Chapter Text
"You said you didn't mind sleeping with me."
That was all how it began. Months after that talk, Aqua walked her home like usual. Only that time, they went inside the empty house and he stayed for the night. Her parents were out of town for the weekend and they had the house all to themselves. She didn’t expect anything to happen - only invited him inside for tea as they waited for the rain to stop.
But things always seem to take an unexpected turn whenever Aqua was involved, she thought.
Akane had been dreaming of that moment the whole time they started dating officially. She imagined her first time like it was in the movies - sweet, slow, and gentle. Aqua delivered on all those aspects. He didn't rush her. He kissed her slowly, teased her a bit, and made her insides melt. All through the night, he made her feel that he truly cared and his thirst for revenge was out of the picture. He kissed away all her insecurities and made her feel like she was the only woman in his life. Like it was just the two of them and nothing else mattered.
Akane felt loved.
But like any other dream, it has its end. When morning came, Akane woke up alone in bed. The space beside her has gone cold, and all Aqua left was a message on her phone. That he’d gone home and she should rest well. Akane felt disappointed that she found herself alone even after a passionate night. She didn’t let it get to her and tried to cheer herself up. After all, Aqua was able to share something of himself even for just a night. Akane felt that she was getting him to open his heart more to her.
And as always, her life would be full of curveballs.
His desire for revenge was stronger than his love, and no matter how much she tried to help him, Akane was unable to reach him. She knew she was being a nuisance, a roadblock in his plans. So when Aqua said that he didn’t want anything to do with her anymore, her entire world shattered.
She couldn’t save him like he saved her. She couldn’t do anything.
Filming the 15 Years of Lies was grueling. Apart from having to see Aqua during the filming, she also had to see him get along well with Kana Arima. Although she knew from the very start the special place the girl held in Aqua’s heart, she couldn’t help but feel the pain and bitterness inside her.
While Kana has been a rival (both in acting and romance), Akane didn't want to compete anymore. She's tired of it all. She maintained a civil disposition - she was a professional actress, after all - and acted polite when interacting with them. However, she also made it a point to avoid Aqua as much as possible. Only talking to him when she needed to consult something about her role, and doing so when there are other people around so as not to cause misunderstandings. Akane didn't want him to think that she's clinging on to him. She's not that girl anymore.
She wasn’t prepared for the change that was to come. Again, another curveball heading her way.
When she started feeling sick every morning, Akane had a suspicion. It scared her. For if this suspicion turned out to be true, she wouldn’t know who to turn to or what to do. When she missed her period, she took a test and the results would alter her entire life, her career, her everything. With trembling hands and tears in her eyes, she held the results, a mix of feelings battling inside her - terrified, anxious, and, surprisingly, happy.
She locked herself up in her room, debating how she would break the news to her parents and manager, and most importantly, whether she’d tell Aqua of this discovery. She found it funny how she ended up in exactly the same position as his mother - pregnant at the height of her career and with a partner who might not be there to support her.
I can’t tell him. Akane thought.
She had no place in Aqua’s path for revenge. If she couldn’t save him, she would save this life growing inside her.
The first thing she did was sit down with her parents. It was after a day of shooting, and her mother could immediately tell something was wrong. The look on their faces was one of disappointment when Akane told them that she's pregnant, but they held her hands and gave her a hug, saying they’ll support her in whatever decision she makes.
Her mother suggested to stay with her grandmother back in the countryside if she wanted. She sobbed throughout the conversation, like when she was at her lowest point and close to taking her own life, like a child who was lost and not the 19-year-old she was now. She didn’t know what good deed she did in her past life to deserve such kind, understanding parents.
The next day, she went to her company and had a talk with her manager and superiors. They were surprised to hear about her pregnancy. Their expressions were a picture of worry - not for her wellbeing, she mused, but possibly for her career.
They offered to announce her hiatus as soon as filming finished for the movie and decide from there on what she plans to do. She was also relieved when they told her that she’ll always be welcome in their company. A promise she doesn’t expect they’ll hold onto - when you’re an actress, taking an extended hiatus is a career suicide, that much she knows. However, she hopes that they’ll stick to their word when she's ready to come back into the spotlight.
She had no plans of staying for the movie premiere. She had no plans of seeing how Aqua’s revenge would unravel. Her company would take care of her hiatus announcement, as they arranged. So, when filming had wrapped up, she packed her bags, bid goodbye to her castmates, thanked the entire crew, and left.
That was the last time they saw Akane Kurokawa.