[ She's not wrong, he'd rather not be pestered at all, but this kind of thing is just a formality he's resigned himself to go through every time... but it's been a little rougher since, well...
...and speak of the devil and she will appear. Maybe it's because of how lost in thought he was, but he didn't notice her until she was right next to him, and... ]
Ah...
[ ...If only she realized how much that smile hurts him right now. That flash of the woman he loves, all in just a smile. ]
...Ahaha! Caught me, hm? Well, I wouldn't say the show was particularly tiring, but you're not wrong about afterparties.
[ She tilts her head. That curiosity in her eyes isn't quite as cautious, now. She's not quite as afraid of being bitten if she approaches anymore, it seems. ]
Really? You're looking a little worn out.
[ She keeps her voice low, just so no one else overhears. He wouldn't want her blabbing to everyone, obviously. ]
But I guess being an actor's just as exhausting as being an idol is... it's all pretty physical, huh?
[ He smiles again... or rather, he continues to smile, hiding the pained grimace his face wants to make, but he refuses to allow. ]
...Is that so? Maybe I have been pushing myself lately.
[ For most of his newfound life, actually... he's pushed himself constantly, all for her sake, before she could even speak. It's why it hurts so much to speak to her like this, and yet... he can't bring himself to walk away. ]
Oh? Being an idol is exhausting? Wow, what a surprising thing to hear from Ai herself.
[ He keeps his own voice similarly low, coupled with a wink. He wouldn't like her blabbing to everyone how tired he is, and she wouldn't like him blabbing to everyone about how exhausting being an idol is to her. Now they're even, aren't they? ]
Oh man, of course it is! Everything that goes into it takes a ton of hard work. What's that saying... I don't remember exactly, but it's something about how nothing that's worth doing is easy. But it makes it even better when you get it right.
[ Another laugh, a little warmer and a little more coy. ]
Not that I don't appreciate a little break now and then. If I couldn't catch a nice nap on my days off, I think I'd explode!
Hah... fair enough. I think I'm overdue for a few days off myself, now that you mention it...
[ He leans back against the wall, letting out a sigh. Nothing worth doing is easy, huh... well, she certainly didn't help in that regard, making a wish like this, but he can't say she's wrong. Even if he'd really like it if she was.
Still, does this count as being encouraged by her? Even though she doesn't even remember him? It's funny thing to think about. ]
...Hey, how's about one last question? Off the books, of course.
[ They've done nothing but answer questions today... what's one more, right? ]
[ There's a pause before she responds - a beat of her mulling it over, like she's trying to work out if this request is a trick question. It sounds like it should be.
But something in her heart feels oddly settled and at ease at the sight of his face. Whatever he wants to ask, she doesn't think it'll be a trick. ]
Hm. I guess it's fine.
[ And then, like the first peek of starlight as the sun sets - she grins. Catlike and mischievous, she puts a finger to her lips and winks. ]
Hah, of course. Answer however you like, or not at all. You can even lie, I won’t mind.
[ It’s still her. It’s undoubtedly her. Even though she’s not his Ai… she’s still Ai all the same. ]
Still, I wouldn’t worry, it’s a simple one. Say that you were given the opportunity to have any one wish granted, what would you wish for?
[ There’s no point to this… he knows there’s no point to asking such a question now. Hell, he doesn’t expect to get a real answer out of it either, but…
[ She stares at him in silence for a second. Her smile dims. Not in dismay, but a softening of the light. ]
... A wish, huh?
[ For some reason, the thought makes her throat go tight. It's been a long time since she felt it, but that ache of displaced nostalgia comes rushing back so suddenly that it's a little frightening. For a second, it feels like her heart is crying for her to take notice of something, that it's a risk of slipping between her fingers if she doesn't-
But then it fades. The ache lingers, softening her expression even more and even though she has a hundred and one blithe, thoughtless answers she could give...
What comes out is the truth. ]
I don't know for sure. Or I guess it's more like... there's not really any one thing I really want. But if I could have it granted... I think I'd just ask for happiness. Nothing wild or exciting - and I don't mean that I never want to be sad again. But... when I think about the thing I really want, I think a future where I'm happy with the people I care about most is it.
[ Sharp blue eyes meet hers, fully expecting something blithe like world peace or something like that. She has no reason to be honest with him, after all.
But she is. She IS honest with him… and he can’t help but smile. A real smile. It’d be nice if his real smile was a tad less on the creepy side, but… ]
Good… yes, good answer.
[ Somehow, some weight leaves his shoulders. Not completely, but… it’s definitely her. There was never any doubt, but… ]
I know it was a little strange to ask that out of the blue, but thank you for answering anyway.
[ His staged smile returns as he takes on the role of a stranger once more. ]
I hope to work with you again someday… preferably on something a little more interesting than a talk show, no?
[ The protest comes out of her in a laugh, and she folds her arms across her chest. Her smile is a little challenging and there's a familiar twinkle in her eyes. ]
Don't you think it's a little unfair to ask me that and not tell me what yours is?
[ Not that Ai should really care at all, of course. He's a stranger and the chances of them ever having a talk like this again - or talking at all, period - are pretty low.
[ It only lasts for a second, but something scrapes in her chest. Like a mismatched key trying to turn a lock it won't fit. It feels familiar - that sourceless deja vu that hasn't nipped at her heels in a while and yet here and now, she can't be rid of it.
She tells herself she's just being reminded of Hikaru - if any sort of remembrance would ache then surely, it would be that. She decides on it firmly, in the way you might settle on an alibi, and then tells herself not to dwell on it any further.
But even she knows it's probably a lie. ]
Jeez, that's kind of romantic. If the wrong person hears that, they're gonna get all sorts of ideas. That, or they're gonna want to turn it into a TV drama.
[ There's still mischief in her grin, but her eyes are gentle. ]
[ Kind of romantic... she doesn't realize how right she is, and he can't help but laugh a little at that. Imagine, their life back then as a TV drama... utterly ridiculous, but the time they spent together certainly was exactly that at times. ]
Here's to hoping, then... that our wishes are granted.
[ He notices the woman Ai came here with arrive, looking around for her with a truly exhausted expression. Their time together is at an end... for the best, really. It honestly still hurts to be with her right now, but at the same time... this ends up hurting a little more. ]
[ She turns and sure enough, there's Miyako-san. Glaring daggers at the man by her side. Yeesh. Ai can already tell just looking that she's going to get a bit of a lecture about not getting too friendly with guys on set on the way back but... for some reason, she feels like this was worth it.
She turns back just long enough to give him another of those smiles - not quite Hoshino Ai, but not the suffocating smile of an idol, either. Maybe it's the best either of them can hope for. ]
I guess I'd better go, then. It was good working with you!
[ That seems like it's going to be her final word but when she takes a few steps away, she pauses - then turns back to him once more.
This time, her gentle smile is the real thing. ]
Um... the person you're looking for... I hope you manage to find them.
[ And with that, she heads off to Miyako's side and the two of them are gone. ]
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...and speak of the devil and she will appear. Maybe it's because of how lost in thought he was, but he didn't notice her until she was right next to him, and... ]
Ah...
[ ...If only she realized how much that smile hurts him right now. That flash of the woman he loves, all in just a smile. ]
...Ahaha! Caught me, hm? Well, I wouldn't say the show was particularly tiring, but you're not wrong about afterparties.
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Really? You're looking a little worn out.
[ She keeps her voice low, just so no one else overhears. He wouldn't want her blabbing to everyone, obviously. ]
But I guess being an actor's just as exhausting as being an idol is... it's all pretty physical, huh?
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...Is that so? Maybe I have been pushing myself lately.
[ For most of his newfound life, actually... he's pushed himself constantly, all for her sake, before she could even speak. It's why it hurts so much to speak to her like this, and yet... he can't bring himself to walk away. ]
Oh? Being an idol is exhausting? Wow, what a surprising thing to hear from Ai herself.
[ He keeps his own voice similarly low, coupled with a wink. He wouldn't like her blabbing to everyone how tired he is, and she wouldn't like him blabbing to everyone about how exhausting being an idol is to her. Now they're even, aren't they? ]
no subject
Oh man, of course it is! Everything that goes into it takes a ton of hard work. What's that saying... I don't remember exactly, but it's something about how nothing that's worth doing is easy. But it makes it even better when you get it right.
[ Another laugh, a little warmer and a little more coy. ]
Not that I don't appreciate a little break now and then. If I couldn't catch a nice nap on my days off, I think I'd explode!
no subject
Hah... fair enough. I think I'm overdue for a few days off myself, now that you mention it...
[ He leans back against the wall, letting out a sigh. Nothing worth doing is easy, huh... well, she certainly didn't help in that regard, making a wish like this, but he can't say she's wrong. Even if he'd really like it if she was.
Still, does this count as being encouraged by her? Even though she doesn't even remember him? It's funny thing to think about. ]
...Hey, how's about one last question? Off the books, of course.
[ They've done nothing but answer questions today... what's one more, right? ]
no subject
But something in her heart feels oddly settled and at ease at the sight of his face. Whatever he wants to ask, she doesn't think it'll be a trick. ]
Hm. I guess it's fine.
[ And then, like the first peek of starlight as the sun sets - she grins. Catlike and mischievous, she puts a finger to her lips and winks. ]
No promises on if I'll answer, though.
[ But somehow, she thinks she will. ]
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[ It’s still her. It’s undoubtedly her. Even though she’s not his Ai… she’s still Ai all the same. ]
Still, I wouldn’t worry, it’s a simple one. Say that you were given the opportunity to have any one wish granted, what would you wish for?
[ There’s no point to this… he knows there’s no point to asking such a question now. Hell, he doesn’t expect to get a real answer out of it either, but…
He can’t help but ask anyway. ]
no subject
... A wish, huh?
[ For some reason, the thought makes her throat go tight. It's been a long time since she felt it, but that ache of displaced nostalgia comes rushing back so suddenly that it's a little frightening. For a second, it feels like her heart is crying for her to take notice of something, that it's a risk of slipping between her fingers if she doesn't-
But then it fades. The ache lingers, softening her expression even more and even though she has a hundred and one blithe, thoughtless answers she could give...
What comes out is the truth. ]
I don't know for sure. Or I guess it's more like... there's not really any one thing I really want. But if I could have it granted... I think I'd just ask for happiness. Nothing wild or exciting - and I don't mean that I never want to be sad again. But... when I think about the thing I really want, I think a future where I'm happy with the people I care about most is it.
[ She flushes suddenly and laughs, sheepish. ]
Jeez, what an I even saying...
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But she is. She IS honest with him… and he can’t help but smile. A real smile. It’d be nice if his real smile was a tad less on the creepy side, but… ]
Good… yes, good answer.
[ Somehow, some weight leaves his shoulders. Not completely, but… it’s definitely her. There was never any doubt, but… ]
I know it was a little strange to ask that out of the blue, but thank you for answering anyway.
[ His staged smile returns as he takes on the role of a stranger once more. ]
I hope to work with you again someday… preferably on something a little more interesting than a talk show, no?
no subject
[ The protest comes out of her in a laugh, and she folds her arms across her chest. Her smile is a little challenging and there's a familiar twinkle in her eyes. ]
Don't you think it's a little unfair to ask me that and not tell me what yours is?
[ Not that Ai should really care at all, of course. He's a stranger and the chances of them ever having a talk like this again - or talking at all, period - are pretty low.
But for some reason, she just...
She wants to know. ]
So what would it be? Your wish?
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[ That makes him pause, stopping halfway in the middle of turning away from her. He's silent for a moment... ]
...Aha, that's right! That's only fair, isn't it? My bad.
[ He's lying to her just with the way he's acting, and well... it's not like he can just tell her what his wish is right now.
That said... ]
Well... I'm looking for someone. Someone important.
[ He can at least tell her what his wish was. ]
Truth be told, they probably don't remember me... but I'd wish to find them anyway, I think.
[ ...This 'telling the truth' thing still feels weird, even after all these years of being human. ]
no subject
She tells herself she's just being reminded of Hikaru - if any sort of remembrance would ache then surely, it would be that. She decides on it firmly, in the way you might settle on an alibi, and then tells herself not to dwell on it any further.
But even she knows it's probably a lie. ]
Jeez, that's kind of romantic. If the wrong person hears that, they're gonna get all sorts of ideas. That, or they're gonna want to turn it into a TV drama.
[ There's still mischief in her grin, but her eyes are gentle. ]
I'll keep it secret.
no subject
[ Kind of romantic... she doesn't realize how right she is, and he can't help but laugh a little at that. Imagine, their life back then as a TV drama... utterly ridiculous, but the time they spent together certainly was exactly that at times. ]
Here's to hoping, then... that our wishes are granted.
[ He notices the woman Ai came here with arrive, looking around for her with a truly exhausted expression. Their time together is at an end... for the best, really. It honestly still hurts to be with her right now, but at the same time... this ends up hurting a little more. ]
Seems like your ride is here.
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[ She turns and sure enough, there's Miyako-san. Glaring daggers at the man by her side. Yeesh. Ai can already tell just looking that she's going to get a bit of a lecture about not getting too friendly with guys on set on the way back but... for some reason, she feels like this was worth it.
She turns back just long enough to give him another of those smiles - not quite Hoshino Ai, but not the suffocating smile of an idol, either. Maybe it's the best either of them can hope for. ]
I guess I'd better go, then. It was good working with you!
[ That seems like it's going to be her final word but when she takes a few steps away, she pauses - then turns back to him once more.
This time, her gentle smile is the real thing. ]
Um... the person you're looking for... I hope you manage to find them.
[ And with that, she heads off to Miyako's side and the two of them are gone. ]