Shining Stars

Chapter Thirty-Three: Always Be With You

Ai was in her room, late at night. The room was pitch black, other than for the screen of her phone, which illuminated her face. She was watching the trailer for the reality dating show Aqua was in again.

She had broken open her alcohol cabinet again. She had felt like it had been a while since she had allowed herself to completely relax and enjoy the break alcohol allowed her to take from life.

Grabbing a bottle from her bedside table she looked at it for a moment, swishing the bottle around in her hand before she downed the rest in its entirety. She seemed to be thinking there was much more than the small amount she had actually just drank and pouted.

"Awh... I still thought I had more..."

She giggled to herself as she set the bottle next to the two others she had finished a while ago. She was completely drunk at this point as she reached for another bottle which wasn't there.

"D-Did I run out... Damn it~"

She muttered to herself as she turned her attention back to the screen.

"I'm flattered. I think you're cute too, Memcho."

Aqua beamed at the girl. Ai smiled at her baby boy. The loner, who seemed to not be interested in girls, finally seemed to be coming out of his shell. Even if it was just an act, Ai was happy.

Though in that moment as she smiled and looked at his face he noticed how much he really looked like his father. She felt tears well up in her eyes as she laid her phone on her chest.

Her thoughts turned from happy into more self doubt and sadness. She hadn't thought about the loss of (Y/n) for a while... Why was it coming back now?

"(Y/n)... Why'd you l-leave me- Why do I have to be here... without you..."

Ai, in her drunken state, didn't seem to eager to think about her lost lover. Why was he taken from her? Her eyes turned black as she began to let the tears roll down her cheeks.

"I want you back... Why can't you come back..?"

Ai wondered to herself, though she knew why... It was just the alcohol talking.. She began to curl up into a small ball as she began to feel her eyes grow heavy and she closed them. Thinking about all she had lost.

- - - - - -

Ai felt her eyes open as her body become lighter as she strolled the streets next to (Y/n). He apparently had something planned, which he didn't tell her anything about, citing that he wanted to to be a surprise.

Oh well, it probably wasn't anything she'd hate anyway, might as well enjoy this rare chance they get to go out.

"You've been really quiet, what's wrong?"

"Nothing... Nothings wrong."

"I doubt that, you're always asking me: 'Where are we going?' or 'Are we there yet?'"

"Hey! I'm able to act my age when I want to!"

Ai pouted as she looked down towards her stomach, a hand landing on it. (Y/n) seemed to finally connect the dots on why Ai was so silent.

"You're nervous."

"I am..."

While he was right on the money, (Y/n) never expected a straightforward and immediate response. Ai was usually so mysterious and misleading when he asked her questions like this... It showed how serious this was to her.

"What are you nervous about?"

"I'm nervous about failing you and our child..."

"Ai, I know you'll do great... You won't fail anyone."