NOVEL NEXT Chapter 86
[VTuber, Thread 333 Discussing Kainoh Izumi]
…
29. I’m looking forward to the offline collaboration with Ayaka!
30. Mei, isn’t this the first time you’re collaborating alone with Ayasen?
31. 30 << It’s strange how little they’ve interacted. 32. 30 << Even during Gray City, Ayasen kept looking for Mei, but they just kept missing each other oddly. 33. Honestly, this was pretty much destined since Ayasen became the top socialite of the second generation. 34. There’s no way Mei, who has communication impairment, could handle Ayasen’s social skills. 35. (Self-proclaimed) social atmosphere maker Mei-chan is facing a too high wall. … 58. But Mei also tends to get loud when she’s excited and doesn’t pay attention to her surroundings. 59. If those two collaborate, a Yeo-sang moment is definitely coming, right?
60. 59 << I think it's definitely confirmed. 61. 59 << If Yeo-sang doesn’t happen, it feels like a weird combination.
62. They both tend to blurt out things without thinking…
63. 62 << That's why I'm even more excited, haha! ★ [【Chit-Chat】It's an Ayazumi Offline Collaboration! #UtsumiAyaka#KainohIzumi#StarsFlow]
“Everyone, Konaya~! It’s the kind-hearted teacher Utsumi Ayaka!”
– Konaya!
– It’s Ayazumi’s first offline collaboration!
I almost collapsed without the support message frame from the legal drug Natsune, but thankfully I managed to survive by checking my past DM history with Miscode on my phone.
Utsumi seemed to be looking at me strangely from behind, but it’s fine.
It’s better than completely missing this offline collaboration after coming this far.
“Alright, Izumi.”
“Um, uh… C-C-KonZumi… atmosphere maker, th-this is Izumi…”
– Haizumi!
– You’re showing a lot of nerves.
“Wow~. It’s so touching that my first collaboration with Izumi is an offline one. I’m so emotional!”
– Mei’s always said she wanted to collaborate with you.
– Ayasen really loves Mei, haha!
“Well, I won’t deny it. I, I like Izumi.”
“Eh?”
At that surprising statement, I turned to the side and saw Utsumi grinning widely.
Of course, since we were talking while eating yakiniku earlier, I knew what that meant, but I never thought she would say it so directly.
– ?!
– Are they possibly… like that?
– Ayazumi teehee.
The chatroom was ablaze as if it was obvious.
And seeing the reactions in the chatroom, Utsumi gave me a thumbs up.
The DM I sent saying, “I want to do Ayazumi teehee!” was truly sincere…
“So I’m really happy to be doing this offline collaboration!”
“I was also e-expecting it…”
“Yup. I’m relieved! I was actually thinking that Izumi was avoiding me.”
“…Eh?”
What’s this? It feels like something similar happened during the last Dotsumachi…
“There weren’t any collaborations, and I was always the one to reach out first in DMs.”
“T-That’s…”
“I doubt Izumi understands how much it hurt to see that pure white ocean…”
– This is really a rumor of discord.
– Ayazumi doesn’t exist…
“Well, it didn’t matter since other people said the same about DMs, and we ended up doing this offline collaboration!”
– Haha!
– Our Mei-chan, the ultimate social atmosphere maker, struggling to send DMs first…
“Shall we read the MyCarons we prepared, as previously announced?”
“…Sure.”
Well, the chatroom had already started burning, but neither I nor Utsumi reacted much.
I’m already used to this kind of situation…
[Konaya! Haizumi!]
[Since we have this offline collaboration, can we share our strengths or something?]
“Konaya!”
“KonZumi…”
The first MyCaron was a pretty mild question.
The MyCarons were all chosen by Utsumi, so I didn’t know at all, but Utsumi wouldn’t pick any weird questions.
“Strengths, huh… Would you like to go first, Izumi?”
“Um, um… C-Could I?”
Utsumi’s strengths…
Well, there are many, but the first thing that comes to mind, of course, is…
“…She has a big chest.”
“Eek?!”
– I feel like I’ve heard that somewhere before.
– Don’t sexually harass your fellow classmate, haha!
– Hasn’t grown at all since the last group collaboration…?
Utsumi seemed a bit flustered, looking around while the chatroom buzzed.
But I can say it confidently again.
Having a big chest is definitely one of Utsumi’s strengths…!
Of course, her soft ombre dyed long hair and gentle impression certainly stand out as well, but it doesn’t stick out quite as much as those enormous breasts.
“I-I couldn’t understand it last time, but… having a big chest is a compliment, right? Why is everyone saying things like this…?”
Just like how it’s a compliment for guys to be tall, it should be the same for girls to have big chests, right?
Why does it feel like I’m in the wrong here?
I couldn’t grasp the situation.
“I’m not that bad…”
– Why does she sound so confident?
– This girl is serious…
“But Izumi also has a big chest too, right? Did the teacher see it? Izumi’s elbow clip.”
“…Um.”
“Just looking at it, it looks big.”
“S-Sexual harassment towards a fellow classmate is bad…”
– Who are you to say that? （ ｀ハ´）
– Sexual harassment is just plain bad…
“I-I’m a cute JK, so it’s okay…”
As I said last time, cute JKs are treasures of humanity and are not crimes under ordinary circumstances.
“W-Well, let’s settle with that. Aside from her chest being big, doesn’t she have other strengths?”
“Umm, she’s kind and… has an active personality?”
Of course, the latter comes with its own pressures for me, but objectively, it’s definitely a strength.
“Fufu… To hear such things from Izumi makes me feel really good.”
“Hehe…”
“Now, shall we move on to my turn? One of Izumi’s strengths has to be that she’s cute, right?”
Well, of course.
I’m a TS cute girl, after all.
No matter how much my mental age is that of a robust 40-year-old man, I can still be considered one of humanity’s greatest beauties.
“Not just her looks, but her personality is also incredibly cute. Yup. It makes me feel nurturing and triggers my maternal instincts. I feel like I can’t leave her alone.”
“…I’m a proper high school student though.”
“And also, she knows her shortcomings and works hard on them…”
I made a shy protest against an evaluation that didn’t suit me at all, but Utsumi didn’t respond.
“Well, I could probably talk for over an hour about Izumi’s strengths, but let’s leave it here and move on to the next MyCaron, okay?”
“…Sure.”
Utsumi truly is a formidable opponent…
[Haizumi! Konaya!]
[What do you think is the best thing about joining Star’s Flow?]
“Konaya!”
“KonZumi…”
“About strengths. Should I go first? I think the best part is that I can comfortably do what I want? If there’s something I want to do, the company provides a lot of support.”
It’s definitely one of Star’s Flow’s tremendous advantages.
Corporate VTubers are stable, but they have many restrictions compared to independent VTubers.
However, Star’s Flow has fewer restrictions and tries to accommodate what its members want as much as possible.
For example, they didn’t make a fuss at all when I didn’t even start lessons for over six months.
“And another strength? Well, it’s that there are so many cute members here, right?”
“Eeeek…!”
Utsumi’s sudden skinship sent shivers down my spine.
I hope I’m not going to be eaten today…?
“Alright, then what about Izumi?”
Despite my worries, Utsumi thankfully removed her hand quickly, smiling as she continued.
“Hmm… I think it’s the confidence I’ve gained…”
Memories from my previous life and my current shyness.
Those mixed together and at one point, my confidence hit rock bottom.
But after starting the broadcast and having many conversations with members and supportive players, I slowly began to feel more confident.
Thanks to that, I can now casually greet my classmates at school.
And now I can do this offline collaboration with Utsumi.
Most importantly, I managed to clear the Arcana Shooter Purgatory and ST’s Cerberus with Tachi.
There’s no way I could have done any of that if I hadn’t gained confidence from streaming.
“Yup… I think that’s the best point.”
– I’m moved.
– Our Mei-chan is right (つω`｡)
“Hehe…”
I’ve now been streaming for about an hour.
“Now, here comes the last MyCaron we prepared!”
And the content of the last MyCaron is.
[Haizumi! Konaya!]
[Among the second gen, only Ayasen calls Mei-chan Izumi. Do you have any plans to change that?]
“…This feels like a MyCaron with some personal motives behind it.”
“Correct! I also picked this MyCaron because I want to call Izumi ‘Izumi’!”
Well, Koga and Akabane are now also calling me Izumi, so Utsumi might feel a bit left out.
Aki has called me by my name from the beginning.
“So, is that okay?!”
“A-A, it’s fine.”
“Yes~! I’ll be counting on you from now on, Izumi!”
“I’ll be counting on you too, Utsumi…”
“Alright, the broadcast ends here! Everyone, goodbye~. Be sure to come to the next class!”
“I-I’ll see you all next time…”
– I’ll be waiting!
– Byezumi!
★
“Good work, Mitch.”
“Thank you for your hard work…”
With my confidence already low due to the idle chatter broadcast and the offline collaboration, my mental strength had reached its limit.
I just wanted to do nothing and rest…
“You said you’d stay over tonight, right?”
“Yup…”
I’m so exhausted, and moving around for another hour here is too much for me.
So I decided to just relax at Utsumi’s home and head back after having lunch together tomorrow.
“Well then, now…”
Ding dong!
Just as Utsumi was about to say something, the doorbell rang.
“Hang on, I’ll be right back.”
“Okay…”
Since Utsumi said she lives alone, it can’t be family…
So who could it be at this hour?
As I pondered this question, I heard lively noises from outside.
“…Did someone come?”
“…I’m coming.”
But that voice sounds oddly familiar…
“Sigh…”
With a sigh, Utsumi walked in.
And behind her was…
“Hi, Izumi.”
Suzuha Koga was standing there.