Chapter 30: School opening stopped……!

Eventually, the summer vacation, which had been so short, came to an end.

All I really did during summer break was broadcasting, broadcasting, and more broadcasting…

Aside from going out for the Nat-chan merchandise, it feels like I was just at home.

I think it’s short, but still, I did nothing but broadcast for a whole month.

No, my job is a VTuber, so I guess consistently streaming means I’ve been living diligently, right?

It’s a really tough topic.

“…Hmm.”

I really think summer vacation should be extended.

If it could just last for another month, I could put an end to this immensely profound dilemma.

“Hey, everyone, it’s been a while! How have you been?”

But just as I was lost in pointless dreams, a clear and high voice rang in my ears.

Turning my gaze slightly, I saw our class’s top socialite, Tateyama, waving as she entered the room and greeting her classmates.

The once quiet classroom I stepped into had already transformed into a raucous dungeon of social butterflies.

Gathered together, they were sharing memories of their summer vacation, looking just like a scene from a youth anime.

Of course, there was no place for me in that scene.

I feel like I’m going to die from social anxiety…

Well, I have a mission to protect world peace, so I’ll just hold back this time.

But the moment my mood was provoked again…

“Kayanou?”

“Eh?”

Startled by the sudden call, I flinched and turned my gaze to see the class president…

W-Who was it again? The name is definitely Mi, Mi, Mi…

“Mi, Miyauchi?”

“Yes. It’s been a while.”

So that was the right answer. Thank goodness.

If I had miscalled her name, it would have left a huge blemish on my already poor reputation in class.

“How did you spend your vacation, Kayanou?”

Not noticing my profound dilemma, Miyauchi smiled and asked me.

“Um, well…”

No matter how I think about it, all I did during the vacation was stream.

But if I say that outright, they’ll probably ask what I was broadcasting.

However, it’s best for the information regarding the so-called “VTuber’s identity” to remain as unknown as possible.

So, let’s find a way to answer that doesn’t deceive Miyauchi while keeping my VTuber activities under wraps.

“I, uh, engaged in personal investments to activate the fourth industrial revolution…”

“…I see.”

I don’t know if Miyauchi understood my answer, but thankfully she nodded and moved towards the other classmates.

“Phew.”

The classroom was bustling with classmates proudly sharing their memories.

Only I couldn’t blend in.

Well, it was a familiar routine if anything.

But within that, an emptiness I had never felt before came rushing in.

“Ah…”

I see now.

When I think about it, during the vacation, I always turned on the stream and talked to someone.

Well, if someone asks whether I can call that a conversation, I wouldn’t have an answer, but at least when I turn on

the stream, there are hundreds of people communicating with me.

And there’s also Koga, my first friend.

In other words, I’m a super social butterfly, having more people to communicate with than anyone here.

Yet here I am at school, living as an outcast with no one to talk to.

That means I have to hide my “power” at school…!

“…Sigh.”

I have to wait over three months until winter vacation.

This world is truly messed up…

“Ahhhh…”

On an early evening, on the way home, Tateyama let out a deep sigh.

“Looks like she didn’t come again today.”

Tateyama thought of her classmate, Kayanou.

When Tateyama suggested gathering to hang out after a long time, most of the group attended.

But of course, Kayanou was absent as expected.

Tateyama had already gone home before Miyauchi could even suggest a gathering.

“Did I make some kind of mistake?”

Tateyama recalled meeting Kayanou in Akihabara during summer break.

“I thought we had become somewhat closer back then…”

Kayanou had looked embarrassed with her arms crossed, gazing at the otaku merchandise with sparkling eyes, a

stark contrast to her usual cold demeanor at school.

Of course, she hadn’t mentioned to anyone that she had met Kayanou that day.

It seemed she wanted to keep her visit to the Akihabara merchandise store a secret.

In other words, what happened that day was a secret only they shared.

Could that be why? The expectation of wanting to see Kayanou’s face when school started began to grow, even if just a little, in Tateyama’s heart.

After all, Kayanou was always considered the center of attention in their class.

With a cuter appearance than a doll but always exuding a cold air, she was the famous Kayanou Mina of Class A, 1st

year at Shiodome High School, who would leave the classroom without a moment’s pause as soon as class ended,

never participating in any extracurricular activities. Tateyama often claimed this.

The fact that she shared a secret with her was more than enough to instill hope in Tateyama, who was a high school girl full of dreams.

“…Did I just annoy her that day?”

It was only natural for such questions to arise.

When entering the classroom, Tateyama had hoped, “What if Kayanou secretly greets me?” But Kayanou had only

given her a brief glance when she entered, then returned to her usual cold demeanor, sitting alone.

Miyauchi had engaged in a short conversation, but it was also very brief.

Ultimately, as soon as the final bell rang, Kayanou left the classroom just like she did in the first semester, and

Tateyama could only watch her with disappointment.

“Thinking back, I was the one who forced my way over that time…”

Is it impossible to become friends?

For Tateyama, who believed that the more friends, the better, this thought weighed heavily on her mind as she

recalled Kayanou’s figure walking out of the classroom without hesitation.

[【Membership Exclusive】 I have a question, but is there anyone to tell me? #KainoIzumi #StarsFlow #ChatBroadcast]

“So, as a current JK (high school girl), there’s something I’m curious about.”

After a light chat, I brought up the crucial reason for starting today’s broadcast.

-Current JK? -Self-proclaimed “super cute girl atmosphere maker” Mei-chan, the introverted loser and the question.

“…Summer vacation means we’re off for a month, right? That means we won’t meet our classmates for a month? So how can we just meet and have a normal conversation right away?”

-?

What on earth is that…

My question began to fill the chat with confusion.

Why?

“Isn’t what I’m saying correct? If we haven’t met for a whole month, our relationships reset, right? Don’t we have to rebuild our connections from scratch?”

-I want to cry for some reason. -The more I hear, the sadder it gets…

“It’s been a month since we last saw each other, and suddenly asking to hang out? I think we should start from getting to know each other all over again. Don’t you think our class is full of social butterflies?”

-Relationships don’t have a reset button like games, Mei-chan. -I think that’s just how it is. -If you’re friends, you

usually set up plans to meet separately during the break anyway.

“Ugh…”

I knew this, but hearing it makes it somehow shocking.

I thought my viewers were all otaku and introverts like me, so I expected them to understand…

What is this? Am I the only real introvert and otaku in this broadcast?

I feel a chill of betrayal all over.

“Indeed, the world is too cruel…”

-What conclusion did I reach all alone? -The world is hateful to Mei-chan, the self-proclaimed “super cute girl atmosphere maker” introvert loser…

“Phew. I’ve already been talking for almost an hour, so I’ll wrap up the membership chat here. Let’s meet for dinner in a bit.”

Ultimately, the mystery I wanted to solve during today’s membership-exclusive broadcast remained unsolved.

Well, I suppose the stories about relationships were meant to be humorous, but I never expected my belief that

summer break should last until September to be denied.

“Indeed, life is a lonely path…”

-Bye, Izumi! -Living a lonely life as Mei-chan, the self-proclaimed “super cute girl atmosphere maker” introvert loser… -Bye, Izumi!

…That guy, I want to ban him. Would that be okay?

I’m a thin and broad otaku, so naturally, I have many hobbies.

However, since I started my broadcast, during breaks, I tend to watch other VTubers’ streams.

Of course, I watch Natchan’s streams the most, but even Natchan’s streams can’t go on for 24 hours.

While watching edited clips or rewatching previously seen live broadcasts can be fun, seeing various streams is definitely more beneficial for me.

So the stream I’m watching right now is…

[Ohohoho! My choice is perfect! There are no gaps!]

• The lady always says that while playing the failure role.
• People are creatures that don’t grow. [Be quiet! As a butler, don’t doubt my words!]

This was the stream of Kurokami Hikari-senpai, who I watch the most after Natchan, and who had previously answered my questions.

[W-Why?! I must have chosen the worst options possible?!]

• I laughed because your predictions were spot on.
• After all, the lady has no talent for being a villain.

Right now, Kurokami-senpai was playing a visual novel titled “Like Life.”

It’s a typical work showing the story of a female protagonist who grows through various encounters after entering Like Academy…

[According to my logical reasoning, this game must be bugged!]

• Logical?

Kurokami-senpai was deliberately choosing bizarre responses whenever an option appeared, aiming to see the worst bad ending.

For example, when asked, “What did you eat for dinner?” she chose the option, “At least I ate something better than the trash you eat.”

But the problem was…

[Isn’t it strange that my affection rating increases when I choose ‘Go to hell!’ as an answer to the question about my charm?]

Choosing options like that actually led the story toward a happy ending.

…Why is that?

Still, I could somewhat understand Kurokami-senpai’s antics.

She was roleplaying as an “otaku villainess” who looked down on everyone, trying to crush them.

To uphold such an RP in this kind of game was literally the attitude of a professional.

[If we’re together, we can surely overcome any hardship!] [Look! How can I accept that kind of response given all the choices I’ve made?!]

However, there’s an issue: Kurokami-senpai is not at all suited to be a villain.

No matter what she does, people look at her with warm gazes, and even when she tries to crush others, she ends up

looking cute instead…

You can tell just by seeing how the game mocks her right now.

In some ways, she felt similar to me, but in reality, it was a completely different vibe.

My personality ruins the RP, while Kurokami-senpai’s situation ruins the RP.

Nevertheless, Kurokami-senpai’s insistence on being a proud villainess, despite everything, has greatly helped her channel grow.

• After all, Mei-chan acknowledged the lady’s clumsy villainess acting.

…01?

Why did my name suddenly come up there?

[What?! Clumsy villainess acting?!]

• Don’t you know? [Of course, I know! You’re talking about that arrogant junior who dared to judge me, right? That arrogant junior needs some education!]
• So, could it be? [Yes! I challenge Kaino Izumi to a duel!]
• Finally, the lady has issued a challenge! 😂

“…Why?!”