CH 1

Case 1: The Girl Who Leads to Ark

1

A small drizzle fell, making not a single noise outside.

According to the news, the rain will move further north in the next week, which leads to an explosive start of the rainy season in the Kanto region.

It honestly felt like she was in a sauna. The rainy season is the kind of season where when you’re fed up with the humidity, then it’s good to relax under the shades on the hot summer day. From the country where half her blood comes from, there is a proverb: rolling stones gain no mosses. On one hand, the proverb is dichotomous with two different meanings, but in the first place, when thinking of the moss as a weight, then there’s a benefit to having no moss.

In other words, if she stays in place, then “not streaming” is a possible option.

The young girl who stared stiffly like a statue at her laptop, groaned for a bit while thinking about that excuse. On the stream’s waiting thumbnail was of a 2D girl taking advantage of the rainy season to be very arousing.

The rain was falling in the illustration, with the girl’s uniform being very drenched and making the fabric translucent. The riskiness of whether the undergarment contours can be seen is a sight to behold for perverted kids.

Furthermore, the most surprising thing was that, in the first place, the 2D girl in the illustration wasn’t wearing any undergarment.

There is no way that she’ll ever be in this kind of situation in real life as the “soul” behind the drenched girl. While making such jokes about the thumbnail, the waiting room alert came, and not long after that was a demand from her producer to start the stream.

Trembling with fear, she pressed the button to start streaming.

“Hello, everyone….! It’s Kagami Moa! Can you hear me?”

The Vtuber had straw-cape-like false sleeves while showing her bare cleavage on her stream. The concept behind the design of the Vtuber is a large bird that’s extinct in New Zealand. On top of her head, was a tree vine extending out, and at the peak of it, there was a mirror attached to the shade-hat. According to the Mama that created the design, the inspiration came from dream catchers.

Just how a Canada’s ethnic ornament became connected to a New Zealand’s extinct bird is a wonder. From distances said to be on the opposite side of Earth, there was no way that the mirror would help Moa.

○The rain….. falling….

○ Even if the stream doesn’t start, the thumbnail still pleases the eye

○ KonMoa!

○ Omg Besasano Mama illustration are always the best

“So you can hear me? That’s good~. Let’s start the stream. Good evening, Moara~” First off, she has to start to talk about the weather. “….Wow, the humid nights continue~ It’s especially humid over here that I’m already using the air conditioner.”

Although it was the likes of a talk when elderly greet each other at a park, since she started as a Vtuber, she secretly holds a great admiration for their conversation technique, as it was eloquent.

○ I’m with you there. Without my dehumidifier, I’ll die

○ I so agree

○ It would be best if you start cleaning your air conditioner now

○ The appointments for cleaning air conditioners must be full right about now

○ If you wanted to clean it, then isn’t using the items from the 100 yen store sufficient?

【Free Talk! New Members Welcome/Looking at Comments!】is the title of Kagami Moa’s stream. However, there were only 100 viewers, which is not a big number.

With only 100 people, the chat messages’ speed was slow. Kagami Moa is the type of streamer who isn’t that talkative, and at times, the viewers were speaking as they liked in the chat section.

Rather, Moa, looks forward to the repeated interaction when a knowledgeable viewer appears and says some witty trivia, and she replies with “Wow,” and “Is that so” during her streams.

However, her dependency on them beckons trouble.

○ But the best thing to use is an air conditioner rather than a dehumidifier, I would think. Dehumidifier is expensive on the electric bills

○If it’s a weak dehumidifier then it’ll ease the cost of electric bills

○ I just came now. What’s going on?

○ Actually, isn’t Moa-chan supposed to give an announcement today?

“…..Ah” Moa panicked and then remembered. “Announcement. Yes, about that… Yes, I have an announcement!”

Moa had started with the weather unfortunately due to her habit.

At noon, on her Twitter account, she had triumphantly tweeted, “On today’s stream, I have an announcement to tell you,”. —- Actually, these kinds of errors increase day by day, and these mistakes are what some viewers are irritated with, which causes Moa’s stress. On the other hand though, there are some viewers who think of her clumsiness as a charm and want to safeguard her.

“…. Regarding the announcement… Um, hm…. Let’s announce it at the end, ok?”

○ Let’s talk when you’re not panicking

○ Don’t forget to hydrate yourself

○ How long is the stream going to be for today?

“Thank you for your concerns! Everyone is so nice. – Um, how long, right? Today’s stream is planned for an hour~

○ KonMoa~. Isn’t the thumbnail too exciting for the eyes?

○ One hour~ Got it

○ Good job on announcing the end timing on the stream

The ideal stream would have gone like this. First off, she had to announce that the stream was going to be an hour-long stream. Then, say in advance she will announce something at the end of the stream. She was supposed to talk about the weather after saying all that.

Kagami Moa had completely shifted the order.

And as a result, the conversation had a sudden shift midway, and it caused the chat messages’ flow to stop completely.

She rubbed her brow, and as a way to restart the stream’s atmosphere, Moa decided to rely on her secret weapon.

“Oh, I almost forgot. Today, I wanted to read through a week’s worth of Marshmallow1 in this stream~”

Moa said that, and put a screenshot of the marshmallow on the left side of the screen.

“Hm, first off is this marshmallow.” What came up was a message with pink borders around it. “‘Moa-chan, good evening. Thank you for your hard work. By the way, do you have a Vtuber that you respect?’ — Is the message that I received, thank you. Hm, respect, a Vtuber that I respect….. There was someone.”

○ Give me a shitpost

○ Ah it’s mine

○ There “was” someone?

○ Past tense?

“I, respected a Vtuber in the past and that became the reason why I became a Vtuber. But that Vtuber retired….. Although it was sad, their feelings and seeing them working hard…. I wanted to continue their legacy, I thought.”

○ Retiring can’t be helped

○ Having your Oshi retire is painful

○ So it wasn’t to be in a relationship?

“Relationships? No, no way, that kind of thing… In the first place, that person was a female Vtuber. There wasn’t anything to be ashamed about….” Kagami Moa’s neck shook around, and the virtual body was shaking unnaturally.

○ Eh, I wonder who it was

○ I thought it was a male

○ At this opportunity, I want to hear about your taste in men

“What do I like in males?” Moa was at a loss for words.

For a moment, she felt nostalgic about the days in the past. She felt how pathetic she is now for getting further away from the ideal Vtuber she wanted to be. Anytime before she streams, she feels a guilt well up in her, and believes that she can’t honestly be the person, “Kagami Moa”.

When this stream ends, a nightmare approaches —–

Moa, for a second, wondered if she said something wrong in her stream till now, and was in deep panic.

Thinking of a safe answer in time, she answered the question quickly.

“My taste in men… Maybe a kind and honest person? Ahaha, that’s too ordinary of a guy, isn’t it?”

2

The minute hand of the clock ticked away.

Just like it is vying to be at the same pace, the clacky noises from typing resounded into the curtained room. The typing noises were emitted from the fingers that were as thin as their bones.

Possessing white hair, the man who had dead-fish eyes was typing vigorously.

“… The circumstances to…. the game stream…. Exhibited bad manners…. Overkill…” While he muttered, the words on the screen were being put on the screen one by one.

The blog’s name, [Burn, V!] — is the name that encompasses the wishes of the man.

Not for the sake of gaining attention, nor was advised, he continued to write like he was possessed. The contents of his post was concerning flaming incidents in the Vtuber community.

The flaming incident occurred during a fierce moment in an FPS game, where a male Vtuber made reckless remarks and shot a dead player more than needed, and on top of that, said condescending remarks toward his teammates. When the man finished writing everything concerning the incident, he felt a ringing in his ears like guitar strings were being plucked, and slammed down his laptop.

Glaring at the curtain that covered the window, he stood up from his chair. Stepping and traversing through the trash in the messy room, he reached the window. He then opened the window.

The sun was radiantly shining. And the blue sky—

The face of a dead person was laid bare for the eyes to see. The male high school student, who had given up his youth that summer, no longer existed.

— Karube Gou, 17 years old.

He had taken an absence from school, a light way of saying truancy. So, only due to habit, he is a highschool student, but in name only.

He was betrayed by the idol he loved and was abandoned by his comrades who stood shoulder to shoulder with him in professing their love.

Currently, he is living alone and living off the income from being an affiliate blog.

The blue sky he saw above was projecting the illusion of Ikebukuro 5th Platform’s aerial wiring. And just like that it disappeared and at the same time the ringing in his ears disappeared.

“Again…. It’s that season…”

He hates summer. The bodies of the cicadas scattered on the streets were like a cynical reminder to that dang incompetent slug that had a short-lived glory. Realizing that it was nothing but an auditory hallucination, he felt relieved.

However, it is the inescapable truth that the unbearable season is coming steadily —

“… Ugh.”

Trying to forget the heat, he turned the air conditioner to the highest level and collapsed on the bed.

The sun continues to rise in the sky with the sunlight growing stronger along with it, and even the wind from the air conditioner was torrid. He closed his eyes, enduring the strange feeling, and took a deep breath within the darkness.

This room was like an Ark that collapsed and then sealed up.

This is the world’s hell, that has no light nor wind, with continuous exposure to the passionate fires called flaming.

Gou, up till now, continues to endure against those passionate flames. Even after summer comes to an end, beckoning the start of fall, and even in the winter where the memories stagnant, always –

Thinking back, it was inevitable that Mukanae Noa was flamed.

Even though she was a Vtuber steadily growing in popularity, the solo live was what made her an overnight sensation in the Vtuber world.

As a result, her previous life, or in other words, the person she was before she entered the virtual world was revealed.

On the internet, usually a watchdog who has a silent presence – otherwise known as doxxers.

It’s not certain what their motivation is. However, when they feel jealousy towards a specific person, they use all their power and speed to dox. They will spend not just a few hours, but dozens of hours traveling through the sea of the internet to gather the scattered information, and expose them without a single break.

Her soul (the person behind the Vtuber), her personal information of her activities as a singer in real life, her face, and her non-private sub-account was exposed in broad daylight without a single night passing after the live.

On her sub-account, it wasn’t just her face that was revealed, but also tweets of Noa’s soul’s inappropriate behaviors.

For example, the tweets of her grumbles about her boyfriend. This level of tweets would be seen as “cute complaints”. Scrolling down in her tweets would reveal many foul-mouth dirty jokes. Statements that look very much like compensated dating. Slanders and prejudice over obsessive idol otakus.

If someone were to protect Noa and say she is still green for the world, then these tweets were the final straw.

But, if her real-life details weren’t found –

If she didn’t incur the hatred of the doxxer–

If she didn’t trend–

If the solo live wasn’t streamed online–

If the crowdfunding didn’t reach its goal–

In the first place, if the solo live wasn’t planned —

If the man, who made a name himself as the chief in charge of the fans, Noa’s fan Karugo, never existed—

Then maybe her ark wouldn’t have sunken like that.

At that time, Gou did not give up.

Flaming incidents can be extinguished as time goes by. Real man can forgive a girl when they lie2, like a popular manga character said. After all, what is the point of being the biggest fan if they can’t accept the likes of this.

The hidden face behind Mukanae Noa–

Out of all the disgraceful behaviors exhibited by Noa, the one that brought the most coals to the flames was the prejudice against otakus.

Although there are tweets that hints towards compensated dating, there isn’t any proof to those statements. However, written in her own words were her comments towards otakus. They weren’t the type of comments that can be treated as her joking around. It served as proof that her slogan was made out of paper mache and exposed her deception towards her fans.

On the day of her first solo live, at the time her Youtube channel subscribers reached over 300,000. However, immediately following the flaming incident, it decreased to 30,000 in an instant. Her videos had dislikes all over the place, and the Hoshigaoka High School’s management had to turn off comments because of how turbulent the comments were.

Even those who have called themselves Noatomo till then turned into Anti-fans.

Even in such a disastrous situation, Gou still did not give up.

Mukanae Noa was the girl who Gou sacrificed everything for. The captain may have screwed up and led the ark to sinking, but if there’s no one to fix the ark, then it’s inevitable that the captain will die with it.

On the unofficial Discord server, Gou called out to the Noatomo.

○ Karugo 2021/9/12

When Noa-chan’s flaming calms down, let’s go back to cheering her again!

○ Karugo 2021/9/30

Everyone! To welcome back Noa-chan magnificently, I have thought about a warm project to present her with!

○ Karugo 2021/10/24

Speaking of which, why don’t we do a fan event while we wait for Noa-chan to return? I thought about doing online karaoke events or a game competition event…

The messages given by the snail icon continued to be sent in vain.

Even though they were the comrades that felt the feverish night together with him, not a single response came. Gou was alone.

After that, he took measures to get in contact with Hoshigaoka School’s management team who was maintaining silence.

His emails and direct phone calls were ignored because they were mixed with anti’s phone calls and messages. So, the first thing to do was to directly message the official Twitter account that was a mutual follower with him. But there were no answers here either. Unyielding in his efforts, he looked up Mukanae Noa’s name and other related words into the search bar.

He sent himself searching through the streams of insults that were fueled by the flaming. Working through all the insults, he eventually found the management sub-account. The day he sent the message to the account, it was 3 months after the flaming. And after 3 months of silence since the flaming incident happened, there was an answer.

│ When is Noa-chan going to return? │

11/3/2021 11：41 pm

│ We, the management, have decided that continuing activities would be difficult.│

11/4/2021 12:03 am

Cruelly, the management staff had decided to kill off his Oshi.

│ That can’t be right…… But, you had the first solo live and made the original song – isn’t this the best time for her to kick-off her career? There are fans that are waiting for her to come back. Fans like me! Let us see the dream together once more. Noa-chan’s 【Ark!】was the best. I believe that you will make the right decision!” │

11/4/2021 12:18 am

│ We are sorry to be unable to meet your expectations.

The management teams have discussed many times over the topic of restarting activities, but no matter how many times we deliberate, we have decided that discontinuing the project is the best decision.

We sincerely apologize.

From now, we will be writing not as management, but as people. We saw the passionate feelings that Karugo-sama exhibited and are very grateful for your large amount of support for her till now. Thank you very much.│

11/4/2021 2:55 am

— The management verdict.

For two months after the flaming, Gou was clinging onto the belief that she’ll come back. But those words had completely caused Gou’s faith to evaporate.

The management team was feeling no pain that came from this flaming incident. The only feeling that they have was the rationality they have whether it is profitable or not in their judgment. A business ideology that takes in no account of zeal. — Capitalism.

Since then, Gou continues to search for the materials that can serve as the coals to a fire concerning the Vtuber world.

Due to mental shock, Gou’s hair turned white, and slovenly grew out his hair without cutting it.

Gou often dreamed of the ark. A dream where Mukanae’s Noa was attached to the bow of the ark, sinking silently. His parents had recommended psychometric medicine to help him, but Gou didn’t want to erase those days with the power of medicine. If he used it, then he won’t feel like he is him anymore.

Gou, day and night, gathers Vtuber flamings, [Burn, V!] and burns them as offerings. Believing that one day, the black smokes or possibly a guide, would reach the goddess…

3

Gou was having a nightmare, groaning, remembering the event of that night.

The fairy who danced across from one end to the other on the stage via the screen. The dream-like angel guiding towards the ark. With her trusted companions, the goddess sings her hymn. There won’t be another time for a greater summer than that time.

— Hah…. Hah…. Noachan had…..

The stoplight that turned green. The bustling people. The girl with silky hair who was out of breath looking desperate. Actually, that night, how did he return home from all that suffering from the palpitations? — ring.

“Hah—”

Realizing that there was a notification from his smartphone, he woke up.

Feeling strangely thirsty, Gou jumped towards the sink and washed down the feeling with tap water. The room was dyed red by the late afternoon sun, and he hallucinated that he was in a burning ark.

After calming down, Gou looked at the notification. It was a friend request from Discord.

Gou had an account for the public to contact him to give him information of flaming.

The discord account was primarily used to get information through voice chat, but that kind of thing comes once in a blue moon. In most cases, albeit in small amounts of tip-offs, come through Twitter DMs.

Gou thought it was strange but tapping on the screen twice he accepted the friend request.

Immediately, there was a request for a voice chat.

“…..”

Gou hesitated to press the button due to how strangely the person was acting, especially when the person didn’t try to greet and ask beforehand.

There aren’t a lot of people who would bother puny affiliate blog owners like Gou. But even then, the information that they gain is still proof of someone. As a result, there are those that resent them for informing others with those information.

Whether it’s the target Vtuber itself or the fans.

The other person had a black background with the “海” character on their icon. Probably a throwaway account. But—.

“On that night, I died…….” Gou whispered.

In fact, Gou wished for the other person to berate him. Anything from that can become materials for an article. Those will become the oil to an even bigger flame.

“Hello.”

He pressed the button to enter the call, and put the smartphone to his ear.

“—– Ah…. Karugo-san….. Right?”

It was a clear, cute girl’s voice. He stiffened at the unexpected voice. He had thrown away that name.

“Who may you be….?”

“I am… Kagami— No, that’s not how to start.”

There was a hint of panic in her voice. She had the feel of a streamer, and her voice was lively and very easy to listen to. But, it’s no mistake that she was panicking. It was evident in her faint, and disrupted breathing.

That kind of breathing style is somewhat familiar to him.

“Ok, I got this…. “Mina”, do you remember that name?”

“……”

Gou immediately turned off the voice call.

And immediately following that, “海” once again called. Gou pressed the deny button. And then she called again. Gou then blocked the account. Now with this, she can never call him ever again.

Afterwards, he is going to remove the publicly available discord ID and then delete the account all together.

Mina— a Noatomo who had supported Noa. A comrade who went to the solo live on that day…. However, Gou doesn’t think of her as a comrade anymore. After all, all Noatomos are traitors to him.

The group of fans, or so they are called, had all shouted “I will support you till the end” “my forever Oshi!”, but they were meaningless words. Amazed at the traitorous comrades, realizing that they are the same as the Vtuber herself, Gou no longer believed in them.

But even then, why is Mina contacting him after all this time?

—- Ring. Ring. Ring ring ring ring ring.

The constant sounds’ identity was the constant chiming on the doors that was like it came out from a horror film.

Gou, wondering what the hell was going on, looked through the small hole in the entrance door.

In front of the door was that girl. She was wearing round glasses and a cap on her head. Stylish. And then, platinum hair was raining down. To have a beautiful girl with a small face in front of the peephole, the beautifulness of the person is too bright.

That person was like the person from one year ago. It was, no doubt, Mina.

“Why is that girl… Did she dox me to find my address…… Shit.”

Gou had phlegm build up in his throat. Even though he changed his name, to find his apartment along with finding his account for voice calls….. Gou only works with flaming materials, that are sensitive information, so in order not to be the target of the doxxers, he was careful in his steps.

So, to end up in this state, is just an embarrassment for him.

“Hey! You’re here, Karugo-san, right? Come out please.” She was saying that and pounding the door. Knock knock knock. Nowadays, office workers on their way home from work, housewives that are on their way home from shopping, elementary students going home after school, and such are becoming more and more common on weekday evenings around his apartment.

“I heard you talking on the voice call from this room! Please, come out! Karugo-san!”

Gou resigned himself and opened the door.

“Shut up….! Please be quiet, I’m asking you.”

He was troubled to be shouted at by his old name.

He knew of the world’s coldness towards the future of young no-lifes in the metropolitan areas.

So they honestly didn’t care about some random internet name. But even if that is the case, for him to hear his old name only causes his pain beyond imaginable.

To talk through the entranceway — was his intention, but the moment he opened the door, the girl barged into the room without hesitation.

“What, What are you…”

“Hah… I’m grateful. Thank you, Karugo-san.”

Mina gave a lovely smile, and nonchalantly took off her shoes and entered the dirty room. Wet feet were clearly marked on the kitchen leading from the entranceway.

“Thank you – hell no. Why do you know where I live?”

Gou glared at her while saying that.

“Last year, I went to your parent’s home by the way.” Mina turned around after calming her breath. “And the reason why I know where you live is because of your mom. When she saw me, she happily told me.”

Gou covered his face with his hands.

On that day, Gou had collapsed, and had no one to take him back. But there was Mina. She had brought him home in the state he was.

At the time, when an attractive girl appears with their idiot son in the middle of the night, it is unlikely that they’ll get mad at the time.

“Then what the hell with the voice call? Who is this “海” person.”

“I took it from my real name. Kogarasu Mina. The “Mi” in Mina is written with 海 character.”

Unexpectedly Mina — or rather her real name, Gou was surprised.3 He now understood why Mina used a black crow as her Twitter icon. It was because her surname was Kogarasu. Kogarasu had “crow” as a character in her surname. It was a straightforward approach.

“You know that’s not what I’m talking about. Why did you call me.” Gou coercively asked Mina.

“Ararat Kazan.4”

“Uu….” Gou groaned.

That was the name that Gou was going by when writing for [Burn V!].

Releasing the tension in her face, Mina continued. “…. Karugo-san, you’re easy to read. Ararat was the final resting place for the ark, wasn’t it? The start of the article-writing was after Noa-chan retired, and when remembering about the illusionary [Ark!] It’s easy for people to connect the dots.” Mina earnestly said.

“So what, I don’t care if I get exposed. No one is going to care about what happened to Noa’s fan Karugo.” In response, Gou turned to the offense and cursed out the former comrade.

“But I…. cared though..”

Mina’s cheeks flushed and felt a little embarrassed? Does she really think that he’ll open his heart to her just like that? Just how much does she think Gou had suffered and how much shame that he saw from his comrades.

“Also, I believe that there are others, not including me, that also cares about what happened to you after disappearing.”

“Stop sugarcoating!” Gou raised his voice. “No matter how many times I called out on Discord, there was no one who came to support her. If you really cared about me—”

Mina raised her eyebrows after hearing Gou’s rant.

“…. You know, we were all in shock…”

“Ugh…” Gou gasped at the unexpected counterattack.

“Just how are we supposed to recover from seeing our Oshi like that and even witness the flaming first-hand….. We were all in so much pain…!”

Umi ranted, close to tears.

“Let me return the feelings to you – what the hell were you thinking, Karugo-san! Mina raised her voice. “When our Oshi is being flamed, when we were all in pain, why did you think of hosting fan events in that situation!? That’s absurd! What did you expect, for us to be happy-go-lucky at those events?

Gou was caught off-guard. Only after it was pointed out did he realize the fans’ mental state. Even more since he was the biggest fan who was received well by those around him, all the more to feel devastated.

Mina had a depressed look on her face, and her voice trembled.

“Karugo-san… Did you really love Noa-chan…?”

Gou felt the words that were blasted to him gouge into his chest. Did he really support her? Really, did he?

Far from being hurt by seeing the shameful misconduct, Kargo instead sped up his support. At the time, he thought the reason for that was because he believed in her, but normally he should have been depressed. After being shown the misconduct of his Oshi, he should have been sad, and then no longer able to face her. This is what it means to be a fan. Then what was Karube Gou–

“…” Unable to digest Mina’s words, Karugo was at a loss for words.

Time passed in vain. He still hasn’t heard the reason why she came here. But before that, already, his heart had been gouged out so deep that he doesn’t know if it can be considered a hole.

“…I’m sorry,” Mina muttered. “I didn’t come here to fight.”

Mina regretted seeing Gou standing in silence. Even though Mina was the one who could barely stand up without leaning onto someone.

On the other hand, Karugo has lost the will to drive Mina back, and can only groan “Ah”.

“Karugo-san—no Ararato Kazan-san, I have a request for you. I want you to flame me…”

Mina once again looked towards Karugo’s eyes and said that. Her eyes were trembling, just like on that day in the past.

4

Yesterday night—- Moa’s stream barely picked up till the end.

A sudden superchat from “Sardine-kun” appeared, it switched the subject to talking about how difficult it is to read the characters for different fish types, tips on how to cook fish, and she managed to spark a comeback at the end.

Mina felt relieved inside. To express her gratitude to Sardine-kun, at the very least, she’ll have sardines for her next dinner.

Looking at the time on her wedgewood antique clock above her computer, she thought it would be about time to end the stream.

“Alright~. Now, let’s go to do night’s ending calls.”

The person on the screen – Kagami Moa gave a smile. Mina, had a habit to say “call” as a way to call it the end of the day. Even as a Vtuber, she continued to use it there.

○ To finish the stream at poking a stick into the eyes of sardines

○ The Moara too should be the sardines

○ My eyes aaaaaaah my eyesss

○ I’m awaiting for the announcement

“Ah, but before we end it…. I have an announcement.” Mina gulped, swallowing her saliva, and prepared herself. “Guess what! The day after tomorrow, at 9 pm Friday, I will stream a trending game~!”

○ Oooh?

○ I wonder what it is!

○ Is it a game for audience participation?

“The game is this— getting ready for summer, Slim Handle Adventure!…With that said, I think you can tell through the silhouette? I’m sure that you’re good at guessing.. Yep, I’m sure there is something that all of you were interested in… After all, as a girl, I want to shape up for the summer~ Ahaha.” Mina acted like she was determined to shape up.

○ It was that game, huh~

○ This will go up in clips

○ Isn’t this going to be our first time seeing Moa-chan stream this?

○ It will reveal your weight, be careful

“Ah, that’s right. Because it’s my first time, please be nice to me! —- You must definitely come to this stream! With that, time to say goodbyes. Otsumoa-”

○ Otsumoa

○ It wasn’t really a big announcement, huh

○ I’ll be waiting! Till then, Moa-chan!

Kogarasu Mina, like she was running away, closed the stream by pressing the button. After making sure the stream ended properly, she folded her arms on the spot and rested her head. “Haa…”

When thinking about the game stream that is coming up in two days, she couldn’t help being depressed.

She slowly raised her head, and looked at Kagami Moa who she had left the body of.

Slim Handle Adventure is an exercise game that can be played within your own home. It was Mina’s idea to stream this kind of game. However, it wasn’t by her own will to actually stream it.

Her producer, as well as the Mama (otherwise known as the illustrator in charge of the character design) of Kagami Moa, had pressured her, and the result after being driven to the wall was planning to do this stream.

Kagami Moa was a new Vtuber that debuted 2 months ago.

She was still a little more than a fresh, new person in the community. But her Youtube Channel, immediately after debuting, had gained favorability among fans and had 20,000 subscribers following her. The success was due to the influence of her Mama, Besasano. Also, with a charming voice that matches with the character design, brought viewers who were enthralled by her innocent and amateur-streaming side of her.

But on the other hand, since she’s started streaming, there wasn’t anything special going for her.

Recently, her live streams only bring less than 200 people, and her viewers hovers around 100. Other than the dedicated fans, her streams bore the viewers.

If even a single fan is watching — is dumb optimism that ignores the issues of monetization.

In the end, if Vtubers aren’t profitable, then it’s difficult to pay for the bulkley operation costs and lose meaning in their activities. There are other Vtubers that started the same time as her that have 100,000 subscribers already. There are newcomers that are influenced to come in as a group, that fans that support a group of livers have increased. Even though Kagami Moa is fine with all this, on the other end, Besasano wouldn’t accept this.

Her last resort was to shift her stream contents to a slightly sexier route.

Why do a Slim Handle Adventure stream as a Vtuber — It is usually streamed by female Vtubers. This is because under the strenuous exercise in the game, the stream is enhanced by the groans and moans. Being able to hear the parts that reach into adult-only territories is what brings the viewership higher.

However, it’s dubious if it will succeed and change the current state. After all, it’s a stream idea that’s already been done by so many Vtubers that there is nothing really new to bring to the table.

“Ring—. It was the sound from Discord. And it was going off over and over again.

── 6/24/2022 ──

○ Besasano Today 9：07

: What the hell were you doing in the stream?

: Why can’t you do better to announce it?

: If you don’t make it sound like it’s interesting then it just sounds half-assed!

: If nothing changes the day after tomorrow, then what? You don’t have another chance.

As always, intimidating messages….. It was from Besasano.

Kagami Moa is a Vtuber affiliated with Besasano V-Production, with Besasano as the producer.

He is an illustrator reputed in the illustrator’s community, and is lauded on social media for being a great man of character.

No doubt that a character created by a popular illustrator will spike in popularity. Furthermore, as a man of character and popular, then he’ll be a good consultant when she has problems as a Vtuber.

—- Is what people were talking about when the audition took place.

Unfortunately, what people think on the internet is very much, heartlessly, different from reality.

： We’ll have a review meeting after this. Put your camera on.

It had started —.

After finishing a stream, there was always a voice chat under the feign of a review meeting, but was actually just harassment.

Besasano starts the video call pretty much half-naked, and forces Mina to put on her video too despite hating it. The online review meeting goes on forever with the repetition of dropping comments that can be considered as sexual harassment.

When she first met Besasano, Mina should have noticed the uncomfortable feeling coming from the man.

——- “Besasano V-Production” Opened! Auditions has started for you to become the next Vtuber!”

When she saw the announcement on Twitter, Mina jumped on it without any hesitation.

The details of the audition weren’t announced publicly, but it was said that applicants were interviewed one-to-one.

Assuming that the auditions were like the regular kind of auditions, she prepared herself in singing and as her special skill — could dance due to her experience in ballet. She had also practiced fervently her articulation when speaking. But she made one mistake — she was too naive for the big world.

Her interviews were done sloppily, as it was just a couple of interviews via video call.

In the business and service world, if “free and simple” is attached to a service, then there is going to be some risk.

That was, Kogarase Mina, and now Kagami Moa’s Vtuber, first lesson.

After one month passed, Besasano’s harassment escalated to harassing her everyday.

Mina was at her limits. She was only saved by the fact that he doesn’t know her real address. If he knew, then he could intrude on her home, and in worst of cases, forced into direct sexual harassment.

She couldn’t tell her parents. Just how could she explain the situation to them? She kept it a secret from them that she was a Vtuber. — And in that activity, she was being sexually harassed by the adult male that is her producer. The her right now, didn’t have the courage to consult her parents.

On this Slim Handle Adventure stream, she was betting not only her career, but that of her address too.

. Everything is riding on having 500 viewers watching the stream. Depending on the result, Kogarase Mina is going to be forced to go on a dinner date with Besasano.

“Just…. What should I do?” Mina groaned.

Besasano was someone with a lot of sexual desires.

Mina had an inkling too, and had felt that the female Vtubers would keep her at a distance after a collab.

At some point, she asked one of them to find out why.

It seems that Besasano is using his title to Kagami Moa’s female collab partners on being “clingy” in order to create relationships with other girls. It is most likely that because Mina is a minor, he is unable to lay his hands on her. So for the time being, he’ll push his sexual desires onto other female Vtubers.

But for Vtubers, they too have morals. If there is a Vtuber that is causing trouble, then they’ll be shunned by the community. This leads to losing collaboration opportunities. Then, the viewership will decrease, and then there won’t be an audience left.

It’s basically ostracizing a villain.

Mina too, has been avoiding collaborating with other Vtubers. She doesn’t want the Vtubers who doesn’t know Besasano’s true character yet to have any traumatizing memories.

The chat from Bessasano continues—

: By the way, do you remember the bet we had?

: I’m so excited for it. For me, I am fine whichever the coin lands.

Mina felt disgusted. As soon as she saw the message, Mina felt nauseated, and immediately went out of her room towards the toilet.

I received a persona from the most repulsive man on Earth.

“U… Uu…. U…”

She wants to retire. She was too naive. She wants to quit as a Vtuber.

But, although not much, there were 100 people who were cheering for Kagami Moa.

If she can’t live up to her fans’ expectations, she won’t be able to forgive herself and feels that she will just give up immediately if she faces an obstacle in the future.

She knew how painful it hurts to see a beloved Oshi graduate.

It’s because she used to be on that side, as a fan.

◆

Kogarasu Mina had a complex about her appearance.

She was so beautiful that people envy her appearance. She has a Japanese father and an England mother. In other words, a mixed-race. There are many that would call her a “half” in her parent’s generation. It’s especially inconvenient to be born in such a way on an island nation like Japan.

During her childhood, her classmates often treated her as different from them.

Even though she was born in Japan, had Japanese nationality, and can speak the same language as them.

Mina, before she could memorize things, her mother, who loved dancing, took her to ballet school.

As a habit from her ballet days, the norm for her greeting bows were curtsy. A ballerina would stretch her finger beautifully, softly holding her skirt, and then bow. That was the way to curtsey. A noble-like etiquette must have been seen as unusual for elementary schoolers. The doll-like elegance became the cause of her isolation in class.

As she grew much, she started to feel ashamed that she couldn’t fit in with her surroundings. These kinds of these didn’t only happen at her schools. When she goes out to buy things, she is often called out by model scouts. Not only that, but even perverts calls out—

It felt like she was being watched by someone all around the clock.

There was someone gazing at her after passing by. Raining in all the attention. Getting evaluated.

It was like she was always walking on the spotlight on the runway. As a result, she can’t ignore taking care of her looks. The reason for that is not for vanity. It comes from her protective instincts to prevent others from seeing through her flaws.

Her translucent hair that she protects with her dear life. The white skin. The slender legs. The perfect two-lid eyelid.

Every time she gets called out on the streets, Mina shudders, and worries about her appearance. She hates that she has to keep up her appearance that requires her to be picture-perfect.

Even Kogarasu Mina, who came to distrust humans, had a single friend.

That person was Kiritani Ayane, a girl who wears her heart on her sleeves. Ayane was someone she met at her city’s private high school briefing during their 3rd year of middle school.

The school’s briefing meeting’s implicit dress code was wearing clothes properly and having respectable hairstyles.

However, Mina, who was born with blonde hair, stood out the entire time.

And that was when Kiritani Ayane appeared. —- Her hair was dyed silver. Even though it was very showy, “try and stop me!” She came in with that provocative attitude.

Mina came to like Ayane in an instant.

After successfully entering the same high school, Mina spent a lot of her time with Ayane.

Ayane liked to be trendy. Usually Mina would be afraid of such a person, but that trait of her to not having to follow what other people like, but in fact loves to be in the spotlight and enjoying her life is appealing for Mina.

And one day, two months after entering high school—

“Hey, Miina~ Do you know this?”

Ayane, drinking a Starbucks’s frappuccino, showed her phone to Mina.

Ayane calls Mina with an emphasis with “Mi”. Emphasizing “Mi” in her name makes it more impressionable, Mina heard.

“Hm?” Mina shrugged and looked at the video. “What’s this, anime?”

Mina, who was adorable in being naive. Seeing that kind of girl, Ayane gave a smile and answered.

“No, it’s something different. This is a Vtuber.”

“V… Tube?”

“Heheh, you’re so cute Miina.” Ayane bantered with a grin.

“You know what a Youtuber is?”

Ayane was one of many who liked Vtubers.

—- Vtuber is a simple way to become a different self. Ayane explained it like that.

They can choose whichever appearance they would like to be in, and indulge what they want to do within the computer screen. They’re pretty much free.

“Wow~” Mina looked at it with intense concentration. Within the video, the beautiful female Vtuber’s talked in a weird but interesting way of talking, and her actions snatched Mina’s heart away.

“That looks coool. Is Ayane a fan of this one?”

“Me? Nah, mine is this girl. Isn’t she so cute?”

Ayane, within the app, picked a specific video, and showed Mina her Oshi.

She was a neat and tidy black hair girl who is affiliated with the Hoshigaoka School group, Houkouji Rei.

“Her singing voice is so good… And Rei-chan isn’t only that, she has like this charisma, that when you watch her you just feel relaxed. She doesn’t try to flatter her audience. I think Mina would like her.”

Then, invited by Ayane, Mina created an SNS account and subscribed on Youtube to Houkouji Rei’s channel. At first, it was to keep track of Rei’s activities, but after finding out about the group of Hoshigaoka School, she came to know another Vtuber.

“—– Hey Ayane. Noa-chan, don’t you think her fan’s activities are becoming more conspicuous than others?”

This was after finishing the mid-term for the school year and the two of them were whole-heartedly supporting their Oshi.

“Ah,” Ayane answered as a matter of fact. “It has to be because of Noa’s fan Karugo. That person is off the rockers.”

“Ka, Karugo?”

Mina was bewildered by the eccentric name. He was the kind of fan that was the source of all the fans bustling around, taking in Mukanae Noa’s activities. Mina looked at such a Twitter account.

A snail icon drawn in a pop-art repeats the announcement of an unofficial event.

“The rain of superchats from him is absolutely crazy. He goes into Mukanae Noa’s stream as the first person in the stream as if it is natural, so the amount of time and money he spends is amazing. But, the most crazy thing is that he is not only involved with Noa-chan but with fans — well, they’re called Noatomo, but he is active with them.”

“….. Don’t you think that’s kind of scary? It’s like being enclosed, getting too close to the personal bubble…”

It could be a situation that causes issues with the Oshi. Mina is weak with people who try to close the distances between people.

“But it isn’t the case with him. Although strange, Noa’s fan Karugo doesn’t bring attention to himself— that he is the biggest Noa’s fan. He will say thanks to the fans no matter how small. — More than Noa-chan. While I said actively include them, he does it lightly and doesn’t coerce them,”

It’s very different from the fans that battle each other for their idol Oshi.

“Wow…. Weird person.”

“It seems that the Noatomo have their own hobbies that they bring others along with. Not only playing games, but even cards, watching movies, making plastic models, and even voice acting…” Each fan has their own hobby, you know? Other than doing their work supporting their Oshi. It seems that they’ll respect each other in their hobbies. Although I don’t know beyond that. The person himself says, that “I’m just following Noa-chan’s wish.”

Mukane Noa’s slogan. “I want to dream together with my Noatomos.”

Noa’s fan Karugo, wants to support Noatomo’s dreams too. That is already passing the limits of a regular support of Oshi. To begin with, that is exceeding the limits of a body.

“There are rumors in the community that he isn’t human. An organization that was hired by the management team. Or that he is an AI. Even Kaigainiki, ah, I mean about the fans from Vtubers from overseas, like those who speak English, Chinese, Indonesia are making a commotion that he also is involved in those communities.”

“So he’s proficient in other languages too?” Mina felt a little connection, and opened her eyes in bewilderment.

“Yeah…. It’s just a rumor though, I don’t know much about it.”

Ayane scratched her head, lowered her head like she was ashamed for not having that information as an informant.

Kogarase Mina, became more interested in Noa’s fan Karugo rather than Noa-chan herself.

That existence that is so different from her that lives in running away from human contact. She thought it was commendable.

And that’s how Mina became a Noa’s Oshi by Noa’s fan Karugo. Mina too, in other words, was a person who was swindled by Karugo’s tactics.

◆

Thinking back, was possibly nothing more than admiration for Vtubers.

Mina thought back, while enduring the sickening spinal reflex in the bathroom.

In the bloodthirsty world that exists on the other side, the internet, there is someone that’ll do something thrilling and move someone’s heart. With that a community is created, and those in the communities will have their hearts thrilled beyond excitement. Noa and Karugo were both entertainers. The Noatomo were just fine watching that one two-person scene in a play.

But when Mukane Noa was flamed, the Noa’s fan Karugo had disappeared as well.

When those two disappeared, within the sense of loss, Mina thought, what can she do, and thought of a plan that lacked any pragmatism.

That is to become a Vtuber herself, and find the way to save Vtubers—–.

In Japan, there are about 30,000 Vtubers. In the whole word, 50,000 Vtubers.

But, no matter how you look at it, getting proper statistics is impossible.

It’s because you can become a Vtuber just by putting the Vtuber name on yourself. There are those people that don’t stream and solely exist on SNS. Sometimes even fans are mistaken as a Vtuber. And as technology grows, Vtubers will become even more of a ubiquitous existence.

On one hand, there are those who properly stream, streamers who will compete for fans, and there are as many who are defeated and retire.

It’s quite possible that of the 50,000 Vtubers, more than half of them had ceased activity.

Reasons for retirement range from poor physical health, private reasons, not having the will to continue, and many others.

But, there are those who are forced to retire. The main reason for that is— it was one that Mina herself had witnessed, “Flaming on the internet”.

Vtuber is a pretty way to say an avatar that has inside of them a “soul”.

Even if there is someone like an AI playing a Vtuber, even then it has some sort of soul — That is, there is a person inside that holds a consciousness playing the avatar.

So that’s why in the Vtuber community, the living person behind the avatar is called a “soul”.

At the root of the soul, is the Vtuber’s personality.

That soul, in some way, will make a human-like error. When that happens, scandals will start, then the fans themselves will spread the word through condemnations, and make it flaming. In the worst cases, it could cause the retirement of a Vtuber. Like in the incident where Mukanae Noa was—–

There are those who would say that it’s easy to just change the soul inside, just make a different person play “Mukanae Noa”.

But it isn’t easy like that. For a Vtuber’s traits and the soul, even if the management were to succeed in doing so, to change the person inside, it’s impractical. The fans, who’ve been with them in the “past”, if that’s the right way of saying it, they’ll just feel a strange feeling watching the new person.

—- Huh? What happened to the person that I cheered on? Things like that.

Even if the persona is the same, nonetheless the person inside changed. So, what happens to the soul when a Vtuber retires?

Instead of playing as a Vtuber, then they could be streaming in their real-life appearance and continuing their activities.

Or working as a talent for a talent office.

Or, they “reincarnate” as another Vtuber.

For the fans who were left behind after the retirement, just where are they supposed to go?

There are those who are still fans regardless of the shape of the soul. And there are those who treat the Vtuber as a different person, and no longer support them.

There are many different values in supporting someone, but in the end, it is the fact that they have to get over the fact that they retired.

But, there is one thing that doesn’t change in each fan. ….. The history of fans, who have cried and mourned over Oshi’s death. An endless cycle that will never cease.

For the last six years, these sad events have been repeated perpetually since the first appearance of Vtubers.

Just what are the feelings of those who have left the virtual world?

Could it be regret? The regrets that their activities stopped midpoint?

In Vtuber’s lifespan, there exists some number of fans. There are those on one side of the scale to have dozens of fans and others with some hundreds of fans. If these Vtubers were to disappear, then the grieving would increase with it perpetually.

Even for Kagami Moa, who held 100 fans in her hands—–

“Uu… pu… U..” Mina, again, felt sick. Escaping her thoughts, she returns to reality, and once again flushes the toilet of its contents.

The water, which turned clear, had “Kagami Moa” looking at her.

Why did everything end up this way?

Mina had wished to save the soul of Vtubers —- If she became the same as them, then she would be able to find the way to their soul from a closer distance. At first, she had thought that. But then, she brought herself into the middle of a crucible of tragedy.

After all, Mina didn’t have the ability to do some heroic deed to save someone else. She was scared of intimidation, brings the ire of her good-for-nothing, and trembles and have to rely on someone—

“Ah…… Ah…” Mina once again cried, peeling off her shame into the water.

In the water that was moving, Kagami disappeared as if it fell asleep.

Surprised to hear the sounds of laughter on the first floor that her parents were having fun with, she left for her room.

Concerning Slim Handle Adventure, she grabbed her phone to find a way to lower the panting noises such that the virtual footprint is minimum.

On her browser, “Discover” was a page that showed many things when scrolling.

Concerning this function, Mina can’t help thinking that in some way, her daily life is being filmed through the phone. When she was thinking about that, she suddenly stopped scrolling.

—- Ararat Kazan’s [Burn, V!]

Her eyes stopped on a gossip website that concerns with flamings in the Vtuber community.

It was like someone purposely put it on there to guide her to it. Mina, for some reason, was glued to the page.

“Are…. ra…to? Ara…..ra…?”

On the profile, to help people, there was furigana written over the word.

It was a name that was unusual. For a person like that to have the courage to gather such gossip and face the criticisms is just amazing. The strange but good name would leave an impression and also lead those who have an interest to look up what the heck was an Ararat.

—- Ararat. Ararat Mountain.

When looking it up in the search bar, cities in Armenia and mountains in Turkey were in the results. Mina, surprised, opened her eyes widely. According to the legends of Ararat Mountain, it was the final resting place for Noah’s ark after the great flood.

Noah’s ark. Mukanae Noa’s first original song, [Ark!] came up in her head.

And it has a relation to an article writer that deals with Vtuber flaming. Mina remembered a certain man that was a fan of Mukanae Noa, and the reason why she became a Vtuber.

“…. Karugo… san?”

At that moment, she thought of relying on him.

Since she became a Vtuber, she realized the hardships she had, and once again realized that her powers alone are insufficient for her goals. However, there was a man who had the essential power to save people.

For someone’s sake, for others sake, a soul full of vitality that will break through any obstacles with all his power.

He is, after all, an engine of the ark that was left behind by Mukanea Noa.

“Noa-chan’s ark… is right here.”

5

“—– You want to set yourself on fire… is what you’re saying?”

“Ye… Yes.” Mina said dispiritedly.

Gou felt a little surprised, and swallowed his saliva.

Although she used to be a fan and was an ordinary person, it is not a strange thing for a fan to be fascinated by an Oshi’s work and become a Vtuber.

But to see in front of his eyes, a beautiful girl who is a person behind a Vtuber and said that outrageous thing, he can’t help but to feel a strange sense of discomfort for her. Because she also had the experience of seeing her Oshi flamed.

“So you became a Vtuber, no problem in that. That’s none of my business, you’re free to do anything you want after all. But wanting to flame yourself, are you making fun of the Vtuber industry?”

No matter what experience she had as a Vtuber, fans who had their Oshi flamed would be beyond sad.

He could not accept that she wanted to make her fans depressed. The articles that Gou writes that concerns a Vtuber flaming was because he decided that the Vtuber was an asshole that deserved it.

Honestly, a request for flaming that is constructed by the person in question, isn’t that enough for the flames to flicker?

The withering Mina, who was slumped, and Gou looked at her with a cold look.

“I understand the reason. But, there’s no catch for me to do it.”

“You can’t….”

Mina raised her face. And in the corner of her eyes, tears were building up.

Gou spoke bluntly and indifferently.

“I’ll give you some advice as a present from our old friendship. Flaming is like starting a disaster. It’s a lot different from starting a traffic accident. It’s something that can’t easily happen, and without something striking, then no one is going to care. Heck, I don’t have experience in starting a flame. The best way is simply to start the flaming yourself. Go on an anonymous bulletin board and expose everything there. With good enough luck then someone will take a look.”

“But, that is..”

“Do you not have the confidence?”

“Uu….”

Mina curled up into a small ball. The silky hair swayed delicately.

Honestly speaking, Gou is a blogger that summarizes flaming incidents and makes prompt reports. He has never started a flame. In other words, he just follow-up on the events after it happens.

Although it is necessary to have unpublished information before publishing the evidence, no one would be interested in some small trivial tip-off from readers. What gossip readers like aren’t the small stuff, but the striking flames that radiantly shines.

Gou’s blog doesn’t have the potential to become the like of a main hub for that.

“I want to save,” Mina lamented with a mourning face. “The Vtubers that will walk forward and may end up in an unfortunate end. This is to save the people… No, it’s to save Vtubers.”

Mina had a simple plan. Save the Vtuber’s soul. The result of saving them would consequently save the fans.

The enthusiasm is very splendid for a good cause. — If you cover the fact that the method and wish are dichotomous.

“…….” Gou looked up at the ceiling, closing his eyes, pretending not to know. In fact, he felt his chest, telling him to forgive her.

This girl, Gou…. She asked for him, Ararat Kazan, a blogger that deals in flaming, to save her.

The method was to “flame herself”. In addition, to come up with such an evil plan to save Vtubers.

It’s such a desperate and foolish way of thinking.

“If you really wish, you want me to flame Kagami Moa…”

Gou started to say, and stopped.

If he flamed —

Suddenly, he realized. “—- I see,”

Hoshigaoka School management had decided on killing Mukanae Noa for their best interest with their rational thinking.

Gou’s youth was treated as a tool for convenient money-makers for money worshippers, and in the end, a tragic ending is beckoned after taking away their love and money they have sold.

As a result, the customers, Karugo, turned out like fools.

But, what if the customers, Karugo, themselves, bring their death in the most beautiful fitting way?

The moment he realized this, the rusted cogs in his head clinked, and the cogs moved.

The evil plan goals for Gou are different from the wishes of Mina.

And fortunately, there was a traitor that he could test out the possibility with. After all, there was nothing holding him back from using her.

“Hey you, the first damsel in distress of your salvation for your hero-play is going to be you?”

“It’s a deplorable thing though..”

Mina pouted.

“Um… Karugo-san, can you stop with the way you’re calling me? I am putting my trust in you, and that’s why I’m telling you all this.”

“Then what the hell am I supposed to call you. Kagami….? Moa maye?”

“I plan to give up that persona with this plan so..”

Mina, in an embarrassed tone, continued in a small voice.

“Mina is fine.”

“That name is..” It was the name from the time as a Noatomo. But the her right now isn’t Mina, but Kagami Moa.

“Mina is fine, you know. Karugo-san, I want you to call me that.”

“I don’t really feel like calling you that.” Gou made a bitter face.

“Huh?” Mina looked with a quizzical face. “Karugo-san, even though you’re fine with being called Karugo-san?”

“….” It brings pain to him. Today is the second time they’re meeting.

Gou took a small breath, and changed the subject.

“Well, I’ll do it. I’ll test your resolve.”

“Really?” Mina brought her hands together, and immediately had a cheerful face, and her eyes glittered like jewels.

6

With fame comes great responsibility.

Illustrators is the star business in the modern age, where they support on various platforms for creative works, doujin games, manga, novels, and videos of individual creators.

In today’s world of increasing entertainment, their job is to create the visual aspects to their creative works, there is a demand for their work in any creative field. For a famous person, just one illustration can create big waves in the industry.

That’s why in order for the person in question to not expose one’s inappropriate behaviors, they need to be on their guard.

After all, the littlest thing can be the spark to a big flaming that’ll setback their career.

“This isn’t enough.”

Gou received the data that Mina sent over through the shared storage space, and said it after looking after all the screenshots. As triggers to flaming, they’re weak.

“Why…”

Mina touched her hand onto the desk chair, and looked at the screen over Gou’s shoulder.

The charming blonde hair, he could smell bergamot tickling his nose.

“We need something that has a big impact.”

Mina snatched the mouse, floated the mouse and circled around the images in the storage.

Up till now, the screenshots were dedicated to Besasano’s inappropriate remarks. Not only that, the screenshots of Kagami’s Moa’s collaborated female Vtubers at the best moment were there too.

○Besasano

：Momochan, would it be ok if I send some suggestive fanart your way?

○ Besasano

：Maimai~ As an illustrator, I can’t create a great illustration without knowing the person well. Let’s talk over video chat ~

○Besasano

：Ami, are you ok with 凸 in real life? I mean it’s become a joke online, but even in real life you’re an extreme masochist, right? How about next time we do 凸? You live near me right.”

Mina, determined, had all the collab partners she had till now send in screenshot evidence.

In order to expose the disgrace of Besasano, she had collected them from the girls out of their way.

Of course, she had gained permission to release them while hiding their identity. Even though they share the duty of getting revenge for the victims, when it came to Gou, he reacted weakly like they are useless.

Why is it that there was no impact?

“Screenshots at this level can be forged.” Gou inspected with tearless eyes. “He could feign, isn’t this negative campaigning, and end it there. Even for those who read my blog, they must be tired of seeing this kind of stuff..”

It’s been a few years since screenshots were able to cause flaming to happen.

When a big company is being flamed, there are suspicions that the one who is flaming is by taking the parts that are convenient to use nowadays.

Besasano is a popular illustrator who is described as a great man of character.

Unfortunately, the interpretation of scandals on the Internet works coldly in favor of those who have majority.

If she drowns into a swamp-like controversy, then Mina will have a curse following after her no matter where she goes.

The purpose of flaming is to cut the connection between Mina and Besasnao, and retire as the Vtuber Kagami Moa.

—- For some part, Gou applauds Besasano’s performance.

Besasano was a person who avoided making statements that go into the heart of the matter. The issue of whether to perceive it as sexual harassment is based on the receiver. The replies from the victim female Vtubers were often light and polite.

Those were the messages that hid contempt towards the famous illustrator.

As expected, the male who holds so much fame has no corners to exploit. However, there is—-

“…. Hm.” Gou had a cunning gaze.

A man’s true nature expands the more their popularity grows. The man, who has up till now been doing whatever he wanted in private, will always have some weak point in his arrogance and that’ll be his downfall.

Gou quickly gathered information from looking up information in the SNS and browser window.

“If this can’t be used, then what am I supposed to…”

Mina had an aghast look and looked at the clock. The time was already 4 in the evening. There was only 24 hours till she had to do her game streaming of Ring fit Adventure.

“It’s not that it’s all useless,” Gou selected a specific screenshot within the pool. “This Marerin Ami, an independent female Vtuber. Isn’t there too much, in fact the most out of everyone, of screenshots of her conversation with Besasano?”

“It must be because Ami-chan is very cooperative. Since I’ve debuted, she has been very kind to me… But, she is more popular than me. This is only a talk here, but there are talks of her being scouted for a corporate group.”

“I see.” Mina gave out the supplementary information, and Gou went to Marerin Channel and Twitter to research.

She had about 60,000 subscribers. When listening to her video, she had a peculiar loli voice, talked about topics that were new, and handled comments with the talent of making dirty jokes.

He looked at the twitter tags.

In the fanart sections, he narrowed his search by using Besasano’s twitter ID. When he did—

“I found it.” Gou snapped his fingers. “It seems that Ami and Besasano have a deep connection. The amount of fanarts he created for her is on the large side.”

Illustrators with a lot of followers who make fanart would make a large amount of noise.

It is said that Marerin Ami is a girl who is good at dealing with men. She deals with Besasno with suggestive behavior while also upholding a good amount of distance.

With that said, to give Kagami Moa that much proof related to sexual harassment, then that means—

Perhaps, taking in account that she is scouted by a big company, she is probably trying to resolve all her affairs. Her connection with Besasano is a nuisance now.

“Mina, can you contact Marerin Ami right now?”

“Ye-Yes…”

“As much as possible from her, grab as many chats that contain Besasano’s normal chat messages. Especially the ones without sexual harassment.”

“Other than than the sexual harassment….? How are you using it?”

Mina had a perplexed face. To flame someone like the sex maniac Besasno, it was unexpected that there was a need for other evidence to expose the inappropriate behaviors done to the female livers.

“This kind of guy will burn better if there was a different fuse to go off on. At a glance, this man may not have any gaps to exploit, but there will always be one.”

Gou glares at the screen like he is ascertaining his prey with hawk-like eyes. And Mina was completely fascinated by him.

7

In the early summer, there are many, and even the overseas folks get involved in the whirlpool of enthusiasm and shout their love towards their Oshi.

It was the beginning of July. In Japan’s neighboring country — In Shanghai, China, the biggest event for otakus will take place.

That was “Bilibili World”. The biggest domestic platform in China, the start of all pop culture, is Bilibili. The active users reached over 200,000,000, and has a huge market number that exceeds the population of Japan.

However, even though the market is large, they honor the cultures in the neighboring countries.

Japan’s manga and anime contents are also streamed in Bilibili Video, and there are exhibits booths to showcase their creative media and talk shows with invited guests that includes original creators in the summer festival Bilibili World. This is honor to the original creators.

Besasano was, this year too, invited to the Bilibili World, and to exhibit the many illustrations that he is giving for a popular smartphone game. Although he is not going to Shanghai in-person, the overseas folks would be able to enjoy his illustration exhibit.

“Hello. I’m sorry for not contacting you for a year. I’m contacting you to consult you on a little issue.”

Gou sent a message in Chinese to his Chinese friend that he knew in the QQ chat tool.

“Karugo!” A polar bear icon person messaged.

Nánjí Xióng5 is an overseas friend that he came to know when he had the name of Noa’s fan Karugo.

Nánjí Xióng answered quickly.

“Karugo, it’s been a while! Are you fine? After Noa got flamed, I thought you got DD.

DD is an acronym that means “D Daredemo D Daisuki [To like anyone]) that came from a Chinese text slang.

DD, Fans who are obsessed with the next Vtuber after one another appears is what those fans are called.

Nánjí Xióng is either a DD or someone who supports a singular person. So when they talk as fellow fans, it is important not to land on any landmines while gaining information.

It’s because DD are singled out in the community as people who usually betray their idols.

“Kuma-san, can I ask you to translate a video and post it on my behalf?”

Gou asked in a friendly manner.

“What, it’s that?” Nánjí Xióng guessed, and changed the feel of the chat atmosphere. “Should we change to voice chat?”

“If we do it that way, then I’ll be able to advise you better. If that’s fine.”

“Of course I’ll do it for you. I haven’t forgotten the favor that I received from Karugo. I treasure it by hanging the goods that I received from you.”

Nánjí Xióng amiably heard about the details.

When Gou was still Karugo, he gave enormous amounts of good will to the Chinese fans.

The problem faced by Chinese who have Japanese Vtubers as their Oshi is the language barrier.

Because of them studying Japanese in school, there are many who are proficient in Japanese. However, on the opposite side of their expectations, there are cases where the Oshi does not communicate with the Chinese. Because of the national borders separating them, it becomes an unrequited love.

Even for official goods, there are many who don’t support overseas shipping. At that time, the Chinese would rely on Chinese bloggers who are living in Japan to gain them, but there are many who are immoral, and it is not uncommon to receive the goods in damaged states in such miserable conditions, and or take the money and ghost them.

Noa’s fan Karugo did not want the overseas fans to be depressed.

Karugo gave instructions to send the items to Karugo’s house, and carefully packed the goods into a box and internationally mailed them. And, of course, no extra charges.

Karugo, who had sold his kindness that far for the Chinese Noatomo, was asked by them if there was some sort of compensation. — Just give your support to Noa-chan, Karugo, at the time answered.

“Is this guy a dog?”

Nánjí Xióng asked in a serious tone. Although in Japanese it means dog, in Chinese, it was a word that had a scornful meaning. Is this guy a son of a bitch, Nánjí Xióng had answered.

“She’s being swindled by the producer and eating tofu.” Gou answered back in Chinese.

“Ah,” Nánjí Xióng lamented. “That’s a common story.”

“Eating tofu” is a euphemism in Chinese for sexual harassment.

To report about Besasano’s nature isn’t enough to kindle hatred in the Chinese community and even with the support of Nánjí Xióng. Gou had already predicted this.

The thing that the Chinese community appreciates is Japan’s advanced culture.

It’s foolish to flame the illustrator about some sexual harassment case since the targeted individuals are some nobody that aren’t their Oshi Vtuber. Even if there is a video that will expose the illustrator, there wouldn’t be a lot of viewers.

The evidence needed to be striking; an evidence that’ll turn into flame.

“Besasano, next week, is going to exhibit his illustrations in Shanghai, did you know?”

Gou sent a URL link to chat. It was to the special site to the Bilibili world special website.

“Ohhh, Japan’s entertainment booths are always bustling.”

“Actually, that guy also made this remark—”

Gou showed him the secret weapon that was gathered by Mina.

Gou revealed the secret plan that was gathered by Mina. Nánjí Xióng’s tone changed.

“Are these images real?” Nánjí Xióng declared in a voice that was stiffened.

“That’s enough for us to expose his wrongdoing. Next week, right. It’s also newsworthy.”

Najing said, as if he was evaluating the evidence.

No wonder, because Najing was an executive of a certain poster group that earns by posting videos.

Their activities are not limited to Bilibili, but deals with other apps that have short videos too. For them, flaming materials is a top-rate commodity.

“This is real. I know how much danger it will bring to myself if it’s a fake.”

“Karugo. You are a good boy and excellent. I’m thankful that you came to me for this.”

“Give me one night and I’ll send over the original video.” Making a daring smile, Gou ended the voice call with Nánjí Xióng. He removed his headset, and stretched his back. Mina was stunned by his nonchalant state.

“What?” Gou looked back.

“As expected of you, Karugo-san… Just like the rumors, you even have connections overseas.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

Gou shrugged and got up, and casually went to wash up.

Mina, seeing the back of his, saw the Noa’s fan Karugo in a new light. In Mina’s plan, she needed him.

When Gou came back, he languidly looked at the wall clock.

“11’clock..”

Karugo deliberately looked at Mina and the clock with his eyes. Signaling by moving his chin, he made Mina aware of the time. Gou and Mina are both high school students. It’s not appropriate for young men and women to spend a long time in the same room.

“Ah,” Mina reacted as she realized it.

“Well, it’s like that. It’s already time after all.”

Gou, relieved that Mina realized, continued on.

He opened both of his hands, and sent off a gesture that told Mina to get out. Even though that is the case, Mina had some sort of misunderstanding, and her face was both flushed, covered with both of her hands, and was in a panic.

“Eh, um… You see, right… Haha, I don’t have any experience though.”

“What the heck are you saying?”

“I, I understand…..! For me, the best that I can do is that much…”

“Don’t you think you have some sort of misunderstanding?”

“I- I, I’m prepared, after all! It’s supposed to be for proof of trust.”

Unsure of what to do, Mina grabs the hem of her blouse and tries to roll it up.

Gou immediately held onto Mina’s arm. Her undergarments could already be seen, and the skin that was like a white ball had Gou’s eyes bulging out. For a short while, both of them were petrified. Gou, at the situation he was put in that he wasn’t used to, felt his heart beating.

On one hand, Gou was already immersed in a different dimension of thoughts different from any normal boy.

Mukanae Noa is Gou’s everything.

“I don’t wish for you to do anything.”

“Ah… u…” Mina gradually collected herself. “I’m sorry… After all, you said you’ll test my resolve.”

“I’m testing your resolve in a short while, not now.”

Gou said that, and released Mina’s arm. Mina raised her eyebrow.

“Just go back home already. The rest is something I’ll manage on my own.”

“But…” Mina didn’t want to return home.

“Don’t worry about it. Tomorrow, at noon, Besasano’s flaming will become the news everywhere. Go think about what you’re going to say for retirement and do not prepare for the stream, you.”

As a matter of fact, this was Gou’s way of caring.

That thoughtfulness seemed to have gone in vain, and Mina’s complexion suddenly turned grim.

“Um…. You know, calling “you” you said? That’s an NG word.”

“Hah?”

“ ‘You is banned. You have to call me Mina.”

“Who said that? Me?”

“You said it! 30 minutes ago! And you said it even two times.”

Gou scratched his head and grumbled. “At such a strange thing you’ll apply pressure, huh.”

“Karugo-san is unfair, that’s why.”

“And why is that?”

“I have thought of it from way before. Karugo, even though you give your kindness to other people, you ask for nothing in return. Even now, you said that you don’t wish for anything.”

“And what is bad about that? It’s better than someone who asks for something back.”

“That isn’t right. After all, if we cannot give your kindness back, then we are forced to hold it forever. You’re a cruel person to make us keep holding it.”

“And that’s why it’s the work to support an Osh-”

Gou held his tongue. This was already going to be the third time. The girl who had suddenly appeared, gouged out the inside of Gou’s reality, dispelling the doubts of the inhuman-like self somewhere.

Gou was too used to giving his love without any compensation. To not accept any compensation, then there’s no one who would go into his chink. That kind of living was perfect while in the boom of supporting Oshi. In the past, Gou was devoted to his care-free living of supporting Noa.

—- But was it Mukanae Noa that he was supporting?

The reason for supporting Noa, he already had forgotten.

Perhaps, it was probably because he was dependent. The him that supported Noa to go on that stage, and threw her into the ocean full of fire—

“…..”

The minute hand of the wall clock was ticking in the silent room. Mina felt embarrassed for thinking the wrong thing. Even though this savior was going to help her, she said a very embarrassing thing.

“Ugh…. It’s like we got into a quarrel, us.”

“If you really want to do something then just do as you like.” Gou answered coldly.

“…… Then, I’ll prepare to stay here to sleep.”

“Hah? Sleep, sleeping here?” Gou screamed.

Mina, picked up the trash in the corner of the room, and threw it all into a vinyl bag. He couldn’t help but be surprised by the dexterity.

“Just what are you doing in someone’s house?”

“As thanks, at the very least… Surely, with a room like this, it’ll take two hours, so I’ll just stay here.”

“Your parents is going to kick a fuss”

“My parents practice laissez-faire, so as long as I contact them it’s fine. I’ll talk it over with my friend in advance to coordinate with me.”

Mina, with a happy look, started to clean. It was like a girlfriend who barged into a boyfriends room.

“Since I’m already cleaning the room, since there seems to be dust under the bed, then it should be fine to clean there, right?”

“That is banned! Do not!”

Just like a knight protecting a sanctuary, he stood in Mina’s way.

“Ahaha, that was just a joke. Even I know, for an appropriately aged man, I shouldn’t enter their sanctuary. Of course, including the hidden files in the computer.

Gou felt relieved. Underneath the bed was very much a sacred place. He cannot let anyone inside that area.

From then on, just like he was competing with Mina, started to clean. Considering that it would inconvenience the neighbors if he were to start vacuuming this late at night, but he can’t let it be.

Right now, Mina, like an invader to invade his sanctuary, he must stand up to her.

8

If two people cleans up, in a blink of an eye the room will be cleaned.

Gou brewed black coffee, and giving a cup to Mina, started making the video that concerns Besasano’s flaming incidents.

When making a video, a free software is sufficient for a text-based video.

But, when thinking how the video will be spread throughout the world through a group of video content creators in China, he can’t send a low-quality video.

These days, anyone can make a video. If he creates a low-quality video, then he’ll lose credibility.

Just like information has to be fresh, then it is the same for quality being an indicator for trust. This was Gou’s pickiness.

“Is there anything that I can do to help…?” Mina talked from the back of Gou.

“I only have one laptop. Sorry, but I can’t divide the work.” Gou looked over his shoulder, and looked at Mina and thought. Mina must be sweaty from doing that large-scale cleanup, and must be covered by the dust too on her body. While his imagination ran wild, he said this with extreme care.

“You can go clean up in the shower.”

“What is with that phrasing? That suggestion sounds suggestive.”

“That’s just how I’m being considerate!”

“Haha, I’m just teasing you. Well, i’m going to keep in mind of your words and borrow your shower room.” Mina sluggishly stood up after saying that, and headed toward the shower room. Her hidden fatigue could visibly be seen.

It was 1 in the night. For Gou, who is a night owl, it was the time where he was at his best.

The organization of the flaming video, first off, should be something easy for the viewers to understand the big picture.

Then, move towards explaining the circumstances, and alludes to what the target did, while presenting the evidence in the video, and lastly give off their criticism and come to an end with an inflammatory comment is the ideal video.

Especially, if he uses witty dramatic words and inciting comments, then it’ll tug on the viewer’s heart.

The draft that was skillfully made was finished. Then, Gou needed to put voice to it.

If it was a video with only words, then the promotional power would decrease. Using a tool that’ll give an artificial intelligence-like voice, he put in the voice that wouldn’t give himself away. Gou too, while operating [Burn, V!], had the chance to put videos along with his articles on the frontage of the page. He was used to creating videos and editing.

“Hn…..! It’s finished.”

Completing his work to where he could take a break, Gou stretched his back.

The current time was 4:30 in the morning. Outside was still dark, but there were those who woke up early who woke up around this time.

When turning back, Mina was without any reserve and was sleeping soundly on Gou’s bed.

When did she sleep? Although he had put bacteria spray onto the bed, it doesn’t mean it was clean enough like if he were to have put it in the wash, he felt sorry for that. He wonders if the smell was ok.

“….” Looking at Mina’s sleeping face as an outsider, Gou secretly looked up Kagami Moa. He opened her Youtube channel. He happened to come across her self-introduction video as expected, her archived videos had a lot of viewers in the grid.

The first video was made two months ago. The archived viewers were just about normal.

Although the illustration of the avatar was very good, they still haven’t gotten attention, a Vtuber beginning to be noticed.

Gou played back some many videos, and returned to the top page. Surely, the fans wouldn’t think for a bit that this Vtuber is facing torture from her management and wants to commit virtual-suicide.

“They wouldn’t have known after all…”

When this Vtuber retires, just what are the fans going to feel?

Then, he opened Twitter, and checked Kagami Moa’s streaming tag and fan name tag in the search bar.

□ Supoidemen @taitsumen

Otsumoa. That lewdness….!! That totally fits with my taste

I’ll be waiting for your next stream! (evil face) #Moathai #KagamiMoa

2022-06-24 21:10:38

□ Hawk That Says Woah＠Moara @p1y0h1k0

#Moatai A dried sardines bento is luxurious. The best one comes from Hinomaru restaurant. Come at me with your opinion.

2022-06-24 21:12:11

□ Sardine-kun @nhonhokun3

To be able to help my sardines-friend to be eaten as beautifully as possible-ho! Just by going to Moa-chan’s stream for the first time, it was fun-ho! I’ll come again to have fun-ho! I want to tell my friends on how to eat it beautifully-ho! #Moara , thank you for having me-ho!

2022-06-24 21:15:59

□Kasupi Baking Soda ＠RayPeopleMoaraー @juso_kasupi

Sardine-kun’s psychopath side is crazy #Moatai

2022-06-24 21:41:03

□toma＠Moaraー @tom0625

#Moara fans, today too #Moatai good work! It seems that the stream the day after tomorrow is Slim Handle Adventure! It’ll be a blast to see if Moachan completes it this stream. Today’s screenshot I’ll post it! Actaully, that day is my birthday…. I wonder if i can be cheeky to get a congratulation message from her ()

2022-06-24 22:05:16

□ Karugo ＠ Noa’s Fan @kr5_mn

Otsumoa! Today too, my Oshi was so cute in the stream. Noa-chan’s cuteness, I’ll do my best to showcase it!

2021-06-24 23:04:40

“…….!” An abrupt flashback attacked his head. An illusion of himself as a Mukanae Noa fan.

Gou yearned for that idol. She was his star. That was smiling like a demon, grabbing his heart.

“Gu….. uu..” Gou groaned.

“…. Eh?” Mina woke up from the bed she was sleeping on. “Wha-Wha- What’s up?”

Noticing that Gou was having a strange moment, Mina was shock and took off the blanket. Mina was in a panic, wondering if Gou had some sexual craving at that moment and was going to attack the one in bed.

But it wasn’t the case. Mina got off the bed, and stroked the back of Gou.

“Are you ok?”

“….” Gou gave a small voice almost soundless, and nodded.

“You’ll be ok, Karugo-san will be ok.”

Mina wrapped Gou around her, with him trembling. His current fear-like appearance, is very different from the him who had capability like a dark hero to uncover the inappropriate behaviors of the influential illustrator.

“Towards Noa-chan..” Gou whispered in a painful voice. “I want to see Noa-chan…”

Mina realized. The only thing that changed about this man was just his outward appearance.

“I see…. There may be a chance in the future that you’ll be able to see her. I will also follow you in that. So don’t worry, you are ok.”

To meet one day. The consolation words went through Gou’s ear.

The him who is holding distrust in his past, if he didn’t entrust his body to the girl that reminds him of the bittersweet memories of smell, then at any moment he felt like he was going to die from clawing his throat.

9

The next day, Besasano was trending on Twitter.

What caused him to trend was the cancellation of the exhibit of a popular smartphone game that Besasano was involved in at the Bilibili World hosted in Shanghai.

There was a video that was the spark to the flaming. The video contents were chat logs with Besasano and numerous Vtubers.

In a conversation with a certain Vtuber, his discriminating comments towards foreigners were captured beautifully in the video.

Besasano lost all his credibility at once. The flaming was so severe that he had temporarily stopped his job as an illustrator. All his jobs were put to a stop, and of course, that includes his Vtuber project, “Besasano V-Production” in his flames.

Mina, as instructed by Gou, called Besasano many times in Discord. Of course, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to pick it up.

In addition to all this, Mina also left business-related messages to him. It will be evidence that proves her innocence in the events.

──２０２２年６月25日──

Kagami Moa Today 16:51

: Besasano-san. Do you have time to discuss the plans for today’s stream? I believe that you may be busy, it’s about today’s stream so…. I’ll wait for you to return my message.

Kagami Moa Today 20:00

: I’m sorry for deciding on my own, but I have judged that it will be difficult to stream today.

It seems that Besasano was so busy that he didn’t have time to read it.

Of course, Besasano, who has a lot of work to do, would put off the Vtuber project off his list of concerns since he started it as a private project. After all, he had to deal with outside publishers, social game management teams, and event conventions.

Kagami Moa has decided on her own to not stream. That verdict and how it got to that verdict is left in the log as evidence.

“Karugo-san, what about all the Moara…..”

As the expected stream time approached, Mina, with a worried face, asked Gou.

“Let’s talk about that later.” Gou nonchalantly answered.

“…..?” Mina tilted her head. “But, at the very least we should announce that the stream is canceled—”

Mina realized there was something important that she had overlooked. But, she hasn’t gotten a clue what it was. Gou stared at Mina while she was like that.

“What should I do….?”

“Why don’t you think about the fan yourself, not me?” Gou said in a blunt manner.

For the time being, Mina tweeted about the cancellation right before the stream start time. In the replies, there were many Moara who wrote in a worrisome manner.

When Mina looked towards Gou, he was, as normal, looking towards her.

After some days, after the series of riots caused by the flaming of Besasano, he himself contacted Moa. It was like he had changed, seeing he was writing in polite speech.

──２０２２年６月28日──

○ベササノ 今日14：25

For not being able to reply for the past few days, I apologize. I haven’t been able to go on Discord for these days, and was not able to return your message in a timely manner.

When Mina received that message, Mina was already completely back to her daily life.

At lunchtime, she ate a bento with Ayane, was in her classic class in the afternoon, and then was fretting over the first semester’s mid-term examinations coming up next week.

After school, she ran towards Gou’s apartment. He had told her to come immediately to his apartment if Besasano answered. It was unwise to ignore the message at this point in time.

○鏡モア 今日18：41

Your conduct was ridiculous. It was a disaster.

○ベササノ 今日18：55

I want to consult over the future of the Vtuber operations, so please let me know if there is a time for you to come into voice chat.

— It came. Mina felt shivers in her spine.

To be honest, Mina, already, no longer wants to talk with Besasano.

It’s better if the contact had stopped naturally. She had thought but —

“Don’t try to escape,” Gou had obstinately denied. “Besasano had lived as a popular illustrator. Despite losing his longs, do you really think that he’ll properly start a part-time job after lsoing everything?”

Gou shrugged his shoulders.

“The answer is No. Those who have been flamed will always become the one to flame others. It’s because we don’t know where this man will target is the reason why we can’t let go of this dangerous bomb. If Kagami Moa were to disappear, then it’ll just be proof for others to say that you are a weakling and the whole fiasco will end like that. And not only that, there’ll be rumors that Kagami Moa was the one who caused the flaming to happen.”

“I think Karugo-san is thinking too hard about it.” Mina wasn’t in the mood to talk.

“No, that’s not the case.” Gou shook his head with a disappointed face. “This isn’t the regular kind of retirement. It’ll become the roots of making you be the enemy and the target of his pain. We have to crush him fully or we’ll find ourselves in a pinch.”

The way that Gou was speaking was like he had lived in the underworld and admonished her because of that. But, surely that is the case—

“It’s been a long time, Besasano-san.”

Mina stifled her trembling voice, and started the talk with her producer.

“…..”

Besasano wasn’t answering. The time passes as he remains silent, with no ideas on his current state.

“Have you been feeling ok? Kagami Moa, too, was inactive this past week.”

Mina was reading the script that she had prepared with Gou in advance. If there was a script, she could talk with the person who had sexually harassed her and power harassed her.

“…….. not ok.” A voice could be heard. It was a stifled gasp.

“Hm? What do you mean?

“I’m not ok you dimwit!” Besasano raised his voice. It was time to switch to Chat B of the script.

“What…. What had happened? Please calm down.”

Although she was scared on the inside, she was diligent to keep a calm voice.

“It has to be you… It’s because of you making that damn video. You must have spread that across the world!”

“Eh…”

She was intimidated by Besasano, and her heart was about to leap out. Mina had tears coming out of the corners of her eyes, and signaled to the person next to her.

Over there, the death god had a bold smile creep up his face, and tapped the earphones on his ears.

He, too, was listening to the call. Just how grateful is it for her?

“Because of you my life is over! What are you going to do? I’m asking you?”

“Please, please wait a moment. Are you saying that I was the one who exposed you, Besasano-san?”

Mina read the script she had ready.

“Isn’t that not the case? That chat logs are filled with Kagami Moa’s and her collaboration partners! It has to be you to gather this much dirt!”

“That’s unfair. Even though I wasn’t involved in the indictment video at all.”

She had told no lies. Ararat Kazan was some unknown origin flamer. How did he even get the chat log is a mystery.

“Don’t fuck with me! You totally did it for revenge. Even if you reincarnate as a new Vtuber, I will follow you till the end of the Earth! I will bring you down to hell with me!”

The death god who was listening to the talk had a grin on his face. Mina too felt relieved. The death god then pointed to the best line to say after that.

“Eh—.” Mina said in a heartfelt manner. “A new Vtuber you say….” Besasano’s lines in the next part is the most important part.

“Is Kagami Moa over?” Mina asked in feigned ignorance.

“Of course, you idiot! Do you think I can continue my work in this state!” Besasano yelled.

“Oh no.” Resting her indigestion, she continued in a calm voice. “After all, that is up to Besasano. But I’m fine with that. So Kagami Moa can retire.”

“Ha? Who cares about that. More than that, I will take revenge on you who brought me down–” Besasano continued to heat up.

The emotional male voice was so intimidating, he was howling like a beast. She exchanged looks with the death god who had nodded. It seems it was fine to do it.

“I understand, Besasano-san. With this, my work with you is over. Thank you for taking care of me.”

“Ah, hey! Stop right there. Are you going to cut off the call! There’s still an number of things I need to discuss with you-”

Besasano had no intention of calming down his anger. His neighbors are probably troubled by the loud noises of him. Mina had the time to worry about other people.

“Besasano-san. Because of your dismissal, we are now on equal terms. If you are going to be persistent in your inappropriate language, then the conversations up till now will be given to the appropriate places.”

“Ha? Besasano started to cough, and continued to cough out of despair. “Goho, guha! Oeeeee”

“Um, what did you say?” Mina looked back on the previous conversation. “Take me down to hell…. And you even say idiot? Can’t this be considered slandering?”

“A…. Ah… Ah..” Besasano could be heard crunching his teeth.

This man had once been flamed. The exposed dread has been etched in his heart.

“Even though it’s wrong to record without permission, I too have been bullied endlessly by Besasano-san… So it’s self-defense.”

Mina’s heart became more and more clear. That line was her improvisation of the original line.

“Yes. I have taken screenshots of my previous conversation with you. I have no involvement with the indictment that you have done, and anyone could have given the chatlog, and since my chat logs aren’t yet public… If you want to not believe in it, then it’ll be an additional supplement for the indictment. Along with the conversation we had now.”

Besasano had no words. He was like a cornered mouse caught by a cat.

“…. Hello? Are you ok? Besasano-sa~n?”

While trying to call out to him, Besasano, himself, cut the call like he had died.

Now, Mina was free. When he checked that the call had ended, Gou stood up like nothing had gone wrong and said one thing.

“He’s done.”

A single man who died socially, but Gou only had a scarily calm voice.

“He, from now on, won’t target you anymore.”

“But, even you…” Mina, who said that, pretended to not notice. By being released from all that, the weight in her heart disappeared.

Then Gou bluntly said.

“Now the real issue begins.”

“Eh…?” Mina killed the atmosphere.

10

□Kagami Moa @MoreMirror

【Important Annoucement】To All Moara

Please look at the image since the announcement cannot fit within Twitter’s word limit.

To All Moara

I’m sorry to have worried you this past week. Today, with heavy hearts, Kagami Moa will graduate.

I’m sorry for this being sudden without being able to say goodbyes properly to my fans.

2 months is a small time, but being supported by the Moa during my streams, enjoying videos, and getting a lot of support, when looking back, there is so much thanks I have for you. Thank you very much.

I am a coward, but I wanted to improve on that by being a Vtuber, and I joined this project.

I was able to meet everyone as a result, and I enjoyed it a lot.

The most frustrating part is being unable to give back to the fan for all this time. To find me and support me, I am thankful. Hopefully, somewhere…. Although that may be because of lingering attachment, I will stop there.

I will always wish for the happiness of my Moara.

Thank you very much for supporting me throughout my career.

2022-06-28 20:18:09

Mina reread her message over and over again, and tweeted it while having tears in her eyes.

At that moment, Mina realized the meaning behind Gou’s words.

—- I’m going to test your resolve.

Of all things, Mina wasn’t ready at all for the parting.

She knew how painful it is to see your Oshi graduate….. Or she should have known.

She realized for the first time being the soul behind a character.

The ending was extremely painful.

When a Vtuber graduates, the fans in particular will start an all nighter. The tweets of the sadness of the fans increases, and an endless agony session will start.

On top of that, the voices will reach the dead soul, in front of the person herself..

Toma＠Moara @tom0625

@MoreMirror Moa-chan, thank you for all you’ve done. I’ve fallen in love with you since the first stream. Actually, the other day, it was my Birthday, and I was happy when I was watching your stream archives while eating my birthday cake. Although it is very sad, I will part with you while having a smile on my face. Please be happy forever.

2022-06-28 20:26:52

Screaming Woah Hawk＠Moara @p1y0h1k0

@MoreMirror Thank you for your hard work. It’s sad.

2022-06-28 20:30:11

□DNDNZaurus @2ApkgrO753VFYq1

@MoreMirror Moachan…. Even though it couldn’t be helped, it’s a real bummer. I will always wish that you’ll come back someday…… Thank you up till now. Moa-chan’s conquest to conquer her cowardness, I will root for you in the background!

2022-06-28 20:31:27

□ Supoidemen @taitsumen

@MoreMirror Moachan, you’re being humbled, but you being a Vtuber is amazing! I don’t think you’re a weakling. So please look up and keep going! Please stay healthy and keep doing your best!”

2022-06-28 20:51:33

One after one, the replies keep coming. Mina’s tears can’t stop flowing.

“Ah… I….”

Moved to tears, the large teardrops drenched Gou’s carpet as they fell. Mina kept inaudibly crying, and sooner, and fell down to her knees like a person who failed.

“To end it like this…. U…u… uwaaaaaaaaah….!” Gou looked at Mina from above with a calm look, and coldly said a cold truth to her.

“Kagami Moa died.”

“…..!” Mina stiffened, and again, cried out her feelings. “I’m… so…ry.. I’m sorry. I’m sorry!”

“This is what you wished for.”

“I’m sorry…. I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry…”

If only she had the course to fight against the toxic management of Besasano, then Mina, as “Kagami Moa”, could have continued on.

But, she was a weakling, and decided to flame instead, and as a result, she made her fans sad.

Mina had betrayed Kagami Moa and her fans with her own hands.

“U…. U… Uwaaaaaaah… waaaaaaaaah”

“To throw away your avatar is just like that. A failure for a soul. For the fans, their Oshi has died. You said earlier, to save a Vtuber. Is this what you wanted?” Mina grieved. On one hand, seeing the state of affairs, Gou once again was feeling full of nostalgia.

It wasn’t for Kagami Moa.

But it was for his former Oshi.

When he thinks back, there were many strange things regarding the events that led up to Noa’s flaming.

Would that Noa be able to betray her fans?

Not only that, Hoshigaoka School, the group that charmed many of the Vtuber fans, could they have really not defended against the flaming? And even the timing of her real self being reported was too on point.

But even if he thinks about the past, nothing can change about Noa’s graduation. But concerning the parting with Noa, he can’t help wondering if there could have been a better ending.

Kagami Moa’s graduation, for Gou, was the closest he had ever been to Noa.

As a result, if only at that time, if it had ended like this. His feelings of missing someone won’t stop.

“…. Hah…. I….. After all.. She had..”

That was, the same as any Vtuber who have accepted their end—–

“Well,” Gou said in a monotonous voice. “Vtuber isn’t just only just the person behind them. This time, that damn bastard ruined it. It’s not for one person alone to bear it all. And even then, those fans will after some days will go and bother some other Vtubers just like Kagami Moa never existed.”

Although sarcasm was the only thing heard, Gou encouraged Mina in her own ways.

This incident allowed him to see that Mina’s emotions weren’t a lie.

She was no longer a traitor in his eyes. Karugo, the same feelings as him, a bona fide Noatomo.

“Karugo-san…”

Mina who stood up unsteadily, held onto Gou’s arm with her trembling fingers.

Gou, seizing Mina’s arm, raised her up, yelled at her in exasperation.

“Listen to me. If you want to succeed in life, then grab it with these hands firmly. Don’t think that someone will protect you with those flimsy fingers. You got me?”

“…. Yes.”

“Well, let’s do this.” Gou opened Mina’s hand, and his other hand that held something, forcefully grabbed what he was holding in the other hand. When Gou let go of it, there was a clink.

“…. K… A Key?”

“It’s this room’s door.”

“Um, what? Um, what do you mean-”

Not knowing the meaning, Mina, who had overthought, had her face flushed red.

“Mina. I now recognize you as a Noatomo. If you have any regrets, come here again.”

Gou, other than that, said nothing more. But, to call her by her name again made her happy, and naturally stopped her tears.

1 Japanese-exclusive app that gathers anonymous letters and questions, and then sends them to a specific user.

2 Sanji, One Piece.

3 Mina（ミーナ) and 海那 (みな) Gou in the first chapter used the former. The difference is how long the first character sounds.

4 Ararat Kazan = Ararat Volcano

5 Polar bear in Chinese.