NOVEL NEXT Chapter 317
[Izumi Kainoh’s 6th Anniversary] Calling my favorite senpais to have a cheerful chat!!! #IzumiKainoh#NatsuneNanase#HikariKurokami#StarsFlow
[Doing reverse Dotsumachi sounds good, but do we really need to do it with second-year students?]
“Eh?”
“Well, I think so too~. But I believe it’s best if Izumi does it with someone who wants to….”
Somehow, I got pointed out right after exchanging greetings.
Isn’t it usually expected to say something like “Congratulations on the 6(3)th anniversary!” at times like this?
[No. I mean, yesterday was also my 6th anniversary… I said we should all do what we want this time, didn’t I? That’s why Ayaka didn’t contact us during yesterday’s reverse Dotsumachi…]
“…Really?”
[Yep.]
No way.
I was feeling lonely because Ayaka didn’t call me during yesterday’s broadcast, and it was intentionally done?
“Ue….”
“It’s okay, Izumi! Knowing how much you treasure your colleagues made me happy!”
“Yeah! And S, Suzuh! I said that, but you’re happy too, right? She chose you as the first person to call! Of course she’d say it was you first! Right?”
[Well, I am happy of course…]
I know.
Suzuh’s word about being happy is probably true.
However, what Suzuh really wants to say now is that it’s a different story from that.
Cherishing your colleagues is great, but don’t throw away chances to get closer to other members just because of them.
Suzuh must mean something like that.
Still, isn’t it a bit much to say that openly on a broadcast where everyone’s watching?
Surely there are Izutomo’s feeling uncomfortable…
– Mei-chan is adorable, being all correct and silent
– It seems like Suzuh-chan is strict during times like this, which is nice
– Please scold Mei-chan a bit more
Yeah. Everyone likes it, huh.
Well… there’s no way Izutomo would dislike me getting scolded by Suzuh.
I was foolish to have hoped for that, even for a moment.
[Hmm. But still, thank you for calling me like this, and congratulations on the 6th anniversary. Like I said before, I’m really happy that Izumi is back.]
“Suzuh…!”
In the end, she made sure to ‘nuzzle’ me, though.
As expected of Suzuh Mama.
I’m touched….
[Natsune and Hikari too, please take good care of Izumi.]
“Yeah! So, let’s talk again next time, Suzuh! Bye-bye~.”
“Goodbye, Suzuh.”
[Nee~.]
With that final conversation, the sound effect of Suzuh Mama hanging up echoed.
I’ve gotten scolded a lot from the start, but I guess it’s okay since I learned a lot.
Now, excluding Yurika, Nekoto, and Ayaka whom I planned to call next…
“…Let’s stop the reverse Dotsumachi!”
“Eh?”
“We’ve only done it with Suzuh so far?!”
“Well, since we’ve done at least one, I guess that counts….”
As I made that excuse and turned my gaze away, Natsune and Hikari senpai stared at me with narrowed eyes.
But I can’t help it.
Trying to call my colleagues during the reverse Dotsumachi was a kind of break for me.
It felt like I was replenishing my communication stamina that gets drained by conversations with others, you know?
But if I need to skip that break, I’m sure I’ll collapse.
In that case, I simply won’t do the reverse Dotsumachi!
Yeah. Since it’s my 6(3)th anniversary broadcast now, it’s not a problem.
Today, I’m the protagonist!
“Still, ending with just Suzuh feels a bit….”
“Uh, is there a problem…?”
“Eh?!”
“I just wanted to have fun with the three of us today…”
“Well, I don’t think that’s a problem! Today, Izumi is the protagonist, after all!”
“What if Hikari doesn’t intervene and just lets it go?!”
– Even after three years, having the charm of a devil is still unchanged…
– The strongest at Hinami is indeed Mei-chan
“Natsune….”
“Ugh… That’s, that’s unfair, right?! Okay, I got it! Let’s stop the reverse Dotsumachi and just have fun among ourselves! So please, stop looking at me like that!”
In the end, both Natsune and Hikari senpai nodded at my request.
Yeah. Sincerity always gets across!
★
“Oh my. So you climbed to the top of Fuji all by yourself?”
“Yeah. Hehe….”
“That’s really impressive.”
Yeah. This is what I wanted today.
Just the three of us giggling and chatting about silly things.
I wanted to share what I’ve been doing these past three years… such trivial yet joyful broadcasting.
“Hehehe….”
While I was enjoying the broadcast.
– If you had to choose a partner from Hinami, who would it be?
A question like that popped up in the chat.
“A partner…?”
Well, it probably wouldn’t happen but… should I imagine it?
If I were to date Natsune, it would feel immensely youthful.
We’d probably shyly hold hands…
I can imagine a love where we slowly close the distance.
If I were to date Hikari senpai, it probably would be an unilaterally protective relationship.
If I lean on her, Hikari senpai would say, “Well, I can’t help it~,” and grant my requests.
Then I’d try to do something for her in gratitude.
…It feels like every day would be fun no matter whom I dated.
“Hehehe….”
As I lost myself in delightful fantasies, both Natsune and Hikari senpai opened their mouths at the same time.
“Of course, it’s going to be Izumi.”
“It’s definitely going to be Izumi.”
“Eh?”
“Huh?”
“Hmph?”
…A suddenly ominous atmosphere started to rise.
“Izumi, who do you think you’ll choose? Obviously, it should be me, right? Since I’ve always called myself the eighth star. It’s only natural that you’d choose your favorite me, right?”
“Huh? Natsune. Feelings for a favorite and feelings for a partner are absolutely different, you know? Don’t tell me you’re such a fool that you don’t know that? …Well, Izumi probably knows, but you know… I’m pretty high on the feminine appeal scale, right? So if you choose me, I can take care of you really well. Natsune is absolutely impossible, so… I’m a bit sorry about that.”
From both sides, an immense pressure and gaze were felt. Is this really just my imagination?
“Huh? Are you saying my feminine appeal is low, Hikari?”
“It’s true that yours is lower than mine, isn’t it?”
“Guh. But that’s something I can learn more about in the future…”
“Izumi’s selection has to be made right now, you know?”
My body trembled in fear.
Clearly, the atmosphere that was originally filled with girls’ cheers just moments ago has vanished.
Is it true that my single comment here will determine how things will go?
That’s impossible. Absolutely impossible.
Please, help me.
I’d rather continue the previous reverse Dotsumachi.
Any choice I make now will lead to disaster.
Who was that individual who sent that chat earlier?
That person, they’re clearly trying to kill me by sending that message.
“Izumi. Can you hurry up and make a choice? If you had to choose one of us as a partner, who would it be?”
“Don’t you think it’s off-putting for a girl to show such obsession? Bragging about feminine appeal and putting someone down. That’s not a nice look~.”
“Huh?”
“Why?”
They’re definitely smiling.
Natsune and Hikari senpai are surely smiling even now.
From the fans watching the broadcast, we probably resemble a group teasing each other.
– LOL
– Hurry up and answer, Mei-chan ㅋㅋ
– What even is this? ㅋㅋ
– Is the pitch-black star ending like this today? ㅋㅋ
As proof, countless LOLs are popping up in the chatroom.
But the person in question, I can’t laugh at all…?
“What do you think, Izumi? No matter how you think about it, I’m the one, right? Compared to that mysterious bread roll girl who calls herself a young lady, I’m way better, right?”
“Clearly, I’m the one who’s right for Izumi, just like I just proved. You just said that putting someone down is unseemly, didn’t you? Being with someone with such poor character will just lower your standards too, you know?”
“Huh?!”
“Fue….”
“Geh?!”
At both sides, Natsune and Hikari senpai crossed their arms in unison towards me.
Ah…. The soft sensation and nice fragrance.
No, wait, this isn’t it.
It feels good, but I want to cry because I’m scared.
What should I do now?
Someone teach me the right answer…!
“Ah….”
Then suddenly, a perfect answer flashed through my mind.
Yeah. With this, no one will get hurt.
“I-I, I mean…!”
“Did you choose, Izumi?”
“Well, you wouldn’t need to listen to know that it’s me, right?”
Despite trembling with fear, I slowly organized my thoughts and opened my mouth.
“I-I mean, Natsune can choose me? Hikari senpai can choose Natsune? Then I could choose Hikari senpai, okay?”
Right.
This immense pressure emerged from the one-sided expectant votes.
If I choose one of them now, someone will end up with zero votes.
This is a catastrophe arising from imbalance.
But if I shift the direction a bit and let the three of us exchange one vote each?
There’d be a love triangle without anyone getting hurt.
Yeah. It’s a wonderful answer that I’ve thought up of…
“Huh? Are you saying that Izumi is going to choose Hikari!?」
“Well, you could say there’s a difference in elegance. It’s a natural outcome.”
Huh?
That’s somewhat different from the reaction I expected.
I thought that when I said this, they’d both agree it was a good idea and move on to the next topic…
“W-Wait, that’s okay if it’s the other way around! Natsune can choose Hikari senpai. H-Hikari senpai can choose me. I can choose Natsune…”
“Oh? Are you trying to change your original decision based on the words of someone so unrefined?”
“Izumi’s choice should stand, how about it, Hikari?”
“Is it really so bad for Natsune to be chosen? It feels a bit pathetic for you to fail…”
Yeah. Let’s just give up.
“I’ll just live all alone… along with the Izutomo….”
– In the end, she ran away ㅋㅋ
– This might be the correct answer…
While being incessantly teased by the two whispering in my ears, I finally came to such a conclusion.
★
[Calling only Yuyika was too much!!!]
[I’m disappointed, Izumi. I was waiting too, even if it was just a little.]
[I think this is discrimination… Our connections as second-year students end here.]
After the broadcast ended, a ton of complaints came in from the other second-year students.
Huh.
Wasn’t today supposed to be my day in the spotlight?
What’s going on here?
“Yoru. You know what I said earlier wasn’t serious, right?”
“It’s okay, Shiro. I think I was too harsh earlier too. I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s my fault. You’re also really precious to me, Yoru…”
“Yeah! I really love Shiro too.”
Well, at least I get to see Natsune and Hikari senpai’s tte-tte up close, right?
“Hehe….”
Today, this’ll heal my heart…
“So how about we split it, Izumi?”
“…That sounds like a good idea.”
Huh?
“Just make sure it’s exactly half. Got it?”
“Okay.”
Huh?
Umm… I’m not an item or anything…
“Izumi~! Sit down here for a moment.”
“I have something I want to talk about.”
“…Can I go into the room and sleep first?”
“Not allowed.”
“That’s not allowed?”
After that.
“Ow, so cute! Your skin is super soft, I’m so jealous….”
“Eek?!”
“Ha… Being with Izumi like this feels healing….”
“I-I’m glad to hear that….”
Both of them showered me with affection, turning everything into a mess.