In the end, you are still here

"What do you mean you're moving out!? What about our family bakery!? I've already given you enough freedom regarding your relationship and this is how you repay me? I will tell you right here. If you move to another city, then don't you dare come back to this house ever again!"

'Mom, I swear. I'm capable of being independent…'

"Miko, you know that I rarely intervene with your life. But about this issue, I really want you to reconsider. I know that this might hurt you. But, that man really isn't someone you should trust the rest of your life with. Would you consider the word of your father at the very least?"

'Dad. Thank you for always being there for me. But, this is the choice that I have made. So please, let me do it...'

"Isn't that the girl who moved out from her family just to be with that guy? Isn't she stupid? Didn't she know that the guy has always been cheating on her with multiple women? God, why are there people as stupid as her?"

'...I know that he won't betray me. He told me to trust him after all."

It was okay. As long as she was with him, everything will be fine. After all, they had made those promises to each other under that Sakura tree. She still remembered the vows he had made to be with her together and to put a ring on her finger eventually.

The word from others won't influence her love for him. That's why she made the choice to leave the small town in Hokkaido and came to Tokyo with him after their graduation. He wanted to find a new opportunity there.

They may not have much money but they will make it work in Tokyo. And under her request, both of them rented a separate place to live. She was particularly strict in those kinds of things due to the education from her parents. She believed some things are meant to be reserved for marriage.

And then, things change.

She saw it many times. He started coming home late after work. His phone calls were always with girls who she doesn't know. His clothes always smelled like perfumes that he didn't use. They rarely had any date anymore.

She even saw him hanging out with a girl in an accident on the train. Of course, she didn't mention it after that.

She believed in him. At least, that was what she told herself. A coward like her preferred sweet lies over harsh truth.

She forced herself to believe the man that had brought her here to Tokyo. She forced herself to believe that deep down, that boy who confessed to her sincerely was still somewhere in his heart.

And of course, the truth indeed reached her at the end.

It hurt like hell for Miko.

But if there was one thing that she was glad for coming to Tokyo, that would be her choice of starting a career as a VTuber. A blessing that she never knew she would need.

Even though her audience wasn't large, she was glad that she was able to entertain people in her job, making someone else's life slightly better. Who would know that a shy girl like her would step on the path to become an entertainer? Thousands and thousands of people subscribe to her, willing to give her a chance in becoming part of their life.

Even more, perhaps, was that she made a few friends along the way. Sora, A-chan, Anemachi… Well, it wasn't a lot. But, she was more than happy for the friend she had.

And on the topic of Anemachi, Miko was glad that she ended up with such a caring manager, or you could say, friend. Even if the first impression that she had left should not be commended, Anemachi still had accepted her for what she was, helping in any way possible.

Anemachi was a different person from anyone Miko had encountered so far. The aura she gave off, the tender love that she tried to hide towards everyone, it's something Miko hasn't seen even from her old boyfriend.

'But, it doesn't matter in the end.'

She failed to contain her emotion and messed up Sora's stream despite Sora's kindness to collab with her. As an entertainer, it's her job to bring joy to her audience, not to vent her negativity. She should have handled the comments better.

Miko looked at her phone and gave a bitter smile. Moreover, her VTuber career seems to be over already.

The article Miko was browsing on her phone had an obvious title bolded. It said, "Hololive VTuber Sakura Miko's ex-boyfriend asked for compensation for possible thievery."

In the article, her ex was interviewed by a certain online publisher group, And in the interview, he revealed his past relationship with her, accusing her of committing thievery and manipulating him during their time in Tokyo. Moreover, he threatened to reveal her identity if he wasn't compensated.

Her phone was spammed with messages from many asking her regarding this article.

Her ex had betrayed her.

She now knew why there were so many cruel comments towards her just now.

In Japan or the whole world, there were a group of people that couldn't accept their idol being in a relationship. It's an unspoken rule especially for VTubers to never reveal that kind of information if possible. Most importantly, she was accused of thievery and being a manipulative woman.

Hololive wouldn't accept talents that have criminal records. Or rather, the audience wouldn't accept their idol to be someone who had a stain like this.

"Hahaha, so all of it was for nothing in the end." Miko felt humor after looking at her whole journey to Tokyo until now.

Miko, who was sitting against the door the whole time, raised her head up. The tears in her eyes had long dried up when she was sprinting back home. Her eyes were now swollen and red. The phone in her hands dropped down as she refused to look at the news that has left a scar on her heart.

"I'm so tired."

Everyone betrayed or was disappointed in her. Her boyfriend, her parents, her viewers, Sora, A-chan, Anemachi...She was still a failure in the end.

Perhaps just like what the hater had said, she was just a nobody.

'I just want to run away from everything…'

Nothing will work out for her anyway.

She closed her eyes, seeking peace in the darkness that was consuming her.

That was when the voice that had once dragged her out from the night came in.

"Miko! Miko!"

Miko felt a strong vibration coming from the back of the door that she had leaned on. Someone was knocking on the door.

"Miko! Are you there! Open the door! Let me in please!" The voices were hurried, filled with worries.

"Just leave me alone, Anemachi," Miko responded, "Go back home. It will be fine."

Anemachi clearly ain't believing it.

"If you are fine then let me in . Let me see you!"

"There is no need for that. I believe you have already seen what happened on the internet."

'And soon, both of us will never need to see each other again.' The reality cut deep into Miko suddenly. She won't be able to work with Anemachi after this huh?

Well, Anemachi will definitely find another more talented person to assist. So she wouldn't have to worry. After all, Anemachi was on another level than her. She was a person that truly deserved happiness.

"I won't be a VTuber after this. My reputation was ruined already. The whole VTuber community is attacking me right now." Miko tried to say it as calmly as possible, "No company will accept a VTuber that has a questionable history. The internet wouldn't either... No one will."

But her heart wasn't as calm as she tried to be.

"So, I...I." Tears began dropping from Miko's eyes. Her words became blurrier.

"I...won't b...be able to." She tried her best to complete the sentence

"B...become a" Her heart nearly stopped.

"VTuber anymore." She said it out while putting her head between her knees.

She knew. She knew it's too late. A small VTuber like her wouldn't possibly come back after that.

She knew. She knew she wasn't suited for this career from the start. She was just lucky. Her failure from the previous agency proved that.

"But I really love this job…" The muffled sounds of Miko passed through the door.

"I really love it. Despite it being tiring. Despite that I have to try my best to entertain people even when I'm not happy. But, I really love it."

"Even though people might deny me of my work. Some people might hate me for what I did. But, I really love it. I love everyone who have stayed with me the entire time."

"I really love Sora who has always been a great role model for me. I really love A-chan who was always helping me out whenever I needed it. I really love you who was always by my side despite me being a failure. I really love the viewers who were always there to support me…"

"I thought I would be able to come back after the breakup."

"But it turns out, nothing works anymore."

The word in Miko's heart burst out in. Her pent up thoughts and emotions were all released.

"...Miko."

Anemachi behind the door, hearing the word from Miko, thought she had finally understood her.

Miko was just a lonely and hurt girl.

But Anemachi wanted to confirm something.

"You still want to become a VTuber right? If all of these things can be solved."

"Even if it means that you might have to go through things like this again. Or even worse."

"Yes." Miko responded despite sobbing, "Yes, yes, yes…"

"But how? No one will help me. Everyone had left me already…"

"No one will be by my side now."

"How, Anemachi?"

Miko waited for the voice from the other side.

Seconds past.

Perhaps she was thinking.

Minutes passed.

Maybe she doesn't know what to do either.

And ten minutes came.

"Anemachi?" Miko asked, now scared.

She won't leave her, right?

A few more minutes passed. No response came in.

"...Anemachi?" She asked once again, tears pouring out, "You are still there right?"

"..."

"I just want you to be beside me. Please, please, please…"

"..."

"Hahaha…"

She should have known.

Everyone will leave her in the end. No exception.

Miko's eyes turned hollow. She slowly raised her body up.

It's time to end this.

She walked towards her kitchen. The kitchen knife hanging before the window leading outside looked tempting to Miko.

She reached out her hand to it.

She won't let last time's mistakes repeat again.

Time to let the knife taste the sweet taste of blood.

Time to do the deeds.

She aimed the knife towards her stomach. She heard the sound of glass breaking somewhere. But it doesn't matter.

"Bye, everyone." She took a deep breath.

Miko used all her force to stab it into her stomach.

Strangely, she hadn't felt any pain.

She looked down towards the knife.

The knife was covered with blood and something more.

Two hands were holding the blade of it. The sharp edges of the knife left a trail of blood on that soft palm. The flesh stopped the sharp steel from continuing forward.

"I will be by your side. I promise." A soft voice entered her ears.

The window of her was broken with pieces of glass scattered on the ground.

The pink haired girl before her covered with glasses and scratches on face, with a smile continued to speak with an angelic voice.

"So, you want to continue to become a VTuber huh?"

"Well then, I will make you the most popular VTuber on the internet one day."

She really doesn't deserve the person before her.