None of this is real.
Aqua floated in a ceaseless void, held aloft by nothing and pulled down by nothing. This was the dream he was familiar with, a welcome regression from the nightmares that had plagued his recent attempts at sleep. No sound could permeate the void and nothing could enter his vision to remind him of who he was. In a way, it was bliss. A wispy stream of red emanated from his side, illuminated by the wavering beams of light somewhere far above him. It was impossible to make out how far away the surface of the water was, and Aqua wasn't trying.
This time, I can die before you.
Was that what this life amounted to? He could feel the reality of his dream replacing the comforts of the unknown with cold truth. The void was colored with water, pushing him downward as he drifted away from the spotlight of a shimmering full moon above him. Dying for Ruby's sake and completing his revenge was an acceptable outcome if it came down to it. Aqua wasn't conceited enough to value his life over that of his loved ones. But now there was a pressure building in the back of his head, thumping against his skull and insisting his victory was pyrrhic. A shadowy figure blotted out some of the wavering moon. Despite the impossibility of it, Aqua was sure the figure was the same girl who had guided him to this scenario. She smiled that playfully disturbing smile of hers as she stood on what was left of his dream's nothing, watching the consequences of her actions as the pain in Aqua's head became unbearable.
Why does it hurt so much?
The answer came to Aqua as the viscous liquid clogging his airstream took away even his ability to feel the stab wound in his abdomen. He was holding his breath. Was that an instinct, or was there some part of him still struggling desperately to live? Nothing he'd said to Kamiki about his hopes for the future had been a lie. Another chance to do medical school correctly was tantalizing. Akane, Kana, and everyone else he'd hurt deserved his honest repentance. Miyako hadn't been repaid for taking him in yet. There were so many debts to pay, yet if he were to survive here, it would make his foolish plan even more difficult to pull off. His sister would be related to two murderers instead of one, a family of cheats and killers. Kana, Akane, the others would all sink down with him into this silent void. If someone had to go, why shouldn't it be him?
They'd follow you.
What a nice thought. Aqua couldn't bring himself to believe that convenient notion. This desire to live was nothing more than a primal instinct he would shake soon enough. The shadow above him morphed, transforming into something longer and wider that he couldn't identify. Reality encroached further on his dream, the unimaginable pain suddenly triggering the visceral urge to survive even further. If he didn't take a breath soon, he would die. If he wanted to breathe, he needed to swim. His arms carved into the light above him, making little progress in any direction. No matter how much he struggled, he wasn't going anywhere, a fitting outcome for someone who didn't even know what he was trying to live for. A ringing in his ears vaguely reminded him of a song he felt like he'd heard somewhere before, but he couldn't be sure. With one last effort for posterity, Aqua managed to scrape near the water's surface before his lungs forced his mouth open, a stream of bubbles beating him to the surface.
As he drifted downward again, Aqua felt a sick sense of relief. This was the best he could do by himself. It was only fair that this was how it ended. As this thought comforted him, a hand clasped the one he'd left outstretched near the water's surface. He couldn't fathom who that hand belonged to, but his own embraced it with a death grip. Consciousness faded as the hand pulled the drowning man out of the water and back into the world of the living.
Then this time, she will die before you.
Aqua's eyes opened slowly. He was in his bed, decidedly dry. It was the same dream that had been repeated so many times he'd forgotten how to be scared of it. The last part was new, but his mind had replayed his dying moment so many times that he could envision it perfectly while awake should he wish to. Searching for answers in that moment had grown droll long ago, like recycling the same lunch and dinner for an entire month on a college student's budget. It was better to focus on the present moment. The side of the duvet opposite him was empty, indicating that Kana had awoken some time before him. It was probably a remnant of whatever schedule she'd been on while travelling, but Aqua still lamented not being able to wake up to her sleeping face, a bright mess of crimson in the otherwise plain bedroom. She was usually a much heavier sleeper.
With some lethargy, Aqua hoisted himself out of bed. He was still wearing the shorts and shirt he'd hastily thrown on after getting home last night, the events of the previous day and his failure catching up to him all at once as he crossed the boundary into their sanctuary. Kana had been understanding last night, but Aqua figured she'd take issue with him getting up an hour after the sun rose. Crossing into the living area, Aqua was grateful the blinds remained drawn on the balcony. The last thing he needed was to burn his dim eyes with sunlight first thing in the morning. Instead, his gaze trained on the next nearest light source, the dying glow stick on the nearby shelf. Shuffling over, he replaced it silently, clasping his hands together in prayer as he did.
In the corner of his eye, Aqua thought he could see Ai standing on the balcony through a slit in the blinds. Unlike before, the sense of guilt that normally washed over him was rejected. He was in the middle of something more important at the moment. The guilt from never lifting this glowstick when he needed to most was something he had full control over, and the years had given him time to accept that Ai Hoshino's death was something a four-year-old couldn't have prevented. Her revenge was another matter, but Aqua shoved that aside as he finished his ritual. This was all he needed right now.
"Would you mind not being creepy for at least the first five minutes after being awake?"
Aqua's prayer was interrupted by its subject, standing with her arms folded against the counter that separated the kitchen and dining table. Having broken the silence that had held his dreams and morning, Aqua faced Kana with a groggy smile. "Sorry. Old idol habit."
"Well, cut it out. Or don't do it in front of me like I'm dead."
The former actor would have argued the point as a diehard idol otaku with two lifetimes of experience, but he wasn't cogent enough to elucidate at the moment. If Kana actually hated his ritual, she would have thrown out the glow sticks a long time ago, probably. Instead of explaining this, he turned his full attention to the genuine article. She had swiped one of his older shirts from his closet in favor of digging through her half-opened travel bag for something to wear last night. Most of her belongings still sat in a partially unpacked suitcase by the triple locked front door. It was practically part of the décor for one or both of them to have a suitcase ready for travel at a moment's notice. The mess ran contrary to the upper crust living room area marked by swept floors and high-end furniture, as if the landing served as a protective barrier that ensured work was left at the door.
Aqua could understand why Kana hadn't bothered to dig into their second bedroom and office area for something more suitable. Contrary to their living area, which was neatly lined up with shelves decorated with memorabilia from their work and various other effects to complement the overpriced furniture, the office space was a clustered amalgamation of Aqua and Kana's tastes. It was hard enough keeping the floor clear without having to actually locate something one needed in there. He'd done just that a few days ago when looking for something to occupy his addled mind and come back to safe harbor disappointed. "What I need is for you to find books that aren't weird for me to read. I don't need to learn how to build a spaceship out of household appliances."
Kana huffed, puffing out her chest as she circled the counter to confront her boyfriend directly. The smell of what could pass for food wafted from the stove behind her, a less conventional event than would normally be expected for a kitchen area.
"Oh, because my cool and fun books aren't technical enough for you, Dr. Hoshino? What's wrong with opening your mind to other life skills?"
"In what universe is Ghost Hunting for the Legally Blind considered a skill you'd need, Kana? Why not get a book on keeping office spaces tidy?"
The actress stuttered, but only for an instant. "It's interesting and half of the crap in that room is your useless garbage! Don't think I didn't notice how long it's been since you cleaned in here, mister. Being sort of famous isn't an excuse to not take care of yourself. Besides, it's because of these books that we have breakfast today!" A finger jabbed toward an open book on the counter with a pair of Kana's glasses balanced precariously on the edge of a page to hold it down.
Wandering over, Aqua picked it up carefully and read the cover. 103 Ways to Prepare Eggs. The book took the title quite literally, demonstrating methods of egg preparation so nuanced that only a chef would be able to discern the differences in taste, with no mention of actual recipes to be found. Glancing over to the kitchen, Aqua noticed two plates of scrambled eggs and slightly burnt toast sitting next to the stove along with multiple dirty pans and at least a dozen cracked eggshells. "Well? Not so useless now, is it?"
Aqua decided not to press the issue. If Kana was making a legitimate attempt to put her days of ordering food delivery for every meal behind her, it wasn't his place to turn that effort away. She'd taken the pains to clean up their living space and prepare probably potable provisions. Aqua's role as the boyfriend at this point was to be humbly grateful for his good fortune, but he couldn't fully overlook the notion that Kana would likely have killed him if he'd woken up before she finished creating the disaster area in their kitchen. The hardworking girl would loathe his impropriety, unintentional or not, and he'd be eating alone with his phone again. Such determination was one of Kana's best qualities when she made reasonable use of it. "We'll see if it survives the taste test," Aqua decided, moving the plates to the kitchen table.
Kana sat at the modern steel table but didn't eat, instead staring at Aqua intently until he ventured a bite into the runny scramble of eggs himself. "It's good," Aqua judged truthfully. It was difficult to mess up scrambling an egg. "Thanks for putting the effort in."
Kana exhaled. "Good. Of course it's good. Because of the book!" She laughed in nervous relief and Aqua joined her good-naturedly. "But you're right, I need to get some new stuff anyways. And we need to clean the office area. And restock the fridge, we're low on eggs. Oh, we should go to a bookstore today!"
"Gotta go to Ichigo Pro today," Aqua waved off as he buttered his toast. "Maybe if there's time afterwards we'll do one or two of those things."
"We'll make time," Kana insisted with unfounded confidence as she attacked her plate ravenously.
Aqua nodded to himself as he ate. It was important that he use this opportunity to make time for Kana and himself. That was sort of what the director had asked of him, wasn't it? Something about the aging man unsettled Aqua, but he hadn't taken the time to process what exactly it was. If he never saw him again after getting back in with the hospital it would be too soon. "It's nice to be able to be in person again," He mentioned idly as he fetched orange juice from the fridge. "Over the phone always feels… stiff." Although he understood the appeal, Kana through a camera felt too much like a different entity to him even when she wasn't acting.
"What are you, an old man?" Aqua coughed into his drink and had to wave off an offer for the Heimlich. Any other day he could have waved that insult off, but that particular nerve had been exposed too recently.
"Do you have ketchup for these eggs? They're missing something."
Kana's response was to kick Aqua's shin under the table then retreat to a crisscross position before he could retaliate. It was tempting to get up and pursue this fight further, but Aqua held back once more. He still couldn't clearly see the line between where to push Kana on some matters and when to stay his tongue. Before they had dated, it had been much easier. No, before they dated, he hadn't cared as much how he pushed her buttons so long as it brought him closer to his own desires. He'd greedily indulged in her presence as a breather from the more pressing revenge-related matters at hand. But that wasn't sustainable, and the drive to do right by Kana, not to mention everyone else he'd used, got him out of bed more times in the morning than he'd admit to anyone. He was the one who had to match up to their expectations now, not the other way around.
In a way, Kana and Aqua's relationship had maintained this vague homeostasis due to how infrequently they were able to physically get together. The idea that Kana was both his idol and girlfriend sometimes gave him the same headache that came on when he pictured Ai as both his mother and his idol. The two words couldn't go together, yet he continued using them interchangeably. A month of a grueling residency had been far too long for them to be apart, widening the gap between himself and his understanding of who the man with dull orbs where stars once gleamed black in his eyes was.
Perhaps that was why his unpleasant memories had surfaced again. If these problems were manifesting physically, he had no choice but to find a way to address them before he started to spread his misfortune. Kana's expression went from cheeky to concerned when Aqua didn't respond to her provocation. "Come on, when you make a face like that I might actually feel bad. They weren't that terrible, were they? Aqua?"
Aqua found it within himself to focus on the present moment. This wasn't the sort of thing he should be overanalyzing. Right now, he was spending time with his girlfriend. "No, they were fine. I was wondering if the news picked up anything about us."
The concern shifted to irritation. "Oh. Just a puff piece or two. If they'd caught me sneaking out with someone else it might have made more headlines." Kana withdrew her phone and slid it over to Aqua, motioning dismissively toward the news story that she already had pulled up.
Arima Ditches Interview to Elope with Surgeon!
Aqua's brow furrowed as he glanced over it. Obviously the truth had been stretched. If he didn't know it was for shock value, he'd be proud that Kana's name was invoked and his wasn't. Kana got up and sauntered over to stand behind his chair, reading in time with him. "It's still just talk and stuff. If I hadn't postponed my interview circuit they wouldn't be saying anything about our elopement."
"Ah, yes, our elopement. Forgot we had to fit that in today too. Do they expect you to make the interviews up?"
"Put it on the calendar in the office. Not sure about the interviews. Mem's up my ass about supporting her on this, which is fair enough since I'm ditching her for America soon. I'll probably have to cut some deals. Need to talk to Miyako about it."
Aqua smirked. "Well, we can always make the news story true. Then they'll have nothing else to speculate on and you won't have to finish your job. It'll make your fans go crazy." The star offered his hand over his shoulder to the idol behind him that Kana took eagerly. He drew back, bringing his head close to hers. She smelled like a potent mix of burnt eggs and lingering lavender from the perfume she'd applied to hide her culinary struggles. Aqua's emotions began to run rampant as her warm fingers kneaded in between his own, his heart thumping as he wondered whether Kana felt the same flutter in her chest when they got close. Her sultry expression made his concerns insignificant as he lost himself in the present moment. This was real; he was alive for this reason alone.
"Oh, you'd like that, wouldn't you? A beautiful wife who cooks eggs and is otherwise too busy to be home so you can brood about your bad habits in peace."
"Sounds like a dream. Where do I sign up?"
"On Tinder. Eat your damn eggs." The moment ended with a small chop to Aqua's temple as Kana returned to her seat. The actress could be shockingly stingy with her affection when she got what she wanted.
Aqua ate without further complaint. Pissing an idol off wasn't the same as pissing Kana Arima off. Whatever lies she told as an idol didn't carry over when it came time to castigate Aqua where it hurt, and he was still in the doghouse for getting them together in the first place.
"So what's your plan to make up for lost time?" Kana pressed as they washed the dishes together.
A raised eyebrow greeted Kana's expectant look. "What makes you think I was able to throw a date plan together in the last 8 hours while I was asleep? We have to go to the studio today. We can think of something after that."
"Hm. Working date. Got it." Kana nodded to herself. "I'll have to wear something that can pass for professional."
"Kana, it's not a date. I need to speak with Miyako about-"
"You're bringing your mom into this already? Isn't that moving kind of fast? I thought we were eloping?"
"Ask the lady who slept in my bed last night. She does all my planning."
Kana blushed but didn't falter in her retort. "She'd say that you need to give her half an hour to get ready."
"Then tell her that I'll finish the dishes while she spends an hour overthinking what to wear."
The peck on the cheek he got for finishing the chores was offset by a poke in the chest for the jab at Kana's punctuality. Ruby had the same problem, but Aqua found that more excusable. The woman skipping to their bedroom wasted time picking outfits when she knew very well that Aqua would appreciate whatever she ended up with while Ruby picked outfits just for the thrill of making people wait on her. The rest of the world's fashion sense didn't matter when they were trying to avoid the public eye.
Granted, Kana had gotten better, but not good enough to prevent them from being late to multiple filming sites. Maybe if they bothered to organize the secondary bedroom they'd be able to resolve this conundrum more easily. Instead of dealing with that, Aqua focused on how he was going to please the former idol after getting to the bottom of his adopted mother's betrayal. It didn't enlighten him with any new information, but it kept his mind occupied as he filled their dishwasher.
After ending up in a simple grey dress and beret combo that supposedly matched Aqua's faded blue sweater, Aqua drove the duo to Ichigo Productions. Despite having his license for decades technically, Aqua wasn't as familiar with driving as he should be. There hadn't been much of a need since getting his license, with Kana and Miyako insisting they drive him everywhere during his recovery. He couldn't exactly explain that he'd had the ability to drive longer than they'd been alive, and his old life had been walkable enough to eliminate most of the need for a car anyways. Nobody would ever say that Aqua Hoshino couldn't play the role of a carpooler.
While Kana babbled about how this was possibly the cheapest date she'd ever been on, Aqua's thoughts coalesced on his pressing task. Miyako or someone under her had omitted his psychological report from his medical records when submitting his residency application. It was the sort of thing that would never have been noticed had Aqua not broken down, but since he had, it was the trappings of a large scandal. The news hadn't caught on yet, but if they did, there was a reasonable chance it would damage Kana's and his career. To avoid this unacceptable outcome, he needed answers from Miyako herself.
Ichigo Productions hadn't changed much despite the emergence of several big names under its employ, among them Kana and Aqua's sister. Miyako still ran the company in Ichigo Saitou's stead, Aqua's adoptive absentee father doing most of the grunt work behind the scenes supporting Ruby. Outside of a new face or two that Aqua greeted as they entered the office area, it was the same nostalgic place he'd called home for most of this life. The computers were the only things that had been replaced or updated in recent years, with Miyako favoring on-site meetings with prospective hires rather than fighting a losing battle to keep the office chic enough for even video interviews. The anachronistic strategy had brewed a rumor around the company was that she just didn't want her home to be a revolving door of unknown talents looking for their big break, but Aqua chose to believe the more practical claim.
Entering Miyako's familiar upstairs workspace revealed that she'd double booked herself. The woman was deep in conversation with Mem-cho, B-Komachi's other former idol. The bubbly blonde was unique among Aqua's peers in that the last few years since Kamiki hadn't changed her appearance much at all thanks to already being in her late 20s. The most noticeable difference was that she often hid whatever trendy outfit she was wearing behind their shared alma mater's sweater during the colder months like it was a badge of honor. Her fake devil horns seemed to perk up when Aqua and Kana entered like they could detect danger. "Oh shit, it's AquKana! You're okay!"
Part of Aqua's soul died when Mem used the term she coined to address them. "Don't you have classes today?" Kana asked rudely, stepping away from Aqua before Mem could snap a picture for her social media. "And not now. We're not exactly trying to announce our situation to the world, Mem."
Mem bit her lip but put the phone away obediently. "Sorry, sorry! Bad habit. Also, no classes until this afternoon! I had to come by to figure out what we're going to do about promoting the docuseries now that all our opportunities went up in smoke."
"Lay it on a bit thicker, I don't think the people across the street caught that," Kana groused as she crossed the room toward the couch.
"Nobody is blaming you, Kana," Miyako corrected gently as she stepped out from behind her desk. "Between the tragic passing of that Unscripted actress, Aqua's situation and Ruby being unavailable during her tour, we've found ourselves in a bit of a conundrum. But that can wait for a moment."
The older woman hadn't let a day of her age show since Aqua had known her, but when she suddenly swept across the room to embrace Aqua in her arms, Aqua felt the weight of decades of invested time holding him in place. "My boy. Be honest. How are you? Are you alright?" Concern overflowed from her eyes as she pulled back to evaluate her son.
Aqua couldn't bring himself to meet the expectant stare, choosing instead to awkwardly embrace the woman while Kana and Mem looked on, bemused. He still had no idea what people expected him to be able to say to mollify the potent mixtures of concern and pity they kept foisting onto him. Honesty certainly wasn't an option most of the time. "I'm fine, just like I said when you called… mom."
"It's not the same as over the phone," Miyako insisted, pulling him deeper into the hug that he had reluctantly initiated. "This is all my fault. I'm so sorry."
Now feeling sufficiently awkward, Aqua found himself patting Miyako on the back as she doted on him. "Of course he's not alright. He thinks visiting our place of business qualifies as a date."
"Who said this was a date, you or me?" Aqua fired back, using the comment as an excuse to pull away from Miyako.
"Me, but only because you're too bashful to admit you've lost your touch after all this time," Kana taunted, finding her way to the couch to kick her feet up and watch the show that was about to ensue. "Mem, I went to the trouble of making eggs for breakfast and this jerk had the nerve to ask for ketchup. Can you believe that?"
Mem tilted her head. "Eggs are better with ketchup though. It's cheap, effective flavor."
"Oh, I see. College makes you insane. Miyako, you're running an asylum here, not a talent agency. Better change the sign."
"Kana, don't harass our talent," Miyako warned, tapping a finger against her folded arms. "Aqua, treat Kana better, don't pretend you don't know how. And treat yourself better. If you let your problems stay bottled up for too long, this is the sort of thing that happens. Ketchup on eggs is a sin in this house."
A stinging retort was seconds from leaving Aqua's mouth before he caught himself. They didn't know that he couldn't explain himself properly. It was his role to temper his anxiety, and he'd failed. Therefore, he needed to accept this admonishment. "Sorry. It's been a long few days. But right now we need to talk about what happens next."
Miyako's critical stance softened for the moment. "Alright. Let's sit down and go over what I know. Kana, this may affect you as well, so join us." Though she'd been planning on perusing a fascinating magazine dedicated to berets, Kana begrudgingly obliged.
"Hold on," Mem requested, raising her hand and causing her oversized sleeve to slip downward. "I get a turn with Aqua first."
"I'll help you with homework later," Aqua promised. "Right now, I need to discuss what I'm doing next with Miyako."
"Not that! Well, yes, maybe some of that later, but I was worried sick about you too! You could have at least let me know that you were up and about."
The thought hadn't even come close to crossing Aqua's mind. Mem was a good friend, but that was all the more reason for him to keep the streamer in the dark. No news was supposed to be good news when it came to people's personal lives. "Sounds like you figured the facts out just fine by yourself." Miyako avoided Aqua's veiled accusation by retrieving tea for everyone.
Mem pouted. "Come on, man, don't shut out your college buddy just because the going got rough. Think about all the 3 AM Ruby calls I've fielded for you!"
"I'm not the one who does 3 AM horror game streams with my phone on." Mem gasped in mock indignation like that fact had conveniently slipped her mind. Aqua would have been happy to keep going had Kana not shot him a look signaling he offer her an olive branch. "But, uh, sorry, Mem. I meant to reach out to you sooner, but it's been a long 24 hours."
This apology was all Mem needed to completely reverse her mood. Her smile brightened the room in time with Miyako turning the kitchen lights on. "I'll hold you to that next time! Alright, I'm satisfied. Miyako, holler when you need me, I'll be downstairs bothering Shun. Aqua, glad you're up and about, seriously!" Mem darted out the door just before Miyako placed a cup of tea in her empty seat for later.
Mem had been a convenient friend to have around during Aqua's first two years of higher education, understanding navigating social situations better than most celebrities trying to survive in the wild that Aqua knew. The actor was grateful that Mem had the sense to allow Miyako and him to work out their issues in private despite Miyako's offer for her to join them. Kana carried no such inhibitions and was casually sipping her tea as Aqua joined her at the old wooden dining room table. Even if she was allowed to be there, the contrast earned her a reproachful look she pointedly ignored.
Once everyone was comfortable, Miyako pulled out a familiar set of records and slipped them over to Aqua. "To be clear, it was both Saitou and my decision to withhold your psychological evaluations. One quack's word out of ten shouldn't have been worth all the progress we'd seen you make on this problem. But you should have been looped in. As your parents and employer, that's an unacceptable failure on our parts. We promise to do better in the future." The woman bowed deeply in her seat.
Aqua reviewed the documents as Miyako spoke. The evaluations missing were from shortly before he'd been discharged from the hospital and were attached to the evaluations he'd faked as a child. In glancing through them, everything would seem fine, but one or two of the doctors had seen through the cracks he'd left behind in that façade under more intense scrutiny. It had taken an extra month to get their okay to allow him to rejoin society as his wounds healed. Almost all of this had been hushed up from the public's ear, but Aqua had presumed the records were untouchable. "It's fine. I appreciate your sentiment. How long will it take to correct the records and how do we prevent the media from finding out?"
Miyako glanced down, unwilling to admit the truth for a moment. "It's going to take some time, and I don't know. As long as nothing particularly public happens, you should be in the clear. But if any of your colleagues decide to speak to the press for a quick buck, there's not much we can do about it. Your reputation-"
"I don't care about my reputation. Just make sure it doesn't come back to bite any of you," Aqua interrupted, thumbing toward Kana and where Mem had disappeared. "You know I don't need acting anymore."
"Unless I decide you do," Kana chimed in, glancing over the papers casually as Aqua discarded them. "It helps get these nasty emotions out, you know. Like a spa day."
"Regarding timetables, it will take a few weeks for the doctors who originally made these evaluations to ratify them for the updated records, since they won't accept anything we send at face value this time. Then you'll have to visit at least some of them so the records can be officially revised. After that we have to submit them to the hospital where they'll be scrutinized for any further mistakes and omissions. When all that's done they still have the option to deny you reentry if they don't like what they see."
"The director said he'd allow me back in should the papers be corrected." Aqua could feel a headache coming on. He hadn't expected this much red tape.
"And even if he meant that, there's going to be a larger magnifying glass on you than usual for a while. If I was them, I'd be looking for any excuse I could get to let you go, no offense. If the story gets out that you're being given this exception, it'll make the hospital look bad. Aqua, be honest with me. If this is what you want, I'll move the world for you if I have to. Is this something that you feel capable of doing?" Miyako's protective side had ironically only gone into overdrive after the immediate threat to her adopted children passed.
Aqua ruminated on her words for a moment. There was no question that he needed to become a doctor. Acting was no longer a luxury available to him and being a surgeon was the only goal he knew Aqua and Goro both shared. In contrast, the hospital really didn't have much of a reason to keep a problem child like him around. Director Satoshi must have more sway than Aqua had initially presumed. Miyako and Saitou's overprotective response in removing his medical records was just another example of people meddling in his life when they didn't have the sense to let him handle his own problems. No, if he was stronger, he would have been able to handle the application process himself. The next step was clear. "Regardless of what they outwardly say they want, I have to proceed as though they fully intend to reinstate me. I will handle the process of setting up doctor's appointments and-"
"You'll do no such thing," Miyako interrupted, holding up a hand impassively. "This is a problem we caused as your talent agency. It falls on us legally and morally to resolve it. You will be as involved as you like in the process, but the ultimate burden of the work will fall on us. That's the least we can do for you."
"Yeah, he's going to be busy with me anyways," Kana chimed in unnecessarily. "Better yet, he should look into an acting role while he's out of doctor business to do."
"I'll look into a new acting role when you become a doctor," Aqua rebuked callously before focusing on Miyako, unsure where Kana's sudden fixation on his acting was coming from. "Fine. At the least, please don't hide anything from them anymore." He'd worry about finding a way to move things along himself when Ruby came back to distract their mother.
"Thank you for trusting us." Miyako placed a hand over Aqua's on the table as Kana sulked. "I'm truly sorry that this happened."
She didn't invite any more culpability on herself or Aqua with her sentiment, and Aqua found that acceptable. There would be no point in belaboring the minutia of who was most at fault for their current situation. Better to move forward. If the rest of Aqua's problems could be resolved that easily, he wouldn't still be seeing his favorite idol everywhere.
Scheduling appointments was startlingly easy. Aside from attending Ruby's concert in a few days, his schedule was wide open. All of his classes had online options to accommodate what was supposed to be a resident's busy schedule, but it worked just fine for a man stuck in his house as well. Aqua found himself smiling as he rose from his seat, grateful that things had worked out more smoothly than expected. "That all works for me. I need to retrieve some textbooks from my room. You two needed to discuss the interview circuit for the docuseries anyways, right?"
"Yes, that's why I asked Mem to join us. We'll be discussing things that might affect your appointments while you're here as well. Keep an ear open," Miyako warned before turning her attention to Kana.
Kana opened her mouth to protest, but Aqua silenced her with a look and a small shake of the head. The duo had a variety of small signals to use when they were in public to convey messages that they didn't want the media to get wind of. Aqua was telling Kana that whatever she wanted to say could wait until later. Though she didn't like it and Aqua would pay for it later, Kana allowed herself to be absorbed in conversation with Miyako as Mem somehow sensed her moment to return to the living area.
Leaving the women to chat, Aqua retreated to his old room. Calling it a childhood room felt disingenuous and calling it a base of operations for his revenge plot felt childish. Unlike Ruby, who had decorated her quarters with Ai memorabilia as well as her own personal effects, Aqua's room could pass for a show room in an apartment complex. Aside from the full bookshelf, desk where a computer once sat, and neatly made bed, nothing from his time in this room remained. In the end, it was just a room where neither Goro nor Aqua had ever felt comfortable. Aqua hesitated when he saw Ai crouched over the bookshelf, perusing the first row of medical textbooks frivolously.
When she heard the door open, Ai looked up, pitch black stars in her eyes causing Aqua's breath to hitch. The Hoshinos were a family of liars, and Ai was no exception. Though his instincts were commanding him to turn away, Aqua couldn't afford to lose himself here. If any answer to his questions about who he was still existed in this world, he'd have to start with what he'd left in this room.
Aqua composed himself enough to shut his own eyes. He could feel his mother's pitying glare on him just as if Miyako herself was delivering it. But Ai Hoshino was dead. There was no point dredging up her memory to sully it with his delusions. Aqua needed to control his emotions. When he opened his eyes again, Ai was gone, leaving a faint sense of longing behind. The budding doctor allowed himself to breathe. That would have to be enough progress for now. With his resolve fortified, Aqua took his mother's place and began to dig out from the bookshelves what remained of his revenge plot.
A/N: Her Camera (彼女のカメラ) is a 2016 Japanese indie rock song by Shin Rizumu. The song is about the desire to understand those close to you by being able to see the world through their perspective. Go listen now, it needs more views: www. youtube dot com slash watch ?v=A69ur-OuanA
Before anything else, let me say thanks for all the positive feedback from those who took the time to comment and leave kudos! It really does make a difference to me. I meant to get chapter 2 out sooner, but this one ended up being a lot longer than I expected. In fact, what you just read if you didn't skip to the end for some reason is only half of what I originally planned chapter 2 to be. The second half will be posted as its own chapter in the next few days, so no long wait for content this time. Until the next chapter!