Ch. 27: Innocent Wind

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"You know you didn't have to come with me." Ai said. We Saar in a car, the five of us. Me, Ai, Natsuki, Syo, and Nanami. "I could've done fine on my own."
"I know." I said, taking off my seat belt to lay down in his lap. He looked down at me. "But, I want to watch the recording. I have nothing else to do."
"Too much time." He said with a pointed look. "You have too much time on your hands."
I stuck out my tongue. "Hai, hai."
"And, so, why are you here?" He directed at Nanami.
"E...Ettooo...." She started.
"We invited Haruka." Syo said to his senpai. "She's with us."
Ai rolled his eyes. "Just as long as she doesn't cause trouble."

***

Ai was pretending to read a book as Syo and Natsuki took their places.
I shivered. Geez, it was cold. I wore a jean trench coat, leggings, a (fav. color) sweater, and boots.
'How are they not cold?!' I thought.
Ai had made absolutely no mistakes while filming. I admired him. He was more of a pro than I was.
"CUT!" Someone cried.
Syo, Natsuki, and Ai sat under a canopy, and Haruka and I raced to meet them.
"I came to discuss the music!" Haruka said.
"Ah, I heard the demo!" Syo cried.
"It matched the theme of the theme of the film perfectly!" Natsuki agreed.
"Only thanks to Mikaze-senpai's lyrics." Haruka said.
"Of course it's perfect." I said, like it was obvious.
"It should match the theme." Ai agreed in the same tone.
"I don't get this part." He said after a moment of silence.
"Which part?" I asked, leaning over his shoulder.
"This one, the climax scene." He said, pointing to a line. "'Thank you for always being by my side.'"
"How do you not get it?" I asked. "I'm always by your side, Ai.... It's just like that."
"But, as my girlfriend, it's expected that you're always by my side, ne?" He asked.
I sighed, and opened my mouth to say something, but....
"Mikaze-san, could you please come here?" A staff person cried.
"Hai!" Ai called. He touched my cheek gently. "You're getting quite cold, ________. Maybe you should go inside?"
I shook my head. "I'm going to watch you."
He sighed gently. "Hai. Ja, ittekimasu."
He walked away.
"He hasn't made a mistake yet." Syo said with a sigh.
"I know." I answered. "He's more of a pro than I am.... It's hard to believe we're in the same league."
"But, you're quite good at acting, too, _____-chan!" Natsuki cried.
I smiled. "That's why you're my favorite." Natsuki smiled.
"But, how can he not make mistakes and not get the script?!" Syo asked.
I shook my head, 'It's because he's an android.' But, I couldn't tell them that.
"Who knows?" I lied.

***

We sat a room, me, Ai, and Haruka. She was talking about his lyrics with him, and I laid on his lap and fiddled with the buttons of his jacket.
"Your lyrics are so full of love." Haruka said. "So... Heartfilled, overflowing...."
Ai cocked his head and looked out the window. "Heartfilled?" He questioned.
'He doesn't fully understand.' I thought, my heart going out to him.
"It's going to rain." He said.

I followed him outside, where I sat on a step, while he practiced his lines.
"Thank you for always being by my side!" He announced.
The rain was falling. The soft potter patter calmed my spirit, but made me colder.
"Iie... It doesn't sound right..." He said to himself. "Thank you for always being by my side.... Iie..."
"Ai," I said. "We should get inside. You're not suppose to get wet and- AI!"
I just barley caught him and eased him into my lap.
"Ai, chotto, Ai!" I cried. I put a hand on his forehead. "You're burning up..."
"_____-senpai!" Haruka said, she, Natsuki, and Syo coming towards us.
"Help me get him inside." I said.

We laid him down on a bed. I sat by his side and brushed his hair. "Ai..." I said worriedly.
"I'm going to call a hospital!" Haruka announced as she pulled out her phone.
I heard humming. 'Please just let it be me hearing it...' I thought.
The three of them turned towards us.
'Shimatta...' I thought. 'The secret is out now.'
Ai's eyes opened, but there were a bunch of scientific stuff dancing across his orbs. His eyes closed once more.
I held my breath as his eyes opened once more, to its usual cyan.
The three Kohais were quiet.
"I guess they know now." Ai said to me, and I nodded.
"KNOW WHAT?!" They cried.
"That I'm a robot." He answered.
"EH?!"
I handed Ai a towel as he explained what purpose he was used for... Though, he used a different explanation. That he was built because Saotome asked for a perfect idol.
"Ai." I said to him. "I didn't know that part."
"It was just a smaller part to the whole plot." He said.
I nodded. "Hai... But.. What about your power? Will you be able to film?"
"I've got 70% left... I guess this'll do..." He said.
I nodded.
"We can help." The kohais said.
"As if." I sniffed.
"There nothing you can do about it." Ai said. "I can do this myself."

*time skip*

I watched with worry as Ai filmed, praying that he wouldn't collapse.
But, he did.
Fortunately, it was during a scene while he was inside, sitting on a bed.
"CUT!" The director cried. "Mikaze-san, that improvised fall was perfect!"
I ran up to him, and sat next to him. "Ai!" I said.
"Iie, ____!" He said. "Just this last scene and...."
He held his chest and brought him close.
"Fine." I whispered. "Just don't collapse again."
He nodded.

"They're going to postpone the filming?!" Ai cried. "But just this last scene."
"Ai," Syo said. "That fall wasn't improvised."
"I can do it!" Ai snapped. "So, stop worrying like that."
He stood, and walked off.
"Guys, just leave it be." I whispered.
"But, surely, you're worried too!" Natsuki cried.
"More worried than the both of you combined." I answered. "But, he can do it if he says he can. He's not a little kid."
They nodded. "Then, we'll just asked him stuff!" Natsuki cried. "So he can feel better."
"I don't think bothering him will be the best idea..." I said, sweatdropping.
"Ja, _______, you can help us then!" Syo said.
I smirked. "Okay, Ai it is then!"
They laughed as we went to find him.

*time skip*

We found Ai talk with Haruka on the staircase.
My heart burned with jealousy, and I found my rightful place at his side while Natsuki and Syo cried, "Ai/-chan!" They said. "Can you teach me how to do this... I don't really get it."
Ai rolled his eyes. "Think about it yourselves!"
I giggled gently. He was back to his normal self.
But, I also felt a ping of sadness. What had Haruka said to make him feel better? How could she say something that could calm him? How come I wasn't able to?
Ai looked down at me. "Doushita, _____?"
I smiled brightly. "Iie, Ai. It's nothing.... Just glad you're back to normal."
He patted my head. "Hai, hai."

*time skip*

I watched-from a close proximity- Ai perform his final scene.
He was all sparkling... Well, mostly because the clouds were clearing and the sun was sparkling off of the water drops on him.
"Thank you!" He cried... In a voice that was genuine and that really sounded thankful. "For always being... By... My... Side..."
He smiled a real smile. I wonder what he was thinking about....
"CUT!" The director cried.
But, just as he did, Ai fell.
"BAKA!" I yelled, rushing up to hold him close. He was breathing steadily... Asleep.
I felt tears roll down my eyes both from worry and from the fact that... It was probably Haruka who had made him smile the smile he only smiled for me... And that it was probably Haruka who had made him say the line so.... Beautifully.
I held him close and softly cried into his hair.
"Baka," I whispered. "You promised."

Hehehe.. There's more to the word "promise" in that last line. Ai promised that he wouldn't collapse.... And, Ai also said that he would love you and only you. (A/N: by you I mean me, lol)
So, comment and vote! This episode is definitely my favorite out of the whole UtaPri series. And, did I make your heart go Doki~Doki~?

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