Now I only have a month to act as Izumi Kainoh.
A time that feels both long and short.
So, what can I do during this time?
Starting with a normal broadcast, laughing and chatting with the Izutomo, collaborations with the members, a group project everyone can participate in, cover songs, and the release of new songs.
But what I wanted to do the most was definitely the group song with the second generation.
Well, to be precise, I’ve wanted this ever since that day after the membership meeting.
Fortunately, the company approved it gladly, and we started working. And so today… we finished all the final tasks by coming to the studio to record.
Now all that’s left is to wait.
I’ve heard that we might be able to announce it sometime next week.
After leaving the studio, we all headed to Suzuha Koga’s Home.
Today was probably the last offline collaboration for the second generation.
Of course, if I asked, everyone would gladly accept to spend time once more, but that seems impossible.
Not for any other reason, but because of my schedule.
Recently, when it comes to broadcasting schedules, I’ve been having the busiest time in my VTuber life.
I need to do personal broadcasts, collaborate with members, and plan broadcasts.
I’m really moving non-stop every single day.
And on top of that, I’m still going to school…
I can’t shake the feeling I wish I had two bodies.
“I didn’t want to do this today…”
“…Huh?”
Anyway, after arriving at Suzuha Koga’s home, while we were resting for a bit before the broadcast, Aki said that.
“I didn’t want to record today.”
“Eeeh…?”
Oh dear. Did I want this group song alone?
As I trembled at that thought, Aki bit her lip and continued talking.
“If it’s like this, it really feels like it’s the last time…”
Hearing that, my mind went blank.
It felt like I had been hit on the head by something hard.
It seemed even more intense because Aki was usually emotionless.
“…I really don’t want Izumi to graduate.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, I’m the one who should apologize. I realized that I’m putting you in a difficult position after saying I’d support you…”
So, Aki looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Promise me one thing, okay? Even after graduation, you have to keep in touch with me!”
“Of course! I actually want to ask you that! I want to keep in touch with not just Aki, but with everyone….”
I was being sincere.
The members of Star’s Flow, whom I’ve spent over two years with.
Especially the second generation of peers are more precious than words can describe… an unforgettable connection that will last even through the years.
“Yeah. It’s a promise. If you don’t contact me, I might cry…”
“Eh?!”
And at Aki’s sudden word, my heart raced for a moment.
“Alright, that’s enough! There are others here, so no sailing the love boat just the two of you!”
“We’re not even live right now!”
Fortunately, Akabane and Utsumi interrupted, and the mood diffused a bit…
Aki truly is a woman of charm…!
“…No matter how I look at it, isn’t this Izumi’s fault for making Nekoto act like that?”
“Eh?”
★
[【Offline Collaboration】 Second Generation! We all gathered! Let’s do everything we want to have fun! #KogaSuzuha#UtsumiAyaka#AkiNekoto#AkabaneYukari#KainohIzumi#StarsFlow]
“Yay~!”
“Waaaah!”
-👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
-They finally arrived!
Koga and Utsumi clapped and cheered, announcing the start of the broadcast.
“Since Christmas, it’s been a while since all five of us gathered like this!”
“…It hasn’t even been two months since Christmas, has it?”
“We don’t need those kinds of remarks, Yukari!”
“I’m just stating a fact… hey! Don’t stick to me!”
As soon as we started, it was the usual squabbling between Akabane and Utsumi.
To be precise, Utsumi jumped in for skinship after Akabane’s jab, and though Akabane shyly pushed her away, Utsumi clung onto her mischievously and laughed.
Ah, Ayakari is truly regal…
“Well, let’s leave those noisy two for now… How about we three have a chat first?”
Seeing the familiar scene, Koga went on with the broadcast as if nothing was wrong.
“The first thing we prepared today is takoyaki!”
– Takoyaki?
– This feels ominous.
– Mei-chan probably protested hard against this, lol.
In that moment, there were chat messages about me that swiftly passed by.
…How did they know?
Having had a shocking experience at last year’s takoyaki event, I had vehemently opposed when Akabane suggested it for the second generation.
But, with the enthusiastic agreement of the remaining four, we ended up having it anyway.
And of course, they decided to bring whatever ingredients they wanted.
Before coming to Koga’s Home, we all stopped by the mart to freely buy our ingredients.
Of course, we made sure to pay at different times, so nobody would know.
I brought spicy chicken breast.
I had never eaten it in takoyaki, but I thought it would surely taste good.
However, everyone seemed to have smiles when they came out of the mart. That was ominous…
I mean, Akabane, Aki, and Utsumi are probably okay.
But I can’t trust only Koga, who brought pineapple last year.
“Hey, Izumi. Back then, I brought pineapple because I liked it, remember? I already had that, so I chose something normal and delicious this time.”
“…Um, if it’s not a bother, what do you like, Koga?”
“Um… Like I said before, I like pineapple and apples… I generally like fruits, you know? You know that, right Izumi?”
“Yeah, I know…”
She probably brought one of the fruits today…
Is there really no way to escape?
– I’m already getting scared for Suzuha-chan’s turn.
– Run away, Mei-chan!
“By the way, Nekoto likes sweet things.”
…Wait a minute.
Kaguya and Tsurusaki, who liked sweet things, definitely brought milk chocolate and something hXxx last year, right?
I’ve confirmed it.
I can already foresee that I’ll suffer during today’s takoyaki…
★
Should I say I’m relieved?
During this takoyaki, there was only one person who brought truly unexpected bizarre ingredients.
Aki, who said she liked sweet things, brought bacon, Akabane brought Vienna sausages, and Utsumi brought imitation crab meat.
But of course, there was one person.
Just as expected, the one who brought something ridiculous was…
“Grapes?”
“Yeah. I like grapes. I bought seedless ones, so just peel off the skin.”
Koga was smiling as if there was no problem.
She had probably made that expression when she brought pineapple last year too.
Even when she herself frowned while eating the pineapple takoyaki, she didn’t learn from past experiences?
– No matter how you think about it, it seems tasteless.
– This is dangerous…
The chat’s reaction was awful too.
But I couldn’t just throw away the ingredients I brought.
When I suggested we could just eat it as it is, they ignored my opinion.
For some reason, Akabane, Aki, and Utsumi nodded, as if it’s alright.
Why do I have to endure this trial?
Anyway, the grape takoyaki was completed.
And the one who ate it first was Utsumi.
“Uh? But it’s tastier than I thought?!”
To my surprise, she made that evaluation.
“Right? I thought it would taste good!”
Encouraged by that response, Koga also put the grape takoyaki in her mouth.
“It’s really tasty. The taste of grape goes well with the sauce more than I expected.”
Unlike last year’s pineapple takoyaki, she was applauding and laughing with delight.
“Oooh…! This is a flavor I want to eat again. I liked it. Akakat!”
“…It’s really delicious.”
Then Akabane and Aki also gave it a thumbs up, and I realized.
I must have been prejudiced against it.
In games, unexpected plays often lead to new strategies and breakthroughs.
To think I formed a prejudice over my experience just once last year…
Koga must have put in a lot of thought to prepare this, and what I did was disrespect it.
I should definitely apologize later.
As I finished my musings, I quietly put the grape takoyaki in my mouth.
“Ugh?! It’s not good, is it?!!!”
– Haha.
– It’s strange that those who ate it deliciously are actually the weird ones.
Of course, I shouted.
It’s really not good!
The warm texture of the grapes, their taste, and aroma didn’t match with the takoyaki at all.
Honestly speaking, it was worse than the hXxx takoyaki I had last year.
An unambiguously unpleasant taste, not just strange.
“Uuuh…”
I forcefully suppressed my painful feelings and somehow chewed until the end, swallowing the grape takoyaki.
“How is this tasty…?”
And when I asked the four who said it was tasty.
“No. I thought it was tasteless too…”
“Yeah. It was the worst thing I’ve eaten this year.”
“Ahh~. I never want to eat this flavor again…”
“…I’m sorry.”
The four each showed different expressions as they spoke.
…I’ve been tricked.
– Haha.
– Everyone worked hard to fool Mei-chan…
– The second generation suffering together.
“Was this planned out in advance?”
“Haha… Izumi was so scared from the start, I thought she’d cry.”
And the truth came out; it wasn’t planned at all.
It was just that I was too fearful, and Utsumi tried to trick me, and the other three noticed that intent and pretended it was tasty.
Is this… the bond of the second generation?
★
Thus, even after the takoyaki ended, we proceeded with various contents.
We played games on the Switch I brought, answered Utsumi’s prepared ‘Stars Flow Second Generation Quiz’… and in the end, we drank and shared many memories while laughing and chatting.
Of course, I had orange juice.
Once the broadcast was over.
We laid down blankets in the living room, taking turns to lie down and looking at the ceiling.
“Then I’ll turn off the lights.”
“Okay…”
With a snap, the lights went off, darkening the living room.
Koga, who turned off the lights, laid down beside me with a swish sound.
“Izumi.”
“…Yes.”
“You can contact me anytime.”
“Okay.”
“You can come visit anytime.”
“Y-Yes…”
And Koga held my right hand as she said that.
Her left hand felt cool, which was nice.
Quietly shifting my gaze, Koga was also looking at me.
“No matter how much time passes, I’m still friends with Izumi.”
“…Yes!”
I was happy.
I was truly delighted to hear such words from Koga.
“I really like K-Koga too…!”
So, I looked into Koga’s eyes and smiled brightly.
With gratitude. And affection.
“Eh?!”
“Alright, that’s enough! No lovebirds when the broadcast’s not on!”
“Wait?!”
“Yeah. Suzuha, that’s not fair…”
“I didn’t do anything?!”
“Don’t think just the two of you are here! We’re not the background!”
Suddenly, Akabane, Aki, and Utsumi all jumped up and squeezed into the space between Koga and me.
“Hey everyone, wait! This is messy! Let’s just lie down normally and sleep!”
Koga protested.
“Well, who cares. Let’s just haphazardly sleep like this today. Or is it possible that…?”
With a comment from Akabane, nobody made any rebuttals.
At the end, I think I heard something whispered in my ear… was it because of that?
Anyway, we ended up nestled together, tangling ourselves in the blankets, and settled down again.
“It’s uncomfortable…”
“Hehe… well, it can’t be helped.”
It was a bit cramped, but the warmth allowed me to sleep pleasantly.
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