Saturday morning arrived with a buzz of nervous energy that had Ai checking the clock every few minutes. She'd already changed outfits three times, finally settling on dark jeans, a loose cream sweater, and an oversized beige cardigan. A gray knit beanie covered her distinctive blue-purple hair, and large round sunglasses sat ready by the door. The outfit struck the perfect balance—casual enough for a day with children, but still put-together.
"Ruby, please stay still," Ai said, attempting to fasten the last button on Ruby's pink overall dress. Underneath, the little girl wore a white turtleneck that matched her brother's.
Ruby wiggled impatiently. "Is he coming soon?"
"Yes, very soon." Ai smoothed Ruby's blonde pigtails. "Remember what we talked about? Today I'm not Momma, I'm Ai who's babysitting you for Papa Ichigo and Momma Miyako."
"I know!" Ruby bounced on her toes. "I'm in spy mode!"
"Spy mode?" Ai raised an eyebrow.
Aqua, sitting primly on the couch in his matching white turtleneck and blue overalls, sighed. "She's in character."
"Character?"
"For pretending," he explained with the patience of someone much older than two. "Ruby thinks she's a spy."
Ruby nodded vigorously. "A super good spy!"
Ai looked between her children, a strange feeling settling in her stomach. She'd thought this would be simple—a harmless pretend game—but seeing them dressed in their matching outfits, prepared to lie about their identities, suddenly made everything feel more complicated.
"You both look very nice," she said, adjusting Aqua's collar. "But remember, we're just having a fun day out. No... complicated spy stuff, okay?"
Ruby pouted. "But Aqua said—"
"Ruby," Aqua cut in sharply.
Ai narrowed her eyes. "Aqua said what?"
Before Aqua could answer, a knock sounded at the door. Ai's heart jumped to her throat.
"Coming!" she called, voice higher than normal. She grabbed her sunglasses, sliding them on as she moved to the door. "Remember," she whispered to the twins, "just be yourselves. Mostly."
She took a deep breath, plastered on a casual smile, and opened the door.
Toshiro stood in the hallway, and Ai's carefully rehearsed greeting died on her lips. He wore dark jeans and a simple white t-shirt under an open navy button-down, sleeves rolled to his elbows. A gray backpack was slung over the other. His blonde-white hair fell in tousled waves, like he'd run his hands through it on the way over.
It wasn't a complicated outfit. Nothing special. And yet.
"Hey, Starlight." His voice broke through her daze.
"Hi," she managed, stepping back. "Come in."
Toshiro entered, glancing around the apartment with open curiosity. "Nice place."
"Thanks." Ai closed the door, suddenly hyperaware of every detail—the children's drawings on the refrigerator, the small collection of idol magazines on the coffee table, the B-Komachi poster half-hidden behind the TV. All pieces of her real life, exposed to his gaze.
"So," Toshiro said, turning toward the living room where the twins stood watching him. "These must be the famous twins I've heard about."
He approached them slowly, then crouched down to their level, setting his backpack on the floor. "Hi there. I'm Toshiro."
Ruby stared, her earlier spy enthusiasm momentarily forgotten. Her eyes widened, taking in every detail of Toshiro's face with undisguised fascination.
"You're pretty," she announced.
Toshiro laughed. "Thank you. So are you. I like your pigtails."
Ruby beamed, reaching up to touch them proudly.
"And you must be Aqua," Toshiro said, turning to the boy.
Aqua nodded, his expression neutral. "Hello."
Where Ruby was open admiration, Aqua was careful assessment. His blue eyes tracked Toshiro's movements with an intensity that seemed out of place on such a young face.
"It's nice to meet you both," Toshiro said, apparently unfazed by Aqua's reserved demeanor. "Your dad Ichigo has told me a lot about you."
"What's in the bag?" Ai asked, nodding toward the backpack.
Toshiro rubbed the back of his neck, a hint of embarrassment coloring his features. "Ah, that. I looked up things needed for babysitting on Reddit and bought some stuff. Probably went overboard."
"Reddit?"
"Yeah." He unzipped the bag, revealing an assortment of items. "I got snacks, juice boxes, hand sanitizer, band-aids—because apparently kids are always falling down—wet wipes, a small first aid kit, and..." He pulled out a stuffed dinosaur and a plush star. "These. Because I wasn't sure what they liked."
The amount of thought he'd put into preparing for today made something warm bloom in Ai's chest.
"That's... really thoughtful," she said softly.
Ruby immediately reached for the star. "Mine!"
"Ruby," Ai chided gently. "What do we say?"
"Please may I have the star?" Ruby amended, adding her most charming smile.
"Of course." Toshiro handed it to her. "I thought you might like it because stars are special. Like your babysitter."
Ruby hugged the star to her chest. "Thank you!"
Toshiro turned to Aqua, offering the dinosaur. "This one's for you, if you want it."
Aqua hesitated, studying the green plush creature. After a moment, he reached out and took it. "Thank you," he said quietly.
"You're welcome." Toshiro stood, brushing off his jeans. "So, are you guys excited to go to the science center and the planetarium today?"
Ruby bounced on her toes. "What's a plane-tarium?"
"Planetarium," Aqua corrected automatically.
"It's a special place where we can see the stars and planets," Toshiro explained. "Even though it's daytime outside. They project them on a big dome ceiling, and you lie back on special seats and look up at them all."
Ruby's eyes widened. "Real stars?"
"Well, not real ones," Toshiro said. "But they look real. And there's a show that tells stories about them."
"Like bedtime stories?" Ruby asked.
"Kind of. But with pictures in the sky."
Aqua's interest seemed piqued despite himself. "Do they show accurate celestial formations?"
Toshiro blinked, clearly surprised by the question. "They do, actually. The projectors are pretty advanced. You know about astronomy?"
"Some," Aqua said vaguely.
Ai watched the exchange with a strange mixture of pride and unease. Aqua had always been precocious, absorbing information like a sponge, but sometimes his adult-like questions drew attention they couldn't afford.
"He reads a lot," she explained quickly. "Both of them are very bright."
"I can see that." Toshiro smiled at Aqua with genuine respect, not the condescending tone adults often used with children. "Maybe you can help me identify some constellations later."
Something in Aqua's posture relaxed slightly. "Maybe."
"We should get going," Ai said, checking her watch. "The first planetarium show is at 12:30, and we'll want to explore the science center before that."
"Right." Toshiro shouldered his backpack again. "Do we need to bring anything else?"
"I have a bag packed with their essentials," Ai said, gesturing to the tote by the door. "But we can leave the snacks you brought here for later, if that's okay? I don't want them filling up before lunch."
"No problem." Toshiro removed the food items, placing them on the kitchen counter. "Better to travel light anyway."
As Ai helped the twins with their jackets and shoes, she noticed Toshiro studying the apartment more carefully. His gaze lingered on a family photo on the bookshelf—Ai with the twins at the park, their backs to the camera as they fed ducks in a pond. A safe picture, one that didn't show their faces clearly.
"They seem very comfortable with you," he observed.
"I've been watching them since they were babies," Ai replied, the half-truth coming easily. "We spend a lot of time together."
"Lucky them." Toshiro's voice softened. "Having someone who cares so much."
There was something in his tone—a hint of wistfulness—that made Ai wonder about his own childhood. She knew he'd been orphaned young, but he rarely spoke of his past.
"All set," she announced as Ruby finally managed to get her second shoe on the correct foot. "Everyone ready for adventure?"
"Adventure!" Ruby echoed, punching the air with enthusiasm.
Even Aqua nodded, the dinosaur still clutched in one hand.
Toshiro opened the door with a small bow. "After you, explorers."
As they filed out into the hallway, Ai felt a small hand slip into hers. Aqua looked up at her, his expression serious.
"Are you sure about this?" he asked quietly, his voice pitched low enough that only she could hear.
The question startled her. "About the science center?"
Aqua's eyes flicked toward Toshiro, who was entertaining Ruby with a story about a star as they waited for the elevator.
"Oh," Ai said, understanding. "Yes. I'm sure."
Aqua studied her face for a long moment, then nodded once. "Okay."
It was such a small exchange, yet it left Ai feeling oddly exposed. Sometimes Aqua seemed to see right through her, as if he understood far more than a child his age should.
"Everything alright?" Toshiro asked as they approached.
Ai smiled, pushing the strange moment aside. "Perfect. Just discussing the plan for the day."
The elevator arrived with a soft ding. As they stepped inside, Ruby immediately pressed herself against the glass wall that overlooked the atrium.
"Look how tiny everything gets!" she exclaimed as they descended.
Toshiro crouched beside her. "It's like we're in a spaceship going down to a new planet, isn't it?"
Ruby gasped, delighted by the idea. "Are we astronauts?"
"Today we are," he confirmed. "Exploring new worlds and discovering their secrets."
"I'm Captain Ruby!" she declared.
"A fine title," Toshiro said seriously. "Every expedition needs a captain."
"What's Aqua then?"
"Science Officer, obviously," Toshiro replied without hesitation. "He'll analyze all our discoveries."
Aqua's lips twitched in what might have been the beginning of a smile.
"And what are you?" Ruby asked.
Toshiro considered. "Navigation, I suppose. I'll help guide our ship."
Ruby turned to Ai. "What about Ai-chan?"
"Communications," Toshiro answered before Ai could speak. "The most important job of all." His eyes met Ai's over Ruby's head. "Making sure everyone understands each other."
Something in his gaze—warm, appreciative, almost tender—made Ai's breath catch. This wasn't just him playing along with a child's game. He was telling her something.
The elevator reached the ground floor, breaking the moment.
"Ready for launch, Captain Ruby?" Toshiro asked, standing and offering his hand to the little girl.
Ruby took it without hesitation. "Ready!"
As they stepped out into the morning sunlight, Ai felt Aqua's hand tighten around hers. She looked down to find him watching Toshiro and Ruby with an unreadable expression.
"He's good with her," Aqua said softly.
"Yes," Ai agreed. "He is."
Aqua nodded, as if confirming something to himself. "Let's see if it lasts."
Before Ai could question him further, Ruby called back to them.
"Come on, slow pokes! The stars are waiting!"
Toshiro turned, his face lit with genuine joy, hand still clasping Ruby's. The morning sun caught in his hair, turning it almost silver.
"Coming," Ai called, pushing her sunglasses more securely into place. "We're right behind you."
As they walked toward the waiting taxi, Ai realized with sudden clarity that this wasn't just a date disguised as babysitting anymore. It was something far more significant.
A glimpse of what could be.
A family.