Five Years Later
[Epilogue Scene – Hospital Delivery Room]
The bright, sterile hospital room buzzed faintly with the sounds of monitors and hurried footsteps. The soft hum of machines filled the air, mixing with the sharp, rhythmic breaths of Kana Arima as she gripped the edges of the hospital bed.
Sweat glistened on her forehead. Her usually sharp, composed face was twisted in pain, jaw clenched, brows furrowed. Her hair was messy, her hands tight with strain, and her whole body trembled as another contraction hit.
Aqua Hoshino sat beside her, gripping her hand with steady pressure. His expression was unreadable to anyone else—but beneath the surface, worry tugged at every line of his face. He kept his voice soft, even, the way he always did when emotions threatened to break through.
"You're doing great, Kana. You're almost there," he said gently, brushing her hair back from her face.
Kana let out a grunt, panting. "I swear... if you say 'almost there' one more time—"
A nurse leaned over briefly, checking Kana's vitals and adjusting the IV line.
"You're doing great, Kana-san. The epidural is working, but you'll still feel some pressure. Just focus on your breathing, alright?"
Kana gave a short nod through clenched teeth, her eyes fluttering shut as she took a shaky breath.
The nurse glanced at the monitor. "She's fully dilated. It's time."
The doctor stepped in. "Kana-san, with the next contraction, I want you to push."
Kana's face was pale but determined.
Aqua leaned closer, his lips near her ear.
"Just a little more," he said softly. "Do it for our child... We'll meet our little star together."
Kana let out a trembling breath. Then the next wave of pain came, and she pushed with all the strength she had left. The room filled with urgent voices and the sounds of quick hands moving—medical instruments, gowns rustling, gloved hands steady and prepared.
And then—
A cry.
High-pitched, small, and filled with life.
Kana collapsed back against the pillow, gasping. Her eyes fluttered open as she listened to that cry, and a tear slipped down her cheek. Aqua's hand loosened just slightly as he turned his gaze to the newborn.
"She's here," the doctor said, lifting the child gently. "It's a girl."
A nurse clamped and snipped the umbilical cord while another carefully cleaned the baby and wrapped her in a soft white blanket.
"She's healthy," the nurse said with a smile, then looked toward Aqua. "Would you like to hold her first, Hoshino-san?"
Aqua blinked. It was rare for him to look so unprepared. Slowly, he nodded.
The baby was placed gently into his arms.
Tiny. Warm. Breathing softly.
She blinked, her eyes still adjusting to the light .
Her eyes were a clear, vivid crimson — glowing softly, with a tiny star shining in her right eye, just like his.
Tiny wisps of soft hair framed her smooth forehead, catching the light as she blinked curiously.
His breath hitched. The world faded away.
He looked down at her, and something deep inside his chest cracked open.
Then, as if realizing she was being watched, her cheeks flushed a gentle pink.
"You really are... a little star," he whispered. "You made it."
He looked toward Kana, still catching her breath but watching them with wide, tear-filled eyes.
Aqua stepped closer and carefully placed the baby into her arms.
Kana held her gently, arms instinctively curling around her daughter. She looked down, her eyes scanning every feature — until they settled on the vivid crimson glow of her eyes and the tiny star shining in the right one.
She laughed, softly. Her voice broke.
"You look like your father. A lot."
Then she kissed her daughter's forehead, eyes shining.
"Hey, little star. Welcome to the world."
Aqua sat beside her, one arm behind Kana, the other resting protectively on both of them.
The door slid open quietly.
"Sorry I'm a little late," Ruby said, stepping in with a soft smile.
She looked toward Kana, who sat on the bed cradling a newborn in her arms, and Aqua standing close beside her.
"Is it a girl?" she asked.
Kana and Aqua both nodded gently.
Ruby's smile widened. She walked over and teased, "Seriously, Onii-chan! You couldn't have informed me earlier?"
Aqua rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I was… worried about Kana. She was in pain. I couldn't focus on anything else."
Kana looked up at him with warm, affectionate eyes. Ruby noticed and gave a playful sigh.
"Okay, I'm forgiving you this time," she said, hands on her hips. "But make sure you call me during important events like this, alright?"
Aqua smiled playfully. "Understood… Grandma."
Both Ruby and Kana burst out laughing. Kana gently passed the baby into Ruby's arms.
"I've informed Miyamon, Ichiko-san, and the others too," she said with a smile.
"They'll be coming soon."
Ruby held the little girl carefully, her expression softening. "Wow... her eyes resemble yours, Onii-chan. But they also look like Loli-senpai's."
Kana nodded. "Yeah, I think so too."
She paused, then blinked in disbelief. "Wait—Loli-senpai? Seriously? Even after five years you still call me that?" she said, squinting her eyes at Ruby.
Ruby smiled. "Some things never change with time," she said playfully.
She leaned closer to the baby and added, "But her face… it really looks like Mama's."
Aqua's gaze lingered on the baby as the thought struck him. Now that she mentions it… I've been wondering the same.
Ruby gently rocked the baby and cooed, "So, little princess… do you want to be an idol like your aunt?"
Kana smirked. "Or maybe she'll become an actress like her mama."
Their eyes locked. The air grew tense.
The two women stared at each other intensely, like a silent duel of wills over the baby's future.
Then… both turned to Aqua.
He froze. A sweat drop slid down his temple. "D-Don't look at me like that."
He held up his hands defensively. "She's my daughter, and I'm not going to force her to be anything. It's her life. She can choose her own path."
Ruby smiled. "You're right. We'll support whatever she decides."
Kana added warmly, "But we'll also make sure she's making the right choices."
Aqua chuckled softly. "We can think about all that later. She's just a baby right now."
Ruby and Kana started chatting again, falling into a rhythm as they watched the baby with wonder.
Aqua stood beside them quietly, looking at them both… then down at his daughter.
He turned away, slipping his hands into his pockets.
In his mind, he thought:
Hikaru Kamiki was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Tokyo District Court. The judge cited his calculated manipulation of others to commit murder, and his role in multiple deaths, as aggravating factors.
But even now… I can't rely on fate alone. Akane and I made sure there's nothing he can do from inside those prison walls. We'll never let our guard down.
Still… I've been given something rare. A second chance. And I intend to make the most of it—with the people I love by my side.
His gaze lingered on Kana, then Ruby, then back to the baby in her arms.
She really resembles you, Ai.
You always said you wanted to see us grow up… to live happily.
I don't know if you're watching from somewhere, but… we're doing just that.
And I promise—I'll make sure we always stay like this.
Aqua turned around and looked at the baby.
The baby stirred in Ruby's arms.
Her tiny head turned slightly… and she looked straight at Aqua.
Then—she smiled.
Aqua's eyes widened, breath catching in his throat.
Is it possible… could she…?
No… it can't be true.
"Uh… hey!" Ruby suddenly said, "She just peed!"
Kana called out, "Nurse! We need a diaper and some clean cloth!"
She turned to Aqua with a smirk. "Come help us, dear."
Aqua smiled, heart full.
"Yeah," he said, walking toward them. "I'm coming."
The end.
A soft sigh echoed across a colorless void.
"Wait… not again."
Tsukuyomi's voice rang through the space—wry, amused, and timeless.
"How many times do I have to remind you? It always ends with my monologue."
She let the silence linger, then continued:
"This Aqua… this version of him… chose a different path. And that choice created a different future."
"One Aqua gave everything—his life, his world—for the happiness of another version of himself. That sacrifice didn't go to waste."
"It gave birth to this world—a world where he, and the people he loved, found peace."
"But the story doesn't end here."
"Next time, we'll explore a different Aqua… with different decisions, and a different future."
She smiled softly into the dark.
"Good luck. See you later."
The End. (The real one this time!)
Next: Ruby Route – "The Promise We Never Made"