"Even a perfect mirror shatters when it reflects pain for too long."— Hoshino Ai
Scene 1: Morning at Home – Mentoring Begins
The Hoshino house was unusually quiet—not the absence of life, but the kind of silence that comes when something important is unfolding. Sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting soft shadows on the wooden floor.
Souta sat cross-legged in the living room, spreading out index cards like pieces of a puzzle. Each held a single word: Restraint, Empathy, Resolve. He placed them carefully, as if arranging something sacred.
"We can't be strong with just power," he said, his voice measured, thoughtful. "Strength isn't just about hitting harder, running faster. It's about knowing who we are—so we don't shatter when it matters most."
Ruby, Aqua, and Reina sat around him, listening. Ai lingered in the doorway, arms crossed, observing with an expression caught between nostalgia and pride.
"This is the real training," Souta continued. "Not just punches or powers—but how to keep going when everything inside you tells you to stop."
Ai's lips curled into a quiet smile. She tilted her head slightly, voice warm. "Who's the teacher now, huh?"
Souta glanced up, startled. His confidence flickered for just a moment before he rubbed the back of his neck, chuckling softly.
Scene 2: Ai's Breaking Point
The bright lights of the studio felt suffocating. Ai sat in the center of the stage, her family positioned nearby, the atmosphere celebratory—at first. Fan letters, old video clips, waves of applause. It was a tribute, a celebration of everything Ai Hoshino had been.
But then, the host hesitated before holding up an aged piece of paper—a childhood drawing from a longtime fan. The edges were frayed, the colors faded, but the message in scrawled handwriting was painfully clear:
"I used to think Ai Hoshino was the perfect mom. Until I learned about everything… sorry."
The hush that followed was crushing.
Ai's fingers curled around the fabric of her dress. Her breath hitched.
Her carefully curated mask—the one she had worn for years, the one that made her untouchable—fractured.
She looked at the camera, eyes searching, voice barely above a whisper.
"I tried…" A pause, trembling. "I really tried."
Her voice cracked, something inside her breaking loose.
"I don't know what's real anymore. If I'm even a good mother… or just someone my kids pretend to love."
The words hung in the air, heavy, unbearable.
Then, without another word, she stood—ignoring the stunned murmurs of the audience—and walked off set.
Scene 3: Souta's Response
Backstage was dim, the sounds of the ongoing broadcast muffled beyond the walls. Ai stood alone, her arms wrapped around herself, shaking with the weight of everything.
Souta found her. He didn't rush to speak, didn't try to fix things with empty reassurances. Instead, he reached into his backpack, pulling out a crumpled piece of paper—the colors smudged, the lines childish and uneven.
A drawing.
Ai, Souta, Aqua, Ruby. Holding hands. The word Happy floating above them, scribbled in bright yellow crayon.
"I never cared if you were perfect," Souta said, voice quiet but firm. "I just wanted you to stay."
Ai's breath hitched as she stared at the drawing. Her chest tightened, something breaking—but this time, it wasn't painful. It was freeing.
She stepped forward, collapsing into his arms.
"I don't want to be strong anymore," she murmured, her voice raw, vulnerable.
Souta tightened his hold around her, steady, grounding. "Then lean on us. That's what family's for."
Ruby and Aqua appeared moments later, stepping into the embrace. Reina lingered near the doorway, her eyes glistening, watching the moment unfold.
They stayed like that—imperfect, fractured, healing.
Scene 4: Souma's Final Trigger
Deep in a darkened room, Souma stood before a wall of screens. Every monitor displayed an image of Happy—the stuffed bear that held everything Souta treasured.
"He trusts this doll more than the world," Souma mused, turning a strange device over in his hand.
His eyes gleamed with anticipation.
"Let's see what happens when Happy becomes real… with my will, not his."
A slow, eerie smile spread across his lips.
"I'll give Happy a voice," he whispered. "And I'll teach him to hate the boy who made him."
Scene 5: Foreshadowing the Storm
Souta sat on the rooftop, the night sky stretching vast above him. Stars shimmered like fragments of a forgotten universe.
Reina climbed up beside him, folding her arms, watching him carefully. "You okay?"
"No," he admitted, his voice quiet but resolute. "But I'm getting stronger."
His fingers idly brushed over Happy, the stuffed bear resting in his lap.
He exhaled slowly.
"Something's coming. I can feel it. But no matter what…" He looked up, eyes glowing faintly—like galaxies lived inside him.
"I'll protect everyone."