Actor(Oshi no ko)

One Year Timeskip

(Third POV)

It has been a year since that day, and the triplets have matured enough so they can talk and walk without raising suspicion. Presently, the trio finds themselves gathered in the cozy living room alongside Ai.

"Mama!! Mama!! Gimme a pat!" Ruby's voice resonates with childlike enthusiasm, causing Aqua to sweatdrop in nervousness. It seems that his sister has evolved into a spoiled fan who calls their idol mama.

"Me too!" Aikara shouted while running toward Ai, his eyes sparkling with excitement as he jumped up and down, his hands waving in the air like colorful butterflies. His brilliant smile spread across his face, illuminating the room with a contagious energy that filled everyone's hearts with joy.

Witnessing his little brother's adorable display, Aqua can't help but feel a pang in his chest. Is this the indescribable joy one experiences from having a younger sibling? The happiness derived solely from witnessing their innocent smiles, a stark contrast to a certain someone who always grins and wears a blissful expression on their face whenever they look at their mother. 

However, amid the overwhelming fondness, Aqua's mind wrestles with conflicting thoughts. He wonders if Aikara's actions are genuine or if he is simply putting on a façade. After all, such childlike behavior—jumping around and waving hands with abandon—seems incongruous for someone who lived seventeen years in their previous life. Yet, recalling Aikara's heartfelt confession that fateful day, admitting to never having experienced a mother's love, Aqua feels bad for suspecting his brother.

'What's the harm in embracing a bit of childlike behavior? Perhaps it's simply a result of his child physique, causing him to be more emotionally inclined and in constant motion. That's the same case for me too, so it would be unfair to single out Aikara as the sole culprit.' Aqua thought.

Lost in his thoughts, Aqua was abruptly jolted back to reality by Ruby's peculiar statement, delivered with a blissful expression on her face, as Ai affectionately patted her. "Haaaaaah" She sighed "The blissful pure land of Amitabha." 

"'The blissful pure land of Amitabha'? Where'd you learn such a difficult term" Ai inquired, her voice brimming with curiosity. Aqua and Ruby exchanged nervous glances, their minds racing to conjure up a plausible explanation, lest Ai grows suspicious of their true identity.

"It's nothing much, Mom! Ruby and I learned it from YouTube!" Aikara, who was also being pat by Ai, exclaimed with a beaming smile. Unlike Ruby and Aqua, who appeared a bit anxious, Aikara seemed completely at ease as he gestured his hands wildly to emphasize his point.

"I see!!" Ai exclaimed, her expression filled with surprise. "YouTube sure is amazing!"

Aqua and Ruby let out a collective sigh of relief, grateful that their secret remained hidden for the time being.

"Great cover, Aka nii-chan," Ruby whispered, beaming at him and giving a thumbs up.

Aikara reciprocated with his own thumbs up, a satisfied grin spreading across his face.

____________

Modeling, Radio Assistant, and numerous other roles—AI was steadily expanding her repertoire, and today's job seemed to encompass a culmination of all her previous experiences.

As they embarked on their journey to the location in a van, Ruby couldn't contain her excitement and eagerly exclaimed, "Mom's going to act in a drama for the first time! I'm so thrilled!" Her enthusiasm was palpable since her favorite idol is finally receiving the recognition she truly deserved.

"Thank you, Ruby!" AI replied with a smile. "Though, I'm only playing a small role.."

Miyako's head drooped, a clear sign of her concern. She addressed the triplets, commanding their attention. "Listen, all three of you," she began, "I agreed to bring you along because you insisted, but remember, on the set, Ai is not 'Mama.' You are supposed to be my children."