Harmonies of the Heart:Oshi No Ko Fanfic

by AzraelTheBloodedge1

Summary:

What if Instead of twins,Ai had Triplets? Read the Story of Lapis Hoshino

all rights of Oshi No Ko belong to Mengo Yokoyari

As this is just a fanfic,enjoy

Chapter 1: Prologue:Reborn

“ I'm afraid he could go any day now” said a voice.

“ How awful, especially for someone so young”

“(The worst luck…Can't speak anymore…can't sing anymore…A cerebral stroke… that's what the doctor said…This is fine…I have no friends… Mom and Dad kept fighting…)”

With a head turn,In the mirror was a young man head covered in bandages, eyes dull and lifeless. pay slowly closed their eyes and saw nothing but darkness.

But then the sounds of a baby crying can be heard,

“(Why is it so bright?)”

Looking up to see a girl with blue-purple hair, it would seem to be stars in her eyes tearing up.

“(Who the heck are.. when I recognize her, she's that Idol..Ai Hoshino..wait am I-)”

Tries to reach out a hand only to see a small baby hand.

“(Wait,Is that my hand?Oh now I get it)”

Months later..

“ (So it turns out I reincarnated, and that I'm the son of a Idol.. )”

The mirror then showed two baby boys, one with blonde hair, blue eyes with a six point star in the right eye. The other one had blue-purplish colored hair and purple eyes with both stars just like his mother.

“You're such a good boys, aquamarine,Lapis”said Ai Hoshino.

“( that's me, the oldest.Hoshino Lapis,At least my name is not as long as Aqua’s or-)”

His thoughts are interrupted when he hears crying and is put on the couch as she goes to pick up a baby girl with blonde hair and red eyes with a six point star on the left eye.

“Now what's the matter, Ruby?” she asked while picking her up.

“(Our younger sister,Ruby.We're triplets but unlike the other two I look the most like mom)”He thought to himself as Ruby cried.

“What's wrong, Aqua?”Ai asks.

“ That's Ruby,ya know? And you call yourself a mother?”

He sees two adults into the room.One was a man with short blonde hair,facial hair, wearing glasses and a suit while another was a radiant-skinned woman with strawberry blonde hair that has bangs on the left side and Rouge- colored eyes wearing a red dress.

“ I've always been bad at remembering names and faces, I can't help it. Pretty gross, huh? Japanese men have these Illusions about how mothers should be”said Ai.

“ Don't get all International on me, you don't even have a passport!” said the man.

“(Mama's manager,Ichigo Saitou and his wife Miyako...Yay)” he thought to himself.

Ichigo brought out a board and then slammed his hand on it.

“ Anyway… as of today,Ai returns to being an idol! We're going to discuss your activities going forward. First step of your comeback is a music program tonight, it'll be broadcast live, but you're up for it, right?” he asks.

“ Of course”Ai responds.

“ While you're working, my wife will look after your children”said Ichigo.

“I see…” she said noticeably looking down.

“(Hey, I'm not happy to spend my time with you either lady..unless)” Lapis thought while looking at her breast.

“ Your wife is pretty young, huh? The other members are super turned off by the way you favor young girls”said Ai.
“That's news to me. I'll be more careful” he responds, not noticing the look that his wife was giving him.

“ Is it a problem if I bring my kids to the studio?”Ai asks.

“ Of course it's a problem! Now listen here! If work gets out that an idol like you became a mother of three at 16, you can kiss your idol career goodbye. I'll come under Fire as the one responsible for supervising you, and my agency will be finished. The whole lot of us will be going straight to hell!” he said, falling to the ground.

“(I don't know about straight to hell but-)”

“And no bringing the kids shopping or to do paperwork at the gov office either! If you have a truly pressing emergency, you're to head out under the guise that you are watching our kids for us!”he shouts.

“Aw come on! What a pain, huh, Lapis?” she asked while petting Aqua's head.

“ That's Aqua”said Ichigo as she laughed.

“(Word hopeless comes to mind right about now.Certainly better than…I wonder what they did after I died, did they even have a funeral? Did they even realize I was…I don't care anymore)” lapis thought to himself.

Later that night..

Lapis then woke up to see Aqua turn on the TV. He then got out of his crib and crawled over to him.

“Is the show that Mom’s on starting already?” he asks.

“ Yeah, they're talking to her right now” he answered as he was drinking from his bottle.

“Oh, right! Speaking of food, the other day my baby..” she said which made Aqua spit out his milk and Lapis look dumbfounded.

“My baby?” the host asks.

“Er,I mean my baby kitten!I got a pet during my rest period you see!” said Ai,nervously.

“Oh..”said the host.

“Nice save”said Lapis,deadpanned.

The show begins putting on an amazing performance,Aqua was mesmerized and so was Lapis.

“Wait!”

They both then turn to see their sister Ruby getting up for her crib.

“N Station already started! Why didn't either of you wake me up?!” she asked crawling out of her crib then crawled up to them.

“ Oh my God, Mama's just too cute! All the viewers should pay $1 million yen for this! Her expressiveness when she turns is outta this world! It's too eerie, it's like she's an Oni!” said Ruby.

“(I made a pretty interesting discovery, my brother and sister were also reborn just like me.and how did I make that discovery?)”

Flashback..

Lapis was just sleeping until he was woken up by yelling, he looks to see the Aqua and Ruby weren't in bed which had him a bit worried. He looked to see Aqua standing in the doorway.

“ Hey… do you share the same fate as me?” he asks.

“ Huh?”said Lapis.

“That baby just talked! Gross!”Ruby shouts.

“Right back at ya”said Aqua.

“ Another baby and another baby talking like it's actually normal, weird” said Lapis which made the both of them look at him.

flashback over…

“(In a way, it kind of reminds me of that cartoon I saw from the states.We're the talking babies just missing the talking dog.No matter how you look at it, we're a bizarre set of triplets)” Lapis thought to himself.

A week later…

As a two or done being breastfed, there was a stare down between Aqua and Ruby while lapis just stared at the both of them in disbelief. Ai isn't told that she has to go to work and kisses all three of them on the forehead then leaves.

“ Hey, could you show a little bit of restraint?”Aqua asks.

“ He has a point” Lapis comments.

“ Why? It's simply the law of nature for a daughter like me to suck her mother's breast. It's legit right that has been granted to me-”

“ Well let me ask… were you a girl in your previous life too?”Aqua asks.

“ Yep” she answered.

“ Could have hold me”said Lapis.

“Well, I suppose I can let it slide then”said Aqua.

“(That didn't take long)” Lapis thought to himself.

An hour later…

After Miyako got done changing Ruby’s diaper, she started to go on a rant which caught Lapis and Aqua’s attention.

“I didn't get married to be a damn babysitter!” she shouts.

“ What? Being able to serve mama should bring nothing but happiness, she's not right in the head, is she?” Ruby asks, a bit irritated.

“ Oh, hi Pot, names kettle, have we met?”Lapis mumbles.

“I can see the validity in what she's saying” said Aqua as Miyako fell to her knees.

“ Aah, you know, a scandal is being covered up here, isn't it?” she said which made the three gasp.

“That's it. If I sold the story to a weekly magazine, I could be swimming in cash… I don't give a crap what happens anymore- I'm gonna do it!” she shouts.

“ Uh-oh, not good. What's the call? Do we kill her?” Ruby whispers.
“ With what, baby hands?” lapis whispers back.

“ Plus she has the size advantage on us” said Aqua, who looked up to see both siblings looking at him.

“ I was just kidding, but you are actually serious about it?”Ruby asks.

“ Okay we just say this, we're not killing her”said Lapis.

“There's no question that this could be trouble if we just let it be, even so-”

“ Think of something fast cuz she's just pulled out her phone” said Lapis.

The three that saw her taking photos.

“I have an idea” said Aqua, who then Whispers it to Ruby and Lapis.

The three that got on the table.

“ Thy Hearts thirst cannot be quenched by champagne” said Aqua gaining the attention of Miyako.

“ Who's there?!” she shouts and confusion as she saw the three babies there.

“ I-I am a Divine messenger. Thy excesses… can no longer be overlooked” said Aqua, nervously.

“(Please let her buy this, please let her buy this, please let her buy this, please let her buy this,)” Lapis thought to himself.

“ A divine messenger? Wait a minute, that baby just talked…No way!” she said, nervously.

“ In the experience, are mere babies capable of speech? Believe in me” Aqua demands.

“ Well, it's just when you talk about the divine… I don't believe in that kind of stuff.Oh, I get it!This must be a candid- Camera thing! Like some TV show Ai-san is in where the prank the managers!Those are totally a thing!” she said nervously looking around.

“(We need something a little bit more to-)”

“Ruby-chan, it's dangerous for you to be-” she said as she tried to reach out to her but had her hand slapped away.

“ Behave thyself! I am an incarnation of Amaterasu. I am what ye called a god”said Ruby.
“God?” she said, backing up in fear.

“ Manipulated by prospects of immediate profit, thou art on the verge of abandoning thy destiny”said Ruby.

“(Destiny? )” Lapis wondered.

“My destiny..?”Miyako asks.

“ Hoshino Ai was chosen by the god of entertainment. Furthermore, those children that are triplets who bear a Monumental destiny. It is my destiny to keep guard over them.Thy deeds run contrary to the will of the Gods.Shut down not desist, Divine punishment shall be visited upon thee” said Ruby.

“Divide punishment? What do you mean?!In concrete terms! “ she shouts.

“ In concrete terms? Specifically-”
“ You'll die” said Aqua.
“ Eternal damnation” lapis adds.
“ Yes, die! Suffering Eternal damnation!” Ruby adds.

“ No! That's super concrete! What... should I do?” she asked, tearfully.

“It is simple, really. Guard the secret of their mother and us. Moreover, dote on these children and do everything they ask of thee” said Ruby.

“(Everything?)” Aqua and Lapis thought to themselves.

“Do thursley, and a second marriage to a handsome actor is not out of the question” said Ruby.

“ Seriously?!” she asked, cheerfully.

“(Well, we're actually going to get away with this)” Lapis thought.

“I'll do it!I'll do whatever is asked of me! I'll even lick their insoles if need be!” she shouts.

“ Thau doesn't need to go that far” said Ruby.

Later that night, as Ruby and Aqua slept. Lapis they crawled over to a phone and went to YouTube and typed up the name” Eien no” and scroll down until he saw a black haired young man with Amber eyes holding a guitar in front of a sidewalk.

“ Kind of weird, seeing your old self” said Lapis.

“So that's who you used to be?”

He then quickly turned around and saw Aqua.

“ Don't sneak up on me like that, but yes.I was into a lot of things, martial arts was one of my passions but I always preferred music.I saved up enough money to buy myself a guitar and taught myself.I found music to be the only escape, nevermind my parents were fighting...I played in front of a sidewalk, under a bridge, and just I made a demo… I collapsed at work, I heard the doctors whispering about it.Apparently a hit to my head, cost me my life” said Lapis.

“(A cerebral stroke)Sorry” said Aqua.

“ You got nothing to be sorry about. Besides, I like the second chance” he said as he crawled away.

End of chapter.

Chapter 2: Childhood:Mother and Children

A whole year passed and the three grew to the point where it was no longer suspicious for them to walk around and talk. Lapis is just reading a book when Ruby runs up to Ai.

“ Mama! Mama!” she shouts.

“Hm?”said AI as she rested her head on her lap.

“ Pat me” said Ruby.

“The word clingy is used here” Lapis whispers to Aqua.

“Awww,Pure Land Of Perfect Bliss” said Ruby.

“Where’d you learn a difficult phrase like that? Wait, could it be that you...”Ai ask which made the three gasp.

“Well,I-”
“ We heard it from watching TV, right, Ruby?” Lapis asks ,nervously.

“Oh. For a second I thought you were some kind of Super Genius”said Ai which made them sigh in relief.

“(You owe me)” Lapis thought while staring at Ruby.

Overtime,Ai had gotten multiple gigs. From model to radio host, things are going steady for and on that day, they were on their way to a TV drama that she would play a part in.After filming her part, it was taken out but then the director offered a part in another job but on the condition that Aqua was a part of it.

“Mama! Mama! I wanna go back to Mama! Why is it Mama here?” Ruby whined while flailing on the ground.

“ Because Ai doesn’t film the same days I do”said Aqua.

“I wanna go home and snuggle up to her! I wanna be held to Mama's breast and pampered!” Ruby cried.

“ You are definitely the baby out of all of us” Lapis comments, deadpan.

They then heard a slam which made Ruby stop crying. Aqua and Lapis then turned to see a girl in a yellow dress with shoulder-length pinkish red hair and wearing a white hat.

“ This is a professional work site, you know! If you came to play, head home right now!” she shouts.

“Um…-”

“Arima Kana. I'm an actress in the film” she answers walking up to Aqua.

“ Oh, isn't she..Hmm, what was it again? The genius child actor who can lick baking soda like that?” Ruby asks.

“ You like baking soda-”
“No! The genius child actor who can cry in 10 seconds flat! Everybody says the way I can cry and dramas is amazing! Because it is amazing!” she explains to an annoyed Ruby and Lapis.

“ You know, I don't really like this girl.Like, she seems fake, and I have an instinctive distaste for her” said Ruby.

“For once, I agree with Ruby” Lapis comments.

“ There are some people who are unusually hard on Child Actors, like you for example” said Aqua.

“ I know about you! You’re who had an in. Back when we did the script reading, you and that Idol weren't even part of the story. Even mama said the director forced it through! That's simply not acceptable, okay?!” she said.

“ Well, that's not really-”

“ I watched the drama the director shot recently, and that idol hardly had any screen time at all” which made the triplets' ears perk up.

“I bet her acting was so they were forced to cut her parts. Seems the one thing she's good at is buttering people up! Hey, AD, carry my bag” she demands to the assistant director who was holding boxes.

“ Um, well, hold on just a minute..” said the assistant director.

What the two weren't noticing was the murderous look on the triplets' faces.

“Onee-san”said Ruby with terrifying smile and a dark aura.
“I know, but she's just a kid..” said Aqua with the same look.

“ Where kids too, so it should be fine-”
“No lapis”said Aqua.

Few minutes later…

Ruby was sitting on Miyako’s lap while Lapis was sitting right next to them. They watch Aqua’s scene closely until the director yells cut.

“Onee-chan was just being himself,wasn’t he?Ruby asks.

“I thought so,too”said Lapis.

Lapis then noticed Kana watching up to the director.

“Director,reshoot the scene”said Kana.

“Hm? But there aren’t any problems with it-”
“There’s a huge problem!”she shouts.

She gained the attention of everyone on set then she started to whimper.

“Just now,I wasn’t nearly as good in the scene as him.I can’t take it.Again,I beg you.I promise I’ll do better next take”Kana pleads as someone pulls her away from him.

And with that, aqua's first acting job included. 3 years past since they were reborn,The film was overseas and the director was even nominated for a prize. Ai carried the entire film and because of this, she got more work after that. She was pushed to stardom, and became a media personality. Soon she will be turning 20,the small family have been able to keep their daily lives a secret without being uncovered by the public. The triplets were now enrolled in a preschool. Lapis was playing with a bunch of kids while Ruby and Aqua were talking near the slide.

Minutes later…

“Listen up,it’s time for your dance routine.Okay,it won’t be long before your families come watch you.So let’s practice extra hard”said the teacher.

Ruby then ran out to the surprise of Aqua and Lapis. They both then went looking for her until they found her outside behind a tree.
“Why did you run away,Ruby?” Aqua asks.

“Because I’m bad at dancing.I’ve never done it before”she confesses.

“Huh?Aqua response.

“Can you be bad at something if you haven't done it?”Lapis asks.

“Did you always stay cooped up in your room and play there? Kids these days,I tell ya”said Aqua.

There was a moment of silence between the three until they heard her sigh.

“I guess I was like a shut-in. I tried dancing, but I can never do it.I don't think I'm capable of something like that”said Ruby.

“I don't know what your past was like, but think about it. Are you really okay with this? You've got a long life ahead of you” said Aqua.

Later at home…

Lapis was walking around til he noticed a pink guitar.

“(That’s right, A-mama won it on a show…it wouldn't be a problem if I just play on it a little bit )” Lapis thought to himself.

He then grabs the guitar, play plugs it into amp close by, and turns it up.

“(What should I...oh,there was that song I liked to play)”he thought as he tried to get his fingers into position.

He began to play, it sounded off but eventually got the sound you wanted( the song is Can You Feel My Heart by Bring Me The Horizon for those who are curious).

“(Rough, but over time if I keep practicing it should sound-)”

“Lapis…”

Lapis slowly turns his head to look at the door where he saw Ai in awestruck which made his eyes go wide.

“ (Aw,crapbaskets)Uhh,momma I can exp-” Lapis begins to say but was cut off by Ai hugging him.
“ That was amazing! When did you learn to play?”she asks.

“(Got to think of something quick) I watched a YouTube video?”Lapis answers, nervously.

“Wow,I’m so proud of you”said Ai.

Lapis smiled, clearly thrilled by the praise.

“Can we play together?” he asks, holding the guitar towards her.

“Of course, but Momma only knows how to play a little bit.Between you playing guitar,Ruby is learning to dance,Aqua’s acting in that films years ago. My babies are talented”Ai confessed.

2 weeks later, The three were sitting on the couch trying to watch something.

“I try my best not to think about it but I wonder who our father is from time to time.Uh, thinking about it makes my heart sink”said Aqua.

“ You dummy, you let a little thing like paternity get you down? Obviously had a virgin conception.There was never a guy in the first place”said Ruby.

“Maybe papa left mama?”Lapis suggests.

“I’m telling you it had to be a virgin conception”said Ruby.

Days after that conversation the celebrated B-Komachi’s next big performance at the dome.The day before the concert. Ruby was laying in bed while Aqua was putting on his sweater and Lapis was looking for his juice box until the doorbell rang.

“Oh,could that be the president? Coming”said Ai.

It was silent but then Aqua open the door.Lapis heard yelling. He quickly ran out and was in horror to see Ai holding her stomach as blood leaked out, A man in a black hood waving a knife around.

“I’ve been irresponsible from the start.I’m not pure of heart,I’m dishonest and dirty.I didn’t have a good grasp of what it meant love someone.So,instead,I told pretty lies that would please everyone,always hoping that one day,those lies would become the truth. I tried my best,worked hard,and lied with everything I had. You see,to me,lies are love and I suppose that in my own way,I thought I was expressing that Love.I don't know if I was able to love you and others but I sang those songs while making that I wanted to.Hoping that someday that would be the truth.And even now, but I want is to show you how much I love you” she tells him while putting her hand out.
“ You're a damn liar. I bet you don't even remember who I am, do you? You just want me to let you go-”
“You’re Ryousuke,aren’t you? You often came to the fan sign events.Oh,am I wrong? I’m so sorry.I have never been very good with remembering names. I was happy when I get that star sand from you as a present. I still got it displayed in my living room”said Ai which made the man begin to ramble then leave the apartment.

Aqua calls but then sees Ai slump against the door.Lapis stood there next to her completely frozen until she gently hugs him and Aqua.

“I’m sorry,this is probably the end for me.You’re not hurt,are you,Aqua? Ai asks.

“I’m fine”he answers, tearfully.

“I wonder if today’s dome concert will be canceled. I feel so sorry for all the people”said Ai.

“(Momma’s dying and she thinking about the people at the concer-)”

“Ruby,your dance at your preschool event was wonderful.you know,Ruby,I was thinking maybe you’ll become an idol too.Mother and daughter performing together..sounds fun,doesn’t it? Maybe Lapis would play something on guitar.Aqua,will you be an actor? I wonder what kind of adults you’ll grow up to be..Aw..I’d like to see the three of you with your school backpacks”said Ai.

“(Where the hell is the Ambulance?! Please,anyone?! Save her..)”Lapis thought to himself.

“Ah,I gotta tell you this..Ruby..Aqua…Lapis..I love you. Ah,I was finally able to say it..I’m sorry it took me so long.I’m so relieved,Those words weren't definitely a lie”said Ai.

She then placed a hand on Aqua’s cheek but as the light faded from her eyes,her hand then fell.

Ai’s death was announced hours later.The man who stabbed her ended up killing himself in his apartment.The three siblings would go to live with Miyako after the funeral.

Years later…

Lapis now 16,was wearing a highschool uniform.He was now taller then ruby and about the same height as Aqua,his hair now had a dark undercut,bangs that are swept to the left side of his face.

“Ruby,we’re all waiting on you”Lapis said in the midst of yawning.

She then came down the stairs and puts her shoes on.

“ Don’t make us late on the first day,okay?Aqua asks.

The three were about to walk out the door but then Ruby stopped.

“Oh,that’s right. Mom,we’re headed out now”said Ruby to a picture of the four of them.

“(Don’t worry mom,I’ll look out for both of them)”Lapis thought to himself.

End of Chapter.

Chapter 3: Show Business Arc:The Third Option&Blitz5

Three days before starting highschool…

“I’m gonna be like mom!”Ruby shouts but is then hit in the head with a book by Aqua.

“Talking about your dreams is fine,but high school entrance exams are fast approaching”he informs her.

“You don’t get it,onee-chan.I am gonna be an idol! High schools with performing arts departments focus on the interview. They only look at academic ability in passing.If I become an Idol,I won’t need to study for entrance exams-two birds with one stone”said Ruby,gleefully.

“Don’t gamble your life based on that factoid-”
“It worked for him”said Ruby, pointing to Lapis who was on his laptop until he noticed them staring at him.

“I’m a streamer and a YouTuber, not an idol”said Lapis.

“You know, I don't mind if you dream of being an idol but don't have illusions of being an idol.Essentially, their salary is low, they retire before 30, and their daily lives are under constant scrutiny by fans” said Aqua.

“ He's right. Only a small percentage survive in the industry after graduating and in the end must take up another line of work”said Lapis.

“Your on his side?”Ruby asks.

“Not really”Lapis answers.

“Point is, there are very few jobs for the cost is so disproportionate to the return-”
“ What's your point?Decent life about doing what you want with it?! She'll never be able to do a thing if you don't worry about the cost in return!”said Ruby.

“She has a point,Aqua. If this is the path she wants to take, let her”said Lapis.

“ Do as you like. I'm headed to the Directors Place” he said as he walked out of the room.

“(He's always so gloomy ever since mom died.Always going off to that director and never wanting to have any fun.Doesn't bother talking to any of us most of the time)”Lapis thought.
“ So lapis, how much you're my favorite-”
“ What do you want?”he asks.
“ Well you know that dish you made on your last video? Could you make it for dinner, pretty please?”Ruby asks.

“Sure.Why don’t you go talk to Miyako-san while you wait”said Lapis.

“Thank you”said Ruby as she walked aways.

Few minutes later,Lapis was eating at the table along with Miyako and Ruby, who seemed a bit down, which didn't go unnoticed by him.

“Another rejection?” he asks.

She nods and he sighs.

“ Well, it's their loss. They will probably suck anyway” said Lapis.

“So, Lapis, I’ve been meaning to ask. When are you finally going to reveal your face to your YouTube fans? It feels like it's been ages since you started your channel” Miyako asks.

“Ah, that’s been on my mind a lot lately. I know people have been curious, but I’ve been taking my time with it"he answers.

"It must be a big decision. What’s holding you back? Are you planning something special for the reveal?" Ruby asks.

"Well, it’s not just about the reveal itself. I’ve always been a bit shy and reserved, and I wanted to make sure I’m ready for the level of exposure that comes with it”said Lapis.

"I get that. It’s a big step. But your fans have been really supportive and patient. I’m sure they’d love to see the person behind the screen or in your case behind the mask”said Miyako.

“Maybe” said Lapis.

The next day, he was working on a project when he saw Ruby coming to the room with a huge smile on her face which caught the attention of both Aqua and Miyako.

“I got scouted!” she shouts, excitedly.

“ You were scouted?!” all three ask in unison.
“Yeah, for one of those underground idol groups. I feel like this has gotta be fate!I've been keeping an eye on Underground Idol recruitment for a long time, you see.Mom also became an idol after being scouted, right? I must be guided, don't you think?” Ruby asks.

“ Is it really a legit idle group?”Miyako asks.

“Not some sketchy job?” Aqua asks.

“ Or a con man?”Lapis asks.

“ It's nothing like that” said Ruby.

“Have you gone over the terms of the contract?”Miyako asks.

“ The Scout said I can come see their next concert. Then we'll get into the contract and stuff after that”said Ruby.

“Hmm…”the three said in unison.

“Aw,I can’t wait”said Ruby.

Minutes later with Lapis…

“Argh,This is a pain in the ass” he said leaving his room.

Lapis knocks on Aqua’s door, the door opens and Aqua comes out.

“I need help”said Lapis.

“ Is it a music issue or an uploading issue?”he asks.

“ Uploading…”he answers.

Aqua sighs and walks into his room and goes to his laptop.

“ By the way, on what ruby said earlier-”
“ It's been taking care of”said Aqua.

“That quickly? You certainly don't waste time. So are they legit?” he asks.

“ Will it matter? I will not let Ruby become an idol”said Aqua.
“(Here he goes again)Look I get after what happened to Mom and-”
“ Your problems been fixed”said Aqua as he stood up.

Aqua walks into the hallway but then looks back at Lapis.

“I already heard it from Miyako.Don't you have a stream to do in a few minutes?”Aqua asks which made his eyes go wide.

“Why do you all know my schedule better than me?”Lapis asks as he rushes into his room.

He looks around until he finds a Cyberpunk mask and puts it on. Even puts his mic close to it and sits at his computer.

The next day…

Lapis yawns as he goes downstairs and sees Ruby all dressed up with Miyako and Aqua sitting at the table.

“Ruby, so you are serious about this?”Miyako asks.

“Yeah” she answers.

“ You know the world you're about to enter into is a harsh place, right? You might not sell well and end up feeling miserable. It's not just the salary aspect either- in your private life-”
“ I know that. Aqua told me as much”said Ruby.

“ Falling victim to stalking…is a familiar story these days. But even so, you still-”
“ You better believe it! After all, now's my chance…I can finally become an idol. I'm going to be like mom!” she proclaims.

“ You really mean it?”Aqua asks.

“ Absolutely!”she answers.

“ Did I miss something?”Lapis asks .
“I'll explain it later”said Aqua.

“ Well, don't join that group then”said Miyako.

“Huh? Why? I'm serious about being an idol-”
“ If you really mean that, then join our agency. Strawberry Productions will be putting together a new idol group for the first time in over a decade”said Miyako.

“Whoa..”said Lapis.

She then ran over and hugged Miyako.After a few minutes, they walked into the office, leaving Aqua and Lapis alone.

“This was option three” said Aqua

Aqua looked up and saw the mischievous grin on Lapis face.

“Hmm..That reminds me, I need your help with the reveal of Blitz5”said Lapis.

“Finally, huh?” Aqua asks.

“Yeah. I want to do it in about 2 days.I have an idea on what I want to do, I just need your help editing it together”said Lapis.

“Alright”said Aqua.

Two days later..

Ruby was in the living room on her phone when she saw a notification that said Blitz5 face reveal, she clicked on it and it took her to a video.A guitar could be heard then the camera showed a young man wearing a cyberpunk mask turn while playing on guitar. He lifted his hand into the air after playing the last string and suddenly his mask came falling off.

“I am blitz5” said lapis.

“That was kind of cool.Wait, he's at 4.5 million views?!” Ruby shouts.

“It's up to that many?”

Ruby turns to see Miyako and Lapis.

“ Yeah it surprised me too. I'm just glad it came out as good as it did”said Lapis.

Next day..

The three siblings would have an interview at Youtou High School.Rudy went first, then Lapis, then Aqua

“How did it go?” Aqua asks.

“ Fine, I think” said Ruby, looking out the window.

“ I’m pretty sure I did good” he said, giving a smile and the peace symbol.

“ How about you?”Ruby asks.

“ It went without a hitch. Any unlikely event I’m rejected, my name will probably be to blame” he said which made the both of them laugh at him.

“Well, your full name is” Aquamarine Hoshino” after all”said Ruby.

“ It's a pain to say, so everyone just calls you “Aqua” for short”said Lapis.

“Lucky for us we got short names” said Ruby high-fiving Lapis.

“ You two..-”
“ Aqua?”

The three then turned to see a familiar red-haired young woman.

“ Hoshino Aqua?!” she shouts, pointing at him.

“(She looks strangely familiar)” lapis thought.

“Aqua! Aqua! You're Hoshino Aqua?!” she asks.

“Getting paid to say his name?” Lapis mumbles as Ruby chuckles.

“ Who are you again?” he asks.

“ Oh, isn't it that girl? The genius child actor who can lick baking soda like that” said Ruby.
“You lick baking soda? Gross” Lapis adds.

“ I'm getting a strange sense of deja vu”said Aqua.

“ The genius child actor who can cry in 10 seconds flat! We acted in a film together-Arima Kana” she shouts.

“ Oh yeah I remember, you're that rude girl from the set who cried for a retake”said Lapis which struck a nerve with Kana.

“Oh, long time no see. So you're in the performing arts department?” Aqua asks but then noticed her grab onto a shirt.

“ I'm glad. I had long thought you'd call it quits…We finally meet again.You're joining up? You'll be in our Performing Arts department? Won't you?!” she asks, excitedly.

“ No…I applied for general education-”
“BUT WHY?!”she shouts.

“My brother and sister are trying for Performing Arts and I'm worried about them so I applied here too” said Aqua.

“What?!”she asks.

“Our middle brother has quite the sister complex” said Ruby.

“Gross!”Kana comments.

“You know, I never did like this girl” Ruby whispers.

“ Yeah, she was annoying back when we were kids and we only met her the one time” Lapis whispers back.

“You'll both be her Juniors if you're accepted, though” Aqua whispers.

“ Yeah, true-”
“ I can hear you three” said Kana,staring at them menacingly.

“Aww…no use in fighting it. Let's be friends, Loli-senpai” said Ruby,begrudgingly.
“ Yeah, Loli-senpai “ Lapis adds.

“You both keep that up and I’ll bully you”said Kana.

“Well, I'm gonna stop by the director's place” said Aqua, walking away.

“ See ya at home” said Lapis.

“ Okay, see ya” said Ruby.

“ Wait” said Kana, following behind him.

“Well nothing to do for the afternoon, game time?”Ruby asks.
“Game time. But, no cheating”said Lapis.

“ I don't cheat-”
“ Yes, you do. Whenever I leave, you unpause it or you knocked the controller out of my hand-”
“ Okay. I promise not to cheat…”said Ruby.

An hour later…

Lapis and Ruby were playing on the game, Ruby was clearly losing the racing game until she put her hand in front of him and getting a bit of the lead.

“ You promise, huh?”Lapis asks.
“You play online for your Channel, I have to cheat” Ruby retorts.

“ You know I focus more on my music on my channel”said Lapis.
“And your Twitch account?” she asks glaring at him.
“ No comment”said Lapis as he won.

“ I want to rematch” said Ruby,puffed her cheeks.
“ Challenge accepted”said Lapis.

End of chapter.

Chapter 4: Show Business Arc:Manga Based Tv& Blackmail

After gaming together, Ruby andLapis were just in the kitchen when Aqua and Miyako.She then gives them some interesting news…

“ What?! You're going to be in a TV drama, Aqua?” Ruby asks.

“ And here I thought he gave up acting” said Lapis.

“ Why did you tell them?” Aqua asks.

“ I mean, you weren't going to tell them yourself, were you? Doing publicity for entertainers is the agency's job”said Miyako.

“ Well, mom did say… that one day maybe I'd be an idol, lapis to play guitar, and you’d be an actor…I see you haven't forgotten” said Ruby.

“So, what's the show called?”Ruby asks.

“ “I'll Go With Sweet Today.”It's based on a shoujo manga” said Miyako as she typed it up.

“ Oh, I've heard of it” said Lapis.

“ Same. It's that manga Aqua’s got in his room! That was a fun read!” said Ruby.

“ Don't read my stuff without asking”said Aqua.

“It's a drama produced by a recently established Internet TV station that will have six episodes total, three of which have already been released. Even the main cast is mostly made up of new actors and it seems the production is a bit on the smaller side.Apparently, Aqua will play a villain who shows up in the final episode”said Miyako.

“Now that's just perfect casting”said Lapis.

“You're perfect for it. You've got a Sinister looking face, after all” said Ruby.

“Oh, shut up”he said, annoyed.

“ Since it's an internet- streaming show, we can watch it right now”said Miyako.

“Oh, I wanna watch”said Ruby.

“ It's only got one star but it can't be that bad”said Lapis.

The three gathered around Miyako as they watched the episode. Their faces went from interested to questionable to expressionless.

“That…was…something” Lapis chuckles deadpan.

“Wait, was”Sweet Today” really like that?”Ruby asks.

“On the whole, was that the feeling had to it, I wonder?”Miyako asks.

“The direction is on point, so I wouldn't go as far as saying it's unwatchable… but all these original characters are not in the manga are getting screen time”said Ruby.

“The production side must want to feature as many actors as possible,huh?”Miyako asks.

Aqua pulls out the manga it was looking through the pages but then Ruby takes it from his hands and starts reading it.Lapis then notice Miyako looking at all them and smiled.

“(They're wearing their triplet shirts, adorable)” she thought.

“Also, the story didn't unfold like that in the manga, did it?”Ruby asks.

“When you pack 14 manga volumes into half a TV season, it's inevitable that some of the story will get cut”said Miyako.

“That would be understandable if it was followed by some good acting but it's awful” said Lapis.

“ Seems many of the shows actors have no prior experience”said Miyako.

“How did Lapis put it…?! It's downright awful”said Ruby.

“ Now, that's a bit too blunt”said Miyako.

“ I wasn't trying to be that brutal” said Lapis.

“ Anyway, wasn’t loli-senpai better at acting than that?”Ruby asks.

“ I could probably act better than most of those guys”said Lapis.
“Ohh,Kana did say there was some parts left-”
“ For the safety of my subscribers, I'm staying far away from this but I do want to see behind the scenes on this”said Lapis.

The next day on set…

Lapis was sitting in a chair in a rundown set as Aqua and Kana were talking.He didn't notice a short-haired young man walk up to them and his Aqua bowed he walked away.

“(Dick)” Lapis thought but then noticed Aqua walking up to him.

“You didn't actually have to come-”
“ But I wanted to though. As if I'd miss a chance to see my little brother act in a… entertaining project” said Lapis,nervously.

“ Your older than me by a minute and you don't have to hide your feelings about the show-”
“ Oh, thank kami”said Lapis, wiping the sweat of his head.

The assistant director asked everybody to get in position. As lapis was about to put in his headphones.

“ Ai?”

Lapis's eyes widen and immediately turned around at the hearing this but sees a middle-aged man.

“ Oh, sorry, I thought you were somebody else”said the man.

“O-oh,It's perfectly fine.I'm Lapis from Strawberry productions, I'm just here to support my brother”said Lapis.

The man looked at him curiously but then walked over to his position.

“And…action” said the assistant director.

The scene was going well until the lead actor felt a raindrop on his cheek which distracted him, making the director go for a cut. They take a small break but then get ready to reshoot the scene. Lapis then hears along with the crew Aqua walking on the puddles but then stops and looks at them.

“This girl isn't the kind of person you think she is.She’s simply not compatible with a shallow Playboy like you”said Aqua.

“(It's different than how he said it before…It's reminding me of-)”
“What the hell did you just say?!” the lead actor yells.

This caught everyone's attention, but Lapis noticed that Aqua was smiling.

“ Are you deaf?! I said that girl isn't worth protecting!”Aqua shouts.

“This girl is a precious friend to me!”said the lead.

“(Did he just improve or maybe… it's playing up just like the manga.Aqua must have said something to him)”Lapis thought.

“ Nothing you can do will make a difference!” the lead shouts.

Aqua then pulls out a knife and proceeds to lick it and proceeds to run at the lead but then go after Kana.

“(He's really getting into it…)” Lapis thought.

Aqua is then punched and if off the ground but laughs.

“There's not a single person who needs you.Know your place in this world! Get your head outta the clouds! You have no future.Your life is but a pitch-black darkness!”Aqua shouts.

“Even so..even so, there is light yet” said Kana as tears fell down her eyes.

“(Whoa…That was exactly like the manga…It was like watching the scene come to life)”Lapis thought.

Days later…

“Ruby,we’re all waiting on you”Lapis said in the midst of yawning.

She then came down the stairs and puts her shoes on.

“ Don’t make us late on the first day,okay?Aqua asks.

The three were about to walk out the door but then Ruby stopped.

“Oh,that’s right. Mom,we’re headed out now”said Ruby to a picture of the four of them.

“(Don’t worry mom,I’ll look out for both of them)”Lapis thought to himself.
After the entrance ceremony, they walk outside together.

“ So, Performing Arts there's just class f?”Aqua asks.

“ Yep. Let's walk together part way at least” said Ruby.

“ I can't believe they put us in the same class” said Lapis, yawning.

“ Congrats on starting school here, Aqua, Lapis, and Ruby…”

The three of them turned to see none other than Kana standing in front of the fountain.

“ Here at Youtou High, the class schedule is more flexible compared to other high schools, you still have to repeat a year if you get failing marks or don't attend class enough and the curriculum itself isn't that different but… that guy's an actor and those two are members of a leading Idol group, and that girl with a big bus is a pin-up model, there's a voice actor and a streamer a fashion model and a singer-”

“Point is everybody's an entertainer, right?”Lapis asks.

“ That's right. Out of all the high schools in Japan, this one has the most people who’re in the spotlight. I'll give you a warm reception, my juniors.Welcome to the world of Show Business!”said Kana.

They all walked together but Lapis noticed that Ruby was walking a bit slow.

“ Now I'm a bit nervous” said Ruby.

“ Oh, don't be. This isn't a training institute or a film studio, it's just a regular school. Just act like you normally would”said Kana.

They all parted ways leaving only Ruby and Lapis headed to their class. Ruby then takes a deep breath and then exhales but then looks at Lapis who seems to be frozen.

“ You okay?” she asks.

“ Yeah just…feeling nostalgic.Going back to high school and first day jitters just reminded me of my whole life for a minute but I'm good now”said Lapis.

Ruby opened the door and was taken aback by the many students that were talking about each other and how beautiful most of them all were.
“So this is where we split up?”Lapis asks.

“ Huh?”Ruby asks.

“I mean we got to find our seats”said Lapis.

“R-right.Also, if I speak to you, don't go all Aqua on me”said Ruby.

“Right, right. I pr-”
“Hey, your Blitz5”

He turns to see a guy with long black hair and blue eyes wearing the exact same uniform is him walk up to him.

“ That would be me(I'm still not used to that..)” he said, nervously.

“ Oh, I'm Shinsuke Kitagawa, I'm also a musician. let's be friends” he said with a smile.

Lapis smiles and shakes his hand.

“ Hey, I also heard a rumor that you're going to be on a dating show”he whispers.

“Yeah I…(wait what?)”said Lapis.

Hours later…

“Your despicable”said Lapis,angerly.

Lapis was in Aqua’s room as he was reading a book.

“ What did I-”
“ How could you say I would do a dating show?” he asks.

“Originally they wanted three boys and three girls but after the director saw you the other day, he wanted one extra boy and an extra girl. Who better than Blitz5 after a huge reveal? So,I forged your signature ”said Aqua.

“ What if I turn it down-”
“ Remember that play Junior High?”Aqua asks.

Lapis gulped and cautiously turn around to him.

“ Told me you got rid of that footage-”
“ I kept a copy. It would be so bad if any of your fans-
“ Alright dammit. I'll be a part of the dating show, give it here”said Lapis.

“ I will give it to you when it's all over”said Aqua.

Lapis than whimpers off to his room until he sees Ruby in the hallway.

“What's wrong with you?” she asks.

“ Our brother's cruel. Why are you down?” he asks.

“ Remember what happened earlier?”she asks.

“Oh yeah. With Frill Shiranui…That happened-”
“ She knew who you were and called you cute and that's your reaction? Also I need to find another member..Aqua mention that Kana is free but..”said Ruby.

“I see. If you need any help let me know. Now if you excuse me, I have to go tell my fans that I'm going to be on a dating show” said Lapis.

“Seriously?” she asks.

“ Aqua's making me do it” he whimpers.

End of chapter.

Chapter 5: Show Business Arc:Reality show&CottonQueen

Lapis and Aqua were on set for the dating show.They were getting introduced to the other members of the cast. Kengo Morimoto a band member, Nobuyuki Kumano a dancer,Yuki Sumi a fashion model,Mem-cho who was a streamer who lapis knew, leaving two girls who haven't shown up yet.Aqua then look to see Lapis in the midst of talking to Mem-cho about a collab.

“ I think that would be a good idea” said Lapis.

“Looks like you're enjoying yourself” said Aqua.

“Besides talking to her about a collab, there's honestly nothing else that makes me want to-” he began to say but then the door to the set opened.

Lapis then looked and was completely smitten when he saw a young woman sporting dark blue hair with blue highlights wearing a school uniform.

“Lapis?”Aqua asks, which snaps him out of it.

“ Oh,uh, did you say something?” Lapis asks.

“I didn't say anything”Aqua answers.

“Sorry I'm late, I'm Kurokawa Akane, a second year high school student and actor, a pleasure to meet you” she said with a bow.

“Akane-san”Lapis mumbles.

The door opens again revealing another girl with light pink hair that reaches down to her shoulders, her straight bangs parted to the left, tucked behind her ear, and left to fall over her eye on the right.She has round, gray eyes that slump slightly downwards towards the side of her face framed by rather large eyelashes and noticeably dark eye makeup.She also had puffy cloud shaped earrings.

“ Hello, I'm-”
“Mawata Fuwa aka CottonQueen”said Lapis.

Stared at Lapis as he stared at her and the others felt electricity shooting between the both of them.

“Something I should know?” Aqua asks.

“ You're meeting my nemesis. She's known for being a model especially when it comes to cosplay but she's also a gamer. We've played each other in numerous games and also in views”Lapis informs him.

“I thought you only covered musi-”
“ I focus on my music but also I game, cook, and also review” said Lapis.

“Blitz5, we finally meet face to face. I'm glad you finally revealed your face cuz now whenever I win I can just picture the angry look you have” she said which put a tick mark on his head.

“ Funny you should mention that because now we're up to 5 million views but you know how- oh wait you haven't reached that many views on your videos, my mistake” he retorts which ticked her off.

The two started laughing methodically sending chills down the other spine. After doing promo shoots, they were all told they can go home, Akane was about to head out when Lapis walked up to her.

“ Kurokawa-san”said Lapis.

She turns, her expression brightening as she recognizes him

“It's..Blitz5, right?”she asks.

“ You can just call me Lapis, we're not on set or filming…I uh.. look forward to working with you” said Lapis.

Akane’s smile widens, a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

“Well, I’m glad to hear that. I’ve been hoping we’d get to work together more” she said that she walked away.

The next day…

Lapis,Aqua, and Ruby were behind a wall are there high School. Ruby peaked her head out and was spying on their target who was Kana.

“ So operation: convince her to join is a go”said Lapis.

“ We need to Workshop that name” said Aqua.
“ Glossy hair that is well cared for, a baby face that hasn't lost its innocence,A personality resistant of an airhead… I must… based on my experience of following Idols for many years, she's the kind of girl who’d be crazy popular with hardcore otaku!”said Ruby.

“I don't much like your perspective or analysis”said Aqua.

“If she's a good choice then it's all good, right? All we got to do is ask her”said Lapis.

“ Well, you have a point but you know, Loli-senpai and I have a rather unusual relationship, right?” she asks.

“ You do?” Aqua and Lapis asks in unison.

“ I mean, isn't she kinda obnoxious towards me?!” Ruby asks.

“ Probably ‘cause you always say “ baking soda” around her.Anyway, I'll call her over, so at least try talking to her.Then, if you still feel there's no hope of getting along, you can forget the whole thing”said Aqua as he started texting her on his phone.

Later at sunset…

The triplets were waiting there until they saw Kana who looked nervous and twirling her hair.

“Sorry to-”
“ We've been waiting. You're late” said Ruby.

“ Huh? Go wait till Hell Freezes Over. Why is your brother and sister here too?” she asks.

“(Sorry for being here)”Lapis thought.

“ It's actually Ruby who wants to talk to you”said Aqua.

She sighs and mutters something to herself but then takes a seat on the bench and looks into her book.

“Well, what is it? I'm busy myself, so you've got 20 seconds” she said, sounding bored.

“ Talk about being blunt…Aqua,Lapis, right now, if I ask her to be an idol with me, isn't that basically telling her I think she's cute enough to be one?! That irritates me!” said a conflicted Ruby.

“ What's with that sense of pride?”Aqua asks.

“ Listen neesan(sister), you want to be an idol as soon as possible, is it really a time to be stubborn?”Lapis asks.

“Yeah,true…good point”said Ruby.
Ruby then turns from them and walks over to her.

“Arima,Kana-san, would you be an idol together with me?” she asks.

Kana had to look of disbelief but then it sinked in.

“ I know? Where is this coming from? “ she asks.

“ Strawberry Productions is working on putting together an idol group and we're looking for members… I heard that you're a freelancer, so…Well, to be frank, I guess I'm scouting you” said Ruby.

“Are you being serious?”Kana asks.

“ I'm serious, and this is important” said Ruby, sternly.

“ Give me some time to think about it”said Kana.

“ Aqua, what are the chances that she'll say yes?”Lapis whispers.

“Not high but if we keep asking-”
“Begging isn't going to make her join”said Lapis.

Few minutes later…

“Welcome to Strawberry Productions. We’ll give you a warm reception”said Miyako.

“ Intellectually, I know this is a bad decision! Why am I always like this?!”Kana asks.

“ I can't believe she actually said yes”said Lapis.

“I never imagined you'd actually get her to join…How’d you pull it off?”Miyako asks.

“ Nothing special. I just read her like a book.Kana Arima can be very empathic and she's susceptible to pushiness. Based on her personality, I thought tearfully pleading and twisting her arm would be effective, and sure enough, they were”said Aqua.

“ Oh, guys like you…”said Miyako.

“(Note to self, work on my poker face around Aqua)”Lapis thought.

The next day,Aqua and Lapis had to go film for the reality show.Aqua was talking to Mem-cho while Lapis was talking to Mawata Fuwa.

“(What were the rules again?)”Lapis thought.

Flashback…

“ You can go ahead and Converse freely with each other however, please do pay attention to the angles of the fixed cameras. When the cameraman gets closer- if you're able to-it’d be a big help if you can have a chat that sums up what you've been thinking about right beforehand” set the camera man to the cast.

Present time…

“Aren't you happy they hired one of the best streamers in the world?”Mawata asks.

“Zentreya isn't Japanese”said Lapis,

“ I was referring to me”she hisses.

“Oh… I guess when you get rid of most of the Vtubers and the others you would be”said Lapis which irritates her.

She then walks away making him laugh until he sees Akane talking to to crew members and decides to walk up to her and blushes.

End of chapter.

Chapter 6: Reality Show Arc:Egosurfing and Buzz Part I

Notes:

I know this is a heavy chapter, but if you are struggling like this, please do reach out to somebody. A friend, loved one, help, just anyone.

“At any rate, I'm your little sister, so of course either of you going out with a type of girl I dislike would bother me! Therefore, I’ll decide which girls you two should date”said Ruby and she pulled out a tablet.

“ Talk about self-centered”said Aqua.

“It shows that she cares… in a unique way”Lapis chuckles.

“My top recommendation for Aqua is…Yukipon.I bet she's a pure hearted good girl!” said Ruby showing her picture on her tablet and smiling.

There was a moment of silence at the table.

“You're not a good judge of this stuff so stay away from dating for a while” said Aqua.

“ Come on, bro. I say you should give her a chance, who's your recommendation for me?”Lapis asks.

“ My recondition for Lapis is… CottonQueen. She seems like perhaps behind her videos she's actually a polite and nice-”
“ Yeah, you should stay away from dating for a while” said Lapis,deadpan.

“ Not you, too!” Ruby shouts.

“(You're observation could not be any further from how she actually is)”Lapis thought.

Flashback…

Lapi happens to be just doing a stream and was facing her for the first time at a fighting game. Even though he wasn't watching her stream he could kind of tell that she was mashing the buttons. He decides to take a dive and let her beat him because at the time she had more views than him. After ending the stream, he had a call on Discord from her and answers.

“ Hey that was a good-”
“You called yourself the best at this game? Ha! I just came back and whooped you” she brags.

“Eh?”said Lapis.

“I heard from a friend that you were actually really good but I just utterly destroyed you. A bit disappointed. Blitz5 is more-”

“ CottonQueen-san,let's have a friendly match right now"said Lapis.

“ Oh want to reclaim your dignity? I guess I can give you a-”

Few minutes later, Lapis utterly defeats her with a full bar of Health in both rounds.

“ Well that should put an end to-” he begins to say but that's all he had another call on Discord from her again and answers.

“Y-”
“ Cheater! That's the only way you actually beat me, did you use a modded controller? Are you hacking the game? What did you do to-” lapis then cuts her off when he ends the call.

Just that he's about to go to bed, the Discord ringtone goes off yet again showing yet again that she was trying to call him.

The next day he woke up, he saw that he had a new message on Discord from her. He opens it and sees that it's in full caps”FIGHT ME!!” which put an irritated look on his face.

Flashback over..

“ (She is a sore loser, persistent, rude, and really petty.She would even invade my streams just the challenge me to another game, as if I would ever end up in a relationship with that annoying pain in the butt)” Lapis thought.

“Lapis?”said a Concerned Ruby.

“Ruby, if you told me that the human race required me and her being together, I would just say the human race had a good run while it lasted” he said walking away.

“Ouch”said Aqua.

Few days later with Aqua and Lapis…

After getting done filming, they were all checking their phones.

“ Look, look! There's an article about it! Think I helped bringing more viewers?” Yuki asks.

“Yeah, probably” said Aqua.

“ So, your gonna quit the show?”Akane asks, noticeably concerned.

“Huh? I can't just quit. I have a contract in place” she answers.

“ Huh? So, you were just acting?”Akane asks.

“Oh, heavens no, I'm not an actress like you,Kurokawa-san-I can’t act.I was just playing up my feelings is all.It's true I was sad after getting teased at school, and also I have thought about quitting.Plus we filmed first thing in the morning, I'm so terribly sleepy” she said in the midst of a yawn.

“(Tell me about it? I was having a hard time paying attention in class)” Lapis thought.

“ Akkun! Let's grab something to eat after we're done” said Noboyuki as he wrapped an arm around Aqua.

“Nah, I'm good. Besides, I have food back home-”
“Aww, what's the harm in coming out with everyone?”Lapis asks.

“ C’mon,Let's all go!” said Yuki.

“Messan and Blikun said they’d treat us all to Yakiniku”said Noboyuki.

“ What?! I never said that!” said Mem-cho.

“I don't remember agreeing to anything either”said Lapis.

“ Hey, I know what's up. Both your subscriber counts shot up and both of you have been riding high, right? Which means the both you split your profits with your agencies 50/50, right?”he asks.

“(I don't like him)” Lapis thought.

“Really? It's 80- 20 for me. I'm so jealous..” said Akane.

“ Well it's not just us,Fuwa-san has the same deal-”
“You rat!” she shouts.

Minutes later at a restaurant…

“Alright, another top grade assorted platter comin’ up! Eat your fill, little brats!”Mem-cho shouts.

Everyone cheered except for Lapis, aqua, and Mawata who was staring daggers at Lapis.

“(I can already tell she's thinking about fighting me)” Lapis thought.

“Aqua-san, this flap meat is done grilling” said Akane as she placed it on to his plate.

“ I'll Grill my own meat, so don't worry about me-”
“ If he's not taking it, I will”said Lapis.

“ Okay,B-Lapis-san”said Akane.

“I noticed you haven't been eating anything this whole time, do you not like-”
“ No, no.I'm a vegetarian, you see! It's my policy to never give up the tongs when I'm at a place like this” she answers.

“ I see”said Lapis.

“ At first, I got yelled at ‘cause I'd burn the meat, but I've gotten good at grilling”said Akane.

“Ohh”said Lapis.

“So, you see. People these days want to see something more extreme. Well, your options depend on how much of a risk you can handle”said Mem-cho.

“That reminds me, Lapis. What are we going to tell Ruby when we get home?” Aqua asks,

“ Aww, crap baskets” said Lapis.

An hour later…

“ Ooh,Yakiniku… pretty lavish, huh? I bet gazing it all those Cuties made the meat extra delicious, huh?” she asks.

“ Now, now, we got you and Miyako some while we were out”said Lapis.

“Trying to bribe me?” she asks.

“ We were just socializing-”
“ Liar! That's a look of satisfaction if I've ever seen one!”Ruby shouts.
“ No, it's not” he said, turning the other way.

“Look me in the eye when you talk!” said Ruby.

“ It's a rule that we all eat dinner together on Sundays. But you two have been doing this ever since the show started! The concept of the show is that you guys get together after school, right?! But you always film on weekends.It's stage fakery” she shouts.

“ Pretty sure that’s not even a real word” Lapis comments.

“A small thing like that’s fine, right? I think it's great their prioritizing our schoolwork.Actually, at least reality dating shows are less staged than I’d thought.Some of the cats are clearly acting, but most simply do their best to portray themselves in a good light.Everyone does that in real life too, right? You'd see the same thing at a singles’ party” Aqua asks.

“Well, I couldn't say since I've never been to one” said Ruby.

“ The heck is that?”Lapis asks.

The two stare at him for a minute but then pat him on the back.

“(I don't know why but I feel like they're pitying me)” he thought.

“So, is everyone actually in love, then?” Ruby asks.

“I think that varies from person to person but I do know someone who's-”
“Ruby what's that?” he said pointing at the floor.

As she looks to the floor,Lapis then punches Aqua in the arm.

“There was nothing on the floor” said Ruby.

“Must have been dust”Lapis laughs.

“Right, I haven't watched dating shows before, so my knowledge on the subject was lacking.I went to all sorts of biases, but they don't use reality as a selling point for nothing.There's less fakery than I imagine”said Aqua.

“Please don't make that a thing”said Lapis.

The reality show continued to film.The pairing of Yuki and Nobuyuki took Center Stage in the show.Kengo looked on with Envy and also a love triangle centered on Yuki took shape.

“All the people can talk about is those three, you can't be okay with this?”Mawata asks.

“I honestly don't care”said Lapis.

“ Soo, there's no one you're interested in?”she asks.

“No”said Lapis, turning away from her.

He then gets up out of the bus but then sees Akane talking to one of the camera guys who then walks away and she writes in a notepad.

“Akane-san?”Lapis asks.

She then turns and smiles at him.

“Lapis-Kun”Akane answers.

“If you're not doing anyt-”
“Actually I was going to go home after this” she informs him.

“O-oh,next time then”said Lapis.

The next day, Lapis,Mem-cho,Kengo,and Mawata were in the midst of taking a video together when Aqua came around.

“What are you guys doing?”Aqua asks.

“We were filming a video to upload to the shows official Twitter and Tiktok “Mem-cho answers.

“Hmm..”Aqua responds.

“ We've been getting a lot more followers. Well, with me involved, it's no wonder!” she said, proudly.

“ That reminds me, weren't you originally a Tiktoker,MEM?”Kengo asks.

“Yep. but at the time they didn't have ad Revenue sharing or tipping, so I switched to being a YouTuber. You should upload something too,Aqu-tan”said Mem-cho.

“Good luck trying to convince him”Lapis mumbles.

“ I'm not up on the tech young people use, so no thanks” said Aqua.

“ You sound like an old man” said Mem-cho.

“(Oh, she has no idea)”Lapis thought.

They all then noticed Akane over on the other side of the building with Noboyuki and Yuki. They then see Akane and him walking away.

“ Akane-chan is on the offensive, huh?”Mem-cho comments.

Filming days would by rather quickly. But one day, Akane accidentally cut Yuki with her nails.

At home…

Lapis was just about to start a screen when all of a sudden Aqua came into his room.

“Everything-”
“Mem-cho, went to go check on Akane but she went out in a typhoon and hasn't come back”said Aqua.

“(Why would she…no, she..)Alright, let's go look around”said Lapis.

The two search for any route she would have taken from her home.

“I'll check the convenience store, you check near the bridge”said Aqua.

Lapis nods and the two split up in different directions.

“(Where are you Akane?)”Lapis thought.

Lapis’ anxiety heightens as he spots a familiar figure from the shadows—a figure he knows too well.

“(There she-)”

His heart races as he recognizes the gravity of the situation. Without hesitation, he rushes toward her and lifts her away from the edge of the bridge.

“No!Let go of me!” she screams and tries to fight back.
“Akane-san, it's me. Please come down”said Lapis.

Hearing this made her stop.

“ I'm sorry if I startled you but please calm down”said Lapis in a calm tone of voice.

She then looks back for a minute I saw the worried and sorrowful expression on his face.

“ Lapis-kun… but why?” she asks.

“ Mem-cho..She said you went out in a typhoon but still hadn't come back and she's been looking everywhere for you. I went out with Aqua to help in search, we split up and well…Listen, I'm not going to pry into your business but…I don’t have to know everything to see that you’re hurting. But I do know that your life is valuable, and that there are people who care about you—people like me”said Lapis.

She can begin to cry and he held her tightly.

“ Hey, you two! It's dangerous, what on Earth are you doing?!”

Lapis then turn to see a police officer along with Aqua.

Minutes later, they were taken to a police station along with Akane.Lapis and Aqua we're just sitting together alone.

“ This isn't the first time I've been in a situation like this” said Lapis.

This caught the attention of Aqua, who looked at his brother and saw to your streaming down his eyes but he wiped them away.

“In your past life?”he asks.

“My only friend I had in my junior year of Junior High. I quit too focus on playing also working…Whenever I had free time, we'd always hung out but one day, I heard there was a video of some pricks messing with him…I went to go see him but it didn't go well. Next thing I knew, I'm finding out on the news…I should have been there for him more”said Lapis.

For once, Aqua didn't have anything to say but then noticed Miyako walking over to them takes a seat between them.

“ I prepare myself for the worst when they called me over, but you both did well, I'm proud of the both of you”said Miyako, hugging the both of them.
Lapis return to hug but Aqua turn the other way.

“Though you seem disinterested in others, you were watching out for her, weren't you?” she asks.

“It's not like that.People die easily.When someone cries out for help, if you don't act quickly, it will be too late” said Aqua.

Aqua then saw smiles on both Miyako and Lapis's face which made him turn the other way.

“I'll charge a Conte for the tax-”
“ I'll pay for her”said Lapis.

“ Stingy”said Miyako.

As the door open, Akane walked out with her mom when they see Yuki right after her and slaps her to the shock of everyone.

“Why’d you this?! Why?! You can always talk to me!” she shouts this to your string down her face and hugs her.

“Sorry..”said Akane.

“Akane. So, how do you want to proceed?”Aqua asks.

“ How?” she asks.

“ I'm saying that stepping down from the show is an option”said Aqua.

“ But, she's under contract…”said Noboyuki.

“ Given the show's crew is dealing with minors, the director could be held accountable. Under the circumstances, I doubt they'd raise objections if she says she's pulling out. You're working under your real name of Akane Kurokawa. So choose the right time to call it quits on your own”said Aqua.

She thinks about it but then has a stern look.

“ I.. have worked so hard all this time so I can become a more famous actress and keep performing. Everyone helped me so much along the way… but things have turned out like this”said Akane.

“Akane..”said Yuki.

“I'm scared, I'm really scared, but…I'll stick with it.I don't want to quit like this”said Akane.

“Understood.You heard her.You're all okay with that, right?” Aqua asks.

“Of course we are”said Noboyuki.

“That's what I've been saying from the start”said Kengo.

Everyone then rallied behind Akane except for Aqua who walked over Miyako.

End of chapter.

Chapter 7: Reality Show Arc:Egosurfing and Buzz Part II

Lapis was laying on his bed, unable to get his mind off of what happened and thinking if he had not been there at that very second or if he had just not noticed her but he then brushes those thoughts away when he has a knock at the door. He gets up and opens it to reveal Aqua.

“ Do you have any photos of everyone from the set?” he asks.

“I have a couple, at least 20 or 30” he answers.

“Send those to me”said Aqua.

As he turns to leave, Lapis then grabbed him by the shoulder.

“If you're doing something for Akane, let me help”said Lapis.

“Alright, I'm meeting up with Kengo tomorrow. If you want to join-”
“ I'll be there, you know I hate when you keep things to yourself”said Lapis.

“ I know things you don't-”
“ OohDo you know that Miyako-san has been seeing someone?” he asks.

There was a long pause between the both of them.

“ I'll admit, I didn't know that” said Aqua as he walked away.

The next day…

“ Hm? In that case, I'll provide the music”said Kengo.

“ You can do that?”Aqua asks.

“ Hey, you know I'm a label- signed Pro makes a living with my music, right? Besides, I write lyrics and music for my own band, and others too sometimes”said Kengo.

“You wouldn't mind me helping would you?”Lapis asks.

“Sure.Let's work together on this.Should we get people to cry or something nostalgic?” he asks.

“Maybe we could do a cover of an American song” said Lapis.
As the two singers were talking,Lapis noticed that Yuki was whispering something to Aqua but couldn't hear it.After school, lapis would stop by akane’s place to check on her but she wouldn't leave her room.Her mother but thank him for visiting and he would go about his day time and time again.

Later but the rest of the cast…

“ No, that's not right! If that part's longer, it'll come across that an amateur tried their hardest to make this”said Yuki.

“(Now I know how to make my videos better, I should probably get Aqua something for his hard work-)”
“ You've gotta use our song here!” said Kengo.

“ Let's do it with a bang!”Noboyuki comments.

“ Just shut up…” said a tired Aqua.

“(Coffee or tea, probably going to go with coffee)”Lapis thought.

“ You know, we got these pics from the staff! said Mawata.

“ Oh my God! What's totally use it!” said Mem-cho.

“ Well it'll be tough to include…”said Aqua.

“So what song did you two use?”Yuki asks.

“ We talked about using an American song but-”
“ We decided to do a cover of a Korean song”said Lapis.

After days of editing everything together, Aqua was finally done it and was laid out on the table with Lapis patting him on the back.

“ Look, director. The video’s done encoding.We’re gonna post it”said Mem-cho.

“Good grief…You've got a high spec PC there..Lemme sleep a bit longer”said Aqua as he gets up.

“It's really not that different from the one I use back home”said Lapis.

“I wonder how popular it will get…I hope it gets 5,000 retweets at the very least” said Yuki.

“ That's not so easy. Sometimes stuff you put a lot of effort into making just doesn't do very well, funnily enough”said Mem-cho.

“ That's a fact”Lapis and Mawata said in unison.

“If we get around 100 retweets in the first minute-”
“ Then it'll generate considerable buzz in the end” lapis finishes the sentence.

Mem-cho then takes over the computer.

“ Well, we did everything we could. Now, it's time for the showdown!”Noboyuki shouts.

“ And yet you're the one who did the least…”Kengo comments.
“ Even CottonQueen did more than you”Lapis comments.
“ Yeah I did- wait what's that supposed to mean?” she asks.
“ He has a bad case of acting like the leader”Yuki comments.

The video is then uploaded and they all watch what anticipation and seas that it's gotten three retweets and for likes but then to quotes and slowly started to reach 100 retweets.

“ It's gonna make it! YES!” Mem–cho shouts.

“Alright!” they all shout except for Aqua.

(The song if anyone was curious was Life Goes On by BTS)

After the video was uploaded and everyone had celebrated, Lapis took a cab and walked Aqua to bed. He then placed a minute and put a towel over him and gently closed the door.

“Aqua okay?” Ruby asks.

“ He just needs to rest for a little bit. Check on him later”said Lapis.

“ By the way, is it true that Miyako-san is seeing someone?” she whispers.

“I know what I saw. I was doing an all nighter on Twitch and was getting thirsty”said Lapis.

Flashback…

Lapis yawned and scratch the stomach but then he overhears giggling and turns the corner to see Miyako wearing a black dress talking to somebody at the door but immediately hides.
“ So should we do this again?”he asks.

“ I'll try to make some time” she answers.

He then heard with something like lips connecting and he put two and two together.

flashback over…

“ What if things get serious? What if he becomes our-”
“ Our adopted father..I want to ask her about it but it's also none of my business”said Lapis.

“We'll just have to wait till she brings it up” said Ruby.

The next day, Akane came back on set. The girls were talking to her as Aqua and Lapis just looked on.

“ For now on, Akane, it might be best if you play a character to some degree. After all, it hurts all the more if it's the real you that gets bashed” said Mem-cho.

“Yeah…If you put on some kind of act, that role will become your armor.If you expose your true self, you'll just get hurt”said Aqua.

“ It applies the reality shows too.It's also important concept when it comes to socializing”said Lapis.

“ The act you put on is several layers deep, isn't it Aqu-tan? I wish you'd show us your heart of hearts a bit more,though”said Mem-cho.

“ I'd rather not”said Aqua.
“ I show enough for the both of us”said Lapis as he wraps an arm around his shoulder.

“I… am good at acting. I'll give it a shot”said Akane.

“Yeah, true, you low-key are an actress-”
“ If anything, that's my one redeeming feature”said Akane.

“But, what role should you play exactly?”Yuki asks.

“Hmm…What type of girls do you like,Aqu-tan?” Mem-cho asks.

“Why me? Why not ask Lapis?”he asks.

“Oh we're planning to ask him too”said Yuki.

“(Ain't that some shit)”Lapis thought.

“C’mon, tell us about your ideal girl”said Yuki.

“I'm so curious about your answer here”said Lapis.

“My ideal…A girl with a pretty face-”
“Ugh, you're the worst” said a disgusted Yuki.
“The very embodiment of being all about looks”said Mem-cho,also disgusted.

“ She has a smile like the sun, her performances are perfect, Her speech and behavior are seemingly all conquering. Her eyes draw you in by their very nature”said Aqua.

“(Should I be worried he's describing our mom?)”Lapis wonders.

“ It's hard to grasp all that…”said Yuki.

“ That's pretty abstract”said Akane.

“Hmm, I think I can picture it. Someone like Ai from B Komachi? “Mem-cho asks.

This caused the brothers to pause for a second.

“ Ai? You mean that Idol who died a long time ago?”Akane asks.

“ Yep, that's right. Am I wrong?”Mem-cho asks.

“ No, you're pretty much right”said Aqua.

“ So that's your type?”Yuki smirks.

“You only care about looks”Mem-cho teases.

“(Well with them distracted, I'll just sneak of-)”
“ What about you, Lap-tan?”Mem-cho asks.

“(Dang it.Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to figure out what type of girl I like because it got cut short… oh, I know) Very calm but warpish attitude”Lapis answers.

“(Brandish from Fairytail?)” Aqua thought.

“I'll try to be the kind of girl that they both like” said Akane.

“ What you don't actually-”
“ Make one of them fall for you!”said Mem-cho.

“She won't have to try too hard with somebody”Aqua mumbles receiving a kick to the knee by Lapis.

After shooting, aqua separated from lapis as he wanted to go visit the director,Lapis was on his way home when he saw Akane ahead of him.She sees him and looks a bit nervous.

“Lapis-san…”said Akane.

“Yes?” he answers.

There was a long pause between the two of them until she takes a deep breath and exhales.

“ My mom told me you came to visit a couple of times and I never thank you for-”
“ You don't have to.I just glad to see you're doing better”said Lapis

“ T-there was something you said” there are people who care about you—people like me”.What did you mean by that?” she asks,blushing.

Lapis turned red and look away from her which made her a bit confused.

“(You just have to say all that didn't you? Okay got to think of a way out of this) Uhh, hey look isn't that Lisa?” he asked pointing.

Akane then turns around and without a second to think about it,Lapis ran as fast as he could away from Akane.

“(I'm not running away, this is just a strategic withdrawal, yeah that's what this is)”Lapis tries to convince himself.

Akane then turn to see that he had already left.

“(Does he.. no, but what he said…I mean he did come to look for me during that storm and he came by day after day…I'll play the role of his and Aqua’s ideal girl, and then I'll ask again)”Akane thought.

With Lapis…

Classes were over and he was talking to Shinsuke

“So you just ran from her?”he asks.

“I panicked okay? I didn't exactly know how to answer”said Lapis, laying his head on the desk.

“ Yeah I guess that makes sense. All that I'm kind of jealous you got to do a collab with Kengo-san “said Shinsuke.

“What? Do you want to work together or something?”Lapis asks.

“ I'm not good at singing but I'm good at drums,djing,and rapping” he explains.

Lapis then looks at him for a minute and smiles.

“Alright,Are you sign to anyone?” he asks.

“Not at the moment ”he answers.

Before lapis can say anything,Shinsuke then pulls out his phone and answers it.

“ Nee-san…What happened?...Okay, slow down.…On my way. Sorry Lapis-kun, there is an anime Marathon that's calling me” he said.

“ What?” he asks.

“ Yeah it's me and my older sister's favorite. I'll introduce you to her at some point, you'll like her” he said as he walked out the door.

2 Days Later on set of the reality show..

The cast and crew applaud as Akane apologize for that trouble and said it should do her best

Aqua walks past along with Lapis.

“ Let's do our best” said Aqua.

“Hmm..Yeah, that's right,Aqua”

Lapis and Aqua both paused as soon as they heard that and slowly turned around to see Akane yawning.
“I sure am sleepy. Filming just so early, you know? Oh, are the cameras already rolling?” Akane asks.

They were both completely stunned as she talked and sounded like their mother Ai.

End of chapter.

Chapter 8: Reality Show Arc:Confessions and Clarity

“A-akane?”Aqua asks.

“What's the matter, aqua? You and Lapis look like you saw a ghost” said Akane,cheerfully.

“No..”said Aqua.

“(She sounds just like… even acts like her… it's uncanny)”Lapis thought.

“Akane!”

Mem-cho then wraps her arms around Akane’s waist.

“ Welcome back!”said Mem-cho.

“Sorry to have kept you all waiting!”said Akane.

“ You can say that again! We all missed you!”said Mem-Cho.

“ Let's have a good time, okay?”Yuki asks.

“(I mean it's just how good of an actress she is to pull off capturing mom's personality and speech… but also just-)”
“ Aqua,let's hang out today”said Akane.

“‘Kay” he responds.

“Lapis, let's talk later”said Akane.

“Uhh,yeah” he said, unsure.

Later,Lapis was just watching how she talked to Aqua and how he listened.

“I already knew that Akane was acting strange, but Aqu-tan is too, don't you think?” Mem-cho asks.

“(Probably because she sounds like Mom)”Lapis thought.

“ Hm?” Yuki responds.

“Let's find out. Hey, Aqu-tan, grab that pouch for me!”said Mem-cho.

“ I'm thinking about something- do it yourself”said Aqua.

“ It won't take you long. Just get it for her”said Akane.

“ ‘Kay”said Aqua.

He gets up and gives Mem-cho the pouch. She then goes back to lapis and Yuki

“ See?! It's like he'll only listen to Akane!”said Mem-cho.

“(I wonder if I get her to tell him to be nicer to your brother and clean his room… maybe that's going too far, except that be nice to your brother)”Lapis thought.

Lost in thought, Lapis then noticed Aqua being teased by Mem-cho and Yuki but then left the room.

“What’re you gonna do,Akane?”Yuki asks.

“He's seriously serious about you?!”Mem-cho comments.

“What’ll you do?! Well?!” they ask in unison.

“Wh-what should I do?!” Akane asked, flustered.

“Oh! She's back to the same old Akane!” they said in unison.

“ So, if he shows he's serious about you, will you return his feelings?!”Mem-cho asked eagerly. That question caught Lapis's attention. He subtly leaned in, listening closely.

“ If I had to say one way or the other…yes” Akane replied softly, using her notebook to cover her mouth.

Lapis then felt a sharp pain but didn't understand why. He then walked out of the room which didn't go unnoticed by Akane.

Later, after filming…

Lapis was lying alone on a bench, staring up at the sky.

(Why did that bother me? If she’s into Aqua… I promised Mom I’d watch over them. If Aqua truly likes her, then I shouldn’t—)

His thoughts were cut short when he saw Akane standing over him.

“Lapis-kun, I was hoping we could talk—”

“If it’s about Aqua, I’d rather not—”

“It’s not about him,” she interrupted. “It’s about what you said… I’ve been thinking. Lapis-san, do you have feelings for me?”

He sighed. “When I first saw you, I thought you were beautiful. As I got to know you, I saw how hard you work. And when you said what you did in there… I felt jealous.”

“So… does that mean—”

“Akane-san… if I do like you, I don’t want it to be just because I saved you. I need time to think,” he said honestly.

Lapis stood up and walked away. Akane was torn—part of her wanted to chase him, the other part understood. Unbeknownst to them both, Aqua had seen everything.

2 days later…

Aqua was just staring out the window when he sees Akane walking over.

“Filming is just about to wrap up. I'm sad for it to end” When I put a character in just the way you advised me to, I gained popularity…You really helped me out,thanks” said Akane.

“ You're acting as Ai…Er, the way you got into character… it was like I was in a dream as if I was seeing the real deal. How did you manage it?”he asks.

“Well,uh, it wasn't all that impressive” she said.

She then takes around her back and pulls out a notebook.

“ I do read books on profiling and stuff, though. I just did a bunch of research and interpreted her in my own way. Plus, I fleshed out her background with my assumptions” Akane explains.

“ Your own assumptions?” he asks.

“ Yeah. For example, Ai actually had a child in secret”said Akane.

Aqua’s eyes went wide as he heard her say those words, completely in shock.

“ If I do that, it'll help me to achieve coherence between her various emotions and understand the reasons behind her many inexplicable actions.What was she thinking and what kind of personality does she have? The answers come into view like a mathematical puzzle!” she said, excitedly.

“ How good of a grasp do you have on Ai’s thought patterns?”Aqua asks.

“From the way she lived her life to the kind of guys she was into, I think I have it pretty much figured out”she answered, slipping momentarily into Ai’s persona. Just then, the classroom door opened. Lapis walked in, saw them, and quickly turned back around. Akane raised her hand to wave, but he was already gone. “Aqua, can you tell me more about Lapis?” she asked. “Can’t you ask him yourself?” “He said he needs time.” Aqua sighed, pulling out his phone. “What’s your number?” he asked. She gave it to him—just before Mawata entered with a sly smirk. “Aqua-san, got a minute?” she said teasingly. Akane stepped out, giving them space. Mawata leaned in and whispered something to Aqua.

Later that night…

Lapis was playing on acoustic guitar in his room and in the midst of singing.

“Consuming all the air inside my lungs,Ripping all the skin off my bone's, I'm prepared to sacrifice my life, I would gladly do it twice. I'm saying baby please have mercy on me, take it easy on my heart! Even though you don't mean to hurt me,You keep tearing me apart.Please have mercy on me, I'm a puppet on your strings, and even though you have good Intentions, I need you to set me free, would you please have mercy, Mercy, on my heart”he sings.

(Mercy by Shawn Mendes on acoustic guitar..it fits)

As he was about to continue he glances at his door as he's Aqua peeking through it and stops.
“Did you need something?” he asks.

“ Why did you walk away from me and Akane earlier?”he asks.

“Aqua, do you like Akane?”he asks.

There was a long pregnant pause between the both of them.

“What if I do?” he asks.

Even noticed lapis tightly gripping his guitar but then loosens his grip.

“Then I'll back away from her” he answers.

“You don't-”
“I do.If you like her then I'll wish both of you the best and leave it at that.I don't want to fight with you” said Lapis.

“Alright but how will Akane feel about that”Aqua asks.

“Long as she’s happy”said Lapis.

Aqua then leaves the room and goes to his. He pulls out his phone.

“Did that help?” he asks.

He doesn't receive an answer but then here is his phone hang up.

The next day, the brothers walked on set. Just before Lapis makes his way into the school he sees Akane with an irritated look on her face.

“Aka-”
“ I'm taking your brother”Akane said as she quickly grabbed his hand and walked away with him.

Lapis is confused until she brings him against the wall and slams her hand on it.

“ I don't like Aqua that way”said Akane.

“Wait how..Aqua ha-”
“Lapis, you're going to tell me you like me later, we'll go on a couple of dates, got it?” she asks with a murderous look.
“Yes ma'am”said Lapis,nervously.

“Good”said Akane, slipping back into her usual self.

She walked away leaving him there.

“( What just happened? Why did she remind me of…Brandish?)” he thought.

Later that night,Yuki turned down Noboyuki,Mem-cho turned down Kengo,Lapis then confessed to Akane and the two kissed. Receiving Applause, but then Aqua confessed to Mawata and kissed her, shocking everyone but then started clapping.

After party…

After a round of toasts, Aqua stepped out for a bit. Lapis sat alone in a booth until Akane slid in next to him, nervously fidgeting.

“ S-so I about earl-”
“Akane,” Lapis said, cutting in. “I like you. And I want to be your boyfriend. Not because of the show. Just... because it’s you.” Akane stared at him, noting his red face. She smiled. “Is it because I act like your favorite anime character?” she teased. “N-No! I said—” “I know. Let’s start slow... and see where it goes. I’ve never had a boyfriend before,” she admitted shyly. “Well, I’ve never had a girlfriend. So... same boat,” Lapis chuckled. They both laughed.

“Well I guess there's two couples if you add Yuki and her man”said Akane.

“Her man?”Lapis asks.

“ Haven't you realized?” she asks.

The both of them look back to see her talking to Noboyuki.

“ No way”said Lapis.

“They started dating yesterday”Akane whispered.

“But she turned him down when we were filming”said Lapis.

“ She's a technician,isn’t she? But you know, I like that about Yuki.Looks like we both have our very first boyfriends”said Akane.

“I still surprise about Aqua and Mawata, are they actually dating or…gah, I'm going to be thinking about that for the rest of the night” Lapis groans, scratching his head.

Later…

“ You sure you don't want me to walk you home?” Lapis offered.

“ It's fine. I'll see you in your classes get out” Akane replied. Just as she turned away, Lapis pulled her back and gave her a quick peck on the lips. Akane melted into it, then both their eyes went wide as they pulled back.

“ C-call me when you make it home safe”said Lapis, noticeably blushing as well as Akane.

“I-I will”said Akane.

They then walked with each other in silence meeting up the rest of the group. They wave goodbye to each other as she went off with Yuki,Noboyuki, Mawata,and Kengo and he went with Aqua and Mem-cho.

“You're not taking any Taxi.MEM?”Aqua asks.

“Nope, I live close enough to walk home” she answers.

“ Come to think of it, this is basically your neighborhood”said Aqua.

“Well, many people in the industry live around here” she said.

The two brothers begin to walk but then Aqua stared at her for a minute which made Lapis stop.

“ I'm feeling a bit sad. I really liked being on set with everyone”said Mem-cho.

“I did too”said Lapis.

“Is that right?”Aqua asks.
“But, it seems you're not feeling all that's sad? I mean your CottonQueen’s boyfriend now”said Mem-cho.

“Yeah we're going to have a chat about that later”said Lapis.

“ It's nothing more than a work relationship unlike Lapis”said Aqua.

“Well, I guess it's fine if that's how it is at the start, you guys might start dating for real in time”said Mem-cho.

“(That's a horrifying thought)”Lapis thought.

“Not happening” he responds.

“ For now”said Lapis.

“So you say, but I saw you blush when she was in the library with you and when you saw Akane was Ai” said Mem-cho.

“Anyway, you sure know your stuff.B komachi was long before you”said Aqua.

“No,No, Everyone adores B Komachi”said Mem-cho.

She continue to walk in front of them until she stopped.

“ This is just between the three of us, okay? The truth is, originally I wanted to be an idol. But, I suffered some setbacks and gave up on it. I'm doing well as a YouTuber now, though!” she said as she stretched her arms.

Aqua and Lapis then looked at each other and then went back at her.

“Then, why not join our agency?”Aqua asks.

She was startled by the offer and turned her head back.

“Huh? She responds.

“The new B Komachi is currently recruiting additional members”said Aqua.

“Me? In B Komachi? C’,mon, quit joking like…”She began to say.

Her smile then fades as she saw that he was very serious and was in awe.

“(Ruby, we just got you a new member)”Lapis thought.

End of chapter

Chapter 9: The First Concert Arc:First Date and Sisters

Notes:

The reveal of who Shinsuke's sister also Lapis and Akane’s first date

Miyako stares at them a bit nervously.

“ I should’ve hired you as a scout, huh? Popular YouTuber and influencer,MEM. I'm surprised to hear you were interested in being an idol”said Miyako.

“It surprised me as well”Lapis comments.

“Your YouTube channel has 370,000 subscribers and you have $638,000 followers on Tiktok.It seems you're quite popular online.To start, can I ask if you're with an agency?” she asks.

“Well, I'm in the streaming business as a sole proprietor.I currently work with an agency called FARM, but I'm not directly signed with them- rather, we're business partners.Under my agreement with them, it's no problem for me to freely take on jobs” she explains.

“Makes sense.So, in this case,Strawberry Productions would be commissioning your services in the idol industry.We have plenty of Internet personalities with us, so there’d be no problem making such a contract.It feels like a very timely offer…But that look on your face tells me there's something you need to get off your chest”said Miyako.

She explained that she was 25 years old and explain the circumstances that stopped her from becoming an idol.Explaining that she had a single mother and two younger brothers and thought it would be best to go out and get a job but her mother told her not to worry and follow her dreams.During her third year her mom overworked herself and ended up in a hospital, her family needed the money so she temporarily withdrew from school and worked various jobs and was able to send her younger brothers to college and their mother got better too but she had turned 23 at that point and gave up on her dream and channeled her passion to streaming.

“I was still on temporary leave from high school, so I positioned myself as” a high school girl- parentheses lol-” and it went over better than expected. I gained a crazy number of subscribers! And soon, I've gone too far to turn back! I kept that up for another 2 years, which brings us to the present. It's hopeless, after all, isn't it? I'm fudging my age by 7 years.. it'll cause trouble if I'm found out, won't it? As if a 25-year-old could ever be an idol-”
“ That's not true!”

They all look to see Ruby staring face to face with Mem-cho.

“(When did she get in here?)”Lapis thought.

“ It's Mem-cho! In the flesh! So cute!”Ruby shouts.

“I've been listening in”

Aqua and Lapis then turn to see Kana in the doorway.

“Arima”said Aqua.

“I, too, was hounded about my age, so I can sympathize a bit” she said as tears came down her eyes.

“ Seems like more than just a bit”Lapis and Aqua said in unison.

“Once I reached 5th grade or so, my child actor agency gave me the axe. It really makes me sick!” she said, tearfully.

“ Yeah…”said Mem-cho.

“Miyako-san!”Kana shouts.

“I never said I was against her joining up. How do you feel, Ruby?”Miyako asks.

“ I'm all for it! Age has got nothing to do with being an idol! After all, there's no stopping someone's longing!”said Ruby.

“(Well, she's fired up)”Lapis thought.

Ruby then puts a hand out to Mem-cho.

“ Welcome to B Komachi!” she said.

“Aw, thank you!”said Mem-cho.

“There goes our sister glossing over things again…Arima, please look after Ruby and Mem-”
“ Can it! Don't act all friendly with me. Go make cozy with CottonQueen, you womanizing house steward”said Kana.

“ Womanizing?”Lapis asks.

“ I'll take care of this group without being told”said Kana.

Minutes later…
Lapis was sitting on the couch while Aqua was reading a book.

“ So do you want to explain why your with Mawata?”he asks.

“ She made an offer I couldn't refuse-”
“ What is she planning? Is it against me?”he asks.

“Why would I go against you?” Aqua asks.

“ Don't know, that reminds me, hand it over. The show is done and you owe me that evidence”said Lapis.

“My room, left drawer”said Aqua.

“That better be the last of it”said Lapis.

As he left the room,Aqua then received a call on his phone and answers.

“ So, did it work?”she asks.

“ He thinks we're plotting against him”Aqua answers.

“I should have expected that.Well, Rome wasn't built in a day, keep me updated”said Mawata.

She then hangs up the phone, leaving Aqua to sigh.

“I just told him how you felt”said Aqua.

The next day…

Lapis was sitting with Shinsuke in class.

“So, you and Akane,huh?”he asks.

“Don't start.A bunch of our classmates hounded me about it earlier.So let's talk about-”

“Onee-chan!”

They both turn to see a slim and above average height girl with dark colored contacts in her eyes and Light skin.She had silky blonde hair, tipped with pinkish- red reaching down around her hips.Her Banks covered immaturity of her forehead and eyebrows, reaching around the start of her eyelashes.She wore ear piercings which include one ring piercing and three Pearl piercings, and an industrial piercing on her left ear and two ring piercings and one Pearl on her right ear.

“What's up?”he asks.

“I'll be running late because I have a shoot to do…” she stops mid sentence when she sees Lapis.

“Oh this is Lapis-”
“Bro!Don't go telling her my real name, especially to someone I don't even know
“My Blitz5’s name is Lapis!” said the girl that she put her hands on the table spooking him.

“Your what?” he asks.

“My name is Marin Kitagawa and I’m obsessed with your music,I’m your biggest fan.OMG, you're just as handsome in person as you are on TV” she said while examining him but is then pulled back by Shinsuke.

“Sorry about her, this is my big sister.She's the one who got me into your music” he explains.

“N-nice to meet you”said Lapis,nervously.

“Sis, we were trying to discuss working together.Kind of need you to disappear for a little-”
“No fair.I want to talk to-”
“I'm sure on Sundays he'll visit the house and you'll have time to talk to him”said Shinsuke.

“You two have fun” she said as she skipped out of the classroom.

“Your sister seems…energetic? Anyway, we should focus on that.You said you were going to rapping so let's mix that with rock” said Lapis.

“Ok, let's have our first session after-”
“I can't.I have a date to get to.How about tomorrow?” he asks.

“Yeah that works. See you then”said Shinsuke.

He then walks away with his sister. Lapis then turns his head to see Ruby and her friend talking to Frill Shiranui. She then took notice and walked over to him.

“I thought you were really good in the show” she tells him.

“Thank you”said Lapis.
She then walked away and left the classroom.

“(Can never get a read on her)”Lapis thought.

An hour later…

Lapis now wearing sunglasses,a baseball cap,a sleeveless hoodie, black jeans with cuts at the knees,and black converse was waiting when he saw Akane wearing a white top and long gray skirt that stops at her ankles. Noticeably, she had a hat and glasses on as well.

“Did I keep you waiting?”she asks.

“N-not at all. I really like your outfit” he said, which made her blush.

“T-thank you.So, where are we going?” she asks.

“ I was thinking we could do something easy and go to a cafe”said Lapis.

“Sounds good”said Akane.

If they looked around, they saw one trouble with the woman's arms around the guy's arm. Akane then wraps her arms around his left arm. Lapis blushed but then brushed It off and made his way to the cafe.He tries his best to ignore the feeling of Akane’s breast on his arm by focusing on the restaurant.Once they made it into the restaurant they see that it's not completely full and take a booth in the far end.

“ I made sure that they had vegetarian options”said Lapis.

“(So sweet)”she thought.

“So what made you want to take up acting?”he asks.

“My dad.He always wanted me to go for my dreams.I've wanted to be an actor”said Akane.

“Guess we're the same in that boat.I've always wanted to be a singer, play my own music, and entertain others”said Lapis.

“Did your dad inspire you?” she asks.

“Never met him.I've only had A-mom,Yep” he said, nervously chuckling.

“So will you stop streaming once you-”
“Nah.I love the fans that I have.When I reveal my face, I was expecting some backlash or at least some painful messages but while there was two or three most of the others were positive”said Lapis.

The two continued to talk even as their food was brought to the table. They're so engrossed in each other's company, it would feel like they're the only two in that restaurant. They eventually leave which lapis then escorted her home reaching her doorway.

“ Well, this is where we part way-”
“Aren't you forgetting something?” she asks.

he was confused until Akane closed her eyes which made him blush. He walks over and gives her a quick kiss on the lips and backs away.

“ Good night,Akane”said Lapis.
“Good night, lapis”said Akane.

The next day…

Lapis and Aqua were watching their sister's practice along with Mem-cho and Kana.After they were done, they seem really exhausted so lapis surprised them by bringing drinks for them. He walked outside the hall,he noticed Aqua talking to Kana and hid behind the vending machine.

“Good workout there” said Aqua.

“ Thank y..I don't want it! Get outta my sight” said Kana.

“ You've been acting like this towards me all the time lately. I know you've got a foul mouth and an attitude. but, even I’ll feel hurt if you keep it up” he says as he walked away.

“(She's been trying treating him like this recently and the other day she called him a woma… ohh, now I get it)”Lapis thought.

“Aqua..”

Lapis then came from behind the vending machine and revealed himself in front of Kana.

“ Close but no”said Lapis.

“What do you want?” she asks.

“ Careful,Loli-senpai. Keep that attitude up and they'll push all the guys away kind of like Aqua right now. Put the way you be treating him because Mawat-” he asks.
“It's not” she denies.

The two then stared at each other for a while but then left his breaks it by saying and walking away but then stops.

“ You might want to do something for Mawata, might just take ‘em”said Lapis.

Later, Lapis then went over to Shinsuke’s apartment. He brings the doorbell and is greeted by Marin who did not have her contacts in and had a shirt that showed her nipples which made him turn completely red. She was a bit confused until she looked in the mirror and said something in gibberish.

“ I forgot to put my color contacts in!” she shouts that she closed the door.

“(That's her main concern?)”Lapis thought.

She then opens the door now wearing a hoodie and her contacts in.

“ Welcome to our home,Bli-”
“You can just call me Lapis. People may hear that name and well-”
“ Right, my bad. Shin went to the store so you can just wait in the living room till he gets back”said Marin.

He then took off his shoes in the doorway and walked in where he saw a bunch of decorations and a boy couch. He says there for a minute and then sees Marin taking a seat across from him.

“So, your brother said you are a fan-”
“ Yep. I've been watching your channel for a long time. I especially like the Rivalry with human CottonQueen. Got to be awkward that she's dating your brother now, huh?” she asks.

“ I'll admit that it's a bit weird because seem like his type”said Lapis.

“And you and Akane seem so cute together. Are you doing an original song about her?”she asks.

“Who knows? It depends”said Lapis.

Lapis and Shinsuke spent the evening practicing, jotting down lyrics, and fine-tuning their music. Time slipped away, and before he knew it, night had fallen. With a sigh, Lapis gathered his things and headed home.

As he carefully sneaked through the door, hoping to avoid any confrontation, the lights suddenly flickered on. He froze in place. Standing before him was Ruby, her cheeks puffed in an unmistakable pout.

"You're home awfully late," she said, arms crossed.

"H-Hey, Ruby! Can I just say your hair is looking—"

"Where were you?" she cut him off, her eyes narrowing.

Lapis swallowed. "I was at a friend's place."

"A friend? Or was her name Akane?" she pressed.

"It wasn’t Akane!" he quickly defended. "I was at Shinsuke’s apartment. We worked on some music together, and then... uh, the newest episode of Dark Gathering came on, and—"

Ruby’s eyes widened, glistening with unshed tears. "You watched the new episode... without me?"

Lapis winced. "I wanted to leave, but they convinced me to stay and watch it with them."

"I can’t believe you..." she whispered, betrayal written all over her face.

"It was just one episode, I swear!" he said, scrambling to fix things. "Look, I want to make it up to you. Pick any series you want, and we’ll watch it together."

Ruby sniffled, wiping her eyes dramatically. "One episode of Sword Art Online."

Lapis groaned. "As much as I hate that series... fine."

A voice chimed in from the side. "All this over an anime—"

"Oh shut up, Aqua!" Lapis and Ruby snapped in unison.

End of chapter.

Chapter 10: The First Concert Arc:Female Vocalists

Lapis and Shinsuke were huddled over their equipment, working on a new track. After a long stretch of experimentation, they decided to take a short break.

“I think the song’s going to be great... but it’s missing something,” Lapis said, leaning back in his chair.

“I know what you mean,” Shinsuke replied, rubbing his chin.

“We need a female vocalist,” Lapis added thoughtfully.

“And a name and look to match,” Shinsuke said.

They stared at each other in silence for a few seconds.

“I mean, yeah, the name and image help, but really—it’s about the voice. Another vocalist, especially a female one, could really elevate the track,” Lapis continued.

“Sure, but it’s not like we’ll find someone overnight... What about your sister—?”

“Out of the question,” Lapis cut in. “She wants to be an idol. She’s in a group, and they just landed their first gig. They’re swamped with practice. What about your sister?”

“If she could sing, I’d offer her in a heartbeat,” Shinsuke chuckled.

“We need someone who fits our style and can actually sing.”

“How about Cot—”

“Anyone but her,” Lapis groaned. “We’ll find someone. There’s bound to be someone at school.”

“Alright, I’ll ask around too,” Shinsuke nodded.

Later that day, Lapis returned home. He found Aqua sitting on the couch, reading a book.

“Welcome home,” Aqua said without looking up.

“What’re you up to?” Lapis asked.

“Reading. Finished homework earlier. You?”

“Trying to find a—never mind. Ruby and Miyako-san home?”

“Miyako’s in her office. Ruby went out for karaoke,” Aqua replied.

Lapis squinted at him. “Are you ever going to tell me what you two are plotting?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about—”

“You’re my brother! Why won’t you tell me what she’s up to? Is she playing mental warfare with me? Is that it?”

“There’s no plot against you,” Aqua said flatly. “Anyway, I might need you to wear this.”

He pulled out a duck mask.

Lapis stared at him. Then the mask. Then back to Aqua.

“...Why?”

“It’s to help with Ruby’s—”

But Lapis was already heading out the door.

Outside, he dialed a number and held his phone to his ear.

“Hello?” a familiar voice answered.

“Hey, Akane-san. You free right now? I kinda don’t want to be home.”

“Well... you can come over—wait, that sounded—”

“Great. Be there in a few,” Lapis said, hanging up.

A few minutes later, Akane’s mother greeted him warmly at the door. After some friendly conversation, he headed upstairs and was greeted by loud noise coming from Akane’s room.

Confused, he knocked. The door creaked open to reveal a sweaty, slightly breathless Akane.

“Lapis-kun! I was just... cleaning,” she said quickly.

“Sorry to drop by so late,” Lapis said as he stepped inside.

“It’s fine,” she said, fidgeting in her chair.

“You okay?”

“You’re... the first boy I’ve ever had in my room,” she mumbled.

Lapis chuckled, then quickly shook his head to refocus. “So, why did I want to hang out? Well, Aqua tried to get me to wear a duck mask. I wasn’t sticking around to find out why.”

“Aqua wanted you to wear a duck mask?”

“He started to explain, but I dipped before he could finish. What about you? What were you up to?”

“I-I was just rehearsing for a new role,” Akane said with a nervous laugh.

Before Lapis could reply, he heard a familiar guitar riff and turned toward the bed. One of her earbuds had fallen out.

Akane reached for them. “Wait—I can explain—”

But he’d already put one in. His eyes widened as he recognized the track. It was one of his songs. Slowly, he turned to Akane, whose face was burning red.

“So—”

“I got curious, okay?” she said, covering her face with both hands. “I looked up your music and... liked it.”

Lapis smiled. “Maybe I’ll play this one live next time.”

“Don’t tease me!” Akane pouted.

“I’m serious. Just give me a heads-up, and I’ll bring my guitar.”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously. So, what do you want to do?”

“We could watch something. We’ve got Netflix. Anything you want?”

“There’s this K-drama called The Abyss. Wanna check it out?”

She nodded and queued up the first episode. They sat on the floor together. Two episodes in, Lapis noticed Akane leaning on his shoulder.

He turned to look at her. She looked back up at him, slowly closing her eyes. Lapis leaned in—

But just before their lips met, a knock startled them both.

“I-I’ll get it!” Akane stammered, bolting upright and leaving the room.

She returned a moment later.

“Mom says we’ve got a few more minutes,” she said, sitting back down.

“That’s fine. Where were we?” Lapis asked.

He gently cupped her face and leaned in. This time, their lips met. Akane placed her hands on his shoulders as they kissed.

In the following days, Lapis searched the school for a suitable female vocalist, but nothing panned out. Just when he was about to give up, he felt a tap on his arm.

Turning around, he found himself face-to-face with an attractive girl, slightly taller than average, with long wavy jet-black hair, striking purple eyes, and a slender frame. She wore the school uniform with black leggings and brown knee-high boots.

“You’re Blitz5, right?” she asked.

“Who wants to know?” Lapis replied.

“I heard you were looking for a female vocalist. I’m very interested.”

Her voice was calm—expressionless even—which made it hard to read her.

“I need to hear how good you are first,” Lapis said cautiously.

“After class. Studio Garden. Be there. You’ll hear something worth your time,” she said, walking away.

“I like the confidence. Got a name?” he called after her.

“Hanajima Saeko,” she replied without turning back.

End of Chapter

Chapter 11: The First Concert Arc:Rivals

After school,Lapis (disguised) goes into a place called studio garden,He sees a man sitting in a desk and walks up to him.

“ Looking for Hanajima Saeko”said Lapis.

“Room 8 to the left” you said, pointing in the direction.

Lapis bows then goes in that direction. He makes it to the room and knocks on the door, it opens and he sees her with a guitar in hand.

“You came”said Saeko.

“ You're such a bold statement, how could I pass it up”said Lapis.

“Any requests?”she asks.

“ Surprise me”said Lapis.

Lapis sits in a chair across from her setup. She then turns her guitar and begins to play.

(Song is Thrill,Risk,Heartless by LISA)
“I’ll be I’ll be, repeat once more,choose your story and take a stand!”she sings while playing the guitar.

As he sat there, He was immediately mesmerized by her vocal range, her guitar playing was a little hit and miss but her vocals make up for it.

“(She's amazing,her vocal range is perfect for what we're trying to go for)”Lapis thought.

After finishing the song,Saeko then hears clapping, turns to see it was coming from Lapis.

“Mind if I play something real quick?”he asks.

She nods and hands him her guitar.

He plays a rift on guitar, he hears her singing.

“You’ve been talking something lately,I've been thin-”She sings but stops as soon as he stops playing.
“ Did you just come up with that?”Lapis asks.

“Yeah”she answers.

He pulled out his phone, speed dials ShinsukeAnd wait till he picks it up.

“ Hel-”
“ I'm going to text you my location, bring your stuff over also a pen and paper. I found what we were looking for”said Lapis.

An hour later…

Lapis returns home and sees someone wearing a duck mask and a light blue jumpsuit in the living room. Lapis stares at him,emotionless and proceeds to bring out his phone.

“It’s me Lapis”

He instantly recognized voices aqua and put the phone down.

“Feel the need to ask…why?” Lapis asks.

Few minutes later…

“Impressed that you're able to pull off acting like Pieyon-san despite not looking like him. I don't know if that's really good acting or if Ruby,MEM,and Kana are just…stupid”said Lapis,sweatdropped.

“ If I had offered any advice to Kana-”
“Yeah, say no more(If she would just tell him how she feels, all this will be avoided)”Lapis thought.

“So where were you?”Aqua asks.

“How's working on something with some friends”said Lapis.

“ Make sure your schedule is cleared for-”
“ I know. As if I'm going to miss out on our little sister’s debut”said Lapis.

The next day…
Aqua and Lapis walk around the Japanese Idol festival til it was time for Ruby’s group to go on.The Sun begins to set Lapis then notices Aqua buying something.

“What did you buy?”Lapis asks.

Aqua then shows that it is a bunch of glow sticks.

“(Getting a sense of deja vu)”

Flashback to years ago...

The original B Komachi was doing a concert but then everyone in the crowd was distracted when they saw 1 year old Aqua, Lapis,and Ruby waving the glow sticks.

“Babu! Babu! Babu! Babu!”the three said in unison.

“What's going on with those three babies?”A fan asks.

“ I can’t believe they know Wotagei!”said another fan.

“They're too flexible to be babies”said another fan.

“(You said you were worried about Mom but you are having more fun than anyone else!)”Miyako thought.

“(That was by instinct…)"Aqua and Ruby thought.

“(Where did I even get these glow sticks?I don't even know I was doing)”Lapis thought.

Back to the present..

“Lapis?”Aqua asks.

“Sorry I was just remembering something from a long time ago that I thought I suppress”he answers with a heavy sigh.

They headed over into the crowd as it was now time for B Komachi to go up.The three we're now on the stage and began to sing.The crowd immediately became hooked after their first song, earning a standing ovation. For a second, Lapis felt as though he saw their mother in Ruby’s performance. Aqua then hands him some glow sticks and sighs.

“ Never thought I'd do this again”said Lapis.

“You remember how to?”he asks.

“ If I don't, I'll just copy you”said Lapis.

The second song begins, Aqua raises the white glow stick in the air for a brief couple of seconds and then he and Lapis start to wave them around. Lapis took note of some of the people looking at the both of them and took note of the stunned look on Mem-cho’s faceThe happy expression on Ruby's face, and Kana’s who seem to be ready to laugh.

After the show…

Aqua and Lapis were sitting in the truck, waiting for the girls to arrive.

“Fuwa-san wants us to go on a double date with you and Akane,” Lapis said.

“Tell her I said—”
“How do you think your fans will feel when they find out about—”
“Fine!” Lapis cut himself off. “Would it kill you to say ‘please’ for once? You don’t have to blackmail me.”
“That wasn’t blackmail,” Aqua muttered. “It was… persuasive encouragement.”

The side door slid open, revealing Ruby, who blinked in surprise.
“So you did come after all, Onii-sans,” she said.

“Well, yeah,” Aqua replied.
“Wouldn’t miss this for the world,” Lapis added with a small grin.

“Anyway, what was that back there? I couldn’t help but laugh,” Ruby teased.

The two brothers glanced at each other, then back at her. The rest of the ride was mostly quiet—Mem-cho was on her phone, Ruby drifted off to sleep, Lapis played a mobile game, and Aqua just stared out the window.

“So, what did you think of our performance?” Kana suddenly asked.
“Well, I thought—”
“Wasn’t talking to you,” Kana interrupted.

“Maybe you should say the name of the person you’re addressing,” Lapis suggested.

“Well, I’d say it was fairly good for your first time,” Aqua said.
“What the heck?! You can give us more props than that!” Kana protested.
“No, I can’t. You’ll have concerts far more amazing in the future, so giving you a perfect score now would be a waste.”
(Smooth) Lapis thought.

“Hey, Aqua, how are things going with Mawata from Love Now?” Miyako asked.
“Well, I haven’t seen her since then,” he replied.
“Oh? Is that so?” Miyako pressed.
(Looks like I’m not the only one who’s noticed her feelings for him. That only leaves Ruby…) Lapis mused.

“Besides, it’s just work,” Aqua continued. “We have talked about going somewhere to take photos for Instagram, though.”
(Not to mention a double date… I’d better bring something in case they try to pull something.) Lapis thought.

“Hmph! Of course it’s just work!” Kana scoffed. “As if CottonQueen would seriously fall for you! It’s one of those staged-for-TV things—it happens all the time!” She leaned over and began playfully slapping his shoulder.
“Poor thing. Don’t be catching feelings in that kind of relationship, okay?”

“Lapis—”
“Kana?” Lapis interrupted.
“What eldest and annoying ch—”
He leaned in close to her ear and whispered, “If you don’t dial it back and try to be subtle, I’ll tell him.”

Kana froze, shocked, and saw the smirk on his face. She quickly sat back in her seat while he returned to his game.

“What did you say to her?” Aqua asked.
“I threatened to dye her hair while she’s sleeping,” Lapis said casually.

A few minutes later…

Kana knocked on Lapis’s door. He opened it, and she walked right in, plopping herself down in one of his chairs.

“How long—” she began.
“Since we met you again,” Lapis said. “You really haven’t been… settled.”

“So what now?” she asked.

“Well, Loli-senpai, I’m going to help you out a bit.”

“What?” Kana blinked.

“Occasionally, I’ll give you a helping hand. A little push.”
“Does that mean—”
“Nope. You’re just the lesser of two evils.”

“O-oh…” Kana muttered.

“Now kindly get out of my room.”

“I kinda don’t want to. This chair’s really comfortable,” Kana said.

“It’s also got a footrest and a backrest. There’s even a button for a mass—wait, why am I telling you this? Beat it!” Lapis snapped.

Two days later…

Lapis found himself on a double date with Akane, Aqua, and Mawata. The four had stopped at a crepe shop—Lapis and Akane ordering the exact same flavor. Just as he was about to take his first bite, Akane leaned in and snapped a selfie of them together.

From the corner of his eye, Lapis noticed Mawata’s faintly irritated look—though she quickly masked it by taking a picture with Aqua.

“Think it turned out good?” Akane asked, showing her phone.

“Well, you’re standing next to a terrible gamer,” Mawata said with a shrug, “but yeah, it looks fine.”

“Oy,” Lapis muttered.

“What matters is that we’ve got proof for the fans,” Mawata continued, “proof that we’re all very happy in our totally fake relationships.”

“The only fake one here is yours… right?” Lapis countered.
“Aww, is that your way of saying you might call me sis-in—”
“Don’t even,” he warned.

“By the way, did they already contact you, Aqua-san?” Akane asked.

“You mean about Tokyo Blade?”

“Yep. The theater company working with Lala Lai is producing it, so they asked me to take part too.”

“I’m jealous,” Lapis said. “It’s one of my favorite mangas. I’d love to meet the Mangaka.”

“I might be able to pull some strings for that,” Akane offered.

“Seriously?”
She nodded.
Without hesitation, Lapis hugged her. “How much are you the best girlfriend ever?”

“Not infront of the others,” she mumbled, blushing.

“Of course I’ll take part,” Aqua said.

“You said it! I got the role of Princess Saya. You’re playing Touki, right?” Akane asked.

Lapis froze. “Hold on… those two are lovers. So my brother and my girlfriend are going to be lovers in a play? Does the casting director have it out for me?”

“I’m sure it’s just coincidence,” Aqua said. “Though I thought there was high demand for BL content in 2.5D plays. Is that okay with you?”

“The manga’s full of straight couples,” Lapis pointed out.

“True,” Akane said, “but a lot of girls ship Touki with his associate, so there’s that. He’s technically a supporting character, but thanks to the romcom elements, he’s got a good number of male fans too. Every week, people debate whether he’ll end up with the heroine or his partner.”

“Do you two read this together?” Mawata asked.

“Yeah,” they said in unison.

“Touki’s partner is… Tsurugi, right?” Aqua asked.

“That role needs careful handling too. I wonder who they’ll get,” Akane mused.

“That’d be me.”

Everyone turned. Standing there in a black sundress and matching hat was Kana.

“Arima?” Aqua blinked.

Kana held up her phone, displaying an Instagram post Akane had made earlier.

“You need to stop posting in real-time,” Kana said bluntly. “You’ll get stalkers. Schedule your outdoor posts unless you want another messy incident. You never learn, Akane Kurokawa.”

“Hey! Don’t talk to her like—” Mawata started.

“Mawata,” Lapis cut in, “that’s just how she talks. You’ll have to forgive her. She was raised by wolves.”

“So you’ll be playing Tsurugi, Kana-chan…” Lapis started, but then noticed the dark, twisted smile on Akane’s face.

“How many years has it been since we acted together?” Akane asked sweetly. “I thought you’d quit. I mean, you’re an idol now, aren’t you?”

“A-Akane?” Lapis said cautiously.

“Is there any point in scraping by on low-paying stage jobs? Oh, right—you were on that reality dating show, weren’t you? Gaining popularity by selling your private life bit by bit. Good for you.”

“Arima…” Aqua said under his breath.

The two locked eyes, their smiles not reaching them. The tension was so thick, the rest of the table fell silent.

“Well, I was nearby, so I dropped in to warn you,” Kana said at last. “You might want to relocate for the rest of your ‘double work date.’ See you around.” She walked off without another word.

Lapis noticed Akane’s hand tightly gripping her drink, trembling slightly.

“So… you two know each other?” he asked.

“We’re the same age. We’ve both been in the industry since we were kids. How could we not?”

“Maybe… try to get along?” Aqua suggested.

“I can’t!” Akane snapped. “She’s been stealing roles I wanted for years. Imagine being born in the same year as that child prodigy. But I won’t lose this time. While Kana-chan was busy making silly songs like Bell Pepper Exercises, I was training every day. This is my chance to settle the score… and I’m not going to lose.”

“She’s got my support,” Lapis said without hesitation.

Later that night…

After the date, Lapis walked Akane home. Their fingers intertwined as they strolled beneath the glow of streetlights. At her front door, they stopped.

“I’m sorry about earlier—” Akane began.

“It’s fine,” Lapis said gently. “You’ve seen how I am around Mawata. I get it.”

Without warning, Akane pulled him into a deep, passionate kiss. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.
"(Guess I have to admit… seeing that side of her was pretty interesting—)"

“Lapis-san,” she murmured, still holding him, “I feel something… poking me.”

His eyes widened and he instantly stepped back, face burning. “I—I’m so sorry!”

Her cheeks were just as red, but she smiled faintly. “It’s probably fine.”

A brief, awkward silence followed before Lapis cleared his throat.
“Right… anyway, are you free tomorrow?”

“I don’t have anything scheduled.”

“Perfect. Come over to my place—I’ve been working on a new song, and I want your opinion.”

“Sure,” she said, smiling.

“Yes—uh, cool. I’ll pick you up in the afternoon.” He stole a quick kiss before heading home, grinning to himself.

Meanwhile…

Aqua walked Mawata home under the quiet night sky. The silence stretched until Mawata finally spoke.

“Be honest… do you think they’re really together?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.

Aqua shrugged. “Hard to say. They’re close, but who knows?”

Mawata tossed her hair back with a confident smirk. “Doesn’t matter. I’m going to win him over.”

Chapter 12: 2.5D Stage Play Arc:Tokyo Blade

Lapis was cleaning up his room before leaving out to pick up Akane.He goes over to her house quickly, knocks on the door which opens to reveal Akane.

“ R-Ready to go?” he asks nervously.

“Hai”said Akane.

As they walk towards the house, glasses opens the door and checks around.

“(Okay, Ruby is doing something for her group at Mem-cho,Which only leaves aqua and Miyako.Those two see her that's fine, if Ruby was to see her… I don't even want to think about it)” Lapis thought.

Akane then follows him up the stairs until they stop at his room where he opens the door allowing her to go first. She took notice of the anime figures, the posters of rock stars, and also his old helmet and other items.

“ Not what you were expecting?” he asks.

“No it's, it's actually very fitting” Akane chuckles.

She then walks over to his computer.

“That reminds me,It's not going to bother you that Aqua and I are in this the play as-”
“ It's fine. I'm not going to deny it's a little awkward but this is what you love to do, so yeah” said Lapis.

“So is it.. just us”? she asks.

“Aqua should be in his room but other than that, just us”said Lapis.

Akane then sees him bring out an Acoustic guitar, this was confusing but also intriguing.

"If I remember correctly, you like the cover I did, right?”he asks.

He then starts tuning his guitar then begins to play it,Akane was amazed by how fast his hands were moving, she had seeing videos of him playing on his guitar but seeing in person was completely different.

“Even if you say you already know, in a fresh new way, I lead you, you lean on me. Only I have the right to spend this special time with you,I know that, I know that, I know,right now we’re..Hannam-dong UN Village hill,Looking at the moon from the hill. You&me..UN Village..Side by side looking at the moon, you and me relaxin’ and Chillin’ “he sang.

(Song is UNVillage by BAEKHYUN)

Lapis then finishes the song and sees Akane clapping for him which made him rub the back of his head bashfully.

“ Thank you, so you want-”Lapis begins to say but then hears a ringing.

Akane then sees it's her phone and walks out of the room for a minute. After a few minutes, she comes back in with a somber look.

“I'm sorry Lapis, it's my agency. I’m sorry, I-”
“It's fine.I'll walk with you” said Lapis.

As they walked,Akane was a bit silent and looked disappointed.

“I know your schedule is going to get busy because of Tokyo Blade” said Lapis.

“ But it was in the middle of a date-”
“It's fine. We'll just do something next time you're free.If that doesn't work, then I'll come with Aqua just to visit you”said Lapis.

She smiles, kisses him on the cheek, and holds his hand.

4 months later,While Aqua was practicing for Tokyo Blade, Ruby and Lapis went to visit Ai’s grave.He cleans it off and after, Ruby placed some flowers nice to it.

“(Hard to believe 4 months have passed, so much has happened in that time.Ruby have been busy with a bunch of small concerts and periodically uploading videos with Kana and Mem-cho.Well the biggest change for me is-)”

“Aqua and Lapis now have girlfriends.Only one of them is actually in a real relationship.Aqua claims that him and CottonQueen are only a couple for work sake, though.He's trash- and enemy is all girls… that's how I feel” said Ruby.

“Come on sis, he's not that bad”said Lapis.

“Agree to disagree.Oh, I'm doing relatively well.Until I'm one day able to stand on stage at the Dome.Something you never got to do, Mom, I'll keep giving it my all as an idol.Just watch me, Mom” said Ruby.

“The three of us should've came here but what can you do?” Lapis asks.

The two then walk back, they then stop by any light.

“ Before you go see aqua and your girlfriend,ever think about possibly working together?” she asks.

“ Different genres in music. I can write a song for you or at least try to write one that matches your sound”said Lapis.

“ You said try” said Ruby cheerfully.

He walks over to where they're rehearsing, he sees the cast saying all their lines.His mind was completely blown away as Connor and another actor were in the mess of acting at the scene. As he held his script and used it as a blade, lapis felt like he was hit with paint. After they were done, he saw Akane.She then noticed him, and waved.The same thing happened for day two, lapis had got done practicing with Shinsuke and Saeko, then made his way over to the rehearsal. Lapis then notices Aqua sitting by himself, walks over, and sits next to him.For he speaks, he sees Akane walk over as well, they didn't see that he was looking at Kana talking to other cast members.

”Are you watching Kana?”Akane asks.

He then slowly turns to her and answers with a casual”Yeah.”

“You know you have a girlfriend, right?”Akane asks.

“If you're going to leave Fuwa, you should at least-”
“Arima tends to bring her acting in line with those around her.Show-offy acting caused her to lose jobs in the past, so this could be a strategy to help her survive in the industry.Until now, she was surrounded by lackluster actors and her performance was lackluster as well.But now, she's on stage alongside Lala Lai’s start actor,Himekawa Taiki.If she starts matching his level..Akane, you want to outshine Arima,right?” he said which caught both their attention.

“(Uh oh)”Lapis thought.

“Keep this up and you'll lose, big time”he said.

Aquas in turns to see that she was pouting by her cheeks being puffed.
“(Cute)” Lapis thought.

“If gonna you're gonna get mad, just do it”said Lapis.

“Are you in a position to worry about others? At this rate, you'll also-”
“I was never trying to win from the start” he tells them.

This caught Akane’s attention but not that of Lapis.

“I can't outshine anyone with real talent” he confesses.

Akane had an issue with a scene but Aqua was able to help resolve the issue.She was sitting next to Lapis, not knowing who was about to walk in.

End of chapter

Chapter 13: 2.5D Stage Play Arc:Unexpected Reunion

Notes:

Chapter 13 and it's a big one for Lapis,expect the unexpected with this one.Enjoy 😉

A man walked through the doorway copy his hands and getting everyone's attention.

“ Okay, good work, everyone! We have a special guest with us!”said Sumiaki Raida.

They all look to see a woman with short light brown hair,glasses wearing a sweater with a short woman who Sports short and messy dark purple hair with lighter highlights.Her eyes are dark purple and go to a more pink color lower on, her pupils are very light pink, Almost White, and are in the shape of a line. She was wearing a coat and a white skirt.

“Uh..um..Hello?”said the purple haired woman.

“This Abiko-sensei,creator of Tokyo Blade! I'm Yoriko Kichijouji, here to offer her support along with… he must have got lost, but yeah”said the other woman.

“(Okay calm down, she's just a writer of two of your favorite mangaka.Just walk up to them and say hi)”Lapis thought.

Lapis slowly walks over to them as Kana was talking to Yoriko.

“H-hi,I’m Blitz5,I-I'm here to support my brother Aqua and I’m a big fan of both of you” he said, nervously which made Yoriko smile.

“ Nice to meet you”said Yoriko.

“Sensei, long time no see” said Kizami.

“Oh.Hi”she said,coldly.

“(Awkward..)”Lapis thought.

“I mean, I get it, but that's one Frosty reception..” said Kizami.

“Well, you did make a real mess of things on sweet today” said Aqua.

Lapis was a bit hesitant to go over to Abiko until he was gently pushed by Akane.

“Sensei, please to meet you. we're both fans of your work”said Akane.

She's instead of them for a minute then quickly hides behind Yuriko.

“ Come on, sensei, say hi to them”said Yuriko.

“Just making eye contact with attractive guys and girls flusters me” said Abiko,hiding behind Yoriko.

“I get it but still.. wait what that mean for your-”
“ Finally made my way here”

Lapis then turned and his eyes went wide as he saw a young man of medium height,short messy light blonde hair that swept down his intense blue eyes,a white dress shirt with a loose tie,and black jeans with a chain on the right side.

“(No way, it can't be… because it's been years but-)”His thoughts were interrupted when the young man sees him and eyes began to sparkle.

“No way, you're Blitz5! So cool, I watch your videos against-”
“Ahem”

He then turns around and sees a frustrated Yuriko and rubs the back of his head.

“ Sorry about that, I'm Hasegawa Ren.I'm actually here to support my fiance” he said, bashfully.

“ I see you haven't changed” he mumbles.

“ What was that-”
“ I said it's a pleasure to meet a fan. I also like your fiance's work”said Lapis.

Lapis then walked over to Aqua and wraps an arm around him.

“ Something wrong?” he asks.

“ I knew him…from before…”Lapis whispers.

“We'll talk after practice”said Aqua.

As they worked on their performance, Ren and Abiko were amazed by the performance.

“ What do you think, sensei?”Sumiaki asks.

“Everyone's so great at acting. I think we can put on a good play” She said.
“ Well,Lala lai’s full of top-class performers, after all!” he said proudly.

“I bet… everyone is practicing a ton for this” she said.

“ Sensei, for a play rather than” practicing,” it's best to say” rehearsing.”said Yoriko.

“Oh, is that so? Sorry.I'm clueless about all this.They're amazing, I'm sure I couldn't do it...And that's all the more reason, you know…I simply have to say it”said Abiko.

She then stood up and walked in front of everyone which confused them.

“About the script…Is it too late to ask to revise it?”she asks.

“(Why do I have a bad feeling?)”Lapis thought.

“Well, certainly, but what part exactly?”Sumiaki asks,nervously.

“Which part…?Well… the whole thing.Please, fix the entire script”she said.

This shocked everyone in the room.

“A-All of it?! That's a tough ask! We've already got your approval for the script and started on rehearsals! We open in just 20 days!”said Sumiaki.

“ I've already said to revise it a number of times now. But I was told,” Once you see the performances, you understand this is a good script,” so I said if it truly is good, I guess you have my okay. But, it's NOT good, which means it's not okay, right?” she said.

Just then a man stood up.

“ Sensei, first of all, allow me to apologize for submitting a script that isn't in line with your wishes” he said then follows by bowing.

“(Yes he's the one who worked on the script)”Lapis thought.

“ Of course, even at this stage, I fully intend to fix it wherever I can. But that said…There was a lot of back and forth beforehand and I did my very best to consider your intentions. At this point, how do you propose I revise it?” he asks.

“ So you're the one who wrote the script? I believe I already pointed out the parts I wanted fixed… but it seems you've failed to grasp it. How should I revise it? Are you actually even reading Tokyo blade?” she asks.

“ Of course I am reading it! Moreover, creating a script that draws out the manga’s charm-”

“THIS is your script even after reading it? The script you came out with is full of things the characters would never say and never do. It's okay if you need to change some plot lines. But… don't you think it's rude to change the characters?! My babies are not such idiots!” she shouts.

“ Well, the nature of the stage plays is such that…No…If you point out the parts to fix, I'll handle it-”

“ Like I said, all of it! No matter how many times I request it, it doesn't get fixed! I had thought I was simply being made light of, but it seems the script writer generally doesn't grasp the material.I mean, if this is what he came up with after reading the original, then this guy’s sense as a Creator is-”

“Abiko-sensei, come at me for a minute”said Yoriko as she and Ren tried to pull her away.

“(That hurt to watch…)”Lapis thought.

Lapis then went over to Aqua and then signal for him to follow him. They end up going outside leaning against the railing.

“ So, you know him?” he asks.

“He was just a kid back then in my previous life. We hung out with the same friend I told you about all those month ago.Ren would try to hang with the both of us but I always brush them off because of what's happening in my life at the time. I also kind of resented him, he was a rich kid, he's always happy expression always bothered me”said Lapis.

“Do you still not like him?”Aqua asks.

“ No. Kind of wish I could make up for all those times.After Kazama… he just kept coming around.I thought it was annoying but over time I came to realize he was just looking out for me”Lapis confesses.

“You know it's not too late”said Aqua.

“ He barely knows me, I'm 16, and he's 22-”
“ I hang out with sensei who’s twice older than me and also he's a fan of yours” said Aqua.

“ That's…Actually a good point.You have your moments where you're actually a good brother”said Lapis.

“I have moments where I don't”? he asks.

“ That's a topic for another day. I kind of want to head back just to see what happens to that one guy”said Lapis.

“So she's probably not your favorite after-”
“ Nope, she still is. Also way too curious to know how those two got together.I'll admit she was a bi.. okay way too harsh to that guy but it's I mean.. I get where they're both coming from and hopefully they can come to a compromise”said Lapis.

As they walk back in, they see must the other performers doing their own thing.Akane was watching Abiko yell at people from another room while Yuriko and Ren were waiting outside the room. Lapis cautiously walks up to Ren.

“So your fiance-”

“I am so sorry.She's usually not like this unless it's about her manga.Probably not a fan after that, huh? Truth be told, she also watches your videos and was completely in shock when you revealed your face.Since we're talking, there was something I wanted to ask”said Ren.

“ G-go ahead”said Lapis,gulping.

“Are you a fan of Eien no? When you first started out you were covering most of his songs so I assume you were”said Ren.

Lapises eyes went wide but then went back to normal.

“ Y-you got me, I really enjoyed his music. I was really inspired and wanted to play just like that(Never thought I'd be praising my past self like this)” said Lapis,nervously chuckling.

“ Thought so. Pretty sure he would be happy to know he inspired someone like you”said Ren.

“You knew him?”he asks.

“Yeah, we-”

He is interested when the door opens revealing Abiko with a stern look on her face and walks towards the exit.
“Well guess that means time to go-”
“Would it be possible to continue our conversation some other time?”Lapis asks.

“R-really?”he asks.

“Yes.I was really enjoying our conversation”said Lapis.

“Sure”said Ren.

He writes down his cell number and walks away.

Next day…

Lapis was just working on music with Shinsuke and Saeko until they stop to take a break.

“What I'm thinking for the reveal, I'll do an announcement on my channel then after it's over it'll lead straight to the song on the group Channel”said Lapis.

“That sounds like a splendid idea”said Saeko.

“(After getting to know her you think I would get used to the monotone voice and stoic-)”

“Hanajima-san, you've been playing with us for a while now, we really don't know much about you.The only thing we do know is that you wear black all the time outside of the uniform and that's about it”said Shinsuke.

She then scowled at him was terrified him and then looked at Lapis.

“Shin, when she feels like telling us, she'll tell us. You can't exactly force her to”said Lapis.

“Thank you,Blitz-sama.I will take my leave for the day, till next time”said Saeko.

She packed up her stuff, walked out of the room and closing, the door behind her.

“It's been months.You think she would-”

“ Everybody works their own pace. She'll open up eventually”said Lapis.

Lapis then here's his phone ringing and sees that it's Akane calling and immediately answers.

“ Hey… yeah….. I guess it's fine… just the three of…. fine… okay see you tomorrow. So I won't be available tomorrow because I'll be on yet another double date. Joy”said Lapis.

“ Alright then, we'll talk afterwards”said Shinsuke.

Lapis then walks out heading home, he then prepares for tomorrow.

End of chapter.

Chapter 14: 2.5D Stage Play Arc:Saeko Hanajima and Rewriting (Updated)

The next day, Lapis, Akane, Mawata, and Aqua stepped into the grand theater lobby. Lapis let out a quiet sigh, which didn’t escape Akane’s notice. She leaned close to his ear.

“I know it’s not ideal, but—”

“I get why you wanted to bring Aqua,” he whispered back, “but why her?”

“She said she wanted to see Smash Heaven,” Akane murmured.

Before Lapis could respond, Mawata stepped up.

“Oh, right. I brought you two a gift—as an apology for intruding.”

She handed both Akane and Lapis small boxes. Akane opened hers to find a cute bear-shaped keychain.

“Thank you so much,” Akane said warmly.

Lapis sighed"(Huh,maybe Mawata wasn’t so b-)"as he opened his box—only to find a keychain with a folded note inside. Unfolding it, he read: Fight me, nerd.

He looked up to see Mawata smiling smugly, then slipped the note into his pocket.

“What did it say?” Akane asked.

“We’ll talk about it later. Let’s just find our seats,” he said, gently taking her hand.

Hours later…

The four of them settled into a nearby café after the play.

“So? How was it?” Akane asked.

“Honestly… fifty times more entertaining than I expected,” Aqua admitted.

“Same. I wasn’t expecting it to be that good,” Lapis said.

Aqua leaned forward.

"I was surprised the curtains were monitors. That makes it so film Direction can be used extensively in the play. What shocked me the most was the audience seating rotating 360 degrees. That makes it impossible to prepare several stages in advance, enabling quick and seamless scene changes."

“Yeah! They've used a physical approach to solve the structural limitations of a theater,” Akane agreed.

Lapis quickly got lost in the technical chatter, though Akane’s bright smile stirred a hint of jealousy in him. Mawata, equally lost, quietly slipped away.

“I was worried you wouldn’t enjoy the theater,” Akane continued, “but I knew you’d get the appeal of this. Of course, this is one of Japan’s most lavish venues—most plays are the traditional type you had in mind. Lapis,you… Lapis?”

She turned. He was gone.

With Lapis…

At the counter, Lapis picked up another drink—only to bump into someone, spilling it down his shirt.

“I-I’m so sorry! I’ll get a towel right away,” the person said, grabbing his hand before he could answer and leading him to the back.

Seated, he looked up—and froze.

“…Saeko?”

She returned with a towel and kneeled to dab his shirt, but he took it from her.

“I’ve got it.”

“No, please—”

“It’s fine, Saeko-san.”

Her head snapped up in surprise. They stared at each other for a long moment before she stood, crossed to the door, and locked it.

“Did he put you up to this?” she asked.

“Actually, I’m on a double date. Didn’t expect to run into you here… working, of all places.”

“Pays for my tuition. Grandma can’t do it all at her age.”

“Grandma?”

“I live with her and my little brother and sister. Dad’s out of town most of the time for work.”

“What about your mom?”

“…Don’t know. She walked out when I was a kid. Said I was—” Saeko stopped herself. “Once you’re done, forget what you saw today. I don’t want anyone knowing I have a part-time job—”

“You should try for an arts scholarship,I was surprise to find out your only in gen ed” Lapis cut in.

“How do you—?”

“My brother’s taken classes there. With a voice like yours, you’d get in no problem.”

“It’s… not that simple.”

“Then explain,” Lapis said, his tone firm.

She faltered at the genuine concern in his eyes, reached out a hand, then withdrew it. Without another word, she unlocked the door and left.

(What was that about?) he wondered.

His phone buzzed—Akane: Where are you?
He typed back: Something came up. I’ll make it up to u. Have Aqua walk you home.

Later that night…

Lapis lingered near the theater until closing. When Saeko finally emerged in a simple black dress, heading toward the station, three girls her age blocked her path.

(Those three are from—)

“Hold her down,” one of them ordered.

Two grabbed Saeko’s arms while the third flicked open a lighter.

“Let’s see if the witch will use her powers,” she mocked.

“Oi!!” Lapis shouted.

All eyes turned to him.

“What do you want?” one asked.

“For you to back away from her.”

“And if we don’t? You’ve got—”

“Video of you jumping her three-on-one. School and police would love to see it. Back. Away. Now.”

The leader snapped the lighter shut. The others released Saeko. She bolted before Lapis could offer a hand. He chased her to a stairwell.

“Stay away from me,” she said, backing up the steps.

He followed until they stood face-to-face.

“Please… I don’t want to hurt you or anyone. Those girls were right—I am a witch. I almost killed someone once by accident. Just leave—”

“You might be presumptuous, Saeko, but if I see a friend like this, I help. At least give me a chance to hear you out. And I don’t care if you’re a witch—to me, you’re just Saeko.”

Her eyes brimmed with tears.

The train swayed gently as it cut through the night, but inside their carriage, silence reigned. Neither Lapis nor Saeko spoke for several long minutes, the rhythm of the tracks filling the space between them.

Finally, Saeko’s voice broke through—soft, hesitant.

“It’s… hard to explain, but… I have this power. I lost control once, when a kid was bullying me. He ended up in the hospital for weeks. My mother… she blamed me. Never stopped reminding me of it. Until one day, she just… left.”

Her gaze drifted to the window, though her reflection didn’t meet her eyes.

“Father thought it’d be best if I moved in with my grandmother. All through junior high, I kept to myself. It was easier than letting people get close.”

Lapis leaned back against the seat.

“…Then why approach me and Shin?”

“Because I wanted to get into music. I’ve always been fascinated by it. When I saw you were looking for a lead singer, I thought… maybe it would be okay. And it was. But…” She clasped her hands together. “I was terrified that if you ever found out, you’d treat me like the others have.”

Lapis exhaled slowly.

“You should’ve just told us. But… I get it. Talking about something like this isn’t easy.”

“…Sorry,” she murmured.

The rest of the walk home passed in quiet. When they reached her place, Saeko gave a small wave. Lapis returned it before turning down the street toward his own home.

The next day.

Lapis stepped through the front door of Yuriko’s home alongside Kana, Akane, and Kizami. The faint scent of ink and paper hung in the air.

“Welcome,” Yuriko said warmly, gesturing them inside. She led them past neatly organized shelves and into her studio—where stacks of manuscript pages and tools of the trade lay scattered across a wide desk.

“Wow… this is my first time inside a manga artist’s house,” Akane said, eyes sparkling.

“This is amazing!” Lapis added, scanning the workspace in awe.

“It’s also my first ti—” Kizami began, only to falter as Yuriko stepped away without so much as a glance.

Kana, with a hint of pride, crossed her arms.

“I’ve visited plenty of times while filming.”

“Wow, isn’t that so special,” Akane deadpanned.

“Congrats, you get a cookie and a gold star,” Lapis said, earning a small giggle from Akane.

When Akane asked about her drawing process, Yuriko patiently demonstrated. Lapis and Akane were fascinated, while Kizami’s attempt at a compliment was met with a frosty glance.

(At least he’s still trying…) Lapis thought.

Yuriko later served tea and snacks. Across the table, Aqua and Akane slipped into an animated conversation, leaving Lapis quietly nursing his cup—and quietly feeling left out.

“Have you and Abiko-sensei been friends for a long time?” Akane eventually asked.

Yuriko’s expression softened.

“Hmm… She worked as my assistant on Sweet Today. Eccentric girl. Didn’t socialize much—not even with the other assistants—but she’s a chatterbox when it comes to manga. When one manga artist reads another’s work, you can tell a lot about them. Abiko-sensei’s art told me she wants to connect with people… but can’t. Not even with her fiancé. That’s why she attached herself to me.”

(…I can relate to Abiko-sensei.) Lapis thought, leaning forward slightly.

Yuriko went on to explain Abiko’s meteoric rise, her stubbornness, and the realities of editors balancing artistic pride with market demands.

“Editors have two jobs,” she said. “What do you think they are?”

“Make manga sell big… and never let a popular series end,” Lapis answered without hesitation.

“Correct.”

Kana blinked at him.

“How’d you know that?”

“Fairy Tail, Naruto, One Piece. Love ’em, but… let’s just say Fairy Tail went way too long. And Oda’s still going, even in the final arc…” Lapis muttered, his expression haunted.

Everyone shivered.

“Terrifying,” they said in unison.

Yuriko chuckled, but her tone turned serious as she explained how popularity can inflate egos, leading to erratic behavior. Arima visibly tensed.

“I know exactly what she’s talking about,” Arima admitted. “Being surrounded by yes-men… it warps you.”

Akane sighed.

“Our scriptwriter’s about to be pulled from the project.”

Yuriko paused mid-sip.

“Sensei… can’t you persuade Abiko-sensei to change her mind?” Akane asked.

“…I’m sorry. I can’t. I understand her too well. I don’t like tampering with someone’s work either. I want my characters treated with love—like my own children. So… I can’t interfere.”

“No, I’m sorry for asking something unreasonable,” Akane replied.

Aqua leaned in, handing Yuriko a brown envelope.

“In that case… could you at least give this to her?”

Meanwhile with Lapis and Akane...

After parting ways with the others, Lapis and Akane walked in silence down the quiet street. The evening air was cool, the streetlamps casting pools of amber light.

Lapis kept stealing glances at her, until a soft sigh escaped her lips.

“Lapis… I didn’t invite you today just for work stuff. Did I… do something wrong yesterday? You left so suddenly, and I…”

“You didn’t do anything wrong,” he said quickly. Then, stopping in front of her, he met her eyes. “It’s just… I get jealous. Of you and Aqua. I was lost in your conversation, and you looked like you were enjoying it. I guess… it made me feel left out.”

Akane blinked, then smiled faintly.

“You could have just said that. There are times I feel the same way. On set, you and MEM talked about YouTube ads for half an hour—I had no idea what you were saying. And… yeah, I get jealous too. Especially when you’re talking to those girls you stream with.”

Lapis chuckled.

“You’re right, I—”

“Though I’m still mad about you disappearing on me,” she pouted.

“Pfft… Sorry, but it’s hard to take you seriously when you’re being cute.”

Her cheeks reddened instantly.

“…What happened yesterday?” she asked softly.

With Yoriko...

Yoriko knocked lightly on the apartment door, the hallway dim and quiet. After a few seconds, it swung open to reveal Ren

“Perfect timing,” he said, voice relieved. “Please, talk to her.”

Yoriko blinked. “Why are the lights off?”

Ren glanced back into the shadowy apartment. “She told me to only bring her food and drinks. Speaking of—gotta run to the store. Have fun.”

Before she could protest, he slipped past her and disappeared down the hall.

“…Right.”

Yoriko stepped inside, letting her eyes adjust. The living room was dim, curtains drawn, but the glow of a desk lamp illuminated Abiko—hunched over her tablet, stylus moving in sharp, precise strokes.

“Sorry for not coming over, but I’m working on a chapter” she said, weakly.

“Huh?” Yoriko asked, surprise breaking through her voice. “Wasn't the deadline for it yesterday? …You missed it?”

Abiko didn’t look up. “I did.I'm sorry about my room being messy.”

Yoriko looks at the floor”This is far beyond just” Messy”.You gonna call an assistant given the situation?”

Abiko continued drawing.”I don't have any at the moment.”

“Huh?”

“No matter how often I direct them, they can’t match my style,” Abiko replied sharply. “They fail to convey emotion through the backgrounds. Rather than correcting their work over and over, it’s faster to do it myself. So I fired them.”

Yoriko stepped forward“When was that?”

Abiko looks up“Last month? No, it was back on chapter 163, so two months ago, I guess.”

“Have you been sleeping?”Yoriko asks.

“Well, I sleep 2 hours a day, so I'm managing but I'm on a deadline, so I have it today which caused an argument with Ren” she answers.

“That'll kill you, you know.More realistically, you'll get depressed and stop working.You'll never again be able to draw at the same pace”said Yoriko.

“Well, I already feel like dying.Plus, next week, I have color pages.I also have to make original illustrations for the volume release.”

“What about the script for the play?” Yoriko asks.

“Oh, right, there's that too.I've gotta get to it after I finish this chapter”said Abiko.

Sighing, Yoriko slid off her coat and sat beside her at the cluttered desk. “I’ll help.I'll start filling in the backgrounds.”

“No, it's alright.Please just take a seat-“

“You're in no position to refuse help”said Yoriko.

With Lapis…

Akane tilted her head slightly, her eyes soft with concern. “I see. Is she okay now?”

Lapis leaned back against the park bench, thumb absently scrolling his phone. “Last time I texted her, she seemed better. But… I’ll know for sure if she shows up to our usual session with Shin.”

Akane hesitated, as if weighing something in her mind. “Lapis… would it be okay if I came to the session? I’ve got plenty of free time until this whole situation with—”

“Of course,” he said without a moment’s pause. “I’ll pick you up after class.”

She smiled faintly, but her fingers began to fidget with the hem of her skirt. “B-before we leave… sh-should we at least… do one thing?”

Before he could ask what, she cupped his face in both hands and closed the distance between them.

Her lips were soft and hesitant at first, but the moment she pulled back, she leaned in again, more certain this time. Lapis’s hands moved up—tentative at first—before resting lightly on her hips, drawing her closer until their breaths mingled.

When they finally broke apart for air, Lapis’s voice was low but warm. “I didn’t get a chance to say this earlier… but you look really pretty in that dress. And that choker—”

“I like the one you usually wear,” Akane said softly. “The one with the rosary.”

“It’s ‘cause I really like Rosario + Vampire,” Lapis admitted, his ears turning red.

They were leaning in again when his phone buzzed. A message popped up, bright against the dim evening light. Akane caught sight of it over his shoulder.

Her eyes narrowed. “Why is she texting you?”

Lapis raised his hands defensively. “I know what it looks like, but it’s not like that. Most of her messages are just… insulting me, challenging me to a game, or both at the same time.”

“She’s probably nice once you—”

“Here.” He turned the phone so she could read it herself:

Blitzy, get on SF6. Unless u busy with Akane. Poor girl’s dating a dorky gamer.

Akane blinked. “…I see.”

“See what I mea—”

“Lapis?” she interrupted.

“Yeah?”

“Can I join one of your streams and play her at this game?”

He paused, blinking. “Uh, sure. Will you be able to—”

“Would you be willing to teach me?” she asked, her voice sweet but with that dangerous glint in her eyes.

“…I don’t see a problem with that,” he said carefully.

With Yoriko and Abiko...

They fell into the rhythm of work—inking, shading, filling in every last detail. The scratching of pens was the only sound until Yoriko broke the silence.

“Aw, jeez… why’s this so detailed? This is way too much for a weekly series, especially if you’re doing it all yourself. Hire an assistant, pronto.”

Abiko didn’t look up. “I’ve already put in a request with my editor, but he hasn’t sent me anyone suitable. I bet he gives all the good talent to the big shots. That guy’s useless.”

“Sure you’re not just being overly picky? Assistants need to be trained, you know,” Yoriko retorted.

“I don’t have time for that,” Abiko said sharply. “Even if I think they’re promising and try to train them, they quit the moment I get a bit harsh.”

“I’m sure it’s more than ‘a bit.’ You’re particular about your work, I get it—but you can’t live like this. You’re making Ren worry. Even if it means making compromises, you need to live like a human,” Yoriko pressed.

“If I compromise, my work will suffer. The readers will abandon me in an instant,” Abiko shot back.

“That’s not true. You’re just doing things the wrong way.”

Abiko’s eyes narrowed. “What would you know, sensei?”

“At the very least, I can say you’re making a mistake. You’re holding the quality of your work hostage and running away from proper communication.”

Abiko paused, lips tightening.

“It looks like you’re blaming everyone else for you not doing well,” Yoriko continued. “In the long run, you’re just digging your own grave.”

The tension cracked—sharp words spilling faster. Their voices rose, the air between them thick with heat.

In the kitchen, Ren had just finished putting the groceries away. He walked toward the door and peeked in. (I wonder how those two are—)

“Save it until you sell five million copies!” Abiko’s voice cut through the air like a whip. “That’s the level I have to contend with! High expectations, week after week! I don’t wanna hear this from someone who works comfortably on a monthly series!”

“I see you’re not holding back anymore,” Yoriko said evenly. “After a blow like that, there are hardly any manga artists in the industry who could respond. And you’re right—my work doesn’t sell as well as yours.”

Ren shifted uncomfortably. (Maybe I should—)

“But,” Yoriko added, locking eyes with Abiko, “sorry, my manga is more entertaining than yours.”

Huh? Ren thought.

“Your manga runs purely on instinct,” Yoriko continued. “Sure, it feels fresh to readers at first. But that’s all—it’s not fundamentally entertainment.”

“What? Oh, there it is! The self-professed professional who mistakes pandering plot turns for entertainment!” Abiko fired back. “The old ‘tried-and-true’ method of stuffing in cliché twists!”

“Sure sounds like Tokyo Blade lately to me!” Yoriko countered. “Ever since volume twelve, it’s been… honestly not great. What’s with the Touki and Tsurugi pairing?! You bowed to what’s popular with readers and jammed it in half-heartedly, didn’t you? Don’t make slipshod manga!”

“T-that’s mean… I was trying to live up to reader expectations in my own way.”

“I hit the mark, didn't i?! Did Miss Big Shot manga artist waiver due to reader opinion?! Did you forget who drilled the ins and outs of entertainment into you?! I can see right through you, okay?!” Yoriko pressed.

Ren quietly closed the door and slipped on his headphones. "(Yeah, I think Ima staying out of that.)"

Hours passed. The shouting softened into mutters, then into the low hum of conversation. By dawn, the chapter was finished—manuscript sent in, exhaustion hanging in the air like smoke. Both women lay sprawled on the floor, drained but oddly relieved.

“I have my doubts every time,” Abiko murmured. “I always think, ‘This is the week I won’t make it.’ But somehow… I get it done. Why, I wonder…”

Yoriko smiled faintly. “Because even if we’re down in the dumps, we’re still commercial manga artists. We have our pride.”

“Things were awful at your place before deadlines, too,” Abiko said. “Starting at nine in the morning, wrapping at four a.m… it was brutal.”

“I’m sorry for what happened during Sweet Today,” Yoriko said quietly. “Things are better these days.”

“I’m sorry, too. I was sleep-deprived, juggling too much… My head was a mess. I said horrible things.”

“It’s okay,” Yoriko replied. “I also went too far. But if you say that stuff to someone else, they might cut ties with you on the spot. Be careful.”

Abiko exhaled slowly, tears pricking her eyes. “How are you able to get along well with others?”

“Meet them halfway,” Yoriko said simply. “Media franchises are collaborative works. A collection of tasks no one person can do alone. Even if something doesn’t turn out exactly how you want, it doesn’t mean your manga suddenly became boring. If it turns out well, consider yourself lucky.”

“…Even so,” Abiko said, “I hate Sweet Today’s drama. Sunset—your manga—was so much better than that. It’s unbearable seeing something you love tarnished.”

Yoriko smiled softly, patting Abiko’s head. “Good grief… you awkward girl. Sweet Today’s adaptation didn’t turn out the way you wanted. That’s what’s been eating at you.”

Abiko said nothing, but her eyes flickered.

Yoriko stood, slipping on her coat. “Here—Aqua-kun wanted you to have this. If you’re going to write the play script, this might help. Oh, and apologize to Ren. Pretty sure he heard the whole argument.”

Later that morning, Abiko sat alone, watching the final episode of Sweet Today.

(The truth about that TV drama … I’m glad I went ahead with it…) Yoriko’s voice lingered in her mind.

She stared at the ticket in her hand. Her earlier overalls and dark dress were folded neatly on the chair; she now wore a coat and skirt. By the time the ending credits rolled, her expression had softened.

Ren was asleep on the couch when she emerged. She brushed a strand of hair from his face, pressed a kiss to his forehead, and whispered, “I’m going out… I’m sorry.”

Without another word, she stepped into the cool night air and headed toward the theater.

With Lapis…

Lapis was setting up the mic stand, cables coiled at his feet. Across the room, Shinsuke adjusted his own gear, sneaking nervous glances toward Akane, who sat cross-legged in a nearby chair, watching quietly.

“You could’ve told me you were inviting your girlfriend to our session,” Shinsuke muttered.

Before Lapis could reply, the door creaked open.

Saeko stepped in, the dim light catching on the folds of her dark dress. She looked… different. More confident.

“I guess we should—” Lapis began.

“Before we start,” Saeko interrupted, “there’s something I want to say.” She glanced at both of them, her voice steady but her hands clasped together. “I… really like playing with you guys. If it’s okay, maybe we could stop somewhere after?”

Shinsuke’s head snapped toward Lapis. “…Did she just—?”

“It’s a long story,” Lapis muttered.

Saeko straightened her shoulders. “Also… I took your advice. Starting tomorrow, I’ll be in the same department as you guys.”

Lapis smirked. “Guess that means this little band of ours finally needs a name. But… we can talk about that later.”

With unspoken agreement, the three of them began to play.

Akane sat in the corner, eyes wide, listening as their music filled the room—each note carrying something unspoken between them.

Chapter 15: 2.5D Stage Play Arc:Home Front

Lapis, Shinsuke, and Saeko set down their instruments, ending the last riff of their impromptu jam. Akane stood a few feet away, wide-eyed.

“That was amazing,” she said, still in awe.

“We’re still coming up with a name but—” Lapis began.

Before he could finish, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the caller ID, then answered.

“Hello? Oh—Mr. Hasagawa… uhh… actually, if you want, we could meet you there,” Lapis said.

Shinsuke frowned. “Wait, who are we meeting?”

Lapis ended the call. “After a few back-and-forths, I agreed to hang out with Abiko-sensei’s fiancé. Apparently something happened and he doesn’t have anyone else to talk to, so—”

“You can’t just make that decision on your own! We don’t even know this guy. Also, who made you boss?” Shinsuke snapped.

“I just assumed I was,” Lapis replied casually.

“I thought he was too,” Akane added with a shrug.

“Alright, let’s put it to a vote. Sae—”

“I vote for Lapis,” Saeko interrupted. “He’s the one who brought me into the group, plus he has more experience with his followers—guitar, singing, and—”

“Alright, Lapis is the leader of the group-without-a-name,” Shinsuke conceded.

“I’ll lead the way to the diner. Ladies first,” Lapis said, opening the door.

A few minutes later…

They sat in a booth, the soft hum of the diner in the background. Soon, Ren slid into the seat next to Shinsuke.

“Sorry for dragging you all out here. I didn’t really have many places to go,” Ren said.

“Did something happen between you and Abiko-sensei?” Akane asked.

“That easy to read, huh? She missed her deadline, we argued, then Yoriko talked to her. I’m pretty sure she whispered something like ‘Going out, sorry’ before leaving. And here I am,” Ren explained.

“Geez… sounds like she’s leaving you,” Shinsuke said, only to get kicked under the table by Saeko.

“It’s… hopefully not that,” Ren continued. “It’s just… I have a love-hate relationship with Tokyo Blade. On one hand, the day I proposed to her was the day it got serialized. On the other, it’s also made her a bit…” He trailed off.

“Have you tried talking to her about it?” Lapis asked.

“Unless it’s about manga or food, she won’t listen. Talking isn’t something we’re good at,” Ren chuckled nervously.

“How did you two meet?” Lapis pressed.

“Four years ago today, actually. We were both reaching for the same manga, got into a long debate about it, and somehow that turned into a date,” Ren said.

(Bonding over manga, a tale as old as time) Lapis thought.

“You should try again—maybe when she’s in a better mood,” Saeko suggested.

Ren’s expression hardened. He stood, placing money on the table.

“Thanks for hearing me out, kids. Order whatever you want,” he said, walking away.

“How do you think that’s going to go?” Shinsuke asked.

“I hope it goes well,” Lapis replied.

Later that evening...

Ren entered the apartment, he thought no one was there until he felt something hugging him. He blinked to see Abiko stepping back.

“Abi—”

“I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “I didn’t mean any of it. You were just looking out for me, and I took it out on you....I’m really sorry.”

Ren stood and hugged her. She hugged him back, burying her face in his chest.

“Next time, just talk to me like you do with Yoriko—”

“She’s different. And you’re… you know,” Abiko murmured.

“I’m—”

“I love you,” she said, tightening her hold.

“I love you too. You should probably get some rest—”

“Ren, I went to a stage play… go with me this time?” She held up a ticket.

“Sure,” he answered with a smile.

Meanwhile, with Lapis…

At Akane’s house, the two were locked in a gaming battle—until Akane won.

“You’ve trained well. You’re ready to fight Mawata. Just give me a second… aaand done,” Lapis said, putting down his phone.

“What did you just do?” she asked.

“I laid out some bait. She should take it in… three, two, one.”

Right on cue, Akane received a match invite from Cottonqueen.

“What did you say to her?” Akane asked.

“I went into her stream and said she couldn’t beat you in SF6.”

“O-oh…” Akane sweatdropped.

“Hey, can I make a video of you beating her? That won’t be a problem for your agency, right?”

“It won’t be a problem,” she said.

“Hey B-fans,” Lapis said into the camera, “special guest Akane here, about to take on Cottonqueen in Street Fighter 6. I’ve only trained her for two hours, but I’ve got a gut feeling…”

Minutes later…

Final round. Tie game. Akane unleashed Chun-Li’s Spinning Bird Kick—victory.

“And there you have it—winner, Kurokawa Akane! CQ, I hope you’re watching—have an awful day! Just kidding.” Lapis winked and ended the stream.

“Will she be okay?” Akane asked.

“She’ll blame me for a few days and message me, but yeah—you’re fine,” Lapis replied.

Meanwhile, with Mawata…

She stared at her defeat screen, stunned. Then she grabbed a pillow with a terrible doodle of Lapis on it.

(What just happened? I lost to Akane?… I LOST TO AN ACTRESS WHO JUST STARTED PLAYING?!!)

“Bli—no, LAPIS!!!” she shouted, punching the pillow.

Chapter 16: 2.5D Stage PlayArc:Emotional Acting& Sides

Lapis was playing on a handheld as Saeko was tuning up her guitar.She takes a couple of glances at Lapis without him noticing.

“Did Shin-kun say how long he was going to be?”Saeko asks.

“He said he’ll be here after detention…when I'm watching a marathon or doing a stream,I always make sure to set my alarm clock”said Lapis.

“I see..Lapis-kun…about the other day..I wanted to say thank you personally.Those girls have stopped bothering me and because of your suggestion, I was given a scholarship” said Saeko.

“It's no problem..damn, my soul logo just disappeared” he said, noticing his guitar.

“Soul logo… Soulless logos”said Saeko.

“Soulless logos? Actually, that's not a bad name.It makes no sense, seems a bit edgy but it works” said Lapis.

Lapis then brings out his phone and quickly texts Shinsuke and quickly gets a reply of” I like it". Just before he could say anything, he receives a text from Akane.He reads it and begins to pack up to the confusion of Saeko.

“I have been summoned, I'm going to go see Akane and Saeko”said Lapis.

“Would it be possible for me to tag along?” she asks.

“Really? Sure” said Lapis.

They were giving a ride where they dropped off at Studio B. They both walk in to see Kana talking.

“Of course I do! After all,I have the longest relationship with Aqua of anyone here-”
“Well that's not true, I've known him since the day he was born and you did one movie with him as a kid and then never talked to him ever again”said Lapis,gaining everyone's attention.

“Not to mention we reconnected recently”Aqua adds.

Kana stares daggers at Lapis.

“Arima is completely right.I can't do emotional acting.Me doing acting where I get all worked up and cry?Forget it.”said Aqua.

“(Not surprising, Aqua’s been like this since mom died.I wish there was a way I could help but…)”Lapis thought.

The somber look on lapis didn't go unnoticed by either Akane or Saeko.

“How do you cry when you act,Arima?” Aqua asks.

Kana then widely smiles to the annoyance and earns an eye roll from Lapis.

“(She's like a parent who tells their kid they were going out for ice cream.How does nobody know?)” Lapis thought.

“Hmm…There are various methods, emotional crying and physical crime among them… but in the world of child actors, the most used is..” she said.

Kana walks up to lapis and leans close to him till they're face to face.

“Aqua-kun…If your mom were to die, what would you do?”Kana asks.

Her question brought back bad memories for both Aqua and Lapis, remembering how their mother had been stabbed and her last words.

“That one! You cry by convincing yourself you hold dear whatever’s in front of you.In this case,Touki’s overcome with joy when he sees that princess Saya is alive.So basically, you should remember stuff that made you happy as you act.Even you must have a thing or two that made you happy, right?” Kana asks.

“Lapis? Are you okay?”Saeko asks.

“Huh, oh, I'm fine.Anyway, we should just sit back and watch” said Lapis.

They watch the actors practice but Lapis notices a worried look on Aqua's face and walks over to him.

“Having trouble?” Lapis asks.

“A little.Thinking of memories of when I was happy” said Aqua.

“How about when we came up with that video for Akane, everyone helped out with it.Or as much as I hate to say it… those.. double dates..with Mawata.So I guess that's a work relationship, you still have fun.Or how about helping me out with-”

“I've never enjoyed helping you with your videos” said Aqua.

“Hey, I was just trying to help”said Lapis.

“I appreciate it,Lapis”said Aqua.

Lapis then walks back over to where Saeko is with a wide smile on his face.

“Why are you smiling-”
“Don't ruin this for me(He actually thanked me for something and meant it)” said Lapis.

Lapis then saw Aqua fall to his knees and rushed over to him.

“Aqua?!”Kana shouts.

“Aqua-kun?”Akane asks.

“Are you good? You need to step outside?”Lapis asks, rubbing his back.

“Hey, what is it? What's wrong?” the director asks.

“ I'm alright, I got dizzy as all.I'm going to rest until I regain my composure” said Aqua.

Lapis grabs his arm and helps him out of the room.Aqua lands against a wall holding his head noticing the concern look on Lapis.

“Do you need anything?” Lapis asks.

“Something to help my head” he answers.

“Got it, be back in a sec” said Lapis.

Just as he leaves the room, he is greeted by Akane.

“Is he okay?” she asks.

“He wants something for his head but-”
“Here you go”said Akane as she headed him a water bottle.

“I think he had a panic attack, would it be okay if I helped?” Akane asks.

“Of course”said Lapis.

They both walk in and Lapis hands in the water bottle which he puts on his head.

“You look pale.Maybe you should lie down…”said Akane.

“If you want, I can call Ruby or M-”

“Don't. I don't want her finding out. She's looking towards the future, I don't want to remind her of things she needn't remember”said Aqua.

“(She was outside the room when…)Okay those two are out, guess I'll call the next best thing”said Lapis.

Few hours later…

Lapis had put Aqua in bed while Akane,Saeko,and Taishi Gotanda stood outside the door way.

“You know I'm not-”
“Look he didn't want sis involved or Miyako-san, which only leaves you” said Lapis.

Taishi then closed the door then at all three of them.

“Let's see, you're his brother obviously and the blue haired one is his girlfriend right or something and the other one is his best friend?”he asks.

“The blue haired one is my girlfriend and the black-haired one is my friend who tag along”said Lapis.

Akane blushes and nods.

“For real?Then it must be that other girl…”said Taishi.

“Did she have pink hair?” Lapis asks.

“No” he answers.

“Then that's not his girlfriend”said Lapis.
“So who is this?”Saeko asks.

“He's the director from Aqua's first movie.Aqua learns from him from time to time.One time in junior high, I followed him all the way here.So no Mom today, huh?”Lapis asks.

“She’s ou-none of your business”said Taishi.

The three of them sat on the couch as Taishi stuck his head out the window for a smoke.

“Sorry for us bargaining on you like this”said Akane.

“Nah, it's alright.I'm about the only one besides his brother here, who knows the situation.Besides, it's not like this’s first either”said Taishi.

“Lapis, has he ever collapsed like this before?”Akane asks.

Lapis then looked at Taishi sternly,nods his head and Taish sighs.

“Looks like I've been given permission.Long ago, the two of them got caught in an extremely terrible incident and when Aqua recalls it, he sometimes ends up like this”he explains.

“PTSD..”said Akane.

“Your brother gets psychologically traumatic flashbacks?” Saeko asks.

“We got counseling for a while, I'm fine but he pretended he made a full recovery”said Lapis,clutching his fist.

“He didn't want to worry you and your sister(I can relate, I didn't want to worry my grandmother or my brother with my abilities but I wanted to help the finances)”said Saeko.

“Well, I suppose there's no forgetting it.I mean, it haunts even me to some extent” said Taishi.

“How can it not?” Lapis mumbles.

“I'm gonna do some work- keep me posted on how he's doing”said Taishi.

“Lapis-kun,I-”
“If you have to go Saeko, it's okay. I thank you for staying with me”said Lapis.

“What are friends for? Let me know if I can help in any way”said Saeko.

Saeko leaves the apartment, leaving Akane and Lapis in there until he goes to check on Aqua.

“Ai..”he whispers.

“(This is the second time I've seen him like this…)” Lapis thought.

He then turns that's all that the door was cracked where he saw Akane then walk into the room.

“(The idol that Aqua-kun’s a devotee of died 14 years ago.Ai was with the same agency as he is…Lapis resembles her a bit…And their sister, who's working as an idol, revived B komachi…) Lapis-kun…there’s something I want to ask but…”Akane began to say but couldn't find the words.

“ Go ahead”said Lapis.

“It's about your mother…she was Ai,wasn’t she?”Akane asks.

The room was filled with silence for minutes until Aqua opened his eyes and slowly got up.

“Akane,why are you crying?”Aqua asks.

“I just…imagined something crazy and when I thought,”What if it’s true?”,I felt sad…Thinking how lonely it must have been not being able to tell anymore”she said as tears streamed from face.

“Ak-”

Before he could finish his sentence, she brings both of them into a hug.

“No matter what happens, I'm on your side.I'll bear the painful things together with the both of you”said Akane.

“What are you talking about?”Aqua asks.

“ Oh, nothing. Just some scenario I thought up”said Akane.

Lapis reciprocates the hug whereas Aqua slowly stands up.

Minutes later…

Akane had made dinner for everyone who were all amazed except for Aqua.

Taishi’s mother tries a bit and her eyes widen.

“This is simply delicious!” she said.

“You are awfully good in the kitchen- do you cook regularly?”Taishi asks.

“I've been going to cooking classes with my mom…”said Akane.

“Lapis-kun, don't let this girl get away! Being able to eat tasty meals is one of the joys of life!”said Taishi’s mom.

“Oh I don't intend to-I mean uh,wow the food is amazing”said Lapis,nervously.

“You're not going to eat?”Taishi asks.

“I don't have much been appetite…”said Aqua.

“You eat or I shove it down your throat”said Lapis, with a dark aura behind him.

Aqua then proceeded to eat which made Akane smile.

“Akane-chan,ab-”Lapis begin to say but then saw her attempting to feed him.

“Ahh”said Akane.

He blushes but then opened his mouth as she fed him.

“ How is it?”she asks.

“It's good”said Lapis.

Minutes later…

Lapis was sitting in the living room as Aqua came in and went out to the balcony. Lapis then went out and joined him.

“I know what you're going to say-”
“Good, that saves me the trouble”said Lapis.

Before Lapis says anything, Akane comes out and leans against the banister along with two of them.

“Am I interrupting?” she asks.

“Not at all, I'll just leave you-” Lapis begins to say only for Akane to place her hand on top of his.

“Why are you in acting, Aqua-kun?"Akane asks.

“What does it matter? “Aqua asks.

“It does matter.The reason’s important.Because you want to be a star?For money?To become somebody special?”Akane asks.

“Never asked, what's your reason,Akane-chan?”Lapis asks.

“ I act’cause it’s fun”she answers.

“Yeah, I got that feeling.You might as well tell her, Aqua”said Lapis.

“Even if I told you why I became an actor, you wouldn't understand.And I'm not going to tell you, anyway”said Aqua.

Lapis then saw Akane begin to pout.

“There you go again…For someone who goes on about how important communication is, you're very secretive,I feel bad for Mawata-san.Isn't that the issue with you?”she asks.

“(She's calling him out on it)”Lapis thought.

“In that case…Supposing I told you my goal in this was to kill someone, what would you do?”he asks.

Akane was completely silent as Lapis stared at Aqua.

“”There's this person high up in the industry and I want to rise to the top to do away with them.What you do if I told you that?”Aqua asks.

“I'd help you kill them” said Akane.

Her answer took both Aqua and Lapis by surprise.Lapis was slowly walked back into the apartment and when he was out of sight, leaned against the wall.

“(Why… did that terrify me?)” Lapis thought.

Later, Aqua wanted to stay over there for a little bit longer so Lapis walked Akane home. Their walk was silent halfway until Akane walked in front of him.

“Something wrong?”she asks.

“ It's…what you said. Akane-chan, please reconsider helping Aqua.I know why and who this person is but he's not thinking about the consequences.Revenge lead him to not only burying the person he killed and also himself, I don't want to see you in that same hole”said Lapis.

“And Aqua?”Akane asks.

“I don't want him falling down that path either.There has to be another way that doesn't involve killing this person.I don't give a damn about who it is, just don't want to see my brother locked up in a cell or you.Please reconsider!” Lapis pleads,holding her shoulders.

He looks up to see a conflicted look on her face, lapis then moved his hands and slowly walked back.

“Lapis.. I don't.. I” she struggled to find the words but noticed him backing away.

“Just forget it.I don't want to see the girl I…I'm going home, I won't be at the rehearsal ever again” said Lapis.

Lapis walks away, leaving Akane standing there.Lapis walks a few more steps until he is stopped by the feeling of two arms back around him.

“Lapis-kun-”
“I don't-”
“I'll help you.I'm grateful to both of you and I care for the both of you…The difference is that.. I love you and don't want to lose what we have and if stopping aqua from killing this person is what you want, then we'll do it together.I'll act like I'm helping him but in reality, I'll be helping you” said Akane.

Lapis then turned around and hugged her back.

“Thank you” said Lapis.

“Now what were you going to say? The girl I-”
“Love.And you said that you love me as well”said Lapis.

Akane then brushes away a few strands of his hair, leans in, capturing his lips. Lapis reciprocated by kissing her as well until they broke for air.
“There's something I want your help in as well.I wanna outshine Arima Kana and Himekawa-san.I don't wanna lose to those two no matter what.That Himekawa-Arima duo is too strong, though.I don't stand a chance on my own”said Akane.

“Then I'll help out anyway I can.Plus I know something about her that you may not know”said Lapis.

“Ehh?”She said, curiously.

“Kana has feelings for Aqua”said Lapis.

“Really?”Akane asks.

“And he has no idea”said Lapis.

They both been smile and walk the rest of the way leaning against one another.

End of chapter.

Chapter 17: 2.5D Stage Play Arc:The Curtain Rises

Lapis knocks on Aqua's door. Aqua opens it and lets him in.

“If this is about-”
“It's not, this is about me helping you and Akane beat Loli-senpai and Himekawa”said Lapis.

“Why?”Aqua asks.

“ Because I'm a good boyfriend”said Lapis.

“Well that's good for you but-”
“ If you don't help, you will leave me no choice but to result to “that”. You remember what happened last time”said Lapis.

“You wouldn't dare”said Aqua.
“We both know that's not true” said Lapis.

The two then stared at each other for minutes until one of them caved.

The next day at Taishi’s…

Lapis, Aqua, and Akane were sitting behind Taishi as he looked at the revised script.

“A way to beat out Himekawa and Arima, huh”he said.

“One that doesn't rely on emotional acting, if possible”said Aqua.

While Aqua and Taishi were talking, Akane leans in and cover her mouth so that they don’t see her.

“How did you get Aqua on this?” she whispers.

“ I'll tell you later”said Lapis,winking.

Taishi then turned around which made them go back to their place.

“ Rather than someone who does amazing acting,become an actor who can act just as envisioned.With that in mind, What do you,Hoshino Aqua, make of the play the director wishes…and the aims of the script? What’s”Just as envisioned” for this play?”Taishi asks.

“Intensely emotional acting” he answers.

Taishi smiles.

“Then you've got no choice,eh? Emotional acting it is.Starting tomorrow, come over here after rehearsal.I'll whip you in the shape from the ground up” said Taishi.

Lapis’s notification Bell then went off and he's saying very excited.

“It's dropping right now?” Akane asks.

“Yep. Our first song as Soulless Logos”said Lapis.

“That names a bit-”
“It's supposed to be” said Lapis.

(Imagine their first song is Easy by Miyavi..it’s underrated)

Akane was listening to the song with her headphones and seemed to be really enjoying it.

“It's just as good as when you guys play in person”said Akane.

“I'll listen to it later”said Aqua.

“That's fine. See you back home”said Lapis.

Lapis ends up going through the front door and sees Ruby sitting on the couch who looks at him angrily.

“Everything good sis-”
“ Sit,Onee-chan” Ruby commands.

Lapis then cautiously made his way to the couch and sat on the opposite side of her.

“(Okay she's obviously mad but I didn't do anything wrong…wait, was it one of those days we supposed to watch an anime? Nope wait, it's Tuesday.. are things on Thursday and Friday.Was that supposed to make dinner tonight?)So how-”
“I know what you and your girlfriend have been up to at night. I thought you were a good boy”said Ruby,ashamed.

“(What we’ve been up to at night?)What are you talking about?”Lapis asks.

“Leaving with your pretty girlfriend, don't come home till late at night, You and Akane have been doing sexy stuff!!”Ruby shouts.

What Ruby said echoed in the room and Lapis turned completely red and slammed his hands on the table.

“ N-N-No we haven’t!! The only thing that we've gone so far is doing is..anyway, none of that.Where did you get that idea?”Lapis asks.

“Minami-san”she answers.

“The cute pink haired one? I'm just going to have a word with her(And I thought Kana would be the bad influence)”said Lapis.

Just then, Mem-cho and Kana walk in.

“Oh yeah check this out” said Ruby

The three of them all look to see her pull out her phone which showed the contact info for Sakuya Kamoshida

”Ta-da. This guy said he's friends with aqua, so we exchanged our LINE Ids! He said we should all grab dinner sometime!” said Ruby, proudly.

Mem-cho had the look of worry,Kana had to look of disgust, and Lapis had a mixture of both.

“Ugh..”All three said all three.

“Huh? Should I not have?” she asks.

“I was wrong.Remember how aqua and I said you should stay away from dating, I was wrong.You definitely need to stay away from dating”said Lapis.

“Huh?”Ruby responds.

“There are, of course plenty of performers with integrity who you can respect both as actors and as human beings.With that in mind…Most of these 2.5 d actors who Hound girls for their contact info are bad news!”Kana shouts.

“Huh?”Ruby responds.

“He mostly sleeps around!”Mem-cho adds.

“What?!”said Ruby.

“Lemme see your phone! I'm gonna block him!”said Kana.

“WHAT?!”Ruby shouts.

“I think it's best for everyone that nobody mentions any of this to Aqua, agreed?” Lapis asks.

Kana and Mem-cho nod in agreement.

The next day…

Lapis was with Shinsuke and Saeko at Shinsuke’s apartment. They both look nervous as Shinsuke had a dark aura around him.

“(Is he mad about us going somewhere without him? He was in detention we couldn't just wait there for-)”

“We need a logo” said Shinsuke.

“Huh?”Lapis and Saeko said in unison.

“Think about it, all great groups have a good sound to them but they also need a symbol, something that says” this is our group”.We can also do a music vid-”

“No” they once again said at the same time.

“But why?”Shinsuke asks.

“I'm not comfortable enough to do videos” said Saeko.

“I agree that we can use a logo but a music video would be expensive”said Lapis.

“Okay we'll focus on the logo then, can any of you draw?”Shinsuke asks.

“I'm pretty decent”said Lapis,looking away.

“I unfortunately am not a good artist when it comes to drawing”said Saeko.

“Well you're in luck because…I also don't know how to draw very well.I do know someone who can help,Marin!” Shinsuke shouts..

Marin came out wearing a black shirt and ripped blue jeans.

“What's up? Is Blitz-kun staying for an Anime Marathon again? ” she asked, her eyes sparkling.

“Not this time, you can draw right?” he asks.

“Nope” she answers, giving him a thumbs up.

“I have an idea, why don't all three of you draw something and then whoever’s is better, they use that one” Marin suggested.

Few minutes later…

The first drawing was by Shinsuke which made the others horrified. It looked like he was trying to draw some kind of monster.

“W-wow, it's a good picture of a..uh…Kaiju?”Lapis asks.

“It was supposed to be a dog”said Shinsuke,whimpering.

The next one was Lapis’s, his drawing was that of a woman who had the bottom half of a spider.

“Who's that?”Shinsuke asks.

“Rarchnera Arachnera from monster monsume,duh”said Lapis.

“I love that show”said Marin.

“ It's a bit weird looking but it's not terrible”said Shinsuke.

The last one was Saeko's, which looked like a crow landing on a rather peculiar black haired girl.

“I drew me when I was-”

“Okay so all three of us can’t-”
“Hold on, I remake it”said Shinsuke.

“Oh that's cool..Are you about to use AI art?”Lapis asks.

“Yeah” he answers.

“That doesn't count” said Lapis.

“What do you mean it doesn't count?”Shinsuke asks.

“It's not drawn by any of us and it's AI art, it doesn't count!”Lapis retorts.

“It counts as a-”
“I believe I can solve this dilemma, Ai art doesn't count since it's not made by us”said Saeko.

“How do we got that settled, what do we do about our logo?”Lapis asks.

“Perhaps you could ask that man from last time? He is engaged to a manga artist is he not?” she asks.

Before Lapis could respond, the alarm on his phone goes off which he then silences.

“Sorry guys, gotta go, but I'll ask him”said Lapis.

After leaving the apartment, Lapis then made his way towards Akane’s home.The two then went to the rehearsal together.After a few minutes,Kana entered where she was getting glared at by Akane.

“What's with that glare?”Kana asks.

“I'm not glaring, okay?”Akane asks.

“Liar.You usually look sleepy- your eyes only get sharp when you’re looking at me”said Kana.

“I'm like this with everybody.You probably just feel that way ‘cause you think of yourself as someone real special.”Just who do you think I am? I'm a genius child actor.”The way you cling to your past glory is a disgrace.Are you even making any effort to improve?”Akane asks.

“Well, well.My, oh, my.That's quite the sharp tongue you’ve got.I guess you must hate me.You say stuff because you really, truly hate my guts.Isn't that right,Kurokawa Akane?”Kana asks while pulling out a book.

Akane’s face had the look of shock and nervousness which didn't go unnoticed by Lapis.

“What's that book?” Melt asks.

Akane tugs on Lapis’s shirt with a look that was begging for him to help which made him sigh.

“That the celebrated gifted actress-”
“Loli-senpai, if you read any of that, I'll expose stories about you to everyone here”said Lapis.

This gained everyone's attention, especially that of Kana.

“You don't have any stories on me-”

“Story number one, how Kana cried for the director to-”
Before he can finish his sentence,Kana then dragged about into the hallway with her face red.

“What are you trying to do,huh?!”Kana asks whispering.

“She's my girlfriend, I can't just let you embarrass her like that.If anything, I saved you from making a complete ass of yourself.Whenever someone compliments you or something for you, you do this thing that makes you unbearable”said Lapis.

“Thanks for letting me know” said Kana,deadpan.

“Hey, what are frie…no that's not the right word…acquaintances? Okay I got it, the girl who works with my sister and has a crush on my brother”said Lapis.

“Is that how you see me?”Kana asks.

“You don't want the answer to that.By the way, let me look at that”said Lapis.

Kana reluctantly hands it over to him. He reads it but then sees Aqua behind him who also reads it, they both then walk in and go over to Akane.

“Everything's been taken care of.Also… we read it, sorry”said Lapis.

“I knew you saw her as a rival, but your feelings towards Arima are pretty complex,huh?”Aqua asks.

“It's not like that at all! Sure, I felt that way long ago.I saw Kana-chan, the super popular girl the same age as me who was on TV… I began to look up to her and I joined a children's theater company but just look how she is in reality”Akane while pointing at her.

“Trust me, I get it.You thought that she was a nice person but then you see what they're truly like, which is arrogant and rude”said Lapis.

"(He really doesn't like Fuwa)"Aqua thought.

“Plus, likes to make fun of people.Having become an idol, she acts like she's some multi-talented entertainer and she's making money posing as some popular YouTuber”Akane adds.

“Hey, any staff around?! A fan slipped in the studio and she's scaring m-”

“Story number two,I was working on another stream and went to go get something to drink, I still had my mask on.I walked down the stairs and Kana stared at me for a couple of minutes, then she ran shouting” Terminator!” waking up-”

“Shut up, shut up, shut up!"said Kana with a couple of actors snickering amongst each other.

“Don't mess with Akane-chan”said Lapis.

“This is why I'm subscribed to Cottenqueen, at least her fan base isn't name something cringy”said Kana which struck Lapis at his core.

“What is his fan base named?” Melt asks.

“ Oblitzerators” Aqua answers.

“I didn't come up with the name, they just started naming themselves that”said Lapis,curled up.

Akane had some on the head then glared at Kana who was laughing.

“Some nerve for a girl who's best known for bell pepper exercises!”Akane shouts.

This struck Kana like a knife.

“Oh, that actually did damage”said Melt.

“She got a bit carried away”said Aqua.

“Oh, yeah? And you're best known for a reality dating show!” Kana fires back.

This then struck Akane like a knife.

“Who's the multi-talented Entertainer now, huh?!” she asks.

“That was a vicious counter” said Aqua.

“Arima’s good in a war of words,after all”said Melt.

“(Okay this got taken too far)” Lapis thought.

Just before the two could lay hands on one another,Lapis holds Akane back as Melt held back Kana.

“Sorry, I'll take this one..” said Melt.

“Okay,Lapis will hold back this one”said Aqua.

Minutes later…

Lapis,Aqua,and Akane were in a different room with Akane sitting on a stairway.

“Good grief, she pisses me off! What's her problem?!” Akane shouts.

“Well,Arima’s always had a foul mouth” said Aqua.

“It's not her that's foul- it's her personality! She used to be even worse!”said Akane.

“Even worse than now?!”Lapis asks, dumbfounded.

“Well, I also acted with her when we were kids-”
“Then take my side like Lapis-kun! Her personality was the pits, wasn't it?!”Akane asks.

“No, I wouldn't say…Now that you mention it, I wanted to kill her”said Aqua.

“Right?! When I first met her, I also..Rehearsals are about to start, let's go”said Akane.

“Don't let her get in your head,Kane-chan” said Lapis.

Akane blushes and whispers” not in front of Aqua”to Lapis, Aqua shrugs and walks back along with them.

While they were practicing,Lapis then took out his phone and began to call Ren.

“Oh,Blitz-kun”said Ren.

“Hasegawa-san, I was wondering if it was possible to have your input as well as Abiko-sensei’s on a project”said Lapis.

“Sure.Why not stop by after School, I'm sure Abiko would love to have you over” said Ren.

“Okay then, see you tomorrow” said Lapis as he hung up the phone.

The next day…

Lapis felt it anxious as he knocked on the door of the apartment,The door opens but instead of Abiko or Ren, it was a beautiful woman lapis assumed was in her twenties or thirties, she had mid back length light blonde hair but has two front hair strands with bangs swept just above the right wearing a butterfly hair clip on her head. She noticeably had a very curvy figure especially her chest which lapis tried not to stare at. She was wearing a long white dress that stops at her feet.

“May I help you?” she asks.

“(Don't look at her chest, don't look at her chest, stop looking at her chest!) Uhh-”

Ren then came into the doorway scratching the back of his head.

“Blitz-kun, sorry, my mother decided to pay us a visit.Come in”said Ren,nervously.

After walking in, he saw Abiko nervously shaking at a table and sits on the other side with Ren sitting next to her and Ren’s mother going to the kitchen.

“(If I'm not mistaken her name was…Hasegawa Sena.Even now, she looks like she's still in her twenties… she's got to be at least 40 or 5-)”

“So, the project?”Ren asks.

“R-right.As you probably know, I've started a new group called Soulless Logos-”

“I love the name”said Abiko.

“But we were struggling to come up with a logo, we all try then when tried to use AI art-”

“Please allow us to help you with this”said Ren and Abiko in unison.
“Uhh, okay.But I got to ask, why?”Lapis asks.

“We both hate AI art” they answered.

“(Well damn)Okay, when would be a good time to work on it? I know Abiko-sensei has the manga”said Lapis.

“Maybe after Tokyo blade?”Ren asks with Abiko nodding repeatedly.

“Sounds good”said Lapis.

“Since you're here… what do you… want to… see how Tokyo Blade is made?”Abiko offers.

“Yes, I mean,uh,yeah, sure”said Lapis.

2 days later... The day of the play finally arrived,Lapis ended up going with Ruby and Miyako. Just as he walks in he sees some old friends from the reality dating show.He walks over just as Mem-cho did.

“MEM-cho, it's been ages!” Yuki exclaims.

“Yuki! And company!” MEM-cho exclaims.

“Don't treat us like strangers”said Kengo.

“It's been a while,Kengo-san,Nobuyuki-san”said Lapis.

Kengo and Lapis high five each other and Nobuyuki wraps an arm around his head.

“So what's up? Things going good for you guys?”MEM-cho asks.

“We're doing okay, I guess”said Yuki.

MEM-cho then takes a closer look at their wrist.

“ Wait, You two are wearing the same bracelet?! Suggestive matching accessories! Look at you love birds!”MEM-cho exclaims while pointing at them.

Lapis then looks at his choker and hides it.

“Hm? Why you trying to hide your choker,Blitz-kun?”Kengo asks.

“W-well part of it kind of broke off” he answered, nervously.

Flashback to earlier in the day…

Lapis was at a park with Akane who seemed a bit nervous.

“Everything okay,Kane-chan?”Lapis asks.

“Well…here” she said that she gave him a small box.

Curious, he opens it which reveals a new black choker with spikes with part of a heart that was black and had a red gemstone. On the side of it, it had Lapis's name on it.He then takes off his old one and puts it on.

“I-I wanted to get you a gift as an apology…sorry we haven't spent much-”

“It's fine. I love it” said Lapis.

“Really?” she asked.

“Yeah” said Lapis.

“That's good because…there's a white one that matches with it”said Akane.

He then sees her pull out a white choker with a white part of the heart with a red gemstone that had her name, she then turned her back to him and lifted part of her hair up.

“Could you help me put it on?”Akane asks.

Lapis nods and grabs the choker and cautiously puts it around her neck.Once it was on she puts the two heart pieces together. This made Akane smile as well as Lapis.

Back to the present…

“(If MEM sees it, I won't hear the end of it)”Lapis thought.

“Whoa, look at that hottie!”said Kengo.

Lapis looked at who he was talking about and saw that it was Ruby.

“Dude, that's my sister”said Lapis.
“She's also Aqu-tan’s sister,they’re triplets”said MEM-cho.

“No joke?!”Kengo asks.

Lapis sees Ruby waving at him and decides to walk over to them.

“They've got great genes alright”said Nobuyuki.

“I wanna see what their parents look like”said Yuki.

“They've gotta be beautiful too”said Kengo.

Lapis sits next to Ruby who was looking around while Miyako look at the playbook.

“A lot of the people around us have a strong presence” Ruby whispers.

“Well, the seats and back are generally for folks involved with the play.After all, you have to be back there to see the audience’s reactions”said Miyako.

“I kinda feel like a big shot-I like it” said Ruby, proudly as Lapis shake his head.

“Don't get smug about it”said Miyako.

“Oh, it's the director.He's looking as scary as ever.I wonder if Aqua invited him” said Ruby.

“(It was either him or Akane)”Lapis thought.

“It's not like him to ask the director to watch and perform.Maybe that goes to show how excited he is about the play”said Miyako.

“We're talking about Aqua, right?” Lapis asks.

“Lapis, did you tell Akane anything before the play? “Miyako asks.

“To break a leg…nothing else” he said turning away.

“I can tell when you're lying”Miyako teased.

Just then, the lights went out and the curtain Rises.

End of chapter.

Chapter 18: 2.5D Stage Play Arc:Growth,Sun,Trigger,and Dream

As the play began, Lapis found himself mesmerized by the performances in act 1.Act Two was just as good, Lapis was very surprised by Melt.

“(Is this the same guy from Sweet Today? He was ok a second ago but in this scene you really really improved)It was just like the manga” Lapis mumbled.

The crowd shared as well at the scene, who underestimated Melt but had improved for that one scene. Lapis in the audience can somehow feel his frustration in the scene, engulfing them. After that, Aqua finally made it on stage and for Akane. Lapis couldn't help but think how beautiful she was in the costume which didn't go unnoticed by Ruby and little did he know, Mawata.

“If we draw our swords, there will be bloodshed…” Akane then set up”However, there are still some things that cannot be protected without taking up arms” she then picks up a sword and raises it towards the audience”We will fight.”

“(She's amazing…I know I saw her rehearsal but… watching it all come together is…something else)”Lapis thought.

And finally came the scene with Akane and Kana.

Flashback to 2 days ago…

Akane and Aqua were taking a break from Taishi’s lessons.She sat on the couch when Lapis came into the room.

Hey, Akane! Break time!” Lapis called out as he stepped into the living room, a tall glass of iced tea in hand.

“Thanks!” Akane looked up from her notes, a slight frown on her face, trying to memorize her lines. The weight of competition hung in the air, but when Lapis placed the cold drink on her forehead playfully, her expression morphed into one of surprise, then laughter.

“Lapis-kun! mo..” She giggled, swatting him away.

“I’m just trying to help you cool off,” he grinned, enjoying the moment. The playful banter was a welcome break from the intense preparations.

“So,” Lapis began, taking a seat beside her, “what was it like meeting Kana for the first time? You talked about it briefly but you didn't go into detail”

Akane’s smile faded slightly, replaced by a contemplative expression. “I was such a huge fan back then. I idolized her. I even tried to imitate her in everything—my style, my attitude. I was so excited to finally meet her!”

“Sounds like a dream come true,” Lapis encouraged, leaning closer, genuinely curious.

“It was... at first. But then, during the audition, I found out it was just for show. They already had chosen Kana! I couldn’t believe it. I was so confused,” she continued, her tone growing serious. “I didn’t want to believe she would resort to such underhanded tactics. But then… Kana admitted it. She said it was how the industry worked and that she got more work this way.”

“Wow, I see why they say never meet your heroes” Lapis murmured, sympathetic.

“She called me an ‘ignorant brat’ and threw my hat on the floor. I felt humiliated,” Akane admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “But instead of giving up, I studied harder. I bought tons of books to understand her—her struggles, her feelings. I wanted to know the truth behind her facade.”

“I’m sorry, Akane” Lapis said softly, feeling a wave of protectiveness.

“Yeah, well,” she shrugged, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes,

Feeling the tension in the room, Lapis acted on impulse. He wrapped his arms around her in a sudden hug, pulling her close. Akane froze, a blush creeping onto her cheeks.

“W-What was that for?” she stammered, flustered.

“I just felt like it,” Lapis said, a playful smile spreading across his face.

The warmth of the moment melted away the weight of their conversation, replacing it with an intimate comfort.

Akane took a moment to process his words, the softness of his embrace contrasting sharply with the harshness of her memories. She leaned into him, relishing the warmth.

“You’re… really sweet sometimes,” she mumbled, trying to hide her embarrassment.

“I try,” he said, pulling back to meet her gaze.

She was about to attempt to kiss but Lapis noticed Aqua around the corner and blushed.

“How long have you been there, Aqua?”Lapis asks.

“Long enough” he answers.

The both of them then blush turned bright red while Aqua walked towards the fridge.

Back to the present…

Lapis for calls that while watching their scene play out on stage. The crowd was engulfed by the action.

“Beautiful…” said Ruby.

“She is” Lapis mumbles.

Just as Akane landed on the ground, something felt a bit off to Lapis about Kana but he didn't know what exactly. The play continues to be good, especially when Aqua’s character was facing off against Taiki Himekawas.Kanas' character that made an appearance but this is when Lapis noticed something was a bit off again.

“(What's going on here? That wasn't in the rehearsal whenever I saw it)” Lapis thought.

“Woman, is this the time to be playing around? Risking one's life in Mortal Kombat should be left to men.If you can't stand on the battlefield without the protection of man, leave it once” said Aqua.

“(Well...that's new)“ lapis thought.

“I-I can fight!”Kana retorts.

“With this soft body?” Aqua then felt her arms”Why don't you try building it up a bit?” he asked.

“(Huh?)” Lapis thought.

“Hey, watch it! What’re ya doin’ to a maiden’s alluring body?!” she asked.

“So you're a woman, after all.A man is someone who protects women at the risk of his own life.So, there's absolutely no way I'm going to lose” said Aqua.

“(For a minute he was off script but now he's back on it? Cool)” Lapis thought.

Suddenly,Kana became a bit more lively.

“(Her one weakness.. my brother… what if Ruby's put it together yet…)” he thought while staring at her who seemed mesmerized”(Probably not).”

“That looks fun” said Ruby.

Kanas character knocks the blade out of Aquas which gave Taikis an opportunity to land the finishing blow on him but Akane’s character steps in front of him taking the hit. Crowd Falls completely silent. Just as Taiki said as lines,Aqua let out a monstrous roar and strikes him blindly.

“(I know I overheard them for but…Emotional acting…)”Lapis thought.

The scene continues until his character is struck fatally and falls to the ground. Lapis fade close attention to the ending where Akanes' character was able to come back to life and notice the look on Aqua's face.

After the play…

Lapis waited till the others were gone to approach Akane, he then walked over to her and gave her a bunch of flowers which made her smile.

“You've probably heard it already but…you were amazing up there”said Lapis.

“Thank you..” she responds, cheerfully.

For A couple of days, Lapis would be working on music and his streams.After practice,Lapis hung out with Shinsuke and Saeko at Shinsuke’s apartment.

“So, shouldn't you be at your girlfriend's place or at least-”

“I was at the first two and the last one but she's at a after-party…If any of those guys make a move on-”

“By the way have you heard from Abiko-sensei or her fiance?”Saeko asks.

“We agreed until after the play which apparently meant until the final day.They're probably going to start working on it now.I still can't believe it, our Groups logo will be designed by Abiko-sensei and her fiance because we almost use Ai art”said Lapis.

“Come on it wouldn't have been that-”

“Yes it would’ve” they both said in unison which makes Shinsuke a bit nervous.

“Here's a question, how can we always hang at my place? Why can't we hang at Lap-”

“And have you look through my stuff or the possibility of you hitting on my sister, no way” said Lapis.

“What? I've never even seen what your sister looks like, why would I-”

“Marin told me everything.You watched her videos with MEM, and you went to one of her concerts” said Lapis.

“What the heck,Nii-san?!”Shinsuke shouts.

But he got no response which meant that she wasn't even home.

“So if my brother becomes a singer will you also-”

“Don't even finish that sentence”said Shinsuke.

Lapis then saw what time it is and decides to pack up.

“Well time to go, I promise Ruby I'd help with her homework then play some sparking zero” said Lapis.

“I have to leave as well, grandma is going to need help cooking tonight”said Saeko.

To then walk out of the apartment, then down the steps, He noticed the look on Saeko’s face and sighed.

“You want to ask about what you heard that night, don't you?”Lapis asks.

“Yes but not if it's going to ruin our friendship”said Saeko.

“Thank you for being honest.I'll tell you eventually, I haven't even told Akane what happened” said Lapis.

The two then walked in different directions, lapis ended up coming home. Him and Ruby studied and play some games but also wondered where Aqua was.

End of chapter.

Chapter 19: Private Arc:Liberation&Freedom Part I

Lapis rubbed his eyes and saw that Ruby was in the living room in her pajamas.

“What's got you up so early?” he asked while yawning.

“Aqua didn't come home last night” she answered, which made Lapis pause and look at her.

“He did what now?” Lapis asks.

“He didn't come home last night”Ruby repeats.

Just then the door opens to reveal Aqua who then noticed the both of them staring at him sternly.

“Hey, Aqua!Staying out all night is what delinquents do! I can’t believe this!” Ruby shouts.

“Are you becoming a delinquent?! Are you hanging out with one of those troublemakers from the play?! Was it Kamoshida?!” Lapis shouts.

Aqua remains silent which surprised the both of them.

“Hm, what is it?” Ruby asks.

“Nothing” he walks past Ruby”I just stayed over at Himekawa’s is all.I didn't get up to any funny business” said Aqua.

“Oh yeah, the main guy from Tokyo blade” said Lapis.

“So it was a male bonding thing- I guess that's fine” said Ruby while resting a hand on her chin with one eye open.

“Lapis already met him but I don't introduce you one of these days” said Aqua.

“Oh? You'd do that? But why?” Ruby asks.

Aqua remain silent which bothered Ruby.

“One weird brother..” she said walking away.

“Are you talking about me or Aqua?”Lapis asks.
“Yes” said Ruby.

Lapis than shakes his head but then put his attention on Aqua and walked over to him.

“So what's going on? Even for you this is a bit weird”said Lapis.

Aqua doesn't answer and with that, lapis goes to his room.

“(Something must have happened because he's acting a bit weird… I don't know what it is but something about him changed)” Lapis thought.

Just as he reached his room he forgot something and went back downstairs just as Ruby does too.

“I'm making breakfast today, want some?” Ruby asks.

“A morning where I don't have to cook? Yay!” said Lapis, playfully.

“Want some breakfast, Aqua? I'm making sunny-side-up eggs” Ruby asks.

Aqua opens the curtains, turns to the both of them, and smiles“ Yeah, sure.”

Both of their eyes go wide and utterly shocked but Lapis takes the time to take out his phone and takes a picture then looks at it”He actually smiled.”

“You saw it too?!” Ruby whispers.

Later on in the day…

Lapis,Saeko, and Shinsuke were all sitting in his apartment once more.

“I think I know what we're all thinking…We need a gimmick-”

“ That's not what I was thinking” said Lapis.

“I wasn't thinking that at all”Saeko comments.

“I mean we have a YouTube channel but we don't really post anything except for our music” said Lapis.

“We should put in content on our Channel That's not just music, look at your sister's group for example-”
“We're a rock group and there a idle group, two completely different things which are two completely different things-”

“Who says we're Rock?”Shinsuke asks.

“I've always thought that we were”said Saeko.

“He just really wants to do a collaboration with my sister’s group” Lapis whispers.

“That is absolutely true!”Shinsuke shouts.

“(He's not even trying to hide it anymore)” They both thought.

“I'm not exactly ready to be on stage nor would I feel comfortable with my face being revealed…”said Saeko.

“How about an animated video? We can pay for somebody to do the animation for us and use characters for the group, like gorillaz”said Lapis.

“That's a good idea, then when she actually feels comfortable, we can reveal ourselves..There's three of us, we should give it three characters that match our personality”Shinsuke.

“Hmm…I think I would like my character to be named Kaede.The character can wear all black and have a veil over her face”said Saeko.

“(Well that was easy)”Shinsuke and Lapis thought.

“Well I'm already Blitz5 and the character has already been made so I'm good. Which only leaves Shin…I got it, how about your character being a kaiju or a zombie or vampire?” Lapis suggest.

“I like the vampire idea so, a witch, a vampire, and a cyberpunk guitarist”said Shinsuke.

“Sounds like the beginning of a good group to me, every music video can be one of their Adventures” said Lapis.

“Get in touch with your agency and see if they can find us animators or at least someone who could draw.”

“I’,m on it” said Lapis.

The next day…

Lapis was just hanging out with aqua but we can't noticing was acting a bit weirder and weirder to his liking.While Ruby,Kana,and MEM were asking Miyako about n original song(mainly Ruby).Ruby then looked at lapis smiling from ear.

“Lapis, could you-”
“We are in different genres, I'm pretty sure I cannot come up with anything for an idol group-”
“You could try!”Ruby shouts.

“(Sighs)Listen Ruby, the songs I write are based on what I'm feeling at the time or for fun.Also I'd rather not have Kana singing one of my songs”said Lapis.

“How come?”Ruby asks.

“(I can imagine it now “Eh,I made one of your songs a big hit? Does this mean I'm better than you? Hahahaha”)Her ego is big enough” said Lapis which confused Ruby.

The next day…

Lapis was on a date with Akane, a chance to relax after Tokyo Blade. They decided to go to the Aquarium in the morning and we're having a really good time looking at all the fish.In the afternoon, they ended up at a cafe.Lapis ended up taking a picture of her drinking a latte and using a filter.

“That reminds me, I'm going to be gone for a little while” said Lapis.

“Where to?”Akane asks.

“Ruby's group is filming a music video in Miyazaki…I was coerced into going there”said Lapis.

“Ehh,By who?”Akane asks.

Flashback…

Lapis was walking down the stairs when he was confronted by Kana.

“I don't know how you said you would help me?” Kana asks.

“Well first I think we should probably change that attit-”
“I meant with Aqua.. time for you to hold up your end, Ruby has convinced him to go with us on our music video trip and you're coming with”said Kana.

“I really have more important-”
“So you're okay with the possibility of Aqua marrying CottenQueen? Your biggest rival being your sister-in-law?”Kana asks.

Lapis imagined how she would never stop bothering him, even getting her possible kids to annoy him.

Back at the present...

“So you'd rather have arrogant Kana than CottonQueen as a sister-in-law?”Akane asks.

“I can put up with only one of them.And besides, my group just waiting for an animator to call back Miyako-san.Which reminds me, I probably should buy a suitcase” said Lapis.

“Lucky you, taking a trip to Miyazaki”said Akane.

“ Don't travel much?”Lapis asks.

“Hmm, not really within Japan… but my family usually vacations overseas during the New Year holidays”said Akane.

“(I cannot say that I'm not jealous)” Lapis thought.

“I wasn't able to go on school trips due to work.So, I have never traveled within a big group that's all my age.Must be nice”said Akane.

Lapis then saw replace his hand and hers“Want to come with me?”

“Really? Could I?!” she asked.

“I'm sure it would.You could rest up after Tokyo blade, and you could be my sister which may or may not be a good thing.C’mon, you never know what our schedules will be this free(There's also something we should talk about…If she put together that Ai was my mother)” said Lapis.

“Okay” she said with a wide smile.

The sun had set while the two were walking.

“Hard to believe it's been a year and a half…So much has happened”said Akane, reminiscing.

Lapis than held her hand“That it has but it's a year I wouldn't change..There's something I want to ask but-”
“It's about what I asked you at the apartment, isn't it?”Akane asks.

Lapis' head shot up and looked at her” I knew was going to be brought up at some point. Do you know where this is?”

Lapis then looked and remember this was the bridge Akane almost committed suicide until he stopped her. She then hugged him from behind”This is where you saved me.Aqua told me as soon as you heard, you immediately went looking for me… you're really kind-hearted” She then planted a kiss on his cheek.

“I just did what anyone else would have done”said Lapis.

He turned around and placed his lips upon hers. Did the rest of their foreheads against each other”You know we don't have to go straight to my house..if you want.”

Lapis' eyes went wide and blushed” It's not that I haven't thought about that it's just…are you sure?”

Akane gave him a quick kiss to the lips”I'm very sure.”

End of chapter.

Chapter 20: Private Arc:Liberation&Freedom Part II

Notes:

This is super long but enjoy

Lapis opened his eyes to an unfamiliar room and location he turned but felt something and heard a moan. He looked to see that it was Akane, asleep, with sheets covering her. He was confused but then remembered everything yesterday and blushed.His heart raced at the sight of her—beautiful, peaceful. As if sensing his gaze, she blinked awake, her eyes brightening.

“Good morning,” she whispered, her voice soft and melodic.

Before he could respond, she leaned in and kissed him gently on the lips. A warmth spread through him, and for a moment, everything felt perfect.

After hastily finishing breakfast, they donned disguises—Lapis with a cap and sunglasses, and Akane with a chic scarf—and checked out of the hotel. They strolled through the bustling streets, heading to a nearby store to shop for suitcases. The lively atmosphere was infectious, but Lapis sensed a subtle tension in the air.

Inside the store, Lapis picked up a few suitcases while Akane browsed. He spotted a vibrant red one that caught his eye and called out to her. As he walked toward the cashier, he felt the unmistakable gaze of the clerk lingering on him.

“Hey there, cutie! Need any help?” the cashier purred, her tone flirty and inviting.

Lapis smiled politely, but a quick glance back revealed Akane with her arms crossed, her expression shifting from curiosity to irritation. She was pouting, and it made his heart race for a different reason now.

“Lapis,” she said, her voice edged with disappointment. “Are we done? I think we should just go.”

Realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. Akane was jealous. A playful smile spread across his face, but he noticed that her pout had deepened.

“Wait, are you mad?” he asked, concern creeping into his voice.

“Just a little,” she replied, her tone softening but still firm.

“I’m sorry, Akane,” he said, taking a step closer. “I didn’t mean to make you feel that way. Please forgive me?”

Akane sighs and faced him”I'll forgive you if you answer one thing for me?”

“Anything, name it”Lapis said.

“was your mother Hoshino Ai?”Akane asks.

He nodded, surprised by her directness. “Yeah, she was. I wanted to tell you when you first asked, but Aqua woke up and…” He trailed off, remembering how intense their discussions could get.

Lapis then leaned against a railing”After her death, I made a promise to look after Aqua and Ruby in her stead.It's one of the reasons I'm trying to find a way for Aqua not to do himself.He's trying to find out who our father is because he believes that he had something to do with my mother's death.He thinks I don't know but I know he pays for DNA test on people he thinks that are our father and I think he found out who it is.He started to act differently recently and is concerning I mean he's acting normal but I don't know.Maybe he's finally free”said Lapis.

Lapis glanced at her, noticing a troubled look on her face. “Are you okay?” he asked, worry creeping into his voice.

“It’s nothing…” she murmured, but he could see the unease lingering in her eyes. “I’m just feeling a bit overwhelmed. Sorry, but I think I need to head home.”
Before he could protest, she leaned in and kissed him softly on the cheek, a bittersweet gesture that left him feeling empty. He watched as she walked away, her figure fading into the bustling crowd, the warmth of their moment now overshadowed by the weight of unspoken words.

When Lapis returned home, he was met with a fiery gaze from Ruby, who stood with her arms crossed, her eyes narrowed in accusation. “Uhhh… I can explain,” he stammered, suddenly nervous under her scrutinizing look.

“Explain what?” Ruby demanded, her voice sharp.”After the other day we lectured Aqua about not staying out, you do the same thing like a delinquent?!”

“I was over it..Shin’s apartment and lost track of time watching the good episodes of vampire dormitory(Fool!Everyone knows those don't exist)”Lapis said.

“Oh, okay” said Ruby.

“(I have to trust myself a little bit more-)”

“Wait a minute-”

“(She's going to lecture me, she's going to lecture me, she's going to lecture me,)”Lapis thought.

“Then why do you have that new suitcase?” she asked, squinting at him.

“That's because after I spent the night there I went to buy a new suitcase with Akane who wants to tag along if that's okay-”

“I get to meet your girlfriend who was in Tokyo Blade?! She can come!”Ruby exclaims.
The next day…

Lapis was waiting at the train station when he sees Akane with Kana which he immediately knew that wasn't going to go well so he went over there but to his surprise she goes on the other side.

“Why is an outsider coming with us?”Kana asks.

“Aren't you the one who suggested making an R-trip out of it?”Aqua asks.

“Oh, jeez! Okay, I did, but…”

Lapis was about to say something to Akane but is pushed out of the way by Ruby who grabs her hands excitedly.

“Akane-chan in the flesh! I watched love now, you know! You're beautiful! And cute!” Ruby said excitedly.

“Oh, please…Your way, way cuter than I am,Ruby-san” said Akane, timidly.

Ruby then looked away a bit disappointed”Why someone so pretty with my brother… what does he have on you?”Ruby asks.

“Love you too sis”said Lapis,deadpan demeanor.

“I wonder the same thing about CottonQueen with Aqua” said Ruby.

“Just what kind of people do you think we are?”Aqua asks.

“My older Onii-chan made be unworthy, but treat him well for years to come”said Ruby.

“Let's hope it's not for that long”Kana comments.

“And you wonder why I don't see you as a friend”said Lapis.

“And also,uh…Akane-san…Can I call you “big sis”?!”Ruby asks.

“What?!”Akane and Lapis asks in unison.

“I've always wanted a big sister!You'll be mine anyway eventually, right?! You two’ll get married, won't you?!”Ruby asks.

“Um,well..” said Akane who then looks at Lapis.

Lapis's face was completely red, stared at her”(M-Marriage?! I mean after what we did the night…And I do love her…)Maybe? It would depend on Akane” said Lapis, nervously.

“That I think about it, I might get two big beautiful big sisters if Fuwa gets married to Aqua”said Ruby.

“What did I do to be tested like this?And I've been looking forward to this trip..”Kana mumbled.

Minutes later…

The hum of the plane’s engines filled the cabin as it soared toward Miyazaki, and Lapis Hoshino sat in his seat, glancing sideways at Akane. The two were nestled next to each other, both still feeling the warmth of their earlier conversation at the airport gate. They had been caught off guard when Ruby insisted on calling her “big sister” and then asked if she would marry Lapis. The memory made Lapis’s cheeks flush anew.

Akane fidgeted in her seat, her eyes darting to the window, though her face was still slightly pink. “I can’t believe Ruby said that,” she murmured, a shy smile creeping across her lips.

“Yeah, I was totally unprepared,” Lapis replied, chuckling nervously. “I mean, who expects to be asked that at an airport?”

Akane giggled softly, the sound lifting the lingering tension. “I didn’t think I’d get so flustered, but here we are.”

Their shared laughter brought a comfortable atmosphere, and Lapis felt grateful to have her by his side. He had been so nervous about how she’d react to Ruby’s question, but the idea of marrying her, even if it was just a playful notion for now, felt surprisingly right.

“So, um…” Akane said hesitantly, “Do you really think it could happen one day? You know, us getting married?”

Lapis met her gaze, his heart racing. “Honestly? Yeah, I can see it happening.” He smiled, feeling a mix of excitement and vulnerability. “I want to be with you, Akane. You’re special to me.”

Akane’s eyes sparkled as she took in his words, and she nodded slowly. “That means a lot to me, Lapis-kun.”

Suddenly, the voice of Mem-cho broke into their moment, leaning over the seat in front of them with an impish grin. “Well, aren’t you two just the cutest?” she teased, her eyes dancing with mischief. “Look at those black and white couple chokers! How adorable!”

Both Lapis and Akane turned crimson, their faces heating up instantly. Lapis glanced at Akane, who was now covering her face with her hands, her laughter muffled but still sweet.

“(This is going to be a long trip…But at least Fuwa isn't here..)”Lapis thought.

The group was able to enjoy taking pictures and visiting the sites but Lapis took notice of Aqua’s mellow personality. They eventually met up with a woman with long hair with pink highlights and blue eyes who was the video director,Anemone.Lapis also noticed Ruby was acting a bit weird herself.

“(I think I get where they're acting weird… we were reincarnated here)” Lapis thought.

B komachi had to leave the due to music videos which left aqua, Lapis, and Akane by themselves.

“So, what should we do? I hear that the Ama-no-Iwato of Japanese mythology is nearby.That cave that Amaterasu coped herself up in only to be Lord out by the other gods when they threw a party outside”said Akane.

“Gods, huh?” Aqua asks.

“You a fan of your cult, Aqua-kun?”Akane asks.

“You could say that.Er,well.. I think there are elements of the truth in it”said Aqua.

“That stuff's interesting, isn't it?”Akane asks, cheerfully.

“All right so-”

“There's somewhere I wanna go”said Aqua.

“Hey if there's anywhere you want to check out first, that's cool” said Lapis.

“I'm cool with going anywhere you two wanna go” said Akane.

“Where is it that you want to go-”

“The hospital” said Aqua.

Lapis then rest his hands on his brother's shoulders which made Aqua confused.

”If you weren't feeling alright, why didn't you tell us in the first place?!”Lapis shouts.

“It's not-” but he was interrupted when Akane placed a hand on his forehead.

“Do you have a stomachache? What's the medicine?”Akane asks while pulling out medicine.

“Was it something you ate earlier?”Lapis asks.

“It's not like that.The hospital where we were born is down here”said Aqua.

Aqua then noticed the two of them taking a couple selfie then went back over to him.

“I guess we can head to that hospital,Akane-chan is that okay with you?”Lapis asks.

“Yep”she reponds.

Minutes later…

They all were headed inside the front of the hospital.

“So, are your grandparents from around here or something? Like, your mother went home to give birth?”Akane asks.

Lapis and Aqua then looked at each other then back at her“Well, that's more or less right.”

“In unison!”said Akane, amazed.

“It seems MEM didn't know this was our birthplace, though”said Aqua.

“Talk about a coincidence”said Akane.

“It surprised me, too”said Aqua.

The first thing I noticed when they walk in and is that's not that many patients, they make it to the front desk where they're met by a receptionist.

“There's something I want to check real quick- I'll be right back” Said Aqua as he walked away and they sat in front of the TV.

Lapis then looked at aqua but then Akane“You see what I mean by he's acting strange?”

“It is concerning”said Akane.

He then signal for it being okay did they leave the hospital.

During their walk,Lapis and Akane exchange looks and Akane asks”What were you checking?”

“Someone I know used to work here”he answers.

The two then walk ahead of him for a minute until he stops and stares at them but then suddenly turned around.

“Huh? Where’re you going?” Akane asks.

“To go look for something. you two go ahead and wait inside”said Aqua.

“Like hell I am, I'm coming with”said Lapis.

“I'm coming too” said Akane.

They follow him into the woods with lapis making sure no branches hit Akane.

“You must have been naughty when you were little.Heading into the woods and running around the mountains is one thing, but an animal trailer like this…”said Akane.

“Be surprised, he was actually a good boy when he was little”said Lapis.

“Should be around here” said Aqua.

“What exactly are you looking for, Aqua?”Lapis asks.

Aqua then stops by a cliff and looks at them”Hypothetically speaking, do either of you think the corpse of a pet that got lost here around 15 years ago could be found?”

“I honestly don't know”said Lapis.

”Hmm, if it had been buried, bones could probably be found. But if it was exposed to the elements, wild animals would likely have devoured and Scattered the remains so it'd be tough”said Akane.

“(Why is he asking about… hold on a minute,When we were in the hospital he was asking about someone,He said he knew someone here but we haven't been here since we were born….15 years ago we would have been…. Aqua, were you from here? Is this where you died?)”Lapis thought.

Lapis wanted to ask him but remembered Akane was with them and decided to hold off on it.The three then made their way so what seem to be a rundown house.

“Sorry for dragging the both of you all over”said Aqua.

“Nah, we both agreed to go wherever you wanted”said Lapis.

“Besides, I'm just tagging along”said Akane.

“So where are we now?”Lapis asks.

“This is the last spot.The house of someone I know”said Aqua.

He struggles to get the door open but is able to and they walk in.

“This place seems rather abandoned”said Lapis.

“The former residence are all deceased and no one lives here now”said Aqua.

One of the first things they notice is the sign that has the name Amamiya.

“Must be someone important to you if you've come all this way out here.Who were they?”Akane asks.

“Gorou Amamiya, he never had a mother, Obstetric hemorrhage...She hit her pregnancy from her parents and gave birth on her own at home, but she lost too much blood.By the time the ambulance arrived, it was too late.With the boys father being unknown, he was placed into the care of his grandparents.It seems was a rather strained situation.His relationship with his grandma wasn't bad but it was a different story with his grandpa.He never managed to get over his guilt at having been born at the expense of his mother's life.Even when he decided to go to medical school…And truth you wanted to be a surgeon.He thought the doctor and his favorite book was cool, he admired him.In the end, he was a guy who's only redeeming quality was adapting his life to fit in with others.Even after becoming a doctor, he was powerless…”said Aqua.

“(Aqua…)”Lapis thought.

“We should probably see how the others are doing”said Aqua.

As he walked out of the house, Lapis then went to his phone and sent a text.

Aqua's phone then buzzed and he looked to see what it was. His eyes then went wide and look back at lapis who had a somber smile on his face. Aqua then turned and walked out of the place with those two falling behind.

“Who did you text?”Akane asks.

“Shin…An idea on a new song”said Lapis.

End of chapter.

Chapter 21: Private Arc:Discovery

Notes:

Chapter 21, I would like to clarify that Lapis is just being a good Big Brother…that being said, I am not a Aqua and Ruby shipper because they're still an age gap and the big red flag of them being siblings.

Enjoy

The three both end up at where they were shooting their music video.They walk over to Mem-cho sitting in a chair.

“Yo” said Aqua.

“Welcome back”said Mem-cho.

“Filming going okay?”Aqua asks.

“Ruby and Kana-chan are almost done filming their drama parts, and now we're gonna shoot The Dance Part”Mem-cho informs them.

“Hm? You haven't filmed yet,Mem?”Lapis asks.

“Yeah, I can wait till later” she answers.

“Why’s that?” Aqua and Lapis asks in unison.

Mem-cho chuckles“Because minors are banned from working past 10 p.m.! And I, far from being a minor, I can feel late Into the Night!” said Mem-cho, dramatically.

“Sorry for asking” said Aqua and Lapis in unison yet again.

She then walks away laughing methodically.

“Seems you did a fair bit of sightseeing”said Kana.

The three then turn in her direction it's all that she was in a unique costume.

“Pretty nice costume, isn't it?We all discussed the design before deciding it.It screams idle and Ruby surely likes-”

Akane then stepped in front of them with the shadows of her hair covering her eyes”It's all wrong.”

“I probably should see this coming(Please don't let them get into another fight, maybe she'll say something-)”

“Come here for a second”said Akane.
Kana nervously goes over to where”What is it?”

Akane fixes her costume to the shock of Lapis.

“What’re you thinking putting on your Ribbon so slowly? You might want to show off with a slim waist, but tightening your belt too much causes wrinkles.You've got dust here, too.It'll cause trouble for the Wardrobe staff, so don't walk around so much”said Akane.

“(It's like a mom making sure her daughter is ready)” lapis thought.

“So is this okay, then?”Kana asks.

“I suppose… it gets a passing mark”Akane answers.

“Go out there and make Papa proud” said Lapis.

“Ye-wait papa? I ‘m older th-argh,whatever.What do you think Aqua? Am I cute? ”Kana asks.

Aqua had a wide eye expression painted on his face“Well, I'd say you get a passing mark-”

“Just be honest and praise me, you guys! Lapis,what do you think?”Kana asks.

“If you ask me, I'd say you get a passing-”

 

“Never mind!”Kana shouts.

While they were taking photos along with Akane, Aqua walked up to Lapis and whispered”So you put it together, huh?”

“Akane doesn't know about our little secret.When I heard you ask about the name I was already suspicious but then you took us to your old house, going over details about your old life, it wasn't that hard to put together…Aqua, I meant what I said in the text… if you want to talk about your past life, you can”Lapis whispers.

Before Aqua could respond,Ruby signals for them to come over and get in one of the pictures. After which I went back to rehearsing as Aqua,Lapis,and Akane watch.

“Kana-chan really is an idol,huh?”Akane asks.

“Yeah, I guess so”said Aqua.

“I figured out why Kana-chan’s acting improved.She's constantly screaming” look at me.”And if someone's yelling out, you end up looking at them.I can't really say since I'm not familiar with idols, but do you think Kana-chan will become successful?”Akane asks.

“I can't say for sure, Aqua?”Lapis asks.

“She will”said Aqua.

“I see…You can't be going on any more dates with her, then.It’s not fair to Fuwa-san”said Akane.

Aqua then looks at Akane with wide eyes.

“She bragged about it, you know.She said she went to a Brazilian BBQ place with you.It's not an issue since she's now well-known, but she's going to attract more and more attention.And then, she absolutely can't be seen dining with a guy in public”said Akane.

“This will also affect you.Cheating is wrong,Aqua.Do I have to show you school days to show you what could happen?”Lapis asks.

“For idols, a single storm of criticism can be a fatal wound.Actors are a bit more LAX about the stuff, so the guy should be watching out for her”said Akane.

“Good points.I showed a lack of awareness”said Aqua.

“Lapis-kun, what is school days?”Akane asks.

“It's this terrible anime where the guy basically cheated on his girlfriend with his best friend and then cheated on her with her best friend and then cheated on her with the entire School.It's painfully bad”said Lapis.

“Maybe we can watch it together”said Akane.

“I mean it's bad but if you want to see it, okay”said Lapis.

“Okay, time for the miners to head back to the inn.You're an adult,MEM, so stay behind.I mean, you're 18, right?-”

“(Poor MEM,this lady ain’t holding back)”Lapis thought.

“I'd love to room with “Big sis”Akane tonight!”said Ruby as she hugged Akane.

A concerned Akane then looked at Lapis who sighed and smiles.

“Oh? Fine by me”said Akane.

“I'm gonna observe a bit more, you two look after Ruby”said Aqua.

“Yeah, yeah, don't stay up too long.I will come back here and come get you” said Lapis, waving his hand.

“(Lapis-kun really cares for his siblings)”Akane thought.

“Ka..”Lapis begin to say but then saw her staring at Aqua,Lapis shrugs walks out with Akane and Ruby.

As the three walked out of the studio, Ruby was singing about a sleepover until she sees a crow and kneels down near it.

“How cute” said Ruby.

‘That's dangerous” Akane warns.

“Maybe you should come over here-”

“You know how the kanji for night blindness is” bird-eye”? At night, Birds can't see at all” said Ruby.

“No, that's not right! You're thinking of chickens”said Akane.

The crow then took something out of Ruby's hands and begin to fly off.

“You stinkin’ crow! I'll gonna Grill and skewer you!” Ruby shouts, angrily.

“I was trying to warn you…”said Akane.

“This is the second funniest thing I've seen a bird take from someone”said Lapis, snickering.

“What was the first?”Akane asks.

“Oh, Shin’s sister invited me to a beach and a bird stole a burger from her…good times”said Lapis.

“Hold it!” Ruby shouts running after the crow.

“Wait for us!”Lapis shouts running after her along with Akane.

They follow it all the way till it stopped in a tree.

“Dammit.That birds provoking me, I'll catch that darn thing!” said Ruby.

“You don't need to capture it, just need to get the key out of its beak”said Lapis.

“Why don't we just apologize to the innkeeper? We'll get lost out here”said a concerned Akane.

“It'll be alright! I'm somewhat familiar with the area”said Ruby.

“Really?”Akane asks.

Ruby realize what she had said as did Lapis who then sighes and turn to Akane”We were born around here and sometimes we were passed by in the car. Our conversation earlier?”

“O-h she knows?” Ruby asks.

“You three were born at the hospital on the hill, right?”Akane asks.

“Yeah” Ruby answers.

“Aqua said he had a personal attendant to the place”said Akane.

“I see…That place is important to me, too”said Ruby.

“Same here(It's the hospital where I died)”said Lapis.

The three continued to follow the crow using the flashlights on your phones.

“Oh,I know!Why don't you join B komachi too,Akane-chan?”Ruby asks.

“Uhh, I don't like that idea”said Lapis.

“Well, I wasn't asking you “Ruby retorts.

“ No, I don't know about that…I'm quite hopeless outside of my specialty, which even made things tough on that reality show…On the other hand, are you interested in acting?”Akane asks.

Ruby then stopped and turned“Actually…I am a bit.”
Akane’s eyes light up”Is that right?! I'd be happy to teach you if you like!”

“Oh, that's great! But, I'm thinking that's after I give my all to being an idol.Someday, I'll have a concert in the dome! And I'll become an idol who's a household name! And then…Hey, how big of an age Gap would you be okay with?” Ruby asks, nervously.

This caught the attention of Lapis who is a bit head but then immediately walked back over to them.

“It's a person's mental age that's important, so a gap of 10 or so years would be fin-”

“Ruby, I say this is a brother who cares.If that man is in his twenties or older, I'm calling the cops or beating the crap out of him…”said Lapis.

“But-”
“No buts.Miyako would have a heart attack if she heard you talking like this.I don't even want to think of what Aqua would think.Also I thought we all agreed, you should stay away from dating for a while-”

“You and Aqua agreed to that!”Ruby retorts.

“Unbelievable..”Lapis sighs.

As he walks up,Akane whispers”You must like someone who's nowhere close to your age, huh?”

“Yep” said Ruby.

“What’re they like?” Akane asks.

“He's super kind! When I was all alone, he stayed by my side, and always encouraged me.If it wasn't for sensei, I wouldn't have had such a will to live.I never would have thought of becoming an idol…He's the one who gave me a reason to live.”

“I get it… it's nice to have someone you love, huh? (It's how I feel about Lapis)”said Akane.

“A bit of an age Gap doesn't matter!”Ruby shouts.

“When they're a year or two older than you!”Lapis shouts.

“Really go after him.I'll help out if you like!”Akane whisper shouts.

“I don't know where he is right now, though” said Ruby.
“You don't?”Akane asks.

“Apparently, he suddenly vanished from his workplace and went missing.It all likelihood, he just fled from some lady troubles, though!” said Ruby.

“Huh?You're okay with a guy like that?”Akane asks, nervously.

“He was such a tease! No matter how many times I said,”I love you! Let's get married!” he was evasive!” said Ruby.

“(Note to self, what aqua know about this guy Ruby has a thing for.The more I hear about him, the more I want to kick his ass or kill him)” Lapis thought.

“Even so, that's fine”said Ruby.

The crows then begin the chirp and went behind a mini shrine.

“There's a space between this little shrine.Must have your nest back there! I've cornered you now!” said Ruby.

“And thus, Ruby versus Crow Arc comes to a satisfying end”Lapis jokes while following her.

“What? You're both going inside?”Akane asks.

“I'm way too curious to see how she gets it out of its mouth” said Lapis.

They walk until they see remains and their eyes widen.

“Let's head back,guys.There's a dead body…In here” Akane then takes a closer look”A white coat… were they a doctor?”.

“We should probably report it…If they're missing from the hospital-”

“No…It can't be…After all, sensei is…” Ruby mumbled.

“Ruby?” Lapis asks.

End of chapter.

Chapter 22: Private Arc:Responsability&Wish

Notes:

Hey everyone, chapter 22 is out but don't worry.This is not ending at 30 because I intend to extend this a bit further at least till the manga’s ending which the reception has been… mixed but enjoy chapter 22

After reporting the body to the police, everyone involved was interviewed. Lapis stayed with Akane until he received a text from Aqua, asking to meet. During their walk, Lapis appeared somewhat troubled and turned to Akane.

“Sorry.You never would have had this awful experience if I hadn't invited you”said Lapis.

“Why are you apologizing?It's not your fault, Lapis-kun” Akane reassured.

“(To think that it was Aqua’s previous…Why was he buried back there and who could have done this?)” Lapis thought.

They met Aqua, and after a brief exchange, the three sat to discuss what had happened.

“I'm sorry you two had to-”Aqua began.

“You really don't have to apologize” Lapis Interrupted.

“I'm sure that either of you didn't wanna see… something so decayed and grotesque.My apologies, I'm truly sorry”Aqua said solemnly.

In frustration,Lapis scratches the back of his head“Trying to shoulder everything on your own again.”

Akane then stood up and walked in front of both of them”Are you to blame for everything? Is it your fault if you can't protect anything and everything?That's not right.The police officer was saying… that was likely the body of a murder victim.In that case, it's obviously the murderer who's at fault.Why must you bear the responsibility for that, Aqua-kun? That's just wrong!”

“Akane-chan…”Lapis whispered.

“Maybe… that's true” Aqua admitted.

“It is!”Akane insisted.

Aqua looked down, his voice softening. “Still... I was counting on you.”

“What?” Lapis asked, surprised.

“I thought Akane would be the one to find the body. I fed you information, subtly pushed you. I thought it would be easier if it stayed hidden, because at this point, it had nothing to do with me. In fact, I must have convinced myself it’d be better that way. But, deep down, I wanted someone to find it. Akane... thank you for discovering it,” Aqua said, bowing his head.

“I see, that man was your...” Akane hesitated “I didn’t do anything. We just stumbled upon it.”

“Even so, I led you into doing it.I've been using you the whole time,Akane.With regard to our father, and to that corpse…And lots of other stuff, too.I did the same with you Lapis…I'm sorry.All this time…” Aqua confessed.

“Akane, could you leave me and Aqua alone for a minute?”Lapis asks gently.

Akane nods and walks far enough away where she couldn't hear their conversation.

“What's going on with you? I noticed this for a while now but… you've been acting differently after-”

“My revenge is over now and the corpse has been found.It turns out we have a half brother,Taiki Himekawa.He told me our father along with his wife committed suicide…”said Aqua.

Lapis was stunned and couldn’t find words, so instead, he wrapped an arm around Aqua. “Feeling lost is okay. I’m here for you, and Ruby.”

Aqua nodded and turned back toward the inn. Moments later, Akane arrived, immediately noticing Aqua’s absence and the conflicted look on Lapis’ face.

“Is everything okay?” she asked, concern lacing her voice.

Lapis hesitated. (Should I tell her about Aqua wanting to give up on revenge? But how? It’s not like I can just say— ‘Oh, by the way, Aqua illegally got DNA samples from one of the guys in the play and found out he's our half-brother.’)

Before he could respond, Akane gave him a sad smile, her voice trembling. “I get it. I know what’s coming. You’re better off without me, aren’t you?” Her breath hitched as tears welled up in her eyes. “This is… harder than I thought. I figured this trip would give us a chance to have a real talk.” She turned away, her shoulders shaking. “I thought we’d be able to part happily, but now… I didn’t expect to end up crying.”

Lapis’ head snapped up at her words. Seeing her smile through her tears made his chest ache.

“Akane, what are you saying—”

She let out a shaky breath. “You and Aqua… you were talking about us, weren’t you? About how you'd be happier without—”

Before she could finish, Lapis turned her around and gently wiped her tears away. His voice was firm but tender. “I’m not breaking up with you.” He cupped her face, meeting her gaze with unwavering certainty. “I know I said it before, but I’ll say it again—Akane, I love you.”

Her breath caught in her throat as Lapis leaned down, pressing his lips softly to hers. Akane melted into the kiss, her hands resting on his face, holding onto him as if anchoring herself in the moment. When they finally broke apart for air, they rested their foreheads together, hearts pounding in sync.

“This doesn’t end unless you say so,” Lapis whispered.

Akane sniffled, then let out a soft laugh. “The way I love you… it makes me want to kiss you and do… other things.” Her cheeks burned, but she didn’t look away. “I want to be with you forever.”

Lapis smiled, his fingers lacing through hers. “If that’s the case…” He took a steadying breath before asking, “Why don’t we get married?”

Akane’s eyes widened in shock, and Lapis quickly averted his gaze, suddenly embarrassed. “I don’t mean right now! I’m still in school. And Miyako and Ruby would definitely have something to say—though Ruby might actually be happy about it. But if you need time to think, that’s okay—”

“Okay.” Akane’s voice was barely above a whisper. She blushed, looking down before adding, “B-but… when I turn 18.”

Lapis stared at her, searching her face for any hesitation. When he found none, his heart swelled.

They returned to the inn, parting ways for the night. Later, Lapis found himself sitting alone in a dimly lit hallway, the muffled sounds of the hot spring echoing behind the wooden walls. The flickering glow of a small lamp cast long shadows around him.

It had been a long day—comforting Ruby, processing Aqua’s revelations, and now, this moment with Akane. And yet, despite everything, a lingering feeling tugged at the edge of his mind.

Something still felt incomplete.

He stepped outside and sighed. A crow’s caw caught his attention. From the shadows of a nearby tree, a small figure emerged: a young girl dressed in a black and white school uniform with unnaturally shimmering white hair and wide, unsettling eyes. She smiled, her expression almost mocking.

Lapis took a cautious step back. “Hey, little girl... are you lost? Do you know where your parents are?”

Her smile grew. “Curious about the doctor’s past, aren’t you, Mister?” she said in a sing-song voice.

Lapis froze. (How did she know?)

“What do you mean? Who are you?” he asked, his voice barely steady.

“Long ago,” she whispered, “a famous idol gave birth here in secrecy. The doctor attending her disappeared the day she gave birth.”
Lapis’ heart raced. (Was she talking about Ai? Our mother? And Aqua was the doctor who was suppose to deliver us?)

“Yes,” she said, stepping closer, her voice sweet yet foreboding. “The doctor’s disappearance coincided with that day. Something strange happened.”

“If that’s true, it must have been someone from the hospital... someone acting out of character,” Lapis said, voice shaking.

“Very clever,” the girl replied. “I heard there were shady men around the hospital. One a college student, the other a middle school boy.”

Lapis’ pulse quickened as flashes of the one who killed Ai came to mind. “The college student killed our mother, but the boy? What was his role?”

The girl’s eyes dimmed momentarily. “Who knows?”

Clenching his fists, Lapis vowed, “If he tries to harm Ruby or Aqua... then...”

“Then?” she echoed.

“I’ll find a way to bring him to justice. Killing him would only let him escape,” Lapis said.

The girl’s smile widened, eyes glistening. “Interesting. Maybe I’ll have better luck with the other one.”

Before Lapis could question her, crows surrounded him, obscuring his vision. When he looked again, she was gone.

“Who was she?” he whispered.

The next day,B Komachi was finishing up filming.Lapis wanted to talk to Aqua but couldn't find him for some reason.Instead, he spent most of the day by himself.Late at night, he was on the boys side of the hot springs.

(If she meant Ruby when she said ‘the other one,’ I can’t let her get hurt... If protecting them means...)

He put a hand over his eyes, recalling his conversation with Aqua. (I have to protect them.)

The stars in his eyes turned black for just a second(I made a promise to our mother..I'll do everything I can to protect them but if it means to kill someone…then I'll pay that price instead of them if it comes to that.)

On the Women’s side of the hot spring…

Akane was relaxing alone in the spring, her mind still thinking of everything that happened on this trip. Her mind and thought of everything that Lapis said the other day.She blushed and submerged herself slowly into the water.

“(Guess that means we're engaged… no longer cast members on a show…Ruby already sees me as a sister…)” Akane thought.

Her thoughts are interrupted when she sees Kana coming out, towel over her shoulder”Your face is red.”

“You better get out before you start feeling faint”said Kana as she sat down in the spring.

“Yeah, maybe I am getting a bit dizzy.I get the feeling I was thinking about something important…But I fell into a daze and stopped caring about anything”said Akane.

“Well, that's fine at a time like this, isn't it? I heard, you know.You’re gonna star in a new movie, right? You've made it big” said Kana looking away.

“It’s not a big deal. It won’t be in many theaters,” Akane said, brushing it off.

“Don't speak of a film in terms of its distribution! It's an impressive accomplishment as it is”Kana then place the towel above her eyes”I envy you.”

Akane was astonished to hear those words coming out of Kana.

“This is an important time for you.The future of Kurokawa Akane rest on whether you can ride this wave…And yet you tagged Along on this trip…How long are you and Lapis gonna keep up this reality dating show Act? Between you two and-”

“It's no longer a reality-dating Romance”said Akane.

Kana’s eyes widen and slowly turn to her which made the towel on her head fall off.

“W-well, good for you too(I just thought it was an act this entire time like Aqua’s… there goes trying to help him out)”said Kana,nervously.

“I really have gotten dizzy! I'm gonna get out now” said Akane.

She quickly gets out of the water, changed into a robe, and when she walks out to see Lapis walking outside the men's spring who turns and sees her.

“Heading back?” Lapis asked.

Akane nodded. “Are you?”

“Yeah. Akane, can you do something for me?” Lapis hesitated.

“Anything,” she said.

“If Ruby says anything strange or mentions... just make sure she’s okay.”

“Of course. She’s my future sister-in-law, after all,” Akane said with a smile, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek before heading to her room.

The next morning...

The entire group went to a local shrine,Lapis yawned as it was early in the morning.

“Oh, this’s that one for Performing Arts…”said Kana.

“Yep,Aratate Shrine”said Mem-cho.

Kana walks over to some of the wishes“Lots of the ema feature wishes to become an actor.”

“They say striking the wooden board with a mallet has the same effect as offering a prayer!”Mem-cho added, striking a wooden board for luck.”Hey, since we're here, we might as well go make a wish.”

“Yeah” Aqua agreed.

One by one, they all made wishes.

“(I hope we all become successful)”Mem-cho thought.

“(I hope none of my entertainers cause any incidents)”Miyako thought.

“(I hope to become better at acting)”Akane thought.

“(I hope to make it big in short order)”Kana thought as she opened her eyes”(I hope that Aqua…)”

“(Quickly find the guy responsible for Mom and sensei's deaths)”Ruby thought as she opened her eyes.

“(I hope for the success of my group, my relationship with Akane, and the safety of my family)”Lapis thought.

End of chapter.

Chapter 23: Mainstay Arc:Request,Accidents,Avoiding

Half a year has passed since B Komachi filmed their music video.Lapis, Aqua, and Ruby on a second year High School students while Akane and Kana have moved on to their third year.Over half that year, lapis' group soulless logo had its first animated video and it got really good views and even did a live concert which was their group to bigger.Also during that time Akane had been busy filming several Tv dramas while waiting for her first lead role in a film.

With Lapis…

Lapis and his friends were in the mess to practice but noticed Shinsuke seemed aloof and stop playing which caught the attention of him and Saeko.

“What's wrong Lapis?”Shinsuke asks.

“That should be my line to you”Lapis then points at him”You've been acting weird lately.”

Saeko placed a finger on her chin“ I've noticed it too. He hasn't complained in a while, he hasn't asked for a collab, and he even stop asking about going over one of our houses.”

“I think we both have come to the same conclusion…Shinsuke must have been abducted by aliens and swapped out with this imposter”said Lapis playfully.

“That or perhaps-”

“It's none of that! I just…have a crush on a girl” said Shinsuke.

The two then stared blankly at Shinsuke“That's it?”

“Don't make it sound so boring!” Shinsuke turned away” We've hung out a couple of times but I don't know how to ask her, you know? And who knows she’s seeing someone.”

Lapis smiles and wraps an arm around his neck”Seeing as though this is affecting your time for us, we're going to help you.”

“We are?”Saeko asks.

“We are.So who is this girl?”Lapis asks.

Shinsuke blushes and looks away“ She hangs with your sister in class, Kotobuki Minami.”

“Then this should be easy” said Lapis cheerfully.

“If it's that easy, maybe you can solve our crisis” said Saeko.

She then brought over a phone to him and his eyes widened when he saw all the fan messages on their Channel about another live concert.

“Huh?”Lapis utters.

“Since our video and first concert did really well, they've been requesting us to do yet another live concert as the characters in different areas.I think it's to the point where if we don't say something or do anything, we might lose fans”said Saeko.

Few minutes later…

“Miyaemoon! Hurry up and set up another concert for us!”Lapis whines.

Miyako stares at him then goes back to the computer“For a second I thought you were Ruby.But yeah, I've seen some of your fans messages.I'm working on getting you another concert after B komachi’s upcoming one.Till then, keep working on music.”

“Fiinne”Lapis then looks around and sees no Ruby,Mem-cho orKana”Where are those three?”

“Just missed them”Miyako answered.

Lapis looks around”I see.”

Minutes later in his room…

Lapis was on the phone with Akane while strumming his guitar.

“Also, the sound guy scolds us more than the director.I was so scared”said Akane.

“I did hear about that from Aqua that those guys are more strict”Lapis chuckles.

“There's so many things I want to complain about”said Akane.

Lapis deeply sighed”Same here.Ruby's been acting different ever since we came back filming their music video.She's not the only one since Kana also has been different ever since..”

Flashback…

Lapis was going to lunch with Saeko and Shinsuke when he saw Kana who gave him a look. he then told his two bandmates that he would catch up with them, leaving those two alone in the hallway.

“Something wrong-”

“Aqua told me he's going to start seeing Mawata for real”said Kana.

Lapis eyes widen then look to see the sorrowful look on her face and gets out of the chair.

Lapis sighs”C’mon, you're having lunch with me and my friends.”

Kana looked at him“I thought we weren't friends-”

“Well, now we are” Lapis walked a couple of steps and looks back”Besides, you're not giving up are you?”

Kana smirks and walks with him.

Back to the present…

“Shin liked her but I almost thought Saeko was going to kill her. Anyway, when's the next time you'll be free?”Lapis asks.

“Hmmm…I may have an opening on that 23rd and 29th”said Lapis.

“You're really getting busy, huh? Guess that's to be expected when you're cast for a drama”said Lapis.

“Lapis-kun..I really want to see you soon”Akane giggles.

“I do too”said Lapis.

Next day…

The school bell at Youtou High chimed softly, signaling the end of lunch. Students began to disperse, but a small group remained near the back corner of the courtyard.Lapis was behind a very nervous Shinsuke with Saeko, with her hauntingly calm demeanor, watched with mild interest, her dark eyes unreadable.

“Listen,” Lapis said, placing a firm hand on Shinsuke’s shoulder. “You’re part of a band that’s done really well. You have nothing to be nervous about.” His voice was steady, filled with a quiet conviction that managed to soothe most people.

Saeko, on the other hand, tilted her head slightly, her monotone voice cutting through the encouragement. “She’s a gravure model who’s most likely been around plenty of handsome gentlemen.” The corners of her mouth barely twitched, perhaps the closest she ever came to a smirk.

Shinsuke’s eyes widened, a bead of sweat trickling down his temple. He glanced nervously toward the group of girls a few meters away, where Minami Kotobuki stood chatting with friends. Her pink hair shimmered under the midday sun, falling gracefully just past her shoulders. The purplish-pink eyes and confident posture spoke volumes about her experience and poise, yet there was an unmistakable softness in the way she laughed that made Shinsuke’s heart flutter.

Lapis shot a glare at Saeko, who only shrugged indifferently. “Don’t listen to her,” he said, giving Shinsuke a light push forward. “Go.”

Shinsuke took a deep breath, each step toward Minami heavier than the last. As he neared, she looked up, her eyes brightening when she recognized him.

“Hello there,” Minami said in her charming Kansai dialect.

“H-Hi,” Shinsuke stammered, his voice cracking. He clenched his fists to steady himself. “K-Kotobuki-san,I was wondering… if you’d like to go on a date with me sometime.”

There was a pause, and Shinsuke could swear he heard his heart pounding louder than the chatter around them. But then, Minami’s eyes softened, a shy smile spreading across her face.

“I’d love to,” she admitted, a delicate pink blush coloring her cheeks. “I think you’re cute.”

Shinsuke’s mouth fell open for a moment before he gathered himself enough to exchange contact info. He stumbled back to his friends, where Lapis was grinning triumphantly and Saeko looked slightly less disinterested than usual.

“She said yes!” Shinsuke beamed, eyes wide in disbelief.

Saeko sighed, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a crisp thousand-yen bill. She handed it to Lapis without a word, her expression as neutral as ever.
Lapis smirked, slipping the yen into his wallet. “Told you,” he said. Then, turning back to Shinsuke, he added, “Oh, Hana-chan and I had a bet. If she said yes, she’d give me a thousand yen and invite us to her place for once.”

Saeko gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. “Fine,” she murmured, a hint of challenge in her eyes. “But you’re all doing the cooking.”

Lapis smirks”That's fine with me”Lapis then looks at his phone and see he's got a message from Cottonqueen.

“I'm going to be a little late to rehearsal”said Lapis.

After School…

The evening sun cast a warm glow across the park, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. Lapis sat on a weathered bench, stretching his legs and running a hand through his bluish purple hair as he scanned the peaceful scenery. The laughter of children playing echoed around him, but his mind was elsewhere. He glanced at his phone—no new messages from Akane. She had rehearsal, and he knew she’d text as soon as she could, but the wait still felt like hours.

A familiar figure approached from the far side of the park, breaking his reverie. Mawata Fuwa. She moved with her usual air of confidence, but Lapis’s jaw tightened as she neared. This wasn’t exactly the face he wanted to see today.

“You wanted to meet here?” Lapis’s voice carried a sharp edge. “There a reason you’ve been avoiding my calls or messing with my streams?”

Mawata shifted her gaze, crossing her arms as if bracing herself. “Blitz5, since I started seeing Aqua for real, I had to distance myself.”

Lapis blinked, confusion etching across his features. The revelation felt like a stone dropping into a still pond, disrupting his composure. “ This is how our rivalry ends? I always imagined a final showdown, some epic battle over a game controller or something.”

Mawata’s lips twitched in the shadow of a smile. “Is that really what you thought it would be?”

Lapis smirked “Yep. So stop using my brother.This prank is going on far too long.”

Mawata’s eyes narrowed, a hint of vulnerability breaking through her confident façade. “I was never using him for a prank,Bli-Lapis. I was using him to… make you jealous.”

Lapis’s eyes widened, the playful mask he wore slipping away as he processed her words. She stepped closer, so close he could see the faint blush on her cheeks and the stubborn glint in her eyes.

“I did hate you, you know,” she continued, voice softer now. “I thought I did, at least. But then I saw your face reveal… and I found you hot as hell.” She confesses “When Aqua told me how real things were with Akane, it finally hit me.I wasn't going to win you over.Aqua and I talked, one thing led to another, and now here we are.Goodbye,Lapis.”

Before he could speak, she spun on her heel, walking away with a deliberate stride, leaving Lapis stunned.Later he went to B komachi’s concert. Not many of the fans could tell but he was able to pick up there was something off about their performance.

After the concert…

He shook his head, trying to push aside the swirling thoughts of Mawata’s confession. The weight of her words clung to him like a stubborn shadow. As the audience began to disperse and chatter filled the space, Miyako’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

“Lapis! Can you check on the girls? They’re taking forever, and we need to get going.”

Lapis nodded and headed down the backstage hallway. The quiet murmur of crew members and the faint sound of equipment being packed up filled the air. His mind kept drifting back to Mawata’s revelation, how her voice had trembled when she said she found him attractive, and how strange it felt to be caught between rivalry and something else entirely.
He was so lost in thought that he didn’t notice the figure rounding the corner until it collided with him. A flash of blonde hair and wide eyes filled his vision as Mem-cho stumbled against him, and before he knew it, their lips brushed together in an accidental, stunned kiss.

Time seemed to freeze for a heartbeat. Lapis’s eyes widened as he pulled back, his face heating up like wildfire. Mem-cho’s expression was a mix of shock and embarrassment, her mouth open as if to speak, but before she could utter a word, Lapis turned on his heel and bolted down the hallway.

His heart pounded as he fumbled for his phone, dialing Akane’s number with shaky fingers. She picked up on the second ring.

Lapis? What’s wrong?” Akane’s calm voice cut through his chaotic thoughts like a lifeline.

“I—Akane, something happened. It was an accident, I swear. Mem-cho tripped, and we—our lips touched. Just for a second. It was nothing, but I needed to tell you right away,” he blurted, his words rushing out in a jumble.

There was a moment of silence on the line, and he held his breath.

“I see…” Akane’s voice held a note of confusion, but also understanding. “You’re sure it was an accident?”

“Positive,” Lapis said, the tension in his chest easing slightly. “I wouldn’t lie to you, Akane.”

There was a soft exhale from the other side of the line, then a small laugh. “You’re so dramatic sometimes, Lapis. It’s fine. Thank you for telling me.”

Relief washed over him, and he leaned against the hallway wall, finally allowing himself a moment to breathe. “I’m glad you understand. I… didn’t know what I’d do if you were upset.”

“I’m not. But maybe you should talk to Mem-cho and make sure she’s okay, too.”

Lapis smiled, a small, genuine one this time. “Yeah, I will. Thanks, Akane.”

As he hung up, the weight in his chest began to lift.

During the ride, it was kind of silent.

Lapis turn to Ruby”They're doing a marathon on our favorite series, why don't we-” He stopped when you noticed she wasn't paying attention it was looking on her phone.

“Huh,Aqu-tan wasn't here today?”Mem-cho asks.

Lapis eyes widen and look that Kana”(Oh no, she brought up the a word…crap baskets).”

“”Dig Deep! One chance” is filming today.Three episodes will be at the same time, so rescheduling is out of the question”said Miyako.

“Miyako-san,I've got something to take care of.So drop me off at Ebisu”said Kana.

“Sure”said Miyako.

As she got out,Lapis sighed”I'm going to get out of here too, see you guys at home.”

Lapis and when he turned he saw Mem-cho.

“Why did you get out?”Lapis asks.

Uhmm…My mom's house is not far fro-”Mem-cho begin to say but notice the look on Lapis.

Lapis looked at her suspiciously(Stare…).

Mem-cho sighed”Mo..ok,I’m about Kana-chan.”

Lapis then walked ahead“Well she didn't go far, let's go.”

They both then walked until they saw Kana sitting on the stairs to a building. Kana then noticed the both of them.

“What's wrong?”Mem-cho asks.

“Mem..Lapis…”said Kana.

“It's about Aqua isn't it?”Lapis asks.

“I get it.It's frustrating” Mem-cho comments.

Kana remain silent for a few minutes”When I show up to the agency office, he hides in his room.Today… he didn't even show up to our concert.”

“That's because he's busy too”Mem-cho, nervously.

“NO! HE’S DEFINITELY AVOIDING ME!”Kana shouts,tearfully.

“I-”

“SINCE HE STARTED DATING FUWA MAWATA,HE PROBABLY THINKS HAVING OTHER GIRLS IS BAD!”Kana shouts.

“(I don't think that's the reason at all,Kana is an idol but he saw what happened to our mother and probably doesn't want the same thing that happened to her)”Lapis thought.

“To be honest, guys like that put girlfriends at ease.I know she's talented, beautiful, has a good personality-”

“Two out of three”Lapis comments.

“Even though I'm okay with their relationship…even though Aqua didn't do anything wrong…He doesn't have to go out of his way to avoid me! it hurts, idiooot!”Kana shouts crying.

Mem-cho and Lapis try to calm her down especially with bystanders watching, they bring her to her apartment and Mem-cho made sure she was asleep.

She exits the bedroom and looks at lapis sternly”Do you know when Aqu-tan will done filming?”

Lapis sighs”Yeah but hear me out.He probably didn't explain it but having any type of connection to the same sex is bad for an idol group, especially when they're on the rise.I'll talk to him about it.”

Mem-cho gave him a deadpan look“Either we both go talk to him or we could talk about the kiss-”

“I'll get him on the phone right now” said Lapis, phone already up to his ear.

End of Chapter.

Chapter 24: Mainstay Arc:Aqua's Reason&Saeko's home

Notes:

Sorry for the log wait(Had finals to study for and take) but here's Chapter 24,enjoy and don't worry chapter 25 will be coming soon,enjoy

The taxi ride to the studio was utterly silent. Lapis and Mem-cho avoided eye contact, the tension from their earlier kiss hanging awkwardly in the air.

Mem-cho chuckled nervously, breaking the silence. “So, uh… is it always going to be this awkward?”

“I hope not,” Lapis muttered. “It was an accident.”

“Exactly. Even though it was my first kiss—”

Lapis turned to her, stunned. “You’re kidding.”

“Did you forget what I told you last year? About how I was working non-stop?”

“Right. My bad. But how did you even fall?”

“Hehe… I saw a spider—”

“You fell down the stairs because of a spider?” Lapis asked, incredulous.

“It was huge!” Mem-cho retorted, pouting.

The taxi rolled to a stop in front of the studio, and they waited outside until Aqua emerged. He noticed them immediately.

“Sup,” Mem-cho greeted casually.

“Lapis. Mem,” Aqua said, eyeing them.

“What a coincidence running into you here—”

“A coincidence?” Aqua interrupted, raising an eyebrow. “Lapis literally texted me saying you wanted to talk. Coincidence, my ass.”

Mem-cho shot Lapis a deadpan glare.

“You said to ask him when he got done,” Lapis defended. “You didn’t say not to mention you.”

Aqua sighed heavily. “It’s been a long day. If you’ve got something to say, save it for another time.”

“Another time? Like a month later?” Mem-cho teased. “With how busy we’ve all been, who knows when our schedules will overlap again.”

“...Fine.” Aqua relented. “But let’s talk somewhere with a sofa, at least.”

Mem-cho tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Hm, then… my place?”

A few minutes later, they were in Mem-cho’s apartment. The room was an explosion of pink, adorned with teddy bears and other cute trinkets.

“By the way,” Aqua started, sitting on her floral-patterned couch, “taking two minors out past 11:00 PM violates local ordinances. Just so you know.”

Mem-cho winced, clutching her chest dramatically. “Ouch! You didn’t have to bring that up—especially after earlier—”

“Wow, Aqua, you look so tired,” Lapis cut in, desperate to change the subject. “Doesn’t he look tired, Mem?”

“Now that you mention it… yeah,” Mem-cho chimed in. “Rough day at work, huh?”

“We shot two weeks’ worth of content today,” Aqua explained, his tone weary. “Sometimes they cram four weeks into one shoot. Plus, I’ve been cast in Lalalie’s next stage play, so I’ve got rehearsals. And when I finally get home, I still want to study.”

“Oh yeah, I heard you’re pretty smart, Aqua-tan,” Mem-cho said with a teasing grin.

“‘Pretty smart’ is putting it lightly,” Lapis added.

“Are you planning to go to university?” Mem-cho asked.

“That’s the plan. It’s already summer of my second year in high school. If I don’t start preparing for the medical exams now, it’ll be too late.”

“Medical university?! Aqua-tan, you want to become a doctor?!” Mem-cho exclaimed.

“I’m not sure yet,” Aqua admitted. “But I’d like to keep that option open.”

Mem-cho beamed. “You should! I’m proud of you for planning ahead!”

Lapis sighed inwardly. (Now I can’t stop thinking about what Ruby wants for her future…)

“It’s not too late for you, you know,” Aqua said, looking at Mem-cho. “You could get a high school certification and study for university exams.”

Mem-cho laughed. “Fufufu.Aqu-tan, you really are a child.No one with that kind of resolve whatever step foot into the entertainment industry in the first place!And that's not an exaggeration!”

“That’s definitely an exaggeration,” Aqua and Lapis said in unison.

Mem-cho shrugged. “Every adult in Japan knows that retaking the exams is the right move for your future but, we don't because we all have our hands full with what's in front of us.People don't necessarily make rational decisions.And that's the same for you too, isn't it,Aqu-tan?”

Aqua froze at her words.

“If you were to make decisions more rationally, you would have handled the situation with Kana-chan better, don't you think?” Mem-cho asks gently.

“So that’s your angle,” Aqua muttered. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t meddle.”

“I guess but you see it's because I'm not a rational person.Isn't it natural to want to help when you see your friend being depressed?”Mem-cho asks with a wry smile.

“What happened to agree.There's some who haven't noticed it,Kana’s performance has been slipping as of late”said Lapis.

“I'm begging you to do something about it”Mem-cho,tearfully.

Aqua have the shadow of his bangs covering his eyes“Do something, huh.I don't know what I'm supposed to do.”

“I can't answer that but the least you can do for a girl you seduce is to provide some aftercare”said Mem-cho.

“Seduced?”Aqua asks.

“MEM,I don't think-”

“You're still young so I understand if you're still struggling to strike a balance, but don't you think you're leading Kana on just a bit with all the mixed signals you've been sending her way?That should be reserved for someone you're generally interested in”said Mem-cho, nonchalantly.

There was a moment of silence in the room until Aqua walked up to Mem-cho who falls back on the bed and you rest two hands on each side of her head.

“Uhh,I think I should-”Lapis began

“Stay,” Aqua commanded before turning his attention back to Mem-cho.”You took two young men into your room without a care in the world and dare to lecture one of them like you're the only adult in the room?”

“Aqu-tan?”Mem-cho asks,concerned.

“I'm not that ignorant about matters concerning the opposite sex.I don't treat people like kids and act like you know everything,Mem.I decided to keep my distance.I can't be half-assed about it”said Aqua.

“I thought so”said Lapis.

“Do you seriously believe it never occurred to me that Arima might feel hurt if I start avoiding her completely? Do you really think I'm hurting her because I want to? These days, I often find myself thinking about the future.Not just of my own but also those around me.I'm sure Arima will rise in popularity even more.Can I talk about something obvious?”Aqua asks.

“It's unfortunately normal to expect fans to be angered if their favorite Idol gets a boyfriend”said Lapis.

“What if they get photographed by the tabloids? And the information gets leaked onto the internet? If it was revealed that Arima Kana has a boyfriend and a deranged fan did something unimaginable to her, who's going to take responsibility? If someone were to seriously break into her home and kill her, what are we supposed to do?What if…”Aqua asks, his voice shaking out of remembrance of what happened to Ai.

Lapis place to hand on his shoulder.

“If that happens again, it will break me for good.For the sake of her future…I need to keep her at a distance”said Aqua.

Mem-cho pushed some of hair to the side”I see.I'm sorry..Aren't you kind of leading me on here?”

“Mhm, people aren't rational creatures after all” said Aqua.

The next day…

Lapis with Shinsuke stood outside of a house that seemed to have a dark aura around it.

Lapis laughs nervously”This definitely fits Saeko’s home.”

Shinsuke took a step back. “I just remembered—I’ve got to—”

Lapis grabbed his shirt. “You’re not ditching me!”

The two gulped and made their way to the door,Lapis cautiously Knocks and is greeted by a silver haired old lady who look to be about her early 60s or late 50s.

“How can I help you boys?” she asks.

“H-hello ma'am, we're here to see Saeko”Lapis explains with Shinsuke nodding in agreement behind him.

The old lady smiled”You must be the boys from her band, come in.”

Inside, the house was surprisingly ordinary—modern furniture and pristine walls. They sat awkwardly on the couch.

“This place ain't so bad, and you-”Lapis began to say but then saw the frightened look on Shinsuke's face while pointing behind him.

“L-L-L-Lapis”Shinsuke utters.

Lapis then turns to see a young boy with black hair wearing all black clothes, a pale complexion, and his eyes covered by his hair sitting right next to him.Lapis frightened jumped over to the other side of the couch.

“Hello” said the boy quietly.

“Uh, hi,” Lapis replied nervously.

“Could have told us her home is haunted”said Shinsuke.

The boy then stared at Lapis“Are you the one who helped big sis?”
“Big sis? Oh you must be Saeko’s-”

“What are you doing down here,Hinata”

The two then turn to see Saeko wearing a black corset dress with ruffles, she had to look of irritation written all over her face.

The boy then got up from that couch“I was just curious about which one you wrote in y-” Before he could say anything else,Saeko covered up his mouth.

“Go away"said Saeko.

Hinata does as he's told and goes up the stairs while Saeko stared back at her friends”Welcome to my home.”

“Y-yeah, thank you for having us”said Shinsuke,nervously.

Saeko then turn to Lapis“I believe you agree to make something, correct?”

“I did.What are you guys in the mood for?”Lapis asks.

“Okonomiyaki”said Saeko.

Minutes later, they were all enjoying the dish.

Shinsuke was watching a show on his phoneWell the other two we're talking.

“You want to feature us on the channel?”Saeko asks.

“I know it's a little out of your comfort zone but it would be good for the band,We could do some stuff on the supernatural, or gaming, or break downs on certain songs”said Lapis.

“Hmm…One video on the supernatural, then we'll see about another one”said Saeko.

“That's great,Saeko”said Lapis.

Saeko then looks away which makes him a bit confused.

”Your brother's really good on “Dig deep One chance”Lapis. I've been watching the show with sis recently”said Shinsuke.

Lapis then looks up“So it's not just my sister you’ve've been watching-”

“I'm only watching because of Marin”Shinsuke retorts.

“I'm surprised they haven't asked you or your sister to be on the show.It's rare for triplets-”

Lapis nervously chuckles“It's funny you mention that.”

Shinsuke and Saeko both looked at him confused.

The next day…

Ruby winking at the camera with a mic in hand“Hi, I'm Hoshino Ruby, 16 years old, and I'll be your dig deep digging Porter today!”

Aside from her”And I'm Blitz5, I'll also be reporting today” said Lapis,happily.

Then both turn to the camera“We're both Hoshino Aqua’s triplet siblings!”

The camera then cut to Aqua who seem to be exhausted.

“Yooo! Onii-chan, are you watching us?”Ruby asks.

“How we doin’,little bro?”Lapis asks.

Aqua rest a hand on his head”You can't be serious…”

“Onii-chan is super embarrassed.He's hiding his face!” one of the other hosts laughs.

“He has a soft spot for his little sister and older brother” the other host joked.

Lapis forced to fake smile“(If it wasn't for the fact that this is good publicity for the band, I wouldn't be a part of this.)”

“Today we're searching to see if someone with the legendary Kira-Kira Pikachu-kun really exist!”said Ruby.

“That's right! If we're going to dig, we might as well Dig Deep!”said Lapis.

“Well then, let's get going! Dig deep! One chance!” said Ruby while striking a pose.

First ask a kindergarten teacher, then some people who claim to be Pikachu's friend,They finally find Pikachu but are surprised by who they found.

“(Why did I let myself get talked into this?!)” Lapis thought.

Flashback to a week ago…

Lapis was sitting on the couch watching a anime movie when Ruby came into the room and sighes.

Lapis then begrudgingly looks her direction”What do you want?”

“Well, I was asked to be a part of Aqua’s show” said Ruby pretending to be sad.
“I've been there” Lapis comments.

“But wouldn't it be more fun for all three of us to be there?” Ruby suggests.

“Ruby, I've already been on a show with Aqua, I don't want to be on another” said Lapis.

“Be a part of the show, be a part of the show, be a part of the show, be a part of the show, be a part of the show-”

“I am not Miyako, you can't throw a tantrum to make me do anything-” he then turns does he Ruby with a tear coming down her eye and hesitates.

“Please be a part of the show,Onii-chan”Ruby pleads.

Lapis deeply sighs“Argh fine.”

“Yay!”said Ruby.

Back to the present…

Lapis then stares at Ruby”(Note to self, Build a Better defense around that one.)”

End of chapter.

Chapter 25: Mainstay Arc:The Favor

Notes:

Merry Christmas reader,my gift is this chapter,enjoy

Lapis lounged around the apartment, bored out of his mind while Aqua sat nearby, absorbed in reading.

“Hey, Aqua?” Lapis piped up.

“What?” Aqua replied without looking up.

“Wanna watch a movie together?”

“No.”

“Games, then?”

“No.”

“Come on, it's been forever since we just hung out,” Lapis pressed.

“Go visit Akane,” Aqua suggested, flipping a page.

“But the studio where she's filming is—”

“Studio Powa is very close to the house.You can literally go visit Aka-” Aqua began to say but it's all lapis quickly leave the room and come back fully dressed with an umbrella in hand.

“One of these days, Aqua.You and I are going to hang out at some point” said Lapis as he left the house.

“We're not at that point yet” said Aqua as he flipped the page on a script.

The rain drizzled lightly as Lapis made his way toward the studio. Up ahead, he spotted Akane in disguise, her black hat and glasses doing little to obscure her familiar figure.

“Ugh, I should have brought an umbrella,” Akane muttered.

Lapis quietly approached, tilting his umbrella over her head.

“Lapis-kun!” Akane beamed.

“Hey,” he greeted. “What, you think I’d leave you to fend for yourself in this rain?”

Akane raised an eyebrow playfully. “Did you come all this way just for me?”

Lapis smirked. “I was in the neighborhood. Figured I'd stop by.”

“Really?” Akane teased.

“Fine. Aqua told me your studio was nearby. I wanted to see you,” Lapis admitted.

“I just finished filming,” Akane said.

“Then I’ll walk you home,” Lapis offered dramatically, making her laugh.

They walked side by side under the umbrella. Lapis caught a glimpse of Akane’s soft smile and felt his cheeks flush.

“Sharing an umbrella, huh?” Akane mused.

(Is this the couple moment I’ve been waiting for?) Lapis thought, blushing.

“By the way, why didn’t you tell me you were going to be on a variety show?” Akane asked.

“Ah, so you saw it,” Lapis said, rubbing the back of his neck.

“I didn’t peg you as the type for those shows.”

Lapis sighed. “Ruby talked me into it.”

Akane giggled. “That makes more sense."

“Do you think I'd be on a TV show like this for fun?” Lapis asks, deadpan.

“Not really.That's what made it such a surprise” Akane chuckles.

“I didn't think they'd pair me with Ruby off the bat which has been… interesting” said Lapis.

“How so?”Akane asks.

“Well,just the other day...” said Lapis.

Flashback…

Ruby and Lapis for being recorded live in a park. The camera had a screen that was connected to the one at the show.

“Ruby, you look like someone who's level-headed but do you have something which you messed up recently?” the host asks.

“Something I messed up?” Ruby pondered about it but then put up a finger” Ah. The other day, I know they caused a fire in my own house!” Ruby shouts.

“Wait wha?” lapis asks, completely confused.

“Wha-What happened?” the host asks.

“My friend told me about how she's totally into making bad soap, so I thought I could try making some myself too and so I boiled liquid soap into a pot” said Ruby, cheerfully.

“That sounds absolutely horrendous” said the host.

“The whole room got engulfed in Smoke and then the smoke alarm went beep! Beep! And it started burning really badly!” said Ruby while waving her hands frantically.

“(I think I'd remember something like that happening)” Lapis thought.

“Why did you do that in the first place?!” the host asks.

“If I remove the water by simple distillation, bar soap would be left as solute.Don't you feel like liquid soap is just bar soap dissolves in the water?” Ruby asks.

Lapis looked at his sister in complete disbelief, as dish had broken onto the floor.

“You're such an airhead!”said the host.

“(Hold on a second…That was when she mistook detergent refuel for the cooking oil imported into the pot, way to make the story completely different)” Lapis thought.

“Are you stupid?! Are you that stupid?!” the host asks.

“It's not like that!” Ruby then look to the camera with her mic”Do both my Onii-chans think I'm stupid too?!”

“ But of course I do. I'm terribly ashamed of the fact that I share the same genes as you” said Aqua,deadpan.

“So mean! You don't agree with him rig-”

“I will neither confirm nor deny that” said Lapis, looking away.

“That's basically the same as agreeing!” Ruby shouts.

Back to the present…

“Then she started being nice to the assistant director out of the blue”said Lapis.

“Perhaps she has a crush on-”

“It's bad enough that she may have a thing for an old man, I don't need the idea of her having a thing for an assistant director.Where did I go wrong with her?”Lapis sobs.

“You're starting to sound like her father more than her brother” said Akane.

“Do I honestly feel bad for the man.He's the only assistant director they have and he has to do whatever he's told to do” said Lapis.

They continue to talk until they reach Akane’s home.

“Akane, what time do you start work tomorrow?” Lapis asks.

“I'll start at 9 at the studio inFuchu”Akane answers.

(Fuchu is a city in Western Tokyo if anyone was wondering)

“I see, would it be possible to come around 8:00 or 7:00 to see you?”Lapis asks.

“It's possible” she answered.

“Great.Sleep early and have a nice bath tonight.Good night” said Lapis.

He waves at her and begins to walk away.

“Ahem”

Lapis slowly turns to see a pouting Akane.

“Oh, I almost forgot” said Lapis.

Lapis walks over and kisses her on the lips then seperate.

“Good night, Lapis-kun”Akane smles,sweetly.

The next day…

Lapis was just about to walk over to Ruby when he overheard a conversation between Minami and Ruby.

“I haven't even done cosplay yet comiket or any such events before.So if they were to betray me as a cosplayer on the program…Don’cha think it'd be kind of dishonest’?”Minami asks.

“If the show is looking for cosplayers, I might know of one” said Lapis, getting the girls attention.

“You do?”Ruby asks.

“Shin’s older sister Marin does cosplay, I think if I ask nicely she might be able to help out and there's another one but I'd rather not ask her”said Lapis.

“Who's the other one?” Ruby asks.

“Ruby, as your older brother, I've always tried to do right by you.Always looked out for you without asking for any favors, so I ask of you… no, beg of you… please don't make me go ask her to be on the show”Lapis pleads.

“We can really use three cosplayers Please?”Ruby asks.

Ruby's puppy dog eyes and Lapis tries to resist but sighed.

Later…

Lapis stood in front of an apartment door and knocked.The door opens to reveal Mawata Fuwa.

“What are you doing here?” she asks while glaring at him.

“We need to talk” said Lapis.

She reluctantly let's Lapis inside where he sits on the couch and she sits on the opposite couch, crossed her legs, and stares at him.

“If this is about your brother-”

“I'm not here about that.The variety show”Dig Deep” is planning to do a segment on cosplayers.You've done plenty of cosplays on your Channel so I thought maybe-” lapis never sleep looked up and saw a wide grin on Mawata’s face.

“It sounds like you're asking me to be a part of your show?”Mawata teased.

“(Between her and Kana...No,they way they act,people would mistake them for sisters)Yes”Lapis answers, reluctantly.

“I mean I'd be happy to help out my boyfriend's brother but there's something I need to hear.Maybe if I heard Blitz5 admit that I'm a better youtuber, streamer, and gamer I might be able to-”

“I'll never admit to that! Not only by beating you multiple times at gaming, not only do I beat you in views, but I've won two Awards. How many of you won? Absolutely nothing!”Lapis shouts which felt like a stab at Mawata.

“Well at least I'm not part of a band with a goth chick and some random guy.Solas logo,What a dumb name”Mawata retorts which irritates Lapis.

“You say that yet on our Channel, we still beat you in views.Fun fact, both of them have more talent than you when it comes to gaming! And the group is Souless Logo,You know Souless like your content”Lapis shouts.

The two stare at each other filled with anger,Mawata then pulled out her game”I just happen to get a new fighting game today,If I win, you admit I'm the better gamer and I don't have to be on your show! It's time we settle the score,one and for all!”

“Ohhh, you're challenging me to a fighting game?! Fine, when I win you're joining the show free of charge and you take back everything you just said!” Lapis shouts.

1 hour later….

Ruby was sitting at the couch when the door opened showing an exhausted Lapis with a smile on his face.

“Everything okay?”Ruby asks.

“CottonQueen is willing to be on the show” said Lapis.
“Okay, what about Shin’s sister?”Ruby asks.

Lapis then pulled out his phone and started to dial up a number, it rings until someone finally picks up.

“Hello?”Marin asks.

“Hey,Kitagawa-san,Blitz5, so my show needs cosplayers-”

“Say no more, I'm in and I might have a friend who might be interested too” said Marin.

“Cool, we'll talk more tomorrow” said Lapis.

Lapis then hung up the phone.

“So fast” said Ruby, amazed.

“I am Hoshino Lapis, I make stuff happen”said Lapis.

End of chapter.

Chapter 26: Mainstay Arc:Yui The Bass of Souless Logo

Lapis met Marin at a cozy cafe, both disguised under hats and masks as they waited for another cosplayer to arrive.

“She’s running a bit late. Are you sure this is the right place, Marin-san?” Lapis asked, stirring his coffee idly.

“She said she was on her way. Oh—there she is!” Marin’s eyes lit up as she waved to someone entering the cafe.

Lapis turned to see a girl of average height and build with short brown hair streaked with red highlights and light brown eyes. She had thick black lashes, three piercings in each ear, and long fangs that peeked out slightly. A black choker adorned her neck, and she wore a sleek leather jacket over a green hoodie, paired with black denim shorts, leggings, and sturdy black boots. Her casual, slightly edgy look stood out without being flashy.

“Took you long enough,” Marin teased, grinning playfully.

“There was traff—” the girl began but stopped mid-sentence as her eyes landed on Lapis. Her gaze widened. “—fic.”

“Blitz5, this is Kotegawa Yui,” Marin introduced with a smile. “We went to the same middle school. She’s a cosplayer and a—”

Before Marin could finish, Yui grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her a few feet away.

“Come with me for a sec,” Yui muttered.

Lapis watched curiously, tilting his head. (She totally gives off that straightforward tomboy rocker vibe. Athletic, confident, and proud of how she looks. Long legs, sharp style—she’d fit perfectly in a band. Wait, I sound like Ruby. Why does she seem annoyed? Please don’t tell me she’s a hardcore Fuwa fan.)

A few steps away, Yui pulled Marin aside, her hair casting shadows over her flushed face.

“Kitagawa,” Yui began in a low, urgent tone.

“Yeah?” Marin responded, blinking innocently.

Yui looked up, revealing her deep blush. “Why didn’t you tell me the guy was super hot? I couldn't tell because of the hat, but is he who I think he is?”

“Blitz—”

“Oh kami! Ugh, I showed up in casual clothes. I hate you so much right now,” Yui groaned, tugging at the hem of her hoodie self-consciously.

Marin chuckled softly. (This is the first time I’ve ever seen her act this flustered. It’s kind of adorable.)

Yui smacked her cheeks and returned with Marin.

“Sorry about that, we had some things to discuss,” Yui said, avoiding eye contact.

“Right. So, we kind of need some cosplayers for Dig Deep. Marin recommended you, and I can see why. You're very talented,” Lapis said smoothly.

Yui blushed but stayed composed. “W-well, I wasn't expecting Blitz5 to approach me about this, but it's going to cost you.”

“Are you sure the studio would be happy to pay—”

“I'm not just talking about money. I see your group is good, but you could use a bass player. I happen to be really good,” Yui said confidently.

(We could use a bassist. Saeko’s good, but she’s better.) Lapis thought. “We’d have to hear you first.”

“You're not doing anything later, right? I’d be happy to show off my skills,” Yui offered.

Hours later, Lapis, Shinsuke, and Saeko sat in a booth, watching Yui set up.

“I thought we were fine as a trio,” Shinsuke grumbled.

“We could use someone on bass,” Saeko replied.

“But what if she's bad?” Shinsuke questioned.

“Then we politely turn her down and move on,” Lapis said calmly.

Yui started to play, immediately capturing their attention. Eyes widened as she flawlessly transitioned through one of their songs and ended with a rendition of a song Lapis had released on his channel.

The three exchanged glances. “She's joining,” they said in unison.

Yui stepped up to the mic. “So, how did I do?”

“Sign with Strawberry Productions and you’re in,” Lapis said.

“Miyako will probably kill us for bringing in another talented person without warning,” Saeko added with a smirk.

Lapis’ phone buzzed. A text from Ruby read: Assistant director says all cosplayers need costumes close to Tokyo Blade but not exact replicas.

“Yeah, I figured Abiko-sensei would say no,” Lapis muttered nervously.

“That’s kind of short notice,” Shinsuke noted.

“And Fuwa’s going to yell at me. I’ll be right back,” Lapis said, stepping away to make a call.

As the group parted ways, Lapis offered to walk Yui home. She hesitated but accepted.

(Okay, calm down. It’s just a walk home… with Blitz5. Why is my heart racing?) Yui thought.

“So, Kotegawa-san—”

“Y-yes?” she blurted nervously.

“How far is your place?”

“Not far. I live alone,” Yui replied.

“What about your parents?” Lapis asked.

Yui’s smile faded slightly. “My mom passed away in a car accident. My dad and stepmom didn’t want me around, so I… take care of myself.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Lapis said softly.

“It’s okay. Marin’s dad lectured him, but he didn’t care. I dropped out of high school and started working. Marin got me into cosplay and modeling. Playing bass is the one thing I inherited from Mom, so… here I am.”

(She reminds me of me in my past life.) Lapis thought.

They reached her apartment. She bowed. “Thanks for letting me audition. Sorry if I talked your ear off.”

“It’s fine. Now you have friends. Your song is just beginning,” Lapis said.

Yui laughed softly. “Cheesy.”

“Thought so,” Lapis replied.

“But it’s the good kind of cheesy,” she whispered.

Lapis smirked. “See you tomorrow.”

Behind the door, Yui hugged her knees. “I guess I’m in the band now.”

End of Chapter.

Chapter 27: Mainstay Arc:Revelation

Notes:

First new chapter of 2025.Sorry if it seems like filler.

Yui adjusted the hem of her jacket, glancing at her reflection in the dressing room mirror. Cosplay wasn’t new to her, but doing it alongside Marin for such a high-profile project added a strange layer of pressure.

As they were about to step out, a cheerful voice called out to them.

“Kitagawa-san!”

Marin’s face lit up instantly. “Kotobuki-san!”

Yui raised an eyebrow. “You two know each other?”

“We’ve worked together on a couple of shoots,” Marin replied with a bright smile.

Minami, the source of the voice, looked at Yui curiously. “Didn’t Shin tell you?”

Marin tilted her head. “Hm? You know Shinsuke?”

Minami blushed slightly, fiddling with the edge of her sleeve. “Well, he’s my boyfriend, so—”

Marin froze, her expression twisting in shock. “Wait,for real?!”

Yui chuckled at the reaction. “Don’t mind her. I think she’s letting that sink in that lil bro has a girlfriend. I’m Kotegawa Yui.”

Ruby, who had been listening nearby, perked up. “Oh! You’re the cosplayer Onii-chan got!”

“That’s me. Though, I thought he also ask Cottonqueen,” Yui said, glancing around.

Ruby chuckled nervously. “She left a little while ago.”

As they chatted, Yui noticed a figure peeking out from behind a pillar. Ruby and Marin noticed as well. A nervous girl with long black hair, fair skin, and distinct fangs stepped out hesitantly. Her side-swept bangs and braids framed her face, and she was already dressed in cosplay like the others.

“Ah… um… You’re Ruby-san and Minami-san, right? My name is Yoshizumi Mimi. I’m also part of the shoot for ‘Dig Deep! One Chance!’” she stammered, her voice trembling.

“Is that so!” Ruby responded cheerfully.

Minami grinned. “Ain’t your voice cute! You a voice actress?”

“N-No, I’m not!” Mimi quickly denied.

Yui narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. (Her voice sounds familiar… Have I heard it on one of Blitz5’s streams?)

“But I guess you could say my job is a little like that,” Yoshizumi mumbled softly.

“Hmm?” Minami pressed.

Before Yoshizumi could respond, her eyes landed on someone else nearby. “Ah, this girl is…”

Ruby beamed. “Yup! She’s a cosplayer I’ve worked with before for a YouTube video. I thought she’d be perfect for today’s shoot.”

The girl, quiet until now, stepped forward. “Hello. My stage name is Meiya. I often cosplay characters from boys' magazines.” She glanced at Marin and Minami. “Kotobuki Minami and Kitagawa Marin, right? I’ve seen a lot of your cosplays, Kitagawa-san, and I follow your gravure work, Kotobuki-san.”

Marin gasped. “You’re kidding! I’m honored!” Minami immediately pulled out her phone. “Let me check out your work, Meiya-san!”

“Ah… you don’t have to if you don’t want to,” Meiya mumbled, flustered.

Yui crossed her arms. “How come?”

Meiya hesitated. “My cosplay ventures into… lewd territory. I’m not sure minors should see it.”

“Oh.” Yui, Marin, and Minami responded in unison.

“That said, were all of you fine with it?”Meiya asks.

“I mean didn't they make a last-minute change for the cosplay plans.I do a lot of original cosplay so I could somehow manage..I was worried that many people wouldn't be able to get ready in time”said Meiya.

“It was rough, but we pulled through,” Yoshizumi added.

“I had help from my agency,” Minami said.

“I do original stuff, too,” Yui chimed in.

“W- well that's good to hear” said Meiya.

At that moment, a gaunt, overworked-looking man with dark hair and small freckles approached. His eyes had the distinct look of someone who hadn’t slept in days.
“I’m terribly sorry for all the trouble,” he muttered, bowing deeply.

“You're not the one who should apologize” Meiya then look serious”As I expected, people working in television or all like that, aren't they? I mean they don't consider our circumstances…It be a problem if they make everyone uncomfortable.”

“I really don't mind!”said Minami.

“Kotobuki, you belong to the world of Showbiz after all”said Minami.

“Well, I'm sure it's all going to be alright.Those people are professionals after all, things like this are their bread and butter”said Ruby.
Yui nudged Ruby. “So, is Blitz5 cosplaying today?”

With Lapis…

Lapis stepped outside, dressed strikingly similar to Aqua’s character from the play. He and Ruby were being interviewed while the assistant director followed with a camera. When they were finally allowed to break, Lapis found a quiet spot to sit.

Mimi Yoshizumi hesitantly approached him.

“Can I help you?” Lapis asked, glancing up.

Mimi fiddled with her sleeves. “I… wanted to ask. Weren’t you afraid? Revealing your face to your fans?”

Lapis squinted slightly. “Suzune?”

Mimi’s eyes widened. “I—uh.”

Lapis smiled softly. “Nice to finally meet face to face. And to answer your question—absolutely. But someone gave me advice that helped, and I knew it was the right time.”

Mimi’s nervousness melted into a smile. “Thank you.”

Mimi then notice the assistant director talking to her brother and went over to him.

After wrapping up the shoot, Lapis was just about to change out of his cosplay when his phone buzzed with a text from Ruby:

Ruby: "Going to Comiket, want to come in cosplay?"

Lapis: "Nah, heading straight home."

The day had been long enough, and the idea of navigating crowds in costume wasn’t exactly appealing. On his way home, Lapis idly scrolled through his phone. A trending tweet suddenly caught his eye, and his pace slowed as he recognized the handle—Meiya, one of the cosplayers from the shoot.

Meiya’s Tweet: "I knew it. Television staff are just the same as everyone else—filth. They look down on me because I wear revealing cosplay. I accepted the offer because they said it was for a Tokyo Blade segment, but they changed it to original cosplay the day before. No respect for how much effort cosplay takes. I’m truly disgusted. Thinking about suspending my activities for a while..."

Lapis exhaled slowly, locking his phone.

"Well... damn."

The Next Day…

Lapis sat cross-legged on the floor of Akane’s room, leaning back on his hands as she sorted through some paperwork.

"So the episode’s on hold?" Akane asked, glancing up.

"Yeah. Can’t blame her," Lapis replied, shifting uncomfortably. "They asked for Tokyo Blade cosplays but changed it last minute. Way too short of notice."

Akane nodded thoughtfully. "I see."

Lapis frowned slightly, staring up at the ceiling. "I feel bad. If the show cancels the segment entirely, Yui, Mimi, and Fuwa’s time was wasted."

Akane’s head tilted slightly at the unfamiliar names. "Who are Yui and Mimi?" she asked sweetly, though there was a sharp edge in her tone.

Lapis stiffened, suddenly hyper-aware of the shift in atmosphere. "Ah, well... Mimi’s someone I’ve collabed with a few times. Yui’s... the band’s new bass player."

Akane's gaze narrowed playfully. "Is this new band member cute?"

Lapis felt a bead of sweat form. "S-Something tells me I shouldn’t answer that. I mean, Saeko’s in the band and you never—"

Akane leaned forward, cutting him off with a smile far too innocent. "Never what, Lapis-san?"

He swallowed hard, searching for an escape route. "Uhh... Have you thought about redecorating? Maybe add some color in here?"

Before Akane could respond, Lapis impulsively pressed his palm to the top of her head, ruffling her hair gently. To his relief, she melted into the gesture, arms loosely wrapping around his.

(Note to self: Don’t mention other women around Akane.)

A notification pinged from Akane’s phone, drawing her attention. She glanced at the screen, and her expression slowly shifted into an amused smirk.

"So... you dressed up too?" she mused.

Lapis raised an eyebrow, confused until Akane tilted the phone toward him. Displayed prominently was a photo from the shoot—Lapis, mid-pose, looking far too similar to Aqua’s character.

"Where did you get that?!" Lapis blurted, eyes wide.

"Fuwa-san sent it over." Akane grinned as she swiped to reveal more. The caption beneath read: "Just because you missed out on seeing this."

Lapis groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "That little..."

Earlier With Fuwa…

Mawata had gotten her cosplay on when Ruby walked over to her.

“Nice to properly meet you for the first time,Fuwa-san” said Ruby.

“Likewise”said Mawata.

“Too bad Aqua’s not here.Lapis is but he's busy putting on his cosplay” said Ruby which caught the attention of Mawata.

“Ohhh,Blitz5 is wearing a cosplay…Wouldn't know where he's at would you?” she asks with a mischievous grin.

“He's waiting outside” said Ruby, nervously.

Mawata walked out of the dressing room.

“Time for some Payback” Mawata devilishy smiles.

Chapter 28: Mainstay Arc:Reconnect with old Friends

Lapis sat at his desk, headphones snug over his ears as his fingers glided over the keys of his MIDI controller. The faint glow of his laptop illuminated his face in the dimly lit room, showcasing tracks layered in intricate detail on the music software. The rhythmic pulse of a bassline intertwined with a gentle melody played back as he made a few adjustments to the levels.

“Almost there,” he muttered to himself, nodding in approval as the track began to come together.

A familiar notification chime broke his focus. Reaching for his phone, he unlocked the screen to find a message from an old friend—Hachi Hikigaya.

Hachi: Yo, Lapis. It’s been ages. Got a sec? I need advice about... uh, a girl.

Lapis blinked, then smirked. Classic Hachi. He quickly typed back.

Lapis: Sure. What’s up?

The reply came almost immediately.

Hachi: Let’s just say she’s... complicated. I don’t know what to say without messing it up.

Lapis let out a chuckle, shaking his head. “Still overthinking everything, huh?” he said to himself. Before he could reply, another message popped up.

Hachi: Also, when are you free to meet up? Feels weird texting this.

Lapis glanced at his workstation. The faint looping of his latest track played softly in the background. He had a shoot for Dig Deep! One Chance! scheduled soon, but catching up with Hachi felt like a good idea.

Lapis: I’ve got something for "Dig Deep" later, but let’s hang after. We can grab coffee or something.

Hachi: You’re a lifesaver, man. Same place as before?

Lapis: You got it.

Lapis set the phone aside and pulled his headphones back on. The music swelled as he made a few final tweaks, but now his thoughts drifted to Hachi’s message. Complicated girl, huh? He smirked. “This should be interesting.”

The next day, Ruby stood under the bright lights of the Dig Deep! One Chance! studio.

Ruby’s cheerful voice broke through his musings.

“Up till now on this program, we’ve dug deep into topics that regular network TV wouldn’t dare broadcast, conducting interviews that barely made it past the censors!” Ruby said with a grin.

“This time, we’ve got a special edition packed with exclusive new content!” Ruby added.

Behind Ruby, the screen displayed Meiya’s viral tweet.

“Everyone, did you know about this tweet?” Ruby asked, gesturing to the screen“We’ve received hundreds of negative comments! This show caused a huge uproar with its reporting!”

Assistant director then changed the cue card.

“That’s right! And so... this episode’s topic is none other than our very own show and the people behind the mess!” Ruby declared dramatically.
The camera panned to reveal Meiya, sitting nervously beside Aqua.

“We invited the person who raised the issue, the cosplayer Meiya!” Ruby announced.

“Why did a problem like this occur? We’ve got to dig deep to get to the bottom of it!” Ruby struck a playful pose, winking at the camera.

“Well, first I gotta to ask…Why do you sound so cheerful?”Aqua asks.

“Because I’m completely, totally not at fault!” Ruby said with an innocent smile.

“We've just been caught up in this whole scandal! You could even say that Blitz5 and I are victims of this show's sloppy organization!”Ruby declared, causing Aqua to glance nervously at the staff.

The Host Sawa-san walks up to Meiya nervously“Errr,First,Meiya-san, we're extremely sorry that the staff of the show were rude to you and we're really grateful that despite this difficult situation, you are on the show today.”

“No..I just..”Meiya’s voice trailed off.

Ruby gave her a subtle nod.

“I'm not here to look for an apology.In order for something like this to never happen again, you'll have to investigate the route cuz and reform your organization”said Meiya.

A lot of Staff members were paying close attention, Ruby signaling an okay to Meiya which made her exhale.

“Moving along, let's analyze this program by interviewing those involved in it” The board behind Ruby then said cosplay conundrum and she points to it”We'll start with this! The cosplay copyright conundrum!”

“At first the cosplayers were asked a cosplay as characters from Tokyo Blade but the plan was changed on short notice.This was a big problem for the cosplayers! Here's the testimony from the director in charge of the episode!”said Ruby.

The camera then showed a recording of director Urushibara.

“At first I submitted a request for permission to the Tokyo blade anime production committee through the person in charge of anime within our company.I thought it would surely go through but when I went to check we had not received permission.At that time we were short-staffed, so we were lacking in both time and attention.The root cause was that we neglect to check.I'm terribly sorry about this.”

“Let's also get a comment from the point of contact about this” said Ruby.

The camera then cut to a woman whose face was covered up but not her chin.

“Normally at the production committee's discretion you can receive permission but Tokyo blade is notoriously hard to work with.It seems like you need the original author's approval.So I sent her to the director that we wouldn't be able to confirm permission by the day of the shoot but it seems he wasn't even able to check his mail.”

“Wow, sounds like a lot happened.I feel like we're getting a bit off topic here but why is it so hard to get permission for Tokyo blade? now I'm curious” said Ruby.

“So it's time to dig deep!” Ruby's striking a pose with her finger.

The camera then cut to Kana Arima and Lapis who had a nervous smile.

“Hi, I'm dig deep reporter Arima Kana! I'm an idol in B-komachi with Ruby” she said a bit nervously.

Aqua’s face was covered by the bangs in his hair.

“She'll be doing teleporting with me and Ruby's place today”said Lapis.
“Can you guess where we are now? We're visiting the Publishers office” said Ruby.

“We’re here to talk about this cosplay scandal with the original author of Tokyo blade,Samejima Abiko-sensei!”said Lapis.

Flashback to earlier in the day…

Lapis was outside getting ready for the segment, reading over his lines, when a familiar presence caught his eye. He looked up to see Kana walking in, her usual confident air about her. Curious, he stood and walked over.

“Kana?” Lapis called out, a hint of surprise in his voice.

She turned, her expression softening into a slight smirk. “Well, look at that. We’re working together for the first time,” Kana replied, crossing her arms.

Lapis raised an eyebrow. “(This has Ruby written all over it…),” he thought before focusing back on Kana. “Please tell me you didn’t sign on to the show because of Aqua—”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Kana cut him off quickly, her tone defensive.

“Kana,” Lapis said, giving her a knowing look.

Kana huffed, tossing her hair. “Ruby needed someone Abiko-sensei would feel comfortable with. So, naturally, it made sense to bring me in,” she said proudly, standing a bit straighter.

Lapis blinked, deadpan. “But I also know her and her fiancé. They helped design my band’s logo.”
Kana frowned, looking slightly puzzled.

“Oh, and she’s a fan of mine too,” Lapis continued casually. “She’s subscribed to my YouTube channel and even subs to my Twitch streams.”

Kana froze, her expression quickly shifting to shock. “What?”

Lapis shrugged, a small grin playing on his lips. “Maybe because Akane is filming a movie, ruby decided to ask-”

“Zip it, third sibling”said Kana.

“Kana…”Lapis begin to say but then remembered what Aqua said to him and Mem-cho.

“What?”Kana asks.

“Let's do our best today”said Lapis.

“Okay”said Kana.

“(I shouldn't tell her now… maybe after we're done with the meeting with Abikio-sensei)”Lapis thought.

Present day…

“It's been a while,Abiko-sensei.Thank you for making the time for us with your busy schedule”said Lapis.

Abiko blushed”It's fine! I'll always make time for you,Blitz5-kun..Oh and of course you too,Arima-san.I’m so glad.”

Lapis smirks at Kana who glares at him but then focused on Abiko-sensei.

“Let's jump straight to the point…I heard that Tokyo blades copyright permissions are strict and every request has to be vetted and approved by Abiko-sensei.”

Abiko looked at her editor”It's common practice for original creators to be consulted sometimes when it comes to copyright permissions.For example, my publisher typically doesn't explicitly Grant permission for fan-made figures sold at doujin events.Though there have also been cases when the original creators personally gave their approval”Abiko then shouts”But if you just leave them b, those fans would start selling really a gracious stuff, you know!?They'd make scantily clad figures with their boobs bouncing all over and even lewd body pillow covers!”

“(Wise words from sensei!)” lapis thought,eyes sparkling.

“That's the only time when they have a female come to talk to me.Sometimes I get swept along with the flow” said Abiko-sensei remembering a time that actually happened.

“That's exactly how some designers try to talk idols into wearing their racy swimwear”Kana comments, remembering it incident that happened like that.

“Who'd want to see you in racy swimwear..Aka-” Lapis mumbled but then felt a kick in the shin from Kana.

“Did you hear something?”Abiko asks.

“Must have been the wind but please continue”said Lapis.

“But there's no need to check with me for things like cosplay.Sure, I will outright reject cosplay hentai(porn).But in the first place, it's my editor himself who wants me to design characters which make people want to cosplay as them at Comiket.Who's gonna complain about it?”said Abiko which made her editor sweat nervously.

“Huh” Kana mutters as Lapis shakes his head in agreement.

“Typically, original creators will never deny copyright permissions from people who love their work but for goods and music, the respective companies have to pay royalties to the production committee for the right to create them.These rules have to be obeyed” Abiko-sensei explains.

“(Wow)”Lapis thought.

“Copyright checks are only there to filter out Goods that do not respect the original work.But suppose the publisher sends a cease-and-desist for fan-made goods, I will still personally veto the decision if I feel their love for the work”Abiko explains further.

“ I see”said Lapis.

“That said I won't speak for doujin artist who are just making easy money from popular franchises by drawing and selling r*** hentai of them because I don't get a single Cent In royalty from them!! so read the fan work guidelines in the FAQ and figure out yourself!!”Abiko shouts.

“You heard Abiko-”

“And that's us, reporting live from the scene!” said a nervous Kana, signing off.

Later in the show, Ruby made the director where a cosplay as repayment for the lack of respect and his actions towards cosplay and the hard work and effort they put into it. He then apologized to Meiya and she forgave him.

Later with Lapis…

Lapis was sitting in a coffee shop but couldn't get the thought of what happened today out of his head.

“(Something about today's show seemed very familiar like…)” lapis thought but then his eyes widen as he realized it was near similar to the situation on Love now”(Okay even if I'm right, Aqua wouldn't do something like that again with the way he's acting so…Ruby? No she wouldn't… but then again she's been acting different since our trip from Miyazaki..If-)”

“Sorry for the wait.”
The voice broke his train of thought. Lapis turned to see a young man standing by the table. His striking appearance—fair complexion, light orange hair swept to one side, and sharp peach-reddish eyes—caught the attention of a few patrons nearby. Dressed casually in a gray hoodie and black pants, he exuded an effortless charm.

“Hachi!” Lapis greeted, standing to give him a quick wave.

Hachi Hikigaya smiled, his expression both warm and relieved. “Lapis. Long time no see.”

They exchanged a firm handshake before Hachi slid into the seat across from Lapis.

“Man, it’s been forever,” Lapis said, leaning back and folding his arms. “What’s it been? Four years since we last hung out?”

Hachi raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Pretty sure it’s only been two, but it does feel like a lifetime ago.” He glanced at Lapis. “You’ve been busy, though. I caught your band’s last live stream—it was awesome.”

Lapis grinned, scratching the back of his head. “You saw that? Thanks, man. We’ve been grinding nonstop.”

“And the 'Dig Deep' episode—wild stuff,” Hachi added, taking a sip of his tea.

“Tell me about it.” Lapis chuckled before leaning forward. “Anyway, you wanted to talk about someone?”

Hachi hesitated, his expression softening. “Yeah. It’s about Kiui… They don’t really identify with any labels, but I think I have a crush on them.”

Lapis tilted his head, recognition dawning. “Kiui Watase? Oh, right. They used to hang out with Mihiru Kozuki, didn’t they?”

Hachi nodded. “Exactly. But something happened, and now... things feel different.” His smile faltered. “I don’t know how to handle it.”

Lapis leaned on the table. “Have you tried just being there for them? Sometimes, that’s all someone needs.”

“I have,” Hachi admitted. “Especially after what happened yesterday...”

Flashback….

The amber hues of the setting sun cast a warm glow over the bustling streets of Chiba. Hachi Hikigaya, dressed in his school uniform, strolled down the sidewalk. His light orange hair glinted in the fading sunlight, and his thoughtful gaze gave him a quiet intensity.

As he neared a busy intersection, a familiar figure caught his eye. Kiui Watase stood at the curb, their face illuminated by the light of their phone. They seemed lost in their game, completely oblivious to their surroundings.

Before Hachi could call out, Kiui bumped into a broad-shouldered man.

“Watch where you’re going,” the man snapped, his annoyance shifting to a predatory smirk as he eyed Kiui. “Huh, you’re actually kinda cute. You here alone?”

Kiui’s face darkened, their fiery spirit igniting. “Look at me like that again, and I’ll—” Without finishing, they swung their phone, the impact landing with a sharp crack against the man’s arm.

“Hey!” the man barked, but Kiui had already bolted.

Hachi didn’t hesitate. He followed Kiui, weaving through the crowd until they turned down a quiet side street. They stopped beneath a vibrant mural of a glowing jellyfish, its tendrils stretching across the cracked walls.

“Kiui!” Hachi called, catching his breath.

They spun around, their eyes wide with surprise. Recognition flickered across their face, followed by a rush of emotion.

“Hachi?” Their voice trembled.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his tone soft but steady.

Kiui’s composure broke. Tears welled up in their eyes as they stammered, “I don’t belong anywhere anymore... No matter what I do, I just don’t fit.”

Hachi stepped closer, placing a comforting hand on their shoulder. “You don’t have to belong everywhere,” he said gently. “Sometimes, just having one person who gets you is enough.”

Kiui looked up, their tear-streaked faces softening. The weight pressing down on their chest seemed to lift, even if just a little.

Present Day….

Hachi sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know what to do. I want to be there for them, but I’m scared I’ll screw it up.”

Lapis gave him a reassuring smile. “You’re already doing what matters most—showing up. Just keep being that friend they can rely on. The rest will fall into place.”

Hachi smirked, a hint of his usual confidence returning. “You’re right. Thanks, Lapis.”

“Anytime,” Lapis replied. “Now, let’s order something. My treat.”

As they waved over the server, Lapis couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride. Some friendships, no matter how much time passed, remained rock solid.

Notes:

Hachi is a new character I'm introducing along with a character from Jellyfish can't swim in the night

Chapter 29: Mainstay Arc:My Star

The sound of knocking echoed through the quiet apartment. Aqua opened the door, his expression shifting from curiosity to surprise when he saw Lapis standing there, his face unusually serious.

“Lapis? It’s late. What’s going on?” Aqua stepped aside, letting him in.

Lapis brushed past him, running a hand through his hair in frustration before turning to face Aqua. “I need to talk to you. It’s about Ruby.”

Aqua’s brows furrowed. “Ruby? What about her?”

Lapis crossed his arms, his voice steady but laced with concern. “I think she’s behind what happened on Dig Deep. The scandal with Meiya... it’s too calculated. It’s almost exactly like what happened with Love Now.”

Aqua froze, his eyes narrowing in both disbelief and a hint of admiration. “Lapis... are you actually smart?”

Lapis blinked, caught off guard. “You thought I was dumb?”

“Well, considering your grades—”

“Stop looking up my grades without my permission,” Lapis interrupted, exasperated. He regained his composure. “Of course, I figured it out. I was there when the Love Now scandal broke. The setup, the fallout, the way public opinion was manipulated—it’s practically a blueprint for this situation.” Lapis paused, shaking his head. “But Ruby? I didn’t think she’d be capable of pulling something like this.”

Aqua sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You’re not wrong. I confronted her about it.”

Lapis leaned against the counter, tension etched on his face. “And?”

Aqua’s jaw tightened as he began recounting the argument.

Flashback…

Aqua and Ruby were walking off the set of dig deep when Aqua confronted her.Ruby explains how

“Ruby,” Aqua started, his voice low but sharp, “in other words... you caused that scandal on the show on purpose? To win over Director Urushibara?”

Ruby glanced at him, her expression unreadable. “It’s just a coincidence,” she said with a shrug. “When I submitted my first proposal, I did a little digging.I knew this show had some problems with how it conducts interviews.And so I just introduced them to someone who likes to start drama. ”

“Meiya,” Aqua said, his tone laced with accusation.

Ruby nodded, a sly smile tugging at her lips. “Exactly. Meiya-san has done this sort of thing plenty of times. Every time someone crosses her, she tweets about it, gets her fans involved, and lets them tear the person apart. She’s practically made for this kind of chaos. So yeah, I figured she’d do it again.”

Aqua’s eyes narrowed. “I thought she was your friend.”

Ruby turned to him, her smile vanishing.“Definitely not.I hate loose-lipped people.These days people are always exposing this or Shining a light on that.I think it's a bit strange.If you use leeks well, you might make the world a better place, but most of them are just used as personal attacks.Most leaks are just a mix of someone's disconnect and personal grudge.They're just showing off by saying”I know about this thing, aren't I great?”

Her voice grew sharper as she continued.”.They bypass the steps of talking things out or investigating the truth and just use their one-sided views to Launch and attack the other person for entertainment, internet users will burn someone at the stake and then throw rocks from a safe distance.I know well that people haven't changed at all since the time of which trials.They're all messed up.”

Ruby paused, her expression darkening.”.Mama was troubled by it too.Someone uploaded a picture of her with a classmate she happened to meet on the street and just made up some stuff about her.Everyone just believed in the worst and accepted the one-sided information.They made up their own stories… but in the end they even started calling Mama a slut.”

Present day…

“I thought using people like this was the thing she hated the most, that she wanted to become a Pure Idol but she used Ai as an excuse and said she'll become famous soon”said Aqua.

Lapis’s expression is a mix of disbelief and concern.

“Damn,” Lapis muttered. “I mean, I knew Ruby was ambitious, but this... this is on another level.”

Aqua nodded grimly.

Lapis sighed, rubbing his temples. “So what do we do? Just let her keep going until it blows up in her face?”

“I don’t know,” Aqua admitted. “But if we push too hard, she’ll only dig her heels in deeper. Right now, I think the best we can do is keep an eye on her—and try to minimize the damage.”

Lapis frowned but nodded reluctantly. “Fine. But if she crosses another line, we’re stepping in. Agreed?”

“Agreed,” Aqua said, his voice heavy.

Few minutes later…

The screen lit up with a vibrant overlay, while the whimsical VTuber Nox Ryugasaki floated on the other. Nox’s design was of a ninja with yellow glasses, faintly as she waved to the chat.

“Hey, everyone! Welcome back to the stream!” Lapis said, his real voice full of energy but not overly forced. “Today, I’ve got the one and only Nox Ryugasaki with me! Say hi, Nox!”

“Hi, hi~!” Nox chimed, her bubbly voice lighting up the chat as viewers spammed emojis. “Thanks for inviting me, Blitz-kun! I’ve been hyped for this collab all week!”

The stream unfolded smoothly, brimming with chaotic yet hilarious moments. The duo’s playful banter brought an extra layer of entertainment as they teamed up against in-game challenges. The chat exploded with laughter when they stumbled into traps or accidentally triggered combat with NPCs.

“Wait, Blitz-kun, did you really just throw a health potion at a goblin?!” Nox teased, her avatar tilting its head in mock confusion.

“It was a distraction tactic! Totally intentional,” Lapis defended, cracking up. “C’mon, chat, back me up here!”

By the end of the stream, viewers were clamoring for more collabs, their messages flooded with heart emojis and demands for a rematch.

After ending the stream, Lapis leaned back in his chair, letting out a small sigh. The overlay disappeared, leaving just the two of them in a private call.

“That was super fun,” Nox said, her tone softer but still warm. “I needed that after this week.”

“Yeah, it was a good time,” Lapis replied, his voice quieter now.

Nox paused, sensing the shift in his mood. “Hey, B5... are you alright? You’ve been a little off tonight.”

Lapis hesitated for a moment, then sighed. “I’ve just got a lot on my mind lately.”

“Is it... the scandal on Dig Deep?” Nox asked carefully.

“Well... yeah, that’s part of it,” Lapis admitted. “But it’s also something else. A friend of mine has a crush on someone they’re close to. I gave him some advice, and I’m just hoping it actually helps.”

Nox’s avatar froze for a fraction of a second,ears twitching nervously before she managed a casual response. “Oh? What’s the story there?”

Lapis gave a short laugh. “Well, he’s been crushing on this person for a while. You know, the fiery type who doesn’t take crap from anyone.”

Nox’s avatar blinked rapidly, his cheerful tone”I know the type.”

“Yeah,” Lapis continued, unaware of her reaction. “The thing is, this person’s been going through a rough time lately, and my friend’s been trying to be there for them. He told me this story about how he stepped in after they had this run-in with some jerk and the ran to this jellyfish morale. He wanted to help, but I’m not sure he knows how to balance being a friend and, you know, wanting more.”

“I-I see,” Nox said, her voice slightly shaky.

“Anyway,” Lapis said, sighing again, “I told him to just keep being there for them and let things happen naturally. But man, I hope I didn’t steer him wrong.”

Nox hesitated, her animated avatar glancing away as if deep in thought. “Blitz-kun… I think you gave him good advice. If this person’s going through something, having someone like your friend around probably means more than they realize.”

Lapis smiled faintly. “Thanks, Nox. That actually makes me feel a bit better.”

“No problem,maybe invite this friend to a game.Gotta be better than Cotton-san” she said quickly, her tone lightening again.

“Ha! Sure thing,” Lapis replied,logging out.

Elsewhere….

In a dimly lit apartment, Kiui Watase sat frozen in front of their monitor, their hands gripping their headset as their mind replayed Lapis’s words.

“Fiery, no-nonsense type… jellyfish mural…” Kiui muttered, cheeks burning as realization dawned. “Oh my god… is he talking about me?!”
Their panicked thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at the door. Quickly pulling themselves together, Kiui peeked through the peephole to see Hachi standing outside, a small paper bag in hand.

Hachi didn’t wait long, placing the bag gently by the door before walking off. Kiui watched for a moment, then opened the door to retrieve the bag, their mind still racing.
Inside, a small note was taped to the front of the bag:

“Eat up. You looked like you needed this earlier. —Hachi”

Kiui’s heart pounded as they set the bag on the counter, their thoughts torn between Lapis’s cryptic story and the thoughtful gesture in front of them. “What am I supposed to do with all this?!” they whispered, burying their face in their hands.

With Lapis…

After the cosplay drama, Ruby's popularity began to rise, she even won newcomer of the year at the female Idol Awards. Aqua also gained in popularity as an up-and-coming actor, Lapis gained even more popularity since the show as well. Not only with the band selling out shows, but also on his channels.He even got to guess role in a movie.As a pair of good looking triplets, they were invited together as guests on several other shows with many more to come.

The concert hall buzzed with the lingering energy of the crowd as Soulless Logo wrapped up their final encore for the night. Backstage, Lapis leaned against a wall, letting out a tired sigh as he wiped sweat from his forehead. The roar of the audience still echoed faintly in his ears.

Lapis leaned against the wall backstage, still catching his breath as the roar of the crowd outside began to fade. The recent concert had been a massive success, another sold-out show for Soulless Logo. Despite the adrenaline still coursing through him, a wave of fatigue hit as he let out a quiet sigh.

“Great work out there, Blitz-kun,” Yui, said as she walked over, handing him a cold water bottle. Her tone was casual, but her smile carried genuine warmth.

“Thanks,” Lapis replied, taking the bottle and giving her a nod of appreciation. He cracked it open, taking a long sip as Shinsuke trudged over to join them.

“Man, that was intense,” Shinsuke said, wiping the sweat off his brow with a towel. “You’ve been giving it your all lately, Lapis. Almost feels like you’re in overdrive or something.”
Saeko approached with her usual serene aura. “You’ve been working hard, Lapis,” she said, her calm voice cutting through the background noise. “It’s admirable, but don’t burn yourself out.”

Lapis gave a small laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “Everyone’s been putting in the effort. It’s not just me. This whole band’s been pushing to make every show better than the last.”

Shinsuke chuckled, shaking his head. “Yeah, but you’re like a man possessed out there. You’ve been juggling so much lately—shows, your channel, that movie role. Meanwhile, here I am barely surviving rehearsals.”

Yui laughed. “Don’t sell yourself short, Shin-kun. You’re the heart of this band. And speaking of juggling, Lapis, I saw our channel’s subscriber count has been climbing like crazy. Guess being Blitz5 and a Soulless Logo frontman has its perks.”

Saeko tilted her head thoughtfully. “Not just that. Ruby’s rise in popularity probably brought more attention to the triplets as a whole.”
Lapis smirked faintly. “Yeah, it’s been a whirlwind for all of us. The invitations to shows, the interviews—it’s nonstop. Not complaining, though. This is what we worked for.”
“Speaking of channels,” Shinsuke interjected, pulling out his phone, “have you seen B-Komachi’s YouTube numbers lately? They’re catching up to us. They just hit 970k subscribers.”

“Already?” Lapis raised an eyebrow, genuinely impressed. “That’s some serious growth. Ruby’s really making waves.”

Yui leaned against the wall, crossing her arms with a wry smile. “You really can’t underestimate the power of good timing and drama. That cosplay scandal probably gave B-Komachi a huge boost, but Ruby’s been sharp about making it work for her. Same goes for you, Lapis. Lately, it feels like everything you do turns to gold.”
Shinsuke chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “Honestly, I thought the fans would turn on us when we started adding Saeko’s dark, twisted songs to the setlist.”
Saeko, who had been quietly sipping her drink, arched an eyebrow. Without a word, she grabbed a small ice pack, walked over, and slipped it down the back of Shinsuke’s shirt.

“Excuse me for writing dark, twisted songs,” she said coolly, as Shinsuke immediately shot up from his seat, flailing as he tried to shake the ice out.

The rest of the band burst into laughter, Lapis clutching his sides while Yui wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.

“Okay, okay, I take it back!” Shinsuke managed to say, still squirming.

Once the laughter subsided, Yui leaned forward, her expression softening. “You know, I really liked the last two shows. The tributes to Toriyama-sensei were something special.”

“He didn’t just add Dragon Ball songs either,” Saeko chimed in, her voice still holding a faint trace of amusement. “He included Sand Land and Dr. Slump too. The deep cuts.”

Lapis nodded, his expression more serious now. “Like every other fan, I was heartbroken when I heard the news. Akira Toriyama was a legend, and his work shaped so much of our world. The least I could do was pay tribute to him in the best way I know how.”

The room fell into a quiet moment of respect, each of them reflecting on the legacy of the creator who had inspired millions.

“Guess that’s one of the things I admire about you, Lapis,” Yui said after a pause. “You always find a way to turn your emotions into something meaningful, whether it’s a tribute, a song, or a performance.”

After everyone had been dropped off,Lapis walked in to see Miyako on the phone along with holding a bunch of papers.

“(They must all be for Ruby, Guess I’ll get started on dinner then)”Lapis thought as rolled up his sleeves but Aqua entered the room.

“The job of a president seems really hectic” he comments.

“There's just so many things on my plate.I'm just getting told so many things from so many directors at once I feel like my head's gonna burst”Miyako comments.

“(He also got me in and Aqua, too)”Lapis thought.

“From reschedules to meeting, businesses, and even signing contracts, and I've got to drink with the station's director later for a business meeting”said Myako as Aqua handed her stamina drink.

“Good thing Yoshizumi-kun joined”said Lapis.

“You can say that again, I would long have died from over work without him around”said Miyako.

“(The fact that he quit working in television just to come work here, Ruby is truly terrifying)”Lapis thought.

“If possible, I want to be present when Ruby is appearing on set. only people who are physically close by would be able to provide assistance when something unexpected happens”said Miyako.

Aqua placed a book over her face”How about taking a nap? I'll wake you when you need to leave for your next meeting-”

“I'll go get her a blanket”Lapis adds.

Miyako yawns.“MM…Thanks.In the first place, I'm more suited to being on-site but after Ichigo left, I've no choice but to carry on with his duties.. it's during times like this when you can see what you're really made of.”

Miyako continued”If I were a big shot, I would be landing jobs as a main host for talents but with our rent standingI can only get minor appearances for them with my best efforts. It's mostly because I had neither the connections nor the experience that people don't me seriously.It's not everyday you get a breakout like this where a star could be born from our agency. I’m so useless.”

Lapis place the blanket onto her“That's not true.”

“Right now, Ruby is getting a steady flow of jobs… she's just lucky”said Aqua.

“It's almost like…She's so lucky, that you can feel someone’s will behind it”said Miyako.

Chapter 30: Mainstay Arc:Lapis and Akane’s Revelation

Notes:

How's it going everyone, sorry for the long wait but here's Chapter 30 with the next chapter coming soon, enjoy.

Lapis sat on the edge of his bed, phone pressed to his ear as he spoke with Akane.

“So, tomorrow’s the Japan Film Awards ceremony?” he asked.

“Yup!” Akane replied, a mix of excitement and nervousness in her voice. “I mean, I’m just one of the winners for the many New Actor Awards, but it’s a red carpet event, so… yeah, I’m kinda nervous.”

Lapis smirked. “Wow, the Kurokawa Akane—the same woman who could knock birds out of the sky with sheer determination—actually gets nervous? Shocker.”

Akane chuckled. “Of course I do…I was actually wondering… would you mind meeting up afterward? It’ll be late, after the wrap party and everything, but the gala outfit—”

“Say less, I’ll be at your place—” Lapis began, but a sudden BOOM echoed through the house, cutting him off mid-sentence. His expression hardened. “Uh, Akane? I gotta call you back.”

Without waiting for a reply, Lapis hung up and rushed out of his room. The noise had come from Aqua’s room. When he got there, he found Aqua leaning against the wall, books and shelves scattered across the floor like the aftermath of a storm.

“Aqua?” Lapis asked cautiously. “You… okay?”

Aqua’s expression was dark, unreadable. “Leave. I don’t feel like seeing people right now.”

Lapis sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Alright… but if you need to talk, I’m here. Just say the word.”

He left without pressing further, knowing Aqua well enough to understand he wouldn’t talk unless he wanted to. Back in his own room, Lapis called Akane back.

“Sorry about that,” he said. “Aqua’s acting weird… something must’ve happened, but—anyway.”

The Next day at Night…

Akane pulled into her driveway, stepping out of the car with a tired sigh. But the exhaustion melted away when she spotted Lapis standing at her doorstep, a bouquet of flowers in hand.

He looked up at her with a warm smile. “Congratulations on winning the New Actor Award.”

Her heart swelled. Without thinking, she rushed toward him, throwing her arms around his neck before pressing a deep, passionate kiss to his lips.

Inside Akane’s home…

Lapis lounged in her chair near the computer while Akane sat on her bed, still basking in the afterglow of her victory.

“So, what do you wanna do?” Lapis asked playfully. “Play some games? Go over lines? Or perhaps—”

He trailed off as he caught himself staring at her chest.

Akane smirked, leaning closer. She straddled his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck and whispering into his ear, “Luckily for you, my parents won’t be back until tomorrow. We have all night.”

Lapis grinned, but before he could respond, her expression turned serious.

“Hey… Aqua-kun was home during the ceremony, right?” Akane asked.

Lapis blinked, caught off guard. “Yeah, I saw him in the kitchen.he walked past during the broadcast. Why?”

Akane muttered to herself, “So it wasn’t him…”

Lapis frowned. “Did something happen?”

“It’s probably nothing,” Akane said quickly. “We can play some games, but first, I want to check out these videos.”

“Videos?” Lapis asked, intrigued.

Akane remained on his lap as she turned toward the computer. “Yeah. A Lala Lai graduate now owns his own agency. Kindaichi-san said he was one of their best performers.”

She navigated to a YouTube page and clicked on one of the top videos—a live performance.

Lapis smirked. “You know, if you wanted to come to one of my concerts, you just had to ask.”

Akane rolled her eyes, but she smiled. “Seriously?”

“Of course. Just say the word, and I’ll get you a backstage pass.” He winked.

She shook her head with a laugh before finally clicking on the Lala Lai Shared Inspection Rehearsal – 2006 video. As it played, both their eyes widened.

The man in the video… looked eerily similar to Aqua.

They stared at the screen, then at each other.

“He looks similar…” they murmured in unison.

Lapis turned to Akane, his expression serious. “What are you thinking?”

Akane’s gaze hardened. “Aqua-kun believed the culprit was from Lala Lai based on Ai’s participation in their workshop before she got pregnant. But he never had solid proof… But what if—what if Himekawa Taiki isn’t Seijuro’s biological child, but someone else’s?”

Lapis’s breath hitched. “(That little girl… she mentioned a blonde-haired young man…)” His eyes darkened.

“He’s our…” Lapis whispered, rage building in his chest.

Akane noticed the fury on his face. “Lapis?”

His jaw clenched. “(So he’s our father… the one behind Ai’s death. The blonde-haired boy at the hospital who helped kill Aqua in his …But—)”

“What’s his name?” Lapis asked.

Akane hesitated before answering. “Kamiki Hikaru.” Then, as her eyes trailed back to the computer, a sickening realization dawned on her. “Wait… if we count backward from there… Himekawa-san was born 20 years ago. That means Hikaru sired him when he was only 11 years old? That’s… sick.”

She clenched her fists. “Let sleeping dogs lie… I wonder if that’s the case.”

Lapis was shaking with rage. “If Kamiki really is the culprit, and Aqua finds him… he won’t just let this go.”

Akane gripped his face, forcing him to look at her. “Listen to me. Even if we prove Kamiki was responsible or make him confess his doings, he was a minor at the time of the crime. He won’t be imprisoned. And if Aqua-kun finds his way to him, he won’t just want justice—he’ll want revenge.”

“Which means he’ll go after him directly,” Lapis muttered. His fists clenched. “We can’t let him do that.”

“We’ll do something about this. Together.” Akane’s voice was firm, unwavering. “This is just a theory for now… but I won’t let the real culprit—the person who shattered all of your lives—get away with it. Absolutely not.We'll just think about this together.First, we'll need to investigate this thoroughly.”

Lapis exhaled sharply before pulling her into a deep kiss. As their foreheads pressed together, he murmured, “I’m really glad I have you with me.”
Just then, his phone buzzed.

A message from Nox Ryugasaki.

Nox: Hey… Can we meet in person tomorrow?

Lapis sighed, rubbing his forehead. “Akane, are you doing anything tomorrow?”

“I’ve got the day off,” she said, tilting her head. “Why?”

“Great,” Lapis replied, closing his phone. “Let’s spend the day together. But before that—”

With a playful smirk, he lifted her up and carried her to the bed.

Akane giggled. “You really don’t waste time, do you?”

“Not when it comes to you,” Lapis murmured, capturing her lips once more.

Here's your rewritten chapter with improved flow, dialogue, and character interactions:

The next day…

Lapis and Akane sat in the back of a quiet coffee shop, the soft hum of conversations filling the air around them.

“So, do you know this person?” Akane asked, stirring her drink.

“Not in IRL,” Lapis admitted, leaning back in his chair. “But don’t worry—I’m prepared in case it’s some creep.”

Just then, a figure seated a few tables away pointed directly at him.

Lapis raised an eyebrow in confusion but then noticed the person’s grin—and it instantly clicked. His expression lit up.

“Wait… Kiui?! No way! Long time no see! And—whoa, you have pink hair now!”

Kiui chuckled. “Your reaction was way better than Mahiru’s.”

Lapis blinked in realization. “Wait—then that means you’re Nox, which means that I… oh, crap.”

Kiui blushed, shifting awkwardly in her seat. “Yeah… that’s actually what I wanted to talk about.”

Akane watched the interaction curiously. “Old friend of yours?”

“All the way back to junior high,” Lapis explained before groaning. “See, I didn’t realize she was my friend online, and I kinda… accidentally told her that another friend of ours has a thing for her.”

Kiui fidgeted. “I still can’t believe Hachi likes me like that… I’ve never even thought about… you know.”

“Dating?” Lapis asked.

Kiui nodded hesitantly. “Well… I barely go outside, so I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

Lapis thought for a moment before offering, “Why not just hang out together?”

“I just said I don’t go outside much—”

“I mean in a way that’s comfortable for you,” Lapis clarified. “Play games with him. Whether it’s online or at each other’s houses, just spend time together.”

“That could work,” Akane added. “It’d give him a chance to see a different side of you.”

Kiui bit her lip. “But how do I even invite him? We haven’t talked since… everything.”

“Do what you usually do,” Lapis suggested.

“You make it sound so easy,” Kiui muttered.

Lapis grinned. “If you struggle to invite him, just call me. I’ll help out.”

Kiui smirked. “Good to see fame hasn’t changed you. I was shocked when I found out you were the one under that mask—even more shocked to see Ruby and Aqua all over TV.”

“Hey, I saw that you joined a new group—Jelly, right? The one with the little mascot?” Lapis asked.

“Yeah,” Kiui confirmed. “I have to meet up with them after this, but it was great catching up.” She turned to Akane with a smile. “And congratulations on your award.”

With that, Kiui waved and walked off, leaving Lapis and Akane alone.

Lapis exhaled, finishing the last sip of his coffee. Then, his expression turned serious.

“Alright,” he said. “Let’s start asking around about Kamiki.”

Akane nodded, and together, they left the coffee shop, determined to uncover the truth.

Chapter 31: Mainstay Arc:Together

Notes:

Chapter 31 and we heading into the Scandel Arc,enjoy

Lapis and Akane spent the day asking around, gathering information about the man who was Lapis’ father. Hours later, they sat in Akane’s room, a large board set up in front of them. Names, connections, and leads were scribbled across it, creating a web of possibilities.

“You know,” Lapis joked, leaning back against the chair, “if you ever wanted to quit acting, you’d make a great detective.”

Akane pouted. “You’re just saying that because I’m doing all the work.”

She glanced at the board, tracing a name with her finger. “He established a production company when he was twenty-five. The office is located at…” She yawned, rubbing her eyes.

Lapis stretched. “Why don’t we call it a night? I’m getting tired, too.”

“Why not stay over?” Akane suggested. “My mom doesn’t have a problem with you—”

Just then, her phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID and tensed.

“It’s Aqua.”

Lapis nodded. “Go ahead and answer.”

Akane picked up. “Hello? Aqua-kun?”

“You sound exhausted,” Aqua noted.

“Yeah,” she admitted, stifling another yawn. “I’ve been walking around a lot lately, so I’m sore and—” She paused when she noticed Lapis frantically signaling her to change the topic.

“I’d rather not hear about what you and my brother—”

“I-It’s nothing like that!” Akane quickly interrupted, flustered. “I’m just… tired, that’s all.”

Lapis exhaled, relieved. (If Aqua finds out, Miyako finds out, and I really don’t need that headache.)

“I was calling to ask if you’ve seen Lapis,” Aqua continued. “I haven’t seen him all day.”

Akane glanced at Lapis, who gestured for her to lie.

“I’m meeting up with him later,” she said smoothly. “He probably just forgot to charge his phone. I’ll tell him you called.”

Aqua was quiet for a moment. “…Are you two up to something?”

“No! Well…” Akane scrambled for an excuse. “I’m on a diet, and I convinced Lapis to join me.”

Lapis shot her a look, but Aqua seemed to buy it.

“Alright then,” Aqua said before hanging up.

Lapis sighed. “You’re skinny enough. You don’t need to diet.”

Akane pouted. “Moo~ But if I got fat, you wouldn’t love me anymore, right?”

Lapis stepped closer, placing his hands on either side of her head as she lay on the bed. His gaze met hers, unwavering.

“I’ll always love you.”

Akane’s face turned red as she smiled giddily. “Back then…I didn’t make the wrong choice after all. I’m so glad I’m with you, Lapis-kun. I’m so happy right now.”

Lapis softened. “I’m happy too, Akane. I don’t know where I’d be if it weren’t for you. You’ve helped me with Aqua, with finding a way to save him… and now, you’re helping me uncover the truth about Kamiki. You mean everything to me.”

Akane cupped his cheek. “Lapis-kun, I want to carry your burden with you. Once everything is settled…”

Lapis gently held her hand. “Once everything is settled… You, me, a nice home somewhere.Maybe go on a trip.”

Later that evening, they took a walk along a bridge. As Lapis descended the stairs, he glanced back—just in time to see Akane stumble forward as if she’d been shoved by a hooded man.

A surge of panic shot through him. The image overlapped with a distant memory—Ai being stabbed by a hooded man.

Without thinking, he sprinted back up and caught her before she hit the ground, taking a few rough tumbles himself.

Akane blinked, dazed. She turned to see Lapis, his face tight with worry.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?” he asked urgently.

She followed his gaze upward. A man in a black hood stood at the top of the stairs. Lapis tensed, fists clenched.

“I-I’m sorry! I wasn’t looking ahead!” The man suddenly pulled back his hood, revealing an ordinary face. “Are you hurt anywhere?”

He apologized several more times before running off. Akane waved him away, still catching her breath.

“That scared me,” she admitted. “For a second, I thought someone actually pushed me.”

“You’re not the only one who was scared,” Lapis muttered.

Akane smiled, hugging his arm. “You’re my hero, Lapis-kun. You always come running when I’m in danger.”

Lapis exhaled, about to respond—until he noticed someone standing a few feet away.

Aqua.

Lapis stiffened. “Aqua—”

“I’m warning you both. Don’t do anything reckless,” Aqua said coolly.

Akane frowned. “Why?”

Lapis crossed his arms. “Actually, better question—what are you doing here?”

“You’re not working today, are you? And if you were just heading home from school, why aren’t you in uniform?” Akane pressed. “Also… the way you said ‘don’t do anything dangerous’… it sounds like you know exactly what we’re doing.”

Aqua was silent.

“…You’re sharp, Akane.”

Akane’s gaze flickered down to the small keychain attached to her bag—the one Aqua had gifted her for her birthday. Suspicion growing, she carefully pulled at the stitching.
A small, hidden device tumbled into her palm.

Her breath hitched.

“Aqua-kun… this isn’t good,” she whispered. “You shouldn’t have done this.”

Lapis took the tracker from her, glaring at Aqua. “When did you plant this?”

“After my love ended,” Aqua admitted. “I thought Akane might find something out. I planted that so I could track her in case she came into contact with the culprit. Looks like my judgment was right.”

Lapis clenched his fist—and before Aqua could react, he punched him.

Aqua staggered back, stunned. Akane gasped.

“You could have trusted her,” Lapis snapped. “She helped you, didn’t she? She knows our situation too.”

Akane stepped forward, shaking with emotion. “I am not your pet, Aqua! I’m not your property! I’m a person! This just proves you don’t see me as one! We would have helped you—”

“Liar.”

Aqua wiped his mouth, his gaze dark.

“Akane, if you’d known I was watching, you would’ve worn a disguise today, wouldn’t you? Even with my father’s information, you were trying to take care of everything without me.”

“That’s not—”

“Then explain this.” Aqua gestured to the ground.

Akane followed his gaze—her flowers had fallen, and beside them, a small knife glinted under the streetlight.

Aqua’s voice was quiet. “What were you planning to do with this?”

Akane hesitated. “We were just going to talk to him. But we don’t know what would’ve happened, right? He’s a murderer,after all. I just thought… I might need it. In case of an emergency.”

Aqua’s expression hardened. “The both of you—”

“You’re selfish, Aqua,” Lapis cut in.

Aqua’s gaze snapped to him.

“You think it’s fine if you’re the only one who has to cross that line. But newsflash—it’s not. You don’t even consider how it would affect Ruby, Miyako, Kana, or me if something happened to you. You're not thinking about the consequences.” Lapis’ voice was low, thick with frustration. “You’re taking the wrong path.”

Aqua’s fingers twitched. He looked away, his expression unreadable.

“I know.”

Without another word, he turned and walked off, disappearing into the night.

Lapis exhaled sharply before turning to Akane—who was trembling, tears spilling down her cheeks.

“We couldn’t save him after all—”

“That’s not true.”

Lapis gently cupped her face, wiping her tears away with his thumbs. “He thinks this is the only way, but we’ll find another one. Aqua wants revenge, fine…” His starry eyes gleamed with determination. “But I’ll do everything I can to make sure both of them make it out alive. His revenge will be when our father is arrested.”

Akane stared at him, awestruck by the fire in his eyes.

“Are you still willing to help me?” Lapis asked softly. “I don’t want anything to happen to you… If you were to end up like—” He clenched his fists. “If he took you away, too… I don’t think I could—”

Akane silenced him with a kiss, pressing her lips to his. When she pulled back, she rested her forehead against his.

“Remember what I said?” she whispered. “I want to carry your burden with you. We’ll stop him—together—no matter what.”

Lapis closed his eyes, a small smile forming on his lips.

(Mom, keep watching over us. I made a promise to you—to protect Aqua and Ruby. I intend to keep it, no matter what… But I’ll also find a way for everyone to walk away from this.)

A Week Later…

Miyako sat at her desk, eyes glued to her computer screen. Lapis leaned against the desk beside her, scrolling through his phone.

“Looks like Soulless will be working with Flow—”

“Seriously?!” Lapis grinned. “I love those guys! Shin’s gonna lose his—”

He cut himself off when he noticed Miyako’s expression darken.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

She turned the screen toward him. An email was open, the subject line instantly catching his attention:

“Regarding Kana Arima—Urgent Inquiry”

Lapis scanned the message.

Dear Miyako Saito-sama,
My apologies for the sudden email. My name is Itano from the editorial department of Hounsha Weekly Entertainment. We would like to publish an article about an idol employed at your agency, Kana Arima-san, in our October 23rd issue.

In line with this, we would like to get an official confirmation and your opinion regarding the enclosed pictures. If possible, we would also like a formal interview.
Attached was a photo—Kana entering a building, a man in a cap walking beside her.

Lapis’ stomach twisted.

“Things just got a little messy, huh?” Miyako murmured.

Lapis immediately pulled out his phone and called Kana. Straight to voicemail.

He tried again.

Voicemail.

A cold feeling settled in his chest.

Without wasting another second, he stormed down the hall to Aqua’s room and pushed the door open.

Aqua sat on his bed, staring blankly at his phone. He barely glanced up.

“What are—”

“This isn’t about what happened,” Lapis interrupted. His voice was sharp, urgent. “It’s about Kana.”

That got Aqua’s attention.

Chapter 32: Scandal Arc:Family Secret Revealed

Notes:

I said, a new chapter every Wednesday so here's Chapter 32.Enjoy

Miyako tried calling Kana again, but once more, her phone went straight to voicemail.

“She’s not picking up,” Miyako muttered, lowering her phone with a sigh.

“She didn’t come to practice, either. She’s... never skipped practice before,” Aqua added, concern evident in his voice.

Miyako exhaled sharply. “She might have heard about it already. Yare, yare, I can’t take action without hearing the details from her first! She may not even come back today.”

“I think she will,” Aqua said firmly.

Lapis, standing silently beside them, clenched his fists. (She was already struggling because of him, but now this...)

Miyako shook her head. “You don’t understand. Kids around eighteen aren’t as strong as you think. We—publishers, fans, the entire entertainment industry—prey on these young, fragile talents, piling endless pressure and responsibility onto their shoulders. The entertainment world keeps spinning, all while crushing the hearts and lives of these kids.”

Lapis turned to Aqua. “Let’s go look for her.”

Without another word, the two boys left the office, stepping into the cool evening air. An unshakable sense of unease settled over them as they searched the city.

“La—” Aqua started.

“Not now,” Lapis interrupted. “We need to find Kana. When we do, you talk to her. You’re the only person she’ll listen to right now.”

Aqua glanced at him. “Since when do you care so much? I thought you didn’t like her.”

Lapis sighed. “Because she’s my friend.When you were ignoring her we got to talking.”

Eventually, they found her. In a quiet park, Kana sat near a gated area, knees pulled tightly to her chest, her face buried between them. Lapis stopped, watching for a moment before silently turning on his heel.

“I’ll leave this to you,” he said, walking away.

By the time he returned to the office, Miyako was waiting for him.

“So, how bad does this look for B-Komachi?” Lapis asked.

“Not as bad as I originally thought,” Miyako replied. “The photo was taken in front of Director Shima’s apartment. Big-name celebrities don’t use hotels or have dates at their homes, so reporters often camp outside their apartments, using them as hunting grounds.”

“So they were targeting the director, not Kana personally,” Lapis concluded.

Moments later, the office door opened. Ruby and Mem-cho arrived, followed shortly by Aqua and Kana. Lapis could tell just by looking at her—she was still shaken, still weighed down by the situation.

Later that evening, Lapis, Aqua, and Ruby sat outside in silence.

“What’s going to happen to Senpai now?” Ruby finally asked, her voice filled with worry.

“This is definitely going to impact her career,” Lapis murmured.

“Poor thing…” Ruby sighed.

Aqua suddenly spoke. “Ruby… Lapis…”

They both turned to him.

“If there was a way to save Arima, even if it hurts and is a painful choice for you, would you take it?” he asked.

“Isn’t it obvious? She’s my friend,” Ruby answered without hesitation.

“She’s helped us a lot. Of course, I’d save her,” Lapis added.

“I see,” Aqua said simply before standing up and heading inside.

Lapis narrowed his eyes. Something about Aqua’s tone unsettled him.

Later in the week…

On the day of the Weekly Entertainment True Story release, Lapis woke up and turned on the TV. To his shock, the news wasn’t about Kana.
It was about his mother.

“Ai Hoshino, who was murdered 12 years ago, had triplets who were four years old at the time of her death. According to reports, Ai-san was tragically killed by an enraged fan who had uncovered this secret.”

Lapis’ breath hitched.

(If there was a way to save Arima, even if it hurts and is a painful choice for you…) Aqua’s words echoed in his mind.

The reporter continued, “Currently, all three of her children are active in the entertainment industry—overcoming tragedy and following in their mother’s footsteps.”

As images of himself, Aqua, and Ruby flashed on the screen, Lapis clenched his fists. He immediately turned off the TV, but before he could even process it, his phone started buzzing.

Messages from Akane,Shinsuke, Saeko, and Yui flooded in.

Lapis gritted his teeth. “Damn it, Aqua…”

Then, a sudden noise downstairs made him bolt out of his room. He rushed down to find Ruby slamming Aqua against the wall, her face red with fury.

“What the hell is the meaning of this?!” she shouted.

“It was necessary,” Aqua replied, his voice eerily calm. “For Arima… and for us—”

“Us?!” Ruby cut him off. “How exactly does this help us?! You just exposed Mama’s biggest secret and ruined her reputation! The lie she protected as an idol—you destroyed it! Are you seriously okay with this?!”

“Of course he isn’t,” Lapis interjected, stepping closer.

Aqua turned to him.

“But you said it yourself, didn’t you?” Aqua continued. “If there’s a way to save your friend, no matter how painful it is, you’d do it.”

Ruby trembled. “What would Mama think if she saw this from heaven? Being betrayed by her own son like this…”

Aqua’s expression didn’t waver. “If it were Ai, I’m sure she’d say, ‘Oh my, the secret’s finally out,’ and laugh. Ai is dead, Ruby. This information is meant to be used for the sake of those who are still—”

“Shut the hell up, Aqua.”

Aqua blinked in surprise. Lapis was glaring at him, fury burning in his eyes.

“I get that there wasn’t another way… but my problem isn’t the decision itself. It’s the fact that you didn’t talk to us first. You just asked a vague question and then pulled this behind our backs,” Lapis snapped.

Ruby finally let go of Aqua and took a step back. “So this is it, huh? Senpai is safe, but our reputations are ruined. A ‘win-win,’ right?” she spat.

Aqua reached out. “Ruby—”

“Don’t touch me.”

Aqua’s eyes widened.

“You’ve changed,” Ruby said, her voice trembling. “Up until now, Mama has always been your number one. You’ve always been reckless when it came to her. I thought… I thought we had a bond because of that. Because you loved her just as much as I did. But you don’t, do you?”

“That’s not true,” Aqua said immediately.

“Liar.” Ruby’s voice cracked. “Liar, liar, liar. Everyone is a liar.” Tears welled in her eyes. “I… I can’t think of you as family anymore. Farewell, bro.”
With that, she turned and stormed out of the room.

Only Lapis and Aqua remained.

“I'm pretty sure I know what you're thinking” Lapis finally spoke, his voice quiet but firm. “You’re thinking this is fine. That this is for the best. But no matter what Ruby says, we’re still your family, jackass. If the three of us had actually put our heads together, we could’ve found a better way.”

Aqua sighed. “This is so you two can keep living… even after I’m gone.”

Lapis scoffed and turned toward the door. “Don't make it sound like you already have one foot in the grave.Self-righteous suicide…I'm positive she wouldn't want this for you, no one would.”

Later That Day…

Lapis found himself standing outside the hall where he was supposed to meet his bandmates. He hesitated.
He wasn’t sure how to face them after everything.

As he turned to leave, he suddenly noticed Saeko standing next to him. He nearly jumped.

“Damn near gave me a heart attack—”

“B-Lapis, aren’t you going in?” she asked softly.

“I am…I just…” He exhaled. “I don’t know how to face them after everything.”

Saeko smiled. “It doesn’t matter to me whose son you are. To me, you’re just Lapis—the one who started our group, the one who helped me when I was at my lowest, my closest friend.”

She turned, opened the door, and walked in.

Lapis stood there for a moment before finally smiling. He inhaled deeply, exhaled, and stepped inside.

“Took you long enough,” Shinsuke remarked.

Yui turned to him. “Don’t you think you’re being too casual?” She sighed before looking at Lapis. “He won’t say it, but he was really worried about you after everything—”

“Don’t tell him that!” Shinsuke snapped.

Yui gave him a teasing smirk before turning back to Lapis. “It was a shock for all of us. We don’t have to talk about it if you’re not ready.”

Lapis smiled at her. “Thanks, Yui.”

She immediately turned away, cheeks slightly red. “A-Anyway! Let’s get started!”

Late at night, Lapis sat on his bed, strumming his acoustic guitar. His fingers moved effortlessly over the strings, his voice carrying softly through the room.
"Darling, I’m killed, I’m in a puddle on the floor, waiting for you to return..."

"Oh, what a thrill… Fascinations galore, how you tease, how you leave me to burn..."

"It’s so deadly, my dear, the power of having you near..."

"Until the day… Until the world falls away… Until you say there’ll be no more goodbyes…"

"I see it in your eyes… Tomorrow never dies."

As the last note faded, the creak of his door opening made him glance up. Akane stood in the doorway, arms crossed.

“I wasn’t expecting you tonight—”

She pouted. “You weren’t answering any of my calls.”

Lapis sighed, setting his guitar aside. “Sorry. I had my phone on mute after everything… I just needed some quiet.”

Akane walked over and sat beside him on the bed. “How are you holding up?”

He leaned back against the headboard, exhaling slowly. “Honestly? I’m mad at Aqua for what he did… but at the same time, I get it.”

Akane tilted her head. “What happened?”

Lapis explained everything—the weight of Aqua’s actions, the consequences, the frustration building inside him.

“I see…” Akane said quietly. “I can understand why you’re conflicted.”

Lapis ran a hand through his hair. “If he had just talked to us—fully, openly—we could have figured something out. Something that wouldn’t have tarnished our mother’s legacy.” His voice tightened. “Just—damn it.”

Before he could spiral further, Akane gently placed his head on her lap. He blinked in surprise.

She gazed down at him, her expression soft. “You might be mad at him now, but over time… you’ll forgive him, won’t you?”

Lapis sighed, closing his eyes for a moment. “Of course, I will.”

There was a pause before he hesitantly spoke again. “Akane… if us being together—if it ever becomes too much—”

“Don’t even finish that sentence,” Akane cut in firmly.

A small smile tugged at Lapis’ lips. “Okay.”

His smile faded slightly as his thoughts drifted elsewhere. “To be honest, I’m more worried about Ruby. She didn’t take what Aqua did very well. When she gets back, I’ll try to talk to her.”

Two days later....

A few days had passed since the revelation, but its shockwaves still rippled through the industry.

Now, Ruby and Lapis stood behind the stage at a packed press conference room. The air buzzed with tension. Cameras flashed. Reporters murmured. The weight of the world pressed down on them.

Lapis clenched his fists, staring at the podium ahead. His heart pounded against his ribs, his hands clammy. For the first time in a long time, he felt like running.

Miyako stood beside them, watching him carefully. She noticed the restless tap of his fingers against his thigh, the way his breathing had become uneven.

“You’re nervous,” she stated.

Lapis swallowed hard. He didn’t even try to deny it. “Of course I am…” His voice was low.

Miyako placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “You don’t have to do this, Lapis. You and Ruby can still—”

“No,” he cut her off, shaking his head. “We have to.”

Miyako studied him for a long moment before sighing. “Then at least breathe. If you look too shaken, the reporters will tear you apart.”

Ruby stood beside them, silent. Unlike Lapis, her expression was unreadable. She hadn’t said much since that night, but he knew this weighed just as heavily on her.

The host of the conference stepped forward, tapping the microphone. “Thank you all for coming. Now, let’s begin.”

Lapis took one last deep breath. No turning back now.

He stepped forward, Ruby at his side. The cameras erupted in flashes, a relentless storm of light.

At first, the questions were expected—polite, probing but cautious. But then—

“Do you remember anything from that day?” a reporter asked.

Silence.

Lapis hesitated. His throat felt tight. He glanced at Ruby, who gave him a small nod. Steeling himself, he spoke.

“It was the day before the concert… Ruby was asleep, and I was looking for something to drink. I heard the doorbell.” His voice wavered. “Then I heard yelling. And that’s when…”

He clenched his fists. “I’m sorry. I haven’t thought about this in years…” He inhaled sharply. “I remember… she held onto me and Aqua. And she felt sorry—sorry for all the people who had been looking forward to the concert.”

Ruby took a step forward. Her voice, steady yet laced with quiet emotion, carried across the room.

“Right before she died, Mama said… ‘I wonder if you’ll become an idol when you grow up, Ruby. Maybe Lapis will play something on guitar. Aqua, will you become an actor?’” Ruby’s grip tightened at her sides. “Her dream was to perform at the Dome… but she never got to. So now, it’s my dream to make it come true.”

The room fell silent.

The weight of their words sank in, shifting the narrative entirely. The controversy that had threatened to consume them was transformed into something else—a story of loss, of perseverance, of children working to honor their mother’s legacy.

And just like that, public perception changed.

The triplets weren’t seen as victims of scandal.

They were seen as a family carrying their mother’s dream forward.

And the world wanted to support them.

Chapter 33: Scandal Arc:A Day Of Almost

Notes:

Sorry if this chapter feels like a bit of filler but I've been doing some stuff so I promise next Wednesday another chapter will be out.

At Strawberry Productions Inc., Lapis was preparing for another concert when he heard a knock at the door. Checking the security camera, he saw Kana standing outside. With a sigh, he opened the door.

“H-Hey, I—” she started, hesitating.

“If you’re looking for Aqua, I have no idea where he is,” Lapis said flatly. “We’re not exactly speaking at the moment.”

Kana stiffened, her thoughts racing. "(Did he make the decision without them?)"

Later that evening, Lapis was watching a movie when his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen—Kana.

"What now?"

Before he could even say hello, her voice came through, urgent.

“Open the door!”

Lapis blinked but got up, walking down the stairs to the front door. Sure enough, Kana was standing outside, phone in hand. He let her in, wordlessly heading to the kitchen to make tea.

“So… is there a reason you came over?” he asked, handing her a cup.

Kana hesitated before blurting out, “Why didn’t you tell me Aqua and Fuwa broke up?! I just found out—after I said all this stuff to him—”

Lapis raised an eyebrow. “They broke up? First I’m hearing about it. Also… what exactly did you say?”

Kana fidgeted, pressing her fingers together. “I, uh… may have told him things like, ‘I could never fall for a gloomy narcissist,’ and ‘I’ve never thought of you as a love interest, and I never will.’”

Lapis stared at her, then ran a hand down his face in exasperation. Taking a deep breath, he exhaled slowly.

“Is there a chance you completely ruined your shot? Yes. Yes, there is.”

Kana winced. “That bad?”

Lapis gave her a look. “Why would you say all that? Is it that hard for you to be honest?”

Kana crossed her arms. “I’d like to see you try to be honest about your feelings.”

Lapis smirked, pulling out his phone. He dialed a number, and within seconds, Akane picked up.

“Lapis-kun?” she answered.

“Hey, Akane, just wanted to call and say I love you,” Lapis said casually, locking eyes with Kana.

A soft chuckle came from the other line. “I love you too.”

“I’ll pick you up later, okay? Until then.” He hung up.

Kana groaned. “Show off.”

Lapis shrugged. “Proved you wrong.” Then, he leaned forward. “Now, back to your problem. Since you’ve just decided to stay friends, the best option you have is to hang out as usual and let things play out naturally.”

“That’s it?” Kana frowned.

“I mean, I could’ve come up with a dozen other plans,” Lapis said, leaning back with a sigh. “But considering what you said? This is all you’ve got left. Seriously, Kana, what were you thinking? That was your perfect opportunity, and you threw it away.”

Her stomach twisted at his words. It felt like a knife wound.

“I wasn’t thinking, okay?” she muttered, rubbing her temples. “Ugh, I know I’m an idiot. I should’ve just asked about the relationship first…”

Lapis shook his head but said nothing more.

Later that day…

Lapis was sitting with Akane at a quiet restaurant when Kiui Watase slid into the booth across from them, looking around cautiously.

“I made sure I wasn’t followed, like you asked… Still can’t believe Ai was your mother,” Kiui said, lowering his voice.

“Yeah, it’s… a lot,” Lapis admitted before changing the subject. “Anyway, how’s it going with you and Hachi?”

Kiui let out a deep sigh.

“Well… let’s just say it didn’t start off great.”

Flashback…

Kiui adjusted her skirt for the hundredth time, sneaking a glance at Hachi as they walked side by side. Their first official date. It should have felt exciting, romantic even—but so far, it had been… well, awkward.

Their first stop had been a café. Small, cozy, perfect for conversation. But as soon as their drinks arrived, silence stretched between them like an invisible wall. Kiui fumbled for a topic.

“So, um… do you like coffee?”

Hachi blinked at her, stirring his drink. “Yeah. It’s… nice.”

they nodded. “Yeah… nice.”

More silence.

Kiui took a sip of their iced latte, mentally screaming at herself. “(Why is this so hard?! He's not like the others.And he's not looking at me like that…Maybe it'll get better)”

Attempt two: the park.

The two strolled down a path lined with cherry blossoms, their petals fluttering in the breeze. It felt like the perfect moment—Kiui could almost hear the background music playing in a drama. She took a deep breath and decided to be bold.

“Hachi, I—”

He turned to them, eyes meeting theirs.

Their heart jumped.

This was it.

But just as they opened their mouth to say something meaningful, a passing dog barked loudly, making them flinch.

Hachi chuckled nervously. “Uh… you were saying?”

“It's nothing”Kiui said.

Kiui groaned. "Not again."

Third attempt: the arcade.

“Alright,” Kiui declared, gripping the controls of a claw machine. “I’m gonna win you a prize!”

Hachi watched as she carefully maneuvered the claw. “You got this.”

She pressed the button, holding her breath. The claw descended, grasping a plush cat—only for it to slip at the last second.

“Noooo!” they wailed.

Hachi patted her shoulder. “It was a good try.”

She turned to him, determined. “Okay, let’s try this again—”

And then, they locked eyes.

A moment of realization.

They were close. Really close.

Kiui’s face turned red. Hachi cleared his throat, stepping back.

“…Should we, uh, try another game?” he mumbled.

She groaned, covering her face. Three times. THREE TIMES we’ve almost had a moment, and each time, it got weird!

Then, an idea struck her.

Kiui grabbed Hachi’s wrist and dragged him toward a nearby booth.

“Come on,” she said with a grin.

Hachi looked at the sign. “Co-op rhythm game?”

“Yup! No awkward moments, no weird tension—just fun!”

They stepped onto the platform, each grabbing a set of controls. The music started, and the game flashed bright colors. Kiui stomped to the beat, matching the prompts, and to her surprise—Hachi kept up.

They laughed as they scrambled to hit every note, their movements hurried but in sync. Kiui found herself smiling without even realizing it. No pressure. No weird pauses. Just the two of them, having fun.

As the song ended, Hachi glanced at her, slightly breathless. “That was… really fun.”

Kiui nodded, catching her own breath. “Yeah. I actually felt comfortable with you for once.”

Hachi smiled softly. “Then… maybe next time, we start with a game instead?”

Kiui grinned. “Now you’re getting it.”

And for the first time that day, everything felt just right.

Hachi looked at her thoughtfully. “Kiui… why don’t we play online next time? If being in person makes you feel awkward—”

“It wasn’t because of you…” Kiui admitted, shifting awkwardly. “I just… I’ve never been on a date before, and I really didn’t want to ruin this.”

Hachi’s expression softened. “I felt the same. I was afraid I’d say the wrong thing or make things awkward, and that would be the end of it.”

Kiui chuckled. “So we’re both terrible at this, huh? We should’ve just said this from the start.”

Hachi rubbed the back of his neck. “Maybe we start with games first, and let everything else come naturally?”

Kiui smirked. “Now that is a good idea.”

Back in the Present…

“I thought we agreed that if things got awkward, you’d call me,” Lapis said, arms crossed.

“Well… I was about to,” Kiui admitted. “But then everything about your mom got out, and—”

“Fair enough,” Lapis said with a sigh.

“At least you two are making progress,” Akane pointed out.

Kiui nodded. “Yeah… I’ve even let him come over sometimes. We just hang out and play games together.”

Lapis smirked. “See? Told you it’d work out.”

Chapter 34: Scandal Arc:Sleepover at Yui's Part I

Notes:

So these last two chapters of the Scandal Arc will be focused on Souless Logo. I figured this would be a good way to end this art as we move into the Movie Ark. Look forward to it and enjoy.

Before their next practice, Yui walked into the sound room, only to freeze in place at the sight before her.

Lapis was in the middle of doing push-ups—shirtless. His toned muscles flexed with each movement, a slight sheen of sweat on his skin.

Lapis noticed her standing there and stopped, resting on one arm as he looked up. “Oh, hey, Yui. Whenever I beat everyone else here, I usually work out while I wait. They usually show up by the time I’m done, so…”

“That’s ho— I mean, uh, that’s fine,” Yui stammered, looking away quickly. “Anything I can help with? Sit-ups? Keeping count?”

Lapis chuckled. “Maybe next time. I’m sure the others will be here soon.”

“Oh, yeah, of course… next time,” Yui said, still a little flustered. She quickly changed the subject. “Also, I had a new idea for a song. Would you mind giving it a listen?”

“Sure thing,” Lapis said.

Yui pulled out her phone and played a recording of the melody she had come up with. Lapis listened closely, nodding along, tapping his fingers against his leg to the beat. After a moment, he grabbed a notebook and started jotting down ideas.

Then the song stopped.

“So… what do you think? No good?” Yui asked, a little nervous.

“Quite the opposite,” Lapis said with a smirk. “This will be great to show off Saeko’s range.”

“Glad you think so! Wonder what’s taking the others so long,” Yui mused.

“Shin had to get a shot today, and he really hates needles. Saeko’s bringing him here,” Lapis explained.

“Did he text you that?”

“Oh, no. His sister asked for help, so we basically tricked him into going. I told him we were sneaking into a fan meeting, and he fell for it.”
Just then, the door swung open, and a very worn-out Shinsuke stumbled in.

“You sadistic traitors! How could you help my sister?! How could you be so cruel?!” he cried dramatically. “Did all those concerts mean nothing to you?!”

“It’s your fault for acting like a child,” Saeko said flatly, following behind him.

“We only did it because we care about your health—” Yui started, but Shinsuke cut her off.

“You are not my parents! I don’t need—”

“If you do well in practice today, we’ll go to that restaurant you like,” Lapis interrupted smoothly.

Shinsuke perked up immediately. “So, what’s on the setlist today?”

Saeko sighed. “I believe you spoil him too much.”

“Oh, come on. It’s been a while since we’ve gone there,” Lapis reasoned. “Just gotta keep a low profile and make sure no one says my name too loudly.”

Yui tilted her head. “You know… I’ve noticed this for a while. You two sound an awful lot like parents.”

Lapis and Saeko exchanged glances before turning back to her. “What are you talking about?”

“Well, when it comes to the band and even Marin and Shin, you two act like their parents,” Yui pointed out. “Like last month.”

One Month Ago…

The group had gathered at Marin and Shinsuke’s apartment for a casual hangout.

“Maybe we can do something crazy on stage, like add a prop?” Shinsuke suggested.

Marin walked in, phone in hand. “Hey, guys! Want me to cook something for you?”

“I would very much appreciate it,” Saeko said.

“What’s on the menu?” Lapis asked.

Marin beamed. “Natto fried rice! I got fancy with the fried chicken and wieners last time—it was so good!”

She didn’t notice the way both Lapis and Saeko’s expressions darkened in unison.

“Shin, Marin-san… do you two eat like this every day?” Lapis asked carefully.

“I mean, we didn’t eat that for a whole week or anything. We also drink milk and eat yogurt every day. Sis says it’s good for the body,” Shinsuke replied.

“Bro, don’t forget the omelet I made yesterday—”

“Yeah, but it wasn’t that great. And for dinner, we just went out for burgers,” Shinsuke added.

Without a word, both Lapis and Saeko suddenly stood up.

Marin blinked, confused. “Eh…?”

Shinsuke watched as they went straight to the kitchen, looking through the fridge before starting to cook. “Guys?”

Lapis smiled at Marin. “Marin-san, please sit down. It won’t take long, okay?”

Marin hesitated, but then she sighed. “Yes, sir.”

Shinsuke started to protest, but then he saw the dark aura surrounding Saeko and immediately shut his mouth.

“If you stand up, I will use my waves to destroy your figurines,” Saeko warned.

Shinsuke paled. “Y-yes, ma’am.”

Both Lapis and Saeko thought the same thing at that moment:(We’re definitely going to start coming over more often.)

Back to the Present…

“She wasn’t actually going to use her sound waves… I think,” Lapis muttered, sounding unsure.

“And then there’s after concerts,” Yui continued. “When it’s super late, Saeko makes sure one of us has a blanket, and Lapis keeps us from hitting our heads against the window. And let’s not forget—you two always pack us lunch for road trips.”

“I must admit,” Saeko mused, “the thought of being called ‘Mama Saeko’ does have a certain ring to it—”

“No one is calling you that,” Shinsuke deadpanned.

“Perhaps that little girl outside will,” Saeko said casually.

“Oh, so I wasn’t the only one who noticed her?” Lapis mused.

“Little girl?” Yui and Shinsuke echoed in confusion.

Yui’s eyes widened as she turned toward the door. She spotted small hands pressed against the glass and a single wide amber eye peering inside.

“…I think I know who that is.”

Yui quickly walked over and opened the door, revealing a young girl with a petite frame and delicate features. Her golden hair fell to her nape, with two long fringes framing her face, and her large amber-colored eyes blinked up at them as she clutched the hem of her white dress.

“Yuzu?” Yui asked, surprised. “I thought you were staying home today.”

Instead of answering, the shy girl hurried forward and hid behind Lapis.

Lapis blinked down at her. “Uh…”

Yui sighed, shaking her head fondly. “Everyone, this is my little sister, Yuzuriha. She’s really shy, so I’m kind of confused about why she’s hiding behind you.”

“She was being bothered by some guys outside,” Lapis explained. “I stepped in and made them leave.”
Yuzuriha nodded timidly from behind him.

“Well, thanks for looking out for her,” Yui said sincerely.

Shinsuke crossed his arms, tilting his head. “You know, now that I think about it, we’ve been to each other’s houses… except yours, Yui.”

Yui stiffened. “W-Well, um…” She averted her gaze nervously as the others stared at her.

Saeko narrowed her eyes. “Shin has a point. Why haven’t you invited us over?”

“Uh, well… my house is really messy?” Yui answered weakly.

The three of them exchanged glances before huddling together in a silent discussion. Moments later, they broke apart, Lapis and Shinsuke smiling and Saeko with her usual expression.

“Perhaps we should invite ourselves over, then,” Saeko said smoothly. “That way, we can personally assess whether it’s actually messy.”

“Great idea,” Shinsuke agreed.

“Hold on, you can’t just—”

“Are you saying that we can’t?” Lapis asked, locking eyes with her.

Yui’s heart skipped a beat, and she let out a defeated sigh. “Fine.”

“Yay!” the boys cheered, while Saeko gave a simple thumbs-up, her expression as stoic as ever.

“Why don’t we go after practice—”

“Wait,” Saeko interjected. “If they’re not expecting us, there might not be any snacks.”

“Good point,” Lapis said. “Luckily, we don’t have anything scheduled tomorrow, so how about we go right after school?”

“Agreed. And we could even stay the night,” Saeko added.

“Are you trying to get me in trouble with Akane?” Lapis shot her a look.

“What? You’d just be sleeping over with your bandmates… and two of them are girls—oh, okay, I see the problem now,” Shinsuke realized.

“Maybe if you invite Akane or Arima—”

“I’ll check if Akane’s schedule is open tomorrow. Arima…I’d rather not.” Lapis sighed.

“Why’s that?” Saeko asked.

Lapis frowned. “(Ever since she’s been hanging out with Aqua, she’s been up in the clouds… Saeko barely tolerated her when she was down. I’d hate to see what she’d do when she’s like this..She’d probably choke her..)”

“I wouldn’t choke her,” Saeko said flatly, “I’d just use my waves.”

“Stop reading my mind!” Lapis groaned.

“I wasn’t. I just know what you’re thinking.”

“There’s no way that actually works—”

“Shin is hoping I don’t reveal that he’s never actually watched City Hunter or Tenchi Muyo,” Saeko said.

“You WHAT?” Lapis asked, looking betrayed.

“I didn’t think they looked interesting…” Shinsuke muttered.

“City Hunter is a classic! It’s basically the Japanese James Bond! And Tenchi Muyo is one of the OG harem series!” Lapis exclaimed.

“Who was the first?” Yui asked.

“Ranma ½. It kind of created the harem genre by accident. Though, that series fits into multiple categories… Anyway, I know what we’re watching tomorrow.”

“You always recommend great series, so I trust your judgment,” Saeko said.

“Alright, enough talking. Let’s practice.” Lapis clapped his hands.

Before they began, Saeko approached him with a notebook. “Lapis, I wrote a new song, but I’m not sure about it yet. I’d like your opinion.”

Lapis took the notebook and read through the lyrics. His eyes widened.

“Saeko… did you…”

“Is it too personal? I only wanted to—”

“No, it’s fine. I was just shocked for a moment.” He closed the notebook and smirked. “Alright. Let’s play.”

Chapter 35: Weakness

Lapis was heading toward the studio when he heard hurried footsteps behind him.

“Lapis.”

He turned to see Miyako, her expression serious. Something about the way she was looking at him made his stomach tighten.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, slowing his pace. “I’m kind of in a rush—”

“I’m pregnant.”

Lapis stopped in his tracks. The words barely registered before he managed a hesitant, “Uh… congratulations?”

Miyako’s eyes darkened. “You don’t get it. You’re the father.”

His heart slammed against his ribs as his mind reeled back to that night.

A brief flash of memory hit him—post-concert adrenaline, the two of them in a dimly lit room, tension dissolving into something more reckless. What should have never happened… happened.

Back in the present, Miyako sighed. “I already told Akane.”

Before Lapis could process what that meant, the door behind them slammed open. Akane stood there, eyes burning with betrayal.

“How could you?” she asked, voice trembling.

“Akane, wait—” Lapis stepped forward, trying to explain. “It was a moment of weakness, I—”

“Oh, a moment of weakness?” she cut him off, fists clenched. “Then I guess it’s fair to tell you—I slept with Aqua.”

The words hit Lapis like a freight train. He stared at her, stunned into silence.

Before he could respond, something even more impossible happened.

Aqua, Ruby, and Miyako all turned to look past him, their expressions frozen in shock. Lapis followed their gaze and felt his breath hitch.

Standing there, alive and real, was Ai.

No words were exchanged at first—only the sound of Ruby’s soft sob breaking the silence. Then, as if breaking free from an invisible force, all three of them rushed forward, wrapping their arms around their mother.

The warmth of her embrace, the surreal reality of the moment—

Lapis jolted awake.

His eyes darted to his alarm clock. 12:01 AM.

April 1st.

Lapis groaned, rubbing his face. “I really need to stop editing my videos so late…”

He turned to his computer, only to see his screen go black. His brows furrowed. “Huh?”

Then, suddenly, a face emerged on the darkened screen—large, round eyes, dark skin, unsettling grin.

“I’ll say.”

“GAH!!” Lapis shrieked, nearly falling out of bed.

And then—

He woke up again.

Heart pounding, he blinked, realizing he was lying in bed next to Akane.

He stared at the ceiling for a long moment before pinching his arm.

No dream. No hallucination. Just reality.

Checking his phone, he saw the date confirmed his suspicion.

April Fools.

Lapis let out a long sigh, slumping back against the pillow. “For a minute, I actually thought all that was real…”

Chapter 36: Scandal Arc:Sleepover at Yui's Part II

Lapis leaned against a wall, glancing at Akane. “Hey, want to crash at Yui’s place tonight? My bandmates and I are staying over.”

Akane blinked in surprise. “A sleepover?” She hesitated for a moment before nodding. “I’ve never actually been to one before… but sure, why not?”

The next evening, Lapis, Akane, Saeko, and Shinsuke stood in front of a towering luxury apartment building.

Shinsuke tilted his head. “Uh… are we in the right place?”

Lapis scratched the back of his head. “She did say she lives alone… but this? Not what I expected.”

With that thought lingering, they stepped inside, took the elevator up, and walked down the hall. As they neared the apartment, they spotted Yuzuriha standing outside, hugging a teddy bear. She noticed Lapis and walked over to him.

Then, Lapis noticed something else—the apartment door was slightly ajar.

Curious, he pushed it open… and was instantly assaulted by an overwhelming stench.

The world spun. His legs gave out.

Shinsuke gasped dramatically. “Lapis?! Don’t go into the light!”

Akane and Saeko, who had just stepped inside, were struck silent. Their wide eyes scanned the disaster zone before them—clothes strewn everywhere, trash piled up in corners, dishes stacked haphazardly in the sink.

Saeko folded her arms. “She wasn’t lying when she said it was messy.”

Without hesitation, Lapis shot up. “We need to fix this.”

With a shared, unspoken agreement, the four of them got to work. Trash was bagged, clothes were folded, surfaces were wiped down. As the mess slowly disappeared, they realized just how spacious and well-furnished Yui’s apartment actually was.

By the time they finished, the place looked almost unrecognizable.

At that moment, Yui walked out of her room, stretching. “Okay, I should have time to clean before the others get here. Once I’m done with my room, I’ll handle the—” She froze mid-sentence.

Her apartment was spotless.

Her friends stood there, staring at her expectantly.

“…So, you guys cleaned my place?”

They all nodded.

Yui hesitated before asking, “So you… saw how it used to look?”

Shinsuke, ever the tactless one, shrugged. “The smell almost killed Lapis.”

SMACK.

Saeko casually withdrew her hand from the back of Shinsuke’s head.

Yui’s face turned red with embarrassment. “(I just want to crawl under a rock now…)”

Lapis patted her shoulder. “Hey, at least now you don’t have to do it yourself.”

Yui groaned, hiding her face in her hands. “That somehow makes it worse…”

Akane chuckled. “Don’t worry, Yui-chan. Think of it as a fresh start.”

Yui peaked between her fingers. “Ugh… fine. But if anyone brings this up again, I’m kicking you out.”

Shinsuke rubbed his head. “Fair deal. But maybe warn us next time your place is a biohazard?”

SMACK.

Another hit from Saeko.

Lapis just sighed. This is gonna be an interesting night.

As Yui looked around the now-clean apartment, her gaze landed on Yuzuriha. She let out a sigh.

“Does Dad know you’re here?” she asked.

Yuzuriha shook her head.

Yui pinched the bridge of her nose. “You know he’ll freak out if he finds out.”

Lapis, who had been watching the exchange, noticed Yuzuriha gripping the hem of her shirt tightly, her eyes filled with fear.

“Why don’t we just let her stay over?” Lapis suggested. “I don’t see an issue with it.”

Yui hesitated, confused by his concern, before nodding. “Fine. I’ll tell Dad she’s staying over.”

As Yui made her way to the kitchen, Lapis followed. “You might not see it,” he said in a low voice, “but she really doesn’t want to go home. I don’t know what’s going on in your family, but every time you mention your father, she looks terrified.”

Yui’s expression hardened. She turned to look at Yuzuriha, who was still standing by the door, avoiding eye contact. Taking a deep breath, Yui walked over and knelt down in front of her sister.

“Did something happen at home?” she asked gently.

Yuzuriha hesitated before nodding.

Yui’s throat tightened. “Did Dad do something?”

Another shake of the head.

“You have to use your words, Yuzu,” Yui said softly.

Lapis knelt down beside them, handing Yuzuriha a piece of paper and a pencil. Yuzuriha hesitated but eventually took them, scribbling something down. When Yui read it, her eyes widened, and for a moment, she looked completely shattered. Without hesitation, she pulled her sister into a tight hug.

“You could have told me…” she whispered. “If I had known he was bullying you… and she didn’t do anything? I wish you had told me.”

“She couldn’t,” Saeko said, stepping forward. “When you’re bullied that badly, it’s hard to talk about. She probably felt ashamed… and scared that if you knew, you wouldn’t love her anymore.”

Yui held her sister even tighter as silent tears streamed down her face.

A while later, after tucking Yuzuriha into bed, Yui walked back into the living room, where the others were gathered around a table playing cards.

“How do I keep getting the Joker?” Shinsuke groaned, frustrated.

“Because you don’t have a poker face,” Lapis said flatly. “Whenever someone’s about to take the Joker, you smile. When they don’t, you look miserable.”

“That’s not true,” Shinsuke huffed.

Akane, testing the theory, reached for a card. When her fingers hovered over the Joker, Shinsuke grinned. She grabbed a different card, and his face fell.

“…Maybe we should’ve played something else,” Saeko mused.

“Agreed,” Akane added.

Yui cleared her throat, drawing their attention. “Listen… you all deserve an explanation.”

Everyone set their cards down and turned to her.

“After my mom passed, it was just me, Yuzuriha, and Dad for a while. Then my stepmom came into the picture. I never got along with her. Eventually, I told my father I wanted to move out… and he didn’t fight it. That’s when I realized he had chosen his new wife over me. He was happy to let me go.” Yui sighed. “He still covers my living expenses, but that’s it.”

Lapis frowned. “And what about him?”

“My stepmother already had two kids—Kaori and Enji. Kaori was fine, but Enji… he’s a monster. He made my life hell.” Her voice wavered. “I never thought he’d do anything to her, though. That he’d—”

Saeko suddenly pulled her into a hug, the others following.

“You don’t have to say more if you can’t,” Saeko said gently.

“Yeah,” Shinsuke agreed.

“We’re all here for you and Yuzu,” Lapis added.

Yui blinked, surprised by their support, before giving them a small, grateful smile.

Later that night, their game was interrupted by the sound of Shinsuke’s stomach growling.

“Guess it is around dinner time,” Shinsuke muttered.

“Yui, got anything to eat?” Lapis asked.

Yui hesitated. “I could cook, but… uh—”

“You learned from Marin, didn’t you?” Saeko asked, unimpressed.

Yui looked away. “We could just order a pizza. Akane doesn’t eat meat, so—” She reached for her phone, but Saeko stopped her.

“Yui.”

“Okay, fine!” Yui threw her hands up. “I have been going to the convenience store for years with Marin, okay?! I saw how you guys reacted to her cooking, so I’ve been secretly watching some of Lapis’s old cooking videos!”

Saeko smirked. “Good girl.”

Lapis chuckled. “If you wanted to learn, you could’ve just asked.”

“I still think we should just get pizza,” Shinsuke muttered.

Lapis sighed. “Once in a while is fine, but—” He paused, noticing Yui’s nervous look. “Wait… You always order from the same place, don’t you?”

“Yes, sir,” she admitted sheepishly.

“This is the last time. Tomorrow, we’re starting your cooking lessons,” Lapis declared.

“You heard him,” Saeko said.

Yui pouted. “Sorry, Mama Saeko.”

Akane raised an eyebrow. “Mama?”

“I thought we all agreed not to call her that,” Shinsuke groaned.

After devouring their pizza, they lounged in front of the TV, watching City Hunter. Before long, Yuzuriha sleepily wandered out of her room and joined them, prompting them to switch to something more suitable for her.

“This show’s actually pretty good,” Shinsuke commented.

“The first season’s animation is okay, but the second season’s a lot better,” Akane added.

As the night wound down, Shinsuke stretched. “So… who’s taking the bath first? Personally, I think the ladies should go first.”

“I agree,” Saeko said.

The girls left the room, leaving Shinsuke and Lapis alone.

Shinsuke smirked. “You know what I’m thinking—”

Lapis shot him a deadpan look. “If you try to peep, it’ll be the last thing you do. And don’t you have a girlfriend? Saeko would definitely tell her.”

“There’s no way she has Minami’s number,” Shinsuke scoffed.

Lapis raised an eyebrow. “You willing to bet on that?”

Shinsuke deflated. “Well played.” Then he smirked again. “Bet the only reason you’re stopping me is Akane. I know you’ve at least thought about Saeko.”

Lapis looked away. “No comment.”

Shinsuke grinned. “Knew it.”

In the Bath...

Akane sighed as she sank into the warm bathwater, letting the heat soothe her muscles. Saeko did the same, leaning back against the edge. Meanwhile, Yui sat outside the tub, carefully washing Yuzuriha’s hair.

As she worked, Yui’s gaze wandered toward Akane’s chest. About the same as mine… Then, her eyes drifted toward Saeko’s. Okay, I knew they were big, but wow…

“My eyes are up here,” Saeko said dryly, smirking.

Yui coughed and quickly looked away. “Uh—so, Akane-san, what’s it like dating Lapis-kun?”

Akane blinked at the sudden question, her face turning slightly pink. “Well… I really enjoy our time together. Besides introducing me to different series, he’s incredibly supportive. He always calls to check on me, and sometimes, he even shows up at my rehearsals.”

As she spoke, a soft smile graced her lips. Yui could tell—Akane truly loved him. It made her feel a little sad, but at the same time, she found a sense of resolve in that love.

“You really do love him,” Saeko noted.

Yui tilted her head. “So, how did you two first meet?”

Akane chuckled. “From what he told me, he was reluctant to be on Love for Real in the first place. But the moment he saw me, he thought I was beautiful.” She paused, twirling her fingers in the water. “I wasn’t really focused on romance back then. There were… things going on. But that changed.”

“Wow,” Yui murmured.

Akane pouted. “But whenever I try to talk to him about how it happened, he runs away! He even thought I had feelings for Aqua at one point.” She huffed, then smiled softly. “But in the end, he asked me out—not because of the show, but because he truly wanted to. And here we are.”

“It’s obvious you love him,” Saeko said. “And it’s just as clear how much he loves you.”

Later That Night…

Lapis stepped out of the bath, running a towel through his damp hair. As he passed through the living room, he noticed Yui staring at him. Or rather, at the choker around his neck.

Realizing that a small, hidden piece of his choker—the one that connected to Akane’s—was visible, he quickly adjusted it, tucking it beneath his shirt. Before Yui could say anything, a sudden knock at the door,she looks the the peephole,it made her stiffen.

She turned toward the entrance, then instinctively stepped backward, her face momentarily losing all traces of fear.

Lapis’s expression darkened. She only reacts like that to one person.

He stepped forward and cracked open the door, coming face-to-face with a young man with short lime-green hair, sharp brown eyes, and a lip piercing.

“Who the hell are you?” the man asked.

Lapis remained calm. “A friend. Can I help you with something?”

“I’m looking for a little brat. Dad said she was here with Yui,” the man—Enji—said with a smirk.

“She’s here with her sister. If that’s all, then—” Lapis moved to close the door, but Enji shoved his hand against it.

“Hold on. We’re just talking.” Enji’s smirk widened. “But now I’m curious. What’s your relationship with my Yui?”

Lapis narrowed his eyes, irritation bubbling beneath his calm demeanor.

A flicker of recognition crossed Enji’s face. “Wait… I do know you. Blitz5. One of the triplets that idol was keeping secret.” His smirk turned cruel. “Guess she finally got tired of sleeping with her own siblings and decided to—”

Lapis didn’t let him finish. His gaze darkened, and his voice dropped to a deadly whisper.

“I don’t believe you have permission to be here,” he said. “I wonder how the police would feel about a sexual abuser and a bully showing up at an apartment he has no right to be at.” His lips curled slightly. “But before they get here…” He took a step forward, voice laced with malice. “Maybe I’ll get a few hits in and claim it was self-defense. I mean, you did try to force your way inside.”

Enji’s confidence faltered. Something about Lapis’s presence—his tone, his eyes—sent a chill down his spine. Without another word, he took a step back and left.
Lapis closed the door, exhaling slowly.

“You were about to use your waves, weren’t you?” he asked, not even turning around.

Saeko, who had been watching from the hallway, crossed her arms. “Only if he meant harm.”

Yui swallowed. “I… Thank you.”

Before Lapis could respond, a small voice called out.

“Lapis.”

His eyes widened as he turned to see Yuzuriha peeking out from behind the hallway. Without hesitation, she ran up and hugged him tightly.
“You might want to be careful,” Saeko mused, smirking. “Pretty sure Lapis is planning to adopt your sister.”

Yui wiped her eyes, smiling softly.

Later That Night…

As everyone settled in for the night, Lapis made his way to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. He barely had time to take a sip before Saeko appeared beside him.

“What’s up?” he asked.

“There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”

Lapis raised an eyebrow. “If it’s about the song—yeah, I was taken aback too. I never wrote a song about my mother because—”

“It’s not that.” Saeko’s expression turned serious. “My ability allows me to sense the good and evil in people. I can also see their auras. Simply put, I can read people’s thoughts by picking up on their mental waves.”

Lapis stilled.

“Dead people do have waves, but they’re much weaker than the living. Almost unrecognizable.” Saeko’s red eyes locked onto his. “Your waves are both.”

Lapis clenched his jaw.

“That should only be possible if… you were dead in a past life,” Saeko finished.

A tense silence filled the room.

Lapis let out a slow breath. “And if I was?”

Saeko’s gaze softened. “This might sound rude, but… I’m just glad that you’re here now. As one of my closest friends—dare I say best friend—I’d rather have this you than whoever you were before.”

Lapis smirked. “A bit rude… but I get what you mean.”

The Next Morning…

Everyone gathered around the table for breakfast, enjoying the rare peaceful moment. However, both Lapis and Akane’s phones buzzed at the same time.
Akane glanced at the message and frowned. “You got the same message from him too, right?”

Lapis nodded.

“Are you going to turn it down?” Akane asked hesitantly. “I know it’s—”

“No,” Lapis interrupted. “I want to be a part of this.” His golden eyes burned with determination. “This is about my mother.”

Akane held his gaze for a moment before nodding.

“Then let’s do this.”

Chapter 37: Movie Arc: Lies

Notes:

Sorry for the long wait, was dealing with some personal stuff last week but here it is. Please enjoy

The golden sunlight poured through the half-closed blinds of a quiet little restaurant tucked into a side street of the city. The clinking of glasses and soft music in the background filled the space with a calm, relaxing energy.

Lapis sat across from Akane, who was dressed casually but neatly. A small cake with the words "Congratulations, Akane!" written in chocolate icing sat between them on the table.

Lapis raised his glass of sparkling soda. “To the graduate,” he said with a soft smile. “You made it.”

Akane gave him a small smile back, lifting her glass to clink his. “Thanks.”

He took a sip, then leaned in slightly. “I know you're not the type to throw a huge party, but I figured something small would be more your style.”

“It is,” she said, tracing her finger along the condensation of her glass. “I’m really grateful, Lapis-kun. Really.”

But Lapis had known her long enough to sense something beneath the surface. Her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“You're not acting like someone who just graduated,” he said gently. “What's bothering you?”

Akane hesitated for a moment, then sighed. “I got invited to something… odd.”

Lapis tilted his head. “Odd how?”

“A three-way interpersonal audition,” she said. “For a lead role in a major film. Frill Shiranui is involved. Ruby, too.”

Lapis’s brows furrowed. “Frill Shiranui? The actress in my class?”

Akane nodded.

Lapis frowned. “That sounds vague—and kind of sketchy.”

“Exactly,” Akane said, sipping from her glass as her eyes narrowed with suspicion. “She’s definitely up to something. I’m supposed to meet with her and Ruby tomorrow for that so-called interpersonal audition.”

She set her drink down and glanced at Lapis. “If you’re not doing anything—”

“The one time both of us finally get a day off,” Lapis muttered, exhaling with mild irritation. “And we’re spending it at an audition...” He leaned back in his seat, defeated. “All right. I’ll go,for support...for you and Ruby.”

Akane smirked. “That reminds me...” she said with a teasing glint in her eyes. “I heard you had a guest role in an anime recently.”

Lapis paused mid-bite. Slowly, he turned to look at her, clearly caught off guard. “Now, Akane-san... you do know I’m not an actor. It was just a one-time thing—a guest role. I did my best—”

Before he could finish, Akane leaned in, gently swiping a bit of frosting off his cheek with her finger. She brought it to her lips, licking it off with a playful smile. “We’ll work on it tonight, okay?”

Lapis stared at her, utterly defeated.

“…Yes, ma’am,” he said, sighing like a soldier who knew he’d already lost the war.

The Next Day…

As they approached the designated room inside the studio building, the sound of light conversation and the faint tapping of a phone screen could be heard through the closed door.

Akane stepped forward and opened it.

Inside were Ruby and Frill Shiranui.

Frill stood casually wearing a black shirt and track pants, a faintly amused expression playing on her lips. She was undeniably striking—waist-length dark green hair flowing around her like a curtain of ivy, parted bangs revealing her piercing yellow-green eyes. The slit-like pupils gave her an almost serpentine intensity, made even more distinct by the two beauty marks—one below her left eye and the other near her lips. Even when doing nothing, she exuded the detached elegance of someone always performing.

“Long time no see,” Akane said, taking off her hat and glasses as she stepped beside Ruby.

“Hey, big sis,” Ruby beamed, her voice light and cheerful while hugging her.

(I completely forgot she still calls her that...) Lapis thought from behind them, his expression neutral, but his eyes subtly scanning the room.

“Oh, the cute one’s here,” Frill said nonchalantly, her eyes briefly flicking to Lapis.

“Cute one?” Akane repeated, glancing at him with a raised brow. Lapis just gave a noncommittal shrug, the corner of his mouth twitching upward.

But Akane didn’t let it distract her. She fixed her gaze on Frill, her expression sharpening.

“Frill Shiranui-san.” Her voice was calm but firm. “What’s the meaning of this? Are you hiding something?”

Frill tilted her head ever so slightly. “Hiding?”

“We're being considered for the lead role in Director Gotanda’s new film, right?” Akane continued. “You’re already an established actress. You’d get an offer for the role without needing to be part of something like this.”

Her eyes narrowed. “And yet, you're arranging a three-person audition that feels more like a social experiment than a casting call. There must be more to it than meets the eye.”
Frill was silent for a moment, then looked at her with a cool expression. “There’s none.”

Akane didn't blink. “Liar.”

Another moment of silence fell over the room.

Frill brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. “You're a very mistrustful person, aren’t you?”

Lapis looked between them with a mix of nervous energy and awkward excitement. “Umm… should I make tea or…?”

“Yeah, well… there is a reason for all this. Kinda,” Frill said, her voice trailing off playfully.

Akane narrowed her eyes. “What kind of reason?”

Frill leaned back in her seat, lacing her fingers together. “It’s a secret,” she said with a sly smile. “But if I had to say… this interpersonal audition? I’m doing it because I want to feel right in the role. I want to know—deep down—that I’m the one who should play this part. That I earned it. Not because of my name. Not because of connections.”

Ruby blinked. “So this is more about... your own conviction?”

Frill nodded. “Exactly. I want to feel good about it. That’s all.”

Akane crossed her arms. “Then I’m not interested.”

“Huh?”

“This is my first real day off in weeks. If this whole thing is just about your feelings, I’ll pass. Come on, Lapis—”

“Aqua Hoshino is co-starring in the movie,” Frill said suddenly.

The room went quiet. Both Akane and Lapis froze.

Lapis’s eyes narrowed slightly. (Aqua… agreed to a movie?)

Akane glanced at him. He gave her the smallest nod.

“...So it is connected,” Akane muttered. “You said this was an audition. Who’s judging?”

Frill tilted her head. “Didn’t I say already? It’s an interpersonal audition. We’ll be judging each other.”

Ruby and Lapis exchanged glances, both visibly concerned.

“We’re not doing anything dangerous,” Frill added quickly, waving a hand. “No death traps or rooftop showdowns. Just acting.”

She stood up and walked to the center of the room. “We’re here to play the role. Simple as that.”

Akane frowned. “I haven’t seen a script. I don’t even know the premise.”

“Same here,” Ruby added.

“That’s the fun part,” Frill said with a grin. “They haven’t given me the full script either. And since none of us officially have the role yet, I technically can’t show it to you. So…”
She tapped her finger to her chin. “I’ll make up a theme. We’ll do some improvisation based on it. Sound good?”

Akane hesitated, then nodded. “Fine.”

“I’m in,” Ruby said.

Frill turned, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “Alright then. The theme is… Liar.”

“Liar?” Lapis echoed quietly, folding his arms.

“I’ll go first,” Frill offered. “You think about how you want to act out yours while I warm up the stage.”

With no hesitation, Frill stood tall, took a deep breath, and began to project her voice dramatically:

“A wolf is coming! The wolf is coming! It’s here! The wolf is here!”

She paused, shifting into a tone filled with disappointment and longing,on the verge of tears.

“Tsk… no one believes me anymore. No matter how loud I scream, no one listens. I just… wanted someone to care. I was lonely.What should I do? That's it… if I want people to notice me, I should just tell the truth, right?”

“The wolf isn’t coming.”

“Then, a group of men with hunting rifles gathered from all over the village and The Boy Who Cried Wolf was scolded again, the end”

Frill dropped the act with her casual look and scratched the back of her head.

Ruby blinked. “Wait… was that an anecdote?”

Frill laughed. “Guess my comedian side kicked in out of the blue. But you don’t have to throw in punchlines. Just… do what feels right.Anyway, I think I'm so-so but I can definitely act.Even though not as good as Kurokawa-san.Still, I have some kind of a charm that only I can show, so I want to take that into consideration as well.”

Akane watched her carefully, lips slightly pursed. Lapis could tell she was analyzing Frill’s performance, her mind already racing.

“(Being good at acting doesn't necessarily mean that you're a good actor but there's something showing about this person that just makes you want to watch her..That's a big weapon for an actor)”Akane thought.

“Next up is Ruby,” Frill said, turning toward her with a tilt of the head. “So, Ruby-chan… what do you think lies are?”

Ruby stood slowly, brushing off her skirt. “Can you do it?” Frill asked.

“Yeah,” Ruby replied, bowing politely.

(I wonder what she’s going to do… Then again, I’ve never actually seen her—)

“It’s painful,” Ruby said, cutting through Lapis’s thoughts like a blade.

He blinked, his attention snapping back to her.

“Hateful… heartbreaking… ridiculous… why?” she whispered, each word heavier than the last.

Even Akane looked up, her expression stiffening.

“So annoying… unforgivable… I’m so jealous… disgusting… it’s awful…” Ruby continued, her voice trembling.

“I still dream about the day my mother died. Even now,” she confessed, tears beginning to stream down her cheeks. “Why did Sensei have to die too?”

(This doesn’t feel like acting…) Lapis thought, his hands tightening slightly.

Ruby’s voice cracked. “Why does everyone I love end up dying? When I think about that… I get scared. Scared to care about anyone again. Sometimes… I think I want to go where they are. I want to die, too.”

Silence.

Everyone sat frozen.

Then Ruby gave a sudden wink through tear-soaked lashes.

“Just kidding,” she said lightly. “That was a lie. I don’t think about dying at all.”

She bowed with perfect form. “I think that’s everything sorted. Thank you.”

The room remained still for a beat too long.

Lapis stared at her, visibly shaken.

Ruby noticed, giving him a playful pat on the back. “Relax, Onii-chan. It was just acting.”

Frill tilted her head toward the others, as if measuring something. “What do you think, Kurokawa-san? Blitz-kun?”

Akane crossed her arms. “It was good. Raw and grounded. There’s plenty to refine, but with some polish, she could be unstoppable.”

“You’re pretty strict about acting, huh?” Frill said, smirking faintly.

“I just have standards,” Akane replied.

Lapis remained quiet for a moment. “I don’t have an opinion,” he said simply.

Ruby stuck her tongue out. “Liar.”

Akane stood, brushing past them toward the center of the room. “Well, I’ll take on the challenge now.”

She turned, facing them with a bright, innocent smile.

“Yay!” she chirped in a voice too high, too sweet to be genuine.

(Is she… acting as mom again?) Lapis realized, looking to Ruby, whose face had gone pale.

Akane tilted her head and clapped her hands. “Hey, Frill-chan. Is this how it goes?”

Frill’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

“Oh, come on. Don’t play dumb.” Akane’s tone shifted—cool and sharp. “You’re the biggest liar here.”

Ruby blinked in confusion. “Huh?”

“You wanted Ruby for the lead role from the very beginning, didn’t you?” Akane accused, voice still tinged with that eerie sweetness. “This whole audition? It’s just a formality. A show to disqualify me.”

Frill said nothing.

“I’m just guessing here,” Akane continued, voice dropping to a low whisper, “but I think this audition is for the role of Ai Hoshino.”

Ruby’s eyes widened.

Lapis’s head shot up.

Neither of them had known.

And now, the weight of the audition was suddenly clear.

Chapter 38: Movie Arc:Ruby's determination & Where it all begin

Notes:

Here we go, chapter 38. It's a bit short but it's a good chapter.

Lapis didn’t move.

Didn’t blink.

Didn’t even breathe.

Ai Hoshino…?

That name. That role. It echoed with too much weight.

Akane’s words had struck like a scalpel—clean, sharp, and deliberate. She cut through Frill’s calm façade and exposed the tangled motives behind this "interpersonal audition" in seconds. No hesitation. No fear.

(So that’s what this has been about from the very start…)

He glanced at Ruby—wide-eyed, trembling slightly, her lips parted but silent. She hadn’t known. Of course she hadn’t.

“The movie Director Gotanda and Aqua are making... it’s about Ai Hoshino, isn’t it?” Akane asked, tone flat but eyes piercing.

Frill didn’t immediately answer. Then, slowly:
“…Why do you think that?”

“Because that’s what Aqua would do,” Akane replied without missing a beat. “The current him doesn’t even know what’s right or wrong anymore. He’d burn everything down if it meant reaching his goal—even if everyone around him ended up hating him for it.”

“(Sounds like him to a tee)” Lapis thought grimly.

Ruby’s voice cracked slightly. “So… Aqua’s going to use Mama now? Just to make money?”

Frill shook her head lightly. “No. I don’t think that’s it. When I read the script, I was honestly startled. I’ve never seen something so… malicious.” Her cat-like eyes narrowed. “Even I could tell—Aqua-san is trying to kill his father with this film.”

That made Ruby’s breath hitch.

So the script targets Ai’s killer… our father? Lapis realized, tension rising in his chest.

“This isn’t just a movie,” Frill continued. “Director Gotanda and Aqua-san are making this to get revenge.”

“(Their revenge? )”Lapis echoed in his mind.” (Gotanda too? What’s he caught up in…?)”

Ruby’s voice came out soft, disbelieving. “Aqua... is doing this for revenge?”

“As Kurokawa-san said, this film depicts half of Ai Hoshino’s life. But it’s also a weapon. A story designed to condemn the man who took her life. And everything—everything—rides on how Ai is portrayed. Whether or not she forgives him. That’s why this role matters. That’s why we’re here.”

Frill’s gaze swept over them like a scalpel. “This isn’t just acting. It’s interpreting Ai’s final will.”

Lapis and Ruby said it together, voices nearly breathless. “Mama’s intentions…”

“(No wonder she wanted a battle like this, )“Lapis thought.

“If that’s the case,” Akane said, stepping forward, voice resolute, “then I believe the right choice is me.”

Ruby and Lapis both turned to her, stunned.

“I’ve done the research,” Akane said. “I’ve studied Ai-san—her speech, her expressions, her emotional patterns. I understand her. If anyone can express what she truly wanted to convey… it’s me.”

She turned to Ruby. “Ruby-chan. Do you honestly think someone like you, with no acting experience, can portray Ai Hoshino better than I can?”

Ruby didn’t flinch. “No,” she said quietly. “I don’t.”

Akane blinked.

“But,” Ruby added, her voice suddenly trembling with raw emotion, “I’m the only one who knew Mama. No one else could ever understand her pain. I’m the one who’ll carry her will—and Sensei’s too. I’m the one who should avenge them!”

Lapis watched her. “Ruby…”

She clenched her fists, then looked at Frill with burning resolve. “Honestly, I didn’t even care about this audition before. I thought I’d lose and walk away. But now that I know what this role means… I can’t.”

She straightened up. “Frill-chan, give me the next theme. I know Akane-san is an amazing actress. But I won’t give up. Not until I earn this.”

You and Aqua… always thinking everything’s your responsibility, Lapis thought. So selfish...

He glanced at Akane. For the first time, she looked uneasy—just slightly. Ruby’s fire had shaken her.

The rest of the audition continued, heavy with tension. It dragged into the night, each scene more emotionally charged than the last. But something had shifted—Akane’s energy faltered, her confidence shaken. Frill, while cool on the surface, clearly favored Ruby now.

By the end, it was clear:

Ruby had won.

Afterward, Lapis offered to walk Akane home. The two walked in silence for a while before he broke it with a sigh.

“Well… guess you understand the pain of having two pain-in-the-ass younger siblings now.”

Akane let out a dry exhale, more sigh than laugh.

But Lapis’s thoughts weren’t on her anymore. Ruby’s words lingered in his head like smoke.

“Sensei…”

She kept saying that word. That title.

The corpse we found… it was Aqua’s past self. She called him Sensei...

Then it hit him.

Ruby knew him in her past life. She had a crush on him. That means…

Lapis’s eyes widened, a chill running down his spine.

"(No… no, no, no. This is bad. Seriously bad. Ruby was in love with our reincarnated brother… If she ever finds out Aqua is her precious “Sensei”… This isn’t some twisted Oreimo or Eromanga-sensei situation. No way. I just have to make sure she never—)"

“Is it over?”

Lapis looked up and saw Aqua sitting on a bench, staring at his phone like nothing had happened.

“Long time no see,” Akane said, approaching him calmly.

“I thought you didn’t want anything to do with her anymore,” Lapis muttered.

“That was the plan,” Aqua replied without looking up. “But I can’t keep saying that forever.”

“I’ve made up my mind, too,” Akane added. “I’m going to help Lapis stop your plan, Aqua-kun.”

Aqua stayed quiet for a moment. Then:

“I see. If you both think you can stop me… go ahead and try.”

He stood and walked off without another word.

Akane and Lapis continued down the path in silence until Lapis suddenly stopped.

“Lapis-kun?” she asked.

He turned toward her with a pout. “You lied to me. I thought this was a normal audition, but no—turns out it was about my mom, and you knew. You didn’t tell me.”

Akane averted her gaze. “I figured you already knew… I’m sorry.”

“I think that calls for a punishment,” Lapis said, smirking.

“Punishment?” Akane echoed, wary.

“Hm… what should it be? Oh, I know.” He smiled mischievously. “Just promise me it’s not embarrassing.”

“Too late. Close your eyes,” Lapis said.

Hesitantly, she obeyed. She felt her hand being taken and guided forward. They walked a few steps before he stopped again.

“If this is a hotel, can we at least—”

“You can open them now.”

She opened her eyes—and blinked in disbelief.

They were on a quiet bridge where everything changed for them, bathed in the cold air at night. Lapis was down on one knee, holding a small box.

“Huh?” Akane gasped.

“I was going to take you somewhere special on our day off,” Lapis said sheepishly. “But then the audition came up, so… this is the best I could manage. I had something written, but I think I left it at home, so I’ll wing it.”

He took a breath, then said with surprising sincerity:

“Kurokawa Akane… I fell for you the moment I saw you. I know I brought it up during our trip to Miyazaki, but I’ve wanted to do this the right way. Loving someone means taking the weight of your feelings and choosing to live with them, day by day. I already spoke to your parents… so…” He opened the box. “Will you marry me? That is,If you don't think it's too soon.Then-”

Akane’s eyes welled with tears. “Yes,” she whispered, smiling through them.

Lapis slipped the ring onto her finger. She hugged him tight, and the two kissed deeply, the rest of the world forgotten for a long, quiet moment.

When they finally pulled apart, Lapis smirked.

“Now… for your punishment. You’re coming to my house.”

“W-What about Ruby and Aqua?” she stammered.

“Don’t care. Also,” he added, eyes glinting, “since you got to see me in cosplay, it’s only fair I get to see you in one.”

Akane sighed. “Fine. What character?”

Minutes later…

Lapis lounged in his gaming chair, eyes wide as Akane stepped into his room.

She was dressed in a strikingly accurate Makoto Nijima cosplay from Persona 5: a two-toned skintight bodysuit, long black scarf, leather corset armor, spiked shoulder and knee guards, and metal-toed boots. A sleek iron mask rested in her hand.

“Damn…” Lapis muttered, eyes sparkling. “You look amazing.”

Akane fidgeted. “How did you even get the measurements right?”

“Kana,” Lapis said, grinning as he took pics on his phone.

Akane narrowed her eyes. “Lapis-kun, can I borrow your phone?”

“Sure?”

She snatched it, dialed fast, and held it to her ear.

“Kana here—?”

“I’m going to kill you,Green pepper exercise” Akane said, voice low and calm.

“Wait, wha—” Click. Akane hung up.

Lapis burst out laughing. “Unbelievable.”

Akane sighed. “Also… don’t make my hips look too big next time, okay?”

Lapis walked over, gently placed a hand on her back, and dipped her.

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

She smiled, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pulled him into another kiss—

Until the door opened.

“Hey, Kana just called—” Ruby stepped in, then froze like a statue at the sight of them.

Akane blushed furiously. “R-R-Ruby-san.T-T-This isn’t what it looks like—!”

Ruby slowly backed out and shut the door.

“Miyaemooon! Lapis brought Akane-san into his room and wearing a cosplay!!” Ruby shouted from down the hall.

Lapis just smiled. “You’re forgiven.”

“Ughh, shut up!” Akane groaned, lightly smacking him over and over with her fists.

Minutes later...

Lapis and Akane sat side-by-side on the living room couch, hands clasped beneath the table. Across from them, Miyako sat with her arms folded, brows raised, while Ruby
perched next to her, glancing back and forth between them, still processing what she’d walked in on earlier.

“So…” Miyako said, her tone calm but suspicious. “Mind telling me exactly what’s going on?”

Lapis cleared his throat and straightened up. “Right. Well, I figured I should just say it plainly.” He glanced at Akane, who gave him a small nod of encouragement. “I proposed to Akane.”

Silence.

Miyako blinked. “You… what?”

“I proposed to her,” Lapis repeated, firmer this time. “On the bridge, earlier tonight. And she said yes.”

Akane looked down, cheeks flushed, but smiled.

Miyako sat still, eyes on them, unmoving.

Even Ruby froze, her mouth slightly open in a stunned expression.

A few seconds ticked by.

Then Miyako leaned back and let out a slow breath. “...I need a drink,” she muttered, rubbing her temple. Then, after a pause: “But… I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. I did see this coming eventually. Maybe not this soon, but…”

She gave them both a tired smile—genuine, if a little exasperated. “Alright. If you’re serious—and it looks like you are—then I’ll accept it.We'll talk more about this tomorrow.”

Lapis chuckled. “Fair enough.”

Ruby, still stunned, finally found her voice. “You… you really proposed? For real?”

“Yeah,” Akane said softly. “He did.”

Ruby stared at them for a second longer before her face broke into a bright, sincere smile. “Wow. That’s... kind of amazing. I mean, I wasn’t expecting it, but—congrats!” She leaned forward, eyes twinkling. “Akane will be sis-Oh.Do I get to help plan the wedding?”

“Maybe?” Lapis said unsure.

Akane leaned on his shoulder, and Ruby sighed dramatically. “Ugh, you guys are going to be so lovey-dovey now, aren’t you?”

“Maybe” Lapis teased.

“Gross,” Ruby shot back—but her grin didn’t fade.

Chapter 39: Movie Arc:Moments

Lapis sighed heavily, his entire body sunk into the couch as if Miyako’s lecture had physically weighed him down.

His head rested in Akane’s lap, her fingers gently brushing through his blue-purplish hair as he stared up at the ceiling with a blank, defeated look.

“She talked for two hours,” he muttered. “Two. I think she cited like, three scandals, two essays on parasocial dynamics, and one documentary on celebrity divorces.”

Akane chuckled softly. “Well… she’s not wrong. Marriages between rockstars and actresses? The media eats that kind of thing alive.”

“Yeah, and apparently I’m the main course,” he groaned. “With everything that happened, who knows how my fans or the public will react.”

“You’ll be fine,” she said, giving him a reassuring smile. “We’ll be fine. It’s not like we’re going to livestream our honeymoon.”

Lapis gave a weak smirk. “I mean, unless we need a career boost.”

Akane playfully smacked his forehead. “Baka(Idiot).”

Their eyes lingered on each other, the air quiet. Warm. He reached up to gently cup her cheek, and she leaned down, lips inches from his.

And then—

Knock knock knock.

Lapis froze. “...No.”

The knocking came again, sharper this time. “Lapis! Open up! I know you’re in there!”

Lapis groaned and peeled himself off Akane’s lap. “Of course it’s her.”

He opened the door to reveal Kana standing with arms crossed, her expression as bold and fiery as ever.

“Took you long enough,” she huffed, stepping inside without waiting for permission. “I swear, do you always move like a half-dead cat when you’re not on stage?”

“Kana,” Lapis said flatly, shutting the door behind her. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“I wanted to talk about this upcoming project,” she said, already marching toward the center of the room. “Also, Aqua said something interesting today.”

Akane blinked, sitting up straight. Lapis took his seat beside her, eyebrow raised.

Kana folded her arms proudly, chin tilted just enough to look smug. “We were talking about the movie since I got an offer to play the role of a former member of B Komachi.I wanted to make sure it was okay because I'd be saying some things about your mom since the member hates Ai..He saidIt's okay if it's me which I asked why and he said I was special to him. His words. Not mine.”

“Uh-huh,” Lapis and Akane replied, carefully masking their expression.

“(He's definitely trying to use her)” lapis thought.

Kana continued, unaware. “I'm trying to make this whole friend thing work but when he says something like that, do you think that he likes me? Do I have a chance?”

Lapis sighed“Kana.I'm going to say is, play out the friend roll until an opportunity comes.You can't let one comment get to you.And knowing you, you probably rushed out of the room.”

Kana whistled and looked away nervously.

“That's the “I definitely did that” look if I've ever seen it.Next time he says something like that, play it cool” said Lapis.

Kana tilted her head, suddenly noticing Akane again. Her confident smirk faltered just slightly. “Wait. Why is she here? Don’t tell me..You told her, didn't you?”

Lapis smiles“No, I did not.She actually put it together a while ago.She's here for a different reason”

Kana narrowed her eyes”Was I interrupting another..” she began to say when Akane, ever so calmly, held up her left hand.

The ring sparkled.

Kana blinked once. Then again. “Wait. Is that…?”

“We’re engaged,” Lapis said casually, throwing an arm around Akane’s shoulder.

Kana just stared.

Akane gave a sweet smile—just a little too smug. “Yep. He proposed. Bridge, sunset, knee on the ground. It was very romantic.”

“You’re kidding,” Kana said blankly, though her tone wavered. “You—seriously?”

Akane nodded, then added with a wink, “Looks like I’m making more progress than you are with Aqua~”

Kana’s jaw dropped slightly. “H-Hey! That’s not—!” Her face turned red. “I wasn’t even trying to—! That’s not the same!”

“But you did just say Aqua called you special,” Lapis deadpanned.

Kana’s eyes widened further, her own words coming back to haunt her. “Wha—!? I—You—Shut up!”

Akane giggled. “Aww, you’re blushing.”

“I’m not blushing, I’m overheating from secondhand embarrassment! For you!”

Lapis leaned back on the couch, smirking. “If you want a plus one to the wedding, you better start being nice.”

Kana let out a strangled, frustrated noise, before collapsing onto the nearest beanbag chair and throwing a pillow over her face.

“Mouuu! You guys suck!”

And yet, through all the embarrassment and bickering, Kana’s voice had a hint of warmth underneath.

Over the next few days, everything in Lapis’s world seemed to click into place, even if it left him constantly in motion.

The casting for the new drama had been finalized, with Lapis landing a small but respectable role—a supporting character who appeared in a handful of key emotional scenes. It wasn’t a major part, but he didn’t mind. It gave him enough screen time to prove himself, without the overwhelming pressure of carrying the show.

Akane would sit with him late into the night, patiently reading lines and offering notes. Her experience and sharp instincts as an actress proved invaluable. She’d correct his tone, tweak his timing, and challenge him with impromptu retakes when he slacked. Between them, the rehearsals felt less like work and more like quiet moments shared as a couple.

At 7:00 p.m., he had his concert with Soulless Logo, his bandmates greeting him with energy and inside jokes as they stepped onto stage. The crowd was electric, the music thunderous, and for that hour, he lost himself in the rhythm of their shared passion.

By 10:00 p.m., they were commuting back in a quiet van, earbuds in and conversations low.

At 12:00, he returned home—exhausted, sore, but fulfilled.

The next morning, at 8:30 a.m., Lapis left for school, walking beside Ruby. She looked a bit tired, but as always, she wore a brave smile.

By 10:30, Ruby had to leave—some agency meeting, he guessed—and by 11:00, Lapis ducked out as well.

At 1:00 p.m., he sat under studio lights for an interview. It went smoothly, his charm on display as he spoke about upcoming projects, his music, and the joy of acting with such a “talented and dangerous woman” like Akane and others.

At 2:00, it was back to the studio for band practice, where they ran through their new single and planned choreography for the next event.

It was a perfectly mastered schedule, with just enough gaps left for streaming and editing his own videos—reviews, guitar tutorials, and even the occasional chat with fans who’d begun speculating about his rumored engagement (which he neither confirmed nor denied).

One night, as Lapis returned from the kitchen with a drink in hand, he nearly bumped into Aqua, who had just come down the hallway.

They exchanged a glance—tense, curious, but respectful. Before either could speak, they both noticed something odd.

Ruby’s door was slightly cracked.

Then they heard her voice.

Peering in quietly, they saw Ruby laying on her bed, a script sprawled open beside her. Her body was limp with exhaustion, yet her lips still moved, whispering lines.

“Just this much was nothing for Mama… I have to give it my all. It’s okay… I should be able to do this, too…”

The two boys stood there silently. Ruby hadn’t noticed them.

After a long moment, they slowly stepped back and headed downstairs.

In the living room, Lapis finally broke the silence. “Why is she pushing herself so hard?”

He looked over and saw Aqua’s expression darken—that deep, haunted look he wore when the past clawed its way into the present.

Lapis sighed, motioning for him to sit. “Alright. Talk. You’ve got something on your mind.”

Aqua hesitated… then sat down.

“There was a girl,” he began quietly. “A patient from my previous life. Her name was Sarina Tendouji.”

Lapis stayed quiet, letting him speak.

“She had anaplastic astrocytoma. A brain tumor. She couldn’t walk properly. Couldn’t play. She was bedridden most of her life. But despite everything… she smiled. She loved idols. Especially Ai Hoshino.”

He glanced away, voice tightening. “She used to say she wanted to be reborn as a celebrity’s child. She had this dream—this ridiculous dream—of becoming an idol herself. I told her to wait until she was discharged from the hospital…”

Aqua’s hands clenched together. “But she didn’t make it. She died. In my care.”

Lapis froze, the pieces slowly clicking into place.

"(Wait a minute... So the doctor and his patient, both obsessed with Ai... were reborn as her children? That explains them. But... what about me? I never—)"

Lapis’s thoughts were racing, but they halted as he noticed Aqua let out a long, heavy sigh.

“…Did something happen?” he asked gently.

Aqua nodded. “Yeah. I met her mother. Sarina's.”

He paused, jaw tightening.

“The same woman who never once showed up when Sarina was hospitalized... I found her drinking at a bar with Sensei. She was smiling, laughing. Showed me a picture of her ‘family.’ A son. A daughter. Her husband. No mention of Sarina.”

Aqua shook his head, the bitterness creeping in. “That’s when I realized... Sarina’s life really was hell.”

He didn’t need to say more. The silence between them filled in the rest.

Lapis lowered his eyes, the words hitting him harder than he expected.

"(I... don't even remember if my parents visited me when I was hospitalized. I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t move. Maybe… in a way, I get it.)"

Quietly, Lapis placed a hand on Aqua’s shoulder. “To Sarina… I think you were everything. A light in that dark room she couldn’t leave. I’m sure you gave her more love and comfort than her own family ever did.”

Aqua swallowed, surprised by the gentleness in Lapis’s voice.

“I... thanks.”

Lapis managed a crooked grin. “So yeah, I might get pissed at you sometimes. You keep secrets, you act on your own without telling anyone. Honestly, you can be kind of a bastard.”

He clapped Aqua’s shoulder once. “But you’re still my little brother.”

The two sat in silence again. Then, Lapis stood.

A few minutes later, he returned upstairs. Ruby’s door was still slightly open.

He didn’t peek in this time.

Instead, he quietly placed a wrapped snack and a chilled energy drink just outside the door, making sure the soft clink was loud enough for her to hear if she was still awake.

He lingered for a moment, then looked toward the ceiling, his thoughts turning skyward.

"(Mom… wherever you are—reincarnated, or shining down from some distant star… please. Do whatever it takes to make sure they never find out the truth…)"

And with that, he walked away.

Chapter 40: Movie Arc:The Forgotten Life of Makoto Kozuki

Notes:

Chapter 40 and it is a big one. More on lapis’s past as well as everything with Ruby.. So if you're an aqua and Ruby shipper… you definitely going to hate the next chapter.. you have been warned..Also Two chapters in in two days,wow

The next morning, Lapis sat alone in the back of the classroom, head tilted slightly toward the window as he absently watched the clouds roll by. But his mind wasn’t on school, or his music, or even his next stream.

He was trying to remember.

Something had been nagging at him—fragments of a life he hadn’t wanted to touch. But now that he knew Aqua and Ruby’s story, he had to know his own.

Piece by piece, the wall he'd unknowingly built started to crumble.

A name came to him.

Makoto Kozuki.

His name. His real name.

And then, memories poured in like water breaking through a dam.

He remembered a beautiful young woman—short, dark brown hair, warm dark eyes, slender and curvy with a soft voice and radiant smile. His mother.

And his father—taller, rough around the edges, long black hair, broad-shouldered, and the one who first taught him martial arts. They were happy once. Once.

Curious and a little anxious, Lapis—no, Makoto—pulled out his phone and searched the name:

Houki Kozuki.

To his surprise, she was alive. Her profile came up—older now, lines of fatigue around her eyes, but she was there. Still in the same prefecture.

But when he looked up his father’s name... the result chilled him.

Deceased.

He quietly left the classroom and took the train out alone. Hours later, he stood at a small cemetery, staring down at the name etched in stone.

He didn’t cry.

Instead, his mind slipped backward—back to when he was five.

Makoto Kozuki.

He hadn’t heard that name in a long time.

Not since before the pain, the silence, the screaming behind closed doors.

He was just five when his world began to break.

His mother, Houki Kozuki, was beautiful—short dark brown hair, warm brown eyes, a gentle voice. She smelled like fresh linen and chamomile tea. Her laugh used to light up the house. But one rainy evening changed everything.

There had been an accident.

Makoto sat on a hospital bench, feet swinging above the floor, watching as his father paced outside the emergency room, drenched from the storm. Then the doctor came.

They saved his sister.

But not the other baby.

His father barely spoke on the way home. When he did, it was only to himself… and the bottle.

From then on, everything was different.

His father, once a proud martial artist and teacher, began to drink more and love less. The man who used to hold his hand during stances now only raised it in anger. His mother stopped smiling. Reiko, just a baby, cried every night.

Makoto quit martial arts.

He found music instead.

A broken old guitar, cheap but full of life, caught his eye at a pawn shop. He saved up every yen—doing errands, picking up bottles, helping neighbors—and bought it.

Teaching himself from scratch, music became his escape. His fingers ached, but it was the only thing that didn’t hurt.

When the shouting got too loud at home, Makoto would run to the sidewalk near the train station. Under the bridge. Outside a shuttered convenience store. He'd sit, play, and sing under his breath, as if he could strum the pain away. He even recorded a demo once—an old USB mic, his sister's laptop, and a dream.

But that night came.

The worst night.

He was in his room, headphones on, when he heard the thud—then screaming.

His father again.

He stayed frozen.

Then he heard Reiko's voice—small, terrified. A slap. A crash.

Makoto rushed out and saw his father lift a beer bottle, ready to swing it down on his little sister.

He didn’t hesitate.

He jumped between them.

The bottle shattered on his head. He only remembered the sound, the pain… and then darkness.

A day later, he collapsed at work while cleaning a convenience store restroom.

He remembered the sterile light of the hospital.

Doctors murmuring behind a curtain.

"Head trauma… subdural hematoma… if only they had brought him in sooner…”

They transferred him to Takachiho, a quiet town in Miyazaki Prefecture.

There, in a hospital on a hill, a man named Dr. Gorou Amamiya became his caretaker. He had kind eyes behind his square-rimmed glasses and dark hair. He tried to joke. He brought him a juice box once and a mini keyboard the next day.

But Makoto couldn’t speak.

He could barely move.

Words wouldn’t come. His mouth was a locked door.

Time passed.

That’s when he met her—a girl who shared his hospital room.

Sarina.

She had pale-blue eyes, always bright even when her body was weak. Her hair was shoulder-length when they first met, but over time, it began to fall away. Anaplastic astrocytoma, the nurses said. Something no child should ever have to know.

Sarina always wore a wool hat with a little heart design and a bunny pin—Ai Hoshino’s symbol.

She loved Ai.

Makoto would hear Ai’s songs echoing from her tiny TV speaker. Despite everything, Sarina smiled when she listened. She told him Ai was beautiful and sang like the stars.

Makoto listened too.

He liked her voice.

Warm. Kind. A voice that felt like home.

The weeks crawled by.

Makoto lost more of himself. His arms stopped responding. Then his legs.

He became a ghost inside his own body.

Sarina would still talk to him, as if he could respond. She even once whispered:

“I think... I’m gonna die soon. But I’m not scared. If I get to be someone else in my next life... I wanna be pretty. Like Ai. And healthy... and maybe sing, too.”

Makoto blinked. That was all he could do.

Back in the present, Lapis stood alone before his father's grave, the wind quiet around him.

His chest ached, not from pain… but from memory.

“I wasn’t supposed to remember all that,” he whispered.

But now that he did, he couldn’t forget.

Elsewhere...

Tsukuyomi stood alone on a narrow bridge suspended between stars and shadow. The sky above was endless, a swirl of ink and light, and beneath her feet flowed a river of memories.

Her hands clasped behind her back, she began to speak, her voice light and eerie—like a child reading from a storybook with missing pages.

"Once upon a time... there was a boy."

She smiled, her wide brown eyes unblinking.

"He was loved by his parents. He was going to be a big brother. Life was warm, safe—simple. Until the day his mother was in an accident. She survived… but not everyone did."

The wind whispered softly, carrying flickers of images from the past.

"The baby she was carrying—gone. His father... broke. Shattered like glass. And in his grief, he turned on the family he still had. He drank. He yelled. He struck."

Tsukuyomi’s expression darkened for a moment—brief, subtle.

"The boy gave up martial arts, the thing he once loved. But he found a new escape... music. Sweet, aching, honest music."

She spun slowly in place, the hem of her black-and-white school uniform fluttering.

"But one night, the monster in his father rose again. And when his little sister was about to take a blow from a shattered bottle—he stepped in the way."

A pause.

"He survived. Barely. But silence became his world. No voice. No control over his body. And worse..."

She leaned forward, almost whispering.

"His family never came. Not once."

For a moment, Tsukuyomi's smile faltered.

"He was transferred to a new hospital. Alone. Until he met a strange doctor and a girl with pale-blue eyes and a wool hat. She talked. She laughed. She watched idols on TV and dreamed big."

The stars dimmed.

"But dreams don’t stop disease. She died. And not long after... so did he."

She stopped walking. Her eyes gazed into the void.

"The end…"

A beat passed. Then she grinned, lips curling upward like a secret only she knew.

"...Or is it?"

Back in the present...

Lapis stood at the grave.

The wind rustled through the trees, carrying with it the soft whisper of leaves brushing against one another. The headstone before him was worn with age, but the name etched into the stone hit him like a sudden strike of thunder.

Makoto Kozuki.

His breath caught. His vision blurred for a moment—not from tears, but from the storm of emotions crashing into him all at once.

“Excuse me…?” he murmured, voice barely audible.

Behind him, he heard the sound of footsteps crunching through the fallen leaves.

He turned.

And time seemed to stop.

Two figures stood just a few paces away. One was a woman—elegant, tired, but still undeniably beautiful. Her short dark brown hair, now streaked with silver, framed a face marked by years of silent pain. Her eyes, dark as the earth, were filled with guilt, longing, and something Lapis hadn’t expected—hope.

His mother. Houki.

Beside her stood a young woman holding a small bouquet of white chrysanthemums. Her hands trembled slightly, but her gaze was strong—steady.

Reiko.

His little sister.

All grown up.

Lapis felt his knees weaken but forced himself to stand straighter.

“I… uh… Sorry, I just—” he began, fumbling over his words.

Reiko smiled gently, her eyes scanning his face.

“Mom, I think he’s here to pay respects to Makoto. You’re a fan, right?”

“Y-Yeah,” Lapis said quickly. “That’s right. I didn’t mean to intrude or—”

Houki shook her head softly and offered a small, warm smile.

“You’re not intruding at all,” she said. “I’m glad people still come to remember him… it means a lot.”

She stepped forward and gently laid her flowers before the grave. Then, lighting incense, she bowed her head in prayer. Reiko knelt beside her, doing the same.

Lapis stood quietly, unsure whether to speak or stay silent.

After a few moments, Reiko turned to him.

“If I’m not mistaken… you’re Blitz5, right?” she asked. “I didn’t expect someone so famous to be a fan of my brother.”

Lapis chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his neck.

“I used to watch some of his old videos when I was younger. He… inspired me in ways I didn’t understand at the time.”

“I didn’t know about his father, though... or how things ended.”

Houki’s smile faded, her expression darkening.

“After we learned about what Makoto was diagnosed with, his father... he didn’t handle it well. He promised he’d do better, but he couldn’t face the hospital. He refused to go. One day… he left and never came back.When we move to Takachiro..I believe I only saw him once and never again”

She paused, her voice trembling slightly.

“They said it was a car accident. But deep down... I knew. He never forgave himself. Losing Makoto broke him.”

Lapis’s eyes widened.

“You moved…? After all that?”

Houki nodded.

“I transferred to be closer to him. I visited every day after work, even if he couldn’t respond. Reiko came too.”

Reiko looked down at the flowers in her hands, her voice softer now.

“I don’t think he could hear us. But I wanted to be there anyway. The girl he shared a room with... she passed before he did. I think it broke something in him.”

A heavy silence settled between them, filled only by the soft sound of incense smoke curling into the breeze.

Lapis lowered his gaze to the grave again.

As they stood before the grave, a gentle breeze stirred the incense smoke.

Reiko adjusted the bouquet at the base of the headstone, then took a quiet breath.

“You know… we did visit him,” she said, her voice soft, as though unsure if she deserved to speak it aloud. “Every week. Mom would come after work, and I’d bring little things—songs I thought he’d like, stories from school, drawings…”

She paused, eyes clouding over.

“But… he never moved. Never looked at us. I used to wonder if he hated me—if he blamed me. Maybe… if he hadn’t tried to protect me that day, he’d still be alive.”

Lapis looked at her—this woman who carried her pain like an old scar—and placed a steady hand on her shoulder.

“I’m sure that wherever he is… he doesn’t blame either of you,” Lapis said, his voice firm but kind. “He probably thought you did the best you could. And that you put up with more than most ever should.”

He gave a small smile.

“Also, as an older brother myself… I get it. It’s our job to protect our little siblings. No matter what. That’s just how it is.”

Reiko blinked quickly, holding back tears.

“I actually became a therapist,” she said with a gentle laugh, watery and bittersweet. “I help kids who go through the same kind of stuff we did. And… I named my son after him. Makoto.”

Houki wiped at her eyes.

Lapis gave a respectful bow to both of them.

“It was nice meeting you. Take care.”

As he walked away, the wind caught his coat. The silence returned to the graveyard, and for a moment, only the incense smoke and the rustle of trees remained.

Houki watched his figure fade from view, a soft smile forming.

He reminded me of him… she thought.

Makoto—when he was little. Always trying to protect Reiko.

She looked at the name on the stone and closed her eyes, letting herself remember the good.

Later that evening…

Lapis returned home, silence greeting him as he stepped through the door. The dim light of the hallway led him up the stairs.

Halfway to his room, he paused.

He heard crying.

A girl’s voice, muffled but pained, echoing through the hall.

“What… am I really? Everyone who gets involved with me… ends up unhappy. I only bring misfortune. To mother. Mama. The doctor...”

There was a pause. Then a sob.

“Dear God, why did you make someone like me be born again?”

Lapis turned slowly, following the sound to a barely open door.

Standing just outside, still and silent, was Aqua.

His eyes were shadowed. He had heard every word.

Aqua looked up at Lapis, then nodded once—an unspoken agreement.

Together, they stepped quietly into the room.

Ruby sat on the floor, hugging her knees, trembling. Her usual brightness had cracked into something raw and human. Fragile.

Without a word, Lapis and Aqua knelt beside Ruby, who was curled up on the floor, trembling.

Each of them gently placed a hand on her shoulders.

“Slowly. Take a deep breath,” Aqua said, voice low but firm.

“Why don’t you lie down for a bit?” Lapis offered softly. “Can you stand?”

Ruby blinked, dazed, then suddenly tried to push herself up.

“The script... Where’s my script? I have to practice—” she said hurriedly, trying to stand—only to stumble.

Aqua caught her before she could fall.

“This isn’t the time for that—”

“I don’t need your help, Aqua!” she snapped, slapping his hands away, her voice cracking under the weight of her pain. “That’s right… The only reason I became an idol, why I kept climbing higher and higher… it’s so I could find the one who killed Mama and Sensei.”

Her eyes burned with fury.

“I’ll find them… no matter how long it takes. And when I do, I’ll make them regret they were ever born!”

Lapis remained still, watching her, sorrow tightening his chest.

(Ruby…) he thought.

Aqua’s expression hardened—not in anger, but in desperate concern.

“Stop it. Living for vengeance will only leave you empty,” Aqua said firmly. “It’s not the life she would have wanted for you. There’s no need for you to carry that burden.”

“Don’t tell me what to do!” Ruby barked, her eyes wet. “And don’t act like you’re some good big brother now. It’s too late for that. I’ve never even thought of us as real—”

Lapis stepped forward, his voice cutting through the room with quiet strength.

“Would you say that same thing to me, Ruby?”

She hesitated.

“Because I have thought of us that way. Even if we were strangers when we were reborn… we’ve lived so many years together. We’ve helped each other, grown together. To me, you and Aqua are my family. You’re my little sister. And he’s our brother.”

Ruby's lips trembled.

“Lapis…”

Aqua stepped forward, bowing his head deeply.

“This isn’t a plea from Aqua Hoshino. It’s from me. So please… please listen to me, Sarina-chan.”

Ruby froze in place.

“Sarina…?” she echoed.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Lapis looked to the side and sighed inwardly.

(Guess he's letting the cat out of the bag… In that case…)

Aqua lifted his gaze, voice rising with emotion.

“You didn’t become an idol for revenge, did you?! When you finally got out of the hospital, you wanted to live freely. You wanted to wear pretty dresses, sing fun songs, and stand on a big stage just like Ai did!”

“You wanted to make people happy, Ruby!” Lapis added, stepping beside him. “Don’t you remember? You once told someone—someone who couldn’t even speak—how much it meant to you to become an idol. How you wanted to bring light into the world!”

Aqua dropped to his knees again.

“So forget about revenge… I beg you, Ruby. Just live. For yourself.”

The room was quiet.

Ruby stood there, frozen, her breath shaky. Then—

“Why… why are you crying?” she asked, voice small. “Aqua, why did you call me Sarina? How do you know… everything? Everything that happened at the hospital…?”

Her eyes widened.

She took a step closer, a trembling hand over her heart.

“Wait… could it be… you’re…”

Aqua turned away, unable to meet her eyes.

Then, slowly, he pulled something from his pocket.

An old, worn Ai Hoshino keychain.

“I’ve been looking for this…”

That was all he said.

But that was all Ruby needed.

Tears welled in her eyes.

With a choked sob, she rushed forward and threw her arms around him, clinging tightly as years of buried pain finally burst free.

“Sensei…” she whispered through tears. “It’s really you…”

Lapis turned away, allowing them the moment.

Chapter 41: Movie Arc:Blocking, Celebrating,and Homecoming?

Notes:

Hey everyone sorry for the delay, I was dealing with some personal stuff but here is the next chapter which honestly feels a bit like filler but here's promising the next chapter will have a bit more plot.

After a long silence filled only by quiet sobs and the warmth of long-overdue reunion, Ruby finally pulled away, wiping at her teary eyes.

“I’m… I’m going to the bathroom to wash my face,” she mumbled, trying to compose herself.

She hurried off, leaving Aqua and Lapis alone in the quiet room.

Lapis let out a breath and leaned against the wall, arms crossed casually but his voice serious.

“You know… I went to visit my..old family today.”

Aqua glanced at him, curious.

“Oh?”

“Yeah. I stood in front of my own grave. That’s when I saw them—my mother and little sister. It’s been years.”

Heh. “Guess we all left behind something, huh?”

Aqua nodded slowly.“How did it go?”

Lapis gave a faint smile, one of those rare ones that carried a trace of actual warmth.“Better than I expected. Turns out… they did visit. My sister even became a therapist. Named her son after me.”

“My sister thought that I hated her. For living, for being the one I protected… I told her what I believe.”

He paused, then looked Aqua straight in the eye.“Thanks… by the way. For all those years ago. You probably don’t remember, but… when I was at my lowest, in that hospital, a doctor and—some weird little brat with sharp eyes and too much curiosity—you made the days feel a bit less lonely.”

Aqua blinked, then gave a rare, modest smile.

“So that was you, there's no reason to thank me.”

Lapis chuckled, but the amusement in his eyes quickly dimmed, replaced by a wry seriousness.

“Still… you really need to watch what you say to girls when they’re young and impressionable.”

Aqua raised an eyebrow, confused.

“What do you—”

The door creaked open.

Ruby stepped inside, cheeks still flushed from crying, but now there was a different spark in her eyes—one of conviction.
“I haven’t forgotten, you know.”

Both boys turned toward her.

“You said you’d marry me when I turned sixteen, right?”

Aqua froze. Color drained from his face. His soul may have, in that moment, left his body.

“Sensei,” Ruby added with a radiant (and slightly dangerous) smile, “I’ve turned sixteen.”

A thick silence followed.

Lapis slowly turned toward Aqua, face neutral, but his stare sharp enough to cut steel.

“…Stare.”

Aqua turned to him.“I now see what you meant,” he muttered under his breath.

Lapis nodded. Then turned to Ruby.“Now, Ruby—Sarina—Ruby… do I really need to give you the whole responsible adult speech about why you shouldn’t be crushing on someone who’s twice your age and is your brother?”

“But—”

“No buts. You've had a very emotional night. Go to bed. We will never speak of this again. And I do mean never.”

“But—!”

“To bed!” Lapis said firmly, gently pushing her toward her room.

“Wait, how do you know—?”

“‘Member that guy who listened to you go on about Ai, never said a word, just smiled at you in the hospital?”

Ruby’s eyes widened.

“That… that was you?!”

“Yes, yes—shocking revelation, I know. We’ll talk about it tomorrow,” he said, firmly closing the door before she could protest again.

With a long sigh, Lapis turned and walked back into the living room where Aqua stood, still visibly shaken.

Lapis folded his arms and gave him a pointed look.

“Okay, Mr. Cradle Robber—”

“I didn’t—!”

“Don’t care.” Lapis held up a hand. “Let’s get a few things straight. There will be no weird, incestuous anything happening in this household. None. Nada. Zip.”

Aqua looked like he wanted to evaporate.

Lapis continued, more tired now than angry.

“Look, I get it. You were trying to comfort her back then. She was a sweet kid, and you probably didn’t think it through. But she was twelve, man.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaled slowly.“From now on, be very careful what you say to her. And more importantly, make sure she understands this whole marriage fantasy is not happening.”

Aqua nodded, quietly, shoulders sagging.“Yeah. You’re right.”

Lapis sighed and sat down, rubbing the back of his neck.“Good. Because if I have to give two heart-to-hearts about boundaries and age gaps in one night, I might actually lose my mind.”

Two days later…

Aqua lounged on the couch, scrolling through his phone, when Ruby suddenly flopped down behind him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“I’m beat... Bro, gimme juice,” she whined.

“No way. Get your own,” Aqua said flatly.

“Too late~ I’m already drinking it,” Ruby chirped, taking a sip from the bottle in his hand.

Kana, Mem-cho, and Lapis stood in stunned silence nearby, frozen like deer in headlights.

“Phew, I feel way better now,” Ruby sighed, still clinging to Aqua.

“Let go. You’re all sweaty,” Aqua grumbled.

“Whaaat? Just a little longer~”

Lapis took a step forward, eyes sharp, and raised a spray bottle in his hand like it was a holy relic.

“Ruby… remember what I said would happen if you got too close?”

She blinked. “You wouldn’t actually spray your own sister—”

She trailed off when she saw the very real, very loaded spray bottle in his hand.

“Wanna test that theory?” Lapis asked, dead serious.

They stared each other down like cowboys at high noon.

“Something definitely happened!” Kana suddenly yelled, breaking the tension.

“Why are you yelling?” Ruby blinked.

“I should be asking you! What’s with the zero-distance act?! You’re way too clingy!”

“We’ve just been fighting a lot lately, right? So now that we made up, it’s like... reversed,” Ruby explained.

“It’s too extreme!!” Kana cried.

“She’s not wrong…” Lapis mumbled under his breath.

“And you, Aqua!” Kana pointed an accusing finger. “Be more firm! You should be setting boundaries!”

“Well… can’t I just let her do whatever she wants?” Aqua said blandly.

“Oh my god, he’s got a terminal sister complex,” Kana groaned.

Ruby, smiling smugly, plopped herself on Aqua’s lap.

“We’ve always been this close. Ever since we were born, really—”

Spritz!

Lapis sprayed her directly in the face.

“Bad Ruby. Get off him,” he said calmly.

“Wait, wait, wait!” Mem-cho suddenly shouted, holding up her phone like a trophy. “A triplet love triangle?! This is a golden Insta moment!”

“Don’t you dare,” Lapis warned, eyes wide. “I don’t need Akane or my fans thinking weird things.”

Later, at Akane’s apartment…

Lapis sat nervously on the floor, legs crossed like a kid in detention. Akane sat on the bed, arms crossed, phone in hand… open to the post Mem-cho had just shared.

“Wanna explain this?” she asked coolly, showing him the now-viral picture.

“Whatever she posted—it’s not what it looks like!” Lapis said quickly. “I told her not to post it!”

“Hmm… Triplet love triangle, huh?”

“I didn’t make the title! I told her it was a bad idea!”

Akane raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced.

Lapis sighed… then leaned in and gently kissed her.

“You’re the only one for me. You know that.”

Akane blushed, the irritation melting from her face.

“Mouu… I know,” she said, a soft smile curling her lips.

“Hey, are you free tomorrow?” he asked, scratching the back of his neck.

“Nothing planned. Why?”

“Well… I haven’t exactly told the guys in Soulless Logo about us being engaged.”

Akane raised an eyebrow. “You want me to be there when you break the news to your bandmates?”

He nodded sheepishly. “Support system?”

Akane sighed, then grinned. “Fine. But only if you do something for me.”

“Anything. Name it.”

She cupped his face gently, locking eyes with him.

“We’re always at my place, or your place… but what if we had our place? Like, living together?”

Lapis blinked. His heart did a small flip.

(Living together...? I mean, it was bound to happen at some point. I want to… but…)

“I want to, I really do,” he said honestly. “But right now… someone has to stop a certain sibling from crossing a very dangerous line.”

Akane laughed softly. “Then what if I moved in with you? I’m sure Miyako-san wouldn’t mind. It might be awkward for Aqua and Ruby, but... it’s not like anything we do isn’t awkward.”

Lapis sighed in defeat. “We can try talking to her about it.”

Akane leaned in and kissed him again, lips warm and soft against his.

“Then it’s settled.”

The next day..

Evening. Lapis’ Apartment.

The table had been set with meticulous care.

Lapis adjusted the final touches on the dining table: cloth napkins folded neatly beside handcrafted ceramic dishes, soft instrumental music playing in the background, and a delicate aroma of roasted vegetables and miso soup filling the air.

He had made a special vegetarian dish for Akane—sweet soy-glazed tofu over rice, with pickled daikon and sautéed greens on the side. Her favorites. His own plate had grilled chicken and curry-spiced rice, something hearty after a long day of meetings and rehearsals.

He wiped his hands on a towel and took a deep breath.

(Okay…everything’s ready.)

Just then, the doorbell rang.

He opened it—and there stood Saeko.

She was dressed elegantly in a flowing black dress that shimmered ever so slightly under the hallway lights, her braid resting over one shoulder like a silken ribbon. Her purple eyes, as unreadable as the night sky, flicked up to meet his with an almost eerie calm.

“Good evening,” she said, her voice low, even, and hauntingly gentle.

“Saeko-san. You're early. Come in,” Lapis greeted warmly.

She stepped inside silently, her black cape drifting behind her like a shadow. She took off her shoes with practiced grace and wandered in like a wandering ghost... yet one who clearly belonged.

As she stood in the entryway, her eyes quietly scanned the apartment. It was neat, warmly lit, and filled with signs of two people sharing a life together.

“So this is your home, you've cleaned” she noted flatly.

“Of course I did,” Lapis smirked, setting a hand on his hip. “I’m not trying to die before dessert.”

“Smart.” A rare hint of amusement curled at her lips.

Then she turned to Akane, who had just stepped out from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel.

Saeko’s eyes lingered on her, reading her “waves” before Akane could even greet her. The psychic girl closed her eyes for a beat—then opened them, warmth blooming in her otherwise unreadable expression.

She smiled.

A real one.

“Congratulations,” Saeko said softly.

Akane blinked, surprised. “Eh? W-wait… how did you—?”

“I see auras. And emotions. And yours is… content. Lapis’ is full of pride and nervousness. The room feels different tonight,” she explained, voice even as ever.

Then she turned to Lapis, tilting her head.

“Also, I can hear your thoughts when you're not focusing hard enough. Lapis was humming a new tune and thinking about Akane’s ring at the same time.”

Lapis groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. “I keep forgetting you're basically an emotional lie detector with Wi-Fi access.”

“Mm. You're not entirely wrong,” Saeko said, sitting down with an air of silent elegance. “Still. Thank you… for inviting me. This means a lot.”

Akane smiled, clearly touched. “I’m glad you could come, Hanajima-san.”

The next knock on the door came not long after Saeko settled in.

Lapis opened it to find Yui standing there, her usual rockstar-tomboy look on full display: a black choker snug around her neck, a black leather jacket slung over a green hoodie, black denim shorts over leggings, and chunky black boots that made a satisfying thunk against the floor as she stepped in.

Behind her was a stark contrast: a dainty girl peeking shyly from behind her.

“Yo, sorry we're late,” Yui said, scratching the back of her head. “Uh, I didn’t mean to bring a plus-one, but...Yuzu begged.”

Yuzuriha immediately looked up at Lapis with stars in her eyes. her golden hair glinting in the warm lights. She wore a soft, cream-colored dress with a pink ribbon.

“Lapis-oniichan!” she cried, throwing her arms around his waist.

Lapis blinked then tearfully hugged her”Yuzu!”

“(He's like a dad who got reunited with their child.Then again this is the first time we've ever heard her speak...it is quite cute)”Akane thought.

Lapis then smiles“Oniichan, huh? Haven’t heard that in a while. It’s adorable.”

Yui’s face turned bright red.

“D-Don’t say it like that! She really likes you and all.”

“I don’t mind,” Lapis grinned. “She’s got good taste.”

Yui gave him a side glare but couldn't hide the smirk tugging at her lips.

“You’re too damn charming for your own good.”

Saeko, still seated at the table with Akane, gave a subtle nod toward Yuzuriha.

“Her aura is very bright. Innocent and sincere,” she said.

“Thanks...I think,” Yui muttered, not used to Saeko's matter-of-fact mysticism.

The doorbell rang again.

This time, Shinsuke stepped in—with an expression that screamed I didn’t come alone and I had no say in the matter.

Behind him was Marin, dressed casually but still fashionable in a yellow sweater, plaid skirt, and high socks, looking like she was trying so hard to play it cool—but her sparkling
eyes betrayed her.

“OMG, I’m actually standing inside Blitz5’s apartment,” she whispered to herself, hands clenched into fists as she tried to stay composed.

Lapis gave a deadpan look at Shinsuke.

“Shin… why did you bring your sister?”

Shinsuke groaned. “Sorry. She asked where I was going and then—well...”

FLASHBACK….

Shinsuke was tying his shoes when Marin peeked her head out of her room.

“Where are you going, bro?”

“Lapis invited the whole band over to his place. I’ve been to Saeko’s, Yui’s, and everyone’s been to our place, but this is the first time we’ve been to his.”

Marin froze like a statue.

“You’re going to Blitz5’s place. And you weren’t going to tell your sister—his biggest fangirl?!”

“It’s just dinner, I swear—”

“You had a sleepover at Yui’s once, and I let it slide. But this?! This is a betrayal.”

“Sis, come on, don’t make it weird—”

“If you don’t let me tag along, I’m tossing all your One Piece figures. Starting with Nico Robin.”

Shinsuke immediately dropped his bag in surrender.

BACK TO PRESENT…

“I understand,” Lapis said with an exaggerated look of sympathy, placing a hand on Shinsuke’s shoulder like a war veteran.

“Thank you,” Shinsuke replied in a dead tone.

Akane glanced at Lapis with a soft smirk. “Well… your dinner party just got a little more colorful.”

Lapis exhaled. “Yeah, I’m gonna need a bigger table.”

Yuzuriha peeked around the room. “U-um…Lapis-Oniichan… can I sit next to you at dinner?”

“Of course you can”Lapis smiles.

Yui sighed. “Here we go…”

Dinner That Evening…

The dining room buzzed with casual conversation and laughter. Plates clinked, glasses were passed around, and the rich aroma of Lapis’ home-cooked dinner filled the air. Everyone was gathered around the large table: Akane beside Lapis, Yuzuraiha to his left, Yui bickering playfully with Marin across from Shinsuke, and Saeko sitting primly beside Akane,Yuzuraiha shyly sneaking peeks at Lapis every so often.

Saeko slowly sipped tea like an elegant specter. Yui was already halfway through her second helping of curry rice. Shinsuke poked suspiciously at a grilled pepper, while Marin squealed over how “aesthetic” the setup was, snapping another dozen photos. Yuzuriha quietly nibbled on steamed vegetables beside Lapis, occasionally glancing up with a soft smile.

Lapis stood at the head of the table, looking around at everyone. His fingers fidgeted with his napkin under the table, but when Akane gently reached under and gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, he inhaled deeply.

“Thanks for coming tonight, everyone,” he began, voice clear but slightly shaky. “This… actually means a lot to me. You all being here like this.”

Yui gave him a thumbs-up with a rice ball stuffed in her cheek. Marin gave an enthusiastic cheer.

“So,” Lapis continued, standing slowly, “there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you all.”

Everyone paused.

Akane stood up beside him, her fingers still locked in his.

“Akane and I are… engaged.”

A brief moment of stunned silence fell over the room.

Shinsuke’s chopsticks slipped out of his hand and clattered onto his plate. “Wait, what?!”

Yui blinked. “You serious?”

Saeko then gave a rare soft smile. “As I said earlier,Congratulations.”

Yuzuriha clapped her hands together, eyes sparkling.

“Congratulations, Onii-chan! Akane-oneesama!” she squeaked happily.

Lapis couldn’t help but grin at her enthusiasm and leaned down to hug her. “You are too adorable.”

Yui snorted. “Don’t spoil her, she’s already calling you big brother.”

Shinsuke finally recovered. “You really weren’t kidding, huh… wow. Congrats, man.”

Marin gasped. “Wait, Akane-chan and Blitz5—engaged?!”

Akane chuckled softly, wrapping her arms around Lapis’s. “It’s true.”

Marin gasped so loud it was theatrical. “This is, like, streamer headline material!”

Saeko, calm and composed as ever, took a small sip of tea and gave a serene, almost motherly smile. “I already knew. Their waves gave it away the moment I stepped inside.”

“...Is that a psychic thing or a creepy ‘I watch you while you sleep’ thing?” Yui asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes,” Saeko replied blankly.

The group laughed, voices layering with genuine excitement now that the initial shock wore off.

Yui gave Lapis a fist bump. “Congrats, boss. You got yourself someone way out of your league.”

“Don’t I know it,” Lapis muttered with a smile.

Later that night…

The apartment had quieted down. Most of the guests had already left, and the soft clatter of Akane rinsing dishes echoed from the kitchen. Lapis leaned against the counter, his hands still slightly damp from drying plates. A calm warmth settled between them.

That was when the front door creaked open.

“Heeey, lovebirds~!” came a slightly slurred voice.

Miyako stepped in, cheeks rosy, the faint scent of plum wine on her breath. Her strawberry-blonde hair swayed as she kicked off her shoes and walked in with the slight wobble of someone who’d had just enough to drink.

She leaned over the back of the couch, eyeing Lapis with a smirk.

“Did you make anything for me, rockstar?”

Lapis blinked, amused. “Yeah, there’s a plate in the fridge. Just heat it up.”

“You’re a good boy,” she slurred fondly before lazily heading toward the kitchen.

Akane looked between them with a smile. Lapis rubbed the back of his neck and glanced at Miyako as she rummaged around.

“Hey, Miyako… would it be okay if Akane moved in?”

Miyako paused mid-reach for the microwave buttons, turning her head just slightly. Her rouge-colored eyes narrowed with the precision of a sober woman hiding behind a buzz.

“No kids. Not yet.”

Lapis coughed. Akane blushed.

“R-Right. Got it,” he said.

Miyako shrugged and waved a hand. “She’s more responsible than you, anyway. Fine by me.”

As she turned back to the fridge, Lapis looked at Akane, who leaned her head against his shoulder, smiling softly.

“Looks like it’s official now,” she whispered.

He kissed the top of her head. “Welcome home.”

The Next Morning…

Lapis walked into the agency with a lazy stride, hands tucked in his hoodie pocket.

He paused in the hallway.

There, standing beside Miyako’s office door, was a familiar figure. Blonde hair, sunglasses, and a vibe like a retired rock star who could still punch out a stadium.
Ichigo Saitou.

They stared at each other for a second.

Lapis thought, “(Oh, Ichigo’s back… neat.)”

Ichigo gave a slight nod, arms crossed, expression unreadable.

Lapis stepped past him and reached for the door. Just before going in, he turned and smirked.

“Welcome back, old man.”

Inside Miyako’s Office…

Lapis dropped onto a chair across from Miyako, who was scribbling into a notebook with the intensity of someone too busy to reminisce.

“So…” Lapis started. “You and him getting back tog—”

“That’s not why I called you in,” Miyako cut in without missing a beat.

Lapis raised his eyebrows.

“How goes work on the next song?” she asked.

“For that new anime? Practically done. Just needs the final mix.”

Miyako finally looked up, folding her arms.

“Good. Your group’s got a concert in a few weeks. I think you should open with that one.”

Lapis leaned back, nodding once.

“Understood.”

As he left the room, he glanced toward the hallway again, but Ichigo was already gone.

“(Figures. Guy's like smoke—you turn once and he vanishes.)”

But a small smile tugged at his lips.

Things were changing. Fast. But somehow… they were starting to feel right.

Chapter 42: Movie Arc:I’ll be the one holding you when it hurts(Updated)

That evening…

Lapis adjusted the mic on his streaming setup, glancing at Akane beside him. She sat primly, trying to hide how nervous she was by fussing with her hair.

“Ready?” he asked softly.

She nodded.

“Okay, everyone—thanks for tuning in,” Lapis said to the camera, voice easy but serious. “We’ve got something important to tell you.”

Akane swallowed, then managed a small, graceful smile.

“We’re engaged,” Lapis announced simply.

The chat exploded instantly:

WHAT?!
Congrats!!
Bro, seriously??
This better be a prank.
I KNEW IT!
NOOO SHE STOLE HIM!
Akane-chan best girl forever!

Akane laughed awkwardly, trying not to squirm. Lapis watched the screen with practiced calm.

“Knew it’d be mixed,” he said dryly. He leaned back, picked up his acoustic guitar, and adjusted the strap.

Akane blinked at him in surprise.

“One sec. Let me do this right.”

He strummed softly, testing the tuning. Then, with a low breath, he began playing Kimi ni Todoke (by Tanjiro Music), his voice clear, rough in just the right places, carrying the quiet ache of confession.

♪ Telling you how I feel, like the wind carries the scent of spring…
♪ I want these words to reach you, only you…

His voice trembled once, but he didn’t stop. The chat slowed.

He’s really singing for her??

Bro’s in love fr.

I’m crying.

Okay fine you win.

Akane watched him, mouth parted. When he finished, she didn’t even notice. She was so focused she forgot to clap or even speak.

“...Akane?”

She startled, blinking rapidly. A single tear had slipped down her cheek. She wiped it quickly.

“S-Sorry! That was… amazing.”

He smiled, setting the guitar aside.

“It’s how I feel. Thanks for understanding, everyone.”

The chat was quieter now. Softer. Many sent heart emojis or simple congratulations.

After the Stream…

Akane cornered him the moment the camera was off.

“You… idiot,” she whispered.

She grabbed his collar, pulling him into a deep, urgent kiss. He melted into it, wrapping his arms around her waist.

The Next Day – Souless Logo’s Concert…

The stadium was packed, the lights searing. The energy buzzed like an electric current.

Lapis strode out under the lights to a roar of cheers—then suddenly, the cheers broke with a harsh thunk.

A bottle arced from the crowd and clipped the side of his face.

Gasps erupted.

He staggered, hand flying to his temple. Blood trickled down, bright under the stage lights.

Staff rushed out immediately.

“Lapis! We need to get you to the back!”

He let them pull him backstage, pressing gauze to the graze.

“We should cancel,” someone said urgently.

He glared at them like they’d grown horns.

“No.”

“You’re bleeding.”

“It’s barely a scratch.”

They hesitated.

He wiped the blood, breathing hard.

“Tell the band. We’re going back out.”

When he walked back on stage, the crowd went silent for a moment—then roared in shocked applause.

He could hear it clearly now: a few jeers from toxic Akane antis.

He didn’t even flinch.

“We’re not stopping,” he told the mic, voice level.

The band kicked in.

First song: Mayday by coldrain.

He roared the chorus, blood still drying on his temple.

Then Bloody, Power, Fame.

Each song hit like a punch to the gut, the crowd moving, shouting, raging with them.

They closed with original tracks—emotional, raw, defiant.

Backstage at the End….

Miyako was waiting, arms crossed, eyebrow raised.

“We ID'd the one who threw the bottle. Want to press charges?”

Lapis shook his head without hesitation.

“No.”

“Seriously?”

“Let him stew in knowing he didn’t stop the show. That’s enough.”

Miyako stared at him a long moment, then sighed and smiled.

“You’ve grown.”

He just shrugged, pulling off his sweat-soaked shirt.

“Let’s just get ready for the next one.”

After the concert…

Lapis walked through the door of Miyako’s place, his guitar case slung over one shoulder. He was exhausted but relieved the show was done.

The first thing he saw?

Spritz! Spritz!

Akane was in mid-spray with the bottle, scolding Ruby like a misbehaving cat.

“Bad Ruby-chan! We talked about boundaries!”

Ruby screeched in protest.

“I was just sitting—ugh, you’re worse than Lapis!”

Akane smirked victoriously.

But then her eyes slid past Ruby—and froze on Lapis.

The bandage taped to the side of his temple was impossible to miss.

Her expression went from smug to horrified in a single breath.

“...Lapis?”

He winced.

“Ah, it’s really nothing. Just a scratch, honestly.”

“Don’t lie to me.”

Her voice cracked slightly, her eyes blazing.

Ruby turned too, frowning in worry.

Akane dropped the spray bottle with a clatter and stomped over, grabbing his face in both hands.

“Who did this? Was it the concert? Why didn’t you tell me you got hurt?”

“Akane, it’s really not—”

“No. Don’t you dare lie to me. I’m your fiancée.”

He sighed, lifting his hand to rest over hers.

“It’s… from a bottle some jerk threw. Grazed me. I didn’t want you to worry.”

She glared at him even harder, but he could see her eyes watering.

“Idiot. I’m supposed to worry. That’s the deal.”

He smiled tiredly.

“Yeah. Sorry.”

Ruby looked between them, a little embarrassed by how intensely Akane was hovering, but quietly relieved he was okay.

Later – The 15-Year Lie script read-through…

The entire cast had gathered.Lapis walked in and saw Ruby and Aqua but also notice a familiar face.

Ruby’s and Lapis's eyes narrowed at Tsukuyomi.

“What is someone like her doing here?” she mumbled.

“”Someone like me”?That's quite the greeting.For your information, I'm the child actor who was chosen to play” Child a” and “child B” and “child C” in this movie.Yes, I'll be playing you three when you were little” she's informed Ruby.

“(Well this is kind of interesting..)”Lapis thought.

“My stage name is “Tsukuyomi.”You better treat me kindly” she said.

Ruby sighes“Whatever.Just don't get in my way.”

“I've done nothing but help, haven't I?” she asked.

Mem-Cho chewed on her lip but then saw them”Oh there you are!”

“Why so nervous?”Lapis asks.

“Is it really okay for me to be in this movie? Don't I stick out like a sore thumb?”

Ruby smiles”Well… honestly, I'm not sure.”

“I was looking for encouragement!!”Mem-cho retorts.

Just then the door cracks open to reveal Frill Shiranui.

Frill, cheerful and unbothered, leaned over and stared at Mem-cho.

“Mem-Cho-san, right? I’m a big fan! What an honor to meet you.”

Mem-Cho blinked”Huh?”

“I watch your channel.I mean, I watch B-komachi,too.But I like your own channel so much, I want all your videos.I'm a newbie who has just started to idolize you since my love but I
love you.Can I shake your hand?” she asked.

“(Where Ruby failed,Frill succeeded)” Lapis thought.

Meanwhile, Kana and Akane sat next to each other.

They exchanged their usual pointed “pleasantries.”

“Why are you sitting next to me?” Kana said airily.

“You don't like it? Go somewhere else, then” Akane replied.

At the other end, Melt and Taiki were doing an overly dramatic handshake and laughing.

Then Frill’s gaze drifted.

She spotted Lapis, who was leaning against a wall, quietly reading the script.

“Oh! You’re Blitz5-kun! You’re always hotter in person.Also I found it cool that you continue to play after what happened”

She sidled over and batted her eyes, voice dropping playfully.

“Want to rehearse lines together? Or… something else?”

Lapis blinked, nonplussed.”Uhh-”

Before he could answer, Akane was there, grabbing his arm with a death grip.

“We’re good. He’s rehearsing with me.”

She yanked him back so hard he nearly tripped.

Lapis shot her a sidelong look.

“Akane… you okay?”

She didn’t answer. She then turn to him cheeks puffed up.

Cute, he thought, biting back a laugh.

That thought vanished the second she pinched his cheek between her fingers.

“Ow—hey! Akane!”

“Stop smiling like that when girls hit on you.”

“I wasn’t even—OW! Okay! Okay!”

Ruby watched from her seat, looking both exasperated and delighted.

“Ugh. You two are the worst.”

Mem-Cho whispered to Kana:

“God, they’re like an old married couple already.”

Kana snorted.

“No like about it.”

Later after the script reading…

Lapis went to go get a drink forAkane and himself but then saw Kana talking to Aqua and hid behind a wall.

“I heard that you wrote it.You have quite the hidden talent, don't you?”said Kana.

“Just the outline.The director fixed most of it.I can't build from the ground up” said Aqua.

“That's probably true, but in the end, we're really touches you is whether or not there's hatred in this work.In that sense, it's outstanding”Kana Pats in with the script”It's a good script.”

Lapis narrowed his eyes.

With Akane…

Akane waited patiently but then sees Mem-cho“I know I said it before but congratulations on the engagement.”

“Thanks”said Akane.

“I saw it on the news so I knew, but after all that happened.It's amazing that Ruby,Blitz-tan,Aqu-tan we're still able to get back on their feet, don't you think”said Mem-cho.

“They haven't recovered.Neither Aqua-kun, Ruby-chan, nor Lapis-kun”said Akane.

Flashback — Late night, their shared bedroom…

The room was dimly lit, the glow of the moon slipping in through the curtains. A gentle breeze stirred the air. Akane lay nestled beneath the covers beside Lapis, her head resting lightly against his shoulder.

He was already asleep when she climbed into bed—breathing softly, one arm thrown across his face in that dramatic way he always slept.

She smiled faintly, brushing her fingers against his.

But then, hours later…

Akane stirred.

Lapis was shifting beside her, his breathing uneven.

“No… no… Ai…mom...” he mumbled, voice choked.

His brow was scrunched, a cold sweat forming at his temple. His voice cracked as he whimpered:

“Somebody… anyone… please… save her…”

Akane’s eyes widened.

She gently touched his cheek, only to feel him flinch under her fingers.

“Lapis,” she whispered. “Hey. Lapis, wake up.”

But he didn’t wake.

Instead, he clenched the blanket, murmuring in that broken, helpless voice she had only heard once before—back when he told her about that day. The one where Ai Hoshino died. Where a child in another life was force to a watched a star fade before his eyes.

Akane sat up and wrapped both arms tightly around him.

“It’s okay,” she whispered softly. “I’m here.”

He trembled, face pressed to her shoulder like a child. Still locked in the nightmare.

“You’re not alone anymore,” she said, brushing his hair gently. “Whatever you remember, whatever you’re reliving… I’m right here. You don’t have to carry it by yourself.”

The words poured from her in a soft stream, as if her voice alone could smooth the tremors in his soul.

“You were just a boy. You couldn’t have done anything. You don’t have to keep reliving it.”

His breathing began to slow. The tension in his jaw eased as her warmth enveloped him. Slowly, his hands unclenched the blankets and gripped her shirt instead—like an anchor.

A few silent minutes passed.

AI know how much she meant to you…” she whispered.

Akane closed her eyes.

“But you have me now.…I’ll be the one holding you when it hurts...I won't let hurt you..our family again.”

Akane exhaled, resting her forehead against his.

Chapter 43: Movie Arc:Reshoots&Shattered Calm

Notes:

Meant to put this out Wednesday but i got buzy but enjoy.

The set of The 15-Year Lie buzzed with controlled chaos—cameras clicking into place, lights shifting angles, and background staff hurrying around with clipboards and coiled wires. A bright "Recording" sign flickered red above the studio floor, bathing the set in a faint glow of anticipation.

“Hey!” Takamine's sharp voice cut across the dressing area like a snap of cold scissors.”Are you listening?”

“Y-yeah! Um..Sorry, what was it again??” she asked, a rice cracker halfway to her lips.

Takamine's brow twitched. “I'm talking about the cap.Don't leave your bottle on the table without it!”

Nino smiles nervously. “Tee Hee, I'm sorry.It's just water, so I thought it was okay.”

“Absolutely not!” Takamine snapped, arms folded. “How can you be okay with that? I don't get it! How borish.”

Lapis was mesmerized by the scene, he had seen Akane act before but he never got tired of it.

Before Nino could get another word in, Meimei leaned in with a teasing smirk. “Takamine-chan, don't tease her too much, will ya?”

“I'm not teasing her” Takamine retorts while holding Nino. “I'm being harsh because I love her.Right?”

Nino looked away“I'm sorry.”

The sharp ring of a bell echoed across the set.

“CUT!”

The shout caused a cascade of movement as the actors broke character and the crew scattered to prepare the next shot.

Ruby stood nearby with Lapis, both observing from a respectful distance.

“Pay attention to your surroundings, Ruby.” Miyako appeared suddenly behind her. “You have to be on level, too.”

Ruby stiffened. “Right. I know.”

Despite her confident words, she tightened her grip on her skirt. Lapis glanced at her, worry flickering behind his gentle gaze, but said nothing.

From across the set, Mem-Cho spun toward Akane and Kana with a worried look in her eye.

“Guys! How was it? Do you think I did well?” she asked.

Akane tilted her head, voice calm as always. “I think you were okay.”

Kana, seated beside her with arms crossed, added flatly, “Well, you don't have such long lines and you resemble the character you're playing, so it's easy, right?”

Kana then pointed at Akane”I mean take a look Kurokawa Akane’s character’s nasty personality.If it wasn't nasty to begin with, she wouldn't be able to perform this well.”

“I'm not nasty.Don't be rude please”Akane calmly retorts.

“Liar.You look so happy when you're teasing me”Kana retorts.

Akane smiles“That's not true.”

“(She definitely enjoys teasing Arima)”Lapis thought,deadpan.

Akane’s eyes, however, drifted beyond the banter—landing on Ruby.

She was trust in her costume, Ruby stood near the camera for her first scene as Ai Hoshino.

It was just an entrance scene. Simple on paper.

And yet…

“CUT.Ruby-san, we're going to reshoot.Please go back to the starting position”

Ruby had to do the same scene over again but once again, then again, and again, and again. Lapis felt bad for Ruby as he could tell she was getting frustrated just by looking.

Sometime later…

“How many takes have you done so far for that short line?”Kana asks,deadpan.

“Thirteen” Ruby answers.

“You've been stuck since the beginning, huh?”Kana asks.

“I can't help it, okay? This is my first performance”said Ruby.

Watching from the sidelines, Mem-Cho fidgeted nervously. “How long are you going to keep doing this?I've got butterflies in my stomach?”

“Until the director is satisfied, of course”Ruby responds.

Lapis shook her head. “(Taishi Gotanda.I've heard about this kind of director who’ll keep going until it clicks. He’s a perfectionist. You can’t rush him.)”

Lapis watched Ruby’s trembling fingers as she adjusted her wig again. Akane crossed her legs and leaned forward slightly, her expression unreadable.She went to go talk to the assistant director but he noticed after hearing something he couldn't make out something changed with the last take she did.

“(What was different with that take? What exactly did he say to her?)”Lapis wondered.

The next day…

The digital chime echoed softly as Lapis ended his stream, the screen fading into darkness, reflecting his tired eyes. He leaned back in his chair, rubbing the back of his neck. The apartment was quiet, save for the hum of his PC and the distant city sounds outside the balcony window.

Moments later, the bathroom door opened with a soft creak.

Akane stepped into the room, her damp hair cascading down her shoulders like dark silk, a faint trail of steam following her. Dressed in one of Lapis's oversized shirts, she gave him a smile that was both gentle and curious.

"Done streaming?" she asked, toweling her hair.

"Mm." Lapis nodded, eyes lingering on the dim glow of the screen before it powered off.

"You practiced your lines today, right?" she asked as she walked over to sit on the edge of the bed.

Lapis's fingers froze on his keyboard. “Not today.”

Akane frowned. “You know you need to. Filming picks up next week. You can’t just wing it.”

He turned slightly in his chair, voice calm but distant. “I’m a background character, Akane. A guy standing in the back. No one’s coming to the theater to watch me emote.”

“That’s not the point,” she replied, brows narrowing. “You still have a role. A real professional—”

“—would care,” Lapis muttered, already picking up his acoustic guitar and strumming a slow, aimless chord. “Yeah, I know. I’ve heard the lecture before.”

Akane’s jaw tensed. She stood and walked over, reaching for the guitar. “Lapis, stop messing around and take this seriously.”

He held it for a moment longer, but then let go as she tugged it—just a little too hard.

The guitar slipped.

The bottom edge hit the corner of his laptop screen with a sharp crack. A thin web of fractures bloomed across the display like a spider’s legs.

Time seemed to pause.

Akane’s eyes widened. “I—I didn’t mean—”

Lapis’s expression shifted instantly. His brows knitted, eyes darkening, but he said nothing. Not a word. Just a deep, slow exhale through clenched teeth.

Then, quietly, he stood.

Wordlessly, he grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair, slipped his arms through the sleeves, and walked past her without a glance.

Akane reached for him. “Lapis—wait, I—”

The door clicked shut before she could finish.

The next morning…

The bedroom felt hollow without Lapis, without the click-clack of his keyboard or the soft sound of his voice talking to chat. Akane sat on the edge of the bed, still in her sleep shirt, phone clutched tightly in both hands.

He hadn’t come back last night.

But he would. Right?

He always cooled off after a walk. That was Lapis—quiet, reserved, but not someone who held grudges. Not with her.

…Right?

She refreshed her message thread with him for the fifth time that hour.

No reply.

She tapped his name. Dialed. Rings echoed… then his voicemail.

“Hey. It’s me. I’ll get back to you. Or not.”

Beep.

Akane sighed, ending the call before leaving a message. Again.

She typed something quickly—“I’m sorry about the laptop. I didn’t mean to. Please come back so we can talk…”—but the message stayed unread. No “Seen.” No “Delivered.” Nothing.

Then, she looked up.

The set was bustling. Lights, cables, script runners moving about. Actors were called for touch-ups. Camera assistants adjusted equipment. But there was one person missing from the bustle.

Lapis.

She scanned the corners of the room again. Not in costume. Not behind the extras. Not at the coffee station pretending to avoid people.

Her heart sank. She tapped her phone again, only to be met with the same emptiness.

“Still nothing?” asked Mem-cho, appearing beside her with a steaming paper cup.

Akane shook her head. “Not even a ghost emoji.”

“…Do you think he’s mad?”

Akane looked away. “I think I pushed him too far.”

Meanwhile – A quiet cafe, late morning…

Sunlight filtered through the windows, dancing across the wooden table where Lapis sat, hoodie up, headphones around his neck but not playing anything. His phone lay on the table, the screen black, though it had buzzed twice in the past ten minutes.

Saeko stirred her iced coffee, watching him with a knowing gaze.

“Are you going to check it?”

Lapis didn’t look up.

“She’s been messaging you. Calling you too.”

Still silence.

Saeko sipped once, letting the straw clink against the glass. “You’re angry. I get it. But running off without a word? Not like you.”

Lapis’s jaw tensed.

“She was worried, you know,” Saeko added gently. “When she found out about what that fan did to you at that concert… she called me. Frantic. Asking me what happened. Asking if you were safe. She cried, Lapis. She really cared.”

He finally looked up, eyes clouded.

“…That was different.”

“No. It wasn’t.” Saeko leaned in slightly. “I don't know what happened but it sounds like you two were going through a lot.This can all be sold as you two talk but you’re not going to fix anything by staying quiet.”

Lapis stared at his phone. The unread texts. The missed calls.

“…This is your first fight, Lapis. Not the last. But if you let this fester, it might be the one that breaks you.”

The cafe’s noise faded as her words sank in.

And still, he said nothing.

The night stretched long and heavy in the dim apartment. The only light came from the phone screen on the nightstand, glowing softly—off, on, off again—every time Akane checked for a message that never came.

She sat upright on the bed, knees pulled to her chest, face buried in the sleeves of her oversized hoodie.

Still nothing.

Her eyes burned, not just from exhaustion, but from the frustration, the anxiety, and the guilt twisting in her chest. Her phone lay untouched now, as if even it had given up hope.

A quiet sob escaped her lips.

Then—click.

The doorknob turned slowly, creaking open.

Akane froze, not lifting her head, not daring to believe—

Soft footsteps padded across the floor. Then the sound of someone sitting, gently, on the hardwood near the bed.

A familiar weight.

A familiar silence.

“…Are you awake?” Lapis’s voice was quiet. Careful.

Akane didn’t move. Didn’t answer. Her breath caught in her throat.

Lapis looked down at his hands.

“…I’m sorry.”

The words fell like stones in still water.

“I… I know I said I was just a background character. But that doesn’t mean I should act like I don’t matter. That we don’t matter.” His voice cracked ever so slightly. “I guess I got caught up in that feeling. Like… no one would notice if I was gone.”

He swallowed hard.

“But you did.”

A pause.

“I hated that this was our first fight. I hated leaving you like that. I didn’t know what to say, so I didn’t say anything. And that probably made it worse. I just… I’m sorry I made you worry.”

For a second, he thought she was still ignoring him.

But then—

Two arms slid around his shoulders.

Akane’s forehead rested against the back of his neck, warm tears soaking into his shirt.

“…I’m sorry too,” she whispered. “I should’ve handled it better. I should’ve listened more instead of pushing you.”

She pulled him close, her embrace trembling. “I felt so…alone without you. I couldn’t focus. I had to do so many reshoots today. My smile kept cracking because I couldn’t stop thinking—what if I ruined us?”

Lapis leaned into her arms.

“You didn’t,” he said softly. “You couldn’t.”

A moment passed.

Then another.

And finally, he turned to face her, gently brushing his forehead against hers.

“I’ll always love you, Akane,” he said, voice barely above a whisper. “Even when we mess up. Even when we fight. I’ll still come home to you.”

Akane closed her eyes, letting the words settle into her heart like the first warmth after a winter night.

“…Then promise to never leave without saying goodbye again.”

“I won’t.”

Much later..

Lapis slipped out of bed carefully, trying not to wake Akane, who murmured something faintly in her sleep and rolled over, her hand still resting in the warm spot where he had been.

He walked to the kitchen for a glass of water, the coolness a quiet relief on his dry throat. As he turned to head back, a soft flicker of light caught his eye.

The hallway was dark, save for the dim glow leaking out from a slightly open door—Aqua’s room.

Curious, and a little concerned, Lapis padded over on bare feet.

He peeked in.

Aqua sat on the edge of his bed, shoulders rigid, eyes fixed on the screen of an old DVD player. His expression was unreadable, but his gaze was locked—intensely so.

Lapis’s eyes drifted to the screen.

A familiar face appeared.

Ai.

Young, beautiful, and glowing with warmth. Her voice, clear and full of love, filled the quiet room.

“Happy 15th birthday, Aqua.”

Lapis froze.

“Fifteen years old, huh? I was 15 when I was pregnant with you three…”

Aqua didn’t move. His breathing was steady, but his eyes… his eyes glistened ever so slightly.

“Now that you’re an adult, I’m sure you can take what I’m about to tell you, right?”

There was a pause—long, heavy. Then Ai smiled, more tenderly this time.

“I want to tell you about your father… and… my request to both of you, who are all grown up now.”

The screen faded to black. But Aqua sat there still.

And quietly, he whispered into the dark, “Don’t worry,Ai.I’ll definitely get it done.”

Lapis stepped away before he could be noticed, giving Aqua the space he clearly needed. The hallway felt colder now. He clutched his glass tighter, feeling the weight of what he’d seen.

He returned to the bedroom and sat quietly on the edge of the bed.

Akane stirred. “Mm…Lapis? You okay?”

He looked back at her, forcing a small smile. “Yeah. Just… thinking.”

But inside, something had shifted. That moment—Aqua’s quiet promise, Ai’s hopeful face frozen in time—lingered with him.

He lay back down, but sleep didn’t come easily.

He’d always wanted to protect them—Aqua and Ruby.

But now?

Now it felt deeper.

Stronger.

More than ever… he was determined to save them.

Chapter 44: Movie Arc:Filming, Rivalries, and Truths

Notes:

Was suppose to be posted yesterday but here's chapter 44.Enjoy

Ai’s story continued.”Let me tell you a story about me and him.But where should I start?Oh, yeah.Let's start from when I became an idol.”

After escaping the suffocating confines of the state shelter she’d been placed in, Ai Hoshino wandered the cold, unwelcoming streets of Tokyo with no destination in mind. Her only desire was freedom, evThe screen flickered to life again. Ai’s face returned—her smile calm, her voice steady as she continued her story.

“I was tired of living in a facility, so I escaped and fled to Tokyo… I didn’t even think of the consequences..I just thought It'd work out somehow.I'm cute, after all.In the worst case, that would give me options to earn a living.But..”

Footage played over Ai’s voice—dark train stations, crowded crosswalks, flashing neon signs in the rain. A girl in an oversized hoodie and a tattered backpack walking alone.

“That’s when I met the president.”

The image shifted. A younger Ichigo Saitou, slicked-back hair, talking fast and gesturing even faster.

“Hey, you.Wanna eat some parfait or something? I'll buy you anything if you just listen to me.”

“He was weird, persistent, and… well, persuasive.I told him my mother got arrested for stealing.She said it was only for a little while, so she left me in a facility but even after she was released, she didn't come pick me up.The presidents ask”Could it be that you actually want to love someone, too?” I thought about it but then he said well communicating with the words I love you a lie maybe come true someday”

Ai chuckled on-screen.

“I decided to become an idol but it was quite difficult from there.The facility forbids minors from working so we had to clear up Troublesome issues like Guarantors and such.”

A woman with a cigarette in hand looked at Ichigo“A guarantor? I refuse.Her mother is a total loser. I don't want anything to do with her.And her daughter is an idol? Such a shameful job.Her mother was a filthy woman who earned a living by flirting with men.Nope, nope, nope.The Apple doesn't fall far from the tree.Like mother, like daughter.I'm sure she'll sell her body too-”

It together then placed a stack of yen on the table”I'll give you 1,474,550 yen($10,000 dollars in Usa) for the use of your name.You'll be her guarantor and name only.If you can just deal with the social worker from time to time, I promise I won't cause you any trouble.I'll arrange her housing and pay for her living and when the time comes I'll officially be her guarantor, so-”

“That's enough”

He looked up at the elderly woman

“If you pay me twice as much, I'll think about it”

Few minutes later..

Ichigo stepped out of the office looking towards Ai.

“I've taken care of everything.It took longer than I'd expected, but with this, we won't have problems anymore.Welcome to B-komachi.”

“Cut!”

Kana sighed sitting in her chair but then sees Mem-cho coming towards her.

“Hey, how true do you think the story is?” she asked, a bit nervous.

“About fifty percent? I mean some parts seem like they were made up.Plus, you can't possibly find out this many details about a story that happened more than 10 years ago"said Kana.

Mem smiles“You're right.There's no way, huh?”

“Eighty percent.No, I think 90% of it is true”said Akane.

“(The fiance's opinion is strong..)”Mem-cho thought.

“(Aqua-kun must have found his way to some kind of answer from the beginning.He might not know the specific characteristics or the name of his father, but he knew his true desires and human nature.That's why he easily believe that Sejiro Uehara was his father)”Akane thought.

“This is a very Broad topic.Unless they ask the people involved”said Kana.

Far from Tokyo, in a quiet countryside restaurant, Aqua stood before an older woman with tired eyes and a deeply lined face. Her name was Ayumi Hoshino.

Ai’s real mother.

But the words Aqua wanted to say refused to come.

Before he could break the silence, footsteps approached.

“Fancy seeing you here,” said a calm voice.

Aqua turned sharply. “Lapis?”

Lapis gave a small wave. “I followed you. Like a good older brother would.”

Aqua sighed but didn’t protest. “You shouldn’t have.”

Lapis smiled slightly and looked toward the older woman. “I’m Lapis. Ai’s eldest son… and your grandson.”

Ayumi’s eyes widened with disbelief. “You… you look just like her. So much like Ai…”

Lapis sat next to Aqua on the opposite side of her.

There was a painful silence before she spoke again, more softly this time. “I loved that kid.She was my only daughter, after all.Of course I loved her.I was going to pick her up someday.I wanted to go there and pick her up myself, you know?”

Lapis’s eyes darkened. “If you loved her… why didn’t you come for her?”

Ayumi didn’t flinch. “Because she was too attractive. She was too beautiful… and the man I was dating and thinking of marrying at the time— had started to make eyes at Ai.Back then she was only eight or nine.But she had grown up to be a woman and became frighteningly beautiful.”

She stared down at her trembling hands. “Everyday I felt uneasy.I was angry at the man and jealous of my own daughter.As a result, our family fell apart, I was arrested for petty theft, I never met her again.It's obvious, isn't it? If the same thing happened again, I'm sure I just repeat history.”

Lapis and aqua’s eyes widened.

“I know I just wind up hurting her, so I had no choice but to stay away from her.I mean, it's fine.You can make a movie about it or do whatever you want, but I don't think that's enough to for me to make amends.Thank you for coming today.I thought I had no right to even meet my grandson's.”

There were no more tears left in her, just regret.

But Aqua, while visibly bitter, didn’t look away. He gave a stiff nod. “Thanks for telling us the truth.”

When the two boys left, the sky was overcast. Neither spoke for a while.

Then, just ahead, they spotted someone waiting beneath a tree.

Akane.

She folded her arms, gaze stern but gentle. “Talent affects people's lives for better or worse.”

He blinked. “What are you doing here?”

“Nothing special,” she said, glancing at Lapis. “Just doing the same thing as you.I'm good at snooping around and following people, you know?”

“Honestly”Aqua sighed.

Akane wraps her arms around Lapis left arm”I told you we'd definitely stop you, right? Besides, if you suddenly go to a rule area like this, it's normal for someone to follow you.”

“Your normal isn't normal at all”Aqua retorts.

Lapis smiled faintly. “It works for me.”

“I wanted to be born as a normal girl, too.But that wasn't the case, so I can't help it.I'm sure Ai was the same.I also did some research on Ayumi Hoshino but didn't find anything strange.She's just simply a mother who was abandoned by her child as a result of ill treatment.”

A breeze passed by, rustling the leaves.

“Let’s go home, there's nothing here anymore” Akane said quietly.

Lapis nodded. Aqua looked up at the cloudy sky.

“…Yeah.You're right”

The next day…

The set was alive with energy as lights dimmed and music flared. A song number from B-Komachi was in progress, the actresses stepping in rhythm to the beat. Nino, as always, took the center—sharp, elegant, commanding the stage like the veteran she was.

But something was off.

From the wings, Ai’s character—played by Ruby—shone brighter than expected. The crowd’s eyes gravitated toward her, camera lenses subtly adjusted, and signs in the crowd bore her name more often than Nino’s. Even the cheers were louder.

Nino noticed. So did Ai.

And that bitter seed began to sprout.

When the number ended, applause filled the air. But at the meet-and-greet station, Nino’s queue was sparse compared to the winding line that formed before Ai.

Back in the changing room,Takamine—usually quick to scold Nino—instead turned toward Ai with sharp critiques and pressing advice.

“Jeez,Ai.You really can't do anything without me, huh? Keep this up, you'll never get married.”

Nino, momentarily ignored, sat still in her chair, removing her hairpin in silence.”(You're both beautiful and popular so…)”

“…Don’t take what’s mine,too” she muttered softly to herself, the words barely audible over the rustling of stage assistants.

Once the scene wrapped Kana, Akane, and Mem-Cho were approached by the real-life former B-Komachi members Takamine and Fuyuko Nino—now in her mid-30s, her short brown hair streaked faintly with gray. Her green eyes retained a trace of youthful glint, though her figure had softened with age, her face now creased with the weight of years past.

Takamine strapped to her chest in a soft pouch was a fussy toddler, sucking on a pacifier. She looked at the screen that just played back her fictional counterpart’s scene and laughed, almost embarrassingly.

“Whaaat? Was I really like that?”

Takamine, giggled with nostalgic fondness. “Well, yeah.I've been telling everyone this and that, but I did it out of love!”

Lapis, standing a few steps away beside Aqua, watched them.

(Guess people mellow out with age…) he thought dryly.

Then Takamine raised a hand and waved her closer. “Hey, Nino! Don’t just stand over there. Come over here!”

“‘Kay…” Nino responded, shuffling forward with a distant smile.

“We feel so honored to have such Beauties playing us! Right,Nino?”Takamine ask patting her on the back.

“Yeah” she responds.

While the group engaged in warm chatter backstage, Aqua glanced at Ruby, who stood aloof and expressionless.

“Don't you want to join them, Ruby?”

Ruby didn’t blink. “Nah.I'm good.I already said hi.”

Her tone was flat, cold.

Lapis tilted his head. “Was it something personal? I thought you were their fan.”

Ruby nervously scratches her cheek trying not to make eye contact. “Well.. I do like B-Komachi, but I don't have a favorite memberI mean if I have to be honest, intial members were kind of meh.I'd probably jump up and down if it was Meimei or Kyunpan?”

“Don't say it so bluntly like that” Aqua and Lapis said in sync.

“Sensei-”

“No old life names in public”Lapis whispered.

“Either way, you were aware of the relationship between mama and B-komachi,too, right? That's why you wrote the script like this”

Later that day, Kana—still fueled by the unspoken competition with Akane—found herself approaching the real Nino. The older woman was sitting alone, gaze distant.

“Um,Can I ask you some questions?” Kana began. “I'd like to use what you say as a reference for my acting.”

Nino raised an eyebrow”Is it something I must say?”

“More like something that can help me study for my role”Kana looks at Akane talking to Takamine.”The girl who's playing Takamine-san is known for being amazing at it.I do not want to lose to her”

Nino then looked at her. “Are you guys rivals?”

“Well,um, something like that?”Kana hesitantly answers.

Nino smiles”That's nice.B-komachi never had that problem because nobody could rival Ai.Thanks to her, we got more exposure and we did our best in our own way, but it was so painful..”

Kana’s brow furrowed. “I understand…Do you.. hate Ai.”

For a moment, silence.

“Hehe Hehe.Ai did her best in her own way, too.I knew that for a fact” Nino answered. “No matter how busy she was, she never complained and continued to work hard.I neither envied nor was jealous of her..No, that's not true.Frankly speaking, I did hate her.I'd always wanted her to disappear.I even said”"Go to hell”Who’d never thought she'd really die.”

Tears welled up in her eyes as she trembled, fists clenched. Kana froze, shocked. She could see it now—how similar this was to how she sometimes looked at Ruby. How Ruby was starting to eclipse her, too.

“And yet, that memory is still fresh in my mind.Even when I used violent words against her,Ai still trying to love me.But I-”

In front of them, Ruby had entered. Still wearing Ai’s costume. The resemblance made Nino flinch.

“…Do you regret it?” Ruby asked.

“Yeah.”

She smiled—playful, teasing. “It's all good.I don't care about that anymore,Nino-chan.Just kidding”

But the gesture backfired.

Nino’s face twisted with fury. “You're totally different from her, after all. The real Ai would never say something like that.Instead, it be like”Did you say that?” because that's what I wanted to hear.”

Nino stood up and walked past Ruby”My words couldn't hurt her.She wouldn't even remember them. She was the strongest, most invincible idol queen, after all. Thank goodness.

—” Her voice rose with venom. “You’re a total fake.”

Kana stood frozen. “She freaked me out! and her emotions were all over the place!Do I have to play her from now on?!”

Ruby said nothing. She simply stared at the door as it closed.

Lapis then noticed she left something. He picked it up and went to return it to her.

She went outside and spotted her but she was on the phone.

“Yeah, she was different.” Nino whispered. “ Ai was unique, after all.…There could never be a second Ai.I felt so relieved.We can't forgive anyone who surpasses Ai.Not even her daughter.Right,Hikaru kamiki-san?”

She paused, then sighed. “But… I’m glad. There shouldn’t be another like Ai. Ever. That star should never be overshadowed.”

She ended the call.

Behind the wall, unseen, Lapis stood motionless.

His purple eyes were wide, heart racing.

He now knew the truth.

Later that night..

Back in their shared room, the air felt heavy. The hum of Lapis’s gaming PC was the only sound until Akane finally set down her phone and looked over at him.

“You’ve been off ever since we got back,” she said softly, her voice carrying that mixture of concern and quiet insistence that always made it hard for Lapis to dodge the question.

“What’s wrong?”

Lapis sat on the edge of his bed, leaning forward, elbows on his knees. His hands fidgeted for a moment before he finally spoke.

“I… overheard something,” he admitted, eyes fixed on the floor. “Nino was talking to my—” he hesitated, the word bitter on his tongue, “—my father. Hikaru Kamiki.”

Akane’s eyes widened instantly. “Kamiki?” Her voice had that sharp edge now, the kind she used when a situation just went from concerning to dangerous.

Lapis’s voice quickened, panic creeping in. “What if they… what if they’re planning something for Ruby? I mean, she’s—” He stopped himself, jaw tightening, like he was trying to force his thoughts into order but couldn’t.

Akane got up and knelt in front of him, resting her hands lightly on his knees. “Hey,” she said firmly. “Breathe.”

He met her eyes, his chest still tight, but followed her lead, inhaling and exhaling slowly.

“We’re not going to let them do anything to her,” Akane said with a quiet certainty that didn’t leave room for doubt. “No matter what they have planned, we’ll find a way to protect Ruby. You hear me?”

Lapis nodded, though the knot in his stomach didn’t disappear. Still, the way Akane said we made him feel just a little less alone in it.

Chapter 45: Movie Arc:Ad-Lib

Notes:

Not going to lie this chapter was a bit of a hard one to write but here it is, enjoy

At Youtou High School, the cafeteria buzzed with chatter as trays clattered and chairs scraped across the floor. At one table, Frill animatedly discussed acting with Ruby, Minami, and another classmate, gesturing with her chopsticks as she dissected a scene.

Meanwhile, at a nearby table, Lapis, Shinsuke, and Saeko ate in quieter company.

Saeko’s eyes drifted sideways, catching the faint giggles and stolen glances of a group of girls seated a few tables away—Lapis’s fan club. They weren’t even subtle, whispering and staring at him with starry-eyed fascination.

“Annoying,” Shinsuke muttered, stabbing at his food.

Saeko tilted her head, the faintest smile curving her lips. “Mmm. Your electrical waves are a bit unstable. Almost like… jealousy?”

Shinsuke snapped his gaze to her, his chopsticks halfway to his mouth. “Oi. Stop using your powers on me.”

She gave an airy shrug, as if she hadn’t just poked at his pride. “Should I tell Minami?”

“Don’t you dare,” Shinsuke hissed, lowering his voice.

They both turned toward Lapis then. He hadn’t said a word in minutes, his food mostly untouched, his gaze distant.

Shinsuke leaned closer, whispering, “So… what do you think?”

Saeko’s lips curled with mischief. “I have a way to snap him out of it.”

She rose gracefully and bent close to Lapis’s ear, whispering, “Shin thinks Colors by Flow isn’t good.”

Lapis’s head snapped up instantly, his eyes wide. “He said what?!”

Saeko straightened, smiling triumphantly. “See? It worked.”

Shinsuke’s jaw dropped. “You used me for that?!”

But Saeko ignored his outrage, turning to Lapis with her usual calm. “Something’s wrong. Your waves are… off. If there’s a problem, you can tell me.”

Shinsuke smirked, ready to stir the pot. “Careful, Saeko. He’s got a fiancée already.”

Without missing a beat, Saeko answered, her voice steady but her words shocking:
“I know. But I love both Lapis and Akane. I deeply wish to have a night of passion with them.”

The table froze. Chopsticks clattered against trays.

Shinsuke stared at her like she had grown a second head.

Lapis’s face flushed red as he let out a nervous chuckle. “G-good one, Saeko… you were joking, right?”

She glanced at the clock, her tone casual. “Lunch is almost over. We should go.”

And then she left.

Lapis blinked after her, stunned. “…Wait. Saeko? You were joking… right?”

No response.

The next day – On the set of The 15 Year Lie...

Lapis cornered Akane between costume changes, blurting out what Saeko had said.

Akane only gave a small smile, brushing stray bangs from her face. “We’ll talk to her later. Right now, I need to get ready for the scene.”

Lapis sighed, walking away, Saeko’s words still echoing in his head. Was she serious?

That was when he noticed Ruby, sitting alone in the dressing room. Still in her Ai costume, she stared at the floor, her shoulders trembling.

Concern etched across his face, Lapis approached, but before he could speak, a staff member spotted her too. “Director Gotanda, please do something about her.She's been like that even after she was done filming.This is because you were too harsh on her.”

But Gotanda only waved them off. “Just leave her alone for a bit. It’s part of the process.”

“You can at least get the wig from her” the staff member retorts.

Ruby’s breath hitched as memories swirled—her strained relationship with Kana, the growing rift, the way she couldn’t pinpoint when Kana’s warmth had turned to resentment. Her thoughts tangled with her mother’s past—How did Ai endure it? How did she smile through the same pain I feel now?

She glanced at the mirror. For a heartbeat, she didn’t see herself. She saw Ai. Tears welled in her reflection’s eyes.

Was Mother the same as me? Just a fragile girl hiding behind a perfect smile…

Lapis’s chest tightened. He clenched his fist. I need to make sure Ruby’s safe. Whatever Father and Nino are planning… I can’t let it reach her.

“Lapis?”

He turned to her direction” Huh?”

“Do you think Mama cried too and she was having a hard time?” Ruby asks.

Lapis rest of the hand on his check”Hmm..Can't say I never seen it or we were growing up.Is it possible, yes.Maybe ask Aqua.He is the one putting us all together.”

The following day...

On set, the tension between Ruby and Kana was thick enough to cut. They barely acknowledged each other.

Watching, Aqua frowned. “Are you sure they'll be fine?Things are looking a little grim to me.”

Gotanda forced a laugh, but his hands trembled. “This is what adolescence is like, right? Things like this happened with girls around their age all the time.. right?”

Aqua’s expression hardened. “I have no idea.”

“Like they say, fights deep in your friendships-”

“That only happens in fiction” Aqua replied, deadpanned.

From his seat, Lapis didn’t even look up from his script. “That kind of thinking’s why you’re still single and living with your mom.”

The jab hit Gotanda hard. He slumped. “Ruby is your sister.. and the two of you seem to get along with Arima, aren't you worried? Either of you?”

“You made this bed, you lie in it” Lapis replied.

But Aqua stayed firm. “Don't get too flustered.You're the person in charge here.Stay calm.Ruby won't break easily.Even if she fails, she'll turn everything around to her benefit.The same goes for Arima.She's not a child anymore, she's grown up to be an actor who can see the bigger picture.”

“(He's still talking about Kana, right? )”Lapis thought.

Everyone fell silent.

The camera captured the raw tension of Cut 57: Ai and Nino’s Farewell. Kana, embodying Nino, stood across from Ruby, who carried the weight of Ai. The energy in the room was taut, electric, as if no one dared breathe.

“Ai, you’re lucky. I’m no match for you,” Kana spoke, her voice trembling yet sharp.

(Why did things turn out this way?) Kana thought as Nino’s monologue unfolded in her mind.

Fuyuko Nino. Ai had joined B-Komachi later, but that meant Nino was essentially her senior. She had been the key figure who carried the group at its beginning. A popular member, adored by many. But then Ai appeared—and the balance shifted. Slowly, cruelly, Nino’s fans left her, drawn to Ai’s brilliance.

To be exact, Ai didn’t just gain fans. She stole them.

From that moment, B-Komachi became a pyramid with Ai shining at its apex. And while every member carried complicated feelings toward her, Nino’s ran deepest—jealousy, pain, and a fixation that never died.

“I wish I were you, Ai,” Kana said as Nino.

Ruby blinked as Ai, her expression soft. “What the heck? I wanted to be like you instead—”

“Stop that! That’s a lie!” Nino snapped, voice breaking. She pointed toward the imaginary fans beyond the camera. “Just ask them! If we stood side by side and asked who’s cuter, every single one of them would say Ai! Who’s more attractive? Who do you want to date? Who do you want to cheer for? Ai, Ai, Ai, Ai! They’ll all choose you!”

Her fists clenched tight, her eyes brimming with tears.

Ruby inhaled shakily as Ai. “…Nah, I don’t think so.”

“You always dodge questions like that. You’re not even interested in me, are you?” Nino’s voice broke into a plea.

“I am.”

“Liar!” Kana’s entire body shook with Nino’s fury. “I practice harder than anyone! I do my best every day! And yet—”

(Yeah, Nino. I understand… It must have been frustrating, huh?) Kana thought, her mind drifting even as her body carried the scene.

To stand next to someone with natural talent. Someone who attracted attention effortlessly. Someone who shined brighter than anyone. You realized she was different—you hated her, admired her, wanted what she had. That contradiction… it must have torn you apart.

But Ai wasn’t just your rival, was she? She was your friend. That’s why it hurt even more.

Kana felt her throat tighten as Nino’s next words spilled out.

“I hate you. I hate you so much… I WISH YOU’D DIE!!”

Tears fell freely as she screamed, her whole body trembling. Then, with her shoulders hunched and her expression twisted, she turned and stormed out.

The set was deathly quiet. The assistant director lifted his hand, about to call the scene.

Gotanda stopped him with a firm grip on his arm.
“Wait.”

“Huh?” the man blinked in confusion.

“Just a little longer,” Gotanda whispered.

Everyone turned back just in time to see Ruby—Ai—move.

Her hand trembled as she hurled the glass she had been holding. It shattered against the door Nino had just exited.

And then Ruby smiled through her tears.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Her voice cracked. “I hate everyone. Screw them all. What did I do wrong, anyway?”

Her sobbing laughter filled the silence, raw and jagged, and the entire crew felt the weight of it.

No one moved. No one breathed.

The cameras kept rolling.