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Ruby, Kana, and Memcho were at the Hoshino-Saitou house, practicing for their upcoming B-Komachi concert.
After today's long practice session, they were currently relaxing in the kitchen downstairs, getting drinks and chatting together.
Unsurprisingly their topic of conversation eventually turned to Aqua, Ruby’s twin.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen Aqua. He’s not here again, is he?” of course Kana would be the first to bring him up.
“Oh, Onii-chan said he’s helping out the director again today. But he should be back earlier today, especially when compared to his filming days.” Ruby replied.
“Aqua-tan really has been busy these days with all his new acting gigs huh. You must be proud of your big brother, huh Ruby.” teased Memcho.
“Eh, as long as Onii-chan’s enjoying himself, that's what matters,” Ruby replied with a shrug. “Though he has been taking on more roles compared to a couple of months ago.”
“Good for him,” Kana said, though there was a faint bit of jealousy in her tone. Aqua’s quick and rising success as an actor was a small sore spot for the longtime-struggling-actress-now-turned-idol.
“Actually,” Ruby said, her eyes lighting up as she remembered something, “there was one role Onii-chan got but he didn’t end up accepting. I think it was kind of a big deal since the other staff at Strawberry Productions were so shocked when they heard”
“Eh? Really?” Memcho asked, puzzled. “Shouldn’t all up-and-coming actors jump at every opportunity?”
“Not necessarily,” Kana cut in, the usual authority of acting related questions. “Every actor has some level of boundaries — lines they refuse to cross, no matter the opportunity. It’s not unusual for them to reject roles that cross those boundaries. Maybe this role was something like that for Aqua. Even I, as desperate as I might be for work, have lines I won't ever cross.
“Heh, not very high standards then, looking at the ‘Sweet Today’ drama,” Memcho teased with a smirk.
“Arrgh! Are you looking for a beating?!” Kana snapped, glaring daggers.
Ruby, unfazed by their squabbling, tilted her head. “I don’t think it was anything like that for Onii-chan, though. What was it again .... Ah! I remember! He was offered the part of a patient in an episode of some medical drama, that prime time one!”
The room fell silent, but that silence was broken very quickly by an outraged outburst from Kana. “HUH?! Is he out of his mind?! That’s one of the most popular dramas! I’m out here struggling to get roles, and your brother’s out here rejecting these kinds of opportunities? Was he dropped on his head as a baby? What’s wrong with his head!? ARRGHH”
“THAT show?!” Memcho gasped, equally animated. “That’s my favorite drama! Did he seriously turn down a role from there?!!”
“Um, I don’t think it was actually Onii-chan who turned it down,” Ruby interjected awkwardly, scratching her cheek. “Miyako was the one who said no. She was really firm about it too…”
“No way! It has to be Aqua. Miyako-san’s too smart to pass up an opportunity like this. Only you or Aqua could be behind such a dumb decision,” Kana accused.
“What’s that supposed to mean?!” Ruby huffed indignantly.
“That you’re both idiots,” Kana deadpanned.
Memcho, ignoring the growing argument between the other two, grinned mischievously. “Let’s force Ruby to watch an episode then! Maybe if she likes it, she will be able to convince Aqua to change his mind and take the role after all.”
“That siscon would totally cave if Ruby asked,” Kana muttered under her breath.
“I don’t know…” Ruby hesitated. “Miyako doesn’t let us watch any medical show stuff.”
“Huh, that's weird,” Memcho remarked. “Well it doesn't matter. Don’t worry, Miyako-san won’t find out. Right, Kana?”
“Of course! You’re the only one who can knock some sense into that idiot brother of yours, Ruby. It’s for his own good as an actor!”
With that, Ruby reluctantly agreed, and so they set up an episode to watch.
While that was going on, the main subject of this conversation happened to return home. What perfect timing.
“I’m home,” Aqua called out, as he removed his shoes.
“Oh, Onii-chan, welcome home,” Ruby greeted, though her tone lacked its usual neverending enthusiasm.
This made him curious. What could have possibly have happened to have dampened his sister's usual boundless enthusiasm? He decided to investigate. However, before he could even take one step forward, he was ambushed by Memcho and Kana.
“AQUA! Perfect timing!” Memcho exclaimed, grabbing his arm.
“You're coming with us! It's for your own good!” Kana demanded, grabbing onto his other arm.
“What are you two doing?!” Aqua protested, but even he was unable to resist against their combined strength and determination.
He was dragged into the living room and shoved onto the couch, so he was now beside his sister, who looked just as much a captive in whatever this event is as he was.
“Ruby told us about that role you rejected,” Memcho announced. “We’re not letting you waste such an opportunity. We’re going to make you a fan so that you then truly realize the price of your actions!”
“You’re going to regret taking such chances for granted,” Kana added with a glare.
Unbothered, Aqua deadpanned. “Oh we can't. Miyako doesn’t let us watch medical shows.”
“HE COMPLETELY IGNORED US AND ONLY FOCUSED ON THAT PART!” Memcho and Kana cried.
“Just start the episode already. It’s the only way these two will really get it,” Kana grumbled, fed up.
“Good point Kana-chan. Here we go.” Memcho agreed.
With that, she hit play, and the episode began.
~~~
“Why aren’t they checking the pulse?!! That should be the first thing they do!!!”
“What is that supposed to be?!! That’s not even a real condition!!!”
“They didn’t even examine him!!! How can they just diagnose the patient like that?!!”
“What kind of reasoning is this!!? There’s no medical basis for any of it!!!”
“Why are there so many unnecessary tests?!! So much money wasted!!!”
“The patient was just in an accident, and everyone’s just standing around doing nothing?!! Somebody, do something!!!”
Clearly, Aqua is very passionate about medical inaccuracies, especially those in the media.
“These so-called doctors are a joke!!! Those poor patients...”
“These doctors are all quacks!!! None of them know how to treat anyone properly!!”
“How could they say that?!! This isn’t how doctors behave at all!!!”
“Who do they think they are calling themselves doctors!!?”
“I can almost hear all of Sensei’s complaints about this terrible show…”
It seems Ruby also cares very deeply about the treatment of patients, even when they're fictional. Who’s this ‘Sensei’ she’s talking about, though?
As the twins continued their not-ending-anytime-soon shouting match with the TV episode, Memcho and Kana could only watch as they trembled in fear, fully taking in the monsters they had inadvertently unleashed.
Atleast they now knew why Miyako-san banned the twins from watching medical shows.
“What have we done?” Memcho could only ask, full of fear.
“I’m sorry for doubting you, President,” Kana apologized, almost as-if begging for Miyako to save her.
“Ruby, you’re making a social media post, right?!! Be sure to call out all the medical inaccuracies!!!”
“Of course, Onii-chan!!! We can’t let them get away with this!!!”