Chapter 15: Assa Vtuber doesn’t dream of collabration.

In the end, I returned just an hour before the collaboration was set to start, at 4 PM.

[Sorry, Izumi. I didn’t think you’d dislike it that much.]

Koga-san said this while apologizing, but for some reason, she seemed a bit pleased. …Or maybe not?

Anyway, should I be relieved for now?

Everyone except Koga-san had already left the Miscord. Although we would need to call again soon, I wasn’t exactly relaxed, and the sudden rush was overwhelming for me, a total introvert.

[Wouldn’t it be better to call everyone together and relieve the tension?]

Instead of light chit-chat, Koga-san suggested we listen to her monologue for about 30 minutes. I also felt that this was necessary.

If things continued like this, not only would I be out of my depth in the collaboration, but I might even faint during the broadcast…

“W-well, um, instead of calling everyone at once like before, could you, um, call them one by one?”

[Got it. So, who’s the most comfortable person for you?]

The most comfortable person…?

Isn’t this a bit of a trap?

If I pick one person, the others might think I found them extremely uncomfortable. It’s a high-stakes choice with only a disastrous ending for an introvert like me.

Ugh, so Koga-san is not an angel but a devil after all.

She could have just called anyone at random, but she clearly knows what she’s doing…

“W-well…”

What should I do?

How can I make this choice go smoothly?

[Would it be easier if I just called someone at random?]

“Yes, yes, yes, yes!”

So, Koga-san is an angel after all!

I’m glad to be friends with Koga-san…

[Hmm, then Ayaka would probably be the most comfortable person, right?]

Even though she looks like a young girl, with her warm and mature personality similar to Koga-san’s gentle motherly side, talking to Utsumi might be a bit easier.

“I also think that would be the best option.”

[…Izumi. Did you just have an incredibly rude thought?]

“Yes? Yes? No, not at all! I wasn’t thinking anything, really!”

[Is that so?]

What’s going on? Is Koga-san a psychic?

Whenever something strange happens, I think like this, given that I have memories from my past life. Although, I’ve never actually met such a person.

“So, um, shall we start with Utsumi?”

[Alright, alright.]

At Koga-san’s words, a chime on Miscord notified me of the update.

[Koga Suzuha has added Utsumi Ayaka to the group.]

And with that status message once more, the sound of Utsumi joining the call came through my headphones.

[Hi, Izumi. I was waiting for you to call me.]

“Oh, h-hi. I-I’m really sorry about earlier.”

She must be thinking I acted strangely, right?

It might seem like a broken RP concept from the broadcast’s perspective, but it happened in the context of a pre-meeting as well.

I need to find a way to fix my image somehow…

[No, no, there’s nothing to apologize for. We should actually be the ones apologizing. You were the one who struggled the most in that situation, not us.]

…Huh?

[This time, it was really Suzuha who went too far. She should properly apologize.]

[…I’ve already apologized. I did it because I wanted Izumi to feel more comfortable with us. There was no ill intention.]

[Yuika-onee.]

[…I’m really sorry, Izumi. I think I might have gone too far this time.]

What’s going on here?

Why am I being apologized to?

“Ah, um, it’s really okay. It’s just my, um, personality that’s the problem…”

Is it Koga-san who wanted me to get along with everyone?

In the end, I didn’t manage to return that goodwill, did I?

Isn’t it more correct to say that Koga-san didn’t do anything wrong, Utsumi?

Of course, Koga-san’s prank was shocking, but if I had been normal, we would have had a regular conversation.

“Koga-san, I don’t think you did anything wrong…”

Observing the slightly awkward atmosphere between the two, I kept an eye on it.

[No, the one at fault this time is Suzuha. While it might be admirable to take responsibility for a bad situation, it’s not always the right thing to do, Izumi.]

[Yeah. I’m sorry, Izumi.]

…A saint.

After an angel, now a saint is appearing before me.

Maybe there’s still some kindness left in the world after all.

[I-I’m really sorry…]

Koga-san’s voice had almost turned into a sob.

Oh, come to think of it, I hadn’t responded to Koga-san’s apology.

“It’s really okay, Koga-san.”

[Really?]
“Yes. I know how much Koga-san helps me on a daily basis, so…”

Even though the prank this time was a bit much, Koga-san is my precious first friend. Even if I were to somehow

become an ultra-social butterfly with an improbability equivalent to the end of the world, that fact would never

change. So I would never hate Koga-san. Even if Koga-san grew tired of me and left, I would always treasure her…!

“And, um, I also want to fix my shy personality. So, really, it’s okay.”

After all, one of the reasons I started as a VTuber was to correct my personality, as my mom said. Honestly, it seems like it will be quite tough, but I can’t just give up entirely.

[Thank you, Izumi…]

“Hehe. So, please continue to be friends with me in the future.”

[…]

Oh? There’s no response from Koga-san.

Could it be that asking someone like me to be a lifelong friend was too much of a request…?

Maybe I should have just asked to stay friends while we’re still on the same team…

“Well then, how about we call Akabane-san and Aki next?”

But I didn’t bring it up as a topic. I’m an introvert who can at least read the room, a top-tier introvert, no less.

[Oh, about that.]

Utsumi answered the question.

[I just heard from Nekoto earlier and from Yukari just now.]

[Akinoko: I’m sleepy, so I’m going to bed. See you at the collab.]

[Akabane Yukari: Since we’ll be collabing soon anyway, there’s no need to invite them.]

I somehow feel like I’ve upset those two…

[Congratulations to all the 2nd-generation members on their monetization! #StarsFlow2ndGen #Akinoko #AkabaneYukari #UtsumiAyaka #KogaSuzuha #KaiNoIzumi]

[Yesterday, with Izumi-san being the last, all the 2nd-generation members have passed monetization.]

On the broadcast screen, M-chan, the general manager of the Stars Flow virtual YouTubers, was leading the discussion.

The topic of discussion was, needless to say, the group collab of our 2nd-generation members.

[Since we received so many congratulations, after considering various ways to repay everyone, we decided on the most talked-about 2nd-generation group collab!]

• I’ve been waiting for this
• The group collab we did with Nac-chan during the 1st-gen monetization was also great

M-chan clapped their hands with a “clap, clap, clap” sound.

Watching the screen with the mic turned off, I was feeling a pounding in my chest from nervousness.

If I make a mistake during my own broadcast, the only one affected would be me. But if I make a mistake during the collab, the damage would spread like a wildfire to everyone.

Even though I’m a clueless introvert, I’m not foolish enough not to understand this…

[Now, everyone, our guests for today!]

At M-chan’s words, the screen shifted, showing the avatars of all the 2nd-generation members, including me.

From the left, the first to appear was Akinoko, a cat beastman with long hair featuring sky-blue highlights among pale pink strands, and pumpkin-colored eyes.

Akaneko, with long side tails in a red that looks like an RGB value of 255, 0, 0 and gray eyes, is a cheeky middle schooler.

Utsumi, with her flowing golden bob and sky-blue eyes, is the kind-hearted teacher from the Starry Night Academy.

Koga, with her pure white hair that reaches down to her knees, decorated with a golden diamond-shaped ring and soft light green eyes with tear marks, is the angel.

And finally, me, Kai No Izumi, with my black hair that falls just below my shoulders, wearing a hat and with deep red eyes and a silver choker around my neck, is the water deity and high school student.

[Alright, let’s start with introductions in order.]

[KonKoto~. From StarzFlow, I’m Akinoko!]

[The world will soon be dyed red! I am the Red Witch, Akabane Yukari!]

[KonAya~. Another enjoyable class today! From StarzFlow, I’m the kind-hearted teacher of the academy, Utsumi Ayaka!]

[Suzuha~. From StarzFlow, I’m the angel who wants to receive praise from everyone, Koga Suzuha~.]

After everyone finished their introductions, all eyes were on me.

“Kon… KonIzumi~. From StarzFlow….”

Just that made my heart race, but perhaps the earlier calls with Koga-san and Utsumi-san helped a bit; I wasn’t completely unable to speak…

“F-for a world where everyone can smile, like a dream?!!”

All?!

[Izumi?!]

ᄏᄏᄏ Biting my tongue…

• This is the mood maker of StarFlow, Mei-chan!
• Looks like it really hurts
• As expected from the so-called ultra-social JK, Kai No Izumi
• The standard for being an insider is really low
• Calm down.

I am Kai No Izumi, a virtual YouTuber affiliated with StarzFlow. Even if it hurts to bite my tongue, I will finish my introduction with professional spirit…!

“A… a dream maker, K-Kai No Izumi….”

My tongue really hurts…….

I hope there’s no bleeding…

[Are you okay, Izumi?]

Hearing Koga-san’s genuine concern, I quietly nodded and replied.

“I-it’s fine.”

Except for being extremely embarrassed.

• This group collab is seriously starting off worrisome…
• To be precise, it’s one of the five people who is worrying ᄏᄏ

Hang in there, Mei-chan!

…I think so too.