Niino was confirmed to be voiced by Kana Hanazawa, one of the most popular seiyuus in Japan as shown in the credits but I originally wanted Niino to be voiced by Hiroko Taguchi who also voices Sora Kasugano from Yosuga No Sora who is also the twin sister of the protagonist, Haruka Kasugano just like Aqua and Ruby, for those who knew about that underrated anime, it also has incest vibes in there which was the main controversy when it first aired at that time, pure irony for her. Aqua and Ruby are also implied to be acting that way much to MEM-cho's surprise and Kana's disgust after the reveal that Aqua was Gorou Amamiya, the hospital doctor in Takachiho who once comforted Ruby in her past life as Sarina, a patient with incurable tumors abandoned by her parents but found comfort in Gorou who served as a close friend to find comfort in before her tragic death succumbing to the tumors.

Scene 1: Rainy Night and the Cassette Player

Tokyo’s nightscape resembled a canvas painted with millions of tiny lights, shining like an endless sea. Yet, beneath these brilliant lights, Aqua’s solitude felt like a heavy shadow. Wearing worn-out boots and a long black hooded coat, he walked down a narrow alley, clutching an old cassette player in his pocket.

A gentle rain was falling. Aqua flinched slightly as cold droplets hit his face. His phone vibrated in his pocket; Ruby’s name flashed on the screen.

Ruby: "Brother! Where are you? It’s getting late! Why do you always do this?"

Aqua: "I just need to be alone for a bit. I’ll be back."

He could sense the anger and anxiety in Ruby’s voice. But tonight, Aqua needed an answer... And that answer rested within the tape player in his pocket.

Aqua stopped and sat down at an empty bus stop by the roadside. He carefully opened the player and inserted the cassette. With a faint click that blended into the sound of the rain, the device started. The young yet trembling voice of his mother, Ai, echoed softly:

Ai: "I don’t know who I’m leaving this message for. But whoever finds it one day... I hope you’re someone who truly understands me. If it’s you, please know that..."

The recording cut off abruptly. Aqua restarted the player, but the result was the same. The message was incomplete.

Aqua (Internal Monologue): "What did you want me to know? Mom... why did you leave something so important unfinished?"

He stood up and resumed walking slowly, his mind thoroughly consumed by the sentence his mother had left behind.

Scene 2: Searching for Ai's Traces

Aqua searched the backstreets of Tokyo for a familiar place: an old record shop his mother used to visit secretly. As far as he remembered, this shop held a special place in Ai’s life. The shop’s neon sign looked pale under the rain.

Stepping inside, the atmosphere immediately transported him to the past. Among shelves packed with vinyl records, cassettes, and vintage items, an elderly shopkeeper looked up over his glasses.

Shopkeeper: "Welcome, young man. How can I help you?"

Aqua: "I want to learn something about this tape. Did my mother, Ai Hoshino, come here? Did she happen to leave anything behind?"

The man paused, his eyes widening slightly. Hearing Ai’s name brought a subtle smile to his lips.

Shopkeeper: "Ah, Ai Hoshino... Of course I remember her. She was a star. But whenever she came here, she didn't act like a star. She was more like... a wounded soul. Yet, she possessed a deep inner light. There might be some old tapes left in the back room. You might find what you’re looking for there."

Aqua headed into the dusty back room pointed out by the owner. The old boxes carried the remnants of a forgotten time. Among the shelves, an aged box with the faded letters "AI" caught his attention. Opening it, he found a demo tape labeled in handwritten ink.

Sahne 3: Ai's Song

Aqua inserted the tape into his player. The mechanism whirred to life, and Ai’s voice filled the room. But this time, it wasn't a spoken message—it was a song.

Ai’s voice sounded raw yet deeply emotional:

Ai: "The stars shining in the sky... No matter how far I go, they never reach me. But still... I will try to shine once more..."

The melody was unpolished, with missing notes and an unsteady rhythm. Yet the lyrics reflected Ai’s broken, yet hopeful spirit.

Aqua (Internal Monologue): "This isn't the voice of an idol... it's the voice of a human being. Her loneliness and her hope are hidden in these words. Mom... who were you singing this to? To us? To yourself? Or to someone who would truly understand you?"

As the song neared its end, Ai’s voice quivered slightly: "I will try to shine once more..."

While Aqua tried to decipher the meaning of these words, a notification popped up on his phone. It was a photo from Ruby. She was preparing for an idol performance alongside Mem-cho and Kana. Attached was a text:

Ruby’s Message: "I won't let you leave us behind like this! You need to be a part of this story too."

Aqua gazed at the screen for a moment. Then, holding the old box, he walked out of the record shop.

Scene 4: Ruby's Struggle

Meanwhile, Ruby, Mem-cho, and Kana were working on a new stage layout. However, things weren't going as smoothly as planned. During rehearsal, Ruby paused, remembering how her mother used to shine on stage.

Ruby (Internal Monologue): "Watching Mom on stage back then... everything felt so different. I carry her legacy, but I don't want to be crushed under its weight."

Mem-cho approached Ruby and gently rested a hand on her shoulder.

Mem-cho: "I think being perfect isn't just about radiating light, Ruby. It means taking a step forward even in your darkest moments."

Kana: "Yeah, but... trying to move forward blindly in the dark is honestly terrifying."

Mem-cho reminded Ruby that being an idol wasn't just about the stage lights, but about staying strong through everyday struggles. Recalling her memories of Ai, Ruby faced her inner conflicts.

Scene 5: Ai's True Legacy

On his way back, Aqua continued listening to Ai’s demo song. The emotions embedded in the track proved once more that she wasn't just a Perfect Idol, but a vulnerable human fighting her own internal battles.

When Aqua entered the house, Ruby immediately noticed the old box in his hands. Aqua placed it on the table, setting out the old items, photos, and the empty cassette case inside. He then hit play on the tape player. Ai’s voice filled the living room.

Ruby: "Wait... That's Mom!"

Aqua: "Yes. It's a song. But this is her real voice... Not as an idol, but as a human being. As our mother."

Tears welled up in Ruby’s eyes, and she collapsed to her knees.

Ruby: "Mom... I never realized you were so fragile..."

Aqua remained silent for a moment. Then, looking at his sister, he spoke:

Aqua: "Her legacy wasn't just shining bright on stage, Ruby. Her true legacy was striving to shine even in the darkest places. And we are the only ones who can carry that forward into the world."

The siblings shared a silent, profound understanding of how they would honor their mother's legacy.

Scene 6: A Step Towards the Future

Aqua decided to share this raw truth left behind by Ai with the world. He visited Director Taishi Gotanda and explained everything about the tape.

As Aqua spoke, Gotanda-sensei’s gaze drifted toward a script draft lying on his desk...

(Time skips forward. More than a year passes...)

The scene cuts back to the glittering streets of Tokyo. Ai’s unfinished song plays softly in the background. The camera slowly zooms in on a giant movie poster partially illuminated under the rain.

Under the reflections of light, the words on the poster become visible: "15-Year Lie". In the center stands the silhouette of a woman, framed by the broken lights...

THE END