ODL – Chapter 35 – Hiyorin’s Tipsy Channel

It seems that Hiyorin’s new MeTube channel name is called 『Hiyorin’s Tipsy Channel』.

She told me this while I was taking out a ChuHai from the refrigerator. Souma-kai had already disbanded for the day so Shizuka and Mafuyu-chan had already gone back.

“Um, is Hiyorin-san going to drink during her streams?” (Souma)

That was my main concern.

Hiyorin’s drunken state goes far beyond what can be shared on the internet.

She should be aware of that herself…

“Well, um, I think I’ll mainly be streaming from home and making videos, but… I don’t think I can resist drinking…” (Hiyori)

As she spoke, Hiyorin took a sip from her familiar strong canned drink. It was already her third one.

Maybe she should just rename it to “Totally Drunk Channel”…

I didn’t have much to say in response to her words. I was well aware of Hiyorin’s love for alcohol. My sense of not needing to drink is probably completely different from hers.

“…Please make sure not to overdo it.” (Souma)

I returned to the living room, sat in a chair, and sipped on the ice-cold ChuHai.

It was delicious, but unlike Hiyorin, one was enough for me.

“Um… Souma-kun… Are you going to be watching my streams?” (Hiyori)

Hiyorin asked timidly, hiding her face behind a ChuHai can.

…When Hiyorin gets drunk, she becomes slightly more childish. The contrast between that and her usual mature self is dangerously cute that I might easily fall for her. Maybe it’s not a good idea for Hiyorin and I to be alone together with alcohol after all.

“Of course, I plan to watch. But if you’re embarrassed and don’t want me to, I understand.” (Souma)

I’m also about to debut as a VTuber, so I can relate to being embarrassed when someone you know is watching.

“Oh, um, no! It’s not that! It’s just that… if Souma-kun is watching, and I go a little too crazy… can you stop me?” (Hiyori)

“Ehh..?” (Souma)

“……No?” (Hiyori)

Hiyorin tilted her head slightly as she peeked out from behind the ChuHai can.

Her gesture was oddly cute, and I was aware that my face was getting hot.

“…I mean, it’s not that I don’t want to, but I wouldn’t even be able to stop you in the first place. Although if you respond when I ring the intercom, that would be fine.” (Souma)

“A-Actually, about that… I was hoping you would accept this…” (Hiyori)

Hiyorin hesitantly offered something.

……

A strong sense of déjà vu washed over me. I had a feeling I recognized that small object held delicately between her slender fingers without even looking.

When I held out my palm, Hiyorin placed something on it.

…Yeah, I knew it.

“Is this a key?” (Souma)

“Yeah… it’s my… um, house key…” (Hiyori)

“Uh, Hiyorin-san… Do you know what you’re doing right now?” (Souma)

Normally giving someone the key to your house was a completely outrageous thing to do.

At the very least, you wouldn’t do that unless you were more than just friends.

“W-well… I mean, I come over to Souma-kun’s place almost every day, right…? So this isn’t any different…” (Hiyori)

Hiyorin, who had become flustered, tilted the ChuHai can and took a big sip. Her throat moved alluringly, and the magical liquid that could drive a person crazy was being absorbed into her body.

…When she lowered her arm, Hiyorin had become a completely different person.

“It’s fine, just take it!” (Hiyori)

“Whoa!?” (Souma)

*Clank* The ChuHai she was holding was dropped onto the table. When I cautiously looked over, Hiyorin had already entered full-on drunk mode.

“It’s really amazing how quickly you change…” (Souma)

To be honest, Hiyorin had been entering drunk mode more frequently lately. Although drinking with Hiyorin didn’t inconvenience the other two because it happened after we disbanded, I had lost count of how many times I had carried Hiyorin home.

Perhaps Hiyorin also wanted to give me her key so that I could keep bringing her back to her house.

“Souma~! Listen up, okay?” (Hiyori)

“Okay… what is it?” (Souma)

While I moved to the kitchen and poured a glass of water, I responded to the voice that had been directed at my back.

“You know… I… like you, Souma.” (Hiyori)

“…Huh?” (Souma)

As I turned around with the glass of water in hand, Hiyorin had her head lowered almost to the edge of the table, and just when I thought she was about to fall over, she raised her head dramatically while wobbling it back and forth.

“You liiike… having my key, right?! Come oon… think about meee a bit moree seriousssly…”¹ (Hiyori)

“Are you… seriously saying that? No, there’s no way…” (Souma)

Maybe I shouldn’t take a drunk person’s words seriously. In fact, Hiyorin had already collapsed onto the table. It was hard to believe she had any semblance of consciousness left.

…Nevertheless.

“This is seriously bad for my heart…” (Souma)

When your oshi tells you, “I like you”, it’s impossible not to have any thoughts.

I used the spare key Hiyorin had given me and carried her home with my heart pounding faster than usual.