[Scene: Library – Late Afternoon]
Rows of old, dust-scented books towered around them as Aqua and Akane moved through the aisles, fingers gliding across worn spines. At last, Akane stopped and pulled a thick, weathered novel from the shelf.
"Aqua… This is it," she said, her voice quiet but urgent.
Aqua stepped beside her. "Is it the one?"
Akane nodded. "Yeah."
"A Tale of Eternal Return," he read aloud, the title echoing through the quiet library. They sat down and began flipping through the pages.
As the words unfolded, Aqua's eyes widened.
"This… it's almost exactly like what I'm experiencing," he whispered. "Time loops, fixed death points, the struggle to change fate…"
They read on in silence, the tension growing heavier with each page. When they finally closed the book, the sky outside had already turned a deep blue.
Aqua exhaled. "Looks like we've found the key."
Akane leaned back. "We can't win this battle with the truth alone."
Aqua looked at her, their eyes meeting.
"When facing a liar…" he said.
"We need to lie—for the greater good," Akane finished, her voice calm but resolute.
---
[Scene: Performance Rehearsal – Ruby's POV]
Ruby rehearsed under the lights, her movements precise, her eyes shining with passion. But something felt off. Her heart pounded irregularly, her vision blurred slightly.
She collapsed.
"Ruby!" the crew rushed toward her in a panic.
Blood began to drip from her mouth.
The scene erupted into chaos.
---
[Scene: Nationwide Broadcast – Newsroom]
BREAKING NEWS: "Famous Idol Ruby Hoshino collapses and dies during rehearsal!"
Screens across Japan lit up with headlines. Clips of her lifeless body flooded social media. Tears and condolences swept through fan circles.
In a dark apartment, Hikaru Kamiki smirked as he scrolled through the footage.
"It happened again," he muttered. "She always dies at this point. Even if I do nothing, fate erases her."
He sipped from his drink… until the news anchor's voice shifted.
"Apologies to our viewers," the anchor said suddenly. "It appears the earlier report of Ruby Hoshino's death was false. We now have live footage of Ruby Hoshino speaking with reporters."
The broadcast cut to Ruby, standing alive, smiling sheepishly.
"I'm really sorry," she said to the crowd. "I've been feeling kind of… dull lately. So I thought maybe I'd try acting like my friend, Kana Arima! I used fake blood to test out a prank. I didn't expect it to get out of hand."
She bowed. "I promise not to do something like this again."
One of the staff wiped their forehead. "I thought my heart would stop."
Everyone laughed in relief.
---
Flashback: Earlier That Day – Rehearsal Room
The rehearsal room was quiet, the buzz of the earlier practice now a fading memory. Under the soft hum of the ceiling lights, Aqua stood in front of Ruby, his expression unreadable.
"Ruby," he said, his voice low. "I want you to do something for me."
Ruby blinked, sensing the tension behind his words. "What is it?"
"I… I can't explain it right now. I can't give you the full reason. But I need you to trust me."
Ruby's gaze softened, and without hesitation, she stepped closer.
"Onii-chan," she said quietly, "you don't have to say it. I trust you more than anyone in this world."
Aqua's eyes widened slightly.
"You've been looking down lately," Ruby continued. "I don't know why, but… something in me says I'm the reason for your sadness. And if that's true… I want to be the reason for your smile, too. If it means you'll smile again, I'll do anything."
Aqua's heart ached. The weight he carried felt just a bit lighter in her presence.
"Ruby," he whispered, his voice trembling, "you mean the world to me. My life has no meaning without you. You are my world… and I can't bear to see my world in gloom."
Ruby looked up, eyes shimmering.
"I promise," Aqua said firmly. "I'll always stay by your side, supporting you. No matter what happens… I want to see you become the world's greatest idol."
For a moment, neither spoke. There was only the hum of the lights, and the unspoken bond between siblings who had both lost everything—and yet still had each other.
Ruby nodded slowly.
"Then I'll give the performance of my life."
――End Flashback
[Scene: Rooftop – Night – Aqua and Akane watching the news on a tablet]
Aqua and Akane stood side by side, wind brushing through their hair.
"We've finally deceived fate," Aqua said.
Akane nodded. "The world believed Ruby died. Even Hikaru must've seen it."
Aqua clenched his fist. "We didn't fight fate… we danced with it. We bent the lie into truth."
Akane smiled. "Meanwhile, I've been using my contacts to track Hikaru's history. I've found documents, testimonies—enough to start framing him legally."
---
[Scene: Bridge – Rain – Hikaru Alone]
Hikaru stood still as raindrops struck the ground like tiny drums. In his mind, a voice echoed.
Tsukuyomi: "I won't interfere anymore. You and Aqua both remember. You must choose your ending on your own."
"I don't need you," Hikaru snarled, his voice animalistic. "I know how to break him. I'll shatter everything he's built."
[Scene: Studio Courtyard – Night]
Under the pale light of a flickering lamppost, Kana Arima waited—arms folded tightly, breath held.
She wasn't sure if Aqua would come. But she had to say it. What she had locked away in her heart for far too long.
---
To Be Continued...
Next Chapter: "Before the Storm"