The Novelite's Journey

Goodbye

After spending many years alongside Shiori, you have come to understand many things about her. Like how she doesn't like when others hear her stomach rumble, interrupting her when she is reading is a death sentence, she likes to tease those she is close to, but most importantly is that she gets lonely easily. Due to what she is, she has been isolated and even locked away for fear of what she is capable of. It's why she creates novelites. She doesn't want to be alone, but she's afraid to make connections. Which is why you worry about her. While you and past novelites will never betray her, you aren't real, merely a creation of her abilities. You want her to make real friends. Surely their are people out there who will accept her for who she is. You are close to the end of your lifespan, and this is your only concern, until one day, surprisingly, with a car crash, your worries are put to bed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So yeah, we crashed a car into a building," Shiori says with a nervous smile with a hand on her head. "Should've seen it coming since none of us ever driven before, but it seemed like a good idea at the time."

She seems to be repentant of her actions and apparently a deal has been made to make up for it so you don't scold her too much but say, "That was very dangerous, you or someone else could've gotten hurt. You don't usually make impulsive decisions like that. What happened?"

"You remember the girls I escaped prison with?". You nod at the question. "Well, we meet up again, and we were having fun, and Biboo managed to get a car, so we decided what's the harm." While Shiori looks sad explaining to you what had happened, you think about the fact she went to hang out with other people. You are happy that Shiori is making friends, but you don't show it since Shiori did mess up.

"Well, since you look like you understand, I won't say anything else, but I will do this." Confused Shiori looks up and is shocked to see a big hammer. "What's that?" She asks with a face filled with fear. "Time to get bonked." You ready the hammer, and Shiori proceeds to start running in fear for her life screaming. "I survived a crash to get hammered by my Novelite." You run after her while yelling, "PHRASING!!" She laughs, saying, "What, you are already going to bonk me anyway." You spent the rest of the day chasing her while she keeps saying things that could be misunderstood. A normal day since you became a Novelite, days that you are sadden will end soon.

~~~~~~~~~~

The next day, you accompany Shiori to a place called Hololive Production and met with a person called Yagoo. Yagoo explains that in return for not asking for compensation for crashing into the building, Shiori, along with the other people who escaped prison, must join Hololive. You voice your concerns about Shiori showing her face online. "She spent many years imprisoned. If she shows her face online, those same people who locked her up in the first place might come back." Yagoo calmly says, "I understand your concerns. However, I assure you she will be protected. You might not take me at my word, so it might help if you go and interact with the other people who work here." You wonder how that would put at ease, but you and Shiori go around and quickly understand what Yagoo meant. The two of you meet many unique people, a rapping grim reaper called Mori Calliope, an actual phoenix named Takanashi Kiara, someone who rules over time named Ouro Kronii and many more people who are just as amazing. You realize that someone would have to be insane to try to do something to anyone apart of this company, and there are many people who could flick you out of existence here.

On the way home, you and Shiori talk about becoming a part of Hololive. "Everyone there is so amazing. I wonder if I'll be able to be as good as them." You pat her head, saying, "I see you already decided you wanted to be a part of them. Don't worry, you'll be just fine, and eventually, you'll get to their level and surpass them." Shiori still worried, "Are you sure? I'm nervous they won't like me and that I won't be as good as them." You look at her in eye and say, "Trust me as someone who's been by your side for years. You'll do great. Besides, you'll be with four other people who are in the exact same position as you. You can all help each other. By the way, why did you decide to join so quickly? I'm not against it, just curious." Shiori stops walking and explains, "I was so happy becoming friends with Nerissa, Bijou, Fuwawa, and Mococo because I never thought I'd meet people like me. People who were judged for just being us and locked away not for something we did but because they were just afraid. Then, after meeting everyone at Hololive, i realized the world is bigger than I thought and that I'm not alone. Oh no! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to say it like you weren't with me. You've been by my side for so long, and you have been spoiling me for so long." You stop her as she thinks your feelings were hurt. With another head pat you explain you understand and your feelings weren't hurt. Normally, you'd joke around, but seeing that she is really worried, you decide to be honest. She smiles at you and giggles, "Good, I don't know what I'd do if you were really angry with me. Let's do our best at Hololive. You might have to look after me more. Hope you don't mind." She gives you a bright smile, and you want to say you'll be with her the whole time, but sadly, you know you can't, so you just smile back.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Time goes by, and you watch as Shiori trains alongside the rest of what is going to be called Hololive Advent. Shiori struggles sometimes, but you and the rest of Advent encourage her, and she keeps going. You watch on as Shiori becomes closer to the members of Advent and the other members of Hololive English. Every time you see her interact naturally with them, you smile, knowing she has found true friends. Not someone that she created, but people who can truly understand her problems. You feel your end is coming, and you feel relieved that your main concern is now resolved. You hope that the next Novelite supports her properly and bonks her when she messes up.

You and Shiori return home, and before Shiori can go to her room to rest, you stop her. She turns to you and gets worried once she sees your expression. "What's wrong?" With a sad smile, you explain that your time is up, "I think it's time I said goodbye. My time is up. I'm sure you noticed that my story is coming to an end." Shiori, with tears starting to come down, her eyes look at you, "I don't want you to go away. We've been together for so long, I can't imagine you being gone. Please don't go." She starts crying, and you want to comfort her, but your body refuses to move. You put on a smile and manage to get a few more words out, "Thank you for everything. Every day has been so fun, and I'm glad I got to be a part of your story. You won't be alone now even when I'm gone. Please be happy." Shiori now hugging you, "I'm the one who should be thanking you. Thank you for being by side all this time. Thanks for waking me up in the morning. Thanks for going along with my randomness. Thank you for going through so many stories with me. Thanks for bonking me when I did something stupid. I'm always going to miss you. I'll never forget you. Goodbye." Shiori says all this with a smile while crying. You smile back at her one last time before you fade away. Shiori, now alone in the manor, cries out loud as her long-time companion is now gone. "I won't make another Novelite." She says before going to going to her novelites room to sleep tonight.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You wake up in the manor and are confused as you are certain that you faded away. The manor also seems to be different, and it looks darker, and you notice extra hallways. "Is this my afterlife? I did spend a lot of time looking after this place, but I wasn't expecting my afterlife to be the same." As you say, you hear someone behind you, and you quickly turn around. They smile at you calmly, say, "Relax. I know you're confused, but I'm here to welcome you. I'm like you, a Novelite. Welcome to the other manor." You look confused at the person who claims to be a Novelite. While you might have said so earlier, it seems your story is not over just yet.