I Will Not Repeat the Mistakes of My Past
"See you all next month, then."
"Waaaaaah!"
The homeroom teacher's words set a cheer rolling through the classroom. Of course they did. Today was summer vacation—the one day no student alive could help but long for—and I was no exception.
"Whoever's free today!"
As if it were the most natural thing in the world, Tateyama, the reigning social queen of our class, called for a get-together, and everyone drifted toward her, laughing.
Me? I was going straight home. Obviously.
Since that day, not a single person had invited me to anything like this. It was a class-wide gathering, so showing up wouldn't technically be a problem—but a guest nobody has invited is nothing but a burden, and I knew that better than anyone. In my past life, back in middle school, I had quietly tagged along to a "the whole class is going" hangout and come home with nothing but a heap of bad memories. I am a clever loser who learns from the mistakes of the past. And besides, I already had plans today.
Better get home as fast as I could!
"U-um, Kayano."
The one who called out, just as I was steeling myself, was Miyauchi, our class president. Miyauchi was kind. She even spoke to someone like me now and then—always about class, always strictly necessary, but still.
"...Yes?"
"I was wondering whether you were coming to today's get-together too. O-of course, you must already have plans and be busy, but..."
Huh? I was obviously busy with prior plans? Say it like that and I sound like some social butterfly who's booked solid every day of her life, Miyauchi. You're the one person in this class who's talked to me the most—well, sort of—so you ought to know. I am an ultra-high-level loner who could not possibly have plans. Kayano Mina, who of course already has somewhere to be. What parallel world is that version of me from?
"I-I'm s-sorry. T-today I have an, um, im-important p-prior engagement..."
Today, for once, I really did!
"I figured as much. Haha..."
At my answer, Miyauchi smiled and stepped back. This was supposed to be an important first gathering of the break, and yet a single refusal was enough for her to give up without a fight. That smile didn't look the least bit disappointed, either.
So that was it. She had only been sounding me out, worried I might actually show up. If someone with no connection at all to the rest of the class joined in, a gathering meant to bring people together would turn into a festival of awkwardness.
It's all right, Miyauchi. I'm a pro-level outcast who knows exactly where she stands! The thing you're worried about is not going to happen!
The karaoke room was a racket. While everyone else laughed and soaked in the mood, only Miyauchi, class president of Class 1-A, wore a faintly gloomy look and let out a sigh.
"Miyauchi."
"Hm? Tateyama?"
The one coming over was Tateyama, who so often pulled the whole class along on the strength of her bright energy.
"Something wrong? You've looked down since earlier."
"Ah, it's nothing."
That golden hair might have invited a snap judgment from some people, but after a semester side by side, Miyauchi knew better. Tateyama was kind to everyone—a friend you could lean on. If she spilled what was weighing on her now, Tateyama would surely take it seriously. But this, she couldn't tell anyone. It wasn't only her problem.
"I'm fine. Just a little tired..."
"Ehh? Break just started! You can't be tired already!"
"Hehe. You're right."
Tateyama's bright smile looked ready to blow the worry away without a second thought, and under it the tightness in Miyauchi's chest eased a little.
But.
"Anyway, earlier it looked like you were saying something to Kayano. What was that about?"
At that question, the tightness snapped right back. No—it got worse.
"I just asked if she was planning to come today."
"I see. And since she didn't..."
"Yes. She said she had prior plans, so it would be difficult."
"That's a shame. It would've been so nice if Kayano could hang out with us."
Thinking of Kayano, who hadn't been able to join even the first get-together right after enrollment because of prior plans, Tateyama genuinely felt the loss. Well—unlike herself, the girl was incredibly pretty and cute. It would have been stranger if she weren't popular. Which only made Tateyama want to spend time with her more.
"I hope we can all hang out together in the second semester."
"...I think so too."
Saying it, Tateyama couldn't see the face of the girl whose head was bowed. A face that looked ready to cry.
Right after she was elected class president, Miyauchi had been called to the teachers' office. Nothing was wrong. She was only there to learn what a class president was supposed to do. When the explanation ended, Kaname—serving as a homeroom teacher for the first time that year—lowered their voice.
"Miyauchi."
"Yes, Kaname-sensei."
"Have you ever actually talked with Kayano, from our class?"
At the question, Miyauchi thought of Kayano, who had sat quietly alone in class again that day.
"No. I don't think I can really say we've had a conversation yet."
"...I thought as much."
Kaname nodded quietly, as if that were only to be expected.
"Then, from what you've seen, what kind of person does Kayano seem to be?"
"Hmm."
Miyauchi pictured her once more. Kayano... Forget a real conversation; she had barely even heard the girl's voice. Aside from the self-introduction on the first day after enrollment, she didn't think she had heard it once.
"...I'm Kayano... Mina. ...My hobbies are listening to music, and playing games, more or less. ...Please take care of me."
And even then, it had been a cold voice, as if she were declaring that she meant to keep her distance from everyone around her.
"To be honest, she looked like someone who doesn't trust people."
"...Didn't she?"
Kaname nodded, as if to say the phrasing was exactly right.
"Miyauchi. This may be a burden, but please look after Kayano."
The request came with a hand closed gently over hers.
Back in the classroom, Miyauchi looked at Kayano, sitting alone at her desk as if that were simply the way of things. Glossy brown hair falling past her waist, and blue eyes rare to see in Japan. She was small, and yet—whether from keeping up with exercise or not—lean enough that even Miyauchi, a girl herself, found her gaze drawn there of its own accord. Unlike Miyauchi's own slight figure, she was full in every place a body was meant to be full. A perfect shape. And skin so clear of blemishes, so soft and seemingly full of spring, that it would not have been strange to mistake her for a child. A cute high school girl sat there, cute enough that calling her a doll would not have been strange at all.
"...I'm Kayano... Mina. ...My hobbies are listening to music, and playing games, more or less. ...Please take care of me."
But the moment that girl opened her mouth, she gave off an air the very opposite of the cute face—cold as ice. As if to say, don't come near me.
"...Haa."
Miyauchi let out a quiet sigh and sorted through her thoughts.
"Kayano has her circumstances. Maybe that's why she seems to keep her distance from people on purpose. But school isn't simply a place for studying, is it? Of course it would be best if I, as her homeroom teacher, could look after everything—but realistically, that's difficult."
So Kaname had asked whether, while they were in class, Miyauchi could spare Kayano even a little of her attention.
"...Her circumstances."
Well. Kayano was unbelievably cute, so she must have been hounded since she was little. Envied by other girls jealous of that face. Surrounded, now and then, by boys like wolves. Just the day after their high school entrance ceremony, all she had done was miss the get-together for prior plans, and everyone had talked about it endlessly. Fortunately the kids in their class were all kind and hadn't said a single cruel thing—but to have your name come up somewhere you didn't even know. I don't even want to imagine something like that. For Kayano, it must have been everyday life. How frightening. How painful. So of course she kept her distance from people in the first place.
But there had to be a friend she had made by overcoming all of that. A true friendship—the only one Kayano could trust besides her family. Sadly, grades had kept them from entering the same high school. Even so, a thing that small could never split a true friendship between Kayano and her friend. Every day after school, meeting near each other's homes, telling each other what had happened: that daily life. For Kayano, that time had to be a precious memory she wouldn't trade for anything.
"Kayano..."
If that time really is so precious, then I'll help. I won't create any reason she might have to stay late at school, not if I can help it. No matter what happens, I'll be on Kayano's side. And someday I'll become her real friend too, and sit with that friend and talk. Precious memories, built up that way.
Ah. How beautiful.
"...I'm sorry. Today, I have an important prior engagement."
"Of course. I simply haven't earned that kind of trust yet."
"Hm? What did you say, Miyauchi?"
"...Nothing."
And so the literary girl's misunderstanding only sank deeper.
The prior engagement I had today—the one I absolutely could not miss, no matter what.
It was, of course...
My return stream, obviously.
Maybe becoming a VTuber really was fate. How else did the day my hiatus ended land on the very day of the closing ceremony? Was this a divine revelation telling me to focus on nothing but streaming for the next month, starting today?
The mood wasn't bad, thankfully.
...Or not?
Well, that wasn't the important part. What really mattered was that I had made up my mind to change.
Ten seconds, then.
First, a deep breath, to still the tremor in my chest.
Nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one.
"K-K-Konzumi~. Affiliated with StarsFlow, the atmosphere maker who dreams of a w-world where everyone can smile.... I-I'm K-Kai... Kaino Izumi...."