Meeting new people is always a nerve-wracking experience.
What if they think I’m strange?
Or worse, what if they’re the strange ones?
With such anxieties, I meet my opponent and discover a new world I never knew about.
It must be… truly noble and magnificent.
[So? What do you want to say?]
Yukari Akabane asked with a dull voice.
…Seriously, Akabane is such a fool.
In the current situation, I clearly know what I want to say.
I wanted her to figure it out like Suzuha Koga would… but I couldn’t complain.
I’m asking Akabane for a favor, so I couldn’t throw a fit.
“Um, I was hoping to meet Shoko Mizuki for lunch today… would you mind joining me? I guess I’m scared to do something so noble and magnificent all by myself….”
[Ah. Now that I think about it, Izumi, you’ve never met Shoko, right?]
“Yes….”
I’ve talked with her a few times in group collaborations, but we’ve never collaborated just the two of us, nor is this the first time meeting in real life.
It’s not that I’ve never had a personal conversation with her, but…
[Kainoh Izumi: I look forward to working with you in the future.]
[Mizuki Shoko: I’m looking forward to working with you as well!]
This was the only DM I sent first.
Since then, Mizuki has sent DMs first a few times, and we’ve had some conversations, but…
Yeah. To be honest, it’s still awkward…
If I must say, it’s awkward at Tsurusaki’s level.
Kaguya Aoba, the leader, feels like someone I can relate to, so it’s reassuring, and Sakuya Suzumichi, the made-in maid, is comforting, while the guide, Hatakawa, feels familiar like Aki.
But what can I say?
The bodyguard, Tsurusaki, undeniably likes me as a true supportive player, but… during our conversations, it feels uncomfortably sticky and awkward.
Mizuki, my home tutor, seems extremely enthusiastic on broadcasts, and her playful demeanor with seniors feels completely opposite to me.
[Shoko, I think she’s nice enough to just meet casually.]
“That’s not the problem…”
I already knew she was a good person.
She wanted to take me out for lunch even after I had already accepted her apology.
But the awkwardness is a different matter.
[And didn’t you say you were going with Hikari at first?]
“…She said she couldn’t today due to some circumstances.”
I assumed she would definitely come, and when I got the answer that family matters made meeting for lunch impossible, I felt so despairing.
But giving up was not an option, so I’m looking for someone new to go with.
[Suzuhaw and Ayaka mentioned they had plans for lunch today, so that wouldn’t work… What about Nekoto?]
“I checked the channel earlier, and they were streaming all night and just went to sleep an hour ago…”
[Is that true…?]
Natsune’s sermon apparently went on until 12:30 AM today.
Of course, I went to sleep at midnight, so I wasn’t at fault.
Anyway, after that sermon ended, it seemed the other members were all exhausted and went to sleep, but Aki kept streaming alone.
Sure, it wasn’t Build Craft, but still… in the end, Aki, who stayed up all night, went to bed around 6:30 AM.
I can’t exactly ask someone who just fell asleep to join me for lunch…
[So that leaves just me, huh.]
“Yes… um, is it still not possible…? Now it looks like I only… have Akabane…”
[…Ugh. Well, if you’re asking like that? I won’t mind but… are you really okay with it? I personally think it could be rude to Shoko.]
“…Eh?”
[Look. Shoko inviting you is to apologize for yesterday. And Hikari joining is because Hikari was directly involved in what happened yesterday. But Natsune and the others might have fought alongside you, but they didn’t do anything to offend you, right?]
“Th-That’s true?”
[Bringing someone who has no connection to that apology may reflect poorly depending on your perspective. From Shoko’s point of view… she invited Izumi to sincerely apologize, but bringing in someone unrelated could lead her to feel, ‘I have nothing to say to you.’]
That makes sense.
Of course, people think differently, but if I were in the same situation as Mizuki… I would likely feel just as Akabane said.
So that means… I have to go alone to a place where I’ll receive an apology from someone I’ve never met…?
“…Um. In 30 minutes, I’m afraid I might catch a cold…”
Is it time for a long-overdue ice-cold bath…?
[That’s a ridiculous excuse, just stop…!]
“B-but just now, Akabane, you were totally like Koga!”
[Is that a compliment?]
…Maybe?
★
Asakura Fuuko.
She’s a third-year student at Star’s Flow and is working as Shoko Mizuki, Aoba’s home tutor.
‘She said she was okay, but seeing her cry on a broadcast means she’s probably been having a tough time. She even mentioned wanting revenge….’
An interesting characteristic of hers seems to be an incredible level of Star’s Flow fandom.
In fact, she’s been following Natsune since her debut stream, just like Izumi.
While Izumi poured her passion into Natsune alone, Shoko invested her enthusiasm in all the members of Star’s Flow.
It was her well understanding of broadcasting that led her to take on the concept of a rebellious junior with Hikari.
To her, her colleagues besides her peers are like gods, the very embodiment of light.
Of course, her peers are precious comrades too, but the seniors are on an entirely different level.
Yet, she made Izumi, one of these deities, cry due to her mistake.
Shoko seriously thought she deserved divine retribution.
‘From what I’ve heard, Izumi is shy, but she also has an incredibly fragile personality. Just how deeply must she have been hurt yesterday….’
Furthermore, the kind goddess even said it was okay not to apologize. It must be hard for her, yet she still showed concern for others.
How painful that realization was.
So today, she resolved to treat Izumi to lunch.
The most delicious and expensive sushi place near her that she knew of.
Of course, it would hurt her wallet, but price doesn’t matter when it comes to offerings for a deity.
She wished for nothing more than for Izumi to truly enjoy the meal today…
That was all that filled Shoko’s heart.
“Um, is this the place?”
Then, with a clatter, the sliding door of the guest room opened, and someone came in.
“Uh, are you… Asakura-san…?”
The girl asked shyly, slightly bowing her head with a flushed face, looking up at Shoko.
Shoko could tell just by the sound of her voice.
The person standing in front of her was Izumi.
And Shoko said.
“…Thank you for the meal.”
“…Eh?”
She offered her thanks to the goddess.
★
Good but strange person… was Mizuki’s first impression.
Sure, it was her first time meeting her in real life, so calling it a first impression might be a stretch, but still, the reaction she had when she opened the room’s door was something else.
‘…Thank you for the meal.’
To say that and then kneel down to sit.
Anyone could see that wasn’t normal, right?
In fact, she almost thought of her as just a strange person initially, but then she saw the prices on the store’s menu and changed her mind.
That she could eat as much as she wanted of sushi at this price is a clear sign she isn’t a bad person.
“Kayanoh-senpai, the salmon roe sushi here is really delicious.”
“Ah, th-thank you.”
“And this salmon sushi I ordered is also really quite good, would you like to try some?”
I had ordered two pieces of shrimp sushi first, and Mizuki proposed this to me.
“W-Was it because Asakura-san liked it that you ordered it…?”
“Of course I like it, but today is a chance for me to apologize to you, senpai.”
“Then I-I’ll gratefully eat it…”
I expressed my gratitude and reached for the salmon sushi on her plate.
“…Eh?”
For some reason, Mizuki gently blocked my chopsticks.
“U-Um… let me do it.”
Then, she picked up the salmon sushi herself and offered it to me with a smile.
Ah… a sign to open my mouth.
She was treating me like a child.
“Um… I’m not a kid, you know….”
I’m well into my 40s if I count my previous life.
Of course, that’s a secret so I can’t say it, but Mizuki, who is just a year younger than me, shouldn’t treat me like this.
As I hinted at my discomfort, Mizuki suddenly covered her mouth and exclaimed.
“I-I-I’m so sorry! How dare I act so… rudely…!”
Mizuki was trembling as if she had truly sinned.
Ah, no. I didn’t mean to sound so scary…
Actually, her reaction made me feel more scared…
…Wait a minute.
If someone else finds out about this situation… won’t it look like I’m taking advantage of her as a senior?
If I think about it, Mizuki was just trying to take care of me…
“Um, um… Asakura-san…?”
“…Y-Yes?”
She was still trembling and looking down at the floor.
My instincts told me.
Mizuki currently thinks she really did something wrong.
…Why am I the one coming off as the bad guy?
With that thought, I slowly closed my eyes and opened my mouth.
“Ahhh….”
But for some reason, after some time, I didn’t feel anything coming into my mouth.
“U-Um… are you going to feed me…?”
So I opened one eye and asked, and Mizuki jumped in surprise and quickly placed the salmon sushi into my mouth.
The salmon’s tenderness and rich flavor blended with the rice nicely and went down my throat smoothly.
It was a taste that clearly justified its steep price.
“It’s d-delicious. Thank you….”
As I offered my final thanks to Mizuki…
“H-Hehe… hehe…”
Mizuki inexplicably giggled while covering her mouth.
This person really does seem just weird after all…
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