Stars Fall from Somewhere...Right?

Someone Else's Soul

"Have fun in school you two!"

Ai says as Miyoko takes them out of their apartment and into her car to take them to school—well, technically kindergarten but they're already a few months away from Grade School,

"So what's the difference?" Ai thought.

Ruby jumped up and waved goodbye at Ai as she shouted "Bye-bye Mama!"

Ai smiled at the sheer excitement and energy Ruby had. Even as a baby, she was always the loudest and most energetic of the twins—even more so than other kids her age.

Aqua on the other hand just waved at his mother with a small smile on his face. But Ai smiled all the same, he was always the quiet type so she didn't mind. But she still feared how Aqua would make friends later on if he continued being so quiet.

Miyoko drives off, leaving Ai all alone in her apartment.

Ichigo had sent an email saying she was free for the day—which was very rare for a popular idol such as herself,—so she decided to do some house cleaning.

It was usually Miyoko who'd clean the apartment, but Ai felt that today was her chance to work like a mother for once—even if Miyoko admittedly didn't really put much effort into it.

She grabbed the vacuum cleaner and a mop, then began cleaning the living room and kitchen.

~•~

Ai wipes the sweat from her forehead after wiping the cabinets and the counter clean from all the dust. As she continues to clean the living room, she stumbles upon a framed picture of her and a doctor.

Ai recognized that the doctor was Gorou Amamiya, the doctor who promised to help Ai deliver her baby. The picture was taken the day he conducted the ultrasound on her belly to see her beautiful twins. Ai smiles sadly at the photo.

"He was such a big help back then, but he went missing all of a sudden...I hope he's alright." She thinks to herself.

The frame had been collecting dust over the years. Perhaps Miyoko forgot to clean the pictures hanging from the wall?

Regardless, Ai picks it up and wipes the frame, removing any dust that's on the picture.

Despite the doctor going missing, Ai was able to deliver Aqua and Ruby successfully.

She remembered that day as if it were only a few minutes ago. The pain she had felt in that moment was nothing she could put into words. But she knew deep within her heart that it was worth it.

Ever since she was a child, Ai had never loved anyone.

Not any of the other children in the orphanage, not any of her caretakers, not even any of her fans as an idol.

She felt shame, almost disgust at herself for never being able to feel love.

At first, she thought becoming an idol would help her find true love. She thought dancing and singing about love to her fans would eventually lead to Ai truly loving her fans and appreciating them.

But even now, she knows that she's only lying to them. Her fans don't deserve to be lied to, but Ai couldn't help it.

It's her way of showing her love to them.

But then Hikaru Kamiki came into her life as if the world or fate had listened to her cries for help and longing.

Ai thought "Maybe if I find a boyfriend, I'll finally have someone to love~!"

This was her chance, to finally be able to say that she loves someone and have it not be a lie.

But Kamiki being the guy he was...and Ai being the type of person she is, it didn't work out too well for either of them.