My Childhood Friend, a Vtuber, Treated Me Like TrashโIโm Never Producing For Her Again
After leaving the hair salon, we decided to walk around the mall to buy some new clothes.
โU-um, i-is there something weird about me after allโฆ? I kind of feel like everyoneโs staring at meโฆโ
โNo, not in a bad way. Itโs just that youโre so cute, Mizuta-san, that I canโt help but look.โ
Even though Iโd been saying the same thing over and over, Mizuta-san was still hiding behind my back.
She must have been genuinely scaredโthe tips of her fingers gripping my shirt were trembling slightly.
โB-but I just canโt bring myself to believe itโฆ When I was in elementary school, people used to call me โseaweedโ and โuglyโโฆโ
So, sheโd been hearing that for a long time, after all.
Even if I give her the benefit of the doubt on โseaweed,โ โuglyโ is just too much.
If Mizuta-san is ugly, then there isnโt a single cute girl in the whole world.
โDo you trust those bullies from back then more than you trust me?โ
โN-no, thatโs not what I meantโฆ!โ
โThen please believe me. Arenโt you in the middle of trying to leave the past behind and change right now?โ
โY-yeah, youโre rightโฆ! Iโve changedโit cost me 23,000 yenโฆ!!โ
It must have felt like a huge amount to her.
It was probably the first time sheโd ever spent that much money on her hair.
โOh, come to think of it, are there any clothing styles youโd rather not wear?โ
โHuh? Nโno?โ
โYeah, like, mini-skirts or off-the-shoulder tops are out of the question, for example.โ
โHuh? W-well, itโs not that I canโt wear them, but would they actually suit meโฆ?โ
โWe wonโt know until you try them on.โ
Mizuta said this while looking up at me, glancing sideways to gauge my reaction.
โI-if Komachi-san picks them out for me, Iโll wear anythingโฆโ
Sheโd always been cute, but now she was on a whole different level, and I couldnโt help but feel my face flush.
It wasnโt on purpose, but her long, straight black hair is exactly my type.
And honestly, I was a little happy to be relied on like this.
That said, leaving everything up to me wouldnโt be good for Mizuta-san.
Thinking that, I said to her half-jokingly.
โIf you say โanything,โ I might make you wear a bikini or something.โ
โI-if itโs a bikini, Iโm actually pretty confident about thatโฆ!โ
Mizuta-san pushed her chest up firmly with both hands, right through her clothes, to emphasize it.
I really canโt figure out where her confidence comes from.
ใโ
The day after we bought a few new outfits, I went to school as usual and walked into the classroomโ
โWhatโs going on? Mizuta-san, a sudden makeover?โ
โThat gave me a shock! I didnโt even recognize you at all, Mizuta-san!โ
โWow, Mizuta-san, youโre this cute? Where was your old school again?โ
A crowd had gathered around Mizuta-sanโs desk.
Sheโs definitely turning heads.
Still, whatโs with these guys asking questions like itโs her first day at a new school?
As soon as I sat down, Yamamoto, who was sitting behind me, immediately spoke up.
โI knew itโyouโre the one behind this, right?โ
โI donโt know.โ
โWhy are you trying to hide it? Youโve always liked long black hair, havenโt you?โ
Yamamoto grinned and continued.
โMaking a girl your ownโyouโre something else, arenโt you?โ
โItโs not like that. Itโs just a coincidence.โ
Thatโs rightโitโs not like I made Mizuta-san get that hairstyle just because I like long black hair.
I just picked something I thought would suit her.
โWell, Iโll take your word for it.โ
โYouโre not listening to a word Iโm saying.โ
โAnyway, you were totally right. Mizuta-san is a total cutie.โ
Watching Mizuta-san desperately answering questions while surrounded by her classmates, Yamamoto whistled softly.
Oh well, I guess itโs only a matter of time before Yamamoto becomes Mizuta-sanโs boyfriend.
Itโs not like I took Mizuta-san to the beauty salon just for his sake, though.
Yamamoto put his hand on my shoulder.
โLooks like youโll be able to forget about Aizawa-san sooner than I thought, huh? After all, the best way to get over a crush is to replace it with a new one.โ
โI donโt know what youโre talking about, but isnโt that cycle a little too fast?โ
โIโm just three times faster than everyone else.โ
โAre you the Red Comet or something?โ
I hope this guy doesnโt start going on about my mom in his will or something.
As I was chatting with Yamamoto about this and thatโ
My phone buzzed in my pocket.
I pulled it out and looked at the screenโit was a message from Mizuta-san.
โPlease help me.โ
โโฆโฆโ
I gently turned my head, and Mizuta-san was staring intently at me.
Her eyes were unusually moist.
She looked just like a kitten surrounded by mean elementary school kids.
Still, swiping with one hand under the deskโthatโs insanely fast.
Yamamoto glanced at Mizuta-san and me, then grinned.
โAhaaa, so thatโs whatโs going on. It kind of feels like a secret romance, doesnโt it?โ
โItโs nothing like that at all.โ
Well, we are sharing a secret, though.
Itโs just not a romance.
I swiped my finger across my phone screen and sent a reply to Mizuta-san.
โIโm sorry, Iโm not up to the task.โ
โDonโt say thatโplease at least give it a try (cry)โ
โIโm a wallflower too.โ
โYouโre way more outgoing than me! I think a โrelatively outgoingโ person has a duty to help a โrelatively shyโ person!!โ
Mizuta tends to come across as a bit more assertive on LINE.
I guess you could say thatโs typical of a wallflower in a way.
Still, what exactly is this โrelatively shyโ theory?
โHow about thinking of it this way? Donโt think of them as classmatesโthink of them as listeners.โ
โHuh? Isnโt that a bit too much of an โinternet-addictโ way of thinking?โ
Even though Iโm at the bottom of the barrel, I never expected to get a point like this from an active VTuber.
โRight now there are only five at most, but once you get bigger, this many comments will scroll by in an instant, you know?โ
โItโs trueโwhen I watch big-name streamers, the speed at which comments scroll by is on a whole different levelโฆโ
โThatโs exactly why you canโt let yourself get flustered by the current volume. Think of it as practice and try handling it on your own. Are you going to ask me for help then, too?โ
โUghโฆ (crying) Okay, Iโll give it a try.โ
Right now, Mizuta doesnโt go silent during streams, but her conversation style isnโt quite suited for streaming yet.
Of course, part of it is that sheโs talking to an empty wall, but more than that, her commentary feels less like communication and more like talking to herself.
Thatโs why if she can hone her communication skills even a little bit in a setting like this, itโll definitely come in handy.
That was my reasoning behind giving her that advice.
โU-umโฆ!โ
Mizuta-san looked around at her classmates surrounding her.
Then, as if summoning her courage, she clenched both fists tightly and raised her voice.
โH-helloโฆ!!โ
โHuh? Whatโs up, Mizuta? A greeting out of the blue?โ
โWhatโs that? Thatโs hilarious.โ
Laughter broke out around usโโAhaha.โ
And then, Mizuta and I both turned bright red at the same time.