Chapter 22. [Encounter and Farewell]

On the second day.

The four of us, Angu-ogu, Ah-nee, Mai, and I were at a summer festival.

Because it’s been a long time, and everyone is wearing a yukata.

<So beautiful and cute! “Kimono” is nice! And the “food stalls” are great! So many interesting things!!!>

Angu-ogu is happily looking around the stalls. Ah-nee is ordering items for her.

I was nipping with “Ma~i!”

“You know how bad Ah-nee sleeps, don’t you?”

“Wha… what are you talking about? Does, Doesn’t, Doesn’t know, Mai doesn’t know anything!”

“Jiiii~~”

“Ugh …… ahhhh~. Iroha-chan, don’t you want some takoyaki~?”

Aaaan, she offers me one of her takoyaki.

I bite into the toothpick. It’s so hot, I chew it while writhing in agony. Mmm, it’s good.

“Oh well. I’ll forgive you.”

“Ho-…….”

“Hey, Mai?”

There was something that had been bothering me for a long time, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask.

I looked away to hide my guilt.

In the corner of my eye, I saw Ah-nee and Angu-ogu, “Woah!” <Gee!>, and making a fuss.

Ah-nee bought a candy apple and offered it to Angu-ogu, but Angu-ogu was too alarmed to accept it, saying, “Another ‘crunchy plum’!” Ah-nee bursts out laughing when she sees that.

Their merrymaking gave me courage, and I spoke up.

“Mai, don’t you think about becoming a VTuber yourself? You know what we do, right?”

“Yes, I know! I don’t think mom and dad knew much about VTubers, but Mai watched Ah-nee when she first started streaming. That’s why I look up to you so much.”

“Then why?”

“Impossible! Impossible! It’s different for Mai to stream~! Mai isn’t suited for that kind of streaming. I’m not good at talking in front of people like that. onee-chan already invited Mai. But Mai turned it down～.”

“Oh? Was that so?”

“Yeah. Mai likes to go to school every day and study hard. Ehehe~ I thought it was cowardly of me not to try like this, but onee-chan told me.”

Mai looked up and followed her gaze to Ah-nee’s back.

It was a look as if she was looking at something dazzling.

“[There is no such thing as which life is better than the other]. [Mai can go on with her life if she wants to]. So I’m fine the way I am. I’m fine the way, I am.”

Mai smiled shyly, “Well, I haven’t decided what I want to do in the future yet.”

To be honest, I underestimated Mai. No, I underestimated children.

They are already thinking about a lot of things in their little bodies.

<Iroha! It’s about time! Let’s go!>

“Come on, Mai, let’s go!”

I was pulled along by Angu-ogu, and Mai by her sister.

We were taken to a slightly elevated place.

<3, 2, 1……>

There are colorful flowers painted on the dark canvas.

The sound and shock shook me to my core.

<“Tamaya!”>

Angu-ogu shouted. I felt like shouting too, so I joined in and shouted.

I usually write in my diary during the summer vacation, but today I felt like writing it down right away.

＊　　＊　　＊

<I’ve enjoyed these three days! Thanks to both of you. Thank you!!!>

We had come to the airport to see Angu-ogu off.

There was no time left before the last flight to the US.

<Ogu, are you leaving?>

<Oh, no, don’t cry. It’s not like it’s goodbye for life.>

<No, I’m not crying.>

I said and wiped my eyes.

The past three days had flown by. And yet, I had come to take it for granted that I was with Ogu.

<That’s right, here. I didn’t get around to giving it to you after all.>

<Oh, your autograph. Thank you.>

For a while, we both fell silent.

Everything that needed to be done has been done. We both feel that this is the time to say goodbye.

Angu-ogu spoke in a mumbled voice.

<This trip was so short that I could do a little sightseeing. But next time I plan to take a week’s vacation and came back to Japan. I’m going to go all over Japan and eat all the local delicacies!>

Angu-ogu looked out the window.

Her voice was faintly trembling.

<Ogu?>

<I’ve experienced summer in Japan, so I think I’ll do spring next time. Then I’ll see the cherry blossoms. And the next time, I’ll come back in the fall to see the autumn leaves. This is not goodbye, I will come back to Japan many times in the future. So–.>

Angu-ogu turned her eyes toward me.

Her eyelids were filled with tears.

<So, please come to America, Iroha, for sure!>

<……!>

Me in America?

I had never thought about it. No, I’ve only been to the US once in my life. The result was disastrous, though.

<Okay. I’ll be there.>

<Promise!?>

I hear an announcement.

It’s time to go.

<……I’ll be there, then.>

<……Yes.>

Angu-ogu turns her back and starts to walk away.

Her back is getting smaller and smaller.

Is this goodbye? Really?

I felt like there was still something I needed to tell him. But I didn’t know how to verbalize my feelings. So, at least, I shouted.

<Ogu!>

Ogu looked back at me.

She looked back at me as if he had been waiting for me to say something like that. I felt like I got the message.

<Iroha!>

She threw down her bag and ran toward me.

She hugged me as if she was going to hit me. I hugged her tightly.

<Iroha, I’ll see you again! I’ll see you again!>

Saying this, Angu-ogu moved her face closer to mine.

I turned around reflexively. <Eh>. At the moment…

<Ngh!>, “GuugH”

“Aa”, “Gyaaaaah~?!”

Angu-ogu’s eyes widened in astonishment. I would have the same look on my face.

Ah-nee’s mouth dropped open, and Mai screamed.

<“Woahhhhhh ～～～～!”>

Angu-ogu and I jumped back.

I wiped my mouth with the hem of my dress as if it were a mirror reflection.

<Whawhawha! What are you doing, Ogu?>

<No, no! I just got excited and tried to give you a cheek kiss!>

<I knew it was a kiss! You zombie in heat!>

<No! A cheek kiss is just a cheek-to-cheek kiss! Not lips! You shouldn’t have turned around, Iroha! Iroha is the dirty one! >

<What? That’s not what I–!>

<That’s Iroha’s…!>

“Ma, Ma, Mai, Mai’s Iroha-chan aaaaahhhhhhhh!”

“Ha-ha-ha-ha!”

Where was the emotional atmosphere from earlier?

In the end, our parting was quite a noisy one.

But I was no longer lonely. We would see each other again. I’m sure.

……Ah, by the way, I told the news that Angu-ogu kissed me during the stream.

She immediately appeared in the chats and desperately tried to explain herself, but it was too late. In no time, it was clipped, and hit a record-high number of views.