Fear Doesn't Decide Anymore

2 days had passed since I’d stayed over at Yuna’s apartment. I was still basically a full-time caretaker for my pregnant neighbor.

Yuna sat on the couch, sorting through unopened mail she’d been ignoring for days. I leaned against the counter, just watching her.

Suddenly, she spoke:

“Ren… can I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

She didn’t look up. “Do you… talk to Sakura a lot about the case?”

I paused… just a fraction too long.

Yuna nodded. “I thought so.”

“When she was here yesterday…” she continued. “...I felt like… things were already decided. Like I was listening to a conversation that had started long before I entered the room.”

She finally looked at me. “I’m not mad. I just… sometimes feel like things are happening around me. Like I’m the center of the problem, but not really part of the conversation.”

“We’re… just trying to make sure you don’t have to worry. Sakura asked me not to stress you with legal stuff.”

“I know… And I appreciate it. Really! But… being protected all the time makes me feel… small.”

That wasn’t what I wanted at all.

I sighed. “Sakura is coming by later. You can talk to her directly… She knows more than me about all of this anyway. If you want to be more involved, we’ll make sure you are. Just… promise me you won’t push yourself too hard.”

“I promise.”

—-----------------

An hour later, Sakura arrived.

Yuna didn’t waste time at all.

“How does the case look?”

Sakura gave me a look, then sighed. “Well.. It’s been officially filed. The court accepted it.”

“Oh. That’s great, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it is. But…”

“But?” Yuna repeated.

“There’s something we haven’t really talked about yet… It might seem obvious, but Ren and I… we don’t think you’ve fully considered it until now.”

“W-What is it?” Yuna looked anxious now.

“Even if the case goes well.” she said carefully. “Even if we manage to break the contract without penalties… there will be consequences.”

Yuna didn’t interrupt.

“You’ll lose the name… the avatar… the branding. Everything connected to LunaZero belongs to the agency. We can’t change that.”

“Even… even if I win?” Yuna asked.

“Especially if you win.” Sakura nodded.

Silence filled the room.

“So… no matter what...” Yuna murmured. “...that version of me is gone.”

“Yes.” Sakura said gently. “You’d have to build something new. Whether that’s a new VTuber contract with another agency… or on your own… or something completely different. It’s up to you.”

Yuna took a slow breath. “Thank you.” she said. “For telling me honestly.”

“You deserve that much.” Sakura smiled faintly.

After talking a while longer… Sakura headed over to her parents' apartment for dinner.

With Sakura gone, Yuna leaned back against the couch.

“So I really have to decide what I want to do with my future, huh?”

I nodded. “Looks like it.”

Then her expression shifted.

“Also… there’s the issue of the photos.” she said. “They still haven't leaked… What do we do if he does?”

I hesitated. I had no clue. Personally, I couldn’t care less. At this point, the whole social media world thinks we are dating anyway. But this wasn’t about me. This was about Yuna’s secret identity… and whether he’d be stupid enough to turn a threat into evidence.

“I… don’t know.” I finally said. “What do you think we should do?”

Yuna looked like she was choosing her words carefully.

“I…don’t know about the aftermath… but I do have something in mind, especially after what Sakura told me just now.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You’re not telling me?”

“Not yet. I’m not sure myself.”

Suddenly, my phone buzzed.

“...You’ve got to be kidding me. She’s 16…”

“What is it?”

“Yui needs help with her homework.”

“That’s it?”

“She says it’s urgent. Which means it’s probably until tomorrow…”

“I’ll be fine. Just go.”

“I’ll be back soon.”

“Okay.”

POV → Yuna

10 minutes after Ren left, my doorbell rang.

“Ren–!” I opened the door without hesitation… And froze.

He stood there calmly, hands in his pockets, with a smug look on his face.

My boss.

Before I could react, he stepped forward. Once… twice…

…Into my apartment.

I froze, unable to move or speak.

He closed the door behind him.

“You’ve gotten bold… Filing a lawsuit without telling me.”

He raised a small stack of printed photos and held them inches from my face.

Our hallway…

Me…

And Ren…

Hugging each other…

One by one, he showed me the different photos he had taken.

“I got court papers today. That certainly got my attention. You can imagine how surprised I was… That my little, anxious, shy Yuna… would do something like this. I feel betrayed after everything I’ve done for you…”

He grabbed my face, fingers digging into my cheeks.

“Don’t tell me that Renno guy gave you hope. You know who you are. A little mouse without power… who always needs someone to guide you.”

My body still refused to produce a sound. All I could do was stand there in fear, staring through his fingers into his eyes… I couldn’t even look away.

“”I’d drop that complaint quickly...” he whispered. “...unless you want the world to see your face. The true identity of LunaZero, a pregnant girl carrying Renno’s child.”

His hand stayed clamped to my face, as he forced me backward until I fell onto the couch. Then, he threw the photos down on top of me.

His gaze dropped to my belly.

“Not long now, huh? What week?”

“...30.” I finally managed to speak.

“Huh, so like… 10 more weeks? Boy or girl?”

I suddenly remembered everything we had on him. All the evidence… and the fact no matter what’s going to happen… I had people behind me to support me. Something in me finally steadied. Not because I wasn’t afraid… But because I finally accepted something I’d been resisting for a long time… that I wasn’t alone anymore.

“That… doesn’t concern you.”

He laughed in surprise. “Oh? You’re talking back now?”

He leaned closer.

“The mother of my child is starting to grow as a human... Or… is it maybe...  Renno’s? Huh, who knows?” he said, looking at the photos.

DING DONG!

The doorbell rang.

He stiffened. For the first time since he’d arrived, the smug expression on his face faltered. I’d never seen him like that before.

He didn’t laugh. Didn’t sneer. He didn’t say anything right away, as he normally would.

“I think I’ve made myself clear.” he said finally, his voice lower now. “Think carefully, Yuna.”

But even as he spoke, his attention kept drifting back to the door.

And suddenly, I knew. All of this seems to be affecting him more than I’d expected. He knew… He knew he'd crossed a line.

He opened the door.

Ren stood there.

POV → Ren

“What the…”

“Excuse me.” the CEO said smoothly, trying to pass.

I grabbed his arm. “What are you doing here?”

“Talking to my client. Nothing illegal about that, right? Now let go.”

He twisted his arm free, straightened his suit and took a step toward the staircase.

“You know what’s funny? Those photos? They’re not leverage anymore… They’re just proof. Go ahead! Leak em!” I shouted after him.

I didn’t know if that was the right move. But I acted on emotions.

He didn’t answer. He just lifted his right hand, middle finger raised, as he made his way down the stairs.

I rushed inside. “Yuna! Are you okay?”

She looked at me… determination burning in her eyes.

Then she said quietly:

“Ren… I have decided.”

“...What?”

“The stream… on your channel. The one Sakura was talking about.”

I froze.

“I’ll show myself. If I do it first… he has nothing left to hold over me… And I’m done letting fear decide for me.”