Kokoro Amamiya's Chaotic Communication Diary: Dragons, Mahjong, and Puns - The Dragon-Telling Shrine Maiden Tried Streaming for the First Time

"Morning, everyone! Today I'm gonna teach you all tons about dragons!" 　She aimed a smile at the other side of the screen. A shrine-maiden-style outfit in white and crimson, black hair flowing soft and loose down to her waist. Blunt bangs, with red hairpins adorning either side. A girl wearing a headset modeled after dragon scales—Amamiya Kokoro, twenty years old. 　A single room in an apartment on the outskirts of Neo-Tokio. In a space of about six tatami mats, streaming equipment was crammed in every available spot. Monthly rent: eighty thousand yen. Total equipment cost: about five hundred thousand yen. It was Kokoro's castle, and a tiny base for connecting dragons and humans. 　Outside the window, skyscrapers lined the sky. This was Neo-Tokio, capital of the Akatsuki Federation. Population: eight million five hundred thousand. A metropolis where most people didn't believe dragons existed at all. 　Kokoro scanned the comment section on her stream. 'Fake again, huh.' 'Dragons? No way in hell lol.' 'Spiritual scam, nice.' 　Yep, same as always. 　Kokoro smiled brightly. "Dragons are real, you know. They're spiritual beings without physical bodies, so normal people can't see them. But people with special powers can see them." 　The comments sped up. 'Yeah yeah, that's the lore.' 'VTuber lore-obsessed much?' "It's not lore. This is reality. People like me who can communicate with dragons are called Dragon Tellers. Only about three hundred in the entire world. That's four out of every hundred thousand people—an incredibly rare ability!" 　Kokoro stood up and pointed behind her left ear. 　There was a red birthmark there, resembling a dragon's scale. "Look at this! This red scale mark is proof of a Dragon Teller. Proof that when I was five, I resonated with a dragon and my power awakened!" 　The mark appeared in close-up on the stream. 'Skin irritation lol.' 'That's just a mole.' 'Not even proof, kusa.' 　Kokoro leaned her face toward the camera. "It's not a mole! It has the same pattern as a dragon's scale! It's real! Besides, if you're saying I'm lying, then how do you explain how I even know dragons exist?!" 'How would we know.' 'If it's real, show us a dragon.' "Fine! I'll summon a dragon right now! I'll introduce you to my partner, Gouryu! Gouryu, come here!" 　Kokoro opened the window and called outside. 　No response. "…Gouryu?" 　Kokoro grabbed the window frame and leaned out. 　The rooftop of the apartment building. There, a single dragon stood. 　Twelve meters long. A golden mane swayed in the late autumn wind. Its eyes were golden with vertical slits. Perhaps it was in a bad mood—those eyes glowed red. 　Gouryu. Eight hundred eighty-eight years old. An elder of the Dragon Valley, and Kokoro's partner. 　But right now, he had his back turned to her. "…Gouryu, hey. I'm streaming. Won't you come?" 　Gouryu didn't turn around. 　Last night. Kokoro had played mahjong with Gouryu. And Kokoro had won. 　When Gouryu lost at mahjong, he wouldn't speak for a week. 　Eight hundred eighty-eight years old, and such a pain. "Hey, Gouryu! Show yourself to the viewers! Then everyone will believe dragons exist!" 　Gouryu's tail twitched. 　But that was all. 　The comments grew restless. 'Ah, this is the ignored pattern.' 'There's no dragon, huh.' 'Embarrassing self-production.' 　Keeping her smile, Kokoro whispered toward the window. "Gouryu, please. I'll let you win one round of mahjong next time." 　Gouryu's ear twitched. 　But still, he didn't turn around. 　Reluctantly, Kokoro turned back to the stream. "…Um, so Gouryu seems to be taking a little break today. But dragons really do exist! I'd be happy if you believed me." 'Taking a break (lol).' 'Convenient lore.' 'You looking down on your viewers?' 　Kokoro sighed internally. 　She wanted to prove dragons existed. She wanted to create a world where dragons and humans could coexist. 　That was why she'd started streaming. 　But reality was harsh. Viewer numbers wouldn't grow. Revenue was a pittance. Even today, concurrent viewers weren't even thirty. 　Even so. 　Kokoro lifted her head. "Everyone, listen. The Dragon Teller ability awakens through a resonance experience with a dragon in early childhood. In my case, it was when I was five. I met Gouryu, who had watched over the Amamiya family for generations, and my power awakened. Fifteen years since then—I've lived alongside dragons ever since. Dragons are my family. So until you all believe dragons exist, I won't stop streaming." 　The comments stopped for a moment. 　Then they started flowing again. 'Creepy.' 'Cult-like.' 　Kokoro laughed. "Ahaha, well, I guess I can't blame you for saying that. But someday I'll prove it, definitely. Until then, come watch again if you'd like. Thanks for watching today too!" 　She ended the stream. 　Kokoro removed her headset and slumped onto the desk. "…Haa." 　A deep sigh. 　Her face reflected on the screen. The white and crimson shrine-maiden outfit looked somehow hollow. 　The Dragon Teller ability consumed mental energy. After a long stream, exhaustion crashed over her all at once. 　Kokoro looked out the window. 　Gouryu was still on the rooftop. 　Kokoro stood and opened the window. "Gouryu, the stream's over. Come here." 　Gouryu didn't move. 　Kokoro sat on the window frame and looked up at the dragon on the roof. 　The golden mane sparkled in the setting sun. "Hey, Gouryu. Since you're a dragon, why not be a little more—dragon-hearted?" 　Gouryu's tail stopped dead. 　A few seconds of silence. 　Gouryu spoke in a low voice. "…Cold, isn't it. I'm going to sleep." 　With that, Gouryu vanished into the back of the rooftop. 　Kokoro's shoulders slumped. "…No good, huh." 　Trying to cheer him up with a pun had backfired. 　She regretted that the post-stream loneliness and her mahjong prowess had worked against her. 　Kokoro gripped the dragon flute hanging from her neck. 　A flute made from Gouryu's scale. With this, she could summon Gouryu. 　But she wouldn't play it now. 　Forcing a sulking Gouryu to come would only make his mood worse. 　Kokoro closed the window and began cleaning up after the stream. 　That's when her smartphone buzzed. 　She looked at the screen. A call from Kirishima Ryuichi, supervising director of the Ryugo-in Neo-Tokio Branch. 　Kokoro answered. "Hello, this is Amamiya." 'Ah, Amamiya. Is now a good time?' 　Kirishima's voice was stiffer than usual. "What is it? Did something happen?" '…Something strange is happening in the Dragon Valley. We've received reports that multiple dragons have left their nests.' 　Kokoro's heart pounded. "Dragons… leaving their nests? What does that mean?" 'We don't know the details yet. But the Dragon Valley administrator contacted us. The dragons seem restless. Something may be happening. I'd like you to provide information and stay on alert as well.' 　Kokoro bit her lip. 　The Dragon Valley. A sacred place at the center of the Tatsuminato Kingdom. Area: about fifty square kilometers. Many dragons lived there, and it was also a training ground for Dragon Tellers. 　To Kokoro, it was like a second home. 　When she was five, her grandmother had first brought her there. 　That day, deep in the Dragon Valley, Kokoro met an old dragon. 　Golden mane. Golden eyes. Twelve meters long. 　Gouryu. 　The dragon who had watched over the Amamiya family for generations. 　The moment Kokoro's eyes met Gouryu's, she felt electricity race through her body. 　The mark behind her left ear grew hot. 　And Gouryu's voice echoed directly into her mind. 　'You—can you hear my voice?' 　Kokoro nodded. 　'I see. So at last, a human who understands my words has appeared.' 　Gouryu said that, and laughed. 　Fifteen years since then. 　Kokoro grew as a Dragon Teller, and dreaming of becoming a bridge between dragons and humans, she started streaming. 　The Dragon Valley was Kokoro's origin. 　It was also where Pyu's parents lived. 　She had a bad feeling. 　But there was no solid evidence. No formal orders from the Ryugo-in either. 　She couldn't act immediately. "…Understood. If I learn anything, I'll contact you right away." 'Please. And don't push yourself. The Dragon Valley seems a bit unstable right now.' 　She hung up. 　Kokoro couldn't move for a while, clutching her phone. 　Outside the window, it was already dark. 　Neo-Tokio's nightscape glittered. 　From the window of her streaming studio, Kokoro gazed toward the Dragon Valley. 　To the west. Eight hundred kilometers away. 　The sacred land of the Tatsuminato Kingdom. 　Kokoro murmured softly. "…Gouryu, something seems to be happening in the Dragon Valley. Do you know anything?" 　No response. 　Gouryu was still sulking. 　Kokoro sighed and turned off the streaming equipment. 　That night. 　Kokoro couldn't fall asleep. 　The anomaly in the Dragon Valley. Dragons leaving their nests. 　Something was happening. 　But she couldn't do anything. 　Kokoro stared at the ceiling from her futon. 　A single room in an apartment. Six tatami mats. 　A small space surrounded by streaming equipment. 　From here to the Dragon Valley was eight hours by car. 　Not a distance she could reach immediately. 　Kokoro thought about Gouryu. 　Her partner on the rooftop. 　He sulked, but he was actually lonely. 　If Kokoro didn't pay attention to him, he'd get moody right away. 　But when it counted, he was reliable. 　Kokoro got up and opened the window. 　Cold wind flowed into the room. 　She looked up at the rooftop. 　Gouryu was still there. 　His golden mane was lit by moonlight. 　Kokoro sat on the window frame and spoke to Gouryu. "Gouryu. I want to protect dragons. I want to create a world where dragons and humans can live together in peace. That's why I started streaming. But no one believes me yet. It's because my power isn't enough, right?" 　Gouryu didn't move. 　But his ear was turned toward her. 　He was listening. "They say dragons are leaving their nests in the Dragon Valley. I'm really anxious. I feel like something bad is happening. But I can't do anything. As a Dragon Teller, I'm still inexperienced." 　Kokoro gripped the dragon flute. "Gouryu. I want to get stronger. Strong enough to protect dragons. So please. Don't sulk—listen to me." 　Silence. 　The wind swayed Kokoro's black hair. 　Gouryu slowly turned around. 　His eyes glowed blue. 　When he was happy, Gouryu's eyes glowed blue. 　Gouryu spoke in a low, gentle voice. "…I believe in you." 　Kokoro's eyes widened. "Gouryu…" "The Dragon War. In that battle three hundred years ago, I lost many comrades. My distrust of humans has never faded. But you are different. You care for dragons from the heart. I believe in you." 　Gouryu gazed westward from outside the window. 　The direction of the Dragon Valley. "…Something is happening in the Dragon Valley. Even I have a bad feeling." 　Kokoro stood beside Gouryu. "So you feel it too, Gouryu?" "Yes. The Dragon Valley is my homeland. Something is wrong. But there's no proof yet. Acting rashly will only make things worse." 　Kokoro nodded. "I understand. Tomorrow, I'll talk about the Dragon Valley on my stream. Maybe I can gather some information." 　Gouryu looked down at Kokoro. "…You really are strong." 　Kokoro tilted her head. "Huh? Me, strong?" "Even when no one believes dragons exist, you smile. You truly wish to protect dragons. That strength of heart is far more precious than any dragon power." 　Kokoro laughed, embarrassed. "Ehehe, if you say things like that, I'll get a big head." 　Gouryu snorted. "Don't get a big head. I still haven't repaid my mahjong debt." 　Kokoro burst out laughing. "Ahaha, Gouryu, you're still holding a grudge?" "Of course. I still can't accept losing with that hand." "But Gouryu, you threw away all your dora tiles. There's no way you could've won that." "Quiet! Those dora were just so in the way…" 　Kokoro laughed out loud. 　The loneliness after the stream, the anxie

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Name: Kokoro Amamiya's Chaotic Communication Diary: Dragons, Mahjong, and Puns
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