“Kayanoh.”
“Yes…”
There were people who already knew that I was active as a VTuber under the name Izumi Kainoh.
Starting with my family, and of course, the members of Star’s Flow.
My homeroom teacher, Kaname-sensei, from school was also among them.
Our school doesn’t strictly prohibit part-time jobs, but you need to get permission from the teacher.
“To be honest, I didn’t really know what kind of work Kayanoh was doing at first. I had no connection with such hobbies,” she said.
“Yes…”
“I did try to look up some information, but it was hard to understand exactly what it was. However, since Kayanoh started that VTuber thing… I was relieved to see her gradually changing for the better.”
Right now, I was called in for a personal meeting with Sensei.
The reason was, of course, because my identity had been revealed online.
At first, I worried, ‘Am I about to be scolded tremendously?’ But thankfully, Sensei continued speaking in a calm voice.
“However… after hearing about this news, my thoughts have changed a bit.”
“…Huh?”
“I don’t think it’s bad for Kayanoh to be doing some work or part-time job. Even as a student, studying isn’t everything, and your grades are excellent, so I don’t need to worry about that. But if the job of a VTuber ends up exposing your personal information to others in a ridiculous way and attracting malicious intentions toward you….”
Her words were filled with nothing but kindness.
It was clearly for my sake. It was something she could say because she was worried about me.
“I cannot allow you to continue your work as a VTuber, Kayanoh.”
And in front of that kindness….
“I don’t want to, though.”
I quietly shook my head.
“Just because Kayanoh says she doesn’t want to, doesn’t mean I can permit it. As your homeroom teacher, I have a duty to guide and protect you.”
“But, I really don’t want to….”
The fact that my identity was out there scared me.
The notion that unknown people might direct their malice towards me was terrifying.
But more than that, I loved this VTuber industry.
“W-well, Sensei, you’re right. There might be a lot of problems. …I know that people don’t like me…. But on the flip side, there are way more people who do like me. There are supporters who think I’m precious, and when things get tough, they encourage me by saying it’s okay. So I don’t want to quit just yet….”
“Kayanoh.”
I heard Sensei sigh.
I quietly raised my gaze to meet hers.
“…You mentioned in our last consultation that you hadn’t decided on your career path yet. But stating it like this, could it be that you want to continue working in this industry? More seriously, not just as a part-time job… but considering it as your future career?”
“That’s… not it.”
I honestly answered Sensei’s question.
Of course, it might have been easier to just nod along to smoothly get through this conversation.
But I didn’t want to lie to Kaname-sensei, who was thinking so seriously about me.
“I’m not sure yet whether I want to continue being a VTuber… But right now, I’m really enjoying my life! Because there are people who like me, I want to do my best for them…!”
There might come a time when I get worn out with VTuber activities and suddenly decide to quit.
Or maybe I’ll find something else I want to do.
But at least, that wasn’t the case right now.
“Hah…. I understand, Kayanoh. With you saying that much, I can’t oppose you here.”
“So…?”
“Yeah. Keep working hard from now on. But if something like this happens again, let me know anytime. Understood? That’s a promise.”
With that, Kaname-sensei smiled, looking a bit troubled.
“…Yes!”
I had misunderstood.
Because of my experience in the third year of middle school, I thought that every teacher was someone who would judge on a whim and try to meddle with their students.
Surely, that couldn’t be the case.
There must be teachers who seriously care about students’ problems and make an effort to help them.
And in front of me, Kaname-sensei, who seemed a little troubled, was gently smiling and understanding me.
“Thank you so much, Sensei…!”
You were my mentor.
★
“Phew….”
After Kayanoh returned to the classroom, Kaname, left alone, let out a quiet sigh.
Among the students she was worried about the most since becoming the homeroom teacher of Class 1-A at Shiodome High School two years ago, Kayanoh was definitely the top.
Always walking alone and heading straight home after school.
Thankfully, she wasn’t being bullied, but watching her drift alone in class made Kaname anxious.
It would have been fine if she simply preferred to roam alone.
However, Kayanoh occasionally looked at her classmates with envy, and her gaze clearly held loneliness.
That’s why Kaname couldn’t help but worry more, but knowing the events of Kayanoh’s third year in middle school, Kaname couldn’t take direct action.
‘Please don’t worry about me….’
She was astonished when she heard that during the first consultation.
That phrase and her eyes carried immense distrust.
That distrust was towards the very notion of being a teacher, not just Kaname herself.
In such circumstances, if Kaname tried to help Kayanoh directly, it would only bring her greater wounds, and Kaname was sharply aware of that.
That’s why she asked Miyauchi for help… and slowly began to take action for Kayanoh behind the scenes.
‘I want to do this… please allow me….’
Then one day, Kayanoh came to suggest wanting to work for a company called Star’s Flow.
The job was as a virtual on-tuber.
Kaname, who didn’t even know the concept of a VTuber, nodded when she heard it was a kind of broadcast using character avatars on the internet.
She thought by having Kayanoh start broadcasting, it might help her overcome her preference for solitude, her loneliness, and her shy personality to some extent.
Kaname’s expectations were accurately met.
At first, after starting as a VTuber, it seemed the problems had worsened, but gradually, she started to have conversations with Miyauchi and Tateyama.
Now, with Onodera joining in, seeing the four of them chatting together made Kaname smile without realizing it.
Of course, listening to their conversations, it was clear Kayanoh still had her shyness and generally preferred solitude, so she tended to wander alone more often.
But after the recent chat with Kayanoh, Kaname was convinced.
‘But right now, I’m really enjoying myself! Because there are people who like me, I want to do my best for them.’
If that’s Kayanoh’s nature and she’s no longer feeling lonely… then that’s more than enough.
Kaname didn’t want to change Kayanoh’s essence.
“Thank goodness….”
‘Thank you so much, Sensei!’
The last time Kayanoh had said that, her eyes no longer held distrust toward teachers.
Realizing this, Kaname sincerely felt she had made the right choice in taking on the role of homeroom teacher.
★
Fortunately, no issues arose at school.
No one came to find me, and my classmates treated me the same as always.
“If something happens, we’ll definitely help!”
I didn’t expect the mass media club juniors I had met during the last sports festival to come visit.
In any case, Miyauchi, Tateyama, and Onodera saw me off to where Yurie was after school, allowing me to head home safely.
But then….
“Uh, Senpai?”
“Since we’re outside, you can call me Shira-nee.”
“W-well, it’s just us here….”
“Call me Shira-nee.”
“Yes….”
For some reason, in the car we got into, Kurokami-senpai was sitting inside.
“It’s a collaboration.”
“…Huh?”
“We’re doing a collaboration today, Izumi.”
Um, isn’t that a bit sudden?
I sent a glance implying that, and Kurokami-senpai sighed before continuing.
“I’ve recently come to feel something, Izumi.”
She made me call her Shira-nee but was still calling me Izumi.
Is this really okay?
Though I wondered, I kept my mouth shut for now.
“You call me senpai, but it feels like you don’t respect me or anything.”
“…Huh?”
“No, I’m not expecting that much. I actually like the friendly atmosphere we have now. But what do I say… it feels like you’re looking down on me?”
“Uhhh?”
No way.
There’s no way I would look down on Kurokami-senpai, whom I admire so much.
Looking down on the friendly mama character Kurokami-senpai? That’s absolutely impossible.
Of course, I found it hard to see her as someone I respected since I think of her as a bit silly….
Yeah. In any case, I truly think Kurokami-senpai is a great senpai.
“Suzuha told me that if I say this, you might be thinking, ‘She’s totally silly yet I think she’s a good senpai~.’”
“…”
“Seeing you unable to argue back, it seems that’s right on the mark.”
“Ah, no… that’s not it, Shira-nee?!”
While that may be true, saying it like that is just absurd.
I was so scared just now that I almost cried….
“Anyway, this is a collaboration.”
“Huh?”
“It’s a collaboration to instill in you the ‘respect for senpai’ again!”
Um. Can I decline this?
I think there’s a big difference between liking someone and respecting them….
“E-no, Yoru… I mean, Natsune will also be partaking in this collaboration. Do you want to refuse?”
“Let’s get started, Shira-nee!”
Yeah. A junior without respect for her senpai must be wrong!
“By the way, what kind of collaboration is this?”
“Just a simple board game between the three of us.”
“Hee….”
Board games, huh.
Though I completely lost to Aunt Shia, it’s not like I think I’d lose to the weakest, Natsune, or Kurokami-senpai.
Considering it’s a collaboration meant to instill respect for senpai… wouldn’t this completely flop the plan?
I almost laughed at that thought but managed to hold it in.
“Let’s head out, Yurie.”
“Yes, Young Lady.”
“I’m counting on you today, Izumi.”
“Ah, um…!”
With that carefree mindset, I nodded.
And that choice led to the worst outcome.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.