ODL – Chapter  39 – Something About a Duplicate Key

“……I’m exhausted……” (Souma)

As soon as the livestream ended, I leaped off the chair and dived onto the bed.

The soft touch of the blanket brushed against my cheek, and my body, more fatigued than I had imagined, sank into the memory foam mattress.

“I didn’t realize I was this nervous while streaming…” (Souma)

Even though the chat got a bit noisy, I thought I could handle it by just talking casually like I usually do. But it seemed that my body was just hiding the tension for me and now, it’s bursting out all at once.

Well, I guess that makes sense. It was 50,000 people after all. I tried not to think about it too much, but there was no way I could ignore it.

“…Onii-chan.” (Mafuyu)

I can hear a voice from above.

Moving my head feels like a chore, so I didn’t bother to check, but there is only one person in the world who calls me by that name.

“…Mafuyu-chan?” (Souma)

She must have come in using a spare key since I remember locking the door. Apparently, I was so tired that I didn’t even notice her entering.

“You look tired.” (Mafuyu)

“I didn’t expect it to be this hard…” (Souma)

Honestly, I wanted to convey more of what I felt during the stream, but even moving my mouth felt like too much effort, so I just said that much.

“Good job, Onii-chan.” (Mafuyu)

*Creak* 

The sensation of the springs sinking into the mattress can be felt. Mafuyu-chan probably sat down on the bed.

“Are you just going to sleep like this today?” (Mafuyu)

Mafuyu-chan’s voice, smooth yet somehow filled with kindness made me feel more drowsy.

“Yeah… maybe… I’ll sleep for a while…” (Souma)

“Hehe… Goodnight, Onii-chan.” (Mafuyu)

I felt like my head was being caressed.

Without being able to react to it, I let go of consciousness.

◆

[Shizuka PoV]

“Man, Souma-kun’s first livestream was really fun. The Onee-chans thing was hilarious.” (Shizuka)

Even though I started the trend, it was funny to see the poll function determining increasingly bizarre tags. Souma-kun was already loved by the viewers, and there is no doubt that he is going to become a popular VTuber.

Or rather, he already is, isn’t he?

Among the other first-gen members, he is the only one with over 200,000 subscribers. I don’t think the others have even reached 100,000 yet. Considering that [Virtual Real] isn’t well-established among male VTuber fans yet, I think it’s amazing.

“…Maybe I should go check on him.” (Shizuka)

From listening, it didn’t seem like he was too nervous, but doing your first stream in front of 50,000 people would make anyone nervous. I understand that better than anyone.

…Maybe I should give him a shoulder massage.

It’s a legal reason to touch Souma-kun, right? Of course, I’m just kidding.

——But

“…Eh?” (Shizuka)

When I opened the front door, I immediately found myself hiding.

Why?

“Why does Mafuyu have… a spare key to Souma-kun’s house…?” (Shizuka)

I saw Mafuyu smoothly inserting the key inside the keyhole as if she were used to it.

As I was left unable to comprehend the situation, Mafuyu quickly entered Souma-kun’s house.

Huh?

Wait.

What’s going on?

Mafuyu and Souma-kun?

“This calls for an interrogation!!!!” (Shizuka)

As I stepped into the entrance, I tried to make my eyebrows look as intimidating as possible and waited for Mafuyu to come out.

…Maybe I should cross my arms too to make it scarier?

◆

[Hiyori PoV?!]

“…Souma-kun was so cute.” (Hiyori)

I closed the stream and quickly gulped down the remaining whiskey in my glass. Then, I thought about the fact that Souma-kun is a new VTuber whose voice was associated with an elementary school student. At that thought, a smile naturally escaped me.

“…He didn’t find out, right?” (Hiyori)

Souma-kun was just so cute that I couldn’t help but send him lots of “Onee-chan” comments. I couldn’t suppress the impulse from within me. But, thanks to that, I managed to become an “Onee-chan”. From now on, I’ll be able to hear Souma-kun calling me “Onee-chan” a lot.

“Hehe…” (Hiyori)

It seems that when I drink alcohol, I become a bit more affectionate. And it also seems that I want to embrace my “Onee-chan” role.

You know…

I’m like already 26 years old, right…?

I’m around a decade older than everyone else.

It is quite challenging for me to interact with Souma-kun, Shizuka-chan, and Mafuyu-chan like how they do with each other.

But when I’m alone with Souma-kun, I’ve recently started to think that maybe I can show him my true self.

I want to be spoiled by Souma-kun.

At the same time, I want Souma-kun to be spoiled by me.

These feelings are getting stronger and stronger.

“I like him… That’s what this is… Isn’t it…?” (Hiyori)

I always thought that falling in love with someone had to have some kind of trigger.

Like being saved by them or being pursued passionately by them.

It’s the kind of situation that every girl dreams of at least once.

I thought that sort of thing was inevitable.

But apparently, my love wasn’t going to be that way.

And before I even knew it… I fell in love with him.

“…I wonder if I can have a drink with him.” (Hiyori)

I suddenly had an intense desire to see Souma-kun’s face.

To celebrate Souma-kun’s debut, let’s bring a nice bottle of liquor.

I took my favorite rum from the shelf and headed to Aoba-kun’s house.

…But.

“Eh…?”

What I saw with my own eyes was Mafuyu-chan using the spare key to enter Souma-kun’s house, with Shizuka-chan standing there, silently watching.

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And before I even knew it… I fell in love with him.

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What I saw with my own eyes was Mafuyu-chan using the spare key to enter Souma-kun’s house, with Shizuka-chan standing there, silently watching.

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TL notes:

Thanks for reading!

A HIYORIN POV LETS GOOOO!

MC’s gonna get another headache when he wakes up later lol.

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Footnote:

1. None