NOVEL NEXT Chapter 356
Unicorn.
A horse with a single horn on its forehead, also known as a unicorn or a monokeros, is a mythical creature.
−272℃, 151℃, under 6,000 atmospheric pressures, in a vacuum state, in a state of dehydration for nearly 10 years, exposed to 5,000Gy of gamma rays for two days, and still surviving under hypoxia—these bugs actually exist, yet they say there’s no horse with a single horn? Isn’t this also a mystery of nature?
Anyway, this mythical creature called a unicorn has many stories.
They say the unicorn’s horn has the ability to cure any poison.
Its nature is so ferocious that it cannot be tamed.
However, it becomes gentle and docile in front of its offspring and a pure maiden…
What’s crucial for us here is the third part.
To be precise, the part that states, “it becomes gentle and docile before a pure maiden.”
In manga or light novels, heroines tend to keep their distance from men other than the protagonist, while female idols hope to not have boyfriends.
These kinds of fans have come to be dubbed ‘unicorns’ in the community, tied to this third characteristic.
Some of these unicorns are extreme and dislike even the thought of being associated with men. Frankly speaking, I don’t think that’s wrong.
Of course, I know it’s practically impossible in reality.
It’s impossible to live a life without ever getting involved with men.
However, subcultures like manga or light novels and idols provide fantasies to their consumers, i.e., fans.
If fans want a fantasy, it’s rather strange to throw realistic stories at them, right?
If that’s what they’re after, it’s only natural to show them that kind of side.
At the very least, I think showing a distance from men in front of fans is the right answer.
It’s not like I think this way because I’m a unicorn.
If I were to see Natsune chatting with a guy privately, I’d probably lock myself in my room and cry, but that has nothing to do with my philosophy.
No, I’m saying all men are wolves? Beasts consumed by lust.
This is something I can assert because I lived as a man in my previous life, and I believe it’s quite persuasive.
Even in my previous life, I had a pretty low sex drive, but thinking back to how flustered I got whenever that guy would casually cross his arms, the answer comes quickly.
When a man tells a woman, “I have no ill intentions,” it’s all a lie.
So if there’s a man approaching Natsune, I’ll protect her no matter what happens.
…Anyway, in the male-oriented genres of subculture and among Japanese idol fans, there’s a group referred to as unicorns, and among virtual YouTubers, who blend idol culture with subculture, there are naturally unicorns. In fact, there are quite a number of extreme unicorns.
Even among the abusive Izutomo members, unicorns are abundant.
And since I respect all those Izutomo members, I’m going to try to keep my distance from men in any situation.
…I was definitely trying to make some logical points here.
“So, at times when people say we might have inconvenienced Izumi or made her uncomfortable, I wonder if that’s the case. If so, please let us know right away so we can fix it…”
“Oh. Th-that’s not it!”
“If that’s not the case, then I’m truly relieved. But is there perhaps another issue?”
“W-well, you see… it’s because I’m a unicorn?”
“…Eh?”
I have a feeling I said something wrong.
The intense stares from the four people observing me, who were just concerned, feel rather uncomfortable…
“W-wait!”
I initially tried to raise my voice to continue, but the already chilly atmosphere didn’t seem like it would change easily.
However, if I retreat now, it could lead to misunderstandings all around…!
“Unicorns, they’re not bad!”
Yup. I think I messed up.
Once again, I learned how difficult it is to communicate with people.
★
“So that’s why.”
Thankfully, after managing to explain step by step for the remaining time, it seemed the four people finally understood my story.
“Certainly, it’s a very Izumi-like reasoning, but I think it’s better to refrain from that approach since it could lead to misunderstandings,”
“Yeah, I guess so…”
I couldn’t help but nod my head in agreement with Ayaka’s very rational statement.
Well, I’m not a male VTuber, and there’s no need to impose such things on the staff helping me.
“…I sometimes feel like Izumi-senpai is still a bit childish.”
“Well, I think that’s what makes Izumi-chan appealing.”
As I reflected on the mistakes up to this point, Kaguya and M-chan started plotting against me.
At 22, having reached the age where I can drink, being called childish is quite something.
Still, M-chan is older than me, and as a senior member of Star’s Flow, I guess there’s that.
But Kaguya, she’s merely older. A proper junior of mine at Atlas.
Of course, her time at Star’s Flow now exceeds mine, but the absolute wall of senpai is still in place.
In other words, it’s time to show my seniority here.
Using the position of a senpai to pressure others isn’t particularly nice, but it’s unavoidable in this situation.
“Kaguya…!”
“Hmm?”
“I am a, a senpai!”
“I know that already?”
“Uh… Knowing is enough.”
Thankfully, it seemed Kaguya noticed my immense pressure and nodded her head in acceptance of my words.
Although there might be dissatisfaction from my juniors at Atlas later, there are times when one cannot back down.
No. Even if that day comes, I’ll use my position as a senpai to fend them all off.
★
“…That happened.”
“Really?”
Right now, we’re in the annex of Kurokami-senpai’s house.
There wasn’t anything special going on, but since we had gathered, we all agreed to have dinner together at Ayaka’s suggestion.
At a good timing, Natsune, Yukari, Nekoto, and Suzumichi were contacted as they were with Suzuha, which developed into a plan for gathering.
Encouraged by Natsune’s suggestion to call other members now that we were together, it turned into a sudden large gathering.
And the venue capable of hosting up to 26 people was, of course, Kurokami-senpai’s house.
“Everyone being gathered like this makes it incredibly noisy…”
“Y-yeah…”
I nodded in agreement with Kaguya’s remark while looking around.
Despite the improvements in my Communication Impairment, being surrounded by this many people still made me feel hesitant.
Particularly since the members of the 4th generation Phantasm and the 5th generation Aster were all gathered; I hadn’t even had a proper conversation with any of the Aster members excluding Hibana from Phantasm.
Honestly, I felt awkward enough to want to head home…!
Is there no way to get back home somehow?
For instance, saying suddenly that I have a headache…
Thud!
“Ugh!”
“Instead of thinking such useless thoughts, wouldn’t it be better to think about how to get along? They’re precious juniors, after all.”
As I was having such thoughts, Suzuha struck my head with her palm.
“Ugh… please stop reading my mind so effortlessly….”
“I keep telling you, Izumi, your thoughts are way too evident.”
I really wish Suzuha would start acknowledging by now that it’s her who possesses the supernatural abilities.
“…Ah, by the way, today’s agenda was definitely the one with Shiori, right?”
“Ah, yes.”
Last time, after appearing on a terrestrial broadcast, I established a connection with Shiori from the idol group ‘Try X’.
Continuing from that connection, Shiori and I were set to host a radio show together.
Today’s agenda was also part of that radio show; last time I met members from Try X, and this time it was content with Shiori and members from Star’s Flow meeting.
I was told that Shiori originally wanted to see the gathering of me, Natsune, and Kurokami, i.e., the Hinami members, but… unfortunately, due to Natsune’s scheduling conflict, it fell through.
So instead, she invited two of her favorite members, Ayaka and Kaguya.
‘The Young Lady and Ayaka-sen, Aoba-chan in front of me….’
…Honestly, the way Shiori said that made it difficult to even consider her an idol.
I felt a lowering of the emotional distance by about 5cm.
However, when I mentioned this during break time.
“I mean, I think it feels similar to the times when you talked about Natsune,”
“Th-that’s not true! That’s a lie….”
“No, it definitely feels that way,”
“Yup. When it comes to Natsune, Izumi’s entirely different…”
“Don’t deny it, Izumi-senpai. It’s a fact.”
For some reason, there was also some sad incidents where everyone started plotting against me.
Of course, it’s true that as the top member, the “8th Star,” I get excited when Natsune is mentioned, but no matter what, I can’t be that intense about it.
What could possibly be considered such harsh commentary about the universe’s strongest pretty girl, truly?
Of course, it was more about ambiance, not looks, but… it’s definitely not like I would be that way.
Yup. Absolutely not.
★
The atmosphere of a gathering with 26 women was, of course, noisy.
They chatted about stories from broadcasts or agendas and grew closer over discussions about their favorite games and comics…
In that environment, I also succeeded in engaging in conversation with the other Phantasm and Aster members, letting my seniority shine through.
For some reason, while being embraced by Hibana, other Phantasm and Aster members patted my head, but that definitely wasn’t because I was being ignored or anything at all.
“Pfft! Really?”
“Yeah. I was truly surprised… I don’t think I could ever predict what Izumi-chan is going to say in my lifetime.”
“I think that’s something only Suzuha could manage.”
For some reason, the subject of the current conversation was the unicorn remark I had made earlier.
…Why suddenly?
I genuinely had no idea why…
Well, it wasn’t particularly a story meant to mock me, so I suppose it’s fine.
That said, since the topic of unicorns arose, various thoughts began bubbling up once again.
Despite many female VTuber fans disliking their idols having any association with men, it ultimately relates back to what happens on broadcasts.
If they end up having a partner after the show, fans will rarely find out, and I’ve heard of some VTubers that exploit that loophole.
Admittedly, I personally can’t comprehend why they would do that… But it’s probably influenced by the memories of my previous life.
I’ve never been interested in romance, and even if I had to find a partner, I prefer women, so…
But it’s likely that how seriously I’m considering this makes me the special case here; other members of Star’s Flow don’t share similar views.
…But thinking on it, I’ve never heard the others discuss romance.
I’ve always understood that girls often talk about love when together, but perhaps that was just a false assumption?
Though on the other side, there are times when romance conversations do come up with Tateyama and Onodera, and while I might feel a bit of resistance toward that, it’s still interesting to hear.
Thus, I genuinely want to hear if the other members have romance stories.
Of course, excluding Natsune.
…Ah. Then I could just ask now that we’re all gathered.
“Um, excuse me… do any of you perhaps have boyfriends…?”
And the moment I innocently uttered that question.
“Ha?”
The atmosphere abruptly froze in an instant.
Why…?