As my eighteenth birthday approaches,
it means my second birthday as a VTuber “Izumi Kainoh” is also getting close.
Of course, a birthday celebration live stream is expected, but I need to prepare other contents as well…
“W-What should I do…?”
[I think it would just be fine to do it normally.]
“I don’t want to do it normally…”
Surely, it would be okay to celebrate my birthday simply with Izutomo, have a live broadcast, and then return home for a membership-exclusive stream and a hyper chat reading.
But I feel like something is missing.
Until now, my birthdays were just days I wished would pass quickly, not special days at all.
But during last year’s birthday live, I realized how many people cherish my birthday and bless my existence.
“I want to show something special to everyone who likes me…”
I haven’t talked about it in detail during the broadcast, but Izutomo knows I hated my birthday.
I’ve mentioned several times how heavy the phrase “Happy Birthday” feels for me.
Of course, I told everyone that I would enjoy it now and smile from now on… but obviously, dark emotions still linger in one corner of my heart.
And before last year’s birthday live broadcast began,
I cried a lot in the waiting room while looking at the birthday celebration fan illustrations uploaded to the creator’s space.
Partly because I felt the emotions of genuinely being congratulated for my birthday, but the biggest reason was a very simple… hashtag.
#ThankYouIzumiChan
The fan art was a gift to me. So, it’s naturally my duty to show my gratitude.
But they were the ones saying thank you to me instead.
Even though I have almost nothing to give back, they were expressing gratitude for my birth.
The emotions I felt that day… were simply indescribable by words.
I just cried while conveying my gratitude that no one would hear.
After crying a lot, I began to wonder if it would be okay for me to genuinely enjoy myself? Those feelings soon transformed into a passion to work hard for them.
I wanted to teach Izutomo how grateful I am to them, just as they thanked me.
Of course, usually, they are the ones who tease me relentlessly… but I know that’s just because they like me.
So I didn’t want anything ordinary.
I wanted to show and share more with Izutomo.
“I’m sure everyone will like things more that are special…”
[Hmm… If Izumi thinks so, I won’t stop you, but… don’t you have anything in mind right now?]
“Y-Yeah…”
I want to show them something more spectacular and moving.
But what could I possibly do that would please Izutomo? I couldn’t figure that out.
My birthday is in 8 days.
If I don’t start preparing soon, it’ll be risky…
[I would obviously want to help if I could, but I just passed my own birthday without any special plan. So, I don’t really have anything to suggest. Sorry.]
“Oh, no. I should be the one preparing…”
[If I think of anything, I’ll contact you. Well, sleep well, Izumi.]
“S-Suzuha, good luck with your broadcast too…!”
[Yeah. …But let me say one last thing, is something special necessarily a good thing?]
“Y-Yes…?”
[I hope you think deeply about that.]
With Suzuha’s last words, the call from the Mizukura ended with a ding.
“Umm…?”
I leaned back in my chair and stared at the ceiling.
What did that just mean…?
If it’s a special event shown on a special day, it should absolutely be a good thing.
Or maybe there’s some hidden meaning in it?
I pondered for a moment, but no answers came to me.
…Well, let’s think about the answer to that question later and return to the main topic for now.
What special content could I offer Izutomo on my birthday?
“Ugh….”
A sigh escaped naturally.
It would be nice if a great idea popped into my head like a ta-da!, but no matter how hard I racked my brains, it seemed like nothing particularly different was coming to mind…
How about showing some clever wordplay for the first time in a while?
Rejected. That could be done even without a birthday.
I was going to do a live show or a gathering anyway.
What could possibly be a special plan that could only be done on my birthday?
“This is tough…”
I remember my manager saying that if they wanted to try something new, they should let me know at least five days in advance.
That’s how the operations side could prepare as best as possible.
In other words, I only have three days left.
In those three days, could I possibly come up with something truly special enough to surprise everyone?
…I’m not so sure.
★
I concluded that just thinking about it alone wouldn’t yield any answers…
[【Membership Exclusive】 Urgently Seeking! My birthday is coming soon… Looking for Izutomo to help!!! #Star’sFlow #KainohIzumi]
Ultimately, asking the very people directly involved, Izutomo, was my only option.
“U-Um, everyone. What do you want to see on my birthday…?”
– Mei’s live!
– Just being with me would be okay.
– I hope you smile brightly.
– I want to see a gathering.
– If Mei does what she wants, that would be enough.
“Um, not those kinds of things that can be done any other time…! And you guys who say cool phrases—it’s really not cool at all! You’re just teasing me usually….”
– But Mei, you’re embarrassed right now.
“I’m totally not embarrassed!”
– But it makes you happy to say things like this, right?
“…Well, that’s true, I guess.”
– It’s obvious you’re embarrassed, lol.
– Too easy, Mei.
– That kind of you is also cute.
“W-Well, anyway! What would you like me to show you on my birthday…?”
Having heard that my manager could support most things,
I was open to anything as long as it wasn’t crossing the line.
Even though it’s my birthday, I wanted to prioritize what Izutomo wanted.
– Suddenly asking this, but nothing comes to mind.
– Girlfriend ASMR?
“Eh, ASMR is rejected! I’ve said it countless times that I won’t do it no matter what…!”
– Mei really hates ASMR for some reason…
– Living hoping to hear it someday.
Unfortunately, that expectation will never be fulfilled….
Well, I understand how good ASMR can be for viewers.
Just think about it.
Your favorite idol whispers sweet nothings in your ear with various concepts?
You can’t dislike that, right?
Every time Natsune has an ASMR stream, I make sure to watch it, even rewinding multiple times.
Simply put, it means ASMR streams can perfectly shatter the viewers’ brains.
But having me do that is an entirely different story.
Because… it’s embarrassing.
I’m a strong male VTuber, and you want me to be cute in front of Izutomo?
That’s absolutely impossible. It would be like breaking the roleplay.
I like the dynamic of being friends that bicker with Izutomo daily.
…Though truth be told, I often find myself on the losing end of those bickers.
For that reason, ASMR is a no-go.
– Can’t it just be fine to do it normally?
As I chatted variously with Izutomo, I suddenly noticed that message pop up.
It was the same thing that Suzuha had said yesterday.
“Normal… B-but a birthday is a special day, right? So I want to show everyone something they’ll like even more!”
I want to show how much effort I can put in because of you.
But if it’s just something ordinary anyone can do, it wouldn’t look like I’ve made an effort.
I hate that.
– Just spending time together and having a live would be a special day enough.
“So…! W-What I want is not that…!”
Why can’t they understand my feelings?
Of course, even that would be a special day.
But I want to show you something special that goes beyond that, Izutomo.
Gathering, live, waiting broadcasts.
Those things could be done even in broadcasts from other members…
What you’re watching now is my stream, so I want to do something only I can do.
– Everyone knows Mei is trying hard.
But it felt like Izutomo didn’t understand what I meant.
In the end, I found myself caught in ceaseless, almost like a hamster wheel of conversation and ended the stream.
★
[Virtual YouTuber Minor Gallery]
[Title: Why is Izumi like this today?]
[Posted by: ee]
She absolutely doesn’t want to do ASMR and doesn’t want to just do it normally.
I have no idea what she wants.
Did she just suddenly go mental?
[Recommended: 0 / Not Recommended: 0]
ee: I felt a bit dizzy watching it.
uwu: But it seems like she’s trying hard to do something, so let’s support her.
└ee: I’m certainly cheering, but she’s saying she hates everything, so it’s dizzying.
└ee: Seeing a girl who never acted like this suddenly behave like that just makes it more dizzying.
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