Chapter 34: A Crepe with Extra Sugar
"Gulp, gulp." While everyone else was still busy exchanging pleasantries, Ai was busy draining one glass of draft beer after another.
By the time Hikaru Hoshino noticed, she was already in a hazy, drunken state.
The dinner wasn't over yet, so it wouldn't be appropriate to leave too early. After Koromo Shiranui expressed an interest in investing, Gotanda's attitude toward her instantly became warm and hospitable. The two began discussing investment details, and Koromo successfully upgraded her status from actress to investor.
As expected, of all the Shuchiin students, the President was seemingly the only one struggling for cash.
Hikaru gently laid Ai down on the bench and said to Gotanda, "I'm going out to buy some sobering tea." With that, he headed for the door.
The moment he stepped outside and caught a breath of fresh air, he felt a tug on his sleeve. He turned around to find that Ai had followed him out.
The girl was wearing a slim-fitting white dress, looking both pure and adorable. Her side ponytail, usually tied up neatly, now hung loosely behind her. Unlike her polished stage persona, the current Ai gave Hikaru the feeling of a girl-next-door.
Her light makeup couldn't hide her flushed cheeks, and two tiny tiger teeth peeked out from the gaps of her soft lips.
Ai instinctively poked out half of her pink tongue—a reflection of her signature stage pose.
She didn't really know why she had followed him out, but her body had moved on its own.
Tokyo at night wasn't as sweltering as during the day. With autumn approaching, the cool breeze blew in gusts, clearing Ai's head slightly.
She let out an involuntary shiver. Seeing this, Hikaru draped his suit jacket over her shoulders.
"I'm going to get you some sobering tea. Go back inside and sit down first."
Ai shook her head.
"Then shall we go back together?"
Another shake of the head.
Hikaru felt a bit helpless; a drunken Ai was harder to handle than he had imagined. Not wanting to go against her wishes, he began walking along the street with her.
Soon, they emerged from the small alley and onto the main road of Shinjuku. Unlike the dark, narrow lanes, the Shinjuku outside was currently a sea of people. In a district famous for its nightlife, the party was just getting started.
The shops on both sides were brightly lit, and colorful neon lights reflected off the faces of young men and women, painting a scene of joy. The sounds of sweet talk from boys and playful pouting from girls drifted through the air. Shy couples walked past them in pairs, making Ai tighten her grip on Hikaru's sleeve.
Hikaru walked straight to a convenience store on the corner and bought a can of sobering tea. Despite it being only a short distance, he returned to find that Ai had been cornered by two middle-aged men with acne-scarred faces.
"How much?" one of them asked mysteriously.
A young woman standing alone under a streetlight at night without a bag, in Shinjuku no less... I see.
They had mistaken her for a streetwalker. Talk about not recognizing the star of B-Komachi.
Even with his jacket over her shoulders, these guys were remarkably tactless.
Hikaru sighed and stepped in quickly, shielding Ai. "She's my girlfriend. Now beat it."
The two men grumbled and walked away, muttering, "Big deal being young and handsome. Looks like a kept pretty boy to me."
"Sorry about that," Hikaru said first.
"It's okay," Ai shook her head gently. "Wasn't Biyoo right here with me?"
"What did Biyoo just say? Can you say it again?"
Ai blinked her large, sparkling eyes.
"I said you're my girlfriend," Hikaru decided to tease her. He felt she still wasn't quite sober, so he grew a bit bolder.
"Is this... a confession?" Ai tilted her head.
"What do you think?" Hikaru threw the question back at her.
"Then I'm afraid I can't say yes," Ai said distressfully. "After all, Biyoo's current setting is 'amnesia,' so we've only just met. It hasn't been long enough."
"So you're saying once we've known each other longer, you'll say yes?" Hikaru pressed.
"How would I know what happens in the future? Ah-Guang is so mean."
Ai looked at a snack stall in the distance, her eyes lighting up. "Is that a crepe stall? I want that!"
"Fine, fine."
Hikaru went to the stall and bought two crepes. He handed the strawberry one to Ai and chose chocolate for himself. Then, the two sat down on a bench in front of the convenience store.
Ai took small bites of her crepe, her cheeks puffing out like a hamster hoarding pine nuts.
"I'm not in an 'amnesia setting.' I really don't have my previous memories," Hikaru said, feeling a bit exasperated. "The agency even put out an official notice."
"I know that. After all, Biyoo, you've changed a lot—from a great actor to a very talented singer."
"Is that even amnesia? I've never heard of amnesia causing a career change."
*Small matter. What's wrong with starting a new save and respeccing my stats?* Hikaru thought to himself.
He spoke slowly: "My situation is complicated. Just think of it that way for now. If there's a chance in the future, I'll tell you everything."
Ai swallowed her food. "That's a 'pie in the sky' promise, right? The President says things like that all the time."
"So, do you want me to recover my memories?" Hikaru followed up. "Do you want the old Kamiki to come back?"
Ai put down the crepe and lowered her head, lost in thought for a long, long time.
"...Better not."
"There are painful parts in those memories too. If they can be forgotten, it's better to leave them forgotten."
"Can I take that to mean... you like the current me better?" Hikaru asked jokingly.
Ai looked at him quietly, her face still carrying a slight drunken flush.
"Yes," she said.
Hikaru felt an inexplicable surge of happiness.
It was like drinking a warm cup of coffee on a chilly morning—comfortable and relaxed, with just a hint of bitterness.
He finished his crepe in two bites, then snatched the one from Ai's hand and wolfed it down.
After finishing, he gave a solemn critique: "A bit too sweet, I think."
"That was mine!" Ai said, a little huffed.
"I'll treat you to another one next time," Hikaru laughed heartily, clutching his stomach.
"It's just a crepe. I don't mind how many times you treat me."