NOVEL NEXT Chapter 110
As I opened my eyes, I realized it was already past 3 PM.
“…How many hours did I sleep?”
I clearly remember getting home before 11 PM yesterday and probably fell asleep around 11:30 PM.
I can’t believe I slept for almost 15 hours.
I felt tired when I got home yesterday, but it seems I was way more exhausted than I thought.
Well, they say pretty girls need more sleep, so I guess there’s nothing I can do about it.
“Ugh…”
After stretching lightly, I turned on my phone.
The first thing that caught my eye was a DM notification from my fellow Star’s Flow members saying they had a tough time.
Next were messages from my older sister Yuyika and aunt Shia…
“…Huh?”
[Mom: (picture)]
[Mom: Good job, my daughter.]
“Sniff, heh…”
Mom texted me at 10:03 PM yesterday evening.
That means she sent me that while watching my live broadcast in real-time.
Of course, there’s a chance she didn’t watch the entire stream.
I already know it’s highly likely that she just popped in for a moment, snapped a picture, and sent it to me.
But the fact that she took the time to send me a message with a picture, especially while she’s overworked from a business trip, truly touched my heart.
“Hehe…”
After sending thank-you messages to everyone in order, I decided to head to the kitchen for a slightly late lunch.
Today, I have to read hyper chats at 6 PM while reviewing my 3D debut from yesterday.
I’ll probably take around 2 hours, so I need to make sure to eat something filling to avoid getting hungry in between.
So I guess I’ll make some cup noodles and add that pork belly I bought last time.
★
[【Reading Hyper Chats】 Thanks for watching my 3D debut yesterday! #IzumiKainoh#Star’sFlow2ndGeneration]
-─(≧▽≦) >IzumiIzumi!
-─(≧▽≦) >IzumiIzumi!
“Whaaa…”
Just to be sure, I checked the hyper chats that piled up yesterday, and there was obviously a ton.
It seems to be way more than during my monetization and 150k celebration streams.
There are even so many red ones filling the chat.
Last time it took about 1 hour and 30 minutes to read all the hyper chats after the 150k celebration, so with all this, I should prepare for at least 2 hours this time…
Izutomo, you guys…
All you ever do is bully me daily, but on occasions like these, you take care of me so well.
Don’t you guys love me too much?!
“Ahem.”
As it was about time to start my stream, I discreetly cleared my throat and checked the 3D equipment I received from the company yesterday one last time.
From various communities’ reactions, it seems my 3D model turned out fantastic, with many wanting to see it more during my regular streams.
So, I planned to give it a try today, and if the reactions were good, I would regularly use the 3D model during my broadcasts.
5. 4. 3. 2. 1.
At exactly 6 PM.
“C-Congratulations, the vibe maker, Izumi Kainoh here…”
I greeted the Izutomo as I started the stream.
-Hi, Izumi!
Is it because it’s a 3D debut review stream?
The number of live viewers had shot up to 6,000, which is much more than usual.
Well, I guess that makes sense since I surpassed 200k subscribers during my 3D debut stream yesterday.
– Congrats on your 3D debut! You were super cute yesterday!
– Congrats on hitting 200k subs!!
And naturally, most of the topics in the chat were about those things.
“Thanks, everyone. I’m glad you all enjoyed watching yesterday… ah, and look at this.”
First, I expressed my gratitude to everyone, then I prepared to show the special content I had for the Izutomo today.
Grabbing the edge of my desk lightly and taking a deep breath, I swung my arms to spin my chair around.
“Hehehe…!”
As the spinning stopped, my head felt slightly dizzy, but it wasn’t enough to disrupt the broadcast.
So, I immediately checked the chat.
– Spinning!
– 3D?!
– Didn’t look like that at all!
As expected, the responses were pretty much what I anticipated.
Of course, they must have thought I was using Live2D illustrations, and seeing my avatar spinning around would definitely surprise them.
Because with Live2D, no matter how dramatically I move, I can only sway my upper body back and forth slightly.
“Hahaha…”
I had touched my 3D model a little earlier, and I could definitively tell that the claim of it being legendary in the community wasn’t an exaggeration.
Even though the gap between 3D models and Live2D has shrunk tremendously over time, when compared during a broadcast, there are still noticeable differences.
But with my 3D model, the disparity was practically impossible to detect.
Just to illustrate how incredible this is, true rarity in such parity among the two types of models is something that rarely happens since the start of this VTuber journey.
In simpler terms, I’ve acquired an amazing 3D model.
“Isn’t it awesome?”
With this 3D model, I’m sure I can conquer OnTube…
★
– When are you planning the 200k celebration stream?
While reading the hyper chats, a chat suddenly caught my attention.
“200k celebration stream…? I’m already doing it…?”
– Don’t remember that at all!
– What do you mean?
When I pointed out that I was already doing it, for some reason, the Izutomo expressed confusion.
“Ah, no, look here…”
Being the helpful person I am, I helplessly decided to directly show them by drawing a circle on the broadcast screen with my mouse.
There it was labeled [3D Debut Review Stream!] with the thumbnail that had been used in yesterday’s 3D debut broadcast, along with the small but clear note [Also a 200k Celebration Stream!] beneath it.
“It’s a bit small, but I clearly wrote it, didn’t I…?”
It wasn’t so small that it couldn’t be seen; it’s just that with a little focus, it should definitely be recognizable.
– Who the heck says something like that?
– At least write it bigger if it’s for a 200k celebration.
– You didn’t even make a separate announcement.
Yet for some reason, the Izutomo’s reactions seemed off.
What on earth…?
I couldn’t comprehend it. I hadn’t done anything wrong!
If I said it was obviously their fault for not properly watching my broadcast, then it would obviously be an issue!
But I, Kayanoh Mina.
I’m someone who never apologizes for mistakes.
“I-I’m not wrong…”
– So what? Just let the subscriber count drop back below 200k, and it’ll be fixed.
…Huh?
– Let’s meet again later when you hit 200k next time, Mei-chan!
“W-Wait a minute, everyone…?!”
These guys are serious, aren’t they?!
The real-time subscriber count was dropping before my very eyes?!
Just a moment ago, I had 210,428 subscribers, and in an instant, it dropped to 209,000!
“P-P-Please stop…!”
In the end, I had to apologize for more than 30 minutes, but the subscriber count never returned…
At least it didn’t drop below 200k.
★
“Um, it’s getting close to time…”
Before I knew it, it was past 8 PM.
It seems I talked more than I thought today, as there were still more than half of the hyper chats left to read.
“I’m thinking of reading the remaining hyper chats next time… Is that okay?”
– By the way, did you see the narrator’s commentary from other members?
“…Ah, yes. I did see it.”
I had a rough idea of what the Izutomo wanted to say.
“…Are you talking about Suzuha Koga?”
– Did you see it, lol?
– Suzuh was too sus!
When other members live comment on their broadcast, it’s usually referred to as ‘replay.’
And naturally, other members commented on my 3D broadcast yesterday, but Suzuha’s commentary became the most talked-about.
Suzuha’s comment… wasn’t about anything at all.
There were just screenshots from my broadcast.
But the angles of those screenshots… were somewhat too inappropriate to describe.
Yeah, just as someone mentioned in the chat earlier, there were too many sus screenshots.
Especially that moment when I was sitting in the classroom and my underwear became briefly visible from the front—I didn’t expect her to capture that and post it blown up.
In yesterday’s DM, her tone was so dull, just saying “Good job,” but I didn’t expect she’d flaunt that side of her in the comments.
“Honestly, I couldn’t help but laugh at it…”
– A laughter filled with multiple meanings, lol.
– Suzuh has a sus side sometimes, too, lol.
“Well, anyway! Tomorrow is Yukari Akabane’s 3D debut, so stay tuned, everyone! I’ll see you all next time…!”
– Bye, Izumi!
– Bye, Izumi!
[Suza Koga: The reactions are too much!]
[Izumi Kainoh: (・・；)]
★
Finally, the class ended, and it was time for announcements.
For some reason, Miyauchi was standing with Teacher Kaname at the podium.
“In two weeks, it’ll be the long-awaited sports festival!”
As I tilted my head in confusion, Miyauchi shouted in a loud voice.
“Ah….”
I was expecting the talk to come up, but apparently today was the day.
Today is Yukari Akabane’s 3D debut, and I just want to get home as quickly as possible to prepare for watching…
Of course, Akabane’s 3D debut doesn’t start until 9 PM, so I don’t exactly need to rush home.
“We won last year as the red team, but our Class A didn’t end up in first place in any events! So let’s work together this year to regain our honor!”
“Whoooaahhh!”
…We won anyway, so it doesn’t matter at all, right?
Questions like that momentarily bubbled up in my mind, but I didn’t dare speak them out loud.
I knew better than to say something that could create a tense silence, considering how presumptuous it felt to try to understand the thoughts of those who sit at the top of the school caste.
Besides, an event like a sports festival has nothing to do with someone like me, a loner, after all.
I should just quietly watch from the sidelines.
“Oh, and Kayanoh, you received an invitation to join the red team’s cheerleaders. What will you do?”
“…Uh?”