Chapter Text
In the rare times Ai thought about calling Hikaru about their children, she always imagined it as them raising their children together. Not because her daughter thought they had no father and their mother was practically a second Virgin Mary.
“Hello?” She hadn’t heard his voice in so long.
“It’s me,” Ai replied back quietly.
“Ai,” breathed Hikaru. Even through the phone, the emotion in his voice was palpable.
“Yeah,” Ai broke in before he could ask questions, “so, hey…the kids are getting pretty big. Want to come meet them?”
Wow, Hikaru really was attached to her if Ai could hear his breathing through the receiver. “As in you want us to get back together.”
How the hell did he come up with that? They hadn’t seen each other in years, let alone kept in touch. How could they just fall back into a romantic relationship?
“No, I’m not trying to get back together,” Ai lied flatly. “But I think they should know who their father is. They’re really smart kids…they’ll understand our situation.”
Maybe not that their father wasn’t emotionally ready to be a parent, but that for the sake of their mother’s career and their father’s safety, their parents could not be together.
There was silence from Hikaru’s end for a while. “Alright. I can visit you guys. You want me to come over?”
“Sure,” Ai answered automatically before her brain caught up with her. “Wait, my place might not be such a good idea. The president and his wife like to visit. If they caught you in there…well I don’t think it will be entirely violence-free. Maybe we could visit your place? I don’t want to risk restaurants, not even private ones.”
As she was babbling, Ai wondered if this was such a good idea. Hikaru didn’t seem interested in meeting the kids, only her. “On second thoughts, if you don’t want to meet the kids, I’ll just show them your picture and be done with it.”
“Ai,” Hikaru interrupted. “I want to meet them. You can come over to my place.”
“Are you sure?”
“It’s better than being surprised by them in the future, especially if they join show business.”
“That’s true,” admitted Ai. “Aqua really reminds me of you every time I look at him, you know? It’s not just his looks but his acting is amazing, too. Would you mind if he followed after your footprints in the theatre?”
Another silence on Hikaru’s end as he absorbed the sentiment and pride in Ai’s voice for someone who reminds her of him. “That would be up to him,” he said at last. “Are you ready to take down my address or do you still have the same number? I can text it to you.”
“The second one,” Ai said immediately.
“Alright,” Hikaru repeated in a softer tone. “Let me know when you’re coming.”
“Let me know when you’re free,” Ai countered playfully. She hesitated then sighed, “I’ve missed you, Hikaru.”
“Not as much as me, apparently,” Hikaru drily answered.
“Who dives back into a relationship after four years of no contact?” Ai fired back.
Another pause. “Fair enough,” he breathed. “I’ll see you soon then, Ai.”
“They get off school at 3,” she interjected. “With the dome around the corner, I’m busy most of the time now, too. But I can tell the president that I want private family time around dinner time.”
“Shouldn’t I just wait after the dome concert then? There would be less scrutiny.”
“Good idea,” Ai agreed. “I’ll tell the president I want a whole day off with the kids, and I’ll bring them to see you.”
“What happened to no restaurants?”
“Shall we eat at your place instead?” He seemed quite ready to receive the children now… “Or I can take them out for lunch and then visit you.”
“No, I can cook lunch for them,” he assured. “Any allergies I should be aware of?”
“None. But Ruby likes sweet stuff…Aqua not so much. Once, he actually passed up milk tea for black coffee.” Even now Ai was incredulous. What child doesn’t like sugar? Aqua mostly used the candy Ai, Miyako and Saitou gave him to bribe Ruby….
“Good thing I like coffee too,” came Hikaru’s answer to that little tidbit.
“He does take after you!” Ai exclaimed at that evidence. “Since when did you take black coffee?”
“Since never. I’m still a mocha lover. And you? Still the same order with whipped cream.”
“Don’t forget the syrup,” Ai cheerfully reminded.
“You’re still as spoilt as ever,” came Hikaru’s disbelief.
“Eh, it’s part of my charm.”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
“Liar,” Ai sang. She closed her eyes for a moment. She really missed this. “And you? Do you still like cheese tarts?”
A pause on Hikaru’s end before he finally choked out, “Yes!”
“I’ll be waiting for your message, Hikaru,” Ai smiled. “See you soon?”
“See you,” he whispered, disbelief now etching into his tone.
Ai hung up. Well, that was longer than she had anticipated. But it was good.
Leaving the phone booth, Ai walked past strangers and her own mega poster. By the time she reached the pedestrian crossing, there was a familiar beep coming from her phone.