ã€ŠLight of Hopeã€‹


 Arc 1: First Confession, Part 1

    Some would say the girl surrounded by crows had a creepy smile.

    They would be right. It came completely naturally for her, and she enjoyed using it to great effect when talking with others. The atmosphere during conversations was also enhanced with the way she let her eyelids lazily droop sometimes as the crows around her flew in chaotic patterns. It all came together in a well-made display, if she said so herself.

    Beyond that, she couldn¡¯t help but smile as she watched people¡¯s stories unfold in the world around her.

    Today, she was watching another chapter of Ai Hoshino¡¯s story play out. The star-in-the-making was with the boy who will spring major changes to her life. They were with the rest of their theater company at a park for a group exercise, but Ai made sure to keep close to the boy. They captured secret moments away from the troupe, ignorant of the tragedies to come.

    Then the girl surrounded by crows lost her smile.

    She almost didn¡¯t recognize the dog. She¡¯s seen him before, but not in this form.

    A tag from his collar was in English. It named him, of all things, Bartholomew.

    Ai lowered herself to her knees to play with the dog enthusiastically barking and pawing at her. After some visible hesitation, the boy also leaned down, but he barely touched the dog before pulling back.

    The girl with the crows doubted the dog was here solely for Ai Hoshino. There had to be other business in Japan which had drawn his presence, but whatever that may be, it evidently wasn¡¯t pressing enough to prevent him from spending a short reprieve with Ai Hoshino and her lover.

    Considering who the dog really was, Ai¡¯s story will likely change. The crows chirped to voice the girl¡¯s vexation at the new state of affairs. She would have preferred no outside interference in the Hoshino saga ¨C not that the girl was one to talk since she was willing to step in to see the story continue with a focused direction if she thought it was necessary, but the dog had even less right than her to make this his business.

    Perhaps the girl was being too harsh. Perhaps a blessing from Bartholomew will make for an interesting story.

    She regained her twisted smile. The dog saw her, gave a low rumbling sound from the back of his throat, and darted deeper into the forestry of the park. Ai¡¯s partner kept her from chasing after Bartholomew.

    Yes, the more she pondered on it, the dog¡¯s brief helping hand might be something the players in Ai¡¯s story can use to frame something truly memorable in its own right.

    And she¡¯ll look at it all with a smile.

    <hr>

    ¡°Safeguard the secret of Ai and her children. Dote on these children and do everything they ask of you.¡±

    Aqua felt his frown grow more pronounced as Ruby laid out the terms of Miyako¡¯s so-called divine mission. He wanted to keep Ai safe as much as his new sister, but she may be taking their deception too far¡­ or maybe that was exactly how far it needed to be taken, to overcome the limitations of their childish bodies¡­

    ¡°Do thusly, and a second marriage to a handsome actor is not out of the question.¡±

    And Miyako was eating it up, her face red with delight at the prospect presented to her. ¡°Seriously?!¡± On her knees, she leaned forward and gently held Ruby¡¯s tiny hands. ¡°I¡¯ll do it! I¡¯ll do whatever you ask of me! I¡¯ll even¨C¡±

    Miyako abruptly cut herself off. She turned away from Ruby and Aqua sitting atop the living room table and looked down at another blonde baby, dressed in a onesie a shade of blue darker than Aqua¡¯s. The child was on colorful, softly padded carpeting as he crowded stuffed animals atop an oversized toy pirate ship. He squealed and snickered, oblivious to the conversation right next to him.

    ¡°If you two are divine messengers,¡± Miyako said slowly, ¡°then what about Cobalt?¡±

    Cobalt Hoshino must have felt the three pairs of eyes on him as he turned to face them. He gave a wave that accidentally toppled the ship, sending the animals overboard. It only made his chortles even louder.

    ¡°Oh, him, he¡¯s just a real baby¡­¡± Ruby trailed off before scrambling to get back into character. ¡°But blessed with the privilege of being another of Ai¡¯s precious children! Though he cannot give commands or requests as we can, still take care to guarantee a safe and fortunate life for him, like you must for the rest of Ai¡¯s family.¡±

    That seemed to seal the deal for Miyako, who nodded vigorously and again pledged to uphold her duties.

    Shortly afterward, when Miyako began humming softly to herself about a possible second marriage and Aqua mused aloud on Ruby¡¯s admirable acting ability, the eldest Hoshino sibling found his gaze drifting back to the last of Ai¡¯s triplets. Now Cobalt was wrestling with one of the larger stuffed toys, slapping its cheeks and watching it spin in place.

    Aqua wasn¡¯t particularly superstitious when he had been Gorou Amamiya, but he can¡¯t deny the otherworldly nature of his and Ruby¡¯s reincarnations to the same idol they had both adored in their previous lives. That made Cobalt¡¯s apparent lack of a reincarnated soul all the more bizarre. With the many countless fans following Ai, surely whatever supernatural powers that had granted the older Hoshino children''s memories of past lives could have done the same for the third child?

    Yet after constant observation of Cobalt and prodding at him with the simplest of words and phrases, the boy only ever gave Aqua and Ruby the typical incoherent noises of curiosity and fascination of an infant. No recognition of Ai as an idol or the strange self-awareness of being talking babies like with Ruby. No awkwardness or ¨C thank god ¨C perverse pleasure as a boy when being smothered or breastfed by Ai. No hints of a greater understanding of the world around him drawn from any possible prior life experience.

    Cobalt Hoshino was truly nothing more than a baby boy, happy to distract himself with the various toys gifted to all of the Hoshino children.

    Ai finding Cobalt trying to bite into her phone a while back was one of the more telling signs of the status of Cobalt¡¯s mental state.

    ¡°Hey,¡± Ruby said to Aqua, pulling him out of his lingering thoughts. He realized must¡¯ve been staring blankly for a short while, the boy having moved on to playing with Miyako¡¯s hair as she held him close to feed him a bottle of milk. Miyako¡¯s good mood with her promised fate looked to be enough to suppress her usual annoyance when Cobalt did that. ¡°Are you really sure he isn¡¯t faking being a baby?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m positive.¡± If Cobalt was truly a reincarnated soul, he would have to be the greatest actor in the world in his past life to go along with the baby act and willful ignorance to his siblings¡¯ intelligence for so long.

    ¡°Maybe he was your twin brother in your last life? And that¡¯s why he¡¯s your identical sibling again.¡±

    ¡°I can definitively tell you that I was an only child.¡±

    As his moniker and Ai¡¯s naming conventions may have suggested, Cobalt was practically a mirror image to Aqua: similarly blue onesies if in different shades, plus the blonde hair ¨C more than likely from their biological father ¨C and the striking blue eyes inherited from their mother.

    ¡°Well¡­¡± Ruby muttered before decisively pumping a fist. ¡°That just means I get to be the older sister he¡¯ll look up to and learn all about how to properly appreciate and love Ai!¡±

    The devoted fan in Aqua couldn¡¯t bring himself to object to Ruby¡¯s want to raise their little brother into another idol fanatic. It would be for Ai, after all.

    Still, Ai deserved to have at least one of her children be normal and raised somewhat conventionally, her own fame and a reincarnated brother/sister pair notwithstanding.

    If anyone had any true claim to being Ai¡¯s child, it had to be Cobalt.

    He may still be a kid who didn¡¯t yet know how to walk or talk, but the vibrant look on his face at everything around him was too much like Ai¡¯s. She gave her passion and love to all of her fans, and Cobalt seemed to do the same to anything and everything around him. A generous excitement and a genuine smile of an innocent child enveloped the kid, a stark contrast to the laser-focused dedication and care Aqua and Ruby held for Ai.

    Even now as Cobalt crawled toward Ruby cooing at him to come closer, Aqua imagined two stars spread between Cobalt¡¯s eyes, compelling the older siblings to shower him with attention.

    It was only natural to pay more attention to Cobalt as the youngest, and as the only real baby among them, but Aqua still couldn¡¯t stray from the idea that this was truly Ai¡¯s son.

    Gorou Amamiya wasn¡¯t able to see through the delivery of Ai¡¯s children like he had promised. Aqua Hoshino, on the other hand, can make up for his prior absence and ensure her children now ¨C himself, Ruby, and Cobalt ¨C lived as best as life can provide them.

    <hr>

    ¡°Great job today, Ai!¡±

    That was the repetitive message Ai received as she was leaving the film set. She returned the appreciative smiles and congratulations with her own, complimenting everyone¡¯s work as well. Production delays had made today¡¯s work a bit more strained than usual, but between the lead star¡¯s good attitude and Ai putting her idol radiance to good use, they had completed the necessary scenes for the penultimate episode of this week¡¯s TV drama as painlessly as possible.

    Ai had even managed to sneak a bit of her humming one of B-Komachi¡¯s recent songs. Hopefully the editors will let that part slip in. Ruby will have a field day once the episode airs and she spots the little easter egg made just for her.

    As she rounded the corner to the parking area, Ai was surprised not to find Miyako waiting for her.

    ¡°Oh, president!¡± Ai said as she approached, Ichigo Saitou¡¯s brows scrunched together in consternation. ¡°Why are you here?¡±

    Miyako had left the set early to pick up the Aqua, Ruby, and Cobalt, so then she could come back for Ai and let her catch up on the kids¡¯ day at school. Ai still had an audition for another role to get through somewhere else before the day was over.

    ¡°The appointment later was canceled,¡± Ichigo explained, motioning for Ai to get into his car. ¡°Drama came up with the investors for that project. The details aren¡¯t important right now.¡±

    Matters of business weren¡¯t important? As Ai buckled in and the president pulled out of the parking lot, she asked, ¡°Is Miyako okay?¡±

    ¡°Is she¡­ oh, no, no! She¡¯s fine.¡±

    Ai¡¯s heart began beating faster. ¡°Then is it ¨C¡±

    ¡°Let me make some things clear first,¡± Ichigo said before Ai¡¯s mind could start drowning in worst-case scenarios. ¡°The kids are at home safe and resting with Miyako. I told her not to call you or tell you anything about what happened at their school while you were still working. No one was seriously hurt. Cobalt was still giggling like the little munchkin he is when I left your apartment. When I was told the audition today had to be dropped, I decided to bring you home directly instead of making you wait any longer.¡±

    Ai relaxed. Past all the arguments and disagreements she had with the president, she knew he wouldn¡¯t betray her trust when it came to her children. Prevent her from openly revealing the true nature of ¡°the president and his wife¡¯s children¡± in public, yes, but if he said no one was seriously hurt, then that had to be true.

    But the emphasis on seriously must mean someone was hurt.

    ¡°Is Cobalt really okay?¡± Ai asked, keeping her imagination at bay. ¡°What happened to him?¡±

    Ichigo sighed. ¡°A nurse already looked him over. All things considered, he¡¯s doing great.¡± At her intensified glare, he elaborated with another sigh. ¡°Alright, some of the other kids at the preschool were apparently bullying Cobalt and dared him to climb up a tree. He fell. Nothing was broken. He had a couple bruises but nothing that will leave anything permanent.¡±

    Schoolyard bullies ¨C preschool-yard bullies hurt her Cobie?

    ¡°Things escalated when Ruby started fighting those bullies. I mean literal fighting, punching and kicking along with the yelling and screaming. Aqua got pulled into it, too, though he and Ruby weren¡¯t actually hurt.¡± Ichigo chuckled. ¡°Hell, the bullies were way worse off than Cobalt by the end of things.¡±If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Ai had some experience with rivalries and cliques. Her days in the orphanage. Her time in the theater company. Making peace with the other girls in B-Komachi regarding her own prominence placed above them. Then all the other entertainers in the business vying for the same jobs Ai was applying for. Even so, she couldn¡¯t remember having similar feuds or bullies when she was as young as her kids.

    There was only one person in her life at that time who could¡¯ve played a similar part, but the situation with Cobalt and Ruby sounded different than what Ai lived through.

    In any case, Ai let herself smile at the thought of little, rambunctious, eager Ruby concentrating her energy into beating up the squirts who hurt her little brother. Aqua she could imagine no problem playing peacemaker and holding her back from going too overboard.

    ¡°Maybe Ruby should try to be a police officer when she grows up,¡± Ai said with a chuckle. ¡°Dancing can be part of her brand! The stylish officer protecting the innocent and downtrodden! I¡¯m so proud of her. And Aqua can be her detective partner! Or he rises in the ranks and becomes the bigshot chief!¡±

    The president snorted. ¡°Miyako and I already spoke with the staff at the school and the bullies¡¯ parents as your kids¡¯ guardians,¡± he went on. ¡°There are options of other preschools we can go over some other time if you want. I know Aqua and Ruby are pretty smart for their age, but their mama should drill the lessons in about not being so naive or reckless at school from now on. And for Cobalt, too.¡±

    Ai was never going to say no to spending more time with her children when the opportunity was practically dumped on her with no strings attached.

    By the time she and the president were walking into the apartment, Ai could already hear her kids cutely bickering.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t have to pick a fight with them,¡± Aqua said in an exasperated tone. ¡°There were witnesses, including us, so they would have been punished regardless.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you didn¡¯t want to knock their teeth out after what they did to Cobie!¡± That was Ruby, with all the passion she could muster.

    ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t tell you that. I¡¯ll tell you that everyone else in class will probably be too afraid of you now to put up a decent performance at the festival. They¡¯ll be busy looking over their shoulder and tripping over their own feet, too conscious of trying not to make you mad and lash out again.¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯d rather they be scared of bullying Cobalt or me or you than to have to perform with those bullies! I¡¯ll just be the only star of the festival, dancing with all eyes on me!¡±

    Speaking lowly yet still loud enough for Ai to catch, Aqua said, ¡°If the teachers even let you still dance¡­ If Cobalt had just listened to us and ignored those bullies¡­¡±

    Rounding the corner, Ai jumped with a spinning flourish, tossing her jacket and bag onto a chair as she landed with a thud. ¡°Mama¡¯s home!¡± she cheered with one of her signature smiles.

    Aqua, Miyako, and Ruby were lined up on the couch, Cobalt sitting comfortably on Miyako¡¯s lap. Miyako only had the same general sense of being tired she usually had whenever she watched the kids for a good stretch of the day. Aqua and Ruby looked normal, too, still in their school uniforms. No bandages or anything.

    There was a darkened area around one of Cobalt¡¯s eyes, and his sleeves were rolled up to reveal slips of bandages along his elbows; some of the scrapes from when he fell, yet Cobalt''s injuries hardly seemed to phase him. Miyako tenderly pressed a small container of ice cream on his face while he happily shoved a spoonful of the ice cream into his mouth. Aqua had a napkin in his hand, supporting Miyako by periodically wiping off excess cream that slipped down Cobalt¡¯s cheeks from his messy eating.

    Cobalt reacted to Ai¡¯s arrival first with the same toothy grin he always wore. He winced as his eyes widened and moved against the swollen skin, but his innocent smile and starry gaze shone as bright as ever. Whatever happened at school, seeing Cobalt like this was really the last thing Ai needed to know that everyone was safe now.

    ¡°Hi, mom!¡± Cobalt greeted. Miyako gave her own acknowledging wave.

    ¡°Mama!¡± Ruby¡¯s greeting coincided with her immediately tackling Ai¡¯s midsection with a hug.

    ¡°Welcome home, Ai,¡± said Aqua ¨C and that still peeved her, him still calling Ai by her name even while in the comfort and safety of their home. But that was an issue she can try rectifying later.

    ¡°You feeling good, Cobie?¡± Ai asked her youngest. He loudly swallowed another gulp of ice cream before answering.

    ¡°My eye is still cold and itchy, but I think so! Now that you¡¯re home!¡±

    ¡°So,¡± Ai went on in a teasing tone, ¡°my babies got into their first fight at school?¡±

    Although muffled with her face pressed against Ai¡¯s stomach, Ruby could still be heard when she declared, ¡°It was for a good cause. Aqua and I weren¡¯t even hurt.¡± When Ai eyed Miyako for confirmation, she simply nodded.

    ¡°Ruby defended my honor today!¡± Cobalt added. Miyako brought him over to Ai for her to carry his weight. Ai nuzzled her chin on Cobalt¡¯s head, careful not to add undue pressure on his bruise. Miyako stepped to the side to talk quietly with Ichigo.

    ¡°They were horrible, Mama!¡± Ruby cried. ¡°They tricked Cobie into thinking he wouldn¡¯t get hurt if he jumped off a tree! But I showed them why they shouldn¡¯t mess with us anymore!¡±

    ¡°She moved so fast,¡± Cobalt said, the admiration downright adorable. ¡°It was like when Ruby and mom dance together, but instead of trying not to hit each other when you¡¯re spinning and sliding and swinging, she hit them all at once!¡±

    ¡°And I¡¯ll do it again if any of those losers try anything else after today!¡±

    Aqua crossed his arms like the wannabe adult, disapproving older brother vibe he often liked to go for. ¡°You can¡¯t just use your dancing lessons in place of actual fighting skills.¡±

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you learn how to fight, then? Instead of burying your head in books all day.¡±

    Ai shook her head in amusement. With Cobalt in her arms and Ruby still hanging around her waist, Ai sat on the couch beside Aqua so she could pull him into the group embrace. ¡°I¡¯m very proud of all of you, putting up a strong front against those bullies.¡±

    ¡°But don¡¯t be the ones who start the fights!¡± the president screeched from across the room. ¡°Aqua has the right idea. Don¡¯t let others egg you on so much!¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that good, though?¡± Cobalt asked with a tilted head. ¡°Eggs taste great!¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s the wrong idea, Cobalt!¡±

    Ai laughed as Ichigo tried to better explain what he meant before soon giving up at Cobalt¡¯s steady stream of questions and misunderstandings. Aqua was trying to clarify the president¡¯s message while Ruby took over for cleaning ice cream stains around Cobalt¡¯s mouth.

    Since all three of the kids were identical siblings, Ai hadn¡¯t thought Cobalt as technically the youngest would actually become the ¡°baby¡± of the babies, yet it somehow turned out that way regardless.

    The ditzy parts of Ai¡¯s personality was only halfway an act. She honestly did have trouble remembering names and faces, and she could be more forgetful about the simplest of chores or appliances in the apartment more often than for her own good. The Saitous had also made sure she¡¯d never forget each and every moment during interviews and public appearances when she almost let slip her secret. But she still worked hard and paid attention to what mattered the most in her life: her lessons in the arts, practicing diligently with the rest of the girls in B-Komachi for their performances, all of her side jobs adjacent to her idol career that might one day be her main source of income somewhere down the line, and most importantly, raising and protecting her children.

    So every time Aqua or Ruby said something complex with a confidence that shouldn¡¯t be natural for toddlers their age to know and grasp, Ai always played up the child prodigy angle. That seemed to be the response they were hoping for, considering the barely hidden brief expressions of panic on them whenever Ai or another adult questioned their intelligence aloud. They must be afraid of being ridiculed or shunned for their big brains. Ai found it all rather cute. Ruby still sung her mother¡¯s praises and craved her attention in between getting into arguments on the social media accounts she still hadn¡¯t realized Ai knew about. For every advanced novel, textbook, or internet article Ai found Aqua reading, none of it detracted from his want to be the loyal son and the eldest sibling in supporting Ruby and Cobalt ¨C and he just had the most precious blush whenever Ai gushed about how proud she was of him being such a considerate brother!

    Already aware of how smart Aqua and Ruby are, even Ai was quick to see that Cobalt wasn¡¯t quite the same.

    He actually picked up speaking long sentences and pronouncing words right very well, yet everything else lined up more with what the tutorials and blogs she¡¯s looked up said about how kids his age should act. If Ai had to sum it up, Aqua and Ruby understood things while Cobalt wanted to understand. All of her kids asked questions to learn about their mom and the world, but Cobalt¡¯s curiosity was absolutely endless in comparison.

    ¡°Cobalt,¡± Aqua said after Ai relented and let him slip out of her hug, ¡°you can¡¯t just instantly believe whatever random nonsense people tell you. You have to also trust your own feelings. The things you feel happening to you already in the moment should matter more than the words said by other people you don¡¯t know well.¡±

    ¡°But I got up the tree like they said I could,¡± Cobalt said almost matter-of-factly. ¡°So why shouldn¡¯t diving off the branch without getting hurt not also work?¡±

    Aqua buried his face into the wall and groaned.

    Ruby reached over to clutch Cobalt¡¯s wrist. ¡°You did feel hurt after you fell, right?¡±

    ¡°I mean, it sure felt and looked and sounded like I got hurt, yeah, but why would they lie?¡±

    ¡°They were lying to hurt you.¡±

    Ai privately gave herself a mental pat on the back for not visibly reacting at those words.

    ¡°Oh, so they were acting?¡± Cobalt asked. ¡°Like how mom acts on TV and Aqua had to act with that salt-licking girl?¡±

    ¡°No, Cobalt,¡± Aqua answered. Instead of rejoining his family on the sofa, he sat on a separate chair, probably having reached his tolerance today of getting smothered. He really was growing fast. ¡°Our acting and our classmates¡¯ lying is different.¡±

    ¡°How?

    Ai decided to chime in. She couldn''t just let her junior prodigies carry all the slack in teaching the youngest right from wrong, now can she? ¡°I act for the money!¡± she said proudly.

    ¡°Ai, please,¡± Miyako moaned wearily from somewhere else in the room. Ai was keeping her eyes on her children first and foremost.

    Cobalt bent his neck to look directly up at Ai. His head was still twisted slightly at an angle, so Ai also shifted so their stares were level with one another. ¡°Acting on TV is okay because everyone involved already knows we¡¯re ¡®lying¡¯ to each other,¡± she explained. ¡°You know how you play with your toys and pretend that they can talk and move?¡±

    ¡°Yeah?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the same thing!¡± Ai stroked loose hair strands away from Cobalt¡¯s bruise. ¡°Everyone agrees to lie, to act, to ¡®play¡¯ so they can all have fun. It¡¯s different from what happened with your bullies. They knew they were lying, but you didn¡¯t know they were lying. That¡¯s no good.¡±

    She could see his brain turning the gears to process what he was being told. ¡°So it¡¯s okay to lie when everyone who¡¯s lying already knows they¡¯re lying?¡±

    ¡°Yup!¡± Ai said. This was probably the best way Cobalt can learn how not to let people take advantage of his naive nature. ¡°The next time you play with your friends at school, learn how to spot the lie. Be honest to them and make sure they¡¯re honest to you before you start playing together. If you¡¯re still not sure, go to your older siblings. As your brother and sister, you can rely on them to tell you the truth no matter what. Isn¡¯t that right?¡±

    The responses came exactly as expected.

    ¡°Of course, Mama!¡±

    ¡°Right.¡±

    His head still tilted backward, Cobalt bent his arm and made a sloppy salute ¨C no doubt picked up from the action movie Ai had recently gotten a small role in. ¡°Okay, mom!¡±

    Ai thought she would be able to keep her smile on effortlessly for the rest of the day. Then Cobalt said something that made her immediately frown.

    ¡°Mom, am I stupid?¡±

    All the information videos and advice articles about not displaying favoritism or bias for any of her children against their siblings hit Ai like a bullet train. ¡°Of course you¡¯re not, Cobie!¡±

    Cobalt was still smiling, but Ai couldn¡¯t tell if it was a pretend smile his siblings sometimes put on to keep up appearances or just a stock instinct to not let his expression fall. Either way, it¡¯d be something he¡¯d have inherited from her. ¡°But my friends say I am, for always asking stupid questions and doing stupid things. I have to listen to them to know how not to keep being stupid.¡±

    Ai put up a pout as she hugged Cobalt tighter. ¡°Well, it sounds like you need better friends!¡±

    ¡°But I don¡¯t want to stop being friends with Aqua and Ruby.¡±

    Ai wasn¡¯t the only one confused, since Ruby let out an incredulous gasp. ¡°What are you talking about? Cobie, we¡¯re your siblings!¡±

    Aqua was more level-headed. ¡°What do you mean when you say ¡®friends¡¯?¡± he asked Cobalt.

    ¡°Friends are people your age who you hang out with,¡± Cobie said with his limbs stretched widely through Ai¡¯s own hugging arms, ¡°so Aqua and Ruby are my bestest friends in the whole world!¡± Ai would have tightened her cuddle with Cobalt even more for his cuteness if his body wasn¡¯t still healing.

    ¡°But we don¡¯t call you stupid!¡± Ruby squealed before shutting her mouth with a quiver. ¡°Or, well¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeah, you called me stupid for for jumping off the tree. And Aqua always makes that hungry stomach-growling sound with his mouth and slaps his face whenever I say a dumb thing.¡± Cobie didn¡¯t even sound hurt or insulted as he gave his explanation.

    Aqua¡¯s face flushed as he sputtered denials. ¡°I-I¡¯m not trying to call you dumb when I do that¡­¡±

    Ai had underestimated how smart her youngest really was. Cobalt could pick up things well enough by himself, just at a pace different from his brother and sister.

    Keeping up a mischievous atmosphere, Ai covered her mouth and spoke in a stage-whisper. ¡°So Aqua and Ruby have been bullying Cobie, too, in their own ways¡­¡±

    ¡°No we haven¡¯t!¡±

    Ai laughed at the synchronized scream. ¡°I¡¯m just kidding. Don¡¯t worry. I know you two would never intentionally bully Cobie.¡±

    ¡°So am I stupid, mom?¡± asked again the boy in question.

    Ai turned around Cobalt so he faced her directly. He sat cross-legged on her legs. Patiently, she said, ¡°What do you think it means to be stupid, Cobie?¡±

    ¡°Uh, to not know things everyone should know.¡±

    ¡°Well, I think we¡¯re all a little stupid,¡± Ai said with another snicker. ¡°Your mama¡¯s no exception.¡±

    ¡°Absolutely not!¡± Ruby objected, not surprisingly. ¡°You¡¯re perfect, Mama! The ultimate goddess of an idol!¡±

    ¡°But there are still things I don¡¯t know about well,¡± Ai gently warned her daughter. For all her fame, she was still discovering new things in all aspects of the entertainment industry. She was still learning plenty on how to properly teach and nurture and care for her kids every minute she could get off work and be with them. ¡°We all learn something new each day. Some people learn faster than others. There¡¯s no shame in that. So it¡¯s okay if you¡¯re a little stupid now, Cobie, but you¡¯ll learn not to be. Keep asking those questions and you¡¯ll become as smart as Mama!¡±

    Aqua gave a grunt. Doubting his own mother¡¯s intelligence? The quick sideways look she gave him that he instantly turned away from told her everything. She¡¯ll have to think of a funny punishment for him later.

    ¡°Okay!¡± Cobie said with another silly salute. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best to stop being as stupid, mom!¡±

    He leaned in for another hug, his tiny arms draped over her shoulders.

    ¡°I love you!¡±

    A sick sensation filled her stomach upon hearing that.

    Ai swallowed those feelings deep down and returned the hug, never outwardly breaking character as Ruby joined in.

    She still couldn¡¯t say those words back with absolute certainty. She couldn¡¯t risk lying to them.

    Not to Aqua and Ruby, who must be smart enough to recognize if she was lying straight to their face if they haven¡¯t privately caught on yet.

    Not to Cobalt, would believe the lie considering how he was tricked at school today.

    They were little kids. They will grow smarter and learn how to not be easily tricked or swindled eventually.

    And by that time, Ai hoped with all her heart that she would never need to hesitate to tell them the three simple words Aqua, Ruby, and Cobalt could already say without a sliver of doubt. When Ai can stop being a hypocrite and won¡¯t have to swindle them by avoiding doing what they do everyday.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go have dinner!¡± Ai announced in a perfect pitch of playfulness.

    ¡°Yay! I want eggs!¡±

    ¡°Uhh, not again, Cobie!¡±

 Arc 1: First Confession, Part 2

    ¡°Aqua, what¡¯s a father?¡±

    Ruby smirked at Aqua¡¯s reaction to Cobie¡¯s next inciting question of the day. It wasn¡¯t one of the more incredulous questions from him, but it still came out abruptly enough that Aqua choked on his drink. Sitting on the living room sofa, Ruby chuckled as he strained out coughs, his entire front stained with orange juice.

    ¡°Do you know, Ruby?¡± Cobalt asked from his perch on the corner backrest. The three of them were watching a kid¡¯s movie, one Aqua had apparently already seen when he was a kid. He usually skipped out on these kinds of flicks, but his presence today seemed to spark the innate inquisitiveness in Cobie with more questions.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to know what a father is, Cobie,¡± Ruby said confidently.

    Cobalt took another bite of his muffin. ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Fathers are unimportant. All that matters is our mother, who obviously conceived us with no influence from a man to begin with.¡±

    She felt Aqua¡¯s frown without looking at him. Wordlessly, he left the couch, probably to clean himself up.

    Ruby could hardly remember Sarina Tendouji¡¯s father. The only parental figure she could name and see in her mind¡¯s eye by the end was her mother.

    And now Sarina has been reborn with the best mother she could have ever asked for: Ai the idol! Some no-name father would be totally redundant and unnecessary.

    A private part of her once thought having to share Ai with two brothers was less than ideal, but she¡¯s since learned better and has banished that thought away forever.

    Sarina Tendouji didn¡¯t have any siblings, so Ruby Hoshino was in new ground whilst growing up with Aqua and Cobalt.

    Getting used to Aqua was easy enough, since he was also reincarnated and so pretty simple to talk with. He might be annoying sometimes, but he had obviously died in his last life as an adult. He was smart, finding ways Ruby couldn¡¯t readily think of to work around the restrictions around the apartment placed by Mama and Miyako. He was also very mature about supporting Mama in her life at home and in her career. Ruby had her own share of clever ideas, which Aqua did acknowledge when he knew he couldn¡¯t deny them, but Aqua still was quite the valuable ally. It helped a lot that he was also a genuine fan of Mama who continued to love her, so he and Ruby always had something to relate to despite their differences in life experience.

    Cobalt¡­ was adorable!

    Just in day-to-day life, Ruby easily preferred being with Cobie. Him being a real baby didn¡¯t bother her much. His joy in just breathing air and being alive was infectious, so Ruby never hesitated to play with him with his stuffed animals and action figures unless something with Ai was playing on TV, at which point she dragged Cobie to watch with her. He never complained, because even though he was only now as a four-year-old learning how important Ai was as an idol, he certainly understood Ai was their mother who deserved all of their love.

    She couldn¡¯t quite say she loved Aqua yet without pausing. The mental age gap made it feel off to think about, but she¡¯s getting there. Cobalt, on the other hand, she could easily hold closest to her heart second only to Ai.

    Well¡­ first Ai, then Sensei. Then Cobalt, and after, Aqua. Miyako and President Ichigo occupied the same general spot at last.

    In any case, Ruby loved Cobalt, and he should forget about any more rambling questions on a non-existent father. After Ai, Ruby, and Aqua, Cobalt should save all the spare love he has for any children Miyako and Ichigo might have, who will by default become their little brothers and sisters. When he¡¯s older, Cobalt¡¯s love will also go to an approved girlfriend who Ruby can instantly regard as a sister. Maybe one Ruby can call a big sister? It¡¯d fill out all the basic family roles nicely.

    ¡°What¡¯s ¡®conceive¡¯ mean?¡± Cobie asked next.

    ¡°She¡¯s play-lying to you,¡± Aqua called out as he strolled out the bathroom. Ruby stuck her tongue at him. ¡°Play-lying¡± had become their go-to clarification for when they were making a joke or playfully twisting the truth and didn¡¯t want Cobalt taking their words too seriously. Aqua used it more often than Ruby liked when she was teaching Cobie things.

    ¡°Oh. But are moms and fathers really related?¡±

    ¡°Why are you asking? What do you think is a father?¡±

    ¡°I thought it had to do something with grandpas. ¡®Cause we have to call aunt Miyako ¡®mom¡¯ sometimes and she¡¯s married to grandpa Ichigo.¡±

    Ruby still remembered the indignant flush on the president¡¯s face when Cobie had first called him ¡°grandpa.¡± Cobie only listened to not call him that in public, still badgering good old grandpa Ichigo whenever he visited the apartment.

    ¡°And mom in the last show we watched was the best friend to a princess who saw her grandpa king die.¡± Ruby suppressed a shudder. Mama¡¯s character had given up her own life for the princess in that opening episode ¨C offscreen, thankfully, under a falling building without any graphic details, but it had still hurt to watch. ¡°The princess¡¯ father was the villain, so the way mom explained it to me, it sounded like fathers were evil sons of grandpas.¡±

    As Cobalt loudly swallowed another bite of his snack, he pointed at the TV screen, depicting the kid main character piggybacking his dad as they ran away from a gaggle of armed henchmen. ¡°But that guy¡¯s father is really nice. I don¡¯t get it. Did mom have a stupid moment and explain what a father is wrong? Or did I have the stupid moment and not get what a father really is?¡±

    Mama is not stupid! was on the tip of Ruby¡¯s tongue, but she¡¯s since learned better to not react so abrasively on a dime toward her little brother. Cobalt was only trying to make sense of things when he said such extremely misguided assertions. ¡°A father is just the son of a grandpa,¡± she said instead. ¡°They can be good or evil. It depends on the dad.¡±

    ¡°Oh. Can moms be good and evil, too?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. The princess¡¯ mom in that fantasy drama was also evil. Our real mom isn¡¯t.¡±

    Cobalt chewed thoughtfully. He switched back to the movie. Ruby patted his knee, proud at how quickly he had absorbed the explanation, and also turned back to the TV. Even Aqua didn¡¯t utter a single complaint as he plopped down next to her.

    Once Cobalt finished the rest of his muffin, he pulled out a napkin to gather up the crumbs that had inevitably scattered all over the sofa and the floor around him. It was Aqua¡¯s turn to help clean up after Cobalt today, so he went to work with the trash bin and a small broom. Ruby hopped off the couch to refill her drink.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got another question in you, Cobalt,¡± Aqua said. ¡°Ask it.¡±

    ¡°Oh. How can you tell?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re chewing your lip again.¡±

    ¡°Oh. Sorry.¡±

    ¡°And the question you were thinking about before?¡±

    ¡°Is our father a good dad or an evil dad?¡±

    Now Ruby was the one who couldn¡¯t stop herself from choking on her lemonade.

    ¡°Ruby was play-lying when she said our father doesn¡¯t matter, right? But most of our classmates and a lot of the people on TV have dads. Our father is never with us, so is he busy doing something good or evil?¡±

    Their father did not matter. That was no lie, playing or otherwise.

    ¡°Ask that when you¡¯re older,¡± Aqua said before Ruby could voice her take on it. She couldn¡¯t see the expression on Aqua¡¯s face from where she was on the other side of the room, but she was sure she saw his legs stagger for a second.

    Cobalt stared blankly at Aqua. ¡°Ask when you¡¯re older¡± was their last resort to shut down Cobalt¡¯s line of questioning when they couldn¡¯t adequately quell his curiosity. Ruby was sure he knew that it was a cop-out answer, but Cobalt was always too nice to say anything about it. He would just stare uncomfortably at you. He even did it to Mama, though his flat look always morphed back to his chipper smile once Mama changed the subject.

    ¡°Ai will be home soon,¡± Aqua said after a pause. ¡°Go wash your hands.¡±

    ¡°Okay!¡±

    Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Cobalt dumped his crumbs in the trash and waddled to the kitchen.

    Ruby quietly strolled to Aqua and was immediately given an answer to her own unspoken question.

    ¡°I admit I am curious who our father is,¡± he said, ¡°but¡­ just thinking about it makes my heart sink.¡±

    Sad that his favorite idol had children? No, Aqua wouldn¡¯t be that petty, Ruby thought. He must be sympathetic to Ai being abandoned by whoever fathered her children.

    He used to be an adult before. Had he once been someone¡¯s father, too?

    ¡°Cobalt is also curious, but it doesn¡¯t sadden him not to know who he is. Some fathers aren¡¯t worth knowing. Until Ai decides she wants to tell us who ours is, I think we should respect her silence.¡±

    Ruby can live with that. What they and Cobalt didn¡¯t know won¡¯t hurt any of them. ¡°Okay. It¡¯s not like we even need a deadbeat dad butting into our lives.¡±

    Aqua only hummed in response.

    <hr>

    President Ichigo would probably be pulling his hair if he knew that Ai was lying lazily in bed with two of her sleeping children cuddled beside her when B-Komachi had made more vital preparations today for the upcoming Tokyo Dome concert. After that night last week of him and Miyako hosting a little celebration party with Ai and the kids, Ichigo had sobered up quick and was micromanaging a lot more than necessary to make sure everything for the concert was perfect. She didn¡¯t blame the worrywart dealing with the pressure the best way he knew how, but that wouldn¡¯t stop Ai from also decompressing however she can, too.

    Ruby, still exhausted from another session of practicing Ai¡¯s own dance routines yesterday, gently snored. Aqua, who had stayed up late playing with his smartphone until Ai woke up for some water and dragged him to bed, was cutely drooling. Ai raised her phone to snap a private photo of the three of them together.

    Cobalt in between them all would have been the cherry on top, but he was already on his feet, threatening to knock the walls down.

    Ai still remembered when her two oldest babies went viral with their synchronized high-speed cheer a few years ago, before they could even stand on their own. Thanks to personal training from Ruby, and Aqua pitching in some, Cobalt was ready to join his siblings in another cheer to be captured online and sure to spread across Japan for the dome event.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    As long as he didn¡¯t keep losing his grip on his glowsticks, like he was now, another series of colorful rods slipping out of his fingers and bouncing against the ceiling, the glass window, the mirror he was practicing in front of, and the wall behind Ai. She caught one of the batons before it dropped on her face.

    ¡°Sorry, mom!¡±

    ¡°You only need two glowsticks in your hands for the cheer Ruby showed you,¡± Ai reminded him.

    ¡°But she and Aqua only want to cheer for you. That wouldn¡¯t be fair to the rest of the Komachi band, wouldn¡¯t it? I want to cheer for all of you!¡±

    Was it selfish of Ai to want all of her children to dance and chant for her and her only? Yes. Shamelessly so. In spite of that, she still felt a surge of pride at Cobalt¡¯s compassion for the rest of the girls in her idol group.

    Someone rang the doorbell, the noise echoing throughout the apartment.

    ¡°I¡¯ll get it!¡±

    Careful not to disturb her other children, Ai rose out of the bed to quickly chase after him. ¡°No, wait, Cobie!¡±

    Visitors rarely came to Ai¡¯s apartment, since she didn¡¯t exactly have many friends and any deliveries usually came through the Saitous¡¯ address as the middleman. Whoever was ringing the doorbell had to be President Ichigo ¨C who would be yelling a storm at Ai for not stopping Cobalt before he opened the front door alone again ¨C or Miyako ¨C who would be glomped by an enthusiastic hug with an energy she could only meet half-way at this hour.

    There was a third option if Ai¡¯s call from a phone booth a couple days ago had meant anything to the man on the other end¡­

    Ai rushed out the bedroom just in time to see Cobalt down the corridor at the front of the door. He was already turning the knob as she absently closed the door behind her.

    ¡°Cobie¨C¡±

    The morning sun brightened the apartment as the door swung open.

    White petals and green stems floundered under a thin stream of red, showering over Cobalt¡¯s tiny head. A man in a hoodie stood in the doorway. There was a sudden cry of pain from Cobalt. It was absolutely deafening to Ai. She watched her child stumble back from the stained kitchen knife the stranger was holding.

    Ai couldn¡¯t turn her eyes away from Cobalt clutching his face. She heard the man speak. ¡°Why did you¡­ Where is¡­¡±

    Cobalt¡¯s response broke Ai¡¯s heart. ¡°Wow, mister,¡± he said, upbeat exactly as he was mere seconds ago. ¡°This really stings! Like a big bite from a bee!¡±

    He always had a high pain tolerance for someone his age, and the family always played little games to make light of the periodic scrapes and tumbles to not scare Cobalt while also trying to stress the importance of safety, but right now, dismissing whatever horrible cut he had on his face as like a tiny bug bite¡­

    Then the stranger¡¯s and Ai¡¯s eyes met. His shocked confusion turned into a desperate anger.

    ¡°You! You bitch!¡±

    Ai tried to dash forward, but there was no hope of her covering the distance in time. She stopped short once the stranger manhandled Cobalt by the neck, the knife hovering awfully close to the bloody streak sliced through Cobalt''s nose and forehead. One of his eyes was shut. Ai couldn¡¯t tell at all if it had also been cut.

    Cobalt was still smiling¡­ Surely he could understand the pain he was feeling right this second? Hadn¡¯t he learned how to recognize when he was in danger? When they weren¡¯t playing and he was genuinely hurt? Why was he smiling?

    ¡°You went and had kids even though you¡¯re a fucking idol!¡± ranted the stranger ¨C a stalker, then. ¡°You slut, treating your fans like we don¡¯t exist. You¡¯re just a damn liar.¡±

    Aqua or Ruby or them both were calling out from the bedroom. The door only locked from their side. With the stalker still ranting, Ai stretched her leg back to slide a nearby chair to lock itself between the doorknob and the floor, jamming the door shut when Aqua and Ruby tried opening it. All the while, Ai kept her eyes on her smiling boy and the crying, hysterical stalker.

    ¡°Whatever pain your fucking kid feels, mine is even worse! A thousand times worse for being stabbed in the back by a dirty liar like you! With all that ¡®I love you¡¯ bullshit¨C¡±

    ¡°Mom hurt you, mister?¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡±

    She wanted to scream. To beg. To hold Cobalt and never let him go. To tear out the stalker¡¯s throat.

    Her baby boy smiled up at his captor. ¡°Are you my dad?¡±

    The stalker was stunned into silence.

    Ai wasn¡¯t doing much better.

    Cobalt would always come up with the silliest of conclusions with the way logic worked out in his head¡­

    ¡°Mom¡¯s said, ¡®I love you¡¯, to you before, right? She says it all the time to people when she¡¯s dancing and acting, and people are always so happy when she says it. But she never says it to me or Ruby or Aqua.

    ¡°We love her this much,¡± Cobalt said as he pushed out his arms, ¡°and it hurts inside when she says she loves everyone else and not us. It¡¯s a different kind of hurt than when my classmates at school treat me stupid, because they don¡¯t love me. But if mom¡¯s said she loves you, and you really hurt, too, then you must be really special to her. Since a lot of people love her, you must be something else to also be hurt by her at the same time.¡±

    So Cobalt always knew¡­ He always knew Ai was lying to him and his siblings¡­ And that was more important to him than bleeding from his face or being held by the stranger who made the cut.

    ¡°What are you even saying?¡± mumbled the stalker. ¡°I¡¯m not¡­¡±

    ¡°So! Are you my dad?¡±

    ¡°Of course not, you dumb kid!¡±

    ¡°But you hurt me, too! It feels pretty bad. If you love and hurt mom, doesn¡¯t that mean you also love me?¡±

    Ai couldn¡¯t believe the words coming out of Cobalt''s mouth. Was this what he was thinking whenever Ai never properly answered back to his declarations of love? Did Aqua and Ruby feel the same way? Did Cobalt always recklessly let himself get hurt because he thought going through pain meant he would feel love?

    ¡°Aqua also said once that his heart drowns in his chest when he thinks about our father. Now I¡¯ve got blood on my face! Like when you gulp in water when you dip your head in the bathtub, it''s like the blood from my heart is flooding up to¨C¡±

    ¡°Just stop talking already!¡± the stalker shouted. ¡°The hell is your¨C¡±

    ¡°No¡­¡± Ai finally spoke up. She couldn¡¯t keep quiet any longer.

    Both Cobalt and the stalker looked to her. Seeing Cobalt¡¯s innocent smile again, Ai instinctively matched it in spite of the bile rising up her throat. In spite of how dangerously close the knife wavered near him.

    ¡°No, Cobie, this man is not your father.¡± Ai couldn¡¯t stop herself from confessing. ¡°But he¡¯s right when calls me a liar. I never understood what it meant to love someone. So instead, I told everyone pretty lies, always hoping that one day those lies would become the truth.

    ¡°I put everything I had into telling such beautiful lies. Lies are love to me, the only way I could express it. I don¡¯t know if I was able to really love my fans, you and all the others¡­ but as I sang those songs and stood on stage, I always thought to myself how much I wanted to. Hoping, begging that the love I gave out and the love you gave back would become true.¡±

    Ai stared into the dark, brooding soul of the broken man before her, and she finally recognized who he was. Not just any simple fan, but a worshiper.

    ¡°I love my children, but even now¡­¡± Ai reached forward with an inviting hand, beckoning the stalker to come closer and take it. ¡°Even now, I want to show how much I love you.¡±

    If she had more easily returned the love the stalker had for her, could he have loved her so much back that he wouldn¡¯t have cared about his cherished idol having kids? Could she have found the strength to tell her children outright how she loved them?

    ¡°No,¡± the stalker stuttered, ¡°you¡¯re just lying again. You don¡¯t even remember me, do you? Too busy making your stupid kid think hurting people means they¨C¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re Ryosuke,¡± Ai interrupted. ¡°You often came to the handshake events.¡± She moved slightly toward him, stopping when he dragged one foot back along the floor. ¡°Ah, I might be wrong. Sorry, I¡¯ve never been very good with remembering names.¡± She played the reliable cheeky-wink-and-tilted-head card to showcase the endearing airhead that had enamored so many of her fans. ¡°I was happy when I got that star sand from you as a present. I¡¯ve still got it displayed in my living room. Cobie thought it was so cool. I promised we¡¯d go to the beach one day to collect his own batch.¡±

    Cobalt gasped. ¡°Wow, you were the one who gave mom the star sand, mister? Can you take us to where you got them?¡±

    The stalker¡¯s grips on Cobalt and the knife loosened. He was losing more and more of any semblance of self-assurance in his actions, muttering bemused comments to himself. ¡°What the hell¡­ Ai should¡­ That¡¯s not what I¡­¡±

    ¡°We can all go together,¡± Ai offered in another excited lie, taking more steps forward. The knocks and yells from Ruby and Aqua from the bedroom were growing louder. ¡°Then maybe, Ryosuke, you can show me how much love¨C¡±

    The stalker¡¯s temper reignited. ¡°Just shut it!¡± His knife hand shaking, he pointed the weapon at Ai; more importantly, away from Cobalt. ¡°None of this is right! You and your kid are just messing with my head. I¡¯m not stupid. You love your kid, and you just want me to walk away and let you go. Like hell I am! You need to pay, feel your heart be torn apart, know what it''s like for a false love to throw away all the passion I treasured you with!¡±

    ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s how you¡¯re gonna show how much you love mom!¡± Cobalt cheered with a brightness Ai wanted him to show to anyone but this intruder. ¡°By hurting her like you were hurt!¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ Yeah, fine! That¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m going to do!¡±

    The stalker raised his knife high, but Ai was just over an arm¡¯s length away now. She charged in.

    The tangle of shoving limbs and cries of panic went by in a flash. In the future, Ai will only remember snapshots of moments in this immediate encounter. Grasping the stalker¡¯s wrists. Cobalt tackling her. The stalker¡¯s incoherent shrieks. A sharp pain digging into a place underneath the side of her neck.

    In the present, Ai blinked. Cobalt was holding her from her front. She fell backward. She hit the bedroom door, the chair getting knocked over, but the weight of herself and Cobalt still kept Aqua and Ruby from opening it. Between the increased noise coming from her other two children, Cobalt was laughing, his face red with blood.

    Too much blood¡­ because, Ai realized, she had been stabbed in the shoulder, the knife lodged in her skin. A splatter of her own blood was now covering Cobalt.

    Yet Cobalt wasn¡¯t afraid. Save for a brief moment when the stalker had first struck him, he never showed a hint of fear or apprehension. Maybe idiotically so, but Ai was nevertheless compelled to match his energy.

    ¡°Wow,¡± she said in the same tone of amazement he often used. ¡°Wow, you were right, Cobie. It really does feel like a giant bee sting!¡± Ai gripped the knife handle, careful not to move it too much. ¡°Or maybe it''s more like a giant needle, like at the doctor¡¯s when you have your checkups?¡±

    ¡°Yay! Now we¡¯re both hurt!¡±

    Ai tickled Cobalt¡¯s nose. ¡°That¡¯s not a good thing, you know. Getting hurt¡­ well, hurts.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but the love feels nice enough to forget about how hurt the hurting feels.¡±

    ¡°Ah, mama must have had a really stupid moment to make you have your stupid moment over this!¡± Ai raised Cobalt¡¯s head up by his chin and wiped some of the blood off his cheeks. She only made more of a mess in the process, really.

    ¡°Whoa,¡± Cobie breathed out with a wincing grin. ¡°It also stings when you touch it, like a real bug bite, too!¡±

    Ai looked again at the stalker. His entire body was shaking with each unsteady step he took back toward the entrance. Away from Ai and her family.

    Her head against the bedroom door, she could better make out Aqua¡¯s yells. ¡°I called the police!¡± her genius boy said. ¡°They¡¯ll be here any minute, but come inside before¨C¡±

    ¡°Hey, Ryosuke,¡± Ai said to the stalker, freezing him on the spot. ¡°If I love by lying, do you love by causing pain? That¡¯s not a good lesson to teach one of my kids. What kind of example are you trying to set for the next generation? You naughty fan.¡±

    The stalker¡¯s shrill scream did little to phase Ai. ¡°No, no! None of this is right! Ai isn¡¯t supposed to be so¡­ so creepy. It doesn¡¯t make sense at all! What have you been teaching your kids?

    ¡°Why the fuck are you still smiling?¡±

    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you smiling, mister?¡± Cobie asked. ¡°Lying or not lying, mom smiling is always nice to see! If you feel bad, smiling back can make up for it!¡±

    The stalker started bawling tears. Before Ai or Cobalt could get another word in, the stalker tripped and scrambled to his feet to make a mad dash out of the apartment.

    He was gone. Ai¡¯s family was safe.

    Good thing Aqua called the police¡­ They can fix up Cobie¡¯s nasty cut¡­ and probably Ai¡¯s own wound, too¡­ She should also probably call the president¡­

    Ai was shaken awake by Cobalt. He was still locked in their embrace, but he was able to stand and push her body, removing the pressure on the door so Cobalt¡¯s sibling could finally escape.

    She let Ruby, her face wet with tears, slide herself into the group hug. Aqua also kept close, except he was holding bandages and other medical supplies spilling out of the first aid kit strapped to his side. Cobalt¡¯s general roughhousing had made Aqua the first responder in their home before Ai or Miyako took over. Now it seemed like Aqua was going through the familiar motions, looking over both Ai and Cobalt.

    ¡°You¡¯re going to be okay,¡± was practically a chorus sung out of sync between her babies, interjected by Cobalt¡¯s classic comments questioning everything.

    Cobalt¡¯s beautiful smile found its way back to the center of Ai¡¯s vision. ¡°Are you not okay, mom?¡± he asked. ¡°Does it hurt too much for you?¡±

    Yes.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Cobie. I¡¯ve been a bad mom,¡± she said. Her confession wasn¡¯t over yet. ¡°I spent so long never knowing how to love, refusing to understand and accept my feelings, that I made you mistake the difference between love and pain. I¡¯m a liar who hurt you because I was afraid if I ever told any of my children that I loved you, it would have been a lie. So I just avoided saying it entirely.¡±

    Cobalt tilted his head. He looked at Ai like she was being silly. ¡°But you do love us, mom,¡± he affirmed. ¡±Even if you never say it, even if it hurt to not hear it, that¡¯s the truth.¡±

    Ai¡¯s voice fell to a whisper. ¡°How can you be so sure?¡±

    ¡°Because we love you! Do we need any other reasons?¡±

    Ai couldn¡¯t stop herself. She laughed, making the knife in her shoulder burn hotter with each shudder. Cobalt¡¯s answer was just so innocent. So cute. So honest that she couldn¡¯t be anything but happy at Cobalt¡¯s easygoing attitude at what she had struggled with all her life.

    ¡°Stop moving, Ai. Please.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve always loved you, Mama! Never doubt it! Never ever ever!¡±

    The stars in the eyes of Ai¡¯s children told no lies.

    ¡°Cobalt, Aqua, Ruby¡­ I love you.¡±

    For a split second, Aqua and Ruby froze. They kept on babbling and holding her immediately after, but that was the proof Ai needed to know they had been conscious of their mother never truly showing her love for them.

    She was going to do better from now on. For them.

    ¡°I finally said it.¡± Ai was crying with them now. Only Cobie¡¯s eyes lacked any tears. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry I never did until now. I¡¯m sorry for hurting you!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± sweet, precious, lovable Cobalt reassured. ¡°I can never not love you, mom.¡±

 Arc 1: First Confession, Part 3 END

    ¡°I want to retire from being an idol.¡±

    The normal Ai the Idol would have playfully laughed at President Ichigo¡¯s jaw dropping and teased him about it. As things were now, Ai didn¡¯t feel like putting in the effort. She was still bedridden at the hospital, bandages on her left side. A similarly dressed Cobalt was sleeping soundly on the bed over to her right. It was like a serene lullaby her baby was singing.

    Now wasn¡¯t the time for more lies.

    Ichigo had been in the middle of three conversations ¨C first with Ai, another with one of the doctors who had just left, and the last with Miyako over the phone. Miyako was going to bring over Aqua and Ruby from the Saitous¡¯ apartment. It wasn¡¯t too long after the stalker incident now. While Ai and Cobalt were still being tended to at the hospital, Miyako was taking close care of the rest of the children and regularly ferrying them for visits.

    With the doctor gone and Miyako confirming she was safely on her way, Ai finally broached the topic she had been ruminating over throughout her recovery.

    ¡°After the dome concert,¡± she amended when Ichigo twitched.

    A smartypants businessman that he was, he had managed to strike the right deals with the right people by the skin of his teeth to have the performance at Tokyo Dome delayed instead of canceled. Neither Ai¡¯s nor Cobalt¡¯s wounds were so dire that they required extensive surgery, therapy, or bed rest (though there was still something to be said for Cobalt seeing therapist of some kind, plus regular counseling alongside Aqua and Ruby for the terror they were forced to experience), but there was no chance of Ai recovering fast enough for the concert so soon after being stabbed. Thankfully, President Ichigo and the rest of B-Komachi had given their support wholeheartedly for Ai to take the time needed for her to heal and be with her kids.

    The fan backlash had come as predicted. Ichigo must still be dealing with fallout behind-the-scenes. On the plus side, the media played up plenty of sympathy for Ai as the victim of a stalker attack. Inevitable gossip and criticisms were outweighed by the countless cries expressing support for Ai¡¯s return to the spotlight.

    The public still didn¡¯t know that it was a child of Ai¡¯s who was cut by the stalker. The official story still followed the documentation of Cobalt, Ruby, and Aqua being members of the Saitou family registry.

    A lot of Ai¡¯s fans were liable to change their tune once she came out with her announcements at the dome¡¯s finale.

    But she was already committed to this and won¡¯t back down.

    If Ai had to guess, Ichigo¡¯s mind first went to the arrangements made contingent on Ai¡¯s future idol work. Then, as the president sucked in a sharp breath, the larger implications and impacts of Ai retiring sped through the floodgates. She probably should have told him this sooner.

    ¡°Ai,¡± he finally spoke, still working through the particulars in his head, ¡°this concert¡­ will be the beginning of everything.¡±

    No, that day when Ichigo had first scouted Ai and offered her to become an idol was the beginning of everything. This concert was just another chapter, one she was completely willing to botch the ending of for certain audiences. Christmas came early for her already, so to speak. She wanted to still do the concert ¨C for B-Komachi, for her children, for her own pride ¨C but she didn¡¯t need it.

    ¡°Do you remember why I agreed to become an idol?¡± she asked. Realization dawned on the president. ¡°I finally found what I was looking for. I don¡¯t need to lie to love anymore.¡±

    ¡°But ¨C But your fans ¨C  the real, decent ones ¨C will be disappointed. All of your work, everything we¡¯ve¨C¡±

    ¡°My fans can still follow me as an actor! I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll stop singing and dancing, either. It¡¯s not like I have any other marketable skills. I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll still find work in show business with you as my agent!¡±

    The flattery didn¡¯t sway him. ¡°Being the star idol has always been your primary draw, Ai.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m also a mother,¡± Ai said without shame. A mother who loves her children. ¡°I won¡¯t hide that fact ever again. I can¡¯t help it if that ruins my idol appeal. I¡¯ll gladly give it up if it means my kids don¡¯t have to suffer anymore lies from me.¡±

    ¡°More unstable fans may want to retaliate. Media outlets and gossip rags will give you hell. Other people of influence in the industry might be less inclined to give you opportunities. Especially if we let our promises for projects after the dome fall through.¡±

    All perfectly logical concerns, but Ai knew the president was impulsively reacting, thinking on his feet for every practical counter against Ai¡¯s idol retirement plans. She let him go through the motions some more. He was narrowly fixated on the consequences to the business side of her career until he finally let his words trail off, refocusing and seeing Ai Hosino right in front of him.

    ¡°I can handle it,¡± Ai said with conviction, her tired eyes looking at Cobie. ¡°We¡¯ll persevere. Together.¡±

    She gave it a short while before she looked back at the president. Having seen how she had gazed at her precious son, the success-driven professional in Ichigo finally withdrew. The tired workaholic reached his limit. He dropped into a chair and leaned back, running a hand across his sweaty hair.

    ¡°You love your children?¡± Ichigo asked, the first and final time he¡¯ll ever need to say it aloud.

    ¡°I love them.¡±

    Ichigo chuckled. He reached into his pockets to pull out a cigarette and lighter before remembering where he was.

    ¡°Thank you, president,¡± Ai said with as much honesty and gratitude her heart could muster. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have found the love I have if you hadn¡¯t launched my idol career. I¡¯m sorry I can¡¯t¨C¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t apologize,¡± Ichigo immediately dismissed.

    His hands still itched to pull out his favorite vice, so he stood up and started pacing. Not too loudly, conscious of Cobalt.

    Ichigo began his own confession. ¡°Miyako and I have talked about having kids, before we met you, and a few times after. We got lost in our work, so we never found the time.¡± The president didn¡¯t bring up how Miyako ogled and stared at the male stars managed by Strawberry Productions a little too much, so Ai didn¡¯t either. ¡°Then you went and had your own kids. It certainly gave me a few gray hairs, worrying about your health. Not just for the company or your career, but for you, Ai.¡±

    Ai appreciated it. ¡°I owe you a lot. You and Miyako took good care of me and my kids.¡± Far more than what Ai¡¯s own mother did for her.

    A part of Ai had always been afraid of turning out just like that woman. It made Ai all the more grateful that she hadn¡¯t been alone, even if she couldn¡¯t understand how to adequately express it for so long.

    ¡°I know Cobalt calls me ¡®grandpa¡¯ because that¡¯s just how he sees things,¡± Ichigo went on, ¡°but I hope you know that I genuinely see you as a daughter more than my employee.¡±

    The thought has crossed her mind.

    It had become another lie Ai occasionally told herself. She never had anything else to base what a father¡¯s love could look like, so she sometimes imagined Ichigo playing that role whether he truly felt that way or not. It came easily with Miyako as the maternal figure, especially with them spending so much time with the kids.

    Ai was a very good liar. She could tell Ichigo¡¯s words held no lies.

    She let the familiar compulsions twist her lips into a radiant smile. Old habits die hard, but if she can love without lying, she can smile without it feeling like a false front, too.

    ¡°I expect a raise when I get back to work!¡± she declared. ¡°Hazard pay!¡±

    Ichigo grinned before letting out a mock groan. ¡°You¡¯re retiring, Ai!¡±

    ¡°Incentive to keep the momentum up in my other jobs!¡±

    His spirits raised, Ichigo and Ai continued with their banter, the president giving unsubtle hints to deals and contracts that would suffer from Ai¡¯s sudden retirement. She remained ever the cheeky optimist.

    It wasn¡¯t long until he checked his phone and announced that Miyako had arrived with Cobie¡¯s siblings. He left to retrieve them.

    With him gone, and Cobalt still asleep, Ai reached over to the nightstand beside her bed for one of her phones.

    There wasn¡¯t enough time to make another call. She was only checking her messages.

    The unexpected reunion with Ryosuke had allowed Ai to realize her love for her children was undeniable, but there were still things left unsaid with their father that she couldn¡¯t leave alone.

    <hr>

    It was on the day of Ai¡¯s and Cobalt¡¯s discharge from the hospital and the return to the Saitous¡¯ apartment when Aqua and his siblings first learned the life-changing news.

    Ai was retiring from her idol career.

    It seemed that Ichigo and Miyako had already been informed and had come to terms with it.

    Cobalt didn¡¯t really understand. He was just happy to be with his family no matter the circumstances.

    Naturally, Ruby was devastated.

    Hell, Aqua was shocked, too. He wasn¡¯t blasting another wave of tears like his sister, but a deep part of him was still disappointed nonetheless.

    Sarina would have been inconsolable¡­Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    But Ai and Cobalt could have died that day. They bled. If Ai wanted a change, Aqua had no right to object.

    He also conceded Ai and the Saitous were prepared to weather the storms to come by going down this path. Objectively, Ai wasn¡¯t wrong about her own performance skills and President Ichigo¡¯s business acumen. Aqua was pretty sure Miyako was picking up more thorough management tips and tricks herself to have a more active role in Strawberry Productions as the Hoshino kids grew more independent. For all the fans who will decry Ai for having children and turning her back to her incredible rise as an idol, there should be plenty of creatives, producers, and other prospective contacts who will want the chance to see the charisma and confidence she exuded as an idol put to use in their own projects.

    The highs of the upcoming Tokyo Dome performance will surely be too ingrained in the minds of far too many to be forgotten in the public consciousness. It will be Ai¡¯s last appearance as an idol, so of course it will be a memorable one.

    And perform at Tokyo Dome she will. According to the doctors from one of Tokyo''s best hospitals, and according to Aqua¡¯s own private examinations, Ai was on the road to a perfectly normal, completely healthy life hardly physically impaired by the stalker¡¯s assault.

    Past Aqua¡¯s panic at the time, it seemed that his initial diagnosis of Ai¡¯s and Cobalt¡¯s injuries was fairly accurate. An¡­ uncomfortable amount of blood from them both had spilled out, yet no major arteries were hit. Cobalt liked to play recklessly and restlessly, so Ai¡¯s apartment already had a decent stock of simple but effective first aid supplies which Aqua had used to treat the cuts until the ambulance arrived. Aqua had overheard the term ¡°prodigy¡± be tossed around by the hospital staff regarding himself, though no one bothered to question him too deeply out of polite consideration for a traumatized little boy worrying about his family.

    Speaking of trauma, Cobalt really needed to formally get checked if his body was neurologically unable to fully recognize when he was hurt, or if it was some sort of psychological block in his young mind causing him to rationalize the sensation as something to tolerate instead of something actively harmful. Gorou Amamiya had read about such cases in medical journals but lacked any personal experience with them. Aqua had heard Cobalt chortle in joy during the incident. That wasn¡¯t normal behavior¡­

    Hours after leaving the hospital, and further after Ruby¡¯s tears had finally run out, Ai was now resting in the master bedroom. The size was comparable to Ai¡¯s own bed in her apartment, so there was plenty of space for all three Hoshino siblings to cuddle with her. Emotionally exhausted Ruby was already asleep, on top of Ai¡¯s stomach. Aqua and Cobalt were opposite each other in Ai¡¯s arms. Ai must have sensed that Aqua wasn¡¯t in the mood for much conversation because she only sent loving glances and little caresses on his head without asking him to speak up. She was fine with talking about more random nonsense with Cobalt, who miraculously also recognized Aqua didn¡¯t have any words to contribute.

    Silent as can be, Aqua stared at the marks on his family left by the stalker. Ai still had an unpleasant blemish on her shoulder. He supposed they should be grateful for that being the extent of scarring for her. Cobalt was once visually indistinguishable from Aqua, but now he wore a long scar across his face, through the nose and above his left eye. Even if it faded over time, it won¡¯t be something that will ever truly leave him.

    Yet still Cobalt smiled. Still the burning stars in his eyes never lost their light.

    Gorou had seen such mesmerizing stars fade into darkness once before. Aqua vowed never to see such a horrible scene again.

    In those frustrating days of Ai and Cobalt hospitalized, Aqua had nothing but time to entertain fantasies of destroying the stalker who had trespassed on their home.

    Except, Aqua would never get the chance. The news hadn¡¯t taken long to spread: Ai the Idol was attacked by a stalker, and the stalker committed suicide before police authorities could apprehend him.

    Despite this, even with the Hoshino family reunited and in safe hands, Aqua still had a lot of things to occupy his mind.

    Although he hadn¡¯t clearly seen his face at the apartment, the strangled voice Aqua had heard and the headshot shown in the news reports were far too familiar for him to not make the connection.

    The stalker was also Gorou Amamiya¡¯s murderer.

    The poor excuse for a man had been an unremarkable, slacking university student, according to everything Aqua was able to dig up online. So, Aqua concluded that the stalker must have been given details of Ai¡¯s private life, both during her pregnancy and for the more recent attack, by a third party more appropriately skilled to obtain the information.

    The Saitous were impeachable. The girls in B-Komachi were already aware of Ai¡¯s kids, but despite not being otherwise close to Ai, Aqua knew they weren¡¯t so petty or short-sighted to unleash a stalker on her.

    The only suspect left by Aqua¡¯s deduction was his biological father.

    The father could have identified Ai instantly while she was admitted at the hospital in Miyazaki under a pseudonym. He could have exposed her to the stalker. Then, years later, on the cusp of Ai¡¯s biggest performance ever, the father could have leaked her private information again in a bid to stop her career short before it reached its height. Could Ai have recently contacted the father with their new address? Potentially. Or was the father independently keeping track of her from a distance? Aqua doubted the stalker was capable of putting in the detective work necessary to track Ai down twice with all of the precautions already put in place for her safety. Therefore, he had to have been supported by an unseen benefactor.

    That may also mean it was Aqua¡¯s father who had disposed of Gorou Amamiya¡¯s body to prevent news headlines of the doctor¡¯s death. Granted, the stalker may still have physically done that alone. The father may have avoided any direct interaction with the stalker and his activities to deny himself easily traceable links to whatever tragedies the madman may have wrought, but the stalker¡¯s actions back then and recently were fueled more by impulse than precise planning. Plainly asking a doctor in the middle of the night of Ai¡¯s condition, improvising Cobalt as a hostage before running away in hysterics ¨C the stalker needed to have had some accomplice to get as far as he did.

    For some sick, unfathomable reason, Aqua¡¯s father didn¡¯t want to allow Ai to shine the world with her light.

    Would he instigate another attack? Unlikely, with all the extra security measures Strawberry Productions was going to employ. Aqua had snuck a peak on Miyako¡¯s computer regarding the calculations for offsetting the costs with the concert¡¯s profits in the wake of Ai¡¯s attack. After the concert? Ai would no longer be an idol by then, and she would reveal she had children when she was sixteen. Her star power would shift after the final hurrah. In a sense, every loyal fan would feel a shadow of the ¡°betrayal¡± felt by the stalker, but killing her at that point wouldn¡¯t have as much value compared to her dying before the concert and revealing the pregnancy scandal in the process.

    Because sending a rabid fan after Ai must have been a ploy at capturing the attention of the public masses with a shocking tragedy, albeit without exposing the true perpetrator.

    Aqua¡¯s father was most likely someone also in the entertainment industry. Odds were that he was a performer of some kind who had shared a mutual attraction with Ai. A lesser possibility was some producer or an agent other than President Ichigo who could have taken advantage of a younger Ai, but Aqua couldn¡¯t dismiss the prospect entirely without further investigation.

    Aqua considered asking Ai directly for the identity of his father.

    He reconsidered when Cobalt beat him to the punch while they were all lying in bed together.

    ¡°So who is my and Ruby¡¯s and Aqua¡¯s dad, mom?¡± Aqua¡¯s little brother asked in a conspiratorial whisper, likely not wanting to disturb Ruby¡¯s blissful sleep.

    Ai¡¯s grip on both brothers tightened. ¡°He doesn¡¯t matter.¡±

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t he special to you?¡±

    ¡°He was, once. For a little while. Not anymore.¡±

    Aqua didn¡¯t know if he was only imagining the dimming in Cobalt¡¯s eyes. Aqua could just be projecting. ¡°He doesn¡¯t love us?¡± Cobalt asked.

    Poking Cobalt¡¯s cheek, Ai said, ¡°He was a little stupid like me about love. Others lied to him, too. I don¡¯t love him, and he doesn¡¯t love me.¡±

    ¡°Couldn¡¯t he have been a good dad?¡±

    ¡°He didn¡¯t want to be a dad,¡± Ai said with a sorrowful smile.

    ¡°Oh¡­¡±

    Ai and ¡°sorrowful¡± weren¡¯t two things Aqua thought he would associate together. Neither was Cobalt and the almost defeated tone he just used. Yet here they were.

    ¡°It¡¯s a sad thing,¡± Ai continued, ¡°and it does hurt, but now I have you, Aqua, and Ruby.¡± She hugged them closer, Aqua¡¯s arms overlapping with Cobalt as they huddled closer to Ai. Aqua was faintly worried about agitating her shoulder, but the warmth she offered overwhelmed all of his other concerns. ¡°Mom will give you all the love you¡¯ll ever need.¡±

    ¡°Do you really mean it?¡± Cobalt¡¯s muffled voice murmured.

    ¡°Of course¡­¡±

    Aqua felt a change in the atmosphere, and the warmth became cooler but no less welcoming.

    ¡°That is, until you all find your own special someones to give me some grandkids,¡± Ai teased.

    ¡°How are we supposed to do that?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll know when you¡¯re older.¡±

    ¡°Ah, phooey¡­¡± The snickering between Aqua¡¯s mother and brother was like a symphony of calm reassurance reverberating through Aqua¡¯s heart. It felt right.

    ¡°I love you, Cobie.¡±

    ¡°I love you, too, mom!¡±

    Ai jostled Aqua. ¡°I love you, Aquamarine.¡±

    This was going to be a recurring thing for all of them for the foreseeable future, wasn¡¯t it? Aqua accepted his fate. ¡°I love you, too,¡± he said back. ¡°... mom.¡±

    She squealed but thankfully didn¡¯t smother Aqua to the degree he was expecting. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to say the same to Ruby in the morning, you both!¡±

    ¡°You got it, mom!¡± Cobalt promised. ¡°I also love you, Aqua.¡±

    ¡°... love you, too, Cobalt.¡±

    Maybe Aqua can ask later, somewhere down the line when Ai felt more amiable to revealing the identity of their father. Maybe he can sort through Ai¡¯s old emails and contacts, through Strawberry Productions¡¯ records and paperwork, to find a hint of who he is.

    For now, on this night, in the prelude to the dome concert, and in the immediate days to come after, Aqua doubted he could bring himself to make Ai tell him outright.

    It¡¯s not as if Aqua Hoshino the child could do much to retaliate against a grown adult male anyway. Between Gorou¡¯s missing body and the stalker dead, there was a lack of tangible evidence implicating the father of any wrongdoing.

    ¡­ Director Taishi Gotanda might be a useful resource. He had his own network of contacts in entertainment. If Aqua continued to barter his acting skills, even typecast as a creepy kid for another few years if need be¡­ If Aqua gained a better understanding of the industry, as a participant and not a mere onlooker, grasp the mindsets of the different types of people Ai dealt with on a daily basis when not devoting herself to her children¡­

    Aqua needed to reflect on this more. Do more research. Consider more avenues of investigation, of probable suspects, of viable methods in the short- and long-term to guarantee the good health of his family¡­

    Aqua Hoshino was a good son. He was a good brother.

    It was his duty to protect them all, keep them safe, and eviscerate the monster who dared try to destroy them.

    <hr>

    The girl surrounded by crows watched a fire burn, brightening a small opening in a forest blackened by the night sky. The crackling flames illuminated a small shrine set in front of a cave, the dark tunnel¡¯s entrance almost completely hidden from sight by the facade of the ceremonial site.

    It was an old haunt few visited or were familiar with compared to similar shrines in this town, yet this one the girl knew very well.

    One of these few was using the blaze for light as he dug out dirt from the ground. This would be the last rudimentary tomb he would make this night, to rid himself of the final remains of a once good doctor now butchered and deformed from their original whole.

    His companion, a boy beyond his years, had already done his part in ensuring the pieces he was responsible for had met their end.

    The boy admired in his palm the prize for his work. It was the very last salvageable fragment: a keychain with a plastic card depicting a cartoonishly drawn idol smiling at her beholder.

    With his other hand, the boy scratched behind the ear of the wolf lying in rest beside him.

    The girl with the crows had been hoping for a development like this. For every blessing little Bartholomew benignly provided, he had a counterpart to tempt others down a different path.

    This wasn¡¯t the wolf¡¯s usual territory either, but his presence made for an interesting counterbalance to the light from another brought into this realm by the dog.

    It was really a shame for the boy, his fingers curled tightly on the keychain. He had already found some eroded, impoverished facsimile of peace long ago, yet his weary soul was ripe for contortion to mee the wolf¡¯s desires. While Bartholomew had entrusted Ai Hoshino a guiding light to help keep steady her and her family along a turbulent road, the wolf had laid the seeds for more obstacles hindering their way before the family found their happy ending.

    A shame for the boy, but a boon to the girl watching over them all.

    Because if she can¡¯t see the story she had originally hoped for follow the right steps in this world, she can appreciate a new tale forged by interlopers who had great experience in the construction of exhilarating stories in their own foreign lands.

    When the fire died out, the wolf raised itself and disappeared into the treeline. The boy was approached by his older companion, the last burial complete, and let himself be pulled up and pushed back down the dirt path.

    The wolf observed their departure with a fervor in his red eyes.

    And the girl watched on with a smile.

 Arc 2: From Whence We Came, Part 1

    Aqua was still dreaming about expensive motorcycles and oversized leather jackets when he was jostled awake.

    ¡°We¡¯re almost home,¡± Ai¡¯s soft voice said. ¡°You still need to eat dinner, so wake up, Aqua.¡±

    He reluctantly opened his eyes, the rumbling of the car helping stir him back to reality. Aqua rubbed at his temple. He was in the front passenger seat across from Ai, her at the wheel and driving toward the last exit off the expressway. It was only a couple more side roads until they reached the house.

    Although Aqua was now ten-years-old, Ai still normally wouldn¡¯t allow any of her kids in the front seat. An exception was made tonight since they were using one of Strawberry Production¡¯s company cars to drive back from the filming set, and there was too much miscellaneous equipment for other projects slotted in the back to make space for Aqua.

    As Aqua yawned, Ai ruffled his hair. He straightened his seat and his back to help keep himself awake, vaguely listening to Ai¡¯s compliments for his performance a few hours earlier.

    Today¡¯s work for Aqua had been exhausting. It was an acting role the most divorced from his natural self yet: an obnoxious, disrespectful punk who blasted out spit with every self-centered word and bratty boast that came out of his rotten teeth. It was also the most makeup Aqua had ever needed to wear for a part, as well, both before the motorcycle accident scenes and after it. A different crew and stunt team would be filming the accident itself, so all of Aqua¡¯s responsibilities were to sell the attitude of a petulant child who survived such a troublesome incident. Not a character Aqua had any personal experience in this life or the last in genuinely embodying, but the job had certainly been educational; very beneficial to further improve his acting ability.

    All to improve his understanding, renown, and connections in the entertainment industry. All in service to his ultimate goal.

    Still, Aqua had to admit¡­ It had been fun playing a character so out of scope from his normal repertoire, and doing so to the approval of the episode¡¯s director and Aqua¡¯s fellow cast members. All the tips and training between Aqua¡¯s mother and Director Gotanda for this job had definitely paid off.

    Aqua blinked back to the present moment when he realized Ai was poking his cheek. ¡°I¡¯m awake,¡± he said groggily. He cleared his throat to repeat himself more clearly.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want you to get too startled when Cobie tackles you with a hug when we get home,¡± she teased with a smirk. She tapped her smartphone sitting in the cupholder between them. ¡°Don¡¯t be surprised when Ruby starts talking your ear off when she sees the snapshots I took of you.¡±

    Aqua groaned. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to record anything extra. Ruby would¡¯ve seen it anyway when the episode aired.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s her sibling privilege to get sneak peaks of her brother¡¯s acting in action!¡±

    Ruby was always the harsh critic whenever she saw Aqua play a role too different from his usual self. Aqua guessed it was to keep him from developing an ego since Cobalt consistently complimented his acting no matter the part. Or maybe Ruby was letting her jealousy take over since even as a child actor, Aqua Hoshino was a more familiar name in the public sphere than Ruby Hoshino still too young to audition for idol work under Ai¡¯s care.

    Neither of Ruby¡¯s nor Aqua¡¯s names were as cemented in the public consciousness as Ai Hoshino at this point, but when comparing the siblings, Aqua had the head start.

    Not that Aqua cared for fame and influence over the masses as much as his idol-obsessed sister was¡­ From a certain point of view, his intentions were actually a little less pure than hers¡­

    In the six years after B-Komachi¡¯s Tokyo Dome concert, Aqua had continued to expand his expertise in the entertainment business through two primary contacts: Director Taishi Gotanda, who served as a mentor imparting his extensive knowledge on video editing, emotional acting, and other technical aspects of the art; and Ai Hoshino, who kept her word and maintained her momentum as an actress, model, and music talent, and never again as an idol ensnaring the spotlight. She wasn¡¯t the greatest actor in the world, but she knew how to capture an audience, improving steadily over time.

    Between the collective contacts of Gotanda and Strawberry Productions, Aqua had received his fair share of opportunities as a child actor. Being the oldest son of the Ai Hoshino obviously helped, but Aqua had earned himself a decent reputation of being perfectly professional and reliable for the type of roles he was commonly cast in. Far from the level of skill and renown of true acting prodigies his physical age like, say, Kana Arima, though Aqua was content with never reaching such heights. Compiling the list of Ai¡¯s possible past lovers and finding the means to test if they shared blood with the Hoshino triplets was what mattered more.

    Ai actually still did some idol-related work, instead in a teaching role. Strawberry Productions often received contracts for Ai and other former B-Komachi members to train newer individual idols and idol groups. Lessons weren¡¯t limited to purely putting out a good performance. Advice was also provided on how to handle fan interactions, online criticism, potential post-idol work, maintaining healthy relationships between peers and loved ones as an idol, and other specialized guidance drawn from firsthand experience.

    None of these idols seeking Ai¡¯s counsel could ever hope to achieve the same long-reaching impacts that Ai had accomplished¡­ or rather, Aqua¡¯s bias aside, none as of yet has developed a following and body of work that beat Ai¡¯s nearly decade-long idol career. Still, there was enough good feedback on the lessons and measurable success for her students to keep doing this work, supplementing Ai¡¯s other jobs in the industry.

    While Aqua gained new perspectives and insight from watching Ai¡¯s progression in her non-idol fields, Ruby never forgot their mother¡¯s original roots and regularly participated in dance performances for school productions. Ai also regularly gave Ruby private lessons, though with Aqua¡¯s little sister still at the age of ten, it would be another few years before she would be allowed to seriously present her aptitude and potential as an idol more publicly.

    Ruby also dabbled in acting for school plays. It was only a passing interest for her, her true passions reserved for directly following Ai¡¯s footsteps. It was only a matter of time until B-Komachi was revived for the next generation.

    Cobalt never really applied himself in acting, or dancing, or any other niche in entertainment that Ai already set her foot in. Aqua assumed a part of Ai was disappointed her youngest didn¡¯t have a concrete, lofty dream to aspire to. Ai dreamt of Aqua the Actor (though likely only part-time as an adult, as Aqua intended to reclaim his medical license in the future), Ruby the Idol (who will inevitably have to seek alternative entertainment work as she grows older), and Cobalt¡­ can be whatever he wanted to be, because he was still a kid loved by his family, and he had plenty of time to decide what to do for the rest of his life.

    ¡°We¡¯re here!¡± Ai suddenly announced in a mock-shout. Just low enough not to deafen Aqua but still keep him aware. She remotely opened the garage and was about to pull into their driveway. ¡°Don¡¯t forget your bag in the trunk.¡±

    ¡°Yes, mom.¡±

    It was a nice neighborhood in Tokyo they lived in now. Low crime rate, not too noisy or crowded compared to Ai¡¯s old apartment, a police station virtually around the corner from their house, and friendly neighbors who only gushed over Ai¡¯s fame half the time when they happened across each other. The bodyguard Ichigo had hired for the stalker attack was let go on benevolent terms within a year after, and Ai felt safe enough in this area to only sometimes don a pseudo-disguise.

    The garage was a little cramped for the company car considering all the odds and ends placed here for storage, so Ai had called ahead to make some space, but there was still barely enough clearance to tightly park the vehicle. Ai got out to make more room before moving in and setting the brake again. After sliding out of the front seat and getting his duffle bag, Aqua had to awkwardly squeeze through a few metal cabinets, raising his duffle above his head.

    Ai rounded behind him and helped support the duffle¡¯s weight. ¡°I¡¯ve got it, mom,¡± Aqua insisted. She didn¡¯t listen. It was late enough as it was. Aqua declined from trying to argue harder.

    Aqua referred to her as ¡°mom¡± aloud, but he still couldn¡¯t keep from calling her Ai inside his own head.

    In his heart, he had long since accepted that she was Aquamarine Hoshino¡¯s mother. She was his mother. There was no need to avoid calling her as such in public after the identities of her children were revealed. Nevertheless, thinking of her as Ai helped put Aqua¡¯s mindset to a more objective one able to carry out his investigation for his father¡¯s identity.

    The emotions were still there, burning. The want for revenge. The love for his family. But Aqua still needed anchors keeping him stable as he undertook his mission. A child still growing, already losing some of his earlier memories as an infant, on the cusp of puberty with more changes to his body forthcoming, couldn¡¯t maintain a consistent pace of a part-time acting career, apprenticing under an acclaimed director, and supporting his family in the day-to-day mundanities without practicing a strict discipline. A discipline and commitment which Aqua drew from Gorou Amamiya¡¯s experience as a medical doctor. Calling Ai by her name helped harken back to those days of professionalism and focus. Of a devotion to steady his hand.

    It was still too easy for Aqua to get lost in the motherly affection Ai gave. Like in the current moment, Ai lifting the duffle bag so she hung it upright atop his head. Aqua felt those childish compulsions to bicker and whine. In response, he hardened himself as best he could.

    Leaving the garage, a vague scent permeating from the living room helped sober Aqua up¡­ ironically so, in fact.

    The stench of booze was an oddly familiar comfort to Aqua. Gorou Amamiya and his coworkers had appropriately drank to their hearts¡¯ content during their off-hours. Gotanda sometimes drank when Aqua was working at his home, the director¡¯s mother always considerate of young Aqua by providing him his share of sugary drinks. Ai periodically came home bearing that familiar scent, too, though rarely was she ever as drunk as Ichigo or Miyako.

    Especially Miyako, in recent months¡­

    The Vice President of Strawberry Productions was napping on the couch, lying prone with her face smudged against a pillow. A bottle, glass cups, and thick binders surrounded her open laptop on the coffee table.

    ¡°We¡¯re home, Miyako,¡± Ai greeted softly. Miyako didn¡¯t give any sign of hearing her. To Aqua, Ai said, ¡°Go wake up your siblings. I¡¯ll get Miyako to bed and start making dinner for you three.¡±

    If Ruby wasn¡¯t exuberantly welcoming Ai back home, then she must be already asleep. The days of staying up late to argue online for Ai¡¯s sake had been scaled back the more Ruby had to devote time to dancing and schoolwork. She was probably drooling all over her homework again. Ruby knew Ai was bringing Aqua home tonight, so she likely skipped eating any of the leftovers in the fridge if Miyako hadn¡¯t cooked anything new, and loyal Cobalt would have followed her example.

    ¡°Will do,¡± Aqua said, dragging his luggage to the bedroom shared by the triplets. He could hear Miyako wake up and spout the usual drunk ramblings, to which Ai bantered back at.

    The consequences of Ai¡¯s sudden assault and abrupt retirement were still felt by Strawberry Productions to this day. The Hoshino and Saitou households were able to merge and take joint residence of a big house in this neighborhood for the childrens¡¯ sake, but financial troubles and contract disputes had led to a downsizing of the agency. Their new office possessed less capacity, so a fair portion of the work was inevitably brought home. Even with some of the B-Komachi girls still working with Strawberry, the disbandment of their group had ruffled a lot of feathers. Ichigo had to trade some of their other talents to other agencies to secure immediate and long-term arrangements for further work. High-level management responsibilities were more evenly split between him and Miyako, but the workload was practically doubled for them both.

    Six years ago, Strawberry Productions was rising to the top with Ai as the spearhead.

    Now, they were making a living, recovering bit by bit a semblance of their prior prominence. If not strictly in the idol sphere, then in the industry at large.

    Miyako had eventually taken to drinking in the interim.

    ¡°Functioning alcoholic¡± was the term Ai and Ichigo liked to use when Cobalt asked why aunt Miyako smelled so funky whenever she drank. He didn¡¯t have any real context on what an alcoholic was beyond what he saw of Miyako, so Cobalt accepted Ai¡¯s reassurances that Miyako was alright in stride.

    Aqua tolerated Miyako¡¯s vice¡­ for the time being. It hasn¡¯t become a pressing issue if Ai and Ichigo were still freely letting her drink and work at the house while the children were also home. A ticking time bomb Miyako may be, Aqua¡¯s work toward his ultimate goal required prioritization.

    Miyako was a problem Aqua was perfectly aware of. The status of Aqua¡¯s father was still unknown. That man remained the greater threat to the Hoshino family.

    Aqua¡¯s assumptions about Ruby proved right, as he entered their room and saw her using a textbook as a pillow instead of her actual pillows, or her stuffed animals. The room was fairly spacious to accommodate three sets of beds and dressers with a single desk and bookshelf used by all three siblings. A clutter of toys and clothing was strewn about the floor and furniture. Aqua tossed his bag on his bed and picked up one of Ruby¡¯s notebooks wet with drool, lightly tapping her head with it. Instinctively, she shot out her elbow. Aqua caught it before tapping her again and stepping out of elbowing range.

    ¡°Not now, Cobie,¡± she muttered. ¡°The charger¡¯s in Mama¡¯s room.¡±

    ¡°Ai¡¯s home,¡± Aqua said.

    In a blur, Ruby stood up and dashed out to meet their mother.

    Aqua turned his head to Cobalt. Normally, he would have greeted Aqua immediately upon him entering, but since the instant Aqua set foot in the room, his little brother was sitting cross-legged on his bed with his eyes glued to an electronic tablet in his hands.

    His eyes were red. He must¡¯ve been staring at the tablet for a long time. The volume was too low, only letting Aqua make out voices speaking with music in the background.

    Cobalt was¡­ transfixed on whatever he was watching. His default expression was to smile, yet his lips now formed a straight, thin line. Cobalt was focused.

    Barring the scar on Cobalt¡¯s face, it was almost like looking in a mirror for Aqua

    The older triplet climbed onto the bed and sat next to Cobalt. Despite being identical brothers, Aqua¡¯s posture was straighter as he looked over Cobalt¡¯s shoulder at the tablet screen.

    Fantastical creatures modeled from different colored clay were bickering atop what looked like a kitchen countertop, with coffee cups and eating utensils positioned as decoration. The clay characters were acting out some sort of comedy routine.

    It was a YouTube video. Not at fullscreen. Aqua was able to see the title of the video; something written in English. Aqua could read the language, but he was drawn more to the uploader¡¯s name presented in both English and Japanese.

    ¡°Robo-Max?¡±

    Cobalt threw his head backwards, brushing his hair against Aqua¡¯s chin before Aqua pulled completely out of his way. Unlike Ruby, Cobalt welcomed him with a smile. ¡°Oh, hi Aqua!¡±

    ¡°Hi. What are you watching?¡±You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but it looks really cool!¡± Cobalt aggressively tapped the screen, accidentally pausing and unpausing the video. ¡°Robo-Max has a ton of videos like this one! His cartoons look really realistic!¡±

    Well, that was only natural, since this style of animation used real objects in its production.

    Aqua decided to get ahead of another potential Cobie-misunderstanding before it spiraled out of control.

    ¡°This type of cartoon is using what¡¯s called stop-motion animation,¡± Aqua said. Very well familiar with Aqua¡¯s informative lectures by this point, Cobalt turned his whole body around to listen diligently. ¡°Anime is a cartoon composed of a series of pictures someone has drawn, by hand or on a computer. Shows and movies rapidly flip through these images to give a sense of motion in a scene on a flat page.¡± Aqua had explained 2D animation to Cobalt before, but something about Robo-Max¡¯s videos seemed to have really resonated with Cobalt. ¡°In stop-motion, it''s the same principle of gathering a series of images, except for videos like this, there is a three-dimensional set with real figures and props you can hold in your hands. Instead of drawing dozens or hundreds of frames on a page, many photos with a camera are taken of each little adjustment of these objects. Again, rapidly flipping through these frames paints a scene with moving objects.¡±

    Cobalt hummed inquisitively. ¡°So it¡¯s like CGI or live-action? Where you need to move people around in front of a camera, but you have to be really specific with how exactly everything moves? Like how artists are in anime?¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡± Cobalt had also picked up a thing or two when he attached himself on Aqua¡¯s excursions to Director Gotanda¡¯s house. Good on Cobalt for remembering their prior lessons.

    ¡°Oh! It¡¯s like when I play with my action figures! Isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it''s very similar¡­¡± The video continued playing, shifting to a different set and depicting a more complex animation than the clay figures merely standing and talking. Aqua drew Cobalt¡¯s eye to it. ¡°You see this character jumping across the gap? The animator didn¡¯t just throw this figure in front of the camera. They held the character¡¯s real-life figure up, probably with wiring or an apparatus they edited out later, and moved the figure over the gap slowly. With each movement, the animator takes a picture. The entire set of photos put together, also edited, presents a scene with movement in it.¡±

    Cobalt frowned. Aqua almost preferred that countenance over the flat, neutral stare Cobalt had worn earlier. At least a frown gave a hint of what he was feeling inside. ¡°But wouldn¡¯t it be easier to just throw the clay man? And save the time it took to take all those pictures?¡±

    Aqua considered it. ¡°It might be,¡± he conceded, ¡°but stop-motion animation allows a greater degree of control by the animator. Throwing a figure is like¡­ a stunt double who only needs to get from point A to point B without necessarily worrying as much about acting. Animating the figure allows the animator to inject more character or choreography they might not have been able to otherwise. They have more precision with stop-motion animation, so long as they put in the time and effort for it.¡±

    Ai was calling to Aqua and Cobalt now. Dinner would be ready soon, and she must want to learn about Cobalt¡¯s day after hearing Ruby give her spiel. Aqua decided to wrap this lecture up.

    ¡°I¡¯m not an expert on the topic,¡± he said. ¡°I don¡¯t believe stop-motion is as prevalent as other forms of animation, or used in media as often as it once was. It has been used for special effects in movies, like animating the movements of a puppet meant to represent a monster put on a green screen to scale it larger than human actors, but I can¡¯t name any pieces that use stop-motion exclusively off the top of my head.¡± There were a number of American-based productions that used stop-motion in feature films and long-running television series, Aqua was pretty sure.

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±

    ¡°You really like these videos, don¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s really cool!¡± Cobalt exclaimed with vigorous nods of his head. ¡°You and mom have to work with a lot of different people for your acting jobs, but Robo-Max can tell cool stories all by himself! He even does the voices alone!¡±

    Ah, now that Aqua paid more attention to the video, what Cobalt said was true. Aqua would have assumed otherwise at a glance, but a keen ear could make out the similarities between the inflections spoken by each character. ¡°That is impressive. Did you just start watching him ¨C Robo-Max ¨C today?¡±

    ¡°Yeah! One of his videos just popped up when I was looking through YouTube. He¡¯s been doing this for at least two years. I¡¯m subscribed now and everything!¡±

    ¡°You can tell mom all about it as we eat dinner.¡± Aqua left the bed, prompting Cobalt to follow.

    ¡°Okay!¡±

    Aqua took the lead, but he glanced back when he sensed Cobalt not matching his speed. He was taking slow steps forward, eyes still on the tablet as a musical jingle played for another video.

    ¡°Watch where you¡¯re going,¡± Aqua said out of habit.

    ¡°I am.¡± Cobalt¡¯s foot brushed against Aqua¡¯s.

    ¡°You¡¯re not.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m okay!¡± Cobalt sped forward, using his socks to slide across the floor to get ahead of Aqua, all the while keeping his attention on the tablet.

    Cobalt was normally never this¡­ insubordinate. He¡¯d pout and complain like any other kid, but he never outright disobeyed a command from a member of his family.

    Aqua didn¡¯t understand why, but Cobalt was infatuated by the animations he saw.

    It lacked the same intensity or passion equivalent to, say, Sarina watching Ai, but it was the closest comparison Aqua could think of. A child, unlearned in the ways of the world, latching onto something inexplicably inspirational.

    Aqua will have to sort through Cobalt¡¯s watch history and view this Robo-Max channel for himself, make sure it was appropriate material to keep watching. The last thing any of them needed was Cobalt trying to emulate any crazy antics he saw in these videos.

    <hr>

    Miyako Saitou drank from her cup.

    What was she doing with her life?

    She knew Ai and Aqua were going to be coming home late the other night while the garage was still a mess. She knew Ruby and Cobalt were being their rebellious selves again in a pseudo-hunger strike, closing their bedroom shut until their mother and brother arrived. And Miyako knew she had paychecks to finish filing for valuable talents that were already considering moving to a different agency.

    But Miyako still hadn¡¯t bothered to make room in the garage for Ai¡¯s car. She had still neglected to push harder for Ruby and Cobalt to eat their dinner and go to bed on time for their big test the next day. And Ai had to call up Ichigo to help her complete their financials this week while Miyako was still sleeping off that night¡¯s drinks.

    These weren¡¯t the worst mistakes Miyako had committed in her career, as the Vice President of Strawberry Productions and as the guardian over Ai¡¯s children, but they were still reminders that Miyako was slipping.

    She took another sip.

    Wasn¡¯t Ai supposed to be blessed by the gods of entertainment? Yes, she and Cobalt miraculously survived an assault, and she was able to stay in the entertainment business, but was everything Miyako doing not enough? She still watched over the kids, made sure they did their homework and ate healthy food and stayed out of trouble, giving Ai all the time she could spare to shower them with love when she wasn¡¯t working. That was on top of Miyako¡¯s duties in Strawberry beyond Ai. With Ichigo jumping through hoops to commit as much time and resources for Ai, it fell to Miyako to do a lot of the management for Strawberry¡¯s other talents. Surely Miyako lessening the load on Ichigo¡¯s shoulder contributed enough to Ai¡¯s success to warrant a share of divine blessings to Miyako¡¯s personal life?

    She downed another swig.

    Miyako was promised a second marriage with a hot young actor. Yes, she¡¯d been digging for gold when she said yes to Ichigo that night in Kyoto. Yes, she still fantasized about others even when they were in bed together. Not that they even sleep in the same bed most nights these days thanks to their hectic work schedules. Miyako could even admit to overtly tempting the actors and talent scouts on Strawberry¡¯s payroll to spend the night with her to ¡°renegotiate¡± their contracts. No one she tempted ever had the social awareness or the confidence to take her up on her offers. Yet, for all of her faults, didn¡¯t Miyako deserve something special for herself?

    She drank again.

    What was she doing? Right now, right this second? She was drinking when she had another expense report to finish up and a grocery run to get to.

    And she had to bring Cobalt with her, since Ruby had snuck into the company car Ai was using to take Aqua to another acting gig. Ai had already called Miyako and was okay with taking Ruby since there was no school tomorrow, but leaving Cobalt behind meant that Miyako couldn¡¯t let him out of her sight. With no one else to chaperone him, the risk of Cobalt doing something to hurt himself was always there. For goodness sake, Cobalt had smacked his head against a wall the other night by just carelessly sliding his feet down the hall!

    Miyako put the glass cup against her lips, but she sucked in nothing but air.

    Oh, the cup was empty now. She had poured nothing into it. The bottle was empty. She had gone through it faster than she expected.

    Miyako glanced at Cobalt. He was still relaxing in one of the big comfy chairs in the living room. Wait, Miyako was the one relaxing, draped across the sofa. Cobalt was actively¡­ that was bad posture, leaning forward from the edge of the chair to stare wide-eyed at her laptop monit¨C wait, why was he using Miyako¡¯s laptop and not Ai¡¯s tablet?

    ¡°Cobie,¡± Miyako said, his nickname somehow easier to say aloud for her while in this state than his real name, ¡°what are you doing?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m watching Robo-Max¡¯s behind-the-scenes video.¡±

    Robo-what? ¡°I need that for my work, Cobie.¡±

    ¡°But I want to¨C¡±

    ¡°Give it here, Cobie.¡± Mustering what strength she could, Miyako forced herself upright and reached for the computer. Cobalt pulled away from her. She bit back a swear. ¡°Cobie.¡±

    ¡°This can help with your work!¡± Cobalt said, still not looking at her. ¡°Aunt Miyako, you know people in entertainment, right? YouTube is pretty entertaining! If you need more talents in Strawberry, you could try asking Youtubers!¡±

    Ah, yes. Internet-based talent was a market Miyako was supposed to look into between her other assignments. Ichigo wanted to focus more on traditional methods, so he dumped the job onto her.

    No, that wasn¡¯t right. It had been Miyako¡¯s idea and she pitched it to Ichigo. He was hesitant to risk putting Strawberry Productions¡¯ foot into a market they had little experience with when there was more guaranteed work in other areas. Ai had thought the idea novel and helped Miyako push for it, finally forcing Ichigo to relent.

    Ichigo always forgets that Ai wasn¡¯t really their daughter¡­

    Miyako picked up her coat, crumpled it in a bundle, and screamed into the cloth.

    She needed another drink, pronto.

    Moving faster than Cobalt could react, Miyako stood up and dragged him by the shoulder. He kept the laptop in his arms, but he walked with Miyako toward the kitchen. She didn¡¯t want to risk him doing some ridiculous hijinks when she left the room to get another bottle.

    ¡°Are you okay, aunt Miyako?¡± Cobalt asked, the concern melting her heart. For the million questions Cobalt popped on a daily basis, the law of averages meant he would ask the right one eventually.

    In the hallway, Miyako fell to her knees and captured him in a hug. Cobalt twisted his arms so that the overheating laptop ended up sitting on her head, but she didn¡¯t care. He was hugging her back.

    Him, Aqua, and Ruby were her kids as much as they were Ai¡¯s. Ai understood that, and Miyako was forever grateful.

    God, what was Miyako doing? She was getting Cobalt¡¯s shirt wet with snot and tears. She was a horrible caretaker.

    Miyako tried standing up again, but she moved too fast for Cobalt, getting her head bonked with the laptop. She was dazed and fell to her side. Thankfully, Cobalt was steady on his feet and caught the laptop before it split in half on the ground.

    ¡°Oh, I know what can make you feel better!¡± Cobalt set the computer on the floor and angled it for her to watch clearly. He even pushed back her hair hanging over her eyes. ¡°Watch this, and I¡¯ll be right back!¡± Then Cobalt ran away.

    Wait a second. ¡°Don¡¯t run in the house!¡±

    ¡°But I¡¯m going to get you something to feel better!¡± Then Cobalt was out of sight.

    Miyako wanted to scream again. She didn¡¯t have any leftover strength to do so. Instead, she resigned herself to cleaning her face with her sleeve. With nothing else around, she also looked at whatever video Cobalt had played for her.

    A kid ¨C a teenager was talking off-camera. His hands were in the frame, holding a figurine with an odd texture. Miyako picked up quickly that it was made of clay, the teenager contorting the cartoony-looking figure into odd poses. What did Cobalt say this was? Behind-the-scenes for a Robo-Max?

    The video cut to a different scene. The camera was at an elevated position, overlooking a town in the countryside. The clay figure was posed in the foreground against a blurry backdrop. The teenager continued to commentate about where to buy clay material and related accessories.

    There was a building in the distance. Miyako squinted. It looked familiar¡­

    The camera unfocused on the clay figure and straightened out the lines in the background. It kept switching between focusing on the front and back parts of the shot.

    That looked like a hospital¡­

    Cobalt returned, sliding with a sliding flourish he must have learned from Ruby. He presented Miyako a bottle. One of her favorites, in fact¡­ Did Cobalt know this was one of her favorites?

    ¡°Here you go!¡±

    Cobalt even brought another tiny glass cup and poured her a shot.

    Something about this didn¡¯t sit right with Miyako. She didn¡¯t react when Cobalt held the cup toward her.

    Where had she seen that hospital before?

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re just smelling it? You don¡¯t want to drink it yet?¡±

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be drinking this, Cobie¡­¡±

    ¡°I know. Mom said so to me and Aqua and Ruby, but since aunt Miyako likes these, it¡¯s fine for you to drink them.¡±

    ¡°That¡­ doesn¡¯t mean you should be handling them and pouring drinks for me.¡±

    ¡°I already help mom and Aqua clean up the bottles and cups after you, though.¡±

    Miyako groaned. She wasn¡¯t sure if she could get into a full clarification session with him right now. Aqua was always the best at them.

    ¡°Anyway, I think Robo-Max should be hired by Strawberry Productions!¡±

    Miyako blew out a snort. ¡°Who?¡±

    ¡°The best stop-motion animation YouTuber this side of the Pacific!¡± Cobalt repeatedly tapped the laptop screen for emphasis.

    Miyako looked back at the video, paused, and it suddenly struck her where she had seen that hospital before.

    It was the one in Takachiho, within Miyazaki prefecture, where Ai gave birth to her kids. Miyako has never personally been to the area, but she recalled Ai showing the children pictures of the hospital and the town when they asked about where they were born. Miyako had done research a while ago for possible vacation spots for Ai, and Takachiho had been one of the possible sites.

    Miyako was then hit by another epiphany that caused her to hop up to her feet.

    This must be a sign from the gods!

    Aqua and Ruby still possessed their incredible intelligence, but in the years after the stalker incident, they had lost their divine messenger roles. No matter how much Miyako had tried to glean further godly guidance from them, they always claimed ignorance to any supposed promises given to her. Miyako had come to assume it was all a hysterical hallucination she suffered to stop herself from betraying Ai at the time. Miyako came to love the kids regardless of any god-given missions. Nowadays, she only thought back to those promises when her imagination was set to overdrive by her bitter ramblings.

    So now she thought again of those intimidating, scary, and hopeful messages echoed by the infant Aqua and Ruby. Cobalt had always been oddly normal compared to them, but what if the divine energy once bestowed in his older siblings transferred into himself? To save him from otherwise irreversible damage from the stalker? To help Ai realize she honestly loved her own children? To ensure the gods of entertainment still had an object of their affections happily walking the earth and dutifully serving the industry?

    All in no small part to the innocent love and admiration easily expressed by Ai¡¯s youngest.

    And all three baby Hoshinos were born in Takachiho, known for its shrines dedicated to deities of the arts. The kids must have been blessed by divine energies during their birth, but the blessing had to be running out after the hardships the family went through. They were surviving, sure, but in spite of all their efforts, Ai Hoshino was not thriving as Ruby had once foretold.

    Now here was little Cobalt, suggesting Miyako take a look at a small-time teenage wannabe creator that just so happened to be filming in Takachiho. The town was the source of the gods¡¯ power! A wellspring to gain good tidings for entertainers and their loyal servants! It had to be!

    ¡°And that¡¯s why I think Robo-Max would be a great fit with Strawberry Productions!¡± Cobalt was saying, but Miyako paid his sales pitch no mind. Perhaps they will run into this random YouTuber in Takachiho, but simply visiting the town was the sign from the gods Miyako knew she had to follow. Then everything will start to get better.

    Miyako¡¯s phone was still on her. She whipped it out and was on a call in seconds.

    ¡°Vice President!¡± said Hikaru Kanzaki, the agency¡¯s up and coming talent scout. ¡°How can I be of service?¡±

    ¡°Ready the Strawberry-mobile!¡±

    Cobalt had named it, his favorite of Strawberry Production¡¯s company cars since it was one of the originals from the B-Komachi days bearing the agency¡¯s logo. It still ran great and was usually reserved for long-distance travel.

    ¡°Uh, ma¡¯am,¡± Kanzaki said in bemusement, ¡°I¡¯m still with¨C¡±

    With the comedy duo Miyako had recently hired on to the company. She was aware, but destiny was calling and she needed an appropriate attendant to deliver her. Kanzaki was perfect for the job, and the duo were very easygoing and would be fine with this rescheduling hiccup. ¡°Get those boys home safe and sound,¡± she ordered. ¡°Then have the Strawberry-mobile ready in front of the office within the hour. Bring snacks.¡±

    ¡°But¨C¡±

    ¡°Get a pack of Cobalt¡¯s favorite orange juice on the way, and your holiday bonus gets tripled.¡± Miyako will take it out of her own paycheck if need be.

    The next response lacked any of the previous hesitation. ¡°I¡¯ll meet with you soon, Vice President!¡±

    ¡°Good man!¡±

    Miyako hung up. She looked down at Cobalt, staring with a smile.

    ¡°Get your favorite lucky shirt,¡± Miyako told him, moving away to appropriately redress herself. ¡°We¡¯re going on a road trip.¡±

    ¡°Hot dog! Are mom and everyone else coming, too?¡±

    They¡¯ll follow, no doubt about it. Miyako, Cobalt, and Kanzaki will light the way. Cobalt will be their shining beacon, for Ai to sail towards and for the gods of entertainment to view from their lofty heights. They will all converge together in Takachiho, and grant Miyako and her family the good fortune they deserved.

 Arc 2: From Whence We Came, Part 2

    Cobalt liked Hikaru Kanzaki. While working, he wore a black suit and tie that made him look like a real businessman like grandpa Ichigo, except younger and less blonde. Sometimes Hikaru had to babysit Cobalt and his siblings when mom or aunt Miyako were too busy with work, and he always gave them Cobalt¡¯s favorite brand of canned orange juice. It was Hikaru¡¯s favorite, too! Hikaru also was a good listener, letting Cobalt pepper him with as many questions that popped up in his head as possible. He didn¡¯t have as many good explanations or answers like Aqua, but Hikaru still paid more attention than some of the other Strawberry workers and the teachers at school who Cobalt wanted to learn more stuff from.

    ¡°And I think Robo-Max used cotton balls for the explosion special effects!¡± Cobalt finished from where sat in the backseat of the Strawberry-mobile. Aunt Miyako was snoring in the front next to Hikaru driving. Music played at a low volume from the radio as Hikaru weaved through winding, hilly roads.

    ¡°Sounds a lot cheaper than dynamite,¡± HIkaru said. He was responding directly to something Cobalt was saying. Most people outside of Cobalt¡¯s family would give a quarter-baked reply, like a boring ¡°That¡¯s nice¡± or ¡°That¡¯s cool¡± without expanding on why they thought what Cobalt was talking about was nice or cool. Hikaru¡¯s answers were always half-baked or more!

    ¡°It does! You should watch his videos, too, Kanzaki!¡±

    Cobalt still didn¡¯t understand why he had to call him by his last name, Kanzaki, out loud instead of his first name. All of Cobalt¡¯s friends at school let him call them by their first names. He wanted to be friends with Hikaru, too! But, since mom and Hikaru asked him politely, Cobalt couldn¡¯t not do what they wanted.

    ¡°I¡¯ll check them out later, give ¡®em the Kanzaki stamp of approval, after I find us a place to rest.¡±

    That made sense. They had been driving for a while now. Cobalt had lost track of the time, but it had to have been a good while for Miyako to have gone through the rest of her bottles and be completely asleep now. Hikaru must need his rest, too, once they get to Takachiho.

    Cobalt didn¡¯t need rest. He was still wide awake, having spent the entire trip watching Robo-Max videos and telling Hikaru all about them.

    When the sky became orange with the setting sun, Hikaru drove out of the roads surrounded by trees and onto roads surrounded by buildings. They weren¡¯t as tall as the ones in Tokyo, but they did look familiar.

    Cobalt still couldn¡¯t see the hospital aunt Miyako had recognized in Robo-Max¡¯s video, though.

    HIkaru pulled out his phone again. ¡°Yes, President!¡± Cobalt listened to enough of these conversations between HIkaru and grandpa Ichigo over the course of the road trip to know he didn¡¯t have to listen too closely. Hikaru was just updating grandpa on where they were, so Cobalt brought up Robo-Max¡¯s video again and tried comparing the town building in it with the real ones Hikaru was driving by.

    Miyako had made comments about visiting the hospital where Cobalt and his siblings had been born. Even though that would be neat, Cobalt was more focused on finding Robo-Max, so he needed to try to find the spot where Robo-Max had filmed with the hospital way in the background.

    The more Cobalt compared the video and his surroundings, the more he thought this might be the right neighborhood.

    Hikaru abruptly stopped the car with a jolt that lightly pushed Cobalt against his seatbelt. Offhandedly giving an apology over the sounds of aunt Miyako¡¯s slurry grunts, Hikaru turned off the engine and leaned between the front seats to look directly at Cobalt.

    ¡°So, listen up, Cobalt,¡± Hikaru said. Already having scanned the immediate area around them, Cobalt set down mom¡¯s tablet and met Hikaru¡¯s eyes head-on. ¡°Your grandpappy¡¯s on his way with your mom and siblings as we speak.¡±

    ¡°Hooray! Then they can also meet Robo-Max!¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re trembling with anticipation just like you, I¡¯m sure. Anyway, I need you to make sure your auntie stays safe here in the car while I check us in.¡± Hikaru pointed at the building directly next to the car, hanging lights on the facade shining over the signs naming it a hotel. ¡°I need to use my own money for this since your auntie¡¯s asleep and I can¡¯t use the company card. Your grandpappy will probably pay for more rooms when he gets here, but for now, do you want your own bed? Or are you fine with sharing with the Vice Prez?¡±

    Cobalt quickly thought on it. It has been a long time since he got to bundle up with aunt Miyako. The last time was probably when he was in pre-school, before mom started hogging all the hugs from him. Then again, Miyako still smelled pretty funky from all her drinks, so¡­

    ¡°Aunt Miyako¡¯s really tired,¡± Cobalt decided. ¡°She should get her own bed.¡±

    Hikaru clapped his hands. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll be back real soon. Alright, kiddo?¡±

    ¡°Alright!¡±

    Hikaru held his hand forward, barring his knuckles at Cobalt. Cobalt formed a fist back and bumped it against Hikaru¡¯s.

    As Hikaru got out and shut the car door, Miyako shifted in her seat with another groan. ¡°Are we there yet?¡±

    ¡°I think so!¡± Cobalt answered.

    Aunt Miyako started laughing. ¡°The blessed lands¡­¡±

    ¡°The what?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a special boy, Cobie!¡± Miyako reached behind her, trying to hug Cobalt, but she just embraced the back of her seat instead. Cobalt wanted to hug her back. If only she was at a better angle. The cooler next to Cobalt in the backseat was in the way. ¡°You¡¯re a blessed, divine child, favored by the gods of entertainment, and now that we¡¯re here, they¡¯ll turn all our lives around.¡±

    Cobalt didn¡¯t understand¡­ Was Robo-Max a god?

    ¡°You¡¯re Ai¡¯s favorite, you know.¡±

    ¡°Mom doesn¡¯t have favorites,¡± Cobalt corrected. He had asked mom if she had a favorite among her kids already. He had thought it was Aqua, since he was so much smarter than both himself and Ruby.

    ¡°You¡¯re everyone¡¯s favorite. We love you. We¡¯ll protect you. We¡¯ll cry for you. We¡¯ll forgive you.¡±

    She tried holding out her hands toward Cobalt again. She must have hit a switch or something ¡®cause the backrest of her seat moved downward, letting her reach Cobalt. Since Miyako¡¯s voice started getting quieter, Cobalt clasped her hands in his and tried to get closer to hear better. ¡°Forgive me for what?¡±

    ¡°Anything and everything.¡± Aunt Miyako chuckled again. ¡°Ai would be dead if it wasn¡¯t for you. You need to keep being in her life if she¡¯s going to keep up her momentum.¡±

    ¡°Then why did we leave first without her?¡±

    ¡°Because you¡¯re a really stupid kid.¡±

    Now aunt Miyako was just being silly! Cobalt gave his own little snickers. ¡°I already know I still have my stupid moments!¡±

    ¡°Aqua and Ruby are so smart, yet you¡¯re really a little, tiny, helpless kid. You¡¯ll be blessed by being in this¡­¡± Miyako burped, making Cobalt chuckle again. Burps always sounded funny to him. Which was partly why mom had switched his favorite orange soda into favorite orange juice, so he¡¯d stop intentionally making himself burp all the time. ¡°... in this sacred town. The gods will see up close how hopeless you are, and you¡¯ll be divinely blessed again. Then Ai will be at the top of the damn world again¡­  I¡¯ll get what I deserve¡­¡±

    Cobalt still didn¡¯t really understand¡­

    But it sure sounded like Cobalt made the right call in asking aunt Miyako to come here! He was apparently even ¡°divinely blessed¡± by the gods!

    Hikaru was taking too long. He still wasn¡¯t back yet. Miyako letting go of Cobalt¡¯s hands and started snoring again. Considering his options, Cobalt decided to see if that divine blessing was any good.

    Cobalt dug his hand into her purse. He pulled out the spare key for the car and sneakily made his way outside. Cobalt paused, considering if he should try parking the Strawberry-mobile closer to the side of the road since it was in the middle of the street, but there was no other traffic around, so he just locked the car with three beeps from the key clicker and went on his way. Ruby had really hurt his ear by pulling and shouting into it the last time Cobalt had tried to be helpful by moving the car alone.

    Besides, the door was locked, so aunt Miyako will be perfectly safe, just like how Hikaru asked for.

    Cobalt peeked through the doors of the hotel. Hikaru was talking with a pretty lady at the front desk. It didn¡¯t look like they were going to finish soon, so Cobalt marched down the road with more confidence that he¡¯ll have the time to continue the search for Robo-Max before needing to help Hikaru carry aunt Miyako to bed.

    The town seemed to be empty of people, but there weren¡¯t any real people in Robo-Max¡¯s videos anyway. What Cobalt was looking at were the rooftop edges, towering signs, tall trees, and interconnected electric posts. That shot in the behind-the-scenes video had been on an elevated position a little above these things, visible at the lower end of the frame with the hospital at the back. Only Cobalt in the present was at the very bottom at the streetside view, so even though some of what he was seeing looked familiar, he wasn¡¯t a hundred percent sure.

    He needed to get higher. He needed to climb and get a bird¡¯s eye view.

    That wooden electric post with little steps along its sides looked good!

    Wait, the ladder steps embedded in the pole didn¡¯t start low enough for him to reach¡­ unless he stacked those trash bins and used that stepping stool nearby! Using everyday items as props, just like Robo-Max!

    Cobalt didn¡¯t feel any fear once he was rising up the post. Heights didn¡¯t scare him much. It was usually an exciting thing to do, feeling the breeze pick up around him and people from below watching him ascend. Like he was a movie star like mom or Aqua, but in real life! Cobalt hasn¡¯t even gotten hurt from falling off a tall height in¡­ a few months, at least! Heights certainly scared his family, scared of Cobalt hurting himself while trying to reach those tall places, but if aunt Miyako said he was divinely blessed, then climbing now should be fine!

    ¡°What the fu¨C Hey!¡±

    Cobalt had his foot raised, about to settle on the next step, when someone started talking loudly.

    ¡°You, blondie in red and blue!¡± Oh, that person must be talking to Cobalt. He was wearing his lucky red shirt and his cleanest blue slacks. ¡°What on earth are you ¨C¡±

    Cobalt yelped. His other foot slipped, he lost his grip, and he started falling.

    Someone caught him in their arms. For a split-second, it reminded Cobalt when he was younger being held by mom or aunt Miyako. Only for a split-second, though. Whoever caught Cobalt almost immediately fell, too. Cobalt was soon sitting on their chest as the person lay flattened on his back.

    ¡°Damn, kid,¡± the stranger wheezed. ¡°What do you weigh? Fall might not have killed you, but your butt would¡¯ve killed me.¡±

    Cobalt turned around to look at him.

    He was also a kid. An older kid ¨C a teenager! Brown hair and a nice green coat. Strapped around him was a book bag, which Cobalt moved his leg off of. The teenager wore a surly scowl.

    Instincts churned around Cobalt¡¯s heart. He wanted to turn that frown upside down!

    ¡°Thanks for saving me, mister!¡± he said. ¡°I guess I really am blessed!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah, you¡¯re welcome.¡± The frown didn¡¯t change. The teenager roughly pushed Cobalt off him. Now they sat across from each other on the side of the street. ¡°What the hell do you think you were doing? You could¡¯ve gotten seriously hurt!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but I didn¡¯t get hurt. You got hurt for me, because you saved me.¡±

    The teenager¡¯s mouth hung open for a few seconds. ¡°I¡­ well, yeah, I saved you¡­¡± Whatever funk Cobalt¡¯s savior had gotten into, he quickly shook himself out of it. ¡°But, uh, seriously, why were you climbing up this thing?¡± The frown became less surly. Progress!

    ¡°I needed to get higher to look for the hospital!¡±

    ¡°Do you not have a phone on you to look it up?¡±

    ¡°Nope!¡± Hikaru kept his phone on him, and aunt Miyako¡¯s phone was out of battery.

    ¡°Okay¡­¡± Cobalt¡¯s savior stood up, patting dust off himself, and extended his hand to pull Cobalt up. He took it. ¡°Did you try asking for directions from someone?¡±

    There hadn¡¯t been anyone around to ask. Oh, maybe Cobalt could¡¯ve asked the pretty front desk lady. Ah well, too late now. ¡°Can I ask you?¡±

    Cobalt¡¯s savior looked at him funny with squinted eyes. ¡°You alright in the head there, kid? Where are your parents?¡±

    ¡°My mom¡¯s on her way from Tokyo!¡±

    ¡°Alright¡­ Where¡¯s your dad?¡±

    A question Cobalt hadn¡¯t asked in years. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    The savior was still looking at Cobalt funny. He looked up and down the street before sighing and rubbing the back of his head. He was kinda acting out a mix of Aqua and Ruby. Nervous in the same way Ruby sometimes looked when she was doing something she shouldn¡¯t, like swiping more cookies out of the cookie jar, and didn¡¯t want to get caught. Annoyed in the same way Aqua was when he had to clean up one of Ruby¡¯s or Cobalt¡¯s messes.

    Muttering something too quiet for Cobalt to hear, his savior gave a deep breath. ¡°Okay¡­ Let¡¯s start over. I¡¯m Shin Hoshigami. And you are?¡±

    Now there was a clear-cut name to put to the face of his savior! ¡°My name¡¯s Cobalt Hoshino!¡±

    ¡°Hoshino¡­¡± Shin bit his lip. Cobalt matched the expression. He was actually getting hungry. Shin must be, too. ¡°Is your mom Ai Hoshino?¡±

    Wow! Some random teenage stranger guessed it right on their first try! It¡¯s usually random adult strangers who made the connection between his and mom¡¯s last name, since it was generally adults who remembered mom introducing him, Ruby, and Aqua to the world. ¡°You know my mom?¡±

    The talk of dads made Cobalt think of the forbidden question.

    ¡°Are you my dad?¡±

    Shin spat and sputtered, waving his arms around uncontrollably. ¡°What?! No, that¡¯s stupid. I know of her. She¡¯s like fifteen years older than me, kid.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Cobalt couldn¡¯t believe he didn¡¯t think about asking anyone in town this question until now. Well, Cobalt was focused on finding Robo-Max first and foremost, so it made sense. ¡°Me and my siblings were born in Takachiho, so there¡¯s a chance someone here could be my dad!¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m definitely not your dad, kiddo. Is that why you¡¯re in town? Looking for who your father is?¡±

    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    Cobalt shrugged. ¡°Not really, I was just curious. Who I¡¯m really looking for is Robo-Max!

    ¡°You¡¯re ¨C what?!¡±

    ¡°Yeah!¡± Sounds like Shin was shocked. Robo-Max really needed to get his name out there! Aunt Miyako could help with that. ¡°He¡¯s a stop-motion animator on YouTube who makes really cool videos!¡±

    Shin was stuttering, eyes open really wide. ¡°You-You¡­ You¡¯re a fan?¡±

    ¡°Of course! I didn¡¯t know one person could make so many awesome videos by himself!¡±

    Shin¡¯s face was getting redder. ¡°You think those animations are¡­ awesome?¡±

    ¡°Yup!¡±

    ¡°... Why?¡±

    Cobalt wasn¡¯t sure if Aqua had really understood his explanations on why he liked Robo-Max so much. Maybe Shin will get it better?

    Cobalt cleared his throat. ¡°You know my mom likes to act and stuff, right? She always works with other people. Other actors, the director, the camera people, the makeup people, the wardrobe people, and more! Her videos on TV need a lot of work done by a lot of people. Robo-Max¡¯s YouTube videos look small, but he¡¯s doing an¡­¡± Cobalt channeled his inner Aqua for the right phrase. ¡°¡­ equivalent amount of work on a lower scale all by himself. That¡¯s really cool. My mom and my brother need all sorts of help from all sorts of people to make cool stuff. Robo-Max only has himself.¡±

    If Cobalt wasn¡¯t seeing things, that wiggling curve at the end of Shin¡¯s lip was a hint of a smile! ¡°But the voice acting sucks. The lighting is inconsistent between frames. The skits aren¡¯t very funny or interesting. They¡¯re just slightly exaggerated slice-of-life fluff.¡±

    ¡°And Robo-Max is still making videos anyway! He¡¯s creating things. He¡¯s like¡­¡± Cobalt stumbled, thinking hard as he tapped his chin with one of his fingers. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to call him exactly! Someone who creates and controls everything and everyone in the things they put out.¡±

    Grandpa Ichigo, Aqua, aunt Miyako, and Hikaru have tossed around the word ¡°creatives¡± before. Generally, they were imaginative people who contributed to the stories everyone watches on TV, buys seats for in theaters, listens on the radio, or reads about in books. Mom and Aqua were the biggest creatives Cobalt knew, always working with other creatives.

    Cobalt wanted to be creative, too. He¡¯s tried drawing, writing, and copied Ruby with her dancing.

    But Cobalt is stupid.

    His drawings look weird. His nicest friends at school try their best to help him. His handwriting is too messy. Aqua always spends part of the weekend teaching Cobalt how to clean up his penmanship. People always say Cobalt puts in a ¡°good effort¡± in dancing while Ruby is a thousand times better, always learning mom¡¯s dance routines much faster than him. Even Aqua thought Cobalt was just playing or play-lying when he asks to help him rehearse his scripts he gets sent ahead of time for jobs. Cobalt was old enough to know play-lying was just a roundabout way of telling him not to take something seriously! But he was taking all of it seriously!

    But that was alright. Cobalt knew he was still stupid, and he was still working on improving himself with help from everyone willing to lend a hand. Just like he promised mom, there will be a day when he won¡¯t be as stupid and be as smart as her!

    Aqua, Ruby, and mom definitely only said they liked Robo-Max¡¯s videos because Cobalt liked them. His meaner friends at school said Robo-Max¡¯s stuff was boring and stupid.

    But Robo-Max has been making and releasing videos for the past two years. He wanted to be a creative and was doing it in a way Cobalt hadn¡¯t known was possible: by himself.

    Cobalt always had his family. He wasn¡¯t sure if Robo-Max had his family secretly helping him out of view from the camera, but it didn¡¯t seem like it from the behind-the-scenes videos. Robo-Max went outside and bought the polymer clay alone. He was the one who mixed and mashed shapes together to craft the characters. He¡¯s the one who wrote down his scripts in old school notebooks with extra empty pages. Robo-Max set up the props, meticulously took the pictures with a camera he bought on sale at a market, and edited the footage and special effects together on his laptop. It was a new, original name on his YouTube channel to define himself on his own merits.

    Cobalt¡¯s family would never leave him alone.

    That made Robo-Max all the more¡­ inspiring if he did all he¡¯s done without a family!

    Cobalt said as much to Shin aloud. ¡°He¡¯s very inspiring!¡±

    ¡°Like¡­ Like God?¡± Shin asked. Cobalt shook his head at that.

    ¡°No, gods fight each other or work together. Robo-Max is a solo act.¡±

    ¡°I mean God with a capital G,¡± Shin amended, with a small smile. Hey, he was smiling! Mission success on that front! ¡°Like in western religions, like Christianity. My favorite take on God I¡¯ve seen is there being a single God in the beginning that was all alone, so he decided to create the whole world, and all the life in it.¡±

    Now that sounds like an interesting story! ¡°Oh, yeah, that sounds right! Lowercase gods have to help someone else or need their help to create something. Robo-Max is following his own vision like an uppercase God who knows what he wants and is getting what he wants.¡±

    Shin chuckled. More smiling! ¡°You really think so?¡±

    ¡°He wouldn¡¯t be making the regular stop-motion videos and the extra tutorials for so long and so often if it wasn¡¯t what he wanted to do! Mom and my sister Ruby always say to follow your dreams! Believe in yourself! Ignore the haters! I think Robo-Max would like them a lot.¡±

    ¡°And you really do like Robo-Max.¡±

    ¡°Yup!¡± Cobalt pounded his chest with his fist to add emphasis, like how Aqua did once when he had played a student in a fantasy military academy. ¡°I want to know more about him. Do you know who he is in real life?¡±

    Shin¡¯s smile faded. He shuffled his feet and hunched his shoulders. ¡°Uh, what makes you think Robo-Max lives around these parts?¡±

    ¡°There was a hospital in one of his behind-the-scenes videos. It¡¯s the one where my brother and sister and I were born. My aunt recognized it and brought me here.¡±

    ¡°So where¡¯s your aunt?¡±

    Cobalt shrugged again. ¡°Sleeping in the Strawberry-mobile. She¡¯s fine. She needs the rest.¡± Hikaru was always a good babysitter to him, so he should do well with aunt Miyako, too. ¡°I need to keep looking for Robo-Max. Can you help me? You seem to know about him, too.¡±

    Shin started shaking his head, but he wasn¡¯t saying no. He reached into his book bag. ¡°Well, you don¡¯t really need to look much further.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t?¡±

    ¡°Nope.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Uh, give me a second, that fall earlier messed some of this up¡­¡±

    Cobalt gasped.

    In Shin¡¯s hand from the book bag, he revealed one of those photograph papers that had multiple separate pictures of the same thing on a single sheet. The photo pasted on Shin¡¯s sheet was the clay ensemble cast of Robo-Max¡¯s videos. It was the exact same picture that was used in the bar set, on the back wall inside its own mini-frame fitted for the mini-photo.

    ¡°I needed a replacement since the last one got ripped,¡± Shin explained.

    ¡°You¡¯re Robo-Max?!¡±

    ¡°You got me!¡±

    Making sure not to ruin the picture, Cobalt lunged at Shin with a hug. Shin wobbled before steadying himself. ¡°I¡¯m your biggest fan!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I got that.¡±

    Shin didn¡¯t say anything more. He wasn¡¯t telling Cobalt to let go, so the hug continued!

    ¡°Uh, thanks for¡­ supporting me, and¡­ thinking my animations are cool and getting better¡­ Okay, you can stop with the hugging now, thanks.¡±

    Before Shin could push him away, Cobalt retracted a few steps of his own accord. Cobalt¡¯s savior was no longer a random teenager. He was the Robo-Max! The best stop-motion animator this side of the Pacific! Cobalt had a whole pack of questions he was waiting to pour out for him! ¡°What made you want to start making videos in the first place?¡± he asked first.

    Robo-Max put the photos away. ¡°You mentioned you liked how Robo-Max created and controlled everything in his animations? I needed a little more control over my life, and I found writing stories, molding puppets, and making videos was a good way to do that. They¡¯re my stories, and it¡¯s¡­¡± Shin sniffled. Was he trying not to cry? ¡°It¡¯s really nice to hear that someone likes something I made.¡±

    Cobalt pumped his fists in the air as he nodded in excitement. ¡°More people should be telling you that! Robo-Max deserves all of the views in the world.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the dream, kid.¡± Robo-Max patted Cobalt¡¯s shoulder, like how Aqua did whenever he was proud of Cobalt about something. Cobalt started feeling weak in the knees thanks to the gesture. ¡°Thanks for the compliments, kiddo.¡±

    Making sure to straighten his legs, Cobalt said, ¡°I had other questions, too. Have you ever thought about making little clothes for your characters? What kind of tripod do you use for your camera, since you never actually said what brand it is? Where did you ¨C¡±

    Robo-Max put both of his hands on both of Cobalt¡¯s shoulders. Cobalt shut his mouth to himself from squealing at being so close to the big YouTube star. This was like mom reining him in from overwhelming her with too many questions. Cobalt had to be more tactful about expressing himself.

    ¡°Hold your horses there, Cobie. Listen, it¡¯s really nice to know you¡¯re a fan. I really do appreciate it, but¡­ you said you came here with your aunt? Can we go see her? I don¡¯t think she¡¯ll appreciate you heading off by yourself to find me.¡± Robo-Max gave a fake laugh. ¡°I could¡¯ve been some lying serial killer for all you know.¡±

    Cobalt gave Robo-Max another once-over. ¡°Nah, I¡¯ve been getting better at feeling people out on whether they''re good or bad. You seem pretty good.¡±

    Wiping his face, Robo-Max snorted. ¡°Don¡¯t let my dad hear you say that.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ nothing, just an inside joke.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡±

    Robo-Max didn¡¯t say anything else. He just stared at Cobalt with trembling lips.

    ¡°Can I get in the inside of ¨C¡±

    ¡°Come on,¡± Robo-Max interrupted, walking past Cobalt and dragging him down the road, like how Ruby sometimes did when they were walking to class and Cobalt got distracted by something. ¡°Let¡¯s go find your aunt. Is she this way?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Cobalt¡¯s previous words with Miyako prior to embarking on this adventure resurfaced in his head. ¡°Does this mean you wanna sign up with Strawberry Productions?¡±

    ¡°What, like a real contract with them? They don¡¯t have any online-only personalities hired on, do they?¡±

    ¡°Nope! You¡¯d be the first!¡±

    Cobalt couldn¡¯t see Robo-Max¡¯s face, but his tone was light. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡±

    Does he need more bargaining or incentive or any of those other things Aqua and the Director and grandpa Ichigo talk about sometimes? ¡°You¡¯ll get to meet my mom if you join!¡±

    Robo-Max laughed again. ¡°I¡¯m a fan, Cobie, but I¡¯m not that desperate.¡±

    <hr>

    Aqua had pictured a return to his previous life¡¯s hometown when he was older. He¡¯d have gone alone on the excuse of a personal vacation. There still hadn¡¯t been any word of Gorou Amamiya¡¯s body online, so Aqua would have taken the time to see if he couldn''t find any potential leads, if any could even be found decades after the fact. Ruby and Cobalt were also aware the three of them were born in Takachiho. Another possible return could have been during a visit which Aqua¡¯s siblings would pressure Ai for, visiting their birthplace on a family excursion.

    Never would Aqua have imagined the inciting incident to prompt a homecoming was Miyako practically kidnapping Cobalt with one of Strawberry Production¡¯s talent scouts as her reluctant accomplice.

    What was even more surprising was Ai¡¯s reaction to being told by text from Miyako of the impromptu road trip.

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s sweet,¡± Ai had said with a smile Aqua was ninety percent sure wasn¡¯t a lie. ¡°I just wish Miyako waited until we were done filming today. We could¡¯ve all gone together instead of dragging poor Kanzaki on overtime.¡±

    ¡°Aunt Miyako kidnapped Cobie!¡± had been Ruby¡¯s reaction. Ai had wagged her finger with disapproval at her.

    ¡°Miyako loves you all, Cobalt included. She would never hurt him.¡±

    The certainty in Ai¡¯s words had kept Aqua and Ruby from voicing any objections.

    They regrouped with President Ichigo and spent a good portion of the rest of the day speeding toward Takachiho. Ichigo was at the wheel. A business gift basket was secured on the passenger seat. The Hoshinos were stuffed in the back.

    Unlike Ai¡¯s children, the paternal figure in her life had no restrictions in giving her blowback for her cavalier attitude.

    ¡°It¡¯s still absurd you didn¡¯t call me immediately!¡± Ichigo was screeching again. ¡°I could have contacted Kanzaki and kept Miyako from carrying out this nonsense!¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing nonsensical about needing a break from work with some shrine worshiping,¡± Ai lightly chided. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind a little extra support from the gods.¡±

    ¡°Forget religion. Knowing Cobalt, he¡¯ll get lost in Takachiho¡¯s forests and we¡¯ll need to spend the rest of the weekend in town; to search for Cobalt, and then for him to get treated for any scrapes he¡¯ll get while lost.¡±

    ¡°You know Cobalt¡¯s gotten better about recklessly hurting himself. Aqua¡¯s only needed to whip out the ice pack for bruises four times this year!¡±

    Yes, Cobalt has verifiably harmed himself through careless actions at a significantly declining rate over time. Years of therapy and support from his family has helped him combat his ignorance and bad judgment calls. He better understood when he was biting off more than he can chew, though there was always the underlying worry for Cobalt his family could never completely ignore.

    ¡°Kanzaki¡¯s reliable, too,¡± Ai added confidently. She wasn¡¯t wrong. ¡°He¡¯s a perfect professional. I get jealous sometimes how quickly he can get Cobie to settle down and avoid making noise on set.¡±

    ¡°He just bribes Cobie with orange juice or food,¡± Ruby chimed in, unimpressed. ¡°I do it all the time! Kanzaki must have learned it from me.¡±

    ¡°Or he just has experience with kids Cobie¡¯s age,¡± Aqua said. ¡°Miyako keeps Cobie complacent the same way, too.¡±

    Ichigo was silent.

    An uncomfortable tension was suddenly in the air. Aqua caught on to it as Ai glared at the back of Ichigo¡¯s head. Ruby was confused, but Aqua was pretty sure of the reason behind the awkwardness.

    ¡°Kanzaki¡¯s the most professional one in Strawberry after you, Prez,¡± Ai said.

    ¡°Miyako literally signs his paychecks,¡± Ichigo muttered lowly.

    ¡°If I can trust your wife, why can¡¯t you?¡±

    Ichigo raised his voice sternly. ¡°We¡¯re not talking about this in front of the kids.¡±

    Ruby realized the situation a minute too late and audibly gulped. ¡°I¡¯m sure Miyako still loves you, grandpa!¡±

    No more words were shared as Ichigo turned on the radio and raised the volume.

    Planting that seed of a second marriage in Miyako¡¯s mind all those years ago may have been a mistake. She hasn¡¯t brought up Aqua¡¯s and Ruby¡¯s godly infant act in a long time, but apparently something clicked with her today to cause this unplanned journey to a supposedly godly town.

    Aqua believed Ai¡¯s trust in Kanzaki was warranted. The man would adequately ensure the good health of both Miyako and Cobalt, as proven from his past service. Even so, Kanzaki was also hired in part for his decent looks as a talent scout wowing prospective recruits for Strawberry, and the close proximity with Miyako Kanzaki found himself in on a regular basis obviously made Ichigo very self-conscious about the state of his marriage.

    Everybody Strawberry hired were good people. Thorough background checks and the works had been committed with a motivated zeal to ensure Ai¡¯s safety after the assault, and the practice continued forth into the current day. Miyako¡¯s heavy drinking was a turn-off in the temptations she offered to the people working for the company. Kanzaki was no different. Even if she found someone willing to sweep her off her feet, Miyako rarely had the time to go out the house for pure leisure, and Aqua was absolutely confident she would never bring home any adulterous guests to the house in which the Hoshino matriarch and children comfortably lived.

    Yet Ichigo still had doubts. Kanzaki was a fine enough target to dump his disgruntled feelings on, if not solely on Miyako.

    Aqua spent the rest of the car drive considering how to fix the Saitous¡¯ marriage. He should have made more plans regarding Miyako¡¯s drinking and her related issues sooner. Ai loved them like her own parents, and Cobalt¡¯s love for his faux aunt and grandpa was obvious. A divorce would leave everyone in tears. Moreover, they were more useful to Ai¡¯s career and the safety of the Hoshino triplets in a united front. If Ichigo and Miyako were unable to sort things out in a satisfactory conclusion after they reunite, Aqua will have to intervene somehow.

    Granted, Gorou Amamiya has never been married or gone through a serious long-term relationship with a woman. Still, between his acting repertoire and the investigation for his father, Aqua¡¯s become fairly adept at assessing people¡¯s personalities and nudging them toward the destinations he wanted them to reach. Real life was under no obligation to conform to fiction, yet Aqua was willing to orchestrate events to the best of his ability to see a satisfactory narrative play out where Ai, Cobalt, Ruby, and even both Ichigo and Miyako can wake up the next day with no regrets holding them back.

    It wasn¡¯t too long until they were back in the same streets and passing the same buildings that Gorou Amamiya had traveled for the better part of his old life. Takachiho has hardly changed in ten years. Aqua wondered if any of his old associates at the hospital were still there. Aqua may get the opportunity to check if Cobalt does end up requiring medical treatment.

    Staring at familiar haunts passing them by, Aqua returned his attention to Ai when she asked, ¡°I thought we were going to a hotel Kanzaki booked?¡±

    She had a point. Ichigo had mentioned the name of the hotel after another call with Kanzaki earlier, and now they were passing by that hotel.

    ¡°Change of plans.¡± Ichigo was glancing between the road and his phone. ¡°Miyako won¡¯t listen. We¡¯re apparently having dinner with Cobalt¡¯s favorite YouTuber and his dad.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Ai said in wonderment. Cobalt said it in the same exact way. ¡°Cobie really found Robo-Max so quickly?¡±

    His sense of humor returning, Ichigo commented, ¡°If things work out like how he wants, Cobalt could be a talent scout when he grows up.¡±

    Another long talk they¡¯ll need to have with Cobalt: why he shouldn¡¯t willfully go on unplanned road trips to visit someone on the Internet who unintentionally leaked their personal information like their hometown. Whatever godly entities out there at least had the mercy of providing Cobalt caretakers in Miyako and Kanzaki, who seemed to have judged Robo-Max and his family as decent enough to share a meal with.

    Cobalt always liked making friends. He¡¯s even befriended a bully or two at school who have since mostly given up their bullying ways (partly due to Ruby¡¯s own thuggish tomfoolery). Hopefully Robo-Max as a person won¡¯t turn out to be another problem individual they¡¯ll have to deal with.

    Ichigo pulled over at a residential address at the edge of this particular neighborhood. Ai ushered Aqua and Ruby out to stretch their limbs. Ruby yawned as Aqua looked over the house, lights shining through the windows.

    A tall man in a collared shirt and suspenders stalked out of the building with hands casually in his pockets.

    Aqua froze on the spot.

    He recognized the man instantly.

    ¡°You Ichigo Saitou?¡± asked the man who once convinced Gorou Amamiya to go skydiving with him, his girlfriend, and a few other acquaintances while on a short break from university. Ichigo gave an affirmative. ¡°I¡¯m Kumada Hoshigami. Your wife¡¯s in the bathroom. Her aide¡¯s waiting outside.¡± The man looked to Ai. ¡°And you¡­¡±

    ¡°Ai Hoshino!¡± Ai introduced herself with a classic smile and wink. ¡°Nice to meet you, Mister Hoshigami!¡±

    ¡°From the sounds of things, my boy and your youngest have become best friends,¡± Kumada said in a deadpan tone.

    ¡°That¡¯s so sweet! These are little Cobie¡¯s siblings¡­¡±

    As further pleasantries were exchanged, Cobalt ran out the front door and dove into Ai. Following after him with slow steps was a shy teenager who could only be Kumada¡¯s son.

    Aqua gazed at the face of a boy who, fourteen years ago, had been brought into the world by Kumada¡¯s wife Tenshi Hoshigami under the care of her trusted Doctor Amamiya.

 Arc 2: From Whence We Came, Part 3

    Depending on their work schedules, Ai always hosted at least one home-cooked meal with her babies on the weekends. It was time guaranteed for her to hear all about how they were doing at school and the progress they were making in their personal hobbies. Ai wished Ichigo and Miyako were able to come more consistently to the weekly meals, but if they weren¡¯t on an assignment out of the house, there was a fifty-fifty chance they were catching up on sleep while the blood Hoshinos spent their time together.

    Aqua would talk about something new he learned from Director Gotanda and give a brief review of the latest intellectual novel he was reading. Ruby liked to complain about homework and brag about her friends enviously admiring her dancing skills. Cobalt only had his mouth shut and kept quiet in short reprieves to chew and allow the others to talk, before he filled everyone¡¯s ears about everything interesting he did over the past week. He still found a lot of things interesting.

    Sometimes on weekdays, Ai let her kids stay over at one of their friends¡¯ houses after school. Miyako had convinced her a few years after the dome concert to start letting her kids be kids not always hoarded by their overprotective mother. Generally, the friends her babies made and their friends¡¯ parents did recognize the Hoshino name, but most were decent people who weren¡¯t trying to glean some favor or a taste of fame by being associated with media stars. Despite Aqua not being much of a social butterfly, he got along well with other child actors. Ruby was a popular girl who knew how to combat unflattering gossip, and Cobalt persistently did his best to make friends with every person he ran into. Aqua must have picked up some of his distant social habits from Ai, since she didn¡¯t maintain many personal friendships either, but she did get to know her neighbors and the people who associated with her babies enough to be assured they were all fine people to let near her family.

    Now, having dinner with the Hoshigami family, Ai was trying to feel out if these folks fell into the same category.

    The Hoshigami house was even larger than the Hoshino/Saitou home. The dining table was one big wooden circle with a fancy ceiling fan that almost resembled a chandelier. Ai was seated directly across from Kumada, the Hoshigami patriarch. Ichigo and Miyako were also opposite each other, awkwardly avoiding saying anything, but the atmosphere stayed positive since Cobalt did what he knew best and yammered on to Kumada¡¯s embarrassed son Shin. Apparently Shin was the boy behind the animations Cobie had taken a massive interest in. Ruby got in her takes on things every once in a while between chewing their food, slightly suspicious of Shin since he was a stranger getting close to Cobie, but she was keeping an open mind.

    However, Aqua was also oddly quiet. He seemed to be analyzing the Hoshigamis behind his cleverly composed, vacant stare. It was somehow different compared to when he was sizing up random strangers and possible bullies to Cobalt. Genius Aqua often did a lot of scanning for danger or usefulness from others, intently eyeing them from head to toe, yet for the Hoshigamis, there appeared to be more concern for them rather than for his own family. Was Cobalt¡¯s empathy for others finally rubbing off on Aqua?

    Kanzaki, ever the professional, had already finished his plate graciously served by Kumada. The talent scout even had his dishes cleaned and on the drying rack before Kumda could get in a word edgewise. Then Kanzaki left to refill the gas tank of the Strawberry-mobile, on a round trip to return to the Hoshigami house and fill up the other car Ichigo had driven.

    ¡°So you know I¡¯m in entertainment,¡± Ai was saying, having a conversation with Kumada in the midst of Shin¡¯s earful from Cobie. ¡°It sounds like Shin¡¯s taking his first steps into the business! What do you do, Mister Hoshigami?¡±

    Kumada ¨C a tall man, average looks, middle-aged, and a tired if attentive look in his eyes ¨C answered shortly after sipping from a glass of wine. ¡°I work in real estate, have a few investments out of town. I also own a farm deeper in the country, though I contract out most of the work these days.¡±

    ¡°So you¡¯re not too different from President Ichigo and Miyako! You just manage properties instead of talents!¡±

    ¡°I suppose so.¡± Kumada glanced at Cobalt. ¡°Is your youngest also a talent? I¡¯m aware of your oldest being an actor, but not him.¡±

    ¡°He has his interest in doing something creative, but he hasn¡¯t found what exactly he wants to focus on yet.¡± Ai watched as Cobalt stole Miyako¡¯s phone and brought up another one of the illustrious Robo-Max¡¯s videos. ¡°Well, until now!¡±

    Cobalt¡¯s focal point of attention turned on a dime, shifting to Ai. ¡°Yeah!¡± he agreed. ¡°I want to be a stop-motion animator like Robo-Max!¡±

    Shin hid his face under his hand, failing to fully shroud a blush. ¡°It¡¯s gonna be a lot of work, kid, if you start from scratch like me.¡±

    ¡°Then join Strawberry Productions! You can get Strawberry¡¯s support to help you on more videos, and then you can help me!¡±

    Shin patted Cobalt¡¯s head, and Ai¡¯s imagination superimposed an older version of Aqua in Shin¡¯s place. Although Aqua and Shin didn¡¯t resemble each other at all, it was Shin¡¯s brotherly gesture and Cobalt¡¯s cute reactions that made her think about it. Ai periodically thought about Aqua¡¯s physical age more appropriately matching his mental maturity. She was already well accustomed to the contrast of personalities between the visually identical Aqua and Cobalt, but she still liked to imagine.

    Unfortunately, superimposing Aqua had the side effect of also picturing Cobalt¡¯s real father over Shin, even when he and young Shin looked absolutely nothing alike.

    Aqua and Ruby were perfectly fine without a father in their lives. When Ai had asked Cobalt some time after moving into their new house, he said as much for himself, too.

    That was when Ai learned what it was like to hear her child lie without him knowing he was lying.

    Shin couldn¡¯t be a father. He was too young, obviously, and still a stranger, but if he¡¯s already inadvertently endeared himself to little Cobie this much already, and he hasn¡¯t seriously dismissed or hurt Cobie yet, then Ai hoped Shin could continue helping fill the void Cobalt didn¡¯t know he had in his heart.

    ¡°I¡¯m not doing my animations for money, kid,¡± Shin said with a humble attitude. ¡°Like I told you, there¡¯s not even that good.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s where a talent agency comes in,¡± Ai interjected, giving Ichigo and Miyako sidelong looks. They weren¡¯t chipping in, so Ai took the lead. ¡°An agency like Strawberry cultivates your talent, helps you improve, gets you mentors, classes, gigs for you to ultimately put out better stuff. If you¡¯re worried about the money, don¡¯t! Your managers will practically hoard all of the profit so you won¡¯t even have any money to think about!¡±

    That snapped Ichigo out of his distractions. ¡°Don¡¯t bad-mouth the company, Ai!¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s joking,¡± Miyako added. She was also surprisingly sober, not touching her glass of wine at all throughout dinner. ¡°Kanzaki and I already showed Mister Hoshigami and his son our basic contracts. The YouTube space is an avenue we¡¯re still looking into, so there¡¯s still leeway to discuss changes to ensure everyone feels compensated and benefiting from a potential partnership.¡±

    Kumada nodded. ¡°Like Shin said, he isn¡¯t doing his hobby for money. If he does decide to try this thing out as an actual job, I know a lawyer who can give a second opinion on the contracts.¡±

    The mention of Kanzaki appeared to shut Ichigo down again. He¡¯d have spun one of his stock pitches at talk of a client wanting to wait for a lawyer to look at the paperwork.

    Miyako excused herself and left the room. Sensing opportunity, Ai not-so-subtly kicked Ichigo¡¯s leg under the table. He glared at her, and Aqua and Ruby initially looked at their mother with confusion, but Kumada caught on and told Ichigo how to reach the nearest bathroom if he needed to go. Kumada must have realized with his keen eyes the lingering issues between the Saitous ever since aunt Miyako stepped into his home.

    After Ichigo chased after Miyako, the video Cobalt was playing on her phone ended with a funny jingle. Cobalt nearly hopped out of his chair in an attempt to reach over Shin and wave at  Kumada. ¡°You can call your lawyer friend right now and get Robo-Max to sign the papers! Before grandpa Ichigo tries to ¨C¡±

    Shin pushed Cobie down back on his seat by the shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s late enough as it is. I¡¯m not going to be stopping my uploads any time soon, Cobalt. You don¡¯t have to be so eager about me joining your mom¡¯s agency.¡±

    ¡°But you love mom!¡±

    The hacking cough bursting you of Shin told Ai everything about how he felt about the ex-idol. ¡°You don¡¯t just ¨C I wasn¡¯t ¨C¡± Still fighting the flush, he bowed his head at Ai. ¡°I really admire you, Miss Hoshino. I¡¯m sure your company is great, but it¡¯s all¡­ just so sudden.¡± Him calling her Miss Hoshino instead of the more casual Ai told her a lot about what kind of fan young Shin was.

    Ai dialed back some of her proudly practiced, now perfectly natural beaming radiance just a tad. Cobalt can make up for her reduction in energy. ¡°I understand. I don¡¯t want you to feel pressured or anything.¡± Channeling a nibble of mischievousness, Ai twirled a spoon between her fingers. ¡°If you have a pen, I can still sign something for you!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t bribe him,¡± Aqua the spoilsport warned.

    Cobalt excitedly patted his knees. ¡°If it gets him to join, then do bribe him, mom!¡± Ah, little Cobie was getting more mischievous, too, as he grew older. One day, they won¡¯t be watching Cobalt carefully only for his naive antics. He was able to convince drunk Miyako to go on a field trip to find his favorite YouTuber. He¡¯ll be running more selfish schemes behind his family¡¯s back sooner or later. ¡°You have a lot of money.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t encourage her, Cobalt!¡±

    Ruby laughed at Aqua¡¯s uptick in volume, inevitably making Cobalt laugh. Ai joined in the fun. Although they didn¡¯t share the laughter, Shin¡¯s smile shone brighter than the red in his face, and Kumada looked vaguely amused.

    ¡°Robo-Max is a big fan of yours, mom!¡± Cobalt said again.

    Winking, Ai snapped her hands into finger guns aimed at him and Shin. ¡°I appreciate it!¡±

    Kumada grunted. ¡°You¡¯re boy doesn¡¯t tell a lie, you know.¡±

    Shin hissed defensively. ¡°Shut up, dad!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m surprised you didn¡¯t ask her for an autograph or a handshake the second you saw her.¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡±

    Cobalt clapped his hands. ¡°Oh, I know the perfect thing you can sign for Robo-Max, mom!¡±

    ¡°Kid,¡± Shin said with legitimate ire and an unpleasant glower that made Ai worried she¡¯d need to step in, ¡°stop calling me ¨C Hey!¡± Cobalt dug his hand into the older boy¡¯s pockets. ¡°What are you ¨C stop!¡±

    Once he found what he was looking for, Cobalt stood up on his chair and held it up for everyone to see.

    It was a piece of merchandise under the brand of Ai the Idol: a keychain with a stylized headshot of Ai giving a starry-eyed wink.

    Being in Takachiho again brought back memories of a very kind doctor who happened to also be a big fan of Ai¡¯s. Gorou Amamiya had been one of the best, so considerate and protective of a stupid girl wanting to birth children to satisfy a selfish desire for love. He had been so devoted to seeing Ai safely go through her pregnancy, and Ai had been incredibly disappointed when he hadn¡¯t been there that night when her babies took in their first breaths of fresh air.

    Amamiya¡¯s smooth glasses and professional tone had given him a cool vibe that contrasted cutely with the occasional breaks in character to gush about his favorite idol. The keychain he wore in a lanyard around his neck had made him look downright adorable.

    That keychain looked exactly like the one in Cobalt¡¯s hand.

    Ai heard Ruby speak in a high-pitched whisper, ¡°Sensei?¡±

    They knew Takachiho was the place where they were born, but did Ai tell her children much about Gorou Amamiya?

    As Shin wrestled away the keychain from Cobalt, Ai asked aloud, ¡°Doesn¡¯t that belong to Sensei?¡±

    ¡°Who?¡± Shin asked back.

    ¡°Doctor Gorou Amamiya,¡± Kumada said, the nostalgia easy to read in him. ¡°That keychain originally belonged to him.¡±

    Shin¡¯s previous temper faded. ¡°Oh, that guy. Yeah, I remember a little about him wearing this, I guess. When I first found this thing, Dad asked around and said he¡¯s pretty sure this was his.¡±

    ¡°No doubt about it,¡± Kumada confirmed. ¡°You know Amamiya, Miss Hoshino?¡±

    Despite the story of Ai having kids spreading to world, some finer details were never disclosed or publicized by the press. ¡°He was actually my doctor when I was pregnant and staying in Takachiho,¡± she explained.

    ¡°Really?¡± Kumada was genuinely surprised.

    ¡°He was going to be the one to help deliver my kids,¡± Ai elaborated, reliving those short, fond memories of Sensei in her head again, ¡°but for some reason, he never showed up at the hospital the night I had them. He never visited when I was still resting after the birth and before I had to go back to Tokyo either.¡±

    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    She could see the question on Cobalt¡¯s face: was he the triplets¡¯ dad? Ai gently shook her head at him.

    Aqua and Ruby were now both unusually quiet. Ruby at least would have asked something out of simple curiosity as their birth was being discussed in front of her. Instead, Ai¡¯s two oldest were still staring at Sensei¡¯s keychain, held by an antsy Shin uncomfortable with the attention.

    Kumada gave a mirthless chuckle. ¡°I guess Amamiya really did find something else to pour his heart out to if it was you he left out to dry.¡±

    Now what did that mean? ¡°Were you friends with Sensei?¡± Ai asked him.

    ¡°I knew him well enough. We didn¡¯t actually know each other growing up even though we¡¯re both from here. Never really talked as kids, but we bonded a little in university. We saw each other more when he became my wife¡¯s doctor.¡± Kumada grinned wider. ¡°That was when she and I first learned about you. That obsessive son of a bitch was always playing one of your concerts recorded on tape during her checkups. He did it around other patients, too. He always said something like, ¡®Seeing something beautiful is good for your health¡¯, the freak. My Tenshi was too nice and never complained.¡±

    Ai could totally see that. ¡°Wow, so he really was that big of a fan of mine!¡± If anyone was going to be a genuine friend of hers, she would have loved one of them to have been Sensei. Her kids would have adored him!

    ¡°Between Amamiya wearing the keychain and your music blaring before and after the delivery, you were practically there when Shin was born.¡±

    ¡°Dad, shut up!¡± came another indignant cry from Shin. Ai propped her elbows on the table and leaned forward, resting her head on her clasped hands with a smirk.

    ¡°No, tell me more!¡± she insisted.

    Shin¡¯s fluster was interrupted by Ruby. ¡°Why do you have Sensei¡¯s keychain?¡± she asked.

    Why the somber tone? Ai wrapped her daughter in a one-armed hug, pulling her closer.

    ¡°That¡¯s a good question,¡± Ai said. ¡°I called the hospital a few times after my kids were born to see if Sensei ever turned up again, but he was never around. Does he really not work there anymore?¡±

    Kumada shrugged. ¡°He just up and disappeared one day. Best bet around town is that he found something else to love other than Ai the Idol. The most popular theory is that it was Nurse-chan, as we liked to call her. If Amamiya was your doctor, you must¡¯ve met her.¡±

    Indeed, Ai did recall the nurse who had accompanied Sensei and had seen to Ai¡¯s needs whenever he was unavailable. She was the one who first handed Aqua, Ruby, and Cobalt into her arms. ¡°You¡¯re right! Nurse-chan was very pretty! Maybe not quite idol material, but her bluntness and honesty would¡¯ve worked great as a television host¡­¡± Remembering more of her stay at Takachiho, Ai frowned. ¡°You think she and Sensei ran off together?¡±

    ¡°Nurse-chan left town not long after Amamiya disappeared. I knew her even less than Amamiya, but her banter with him was pretty well-known next to his idol obsession for as long as they worked together. It was only natural for people to gossip.¡±

    Ai played with Ruby¡¯s hair as she continued searching through her memories. ¡°That still doesn¡¯t seem right.¡± Ai had a far better understanding of love now than as a pregnant teen. In hindsight, the banter of Sensei and Nurse-chan didn¡¯t have any flirty undertones to them. They were friends at best, co-workers at worst. Or was it an aspect of a romantic attraction between two lovers Ai still couldn¡¯t completely comprehend? She did only have the one boyfriend in her life, after all. ¡°Nurse-chan was there during the delivery. If she and Sensei really did secretly love each other, she would¡¯ve made sure he lived up to his word and been there with us.¡±

    Kumada helplessly shrugged again. ¡°You¡¯re welcome to track the happy couple down and ask them yourself. For anyone that did know Amamiya, it¡¯s the only explanation we could think of for him to leave his keychain of his precious idol behind.¡±

    Ai turned to Shin. ¡°How did you find it?¡±

    Shin¡¯s own noncommittal shrugs made him the spitting image of his dad. ¡°It was at the bottom of a ditch. There¡¯s a, uh, dirt path that stretches down from the hospital back to the main road. I think Doctor Amamiya was at a corner of the path at the hill before he threw the keychain away.¡±

    Aqua was muttering something too quiet for Ai to hear when she looked back to Kumada. ¡°Mister Hoshigami, have you ever tried calling Sensei on his personal number?¡±

    ¡°Of course. It¡¯s been out of service for a long time.¡± Kumada finished the rest of his wine. ¡°Wherever he is, I hope he¡¯s happy. For all his weird ticks, he was a good man.¡±

    Sensei definitely was.

    Ai considered the prospect of truly never seeing him again, and she found herself accepting it.

    She still had her own family. If fate had kindly smiled on her, surely it would do the same for an honorable person like Gorou Amamiya.

    A silence fell over the dining table. Ai was still reminiscing, as probably was Kumada. Shin put away the keychain and picked at his leftover food. Aqua and Ruby¡­ were blankly staring forward. Had they been hoping to one day meet Sensei? Did they think he was their father from the way Ai was talking about him?

    Either aware of the change in mood befalling them or wanting to just move on to the next thing, Cobalt asked, ¡°Can I show Aqua and Ruby upstairs where Robo-Max keeps his props and stuff for his videos?¡±

    Shin sighed. ¡°Kid, it¡¯s my room and my stuff. You have to ask¨C¡±

    Ai granted her blessing. ¡°Of course!¡±

    Getting Shin¡¯s submission was a piece of cake. ¡°Yeah, sure,¡± he said hurriedly. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Cobalt cheered, running around the table to pull his siblings by the wrists. The trance they were in was put on hold as they were forced to match the steps of a laser-focused Cobie. Shin was content with trailing behind them at his own pace, giving more complaints about Cobalt¡¯s uninhibitedness all the way.

    Ai and Kumada were alone now.

    A gracious host, Kumada said, ¡°I¡¯ve got some of that orange juice your youngest likes in the fridge, if you¡¯d want your own.¡±

    Ai had declined from the wine. She was fine with a cold glass of water. ¡°Thank you. You¡¯ve been very kind and patient with us, Mister Hoshigami, so thanks for that, too! You didn¡¯t have to treat us to dinner.¡±

    ¡°Shin never has any friends over,¡± Kumada commented as he refilled his glass from a wine bottle. ¡°Cobalt practically forced his way inside. How could I say no?¡±

    ¡°Shin seems like a really bright kid!¡±

    Kumada grunted again. ¡°Good of you to think that of him.¡± His energy was more subdued now. Ai decided to keep up her positive momentum.

    ¡°He¡¯s already met his first fan! It probably won¡¯t be long until his channel grows more and he¡¯ll be flocked by cute girls from all around town, cozying up to a big star.¡±

    ¡°I doubt that,¡± Kumada stated without a hint of humor. ¡°Shin¡¯s not good with people.¡±

    ¡°... It¡¯s a good thing that he¡¯s gotten along so well with Cobie, then,¡± Ai said, wistfully looking toward the staircase the kids had jogged up. ¡°He¡¯s great with people!¡±

    Kumada¡¯s personality was a far cry from Sensei and Nurse-chan, that¡¯s for sure.

    Frowning, Kumada looked between his glass and half-empty bottle before deciding to forgo the glass and drink directly from the bottle.

    ¡°¡­ I don¡¯t mean to disturb you,¡± Kumada began after taking his swig, ¡°but the real reason he keeps that keychain of you is because my wife was a fan. Not as intense as Amamiya, but Shin being born was the happiest I had ever seen Tenshi, and because of that obsessive doctor, she associated Shin and that happiness with Ai the Idol. Then Shin started doing the same.¡±

    A part of Ai was flattered, but she could see the unhappy ending coming a mile away. ¡°And your wife is¡­?¡±

    ¡°Dead from a heart attack... six years ago, now.¡±

    So Kumada hid his grief under a wall of deadpans, stoicism, and half-hearted levity. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Ai said respectfully.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be. Not your fault she¡¯s gone.¡± Kumada¡¯s gaze also drifted to the staircase for a moment. ¡°Hell, Shin¡¯s not even that big of a fan of yours anymore. ¡®Course the attachment¡¯s still there, as you could see tonight, but it¡¯s been leveled out. Ever since he started his online hobby. Amamiya found Nurse-chan, and Shin found his clay crap.¡±

    Internally, Ai disapproved of his unkind wording to what was clearly Shin¡¯s passion. Her expression on the outside was impeccable. ¡°If he keeps working on it, it could be his job, one day!¡±

    ¡°It gets him out of the house, and smiling more when he is home. That¡¯s good enough for me.¡± Kumada drank again. In spite of his bad attitude, Ai felt safe. Between the wrap parties for work and Miyako¡¯s drinking, she¡¯s gotten pretty used to recognizing the levels of drunkenness people can get into and when it was appropriate to leave the room. ¡°But it looks like he could be getting even better, if your Cobalt keeps at it.¡±

    Ai had a good idea on what he was getting at. ¡°What do you mean?¡± she asked anyway.

    ¡°Shin doesn¡¯t have friends,¡± said glossy-eyed Kumada. ¡°He talks with people, says hello to them on the street, but he just scares them away. Can¡¯t help himself. His mother always sheltered him, and I¡­ wasn¡¯t there for him soon enough, after she was gone.¡± He drank again. ¡°He tries to fake it till he makes it, and still never makes it.¡±

    Kumada finally made direct eye contact with Ai. ¡°He¡¯s not faking anything with his animations. I don¡¯t watch the videos themselves. Couldn¡¯t care less for cartoons, clay or not. I do watch him work on them, though. Buying the pieces, building, filming, editing¡­ I think it makes him happy, like when his mother was still around. When he brought Cobalt home and introduced him¡­ I¡¯ll give you three guesses what Shin looked like.¡±

    Ai brought back the playful smirk. ¡°Confused? Annoyed?¡±

    Kumada barked a guffaw. ¡°Heh! You¡¯re actually spot on.¡±

    Ai proudly put her hands on her hips like a triumphant superhero. ¡°My final guess: Shin looked pretty darn happy at someone telling him in-person just how much he likes what he makes.¡±

    ¡°You got it.¡± Kumada matched Ai¡¯s smirk as they shared a toast, his wine bottle opposite her glass of cool water. ¡°I know we all just met. I still need to talk with your managers about what being an underage talent means for Shin. Whether or not that works out, if you and your own ever cross through town again, I¡¯m sure Shin would appreciate more visits from Cobalt.¡±

    ¡°If things do work out, and you¡¯re okay with it, we could also bring Shin to the office in Tokyo! Cobalt could show him some of the cameras and other equipment we have stored there! They could hang out at our house!¡±

    ¡°He¡¯d sure as hell appreciate that.¡±

    They each drank their respective drinks. They both breathed out a satisfying sigh.

    ¡°You¡¯re not a very good dad,¡± Ai observed, ¡°are you, Mister Hoshigami?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡±

    ¡°At least you¡¯re not a liar. You¡¯re trying even if it¡¯s woefully half-hearted. I can appreciate that.¡±

    From everything Ai¡¯s seen of the Hoshigami house and family dynamic, Shin was provided for, but not truly cared for.

    Cobalt could definitely pick up some of the slack.

    <hr>

    Ruby wanted to break down in tears.

    She fully believed that Sensei would have become so enamored by Ai that he¡¯d become a devoted fan in Sarina¡¯s place. That wasn¡¯t a problem in the slightest. However, she refused to believe Sensei would have ever abandoned his love for any reason. Running off after falling in love with his subordinate nurse instead? That was far fetched at best, completely impossible at worst.

    The only exception would have been Ai the Idol¡¯s daughter Ruby taking up the B-Komachi lead mantle. Ruby was supposed to grow up and become the idol rising out of Ai¡¯s spectral shadow. Sensei would become her fan, recognizing Ai¡¯s charisma flowing through her successor, and find Ruby. She would tell him about her reincarnated life. They would have lived happily ever after.

    But¡­ if this Nurse-chan had really captured Sensei¡¯s heart¡­

    Aqua was dead silent next to Ruby as they sat on Shin¡¯s bed. Cobalt was giving an on-the-spot presentation about each of Shin¡¯s clay figurines. Shin was fussing over Cobalt, making sure he didn¡¯t accidentally break anything.

    Shin Hoshigami¡­ was fourteen-years-old. Ruby was ten-years-old. So Shin was born four years before her¡­ the same year Sarina had imparted her Ai keychain to Sensei.

    Sarina had nurses at the Takachiho hospital, but Nurse-chan hadn¡¯t been one of them. Ruby had swiped Ai¡¯s phone from the dining table and double-checked the photos she still had saved stretching back the triplets¡¯ birth. Ruby could still vaguely remember Ichigo locking those photos up on one of the company computers. They had since been allowed back into Ai¡¯s phone. Since the woman who had to be Nurse-chan was the one also seen in those photos, Ruby took it as confirmation Nurse-chan began working closely with Sensei only after Sarina was gone.

    It wasn¡¯t fair!

    Aqua was no help. He would have sensed Ruby¡¯s inner turmoil and tried comforting her like Ai did earlier, but he was lost in thought about something, too. Sad he couldn¡¯t meet the doctor who Ai lovingly talked about? Maybe, since Aqua did plan on also becoming a doctor and not focus purely on acting. Oh, it would¡¯ve been perfect, Ruby marrying Sensei and him becoming Aqua¡¯s mentor.

    Cobalt was still happy. Shin himself was nice enough, if coming off as rude sometimes, but he was tolerating Cobie better than some of the other older kids the Hoshinos have had to tangle with growing up. Ruby was happy for her cute little brother.

    But she found herself alone in her despair¡­ No one could ever understand. Maybe Aqua, but they already agreed not to talk about their past lives with each other¡­ Sarina died from an affliction no one could have easily cured. Her worship of Ai had blessed her with a second chance as Ai¡¯s daughter, and yet, the opportunity to rekindle her last relationship with the one person who never abandoned Sarina Tendouji was lost to Ruby by forces once again outside of her control.

    Was this karma? Retribution from the actual gods of entertainment for Ruby previously masquerading as a divine messenger? They¡¯ll let her be reborn to an idol but not let her reunite with her soulmate because of that deception?

    Great, now Ruby was sounding like drunk Miyako!

    ¡°Hey, Shin,¡± Ruby spoke up, consciously keeping her voice steady. ¡°Do you really think Sensei ran off with a nurse?¡±

    It had to have been that slut of a so-called medical professional unable to make the cut as a real doctor who would have thrown Sarina¡¯s keychain away. Sensei would never have discarded it so carelessly!

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Shin said. ¡°It¡¯s what my dad says. I don¡¯t really care.¡±

    ¡°Can I see the keychain?¡±

    ¡°... Sure. Anything for Ai¡¯s kids.¡± Shin handed it over before returning to monitoring Cobie.

    Yes, this was the same exact keychain. Even after all these years, Shin must have taken good care of it as a fellow fan of Ai after Sensei lost it. There was still the almost indiscernible scratch on the edge of the card, caused by a drowsy Sarina getting out of bed one morning and dropping the keychain. She had wailed to Sensei for a long time about her crime of damaging her precious prize of Ai. It had been time she could¡¯ve spent watching another live performance of the beautiful idol instead of having to watch the taped recording.

    She could feel Aqua also staring at the keychain in her palm.

    Ruby looked back at Shin and Cobie, one still bickering about careful handling of delicate materials and the other still expositing stop-motion trivia.

    ¡­ She can let Shin have the keychain. For now, at least. His family was acquainted with Sensei, and Shin was already doing a good job preserving it. Cobie wanted to make friends with Shin, and the Hoshigami kid might even become contracted with Strawberry Productions. Trying to reclaim the keychain now would probably do more harm than good in keeping Shin around.

    Cobalt found happiness in life easily. Aqua sometimes had a dark aura around him, but he was smart. He¡¯ll be fine. They didn¡¯t know Sensei and would never need to.

    Ai was sad, but she didn¡¯t need Sensei in the same way Ruby did.

    So, as Ruby let Aqua take the keychain into his own hands, she hardened her resolve. Thinking on it, there was actually little change to Ruby¡¯s plans for the future. She may have missed her shot before she even knew it, Sensei¡¯s current whereabouts now completely unknown to her. He was possibly hitched to some unworthy floozy, but Ruby was still Ai¡¯s daughter. There was always the chance once Ruby reached the same heights and widespread acclaim as her mother, perhaps even surpassing her, that Sensei will catch a glimpse of her, be instinctively drawn to Ruby the Idol, and be unable to ignore his true love.

    They¡¯ll keep each other¡¯s promise to one another. She¡¯ll perform at the Tokyo Dome, and afterward, Sensei will find her. They will be together again. Ai will get her Sensei back, Aqua will get his doctor mentor, Cobie will have a new older brother, and Ruby will be happily married.

    It was only a matter of time.

 Arc 2: From Whence We Came, Part 4 END

    The keychain in Aqua¡¯s hands was an exact match to Sarina¡¯s. There was no doubt about it.

    He looked away and saw Ruby joining the claymation conversation with Shin and Cobalt. She was no longer so downtrodden as she was minutes before. Since Aqua had deduced she likely died young in her past life, the talk of a doctor who¡¯d been close to Ai before disappearing might have stirred memories of whatever identity Ruby had previously lived. Whatever the circumstances of her death, a doctor may have been there for her in her last moments.

    Or maybe Aqua was just projecting again, wanting to see Sarina in Ruby, to see an aspect of Gorou Amamiya¡¯s old life doing as well as Aqua Hoshino and his family were doing now.

    Aqua set the keychain aside on Shin¡¯s bed. He kept his distance from the others, sitting on the bed while the rest of the children clamored around Shin¡¯s workspace in the corner of the room. Cobalt held up a tripod and peered into the screen of the digital camera propped on top of it. Ruby played with a clay caveman figure, posing him amid a pile of real rocks and pebbles likely gathered from the house¡¯s backyard. Shin divided his time between making sure Cobalt didn¡¯t ruin the camera and Ruby didn¡¯t damage the clay character.

    As an actor, Aqua has played as an extra with no lines, only needing to devote a token amount of attention to the main players of the scene and the simple orders of the director. Sometimes Aqua used the opportunity to observe and learn from the senior actors at work. Other times, he was free to delve into his own thoughts, of his current leads for his investigation and pressing family responsibilities to handle once he got home. Now, Aqua once more blended into the background to review his new findings on this most enlightening night.

    Aqua¡¯s father must have thoroughly disposed of Gorou¡¯s body but had allowed that single piece of Ai memorabilia to survive and be found by a random passerby. Or perhaps it wasn¡¯t random for a member of the Hoshigami family to have claimed ownership of the keychain. Ai¡¯s former partner may have investigated Gorou Amamiya¡¯s history after discovering Ai was his patient, and he could have allowed Sarina¡¯s precious memento to be found so rumors could naturally unfold about Gorou¡¯s love life. Despite the disagreements that were never resolved between Kumada and Gorou, they had still been decent friends in their adulthood. Kumada and others they personally knew in Takachiho concocting a story for the disappearance of the infamous loner in their friend group must have been a great boon for Aqua¡¯s nefarious father.

    Yet for Gorou¡¯s friends to conclude he gave up on Ai¡­

    There had indeed been the hardly hidden whispers and quiet comments echoing throughout the hospital¡¯s long corridors, speculating on the nature of Gorou¡¯s relationship with ¡°Nurse-chan.¡± However, Gorou honestly was never romantically interested in her. She never proposed to him either. Their banter was just that: silly banter that came about organically to get through the day. Her judgmental eyes and piercing tone regarding Gorou¡¯s dedication to Ai had also staved off any possibility of doctor and nurse ending up together. Kumada and the rest had clearly underestimated what Ai meant to him.

    As Ruby began more actively engaging in the stop-motion Q&A between Cobalt and Shin, Aqua quietly pulled out Ai¡¯s phone. He had seen Ruby discreetly take it from Ai earlier, and he had claimed it from the upbeat Ruby when she wasn¡¯t looking. She had apparently wanted to sneak a peek at old photos of their birth, most likely to see what Nurse-chan looked like. Aqua went a step further and searched her real name in an incognito tab.

    She was still alive and well. One of her social media accounts included pictures of her celebrating the most recent new year¡­ in Las Vegas.

    Digging further, Aqua saw that she had a family: a daughter half Cobalt¡¯s age, and an American husband who had no resemblance to Gorou Amamiya.

    The residents of Takachiho probably stayed willfully ignorant to this, not wanting to expel the romanticized story of Gorou running off with Nurse-chan. Kumada was smart enough to do his own research, let alone a five-second Google search and ten seconds of scrolling, but Kumada either didn¡¯t care to look up Nurse-chan or didn¡¯t care about Gorou evidently not being a part of her life anymore. Kumada never cared for a lot of things¡­ except for his wife, Tenshi¡­

    Fleeting thoughts whispered in Aqua¡¯s ear about the Hoshigami family potentially being complicit in Gorou¡¯s murder and the coverup. Aqua swiftly dismissed those absurd conjectures. Kumada was a hardass sometimes but never psychotic or bloodthirsty; he would never be a willing accomplice to murder. Shin had been a normal boy when Gorou last saw the kid, attached to the hip of his mother. Not so different from Cobalt, though his development had clearly taken a radical turn if his current relationship with Kumada was anything to go by. Tenshi Hoshigami¡¯s passing must have definitely dealt lasting blows to her surviving family.

    Her death by heart attack had occurred four years after Gorou had died. There simply wasn¡¯t enough evidence to implicate any of the Hoshigamis to knowingly being involved with the schemes of Aqua¡¯s father. Moreover, Aqua was not so cynical as to think Nurse-chan could have also been an accomplice for his father and the stalker. Her sense of duty and honor weren¡¯t only limited to her criticism of Gorou¡¯s fanaticism of Ai the Idol. She was a good person, no question.

    Aqua still searched his old name online every now and then for any possible updates for the whereabouts of his old body, even ten years divorced from the incident itself. Nurse-chan never appeared in the results, but it was during one of these past Internet searches where he had learned of Tenshi¡¯s death. She wasn¡¯t the first or last patient to have died in circumstances outside of Gorou¡¯s control. Even so, Aqua remembered the shock he¡¯d felt upon discovering the news.

    The successful, uncomplicated birth of Shin Hoshigami had been something Gorou had needed at the time to remind himself that there was still real help he could give to others as a medical professional.

    Tenshi had been a bit of a daredevil during university, only barely restrained by Kumada, her boyfriend back then. She had shared Cobalt¡¯s penchant for embarking on exhilarating misadventures and getting herself injured, wearing a varying array of casts and bandages with an easygoing smile every time Gorou saw her on campus or in group outings. Gorou hadn¡¯t been the only concerned acquaintance wondering if Tenshi was in a troubled relationship with Kumada, but time and time again, her injuries had been entirely due to her own folly. In an odd way, spending time with Kumada and Tenshi had served as a prelude to Aqua¡¯s brotherly watch over Ruby and Cobalt. Of course, Ruby was far more emotionally outspoken and insistently protective of their own little troublemaker than Kumada by a long shot.

    Becoming Tenshi¡¯s doctor in Takachiho had been a surprise to them all. Settling in a relatively boring town like Takachiho hadn''t seemed like Tenshi¡¯s first choice at first glance, but Gorou supposed that was how love guided an odd couple sometimes. Likely to tease and annoy Kumada, she had happily thrown herself into the cheers and chants Gorou had begun conducting for Ai during their appointments together. Kumada came to tolerate it, and Gorou had been appreciative of at least one adult he personally knew not adversely judging him for taking up Sarina¡¯s place in supporting Ai.

    Shin¡¯s birth had humbled Tenshi far better than any of Kumada¡¯s own attempts throughout university. Although her physical heart had still needed observation in the years after Shin¡¯s arrival into the world, her love for her own flesh and blood had finally convinced her the value of restraint and self-discipline, caring for her health at a tremendously more agreeable pace.

    Gorou had other notable patients, of course. Other mothers and children to lend his expertise to beyond Sarina or Tenshi. Men and women without too complex health concerns or significant personal ties to Gorou, though with memorable personalities and conversations which Aqua still occasionally thought about to this day. Some had been cordial, others not so much.

    Yet whatever higher power that had granted Gorou Amamiya reincarnation, it also apparently saw it fit for Aqua Hoshino to come into contact with these specific people from his old life.

    This had to mean something. The precise nature, Aqua couldn¡¯t quite identify yet, but this was fate.

    Aqua thought on what were the most appropriate steps to take next. Studying more of Nurse-chan¡¯s available online profiles and possibly even fabricating accounts for Gorou Amamiya to reconnect with her, to gather more details and context of their supposed love affair from a primary source. No matter how slim the chances, even if the nurse was ignorant to the role she had played for that monster, Aqua might catch a hint of his father¡¯s influence, if any, over this cover for Gorou¡¯s disappearance.

    To that end, Aqua will also have to remain in contact with the Hoshigamis. Perhaps engineer more ¡°reunions¡± with other former associates of Gorou Amamiya at the hospital and the rest of Takachiho. If there was time before the Hoshinos¡¯ return to Tokyo, he needed to take advantage of physically being back in this town and actually retrace his last moments from the night of his death, to thoroughly confirm there was no subtle sign or another salvageable piece leading to Gorou¡¯s corpse to be found.

    Would there be merit in informing everyone about Aqua¡¯s status as the reincarnated spirit of Gorou Amamiya? He¡¯d have to confer with Ruby, since her reincarnation would also naturally be revealed.

    Ai¡­ would still love them, but she didn¡¯t need to know. It would be another complication in their already hectic lives. Cobalt caused enough trouble as it was, this outing to Takachiho being the latest prime example to cite for future reference, and the state of Strawberry Productions may be at its most fragile depending on how things were resolved between Ichigo and Miyako. Knowing that the same stalker who had assaulted them six years ago had also technically already succeeded in killing someone close to Ai would no doubt perturb everyone, as well. Aqua was supposed to protect his family, not disturb them with horror stories.

    Aqua had intimate knowledge about¡­ well, himself, so he could convince the skeptic in Kumada of his supernatural rebirth¡­ but it was unlikely Kumada would be much of an active or useful ally. Kumada had his own life, and evidently his own shortcomings with regards to his son. The only person Aqua genuinely trusted with his true goals was Director Gotanda, but even he was unaware of Aqua¡¯s reincarnation. No, trying to persuade Kumada to aid in Aqua¡¯s search for his father would have to be a last resort, if Aqua hit a wall in his plans and had no one else to turn to.

    Shin was still a child, who adopted Gorou¡¯s and Sarina¡¯s keychain to remember his mother. He didn¡¯t need to be told anything more about Gorou Amamiya.

    So much more to do, so many more points of investigation to consider, and Aqua still had a book report due for school before the end of the week.

    It was incredibly fortunate that Cobalt somehow had wrangled himself into becoming a friend of Shin Hoshigami and wanting to emulate his animation hobby¡­ If the innocent son of Ai Hoshino unknowingly bringing about a reunion between his reincarnated older brother and the family who had been Gorou¡¯s support after Sarina wasn¡¯t orchestrated by fate, by some divine machination, Aqua didn¡¯t know what was.

    If Cobalt keeps it up with Shin, Aqua pictured more Hoshino family visits to the Hoshigamis in the future. More opportunities for Aqua to search the town for anything to aid his ultimate goal, and more time for Tenshi¡¯s and Kumada¡¯s son to learn what it felt like to feel unfiltered, unrestrained love again, only from the fanboy in Cobalt instead of from Shin¡¯s mother.

    Aqua pocketed Ai¡¯s phone and returned to the current moment. Cobalt complained to Ruby how he was taking individual pictures, not recording video, with Shin¡¯s camera, and how she wasn¡¯t supposed to be puppeteering the clay figure in complete motions instead of step-by-step for each photo. Shin just looked exasperated and leaned back on a chair, arms folded and feet propped on the edge of a dresser.

    Aqua approached Shin and handed him back the Ai keychain. ¡°You have good taste,¡± Aqua said.

    ¡°Uh, thanks.¡± Shin¡¯s face was always red either from embarrassment or indignation ever since Aqua set his eyes on him tonight. It was the former case again as Shin grabbed a water bottle and held it to Aqua. ¡°You thirsty?¡±

    At least Kumada¡¯s imparted his penchant for being a good host onto his son. ¡°I¡¯m good, thanks. Are you really considering joining Strawberry Productions?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, man. Maybe. Probably.¡± Such indecisiveness was uncharacteristic of both Shin¡¯s parents. Confident conviction must not have been easily inherited. ¡°More money would be good if it means I get to put out more, better work. I¡¯ve still got a lot of stories I wanna tell¡­¡±

    Since he was so focused on looking through the camera, Cobalt turned with the tripod setup still held in front of him as he faced Shin and Aqua, the sound of more pictures being taken sounding off with each movement. ¡°It¡¯d be really cool if Robo-Max joins Strawberry! You can even ride in the Strawberry-mobile! Oh, Robo-Max could make his own miniature Strawberry-mobile car prop and use it in his debut video as part of Strawberry! You could make animated music videos for the company, commercials. There¡¯s a green screen and a blue screen curtain grandpa Ichigo keeps at the office! Robo-Max could edit in regular people into an animation like how Aqua talked about ¨C¡±

    Aqua and Ruby were fine with Cobalt going on another run-on sentence of a ramble, but Shin¡¯s patience was reaching its limit. ¡°Listen, Cobie¡­ if you¡¯re gonna keep calling me by my YouTube handle, I¡¯m going to need to change it.¡±

    Cobalt gasped. ¡°Why? Robo-Max is a fun name!¡±

    ¡°It sounds too kiddy! And goofy. I just went with the first thing that popped in my head when I made my channel. If I¡¯m going to join an actual agency that¡¯s gonna bring in cash, I need something more¡­ official-sounding. Like, recognizable and not so silly to say out loud.¡± Shin shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯ve got that many subscribers or comments like other stop-motion YouTubers in the States. Changing my online name shouldn¡¯t be a hassle for any normal fans I might have. If I really do join Strawberry Productions, some rebranding might be nice, too.¡±

    "But¨C¡±

    Cutting Cobalt off, Aqua said, ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with wanting to begin again. Be happy you helped Shin get the chance to rethink his branding.¡± Cobalt still needed to learn how to keep from overwhelming people with his excitement.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Cobalt drawled out unhappily.

    The change in attitude was enough for Ruby to frown at Aqua. On the other hand, it also made Shin feel uncomfortable, setting his feet on the floor and adopting a more gentle air. ¡°How about you think up a new YouTube name for me?¡± he asked Cobalt. ¡°Something cool, and interesting, but not too silly.¡±

    They barely had to wait before Cobalt¡¯s chipper voice offered one.

    ¡°How about Clayman Animations?¡±

    That seemed to strike something with Shin. He stared blankly ahead and repeated the word, ¡°Clayman¡­¡±

    ¡°Since your stop-motion mostly uses clay characters! I also like the sound of it. The ¡®ay-man¡¯ and ¡®may-shun¡¯ parts sound good together. Clayman Animations!¡±

    Shin rubbed his chin with a contemplative countenance. ¡°Clayman Animations¡­ Well, I gotta say, something about it is hitting right with me, kid. I¡¯ll think about it.¡±

    Cobalt was shaking. As in his entire body from head to toe was vibrating, moving the tripod he was holding and seemingly unscrewing the camera off until Aqua moved to take the device out of Cobalt¡¯s grasp. Scrutinizing Cobalt, Aqua found himself hit by a ray of light ¨C Cobalt¡¯s sheer happiness was exponentially exploding.

    What was it about Shin¡¯s videos that enamored Cobalt to this extent? Made him so overjoyed at being complimented and thanked by ¡°Robo-Max¡±?

    Aqua wasn¡¯t complaining, per se. It was just¡­ unexpected. This kind of visceral reaction of love from Cobalt used to only be reserved for his family. Aqua still remembered the time Cobalt had nearly jumped out of the sunroof of a rental car when Ai had announced a trip to the beach to collect star sand versus when Cobalt had responded to news of a school field trip to a similar beach with only the regular amount of enthusiasm.

    ¡°What should my YouTube handle be?¡± Cobalt asked.

    Ruby sat on top of Shin¡¯s work desk, swinging her feet as she shuffled closer to their little brother, looking at him with inquisitive eyes. ¡°Do you really want to start your own YouTube channel, Cobie? Why not just join Shin¡¯s channel as his apprentice or something?¡±

    ¡°But that¡¯s his channel,¡± Cobalt stressed. ¡°I want to help him and want him to help me, but I also want my own channel! Something that belongs to me.¡±

    How admirable. Cobalt actually had a personal, tangible goal he was setting himself to strive towards that will take a great deal of work to reach. The youngest of the Hoshino triplets finally had a dream he wanted to make a reality. Aqua desired his vengeance through his understanding of the acting world, Ruby obsessed over becoming a subject of idol worship, and now Cobalt was aiming for Internet stardom by way of animation.

    ¡°It might be a while before Strawberry Productions can give you your own contract as a YouTuber and pay you money,¡± Aqua warned, half-jokingly. Cobalt took it at face-value.

    ¡°That¡¯s okay. I know I need more experience. That¡¯s why I want to start animating and producing my own stuff on my own channel! Just like how Clayman originally did!¡±

    ¡°Listen,¡± Shin spoke up, ¡°I¡¯d totally be willing to help you, give some tips and whatever. But, why not just use your normal name? People know who Ai Hoshino and Aqua Hoshino are, so you¡¯ll have some continuity with the family business.¡±

    Cobalt shook his head. ¡°I love my family,¡± he said as easily as he breathed, ¡°but my name is already something mom made for me. Aqua and Ruby gave me my nickname, Cobie. I want something made by me and for me.¡±

    Aqua raised an eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯re asking us for advice, though, on what to name your channel.¡±

    It took Cobalt a second to let that sink in. ¡°Huh, I guess you¡¯re right¡­¡± He snickered. ¡°Creating something new is hard!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll get better,¡± Aqua reassured, ¡°especially with that gung-ho attitude.¡± He turned to Shin. ¡°He came up with your new handle. Any ideas on what Cobalt should take?¡±

    As a child, coming up with names had been a recurring bit for Shin. He had taken to speaking with great grammar and punctuation almost as fast as Cobie had. Throughout Gorou¡¯s last year before his death, Shin had always accompanied Tenshi to her appointments, and the boy had often been distracted by Tenshi prompting him to come up with names for the various medical tools or procedures he wasn¡¯t able to pronounce correctly.

    It didn¡¯t take Shin long to come up with an answer.

    ¡°How about Orel?¡±

    ¡°Orel?¡± Cobalt repeated. He muttered the name repetitively to himself.

    ¡°Why that name?¡± Aqua asked.

    ¡°Kid¡¯s so goddamn talkative,¡± Shin said with a teasing grin.

    For a moment, Aqua was back in university, listening to Tenshi whine goodheartedly about Kumada being a worrywart. The image was shattered as Shin¡¯s expression changed to resemble an annoyed Kumada, since Ruby kicked Shin¡¯s leg for the inappropriate language in front of Cobie.

    ¡°Like I was saying,¡± Shin continued, rubbing his leg and matching Ruby¡¯s fierce glare with his own weary look. ¡°Cobalt never shuts up. In English, I think ¡®Orel¡¯ spelled with an ¡®e¡¯ is actually a real name, but you can use it as a play on the word ¡®oral¡¯, related to speaking. Like an oral presentation in school.¡±

    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°I like it!¡± Cobalt voiced his approval. ¡°Orel¡­¡±

    He was swooning over the name. For all of Cobalt¡¯s obliviousness and Shin¡¯s abrasiveness, there was an unseen wavelength between the two that they just kept hitting, feeding off of each other.

    ¡°But it needs something more,¡± Cobalt said. ¡°Something to help make the name stand out.¡±

    ¡°Oh!¡± That was Ruby. ¡°I have an idea! How about ¡®Elemental Orel¡¯?¡±

    Aqua scrounged his memories for the reference and nodded in agreement. Shin lacked the context the siblings shared. ¡°Where¡¯s ¡®Elemental¡¯ come from?¡±

    Ruby explained it. ¡°Like how stories and media use the four or five elements as the foundation in super power or magic systems. Cobie was confused by the word once. Elements are the forces of nature, but he took it to mean ¡®a force of nature¡¯ as in something that¡¯s really big and powerful. Like the big bad villain, or the veteran mentor character, or like our mom, Ai, being a force of nature in entertainment.¡± She pitched her voice differently and raised her fists up in the air in a rudimentary mimicry of Cobalt. ¡°¡®You¡¯re so elemental, mom!¡¯¡±

    Aqua smiled fondly. ¡°I remember that, too.¡±

    Cobalt nodded vigorously. ¡°That sounds great! Elemental Orel will be the name of my stop-motion animation YouTube channel! I¡¯ll grow and become the second-best animator this side of the Pacific!¡±

    Shin groaned. ¡°I really need to figure out a new slogan for my channel¡­ Same goes for you, Cobalt. I don¡¯t want you to just copy me verbatim.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t want me to use too many verbs?¡±

    ¡°What? No, I mean not to copy every single thing I say or do. Like you said earlier, you should make something of your own.¡±

    ¡°Alright!¡± Cobalt saluted. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best! Thank you, Robo¨C¡±

    ¡°Kid!¡±

    ¡°Oh, sorry. Thank you, Clayman, Ruby, and Aqua!¡±

    Shin leaned back against his chair. ¡°Clayman¡­ Yeah, I can be happy with that. Better than Robo-Max.¡±

    Then Shin jumped to his feet. ¡°I gotta go drain the dragon.¡± Ruby and Cobalt obviously didn¡¯t understand from the way they hardly reacted, but Aqua did. Shin pointed at him. ¡°You seem like the smartest one here.¡±

    ¡°Hey!¡±

    ¡°But Clayman¡¯s completely right, Ruby.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re in charge,¡± Shin continued. ¡°Anyone breaks anything, it¡¯s coming out of your piggy bank.¡± Then Shin marched out.

    Aqua made himself comfortable on Shin¡¯s chair and slid it closer to his siblings. Cobalt flipped through a notebook full of sketches and blocks of handwritten text while Ruby was back to playing with more clay dolls, posing them in familiar idol stances performed by B-Komachi.

    ¡°What kind of videos do you want to do?¡± Aqua asked Cobalt. ¡°We know stop-motion, but do you plan on writing up scripts and bringing them to life? Or maybe wordless exhibitions¡­ presentations focused purely on the movement of the animation.¡±

    A second wave of sunshine from Cobie hit them. ¡°I want to tell stories,¡± was his answer. ¡°I don¡¯t want to copy too much from Clayman, or from the other shows, movies, books, songs, and YouTube channels I watch, but they all do give me ideas! I also have really cool dreams I want to make videos about! You read them sometimes when you help me with my writing.¡±

    Wait, those messily written but coherent tales which Cobalt had penned on paper were recountings of his dreams? Aqua had thought they were just copied directly from some story book Cobalt really liked, or synopses of stories he found online.

    Cobalt may have been more interested in the art of storytelling for longer than Aqua gave him credit for.

    ¡°Aqua and I can help you out, too!¡± Ruby promised. ¡°We can voice-act and pitch in with the animating. We¡¯ll learn with you! You can be the director, so we¡¯ll do what you say to make the best videos possible!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Cobalt hugged Ruby, who hid a wince. Her male counterparts were starting to grow slightly bigger and taller than her, and Cobalt was still learning how much stronger he was getting compared to his older sister. ¡°I¡¯ll be a good director who gives you lots of home-cooked food mom makes when we take breaks from work!¡±

    He was speaking from his interactions with Taishi Gotanda and his doting mother. ¡°You don¡¯t have to go that far,¡± Aqua said.

    Ruby suddenly gasped and clapped her hands. ¡°Hey, I just had another idea. If you want to practice animating, we could make dolls of B-Komachi or even use old surplus ones already made that are probably in storage, and then recreate some of their music videos!¡±

    ¡°Not a bad start,¡± Aqua commented. It was a fine base as any to begin with. ¡°Though it might be better to first look up more animation tutorials ¨C¡±

    ¡°I already watched Clayman¡¯s tutorials!¡± interrupted Cobalt. ¡°I just need the parts and equipment, I think a storyboard, too, and we could start right away when we get home.¡±

    Aqua mentally jotted down time in his schedule to look up other sources and tutorials regardless. With him already busy with acting, school, and the investigation, he can probably get Ruby to put more time in an animation crash course, too, and make sure Cobalt knew what he was doing when Shin wasn¡¯t around to guide him.

    When Shin returned and Cobalt tackled him with a hug that sent them right outside the room, Aqua seized the short moment alone with Ruby to ask her, ¡°Are you alright?¡±

    She put up a front of bewilderment. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Aqua was fairly certain it was a front. Ruby wasn¡¯t as good a liar as Ai yet, and he was getting more and more adept at seeing through lies with his growing acting skills anyway.

    ¡°Why were you teary-eyed earlier?¡± Aqua said bluntly, to which Ruby merely whipped her hair over her shoulder ¨C a move, Aqua had learned, which would briefly hide her face and give her a chance to commit to an expression to display. She chose a frown and half-lidded eyes.

    ¡°I was a little sad,¡± she admitted. ¡°Mom talked very fondly about her Sensei. I would¡¯ve liked to meet him.¡±

    So Aqua may have been right in his earlier assumptions on Ruby. Well, she appeared to have recovered from her earlier woes. He wasn¡¯t going to be forthcoming with his own past, so he wouldn¡¯t press Ruby too much. ¡°Wherever he is now, I¡¯m sure he¡¯s happy.¡±

    And he really was.

    He could hardly wait until their father was burning in hell so that he could never infringe on their happiness ever again.

    ¡°You can¡¯t really know that, but sure,¡± Ruby said as she hopped off the desk and moved to whatever ruckus Shin and Cobalt were causing in the hall. ¡°Who knows? Maybe when I get big as an idol, he¡¯ll realize how he missed out on being there when we were born.¡±

    Aqua wore a smile she couldn¡¯t see. ¡°If Ai meant anything to him, then I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be your biggest fan.¡±

    <hr>

    Ichigo was finally alone with Miyako. After she freshened up, they left the house and relocated to the driveway near one of the company cars. Kanzaki hadn¡¯t returned yet. The neighborhood was dead silent aside from the soft breeze. This late at night, and with the Hoshinos busy getting to know the Hoshigamis, the Saitous had complete privacy to have this conversation.

    It was a long time coming.

    Miyako was sober, standing tall and not weakly leaning against the car. The total opposite of how Ichigo had imagined this talk going, and he was all the more thankful for that.

    ¡°Why did you bring Cobalt here with Kanzaki?¡± he began.

    ¡°Cobie wanted to see his favorite YouTuber, and I was in no shape to be driving.¡±

    Ichigo blinked a few times. ¡°You left to search for a stranger on the Internet we had zero confirmed information on?¡±

    Miyako gave a shrug that only exacerbated Ichigo¡¯s frustration. ¡°I was drunk and wasn¡¯t thinking straight. It worked out anyway. Cobalt has a new best friend, and Strawberry might be getting its first internet star off the ground.¡±

    Taking a deep breath, Ichigo asked, ¡°Why did you really come to this town, Miyako?¡±

    ¡°¡­ This was where Ai¡¯s children were born.¡± Miyako gazed at the countryside scenery around them. ¡°Back then, when I learned she was pregnant, I thought that dream you promised me, of seeing her light up Tokyo Dome, had become a lie. At first, I chose to stay with you, look after Ai¡¯s kids, because I had nowhere else to go if I still wanted to stay in the industry and keep a semblance of my dignity without selling myself out.¡±

    Ichigo still remembered those tense conversations, before and after the kids were born, vividly. ¡°I thought you wanted kids. We talked about ¨C¡±

    ¡°Ai isn¡¯t the only one who knew how to ensnare lonely men with charming lies in her prime.¡±

    He¡­ didn¡¯t know what was the right thing to say to that. Anything he wanted to say would just¡­ make this whole conversation deteriorate.

    ¡°I was young, hopeful, and naive when I told you I wanted kids one day. Then, like you, I wanted to chase that dream of seeing Ai win the hearts of everyone in Japan. You had the experience and the connections, so I wanted to support you, learn from you, stand with you as you put in the work for Ai. I understood it was work, and it can¡¯t always be so glamorous, but being dumped with changing Ai¡¯s snot-nosed, drooling children all the time instead of actually contributing to Ai¡¯s career¡­¡±

    ¡°You did contribute,¡± Ichigo insisted. ¡°They were Ai¡¯s children. Caring for them was the support she needed. There was no one else we could trust for that.¡±

    ¡°In those early days with Aqua, Ruby, and Cobalt, I was desperate for a fresh start.¡±

    Yes¡­ Ichigo had realized too late the true scope of Miyako¡¯s dissatisfaction at the time of becoming the kids¡¯ surrogate mom. She had earnestly taken to it relatively quickly, but it was years later during one of her drunken tirades when she had confessed to Ai about almost leaking to the media about Ai the Idol¡¯s teen pregnancy. Ai had forgiven her, so Ichigo did the same.

    Still¡­ ¡°Why didn¡¯t you leave?¡± he asked her, a Miyako now in perfect control of her mental faculties.

    She grinned playfully. ¡°I had a religious realization. I thought if I gave up on my own private, selfish dreams, and instead devoted everything to whatever Ai and her kids needed, then I would get my reward. I would be happy.

    ¡°It started working out. Ai was getting more gigs outside of idol work. She survived a horrible tragedy that could have gone even worse and learned how to stop living a lie. She and B-Komachi got to the dome. Our dream came true. It was dazzling. Amazing¡­ and Ai¡¯s kids¡­ They¡¯re my kids, too.¡±

    Ichigo understood that. He wasn¡¯t ashamed at his own lack of closeness with the kids compared to Miyako. They were happy, which made Ai happy, which made Ichigo happy. ¡°Even when the dream ended, we''ve both been working so that Ai can still brighten the world without being an idol. You still believe in that as much as I do. Don¡¯t you?¡±

    Miyako didn¡¯t answer him. Instead, she went back to his original question on why she came to Takachiho. ¡°Whoever it was who gave Ai her kids, it was in this town where she started to shine brighter than ever before, where she first held her precious children. I came to Takachiho again thinking it could somehow give us all¡­ give me¡­ another burst of good fortune.¡±

    He couldn¡¯t stop himself from going to the worst implications of those words. He gritted his teeth as he asked, ¡°If you wanted a rendezvous with Hikaru Kanzaki, why bother bringing Cobalt?¡±

    Miyako¡¯s face froze before bursting out a snort. ¡°Excuse me? You think I¡¯d involve Cobie in some overly complicated scheme to get in Kanzaki¡¯s pants?¡±

    She would have to if Cobie fell headfirst into the scheme by his own misadventurous nature. ¡°What other good fortune could you be talking about? Was this supposed to be some fantasy family vacation for you? With Kanzaki as your partner and Cobalt as your son?¡± God knows how he played his own fantasies in his head of weekend vacations where it was just himself and Miyako again, without having to think about the stress of the month¡¯s net profits.

    ¡°As if you¡¯d know what a vacation would look like in the past six years,¡± Miyako accused with a scoff, as if they hadn¡¯t always scrounged enough money for trips out of Tokyo every summer for Ai and the kids.

    ¡°Because we are working for Ai!¡± Was Miyako really that blind?

    ¡°Does Ai want to be the top actress in the world?¡±

    ¡°Of course!¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Ichigo didn¡¯t back down from Miyako¡¯s intense glare as she turned around to fully face him, her eyes sharpened enough to pierce diamonds. ¡°She doesn¡¯t! Our dream for Tokyo Dome and making everyone feel loved by Ai the Idol was hers, too. She got to be Japan¡¯s greatest idol already. If only we could all achieve our dreams at twenty. The only things she dreams about now is her children achieving their dreams.¡±

    ¡°Everything we do is still in support of that,¡± Ichigo reiterated. ¡°We keep getting Ai and our other talents well-paying jobs, building up the triplets¡¯ inheritance. Aqua gets more acting opportunities. Ruby has tutors, music composers, and idol deals beyond Ai easy to line up for her. Cobalt can do whatever the hell he wants, animation included.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re rationalizing. All of that being true doesn¡¯t make your obsession a lie.¡±

    ¡°What obsession?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t play dumb, grandpa Ichigo,¡± Miyako said mockingly. ¡°Every single thing you do is for Ai first and foremost, because she¡¯s your daughter, the family you always wanted. The star you want shining highest in the night sky, burning hotter than the sun. She¡¯s still a star, but she won¡¯t sparkle as bright as you want. Those days are over.¡±

    Ichigo wanted to pull at his hair. ¡°Enough with the metaphors. Yes, I think of Ai as my own daughter¡­¡±

    And Miyako had lied about wanting to be a mother¡­ But she had grown to accept the family dynamic and genuinely loved the Hoshinos as her own.

    She must think of herself more a Hoshino than a Saitou at this point.

    ¡°No matter what,¡± Ichigo said slowly but resolutely, ¡°I still want us to be together, Miyako.¡±

    Miyako shook her head, never breaking their stare. ¡°We married because it made our dreams with Ai easier to make real,¡± she said, no-nonsense. ¡°It was out of convenience. It isn¡¯t so much anymore.¡±

    That wasn¡¯t true, technically. ¡°The new tax laws ¨C¡± He shut his mouth.

    Ichigo exaggerated, told half-truths, and deflected all the time. To hype up the talents he was selling. To downplay their faults. To make Strawberry Productions look better than it actually was and give the impression of their rival agencies offering less in turn. To convince Ai she can afford to spend a little more time endearing herself to her co-stars and producers at the most opportune moments over stubbornly running back home to the kids who wouldn¡¯t be going anywhere else.

    Now he was resorting to telling Miyako they should stay together because of the lenient tax codes instead of saying those very simple words.

    ¡°I love you, Miyako.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t love you, Ichigo.¡±

    Her words hurt, but Ichigo couldn¡¯t bring it in himself to call them a lie.

    Ichigo often twisted the truth like it was second nature. Overtly denying the truth, especially now, would make him a liar as good as Ai.

    Before tonight, when was the last time he and Miyako had dinner together, in the same room, across from each other?

    And while they were alone? Just the two of them? Without the worries about Strawberry Productions so incessantly hanging over them like a taunting guillotine?

    He was sad to say that his most vivid memory that ticked all the boxes had been on one of the days during the interim between Ai¡¯s assault and the Tokyo Dome concert. Ai and the kids had already gone to sleep, Ichigo had completed all of his calls with the available work contacts, and Miyako had soothed over the last worries the other girls in B-Komachi had been expressing about early idol retirement.

    With nothing else to do, no more work they could have possibly busied themselves with at that hour, no childish Hoshino kid to fret over, Ichigo and Miyako had jointly cooked her father¡¯s favorite miso soup recipe with a side of leftovers the kids hadn¡¯t gobbled up from lunchtime that day.

    It had been a peaceful night.

    The only nights now that Ichigo could call peaceful were when he could sleep a full eight hours¡­ instead of citing the nights when he was Miyako.

    Just like when Ai had revealed her plans to stop being an idol, Ichigo took a step back and saw Miyako right in front of him. Not with his eyes under the lens of a business partner, but as the man who had convinced her to marry him.

    Ichigo had brought his cigarette pack and lighter, having forgotten to leave it behind in the rush to pick up Ai for the drive to Takachiho. He never smoked or let the smell linger when he knew he was going to be near the kids. Especially not after Miyako started freely drinking.

    Now, tonight, Ichigo pulled out the pack and crushed it under his foot.

    Miyako was surprised, as he expected. ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m quitting the habit, and you¡¯re quitting your vice, too.¡±

    Her glower returned with disbelief. ¡°Yes, that will happen right this second.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care how long it takes. It¡¯s going to happen.¡±

    ¡°And that will magically solve all of our problems, will it?¡±

    No, of course not. But it was something they could do, to work towards. Something other than money and opportunities and pure business.

    Even so, the agency president part of Ichigo was working through other options. ¡°I can move out of the house,¡± he said.

    Miyako was even more shocked. ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to ¨C¡±

    ¡°The kids live there, and like you said, they¡¯re your kids, too. I¡¯m grandpa Ichigo to them. I love them, but I barely see them when I stay at the house as it is. It¡¯s your home more than mine.¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡± Ichigo saw the gears in Miyako¡¯s head turning. She had learned a lot from him, but much of it was her own good acumen and sensibilities honed during her own trials in helping keep Strawberry Productions afloat. What Ichigo was truly saying would hit her any second. ¡°Ai won¡¯t want you to leave.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s an adult, same as me and you. We can all cope with a little personal separation for a while.¡±

    The shift in her eyes was the sign that she finally understood.

    ¡°You want a divorce,¡± she said.

    ¡°You¡¯ve thought about it, haven¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­ but that wouldn¡¯t be fair to Ai or the kids.¡±

    ¡°Neither would letting them get dragged down by our own issues. Just because they love us and we love them, it doesn¡¯t mean we have to feel obligated to pretend to love each other when we really don¡¯t.¡±

    Ichigo almost couldn¡¯t believe what he was saying, but if he didn¡¯t say it, Miyako would still be drowning herself in alcohol, and Ichigo would be throwing himself in the usual work to keep from facing the harsh reality. To keep himself in that dream of furthering Ai¡¯s mesmerizing legacy.

    Miyako was right. They¡¯d already achieved that dream, with Ai the Idol at Tokyo Dome. They couldn¡¯t ¨C Ichigo couldn¡¯t just keep chasing it and dragging Miyako down with him.

    ¡°What about the company?¡± Miyako asked next. Sober, she was doing the same thing Ichigo always did, thinking about the business before letting the emotional baggage cloud their thinking.

    ¡°We can revise our roles as we want them. Reallocate responsibilities at a pace we can both handle. Delegate more. Kanzaki¡¯s already proven how loyal and trustworthy he is to work as a reliable go-between. We can take a break until we can both come to properly defined agreements on how Strawberry can move forward. We could even have you as the new President, plan out a better schedule than the workaholic¡¯s wet dream I always pitch everyone.¡±

    Miyakos¡¯ frown deepened. ¡°The Ichigo Saitou I know wouldn¡¯t be happy stepping down from anything he¡¯s already committed to.¡±

    Ichigo gave her a bittersweet smile. ¡°I know. I think that Ichigo Saitou should have learned better if staying committed to a dream and a marriage his partner doesn¡¯t believe in leads to conversations like this.¡±

    The pain in Ichigo¡¯s heart was only surpassed by the fear and dread he felt when news of Ai¡¯s and Cobalt¡¯s assault had first reached his ears. However, it was a necessary pain he needed to feel if there was going to be any hope of salvaging his relationship with Miyako.

    Whether as lovers, business partners, or simply as friends¡­ even if they needed time away from each other, the most selfish part of Ichigo didn¡¯t want her entirely gone from his life.

    <hr>

    ¡°Bye, Clayman! I hope we see you again soon!¡±

    ¡°His name is Shin, Cobalt.¡±

    ¡°Just let Cobie call him whatever he wants!¡±

    The older two siblings were still bickering while Cobie continued waving. Shin returned the wave, keeping his eyes on him as both of Strawberry¡¯s company cars drove away.

    Yesterday had been a good day for Shin. He got to meet Ai Hoshino the superstar, her youngest son was apparently his biggest fan, and now Shin was going to be working with Strawberry Productions to make something real out of his animations!

    Dad was already back inside the house. He didn¡¯t have work today. In spite of the early morning hour, he was probably going to drink the rest of the bottles the Strawberry Productions president had brought with him in that gift basket.

    Good. That meant no one was around to nag Shin about the chores he needed to get done today. Instead, Shin sat for a little while at the front of his house, waiting patiently for the next guest¡¯s arrival.

    The brown wolf rose out of a field of tall grass across the street. Shin waved, and the wolf trotted over to him. The animal plopped down next to him resting, his head on Shin¡¯s leg. Shin caressed the wolf¡¯s neck.

    The wolf¡¯s presence always had an unexplainable soothing effect on Shin. He didn¡¯t even like dogs or pets in general that much, but ever since that night¡­

    After giving mom¡¯s keychain in his pocket another squeeze, Shin removed his hand and pulled out his smartphone. He dialed the number he had memorized and pressed the phone against his ear.

    ¡°Hey,¡± Shin greeted when the call went through. ¡°Did you send the Hoshinos to find me?¡±

    The wolf growled when Shin¡¯s grip became rougher.

    ¡°The youngest triplet, Cobalt Hoshino. He''s a big fan of my work. He somehow convinced one of the managers at Strawberry Productions to track me down.¡±

    Shin glanced down to meet the wolf¡¯s attentive red eyes. They were a darker shade than Ruby¡¯s pink eyes, but still undeniably captivating. Hypnotic, even. Just like Ai¡¯s. Just like the eyes of the person who Shin was speaking with now.

    ¡°They seemed good¡­ No offense, but Cobalt¡¯s kind of an idiot¡­ Have you met him? I don¡¯t think so. I have, so¡­¡±

    Shin scratched the wolf¡¯s ear, a little too forcefully. In response, the wolf bit his wrist, but it was a sting he could tolerate.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to teach him how to do claymation¡­ And I think he and I share a lot in common¡­ Fine, I¡¯m an idiot sometimes, too. Whatever, but I¡¯m talking more about our ideas for stories, the types of videos we want to put out. If you liked what you saw in me, you might like what Orel will want to show the world.¡±

 Arc 3: Double Act, Part 1

    The Careless Sensei¡¯s silent prayer was thankfully answered as the door slid open without any resistance.

    ¡°In here!¡± she called over her shoulder, stepping into the hopefully safe haven. She stood at the ready beside the door to quickly shut it once the others joined her.

    The Sharp Principal got in first, her ponytail in a half-undone mess and a broken pair of glasses hanging off her ear. High-heels were held in her hands; improvised weapons stained from the dire situation they had all just escaped from.

    The Kind Punk was right behind the Sharp Principal, his bounding steps nearly causing him to crash into her. He tripped while trying to avoid her, hitting the floor and sliding across the classroom, banging against a few of the desks inside.

    The Sarcastic Child came in last, gasping for air as his shorter legs tried to keep up. Not waiting to waste anymore time, the Careless Sensei reached out to pull him in directly. She slammed the door shut in the same motion, barely clipping the hood of the Child¡¯s jacket.

    The Careless Sensei let herself fall back against the door, trying to steady her own breathing. The Sharp Principal didn¡¯t let any of them catch a break, screeching out, ¡°Lock the door!¡± Aware of the threat that crawled outside, the Careless Sensi clumsily felt around for the lock and did as she was told.

    As the Principal ran to the door at the other end of the classroom, the Kind Punk crawled toward the wall next to the Sensei and the Sarcastic Child. ¡°You think they saw us?¡± the Punk wheezed out.

    ¡°How could we tell?¡± the Child asked back with ire. ¡°They don¡¯t have eyes or nothing.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t know that,¡± the Sensei said with a wince and a groan, cracking her neck. ¡°They¡¯re aliens. They might not even need eyes. They could even see through walls and never lose track of us all for all we know.¡±

    The unimpressed scoff from the Sharp Principal was as irritating as ever. ¡°If that were the case, they would have found us already.¡±

    Tears started to form around the Sensei¡¯s eyes. ¡°I was supposed to be on vacation today, not running for my life from alien invaders¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, sensei,¡± reassured the Kind Punk, living up to his name with a matching smile that fought against the bruise on his face. ¡°I¡¯m sure the military will step in with the big guns soon! You¡¯ll be flying out to Hawaii in no time. Until then, I¡¯ll protect you!¡±

    ¡°As if you could protect anyone,¡± the Child jabbed, putting up a front of disinterest as he crossed his arms, hugging himself to keep his body from shaking too much. ¡°Those police officers were ants to the aliens.¡±

    ¡°Hey, no need to be so down, kiddo.¡±

    ¡°Do you think your dinky knife will actually do anything to hurt them?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s called a switchblade, you cheeky¨C¡±

    ¡°Stow the bickering,¡± the Sharp Principal cut in. She rejoined the rest of the survivors and was frowning at her phone. ¡°I don¡¯t have a signal. You, girl,¡± she said as she pointed at the Sensei. ¡°You have a two-way pager, do you not? Try that.¡±

    The Sensei patted her pockets and found only her wallet and some breath mints. ¡°Crap, I must¡¯ve lost it back at the entrance. Everyone was just running over each other, just to get away¡­¡±

    ¡°Useless!¡±

    Defending the Careless Sensei, the Kind Punk traded barbs with the Principal. The Child continued to give his own irreverent remarks.

    The Carless Sensei drew an invisible cross over her chest before clasping her hands together, giving another prayer for whatever greater power that could hear her to mercifully liberate them from this horrible crisis.

    She opened her eyes when she played the sound of rapid, resounding echoes of a helicopter¡¯s rotating blades inside her head. No, blades of helicopters, their collective noise growing higher and higher in volume.

    Everyone in the classroom dashed to the line of windows opposite them. Indeed, conjuring the image in her head, the Sensei watched along with her companions the arrival of military helicopters filling up the skyline and engaging the myriad of invasive alien structures and concoctions staining the Japanese cityscape.

    ¡°Yes!¡± the Careless Sensei cheered. ¡°My wish has been miracle-ized!¡±

    ¡°See?¡± the Punk said as he lightly punched the Child¡¯s shoulder and grinned at the Principal. ¡°I told you help was on the way.¡±

    For a moment, they all stared at the outdoor scenery with a mix of dread and hope. Danger still lurked with the alien invasion, but there was a chance, no matter how slim, for their band of survivors to escape the ongoing devastation tearing apart their home city.

    They lingered a little longer until the spell was broken.

    ¡°Cut!¡±

    Putting the desperation and exhaustion of the Careless Sensei aside, Yura Katayose relaxed and took a step back from the window. She replaced the green screen on the other side of the glass with a different image in her mind¡¯s eye to do some quick stretches.

    She might have been a bit too zealous in closing the door in those last few takes. She nearly caught her fingers between the door and the frame in one of them. The scenes they had filmed earlier today had been more physically demanding, so it was a clear sign that Yura needed to start taking her morning exercises more seriously. These weren¡¯t even actual stunts, just basic actions and maneuvers needed to convey Carless Sensei¡¯s sloppy nature. She shouldn¡¯t be letting such mundane but necessary things outpace her own stamina.

    ¡°Great work,¡± came the token compliment from Director Taishi Gotanda. The cameraman, lighting people, and other crew members around the sound stage were also setting down their equipment and relaxing.  ¡°We¡¯ll break off for lunch for now. Our special effects people are still running late, but be sure to be ready once they set everything up and we clock back in.¡±

    People started shuffling off. So did the director, probably to complain to the producer who was waving nervous, placating hands at him. Yura was watching the exchange when Murakami, the easygoing man behind the Kind Punk, asked her, ¡°You doing good, Katayose?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m surviving,¡± she said with a wink. ¡°How about you? The makeup finally getting to you?¡±

    Murakami chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s just for a bruise. It¡¯s nothing like what we had to film last week for the climax.¡± His character had been transformed into a human/alien hybrid, Yura recalled. Off-camera, one of the kids had expressed nothing but awe at the final result while Murakami had privately voiced his complaints to Yura about the entire costume being a pain to wear and act in, regardless of the great visuals it gave on-screen. ¡°You should probably go to your senpai before she completely forgets about you,¡± Murakami teased, to which Yura playfully held her head high and turned her back to him.

    ¡°You¡¯re just jealous you don¡¯t have as many scenes with her as me.¡± It wasn¡¯t the first time Yura has worked with Murakami. She knew his type. Unfortunately for him, they both knew the actress playing the Sharp Principal was out of his league.

    The cold, brusque attitude of the Principal was nowhere in sight as Ai Hoshino strolled with her son Aqua ¨C a Sarcastic Child in his role and in reality ¨C to a corner of the film set behind the cameras, where Ruby and Cobalt Hoshino had already opened up their bentos for lunch.

    Yura Katayose, rising superstar in the acting world, had finally gotten the opportunity to work alongside Ai Hoshino herself! Even on this fifth consecutive day of filming, the exhilaration of working with her hadn¡¯t waned in the slightest.

    Idols were a huge industry, but it had always been a mere passing interest for Yura growing up. Ai the actress, on the other hand, had always been a favorite of Yura¡¯s as she delved into the entertainment world as a performer. Ai-senpai¡¯s ability to captivate an audience was undeniable, and every little comment, every movement, every expression she conveyed on-screen always looked positively genuine. Even for roles that didn¡¯t quite fit Ai¡¯s more popular idol persona, Yura was always excited to see that beautiful face embody something different, like the crooked character in the Sharp Principal for this film.

    Their characters had actual names, of course, but they would be revealed to the viewers at a point later in the script. Yura just rolled with their titles for these earlier scenes to avoid accidentally slipping.

    Ai¡¯s youngest, Cobalt, was the spitting image of Aqua Hoshino if not for the faded facial scar. The kid was jumping in his chair and beckoning at Yura. She smiled back. All according to plan.

    While Ai, Aqua, and Ruby were already seated and digging into their food, Cobalt hopped off and ran toward Yura to meet her halfway. He propelled himself up to reach Yura¡¯s hand in a high-five above her head. As he landed, Yura bent her knees slightly so that their hands met again on the backswing.

    ¡°You said one of the lines I used in my videos!¡± he said, pulling at Yura¡¯s wrist to bring her toward the rest of his family. She indulged him, not resisting. Along the way, he started dragging Director Gotanda¡¯s unoccupied chair with them, tumbling it over long wires strewn across the floor but never letting it fall. ¡°The miracle-ized line!¡±

    ¡°I was hoping you¡¯d catch that!¡±

    Ai-senpai¡¯s kids were a cute bunch. When trying to slot in time with Ai and absorb some of her acting aura, Yura inevitably talked with them during breaks on set. Aqua was a good actor ¨C far better than Yura was when she was his age ¨C and looking at Ruby was literally like looking at a blonde Ai the Idol during her debut, with a similar gravitas and presence. Finding out the third child, Cobalt, was the mind behind the Elemental Orel animation videos online had certainly been a fun twist. Yura had subscribed to the channel a couple months back, finding the short but sweet comedy bits an enjoyable way to pass the time.

    Personally, Yura thought Ai-senpai leaned too much into the role of mother hen in real life. Her kiddies were twelve-year-olds, the same age senpai had been when she became an idol. Yura had been ten when she had to start locking up when she was alone at her apartment on her parents¡¯ most busy work days. Surely three siblings at twelve could avoid burning the house down without a babysitter? Especially kids as responsible as this trio? One a fairly prevalent actor with super high grades in school, and the other two putting out fully edited videos on a consistent release schedule, with the sister of the triplets likely to break off to begin her own idol work in a couple years.

    Despite Yura¡¯s complaints, she couldn¡¯t deny that Ai-senpai adored her children with a big heart. Every ¡°Cut!¡± from Director Gotanda was immediately followed by Senpai darting off-camera to hug the closest kid in reach. Throughout filming sessions, Ai used her charm to convince folks handling craft services to quickly run out to restock on extra sweets and juice for them. To Yura¡¯s knowledge, Elemental Orel wasn¡¯t technically contracted as a member of Strawberry Productions, the same company Ai and Aqua fell under, but from the conversations Yura¡¯s had with them, little Cobie still got access to agency resources like quality cameras and collaborations with bigger YouTube channels like Clayman Animations.

    A single mother, giving birth at sixteen, yet still a popular figure in entertainment years after the controversy, with a lot of influence within her own production company which she shamelessly used to support the interests of her kids. If Yura didn¡¯t finish this project without getting as much as possible out of being near the gracious, kind-hearted, and experienced Ai, then Yura¡¯s manager would murder her.

    As Yura settled on a chair with the Hoshinos, Ai snapped her head at the younger actress with a knowing look. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d go for such an obscure reference with the ad lib,¡± the ex-idol said.

    Yura played along. ¡°I don¡¯t know about obscure. If not mainstream, Elemental Orel¡¯s still getting more and more views online.¡±

    Ruby the cutie raised a thumbs-up. ¡°We hit a million overall views for the channel last night!¡±

    ¡°Really? Congratulations!¡± Yura exaggerated a respectful bow as Cobalt handed her a bento of her own. Murakami passed by and was also given his own meal from the ever charitable Cobalt, but he went off to eat by himself. Yura was working and he knew not to get in the way. ¡°I humbly accept this gift, Director Orel.¡±

    ¡°Keep up the good work in your career,¡± Ruby began with a smirk, ¡°and we might let you cameo a role in a video one day.¡±

    ¡°It will be unpaid labor,¡± Aqua deadpanned, expertly leaning out of the way from a shove from his sister, ¡°and the exposure will be nil compared to other jobs.¡±

    ¡°Mom can pay you in food!¡± offered Cobalt, whose hair was ruffled by Ai-senpai. ¡°Or give you more tips in acting!¡±

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know about that,¡± Ai-senpai said. ¡°Yura¡¯s racked up a debt with the lessons I¡¯ve already given her. Maybe she can repay me with free voice work?¡±

    That actually sounded cool. Yura¡¯s recorded her voice in closed, relatively small booths to dub over film footage with bad audio from the live takes, or provided only her voice in promotional commercials, but she¡¯s never had to seriously voice act as a genuine character. Yura¡¯s friends deeper in the voice acting world assured her it was still fundamentally a performance requiring the ability to emote and follow direction. While a low-key project, it might be worth pitching in with Elemental Orel if it meant spending more time with Ai-senpai.

    Yura was already using little Cobie and making references to his videos to have him invite her to spend more time near Ai when they were on set. Why not go a step further? Ai Hoshino was notoriously a loner with few close friends in spite of her overwhelming charisma, so Yura should take full advantage of the in she already established through her son. It wasn¡¯t as if Ai was discouraging Yura from indulging Cobie, after all.

    ¡°Sign me up!¡± Yura declared with gusto. ¡°Hmm, how about one line of dialogue per one lesson Ai-senpai gave me since we started filming together?¡±

    Cobalt¡¯s eyes sparkled with hope. Ruby smiled mischievously, clearly about to seal the deal with an unseen loophole up her sleeve, but Aqua interjected, ¡°A ¡®line¡¯ in Cobalt¡¯s scripts can take up the entire page, practically a monologue.¡±

    ¡°One line of dialogue from a script edited by Aqua,¡± Yura quickly amended. Aqua was as sharp as he was sarcastic. She had a feeling he knew she was using Cobalt to get to Ai, too, but tempering Yura¡¯s expectations might be the prodigy¡¯s way of trying to also poach Yura from her current agency to Strawberry.

    According to the grapevine, Strawberry¡¯s acting president Miyako Saitou wasn¡¯t as aggressive in recruiting new talents like her ex-husband Ichigo Saitou currently on a sabbatical. Miyako¡¯s regime instead built up an image and reputation that invited talents to seek Strawberry out. It wasn¡¯t only about Ai Hoshino. Good management, flexible contracts, and decent opportunities and means of monetization on the online space. The likes of Pieyon growing more viral in Japan by the day and Clayman Animations kicking off with American audiences were only a couple examples. Yura did enjoy working with Aqua and Ai, so the kid must want to make sure the shenanigans of his siblings didn¡¯t reflect on the company proper.

    Ruby huffed in a haughty breath. ¡°I edit Cobie¡¯s scripts more than Aqua does these days.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure Director Gotanda¡¯s precocious apprentice could work out a contract we can all be happy with!¡± Yura half-joked.

    As if her words summoned him, Gotanda reappeared at the center of the room and clapped his hands, grabbing everyone¡¯s attention.

    ¡°Alright!¡± he announced, the pushover of a producer from before looking disheveled as he loudly whispered into a phone. ¡°Change of plans. The crew responsible for operating the system for splitting the classroom in half are delayed indefinitely. A big accident apparently caused a massive traffic jam. Anything less than a helicopter pickup won¡¯t get the crew here before we all have to clock-off. So, with the people we do have, we¡¯re skipping to the mutation-centric scenes in act two.¡± Gotanda met Yura¡¯s eyes. ¡°Katayose and Murakami, you¡¯ll get changed and prepped first. Hoshinos ¨C¡±

    ¡°Our lunch hour isn¡¯t over yet!¡± Ai cut in with a deceptively warm smile, her kids¡¯ bentos only half-empty. Cobalt was stuffing himself in the lull of their conversation while his siblings ate at a slower pace. The two older kids synchronized a creepy stare at Gotanda, which Yura privately applauded them for executing it so well.

    ¡°¨C Make sure you don¡¯t dirty up your costumes since we need to maintain some visual continuity when the mutation makeup is applied,¡± Gotanda finished without skipping a beat. He moved to some of the heavier set crewmembers to begin moving set pieces and other critical equipment.

    Everyone accepted the preferential treatment the Director gave the Ai-senpai and her children. It hadn¡¯t gotten to the point of feeling particularly unfair or disruptive to the work. Gotanda was more than a competent leader, and Ai shone as she always did. It was a balance between Ai¡¯s selfishness for her kids and Gotanda¡¯s assertion of authority as the major player pushing this project along. Seeing the two in action was a fully-fledged educational course in itself.

    Yura performed another high-five/low-five combo with little Cobie as her farewell before walking away and psyching herself up, returning to the right mindset to get back into character.

    <hr>

    Signal Lost in the Heavens had a fairly basic premise. A bunch of random, normal people get caught up in an alien invasion, gain and lose members of their party along the way, leading to an ending with a somber note that may or may not bait a sequel. Notable names like Yura Katayose, Ai Hoshino, and Taishi Gotanda were mostly there to draw in the general movie-going audience familiar with their prior work, but the real money and effort was being put into the special effects for the cinematic battles and city destruction. There was a decent amount of practical props and stunts that looked incredibly realistic. The reason they were on a sound stage this week was for the effects folks to have complete control and freedom in tearing apart the specially built set pieces like today¡¯s classroom by the alien menace.

    Unfortunately, the hot new effects people weren¡¯t the most professional as far as their timing and management went. It was hardly the first time they were late to the set, a road accident in the way or not. Big investors were keeping the project going in spite of the delays, and the artists and engineers really did do great work, but they had to actually be on the set with their gear ready to properly prep the actors and the equipment to start filming the money shots and major scenes.

    This next scene involved the aliens using their special powers to cause the Sarcastic Child to become more emotionally unstable. The bad attitude he had used as a shield to ignore the fear would twist him to adopt completely destructive behavior to the detriment of the surviving protagonists.

    Yura was looking forward to seeing Aqua play a creepy child again, only at twelve-years-old instead of the three- or four-year-old he¡¯d been in his first ever acting role. That film had also been one directed by Gotanda, and one where Ai-senpai had played a prominent role, too, so Yura was excited to see just how much the prodigy they¡¯ve been cultivating had improved. The rehearsals between Yura and Aqua under Ai¡¯s tutelage were teasers to the main event¡­

    Carless Sensei was leaning against a wall of the narrow alley. Her makeup had long since been ruined by the day¡¯s turbulent events and her constant running. Now it was raining, the filth washing off her. A poor consolation for the horrid things she had to go through, but she¡¯ll take what she can get. The rain at least also gave her something to listen to. A vague, distant, but undeniable reminder of the once bustling city, rather than the deafening silence of total, utter defeat.

    The aliens were winning, but the Sensei was still alive. She wasn¡¯t giving up yet.

    The jostling of metal clinks prompted her to look down the alley. A chain fence and a locked gate blocked the path forward. The Sensei was in no shape to climb over it with her bum leg, but the Sarcastic Child apparently knew how to pick locks with improvised tools. With the Kind Punk missing, the boy had volunteered to open their path to salvation.

    They just had to go a little farther. The evacuation center was underground, hidden from the prying eyes of the aliens¡¯ aerial vehicles and monstrosities. The Sensei always hated riding the subway, but it was their only hope of escaping with their lives now. She could practically taste it¨C

    When the Careless Sensei started limping her way to the fence, the Sarcastic Child slipped through and closed the gate, resecuring the lock.

    She weakly pressed herself against the chain links and stared into the Child¡¯s deformed face. The aliens had¡­ done something to him. She still didn¡¯t know what. Beyond the superficial changes like strange eyes and inhumanly flaky skin, his personality and mannerisms hadn¡¯t changed at all.

    Until now. The Child now was preventing Sensei from proceeding, the boy staring darkly at her through the gaps in the metal links.

    ¡°Hey,¡± Sensei said, doing her hardest to keep her voice level and civil, to play into what the Child viewed as vulnerable and pitiful, and therefore someone obligated to receive help and assistance, ¡°chibi-chan, what are you doing? If we don¡¯t hurry, the train will leave without us. Don¡¯t you want to get home to your parents?¡±

    The Child¡¯s words were like a dagger to her heart. ¡°You lied to me. All of you lied to me.¡±

    This can¡¯t be happening. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Will flattery at this stage work on him? ¡°You¡¯re a smart kid. Even us adults could never outsmart you.¡±

    ¡°Stop lying!¡± The Sarcastic Child slammed himself against the fence, startling the Sensei a step back. ¡°The aliens don¡¯t lie. They want to hurt us, and they never hide that. You all said my parents were okay! That they got out. That they were safe.¡±

    Damn, he figured it out¡­ But the Sharp Principal had needed to convince him to turn over the radio. Otherwise, they never would have learned about the new evacuation site. ¡°If we just keep going,¡± the Sensei said, grasping at straws to keep up the act, ¡°you can see them again!¡±

    ¡°Liar!¡± The raindrops got lost with the real tears flowing down the Child¡¯s face, like a waterfall pouring over a cracked, barren landscape. ¡°The monsters killed them! You let them die!¡±

    No¡­ No, it was the aliens who killed them! It was the military¡¯s job to protect all of them, and they were the ones who let everyone down! ¡°Please, chibi-chan,¡± she pleaded. ¡°There was nothing we could do. They didn¡¯t want you to die, too. We didn¡¯t want to abandon anyone, but we could only save you.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re lying again! You don¡¯t care about anyone except for yourself!¡± He punched at where Sensei¡¯s fingers were hanging from the fence, forcing her to let go and back up further. ¡°I don¡¯t need the aliens to tell me that to know you¡¯re a selfish liar.¡±

    They were running out of time. The Sensei was getting more desperate. ¡°Fine, I¡¯m a liar,¡± she confessed, anything to get the Child to let her get out of here, ¡°because I want to live! I lied to save you, too. Don¡¯t you want to live?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s it matter if I live when they¡¯re dead?!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re all dead if you don¡¯t open this gate!¡±

    ¡°¡­ You don¡¯t get to live,¡± the Child muttered, the blistering hatred almost missed with how low his voice was.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t get what you want.¡± The glow in the Child¡¯s glare intensified. ¡°The aliens will kill everyone, including you.¡±

    It was happening again. It happened to the Sharp Principal, and now it was happening to the Sarcastic Child. Those damn, over-powered alien freaks! ¡°That¡¯s not you talking,¡± the Careless Sensei insisted, still hoping she could somehow get through to the kid. ¡°It¡¯s the aliens inside your head. They¡¯re only telling you what you want to know. They¡¯ll kill you, too.¡±

    His expression never changed.

    ¡°And, and if you help the aliens, you¡¯ll be a bad person! So you¡¯ll never get to go to heaven and see your parents again!¡±

    The child¡¯s frown deepened, the downpour of tears dripping down his chin. ¡°You think you¡¯re a bad person. You think you¡¯re going to hell, too.¡±

    Yes, she was afraid and would do anything for things to go back to normal. ¡°Please, chibi-chan. I don¡¯t want to die. I want to live. I want both of us to live!¡±

    The Sarcastic Child looked up at the Sensei with nothing but contempt. ¡°Wanting something doesn¡¯t mean you get to have it. You taught me that, sensei.¡±

    That line delivery went through the Careless Sensei and hit Yura Katayose right in the gut.

    Yura remembered that specific line during the rehearsal. The way Aqua had spoken it during the first takes, he treated those words as a bitter acceptance of an immutable fact no one could change. Reality wasn¡¯t obligated to conform to anyone¡¯s dreams. The Sarcastic Child would use that energy, embracing the intrinsic futility in life, to follow his own dark feelings and the aliens¡¯ whispers, letting the Careless Sensei die.

    Yet for the take now, on-camera, with all the makeup, lighting, and props to bring the scene alive, Yura saw and heard something else in Aqua.

    Instead of acceptance, it was anger.

    The Sarcastic Child wasn¡¯t subserviently submitting to the world. He was defiant. Not in the disrespectful, dismissive way the Child acted toward authority figures or older people like the Sharp Principal or the Kind Punk. No, the Child wanted to destroy Carless Sensei¡¯s hopes, deny her the salvation and safety she desperately desired. Doing so will hurt her. The world can burn, and so can the Child for all he cared, as long as the Sensei burned along with them.

    The Child in rehearsal had stopped caring about anything after realizing his parents were gone.

    The Child now still held a grudge and would take it with him to his grave.

    Aqua was giving a completely enthralling performance.

    It wasn¡¯t only the Child¡¯s inflection. He didn¡¯t even need to raise his voice at this point. Aside from the gloomy lighting working in direct conjunction with the cosmetic artist¡¯s renditions of an inhumanly discolored skin tone, the Child¡¯s mismatch of light and dark eye contacts painted a scene of two swirling vortexes that the Careless Sensei was convinced were going to set her ablaze until she was nothing but a pile of bone and ash.

    There was enough leeway in the script¡¯s wording to commit to either interpretation. Yura dug her fingers into the chain fence harder to keep her mind on the scene at hand and not forget her place as the Carless Sensei at her wit¡¯s end.

    ¡°Please just open the gate,¡± the Sensei stuttered. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this. I ¨C Yes, I made mistakes by lying, but I-I never wanted to hurt you.¡±

    The Child gritted his teeth, suppressing a sniffle as he clutched half of his face and clawed at one of his corrupted eyes. He opened his mouth to say more, but then he closed it, turning his back to her.

    ¡°Wait,¡± the Carless Sensei tried one more time, though she soon realized how fruitless it was. ¡°Wait! Please!¡±

    Her cries were given no answers. She fell to her knees, uselessly shook the fence, and gave one last screech begging for forgiveness.

    The Sarcastic Child never looked back.

    ¡°Cut!¡±

    The effects crew shut off the artificial rain, and the Child turned around to face the Sensei.

    It wasn¡¯t Director Gotanda¡¯s cue that shattered the spell over the Careless Sensei.

    It was the immediate shift in the Sarcastic Child, from the vengeful victim thirsty for blood¡­ to the innocent twelve-year-old wearing a golden grin. The stars in his eyes changed from black voids and into sparkling lights.

    Bearing that kind of high spirits was an unfamiliar look for Aqua, at least in all of Yura¡¯s time with him. Yet it wasn¡¯t inappropriate for that face, since Aqua had an identical brother who radiated that energy naturally.

    Ai-senpai darted onto the stage and grabbed her son in a tight embrace.

    ¡°You were brilliant, Cobie! Absolutely beautiful!¡±

    ¡°Thanks, mom!¡±

    What?

    Yura blinked twice. She was seeing double. Aqua in full costume was being hugged by Ai-senpai, and Aqua with a different coat but the same legwear as the Sarcastic Child was behind the cameras, standing with a smug Ruby.

    ¡°I told you he¡¯d do great!¡± Ruby was saying to the wide-eyed Aqua. ¡°Cobie learns and remembers the things we teach him, you know. Voice acting¡¯s still acting. I should start coaching you on the side if you¡¯re this speechless.¡±

    Yura had to say it out loud. ¡°That was¡­ Cobalt?¡±

    The earnest smile hiding nothing, expressing pure goodness and honesty, was the definitive proof no one could doubt. Especially not when Yura had been bombarded by that smile ever since she met the kid and seen the unrestrained differences between him and Aqua. ¡°Yup!¡± Cobalt said, still squeezed in Ai-senpai¡¯s arms. ¡°I played a pretty good Aqua, huh?¡±

    But¡­ what? ¡°Why were you in the costume and makeup, and acting in Aqua¡¯s place?¡±

    Director Gotanda stepped into the set and cleared his throat, looking unusually bashful. ¡°Well¡­¡±

 Arc 3: Double Act, Part 2

    With Mama¡¯s jacket draped over Aqua¡¯s sleeping form beginning to slip off, Ruby was tempted to steal the coat for herself and bask in the remnant motherly aura Mama had left in it. Then Ruby realized she was backsliding to her old otaku habits in an unconstructive way. Shaking her head, she pulled the jacket up so Aqua would still be fully covered and allowed to nap in peace. Ruby even gently slid her own folded sweater underneath his skull as an extra pillow layer. Aqua only snored a little before his soft breathing returned to normal. Ruby returned to the desk to resume her work.

    A part of Ruby was still peeved at Director Gotanda for not getting them a better trailer for this week¡¯s filming. Theirs was relatively cramped, and Cobalt had donated the extra pillows and blankets Mama had smooched off some of the production assistants to Katayose and Murakami. A hotel would have probably been a better place for the Hoshino family to stay if Cobalt and Ruby were bumming it with Aqua and Mama. Still, Cobalt got to pretend they were camping in the trailer as a replacement for the trip Mama had to cancel to make time for this film, and Ruby got to cuddle more with Mama while they slept, so it wasn¡¯t a total disaster.

    Production issues had been plaguing this sci-fi flick ever since filming started. This hiccup with the missing effects people wasn¡¯t the first, but it wasn¡¯t all bad. Now, while Mama was getting into costume in another trailer, Cobalt was stalking Director Gotanda to learn more how to be a good director, and Aqua was catching up on sleep, Ruby was on her family¡¯s designated Elemental Orel laptop and editing another one of Cobalt¡¯s scripts.

    This, among other things, had been Aqua¡¯s job at the beginning. Shin Hoshigami couldn¡¯t talk over video calls or online chats all the time. In Shin¡¯s absence, Aqua took the initiative to teach Cobalt what he independently learned from other online tutorials, revised the scripts, helped with the physical step-by-step animation, and edited the early videos. However, Cobalt had wanted to take the reins before too long, needing Ruby to all but kick Aqua out of their work space at the house whenever Mister Mature-Adult-Before-He-Was-Reincarnated got too big for his britches and practically hijacked all creative control from Cobie.

    Ruby could understand Aqua¡¯s true intentions. He had his own merits in editing and filmmaking from his acting gigs and years of learning under Director Gotanda. Aqua had plenty of ideas on how to objectively improve things like camera angles or the pacing of dialogue. He only wanted Cobalt¡¯s works to be the best they could possibly be.

    Even when Aqua learned to temper his control and let Cobalt make the videos how he wanted to, he became more and more swamped with school and acting, and not able to give as much support as before. For some reason, Aqua wanted to become both a medical doctor and a talented thespian when he grew up. Maybe he was a doctor in his last life ¨C no, he had to have been one. His bedside manner and other little tics when applying first aid to Cobalt was a lot like another kind doctor Ruby had once known. Aqua¡¯s passion for acting must be from his new genes inherited from Mama getting inspired by his past life¡¯s idol otaku habits. He definitely had the work ethic and commitment to achieve both dreams, but there wasn¡¯t enough time in the day to also devote more into Elemental Orel and be more patient with Cobie.

    Since Ruby had comparatively a lot more free time than her brothers, she steadily became Cobalt¡¯s right-hand in his channel. She¡¯d gone through much of the tutorials Aqua had reviewed, and had sat in on some of Shin¡¯s lessons for Cobalt. When resting her sore muscles or strained throat after another dancing or singing lesson, she read through Cobalt¡¯s typed up scripts, listened to him pitch a new idea he had jotted down in one of his many notebooks, and helped give him more direction when recording his vocal lines. To be frank, the humor with the wordplay or slapstick didn¡¯t always bring out a chuckle in Ruby, and some of his plots were clearly just juvenile exaggerations of the daily misadventures everyone in the Hoshino family had grown accustomed to. Regardless, she was proud to help him, watching all of Cobalt¡¯s hard work in carefully crafting these amateur videos and seeing the comments and views climb higher over time. People did appreciate what he was putting out ¨C even rising actresses like Yura Katayose!

    Ruby considered her contributions as basically getting early training in running her own idol YouTube channel once she debuted, too. Mama¡¯s stories of online harassment, the Saitous¡¯ advice on building a following, and Shin¡¯s share of tips could only go so far until she needed to see it and live it for herself. Aqua still occasionally mocked Ruby for the flame wars she had fanned on her secret social media accounts back when they were still babies. Real-life bullies still needed a little knocking around, but while running Elemental Orel with Cobalt, she learned a lot more on when to stand her ground and when to ignore the unhelpful trolls.

    Someone knocked on the door to their trailer, loud enough to stir Aqua awake. Assuming it was Cobie, Ruby hopped up to open it.

    She stopped when Aqua reached out a hand to grab her wrist. Awake, he leaned up toward the window, pushing away the curtain to look outside.

    Ruby rolled her eyes. There hadn¡¯t been an incident like the stalker assault in forever, and they all still practiced safety measures whether at home or out of town like, yet Aqua was still weird about people knocking on their front door. There was a window on the trailer door itself, too. She was going to look past the blinds and through the tinted window anyway without his help.

    Because Aqua didn¡¯t say anything, Ruby freed her arm and did just that.

    She frowned in confusion at what she saw. This must be what stunned Aqua into a silent stupor.

    Cobalt had makeup on his face that replaced his scar with the alien-infected skin texture resembling what Mama and other actors had worn on a previous day of filming. The contacts on his eyes also matched up.

    She glanced between Aqua on the couch and Cobalt through the window, judging if she had them mixed up. Aqua was the one who was supposed to be in costume and makeup, after all. Was Cobalt trying to punk her by pretending to be Aqua again? Some of Cobalt¡¯s friends made him do that once. Everyone had gaslit their teacher so much that day. Mama had needed to be called into the school to confirm Aqua had a legitimate excused absence for an acting role and that Cobalt was the one attending classes. Surely Cobalt understood he shouldn¡¯t be pulling a prank like this at Aqua¡¯s and Mama¡¯s workplace? Especially with the production complications this movie¡¯s already been having?

    ¡°I¡¯m the real Aqua,¡± said Ruby¡¯s brother who was on the couch, now getting to his feet and marching toward the door, ¡°and that¡¯s Cobalt. I don¡¯t know why he looks like that.¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re lying and you¡¯re really Cobie¨C¡± Then she was going to need to rerun her previous ¡°lessons¡± she had taught Cobalt¡¯s ¡°friends¡± to really get the message across. They were the only ones who could have put Cobalt up to this.

    He didn¡¯t let Ruby finish her thought aloud as he swung open the door.

    ¡°Hi Aqua! Hi Ruby! I look like a movie star!¡±

    Yup, that was definitely Cobalt dressed up in what was supposed to be Aqua¡¯s immersive on-camera getup. Ruby mentally put those re-education plans on hold. A staring contest proceeded between a frowning Aqua and a smiling Cobalt.

    Hearing heated voices arguing, Ruby pushed herself up by her toes to look over her brothers¡¯ heads. In the distance, Director Gotanda was arguing with someone again, both of them walking in the direction of the triplets. He wasn¡¯t talking with one of the fancy producers this time, though. It was against one of the makeup crew members Ruby recognized. Something Tachibana.

    Tachibana stopped short, staring in shock as he laid his eyes on Cobie and Aqua.

    ¡°Bloody hell,¡± he said under his breath. ¡°The kid really does have an identical twin?¡±

    ¡°Identical triplet,¡± Cobalt corrected.

    ¡°Fuck me sideways, man. I didn¡¯t know.¡± Old instincts arose in Ruby to punish the man for swearing crudely within earshot of Cobie, but she held herself back. They were twelve now. Classmates at school were saying worse things around Cobalt nowadays.

    ¡°So you were supposed to be pasting paint on Aqua instead,¡± Cobalt said. Realizing what had happened, Ruby barely held in her laughter. Seeing Aqua¡¯s unhappy look fall further down made it more difficult. ¡°I was wondering why you kept calling me Hoshino. Everyone else on set just uses our first names.¡±

    ¡°I just ¨C I didn¡¯t know!¡±

    Aqua eyed the Director. ¡°Cobie was supposed to be hovering around you. How did you let this happen?¡±

    ¡°He stepped away to use the bathroom,¡± Gotanda said, moving his hands in front of himself as if they would deflect the scrutiny he was put under. It didn¡¯t actually work, but Aqua did redirect his gaze to Cobalt. Ruby wished she had some popcorn.

    ¡°Why did you go along with Tachibana?¡± Aqua asked their brother.

    ¡°He makes some cool art pieces, and I wanted to learn more about how he makes you, Mom, and everyone else so slimy, flaky, and shiny! The gelatin I used for my alien models don¡¯t have the same effect¨C¡±

    ¡°Whatever,¡± Gotanda interjected, gesturing to his apprentice. ¡°Just get Aqua in makeup¨C¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t, man,¡± Tachibana said, still staring at Cobalt. ¡°We used up the last of the gunk on the first kid. Umm, it¡¯s supposed to be Orel, was it?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s me!¡± Cobalt confirmed, prompting Ruby to resist the urge to emphasize using his real name. They weren¡¯t talking about Elemental Orel. They were talking about Aqua¡¯s film and makeup guy¡¯s incompetence. Cobalt liked to take the lessons in marketing and brand recognition taught by Shin and grandpa Ichigo too far sometimes.

    ¡°The effects crew was supposed to bring a resupply from the old office for storage on-site here,¡± Tachibana elaborated. ¡°We only had enough for one more pass.¡±

    Gotanda hid his despair in a deadpan. ¡°You¡¯re joking.¡±

    ¡°Does it look like I¡¯m taking the piss out of ya, brother? Hell, I told the boss man producer to get the effects crew in line. And it¡¯s not my fault nobody told me the only child actor on set had a clone of him walking around.¡±

    Cobie chuckled at being called a clone, no doubt reminded of an early episode of Elemental Orel about cloning to justify using multiple figures of the same model. Aqua was in no merry mood, looking at Tachibana with a similar look of displeasure as the Director. ¡°You¡¯ve been on set before,¡± Aqua said flatly, ¡° and have spoken to both of us.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen the two of you at the same time! I don¡¯t watch you do the acting on the stage when I¡¯ve got a thousand other jobs to get done when the bigshot effects boys aren¡¯t here. I thought you were just getting in-and-out of character!¡±

    ¡°Wow,¡± Ruby let escape from her lips. She sure knew who to not consult for cosmetic expertise when she became an idol. ¡°You guys in Shadow World Industries are really unprofessional and unobservant, huh?¡±

    Sure, her insulting him and his people wasn¡¯t currying any favor for herself either, but Tachibana took it in stride. His anger wasn¡¯t directed at her, just at the general state of affairs. ¡°Bad-mouth us all you want, little lady. I can¡¯t help it when my mates get into a traffic jam and I¡¯m left with only a skeleton crew to patch something together out of gum and rubbish!¡±

    As he and Gotanda got into another spat, and as Aqua started lecturing Cobalt for not making a bigger fuss about letting himself get strung along by Tachibana, Ruby spotted Mama in the distance. She was fully dressed in her custom half-mutated alien/human hybrid costume. The fake metal protruding out of her head in a curved line around her shoulder and toward her back did look a little creepy, but since Mama wasn¡¯t in-character yet, she had the same tells as Cobie betraying their true self: the mesmerizing smile and hypnotic eyes.

    Maintaining eye contact with Mama, Ruby gestured at Aqua and Cobie. Mama blinked and quickly nodded in acknowledgement of what was a clear case of mistaken identity. Silently, Mama snuck up behind the defensive Tachibana.

    ¡°Hey, Makeup-kun,¡± she whispered conspiratorially.

    Mid-sentence in a retort against the Director, Tachibana instinctively turned around to face Mama. ¡°Miss Ai, for the last time¡­¡±

    For all of Tachibana¡¯s stubborn assertiveness and brusque attitude, he wasn¡¯t spared from the entrancing spell that was Ai Hoshino. Her innate beauty shone beyond her sci-fi, borderline horror costume. The alien visuals might enhance the image if Tachibana was into that sort of thing. Simply being this close to Mama¡¯s radiance did the trick to make all the hostility directed at Director Gotanda to go away.

    ¡°How about you take a deep breath and let those stressful tensions ease out of you?¡± Mama suggested. ¡°Be more like Cobie! Mistakes happen, and you can see he¡¯s not panicking and lashing out, taking out his anger in such an unseemly manner.¡±

    ¡°Hi mom!¡± came the obligatory greeting from Cobalt. ¡°Mister Tachibana hasn¡¯t really done anything bad. Just a few swear words, and mixing up me and¨C¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes!¡± Tachibana said in a hurried tone, the want to appease the idol before him outweighing everything else.

    Ruby still needed more practice in that. Ever since that day Cobalt was tricked into jumping off a tree, she had taken to physical threats to keep the bullies in line. Thanks to her dance lessons and other exercises devoted to her future idol career over the years, Ruby was always as strong if not stronger than many of the boys who tried to exploit Cobie¡¯s kindness against him. The gossiping, manipulative girls with impure intentions toward Cobalt were also hardly a struggle to make fall in line. It was always easier to go the violent route than trying to play a peaceful diplomat with dumb kids who she hardly thought were worthy of earning the respect of. All of the Hoshinos were taught basic self-defense techniques, as well, so Ruby rarely felt she was ever in danger of being counter-intimidated or seriously hurt.

    Cobalt was actually pretty strong and a decent brawler himself, something absolutely no one had expected¡­

    Things were changing as Ruby and her brothers were finally going through puberty. Boys would be getting bigger, girls would be getting prettier, and everyone would start to get more self-conscious about all that kind of stuff. Ruby already knew she and Aqua were going to have a lot of labor ahead of them in ensuring precious Cobalt wasn¡¯t taken advantage of for his own handsome mug and easygoing personality. He was one of Ai the Idol¡¯s children, after all.

    But Ruby was also the daughter of Ai. Ruby inherited her beauty, doing her best to flaunt that elegance and allure in school performances and musical contests she participated in, However, Ruby admittedly hasn¡¯t done much to cultivate a loyal fanbase in her audiences. The non-bully classmates and the strangers in public real-world forums gave their compliments, sure, but it was a far cry from something like Tachibana¡¯s reaction to Mama¡¯s charisma. If Ruby wanted to be like Ai the Idol, let alone surpass her, she needed fans showering her in worshiping deference pulled by Ruby¡¯s own magnetism, not just compulsory reactions to a pretty face or disgruntled respect from subjugated bullies.

    As she got older, Ruby needed to learn better how to use her beauty and presence to make people love her. Mama hasn¡¯t performed a concert in a long time, yet Ai the Idol still came second-nature to her. While Ruby has put in the work for other necessary facets of modern idols, she also needed to learn how to shine like her mom, to make men like Tachibana and beyond cow and grovel¡­ and to inspire hope and passion in others needing the boost in their lives, like what Ai had originally done for Sarina all that time ago.

    Ruby stepped back and watched Mama and Tachibana closely. Just as Yura Katayose carefully observed Mama at work, Ruby did the same. The only difference was that Ruby had the benefit of living with Ai the Idol and being eternally loved by her.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    ¡°My apologies, Miss Ai,¡± Tachibana continued. ¡°I lost myself there.¡± Director Gotanda¡¯s unimpressed snort was ignored.

    Mama hummed in contemplation before snapping her fingers. ¡°I think you should call up your manager and see if they have any more updates. Aqua has been working his hardest as any of us on-set in getting our scenes done, with the rest of my babies cheering him and me on. Don¡¯t let the pressure of others¡¯ mistakes delaying the film spill over to them.¡±

    ¡°Right-o. I¡¯ll get right on that.¡±

    Tachibana was only able to pop open the contact list on his phone before Gotanda stopped him. ¡°Don¡¯t bother. Last I checked with our producers fifteen minutes ago, the effects crew are still incapacitated. We won¡¯t be getting any more resupplies on the special makeup anytime soon.¡±

    Ruby watched Tachibana wordlessly mouth another curse. He must feel Mama¡¯s gaze still peering into him. ¡°Well,¡± he said in an unsure tone, ¡°I can¡­ Hmm. Listen, if you give me five ¨C no, three-and-a-half to four hours, then I can cobble something up with the crew I do have after a quick grocery run.¡±

    Mama pouted. ¡°If we have to hold off on filming Aqua¡¯s scenes for that long, then we¡¯ll have to cancel roasting marshmallows tonight. We promised Cobie we¡¯d do something camping-related, but my babies need their sleep if they¡¯re going to be acing their exam when we get back home.¡±

    Aqua was about to object, probably with a study plan in mind that Cobalt would accept in a heartbeat but would be hell for Ruby. Ruby also still wanted to see how Mama spun this unfortunate situation into something she was satisfied with. Since Mama¡¯s jacket was still draped over him, Ruby stepped behind him to bring up the sleeves and wrap them around his head. His voice was muffled, and while he tried to shove Ruby away, Tachibana was already moving on to the next thing.

    ¡°Miss Ai,¡± he said, ¡°I read the script and saw the docket on what Director Gotanda wants to film with the time we have left. Aqua¡¯s character needs to be in the full getup or the footage won¡¯t work. The edits in post will be worse if we put him on-camera with just his regular face.¡±

    Tachibana was less flustered and spoke more practically at this point. Keeping Aqua restrained, with everyone else focused purely on Mama, Ruby also eyed her mother closely, waiting in anticipation on how she would use her charm to overcome this obstacle.

    However, Ruby misread where Director Gotanda stood. She should have known better, the filmmaker having developed a rudimentary ¡°immunity¡± to Ai that allowed him to keep his cool around her. ¡°Then we don¡¯t put Aqua on-camera,¡± he declared. ¡°We put Cobalt on-camera.¡±

    Heads turned to Cobie, who waved at the sudden attention. Even Aqua stilled himself before moving to face him, though his eyes were still covered by Mama¡¯s jacket.

    Ruby glanced back at the Director. He was in what Ruby liked to call his ¡°visionary vibe¡±, hit by a fierce inspiration and a matching determination to see his vision through. Cobalt sometimes exuded the same air when he dropped everything to scribble down notes for an Elemental Orel video. ¡°Wait,¡± Ruby said, trying to work out the Director¡¯s thought process, ¡°you want Cobalt to stand in for Aqua? So Aqua just has to dub his voice over later?¡±

    Gotanda shook his head. ¡°No, the most important scenes with the Sarcastic Child on-camera require emotions intently expressed on his face and in his body language. Dubbing is no debilitating issue if the audio doesn¡¯t work right, but Cobalt in full costume will have to genuinely act with his stage partners.¡±

    As Aqua finally freed himself from Ruby¡¯s hold, he glared at the Director with askance. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious. Cobalt can¡¯t ¨C ¡±

    The Director faced Ai, her initial impressions on Gotanda¡¯s offer completely unreadable. ¡°I think my history working with the Hoshino family should allow us to skip a formal contract for Cobalt to work in these scenes. Wouldn¡¯t it, Ai?¡±

    It only took a few seconds for Ai the Idol to retake shape and snap back. ¡°You know what? I¡¯m game so long as Cobie is.¡±

    ¡°Sure!¡± Cobalt obliged immediately. ¡°Acting looks and sounds fun!¡±

    Aqua was still unhappy. ¡°The only acting Cobalt¡¯s done is voice acting for his videos on YouTube.¡±

    Ruby reacted as she usually did when Aqua spoke so matter-of-factly on a topic where there was more gray to his black-and-white perspective: with a screeching indignation. Cobalt on the other hand spoke with calm rationality at Aqua¡¯s words.

    ¡°Voice acting¡¯s still acting!¡± brother and sister shouted together. Aqua already had a more in-depth explanation ready for them.

    ¡°But Cobalt, you have no experience in live-action acting. You always instinctively look at the camera when someone records you. We have to remind you not to do that multiple times when we film those behind-the-scenes videos and you look away from the clay figure you¡¯re molding in your hands.¡±

    Damn, Aqua wasn¡¯t wrong about Cobalt screwing up some of their clay models during BTS recordings because his gaze kept drifting away to the camera while doing work with his hands.

    ¡°I promise I won¡¯t do that if I have to act as you for you in this movie, Aqua!¡± Cobalt reassured.

    Now in the mood to get one up over Aqua for being so negative about Cobalt¡¯s ability as an actor, no matter how right Aqua might be, Ruby pettily added, ¡°Maybe you¡¯re just a bad director who can¡¯t get the performance you want out of Cobie, Aqua.¡°

    Mama nodded her head, some of her alien attachments moving with the motion. ¡°I bet Director Gotanda can direct Cobie just fine, right?¡±

    Gotanda leaned down and placed his hands on Cobalt¡¯s shoulders. It was a common method of capturing Cobalt¡¯s total attention, who¡¯d be compelled to look nowhere else except for the eyes directly opposite his.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got your notes, don¡¯t you, Cobalt?¡± the Director asked. ¡°All the summaries and observations down to the smallest details about the things you see in your life.¡±

    ¡°Yup!¡± He patted the compact book sitting in his back pocket, a mechanical pencil slotted through the rings of the book spine. ¡°This notebook is my newest one that Ruby bought for me! I¡¯ve been writing down all the interesting acting and movie-making things I¡¯ve noticed since Aqua started filming for Signal Lost.¡±

    ¡°And you love your big bro Aqua?¡±

    ¡°Yup!¡±

    ¡°You know him, and understand him.¡±

    ¡°Uh, huh! One hundred ¨C or, well, at least ninety percent. I want to leave a nice clean ten percent of doubt since there¡¯s always the chance he has some deep dark secrets I don¡¯t know about.¡±

    Ruby almost snorted. Cobalt still had some good instincts and intuition, his penchant for getting into troublesome messes notwithstanding. The greatest secret of them all held by both herself and Aqua was their status as reincarnated souls. They probably would never tell anyone about it.

    Well, in Ruby¡¯s case, she was going to tell Sensei. She can help keep Aqua¡¯s reincarnation a secret if he wanted.

    ¡°Good enough,¡± Gotanda approved. ¡°Then for the role of the Sarcastic Child, review the script for his relevant scenes and be Aqua. Some word choices and more mundane mannerisms aside, they¡¯re practically the same person.¡±

    Cobalt paused. From where Ruby stood, she could see him lose his smile and actually look serious for once. ¡°I did notice that, but for me¡­ to be Aqua¡­¡±

    Gotanda appeared satisfied and began walking away. ¡°I can give you a half hour to prep. Be at the alleyway set by then. Tachibana, tell me more about this improvised makeup idea you had¡­¡±

    The Director departed with Tachibana right on his heels, leaving the Hoshino family to stew on the new crisis of the week regarding Cobalt.

    At least, Aqua obviously thought it was a crisis. Ruby thought differently. Cobalt and Mama also looked committed to seeing this thing through, between Cobie flipping through his notebook and Mama smoothing out some of the loose or twisted strands of hair sticking against his face. Gotanda may have stolen the spotlight from Mama in resolving this identity mix-up and figuring out how to continue filming, but it was still a neat idea Ruby wouldn¡¯t mind seeing play out: Cobalt rolling with pretending to be Aqua¡¯s character.

    Aqua still wasn¡¯t looking too happy about it. ¡°I don¡¯t ¨C¡±

    A little half-friendly, half-hostile sibling rivalry never hurt anyone. Ruby had over a decade of history in such endeavors. She playfully punched Aqua with one hand while using her other one to filch Aqua¡¯s script off him, full of handwritten notes in the margins. ¡°You can sit back and watch Cobalt play a better you than you ever could.¡±

    Aqua only caught on to Ruby¡¯s sleight of hand when she huddled next to Cobalt for them to compare the script and Cobie¡¯s separate notebook. With an unpleasant scowl, Aqua said, ¡°I really don¡¯t ¨C¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright, Aqua!¡± Cobalt insisted with a confident fist bump up in the air. ¡°I¡¯ll act like you and do my best! I won¡¯t let you down!¡±

    Some people in the world, the tender and well-meaning sorts, found it hard to say no when bombarded by Cobie¡¯s cuteness. He hadn¡¯t caught on yet that it was a form of manipulation or a persuasion tactic he unconsciously used to get his way. The good people who actually knew Cobalt were much better at saying no. Aqua was no exception, but Mama came in for the rescue and put Aqua¡¯s complaints to rest.

    Hugging Aqua from behind, Mama chuckled and ruffled his hair. ¡°Have some more faith in your family, Aqua,¡± she said, ¡°and in your directing mentor¡¯s instincts. I know Cobie¡¯s acting on his channel doesn¡¯t have as many stakes involved as the paid jobs you take, but after twelve years of living together, I think Cobalt picked up a thing or two in understanding his family and channeling that into a memorable performance.¡±

    Aqua was Mama¡¯s biggest fan, sharing the spot simultaneously with Ruby and Cobalt. His compliance came with only token resistance, no match against the full power of Ai the Idol ¨C especially Ai Hoshino, their caring mother.

    That was an aspect of Mama which Ruby wouldn¡¯t be able to replicate for a good long while, the motherly angle. Ruby had no plans of becoming a teen mom, but seeing Mama¡¯s charm work its magic yet again, no matter how many times Ruby has seen it be done, was still an illuminating experience she would never take for granted.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Aqua finally relented, looking to the floor. ¡°I can give some advice ¨C¡±

    ¡°Hush now,¡± Ruby said, shooing Aqua away as she dragged Cobalt with her toward the set the Director had mentioned. ¡°I¡¯ve got Cobie¡¯s back on this. You can go back to sleep.¡±

    He didn¡¯t listen, attaching himself to Cobalt¡¯s other side. Mama followed after them.

    Aqua might have tons of acting experience under his belt, but he won¡¯t know what hit him when Cobalt shows him just how much he can shine in Aqua¡¯s own territory.

    <hr>

    Yura couldn¡¯t stop thinking about it.

    She took pride in the fame she has earned through her acting career thus far. Her name was getting more and more traction every day. Still, there were plenty of things in the industry she has yet to experience. Being bamboozled by a set of identical actor brothers in the real world rather than playing out such a scenario in a TV script hadn¡¯t been one of them. And yet here she was, the switcheroo stubbornly at the forefront of her mind as she made her way back to her trailer after getting out of her costume and makeup.

    Cobalt had acted in Aqua¡¯s place for the next scenes requiring the Sarcastic Child to be at the center of the cameras, and for a few bits where he was in the background. After everyone got over their initial surprise at childish Cobalt¡¯s professional performance, things had moved along rather quickly. It hadn¡¯t taken them many takes to get Director Gotanda satisfied with the footage. There hadn¡¯t been any more technical hiccups that prevented the actors and crew members from competently doing their jobs. Cobalt had been allowed to step off the stage and clean up as the evening settled in while the adult actors did their final scenes of the night.

    Yura didn¡¯t know why Director Gotanda¡¯s little ruse with Cobalt was still bothering her. Realistically, it was a funny joke to the crew and a practical solution to Tachibana¡¯s massive oversight. And it was a gambit that paid off. Cobalt gave a genuine rendition of Aqua¡¯s character no one in a million years could accuse as bad or inconsistent.

    That must be it. Cobalt had originally felt so genuine with his real personality that the whiplash of him being so downtrodden and seethingly bitter as the Sarcastic Child was still rattling her. Yura has worked with a decent number of fellow actors and actresses who were complete opposites of characters they portrayed on the silver screen, but none had enraptured Yura as Cobalt had. Even Aqua¡¯s acting didn¡¯t make Yura so enthralled.

    But Ai¡­ she was the closest thing Yura could compare. It made sense, them being mother and son. Displaying what most could only described as pure, genuine emotion in their role, yet those in-the-know like Yura were aware of the underlying truth that the performance was ultimately a lie ¨C perhaps fueled by true feelings and past experiences, channeled in a controlled setting, but after seeing Cobalt and Ai embody sheer cheerfulness and positivity when not on-camera, Yura wasn¡¯t sure anymore when the lie started or ended.

    Yura was worldly enough to know people were multi-faceted. They acted differently depending on present company and their current state of mind. Oversimplifying people down to an exclusive set of characteristics ¨C especially people Yura has only worked with for a relatively short while regardless of the rapport she¡¯s cultivated ¨C would be too shortsighted and disrespectful of her.

    She had to keep spending time with them; watching Ai flip back-and-forth between overprotective mother and the mentally deteriorating Sharp Principal, observing Aqua reveal his soft spots for his family when not fully immersing himself in the role at hand, and studying how Cobalt seamlessly transformed between a ray of sunshine and the spirit of vengeance.

    Yura wanted to become the star of countless films, many of which she envisioned being viewed and talked about for decades to come, even long after she died. If she wanted to achieve that dream, then she needed to become the perfect actress of her generation who inspired those that will come after her. The Hoshino family was a wellspring of talent that can help her reach that dream. Yura caught a taste and couldn¡¯t let go, not yet. Not even close.

    Turning the corner, Yura saw the Hoshinos just outside their trailer. It took her a moment to take in the scene. They sat on the leather cushions of a sofa likely taken from their trailer. The four of them were gathered around a portable fire pit. Smoke puffed into the black starry sky as the kids roasted marshmallows. Ai-senpai was already munching on her share of melted sweets melded between slabs of chocolate and crackers. Her talk about making up for the kids¡¯ canceled camping trip finally came to fruition, huh? Maybe it was a reward for Cobalt doing an incredible job today.

    Yura pulled herself together, put a smile on her face, and approached the Hoshino family. Ai-senpai kindly let Yura take her couch cushion, Ai moving to share Aqua¡¯s seat. They were all pretty tired after a long day, but falling into the same routines of indulging Cobie, stroking Ruby¡¯s ego, and bantering with Aqua and Ai came naturally to Yura. She didn¡¯t need to lie about a single thing. She only had to enhance and exaggerate her normal feelings and reactions just a sprinkle to get everyone in a tune she can dance to.

    It didn¡¯t take long until Yura popped the question she¡¯d been carrying ever since she sat down. ¡°Do you think Aqua and Cobalt would be interested in playing a set of twins in another project I¡¯m doing?¡±

    She got promising responses. Intrigue from Ai-senpai. Curiosity from Ruby. Surprise but not disapproval from Aqua, probably still fixated on the sudden reveal of his brother¡¯s apparently secret acting skills. And, most importantly, eager excitement from Cobalt. Him and Ruby would be enough to convince Ai and therefore push Aqua to say yes, Yura was sure.

    ¡°Game of Solidarity, right?¡±

    Yura physically jumped. Director Gotanda was right behind her, his hands casually in his pockets. ¡°How¡¯d you¨C¡±

    ¡°I know the screenwriter. I did him a solid and edited the script.¡±

    Oh, then maybe Yura can try to leverage some of her strings to get Gotanda more involved in this gig. He was already good at directing Cobalt and Aqua, and Ai clearly trusted him to do right by her kids.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to disappoint, but Aqua and Cobalt would be a poor pair for the roles you¡¯re thinking of.¡±

    Scratch that, Gotanda chose to become Yura¡¯s enemy at this late hour. ¡°You¡¯re the one who vouched for Cobie¡¯s acting in the first place,¡± she reminded him.

    ¡°That¡¯s how I also know he won¡¯t be suited for Game of Solidarity.¡±

    A committed ally arose in Ruby. ¡°Are you calling Cobie¡¯s work tonight a fluke?!¡±

    ¡°Not at all,¡± was Gotanda¡¯s calm reply. ¡°He did very good work as the Sarcastic Child. However, Game of Solidarity will have tighter restrictions than our filming conditions for Signal Lost. Stricter producers, a harsher director ¨C nothing conducive to a working environment that will bring out the best in Cobalt. He¡¯s too inexperienced and undisciplined.¡±

    Yura had a front[-row seat for another face she hadn¡¯t expected to see on Cobalt: wide-eyes and lips flattened out, an expression that was usually the precursor to a burst of tears. There was no anger behind it like when he was the Sarcastic Child. His small voice gave it away, too. ¡°So,¡± Cobalt said with dread, ¡°I¡¯m actually not a good actor?¡±

    Ruby immediately glomped him in a supportive hug. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to him, Cobie! He¡¯s getting senile in his old age.¡±

    Director Gotanda certainly wasn¡¯t that old to be suffering any senility, but it was still a hard enough jab to Gotanda¡¯s self-worth that he choked and winced at Ruby¡¯s words.

    ¡°But he¡¯s the Director,¡± Cobalt countered. ¡°He¡¯s the one who knows more about acting than the actors.¡±

    With that image set in Cobalt¡¯s mind, Yura tried to put more subtle pressure on Ai. ¡°I was just asking if Cobalt and Aqua would be interested in the roles. Of course they¡¯d still need to audition. With Ai-senpai¡¯s blessing, naturally.¡±

    She might¡¯ve been a bit too sloppy, mentioning Ai a little too quickly as an afterthought. Yura caught a flash of narrowed eyes from her before Ai-senpai went through the motions of pretending to consider the idea, her gaze looking to the side as she pressed a finger over her chin. ¡°Well, I¡¯m not too picky, as long as it''s Aqua and Cobalt who want to try it out! How about it, Aqua? Do you want to seize the opportunity to act side-by-side with Cobie?¡±

    ¡°... I need to see the script,¡± Aqua said shortly.

    Every other Hoshino was in. Now Yura just had to nudge Cobalt a little further without coming off as too overbearing to Ai or ¨C

    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you what,¡± Director Gotanda said, now recovered from his earlier falter. Yura barely suppressed the look of annoyance she sent him. She was at a disadvantage, the Hoshinos far more likely to listen to their favorite director than Yura. ¡°Katayose, hold off on telling your agent about Aqua and Cobalt. I¡¯ll give the boys my copy of the Game of Solidarity script, up-to-date with the latest edits. We can schedule time to put aside for a mock audition with you, Ai, and myself as the judging panel. You¡¯ll either see what I mean when I say the role is unsuitable for Cobalt, or I¡¯ll be proven wrong.¡±

    Yura looked forward to seeing him be proven wrong.

 Arc 3: Double Act, Part 3 END

    This was the sixth time they were running through the scene, and Aqua was finally getting sick of it.

    Suppressing his irritation, he once again took on the smug, playful facade he¡¯d been using for the previous run-throughs. Aqua relaxed on a chair and let a smirk take shape over his lips.

    Cobalt was pacing behind him. ¡°I don¡¯t think we can trust her,¡± he said with an incorrect amount of uncertainty. According to the script, Cobalt¡¯s character was supposed to be more assertive and confident. It was Cobalt¡¯s actual uncertainty on whether he was doing an adequate job or not leaking heavily into his performance. The repetitiveness was getting to him, too.

    ¡°We trust no one,¡± Aqua reminded him with a sliver of condescension. ¡°That¡¯s a given.¡±

    ¡°You know what I mean!¡± Now Cobalt was just yelling, being as loud as he can be. He had done a better job earlier in simply projecting his voice. Then he added, ¡°Pretty ladies are the devil¡¯s sharpest tools,¡± more as an afterthought instead of recounting a bitter grudge.

    ¡°They¡¯re double-edged blades, brother. Useful for the devil, but also for our pact¡¯s own agenda if we get Epsilon aligned with us.¡±

    They were holding this audition in one of the rehearsal spaces in Strawberry Production¡¯s office building. There hadn¡¯t been time while on-set for Signal Lost in the Heavens to do it, so Ai had rescheduled for her, Aqua, Cobalt, Director Gotanda, and Yura Katayose to reconvene here. Ruby was also present, given the honorary job of reading out the lines for Katayose¡¯s character. All credit to Ruby, at least she delivered her lines with consistency.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t come here to hurt any of you,¡± Ruby enunciated with sympathy. She should really think about doing more real acting gigs on the side. She had natural talent and would do well in mentoring Cobalt in live-action acting once she received more hands-on experience for herself. Aqua barely had the time to give much feedback for Cobalt¡¯s voice work in Elemental Orel.

    Cobalt stopped pacing and stood directly behind Aqua. ¡°We should¡­ uh¡­¡± The sound of fluttering pages filled Aqua¡¯s ear as Cobalt searched for the right part of the script. ¡°We should just kill her! We¡¯ll be much safer if we do that!¡±

    An audience could arguably find humor in Cobalt speaking about dark topics in an such a positive tone. Aqua can give his brother that. ¡°You¡¯re bloodthirsty today, Delta!¡± Aqua noted with intrigue. ¡°Where was that energy when we were crawling through the muck in the countryside?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not bloodthirsty. I¡¯m being practical. Enemies need to be eliminated.¡±

    Oof, he was way too flat and robotic with this line. Across the room behind a foldable table, Ruby and Katayose winced. Ai and Gotanda were more stoic, the former fixed in her normal smile and the latter wordlessly observing. ¡°Epsilon is now also an enemy of the state,¡± Aqua reminded his counterpart. ¡°Enemy of my enemy, and so on and so forth.¡±

    ¡°Zeta, for all we know, she could be a double agent! The pact won¡¯t be happy if we bring her back with us!¡±

    ¡°Uh, boys,¡± Ruby cut in, ¡°can I say something in my defense?¡±

    ¡°No!¡±

    ¡°Now, now, Delta,¡± Aqua pacified. ¡°Let¡¯s hear her out, listen to her elevator pitch on how we can trust her.¡± Still seated, Aqua bowed forward. ¡°Go on, Epsilon. Sell us something good.¡±

    ¡°... What proof do you want to see?¡±

    The three of them carried on with the dialogue. Cobalt got in some good reads, even hitting a nice back-and-forth of Delta being overly critical and dismissive of Epsilon¡¯s alleged skills and veteran knowledge of her craft. Aqua as Zeta remained the mediator, throwing in his own jokes to lighten the hostile mood.

    However, Cobalt started losing steam fast, just as he did in the earlier takes. Though the camera and tripod set up nearby wasn¡¯t recording anything, Cobalt was still too self-conscious about it. Every time he tried to discreetly look down at his feet to make sure his erratic motions as Delta wasn¡¯t blocked by Aqua or moved himself out of frame, Cobalt had to take a split-second to remember to say his line. If this were a real film set instead of an audition, the timing of verbal exchanges could likely be fixed during editing, but Aqua could see Ruby feeling the unnatural pacing of lingering mid-sentence pauses, running through her own lines quickly simply so Cobalt could reply back before losing himself again.

    Even Katayose was barely holding back her disappointment. She was still composing herself near Ai. The wide-brimmed hat, the glare in her glasses, and her stylized long hair helped hide Katayose¡¯s face from Ai right next to her. Yet Cobalt could see her clearly, always glancing in her direction throughout these rehearsal runs. He¡¯d grown to like Katayose a lot, certainly the closest person he¡¯s gotten to out of any of Aqua¡¯s or Ai¡¯s co-stars who had the pleasure of speaking with Cobalt. Her crestfallen gaze must also be having a poor effect on him.

    Cobalt¡¯s best takes today were passable for a school play, the same kind he was pulled into by Ruby every now and then. Ever since the third run, the quality was in steady decline.

    Whatever the miracle which had blessed Cobalt to successfully take Aqua¡¯s place as the Sarcastic Child, it clearly wasn¡¯t reproducible for other roles.

    ¡°Well,¡± Aqua said as their scene came to an end, ¡°do you feel convinced of our fair lady¡¯s word, brother?¡±

    ¡°For now, I am.¡±

    Aqua wore a smile that was more tired than teasing. ¡°But don¡¯t you remember our maxim?¡±

    ¡°Trust no one,¡± Cobalt repeated. ¡°We¡¯ll do what you say, bring Epsilon in, and she¡¯ll learn in time, I¡¯m sure.¡±

    A beat passed after Cobalt finished his last line.

    Cobalt stepped forward and bashfully bowed. ¡°Gosh, I¡¯m sorry everyone. I guess I¡¯m really not that good of an actor to do it right a second time.¡±

    Ruby and Ai were on him in seconds, hugging Cobalt and assuring him that he had done his best. He remained shy and unconvinced. Aqua sighed as he leaned back in his chair.

    Game of Solidarity was a movie script with a more upbeat tone than Signal Lost in the Heavens. Twin boys codenamed Delta (Cobalt) and Zeta (Aqua) were super spy prodigies on the run from the government as members of a larger fugitive group of other ex-spies who had tried to change the system for the better. Katayose¡¯s character, Epsilon, was the female lead and the latest agent to be burned. She was to help expose the government conspiracy and secure full pardons for the wrongly hunted renegades. Dark themes were implied with the morally questionable deeds undertaken by the spies and the corrupt government, but there was nothing as graphic as alien mutilation as in Signal Lost. Game of Solidarity was about family-friendly action intercut with comedic moments; snippets of dark humor overshadowed by the majority of the film being appropriately light.

    The writing was actually not too outside the scope of Elemental Orel¡¯s usual tone. It was only a little more serious than Cobalt¡¯s slice-of-life skits, so after Aqua had read through the scene for this audition, his hopes for Cobalt doing well had actually gone up.

    Zeta was a fairly smooth fit for Aqua, carrying a calm aura with an conceited edge. Delta¡¯s paranoia and cynicism was vaguely similar to the Sarcastic Child, but his emotionally-charged actions drawn from past traumas was something much more viable Cobalt could have poured his own lively behavior into. A compelling chemistry between him, Aqua, and even Ruby as these characters was possible.

    Yet in spite of all the suggestions everyone in the room had given Cobalt after each take, he was unable to capture his audience as he had done so for Signal Lost.

    Cobalt was Ai¡¯s son, but he wasn¡¯t a prodigy. His natural ability to pull people in, inherited from Ai, still needed to be nurtured accordingly. He wasn¡¯t ready to meet the high expectations of esteemed, real thespians like Yura Katayose, let alone the directors and casting agents who will be far more demanding than their current hosts today.

    ¡°Are we done yet?¡± Aqua asked aloud, checking his phone. ¡°Shin¡¯s going to start his stream within the hour, and I¡¯m sure Katayose would like to spend the rest of her day off doing something more produ¨C¡±

    ¡°Aquamarine,¡± Ai scolded sternly, sending a chill down his spine. It was a long while since she had last used this tone of voice or his full first name against her blunt, arrogant son. ¡°You¡¯re being very rude and presumptuous. Show some respect for Cobalt¡¯s efforts and Yura¡¯s choice to be here with us today.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright, Ai-senpai,¡± Katayose tried to placate. ¡°I underestimated how long today¡¯s session would be. I wouldn¡¯t want Clayman¡¯s biggest fan to miss out on one of his streams!¡±

    Cobalt bowed again at Katayose. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Yura. Aqua¡¯s a good actor, so he could do a good Delta or Zeta, or even a good Epsilon if she was a boy, but I can¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Of course you can, Cobie!¡± Ruby insisted. ¡°You just need more time memorizing your lines. You played the Sarcastic Child great by being him, without paying attention to the cameras or the crew. Just do that again!¡±

    ¡°But mom can be other people when she acts, too, and at the same time, she always shows her best side to the camera.¡±

    Ai was still glaring at Aqua. The child that he was, Aqua shuffled in discomfort. Her gaze still stuck on Aqua, Ai¡¯s next words were directed at his brother. ¡°Cobie, I¡¯m an amazing actress. You¡¯re going to become an amazing actor if you put in the work, but you don¡¯t have to be exactly like me, or Aqua for that matter.¡±

    ¡°But being like Aqua was what I did the first time.¡±

    Ruby groaned in annoyance. ¡°Forget about Aqua! He doesn¡¯t believe in you.¡±

    ¡°I believe Cobalt has potential,¡± Aqua affirmed, not wanting anyone to misconstrue his poor attitude. ¡°Potential doesn¡¯t mean instantaneous perfection.¡±

    Director Gotanda finally spoke up. ¡°Aqua¡¯s right,¡± he said, standing up and once again securing Cobalt¡¯s complete attention by placing his hands on the boy¡¯s shoulders. ¡°I believe my point about this role being unsuited for Cobalt has been proven. Despite that, you don¡¯t want to end this audition on a sour note. Do you, Cobalt?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Cobalt answered honestly. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to do better, though. Can you give me some more direction, Director Gotanda?¡±

    ¡°That I can.¡± Gotanda whispered in Cobalt¡¯s ear.

    As Gotanda reeled back and let him go, Cobalt¡¯s countenance shifted from regret to introspection.

    ¡°What did you tell him?¡± Ruby fished for details, but Gotanda returned to his spot behind the table and clapped his hands without answering.

    ¡°Seventh time¡¯s the charm. One more take, and then I¡¯ll explain more clearly why Cobalt wasn¡¯t at his best all day.¡±

    Ai held Ruby back from complaining. ¡°Alright, Director. I expect a good explanation to justify putting Cobalt through so much pressure.¡± A threatening tone was weaved underneath a false civility. Never would a fan of Ai the Idol have expected to see and hear such an attitude from her. Then again, few fans would have imagined their idol to become a fiercely protective mother to her children.

    Whatever Cobalt was told by Gotanda, the aftereffects came quickly, Cobalt flipping between one of his notebooks and the movie script. He¡¯d done the same when preparing with Ruby for the Sarcastic Child, and the intentful focus Cobalt displayed now matched what he¡¯d looked like back then, too.

    As Cobalt took his position behind his brother, Aqua could even feel how his breathing changed.

    Once more, Aqua assumed the character of Zeta with a patronizing smile. Behind him, Cobalt did not pace back and forth. He firmly stood in one spot beside Aqua.

    ¡°We can¡¯t trust her,¡± Cobalt said. That wasn¡¯t the right line, but Cobalt said it with conviction.

    ¡°We trust no one. That¡¯s a given.¡±

    ¡°You know what I mean!¡± Defensive, Delta knowing he was caught in a moment of hypocrisy, but still stubbornly holding his ground. ¡°Beautiful women are the devil¡¯s sharpest weapons.¡±

    Another slight deviation from the script. Aqua decided not to give these slips too much attention. Those were the only issues in Cobalt¡¯s performance so far. ¡°They¡¯re double-edged blades, brother. Useful for the devil, but also for our pact¡¯s own agenda if we get Epsilon aligned with us.¡±

    Ruby gave her first line. ¡°I didn¡¯t come here to hurt any of you.¡±

    ¡°We should kill her,¡± Delta said. ¡°No one will find her body, and her handlers will never find us.¡± He spoke of murder like it was a mundane chore, not pleased to do it but willing to be done out of necessity. Aqua could definitely see someone chortle at the absurdity of a child saying such a line in this way. Others would be creeped out.

    ¡°You¡¯re bloodthirsty today, Delta! Where was that energy when we were crawling through the muck in the countryside?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not bloodthirsty. I¡¯m being practical. Enemies of the pact must be eliminated.¡±

    Cobalt wasn¡¯t robotic this time. He was straight-faced, pragmatic, stating a practical rule of life they must uphold. Personal preference and selfish desires had nothing to do with this decision. Or at least, that¡¯s what Delta told himself.

    ¡°She is now also an enemy of the state,¡± Aqua said once more. ¡°Enemy of my enemy, and so on and so forth.¡±

    Then Delta flipped like a coin, now full of emotion as he leaned on Aqua, grabbed his arms, and shook his entire body. ¡°But Ze-ta!¡± was Deta¡¯s whining cry, faux tears slipping from his ¨C wait, Cobalt was able to make himself fake-cry like this? ¡°She could be a double agent! What will the pact say if we bring her back?! They¡¯ll be so disappointed in us!¡±

    Ruby coughed. ¡°Uh, boys, can I say something in my defense?¡±

    Delta releasing his hold on Aqua mid-shake nearly knocked the older brother out of his chair. While Aqua steadied himself, Delta stared at Ruby dead-on. Ruby met the stare with her own steadfast intensity.

    ¡°Are you a double agent?¡± Delta asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m not.¡±

    ¡°Prove it.¡±

    Aqua scrambled to get something out of his mouth to keep the scene going. ¡°Yes, yes! In your own words, give us your elevator pitch on how we can trust you. I can¡¯t guarantee I can hold my brother back from doing something uncouth if you dilly dally.¡±

    The dialogue continued in its seventh iteration, but now Aqua was decently immersed. Cobalt¡¯s erratic behavior was entirely in-character now. Serious, but childish. Cold-hearted threats losing their muster with the immature reactions. Delta¡¯s spiteful complaining to Zeta for his jabs at the little brother¡¯s faulty arguments, then Delta¡¯s empathy and insight to Epsilon''s struggles.

    Since Cobalt was improvising lines, it was easy to recognize when he was talking total nonsense ¨C body piercings did not intrinsically improve one¡¯s standing as a good partner in a marriage (and Aqua made a mental note to check Cobalt¡¯s internet history to find out where he had gotten that wild idea from) ¨C but Delta believed what he was saying, so the momentum of the conversation was never lost. Ruby and Aqua were compelled to keep it going regardless of the Delta¡¯s illogical attempts at relatability.

    Gotanda was a wall, imperceptible, but Ai and Katayose were all in, watching closely at Cobalt act his part without fail.

    What did Gotanda say to inspire such a performance out of Cobalt?

    Eventually, it was Aqua¡¯s turn to say, ¡°Well, do you feel convinced of our fair lady¡¯s word, brother?¡±

    Delta crossed his arms, frowning at Ruby. ¡°No, I¡¯m not. But I trust you, so I¡¯ll follow your lead.¡±

    ¡°But don¡¯t you remember our maxim?¡±

    Delta blushed ¨C and Cobalt could force just enough heat into his face to portray a natural-looking embarrassed blush, too? ¨C as he faced the floor. ¡°You¡¯re my brother, and I love you,¡± Delta said, going completely off-script but still staying true to his character. ¡°Love trumps trust. I don¡¯t think Epsilon understands that.¡± Delta raised his head and peered into Ruby¡¯s ¨C no, into Epsilon''s soul. ¡°I doubt you¡¯ve ever loved something so much that you¡¯d give them total faith and your unconditional love. Maybe if we bring you into the pact, you¡¯ll learn how we¡¯ve survived this long, and understand why we stay in this fight.¡±

    Another beat passed with those final words.

    Cobalt reverted back to Cobalt, and Ai and Ruby crowded him again, this time flooding him with congratulations.

    ¡°DId I do a good job?¡±

    ¡°Of course you did, Cobie!¡±

    ¡°That was your absolutest best!¡±

    Aqua was hit by deja vu; the same shock he had felt when hearing Director Gotanda end Cobalt¡¯s first scene in Signal Lost, and seeing the murderous Sarcastic Child melt away for innocent Cobie¡¯s return.

    ¡°You were amazing, Cobie,¡± Katayose said once Ai¡¯s and Ruby¡¯s hurrahs leveled out, her eyes transfixed on Cobalt. She¡¯d been put under Cobalt¡¯s spell again, just like the rest of them. ¡°You really were. How did you approach this scene for this run? What did you do differently?¡±

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Cobalt laughed. ¡°It was really easy when the Director finally told me what I was doing wrong and what I should be doing to get it right!¡±

    ¡°And those things would be?¡±

    ¡°To stop pretending to be something I don¡¯t know much about and to instead be something I do know plenty on.¡±

    Katayose copied Gotanda¡¯s methodology and got close to Cobalt, hands slamming down on his shoulders. ¡°Explain it to me like I¡¯m stupid.¡±

    Aqua felt his hand twitch. Ruby¡¯s instincts weren¡¯t nearly as controlled, his little sister swiftly stepping in between Cobalt and Katayose. Katayose hadn¡¯t even directly called Cobalt stupid, and Cobalt clearly wasn¡¯t insulted, but the trigger developed from the heckles of Cobalt¡¯s past bullies didn¡¯t need a ton of pressure to set off.

    Before Ruby could bark back a misguided accusation at Katayose, Gotanda answered in Cobalt¡¯s stead. ¡°I told Cobalt to act like his sister, Ruby.¡±

    All eyes turned to the Director.

    ¡°What?¡± Ruby muttered in confusion. Gotanda smirked as he pulled Cobalt out of Ruby¡¯s grasp to present him to everyone. Cobalt gave a happy, unnecessary wave.

    ¡°Cobalt knows how to act and emote well enough. Elemental Orel already proves that. However, Aqua was completely right about Cobalt not being well-suited for on-screen acting. There are still facets of being on a set, being recorded both visually and auditorily while wearing costumes and makeup, and working off of other actors that he just has too much inexperience with. You all saw how his line delivery and mannerisms were off today. Even assuming Cobalt was legitimately auditioning for a role based solely on being able to act as a character without regard to a camera or other actors, directors and producers would judge him as too awkward and inconsistent. The people already pegged to be working on Game of Solidarity would especially dismiss Cobalt outright.¡±

    ¡°But that¡¯s not true,¡± said Katayose. ¡°Cobalt was in costume and makeup, and he was able to play the Sarcastic Child perfectly like Aqua.¡±

    Gotanda shook his head. ¡°For that, I told him to be Aqua. He used everything he knew about acting in perfect sync with his own understanding of his brother. Any indecision holding Cobalt back was erased when all he had to do was act as something ¨C as someone ¨C  he¡¯s intimately familiar with.¡± Gotanda patted Cobalt on the back, getting him a grin and two-fingered V-sign in return. ¡°Objectively, Cobalt knew he was playing the role and speaking the lines of the Sarcastic Child. Emotionally, he was singing one of his favorite songs with perfect pitch. He did the same thing for the seventh take today.¡±

    Oh.

    Well, Aqua was the one who felt stupid now.

    He¡¯s heard countless times already over the course of Signal Lost¡¯s filming about how the Sarcastic Child was just a more abrasive and reckless version of his real self. Cobalt had been among those parroting the sentiment. Thus, when Cobalt had been charged with acting as the Child, he hadn¡¯t been thinking, ¡°How would Aqua play this character?¡± He had asked himself, ¡°How would Aqua behave in this situation?¡± Cobalt had still put on a persona, followed the beats of the script, and still used whatever acting and voice techniques he had picked up from doing Elemental Orel and watching his family act, but those thoughts were secondary to being in the moment and doing his family justice with his performance.

    It was the same today. Cobalt stopped trying to be like whatever Delta was supposed to be. He instead portrayed what he thought Ruby would do if she was put in the character¡¯s position; how Ruby would act if she was stressed, paranoid, cold, or emotionally vulnerable.

    Katayose had difficulty grasping Gotanda¡¯s explanation. ¡°Does Cobalt try to act like Aqua often in his Elemental Orel videos? I can¡¯t name a character who really resembles Aqua.¡±

    Cobalt hummed. ¡°I do think about what Aqua would say or do, or how he would say or do things, and compare it with my scripts and my descriptions for my characters to see if I can channel a little Aqua in my voice recordings. I do that with everyone I know. Him, Ruby, mom, Clayman, grandpa¨C¡±

    Ruby stopped the rambling before it went too far. ¡°Some of our Elemental Orel stories are based on real-life things we experienced,¡± she said, ¡°but we switch up the details to spice things up creatively. And to not give too many real details about our personal lives through these stories. More people are actually catching on to Elemental Orel being Cobalt Hoshino after we started those behind-the-scenes vlogs, and fans of Aqua and Mama like to theorize on which characters represent them in each video¡­¡± Ruby trailed off as she tilted her head at Cobalt. ¡°Wait, so to get into character today, Cobalt was¡­ trying to act like me?¡±

    Gotanda nodded. ¡°Yup. Unfortunately, this kind of acting for Cobalt has its drawbacks. Directors married to their scripts won¡¯t take to his improvisation too well, regardless of it being in the name of staying in-character. Aqua and Ruby are also only two personality molds with their individual quirks in the sea of people out there. Cobalt can¡¯t just fall on their archetypes all the time if he wants to broaden his horizons. Even in his voiced characters on Elemental Orel, you can tell it¡¯s always Cobalt putting on a funny voice rather than him portraying a distinct character. We still have a lot of work ahead of us if we¡¯re going to get him on TV or in movies in roles that are more than little cameos.¡±

    Aqua shrugged. ¡°Why bother? Cobalt enjoys writing stories and the physical clay animations more than the acting itself. If he wants to do more acting anyway, he¡¯s better off doing more voice work and harnessing that skill. Voice actors can get their share of fame and opportunities, too.¡±

    Suddenly, Aqua was ambushed by a despondent Cobalt quivering his lip. ¡°Do you not think I can be a good actor like you or mom, Aqua?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say that ¨C¡±

    ¡°You totally are!¡± Ruby interrupted. ¡°Haven¡¯t you been paying attention? He can act. We just need to work on it!¡±

    ¡°Aquamarine,¡± came the guttural growl from their mother.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to get Cobalt¡¯s expectations too high,¡± Aqua said quickly. Aqua had become a good actor only partly out of his own want to do good and be proud of his work. Ultimately, it was a means to an end that he had to fine-tune to achieve his goals as efficiently and painlessly as possible. Cobalt didn¡¯t have that same drive. Maybe his was an obsession in its own right considering his constant pestering of Shin Hoshigami, but Cobalt still needed to keep his hopes at a restrained level, lest he be hit hard by the inevitable rejections as an actor.

    Gotanda sighed¡­ in disappointment, moving a hand over his temple. ¡°I thought you¡¯d have caught on by now, precocious.¡±

    What?

    ¡°I¡¯m sure all of us are familiar with typecasting,¡± Gotanda went on, speaking to them all. ¡°It happened to you, Ai. Everyone wanted to see you keep playing the cute, pure, incorruptible idol when you had both the want and the skill to build a more diverse acting resume. On the other hand, there are actors and actresses who seemingly only excel at playing particular types of characters; those who embrace those otherwise repetitive roles because, for better or worse, they¡¯re just too good at it. Wisecrackers who elevate average comedic material with improv, harsh military or political leaders who command authority with their voice and poise, and muscle heads who have the body and the demeanor to win an audience over in brutal but fun action flicks. Some embrace being one-trick ponies, others do try to expand their repertoire with varying degrees of success.

    ¡°Aqua, you¡¯re still caging Cobalt in that corner of ¡®only good at voice acting¡¯ or ¡®not disciplined enough to be on-camera.¡¯ Granted, it¡¯s natural for you to think that. I¡¯ve already outlined Cobalt¡¯s shortcomings, but going into a performance without any trust in your stage partner is also its own detriment.¡±

    Aqua raised an eyebrow. ¡°Excuse me?¡± He played his part as Zeta sufficiently.

    ¡°Cobalt, do you want to be an actor?¡±

    ¡°Like, all the time?¡± Cobalt¡¯s previous low spirits were completely forgotten as he considered the question. ¡°As a job? Hmm, I¡¯m not sure. But I do want to keep trying! With just my voice or also on-camera. Maybe on the stage, too, like in plays. Mom and Ruby say my singing is getting better!¡±

    Gotanda snapped his fingers at Aqua. ¡°Meanwhile, you don¡¯t think he can do it. You aren¡¯t encouraging him to try. You¡¯re warning him not to.¡±

    The Director was saying Aqua didn¡¯t trust Cobalt.

    And¡­ Gotanda wasn¡¯t wrong, Aqua realized.

    Aqua had been so busy with his personal and private endeavors that he had let slip his faith in Cobalt to accomplish his own dreams.

    It was only last year, sometime after their eleventh birthday, when Aqua had finally struck the correct password to get into one of Ai¡¯s old smart phones. While her more current phones and Strawberry Productions¡¯ records had already provided Aqua a list of names and numbers to cross-reference as potential identities for his father, this phone was the one Ai had used prior to becoming pregnant. There was a non-zero chance of further names hidden even from Ichigo and Miyako that Aqua couldn¡¯t ignore, so he had secretly reclaimed the phone after it had been stored away and replaced.

    After a few years of guessing and failing to input the phone¡¯s password, Aqua had considered again whether to simply ask Ai directly about their father. Again, he rejected the notion. He had seen her happy and content with the current state of affairs for their family, and happy she was to this day. Pulling her back into whatever dark memories or deceptive nostalgia she might have of her former lover would do the Hoshino family no good.

    Destroying the father was Aqua¡¯s cross to bear. That man had caused Gorou Amamiya¡¯s death. That man had nearly orchestrated Ai¡¯s death, and Cobalt¡¯s scar juxtaposed against his bright eyes and cheery smile was a constant reminder to all of them of what could have been lost forever. It was Aqua¡¯s burden to ensure his family never suffered like that again, to disallow them to feel any true despair and pain that they had already suffered. To never feel the pain and dread of being so close to death as Gorou had. They deserved the flourishing, joyous life they were living now Even with complications like the Saitou divorce, it was up to Aqua to make sure the Hoshino family stayed the course and could still, at the end of the day, smile with few regrets.

    So, alone, Aqua had continued to press on his brute force attack on the phone password, in secret and never allowing Ai, his siblings, or the Saitous to ever catch on to his plan for vengeance. After gaining access to the phone¡¯s contact list, he was able to quickly cross out a number of names he¡¯d already eliminated from the pool of known suspects, but there were plenty more Aqua hadn¡¯t gotten to yet, and more further Aqua had not yet met in his career as a child actor. More producers, musicians, and actors which Aqua still needed to get close to if he was to gather enough DNA to test their paternity over Aqua and his siblings.

    However, ensuring the secrecy of his ultimate goal and upholding his other daily responsibilities had taken up more and more of his time. There was only so much he could do in the day without falling into old unhealthy, workaholic habits. Caring, loving Ai did her best to make sure her children practiced balanced schedules of work and relaxation, but as a result of Aqua¡¯s time management, he was spending less time teaching Cobalt and guiding him on how to live a safer life or improving his animation work.

    It was bound to happen at some point. Cobalt, Aqua, and Ruby were triplets, regardless of the dynamic of oldest/middle/youngest they fell into. Aqua couldn¡¯t constantly hold Cobalt''s hand. As a consequence, Ruby had become a closer confidant of Cobalt¡¯s since taking a more involved role in Elemental Orel. The two of them were going to catch up to Aqua¡¯s own level of maturity eventually.

    Yet in the back of his mind, throughout all of Aqua¡¯s work, he had continued to picture Cobalt only at the level of ¡°amateur.¡± There would always be room for growth, was what Aqua always conceded whenever he reviewed an Elemental Orel episode that did little to inspire or make him want to keep watching. But those were concessions, reluctant admissions striving to provide something complimentary. Aqua only gave token compliments for Cobalt¡¯s efforts, nothing genuinely congratulatory for the improvements he made.

    Cobalt was a child had been the mantra Aqua had repeated in his head ever since he and Ruby confirmed Cobalt was not reincarnated, and that mantra had not yet ceased.

    He still was a child, for all practical purposes, but as Aqua was realizing now, that didn¡¯t mean Aqua had to always talk down to him or be so dismissive of his efforts to better himself. A child wasn¡¯t a baby.

    Cobalt could do anything. He had chosen his YouTube animation channel for the foreseeable future, and between that and his family in the entertainment business, it naturally led him to acting in general. Who was Aqua to inhibit his climb to success and self-improvement? To grow and become a superior performer than he was now?

    What kind of brother would Aqua be if he didn¡¯t definitively commit to supporting Cobie? A few words of encouragement wasn¡¯t hard to offer in the slightest. It would be a stain on Gorou¡¯s already faded memory to be so inconsiderate of Ai¡¯s son.

    ¡°Don¡¯t take my words the wrong way,¡± Gotanda continued, soon finishing his speech. ¡°I do think Cobalt has the capacity to find success as a more versatile actor.¡±

    Gotanda turned his back to everyone and strolled over to a pile of papers and folders on the nearby table. ¡°But! For now, with the experience and knowledge he does have, the only characters he could confidently and competently play in live-action are members of his family. He needs to do more work if he wants to get more legitimate roles and give genuine performances.

    ¡°In fact¡­¡± Gotanda spun around, holding up in clear view a front page with a title that Aqua recognized from editing one of the Director¡¯s documents last month, ¡°I actually have another script for a short film that I believe Aqua and Cobalt could feasibly¨C¡±

    ¡°What?!¡± That was an outcry from Katayose, her presentation as the cheeky and approachable actress finally breaking completely. ¡°Was this whole thing just a play to get Cobie and Aqua primed to act in your own project?¡±

    The unfitting pout Gotanda wore was answer enough. ¡°Game of Solidarity was never going to take them anyway.¡±

    Aqua moaned in annoyance to himself. So that was why Gotanda was being so critical of Aqua¡¯s doubts about Cobalt yet also realistically honest on Cobalt¡¯s faults. If Cobalt was to become a better actor, he needed more support from Aqua, and Gotanda had decided to carry out this entire exercise to make both brothers adequately motivated, personally invested in moving forward together.

    Well, Aqua wouldn¡¯t hold it against Gotanda too much. Aqua used him to further his own goals; it was only natural for Gotanda to also find ways to guide Aqua and his family into positions to benefit his own ambitions.

    ¡°They would take Cobie, Aqua, and Ruby because I would¡¯ve vouched for them!¡± Katayose retorted. ¡°They¡¯re Ai Hoshino¡¯s kids!¡±

    She continued grilling the Director. Ai and Ruby took her side. Ruby berated Gotanda for trying to solicit work from Cobalt through a roundabout scheme instead of just asking them directly to audition. Ai wasn¡¯t pleased with Gotanda waiting until the seventh take to give Cobalt the direction he needed to give a good performance.

    They were all getting lost in their petty, selfish arguments.

    Aqua needed to make amends for his own close-minded behavior.

    ¡°Hey,¡± Aqua quietly called out, ¡°Cobalt.¡±

    ¡°Yeah?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for making you think I didn¡¯t believe in you. You did really good work when you stepped in for me for Signal Lost,¡± Aqua finally admitted out loud. ¡°After today, I can definitely see how you can continue to get better if you keep practicing. I¡¯m proud of you.¡±

    The stars in Cobie¡¯s eyes expressed his gratitude without needing to say anything. He still did, of course. ¡°Thanks, Aqua!¡±

    As everyone else bickered, Cobalt pulled out his phone and soon had it pressed against his ear.

    ¡°Who are you calling?¡± Aqua asked.

    ¡°Clayman!¡± Cobalt was oddly fixated on calling Shin by his YouTube handle all the time. It must be the fanboy in him. Aqua still mentally referred to their mother as Ai, after all. ¡°I need to tell him you said you were proud of me!¡±

    ¡°¡­ Why?¡±

    ¡°He sometimes says you¡¯re a stuck-up show-off.¡± It sounded as if Shin was getting to be more like his father by the day. ¡°But there¡¯s nothing stuck-up or showy about you telling me you¡¯re proud of me! Clayman tells me all about how he''s proud of me for gaining more subscribers and views faster than when he started, so he needs to know how you¡¯re in the same boat, except for when you¡¯re complimenting my acting!¡±

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯m happy you two get along so well,¡± Aqua decided to say. ¡°I¡¯m sure he''ll admire your growing acting ability, as well.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I hope so!¡±

    <hr>

    Tonight was the last time Yura would have the chance to personally speak with A-senpai before they¡¯ll have to schedule time outside of work if they wanted to talk again in-person.

    Filming for Signal Lost in the Heavens was finally done, so the cast and crew were holding the wrap party. They were at a high-quality spacious restaurant reserved completely for them as an apology from the producers for the film¡¯s hectic schedule and production delays. Sitting at the bar, Yura rejected an alcoholic glass and went with the soda. She wasn¡¯t a big drinker, and she wanted to be sober for her last work-obligated conversation with Ai.

    Yura looked across the room. Tachibana was in the corner with one of the producers, speaking lowly so that another behind-the-scenes spat didn¡¯t ruin everyone else¡¯s good mood. Murakami was talking up one of the camera operators and downing shots with her. Director Gotanda was gorging on a full plate of food. He looked away when his and Yura¡¯s eyes happened to cross each other. They were mutually keeping their distance after their last argument. She still respected his work and leadership skills, but hijacking her attempt to get more work with Cobie, Aqua, and Ai so they could instead do a job for him still stung.

    Ai¡¯s kids weren¡¯t here, already home at this late hour. At the moment, Ai-senpai was going through the motions of trading small talk and in-jokes with crewmembers, thanking them for all their hard work and being incredibly patient with her rowdy kids. She left behind bundles of excitable, blushing fans in her wake as she slid from clique to clique, person to person.

    Eventually, Ai completed her rounds and took the spot next to Yura at the bar. The bartender gifted her an orange soda with a wink. Apparently the Hoshinos had eaten at this establishment before, so this soda must be another in-joke, probably related to Cobalt¡¯s favorite drink. Yura had really lucked out in striking up a friendship with Ai¡¯s youngest.

    ¡°I really enjoyed our time working together, Ai-senpai,¡± Yura said, pouring as much appreciation from every fiber of her being into her words.

    Ai-senpai rewarded her with an easygoing grin. ¡°Likewise. Never let anyone tell you that you don¡¯t have a heart of gold, Yura, and real talent to really make it big as an actress.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, senpai.¡± Damn, Yura was blushing more strongly than she wanted. She was honestly embarrassed now, showing her more vulnerable side to Ai-senpai again. ¡°Hearing you say that means a lot.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re also very smart. You played along with Cobie the most. I could never say no when you joined our lunch meals together.¡±

    Ai-senpai¡¯s cordial tone never changed, her idyllic face never falling, but Yura has spent enough time around the expert liar and actress Ai Hoshino to know how to read between the lines.

    Yura¡¯s investments in schmoozing Cobie had paid off, but now Ai was now more bluntly pointing it out. ¡°I think we both knew what I was doing,¡± Yura confessed sincerely. ¡°I apologize if I ever came off as too pushy or weird by joking all the time with Cobalt.¡±

    ¡°No, no, you were nothing but sweet.¡±

    Yura still felt guilty. Ai wouldn¡¯t have said something if she didn¡¯t feel the need to draw attention to Yura¡¯s behavior. ¡°To clarify, I was actually serious when I offered to lend my voice in Cobalt¡¯s videos.¡± It wasn¡¯t even about trying to leech more acting tips off of Ai, or watching Cobalt try to perfectly portray a character. Truthfully, she wouldn¡¯t mind trying something new, whether through Elemental Orel or otherwise. ¡°I do think it¡¯d be fun! I wouldn¡¯t expect to be paid or anything like that.¡±

    Ai-senpai considered the offer. ¡°Your agency wouldn¡¯t allow you to do non-compensated work, or without a proper contract. Even using an alias wouldn¡¯t fly by them.¡±

    With a sigh, Yura loosened up a little. ¡°I know, but I¡¯ll let you in on a little secret, Ai-senpai.¡± Like gossiping school girls, they leaned closer to each other. ¡°Once Signal Lost is out in theaters, my current contract will have run its course. I¡¯ve got other jobs and production companies eyeing me up and vice versa already.¡±

    Ai tilted her head, as if forming the curve of a question mark. ¡°And Strawberry Productions is one of them?¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t received any offers from Strawberry, but I wouldn¡¯t be opposed to them if you¡¯ll have me.¡± Yura sipped her soda. ¡°Though, no offense, from the sample contracts Cobie slipped me at the Strawberry office, I¡¯d need a little more wiggle room with my cut of the pay if I¡¯m going to move out of my apartment and into a real house by this time next year.¡±

    Being near Ai-senpai was addictive, but Yura decided not to try selling herself too hard. Getting into the same agency as Ai Hoshino should be a bonus to other terms in Yura¡¯s next contract. Ai-senpai will know she¡¯s interested and understand that Yura still has to concentrate on her own career path.

    ¡°¡­ You¡¯re old enough to drink, right?¡± Ai-senpai suddenly asked.

    Confused, Yura said, ¡°I turned twenty earlier this year. I¡¯ve only drank out of obligation during wrap parties like this, for business.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s fine. Going out for drinks with peers and potential business partners is the norm in this industry anyway. I ask because there¡¯s someone I know in another agency I think you¡¯ll like, and sharing a drink would be the most convenient way to introduce you.¡±

    So Ai-senpai was trying to bump Yura onto a different production company? Yura exaggerated a pout. ¡°Someone who will make my heart flutter more than you, Ai-senpai?¡±

    The warm smile Ai-senpai gave thankfully didn¡¯t make Yura¡¯s heart skip a beat. This was why she was sober for this conversation. ¡°Chances are, he might. But only if he puts in the effort. Over time, he¡¯s honed his skills in studying people, understanding them with complete objectivity. He doesn¡¯t know my babies too well, but he would have spotted Cobie posing as Aqua in two shakes.¡±

    ¡°Is this another acting senpai you¡¯re referring me to?¡±

    Ai-senpai nodded. ¡°You know, I honestly ran out of useful acting advice to give you. Regarding Strawberry, if you joined, you¡¯d make a living and get some good savings if you spend your money right, but for someone like you, you won¡¯t be growing or learning as much. We don¡¯t have the widest or biggest connections to get you more high-profile jobs. I¡¯m the best actress we have ¨C I don¡¯t mean that in a bragging way, but I mean realistically. Essentially, you¡¯ve hit the peak with Strawberry. For being so nice to Cobie, I think the last thing I can give you is an in with an actor I know with certainty is better than me.¡±

    Yura liked Ai-senpai, but if Ai was going to refer Yura to her senpai, what idiot would say no? ¡°You haven¡¯t let me down yet, Ai-senpai. That¡¯ll be another thing I¡¯ll owe you for and be forever grateful for!¡±

    Ai grasped Yura¡¯s hands, and damn it all, it took all of Yura¡¯s strength not to outright swoon. ¡°As long as you shine and sparkle the world with your acting,¡± Ai said in her velvety voice, ¡°that will be thanks enough for me. I do think Yura Katayose, with all of her soul, has what it takes to make the world tremble with her performances.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for your belief in me, Ai. Truly¡­ So, who¡¯s this senpai you¡¯re introducing me to?¡±

    ¡°I should give him a call beforehand to set things up.¡± Ai pulled out her phone. ¡°He¡¯s actually a very busy guy. For now, let¡¯s call him¡­ Miki.¡±

 Arc 4: Popular Phase, Part 1

    ¡°Cobalt, I really like you. Will you go out with me?¡±

    ¡°I like you, too, Chiyo! Sure, I¡¯ll go out with you!¡±

    Aqua watched the confession unfold from his perch on a second story window of their middle school. Behind him was an empty classroom. Other students were crowding the steps of the school¡¯s front entrance, surrounding Cobalt Hoshino and Chiyo Okazaki. The mob hollered out cheers. They tossed colorful confetti, enthusiastically applauded, and shouted congratulations.

    Ruby was next to Aqua, recording the event with her phone. No doubt she also badgered some of her friends to mingle with the others and record it up close. Ai wouldn¡¯t be back in Tokyo from her latest film until Sunday, so Ruby must be planning on compiling footage for a showcase of Cobalt¡¯s first ever romantic endeavor to share with her.

    Chiyo Okazaki was more Ruby¡¯s and Cobalt¡¯s friend than Aqua¡¯s, but he knew her well enough to know that Cobie was in good hands. She was the first to shut down unfavorable gossip when brought to her attention, even stern against Ruby who periodically got lost in the spiciness of a rumor. Aqua sometimes saw Chiyo at the Strawberry Productions office, lending a hand in Elemental Orel along with Cobalt¡¯s other friends. Chiyo even helped elderly strangers cross the street out of the kindness of her heart. All-in-all, she was a genuinely good person. It was a match made in heaven.

    She was lucky to have Cobalt, too. Girls his age were starting to blush out of embarrassed infatuation near him instead of solely at his energetic innocence. He never hesitated from complimenting someone¡¯s beauty or personality no matter the circumstances. Everyone in the Hoshino family had imparted what advice they could to Cobalt about the wonders and woes of being in a relationship, and he decided to have his first with Chiyo Okazaki.

    Aqua was happy for his little brother.

    Ruby still had hearts in her eyes as she watched the scene below. ¡°Do you know how long I¡¯ve been planning this?¡± she asked, rhetorically so, but Aqua still responded.

    ¡°The better part of a year, if my math¡¯s right.¡±

    Ruby lost her lovey-dovey air and scowled at him. ¡°Don¡¯t patronize me. You¡¯d be playing matchmaker for Cobie, too, if you had the time.¡±

    That¡¯s where they had to disagree. ¡°I actually don¡¯t think he needed a matchmaker. He¡¯s a likable guy, and he would¡¯ve found the confidence to take the initiative and confess to a girl he liked at his own pace.¡±

    ¡°And if that girl he confessed to happened to be a bad influence on Cobie?¡±

    She was really overthinking this¡­ a sentiment coming from Aqua of all people. ¡°Cobalt tells us everything. We¡¯d ask for more context on the state of their relationship, investigate further, and give him advice whether or not to continue pursuing a girl.¡±

    ¡°That would only be reacting to a potential problem girlfriend. I put in the leg-work beforehand to save us the pain from any floozies or attention hounds trying to snuggle up to Cobie for impure reasons.¡±

    Aqua doubted the circle of friends Cobalt made this year would ever allow that. The Hoshino triplets have run the entire gauntlet of benevolent, neutral, and malicious classmates throughout their schooling as the children of a celebrity. Now at thirteen-years-old, they had carved a respectable reputation and a decent following from their current peers. Or rather, Ruby and Cobalt had done their part solidifying their social circles. Aqua¡¯s aloofness had earned him admirers from afar, mostly for his acting roles and partially from his relation to his siblings.

    ¡°Chiyo was already friends with Cobalt since our last year in elementary school,¡± Aqua pointed out.

    ¡°And I¡¯ve confirmed she¡¯s still the best partner for him now that we¡¯re in our second year of middle school!¡±

    ¡°¡­ It¡¯s all moot anyway,¡± Aqua said, looking back down at the newly declared couple. The crowd around them dispersed. Cobalt and Chiyo held hands as they trotted toward the front gate. ¡°They''re together now, and it''s up to them to make it work.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Are you jealous that Cobalt found a girlfriend first?¡± Ruby suddenly asked. Her voice lost its previous snark.

    ¡°Not at all,¡± Aqua shared honestly. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in playing a middle school romance.¡±

    ¡°I mean, I can start making a list of the 3rd-years ¨C¡±

    ¡°On second-thought, double-down on matchmaking for Cobalt. He¡¯ll appreciate all the help you can give him.¡±

    Ruby groaned in frustration. ¡°It doesn¡¯t even have to be a girlfriend. You need more friends, Aqua! Like, real friends you genuinely enjoy talking to and hanging around with. You only have work friends, whether it''s for studying for exams or for your acting.¡±

    She wasn¡¯t wrong. He only occasionally dabbled in childish diversions with his equally childish classmates. Aqua had better things to do with his time, the majority of his true interests and hobbies too unrelatable for actual thirteen-year-olds. Besides, as Aqua informed his sister, ¡°I have all the real friends I need in my family.¡±

    Ruby scoffed, angling her hair to hide her flattered smile.

    ¡°And I¡¯m seriously not entertaining the idea of getting a girlfriend at this age,¡± Aqua affirmed. ¡°It¡¯s already awkward enough with my body going through puberty again.¡±

    ¡°... Sorry, I should¡¯ve been more considerate about your circumstances.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright. You just want us to be happy. I already am.¡±

    That was a little white lie.

    He¡¯ll be more confidently at peace once his ultimate goal was achieved.

    ¡°You know,¡± Ruby said nonchalantly, ¡°I¡¯ve finally grown past the age that I was when I first died.¡±

    Aqua¡¯s entire body froze. He quickly darted his eyes to his sister. She appeared as calm and composed as ever, gazing at the Tokyo cityscape.

    ¡°It won¡¯t be long until mom lets me revive B-Komachi and begin my idol career. I¡¯m getting higher scores during karaoke sessions with my friends more consistently now, too. It¡¯s like all my dreams are coming true, one after the other. Cobalt¡¯s getting to live his dreams, too. Elemental Orel¡¯s doing well, Shin¡¯s visiting Tokyo more often, and now Cobie even has his first girlfriend.¡±

    She set aside her phone and faced Aqua with an earnest look in her starry eyes.

    ¡°What are your dreams, Aqua? Really?¡±

    Aqua privately applauded Ruby for her performance.

    It was honest, to be sure, but Aqua was raised by Ai as much as her. He knew she was intentionally using subtle techniques to improve her chances of fishing for more information. It was an unspoken acknowledgement between them that Ruby had died in her previous life at a young age. Finally admitting her age at the time of her death was an admission of her trust in Aqua.

    She really thought they were family, reincarnated and all.

    Unfortunately, although Aqua thought the same of her, he could never reveal his ultimate goal. They switched between talking jokingly and seriously about protecting Cobalt all the time, but Aqua also had a responsibility to divert danger away from his little sister, especially from the dark path that inevitably lay ahead of Aqua in eliminating their father.

    ¡°As a generality,¡± Aqua answered, ¡°my dream is to see my family happily live out their dreams.¡±

    Without missing a beat, Ruby followed up with, ¡°What about selfishly?¡±

    ¡°Becoming an exemplary doctor and an accomplished actor, of course.¡± That was no lie, yet Ruby still was not satisfied.

    ¡°What else do you dream about?¡±

    ¡°I dream about justice.¡± And vengeance.

    Ruby scrutinized Aqua a few more seconds longer

    She soon sighed with her surrender. ¡°Fine¡­ You can keep being vague about what you really want.¡±

    To tease Ruby just a tad, Aqua broke character to grin smartly at her. She mocked him by sticking out her tongue before returning to their classroom cleanup duties.

    Aqua pondered on the rest of the family¡¯s reactions to Cobalt¡¯s new girlfriend. They were already aware of his friendship with Chiyo, so it wouldn¡¯t be too much of a surprise. Ai will be approving and likely joke about getting grandchildren down the line. Ichigo might be overly paranoid that Cobalt will follow his mother¡¯s footsteps a little too closely and become a parent too soon, and thus Ichigo would be working hard to drill repetitive, clear-cut lessons into Cobalt¡¯s head on restraint, discipline, and mutual respect; if Ichigo can make time in his own hectic schedule, that is. Aqua could easily picture the ever busy Miyako smiling fondly and wishing Cobalt luck before going back to work.

    If not legally, Shin Hoshigami was practically a member of the Hoshino/Saitou family by way of informal adoption by Cobalt, and officially associated through his contract as Clayman Animations with Strawberry Productions. He was more than likely the person Cobalt was most excited to inform about this new development.

    Shin will probably be jealous but nonetheless happy for Cobie.

    ¡°Are you going to just let me do all the work, mister bigshot actor?¡±

    Aqua shook his head out of the clouds and joined his sister. ¡°Impatience isn¡¯t a good look for you, miss wannabe idol,¡± he retorted , avoiding the marker thrown at his head.

    <hr>

    Cobalt marched through the Strawberry Productions office with a giddy strut in his step. He politely returned the greetings by the scouts and other talents in the building, but his main priority was the man of clay occupying one of the rooms in the back.

    Cobalt told him the good news.

    ¡°What?!¡±

    His reaction was¡­ energetic!

    Clay ¨C the moniker which Cobalt was eventually told to call Clayman by if he wasn¡¯t going to use Shin ¨C had been editing one of his videos on a Strawberry desktop. They also did animations in this part of the office; half the room was set up with props, miniatures, and clay figures easily rearranged with the surrounding lights and cameras. Mom had wanted a separate space for both Clay and Cobalt to do their work on their animations outside of the house, and Clay had jumped at the chance to work in a more professional setting. Whenever Clay visited Tokyo, Cobalt was with him in this room working together, just like how Cobalt had pictured it when Clay first joined Strawberry.

    Leaning back on a swivel chair, the seat tilting from his imbalanced weight, Clay stared at Cobalt with wide eyes and his mouth was agape. ¡°You¡¯ve got a girlfriend now?¡±

    ¡°Yeah!¡±

    ¡°Since when?¡±

    Cobalt retraced his steps in his head. ¡°Uh, technically around lunchtime last week,¡± since that had been when he and Chiyo actually talked about getting together for real, ¡°and officially when school ended yesterday!¡± Because when Chiyo had spoken to Ruby about being with Cobalt, Ruby had pushed for her to do the whole confession bit. Cobalt had thought it would be fun and had been happy to oblige. ¡°We¡¯ve scheduled our first real date for this weekend!¡±

    ¡°... Give me a second.¡± Clay spun around and coughed, the back of his chair facing Cobalt. Clay did this sometimes, turning away to recompose himself like how an actor sometimes did to turn their character on or off. Cobalt did that, too, whenever he did on-camera acting. Mom, Aqua, Yura Katayose, and most other real actors Cobalt has met were usually more subtle about their transformations.

    When Clay faced Cobalt again, he was nothing but smiles. ¡°Hey, congrats on getting yourself a girl!¡± He threw a playful punch at Cobalt. Snickering, Cobalt deflected the jab and exchanged a few more hits and dodges with him. ¡°You think she¡¯s a keeper?¡±

    ¡°I hope so. Her name¡¯s Chiyo. She¡¯s my first girlfriend, and I¡¯m her first boyfriend.¡± Cobalt whipped out his phone. ¡°Here¡¯s a picture of her.¡± He thought she was pretty, though she wasn¡¯t the prettiest girl in their class. That spot was automatically reserved for Ruby, but from the way Clay¡¯s grin widened, he must recognize some of the same objective beauty Cobalt had also seen.

    ¡°She¡¯s adorable, kid,¡± Clay said, making Cobalt more confident that he made the right choice. ¡°Right up your alley. Growing fast, ain¡¯t ya?¡±

    ¡°Yup! Even Aqua¡¯s never had a girlfriend before. I thought because he¡¯s so mature and cool-headed, he¡¯d have gotten a girlfriend first.¡±

    Clay frowned. ¡°He¡¯s never had a girl with him before?¡±

    ¡°Nope!¡±

    ¡°So he¡¯s never given you personal advice on how to treat a girl.¡±

    ¡°Well, not directly. He gave me the same practical advice that Ruby, mom, grandpa, and aunt Miyako tell me, to be nice and sensible and stuff. Ruby¡¯s given me more advice as a girl ¨C¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s fine and dandy,¡± Clay interrupted, taking off his headphones and putting the computer to sleep, ¡°but you¡¯re gonna need more than your nice guy act or cinnamon roll schtick to get anywhere worthwhile with your first girl.¡±

    Cobalt perked up. ¡°Are we going out for another life lesson?¡±

    His favorite part of Clay staying in Tokyo, outside of their collaborations on their YouTube channels, was when the two of them spent time around the city together. A few months ago, mom had started letting them go out without needing a chaperone in Aqua or someone else. Cobalt showed Clay his favorite shops and hangout spots, Clay showed Cobalt some of his own preferred venues he¡¯d taken a liking to over the course of his Tokyo visits, and Cobalt got to hear an unfiltered Clayman impart his wisdom.

    Clay always seemed like he held himself back when he was around Cobalt¡¯s family. Like he was censoring himself. Ruby had stopped glaring at Clay for his constant curses, but Clay still wore a partial front most of the time.

    Maybe with Clay being a fan of mom as an idol, he was emulating her, since mom used to hide her love for Cobalt and his siblings during Cobalt¡¯s earliest memories. That would mean Cobalt was super special in Clay¡¯s eyes to open up his true self when they were alone together!

    ¡°You can bet your lovable skull we¡¯re gonna have a life lesson,¡± Clay confirmed, grabbing his coat. ¡°One of the most important ones you¡¯ll have in your entire life. By the time we¡¯re done, you¡¯re going to be the best boyfriend your girl could have ever asked for.¡±

    ¡°Oh, boy!¡±

    Clay used to drag Cobalt by the arm during these excursions, but now that Cobalt was a little older, keeping up behind Clay¡¯s swift steps was easy.

    There was more activity in the office than usual with people constantly moving through the halls, carrying equipment or boxes full of equipment. A spike in new internet personalities signing with Strawberry had prompted orientation sessions and the need for more tools to help the new guys begin advancing in their careers. Some renovation for part of the building was also scheduled today. The front entrance was the busiest, delivery people constantly walking in and out. By the door was grandpa Ichigo, looking between a clipboard and his phone as he directed everyone.

    Grandpa Ichigo was the Executive Manager of Strawberry Productions now. He worked less with the talents and studio producers, leaving that stuff to aunt Miyako, who was officially the permanent President of Strawberry. Ichigo handled the management over Strawberry¡¯s non-talent employees like the scouts or off-screen tech people, though Aqua and Clay have mentioned how Ichigo still used his old connections as the former president and mom¡¯s old agent to leverage favors and work for their company.

    ¡°Hi again, grandpa Ichigo!¡± Cobalt greeted.

    ¡°Hey Cobie, Shin,¡± Ichigo acknowledged. He was more focused on directing the delivery people, but he slowly turned to Cobalt and Clay as they put on their shoes. ¡°Where are you two going? I thought you were going to be doing more editing until dinner?¡±

    Cobalt proudly pounded his chest. ¡°Clay¡¯s going to teach me how to be a good boyfriend!¡± He had wanted to tell grandpa Ichigo the news directly, too, but grandpa hadn¡¯t been in the office yesterday, and Clay had taken priority today.

    Nearby lady talents and workers cooed. The male ones chuckled softly. Clay blushed but stood his ground as he met grandpa Ichigo¡¯s questioning gaze without flinching. ¡°It¡¯s his first girlfriend. He already said yes to her confession. He needs a little advice to make sure he doesn¡¯t crash and burn before he even gets to first base.¡±

    For a second, Cobalt was worried grandpa Ichigo was going to make them stay and do the work they said they would do today. Fortunately, he seemed to understand there should be a special exception. ¡°Well, Ai¡¯s kids were bound to start dating eventually.¡± He gave clearance at the door for the boys to leave. ¡°I¡¯m happy for you, Cobalt. Whatever you do, don¡¯t stay out late or get into any trouble. I¡¯m trusting you on this, Shin. Ai, Miyako, and I don¡¯t want to hear about Cobalt inadvertently inviting a drug dealer into the office again, or something to that level of absurdity.¡±

    Oh, that was one of Cobalt¡¯s favorite adventures to adapt for Elemental Orel!

    He never actually took any of the dealer¡¯s drugs, of course. He wasn¡¯t that dumb.

    ¡°You can come with us, grandpa!¡± Cobalt offered. ¡°You must have your own advice, too.¡±

    Cobalt heard Clay suck in a sharp breath. Ichigo shook his head. ¡°No, you boys go bond.¡± He grabbed Shin¡¯s shoulder and leaned down to whisper in his ear, though Cobalt was able to hear him. ¡°The shop east of Ai¡¯s favorite cafe gives good deals on the volumes with the best art.¡±

    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    With that, Clay and Cobalt were out the door, strolling down the Tokyo streets under the warm afternoon sun.

    ¡°Are we going to be picking up more manga?¡± Cobalt asked. ¡°I¡¯m already caught up on Sweet Today.¡±

    Clay snorted, walking briskly as he typed something on his phone. ¡°Old man thinks we¡¯re gonna buy books. I could¡¯ve just shared some links I¡¯ve got saved if it was really about that. No, what I¡¯m gonna get you today is a teacher, Cobie.¡±

    Now Cobalt was shaking in anticipation!

    They walked for maybe a half hour or more, in the opposite direction of mom¡¯s favorite cafe. Eventually, they entered a neighborhood Cobalt had never been in before. Nothing looked weird, just unfamiliar. He saw signs for a few restaurants that looked neat. Oh, there was also a hotel that looked like one of those lovey-dovey places mom had banned him from ever visiting! He once thought they were playground castles made bigger for tourists, but apparently they were only for grown-ups to enter.

    Clay brought him to a building around the block from the hotel. Stepping inside, Cobalt was hit by low lighting intercut by bright overhanging bulbs placed over booths, dining tables, and a couple pool tables. A giant colorful radio in the corner was playing music. The place looked kinda like an old-timey western saloon! There was a bar with a collection of bottles, decorative glass, framed photos, and even a giant barrel.

    There were a lot of pretty ladies here, too. None as pretty as mom, or Yura, or aunt Miyako, but the men around them looked happy to be eating or drinking with them!

    ¡°Don¡¯t give your real name,¡± Clay said quietly as he guided him inside. ¡°No Cobalt or Hoshino better leave your lips. To everyone in here, I¡¯m Clay, and you¡¯re Orel.¡±

    Cobalt matched his volume to Clay¡¯s. ¡°Are we going undercover?¡±

    ¡°Think of it like that, sure.¡± His voice returned to normal when they reached the bar. ¡°Welcome to Tavern Shinon, kid,¡± Clay said as they sat by the end of the bar. ¡°Better known as the Sin Club if you know the right people. Lucky for you, you know me.¡± Clay waved at the bartender: another pretty lady, this one with blond hair a shade lighter than Cobalt¡¯s. ¡°This here¡¯s Shion Sano, who pretty much runs this fine establishment.¡±

    ¡°Hi, Miss Sano! My name is Orel!¡± And boy, did calling himself Orel instead of Cobalt feel great! He needed to ask mom again if he can legally change his name when she got back from work.

    ¡°So I¡¯ve heard,¡± the pretty lady said with an amused, weary smile. ¡°Nice to meet you, Orel. Just call me Sano.¡±

    ¡°Okay!¡±

    Clay knocked his fist on the bar top. ¡°Give him some lemonade. I¡¯ll have my usual.¡±

    Sano rolled her eyes as she pulled out a pair of glass cups. ¡°You¡¯re lucky your boyfriend paid extra for your tab,¡± she said as she walked away and perused the stack of bottles on the wall behind her.

    Cobalt looked up at¡­

    No. Orel. He was Orel now.

    Orel looked up at Clay with admiration. ¡°You have a boyfriend, Clay? Even Ruby doesn¡¯t have one, and people ask her out all the time!¡± Especially over the past year, when Ruby has had to fight barely any bullies. Many of his classmates have asked Orel for advice on how to confess to her. Not that he could help them much since she was going to be an idol like mom, and idols couldn¡¯t publicly have boyfriends like how Orel was openly treating Chiyo as his girlfriend. ¡°Is your boyfriend going to teach me how to be a good boyfriend, too?¡±

    A wincing, conflicted expression spread across Clay¡¯s face. ¡°No. Don¡¯t listen to Sano. She was just kidding. We¡¯re here to find you a girl.¡±

    ¡°But I already have a girlfriend.¡±

    ¡°Exactly! Your first girlfriend!¡± Sano returned, a bottle in one hand and a pitcher of lemonade in another. She poured into the boys¡¯ respective cups before leaving. ¡°Thanks, Sano,¡± Clay acknowledged shortly before taking a large sip.

    Wait a second. Orel paused to sniff the air. ¡°Why are you drinking alcohol? Aren¡¯t you too young?¡±

    Clay sighed happily as he set down his glass. ¡°The place is called Sin Club for a reason. Besides, it keeps me inspired. Worked wonders for my dad. Why wouldn¡¯t it for me?¡±

    Well, everything between school and Orel¡¯s family has told him that he shouldn¡¯t be drinking liquor until he had two twos in his age¡­ but if Clayman needed it to fuel his inspirations, then that¡¯s what he needed! No question about it!

    ¡°I only let loose like this when I¡¯m in Tokyo. It¡¯s all good. Now listen up, little man.¡± Clay drank again. ¡°I was maybe two years older than you when I had my first girlfriend.¡±

    Orel gasped. ¡°Really? Why didn¡¯t you ever say anything since then?¡±

    ¡°Well, I was her first, and we didn¡¯t last. We were both back to doing it solo before long.¡±

    Orel moaned in sympathy. ¡°Gosh. I¡¯m so sorry for you, Clay. What happened?¡±

    Clay took a deep breath. He was going to do a speech. Orel gave his mentor all of his attention.

    ¡°You see, women are ultimately selfish creatures, Orel.¡± Clay dipped his finger in his cup and swirled the drink in a circling current. ¡°They want and want and want, and then take as much as they can get away with. Just¡­ look at the women in your life! Ruby and your mom are all about stealing the spotlight on the stage or on the silver screen. They gotta be the hottest, the cutest, the superstars of the show, so that they¡¯ll be the ones running it, if not already.¡±

    Hmm, Clay was right about Ruby wanting to be the star of her shows in music and dancing a lot of the time. She was going to be an idol! Plus, there were all the boys wanting to ask her out.

    Mom, on the other hand, has said that she¡¯s at a point in her career where she was fine with not being the main star of the shows and movies she gets parts in. Side roles were alright, so long as it was paid work and a script with dignity. She was treating acting more as a job than as a dream, Orel had observed. Although, maybe Clay had a point about mom stealing the spotlight but off-camera. Lots of people on film sets, even beautiful actresses in their own right like Yura Katayose, could never keep their eyes off mom for very long.

    Aunt Miyako also sort of fit? She was the President of Strawberry Productions who replaced grandpa Ichigo, so she was ¡°running the show¡± instead of him. It was also the president¡¯s job to be selfish, getting as much money out of their talents and their contracts as possible.

    ¡°A lot of women are like that,¡± Clay went on. ¡°To get what they want, more often than not they use innocent boys like you and me, squeeze us dry of our value. Sure, it can be fun. You¡¯ll think it¡¯s fun. They can teach you things you never thought possible. But once they use you up, unless you¡¯ve got something more up your sleeve, they can easily toss you out without a second thought about your own wellbeing.¡±

    Sano walked by them again. ¡°Real classy of you, Clay.¡±

    Clay slammed a handful of dollar bills on the bar top and slid it to Sano, shooing her away. ¡°Privacy, Sano. Please.¡±

    As Sano left again, Orel mulled on Clay¡¯s words a little more before responding. ¡°It sounds like you¡¯re talking about a gold digger. Mom taught me, Aqua, and Ruby about them: people wanting to hang out with us just to get our money.¡± It had taken a while before Orel better understood the difference between an exploitative gold digger, an unfortunate homeless beggar, and regular people just networking with a mix of politeness and a practical want for a favor. He was pretty sure he got the gist of it now. ¡°Chiyo isn¡¯t a gold digger, though. She¡¯s too nice and honest.¡±

    ¡°Ah! But if you¡¯re not careful, if you don¡¯t keep her happy, she might transform into a gold digger and catch you by surprise!¡±

    Golly, he was right! Orel¡¯s overheard stories from his aunt and grandpa of former associates of Strawberry who used to be good people before trying to screw the company of Strawberry¡¯s fair share of profits! Betrayal from a friend was never something Orel has ever gone through himself, and he definitely didn¡¯t want to ever experience it!

    ¡°Oh, no!¡± Orel cried. ¡°Then how do I make sure Chiyo doesn¡¯t become a bad person? How do I keep her honest?¡±

    Clay smirked at Orel. ¡°The easiest way is to never show her your bad sides. Like how Ai always stays on top of things under that veil of cutesy, sparkly positivity. Nobody with half a brain cell and a beating heart would ever stab her in the back.¡±

    Now Clay was just completely wrong on that front. ¡°That¡¯s not true. Ryosuke would¡¯ve done it.¡±

    ¡°Who?¡±

    ¡°Mom¡¯s stalker. The one who stabbed me.¡± Orel tapped his scar for emphasis. ¡°He would¡¯ve stabbed her in the back. Literally, and probably metaphorically, too.¡± Did Orel not tell Clay about Ryosuke? Clay must know about the whole stalker ordeal if Orel ever explained the scar, but did Ryosuke¡¯s name never come up?

    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Clay looked uncomfortable, so Orel must¡¯ve forgotten to give him the complete story. After swallowing another swig, Clay moved on, taking more sips after each pause in his speech. ¡°Anyway! Orel¡­ About Ai¡­ My point is¡­ that people love Ai because of her charisma, purity, and perfection as an idol carrying over to Ai the actress. Even to today, years after her retirement. Chances are, this Chiyo girl confessed to you because you¡¯re just a ball of kindness and stupid innocence unfurling all the time. You¡¯ve got your own brand of purity that makes girls swoon for you, only Chiyo is the one who decided to shoot her shot and score bigtime. You get me?¡±

    ¡°I think so¡­¡±

    ¡°If you start showing your bad sides¡­ how gullible or slow you get sometimes¡­ the reckless things you do¡­ your own ignorance in how to even be a good boyfriend¡­ then Chiyo¡¯s own well of kindness that might¡¯ve caught your interest will start to go down. The bad will begin outweighing the good in her eyes. She¡¯ll refuse to listen to you after you¡¯ve already opened your heart to the first girl in a long time who offered to hear you out¡­ She¡¯ll humiliate you, and you¡¯ll be alone again.¡±

    That bitter tone sounded familiar.

    Clay¡¯s glass finally ran out. As he waved at Sano, Orel studied him. Clay had one of his legs wrapped around the single leg of his bar stool. His other leg pushed against the bar wall, keeping himself balanced since he was leaning too much forward with his bottom on the edge of the seat. He placed his elbow on the bar top and rested his cheek on his knuckles. After Sano refilled their drinks, his gaze followed her as she sauntered over to another customer.

    It wasn¡¯t just Clay¡¯s voice, Orel realized. It was also his posture and mannerisms.

    ¡°You¡¯re starting to look and sound like how aunt Miyako used to talk sometimes,¡± Orel said, ¡°back before we met you.¡±

    Clay blinked distractedly. ¡°I remember she was a drinker, too, before she wussed out and tempered herself.¡±

    Orel nodded. ¡°You sound just as negative and resentful as she used to be.¡±

    He hadn¡¯t understood it too well at the time, and Orel still had issues with accepting it. How aunt Miyako was supposedly a bad wife to grandpa and how Ichigo was apparently a bad husband to her. Why Miyako had to swear off drinking despite being so much more honest, talkative, and willing to listen to Orel ramble whenever she got really drunk. How she needed to find other ways to relieve stress instead of letting the bitterness trickle out through the funky smell of alcohol in her breath.

    Clay called aunt Miyako a wuss, and that was not nice, but if drinking and drowning in bitter waters was what Clay needed for stress relief, just like how aunt Miyako had needed it, then Orel should let him swim. Miyako had become more amenable to a younger Orel¡¯s questions about life, ultimately leading them to Clay himself, so a drunken Clay just might give Orel the advice he needed to successfully navigate his new relationship.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know exactly what you went through with your first girlfriend,¡± Orel said with the same soft understanding he¡¯d heard mom use on functional alcoholic Miyako many times, ¡°but Chiyo is different. We promised to be honest with each other. I don¡¯t want to see her become a gold digger, but I also don¡¯t want to hide any side of me, good or bad.¡±

    Clay scoffed. ¡°You want to find happiness through love. That¡¯s the whole point of life, to feel good¡­ That¡¯s why you talk up a storm to every silly schmuck you meet, kiddo. You want to be friends with anyone and everyone¡­¡±

    Resting his arm over Orel¡¯s shoulders, Clay pushed the two of them closer together, filling Orel¡¯s vision with a look of¡­ of sour emotions on Clay¡¯s face.

    ¡°What makes your new girlfriend so special?¡± Clay asked lowly. ¡°If it hadn¡¯t been her, this Chiyo chick¡­ you¡¯d have accepted the confession of at least a dozen other willing girls, I¡¯m sure.¡±

    ¡­ There was a special reason why Orel chose Chiyo and why she chose him. Even genius Aqua or social butterfly Ruby didn¡¯t know about their secret pact.

    ¡°I¡¯m not supposed to tell anyone this,¡± Orel said, ¡°but you and Chiyo don¡¯t go to the same school, so it should be fine.¡± He took a deep breath. ¡°Chiyo¡¯s parents are getting a divorce.¡±

    Clay was nonplussed. ¡°What does that have to do with ¨C¡±

    ¡°Her parents don¡¯t love each other anymore. She wants to understand why.¡± Just like how Orel still struggled to understand the divorces in his family. He¡¯s heard stories of other people¡¯s divorces on TV and from the occasional classmate, but none had told their tales as generously or compellingly as Chiyo. ¡°Chiyo has her own selfish motivations by being in a relationship with me. She also knows I want to learn about love, too. I still don¡¯t get why grandpa Ichigo and aunt Miyako don¡¯t love each other anymore, but Chiyo¡¯s just as interested as me to see if we can have a romantic relationship and succeed where they failed.¡±

    Orel had even considered becoming a dad to aid his studies in better understanding love. His mom had said his dad hadn¡¯t wanted to be a father, so Orel toyed with the idea of trying it out himself. True love conquered all, as it had worked out for mom, her motherly love for her children and her love as an idol for her devoted fans keeping them safe from being too hurt by Ryosuke. True fatherly love might have been what was needed to save Miyako¡¯s and Ichigo¡¯s marriage. It might have even been enough to have prevented Ryosuke from hurting Orel and from killing himself, if mom¡¯s ex-boyfriend had been with them that day to stop the stalker.

    But from the talks Ichigo, aunt Miyako, and mom had hosted for Orel and his siblings about how babies were actually made, becoming a real father was off the table for him. So, with pretty good ideas already on what it meant for a mother and a child to love each other, Orel committed himself to experiencing true romantic love between a boy and a girl instead.

    ¡°If you took a cynical look at things, we¡¯re both using each other,¡± Orel conceded, ¡°but we¡¯re being honest about it. Our friendship is real. Chiyo likes how I help lead study sessions with our classmates when Aqua¡¯s too busy. She works with Ruby more often now to help me plan promotional videos in between our big animation releases. We like each other as friends. We want to see how things would change if we became more than that.¡±

    By the time Orel was done with his spiel, Sano had made her rounds again, refilling his lemonade and dropping Clay another liquor bottle. She set down the pitcher of lemonade behind for Orel.

    Wow, Clay was actually going through his drinks much faster than aunt Miyako ever did! This must mean he was really inspired by Orel¡¯s speech!

    ¡°¡­ You''re only as stupid as much as you let yourself be, Orel,¡± Clay said, making Orel sit up with pride. ¡°You¡¯re smart and selfish in your own secret ways, just like your mom. Never forget that.¡±

    ¡°I learned a lot from my family, and from you.¡±

    Clay chuckled with a smirking leer. ¡°I appreciate that, kid.¡± He drank again. ¡°But ¨C and hear me out, here ¨C But in spite of all that talk about being honest and learning, you don¡¯t want to disappoint Chiyo, right?¡±

    ¡°¡­ No, I don¡¯t.¡±

    The thought of disappointing Aqua last year with his bad acting had been another terrifying ordeal Orel never wanted to go through. Orel cared about living up to the expectations of the good people in his life. Chiyo was one of them.

    Clay spun around in his chair, halting himself by planting his hands on the bar top. ¡°You want her to be happy,¡± he said. ¡°Making others happy is what makes you happy. That¡¯s the reigning philosophy on Elemental Orel.¡±

    ¡°It is, for the most part, yeah.¡±

    ¡°Therefore, there¡¯s still worth in playing up your good sides to keep everyone in the relationship happy.¡±

    ¡°¡­ I don¡¯t want to lie,¡± Orel stressed, ¡°or manipulate her. I¡¯m not good at those things anyway.¡± He loved being the creative mind behind Elemental Orel, but he was no expert smooth talker or a skillfully shrewd businessman like the rest of his family.

    ¡°Not consciously yet, you¡¯re not¡­¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    Clay didn¡¯t clarify. ¡°We¡¯re not going to hide the fact that you¡¯re inexperienced in the matters of love. We¡¯re going to give you a headstart, and your Chiyo chick will be all the more happy when you shower her with real love for the first time. She¡¯ll think you¡¯re a prodigy, naturally good at this sort of thing, and so completely worth sticking around for.¡±

    ¡°What headstart?¡±

    Someone tapped Orel¡¯s shoulder.

    Turning around, he was met with another pretty lady ¨C no, a pretty girl in a lady¡¯s fancy clothes. She looked about Clay¡¯s age, so probably in high school. She also had blond hair.

    ¡°Hey there. Ayane Miyashita,¡± the pretty girl introduced herself, speaking at a fast pace. ¡°You¡¯re in my seat.¡±

    ¡°Oh. Sorry, Miss Miyashita.¡± Because Clay was already at the end of the line of bar stools, Orel had to move to the next one over so that the girl sat between them. Orel was about to grab a free chair from an empty table to saddle next to Clay when the pretty girl grabbed Orel¡¯s face. She made him look straight in her eyes, her brows narrowing as she examined him.

    ¡°Just Ayane, boy. Why are you even here so early? The free chicken wings don¡¯t get served until another hour.¡±

    Orel gasped. ¡°The Sin Club gives free food?¡± He should have one of his future dates with Chiyo at this place! Her parents hadn¡¯t been cooking enough food or giving her enough money to buy her own meals lately, too busy with their divorce problems.

    ¡°Good to see you, Ayane,¡± Clay slurred out. He placed a hand on her arm, which she shook to release his grip. Still smiling, he poured part of his bottle into Orel¡¯s half-empty lemonade. Ayane drank from it. ¡°This is Orel. Orel, this fine lady will be teaching you how to satisfy a woman.¡±

    Really? So she was going to be his expert teacher! ¡°Nice to meet ya, Ayane!¡±

    Ayane gave Orel another once-over before returning to Clay. ¡°This is the guy you were talking about?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    At the sound of a whistle, Orel looked over to Sano down the bar. She slid him a new glass over the wood. She winked while Orel waved in appreciation, pouring himself more lemonade from the pitcher. People were so nice in the Sin Club!

    ¡°Younger than the usual boys who treat me,¡± Ayane muttered as Orel turned back to his two teachers. ¡°How old is he?¡±

    ¡°Young enough to have only gotten his first girlfriend today.¡± Clay pulled out his wallet and handed her some dollar bills. ¡°Old enough for even some high school girls to be giving him looks.¡± Clay leaned around Ayane and waggled his eyebrows in a funny way at Orel.

    As Orel drank, Ayane inspected him again before nodding to herself. ¡°Alright. He¡¯s cute enough.¡±

    ¡°I want him to know what he¡¯s in for once he gets closer to his girl.¡± Clay looked like he was about to drop his slightly bigger body onto Ayane, as if to hug her and use her for support. She extended a hand against his chest, keeping him in his own seat. Clay continued talking like he wasn¡¯t denied a hug. ¡°He has to surprise her, make her never want to stop coming back for more after their first time, so he needs little nudging to know what to do once he gets to that point with his girlfriend.¡±

    Ayane squeezed Orel¡¯s cheeks. It¡¯s been a while since a pretty girl or a pretty lady last did that. It was a little annoying, but Orel didn¡¯t stop her. ¡°You know as well as I do,¡± she said to Clay, ¡°that your first relationship doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯ll be either of their first time clicking boots with someone. Especially for shy, overthinking pups in middle school.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t know Orel like I do. He¡¯s a go-getter. Problem is that he can come off too strong, or he throws a powerful strike that¡¯ll only go into the gutter. He and his family have been good to me, so I want him holding all the advantages he can carry when he lunges for the prize.¡±

    Smiling, as Ruby liked to say, was Orel¡¯s default facial expression, but he did his best to brighten it up tenfold to solidify a good impression on his prospective mentor in the art of first-time romances. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to you teaching me how to be a good boyfriend, Miss Ayane!¡±

    It was a successful move, Ayane giving her own passionate smile. ¡°I¡¯ll teach you a lot more if you throw in a little extra.¡±

    ¡°Hey,¡± Clay chimed in, resting his head on the bar. He propped his elbow to raise his hand and loosely point a finger at Ayane. ¡°Don¡¯t you start asking him for more money. Gold diggers are a big no-no for Orel.¡±

    ¡°Who said anything about money? It all depends on his performance and his willingness to ¨C¡±

    ¡°No, don¡¯t say anything else. He¡¯ll just get more confused.¡±

    Orel¡¯s declaration of ¡°I¡¯m a good student, though! My grades are now in the top ¨C¡± was ignored and cut short.

    ¡°Go out and teach him,¡± Clay said, slipping Ayane more money. ¡°Make him a man. And ¨C And do it at your place!¡±

    Ayane looked at him with bemusement. ¡°The tavern¡¯s around the corner from a hotel for a reason.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, the one with shit beds and cold showers. I want his first time to be comfortable. Smooth. Make him confident, but be honest about it. Tell him how to improve. Hype him up to do an even better job once he and his own little lady get down and dirty.¡±

    Ayane gave a sarcastic laugh, capturing Orel in a one-armed hug. Orel guessed she preferred the sweet and sour smell of lemonade more than the funky smell of liquor Clayman was radiating. ¡°Never did I think you¡¯d be such a supportive big brother, Clay.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m very good at it! Maybe take a page out of my book and learn how to be a better big sister for your brat.¡±

    Flashing the money between her fingers, Ayane said with a smirk, ¡°I already do.¡± She looked down at Orel. ¡°Stick close to me, kid. If anyone on the way asks about us, I¡¯m your home tutor.¡±

    Orel shimmied to take his cup and drink without risking spilling any on Ayane. ¡°Are we going somewhere?¡± he asked her.

    ¡°Pay more attention. You and I are going to have a good time together at my place.¡±

    Orel frowned. ¡°I¡¯m not supposed to go into a stranger¡¯s home without ¨C¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll vouch for her,¡± Clay pitched in, winking at him. ¡°Trust me to trust her to take excellent care of you.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Okay!¡± Aqua and Ruby usually had to interview their classmates before they let Orel visit their houses, and it sounded like Clay had already done his interview for Ayane! Orel brought back his smile as he set it on her again. ¡°I promise to be a good student, Miss Ayane!¡±

    Ayane surprised him by roughly pulling him closer in their hug. Orel had to plant his feet and dig in to keep himself from just completely slamming his body against her. ¡°Damn, Clay,¡± she said, the sound of her voice slightly muffled to Orel with him pressed against her. ¡°You weren¡¯t so wrong about this little ladykiller.¡±

    ¡°See?¡± Clay reached around to ruffle Orel¡¯s hair. ¡°Have fun, kiddo!¡±

    Orel slithered upward to look over Ayane¡¯s shoulder at Clay. ¡°But how long will this take? I still have a curfew, and it sounds like this lesson will take a lot of time to get right.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll come up with an excuse,¡± Clay dismissed easily. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Orel. Just enjoy yourself and make sure Ayane enjoys her time enough that she¡¯ll want to give you follow-up lessons.¡± Clay faced the wall across from the bar, taking another deep swig. ¡°And don¡¯t worry about me either. I¡¯m gonna stay here a while¡­¡±

    ¡°Okay!¡± Functional alcoholic Miyako had also needed her alone time between drinking, too. Mostly for long naps. ¡°Thanks for all your help, Clay!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Ayane said impatiently, ¡°we¡¯re all very thankful¡­¡± She stood up from her bar stool. Orel was about to follow, but she sat him back down. ¡°Give me five minutes. I gotta call my sister and tell her to clear off if we¡¯re doing this at my place.¡± She caressed a finger down the side of Orel¡¯s face. It tickled, so he laughed, and Ayane matched his giggles. ¡°Stay right here, okay, Orel?¡±

    ¡°Okay!¡±

    Appeased, Ayane stepped away to have her private phone call.

    Orel was about to start asking Clay more questions, but as Orel¡¯s gaze strayed to a clock on a wall, he was reminded of something he wanted to ask someone else.

    ¡°Hey, Miss Sano,¡± Orel called out. She gave her farewells to another bar patron before coming over.

    ¡°Just Sano, Orel. What can I do for you?¡±

    ¡°Do you give free chicken wings on the weekend, too?¡±

    ¡°No, sorry. Just on Fridays. You can¡¯t order and reserve any wings early, either.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s okay¡­¡±

    Sano went back to work. Orel took out his phone and brought up his messages with Chiyo.

    He didn¡¯t need to tell her about his impending tutelage under Ayane, but Chiyo could at least get some free food today for her and her baby sister! She was also probably with Ruby right now, so Ruby could join Chiyo, eat together or pick up food to-go at the Sin Club, and help Clay home once he was happy with his level of drunkenness. Just like how mom used to support functional alcoholic Miyako through the house.

    Orel could hardly wait to show Chiyo just how good of a boyfriend he can be!

 Arc 4: Popular Phase, Part 2

    ¡°So, how does this look?¡±

    Ruby was texting Aqua, on a break during an acting gig elsewhere in town, another sarcastic reply over her phone when Chiyo shyly walked out of the changing room. She wore a simple outfit of a lengthy white skirt and a cute red blouse, plus her hair done in an adorable bun. It wasn¡¯t outside of Chiyo¡¯s usual fashion preferences, but now she was consciously dressing to impress Cobalt. Ruby nodded in approval. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful! Exactly Cobie¡¯s type.¡±

    Chiyo¡¯s blush intensified. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll get these, then.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t long until they left the register with their new clothes in their bags and ambled through the mall. Chiyo wasn¡¯t as nervous as she was earlier in their outing, engaging more comfortably in conversation like she had done with Ruby before becoming Cobalt¡¯s girlfriend. She really had no reason to be so timid. Her regular calm, kind self had clearly been what had caught Cobie¡¯s eye, and what had compelled Ruby to push for them to get together. Was Ruby not making it clear enough that she was happy Chiyo was the one dating her little brother?

    Maybe Ruby was trying too hard. She only had one-on-one talks with Chiyo in short bursts between classes, aside from the preparatory interviews disguised as casual chats before the public confession. They were usually around more people when spending time together outside of school, whether it was on a shopping spree with the girls or working on Elemental Orel with the boys. Cobalt and Mama were able to concentrate their radiance of positivity at sufficient levels to not overwhelm others too much, but Ruby rarely had to pour her own energy to charm only a single person at a time. Idols were supposed to enrapture the masses, so maybe Chiyo didn¡¯t know what to do with the unbridled support Ruby threw at her.

    Later, when she and Ruby were at a table in the food court with a couple smoothies in hand, Chiyo said, ¡°Thank you again for coming out with me today.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s no problem,¡± Ruby insisted. ¡°What kind of person would I be if I ignored my future sister-in-law?¡±

    Yeah, maybe Ruby was laying it on a little too hard. Chiyo took a large gulp of her drink to cool down her flushed face. ¡°You know we haven¡¯t actually gone on our first date yet.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯ll be the one begging to take you out once he sees the gifts you got him.¡±

    Ruby only wanted to influence Cobalt¡¯s first date to a point, not choreograph every single detail. She wasn¡¯t sure what exactly they had planned for the weekend, but Chiyo¡¯s new clothes and the gift for Cobie which Ruby had recommended should be enough to leave a good impression on him. He¡¯ll want to go on more dates as soon as possible.

    In the other bag beside Chiyo¡¯s feet were Cobalt¡¯s presents bought from a couple of different shops in the mall: a novelty smoking pipe that blew out soapy bubbles, and an actual Sherlock Holmes hat to replace the jury-rigged piece Cobalt had stitched together from two separate baseball caps. For the murder mystery video on the channel earlier this year, Cobalt had wanted to experiment and film the introduction section in live-action instead of animating it. At the time, Cobalt had defended using his improvised hat and a lollipop instead of a real costume and pipe because the aesthetic already fit with the color palette and tone of the claymation. He was already in the process of scripting the sequel, so a little upgrade to the production value wouldn¡¯t hurt.

    He¡¯ll certainly appreciate the considerate presents from his loving girlfriend.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you have a boyfriend yet, Ruby?¡± Chiyo asked in a blatant attempt to shift topics away from herself. ¡°All this work prepping for my date with Orel could¡¯ve gone into your own love life.¡±

    Ruby resisted a frown. ¡°Are you really going to keep calling him that?¡± Folks in entertainment using their aliases in casual settings made perfect sense, but Ruby wasn¡¯t sure if Cobalt making Chiyo call him by his YouTube handle was a sign of their closeness or just another weird tick of his.

    Chiyo shrugged. ¡°He prefers it. I don¡¯t mind.¡±

    An idea popped in Ruby¡¯s head. ¡°Then we have to figure out a nickname for you! You can start getting directly credited in Elemental Orel!¡±

    Embarrassed Chiyo showed her true colors once more. ¡°We don¡¯t need to go that far!¡±

    ¡°How about ¡®Mistress Marionette¡¯? Since you did some of the puppet work in the murder mystery video!¡±

    A cute pout was summoned on Chiyo¡¯s face ¨C all natural, which was another point in her favor; her honest, outspoken spirit. ¡°Just because I call him Orel doesn¡¯t mean I want to butt in too much on his channel or anything.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not butting in. Call it expansion with his newest partner-in-crime!¡±

    ¡°... I didn¡¯t start dating him because he¡¯s a famous YouTuber. I started dating him because he¡¯s Cobalt, not because he¡¯s Elemental Orel.¡±

    Ruby knew that. It was simply nice to hear Chiyo reaffirm it out loud.

    She teased Chiyo some more, promising not to make as big a fuss the next time they got together for the next animation session. Eventually, a ping from Chiyo¡¯s phone gave her another excuse to distract herself from Ruby¡¯s onslaught.

    Chiyo¡¯s face fell into a look of shock as she stared at her phone screen. ¡°Oh no.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    Chiyo clenched her free fist and pressed it against her chest; a telltale sign of panic trickling through her veins. ¡°Orel just sent me a text¡­ but if he¡¯s telling the truth¡­¡±

    Ruby stood up and walked around the table to read the message for herself.

    Not one to use shorthands over chat messages, Cobalt had written out, ¡°I¡¯m at a place called Tavern Shinon. They give free food today in 1 hour!¡± A minute later, the exact address was sent. Ruby wasn¡¯t familiar with it.

    ¡°What¡¯s the issue?¡± she asked. Right next to Chiyo, Ruby could feel how her breathing and heartbeats were ramping up.

    ¡°Tavern Shinon¡­ People call it the Sin Club.¡±

    It sounded like something out of Elemental Orel. Shin was supposed to be in Tokyo this week, so Cobalt might be on some wild journey with him at the moment that will inevitably be adapted into another claymation. ¡°And what¡¯s so special about it? This Sin Club?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s just the nickname. It¡¯s a real bar and restaurant. And... ¡° Chiyo trembled before she got the answer out. ¡°It''s the same place where my dad started cheating on my mom.¡±

    Ruby blinked.

    Instincts took over. She didn¡¯t suppress her frown this time, glowering at Chiyo. ¡°You better not be thinking Cobalt¡¯s also cheating on you.¡±

    She was surprised by her own hostility and quickly shook herself out of it. Ruby needed a clear head to appraise this new development. She¡¯s never heard of a Tavern Shinon or a Sin Club before. Perhaps Cobalt really was with Shin on an escapade to ¨C

    ¡°Wait,¡± Chiyo said, derailing Ruby¡¯s train of thought. Now Chiyo was looking at her with suspicion. ¡°You¡¯re not surprised that my dad is having an affair?¡±

    Oh, Ruby hadn¡¯t meant to let that slip. ¡°I mean, they¡¯re getting a divorce, so it¡¯s not that surpri¨C¡±

    ¡°How do you know my parents are getting divorced?¡±

    Ruby had done her own investigation on Cobalt¡¯s first girlfriend, of course, to see if there were any problematic skeletons in the closet. Ruby had deemed the divorce not too much of an issue to dissuade a romance from blooming, but she didn¡¯t want to come off as weird or anything to her own family or to Chiyo. Although Aqua and mom knew that Ruby had put in work for securing Cobalt an acceptable girlfriend, no one knew the true extent of her work, least of all Cobie and Chiyo.

    If only Ruby had dug a little further to recognize the name of the tavern, or if only she hadn¡¯t let her protective compulsions override the common sensibility to not expose her underhanded methods.

    ¡°Cobie told me,¡± Ruby said to try salvaging her image.

    ¡°He promised he wouldn¡¯t tell anyone who goes to our school, including you and Aqua.¡±

    Drat. From Chiyo¡¯s tone, she believed Ruby but was now shifting blame to Cobalt. ¡°Uh ¨C Why did you make him keep it a secret?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t ask him to, at first. I told him about the divorce, and he offered to keep it a secret. He talked about how awkward it was to get asked about his dad from random strangers when he couldn¡¯t give them any answers, so he promised me he wouldn¡¯t let our classmates gossip about my parents divorcing.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Ruby drawled to buy time to come up with a workable resolution to this mess, ¡°Aqua and I also have experience in getting asked about our non-existent dad, too.¡±

    Chiyo was not appeased. ¡°Orel promised me he wouldn¡¯t tell anyone.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. Cobalt would never intentionally lie to you.¡±

    ¡°Orel could have asked me if he wanted to share my secret with you. I¡¯d have even said yes, but he didn¡¯t even bother. What else could he have tried finding loopholes around?¡± Chiyo looked back at her phone; no further messages sent from Cobie. ¡°He¡¯s even at the Sin Club right now. That¡¯s where people go to break promises.¡±

    Okay, Ruby was not having that bitter tone directed at Cobie. She pulled her chair closer to Chiyo. Ruby made the girl look directly at her. ¡°You know Cobie. You¡¯ve the kinds of things he gets up to by accident. Last month, he stumbled into a Yakuza money laundering scheme.¡± And thank the local police officers Mama had schmoozed to keep the Hoshino family name out of the media during that fiasco. People online still theorized the Elemental Orel episode adapted from it was really based on that otherwise widely publicized news story. ¡°Whatever he¡¯s doing at this Sin Club, it¡¯s probably just another misadventure he¡¯s accidentally thrown himself in. Cobalt doesn¡¯t break promises.¡±

    ¡°I thought my dad would never break ¨C¡±

    ¡°Cobalt isn¡¯t your dad.¡± And Cobie had a perfectly fine fatherly role model in Ichigo¡­ who already divorced his wife, but the point was that Cobalt wasn¡¯t a cheater!

    ¡°I never told Orel about the Sin Club,¡± Chiyo shot back, the passionate soul Ruby had seen in her friend breaking even more out of her shell. ¡°I only told him about the divorce, but it can¡¯t be a coincidence that he¡¯s at the same place where my dad started seeing some¡­ some strumpet. Cobalt¡¯s a good enough detective to have tracked down the place by himself.¡±

    ¡°If Cobalt was cheating on you, why would he tell you that he was at this sinful tavern? Not that he¡¯d ever cheat on you, but he¡¯s also smart enough to not just out himself.¡±

    ¡°My dad outed himself! He brought home a woman from the Sin Club home a few weeks ago. He wanted¡­¡± Chiyo clutcher her phone so hard that she could have started making cracks along the screen. ¡°... to be with her and my mom, and my mom said no. They argued the entire night.¡±

    Ruby blinked again. ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡±

    The self-centered part of Ruby wished she had done a lot more research into Chiyo¡¯s family situation. Then maybe she could have spared herself and Cobalt from this drama. However, the empathetic side of Ruby wished dearly she knew the words necessary to comfort and calm Chiyo. She was a nice girl and didn¡¯t deserve to have her family torn apart like this.

    ¡°What if Orel¡¯s trying to do the same thing?¡±

    Ruby wanted to slap Chiyo, but she successfully held herself back. ¡°That¡¯s just crazy! Not all boys are sex-crazed freaks. Cobalt? You¡¯d be crazy yourself to think that of him.¡±

    ¡°Okay. Okay, maybe he doesn¡¯t care about sex, but¡­ He probably told you this already, but Orel still has issues with Miss Miyako and her ex-husband divorcing, too. We agreed to start dating to try to understand love better, and learn what it took to stay in a relationship.¡±

    Of course something like that would be in Cobie¡¯s thought process on why to start dating. It really shouldn¡¯t be bothering him anymore. Ichigo and Miyako were still running a successful talent agency, and they were legitimately happy without needing to be married anymore. It didn¡¯t get any more complicated than that.

    ¡°If he¡¯s at the Sin Club,¡± Chiyo went on, ¡°and he¡¯s asking me to go there, then it¡¯s like he¡¯s speedrunning this relationship when we agreed we would take our time.¡±

    Ruby noted how Chiyo was hardly giving Cobie any benefit of the doubt. ¡°Do you even like Cobalt in a romantic sense?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what we were going to find out!¡±

    The last yell started to attract the pair a few inquisitive onlookers.

    ¡­ Ruby supposed she should give Chiyo some slack. She was a kid, as was Cobie, without the benefit of an extra decade of life experience on her like Ruby. The two certainly liked each other, but to confidently say that they loved each other was a huge hurdle anyone would have trouble overcoming. It took Mama four years before she said it to her precious children, and only after that horrible stalker assault.

    ¡°But what if Orel took it the wrong way?¡± Chiyo asked, not caring that people around them were blatantly eavesdropping. ¡°He¡¯s getting¡­ too into character, trying to be like my dad when I asked him to be himself. Or ¨C Or he¡¯ll say he¡¯s playing a character, and use that as an excuse!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re paranoid.¡± Ruby took Chiyo¡¯s hand, grabbed their bags, and pulled her out of the food court. A spry athlete, Chiyo kept her balance and matched Ruby¡¯s stride without much trouble.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re going to this tavern, and you¡¯ll see that Cobalt was being nothing but generous when he told you about the free food. Zero ill intent involved.¡±

    From the corner of her eye, Ruby saw Chiyo fuming in vexation. ¡°My dad said he was inviting a friend for dinner when he ruined things with my mom and that harpy of his. Orel¡¯s text was practically the same thing.¡±

    Again, Ruby held herself back from slapping her. She considered calling Cobalt outright, but with how intense and defiant Chiyo was now, she needed to see it to believe it. Looking up the club¡¯s address in her own phone, Ruby said, ¡°If I know Cobalt ¨C and I know him far better than you ¨C then he¡¯ll have been roped into serving as a bartender at the place if anything, not trying to woo girls at the bar too old for him and taunting you about it.¡±

    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Something about Ruby¡¯s voice must have finally made Chiyo shut up, since she didn¡¯t give any more objections, letting Ruby lead her out of the mall and along her map¡¯s directions.

    In time, they arrived in a neighborhood Ruby has been in a handful of times before. Admittedly, being here did start to fill Ruby with some worry for Cobie. It wasn¡¯t a bad neighborhood per se, but it was an area where she¡¯s had to corner a bully or two and adequately intimidate them from ever bothering her and her family ever again. Some of those bullies lived around here, and others happened to be walking in convenient places for Ruby to scare them straight. Unlike Ruby¡¯s own neighborhood, police officers didn¡¯t have a big presence in these parts.

    All the more reason to find Cobie as soon as possible and get Chiyo back on track for their¡­ their date¡­

    They could see him now, down the street. Cobalt was standing by a taxi with¡­ with a girl next to him. Maybe high school or college age. She was tall, looked young, and her attire was something that Ruby would have pegged as dress for the red light district.

    Cobie opened the door for the girl. When she stepped inside, she kissed him on the cheek before pulling him in along with her. The door shut closed in the same motion, and the car sped away.

    Chiyo pulled away from Ruby¡¯s grip, crying out white noise that drizzled into nothing. Ruby barely paid attention to her. Ruby was too busy dialing Cobalt¡¯s number.

    No answer. She called repeatedly as she waved down another cab, still getting no responses from him.

    Talk about planting a tracking chip on Cobalt when they were younger had started out as an unfunny joke, but Cobalt¡¯s phone did have an app which allowed everyone in the family to locate him with their own mobile devices. Ruby used the app now to direct her cab driver.

    As always, Ruby kept on her person the compact taser, the pepper spray, and even the slim knife she secretly brought with her whenever not at school for excursions out of the house or the Strawberry office.

    Whoever was the harlot kidnapping Cobalt was going to wish she had never been born.

    <hr>

    By Cobalt¡¯s estimate¡­

    No, he was still Orel. That¡¯s the name Clay called him, the only name Ayane knew Cobalt Hoshino by. Cobalt is Orel, and there was nothing wrong with that.

    By Orel¡¯s estimate, Ayane really liked hugs. She hadn¡¯t let him go ever since they got in the taxi. When Orel¡¯s phone started ringing and shaking, Ayane even took it out of his pocket and put it on silent before he could check it, making sure their hug wasn¡¯t interrupted. Clay sometimes did that while in the middle of one of his wise lectures, keeping Orel focused until a life lesson¡¯s message sunk in. Since Ayane came at Clay¡¯s recommendation, Orel trusted her expert judgment for him to answer his phone later.

    Orel liked hugs, too¡­ but Ayane was awfully clingy. The most clingy hugger Orel has ever been held by, in fact. He wasn¡¯t sure if he should be complaining, or if that would be bad form for his considerate teacher. Ruby would just complain as she pleased. Aqua would know how to express disgruntlement with class and etiquette, but Orel would need to refer to his notes in his phone to try being like Aqua, and he wasn¡¯t supposed to do that unless doing an acting job anyway.

    She kept holding him when they got out of the car in a neighborhood completely new to him. Because he didn¡¯t know the area, Orel let Ayane keep him close, like when mom or aunt Miyako made him stick close when in a crowded amusement park. Although, aside from the busy street of crowded traffic they wandered away from, there weren¡¯t many people around here. Orel wanted a little more freedom to move because of that, yet Ayane was hardly giving him much breathing room.

    Orel and Ayane were going through a small playground area when he spotted another pretty girl. She was relaxed on a swing. The seat suspended by bright chains rocked slightly as the girl wearing black clothes and a few metallic-looking piercings strummed the strings of an acoustic guitar.

    Hers and Orel¡¯s eyes met. He gave a customary wave. The girl raised an eyebrow at him before looking at Ayane.

    ¡°Hey there, Miyashita,¡± the girl in black cordially greeted.

    ¡°Not now, Kamiya,¡± Ayane replied in the flippant, fast pace. ¡°I¡¯ve got business to attend to, regarding something you wouldn¡¯t understand.¡±

    Unbothered by the dismissal, the girl in black returned her gaze to Orel. ¡°Who¡¯s the junior?¡±

    ¡°None of your ¨C¡±

    Orel couldn¡¯t stop the words coming out of his mouth. ¡°Hi there, miss! I¡¯m Orel!¡±

    Miss Kamiya, as Ayane had named her, had her eyes light up in¡­ recognition. ¡°As in Elemental Orel?¡±

    ¡°Wow! You recognize me?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m a fan.¡± She played a little tune on her guitar that was just like the auditory sting he implemented in one of his most successful videos. ¡°That murder mystery musical was awesome.¡±

    She was a real fan! Orel had been worried he would first meet the ¡°fake fans¡± Shin has occasionally talked about out in the wild. It looked like he¡¯d been worried over nothing! ¡°Thanks! My brother and sister and I worked very hard on that.¡±

    Miss Kamiya scanned Orel from top to bottom. ¡°You¡¯re shorter in person.¡±

    Ayane sighed dramatically and tightened her grip on Orel¡¯s wrist. ¡°Never mind that! I¡¯ve had enough foreplay. Let¡¯s go, Orel.¡±

    Reminded of the stricter teachers Orel¡¯s had over the years, he forced himself to bury his excitement at meeting a real fan. ¡°Oh, alright,¡± he said, unable to fully hide his disappointment. In response, Ayane caressed the side of his face again, running her hand through his hair.

    ¡°Chin up, boy. Your world will never be the same after tonight.¡±

    She touched his scar again, making him uncomfortably shiver.

    Only mom and himself still consciously did that, and it was¡­ weird for someone else to be doing it, too.

    ¡°I think that¡¯s a line more appropriate for your situation, Miyashita.¡±

    That was from Miss Kamiya again, who was hit by an unamused glare from Ayane. ¡°What on earth are you talking about, Kamiya? Speaking of, since we¡¯re still here, where¡¯s my sister? I told her to take shelter in your apartment. She¡¯s usually more clingy around you.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I was down for a last-minute babysitting sleepover.¡± Miss Kamiya put on a funny smile, like she was thinking about a joke, or maybe referring to an inside joke through her words to Ayane. ¡°Didn¡¯t work out for my dad, though, who called your dad.¡±

    Ayane¡¯s entire body stiffened. ¡°Excuse you?¡±

    ¡°Him and your mom managed to find time off work and are actually home for once. Last I checked, they¡¯re with your sister and waiting for you to come on up.¡±

    Ayane didn¡¯t say anything for a short while. Then she sighed again, this time with an air of dismay. ¡°Well, you were no help.¡±

    ¡°Happy to be of service!¡±

    Sensing and seeing Ayane¡¯s mood take a turn for the worse, Orel lightly pulled at her sleeve. ¡°If your family is home, does this mean our lessons are canceled?¡± Clayman gave advice in general whenever Orel asked, but the serious life lessons were usually private affairs, not given when Orel¡¯s family was around. That made the lessons all the more unique, special, and heartfelt compared to the lessons the other people in Orel¡¯s life gave him.

    At Orel¡¯s question, Ayane shoved him a couple feet away before sauntering off. ¡°I don¡¯t have time for you anymore, boy. Run along.¡±

    ¡°But Clay said you¡¯d ¨C¡±

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t care less what Clay said. Just keep back.¡±

    Finally free from Ayane¡¯s clingy hugs, Orel found himself not really wanting to go near her again. Still, Clay had paid her money in order to give Orel his lesson, so ¨C

    ¡°And I¡¯m keeping the money! If Clay complains, he can bitch to his boyfriend about it.¡±

    Darn it!

    Ayane walked toward an apartment building right next to the playground. Orel stayed where he was and wondered what his next move should be.

    He should probably check his phone¡­ but he came all the way here for a lesson on girlfriends and didn¡¯t get one. Was there anyone else around who could help him?

    ¡°Penny for your thoughts, Orel?¡±

    Miss Kamiya¡¯s question was accompanied by a welcoming grin and another guitar strum. Ayane was a lot prettier than her, but Kamiya was definitely a lot nicer!

    Orel plopped down on the neighboring swing next to the pretty girl in black.

    ¡°Pleasure to meet you in-person, shorty,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m Sachi Kamiya.¡±

    Matching her upbeat tempo, Orel replied, ¡°The pleasure¡¯s all mine!¡±

    Sachi hummed as she fiddled with her instrument. ¡°I know your real name¡¯s an open secret online at this point, but do you prefer me to call you that? Or Orel?¡±

    Everybody in real life already called him Cobalt or Cobie, except for Chiyo. ¡°Orel¡¯s good!¡±

    ¡°Cool. So¡­ how old are you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m thirteen-years-old!¡±

    Sachi nodded. ¡°Alright. So, you¡¯re both underage,¡± she mused quietly, ¡°but we¡¯ve still got legal and moral hiccups if you actually went up with Ayane.¡±

    ¡°What hiccups?¡±

    She didn¡¯t answer directly. ¡°What did you think was going to happen when you went to her apartment?¡±

    ¡°Ayane was going to teach me how to be a better boyfriend. I just got a girlfriend yesterday, and I could use all the help I can get to treat her right.¡±

    Sachi chuckled. ¡°Really? Sorry to burst your bubble, kid, but Miyashita isn¡¯t exactly the type to hold onto a boyfriend for longer than a week at most.¡±

    Orel gasped. ¡°Whoa! I thought boyfriends and girlfriends lasted a lot longer than that! Sometimes even for years, leading into marriage!¡±

    ¡°Yeah. If you were looking for tips on being happy with your girl, and making her happy long-term, Miyashita is one of the last people you¡¯ll want to ask for advice.¡±

    That didn¡¯t make sense. Ayane was endorsed by a reliable source. ¡°But Clay said¡­¡±

    ¡°Clay? As in Clayman Animations?¡±

    Orel¡¯s smile returned. Sachi knew about Clayman, too! ¡°Yeah! Are you also a fan of his?¡±

    Unfortunately, Sachi shot that idea down. ¡°Not so much, no.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­¡±

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t be so down, shorty.¡± She played a little jingle that did cheer up Orel¡¯s spirit a smidge. ¡°Everyone knows you admire him from all the collabs you do, but you can¡¯t please everyone. The tone of his videos not vibing with me doesn¡¯t make them bad videos. Different strokes for different people.¡±

    That was fair. Mom and Shin had taught Orel that early on in his YouTubing career. But, ignoring Sachi¡¯s disinterest in Clayman Animations for now¡­ ¡°Clay said Ayane could teach me how to make Chiyo happier. Ayane has to have something useful she can teach me.¡±

    ¡°Chiyo is the name of your girlfriend?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡°How well do you know Chiyo?¡±

    ¡°Pretty well. I¡¯ve known her since late in elementary school. I¡¯m the only one at our middle school who knows about her parents¡¯ divorce!¡±

    ¡°¡­ And she trusts you with this information.¡±

    ¡°Yup!¡± Oh, Sachi might be misunderstanding. ¡°You look like you¡¯re in high school, so you knowing wouldn¡¯t change things for Chiyo.¡±

    The guitarist played a calming ambient rhythm. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s take a step back. If I have your story straight, you and Chiyo started dating. Clayman introduced you to Ayane. Ayane was supposed to teach you how to be a better boyfriend.¡±

    ¡°That sounds right!¡±

    ¡°Okay. I don¡¯t have much good experience with girlfriends, but if you¡¯re willing, I¡¯d like to give you some advice of my own.¡±

    Sachi has been very nice so far, and gave off a worldly attitude¡­ similar to Aqua and Ruby, come to think of it; knowing more than what one might expect from someone so young. Maybe Sachi was a prodigy like Aqua! ¡°Sure! Every little bit helps!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve already known Chiyo for two or three years, yeah? Being a boy-friend or girl-friend is different from being a friend-friend, but if you were already close beforehand, the transition from platonic to romantic can be smoother than you might expect. Overthinking can put on more strain and stress than either of you need compared to doing what comes naturally.¡±

    Yeah, Orel had thought going with the flow once he started dating Chiyo would work out. Yet Clay introduced him to Ayane and imparted his own advice on how to treat a girlfriend, so there must be merit to doing more prep work than what Sachi was suggesting. ¡°I want my first romance to be good, and fair to Chiyo. The transition from romantic to¡­ ambivalent, or hostile, or¡­ no relationship at all¡­ is not fun. Confusing. It¡¯s better if I try to get ahead of the curve and avoid getting to that part of a romance altogether.¡±

    ¡°You think your first relationship won¡¯t take long to dissolve? Just like that?¡±

    Orel crossed his arms, the swing he was on drifting back and forth. ¡°A lot of things about romantic love are confusing to me, and to Chiyo. How it starts, how it thrives, and how it ends. And the reasons why it all turns out the way it does. We agreed to start dating to learn about it together, but I also don¡¯t want to screw things up with her. Clay was nice enough to get me a teacher to help me not screw up.¡±

    Sachi gave him a sympathetic smile. ¡°Sorry to burst your bubble, but sometimes, you aren¡¯t guaranteed smooth sailing or a happy ending in a romance, no matter how much work you put into it. Loving someone, whether giving it out or being loved, can hurt. Chances are, you¡¯d have gone through more hurt than you were expecting if you actually went up with Miyashita and got back to Chiyo afterward.¡±

    She might have a point about Ayane. Those clingy hugs had started becoming more and more suffocating.

    Even so, Orel asserted again, ¡°I have to try. I want to understand love. Miss Kamiya ¨C¡±

    ¡°Sachi.¡±

    ¡°Sachi, you sound like you¡¯re speaking from experience, even if not all of it was good.¡± Kinda like how drunk Clay from earlier was, too, except Sachi didn¡¯t have the funky smell on her. ¡°I don¡¯t have any experience with romantic love. If Ayane can¡¯t help me, then I need to ask Clay to find me another teacher to prepare me for my date this weekend.¡± Orel slammed his palm against his forehead, groaning. ¡°Gosh, I should have started asking him these things sooner.¡±

    His family always encouraged him to ask questions. Aside from the ¡°wait until you¡¯re older¡± responses, they always had good answers. Orel had thought he was already on the right path when he asked Chiyo out, but now he wasn¡¯t so sure.

    ¡°... Let me ask you another thing,¡± Sachi said after a pause. ¡°What precisely was the kind of advice Miyashita was going to give you?¡±

    ¡°Exactly? As in the minute details?¡± Orel paused, thinking hard. ¡°Well, I don''t really know. That¡¯s why I was with her: to find out!¡±

    Sachi hummed again, playing another few notes. ¡°Okay. Orel, you¡¯re obviously looking for ways to satisfy Chiyo romantically. Miyashita¡¯s always more interested in satisfying herself sexually.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a difference? A mom and dad have to be romantically and sexually intimate in order to create kids.¡± The lectures given by mom, grandpa Ichigo, and aunt Miyako were very clear on that.

    ¡°You don¡¯t plan on being a dad soon, do you?¡± she asked playfully.

    ¡°Golly, no! I promised my family I¡¯d wait until I was older to do that!¡±

    ¡°Then for now, you can focus purely on romantically wooing your girlfriend.¡±

    Orel¡¯s frown grew more pronounced. ¡°But then we go back to the original problem. I need a new teacher. I think you¡¯ve actually been a very helpful teacher, or at least an advice-giver, Sachi, since Ayane had to leave, but I need something more.¡±

    Sachi shook her head. ¡°No, I don¡¯t think you do.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Anybody and everybody can give you as many life lessons as you ask for. None of the talk can mean much if you don¡¯t start walking. I¡¯ve known my share of folks longing for a little love but were too shy or unconfident to outright say it to the girl of their dreams. You¡¯ve already got past that first step. Your girl told you yes, and from what you¡¯ve said, she really trusts you. Getting lost in indecision and self-doubt after that is a helluva sure-fire way to crash the ship when you¡¯ve barely gotten out of the harbor.

    ¡°If you already scored your shot in getting a date with Chiyo, I say keep rolling with that momentum. Don¡¯t get distracted by the hypotheticals or anecdotes people give you.¡± Sachi¡¯s smile grew more sly. ¡°Even my advice is just another outsider looking in on your business. You can take it or leave it. If you¡¯re still willing to hear me out, my vote is on moving forward. You already had a date lined out for the weekend, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    Orel slowly nodded. ¡°I wanted to take her to a botanical garden. Nature is beautiful,¡± like the countryside Clay lived in, where mom gave birth to Orel and his siblings, ¡°so I thought being in a beautiful environment would give us inspiration on how people naturally fall in love.¡±

    Sachi giggled. ¡°That¡¯s sweet. Why not keep working that angle? Why use getting advice from a random teacher as the crutch on making it a good date instead of living in the moment, experiencing the date with Chiyo?¡±

    Living in the moment¡­ like how Orel lives and breathes as Aqua, Ruby, or the others he emulates when trying to act?

    Or¡­ well, the simple answer was to be himself. Doing what came naturally to Cobalt Hoshino ¨C to Orel. That was how he and Chiyo came to agree to start dating in the first place, moved by her story of her parents¡¯ divorce and wanting to help her out given his own issues with the general topic.

    Yet Shin gave useful warnings about needing to keep Chiyo happy, to make sure she stays a good person¡­ though he also said Orel was only as stupid as he let himself be. From what Sachi has said, was he making himself stupid by relying too much on other people¡¯s advice? Aqua, while always willing to give useful tips, was especially becoming more insistent on Orel making his own decisions without consulting someone else first. Like choosing what TV shows and movies to audition for instead of only following Director Gotanda¡¯s recommendations.

    ¡°Your brain¡¯s working overtime right now, ain¡¯t it?¡± Sachi teased.

    It was, and Orel decided that he needed to speak directly to Chiyo and redefine the terms of their relationship.

    They had pledged to date in order to understand love. Now he felt the need to tell her how he wanted to understand her, and for her to understand him. Love¡­ Romantic love still irked Orel. He might still screw it up¡­

    But Cobalt Hoshino undoubtedly cared more about being a good empathetic friend than toiling over worries about being the perfect boyfriend. If he can make Chiyo understand that, then maybe she¡¯ll know she shouldn¡¯t sacrifice her own peace of mind and wallow in nervous uncertainty like he has if they continued dating.

    They can just¡­ do whatever comes naturally, no internalized acting or outside coaching necessary.

    ¡°I know what I have to do now. Thanks for all your help, Miss Kamiya,¡± Cobalt expressed his sincere gratitude as he hopped off his swing. ¡°You¡¯re a great talker, and a great listener.¡±

    Sachi played one last musical chime on her guitar. ¡°I try, shorty. Good luck with Chiyo, and for that anniversary video you teased on the channel.¡±

    With that, Cobalt and the first real-life fan of Elemental Orel he has personally met said their farewells. Cobalt faintly wondered if they would ever meet again.

    ¡°Orel¡± needed to take a back seat for this. For as much as the name felt right to him, it was Cobalt Hoshino who needed to make things square with Chiyo Okazaki.

    Returning to the street, Cobalt waved down a cab car. As Cobalt got inside and told the driver where to go, he saw across the street another taxi pull over. The other car soon left and revealed, of all people, Ruby!

    She must have heard from Clay where Cobalt was going. Was Ruby looking for love advice from Ayane, too?

    Ruby was pacing along the sidewalk, looking at her phone. Traffic on Cobalt¡¯s side of the street was keeping his taxi from leaving, so Cobalt lowered his window and waved, calling to his sister.

    Bringing her head up, Ruby looked sweaty and in a fit of panic, sort of like that time when the three triplets had been scrambling to get a Christmas present for grandpa Ichigo. Relief took over Ruby as her and Cobalt¡¯s eyes met, just like when Cobalt had revealed the expensive gift he had already bought for grandpa.

    Ruby was starting to say something when Cobalt¡¯s taxi got moving. Her voice got lost in the sound of traffic, and Cobalt soon lost sight of her.

    Cobalt fleetingly considered unsilencing his phone, but he decided not to. He needed to be one hundred percent focused on his mission. He can catch up with Ruby about his day later, once everyone was home for dinner.

    He hoped Chiyo would be willing to listen to him.

    Maybe getting flowers for her would help¡­

 Arc 4: Popular Phase, Part 3 END

    Cobalt took another sniff from the bouquet of flowers in his hands. The florist did a great job prettying it up. She and her shop also prepared flowers for gifts Ichigo, Miyako, and mom commissioned for work. The bundle of blue roses was beautiful, and Cobalt was sure Chiyo would love them.

    The front entrance to Chiyo¡¯s apartment building was in his sights. As he marched to it, Cobalt felt his hair getting wet with sweat again. Man, he was getting more nervous than he should be. Flecks of yellow strands were getting in his mouth, too. He should get a haircut soon. Thankfully, the florist was very supportive of Cobalt¡¯s mission today and had lent him a comb and a handkerchief to make him look more presentable. If not as well put-together as the bouquet, Cobalt at least hoped he looked half as charming as he did in the videos their friends had taken during Chiyo¡¯s confession at school.

    People often complimented his smile. Between that, the flowers, and the words he had in mind for Chiyo, it all should be enough to maintain a romantic atmosphere.

    He originally wanted this visit tonight to be a surprise, but as he approached the building, Chiyo was already exiting the doors while dragging a bag of luggage behind her. She also had on a backpack. Where was she going?

    Why was her face so red? Has she been crying?

    Cobalt stamped the brightest smile he could muster on his face before rushing toward her.

    ¡°Hi, Chiyo!¡±

    She was startled, jumping against a wall as she turned to face him. Yeah, she definitely looked like she had been crying. It was just like how mom looked after a crying scene when she was acting.

    Slowing his stride, Cobalt lowered the bouquet and dampened his smile. Once at Chiyo¡¯s side, he peered into her teary eyes. ¡°What happened? Are you okay? Did your parents¡­¡±

    Chiyo pressed a hand against Cobalt¡¯s chest and pushed. He went back a step before planting his feet, his stare never wavering from Chiyo. She changed from surprise to displeasure.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Cobalt asked next. ¡°Where are you going?¡±

    She hesitated before answering. ¡°I called my grandma. She knows about the divorce. I¡¯m staying with her until my parents settle everything.¡±

    That was¡­ sudden¡­ But nothing Cobalt couldn¡¯t work with! He knew the benefit of last-minute road trips better than anyone! ¡°Okay! I¡¯ll go with you!¡± He¡¯ll have to finally open up his phone and tell everyone he¡¯ll probably be gone until tomorrow morning at the earliest, though. Chiyo¡¯s grandpa lived a ways outside of Tokyo.

    However, when Cobalt moved closer to take Chiyo¡¯s luggage for her, she jumped again and held the bag as a barrier between them. ¡°No! Stay away from me, Cobalt!¡±

    She was panicky, scared¡­ but not scared directly of Cobalt. She wasn¡¯t afraid of him. She was afraid of¡­ at least something related to Cobalt if she was so against him being in arm¡¯s reach.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± he gently asked.

    Again, she hesitated. Then her face hardened, the heat still there but Chiyo now glaring daggers at Cobalt. She hissed out, ¡°You cheated on me, didn''t you?¡±

    ¡­ Cobalt hadn¡¯t expected to be asked that.

    ¡°Before our first date, you just went and threw yourself at the first pretty girl you saw at the Sin Club.¡±

    Cobalt frowned, thinking of Miss Sano tending the bar at the tavern, and compared her to Ayane. ¡°No, I was with the second prettiest girl there.¡± Then Cobalt remembered Sachi. ¡°Well, Ayane was the third prettiest overall girl in looks and personality I spoke with¨C¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it!¡± The venom in her voice dialed up. ¡°You¡¯ll just make excuses like my dad did.¡±

    ¡°Excuses for what? Hanging out with pretty girls?¡± He remembered mom teasing him a few times about being popular with girls, but he never really understood it. He had just as many friends who were boys. Aqua was certainly more popular in comparison, considering all the messages his social accounts get from girls. ¡°All of our friends who are girls at school are pretty, too. Some people think me and Aqua are pretty ourselves, because we¡¯re identical siblings to Ruby. Like that time they dared me to dress up as¨C¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t play dumb, Cobalt! You know what I mean!¡±

    ¡°But I don¡¯t¡­¡±

    Wait. Sachi had said Ayane only cared about sexually satisfying herself. Sachi had also clarified how sexual stuff could be distinct from romantic stuff¡­

    Had Ayane been trying to make Cobalt commit adultery?

    No, Clay wouldn¡¯t have recommended Ayane if that had been her true intention. More likely she must have planned on acting out an example of adultery as a live teaching lesson without actually doing the deed. Like how people practiced pumping water out of drowning victims with test dummies.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care about having sex with you, Chiyo,¡± Cobalt reassured. ¡°I only want to make you happy.¡±

    ¡°So you do think about sex!¡±

    Well, that was a given. Romance tended to involve sex for older people, though neither Chiyo or Cobalt had brought it up regarding their own relationship until now. ¡°Sometimes. Why does that matter?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m supposed to be your girlfriend, Cobalt!¡±

    ¡°¡­ Oh, yeah. I came here to clarify some things.¡± He cleared his throat. Chiyo¡¯s weird ideas of what Cobalt was up to at the Sin Club should be rectified once he made himself loud and clear. ¡°I know romance and sex are related, but I don¡¯t want to become a father yet, so sex was never really something I thought about doing with you. We got together to understand love, but we¡¯ve both seen how love doesn¡¯t end well. That¡¯s why I want us to focus on just being happy, hanging out like we always do. Our questions will be answered naturally along the way.¡±

    He didn¡¯t get the sigh of relief or the look of compassion he was hoping for. Instead, Chiyo stared Cobalt down with suspicion. ¡°Do you still want us to be dating?¡±

    ¡°If you want to call it that, sure! Dating, courting, socializing, mingling, wooing ¨C I just want to spend more time with you, Chiyo.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve honestly liked you since the day we met, and I still do.¡± Teaming up to track down the missing fundraiser money from that charity event had been the basis for one of his most viral Elemental Orel videos, and had been the first time he really got to speak with and get to know Chiyo. ¡°However, I won¡¯t say that I love you. Not yet. I will never lie to you.¡±

    Gritting her teeth, Chiyo stomped her foot down. ¡°But you already have! You told Ruby about the divorce when you promised not to tell!¡±

    Now that was just an absurd accusation. Where on earth did she get that idea? ¡°No I didn¡¯t. I only told Clay and¨C¡±

    Chiyo gasped, covering her mouth before lowering her hands. ¡°You told Hoshigami, too? Why?¡±

    Cobalt shrugged. He told Clay everything. Telling him about Chiyo¡¯s situation wouldn¡¯t hurt her in any way. ¡°You said you didn¡¯t want anyone at our school to hear about it. Clay won¡¯t be gossiping to our teachers and classmates.¡±

    ¡°How many other people did you tell?¡±

    Cobalt retraced his steps again. ¡°Sachi knows, too, but she doesn¡¯t live around here, like Clay. Telling her also helped her give me some good advice! She¡¯s the reason I came to visit you tonight.¡± He held out the bouquet, hoping the scent of the roses would lighten Chiyo¡¯s mood. ¡°You confessed to me. It¡¯s my turn now; I wanted to make a formal confession to you.¡±

    For a split second, it looked like Cobalt was getting through to Chiyo. She let her grip on the luggage loosen, and she was enraptured by the flowers, unable to turn away. As her gaze shifted upward, Cobalt made sure to brighten up his smile, showing off his perfect teeth. If only he was at a better angle with the setting sun. He could have added a bright sparkle to his presentation, just like Ruby taught him.

    Then Chiyo shattered the perfect image that was unfolding, roughly pushing the bouquet to the side. Cobalt couldn¡¯t stop a few of the flowers from slipping out and spreading across the concrete.

    ¡°Forget it, Cobalt,¡± she said, making him realize she wasn¡¯t calling him Orel anymore. ¡°You¡¯re a liar and a heartbreaker. You¡¯re just like my dad.¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Why was Chiyo being so confusing today? ¡°I¡¯m not a liar.¡±

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you go pour your heart out to Ayane or Sachi or whatever other hussy you ran into at the Sin Club?¡±

    Was she jealous?

    That can¡¯t be right. Chiyo was too nice to be a superficial person blinded by jealousy. She was a beautiful person in her own right. If anything, people should be jealous of her, being able to be so kind and upbeat in her day-to-day while hiding her pain from the divorce.

    ¡°You¡¯re misunderstanding, Chiyo. I want to date you. I want to make you happy.¡± She still wasn¡¯t budging, so Cobalt elaborated. ¡°Earlier today, I was asking people for advice on how to do that. Some of them were pretty girls. From them, I learned how I was overthinking things. You and I are both confused by romantic love, but we don¡¯t have to be ruled by our confusion. We still need to enjoy life, so I want to take you out on a date right here, right now. It¡¯s not romantic love yet. I don¡¯t care. Let me show you how much I love you as my friend.¡±

    Her facial expression didn¡¯t change, but her voice did lose some of its hostility. ¡°You have dozens of friends. I¡¯m supposed to be your girlfriend. It¡¯s supposed to mean so much more. Friends don¡¯t go on dates. Boyfriends and girlfriends do.¡±

    Cobalt shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking things like I was. We need to do what feels natural. What comes naturally to me is¡­ doing this.¡±

    He got down on his knees, removing one of the roses to take another whiff of it. Cobalt held the single flower against his chest as he once more held the bouquet forward.

    ¡°Chiyo, I genuinely like you. If you let me, I will make you fall in love with me, and I¡¯ll definitely fall in love with you. We can find our own path to true love; not by following what your parents or what my grandpa and aunt did. By putting our own spin on it.¡±

    Her fingers twitched. She was thinking of taking the roses! She was being convinced! Cobalt was making progress!

    ¡°... How can you speak so confidently when you¡¯re just as clueless as me?¡± Chiyo asked, her voice low. ¡°Except you couldn¡¯t hold yourself back. You decided to spend more time with other girls instead of staying faithful.¡±

    Man, she really was focusing on that jealousy/adultery angle, huh? ¡°You¡¯re still misunderstanding me,¡± he said again. Divorce and cheating played a larger influence on relationships than Cobalt thought. TV and movies didn¡¯t do them enough justice. If only the basis for grandpa Ichigo¡¯s and aunt Miyako¡¯s divorce had been adultery instead of their disagreements about work and mom. Then maybe Cobalt could better relate to where Chiyo was coming from with her distrust.

    A new idea suddenly hit Cobalt.

    ¡°Oh, we could go to Sin Club for our first date!¡±

    Chiyo didn¡¯t say anything, her face frozen in place. Cobalt strived further on.

    ¡°It¡¯s where I met Ayane, who led me to Sachi, who led me here! So it can¡¯t be all bad at the club. Ayane did say my world would never be the same tonight, and thanks to Sachi, I¡¯m definitely looking at the world a little differently already!¡±

    Cobalt stood up and wiped a wave of sweat off his forehead. Geez, he really was nervous. Hopefully things will turn around once they get to the Sin Club. ¡°Since you sound so bitter about me being with those girls, we could get some of the free chicken wings and I¡¯ll show you how people are just naturally kind there! You should get inspired by people¡¯s good nature like I was!¡± His thoughts drifted to Clay¡¯s drinking. ¡°I¡¯m not supposed to drink liquor, but Miss Sano was also very nice! She might serve some for you, and you¡¯ll be able to let those negative feelings trickle out, just like how Clay or my aunt¡­¡±

    Oh, hold that thought. Cobalt had just declared that they should follow their own path to love. Chiyo shouldn¡¯t be drinking to try following in aunt Miyako¡¯s footsteps¡­ Chiyo only personally knew Clayman from a few short meetings at the Strawberry office, so she couldn''t fully comprehend yet how inspirational he could be, drunk or not. Cobalt needed to paint the picture a little better.

    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    Chiyo stepped toward Cobalt.

    That¡¯s weird. It looked like Chiyo was going to slap¨C

    She did slap him. Not enough to knock him off his feet, but undeniably enough to to daze him, make him see white.

    Everything became numb.

    ¡°You¡¯re a liar, Cobalt,¡± he heard her say in a shaky voice. ¡°You¡¯re a hypocrite. You¡¯re¡­ just like my dad. You¡¯ll say whatever you need to if it means you¡¯ll get what you want. A pretty girl in me, a pretty girl or two from that whore house¡­¡±

    Cobalt forced his head around to look at Chiyo again. She was crying, the clear droplets dripping down to her shirt. Her hand was still raised, her fingers curling into a fist.

    ¡°¡­ I say what needs to be said, yeah,¡± Cobalt uttered when he found himself able to speak again. ¡°It¡¯s how I stay honest. I¡¯m not lying when I say I want to date you and no one else.¡±

    ¡°Dates after school, then dinners and drinks with the sluts at the club? Like him?¡±

    She wasn¡¯t listening. Not everything about love and relationships was a direct mirror to her parents¡¯ situation. ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°I wish I never met you.¡±

    Chiyo turned her back to him and walked away.

    Cobalt stared at her until she disappeared.

    His grip on the bouquet failed, the flowers scattering in the wind.

    Her dad must have meant a lot to her, so much that she was projecting him onto Cobalt.

    If only Cobalt¡¯s dad was still around. It had to have taken someone truly special to get mom to love him, and for him to deeply love her back, however short that love had lasted.

    If that love had lived on and never stopped, if he had stayed¡­ Maybe Cobalt could have learned more about love from his own dad instead. Maybe Cobalt could have said the right words to stop Chiyo from crying.

    Someone put a hand on his shoulder. He slowly turned to meet them.

    It was Ruby, panting as she leaned on him and steadied her breathing. Looking at her sad eyes was like starting into a twisted funhouse mirror. She tried to say something before forgetting it and pulling Cobalt into a gripping embrace.

    It took Cobalt a second to return the hug. Chiyo¡¯s indignation and utter distaste was still plastered in his mind.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Cobalt.¡± Ruby¡¯s voice sounded like it was a million miles away. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡±

    She guided him away, his hold on the single blue rose clenched tightly.

    <hr>

    Ruby leaned back on the living room sofa. She chewed her lip as she swiped through the posts displayed on her phone and Cobalt¡¯s.

    Unfortunately, the people in the crowd that had assembled while Cobalt and Chiyo were arguing in the middle of the street had posted videos, at varying angles and audio qualities, of it online. Cobalt¡¯s hair was done differently from normal, so it took fans a minute to discern if it was Elemental Orel, Aqua Hoshino, or a third-party lookalike. It wasn¡¯t hard for students from their middle school to connect the dots, though. In just a couple short hours, Ruby¡¯s and Cobalt¡¯s feeds were flooded with messages.

    Damage control for this was going to take some work, but Ruby mentally committed herself to it. On paper, it was a simple matter of painting Chiyo as the one at fault, the villain of the story. Executing it, however, will take a lot more planning than her previous endeavors in safeguarding Cobie¡¯s reputation. She may have to pull Aqua into this.

    Mama was still on her latest acting job, and Miyako was chaperoning Aqua for an audition. With Ichigo not home yet, it fell to Ruby to take care of Cobie on this miserable night.

    Cobalt sneezed. With him slid down the backrest of the sofa and leaning into Ruby¡¯s one-armed embrace, Cobalt set down his container of ice cream to reach for the tissue box next to him. After wiping his nose, he dumped the cloth into the pile stained with more snot and tears on the coffee table. He was soon settled back in Ruby¡¯s loose but warm squeeze, shoveling ice cream into his mouth. A rerun of one of Mama¡¯s films played on the TV.

    Ruby was pretty sure the blue rose was making his nose runny, but she let him hold it. It seemed to be calming him somewhat, and an excused absence from school if he did get sick would be useful.

    She heard the sound of the front door opening and shutting. Shifting her weight and her grasp on Cobalt, she mounted her chin on top of his head to get a good look at the new arrival. Ruby saw Ichigo slipping off his shoes. He greeted Ruby with a nod, raising a plastic bag filled with stacked boxes of takeout food.

    ¡°I got Cobalt¡¯s favorite like you asked,¡± he said with a grin, referring to the texts Ruby had sent him earlier. ¡°They had a special on your favorites, too.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Ichigo could tell instantly something was wrong from Ruby¡¯s unenthusiastic reply. He set the food aside and strolled around the couch. He glanced between Cobalt, Ruby, and the mound of gross tissues.

    He popped the question. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    Ruby gave it to Ichigo bluntly. ¡°Cobie¡¯s first girlfriend dumped him.¡±

    She could see Ichigo¡¯s shock through his tinted sunglasses. ¡°What?! When? How?! They only just started dating yesterday!¡±

    Cobalt sniffed, eyes glued on the TV. ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about it.¡±

    Ichigio sputtered for a bit more. Ruby let him go through the motions, her answering quick mundane questions about the break-up, before he eventually lowered his flailing arms in acceptance. ¡°Sometimes I think we¡¯re all cursed,¡± he grumbled to himself. Raising his voice, Ichigo added, ¡°It¡¯s good you were there with him, Ruby. I¡¯m sorry things were cut short for you, Cobalt. Was Shin also with you when the break-up happened?¡±

    Both she and Cobalt shook their heads.

    ¡°If you didn¡¯t already know, Ruby, Shin was with Cobalt earlier, planning on giving him some tips about dating. They went their separate ways after, and apparently Shin had an argument with his father over the phone. I had to do some damage control in between the work at the office, hence why I¡¯m a little late.¡± Ichigo glanced at the clock mounted on a wall. ¡°Shin should be home by now, upstairs in his room if you didn¡¯t catch him. Cobalt, if you need more advice¨C¡±

    The last thing Cobie needed was to be near that bastard. ¡°Cobie doesn¡¯t need Shin,¡± she said frankly, motioning to Ichigo. ¡°He needs someone who knows how to mend a broken heart to comfort him.¡±

    Verbally, Ruby could do little more than give Cobalt the generic platitudes and affirming compliments of being a good person who deserved better. It could become white noise after enough repetition. Ichigo and Miyako¡¯s relationship was a stable one now if not a romantic one, so one half of that pair could do loads more for Cobalt.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know if grandpa can help me,¡± Cobie said absently. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can fix things with Chiyo. She must not want me as a boyfriend or as a friend.¡±

    Ruby delicately separated herself from Cobalt, causing him to curl into himself, hugging the rose for dear life. Again, she gestured expectantly at Ichigo, who resigned himself to his role and sat on the sofa beside Cobie.

    Satisfied with Ichigo prodding his grandson for more details, Ruby trekked upstairs to wake Shin up.

    After finally securing Cobalt at the house and asking him the right questions, Ruby had gotten the story straightened out: Shin lied to Ichigo about getting Cobie scandalous manga. Instead, Cobalt was brought to the Sin Club, where Shin drowned himself in alcohol while Cobalt was whisked away by a predator.

    Upon arriving home, Ruby had discovered Shin asleep in the guest room. He wasn¡¯t going anywhere, and Cobie had needed her immediate attention. With Cobie now in Ichigo¡¯s safe hands, Ruby could freely confront the one responsible for this disaster of an evening.

    Shin was already awake. Ruby heard the sound of a running sink shut off. Once she was at the top of the stairs, she watched Shin limping out of the bathroom. She raised an eyebrow at a feature she hadn¡¯t seen earlier: an ugly bruise staining one of his eyes.

    ¡°Take a picture. It¡¯ll last longer,¡± he sarcastically mumbled with little energy to it, not looking directly at her.

    ¡°Did you get mugged or something?¡± Ruby mused.

    ¡°Uh¡­ yeah, sure. Let¡¯s go with that.¡±

    The smell of alcohol was also completely absent, from his body and his breath. She did notice it was gone when she had first checked on him, too. Shin was using a liberal amount of air freshener and soapy scents.

    This wasn¡¯t the only time Ruby was bombarded by these smells whenever Shin came over to visit. She had dismissed it all as Shin being a neat freak when staying over at mama¡¯s home as an honored guest, but what if it had always been a means to hide his underage drinking?

    Forgoing any further preamble, Ruby approached him.

    A swift kick to Shin¡¯s shin made him stumble forward. Ruby shoved her knee to crush his groin. His emasculating shriek was music to her ears, Shin dropping to his knees and covering his crotch. The noise from the TV downstairs was thankfully enough to prevent Ichigo and Cobalt from hearing Shin¡¯s cries of agony. Disoriented, he stared blankly in front of him until Ruby grabbed the collar of his shirt. She was taller than him now that he was down low. She jostled Shin and moved him by the back of his head, making him look up at her.

    It wasn¡¯t quite a growl that crawled out of Ruby¡¯s throat, but it was close enough. ¡°Cobalt loves you like family,¡± she said. ¡°Like an older brother, and you almost let him get violated today. You encouraged it.¡±

    Shin¡¯s brain was still trying to catch up to his current situation. He blurted out, ¡°Did Ayane not do a good job?¡±

    Ruby saw red. She pulled out her knife and delivered a hard jab with her knuckles to his throat. He yelped, tried to use one hand to grab Ruby¡¯s wrist. She pressed the sharp metal against his teeth to stop him in his tracks.

    ¡°Your whore didn¡¯t get anywhere,¡± she told him. ¡°Cobalt was lucky there was a decent person to help him.¡± Whoever this Sachi girl was, Ruby privately wished a thousand blessings be granted to her soul. ¡°Except, because you put Cobalt up to something he didn¡¯t understand, his first girlfriend misinterpreted what happened and broke things off with him. Everything you did today caused nothing but pain and misery for my little brother.¡±

    She let Shin squirm a little. Realizing any harsher movement on his part could push the knife into his gums, he stopped moving entirely and stared at Ruby with unadulterated fear.

    Appeased by a fraction, Ruby pulled back the blade a marginal distance.

    ¡°... Orel can find another girl without a problem,¡± Shin decided to say, infuriating Ruby. He was grasping at something in a panic, not truly remorseful for his actions. He was even using Cobie¡¯s YouTube handle. ¡°He¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    Resuming the pressure of metal against teeth, Ruby shut him up. ¡°Cobalt already had his heart broken today. I don¡¯t want him to experience that again so soon. That means you have to get your act together and be the reliable brother Cobalt thinks you are, who doesn¡¯t put him in danger or lets strangers take advantage of him.¡±

    Shin loudly gulped. He was totally absorbed by Ruby, as he should be. He needed to burn her warnings into his memory.

    ¡°If you can¡¯t do that, then after tonight, you¡¯ll leave our house, quit Strawberry Productions, and never talk to Cobalt or any of us ever again.¡±

    It would have been incredibly easy to tell the whole truth to everyone, appropriately vilify Shin, and send him packing right this second.

    But Cobalt wouldn¡¯t understand. He¡¯d just get more depressed. He¡¯ll cry for Shin. He¡¯ll think Shin was the one who was betrayed rather than the other way around.

    Shin Hoshigami ¨C no, Clay. Clay was an idol to Cobalt. The idol, as close to the same way Ai had been to Sarina despite their differences.

    And it was as clear as day to everyone in the Hoshino family that Shin loved the devotion Cobalt showered him with. Who wouldn¡¯t? Cobalt had the big loving family, a better social network of friends, more consistently high grades at school from this past year, and a rising YouTube channel bound to outpace Clayman Animation¡¯s growth any day now. For all the lessons and advice Cobalt sought from Shin, Shin relished in the adoring attention he received from Cobalt.

    Shin wasn¡¯t on the same level as the stalker who had scarred mama and Cobalt, but his misguided ways of ¡°helping¡± Cobalt today still followed the same principle of mistaking obsession and abuse for self-entitled love. Shin treasured the loyalty and trust Cobalt shoved in his face, and tonight, he returned Cobie¡¯s affections in one of the worst ways imaginable.

    But Cobalt didn¡¯t need another person he loved ¨C or thinks he loves, anyway ¨C abandoning him. Shin was still young, in high school, and liable to improve and change his tune under the right circumstances. Mama had been close to his age when she needed some dramatic events in her life to fully embrace her honest, beautiful, true self to openly love her precious children.

    Shin will heed Ruby¡¯s words and follow Mama¡¯s example to become a good influence on Cobalt. Or Shin can leave forever and never come back. The choice was his. Ruby was only the messenger.

    And the executioner, should it come to that.

    Ruby gave him one last warning.

    ¡°If you ever endanger Cobalt again, I¡¯ll go farther next time, and it¡¯ll be the last time.¡±

    Ruby let him go, stepping back, and allowed the pathetic slimeball drop to his side. Not wanting Cobalt to see his animation idol in this sorry state, Ruby opened the guest room door and kicked Shin inside.

    She freshened up in the bathroom before returning downstairs. Cobalt buried his whimpering head into Ichigo¡¯s shirt. Ichigo awkwardly hugged him back, looking unsure what to do.

    This might be the first time Ruby has seen her little brother crying without abandon. Even her memories as newborn toddlers were too muddied with age to rightly recall a scene resembling this.

    Ruby joined the hug and promised Cobie he would find love again one day.

    <hr>

    Aqua blinked.

    ¡°How the hell did Cobalt and Chiyo break up?¡±

    Seated at the dining table, Ruby shrugged nonchalantly. She had to be acting, after everything she had done to get them together. ¡°Her parents were apparently getting divorced because her dad started cheating, and Chiyo got unreasonably paranoid that Cobie would start cheating, too.¡±

    That was¡­ a story. ¡°I never took Chiyo to be so overly mistrustful of Cobie of all people.¡± It had been late last night when Miyako had brought Aqua home. He got out of bed this morning more than a little drowsy. Now he was wide awake.

    ¡°All¡¯s fair in love and war. No plan¡¯s guaranteed to survive first contact with the enemy.¡±

    Now Ruby was just regurgitating popular phrases. This was a tactic she used to keep a conversation going while mentally withdrawing into her own head. ¡°And where is Chiyo now?¡±

    ¡°She moved in with her grandma. Outside of Tokyo.¡± Ruby gave Aqua an intentful look. ¡°Chiyo is no longer a part of his life, or mine, or any of ours. Understand?¡±

    Aqua considered it. ¡°Alright.¡± If she was out of town, then it would be quite easy to socially ostracize Chiyo. Not that Aqua truly believed Chiyo was a particularly horrible human being. He was worldly enough to know there might be more to the story than Chiyo simply stabbing a knife into Cobalt¡¯s heart and running off without looking back. Regardless, their classmates will definitely be shoving their noses into Cobalt¡¯s business if the break-up really did blow up on their social media accounts. Gossip was inevitable. Aqua was content with following Ruby¡¯s lead to contain the drama.

    And Aqua had thought the pair was a match made in heaven. He underestimated her ability to sort through the misunderstandings and messages Cobalt periodically struggled to convey. Aqua silently prayed Cobalt to one day find a girl who can better understand his unique way of thinking.

    The front door of the house suddenly slammed open. Startled from the noise, Aqua peered around the corner to check what caused the commotion. He saw the blurry silhouette of Ai and only barely stepped out of the idol-shaped locomotive speeding down the hall and up the staircase.

    Ai wasn¡¯t supposed to be home until tomorrow.

    ¡°Of course I told her,¡± Ruby said aloud, picking at her bowl of cereal. ¡°Don¡¯t look so surprised.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ suppose you¡¯re right.¡± Still, ¡°my son¡¯s girlfriend broke up with him¡± was hardly an excusable family emergency to justify deserting an acting gig. Then again, it was Ai. She might not have even given an excuse before leaving at the first hint of one of her children in pain.

    They heard through the walls Ai shaking Cobalt awake. The sound of Ai¡¯s concerned voice reverberated throughout the entire house. Before long, Ai lowered her volume as she tried to soothe Cobalt with quieter, tender words.

    ¡°... I¡¯ll make pancakes for him,¡± Aqua decided. Ai should be enough to heal Cobie¡¯s soul for the moment. Aqua can contribute via a home-cooked meal. He¡¯ll have a heart-to-heart with Cobalt later.

    Ruby let out an annoyed groan. ¡°You¡¯re just deciding this now? I¡¯m already half-way done with my food!¡±

    ¡°Nothing¡¯s stopping you from eating whatever you want.¡±

    ¡°Your pancakes are great, though! And I need to watch my weight! You should have gotten up earlier before me and started cooking them first.¡±

    Aqua marked down another point toward Ruby keeping up a facade. Their banter was commonplace in this household, but in this instance, it must be a means of coping with Cobalt¡¯s downtrodden attitude. She wouldn¡¯t be this eager for lighthearted jabs disguised as irritated rebukes if Cobalt or anyone else in the family was in a sorrowful mood. Cobalt reeling from his first break-up must have come off as a shock to Ruby in its own way.

    Pulling out the ingredients and cooking utensils, Aqua indulged in the sharp quips and stubborn wisecracks with Ruby.

    His little sister had done her part. Now it was Aqua¡¯s turn to take care of her.