nonalcoholicyakuza:
@piercingeyes
It’s been two months.
Two months since this city started throwing the most painful thing at him yet. Having to come face to face with the person he feels like he let down most of all, after she’d already died, an event both gut-wrenching and logically impossible. Even after these two months, he hadn’t been able to get over his pathetic behaviour. He hadn’t been able to send Aries and Stella a letter to ask for an explanation, and neither had he been able to decide whether he wanted to accept or deny this situation. This state of doubting and leaning both to the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ was so inherently unlike him, and in a sense, even disgusted him. This indecisiveness was a weakness, and he hated it.
How could he say he had grown, when faced with this, he loses all balance once more? How could he say he’d grown stronger, more experienced, when even now he’s still shaken and can’t decide?
It’s pathetic, and this time, when he woke up, he felt like finally, he had decided on what to think. Specifically, what to think- not what he felt. To feel the confusion and mixed emotions, he couldn’t help it. But what he could decide was on how to think about this situation- and what he decided was to accept it as truth. To accept it as Peko Pekoyama, the Ultimate Swordswoman, but most importantly, his close friend, no matter in which way she’d ever view herself- a woman important to him.
Even if… Even if he doubted her survivability beyond the walls of this city still, he felt it wrong, unfair even, to just ignore her, or to tell her to stay here, or anything of the sorts. No- even if it meant the possibility of losing her again, he had to step up. He owed her that- to be better than he was before.
With this determination it was that he got ready for today. He’d assumed - hoped - she’d continue to attend Aster Academy, even if only because he was there. She deserved to have a life of her own, separate from his side, but then, he wouldn’t want her to leave for good, either, so if just for now, it’d be nice if they could just be students together. It’d make her easier to track down, too, and so he’d gone to school earlier than normal, waiting by the entrance in hope of catching a glimpse of her, or seeing her walk by. He started to consider just skipping out on school to try and find her in her room instead when he finally saw her.
“Ah- Peko..!”
In the time that passed from their very first meeting, Peko has been patiently waiting for the moment when she would be sought out. The idea of the event never occurring crossed her mind a few times, only to be rapidly dismissed with a shake of the head. Doubt had no place here, not when she knew better than to allow it to root itself into her mind; she knew better, or at least that’s what she kept telling herself.
Diligently, she carried through the days as best as she knew, using the past to guide her. In their time spent at Hope’s Peak, it was requested that she does things of her own; that she goes on to live her life as any normal student would, indulging in activities that she likes. Fuyuhiko’s words from back then come to mind and she grasps onto them, trying to uphold to the request made. It comes natural for Peko to obey, after all. Her role dictates that she does such, without stopping for a moment to question what is asked of her.
Daily, mundane activities are not familiar to Peko as they are to others. While she has never shown any sort of aversion towards group activities or simply hanging around with others, blending in doesn’t always come easy. She is often left to wonder whether or not the course of action taken is a good one, if she is upholding her word accordingly; at the very least, she makes a conscious attempt to do so.
A new day presents itself with new potential; with a new chance given. Even with most thoughts locked at the back of her mind and worry pushed far back along with them, Peko can’t deny hoping for change to occur. And it does, with the overly familiar voice calling out to her, drawing her out of her own thoughts. Steps come to a halt and crimson eyes widen, lips parting slightly in surprise. Stood just a few feet away from her was Fuyuhiko, waiting by the entrance to Aster Academy.
“...”
This was what she wanted, what she’s been desperately waiting for and yet words remain far out of her grasp. Lips press together, forming into a thin line before relaxing, allowing a silent breath of air to pass through.
“Young Master.” She starts out, voice almost cracking; she reminds herself not to get her hopes up too much. “Did you wish to speak with me?”









