(Major spoilers from Persona 5 just to heads up)
After the shocking reveal from the most popular idol Ai Hoshino herself, Ren along with Morgana and Gorou became speechless at her appearance. Morgana then breaks the silence by whisper to Ren.
Morgana: "Oi, Ren, Is that who I think it is?" he whispers to Ren.
Ren: "Yeah. There is no doubt about it. It an idol from the B-Komachi group, Ai Hoshino. She was the one who announced her status on social media that she went hiatus. Still I didn't expect that she appeared right in front of us."
Morgana: "Could it be that the reason why she went hiatus is because she was pregnant?"
Ren: "That seems to be the case." he said causing Morgana to stared at him.
Morgana: "Ren. Does that mean that she has done it with someone else? "he questioned him.
Ren: "Done it? You don't mean...." he said as Morgana nodded.
Ren: "!!!" Ren froze at Morgana's question.
Ren: "Well now that I think about it, this would become a huge problem for her and her career once it leaks out to the public. From what I heard, Idols are not allowed to make relationships with others as it becomes a taboo."
Morgana: "Judging by her belly, I believe it'll be bad news if it goes on public, right?"
Ren: "Very." he said as he notices that Ai is staring at Ren waving at him in the process. Ren responds by waving back at her.
Morgana: "I guess she must have noticed you."
Ren: "Heh. Seems like it."
Gorou begins to stand up as he is about to leave the room in the process. He then turns around at Ai and the blonde-haired man.
Gorou: "First off, you'll need an examination. I need to get everything ready, so please wait here. And Ren, you'll be on standby once I prepare everything got it?" he said as Ren nodded.
Gorou begins to step out from the room leaving Ren alongside with Morgana, Ai and the blond-haired man. The blonde-haired man stare at Ren as he begins to speak to him.
Blond-haired man: "You look pretty young for an assistant. I take that you still in the high school?" he questioned Ren.
Ren: "Yes, sir. I still am. I am currently studying at the Yasogami High." Ai's eyes widen at his study location.
Ai: "Eh? My friend also studied at the Yasogami High too! Plus she is an idol just like me!"
Ren: "Really?" he questions as Ai nodded.
Ai: "I believe her name was--" As she is about to say her name, she got interrupted by the loud thud. Ren hears that as he begins to check outside to find the source of the sound. It was his uncle, Gorou who smashes his head on the floor. Ren and Morgana notice it as they sighed at his stupidity.
Morgana: "Looks like your uncle was having a mental breakdown. At least it wasn't shadow." he said as Ren nodded.
Ren: "Can't honestly fault him tho. Knowing that his favorite idol got pregnant, it must have been a huge shock for him." he said as he closes the door.
Blonde-haired man: "Ah! I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Ichigo, Ichigo Saitou. I am the president of the strawberry productions. The company that founded an idol group, B-Komachi. And this girl here is one of them." he said as he pointed towards Ai.
Ai: "The name's Ai, Ai Hoshino! It's nice to meet you uhmm..." she said as Ren tells his name to Ai.
Ren: "It's Ren. Ren Amamiya. It's nice to meet you, Hoshino-san" he said with a smile on his face
Ai: "Ehehe~. Just call me Ai. At least that what my fans used to call me."
Ren: "Very well then."
Ai begins to take a closer look at Ren's face. Feeling curious.
Ai: "You know I haven't seen someone like you before. Are you a fan of mine?" she questions as Ren shook his head in response.
Ren: "Not really but my uncle is a huge fan of yours, Ai. As well as...." His face turns frown. Ai notices as she begins to ask a question.
Ai: "Is something wrong?" Ren shook his head.
Ren: "No, it nothing. By the way, Ai."
Ai: "Hmm?"
Ren: "Since you got pregnant by the time you came here, I was curious about who's the father of your baby is. Care to tell?" He said as Ichigo faces Ai.
Ichigo: "He's right! As the president of the agency, I wanted to know who's the father of your child is too! Wouldn't you mind to tell us, Ai?"
Ai: "Well...." Ren, Morgana and Ichigo staring at her waiting for her response.
Ai: "That's a secret!" She winks at them with the smile. Ren, Morgana and Ichigo groaned at her response.
Ren: "Secret huh? Well there's no point to delve into." he thought to himself.
Ren and Gorou begin preparing the medical examination on Ai alongside with doctors and nurses to assist. They also conduct tests to ensure that Ai is in good condition as well as doing some ultrasounds. As time passes the results are in. The results shows that Ai is 20 weeks pregnant with twins.
Ren, Morgana, Ai, Ichigo: "Twins." they said in union.
Ai: "Twins..." Her eyes widen with the blush formed on her face.
Ren: "Well that's surprising."
Ichigo: "Ai, are you serious about carrying them to term? If this goes out that you became pregnant at 16 and given birth..."
Ichigo: "your career and my agency will be finished." he said with the panic look on his face.
Ai begins to process at what she should do about her pregnancy. She begins to ask Gorou for his opinion.
Ai: "What are your thoughts sensei?" she said as she awaits for his answer.
Gorou: " The final decision rests with you. Really think it through before deciding. As a doctor, that is all I'm able to say."
Ai: "Hmmm." she said as she turns at Ren.
Ai: "What about you? What is your opinion about this?"
Ren: "Huh? Well if you're asking about my opinion then my answer remains the same. It's your decision to decide whether you want to give birth or not."
Gorou: "Then its settled!" he said as he stands up from his chair.
Gorou: " Now if you'll excuse me I need to take a break outside." he said as he puts his hand on Ren's shoulder.
Gorou: "If there is any questions, you can ask my assistant here as he'll provide some answers for you."
Ai: "I will. Thanks a lot sensei."
Gorou: "Anytime." he said as he begins to move out from his room.
Ichigo soon also left the room to get some rest leaving only Ren alongside with Ai and Morgana behind.
Ren: "Well that leaves only us for now." he said as he begins to questioned Ai.
Ren: "Is there anything else you want to go?"
Ai: "Hmmm. I would like to have some fresh air. Is there any place that you would recommend with?"
Ren: "I think I know the place. I can guide you there if you want to."
Ai: "Great! Then, lead the way!" she said as Ren holding out his hand to Ai for support. Ai takes his hand as they begin to move out from the room. Morgana follows alongside them.
As the trio walking through the hallway, Ai and Ren begin discuss each other topics regarding about their workplace. Ren discusses with Ai on how he treats the patients at the hospital while Ai discusses on how she handshakes with her fans at the handshake event. Both kept talking about each other topics. As the time goes on, both begin to understand each other respectively. Morgana watches them talking from behind.
Morgana: "Those two. They seemed to be talking each other very well. It like they act as a couple. Even though they just met." he thought as Morgana looks down on the floor.
Morgana: "*sigh* If only I could turn myself into a human, I could do the same thing with Lady Ann. Oh well, maybe it my wishful thinking."
(At the rooftop)
Ren: "Here we are." Ren begins to open the door leading Ai to go through first followed by Morgana. As they arrived at the rooftop they spotted Gorou who is taking a break outside.
Gorou: "Ren, Hoshino-san. What are you both doing here?"
Ren: "Ai requested me to find the place to get some fresh air. So I brought her here."
Gorou: "But you can't bring her here. It not good for her to be out on the windy night."
Ai: "It's okay sensei. I'm bundled up. So I'll be fine."
Ai begins to walk outside at the rooftop appreciating the scenery surrounds her.
Ai: "Wow! This place sure is lovely! There are so many stars at dusk. You could never see this back in Tokyo."
Ren smiles as he watches Ai appreciating the scenery. He begins to walk towards Ai and standing next to her.
Ren: "It sure is beautiful out there. Don't you think, Ai?" Ai nodded at his response.
Ren: "So, Ai."
Ai: "Hmm?" she turns at Ren.
Ren: "Have you decided whether or not you want to give birth to your twins?"
Ai: "Are you kidding? Of course I want to give birth to them! They're my babies after all."
Gorou: "So, are you gonna give up being an idol?" he said as Ai and Ren turns at Gorou.
Ai: "Huh? Why would I? No way." Ren turns at Ai.
Ren: "But that would mean..."
Ai: "I don't have a family, you see. I always longed for one." Ai look down at her belly and she begins to rub it.
Ai: "I'm carrying twins right?" she turns at Ren and Gorou.
Ai: "I'm sure our family will be a cheerful and fun one!"
Ren: "Family...huh?" he said as he chuckles at her statement.
Gorou: "You're gonna give birth... and also continue to being an idol."
Ren: "So does that mean?" Ai nodded.
Ai: "Yup. I won't make it public." she said as she begins to walk pass them.
Ai: "Idols are objects of worship, you know? They sparkle through the magic of lies." she said as she turns at them.
Ai: "Lies are the most exquisite love! Being able to conceal a kid or two just works to show someone's a top-class idol. Piling on lie after lie, we look happy as we sing on stage no matter what struggles we might face. What a fun job!"
Ai: "Still...The happiness part's something that I wanna experience for real. No one realizes it, but we got our own feelings and lives, too."
Ai: "Happiness as a mother and the happiness as an idol... It might be normal to only have one..."
Ai: "but I want both! Ai Hoshino's a greedy girl, you know!"
Ren: "I see. So I take that this might be your final decision right? About wanting to give birth to your twins?" Ai's nodded at his question.
Ai: "Absolutely! I always wanted to have a family remember? So I decided that I will give birth to them. No matter what!" her statement causes Ren to smile.
Ren: "This idol. Not only is she's greedy but she's hopeless as well. Especially that she wanted a family for herself. Greedy but hopeless. Heh. I think I'm gonna like this one."
Ai: "Oh yeah! Come to think of it. There's something that I want to ask, Ren-kun."
Ren: "Hmm? What is it?"
Ai: "When we're talking about the fans, you only mentioned about your uncle right? I heard that you also mentioned about the other one as well. Can you tell me who?" Ai's question causes Ren to stutter but soon his face turns frown.
Ren: "..." the sadness appears on Ren's face as he stays silent.
Ai: "What's wrong, Ren-kun?" she questions Ren with the face full of worry. Gorou notices as he begins to step into the conversation.
Gorou: "Hoshino-san. I think its best not to talk about that subject since its well..." his words suddenly trail off.
Ai begins to process at what Gorou is saying but she begins to realize at what he meant.
Ai: "Oh." Ai felt guilty for asking her question.
Ai: "I-I'm sorry, Ren-kun. I didn't mean to." Ren shooks his head as his response.
Ren: "Nah. It's fine, Ai. It'll take some time for me to get over with." Ren turns at the sun setting at horizon.
Ren: "After all, I'm not alone. As long as I remember my friends out there who were counting on me, I know that I can get through this."
Ai: "Your friends?" she questions Ren as Ren nodded. Ren begins to tell his side of the story
Ren: "Last year when I was at your age, I was arrested by the police for helping the woman who was assaulted by the drunkard." he said as Ai stunned at his story.
Ai: "W-What?! Arrested? For helping the assaulted woman? Why did the police do that?"
Ren: "That's because they were ordered by the drunkard who assaulted the woman with." he turns at Ai.
Ren: "And that drunkard is none other than the politician, Shido Masayoshi." Ai gasped when Ren mentioned Shido's name.
Ai: "Shido? You mean the one who confessed all of his crimes during election day?" Ren nodded in response.
Ren: "So you heard about him?" he questions Ai.
Ai: "No. But I do saw him on big screen that he admitted for all of the wrong things that he had done before."
Ren: "I see."
Ai: "But why on earth did he do that? Didn't the assaulted woman helped you to prove your innocence?" she said as Ren shook his head in response.
Ren: "No, that was an opposite. The woman that Shido assaulted with was actually his subordinate. Shido forces her to testify against me for performing a violence act against him."
Ai: "How horrible!"
Ren: "And just like you I also didn't have my family to begin with. The only family member that I have was my uncle." he said as he pointed at Gorou.
Ren: "Of course, even with my uncle support, I still couldn't able to turn things around. As a result, the judge decided to make a verdict that I'll be under probation for about a year. Meaning I won't be able to stay with my uncle for the time being." Ai's face turns frown when hearing Ren's story.
Ai: "That's terrible." she said as Gorou slams on the rooftop bar with anger. The hit causes Ren and Ai stared at Gorou in shock.
Gorou: "That Shido really pisses me off!" he said in a frustrated tone.
Gorou: "Not only that he assaulted his subordinate, but he also sued my nephew for saving her? Just how much of a scumbag is he?!"
Ren: "Uncle?" he questioned Gorou.
Gorou: "He calls himself the politician that wants to bring world peace yet he had a guts for suing a student and ruining his life?"
Gorou: "This is just bullshit! I swear if I see him, I'm gonna make him pay for breaking my family apart!"
Ren: "Well you don't have to worry about him since the Phantom Thieves have finally brought him to justice. He won't be much of a problem anymore." Ai's eyes widen when Ren mentioned about the phantom thieves.
Ai: "The Phantom Thieves..." she whispered.
Ren: "Plus, I did cooperate with the police by becoming their testimony to prove that Shido guilty. My friends supported me by the time when I was in detention. They do whatever they can to appeal for my sentence to be lifted. If there is anyone that I should be thanking with, its them." Ai smiles at Ren's statement.
Ai: "Sounds like you made a lot of good friends. I bet they been worrying sick about you by the time you got arrested." Ren smiles at Ai's words.
Ren: "Heh. I am pretty sure they were, Ai." Ren continues his story.
Ren: "Due to their efforts, the woman that Shido assaulted with has been found testifies my innocence in the process. And thanks to her, the probation charges have finally been dropped and thus I finally released from probation."
Ai: "That's great to hear! So does that mean that you're able to meet your friends again?" Ren nodded at Ai's question.
Ren: "Yes, but only for 1 month." he said as Ren's face turns frown.
Ai: "Oh" she said with a sad look.
Ren: "Once after my probation period ends, I had to say goodbye to my friends before I departed back to my hometown. And that's how I got here."
Ren: "Still even if I got separated from my friends, I always remember them from the bottom of my heart. We made a lot of great memories. The time that I spent with them, the places that I go with them, I always cherish them whenever I go." Ren places his right hand on his chest while smiling towards the distance.
Ai: "Ren-kun..." Ai smiles as his speech touches her heart.
Gorou: "Ren..." he said with the sad tone.
Gorou: "I'm sorry." Ren turns at Gorou when he heard his apology.
Ren: "Hmm? For what?" he questions him.
Gorou: "For not being there with you when wanting to get you out from probation. I wish there was more that I can do to help." he said as Ren pats Gorou on his shoulder.
Ren: "You have done everything you could, uncle. As long as you're here, then that is enough for me."
Ren: "After all, you are the one who accepted me whenever I lost my parents. If there is anything that I should be thankful with, its you, uncle. Without you, I don't think I will become the person as I am now."
Gorou: "Ren..." he said as Gorou smiles at Ren's kind words.
Ai: "Ren-kun, sensei." Ai smiles at their family bonding.
Ai: "Ehehe~. You two are more like father and son, you know? I can tell just by looking at you two. I am so jealous!" her statement causes shyness on Ren and Gorou.
Gorou: "O-Of course! After all we're basically family. Family tends to help each other. Right, Ren?"
Ren: "Riiiiight.~" he said with a smirk.
Ren: "But didn't you watched a lot of her concert DVDs by the time you neglect your duty as a doctor? How does that helping?" Gorou shocked when hearing Ren's statement in front of Ai.
Gorou: "I-IDIOT!!! Why did you say that now in front of her!?" he said while sweating profusely.
Ren's statement turns Ai's smile into a mischievous smirk upon hearing about his uncle's actions.
Ai: "Heh?~ ¬‿¬ " she said while staring at Gorou.
Ai: "Watching my concert DVDs while neglecting your duty as a doctor? That's no good, sensei~. It's kinda creepy, you know?" she said as Ai teases Gorou wanting to get a reaction from him. Gorou stammered at Ai's words.
Gorou: "I-I-It's not true!! I uh...." His reaction causes Ai to laugh. Same goes with Ren.
Ai: "Ahahahaha! I am just teasing you, sensei! It's understandable since you are one of my fans." She said as their laughter stopped.
Ai: "And don't worry. I won't tell anyone about it as long as you don't neglect your duty as a doctor. Ok, sensei?" she said as she winks at him.
Gorou: "S-Sure! I won't!"
Ren: "Wow. You must be pretty excited when Ai teases you or something." Gorou's eyes widen when hearing Ren's words.
Gorou: "S-Shut up!"
Ren laughs alongside with Ai. Gorou follows along as well. Morgana watches them with a big smile on his face.
Morgana: "Those guys. They're sure having a lot of good time. It brings back memories."
As soon as their laughter ends, they fall into a deep silent while enjoying the scenery night.
Ai: "Say, Ren-kun."
Ren: "Hmm?" he said as he turns at Ai.
Ai: "Do you still misses your friends?" Ren begins to look down and he sighed.
Ren: "*sigh* Yes. I still am."
Ai: "Are you planning to reunite with them?"
Ren: "..." Ren stays silent for a while until he speaks again.
Ren: "To be honest I don't know. As much as I want to reunite with my friends, I just simply can't leave my uncle alone as he was the one who brought me in after my parents death. He is the only family member that I have left and I owe my life to him."
Gorou: "Ren..." Hearing Ren's words filled Gorou with guilt.
Morgana: "Ren..." he thought as he begins to understand him.
Ren: "Plus going back to my hometown feels kinda empty. Its like I am going back to square one. I wish there would be some way to fill up that emptiness."
Ai: "Like what?" she questions Ren.
Ren: "I don't know. Like spending time with my friends, I guess? I think that might help things out a little." he said while scratching his head.
Ai: "Then! How about I'll be your friend instead, Ren-kun?" Ren's and Gorou's eyes widen upon hearing Ai's statement.
Ren: "Eh?"
Gorou: "Huh?!"
Ai: "You needed someone to spend time with right? So how about I'll be your friend starting today?"
Ren: "But, Ai. You're a high celebrity idol and I am just a normal guy. Was it okay for you to hang out with someone like me?"
Ai: "Why not? To me its completely normal. Plus I'm currently on hiatus so I won't be able to go back to being an idol until I give birth to my twins."
Gorou: "She's got a point there."
Ai: "So what do you think? Wanna be friends with me?" She said as she held out her hand towards him. Ren begins to process about her offer but later he decides.
Ren: "Sure. Why not? I'll be happy to be friends with you if that what you wanted." He said as he begins to handshake with Ai.
Ai: "Great! Looking forward to know you, Renren-chan!"
Ren: "Huh?" Ren became froze upon hearing her calling his nickname.
The deep silence came in before Gorou and Morgana speak.
Gorou and Morgana: "Ren....ren....chan?" they said in a low tone but sooner or later they're starting to burst out their laughter.
Gorou: "Pffft... Ahahahaha! Renren-chan? That's so stupid!"
Morgana: "It's so ridiculous that it just makes me laugh! Especially that it comes from the most popular idol. Hahahaha!"
Ren's face became madly flustered when Gorou and Morgana laughing at his nickname that Ai gave him.
Ren: "C-Cut it out will ya?! This isn't funny!"
He tries to tell them to stop but fails. Ai confused as she has no idea about what is going on.
Ai: "Is something wrong?" Ren turns at Ai.
Ren: "Ai. Could you please not to call me "Renren-chan"? It's embarrassing." He said with a blush on his face.
Ai: "Heh?~ Why not? I think its kinda cute." Her statement just makes Gorou and Morgana laugh even harder.
Gorou and Morgana: "Ahahahaha!!"
Ren: "Tch..." Ren starting to become irritated at their laughter.
As time passes their laughter finally stopped.
Gorou: "*snicker* Oh man that was too good. I guess you got yourself a karma."
Morgana: "My thoughts exactly."
Ren: "I swear if I see you laughing again, I am gonna make sure that you'll regret it." he said with a glare.
Gorou: "Okay. Okay. I won't. *snicker*" he said while controlling his laughter.
Ren: "Ugh..."
Ai's phone starts ringing as Ai picks her up her phone and presses the call button.
Ai: "Hello?"
Ichigo: "Ai, Where are you? I'm about to send you home right now. It's getting late. Meet me at the entrance. I'll be waiting for you there."
Ai: "Okay. I'll be right there." she said as she closes her phone.
Ai: "Sorry. My president wants to send me home. I need to get to the entrance."
Gorou: "My assistant can guide you there. He knows the way."
Ren: "Come on, Ai. I'll take you there." Ai nodded as Ren guides her to the entrance. Gorou and Morgana follows along.
(At the entrance)
As Ren, Ai, Gorou and Morgana reached the entrance, they saw Ichigo who is waiting next to his car.
Ichigo: "Ai! There you are! What took you so long?"
Ai: "Sorry Ichigo-san~. I was just having a chat with my newfound friends. And we're having a lot of fun!"
Ichigo: "Is that so? Well I am glad you enjoyed it. Anyways, I am about to send you home right now. It's getting late." he said as he guides Ai to his car.
Ai: "Ah wait! I forgot something!" Ai halted as she turns at Ren.
Ai: "I need to know your number and your chat ID. So that way we can keep in contact whenever we wanted to."
Ren: "Sounds fine for me" He said as he pull out his phone exchanging numbers and chat ID with Ai in the process. Ai turns at Gorou.
Ai: "Ah I also want to know yours as well sensei. Just in case if I request for check up for my twin's condition."
Gorou: "Sure. I'll be glad to." he said as Gorou does the same like Ren did.
Ai: "Ok, I gotta go now. I'll be seeing you again?"
Ren: "Sure, anytime." he said as Ai waves at Ren and Gorou.
Ren, Gorou and Morgana watches the car drove off.
Morgana: "That Ai girl sure is promising. Right, Ren?" Ren nodded at Morgana's question.
Ren: "Yeah. Plus I can see why Sarina-chan looked up to her so much. I might be looking forward for our new friendship."
(Inside Ichigo's car)
As Ichigo driving Ai home, Ai kept thinking about Ren's words that he mentioned about the Phantom Thieves.
Ai: "The Phantom Thieves..." she said as she pulls out her phone revealing a keychain that resembles a phantom thieves logo. Ai stares at her keychain with a smile.
Ai: "I was wondering if I can meet with them someday. Maybe time will tell." she thought to herself.
She begins to look out the window.
Ai: "Ren Amamiya huh?" She said his name with a smile.
Ai: "You're such an interesting guy. I can't wait to know you more."
End of Prologue - Part 2
Oh boy another part of the prologue finally finished. Next week I will take a break for a while since I had my final year project to keep up. After that I will try to publish another chapter following week after. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. See you soon!