Intermission: Aquamarine Hoshino
-Aquamarine Hoshino's POV-
Two years have gone by, and during that time, Ai's job offers increased significantly. While it's unclear if that was the main factor, she has now become the rising success, an idol with incredible sales. Remarkably, it's been three years since we, the triplets, were reincarnated as Ai's children.
As we continue to live peacefully away from the public eye, there's been an interesting development: we've entered school, and now we're kindergarteners.
Ame's past as a soldier makes her mature beyond her age, but when I asked Ruby about her past life's age, she refused to answer, "I-I'm a full-grown lady! You should know it's bad manners to ask for a lady's age you brat!" she stated thus and continued, "Plus, the past is irrelevant! Don't meddle with unnecessary stuff, will you!"
However, Ruby's right; dwelling on the past is irrelevant. We should focus on our blissful preschooler's life, where we can simply enjoy eating, sleeping, and reading random books without worries.
I'm thoroughly enjoying my current life, but I must admit, I'm astonished by how earnestly Ruby engages with these toys.
As for Ame...
"That child is reading Dazai Osamu's work...?" exclaimed a teacher, her face showing concern, as she observed Ame engrossed in such a profound and melancholic book.
That's the book called "No Longer Human."
Uwaa... I'm seriously reconsidering not getting her therapy...
It's quite unsettling to see a cute little girl, who was once a veteran soldier, reading a book about a man attempting suicide with his lovers. I genuinely hope she doesn't develop suicidal thoughts...
"Hmm... Breathing is fun," she unexpectedly looks up from her book and says those words...
I can't help but feel extremely creeped out by that...
Ame's financial skills have been nothing short of remarkable; since she got her laptop, investing has become her primary job. However, there have been some questionable actions she took...
Strangely enough, her investment endeavors proved highly profitable, but they were so suspicious that we had to attribute her "investing job" to Miyako-san's accomplishments. Thanks to Ame's success, the company now boasts ample funds, allowing us to address all our needs and expenses seamlessly.
Ame believes that facing a gun could help her with her trauma, even though the reasons are unclear.
To avoid any distressing reactions, we bought her a toy gun. Our aim is to provide her comfort and a safe space to deal with her past experiences. She has never been so calm before that.
Ruby, on the other hand...
She learned how to dance "If you keep being scared of falling, you're only gonna fall more." (Ai)
Her dancing skills and the admiration she received from her mother... I couldn't help but imagine something awe-inspiring.
Tomorrow, Ai will be turning 20, and as a successful idol with over a million followers, she now has the opportunity to perform at the prestigious Tokyo Dome.
Unlike other venues, securing a spot at the Tokyo Dome requires collaboration with specialized companies and significant time and effort. It's not just about money; it's a stage reserved for a select few artists, and performing there is a dream come true for many.
Or so, that's what Miyako-san told me.
As we had enough money, we all decided to move to a new house. Everything seemed fine until something strange occurred.
One morning, AI and I woke up early, while Ame was likely hiding in the closet with her laptop, as usual. Suddenly, we heard a knock on our new house's door.
Could it be a neighbor stopping by to welcome us? We didn't have time to greet them properly or offer gifts, as is customary for newcomers.
Curiosity got the better of me, and I headed to the door, but I noticed AI was already on her way there. However...
"Ame?"
Ame rushed towards the door, clutching the toy gun we had gifted her last year. Her expression looked serious, as if something crucial depended on her actions.
"Wait, Ame-chan~ I'll get it~!" Ai tried to reach the door first, but Ame beat her to it.
Then something surprising happened. Ame's stern face transformed into one of childlike happiness. Without even looking at the person behind the door, she playfully pointed the toy gun at them and shouted "BANG!" mimicking the sound of a shot, like an innocent child at play.
Her eyes bore two captivating bright stars that instantly drew the attention of anyone who saw them.
The man standing behind the door was dressed in a hoodie, which obscured his face in the shadow. He held a massive bouquet of pink flowers in both hands, looking visibly surprised by Ame's unexpected appearance.
Then, with a massive, childlike smile, she enthusiastically shouted, "Place your hands in the air, Mr. Criminal!" while pointing the toy gun at him.
"Ame-chan~ Don't run off like that..." Ai finally caught up and gently took the toy gun from Ame, lifting her with worry in her eyes. "What's wrong? Why did you suddenly run off like that? Do you want to play? Mommy is here, you know? We can play later, alright?"
For a brief moment, I noticed the man in front of Ame trembling as he looked at Ai.
"Um, I apologize for that... Are you the neighbor?" Ai asked the man, trying to break the awkward silence.
But the man seemed to find it hard to speak.
As I glanced at the man's bouquet, I noticed something shiny poking out from it... It was a knife!?
Ai...!!!
"Mommy! Mommy! This man has so many flowers!" Ame suddenly brought attention to herself, seemingly unaware of the dangerous situation unfolding.
"Yeah, they're pretty, aren't they~? Does Ame want flowers too? We can buy you some later."
"Yaay~!"
As I observed Ame, she looked like an innocent little girl, oblivious to any danger.
Her once murky eyes now sparkled with a bright magenta hue, resembling Ai's... It's astonishing how skilled she is at concealing the truth.
From a distance, I noticed the man's struggle to speak, opening and closing his mouth repeatedly...
"I-I..."
"T... This is for you!" He suddenly handed the flower to Ai. Amidst the commotion, Ai grabbed it with one hand, but the man made a quick attempt to run away.
*Clank*
The knife he had concealed was carelessly dropped...
"That was weird... Is he a fan? It looks like he knows me!! Oh dear, this is bad! We have to call the president immediately!!" Ai exclaimed, her concern evident as she gently set Ame down.
Everything felt strange and unsettling. I couldn't grasp the man's true intentions, but his appearance gave off a stalker-like vibe. I was convinced he meant to harm Ai, yet he abruptly fled. It left me wondering if he would have hurt her if Ame hadn't opened the door. The uncertainty of the situation left me deeply disturbed.
As I gazed at Ame, her once innocent look had vanished, replaced by her usual bored and emotionless expression. The bright stars in her eyes returned to their typical black stars over her magenta pupils.
It was as if...
As if Ame had foreseen all of this and reacted accordingly. Her composure amid the unexpected situation left me in awe and wonder.
Later, I discovered from the news that the man who had hastily fled had committed suicide:
"Ame... Why did you... Do that, earlier?"
"huh? What a stupid question... Of course to stop him from harming mom, isn't that obvious?"
That confirmed it, this is one of her schemes...
But, I still need to ask about it, "Then... That man is on the news right now."
"I heard, what about it?"
Normal human beings can experience guilt, whether it's towards other humans or pets. Humans can be self-centered creatures, selecting certain species they find interesting and designating some as pets while treating others as mere livestock.
However, when someone lacks any sense of guilt or empathy towards anything, it may be indicative of a personality disorder.
As for Ame... it all fits. Yes... Superficial charm, high intellect, manipulative tendencies, and an extreme lack of empathy towards human life...
These are signs consistent with a manipulative Antisocial Personality Disorder...
In simpler terms, she might be a psychopath.
-POV end-
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To be continued.
(A/N: 1389 word count)