Act 2: Spotlight

A few months later:

Ai had done countless rehearsals and practices for her upcoming debut which was a few days after her birthday. In these late few months' Renji had been adopted by a single mom that lived in the area and Ai had been adopted by Ichigo and that led to Renji asking Ichigo about good gifts for Ai, and he eventually decided on a pendant. "Ai?" Renji asked as she was covered in sweat after her dancing practice. She wiped her sweat covered face with a towel. "Yea Renji?" Ai said tilting her head.

"I was wondering if after your rehearsal you wanted to go hang out with me" Ai smiled at his words and nodded softly as Renji sat down and watched Ai go over her rehearsals and dances he watched as her feet moved almost magically along floor and her hips swayed and cut through the air like a blade.

Her hair flowed like a river and her eyes still shined like countless stars as Renji was snapped out of his trance by Ichigo "She's gotten better, right?" Renji nodded softly as his focus was still on Ai's performance as after she was done, she looked over at Renji and winked at him.

Renji smiled softly as she stops dancing "So what do you think President Satou." Ai said as she sat down next to Renji a tick mark appeared on Ichigo's face "My name is Saitou you damn brat" he grumbled as Ai giggled softly. "I was always bad at names right Renji~".

A soft chuckle left Renji's mouth "You called me Rena once and you forgot your own name sometimes". Ai gasped dramatically and hit him in the stomach as Renji groaned in pain Ichigo merely sighed at the two. "Well Ai your done for the day why don't you and Renji go do something?".

Ai nodded and got up before dragging Renji out the studio and down the stairs as she practically burst through the door "Ah fresh air so where to first Renji?" Ai said as she dragged him along the sidewalk he smiled "ice cream?" Ai jumped at the mention of ice cream and actually dragged him this time to the nearest ice cream shop.

"Jeez the ice cream isn't going to melt" Renji chuckled as they arrived at the shop. "You don't know that!" Ai practically yelled as she dragged him inside and quickly started drooling before grabbing every ice cream in the store.

"Ai-Ai how about you just go for strawberry?" Renji sweat dropped as Ai pouted at his suggestion but put the rest of the ice creams back before grabbing strawberry and putting it on the counter as Renji grabbed chocolate before paying for it as Renji dragged her to a bench.

Ai quickly devoured her ice cream as Renji sighed and slowly ate his as Ai looked at his ice cream and licked her lips. "Hey Renji?~" Ai said as she leaned in "No" Renji shut her down completely as she pouted Renji sighed and gave her the rest of his ice cream.

She grinned and quickly devoured it as she got up and stretched. "Where to now Renji?" it was Renji turn to drag her as Ai grinned 'If only this could last forever'. Ai quickly shook the thought out of her head as she let Renji drag her.

They arrived at a karaoke place. Her eyes widened slightly as they entered and as she sat down. "Ai?" Renji said as he covered her eyes. Ai hummed as he uncovered them and Infront of her was Ichigo and Renji's mom "Happy birthday!". They all shouted as a tears slid down Ai's eyes as she smiled and hugged Everyone present tightly.

Renji lifted her head up as he showed her a purple pendant that glowed the same color as her eyes. "Renji you really didn't have too" Ai said as she tried to decline the necklace. "I'm not taking no for an answer" Renji said as he put the pendant around her neck. Ai smiled and clutched the necklace in her hand "I won't ever take it off I promise" Ai felt her heart flutter as what she said this time no longer held that empty feeling, they held a warm feeling the same she felt for her mother is this?...

Ai quickly shook her head as Renji smiled as they sang and danced and right before they left, they sang Ai happy birthday as Renji Mom took a picture of the moment of the four all smiling Ai got the picture and smiled as she put it in her pocket. Renji and Ai looked at each other and Renji smiled as Ai did the same "I hoped you liked my gift I know it isn't much but-"

Ai shook her head "It was more than enough Renji" As that night become a memory almost indented in both of their brains as they're hearts both thumped in sync as they leaned close. "Renji!" His mother called they both pulled away as a blush was apparent on both of their faces as Ai hugged Renji "I better see you at my debut, ok?"

"How could I as your number one fan ever miss it?" Ai smiled at his words as Renji left. Ichigo came behind her "You like him, don't you?" Ai jumped but shook her head vigorously "I see the way you look at him Ai and the way he looks at you". A blush covered her face as she denied it but that only to increase Ichigo's suspicion.

A week later at the dome:

Ai was backstage as Ichigo looked at her as she sighed and tried to calm her nerves. "Ready?" He asked she merely nodded as Ichigo patted her head "Do your best ok?" Ai nodded and stepped onto the stage as her nerves peaked and she trembled slightly and saw someone in the crowd that calmed her immediately Renji was waving purple sticks around as she grinned.

"Hello everyone! I hope you enjoy my performance. and I give a special thanks to all the producers and people who helped me but without further ado lets. get this show on the road!" Ai grinned as she took in a deep breathe. as her voice came out of her throat and everything about it felt natural as she began to sing the lyrics to the song

(アイドル-Idol by YOASOBI) (I recommend listening to it while reading this scene)

Her figure danced across the stage as her feet gracefully slid across the stage as the crowd cheered a smile adoring her pretty face. As she held her hands up making a heart as she twirled around the stage as her eyes shined from the cheers and especially from the dances of a certain person in the crowd that made her smile even brighter. As everyone in the crowd could swear the sun's rays came off her smile.

Renji watched her once again Ethereal performance again that was somehow even more perfect then when he first saw it, the way she glided across the stage almost weightlessly. Her hips swayed and matched the beat and her voice hit every note perfectly as he grinned and cheered her on and tried to imitate her movements waving his purple glowing sticks in the air.

Yet his eyes never left her for a second the way her hair flowed in the air with every movement and pose she did only served to make her even more breathtaking. As her eyes sparkled with her every move as she was a natural star on the stage. As Renji and Ai made eye contact as they both smiled genuinely for the first time in a week.

She twirled around once again as she winked her hands making a heart as the crowd started to chant her name "Ai! Ai! Ai!"' she pointed in the crowd as Renji grinned as she obviously pointed to him unbeknownst to the rest of the crowd as her voice sounded almost angelic as the words rolled off her tongue which made the crowds hearts be captured from her voice alone.

Renji waved his purple glow sticks in the air as he yelled her name "AI!" Ai grinned as she heard him yell her name which only pushed her more as she danced with even more grace and vigor 'For Renji!' She said in her mind.

She jumped slightly in the air as she sang the lyrics as beautifully as she could as her eyes laid on the most important person in her life reaction as she saw the dumbest grin on his face which made a dumb grin slide across her face.

She slid across the stage her feet matching the rhythm of the song as she closed one eye and stuck her tongue out making the crowd cheer even more. She smiled and spun before making another heart with her hands as she spread her arms out.

This only served to capture more hearts than intended as every part of her performance was unique because it all came naturally to her as she held her hands out as if inviting the people of the crowd onto the stage. She held her hand to heart as she sang the song with newfound confidence.

The way she sang the lyrics to the song and danced can only be described by many as magical as the hearts of the crowd was officially capture by the new idol Ai Hoshino!

She clutched the glowing Purple Pendant on her neck as the action didn't go unnoticed by Renji Who only smiled more and clutched the identical pendant that was around his own neck as he cheered louder "Go Ai!" Ai gracefully danced across the stage hearing his words.

The song was coming to an end as she looked out towards the crowd as she sang the last part as she pointed at Renji her other hand resting on her hip "I said it at last know it's not a lie as I'm voicing these words I love you!" she winked once again and held her hand up for a peace sign as she panted, and the stadium went silent before cheers erupted from the crowd as Ai grinned "Thank you! I Love you all!" A lie to the crowd yet not to a certain someone

The crowd seemed to love the song as they cheered so loudly people from other towns could hear it. She smiled as she bowed and walked off the stage as the crowd still chanted her name before stopping a few minutes later as Ai went back to her changing room before she heard a knock. "Come in!" She said as Renji entered a blush covered her face as she realized how she pointed at him multiple times "O-Oh H-Hey Renji!" Ai said she quickly turned from him.

"Your performance was beautiful Ai" Renji praised though his voice was hoarse as he walked up to Ai, and she saw a pendant on his neck identical to the one she was wearing. Ai smiled as Renji noticed her lingering gaze on the necklace on his neck "I got us matching pendants I didn't tell you though I wanted it to be a surprise." Ai smiled and got up and hugged Renji tightly.

"Renji thank you for cheering me on." Ai smiled as a few tears fell down her face. Renji wiped away her tears as he hugged her back tightly "Of course it's my job as your number one fan, isn't it?" Ai only smiled as Ichigo entered the room Ai blushed deeply and so did Renji as they quickly pulled away.

Ichigo smiled teasingly "Did I interrupt something?~" Ai and Renji both looked away as they both yelled at him "Shut up President!" Renji grinned at Ai "That was cute what we just did right there" he said as he pointed at himself and Ai, Ai merely rolled her eyes and hugged him. "I'll forgive that comment because of how hard you cheered me on tonight~" Ai said. teasingly

"You owe me some tea because I cheered you on so much, I lost my voice" He said as Ai giggled Ichigo cleared his throat "Well I'll leave you two love birds to yourself." They both yelled at him, but he quickly closed the door.

"Renji I have to change" Ai said as Renji shrugged Ai blushed and hit him on the head before pushing him out "T-That means L-Leave Idiot!" Renji chuckled "I'm going, I'm going" Ai's face heated up as she covered her face as Renji left her to change as she walked out in a white shirt, blue shorts and a cap.

"Dumb Renji not leaving the room after I told him I needed to change" She grumbled as she felt a hand intertwine with hers, she looked at the owner and saw Renji "Well let's go before it gets too dark!" Renji smiled as Ai blushed and Renji did too as he realized he grabbed her hand.

Yet neither of the two pulled away instead the grip on each other's hands only increased as they smiled and walk out of the stadium and into a park as they sat on a bench. They looked at the stars as they clutched each other hands their free hands clutching their matching pendants as Renji pointed at a star.

"That one shines just like your eyes Ai" Renji said as it made Ai get incredibly flustered because of how honest it sounded and the truth laying in his eyes she leaned her head on his shoulder. As they looked at the stars a smile adoring each one of their faces as Renji leaned his head on her. As they both thought the same thing.

'The things I'd do to make this moment last forever.'

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A/N:

This chapter took about three hours to write 2225 words not including these. Hope you enjoy though and share the story.