It was a regular day for Sakura Miko, until she found out her high school best friend and classmate was a vigilante and found her passed out running away from some criminals. She grabbed her and ran to Suisei’s home, that of which she knew the location thanks to some sleepovers and study sessions, and with the hope her sister would be there, Anemachi.
“H-Hello! Is anyone in here?”
…
“Hnnngh… who… Suisei!?!?”
“She’s only passed out! Can I come in…?”
“Y-yes… why is she in that getup?”
“I… I’ll explain later… or let her explain.”
“Mnnngh… set her on the couch.”
…
“What happened.”
“I was just… I was just…”
“Never mind. Just tell me what happened with Suisei.”
“I… she…”
“…”
“I saw her running from some… criminals. I think. She was panting and collapsed on the floor as I was passing by.”
“…”
“I grabbed her and ran all the way here… I thought you might know what to do.”
“…did she have anything with her?”
“She…”
“…”
“She had an axe…”
After recovering, Suisei never stopped her vigilantism. Miko tried to get her to stop, knowing just how taxing it was on both her body and mind. But she didn’t even know why she was doing this in the first place. They had law enforcement, why risk your own skin? She first thought it was for a noble cause, fighting to protect the folk police turn a blind eye to. But… then she found out. Miko confronted Suisei about this.
“Sui-Chan.”
“…”
“Suisei.”
“…”
“Hoshimachi Suisei!”
“WHAT!”
“…you know you don’t want to do this.”
“I do?”
“…you have people who care about you!”
“And this is how I repay them!”
“YOU REPAY THEM BY LIVING!”
“…”
“We… they don’t want to see you throw your life away.”
“I’m… I’m not throwing my life away.”
“…then what do you call this?”
“…doing my part.”
“…”
“Miko… it’s fine.”
“…”
“My life is worthless anyways-“
“Stop.”
“Eh?”
“Don’t say that.”
“But… it’s true. No aspirations, no purpose, this is the least I can do-“
“For others or for yourself?”
“What?”
“Listen here, Hoshimachi.”
“…”
“You’re not the only one who had nothing going for them in life.”
“Miko-“
“No, you listen to me.”
“…”
“…I was just like you. I had no aspirations, no true friends.”
“…”
“But you know what I did have? A family that cared about me. And I cared for them.”
“…”
“Do you see what I’m getting at?”
“That you have parents?”
“That people care for you. No matter where they are.”
“…you don’t understand-“
“Oh I understand.”
“…”
“Hoshimachi Suisei. Do you realize what you’re doing?”
“Doing what good I can?”
“Killing yourself.”
“…”
“Look at yourself.”
“Hehe…”
“You’re hurt. And exhausted. For what?”
“…”
“You fight recklessly. Hell, it can barely be called fighting. It’s more like you’re on a suicide mission.”
“No… I’m… not…”
…
Suisei collapsed from the exhaustion finally catching up with her. Miko caught her before she hit the floor, hugging her tightly with tears running down her face.
…
“Suisei…”
“Miko…?”
“I hate you… I hate you so much because I care about you.”
“…”
“Why can’t you see that? That there are people who care about you?”
“…”
“…”
Miko realized her words hadn’t changed Suisei’s mind. In fact, they barely affected her.
“I…”
“Go.”
“Miko!”
“…”
“I’m… I’m-“
…
…
…
There was an organization that planned to bomb the whole city. While the cops were none the wiser, Suisei had been tracking their activities for a while now. However, the organization knew she was on their tail, and dived into her personal life. Then they found she had a love interest. Miko was held hostage. After a brutal scuffle, Suisei managed to limit the bombs explosion. At the cost of her life.
“Suisei! SUISEI!”
“Cough… cough… Miko…?”
“Suisei!”
“Are… you ok?”
“I’m… I’m fine. What about you!”
“Heh, cough… I think… I think it’s over for me…”
“Don’t… please don’t say that… you’re gonna be fine! I’ll go find someone!-“
Suisei grabbed Miko’s hand before she could run off.
“Miko… it’s fine…”
“No! It’s not fine!-“
“Please… just stay here with me…”
“No… Suisei…”
“Heh… crying doesn’t look good on you…”
“You… now!?!? Now of all times!?!?”
“Can’t die seeing you sad, can I?”
“You…”
“…cough.”
“This… this isn’t good goodbye… is it?”
“Heh… cough.”
“Suisei… don’t go… please.”
“…”
“…”
“I love you.”
It’s been quite some time since the incident. Miko had been going about her days with a newfound emptiness in her heart. She found little pleasure in the daily activities that used to give her so much joy. Probably because of the comet that wasn’t by her side. To never hear those laughs, to never see that smile. To never return those feelings. It was agonizing. Until… one day…
“Ugh… who’s calling at this hour…?”
“Hello? Is this Sakura Miko?”
“Yes…? Who am I speaking to?”
“***** Hospital.”
“…”
“One of our patients, Hoshimachi Sui-“
“I’ll be right over there.”
“Suisei…?”
“Huh…?”
“SUISEI!”
“…”
“…Suisei.”
“Are you… Sakura Miko…?”
“…yes? Suisei, it’s-“
The blue haired girl that held the appearance of her friend, Hoshimachi Suisei, had a confused look on her face. It was then Miko realized. She had amnesia.
“…”
“I-I see… I apologize.”
“N-No… it’s fine…”
…
“How’s your… are you ok? Can you stand?”
“No, doctors said I need a couple days before I can go out.”
“…”
“But other than that, I’m fine.”
…
Miko was trying not to cry, really. But it was too painful. To realize her friend, her love, was back. But, she didn’t remember her.
…
“H-Hey… are you ok?”
“H-Huh… o-oh… uhm… y-yeah… I’m f-fine!”
“You’re…”
“I-I’m fine! Sorry, I just…”
“Was I close to you?”
“…”
“…Miko…?”
“…yes. Yes you were.”
“I… see…”
“…”
“I’m sorry…”
“I should be the one saying that…”
“…”
“Suisei…?”
“I’m sorry…”
“Y-You… shouldn’t… be the one apologizing…”
“…I want to. I don’t know it is… but I don’t like seeing you sad.”
“…”
“So… please cheer up?”
“I…”
“…”
“Sorry…”
“I-It’s fine! Please stop apologizing.”
“I can’t help it… sorry-“
“…”
“…”
“…can you tell me what I was like?”
“…heh… sure…”
“…”
“You were arrogant, and confident, always believing you could overcome any obstacle.”
“…”
“Despite your tendency to nap a lot.”
“What!?!?”
“Hehe!”
“Hmph.”
“But… you also cared deeply for others… even if you didn’t care about yourself.”
“…”
“I hated that. I hated that part of you so much. I hated that I cared about helping you with that.”
“…”
“…now, I wish I could’ve gone back… and… tried…”
“…”
“You ended up saving the city… and…”
…
Suisei hugged her.
…
“Sui…”
“Thank you. And… it’s ok. You don’t have to continue.”
“Dammit… dammit!”
“…”
“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”
“…”
“If I tried a little harder-“
“Stop.”
“H-huh…?”
“I don’t like hearing you in pain. And I don’t like you lamenting over what you could’ve done for me.”
“…”
“I’m here now, aren’t I?”
“Yes but… you…”
“It’s fine.”
“…”
“I don’t know why, but… I feel happy just being here with you.”
“…”
“Please don’t cry… I want to see you smile.”
“Y-you…”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…you said one last thing to me before I thought I lost you.”
“What was it?”
“…”
“…”
“I love you.”