abcnovels
Chapter 242: [Random Coaster]
Chapter 242: [Random Coaster]
Chapter 242: [Random Coaster]
Oh, I see. Come to think of it, it's natural for her' to have interactions with someone other than me.
In fact, it would be strange if she didn't.
We go to different schools. We even live in different countries now.
So, I should be relieved to hear she has other close friends
"Iroha-chan~?"
"Huh? W-what is it?"
"Could it be, were you pouting just now?"
"Huh!?"
My face flushed with heat.
What's with this sudden accusation!?
There's no way that's true!?
This is just Yes, that's it!
"Just felt a bit lonely, like when a relative's child you've been looking after suddenly stands on their own, that kind of loneliness."
"Oh~? "
For some reason, Mai starts grinning mischievously.
W-what's with that expression?
"Iroha-chan, were you lonely~?"
"T-that's not true!?"
Mai stares at my face intently and approaches.
I can't stand it anymore, so I avert my gaze.
"Hey, Iroha-chan. It's not a relative's child, right?"
"I-I know that already."
But then why do I feel this way?
Could it be that I'm actually jealous?
No, no. Why should I feel like I've been "stolen" from? She wasn't anyone's to begin with?
"Mai-san, please!? Getting too close to Iroha-sama I-Iroha-sama!?"
I can't take it anymore and finally move away from Mai, leaning towards Ilyena.
I grab her dress hem tightly.
Damn it, I'm only half-hearted as a fan!
I know I shouldn't have these feelings but I can't stop them!
"I I'm a bigger fan of Ilyena-chan!"
" ??? Huh? Uh, why's that? Iroha-chan~?"
"Eek!? Ilyena-sama!"
I can't believe Mai made me feel like she "stole" my favorite!
No, I know in my head.
There's no right to monopolize someone as a fan. Ever since I found out we knew each other, there's been this strange possessiveness.
"I won! My life's been this long! But, it was a really close match! Victory is mine!"
"W-wait a minute!? Did Iroha-chan get jealous thinking Mai stole' her?"
"Huh? Why?"
"Iroha-chan's an idiot! Cheater~!"
Mai runs off with a "Waah!"
Cheater, huh?
"Jeez."
And me being jealous because Mai got stolen? That's absurd. Mai isn't even a VTuber or anything.
So by process of elimination, it's obvious this feeling is "jealousy towards Mai".
Yeah, there's no other explanation.
"Umm, Iroha-sama? Your face is really red, you know?"
"Huh!? Oh, I wonder why!?"
"Could it be, Iroha-sama?"
At that moment, a hesitant boy enters the space left by Mai's departure.
He nervously speaks to Ilyena.
"Hey, uh, remember me? We ended up in different classes, but when you transferred here, I helped you"
"Iroha-sama!"
"Eek!?"
I push the boy away, and Ilyena takes my hand.
She looks at me with a serious gaze.
"Tell me more about yourself, Iroha-sama!"
Oh, I suddenly remembered.
That boy just now Oh, I see, that time.
Even if there's no chance, he's still holding onto his first love, huh? Well, I can understand that.
I'm still not over the first VTuber I got into, even though she's retired!
Huh?
Wasn't that the topic?
"Umm, so why all of a sudden?"
"Well, if I want to get closer to Iroha-sama, now's my only chance!"
"But even if you ask me to tell you"
"At least for now! And when will Iroha-sama be returning to Japan? I also went back to Ukraine once, and I started missing Japanese food then."
"Oh~! You're more Japanese than I am!"
Come to think of it, except for my mom's cooking, I haven't really eaten anything else. I remember the menus.
"What I've eaten since I returned to Japan: parfaits, pancakes, omurice, juice"
"W-why does it seem so biased!?"
"Well, since I got back to Japan, I've been going to VTuber collaboration cafes every day. You know, those boxes. But it's hard to collect the original coasters."
"Iroha-sama, you eat so little."
Ilyena says, looking at my table.
At times like this, I miss having the body of a guy.
"It's one per item, and they're random."
"Well then, maybe?"
Ilyena continues to ask questions, somewhat desperately, as if she's searching for something in common with me.