A/N: Sorry for the late update. Been busy with a lot of other stuff and planning a new story as well. I'm torn up between ending it soon or extending it…I have some ideas. Should I extend the story a little longer?
Koi ni Naritai AQUARIUM
Chapter 7: The Visitor Part III
(You)
I opened my eyes to see a ceiling. I looked around and recognized as my room as there were photos of Chika and I at the desk table. My clothes seemed perfectly fine which made what happened at the pier seemed like a dream.
"Was it a dream?"
"It wasn't."
I turned to see a girl standing at the entrance of my room. The girl was leaning against the wall with her arms folded. She gave me a smile before walking towards me and placed a hand on my left shoulder. I had no doubt now that we looked identical with the only difference being our hair colour and her eyes. She had gold eyes. Immediately I remembered the man, or whatever it was, that almost had its way with me. I pushed the girl away from me and covered myself with my blanket. I heard somebody falling to the ground.
"Owh! What was that for? Is this how you treat your saviour?"
She started shaking me.
"Hey, Watanabe! I'm talking to you!"
The longer I did not answer her, the stronger her shaking became. I relented and peaked out from the blanket so I could see her. Then I remembered, the girl did give her name.
"Saitou Yuu-san was it?"
The girl seemed surprised for a moment. She probably thought I would forget her name.
"That's right."
Yuu smiled at me and the resemblance was creeping me out. I wondered if Yuu would mind if I asked her. I looked at her and she seem to be waiting for something as she gave me a knowing expression on her face. I sighed and just asked my question.
"Why….do you look just like me?"
Yuu scratched her head but I knew she was waiting for me to ask her that. She went over to my desk table and looked at the photos I took with Chika when we were younger. The look of longing on her face made me curious. She looked at it as if it were the photo belonged to her. I just could not shake this feeling I was getting about her. Yuu noticed me watching her and put the photo back. She took the chair by the desk and pulled it beside my bed. She then sat down and gave me a goofy grin.
"You really want to know? It's quite a long story."
I nodded.
"Well…it all began at a seaside town…"
(Chika)
It had been several days since You went missing. You's parents had made a police report and even the locals pitched in to search for her and would notify if they spotted her. The rest of Aqours and I even searched for her after practice. You's family were grateful to us and always gave us treats for helping to find her daughter. Despite initial plans to stop practice, Aqours had decided to continue after plenty of urging and persuasion from me. However, without You, we were not even close to being fully prepared. Mari informed me that the aquarium performance could not be cancelled since it was too late for that and it would be disrespectful and unfair to the aquarium owner. Moreover, the Love Live qualifiers were coming up. I needed You to return as soon as possible. There is also another problem.
"What should I do, Chika?"
Maybe what happened to You had shook Riko and she had asked me for my opinion if she should go. I looked at Riko who was standing beside me but avoiding my gaze. The both of us were searching for You together but had not spoken much to each other which hurt my feelings a little.
"Riko….I…"
"Oh look at the time, Chika. We need to keep looking for You before it gets dark."
Before she could run off, I grabbed Riko's hand. There was nobody around to interfere in our conversation so she would not be give me any excuses.
"Please…let go of my hand, Chika."
"Riko, listen…if you want to go to the competition, I won't stop you. Heck, I want you to go the recital. You always told me how much you like the piano so don't sacrifice your dreams for my sake. I don't want you to be…"
Riko turned and put a finger to my mouth to tell me to stop talking. She gave me a sad smile before hugging me.
"Really…you are such an idiot."
"H-hey! I was just…"
"I know but what about Aqours? It coincides with the qualifiers…and with the others…"
I shook my head.
"I believe in them. They will all return once You comes back."
Since You disappeared, Aqours slowly became distant with each other. Mari stopped responding to messages and Kanan eventually followed suit. I did manage to talk to Kanan before that and she told me she had some stuff to settle but will be back as soon as possible. The Kurosawa siblings informed me that they have a family matter to attend to. They looked very distressed that I offered my help but they declined stating it was something their family needed to face alone. Only Yoshiko and Hanamaru remained and I would not have a problem if they had left to do their own things but they stuck with me. Hanamaru told me she enjoyed being an idol and wanted to practice hard waiting for the day everybody return. Yoshiko shared her sentiment though she relayed it in a very roundabout way.
I placed a hand on Riko's left cheek.
"Don't worry all right? Why not you run along home and get some practice for the recital?"
Riko still did not look convinced. She opened her mouth to protest but I quickly silenced her with a kiss.
"Really Chika? That's just plain cheating."
Despite her remark, her face was so red that it seemed to blend with her beautiful hair.
"Hehe. Anyways, go on. I will be fine on my own."
Riko walked off not before turning back multiple times. After several times looking back, she eventually convinced I would fine and returned home. I decided to check You's house again. The day before, her parents had gone overseas and told me to call them if You was found. There was a possibility my best friend was back home and nobody knew thus I made my way there.
(You)
I could not believe what I was hearing and I thought she was a liar but Yuu looked very serious.
"Y-you are really….another me?"
Yuu nodded before continuing her story.
"This exact same thing happened in my world. I, like you, fought with my world's Chika due to being jealous of Riko taking my place in Chika's life."
"I am not jealous!"
"Really? Should I replay the argument with Chika and Riko at the aquarium?"
I shrugged, not liking that Yuu had a point. Yuu smirked at her victory before moving on. Seriously…she was so different despite being me.
"Anyways, the pier incident occurred but the difference was nobody saved me. If I had no intervene, this world would walk a similar path as mine."
"What was at the pier possessing the man?"
Yuu thought for a moment before answering.
"You don't need to know that. The threat is gone for good but if you are really curious…it's the reason Chika's favourite group, muse, went on hiatus for a time."
"But I…."
"Trust me. Its better you just forget about what happened at the pier. I already told you not to worry."
"But…."
Yuu glared at me but her gaze slowly softened.
"You seriously want to know?"
"Yes…and I also want to know why you look so different now…"
Yuu sighed and got up from the chair.
(Yuu)
I watched as You ran off out of the house. I wondered if my story taught her anything but I hoped she was attentive during the last part of my story.
"So…what happened to Aqours in the end?"
I had tried my best to fight my tears. To this day, I was still unable to bring myself to recall what happened to my friends. You had noticed I started to cry. She quickly got a pack of tissues. I thanked her and wiped my tears. My tears were all the answer she needed.
"Do not forget, You. Do not hesitate…as you will never know when the last time you would see them be."
After that, due to remembering vaguely of the performance plan drafted by Mari which was identical to my world's, I told You of my plan on how she could make up with Chika. You accepted my plan enthusiastically and quickly sped off at full speed. I forgotten how I used to be. Coincidentally, Chika appeared walking towards You's house. I exited the house to meet a shocked Chika.
"Saitou-san…"
Chika…
"You just missed her. She went that way. Don't know where she was going though."
I pointed at the direction You had ran off to. Chika seem to want to ask me something but shrugged and ran after thanking me.
The both of you have to make up….alright?
I proceeded to go to a secluded spot of the seaside of Uchiura. A huge humanoid white robot was waiting there for me. Its body was submerged only leaving its head above water but was hidden well enough not to be seen.
"I'm back."
The machine's eyes lit up and the cockpit, situated in the mouth, opened and I entered. The screen lit up and there was a message.
C: So? How did it go?
"Not bad. I believe the girls would be fine in this world."
R: Really?
"Of course. You still worry too much."
KD: We are still learning after all.
H: I feel we have a long way to go to emulate the ones we were based on, zura.
Y: I still do not understand what it means to be a chuunibyou…
I smiled at the banter happening on my screen. If only they had voices…but in the end…they are all still only AI.
K: Captain, we are getting a hostile.
M: A big one too. Its NOT joke.
KR: Eeeeeeeh?! I'm scared.
"That's impossible. I destroyed the one at the pier…how can…"
Immediately I was given a thermal detector map and my eyes went wide.
"Alright, we are going full force, everybody. Be sure to switch all systems to optimal specs."
All: Yes, ma'am.
I double-checked all my systems to make sure there were no errors.
"Everything all green. Switching to Chika mode."
My machine turned orange and engaged the thrusters to the location of the target.
This will be my last present for you...my other self.
"Watanabe You, Aqours, full speed ahead!"
(Chika)
I found myself at the aquarium which was closed. Saitou did tell me You had ran this way. Suddenly I had a very bad headache for a moment. When it subsided, I wondered who told me where to find You but decided to leave it for later. Seeing as there was no security guard in sight, I hurriedly try to find You.
Just where could she be?
News Headlines: Mysterious sea explosion near Uchiura. Authorities baffled by no evidence or factors that could have caused the explosion.
-End of Chapter 7-
A/N: I apologize it took so long and if the chapter seems to lack stuff but there is a reason for it. The lack of other Aqours members is due they have their own problems and there will be stories for that. I actually wanted Yuu to tell her whole life story to You in this chapter but this will be told in another story.
Alright, we are nearing the end. Thanks to those who read this story this far.
Koi ni Naritai AQUARIUM
Chapter 8: Full Speed Ahead!
Chika and You finally have their heart-to-heart.
