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Case 3: Angel’s Ladder
1
Within the dimly lit room, the light from the monitor lit up the pair of eyes looking at it.
The beckoning of mid-summer with the blistering heat. The smoldering heat that sticks in the sweltering night, the heat in his body overwhelmed him, and was breathing roughly.
He scrubbed back the video with his mouse.
“Even more the feelings you have when you say you like me. That’s why.. Thank you…. I was able to connect with everyone because I was a Vtuber-nya.”
Ayane had declared this. The archived stream was going to be made private in a week.
He looked back at the scene repeatedly and then took out a memo pad. Writing about dialogues said in the stream was his habit. Although he had started this for his Oshi to write about his thoughts, this time it wasn’t for brainstorming. After all, he wasn’t a fan of Ayanokouji Neiko.
“I was able to connect with everyone because I was…. a Vtuber……”
Just like he was adding more fuel to the flame in his heart, the man remembered back to the results of the flaming for Ayanokouji Neiko.
Ayanokouji Neiko’s flaming too, had left a big impact in the history of Vtubers. When looking back on the gist of the situation, when compared with past incidents, those cases had been flamed a lot. It was like a wildfire.
Then, why did that kind of ending beckon after the incident?
It was already old school talk from one year ago. One year ago, his favorite Vtuber that he ardently supported, Mukanae Noa, had been flamed.
Her disgraceful manner was exposed, and disappeared without having a retirement stream. Unable to say her goodbyes, she disappeared just like that. Only if Noa had made her statement on retirement.
—– If Hoshigaoka School would have said it as “graduation”, just what would she tell her fans in her graduation stream?
He asked himself, and groaned.
If only. Surely if this craving was just a little thing, it would have been better.
He took his hands off the stream archive with Neiko in tears, and opened his list of files to look at Noa’s crowdfunding thank you video.
“This is Hoshigaoka High School’s Vtuber, Mukanae Noa! The supporters to make the first solo live happen, thank you so much!”
With the personality not changing from that time, Noa was smiling.
“Ah……” The man regretted it, slowly crying to himself.
“No matter how much thanks I want to say, it just won’t be enough to send you my whole-heart feelings. So, I want to send you my feelings through the best performance that I can do, and continue to do my best at full power in the rest of my activities! This is how I’ll repay you in my own way! And when I say the best, I mean the best, ok? Ehehe.”
“Uu…. Uu…”
The tears from his eyes drenched the keyboard.
“Don’t worry, come with me on my Ark! I’ll show you my passion! So let’s enjoy the best time we’ll have together!… Those who supported me in my project, I’ll let you learn something as a special gift. The keyword is “Ark”! Make sure to remember. Ok, once more! Thank you so much for supporting me~.”
And that Ark had burned into nothingness in a single night.
His chest felt like it was going to explode from the pain. Just like that, every evening, there was a string of words that wanted to be free from his body.
“I want to see Noa-chan…!”
Narrowing his eyes just like he made a decision, the man started to go into his search bar. Typing on the keyboard in katakana, opened up the channel of a novice Vtuber Angel that came into his interest for a while.
Character, profile. When the activities started, the office of the agency, and the promotion video.
Who is the illustrator of the avatar? The record of auditions for the soul. The result of writing down in very small writing of all the existing information since the debut, would it lead to what he wishes? Could it be that among all the Vtubers, who came like lighting, could she be Mukanae Noa?
He had steadily followed the traces of the new Vtuber in town.
For him, especially considering his disposition, it’s a mystery why hadn’t he found the girl faster.
He checked the time. The stream is going to start in 4 minutes and 30 seconds. Actually, it is his first time watching her stream.
“Finally, I found the Ark……. Noa-chan.”
At the blue light screen before him, he had an eerie smile.
The ark that Mukanae Noa had shown. Riding on that boat, once again showing the way to the new space uplifting them to new ranges. To follow the voyage with her, it is perfect for a top fan like him.
With a faint smile, the man had engraved into his eyes the channel’s name. The Vtuber channel that is rumored to be the reincarnation of Mukanae Noa. ——– Rikuyoku Ch./Rikuyoku Nakoru.
2
[Together with me this evening [Yofueru] will start!]
When the stream started, a voice passed through saying one word at a time like she was clearing up her voice. The calming voice and slow pacing was perfect for such a calm night.
○ She came!
○ Kon-Eru!
○ Hi Nacol
○ OMG it’s Nakorun!
○ The BGM is nice for today
○ This week I can do my best again to live…….
“Nako Familia, it’s a pleasurable day. I am Rikuyoku Nakoru. Today’s hashtag for the stream is Yo-Fu-E-Ru, so I’ll be happy if you use that when you tweet so I can look at your thoughts later.”
Rikuyoku Nakoru appeared onto the screen, and continued talking in a slow but easy-to-hear voice.
“Time flies fast since my debut two months ago. Wow….. It also became warm. Even for me, who is an Angel, I’m terribly weak against the heat.”
○This peaceful atmosphere is so good
○ First time viewer
○ Next week is going to be more hotter
○ It’s almost summer vacation!
○Time flies so fast that it’s hard to keep up with it
○ The song you sang last time, Boy’s Journey, was very good
Rikuyoku Nakoru’s activities include uploading covers and having very comfy-like free-talk streams.
Her streams are like a radio-host, and compared to other communities, the audience often consist of behaved individuals. Each of her viewers one by one, do greetings, exchange news, and enjoy the stream that is calming, and do not do much engagement with the other viewers.
Alongside with the BGM that is reminiscent of a summer night, the soothing beautiful voice was a touch of elegance.
“That’s right, it’s almost summer break. It’s that time of season, huh. But for an Angel, there is no such thing as summer break. For you, humans, be careful to not get a heatstroke on your holiday, ok?”
○Hydrate!
○Nakoeru too, don’t forget to hydrate
○Just with my Oshi alone is enough for hydration
○ It’s a part-time job
Many questions alongside comfy comments were appearing in the comments in a steady space. The steady pace was good for Nakoru, with the speed of the commenters were in pace with the breathing pattern of the Oshi.
ーーー If the pacing is like this, the man gave the first question that he has ever given to Nakoru.
○ What are Nakoru-san’s goals for future activities since you reached over 100,000 subscribers?
○ Does Nako-run like cold weather or hot weather?
○ There is no such thing as rest for company slaves
“If I like hot or cold weather? Of course, I’m weak to both. Who do you think that you’re speaking to? If Angels had that kind of adaptability to endure both, then they wouldn’t have been extinct.”
The man’s question was drowned in the other comments. His timing was unfortunately bad.
The setting behind Rikuyoku Nakoru’s is that she is an extinct angel who reincarnated into virtual space due to having lingering regrets. And thus, she started streaming. A big point of her stream is the match between the character and her heavenly-like speech pattern.
As a result, her Youtube Channel has increased in popularity, and reached 10,000 followers within her first month of debut. This night too, has 3,000 viewers watching her. It’s a brilliant and amazing number.
Just what is this girl going to tackle next for her goal?
This man, when finding an Oshi to support, takes their goals and how they’re going to achieve it in mind. This is the fundamental to support an Oshi after all. By knowing the goals, then they’ll support in the way that it’ll achieve all their goals.
But, to ignore his line asking about the goals…..
“Although this is sudden, let’s do a song.” Nakoru strummed the guitar that she had in hand. “Now, pay close attention. Ominaeshi-P-san song, [Summer Beckons, The Sounds of Wind Chimes]—-”
The comment sections had lines of musical notes and heart emojis. The comfy song, with the clear voice, reminds them of a wind chime, and it chimed into the viewer’s ears comfortably.
“This was OminaeshiP-san song, [Summer Beckons, The Sounds of Windchimes”. How was I? Ah, thanks for the superchats.” Nakoru repositions her guitar. “Even then, it’s a charming song. Ah, the humans who came now, please tweet your impressions with ‘Yofueru’.”
Having estimated the time for when the song ends, the man once again sent a similar comment.
○ Nakoru-san’s goals for future activities is what?
○ First time commenting! I subscribed!
○ You’re good at singing after all
○ First time viewers come and watch, we welcome you
○Wind chimes are good aren’t they
○I was healed
“Ah, new viewers, feel at peace here.”
Again, his comments were drowned in the other comments. The man gritted his teeth.
Why is it that his timing is always awful? Or perhaps, for some reason, he is being purposely ignored.
When he thinks about it, Nakoru seems to be fixated on picking up comments from those who watch her streams for a long time and establish themselves as regular viewers. No, that has to be the case.
Is that really what a Vtuber should be doing? The man felt unpleasant.
If Mukanae Noa was here, then that’s a no no. She was someone who takes care of her viewers one at a time.
She dances for joy when a new viewer comes to watch the stream, doesn’t miss a single superchat from her viewers, and her streams circled around her looking at all the comments that came her way with enthusiasm. Sometimes, when Noa feels anxious about accidentally missing a comment, she calls out to them, “If I wasn’t able to read your message, please resend your comment again, ok?”. She was very caring.
Even though Noa was like that, this “Noa” was——
“Now, let’s introduce the new corner. In order to break through this season successfully, I want to feel and endure the summer that you humans feel. With that, [Descending Angel Nakoeru During Summer!] Corner!”
Nakoru abruptly changed the screen.
“New Corner?” The viewers’ comments were overlapping.
If not the first or second time, then third time the charm, the man thought and sent over the words that were on his keyboard.
But he was already no longer visible with all the comments.
○An Angel descending from the heavens!
○ So nice~
○What are Nakoru-san’s future goals? Is your goal 1 million subscribers?
○ When you think about summer it’s all about the watermelons and fireworks
○ The Summer Comiket failed to enter……
“Fufu, actually, when it becomes summer, I get this urge to read. So, when I think about what summer means to me, it’s all about reading. So, I would like to show the charms of reading tonight, so is that fine? If you feel like you’re sleepy when you hear me read, it’s fine to sleep.”
○A reading by Nakoeru!
○ I won’t sleep Zzzz
○ The bookstores is also doing Kadobun and Natsuichi1
ーーー Just what the hell is this? The man’s eyes were flickering and trembling, and gazed at the screen of the Rikuyoku girl. His grinding became louder.
“As I thought….. This bastard is….”
The man’s shoulders shook, and clenched his fist harder.
Just what is this about her having “Noa”-like actions? Although it was his first time watching today’s evening stream, he had carefully researched in order to be a fan and enjoy himself. But, the stream owner had ignored him, and the other viewers had treated him like nothing.
His comments that weren’t read that comfortably existed in the spaces of the comment section, doesn’t it expose that he is pitiful across the screen?
Since her debut, each time, the girl’s management had promoted her loosely like Noa’s successor, and those in the community created a commotion that she could be the reincarnation to Noa.
In a bizarre way of coincidences, her and Noa’s voices were almost alike.
The former Noatomos want her to make their sadness disappear, to sweetly smile at them like Noa did, and the management team is welcoming the viewers to Rikuyoku Nakoru’s streams while rubbing their hands on the profit.
Even then, their way of promoting……
Even if the rumors were actually lies, if there is even a single sign of a previous life, then they’ll go after it. And then realize that Noa isn’t there. When remembering her incident in the history of Vtuber’s flaming, this doppelganger is only a metaphor of pleasant scenery when seen afar, but not in person.
“Yes yes, I have already prepared to do a reading aloud. I have prepared a picture book that I’ve liked in the past. With that, let’s change into ASMR mode~”
○ It seems that I can see a good dream tonight
○ I’m waiting for it
○ Ah, this is crazy, reading ASMR streams are my favorite contents
He can no longer watch the stream. Faced with such an insulting existence, he couldn’t hold onto his sanity. As a top fan of Noa, there is no way that he would think of her as Noa.
“AaaaHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”
He yelled like he was insane. His blood-shot eyes have colored the dark room into red.
“Shit…. Fucking shit shit shit…”
The man clung to the computer’s monitor.
On the media player, Noa had waved her hand and smiled. He then pressed the replay button.
「Don’t worry, come with me on my Ark! I’ll show you my passion! So let’s enjoy the best time we’ll have together!… That’s why, once more.」
Surely, this was a trial from god. The last trial for the boat to remerge by sacrificing the threat called Rikuyoku Nakoru to revive the goddess. And with that, the “let’s enjoy our time together” will come again.
He couldn’t help but fly out of his room.
“‘I’ll flame her online… this girl…. I won’t forgive her.”
Flaming the hopeless soul, and coming closer to the revival of that legendary night in the next stage. That is what supporting an Oshi means. For a death god, isn’t that just perfect?
“Now, let’s start. The title is “The Crow That Cry in the Night”. Here we go.”
An echo like a Japanese paper theatre’s tempo BGM came into the stream.
The mic picked up the sound of a book’s page being flipped.
“—- In the dead of the night, why don’t you join me in a drink and reminisce about a sad memory?
On that day, I was depressed, thinking about my lover that I broke up with that night.
The wind that came in the crevices of the window was very hot and unbearable. When that happened, there was a sound that sounded like a knocking sound from a door. Knock knock knock..”
3
“Knock knock knock.” Mina knocked on the door of Gou’s apartment.
She waited for a long time for a response, but there was no reaction from the other side.
“Mina? What are you doing?” Ayane, who stood next to her, raised her eyebrow, and glanced at her.
Ayane, who usually wore her school uniform messily, and probably because today was too hot, was fanning herself with her hand near her neck. The flapping from her hands caused the valley in her shirt to be seen from the collar of the shirt, and Mina was nervous on the inside whether there was anyone around them to see this.
It was 32 degrees Celsius, a great way to start summer. Ayane and Mina had finished their end-of-term ceremony, and welcomed the summer break.
Their fellow classmates immediately ran off under the blazing heat, breaking out into fun conversations on how to spend the one month of summer break this year.
Ayane and Mina too, came here to figure out what to do next during their break. Thankfully, for that purpose, there is a perfectly safe place for them away from the lecherous gazes of men.
“We need to immediately start the strategy meeting. When it’s the summer, isn’t that the best timing to reincarnate? It’s the best time to capture the hearts of kids on their summer break. Hurry up and debut, or else lose to the faster hare because you were too slow!” Kiritani Ayane, a girl that follows trends. Her change in emotions is fast.
Where were the tears that she shedded after making a confession full of love towards her fans in her retirement stream? Her heart had changed and there was only one thing she had affections for.
“Karugo-san, hasn’t been at home at all recently.” Mina answered.
“Don’t you have a spare key? Wouldn’t it be okay to enter without him opening the door?”
“That is true but….”
Mina was clutching onto the spare key that she got from her bag, and apologetically shrugged her shoulders.
“Karugo gave you that key, right? That means he gave you permission to enter inside anytime.”
Mina nodded in self-confidence.
“To be blessed with super cute girls like us, Karugo should be happy to see us, don’t you think? Maybe… I don’t know. Let’s get going!”
“Ah.”
Ayane took the duplicate key from Mina’s hand and opened the door into Gou’s room.
“So hot~ Inside should be cool so let’s hurry,” Ayane said, running to the door’s entranceway and taking off her shoes. “Uwah, it’s hot inside too! Air condition! Where’s the air condition!”
Pi. Pipipi. It seems she put it on the strongest air setting.
When Mina thought to follow Ayane’s action, when she felt the hot air drifting into the entrance-way, she soon stopped in front of the entranceway.
The day when she first pressed the door-button to his room came across her mind.
Gou hasn’t changed much since a year ago. Although his outer appearance showed that he was severely haggard with even his hair turning white. But, his eyes, still had the Noa’s ark reflected.
— I want to see Noa-chan. He had whispered that day.
Even now, Mina was worried about Gou’s state of mind. She had no doubt that him following after Vtuber’s flaming incidents was going to bring up past memories. She worries that his obsession would lead him towards the wrong path.
After all, Mina was saved by him. Then Ayane too.
“Oh, Almond Tofu spotted!” ….. Even if Ayane looks carefree now, Mina knew that she also felt grateful towards him. Even before that, because of Gou, the Noatomos must have also felt grateful too. Those like Cap’n.
Now, it’s time to save him. But, just how?
It was regrettable but Mina is powerless. She didn’t have the power to cause a world-wide flaming incident, nor write an article about some Vtuber that they didn’t have any connection with. She didn’t have his wisdom-overfilling power. —– She couldn’t think of stepping into the Ark as easily as the person she is.
“What the hell are you doing standing here?”
“Heh?” Mina felt her back pushed, and Mina was in the apartment’s entranceway. “Wah to to.”
“If you stay there, you’re going to die of heatstroke.”
Gou had returned. She had worried about him in her thoughts, but when the real person finally arrived, why did she feel like she wanted to rely on him right now.
“Ah, that’s right. Hahaha.”
Gou looked at Mina with a puzzled face, and then casually took off his shoes in the doorway.
Going past the entranceway, heading towards the kitchen and dropping off his bag, he opened his eyes big at the current situation.
“Oi, what are you eating….”
With an astonished face, he looked at Ayane who was in the middle of taking a bite of a white dessert in the kitchen.
“Hey. Welcome back, Karugo. Thanks for this.”
“That’s not yours! That Almond Tofu is supposed to be mine!”
“Isn’t it fine like this? Aren’t you earning money on your blog cuz of me? I already ate a bite of it.”
What Ayane meant was the article on “Ayanokouji Neiko”.
“Even if I gain money from that, my expenses are break-even. I’m living a life on paycheck for my food expenses.”
“Eh?” Ayane narrowed her eyes while having an incomprehensible expression. “I thought that Ararat Kazan was a famous person in the community. Aren’t you an affiliate blog with PV?”
Especially in the month of July, Ararat Kazan’s website, [Burn V!] has been booming with success.
Thanks to the flaming article on Besasano and the contrary article of Ayanokouji Neiko, the number of views on the blog had increased. Since before, his blog’s advertisement was what let him pay for rent.
To say that there is no money left from all that, Ayane looked at Gou with a reproaching face.
“Hm, I see…. Now then, then could it be that you’re spending it all on the “good stuff”?”
“Hah? What the hell are you saying.”
“For mens, it’s a normal thing. To have two beautiful highschoolers in your room everyday, then I’m sure you do that sometimes, hehehe.”
Ayane wore a mischievous smile, and threw away the empty plate of the remnants of the almond tofu.
“I wonder where it could be hidden, maybe underneath the bed.” Ayane looked towards the bed in the living room. “Where could a huge amount of doujinshis be overfilling from—”
“Hold it! You are absolutely not allowed there!”
Gou immediately walked towards the living room from the kitchen and stood in front of Ayane.
“There’s nothing to see here!”
“Oh, you’re in a panic, how adorable.” Ayane snickered.
Mina, in order to not to throw more oil into the flame, strided past the kitchen, and she sat near Gou’s legs similar to a cat.
“Yep…. This is more comfortable than outside.”
Gou looked at Mina and Ayane separately, and frowned as if annoyed.
“Aren’t you just a cat who found a new feeding place to eat at? Do you guys have a lot of freetime or something? What happened to going to school?”
“Eh? Didn’t you know? From today, it’s summer break.” Ayane sent out a lively peace sign in happiness.
“Huh….”
Gou exchanged looks with Mina who was near his leg, and Mina looked up with upturned eyes.
“Karugo-san, are you really not coming back to school?”
“Going back to school…” Gou, who was in the middle of absence. He was one step to being a dropout. “In today’s society, there are many ways for us to get cash even if you don’t complete highschool.”
Gou pointed at his computer desk.
“Huh, didn’t you say that you don’t get enough money,” Ayane pursued.
“Shut up! I’ll have you know that I am the man who had the title of an oil tycoon as part of my funds to my Oshi! Even now I’m using my blog to help in my lifestyle. But, this air conditioner is set to the highest setting! Obstructing my goal in using the least amount of electricity possible…. Ah, my beloved almond tofu too!” Gou screamed in an incoherent manner and turned off the air conditioner.
“Aw. Are you trying to kill us from the heat?”
“Do you think I only have the power to flame Vtubers? In reality, I’m very good at burning in real life.”
“Harsh, Karugo is heartless.”
“Heh, say whatever you like. There is nothing left for me to lose in any case.”
Mina, who felt, what are you saying? She was scared of Gou. Today, she felt that Gou had an even more of a destructive attitude.
His tone of speaking was somewhat rough. From behind, Mina immediately hugged Gou from behind.
“Karugo-san, you should really look at what you’re saying.”
“Thanks for the support, Mina.” Ayane immediately took the remote control, and pressed the switch again.
“No way.” Gou, who had lost, lost all the power in his body and went down. Mina too, who was still hugging him from behind, also went down with him and sat down. And then close to his ears, whispered.
“It would be dangerous if you get a heatstroke because you’re trying to hold back on using electricity. We are going to be worried about you.”
Ayane, seeing that, said, “Ah, it was so hot.” she played around and fanned her hand.
“In the first place, why are you so self-sacrificing? Noa-chan is already gone, so why not use your energy and time for the more important things for yourself?” Ayane said without any hesitation. The one thing that Mina wanted to say to him this whole time.
“For me, nothing else means more to me than Noa. Noa is an immortal being. So, if I won’t be able to see her again….” Gou answered back coldly, gazing like he was looking faraway.
Mina had a complex face. Ayane, who felt that the atmosphere became heavy, changed her attitude and said back, “I see”. She then pulled out her smartphone and tapped something on the screen.
“Speaking about Noa-chan, have you heard about this girl?”
What Ayane showed was a certain Youtube Chanel. —– 「Rikuyoku Ch/六翼なこる」
It was a Vtuber. A young girl who wore a highschool girl uniform with six brilliant wings. She had two black hair ponytails that extended up to her waist.
A special trait about her is the acoustic guitar behind her back.
“Rikuyoku Nakoru….” Gou whispered.
“Heheehee, you should listen to her voice. It would surprise you.”
Ayane pressed the video that was featured in the main channel page. Immediately the audio started. It was a common self-introduction video. “Know About Rikuyoku Nakoru in 3 Minutes”.
“Hear the voice. Don’t you think you heard this voice before?”
“—-Noa-chan?” The one who reacted first was Mina.
Moving her face, Gou and Mina were both sharing the phone on the small screen and ate the contents. Ayane raised the volume to max.
Rikuyoku Nakoru. She was an angel who was extinct since the old ages, and reborn as a virtual incarnation of her last wishes. She, who lost her friends, wanted to tell even one person of the god’s wishes, and started to preach her works by singing. That was her background. Her fan name is NakoFamilia, or shortened as Nakofam. The voice that perfectly matched the soul to its avatar, was a crystal clear voice. She held a reputation for having a crystal clear singing voice in the community that was soothing.—– Publicly, that is.
Her way of referring to herself is “Boku”. She normally ends her sentences with “dayo” and “nanodayo”2. When referring to her fans, she often used “Humans”. For her outworldly-like speaking that matches well with the likes of an Angel avatar, she brings fans over with the affinity between her and the avatar. Just saying a big buzz isn’t an exaggeration, since her first day of debut she drew attention, and within just 2 months, she had 100,000 subscribers.
For a new Vtuber that appeared on the market to gain this much popularity in a limited amount of time, there must be people who are envious of such growth.
Most of her fanbase were people in their teens, and they are widely on a different scale than fans who give their money to idols. She also attracts another audience.
Especially the utaite3 community.
The streaming she was most popular at was her singing stream with her guitar and ASMR with her binaural mic.
She is part of the long-standing Vtuber Group, Girl A Mentoria, or Galme, along with 5 other members. However, the other 5 are long away from coming to the same popularity as her, as Rikuyoku Nakoru is the only one who can produce such a fantastic atmosphere in her streams. This is all the public information.
“It is said that she is the reincarnation of Mukanae Noa.”
Yes, Nakoru’s secret to fame was the value of using Noa’s name.
There were so many videos that analyzed the two Vtubers. Even In anonymous message boards, there were threads about relation to Noa, with many suspicious about reincarnation.
Could it be that the “ancient times” refers to the era when Noah’s Ark sailed? Or “The extinct Angel’s last regrets” could be referring to how she disappeared after the flaming, among all other reasons.
There were those who thought of it as a management taking advantage of the situation to bring up the initial ratings for the Vtuber.
“……”
When the 3 minute ended, Gou was staring in silence.
The voice was very similar; just like the person itself. But, her personality and way of speaking is absolutely not like Noa.
Mina was more worried about the state of Gou rather than Rikuyoku Nakoru’s situation.
Even if she had reincarnated, would Gou want to see Noa? This soul, who came out of nowhere to debut as a Vtuber again, would Gou be happy and welcome her easily? Would the appearance of Nakoru save his soul?
“If it was about Nakoru, I already knew of her.” Gou said nonchalantly. Gou closed his eyes in disinterest.
“……You knew of her?” Mina asked worriedly.
“Who do you think I am? Anything that goes around in the community, even the smallest thing, I already know of it roughly.”
“I see….. This is my first time hearing about her.”
“I thought there was no need to mention it to you. In the first place, I’m surprised that you haven’t heard of her at all. She is even appearing at V Matsuri.”
“V Matsuri…. You mean that large event?”
Every year in August, the splendid carnival, “V Masturi”.
The famous Vtubers in the industry do live performances in an event held in real life.
It’s a chance to see Vtubers who don’t normally collaborate, and it is also the 3rd major festival in the Vtuber sphere. Girl.A.Mentoria too is also participating. The new up-coming Vsinger Rikuyoku Nakoru, has her management focusing on her appearance.
Mina’s eyes wavered, starting to read too much into Gou’s information gathering.
“What a shame, you already knew the info about Noa. I thought it would be eye-popping information for you.”
Ayane clicked her tongue in disinterest, and took back her smartphone. Then, Gou went towards Gou’s desk and opened up his PC.
“The article that Ayane was looking at was this?”
Gou skifully browsed and opened up a certain article.
An article that talks about the Vtuber’s previous life and the person behind them– the regular gossip article in this community.
“Yeah, that! There is a lot of information that talks about Nakoeru’s past identity. When you look at it, there are a lot of things that are making a fuss. This could have been something good.” Ayane was displeased at how the information was already too old.
Nakoeru. Rikuyoku’s Nakoru’s fans call her by “Nakoeru”. It’s probably a way to get closer to the angel. Even in her stream titles, it has it, so it seems that she grew a liking to it. Even when she greets her viewers, it already turned into “Koneru” with “eru” coming from her nickname.
“So pointless. She is obviously someone unrelated to Noa.”
“Why are you able to say that?”
“Because it’s me.” Gou answered with no confusion.
Seeing Mina tilt her head, Gou rattled on.
“Just saying that their voice matches is pointless. There are a mountain of examples to choose from for that trait. For Mukanae Noa, for her year of activities, I didn’t waste a single second on absorbing everything from her streams. If I, who knows everything on the back of my own hand, don’t think it’s Noa, then obviously she can’t be Noa. If she can trick the Noatomos into thinking she is Noa, then those Noatomos made a big mistake.” Gou scorned, almost like he wouldn’t accept Rikuyoku Nakoru without even giving a single glance.
“Oh, so it’s already about time….”
Gou looked at his wall clock, and what was written on there was just past 2.
“Huh? You’re already going to go out again? Didn’t you just return?”
“I said it to you. It’s for the sake of energy-saving.”
“But if we’re going to still be here, then that’s meaningless.” Ayane, casually, laid on his bed that has the most direct wind from the air conditioner.
“You make a good point. So hurry back home.”
“Hah~?”
After saying that, he once again turned his heel and picked up his bag and headed out. He didn’t even change out of his sweaty shirt, so why he returned back home is a mystery.
Mina, looking at it with aloof eyes …. Something seems fishy.
“What do you think about this, Ayane.”
“He has to be hiding something, hehehe.” Ayane felt mischievous.
“Right? This is the first time I’m hearing about power-saving. And in the first place, then why did he return back home after going out? It seems that he didn’t know that we entered summer break, and it doesn’t seem he returned back because he was worried about the electric bill…. Maybe he was going to eat the almond tofu, so that’s why he came back for a bit?”
“That can’t be right.”
“Dear Wife, are you worried about your dear husband’s actions?”
“No….. Hey, stop teasing me.” While Mina was flushed, she pokes Ayane’s stretched out legs.
“But, let’s talk serious, Karugo’s reaction to Nakoeru was pretty strange.”
“Ah, I agree. Ayane also thought that too?”
“Yeah. Isn’t he usually not the person to show any displeasure to Vtubers? Even though I did some idiotic things, even then he had supported me in the end.” Ayane scratched her cheeks embarrassingly.
Mina answered back. “That’s right.”
“But, when it comes to Nakoeru…. It was like he hates her.”
“……” Mina was shaking. Just what feeling does Gou have for Nakoru?
“If Karugo really hates Nakoeru….. Then it might be a sign that something is going to happen.”
“Why? What happened?”
Mina looked at Ayane in reliance. Ayane once again went for her showy smartphone.
“Nakoeru is in a middle of a real flaming. Ah, it’s not like it was because of her, but with her fans in the Nako Familia.”
“Flaming…” That word, Mina felt chills down her spine.
“Look at this. Just by searching Nakoeru in Twitter, I found it. There are many comments by the fans.”
Mina read very quickly. Using Togetter, a website that brings Twitter posts together, she was able to read what happened chronologically.
Togetter
It seems that many of Rikuyoku Nakoeru’s fans were scammed.
These kinds of things are occuring, and probably even more in the future. Self-protecting yourself is advised.
(The start of the tragedy)
□舞杏ギタ練習中@ mya5595
＃よふえる
Congratulations on reaching 100,000 subscribers!
In fact, is there even a bigger rookie than her in the V Matsuri????
□タコンプ@ningenman
@ mya5595
It’s going to be so explosive that it’s going to reach the China’s internet from here
□舞杏ギタ練習中@ mya5595
I agree lol But seeing her live makes me so happy
□タコンプ@ningenman
Right, for her appearance, I want to send something in congratulation
いのっす ラー民なこfam fn2mSkevolyoP4
@ fn2mSkevolyoP4 @ mya5595 @ningenman
NakoFam, if you were to give something collectively, what would it be?
□舞杏ギタ練習中@ mya5595
@ningenman @ fn2mSkevolyoP4
Exactly + the + issue
□ベぺんなこfam @ ppn227
Eh——- Nakofam! Why don’t we do a big flower stand? Although I say that, Ths is my first time doing this sort of thing so I ask for your cooperation. Please retweet. ＃りくろくなこる ＃なこFAM
(The problematic account appearance — right now that account is deleted)
□死神@ wEf5mwelvatpe4t
Hello. In regards to the flower stand, I would like to be in charge of it if you’d like.
□ベぺんなこfam @ ppn227
@ wEf5mwelvatpe4t
Is that fine?
死神@ wEf5mwelvatpe4t
@ ppn227
I’m used to sending things like flower stands. Contact the rest of the details in the DM.
(And then……）
□舞杏ギタ練習中@ mya5595
Impossible. I’m seriously exhausted.
Soon Nakoeru would be able to see what happened.
□ロゲンゴロウ太なこfam @ genzo1130
As a human, I’m done. It’s common for people to prey on people who just wanted to support. In just a moment we’ve become dumb. The management made no reactions. Speaking of which, the umbrella cover that I bought 5 months ago hasn’t been sent. The rainy season is already gone. Does the management have any will to do things? Ah, so much regret.
□タコンプ@ningenman
Nakorun, if she got sick from what we were planning…. If she has to pause her activities, I would hate it. （> _ <）
(Reactions from it)
口桃の節句S @ yaritainen7
＞rt He was obviously fishy. It seems that the person who orchestrated this disappeared, and succeeded this month too, and although I don’t know what occurred during the exchanges, it just goes to say don’t believe in people too easily lol lol If you’re going to be easily duped, then hurry up and go on Webercity and invest in yourself. Your qualifications won’t betray you, unlike like him!
□よさこ @yosako_byzforever
> rt Virtual pig4, easy mark, can’t believe they’re making a fuss
れすと@ RS4662tomo
@yosako_bz
Anyone could be duped. It has nothing to do with being a “virtual pig”. Let’s say you’re making a mystery present to your Oshi boy idol, then would you say that you won’t pay for it? The size of the communities doesn’t matter.
(Reference to Previous Life people too)
□アイピーノート@ib_note
Generic Noa…. Are you going to be burned too like her…?
□サリチルノア友もつ組@ sarichill3
It’s unreasonable for Nakoeru’s incident to be trending with Noa-chan. Why are there people wanting to dox about their Oshi past? To remember what happened in the past, it’s just cruel
□西園爺@SaienG
The curse of Noa’s ark.
Even in the Vtuber communities, similar to idols, fans give flower stands to congratulate them on their Oshi’s live—– As a custom, flower stands are given. Recently, it’s common practice to collect money through electronic service. The problem arose when collecting the money for the production of the flower stand.
The flowerstand that was going to be sent to Vtubers were adorned with fan arts, and plushies that were in the image of the Oshi were going to be with it. The flowerstand oozes out the love they have for their Oshi. But, there was a need for money to pay for it and the time for preparing it, and during the most important time for that, the “Shinigami” account had brilliantly disappeared after collecting the money.
He had escaped, while the fans didn’t know if the flower stand had actually been ordered to the makers.
The Nako Familia had tweeted their laments, “I got scammed,”. And then, even circled around other communities who became aware of it.
“Wouldn’t this be the kind of stuff that Karugo-san would be writing about on his blogs.”
“That’s right. So wouldn’t you think that Karugo could be the culprit?”
“What? Are you seriously thinking that?”
“I don’t want to believe it,” Ayane had a mysterious voice in her face. “Don’t you think that when he returned, he was going to write an article about it?” Ayane commented, while twirling part of her hair with her finger, while her eyes darted around.
Mina tilted her head. Although the truth of the incident is still unclear, it was an issue that concerned the topic of Noa’s soul.
“Just when I was going to write the article after coming back, I found these two people, and I was surprised! To appear midday during a weekday! Something like that. He was strangely irritated, and said things that weren’t right with gaining money. Like having no money, or even saying he’s gaining money.”
In Ayane’s head, horrible delusions couldn’t stop appearing in her head.
“If that is the case, then Karugo’s actions make sense. Even though he was going to write the article that he orchestrated himself, because we were there, he couldn’t do it. So, feeling guilty, he ran away.”
“No way. Karugo would never do a thing like this.”
“I hope that is the case.” Ayane was already half-convinced.
“Mina should know more about the life of exotic specimen Karugo than me. He is a pro at Vtuber flaming. Even without the person themselves flaming themselves, he has the power to flame someone. Like with Kagami Moa’s flaming.”
Mina was surprised. The reason for Kagami Moa’s flaming was because of Besasano’s hate speech
But if Rikuyoku Nakoru’s case was the same as Mina? If the management doesn’t do anything about it, if the fuse of the flaming head towards the fan, there is a possibility that Gou would do something for the fans.
But even then, Mina wants to believe in Gou.
“No way~….. I think you’re thinking too much into it. Karugo, especially, wouldn’t do such a thing.”
“But, look at the Twitter account.”
Ayane looked at the screen in her hand. Mina raised her eyebrow.
“What do you mean?”
“The name of the account that was erased…. It’s “Death God.”
4
A “Generic Noa”. That string of letters brings weight onto her heart.
At the very least, for an extinct Angel, wouldn’t a “Genocide” Noa be more appropiate for her? Maybe that’s a bit too much imagination from her middle school self. Or perhaps G Generation5 Noa. Or Regeneration Noa…. Maybe Justin Noa would have more impact. Just like the famed Pineapple Apple Pen, it could influence people.
Just like this, making mental discussions to herself, the one that is reflected on the glass window of the train car, had a dark expression on her face in the midst of the evening glow.
The birdcage that makes one’s heart at ease, otherwise known as a train car, is something that Nako liked.
The next stop is Futako Tamagawa, and the scenery of the Tama River hasn’t changed from looking from above. For a society that is built on moving for progressing and condemns standing still, there isn’t a better place than here to relax.
Society plunged Rikuyoku Nakoru into the ocean of the web and did as they pleased with commenting anything about her.
But, on the contrary, no one really had an interest in Rikuyoku Nakoru. Nor even herself, the soul behind the girl.
“Ah…..” Nako, soon, stroked the glass with her fingers.
The evening downpour suddenly stopped, and the light curtain was casted onto the Tama River from the rain clouds. Nako had her heart stolen by the guide of the light, and opened her eyes widely. That path of light was no doubt, some sort of revelation from the heavens.
Kagio Nako. That was her real name.
She graduated college 1 year and 4 months ago.
She didn’t last long at the company she entered, and she only joined it because it was the first one that accepted her application. Her time there could be summed up in one word: boring. Her parent’s reactions were not good when she reported about quitting. While spending some months with no productivity, she felt an overwhelming urge to do music like the band she participated in fervently during college.
One day, she wanted to raise her head high in the music industry with a music instrument in hand. It was a reckless thought she had. She had confidence in singing. In her band, she was in charge of the guitar and vocals. In the city private college she was in, in the famed-only-within school festival, she had considerable success. At the time, she did a lot of cover songs while playing and singing, but to be frank, she wanted to find her true self when doing it.
Since before, she liked to do creative works, such as drawing and writing.
Nako knew that there was no other glee to forget about reality, and live in that sweet time to immerse herself in a different world. Nowadays, the choice she selected for that, being a Vtuber, she finally lost confidence if what she chose was the right choice.
Leaving Futako Tamagawa, the train’s window leading towards Shibuya, immediately only had darkness in its sight.
The underground and overground borderline of the Den-en-Toshi Line. The route only suggests that there was only a dark world coming. The darkened window became a mirror and reflected herself.
This is reality, kid. — The dark world of Tokyo that was thrusted at her was starting.
3 months ago, for her resolution, resolutely cut her hair into a wolf cut, and surprisingly, it suited her. Although her real self has sunken eyes that have no affection that leads to people judging her badly like some suspicious person, a Vtuber luckily doesn’t have to deal with stuff like this. That said, her haircut is only merely a haircut.
But this wolf-cut is a charm to encourage herself. Nako was a wolf. Without making connections with other people, but yet she raised a worldview by herself. There was only one way for Nako to live through society. She wanted to show her worldview to others, to let people understand her through how she expresses herself.
That’s why, today, bravely, she told the management—–
“Hah…..” Nako hugged her head.
A throwback to the time at the office in Shibuya.
Recently, when she goes to the office for advice, it always ends as fruitless efforts. When she told her management to stop promoting her as Mukanae’s Noa’s soul, it was fruitless.
The reason why she wanted to be a Vtuber was because she wanted to express herself. And that, with the start of her activities, alongside being promoted as having ties with the already retired Vtuber, she had become famous……. She became famous, not out of choice.
When in regards to the issue, she had asked for advice from her Producer, Terai Hitoshi, and her Manager, Mera Kouki. But, the management had the end, had told her this.
“Isn’t it good that you’ve become famous?”
The long established Vtuber Group, Girl’s Memoria, were already colored in greed.
The only things they cared about was the numbers and popularity of their talents.
The current Rikuyoku Nakoru, is only seen as a “successor to Mukanae Noa” when needed by those who wish for it.
Her nickname is Generic Noa. It couldn’t be Genocide or Justin. Rikuyoku Nakoru had a string of letters as her nickname which doesn’t even relate to her in the slightest. For pity points, the “ri” and “ku/c” part of Generic is the only thing that connects to Rikuyoku. Only those two characters.
That Angel Vtuber that she created was Nako’s way of proving herself. But her efforts were described in just those two words.
She knows well that a Vtuber doesn’t care about the personal parts of the soul. The soul is a soul and a Vtuber is a Vtuber. In her training, this had been thoroughly taught to her.
But, if a soul is irrelevant, then what is the point of her? Just like the fans worried remarks, if Rikuyoku Nakoru forcibly had to quit her activities, then what is left for the soul, Kagio Nako?
ーーー The generic Noa had finally died too, they’ll tweet that and end it like that.
Probably even “generic” is already old-news. Including Generic, Genocide, Regen, Justin even, anything she generated.
Her train of thoughts were already short-circuited.
As the Den-en-Toshi-Line runs through the darkness, she prays for the moment to come faster, the moment that the train leaves the dark world. It can’t be helped, she hung her head low, and pretended to sleep.
But, when the day reaches night, the world would be covered in darkness anyways. The chills that coiled around her, not leaving, made her attitude even more worse.
Swaying. The train car was swaying. The automatic four-corners ark was swaying largely.
For the Rikuyoku Nakoru who can’t escape from the shadows of Noa, the ark won’t become the vessel that her thoughts could ride on.
Another way of calling it is an automatic moving thing. On top of that, a boat isn’t as comfortable as a train. An unpleasant boat that is influenced by opinions of others, swaying and raging waves. It was just like as if it was —–
“The Curse of Noa’s Ark”
She remembers the lines of words.
Was she that alike to her? Did she really resemble her?”
She had not a single lick of knowledge about her nemesis, Noa,
If you know your enemy and know yourself, in a hundred battles you will never be defeated. She wants to hear about Noa from a person who knows her best. Before she knew it, Nako started to look it up with her phone. In today’s society, SNS is basically like the yellowpage to someone’s backyard.
“Ah, this person?” And then she became known to a person’s name. “Karugo…… Is his name.”
It was an account that hasn’t been active for a year. He must have disappeared with the graduation of his Oshi. In the header, there was a picture of a lively live stage with a light on it.
Finally, after pondering, Nako tapped the DM button on his profile.
Nako was the personification of “taking actions”.
“… Hm,” For a moment, a sudden chill ran throughout her body. There was an intense glare from somewhere.
Nako rolled her neck, and looked at both sides of the train car.
The chills continued to stick with her on the way home.
5
It’s been 5 days since summer break started.
Mina held a cushion in a fixed position in the corner of the room, and sat on the edge of the bed as a backrest. She was wearing earphones, and preparing to watch the latest trending cover video. On the other hand, she found herself watching the back of Gou many times who was facing the computer screen.
Gou was hitting the keyboard, putting characters onto the screen in a not-busy manner.
It’s the regular scenery. Despite being the same space, no interference on either side. These peaceful times are what Mina enjoys.
But, she also wants to push her self-confidence in this leisure time and move one step forward with him. She wants to make obvious the real form of the many extraordinary feelings that she receives from Gou. Playing with the tips of her blonde hair, putting onto the back of her ear, and moving away from reality.
Should she call out Gou?—- Why don’t we go out somewhere together? Things like that.
Mina peeked out of the window. It was already dim outside. Even though the sounds of the cicadas are annoying. How about enjoying the features of summer, why not go out to eat something tonight? If she could give Gou the chance to have a change of pace…..
Fortunately, Mina’s mother is supportive, better or for worse, of her daughter’s heterosexual relationships.
Thirty years ago, England was in the midst of a party boom and it was a time of freedom, and at that time, her mother, who was the same age as Mina was now, frequently participated in home parties and street parties held day after night in her hometown of Oxted.
Her mom was considered as a beautiful woman, and was the belle of the party of sixth form prom.
Now when she thinks about it, the chill Lofi music that is often used in streams for working in Youtube, it was the birth of the goddess of that era: electronic music. For someone like Gou who is addicted to SNS, he might need that kind of healing music, Mina had deliberated.
With that, making use of her abilities, home-made food to chill around, making that reverie of a time even for a bit —-
Resolutely, Mina stood up.
“That’s it! Let’s chill!”
Raising her fist in an instant, Mina. Gou, seeing that from his side, immediately went back to working.
Mina, discouraged, moved towards the kitchen, and conveniently took out the vegetables from the refrigerator.
She took out a large amount of potatoes. It seems that he bought it the other day as a large quantity in a bargain sale. Luckily, he had meat and onions too. Although it was a shame that shirataki noodles weren’t inside his fridge, after all it’s not common, but it was just enough to make nikujaga.
Putting on Lofi Chill Hip Hop on her smartphone, she started to efficiently prepare the food with her nice
Fun fun fun. She was humming to herself without noticing. To avoid people’s eyes, she practiced indoor work, so making food was her speciality.
Imagining the image of Gou enjoying her hard work, she naturally had a grin on her face.
“Bon appetit~”
The nikujaga was made in 30 minutes, and the mirin sauce that glittered on the meat and meat made it look like gold nuggets that were secretly dug up at the boundaries. It’s something that she could be proud of.
“Karugo-san, would you like to partake in some nikujaga with me and chill?”
Mina cradled the dish of gold nuggets, and looked into the room. Gou raised an eyebrow.
“What the hell is ‘chill’?”
“Don’t you say it? That’s so chill, like that.”
“Don’t make up weird Japanese on the top of your head.”
“No, it’s a common thing to say! It was in a commercial.”
“Do you see a TV in this room?”
“Even on advertising on website too—”
“Those websites that have those advertisements only show up on the recommendations page of cheery people. Unfortunately, I’m nothing like them.”
There is something in him that feels irritated, Mina felt.
Noticing Mina’s face change, Gou mended his attitude feeling guilty.
“…… Ah no, I didn’t mean to be prickly. I don’t hate Nikujaga. It just so happens that I’m pretty hungry.” Gou stood up from his seat, and looked at his wall clock. The shorthand was pointing to 8.
“Is there something wrong?”
“A certain Vtuber’s stream is going to start.”
“Eh?” Mina widened her eyes. It’s a different issue if he was saying it as someone who likes Vtubers, but when Gou said it, it was sharp like a sword. It was because he was Ararat Kazan. “…… Should I leave my seat?”
When Mina said it, she regretted it. If he worked together with the next target Vtuber, then there might be something lost in exchange for that. That is, the connection between her and Gou.
But, surprisingly, Gou suggested something that she didn’t think of.
“Why don’t we look at it together?”
“….” Mina’s eyes had a brilliance that was even more than the gold nuggets. “Let’s watch it.”
She returned to the living space, and Gou, who was moving his monitor, was the only thing in Mina’s eyes.
“………. The distance is somewhat close.”
“You think so?”
Feeling Gou’s shoulder stiffen from close contact with her arm, Mina was so happy that he was recognizing her existence. However, when she saw the actual distribution screen, she was pulled back to reality.
“…. Isn’t this Nakoeru…”
“Rikuyoku Nakoru. It seems that tonight too is a another guitar short live.”
“Tonight, too?”
“She often has guitar streams.” Gou said naturally.
Just how is he feeling when viewing the Vtuber who has a very similar voice to Noa? She felt that the homey feeling of making the home-made gold nuggets was stolen by her.
When the stream started, a loading screen kept going on. The deformed chibi was waving her wings, then fell down, and then again got back up and flapped her wings. That was the loading screen.
The chat log on the other hand was writing “waiting” in their comments.
It was like last week’s scammed incident didn’t happen, and the fan’s state didn’t change. But, the loading screen was very long this time. It took 10 minutes for the screen to change since the original start, and then the prelude suddenly started.
○She came!!
○ Tears…. Tears
○Koneru!
○ I’ve waited so looooong
○First time viewer
○[ ¥1220 Congrats on the Silver Platform and the appearance at V Matsuri! I’ve became known of Nakoeru during the Tanabata Night Sky Recital! I’ve became attracted to your singing voice, and will keep cheering you! I’m waiting for the live happily!】
○You guys really watch fake lives a lot huh
Fans, who realized that the stream started, sent out their voices immediately.
Mina couldn’t concentrate on the stream. Sitting next to her, Gou had a complex face arising on his face, like it was ferocious. He didn’t look like he was there to have fun.
To have this much resentment, and sullenly watching the stream, is there any viewer like this other than him?
Different from Gou’s attitude, a beautiful voice came into the speakers.
It was the prelude to a certain vocaloid song. The melody was a little slow. It was from the reputed Yurufuwa Move. It was a song selection full of melancholy that shook the emotions of viewers. Until Nakoru finished singing, the viewers were sending out heart, music notes, and angel emojis as cheering.
When the song ended with the silence, Rikuyoku Nakoru finally showed up.
“Nako Familia, it’s a pleasurable day. I am Rikuyoku Nakoru, the last regret of the extinct Angel.”
Tonight, the [Guitareru@Short Version] singing stream will start. With that, I and my companion, Gitaeru, will serenade you.”
○Uwoaaaaaaaaah
○ 8888888888
○From straight from the opening it’s emotional
○【¥3000 Ticket price】
○I felt emotional
○This is healing my tiredness from working
○Your singing got even more god-like
○You don’t bring shame to the name of Girl.A.Mentoria the queen of singing
After the beginning, the number of simulcast viewers was over 3,000.
Even though the tweet of the start of the stream just happened, just in little time, it’s still increasing.
Her voice when singing and talking, the tone and manner of speaking is so different. It’s like how Noa did her streams. Mina, gulped and watched over. Making a side glance to Gou to see how his reaction is while watching the stream—
“The human world is in the height of summer huh. Just how many more naps till it becomes August. Are you enjoying summer?”
○ When you talk about enjoying summer, it’s today
○ Watching from my parent’s home
○Nakorun, watch your health!
“Hm, In the human world, when it becomes August, it’s the “Obon” timing right? According to angel trivia, Obon is when the ancestors return to the world, and spend 4 splendid days there. Actually I too, the other day, looked at the river, and saw the bridge of my Angel in the crevices of the cloud. Do you know of the Angels Ladder?
○That’s great
○ Other Name: God’s Light (God Ray)
“When I saw that, I felt nostalgic of my former world of Heaven, and then I felt sentimental. When it becomes this season, I want to see my old fallen friends, those kinds of feelings come up.”
○Fallen friends?
○The 2nd and 3rd Nakoeru?
○Why do angels immediately die?
○New member incoming
○The Angel’s Ladder, or also known as crepuscular rays is one of Tyndall’s phenomena, and the particles of light refracts and become the phenomenon of seeing lights diagonally.
○There is someone using Wikipedia
○ Nostalgic? First clue?
○A foreshadowing to a heavenly-type Vtuber coming?
○ Coming back to the world (Ah, something is going on) My fallen friends (ahhhhh)
○ If those fallen angels could help protect Nakoeru’s activities that would be nice
○Don’t say about your fallen previous identity
Mixed into the Nakofamilia comments there is obviously a different power in play in the shadows.
Mina felt a disturbing presence, and held onto Gou’s arm. Whether he felt displeased, he was always staring at the Angel with a glare.
“………” Suddenly, she stopped MCing. And then, a gulp sound.
From then on, there was silence. For the singing stream, there was to be no regular stream BGM, so it was unbearably quiet. The viewers too, who posted in off-tempo messages, gradually all came to know of the weird situation.
○ I should go grave visiting again
○ Hm?
○What’s going on?
○What about some ancestral spirit, you’re Noa-san why does it matter
○ She isn’t moving?
○Ah, so it wasn’t just me
○ Could it be all the spirits are now watching the stream
○ The PC I’m using should be fine
○ Is Nakoeru moving in the screen?
○ Don’t bring up other Vtuber names, have some manner
Gradually it turned into a disordered chat. In the Live2D, there is a setting that the body can move without the usage of tracking. But, that natural movement when put on an avatar without her speaking, gives it an eerie atmosphere and unnaturalness.
○ Is there something wrong with the internet connection?
○ She is on mute
○ She was brought back to heaven
○ Are you……. Going to disappear?
The 3000 viewers had finally noticed a blunder in the stream. The Familia were fervently sending messages of angry whining, just like a baby wanting attention from its mother.
“What is going on with her?” Mina asked.
“Look at it carefully. There is a subtle change in the angle of the face. It means that the soul is watching this.”
“So, does that mean that she’s on mute?”
“No,” Gou narrowed his eyes, watching the course of the event. Gou stayed silent, but Mina grew impatient.
About 8 minutes passed since Nakoru closed her mouth.
Unable to bear with the situation, the viewers left. In an instant, 2000 viewers left.
Right then, finally opened her mouth, there was movement in the eyes again.
“I’m sorry,” Just saying that, Nakoru restarted the stream like nothing had happened.”Now then, this will be the last song.”
○ Hah? The last?
○ Okaeru!
○ What’s going on, why?
○ What’s up?
○ Wait just a moment lololol this is way too short lol
○ Set list, 2nd song, (DONE!)
○ lol
○ nope.. Is it really over yet
○This is the form of the great archangel Nakoeru
“I will sing regret-san, [Endroll Stabilizer].”
Ignoring the flood of comments that commented on the situation from in and out of the country, Rikuyoku Nakoru started to strum her guitar.
She showcased her pride, her singing voice. A superb singing that hides what happened.
When she finished singing, giving sloppy thanks to those who sent over superchats, forgetting to request her usual from the fan to tell their impression, and ended the stream like she was running away. Her die-hard viewers just calmly sent, “Otsueru~” and said their goodbyes, but more than half were still going crazy.
“So that’s how it is.” Gou let out a breath like he was fed up.
“So that’s how it is? What do you mean?”
Mina was irritated, and before she realized it, she had already eaten most of the nikujaga by herself.
“I understand the true character of Rikuyoku Nakoru.”
“Are you talking about the successor to Noa-chan rumor?”
“Didn’t I reject that too earlier?” You don’t believe me, Gou said in discontent.
“It doesn’t need to be said, she isn’t Mukanae Noa at all. What I want to say is, why Nakoru has to be the stand-in to her.”
”…..” Mina was bewildered, took a glance at the stream that had already ended a while ago. Did she feel “Noa” at the strange stream with that incident?
Mina looked at Gou, and remembered what happened one year ago.
Noa had a streaming style where she smiled gladly at her viewers, with bottomless positivity. On the other hand, Nakoru’s stream was based with an importance on healing her audience. The only relationship between them is the voice. Although there are viewers who are crazy about the reincarnation theory, there was no one who thought that Nakoru herself wanted to become the substitute Noa.
“Um….. Karugo-san, are you thinking it’s not a good thing for Nakoeru to become Noa-chan?……”
Mina remembered the attitude that Gou had when they were watching the stream.
“Yeah. She doesn’t have a chance to become the stand-in to Mukanae Noa. She shouldn’t be.”
“There’s no one who thinks that. Probably, even Nakoeru too.”
“I wonder, myself. What does she really feel about all this.”
Gou closed the Youtube application on his PC, and then opened the Twitter application. It was Ararat Kazan Twitter feed. Mina felt her heartbeat going fast when she felt that he was trying to show her something out of his own will, despite shoulder hacking him. Gou pressed the icon of his account and changed the account. “Karugo@Noa’s Fan”, the account that died one year ago.
“That account…”
Despite Mina’s confusion, Gou’s hand still hasn’t stopped moving the mouse. He opened the direct message from Rikuyoku, and then a message from Rikuyoku Nakoru message showed up.
Leaning on Gou’s shoulder, Mina looked at the message.
Good evening. I’m sorry for the sudden message. I am Rikuyoku Nakoru from Girl.A.Mentoria. By the way, I am the person behind her. When I wanted to know about Mukanae Noa-san, I found you in my search. Even when I search up about Noa-san, the searches are bombarded with only about the flaming that happened last year, and any information about her activities before that, any information about what was popular about her, and her Youtube, Instagram, and PixivFanbox were closed, so there isn’t any information flying by. If possible, can we talk? I want to know more about Noa before the event. If you see this message, I would be very happy if you would reply to this.”
It wasn’t towards Ararat Kazan, but a message towards Noa’s Fan Karugo.
Mina, secretly, checked if Gou had replied. There was no message that continued the chain.
Gou shrugged, checking Mina’s reaction.
“Is this really the real person..?”
“Yeah.”
Mina, feeling bewildered, felt stuck in her words. Although it was surprising that Nakoru would contact Karugo, just when looking at the message, it is clear that Nakoru is researching about Noa.
“Mina, I have a request to ask of you.” Gou asked Mina, while having wisdom-full eyes.
“Huh?” Facing each other for a moment. “….. Ah, you want me to talk to Nakuru?”
“Exactly that.”
“Huh, why does it have to be me? She sent this message to you, Karugo-san!”
Mina was flustered, flapping her arms left and right denying. Gou pointed at her with his index finger, and she stopped in her movement.
“You too, are a Noatomo.”
“Well, that’s right. But even more so you should….!”
To continue this denial at this stage, she became an idiot.
For her personally, she would hate to see Nakoru and Gou connect with each other. It seems that Gou also thought of the same.
“You see, I have nothing to do with being on the side of Vtubers. Mina was a former Vtuber, so there should be no problem with connecting with her. But even for that, this girl did without hesitation contact a normal person who isn’t a Vtuber.” Oh dear, Gou brushed his bangs. As Mina thought, there was some sort of thorniness behind the words of Gou.
“Karugo-san, just what you going to do about Nakoeru?”
“That depends on Mina’s report.”
Mina felt the blood leave her body quickly.
No way, Gou was going to flame Nakoru, right? Gou had saved this many Vtubers, created a flaming incident, and altogether saved them. But, all that was based on hind-sight opinions. Could it be his true character was—-
Mina, panicky, shook her head, trying to make the bad delusions disappear.
Gou had indifferently, covered the lid of his past Twitter account, and had changed to what is known as Ararat Kazan known today.
Mina, looking at him, said.
“….. I understand. I will be in charge of talking to Nakoeru.”
6
When Mina spoke with Rikuyoku Nakoru on Discord in a voice call, Nako, upon realizing that she was talking to a highschool girl, dropped all guards, and asked if they could meet face to face.
After pondering, the result was making a condition that Ayane could also sit in, and Nako had comfortably given permission. Generously, she will treat them to whatever they liked at a nearby cafe.
Mina, even before they met face to face, had felt a good impression from Nako.
Since leaving the South exit of the Harajuku station, Ayane was already bursting into a conversation in high tension. Even though it was distracting, Mina was worried about what was to come.
The other person was the soul behind the up-and-coming rising Vtuber Rikuyoku Nakoru. The real person behind her.
She was in Girls.A.Mentoria, a famous and big branch in the industry, and she didn’t think she had the power to talk about Noa enough to satisfy her.
This part of her was cute. That part of her was the best. Mukanae Noa is good.
She didn’t think that an emotional argument from a fan with her IQ melted could be enough to satisfy Nakoru.
For that sake, Mina had written down in her iPhone Memo app of the accomplishment of Noa since the start to when the flaming ended, the trending videos, and the special parts of her live appearance; she had all kinds of information stored.
Under the blazing sun of August, they were waiting under the clock for Nako to come, talking about what is to come. The side of the comfy Angel that can’t be seen in the Youtube streams, and after, what kind of talk should they start with.
“And after that, in the last scene, Mashiki-kun’s acting was so good that I rewinded it, and as I thought, the talking was too hard, that I don’t really understand it so I thought about quitting or not quitting. But since I have already watched the 6th episode, I’m hoping that in the end I’m going to be able to watch it not in 1.5 speed but 1.75 speed!”
Her last ray of hope, the Cat Prime Minister who is going to help her, was talking about a drama that she is watching at 2x speed on TVer, Kiritani Ayane. Ayane, the girl who chases after trends, drinks contents like it’s water fast. Fundamentally, it’s fundamental for her to watch drama at 2x speed. Ayane, who is controlling her world’s time at her will, her classmates also call her this. —- the 2x Devil.
That 2x Devil vs the Slow-speaking Extinct Angel, can they keep up in a conversation?
In the worst case, this stroke of luck would distort space time and disrupt the laws of the universe.
In other words, the event horizon. Mina was already dizzy from thinking.
Speaking of which, Mina realized.
Even Ayanokouji Neiko, Rikuyoku Nakoru, had easily prominent titles. The Cat Prime Minister. The Extinct Angel. On the other hand, Kagami Moa had no real concept. After all, Canada and New Zealand, who were miles apart. If she had a title, an extinct bird that serves as a talisman? As a talisman, she would be a failure.
“Hm.. *cough*….. Hello.” Over there was the chirping of the Angel.
Her heartstrings were strung tightly. Mina raised her face, and left it up to the guts to speak.
“He- Hello.”
“Hello~ Pretty lady, are you Nakoeru?” With a silly face, Ayane answered smoothly. “Eh, I’m overwhelmed. Your hairstyle is so adorable. And your height is high, that’s so nice. And your fingers are slender, it’s so beautiful.” Ayane smoothly pointed out the person’s good traits.
“U…. Maybe? Thank you. You are so stylish, and you are so cute.” Nako, upon seeing the Reiwa Era girl out worldly wisdom, bewilderedly answered back.
“Eh~. That makes me happy. Hehe.” Ayane had a carefree smile appear on her face.
Ayane had poke into the truth of her with her praises.
Rikuyoku Nakoru’s soul is slender and is tall, the figure of a model. Her hairstyle is an adult-like wolf cut, but a child-like face that is still reminiscent of youth. Her skin was very pale, and felt like she emits a fleeting atmosphere. As a result, she doesn’t have an intimidating presence. The voice that reminds of bells, and alongside the favorable impression that would be seen from anyone, it stir up a desire to protect. The misfortunate beauty. That nickname fits her perfectly.
“But above all, calling me Nakoeru in this kind of place is a bit worrisome……. Call me Nako instead.”
That is my real name, Nako supplied.
That closeness made Mina wavered.
“Okay, I’m calling you Nakochi. My name is Ayane. And then this girl is Mina.”
“Chi? Nakochi?” Nako was immediately surprised. Then she looked at Mina, who was curled up like a timid small animal.
“Well, that’s fine. So you’re Mina-san.”
“Ye-Yes. Calling me Mina is fine.” A harmless self-introduction.
After that, as promised, Nako paid for their food at a nearby cafe, and taking out their takeouts they walked towards the nearby Yoyogi park. The three of them settled down on a bench under the shade of a tree.
“I didn’t think that the rumored Karugo-san would have two beautiful girlfriends, how lucky he is.” Nako said out of the blue.
“Ahaha, that makes me laugh. A girlfriend of the exotic animal Karugo. That white hair, I can’t handle it.”
“Exotic animal… white hair…” Nako imagined the divine appearance exotic beast Karugo. He had to be a four-footed animal.
“But you know, Mina has been taking care of him for a long time, right~?”
“Really?” Nako’s eyes grew even larger, and looked at Mina.
“Eh… No, you see, it’s not like I’m special or anything….” Mina, blushing, curled her shoulder, and gradually casted her eyes down.
“…… Ah, I think I understand.”
“Right. Nakochi, it’s just like that.”
What do you think? The beautiful girl who holds foreign blood in her and how she panics. It’ll become a habit. ——–Ayane, who said as if it was like that, smiled. Nako still imagined an aristocratic fluffy four footed animal being played around with a Western lady.
“Ayane, what do you mean by ‘it’s just like that’? On top of that, Karugo-san has basically no interest in me. Because there is still someone he thinks about till now like unrequited love.”
Pretending to be stubborn, Mina fanned her face with her handkerchief.
That was the main topic. Nako put her elbow on the table and pushed herself forward.
“Yeah, his Oshi. Mukanae Noa.”
“Yes.”
Mina already thought of Rikuyoku Nakoru as her friend.
Once she gets herself in the mode, Mina is also Noatomo Mina. The interview in this tranquil Yoyogi Park is going to either bring silence to the electronic sea or cause a flood.
When she is going to report to Gou, she will fervently persuade on how the soul behind Rikuyoku Nakoru is such a good person, and how pure her heart is just like how her voice is. In regards to Rikuyoku Nakoru, she showed an indignant attitude, in order to ease the heart of Gou.
“…… So, first off, what is it that you want to know about Noa-chan?” Mina, taking the first move, asked. Nako lowered her eyebrow.
“Well, first of…. To answer, I think I should let you know my reputation on the internet. Actually, as much as possible, I didn’t want to touch on the issue of Mukanae Noa. For me, it became like a meme that smears a reputation that has nothing to do with me. At that point, I’m at my limits dealing with that.” Nako looked down and talked about it.
Mina wanted to yell out “So it was about that!”. Because Mina’s interpretation was right.
“I have seen that on the net. How Nako-san is being called on the internet.”
“You’re talking about ‘Generic Noa’, right?”
“Yes.”
Nako smiled in self-mockery. “If only Justin was chosen.” When hearing that, Ayane excitedly laughed.
“This is only a talk between us, but the producer of mine said it’s fine to leave it like that. If it makes me popular, why not follow the train. But, Noa who had been flamed and retired, had been at the time attacked hard, and led to reputational damages. But I don’t want to be seen with such a false reputation.” Nako drank up her lemonade.
“There are some words in the past, right? If you know your enemy and know yourself, in a hundred battles you will never be defeated. And, that. A wise man stays away from danger. The reason why I want to know about Noa is to have risk prevention. To stay far away from her. That’s why I asked you to come. The Noatomo.”
“…… The conversations about past lives, in the Vtuber community, it’s something that happens often.”
“Is that the case?”
Nako’s knowledge of Vtuber history is very shallow. Before she debuted, it was something that she hadn’t really seen. The atmosphere of fans isn’t as bright as Gou, Mina, and even Ayane.
Mina nodded in agreement and continued.
“In the Vtuber community, don’t ask about the previous identity, is an unspoken rule. Those who are talking about the previous identity, they are not really people who are fervently searching for them, just for play. Of course, touching the soul is a taboo.”
That is the unwritten laws for Vtuber fans.
There was something that Mina noticed when she started as a Vtuber. Because they are not allowed to deal with the fans, there is no one who can protect the soul. Even if they receive horrible treatment from the management, they can only cry themselves to sleep and accept the situation. On the other hand, even if the outside people are gossiping about them, the companies can protect the Vtuber, but not the people inside.
Of course, for indie Vtubers, self-defense is important.
If only there was a Hero who will protect the gap between the soul and the avatar, Mina wished.
“I see. I’m still a greenhorn, and there are still a lot of things to learn. Then, you, who are Noa’s former fans, do you really care about my existence? When speaking about me, hearing Noa’s name, are all those people the power behind the flaming?”
“That isn’t….”
The first person she remembered was Karube Gou.
He, who was always with a cool attitude, when he was at his weakest, he had prayed “Noa-chan, I want to see you,” to the point he was tearing up, and still continuing on his love for Mukanae Noa. Just saying this made her heart hurt. He was the more serious example of fans. —- And his feelings were disturbed by the existence of Rikuyoku Nakoru.
“You see, there is something scary that’s been happening around me.”
Nako said with her voice lowered. Mina’s eyes widened.
“When you mean by scary, what do you mean?”
“I feel like someone is following after me. The first time, I thought it was just my imagination, but when I went out in the streets, the feeling of being watched never disappeared. Staring at me with hatred.”
Mina and Ayane, without thinking, turned to look at each other.
Nako looked around, and continued speaking while exposing her anxiety.
“This wasn’t a one time thing or a two time thing. Right when I go outside, I can feel that someone is already watching me. Although it hasn’t been a long time since I started this is my first time experiencing this. I did do a band during my school years, but this feeling is different. Could it be a stalker……” Nako, suddenly, stopped in her words.
“Ah, I’m sorry. This talk isn’t something I should talk about with minors. But, if Rikuyoku Nakoru is a target, I have no idea how they even doxxed me. That’s what is the scariest part of this. Could it be that this fan is a radical fan of mine, or could the fan be from Noa….. Or could it be someone who has nothing to do with the Vtuber. But, there is a chance for me to be able to have countermeasures for myself based on who they are.” Nako said admirably. But, there was a small sweat on her forehead.
Ayane wore a difficult face, and in 2x speed was imagining several events.
On the other hand, Mina felt her ears hurt. If only this was only a misunderstanding.
“Recently, it’s been a hindrance in my streams too….” Nako said while in fear, confided.
“When I find people making allusions to Noa, I immediately remember that feeling that I receive on the streets. It’s not like they can see my real appearance through my Vtuber in my streams, and in my streams, there are many people listening in, whether they are strangers, liking every one of my words. And them liking everything regardless is what is scary. Like if I say something out of my character, they’ll be able to dox me, or incite my stalker unintentionally. Even in my singing stream the other day, I couldn’t even do it well enough.”
That 8 minutes of silence was trying to fight off her fears.
As a female Vtuber having that worries, Mina and Ayane too, knows of the worries that come with it, when you’re being surrounded with such viewers. The streamers aren’t only fighting off their antis, but also themselves.
“Nakochi… That is absolutely the kind of mentality that means that you take a break.”
“Yeah. The person that I am right now is such a shitty fodder.”
“For now, take a break. And then retire.”
“I…. Don’t want to retire.”
“Why?”
For Ayane, Nako wasn’t only the soul behind the Vtuber at her very zenith of popularity, but also her real-life friend.
“If I stop my activities, then that’s like me waving my white flag. On the contrary, the stalker would think that he can control me. Also, I can’t let a thing like this stop me in my way. I became a Vtuber for my sake. Because I’m a misfit for society. I want to let the people, who were tilting their heads on my words, know who I am through these activities. That my world isn’t wrong.”
Hearing thought, Mina gradually felt warmth coming into her eyes.
Mukanae Noa’s flaming was still the root to all evil in this. That disaster, even if they don’t know what happened during that time but still pushing their view that they are the same because their voices are similar, and spreaded the hatred to Vtubers like Rikuyoku Nakoru.
What came to Mina’s head was Karube Gou. Someone who knows deeply about the pain of flaming despite being on the outer edges of the Vtuber world as a fan. Gou also knew of those depressing memories.
Mina noticed Ayane, who was trying to single her with her eyes.
Although it seems that she was putting all her efforts into telling her intention, Mina had no idea what Ayane wanted to tell by her eye signals. Mina, exaggeratedly, tilted her neck. Running out of patience, Ayane gave up.
“Well, if you are resolved in it, then go for it. We’ll be cheering you on in your endeavors, Nakochi.” Ayane gave a smile and held onto Mina’s hand.
“I’ll tell you later,” Ayane whispered to Mina in a low voice.
“If it’s about Rei-chan, she was my Oshi from the same Hoshigaoka High School’s group, I can talk ages about that. If it’s about Noa-chan, Mina knows best, right?”
“Ye-Yeah,” Mina took out her iPhone and brought up the Meo app. “If this can help you even in the slightest of way, Nako-san.”
“Thank you. It’s like, I made my first Vtuber friends.”
“Ahaha, we have already retired once. When we reincarnate, I hope you’ll support us.” The hands that were clasped together were exaggeratedly being waved around. Seeing the amiable friendship, Nako had a smile on her face unknowingly.
“If it’s the two of you, I’m sure you’ll be popular.”
Afterwards, Ayane smoothly started the conversation about Noa.
7
After separating with Nako, Mina and Ayane were on their way home.
They rode on the same train car, and while having their shoulders touching, they were looking at the view outside.
The blue sky, the electric lines, and formation of the clustered buildings. After switching to the Saikyo Line, the amount of passengers was sparse.
“Mina.” Ayane called her out in stealth.
“Yeah.”
“Nakochi’s story, isn’t that crazy?” What Ayane was referring to was the stalker issue.
Mina, as expected, knew what Ayane wanted to say.
“My deduction part 2!….. Though without saying it you knew.”
“You mean about Karugo-san?”
It’s reasonable to think the reason for Gou’s often disappearance is that he is following after Nako.
Ayane nodded.
“The reason why he sent you and me out is probably so that Nakochi doesn’t realize his identity as the one following after. When the stalker is revealed, they’ll be taken away and arrested.”
“Do you think that Karugo-san is the stalker?”
“Of course, I don’t want to think that. But you see, have you read Ararat Kazan’s blog? The blog that is used for flaming Vtubers, the pointless blog.”
“It’s a blog that protects Vtubers. Haven’t you forgotten Neiko’s article?”
While having a difficult expression, Ayane shook her head.
“I haven’t forgotten. Of course, I am grateful. But it’s not different from flaming. It is a fact that Mina and I were saved because of his writing. But, how about the articles he wrote before ours?”
Mina couldn’t say anything back.
“Since a year since Noa-chan retired, he has been writing all-year-long writing about Vtuner flaming articles and spreading gossip. To say it frankly, that is insane. What I’m most afraid about is the exotic animal’s obsession. Just because his Oshi flamed, what is so fun about it? Setting off a timebomb on the net, and waiting for it to explode, even he has done that kind of action only for enjoyment. Here and there this whole year. And now, the appearance of Generic Noa! Oh, I’ll just be a stalker and that’ll be fine. He could say.”
This is the first time that they have different views. The problem is that there was no room to object. Mina, possibly, has overlooked the most important part of the human called Karube Gou.
“Even if that could be the case,” Mina gulped. “There is a way to stop him. Karugosan, surely when it comes to Noa, he loses all distinction. But when I first met Karugo-san, I didn’t think that there would be such a nice person. I still think that now… I’m sure if we talked more, even if he is doing it because he hates Nako-san, I’m sure that he would understand that it is all a mistake.”
Surely Ayane is mistaken, Mina would add.
“Mina….” Ayane, touching her chest in relief, is touched by Mina’s resoluteness.
“I see. If you’re going to say that, then there is only one thing.”
Ayane, taking advantage of their zealish friendship, blasted into her words.
“Go confess to Karugo.”
“Hah? Wh-What What are you saying suddenly…”
Mina, in a panic, surveyed the area.
Thank god that there weren’t a lot of people, Mina gently stroked her chest in relief.
“I mean, if we have to stop Karugo’s rampage, then he’ll only calm down with Mina, don’t you think? Are you ok with always being on the losing side to Noa-chan?” Ayane said happy-go-lucky.
“No way no way, don’t you think it’s too fast?”
“To bring back a lover who went rogue, it’s always the power of true love. Well, that appears in manga a lot and is always emotional.”
“Why do our conversations always turn to manga?”
“But you’re not denying that you’re in love with him, right?” Ayane grinning silly.
“Stop, stop it, ok.” Mina, her cheeks getting hot, hid it with one arm and looked the other way.
If only it was already evening. Unfortunately, the blue sky was there in the windows, and exposed Mina’s cheeks mercilessly.
“If you’re going to say that, Ayane too.” Mina fought back.
“What about me?”
“Just before Neiko’s retirement stream, you were looking at Karugo-san.”
“Ah~ That. That happened. Ahaha!” Ayane said that Mina was misunderstanding and flew away with a smile, and looked up at the ceiling. And once again faced Mina.
“…. Was it revealed?”
“Eh…?”
“Aw~ Although it’s difficult to deal with pessimistic guys like Karugo, the yandere side to him is very charming. He is like a UR in a Gacha, and that’s cute as well~”
“….. You’re lying.”
“Yup, I’m serious.” Ayane sticked out her tongue playfully.
“Ayane, could it be that about Karugo-san, you li-li-li-”
“Yeah, I think I like him. Ah, oh no. Whenever I say something, I think I will like him more. Certainly, there are many times I look at him. Ah, that’s right. Let’s do this. If a beautiful girl like me uses her full power I’m sure I will be able to enchant him. With that, Nakochi will be saved, and everyone will be happy.”
Saying that, Ayane pulled out her smartphone, and pressed LINE——
“No, you can’t!”
Mina, in a panic, held Ayane’s arm. Realizing how much of it was a foolish act, she immediately was surprised.
When she looked up, Ayane had a smile on her face.
“Hah, you planned this didn’t you.” Mina, feeling her eyes go around in circles.
“Even if I did plan this, if we don’t do anything, nothing will be done. Nakochi will be troubled after all. If Karugo drops to the deepest of hell, then we can save her. Will this be the time for Mina to save them? The troubled Vtubers.”
Ayane’s words thrusted into her heart.
When Mina was first saved, she thought of him out of her own will as a Dark Hero who was born from the darkness of the internet society. And that’s when she fell in love. No, to speak frankly, even before he dropped into the dark side she had already fallen in the hole hard.
An impulsive love that was absolutely unrequited.
That feeling was destroyed by Mina’s nature of being the underdog. After seeing Gou after one year, there was someone who could make his whole world change, and Mina resigned to her fate as an ornament that stays stuck to Gou’s side pathetically.
To say it more horribly, she was just an ornament western doll.
In the end, he was still obsessed and taken away by her love rival. That too, and this too, Mina had run away from entering the heroine race.
“…. It’s just like what you said.” Mina took a deep breath and said.
Let’s put the end to the disease of cowardice. This has nothing to do with if Gou is a stalker or not.
Mina will make Gou look back, and get close to becoming the hero of saving Vtubers.
Although right now, she doesn’t know what she’ll finish up, but if she could be the axis to him, then that will be fine. With that, by saving Gou’s soul, it’ll be the birthday of a Hero who will save Vtubers.
“Right? There is only Mina for that role.”
Look, Ayane looked up at the upper part of the vehicle door. Next stop is Akabane station. If she changes here to the Takasaki Line and go back to Ageo Station, she will be close to the apartment where Karugo lives.
“……. I’ll be going. I’m sorry that you had to lie to me.”
“Oh, I see, later on tell me the results-nya!”
Ayane sends out a cheer to Mina who has left the train car. Seeing that back, when she couldn’t see Mina anymore a bitter smile arose on her face.
“You know, I make it a policy to myself that I will never tell a lie to my best friend.”
8
“Hah,…. .Hahh….”
Until she had reached Gou’s room, the evening sun still was up in the sky mercilessly.
Mina, gasping, finally reached her destination. Using her spare key, she came into Gou’s room. Right when she went in, she changed her walking into a strong gallant walk.
“Karugo-san!” Mina yelled.
As usual, Gou was in the middle of writing articles with a nonchalant face.
The light that entered the dark room through the crevices of the curtain window reminded her of sparks of fire. Burning to an even larger flame. That hallucination attacked Mina.
“What’s up? You’re sweating this much…..”
Of course, Gou too, realized the unusual state of Mina.
He naturally grabbed the air conditioner controller and lowered the temperature in worry for Mina. Even though he made a fuss about being energy-saving. As I thought, he is a nice person, Mina thought.
“I met with Nako-san.”
“Nako?……… Ah, Nakoru.” Gou took a peek at his PC, and then looked at Mina. “Why don’t you go take a shower first to fresh up?”
“……..” What was he saying to a girl? Mina had a bitter smile.
Because he was Gou, he thought of nothing of naughty things, and heck, even when put in front of him he takes no notice. That is something that vex Mina. Mina was pondering whether to borrow the shower first, or state her business first.
Wouldn’t it be better for her mental state to state how she feels in the moment?
But, to make her first confession in her life, while sweating, disheveled hair, seems just miserable. It would just make the mood horrible. ANd everything has an order to it. If she has to do it, then she should first report about Rikuyoku Nakoru. Her personal talk should come after. But, in the first place, was it really right in this timing to confess–
In actuality, she came here with just sheer willpower.
“Mina?”
“Ah, Um….” Mina’s eyes darted, wiping her sweat with her handkerchief. The citrus scent of the handkerchief wafting helped Mina calm down.
“If you insist, I’ll take you on your offer.” She said, and headed toward the bathroom, but then stopped in her step. Maybe it would be better to report first. While stopped in her step, she started to talk.
“This is about Nakoeru’s soul…..”
“Ah, that issue.”
“She is a very wonderful person. She is earnest in her work as a Vtuber, and she wanted to prove herself through her music. But recently…. She’s been worried about a stalker, but she is eager to continue her activities regardless.”
“…… A stalker… you say.” Gou blatantly showed a displeased face.
Mina once again had alarm bells in her heart. “Ah, it’s, um, not like she isn’t sad.”
Mina had overlooked the case if Gou was the stalker.
If the one following after the person knows of the person’s mental state, how would they feel? If they feel fine, she thinks that they would follow her even more. Or the stalker escalates.
“Did Nakoru talk about why she wanted to know about Noa?” The voice that is pressing for an answer is surprisingly calm.
“Ah….. That was trying to stay out of Noa. She hates people making a fuss about it, and trying to avoid Noa-chan’s typical behaviors….”
“I see. It’s because Nakoru isn’t a Vtuber yet.”
“Huh?” Mina felt dejected, and spoke out in worry. “….. Uh, did I say something wrong?”
“No, thanks. Mina should freshen up now.” Gou said, and once again faced the PC.
Mina, for a moment, didn’t move at all. Thinking that she made some sort of mistake, shivers went down her spine. Guilt ruled over her emotions, and soon opened her mouth.
“Um…..”
“Hm?”
“It’s nothing…. Don’t take a peek, ok?”……”
“Don’t say stupid things.” Gou denied back.
ーーーー Not a Vtuber.
While Mina was taking a shower, in her head the incomprehensible words continued to roll back.
Just, why would he say such a thing? In this industry, a Vtuber is defined if the person themselves calls them like that. Rikuyoku Nakoru is doing her activities as a Vtuber, and the person behind them calls them like that. And she is a famous person with already 100,000 subscribers. Rikuyoku Nakoru is a Vtuber. Does it mean that for the time being, Gou doesn’t think of her as a Vtuber?
…… Something is wrong. There is still a piece missing from understanding the human, Karube Gou.
But even then, Mina too knew that Gou isn’t the type to reveal his inner heart’s work. In that case, if she wanted to really enchant him, she would have to trap him.
“Su… hah.”
Looking at the mirror that shows her whole self, she thought of that town resolutely.
Walking on the streets, there were 9 people out of 10 who looked back. Because of that, she started to have anthrophobia, but it should be fine to believe that she has the charm of a woman. If she utilizes that weapon more, she should be able to enchant Gou who has no interest in real-life girls.
“Let’s do this.” Cleaning her body in the bathroom, she wore her undergarments. Using the dryer to dry her hair to prepare herself. Just like a comfort blanket, she thought to attack him with the bath towel, that was as far as she could be naked before she hit her limit. Without wearing any clothes, she went into the room.
When she left the bathroom, she ran into Gou.
“Huh…..”
Gou only had a few words to Mina, who was wearing nothing but her underwear and bath towel.
“No matter how hot it is, you shouldn’t….”
“You see, this is-” Mina immediately felt embarrassed up and down.
For this kind of cold-hearted man to be affected by seduction, when she thinks more about it, that was just an imagination. To go as far as this, is his reaction too lukewarm? If you think you mustered up the courage and were inspired by an unfamiliar temptation—- this curt reaction.
Of course Mina welled up in anger and her voice raised in pitch.
“It wasn’t like I was made to do this…”
“……..” Gou stared at Mina’s body unfixable. And then said like he was troubled. “You should treat your body precisely. If you’re still going to be a Vtuber, then it’s a test of one’s strength.”
Gou said and walked toward the entranceway. AStonished by Gou’s words, Mina, his conduct and anger that oozed out his voice, she called out in a panic.
“Where do you think you are going?”
“I’m just going to go out for a bit.”
She peaked at the window. It was already evening, with the red and blue already separated.
“At this time?” Just how many times this failing to meet in the middle moment happened so far.
“There is something I have to do.” Gou put on his shoes and put his hand on the doorknob.
For some strange reason, the words he said seemed like it had a different moment.
If she doesn’t stop him now, then he won’t ever return….. That kind of worry welled up in her.
“No, you are not allowed to go!” She can’t go outside looking like this. “Karugosa-n! I still have to talk to you…!”
“No time. I have to stop him, myself.”
And Gou left, and without another word closed the door. He even locked the door politely.
“Ah…..”
Mina fell to the ground. ——She had lost. Just by looking, without a victory or defeat, it was a loss by default.
A room only with one person. She was welling up in tears, and felt a hotness come up her throat. When she realized it, a tear had fallen down. The darkened hallway was a symbol of Mina’s defeat.
Ding. Suddenly, a ring from a messaging app on her smartphone in the living room. Mina suddenly stood up and looked at her message. It was a LINE message from before. There were two messages, the one she saw at the start “How did it go?” and then a stamp was sent.
Mina wanted to return to Gou, so she opened LINE and marked it as read. It’s a sign that it’s already been read, but Uina replied with trembling fingers because she didn’t want to hurt her friend who raised her fist and cheered her on.。
Ayane: How did it go?
(spoil me stamp)
Mina: (crying dog stamp)
Ayane: Hanya?
Mina: (crying dog stamp)
(lonely stamp)
(collapsed stamp)
Ayane: No way
Mina: Ayaneeee
Ayane: “Do you want to talk about it?”
(Missed Call)
Are you ok?
<Voice Call)>
“Uu… Uwahhh~”
When Mina opened her mouth, she took a breath and let out a voice that may or may not have been in tears.
“Mina, you’re a good girl, you did good. You were able to confess.”
“No, that’s not it.”
“What?”
“I didn’t confess…..! Although I tried to stop him he left.”
“He left the naked Mina behind?”
“Yeah…. Well, he didn’t care about me being naked, nor even made mention of it.” In a blink of an eye, Ayane’s voice turned serious.
“He is really going insane. He ignored Mina’s seduction and maybe because he hates Vtubers now that he is really taking action.”
“Hates….?”
“Yeah. That exotic animal finally made a flaming declaration to Nakochi.”
“Have you talked with Karugo-san?”
“Ah, have you not heard about it?” Ayane said, continuing with genuine surprise. “I had thought that something had happened between the two of you that Karugo-san went wild. Look at what is trending on Twitter.” Mina then looked at Twitter.
Again, Rikuyoku Nakoru entered the trends. Tapping on the tag, she wondered about what caused her to trend.
□Death God@ wEf5mwelvatpe4t
I have identified Rikuyoku Nakoru’s soul.
Since the fraud incident happened, the dead account has been revived.
And a declaration of war full of evil intent to Rikuyoku Nakoru.
”…….”
Mina had dropped her smartphone without knowing.
Mina recalled Gou’s reaction. When he heard about the word, “stalker”. When he had that, Nakoru wasn’t a Vtuber. And then,
“There’s something I need to do.”
“I will stop him, myself” ーーーー
“Mina, are you ok?”
Ayane words weren’t entering Mina’s ear. Reality isn’t so sweet, Mina self-reflected.
It could be that for Gou, already, flaming a Vtuber is the only way to elevate his love.
He was already targeting the Noa’s successor, Rikuyoku Nakoru.
Gou, who has rejected her, what will he do next in his rampage? That answer can be found right here.
“…….”
Tasting her saliva, her eyes lead to Gou’s laptop.
Actually, Mina knew of his login password.
It’s because she has watched him over and over again when he logged in. Unable to go against the urge, she started up his laptop. She won’t do this ever again, she made an oath, and logged.
Outrageously, she accessed [Burn V!] into the browser.
Thanks to the Cookies in the computer, she was able to login to the editing account. And with this, she was able to go into the set-up of his landmines of bombs and looked around.
“This is—-”
Mina had looked over the editing personal history.
A list of recently made and past articles were laid out in a list. That was the track of Ararat Kazan for this one year.
Mina felt like she was searching in a kaleidoscope.
It wasn’t like the articles itself each have a meaning, but there was an overarching meaning to all of it. Depending on the angle of the kaleidoscope, you can see a different view, and just like turning into a new picture, you’ll be able to see a new side to the previous identity of Ararat Kazan.
There was one form that was enclosed.
[Rikuyoku Nakoru does not equal Mukanae Noa, Full-Stop ◇Has Not been Published◇
[Ayanokouji Neiko’s Deletion of Apology Video! A Minister with Respects to Hoshigaoka School, Did not Disappear Silently]
[Resurrection in the Current Era, Julius Caesar! Besasano, a lustful famous illustrator, was thrown out at a certain famous world event!]
Unlawful Teaming and Killing Corpses Exposing the Past of Anno Azumi Who Is a Gamer with Radical Statements
[The secret power harassment of the new innocent souls, Hoshigaoka Company is Money Monger]
[The Ark Sunk? Mukanae Noa’s friend, Vtuber Byakko Rinka, Private Life Exposed and Fan Disappointment]
[Graduation led by the Twitter Response Battle! The Battle Win Declaration Houkouji Rei]
[Kano Yarikka’s absolutely livid over backseating, also was a cause for the destruction of an Idol Group]
[Kyuu, Even more being Cornered]
The list goes on and on. Although they look to be unrelated to other eyes, in the eyes of Mina, she could see the connection.
The article on Besasano was when he was testing Mina whether she’s a Noatomo.
Ayanokouji Neiko did her streams in respect to Hoshigaoka’s School.
Anno Azumi was a Vtuber who participated in an FPS tournament with Mukanae Noa as her teammate.
Byakko Rinka was someone who tweeted on her own sub account on Noa’s soul’s evil conduct.
Houkouji Rei was a Hoshigaoka’s School Member. Kanno Yarikka had no connection, but when you read the article, it was written about the trolling of backseating in regards to Hoshigaoka School.
—- All of them were related, even by a littlest, to Mukanae Noa.
This blog spells out his love for Oshi; an inside-out diary.
“I now understand… It was just like that.”
Mina finally understood his true intention.
Gou’s blog, [Burn V!] isn’t just for summarizing and gossiping about Vtubers flaming incidents pointlessly. He finds his Oshi’s ruins, and pinches out even the littlest buds of evil of Mukane Noa, and puts a full stop to it.
— This is his last work as a fan to his Oshi.
This was his way of atoning. He, the top fan, had given everything, collecting everyone’s wishes and envy onto his back, and even after Oshi’s death, he will still work for her by removing all what is left.
A person who realized that he can’t be saved.
It’s like a memorial service to her that will never end. At the end of all this, it isn’t like Noa-chan is going to revive. He had no intention to be rewarded in his efforts. Even if all the live coals are gone, the death of Noa is permanent.
ーーーI want to see Noa-chan, he lamented. Now, she finally can figure out the meaning. Gou, literally, wasn’t lamenting about wanting to see Noa. Actually, it was the opposite. He can no longer see her, is what he is lamenting.
“Why, Karugo-san, how long have you been living like this?” The curtain of night fell, and the room became dark.
The light from the road came into the room, and for some reason the light was reflecting something. From the sacred place of the bed, there was a half of the cookie tin there.
Just what could be in the four-corner can, Mina immediately wondered what could be in there. But when she realized the truth, looking into the inside of the can, she was surprised. As one could think, when she opened the lid, Noa Towel, can badges, psyllium, and Noa-Shirts were put inside there.
Mina had the color of resolution in her eyes.
“…… I need to change.”
Her love rival is a Vtuber. Their dimensions are different. The playing field is wrong.
When looking at the wall clock, it was half past 7. There’s editing software. There was also a mic. She was prepared enough to do some work.
She has to immediately stop Gou, or else he will face a worse tragedy than Oshi’s death.
Before making this unpublished article published, there is something that still yet to be saved.
Right then, she noticed. There was a lone Excel file that was on the desktop that is organized daily. The file name is 【Collection List】ーー
“………” Mina held her saliva and opened the file.
In the [Collection List] it had the title, “Rikuyoku Nakoru Celebration Project”, and had the NakoFamilia Names, and the amount of money each had.
9
Nako transferred to the Namboku Line, and headed toward the night Lazona Kawasaki Plaza for shopping.
The plaza, which can be accessed from the ticket gate of the station, has a ceiling that spreads radially, and its hierarchical structure is like a near-future live house. Nako loved this space.
She was going to splurge after a long time, and went to a store to buy real-leather boots. At that time, no one could imagine the feeling of hell that is being spread on SNS.
—– Rikuyoku Nakoru’s soul was doxxed.
When she saw that tweet, she felt a sensation of the glittering scenery just evaporating immediately. The illumination of the near-future livehouse had faded, and immediately into an inescapable situation. The gallows may still be brighter. The magnificently lit roof, the groovy music that leaks out, and everything else is suddenly painted over with a feeling of darkness.
The virtual self, just like that, threatens her lifestyle of the real life self of her being feared. If only 30 more minutes, her manager’s message would come on LINE.
The retweet kept coming, with the SNS folks reviving the controversy over the previous life and Nakoru roses in trending. Her manager should be noticing it.
Nako left the store in her new boots, and turned back into the dark world of Tokyo.
She immediately went on the train and headed toward Shibuya. The humans who were in sweaty shirts who were playing around in the night, were talking loudly. Taking a seat near the door, Nako looked out the window of the familiar scenery.
ーーー In this train car, the stalker was riding it.
Nako intuitively knew of it.
She can feel the staring. At any moment, she felt she could crumble, and leaned against the seat, trying to keep calm. Hurry. The train stopped for her prayers, and immediately ran off with the other passengers as soon the door opened, and ran off to Dogenzaka. She went into the entranceway of her office, and went up to the elevator to where she works. Fortunately, the lights were still on. After crossing the long hallways typical of bubble early Heisei buildings, she finally arrives at the office.
“Kagio-san?” Terai looked up, noticing Nako. His face, for some reason, looked grim.
They were surrounding a desk, and Terai and Manager were looking at something in their hands. There was something being written.
“Um….” Nako didn’t know what she should say,, perplexed, and darted her eyes.
“Nice timing. I thought to contact you until you came in.”
“Ah, Yes. Um, I’m sorry to cause a disturbance.”
Why is it she who has to apologize? Nako was upset. Even though she came here for help—
She felt apologetic to meet with a regular citizen when she wanted to talk about Noa. But, that isn’t the problem now.
Terai twisted his mouth lightly, and said with widened eyes.
“You knew of her?” Her manager asked.
“Huh, I know nothing?”
“I see,” Terai, who had a strangely weird atmosphere.”There’s nothing to apologize for.”
“……?” The story isn’t meeting at any point. In the producer and managers’ reaction, she couldn’t see a single ounce of fear of danger in knowing their Vtuber’s soul had been exposed.
“What do you mean?” Nako, while still not understanding everything, asked. ”Have you not seen the tweet of me being doxxed…?”
Manager, facing Nako who was shivering, had a refreshing smile.
“Ah~ Those are common tweets. Regarding that, the doxxed person is a stranger unrelated so it’s fine.”
“More than that, head toward Ikebukuro right now.” Terai said calmly.
“What?”
Nako furrowed her eyebrow with a bewildered face.
Did she, without knowing, cross over a worldline?
Or could it be that the stalker’s presence has been solved by an agency, and that she had safely crossed over the worldline of that world? If that is the case, then that would be a huge relief.
Nako hurriedly rushed towards Ikebukuro.
She can’t pin down her restless feelings. During that time too, she felt like she was still being chased by the death god, and even more than the time she was followed toward her office, she felt more distracted.
When leaving the east exit of Ikebukuro station, the large amount of noises and moisture filled her lungs.
At present, the central area of the pedestrian crossing looks like a ship waiting for people to board.
The street light turned blue. When she quickly walked to cross, she felt another strange presence. At that moment, she stopped, and to accumulate courage, she took a deep breath.
At that moment-
“Nakoeru!”
A sudden call. It struck her eardrums deeply, due to the cocktail party effect.
She felt a chill down her spine. Why would someone call that name here? Just why, for what purpose? One by one, the people walking down the street glanced at the screams and resumed their steps, seemingly disinterested. The unstoppable hustle and bustle leaves Nako behind.
“Please reach Nakoeru!” The voice called again. Encouraging herself, she looked at the station.
“Oh….” The contour of a familiar person was being illuminated.
The angel’s ladder on that day was like a divine revelation.
10
When Rikuyoku Nakoru’s soul was just about to walk past, the person that was following her immediately turned around.
Despite hiding himself in a mask and hat, his pair of eyes unmistakably was bewildered.
The death god had immediately flinched, stopped in the middle of the median strip. But, he couldn’t stop here. He has to expose the soul.
Glaring with red eyes, the death god took a step forward. And there–
“Woooooooooah!”
The screamings that were like cheerings at a concert echoed throughout, piercing the air.
Then, there was music that he remembered hearing in the past. The death god, without hiding his shaking, just when Nako was going to say something, looked towards what she was seeing, and looked back.
“What….the hell….?” The death god whispered, wavering in his voice.
On the outer wall of Ikebukuro Parco Main, on the digital sign, there was lighthearted music along with a promotion video starting.
On a regular basis, it would be an advertisement that he would not care about, but right now, the death god felt a huge eyesore.
In the video, was the illumination of a certain girl silhouette. After, a six winged angel came into the screen.
“Nako Familia, it’s a pleasurable day. I am Rikuyoku Nakoru, the last regret of the extinct Angel.”
The greetings she always gives in the beginning of her streams and videos. It was the sound of [Know Rikuyoku Nakoru in 3 Minutes].
Nakoru image’s song faded in, and plenty of crossfades of streaming scenes in the 3D environment. [Congratulations on Reaching 100,000 Youtube Channel Subscribers! Her Popularity Will Only Go Up!] The text showed up one by one in accordance with the beat of the melody.
Suddenly, an angel had flown down to Ikebukuro. The advertisement flowed out with a bomb.
The new Vtuber, Rikuyoku Nakoru, who was gaining attention, was exposed to the people walking near the front of the station.
“Ah, I know about Nakoeru. Her voice is cute that makes me want to support her.”
“Vtuber? What is the point?”
“100,000 subscribers, how? Wow, her singing voice is good”
“Look at that mass of people, laughing stocks.”
Most of the passengers didn’t really care, no reaction. Even those who were slightly interested didn’t stop in their tracks but still moved.
Only the people near the smoking station where the sign can easily be seen, a group of people cladded in Nakoru’s goods were cheering with joy.
It was just only 10 seconds. But, to reach their goal, it was just enough time.
The speechless death god drew attention underneath the outer sign.
Without moving, how many of those people were glaring at him. The provacatory eyes, it was like they were the one responsible for putting the ad in the first place.
When he met the eyes of the person, the death god realized.
“Yo, You….”
The death god knew the identity of the young man.
His hair color had disappeared, and his atmosphere changed too, but there was no doubt he had met him before. One year ago, on that devastating day, they had met here in Ikebukuro, his most hated rival. To stop him from committing a crime, the young man, Noa’s Fan Karugo, was looking down at the death god.
“Karugo-”
“So it was you, Necro.”
Gou confronted the death god with his real name.
ーーーーNecroMansu.
Noa’s Fan Necro. A fan who thought of himself as the top fan without any doubts, refused to talk with other Noatomos, a one-man Noatomo.
Gou believed that Necro would come here.
After all, today was when the [Advertisement Board of Rikuyoku Celebration] would premiere
Alongside with the Girls.A.Mentoria, this broadcast was kept a secret with them, and those who were fans would post the video they recorded throughout SNS. Even if Nakoru’s soul didn’t make it here, it was enough bait to make the death god showup regardless.
Necro was trapped in their schemes, and successfully showed his tail.
Right now, in front of the Shinigami, was Karube Gou, a traitor to him. In the back, was the soul behind Rikuyoku Nakoru. And, within the same median line, was the Nako Familia. Necro was locked in a cage in the ark in an unlucky direction. The street light once again turned blue. Gou had slowly embarked the ship.
“You were the one who swindled the Nakoru’s fan of their flowerstand, weren’t you.”
“….. ug.” Necro bit his lower lips.
The origin to all this was one month ago when the rumors started of Nakoru being Noa’s reincarnation.
Of course, Gou too, heard about the rumors and pursued for information.
In the midst of that, there was always a reference in streams and anonymous message boards about some allusion to Noa. The creepy writing, made Gou think of someone who hates being the same as someone else. That person was NecroMansy, and he had already identified it.
“Thanks to you, the preparations this time took too much.” Gou announced coldly.
“After all, the Nako Familia over there once had a bad experience due to the flowerstand incident. In order for them to make them believe in me, I had so many meetings with the victims, and in order to collectively act, it took time and money. On top of that, the taxes for that video. We had to reserve through the broker a long time before, and gaining the permission of the management, we were finally able to make this project of broadcasting happen. You see what we did? This is how you should support an Oshi.” Gou asserted, and glared about his former companion in arms.
Karugo, who thinks of his fan buddies preciously, and NecroMansu who is a lone wolf. Those two were confronting each other.
It would be great if Necro was just a normal fan who supported himself, but he didn’t care at the time of his Oshi’s troubles, repeated the same comments if his Oshi didn’t notice, and engaged in tweet wars with fans in order to push his own opinions. His despicable manner was very conspicuous.
What Gou was most afraid of, was when that type of man was obsessed with a different Vtuber than Noa.
“Weren’t you sad? When Nakoru, that was similar to Noa, didn’t coddle you?” Gou looked at him with contempt eyes, saying it satirically.
Necro was grinding his teeth in anger.
“Your manner existed even when Noa was still here. You didn’t care for Noa. All you cared about was your status as a “senior” fan. Unable to become the “senior fan” with Noa’s reincarnation, you were unable to receive your attention. You were so desperate that you harassed fans and took their money! Isn’t that right?”
“Guuguuguguguguguguu”
Necro groaned while darting his eyes, and looked down with his shoulders shaking.
Gou continued his denunciation.
“I know what you’re thinking, like the back of my own hand. Unable to stop at wrecking the life of fans, your next goal was to be a stalker to the soul! You thought that if you went that far, then Nakoru would coddle and give you attention as you wanted.” Gou criticized him like a raging fire.
“Fucking idiot…. Hoshigaoka School is an idol group. Everyone can like, everyone is the same. Don’t you even understand the difference between a Vtuber that grows their fan like that, and Girls.A.Mentoria who gains popularity through talent? In the first place, you just pushed your own wishes onto them, unable to understand your faults, and as a finale, thought of flaming Rikuyoku nakoru! Chasing after soul, the soul that is working earnestly as a Vtuber, the pure soul, you tried to ruin it!”
Gou took a step forward. The presence he had was like he was cladded in hellfire.
He was burning. Gou, who had continued to burn Vtubers, was also burning his soul. Necro, who had no powers left, fell down. “Hii…..”
Gou pointed at the back.
“Look!” His finger was pointing at the digital sign board.
“Nako Familia, it’s a pleasurable day. I am Rikuyoku Nakoru, the last regret of the extinct Angel.”
Once again, the street advertisement started again. The light music echoed into the night street.
That video will be shown for 15 seconds every 15 minutes for an hour from 8:00 to 9:00 pm.
“Do you really believe that girl can become Noa’s successor? Just because their voices are similar, is the only thing you care about? What you like about Noa is only her voice then? That’s so wrong. I love Noa’s kindness, her behavior, her clumsy way of speaking…. ! I love her smile that she does when she is airheaded, and her singing and gaming skills may be unskillful, trying to be mature in order to make her fans feel relieved straightforwardly— that is what I like about Noa! But you, Necro, the only thing you liked was her voice!” Gou yelled, rebuking Necro.
“In the end, you were only that much of a fan. You’re disqualified as a Noatomo… No, not only that, you were harming an innocent Vtuber. You’re even lower than a Vtuber fan.”
Gou stared at him with angry-like eyes.
“Apologize.”
“…..”
“First to Nakoru. Then to the Nako Familia! Apologize from the bottom of your hearts!”
— Apologize.
Gou felt electricity everywhere in his body. It was like someone was choking him, taking him into the darkness type of feeling, and Gou’s consciousness went back to the past.
—– Ha…. Hah….. Noa-chan had….!
Someone was saying it like they had lost their breath. In the next word, Gou’s world had frozen.
His Oshi had disappeared, and he had lost everything. The management had announced the ending of it. But, his Oshi who had died had always been covered with jeers like this.
—- Apologize.
Someone I haven’t seen yelled out this, using the power of words thrown to the Oshi.
Gou had looked at all of this. But yet his Oshi was admirably smiling.
“It’s going to be ok. So come with me on my Ark!”
Gou had replied back.
“It’s ok, Noa-chan…… I will take care of everything.”
For the smiling goddess at the bow of the ship, Gou was rowing the ark. Hoping for the peace of his Oshi, flying it into the empty space of flames, and searching to the point of insanity, hearing the sounds of someone’s abusive language, counter attacking in head, and turning his heart even more black. Meanwhile his hair turned white.
But even then, Gou believes that he himself must be the one to end the flames.
If not then Noa—– Dancing on the stage glitter, the star, will be turned into a Vtuber tale that is passed down as a monster. Within the whirlpool of hellfire and scorning.
“Ugh…..” Just like a sharp pain in his chest, Gou moaned.
Through his own words, he had caused the trauma to come back.
This wasn’t the situation to be like this. Gou shook his head, bringing back his sanity.
Necro yelled while wheezing.
“I just… wanted to go back to those days… I just wanted to go back to the days that I spent with Noa-chan….”
“Even if it means pushing your wishes onto a stranger?”
“Shut up! Nakoru is Mukanae Noa’s successor. The person who will carry on Noa’s wishes–”
“…..” Gou raised his eyebrow. “That’s enough. As long as a person like you is still obsessed with Nakoru, she will never be a Vtuber no matter how much time passes!”
Necro was bewildered and dumbfounded — What the hell is this guy saying?
Gou, in regards to the way of being a Vtuber, had his own philosophy on it.
They are different from real-life Youtubers; Vtubers aren’t able to exist beyond the screen. As the avatar, they can’t go around in hot-spots in downtown—-
“Hello, do you know about me?” not even asking questions like that is impossible. They are people who live in the virtual world, and the only way for fans to interact with them is within the streaming screen. Even if you use AR technology to appear onto the likes of a stage, there is still a limit.
Therefore, the Vtubers, even more than real-life streamers, are more of a fan-orientated existence.
“Listen to me, Necro. If a Vtuber has no one by them, they’re just only a mascot. But because there are fans, they are able to be a Vtuber. Through their conversations with their fans, their individual personality is formed, and becomes an existence in the world. It’s not that they need us to form their personality, it’s we who accept them as they are!”
Necro felt like a hammer was slammed into his face.
“You guys think Nakoru should be the next Noa, ok, you guys can do whatever you want. But we will deny you with all our hearts. She isn’t Noa. And then we make that person become the Rikuyoku Nakoru. This is how we’ll protect our beloved Oshi—–Muakane Noa.”
“Shut up….. Shut up shut up shut the hell up!”
Necro suddenly stood up, and howled at Gou with red eyes.
“Even though you didn’t meet Noa, how dare you say those words out of your mouth!”
“So you don’t realize the sin you made.” Gou’s reaction was cold.
Necro, who showed no sign of remorse, Gou had finally had to resort to his final option.
Gallantly, Gou raised his hand. Inside of his hand was his smartphone.
“I have given you so many chances, Necro.”
“…..?”
On his phone, had [Burn V!] with an update screen.
If he pressed it, then it would be the end. The article that he had written beforehand would be published, and the linked SNS would all simultaneously report about the new update. That article would lead to the NecroMansu’s death socially.
Alongside the social death of Karube Gou, who was the exposer.
The fault of the Noatomo, he must bet his body in order to purge it. If he didn’t cut the bud at its earliest, then his Oshi’s death will still continue in destruction.
Gou had readied himself.
11
“When they contacted us, it was just yesterday.”
Manager-san answered, looking up at the wall of Parco Vision, with a refreshing expression.
Her manager ws following her from the Shibuya’s office to Ikebukuro.
“When I wondered what was going on, it was the fans saying that they wanted to celebrate the 100,000 subscribers. Don’t you think it’s pretty? I have worked so long in this industry, but this is my first time seeing such a big advertisement. Should I use it for official work?”
“……”
Nako just was dumbfounded as she endured the heat inside that was burning in her.
The peaceful Vtuber, who was being clamored as she descended into the streets, was almost like a real Angel. She couldn’t believe that that was her, she couldn’t accept it. Today was the first day that Nako met Rikuyoku Nakoru.
“On Twitter too, it’s been trending.”
Why don’t you take a look, Manager tilted his smartphone, while Nako hurriedly shook her head.
There wasn’t a need to check. She knew. The median strip on goers, the Nako Familia, was taking videos of the broadcast, and was jovial sending it up in SNS.
From what started as “I identified the soul of Rikuyoku Nakoru”, and thanks to the algorithms that had more senses than human, it guided to the digital sign board and “saengil”6.
At the strange incident in Ikebukuro, the main event was already overwriting the previous. Right now, she just wanted to watch the miracle from afar. The fans were innocently happy over her.
“Ah….. I am…..”
“This is only the 2nd time. It will run again 2 more times.”
“…… Feeling a strange feeling….” Nako said with reddened eyes.
Just what kind of magic is this, she wonders.
Just a short while ago, she had only felt contempt towards Rikuyoku Nakoru.
She became a Vtuber to prove her self-worth, but that only brought bad memories. A number of people were trying to doxxed her and she became a toy on the internet for those to play with.
Just what is this, she wonders.
Why is her tears not stopping, and feeling proud of being the soul behind that Vtuber on the board. While wiping her tears, the 3rd time of the promotion video was starting. The angel featured in the video, as one could think, wasn’t Mukanae Noa—
Even if there were people that were rumoring about Noa, those fans that absolutely adore Nakoru’s existence will fight against them.
Thank you, Nako said within her heart towards her Familia.
12
If you do bad things to others, then it’ll come right back to haunt you to the graves.
When Gou started [Burn V!], those words passed through his mind.
After all, this is a retribution to Necro who tried to flame Nakoru, and words to himself as well.
“I hope you’re prepared to be flamed, Necro.”
“….. What…. Are you thinking.”
“What comes around goes around, you know? A treat only special to you.”
Understanding the meaning behind those words, Necro turned pale.
“While you were doing your own business, I was always following after you…. It’s very tiring work, to the point my bones could collapse. But thanks to all that work, I was able to find your address and workplace. I took just enough videos. Just like what you did to Nakoru.”
“Ah….. Ah…..” Necro groaned like he was being attacked.
“Although no one would have an interest in the type of people like you who don’t have any type of influence on the net……..” Gou shrugged. “Then how about the death god who caused the fraud incident? The addicted to justice people on the internet, is waiting for that kind of juicy information like dogs waiting for the bones to eat. And what if something like, you know, address and workplaces, come right in their hand—-”
You know the rest, Gou looked at him with cold eyes.
This is a double-edged sword. To expose their address and face, that is obviously going beyond the line.
Depending on how it goes, Gou could be criticized, and in the worst case, get arrested and put into court. But even then, his goal is to bring retribution to Necro. His most beloved Oshi is already dead. He was taking an absence from school. There was nothing for him left in this world to be missing.
Above all that, he puts protecting Noa as his most precious thing.
“Don’t think of doing it! St-stooooooop!”
“I’m bringing you down to the grave with me, Necro. Sacrifice your soul with me.”
If it’s this man, he had the balls to do it. Even if on the outside he seems cool, his heart was burning in flames, devoting himself to being an executioner. And this is how a death god should do his business.
Gou, with the hand that held the smartphone, waved it higher.
The flashing light of it was just like a guillotine blade. Once it drops, the two death gods would both have their head cut, and beckon death. With that, the most precious thing can be protected. Gou was going to bring the blade down, but at that moment—
“……. ugh.”
His hand stopped. Someone was holding onto his arm, and for a second hesitating, then clenched onto the arm. Gou, in reaction to that, dropped his smartphone, and saw that it rolled. When he looked back, there was someone who was closing their eyes, desperately holding onto the arm of Gou. It was Mina.
“Let’s end this already……”
“Mina, why are you here?”
“Nakoeru’s 100,000 Subscribers Anniversary…. It’s already trending.” When he thinks about it, the 3rd time of the celebration to Noa’s video has been broadcasted. Since the first time it was broadcasted, it’s been more than 30 minutes. When Mina realized the situation, there was enough time to reach Ikebukuro.
“What do you think you’re doing? You’re blocking my way.”
“I can’t let you go any further.” Mina opened her eyes, and then narrowed her eyes to Gou.
It seems that due to Mina’s words not being like her, Gou was too bewildered to speak.
“I understand, just who is the real Karugo-san, what kind of person he is….”
“My true self, what do you mean?”
Gou didn’t really understand the meaning behind Mina’s words. He thought that surely, because she thinks of him as a nice person, that she wanted to stop him with those raw words.
“I don’t know what kind of misunderstanding you have, but I’ve always been this way since I’ve given my everything for Noa. For the sake of Noa, I will expose the wrongdoings of that man over there to the ground. So, even if I have to sacrifice myself, I will purge anyone who is a foe against Noa. Even more so if they’re a Noatomo. That is my way to repay her, that is my–” When he tried to finish it off, Mina had closed his mouth.
“Your last work as a fan?”
“……” Gou, who was emotional, became calm. 。”…… That’s right.”
“This won’t be your last work. Mark my words.”
“Huh?”
“I’m saying that I will stop you; this won’t be your last duty.” Mina pressed him.
Mina, Noa is nowhere to be seen.” Gou self-deprecatingly ruminated. “….. Ah, just nowhere. Not as a Vtuber, not as a real-face streamer either. No matter where I look, no matter how much time I take, she is no longer here. Me, the biggest fan, can’t find her. You know what I mean by that statement, right?”
“…. Of course.”
“Then, let go of me, with your foolishly shivering arm. Look at reality, just give up. I’m already tired. Look at the group up there.”
Gou looked at the last viewing of the video in the square, and took a glance at the Nakofamilia.
“Doesn’t it look fun? The real way to support an Oshi is just like that. People like me, the person right there, are ghosts trapped in the past who shouldn’t ruin the fun by bothering them. It’s time for the new Vtubers to take the stage.”
Mina took a deep breath, denounced him with all her energy.
“Karugo-san, you’re wrong!” Gou opened his eyes widely in surprise.
“You are bothering us? ….. You’re mistaken, it’s the other way around. We need Karugo-san. For the new Vtubers that are coming, you are indispensable. Just how many Vtubers do you think you have saved so far and who is to come? I’m one of them, of the Vtubers you saved.” Gou Brushed off Mina’s arm.
“The only one I wanted to save is Noa. Now that you understand, give me back my weapon.”
Gou gallantly walked toward where his smartphone dropped.
Mina, realizing it with a gasp, her face was flushed in red in order to hold off the embarrassment.
And then, soon she made her resolution. She held onto the hem of her shirt.
“—— Th-That weapon doesn’t fit the occasion!”
“…..?” Immediately stopping in his steps, and looked back.
“What day is it?”
“Today? What the hell are you trying to pull…..”
“This is the anniversary of when I became a Vtuber. It’s not the day when Karugo will fall into destruction, nor the celebratory day for Nakoru, it’s the debut day for Mizuyami Garnet.” Mina’s voice was wobbly.
In the midst of the crowded streets of Ikebukuro, for some reason, I was eagerly trying to do something.
“Mizuyami… Garnet…?”
“That’s why, the armor that I should be cladded in!”
With a thud onto the floor, Mina took off her shirt and flinged it. It seems hidden underneath was another shirt. And what was on that, largely written in with a crimson background, “One Oshi”—- A wish that is written for what is to come, what she wishes to have for a fan.
On her wrists were red bracelet lights. Mina put her hand on her waist, and started to move with both of her holding the red penlight that she hid. From in between the crossed light, Mina looked at Gou with a serious gaze.
“Isn’t this how— we should be cladded in for the live?”
“……..”
That was the scenery that he had seen for such a long time.
It was the outfit that he wore on that day, when he first met Mina.
In the presence of the public, however embarrassed Mina is, it’s hard to imagine.
Passers-by crossing the pedestrian crossing are also looking at it with strange eyes.
“What do you think you are doing?”
“I’m doing it in the way Karugo-san does it, look at me.”
Mina came closer, and forcibly made Gou hold onto a penlight.
Even though red was supposed to be Noa’s color.
“That is the penlight color of Garnet. On the day of the flood, it’s the red jewel that emitted it’s light to guide the Noa’s ark so that it doesn’t lose it’s way. With that light, I will overwrite everything. Karugo’s painful moments, the sad moments, the fear moments too, eI will paint it over with the color of flames. I won’t let this be your last time, ok!”
Mina looked at Gou straightforwardly. And then, faced her phone to Gou.
“Now then, in accordance with the music from this, make sure to cheer for me. Aren’t you good at it?”
“Why does it have to be me…. Huh!”
“Just do it! I’ll teach you!”
Mina declared assertively.
When the video started, the crude sketch of Mizuyami Garnet showed up on the screen, and the intro followed in. The song is a fairly famous one that during Vtuber’s debut, they often sing this song.
“Fun fun fun fun…. Now here. Push, one, and a two, and a three and a four. Then my arms wave around, rararara. Now make a heart with my hands.”
Mina, bearing the embarrassment, was desperately doing such a idiotic act.
A blondie doing some weird dancing in front of the Ikebukuro station, soon the passerbyers’s step blocked, and what the heck is going on, the curious onlookers came.
YouTuber？Tiktoker？The curious onlookers whispered, as they watched the cute girl who was doing the wotagei.7
“Now it’s going to be the one phrase! Up four times, one and two and a three and a four. Move your arms, then rararara, and then a heart with my hands.”
The Mizuyami Garnet singing voice came in. There wasn’t any mix work on it, just the voice on a BGM. In front of the low quality video, Gou felt somewhat frustrated. It wasn’t only just the video quality.
It was even more so when watching Mina’s choreography. He felt something in his chest tingles.
“Oh, what am I doing? That isn’t how it’s supposed to be done. It should be like this…”
About right there was the time when Gou was pretty much over it. Even though he didn’t want to do it, for some reason he was naturally moving his wrist, waving around the penlight. His steps too were too light. Why is it his body moving like this………
“Now we enter the chorus! One, two, and three, let’s do it together!”
Whether or not Mina became used to the states of the onlookers, the clumsy movement disappeared.
Taking in breaths roughly, sweating, body moving, there was something that was trying to be told. To that person in the small screen, telling something to the new Vtuber that debutted—
It’s a VTuber drawing that is so childish and low-quality that even talking about quality is ridiculous. Neither 3D or 2D. It was just an image on a sheet of paper, not even a baby that can even move freely just born. To say that this is a Vtuber, you’ll probably be laughing so hard. But, as according to the saying, “If the person says it’s a Vtuber”, as long as it follows it, if Mina says it’s a Vtuber, then it’s a Vtuber.
While Gou was bewildered, he was made to play with the foolish movements.
Surprisingly, the Nako fans too, who were surrounding in the distance, were burning with competition with Mina. Preparing for the last round of the advertisement on the board, mysterious to how they were hiding it, but they started to pull out their white penlight, the color of Nako, and were also waving it around.
The heat reached him, and the coldness that wrapped in Gou’s throat started to disappear.
And from cooling off his head, a precious memory came up.
“Hello! I am Hoshigaoka’s Highschool B Group Mukanae Noa. Can you hear my voice? If you can hear me, then you are already a classmate of mine. Let’s work together well!”
“But fan name is Noatomo, to create a 100 friends, no, yes, let’s make a million friends! That is my wish! I want you to cheer me on with a lot of Noatomo! And let’s create a lot of fun memories together! I want to create a dream with my Noatomos!”
Before the last chorus of Mizuyami Garnet’s cover, there is an interlude, so Mina stopped in her movement.
Gou saw that girl’s dream.
The dream that wasn’t able to be fulfilled, the continuation to that dream—-
“Fu…… This is the interlude so it’s a break.” Mina said while rubbing her sore arms.
“I already knew that.”
“What did you think of it, Karugo-san?”
“…… Of what?”
“Didn’t I say it earlier? I know all there is to know about the true Karugo-san.”
So, until your dream comes true, look at me. Because you are here, I am here, and the reverse as well. Because I am here, you are here. If I’m here, then you’ll be relieved, right? If you lose your way, and feel troubled—–
“Then in that case, I’ll find you, the you who lost their way.”
“…..” Gou felt the weight off from his knees. “Ah..”
“Now, let’s go for the last chorus!”
Mina was energetically moving her penlight around.
When seeing Mina, Gou finally came to the answer he’s been looking for the whole time.
This was the end of the pilgrimage. Being taken along the ride with Mina, he was forced to cheer for the mysterious new Vtuber that only appeared from her smartphone, and finally found an answer.
Dancing, cheering, supporting. That in itself, is what’s fun.
The feelings of fun, that memory that his beloved Oshi gave to him, was inherited right there in front of him.
ーーーーThis is the soul of Mukanae Noa.
“So you were right there…so close to me… Noa-chan.”
From his dry eyes, he could feel something round dropping down from it.
Mukanae Noa’s soul hasn’t died. It’s still living. It’s in Gou, and also Mina.
Even though her figure is nowhere to be seen, it’s always been with the two of them.
When the final instrument ended, Mina ended in a weird pose. The surrounding people were clapping and saying “cute!” giving out their thoughts.
After catching her breath, with refreshing eyes, I looked at Gou. They both didn’t have words to say. Mina extended her right hand and grabbed onto Gou, reliably with enough strength, pulled him.
“What did you think? Would you support this girl?” Mina asked.
“Ah, I would support…. I will support you.”
Mina smiled with glee. Gou was going to say something, but the feeling of being broken from the binding made him have no words to say. In exchange, there was someone who was sounding out his thoughts.
“…….Uuu……..Uwah…….UU…..…..”
When turned around, NecroMansu had his head to the ground, to the point the tips of his nose were touching it, and was bawling. Feeling the fervent support, he must have come to the same conclusion as Gou. His tears and mucus were dripping down, as if he’s been enlightened to crave for sorrow.
If he took a step into the wrong path, Gou would have been just like NecroMansu. But, as Ararat Kazan, the symbol of his atonement, a Vtuber appeared in front of him and brought back Karube Gou. That person, who is right in front of his eyes.
The article that he was going to flame Necro with, he then locked it up. While in tears, he said to the girl who stopped him from his rampage.
“…….. Thank you.”
“Huh?” Mina’s eyes widened. “What did you just say?” Even though she heard it、 once more, Mina asked again with flaming eyes.
“What I’m saying is,” Gou was going to say it again,for some reason a scream went up, and scattering like cicadas, the white penlights were running away in many directions.
Someone yelled, “Oh no, the police are here.”
It was quite possible that the passerbyers who thought of them as a nuisance had called them over. These days, it’s appalling to see the heartless scorning for not keeping up with the peace of society.
Gou looked at Mina, and Mina looked back at Gou.
“Should we also retreat?”
“Ugh, even though we were at a good party…”
“Well, isn’t that fine.” Gou held hands with Mina. “Didn’t you say that you won’t let this be the last time?”
Mina narrowed her eyes in a happy manner. “Of course.”
And with that, the two of them jumped off the ark.
Gou, while in the middle of running away across the pavement, he took a side glance at NecroMansu who was left behind. Necro unsteadily stood up, and went with the two police officers without any resistance.
Just what is he trying to do, there wasn’t a need to check to know.
For a second, in the middle of the median strip, or what is known as the bow of the ship, there was an illusion of Noa pictured there.
Noa had sat with her legs together, and was looking at him with a smile, and waving. To never let go of what his Oshi entrusted to him, Gou clenched Mina’s hands tightly.
13
The deformed six winged angel was flapping her wings, and then in the middle fell down, and once again started to flap again. After the loading screen, a black hair girl appeared.
For some reason, the gaze of hers, compared to before, was brimming with self-confidence.
“Nako Familia, it’s a pleasurable day. I am Rikuyoku Nakoru!”
○ She came!
○ OMG it’s Nakorun!
○ First time viewer
○ Because of the trend on Twitter I came to know of you and came
○ Koneru~
“It’s the start of the together with me this evening [Yofueru]~ Today’s hashtag for the stream is Yo-Fu-E-Ru, so I’ll be happy if you use that when you tweet so I can look at your thoughts later.”
○Nakoeru is the best
○ Good evening!
○Tweeting every second
○ Hi Nacol
○ Your voice is so nice
○[¥2000 Congratulations again on your 100,000 subscribers, appearance at V Matsuri, and entering Twitter trends! The other day, I saw a digital advertisement, and although I didn’t participate, to see so much love from your fans, I was moved! I will always cheer for you!”]
○I was also surprised
○The NakoFam power I felt deeply just from looking at Twitter
○I too want to participate next time
○Either way she’ll reach 200,000 subscribers fast
“….. Yeah, about that. I was also surprised. Ah, thanks for the superchat. Because there were people here that didn’t participate, I thought to not speak about it in concern for them. But since it’s the perfect time, I want to say my thanks. Thank you so much for that. I was moved, and I gotten courage and happiness from you humans.”
○Nakoeru also saw it?
○You must have saw the video that was being spread on Twitter
○ Although there were people nearby doing a fight
○ When it comes Friday, Ikebukuro is always like that
○ When the police came lmao but that was really fun lol
○ The two people with the red pen lights that rivaled us it’s was chaos
○ The energy of the state of Akihabara in the past
“Um…. It’s because I’m an Angel that I know of this. Everything comes to me, information and all.”
Compared to a decade ago, management are becoming more stringent about the behaviors of their Vtubers, so Nako consulted with the management about the unofficial fan project, and they decided to keep the magic of the miracle witnessed in Ikebukuro a secret.
“Just like that, enjoy Rikuyoku Nakoru however you like……. Also, everyone who is in the middle of enjoying the beloved summer…… I thought to go to that corner soon. [Descending Angel Nakoeru During Summer!] Corner!
○88888888
○ Yay
○the hypnotizing magic is coming
“To explain for first time viewers, we will start ASMR reading. I won’t be able to read out comments when I’m reading, so please make sure you take caution before commenting. It’s fine for you to sleep or doze off in the stream. It’s a segment in order to make sure you humans, who have problems sleeping, have a sweet dream through my soothing voice….. Is how it is structured. It’s mainly because it’s my hobby.”
○lol
○I’m interested in Nakoeru’s hobby
○ It’s a beautiful hobby, can’t wait to hear it
“Today’s reading, once again, is [The Crows that Crows at Night]. There was something I was thinking about. You see, this story is special to me.”
○That’s a good story
○Last time I was able to sleep well so it’s life-saving you’re doing it again
○ O awesome U feel so cool
“So, let’s start.”
The sounds of someone turning the page. And then the story starts. Gently, smoothly, soothing-
—- In the dead of the night, why don’t you join me in a drink and reminisce about a sad memory?
On that day, I was depressed, thinking about my lover that I broke up with that night.
The wind that came in the crevices of the window was very hot and unbearable. When that happened, there was a sound that sounded like a knocking sound from a door. Knock knock knock, It went. When I look at my window that was the cause of the noise, what was there was a single crow.
I opened the window, the crow suddenly came into my room. I snarled at it, “don’t ever come back”.
It felt like the crow came to laugh at my miserable self, so I chased it out of the room.
But for some strange reason, day after day, the crow came back. I repeated the same lines each time, “don’t ever come back.”
I was getting tired of this exchange that kept repeating for days. Wouldn’t you think so, if you were in the same situation as me? Even though I was immersed in thinking about my lover that left me all alone in my room, a lost crow barged into my room to bother me over and over again. For me, I just couldn’t handle the cold truth of reality that the crow was thrusting into me.
But one day, I had a thought. The crow was actually a messenger that my ex-lover sent out to me.
If this crow was really what it was, then this crow would be able to tell her what I wanted to say.
Each time, again and again, “I want to see you,” I pleaded to the crow.
The crow then nodded, and flew out of my room.
Perhaps, the crow won’t ever come again? Although I was finally alone in my room, instead of thinking about my ex-lover, all I thought about was the crow. I couldn’t sleep at night.
Did it fly back safely to its destination?
Could it have been attacked by a hawk?
But no matter how many days passed, the crow hasn’t returned back once.
Remembering how I said to never come back and chase it out, I full heartedly regretted it.
Why is it that in our lives, we don’t realize that partings aren’t a one time event? I secluded myself in my shell, shutting out everything around me. Not knowing that I was overlooking the one most precious to me who was always by me. I’m such a foolish man.
That was what the crow had taught me.
While in regrets and shambles, I repeated to myself, “I want to see you, I want to see you, I want to see you again.” Then,there was a sound that sounded like a knocking sound from a door. Knock, knock, knock.
I looked at the window, and the black crow was there, spilling out tears in front of me.
When I opened the window, the crow came into the room and said, “I wanted to see you too.”
—– Ah, I too, wanted to see you again.
I cradled the crow carefully, and soon I fell into a deep sleep. 8
Rikuyoku Nakoru took a deep breath and closed the book.
In her line of sight was the calm flow of chat, and burned into her eyes the existence of NakoFamilia who were on the other side of the screen.
“—— That was [The Crow that Crows at Night] This is the end to Rikuyoku Nakoru’s reading; the very end. My humans, because you are here, the you that I’m so thankful to, I am here. Let’s sleep well tonight. Sweet dreams, my Familia.”
1 Kadobun and Natsuichi are promotional events that encourage people to read books. Natsuichi also has events to have voice actors read a book. http://bunko.shueisha.co.jp/natsuichi/ https://kadobun.jp/special/natsu-fair/
2 There are many ways to refer to yourself in Japanese. She opts for the masculine equivalent, “Boku”. Nanodayo and dayo are ways to end your sentences in Japanese. This doesn’t translate well in English but I left it in TL to keep it consistent with the original text.
3 Utaite = Singers. Keep it in there for consistency with the term, as “singers” may not translate properly of the world that it is in.
4 An insult to Vtuber fans. It’s a reference to a character in the movie, Spirited Away, Kaonashi, who gave money to receive attention, and has no other way to express themselves other than that.
5 Possible Reference to SD Gundam Generation, which is shortened as Gジェネ.
6 Korean for happy birthday.
7 Wotagei, Wikipedia: Wotagei, also known as otagei, refers to a type of dancing and cheering gestures performed by wota, fans of Japanese idol singers, involving jumping, clapping, arm-waving and chanting slogans
8 For possible clarification: Gou = Main Character. Ex-Lover = Noa. Crow = Mina. Mina’s name, which has been referenced in Chapter 2 and 1, has the character “Crow” in her name.
CClaw Translations 