abcnovels
Chapter 339: The Last Training
Chapter 339: The Last Training
Chapter 339: The Last Training
[Iroha-chan, I miss you sooo much! It's not fair that only Onee-chan gets to go to America!]
"Yeah, yeah, okay."
[Ugh! Iroha-chan, you don’t care at all, do you!? Think about meee more!]
"Even if you say that…"
I listened to Mai's complaints over the phone, smiling wryly.
Well, it’s true, it’s been about three months since we last met.
[You just collaborated with Ilyena-chan! And you live with Ogu! Why is it only me who has nothing!?]
"For someone saying that, you’ve gotten pretty close to my mom, haven’t you? You’re always hanging out in my room now, aren’t you? I don’t know what you're doing, though."
“Ugh!? Th-th-th-that’s… completely unrelated!”
"…You’re not doing anything shady, right?"[…I-I’m not!]
"There was a pause just now! Are you actually doing something!?"
[Th-that was just… because of the long-distance delay!]
"It's not a satellite broadcast, you know."
We were just using the call function on a social media app.
I guess some people imagine the internet is all about signals flying around the world, but it’s actually mostly connected by undersea cables.
"Although, lately, they’re building satellite internet using low-orbit satellites, aren’t they?"
Apparently, there are already 3,000 small satellites orbiting Earth.
Since they launch a bunch at once, if the timing’s right, you can even see dozens of satellites flying together. It looks like something out of Galaxy Express…
If they use that, soon you'll be able to connect to the internet from anywhere with a clear sky.
For example, if you set up an antenna, you could even stream from deep in the Amazon.
[Iroha-chan, why do you know stuff like that~?]
Well, it would be a huge leap forward for my "VTuberization of all humanity" plan! After all, becoming a VTuber without the internet is tough, and there are still lots of areas where setting up a connection is hard.
…Or, that’s what I’d like to say.
But I didn’t actually look into it myself.
"I just heard about it from someone."
I knew because Angu Ogu mentioned it to me once.
Back then, satellite internet was being used for drone strikes during wartime.
Like I mentioned with guns before, it all comes down to how you use things.
The same AI tech used to control drones can also be used for AI VTubers.
Though it’s still in its early stages, they often end up getting banned for crossing the line with outrageous comments… but somehow, they’re still endearing.
"Eventually, even the way we communicate will change, I think. The distance between countries is shrinking every day. Maybe, one day, the distance between me and Mai… between America and Japan, will feel like nothing."
[Iroha-chan…!]
"And maybe when it happens, it’ll become a hot topic!"
[Iroha-chan! Please don’t make me think about studying while we’re on the phone!]
"Sorry, sorry."
Sounds like she's having a hard time with her entrance exams.
But hey, if she's groaning like that, she must be working hard.
[Still, even though the internet is important, I really just want to see you in person, Iroha-chan!]
"Yeah, I want to see you too."
[Wha—!? W-wait, Iroha-chan, what did you just say!?]
"…I said I want to see you again, Mai."
"~~~~!?"
I could hear a soundless scream from the other side of the phone.
Recently, I’ve been missing Mai more than usual. At this point, I'd probably forgive her for just about anything… uh, ahem.
That’s not it. I have a real reason for needing to see her.
I cleared my throat awkwardly and said,
"Hey, Mai. I’m thinking of spending New Year’s in Japan."
[That makes me happy, but what about Ogu?]
"Ogu’s going home for Christmas."
Over here, Christmas is more like New Year’s in Japan—it’s a family holiday. Recently, though, people have been calling it "Happy Holidays" to be more inclusive.
"So I was thinking of coming back home from the 25th to around January 1st."
[Really!? Yaaay! I get to spend time with Iroha-chan!]
"Haha. But I need to check your schedule, too."
[I'll clear my schedule for you, Iroha-chan! We can celebrate Christmas together with everyone~…]
"That’s not what I meant."
[Huh?]
"I want to spend Christmas… just the two of us."
[Whaaa!? Iroha-chan, what does that mean!?]
"You know what I mean. Don’t make me say it, you idiot."
"~~~~!"
"So, can you make time or not? Which is it?"
[A-ah, um, I-I-I, of course, can, but, um, aaah!?]
"We’re set then. Don’t forget, or I’ll be mad. Alright, bye-bye."
[Iroha-chan!? W-wait, explain—]
I hung up the phone, escaping the embarrassment.
…Now everyone was taken care of.
I had my promise with Angu Ogu for Christmas Eve, a plan with Mai for Christmas, an offline collab with Ilyena during the break, and an important thing with A-nee…
"…Okay."
I psyched myself up for the end of the year, when my phone started buzzing again.
"Huh? Who's calling?"
At the time, I had no idea.
That one phone call would completely change my fate.