remember what it was, I couldn't shake an uneasy feeling.
About 30 minutes after Goro left...
"......!?"
I remembered.
The person 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 not to forget the original story!
Seeing me suddenly stand up, Ai looked startled. 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 door, I jumped out the window.
Ai, knowing my physical abilities to some extent, just reacted with a casual 'Huh~', but the nurse screamed in surprise.
"This is the third floor...!?"
She tried to shout, but after seeing me land lightly and run off, she fell into stunned silence.
I ran toward Goro's house based on the map I had memorized earlier. I hoped more than anything that someone close wouldn't die this way, regardless of the original story...
"Please... please... don't let me be too late...!!!"
Third-person: Amamiya Goro
Walking quietly home, Amamiya Goro thought to himself.
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. Goro wondered how this man knew Hoshino Ai's real name, which wasn't public information.
"...She's using an alias for her consultations... even if you saw her at the hospital, how do you know her surname?"
Goro slowly approached the hooded man.
"Are you involved? Can you tell me your name?"
I haven't received any information from Yume-kun about this guy. That means this man is dangerous...
As Goro tried to grab the hooded man, the stranger suddenly bolted into the forest.
"Hey! Wait!?"
He chased the fleeing hooded man.
Is he a stalker? At this timing, with the birth imminent...
The hooded man had disappeared into the darkness. Goro pulled out his smartphone and used the flashlight to look around.
I lost him...! Damn, making me run through this mountain path....
"Where did he go?"
Those were the last words Amamiya Goro uttered.
Ugh... wow, that was startling...
Huh? Suddenly my mind feels blank... 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 properly...
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 conscious thought.
First-person: Hoshino Yume
"Dr. Goro!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn!!! What does the original story matter when my life is right here, 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?
Have the twins been safely reincarnated?
Various thoughts flashed through my mind, but the most important question was...
"..... Why didn't I remember?"
Yes, this was the most important thing. Why didn't the most crucial event from the past come to mind?
As doubts began to pile up...
Caw~
Caw~!
"...... Crows?"
Crows started gathering around. Then, footsteps approached.
From the speed and weight of the steps, it wasn't an adult... a child?
A girl who looked to be in her early teens slowly walked toward me. I thought it was strange, but my body instinctively became wary of her presence. In the end, I swung my fist with all my might.
"Stop."
"Huh!?"
The punch I threw was blocked by something in front of her. It felt like an invisible, solid wall.
I thought about striking it with both hands, but the 'presence' before me didn't seem hostile, so I lowered my fist.
"..... 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 [REDACTED]?"
".... 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, lying before your eyes, had a fate to die."
"........"
"Your memory was confused for a moment, right? That was 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 vanished along with her.
"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, Aqua's, and Ruby's happiness...
"With these hands, I will definitely..."
I vowed right there. If Ai's death is fate, then I will definitely shatter that fate.