NOVEL NEXT Chapter 40
“The new song really showed us what kind of idol Natsune-senpai is right from the atmosphere, lyrics, and choreography, right? Especially the part where it goes, ‘Don’t hesitate, just move forward.’ The live choreography was great, but the scene in the PV where the stars of the night change into the sun was totally moving, wasn’t it? And when she reaches out, if you look at the background…”
– Am I watching Mei’s broadcast or the eighth star’s live stream?
– Mei and the eighth star are basically the same!
– It’s already been an hour, Mei-chan! (ᗒᗣᗕ)՞
– I get how sincere Natsune is, so let’s stop already…
“But in just an hour, there’s no way I can explain all of Natsune-senpai’s charms, right?”
Izutomo should know that much.
And since we couldn’t do a simultaneous viewing content yesterday, shouldn’t we talk a bit longer?
Since it’s a comeback broadcast, it’s expected to last a while anyway.
“Anyway? When you see Natsune-senpai’s eyes at the end of the PV, it feels like a star…”
– Ugh!
“…I’m, I’m tired, but can we just do the broadcast again tomorrow?”
As I said that, the chatroom started to catch fire.
– I knew it would be like this
– Is it really okay to do this right from the comeback broadcast…?
– What Mei-chan talked about today: Natsune’s 1st Anniversary Live and new song – The End
– Who else can stream for over 2 hours with just a Macaron?
– And only talking about senpai…
Sorry. I was here.
“W-well, it seems like everyone is okay, so… I’ll just end it here!”
– ?
– Who said it was okay?
– I’m not okay!
But thinking about changing the subject after talking about Natsune makes me already exhausted…
“I’ll continue this tomorrow! E-everyone, bye…! Let’s see each other again…”
– Wait, are you really ending the comeback broadcast like this?
– This really showed how people don’t change easily in a comeback broadcast.
…Wait, what was that even about?
★
“Ugh… so embarrassing!”
Suzuha was writhing in the car due to the overwhelming emotions that hit her late.
How hot her head felt while driving home was unbearable.
She had arrived home, but she couldn’t get out of the car with her palm covering her face.
And the reason she rejected Izumi’s invitation to stay over was all because of that.
‘Ugh, seriously. Making me worry about people…’
‘Why didn’t you tell me you were struggling? Is it because I’m short, ugh, that you couldn’t confide in me…? I’m, I’m worried that Izumi might be thinking something bad…’
‘As a friend… But why won’t you lean on me in tough times…?’
‘Next time, when something like this happens, you have to tell me… I’ll help as much as I can. I’m always on your side, Izumi…’
Feeling embarrassed, but the scene from earlier wouldn’t leave Suzuha’s mind.
“What am I doing, being 24 and acting embarrassed in front of someone 8 years younger…?”
Suzuha buried her face in Izumi’s shoulder and recalled the moment she had cried loudly.
Izumi’s body smelled of soft and cozy baby powder, and her hair carried a sweet peach scent.
It was truly embarrassing, but that was why Suzuha felt she could calm down in the middle of it.
“No, I’m not bad…”
The fault lies entirely with Izumi.
How could she avoid worrying about such a fragile kid?
‘I’m sorry…. I made a promise with Suzuha… to reduce negative thoughts, I promised… But I kept having bad thoughts, and it scared me…. I was too scared to say anything in case Suzuha would be disappointed… I’m sorry…’
In the VTuber industry, people’s malice is more overwhelming than expected.
Even making minor mistakes can lead to ambushes, and they spread baseless rumors and bring in stories of the ‘previous life’ to attack.
In a way, being a VTuber means having no privacy at all.
Seeing Izumi in such a place made it feel like she was a child left on the shore.
“So it’s only natural that I feel I have to protect her…”
Suzuha quietly made her resolve and calmed her flushed face before getting out of the car.
Of course, no one would point out that it was a mental victory.
★
With a clunk, the sound of a door opening was heard.
I was using the ultimate insider skill: ‘Pretending to sleep by arriving early at school,’ with my head buried on the desk, and I casually shifted my gaze.
Well, of course, the one entering the classroom was none other than class president Miyauchi.
After confirming who had entered, I turned my gaze back to the desk.
Greet? If someone like me tried to start a conversation, they might think I’m being rude, pretending to be friendly when we’re not even friends.
Miyauchi, after all, wouldn’t approach me, having been deceived by my perfect act.
So I’m good at just keeping my head down on the desk.
If they don’t greet me first, I won’t budge.
This is the wisdom of a complete outsider’s 40 years of experience.
“H-hey…”
But then, a voice brushed past my ear.
“Is Kaya-no sleeping…?”
…Huh?
At first, I thought maybe someone else had unexpectedly come in at this hour.
But Miyauchi was precisely calling me by name.
Could it be that another person with ‘Kaya-no’ as their surname transferred to this class…? That was just silly thinking…
“Umm…”
Should I answer? Or just keep pretending to sleep?
If I acted like I was just pretending to sleep, would that not push my image, which is already bad enough, even further down?
Right. If Miyauchi calls me just one more time, I’ll respond.
“Seems like you’re sleeping…”
No, this isn’t good. I’m feeling a bit more tired but don’t give up, Miyauchi…!
It’s an important conversation after all, right?
“Maybe it’s better to talk tomorrow…”
…Now!
It may not have been directly directed at me, but let’s go with the idea of waking up because the surroundings got noisy.
“Ugh.”
“Ah, Kaya-no…”
“H-Have you, uh, called for me…?”
To ensure it didn’t appear that I was pretending to sleep, I exaggerated every slight movement to show I had genuinely been sleeping.
I rubbed my eyes lightly with my index finger and stretched as if I were stiff from sleeping.
Perfect.
There’s no way they’d catch on that I was pretending to be asleep.
“Ah, um… Kaya-no….”
“…Yes?”
“I, um, noticed that your condition seemed to be really bad last week…”
“Ah.”
Ouch.
I accidentally rubbed my eye and poked it.
“Ah, Miyauchi, what were you…?”
“I’m, I’m sorry, Kaya-no! I’m really sorry!”
…Huh?
It stung, so I didn’t quite catch what Miyauchi said and wanted to ask her to repeat, but for some reason, she bowed her head to me and then left the classroom.
“…What was that?”
No one was around to answer that question.
Only the sound of the autumn wind flowed emptily through the open window into the classroom.
★
“What do I do, what do I do…!”
Miyauchi walked down the empty hallway scolding herself.
Her eyes were already damp, and blood slightly seeped from her lips, which she bit down on.
“How embarrassing…
I’m really such a fool.
I promised I wouldn’t meddle until I became real friends with Kaya-no.
“I should have just stayed quiet…!”
What Miyauchi did today by trying to talk to Kaya-no was quite an impulsive act.
Kaya-no always comes first to school and lays her head on the desk to nap.
As if that time was her only moment of rest.
And that’s why Miyauchi had never spoken to Kaya-no before.
However, seeing her quietly sleeping today reminded Miyauchi of the heavy atmosphere Kaya-no had last week.
Then a thought sprang up that she wanted to be there to comfort her.
“No matter what happens, I’m on your side.”
That’s what Miyauchi wished to convey.
But seeing Kaya-no awake made Miyauchi realize something went wrong.
Kaya-no’s eyes were red, as if she had cried heavily yesterday.
“Fool…”
There was an opportunity.
Miyauchi should have made an excuse and withdrawn at that moment.
But upon seeing Kaya-no’s pitiable and fragile appearance with those red eyes, her desire to comfort her only grew stronger.
So she blurted it out.
“I-I noticed that your condition seemed to be really bad last week…”
“Ah…”
And the moment Kaya-no heard those words, droplets of tears flowed from her beautiful blue eyes.
That was when Miyauchi realized her mistake.
She didn’t know exactly what was happening, but simply recalling it was enough to bring tears to her eyes.
And she had just made Kaya-no, who wasn’t even her friend yet, relive that pain.
“Ah, Miyauchi, what were you…?”
It could have been incredibly upsetting.
Yet even then, Kaya-no, offering another chance, said nothing and acted as if she hadn’t heard, and Miyauchi had no choice but to lower her head and apologize.
“Fool. A real fool…!”
Miyauchi, knowing Kaya-no was struggling, only wanted to comfort her and grow closer.
What a shallow desire it was to lack consideration for the other!
As she realized this, Miyauchi was filled with regret.
“I’m sorry, Kaya-no…”
And thus, Miyauchi spoke an apology that no one could hear in the bathroom, shedding tears.
Cursing her own foolishness.
★
[【Membership Exclusive】 What should I do moving forward? #KainohIzumi#Star’s Flow]
“I want to set my direction…”
– (Self-proclaimed) influencer vibe maker, weren’t you an isolated social outcast?
– Isn’t she an ambush VTuber?
“I’m being serious!”
I finally managed to voice something after deep contemplation, but the reactions were too harsh.
It wasn’t for nothing that I started a membership-exclusive broadcast.
“Everyone should already know that the ambush got pretty big, right? I don’t really know if I did anything wrong… but I feel like there’s a reason it blew up…”
– I think Mei-chan is attractive right now too.
“…Really? Do you think today’s broadcast is fine…?”
– Yeah
– Uh-huh
– Either way, those kinds of people will always look at things negatively.
– It’s tough to satisfy all their taste anyway.
“Hehe, hehehe…”
Feeling good that I somehow managed to get accepted by the Izutomos, who always tease me.
– Your laugh is seriously pointless lol
– Now I sort of chuckle every time I hear it.
“Then I’ll end the broadcast here… Let’s catch up again when I read the macarons in a bit…”
Since everyone is fine as it is, there’s no need to keep broadcasting, right?
I’ll just come back in two hours anyway.
“All, everyone, bye…”
– An exclusive membership broadcast to set directions (under 5 minutes)
– ???
– What’s going on here?
– Wasn’t this a time to set the direction?
– This VTuber hasn’t grown at all…?