Thump, thump! My heart raced with tension.
The event broadcast of the Star’s Flow festival had ended, and the fan meeting with Natsune Nanase and the first generation seniors was also over.
Now, all that was left was the main event: the live performance.
The live was set to start at 6 PM, and the current time was 5:30 PM.
Only 30 minutes were left until start.
“Whoa… It really seems packed…?”
At Utsumi’s awe, I looked at the screen illuminating the venue.
There was no exaggeration in those words.
There were hardly any empty seats in the venue.
Considering that there were still 30 minutes left until the start, any visible empty seats would be filled in no time.
And counting the people watching the live online…
Guh, guh!
“I’m so nervous!”
“The live schedule is displayed on the screen, so if you’ve forgotten anything, please check it. When the staff calls your name, come to the studio immediately and get ready.”
We were in a waiting room prepared especially for us.
After waiting here, when our turn comes, we’ll move to the studio.
Once the performance of the member who goes out first ends, we’ll enter the studio and showcase everything we’ve prepared.
Simply following the procedures, there wasn’t much difference from the usual live broadcasts.
But the scene of the venue packed with people and the colorful lights of glow sticks illuminating the darkness…
The excitement and emotions were conveyed more clearly than ever.
Huff…
“Everyone! Let’s gather for a moment!”
As I calmed my racing heart, Natsune stood up and called us all together.
With all sixteen of us gathering in one place, a big circle was formed.
There were members trembling with tension like me, members laughing, and some with expressions just like usual.
“While everyone feels differently, we’re all a little nervous, right? To be honest, my hands are shaking so badly—I’m super nervous!”
Natsune, who always wore a bright smile, scratched her cheek awkwardly, her right hand—just as she’d said—was shaking a bit.
“Since I’m from Group 0, I guess I should confidently lead the juniors, but… What can I do? It’s my first time on a stage like this! I’m really nervous~. Yup. It can’t be helped!”
As Natsune honestly shared her feelings… we all quietly nodded in agreement.
Natsune glanced around at us all, then raised her right hand high into the sky.
“But let’s all enjoy ourselves without regrets! Even if we make mistakes, it’s fine; let’s have fun! Of course, being nervous is unavoidable… but this is a festival, right? It’s a celebration! So let’s enjoy ourselves with all our might!”
With that, Natsune was back to smiling brightly, just like always.
“We’ve practiced hard, so let’s push aside the worries! Let’s enjoy ourselves! No matter what anyone says, today we are the protagonists!”
Looking at her smiling face, the first to speak up was Senior Kurokami.
“That’s such a Yoru thing to say. With so many people here, we’re saying let’s enjoy ourselves first?”
Kurokami’s teasing made Natsune frown in irritation.
“Here, I’m Natsune, not Yoru! And since I’m your senior over Shiro, don’t harbor any complaints; just follow me!”
“If you want to say things like that, then I think you shouldn’t be calling me Shiro first, Natsune.”
“Ah… that was a slip! It was an accident, so it’s fine!”
As those two bickered, everyone else seemed to relax and burst into laughter.
“Suzuha~! How did you calm your nerves during idol activities when on such a big stage?”
“Hmm… I haven’t performed on a stage with this many people, but I think it’s best to just try to relax your heart?”
But there was one person.
Only I remained completely silent.
‘Let’s enjoy it to the fullest tomorrow, everyone.’
‘We’ve practiced hard, so let’s push aside the worries! Let’s enjoy ourselves!’
Yesterday before I went to bed, Natsune’s words overlapped with her recent ones.
Enjoy it to the fullest…?
Of course, I’m happier than ever right now.
Standing on a stage like this with Star’s Flow members, and being able to show the fruits of my effort to the supportive fans makes me genuinely happy.
But for some reason, I couldn’t smile.
Even in this bright atmosphere, I couldn’t find the words to say.
Like Natsune. Like Senior Kurokami. Like Senior Namikawa. Like Senior Amatsuka. Like Senior Yuzuki. Like Senior Minazuki. Like Suzuha. Like Yukari Akabane. Like Aki. Like Utsumi. Like Kaguya. Like Tsurusaki. Like Sakuya. Like Mizuki. Like Senior Hatakawa.
I couldn’t smile.
It was for reasons different from tension or anxiety.
Something felt lacking.
Some unspoken something felt lacking.
What kind of emotion could this be?
It felt tangible yet out of reach.
“Izumi!”
“…Yes?”
“Do you remember what I said a while ago?”
Natsune’s sudden words caught me off guard, but I nodded quietly.
I didn’t need her to tell me which words were being pointed out.
‘Izumi will definitely become a wonderful VTuber loved by everyone!’
Of course I remembered.
How could I ever forget what my idol said to me?
“Then let’s show them. How amazing of an idol Izumi is!”
This feeling that seemed tangible but wasn’t.
It’s certain that I can’t forget this feeling no matter what happens.
“…Yes!”
But… for now, let’s enjoy ourselves as Natsune said.
‘Today, no matter what anyone says, we are the protagonists!’
Today, as Natsune said, we are the protagonists.
★
[Star’s Flow 1st Festival. Towards The Future 【Star’s Flow Stage】]
My solo stage is right after Senior Namikawa.
To put it succinctly, I was the eighth to go.
Being the eighth of sixteen people.
Placing me right in the middle clearly shows that Star’s Flow really is an evil company.
Maybe I should feel grateful that I’m neither the first nor the last?
“Is there anything uncomfortable?”
“Yes. I-I’m fine.”
Right now, while Senior Namikawa’s stage was in progress, I was moving back and forth behind the studio per the staff’s instructions in case of any unforeseen situations.
It was crucial to be in good condition, or else it would be a real disaster.
There was no need for a separate HMD.
Since I was performing live in the actual venue, my avatar would be projected onto the stage using AR and 3D technologies.
Speaking of which, earlier, everyone who returned from their solo stage said it was amazing…
I was afraid I might mess up from being too surprised, so I asked them to give me a heads up, but… they all insisted this was something you had to see for yourself, refusing to tell me a thing.
As the supportive fans became kinder, the members were tormenting me.
Is this the law of conservation of abuse?
What a truly pointless law!
“Get ready soon!”
Hearing another staff member’s voice from inside the studio, I nodded.
Then, the staff member who had just been checking my condition lightly patted my shoulder and said,
“Good luck!”
Sniff! Just that alone made me feel like I might cry.
But knowing it wasn’t the time to let out these emotions, I nodded once more, then made my way toward the studio.
“Everyone, thank you so much!!!”
Did I imagine it, or did I feel an emotional weight in Senior Namikawa’s voice when she said that?
…It quickly became clear that it wasn’t just my imagination.
“Now please go in.”
“Yes…!”
Seeing Senior Namikawa as I entered the studio, she looked like she was genuinely happy, smiling brightly.
“Izumi, do your best too!”
Senior Namikawa extended her palm towards me as she said that.
I too, didn’t shy away, reaching out for a high five.
And just as I was about to take a deep breath to calm my nerves…
“Waah?!”
Senior Namikawa nudged me slightly from behind.
“Don’t be too nervous! Let’s loosen our bodies a little, Izumi!”
“You don’t have to say…!”
“Don’t you?”
“…Thank you.”
“Yep!”
Seriously… the members of Star’s Flow can be such troublemakers!
But thanks to that, my tense body seemed to have relaxed a bit, so I’ll let it slide!
Once I entered the studio.
And at the sight before my eyes…
“Wow….”
I couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.
Three massive screens were lined up at the front of the studio.
What those screens displayed was the view of every seat in the venue.
If I were to rush to the stage right now and stand in the exact center, this would definitely be what I’d see.
The silence was almost unbelievable for a venue.
But in that quiet, dark venue… everyone waved blue glow sticks, as if they were waiting for me.
Now, I understood why the members said it was amazing.
And I understood why they couldn’t share it.
This was undoubtedly a level of emotion you can’t feel without seeing it in person.
“All right. Quickly prepare, Izumi!”
“Ah, I-I’m sorry…!”
As I was frozen in awe and didn’t do anything, M-chan in front looked troubled as they spoke.
I hurriedly struck the starting pose I practiced many times.
Then, under the three giant screens, another screen that focused on the center of the stage displayed a blue star spinning around.
Soon, the blue star burst into a bright light like it was performed during the day, disappearing, and my avatar appeared in that spot.
Just like the pose I was taking now.
The interlude flowed.
The sound of the guitar from the band playing hard for our stage reached my ears through my headphones.
And once the part I was so familiar with from hundreds of practices began to replay, I started singing.
“Can you accept even me as your fave?… That’s what I’m saying!♫”
The song I chose this time was from a well-known producer team on Ontube, titled “I Declare I’m an Idol!”
At first, I was thinking about singing an original song…
But after long consideration, I switched to this song.
Because you liked me and cheered for me, I’m here now.
So, please take care of me in the future.
So, I wanted to convey that better than in ‘Everyday Going Toward My Dreams!’
And to do that, this song encapsulates the feeling of ‘A girl who admired idols stepping onto the stage as an idol herself.’
“Everyone! I really love you all!!!”
Shouting an ad-lib that wasn’t in the lyrics in between the interlude, the blue glow sticks displayed on the screen shook with frenzied energy.
In the midst of it, someone suddenly changed their glow stick to red.
…Though I understood what it meant, it still felt a bit awkward!
I swallowed that thought and continued singing.
I showcased all the efforts I had built up to them with all my might.
Just as Natsune said, as a protagonist, I enjoyed myself more than anyone else.
★
“Uh… W-Wow… Hello, everyone…?”
It became clear today.
Star’s Flow is indeed the devil’s company.
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