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!]
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…
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.
Hang in there, Mei-chan!
…I think so too.
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