Basement-Dwelling Loser VTuber

[I’m off! #IzumiKainoh]

“ Izumi.”

I want to become a person who sparkles like you.

When did I start thinking like that?

It must have been… since I watched your first broadcast.

And that yearning has not cooled down; it still burns brightly.

“I’ll be cheering for you.”

It was foolish, naive, and a sudden decision.

The one who knows that best is me.

But I wanted to run towards my dream like the person I admire, and Natsune told me she would support me.

So even if it makes me a foolish idiot, I didn’t want to stop.

“Just like we promised that day…”

There was no need for many words.

We already shared everything that needed to be said that day.

“Yeah. I’ll be waiting for you.”

Natsune will surely keep shining in front of me.

So I can recognize her whenever I find my dream.

“I’ll… work hard to catch up with you.”

At my response, Natsune smiled sweetly.

Seeing that smile made me lift the corners of my mouth as well.

Yeah. This is enough.

There’s no need to cry.

I already know.

The reason Natsune can shine is that she challenges her dreams with all her strength.

I might definitely regret this someday.

But as long as I know this truth, I’m sure I can run forward.

“Alright! That’s all I have to say to Izumi!”

– Huh?

– Isn’t that too short?

Questions began to bloom in the chatroom.

…Well,

It must be a conversation that the Izutomo who don’t know what we talked about can’t understand.

…Well, someday I’ll ask Natsune to share it with everyone.

For now, I wanted to keep it as our memory.

“By the way, you know? I’m… actually curious about one thing, Izumi.”

“Ah… What is it?”

“Why am I doing this right now?”

“…Eh?”

Was Natsune really upset? She was pouting her lips and frowning.

“I thought about it, and I could have come out with the first generation students earlier, right?”

“Um…”

“No. Actually, it’s well-known that Izumi really likes me, and I get that you want to give me special treatment. But isn’t the order really ambiguous? Huh?”

– Definitely…

– It’s neither the first nor the last; is it the third…?

“That’s exactly what I’m saying! If it was the first, I might have thought, ‘So I’m the one starting it….’ If it were the last, I’d think, ‘Of course, I should be wrapping it up….’ But why this ambiguous order?! If that’s the case, you should have let me come out with the first generation earlier!”

– LOL

Natsune’s words inundated the chatroom.

Most of the Izutomo probably thought it was a joke from Natsune to lighten the mood.

But as the pro eighth star, I know.

Natsune is genuinely questioning this…!

“…That’s all for my conversation with Natsune!”

“Is the treatment towards my favorite too cruel?!”

No, this is out of my control…

Yeah. It can’t be helped.

★

After finishing the conversation with Natsune while laughing together.

Finally, the time for the last… turn of my classmates approached.

“Um… you know? Since we’re classmates, I think it should be a bit special.”

“Eh?”

Everyone in front of me tilted their heads at my words.

This is something I hadn’t mentioned to anyone except my manager and M-chan, so it was natural.

“I prepared something like this…!”

Saying that, I took a letter out of my back pocket.

“To be honest, I initially planned to write one for each of you separately and give them later, but M-chan said to just read them here… Well, thanks to that, I only had to write one, so I guess that’s nice.”

“Izumi-chan?!”

Upon hearing my words, M-chan’s surprised voice came from behind the studio.

…Huh?

Could it be that this comment was NG?

– LOL

– Thanks for M-chan’s flustered voice!

…Hmph.

No, I’m not feeling bad.

To read the letters in front of them.

Please think of it as punishment for making me do something super embarrassing.

Seriously, this is really embarrassing….

“Ha… Ahem.”

Anyway, I took a deep breath and began reading from the first line of the letter.

“To my truly precious classmates….”

And just with that, my voice started cracking.

“Hello. It’s been over two years since we’ve met. Counting by the debut date, today is 972 days… We met before our debut, so we’ve actually been together for a much longer time.”

Just simply calculating it shows it’s over 1000 days… They are truly the most precious connections to me, what will they think of my words?

“…Ayaka.”

“…Izumi?”

At my words, Ayaka looked surprised and gazed into my eyes.

And feeling embarrassed by this, I averted my gaze and continued reading the letter.

“Thank you for really liking me… When I was awkwardly alone, your smile really comforted me. Well, it’s a little scary how clingy you can be.”

“…That’s too much.”

“Hehe….”

But since Ayaka liked me too much, many Izutomo misunderstood.

Especially that incident at the hot spring was quite troublesome.

Even though that was truly a fun memory.

“And next, Nekoto.”

“Uh…”

“I really think Nekoto’s free spirit is amazing. I want to see more of that wonderful side of Nekoto. …But is it a little too much to play eroge too often? Oh, and feel free to challenge me in games anytime; I always win anyway.”

“…Huh?”

Saying this might have been too much of a stretch, huh?

Maybe it would have been better to say it normally?

“Fufu… Yes. Let’s keep playing games together.”

Thinking that, I peeked up while burying my face in the letter and looked at Nekoto, who was giggling.

Thankfully, it seemed she understood the meaning behind my words.

“Next is Yukari.”

“Yeah.”

“To be honest, I thought Tsundere was a type of heroine that was already passé… but Yukari, you really pull it off well. Please keep up the tsun-tsun…”

“Huh?”

“Next is….”

“Hey! Is that all there is to say about me?!”

“Hehe….”

– LOL

– Too harsh on the princess!

“Um, if I had to say? I know best that Yukari is kind…. So please flaunt your mana power a lot in places where the servant demons don’t know.”

“Hey!”

Yukari shouted but was still smiling.

As the official rival of the second generation, we definitely fit this atmosphere. Yeah.

“Lastly… um, if I say this, will I get scolded for breaking the RP…? Even so, this is the truth, okay? My first friend, Suzuha.”

“I’m listening, Izumi.”

“Thank you for being my friend, for talking with me every day, and for teaching me so much. I really appreciate it. I look forward to you being the pillar of the second generation….”

And at my last request, Suzuha quietly smiled and nodded.

“Still, I think it’s not okay to read my thoughts too freely…”

“…Izumi is just too simple, you know?”

No. No matter what, I think Suzuha has a level of psychic power…

Anyway, that’s all for the letters I wanted to send to each of them.

Now all that’s left is what I wanted to say to all my precious classmates.

“I want to support the juniors, and I’m always grateful to the first-generation seniors… and I admire Natsune.”

Once again, my throat tightened.

“And the second generation… I think they are the most precious connections in my life….”

It felt like tears were about to flow at any moment.

“Really… thank you so much. …Your Izumi, who really loves you all.”

But thankfully, I managed to not cry as promised.

“I’m so embarrassed…!”

Instead, it was unbearably embarrassing.

Still, after that, we had many conversations.

“Alright, then let’s slowly get moving!”

Finally, it was time for the last live show.

★

“Ha…”

Receiving the spotlight, I slowly opened my eyes.

The countless blue lights of penlights filled the stage.

Of course, no matter how much I reach out to that light, I won’t touch it. I can’t grasp it.

But what’s there is all real.

Their heat and cheers were indeed conveyed to me.

It all started from an insignificant curiosity.

That curiosity led to misunderstanding, and that misunderstanding created someone’s admiration.

This is definitely… a scene that only came to be from numerous coincidences; if one had gone wrong, there’s no way I could have seen it.

The thought of how ridiculous this is made a giggle slip out.

But…

Even though it all began as a curious chance.

I’m ultimately standing right here now.

This alone is not a coincidence at all, and I’m sincerely grateful for that fact.

“Thank you, everyone!”

Now it’s really the end.

Starting with the group song of the second generation announced two weeks ago, I sang everything, including my solo song, “Everyday Heading Towards My Dream!”

It was the time for goodbyes.

As M-chan signaled me to say my last words, various thoughts flashed through my mind.

And already, the answer was set.

Didn’t I write it in the letter… and today’s broadcast?

So now, there’s only one thing to say.

“Phew… then…!”

Taking a deep breath, I smiled and shouted at the top of my lungs.

“I’m off!”

★

To. The Izutomo who loves Kainoh Izumi so much

Hello! This is Izumi, who is graduating.

I’m really grateful to everyone who supported me until the very end, even though I declared my graduation on a whim.

Honestly, I’m not sure if this choice is right.

Probably finding the answer to this question is the most important thing I should do first.

Do you regret liking me?

The biggest goal I’ve had since declaring my graduation until today was just one.

To ensure that when the Izutomo look back on their memories with me, they never regret supporting the VTuber Kainoh Izumi.

Did I accomplish that goal?

I truly hope so.

…But thinking back, I’m a VTuber, so I’m not sure if words like graduation or retirement suit me.

So, unexpectedly! I’ll make one last promise here.

It’s a bit strange to say this when I’ve done my graduation broadcast, but since I’m a VTuber, I’m not graduating!

Someday! After I finish my journey to find my dream and come back, surely the day will come when we meet again!

So… since it’s not an everlasting goodbye, I won’t say ‘goodbye.’

Somehow, it feels embarrassing as I write this, but since today is a special day, I can say this, right?

Thank you so much for the past 972 days.

Then! I’m off!

20XX.3.8 Your Kainoh Izumi, who really loves the Izutomo!

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