The faint smell of disinfectant lingered in the quiet hospital corridor. The rhythmic beeping of heart monitors and the soft shuffle of nurses' shoes echoed faintly through the walls. Inside one of the private rooms, curtains drawn against the late afternoon sun, the atmosphere was heavy but calm.
Aqua sat on a stool beside Ruby's bed. She wore light-blue patient clothes, her skin pale but glowing with a serene smile. In her arms, wrapped snugly in a white blanket, rested a baby girl with soft violet hair and bright star-shaped eyes—so much like Ai's.
"It's a girl," Ruby whispered warmly, her eyes shining as she gently placed the child into Aqua's hands.
Aqua looked down at the infant, kissed her cheek, and muttered, almost in awe, "She looks like Ai."
Ruby laughed softly, her voice trembling with fragile hope. "Hey, what if it is Mom? Maybe she came back to us… so we can finally live as a happy family again."
Aqua's expression darkened. His lips pressed into a thin line as he looked at the child. "…The world won't accept this baby. This is my mistake."
Ruby frowned, tightening her grip on his arm with both hands. "Who cares what the world thinks—or accepts? Don't call it a mistake. If we have to, we'll just go somewhere far away, where nobody knows us. We can start over."
For a moment, Aqua almost wanted to believe her. But before he could answer, Ruby suddenly sneezed. A dark splash of blood scattered across Aqua's face. His eyes widened.
"Ruby…?!" he shouted, panic flooding his voice.
Ruby's grip weakened. The walls around him seemed to melt, the room fading into a blur.
Aqua gasped and shot upright, staring at the ceiling of his own bedroom. His chest heaved as he tried to steady his breath. Sweat clung to his forehead.
"…A dream? Or… a vision of the future?" he muttered, still shaken. "It felt so real."
Turning to his side, he froze. Ruby was asleep next to him, her breathing slow and peaceful.
"What are you doing in my room?" he asked, still trying to calm himself.
Ruby stirred, then wrapped her arms around him tightly. "You forgot your promise, Onii-chan," she murmured. "You said you'd marry me once I turn eighteen."
Aqua gently but firmly pried her hands away, standing up. His voice was stern, but regret edged it. "That promise… it wasn't me. It was Gorou who said that."
"You're both the same person," Ruby shot back, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
"No," Aqua said firmly, shaking his head. "Even if I have Gorou's memories, I'm not him. I'm someone else now. That promise wasn't meant to be taken seriously."
Ruby's lips trembled. She forced a bitter laugh before storming out, her tears trailing behind her. "You're kidding me…"
The door slammed. Silence filled the room. Aqua clenched his fists, his heart heavy. "…Damn it. I shouldn't have said it like that."
His phone buzzed on the desk. A message from Akane lit up the screen:
"Are you ready to visit the lab and check the DNA report?"
Aqua typed quickly: "Yeah. Just about to change."
Another notification popped up—this time from an unknown number. His breath caught as he opened it.
It was a photo.
Director Gaitonda sat bound to a chair, his hands tied, his mouth gagged. Behind him stood the mysterious guy, his expression unreadable behind that mask in the dim light.
Beneath the picture, a message:
"Come soon, or he dies."
Aqua's eyes widened, his pulse spiking. Rage flared within him.
"Shit!" he cursed, grabbing his jacket. Without another thought, he bolted from the room.
---
Chapter End