Chapter 99: Izumi is not just a Guest, She’s a ‘colleague’…

[I’m going to do ring training with Izumi. #AkiNekoto #KainoiIzumi #StarsFlow #RingTraining]

I wondered, was I really this weak?

Lying on the ground, I had that thought.

“Ha… Haa… Hoo…”

I tried to catch my breath, but my heart was racing so wildly it wouldn’t let me rest.

Even though I was so tired I felt like I could fall asleep right then, ironically, my mind was sharper because of the exhaustion.

The weather was still pretty chilly, but my whole body was already drenched in sweat.

“Izumi. It’s the next stage, so you have to get up…”

Aki-chan… for some reason, she didn’t seem tired at all.

She had probably done a higher level of exercise than I had, but other than a little bit of sweat, she looked exactly the same as before the ring training started.

“C-could I rest just a little longer…?”

“But you’ve already rested for 2 minutes…”

Aki-chan doesn’t understand people’s hearts…

Maybe Aki-chan isn’t even human.

She’s so suspiciously natural, and after working out like this, she doesn’t look tired at all.

Could she be an AI designed to dominate humans…?

“This is really, really too much…”

In the end, after 1 hour and 21 minutes of ring training, it ended with my declaration of surrender.

“There’s water, Izumi.”

“Th-thank you…”

I quietly turned my gaze to the chat window while drinking the water Aki-chan handed me.

• You both worked hard
• I think only one person really worked hard
• OnTube is definitely going to be mad
• Mei-chan has to apologize

Luckily, there didn’t seem to be any issues at all.

Well, we just did some exercise, so it was only natural, but still.

“Then, should we chat a little before finishing…?”

“Let’s do that…”

At this point, I couldn’t even think about doing anything else, like playing a game, given how exhausted I was.

Of course, Aki-chan wouldn’t have any problem with it, but for me, even chatting felt like too much, so I just wanted to rest.

But still, I should wrap it up properly…

• Did you meet like this because of last time’s BN?

“That’s not it. Of course, M-chan and Suzuha said that was really too much, but we’re meeting like this because Nekoto just wanted to hang out with Izumi…”

• Did you get scolded? Haha
• That was definitely something you could get scolded for.

“Yeah. So, Nekoto also apologized properly.”

“Well, honestly, I didn’t think there was anything to apologize for, I mean…”

Well, thanks to that, I was able to meet Aki-chan like this, and I guess that’s a good thing.

Aki-chan is a totally different type from the other classmates, so I was worried I might make the same mistakes as before, but fortunately, that didn’t happen at all.

• By the way, Mei-chan, when she’s flustered, her tone of voice changes, right? How does it seem from the side?
• Today, she switched from informal to formal in the middle of talking.
• When she’s flustered, her usual habits just come out.

“Eh?”

“Yeah. Watching her is still cute.”

“No, I-I’m always the same, though?!”

“Denial isn’t good, Izumi.”

D-did it really happen like that?

I always acted like the ultimate social butterfly during broadcasts, using informal speech with anyone, right?

I can’t believe this. This is the biggest shock in recent days.

I thought I had grown from all my experiences, but it seems I still have a long way to go.

“Anyway, Izumi is cute. Personality, appearance, everything. Totally Nekoto’s type.”

“Heh?”

• NekoiZu has arrived! (^~^)

“If this were a game, Nekoto would definitely have gone after you first, the heroine.”

“Th-that’s a little dangerous, don’t you think…?!”

“But I mean it.”

I was flustered by her casual, natural comment, but fortunately, the reactions in the chat were overwhelmingly positive.

• As expected, Mei-chan is a woman with a deadly charm, right?
• No one can escape her allure.

By the way, for some reason, people have been calling me a woman with a deadly charm lately, but no matter how I look at it, isn’t that Aki-chan, not me?

Even that comment just now was basically a blatant flirt, wasn’t it?

And the fact that it was completely unintentional.

Someone like me would just be a typical extra character in a manga, the kind who would be attracted to someone like Aki-chan.

Of course, since I’m a TS girl, it would never happen!

• What do you think is Mei-chan’s charm, Master?

“Nekoto, what do you think is Izumi’s charm? Hmm…”

Aki-chan murmured, then turned her gaze, covering her mouth with her finger, and looked at me with half-lidded, emotionless eyes.

I felt like she was digging into me from every angle, which sent chills down my spine, but I couldn’t run away.

“First, her personality is cute… she’s small but big… her body’s soft…”

“W-wait a second…?!”

I was so flustered by her blunt compliments that I tried to stop Aki-chan.

• NekoiZu tee-hee
• Here comes another captive caught by Mei-chan
• Small but big?!

Looking at the chat, I changed my mind.

Come to think of it, Otaku watching VTubers are crazy about yuri business, right?

Even if it’s not genuine, just creating that kind of situation is enough to make them love it.

Since Aki-chan, with her past life experiences, knows this better than me, she must’ve been aware of it all along.

So, I shouldn’t react too loudly here.

That would just make the atmosphere awkward.

“Heh, hehe…”

• I envy Nekochan “Fufu… This is a privilege you get because we’re both in StarFlow. Feel free to envy it all you want.”

“Eek!”

But actually touching is a bit much, isn’t it?!

“Well, I guess it’s time to wrap up… Good night, everyone…”

“E-everyone, see you next time…”

• Good night…
• Bye Izumi!

I finished the broadcast and checked the computer clock—it was already 5:40 PM.

It was clearly less than a 2-hour broadcast, but judging by how tired I was, it felt like I’d been broadcasting for nearly 5 hours…

I was making a vow to never do ring training again.

“Are you leaving now, Izumi?”

“Y-yeah, I think I should…”

Even if I took the subway right now, I’d definitely get home after 7 PM.

Of course, my mom was away on a business trip, so there was no one at home, but still, I felt like I should return before nightfall.

“Would you like to eat together before heading back…?” Dinner.

“…Huh? Ah, um…”

“You can look forward to it. I cook well.”

Wait, so now it’s confirmed that I’m eating here?!

“If there’s anything Izumi wants to eat, feel free to say it.”

“U-uh…”

While I was being unilaterally invited by Aki-chan…

“Big sis, I’m home.”

I heard that voice.

★

Why did it end up like this?

“Big sis, honestly! We have guests!”

“Izumi’s not just a guest, she’s a ‘colleague,’ so it’s fine.”

“Even if you say it so coolly, it’s still rude!”

My original plan was to go home immediately after the broadcast ended.

“Ah, oh my, Izumi-chan, was it?”

“Ah, yes… that’s right.”

“Ruka… no, would the name Nekoto be more comfortable for you, Izumi-chan?”

“Uh, it’s, it’s fine…”

Why am I still staying at Aki-chan’s house?

Why am I having dinner with Aki-chan’s family?

My weak mind can’t organize my thoughts.

“Hehe… Our Ruka always says how much she likes her coworkers, so I really wanted to meet them once. Now that

I’ve met you, I can see why!”

“Um, Izumi-san, I’m sorry if my sister has been a bother. Please take care of her.”

“Ah, no, it’s not a problem at all. It’s actually me who’s always the one causing trouble…”

Aki-chan’s personality seems to be like her mother’s—her mother was incredibly soft-spoken and kind.

But Aki-chan’s younger sister had the complete opposite personality. Still, they looked so alike that they could almost

be twins, which gave me a strange feeling.

“How about Dad?”

“He said he’ll be home around lunch tomorrow.”

For dinner, Aki-chan made stir-fried pork with bean sprouts.

Aki-chan’s claim that she was good at cooking wasn’t a lie; it was really delicious.

The only issue was that I was too nervous because of the surrounding situation, so I couldn’t fully appreciate the taste.

“Hehe. Our Ruka can be a little clueless, you know, Izumi-chan?”

“U-Um, yeah…?”

“She used to think it was natural to always be alone, but now that she says her coworkers are all so nice, it makes me

so happy as her mom.”

“She’s kind and enjoys every day, right?”

“Ah, yes… Everyone is really kind…”

“Izumi-chan, you must be happy to have such a cute younger sister, right?”

“Yeah. Izumi is cute.”

“…I’m sorry for being such an un-cute younger sister!”

“I’m happy to have such a cool younger sister.”

“Uh, is that so?”

In the end, I couldn’t really get into the conversation.

It seemed like talking with my coworker’s family was still impossible for me with my communication skills…

How did Akabane-chan manage to have such a natural conversation with her mom?

I just couldn’t understand it.

By the way, Aki-chan’s younger sister was definitely a true siscon.

“Oh my. It’s getting pretty late. How about staying over?”

“Oh, um, but I don’t want to be a burden…”

“It’s okay. It’s been such a long time since my sister brought a friend over, so it’s fine.”

And so, that’s how it happened.

“…I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay…”

I ended up staying at Aki-chan’s house unexpectedly.

Even more so, I was staying in Aki-chan’s younger sister, Haruna-chan’s room.

Though, I didn’t want to cause trouble, so I suggested sleeping in the living room, but Haruna-chan said it’d be fine

since it’s been a while since she slept with her mom, and she insisted I take the bed.

Though her mom was away on a business trip, I still contacted her just in case.

[Have fun and come back safely.]

So now, I’m wearing the pajamas Aki-chan lent me, lying on the bed with Aki-chan.

The sudden change in plans made me tense, and despite it being the time I’d usually be falling asleep, my mind

stayed wide awake.

Aki-chan just stared at the ceiling without saying anything.

…Why did it end up like this?

As I was thinking about it,

“Izumi, I have a question. Is it okay if I ask?”

Aki-chan slowly turned to me and spoke quietly.

“Ah, yes… It’s fine.”

When I nodded slowly, Aki-chan stared at me with an emotionless look and said,

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