Chapter 100: [Akabane Yukari:….Did you get Permission?]

When people find out they can be with someone they admire, how do they usually react?

At that time, I think I really believed it was a dreamlike story.

But that doesn’t mean I applied to Starsflow just to be with her.

That’s merely the result, not the reason.

Because of that…

“Why did you decide to become a VTuber, Izumi?”

Hearing Aki-chan’s question, I unknowingly swallowed my breath.

“Izumi said she applied because she needed someone to talk to during her debut stream. But if she just needed

someone to talk to, there were many ways to do that…”

“Wha… what do you mean by that?”

“I think Izumi’s streams are incredibly fun… but I feel like Izumi’s personality doesn’t really suit being a streamer.”

I knew that too.

I may package myself up on stream, but I already know from experience that I could collapse at any moment. No

matter how desperately I wish to grow stronger and move forward, a person’s essence doesn’t change that easily.

I know better than anyone that I am someone who watches streams, not someone who does them.

“I want to be with Izumi… and our peers, together for a long time. And I think it’s important to never forget the

reason we became VTubers if we want to continue being one for a long time…”

“I… I…”

The reason I joined Starsflow and debuted.

It definitely started with my mother’s suggestion.

But let’s think it over slowly.

Was my mother’s suggestion something I absolutely couldn’t refuse?

“I… I mean… um…”

“…I started VTubing because it was something I could do from home.”

“Huh?”

While I was lost in thought and couldn’t say anything, Aki-chan raised the corner of her mouth slightly and started

speaking first.

“I have a weird personality… Yeah. I was a bit shy and it was hard to mix with people. Everyone except my family

would say I was strange… But even after hearing that, I never really felt the need to change.”

Even though it was something that could be embarrassing to talk about, Aki-chan spoke without hesitation.

It made me think she wasn’t regretting her choice, and I felt a quiet admiration for her.

“Even more so, I sleep a lot, right? So working like other people is really hard for me… I kept clashing with people

around me, and while working, I kept wanting to sleep, so problems came up… That’s why I looked for something I

could do alone, at home, and that’s when I found out about VTubing.”

Aki-chan’s previous life was definitely that of a game streamer, just like Akabane-chan.

“And I realized that my personality could be attractive to others, so that’s how I ended up joining Starsflow…”

“…”

“Is it still a bit strange? Usually, people would try to fix what they’ve been criticized for…”

“No, it’s not… um…”

Rather, I thought it was amazing.

I thought Aki-chan, who found the path that suited her without being shaken by the criticisms of those around her,

was genuinely amazing.

But what about me?

Looking back now, I could’ve definitely turned down my mother’s suggestion.

That happened because my mother mistook my dream for being a VTuber.

But behind that, there was my own dream of changing this introverted personality, and my mother knew that, which

is why she suggested it to me.

Aki-chan was confident and found a path that suited her, while I thought of myself as something to be ashamed of

and wanted to change it.

In fact, I didn’t even find that method on my own; I got help from my mother.

And when my debut was confirmed, I was just happy that I could be with Nacchan.

Now, that fact embarrassed me so much.

“…Izumi? Are you sleepy?”

“A, no, I mean… um… I…”

I was so embarrassed that the emotions were overwhelming, and I felt like tears would start falling.

Aki-chan was just asking about the reason I started being a VTuber, but if I cried over something like that, it would

surely be a source of lifelong shame.

I knew that, so I tried my best to hold back the tears.

“I’m just embarrassed… I’m so shy that it’s almost foolish… I’m embarrassed by myself, and I didn’t even find the

method on my own…”

“Huh? Embarrassed?”

“…Yes. I feel embarrassed because I wanted to change my shy personality…”

“Why?”

“…Because, like Aki-chan, it’s cooler to have confidence in your own personality… I… I don’t have any confidence,

and I’m embarrassed, so I wanted to change this personality…”

Perhaps someone with Aki-chan’s high self-esteem wouldn’t understand.

When you feel ashamed of yourself, your self-esteem lowers, and the fact that you feel embarrassed makes your self-

esteem drop even further.

I’ve heard that people with no confidence are called the worst by others.

Was it a mistake to say that? I was thinking that as I continued.

“…You’re amazing.”

Aki-chan whispered those words.

“…Huh?”

“Izumi, you said I was amazing, but I actually think you’re amazing… Acknowledging your own flaws and working to

change them isn’t easy. …Yeah. Izumi is great.”

“Th-that’s… still…”

“And you said you didn’t find the method on your own, right? But you’re still a student… Yeah. There’s nothing

shameful about relying on those around you.”

I’m sure Koya-san said the same thing before.

To rely more on the adults around me.

Of course, my actual mental age is that of a cool middle-aged man in his 40s…

“Hehe…”

Still, the reality was that I was a 16-year-old high school girl, so I began to think that maybe it wasn’t so bad after all.

“…T-thank you, Aki-chan.”

“Huh? For what?”

“J-just… because…”

After that, we started chatting about random things, facing each other.

“I think I’m lucky that all of our members are kind.”

“Yeah…”

“Sometimes, Suzuhara can be a little scary, though…”

“Y-yeah, me too…”

It wasn’t anything significant, but it was definitely a pleasant conversation.

“If we meet outside, you can call me ‘Ruka-nee’.”

“Do… do I really have to…?”

“Yes. There shouldn’t be any discrimination between our peers.”

And before long, my eyes began to slowly close.

“Good night, Izumi.”

“Good night…”

I looked at Aki-chan and quietly tried to fall asleep.

The tears I had been holding back had finally disappeared, and I was able to smile.

Nekoto looked at the face of Izumi, who had already fallen asleep.

With her steady breathing and the slow, rhythmic movement of her chest, it was clear that she had fallen into a deep

sleep.

“…So cute.”

Nekoto valued every one of her second-year peers.

They were people who had accepted her, someone who could never say her personality was good in terms of human

relationships.

But among them, she particularly focused on Izumi, the youngest, a current high school girl.

At first, honestly, she thought Izumi would quit soon.

Her personality didn’t suit streaming at all.

But Izumi didn’t give up and, in the end, became the second-year student with the most subscribers.

Even though the VTuber industry had collapsed once, and the “previous life” didn’t make a significant difference

anymore, it wasn’t completely irrelevant.

Still, the fact that Izumi, who had no previous life, was leading the way was a huge shock to Nekoto.

There was certainly jealousy at first, but as Nekoto watched Izumi’s streams, all those dark feelings disappeared,

leaving only pure admiration.

Izumi, who kept going without giving up despite being hurt, made Nekoto feel that the fact that she was much

younger than her didn’t matter at all.

But still, there was a lingering sense of fragility.

Even during today’s stream, she had been obviously flustered when she saw a chat mentioning how her tone

sometimes changed.

Although to the viewers, it probably felt like an amusing element, Nekoto, who was sitting next to her, could clearly

see Izumi’s expression.

She had genuinely been flustered, looking around as if trying to avoid eye contact.

The reason she had asked about how Izumi started being a VTuber was precisely that.

No matter how unsuited her personality was for streaming, the fact that she had entered the industry clearly meant

there was a reason for it.

So, Nekoto wanted to tell her not to be swayed too much by the chat.

Even though she, herself, had a very strange personality, there were many people who liked her, so she should

confidently stick to her reasons.

Nekoto genuinely wanted to be with Izumi for a long time.

Of course, Nekoto didn’t know whether her intentions had been conveyed properly to Izumi.

In fact, when she had seen Izumi tear up earlier, Nekoto had panicked internally, thinking something was terribly

wrong.

But at the end, when Izumi showed that foolish smile that didn’t match her usual appearance, Nekoto thought,

“Well, this is fine…”

Even if Izumi wavered, Nekoto believed that as her older sister, she could help her.

And since all the other peers were kind, they could support Izumi together.

“Hehe…”

“Ugh…”

Nekoto smiled quietly to prevent Izumi from waking up and gently stroked her hair.

Then she thought that it was a blessing to be able to see such a cute creature.

“…I… I guess it’s fine.”

She also felt that it was a huge mistake to be the only one to see such a cute sight.

So, Nekoto took out her phone, turned off the flash and sound, and took a picture of Izumi’s sleeping face.

[AkineKoto: (photo)]

[Koga Suzuhara: ?! What’s this?]

[Utsumi Ayaka: So cute!!!]

[Akabane Yukari: …Did you ask for permission?]

After posting the picture in the second-year’s Miscord server, Nekoto smiled in satisfaction and drifted off to sleep.