[【3D LIVE】Izumi Kainoh’s Birthday Party is Starting!!! I’ve invited a lot of guests, so look forward to it! #KainohIzumi#StarsFlow]
– It was really the best stage!
– I’m crying while watching…
– Mei-chan is so cool!!!
A shining stage. And a chatroom filled with countless compliments.
No matter what anyone says, the protagonist there was definitely me.
Usually, the Izutomos who always tried to bully me were sending me cheers like this for now.
“Thank you all so much! It’s because everyone is here that I’m standing here! Really, really… I love you all so much I can’t express it all in words!!!”
I exhale roughly and convey my true feelings.
Even if it’s through the screen, I believe the sincerity will surely reach everyone as I stretch out my hand energetically.
“And today… I have something prepared for everyone, you know? Are you all curious?”
– I’m curious!
– Is it that thing you mentioned last time?
– Thump thump
– I’m looking forward to it!
“If you’re that curious, I guess I have no choice but to tell you~. That is, you see? Right now…!”
★
“Eh?”
“She woke up!”
When I opened my eyes, it was a familiar… no, a strange ceiling.
Huh?
I was definitely in the middle of revealing the illustration after finishing my birthday live today…
As I looked around in confusion, the members I had invited as guests were looking down at me with worried expressions.
“Um, could it be…?”
“During the MC part, Izumi-san suddenly collapsed… Everyone was super shocked.”
Kurokami-senpai sighed and answered.
I can’t believe this. So that just now was a dream?
No, wait a minute.
Didn’t they say I collapsed during the MC part…?
“Um, um… Then what about the live? Did it… end? How much time has passed?”
I can’t let this happen.
So many people helped me for today. I worked so hard.
It can’t end like this…
“It’s not over yet. Tsubaki-san is currently handling the MC. It’s been about 5 minutes since Izumi-san collapsed…”
“Thank goodness…”
A sigh of relief naturally escaped my lips.
Wasn’t I just in the middle of the MC part with Natsune-chan?
If I think of it as starting again from there, next was my duet with Suzuha.
To have something like this happen right when I was about to really get into the groove.
I can’t even argue if Suzuha scolds me later…
I should sincerely apologize for my mistake.
But…
“Suzuha, where are you?”
At my question, everyone around avoided my gaze.
…Why?
Wait a minute.
Thinking about it, it’s not just Suzuha, but where’s Natsune-chan too?
As I sent a questioning look, Kurokami-senpai quietly stepped back.
And at the end of where Kurokami-senpai was blocking…
“I’m sorry, everyone…”
I saw a crying Suzuha being comforted by Natsune-chan and the manager.
“Izumi-senpai?!”
Ignoring the attempts of someone to stop me, I jumped up and ran toward them.
Why is Suzuha crying?
She just didn’t get enough sleep and dozed off for a bit.
She’s not hurt. There’s nothing to worry about at all.
“Um… Suzuha, Natsune-chan. Manager…”
“I should have stopped you… I knew Izumi would push herself too hard considering her personality… But Izumi looked like she was having so much fun I couldn’t bring myself to stop her… It’s my fault…”
“No, Suzuha-chan. As the manager, I should have paid more attention to Izumi’s condition. It’s all my fault.”
“No… why is this Suzuha and the manager’s fault…?”
“I should have clearly told you from the beginning. Just being ordinary makes it feel more special…”
…Huh?
[Is something special necessarily a good thing?]
I recalled the words Suzuha said that day.
“Izumi…”
Before I knew it, Natsune was looking at me.
And in her disappointed gaze… I suddenly lost my words.
“I heard what Izumi prepared for the Izutomos.”
“That, that…”
“I think it’s really amazing. But… this isn’t right.”
“That’s…! It’s a special day, so…! I wanted to thank everyone properly and…? I wanted to give everyone a more special day…!”
I know it’s not the right time to say this, but excuses just popped out of my mouth.
“Yeah. So I think that feeling is really great. But if Izumi collapses from overdoing it while preparing it… then who would be happy to receive that gift?”
‘The gift would surely bring joy. But if Kayanoh-chan stayed up all night and went through so much hardship for it… wouldn’t that be more apologetic?’
“That’s…”
Why did it come to this.
I didn’t want something like this.
I was sure it would be a wonderful event that would move everyone.
“Izumi.”
“Suzuha…”
“I guess it’s also my fault for not communicating properly from the start. You’re still young, Izumi…”
“No, that can’t be…”
“So please understand. A special day is special just by spending time together.”
“…”
Suzuha’s words were the truth.
And I had hurt my precious people because I didn’t know such an obvious thing.
“Even if Izumi doesn’t push herself, just being with us on her birthday is more than enough…!”
I was… so young and immature.
★
At Suzuha’s words, I finally started to realize.
…No.
I already clearly knew.
I’m an adult. Merging my past life and this life makes my mental age in my 40s.
I always repeated that, but that’s not the case.
The person who died at 25 and now is 18-year-old Kayanoh Mina are definitely the same yet completely different people, and I already knew that.
I never experienced life at 26. I haven’t seen the scenery of being 40.
My time is stuck at 25, and I’m now running toward 25 again.
Despite that, I kept repeating it… because I was scared.
When I acknowledge that Han Seo-jun and Kayanoh Mina are different people, I was terrified that I would have to abandon one of them.
No matter how much I deny it, even if I live with the values of a man, I absolutely do not have to give up my present.
So now, I will accept it.
I am no longer 25 years old male Han Seo-jun.
I am just a girl, Kayanoh Mina, who has memories of her past life… still young and immature, but therefore, ordinary.
Today, I’m an 18-year-old girl, having become an adult.
“I’m sorry…”
Finally, I could put into words what I truly needed to say.
“I’m so, so sorry…. sniff I knew… what was important… I knew… but I stubbornly thought I could show more because I’m an adult now… sniff I thought just being ordinary wasn’t enough. Even without preparing anything special… everyone sees me and helps me….”
More than anything.
“The efforts I’ve put in… it wouldn’t be ordinary…! sniff…”
“Now that you know, are you seriously a fool…? Saying you’re not a kid every day…”
It felt a bit embarrassing that I was crying like a child, but it was fine.
This is definitely how an ordinary 18-year-old girl should feel.
“Now slowly! Tsubaki-chan is also really at her limit!”
Sakuya Suzumichi came rushing into the waiting room, waving her arms like she was in a hurry.
And having stopped crying, I gave her a look that meant I was okay now.
“Is Izumi-san okay?”
“Yeah… I’m okay now.”
I nodded quietly at the manager’s question.
After crying a lot, I felt incredibly refreshed.
I’m sure now I can sing and dance without making mistakes.
“Let’s go, Izumi.”
Next up was definitely the duet with Suzuha.
Suzuha, who got up first, reached out her hand to me.
“What if you still cry? You’re the star of today’s live.”
“But Suzuha, you also cried a lot…”
“Huh?”
Sniff…
“Really…”
“Hehe…”
After exchanging normal, everyday conversations, we both chuckled and raised our lips.
“Izumi-senpai! Show us your full power!”
“We all know Izumi-san’s efforts.”
The other members also cheered, and we clapped our hands together.
“Go, Izumi. Today, you’re the main character… You know that an idol shines more than anyone else on stage, right?”
Natsune said that as she gave me a strong push on the back.
“…Yes! I’ll be back!”
And I responded energetically, moving toward the stage.
★
[【3D LIVE】Izumi Kainoh’s Birthday Party is Starting!!! I’ve invited a lot of guests, so look forward to it! #KainohIzumi#StarsFlow]
– It was really the best stage, Mei-chan!
– I’m seriously crying while watching…
– Mei-chan is really the coolest!!!
A shining stage. And a chatroom filled with countless compliments.
No matter what anyone says, the protagonist there was definitely me.
Usually, the Izutomos who always tried to bully me were sending me cheers like this for now.
“Everyone… Thank you so much! Because all of you are here… I’m definitely standing here! Really, really… I love you all so much I can’t express it all in words!!!”
I exhale roughly and convey my true feelings.
Even if it’s through the screen, I believe my sincerity will surely reach everyone as I stretch out my hand energetically.
“And today… I have something prepared for everyone, you know? Are you all curious?”
– I’m curious!
– Is it that thing you mentioned last time?
– Thump thump
– I was expecting it!
“Hehe… If you’re that curious, it’s a bit embarrassing, but I have no choice but to let you know…. That is, you see? Right now…!”
★
To. Izutomo
Thank you for always cheering me on.
Seeing you enjoy bullying me makes me think that the Izutomos might just be little kids?
Sometimes I ponder such things, but I know you all like me anyway.
Anyways, being able to be with everyone today, on the day I’m becoming an adult in Japan, makes me really happy.
But does age even mean anything to someone like me, a virtual existence…?
Even if it does, when you think about it, I’m the Water Avatar, so all of you are younger than me.
Well, so you can call me “big sis” from now on. I’ll allow it.
Anyway, everyone, thank you so much!
I hope today became a special day for the Izutomos too!
Please take care of me from now on!
20XX.6.12 Izumi Kainoh!
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