My Childhood Friend, a Vtuber, Treated Me Like TrashโIโm Never Producing For Her Again
A few days have passed since I set up the dynamic microphone at Mizutaโs house.
I took a look at her channel, and fortunately, her streams have been going mostly smoothly.
However, when she played that hero shooter game she often plays, there was still a bit of stuttering.
(I should probably give her some advice on this as well.)
The fundamental solution is what we discussed the other day.
Either add another PC for streaming to set up a dual-system setup, or upgrade the hardwareโthose are pretty much the only options.
But as she herself mentioned, that would be quite an expense.
It doesnโt feel right for me to lend her money, either.
So I figured Iโd at least teach her some quick fixes to lighten the load even with her current specs.
As I entered the classroom with these thoughts in mind, Mizuta-san was already seated at her desk.
(Maybe Iโll ask her to go to the club room during lunch break.)
In class, Mizuta was always alone.
The only time her classmates gathered around her was on her first day after transferring.
After that, maybe she couldnโt fit in, but Iโve never seen her hanging out with anyone.
(Well, but Iโm her friendโฆ right?)
Itโd be a little embarrassing if I were the only one thinking that, though.
I sent a LINE message to the Visual Research Club president first thing in the morning to reserve the clubroom for lunch break, then took my seat.
Today, too, Yamamotoโwhoโs pointlessly good-lookingโgrinned and struck up a conversation with me.
โHey, youโve been staring at Mizuta-san nonstop lately.โ
โNah, not really.โ
โYou donโt have to beat around the bush. I donโt have the slightest intention of spreading rumors.โ
โNow that you say that, I find it even harder to believe.โ
Lately, Yamamotoโs been constantly egging me on, trying to set me up with Mizuta-san.
But it seems Mizuta-san herself has a crush on Yamamotoโฆ
โU-umโฆ!โ
Just as I was rolling my eyes, a voice suddenly cut in.
I turned my body back toward the frontโand there wasโ
โMizuta-san?โ
โY-yesโฆ I-itโs Mizuta.โ
โOh, right. Whatโs up?โ
This was the first time sheโd spoken to me in class since that incident with the microphone setup.
โW-wellโฆ about that thing we were talking about earlierโฆโ
โYeah.โ
Is she talking about the computer?
โIโve been thinking it overโฆ If I had 300,000 yen, do you think I could manage itโฆ?โ
โYeah, well, I think you could manage it to some extent.โ
I wouldnโt know for sure without doing the math myself.
Prices for parts have been fluctuating wildly lately.
โMore importantly, have you actually managed to come up with 300,000 yen?โ
From what we talked about last time, she was supposed to have borrowed several monthsโ worth of allowance in advance just to buy a microphone.
โW-wellโฆ if I put myself out there to earn it, I think I could manageโฆโ
โโHuh?โโ
Not just me, but even Yamamoto, who had been listening from behind, let out a gasp.
Immediately after, he placed his hand on my shoulder and spoke to me in a serious tone.
โHey, Komachi. Youโre not seriouslyโโ
โNo, thatโs not what I meant. Mizuta-san, please explain yourself.โ
โHuh? W-wellโฆ If I manage to earn the money somehow, Komachi-san will come to my room again and do all sorts of things for me, rightโฆ?โ
โHey, Komachi.โ
โThatโs not what I said! Mizuta-san, are you saying that on purpose right now?โ
Even if Iโm trying to keep the VTuber talk under wraps in class, if you cut it short like that, people are bound to misunderstand.
Or maybe sheโs just extra nervous because sheโs in front of a handsome guy.
Either way, I need to clear this up before any weird rumors start spreading.
โMizuta, youโre talking about a part-time job, right?โ
โY-yesโฆ Iโve never had a physical job before, so Iโm a little scared, but I-I think Iโll give it a tryโฆ!โ
โOh, I see. So thatโs what it was.โ
Finally satisfied, Yamamoto took his hand off my shoulder.
โWait a minute. You said youโd come to Mizuta-sanโs room โagainโ? Komachi, you and Mizuta-san have alreadyโฆโ
โNo, no. Not Mizuta-sanโs roomโthe club room.โ
โThe club room? Werenโt you part of the โGo Home Clubโ?โ
โIโm a ghost member, but Iโm still in the club. The Paranormal Research Club.โ
โWhatโs that supposed to mean?โ
I let out a long sigh inside my head.
It seemed like Iโd managed to smooth things over somehow.
โฆLater, Iโll ask Mizuta-san to choose her words a little more carefully.
ใโ
Lunchtime rolled around, and I approached Mizuta-sanโs desk.
โShall we go to the clubroom?โ
โY-yesโฆโ
This time, I headed to the club room with my lunchbox right from the start.
Well, just like last time, it was probably something her mom made for her.
Just as I thought that, my eyes fell on her fingertips.
There were Band-Aids stuck all over her hands.
Wait, no way.
โMizuta-san, did you actually make this lunchbox yourself?โ
โY-yesโฆ It was my first time, so I struggled a bit, but at least the seasoning should be just right.โ
She went to all this trouble for meโฆ
Well, I guess ultimately itโs for her own VTuber activities.
Still, Yue had never once shown her feelings like this before, so I felt a little warmth deep in my chest.
When we arrived at the club room, the club president was wearing a skirt again today, with her legs stretched out on the desk.
โClub President, didnโt you send me a LINE message this morning?โ
โOh my, isnโt this Komachi-kun? I was wondering what kind of girl youโd bring today.โ
โโฆCould you please stop talking about me as if I were some kind of playboy?โ
Because Mizuta-san might get the wrong idea again.
The club president took her legs off the desk, stood up, walked over to us, and turned to face Mizuta-san.
โUm, what was your name again?โ
โM-Mei Mizutaโฆโ
โMei-chan, huh? Oh, itโs okay if I call you by your first name, right?โ
โY-yesโฆโ
โHmm, let me seeโฆ Excuse me for a moment.โ
No sooner had she said it than the department head hooked her finger under Mizutaโs chin and lifted it slightly.
โHuh, I seeโฆ This is quite the raw gem.โ
โW-whatโฆ?โ
โAnd now that I look, your chest is no joke either. Whatโs your cup size?โ
โYou sexual harasser of a club president, get out of here right now!โ
I couldnโt take it anymore, so I shoved the club president hard in the back and kicked her out of the clubroom.
Even as she was being kicked out, the club president left one final, unnecessary remark.
โYou can do whatever you want, but make sure to clean up after yourselves! And ventilate the room, too!!โ
โShut up!!โ
Seriously, she used to tease Yue like that all the time, too.
Sheโs not a bad person, but thereโs no doubt sheโs a bit of a prankster.
I gave a wry smile and said to Mizuta-san.
โWell, I guess the club presidentโs rightโwe do have to air out the room.โ
โEh, ehโฆ!? K-Komachi-san, t-thatโฆโ
Mizuta-san squirmed awkwardly and turned her face away.
โI-I canโt resist at all, b-but since itโs my first time, p-please be gentleโฆโ
โJust to clarify, when I said โventilationโ just now, I was talking about the smell of our lunches, okay?โ
โHuh?โ
โThe smell of our lunches tends to linger, right? Since weโre just borrowing this space, we should try to keep it as clean as possible.โ
โO-oh, so thatโs what you meantโฆโ
True, my phrasing might have been a little confusing.
That said, why does Mizuta-san overreact this much every single time?
It almost makes me misunderstand things too.
โWell then, shall we eat first?โ
โY-yesโฆโ
Mizuta-san opened her lunch bag and took out two Tupperware containers and a pair of disposable chopsticks.
When I opened the lid of the lunch box she handed me, I found more side dishes than Iโd expected, packed tightly into the container.
Ever since my parents divorced, Iโve been in charge of all household chores, including cooking.
Thatโs exactly why I know all too well just how much work it takes to make a bento from scratch.
โThis must have been a lot of work, right? Did you have to get up really early this morning?โ
โY-yesโฆ But when I saw the finished product, I felt a real sense of accomplishment.โ
โUmโฆ It looks like you cut your fingers pretty badly. Are you okay?โ
โHuh? Oh, y-you mean this? Actually, this isโโ
With a shy chuckle, Mizuta-san raised her handsโcovered in Band-Aidsโin front of her face.
โI just thought, โIs this what itโs like for a girl cooking for a boy for the first time?โโ
โHuhโฆ?โ
โS-so, theyโre just for show. I didnโt actually cut myself at all.โ
โโฆโฆโ
I wish sheโd give me back some of that moment I was feeling.