Chapter 135: Wouldn’t it be better for a world like this to perish…?

Aikawa Renka.
She was the representative and overall producer of StarsFlow, and she now had a splitting headache.

“Huuh…”

The reason was clear.
About thirty minutes ago, one of the virtual YouTubers under StarsFlow had caused a huge incident.

Her name was Kaya No Mina.
Her stage name as a VTuber was Kaino Izumi.
She was the member with the most subscribers among the second generation of StarsFlow.

And one of her nicknames was… The Queen of Chaos.
It was a nickname earned because of the numerous incidents she had caused since her debut, which set various communities on fire.
Just recently, hadn’t she caused a stir by saying she didn’t want to hold her one-year anniversary live stream?

But Izumi had never caused a truly serious incident, one that would be considered a problem.
In fact, such chaotic behavior had worked in her favor, promoting her streams.

The chaos had become a weapon for Izumi.

And that wasn’t her only weapon.
If it had been, her channel wouldn’t have grown to such a scale.

The chaos was merely the starting point for attracting viewers to her streams.
Those who started watching Izumi because of the chaos gradually became captivated by her charm.

Whether it was her messy roleplaying, where she kept trying to fit her actions into her RP despite it being all over the place,
Or the way she was constantly the one suffering instead of interacting with the viewers,
Her occasionally seductive behavior despite saying she wasn’t interested in a relationship,
Or the nurturing qualities that her fellow members would mention from time to time,

All of these things combined naturally turned viewers into devoted fans—Izutomos.

It was a positive feedback loop created through light chaos… or rather, that’s what it could be called.

“Still, this incident is a bit dangerous…”

This time, the chaos wasn’t something light.
According to company rules, what Izumi did was considered internal information leakage.
Depending on the situation, it could even lead to the termination of her contract.

Of course, Renka didn’t want Izumi’s contract to end.
Even though from an outside perspective, the chaos seemed severe, from an internal company view, it wasn’t that huge of a deal.

For a while now, there had been rumors circulating in the community about the third generation of StarsFlow, and it was about time for the company to start officially talking about it.
Some even thought that leaking information about the third generation was a marketing strategy.
So, Izumi’s comment wasn’t a major issue for the company, and there was no reason to terminate her contract.

How could anyone seriously consider heavy punishment when they saw Izumi immediately realizing her mistake and tearfully apologizing to her manager?
She was just 17 years old, after all—it would be far too harsh.

However…

“…A suspension is probably necessary.”

Despite the fact that it wasn’t a huge issue within the company, the leakage of internal information was still a clear violation of regulations.

It wasn’t a big deal within the company…
And there were those who believed it was a marketing strategy…

But that didn’t mean no action could be taken.
You never knew how a precedent could affect the future.

“Sigh…”

After one final deep breath, Renka began giving instructions to her staff.
Her role now was to calm the situation as quickly as possible.

“Noa, could you contact Hatsuyuki right now?”

[Yes, understood.]

★

[【Important Announcement】Is everyone ready?! #StarsFlow #NatsuneNanaSe]

When the sudden important announcement triggered Natsune’s broadcast, the number of viewers surged to over 30,000.
However, Natsune didn’t immediately share the contents of the announcement, and instead continued chatting with her viewers for a while.

• Natsune has become an idol worse than Chino

[Well, if Izumi said that, I guess I have no choice… but my goal is to become the strongest idol in the universe! Eventually, Izumi will notice me too!]

Even with a slightly rude comment in the chat, Natsune answered with a smile.

…I’ll remember that name.
If anything happens next time, I won’t forgive them…

[Alright, it’s time for the big announcement!]

• Everyone already knows what it’s about, lol

…I had already received the contents of the announcement from the company, so even though the chat was filled with comments like that, there was nothing I could say.
Of course, it wasn’t even my broadcast, but the fact that I couldn’t even make any rebuttals in my mind… Why did I make such a mistake?

[So, we’re recruiting the third generation for StarsFlow! All the qualifications and requirements are posted on the official website, so if you’re interested, make sure to check it out!]

• Everyone already knows this big announcement

• This is the spark that Mei-chan set off. So beautiful…

“Ugh…”

I felt like tears might come out at any moment.
When I called my manager earlier, I cried so much out of guilt…
Thankfully, they comforted me, saying it wasn’t a huge deal, but I was so mad at myself for being such a fool.

[So, everyone! MataNatsune!]

• MataNatsune!

With that, Natsune’s broadcast ended, and I lay in my blanket, kicking my feet in frustration.

★

Kaino Izumi Suspension Notice

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of StarsFlow Productions.

Currently, Kaino Izumi, a talent under StarsFlow, has been issued a two-week suspension for leaking internal company information.
The talent will undergo strict guidance and regulation.
We apologize for the inconvenience caused.

StarsFlow Co., Ltd.

[Kaino Izumi☆NodokaP @KainoIzumi · 3 minutes]
I sincerely apologize for leaking internal company information and ruining what many of you were looking forward to.
I will take this incident seriously and ensure that such a thing never happens again.
I will make sure to listen carefully to the company’s regulatory guidance.
After my two-week suspension, I will return and stream in a way that all of you can support me.
I truly apologize.

★

[Virtual YouTuber Minor Gallery]

[Title: StarsFlow Notice, Izumi’s Apology Translation]
[Posted by: ㅇㅇ]
Two-week suspension is still a pretty light punishment.

[Recommendations: 69 / Disrecommendations: 15]

Hwashin’s Opponent: Those who were saying it should end with a contract termination must be freaking out, lol
Oyabun🔸: Honestly, it was a mistake, so it’s not going to lead to a contract termination.

ㅇㅇ: Even in the original country, opinions were split on this
└ㅇㅇ: Some insisted it should lead to contract termination because it’s still a clear violation of regulations.
└uwu: They just don’t understand why she got a two-week suspension for the violation.

ㅇㅇ: Isn’t this way too much of a cover-up?
└ㅇㅇ: If it’s internal information leakage, other places would’ve terminated the contract by now.
└ㅇㅇ: A senior hastily turned on their broadcast to cover it up.
└ㅇㅇ: And the company only gave her a two-week suspension?
└ㅇㅇ: I can’t help but think that there’s some connection between the community and StarsFlow, seriously.
└ㅇㅇ: This needs to be investigated.

Mei-chanLove: Don’t slander our Mei-chan, you *$%@!
└SuzIz: Why is this person so mad?
└IGrewAGiraffe: But if you think about it logically…
└IGrewAGiraffe: A current high school girl who’s probably a super cute young lady made that kind of mistake,
└IGrewAGiraffe: and considering her personality, she must’ve cried when apologizing, right?
└IGrewAGiraffe: How could anyone not forgive her for that?
└IGrewAGiraffe: If there’s someone who wouldn’t forgive her, they just don’t understand human feelings, seriously.
└ㅇㅇ: Yeah, that makes sense.
└ㅇㅇ: A two-week suspension seems enough.
└VillainessLady: The fact that you were persuaded is so funny, lol

★

After posting my apology on Nator, I realized something huge.

Today is September 13th. And my suspension is for two weeks. That means… September 14th. So, that means… I won’t be able to cover Natsune’s 2nd Anniversary Live on September 24th…?

This can’t be happening. This is hell. Help me, Kogaemong…!

[Kaino Izumi: Is there any way I can cover Natsune’s 2nd Anniversary Live during my suspension?]
[Koga Suzuka: Of course not, you idiot.]

I figured as much…

I didn’t cover the first anniversary live, and now I can’t cover the second anniversary either. I couldn’t even cover the birthday stream on June 30th because of my schedule.

Am I just unqualified to be an eighth star…?

A sigh escaped me, filled with an overwhelming sense of helplessness and resignation. I wanted to talk about this sadness to someone, but even Nator couldn’t be used during my suspension. And I don’t have a friend I could consult about things like this.

In a world like this, wouldn’t it be better if it all just ended?

[Koga Suzuka: Stop thinking weird thoughts, idiot.]
[Kaino Izumi: Yes…]

★

After the career consultation, I found myself thinking deeply about my future.

What I want to do. What I can do. What I have to do. What I don’t want to do.
As I pondered these things, time passed quickly, and my worries grew deeper.

The members of StarsFlow are all older than me, so I’ve asked them for advice before, but none of the answers really gave me any clear direction. I thought about asking Iztomo, but I figured it would only make my thoughts more confused, so I gave up on that.

Besides, right now, it’s my suspension period, so streaming is impossible anyway.

“It’s so boring…”

Without streaming, boredom completely filled my mind.

Having streamed almost every day without rest for over a year, is it any wonder I feel like this?
Of course, it’s not impossible to talk to the members during my suspension, but… it still felt empty.

When I come home after school, I enjoy my hobbies and then lie in bed.
It’s fun at first, but once I lie down, a sense of emptiness floods me.
It used to be the most fun thing in the world, but just the fact that I didn’t stream made me feel lonely.

Seeing this, I wondered… wouldn’t it be okay to just stream for the rest of my life?
That thought occasionally passed through my mind.

The members are all kind, and the viewers and I get along well, so when I talk with them, it’s fun. Why am I even having these thoughts?
Yet, deep down, I questioned that decision.

Amidst these unresolved worries,

[Natsune Nanase: Want to meet tomorrow, Izumi?]

I received a DM from Natsune.
It was two days before Natsune’s 2nd Anniversary Live.