Chapter 14 - A New Beginning

Back in the real world, Hoshi's long term disappearance was cleverly covered up by Miaka who created an elaborate story on how Hoshi travel to Europe during the one month holiday. Miaka has helped her get some Europe pictures of the Internet as proof of Hoshi's travel.

As Miaka return to her home with the pictures, she saw a red light coming from her room window and realized Hoshi must have come back. She rushed into her home and room. On the floor she found Hoshi, dressed in her school uniform.

Soon, Hoshi awoke and found herself in Miaka's room with a grinning Miaka. Miaka hugged her best friend and told Hoshi that she continued to read the book after she returned to keep up with developments. Just then Hoshi said, "Where's the book? I want to read it to find out what happen to Chichiri and Aiko, her baby boy." And just as Miaka was about to reach for the book on her desk, it disappeared in a red glow. They were too late. It seems that the book doesn't want to be found for when Hoshi searched at the library, they said there no such book was ever recorded in its database. The book doesn't want Hoshi to know that Chichiri and Aiko has been reborn so that she can meet them by fate.

Hoshi was sad but glad to return. Keeping those memories of life in the book close to her heart, she lived on. She studied real hard and aced her high school exams. The next year she graduated high school and she is now in college as a freshman. She is studying fashion and interior design because she hope that career will take her to everywhere in the world so that she can find Chichiri.

After 2 years in college, she was approached by many boys but she turned all of them down because she knew deep down they weren't the one for her. Hoshi has also grown more beautiful and mature. She and Miaka remained best friends. Miaka also aced her exams and graduated from high school together with Hoshi. Miaka is now in college studying Business Administration while Taka is working as the college basketball coach. In the summer of Hosho's second year, Miaka and Taka got married and Hoshi was Miaka's bridesmade while Miaka's brother was the Taka's best man. How Hoshi wished that the best man was Chichiri. Miaka comforted Hoshi and said "Don't worry. You will meet him one day." Hoshi smiled in acknowledgement.

When it was time to throw the bouquet, all the girls rushed to see who can catch it except Hoshi who just stood by the side happy for her best friend. As the bouquet was thrown, a strong wind blew the bouquet away from the girls rushing to get it and into Hoshi's surprised hand as proof that she will soon meet her match. "Even fate is on her side, see?" said Miaka to Taka and then Miaka winked at Hoshi and gave her the thumbs up to not give up.

For the third and final year, during her internship, she worked as a fashion consultant at one the designer labels department store. At that time Miaka was already three months pregnant and knowing how Miaka felt, Hoshi would go visit her during her lunch break with some soothing food to help Miaka go through the pregnancy early changes. While on her way to buy something, she stumbled upon her colleagues trying to calm down a small boy crying. She thought to herself that the boy must have gotten separated from his parents and was now lost. The small boy was mean to her colleagues, pushing them away when they tried to bring him to find his parents.

Offering assistance she spoke to the small boy, "Hey there, I know you are not supposed to talk or follow strangers and that's why you are mean to them, right? Well how about I give you this trinket of mine and you stop crying and listen first to what I have to say." The boy stopped crying. Looking into the boys eyes she had a feeling of deejavoo. "This trinket of mine is very precious to me. Someone I love gave this to me and I wouldn't be a bad person if I give something I treasure to you, right?" continued Hoshi. The boy nodded and allowed Hoshi to take his hands and guide him to the information counter so he can be reunited with his parents.

Hoshi asked what his name was and the boy replied "Aiko. It was given to me by my mother. She has gone to heaven now and from there she always watches over me" Hoshi was immediately reminded of her son in the book also called Aiko, which means 'Love Child'.

At the information counter, Hoshi requested that an announcement be made to the parents of a boy named Aiko. After about 15 minutes a man came rushing by the information counter and when Aiko saw his father, he immediately rushed to his arms. His father hugged him tightly and said "Next time don't go missing again cause every time you disappear I get a heart attack." Hoshi was shocked to hear those words because Chichiri had once said something like that to her too. She brushed off the thought that this man was Chichiri from her mind as the man approached her wanting to thank her. When the father was right in front of Hoshi, he introduced himself as Masato and thank her for her kindness in returning Aiko to him.

Hoshi noticed that this man was quite young to be a father and without futher delay, afraid of appearing like she was observing him, she said that it was the right thing to do. "Besides no child this young deserves to be separated from his parents," thinking sadly about her beloved child Aiko in the book without his mother and wondered how he is doing. At that moment Aiko exclaimed "Oops I forgot to return you the trinket you gave me. Here it is," and Aiko placed the trinket in Hoshi's palm. When Masato, the father saw the ring, he instinctively grab it and observe it. He realized that it's exactly the same with the one he gave his wife and the one on his finger. As he compared the ring in his hand to the one on his finger, Hoshi noticed too the similarity of the two rings but denying any possibility it could mean Hoshi just said "Um, excuse me Masato-sama but may I have my ring back." Masato quickly asked where did she get this ring and Hoshi replied that someone she loves and who loves gave her that ring. She didn't mention about the book because nobody would believe her.

Masato then asked softly whether her name was Hoshi and Hoshi shocked by how he knew her name, simply nodded. Just then Aiko complained that he was hungry and Masato gave the ring back to Hoshi and asked if he can see her again. Hoshi simply replied that she will be working at the designer labels department store for her 6 months internship after which she quickly covered her mouth, unaware of why did she just told a complete stranger that piece of information. Masato smiled at her straightforwardness and left with Aiko to find something to eat. Hoshi just stood there dazed, wondering whether could this be Chichiri reborn with her son and that's why he has the same ring as Chichiri and a son with the same name as their son.

The next day Masato came to look for Hoshi again and she blushed that a man showed so much interest in her. Masato asked if she would like to join him for some sushi and she agreed since it's also her lunch break.

Together they left the store and head out for their nearest sushi restaurant. And there you have it, Chichiri and Hoshi reunited once again and beginning a new life in the real world.