The Undying Voice |『 Female OC 』• Oshi no Ko

Verse 15: A Silent Cry

The sun was already dipping low in the sky, casting long shadows across the quiet neighbourhood as Umeko hurried along the sidewalk. She clenched her hands tightly around the straps of her bag, her pace quickening as the hurtful words from the comments she had read replayed in her mind.

Every hateful, angry word aimed at Akane felt like a fresh sting, each comment weaving itself deeper into the growing knot of worry pressing against her chest. Seeing Akane in such a harsh spotlight left her helpless and angry.

She was angry both at the faceless crowd, who were quick to judge, and at the producers, who pushed Akane to act in ways that were out of character just to stay relevant. And to see her reduced to a subject of public scorn was unfair.

Umeko took a deep breath, her chest tightening with worry as she thought of how much effort Akane had poured into her work. The memory of Akane sitting at her desk, meticulously taking notes, carefully crafting strategies to stand out, flashed in her mind.

Akane had never been the type to crave the limelight, but she was a hard worker, one of the most dedicated people Umeko knew. Seeing her struggle so much just to keep up with the show's ruthless demands had been heartbreaking.

But right now, Umeko knew there was something more important than her own frustration and sadness. She had to be there for her friend. Soon, Umeko reached Akane's house, its familiar, comforting exterior doing little to calm the storm of emotions within her.

*Knock*

*Knock*

She raised her hand and knocked gently on the door, her knuckles barely making a sound, but it didn't take long before the door opened. Akane's mother stood there, her soft expression turning to surprise as she took in Umeko's unexpected arrival.

Finally reaching the door, Umeko took a steadying breath and knocked. She barely registered the sound of her own breath before the door creaked open, revealing Akane's mother, a warm smile spreading across her face as she recognised Umeko.

"Oh, Umeko-chan. What a pleasant surprise," she greeted, her eyes alight with recognition. "Good evening, Kurokawa-san," Umeko replied, trying her best to offer a warm smile, though her worry felt like a weight pulling at the corners of her mouth.

"I'm sorry for showing up without any notice...I just wanted to see Akane, if that's okay," she added softly, hoping she hadn't caught her friend's mother at the wrong time. Thankfully, Kurokawa-san shook her head, her own smile gentle and inviting.

"Of course, Umeko-chan. You know you're always welcome here," she said, stepping aside and gesturing for Umeko to come in. But there was a slight pause before she continued, her brow furrowing as she glanced towards the stairs.

"Actually, I think it's a good thing you came. Akane...well, she seemed a little down today. Maybe your presence will help lift her spirits," she finished, her voice carrying a hopeful note.

Umeko's smile faltered slightly at her words. She had suspected that Akane wasn't handling things well, but hearing that confirmed was another matter. She forced her smile to stay in place and nodded earnestly. "I'll do what I can to cheer her up," she promised before bowing slightly and heading toward Akane's room.