Extra chapter thanks to Kodenir

Chapter 271. [Sin And Punishment – Retirement And Rebirth]

A stone thrown by someone hit the delinquent’s head, blood streaming down.

The girls shouted in alarm.

《Hey, everyone! We promised not to resort to violence, right!?》

《Th-That’s not us! It’s other students who came along and did it on their own!》

The one who threw the stone was one of the hecklers.

However, that single stone seemed to have caused a ripple effect.

Empty cans and trash were hurled one after another at the delinquents.

Perhaps there were just many resentful people, or…

《Throw more, throw more!》

《Ouch!? H-Help!》

《What are you guys doing!? Stop it!》

《Get lost! It’s their own fault! They’re all scum of society anyway!》

《Agh!? P-Please stop! I beg you!》

《Everyone, calm down! We came here to help Iroha-chan, not to do this!》

It was turning into almost a riot.

Gradually, it became hard to discern what was right and what was wrong.

《What even is bullying?》

I murmured to myself.

Is it okay to hit someone if there’s a reason? Is it okay to beat up a villain as much as you want? Is that different from bullying?

《Ugh, seriously—how pointless!》

I yelled and dashed into the area where projectiles were concentrated.

Amidst the attacks. I stood in front of the delinquents, arms wide open, blocking their way.

I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the flying objects and pain.

But…

“Huh?”

With the expected impact not coming, I peeked open my eyes.

Finally, the security guard who had been just watching stepped in and restrained the students.

《Please, everyone, stop! You might hit Iroha-chan and the others!》

A girl’s voice resounded.

The students noticed me and evidently hesitated to throw things at a small girl.

Previously, they had been disgusted by the weak physique of this little girl, but in this situation, it worked in her favor.

They slowly lowered their raised arms, exchanging glances.

“You idiot, Iroha!? What are you thinking!?”

《You, why…》

Shitenno rushed over.

The delinquents, with a puzzled expression, looked at me.

《That was my line! Why do I have to do this!?》

I yelled back at them, feeling somewhat indignant.

Ugh, it was just terrifyingly normal!

It’s literally visible that someone will get hurt if they get hit.

If the security guard hadn’t stopped them, by now

《…You don’t deserve to be protected by him》

《I didn’t protect you or anything. I don’t forgive you, and I hate you. But…》

I once had a favorite VTuber.

However, she got blamed by everyone for “cheating” and got forced to retire.

If you do something wrong, you should get punished.

That’s natural, and it’s inevitable. But.

《This kind of group attacks on one person. It’s like lynching. It’s not punishment, it’s just vigilante justice》

Suddenly, people who had previously shown no interest, like ‘strangers’, joined in with faces like “I am justice” and spat out ‘verbal violence’ towards her… Was that really a just punishment?

Was retirement really the appropriate fate for her?

No, ‘retirement’ is too lukewarm a word. After all, it’s.

So.

It certainly meant the ‘death’ of a VTuber. She must have done something wrong.

But still, I loved her. I still do.

Wasn’t there any other choice?

《Apologize, accept punishment, and then start over》

There might be opinions suggesting that she should just be reborn as a VTuber.

But damn it! A VTuber’s life isn’t that cheap!

Of course, I think reincarnation has its strength unique to the virtual world.

I wish for a reunion no matter how much her appearance changes.

But even so, you can’t just lightly say words that are almost like “die”!

Because death comes with excruciating pain.

《And because I believe that only the parties involved or the law have the right to judge》

At the time, as just a fan, I didn’t know what punishment would be appropriate for her.

But just because I’m a fan doesn’t mean I don’t have the right to say this.

-Please, don’t take our idols away from us.

And once they’re lost, we can only wait endlessly.

Hoping that one day our idol will come back.

《You must properly atone for what you’ve done so far. In the right way》

《You…》

The delinquent stared at me intently.

It was a gaze with complex colors.

What feelings were loaded in those eyes? I don’t know.

Because I can’t read other people’s hearts.

《Alright, disperse, disperse! Oh, but you guys, we’re gonna have a little talk. Come over here》

The security guards were dispersing the crowd.

Simultaneously, they began to lead away the delinquents and the malicious hecklers.

It seems it finally came to an end for real.

Shitenno probably sensed that atmosphere.

“This… Sorry, for not protecting you to the end, Iroha.”

With a look of apology, he handed me a stuffed animal.

It was terribly dirty, so worn out that it was unrecognizable.

“…Ah”

The moment I saw it, tears poured from both of my eyes.

I collapsed on the spot.

“H-Hey! Iroha!?”

“Ugh, ugh… Uwaaaah, uwaaaah!”

I couldn’t stop sobbing.

I started crying aloud.

I was truly frustrated. Truly sad.

With this, it seems repair is impossible. Once lost, things never come back again—.