In the end, I returned just one hour before the collaboration started, at 4 PM.
“I’m sorry, Izumi. I didn’t think you’d hate it that much.”
Suzuha apologized like that, but why does she look a little happy?
…No way, right?
Anyway, should I say I’m relieved?
Everyone except Suzuha had already left the Miscode.
Well, I would have to call again soon anyway, but before that, the sudden influx was just too much for me, the ultra introvert.
“Wouldn’t it be better to ease up a bit by chatting together?”
After listening to Suzuha’s one-sided ramble for about 30 minutes, she made that suggestion.
I definitely felt the need to do so as well.
At this rate, I might not just faint from Rei-sang during the collaboration; I might actually pass out during the broadcast…
“Uh, um, in that case, could you call, um, one by one instead of calling us all at once, please?”
“Got it. So who do you feel most comfortable with?”
Most comfortable…?
Isn’t this a trap?
If I pick one person, it means I’m making the others feel incredibly uncomfortable? This kind of choice is way too difficult for someone like me, the ultimate introvert.
Ugh, so Suzuha really isn’t an angel but a devil, huh?
She could’ve just called anyone comfortably. Does she really know how hard this is…?
“Uh, um….”
What do I do?
How can I choose someone to make it easier?
“Would it be easier if I just called anyone?”
“Yes, yes, yes, yes!”
Suzuha really is an angel!
I’m so glad to have her as a friend…
“Hmm, then I suppose Ayaka would be the most comfortable?”
Sure enough, while she looks like a little girl, her kind and motherly nature resembles Suzuha, while Ayaka’s mature and warm sisterly traits make her a bit easier to converse with.
“I think, um, that would be the best choice too.”
“…Izumi. Did you just think something extremely rude?”
“W-What? No? I didn’t think anything at all?!”
“Really…?”
What? Is Suzuha a psychic…?
Given my memories from my previous life, I start thinking like this whenever something strange happens.
Well, I’ve never met someone like that in real life.
“Then let’s start with Utsumi.”
“Got it, got it.”
As soon as Suzuha said that, I received a notification from Miscode: Ding!
“Suzuha Koga has added Ayaka Utsumi to the group.”
With the sound of Ayaka joining, I heard her voice through my headphones.
“Hi, Izumi! I was waiting for you to call!”
“Ah, um, I’m really sorry about earlier.”
She must think I was being weird, right?
They could think my actions during the broadcast were just a concept where the role-play broke down, but it was awkward to be in the situation where I was trying to talk in the first place.
I really need to figure out how to change my image…
“No worries at all! We should be the ones apologizing. The one who had the hardest time earlier wasn’t us, it was you, right?”
…Huh?
“Suzuha, you really went overboard this time. You really need to apologize properly to her.”
“I already apologized. I did it because I wanted Izumi to feel more comfortable with us. I had no bad intentions.”
“Yuyika.”
“I’m really sorry, Izumi. I feel like I took the joke too far this time.”
What’s happening here?
I’m receiving apologies for some reason?
Why?
“Um, no, it’s not like that. It’s my personality that’s the problem…”
Suzuha just tried to help me get closer to everyone, right?
In the end, it was me who couldn’t repay that goodwill, right?
Isn’t it their side that has done wrong, Utsumi?
Sure, it’s shocking that Suzuha played a bit, but if I had been normal, we wouldn’t have ended up like this in the first place.
“I don’t think Suzuha did anything wrong…”
As I read the somewhat frozen atmosphere between them, I tried to gauge the situation.
“No, no. The one who was wrong this time was Suzuha. It may be noble to take the blame for bad situations, but it’s not always the right thing to do, Izumi.”
“Yeah. I’m sorry, Izumi.”
…What are these saints?
After angels, now a saint appears before me.
There might still be a bit of kindness left in this world after all.
“Really, I’m so sorry…”
Before I knew it, Suzuha’s voice had become tearful.
Ah, come to think of it, I haven’t replied to Suzuha’s apology.
“It’s really okay, Suzuha.”
“R-Really?”
“Yes. I know how much you help me usually.”
Even if Suzuha went a bit far this time, she’s my precious first friend.
Even if I somehow end up walking the path of a social butterfly despite the odds, that truth will never change.
So I will never hate Suzuha.
Even if she gets tired of me and leaves first, I will always cherish her…
“And I also want to change my shy personality. So it’s really okay.”
Anyway, one reason I started being a VTuber was because of what Mom said about fixing my personality.
Well, honestly, it seems tough, but I can’t just give up entirely.
“Thank you, Izumi…”
“Hehe. Then please continue to be my friend from now on.”
[….]
Huh?
Suzuha hasn’t responded.
Was it too much to ask for a lifelong friendship from someone like me…?
I should’ve just asked to be friends as long as we were both newbies…
“Then how about we call Akabane and Aki next?”
But I don’t bring that up as the topic.
I’m a high-tier introvert who can still read the atmosphere among ultimate introverts.
“Oh, about that…”
The one who answered was Ayaka.
“I contacted Nekoto earlier and Yukari just now.”
“Aki Nekoto: I’m sleepy, so I’m going to bed. See you at the collaboration.”
“Akabane Yukari: There’s no need to invite me since we’ll be collaborating soon anyway.”
Somehow, I feel like I’ve fallen out of favor with those two…
★
[Congratulations to all second-gen members on monetization! #Star’s Flow 2nd Gen #Aki Nekoto #Yukari Akabane #Ayaka Utsumi #Suzuha Koga #Izumi Kainoh]
“Yesterday, after Izumi, all second generation members have passed their monetization.”
On the broadcast screen, M-chan, the general manager of the Virtual YouTubers belonging to Star’s Flow, was leading the discussion.
The topic didn’t need much explanation; it was about our upcoming group collaboration from the 2nd generation.
“Everyone sent a lot of congratulatory messages, so to repay everyone, we’ve come up with many ways. Ultimately, we decided on the most talked-about 2nd gen group collaboration!”
– I’ve been waiting for this
– The group collaboration we did with Natsune when the 1st generation got monetized was nice too
Clap, clap, clap M-chan applauds.
As I looked at the screen with my mic turned off, I felt my heart racing with tension.
If I mess up on my own stream, the only one affected would be me.
But if I mess up during a collaboration, it would spread like wildfire to everyone.
Even I, an oblivious introvert, can’t be that dumb…
“Okay, everyone, our guest for today is…”
Just as M-chan said that, the screen transitioned to show all the avatars of the second generation, including mine.
From the left, first was Aki Nekoto, a catgirl with long hair that blended pink and sky blue and pumpkin-colored eyes.
Next was Akabane, a cheeky middle school girl with red side tails and grayish eyes, with RGB values resembling bright red.
Then it’s Ayaka, a kind teacher from the Star Light Academy with wavy blonde hair and sky blue eyes.
Followed by Suzuha with knee-length white hair adorned with diamond-shaped golden rings and soft light green eyes, an angel.
Finally, I, Kainoh Izumi, a high school student and the Water Avatar, stood with my shoulder-length black hair, wearing a hat and a striking silver choker around my neck.
“Now, let’s start with self-introductions, one by one!”
“Kon Koto~. I’m Aki Nekoto from Star’s Flow….”
“The world will soon be painted red! I am Akabane Yukari, the Red Witch!”
“Kon Ayaya~. It’s class time again! I’m Ayaka Utsumi, the kind teacher from Star’s Flow!”
“Su, Suzuhai~. I’m Koga Suzuha, the angel who wants to be praised by everyone from Star’s Flow~.”
Once everyone finished introducing themselves, all eyes were on me.
“Co, Conczuumi~. I’m, um, from Star’s Flow….”
Even just saying that made my heart race, but thanks to my earlier chat with Suzuha and Ayaka, I wasn’t completely tongue-tied….
“I’m, um, dreaming of a world where everyone can smile…?!”
Did I just say that out loud?!
“[Izumi?!]”
– Lol, she bit her tongue
– This is the vibe maker of Star Flow, Mei-chan!
– She looks like she’s in pain
– As expected of the self-proclaimed social butterfly JK, Kainoh Izumi
– The standards for social butterflies are low
Calm down.
I am Kainoh Izumi, a Virtual YouTuber belonging to Star’s Flow.
Even if it hurts to bite my tongue, I’ll finish my introduction with professional spirit…!
“I’m the, uh, vibe maker, K-Kainoh Izumi….”
My tongue really hurts…
I hope there’s no blood…
“Are you okay, Izumi?”
With Suzuha’s genuine concern, I quietly nodded and replied.
“Y-Yeah, I’m fine.”
Except for being super embarrassed.
– This group collaboration is starting out seriously unstable…
– To be exact, one of the five is unstable, lol
– Go for it, Mei-chan!
… I think so too.
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