Basement-Dwelling Loser VTuber

Star’s Flow 4th generation. The leader of Phantasm, Iro Hibana.

It was a well-known fact among the Star’s Flow members and her fans, the Irotomo, that she was an Izutomo.

However, the reason this fact was unknown to Izumi herself was simple: Iro said she didn’t want to tell Izumi.

She asked the members not to mention to Izumi that she was an Izutomo.

On Broadcast, any mention related to Izumi was always banned from clips.

Nope.

From the start, Iro generally didn’t mention Izumi unless it was in private chats.

Because of this, Izumi couldn’t know that Iro was a true Izutomo.

For three years after leaving Star’s Flow,

Izumi tried her best not to care about them, except for Natsune and the 2nd generation’s broadcasts.

And when Iro heard this from the 2nd generation, she hid her Izutomo status even more.

Other Star’s Flow members were curious why Iro was going to such lengths to hide her Izutomo status, and when asked, Iro bashfully answered.

“I know better than the other Izutomo why Izumi senpai left Star’s Flow… um, I really hope Izumi senpai can enjoy what she wants to do. But if I keep mentioning it, Izumi senpai might get worried.”

It would surely be a joyful thing to let Izumi know of her existence, and for Izumi to acknowledge her…

But even more than that, she hoped Izumi would prioritize finding her dream.

She didn’t want to bother her or hold her back for no reason.

Iro said this with a shy smile.

That was right.

Iro was an extremely rare enthusiastic supporter among the mostly negative Izutomo.

Iro supported Izumi‘s choices wholeheartedly and didn’t like the Izutomo who tormented her under the negative label.

Just as Izumi brought energy to the Izutomo through her broadcasts, Izutomo supporting Izumi was what she believed true fans should do.

That’s why when Suzuha mentioned Izumi’s worries,

And when their collaboration was confirmed, she made a resolution.

No matter what happens, she’d stand by Izumi.

Even if the Izutomo showed any reaction, she would protect Izumi.

She must have firmly resolved to do so…

[【Chat】First collaboration with Izumi senpai! We’re going to have fun chatting and read chat messages~! #IroHibana#IzumiKainoh#Star’sFlow]

But Iro forgot one thing…

“No matter what anyone says, Izumi senpai is a 2nd generation member~.”

[W-wait, right?! I’m definitely the senpai! Y-yeah…!]

“Yeah. Izumi senpai is obviously the senpai!”

Watching Izumi’s broadcasts as an Izutomo and collaborating with her as Iro Hibana, a junior, was completely different.

[Hehe… look! Iro is also calling me senpai…! Yeah! There’s an unbreakable wall between the 2nd and 4th generations!]

Izumi was happy with Iro’s words.

If she were true to herself, the enthusiastic supporter Izutomo would have enjoyed just seeing Izumi happy.

But for some reason…

‘…I don’t like it.’

In that moment, such a thought crossed Iro’s mind.

‘Why am I thinking like this…?’

She couldn’t understand.

How could she not like watching Izumi smile?

She chastised herself for having a mindset unbecoming of an Izutomo, a fan.

But… still, that feeling didn’t go away.

[Hmph. No matter how much you all say it, it’s no use! The person involved has acknowledged it, after all…!]

Izumi was among the members of Star’s Flow known for her rich emotional expression.

The only one comparable to Izumi might be Natsune.

When she’s quiet, a chilly atmosphere flows like she unconsciously swallows her own breath, but the moment she opens her mouth, “breaks,” would be the best description of her!

And the aspect of Izumi that truly showcased this was.

[Hehe…]

That pathetic little laugh.

And Iro loved that pathetic laugh of Izumi.

Every time Izumi showed genuine happiness over trivial matters, a surge of energy filled Iro‘s heart.

Yet for some reason, that laugh didn’t sit well with her now.

She wanted to see Izumi not smiling but tearful.

She wanted to manipulate Izumi‘s feelings with her own words.

Sadistic thoughts boiled within her.

That was the difference between the Izutomo and Iro Hibana, a fan and a junior, while chatting and exchanging messages.

★

[【Chat】Collaboration with Iro! Planning to read chat messages…#IzumiKainoh#IroHibana#Star’sFlow]

The first impression of Iro Hibana was a complete social butterfly on par with Tateyama, and also a kind person.

“Hey, um…”

Honestly, she was super worried until they spoke to each other.

What if Iro hated her?

What if she ruined the atmosphere with her mistakes?

Those worries kept swirling in her head.

While normally, one might think that if she liked her, she wouldn’t propose a collaboration, the opposite could also be true; perhaps Iro proposed the collaboration just to mess with her!

However, those worries vanished the moment she started a conversation with Iro.

“Iro-chan, I was worried that you might feel uncomfortable with me…”

[Huh? No way! Absolutely not! On the contrary, I was genuinely looking forward to collaborating with Izumi senpai!]

Iro was incredibly kind.

She even comforted her, saying it was alright although she might have felt uncomfortable with her words.

It felt like a mix of Suzuha‘s kindness and Tateyama‘s social skills.

Trying to keep up with her energy was overwhelming, but she didn’t feel uncomfortable at all.

And that continued even after the broadcast started.

Iro Hibana.

She was said to be modeled after Hestia, the only relatable goddess from Greco-Roman mythology.

So, her RP was set as a goddess managing the sacred flame, an energetic and gentle personality favored even among deities.

Well, her avatar had white half-up hair and blue eyes.

Her outfit was a crop top that revealed her shoulders and belly button, with a skirt barely covering her backside, so it seemed like there was nothing indicating she was the goddess of the sacred flame.

…Oh?

Seems like I used to receive similar evaluations in the past.

[Shall we start gently?]

“Oh, yeah….”

[Ahem. Koniro~! The goddess of the sacred flame Iro has arrived!]

–Koniro!

–Already high tension from Iro-chan lol!

[Today marks the first solo collaboration with Izumi senpai! It’s historic, the first among the 4th and 5th generations! So, Izumi senpai, I look forward to working with you today!]

“Oh, um… Konzumi… The atmosphere maker, Izumi Kainoh here….”

–Haizumi!

–Mei-chan seems like she might collapse…

Once the broadcast started, Iro‘s personality struck me as truly “benevolent.”

As a shy person, I stumbled a bit while hosting, and she took the initiative in breaking the ice, even trying her best to engage with me as I got stuck.

If only I had done well from the start, there would be nothing to argue about…

…Yeah.

I-I can’t help it because I’m really under a lot of mental pressure right now!

Regardless, it wasn’t impossible to run the show.

And then.

[There are questions for you both!]

[Of course, based on generations, Izumi is the senpai, but considering the time spent active, shouldn’t Iro be called senpai instead?]

[I’m curious about what the members think.]

Such a Mycarron came in.

An atmosphere-destroying, garbage question, you could say.

Clearly, Iro had said that she would choose today’s Mycarron…

When that thought crossed my mind, I couldn’t help but think she was trying to bother me again.

But it quickly became clear that wasn’t the case.

[Of course, I think Izumi senpai is the senpai~. We are 4th generation, right? And Izumi senpai is from the 2nd generation.]

Iro was serious.

Unlike the lively atmosphere before, she continued with a serious tone.

[I don’t think time spent active is the only thing that matters. The fact that Izumi senpai debuted and worked hard in Star’s Flow long before us is what’s important. I believe that fact should be truly respected.]

Only then did I realize.

Iro had intentionally brought up this Mycarron.

For reasons unknown, she had picked up on my worries.

Understanding the gossips floating around on Nator or the community,

To clarify those controversies, she brought up this Mycarron.

…For me.

I was incredibly grateful to Iro for speaking up on behalf of someone who, in a sense, couldn’t even be considered a senior.

-Even so, I don’t think the time spent active should be overlooked.

And then, my eyes fell on Iro’s broadcast chat.

It seemed Iro noticed that chat, too.

[No matter what anyone says, Izumi senpai is a 2nd generation member~.]

That was her answer regarding that chat.

She was acknowledging me.

That fact made me so happy.

“Y-yeah?! Of course, I’m the senpai! Y-yeah…!”

–Mei-chan’s mood just lifted!

–Looks like she was really worried lol!

[Yeah, Izumi senpai is definitely the senpai!]

“Hehe… Look! Iro is also saying I’m the senpai…! Yeah! There’s an unbreakable wall between 2nd and 4th generations!”

Now, I didn’t care what the Izutomo said anymore.

–No matter how much you look at it, the senpai is Iro-chan, right…?

“Hmph! No matter how much you all say it, it’s of no use! The person involved has acknowledged it, after all…!”

Because the leader of Phantasm, Iro, acknowledged it.

Thinking so alone and having the endorsement from the person involved was an incredible difference!

“Hehe…”

I was so happy with that fact that I let out a laugh.

And then.

[…Heh. But it seems Izumi senpai was more concerned about this than I thought.]

“…Huh?”

[So cute….]

The atmosphere of Iro drastically changed.

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