First-person: Hoshino Yume
To be honest, I expected Ai to have a child when she was around 16, but that was a miscalculation on my part.
In the original story, Ai's pregnancy lasted about 20 weeks—roughly 140 days. Even without relying on that timeline, I could infer the truth from her actions. She would make strange sounds and rush to the bathroom in the middle of a meal, or complain of sudden stomach pain only to quickly dismiss it with, "Ah, it's nothing~" the moment I tried to check on her.
I vaguely realized that there were twins growing in her belly.
By the time Ai was almost 15, her belly had gradually begun to swell. Just as I was considering buying a pregnancy test, she emerged from her room holding one with two clear red lines.
I couldn't help but sigh, looking at the girl before me, resigned to the fact that the inevitable had finally arrived.
And so, time continued to pass...
"Ai... I can let everything else slide, but at least tell me the name of the bastard who got you pregnant."
"No."
"Ai."
"Even if it's you, Yume, I won't tell."
"......Sigh....."
Even though I already knew who the partner was, I couldn't just say that outright. I kept pressing her, but with Ai remaining so resolutely silent, the one who ended up raising the white flag first was none other than me.
After discussing the situation with Saito, we agreed that Ai would take a temporary hiatus from her idol life. Even Ichigo Saito was taken aback to hear that Ai hadn't told even me who the father was.
Frankly speaking, Saito vehemently opposed Ai giving birth. His superficial reasoning was that a minor and an idol would be unable to continue her activities if this scandal ever leaked. In reality, however, he was deeply worried, seeing the girl he cared for like a daughter facing such a tough ordeal so young.
However, in the end, faced with Ai's firm resolve and my approval as her legal guardian, Saito couldn't argue further. We concluded the matter by deciding to visit a quiet rural hospital.
Before heading there, I had occasionally called in doctors under private contract to check on Ai. Thankfully, up until nearly the 20th week, both Ai's health and the condition of the twins were reported to be excellent.
But the hardest part was...
"Yume, I want to eat tuna!!!"
"Sure."
"Yume, buy me beef! Beef!"
"....Isn't that too much?"
"No, no, it's not that I want it, it's that our babies want it!!"
"..."
"Please~★"
"Well... okay..."
"Yume~"
"Yume~"
"Yume~"
"Yume~"
From the day Ai's pregnancy was confirmed, she demanded different foods every single day. Thanks to that, the one who suffered the most was none other than me.
The physical fatigue was minimal, but the mental exhaustion piled up day by day. Still, seeing Ai happily stroking her belly, I ultimately felt like a guardian who simply wished for her happiness.
When the day came to visit the hospital Saito had found, I took the driver's seat, Saito took the passenger seat, and Ai sat in the back.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Saito went to handle the registration while I stayed by Ai's side. Fortunately, there were few people around. Perhaps because it was a rural hospital, most patients were elderly, which I considered a small mercy.
Saito returned, and the three of us—Ai, Saito, and I—went straight into the examination room. There, I met Amamiya Goro, the man who would soon become Hoshino Aquamarine.
Ai's examination began slowly. Goro started by reading the paperwork containing Ai's information, while I handed over the reports from our previous private check-ups.
After finishing the papers, he glanced at me once, then looked at Saito and asked, "Are you the parent?"
"Ah... no, not me. It's that person over there..."
When asked, Saito pointed at me, denying his involvement. Meeting Goro's gaze as it turned toward me, I spoke up.
".....I am nominally this child's guardian."
I proceeded to explain the situation between Ai and myself. After hearing the circumstances to some extent, Goro wore a thoughtful expression. Meanwhile, Ai took off the hat she was wearing...
Ah, this is it.
Wondering if I would actually see the scene from the original story unfold, I couldn't help but feel curious about whether he'd react the same way in reality. Whether he knew my thoughts or not, the doctor spoke.
"Do... Doctor, how is it... Is there a possibility of severe constipation...?"
"If that were the case, she'd be dead..."
"No, seriously. Since you already know it's a pregnancy, could you please stop running from reality by coming all the way here?"
It might be just like the original, but seriously, you've had doctors come to the house for check-ups before this, haven't you?
"Ah, that part is going smoothly!! Today too, Ai's bowel movements were fine★"
".....Just shut up....."
"Yes~"
Seeing Ai give a thumbs-up with words utterly unbecoming of an idol, I had to vigorously massage my temples and neck with both hands to combat the simultaneous headache and neck pain.
If I didn't, I felt like I'd collapse before anyone else.
"Le... let's proceed with the examination first... We need to prepare, so please wait a moment...."
"Understood."
"Then, can I eat Häagen-Dazs while... ugh!?"
"Saito, could you please cover Ai's mouth...?"
"Is... is that okay for a pregnant woman...?"
"........"
Shit...
For the first time in 20 years, I felt like cursing inwardly. When I watched the original anime, I just thought it was a mess and moved on, but experiencing this chaos firsthand, I felt like I was going to go crazy.
Please come back quickly, Goro...
Third-person: Amamiya Goro
Quietly slipping out of the examination room, Amamiya Goro was in a state of absolute panic, his thoughts racing at a million miles an hour.
Waitwaitwaitwaitwaitwaitwaitwaitwait!? What!? It's HER!?
Looking through the glass window of the door, Goro confirmed the scene inside: a girl chattering animatedly, a red-haired man—supposedly her guardian—clutching his neck in distress, and a man who looked like a third-rate thug.
He took another look at the girl.
Whaaaaaaaaaat!? The real Ai is su~~~~~~~~~~per cute~~~~~~~~~~~~!!
Thinking this, Goro practically pressed his head against the hospital floor.
But wait, that's not the point!? My favorite idol is pregnant!?
He looked through the window again.
I'm so shocked, I feel like I'm going to vomit right here, right now!
Inside the room, the conversation continued.
"Ai... so you really won't tell me who your partner is...?"
The blonde man... Saito... asked Ai once more. After pausing briefly, Ai looked at Yume and said:
"Ehehehe... It's a secret★"
"Ugh."
A secret, huh!!!! Well, then there's no helping it!!!!!!
Seeing Ai stick out her tongue cutely as she spoke, Goro thought there was no choice. However, Yume, who was standing right there, sighed, opened the hospital window for air, and held his throbbing head in his hands.
Ironically, Ai's partner was right in front of the doctor's eyes. But the only person who knew that truth was Hoshino Ai herself, sitting right there in that room.