Chapter 11: There’s no way I can do a free collabration, It’s impossible(2)

Starsflow 2nd Generation Member, Virtual On Vtuber Koga Suzuh.

She was confident.

She was the kind of person who had overcome countless hardships as an underground idol in the past. Even her

small stature, which had become a symbol of ridicule for some, had been transformed into a new charm by her lively

personality and exceptional conversational skills.

As a Virtual Vtuber, where there was no need to reveal such weaknesses, Suzuh was overflowing with confidence.

“My broadcast will definitely be entertaining, so I can definitely succeed!”

That confidence wasn’t unfounded, considering that even after retiring from her underground idol activities and

briefly challenging the world of individual streams, she had reached 150,000 subscribers in just four months.

And as if to reward that confidence, Suzuh’s channel grew rapidly. Her current subscriber count was 93,000, making

her the top performer among the Starsflow 2nd generation members.

While Yukari and Ayaka created the “Ayakari” combination just a week after debuting, their growth rate was slower

compared to Suzuh’s because they shared subscribers with each other due to their nature.

Nekoto, with her strong 4-dimensional vibe, gave off a sense of being an elite group.

Lastly, although Izumi made a huge impact at debut, her channel’s growth rate was understandably slow due to her

two-week period of self-restraint right afterward.

Of course, Suzuh did not judge the level of her peers by the number of subscribers. They were all colleagues and

peers in Starsflow who would continue to work together in the future. Suzuh genuinely wanted to be friends with all

of them when she saw them in person.

That’s why Suzuh had been chatting with other peers via DM for 20-30 minutes almost every day. However, she had

never had a proper conversation with Izumi.

Whenever Suzuh would greet her with, “Hello, Izumi!” she would only get a response of “Hello” in return, and that

would be the end. Suzuh had tried to continue the conversation, but all attempts had failed.

What Suzuh could gather from this was that Izumi was remarkably awkward at conversing with others. The lack of

words when she first saw her was not because she viewed her peers as competitors, but simply because she struggled

with social interactions.

It would be a lie to say that Suzuh wasn’t curious about why someone as adorably doll-like as Izumi suffered from

social anxiety. However, at the moment, her desire to get closer was stronger than her curiosity.

[Ah, it’s not that she never talks at all? Koga-san, Utsumi-san, Akabane-san, and Aki-san sometimes initiate

conversations through miscodes?]

“No, from my perspective, it’s almost the same as not talking at all…”

So, when Suzuh saw Izumi’s broadcast yesterday, it was only natural for her to sigh without meaning to.

In any case, the reason she accepted the manager’s suggestion for a collaboration broadcast with Izumi without

hesitation was because she wanted to understand more about who Izumi was and get to know her better as a peer

and colleague. And she wanted to teach Izumi, a complete beginner in broadcasting, various things.

Suzuh was confident that she could manage this with her abilities.

However.

“Izumi-san, since this is our first collaboration, do you have any questions for me?”

[Um, well. How about you, Koga-san? What’s your ideal type?]

“Eh?”

ᄏᄏᄏᄏᄏ

• She’s already been caught, so she’s just going to go for it.
• Look at her trying to satisfy her own desires.
• Isn’t Mei-chan’s question completely out of line?
• Suzuh-chan, run away!
• Is Suzuh-chan the first victim of Mei-chan’s yuri radar…?

Suzuh’s once towering confidence was now slightly wavering.

After her awkward introduction ended, it was Koga-san who started the conversation.

Thank goodness.

Ultimate introverts can really mess up the atmosphere by bringing up topics first…

[Izumi-san, since this is our first collaboration, do you have any questions for me?]

But normally, this question might be considered a bit of a no-go. It’s a question that sets the topic, after all.

But who am I?

I am Kaino Izumi, who vowed to become a growing V-Tuber. I won’t be flustered by something like this.

“Um, well, Koga-san, what’s your ideal type?”

[Eh?]

Koga-san seemed to be flustered by my question.

Why?

I had received the same question on yesterday’s broadcast, and it wasn’t a particularly difficult question to answer,

right?

With that question in mind, I looked at the chat window…

ᄏᄏᄏᄏᄏ

• She’s already been caught, so she’s going all out.
• Look at her trying to satisfy her own desires.
• Mei-chan asking that question now is totally out of line.
• Suzuh-chan, run away!
• Is Suzuh-chan the first victim of Mei-chan’s yuri radar…?

Ah.

Come to think of it, I did make a yuri declaration yesterday…

“No, that wasn’t my intention! I really was just asking out of curiosity!”

It’s not like I’m specifically into women or anything; if I had to choose, I’d just say a woman. I’m not into women!

• It’s true that love is a pure emotion…
• Maybe Suzuh-chan was just genuinely curious if she was Mei-chan’s type.
• By the way, Mei-chan is Suzuh-chan’s type.
• She mentioned yesterday that she likes small, cute girls.

“It’s really true! When girls get together, we usually talk about love stories, right?! That’s what I learned!”

When girls talk, they usually share stories about their ideal types and get excited, right? I learned that from manga

and light novels, for sure!

• Where does this biased knowledge come from?
• This is such an old-fashioned statement…
• What is a current high school girl supposed to ask us about this? ᄏᄏ
• Also, Mei-chan’s comment about learning this is really sad (;;)
• Let’s just quietly move past this…

Isn’t anyone listening to my side of the story?

“Koga-san? This was truly just a question with no personal feelings involved?!”

[Oh, yes. I understand, so it’s fine.]

Koga-san said it was fine, but she couldn’t hide the slight tremor in her voice.

I wish someone would clear up this misunderstanding for me.

[Um, I think I’d prefer someone who can rely on each other and have a supportive relationship.]

• That’s a bit too much for Mei-chan ᄏᄏᄏ
• Mei-chan seems like she would be the one relying on others.
• Mei-chan… Maybe we should just give up?

“Damn it!”

Of course, it’s true that Koga-san has a very cute appearance that fits my ideal type, but…

That doesn’t mean I’m actually thinking of such things!

I’m just an introvert, so how could I have such bold thoughts?

Actually, I did. I’m sorry…

But imagination is free, right?!

So, I’m just a mediocre person with wild imaginations!

I really had no ulterior motives in asking the question!

• Don’t be angry, Mei-chan…
• We only stated the facts.
• Maybe another outburst followed by a period of self-restraint?
• But you really asked without any ulterior motive?
• “OO…!”

[…Hahahaha!]

As I was left speechless in the battle of wits with the chat window, Koga-san suddenly burst into laughter.

Um, isn’t this situation partly Koga-san’s fault?

Instead of laughing, shouldn’t she help me out a bit?

[Ah, so Izumi-san is this type of person?]

“…Eh?”

A sense of unease brushed over me, as if something was creeping along my back. This sensation felt like the one I’d

had when standing in front of super social people…

“Um, Koga-san? Did I do something wrong?”

[Oh, it’s nothing. I just feel like I understand what kind of person Izumi-san is…]

The chill I felt earlier seemed like a dream as Koga-san’s words were filled with kindness.

Was it an illusion?

[Well, we can’t just stay like this, so let’s move on to the next topic. I was going to start by asking questions that we’re

both curious about to ease the tension, but it might be better to stick to the questions from Mycaron as initially

planned.]

“Ah, yes! Please, Koga-san!”

• In the end, even Suzuh-chan’s communication skills couldn’t handle Mei-chan…
• Well, we all kind of expected that, right?

That’s true.

Be quiet, you guys.

“Hah, it’s finally over.”

After the broadcast and my call with Izumi ended, Suzuh sighed and leaned back in her chair.

The collaboration had recorded a viewer count that could be proudly called a success. However, what was lingering

in Suzuh’s mind wasn’t the achievement but thoughts about Izumi.

[Did Koga-san really ask with no personal feelings involved?!]

[I am right. You are wrong. Proof complete. It’s Q.E.D.!]

Suzuh had a very small and cute appearance, so she often got treated like a doll or toy by school friends and

colleagues. She didn’t particularly dislike it.

Since she knew that acting in a way she liked was part of her personality,

Suzuh had sometimes wondered what was so entertaining about such behavior. Today, for the first time, she felt she might understand their feelings a little bit.

[Huh? We’re all the same kind of otaku, you know?!]

[Ah! I-I’m sorry! I-I made a mistake! Please don’t unsubscribe!!]

Struggling to communicate with others, yet naturally boasting whenever she had a slight advantage, and then

immediately apologizing and tearfully begging for forgiveness when something went wrong.

The more Suzuh recalled that image, the more she felt something rising within her. She felt an increasing desire to

see Izumi’s tearful face again.

[Koga-san, I had a great time today, and I hope we can continue to work well together in the future.]

Suzuh remembered Izumi’s request before ending the call after the broadcast.

“It seems like I’m the one who wants to make that request instead…”

Muttering with a somewhat ominous tone, Suzuh quietly typed on her keyboard.

Ding!

“Hmm?”

[Koga Suzuh: I really enjoyed today’s collaboration. I hope we can do it again next time. (^▽^)]

[Koga Suzuh: Looking forward to working with you in the future! (>e<)]

The DM sent to me was from Koga-san, who had just done the collaboration broadcast with me. As soon as I saw the

DM from Koga-san, I unconsciously sent a reply.

[Kaino Izumi: U-Um, Koga-san. C-Can we be friends…?]

[Koga Suzuh: Hmm, sure! I’m so lucky to have made such a cute friend today! (*≥▽≦)]

・Is Koga-san really an angel?