Upon arriving at the filming location, Ai and the B-Komachi members finished a light rehearsal and immediately started shooting, while Saito and I watched from outside the set.
To be honest, I was extremely, extremely, extremely anxious, so if she said even the slightest nonsense, it would be troublesome, but I was even prepared to cause a scene and stop it.
During the filming, when the host asked Ai a question, who was known to have halted activities due to health reasons, I felt cold sweat dripping and swallowed hard.
I sincerely prayed and prayed that Ai, with her usual self-centered personality, wouldn't make any slip-ups.
"Alright~! Ai, who's making her comeback today! How are you feeling? Have you been taking care of yourself and eating properly?"
"Yes, I've been eating a lot!!"
That's right.....!!
Seeing Ai answer naturally to the host's question, I thought, 'She really is an idol,' and was about to relax and watch when....
"Yeah, yeah!! Speaking of food, last time our child..."
"Our child?"
"Pfft!?"
Shit, why did I think she wouldn't cause trouble!? Quickly cover it up....!!!
As if reading my inner thoughts, Ai slapped her head with one hand and said,
"Ah, no, I mean our cat!! I started raising one during this break!"
"Aha~~"
Fortunately, it passed without any suspicion, but if even a little of that lie had been exposed....
I started to feel as if cold sweat was pouring down my back.
In the midst of this,
"Then! Let's watch B-Komachi's performance!! Everyone, please get ready!!"
Looking at the staff member who said this with a bright smile,
"The camera will switch in 30 seconds!! Please do your best, B-Komachi!! We're counting on a great performance!!"
After saying that and stepping back, I unconsciously shifted my body slightly in that direction.....
I decided to eavesdrop on the conversation between the other female staff members.
Actually, the information that flows from places like this can be useful in many ways. Of course, using the company's power could yield bigger information, but unless it was important, I didn't want to resort to that.
"B-Komachi.... Is that a group you know?"
Probably not.
"Don't know, not interested, and even less concerned."
Right, you're probably not interested or concerned yet.
"I listened to their music, and honestly, it's neither good nor bad. I guess you could say it's average."
"Well, stuff like this sells, but you know."
You probably think B-Komachi is just another mass-produced idol group. Well, that's not entirely wrong, but.
"What can you do but force a compliment? The only thing worth praising is the center, Ai, right? Her face, maybe?"
Mass-produced idols or whatever, it doesn't matter. It's just that you haven't seen it yet, so you think that way now.
"Well, I know the name, but I haven't heard any news about them for about half a year."
"Is some side pushing them?"
"Seems like they came up from underground?"
"More than that, where is Ichigo Production? First time hearing about that production company, does it even exist?"
"Hey, more importantly, there's that girl with the big chest, right? If she did gravure, she'd probably do well, don't you think?"
"Should I ask that girl to eat together sometime? The producer would like that."
"..........Hah."
There are always people everywhere who indulge in useless delusions and thoughts. Honestly, right now, I wanted to hospitalize all those guys making such comments for about half a year, but I held back.
Because after all.
When the song started and Ai's 'idol Ai' persona began, everyone there couldn't take their eyes off her, and watching that, I put the candy I was holding into my mouth and thought,
"Hoshino Ai is a genuine idol (liar) that no one can deny."
By the way, our Saito is quite something too.
If Aqua and Ruby's identities are exposed, they might lose everything.
But even someone like me can understand this.
Once you've seen Hoshino Ai's talent, you can't stay normal anymore.
Because Hoshino Ai, as a person, emits such beautiful and intense light that people are drawn to it like moths to a flame.
Just like moths burn their wings and die while moving toward the light, even if you know, you can't stop.
Ah, of course, I'm no exception. Being able to watch Ai up close like this,
At first, it was unsettling, but at least now. Yes, do you know that right now, I'm happier than anyone here?
Before I knew it, you've become so ingrained in my heart that I can't imagine a daily life without you, Hoshino Ai.
So, since you've made me care this much, you must be happy.
I'll pour out everything I have to block the ugly and dark fates coming your way, so you just live as the idol Ai, the mother Ai, and
"As Ai, one person."
That's enough. Ah, it's more than enough.
Without realizing it, I forgot that I was even smiling as I watched Ai's performance, and I didn't notice the glances Ai was giving me in between.
***********
Third-person Hoshino Ai
Before the stage began, Ai was looking at Hoshino Yume, a man watching her from afar, the person she loves, and the precious father of her twins.
His face was as expressionless as always, but his eyes always expressed his emotions.
No matter how hard it was, even if she clung to him, his words were cold, but the person who cared for Hoshino Ai more than anyone was always Hoshino Yume.
So, Ai had no intention of doing this comeback stage half-heartedly.
If she had always used the lie of 'idol Ai' as a mask, today, her instinct to express her true feelings took over.
As the music started, Hoshino Ai wasn't the false mask of 'idol Ai,' but
The figure of Hoshino Ai, an idol who truly loves everyone, and Hoshino Ai, who loves Hoshino Yume, merged, captivating everyone present.
Of course, Hoshino Yume was no exception.
Hoshino Ai shifted her gaze to Yume, who would probably be watching her stage half-heartedly while sucking on candy as usual, but the Hoshino Yume there was
'Yume is watching me and smiling brightly?'
'I've never seen him smile so brightly before.'
'Why?'
Ai kept thinking. She thought and thought and thought, and the conclusion she reached was
'Ah, because I want to convey my love for Yume to everyone, I've become a real idol, not the usual liar (idol).'
Starting idol activities with feelings of love for Hoshino Yume made her feel like everyone loved her.
But even so, Hoshino Ai couldn't help but keep her eyes on Hoshino Yume.
Near the end of the music,
'Yume, I truly love you!!!!'
She vowed to herself to definitely say this when she turns 20 and becomes an adult.
Hoshino Ai's comeback stage was a great success.
************
Third-person Hoshino Aquamarine/Ruby
Hoshino Aquamarine... Aqua, watching TV at home, checked that no one was around and muttered to himself as if talking alone.
"Really, that Director is something else. If this gets found out, they might lose everything."
"But I get it. After seeing that, how can anyone stay normal?"
Looking at the TV screen showing Ai, Aqua thought,
'Ah, of course. Being able to see Ai's figure up close like that. I feel sorry for the Yume I saw at the end, but I'm even grateful to the guy who killed me.'
'If this reincarnation is a miracle brought by obsession with her, it really makes sense.'
'But still. I wanted her to give birth to a normal child.'
'Well, this is unavoidable. You can't win against supernatural phenomena. I'll just enjoy myself in my own way.'
As Aqua continued to watch TV,
"Wait..."
Aqua turned around at the sound from behind, and there was Hoshino Ruby crawling over,
"Ah!! N-Star has already started!!! Why didn't you wake me up!? Kyah~!! What to do!! Mama is so cute!! Viewers really should pay a million times over!!!!"
"More than that, that turn expression was no joke, right!? It's so creepy, no, it's creepiness itself!! What to do, I just changed my diaper, I might wet it again!!"
If Hoshino Yume had been there, he would have grabbed the back of his neck and fainted from the language skills.
Aqua thought to himself that this trait might be exactly like Ai's self-centered personality.
"Ugh~ really, her face is pretty, her style is outstanding, and she sings well.... Our mom is truly, truly talented!! I need to record it and watch it over and over!!"
"More. Than. That! Live broadcasts are meaningful only if you watch them right away, so why didn't you wake me up!! This body is uselessly sleepy, so let's cooperate!"
Ruby complained to Aqua for not waking her up, but Aqua, lightly brushing off Ruby's complaints with one ear, said,
"I woke you up several times. It's your fault for not getting up."
Instead claiming his own innocence, to which
"Huh...? Really?"
Unexpectedly, Ruby went along with it easily.
"Ah, I need to watch that part from earlier again~"
"Kyah~!!! Amazing!! If you record it once, you can watch it forever, so efficient and awesome~!!!!"
'I wanted Ai to give birth to a normal child. Not these weird and suspicious twins...'
Swallowing these words inwardly, Aqua spent the day.