CH 86

Chapter 86. [The Beginning Of The End]

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

“Maan. Bukhusooonnn!!”

This is the waiting room.

I threw my soaking wet pants into the basket and picked up a towel to wipe myself instead.

The cause of all this was Ah-nee.

It happened during rehearsal.

I was sipping a sports drink to rehydrate myself.

There, Ah-nee hugged her from behind, saying, “Iroha-chan!”.

Naturally, I splashed the contents of the drink all over.

“Oaaahhh, it’s all over here!”

“Anego, you need to be more careful with your mouth.”

“I thought you would say that, so I brought you a change of clothes to apologize!”

“What? No, I have my change of clothes.”

“Don’t say that! …Jan!”

“What? What’s this?”

“Heh heh heh, isn’t it cute? It’s the staff’s item! And here’s one for Ogu and me, too!”

What Ah-nee brought with her, hidden behind her back, were the costumes of each of the VTubers.

One was a pure white academic gown, the other was a damaged outfit with many holes, and the other was a gyaru-style idol costume.

“No, no, wait! The design is too girlish to wear it! Well, I’m already a junior high school student! It’s hard to be like that lolita-ish!?”

“There’s no way I can go out wearing this!? Because of the damage, you can’t see everything here and there!?”

“Well, I think it’s cute, don’t you?”

“That’s because you’re the only one in a decent outfit!”, “That’s because Anego’s the only one in a decent costume.”

“That’s it, that’s it. I won’t let you get away, both of you.”

“”HIIIIIIII!!!!!””

***

A few minutes later.

“I’m tired.”

<<Seriously, Anego, I’ll never forgive you.>>

We were walking down the corridor in the costumes we had just been made to wear.

Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that we ran away.

We were photographed a lot because there was still time before the next rehearsal.

Ah-nee. She was so relaxed, even though there wasn’t much time until the actual performance.

But thanks to that, I feel much more relaxed.

I wondered if she was trying to ease my nerves.

Come to think of it, today was not the first rehearsal.

It was my first time there, but I had already checked everything in Japan.

And to be frank, the talk part is the only part that is in real-time.

So, the only things we do at rehearsals are volume and tracking checks, then confirming standing positions and progression.

There is far more work to be done behind the scenes, such as checking the script, than on the spot.

I owe a lot to Ah-nee’s manager, who did a lot of coordination in advance.

I wish I had a manager too.

I’ve been doing it by myself with the help of others, but I think I’m reaching my limit.

<<But I guess Anego is nervous too.>>

<<That Ah-nee!?>>

<<Didn’t you notice? I think Anego was trying to relieve her tension. Rather, Iroha seems more relaxed to me.>>

<<No, no, no, no, of course, I’m very nervous too! I’m waiting to talk with a lot of people who’re my oshi!>>

<<I’m sure you’re relaxed, aren’t you?>>

I’m so nervous because I’m looking forward to it so much! For some reason, Angu Ogu gave me a puzzled look.

<<After all, Iroha is a big girl. Not only are a lot of people coming this time. People from all over the world will be there. Even Ah-nee must be nervous. After all, —- it’s her “first” large-scale international event.

<<… What?>>

I felt a strong sense of discomfort at those words.

First time? No, that’s impossible. Because what? What’s that? How could I have forgotten?

I died in my previous life at the “first” big international VTuber event.

But then, when is it now? When did I die?

<<Iroha, what’s wrong?>>

<<I’m going out for a minute.>>

<<What? Where are you going?>>

<<I’ll be right there! I’ll be back before the next rehearsal!>>

It can’t be. Impossible, impossible, impossible, impossible.

I thought so, but my feet naturally moved as if my soul was calling out to me.

I ran out of the venue through the back door.

There was still some time before the doors opened, so the fans around me wouldn’t see me.

Even if they did see me, people wouldn’t think it was me. I had no time to worry about it.

What’s more….

“Hah, hah, hah, hah!”

Yes, I “know” this place.

I have “seen” this scene once.

That time, I got lost on the way to the venue.

It’s not so far from here.

I gradually lost all signs of people.

I arrived at an abandoned warehouse.

I put my hand on the door. My fingertips were cold.

Even so, I pulled the door open in a single breath. The door moved with a rattling sound.

Slowly, I walked up to it.

Shards of glass scattered on the floor crackled as I walked.

The light shining through the hole in the ceiling shone on it like an angel ladder.

There was no one else in sight.

I kneeled in front of it.

I looked into its head to make sure.

“No doubt about it. This is ……….”

—It’s me.

There I was, in my previous life, with my head stained bright red.

My eyes “met” with the eyeballs whose eyelids were still open.

“This, this is the sight. I’m seeing this sight!”

At the end of my last life, I saw an angel.

The pure white academic gown I’m wearing now looks like an angel’s wings spread out.

“Oh …… Aaaaahhhh!”

Yes, that’s right.

I…

“I… remember.”

At that moment, a bell rang.

It was the “alert” sound of my smartphone.

I read the message displayed on the lock screen of my smartphone.

It read.

[Nuclear weapons have fallen on Ukraine.]