Aqua's footsteps echoed across the empty hallway of the agency. His eyes were hollow, lips pressed tight as his fingers hovered over his phone.
"I have to do something different this time…"
Ruby had just wrapped up a rehearsal. Her energy was high, the usual glow in her voice. But Aqua couldn't ignore the sick knot in his gut—the same knot that had twisted tighter every loop he'd failed to protect her.
He picked up his phone and called Akane.
She answered quickly. "Aqua?"
"I need a favor. No questions—for now. Just… can you stay close to Ruby for the next few days? Keep an eye on her."
There was silence. Then her calm voice responded, "I'll do it. But… something's wrong, isn't it?"
"…I'll explain soon."
He ended the call and walked out.
---
Later That Night – Private Bar in Minato
Hikaru Kamiki was already waiting. A smirk tugged at the edge of his lips as Aqua approached.
"You're unusually polite today, Hoshino-kun. No punches. No knives. No cameras?"
Aqua sat across from him, recording device hidden in his jacket.
"I'm not here to kill you," he said coldly. "Not this time."
Kamiki chuckled, swirling his drink.
"Oh? Then what do you want? An apology for Ai? For your childhood?"
Aqua flinched.
"You know… You're different lately. Like someone hit a reset button," Hikaru added, eyes sharp.
Aqua froze.
"…What did you just say?"
Kamiki leaned forward, smile darkening. "Don't play dumb. I know I've seen that look before. Desperation. Frustration. The kind that only comes from someone who's tried this already."
Aqua's blood ran cold.
"Are you saying… you remember?"
"I don't know how," Hikaru whispered, "but I do. Flashes. Feelings. And it's not just you who has a god whispering in their ear, is it?"
AQUA: "Tsukuyomi…"
He heard her voice inside him again—soft, cold.
Tsukuyomi: "Indeed. He remembers too. This is not just your trial, Aquamarine Hoshino."
Aqua clenched his fists. "Why? Why are you helping him?!"
Tsukuyomi: "You still haven't learned your lesson."
"What lesson?! I'm not chasing revenge! I just want to protect Ruby—"
Tsukuyomi: "And yet you carry everything alone. Still. Again."
Aqua stood, heart pounding. The walls were closing in.
And then his phone rang.
Akane.
He answered immediately. "Akane?"
Her voice was shaking. "Aqua… Ruby—she collapsed. No injuries. Nothing. Just… her heart—she's gone."
"No…" His knees buckled.
"She just smiled and said she felt a little dizzy. Then—then—"
The world fell silent.
Aqua dropped to his knees in the alleyway. "How…? That's not Hikaru… That's… That's not fair…"
Tears welled in his eyes. His chest felt hollow.
And then—
The moon above shimmered.
His vision blurred—
—The street dissolved.
—Voices faded.
—Time broke.
Again.
---
Somewhere Else. Again.
He gasped, waking in the rehearsal room.
Ruby was laughing in the distance.
But Aqua… he didn't move. He didn't breathe.
He just stared at the mirror.
"What the hell am I supposed to do…?"
Then, a hand touched his shoulder.
Akane.
Not the goddess. Not Ruby.
Akane.
"What's happening to you?" she asked gently. "You're breaking."
He couldn't speak. But maybe… he wouldn't have to do it alone anymore.
To be continued…