Chapter 16: Friends are important to Assa

[So, let’s start by hearing your thoughts on monetization and your future goals, shall we? Let’s begin with Nekoto!]

Mei–chan smoothly brushed over my slip-up during my introduction, where I bite my tongue.

Of course, the chat was still buzzing about it, and even Koga seemed to be worried, but the broadcast couldn’t be halted over something as minor as biting my tongue.

Is this what true professionalism looks like?

It’s on a whole different level compared to a quasi-40-year-old like me.

[Hmm. I’m still not sure what this broadcast is about, but I’m deeply grateful to the servants who still enjoy it. I hope you’ll keep supporting me from now on…]

• Our master is sleepy today, too
  _*)Zzz
• Well, normally, she doesn’t stream at this hour because she’s sleeping.

Cute…
Aki, speaking with her ears twitching sleepily, was honestly adorable.

Is this why people become her servants?

I think I kind of get it now.

[Now it’s my turn! Monetization is just the beginning! Soon, a world dyed in red will arrive, so servants, keep working hard for my sake!]

• Princess, you’re amazing!
• This is the true Red Witch, Akabane Yukari…!
• Akabane really nails her role-play, doesn’t she?

Not only does it fit her avatar, but the way she delivers those lines without a hint of embarrassment is impressive.

She didn’t give off that vibe in person, though.

And her servants respond so well to it.

Izutomo, on the other hand, are always trying to tease me…

[The reason I can keep pushing forward, despite my shortcomings, is all thanks to everyone’s support. So, please keep cheering for me!]

-go…

-Baby talk

Utsumi Mama…

[StarFlow is such a wonderful opportunity for me, so I’ll keep working hard! I want to keep getting lots of praise from now on!]

• I think Suzu-chan deserves all the praise she gets (.7.3)
• Suzuha is amazing~
• The pillar of StarFlow’s second generation!

Everyone, that person right there is my friend.

You know what they say, “birds of a feather flock together.”

So if the great Koga is my friend, that means I’m amazing too.

You all think so, right? I know you do.

[Now, lastly, Izumi!]

“Um, um….”

What should I even say?

I guess it’s best to be honest about my future plans?

“I-I’ll do my, m-m-best to stream without, w-without causing any scandals from n-now on. T-thank you all, always….”

-?

• If Mei-chan doesn’t cause any scandals, she’s just an edgy, introverted wannabe extrovert (lol) Vtuber JK, right?
• I watch every day to see what kind of mess Mei-chan will get into next…

“Hey!”

I thought I said something really nice, but come on, that’s just too much, isn’t it?

[Today’s collab content is an association game!]

Association game?

Out of all the second gens, I’m technically the youngest.

“…Hehe.”

-?

My sudden laughter confused the chat, but M-chan and the others didn’t react at all.

Thank goodness.

If someone had asked why I laughed, I would’ve had to explain I was thinking of a silly joke.

If that killed the mood, I’d have no choice but to take responsibility and graduate…

[Listen to the topic I give, and then answer honestly with the first thing that comes to mind.]

As soon as she said that, M-chan sent me a link via Miscord DM.

When I clicked on it, a blank whiteboard appeared on my monitor.

Before I knew it, a whiteboard also appeared in front of our avatars on the broadcast screen.

It seemed like whatever we wrote would sync up and show on the broadcast.

[Alright, first question! Write down your first impressions of your fellow second gens! You have one minute!]

• A safe start
  …What? This is considered safe?

These guys don’t seem to realize how terrifying this question is.

I know better.

You can’t just write down your honest first impressions here.

Even if you had negative thoughts, you have to dress them up as best you can.

If I were to write down every flaw without any filter, I’d surely lose Koga, my very first friend here.

So, it’s a high-difficulty question where you could lose everything over a moment’s mistake, which means I have to navigate the line between truth and lies.

Phew, I’m glad I’m a somewhat perceptive introvert.

Thanks to that, I could quickly catch on to the trap in this question.

Alright, let’s think.

What were my first impressions of my fellow second gens?

…Now that I think about it, I actually liked all of them.

They were pretty, cute, and didn’t outright avoid me even when I struggled to fit in, which was kind of sweet.

So, I guess I can be completely honest about it?

[Okay, let’s reveal the whiteboards in order, starting with Nekoto!]

[Yeah…]

But do I really want to see what the others think of me?

If they wrote something like “I don’t want to associate with this introvert,” it might hurt.

But it’s true that I’m an introverted loner, so I’d just end up crying alone and graduating, right?

Koga might look at me and think, “Well, there goes another failure…” and chuckle at my expense…

[Nekoto wrote this…]
「Yukari: 4 / Ayaka: 1 / Suzuha: 5 / Izumi: 2]

[…What does that mean?]

I tilted my head in confusion, just like Utsumi-chan, unable to understand the numbers she wrote.

Why was 3 missing?

[It’s the order of who seemed the most mature at first glance. Ayaka was the most mature, Izumi second, Nekoto third, Yukari fourth, and Suzuha fifth.]

[Ah! I see!]

[That makes sense.]

[Wait, hold on! Are you saying I’m the oldest?!]

ᄏᄏᄏᄏ

• It’s true that Suzuha-chan is an angel, so she’s probably older than the others.
• By that logic, Mei-chan is like a deity, right?
• She presents herself as a (self-proclaimed) social butterfly and the life of the party high schooler.
• But if you just look at Suzuha’s appearance, it’s hard to believe that at first.
• Whoa.
• Suzuha-chan’s charm is her inner self.
• That aside, it’s surprising that Mei-chan is ranked second.

[Izumi seems really mature when she’s quiet. She’s elegant.]

• For sure, when she’s quiet, she gives off a kind, popular vibe.
• But once she opens her mouth, it’s a different kind of elegance…

Unexpectedly, I seem to be rated highly by Aki-chan.

I felt a flutter in my chest.

“Hehehe…”

[And when I see Izumi talking on the broadcast… I think she’s cute.]

[Yeah, I can see that.]

[It feels a bit like watching a pet, doesn’t it?]

[Aah, I get that.]

…?

Isn’t my treatment a bit strange?

Isn’t it better to think of me as an entertaining pet rather than an introverted loner who can’t fit in?

But doesn’t that raise issues about human dignity?

“T-thank you?”

Well, since it seems to be a compliment, let’s think positively.

[Alright, now it’s my turn. Here’s mine!]

Next up was Akabane.
「Nekoto: Servant Candidate / Ayaka: Subordinate / Suzuha: Rival / Izumi: Mentor」

[Not a sister but a subordinate. That’s so like Yukari.]

[Sorry, but Nekoto doesn’t fall under anyone…]

[A rival? Is that a good thing?]

[Consider how great an honor it is to stand against me.] Of course.
…Me, Akabane’s mentor?

Why on earth?

“W-why am I Akabane’s m-mentor?”

[From the beginning, I thought you would bring a great storm to this Vtuber world. So, I thought I’d learn a thing or two.]

• She really did stir up a storm from the start…
• The princess shouldn’t be learning from that! (」。口)」

[But it seems our directions are quite different, so I gave up. Still, since we’re talking about first impressions, I just wrote what I felt.]

“Ah, I see.”

Wait a minute. Does that mean there’s nothing left for me to teach?

Well, I guess there wouldn’t be anything for an introvert like me to teach…

[Well, I still think there are things to learn, but as mentioned before, our directions differ a bit.]

There are?

Thank goodness!

[Now it’s my turn, right? I’m up! Ta-da!]

And then it was Utsumi-chan’s turn.
「Nekoto: Cute little sister / Yukari: Rebellious little sister / Suzuha: Lovely little sister / Izumi: Daughter」

• I guess everyone feels like they need to take care of me.
• As expected of Teacher Ayaka!

[Ayaka, again I say I’m the oldest, okay?]
[But like Yukari said, it’s just first impressions! You can’t help what you felt at first!]

[Hey, a rebellious little sister? What does that mean?]

[Yukari has been acting all prickly since our first collaboration, right? Isn’t that spot on?]

[Ugh, Nekoto is the oldest at home. I’m not a little sister.]

[Then Nekoto’s little sister is my little sister too!]

• Among all the first impressions so far, this one seems the most accurate.
• Waaaah, Ayaka-oneechan!
• If that’s the case… “(^w^*) Teacher said… “Everyone’s a little sister, and I’m the only one being treated like a daughter…”

Is it a special treatment?

As that thought crossed my mind, Utsumi-chan’s avatar suddenly sparkled as she looked at me.

[I felt a maternal instinct, like I wanted to protect Izumi-chan as soon as I saw her. If I had to compare, she’s somewhat similar to Yukari, but Yukari gives off a stronger vibe of “I can leave her alone.”]

I can manage on my own too, Mom.

No, actually, I’m more comfortable alone!

But having a mom like Utsumi-chan looking after me might not be so bad…?

Oh gosh. Does that mean Utsumi-chan would become my mom’s wife?

Waaah.

[Now it’s my turn.]

Finally, it was Koga-chan’s turn.
If Koga-chan had a bad first impression of me, I might just die right here…

Since she’s my first friend, I hope her first impression is good.

First impressions are just that—first impressions, and you can grow closer as you get to know each other better, right?

That’s a story that applies to those with lots of friends, so I should keep that in mind…

「Nekoto: Airheaded / Yukari: Professional / Ayaka: Arrogant / Izumi: Wants to be friends」

[It’s true that I’m aware I’m a professional, so I always act professionally. You’ve seen right through me. As expected

of someone I recognize as a rival.]

[Huh?]

[Arrogant? That’s too harsh for a big sister!]

[What?]

[Sorry…]

• Even Ayaka-sensei can’t get the upper hand on the pillar of the second gen, huh… As expected.
• It does feel like Suzuha-chan has the big sister position among the second gens.

Though we look completely opposite, of course.

[I remembered the name of the person who just brought up looks!]

• Uh-oh. ᄏᄏᄏ
• That’s dangerous! ᄏᄏ

While everyone else was happily chatting on the broadcast, I couldn’t say a word.
And no wonder…

「Izumi: Wants to be friends」

My gaze was fixated on those words Koga-chan had written.
“Hah…”

Thank goodness.

If she had written something like “Hard to talk to,” I might have really cried.

Of course, it’s true that I struggle with conversations, but sometimes facts can hurt someone.

But still, the fact that Koga-chan wants to be friends with someone like me…

She truly is an angel.