“Ka~ Ya~ No~ Chan!”
“Eek?!”
While I was suddenly hugged from behind by Onodera Sachi in the changing room, I was in the middle of changing into my gym clothes.
I immediately squirmed and tried to escape from her embrace, but it seemed like she had no intentions of letting me go.
Ever since that career counseling session last time, she often approached me to talk or get close like this, and if I said it wasn’t uncomfortable, that would be a lie.
I still didn’t quite understand the sense of distance that the top-tier social butterflies had…
But a nobody like me with communication impairments was destined to just be swept along by them…
“Do you want to go to the cat cafe together after class today?”
“A, a cat cafe…?”
“Yeah! It’s the place I went to with Chii-chan last time, and today I was planning to go with Chii-chan again. Mya said she has to go home early today.”
“I-I’m, um, I, I have work today, so…”
That’s not a lie.
Today is finally the day I return to broadcasting after two weeks of absence.
Of course, even if I stopped by the cat cafe, it wouldn’t be late… but there’s no way I can keep my sanity if I get caught in between them.
“…That’s a shame.”
Seeing Onodera’s face genuinely filled with regret did weigh on my conscience a bit, but my mental health is more important.
“By the way, I’ve been thinking since last time…”
“Eek?!”
“Kaayanoh is short, but this part is pretty big, isn’t it?”
Onodera’s hand, which was wrapped around my waist, moved a little higher.
“I don’t think I’m that short, but Kaayanoh seems a bit taller than me. Still, I think she’s a little shorter than Haru.”
“W-What are you talking about, Sachi?!”
I had chills as I felt something bouncing around, straightening my waist, but it seemed like Onodera had no intention of loosening her grip.
“Not that any other places are fattened… Kaayanoh, are you doing some exercises or something?”
“I-I, um, th-that’s…!”
“O-Onodera! Kaayanoh doesn’t like this, does she?!”
“But Miyauchi thinks it’s interesting.”
“Y-Yeah, that’s true, but…”
Miyauchi?! Don’t just watch me get persuaded, help me out a bit!
I sent a gaze toward Miyauchi with that hope, but for some reason, she quietly averted her eyes from mine.
The other classmates had already left the changing room, leaving just me and Onodera.
And it was only Miyauchi and Tateyama who were looking at the whole situation with interest.
“Your skin is incredibly smooth and soft… How do you take care of it? Teach me!”
“T-That’s something I want to know too!”
“I do! Teach me too!”
“Eek?!”
In the end, I had to spend time as Onodera’s toy until break time was over.
I really don’t get those social butterflies’ sense of distance…
★
[【Return Broadcast】I’m back! Let’s read My Caron! There’s a Dotsumachi too! #Star’s Flow 2nd Generation #Kainoh Izumi]
-─(≧▽≦)>Zumi Zumi!
Thinking about turning the broadcast back on after two weeks made me feel a bit awkward.
I’ve been broadcasting for over a year, and I’m feeling this way over just two weeks?
Anyway, this proves I’ve gotten used to this lifestyle.
“Hmm…”
Clearing my throat, I glanced at the computer’s clock, which was showing 6:59.
And the moment the clock changed to 7…
“Ko-Konzumi! Long time no see…!”
I managed to say that after a while.
-Hi, Zumi!
-Long time no see, Mei-chan!
I couldn’t read all the rapidly climbing chat messages, but one thing was clear.
Everyone was welcoming me back passionately.
Well, if someone spends two weeks without watching a broadcast from a cute girl, it’s no wonder they’d feel a bit emptier.
Izutomos, don’t you like me too much?!
-How can you come back with such sincerity? I’m really curious what’s going on in that head of yours, lol
-You’re just causing trouble for the company, isn’t it better to graduate quickly?
Of course, those types of chats appeared here and there, but I didn’t pay them any mind.
What can I say… in fact, having those types of chats calmed my heart…
“I’ve really reflected a lot during these two weeks…”
-I knew you’d apologize, you did great Mei-chan!
-People can make mistakes, after all.
-Did M-chan scold you a lot?
“…I-I got scolded a ton.”
It goes without saying; I really did get scolded a lot.
I probably hadn’t gotten scolded this much combined from all the times before…
Of course, I didn’t do it on purpose, and it was a genuine mistake, so I wasn’t angry like I was about the comments I made before the last anniversary live broadcast, but the mere fact that I got scolded didn’t change at all.
-At first, I thought it was an event planned by the company.
Actually, after my mistake leaked the debut information of the third generation, many people thought the Star’s Flow purposely let the information slip.
But the moment Natsune’s big announcement broadcast ended and the notice about Star’s Flow’s punishment and my apology letter was posted, the community began to ignite once more.
My name even topped the real-time trends on Neter, and countless discussions erupted in various communities about me.
Getting first place in trends over such an incident isn’t even giving me joy~
M-chan was really angry when I said that.
I thought I was showing my guilt while apologizing, but it seems communication is pretty tough…
“S-So, let’s start My Caron!”
[It was so lonely without Mei-chan’s broadcast for two weeks.]
[What has Mei-chan been thinking during the two weeks of reflection?]
“U-Um… to be honest… I often felt lonely.”
Even playing games wasn’t as fun as usual, and when I was watching OnTube alone at home, it felt a bit dull.
The broadcast had settled into one of my daily routines, and two weeks was more than enough time to realize that.
“So, I realized that I enjoy broadcasting more than I expected…”
-I also enjoy watching Mei-chan’s broadcasts, it’s a joy in life!
“…Then next.”
Hearing such words after a long time made me feel a bit shy…
[After hearing Mei-chan was grounded, I gave up on life.]
“Don’t give up because of that… I came back like this, didn’t I?”
Someone might think I had graduated.
Of course, I did think about graduating since I felt I hadn’t properly celebrated Natsune’s second anniversary.
[Happy birthday, Mei-chan!]
“My birthday was, um, over three months ago…”
-Then it’s an early celebration for nine months!
“Sure… th-thank you?”
Do I really have to say thank you for this?
“Then, um, next…”
[How could Mei-chan not relay Natsune’s second anniversary live broadcast?]
[Mei-chan, the eighth star is also a lie, right?]
[At this point, the only choice left is to take Natsune with me~.]
“Ha?! Don’t joke around, you jerk!”
-Lol
-I’m really mad, though lol
“Do you know how much! How much I held back tears watching the second anniversary live broadcast?! Of course, it’s obvious that I know Natsune better than you!”
Of course, I know that this My Caron isn’t sincere.
These guys are just teasing me because they know I was grounded during Natsune’s second anniversary live, so I couldn’t become a Neter.
But acting all angry like this can draw some laughs from the viewers, right?
So it’s mutually beneficial…
I’m not actually angry about them saying they’ll take Natsune away.
I’m not sad about the fact I couldn’t relay Natsune’s second anniversary live.
…Absolutely not.
★
After reading all the piled-up My Caron messages, the clock pointed exactly at 7:53.
I told the members that I’d start the Dotsumachi at 8, so I was relieved that I could finish right on time.
“Hah…”
Taking a deep breath while waiting in the Miscode’s call room, the ding sound rang in my ears.
[Hello, Izumi! I’m the first one!]
-(☆≧▽^))☆☆
-Natsune is here!!!
And the first participant for the Dotsumachi was Natsune.
[You worked hard! So don’t make such mistakes in the future, okay? If this happens again, I’ll give you a tekk! as your senpai!]
“Ah, yes…! I’ll b-be careful!”
But if I get a tekk! from Natsune, isn’t it actually a gain rather than a loss?
I should definitely make sure to ask for that next time I meet her.
[Well, I do find it annoying that Izumi hasn’t relayed the live for two years in a row… but I’ll forgive you this time since we got to meet and have fun. Bye!]
“Ah, goodbye…”
After sending off Natsune and checking the chatroom, it was rapidly scrolling up.
-You had fun together?!
“Ah, um… I, met Natsune at her place, and hung out…”
Thinking back, I met her during my grounding, so I wonder if it’s okay to say that?
I felt uncertain about that, but since Natsune said it first, it should be fine.
“W-We just talked and ate pizza together, and that’s all…”
Izutomos knew.
That I hadn’t ever met Natsune in person for over a year.
Of course, while I don’t know the exact reason, there were quite a few threads online that correctly guessed my thoughts while ego-searching.
[The reason Mei-chan doesn’t meet Natsune is obvious.]
[If you listen to her talk, it seems Mei-chan sees VTubers as real idols, and being able to see her favorite, Natsune, in person makes it hard to believe.]
[Since she doesn’t have a previous life, it looks like she debuted as a VTuber from being an ordinary viewer.]
[It’s obvious she’s worried that seeing her beloved opponent in person might change her perception.]
In this way.
That post even decorated the site’s popular articles.
…These guys have been watching me for over a year and know my mindset too well.
But now that I’ve actually seen Natsune in person, I won’t be swayed by such remarks.
Because I know she is my idol even in reality.
“Um, in the middle, Kurokami-senpai also came, so we ordered pizza together.”
-Growth, Mei-chan! (･ω･)b
How did having pizza with a couple of seniors lead to growth in a broadcast?
…Is this really okay?
As I waited for the next Dotsumachi opponent, I continued to chat with the Izutomos.
“By the way, Dotsumachi is still difficult no matter how many times I try…”
-Dotsumachi is a high hurdle for Mei-chan.
-In the end, Mei-chan is (self-proclaimed) the atmosphere maker, huh?
“I-It’s not self-proclaimed?!”
Ding!
And the next entry was.
[Yeay~! This time, the victorious Nodoka Producer makes her appearance!]
Even as a senior, she’s my eternal rival as a producer.
It was Senior Namikawa.
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