Chapter 20 : Red Flowers

Chapter Summary : -

'How dumb was I to go through all that… I couldn't even help him in the end.'

Ai stood in the cramped bathroom. It was quiet, save for the faint buzzing of the overhead light. Her hands gripped the edges of the sink, the cold ceramic biting into her skin. She stared down, unable to meet the eyes of the girl in the mirror.

"I think we should break up," her words still rang in her ears, even now, a month later. Her own voice haunted her, replaying that moment over and over.

Slowly, she forced herself to look up. The reflection stared back at her — hollow eyes, makeup smeared into messy streaks, tear stained cheeks. It loosely clutched a pregnancy test in its hand.

She felt disgusted. The girl in the mirror looked pathetic.

"What could I have done?" she whispered, her words trembled, cracking under the weight of the silence.

The reflection's lips didn't move, but Ai heard it speak — "You haven't even looked at it yet."

Ai froze. The voice wasn't hers, or was it? She couldn't tell. The room swayed, or maybe it was just her. Her gaze flickered to the little plastic test in her hand.

The unblinking eyes of the reflection bored into her, "Go on, look at it," it said.

"No.." Ai whispered, she didn't need to look. She already knew.

Her fingers curled tightly around the test, desperate to crush it, to make it disappear.

Ai stared at the girl in the mirror, in the empty silence of the bathroom it was just them. And Ai wanted to tear her apart, to erase her from existence. She was a fraud. A failure. A liar.

Ai shook her head and slowly glanced at the test kit from the corner of her eye, and the two lines confirmed what she already knew.

She was pregnant.

"What now Ai?" the girl in the mirror asked, her voice a mix of disgust and cruelty.

"I didn't mean for this to happen.." Tears formed in her eyes, "I didn't.." she said, raw and desperate.

Her breath hitched, but the girl in the mirror continued, its voice dripping with venom, "You've ruined everything," it said, "What will happen when people find out? What will happen when the agency finds out? Your career. Your life. It's over."

"Leave me alone!" Ai yelled, her voice cracking as she threw the test at the mirror. It hit with a sharp clang and tumbled into the sink. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the cold tiles, sobbing into her hands.

"You've destroyed all you've built," it hissed. "What will you do now? Run away from this? Like you ran away from him?"

Her sobs came harder, memories crashing over her like waves. She had left him — cut him out of her life because she thought it was the right thing to do. For herself and for him.

But now, she was all alone.

"I had no other choice," she choked, her words spilling out between broken breaths, "I didn't have a choice.."

"You always have a choice," the girl in the mirror whispered, its tone stoic but laced with cruelty.

Ai wiped her tears, but more kept coming. She forced herself to stand up, her chest heaving as she tried to steady her breathing. Slowly her gaze dropped to her stomach.

It was flat — of course it was. Two months wasn't enough time for anything to show. And yet… she felt it.

Her breath hitched, she placed a trembling hand over her abdomen. "I'll take care of it," she whispered.

She looked up to find the girl in the mirror staring back at her. Its expression was cold and unreadable. It's burning gaze pierced through her, judging her, mocking her.

Ai steadied her breath, forcing her voice to be steady. "No one can find out," she said, the words cold and hollow.

She had planned it all out. She would leave Tokyo quietly, take care of the pregnancy, and return as if nothing had happened. Clean. Simple. No one would ever know.

But every time she came close to taking that final step, she froze. The thought of abortion was terrifying, and the idea of going through it alone, in some unfamiliar city was even worse.

Time slipped through her fingers. A month had passed, and it was getting harder to ignore the reality.

President Saitou had started noticing her strange behavior. Her concerns were obvious — the way he asked if she was okay, the gentle offer to help if anything was bothering her. And it wasn't just him. Her group had taken a note too. So far, she had managed to sell the excuse that she was sick, but the cracks were beginning to form.

The lies wouldn't hold forever.

Ai splashed cold water on her face and stared down at the sink, her breathing shallow and uneven. Slowly, she raised her eyes to the mirror.

Once again, in the cramped space, it was just the two of them — her and the girl in the mirror.

Its baby bump beneath the oversized jacket was becoming harder to conceal, even with carefully chosen outfits.

She moved her hand to adjust her jacket, the reflection followed, but then, it gently placed its hand over its belly, as if cradling it.

Her eyes met her reflection, and it wasn't the hateful or mocking figure this time. It was softer, kinder.

And beside it, were two children — a boy and a girl. They clung close, half hiding behind their mother.

The boy looked just like him. The girl was a spitting image of herself.

They were their children.

They were her children.

Her Family.

A warm tear slipped down Ai's cheek, slowly. It didn't carry grief or fear this time. It carried a bittersweet yearning.

She wanted it to be real. She craved it, wishing she could trade places with her reflection — step through the glass and into the life she saw on the other side.

Her fragile voice came out barely above a whisper, "I can't do this alone," she admitted.

Her mind raced, desperate to find a way forward. She needed help. Someone she could trust.

And there was only one name that came to mind — President Saitou.

Determined, she walked out of the bathroom, her feet grew heavier with each step up the stairway to the third floor. A brief pause before she knocked on the door, and a moment later, it opened.

"President Saitou!" Ai greeted in her bright voice.

"Hey, Ai…" Saitou's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked her over, "Are you feeling okay? Why are you wearing that in this heat? You're not sick again, are you?"

Ai held her smile and shook her head, "I'm not. I just wanted to talk to you. It's… something very important."

Saitou stepped aside and gestured for her to come in and closed the door behind them. Ai took a seat on the couch, clutching her jacket. Saitou followed, "So, what is this about?"

Her smile turned mischievous as she leaned in, cupping her hand over her mouth, "I…" she whispered, "I am pregnant."

For a moment, Saitou simply stared, his mind struggling to process her words. Her smile, so at odds with what she had just said, only added to his confusion. "Is this… some kind of prank?"

Ai shook her head, "No.." she whispered, though this time, her voice carried a hint of seriousness.

"You're WHAT?!" Saitou's voice exploded, roaring in the whole apartment, making Ai flinch.

A door to the bedroom burst open, and Miyako hurried in, her eyes darting between them. "What's going on? Is everything okay?"

Saitou exhaled sharply, forcing himself to calm down, "Yeah… just some upcoming performance concerns," he said, waving her off.

Miyako frowned with mild annoyance, "Don't talk to your Idols like that," she said before disappearing back to the room she came from.

Saitou turned back to Ai, his tone quieter but still firm. "How did this happen? Were you… assaulted? Did someone trick you with promises of career growth? Whose child is it?"

Ai's throat tightened, "I… I can't tell you."

Saitou's brow furrowed, "What do you mean, you can't tell me?"

Tears began to form in her eyes, "I… had a boyfriend," she admitted, her voice breaking.

For a moment, Saitou said nothing. Then, to her surprise, his expression softened. He walked closer and placed a gentle hand on her head, "And you never told us about him? You know things like that could lead to scandals. Who is he?" he asked in a soft, almost comforting voice.

Ai shook her head gently, "It's a secret. And… we broke up. A few months ago."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"I was scared."

Saitou patted her head, "You know you can trust me." he said.

She nodded, then whispered, "Thank you."

After a moment of comforting, Saitou pulled back and his face grew serious. "Alright," he began, "Let's figure this out. We can't go to any hospitals here in Tokyo. We'll have to go somewhere remote, where no one knows you. Do you have any idea how far along you are?"

"I think.. three months? Maybe four." Ai answered.

Saitou nodded, "Under twenty weeks… abortion should still be possible."

The word abortion hung in the air like a knife. Ai's heart sank.

"I know it's scary, but you will have to—"

"I want to keep my children," she whispered, cutting him off.

Saitou's face fell, "What?" he whispered, "Ai. Be reasonable. You're a popular Idol, if anyone even suspects you had a boyfriend, your career would be over — this would be career suicide."

"I'm keeping my children," she said again. Her voice trembled but carried more determination this time.

Saitou pressed, "Ai, please think about this. It's not only that you're an Idol. But being a mother at your age would be very rough, you can't balance that and your career, it's impossible."

Saitou stared at her for a long moment waiting for her to listen to reason, but when the determination in her eyes didn't waver even slightly, he sighed heavily. "Alright…" he said, "Then, first things first, we will announce a hiatus for your health. I'll look up a good remote hospital we can go to."

She nodded, the determination never wavering from her eyes.

"Meanwhile," he continued, "No public appearances, and let's move you here, we have an unused room in our apartment, staying here would be safer."

She nodded again, though her hesitation was visible.

"Don't worry, I won't charge you any rent for it," Saitou said with a light chuckle, trying to lighten up the mood.

Ai managed a faint smile — half genuine, half forced.

"And Ai," Saitou added carefully, "if you change your mind… let me know. I don't want our brightest star to burn out."

Four months flew by in a flash and before she knew it, the day she was waiting and dreading for — was here.

Ai truly felt lucky to have these people by her side. President Saitou, Gorou Sensei, and Nurse Eriko. Ever since she arrived at the hospital, they had guided her through every step of her pregnancy, teaching her about motherhood and how it would change her life. But more importantly, they had taught her one invaluable truth — she wasn't alone.

She looked up at him with a tired smile. "Sensei," Ai muttered, laying in her hospital bed, her voice weak but warm, "Thank you for everything."

Gorou smiled back, adjusting the pillows behind her to make her more comfortable. "I'm just doing my job," he said softly.

"If I call for you, please come running," she requested.

"I will," he assured her, "But even if I'm not here, there will be other doctors who can take care of you."

Her face scrunched in protest, "No, I want you to help me, sensei," she said firmly, her voice almost child-like.

Gorou chuckled, "Alright, I'll be back soon then," he promised.

But as he turned to leave, her smile faded. A flicker of unease settled in her chest. Maybe it was just her nerves, she told herself. But something about his absence didn't sit right.

Barely an hour later, the first sharp contraction gripped her. Nurse Eriko stayed by her side, gripping her hand tightly. "You're doing great," the nurse said, her calm voice cutting through Ai's panic.

"Where's sensei?" Ai gasped, her voice breaking between shallow breaths.

"I've tried to contact him," nurse Eriko said, her brow creasing with concern, "His phone's unreachable. But don't worry, we've got this. Focus on your breathing."

Other doctors rushed in, surrounding them. The unfamiliar faces unsettled Ai, and she clung tighter to Eriko's hand, "Please… stay…"

"I'm not going anywhere," the nurse said with a comforting smile.

The hours that followed blurred into a haze of pain and exhaustion. When it was finally over, Ai felt like her body had been torn apart and every ounce of strength drained from her. She could barely keep her eyes open as nurse Eriko approached her with two tiny bundles wrapped in soft cloth.

"Here they are," nurse Eriko whispered, placing them gently in Ai's trembling arms.

She looked down at her children, and a weak smile formed on her face. The girl began to cry softly, her tiny face scrunching up, while the boy opened his eyes briefly before setting back into sleep.

"You're so beautiful," Ai whispered, her weak voice thick with emotion. She cradled them closer, her arms rocking them instinctively.

"You should rest, Miss Hoshino," the nurse said after a moment, carefully lifting the babies off of her arms and placing them in a cradle beside the bed. "Let me know if you need anything" she added kindly while tucking Ai in.

"Is Gorou sensei back yet?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Not yet," the nurse replied with a hint of irritation in her tone. "His phone is still unreachable. Maybe he fell asleep," She placed a box of apple juice on the small table near her, then added with a small, teasing smile, "I'll give him an earful tomorrow."

Ai nodded weakly, but a small frown creased her forehead. Something wasn't right.

She reached for the juice box, taking a small sip before sinking back into the pillows. Her eyes drifted to the cradle, where her children slept peacefully, but the flicker of unease stayed with her. Before she could dwell on it, exhaustion pulled her under, and the world went dark.

The next day arrived in a blink. Ai shifted in bed and winced — the soreness in her lower body was unlike anything she'd ever felt. Every inch of her body ached, but the memory of her children's faces made every pain worthwhile.

Slowly, she pushed herself upright, trying to sit up straight. Her kids slept peacefully in the cradle beside her, and her heart fluttered desiring to hold them once more.

Nurse Eriko arrived promptly after, "Good morning," she greeted.

"Good morning," Ai greeted back softly, "Can you bring my babies to me?"

Nurse Eriko smiled and carefully placed the babies in her arms, one at a time. Ai nuzzled their soft faces, pressing a kiss on each of their tiny foreheads. Her heart swelled as she gazed at them, their tiny hands curling instinctively against her chest. For a moment, all the exhaustion, the pain, the lingering soreness — it faded entirely.

'Aqua, Ruby…' a thought whispered, '...I love you.'

The door opened, and a familiar voice spoke, "You're up?"

Ai looked up as president Saitou stepped inside, taking a seat beside her on her bed. "Let me see them," he asked with a warm smile.

She lifted them gently towards him, and couldn't help but smile sheepishly, "My babies~" she cooed.

"They do look like you," Saitou commented, his tone light and teasing.

"Of course! They've got my cute face!" she chirped, flashing him a playful grin, "Aren't they the cutest babies ever?"

"They are," he agreed with a smile. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm me as ever!" she replied, her cheerful tone betraying the exhaustion that still weighed on her.

Saitou chuckled, shaking his head. "I'll grab you some breakfast, anything you want?" he asked.

Ai hummed thoughtfully, tilting her head, "... I haven't had yakisoba in a while," she mused.

"Then yakisoba it is." Saitou said, standing up. "I'll be back soon,"

"Can you put them back in the cradle?" she asked in a soft, tired voice.

"Sure," he said, carefully taking the babies from her arms one by one and placing them back in the cradle. They stirred slightly but soon settled back into peaceful sleep.

As the door clicked shut behind him, Ai rested back against the pillows, her smile fading slightly. The physical toll of childbirth still lingered, her lower body still numb.

Gorou sensei still hadn't shown up, and she couldn't help but feel a little worried. It didn't seem like him to abandon her, especially not when she needed him the most. Maybe he had simply fallen asleep after a long day… but the thought just didn't sit right.

She sighed, he could still meet her babies.

The door clicked open, and her eyes darted towards it. 'Sensei must be here.'

"Congratulations. How are your kids?"

Ai froze, a chill running down her spine. The voice carried an eerie sense of deja vu, its tone low and unsettling. She couldn't pin it down, but something about it made her blood run cold.

The figure standing in the doorway wore a hoodie, his face was obscured and a bouquet of flowers clutched in his hands — half white, half red. But something was off about their color.

Her stomach twisted as she realized the flowers weren't red. They were splattered with blood.

A sharp pain tore through her abdomen. She gasped, her hand instinctively flying to her belly as warm blood seeped through her hospital gown.

"You're an Idol, you bitch!" the man snarled, throwing the bouquet of flowers aside. A glint of steel caught the light as he revealed the knife in his hand.

"Nurse! Saitou! Someone! Help!" Her screams tore through the room, raw with terror. Tears blurred her vision as she clutched her bleeding stomach, "Who are you?! What's going on?!"

"Does it hurt?! You hurt me more!" The man's voice rose, trembling with rage.

"I… I don't know who you are!" Ai whimpered, her voice breaking. "Please, leave us alone…" her words faltered as the pain intensified, her blood began pooling on the hospital bed, soaking the sheets red.

The man stepped forward, and her terror multiplied.

"You went ahead and had kids even though you are an Idol!" he spat, holding the knife pointed at her as he took another step.

Her breath came in gasps as it hit her — he wasn't moving towards her.

Her eyes darted to the cradle, where her babies lay peacefully sleeping.

"No!" she screamed, throwing herself off the bed. Her legs wobbled beneath her, refusing to cooperate. She collapsed on the floor, the wound in her abdomen throbbed, bleeding heavily. She sobbed, dragging herself forward inch by inch, leaving a trail of blood behind her. "Please! Don't hurt them! I'm begging you!" she yelled desperately.

The man ignored her cries, his footsteps slow and deliberate as he approached the cradle.

"No… No, please…" Ai's voice cracked as tears streamed down her face. She reached out desperately, grabbing the edge of the cradle to pull herself up.

The man grabbed the cradle and yanked it away from her. "This is what you deserve, you lying bitch."

He slowly raised the knife over the sleeping babies.

"STOP!" Ai screamed. Her heart pounded in her ears as she stretched out her arm, "Please, NO—!"

The knife came down.

But then,

Ai jolted awake, startled, her heart hammering in her chest. Her breath came in shallow gasps, and tears streamed down her face, soaking the pillow beneath her. She whimpered, clutching the sheets tightly and stared at the ceiling as the world around her unblurred, trying to steady her breathing.

Was that a nightmare? It felt so real.

Fragments of her memories came flooding back,

She had been stabbed. That much was true. The nightmare wasn't entirely fiction. She had been attacked, at her home, and she remembered the blood, the pain, and…

Her children.

Ai's body tensed. Her mind reeled, the thought hitting her like a thunderclap. She had passed out. What happened after that? Were her children safe?

"No…" she whispered to herself, her voice trembling, thinking of the worst. Her breathing quickened as panic set in.

Her abdomen throbbed with pain as she tried sitting up. She glanced down to find needles and tubes strapped to her wrist, but she ripped them off without hesitation. Her hands trembled as she pushed herself off the bed, her legs threatening to give out beneath her.

"Aqua… Ruby…" she whispered hoarsely, staggering towards the door, her hand on the wall for support.

Not knowing which way to go, she stumbled on the hallway.

A nurse spotted her and rushed over. "Miss! You can't be out of your bed!" she exclaimed, giving Ai her shoulder for support. "You were stabbed. You're in no condition to move."

"Where are my kids?" Ai demanded, her voice shaking with desperation.

The nurse hesitated before answering, "Your kids? There's a man, his wife and two kids who never leave your side… I was told they were their kids."

Ai's heart lurched, "They're okay? They were not hurt, were they?"

The nurse guided her back to the room, "They are completely fine." she assured her.

She helped Ai carefully lay back on the bed, a tear of relief slipping down her cheek. The nurse re-attached her IV, adjusted the dripper, and helped her settle.

"How long was I out?" Ai asked weakly.

"Two weeks," the nurse replied, "I'll call the doctor."

Before the nurse could turn, the sound of a plastic bag hitting the floor got their attention to the door.

President Saitou stood there, holding a little girl's hand, a little boy beside her.

"Mama!" Ruby cried, breaking into sobs as she ran towards the bed.

Ai opened her arms, catching Ruby as she climbed up and buried her face in her mother's chest. Ai hugged her tightly, whispering through tears, "You're okay… Everything's okay,"

Aqua stood frozen beside Saitou, "How are you feeling… mother?" he asked, his voice breaking as the tears spilled over at the last word.

Ai reached out her arm for him, he slowly walked and climbed onto the bed, wrapping his arms around her amidst quiet sobs. She pulled him close, holding her children tightly, "I'm okay," she whispered, "I'm okay now."

Saitou wiped his eyes with his sleeve, picking up the fallen plastic bag and setting it on the table, smiling through his own emotions.

Ai looked up, still holding her children.

"You're okay," he said softly.

She nodded with a weak smile.

"About time you woke up," Saitou added with a tearful chuckle, his voice trembling slightly, "You shitty Idol."

- x -

Author's Note : For anyone who is wondering - This is not a flashback chapter. The whole chapter is Ai dreaming in her coma before she wakes up. That is why she saw twins in the mirror, and said "I'm keeping my children." Also why she felt something was wrong when Gorou disappeared.

Her dream was a very close rendition of what actually happened with those minor differences.

Up Next - Chapter 21 : For their sake.