[Star’s Flow 1st Festival. Towards The Future 【Star’s Flow Stage】]
“I’ll be expecting that even someone like me will be your top favorite… or something?♫”
With those lyrics, my solo stage came to an end.
Even though I had only sung one song, I was out of breath and sweat streamed down my cheeks.
There was a break time, but my body was complaining of fatigue from the schedule that had continued since yesterday.
However, that fatigue melted away like snow as I gazed at the sight of the venue before me.
I could confidently say it.
I am here with everyone in that venue.
I showed them my efforts with all my might.
Standing on stage, posing was ‘Izumi Kainoh,’ who soon disappeared, transformed into a blue star, accompanied by dazzling effects.
“It’s over, all…”
Of course, after the solo stages of the other members, there were still unit songs and group songs left, but… I had definitely conveyed everything I wanted to say to them.
My heart felt like it would burst with that fact…
“Ms. Izumi? Please prepare for the MC part.”
It felt like my heart would burst, and I was…
“…Huh?”
The MC part? What does that mean?
I don’t remember hearing anything about having to do that.
I sent a look of protest, but M-chan didn’t budge.
“Uh, um…?”
“With sixteen solo stages, we’ll divide into four groups to handle the MC part.”
“W-why are you telling me this now?”
“If I told you in advance, you would have asked to change the order, Ms. Izumi.”
As M-chan said that… she looked as bright as ever.
★
Noah Katsuki, the mid-level manager of Star’s Flow.
Her familiar name to the members and fans is M-chan.
She has been one of the core staff members since Star’s Flow was founded.
Would it succeed or not?
She had to think about whether it could even start, let alone discuss its success, in a crumbling VTuber market.
It was dark enough that she could hardly make any definitive statements, but the reason Noah joined Star’s Flow was simple.
She loved VTubers.
Though she had thought it was just a passing hobby, the charm of the VTuber industry, which lit a fire in her heart, refused to die down.
Thus, she hoped to pursue a career in the VTuber industry.
With that one hobby she developed in her youth, she joined Star’s Flow.
It was truly enjoyable, but it was also that much harder.
How much effort did she put in to make Star’s Flow known to the world?
But the people wouldn’t easily show interest in a market that had already collapsed once.
They were already tired of it. They had seen enough.
She had heard those words countless times.
And that’s why she had sometimes resented Star’s Flow for choosing to focus on virtual idols.
But such resentment could not cover up her love for VTubers.
At first, she opposed Natsune’s hiring, yet in the end, she worked harder than anyone else to make her shine in the limelight.
So when Natsune’s clip of “There’s No Absolute Ending” hit 500,000 views… she went home and cried like crazy.
She thought her efforts were finally being rewarded.
And starting with that clip, Star’s Flow began to grow at an incredible pace.
Of course, Noah pointed out that the success of Star’s Flow was mainly down to the hard work of Natsune and the other members, but everyone who observed her recognized one thing.
The reason Star’s Flow members could shine was because of Noah.
If Noah hadn’t supported the members from behind, Star’s Flow would definitely have collapsed.
As time passed and the company stabilized, they began to choose the second generation members of Star’s Flow.
Among the five selected, she had no complaints about four.
But there was just one. The last member chosen, Izumi.
A girl who couldn’t even make eye contact with her opponents, and had difficulty speaking normally… a girl with a personality blending social anxiety and communication impairment.
Noah concluded that it was impossible for her to function as a VTuber, as a virtual idol.
For the sake of the company… no, for Izumi, she argued that they shouldn’t hire her.
But the president, Renka, seemed to like Izumi, hiring her despite everyone’s opposition.
The outcome was a hit.
To be precise, it was a hit, but also a miss.
From the first broadcast, “Yeo-sang.” Since then, she has repeatedly set the community ablaze.
Thanks to that, the subscriber count increased steadily, but another problem arose.
If viewed simply as an internet broadcaster, Izumi had passed.
But what about as the virtual idol Star’s Flow aimed to cultivate?
In response to that question, Noah had no choice but to shake her head.
Surely, considering the peak of the VTuber industry, there shouldn’t be problems.
However, even accounting for that, Izumi’s social anxiety and communication difficulties were too serious.
Could Izumi truly perform a live broadcast in front of people?
That was the level of concern they needed to start with.
But because of that…
So when Izumi received her 3D model and did her first live broadcast, Noah felt even greater emotion.
Now, she thought back to the moment.
The sight of a girl with social anxiety and communication impairment overcoming the malice of others and standing on stage, smiling brightly.
It was like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly… truly a beautiful sight.
“I’ll be expecting that even someone like me will be your top favorite… or something?♫”
The girl finished her song and exhaled a slight rough breath as she looked at the audience.
Seeing a drop of sweat rolling down her cheek, it was evident that she was a bit tired.
But the light in her eyes didn’t fade at all.
The idol ‘Izumi Kainoh’ stood here now… boldly declaring it.
At that fact, Noah wanted to applaud.
“It’s over, all…”
But.
“Ms. Izumi?”
That was that and this was this.
“Please prepare for the MC part.”
“…Huh?”
How much had she struggled every time Izumi caused a Yeo-sang during the broadcast?
While it was her personal manager Fuji’s task to manage Izumi’s mental state when her Yeo-sang erupted, it was Noah’s responsibility to deal with the aftermath.
Izumi’s mental state was peculiarly weak yet strong, so there were no major problems with mental care.
However, the sheer volume of paperwork Noah had to tidy up to deal with the Yeo-sang was a huge issue.
No, not that it was merely a problem, there was so much of it.
Thus, this was Noah’s lawful revenge.
‘This is the first I’m hearing of this.’
Izumi sent a look of protest, but Noah didn’t move an inch.
“Uh, um…?”
She merely transmitted the facts calmly.
“With sixteen solo stages, we’ll divide into four groups to handle the MC part.”
Of course, Noah didn’t hate Izumi.
How could she possibly hate such a cute girl who works so hard?
“W-why are you telling me this now?”
She was simply determined to momentarily become a bully, just like the Izutomo who are fans of Izumi.
“If I told you in advance, you would have asked to change the order, Ms. Izumi.”
And as she said that, Noah wore a brighter smile than ever.
★
Today, one thing became clear.
Star’s Flow is indeed a devilish company.
Of course, the MC part is essential to take a breather during the live.
If we just continued singing without a break, both we and the fans would tire out.
However, that didn’t mean they could make me do the MC part…
Of course, I was used to it, more or less.
3D debuts, birthdays, or anniversary celebrations…
I had some experience with the MC part.
But, um…
Didn’t they just say there are about 15,000 people in this venue right now?
Including those watching online…
Yeah, I want to graduate from this, for sure.
I sent a desperate glance for help, but M-chan continued to smile so brightly it could be called ‘super’ bright.
“Um… Uh… Hey, everyone…?”
Yeah.
In the end, I have to do this…
Realizing that fact, I awkwardly smiled and greeted everyone.
[Woooooaaaaahhhhh!!!]
The deafening roar startled me for a moment.
Of course, I had heard applause and cheers during the 3D debut and birthday or anniversary live as well.
Using a VR HMD to connect the Star’s Flow broadcast server with the viewers’ IPs and transmitting microphone sounds and such…
In any case, that meant I could hear their cheers during the usual live shows too.
But the cheers and applause now were on a different dimension altogether.
-I want to go to the venue (つω`｡)
-That just surprised me too!
Familiar chats appeared in the corner of the screen.
Thank you… If it weren’t for you guys, I surely would’ve collapsed right here.
“Whew…”
-Mei-chan is totally scared, haha!
“I-I’m not scared or anything!”
The reflection slipped out before I could stop it.
But it’s not like I’m actually scared, right?
I was just surprised.
Still, thanks to that chat, my tension eased to some extent.
Were they aiming for this…?
I thought surely not, but if they were Izutomo, then I’d say thanks later in the broadcast.
“Um, um. Everyone, Ko, Koonzumi~!”
[Hiizumi!!!]
-Hiiizumi!
-Hiiizumi!
“Thank you, everyone! This is Star’s Flow’s second generation! I’m Kainoh Izumi, the mood maker dreaming of a world where everyone can smile…!”
It felt nostalgic to say those greetings after such a long time.
It seemed everyone felt the same, as the audience wildly waved their pen lights, and the chat was overflowing with emoticons expressing their emotions.
“Um… Uwa… Today, is finally! The first Star’s Flow Festival is being held! I wonder if everyone is having fun?!”
[Woooooaaaaahhhhh!!!]
-Of course!
-I hope it happens every day!
No, that would really be impossible.
Anyway, I was relieved to see that everyone seemed to be really having fun.
By the way, since I was given solo MC duty suddenly,
It should be fine if I try whatever I want.
Even if they say no, I’ll do it anyway.
The bad guy is not me but the devilish company Star’s Flow that made me do solo MC.
“Uh, um… there’s something I want to try. Is that okay…?”
The audience replied with cheers instead of words.
Seeing that M-chan is not stopping me either, it seems really okay.
“Hehehe…”
-Suspicious laugh
-What are you plotting!
Well, it’s not like I’m thinking of doing something that’s actually not allowed.
I mean, since so many people are gathered here, it’s only natural for me to want to try something.
Nobody could deny that.
“If I start running from this side over to that side? You all follow along by sitting down and standing up. Got it?”
That’s right.
What I wanted to do was the wave, seen often at concerts.
With this many people gathered, how could I not do that?
The studio is also quite spacious, so there’s nothing to worry about, and M-chan nodded as if it was fine.
“Are you all ready? Then, on three, one, two!”
As I shouted the command, I started running towards the opposite side.
“Eh?!”
But for some reason, the wave started from the other side, not mine.
“What’s going on?! I’m over here! You have to start from here!”
If it were just a few people doing that, it wouldn’t matter. But how is everyone doing it together?
It’s not like it’s just the Izutomo.
Ah, the whole world is filled with bullies…
“Again! I’m going to do it again! This time, you’ve got to do it properly…?”
I returned to the spot where I first stood.
“One, two!”
Again, I shouted, moving my feet simultaneously.
“Woooooaaahhh…!”
This time, definitely, and properly, the blue pen lights waved like waves.
And as I was amazed by that…
“Whoa?!”
-Eh?
-Did I just fly…?
I flamboyantly fell flat on my face.
★
“Whoa?!”
Izumi, who was running for the wave, fell over.
It wouldn’t have been strange to hear a thud! sound regarding how flashy and perfect the fall was.
Naturally, Izumi’s 3D model in the venue also fell spectacularly.
An obvious broadcast accident.
However, Noah didn’t panic and promptly directed the staff.
After all, it was Noah’s belief that any incident could happen when Izumi was broadcasting.
In an instant, Izumi’s 3D model at the venue transformed into a blue star with gorgeous effects.
It was such exquisite timing that it almost made it look like the fall was part of the production.
“Uuuu…”
However, the groan Izumi let out right after falling was heard by everyone, so they knew it wasn’t staged.
“It hurts…”
Izumi’s fall went down in history as the best scene of the Star’s Flow Festival.
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