Kays Translations

Chapter 9: [Tsukiyo POV] A Fateful Encounter ①

I’m Tsukiyo Himeji, just an ordinary third-year high school student.

No, not really—around class, I’m known as the “Ice Queen,” so I guess I’m a slightly odd third-year student.

…To tell the truth, I’m actually a very unusual third-year high school student who’s active as the Vtuber Kaguya Hoshizuki.

I am aware that I’m different from others.

Ever since I was little, because of how I look, people have made all sorts of assumptions about me.

If I do well in school, I’m told I’m “naturally smart.”
If I do well in sports, it’s “because I’m talented.”
Even if I can’t talk well, I’m called “cool.”
And if I like cute things, it’s seen as “unexpected.”

Even though I tried hard in both academics and sports to fit in…
Even though I just can’t talk well…
Even though I simply love cute things, honestly…

I felt like no one was really seeing me.
Everyone seemed to project their ideal image of “Tsukiyo Himeji” onto me based on how I looked.

I wished I could have been born cute like my older sister.
I hated my tall body and my cold-looking face.

And during that time when I was struggling, I encountered something—

It was Vtubers!

There, a world of freedom unfolded.

I quickly fell in love with that world.

I could look how I wanted and do what I loved!
With that thought, I started preparing everything—from a virtual body to equipment.

Back then, there weren’t many Vtubers yet, so even just chatting during streams drew people in from curiosity.

Now, many people watch my streams and videos.

It made me happy that people were listening to me without preconceived notions—not as “Tsukiyo Himeji” but as “Kaguya Hoshizuki.”

Besides liking cute things, I also genuinely love playing games, watching anime, and just lazing around at home.

All I was doing was showing my usual self on stream, and yet people accepted me for that. It felt so comforting.

But… there’s one thing you can’t do in the virtual world—

Eating!

Usually I just order food online, but this time, that wasn’t an option.

The family restaurant serving the limited-edition Deluxe Strawberry Parfait I’ve been craving—strangely enough—doesn’t do deliveries.

So I had to go in person!

Today, I’m definitely going to eat that limited-edition Deluxe Strawberry Parfait!
With that determination, I did something rare—I went out on my day off.

○ ●

“Stop it.”

The one who saved me from the two delinquents was a boy smaller than me.

He stood up to guys bigger than himself and took them down in an instant.

To my eyes, he looked like a shining knight straight out of a picture book.

He… he’s amazing! So cool!

“Are you okay?”

People always say I look like I can handle everything on my own, so it’s been a while since anyone showed concern for me. It made me really happy.

“That was scary, huh? But it’s okay now.”

With just those few words, I felt completely at ease.
And then the boy reached up and gently patted my head.

Ah… having your head patted feels this nice?

My face grew warm, and my heart felt kind of fuzzy…

“S-Sorry! I just… did it without thinking.”

The boy pulled his hand away.

Ugh… I wanted him to keep patting me…

Ah—right! I should thank him!

“U-Um… Thank you… for saving me…”

“Eh, oh… yeah. Don’t mention it! I just did what anyone would do.”

Wait… that’s what “anyone” would do!?

If I were a guy, I don’t think I could face off against two guys bigger than me.
I truly respect him—it’s incredible.

But at the same time, I felt a little frustrated that something so special to me was just “normal” to him.

Somewhere deep down, I’d hoped he’d say something like “I helped you because it was you.”

I usually hate being treated differently—but with him, I kind of wanted to be treated special.

“Well, see ya.”

Wait—don’t go! I want to know more about you!

I wanted to say that, but the words wouldn’t come out. It was frustrating.

As I watched his back retreating, the boy suddenly collapsed.

I quickly rushed over and held him up.

His hair fell to the side, revealing the eyes that had been hidden until now.

Whoa—his eyes are so big and round and cute! Why does he hide them?

And his face is small… he almost looks like a girl…

“I’m sorry… I think I’m at my limit…”

No, no! This isn’t the time to be thinking about his face!

I didn’t know what to do, and I started panicking alone—

Then grrrgle, a silly sound came from the boy’s stomach.

He looked a little embarrassed, then slowly opened his mouth and said:

“My stomach… is empty…”

…Huh!?

That’s all it was!? Just hungry!?

He’s way too cute and charming!!

○ ●

Now, in front of me, the boy was munching happily on his food.

(Hmm… He’s like a little puppy—so adorable!)

The boy’s name is Atsumu Sakasegawa.

(What a manly and cool name!)

He accepts me without any prejudice, even when I’m eating a strawberry parfait.
He treats me like an ordinary girl, saying that it’s normal for a girl to like those things.

That made me feel happy and comfortable.
Hehe, I could tell I was smiling like an idiot.

“Yes…! I’m just… normal!”

Saying that, I took another bite of my parfait to cover up my embarrassment.

There was something from our earlier conversation that had been bothering me, and even while eating my parfait, I debated whether I should ask about it.
I want to know more about him.
Driven by that feeling, I decided that now—after finishing the parfait—was the time to ask, so I gathered my courage and asked Sakasegawa-kun.

When I saw the awkward, sad look on his face, I immediately regretted it.
It wasn’t something a person who just met him should ask out of mere curiosity.

Even so, after I quickly apologized, he forgave me and started telling me about himself.

○ ●

I couldn’t stop crying after hearing how difficult things had been for Sakasegawa-kun—things I never would have imagined from his cheerful demeanor.

That he hadn’t had a proper meal in a long time and had been living on nutritional jelly.
That this was his first time at a family restaurant, and he’d always eaten alone.
That he had no family.

So many things I wanted to believe were just jokes turned out to be painfully true.
I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forgive the family that abandoned him.

It frustrated me that all I could do was sit there and watch as he gave a helpless smile and said it was “just how things are.”
If only I were better at talking, I might’ve been able to comfort him with more words…

A little while after that, we parted ways.

Ugh… I didn’t get his contact information…

I regretted it so much afterward.
Timid as I am, I couldn’t bring myself to ask for it.

Ahh, I don’t usually go outside, so I probably won’t see him again.
He did say he’s going to live in this town from now on, so maybe if I go out more, I’ll run into him again?

Maybe I’ll start going out on my days off from now on…

I want to see Sakasegawa-kun again.

That night, with those restless feelings still swirling inside me, I went to sleep without doing my usual stream.

○ ●

The next morning, when I got to school, my classmates were buzzing about a transfer student.
I didn’t think it had anything to do with me, so I took my seat like usual without paying much attention.

Then the teacher called the transfer student into the room, and when I saw who walked in, I was shocked.

It was none other than Sakasegawa-kun—the boy I had met just yesterday.

(I’m so happy, so happy! Is this… fate?)
(Ahh, he’s still small and sparkly and precious today too!)

What’s more, Sakasegawa-kun was assigned to the seat right next to mine.

I wanted to thank the teacher from the bottom of my heart.
Well… I’m not good at talking to people, so I couldn’t actually say it out loud, but still…

When one of the class troublemakers—whose name I don’t even know—tried to mess with him, Sakasegawa-kun handled it smoothly and smartly.
It was honestly impressive.

How can someone be so strong and still know how to sew!? That’s some serious girl power!

“Himeji-san, you go to this school too? I’m looking forward to being classmates.”

As he took his seat, Sakasegawa-kun spoke to me.

Kyaa! I’m so happy he talked to me right away!
Come on, me, you can do this—say something back!

“Y-yes… n-nice to meet… you.”

Yes! I managed to talk normally!

I was embarrassed with everyone watching, but I did my best.
Because… I don’t want Sakasegawa-kun to dislike me.

○ ●

During lunch break, Sakasegawa-kun immediately asked if we could eat together, so I suggested going to the rooftop.
Because I thought we’d be able to talk more freely there without worrying about other people.

I usually eat lunch on the rooftop.
It’s quiet and no one comes there, so it’s one of my favorite places.

“I thought I’d never see you again, but we ended up at the same school, in the same class—what a surprise!”

“…Y-yeah… I was surprised too.”

I really was surprised.
Same school, same grade, same class…
He probably has no idea just how shocked—and delighted—I was.
It was enough to make me think it was fate.

“By the way, why do people call you the Ice Queen, Himeji-san?”

“T-that’s because…!”

“Eh—he really did notice the weird nickname people call me!?”

So embarrassing!!

“It’s strange, right? That someone would call you the Ice Queen, Himeji-san.
I figured there must be some kind of reason behind it.”

Seeing him deep in thought, troubled by it, I could tell he was genuinely concerned about me.

Sakasegawa-kun… Could he be the one to save me again…?

That hopeful thought gave me the courage to speak.

“It’s… kind of an embarrassing story, but…”

With those words, I began to share everything that had led up to this point.

○ ●

Thanks to Sakasegawa-kun listening so gently—never rushing me and nodding along with understanding—I somehow managed to tell the whole story.

And as I finished, still carried by the momentum, I made a suggestion.

“I… I’d really like to talk with you here at lunch… from now on…”

The reason I gave was that, unlike with others, I could talk to Sakasegawa-kun comfortably, so maybe I could overcome my worries…
But the truth was, it was just a selfish wish.
I simply wanted to spend time with him—somewhere away from everyone’s eyes.

“Of course, I’d love to! I mean, we’re friends, right?”

He accepted so readily—but one word caught in my mind.

“F-friends…?”

“Oh—wait… are we not?”

Someone like me, who’s never had any friends, should have been happy to hear something like that.
And yet, for some reason, my chest tightened painfully.

“N-no… we’re… friends.”

“Right?!”

“…Muu.” (sulking or pouting slightly)

That was the only answer I could give him—for now.
Yes… for now.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter