Young Ai, seeing me collapse while clutching my chest, soon delivered the finishing blow.
"Huh? What did I just say...?"
That final nail was driven in, and as a result, I was sunk.
"Pffft!?"
To top it off, Ai seemed to be laughing her head off at my expense.
"......Aiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!"
Unable to bear that ridicule, I rushed straight to Ai and gave her a head 'massage.'
"No, no, no, no!! Yume, wait a second, aaaaagh!!! That kid is the one being funny, aaaaagh!!!!!!!!"
For the record, Ai's expression showed she was laughing for 'real'.... Is it that great for your husband to be treated like a lolicon!? Is that it!?
Meanwhile, Young Ai was still looking at us, tilting her head curiously.
"...Did I say something funny?"
"Ha!?"
Ai and I—well, more specifically, Ai—stared at Young Ai as if asking if she was talking nonsense, and then.
"Ah, it looks like those words just came out subconsciously, Yume?"
Ai, who had somehow escaped my grasp, was now holding a tub of Häagen-Dazs in her hand.
"When did you even grab that....?"
I realized that for a moment, my mind had gone on a vacation again after hearing Young Ai's words.
"Give me some too!"
Seeing the Häagen-Dazs in Ai's hand, Young Ai's eyes sparkled as she reached out both hands, asking for some.
"Haaah? Like I told you earlier, this Häagen-Dazs is mine, so hands off, you brat!!"
Ai hid the Häagen-Dazs, staying on guard against Young Ai.
If it had been me, I would have rushed to give it to her immediately. What if I didn't have any? I would have gone out to buy some, of course.
More importantly....
"Ai, why do you look younger in terms of mental age....?"
The sight of a child in her early teens fighting with a woman in her 30s was incredibly pathetic... especially the 30-year-old...
Eventually, I let out a sigh and wiped the traces of tears with my hand before slumping onto the sofa.
"Someone said food tastes better when you share it! So give me some too!!"
Having said something surprisingly decent from whoever she heard it from, Young Ai dodged Ai and dashed toward the refrigerator.
Seeing that, Ai tried to catch her immediately, but.
"Hyaaak!?"
She ended up slipping clumsily on the Häagen-Dazs wrapper she had discarded earlier.
As a result, Young Ai—actually, calling her Young Ai is getting tiring, so I'll just call her Ai-chan.
Anyway, Ai-chan opened the freezer door and grabbed a random Häagen-Dazs.
"....Strawberry flavor!!"
When did she wash it? She suddenly pulled a clean spoon out of her pocket.
"Thank you for the food...!"
And then, as if her mood wasn't bad while eating the Häagen-Dazs, Ai-chan started humming to herself as she began to eat.
However, the melody of that humming was definitely a song I knew.
The part from the song 'Idol', the opening of Oshi no Ko from my past life: 'You are the perfect, ultimate idol.'
"....!?"
Leaving Ai behind, who was lying there out of embarrassment, I sat on the sofa and stared at Ai-chan, who continued to hum as if enjoying herself.
"How.... do you know that song....?"
I looked at Ai-chan with an expression that asked if she really knew that song.
Ai-chan soon noticed my gaze and tilted her head.
"Someone gave it to me?"
Seeing Ai-chan speak so calmly, I felt an inexplicable sense of dissonance.
"....Someone gave it to you? What on earth does that.."
For a moment, I began to wonder if the being known as 'God' who gave me a new life existed in that other world as well.
Worrying about my state, Ai slowly approached me.
"Yume, what's wrong? What happened? Is there something wrong with the humming she's doing?"
She spoke with a concerned tone, but after calming down, I took a deep breath and let it out.
"Ai, I'm sorry, but could you wait in the room just until I call you?"
Since the story I had to tell from now on was something Ai shouldn't hear, I pleaded with her earnestly.
Noticing my look, Ai nodded her head.
"Okay, I understand. Only for this once, okay?"
As Ai went upstairs, Ai-chan watched her with a puzzled look before speaking.
"What? Suddenly, huh?"
Sensing something strange, Ai-chan slowly distanced herself from me.
......Does she still think I'm a lolicon? Seriously?
Anyway, watching Ai walk away, I sat back down on the sofa properly.
"Phew..... Fine, I'll overlook everything else. You said you received that song? From whom? Have you met that being before? If not....."
Feeling like something that shouldn't happen was about to unfold, I suppressed my desperate feelings and asked Ai-chan. To which Ai-chan replied.
"Eh, Mister, what's with you all of a sudden? It's a bit weird."
Ai-chan tilted her head but didn't close the distance.
"And this song.... I mean, of course! I don't know either!"
"You don't know!!"
It was only natural that Hoshino Ai didn't know. That's because it was contained on a USB that suddenly appeared.
Ai-chan had simply recorded the song and uploaded it to YouTube.
However, there was no way for Hoshino Yume to know this fact.
"Well, it was just on a USB that suddenly appeared in my hand, you know?"
Ai-chan said so and showed her phone.
"Ah, there's even a music video! Want to hear it?"
And then I watched the music video that Ai-chan showed me. As a result.
"What in the world....?"
The moment I saw this video, I felt like the memories of my past life returned in an instant. Even the details I was slowly forgetting started returning vividly, as if my memory was coming back fully.
"Wait..... Let me ask one thing. Hoshino Ai, are you perhaps a 'reincarnator'?"
I decided to get straight to the point. I thought there was a high possibility that the Hoshino Ai in front of me was a 'reincarnator' like myself if my hunch was correct.
"Mmh? I died and then came back to life... but isn't that a reincarnator?"
She answered me, but I focused on her words.
She died and came back to life? That would mean she's a 'reincarnator' just like me.
"Ah, there's another song too! This one."
Saying so, Ai-chan played the song titled 'Orange' that she had sung. It was just a normal song, but looking at Ai-chan's expression, it seemed she wanted to show it off.
But setting aside Ai-chan's thoughts and listening to the song, my thought was.
"Haa..... Things are getting interesting, aren't they?"
After hearing the song Ai-chan played, I became certain that the person who gave that USB to Ai-chan must be someone related to 'God'.
"Yes, thanks for letting me hear it. Sorry if I made you worry."
The fact that I acted rudely didn't change, so I quietly offered an apology to Ai-chan. Soon, a severe headache washed over me from the massive amount of information, and I slumped onto the sofa, clutching my head while barely holding back a groan.
Ai-chan looked at me curiously and then picked up the Häagen-Dazs she had set aside, starting to eat it again.
Looking at the empty tub that had literally disappeared in an instant, it was very easy to tell what Ai-chan's gaze wanted. Just as I was thinking if I should go get another one from the fridge.
"But why did you ask all of a sudden?"
Ai-chan said this while staring at the empty tub with regretful eyes.
"Because I'm a reincarnator. And since I have some memories of my past life left, I asked. Well, they're only ambiguous memories thanks to a high-ranking person called 'God'."
Saying that, I pulled out another Häagen-Dazs from the fridge and handed it to Ai-chan.
"Like I said. Do you believe in something called 'Fate'?"
Because I had definitely changed my fate, I thought Ai-chan could certainly change hers too as I looked at her.
"Heee, this is the first time I've seen another reincarnator besides me."
Ai-chan murmured softly while taking the Häagen-Dazs from me.
"Naturally, it's my first time as well. Especially a person who reincarnated as 'Hoshino Ai'."
Out of habit, I pulled a candy from my pocket and popped it into my mouth.
"Eh? What do you mean? I was Hoshino Ai from the very beginning."
When Ai-chan asked as if to challenge me, not understanding my words.
"Is your memory ambiguous? Or else... No, well, if you say so, then it must be."
Realizing with a natural 'hunch' that I wouldn't get much more information by talking further, I decided to end this conversation.
For context, Ai-chan was just staring at Yume. She thought of 'him' as someone who reincarnated into Hoshino Ai, whereas the 12-year-old Hoshino Ai living now had reincarnated after death. Strictly speaking, her situation was similar to Ruby and Aqua.
"You have a look like you can't understand, but for now, it's not very important information, so if you don't want to talk, there's no need to force it."
But the next topic was one I didn't want to bring up, yet had to.
"To be honest, I didn't want to bring this subject up ever again, but Ai, the person involved in your death was Kamiki Hikaru..... right?"
If Ai-chan was the Hoshino Ai from the Oshi no Ko I knew, I realized she wouldn't know this fact, so I decided to probe her, and the result was.
".....Why do you ask about that guy?"
It seems I was correct.
In Ai-chan's two eyes, stars were shining like an abyss darker than anyone else's.
"Because our world's Ai almost died because of him too. And actually, I even got stabbed in the stomach with a knife. It's just a question I asked just in case.
Besides, it's impossible to touch him on this side because there isn't enough evidence.
I thought there might even be a traitor in our company, but that guy was already disposed of by Kamiki Hikaru, so we were completely checked.
Can this help ease your guard against me even a little bit?"
I laid out all my information.
"Aha! I see? Mm-mm, I completely get it!"
Ai-chan nodded with an expression showing she understood, and then with a faint smile.
"Whatever that guy is doing has nothing to do with me right now? Whether he kills people or what, I don't feel the need to care. But if... just if...."
For a moment, as I met Ai-chan's gaze, I shuddered slightly.
Yes, this was.... bloodlust. A bloodlust that made even me tremble for an instant.
"If he tries to do anything to Ruby and Aqua, I will definitely kill him. I'll kill him somehow, by any means necessary... Just kidding★ something like that!"
That gaze must have been an illusion, as the dark expression vanished, and Ai-chan spoke to me with a bright smile.
"Right. If I ever catch his trail, I'll hand his life over to you just as you wish."
That's if you stay in this world, but I get the feeling it won't take that long.
"Even if I look like this, I'm a person who can live on even after killing one or two? No, dozens or hundreds, and I'm in a position where I can easily cover up incidents rather than make them public."
I replied while hiding my own bloodlust and facing Ai-chan.
"What I want is only one thing: perfect safety for my family. That guy Kamiki Hikaru will definitely target my family. Of course, I'm always prepared. So."
I made a fist with my right hand and brought it in front of Ai-chan.
"How about watching from right by my side this time?"
I spoke to Ai-chan in a tone that suggested we were allies. No, actually, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say we were allies.
"....But this place..... isn't my world?"
Allies... Why does this word set my mind at ease like this?
"Who knows? Maybe you'll be able to live in this world."
But I know that won't happen. She has a home and family to return to, after all.
"If that happens, why not become my daughter?"
Ah, now that I think about it, this might actually be interesting....?
"...I don't want that! Then I'd also be the daughter of that auntie over there!"
To Ai-chan, who said that while pointing at the second floor.
"Pffft..... Ahahahaha!!! That's true too!!"
I couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Well, it seems you don't particularly dislike being my daughter, though? If I'm wrong, then my bad."
"Yes! You're wrong! What kind of weird thing are you saying? For me, mm.... anyway, yeah!"
For a moment, I felt relieved seeing a look of someone thinking about somebody on Ai-chan's face.
"Yeah, that's good to hear. At least that there's someone you consider family.
Well, anyway, how about taking off that mask soon? Our Ai took a long time to shake off that mask too.... ah, the trigger was when a kitchen knife entered my stomach."
To be honest, since we shared secrets by this point, I wondered if we could be called companions, but.
"That's reserved for our Ruby and Aqua! Not for you, Mister!!"
'Bleh~'
At the sight of Ai-chan sticking her tongue out.
"What a shame."
I smiled with satisfaction.
"Well, since it looks like we're done talking, I should call that auntie you hate so much. It looks like dinner prep is done."
Saying so, I went up to the second floor to get Ai, and as soon as we arrived in the living room.
"Yahoo~ Since it looks like the conversation ended well, Ai is back~★"
"Ugh....."
Seeing Ai-chan's expression sour the moment she saw Ai... mm... mutual self-loathing?
"How mean~ Comfort me, Yumeeee~"
Ai wasn't hurt at all by Ai-chan's reaction, but she simply used it as an excuse to hug me, and she leaned right into my arms.
"Now, should we eat first?"
I said this after properly shaking Ai off.
"Umm..... I'm full...."
It seems she already ate before crossing over to this world. Then I should make it light.
"I'll prepare sandwiches that are easy to eat, so it'll be fine."
By the way, the sandwich for Ai-chan was an ice cream sandwich with Häagen-Dazs in it.
"Wait, Yume!? Isn't that Häagen-Dazs!? Where's mine!? Where is Ai's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Ai realized her sandwich was different from Ai-chan's and rushed at me for using her ice cream without permission.
"It can't be helped. Since she said she already ate, I made it as a snack...."
I used one hand to hold Ai's forehead so she couldn't approach me, and after calming her down properly, we also had a light meal of sandwiches.
"What should I doooo....."
Soon, after finishing the sandwich, Ai-chan was just sitting on the sofa, staring blankly.
Ai-chan had planned to go to Ichigo Pro with her seal, but since she had fallen into a place completely different from where she lived, she found herself in a situation where there was nothing she could do.
"If you have nothing to do, is there any place you wanted to go or something you wanted to do?"
Watching Ai-chan's behavior, I asked if she had anything she usually wanted to do, and Ai-chan looked at Ai, who was quietly following behind me.
"....No! Right now?"
"Why is that a question?"
Ai interjected, but I lightly ignored her.
"Don't ignore me!!"
Ai-chan watched the two of us bickering.
"Oh, by the way, won't you show me photos of Ruby and Aqua?"
Hearing that, Ai said.
"Umm..... Yume, do you happen to have any photos?"
Ai looked through her smartphone gallery but only found photos centered around her and me.
"Umm..... Yume, do you happen to have any photos?"
She unabashedly asked me, without feeling embarrassed about not having photos of her children, but unexpectedly, I too...
"I do have some..... but since we took fewer photos as time went on..... will this be okay?"
I showed a photo from my gallery where Aqua and Ruby were smiling together. Aqua, as always, had an expressionless face but with a slight smile, and Ruby was looking at the camera with a bright smile resembling Ai.
Ai-chan looked at the photo of Ruby and Aqua and then noticed something strange. She turned her head and looked back and forth between me and Ai.
"Why are they blonde....?"
"Well, I was puzzled at first too, but since my late mother's hair color was blonde, I think Aqua and Ruby's hair came out blonde. Even so, a little of my hair color is in there too."
I always felt it was strange how not even 1% of Ai's hair color was present.
But despite my explanation, Ai-chan continued to tilt her head and struggle with the thought before finally.
"Mmh... if you say so, Mister, then it must be... yeah...."
Ai-chan couldn't understand why blonde hair came from those two and eventually gave up.
"Well, I don't quite understand it either, but there's no need to worry because it's not really important."
If someone had a hand in this story, it would only be that 'girl'.
"Ah, that's right, I found a place I want to go!"
Ai-chan suddenly remembered the four-story building she owned in her original world.
(I don't know who gave me the building – Curse you, Decade!)
"A place you want to go? Sure, just tell me the location and we'll head out right away."
Checking that it was about time for Aqua and Ruby to return, I thought the timing was good. Since I also had to pick them up, I decided to prepare quickly.
"Uh, the four-story building I own? Anyway, there! The address is probably....."
Looking at Ai-chan as she squeezed her memories to give Yume the address.
"Wait, you own a building!? A four-story one!? What's up with that!! Are you richer than me!?"
Ai was surprised, pointing her finger at Ai-chan while radiating 100% envy.
"Hehe! I'm making way more money than back in my idol days, you know?"
Seeing Ai like that must have been quite satisfying, as Ai-chan puffed out her chest and spoke mockingly.
"Kughghghgh!! Yumeeee!!!!"
Unable to say anything to Ai-chan's attitude, Ai looked at me piteously.
"No, besides, we have this house too, is there a reason to be so envious?"
Since this house we were living in now also cost a considerable amount, I didn't know the exact value of Ai-chan's building, but I wondered if it was really something to be that jealous of.
"I have a house separately too!"
Ah, that's a critical hit.
"Ughghghgh!!!!!!!!!!!!"
With Ai-chan's final blow, whether Ai was angry or just exploding with jealousy, she rushed straight to Ai-chan and started pinching both her cheeks.
"Le-et meeee goooo!!! (Let gooo!!!)"
Ai-chan, struggling while held by Ai, tried to get revenge with her short arms, but unfortunately...
"Heh heh~★ There's no way a brat's arms can reach me!!"
The difference in physique between a 12-year-old and a 30-year-old was unavoidable. Though in truth, Ai's height hadn't really grown that much.
"*PuffPuff*.... Mister, make her let go right now!!!"
I barely managed to separate Ai and Ai-chan, holding Ai-chan with one arm, while trying my best to calm the flailing girl.
"Let's stop now and head to where you wanted... oh! Before we go, let's take a commemorative photo."
I then prepared the digital camera in the living room.
"A photo all of a sudden?"
At Ai-chan's question while tilting her head.
"Since this meeting can be called 'fate', I personally wanted to leave a 'memory.' Is that okay?"
I said, looking at Ai-chan and Ai.
"Sure~ I don't mind~! Though I don't know about the brat~★"
Ai didn't seem to mind either.
"I don't mind either, but...."
Ai-chan spoke while glancing at Ai.
"But won't your wrinkles show if you take it now~?"
"Ah."
Is this bad?
Ai-chan has activated Taunt!
"Hahahaha~! What are you talking about? Ai-chan's skin is always firm and youthful~!"
The taunt was super effective!!
"Humph!"
Ai-chan snorted at Ai and turned her head away.
"Alright, alright, stop fighting. Everyone sit on the sofa so I can set up."
I watched the two Ai's sitting on both ends as I set up the camera.
"Auntie, you're not sitting next to me, are you? Ahat~ Surely you wouldn't sit next to me?"
Ai-chan was still taunting, while Ai.
"Haha★ Wouldn't sitting next to me make the brat feel like she's lacking in several ways?"
Ai countered Ai-chan's provocation by emphasizing her chest, which had grown even more since marriage, so I did my best to ignore her.
"Now, stop arguing and take the photo."
I naturally picked up Ai-chan from the end and sat her on my lap.
"Eh, what! No! I'm not a kid!!"
Ai-chan, who was about to pose with a V-sign, was flustered by my sudden action and tried to escape, but.
"Ahahahaha!! A brat should take the photo like a brat!! Yume, now! Take it!!"
Ai hugged both me and Ai-chan, looking at the camera with an incredibly happy expression. I felt sorry for doing this to Ai-chan since my skinship with Aqua and Ruby had naturally decreased, but I found this situation quite fun and just laughed while looking at the camera.
"Now, taking it. One~ two~"
With the word 'cheese', Ai-chan, who was eventually sitting on my lap, looked at both Ai and me before giving a small laugh, putting on a 'can't be helped' expression and smiling brightly as the photo was taken.
"Well, it looks like we got a pretty good memory photo, so shall we tidy up and head out?"
I put the digital camera in my room and came out to the living room to depart.
"Yume, what about me!?"
Ai looked at me with puffed cheeks, seemingly slightly hurt about being left behind.
"I'll be back soon. Just look out for Aqua and Ruby coming home."
After patting Ai's head and giving her a light kiss on the forehead, I left the house with Ai-chan.
The look Ai-chan gave us, as if she was tired of it all, was painful.
"Then, departure! Go go!!"
But the sight of her going outside soon became lively again.
"Yes, yes."
After putting Ai-chan in the car, I began driving to the place she had mentioned.
However, when we arrived at the address Ai-chan provided, no such building existed. Instead, there was just one strange door standing in the center of an empty lot.
"There's nothing here? Are you sure this is the right place?"
"Uh... it's the right place... why isn't it here....?"
Ai-chan hurriedly got out of the car, looking around as if something were wrong.
But the surrounding buildings were all the same. The ramen shop she frequented was in its place, but only her building was gone.
"There's a door over there. Can't you see it?"
After seeing Ai-chan who got out first, I parked in front of the empty lot and stepped out to see an strangely awkward door. Ai-chan pointed at it and spoke.
"No, I can see it. But it's weird. The building you spoke of isn't here, just that one door standing alone."
Following Ai-chan's words, the absence of the building and just a door in the middle of a completely empty lot felt very alien.
"Why is only the door left?"
Slowly, I approached the door.
"Wait for me!"
Ai-chan began following behind me.
I arrived right in front of the door and examined it slowly.
Ai-chan was tapping at the door, but it looked like an ordinary door no matter how you looked at it.
"Wait!? Stop touching it so carelessly!"
Terrified that there might be a strange device, I pulled Ai-chan's hand away from the door.
"How can you be exactly the same as our world's Ai....!!!!"
I had thought that if she was a reincarnator, she would be at least slightly different from the Ai I knew, but that seemed to be a delusion.
"Eh, it's just a door, right?"
As she spoke, Ai-chan moved toward the door again as if to kick it, her expression looking... very much like a little devil.
"I. Said. That. Since only a door exists in this empty place, it's ex-tremely weird!! Do you have no caution!!"
Terrified by that expression, I grabbed Ai-chan by both armpits and lifted her up as she tried to kick the door. Ai-chan dangled helplessly in my hands.
"No matter how you look at it, it's just a normal door. Aren't you overreacting too much~?"
Ai-chan's words were also logical. Looking around, there were no dangerous-looking objects.
"Did you perhaps look at that door and think of Doraem●n's Anywhere Door?"
When I mentioned the name of a tool from a manga that a reincarnator would know, Ai-chan's expression turned into.
"No?"
She looked at me with a face that said 'What are you talking about?'.
For context, the time Ai-chan spent reading that manga was only on rare free occasions while she was at the institution.
Just in case something happened, I tucked Ai-chan firmly under my arm and slowly approached the door. As I was about to grab the handle.
"Oh my, there's an unexpected character here?"
'Caw~!'
'Caw!'
'Caw~!'
With the sudden sound of crows and a girl's voice similar in tone to Ai-chan's, I hurriedly turned my body to see.
"....Why are you here?"
Since I had already identified the 'girl' as God, I gripped Ai-chan tighter and asked without letting down my guard.
"I just came to clear out a character who isn't supposed to be here. But oh my? It looks like she came to a location where I can send her back at just the right time?"
The girl said so, pointing to the door behind me.
"Now, send that irregularity back quickly, Hoshino Yume. She is an 'impurity' in this world."
Faced with the demand to send Ai-chan back as if she were a being that shouldn't exist.
"That's harsh. The fact that she is Hoshino Ai remains unchanged. So, Ai-chan is practically my 'family'. Besides, how can I be sure that this door can send Ai-chan back?"
I couldn't fully trust the 'girl'.
"Hmph! Anyway, that 'Hoshino Ai' you're holding has her own life. It's better for her sake if you send her back, right?"
The 'girl' spoke to Ai-chan as if telling her to hurry home.
"Wow, it's that kid I saw here."
Ai-chan, still tucked under Yume's arm, just raised her head to look at the girl.
Her expression made it seem like she hadn't heard a word because the story was too long, but in her mind, she was already organizing everything the 'girl' said.
"Sigh.... What a troublesome brat."
For a moment, I thought at her words that she might be right about the troublesome brat part....
"It feels like you had some nasty thought just now, Mister~★"
Faced with Ai-chan's smiling face and sharp eyes, I did my best to look away.
"Ahem! Anyway, that door can send Ai-chan back, right?"
The 'girl' seemed to find my avoidance of Ai-chan's gaze quite funny as she smiled.
"Yes, so hurry up and send her back. Right now."
Determined by the 'girl's' firmness, which I was seeing for the first time, I felt certain this was the door back to Ai-chan's original world.
"Put me down."
I put Ai-chan down as she tapped my arm.
Not knowing if the 'girl' would do anything to Ai-chan, I stood in front of her to protect her.
Ai-chan looked at me for a while and then showed me that smile she had during the photo shoot.
"Thanks for the help, okay? So let's never meet again! Bye-bye~☆"
Ai-chan opened the door and skipped into the strangely wavering entrance. The moment Ai-chan disappeared, the door closed.
"Phew..... This is the first time I've been this surprised today.... So what on earth is that door?"
With the tension gone, I plopped down on the empty lot and asked the 'girl,' but suddenly, another voice spoke.
[Ah, sorry about that. I'll take this with me.]
An entity covered in black smoke suddenly approached us and walked slowly to the door. As it touched the door, the door was slowly absorbed by the entity and vanished.
Cold sweat broke out, and I immediately stood up, assuming a combat stance, but.
[To think this fell here. I should go back and re-attach it.]
The true identity of the door was one of the doors in Ai-chan's building. Because it had fallen into this world, the two worlds had become connected.
"Oh my, it seems the owner of the door has come to collect it personally? We almost had quite a mess here because of this; how do you intend to take responsibility?"
The 'girl' said this and poked my tense body, as if telling me to drop the stance, so I slowly relaxed.
"What is that now...."
The 'girl' seemed to know what that entity was and was reprimanding it.
But my confusion was short-lived as the most important matter came to mind.
".....Was it you? The being that reincarnated 'Hoshino Ai'?"
It was about Ai-chan's safety. Even though it was a different world and we might never meet again, I couldn't help but ask because I considered her almost like my own family.
[Yes, it's true that I reincarnated 'Ai,' but do you think that 'Hoshino Ai' is a human from another world who reincarnated like in some fanfic?]
Ignoring the 'girl's' question lightly, the entity answered me.
"No, that isn't important. I just want to know one thing. Are you an entity that will harm Hoshino Ai?"
What mattered to me wasn't her reincarnation but her safety. If this being was a threat to her.
[And if I were?]
"I will kill you here and now."
I didn't think it was impossible. After a brief confrontation, the entity raised its hands.
[Mmm, no need to worry. I'm just, well..... a normal Fan No. 1. Ah, I've spent too much time here. I should get going.]
With those words, the black smoke began to slowly fade away.
"Hey! I still haven't heard my answer!!"
[Don't worry. As I said before, I am Fan No. 1. Think of me as having a similar position as the 'girl' next to you in your world.]
With that, the entity vanished.
"Leave it at that, Hoshino Yume. We have our story, and they have theirs. That's all there is to it."
Confirming that the entity was gone, the 'girl' spoke.
"My role is finished.... phew, I was so flustered by the sudden turn of events... see you next time, Hoshino Yume."
In the blink of an eye, the 'girl' vanished from before my eyes.
Nothing remained in the empty lot, but.
"....Hah! Today was really something....."
In many ways, it was a day full of amazing events.
Recalling Ai-chan's final expression.
"Time to go back. To my 'family'."
Thinking that today would be one of the best memories I would ever keep, I slowly walked toward home.