Time flows at an incredible speed once you become aware of it.
For example, you might be having a fun time celebrating New Year’s and suddenly look at the clock, only to find it’s showing 9:50 PM…
Well, that’s how it goes.
It’s already been two weeks since I fell asleep during a broadcast at the start of the year, and that clip spread around, racking up 500,000 views.
There were comments saying I was cute and how unique my way of celebrating the New Year was. Back then, I felt embarrassed, but now, two weeks later, those feelings have subsided.
Winter break is over, and I’ve started going back to school again, where the classroom is filled with excitement about the biggest event of the 2nd year, 3rd semester: the school trip.
…A school trip. Honestly, I want to skip out on it this time.
Of course, I’m not completely alone in the classroom.
Now, I talk to Miyauchi, Tateyama, and Onodera at least once a day.
But that’s a different story from participating in the school trip.
Usually, for a school trip, you get divided into groups, and no matter how I think about it, there’s no group I can comfortably join.
Miyauchi has her usual group, and Tateyama and Onodera will probably pair up with Tokuhara and Hayase.
I’m sure I’ll end up being forced into a group with classmates I’ve never even talked to.
And those classmates will probably be just as awkward as I am, unable to fit neatly into any group, making it super awkward.
That awkwardness—I just can’t endure it…
No matter how I think of it, I’d much rather skip the trip and come to school for remedial classes.
I’ve already learned in middle school that the idea of making friends during a school trip is nonsense.
If someone can make new friends during a school trip, they would have already made plenty of friends beforehand.
With my experiences from middle school guiding me, finding the right answer isn’t that remarkable, right?
“Hoo…”
With those thoughts, I returned home, finished my bath, and flopped onto my bed.
Today’s a broadcast-free day, so I can rest to my heart’s content.
I can read light novels, play games, and watch various broadcasts on YouTube…
While I’m lost in those delightful thoughts, my phone buzzed with a notification from MissCode.
I usually keep the notifications from the MissCode group server off, so this means it’s a DM for me…
Maybe it’s from Koga?
As I opened MissCode, what appeared was a DM from Tsukasa Tsurusaki, a junior from Class Three and a bodyguard from Atlas.
[Tsukasa Tsurusaki: Senpai, tomorrow the collaboration restrictions end. When should we schedule the offline collab you mentioned before?]
The time had come to pay for the realities I had been postponing and ignoring until now.
★
“Oh, oh no?!”
[…Can’t we just hang out together?]
Koga asked me as if she couldn’t understand my dilemma.
Just like with Utsumi last time, this is precisely why being an “insider” isn’t for me…!
Human relationships are delicate. You need to approach them gradually and carefully.
No good.
Even in a space meant for introverts like VTubers, there are way too many insiders in Star’s Flow, making it impossible to get actual advice on this situation.
At this point, I’ve got only one option left.
“…I-I’ll go do a broadcast.”
[Huh? Suddenly? Today’s your day off.]
“K-Koga, you’re not being helpful right now! You’re way too much of an insider. It’s infuriating!”
[Huh?! What do you mean by that, Izumi?!]
With that as my last word, I exited the chat room on MissCode and immediately turned off Koga’s DM notifications.
…It would be a lie to say I wasn’t worried about the aftermath, but the deed is done already.
There’s no time for regret. For now, I just need to think about getting out of this situation.
Having made that decision, I started preparing for an unplanned broadcast.
★
[【Membership Exclusive】 Help me right now! #KainohIzumi#Star’sFlow]
-─(≧▽≦)>IzumiIzumi!
-─(≧▽≦)>IzumiIzumi!
-A sudden membership exclusive?!
“Uh, um, a very significant problem has ariseeeed….”
-Did you get scolded by Suzuhachi again?
“A-Actually, I haven’t been scolded! …Not yet.”
That one will definitely come later… But Koga being a show-off with her social skills is, like, totally her fault…!
-So is being scolded practically guaranteed? LOL.
-For Mei-chan, a “significant problem” usually means that sort of thing…
“Ahem. Anyway, there’s an important issue…!”
-Considering the timing, this must definitely be something related to the third years.
-Is it about Tsukasa-chan?
“Indeed! T-Tsurusaki asked me about the offline collab proposal…!”
-Is it really okay to consider an offline collab proposal a significant problem?
-If this gets out, it’s 100% Yeo-sang, LOL.
-But isn’t Tsukasa-chan going to watch this broadcast later anyway?
“…W-Well, I can just erase the video afterwards.”
I deliberately started the broadcast while Tsurusaki was on air, you see.
As soon as she finishes, I can wipe the existence of this whole thing.
“So, how can I turn down the offline collab…?”
-Are you fundamentally trying to decline?
“Of course! There’s no way a relationship starts with a meeting from the get-go!”
-?
-Isn’t it normal to meet and gradually get to know each other?
-If you don’t meet, the relationship can’t begin, Mei-chan…
“…Huh?”
As the chat floods in to refute my words, the common knowledge in my head begins to crumble little by little.
Human relationships… isn’t it supposed to start like the desert fox from “The Little Prince” where you keep your distance and approach delicately?
I thought only those at the social top could ignore such things…
“My knowledge… was it all wrong?”
-This guy hasn’t grown at all…?
-Are you still struggling with offline collabs, Mei-chan?
-You’ll end up getting eaten by the juniors.
-You’re breaking apart…
…No. That isn’t what matters right now.
Even if my previous knowledge was flawed, what’s important now is how I can refuse this offline collab.
I won’t be swayed by such comments.
“…Should I say that I have other plans?”
-So in the end, you’re going to decline, huh? LOL.
-Mm? The collab with Tsukasa is at the end, isn’t it?
“…Ah? W-Well, let’s meet again next time!”
-?
-So, did you actually find any meaning in this broadcast?
As soon as I read the chat sent by my loyal supporter Izutomo, I ended the broadcast and deleted the video.
[Manager: We’ve scheduled an offline collab with Tsukasa for next weekend.]
“…Uh?”
All my efforts turned out to be utterly meaningless.
[Come on, saying that I’m not helpful is just too much!]
“I-I’m so sorry… I won’t do it again next time…”
And of course, Koga was super mad at me.
★
[【Membership Exclusive】 Communication practice has returned after a long time #KainohIzumi#Star’sFlow]
“Because it turned out like this, I’m going to try communication practice…”
-Hey, Izumi!
-It’s been a while!
In the end, I found myself doing communication practice again to prepare for the offline collab with Tsurusaki next week.
Of course, since this started while Tsurusaki was broadcasting, I couldn’t eavesdrop on her.
-But didn’t you already do enough communication practice with Ku-chan during the collab?
“T-That was over a year ago, and besides, this time it’s with a junior, not a senior…”
There’s a different weight to collabs with seniors compared to those with juniors.
With a senior, it’s enough just to keep up, but with a junior, there’s an obligation to lead them!
More than that, it’s not just any ordinary junior, but the Izutomo Tsurusaki!
The pressure is immense.
-If it’s Tsukasa-chan, doesn’t she only need Mei-chan to stay quiet?
“W-Well, maybe?”
-Since she said earlier it’s fine as long as you’re there.
“Then… on the day, should I just watch from the sidelines?”
-That’s no good.
-Think about what an offline collab means.
“What am I supposed to do?!”
After conducting the broadcast, I arrived at today’s conclusion.
When in doubt, talk about the weather.
★
Time starts flowing at an incredible speed once you become aware of it.
And that time slows again just when the moment you’d rather avoid approaches.
“Huh… Huh…”
Despite Koga’s worries, I couldn’t say a word.
Because soon, Tsurusaki would be visiting my house.
I’m so tense my head is spinning…
[That’s why I suggested inviting others as well! Tsukasa said it was okay too!]
“B-But I’ll eventually need to do the offline collab alone anyway…”
More than that, the fact that I’m awkward around Tsurusaki is widely known in every community, and to invite others for the offline collab?
That’s 100% Yeo-sang.
Besides, I’m already feeling extremely nervous with just Tsurusaki here. If more people join in, I might actually pass out.
I’ve improved compared to before, but that doesn’t mean I’m completely calm when meeting someone directly…
Actually, I got evaluated as being on par with the sleeping Aki during the last hot spring trip broadcast.
Sigh…
[No, you shouldn’t be proud of that.]
Anyway, if we’re going to do this, it’s better for it to just be the two of us, that’s what I’ve concluded.
[If Izumi thinks that way, then yes… Well then, I’ll head off. Tsukasa should be arriving soon.]
“Yes…”
By the way, has Koga already started calling Tsurusaki by her first name?
I’m not the strange one, right!?
Ding dong!
And as I awaited with bated breath, the moment finally arrived.
[Um, I’m Kotoné, a first-year who has an appointment with Kaya-senpai today…!]
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.