NOVEL NEXT Chapter 30
In the end, the extremely short summer vacation came to an end.
What I did during summer vacation was mostly broadcasting, broadcasting, and more broadcasting….
…Aside from that one day I went out for Natsune Nanase merchandise, it really felt like I stayed at home the whole time.
It feels short, but to think that I did nothing but broadcast for a whole month.
Wait, isn’t my job as a VTuber a sign that I’ve been living diligently?
It’s a really tough subject.
“…Hmm.”
I still think summer vacation should be extended.
If I could have about a month more, I could end this profoundly deep dilemma.
“Hey, everyone! Long time no see~. How have you been?”
But just like that, a high and clear voice rang in my ears, suggesting I wake up from my useless dreams.
As I slightly turned my gaze, there was our class’s top socialite, Tateyama, waving her hand as she entered the class and greeted her classmates.
The once quiet classroom I stepped into was already transformed into a chaotic dungeon of social butterflies.
The sight of everyone gathering together sharing memories of summer vacation was like a page straight out of a youth anime.
Of course, there was no place for me in that scene.
I feel like an outsider who’s dying…
Well, I have a mission to protect world peace, so I’ll just let it slide this time.
But the moment my mood was about to be disturbed again…
“Kayanoh-san?”
“Eh?”
Startled by the sudden call, I shrank my shoulders and turned my gaze to see the class representative…
W-who was it again? Their name was definitely Mi, Mi, M…
“Mi, Miyauchi?”
“Yes! Long time no see!”
So I got it right. Thank goodness.
If I had miscalled her name, it would’ve created a huge blemish on what was already a not-so-great reputation within the class.
“How have you been during the break, Kayanoh-san?”
Not noticing my profound dilemma, Miyauchi smiled and asked me.
“Uh, umm…”
What I did during the break, after thinking about it, was obviously just more broadcasting.
But if I say that outright, she’ll probably ask what kind of broadcasting it was.
However, it’s better that information about my ‘life as a VTuber’ remains as hidden as possible.
So now, let’s find an answer that neither lies to Miyauchi nor exposes my VTuber activities.
“Uh, personal investment for the revitalization of the fourth industry…”
“Ah, I see.”
I’m not sure if Miyauchi understood my answer, but thankfully, she nodded her head and moved on to where the other classmates were.
“Phew.”
The classroom was bustling with classmates proudly sharing their memories.
It made me feel like I just didn’t fit in at all.
Well, it was a familiar sight if anything.
But amongst all this, an unfamiliar sense of emptiness approached me, something I had never felt before.
“Ah…”
I see now.
Thinking about it, during the break, I always turned on the broadcast and talked to someone.
Well, if you ask if that’s really a conversation, I wouldn’t have an answer, but at least there were hundreds of people who would communicate with me whenever I started streaming.
Plus, I even made a friend for the first time, Suzuha Koga.
In other words, I’m not just some ordinary socialite here; I’m a super social being with more people to talk to than anyone else in this room!
And yet, I have to live as a complete loner at school, where I have no one to talk to.
That means I have to hide my ‘power’ at school…!
“…Haah.”
I have to wait for more than three months until winter break.
Truly, this world is messed up…
★
“Haaah…”
It was early evening. On her way home, Tateyama let out a heavy sigh.
“Looks like she didn’t come today either.”
The person who came to Tateyama’s mind was Kayanoh, a classmate.
Most of the class came to gather and hang out when Tateyama proposed it.
But, of course, Kayanoh was not among them, as expected.
Apparently, she went home before Tateyama or Miyauchi could even suggest the gathering.
“Did I do something wrong?”
Tateyama recalled the memory of meeting Kayanoh at Akihabara during summer break.
“I thought we got kind of close back then…”
Kayanoh, who blushed even at a slight arm-cross, was the complete opposite of her school self, looking at otaku goods with sparkling eyes.
Of course, she hadn’t told anyone else about that day.
She seemed to want to hide that she had gone to an Akihabara goods store.
So, the happenings of that day were a secret just for the two of them.
Is that why? The anticipation to see Kayanoh’s face at the start of the new term gradually began to sprout in Tateyama’s heart.
It made sense; after all, Kayanoh was always the most talked about person in class.
With a face cuter than a doll but emitting a cold aura around her, she was someone who always left class in a flash without joining any extracurricular activities at Shiodome Private High School, Class A of first years… as Tateyama always stated.
The fact that she had a secret just for them gave Tateyama enough hope as a high school girl filled with dreams.
“…Did I just annoy her that day?”
So, of course, it was inevitable for such questions to arise.
When Tateyama entered the classroom, she hoped, “What if Kayanoh gives me a sneaky greeting?”
But Kayanoh only fleetingly glanced at Tateyama who entered the classroom, then returned to her usual cold demeanor, sitting alone.
Miyauchi talked to her for a moment, but it was brief.
Ultimately, as soon as the closing bell rang, Kayanoh left the classroom just like last semester, leaving Tateyama to be nothing but disheartened.
“Looking back, I was the one who forced myself to chase after her back then…”
Would it be impossible to get close?
‘The more friends, the better,’ was Tateyama’s motto, and she fell into a spiral of despair, recalling the image of Kayanoh leaving the classroom without hesitation.
★
[【Members Only】 I have a question I’m curious about; can someone enlighten me? #KainohIzumi#Star’sFlow#Chatroom]
“So, as a current high school girl, I have something I’m curious about.”
After finishing light banter, I brought up the decisive factor for today’s broadcast.
– Current high school girl?
– An introverted, socially impaired self-proclaimed ultra-cute girlmaker Mei’s question.
“…A summer vacation is supposed to be a whole month of rest, right? In other words, that means no chance to meet up with classmates for a month? So how do you manage to just have a normal conversation the moment you see each other?”
– ?
– What the hell is that…
My question started flooding the chatroom with confusion.
Why is that?
“Am I wrong? If you’re literally not meeting for a whole month, isn’t your human relationship resetting to the beginning? Don’t you have to start building relationships all over again?”
– I suddenly want to cry.
– This makes me sad the more I hear it…
“After not seeing each other for a month, just jumping straight to suggesting we meet up? I think that we should begin the process of getting to know each other all over again. Don’t you think our class is filled with socialites?”
– You can’t reset human relationships like a game, Mei.
– That’s what I think is normal.
– If they were friends, they’d usually make plans to meet up during the break.
“Whoah….”
I knew it, but hearing it like this feels shockingly true.
I thought that the viewers of my broadcast would empathize with other otakus like me…
What’s this? Am I really the only introverted otaku in this broadcast?
A sense of betrayal made my whole body tremble.
“Truly, the world is too cruel…”
– Just what conclusions are you drawing on your own?
– The world is cruel to the introverted socially impaired self-proclaimed ultra-cute girlmaker Mei…
“Phew. Well, I’ve rambled on for nearly an hour, so I’ll wrap up the member’s section here. See you all again later for dinner.”
Ultimately, the mystery I wanted to unravel in today’s members-only broadcast remained unsolved.
Well, I suppose it’s fine since my joke about human relationships was meant to be humorous, but I never expected even the idea of taking a break until September during ‘summer vacation’ to be denied.
“Truly, life is a lonely journey…”
– Bye Bye!
– The lonely life of an introverted socially impaired self-proclaimed ultra-cute girlmaker Mei…
– Bye Bye!
…Is it okay for me to want to ban that guy?
★
Since I’m a fan of a wide range of hobbies, I obviously have many interests.
However, ever since I started broadcasting, I’ve been watching other VTuber broadcasts during my free time whenever I can.
Of course, the one I watch the most is Natsune Nanase’s, but of course, her broadcasts can’t go on 24/7.
Well, watching edited clips or rewatching old live broadcasts is fun, but after all, seeing a variety of broadcasts would also benefit me more.
So, the broadcast I’m currently watching is…
[Oh ho ho ho! My choice is perfect! There are no gaps!]
– The lady always fails while saying that.
– People don’t grow, you know.
[Shush! You, as my butler, shouldn’t doubt my words!]
This was the broadcast of Hikari Kurokami, who I watched the most after Natsune.
[W-why is that?! I-I thought I definitely picked the worst choice?!]
– Not a single expected outcome, which makes it hilarious LOL
– Truly, the lady has no talent for being a villain.
Right now, Kurokami-senpai was playing a visual novel titled ‘Like Life.’
It was a classic story showing how the female protagonist, who entered Like Academy, grows through various encounters…
[According to my logical reasoning, this game must have a bug!]
– Logical?
But Kurokami-senpai, wishing to see the worst ending, kept choosing strange answers every time a choice popped up.
For example, when asked, “What did you have for dinner?” she’d pick “At least it must be better than the trash you ate.”
However, the problem is…
[Isn’t it strange that my appeal goes up after I selected ‘Drop dead!’ as an answer when asked about my charm?]
Having chosen such answers, the plot was surprisingly heading towards a happy ending.
…Why?
Still, I kind of understood Kurokami-senpai’s antics.
After all, she was RP-ing as the “villainess ojou” who looks down on and squashes her opponents.
It was a pro’s attitude to maintain RP even in such a game.
[If we’re together, we can surely conquer any hardship!]
[Look! How do I take my choices so far and end up with responses like that?!]
But the issue is that Kurokami-senpai is a person who doesn’t fit the villainous role at all.
No matter what she does, people look at her warmly, and even when she tries to downplay her opponents, she ends up appearing cute.
Especially when you see how the game treats senpai, you can tell that too.
In a way, she’s somewhat similar to me, yet it feels completely different.
While my personality ruins my RP, Kurokami-senpai’s circumstances ruin hers.
But, even so, Kurokami-senpai’s gap has greatly helped her channel grow.
– Truly, Mei acknowledges the lady’s clumsy villain role.
…Huh?
Why is my name suddenly being mentioned there?
[What?! Clumsy villainy?!]
– Don’t you know?
[Of course I do! You’re talking about that disrespectful junior, aren’t you? I’ve been annoyed by her ever since! That arrogant junior needs an education!]
– So, are you perhaps…?
[Yes! I will challenge Kainoh Izumi to a duel!]
– Finally, the lady’s duel challenge has appeared! LOL
“…Why?!”