Make Her Shine

by domgk115

Kage Midori's mother Ayane, was the best young song writer in Japan, writing hits like Our Sign is B and Star T Rain. In addition? She was the best friend of the star idol Ai Hoshino, growing up with the twins Kage earned the name 'Twin Alternate' alongside his two best-friends growing up. But, like them he also has memories of his past like, and like them, he can't let it go...

1. Dr & Idol

Author's Note: I want to thank EVERYONE, from the people who normally read my fics, to all my friends who came to read from my twitter account! I'm so, so excited to bring to you all "Maker Her Shine" My Oshi No Ko story, a story for a show and manga which has taken over my life in the last few months, and I've really been dedicated to making a great story for. It's lead to what I think may be my best work, and I'm so so happy to have you all read it here, please, let me know what you think, and what you think is going to happen after these first four chapters! I'll post quicker depending on the response, but I can let you all know now this is probably one of my favorite stories I've written, so I hope you all enjoy it too!

Another note which should be obvious, but I want to just say it, this is FANFICTION, so there are going to be some things changed from the source material, that's the point of these stories! I'm read and caught up on the ENTIRE Oshi No Ko manga not just the anime, so anything you see changed from the manga is intentional and done for the sake of the story I want to tell here with these amazing characters, if you want to discuss at all feel free to message me! Or, follow me on twitter akira_archer, thank you all so much again, I hope you enjoy!

English and Japanese Voice Actors for this chapter:

Minato Kaniyama: Nobunaga Shimazaki- Ritsuka Fujimaru (Fate Grand Order) Eugeo (Sword Art Online) Shido Itsuka (Date a Live) Seishiro Nagi (Blue Lock) Kaedehara Kazuha (Genshin Impact)

English VA: Griffin Burns- Ritsuka Fujimaru (Fate Grand Order) Muichiro Tokito (Demon Slayer) Cyril (Fire Emblem Three Houses) Tartaglia (Genshin Impact)

Ayane Midori: Haruka Tomatsu- Asuna Yuuki (Sword Art Online) Zero Two (Darling in the Franxx) Kyoko Hori (Horimiya) Eina Tulle (DanMachi) Haru Okumura (Persona 5) Iris Cannary (Violet Evergarden)

Cassandra Lee Morris- Leafa (Sword Art Online) Taiga Aisaka (Toradora) Leo and Luna (Yugioh 5ds) Morgana (Persona 5) Sothis (Fire Emblem Three Houses) Nero (Fate Last Encore & Grand Order)

Make Her Shine

Minato

"Where's Dr. Amemiya?" I asked, hands in my white coat. "I think we have an appointment soon don't we?"

"He was checking in on one patient," Mariko said, rolling her eyes. "Indulging in that little habit you both tend to have."

I laughed; it'd been nice the last four years finally having someone to indulge in my idol otaku fantasies with, but Sensei wasn't as good at hiding it as I was. Of course, working at a hospital you took any chance you could to get some precious time in front of the TV with your favorite idol. I certainly did myself, of course I tried to do it off the clock or during lunchbreaks. I couldn't blame Sensei though; he had years of idol worship to catch up on.

"Ha, go easy on him trust me there's a lot weirder fans out there," I reminded her. "Besides, Ai is plenty worthy of our adoration, there's no idol more beautiful in all of Tokyo!"

"Mhm, and the difference is you're twenty, he's almost thirty," She said, a deadpan look in her eyes. "That cute idol girl is 16 right? It wouldn't be that weird if someone like you dated her, but someone that's almost thirty? It would be."

I chuckled, trying not to blush. "Let's not get crazy now… although…"

The idea of even meeting someone like Ai let alone dating her? A girl as cute as that? It was a pipe dream, but one that I wanted to indulge in if even just for a moment.

I wonder if maybe… maybe if I played for her, played one of my songs if she… oh hell, what am I doing? Dad always said, don't get over indulged in ridiculous fantasies.

Mariko rolled her eyes. "Of course. Who knows someone like you could impress her, you are a prodigy after all."

Minato scoffed. "I'm no prodigy that's for sure."

"This is your father's hospital, and you've been an assistant since you were fifteen," She reminded me, seeming jealous. "You're already doing your med-school field work here."

"It's really… not that big a deal," I said, and I meant it.

I slaved away all those years… and for what? To not be able to save everyone? I thought, hearing my phone ring, I looked at the call and my eyes widened.

"I'm getting a call from Ms. Midori, I'll head over to her room," I said, nodding to the room I heard Sensei cheering in. "I'll meet up with you both for lunch on the roof."

Mariko smirked. "Oh, Ms. Midori, I'm sure it's just a coincidence she has your cell number and can call you at all times."

"I'm just an assistant," I said, nervous. "Besides we… have a lot in common."

"Aha, I'm sure," She said, walking past me. "I'll see you in a bit."

I sighed and walked down the hall, smiling, and greeting people as I did. The halls of the hospital had grown smaller and smaller as the years went on. I've been here quite literally since I was born. It's where I'd been homeschooled, grew up, everything had been in those halls. I'd seen people come, go, stay for years, they'd leave happy, angry… and sometimes they'd leave dead. What was the point in me being a doctor if he couldn't save everyone? I was already in med-school, I could become a doctor… but I did I really want to anymore?

I realized for years prior… I didn't have the stomach for this job. If I couldn't save everyone, I didn't want it.

I pulled out my phone and looked at the screen, she'd be sixteen this year, the same age as Ai… I wonder what she would tell me to do? She's the only one to hear me play live after all.

But what am I supposed to do? Leave this high paying job where I'll take over the hospital one day to do what? Hope I can make it in the music? No… not matter what Sarina said, or Mariko says, it's like Dad always said….

"You gotta be realistic about these things…" I sighed, as I rounded the corner towards my destination.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Minato!"

I couldn't help but smile, it was another instance of it being the few times I did those days.

"Afternoon Ayane," I said, sitting on the chair next to the girls bed. "Everything okay?"

"You didn't answer my call you big jerk," She said with a pout on her face, crossing her arms, a notebook between her legs.

"Ha… sorry about that, I was around the corner," I told her, looking at the notebook. "So is something wrong, or was there another reason you called me?"

"Hehe I… know I'm supposed to only call you for emergencies, but I couldn't help it," She said excitedly picking up the notebook. "Read this, what do you think?"

I chuckled. "I still don't know why you ask me to look, you do this for a living, I have no experience."

"Oh please!" She said with a roll of her eyes. "Some of the stuff you've shown me is way better than anything I've ever wrote! I just wish you'd actually play for me, I thought we were friends!"

"We are, we are really!" I said, nervously rubbing my head. "It's just… I don't really play for anyone in person, I'm more of a closet musician… now, let's see this…"

She giggled and smiled, waiting patiently as I read.

Ayane Midori, she was the same age as me, twenty. She had family in the area and was currently taking medical leave from her job. She worked in Tokyo as a songwriter for a production company that managed an idol group. I'd read and listened to plenty of her songs and music in the month she'd been here and she had serious talent. Her lyrics, her compositions, everything was top notch, and although she insisted she wasn't that good compared to others, I found that hard to believe.

She moved from the countryside to Tokyo with her mother, forgoing college, now she was doing what she always wanted to do, making music. She had gone and conquered her dream.

That's what I'm jealous of most… that she could do what I couldn't, I thought, reading over her lyrics, and feeling the meaning she was trying to convey with each and every line. She'd done me the favor of looking over my lyric notebooks before, so I didn't mind reading hers, especially when she was this talented.

"Wow… this is really, really good," I said, impressed as I smiled at her. "Did you just come up with this? Is it for someone's big accomplishment or something like that? This… this could be a top notch idol song, 'Our Sign is B', ha, fun name too."

She blushed and covered her cheeks with her brown hair. "Ha… it really isn't that good yet; I haven't even done the second draft! But… you are right, this song, it's for my one friends idol group, they've been growing really big lately and I want this to be a special song for them, something to put them over the top!"

"It certainly could do that," I told her, still smiling. "Not to brag, but as you know I'm a professional idol otaku, and this is great! Do you have the music for it yet?"

Her bright emerald eyes sparkled as she put the notebook on the bedside table. "Not yet, but can you hand me the keyboard? I had something in mind, will you listen?"

"Of course," I said, getting up and grabbing the keyboard off the desk in the room. It was a portable one, but still good for basic melodies. I laid it across her lap. "I can't have someone in your condition doing any menial tasks now can I?"

She pouted again as she turned on the keyboard. "I'm not crippled you know!"

"I know, I'm just teasing," I joked, as I pulled the seat closer. "Okay, what did you have in mind?"

"Okay, listen to… this, start off with a boom!" She said, biting her tongue and focusing as her fingers moved across the keys.

Of course, she really could have gotten the keyboard herself… but I would have felt guilty making a pregnant woman get up out of bed.

Ayane Midori was four months pregnant with a single child. Her boss for whatever production company she was with was extremely kind to give her so much time off. Still, seeing someone the same age as me go through what she was going through… it was hard at times, but Ayane? She never did anything but smile, and just kept on playing her music, despite her situation.

She had told me; the father of her child wasn't in the picture. His name apparently had been Yuuki Kitagawa, but when we looked that name up to try and contact him, we only found men who Ayane didn't recognize, making us realize the guy she had been dating and had the kid with had been using a fake name. She had no idea why he would have done that, but whoever the real father of her child was, was apparently out there somewhere and she had no clue.

But still… as I was coming to expect from her, she never complained. Her music, the way her hands deftly moved across the keys and she adjusted the sliders to give the song more of a pop idol song feel, it was inspirational to me. I had no idea how she could still be smiling in what was surely a stressful situation. Not only had she gone out and achieved her dream, but even now that something threatened those dreams she still didn't fold. She had told me and Dr. Amemiya she was determined to carry her child to term, despite her smaller build, making it a bit dangerous.

She could do all this, and I couldn't even tell my Dad I didn't want to be a doctor.

"So, what do you think?" She said, as she finished, smiling over at me. "I think it could use some fine tuning, that melody was a little rough."

"No, it was really good for a first attempt, but… here," I said, reaching over and moving the keyboard in front of me at the edge of her bed. "Notebook?"

"Oh, yeah!" She said, opening to her song and holding it out for me.

"Okay… now, the beginning was good, but maybe at the end we could add something to really make it pop," I said, looking at the keys and seeing the notes and progressions coming to me. "Lyrics tell the story of a song, but the music behind it… that tells someone how they should really feel. How about… this."

I started playing, smiling as I remembered the hours I spent teaching myself how to play piano on the one my Dad had at our house. It was a grand piano and he only got it for decoration, but by the time I was ten, I was playing video game tracks on it till the crack of dawn. Between that and the guitar I had him get me when I was younger, something like this keyboard was nothing.

"Oh wow… Minato, I knew you were good but this is amazing!" Ayane complimented me as I got to the last progression. "Yes… yes that's it! That's exactly what I'm trying to convey!"

I smiled as I finished the progression. "Ha… I'm really not all that, I just well… I… really-."

"Oh no, no more of that!" She said excitedly. She pointed out at me and shook her head. "I won't stop complimenting you until you finally accept my compliments without reservation!"

I chuckled; my chest warm as I nodded. "Okay fine… thank you, Ayane, I appreciate it."

"Good!" She smiled, laying her head back on her pillow. "I really liked what you said about songs… the lyrics and melody have to be in synch, they have to get your message across, and make them feel something! That's what I wanna do… I wanna write songs that touch people."

"Touch people?" I said, as I moved the keyboard off her bed.

"Aha! That's what music is about! It's about making people feel things," She said, sitting back up. "Happiness, laughter, love… even sadness and grief. That's what music is, a way for us writers to convey our emotions and tell stories through the people that sing them!"

I smiled; my chest warmed again. "Yes… I agree, wholeheartedly. Ha, songs are also a way we can be truly honest with ourselves and others."

If only I could really do that… I thought, smiling as I looked down at my phone screen.

"Aha! That's the best, I have a hard time saying what I feel sometimes, so I write it in a song!" She said, a fond smile coming to her face. "Writing music… it also is a way to help people. My friend… she's the star of our production companies idol group. She's been through a lot, I really care about her so, being able to make her shine with my songs? It feels really great."

The idea filled me with longing. "A way to convey your feelings to others, and to make people shine… yes, I love that idea. I'm sure your friend is really grateful for you."

"Aha, she always tells me she is, she means so much to me," She said excitedly, as she reached up and twirled a strand of her long brown hair. "You know I'd… like you to meet her. My offer still stands you know, I know if I showed your work to my boss he'd hire you! We could work together, it's basically what we've been doing the last month!"

My blood ran cold, I chewed at my lip, and remembered a conversation I had in that hospital four years ago.

"When you're discharged, why don't you try being an idol yourself?" Sensei had told her, smiling as he did. "I'll be your first fan, so will Minato here, right?"

"Of course I will!" I told her from next to her on the bed. "With how smart you are, how cute, you'll be the best idol!"

"You… you really both mean it?" She had asked, giggling as she hugged me. "Sensei, Mina, you're the best! Hey, Sensei, will you give me your blessing so me and Minato can get married?!"

"H…Huh?" I blushed. "Well I… I'm not saying no but well-."

"But you need to get a little older first," Sensei said, smirking as he patted both our heads. "Ha, soon as you turn sixteen absolutely, after I thoroughly interrogate Minato here."

"You mean it?! Haha, I love you both!" She said excitedly, hugging Sensei and then hugging around his neck and looking at me. "Hey, Minato will you write my first song when I become an idol? Your songs are the best, I know you'll be famous for them, so I wanna ask you now!"

I had never had someone ask me for a song before, so that day, I blushed and smiled when I held her hand and nodded.

"Of course I will, I promise," I told her. "I'm going to make you shine!"

Writing songs for idols, making them shine, it really did sound great. Sarina had believed… but she was gone now, and so was any confidence I had that I could possibly ever leave that hospital.

"Ha… you know I do appreciate the offer Ayane," I told her, shaking my head. "But come on, what qualifications do I have to-."

"What qualifications did I have?! I went to some high school out here," She said, she shook her head. "I didn't go to college, and well… I'm doing what I always wanted. Minato, you're better than I ever was!"

"That's not true."

"It is!" She said excitedly. "I love your songs, all of them that you've played for me! You're handsome, you're only twenty! You'd be perfect!"

An extremely pretty girl telling me that of course made me blush, I looked up at her, her eyes were so wide I couldn't tell her the idea really couldn't come to fruition. Still… the small spark of hope that hadn't been extinguished was still burning in my chest made me nod at her.

"I appreciate it… okay, I'll think about it alright?" I told her, returning her smile. "Besides, me and Dr. Amemiya gotta help you deliver a healthy kid first. I'll decide after that okay?"

She smiled and nodded. She really was beautiful. I asked her before if she ever considered being an idol herself, but she explained how she basically had two left feet when dancing. Still, she had the looks for it, beautiful big green eyes which both shined like stars, long silky brown hair, a pretty face, and an amazingly energetic aura that could attract anyone.

And her music really was as beautiful as she was.

"Okay, I'll hold you too that!" She said, before looking down and twiddling her thumbs. "But… I need to tell you something."

I tilted my head as I stood. "What is it?"

"You know how I told you about my friend right? The idol?" She said slowly as she looked up at me. "She's… gonna be here at the hospital. You have an appointment soon right?"

Realization dawned on me. "Yeah, I was just going to meet with Dr. Amemiya, so… this is your friend, she's an idol. What would she be doing seeing a gono… oh, oh I see. So… she's-."

"Yeah…. I haven't been able to tell anyone, her manager my boss just found out recently," Ayane said with a sigh. "He was pretty worried about her."

"How far along is she?"

"Four months, about twenty weeks, same as me," She said, seeming nervous. "Me? I'm twenty and not an idol so me getting pregnant isn't a big deal. But her… she's sixteen, and if it gets out she's pregnant she'll be-."

"Be the subject of scrutiny, some fans wouldn't take it well," I said, nodding to her. "I understand. Don't worry we won't say anything of course."

"I know you won't but… like I told you, she's been through so much, and… and well…" Ayane started, her eyes looking desperate as she looked up at me. "I'm afraid she doesn't know what love is, what it feels like. She's so… beautiful, and acts happy but, I can see it… she really has a hard time expressing her feelings."

"Sounds familiar…" I said under my breath, my own life flashing before my eyes.

Ayane looked up sharply. "Minato I… I'm begging you, please, please you and Dr. Amemiya, do all you can for her! Having kids I… I think it'll help teach her how to really love and express how she feels. I'll do all I can, but this is important to me, so… please! Do all you can for her!"

She clapped her hands together and even bowed in her bed. I stammered and shook my head, I didn't see any reason I'd treat another patient any different then I treated Ayane, even if the girl was an idol. If anything, it would only make me want to help her even more.

I had been an idol fan before Sarina had come, I grew up on it. She had just been the first one that I could share everything I loved with. Through the hours of studying, of walks around the hospital, of everything I'd been forced to do as a kid, watching my favorite idols on stage, it was the one bit of reprieve I had ever gotten.

So, I'd make sure to help whoever Ayane's friend was.

I smiled and bowed at her. "You have my word Ayane. Don't worry, I'll be sure to do everything I can for her, especially if she's your friend."

"You're sweet, thank you Minato," She said, before she winked up at me. "Just be careful, or else you might just go and fall for each other."

"Ha, who knows maybe," I teased. "Anything else before I head out?"

She smirked and shook her head. "No, I think I'll be fine. Just don't leave me alone for too long okay?"

"Wouldn't dream of it," I promised, before bowing back to her. "I'll see you soon Ayane."

I closed the door behind me and let out the breath I'd been holding. If I was in a better state of mind, I would have seriously considered if I did have feelings for Ayane or not. It hadn't been since Sarina that I found someone that I had such common ground with, that I felt such a connection too. She was cute, knew how to write a great song, and I honestly could have just sat in that room for hours, I'd done it before.

But you… have to be realistic about these things… I thought, sighing as I looked at the time.

"Crap don't wanna be late," I muttered, sighing as I walked away from her door. "Let's meet Ayane's friend."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAT?!" I yelled, my heart broking as he showed me his phone. "An absence for her health…? What happened to her?!"

"It's not in there, it's an undisclosed medical condition," Sensei sighed, looking as disappointed as I did. "I'm actually worried, I feel so bad for her!"

Ai of B-Kamochi was taking a leave of absence for a medical condition. I missed lunch after getting caught up with Ayane, but I didn't mind, I didn't eat much anyway, so I'd gone to meet up with Sensei near the consultation room where our appointment waited. Of course, I wasn't expecting the news, but with an appointment I knew I had to put it out of my mind.

Sighing, I shook my head. "I can't believe we're gonna be starved for more live performances the next few months…."

"I know," Sensei sighed, as he patted my head walking past me. "And just after my favorite assistant agreed to fund our trip to Tokyo to see her live."

"This is rotten timing, I'd just gotten my dad to agree," I agreed, walking back up next to him. "Life isn't fair sometimes."

"You can say that again," Sensei said as we got to the consultation room. "By the way, how's that song you told me about?"

I stiffened. "Well I… decided to scrap it, it wasn't good enough."

Sensei scoffed. "I doubt it, didn't even Ayane say it was really good? She is a professional song writer after all."

I bit my lip. "I know but… there was really no point. Speaking of Ayane, she said our patient is a friend of hers, an idol for an idol group she writes for."

Sensei's eyes widened, but he nodded. "I see, we better not keep her waiting then."

I nodded and followed him into the room. I put all the thoughts of idols, Sarina, and Ayane from my mind, it was time for doctor mode, or doctors assistant mode. The first thing I smelled was really nice perfume, and some cheap cologne. I noticed the two people sitting in the chairs across from our desk, and as always, Sensei was the first to greet them with a smile on his face.

"Good evening! I'm Dr. Amemiya," Sensei said, smiling as he sat down and gestured to me who sat down next to him. "And this handsome young guy is my assistant, the soon to be Dr. Kaniyama!"

"Please, you can both call me Minato, nice to meet the both of you!" I said, smiling as Sensei went through the paperwork, I looked over at one of them-an older guy-first. "Did you both make it out here okay? I know this place is pretty remote."

The guy had blonde hair and was probably in his thirties. He also looked extremely nervous. He had a nice suit, the cheap cologne I smelled, and blonde hair with sunglasses. I swore I recognized him from somewhere, but he did look like any typical scout or agent you'd see in Tokyo.

"We… got here alright yes," He said nervously. "You guys had a good recommendation."

I smiled; I could see the guy was nervous. Meanwhile, next to him, the younger girl looked absolutely at ease. She was the one who smelled good, long dark purple hair fell down her back while she wore a hat and longer coat. I put together this had to be Ayane's friend, the idol who had gotten pregnant. So like normal, I wanted to make sure everyone was comfortable.

"Yes, Ayane Midori right? She's become a friend of mine since she's been here," I told them, smiling over at the girl now. "She mentioned you were good friends Ms…."

"Hoshino! Ms. Hoshino," Sensei said, turning back around in his chair and rolling it next to me across from the two of them. "We would have no matter what, but if you're both friends with Ms. Midori, we'll take good care of you."

The guy nervously nodded. "Yes, Ayane is a song writer for the production company I head. She's very talented, we've missed her the last month."

"She certainly is," I told him, looking at the girl again. "She mentioned you were friends, Ms. Hoshino, I look forward to…"

My words trailed off, as I'd looked over to Sensei and his eyes had went wide. I took another look at her, and when she started taking off her hat, and her hair fell around her shoulders. Her eyes were even brighter than the lights in the room, when she smiled my heart stopped, and I was angry at myself for not realizing it was her sooner.

"You must be the cute doctor Ayane texted me about!" She said happily, smiling as she looked over at me now. "She told me you were even better at writing music then she was, she promised you and the Dr. here would take good care of me!"

"I…I… um…" I started; my tongue dry as I couldn't stop looking at her.

At my favorite idol, Sarina's favorite idol, Ai of B-Kamochi. My face surely got red, and I could see Sensei next to me the same way. I tried to wrack my brain for any hint that Ayane could have given me, she had told me her friends idol group was popular, but for it to be Ai?! I was trying to wrap my head around the fact the idol Sarina had loved, the one I was hopelessly a fan of was sitting in front of me, and she was a patient of mine.

And of course, the fact she was pregnant at sixteen. My mind went to what that could mean, and I felt my stomach sink.

Idols are worshipped by their fans, there's horror stories of stalking, and what happens if one gets a boyfriend, if they find out she has kids… oh, I see that's why they came out here, I realized, as next, what Ayane had just told me came to mind.

"She really has a hard time expressing her feelings."

That had been what Ayane said, but the idea that Ai, the smiling idol I watched for hours on end wasn't able to express how she felt? She did it plenty in the way she sang, danced, conducted herself in interviews. I felt as if I really knew her just from watching her performances.

But just look at me, you'd never know what I was really like by how I act at this job, I thought, as Ai's manager who'd been talking with Sensei looked at her.

"Ai come on; you have to take this seriously! Do you have any idea what this could do to your career?" He said, pleading with her. "And who's the father?! You never even told me!"

Even I wanted to know the answer, did she secretly have a boyfriend this whole time?

Ai put her finger to her chin. "Huh let me see… actually, that's a secret!"

Her manager's head fell, and I stammered, finally able to speak.

"D…does Ayane know?" I asked, unable to stop myself.

Ai turned to look at me now, and my chest got heavy again. She was even cuter in person.

"Nope! Like I said, it's a secret!" She said with a wink. "You're Minato right? I'd love to hear one of the songs Ayane told me you wrote!"

"I…songs?!" I said, my face red as I shook my head. "They're really nothing, I don't think you'd be interested in-."

"I think I would!" She said, her smile growing. "Ayane isn't easy to impress, I think I'm gonna like it here!"

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

The next day.

"Twins, I really can't believe it," I said, sighing as I looked at the chart and leaned over the rail. "I also can't believe you were the one to convince her to go through with it. A C-section really is the safest way, a regular birth could be really hard for her."

"I know, but her manager and her want to go the natural route," Sensei said, sighing as he handed me back my coffee. "And we're going to make sure she gives birth to healthy children; I gave her my word."

I smiled; I knew he'd talked to Ai yesterday on this very roof. Me, I hadn't seen her yet, or Ayane again since. A part of me had been trying to avoid her, how was I supposed to tell my patient that I had been her fan for years? Or that her music had been what gave solace to a girl that had meant so much to me years ago? It was a hard conversation to have, and I wasn't very good at hard conversations, which was why I thought myself a poor doctor. Still, that didn't stop Sensei from giving his solemn word to Ai that we'd be there for her, for anything she needed.

And I agreed with him. Not just for Ai, but for Sarina too. She had been one of the reasons Sarina had smiled from the moment she got to our hospital. I hadn't been able to do anything for Sarina in the end, but maybe I could do this for Ai now.

"I'm glad you did," I told him, as we both looked out over the mountains on the roof. "If she's anything like Ayane, she'll be alright."

"Mhm, speaking of her, you haven't gone to see her since yesterday," He said, smiling over at me. "Or talked to Ai either, nervous?"

I chewed the inside of my lip. "You could say that. As for Ayane well… she brought up that job offer again."

"Good, you should take it and get out of here," Sensei said. "And Ai's manager is here now. You could show him some of your music and it'll be even easier."

"I need to help them both deliver their kids first," I told him, holding both hands around the coffee mug in my hands. "But after that well… I just said I'd think about it."

"You shouldn't have to think, we've talked about this for years Minato," He said, shaking his head at me. "You're miserable here, why not take this chance you could make it."

"It's not that simple. My dad-."

"Your father can't tell you what to do anymore, you're an adult," He said, sounding sterner now. "It's your dream, and now your favorite idol's here. Maybe it's some kind of sign."

"Ha… a sign," I laughed, looking at the setting sun. "I'm not strong willed enough to grab it, even if it is a sign. Pretty pathetic huh? Ai's sixteen, and going through with this pregnancy, Ayane's done everything for her dreams, but me? Well… I'm afraid to take a step."

"Everything starts with a single step," Sensei said, turning and holding tight onto my shoulder. "I think after you take your first one, you'll see it's easy. I know… you still think about Sarina, and so do I, but you can't let what happened to her affect your future. You know she'd be screaming at you to take this offer now."

"I'm going to make you shine." That had been what I promised her.

And I would have… I really would have, I thought, sighing as I smiled at Sensei and nodded.

"You're right, she would. Like I said… I'll think about it," I said with a yawn. "Mind if I take a few extra?"

Sensei smiled and nodded, taking my empty mug. "Sure, I'll take care of your rounds, stay up as long as you need. I'll see you later."

I smiled, but the minute he closed the door to the roof behind him, I let out the breath I'd been holding and looked back out over the railing. I leaned over it and realized it really had been twenty years I'd been looking out over this view. Mom had died when I was younger, but Dad always like to take me up to look over the small town that was built around the hospital. It was a good spot, especially if you were an idol using a pseudonym to keep your pregnancy a secret. Ayane was only out here because she wanted to see some of her family that was still here. Ai was here to keep her secret.

"And I'll keep it for her… I promise," I said, pulling my small notebook out of my lab coat. I slipped through it and found the picture of me and Sarina that I had pinned to the front. "She would never believe it…"

I kept flipping through the notebook until I got to the page I was looking for. Each one had lyrics, writings or musings, music scales, all the ideas I ever had I kept in that book, but in that moment I was looking for one particular song. The only song I ever really thought was any good, and for that reason, I had never took my guitar or piano to even try and actually sing the song or do the music for it. Other songs I didn't mind since I didn't care about them as much but this one…?

This was the song that was going to make you shine…. I thought, smiling as I looked at the title, and the second picture of Sarina that I had near the song. Back then, I had really thought we were going to be able to help her, and eventually she would be discharged. I was a prodigy after all, I was helping the doctors, and my Dad owned the hospital, surely I was going to be able to help her leave happy and healthy, so she could live her idol dream.

One word was at the top of the page above the lyrics, and the music on the next page. The inspiration for that song was now a patient at the hospital in a crazy twist of fate.

"Idol… ha, a pretty basic name," I said, smiling as I read over the lyrics and eventually turned the page to the melody and scales. "But I… I think this would have really done it. Yeah… you would have-."

"Oh, what's that, one of your songs?!"

"GAHHH!" I yelled, dropping the notebook, and grabbing my chest. I looked up, ready to scream at whoever had scared me, but my lips went dry and I couldn't. "A…Ai! I mean, Ms. Hoshino!"

"Ha, sorry I scared you. I was talking to Ayane and she said you came up here all the time," She said, her bright star-filled eyes looking at me with an equally cute smile. "I said your name, but you were in your own little world."

She… she's right here! Ai! I'm on a roof alone, with my favorite idol, what… what do I say?!

"I… um… well, I… I apologize!" I said, stiff as a board trying to avoid those eyes. "I just well… um, did you need me?! Dr. Amemiya should be around here somewhere, I'll go get him for you-."

"No! I wanted to talk to you," She said, before I could take a step away towards the door. "I haven't seen you since I first showed up, what's wrong, been avoiding me?"

SHE THINKS I'M AVOIDING HER?! Well… she isn't wrong but… oh man, I really am a shitty doctor!

My face went red as she took a step closer to me, leaning forward with a cute inquisitive look. I stammered, as I coughed and tried to casually fix my blonde hair.

"Um… well, you see Ms. Hoshino I… um…" I started, but with each word she just looked more amused. Finally I sighed and met her beautiful eyes. "Yes… I was, I'm so, so sorry please forgive me!"

I didn't want to look up, the embarrassment was way too much. Still, I knew I had to put my idol otaku side away for my doctor side. Despite how shitty of one I saw myself as, I still needed to attend to patients, and it wasn't fair of me to pawn Ai and Ayane off on Sensei just because I was nervous to talk to the cute idol that had come into the hospital.

Seriously, what kind of fan avoids his favorite idol when she's in the same building?! I'm a shame to idol otakus everywhere!

"It's okay, it's okay! Still, I am a little upset, Ayane's texted me about you all month!" She said, the smile never leaving her. "I was interested to see what kind of guy had her talking so much."

"Ha… she's too nice, I'm really nothing special," I assured her, waving my hands. "As for why I haven't seen you since consultation I've well… been a bit nervous."

"Huh? Why would you be nervous?" She asked.

I sighed and blushed as I rubbed my head. "I… guess well, you could say I'm a… fan of yours, a big one."

I waited as she looked surprised. I thought she was gonna stalk off the roof and write me off as a creepy fan for a moment and I wouldn't have been able to blame her. However, Ai didn't do that, she started giggling and then laughed, before her smile returned.

"Ha…hahahaha! Awww, that's so sweet, thank you," She said, bowing as her smile didn't change. "I assumed Ayane had already told you, so I never would have guessed you'd react like that."

I stammered for a moment, she… she's just talking like a normal person. This is certainly not how I imagined the conversation going if I ever met her, but… I can't say I'm complaining.

I managed to smile. "She told me you were an idol and that she wrote your songs but never that well, it was you! To be fair, I never told her you were my favorite idol."

"Aw, I'm your favorite, that's sweet of you," She joked with a wink.

My face got red again. "Y…yeah, you have been for years. A… patient-no… a friend? Me and her, we watched every single one of your shows together it was our favorite thing to do."

Patient… friend? No, that's not the right word to describe it, I thought, wondering how she'd react to being able to meet Ai like this.

"Aw… that's sweet too, this is why I love being an idol so much," She said, smiling as she looked down at the ground. "I have so many people who love me…"

"Aha, oh man she was an even bigger fan then I am," I assured her, my excitement rising as the nerves faded away. "She wanted to be an idol like you, and I well… I was gonna write songs for her."

Her head perked up, I knew she heard the word 'was', that I was speaking in the past tense. I realized I was too, before the sadness washed all over me again. That happened often and was how I knew I was a crappy doctor. Despite all the praise I received, all the certificates and honors… it was all no good if I couldn't save the people I cared about in the hospital. If I got like this for every patient that died, I'd continue being a crappy one.

But I couldn't just forget her, I never would.

"Well, if what Ayane says is true, your songs are amazing!" She said, before looking at the ground and smiling as she bent over. "I'm sorry I made you drop this. Ayane mentioned you had a special song notebook, is this one of your songs!"

My face flushed. "Um, it's nothing! You really shouldn't bend down in your condition! You don't have to read it, it's no good, trust me I-."

"Like I said, Ayane is hard to impress, I'll just take a peak you don't mind do you," She said with a mischievous little wink, as she leaned on the railing with my notebook in hand. "Idol… huh, a short title! Let's see…"

I bit my lip and turned away from her, my face as red as the sunset. Only two people had ever seen that song, and one of them was me. Sarina and I spent hours writing it together, and now our favorite idol was reading over it.

Reading over a song we wrote, which was inspired by our favorite idol, the one who was reading it.

And Ai's eyes went wide, and she went silent as she combed over the words. I inwardly cringed at myself. That song had been the result of months of work between Sarina and me. If songs were really our true feelings put down into words, then these were ours. It was our feelings, what we felt, the happiness we felt watching Ai perform for all those months. Of course, Sarina provided feedback while I had wrote down most of the actual lyrics, but that song to me was her, it was the song I wanted to write to make her shine one day.

It was also the reason, that despite this only being the first time I'd met Ai, that I felt like I knew her. The way she smiled, the way she performed, sang, danced, I felt like I understood her just from watching those performances. She was dazzling, beautiful beyond belief, she had brought not just me but Sarina so much joy, and I was so thankful for that.

The true reason however, I was such a fan of Ai Hoshino? Was because just like me, she was a fantastic liar.

I stammered as she finally looked back up, finished reading the words to my song. I waited for her to either threaten to sue me or throw the notebook in my face. Of course, words in the song would have been changed and altered if I ever did put it out, it would have been easy, I simple could change all the times the name 'Ai' was used to 'Idol'. However, as it was written in my notebook I was waiting for a book to face, or a lawsuit.

However, Ai only chuckled, the stars in her eyes still as bright as the setting sun behind her.

"Ha… well, it looks like I'm not as good a liar as I thought huh?" She said, actually smiling as she took a step closer and stood next to me on the railing. "You… really wrote all of that? Just from seeing my on stage?"

Oh… oh no! I made her upset! Oh man this is what I get for pretending I'm some romantic song writer, I'm gonna make my favorite idol cry! I panicked, quickly shaking my head.

"I would have taken your name out obviously!" I promised, bowing over and over. "I'm so sorry! It was stupid, I know! Really I don't know what I was thinking, I shouldn't have wrote it, it's probably horrible please don't sue-."

"It's not horrible, not at all," She said, looking down at the first page of the song 'Idol' again. Her stary eyes turned back up to me with a smile as well. "This is probably the best song that I've ever read. Ayane was right, you're really, really good."

My mouth went dry. "I… you… you mean that?"

"Of course I do! I swear I'm not lying this time," She giggled, flipping through the pages again. "Every line, it… it's as if you really know who I am, but that should be impossible. How did you do it? I had thought I had my lies down pat…."

I wanted to answer her, but I also didn't at the same time. For a minute I thought she was just joking around, that she wasn't seriously asking me how I knew she was lying. However, the look in her eyes, those pretty, pretty eyes, I was as mesmerized on the rooftop there as I always was watching her shows with Sarina, or with Sensei, or even when I watched them by myself.

The wind whistled behind me, my coat blew in the wind and so did Ai's hair. I still wasn't past the fact that I actually was on the roof of the hospital, somewhere that had felt like a prison my whole life was now where I stood talking to someone who unbeknownst to them, had helped me through some dark days the last four years. So no, it didn't matter if she lied on stage.

Because I lied just like she did, for the same reasons that I knew she did.

"I… well, to be honest, I can see it," I told her, as she listened with baited breath. "You're beautiful on stage, you make so many people smile, you've done it for me plenty of times. But… well if I'm being honest, sometimes that smile, it doesn't really reach your eyes. I… oh man I'm sorry! That was stupid of me to say I really-."

"No… ha, you don't have to apologize, you're right," She said, looking out over the sunset on the roof with him. "I told the doctor here yesterday… that being an idol is the best job in the world, because I get to lie. You see… Dr. Minato, I always thought that if I tell enough lies, if I say I love you enough to fans, to… well everyone that-."

"That it'll eventually become true…" I finished for her, my chest ready to explode, because as I talked, her eyes went wide. "You think if you tell enough lies, they'll eventually become the truth. Just like how… I keep telling myself I love this job, that this is what I was meant to do, despite me knowing my passion lies elsewhere. I say if I keep telling myself I love this, that this is meant to be it will be. You lie, because you care, because you want to love, lies-."

"Are the most exquisite form of love…" Ai finished, her eyes falling on me and staying there. "It seems like me and you aren't really that different, Dr."

"You… don't have to call me that, I'm not much older then you. I'm also technically not a doctor yet," I told her, my voice low as for the first time, I didn't feel nervous talking to her. "But, yeah, we may be, but we really aren't."

"Huh? Why do you say that?" She asked.

I chuckled, meeting her eyes not nervously for the first time. "Because you? You're braver then I am. You're telling lies, but actually trying to make them come true. Me? Well, I know I don't belong here, that I'm a crappy doctor, but I'm not brave enough to try and make my lies truth."

It was quiet for a moment, and I let the truth sink in. I was never going to leave this place, I wasn't going to fulfill my dream, the dream of a young kid who just wanted to make someone shine.

"All I ever wanted to do… was make someone shine with my music," I said, looking up at the orange sky. "You, Ai, you're an inspiration to someone like me. Which is why, like Sensei, I'm going to make sure you deliver healthy children, so that way you can experience the love you want to experience."

I had turned around, and finally felt confident in something. I gave her my best smile, most people told me I was handsome, but compared to someone as beautiful as Ai? I probably looked like a peasant.

"You know, Minato… I think we're alike even more now," She said, even chuckling cutely as she tilted her head and smiled at me. "I've never known what it was like to truly love someone. I grew up in a children's home before I was scouted. Even Ayane… my best-friend I've never been able to say, 'I love you' to. You know… I feel like I know you after reading your song, like you know me, and I think you're brave just writing those words down."

Goosebumps ran up my arm, my face red. Me… actually brave?

"So, if you don't mind… can I read more of your songs? So I can get to know you even better? I want to… and that's not a lie," She said, taking a step closer and holding out her hand. "And who knows… maybe by the end of my time here, we'll learn how to stop lying!"

My chest was ready to explode. She was smiling ear to ear, in seconds she had turned her smile back on, and it was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. In that moment, all I could think about was how beautiful I found her eyes, and how much I wanted to make sure that smile stayed on her face each time she saw me.

"Yeah… maybe we will, I'm really honored to meet you, Ai," I said, gingerly touching her hand.

"Haha, why so formal!" She said, squeezing my hand for a moment before spinning and smiling in front of the door back to the hospital. "We're friends now aren't we? Hey, do you have any good restaurants around here? Me, you, the Dr. and Ayane can go!"

In that moment, the entire talk we'd just had, the connection I now felt to Ai Hoshino, not the idol Ai was gone. One thought ran through my mind at that moment.

My… my favorite idol just asked to have dinner with me?!

After my muddled brain finally cleared, I smiled at her. Ai… maybe you're right, and we will learn to stop lying together.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

5 months pass by….

Minato

"You know, as a doctor, I really should recommend against someone in your condition sitting on a flimsy couch like this," I told her as she sat back down next to me, tea in hand. "And also, it's pretty unprofessional to have a patient in my house at all. You really should be in bed."

"Well, it's a good thing you're a bad doctor then?" She said, handing me my cup of tea and smiling up at me. "Right, Minato?"

I sighed and smiled when she looked at me like I could never refuse. "Yeah… I guess you're right, it is a good thing I'm a bad doctor."

"Exactly! I'm also… pretty thankful," She said, smiling as she leaned her head to the side onto my chest. "Thankful that you are an absolutely terrible doctor."

Yeah… I'm a terrible doctor, or at least that's what I tell myself, but I also know that it's not what I'm meant to do. You helped me see that… Ai, I thought, as she sipped from her tea, her head leaning on my chest near my head, her legs across my lap.

Her stomach had obviously gotten larger, she was due any day now after all, but that spot on the couch had been our favorite for the last few months since she started coming over. She had put on some romantic comedy that night, but I didn't really pay attention to the screen like she did. She laughed, and when she did my chest nearly burst, it was easily the best sound I'd ever heard in my life. I'd had a lot of 'best things' from my life in the months that she'd been here, and just like always, it was thanks to her.

Ai Hoshino. She wasn't the seemingly untouchable Ai from B-Kamochi, no, she was Ai Hoshino, the girl who I couldn't get enough off. She laughed at some joke from the movie, and I only smiled at her, as with both hands on her mug of tea she leaned in and pulled herself closer. My one arm stayed around her, as her star eyes were glued to the TV. I sipped my own tea, as I didn't watch the movie, just her and looked at all of the boxes around my living room. I didn't live far from Sensei and had my own place for the last two years, but still, all of these boxes had everything from my childhood. My entire life had been spent in that small town, at the hospital, it was odd seeing it all laid out, I felt like there was supposed to be more.

"Hey! You told me you would watch this with me!" She pouted, grabbing the remote. She paused the movie and looked up with a cute pout as she set down her tea. "You're barely paying attention!"

"Ha… sorry, I was honest I just… got distracted," I told her honestly, looking down at her pouting at me, I met it with a smile. "Distracted by you, you are irresistibly cute after all."

That… was a bit cringy, I told myself the minute after the words left my mouth.

But Ai's cheeks puffed out, before she burst out laughing.

"Ha…Hahahaha! You're such a charmer, Ayane warned me about that before I came here!" She told me, and my face went red.

"Huh?! She said that?!" I said, embarrassed as she laughed again.

"Hahaha, of course she did and I can't blame her, you really are," She said with a wink, before she smiled and leaned her head back down on my shoulder. "But I like that. You're sweet… Minato."

Every time she had said my name, from the first time I met her, even after all we'd done the last few months, each time I heard it my heart skipped beats.

"Well, I'm just telling the truth," I said, squeezing her a bit tighter as I set my tea down. "You are irresistibly cute after all."

"I know I am, how lucky are you?" She winked, before sighing as she smiled contentedly. "You know, it'd be quite a scandal an idol staying at her doctors house so frequently."

"Well you did just say I'm a horrible doctor," I pointed out, matching her teasing. "And… I won't even be that for much longer."

"I know! And I'm so excited, I can't wait!" She said, her bright start eyes brimming with excitement as she looked up at me. "My apartment isn't very big, but you have less stuff then I thought so you should fit fine! Ha… that's what had you so distracted isn't it?"

I managed to smile. "You read me like a book."

"You read me like one before you even met me," She said, sitting up with a smile now before she winked again. "You really swept me off my feet with that song of yours. The least you can do is come and write more for me now, you need to take responsibility Minato Kaniyama!"

This… this is what I always wanted, something like this, someone who understands, I smiled, as I mock bowed at her while she was on my lap.

"Of course, I wouldn't dare steal an innocent idols heart without taking responsibility," I told her.

She laughed again, and for a few moments, the reality really seemed to set in. This had happened, something that I could only have dreamed of. No, it wasn't the fact I was with the girl that had been my favorite idol, although that was certainly a dream for most idol otakus.

No, I was with a girl who understood me, I could communicate with, who I shared interests with, who I felt a true and genuine connection with.

And I have to think that… you'd be happy for me, Sarina, I thought fondly. Yes, if there was any kind of afterlife I liked to think she'd be jumping up and down yelling at me to go and live the dream that I always wanted. Yes, she'd been so much more then just a friend, but we had been kids, and as real as the connection we had was, I had to accept she wasn't coming back.

The reason I was able to have the strength to do this was thanks to Ai, and thanks to her memory. I could love Ai now, thanks to what I had with her before.

"Hahaha good! I just wish the doctor would come with us too," She said excitedly.

I scoffed. "I wish too, but it's like he said, there's really not much he could do in Tokyo. But… I know he'll always be your fan."

"Yeah, I'm thankful for him like I am for you," She said, leaning back on my shoulder, her one hand twisted on some of the messy blonde hair on the back of my head. "And for Ayane, for introducing me to you, telling me to come here…. I feel like well, we're a family, and when these kids are born, that's just another addition. It's my first time having one."

I smiled, and like she played with my hair, I ran my hand through her purple locks. "Yeah… you know how my home life was. I never had much of a family either, Sensei is the closest I had to a real Dad or an older brother. So… I guess this'll be my first time too. I just hope I don't mess up."

She smiled back and her stary eyes glew. "I hope I don't either! But we've both learned to turn lies into truths these last few months, right? This is just something else we can learn together!"

My chest felt heavy, and I nodded at her, my face not far from hers as she looked at me without blinking. My entire body started tingling, this wasn't the first time I'd dated someone, but… none have ever been like this, felt this real. She was right, some of my lies had become truths, and the same had been true for her, we both still had a long way to go, but we'd do it.

And she was right, those kids, to me it didn't matter who their father was, they were Ai, so I was going to be there for them.

"Yeah… we can," I said, my voice low as I kept my eyes locked with her. "Ai… I-."

"One second!" She said, biting her tongue and pulling both her hands in front of my face. She started fixing my blonde hair, her starry eyes inches from mine, she giggled as she did. "Honestly, you need to learn how to do your hair better. I'll have Ayane show you, she taught me how to fix mine, and… there! All better."

"Am I irresistibly cute now?"

"Of course, just not as irresistibly cute as I am!" She said with a wink, her face still inches from mine. She didn't stop smiling as her hand gently touched my cheek. "Yeah… really cute, and that's not a lie!"

She kissed me, and I reacted as I always did, with disbelief at first. I'd never forget the first time she did, she had been the initiator then too. We'd been on a walk with Sensei and Ayane, and another thing I'd never forget was the face they had both made when found us on the walking trail. Sensei had looked ready to kill me for a moment and Ayane had grabbed Ai to interrogate her, before gripping me up by the shirt and grilling me too despite the fact she'd known me for months by that point.

"Hahaha, you still get the cutest look when I do that!" She started, smirking as if she was very satisfied with herself. "I supposed that's what you get for-."

"Ai," I said, my face a few inches from hers still and when her eyes looked at me I said it. "I love you."

Her eyes went wide, and for a second I thought I had said it to forcefully, or that I had made a mistake in saying it now. I panicked for a moment, I was just about ready to apologize, thinking that I really had messed up and should have waited. I knew that's what I had been feeling, I wouldn't have agreed to return with her if I hadn't. She had done everything for me, yes, I was sure of my feelings, I loved Ai Hoshino without any doubt in my heart. I hadn't wanted to say it earlier, because if I had said it, and it turned out to be another lie… I would have never forgiven myself.

"I wanted to say it before we left, so you know I'm serious about this," I told her, blushing but smiling at her as she sat in my lap. "You don't have to-."

"Say it again."

"Huh?" I asked, as her eyes had fallen. "Ai, what-."

"Say it again… please," She said, as her head came back up, and she wiped a tear from her eyes, her smile growing as she actually chuckled. "Ha… come on, say it again!"

My chest was warm, my entire body was warm. I knew I had made the right choice at that moment.

"I love you, Ai," I told her again like she requested, smiling the whole time. "And… that isn't a lie. I didn't think I'd say it again and mean it like I do now. I really… oh man, why are you crying?"

"Ha you… you really… really need to stop being such a charmer," She said, her hands over her chest. Her eyes went back up to me and she laughed as they were watery. "And you say it to me when I'm like this! When I have a stomach like this, and I can barely move, I have to look like a mess really."

I scoffed at that and never stopped smiling. "You're beautiful, and I'd say that no matter what you looked like. I love Ai Hoshino, not B-Komachi's lead singer… I love you, Ai."

"Stop! Ha… you gotta stop or I… I…" She started, wiping both her eyes while still smiling, she shook her head, her face red. "So that… that's what it's like to hear it… it's nice… really nice. I never thought someone like me would deserve to hear it."

"You do, and I'll say it as many times as you want," I told her. "I love Ai Hoshino; I love the girl who grew up in a group home. The goofy one who's good at yoga, and loves her walks, and is surprisingly good at making ramen."

"You taught me that last one… I… I…" She said, as she finally gave up on wiping her tears, as she looked at me. "I… M…Minato I… I… I'm-."

Now I did start to panic.

"Hey… hey Ai!" I said, wiping her tears for her as I shook my head. "I didn't mean to make you cry, I'm sorry if I-."

"No… no… don't apologize for it I… I just…" She stammered through a sob as she crashed into me and hugged me around my neck. Her voice was a bit muffled; she spoke with her mouth inches away from my neck and each word I could hear pained her. "I want… I want to…but I… I just-."

It sank in. I knew what she was crying for now. Some guys may have been upset with her, especially after working up so much nerve to say three simple words.

But I knew how it was for her, she was worried for the same reason I was. I wasn't going to force her, no, I wanted her to feel the same way I did now when she finally said it.

"It's okay," I whispered, before gently pulling her face back and wiping the rest of the tears from her bright eyes that'd brought me so much joy. "You don't have to say anything, I promise it's okay."

"But… but you… you just…" She said, chuckling as shook her head. She smiled through the tears. "Oh man, look at me, normally you're the one all flustered. It… it's just… if I were to say it and… and I-."

"I know, like I said, I promise it's okay," I said, gently leaning my forehead against hers and letting out a breath with a chuckle. "Ha… that's not going to change anything. I still love you, Ai."

"You're sweet…" She said, keeping her forehead leaned against mine. "Really sweet… Minato. It… it's nothing like m… my…" she sounded like she was going to say something else but decided against it. "I…. I'm so happy that I met you, Minato."

"Everything's changed for the better since I met you," I told her, chuckling. "Ha… the last person I said I love you to it… it was… well…"

Ai nodded, our foreheads still together. "I know… you're sweet for all you did for her."

Ai knew about Sarina; I'd told her more of course. We had told each other everything, well, almost everything. I still didn't know a few things about Ai, like the name of her ex who was the father of her children. She always skated around the topic with Ichigo and even Ayane, so I assumed it was a touchy subject, and I didn't want to bring up any unpleasant memories for her, so I never asked.

"Yeah… I miss her but, Ai, you're the reason I was able to stop telling lies," I told her honestly, wiping the last of the tears from her cheek, her eyes were still so bright. "And it's the reason I can say I love you now."

"Even… when you get back to Tokyo with me," She asked, sounding genuinely worried. "And I'm saying that to thousands of fans. Even when we have to dress up in disguises to go out together? Even… even after all that?"

"Yes, because I know that just like with your fans, you want it to be true," I told her, letting out a sigh as I gently touched the hair over her shoulder. "I don't mind. Besides, we got plenty of time don't we?"

She smiled, and slowly nodded. "Yeah… we do, thank you, for everything Minato."

She may not have been able to say it, but when she kissed me that second time I could tell that she wanted to. I knew it from how her lips pressed against mine, that she felt those three words, that she wanted to say them to me, but just wasn't sure how.

And I didn't mind because we were going to eventually be able to stop telling lies.

"Ha…hahahaha," She laughed, as she pulled back and looked at my beat red face. "Even after all of that you're still blushing?"

"Ha…" I chuckled, leaning back and smiling at her. "I can't help it, you're irresistibly cute remember? Now, one sec, I didn't put it away yet let me grab something."

"Awww, I was so comfyyyyyy," She whined, as she moved off my lap and with her hands under her pregnant stomach looked at me confused as I walked up towards one end of the living room. "Huh? What is it you're getting?"

I smiled. "Just wait, patience alright?"

She huffed cutely as I got to the corner of the living room where my guitar was plugged into a small amp I had set up in the living room. It was dark outside, and the only light was the light from the TV where our romantic comedy was still paused. Her eyes were still sparkling, and I wondered if anyone else could see the stars in them, or if it was just me.

I fumbled plugging in the amp, and the guitar, before fumbling through one of my packed boxes and finding my notebook, the one Ai picked up off the roof all those months ago. Smiling the whole time, I flipped to the correct page, before grabbing something else from the box. It was a longer box, and something that I'd only gotten a few weeks ago. Ai was over most nights after she spent time in the hospital for observation and any classes she wanted to attend, so it was a bit hard keeping it hidden from her.

"Okay!" I said, putting the notebook down, and getting to a knee in front of her on the couch with a smile on my face. "So, first, I wanted to give you-."

"Are you proposing to me?"

I almost choked and fell over. "I… no! I'm not!"

"So, you don't want to then?'

"No! I mean… ye… I… I haven't really-."

"Hahaha, I'm just kidding!" She teased, rubbing and messing up my blonde hair. "So, what's all this? You're always so secretive with your guitar, Ayane hasn't even heard you play it!"

"In a minute," I said, smiling as I put the guitar against the table and held the box out for her. "First… I wanted to give you this. I was gonna wait until the kids were here but well, I figured tonight would be better. Especially after well… what I finally was able to say. Take it as an 'I love you' present."

"M…Minato! Ha… trying to win your way to my heart with gifts are you?" She asked, gently pulling the lid off the box. "We'll see if… oh… M…Minato this… this is beautiful! The stars they-."

"It reminded me of yours eyes to be honest," I laughed nervously, as she pulled the black bracelet out of the box. It had two bright white stars sparkling like Ai's eyes on it. "It's a big cheesy I know but-."

"I love it! I'll wear it every concert, every show!" She said, her smile growing as she slipped it onto her wrist and adjusted the strap, holding out her wrist. "How does it look?!"

"Beautiful…" I said, adjusting it for her, my hand lingering on hers. "But I wanted to give you one more thing."

Her eyes went to the guitar and her smile only grew. "Are you… are you going to play for me?! You never play for anyone; you told me you were too embarrassed! I always thought that was stupid, considering the music videos that you've uploaded. Oh man, I cant wait to tell Ayane, she'll be so jealous that I-."

"Ha… calm down, and don't tell Ayane," I told her, smiling as sat cross legged and grabbed the guitar, swinging it around to my chest and grabbing the pick from inside. I looked up and saw those cute inquisitive eyes looking at me. "I don't want you to tell her because… well, this song is special."

Realization came to her eyes. "You mean… you finished it? Wrote the scales and everything?"

"Yup, it finally has lyrics, a melody, maybe I'll even do choreography one day," I said, my eyes drifting from the guitar up to her. "But for now well… I've only ever played my guitar in front of one other person. This song Ai… it was only possible because of her, and you."

Her hand went over her chest. "Minato…"

"Okay, let me play it for you," I told her, strumming the pick over the strings and as I started, I kept my eyes locked with hers, with the person I loved. "Ai, this song was inspired by you, it inspired me and someone else I loved, but now… this is for you, my best song… here's… 'Idol'."

She smiled, and even wiped her cheeks again, her hands together under her chin. I started playing a bit louder and saw her mutter something under her breath.

I desperately wanted to ask what she said… but I didn't. We would have plenty of time.

And so, I played her song, the song Sarina and I made inspired by her.

A song that I wanted to use to make her shine.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Minato

Another week passes….

"Whaaaaaaaat?!" Ayane cried from the bed next to Ai. "You got a private concert?! Minato that's not fair I've known you longer!"

Ai giggled and winked at her friend. "Sorry, exclusive privileges!"

I chuckled nervously, as I looked up and saw Sensei adjusting the bed for Ai and Ayane both.

"Ha, I gotta admit, I'm a little hurt too," He said, looking at me as I popped up between their beds. "You've never even let me hear you play guitar."

"Like I said, I have exclusive privileges!" Ai piped up again.

"I should have known this would happen!" Ayane cried dramatically, pretending to cry into her arms. "You've up and abandoned me Minato, even though we're going to be co-workers!"

I stammered and whirled around to her. "I… I didn't mean too! Seriously, I… I just well, um-."

Both Ayane and Ai both laughed at me.

"Ahahaha, doing something sweet for your girlfriend, I understand," Ayane said, smiling with her eyes closed as she held up her hand. "As long as you know if you do anything unseemly to my Ai, I'll snip something off and put you in the hospital bed!"

"Haha, you're the best Ayane!" Ai said happily.

My anxiety momentarily shot through the roof because I knew Ayane was being serious. Still, I managed to smile as I looked between them both. It finally started to sink in, that the two of them were really going to be my family from now on. Them and the kids that were due today. Both Ayane and Ai being due the same day was some extreme luck, something both of them were ecstatic about, he'd already listened to Ai explain how they were planning joint birthday parties.

The two were already planning on having the kids date and get married one day if they were a boy and girl, so the two of them could legally be sisters. It was a fun time watching both of them, and I'd come to realize Ayane was really the only one outside of her manager that Ai talked and opened up to other then me and Sensei.

I'm glad you have such a good friend Ai… and I guess I should thank you Ayane, I thought, smiling as I popped up after adjusting the brown-haired girls bed. If not for you well, I don't think I would've had the courage to make a move.

"Ai likes you! Come on, you can't let this chance slip by!"

She had hounded me to make a move, of course Ai had ended up making one first, but either way, I was where I was now and happy about it.

In the next week, I'd move to Tokyo and move in with Ai, to start my new job as an assistant music producer to Ayane Midori of Strawberry Productions.

It was a bit later at night, and there were no nurses in the room so we didn't mind talking out loud. Of course Sensei, Ai's manger Ichigo, and Ayane knew Ai and I were together, but if anyone else figured out it could leak and that was the last thing I wanted, not now anyway. People had been a little tense around me the last few weeks and I couldn't exactly blame them. I had practically grew up at that hospital, and now I was leaving.

Of course the owner, my father hadn't exactly been happy.

"Alright! So, everything should be set up," Sensei said, smiling at both Ayane and Ai. "The nurses have me and Minato's cell number, so they'll call if anything happens. Are you both ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be doctor!" Ayane said excitedly.

Ai smiled and nodded. "Aha! You both better be here when we call!"

Sensei laughed and responded before he could. "Ha, don't worry, Minato's gonna be helping you guys out with these kids, so I'll make sure he's here."

"Whaaat no, we want you here too doctor!" Ayane said, smiling over at him. "You were just as big a part of this as Minato was."

"She's right, it wouldn't be the same! So don't you go far," Ai said, her face pouting.

Sensei stammered and chuckled nervously. "Ha… well I won't be gone for long, just wanna pop home real quick I don't live far. And if I'm not here, another doctor can-."

"Nope! I only want you," Ai said with her arms crossed, pouting as she shook her head. "I want you and Minato, nobody else!"

"Ai's right, you better not back out on us now," Ayane pipped up as well, pointing at Sensei. "We won't let anyone else but you!"

I smiled as I looked at Sensei's flustered face. After Ai and I had first started dating, I had been really worried that Sensei was jealous. I knew he was just as big a fan of Ai as I was, he'd listened to all the songs with Sarina and me, and I knew he kept up his fandom for himself and her just like I had. The shock on his face when he first saw us together was something I'd never forget, I really thought he was going to strangle me at first.

But that had been far from the case. He just laughed and said how happy he was. I wouldn't have ever even met Sarina without Sensei. I could remember how lonely it had been, wandering the halls of the hospital when I was younger. Nobody had really wanted to talk to me, I was the homeschooled prodigy, the owners son, it was like people had been terrified I'd snap at them like my father often did to employees at the hospital.

I was alone in that big hospital, that was until Sensei had found me in an empty room one day, thinking it was one of his patients rooms. He had been new to the hospital, and I had no idea then that him stumbling in there would lead to where we were now. He had been uncoordinated, bumbling, a bit lazy, and he still was… but he was also the smartest person I knew at the same time.

"Ha… well if you both insist, I'll be here," He smiled at them, before looking at me. "I'll leave them to you."

"I'll walk out with you," I told him, smiling at Ayane and Ai. "Ladies I'll be back."

"Good, get out of here, I need ask Ai serious questions!" Ayane demanded, waving me and sensei away.

"Ah… what kinda questions?" I asked nervously.

Ai winked as she usually did. "Don't worry, I'm just gonna give Ayane all the cute little details."

I sighed but managed to smile. I followed out the door after Sensei, and when I closed the door behind me I could already hear them laughing and talking. They both really inspired me to that day still, and if not for meeting them I wouldn't have been able to go on to what I was doing now. I wouldn't have met a girl I loved or got the chance to really fulfill the dream I had from the minute I saw a guitar when I was younger.

At the hospital, I'd never felt really fulfilled, it was as if my life had a set path from the minute that I was born. Now, twenty years later, I was still on that path, I could remember back when I had thought this was what I was really meant to do, that I never had a choice to do what really had brought me the most joy growing up. Sensei was the same, he liked to pass his time visiting patients that never had many visitors, that was how he met Sarina, and then even though I wasn't a patient, eventually me. He'd introduced me to her, he was really who I had to thank, him, Sarina, Ayane, and Ai.

"So, you got everything packed away right?" Sensei asked, as we stopped in the lobby at a vending machine. He smirked because he knew the answer. "Rented the truck?"

I took the canned coffee from him. "I…I'm in the process."

He laughed at me. "Ha, of course you are. I bet you've just been a little distracted right?"

"I guess you could say that…" I thought, smiling as I popped the top. "It's… really been a whirlwind few months, huh Sensei?"

"How many times do I gotta say you don't need to call me that," He told me, smiling as he shook his head. "But you're right, it really has been. Ha… I remember you used to write a bunch of those songs while you sat with Sarina, she always helped."

"Yeah, I wouldn't have been able to do this if not for her," I said, reaching into my pocket and pulling out the small notebook with a sigh. "I got a lot to thank her for."

"Yeah, we both do," He admitted as we both walked just outside the door into the night. We stopped just outside the hospital doors. "Not to get too sentimental but… I can't help but be sad that I'm losing you and Ai both. I'll be all alone here now."

My chest nearly exploded. That was the last thing I wanted. I didn't need him to say it to see what Sarina, me and even Ai meant to Sensei. He really cared for us. I knew what his story was, he really grew up all alone just like I had, I assumed that was why we always got along so well and understood each other.

But we'd both helped each other over the years, and I was beyond grateful. Despite how sure I was of how I felt about Ai… I was upset to leave him too.

"Oh come on, don't give me that sad look now," Sensei said, smirking as he elbowed me. "You're finally getting out of here and going to live a dream I know you'll thrive at. You finally found someone who loves and understands you, that you can spend your life with right?"

I looked down at the ground and my coffee. "Y…yeah… I have."

I felt his hand pat my head, as if I was some little kid he messed up my hair. It was a bit awkward at first, but I appreciated the gesture as he smiled and nodded.

"Then you don't have anything to feel sorry for, you don't gotta worry about little old me," He said, smiling the entire time. "You and Ai both, you're going to do great things. I'm proud, I know Sarina would be happy… yeah, so go and let yourself be happy, Minato."

Let yourself be happy… yeah, I think I can now, and you're a part of that, Sensei, I thought, my heart managing to calm down as I looked back at him finally.

"I don't think I can ever thank you enough, but I'll try," I told him, blinking to stop myself from crying, as I turned and held out my hand. "Thank you for everything… Gorou!"

I saw his eyes go my hand, and then back up to me. I could remember how they looked when he first found me hiding away in a patients room years ago, and now… here we were. He was one of the reasons I was going to be able to live a fulfilling life. I couldn't find any words other than thank you to express what he'd meant.

Finally, he took my hand. "Jeez, you're so dramatic. You're still here another week, we'll have dinner before you leave. And don't think I won't be making my way to Tokyo to see the concerts with you and Ayane's songs, I do need to see Ai live after all."

"I'm sure we'll have tickets waiting for you," I promised, wiping my eyes with my free hand. "You… you're a huge reason I'm able to do it. I'll live my dream thanks-."

"You know what, why don't we save the heartfelt goodbyes for later huh? Today should be an exciting night, especially for you," He said, letting go of my hand. "Yeah, let's say goodbye another time alright?"

"Ha… yeah, we will later," I told him, wiping my face as I let out a sigh.

"You better get back before Ai spills all your secrets to your new boss," He said, walking down the path with a wave back, his back turned to me. "I'll see you in a bit, Minato!"

I nodded, and watched him walk, smiling as during that cold night I never felt more thankful for the life I'd been given. I was thankful for Gorou Amemiya, Ai Hoshino, and Ayane Midori… for Sarina, and even my father to some degree.

"Yeah… see you soon," I said, watching him get further away. "Sensei… thank you."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"I wonder where the Doctor is…" Ai said, a bit of worry in her voice as I looked up at her from my seat in-between her and Ayane's bed. "He should be back by now right?"

"Ha don't worry his sense of direction is terrible," I said, smiling as I leaned up over her bed meeting her bright eyes. "How are you feeling?"

Her eyes fell from me to her bed for a moment as she nodded. "I'm… okay."

Ayane had fallen asleep to take a nap, so now it was just me and Ai. I saw her eyes fall, and realized I could tell exactly what she was feeling. Over the last few months I'd picked up on her smaller signs like this. So, not as her doctor, but as her boyfriend, I felt obligated there to figure out what was wrong.

"Oh, are you really?" I asked, meeting her eyes. "That wasn't too convincing."

She chuckled, looking at me with a sad gaze. "I really can't lie around you can I?"

"Nope, and I can't lie around you either," I said, reaching over and grabbing one of her hands. "What's wrong? Nervous?"

Her smile stayed but she still didn't look at me. "I… suppose you could say that."

"You don't need to be, Sensei is top notch, and I'm not that bad a doctor," I told her, trying to smile reassuringly. "They'll be here happy and healthy soon-."

"No, it's not that," She said, finally looking up at me, a bit of a serious look on her face. "Minato, you… meant it right? What you told me last week when you gave me this."

On her wrist, sure enough was the black bracelet with star charms I'd gotten her. True to her word she hadn't taken it off since I gave it to her.

I chuckled. "Ha, of course I meant it. I love you, Ai. It's not a lie. I know I'll need to prove it but-."

"No, you don't need to prove it, I believe you," She said, and I felt her start squeezing my hand, and she leaned her head closer to me. "And… and you really are okay with it? Everything we'll have to do? We'll have to hide this, wear disguises while going out, and… the kids, you… you're really okay with living with someone else's kids?"

Little did she know, I'd been okay with it from the start.

"Well, they're your kids, they're you, so I'll look after them like I looked after you," I told her, squeezing her hand back. "Ai, I mean it. I don't care what happens because you're worth it."

I meant every word of it, and seeing her reaction was more then worth it. Her face got red, but she smiled and grabbed my hand with both of hers.

"Thank you… Minato, and well, again I'm sorry that I… I well I can't-."

"Don't worry, it's like I said, we got tons of time right?" I told her, being sure to smile.

"Yeah… we will," She said, leaning forward.

When she kissed me that time it felt different, really different, like she was trying to say 'I love you' with her lips instead of her words. I could feel it, and I appreciated it.

I know finally, this is the right choice, I smiled as she pulled back and looked up at me.

"Minato, I want to tell you something," She said, her eyes going down to the bed, but she still held my hand. "It's… about these kids."

I felt my chest nearly burst, I knew this was one of Ai's biggest worries, I'd known for months. Despite my reassurance, she still seemed to be worried I'd be upset having to take care of some other guys kids, but they weren't some other guys to me. They were Ai.

"Ha, I've told you before Ai, I'll treat them like my own," I told her. "You won't have to worry, you'll be a great Mom, and we'll make sure they're taken care of."

"You promise?" She said, her voice low, worried. "This is your last chance to back out."

I rolled my eyes but kept smiling. "I promise. No matter what happens, I'll be sure to look after those twins with everything I have."

She let out a breath, and her eyes started to sparkle again. I always felt warmer when she smiled, like she did then. She squeezed my hand again and looked me in the eyes.

"Okay, I believe you, thank you for that," She said, before I saw her biting the inside of her lip. Finally she let out a sigh. "I… I wanted to tell you… tell you about my ex-."

"Ohhhhhh how romantic you two are," Ayane's voice said suddenly.

Ai and I both yelped and then I heard her laugh.

"Hahahaha, you're both so adorable!" She said smugly. "I'll take full credit for setting you both up by the way. I had better get a spot of honor at the head table of your wedding! I deserve a gift during that myself, I found B-Komachi's new song writer and got you a boyfriend Ai, feel free to praise me all you like!"

I recovered from the heart attack and blushed. Despite having the pregnant belly Ayane still looked as pretty as ever, her silky brown hair was tied up, and her green eyes sparkled like Ai's did. I still couldn't believe she wasn't an idol herself with Ai, but I'd settle for being an assistant lyricist to her.

However, I was still stuck on what Ai had been about to say. She'd been tight lipped about the father of her kids with everyone.. and now she was going to tell me? I really didn't care who the guy was, but I'd have been lying if I didn't say I was a bit curious.

Ai recovered from the shock and laughed at her friend. "Haha don't worry Ayane; you'll be front and center! You know, Minato almost proposed with this last week too!"

I choked. "A…Ai!"

Ayane cooed. "Awww, so cute! I know that bracelet is beautiful, you have good taste Minato."

"I… well, it was easy really," I said sheepishly. I turned to Ai. "Ai, you… were about to saying something?"

Ai turned from Ayane, and her guard went back up. "Huh? Oh, that yeah. Ha, it's really not a big deal, I'll tell you later okay? It's like you said, we have all the time in the world, right?"

Her smile was so sweet that night, I nearly forgot everything. I'd been able to see through her lies the entire time we were together, and I still loved her despite that. But somehow I knew, 'It's really not a big deal', when referring to her ex, was somehow the biggest lie that Ai had ever told.

I knew deep down I should have pressed her a bit more, but I didn't, because why would I? We had all the time in the world after all. Despite that though, I felt like I needed to ask again.

But I didn't, I fell for the lie.

"Well, if you say so," I told her, smiling as I stood up from between the two beds. I dusted off my lab coat and walked towards the door. "I'm gonna go see where Dr. Amemiya ran off too, I'll be back soon alright?"

"Okay!" Ayane said with a wave. "You go while I get all your embarrassing secrets from your girlfriend."

"I hope they entertain you," I said with a chuckle.

Ai smiled and looked at me as my hand was on the doorknob. "Hurry back now Minato, you wouldn't keep me waiting, would you?"

I saw her eyes that night, and realized that even though we were together, I was still hopelessly, hopelessly her fan.

Also, knowing I'd be in love with her for a long time.

"Ha, I'd never dream of it," I told her.

And I left the room, leaving the girl who I considered my best friend, and the one I loved behind.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Jeez, where the hell did he run off too," I sighed, looking at my phone as the he hadn't picked up his phone again. "His door wasn't even unlocked, maybe he got hungry? Jeez, a horrible time for ramen Gorou."

I slid my phone back into my pocket, hoping that he'd beaten me back to the hospital. It was close by and I could see the door nearby. The moon was beautiful and full, the breeze was nice, a perfect night for a stroll. I knew Sensei did that sometimes, he just liked to go for nighttime walks, I would have joined him if not for the fact one of us wanted to be with Ai and Ayane at all times. My phone dinged again, and I pulled out to see it was a text from Ai, which made me roll my eyes because I told her to try and not use her phone in the hospital bed.

"What is she… ha, that's cute," I said, looking at the picture of her and Ayane both.

They had both leaned in, smiled, and took a selfie together.

I scrolled and looked at the message and read it with a smile on my face. "'I guess you could call tonight our first assignment between the three of us as co-workers right?' Ha, jeez, she's such a goof… I guess I'd better-."

"E…excuse me, are… are you a doctor here?"

I was midway through texting my message back when the person spoke.

I spun back around right away. It was a guy, wearing a black hoodie with the hood up, he was bent over, his hands were on his stomach, one was under his shirt. I didn't see his face, so right away I was on guard, who wouldn't be?

"Yes…" I said, taking one step back, my phone still in hand. "Can I help you?"

He let out a painful groan and when he stepped forward, he fell to one knee. "Can… can you… please take… take a look at… damn!"

And in the light of the streetlamps just outside the hospital, I saw it. Blood started dripping out from under his hoodie. It splattered to the ground, and his breathing started getting rapid. My eyes went wide as I saw the blood pool up under where he knelt, and instinct took over.

Contrary to what I often said and joked about with Ai; I did have some pride as a doctor. If I saw someone hurt I couldn't just ignore then. I stepped forward, all the fear gone from me now, it was replaced with worry. I got down to my knee and dropped my phone momentarily to the ground.

"Oh man, you're bleeding bad!" I said, kneeling next to the guy. My hand went to his back and I tried to help him up to his feet. "Come on, you can see it. We're not far from-."

I didn't make any noise except for a pained groan. The guys hand moved so quickly that the moment I touched him I could have sworn he was some kind of ninja. In the night, I saw it flicker, the steel was clean and when it went through my shirt and into my stomach I could even see my stunned reaction in the blade.

It was when he twisted the knife in my stomach I finally felt something.

"GAHHHHH!" I yelled, my insides burning to a crisp. I pushed the guy back and when the knife came out right away I knew I was in trouble. "Shit! Gahhhh… sh…dam...gahhhhhhhh!

So much blood started pooling around my stomach, and even when I pressed against it I could still feel my body already starting to shut down. My arms were too weak to apply enough pressure to stem the bleeding, and around my feet I could see the color wasn't good. I had seen enough blood from enough wounds to know that at the rate I was losing it, I couldn't move for long, it would have been better if the knife had stayed in me really.

But when I looked up and saw the guy, I knew exactly what I was dealing with. My thoughts were so rushed, what to do, who to call, how to save myself… but when he started screaming, when he looked at me, all I thought about was getting this guy as far away from the hospital as possible.

"You… you're him! You're him! You… YOU BASTARD!"

He stepped hard on my phone, crushing the screen, the picture of me and Sarina blinked once before it went black for good. My eyes were blinking rapidly, I could already see spots, the first stab may not have hurt me too much, but he had twisted it, drug it through my insides, if it had gotten an artery I was all but finished unless I got into the hospital now.

And… and worse this… this guy he… he…

"YOU TOOK ADVANTAGE OF HER!" He yelled, not moving as he shook with the bloody knife in his hand. His eyes were so wild I thought it was an old spirit that had come to haunt me. "Ai… Ai… you were Ai Hoshino's doctor weren't you?! The one that she… the one that she… UGHH YOU BASTARD, YOU TOOK HER FROM ALL OF US! YOU DEFILED HER YOU, YOU WENT AND RUINED HER GAVE HER KIDS-."

"Wh…who… who are… who are you talking about?" I groaned, backing away with buckling knees.

It was a desperate lie, but the guy was unstable, he clearly had no idea what he'd just done, plus it was dark outside, if I could get away with it…

"Wh…what?! AI HOSHINO! AI FROM B-KOMACHI!" He yelled, waving the knife. "Did… did I… maybe… maybe that other doctor…? No… no, did I… what…"

My eyes went wide, and when I panicked, I swore I started bleeding more.

O…other… doctor?! Se…SENSEI!

"No… no, no, no did I… NO!" He yelled, shaking his head. "It was you… you ruined her, he… he said so! YOU RUINED HER! I WON'T LET YOU GET AWAY WITH IT! So… so JUST DIE!"

I don't know what made him run, but that wasn't important. The guy who stabbed me turned and ran, the bloody knife was still clutched in his hand, he didn't look back, just leaving me there.

"D…damn… Sensei…" I whispered, my head was a jumble, but I turned and saw the light of the hospital doors about a quarter mile away. "A…Ai… Ai…"

All I could think about was that she was in danger.

And I had promised to be there with Sensei when she was giving birth.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"A…Ai…" I whispered as the doors to the lobby opened. Thankfully there was nobody in the lobby except the receptionist.

I had taken my coat off, the white coat was pressed against my stomach. The wound was bad, I knew it, it took everything I had just to stay upright.

The receptionist looked up and when she saw me her eyes went wide.

"Minato! There you are, Ms. Hoshino was asking for you and Dr. Amemiya. Her and Ms. Midori are in labor!" She said, standing up from the desk. "Where did…. Minato! You… you're-."

"Call security! Tell them to stay with Ai Hoshino, and don't leave her side!" I got out, my voice loud and stern as I leaned against the desk, no blood having leaked out yet. With the last of my breath, I shook my head. "A… a stalker, a guy with a knife he… he's looking for… for her and have someone go look for Dr. Amemiya! GO!"

The receptionist reached her hands out for me for a second. She was younger, probably not even out of college yet. She slowly nodded, clearly terrified, and ran back behind the desk to dial security. I heard her do it, and when I heard her start talking to them, stammering as she explained, I let out a breath and hobbled over to a seat.

I fell into it, and felt relief wash over me, but my hand… it fell from the coat. The white doctor coat that I had worked my whole life for, that I thought I wanted for so long. I had met Sensei in it, Sarina in it, Ayane in it, Ai in it.

I chuckled, leaning in the chair and holding my stomach. "Ha…. Sarina always said I looked tacky in it… you said the same thing too, huh Ai? Maybe… maybe you can help me out with my… my style when… when we…"

I saw the lab coat finally fall to the ground; my bloody hand fell next. I smiled though, even when the receptionist screamed out for me.

Why would she be screaming? And what reason did I have to be upset? I was going to live out my dream. Sensei was proud of me, I'd get him to Tokyo eventually and we'd be reunited. My best friend Ayane was going to be my boss and co-worker. I was going to date the girl of my dreams and raise kids with her. What was there for me not to be excited about?

I'm doing it Sarina, like I promised I would… yeah, like I promised.

"Promise me Mina, that you'll write songs one day! That you'll live your dream out… don't let all your talent go to waste. Do it for me, okay?"

Yeah… for you, I'll make our favorite idol shine.

"Ai… I'll… I'll make you… shine…."