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

Verse 16: Harmony Found in Struggle

The quiet of the police station hall seemed to stretch out, punctuated only by the occasional footsteps of an officer or the faint rustling of papers. Aqua and Umeko sat side by side on a small bench outside a closed door, which had remained shut since they had arrived.

Inside, Akane was speaking with her mother and a police officer. The muffled sound of her quiet sobs occasionally broke through the thick silence, each one a sharp pang that struck Umeko's heart.

She lowered her gaze, biting her lip to control her emotions. Aqua sat beside her, his posture as still and steady as a stone. He leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees, fingers laced together as he stared down at the tiled floor with a quiet intensity.

Then, Umeko glanced at Aqua. She hadn't realised just how far his concern for Akane extended until now, but she was grateful for it. After a moment, she broke the silence and softly breathed.

"I didn't know you and Akane were...close like that," she murmured, her voice low to not disrupt the stillness. Then, a small, appreciative smile found its way onto her face. "Thank you for being here for her, Aqua," she said.

Aqua lifted his head, a look of faint surprise flickering across his face before he shrugged lightly, brushing it off. "She's a coworker. Helping her out is just...normal," he replied, his tone flat. His gaze drifted away from her, dismissing the idea as if it were nothing more than a logical formality.

Umeko shook her head, a small chuckle escaping her as she leaned back on the bench. "Ruby's right, you know?" she said, making Aqua raise an eyebrow. "You really do have a soft side," she teased gently, her eyes bright with amusement.

Aqua rolled his eyes, his expression turning deadpan. "My sister doesn't know what she's talking about," he muttered, shifting his gaze back to the floor, though the subtle turn of his lips hinted at his own amusement. Umeko noted, with no small amount of satisfaction, that he hadn't denied it outright.

*Tap*

*Tap*

Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hall. They turned to see Miko, damp from the rain, making her way toward them. She gave Aqua a nod, her usual relaxed attitude absent, and leaned against the wall across from them.

Her gaze shifted to the closed door, where Akane's soft cries continued before looking back at the two. "So..." Miko began, her voice uncharacteristically quiet. "What exactly happened?" she wondered.

Umeko took a breath, her fingers twisting in her lap as she recounted everything that happened after they separated. Miko's eyes widened, her shock evident as she listened to Umeko. "She was actually about to..." Miko trailed off, disbelief mingling with a spark of anger.

She pressed her lips into a thin line and looked away. "People have no idea how their words can hit. It's...pathetic, really," she said, making Aqua nod before closing his eyes briefly. "That's just the internet. It gets ugly fast," he added, a hint of the bitterness that lay behind his calm exterior.

*Tap*

*Tap*