Chapter 80: [New Year’s New Year’s costume revealed] I’m also Planning on reading My caron, Which i wasn’t able to read last time!

It’s January.

The most important holiday of the year in Japan, celebrating the first day of the New Year.

In anime, you often see friends going together for the first shrine visit of the year, and doing the omikuji (fortune

slips) to decide the luck for the year…

But of course, such events don’t exist for me.

In a way, January just feels like part of my winter vacation.

Well, it’s not that there’s absolutely no difference.

I greet my mom with a bow, and send New Year’s greetings via text to my classmates as a formality…

And this year, I also had to send New Year’s cards to the Star’s Flow members.

“Mina, are you ready?”

“Yes…”

…But above all, I had to go there too.

I had already bathed and dressed, but I still felt a little sluggish as I got up.

And when I stepped outside with my mom, the chilly wind greeted us.

Fortunately, the sky was clear.

“I’m here.”

“Welcome, Jia.”

“Ah, welcome, sister.”

“Mm…”

Seeing my sister after a long time, she looked quite tired.

Of course, I was used to this feeling whenever I saw her around the New Year.

I only found out recently that she was busy because of the workload from the end of the year, thinking it was because

she was partying with friends.

But is being a model still so busy during this time of year?

“Are you just going to have lunch and leave right after?”

“Yeah. If I could, I’d go home with you, but I still have a lot of work left…”

We chatted as we walked.

The gray stone road and the surrounding green landscape gave a refreshing feeling, as if the air was really clear.

The surroundings were still quite peaceful.

There were people around, but it seemed like a rare sight, likely because of the New Year.

We walked for about five minutes.

We stopped and quietly looked at it.

[Kayano Yuzuru (茅野 遜)]

Then we started cleaning up the surroundings without saying a word.

Mom used a scrubber to clean the grave, while my sister pulled the weeds, and I swept the area with a broom.

“Haah…”

After finishing the cleaning, my sister placed the incense, and I placed a strawberry-flavored macaron that Dad liked

next to her. Finally, Mom slowly poured water over the gravestone.

“Phew…”

Then we stood side by side, closed our eyes, and silently clasped our hands together.

‘Dad left first, but I always… love you, Mina.’

Dad was always gentle and kind.

He always worried about me and said he loved me.

Even when he was ill from pancreatic cancer, that never changed.

Even when I recalled the memories from my past life, the warmth of paternal love was always there whenever I thought about it.

‘Mina tends to be shy, so I’m a little worried… I always wanted to be by your side, Dad, and protect you…’

But now, you don’t need to worry anymore, Dad.

I’m really working hard now.

I made friends, and I even have a dream.

There are 150,000 people who tell me they like me.

Isn’t that amazing?

So please don’t worry, and just keep cheering me on.

I’ll do my best this year too.

After finishing my thoughts, I slowly opened my eyes.

The sky I looked at was still shining blue.

“I’m so tired…”

After finishing the memorial service and heading back home, I lightly washed up and threw myself onto the bed

without hesitation.

Memorial services always make me tired.

Especially today, when my sister clung to me for almost 20 minutes before leaving after lunch.

‘Mina’s energy is lacking.’

She said that, and it made me even more tired.

Before I knew it, it was 2:30 PM.

The first half of the New Year was already over.

I needed to rest because I had a broadcast at 6 PM.

It was an important day for the first broadcast of the New Year, and I hoped nothing would go wrong.

Thinking that, I quietly closed my eyes.

★

[Kaiono Izumi ☆ Star’s Flow @Kainolzumi · 11 minutes ago]

Today is finally the New Year’s outfit reveal!

It’ll start at 6 PM, so everyone, please look forward to it!

https://ontu.be/XXXXXXX

#StarsFlowSeason2 #KaionoIzumi #NewYear #NewOutfit

[New Year’s Outfit Reveal] I’ll also read the macarons I couldn’t read last time! #KaionoIzumi #StarsFlow

-(≥▽≦)> Izumi Izumi!

-(≥▽≦)> Izumi Izumi!

Yeah. Today’s broadcast is important.

Not because it’s the first broadcast of the New Year, but because it’s the New Year’s outfit reveal!

Of course, I know what my new outfit looks like.

Aunt Shia showed it to me as soon as she finished designing it.

Honestly, when I saw it, I was speechless; it was just amazing.

As expected, Toka Mama is a genius!

“Hehe…”

If you’re an otaku, you’d totally understand, but honestly, I prefer seeing my cute character on screen in pretty clothes rather than me wearing them, right?

And in my case, it’s not just a simple game character, but an avatar that can be considered another version of myself.

The excitement I feel right now, I’m sure all otakus nationwide would understand, right? No, they definitely would.

“Hm, hmm-hmm.”

Before starting the broadcast, I lightly clear my throat. Naturally, as it’s an important broadcast, I couldn’t help but feel a rising sense of tension.

[Natsune Nanase: Are you okay? If you’re struggling with anything, just tell me. I’m your senior, so I’ll do my best to help you!]

Finally, as usual, I calm myself with my “drug” for stabilizing my mind and body.

“Konzumi… M-Most of all, Happy New Year…! Please take care of me this year too…!”

I began the broadcast.

• Haizumi!
• We’ll take care of you too!
• Starting this year with Mei-chan!

Of course, even though it’s the reveal of the New Year’s costume, I don’t show it right away. I start with light chatter and gradually transition the mood.

Honestly, I’m not that good with small talk.

Who am I? Even including my past life, I’m someone who can count the number of friends on one hand—professional loner “Kaya-no Mina.”

Normally, I would just talk about whatever I want, but today is the New Year, Japan’s biggest holiday. There has to be a topic that fits the occasion.

But the only thing I’ve ever been able to say to others during New Year’s is “Please take care of me this year too.”

In other words, to me, the pre-reveal small talk time feels like a pinch.

However…!

[Koga Suzuka: You don’t know what to talk about during the New Year with people?]

No worries, Koga-Emong will help you out!

[Koga Suzuka: Can I be honest?] [Koga Suzuka: You’re such an idiot…!]

I did have to hear that, but… in the end, with Koga’s help, I’m invincible.

“So, everyone, how has your day been?”

• Just at home like usual
• Went to pray for New Year’s

“I, uh, went out with my family for a bit… Ah, yeah. My older sister came too.”

“Well then, shall we slowly reveal the New Year’s costume…!”

• It’s finally here!
• My heart’s racing!

“Okay, wait a second. I’ll change and be right back…”

With that, I switched the screen to the waiting screen.

Then, I prepared my avatar in the new costume, not the usual school uniform.

Here’s the important part: I absolutely cannot show the full costume from the start. I need to slowly reveal it, piece by piece, starting from the shoes, to increase the viewers’ curiosity.

“Ha… then, here I go…!”

Ta-da!

When the screen switched back, only the chat window appeared, and at the top of the screen, my feet wearing tabi (乙) and zori (D) could be seen peeking out.

“How is it? Isn’t it cute?”

• Is that all?
• Show us more!

“Hah? I told you before! For girls, what matters is sympathy! You have to say it’s cute just from this…!”

• But Mei-chan, don’t you sometimes say you’re a guy?
• Does that mean sympathy isn’t needed?

“Th-That’s…!”

No. Arguing here would only weaken my position. These guys are waiting for me to react like this.

“…Hah. That’s why you guys are unpopular.”

At times like this, it’s much better to just say something like this.

• Huh?
• I don’t want to hear that from someone who calls their school friends classmates.

Sudden Kuso-gaki move!

“W-What are you talking about? I have a ton of friends at school! I’m totally the ultimate social butterfly…?!”

Sadly, my growth means such attacks no longer work on me.

In other words, it’s a big win for me.

“Well then, let’s continue on…”

• This guy naturally changed the topic.
• Mei-chan has grown up…!

Next up was, of course, the lower part of the costume.

And what I was wearing was, obviously, a kimono.

The kimono was primarily red, with white flowers scattered all over the top. The obi, tied in a butterfly shape at my waist, had little droplet-shaped decorations swaying gently.

Unlike my usual outfit, my nails were also painted pink, adding a fresh, different touch.

“Hehe… How is it?”

• It’s incredibly flashy.
• The flowers all seem to be different kinds.

“Ah, that’s right! Tokama Mama told me she specifically chose flowers based on their meanings…”

Starting from cherry blossoms, carnations, and lotus flowers, all the colors were white to avoid a jarring effect. But if you looked closely, everything was different, from the shape of the petals to how the flowers were arranged.

“Now, then, for the grand finale… Ta-da!”

• Oh.
• Is it real?

“Hehe… Isn’t it super cute?”

When I switched to a full-body view, the reaction was, as expected, explosive. And the main reason for this reaction was…

• Fox ears all of a sudden?
• So cute!!!

The hat had disappeared, replaced by cute black fox ears that twitched.

• Is there a tail too?

“Of course.”

As I manipulated my avatar, a black tail started to sway gently behind me.

“I’m so cute, it’s dangerous…”

• This one’s becoming a narcissist, haha.

Of course, the outfit had Tokama Mama’s spirit woven into every part of it, and everything from the details to the

overall quality was overwhelmingly high. The fox ears twitching and the black tail swaying were so mesmerizing that

it was hard to look away.

“Now, with that, the New Year’s special outfit reveal is done…! How was it?”

• Incredibly cute.
• My heart can’t handle it.

Naturally, no one gave any negative feedback. Well, if there had been anyone who did, I would’ve kicked them out immediately.

Well, I’m glad you liked it. Then, one last time—please continue to support me this year too! I’m still inexperienced, but I’ll do my best!

• We’ll continue to support you.
• Always cheering for you.

“Then, with that, the New Year’s outfit broadcast is over. I’ll see you all next time…”

• ?
• Bye, Izumi!
• What about MyCarong?

[Kaino Izumi☆Star’s Flow @Kainolzumi. 3 minutes]

Sorry, I totally forgot to read MyCarong (>_<) I’ll restart the broadcast at 8:30…

[Kurokami Hikari: Izumi-chan.] [Kurokami Hikari: How about going for a shrine visit together the day after tomorrow?]

[Kurokami Hikari: I thought jumping straight into a collab might be a bit too much for you.] [Kurokami Hikari: So let’s meet in person first.]