NOVEL WEB Chapter 22
“Can’t we go together?”
“Well, school starts soon, and I have a broadcast to get ready for.”
What I learned from spending five days with my sister is that she’s actually a huge sis-con.
It’s honestly baffling why she avoided me until now.
Well, she claims she has her reasons, but I don’t really get it.
In fact, she’s an Izutomo who watched my first live broadcast and even subscribed to my membership.
And it turns out the ‘Blank’ who sent a silent 50,000 yen red hyperchat during my monetization unlock stream was actually my sister.
Wait a second. That’s terrifying.
Thinking about it, does that mean she’s seen all the bizarre stuff I’ve done on stream?
Gulp, it makes me want to curl up and die from embarrassment….
“As long as you send me off before school starts, you can use my computer for your broadcast.”
“W-well, yes, but…”
By the way, the last time she cooked me a ribeye steak was because she heard me mention it during my stream.
…Looks like I need to be a bit more careful when broadcasting from now on.
Not that it’s something I can control.
“Jia. Mina probably has her own reasons, so don’t be too harsh, okay? Like, friends and stuff?”
“…”
At least there’s no reason related to friendship.
My sister knows that too, so she can’t say anything.
Come on, even Mom knows about it.
Huh? Why are my eyes watering?
“…Okay, I probably won’t be able to visit for a while, but I’ll come back as soon as I can.”
“Alright. Take care.”
“B-be careful.”
“Yeah.”
“Eep?!”
My sister hugged me tightly, smiling like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“…I guess I want to take you with me.”
Huh, going together doesn’t sound so bad?
If I can feel this soft sensation every day, then sure…
The Izutomos wouldn’t mind, right?
“Stop it and go quickly! And don’t indulge Mina too much!”
“Okay.”
“Yup…”
★
Today, August 24, is a bit of a special day.
Because it’s exactly one week until the end of summer break.
Isn’t that the case for everyone?
When there’s just a week left of break, it feels like there’s so much pressure to get things done, and you also want to make some memories since it’s summer break.
So, I’ve decided.
If I don’t utilize this magical final week of break now, I might regret it forever and never get the chance again!
[Izumi Kainoh: Suzuha, can we collaborate today?]
[Suzuha Koga: Sure ☆ﾐ(o*･ω･)ﾉ]
Suzuha’s reply came back in less than 5 seconds after I sent the DM.
…What the heck? This is scary.
The reason I asked Suzuha for a collab first was simple.
Ever since we became official friends, she often suggested we collaborate again, and I’ve been avoiding it for various reasons.
But now, using the magical last week of summer break, I thought it might be easy to have a collab with Suzuha.
“It’s been a while since we chatted as friends, hasn’t it?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“But we talk almost every day, so I think it’s okay.”
…Is this really what you’d call a conversation?
Am I subconsciously growing and answering Suzuha without realizing it?
Thinking that way, I checked my DMs with her.
[August 21]
[Suzuha Koga: Do you have any favorite snacks?]
[Izumi Kainoh: I like chocolate.]
[Suzuha Koga: I especially love shortcake. There’s a specialty store right in front of my house…]
[August 22]
[Suzuha Koga: I suddenly craved yakisoba for dinner yesterday…]
[Izumi Kainoh: Uh-huh.]
[Suzuha Koga: So, I went back to that old place we visited, but something tasted different…]
[August 23]
[Suzuha Koga: There’s a Yukari today, right? I mentioned my story during the broadcast…]
[Suzuha Koga: I got curious after the stream…]
[Izumi Kainoh: Is that so?]
…Is this really a conversation?
I mean, I’m talking too, so it must be a conversation, right?
I’m just in the listening position.
“So, uh, why suddenly bring up collaborating today?”
“Well, since summer break is ending soon, I think it’d be nice to do it at least once before we run out of time…”
[Izumi. Are you regretting bringing up the collab for no reason right now?]
…How did she know?
I’m currently realizing that suggesting a collab with Suzuha using the magic of this last week of summer break was more reckless than brave.
Really, the difference in energy spent between chatting and actually talking is huge.
It’s been less than five minutes since the call started, and I’m already feeling worn out….
Suzuha’s social power is melting my brain out!
[Hmm, but you’re not awkward, right?]
“Yeah…”
Suzuha looked genuinely pleased that I suggested collaborating this time.
Knowing she gets along well with her other colleagues, I thought her repeating the collab suggestion to me was just a polite comment.
But of course, she’s my one and only, invaluable friend, so it makes sense she wouldn’t say something so pointless.
Suzuha is truly an angel…. KMT….
[So, do you have any plans for the collab?]
“Oh, um, I’ve got a few ideas…”
I didn’t propose the collab to Suzuha without a plan.
I slowly explained my ideas, and Suzuha seemed to think they were good and accepted them.
I guess I’ve improved a little?
★
[【Chit-Chat】 Today, I think I’ve grown a bit more than yesterday! #KainohIzumi#StarsFlow]
“Uh, as I hinted yesterday, today I’m planning to read a bit from my micaron.”
-Mizuki’s micaron? Ugh, my head…
-I’m feeling anxious already, lol.
-Last micaron was definitely a yuri announcement, right?
-Do you think Mizuki really improved? (￢ ￢)
“Shut up! I’m starting!”
[Hiizumi!]
[Other than watching the broadcast, what’s your favorite hobby?]
“I guess it would be drawing? If I get a chance later, I’d like to do a stream where I draw.”
Drawing has always been my hobby, both in my previous life and now.
When life gets tough and exhausting, just mindlessly doodling on the tablet heals my spirit.
“Next!”
[What color is your underwear today?]
“…Finally, I got a question like this.”
I kind of expected it, so I wasn’t too surprised.
Besides, this kind of question is pretty common in this industry, and I’ve anonymously asked other VTubers, excluding Natsune.
Well, I don’t mind answering, but since I know the intention behind the question, I’d rather not.
They just want to see me flustered, right?
Sorry, but while I might not have been through everything, I’m mentally a 40-year-old adult.
“D-do you guys really want to know the color of my underwear?”
-A little?
-A LOT!
“So while you call me a RP trash and a loner with communication impairment, you want to know my underwear color?”
-Yup!
-That’s the best part!
That might be true….
Ah, no. I shouldn’t be persuaded.
“But I’m not telling you! Instead, why don’t you tell me your underwear color?”
-Really?
-Today I’m wearing a bit sexy white competition underwear!
-Blue trunks!
-How about passionate red?
“W-wait! I’m sorry! Just stop!”
I thought for sure the Izutomos would get upset, but the chat instantly turned into a competition of showcasing their underwear….
What is this? Are these the only types of Izutomos?
And “a bit sexy white competition underwear”?!
Why are you wearing that while watching my stream?
If female Izutomos are like that too, it really hurts my feelings….
-So what about Mizuki’s underwear color?
“I-I’m not telling you! Next!”
[Hiizumi!]
[I heard your awkward sister who was living separately returned home. Is it still awkward?]
“Ah, right, I did mention something like that.”
I’m not sure how much I can disclose.
Is it okay to reveal that my sister is a massive sis-con?
After all, she might be watching this stream too.
So I should just keep it brief, right?
“Um, somehow we… uh, worked things out. We ate good food together…”
-Maybe Mizuki thinks she’s the only one who thinks it’s worked out?
-Mizuki could totally do that, lol.
“No, that’s not it! N-next!”
[How come you always appeal to being a loner with communication impairment, and your other colleagues collaborate often, while you just stay alone every day? Are you even motivated to broadcast?]
[If that’s the case, why not consider graduating?]
“Umm.”
…Looking back, that cut was painfully accurate.
But is it really strange for someone with communication impairment to not collab often…?
I know this is an excuse.
I really understand what they want to say.
In the end, it means I lack talent for broadcasting, doesn’t it?
Really, the malice of people is terrifying.
Even if it’s the malice of someone whose face and personality I don’t even know, the fact that they see me in a negative light wraps around my mind like a vice.
It’s obvious that this isn’t the first time I’ve seen writing like this.
Just doing some ego-surfing on the community would yield a multitude of comments with that kind of vibe.
But those were merely expressions of what someone wanted to say freely in the community.
However, this comment left in my micaron is filled with malice aimed at making me feel hurt… it’s nothing less than a curse to me.
Just looking at it is terrifying and painfully distressing.
I honestly cried a little when I first saw it.
It felt horrendous to have my already low self-esteem stomped on.
And I’ve even wondered if I should graduate as that comment suggested….
Huh? Now that I think about it, I’m doing it almost daily anyway.
So isn’t it a comment I don’t need to take to heart?
It’s true that not collabing is because I have a communication impairment, and I’m already thinking about graduation every day.
I get it now.
You wrote that to give me a revelation, another version of myself….
Thank you!
-Mizuki, are you alright?
-You really don’t have to read those.
“Ah, so I have grown again….”
-?
-What are you talking about?
-I’m kinda scared of Mizuki sometimes…
It’s okay. I’m scared of myself too.
“Anyway! In the end, what this person wants to say is, ‘Please collaborate with me, Mizuki!’ That’s what it really means, right?”
-How would you even interpret it that way?
-Positive King ㄷㄷㄷㄷ
“So, I’m prepared! A surprise collab! The guest is Suzuha!”
[Suzuha here~! At Stars Flow, I’m the angel who wants everyone to praise me, Suzuha Koga!]
-?
-Really?
-Suzuha is real…!