26th of December, 9 am, Miyako's house
After the initial shock had died down within Akane, she got up again; her butt was still hurting from the unexpected fall Kana had subjected her to. Aqua wasn't even fast enough to speak before she, too, was already out the door and down the porch, chasing after Kana. A cold gust of wind blew through the entire dining room as Aqua stood in place. His red cheek was still burning from the harsh slap.
That- That escalated quickly… If she had just let me explain, then it all could have been resolved. She just had to lash out at me. But who could blame her for it? In the end, she was mostly right with her words. I did not text her, I ditched her last show, and I spent the night with Akane… Although it was different from what she thinks. Still, I have never before seen her act like this. I think this time it really got to her. Of course it did, I promised her I'd be there after all.
"What is all this commotion about?" Aqua was brought back to reality by a sleepy voice coming from the other side of the room. "And why is the door open? It's cold," the voice added. Aqua blinked a few times before he turned. On the other side of the room, wearing her pink pajamas, stood Ruby, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes while yawning.
"Huhu, Onii-Chan, are you there? Houston to Apollo 11," Ruby said as she waved at Aqua and used her other hand to half-heartedly scratch her stomach.
Did he see some sort of ghost, or why is he acting so strangely? And where is Kana? She was here when I went to sleep. Did she go home? No, I definitely didn't dream that tornado of a commotion that went on down here. This dummy here probably said something dumb without even realizing it.
Aqua walked over to the open door and stuck his head out one last time before shutting it, so that the already chilly environment that had flooded their downstairs area wouldn't be permitted to continue. He slowly strolled back over to the dinner table and picked up the cup that had fallen earlier while Ruby was still watching his every move, her arms crossed in front of her chest. A big crack was visible on the cup, running right down the middle, yet Aqua just placed it down on the counter instead of throwing it out.
Then he sat and signaled for Ruby to do the same. "We need to leave," he said after Ruby sat down next to him. "You are not safe here, right now." Ruby sighed. She knew the tone in his voice meant that this was not up for debate. "At least tell me what you did last night then."
"Ruby, we really don't have any time for this, right now," Aqua said as he stood back up and turned his back to Ruby.
"Oh, is that so?" Ruby asked sarcastically while remaining seated. "And why is that?"
"It is because of Kamiki; he could be coming after you. This place is not safe right now. Come with me, I will not beg you." Aqua said without turning to face his sister.
Ruby thought for a moment, then she spoke. "You went after him, didn't you? You thought it was a good idea to go after him on your own…"
"I can't believe this," she murmured.
"My plan would have worked if Akane had minded her own business," Aqua said coldly.
"Fine," Ruby said as she jumped off her chair and landed on the ground with a quiet thud. "I will come with you, but then you have to let me help you. Alright?"
26th of December, same time, streets of Tokyo
Kana walked down the crowded morning streets of Tokyo; everybody seemed to be going somewhere except for Kana. Kana was just walking and walking, down the streets without any real destination. The cold wind blew through her short hair; she forgot her jacket when she stormed out earlier, making the conditions even more brutal, but she continued walking, not wanting to go home yet, still hoping.
Should I go back? Maybe this is all just a misunderstanding… Maybe he had a good reason to miss it. But what could it be? Does he really see me as not worth his time? Do I even deserve him seeing me differently?
Okay, what are the facts? He just didn't show up to my last show. He broke his promise. And then when I was worried about him, he ghosted me, and then he spent the night with her...
No, I won't crawl back to him again; either he comes to me, or I don't want to see him ever again.
She was fighting the tears which had begun to form in her eyes — surely they came from the cold wind — while she continued to walk through the busy downtown of Tokyo. She felt lost, like there was no place where she belonged.
My acting career is over. I don't get any roles. I quit being an idol, thinking it would boost my career. But now I'm just lonely… Do Ruby and Mem even like me? ...Their eyes… I bet they don't ever want to see me again.
Even someone like Ai was hated by her co-stars… So why would it be different for someone like me… Maybe I deserve all of this, for always being like this.
It's my fault for forgiving him over and over and over again. He never even apologizes… I thought you were different, Aqua. But maybe I was wrong.
Kana continued to stroll; she wasn't planning further ahead than her next step while the buildings began to turn smaller and the people fewer. She unknowingly left the familiar streets for an alien terrain with every meter she walked.
But I can't let this bring me down… I just can't give up… Once you hit rock bottom, the only way is up... right?
I just can't give up. I am not past my prime. I will show it to all of them. I will show how I'm better than Akane. I will become more famous than Ruby. And I will find someone that actually appreciates me and doesn't play with my feelings like Aqua does...
Aqua...
But what if I don't make it… I don't want to be average… I want to shine… Shine like Ruby… Like Ai… Like Akane… I know what to d- Kana returned to the real world when she heard a voice. She blinked a few times before she was able to take in her surroundings. A tall man, a foot taller than her, stood before her. His outfit was almost completely black, just his shoes were blue, a bit muddy too.
"Uhm… Excuse me, are you Kana Arima from B-Komachi?" He asked as a smile began to spread across his face
26th of December, a few hours earlier, Kamiki's penthouse
The room was dim and ominous; only a few rays of the rising sun made it past the closed blinds shining against the ceiling of the very spacious living room, filled with all kinds of expensive antiques and paintings from various historic areas plastered over the walls. In the center of it, a luxurious couch, a couch table with 2 open whiskey bottles right in front of it. Seated on the couch, a dark figure. The room was dead silent, and the figure sat as still as one of the many sculptures.
15 years and there has yet to have been someone to surpass her. And it is all because of my work… I will certainly not let this work go to waste now… Her popularity rises too fast. If she performs in the dome, the new B-Komachi will overshadow the old one… I can't let that happen. Nothing I tried up until now worked. I need to come up with something new to get rid of Ruby. But what could that be? Aqua is not dumb, she will be hidden somewhere… This means I have to draw her out somehow.
He grabbed one of the two whiskey bottles on his table and threw it against the wall with as much strength as he could muster up while remaining seated. Thousands of shards clattered down to the floor as the bottle made impact, the expensive alcohol pooling on the floor. Kamiki got up without saying a word, his steps slow and rhythmic while the faint noise of the liquor dripping off the wall filled the penthouse. He made sure not to get anything onto his shoes as he knelt over the puddle.
More and more shallow cuts had begun to form in his palms as he picked the razor-sharp shards up from the ground. The burning sensation of the alcohol entering his wounds the second they were created must've felt painful, yet his smile didn't waver even for a moment. "Such a shame, I liked that whiskey," he said as he threw the shards into his trash bin. "At least one bottle remains…"
The crimson blood mixed with the cold water coming out of his faucet. Blood is so thick compared to water that this made it look so much worse than it actually was, almost like someone had been slaughtered in that faucet of his. After he dried off his hands, he went back over to his couch and sat down once more in the same position as before. A moment later, his phone quietly buzzed. His omnipresent smile grew as he looked at his screen for no more than a few seconds. "Finally, you have some good news for me. I began to think that you might be useless after all, K. A." He poured down one glass of whiskey before he swiftly got up and grabbed his keys off the counter.
...
The door of the penthouse opened once again, and a cloaked figure entered through the door, carefully observing the penthouse for a moment before proceeding. After the person was sure of being alone, they entered the living room. The penthouse stayed quiet enough that you'd believe that they had just disappeared, yet a few minutes later, they emerged from the door once again. One quick look back, and then the person was gone again just as quickly as they came.
26th of December, during the same time, the house of the producer Gotanda Taishi
Both Ruby and Aqua arrived at Gotanda Taishi's house. Aqua knew that he was currently on vacation, and since he had a spare key, he just decided that Ruby could stay here for a while.
This is definitely not perfect, but it should buy me enough time to end it once and for all.
The stuff they brought from home is not much. Ruby brought a small bag filled with stuff, while Aqua had no more than the clothes on his back. Ruby was just busy getting comfortable in the room Aqua had decided she could stay in, when she heard Aqua head for the door once more.
No, I can't let him leave. Onii-chan is in danger too, but he either doesn't know... or doesn't care...
Either way. He can't leave. Not now, not without telling me what his plan is to begin with. I don't want to lose you again, Sensei… Not so soon after I found you again.
"Don't," Ruby whispered after she dropped what she was doing and grabbed Aqua's wrist.
"Let go of me, Ruby. I have to finish this, or you can never go back to your normal life." Aqua said.
If he wanted to, he could have easily escaped Ruby's grasp, and Ruby also felt tugging from his arm, yet he didn't put any real effort into it.
"No." Ruby's grip tightened as she spoke. "You told me I would come along with you."
"I lied," Aqua coldly said as he started to tug harder, "And you knew it was a lie, so don't act all surprised."
Ruby's demeanor visibly fell, yet Aqua saw none of this; his head and entire body turned away from her, and he only had eyes for the door. "I just hoped that it might be the truth…" Ruby whispered.
"No… It was the truth," Ruby said with a sudden surge of resolve in her voice as her nails bored into his flesh, "You don't know where he is… You don't have a plan… Heck, you don't even have the resolve to pull away from me, you liar."
Aqua's arm turned a bit limp.
"I know how you feel." Ruby said as she slightly loosened her grip. "You couldn't save me all these years ago, and now you want me to live at any cost... but I want you to live too, I couldn't do this without you Aqua."
Aqua felt how her grip loosened, but he didn't pull his arm away. "I've already had my chance at life; it would be selfish of me to risk your chance just so I can have a second one."
"That is so dumb!" Ruby groaned out in frustration. "Jeez, I mean hello. You got this beautiful second chance because some goddess knew you deserved it. So who are you to throw it away, burn it down and whine about it."
The metal of the doorknob felt burning hot to Aqua all of a sudden. He tried to hold on, but after a fight that lasted for no more than a few seconds, his left hand quietly slipped away from the handle.
Before either of them could get the chance to mention it, though, Ruby's phone loudly rang through the entire room, which made both twins flinch.
In unity, they peeked their heads up to look at the phone on the bed; the light fell onto it in a way that made the screen only reflect the lamp up above, though. Both simultaneously yet independently from each other began to sneak closer as if the phone could attack them any second. Then, when they finally reached it, all the built-up tension in the room disappeared into thin air.
It was Kana.