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Chapter Text

"Take this, take that!" Marine yelled, her voice occasionally peaking her mic. Her Pikachu character lunged at Pekora's Solid Snake character, attempting to land a lethal strike. However, the Solid Snake character nimbly evaded every attack, weaving between Marine's frantic onslaught like it was just another Tuesday for him.

With a playful smirk, Pekora’s Solid Snake darted and dodged, his movements quick and precise. Every time Pikachu lunged, a swift duck or sidestep would keep the deadly electric rodent empty-handed. It was like watching a cat toy with a cornered mouse.

Shion's voice cut through the air as she observed Marine's fruitless attempts to land a hit. "I swear, did you secretly practice before we got here?" she asked, her eyes narrowing in playful accusation.

Pekora let out a cheeky chuckle, her Solid Snake character continuing to dance around Pikachu without a hint of effort. "Nah, I'm just that good," she replied, a confident smirk on her face. Her fingers moved with practiced ease, making each sidestep and dodge look almost effortless.

Pekora cheered as she knocks Marine’s Pikachu off the stage and dunks him down out of the screen. As the defeated digital rodent disappeared off the screen, Pekora's Solid Snake character let out a triumphant shout.

"HAHAHAHA! Guilty as charged!" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with confidence. "You two are nothing compared to the pro nousagis’s faith in me!”

Shion let out a casual sigh, her gaze drifting skyward as if the whole competition was beneath her. She spoke with a confident nonchalance, her smirk hinting at her bratty nature.

"Yeah, yeah, we get it, you think you're the queen or whatever." She rolled her eyes, dismissing Pekora's boastful declaration as nothing more than the usual cockiness of a competitive gamer. "But we all know I could win in my sleep if I wanted to. I just let you win so I can see the look on my girlfriend’s face.”

Right on cue, Marine sank to her knees, her shoulders slumped in defeat. "Noooo! Arghh!" she exclaimed, a mix of frustration and disappointment etched on her face that can still be picked up on the mic. Her eyes were downcast, watching helplessly as Pekora's Solid Snake character triumphantly stood on the stage.

Shion stifled a smirk, watching Marine's dramatic display with amusement. She crossed her arms, her gaze drifting between her friend and their victorious opponent. "Looks like you'll have to practice harder if you want to beat the queen," she teased.

Pekora crossed her arms, a self-satisfied smile curling on her face as she looked down at the defeated Marine. She chuckled softly at her friend's dramatic display and spoke with a hint of mockery in her voice.

"So you finally admit defeat now, huh?" she said. "How convenient, because I don't want this stream to run too long." She paused, a wicked glint in her eye as she added a playful jab. "peko."

Shion grabbed onto Marine's arm, tugging her back onto the couch with a firm yet playful grip. She rolled her eyes at Marine's attempted rematch, her expression a mix of mock exasperation and amusement.

"Ah ah ah, Marine," she scolded, wagging a finger at her pirate girlfriend. "No trying to worm your way into another rematch. It's time to accept defeat graciously and let the winner bask in the glory."

Marine whined and pouted, her lower lip sticking out in an exaggerated pout. "Tsk! I'm totally going to need some serious cheering up from my fans when I get home," she said, her voice brimming with mock despair.

She crossed her arms and slumped against the couch cushions, her shoulders drooping in mock despair as she let out a melodramatic sigh. Her usual cheerful and energetic demeanor was temporarily replaced with exaggerated sulkiness.

Shion's voice broke through Marine's sulkiness with a firm yet playful tone. "Oi! I’m not going to let you throw a pity party," she said, her expression a mixture of sternness and amusement.

She reached out and poked Marine on the forehead, her finger lingering for a moment to emphasize her point. "We're going to a nice sushi restaurant, my treat. No more wallowing in self-pity."

Marine's sulkiness melted away instantly as she heard Shion's words. She let out a bright laugh and enveloped Shion in a tight hug. "Aww! Shion-tan, you're so cute!" She exclaimed excitedly.

She squeezed Shion tightly, her arms wrapped around her smaller frame. Her usual cheerful demeanor returned in full force, and she nuzzled against Shion like an affectionate puppy. "You always know how to bring my spirits up," she said, her voice tinged with gratitude and affection.

Pekora's voice cut through the moment, a playful smirk on her face. "Gross, there are kids here," she pointed out, referring to the hypothetical children in her audience. She gestured with exaggerated disgust, rolling her eyes for added effect.

"Show some restraint, you two," she teased, her tone laced with mock irritation. "This is a family-friendly stream, not a love hotel."

Marine poked her tongue out at Pekora as a rebuke.

Shion turned to Pekora with a casual smile, her eyes flicking towards the stream feed on the screen. "Anyway, how about you close off the stream?" she suggested.

She stretched her limbs lazily, letting out a content sigh as she settled back into the couch. Her body language was relaxed, her head resting on the plush cushions, as if waiting for Pekora to officially conclude the broadcast.

Pekora addressed her audience with a gracious smile, her tone warm and inviting. "Everyone, thank you all for attending our guerilla Smash stream. Streams like this are unpredictable, so I want to thank those who were able to make it here."

She chuckled softly, her eyes sparkling with affection as she looked over at her friends. "I'll see you next time. Bye!"Marine and Shion chimed in their own goodbyes as well.

Pekora padded over to her laptop, her footsteps light and brisk. With a few quick taps, she turned off the stream, effectively ending the broadcast. She then turned back to the pirate and witch couple, her expression calm and content.

Pekora stood there, wide-eyed and utterly stunned, as she took in the scene before her. Marine and Shion were giggling and kissing, their hands all over each other as if they couldn't resist the urge to touch and be close.

Pekora's shock turned to disbelief, her mouth hanging open as she tried to wrap her head around how the two of them couldn't keep their hands off each other. "I was only gone for two seconds!" she repeated, her body language reflecting her astonishment and a hint of disbelief.

Marine smirked at Pekora's protest, her body language relaxed and teasing. "Calm down, stream's over so there's no risk of us getting your YouTube channel demonetized," she said, her tone lighthearted.

Pekora let out a sigh, her expression a mix of resignation and mild annoyance. "Right. Still, couldn't you two please restrain yourselves in my apartment," she said, her body language conveying her plea.

Shion chimed in, her laughter turning into a soft gasp as Marine started humming into her neck, causing her to feel ticklish. "Not that easy to resist Marine's advances.”

"Marine, stop it!" Shion protested between giggles, her body squirming away from Marine's affectionate attention.

Marine grinned mischievously, not relenting in her playful assault on Shion's neck. "Aw, but you're so cute when you're all laughy and ticklish," she teased, her body language oozing with affection.

Pekora rolled her eyes, her annoyance becoming increasingly apparent as she watched the scene unfold between Marine and Shion. She crossed her arms, her body language reflective of her growing irritation.

Marine chuckled, a sly smile on her face as she turned to Pekora. "You're jealous? I can set you up with someone if you want?" she teased, her tone mocking.

Pekora let out a sigh, her expression resigned as she replied, "No thanks, I don't have time for dating. Anyway, I've got another stream to be available at tonight, so I need to get ready."

Marine paused for a moment, a flicker of concern crossing her expression, but before she could speak, Shion cut in. "Of course. We won’t keep you occupied too long now," she said, tugging Marine to her feet.

As they moved towards the door, Marine stopped to say goodbye to Pekora. "It's a shame that someone is missing out on being intimate with you," she said, her tone earnest and encouraging.

"See you around," Marine said before she and Shion made their way out of Pekora’s apartment, their farewells exchanged.

Pekora's mind wandered as she prepared for her stream, the words of Marine and the sight of her friends leaving on their way to Marine's place still fresh in her mind.

As she went through her routine, she couldn't help but reflect on her own lack of a relationship, and the question weighed on her mind. 'What does Marine know about relationships anyway? How did she manage to get a partner of all people?'

—————————————————————————

Beneath the surface, a deeper sense of longing and a hint of loneliness tugged at Pekora's heart. She pushed it down and continued preparing for her upcoming stream.

Pekora turned on her computer setup. Her stream tonight was a three way collab with the Micomet pair, Sakura Miko and Hoshimachi Suisei.

Miko was a dear friend that Pekora knew way back before Hololive was a recognizable brand. They eventually drifted away but occasionally they chatted about work. Suisei was someone Pekora admires and holds up as someone she competes against so she can break against the expectations she has regarding herself.

What surprised Pekora about the pair was when they started dating. Sure she has seen the two become closer over the years, but she was never one who overexcites herself about the romantic possibilities.

Pekora quickly ran a test to make sure there won’t be any technical difficulties. Once she was satisfied, she also checked the waiting room for her collab stream. Once that was done, she made her way to the discord server where Miko and Suisei was waiting.

“Hello, you two doing well?” Pekora asked with an open ended question.

“Oh, Pekora, good to see you,” Suisei responded, her voice like a soothing blend of silk and power, each word she uttered ringing out with a controlled sense of grace and beauty.

Nyahello," Miko replied, her voice lacking its usual exuberant tone. Pekora listened intently, immediately sensing the underlying tension in Miko's voice.

Her voice was soft and subdued, lacking the usual enthusiasm and playfulness that she typically exuded. There was a hint of something that Pekora recognized all too well, a certain melancholy or heaviness that Miko's voice had taken on in the past when something was weighing on her mind.

The tension remained palpable, and Pekora could sense the underlying discomfort.

"Am I interrupting anything?" she asked, hoping to break the awkwardness.

When Suisei responded, her voice sounded a bit strained. "There wasn't anything to interrupt," she said, but Pekora had a distinct sense that there was more to the story.

Pekora let out a heavy sigh, feeling awkward and ill-equipped to handle the situation. It wasn't her business, and she had a stream to run. "Miko, you probably already know, but we're going over what we're doing for the collab-peko.”

Miko remained quiet for a moment, her hesitation and unease evident even through her silence.

Finally, she spoke up, her voice betraying a hint of her inner turmoil. "Yes, I know... let's get started."

Pekora could sense the tension still hanging in the air, but she nodded and began to lead the conversation towards their planned collab activities. Still, the strain in Miko's voice and Suisei's uneasy attitude made it clear that there was something deeper amiss.

Miko's voice gained a hint of conviction as she explained the plan for the day. "I remember what we're doing today from the reminder text my manager sent me. We’re doing a Minecraft achievement speedrun to see who can get the most achievements in one hour," she said, her baby-like voice taking on a more lighthearted, competitive tone.

Pekora felt a sense of relief at hearing Miko's focus shift back to the task at hand. This was something they could manage and had some familiarity with. 'Good, got to keep her focused on the task,' Pekora thought to herself, glad that the conversation had veered back into familiar territory.

"That's right, we're going for the Minecraft achievement speedrun," she affirmed. "But let me tell you, I've been preparing for this moment. You both might as well just sit back and watch me storm ahead."

Her determination was evident in her voice, a playful challenge in her tone. It was clear that the thought of beating her friends had lit a fire under her, and she was ready to prove her supremacy.

“You know… Kaela would be a more worthy contender against you than us,” Suichi admitted, her tone light but sincere.

Pekora couldn't help but respond with a bit of playful sass. "Sheesh! Already admitting defeat?" she said, her competitive spirit evident in her tone.

Suichi chuckled, not taking offense at Pekora's words. "No no. Achievements aren't my thing, but it'll be fun," she retorted, her voice betraying a hint of excitement in spite of her disclaimer.

Pekora noticed that Miko had remained relatively quiet, her usual enthusiasm subdued. She decided to take the initiative and address the issue.

"Miko, can I talk to you privately for a second?" she asked gently.

Suisei was quick to offer them privacy. "I can give you two privacy," she said, exiting the group chat.

Miko's initial response was a touch defensive. "What are you doing?" she inquired.

Pekora took a deep breath, gently pushing for more information. "You've been off. I need to know what's going on with you-peko.”

Miko's voice was guarded, her response nonchalant yet lacking her usual enthusiasm. "Nothing's off, I'm just a bit distracted, that's all," she replied.

Pekora could see through her casual facade. "Come on, this isn't just a bit distracted," she said firmly. "It's more like you would rather be anywhere else than here."

Miko shifted uncomfortably, her emotions visible in the tension in her eyes and the slight clenching of her jaw.

Miko felt immediately defensive, her voice laced with irritation at Pekora's observations. "That's not fair for you to jump to conclusions."

Pekora wasn't about to back down. "Of all things, how come you're not talking about this to your partner? Does Suisei not know what's up in that head of yours?"

The silence between them spoke volumes, and Pekora could sense the unspoken emotions behind Miko's guarded demeanor.

Miko's frustration boiled over, her voice filled with a mix of hurt and anger. "She knows alright! You don't even care about me at all!" she exclaimed.

Pekora was startled by Miko's sudden outburst, her ears subconsciously folding down in response to the unexpected intensity. It stung to hear Miko claim that she didn't care, and Pekora couldn't help but wonder where this outburst was coming from. She grabbed a hold of her hand that was about to click out of the voice chat. No, she’s a professional that doesn’t quit when it comes to conflict, not anymore at least.

Miko's apology was quick, her voice filled with a mixture of regret and vulnerability. "Sorry, I...I had a bad argument with Suisei, that was all," she admitted.

Pekora could sense the honesty in Miko's words, but there was a sense that there was more beneath the surface. Nevertheless, she decided to leave it be for the moment. This was meant to be a fun collaboration, and she didn't want to delve into personal matters during the stream.

"I get it," Pekora replied softly. "If that's all it was, then focus on having fun for now.” Pekora cursed herself, she could never sound as good as Mio or Subaru in these situations.

Miko's voice was tinged with remorse as she apologized. "Pekora, sorry for yelling at you, I didn't mean to take it out on you."

Pekora waved her off, keeping her response lighthearted. "Don't apologize. Better save it for Suisei if you're at fault."

Pekora quickly sent a message to Suisei, inviting her back into the chat. Suisei came back online, her voice chiming in.

"We're on in a few minutes," Suisei said.

Pekora breathed a sigh of relief. "Phew! That was close.”

Miko's competitive spirit was back in full force, her earlier mood pushed down as she declared her intention. "Yeah, yeah, I'm going to kick your ass," she said, a playful challenge in her tone.

Pekora chuckled, feeling a mixture of excitement and friendly rivalry. "Eh?! Hahaha. Ok, bring it on!" she replied, glad to see Miko back to her usual, spirited self.

——————————————————————————

Pekora laid on her bed, rubbing her face in a vain attempt to erase the rest of the stream out of her memory. To add worse to injury was the tweet from the official Hololive account.

There was a regretful incident where the talent Sakura Miko and Hoshimachi Suisei broke up. As of this point, any planned MiComet collabs have been postponed indefinitely. We apologize for this delay and hope to fix the situation soon. We ask our fans to not repeat any unfounded rumors and refrain from bothering Hoshimachi and Sakura and our other talent about this incident. Thank you for following Hololive and its affiliated talents.

From enough time spent at Hololive, Pekora can tell that behind the tweet there’s a big shitstorm going on at the company. MiComet was a big money revenue, and this breakup could threaten backlash from the fans and stockholders.

Knowing A-chan, she’s keeping the lid on the situation, while her kouhai Nodoka is racing department to department frantically bowing and asking for understanding. As for Yagoo, Pekora couldn’t fathom a guess. Yagoo’s more of a figurehead these days, having retired from his CEO work months ago and is now the company’s ambassador trying to revive the Hololive China branch.

What’s worse is that she couldn’t had done a better job. Sure perhaps they would had broke off eventually, but did it have to be on the stream where she was in, making it awkward for her.

Her phone lights up signifying a text was made to her.

Can I talk to you at my place. It’s important.

Pekora read the private text on her LINE account. It’s from Marine, since it’s short and to the point, it must be serious.

Pekora thought of ignoring the post and getting to sleep. But that will make things worse for her the next day, and the last thing she wants is Marine getting annoyed at her. So she hustled up and made her way to Marine’s apartment.

Pekora walked in and found Marine waiting by the entrance, a serious expression on her face.

"Listen. It's about Miko and Suisei," Marine began, her tone urgent.

Pekora sighed, as she viewed this as a waste of her time. "This is not the time to participate in gossip," she protested.

"Look. It's not going away any time soon," Marine implored. "Their managers tried talking to them, I tried talking to them, Noel, Flare, and Polka tried talking to them, but they wouldn't listen," she explained, her voice laced with frustration.

Pekora's expression was guarded as she retorted. "What does this have to do with me?"

Marine met her gaze with determination. "You knew Miko for a long time, and you and Suisei have a healthy respect for each other. So it's something I can trust you with," she asserted.

Pekora's voice was firm. "First of all, Miko-senpai and I used to be close but we barely talk to each other anymore outside of business. Second of all, I respect Suisei-senpai too much that I don't want to be the type of person who can fix her personal issues. Third of all, I don't want to juggle this with what I got going on," she stated, her voice laden with irritation.

Marine's expression hardened at Pekora's words. "What do you mean with what you have going on?" she asked irritably.

Pekora's tone remained resolute. "I don't want to get distracted when I want to keep on tight so try my streaming schedule," she repeated.

Marine's voice took on a more urgent tone. "Listen.... If Miko and Suisei don't get back onto speaking terms, this fallout will be worse then Rushia getting fired," she warned.

Pekora bristled at the comparison. "Those two aren't the same! It's not the same, I swear you’re trying to make me mad!" she exclaimed, her irritation mounting.

Marine leaned against the wall, her irritation evident. "Because I’m trying to get you to take this seriously," she exclaimed.

Pekora scoffed. "Tsk You know, if you said that you brought this up with the managers, can’t they force Suisei and Miko to not escalate their disagreement further," she retorted.

Marine crossed her arms, her expression darkening. "They decided that would just kick the issue down the road," she explained.

Pekora began pacing back and forth, her frustration mounting. "Why oh why. I thought they were better than this.”

Marine's voice carried a note of resignation. "We’re all human. There’s only so much I can do. I believe you can help. I’m not asking you to fix them, just at least try and see if you can help them a little," she implored.

Pekora was still skeptical, her expression unconvinced. "If I help, don’t blame me if this still goes downhill," she warned.

“That’s all I can ask. I’ll ask Mio next, I don’t want this to blow over. I value Hololive as a familyand we can’t avoid this to tear down everything we worked to build," Marine repeated firmly.

Pekora sighed in resignation. "Fine, whatever. Just know this will take a lot out of me," she conceded, the weariness in her voice apparent.

Pekora's heart was heavy as she left Marine's apartment. The night air was cool, a stark contrast to the warmth of Marine's plea. As she walked back to her own place, the weight of the responsibility settled on her shoulders. She thought of Miko and Suisei, of the bond they once shared and the chaos now threatening to unravel everything.

The path ahead was uncertain, fraught with emotional landmines, but Pekora knew she couldn't stand idly by. For the sake of Hololive and the family they had built, she would face this challenge head-on, no matter how difficult it might be. Tomorrow, she would begin her efforts to mend the rift, hoping to restore some semblance of harmony.

Chapter Text

Having reluctantly agreed to take on the unenviable role of mediator between Miko and Suisei, Pekora braced herself for the challenge ahead. With the managers' assistance, she would have to speak with each of them separately, as a direct confrontation with the both of them in sight of each other was clearly not an option.

Reluctantly, Pekora decided that starting with Miko would be the least daunting course of action, considering their shared past and might as well get it out of the way first.

Pekora entered one of the break rooms in the Hololive office building and immediately observed Miko's melancholy state. Her head rested on her arms, her gaze fixed on the blank wall in front of her.

"Hello, Miko-senpai, you seem well-peko," Pekora greeted with a sense of caution.

"Pekora, I didn’t think you would agree to try to make me agree to make amends with Suisei," Miko responded, her words laced with a trace of bitterness.

The absence of the affectionate nickname "Sui-chan" from Miko's address set off a wave of concern within Pekora. It was unnatural hearing Suisei coming from Miko’s lips.

Pekora carefully took a seat next to Miko, leaving a sizable space between them. "We don't have to talk about Suisei-senpai right now," she reassured. "I just want to make sure you're alright-peko."

Miko's response was curt. "I'm fine. You can leave now and inform your manager."

Pekora felt a pang of frustration. She wasn't a diplomat like Marine, and the last thing she wanted was an argument with Miko.

Slowly standing up, Pekora tried to maintain a neutral expression. "If that's how you want to be, I'll just go-peko," she said flatly.

Miko's expression hardened. "Leaving already? Can't handle a little tension, can you?"

As Miko turned her gaze towards Pekora, shock washed over the bunny girl. Miko's eyes were bloodshot, betraying the intense emotions she had been grappling with. Pekora's heart ached, and an overwhelming urge to embrace Miko and soothe her pain welled up within her.

Despite her inner turmoil, Pekora fought to maintain her composure. "Well…" she began, her voice faltering.

"Are you going to leave already?" Miko repeated, her tone laced with a mix of defiance and desperation.

Pekora couldn’t look at Miko anymore and retreated from the room after bidding Miko farewell, shutting the door behind her. On the other side, Miko slumped forward, her head resting on her arms once more. A wave of self-deprecation washed over her, as she muttered under her breath, "Why am I so stupid?"

On the other side of the door, Pekora was left with the sight of Miko's bloodshot eyes which had triggered a wave of guilt and regret within Pekora, bringing back memories of the day she had rejected Miko's romantic confession.

Pekora let out a resigned sigh, the impulse to bang her head against a wall was strong, but she gritted her teeth and controlled herself. It wasn't a surprise, really. There was no point in hoping that her presence alone would alter Miko's stance on the matter. With a quick message to Marine reporting Miko's refusal to cooperate, she turned her attention to Suisei, her next target.

Pekora walked away from the office door, each step heavier than the last. ‘I swear, I’ll make it up to you and restore your bond with Suisei-senpai.’

———————————————————————————————————————

Suisei sat in her sound booth, meticulously reading through the lines she was slated to say in the upcoming HoloGraffti episode. Her focus wasn't solely on the words themselves but also on the tone and intentions behind them. She wanted to ensure she understood the scene's context so she could deliver a performance that would please the voice director and minimize any potential back-and-forth.

Just then, a voice crackled over the intercom. "Excuse me, Suisei-san," it said. Suisei looked up from her script.

"Yes?" she responded.

The voice director explained, "Your lines will be delayed by 15 minutes. We need to configure some equipment. You can take your script with you and wait outside."

Suisei nodded in understanding. "Alright. Thank you."

She gathered her script and stepped out of the sound booth, her mind already racing to adjust her schedule for the delay.

Suisei sat down on one of the chairs out in the hallway, she preoccupied herself with the script before any thoughts about Miko can sweep into her head.

Pekora approached Suisei and sat down next to her. "So… How are you doing-peko?”

"I'm doing well," Suisei replied with a hint of a smile. "It seems like I might even get a good night's sleep tonight."

Peering at Suisei intently, Pekora took a gentle but direct approach. "I need to cut to the chase. Who initiated the breakup - was it Miko or was it you-peko?"

Suisei's annoyance briefly flickered across her face but she quickly masked it with a veneer of composure. In response to Pekora's question, she replied, "This isn't the time or place for this discussion. We're at work, and we have responsibilities to focus on. I don't want to talk about my personal life here."

Pekora leaned forward slightly, her eyes fixed intently on Suisei. "I understand that this isn’t the best place to talk about it, but would you be willing to discuss it at your apartment later instead-peko?"

Suisei eyed Pekora, realizing that she wouldn't give up easily. Her tone was firm but tinged with resignation. "Alright. If you promise to leave this topic alone while we're at work, I'll talk about it with you at my apartment later."

Pekora nodded, her expression serious. "I understand. I'm only bringing this up because I care about both you and the company-peko.”

Suisei's irritation was evident in her voice as she shooed Pekora away. "I'll find some time to invite you over later, but right now, I need you to leave so I can concentrate on rehearsing my lines. Your concern for me is nice, but it shouldn't be solely because of the potential impact on the business. I have my own personal life and I don't need you using my work as an excuse to interfere."

Pekora's frustration simmered just below the surface, but she kept her expression calm. How could the senpai she once looked up to behave like this? She wanted to push Suisei further, get answers, but she reluctantly backed off.

With a slight nod, Pekora left the room, her mind already churning with determination. This wasn't the end of the matter; she was more determined than ever to find out what had happened between Suisei and Miko.

—————————————————/—————————————————————

As Pekora walked up to Suisei's apartment, a pang of guilt hit her. She had never been to Suisei's place before, and it was disheartening that the reason for her first visit was this serious and emotional situation. She took a deep breath and rang the doorbell, mentally bracing herself for the conversation to come.

Suisei opened the door with a look of distain once Pekora was in her sight.

Pekora does a quick bow, her gesture a mix of respect and attempt to ease the tense atmosphere. Suisei, however, saw through the formalities, her expression betraying her reluctance. Without commenting, she let Pekora into the apartment.

"Do you want anything to drink?" Suisei offered, her tone flat.

“Coffee with sugar and milk is fine-peko,” Pekora said, her eyes gazing across the main lounge room of the apartment. There was a plushie collection to the side stacked up, Pekora assumed the more personal ones are in Suisei’s room.

Suisei nodded and walked into the kitchen to prepare the coffee. As Pekora entered the main lounge room, her gaze fell on the plushie collection. She couldn't help but wonder about the more personal ones that were likely tucked away in Suisei's room. The silence between them felt heavy, only broken by the sound of the coffee machine brewing.

‘I don’t see a Miko plushie anywhere. I wonder if she still has one in her bedroom,’ Pekora kept that optimistic thought alive. If she lets her cynical side take over, then she would had lost even before engaging Suisei in their battle.

Pekora awkwardly looked away, her gaze fixating on a spot on the floor. "Umm..." she began, her voice tinged with uncertainty and caution. “I know it might be sensitive, but I was wondering... about Miko-senpai-peko…?"

As Suisei responded, her gaze met Pekora's. Her expression was guarded, as if weighing her words carefully. "Ah, I see... You want to ask about that, huh?" she repeated slowly. With a hint of weariness, she continued, "To be honest, I'm not sure if you fully understand the situation... It's more complicated than it appears on the surface."

Pekora's gaze remained firm as she spoke. Her hands fidgeted with the hem of her skirt, a hint of her inner turmoil. "I know that your breakup with Miko has had consequences for the company, and I understand that sometimes relationships don't work out for logical reasons-peko."

Her voice became more resolute as she continued, "But it's not acceptable for both of you to be on edge and unable to work together. That's why I'm here. I want to hear your side of the story so we can solve this problem-peko.”

Suisei carefully stirred the milk into the coffee, her movements slow and deliberate. A flicker of tension crossed her face as she handed the cup to Pekora. "I'll give you an explanation, but I need you to listen first before asking anything."

Her tone was firm, a hint of weariness in her voice. She was trying to maintain her composure, but the weight of the past few weeks was evident in the subtle tension in her body. She wanted to get this conversation over with, but at the same time, she knew that it wouldn't be easy.

“Of course,” Pekora sat down on the couch and sips her coffee, waiting for Suisei’s side of the story

As Suisei stood there, her features were a complicated mixture of emotions. It was as though saying the words to describe her feelings would somehow change how Pekora saw her — as if sharing this story would create a shift in their relationship, a transformation that couldn't be reversed.

Suisei sighed as she recollected the details of her relationship's demise. "We split up because of the constant strain of balancing my idol aspirations with being a supportive partner.“

Suisei's sigh was laced with a hint of sadness and resignation as she remembered the details of her relationship's end. "We split up because of the constant strain of balancing my idol aspirations with being a supportive partner. I knew it wasn't easy juggling the demands of my dream and our relationship, but I thought I could make it work."

As Suisei continued, her voice grew quieter, yet more resolute. Our final argument was about the lack of energy I had left to be attentive to her needs. She could tell that my heart wasn’t into it anymore. I don’t blame her, but at the time I felt she was attacking me personally and I lashed back with my own verbal abuse. We apologized afterwards, but we didn’t have the time to heal our wounds.

"I was trying so hard to make both aspects of my life work, but in the end, it fell apart," Suisei said, shaking her head slightly. "You know what happened next on stream, we officially broke up shortly after, and that was it,” Suisei sat down as if recounting her experience left her too emotionally drained to stand.

“Ok, so if that happened. Why do you two not get along now-peko?” Pekora asked.

“From my end, it’s because Miko is acting like a child. I don’t know if it’s me or her, but I don’t want to be in the same room as her out of choice. I know my manager wants me to get along, and if it’s for Hololive, I can collab with her, but I won’t force myself to collab with Miko out of my free will,” Suisei said.

Pekora grimaced. If this was a normal circumstance, Pekora could had advised waiting this off letting Suisei and Miko eventually come to terms with each other. But since Miko and Suisei resolving their issues is necessary for Hololive, this leaves Pekora in the situation of trying to figure out a solution.

“So, are you happy now? Perhaps you’re upset that I’m not forcing myself to upheld a respectable senpai image, but I’m not letting anything like that stop me from reaching my dreams,” Suisei said.

“What happened in your relationship is between you and Miko-senpai should only matter to you, however it’s how you’re behaving that’s the problem. Could you see in your heart that if you talked to Miko diplomatically, you both will realize that the pain is worsening due to you two avoiding each other-peko,” Pekora said.

“I’m not ready. I need time to myself, I can’t stand to be in the same room as Miko if I can help it,” Suisei said.

Pekora was at her wits end. She couldn’t think of a way to get through to Suisei’s head. Could she really go back to Marine and say that Suisei needs time to process her break up with Miko.

“Peko-chan. Is it such a bother to you that I’m not dating Miko?” Suisei asked.

Pekora let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through her hair. "It's not that I want you to be dating Miko. It's just causing problems for everyone, especially you and Hololive-peko.”

She paused, searching for the right words. "I just don't want to see you hurting like this."

Suisei's expression hardened, her eyes narrowing as she continued to speak. "I can't believe you. You claim to care about me, but all you seem to care about is toeing the line for the company.”

Her voice held a note of bitterness and disappointment. "I thought you were different, but it seems I was wrong. You're just as caught up in the corporate machine as everyone else… And that includes me as well.” Suisei buried her head in her arms.

Pekora's silence weighed heavily in the room, the tension between them palpable. It was clear that Suisei's words had hit a nerve, but Pekora resisted the urge to react.

She had always tried to stay out of the corporate side of things, focusing on her own streams and interactions with fans. Only a rare occurrence like Rushia suddenly getting terminated that Pekora felt she could speak up with her genmates against the Hololive establishment.

As much as Suisei was hurting, Pekora knew that arguing with her wouldn't solve anything.

Pekora was utterly lost, unsure of how to handle the situation with Suisei. She didn't want to leave things like this, but she also knew that further discussion would only make things worse.

Her mind raced as she tried to think of something, anything, that would help bridge the gap between Suisei and Miko. But her usually creative and quick-witted mind felt stumped, unable to find a solution

Pekora considered just running away and approaching things from a new angle in the future, yet seeing Suisei still sitting on the couch covering herself reminded Pekora of her herself.

But back then, when Pekora shut herself away from the world, who was it but that elite shrine maiden to reach out and listening to her venting until she felt better. Speaking of Miko, she wasn’t here now and somewhere deep down Suisei must be struggling with not having her around.

Pekora nearly jolted by Suisei suddenly perking up, her eyes peeking from her arms to look at her. The shift in Suisei's demeanor caught her off guard, and she found herself feeling a little bewildered.

"I can just show you instead," Suisei said, getting up and coming to sit next to her, her phone in hand. She began opening a playlist of her recent songs, her expression somewhat softer now.

Pekora watched, relieved but puzzled by Suisei’s switch of demeanor. As Suisei put on her latest song, Pekora could see up close how Miko could fall for someone like Suisei with her unkempt hair which was suited for domestic life, her charming smile, and her blue eyes that easily captivated you and won’t let you ago.

“So what do you think?” Suisei asked.

“Ehh?” Pekora was flushed, her ears flopped down as Suisei laughed at her response, the sound which made Pekora’s relief much larger.

Chapter Text

“Could you be my girlfriend in private, at least for a while?” Miko asked.

Pekora's brow furrowed as she struggled to recall the circumstances that had led to this unexpected request from Miko. Her mind raced back through the events of the day, trying to piece together the threads of conversation and action that had brought them to this point.

It all started when Pekora went to collect her thoughts in a cozy break room, its walls adorned with a warm, neutral paint that provided a soothing ambiance. Soft lighting cast a gentle glow throughout the space, illuminating a smattering of chairs and a small table pushed against one wall.

Mementos of past projects and collaborations were displayed along a neighboring wall, a testament to the history of the company and its success. A small counter on the other side held a modest collection of refreshments, while a coffee maker occupied a corner, its enticing aroma filling the air.

It wasn’t the classic break room that was used for the Holo Graffiti shorts, but it resembles it close enough.

As Pekora was about to scroll on her phone, she realized Miko and Sora were in the same room as her. Pekora hoped to see any sign of Miko willing to amend things with Suisei. It has to end that way, otherwise how will Pekora’s vision of Hololive hold up when Miko and Suisei won’t speak to each other.

As she sat where she was, her thoughts began to swirl. Pekora couldn't help but wonder if she was cut out for the task at hand. She knew Marine held her in high esteem, but she questioned the validity of that belief.

"Maybe she thinks I'm a better friend than I am..." Pekora murmured to herself, her voice tinged with self-doubt.

She pondered the idea that perhaps her connection to Hololive allowed her to meet people who saw past her shy exterior and accepted her for who she truly was, not just the persona she portraying on stream.

Pekora listened intently as Sora and Miko continued their conversation, their words carrying a mix of excitement and contemplation.

“Singing and dancing are enjoyable when you have someone to share that passion with up on stage,” Sora began, her voice filled with nostalgia.

Miko chuckled softly at Sora’s recollection, before musing aloud, “Do you have a list of people you’d like to collaborate with on stage?”

Sora chuckled lightly at Miko’s question, her expression growing thoughtful. “Well, considering how many new VTubers debut under us lately, it would be pretty challenging to perform with everyone. It’s better to treasure the ones close to you.”

Pekora's voice cut through the conversation, drawing Miko's attention to her. "Actually, I need to talk to you in private-peko," Pekora said, her mouth leaping to action before the anxious side of her brain could do anything about it.

Sora nodded in understanding with a slight smile, picking up on Pekora's intention. "Thought so," she said, bidding a quick farewell to Miko. "Catch you later, Miko."

With that, Sora excused herself as Miko hesitantly wave, the door closing softly behind her as she left the break room, leaving Pekora and Miko alone in the now quiet space.

Miko let out a huff, her voice laced with frustration. "See Pekora? I have plenty of friends in Hololive," she said firmly. "Management needs to move on; I don't need Suisei."

Pekora sighed inwardly, her expression remaining neutral. "Ignoring Suisei-senpai isn't the best way to close your relationship-peko," she responded, her tone soft yet assertive.

Miko crossed her arms, her gaze turning stubborn. "Agree to disagree," she said, her voice tinged with annoyance. "If you've been in a relationship and hurt so badly, you'd know why I'm like this."

Pekora's expression remained calm as she responded, "So, tell me your side of why the relationship between you two broke down-peko."

“It all started when we came back from this event. I wanted to get her into a special type of mood. The type of mood where we were suppose to get it on. She wasn’t feeling it on that night but I persisted in wanting to do something together until she told me to back off. I didn’t back down and called her out on being so busy with her career that she doesn’t have time for me anymore. I mean, how better can she be at singing until she’s satisfied,” Miko explained.

‘It’s lining up with Suisei’s side of the story,’ Pekora thought.

“That was the beginning of the end. I didn’t want to speak to Suisei, but apparently we had this collab coming up with you, and I didn’t want to cancel so the rest was history,” Miko finished her story, leaning back with her arms folded.

"That's it?" Pekora pressed. "Surely, one argument wouldn't have been enough to break you two up. There must be something brewing in the background that you didn't address-peko."

Miko's expression softened, a hint of sadness seeping into her eyes. "Oh, Pekora," she began, her voice softer now. "If only I could explain myself better. Do you really know much about Suisei?"

"Not as much as you, I guess-peko," Pekora responded thoughtfully. "She's ambitious, committed, a bit scary, but also cute."

Miko let out a dejected sigh, her shoulders sagging slightly. "Clearly, I didn't know her enough," she said quietly. "It's fine if you don't believe me. I'd rather do what's right for me than live miserablly in silence."

“I understand-peko,” Pekora said out of reflex.

“Oh really… Then tell me when’s the last time someone close to you became someone you realize you didn’t actually know?” Miko asked.

“I’d rather not say-peko,” Pekora said looking elsewhere.

Miko realizing the implications of what Pekora just said. “Oh… I’m so sorry, I’m making it worse for the both of us,” Miko said.

“I deserve the blame here. You’re just explaining your side of the story,-peko” Pekora said, her attention focused back at Miko.

Miko gave short breaths to calm herself down. “I’m fine,” Miko said.

Pekora could clearly tell that she’s not fine. Pekora has more of an idea now why Marine would request her aid. She could remember a time when she would rant to Miko about her problems and the only thing Miko could do is listen to her talk.

“So is that all to the story-peko?” Pekora asked.

Miko nodded. “Do you know the saying of not mixing friends with business?” Miko asked.

“I heard it here and there.”

“I get what that means now. Cause Suisei is my most popular collab partner, and I can’t do it right now. And I talked to her all the time, and I used to talk to her about all my problems and she helps me through. But now I don’t have anyone who gets me like she does,” Miko said.

“Your family surely understands you-peko,” Pekora said.

Miko's voice held a hint of resignation as she spoke. "My family has their own lives, and I don’t want to bother them too often," she said, her tone tinged with vulnerability.

Pekora's expression shifted to a mix of surprise and concern as she digested Miko's words. "I don't believe this," she said, her voice soft but firm. "You're in a much deeper hole than I could possibly imagine-peko"

Miko chuckled softly, the sound carrying a mix of sadness and self-deprecation. "Heh... I really am the worst, arent I...?"

"You're not the worst," Pekora reiterated, her voice firmer now. "You're just... bad for making me feel like this."

Miko's eyes widened, her entire demeanor perking up at Pekora's words. "What did you say?" She repeated, a spark of life returning to her.

Pekora blinked, slightly taken aback by Miko's sudden change in demeanor. "I mean... seeing you so miserable... It's hard on me," she admitted, her voice softening. "If I were in your place, I'd have already picked myself back up-peko."

Miko's voice wavered with a mix of vulnerability and determination as she spoke. "I'm not you, and I'm not Suisei," she said, her eyes meeting Pebora's gaze. "I'm just... me.”

Pekora reached out and put a gentle hand on Miko's shoulder, her expression softened with compassion. "And I would never have you any other way," she said, her voice firm yet tender.

“Pekora….” Miko said.

“Yes?”

“Could you be my girlfriend in private, at least for a while?” Miko asked.

Pekora’s world sprang to a stop. No way did Miko ask her out, and in a weird softball kind of way.

“I’m not your 2nd pickings-peko,” Pekora said.

“Please! I want someone who I can date so I can move on past Suisei,” Miko said, tears welling up in her eyes which has Pekora caught dead in her tracks.

“It’s only going to make you fall in love with me, and we’re going to have drama between us like it happened years ago-peko,” Pekora said, feeling like her chest could give in from the pressure any second.

“This time I won’t have any delusions about you,” Miko said.

“Delusions? You were full on obsessed with me. No wonder you get attached so easily-peko,” Pekora said.

Miko sank back on the couch. “This is why I want to date you for a while. You give me pushback and a motivation to improve,” Miko said.

“That’s what therapists are for. I’m not going to play your game-peko,” Pekora said.

“If you date for me for a while, I promise to play nice with Suisei,” Miko said.

“You promise to uphold your end of the bargain?” Pekora asked.

“Yes, I just need you to be more in my life for this period,” Miko said.

Pekora gritted her teeth. This was the exact type of situation she wanted to avoid. When she was younger, she was deeply cynical about the idea of spending time with a lover. What kind of person would fall in love with her anyway.

Of course she has those types of guys who would want to go out with her, but it’s more of her persona, not the person who’s not on stream. But when she looks at Miko, she sees the same person who was there for her at her worst.

Pekora can feel her heart racing. No, this was wrong. She could see so much going wrong. Their friendship heart ended because of Miko’s past crush on her. Yet, would it also be wrong to say no and leave Miko alone in a time when she needs a companion to be with her in her time of need.

“I accept, we’ll need to discuss more about boundaries. And this to remain private, private! Ok-peko?” Pekora said.

“Yeah, I’ll keep my mouth shut about this arrangement,” Miko said .

“Let’s make it the best of it then,” Pekora said, this was going to be tough for her. Well, at least this was a solution. She just has to ride it out until Miko gets over her break up depression. Well, that’s what she had hoped for.

Chapter Text

After the successful collab between Miko and Suisei, Pekora watches from the background, observing how smoothly things seem to be working out. However, when Suisei abruptly leaves the call without saying anything to Miko, Pekora notices the disappointment on Miko's face.

"Hey, Miko. How did the collab go with Suisei?" Pekora asked.

Miko looked up, her eyes meeting Pekora's, and let out a sigh.

"It went well, but Suisei left abruptly. It's been like that every time we collab together recently. I promise I been keeping to my word, but Sui-chan is still not over the breakup,” Miko said, she sighed. “I want to eventually become friends with her again.”

Pekora patted Miko on the shoulder reassuringly. “Don't worry about it. I'll talk to Suisei and straighten her out." Pekora said.

Miko looked at Pekora skeptically, a hint of doubt in her eyes. “You? But Suisei isn't so easily pushed around like me." Miko said.

Pekora chuckled smugly, her confidence unwavering."Just because I'm shy doesn't mean I can't handle things for the sake of work. I'm sure I can handle Suisei." Pekora said.

Pekora was walking through the hallway, determined to catch Suisei before she slipped away again. As she rounded a corner, she spotted Suisei approaching from the opposite direction.

With a quickened pace, Pekora intercepted Suisei before she could continue on her way.

Pekora, catching up to Suisei in the hallway, said, "Hey, Suisei. Can I talk to you in your apartment again?"

Suisei paused, thinking for a moment before replying, "Sure, but it'll need to be on a weekend night since I'm busy for the rest of the week."

Pekora nodded understandingly. "That's fine," she said, her determination unwavering.

———————————————————————————————————————

It was the evening of the weekend, and Pekora stood nervously at the doorstep of Suisei's apartment. The sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving only the faint glow of the moon to light the way.

Standing in front of Suisei's apartment, Pekora paused to collect her thoughts. Memories of their previous private encounters flashed through her mind, each one leaving a trail of unease. For a fleeting moment, she considered turning back, intimidated by Suisei's overpowering presence.

This wasn’t even considering that Pekora hadn’t seen Suisei with an axe in hand yet.

However, Miko's words rang clear in her mind, reminding her that Hololive was a tight-knit family. With a deep breath to steel her nerves, Pekora knocked on the door and let herself into the apartment, mentally preparing for the difficult conversation ahead.

Suisei welcomed Pekora into her apartment and sat down in the same room as before. Pekora eyed Suisei skeptically as she placed a cup of tea before her, the pleasant facade of Suisei's demeanor doing little to ease her suspicions.

"I know you're putting on a front," Pekora said bluntly.

Suisei feigned innocence, denying Pekora’s accusation.

This is about Miko," Pekora added.

Suisei leaned back, her expression hardening. "Why do we need to have to talk about Miko?"

Pek took a deep breath, her patience starting to wear thin. "Because she's willing to collaborate, and you're still clinging to the past."

Suisei bristled at Pek's words, her defensiveness apparent.

"I can't help it," Suisei grumbled, "I wish things could go back to how they were."

Pek rolled her eyes, her irritation evident. "Each person has their own timing. Miko's
ready, yet you're just acting like a sore loser."

Suisei's eyes flashed with anger as Pek spoke.

"Take that back," she snapped.

However, Pek met her glare defiantly.

"I can't because it's the truth," Pek replied firmly.

Suisei's hands balled into fists, her frustration mounting.

"If you were in my shoes," Suisei said, "You'd understand why I'm like this."

Pekora raised an eyebrow, her voice laced with skepticism.

"Oh, really? Then show me," she challenged.

Without warning, Suisei lunged forward, her lips crashing against Pekora’s with force. The unexpected kiss caught Pekora off guard, her eyes widening in surprise.

Pekora’a heart sped up as Suisei's lips pressed against hers, the suddenness of the action taking her completely by surprise. After a few seconds, Suisei broke the kiss, her expression filled with a mix of guilt and desire.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to," Suisei muttered.

Pekora took a step back, still disoriented from the forceful kiss.

Pekora's eyes widened in disbelief as Suisei's unexpected kiss echoed in her mind. It was like a sudden storm breaking through in a calm sea, leaving her reeling and her heart racing.

Suisei, looking at her with a mix of guilt and frustration, muttered an apology. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, but the urge has been there for a while now," she admitted, her words hanging in the air like a guilty secret.

A wave of realization washed over Pekora, confirming Miko's statement about Suisei's hidden nature.

Pekora's face contorted with anger as she faced Suisei.

"You're disgusting," she spat out, her words venomous. "How could you just force yourself onto someone like that? Do you have any idea how repulsive your actions are?"

Pekora inched closer to Suisei, her voice laced with disgust.

"I can't believe you would do something so selfish and thoughtless. You know how much Miko means to you, and you still decide to pull a stunt like this?"

Suisei listened quietly, her face a mask of guilt and shame.

After her outburst, Pekora sank into a seat, her mind racing.

"Why didn't you fight back or defend yourself?" Pekora asked, her voice laced with frustration.

Suisei shrugged, a hint of resignation in her response.

"What's the point? You're right, anyway," she muttered.

Pekora's mind raced, her heart heavy with the weight of this revelation. She knew in her gut that this had messed things up irreparably.

"There's no way I can recover from this," she thought, swallowing the lump in her throat.

Suisei, sensing her hesitation, spoke up softly.

"What if we tried something temporarily?"

Pekora's eyes narrowed, her guard up automatically.

"What do you mean, 'tried something'?" she asked, crossing her arms defensively.

Suisei took a deep breath and explained her proposition.

"If you're willing to have a friends with benefits relationship with me for a while, I promise I'll do everything in my power to repair my relationship with Miko," Suisei said, a hint of vulnerability in her voice.

Pekora sighs, feeling a mixture of resignation and determination.

She glances over at Suisei, who looks at her expectantly.

"So... do you find me attractive?" Suisei asks bluntly.

Pekora hesitates, her eyes darting away as she contemplates her response.

Suisei smirks, sensing Pekora's flustered reaction.

"I thought so," she says, a hint of arrogance in her tone.

Pekora glares at her as she grabbed a pillow and holds it in her lap.

"Just because I can appreciate someone's appearance, doesn't mean I'm attracted to them like that," Pekora retorts.

Suisei leans back in her chair, a sly smile on her lips.

"You sure about that?" she asks, raising an eyebrow.

Pekora shifts uncomfortably in her seat, feeling her cheeks heat up.

She knows she can't deny the fact that she finds Suisei attractive, but she also knows how inappropriate this situation is.

"It doesn't matter anyway," Pekora says, trying to brush off the conversation.

But Suisei isn't satisfied with that answer.

"You know, I've always thought you were a little sheltered," she says, studying Pekora carefully.

Pekora bristles at Suisei's comment, feeling insulted.

"What's that supposed to mean?" she asks, her voice sharper than usual.

"It means I think you've spent too much time focused on your work. You've missed out on important life experiences," Suisei says bluntly, her gaze still fixed on Pekora.

Pekora scoffs, irritation building inside her.

"Just because I haven't been out sleeping around doesn't mean I've missed out on something important," she says, crossing her arms defiantly.

Suisei chuckles, clearly amused by Pekora's defensiveness.

"Is that so?" she says, a hint of mockery in her tone. "You're living on your own now, right? And tell me honestly: would you be proud to show off your place to a potential romantic partner?"

Pekora feels a pang in her heart at Suisei's words, realizing that her living situation might not be the most romantic or adult.

"I...I don't need a romantic partner," she says, her voice suddenly sounding much smaller.

Suisei grins, seeing that she's hit a nerve.

"Are you sure about that?" she asks, leaning closer to Pekora. "Or are you just too scared to admit that you're missing out on something special?"

Pekora's heart races, her body reacting to Suisei's proximity in a way she's never experienced before.

She swallows hard, trying to push down the conflicting emotions warring inside her.

"I could show you what you're missing out on," Suisei whispers, her voice low and seductive.

Pekora's eyes widen, her breath catching in her throat.

"I don't... I don't know," Pekora stammers, her mind reeling.

She can feel Suisei's breath on her skin, sending a shiver down her spine. Her body is betraying her, responding to Suisei's presence in ways she can't control.

Suisei raises an eyebrow, sensing Pekora's inner struggle.

"You don't seem so sure," she teases, her lips curving into a sly smile.

"Maybe you just need to stop being so scared and let yourself feel something for once," she says, her voice huskier now.

Pekora can feel herself starting to waver. Her body is tingling with desire, her mind clouded with confusion and curiosity.

She glances at Suisei's lips, so close to her own, and feels a magnetic pull.

Suisei notices Pekora's gaze, and leans in even closer.

"Just give in, just this once," she murmurs, her breath warming Pekora's ear.

Pekora's heart is thundering in her chest now, the heat between them almost unbearable.

"But...but what about Miko?" Pekora manages to croak out, her voice barely above a whisper.

Suisei smirks, as if she expected this question.

"What about her?" she says, raising an eyebrow. "We're just having some harmless fun, right?"

Pekora's resistance is starting to crumble. Her body is screaming for her to give in, to let go of her hesitation and surrender to the pleasure that Suisei is offering.

But a small, stubborn part of her is still holding on, reminding her of her commitment to Miko.

"We shouldn't...we shouldn't be doing this," Pekora whispers, her voice trembling with conflicting emotions.

Suisei lets out a low, sultry chuckle.

"Why not? You know you want it, you know you need it," she says, her hands tracing patterns on Pekora's thigh.

Pekora stares at Suisei's lips, biting her own as she tries to resist the growing attraction between them.

Pekora stands up abruptly. “I need to use the bathroom." She quickly walks towards the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. In the bathroom, she looks in the mirror and sees her bright red and flushed face.

“God, what am I doing?" Pekora said out loud. She splashes some cold water on her face, trying to regain her composure.

Pekora steps out of the bathroom, still feeling embarrassed and conflicted about her feelings towards Suisei.

"We need to talk,” Pekora said.

She walks up to Suisei and sits down beside her, trying to keep her voice steady.

"This isn't right. We can't just... give in to these impulses,” Pekora said.

Suisei smirks, clearly amused by Pekora's hesitance. “Why not? We're both consenting adults here, right? What's wrong with indulging in a little pleasure?" Suisei said.

Pekora called out to Suisei and said that there has to be another way they can come to an agreement.

Suisei calls out Pekora’s bluff and says that there’s no way she will play nice with Miko unless she gets her sexual tension out of her system.

Pekora tries to hide her nervousness, crossing her arms defiantly. “There has to be another way, Suisei. We can't just act on impulse like this."

Suisei leans back, her smirk widening. "Is that so? Then tell me, what other options do you propose?" Suisei said.

Pekora hesitates, her mind racing as she tries to come up with a plan.

Pekora takes a deep breath, trying to sound confident even though she's feeling flustered.
"Well, for starters, we could just agree to talk things out like adults,” Pekora said.

Suisei raises an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "And what makes you think mere words will be enough?" Suisei asked.

Pekora grits her teeth, feeling frustrated at Suisei's stubbornness.

"Fine, what do you want then? We can't just give in to physical desires without considering the consequences,” Pekora said.

Suisei leans in closer, her voice low and seductive.

“Why not? Sometimes the consequences can be very...pleasant." Suisei said.

Suisei smirks, clearly enjoying the effect she's having on Pekora.

“Miko doesn't need to know. It would just be a little bit of fun between us." Suisei said. Pekora grits her teeth, feeling a mixture of irritation and desire.

"You know, I could easily fix things with Miko, but I need something in return." Suisei said.

"What do you want?" Pekora asked.

“You know what I want from you, but I won’t force it on you unless you agree first,” Suisei said, her voice was low yet Pekora can hear her loud and clear that she started feeling goosebumps on her arms.

The look of Suisei leaning in stood out to her, what happened to the cool yet passionate Suisei she looked up to. Pekora looks at Suisei in disbelief, shaking her head slowly.

“I can't believe you're actually being like this." Pekora said.

Suisei rolled her eyes. “We’re adults here. Have you spent so long making your fans happy that you brought into their bullshit about being a pure idol who has no desires outside of their job. What’s next, you can shit rainbows.”

Pekora sighs heavily, knowing that she's backed into a corner. She put away the pillow next to her. Fine, let's get this over with,” Pekora said.

“Oh Peko-chan,” Suisei leans in fully and her lips enveloped Pekora’s, her hand caressing her cheek gently. Their lips meet in a passionate embrace, their bodies pressed together as they explore each other. Pekora lets Suisei’s hands slipped under her shirt, craving more contact.

As they continue to kiss, they help each other to remove their clothes, their hands roaming each other's bodies with a mixture of desire and excitement. Their heavy breathing filled the room.

After they finished, Pekora was too exhausted to dress herself back up. Her mind was willing but it was too easy for her to enjoy the feeling of Suisei’s naked flesh lying next to her.

Chapter Text

Pekora leans against the wall, her thoughts swirling as she watches Suisei and Miko interact on the set. She fiddles idly with her phone, her mind a whirlwind of mixed emotions.

When was the last time she stood by on the set as other Hololive figures perform on the 3D mocap stage. Only when she was collabing and waiting for her turn to show up. What’s odd was she isn’t involved in today’s programming, yet there was a compulsion to see if her effort was in vain and if Miko and Suisei never intended to keep their promise to her.

She feels a slight pang of guilt as she reflects on the previous night's encounter with Suisei. She hadn't expected things to go that far, but in the heat of the moment, she had allowed herself to be swept up by desire and desperation.

Not to mention, the look on Miko’s face as she begged Pekora to become her girlfriend for a while. What happened to her that she couldn’t turn Miko down this time. When has she become this soft?

No, this was the price she must pay in order to preserve the family she loves.

Pekora sighs softly, knowing that she has sacrificed her own feelings in order to bring Suisei and Miko together.

From her position off-scene, Pekora watches intently as Suisei and Miko engage in the trivia game show skit. She notices the ease with which the two interact, their banter and chemistry on full display.

Pekora's heart lightens as she watches Suisei and Miko interacting on the set. A wave of relief washed over her. It seems her efforts to make Miko and Suisei promise to get along haven't been in vain. Despite her reservations, she can't help but feel a sense of relief at the sight of the two getting along once more.

Suisei and Miko finished the pop quiz and waved goodbye to their adoring fans. Then the cameras switched off then they talked with the production staff and director on set. Pekora lets herself smile at this sight. At last Micomet was back in action, the professional business partners side by side. They may no longer date each other, but what matters is they willing to put part differences for the sake of the fans.

Now that her work was done, Pekora reasoned this was her time to leave the set however Miko and Suisei were right in front of her.

“Peko-chan-“ “Pekora,” both Miko and Suisei said at the same time. They paused, not expecting the other to say almost exactly what they said.

“Excuse me, I wanted to speak with Pekora first,” Miko said.

“I intended to speak with Peko-chan first. Could you possibly wait until later to speak with her,” Suisei said.

“I would be happy to on another day, but I would prefer to speak with Pekora now,” Miko said.

As the two battled blows, Pekora sweat drops. At least they’re not punching the daylights of each other, still this could get ugly really fast with just the wrong placed insult.

“Ahem! Perhaps I can speak with both of you. Wouldn’t hurt to have a three way conversation-peko,” Pekora said.

Miko and Suisei lights up at Pekora’s suggestion but plummets down into darkness at how much they were making a fool out of themselves.

“Sorry about having an argument in front of you, we have the adrenaline rush from our collab so we’re still full of energy,” Suisei said.

“Yeah, that’s right. I didn’t mean to be selfish and try to hog you to myself,” Miko said.

Pekora observed closely of Miko and Suisei. She noticed Suisei was making close eye contact with her as Suisei’s hands moved more elaborately than usual and that smile of her’s is scores extra marks in terms of cutenesss. That doesn’t mean Pekora has her eyes off Miko either who was unintentionally fidgeting with the hems on her dress outfit. The gesture has Pekora mesmerized.

The comet and the shrine maiden blend into one, this was truly the power of Micomet in Pekora’s eyes. For these precious moments, she can put herself into the shoes of a fan who gets to meet them in a fan greeting session.

“You know what, I’ll pay for our meal,” Pekora said, inspired by the sight in front of her. She was feeling generous and wanted to award the pair.

“Yippee,” Miko and Suisei said. They high five each other and stared at each other then to Pekora then to each other again. Pekora didn’t know what to make of it, but she went ahead and left before she become the cause of another argument.

———————————————————————————————————————

Pekora and Marine are sitting in the onsen together, both of them are relaxing after a day of them fulfilling the role of worker bees.

"I'm so happy for you, Pekora! I knew you could do it. The way you got Miko and Suisei to make up is awesome,” Marine said.

"Thanks, but they could still argue again at any moment. Their bond isn't unbreakable just yet,” Pekora said.

"Don't worry, time will make their bond stronger. Just look at Shion and me. We're both in a committed relationship, and even we have our fair share of arguments. But we always work things out in the end,” Marine said.

"Ugh, no need to rub in how great your relationship is. I don't need to hear any more about how perfect you two are together-peko,” Pekora said.

"Oh come on, I'm just saying that it's possible for even the most deeply committed couples to have their ups and downs. It's part of life,” Marine said.

"Well, maybe for you and Shion, but I doubt my love life will ever be as picture-perfect as yours-peko.” Pekora said.

"Oh ho, is there a special someone in your life that you're keeping a secret from me?" Marime said.

Pekora shifts in her sitting posture, knowing that she's walking into a likely trap.

"What? No! Why would you even ask that-peko?” Pekora asked.

"Come on, you've been so tight-lipped about your love life lately. I know there's something going on. Spill the tea, girl!" Marine said.

Pekora's mind races as she realizes that Marine is on to her. She can't let her secret slip, especially not to someone as observant as Marine. She takes a deep breath and thinks to herself:

What would I even say to her? 'Oh, by the way, I'm dating Miko-senpai... and I’m sleeping with Suisei-senpai behind Miko-senpai’s back!’ It sounds like something out of one of those trashy romance mangas where the author is throwing ideas at the wall in trying to avoid cancellation. Pekora kept herself from hiding beneath the water despite the pressure from Marine’s excitement.

"So, on a scale of 1 to 10, how likely do you think it is that Miko and Suisei will get back together?" Marine asked, still keeping her excitement from earlier.

"I don't want to speculate on other people's love lives. It's not my business,” Pekora coily responded.

"But wouldn't it be nice if they got back together and lived happily ever after?" Marine clasped her hands together and sighed staring dreamily at the ceiling.

"Maybe, but I still don't feel comfortable discussing my coworkers love drama,” Pskoda said.

"Fine, then just answer this question - out of Suisei and Miko, who would you consider dating?" Marine asked.

Pekora freezes at the unexpected question, her body ran cold despite sitting in an insensitive.

"Oh look at the time, I should really get going. Thanks for the massage and the conversation, Marine." Pekora said as she got out of the onset.

"What!? No, no, no, you're not getting off that easily! Answer the question, Pekora!" Marine said, her hand dramatically reaching out for a Pekora who had already dried herself and wrapping her body with a towel.

Chapter Text

Pekora’s eyelids fluttered open, and she blinked as the soft morning light filtered through the blinds. As her vision cleared, she became acutely aware of the weight resting on her chest. Glancing down, she saw Suisei, the blue-haired idol, nestled comfortably against her. Suisei’s steady breathing and peaceful expression were an unusual sight—normally, she was full of energy, always moving, always planning. But here, asleep, she seemed almost vulnerable.

Pekora’s heart skipped a beat. ‘Beautiful,’ she thought before quickly catching herself. It was unlike her to get lost in such sentimental thoughts, especially about Suisei, who was the embodiment of drive and ambition. There was no denying that Suisei was captivating—always working hard, always pushing forward. No wonder Miko had been so drawn to her. The thought stirred a strange pang in Pekora’s chest.

‘Peko, stop it,’ she scolded herself. ‘You’re getting too attached. When this is all over, it’s going to hurt…’

Carefully, so as not to wake Suisei, Pekora slipped out of bed. She tugged on her dressing gown, cinching it tightly around her waist, and padded into the kitchen. The silence of the room was a stark contrast to the noise inside her head. She had always been independent, comfortable in her own company, but lately…

She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. There was no time to dwell on such things. Pekora reached for the ingredients she had prepared the night before and set about making breakfast. The rhythmic motions of chopping and stirring helped calm her nerves. She focused on the simple act of cooking, but her mind kept drifting back to the bed, to the way Suisei had looked, so serene and… appealing.

Pekora shook her head again, more forcefully this time. ‘Focus on the task at hand,’ she thought. She had a stream in the afternoon and needed to get home in time to set everything up. Years of experience helped keep her anxiety in check—she knew how to manage her time. Still, she couldn’t shake the flutter of nervousness that came with thinking about Suisei.

As she finished cooking, Pekora glanced over her shoulder and nearly jumped. Suisei was already out of bed, stretching casually as she straightened her clothes. Her hair was a mess, but it somehow only added to her charm. Before Pekora could say anything, Suisei skipped over, landing a playful kiss on her cheek.

Pekora reacted immediately, pushing Suisei away in a flurry of embarrassment. “H-Hey! What was that for?! You're acting like we’re dating or something, peko!”

Suisei, taken aback, tilted her head slightly, her hand reaching up to rub the spot where Pekora had pushed her. “I was just being affectionate. Is it wrong to show a little affection now and then?”

Pekora’s heart clenched at the sight of Suisei’s hurt expression. It wasn’t like Suisei to let her emotions show so openly, but here she was, vulnerable, all because of a simple kiss. Pekora felt her stomach churn with guilt.

“I… I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t mean to push you away like that,” Pekora muttered, her gaze shifting away awkwardly. “I just… wasn’t expecting it. Let’s just eat, alright? I made breakfast.”

Suisei smiled gently, though there was a hint of sadness in her eyes as she followed Pekora to the table. They sat in silence for a few moments, the sound of utensils against plates filling the quiet. Pekora could feel Suisei’s gaze on her, and it was beginning to make her uneasy. After swallowing a mouthful of food, Pekora finally snapped.

“Oi, can you stop staring at me like that? It’s annoying, peko!” she blurted out, her usual tsundere walls going up in full force.

Suisei blinked, then chuckled softly. “Sorry, sorry. I wasn’t trying to make you uncomfortable. I was just thinking about what happened earlier. I shouldn’t have kissed you without asking first. That was wrong of me.”

Pekora opened her mouth to respond, but at that moment, the doorbell rang, cutting her off. She shot to her feet, her eyes widening in alarm. “I’ll—uh—I’ll be in the bedroom! You deal with that, peko!” she stammered, retreating before Suisei could object.

From the safety of the bedroom, Pekora peeked out through the slightly ajar door, her curiosity piqued. She could hear Suisei’s footsteps as she made her way to the door.

When Suisei opened it, Miko was standing on the other side, her usual energetic smile lighting up her face. “Ah, Sui-Chan, ahem! Good morning!” Miko blurted out, grumbling shortly after.

Suisei impulsively smiled from how cute Miko was acting. “Well well Mikochi, I assume this must be what I think this is,” Suisei said.

“Actually, yeah,” Miko admitted. Her voice took on a more serious tone. “I wanted to say that I’m over our breakup. I think it’s time we moved past it and went back to being friends—like before. What do you think?”

Pekora’s ears perked up. This was getting interesting.

Suisei’s smile softened, and for a moment, Pekora saw a flicker of emotion cross her face—something wistful, perhaps. “I’ve been thinking the same, Mikochi. I miss those days, when we could just talk and be honest with each other. I’m over it too.”

Miko’s grin returned full force. “Great! Let’s get back to being ‘Micomet,’ but, you know, as friends and business partners this time.”

“Sounds like a good plan to me,” Suisei agreed.

But just as the atmosphere started to lighten, Miko’s expression shifted. She tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing in curiosity. “I’ve noticed something, though… Every time I talk to Pekora lately, or whenever we’re all together, you seem to be, uh… kind of clingy with her.”

Suisei’s eyes widened slightly, her poker face slipping for just a moment. “Clingy? What do you mean by that?”

Miko blushed, crossing her arms defensively. “I’m not accusing you or anything, but… after we broke up, it seems like you’ve been sticking close to Peko-chan. Just making sure you’re not thinking of making her your ‘leftovers’ or anything.”

Suisei’s expression darkened, her usual calm exterior giving way to something more serious. “Miko, I’m not the type to treat someone like that, and you should know that better than anyone.”

Miko huffed, her cheeks puffing out in frustration. “I’m just saying, Pekora has a soft heart, and she’s shy! You can’t just barge into her life like that without thinking about the consequences.”

“You’re projecting,” Suisei said, her tone even but cutting. “I think you’re the one who’s worried about rushing into something too soon.”

Pekora watched from the crack in the door, holding her breath. She could practically feel the weight of their words hanging in the air.

Finally, Miko’s watch beeped, breaking the standoff. She glanced down at her wrist and let out a small curse under her breath. “Ah, crap! I’m late for a meeting.”

Before leaving, Miko shot one last look at Suisei. “Just… take care of Pekora, alright? She’s important to me, even if we’re not as close as we used to be.”

Suisei met Miko’s gaze, her expression softening slightly. “Don’t worry. I know how important she is.”

Miko gave a curt nod before turning on her heel and heading down the hallway.

As the door clicked shut, Pekora let out a long sigh from the bedroom. She pressed her back against the wall, feeling the weight of everything settle over her.

Chapter Text

Pekora and Miko walk arm in arm through the town's busy streets. Pekora and Miko are wearing a cap and sunglasses to maintain her anonymity. She cautiously looks around, ensuring Suisei isn’t nearby.

As they walk, Miko spots a street vendor selling delicious-looking crepes and suggests they try some. "Hey, those crepes look amazing!" she exclaims.

Pekora hesitated for a moment, her mind still preoccupied with thoughts about Suisei. But as she looks at Miko's excited expression, she can't resist. "Sure, let's give it a shot," she says with a smile.

They approach the vendor, and Miko selects a crepe with a colorful array of toppings. She takes a bite, and her face lights up with delight.

Pekora orders a crepe loaded with strawberries and cream. As she takes a bite, the sweetness of the strawberries bursts in her mouth, and she lets out a satisfied sigh.

Miko notices Pekora's reaction and smiles. "Enjoying it?"

Pekora nods, taking another bite. "Yeah, this is really good," she says, savoring the flavors.
They continue walking, pausing every now and then to share the crepes. The conversation between them is light and easy, with Miko's playful banter making Pekora laugh more than she has in a long time.

As they continue their walk, Miko spots a small park nearby and suggests they take a break and sit for a bit.

They find an empty bench and settle down. The park is quiet and peaceful, and Pekora finds herself appreciating the moment, free from the pressure of streaming and her worries about Suisei. She glances at Miko, who is quietly enjoying the serenity of their surroundings.

As they sit on the park bench, Pekora takes in the scenic surroundings. The lush greenery, the children running amok, the couples picnicking nearby - it all stirs something within her.
A sense of familiarity washes over her, and she realizes they're near her neighborhood. The realization hits her that she didn't need to go on a vacation to experience moments like this; they were right in her own backyard.

Pekora leans back on the park bench, her arms crossing behind her head. As she savors the last bite of her crepe, her mind starts to wander. "Maybe I should lighten up on my schedule," she muses silently.

The constant streaming and the lack of breaks were starting to weigh heavily on her. She knew the grind was part of the job, but maybe there was room for some balance.

Miko shifts nervously on the bench, her voice soft but eager. "Pekora, I have a favor to ask."

Pekora turns to look at Miko, a hint of curiosity in her eyes. "What is it?"

Miko takes a deep breath and continues, "Would you be willing to keep our pretend relationship going for a little longer? I think it could be good for us...as friends, of course."

Pekora ponders the request. Despite her initial skepticism, she can't deny the positive impact their pretend relationship has had on their friendship.

She takes a moment before answering, trying to keep her tone nonchalant. "I suppose we can keep up the act for a little longer...for the sake of our friendship," Pekora replies, trying to sound indifferent.

Miko's face lights up with excitement, and a huge smile spreads across her face. Her eyes sparkle with gratitude and joy.

Miko grabs Pekora's hand, squeezing it gently. "Thank you so much, Peko! You have no idea how happy you've just made me."

Pekora ignored her heart banging at the door to her brain. No, she wasn’t going to let a momentary flutter wreck the platonic bond they were forming. Pekora flashed a smile of her own, letting her happiness shine through.

——————————————————————————————————————-‘

Pekora lies back on the bed, her breath coming in short pants. She turns her head to the side and gazes at Suisei, who is stretched out beside her, her chest rising and falling with each deep breath. The sweat on Suisei's body glistens in the dim light, and Pekora can't help but admire her friend's natural beauty.

As she watches Suisei's chest heaving, she reflects on how skilled she's become at finding all of Suisei's most sensitive spots. Every touch and caress seemed to draw a different kind of response, each more pleasurable than the last. It was almost as if Suisei's body was a instrument, and Pekora had mastered the art of playing it. Her heart swelled with pride and a sense of intimacy, having surpassed her own expectations at being able to make someone like Suisei bend to her touch.

The soft, subtle movement of her friend's body was a mesmerizing sight, and at that moment, it was as if time stood still.

Pekora's mind drifts back to the countless hours they've spent together, both on and off stage. Suisel's talent and beauty on stage had always been a source of awe for her, but here, in this intimate moment, she realizes that Suisei was just as beautiful, if not more so, in this vulnerable state.

Pekora turns onto her side, her head propped up on her hand as she looks at a still-catching-her-breath Suisei.

She reaches out and gently traces her fingers down Suisei's arm, a soft smile on her lips. "That was...incredible," she says, her voice filled with admiration.*

Suisei chuckles, lazily opening her eyes to meet Pekora's gaze, a lazy and satisfied smile on her face. "You were incredible," she responds, her voice hoarse from their previous exertions.*

Pekora feels a familiar warmth in her chest at Suisei's praise, her heart swelling with affection for her friend. "You're not so bad yourself," she teases, her fingers continuing to roam over Suisei's heated skin in lazy patterns.*

Suisei laughs again, enjoying the casual banter and affection between them. She shifts her body closer to Pekora, snuggling into her.

Pekora wraps an arm around Suisei, pulling her in close and relishing the feeling of their bare bodies pressed against each other.

Pekora snuggles closer to Suisei, her hand casually stroking her friend's back. She speaks idly, her tone slightly contemplative.

"You know... this whole friends with benefits thing we've got going on. It can't last forever, right?" Pekora spoke idly, her tone slightly contemplative.

Suisei turns on her side, facing away from Pekora, a hint of vulnerability in her voice. She responds with a sigh. "I know... It sucks that this has to end eventually. But I guess I'll figure something out. Maybe focus more on catching up with my other friends or something like that."

Pekora feels a pang of guilt at Suisei's words, seeing the hint of vulnerability in her friend. She inches closer to Suisei, spooning her from behind, and pulls her in tightly. She murmurs gently, her voice soothing.

"You know I'm always here for you, even after this deal is over. As a friend, not just...this. I care about you, and I'll be there if you need me."

Suisei feels the warmth of Pekora’s embrace, and a wave of gratitude washes over her. She leans back into Pekora’s body, her voice filled with appreciation. “Thank you, Pekora. That means a lot. Anyone who ends up dating you will be incredibly lucky. You have a good heart, even if you try to hide it sometimes.”

Pekora hugs Suisei tighter, her heart filled with conflicting emotions. She's grateful for this moment of intimacy, yet guilt and self-doubt lingers in her mind.

Pekora tightens her grip around Suisei, drawing her friends body flush against hers. She buries her face into Suisei's shoulder, inhaling the familiar scent of her skin, and feels the warmth of their bodies pressed together. She silently berates herself, thinking to herself, ‘I don't deserve this. I don't deserve her kindness or her friendship or this intimacy. This can’t continue for much longer. It’s not fair to her or Miko.’

Chapter Text

Pekora munches through her breakfast, her gaze fixated on her phone as she scrolls through the upcoming streams of her fellow Hololive VTubers. She sees Flare prepping for a Splatoon tournament, Noel streaming the latest Dragon Quest installment, and Marine's usual roster of collabs, often alongside Shion.

Thoughts of Miko and Suisei linger in her mind, bringing a smile to her face that she tries to suppress. She scolds herself silently, wondering why she lets them have such a hold on her thoughts, especially when there are more important things to focus on - like her own upcoming stream and the tasks at hand.

Pekora moved from her kitchen to her streaming room where she has her stream setup, the familiar sight of her setup bringing a sense of comfort and routine. It’s for an upcoming stream where anyone from Hololive can call in for a chat. It was one of these occasions that she can use to talk to Hololivers outside of her friend circle, plus it helps keep business connections alive, who knows when you need to rely on them for an event or song collab.

Pekora's couldn’t resist as her smile widens when she opened her phone and is greeted with notifications from Suisei and Miko on the LINE Messenger app.

‘Hey Pekora! I wanted to take a second to thank you for being so understanding and patient with me, especially when I act like a baby sometimes. I know faking a relationship isn't easy, and I know I put a lot of stress on you because of it. I'm really sorry about that. But I promise it'll all be over soon, and then we can go back to being just friends again. As much as I wish we could be real girlfriends, this is as close as I can get. Thanks for putting up with me all this time. Can't wait to talk to you on stream.’

Pekora’s eyes darted from Miko’s message down to Suisei’s latest message.

‘Peko-chan! I know you’re getting ready for your stream, but I wanted to quickly text you and say I’m taking what you said to me in bed and that I wish for us to become closer after our friends with benefits transaction ends for real, and I go back to solidifying my bond with Mikochi back on a business partners level. I look forward to us entertaining your fans on your stream.’

Pekora's finger hovered above the keypad of her phone, her mind swirling with indecision. If only she could keep this up forever having a close relationship with both Miko and Suisei, but she knew that eventually she’ll have to be forced to pick one and leave the other behind. So what’s the point of choosing anyway?

With a sharp breath, Pekora set her phone down, refocusing her mind on the task at hand. There would be time to sort out this dilemma later. For now, she had a stream to prepare for and couldn't afford any distractions.

———————————————————————————————————————

"Hey everyone, thanks for staying with me during the break! I know you all must be curious about who else might be calling in today. Trust me, there's a pretty exciting list of guests lined up."

"Please be Suisei and Miko!" It was the common topic which the chat yearns for, despite mainly being here for Pekora.

"Ah, I see your suggestions. You guys really want to see some familiar faces? Well, I won't spoil anything. I can’t control who shows up anyway, and let say as a warning to not harass anyone to join in on this call. We want to keep this fun, ok?”

Pekora nodded seeing the chat agree to keep the demon down, however she acknowledges the chat's concerns about the reduced presence of Suisei and Miko in recent content. She wanted to reassure her loyal viewers that their favorite duo would make a return.

"Don't worry, everyone. I know there hasn't been much content from Suisei and Miko lately, but they've both been incredibly busy with their own projects and lives. I promise you'll see them again soon, doing what they do best. Hang in there, the wait will be worth it-peko,” Pekora said.

“Nyahello!” Miko’s familiar catchphrase was heard through Pekora’s loudspeakers. Pekora lights up. Oh, this is where the fun begins.

"Well, if it isn't my old rival, Miko-senpai. It's about time you turned up.“ Pekora’s tone of voice was taunting yet tinged with a familiar warmth as she never misses a beat in squaring up against the elite shrine maiden.

“Huhu! It’s been far too long since we last tested our skills,” Miko said.

“For a shrine maiden, you’re sure acting like a chunni,” Suisei said, her voice appearing alongside Miko’s voice.

“Aaah! Sui-chan, way to burst the bubble,” Miko said, not too pleased with Suisei bouncing in.

“Wait wait wait! Suisei, you’re right there in person with Miko-senpai?!!” Pekora yelled.

“That’s right! Mikochi and I have come to a resolution,” Suisei said.

“It was a relief. I did miss her,” Miko said.

“Alright, only for a bit will I acknowledge that I missed Mikochi too. We’re going to make up for the time we spent apart. And we’re meaning just business partners this time,” Suisei said.

“WOW! That is a lot to catch up on. I want this to be its own video, anyway, besides that, is there anything you two would like to share with me?” Pekora asked.

“Just doing some thinking for a video we’re going to do on the main channel,” Miko said, her excitement can be felt off the screen.

“This soon? That’s exciting, I’m impressed you two got permission to do so-peko,” Pekora said.

“We had this one planned for months. It’s about who in Hololive would lean towards dating either me or Mikochi,” Suisei said.

“Eh? Never thought I would hear shipping be encouraged on the main channel like that. Some people are not going to be happy-peko,” Pekora said.

“Management said it was fine. So we’re looking forward to filming. However, we run into a deliemma where we couldn’t figure where you land on,” Suisei said.

“Pardon?” Pekora froze from her being addressed that she almost didn’t catch what Suisei was saying. Out of disbelief, Pekora attuned her ears to listen properly this time.

“I told you Pekora was going to have this reaction. She’s not that easy when it comes to the topic of dating,” Miko said.

“I’m just not interested. Tell me, how many people have you guessed so far-peko?” Pekora asked.

“So far we run down almost everyone in the Japanese branch except you, and the 1st Gen of Indonesia,” Suisei answered.

“Just decide on a coin flip, it’ll be easier than trying to force an answer out of me-peko,” Pekora said.

“Leaving it to chance just feels wrong though. For everyone else, we decided it based on discussion and who would better fit one of us,” Miko said.

“I mean it’s hard to pick between your personality and Suisei-senpai’s body,” Pekora said. Her mouth was gaped open. How could she had said something like that out loud?!

“What do you mean? Sui-chan’s body…” Miko was confused and looked at Suisei to the side who was looking elsewhere with her ears becoming red.

“It’s not what you think, it’s something I said without thinking, just ignore that, ahahahaha!” Pekora said.

“What’s going on here? Sui-Chan, you seem really flustered,” Miko asked, noticing Suisei’s face suddenly becoming bright red.

“I’m going out for fresh air,” Suisei got up from her seat and tried to go to the door but Miko grabbed her arm from where she was sitting.

“No wait, now I’m definitely suspicious. It’s fine if Pekora prefers your body over mine, but it’s weird you’re getting riled up like this,” Miko said.

Suisei sat down back on her seat and inched closer to Miko. “I don’t care about whether Pekora prefers my body over yours, what’s more weirder is Pekora preferring your personality over mine” Suisei said, her voice creeping to a low octave.

“Of course she does, she loves me over you, I-I mean as a friend,” Miko said, realizing that she would prefer not to be in the same room as Suisei right about now.

“As a friend, that’s funny. If what Pekora says about my body is true, then I can go further with her than you ever could,” Suisei said.

Miko reached out to grab Suisei’s collar and pull her close. “Take that back! You don’t know Pekora like I do! She’s not comfortable with sex!” Miko said.

“Tsk! Turns out you don’t know as well as I do!” Suisei spat back.

“Shut up! Both of you! I’m ending this call,” before Suisei and Miko could respond, Pekora clicked the end meeting button.

“Sorry chat for that outburst, that wasn’t the right thing to say,” Pekora said.

The chat has sped up a million miles per hour, full of speculation and confusion at how Suisei and Miko could get riled up so fast.

“I’m the same as you all, I didn’t know that was going to happen. I’m still a bit shaken up, I’m going to end the stream since I’m not feeling well all of a sudden. This shouldn’t affect tomorrow’s stream, and I’m sorry if anyone else intends to call. I’ll host another stream like this again in the future. Ok, I’m going to rest now, bye,” Pekora clicked on her keyboard to transition to the end credit screen as she pushed her chair out as well as muting the mic.

Pekora went over to her bed to lie down stomach first. She groaned loudly. So much work, and for what, to have it blow over in front of their fans. And worse of all, it was because of Suisei and Miko fighting over her. Pekora never wanted to be like those bond protagonists that get fought over by the heroines. She just wanted a fun life as a streamer and virtual idol. As she turned over to look up at the ceiling, she thinks to what will happen next.

‘The only thing I can do now is prepare for the inevitable,’ Pekora thought, knowing she’ll have to get up soon, but it’ll be nice to lay down for a few minutes and do nothing before she has to sort out this new mess.

Chapter Text

Pekora waited in front of her computer, sighing deeply. The weight of the situation feels suffocating. She knows that her words might have irreparably damaged the relationship between Suisei and Miko. But the worst part is how powerless she feels in the situation.

Pekora taps her fingers on the desk, feeling utterly lost. For a moment, she just stares at the computer screen, contemplating her options. She finally realizes that the only thing she can think of doing is reaching out to her manager...

They had a short text conversation, and her manager assures Pekora that it although it wasn’t graceful, it was better than nothing.

Pekora texts back and say she’ll try to patch things up. Her manager says it’s not necessary for her to do that anymore, and that it’s over now.

Pekora asks why, and her manager says that it’s up to the CEO Yagoo to decide.

It took a few hours later when Pekora was at the office to found out on the announcement from Hololive’s official twitter account that Miko and Suisei has asked for a break in order to cool off from this situation.

Pekora wants nothing more than to crawl into a hole and disappeared. She could imagine the fans being disappointment and her fellow co-workers confused by the escalation.

What on earth was she thinking anyway? She wasn’t even a people person. Sure she wasn’t the shut in she was used to be, but she still avoided people if she could get away with it.

This can’t end like this. Pekora steels herself as she walked back into her apartment after a few hours of recording for episodes of Holograffiti and the latest official asmr package.

Pekora settled herself into a comfortable position on her couch, as Pekora took a deep breath, she dialed Miko's number, her heart pounding in her chest. After a few rings, Miko picks up. Without waiting for Pekora to speak, Miko cuts in.

Miko: "Why did you sleep with Suisei?"

Pekora hesitates, knowing that explaining won't make things any better. Nonetheless, she gives it a try.

Pekora: "I... It was the only way I could think of to get Suisei to re-approach you. I never meant for things to escalate like this."

Pekora: "How did you find out about us anyway?"

Miko (angrily): "Suisei told me her side of the story after we ended the stream. She explained everything."

Pekora felt guilt creeping up her spine, knowing that there's no way to make the situation better with some simple explanation.

Pekora cringes at Miko's words, her heart feeling heavy.

Miko (angrily): "You're just despicable, you only care about your own career."

Pekora, feeling defensive, shoots back.

Pekora: "How can you say that? I care about Hololive just as much as you do. We can't let your breakup drag the company down."

Pekora feels a mix of anger and hurt as Miko's words cut deep. Her heart races, and a pang of guilt and shame washes over her.

Miko's voice echoes through the phone line, laced with anger. "You don't get to decide what it means to protect Hololive. You only care about yourself."

The sharp stinging words pierce through Pekora. She grits her teeth, anger mixed with pain. Her hands grip the phone tightly.

"Enough," Pekora says, her voice firm despite the turmoil within. "I'm hanging up."

There's a brief pause, and then Miko's final insult comes, like a knife to Pekora's heart.

"Well, go ahead then. Don't ever call me again, and go f*ck yourself!"

The line goes dead, and for a moment, Pekora can only sit there, stunned, holding the phone in her trembling hand. The pain in her chest feels like a physical ache.

Pekora collapses onto the couch, the weight of her guilt and shame crashing down on her. She places a hand on her chest, feeling a deep ache in her heart. It's as if it's physically hurting her. She never intended to hurt Miko, but the weight of her actions bears down on her conscience.

She spends the next 30 minutes shedding tears, but eventually, Pekora pulls herself together and forces herself to go to the office to rent a space where she does some extra singing practice. With a heavy heart and a stoic expression, she tries to put the pain aside and focus on her work.

After a tiring couple hours of singing practice and a quick one-hour distraction stream to keep her mind occupied, Pekora finally finds a moment alone in her apartment. With a deep breath, she settles into a comfortable position and steels herself to make the call she's been dreading.

Her hand hovers over her phone's screen, the number already pulled up. She pauses for a moment before finally tapping the call button, her heart a tangled mess of uncertainty and anticipation.

Pekora, desperate to get in touch with Suisei, calls her number multiple times. Her finger trembles as she dials, anxiety gnawing at her insides. However, the first two calls go unanswered, making her heart sink with each ring that goes unheeded.

Finally, on the third try, just as she's about to give up hope, she hears the familiar sound of Suisei picking up the phone.

Suisei's voice is guarded and cold as she picks up the phone.

Suisei: "You shouldn't have accepted my terms."

Pekora's voice is defensive, laced with a hint of desperation.

Pekora: "I had no choice. It was the only way to get you to interact with Miko again."

Suisei's tone becomes more serious as she responds.

Suisei: "As much as I have my disagreements with Miko, I don’t want her to get hurt any further. Plus, you should have told me about your secret relationship with her."

Pekora's voice hardens in response.

Pekora: "Our relationship was just about sex, so it wasn't any of your business anyway."

Suisei scoffs, her voice tinged with pain from Pekora's words.

Suisei: "Even so, communication is important in a relationship, you know?"

Pekora responds, her tone unyielding.

Pekora: "And that's why we're having this conversation."

Pekora heard the phone call got cut off. “Shit! Don’t do this to me now.”

Pekora dials Suisei's number again, hoping against all hope that Susei will answer her call. But as the call connects and the dial tone fades into a steady beep, she's met only with the harsh disconnect signal.

Pekora's heart sinks, as she palms her forehead, feeling defeated. "Ugh, dammit," she mutters under her breath. No amount of admiration from her bosses and senpais was worth this much stress, especially when she couldn’t think of an obvious solution.

Chapter Text

Pekora idly scrolls through the threads, her eyes darting from one comment to the next.

“Serves them right. I can’t believe Hololive has allowed this degeneracy to be public for so long in allowing corruption of the youth,” to “It must have been that Pekora bitch’s fault. I knew she was a fake from the moment I saw her, I bet she was behind their breakup so that she would be the dominant figure in Hololive.”

Pekora groaned, turning her phone off as she lounged around on top of her bed. No one was feeling in the mood to collab because of the recent drama, and from the current amount of games she has permission to play, none could provide the escapist entertainment she needed.

Her thoughts race, replaying the events of the past couple of days over and over in her mind.

"Ugh, what the hell am I supposed to do? Everyone is mad at me now. Miko, Suisei... even the fans."

She rolls over onto her stomach, burying her face in the pillow. "This is such a damn mess."

Pekora’s frustration turns to sadness as she recalls the phone calls she had with Miko and Suisei, their words stinging with anger and disappointment. "Why did I have to mess things up so badly?" she thinks, her fists clenching the bedsheets.

"I just wanted to be with Miko so badly, but I didn’t think about how things would play out. And now, I've lost the trust of not only her, but Suisei too."

Pekora groans, feeling a deep pang of guilt and regret in her chest.

The more she thinks about her actions, the heavier the weight of her guilt grows. It’s as if every single decision she made was the wrong one.

"Dammit, I really screwed up," she mutters to herself. She lifts her head from the pillow, staring at the ceiling in frustration.

"Is there even a way out of this mess? Or am I just stuck here, alone and ostracized, until this all blows over...?"

The sudden ringing of the doorbell pierces through the silence of Pekora's apartment, jolting her out of her brooding thoughts. She groans, reluctantly rising from her bed and padding her way to the front door. With a weary twist of the knob, the door swings open, revealing her mother standing on the other side.

As Pekora opens the door, her mother smiles and holds out a steaming pan of freshly cooked lasagna, the warm, savory odor wafting through the air.

"I made you something," her mother says, a hint of concern in her voice. Pekora steps back, allowing her mother to enter the apartment.

Her stomach growls at the smell of the home-cooked meal, a small comfort amidst the recent chaos.

Pekora’s mum carefully arranges the pan of lasagna on the countertop, ensuring the foil cover is secure. As she turns to face her daughter, a hint of worry visible in her eyes, Pekora finally gathers the courage to ask the question that’s been on her mind.

"Why are you really here?" she inquires, her voice laced with a mix of curiosity and exhaustion.

Peko-mama glances at Pekora with a sympathetic expression, replying, "I saw your tweet saying you won’t be streaming today because you’re feeling unwell. I just wanted to check on you."

Pekora remains silent, her eyes cast down as she sat down on a stool. Peko-mama observes her daughter’s troubled expression, sensing that something is weighing heavily on her mind. However, she knows better than to press the issue, opting instead to maintain a supportive presence.

Peko-mama takes a seat next to Pekora and begins talking to her, recounting the latest happenings in her two older sons' lives.

Pekora listens, occasionally chiming in with a soft "That’s nice" or a nod of acknowledgment.

Pekora’s voice is soft as she asks, "Mum, can I ask you something?"

Peko-mama looks at her daughter, noticing the vulnerability in her tone. She smiles gently and replies, "Of course, Pekora. What is it you want to know?"

Pekora hesitates for a moment before continuing, her voice tinged with worry.

"What was it like when you and dad used to argue...?"

Peko-mama’s ears perk up. "Ah, well, back before we got married, your father and I would get into all sorts of little squabbles. We'd huff and puff, and then we'd go off and sulk for a while until one of us apologized."

“Then, what changed-peko?”

Peko-mama’s smile widens slightly as she meets her daughter’s gaze. Her voice becomes wistful as she dives into her story, a soft smile playing on her lips.

"You know, when your father proposed to me, I had some doubts about saying yes. We’d known each other for a while, but marriage... it was a big step. But we decided to take a day to go hiking, just the two of us, leaving all our responsibilities behind."

"And we spent that whole day talking, going back and forth, and even getting into a few arguments. But the one condition was that we couldn’t run away from each other," Peko-mama continues, her tone becoming more serious but her touch remaining affectionate.

"We had to face each other’s points head on, no matter how tough it was. And let me tell you, it wasn’t easy. It was stressful, but... it was worth it. If I hadn’t gone through that with your father, I might have broken off the engagement."

Peko-mama’s voice softens as she finishes recounting her story, her gaze fond as she looks at Pekora.

"And I'm so grateful for the chance to have two wonderful sons and a talented, hardworking daughter like you. You make me proud, Pekora."

With a gentle, affectionate pinch, Peko-mama reaches up to Pekora’s cheek once again, her touch filled with maternal love and pride.

Peko-mama studies her daughter, intrigued by Pekora's investment in her story..

"I've noticed you're not usually big on relationships," Peko-mama said.

Pekora lets out a small hum, as if the story of her parents relationship has set her mind at ease. "Yeah, well, I suppose my perspective has changed a bit recently," she admits, vulnerability spilling out from in her voice. "I've found... I've sort of developed an interest in that aspect of life."

Peko-mama listens to her daughter’s declaration, her motherly thoughts restrained beneath her calm exterior. Peko-mama looks at her daughter intently, her voice soft yet firm.

"You have the potential to form a relationship, but it's crucial to remember that your potential partner matters, so compromising between your needs and their needs is key.”

Pekora nods, acknowledging the truth in her mother's words.

"I know. I still have a lot to learn about that-peko,” Pekora forced the words out of her mouth. It was like hot coals was placed on top of her head, the mistakes of her past coming to bear on her.

Peko-mama looks at her daughter, a mixture of pride and concern in her eyes.

"I used to worry about you, spending so much time in your room. I wondered if you'd ever find someone who can make you happy."

Peko-mama's voice softens, a gentle smile appearing on her face.

"But now, seeing the woman you've grown into, capable of forming bonds... it warms my heart. You've come so far, Pekora."

"What if I'm not strong enough and I crumble in the end?"

Peko-mama looks at her daughter with a reassuring smile.

"At least you'll know you won't have any regrets," she responds, her voice confident yet soothing.

Pekora leaned over as she relaxed into her mourner’s embrace. They didn’t share any more words, Pekora now only needs her mom’s love and her cooking to get back onto her feet.

———————————————————————————————————————

Time seemed to crawl as Pekora wrestled with her thoughts. She had a plan, to mend fences with Suisei and Miko. Maybe they couldn't play nice on camera, but she wanted to fix their strained relationships. As she mulled this over, her mind wandered to the complexities of trust within relationships.

Then, her thoughts drifted to the recent pairing of Marine and Shion-senpai, a duo that surprised many. The smug, bratty witch of Hololive and the pirate captain, an unexpected partnership.

Pekora couldn't help but ponder the dynamics of their connection.

She recalled her own fleeting encounters with Shion-senpai, brief moments that left an impression. It was strange to think of her with the boisterous and flirtatious Marine. But perhaps there was more to their relationship than appeared on the surface.

Pekora couldn't shake the curiosity that had taken hold of her. She wondered about the intricacies of their bond, the trust and understanding that must have developed between them behind closed doors.

The more she thought about it, the more she realized that maybe she should learn a thing or two from this unexpected pair. Maybe there was a way to rebuild trust with Suisei and Miko, even if it meant going beyond the confines of the camera's gaze.

With a newfound sense of determination, she decided to reach out to Shion-senpai. She needed insight into what made their relationship tick, how they navigated the tumultuous waters of trust and vulnerability.

She knew it wouldn't be easy, but if anyone could give her some answers, it would be the witch who managed to capture the heart of the pirate captain.

After finishing organizing some work related staff, Pekora shoots Shion a message asking if she has time to hang out together. Shion texted back saying she’ll be free in an hour.

The hour went by in a flash and Pekora went to Shion’s place. However, Shion was at the front door and whipped up a spell with her want to summon a portal. She took Pekora’s hand and they stepped into the portal.

As they stepped through the portal, Pekora found herself in a well-appointed, but somewhat neglected, residence. It was evident that it had been a while since anyone had called this place home.

Shion’s old abode was clearly furnished to reflect her unique witchy aesthetic, with a mix of Gothic and medieval elements blending harmoniously with its modern touches. The walls were adorned with intricate tapestries depicting scenes of mystique and magic, while the furniture had a distinctly witchy vibe, accented with plush black and purple velvet upholstery.

Off to one side of the room, a large, black cauldron sat atop a crackling fireplace, its contents bubbling and simmering with a mysterious, otherworldly energy. The cauldron was old, its surface pitted and burned from countless spells and concoctions brewed within its depths, but it gave off an air of dark mystique.

Shion ran her hand through her glossy silver hair, sending it cascading to the side with a graceful movement. Her stance was nonchalant, a hand on her hip, as she looked at Pekora with a hint of mischief in her eyes. “I figured you wanted privacy so I thought my old place in the underworld would suit us nicely.” She tilted her head, studying the bunny girl with a curious expression, her smile widening into a smirk. “So how can I help you?” Shion asked.

“Listen, are you fine with talking about personal stuff-peko?” Pekora asked, Her eyes were fixed on the witch, her voice steady and resolute.

“Hmmm, I’m not sure if I’m the right person for this sort of thing,” Shion said.

“Don’t worry, it’s entirely relevant to you-peko,” Pekora said.

“Ok, then fire away.”

“What’s Marine like-peko?” Pekora asked.

“Ehh?! Why are you asking me? You’re in the same group with her. I would expect you to know more her then I do,” Shion said, pouting and shaking her head.

“You do know that I’m the type of person who spends her time in the bathroom when I’m out with Madine and Noel and Flare, so, I want to get your perspective on Marine. It’s not really about Marine anyway, I just want to know about your relationship in general-peko,” Pekora said.

“Honestly, It’s not that easy to describe. I’m still trying to get my head around that hag,” Shion said fondly.

“Do you tend to have fights with her?” Pekora asked.

“A few, but we make up after that. Mostly it’s online communication in between our work, but when we’re on our own it’s in bed,” Shion explained.

“Ok then,” Pekora said in a huff.

“Sorry if this isn’t much help,” Shion said. “This must not have sounded as interesting as you must had expected,” Shion said.

“No no, thank you for your time. While I’m here, do you think you could teach me a thing or two about your style of magic-peko?” Pekora asked.

“I don’t usually do this, but since you’re my kouhai, I don’t see why not,” Shion laughed and skipped off to dust off the cauldron.

Pekora sighed, she was relieved she could come up with something to make this worth Shion’s time. But this made her feel glad about not being the only one who gets into arguments with the people she cares about the most.

Chapter Text

“Thank you so much Sora-senpai for organizing this. I’m going to make sure I make up for this-peko,” Pekora said, she held her phone next to her ear as she walked in step in a nearby park that was close to her apartment.

“Haha, now you’re making me feel indebted. No need to fret, I care just as much for Miko’s and Suisei’s wellbeing, so do your best to reconcile them,” Sora said.

“You got it!” Pekora cheered. It was a slightly foggy day. Pekora has put on some comfy clothes to keep her warm and protected from the slightly chilly wind. She wouldn’t want the weather to distract her from her mental preparation.

Pekora paced through the nearby park, phone pressed to her ear. A gentle fog clung to the air, occasionally broken by the soft light of the sun. “Thank you, Sora-senpai,” she said gratefully. The distant sound of children playing filtered through the trees, a stark contrast to the seriousness of their conversation. Internally, Pekora resolved to mend the rift between Miko and Suisei, driven by a sense of responsibility. She wrapped her jacket closer, bracing against the cool breeze. "I won't let you down," she murmured as she hanged up the call.

Pekora has to time this right. There are multiple paths throughout the park that connect at the end to the centre where are picnic tables joined together. Sora helped by calling Miko and Suisei and said that she wants to talk to each of them alone at the park. Of course they didn’t know that they’re going to show up at the same location, where Pekora is right now.

Pekora goes over in her head of what should happen. Once Miko and Suisei locked eyes, what then? Would they just storm off or argue with each other creating a public nuisance. How would Pekora intervene between them enough so the two of them can put their past behind them?

So much pressure is on this bunny who day to day entertained thousands upon thousands of people. There was always the temptation of calling this off and going back home. However, there’s no going back now.

Pekora didn’t have time to waste as Suisei and Miko appeared in sight walking towards her on two different paths.

Miko and Suisei saw each other and was aghast. Then they both saw Pekora and looked back at each then back at Pekora. After a couple of times, they marched straight to Pekora.

“You have some explaining to do,” Suisei said. Miko crossed her arms, brows furrowed in a stern frown. Her eyes darted between Suisei and Pekora, her disapproval evident. Meanwhile, Suisei's gaze sharpened, her narrowed eyes fixed on Pekora, a scowl tugging at her face.

“I didn’t expect you to go out of the way and get Sora to help you,” Miko said.

“I want to apologize-peko,” Pekora said. Her legs were twitching, begging to run away from this situation as fast as possible.

Miko paused, not believing what she’s hearing. Suisei frowned but the good news was she wasn’t reaching for a weapon for now.

Pekora steeled herself as she came closer to Miko and Suisei. She stood in front of them, Suisei on her right and Miko on her left.

Obviously there’s a side of Suisei that Pekora finds intimidating about her, but in this current circumstance, Miko was quite intimidating as well.

Pekora motioned for them to follow her as they sat down at a table, Pekora sitting on one side and Miko and Suisei sitting on the other side though as far apart as they possibly can.

“I’m sorry to the both of you for deceiving you. I was persuaded thinking that I would be the ideal person to help you two reconcile after what happened-peko,” Pekora explained, Pekora fiddled with the hem of her jacket, her eyes darting between Miko and Suisei nervously.

“The ideal person… This isn’t like you, why would you go out of your way to try mend our situation?” Miko asked, her gaze softened slightly.

“Because your arguments are making Hololive look bad,” Pekora said.

“And that’s what you cared about,” Suisei scoffed, she looked away dismissively as she crossed her arms

“Ok that was true at first. I admit, I’m selfish and I care about my career. But I really didn’t want you two to fight each other forever to the point of you getting suspended,” Pekora said.

“They should had suspended us from the start anyway,” Suisei countered back.

Pekora avoided their gazes for a moment. “In hindsight,” she sighed, “you're right. Management's handling of the situation wasn't ideal. They could have chosen a more diplomatic approach, like granting both of you a six-month hiatus. But unfortunately, they didn't, and here we are-peko,” Pekora said.

Miko's voice was filled with disappointment. "I wish your involvement in this was more of your own choice, rather than being persuaded into it," Miko said.

Pekora met Miko's gaze, her expression filled with genuine regret. "Miko-senpai, I truly mean it when I say that I never wanted this to make you unhappy. Our time together was treasured and valuable to me-peko,” Pekora said.

“Don’t bother sweet talking Miko. You know she’s vulnerable to that kind of talk,” Suisei said.

“You’re not dating me anymore, why would you care anyway?” Miko asked not pleased by Suisei’s assertion.

“Because it’s not Pekora’s place to do so especially when she deceived you,” Suisei said.

“Don’t put your anger on me, you were deceived just as badly as I was,” Miko said.

“Mikochi, I still care about you,” Suisei said.

“Tsk! Now who’s the one trying to sweet talk me,” Miko said with a grimace.

“You two, it’s fine. It’ll be ok,” Pekora said.

“Shut up!” Miko and Suisei both said to Pekora.

Pekora was powerless to do or say anything. She thought if she could talk to Suisei and Miko at the same time, somehow she can force a reconciliation, but this isn’t working out at all. No, would Miko or Suisei give up if they’re facing an obstacle like this, no they wouldn’t!

“I won’t. Forget Hololive, I realize that I need the both of you. Miko and Suisei, you complete me in different ways. I was wrong to think that if I could involve myself temporarily, I can just leave once I reconcile you two, but I was wrong. Now that I have become intimate with you two, I don’t want things to go back the way it was before,” Pekora said.

“What would you want it as?” Suisei asked.

“Well…. It’s kinda hard to say, and I have no way to say it except in a blunt way,” Pekora said.

“It’s fine. We’re having a blunt conversation anyway,” Miko said.

“I want to date the both of you,” Pekora said.

Miko and Suisei were stunned. This wasn’t what they expected from Pekora.

“No way you’re being sincere about this. This is too left field, you’re not that type of girl,” Miko said.

“I’m coming to terms with this myself, I realize that I have feelings for the both of you. And I want to continue dating you both,” Pekora said.

“This isn’t like a harem manga, thinking that dating us would provide the covienent solution,” Miko said.

“Besides, even if we do agree to date you, it doesn’t mean me and Miko have resolved our differences.” Suisei said.

“Not today, but now I’m willing to give you two the time and space to heal. As long as we can be around each other in good faith, that’s what counts,” Pekora said.

“I haven’t forgiven you yet,” Miko said.

“Yeah… That makes sense,” Pekora said .

“You sure got guts for trying to get forgiveness from the both of us at the same time, you would have better luck trying to convince us on our own,” Suisei said.

“How else am I supposed to prove my atonement?” Pekora hypothetically asked .

This strikes a chord in Suisei and Miko. They inwardly groan. They could see that Pekora truly mean it from the bottom of her heart. There’s no way to quantify it.

“After all this time. Why now? I can’t believe after all this time, you developed a crush on me? And not only that, you slept with Suisei,” Miko said.

“I asked her to, she didn’t seek me out,” Suisei said.

“And yet she accepted, I don’t care you did it as a means to your goal, it still hurt that you didn’t think to ask me for permission,” Miko said.

“I realize that now. I’m new to having a relationship, and I’m going to be better from now on,” Pekora said.

Suisei and Miko stared Pekora down. Just from sitting still in front of them makes Pekora feel like she’s rapidly earning experience points.

“Is there anything else besides me going behind Miko’s back that you’re mad at me about?” Pekora asked.

“I don’t have that much history with you compared to Miko, but I did have a regret that I felt so attracted to you I was willing to open my body up to you. I guess that’s what I’m also mad at you about,” Suisei said.

“Then we can take it as slow as you want to. I’ll regain your trust then we can be as intimate like we’re used to,” Pekora said.

“You’ll learn to?” Suisei asked.

“I will, I’m willing to learn,” Pekora said.

“Damn it. You’re too earnest,” Miko got up from the table. “It took you screwing up to mature all of a sudden,” Miko said.

Pekora stood up and got close to Miko. “If you want to slap me then go ahead,” Pekora said.

Pekora felt herself get turned around then she got a slap to her cheek. It stung. It was from Suisei who didn’t hold back. It was red right on where the impact was. How Suisei managed to stood up and get close to Pekora without her realizing goes to show how impressive Suisei is.

Pekora held onto her stung cheek. Miko rushed to see if Pekora was ok.

“Oi! You didn’t have to hurt her!” Miko yelled at Suisei.

“Phew! That got any underlying resentment out of my system, how about you?” Susiei asked, stoic as ever.

Miko sighed. “I get it. I’m still mad, but I would never want to hurt you Pekora. I swear,” Miko said.

“Is this not just about now? But back then?” Pekora asked.

“I-I. I know….. In fact, I blame myself for my immaturity. Pekora, if you could imagine yourself in my shoes in the past, would you confess your feelings,” Miko asked.

“I wouldn’t have, which made your past confession memorable,” Pekora said.

Miko’s shoulders sagged, her chest heaved and a few tears escaped her eyes. Her head dropped onto Pekora’s shoulder.

Pekora stood in the silence of Miko’s crying. She couldn’t risk putting a hand on Miko in case of interrupting her.

Suisei abided by the silence as she sat with a grimace and a look of past regret.

Miko eventually ran out of tears and stepped back.

“Ok… I forgive you, and if you’re serious about dating me and Suisei, I don’t mind. But only because it’s Suichan,” Miko said.

“Thank you, Miko, I’ll make it up to you,” Pekora said.

Suisei cleared her throat catching Pekora’s and Miko’s attention.

“Right, I should ask if you’re ok with this arrangement,” Pekora said.

“Honestly this all had to do with Miko. Pekora, no, Peko-chan. I admit, I was using you at first to get over my repressed grief. But in time I have fallen for you, and I want to enter a relationship with you. So I don’t mind if you want to date Miko as well,” Suisei said.

“That’s wonderful-peko,” Pekora said.

“Don’t get too full of yourself, I won’t hold back from now on,” Miko said.

“I would be happy to say it if you’re too shy,” Suisei said.

“I’m too elite to be shy. I’ll show you Sui-chan, I’ll show you,” Miko said.

“Ha ha ha ha. That’s hilarious if you think you can square up to Suisei-peko,” Pekora said.

Suisei and Miko giggled. “Hard to imagine we were fighting seconds ago,” Miko said.

“That’s a relief. Like I said before, I’ll make you two the happiest women in the world, and I promise that you two can hold me accountable,” Pekora said.

“I wanted to hear you say that to me for so long,” Miko said.

“I can’t wait to get to know you more deeply,” Suisei said.

“Pekora, bravo for making Sui-chan act like Marine,” Miko said.

Suisei rolled her eyes. “Can’t help it, I’m not exactly a pure idol like Sora is,” Suisei said.

Pekora nodded along as she smiled. To think she had put Suisei high up on a pedestal and not see her for what she is. And also to have become closer with her former bearer friend and now one of her two lovers.

Chapter Text

In Monster Hunter World, Pekora, Miko, and Suisei were battling a towering beast. The monster they're facing is a massive, winged creature with scales glistening in the sunlight. It resembles a dragon, standing tall with menacing claws and a spiked tail that lashes through the air as it barrels toward Pekora’s character, a nimble dual-blade hunter clad in light armor. The beast roars, causing nearby foliage to shake violently.

“Miko-senpai! Suisei-senpai! Get your asses over here and help me!” Pekora screamed as her character struck the monster.

Pekora's character skillfully dodges the monster's charge, narrowly avoiding being crushed under its massive body. She darts around with quick, acrobatic movements, trying to stay ahead of its powerful tail swipes. Her blades flash with each strike, but the beast’s hide is tough, and the damage barely registers as it continues its relentless pursuit.

“My weapon hasn’t finished sharpening yet!” Miko screamed back.

Miko, standing a bit farther away, is desperately sharpening her weapon, a massive greatsword that requires both precision and power. As her character kneels and scrapes the blade along the whetstone, she anxiously glances at the battlefield, where Pekora is fighting to stay alive.

“Ahhh!” Pekora’s character leaped and leaped again to avoid the monster’s charge.

Meanwhile, Suisei’s character is off to the side, casually strolling through the jungle. Her heavy battle axe rests across her shoulder as she talks to her chat, watching Pekora’s struggle with amusement.

“Peko-chan looks so adorable fighting for her life,” Suisei said while muted in the game as she talked to her chat.

Suisei saw a message pop up on her other computer screen. ‘Come on, help Pekora before she gets mad at us for real,’ the message read from Miko.

Suisei popped her mute off. “Hold on, I’m coming,” she said.

Just as Suisei arrived, the monster landed a one-hit attack, killing Pekora’s character.

“Ahhhh, damn it!” Pekora ranted.

Suisei finally steps in, swinging her battle axe with a relaxed air of confidence, her armor gleaming as she strides toward the now-emboldened monster.

“Okay, no problem. I’ll show you what I can do,” Suisei said without a care in the world as she readied her battle axe.

Miko, having just finished sharpening her blade, rushed forward to join Suisei in the fight, but not before the monster let out a deafening roar, signaling the beginning of a brutal counterattack.

———————————————————————————————————————

The stream reaches its end as Pekora wraps up, her avatar waving to her audience.

“Okay, peko! That’s all for today! Thanks for watching, everyone!” Pekora says cheerfully, though there's an undertone of exhaustion in her voice. She smiles through it, trying to keep her usual high-energy presence alive. Her chat fills with goodbyes and "otsupeko" messages as she prepares to end the stream, but just as she ended her stream, a call notification appears on her screen.

“Huh? A call?” Pekora says, blinking in surprise as she clicks to confirm it. The screen changes, revealing Houshou Marine and Murasaki Shion sitting side by side in what looks like Marine’s bedroom. Marine’s bold pirate-themed avatar leans in closer to the screen, while Shion sits casually next to her, her mischievous smile lighting up the screen.

“Pekooo-chaaan~!” Marine’s voice rings out playfully, immediately filling the call with her usual loud and flirty tone. “Congrats on today! I can’t believe you actually got Suisei and Miko to reconcile. You’ve worked miracles, hehehe.”

Pekora lets out a sheepish laugh, rubbing the back of her head in her typical bashful manner. “Ahh, well… it wasn’t easy, peko. They can be stubborn, but I guess it all worked out in the end, right?” She tries to sound nonchalant, though there's a subtle sense of relief in her voice.

“Seriously though,” Marine says, her voice softening a bit, “I won’t ever ask you for a favor like that again. I owe you one, big time.”

Pekora waves her hand dismissively, brushing off Marine’s gratitude. “It’s fine, peko. Honestly, as much as I hated all the stress, what came out of it is much better than what could’ve happened if I hadn’t helped. So, no need to feel bad about it.” She gives a confident smile, though there’s a weariness in her eyes that’s hard to miss.

Shion, who had been mostly quiet up until now, chuckles. “You really pulled it off, huh? Not bad, Pekora,” she teases, her laid-back tone contrasting with Marine’s more energetic vibe.

As Marine and Shion look at Pekora, they seem to notice something different about her. They exchange a quick glance but say nothing. Instead, Marine smiles warmly and nods. “Well, anyway, good job today! You should rest up. You’ve earned it.”

“Yeah, take it easy,” Shion adds, her tone softening.

Pekora smiles, a hint of surprise in her expression at the sincerity from the two. “Thanks, peko. You two have a good night, too.”

With that, Marine and Shion wave goodbye, signing off with cheerful goodnights as Pekora closes the call.

—————————————————————————————————————

The moonlight filtered gently through the curtains of Pekora’s room, casting a soft glow on the three figures inside. Pekora sat on the edge of her bed, her signature bunny ears twitching slightly as she glanced at the two women standing with her. Suisei, with her cool blue hair and starry eyes, stood confidently, while Miko, with her pink hair and playful shrine maiden outfit, surveyed the room with a grin.

“Peko-chan, this room’s way too clean for you. You sure you haven’t paid for a cleaning lady?” Miko teased, her tone light but knowing.

Pekora puffed up her chest in mock offense. “Oi, oi, oi! My mom checks in on me a lot, peko! Gotta make sure it’s clean so she doesn’t nag me!”

Suisei’s eyes sparkled mischievously. “Ah, moms. They’re good at that. I’d love to meet yours sometime, Pekora.”

The rabbit girl frowned, crossing her arms. “Don’t think you can meet her that easily, peko. You have to earn that.”

Miko chuckled, leaning slightly toward Suisei. “You think meeting Peko-chan’s mom is hard? She still hasn’t met mine, and I’ve known her forever!”

Suisei raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Seriously? All this time and you haven’t introduced her to your parents?”

Miko scratched the back of her head, laughing sheepishly. “It’s not like I haven’t wanted to. It’s just…Pekora’s always been so shy about it.”

“I’m not shy!” Pekora huffed, her cheeks turning red. “I just don’t wanna talk about meeting parents right now!”

With a dramatic flourish, Pekora shuffled over to her bed and flopped onto it, face down, her long ears twitching as she buried herself in her blankets. “What I do wanna do is…snuggle, peko,” she mumbled, her voice muffled but unmistakably earnest.

Suisei and Miko froze, wide-eyed.

“Eh?! You could’ve just said that without making it sound so serious, Peko-chan!” Suisei laughed, striding over to the bed and standing at the foot of it. Her usual teasing smirk played at the corners of her mouth.

“With the both of us?” Miko blinked, holding her hand to her chest dramatically. “Don’t you know me and Sui-chan might start fighting and ruin the whole mood?”

Pekora, now lying on her back, glanced between them. “Then don’t fight, peko,” she said flatly.

Suisei raised her pinky, a sly smile tugging at her lips. “I pinky swear I won’t start anything, Miko. Let’s just enjoy the night with Peko-chan, okay?”

Miko hesitated, eyeing Suisei suspiciously, but then sighed and hooked her pinky around Suisei’s. “Fine, but only because I don’t want to make Peko-chan upset.”

Pekora raised an eyebrow at them, yawning. “Come on, already! I’ll fall asleep before you even get here, peko…”

“Hold your horses, your majesty,” Suisei chuckled, climbing onto the bed with a playful grin. She straddled Pekora’s waist with a confident smirk, her face inches from the rabbit’s.

“E-eh?!” Pekora’s entire body flushed a bright red. She could feel the weight of Suisei’s hips pressing down on her, and for a moment, her brain short-circuited.

Miko shot forward, her face in full pout mode. “Oi! Peko-chan said snuggling, not…whatever this is!” Without missing a beat, she pushed Suisei aside and snuggled into Pekora’s other side, making sure to press herself close enough for Pekora to feel her boobs press against her side.

Suisei, unfazed, nestled in on the other side, wrapping an arm around Pekora’s waist with a satisfied smile. “So bold, Miko. You really do care about Peko-chan, huh?”

Pekora, now trapped between the two, looked like she might explode from embarrassment. “If you two keep bickering, I’m not getting a wink of sleep, peko…”

The two idols immediately quieted down, though their playful smiles lingered as they snuggled up to Pekora more comfortably. “Goodnight, Peko-chan,” Miko whispered softly.

“Sweet dreams,” Suisei added, her voice low and warm.

As the warmth of her friends enveloped her, Pekora’s flustered mind began to calm. She stared up at the ceiling, her heart beating steadily as a wave of contentment washed over her. Years ago, she would have never imagined herself here, surrounded by people who cared so deeply for her.

She glanced at Miko, who was already dozing off with a peaceful expression, and then at Suisei, who still wore that teasing smile, even in her sleep. Pekora smiled to herself, her heart swelling with an emotion she didn’t often let herself feel.

“Goodnight, you two,” she whispered. In her heart, the words she couldn’t say out loud echoed: I love you both, peko.

With that, Pekora closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, feeling luckier than she ever had before.