" Luckily, you brought him in time. We placed him on antibiotics and some painkillers to help him heal. Both of his hands should be wrapped in that cast for the time being." The doctor said to Miyako.
" How long till' he can take it off?" Miyako asked, glancing to Kiyotaka's hands.
" An estimated recovery for about 3 - 4 weeks, though if i were to say. The damage is a bit too much for a kid his age so it might even take a month or more. We had to surgically realign a few bones in the knuckle due to how severe it was." The doctor sighed. " I'll prescribe you some medicine to apply to him daily so the treatment can go as smooth as possible. If there are any unusual reactions from the medicine, or unusual activity exhibited from our little patient, then please immediately book an appointment to consult with me. "
" I understand." Miyako nods.
" Ah, before I forget." The doctor turns to Kiyotaka with a curious look. " Son, how did you say your hands turned out like this again?"
The doctor wasn't able to ask because as soon as Kiyotaka arrived, immediate attention had to be done and questions would have to be asked later.
"...." But Kiyotaka was unresponsive.
"....When I came home, he was crying." Miyako quickly began to answer in his place. " Next thing I know, as soon as I went to him, it seems that through my own irresponsibility for leaving the kids in the house for a bit. He....erm...accidentally jammed his hands at the door."
" But for an injury that severe to come from a door..." The doctor narrowed his eyes at Miyako. " Are you sure you're telling me the truth?"
" Yes, I am." Though feeling pressured, Miyako had to keep up their cover, especially now that Ai is...
" I see." The doctor sighs again, writing down on his patient report. " Well, though I am not a parent, I'll have to say that you must make sure this never happens again. For the sake of your children, they're still at a very fragile age and although their cells are younger and easier to respond to bone and muscle repairs, things could've still taken a turn for the worse."
The doctor then instructs the nurse to bring him a specific prescription before turning back to Miyako.
" As a doctor, I implore you that I never have to see your children here again because of an incident like this. Understood?" He spoke seriously, and with genuine concern.
Miyako painfully smiles. " Y-You're right, it's my fault. I'll make sure this won't happen again. Thank you, doctor." She said before bowing.
" Stay safe now."
.
.
.
.
The car was silent. For the first time ever, there was not a sound coming from the triplets as Miyako drove down under the greyish sky.
People were spread out on the streets staring at the building screens with sadness in their eyes as they voiced out their sympathy for the situation. Her death was broadcasted in the city, explaining the announcement of her passing, and how she was found.
Ai was everywhere.
But not the way anyone would've wanted.
The culprit was shortly discovered after news had broken out. Police believe it to the enthusiastic fan of Hoshino Ai who had killed her, the intentions were stated in a letter full of anger that slowly collected regret. Before eventually he attempted suicide and thus pronounced dead as well.
That, however, wasn't enough to end the case. Some detectives speculate that the culprit wasn't alone, for how could he have known Ai's recent address when she'd just moved in a month prior? The police think there was an accomplice who assisted in her murder. And that accomplice is yet to be found.
.
.
.
Even so, in the span of 3 days, the case went cold. And people adjusted to the death of Hoshino Ai. Any further investigations made in the case all led to dead ends, some may argue that the Japanese Police were simply too lazy to give a damn about an idol. And while part of that may be true, there was already another case that required full attention at the moment. Putting time to find out an accomplice based on speculation wasn't going to lead anywhere.
Even after they interviewed the kids who were spotted at the scene where Ai's cold body laid. None of them could give a proper answer that could provide some leads.
All three were too distraught with what happened, and thus, dismissed completely from the case after not receiving any good answers.
However, one of the kids, named Goldenberyl. Had an interesting coincidence with him, his hands that were wrapped in bandages and casts were loosely suspected to have been responsible for the murderer's deformed face. It went along the lines of the child acting out of anger and attacked the stalker bare fist, getting himself injured in the process. But that was quickly dismissed too, seeing as that sounded too unbelievable to have even been the case.
~~~~~~~
When it came to the internet, the majority expressed their sympathy for Ai's passing. After all, she was still so young and had many more to achieve had not this unfortunate incident happen, but of course, there were also small groups who treated her death as a joke in order to attract attention to themselves...
With so many unfounded speculations.... nasty anonymous comments...
There were even some that landed close to the truth.
However...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
@y_1000_y
- That stalker guy realized that Ai had a man lmao!
@k_giiii1ku replied to this tweet:
- Hah? If that's the case then it's hardly suprising that she got stabbed -_-
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All of that was undermined by their lack of cruelty.
" What...?" Ruby stared at her screen in disbelief, her hands shaking as it tried to hold onto the phone.
" What do you mean...' hardly suprising'?" She asked as her tone began to seethe. " Why! So if an idol gets murdered because she gets a romantic partner, then it's hardly suprising?!"
" That's a bunch of crap!" She yelled at her phone, to the comment, and some perhaps to herself. Angry tears began leaking out as she continued, " You go fall in love with idols, yet selfishly want to make sure idols don't fall in love with someone else! What the hell is wrong with you!"
Aqua stood by the side, silently listening to her rant to fill the emptiness in his mind.
" You're just taking out your anger about not having a girlfriend on women! You're disgusting! Die! Please die! " She cried out, her tone breaking with every second of her breath. Warm tears flooded her puffy cheeks as she felt poisoned by their nasty comments about Ai....about her mother.
To say all of this....after her death....it's just...
" Why is the internet like this...?"
Too much...
" Mom is dead, and now there's all this stuff that makes me wanna die..." Her voice turned small as sorrow took over her anger again. Her handle on the phone growing weaker as it limped over her lap.
" So if you're famous....people can just say whatever they want about you? Is this the price of fame? I.....I can't.....this is all crap...all of it...! " She places the phone on the ground and tries to hug herself.
" These bastards.....using words said by hurt people....just to hurt others...."
"..." Kiyotaka was leaning outside of the living room as he heard all of that.
....
He glances to his cast-covered hands for a few seconds before closing his eyes, taking a deep breath, and then leaving to his room.
" Mom is dead, and now there's all this stuff that makes me wanna die..."
Those words remained in his head for the next few hours....stretching to even days. It tore at him, especially to hear it coming from Ruby of all people. But of course, she would've been the most hurt. She was the closest to Ai. She loved Ai more than he did.
And she did everything she can to let Ai know.
"...."
With a sounding click, he closed the bedroom door. Even if his hand should've hurt, he couldn't feel it at all.
~~~~~~
" Would you....consider becoming my children for real?" Miyako gently asked the three of them.
Miyako's heart was ridden with sympathy, she knows these three are going through unexplainable pain, but they were still too young to process it all. To grieve. Maybe she was being presumptuous, but she wanted to be there for them. She's grown to love them.
" Of course....Ai will always be your only mother." She emphasizes with a soft tone as droplets of tears form at the corner of her eyes. " You don't have to call me your mother. Or think of me as one."
She was stared down by Ruby's near-lifeless gaze, it scared Miyako. But this is what the three of them needed, she decided. Even if her offer were rejected, she'll still do her best to take care of them and make sure they eat well, and grow up strong. That's Ai would've wanted.
" But I do think of you three as my own children..." She admits, pouring her heart out with every word. "....So how about it?"
She was ready to accept whatever answer that comes out of their mouths.
But Miyako wasn't prepared to hear the hitches of Ruby's breath, and the tears spilling out of her eyes as she ran into her arms. Miyako immediately caught her in her embrace, and hugged her gently. Warmly. As Ruby cried silently.
"....It's okay..." She whispers, kissing the side of Ruby's head. " It'll be okay...." She assures her.
Truthfully, you never know if things will be okay, ever. Uncertainty will always lurk in the depths of your heart, clouding your mind. You'll never know if things will be okay again. But if you don't go on living, then how will you ever know?
Maybe Ruby knew that. Maybe she didn't. But Miyako can tell the girl was grateful for her offer, it was what she needed to hear. She needed someone to help her go on living. Even if things....will never be what they were before.
~~~~~~~~
Aqua and Beryl never definitively answered Miyako's offer. But the older woman believed that if one chose a path, the rest will follow, they were a set. Even if they looked just as lifeless as Ruby was, she can tell that they care about her enough to at least follow her. Maybe especially now, because of Ai's death, that they want to keep each other safe.
But despite their clear decision, the two barely said a word.
Aqua responds when asked, but replies so little. His tone shifted from the enthusiastic but stern one he used to have to a now more dreary intonation.
But compared to Beryl, it was plenty. Really, Miyako was more concerned about Beryl's behaviour.
He was cold. Solid like a wall. He never responds to anything Miyako says, and he never asks her for anything.
And he's developed habits that constantly made her worry. He always stays in his room and sits on his bed staring ahead to a place she doesn't know. And judging by the bags forming under his eyes, she deduces that he's also been secretly avoiding sleep. Or it looked more like he couldn't sleep at all. And it doesn't help that he barely eats, so she constantly has to force it on him for him to finally take it. He couldn't eat by himself, so she has to take it upon herself to feed him, but it was no problem at all for her. She was plenty used to it already.
Two weeks have passed since Miyako personally took them in. The week before that, Ai's funeral ceremony was held. Miyako was the adult closest to Ai, so she lead the ceremony herself, sharing an ample speech to send Ai's soul to peace and to voice out her own feelings for the young woman that she couldn't say before. And mentally promising that her children will be cared for.
It was painful, but it felt relieving. Honestly, she was dreading the speech the most because she never imagined she would be doing such a thing for anyone---much less, a person who she's grown fond of. But she had to, needed to-- wanted to.
The kids were in the car, Aqua scrolling his phone absentmindedly, and Kiyotaka silently staring out the window with the same disposition. Ruby also gazed at the window, but her eyes focused on the crowd of people that surrounded the funeral service as they cried their hearts out for their favorite idol.
" Mama said.... that maybe I would become an idol." She suddenly said." Do you think I have what it takes to be one?"
" It's not worth the trouble." Aqua boredly said, as he scrolled down through the many comments regarding Ai's death. It's still something he's yet to accept. " The fans are selfish people who want more than what you can give. They'll keep asking and asking till' eventually they sap out every bit of energy you've got in you."
He clicks his tongue at his own words. " Just find another job, it's easier and quicker to make money that way. Everything has its own competition but the entertainment business is on another level."
" Yeah, but even so...." Ruby's eyes shined a bit, like a small light has been lit upon seeing the crowd. " Mama sparkled..."
Aqua glances at Ruby.
In due time, Ruby will probably bounce back.... Aqua thought. In all his years of sharing this life with her, he's come to understand her personality on an intimate level. She was pure of heart, for better or worse.
He just wishes the same could be said for him....and....
Aqua peeks his head at the figure sitting on the passenger seat, his dull eyes boring holes through the window, or maybe to the sky.
He's still the same since then.... Aqua sighs. We're still the same since then, Aqua goes back to scrolling on his phone.
If Ai wasn't here, then what is the point of Aqua living now....?
It might not change a thing if he chose to just.....
Suddenly that thought pauses when he stumbled upon a post about Ai's stalker. Everything in him stills, it silences so much that he could hear his own breathing. He recalls to how everything started, and begin connecting the dots himself.
The stalker was the same man who killed him in his past life.
How did he manage to pin down the hospital Ai had been admitted to?
How did he track down their new address if they'd just moved in?
The wheels start turning....
As Aqua slowly realized that the stalker truly wasn't alone. Someone close to Ai exposed her, someone that they don't know, but Ai did.
Someone that was close to their mother.
It couldn't have been the president, why would he do such a thing if he wanted Ai to succeed? It wouldn't make sense.
Could it be one of her co-workers? Doubt it. They were never all that close with Ai anyway, so she wouldn't have told them. None of them seemed like a good friend to Ai at all.
It's clear that Ai didn't have any relatives around, Aqua could deduce that much by the lack of any sign for a mother and father. Especially with how it was the president that accompanied her back when she was pregnant to consult with him when he was still her doctor. Usually, a parent would be notified of a situation like that.... so she must've not known their contact details either...
So that only leaves...
"....Our father." Aqua said in a whisper.
Clenching his phone with a hard grip, he had one thought burning in his mind at that moment.
He can't die yet.
~~~~~~~~~
....
.......
...........
" Ai...hold on."
" Ai, please...please hold on."
" Don't go. Please don't go."
"...Don't....go..."
" Mom....please..."
.........
........
....
...........
.......
....
When he looked up that day, he was met with her eyes that no longer brimmed with life.
It no longer shined like the northern star.
No. Everything had been seeped out.
He thinks back to that day, constantly. Like a curse.
.....
Because of that, Kiyotaka can never sleep.
~~~~~~~~~
A month and a week later....
" Alright.....annnd, it's off!"
The doctor took off the cast covering Kiyotaka's hands. Miyako smiles, grateful that he's finally healed.
" You'll still have to continue applying medicine to relieve the sores, but he should be able to use his hands now." The doctor clapped his hands. " Congratulations, you've made a 90% full recovery. Just take it slow for now and get used to being able to move your hands again, okay?"
" You hear that, Beryl? Take it slow, alright? Don't..." Miyako pauses before heaving a sigh, a small smile appears on her lips. " Don't be afraid to ask for my assistance."
Miyako was trying, she really was.
She just wants to make sure the kid is okay.
Throughout the past month, Ruby was slowly returning to her old self again. Of course, there are times where she's found pondering on Ai's death, but at least that same sparkle in her eyes has returned. She's come to terms with it. And Miyako knows that she's found a dream to pursue. The little girl already told her that she wishes to become an idol and sparkle like her mom did.
Aqua still remains more quiet and reserved since Ai's passing. But just like Ruby, he's begun to open up more. Though, he often hangs around that one director who first starred him in that short film. At least he was talking to other people, Miyako still hopes that Aqua could also find it in himself to open up to her as well.
The only one left who's yet to get better.....was Goldenberyl.
In all honesty, Miyako thought Beryl would be the one to heal the fastest. She always saw him as quiet, and likes to keep himself. And out of all of the three, he seemed to be the most independent on what he wanted to do. He seemed to be the least closest to Ai. So she was suprised to see that...he was just as affected as Ruby was.
But the difference was that he's keeping it all to himself. All bottled up. Not saying a word about that day, or not saying anything to her at all. He was always gazing at a faraway place, he always avoided the rooms that Ai used to frequent, like the kitchen for example. For some reason, his movements seemed repulsed whenever he was near it.
Miyako can guess that Kiyotaka really did deal those injuries on Ai's stalker during the incident. When she was told this dismissive speculation by some of the detective that interviewed her, she knew deep down that they were fools not to believe it was true. It was certainly possible. It's just that.... it's so hard for her to imagine the amount of anger Kiyotaka must've felt in that moment to do such a thing. To leave a face absolutely battered.
It shows enough just how much Ai meant to him.
And it indicates that they were closer than Miyako thought.
She immediately scolded herself for doubting it. Of course, that's the case. She was his mother and he was her son. And he....lost his mother. She felt disgusted of herself for ever assuming that Kiyotaka didn't care for her, not even a bit.
~~~~~~
" I'll go to my room." Kiyotaka immediately said as soon as they entered home.
" Huh?" Miyako looks at him and notices that he's already on his way, she bites her lip before halting him with a hand on his shoulder.
He pauses in his steps. Miyako's gaze felt stern at the back of his head.
" Beryl, please eat." She said.
"..."
" You've been eating less, and now that your hands are back. You intend to skip meals. I know that's your plan."
"..."
" But I can't allow that."
" I know it's difficult..." she frowns. " And I'm not sure how you really feel because you wouldn't tell me...but....whatever it is, it's not a reason to starve yourself. That's not what Ai would've wanted."
"..."
Even after hearing her out, it only went out the other ear as Kiyotaka evidently ignored her comments and continued onwards to his room. Closing the door behind him, leaving a downcast Miyako in the hallway. The older woman releases a sigh.
She can't reach him....
" Is Beryl getting to you again?"
Miyako blinks, only to notice Ruby standing in front of her with her hands on her hips.
" Ruby..." Miyako straightens her back and walks past her, placing the groceries on the kitchen island.
Ruby pops out by her side again.
" He's skipping?" She asked.
" That what his silence sounded like..." Miyako sighs.
"..." Ruby wore a visible frown as her thoughts went to the person in question.
She's noticed it too. The way Kiyotaka's been acting, it's like he's holding something back or trying to block something away. This is the most distant he's been, he doesn't even respond to Ruby or Aqua anymore. Ruby knows things aren't the same, how can it be after what happened. But she wants to try and help him so he wouldn't do anything...nobody would want him to do. She's worried because she has an idea of what he's thinking. And the bags under his eyes say it all.
She thinks back to that day, when she witnessed a scary version of him beating down on that person. She could practically feel the bloodlust emanated from each punch to the face.
And then that version of him fades as he breaks down in Ai's arms. Remembering it all hurts, and she understands why he's probably trying to avoid all of that. Just remembering that day is cracking Ruby's progress, her heart couldn't take it, but then she remembers Ai's words.
"If you're scared of falling over, you'll just keep falling even more."
Her ears can almost pick up on her tone, as if she were still beside her telling her that. Encouraging her to go on.
If only Kiyotaka could hear it too...
~~~~~~
" Aqua, how can we help him?" Ruby decided to seek advice from the eldest. She couldn't stop herself anymore, giving him space is only counterproductive.
" Give him space." But that's what they've been doing this entire time! Ruby fumed.
She frowns, dissatisfied with his answer and Aqua picks up on it. He shakes his head with a deep sigh.
" It's not easy, Ruby." He says, " The three of us....we have....different ways to grieve." Aqua said, and his tone sounded bitter as his thoughts swirled about their mother's murderer.
" But I don't think he's grieving, brother." Ruby spoke otherwise. " He's not grieving....I'm sure he isn't."
Ruby's gut is telling her that Kiyotaka is stopping himself from grieving. Ignoring everything just so he wouldn't have to think about it.
" Kiyotaka doesn't even talk to us anymore..." She muttered, " And it pains me to say it, but I'd rather have the jerk Kiyotaka back than this."
" I want to banter with him again, constantly say things we don't mean, and yet we do it just cause out of spite. To the times before......all of this." She says as she fiddled with her hands.
"....I know." Aqua places a hand on her shoulder, sharing her sentiment. " But we can't do anything about it. He's lost, and even if we tell him off he won't listen. Let him find himself. The best thing we can do is to give him time."
"...."
Ruby sighs, nodding her head slowly.
" Okay..." She'll trust his word.
Aqua sighs, she really does have a pure heart. And if he were to be honest, he himself didn't know what to do with Kiyotaka. Whenever he thinks back to what Kiyotaka did to the stalker, he worries what he might accidentally do to Ruby if she provokes him unintentionally. It was best for everyone, including Kiyotaka himself, to isolate him for now. Let him find himself. Even if it is just an excuse to keep Ruby safe in the end.
~~~~~~~~
.............
..........
........
Kiyotaka opens his eyes to the ceiling. He's failed to let sleep take him away.
And just like all other times, he woke up, breathing heavily.
The images of that day came by like a flash, and he hates that his mind could process all of it within that half-second.
He...
"..."
He can't sleep.
.............
.........
......
Kiyotaka's bed rustled softly, fabric rubbing against each other, as he sat up and hopped off the bed. His eyes looked tired, but at the same time, it felt like his eye lids were forcefully tugged awake. Closing it will only hurt. And he wants to stay away from that feeling. He's never felt so weak before, so....vulnerable like this.
But this wasn't the first time he's woken up.
And it's not the first time he decides to leave the room in search of a certain object that usually quelled his dark feelings. The one thing that didn't hurt him, but it didn't relieve him either. Still, it was better than sinking deeper into his own abyss. So he leaves the room, making sure to close the door as light as he could, to not alarm his roommates.
It's not the first time he's sneaked past his siblings either.
"....What is he doing..."
But it is the first time that Ruby stayed awake just long enough to catch a glimpse of his leaving shadow.....
~~~~~~~
Her jewel-like eyes spied upon her younger brother. She followed him shortly after he left and tracked his steps to the living room where the table lamp was turned on. She curiously tilted her head as she took light steps towards him, he seemed to be standing on the chair, reading a book of sorts....
Kiyotaka doesn't know why he comes to see this book every night. All he knows is that it stops the aching feeling, even if it's temporarily. His eyes focus on a picture of Ai smiling at her first so-called performance. His hands move to the next page, and it was another one of her milestones. Her first magazine shoot, and then her first interview, and then her first film feature, and then her celebration hitting a milestone of a million followers.
All of that, it showed her smiling. But he knew it was fake. He can sense it. She was a people pleaser, that's even part of what her notes said when she described herself and still.....it's such a beautiful smile. A wonderful lie.
There was one last section to go through.....the section he always stops at.
The next pages contains her real smile, the real truth. The cruel truth.
" Kiyotaka?"
" ?! " His breath hitches upon hearing Ruby's voice, and for a second he believed that this may be just a result of his lack of sleep but that thought was thrown away after he turned his head to see her staring right at him with a curious gaze.
She walked to him, slow and cautious steps.
Ruby couldn't help it. The more she watched him, the more she was curious as to what he was looking at. She wanted to know. And also...
She knows that she should maybe have left him alone but...
A voice was telling her to move. That this was the chance to help him. And she could've sworn that maybe it was her mother's spirit telling her that, but it doesn't matter, this was her own choice too.
" What is that you're reading?" She was now next to the chair he was standing on. He looked at her with a funny look, Ruby could almost laugh. It's like he was staring at a ghost.
" Can I see?" She asked.
"..."
Kiyotaka cursed himself. How did he not detect her? Was his mind so clouded now that he can no longer register the sound of her footsteps and the sensing of her presence? Surely he has grown rusty, so much to the point that his sensing is faulty now....or maybe.....it's just like the case with Ai, where he senses no danger from Ruby.
" Why are you awake?" Kiyotaka asked her. This is the first time she wasn't actually sleep.
" The question is why are you awake-- wait! No, don't change the subject. I wanna see that book, so gimme!" She pouts, putting her hands out to reach for it.
Kiyotaka, with bored eyes, watches Ruby as she tries to jump up to reach the book, while he holds it above her head. He sighs, this wasn't supposed to happen, he thinks. He glances at the book, she isn't supposed to see this. He intended to hide this book from everyone else so that no unnecessary breakdowns can occur....especially Ruby's.
" Gimme it!" She whined.
" No." Kiyotaka rejected.
" You asked for it..." She suddenly said as she eyed his legs.
" Hm--?"
She viciously takes hold of both of his legs and forcefully pulls him down.
" Guh--?!" the chair wobbles as he was set off balance, he could've obviously countered Ruby's attack since it was telegraphed but doing so would get her hurt which might alarm Miyako and Aqua. So he decides to take the fall instead.
Dropping the book, he allows his body to fall back, perfectly landing on his hands and then leaning back even further till he could backroll onto his feet. Kiyotaka could still feel the soreness in his hands, but it wasn't as bad as before. Still, he shouldn't try a stunt like this again any time soon until he makes a full recovery. Ruby stares at him with a suprised look
" How were you...?" She was impressed, and she was about to compliment him for it till she realizes the book landed right in front of her feet.
" Aha!" She grabs the book as if she found lost treasure.
" Wait, Ruby--" Kiyotaka tries to stop her but she already opened it and....
" Let's see what we have here~" She cooes, but then her smug look quickly softens upon seeing its contents.
"....Huh?.....Is this...?" Ruby trails off as she couldn't believe the pictures she was seeing. She looks at Kiyotaka for an answer. If what she was seeing is real.
Kiyotaka sighs, nodding.
" It is." He confirms. " It's her scrapbook."
"...."
~~~~~~~
"...Wow....so this is Mama's scrapbook..." Ruby said, amazed as she looked at Ai's younger pictures in the book. She still looked as if she hadn't aged even years later.
"....Yeah." Kiyotaka says.
The two of them sat on the ground, going through her Ai's scrapbook, Ruby was fascinated with it while Kiyotaka was just waiting. The table lamp was transferred to the ground so the shine could reach the pictures for them to see.
" She showed it to me before." Kiyotaka confesses.
"..." Ruby turns to him. " Why?"
She frowns. " How come she's never shown this to us?" Referring to herself and Aqua.
Before any silly thoughts could take root in her mind, Kiyotaka answers.
" She was going to show it to us." He told her. " I was just...lucky enough to have spotted her when she was pasting all these pictures..."
Similar to how Ruby spotted him going through those pictures...
But she wasn't able to... Kiyotaka didn't bother to add.
Ruby nods in understanding, her expression seemed dark again by Kiyotaka's implication even if he hadn't said it vocally. But soon it lit up after going through more pictures of Ai, a longing smile occupied her small face as her eyes glow with joy. Kiyotaka wondered if that was just a mask to hide the inner pain she was feeling, or if that really is just Ruby looking at the brighter side of the spectrum.
But that thought quickly died down as soon as Ruby turned to the dreaded next page. Kiyotaka's blank eyes began to feel heavy upon seeing it.
" It's Mama.....and us..." Ruby slowly said as she stared at the image of Ai holding her triplet children after going through labor. The smile that graced Ai's expression was one to behold, and it evoked something in Ruby as she felt her eyes getting heavy.
Kiyotaka turns away, he wanted to avoid that section. He knew something was going to happen. Whether it be from him or from Ruby.
"....W-Wow...this..." Ruby's smile falters as she felt mixed emotions. " Her little notes....she called us her three special wack-o's..."
"....?" Kiyotaka reluctantly turned his head to look, he's read through it before, and he was sure he read all of her little notes back when she first showed him it to which none of them explicitly stated that. But when he did turn to look, his nose was met with a 'boop' from Ruby's finger.
" Gotcha~..." She grins. " You were trying to avoid these pictures, weren't you?" She interrogated him.
" You..." He stares at her, bewildered. But he takes a deep breath before answering her. " Yes, I was."
" Why?" She asked.
"...." He turns away. " Don't you feel hurt by seeing them?"
" Hurt? No, it's the total opposite, actually..." She said, shaking her head in denial. " In fact, I feel...relieved....happy, even."
Ruby turns to the next pages, showcasing their first birthdays, fun days, first days at school, and plenty of other significant marks of their life. " It feels like...I'm reliving through it all again."
" Relive, huh..." Kiyotaka recalls those words.
She said that too. He remembers it. But it's not easy to do, or rather-- he just can't. The only thing he can relive is that day. He wishes it was all just a nightmare, but it was a memory. And unlike nightmares, memories are real because they happened. Maybe that's why he can't just relive it and look at it from the brighter side like Ruby can.....because..... he doesn't want to be hurt.
He looks down to his lap with a deep expression, as if he were sinking into the depths of his own heart trying to find its pieces. His golden hair hangs low, covering the sides of his face so Ruby couldn't see.
In the end, some parts of the white room remained rooted in him, to act as a defensive mechanism for his feelings.
He just wants to...forget what happened......forget her.
But his heart doesn't want to. It'll hold onto those memories till' he dies and he knows exactly why.
It's because...
...................
.............
........
" I'm sorry, Ruby."
Ruby pauses in her page turning as the words registered in her mind. Did that come from him? She slowly creaks her head to the side to have a look at him, but his long hair covered his expression so she couldn't know what type of face he was making. She could've sworn she heard his tone tremble a bit when he suddenly apologized out of nowhere.
But what was he apologizing for?
He couldn't possibly be blaming himself for what happened, right?
" Kiyotaka....are you trying to apologize for that day...?" She asked him, and he didn't respond nor turned to look at her.
Her gaze hardens, feeling a sharp pain of anger run through her for some reason. It hurt her to think that this was what Kiyotaka had been thinking all along-- all those sleepless nights because of unwarranted guilt.
" Kiyotaka, it's not your fault." She told him, being as stern as she could. " Nobody....Nobody blames you, so there's no reason for you to--"
" That's not what I'm apologizing for." He interjected.
" Huh?" Ruby's eyes widened in suprise, then what is he apologizing for ?. Her face showed her confusion at his statement.
" I apologize for doubting you back then, because in the end, you were right..."
" About what...?"
" She didn't have to say ' I love you ' to let us know." Kiyotaka's breath turns slow, as he tried to shake off those other thoughts so he can say the words he needed to say. " The small actions she did each day for us, the way she worked so hard for our futures, the way she constantly showered us with her hugs and kisses....."
".....Her actions....spoke everything that her mouth hadn't." His gaze felt hazy.
" I was wrong....so wrong....and I wish I could take it all back." That heavy feeling in his chest only increased. " She loved us....."
Ruby felt a stinging pain in her eye lids, that water-like feeling was threatening to rush out due to his words, but she tried to keep it at bay as she watched Kiyotaka slowly lift his hands, simply looking at it with an aura of contempt for it.
" Whenever I try to sleep, I relive that day." He spoke with bitterness. " And then I'm left questioning myself.....what if I moved faster? Could I have saved her? But I wouldn't know, because I didn't save her. I failed to."
He releases a heavy sigh, as he envisions everything on his hands.
" Whenever I look at these hands, I only see the hands that couldn't save her."
He did his best to apply pressure, but all it did was leave his hands permanently stained with the image of her blood on them. And flashes of her once bright eyes slowly dimming till everything had been sapped out.
Ruby frowns, she was so tempted to tell him that he's wrong for thinking that way. But she waited for him to continue, this is the first time he's talked to her since then, since to anyone really. And she knows that he's got a lot to let loose but he's constantly hesitating, stopping himself. She needs to stay silent to let him know that it's okay to let it all go.
"....The worst part here is.....I'm left here to wonder..." He suddenly speaks, his ton growing weak subtly as he hesitated over and over to say it.
" To wonder.....if she knew that I loved her too..."
The words came out like a whisper, but Ruby was still able to hear it.
" I only realized that feeling....after her heart beat died down....." His hands fell limp on his lap as he recalled the sounds. " I let her die...without letting her know..."
A heavy silence devoured the atmosphere. Ruby's lips parted as if she had something to say to him, but it closed, because she didn't know what words to say to him. Kiyotaka still didn't face her, and Ruby still couldn't see the expression on his face.
She can hear his breathing, it wasn't calm by any means. Due to the heavy flood of emotions he's trying to hold back for whatever reason, she does not know. But....she needs him to put a stop to it. What he's said signified enough that he should let it all flow.
Her eyes return to the scrapbook....as she turned to the latest page. The picture caught her eye, and her gaze softened upon seeing who it is. A pained smile graced her lips as she gripped the scrapbook with a tightness like never before. Ah, and there was a tiny bonus that went along with it...
She nudges his arm with the scrapbook, making sure the page was still open for him to see. Kiyotaka slowly turns to her, his eyes were distant and it was if they were seeing through her, but she didn't mind. All she asked was that he took the book and see the picture.
Kiyotaka's eyes trail down and they immediately widened upon seeing it. His hands inch towards the book, reluctantly taking hold of it, sending a sharp jolt through his body as he stares at the page with quick breaths.
The bonus.....was a small note she left at the side. A note he's never seen before.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is the first time that Goldenberyl has shown me his pretty smile~!ღ
And as expected, my genes are doing its magic since his smile is just as cool as mine haha!
But jokes aside...I was worried for a bit. He's quite a strange kid, he doesn't talk a lot, and he always has this neutral face. At first I thought maybe he had a condition, though, that was just me coming up with excuses to counter the thoughts that maybe he didn't love me...
But today, when he smiled, all those doubts washed away ^_^
It's not a condition, or anything like that. No, I shouldn't have thought of that at all, so shame on me! Sorry in advance if you come to read this when you're older, Beryl, hehe~
But thank you for smiling for Mama on this day. It lets me know everything I need to. It seems that you do love me, and just like me, we both struggle to say the words....
Looks like you and I will just need a bit more time till' we can finally express ourselves honestly, yeah? I'm looking forward to it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There was no doubt in Kiyotaka's mind that this was her writing. It wasn't forged by anyone, each word written was her handwriting, each word written was filled with emotions that could only point to Ai. But come he's never seen it before?
When did she write this...? He wondered. Did she write it after he fell asleep again that night?
Before Kiyotaka can finish the thought, he saw a droplet fall on the page. He blinked, confused at first as to where it came from.
Ruby sighs, standing up and going to him from behind.
Kiyotaka soon realized it was his tears, so he quickly tried to wipe it away. But the more he did, the more tears went out, it was as if he could feel the cracking in his will again.
And just when he was about to try and hold it back once more with all his strength, he feels two soft arms snaking around his torso, and hugging him from behind. His lips parted in suprise, as he felt a familiar warmth coming from his back and spreading to his entire being.
" Ruby...what are you doing?"
" I'm hugging you, what else?"
"...Why?"
" Because...that's what mom would've done, right?"
"...."
" After reading the note...what do you think now?"
"...."
" She knows. She knows that you love her. You never had to say it either, the fact you smiled for her was enough, and I'm sure she realized the small actions you did beforehand too and appreciated it just as much."
"...."
" As for your hands...." She smiles. " I see them as the hands that tried to save Mama no matter what."
"...."
" It's okay to let it all go. I know you're trying to hold it back, but that's the wrong thing to do."
"...."
" Kiyotaka, it's okay to feel sad. It's okay to cry. Part of reliving the memories has to do with having to go through the pain again."
Her words echo in his head.
And just like that, he lets his guard down, and the memories start rushing in like the great flood...
Memories of meeting Ai for the first time. Of when she first held him in her arms, when she first embraced him.
Memories of when she made an effort to shower him with love and affection, when she brushed his hair and as he did the same to hers.
Memories of when she kissed his head for the first time, because he let her, during his first day of preschool.
Memories of when she showed him how to cook his first dish, Omurice.
Memories of when he sat on her lap as they went through this same scrapbook together...with her happily explaining her feelings in each picture...
" If you ever feel like you forgot something or want to relive it. Just open this book, search for the right page and then...."
His hands acted on its own as it slowly turns to the previous page....where it showed their family photo.
" You'll see that all these memories have been stored into a single photo. And you can relive it for as long as you want."
" I...." His tone breaks.
And then comes the painful memories.
Her ragged breathing, and endless bleeding. Her eyes flickering like a light about to go out, as he tried to tell her to hold on a second longer. That help was arriving.
But she kept talking when he told her to save her breath...
She kept talking and talking and talking.....
And he begged her to stop, but she wouldn't.
.....
But soon came that deafening silence....
In the end, he just wants to hear her talk again.
" It's okay..." Ruby said as her warm tears stained the back of Kiyotaka's shirt, hugging him tighter because she didn't want him to see. Even if he could feel it.
" Let it all go..." She said, her tone audibly cracking as well, but it was stronger than his.
He drops the book as he chokes back a sob, trying to muffle his sounds by covering his mouth as tears endlessly flowed down from his golden brown orbs. His heart broke free of its cage because of Hoshino Ai. And now it was left shattered because of Hoshino Ai. The images of her funeral went by like a slow river, inflicting him with so much unbearable pain, but he lets it flow just like Ruby said.
He lets the memories....run its course....
He allows himself...to relive...every single moment....
She leans her head on his back, still gripping his torso and trapping him in her embrace. She could feel his body relaxing against her.
Kiyotaka once stood firm in the belief that one must remain strong to live. Which meant eliminating human weakness from each crevice......
But now, here he was, letting weakness overtake him. Letting his erratic emotions flush out the tears as his mind stayed on the image of Ai. The person who gifted him this weakness.
A gift...he couldn't ever be more grateful for.
And Ruby's embrace.....it reminded him....
It felt as if Ai herself was hugging him again....
Not for the last time....but it feels just like any other day.
He drowns himself in that feeling as he goes through the storm of memories.....
He felt safe in Ruby's embrace too.
~~~~~~~
" Ruby...."
" Yes?"
The two sat on the couch, watching TV to arouse the sleepy hormones. The scrapbook was returned to its proper drawer a while ago. It was currently 12 am, and the channels they searched through were mediocre at best.
So they decided to switch to watching old recordings of Ai's best performances, curated by Hoshino Ruby herself. And they both agreed that this was plenty times better than whatever they were watching a short while ago.
" A while back, didn't you say you wanted to become an idol like Ai?"
She nods, humming. " Yes. I want to sparkle just as much as she did." She said.
" Sparkle, huh...." A small smile appeared on his face as he visualized that. Maybe...
" You could do it."
" Huh?" She turns to him, and he turns to her with a warm gaze.
" Becoming a top idol, I mean. I believe that you can do it." He spoke, meaning every word. " Put out a show that can reach the stars where Ai is watching from."
Ruby's eyes visibly lightened up at his words.
" And I'll be there to record each moment, so that one day you'll be the person I'm watching on TV." he chuckles. " Though...you might have to lose that gorilla attitude you throw at me before you can actually be loved by people--"
" Jerk!" She slams his face with the couch pillow, toppling over him and hitting him over and over as she whines. " Just when I thought you were saying something nice-- you go ahead and ruin it! Urgh! "
Kiyotaka, despite having to constantly shield himself from Ruby's merciless assault, maintained a small smile on his face.
" Would you have it any other way though?" He asked. Although phrased as just another comeback to their banter, it was also a genuine question.
And that made her pause for a moment. He takes a peek through the small gap be made between his shield, only to see a brilliant smile worn on her face.
" No, not really." She said so, sincerely. " This is fine."
She sat back down, sighing. Kiyotaka sits straight again as well, seeing that her pillow onslaught was put to rest now.
" What're your dreams for the future, Kiyotaka?"
" My dreams?"
" Mhm."
" I don't know." He said, honestly. He recalls Ai suggesting he become a chef or a therapist but....his mind didn't feel set on any particular occupation.
"....I see." Ruby nods. " Then, how about we make a deal?"
" A deal? With you?" Kiyotaka raised a brow. " Just the sound of it gives me enough incentive to reject it--"
" When we're older and you still don't have a dream. Then why don't you help me become the idol I want to be?" She interrupted with a suprising request.
"...." he glances at her, only to see her face focused on the screen as she smiled in what seemed like blissful thought.
He sat there in silence for a few more minutes as he thought it through before eventually shrugging his shoulders and turning his attention back to the TV.
" Sure. Doesn't sound that bad of a deal." He agrees.
" Really?" Ruby's tone sounded happy. " Thank you, Kiyotaka--"
" Just call me Goldenberyl."
She flinches upon hearing that, instantly snapping her head to him with a questioning look. Sensing her questioning expression, Kiyotaka sighs.
" It's the name that Ai--" He pauses, before quickly rephrasing. " It's the name that my mother gave me."
His words struck a chord in both of their hearts.
Kiyotaka felt the last bit of tension leaving him as he finally accepted it. The memories, the good and the bad, her love, her truth, and his own. He's come to terms with himself, and while there are still pieces of heart yet to be recovered...
Accepting his name, given by Hoshino Ai, could be a start.
"...." Ruby still couldn't believe it. For him to admit that, when he stated plenty of times that he'd rather go by something else.....it felt bizarre to hear.
" What?" He acts as if she was the weird one.
"....Nothing." She laughs, shaking her head. " Alright then, I'll be expecting you to serve as my secretary in the future, Goldenberyl."
" If you do a horrible job, I won't hesitate to fire you." She adds.
" That's only if I don't have a dream of my own." Beryl rebutted.
Ruby laughs, and continues to insist that his future as her secretary will be definite.
.
.
.
Aqua sighs as he places a blanket over them to keep warm. The two fell asleep on the couch while watching rewind tapes of B-Komachi's previous performances, he should've known that Ruby wouldn't listen to him.
He was glad she didn't.
He smoothens the blanket, making sure that both shared it evenly before reaching for the remote and turning off the TV. His aqua-jewelled eyes glance at the sleeping duo, a snort leaving his expression at just how troublesome these two were. He managed to listen in on everything. Looks like Beryl found himself back. No longer lost.
She managed to reach him, he muses in his head. He didn't think anyone could besides Ai....and now that she wasn't here, he really didn't think Ruby would step up to the plate and succeed....
Really, even at such a young age still, she's prepping up to follow in her footsteps....
Aqua's lips grew to a thin line as his eyes darkened at the thought.
.....He can't let her follow in Ai's footsteps.
~~~~~~~
The next morning, Miyako woke up early, stretching her back and hearing a satisfying 'pop', she quickly made way to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. But when she found herself in the living room, her eyes spotted two figures huddled under a blanket sheet, snoring quietly on the couch.
She peeks over from behind and her heart warmed upon seeing that it was Ruby....and suprisingly, Beryl sleeping there. Her eyes widened in shock at seeing Beryl sleep so peacefully.
Wait, how did they even make it to the couch? I could've sworn they were in their rooms... Miyako thought, confused. She didn't want to get her hopes up but did Ruby do something to maybe help him?
For now, she decided to leave those thoughts aside and let them be. She heads to the kitchen and opens the fridge, humming to herself as she selected the ingredients.
" What're you making?" Huh, that's a good question.
" Still thinking..." Miyako answered, nonchalantly.
" Ah I see...."
....
She pauses, her face began to pale.
She slowly looked behind her to see Beryl standing there with a calm look on his face. She lets out a screen and then jumps back, bumping the back of her head into the freezer before sliding down.
" Ow, ow, ow..." She rubbed the pain, trying to soothe it.
" Miyako-san, are you okay--"
" What the hell do you think you're doing sneaking up on me like that?!" She angrily scolded him as she tried to calm down her fast heart beat.
Beryl stares at her suprised, before clicking his tongue. " Sorry, didn't mean to." he blandly said.
" Good heavens....just....just don't do that again." She lets out a deep breath.
" Will keep that in mind." He swears.
" Now..." She eyes him curiously. " I could've sworn you were asleep. Did I make any noise that woke you up?"
" No, I just wake up early." He assured her, Miyako nods.
~~~~ Awkward ~~~~
Miyako felt....quite suffocated right now. It was only now that she realized how little of a connection she and Beryl has, and it's quite a thin connection indeed. She tries to recall a moment where she talked to him one-on-one in a normal conversation, at least normal in this world's standards, but her mind came up blank.
This is really the first time they've talked to each other with a clear mind. And without the intervention of Ruby, Aqua or Ai.
" Did you...sleep well?" She decided to ask.
" I did." He curtly answered.
That didn't work as well as I'd hoped, She completely underestimated how straight forward of a kid Beryl was. You would think he'd sense the awkwardness here and add a little more to his answer but he didn't, whether that was intentional or just him being oblivious.
But aside from that, MIyako couldn't help but notice a different aura from him. Unlike before, where it felt like she was trying to grab hold of a wall, Beryl feels more....open now. She thinks something must've definitely happened or this was just a good day before everything goes back to hell again.
Or maybe she was overthinking--
" Can I make a request, Miyako-san?" She was brought out of her thoughts with his words.
" What is it?" She asked him quickly, maybe this was her chance to see for herself if things are different now.
The look in his eyes didn't seem as dull as before...
" Can you make Omurice?" He said.
Miyako felt like there was a hidden meaning behind his request....
" Of course." She accepts.
.
.
.
Miyako can feel Beryl's scrutinizing eyes as she cut up the vegetables. Truthfully speaking, she felt intimidated and she didn't know why. His eyes were so lazer focused on her that she felt her skin being pricked up with every move she makes. Despite that, she tries to ignore it and continues with what she's doing.
After dicing the vegetables, she quickly stirred a bowl, mixing in the sauces before pouring in yesterday's rice in the pan. She quickly switched it to medium heat after a minute and then poured in the diced vegetables to mix with the rice.
After the rice was properly cooked, she placed the contents onto a plate. Now it was off to the most important part; the eggs.
But before Miyako could crack open the eggs, Beryl suddenly spoke.
" I'm sorry for troubling you so much."
She turned to him, shocked by his apology. Was this a dream? She quickly pinched herself to confirm it, and lo' and behold-- this wasn't a dream.
Oh. She shouldn't leave him hanging.
" It's not a trouble." She said, and it wasn't a lie. " It's been difficult for everyone....so we can't really blame ourselves if we cause trouble, can we?"
" I suppose you're right..." He responded.
MIyako thought that was the end of their short exchange once again, but Beryl suprised her when he continued.
" Thank you for...taking the three of us in. Thank you for putting in the effort to take care of me."
" Like I said, it's not a problem--"
" Even though you really didn't have to, you still did it." He interrupts, looking at her with stern eyes. " I'm late to say this, but it's better to say it now than never; I'm grateful."
"...."
There's life in your eyes again.... Miyako muses when she observed his demeanor and expression.
" You're welcome." She smiles.
Beryl nods before eyeing the egg she was holding. " Mom made Omurice for me before. I wanted you to make it because I wanted to taste it again."
Mom...? Miyako was suprised for a moment. He was referring to Ai as ' Mom'. It was so foreign to hear, she could swear that this was the first time ever that she's heard him refer to Ai as that.
That's when she finally understood a bit of what Beryl was going through. Part of this was his own guilt, maybe because he regretted not saying the things he needed to say to Ai earlier. He struggled to show emotion, he was never emotionless. Miyako's eyes soften. Yes, that must be it.
" I see..." She sighs before cracking open an egg. " I'll do my best to match your expectations."
Beryl nods.
.
.
.
Beryl takes hold of his utensils and takes a piece of the Omurice into his mouth. He closes his eyes and chew as he feels something surging in his heart.
Memories flash again...
He wanted to eat this Omurice so he could relive it. Even if it hurt a bit, it's better than avoiding it. He wants to face every memory head on.
A warm atmosphere in the kitchen....filled with the sounds of her beautiful humming and the sizzling of the pans....
It all comes to him, not as a flood, or an angry stream.
But it came to him like a gentle wave brushing against the sand....
He can remember her smile clearly. And he can feel her joy when smiled at the time too.
Omurice....tasted magnificent to him....
" How did it taste?" Miyako asked.
Beryl looks to her, and stunning her with a small smile on his face.
" Like home." He answered.
~~~~~~~
A few months passed, and Miyako can proudly say that the apartment felt lively again. The kids have become well-adjusted to her, especially Beryl who was so distant at first, gradually came around and began talking to her a good amount of times each day.
Though, with normalcy came trouble, as that included Miyako trying to prevent Ruby from killing Beryl every other day due to a stupid dispute they have. She praises Ai for somehow managing the two of them when she's not here to babysit, but that's probably because she was their mother. And so, they couldn't refuse her demands.
They started attending pre-school again after becoming more invigorated. And from there, things have gone smoothly...
They even set up a small prayer shrine for Ai, as per Beryl's sudden request, and much to Ruby's delight. She didn't know where that had come from, but Miyako didn't mind at all granting that wish. if it provided relief for their hearts, she was willing to grant anything.
However, the older woman can't help but think about what Aqua is up to. The eldest triplet always went off on his own, again, seeing that director. At first she thought that maybe becoming an actor was Aqua's goal so that would explain his constant visitation, but something was telling her in the back of her mind that that wasn't the case. That Aqua had more special intentions to do with it...
~~~~~~
Aqua sat alone on the swing set. The snowflakes gently landing on the top of his boots as he waited for a certain someone to arrive.
Today was the day. He thinks to himself.
He'd been thinking about it a lot. It was only until recently that he decided that it'd be a good time to act on his plan by first recruiting an important ally that can certainly contribute to his cause.
" You called for me?" Speak of the devil, he arrives.
Beryl walked over to him, he was dressed in his snow attire to keep himself warm, similar fashion to Aqua. His boots left deep trails in the snow as he made his way to the swing set, with Aqua finally looking up from his boots and meeting eyes with his company.
" Kiyotaka-- no, Beryl." He quickly corrected himself, he sighs. " Sorry, I'm still not used to it." The transition from calling him Kiyotaka to Goldenberyl was still quite the suprise for him. Even if it's already months later.
" I don't mind." Beryl assures before taking the seat beside Aqua. " What did you call me for?"
" I want to discuss something important with you."
Hearing that, Beryl cranks his head to Aqua's direction.
" I've been wanting to discuss it with you for a while now. But I think this is the perfect time."
" What is it?"
Aqua closes his eyes for a moment, feeling that deep rooted emotion igniting into a dark flame. He exhales, a frosty breath escaping his lips, before turning to Beryl with a gaze the latter has never seen before.
...........
.............
.............
~~~~~~
( 11 years later...)
Beryl knocks on Ruby's door.
" Hey, hurry up already." He blandly reminded her that they only had 20 minutes left before school. She was going to make them late on the first day...
" Just give me a few more minutes!" Ruby's muffled voice said from the other side. Beryl rolls his eyes and leaves her be, marking her so-called " few more minutes " in his head.
He made his way to the living room. So much has changed over the past 11 years. For starters, they moved into a new house, an average little home that suited them just fine. Everything from the apartment was moved here without any issue.
As for appearances, Beryl has grown considerably taller now that he was 15. In fact, he's grown a few inches taller than Aqua, dubbing him the tallest amongst the Hoshino triplets-- or for appearance sake, the Saitou triplets. Besides the height, Beryl decided to trim his hair a bit over the years, but still maintained the smooth tip-shoulder length hair his mother wanted him to keep.
He's learn how to use hair ties, and if needed, he can use clips to hold up a good amount of strands. An abundant amount of hairstyles were embedded into his head thanks to Ruby who kept firing suggestion after suggestion at him when it came to styling his locks.
He's also gained a good amount of body fat. He's actually devised a routine that helped him gain and maintain an optimal body along with his stamina and endurance. He trained this body's muscles with the help of his brain's muscle memory from the previous life, and it paid off quite well. Although not the same body and strength he had back then, this was enough to prevent certain incidents from happening again. Especially when it's in his presence.
Beryl places his bag down to the side, eyeing the personal shrine made for Ai. He kneels on the soft pillow in front, and clasps his hands in prayer. He closes his eyes, muttering a short prayer for her.
After the short prayer, then came his own message to her.
It's our first day of high school. And Ruby is wanting us to be late. Could you believe it?
Beryl wasn't a believer of the supernatural, or the practices defined by religion. Even if reincarnation has been proven due to his existence right now, it doesn't mean much in the bigger side of things. And yet he requested that a shrine be set up for Ai, so he can pray to a god that would send his message to her. How ironic.
We're 15 now. And we've probably grown none the wiser but....
Just like always, we wish you were here to see it.
It's our first year of high school now, and from here on point, things will begin to change. Hopefully you're up there watching over us. Especially Ruby's dream to be just like you.
Aqua has also taken it upon himself to officially become that director's apprentice now that he was more of age. If you're wondering whether he'll really strive to be an actor, then don't look for an answer from me. Because frankly, I don't really know.
......
As for me....
I don't seem to have a dream of my own yet. I've learned how to cook because at first I thought maybe I could pick the path of a chef, but it didn't feel right. So I abandoned that. Psychiatrist was also not my style, it's suprising how hearing other people's problems just transfers their stress and add it to your own, by then making it your problem to take on. Quite unappealing for someone like me who likes to just " go along".
Sorry if that disappointed you...
However....to make it up to you, I'm happy to say that instead of dreams, I made two promises.
The first, being, to help Ruby become an idol like you were, and to put on a performance at the dome where it can reach the stars. So you can see it for yourself how far she's grown. I'll work in her shadow to help her shine in the light.
As for the second promise...
It's made by both Aqua and I.
But first, I'd like to say that I can't thank you enough for gifting me the ability to feel emotions. Without you, I would've remained a hollow husk as I was before. If only my messages could actually reach you, then you would know how grateful I am to be here because of you.
" I'll never forget what you did for me. I love you sooo much..." He said in a whisper, mimicking the tone she made when she first spoke of her dreams.
I hope that will reach you up there.
....
As for my promise...
Aqua and I....we promise...
Beryl opened his eyes, his black starred pupils forming into a dark twisted core as he recounts the promise he made with Aqua.
That familiar feeling of venom formed within his heart as he states his promise.
We promise to find the man who killed you and put him through hell.
As Beryl stood up, his shadow loomed over the picture frame of Ai. To symbolize his resolve into keeping these two promises, whatever means necessary. He stares at her photo with eyes that gave the feeling of the deep abyss she once talked about.
" Beryl."
Beryl calmly turns to gaze at Aqua who waited by the door.
" Ruby is about to finish up, are you ready?" He asked.
" Finally, she's done." Beryl lets out a huge sigh before picking up his bag and shooting Aqua a nod. " I'm ready."
Aqua nods before his eyes paused on the prayer shrine as well. His eyes narrowed before he released a sigh himself, turning around. " Let's go wait by the front."
" Alright."
.
.
.
" Isn't your skirt a little too short?" Aqua comments as Ruby was putting on her shoes.
" Geez, you know you sound like an old man. So nit-picky about theses sort of things." Ruby rolled her eyes.
Beryl decides to comment too.
" I agree. The skirt is too short, it's showcasing her hairy thighs which hurts for anyone's eyes to see--"
" MY THIGHS ARE NOT HAIRY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!" She sarcastically exclaimed, slapping Beryl's arm as hard as she could but the boy remained unfazed.
" Alright, let's head out before you two start fighting again..." Aqua already said as he clutching his bag over his shoulder and opening the door.
Aqua was first in their line, Ruby in the middle, and Beryl as last. But before the triplets could step outside the house, Ruby's eyes widened as if she almost forgot something.
" Ah wait!" She says, halting Aqua from going outside. He turns to her, only to see that she was facing the family picture frame sitting on the entrance cabinet.
She smiles, leaning closer to it as if it could hear her.
" Mama, we're heading out now." She said as if she were still here.
And in her heart, she definitely is.
Aqua shot the picture a glance before stepping out, Ruby following from behind. As for Beryl, he paused just like Ruby did earlier and glances at the picture frame.
"....Wish us luck." He said to it before leaving it with a small smile.
It seems that she was in his heart too.
~~~ End ~~~
I would say this is the end but yk what? Actually, there is one more scene...
I'll show it after this small little author's note though, since the scene is more of an extra and it shouldn't really matter considering this marks the series official ending so....yeah.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
It was hard trying to fit Kiyotaka's development into one chapter, and even now it's only the surface level of his development that I managed to showcase here. Since if I had more incentive to make a full fic outta this series, the development would've been more properly expanded.
Buttttt since I have no motivation to write it, I did my best :)
Hopefully this epilogue satisfied you. Since most of you wanted an epilogue. And I just love writing Ruby and Beryl banter.
And since this is officially concluded, I have something I'd like to say.
Altho I have no motivation to write this.
I can't lie when I say that I've brainstormed like 50% of the plot if I made a full fic based on this series. It would've followed Oshi no ko's storyline, HOWEVER, for most of the fic it would've contained Kiyotaka's own development and own storyline that would eventually be connected to the main plot of Oshi no Ko.
Not sure it would've been good, but I did imagine it to be good in my head. Just like all my other ideas--
Ah, and as for relationships...if you're curious, I did also think about that during the brainstorming. And it's sad for me to say but contrary to what many of you wish for-- Beryl would not be dating anyone in story. He'll have a romantic interest BUT it wouldn't evolve into a relationship, it would've worked more as a " implied " romance than an actual romance if that makes sense.
Ah, and it wouldn't be with any characters ya'll thought either. Since I planned the implied romance to contain complicated circumstances which I think would've been woven well into the fic.
But again, there is no definitive romance in the works at all :D
Anyways, enough of that.
so now we're moving onto the last scene that I wanted to show.
It's like a sample of what my vision of a fully fledged fic would've been ( the sample is incredibly small tho )
So enjoy this last short segment....
~~~~~~~~
Those three have really grown... Miyako thought as she sorted through documents on her computer. They were on their ways to following their own decided path, it was at this age that they need to have dreams of sorts.
Ruby has got that in the bag, but Miyako couldn't say the same for Aqua and Beryl just yet.
Still, whatever it is they pursue, as their adult figure she'll be there to support them on it.
"....Hm?" Suddenly an interesting article popped out on her window.
It read:
' Jinnosuke Naoe, head of the Naoe faction, facing heavy fire from the government as leaks of an illegal facility has been revealed....'
Naoe? Miyako thought in suprise. She's not too deep into politics but she's heard of that party before, it's said that they've risen amongst Japan's political ranks as a powerhouse after a special showcase of their ' personally educated geniuses '. They were said to have been educated under the direct watch of the government in a Talented Persons Nurturing Program. But this article seemed to scream otherwise, that there was something much deeper going on in the scenes.
Curious about the article, she clicks on the link where it showed the complete details.
Her eyes widened upon reading its contents. It was disgusting, there were photos and what seemed to be subject folders containing data of children and teenagers. The subjects were subjected to beatings and mental pressure according to the statements written, and there were even videos to showcase how exactly they do it.
The kids were treated like labrats....
The men working in the facility seemed to show no care as they caused both emotional and physical strain on the young children...
And the environment was colourless as it was only white walls and floorings. As if the person who headed this facility wanted to close these children off from the world and leave them devoid of all the color it had to offer.
All of this evidence and detailed reports were procured by a prestigious woman detective that went by the name of Sagami Yuki.
Who also claimed that she had gone through the same treatment shown in the videos.....proclaiming that it was part of her childhood. Being treated as an experiment and not a human being. She gathered all this evidence in order to shut down this facility and imprison all those were involved, some evidence even indicating that corrupt officials hiding in the government branches also had a hand in its inner works and funding.
All of this to shut down...
" Project White Room..."
~~~ Real End ~~~
So yeah, that's it!
And yes, the Yuki that was just mentioned IS the same White Room Yuki from volume 0. She, along with others from the white room, would play a significant part in Beryl's storyline as it would explore his past and his previous life.
Eventually, I planned it all to tie in back to the main plot.
I envisioned plenty of thrilling scenes to write for the storyline but this is as far as it goes when it comes to actually writing it. Rip.
Ah, and apologies if the last segment seemed rushed. I decided not to put too much effort since I just wanted ya'll to taste a sample of where I was going with this. Feel free to comment how you think the events in the storyline would've gone down, that would be fun to read.
Anyways, see ya around later!