Chapter 17 : Who's the father?

Chapter Summary : Ai overheard her kids wondering who their father was, and that got her thinking - They should know who their father is.

It's been a day since Ai and her kids moved into their new home, and though the boxes were only half unpacked and the furniture slightly out of place, the children seemed to adore the place. For the first time in their lives, they both had their own room, and their happiness shone through in every little thing they did.

Their room was fairly simple, two small beds on each corner of the room with space in the middle. Aqua had claimed the bed by the window, and had set up his little bookshelf with books and his legos on his half of the room. While Ruby got the bed by the door, and she had already arranged her plush toys on it.

Ai had spent the morning adding finishing touches to the kitchen. She had placed the final stack of dishes in the cabinet, wiped the counter with a satisfied sigh and stepped back to admire her work. The stove gleamed, ready for its first real test. She turned it on, testing the flame and hummed thoughtfully.

"Mm… what should I make for breakfast?" she mumbled to herself, imagining all the possibilities. With that thought, she made her way to the kids' room to ask them.

But as she approached Aqua and Ruby's room, she paused behind the door at the sound of their voices.

"... what do you mean you sometimes wonder who our father is?" Ruby's voice was curious but carried a hint of skepticism.

"I mean exactly what I said," Aqua replied, his tone almost cautious, "Don't you ever wonder who our father is?"

Ruby let out an exaggerated hmph with a smirk, "You dummy, It was obviously an immaculate conception. There was never a guy." Ruby proclaimed.

"That's not how the world works, Ruby," Aqua deadpanned, "And I've been wondering about it.. ever since.."

"Ever since?" Ruby gave him a questioning look.

After a pause he said, "Nevermind. But don't you think it's strange? We don't know anything about him. Who he is, or where he is. Not even his name."

"I'm telling you, it was an immaculate conception, like how the goddess Mary had a child. Ai obviously isn't married." said Ruby.

"And she doesn't have a boyfriend either, we would know if she did. And that's what worries me a little. I want to know what happened." Aqua said.

Ruby crossed her arms. "You're overthinking this, it doesn't matter now. Who cares who he is?"

Aqua didn't say anything in reply, but his face clearly said he was thinking about it.

Behind the door, Ai froze. Her breath hitched slightly as she listened, she had not expected this. Their whole talk, wondering who their father was, brought her thoughts to him. A dull ache arose in her chest.

She hadn't really thought about it, she never got the time to think about it. Or maybe that's an excuse because she didn't want to.

But now,

'They deserve to know,' she told herself. 'He deserves to know, too…'

She took a deep breath, steadying herself, and her smile came instinctively. As their conversation drew to a close, she stepped into the room with that familiar expression.

"Aqua, Ruby!" she called cheerfully, as she stood by the door with one hand on the doorframe. "I'm done setting up the kitchen. What would you two like for breakfast?"

The kids turned their heads sharply, startled. Ruby recovered first, grinning as she raised her hand. "Pancakes! I want pancakes!"

Aqua, though clearly still lost in thought, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, pancakes sound good."

"Pancakes it is!" Ai said, clapping her hands together.

- x -

That evening, Ai found herself at a payphone in a street away from her home. She could have made the call from her cell, but she knew leaving a digital footprint wasn't a good idea. The call wasn't about rekindling old feelings, and she had no clue how he would react.

Inside the booth, the cold plastic receiver rested in one hand while her other thumb scrolled through the glowing screen of her phone. She hesitated the moment his name appeared.

"Should I really contact him?" The thought echoed in her mind.

Five years. That's how long it had been. She had been the one to leave — no, abandon him, disappearing without a word. Back then, she'd told herself it was for the best, for his sake as much as her own. But now, standing there with the phone in her hand, she couldn't shake the nagging question — was it really okay to call him after all this time?

'I'm doing this for my kids,' She told herself, and steadied herself with a deep breath. She dialed his number, and dropped her cell in her bag.

The dial tone rang in her ear. Once, twice, thrice. Her heart hammered faster with each ring, then — click.

"Hello?" His voice came through, older but still unmistakably his.

She closed her eyes briefly and whispered, "Hikaru?"

The silence that followed stretched on unbearably, she held her breath and each second twisted her stomach further.

"... Ai?" His voice finally broke through, cracked with disbelief, "Is this really you?"

"It's me," she said, louder this time.

Another pause. The silence on the line seemed to grow heavier, filled with unspoken questions. Finally, he spoke again, his voice hesitating. "How… how have you been?"

Ai forced herself to take another steadying breath, her nerves starting to smooth over. She slipped back into the confidence she'd honed over the years, "I've been great," she replied, her tone practiced and breezy.

"Yeah, I can imagine." There was a faint smile in his voice, "You're everywhere these days. I heard B-Komachi got the Dome concert. Congratulations."

"Thanks," she said softly. Then, cutting to the point, "Listen, I called you to talk about something."

"Do you… want to get back together?" he asked cautiously with a glimmer of hope in his voice.

"No. I'm not trying to get back together or anything." she said, "I wanted to tell you that… you're a father."

The silence that followed was deafening, but this time, she'd been expecting it. She braced herself for him to hang up, but the line stayed connected.

"You were… really pregnant back then?" he finally asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "And you kept it?"

"Yes," she said quietly, her fingers absently twining around the telephone cord. "I kept them. Twins — a boy and a girl. Aqua and Ruby. They're four now. Healthy, smart… amazing, really."

He exhaled sharply, and she could almost hear him struggling to process what she'd just told him. "I don't…" he trailed off, his voice full of unspoken emotion.

"You don't have to take responsibility," Ai said quickly, keeping her tone as steady as she could. "I'm not asking for anything. I just… think they should know who their father is." She glanced at the faint reflection of herself in the scratched glass of the booth. "I can't talk much here, but… do you want to meet them?"

"I…" He hesitated, "I do, but.."

"Okay," she said, cutting him off gently. "I live in Apartment 103, ZZ complex. Come by whenever you feel ready. No pressure."

Another brief pause, before he spoke, "Oh… I guess I'll see you then?" His voice was quiet, almost fragile.

"Yeah," she replied softly.

- x -

The sudden phone call had left Hikaru reeling.

Five years. It had been five long years since he last heard her voice — the girl he loved, the girl who had made him believe in a future he'd dared to dream of. The same girl who vanished without a word, taking all his hope with her.

And now, out of nowhere, she was back. Not to rekindle their relationship, but to drop a bombshell on him — She had his kids. Twins. Aqua and Ruby.

His head spun as he paced the small apartment, the shadows of the evening creeping through the blinds. Why had she kept them from him? Why hadn't she told him she was pregnant when they were together?

Questions swirled in his mind like a storm, each one louder than the last. He glanced at his phone. The call had come from a payphone, and there was no way to call her back. No way to demand answers.

His heart clenched.

'She… she wouldn't have my kids if she didn't love me, right?' The thought rose unbidden, both comforting and agonizing at the same time.

"Apartment 103, ZZ complex," he muttered under his breath, repeating the address as if afraid he might forget. "I have kids. I can't just storm in demanding answers… not in front of them."

He scrolled through his contact list, and quickly called Nino. The line rang twice before Nino's voice came through.

"Hey, Hikaru. What's up?"

"Nino!" His voice was urgent, "Where are you right now?"

"At home… why? What happened?"

"Ai called me," he said, already grabbing his coat. "I'll explain everything when I get there." Without waiting for a response, he hung up and rushed out the door.

The drive to Nino's house was a blur, his thoughts a chaotic jumble as he tried to process what had just happened. By the time he reached her doorstep, his nerves were frayed.

Nino opened the door, her expression shifting to concern the moment she saw him. "What's going on?"

He walked inside and paced the length of her living room, "She called me," he said, almost in disbelief. "After all these years, she finally called me."

Nino folded her arms, watching him warily. "What… what did she say?"

"Do you remember I told you Ai and I were together, five years ago? And how she might have been carrying my child?" His words tumbled out in a rush. "She told me I'm a father."

Nino's eyes widened. "What?! She had your kids?"

"Yeah. Twins," he said, running a hand through his hair. "A boy and a girl — Aqua and Ruby. She wants me to meet them because… because the kids should know who their father is." His voice wavered, dropping to a whisper.

For a moment, Nino just stared at him, stunned in silence.

"She wouldn't have my kids if she didn't love me right?" he asked himself as much as he asked her.

Nino's brow furrowed, her voice turning softer. "Did she ask you to get back together?"

"No," he admitted, shaking his head. "I asked, but she said no. Still, she wants me to meet the kids, so… that's a start, isn't it?"

"I guess," her eyes dropped down for a brief moment, before she looked up at him, "So why are you telling me all this? Just go and meet them." she said, her voice practical.

"I can't just walk in there like nothing happened. I… I have too many questions. Why did she leave me, why didn't she tell me she was carrying my children, why did she just disappear from my life?" He rambled.

"What else are you going to do? She wants you to meet them. You want to see her. Just go and talk to her," she said.

He groaned, falling onto the couch. "It's so messed up, Nino. I don't know where to even start. I want to clear things up between us before meeting the children," He looked at her, pleading, "Can you do me a favor?"

She raised an eyebrow, "What now?"

"Can you talk to her? Ask her to meet me somewhere before I meet the kids?"

She sighed, crossing her arms, "Ask her yourself, she called you didn't she? Just call her back."

"I can't," he said, his frustration rising. "She called from a payphone. I don't have her number. But you do, right? Can you give it to me?"

Nino hesitated, frowning. "I can't break her trust, Hikaru. If she wanted you to have her number, she would have given it to you herself."

"Right," he murmured, his voice sinking with defeat.

After a moment, she asked, "So where does she want to meet?"

"She gave me her address." He said, his head hung low.

"How about… sending her a note? Asking to meet at a cafe or something?" Nino suggested.

Hikaru's eyes lit up slightly. "Would you do that for me?"

Nino nodded, "I know a guy."

- x -

Ryosuke had received a call from Nino the night before. She needed his help with something, though she didn't elaborate on what. All she said was that she'd come by in the morning with a friend.

The next morning, just as she said, Nino showed up at his door. Standing beside her was a man Ryosuke barely recognized — a tall, unassuming guy holding a bouquet of white flowers.

"Hey, Ryosuke," Nino greeted casually, brushing past him as though she owned the place. "This is Hikaru Kamiki. A good friend of mine."

Ryosuke glanced at the man, who stepped forward and gave a slight bow. "Pardon me for the intrusion," Hikaru said politely, his voice calm and measured as he followed Nino inside.

Nino flopped onto Ryosuke's bed without hesitation, crossing her legs and leaning back as though she were in her own home. Ryosuke, however, remained by the door, his eyes locked on Hikaru.

Just who was this guy? A co-worker of Nino's? A fan? Family? She had never mentioned him before and the possibilities spun in his head, but asking outright felt rude.

"So…" Ryosuke began, breaking the silence.

"We need your help," Nino said, cutting him off as she sat up. "Can you deliver a message to someone?"

"That's it?" Ryosuke asked, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, sure. I guess."

"See?" Nino smirked, nudging Hikaru with her elbow. "Told you we could trust him."

Then, turning back to Ryosuke, she said, "We need you to deliver a message to Ai."

"Ai?" he repeated, his voice sharpening with surprise.

"Yeah," Hikaru said, stepping forward now. "It's… a long story, but me and Ai were dating a while back."

Ryosuke's breath caught as the realization hit him. His eyes flicked over Hikaru, top to bottom, his mind racing as the pieces clicked into place. This was the guy. The deadbeat boyfriend. The one who had corrupted Ai — the perfect, untouchable idol. The man who had ruined everything she represented.

Ryosuke's hands curled into fists at his sides, but he forced himself to relax.

He glanced over at Nino, her expression unreadable. She'd known all along. She had always denied it, no matter how many times he'd asked her about Ai's disappearance or hinted at the rumors. And now, here she was, casually confirming everything as though it meant nothing.

"I trust you'll keep that to yourself?" Nino said, her voice snapping him out of his thoughts. Her tone was light, almost careless, but her eyes held an edge that dared him to object.

His jaw tightened, "Yeah, I won't tell anyone," he said quietly.

"Great," she said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"What message do you want delivered?" Ryosuke asked carefully as he shifted his attention back to Hikaru.

Hikaru glanced at Nino for a moment, before stepping closer and handing Ryosuke the bouquet. "Just give her this," he said. "And tell her to meet me at the cafe in the evening. She'll know which one. It's a long story, but she gave me her address, and… I don't want to see her at home."

Ryosuke's gaze dropped to the bouquet in his hands. There was a note tucked among the flowers that read — Happy Birthday!

"Her birthday's coming up soon, so I figured…" Hikaru's voice trailed off before recovering, "Thank you, Ryosuke. You're a lifesaver," he said with a small sigh of relief.

Nino suddenly stood up from the bed and plucked the card from Ryosuke's hand, waving it slightly. "Why don't you write that you want to meet her, too?" She grabbed a pen from the nearby table and handed it to Hikaru.

"Yeah, that's better," Hikaru agreed, writing the message on the back of the card. He slid it back into the bouquet, smoothing it down carefully.

Ryosuke barely heard them. He stood there, staring at the flowers in his hands, his thoughts a whirlwind of rage and disbelief. This was him. This was the man who had dragged Ai down from the pedestal where she belonged. The man who had stained her image, her perfection.

"Where do I need to deliver it?" Ryosuke asked, his voice steady despite the storm building inside him.

"Her house," Hikaru said, handing him a slip of paper with an address scrawled on it. "Apartment 103, ZZ complex. You know where that is?"

Ryosuke nodded. It was about an hour away. He tucked the paper into his pocket.

"While I go deliver this, you guys get comfortable," he said, his tone polite but distant. "I'll be back soon."

Nino and Hikaru both nodded, their focus shifting away from him as they settled into the room. Ryosuke stepped out, carefully closing the door behind him.

The second the door clicked shut, he froze. His breath came in slow, deliberate exhalations as he clenched and unclenched his fists, staring down the empty hallway in front of him.

"I finally found you," he muttered under his breath, a sharp edge to his voice as he looked back over his shoulder toward the closed door. His lips curled into something that wasn't quite a smile as he walked away.

Even as Ryosuke neared his destination, his mind remained a storm of bitter thoughts.

He picked the card from the bouquet, on one side it read — happy birthday, but the other bore a far more infuriating message — Need to talk. Meet me at that cafe.

Idols are not supposed to have boyfriends. Ai had to have known that. Of course she did. It wasn't her fault, though — no, it was that guy, Hikaru, who must have lured her in. He probably fed her lies, sweet-talked her until she let her guard down. And then, when he found out she was pregnant, he left her.

That had to be it.

He crumpled that small card, and tossed it beside him on the street.

Ryosuke had spent a month trying to track her down years ago, going from hospital to hospital, searching. The memory was still fresh and vivid. When he finally found her, she wasn't the radiant idol he had imagined. She was a mother-to-be, her face glowing with a happiness he couldn't understand.

She had chosen this path — to keep the children, to hide them, to present herself to the world as if nothing had changed. She chose to continue to play the role of the perfect idol for her fans.

She chose to lie.

She had destroyed the image he had cherished. She betrayed everything she stood for. She betrayed her fans.

She betrayed him.

'She deserves to be punished.'

But not just her. Hikaru was equally guilty. The deadbeat scum didn't even have the decency to stay by her side. Ai had given him her address. She probably wanted to get back together with Hikaru, and he didn't want to. That's why he is asking her to meet somewhere outside instead of her home. Ryosuke was sure of it.

'He deserves to be punished for the scum he is.'

Just before his destination, he spotted a convenience store and quietly walked in, looking as unassuming as he could. He quickly purchased a kitchen knife, and stepped out, returning on his way to Ai's home.

When he made it to the ZZ apartment complex, he pulled up his hoodie, hiding his face. The stairs creaked faintly under his weight as he ascended, slow and deliberate, each step a beat in his spiraling thoughts. His breath quickened, but he forced it steady as he reached the first floor.

A soft humming broke the silence.

Ryosuke froze, his heart skipping a beat. A little girl, no older than four or five, came skipping down the hallway toward him, her hair bouncing as she hummed a cheerful tune.

He instinctively turned away, his hoodie shadowing his face. She passed by, unbothered, her humming fading as she rounded the corner and disappeared from view.

For a moment, Ryosuke just stood there, the ghost of her presence lingering in the hallway. His breath felt heavier now, pressing against his ribs, but he pushed the sensation down and turned his attention back to the doors.

101.

102.

And there it was.

103.

He tucked the knife close to him, hidden in the bouquet of white flowers. And with a deep breath, he rang the doorbell.

- x -

Author's Note :

Up next - Chapter 18 : White Flowers