[【Chatting】Collaboration with Tsurusaki! We’re reading My Caron! In the evening, we’ll also play games! #KainohIzumi #TsurusakiTsukasa #Star’s Flow]
“Uh, so I’ll be back a little later at 9 PM with ‘Deluxe Kart’, so… everyone, goodbye….”
“See you all in the evening. Otsukasa!”
– Byezumi!
– Otsukasa!
Thus ended the first content of the off collaboration, reading My Caron.
“Ahh….”
It was just a broadcast about reading My Caron, but I was already completely drained, leaning back in my chair and releasing all my energy.
I want to lounge around like this for life.
…I wouldn’t be surprised if I called this off collaboration a failure.
Fortunately, the response to the broadcast was quite good, but in my personal opinion, it was a failure.
The broadcast was a mess because of my nerves, and I stuttered a lot.
Thanks to that, there were many comments in the chatroom saying it felt like seeing me right after my debut after a long time.
While I was lost in those thoughts, Tsurusaki smiled gently and spoke up beside me.
“Senpai, what should we do for dinner?”
Was Tsurusaki not uncomfortable at all talking to me?
Even Koga said it was a bit hard to talk to me right after I debuted….
…I sound like I’m making excuses, but honestly, one of the reasons for my difficulties during the broadcast was Tsurusaki.
Of course, it’s fundamentally my fault for not being enough. But how can I put it?
Talking to Tsurusaki… felt oddly uncomfortable.
Even now, she kept smiling, and adapted to my tension during the broadcast….
Everything, including now, felt like an act.
Of course, VTubers typically perform based on RP, so it’s natural for there to be acting involved.
However, it felt weird that Tsurusaki’s interactions with me, even offline, felt like acting too.
Right. It felt like I was dealing with a robot.
On top of that, Tsurusaki had her hair partially covering her eyes, and her kind smile felt a bit scary, like there was something hidden.
Of course, I know. This is all paranoia.
Tsurusaki likes me enough to consider me valuable, and she’s kind enough to smile at whatever I say.
But what can I do? I can’t shake off those thoughts, making it uncomfortable…
“Senpai?”
“Ah, yes…? Ah, sorry. I, um, dinner, dinner….”
Anyway, it was currently 7:20 PM. Since I need to start the broadcast again at 9, it would be ideal to finish dinner within an hour.
“W-What do you want to eat, Tsurusaki?”
“I’m fine with anything.”
…Seriously, saying “anything” when choosing food is the scariest answer.
Maybe Tsurusaki could be a bad person after all….
★
“Ugh…!”
The undeniable truth remained that sushi’s best fish is tuna.
Of course, I like salmon sushi and snapper sushi too, but the tastiest will always be tuna.
Enjoying the texture and aroma of the tuna, I glanced slightly at Tsurusaki, only to find her coincidentally looking at me.
“Hehe….”
As I forced a smile through discomfort, Tsurusaki returned a gentle smile.
…She’s such a good person, and I feel uncomfortable unilaterally. Guilt kept poking at me.
Is there really no way to bridge the gap?
While I was thinking about that, something caught my eye: a piece of rice stuck to the corner of Tsurusaki’s mouth.
And it was a cute sight that didn’t match Tsurusaki, who generally gave off a somewhat scary vibe.
Furthermore, Tsurusaki didn’t seem to notice, tilting her head as I stared at it.
Pfft….
Seeing that, my previous idea of Tsurusaki being like a robot felt kind of silly.
“Ah… T-Tsurusaki.”
“Yes?”
“You’ve got rice stuck to the corner of your mouth.”
So, saying that, I reached out to remove the rice from the corner of her mouth.
“Hehe….”
“Ah….”
Then, as she smiled and placed the rice on her finger into her mouth, Tsurusaki’s face flushed red, and she bowed her head in embarrassment.
Well, I can see why she’d be embarrassed for looking careless.
I’ll definitely bring this up on the broadcast later.
★
Tsukasa peeked over while eating the sushi Izumi ordered.
“Ugh…!”
Izumi was giggling happily at the sushi, clearly enjoying herself.
Kainoh Izumi.
On the outside, she looked so cold that it would be intimidating to approach, but in reality, she was a girl with a serious communication impairment that became completely obvious once she opened her mouth.
Her on-screen persona is not simply a mix of an act; they were all facts.
All members of Star’s Flow cherished her because she genuinely had a delicate personality.
Tsukasa acknowledged this fact. No, she had no choice but to acknowledge it.
However, she resolutely promised herself that she wouldn’t be swayed by such truths.
Tsukasa’s goal was ultimately to be recognized by more people, after all.
“Ah….”
And perhaps sensing the gaze on her, Izumi suddenly turned to look at Tsukasa.
“Hehe….”
Then she made that silly smile she often showed on broadcasts.
But seeing her lips tremble slightly made it look like she still felt awkward.
Tsukasa quietly thought that this was troubling.
Even without seeing their real faces, viewers are surprisingly sensitive to VTuber emotions.
Of course, Izumi and Tsukasa were meeting for the first time, and considering Izumi’s usual personality, feeling awkward was unavoidable.
However, what Tsukasa was aiming for was a pairing with Izumi.
Crafting a comfortable atmosphere to bring in Izumi’s subscribers meant this awkwardness couldn’t linger for too long.
‘…First, I have to dispel this atmosphere, somehow.’
Thinking about that, Tsukasa smiled at Izumi.
Pfft….
Suddenly, Izumi covered her mouth, bursting into understanding laughter.
It wasn’t that awkward laugh anymore, but a natural one.
“Ah…. T-Tsurusaki.”
“Yes?”
Then Izumi slightly raised her hand and reached out.
“You’ve got rice stuck to the corner of your mouth.”
She brushed her finger against Tsukasa’s lips, then popped the rice she had into her own mouth.
“Hehe….”
“Ah….”
Watching that, Tsukasa was engulfed in immense embarrassment. She felt the heat rush to her face.
‘W-What the heck….’
As she reached out, a sweet scent wafted over, lingering in Tsukasa’s mind and refusing to settle.
She kept replaying the events in her head, and as a result, the heat on her face showed no sign of fading.
And it seemed like Izumi was completely unbothered by any of this, continuing to smile bashfully.
“Haah…. You’re right.”
“Eh? Did, did you call for me, Tsurusaki?”
“It’s nothing, Senpai.”
“…A-Are you sure you’re not mad about the earlier joke…?”
“I’m really fine. If I bothered you, I apologize.”
Even as she said that, the unease didn’t fade, and Izumi fidgeted her fingers.
In the end, Tsukasa had to admit.
Kainoh Izumi as a VTuber. Kayanoh Mina as a girl.
As everyone from Star’s Flow and the viewers said, she truly was a mesmerizing woman.
★
[【Deluxe Kart Starlight】Let’s all go all out! #KainohIzumi #TsurusakiTsukasa #Star’s Flow]
-─(≧▽≦)> ZumiZumi!
– Standby!
Something was off about Tsurusaki. Was she that embarrassed about that mistake earlier?
“…Huh?”
…Wait a moment. Was what happened earlier, s-some form of harassment?
If that was the case, I definitely need to apologize.
No matter how much she likes me enough to consider me valuable, it’s only natural to feel bad if she experiences harassment.
More than anything, it seems Tsurusaki distinctly separates Kainoh Izumi as a VTuber from Kayanoh Mina in real life, so if that was harassment, she’d surely feel bad.
Of course, she’s probably embarrassed right now too, so I’ll have to wait until later.
But I’ll definitely apologize someday when we’re close enough to talk casually.
I feel a bit awkward for now, but that in no way means I’ll delay the apology.
N-Not at all.
Anyway, today’s game with Tsurusaki was Deluxe Kart Starlight.
It’s a racing game playable on the handheld console, Play Box Switch, where players can use items given at intervals around the track to hinder opponents or boost themselves, making both skill and luck important.
Moreover, the game allows participation from a total of 12 players.
That means it’s a viewer participation game.
Thinking back on the audience participation games I’ve played, there were plenty of bad memories, but… this time, Deluxe Kart should be fine.
First of all, Tsurusaki is joining, so not only Izutomo but also Tsurugi Group is participating, and with the nature of Deluxe Kart, it’s really hard to intentionally sabotage just one player.
Of course, that meant luck would matter a lot, so winning first place wouldn’t be easy with just skill, but given my skills? I can definitely get first place at least 3 out of 5 rounds.
“Alright, then, I’ll start, Tsurusaki.”
“Ah, yes…!”
“K-KonKasu…! The atmosphere maker, Kainoh Izumi…! Now, T-Tsurusaki also…. ”
“Ah… KonKasa! I’m Tsurusaki Tsukasa from Star’s Flow 3rd generation. Bodyguard protecting Atlas!”
– HaiZumi!
– KonKasa!
“As I announced earlier, this broadcast will now be Deluxe Kart…. T-Tsurusaki, are you good at Deluxe Kart?”
“Um, I’ve played it a little bit. I’ve played with everyone from Atlas, and I think I usually get 2nd place. The maid usually gets 1st place.”
With that light chat, our second broadcast began.
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