Chapter 39: The Calm Before the Storm

Aqua truly began to regret everything he's done up until now. Every single time he ran away or fought to save Ai has done nothing but invite this living hell on himself. He was now completely trapped and stuck in this torment of his own creation.

"Don't move so much Aqua-Chan, mama is trying to cook." Ai said as she balanced Aqua in her arms while stirring the pot.

Then let him down!

After they got back from the hospital and Aqua was allowed to go home, he was perpetually trapped in Ai's arms. She refused to even let him move around or walk around the house anymore.

Either he's in her arms when moving around or sitting in her lap while they watched TV or did English lessons. He wasn't even allowed to go to the bathroom or bathe without her watching him like a hawk. He needed to walk and move around as opposed to being stuck like this.

He even saw her browse the internet for a child leash and actually consider getting one so he'd be even more trapped. She decided against it since she felt it would be too dehumanizing to a child, but she really considered it.

To top it all off, Ai finally got a child lock on the TV, so he can no longer watch anything that isn't little kids cartoons. Even Ruby was upset since some of her anime that she'd normally watch was now deemed "Inappropriate" by their dictator of a mother.

Ruby's attitude didn't help, since she was getting so jealous of the attention he was getting from Ai.

"I love you baby." Ai said as she kissed the top of his head.

"Love you too mama." Aqua said sweetly, giving her a hug.

Normally Ai would be ecstatic about him finally showing affection but considering this change in his personality happened after Kamiki hurt him... she felt nothing but worry.

There was no way she was ever letting her son out of her sight again. After running away three times and nearly dying twice, she swore she'd never let him anymore than arm's length away. Ruby got a little fussy sometimes, so she compensated by giving Ruby extra dance lessons, so she felt as loved as Aqua.

She just couldn't help herself. She was so scared of losing him since he always got in trouble so she needed to keep a very close eye on him. Even when Miyako was watching him, she'd constantly FaceTime so she could physically see him.

It was even hard to look at her son right now, since he was covered in bandages and had his arm in an even more robust sling since the initial injury was reopened. He looked so hurt and moved around with a lot of pain.

But, she had to be there to care for him and show him love after what happened.

"Dinner's ready!" Ai called over to the two people in the main room.

Ai had on a V-neck long sleeve shirt with a pair of loose pajama pants since she was done working for the day. Eren had a pair of pajamas as well that Ai bought him, and so did her children. She liked to joke that every night was like a sleepover.

Ruby was on the couch with Eren sitting on the floor in front of her, letting her play with his hair again. She giggled as she saw the cute little interaction from them. It's been a couple of days since Aqua recovered, so they mostly spent time at her apartment since Eren understood that she didn't want to leave Aqua alone.

Aqua glared at Eren when Eren smirked at him, knowing full well that Aqua was getting annoyed at his loss of freedom.

"One moment Mama, I'm working on papa's hair!" Ruby called out.

"Ruby-Chan, he's not your papa!" Ai called out.

"She's calling me her papa again, isn't she?" Eren smirked at how embarrassed Ai was.

"Yes." She nodded.

"If you married me, I would be." He said.

"Well, not yet for you." Ai giggled. "You still need to buy me a ring."

"Done!" Ruby said.

Eren's hair was done in pigtails, very feminine looking pigtails. Ruby wanted to try some girl hairstyles so she asked if Eren would volunteer.

Eren blushed a bit as Ai had to cover her mouth when she saw him. The pigtails did not flatter him at all and made him look so ridiculous. If he was a little younger and still had some of his baby fat, she'd almost mistake him for a girl.

"Eren looks so pretty." She said to Ruby.

"Glad you're enjoying my humiliation." Eren glared at her, which made him look ridiculous.

"It's a look that suits you darin." Ai giggled.

Aqua shook his head in Ai's arms, though he was glad that this little family of theirs could joke around.

Aqua and Eren agreed to keep Eren's identity secret from Ruby since it was largely irrelevant if she knew or not. It was simply a precaution since she had a habit of telling Ai everything and they'd rather not have her mention anything.

Eren really didn't see Ruby differently in any way. Aqua said she must have died young, so for all intense and purposes, she was basically a four-year-old, so he felt the same about her regardless.

Aqua was a different case. Now knowing that Aqua was mentally an adult, Eren couldn't really see how he could form a fatherly relationship with him. They both agreed that it would be awkward, so they just decided to keep an open mind and see how a family relationship would progress.

Eren did have a lot of respect for Aqua regardless though. Even though he was technically an adult, he still had to go against insurmountable odds to protect Ai. Eren felt like Aqua did a better job than he would have in that scenario.

Eren stood up and removed the bands in his hair, freeing it from the pigtails that Ruby made, causing her to yell out that he ruined it. Ai giggled at Ruby's reaction, though it seemed that Eren had his limit when it came to indulging a child.

As the group sat down to eat dinner, Ai sat next to Eren and continued his English writing lessons. Eren was getting significantly better and was able to understand the alphabet for the most part and spell a few words. It was confusing for him, which Aqua assumed that this was because he was learning entirely different concept for a language for him.

After they were finished, Ai went over to watch some cartoons in the main room. She put on an age-appropriate show and sat on the couch with Aqua in her arms while Ruby sat on the floor. Eren wasn't paying attention much since he found TV to be boring since he never grew up with it.

Aqua and Ruby both fell asleep when it got late, and Ai put Aqua down on the couch so she could get the Futon ready. She took a blanket and put one over Ruby and one over Aqua to keep them warm while they slept. She got a few pillows for them so they would be comfortable. She kissed both of them on the cheek and went into the bedroom.

"They're tired." Eren commented as he walked into the bedroom to help her.

"Ruby-Chan always falls asleep at this time, though Aqua is still tired from the medication he's taking." she said.

"He made a fuss about it." Eren said as he walked over to help her with the Futon.

"He doesn't like medication, but he's taking it whether he wants to or not." She said with a wink and adopted her idol act.

"There's the act again." Eren chuckled.

"Sorry, it's such a habit." Ai said. "I've had to go to a few interviews yesterday and it got kind of long."

"What did you talk about?" Eren asked.

"Well, I responded to fan questions, mostly things like what treats I like or what cats are the cutest." She said.

"That's it?" Eren asked.

"Well, idols are supposed to be cute, so they don't normally ask any actual thought-provoking questions." She said.

"And anyone can ask?" Eren asked.

"Mostly callers or members of the audience, it depends on who's picked." Ai said.

When Ai laid down the Futon, she sat down on her knees and had a thought. She motioned in a scooping motion for Eren to sit down across from her. He raised his eyebrow and did as he was told.

"So, let's pretend we're at my interview. You're an audience member and you are picked for a question, what would you ask?" Ai played.

Eren brought his hand to his chin, trying to imagine himself as a B-Komachi fan and wondering what questions he would ask.

"What food do you like?" Eren asked, though unsure of the question.

Ai giggled but was a bit disappointed, so many people ask questions like that.

"I love any kind of sweets, especially little cupcakes and cookies with cute designs." She tilted her head and smiled with her hands in her lap, adopting her persona perfectly.

Eren raised his eyebrow, starting to understand this little game. She wanted him to think of a unique question that other people didn't think of before in her interviews.

"What's your favorite outfit when singing and dancing?" Eren asked.

"Anything that has a bunny design, bunnies are so cute." She stayed in character.

That was another question people would ask apparently, her reply was quick and instant, and Eren could tell it wasn't really her own opinion. He had no doubt she liked cute things, but her responses felt scripted.

In the time they spent together, Eren wondered if he knew about what Ai enjoyed doing. He assumed that Ai can't talk about her children since that's a taboo subject in her line of work, so he can't talk about that. He knew her favorite coffee was an iced latte.

She smiled at him as he thought, thinking that it was so cute that he was understanding the game but struggling to think of a good question. Ai practiced for years on how to ensure her answers matched her persona perfectly. She doubted Eren could come up with anything unique.

"Have you ever climbed a mountain?" Eren asked.

"Climbed a mountain?" Ai asked to confirm.

"Yes, have you ever climbed one?" He asked again.

That's a unique one. Not many people normally ask questions that isn't related to being an idol or something to do with her favorite whatever. So, she actually had to think, but she immediately adopted her persona again.

"The girls and I did one time as a little gift after a concert, we climbed Mount Fuji. We saw so many cute little animals too." She said.

Eren knew she added that because it maintained her innocent persona, so he continued with the line of questioning.

"What did you see when you got to the top? Did you enjoy the view?" Eren asked.

"Yes, the view was so pretty. Especially with the sun rising over the Sagami Bay." She said.

"Why did you want to climb the mountain?" Why?

Ai actually had to think about that one. She couldn't exactly say that she was compelled to since everyone wanted to go since it could sound like she was complaining, so she had to find a way to make it her own idea.

"Because mountains are beautiful." She smiled, though the cracks started to show in her persona.

"Would you want to climb it again?" Eren asked.

In reality, as nice as the view towards the top was, she absolutely did not want to ever do that again. It was tiring and exhausting, especially in the summer heat when they went. She also finished a concert the day before, so her legs were screaming the whole way up.

"Any opportunity to see beautiful things makes it worth it." She had to resort to a lie since she couldn't be honest.

"Now, if you weren't an idol, would you want to climb it?" Eren said.

"No." She sighed with a slight giggle. "I hate climbing mountains."

Eren threw here off her game. No one really ever asks how she feels in the interviews or why she does things. Normally, questions revolve around their own preconceived notions about her idol persona.

"It's a shame, I'd love to climb a mountain." He said with a small smile.

"You can enjoy all the bugs and sweat then." She giggled.

"I've done worse when I was in the Cadet Corp, at least twice a week we would march with heavy packs in the hillside outside of our base." Eren said.

"I remember you phrased a mountain as giant rocks that take days to climb." Ai changed his line of thinking, not wanting to talk about his days as a child soldier.

"Yea, I think it would be amazing." Eren said with a distant look in his eyes.

There it was, that innocent and cute look that Eren had when he imagined something that inspired him. That same look that she saw at the beach, that look of complete childlike innocents that contrasts with his normal brooding face.

As cute as those eyes were, she wanted them to be more focused on her though. She wanted him to look at her with that same wonder.

Ai sat up on her knees and leaned forward, wanting to give him a kiss. She wanted to kiss him again while the moment was right and while he had that far off look in his eye.

"Eek!" Ai yelled out as Eren sat up and pushed her backwards, getting on top of her.

Ai used her hands to try and push on Eren's chest to get him off, but he grabbed both of her wrists and pinned her arms above her head. His weight almost crushed her and she was almost terrified of what was going on.

For a moment, she thought back to Kamiki and their one and only time. How he had the same forwardness and pushed her into it. How she remembered being bruised and in pain from how rough he was. Ai imagined that a girl who liked being rough would enjoy him, but it was too much for her and partially lead to their brake up.

This felt different though. Ai remembered, that when Kamiki pinned her arms above her head, he placed all his weight on her wrists, causing pressure and pain. Eren though, wrapped his fingers around her wrists so that his weight rested on his knuckles. Ai felt pressure, but not pain.

For a moment, she tried to struggle free from his grasp, but Eren was far too strong. She was completely helpless and unable to escape. Eren could do whatever he wanted with her and she couldn't escape. She was terrified.

But weirdly, also somehow excited. This feeling of helplessness felt... relaxing. Like she enjoyed it when Eren would hold her down and take what he wants.

She felt as Eren leaned forward, and Ai got even more terrified. He was going for a kiss, and she didn't know if she was ready for it. While they kissed before, she was terrified of where this would lead. She wasn't sure if she wanted to.

However, his kiss didn't come. Ai looked at Eren's face, which was neutral, and he had his eyes closed. He stood there, as if he was waiting for something.

Ai understood what he was waiting for. He was waiting for confirmation that this is what she wants. She realized that he wanted her to go the last ten percent, to wordlessly ask her permission to continue this course of action.

Ai felt that if she did lean her head up to kiss him, it would open a door that wouldn't close. She wasn't sure if Eren would stop, and she wasn't sure if she'd want him to.

In this moment, Ai felt safe. Although she was helpless in his arms and completely at his mercy, she knew that he wouldn't hurt her. This feeling was new, how she felt scared and helpless yet safe and even a bit excited. It was a mix of emotions that she couldn't fight.

So, she reached up and kissed him, causing any hesitation in Eren's actions to disappear.

Ai felt amazing. The glow she felt as she laid on the Futon in Eren's arms was... unique and new for her. She felt so safe and yet loved when she was in his arms.

Both of their clothes were on the ground next to the Futon, their only covering was the blanket that went up to their shoulders. Both were covered in a thin sheen of sweat at the fun they just had, and both were catching their breath.

She remembered that with Kamiki, she was bruised at the end of their first and only time. He was way too rough and didn't really care if she enjoyed it. He simply did whatever he wanted and caused her pain.

She imagined that if she was the type of girl to enjoy rough sex, that maybe she would have enjoyed him. But the truth was, Ai didn't like rough sex, at least not the way he did it.

Eren was different though. He was rough, but never too rough. He started slow and let her get used to it. When he got progressively rougher with her, Ai was able to adapt to it so that it became pleasurable instead of painful. He was able to tell easily when she would wordlessly show when he was either doing too much or too little and adjusted accordingly.

"Itai-" Ai winced as Eren brushed her left breast.

"Sorry." Eren said with a chuckle.

"It's ok." She giggled as she grabbed his hand and let it rest on her right breast.

Ok... he wasn't absolutely perfect. He did squeeze her breast a little too hard at one point and she already felt a bruise developing. He got a little excited and slowed down when he realized his mistake, which also frustrated her a bit because she didn't want him to slow down in that moment.

Although even though he went a little too far in that one moment, it was still kind of cute since he got a little too excited.

As far as the second time she ever had sex, Ai felt completely satisfied.

Though she felt a bit worried. Maybe it was dumb to think, especially since Eren did propose, but would he leave her now that he got what he wanted? Would he leave her now that she had nothing more to give him?

She heard in previous relationships how some guys would leave right after sex, or that their relationship would change, and they'd slowly lose interest in their girlfriends. It was a terrifying thought and Ai was scared to bring it up.

"What's wrong?" Eren asked her.

"Now that we, you know." She blushed.

"Is this your idol act or are you genuinely embarrassed that we had sex?" Eren asked, and although he was behind her, she could feel him smirk.

"Japanese women are supposed to be embarrassed about sex youbaka." She looked back and glared at him. "It's what makes us the best kind of women." She joked in a playfully arrogant voice.

"What does that actually mean?" Eren asked.

"Baka means idiot." She giggled. "Meimei said a lot of westerners like it when a girl says it."

"Really?" Eren asked.

"Yea, that and calling your boyfriend Senpai or something." She said.

"What does that mean?" Eren asked.

"It's just a term we use sometimes, though it's kind of gotten fetishized in anime shows." She giggled.

"That's weird." Eren said.

"Or, when a girl does this..." Ai turned her head to look at Eren. "Ara ara~" She said in a deep yet mature voice.

"I don't get it." Eren said with a raised eyebrow.

Ai sighed and relaxed back into his arms. Meimei was so wrong about western men, or maybe it was just Eren. Apparently, none of Meimei's "Yellow fever tricks" worked on him. She still can't believe Meimei called it that.

"So, what was your worry?" Eren asked.

Oh, right.

"Now that we had sex, you're not going to leave... right?" She asked timidly.

"That's a dumb question." Eren said.

"Eh?" Ai turned her head back to look at him again.

"I asked to marry you, do you really think that this would change anything?" Eren asked. "Don't be a baka." He said.

Ai had to cover her mouth from laughing as he called her a baka. It was so random coming from him, but it did what he wanted in calming her down. His accent is atrocious.

"Thank you darin." She giggled.

"Of course, Senpai." Eren said.

Ai laughed again as he used the term incorrectly. Normally, in a relationship, the guy was the Senpai. Though, she knew he didn't know that. Maybe she'd let him keep using it, it was cute. Like a kid who didn't know how to properly talk.

"Hey mama, I'm thirs-" The door opened as Aqua walked in.

"Eh..." Ai tried to... do something.

"N-never mind." Aqua closed the door.

Because of how hurt he was, he can't get a midnight glass of water when he woke up, so he needed to get Ai to help. He figured he could act like a kid too since he promised to start doing that.

He wondered when he woke up why him and Ruby were sleeping in the main room but assumed that Eren and Ai wanted to talk or something. They did a lot more apparently. He's so glad he was asleep since he really didn't want to hear people having sex in the next room.

Well, good for them. He's just going to go back to sleep thirsty.

Ai though, giggled as her son closed the door. There was no way he understood what was going on at such a young age. Though, he did act weird, like he knew what was going on. She just didn't know how she was going to explain why her and Eren were naked in the bed together. Thankfully the blanket was over them.

Eren though, covered his face with his hand. He knew that Aqua fully understood what was going on, though decided not to bring it up.

"Get up, I need to actually put them down in a comfy bed." Ai said.

"Sure." Eren said.

Ai had to do a quick little bit of late-night cleaning since she had to change the Futon's sheets before putting her children in it. She'd do the laundry tomorrow through and just get a new sheet.

"You can sleep in the Futon with us." Ai said. "You're basically family now." She said.

"It's ok." Eren said. "Aqua is still hurt and I don't want to accidently role on him or something." Eren said honestly.

"That's true, I'll clean up in here. You can get your couch ready." Ai said as she finished putting her pajamas back on.

She really felt like a wife now, as much as a mother. It was... a good feeling.

"She's acting different." Nino commented as Ai walked into the studio with an unusually happy smile.

"You aren't joking." Meimei said.

"Do you think she went on a date with Ukraine boy?" Nino asked.

"Probably." Meimei shrugged.

Ai was finishing up her stretches and singing a tune to herself, seemingly happier than the girls had ever seen her. It wasn't her normal act, the girls could tell when each other were acting or not. But Ai was just different from before.

Predictably, Aqua was in the room along with his sister, since Ai has made it clear that he was not to leave her side unless she was going on actual work, like interviews and the like. The girls swooned over the poor boy, trying to make him feel better after his brush with death, though it did annoy him a bit.

"Hey Ai, over here." Ari said.

"Hey girls, ready to get started with rehearsal?" Ai asked.

"The President said he needed to talk with us before we started, something important." Meimei said.

"Really, about what?" Ai asked.

"I don't know, he's keeping it really quiet." Ari said.

"Do you think something is coming up besides the Dome?" Watanabe asked.

"I doubt it, he normally emails things like that." Ai said.

"We'll find out when he gets here." Meimei said. "What about you Ai, how's Aqua doing?" She asked.

"He's... doing ok." ai said, though she was very unsure.

"You don't sound so sure." Ari said.

"It's just, he seems different lately." Ai said, keeping her voice low so her son can't hear her.

"Is he ok? Do you need some time off to take him to the hospital?" Meimei asked. "We can tell the president-"

"No, he's fine physically, it's just how he's acting." Ai said.

"Do you think he's acting differently?" Watanabe asked.

"Yes, he's... different. He started calling me mama more often and he's even been acting more affectionate lately." Ai said, her voice filled with worry.

"Isn't that a good thing?" Nino asked.

"Normally, I'd be happy, but it's such a sudden change. He still tries to act stoic, but he's more affectionate. The one time he has ever called me mama was after he first met... you know." Ai's face turned sour.

"Yea, him." Meimei glared, angry after learning what her ex did.

"He begged me to never see him again, and he was so scared. It was the one time I can think when he called me mama." Ai said.

"So, you're thinking that he's scared now?" Meimei asked.

"Yes." Ai nodded. "He's only ever acted affectionate when he's scared of something or sad. I'm worried that he might be mentally terrified right now."

"That's terrible." Watanabe said sadly.

"I don't know what to do." Ai said sadly. "I want him to be ok and safe, but I'm so scared of what this event has done to his mental health. Especially when he was attacked by his own father."

"I'm sure he is just scared and trying to reach out to get some love. I think it's normal, so as long as he receives love from you, I think he'll be fine." Nino said.

"Being beaten nearly to death by your own father isn't normal Nino." Watanabe said. "He is reaching out, so at least it shows that he's finding comfort in you, right?"

"I- I don't know." Ai said sadly. "I don't know what to do. I'm thinking of hiring a therapist to help him to come to terms with these feelings." Ai said.

"That's a great idea!" Meimei said. "I think a bit of therapy would be good for him, especially after that and the whole Yakuza thing."

"I just don't like the idea of my sweet little baby losing his innocence." Ai said. "I don't want him to grow up bitter and angry, or scared and timid."

"Which is why a therapist is a great idea." Kyun chimed in. "You need an expert to ensure that he grows from this in a healthy and normal way. None of us have had to deal with something like that."

That is true. Ai grew up with an abusive mother, but her mother never tried to kill her. Beat her? yes. Emotionally degrade her? Yes. But never did she try to kill her.

Ai always knew that a parent abusing a child was possible. She lied to herself that Kamiki would never do that, but she knew deep down that even parents can be abusive. But how is it possible for a parent to knowingly look at their child and even consider killing them? How?

Thankfully, since Aqua was so young, he didn't get a broken bone or any severe damage. At least, nothing that couldn't heal in a month or two. She was so glad he was so young because he would heal fast and his body is flexible enough to absorb most damage.

Still, she wasn't sure what kind of emotional scars this would leave on him.

"Hey boss!" Watanabe greeted as Saitou and Miyako walked into the dance room.

"Hi Miyako-San!" Ruby called.

"Hi Ruby-Chan." Miyako smiled back at her.

"Hi!" Aqua copied Ruby in an enthusiastic way, making Ai's heart break even more at how differently he was acting.

She can't believe she felt this, but she wished he would go back to his normal and stoic attitude instead of acting like a child. It would put her mind more at ease.

"Miyako-San, you need to watch the Ramen." Meimei giggled. "You're starting to gain weight."

"You damn idol..." Miyako's eye twitched at the bluntness of the young idol. "I'm pregnant."

.

.

.

"Eh!?" The girls yelled out, even Ai.

"You're pregnant!?" Meimei yelled.

"How long have you known!?" Ari screamed.

"This is wonderful!" Takamine yelled out.

"Yes, my wife is pregnant." Saitou glared. "It's almost like married couples can sometimes make a baby."

"Still, this is amazing!" Meimei said. "I wasn't expecting you two to ever have kids."

"Me neither." Saitou said. "It was a huge shock."

"Are you going to keep it?" Ai asked with a smile.

"We talked about it, and yes. We're going to keep it." Miyako smiled as she gently rubbed her stomach.

She knew she basically ensured that whatever gift those Kami's would give her was now out of her reach. Even if she divorced Saitou and looked for a young and handsome actor, there is no way she'd find one that wanted to deal with a single mother.

However, her mind on that changed recently. After Ai and the kids nearly died by that crazy fan, Miyako began to realize just how much she saw herself as a kind of second mother to the twins. If anything happened to Ai, Miyako felt like she would have adopted the twins and raised them as her own.

So, she may have had a few nights of unprotected sex to get pregnant by her husband. Despite his normally calm demeaner, she could tell her husband was excited. He's already placed orders for baby cribs and clothes in both blue and pink, in case it's a boy or girl.

This baby wasn't really planned by him, but he was excited regardless.

"But that's not what we needed to talk about." Saitou said. "I... I need you girls to sit down."

"What is it?" Meimei asked, grabbing a chair along with the other girls.

"I tried everything I could, I really did." He sounded... tired. Tired and exhausted.

"What is it?" Ai asked.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath to calm himself, and took out his phone to show the girls. Ruby and Aqua walked up to the phone as well, to see what was going on.

AI FROM B-KOMACHI HAS A SON!

Ai's breath got caught in her throat.

"What!?" Meimei yelled out, standing up from her chair. "How-"

"I tried really hard to work with the police force after Aqua was attacked." He said. "I begged them not to release the incident in a police report, and they agreed to not report it on the news. But dedicated fans have already dug up the publicly available information and pieced things together."

Ai sat in her chair, frozen and terrified. She didn't know what that would mean for not only her, but the rest of the idol group.

"We've had our entire schedule for the month cleared out because people are canceling our events. Additionally, we lost the Tokyo Dome."

Miyako looked down, sad and unsure of what to say to the girls who all worked so hard to get to where they are.

Ai had to stop tears from coming up. She worked so hard for years, her and the rest of the girls, and it was all her fault. She was the one who decided to be an idol and a mother. She knew it would be impossible to hide that fact. Because of her, the girls-

"Stop that train of thought!" Meimei yelled at Ai.

"What?" Ai asked.

"None of this is your fault!" She said. "So, stop thinking like you're the one to blame here."

"I mean, she kind of i- Itai!" Nino yelled out as Watanabe pinched her.

"If anything, I was as much of a risk since I'm a married woman." Meimei said. "So don't you dare think this is your fault for choosing to be happy!"

"It doesn't matter who's fault it is." Saitou said sadly. "It doesn't change the fact that B-Komachi is ruined. And a controversy like this might cost me Strawberry Productions as well."

"I mean, is there anything we can do?" Meimei asked.

"No, no one is willing to work with us with something like that." He said. "Not only that, but people are also piecing together that Aqua was the same boy that got stabbed by that Yakuza guy, which now people are blaming Ai for using her own son to get sympathy."

"I would never!" Ai said.

"It doesn't matter." Saitou said. "Controversies are normally not true, and we're getting hit with a lot of it."

Aqua felt like hitting himself. He was mad at not being able to deal with Hikaru in a quieter manner. He knew the risk, and he was completely pissed at himself for his failure to anticipate Hikaru's plans.

Now because of him, Ai was exposed and there was nothing he could do about it.

"Mama, what's going to happen?" Ruby asked.

"Don't worry Ruby-Chan, mama just might have to retire soon." Ai tried to smile.

"No!" Ruby yelled out.

"Think about it, that means I can spend more time home with you." She tried to compromise with her daughter.

"But it's not fair that you have to quit because of us. That's stupid. You're amazing mama!" Ruby tried to argue.

"Ruby, stop." Aqua said.

"This is your fau-" Ruby turned to Aqua, but her voice immediately died down.

"Ruby! Don't say that!" Ai said to her daughter.

The last thing Ai wanted is for Aqua to attribute that traumatizing event with her now destroyed career. She refused to ever let him blame himself. She'd blame it on anyone else. Herself, Kamiki, anyone. Not him, not with how vulnerable he was.

Ruby reacted in a moment of sorrow, but she understood that if Aqua didn't do what he did, Ai might be dead. As much as she loved her mother as an idol, she'd rather her alive.

Aqua felt much the same way. As bad as he felt about ruining her career, at least she was alive.

"I don't care who's fault it is, and to be honest, I would never blame any of you." Saitou said. "Regardless of the circumstances, I am the production manager and president. I am the one responsible for everything that happens in Strawberry Productions. So, the fallout will all be on me, and I refuse to let any of you girls suffer for it."

"What's going to happen to us?" Nino asked.

"You'll either have to find another agency, go solo, or find work in another field. There's nothing more I can do."

It was a hard pill for all the girls to swallow. Some of them had been with B-Komachi since they were twelve, and now they were losing essentially what felt like a family. There was a silence that followed, and the rest of the girls were sad.

Meimei would be fine, she had a successful husband and was planning to quit anyway after the Dome and become a housewife. The rest of the girls were obscure enough to where they could probably find work elsewhere. Though without Ai, they'd struggle to get as big as they were with B-Komachi.

Ai though, no one knew what would happen with her. With how bad the controversy was and her previous fame, it would take a while for the controversy to go away. Even then, they were terrified of what would happen to Aqua and Ruby since now everyone knows that Aqua is her son.

Ai loved being an idol, and it was fun while it lasted. But now, she had to survive this so she can ensure everything falls on her and not her children.

Knock, Knock

"I'll get it." Saitou sighed.

He stood up and walked over to the door, thinking it might be Eren since he normally comes over to see Ai occasionally.

"Ye-" Saitou froze in surprise.

"Hi, nice to meet you." The Yakuza member said, the one who attacked Ai. He was standing right at the doorway. "I brought presents." He held up a pistol.

I am so sorry for the delay, blame Bethesda with Starfield lol.

Ok, so the sex scene, I really tried to write the whole thing out, but it honestly just sounded like a porno to me lol. So, you'll have to deal with a fade to black. I'm so sorry if you wanted more lol.

Now, get ready for drama. This will pretty much hit into endgame territory now. Everything will converge and things are going to get spicy. Revelations will be made, secrets will be discovered, and tears will be shed (Hopefully you guys will shed a few too lol).

Hope you guys enjoy.