NOVEL NEXT Chapter 360
At the end of the year, there’s one event at Star’s Flow.
Before the new year comes.
On December 31st, they conduct a special broadcast filled with various content.
Although the contents of the broadcast vary each year, it’s essentially a year-end wrap-up show that almost all members participate in, in some way.
And this year, the MC is….
[Please take care of me, Izumi Kainoh.]
For some reason, it was me.
When I received a call from M-chan, I thought, “No way…” but it turned out to be real.
…Is there no way to refuse?
Of course, there isn’t, right?
[【Membership Exclusive】Please comfort me #KainohIzumi#Star’sFlow]
So, I turned on the broadcast in the members-only chat today.
I hope my Izutomo will comfort me, even if I can’t refuse.
“Isn’t there a way to refuse something you can’t refuse…?”
– I laughed right from the beginning because the premise was off ㅋㅋ
– Does Mei not understand the meaning of ‘can’t refuse’?
– At a glance, it’s clearly an official year-end issue ㅋㅋ
…How did they know it was about the official year-end issue?
These guys know me too well, almost as well as Suzuha.
Of course, the moment I acknowledge that, it’ll be Yeo-sang, so I’ll just keep quiet.
“Why is it that when Izutomo wants me, I didn’t get any comforters when I turned on the broadcast for comfort…?”
– Then Mei will crawl up.
– In situations like this, how about reflecting on your own behavior?
– At that point, it’s a complete misinterpretation…
“Is it correct to say Izutomo crawling up to me…?”
And why is that person using such terminology about their own actions? Are you a VTuber or something?
“Ha…”
I’ve been working hard due to an event I’m preparing for lately.
Of course, it’s an event that not everyone can enjoy… but I’m putting in a ton of effort.
I just want them to understand how touching it is for a level of cute girl like me to make an effort for them.
…I want compliments.
It would be great to reveal what I’m preparing and get some cheers and head pats…
– Honestly, even if I say this, everyone is always cheering for Mei.
– I love Mei, who always supports Izutomo!
– I want to keep watching her.
– Mei’s broadcast makes me feel pumped every time.
“…Ugh.”
Th-these guys suddenly hit me out of nowhere.
So I can’t dislike them….
– Feeling shy.
– Mei, who always says she wants to be complimented, is cute when she gets shy when someone says something honest.
– That was delicious…
“Ah, I’m not shy…!”
This is perfectly normal.
VTubers work hard to broadcast for their fans, and the fans cheer for those VTubers!
– Since I’ve received compliments, should I go now?
“That’s not it… I-I thought maybe I could chat with you guys a little before I leave…”
I don’t have anything particular to do right now anyway.
– Can I get some advice from Mei?
As I was chatting with Izutomo, that message caught my eye.
“Advice…? W-well, it’s fine, but I wouldn’t expect a good answer…”
– 100% weird answers will come back.
– Asking Mei for advice, are you out of your mind?
– An introverted otaku doesn’t understand advice at all.
“W-well, I do understand! I’ll give tons of empathy! Just watch closely!”
= I want to lay down lazily JP¥ 50,000: I recently developed a crush on a girl. What kind of gifts do you think a guy should give that would make a girl happy…? We’re somewhat close, being able to have casual conversations, but I’m afraid if I give the wrong gift, it’ll create distance between us…
“First of all, thanks for the red hyperchat…”
As I said this, a red hyperchat containing the question arrived.
“…Hey.”
I had no choice but to say that.
“There’s ‘I want to lay down lazily.’ Are you out of your mind…?”
– That’s too much.
– I ate well in real sincerity…
– They probably asked with genuine feelings.
– Didn’t I say I’d empathize with you?
– Was empathizing for Mei to serve up a condemnation?
“No, of course, I want to empathize… but asking me for relationship advice?! No matter how I think about it, that’s not normal…”
Me, who has never had a relationship in my life, giving relationship advice?
What kind of joke is that, you…?
“Um, I actually want to ask… what is love…? How does one engage in it…? What does it feel like to like someone…?”
– Huh?
– Ah.
– Stop using honorifics.
– Uh oh.
– It’s broken.
– I’m sorry.
– This time, Mei really wasn’t at fault…
“I don’t mean to brag, but up until high school, I didn’t have a single friend… I’ve barely spoken to guys, and I even got scolded by M-chan once for keeping my distance from a guy at the staff… Do you think I can really give relationship advice? Is it okay for me to give relationship advice…?”
– I’m sorry.
– Please, let’s stop.
– It’s already broken…
“Above all, I don’t know anything about the emotions of an average girl… Can I even say what would make her happy, from the perspective of a socially awkward, loner otaku? I’d feel happy if I received a doujin featuring my favorite character… If it’s a bit lewd, even better…”
– At that moment, it’s a 100% disaster.
– Please, stop.
– Mei using honorifics is scary…
“So in that sense, talking to me about relationships makes no sense…”
What can I even say?
The more I speak, the sadder I feel.
Honestly, I don’t care that I’ve never had a relationship.
I didn’t have much interest in it, and dating a guy is absolutely out of the question for real.
But the more I talk about it, the more it reminds me that while others are making memories in their youth at school, I was a hikikomori loser stuck in my room.
…Of course, I have friends now!
I’ve got 3 friends from high school!
And counting the Star’s Flow members, there’s even more!
Yeah.
So let’s calm down.
“Ha…”
Letting out a sigh and looking at the chatroom, the Izutomo were still comforting me.
The more you comfort me, the more miserable I feel, so I wish you’d stop…
…Huh?
Come to think of it, that’s strange.
I turned on the broadcast wanting some comfort, but the more comfort I get, the more miserable it feels.
Where did this broadcast go wrong?
I didn’t do anything wrong….
“I’ll end the broadcast here…. Everyone, see you in the evening…. Bye Izumi…”
– Bye Izumi…
– The most deflating farewell I’ve heard recently.
– I hope Mei is happy…
★
“What is love…?”
“Isn’t it that idols have a ban on dating, Izumi?”
Suzuha frowned slightly at my question and replied.
When Suzuha, a former underground idol, says it, it sounds incredibly convincing….
“I’m not saying that in that sense, but um… In a love relationship, you usually go on dates, right…?”
“Right, I guess?”
“Eating meals together, watching movies, playing games…? To put it simply, anything you can do with a lover can also be done with friends or coworkers, right…?”
“Unless we want to distinguish, there’s one thing they can’t share.”
“…Yeah? …Ah.”
Understanding Suzuha‘s words immediately made my face heat up.
“Isn’t it strange for someone who just said there’s a dating ban for idols to say that?!”
“That’s a different story.”
While saying that, Suzuha’s face was turning red.
Why did she say something like that when she was probably shy like me?
Anyway, as I ate the dinner prepared by Suzuha, I continued speaking.
“Honestly, I’m not really interested in dating, nor do I plan to do it, but… Today, since the topic came up in the broadcast, I’m just curious…”
“I think I understand what you mean. Sometimes when I hear my friends talk, I think, ‘What’s so great about it?’ Even though I don’t have the desire to experience it.”
…The more we talk, the less I understand.
What on earth is love?
But one thing I’m sure of is, I sincerely hope that ‘I want to lay down lazily’ goes well.
…Ah.
Should I suggest to that girl to check out my broadcast next time?
I want to see Izutomo date or marry one day, at least once.
I heard that’s pretty common among butlers….
“By the way, it’s Izumi who’s the MC for this year-end broadcast, right?”
“…Yeah. I wanted to refuse…”
“Seeing as you’re an MC, it’s not like you’ll be going solo since a few others will join across different generation crews. Don’t be too tense.”
“That’s true, but…”
You know very well that I can’t help but be tense, Suzuha.
Especially for a year-end broadcast like this.
“You’ve always pulled through well, so I believe in you.”
“S-Suzuha mama…”
“Don’t call me that.”
But it’s hard not to call her that when she always believes in me!
How can she maintain such immense mama-power while looking like that?
Of course, her looks are a bit away from mama-power, but!
How is she keeping up this appearance after all this time?
“…Huh?”
“I-I apologize…!”
Please don’t read my thoughts so naturally…. It’s honestly frightening….
“Izumi is just too easy to read.”
No, Suzuha must be a psychic. Yup.
“Oh, right. I’ll stay over tonight.”
“Ah, okay. I’ll prepare the blankets…”
★
[Year-End Star’s Flow! Welcome, New Year! 【#WelcomeNewStar’sFlow】]