After School with Her～My Virtual Senpai is a Tsundere Girlfriend～ - DeroKae combo, five seconds until explosion!

Thanks for watching all the way to the end again today! See you at tomorrow's stream! Kaede beamed at the screen, waving. She clicked the "End Stream" button on her streaming software. The click of the mouse was followed by silence as the cheerful BGM that had been playing moments ago cut out. A sudden quiet descended upon the personal booth in the Lumière Hall — the streaming building of Sérénade Academy. Kaede slumped back against her chair. She rolled her neck from side to side, producing faint cracking sounds. The streaming lights were still shining on her face, making her feel a little too warm. The streaming building always felt strangely restless at this hour. The soundproof panels covering the walls blocked out all outside noise, which only made their own voices echo all the more. Hey, Kaede. About that stream just now. Mito spoke up from the neighboring seat as she packed up her equipment in the same manner. That soft, gentle class-president mode she wore in front of the camera was nowhere to be found now. Kaede thought to herself, *Here it comes.* The first words after a stream ended were always this. During the free talk segment, you ignored the topics I threw out twice. Was that on purpose? Mito fixed her almond-shaped, sharp eyes on Kaede. Her deep violet pupils seemed to see right through to the depths of her heart. Kaede had always been a little uncomfortable under that gaze. It wasn't on purpose! It just happened! You're so nitpicky about every little thing. *Crap, my Kansai dialect slipped out.* Kaede clicked her tongue inwardly. She usually tried so hard to stick to standard Japanese, but whenever Mito got on her case, this always happened. Mito let out a soft laugh, like a sigh. But her eyes weren't smiling. "Just happened," huh. You said the same thing during last week's collab stream. A "just happened" moment once a week. That's quite the probability. Shut up! What else do you want me to say?! Kaede snapped back curtly and began roughly bundling up the cables for her streaming equipment. She stomped out of the booth, her footsteps echoing. The hallway was empty. The evening sun streaming through the window dyed the linoleum floor orange. As she walked, a vague unease churned in her chest. (*Why am I like this when I'm around Mito?*) The truth was different. She wanted to laugh normally with her, to say the stream was fun, that their chemistry was as perfect as ever. But the moment Muto started with even the slightest criticism, Kaede reflexively snapped back with harsh words. It was like armor she wore to protect herself. The face of the "buddy-buddy Derokae duo" they showed on stream, and this awkward relationship off-camera. That gap had been smoldering inside Kaede for a year now. As virtual streamers belonging to Nijisanji, the two of them had collaborated dozens of times already. The stream's comment section was always filled with words like "Derokae is the best!" and "I love their banter!" Even their agency manager, Tachibana Sota, would give a wry smile and say, "You two are perfect on stream, you know that?" And yet. Why was it like this? Wanting to cool her head, Kaede turned her feet toward the rooftop of the main building. Ever since she'd discovered the broken lock in her first year, this had been one of the few places where no one bothered her. She pushed open the heavy iron door. The wind on the rooftop gently lifted Kaede's semi-long black hair. The shoulder-length strands tickled her cheeks. The evening air was cool, perfect for her heated head. Kaede leaned against the fence and gazed at the Miori River in the distance. The row of cherry trees along the riverbank glowed gold in the setting sun. April would be ending soon. Petals that had begun to fall danced in the wind and landed on the river's surface. She could see a few people walking their dogs on the promenade. Looking at this scene calmed her heart, just a little. (*Ah, seriously. Why did I say it like that?*) She remembered Mito's serious face. Her straight black hair tied into braided pigtails, her back always perfectly straight. That girl really was worthy of her class-president character, handling everything so flawlessly. Even when it came to stream preparation, she always finished before Kaede. And her talk segments during streams — she probably spent hours beforehand preparing material. (*But she's not just a classmate...*) Kaede touched her left earlobe. An unconscious habit that surfaced when she was embarrassed. (*The truth is, I want to get along better with her.*) She wanted to be able to talk normally with Mito. To not fight after streams, to laugh together and say, "That part today was so funny," or "Let's do this next time." But she just couldn't be honest with herself. "What am I even thinking..." Kaede sighed, exasperated with herself. That's when it happened. *Creeeak.* The sound of the rooftop door opening. Kaede turned around. The plastic bottle of tea she'd propped against the fence clattered softly. ...So this is where you were. Her usual braids swaying, Mito slowly approached. Her posture, with her back perfectly straight, was as beautiful as if she were walking across a stage. She was 158 centimeters tall, a little shorter than Kaede at 162. But right now, none of that mattered. Her expression was different. It wasn't the cold look from earlier when she was critiquing the stream. But it wasn't the honor-student smile she showed in front of the camera, either. Something like resolve dwelled within it. Kaede. Mito stopped right in front of Kaede. They were less than fifty centimeters apart. When was the last time she'd seen Mito's face this close? Her almond-shaped, deep violet eyes stared straight at Kaede. Her bangs were cut straight across just above her eyebrows, and the eyes peeking out from beneath them seemed much larger than usual. I'm sorry for saying harsh things earlier. ...Huh? Mito apologizing was a rare occurrence. Kaede was caught completely off guard, her mouth hanging open. The wind blew again, making Mito's braids sway over her shoulders. She took a single breath. Then, as if carefully confirming each and every important word, she slowly opened her mouth. You see, Kaede... I see you not just as a rival, but... as a romantic interest. *Pffffft—!!* Kaede spat out the mouthful of tea she'd been holding with all her might. The fine droplets sparkled in the evening sun, spreading like mist in the space between them. Mito didn't flinch in the slightest, just kept staring straight at Kaede. Wha—what?! What are you saying?! This is a joke, right?! Her Kansai dialect burst out before she could stop it. No, she couldn't care less about that now. Her heart was pounding violently. It was almost painful. (*Huh? What? What's going on? Why does Mito... see me that way?*) Her mind was a complete mess. Kaede nearly dropped her plastic bottle and hurriedly tightened her grip. Her hands were shaking. It's not a joke. Mito's voice had its usual composed tone. But beneath it, there was a definite heat. Her voice trembled, just the slightest bit. So, to prove my seriousness... starting today, you'll be having a one-week date battle with me. A d-date battle?! What's that?! That makes no sense! Kaede clutched her head. This was escalating way too fast. Just moments ago they'd been fighting over stream critiques — how had it come to this? (*I mean, a confession is supposed to be more... you know? Normal.*) Not this. Not heart-pounding excitement or squealing. It was all too sudden, leaving her with nothing but pure confusion. Mito watched Kaede's reaction intently, as if observing her. Then, her lips curved into a soft smile. From Monday to Sunday, you'll be dating me. And then on Sunday night, you'll decide which of us can make you happier. Wait, wait, wait! "Which of us"?! There's someone else?! That... you'll find out soon enough. With that, Mito turned on her heel. Her pleated uniform skirt flared out softly. I'll give you the details tomorrow at school. Hey, we're not done talking here! Listening to Kaede's voice at her back, Mito walked toward the rooftop door. She didn't look back. Just once, at the very end, she glanced at Kaede over her shoulder. Was it just her imagination, or did that profile, illuminated by the setting sun, look like it was about to cry? The iron door slammed shut. Silence returned to the rooftop. Kaede just stood there, frozen. The plastic bottle in her hand trembled, clattering softly. (*Was I... confessed to? By Mito? Me?*) She slowly leaned against the fence. The cold feel of the iron was pleasant against her heated body. The sky was already beginning to shift from crimson to violet. A single evening star shone. The cherry trees along the Miori River had become silhouettes, and the streetlights on the promenade were flickering on one by one. The wind stirred her hair. The slightly outward-curling ends tickled her cheeks. Kaede placed a hand on her own cheek. (*It's so hot.*) She was probably bright red all the way to her ears right now. She remembered Mito once saying, "Kaede, your ears turn red so easily." Why is this happening... Her small murmur was swept away by the wind and vanished. Inside her head, Mito's words from moments ago were still spinning around and around. *'I see you as a romantic interest.'* *'A one-week date battle with me.'* They could play the part of the "buddy-buddy duo" so perfectly on stream. Yet the moment the camera was off, it was nothing but fighting. So why now, of all times, this? (*Is she... really serious?*) She remembered Mito's earnest eyes. Those deep violet pupils had stared at her as if piercing straight through to the depths of her heart. (*Actually, I haven't even given her an answer.*) While she'd been standing there dumbfounded, Mito had left. She'd said she'd give her the details tomorrow at school. Tomorrow. Kaede repeated the word in her head. Starting tomorrow, something would change. No, maybe it had already changed. With that confession just now, Kaede and Mito's relationship had already reached a point of no return. She looked up at the sky. The violet sky was just now deepening into a darker indigo. The stars were multiplying — two, then three. The evening air was gradually shifting into the scent of night. Somewhere in the distance, a crow cawed. Kaede downed the rest of the tea in her plastic bottle in one go. It was already lukewarm. ...Guess I've got no choice. Time to brace myself. She murmured it, then suddenly realized. (*Brace myself for what, exactly?*) She didn't really know herself. But running away wasn't in her nature. Kaede had always hated anything crooked or dishonest. If Mito was serious, then she had to face it properly too. That's what she thought. —However. What kind of storm this would end up calling down upon her... At that moment, Kaede couldn't even begin to imagine it. Pushing open the rooftop door, Kaede started down the stairs. In the dim stairwell, her footsteps echoed with each step — *clack, clack.* What would the week starting tomorrow be like? Kaede's heart was still pounding noisily. Was it anxiety? Or anticipation? She didn't quite know herself. But there was one thing she was certain of. (*We can't go back to just being partners anymore.*) Unbeknownst to Kaede, the curtain on the story had already been drawn open.

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Episode 1

Name: After School with Her～My Virtual Senpai is a Tsundere Girlfriend～
Author: Novelia

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