1 year later; early summer

-          Yukiko! Wait here, Kaa-chan brings something to drink, ne? – the woman asked the little girl in the park.

-          Hai, mama! – The girl smiled and run off the grass to play with her ball.

The woman watched her smiling for a few minutes then went to the vending machine to buy some tea.

Meanwhile the little girl chased her ball and once she kicked it, it rolled to a bench where a young man was sitting, listening to music. When the ball hit his leg he bent down and grabbed it from the ground and looked up to see who lost it. The girl run to him but suddenly stopped a few steps from the bench.

-          An-chan! Give me back my ball, onegai! – The girl asked with a smile.

-          So it’s yours – he smiled back at her. – Where are your parents? You’re not alone here, do you? – He asked concerned and looked around for someone who she could belongs to, and then kneeled down to her.

-          Mama is here with Yukiko. Demou mama now gets ocha to Yukiko – she answered as she took the ball back. – Will an-chan play with Yukiko? – she asked.

They tossed the ball to each other while she laughed and chatted nonstop.

-          Yukiko! Where are you?

The voice came from behind the man.

-          Hai, mama! – The girl called immediately and grabbed the ball to run to the caller.

-          What did I say to you? Don’t disappear just like this. Kaa-chan shinpaishita… - the woman kneeled down to kiss the girl’s cheek.

-          Yukiko just played with an-chan – the girl said and pointed at the young man who like he knew that they’re talking about him, turned to their direction.

Both, the man and the woman froze.

-          Yuuki-chan!

-          Aiba-san…

Aiba walked closer to the couple.

-          Yuuki-chan – he repeated smiling but he couldn’t believe his eyes.

-          Mama wa Yuuki janai! Yukiko wa Yuki desu, mama wa Tia desu! – The little girl chirped in as she looked up at the adults. – Can I go to play, mama?

-          Of course, sweetie – Tia smiled down the girl who runs off at the very moment.

-          Hisashiburi… - Aiba said silently when they left alone.

-          Un – Tia nodded with a soft smile.

Her glance followed every move of the girl. She wasn’t sure either that it’s because she’s concern about her or just don’t dare to look at the idol next to her.

-          What are you doing here, Aiba-san? It’s not usual to meet idols here…

-          Riida and I were here once, filming Mago Mago Arashi a few years ago. Ever since then I planned to come back here for a vacation. So I’m here now – he said with a shy smile.

-          Did the others come with you? – Tia asked.

-          No, I came alone.

-          Souka… - Tia nodded slowly but her face remind unreadable. – Yukiko, comes here! We should go now! – Tia called the girl.

-          Mama! Stay a little longer! Yukiko wanna play with an-chan more – the girl went to them.

-          Yukiko! He has other thing to do than play with you, don’t you think? – Tia asked her with a soft smile.

-          No, it’s okay, I’ll play with her – Aiba smiled brightly then took Yuki’s hand and they went to play some more.

-          You don’t come? – Tia asked suddenly when they were heading from the park half an hour later.

Aiba stood and looked a bit wretched when they wanted to leave and Tia just couldn’t leave him there like that.

-          Hai!

Aiba’s face lit up at the moment.

Yukiko chatted nonstop on the way back home. The two adults only smiled at the non-senses what she spoke. She was simply adorable.

Once they arrived Yuki run off to play till Tia makes dinner. Aiba silently followed the woman and couldn’t take his eyes off of her. She first turned on the CD player and a few seconds later Everything sounded from the speakers. Aiba started to giggle, hearing there song.

-          You still our fangirl, don’t you? – Aiba asked curious.

-          I guess so. But if it’s bothers you, I can turn off but I just can’t stay silent. Never could – Tia said with a soft apologetically smile.

-          No, it’s okay – Aiba assured her.

Tia nodded and went to the kitchen to make dinner.

Aiba sat at the kitchen table and watched her moves like he wants to recover what he missed in the past year. He can’t help but smile when she unconsciously started to sing along with the CD player.

While they ate dinner Aiba told funny stories. Mostly only he and Yukiko laughed. Tia just sat there barely eating and listened to them with a bittersweet smile on her lips. She couldn’t help but think how miserable she was. Here she is, sit at the dinner table with the two people she loves the most ever since she arrived to Japan. They looks like a family now though one of them can’t be further if there would e hundred miles between them and the other could be taken away from her anytime…

After dinner Yukiko insisted to be bathed by Aiba and then he tells her the bedtime tale. Tia listened their laughing ringing from the bathroom for a bit then started to clean up the table and the kitchen.

When Aiba stepped into the kitchen half an hour later ha found Tia at the sink washing the dishes while singing Nino’s Niji barely audible.

-          Nino-chan would go wild if he knew that you sing his solo better than himself – Aiba said as he stepped next to her with a washcloth to help out.

-          I don’t think so… - Tia laughed a bit.

-          No, I know Nino-chan long enough to know it… - Aiba insisted.

-          No, I can think it but I doubt that I should be better than him… Anyway, he’s an idol and I… I just a gaijin fangirl of yours – Tia said while put the dishes into the cupboard.

-          You changed… - Aiba said quietly after a few minutes of silence. – Back in Tokyo… you laughed easily but now you barely smile… - Aiba said serious as he observed the woman who changed his life in a few days and then broke his heart like none before. – You…

-          You should go now… - Tia cut in as he looked up at him.

She could see the pained expression on Aiba’s face and immediately regretted her harsh words.

-          Gomen… But I have work early tomorrow and need some rest before it… - she said.

It sounded like some lame excuse though it was true. Just wasn’t the whole truth. Aiba nodded.

-          Wakatta… Then, oyasumi… - he said silently.

-          Oyasumi nasai, Aiba-san – she whispered while he took his sneakers and left her home.

-          Ne, mama! Masaki an-chan!

-          No, Yuki. He’s not here today – Tia answered tired as they walked into the park without looking where she’s pointing.

Though she used to the lack of sleep, today she almost felt herself too depressed to get up and go to work. Since her teenage years, after the accident she didn’t feel like this. That would be a lie that she didn’t know its reason.

It was Aiba.

She always had some difficulty with unexpected changes. And the young idol’s sudden appearance in her life was more than what she could handle alone.

-          No, mama! Asoko! – she said stubborn tugging Tia’s hand to look where she’s pointing then let it and run to the man who stood a few meter away.

Tia stared at him disbelieving as Yukiko run to him. The woman watched them as they chased each other. It looked like Aiba wasn’t older than her with more than two decades.

Finally it ended like the day before. Aiba came to Tia’s place to dinner with them, then bathed Yuki and read her a story while Tia cleaned up the dining area. The only difference that today there was no music in the house. It was silent whole night.

After they finished everything they sat down in the living room.

-          Ashita… I have to go back to Tokyo – Aiba announced finally. – I want you to come back with me… - he said out brave.

-          No – Tia said without thinking, unreadable expression on her face.

-          Why? – The hurt was obvious in Aiba’s eyes.

-          I just can’t. Though I could tell you more reasons… Like it’s forbidden to me to go back. It should be forbidden as well to see and talk to you… I risk with it enough. Going back… that would be too much… - Tia said with a small sigh and stepped to the window and looked out.

-          You can’t be serious! Who can forbid you something like that? It’s ridiculous! And why did anyone want to do something like it? – Aiba asked frustrated and stood up.

-          There’s someone at you’re agency who more appropriate to answer these questions of yours – the woman said. – Though there’s something else why I can’t go away from here… you probably know that Yuki isn’t my daughter and it’s not final now that I can take her in. They decide it in the next month. Till that time, we have to stay here…

-          Soudesuka? – Aiba’s shoulders sank in defeat.

-          I guess Sakurai-san would be disappointed in me… - Tia mused aloud after a long pause.

She leant to the window with her back and stared at her toes. Aiba looked at her confused.

-          Sho-chan? Nande? – He asked cocked his head to the side a bit.

-          I promised him not to hurt you though I just break my promise. Again… - she whispered and turned her face to the ceiling as tried to fight back her tears. – Gomen…

The next thing she knew that Aiba was there, hugging her tight and murmuring reassuring words in her hair while she buried her tear soaked face in his neck. She unconsciously wrapped her arms around his waist as her life depending on him. And at the moment it was.

-          I don’t know what happened in real back at that time or why you decided to leave Tokyo without a word to me. I just know that when you left I felt my life emptier and that I want you back in my life. But I won’t force anything that you don’t want. Tomorrow I have to go back to Tokyo but I swear to you I’ll wait for you – Aiba said in a low, serious tone.

And in the next moment Aiba was kissing her, long, deep and desperate. It was their perfect first kiss though it was their goodbye kiss. It was over sooner than they wanted but it left them both breathless.

-          I’ll wait for you – Aiba whispered panting. – And I hope they’ll let you take in Yukiko-chan…

Then he hugged her one last time and silently left the room. He even not waited her to say goodbye or anything, knowing it only makes harder him to leave…

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