The scene opens in the same tense room from before. The air feels heavier, as if even the walls hesitate to breathe. Yukio stands before Pekora, his expression unreadable, his eyes two still pools of dark blue.
Yukio: The reason. Now.
Pekora:Her voice trembles. She looks down, her hands twisting together nervously. I-I... got shadow banned and demonetized. Because in my previous livestream... someone made a joke, and I took it personally-peko... I got so offended and... Angry.
Yukio: ... He stays silent, eyes fixed on her, his face a blank canvas. He listens, but his mind calculates.
Pekora: I tried uploading an apology video, but YouTube hid it from my fans. Only a few people saw it... Her tone falters, trembling as her eyes glisten. I even posted a tweet, but they think it's not genuine... Her words crack. I... I just wanted to fix it, but everything I do makes it worse-peko...
Yukio: Yeah, I get it. His voice steady, tone flat. But I need to know why. Why did they shadow ban you? What did you say? What did you do that made everyone mad? Tell me.
Pekora:She hesitates. Her gaze hardens even as her eyes water. No. I don't trust you. She looks up, her voice breaking but her resolve firm. I know we've been through a lot of fun things... but I don't trust you anymore.
Yukio:He leans back slightly, clearly not expecting that kind of answer. What?
Pekora: It's... something related to my past. I don't trust you enough to tell you, because... I don't even know if you see me as a friend, or just some random girl bothering you. Her voice shakes. Deep in your eyes, I can see it, you don't really care about anything. It's like... looking into a dark blue void. It's scary... She clenches her fists. If I tell you, I wouldn't even know if you'd care. You don't feel anything, do you? Are you even Yukio anymore?
Yukio: ... His right eye twitches. For a brief second, the color flares, a bright, electric blue, before fading back to the deep, hollow tone of indifference.
In the depths of Yukio's mind, the sound of a chain echoes, sharp and metallic. One link fractures, just slightly.
Yukio (Internally): Oh. I see how it is... Since I wasn't with her much after I started working here, the trust didn't grow, it decayed. I should've spent more time with her. Now... what do I do?
A calm, measured voice ripples through the void, the Second Yukio. His old self before the current Yukio took control.
Yukio (Second Self):Calmly Is this your limit? Really? You've cornered yourself. There's no other option now but to... manipulate her. Break her down. Then rebuild her trust. Trust is easiest to gain when they're broken, it's the only way. You can't gain it anymore if you keep this up. Give me control.
Yukio (Internally): No. And why would you lend me a hand, Stonebrain? I was going to do that anyway. I'm better than anyone else. I can do anything.
Yukio (Second Self):Tries to surface, but the Third Self blocks him, a silent force of dominance and pride. ... You don't understand what's really happening. I've made the same mistake before you. His voice fades, hollow. You'll see the consequences soon.
Yukio (Internally):Left alone with the silence of his own echoing mind. Consequences? Just a little more, and I'll be the one who dominates this place. Everyone will respect me.. First, I need her to break, then I'll rebuild her trust, piece by piece.
He opens his eyes again, his tone calm, almost human.
Yukio: Pekora, I am me. The same Yukio you've always known.
Pekora: The way you say it... She wipes her tears, her voice faint. ... it just makes me doubt even more.
Yukio: Listen. I'm the "Leader of Talent Managers." That means I carry a lot of responsibility. I'm also your personal manager. It's not easy. He pauses, lowering his voice. I might look cold... but all I want is for you and everyone here to be happy. He lies, every word smooth, perfectly measured.
Pekora:Her eyes widen slightly. It's something Yukio never says, words too gentle to fit his usual tone. Her lips quiver as she tries to speak, but nothing comes out. Tears fall freely now.
Yukio: So... you have to tell me. I can help you. But you need to trust me, okay? He tilts his head slightly, his expression softening just enough to feel human. Tell me, Pekora.
Pekora: I... I... Her voice cracks. She hesitates, trapped between fear and hope.
Yukio (Internally): I have to convince her. Break her. Then rebuild.
Yukio: Pekora, you're a friend to me. I never said it because... I'm not used to things like this. But before I even started working here, I enjoyed being around you. You showed me things I didn't even realize I'd forgotten. His voice softens even more, tone almost comforting. You have to trust me. I won't judge. I just want to help. You have my word.
Pekora:Her breath shudders. She breaks down, crying loudly, trembling. She's not used to hearing these words from him. They pierce through her defenses.
Yukio (Internally): Nice. Now, the final strike, fake affection.
Yukio:He steps forward and wraps his arms around her gently. His expression doesn't change.
Pekora:Holds him tightly, her voice muffled against his shoulder. Yukio-san...!!! I'm sorry for saying those things to you... I didn't mean it, I was just—
Yukio: He interrupts her You don't have to explain. I understand how you felt. His voice steady and quiet. Now it's okay. We'll fix this.
Pekora:Still crying, her voice breaking as she clings tighter. Yukio-san...
Yukio (Internally): Good. This is how it should go. He smirks faintly, hidden from her view.
The scene lingers, on the embrace that looks sincere but feels hollow. The blue in his eyes flickers faintly, like a dying flame pretending to be warm.
Scene cuts.
A faint electronic hum, static interference flickers across the frame. The perspective changes, the same scene, but now viewed through the lens of a hidden camera embedded in Pekora's outfit. Every subtle gesture, every calculated pause in Yukio's voice, every faint smirk, recorded.
The image cuts to a dimly lit control room. Monitors glow in the dark, their light painting cold blue reflections on the walls.
Suisei sits alone in front of them, staring at the screen. Her hand trembles slightly as she rewinds the footage, replaying Yukio's words.
Yukio (from the recording):"…You have to trust me. I won't judge. I just want to help. You have my word."
He steps forward, hugging Pekora. His expression doesn't soften, his eyes remain distant, detached, his face eerily calm.
Suisei's breath catches. Her eyes widen, the shock hitting her like a wave. The longer she watches, the colder her chest feels.
Suisei:She says softly That... isn't him.
She rewinds again, watching the subtle flicker of Yukio's expression when Pekora begins to cry. The faint smirk he hides. The emptiness in his eyes. Every detail hits her with the quiet, horrifying realization.
Suisei: He's controlling her... twisting her feelings like a puppet. Her voice drops, almost a whisper. That's not the Yukio I know, most of the time he's calm, and super annoying to me. But this? It's a Monster.
The recording ends with the image of Yukio's emotionless face frozen on-screen. The silence that follows feels suffocating.
Suisei leans back slowly, her hand pressed to her mouth. Her heart races, but her eyes harden, a spark of anger cutting through the shock.
Suisei: You changed. You're not the same person anymore.
Her voice trembles at first, but then steadies, colder, more resolved.
Suisei: Whatever you've become... I'll stop you. This time I won't hold back. Her gaze burns into the screen, Yukio's frozen image reflecting in her pupils like a ghost. Let's have a rematch, shall we?