Welcoming Death - Hololive Fanfiction [ONGOING]

CHAPTER 24: BAND-AID

(And so, the prodigal writer returns...)

Swinging her legs back and forth, Calli sat on the thin fence, surveying the area with a sharp eye. With her jacket lazily slung around her shoulders and her unkempt uniform, she scared many students as they came into the school. She knew she was scary; hell, many myths seemed to avoid her general vicinity just for looking around.

But this was a little different: It was on purpose.

Since Ina's suspension, many rumours started to arise. The group, it was generally just white noise that didn't matter. However, as it continued, the rumours spiralled into baseless accusations; rumours Calli knew wouldn't be true of the girl.

As she sat there, staring down each myth, her ears picked up a familiar grating voice.

"You heard that tentacle chick got suspended? Y'know? The one who was with Mori at that time."

"No fucking way. For what? Cheating on a math test?"

"Nah, she threw Kiara into the wall. Like properly in there. There's probably some blood still."

"What? Holy shit! Ain't she the phoenix?"

"Yeah dude!"

"You think you could take her in a fight?"

"Pfff, of course."

"Bet $200 that you can't."

"Easy money."

She stands suddenly, looking for the two reapers but to her dismay, the crowds of students hides them well. Determined, she leaned up, trying to spot them by their hair alone, only to be disturbed by a small tap on the shoulder, "Huh!?"

"Woah, woah, woah! What's wrong, Calli?" The phoenix's hair and feathers flared with a fiery glow for a moment as Calli instinctively pounced into a fighting stance.

"Ah, sorry, Kiara." Relaxing, she stood tall, sighing out with relief. With a hand to her chest, she looked down, only to notice an extra pair of legs behind her. Calli traced her gaze from her legs to her torso to, finally, her gentle azure eyes smiling with her lips. "Ina! You're here!"

Proudly, Ina leaned her weight on the balls of her feet. "In the flesh." She opened her arms wide open, accepting Calli's overbearingly strong hug. As she revelled in the affection, Ina noticed Kiara behind, mocking them, making kissy faces at her. Pushing Calli off, she walked stiffly towards the school. "Alright! L-let's just go!"

Calli raised a brow, looking at Kiara who only smiled.

The reaper quickly caught up to Ina, keeping her under her close and watchful gaze.

...

The girls returned to their usual lunch spot. However, the relaxed atmosphere it once held had somewhat disappeared since the incident. Many eyes would befall on them, especially now that Ina had returned. Whispers of rumours and questions circulated the bystanders, never minding the fact that the girls in question could hear them.

On one half, Kiara had been overly-sympathised with. She initially found it sweet for people to show concern for her however, soon she found their actions to be nothing but patronising. They'd empathise on the betrayal and hurt she must've felt, adding an offhanded insult to Ina at the end.

She felt no ill will toward her best friend. They'd straighten things out and said as such to every person who'd do the same thing. However, her forgiveness fell on deaf ears.

On the other, Ina was given an onslaught of glares, whispered insults and hell, even directly telling her she was a scumbag. Even the reapers were getting in on it. The REAPERS. She felt safer with her friends in tow but even then...