Last Time: A Hololive Story

Gura, ended the recording, still frustrated from her last attempt, flips through the AME system interface with an exasperated sigh. "Seriously, this thing is both a lifesaver and a headache. How am I supposed to manage all these bookmarks without messing up the timeline or getting myself erased?"

AMESS's voice chimes in, her tone smug. "Oh, you're still complaining about AME? It's been, what, 29 turns now? You should know the system by heart, Gura."

"Yeah, well, it's not exactly user-friendly," Gura snaps, her eyes narrowing at the screen. "And don't get me started on this so-called 'Advanced Memory Execution.' I mean, it sounds like something straight out of a horror movie!"

"AME," AMESS says, materializing in her usual haughty stance, "is a streamlined system. You're supposed to set bookmarks for key moments and retry from those exact points—just like in a video game. It's not that complicated, unless you make it that way."

"Yeah, well, if I 'make it that way,' it's because I'm dying every other turn," Gura grumbles, flipping through her record of past attempts. "Do you know how many times I've tried to ambush or overtake that masked psycho? I've been stuck on that one for ages. This is, what, my 34th try?"

AMESS laughs, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "It is entertaining watching you fail at the same hurdle. And yet you're getting better at an alarming rate, I have to admit."

Gura crosses her arms, rolling her eyes. "Oh, I'm sure you're just loving every moment of my pain. Like when you show off my 'greatest hits' every time I complain."

She gestures to the interface, where a reel of embarrassing deaths starts to play. The AME system expands, displaying clips from her "Chicken Run" incident, where she died fleeing a flock of mutant chickens, "Matrix Wannabe" where she failed miserably at dodging a hail of bullets from the masked woman, and "TIE," where she and an old lady mutually took each other out in battle.

AMESS chuckles and snaps her fingers. "Oh, those? Just a little reminder of the importance of strategy and accuracy. It's my job to remind you just how entertaining your failures can be."

Gura narrows her eyes. "Right. Because showing my worst moments totally counts as 'helpful guidance."

"You need a thick skin in here, Gura," AMESS says with a smirk. "And for the record, you're the one who pushed the AME device's boundaries. You're even digging for classified stuff—what's with the questions about Ame? Some files are just out of reach for a reason."

"Hey, you're the one being all vague whenever I ask you about her. I get the feeling you're hiding something," Gura says, eyeing AMESS. "How did Ame even tap into the multiverse? And don't you dare just brush it off as classified again."

For once, AMESS's face darkens slightly, though she quickly covers it with a grin. "Some things are better left unknown, especially when it involves bending time and space. Ame left... traces, markers if you will. That's all you need to know."

"Right. Vague as always," Gura mutters. "Well, thanks for nothing."

"Oh, and did I mention?" AMESS says, leaning in. "Your home universe? Barely a second has passed there. Meanwhile, you've died—what was it? Thirty-four times already?"

"Yeah, thanks for rubbing it in," Gura huffs. "So, basically, I can get all traumatized here, and no one back home will even notice?"

"That's one way to put it," AMESS replies, smirking. "The more you master the AME device, the less you'll need luck, and the more you'll have control over your survival."

Gura glares at the screen, watching her chaotic timeline unfold. "So these bookmarks… If I screw them up, I'll end up stranded, right?"

"Yep. Think of them like programming points," AMESS explains. "Set them right, and they bring you back exactly where you want. Be lazy, though, and you could end up... anywhere. Or worse."

"Perfect. Ten bookmarks, a cursed death reel, a bunch of masked psychos to fend off, and you," Gura mutters.

"Hey, I'm your only friend here," AMESS says with a wink before flicking her middle finger and vanishing into the void.

Gura stares at the interface, taking a deep breath. "All right, AME, show me my last three bookmarks. It's time to try this again."

The faint glow of the AME system casts an eerie light on Gura's face as she scans the readouts of her previous deaths, her finger hovering over the screen's timeline. Each attempt was a lesson in survival and creativity—sometimes a brutal one.

"Alright, bookmark here… and here," she murmurs, setting her latest anchor points with care.

Suddenly, AMESS's voice crackles to life beside her, making Gura nearly jump. "Already planning another ambush? I'm impressed."

"Yeah, well, someone's gotta take down those masked freaks, and I'm getting close," Gura replies, brimming with a determined energy. She's learned something crucial in each of the last turns, and she can almost feel the pieces falling into place. Her eyes narrow, setting her jaw. "This time, it'll be different."

AMESS raises an eyebrow. "Different? Last time you almost got yourself eaten by chickens. The time before that… oh right, a very public 'Matrix Wannabe' moment." She gestures at the AME device, where a video reel begins to play, displaying Gura's not-so-greatest hits in painful detail.

"Really, AMESS?" Gura groans, wincing as her past selves fail miserably on the screen. "Do you have to remind me of every humiliating moment?"

"Oh, I absolutely do. For posterity, of course," AMESS grins, crossing her arms. "It's good for morale."

"Maybe yours," Gura mutters, still glaring at the screen. But there's something deeper lurking in her eyes, something almost like fascination. "Y'know, you're a bit too good at keeping track of every little detail about me. Almost… creepy.""Don't flatter yourself," AMESS replies, rolling her eyes. "The AME system is an advanced tool—Advanced Memory Execution, in case you forgot. It was designed to record everything you do, every decision, every action. It's how you get another chance, even if you don't always make the best use of it."

"Gee, thanks," Gura says dryly. "So, you're saying if I mess up with these bookmarks, I might actually get myself erased from existence?"

"Could be," AMESS shrugs. "Or, you could end up in a part of the timeline you don't want to be in. Think of it like your home dimension. You wouldn't want to pop up in a place where you're about to, oh, I don't know, get eaten by a mutant chicken again, would you?"

Gura smirks, letting out a sigh. "Okay, point taken."

She pulls up a specific bookmarked memory labeled, "Ambush Simulation," and taps the screen to review her approach. The scene is paused in perfect detail—her past self crouched behind a rock, masked figures patrolling in the distance. A crude ambush setup, maybe, but she can pinpoint every flaw now. She notices the way she's holding her weapon, the angle of her foot, even the distance to her target. It all looks so… clear.

"See that stance?" AMESS says, peering over her shoulder. "Your grip's weak, and your footing is a mess. You didn't stand a chance with that approach."

"Hey, I'm getting better! At least now I'm not just running for my life," Gura shoots back, the corners of her mouth curving into a smirk. But then her expression softens, her tone lowering. "It's just… every time I think I have the upper hand, I find myself right back here. It's like one step forward, two steps back."

"Such is the nature of survival, my dear" AMESS replies. "Each turn is your chance to make progress. And let's face it, you're improving at the very least."

For a moment, Gura's gaze drifts to AMESS. There's a glimmer of something… human in her expression, an almost-moment of understanding. "Why do you care, though? About me getting better, I mean. You always act like you're just here to torment me, but you've given me just enough to survive."

"Tormenting you is a privilege," AMESS retorts, deflecting, though her expression falters. "And I… admire persistence, I suppose. Few would have lasted this long."

Gura chuckles, an easy laugh for once, free of her usual sharpness. "Well, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you're starting to like me."

"Don't get ahead of yourself," AMESS replies, her lips curling in a mocking smile. "Now, are we done with the heart-to-heart? Because I'd love to see you flail around in another attempt."

Gura smirks, her eyes glinting with defiance as she returns her gaze to the ambush simulation. "Yeah, yeah. I've got work to do."

With that, she replays the scene, letting the vision of her future turn play out in her mind. She adjusts her stance, imagines every movement, every counter. This time, she's going to make sure her next turn is a success.

Footnotes:

The Embarrassing Death Reel" – AMESS's playful record of Gura's more "creative" deaths, with titles like "Chicken Run" and "Matrix Wannabe." Each title serves as a not-so-subtle reminder of Gura's learning curve, keeping track of both progress and hilarity for AMESS's amusement. Oh.. also just to be clear the bookmarks used was 3.