Aikawa Lenka.
As the representative and head producer of Star’s Flow, she had a pounding headache.
“Hoo…”
The reason was obvious.
About 30 minutes ago, one of the VTubers under Star’s Flow caused a huge incident.
Her name was Kayanoh Mina.
Her stage name as a VTuber was Izumi Kainoh.
She was the member with the most subscribers among the second generation of Star’s Flow.
And one of her nicknames was… the Queen of Yeo-sang.
This nickname came to be because she had caused numerous incidents since her debut, setting many communities ablaze.
Not long ago, she even made a statement about not wanting to do a one-year anniversary live, didn’t she?
However, Izumi had never caused an incident that was serious enough to be a problem.
In fact, such incidents usually helped promote her broadcasts.
Yeo-sang had become a weapon for Izumi.
And that Yeo-sang was not her only weapon.
If it were, Izumi’s broadcasts would never have grown to this scale.
Rather, Yeo-sang could be considered just the starting point for attracting viewers.
Viewers who started watching Izumi’s broadcasts through Yeo-sang slowly became captivated by her charm.
Whether it be her messy RP, yet still striving to act according to it.
Or the feeling of being overwhelmed by the interactions with the audience.
Or her occasional display of a bewitching charm while claiming she’d rather not deal with it.
Or the way she stirred up maternal instincts, suggested through mentions from other members.
All of these elements combined transformed the viewers into Izutomo naturally.
If one were to say it was a virtuous cycle created through light Yeo-sang, it might be true, but…
“This time, it’s a bit dangerous…”
This Yeo-sang was far from light.
According to company rules, what Izumi had done was “leak internal company information.”
Depending on the situation, it could be serious enough to lead to contract termination.
Of course, Lenka absolutely did not want Izumi’s contract to be terminated.
While it seemed quite risky from the outside, in fact, internally, it wasn’t a huge issue.
There had been whispers about the third generation of Star’s Flow for quite some time now, and it was about time to start mentioning the third generation on the official channel.
In fact, there were quite a few people in the community who thought this was an intentional marketing strategy to leak information about the third generation.
So Izumi’s statement this time was by no means a major problem for the company, and there was no reason to think about terminating her contract.
Who could possibly decide on a heavy punishment after seeing a 17-year-old girl immediately realize her mistake, contact her manager, and tearfully apologize?
That would be far too harsh for a young girl.
However…
“…A suspension is unavoidable.”
Even so, leaking internal company information was a clear violation of regulations.
It may not be a big issue within the company, but…
There are people who view it as a marketing strategy.
For that reason, it couldn’t be allowed to pass without any punishment.
One instance could set a precedent for how things may turn out in the future.
“Hah…”
After letting out one last sigh, Lenka began instructing the staff on the follow-up measures.
It was her role to calm this situation as quickly as possible.
“Noah, can you contact Hatsuyuki right now?”
[Yes, understood.]
★
[【Urgent Announcement】Are you all ready?! #Star’sFlow#NatsuneNanase]
With the sudden urgent announcement, the viewer count for Natsune Nanase’s broadcast exceeded 30,000.
However, Natsune didn’t immediately reveal the content of the urgent announcement and continued with casual banter with the viewers.
-Natsune has become an idol even worse than Chino.
[If Izumi said that, it can’t be helped… But my aim is to become the strongest idol in the universe! Someday, Izumi will definitely notice me!]
Even with slightly rude comments in the chat, Natsune responded with a smile.
…I’ll remember that name.
If anything comes up next time, I’ll never let it slide….
[Alright, then it’s time for the urgent announcement!]
– Everyone already knows what it is, lol.
…Even though I got the content of the announcement from the company ahead of time and there are a bunch of such chats, it left me with not a single word to say.
Of course, it’s not even my broadcast, but that someone could refute such comments in their mind is simply impossible.
Why did I make such a mistake?
[This time, we are recruiting the third generation for Star’s Flow! All the qualifications are written on the official website, so for those interested, please check it out!]
– Everyone already knows the urgent announcement.
– This is the firework that Mei-chan has launched. Truly beautiful…
“Ugh…”
It felt like tears were about to fall.
I was already incredibly sorry when I directly called my manager earlier and cried a lot….
Thankfully, I was reassured that it wasn’t that big of a deal, but I was so angry at myself for being such a fool.
[Then everyone! Mata Natsune!]
-Mata Natsune!
After Natsune’s broadcast ended, I lay in bed, kicking my feet in frustration.
★
Kainoh Izumi Suspension Notice
Thank you always for your support of Star’s Flow Production.
Currently, the talent ‘Kainoh Izumi’ belonging to Star’s Flow has been given a two-week suspension regarding the leakage of internal company information.
The talent will be subject to strict warnings and regulations.
We apologize for the inconvenience.
Star’s Flow Inc.
[Momoka☆Nodoka @KainoIzumi · 3 minutes]
I sincerely apologize for ruining what many were looking forward to by leaking internal company information.
I will accept this incident properly to ensure such a thing never happens again.
I will listen carefully to the regulations set by the company.
After the two-week suspension, when I return, I will hold broadcasts that will allow all viewers to cheer for me.
I sincerely apologize.
★
[Virtual YouTuber Minor Gallery]
[Subject: Star’s Flow Notice, Izumi Apology Translation]
[Author: ㅇㅇ]
Two weeks suspension, that’s still a pretty light punishment.
[Likes: 69 / Dislikes: 15]
The opposing fan: Those saying it should lead to contract termination sure got shocked and backed off, lol.
Oyabun🔸: To be honest, it was a mistake, so it doesn’t have to lead to contract termination.
ㅇㅇ: I heard opinions were split even on the mainland.
└ㅇㅇ: Even if it was a mistake, a violation of regulations is still a violation, and there were plenty of people insisting it should end in contract termination.
└uwu: They just can’t comprehend the two-week suspension due to a violation of regulations.
ㅇㅇ: This seems way too lenient, doesn’t it?
└ㅇㅇ: If it’s about leaking internal information, anywhere else it would warrant termination.
└ㅇㅇ: It’s ridiculous that a senior jumped on a broadcast to cover it up like this.
└ㅇㅇ: And the company simply gives a two-week suspension and that’s it?
└ㅇㅇ: No matter how you think about it, there’s definitely some connection between the communication impairment and Star’s Flow.
└ㅇㅇ: We absolutely need to investigate this for real.
└Mei-chanLove: Don’t frame our Mei-chan, you jerk!
└SuzuIz: Why is this person so angry?
└I DruidGir giraffe drawing: But literally think about it.
└I DruidGir giraffe drawing: A living JK, and she’s likely an ultra-cute girl, making such a mistake.
└I DruidGir giraffe drawing: Considering her personality, it’s obvious she would have cried while apologizing.
└I DruidGir giraffe drawing: What kind of person could possibly not forgive that?
└I DruidGir giraffe drawing: If someone exists like that, that person just doesn’t understand human feelings, right?
└ㅇㅇ: That makes sense when you think about it.
└ㅇㅇ: Two weeks suspension seems sufficient.
└Evil Noble Lady Young Lady: It’s hilarious that some got persuaded, lol.
★
After posting the apology on the community, I realized one horrendous fact.
Today is September 13th. And my suspension period is two weeks. Meaning, the 14th.
That means… I won’t be able to broadcast Natsune’s two-year anniversary live on September 24th…?
This cannot be. This is hell.
Help me, Kogemon…!
[Kainoh Izumi: Is there any way to cover Natsune’s two-year anniversary live during my suspension?]
[Koga Suzuha: There’s no way, you idiot.]
As expected, right….
I didn’t cover the first anniversary either, and I won’t be able to cover the second anniversary.
I wasn’t able to cover the birthday broadcast that happened on June 30th because of my schedule either.
Am I simply disqualified as a star?…
A sigh escaped me, steeped with powerlessness and emptiness.
I wanted to talk to someone about this sadness, but I couldn’t even use the community during my suspension.
And I had no friends to consult about such things.
In a world like this, wouldn’t it be better if it were to just perish…?
[Koga Suzuha: Don’t think weird thoughts, you idiot.]
[Kainoh Izumi: Yes…]
★
After consulting about my future, I realized I was lost in thought about it.
Things I want to do. Things I can do. Things I have to do. Things I don’t want to do.
As I pondered those things, time flew by, and the deeper I thought, the deeper my torment became.
The Star’s Flow members were all older than me, so I had asked for advice, but none of their answers were satisfactory.
Should I ask the Izutomo? I thought, but I gave up as it seemed it would only deepen my worries.
After all, it’s a suspension period, so I couldn’t even start a broadcast.
“I’m so bored…”
With no broadcast, thoughts of boredom filled my mind.
After spending over a year broadcasting almost every day without break, is it really surprising?
Of course, it’s not impossible to talk to the members during the suspension period… but somehow it just felt empty.
When I return home after school, I’d normally enjoy a hobby and then lay in bed.
It feels nice at first, but once I lay in bed, the emptiness rushes in.
Previously, it used to be such a joy, but just the absence of broadcasting makes me feel lonely.
If I think about it like this, wouldn’t it be okay to just spend my life broadcasting?
Eventually, such thoughts would occasionally flit through my mind.
All the members are kind, and the viewers all connect so well, so chatting is enjoyable. Why would I have these concerns?
Yet, inside my heart, I indeed questioned that decision.
Amidst the unending turmoil…
[Natsune Nanase: Want to meet tomorrow, Izumi?]
A DM from Natsune arrived.
It was two days before Natsune’s two-year anniversary live.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
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