Chapter 40: I want to decide the direction of plus broadcasting

“Shin-gok, especially from the atmosphere to the lyrics and choreography, had parts that showcased what kind of idol Natsune-senpai is, right? Especially in the part where it says, ‘Don’t hesitate, just move forward.’ The live choreography was impressive, but the way the stars in the night sky transformed into the sun in the PV was completely moving, wasn’t it? And in the scene where she reaches out…”

— Am I watching Meichan’s stream, or the broadcast of the Eighth Star?

— Meichan and the Eighth Star are essentially the same.

— It’s already been an hour, Meichan! (>ᄆ<)°

— I can tell how sincere you are about Natsune-senpai, so let’s wrap it up now…

“However, there’s no way I can explain all of Natsune-senpai’s charm in just one hour, right?”

Izutomo should know that much.

And since we couldn’t do the simultaneous viewing content yesterday, can’t we talk a little more? It’s a comeback

stream anyway, so it should go on for a while.

“Anyway? When you see Natsune-senpai’s eyes at the end of the PV, it’s like a star…”

— Ack!
“…I, I’m feeling tired, but can we just turn the stream back on tomorrow?”

At my words, the chat room began to heat up.

—I knew this would happen.

—Is it okay to start like this from the comeback stream…?

—What Meichan talked about today: Natsune-senpai’s 1st-anniversary live and the new song – end.

—Who broadcasts for over two hours with just one macaroon?

—Especially only talking about senpai…

I’m sorry. I was here.

“So, I guess it’s okay for everyone, so… I’ll stop here!”
—?

—Who said it was okay?

—I’m not okay with it.

However, thinking about switching topics after talking about Natsune-senpai already tires me out…

“I’ll continue this tomorrow! A, everyone, good night…! Let’s meet again…!”

—Wait, are you really ending the comeback stream like this?

—It was a comeback stream that showed how people don’t easily change.

So what was that story about?

“Ugh… how embarrassing!”

Suzuha was writhing in the car due to the feelings that rushed over her belatedly.

Throughout the drive home, she felt so flustered that her head was burning.

As a reaction to that, she arrived home, but couldn’t get out of the car while covering her face with her palm.

And the reason she rejected Izumi’s suggestion to stay over was entirely because of that.

‘Ugh, really. Worrying about people, ugh…’

‘Why didn’t you tell me you were struggling? Was it because I’m short and you didn’t trust me enough to share…? I, I

just thought, what if Izumi had some bad thoughts about me…?

‘As a friend… But why don’t you lean on me when it’s tough?’

‘Next time something like this happens, you have to tell me, okay? I’ll do my best to help you. I’m always on Izumi’s side…?’

Feeling embarrassed, the scene from earlier wouldn’t leave Suzuh’s mind.

“W, what kind of embarrassing situation is this at 24, in front of someone 8 years younger…?”

Suzuh recalled the situation where she buried her face in Izumi’s shoulder and cried.

Izumi’s body had a soft and cozy baby powder scent, and her hair smelled sweet like peaches.

It was truly embarrassing, but that was why Suzuh could calm down in the middle of it.

“No, I’m not bad….”

The bad one is all Izumi.

She couldn’t help but worry about such a fragile girl.

“I’m sorry… I made a promise with Koga-chan to reduce negative thoughts, but… I kept having bad thoughts, and it

scared me…. I was too scared that Koga-chan would be disappointed if she heard me, so I couldn’t say anything….

I’m sorry….”

In the VTuber industry, the malice of people is more than one might think.

Even trivial mistakes are fundamentally made into disasters, rumors are inflated without any basis, and stories of

‘previous lives’ are brought up to attack.

In a way, having no private life is the very nature of being a VTuber.

Seeing Izumi in such a place made Suzuh feel like she was a child left at the waterside.

“That’s why I feel it’s natural to want to protect her…”

Suzuh quietly vowed and calmed her flushed face before getting out of the car.

There would naturally be no one to point out that this was a mental victory.

★

The sound of a door creaking open echoed.

Using my ultimate introvert tactic, “pretending to sleep by coming to school early,” I subtly turned my gaze while

burying my head on the desk.

As expected, the one who entered the classroom was the class representative, Miyauchi-san.

After confirming who it was, I turned my gaze back to the desk.

Greeting? If someone like me were to speak first, they might feel offended, thinking I was being presumptuous,

trying to act friendly despite not being friends.

To begin with, Miyauchi-san wouldn’t approach me, having been deceived by my perfect act of sleeping.

So, I could just keep my head buried in my desk.

Unless I was the one to greet first, I wouldn’t budge.

This was the wisdom gained from 40 years of introverted life experience.

“Um, um….”

However, a voice brushed past my ear.

“Kaya no-san? Are you sleeping…?”

…01?

For a moment, I thought, “Is there someone else who came at this time?”

But Miyauchi-san was definitely calling my name.

Could it be that another person with the surname ‘Kayan o’ transferred into this class? That thought crossed my

mind, but it was absurd…

“Um…”

Should I respond? Or should I just keep pretending to sleep?

If I pretend to sleep and the class already thinks poorly of me, wouldn’t it just make things worse?

Alright. If Miyauchi-san calls me just one more time, then I’ll respond.

“It seems you’re sleeping….”

No, that’s not it. I’m not sleeping, so please don’t give up and call me again, Miyauchi-san…!

It’s important, right?

“Maybe it would be better to talk tomorrow…”

…Now’s my chance.

Although she didn’t call me again, I’ll pretend that I woke up because it got noisy around me.

“Umm.”

“Ah, Kaya no-san….”

“W, were you calling me…?”

To emphasize that I hadn’t just been pretending to sleep but had genuinely been asleep until now, I made sure to

move with care even for the smallest actions.

I rubbed my eyes slightly with my index finger and stretched a little, as if my body was stiff from sleeping too long.

Perfect.

There’s no way she’d realize I was pretending to sleep.

“A, um, well… Kaya no-san….”

“…Yes.”

“I thought you seemed unwell last week….”

“Ow.”

It stung.

Inadvertently rubbing my eyes, I accidentally poked my eyeball.

“A, Miyauchi-san, what were you…?”

“I’m, I’m so sorry, Kaya no-san! I’m really sorry!”

…?

Because it stung, I didn’t catch what Miyauchi-san said at first, so I was about to ask her to repeat it, but for some

reason, she bowed her head and apologized before leaving the classroom.

“…What’s going on?”

There was no one to answer that question.

Only the sound of the autumn breeze flowed into the classroom through the open window, filling the emptiness.

“What should I do, what should I do…!”

Miyauchi walked down the empty hallway, berating herself.

Her eyes were already glistening with moisture, and her lips were bitten so hard that a bit of blood began to seep out.

“How embarrassing…”

I’m such a fool.

I had promised myself not to meddle until I truly became friends with Kaya no-san.

“I should have just stayed quiet…!”

Miyauchi’s decision to speak to Kaya no today was quite impulsive.

Kaya no always comes to school first and lays her head on the desk to sleep.

As if that time was her only moment of rest.

Because of that, Miyauchi had never spoken to Kaya no until now.

However, seeing her quietly sleeping today reminded Miyauchi of the heavy atmosphere that surrounded Kaya no last week.

Then the thought of wanting to comfort her, if possible, welled up inside her.

No matter what happens, I’ll be on your side.

That’s what Miyauchi wanted to say.

But upon seeing Kaya no wake up, Miyauchi realized something was wrong.

Kaya no’s eyes were red, as if she had been crying a lot yesterday.

“What a fool…”

There was an opportunity.

Miyauchi should have made some excuse and withdrawn at that moment.

But seeing Kaya no’s pitiable, vulnerable appearance with her red eyes only intensified Miyauchi’s desire to comfort her.

So, she ended up saying those words.

“I, I thought you seemed unwell last week….”

“And…?”

And the moment she heard those words, tears began to flow from Kaya no’s beautiful blue eyes.

Only then did Miyauchi realize her mistake.

She didn’t know exactly what was going on, but just thinking about it made her eyes well up with tears.

She had to bring it up again, thanks to Miyauchi, who wasn’t even her friend yet.

“A, Miyauchi-san, what were you…?”

It would have been understandable for Kaya no to feel extremely bad, but despite that, she kindly said she hadn’t

heard anything, as if giving Miyauchi a chance,

Miyauchi could only bow her head and apologize.

“You fool. A real fool…!”

Miyauchi knew that Kaya no was struggling and wanted to comfort her to get closer.

How selfish and inconsiderate was that desire towards the other person?

Realizing that, Miyauchi’s heart was filled with regret.

“I’m sorry, Kaya no-san….”

Thus, Miyauchi shed tears while uttering an apology no one could hear in the restroom.

Cursing her own foolishness.

[Limited Membership] What should I do going forward? #Kainoiizumi #StarsFlowy

“I want to, um, decide my direction…?

• Weren’t you (self-proclaimed) the social atmosphere maker, an introverted loser JK?
• You’re a gloomy virtual YouTuber.

“Th-this is a serious conversation!”

I finally managed to say something after a lot of consideration, yet the reaction was too much.

I didn’t kick off this limited membership stream for nothing.

“E-everyone already knows, but the gloomy situation got really, um, big this time, right? I’m not sure if I really did

something wrong… but I think there’s some reason why it exploded….”

• I think Meichan is charming right now.
  “…Really? Is the stream okay now…?”
• Yes.
  Oo-
• Those kinds of people will always look at you negatively anyway.
• It’s hard to cater to their tastes.

“Whee, hee, hee, hee…”

It felt good to think that I had been acknowledged by the Izutomo who always teased me.

• Your laugh is so ridiculous, haha.
• I can’t help but chuckle every time I hear it.

“Then I’ll just end the stream here… I’ll see you all a bit later when I read My Caron….”

Since everyone said it was fine as is, there was no need to continue the stream, right?

After all, I’ll turn it back on in two hours.

“E-everyone, good, bye….”

• A membership stream to decide on a direction (less than 5 minutes).
• ???
• What is this?
• Didn’t you have to decide on a direction?
• This virtual YouTuber hasn’t grown at all…?