Hololive || Unlikely Ties (Pekora x Suisei)

Farewell

*tap tap tap tap*

Frantic footsteps bring me back to reality.

Right back to this hell.

With my senses returning to me, so does the intense pain I feel throughout my entire being. The dread runs like poison in my veins, infecting my deepest parts, while the shivering from the sheer fear brought even my toned limbs to their knees.

*TAP TAP TAP*

The steps draw closer while I clutch my head with both hands, wishing this was I could wake up from this nightmare. But the reality isn't being kind, even as I attempt to substitute it with a happy one of my makings.

The stomping sound comes to a halt, and in its place, I feel a presence looming over me. Its uneasy strides, followed by a pained panting as it attempts to recover its breath, leave no doubt that both belong to the same person.

I finally opened my eyes, which were shut this entire time, only to find a pair of shoes in my field of view. Moving my gaze upwards while identifying the feminine legs cues me to this mystery person. When I reach her face, my suspicions confirm themselves.

In front of me stood the last person I wanted to see right now. Hoshimachi Suisei.

The blue-haired songstress has seen better days. She is in a sad state from rushing here as if her life depends on it. Not that I'm in any position to complain, seeing as I probably look like I've just left a warzone.

In an instant, all my regret, fear, and agony ignites into a hurricane of anger. I eye her the same way you do someone who killed your entire family. Like she is my worst enemy.

"What are you doing here, Suisei-senpai."

My voice is so low that it's almost like I'm growling at her. The higher pitch I usually use is nowhere to be heard. She puts her guard up instantly, and I can see her eyes widening and her pupils dilating.

It's clear that this whole situation is triggering her fight or flight instinct. The situation's tension gets to her, but she efficiently shifts gears in her brain as she addresses me.

"What do you mean by what I'm doing here? She is my girlfriend. I'm the one who should be asking that question, Pekora."

Suisei's answer to my blatant hostility is swift and brutal. She applies as much force she believes is necessary to deal with whatever she considers an obstacle - and in this case, the obstacle is me.

But I'm so emotionally drained right now that there is nothing she can say to affect me, so I confidently go on the offensive. "Rich coming from you when you're the reason she is in that state." I stare straight into her eyes to see the moment her façade contorts from annoyance to anger.

She grabs my collar with both hands, pulling me up in one swift motion, and we are suddenly face-to-face. How is this woman so damn strong?

"I didn't come here to argue with you. Cut that out and tell me where she is!"

"Khhhhhh!" I angrily push the indigo-haired singer away, gritting my teeth in irritation. Tidying my posture, I stretch one of my arms towards her, pointing straight.

"After everything that happened, you still have the nerve to come here and say that? All of this is YOUR FAULT!" My control falters at the end, causing me to raise my voice.

"My fault? How is any of this my fault? Am I supposed to watch over every waking moment of her life?"

"If you hadn't stolen her from me, this wouldn't be happening. She wouldn't feel the need to push herself and do things she doesn't usually do to keep up with your insanity."

"If she had such a happy life with you, why did she leave you. Or better yet, why did you let her leave, Usada?"

This woman is trying her damn best to strike a nerve on me. Her words cut in like a knife. But if she's bringing in a knife, I'll pull out a sword.

"What do you even know about her? What do you think you know? You barely knew her, didn't even get to spend a year together, and she's already in this state."

Suisei's face darkens while her entire body posture changes. Her shoulders lowered, and her eyes did not look as sharp as a moment ago. The expression on her face tells it all, and it's one of confusion and shock.

"You aren't making any sense. Just get off my way so I can see her."

Something about her words, how you can witness the despair creeping up on her, extinguishes the flame raging inside me for a moment.

Suisei still doesn't know what happened.

The severity of our present situation dawns on me again, and I forcibly sit down as I feel my legs start to falter.

"You can see her through that window, Suisei-senpai."

I whisper, just audible enough for Hoshimachi to listen, supporting my face with the palm of my hand as I look down, completely drained.

She hurries over through the small glass window, a way to peek into her room. We aren't allowed to enter since we aren't family, and her mother is already with her.

I barely have enough willpower to turn my face to the side and take a peek at Suisei's reaction. Her face already morphed into something almost grotesque, a look of pure, unadulterated horror.

"Pekora." She looks back at me, but I feel like a broken machine right now, and the earlier outburst didn't do me any favors in the long run. I don't have enough in me to muster an answer. "Oi, Pekora!! This is not real, right? That is not her! It must be a mistake. There is no way--"

"Stop, please... Stop..."

I thought I was all out of tears from how much I've been crying for the past few minutes, but my throat is so dry I feel like I haven't drunk anything in days. I try to hold it back in, but it's futile. It's much stronger than me. So I start crying again, sobbing even.

"She is gone, Suisei-senpai, Miko is..!!"

Amidst my wailings of pain and grief, I manage to spell it out for the other girl.With a thumping sound that somehow catches my attention, I shift my eyes toward the blue-haired girl again. Her expression is blank as she kneels on the ground, tears streaming down her cheek.

It's over.

Miko-senpai suffered a tragic accident.

She was only technically alive because of the medical equipment, but even that was temporary.

She was declared dead later that day.