My name is Himeji Tsukiyo. I'm just an ordinary third-year high school student.
Well... perhaps not entirely ordinary. In class, people call me the "Ice Queen."
And to be completely honest, I'm actually a rather unusual third-year high school student who works as a VTuber under the name Hoshizuki Kaguya.
I've always known I was different from everyone around me.
Ever since I was little, people have judged me based solely on my appearance—judgments I never asked for.
If I did well in studies, they'd say I had "natural intelligence."
If I excelled at sports, they'd call it "raw talent."
Even when I struggled to speak properly, they'd describe me as "cool."
When I admitted to liking cute things, they'd act shocked, as if it was impossible.
I tried my hardest to blend in—studying diligently, pushing myself in sports—but no matter what, I just couldn't speak fluently.
And I really, truly loved cute things.
It felt like no one ever saw the real me.
Instead, they only saw the ideal image they projected onto the "Himeji Tsukiyo" package.
I wished I'd been born small and cute like my older sister.
I hated my tall frame, my sharp features, my cold-looking face—everything about my appearance.
While struggling with these feelings, I stumbled upon something that changed everything.
VTubers.
It was a completely free world.
I was instantly captivated.
You could look however you wanted. You could be whoever you wanted.
With that thought burning in my mind, I immediately began preparations: designing my avatar, buying equipment, setting up a streaming space.
Back when I started, VTubers were still rare. Even simple chat streams felt novel and drew a steady audience.
Now, years later, so many people watch my streams and videos.
I was happy—truly happy—that they accepted me without preconceptions. To them, I wasn't "Himeji Tsukiyo." I was simply "Hoshizuki Kaguya."
Besides loving cute things, I adored playing games, watching anime, and just lounging around at home.
I streamed my everyday life as it was, and having that affirmed felt wonderful.
But there are some things you can't do virtually.
Like eating out.
I usually order everything online for delivery, but this time... that wasn't an option.
The family restaurant serving the limited-edition deluxe strawberry parfait I desperately wanted wasn't offering delivery these days.
So I had to go in person.
Today was a rare day off, and I was determined: I would eat that deluxe strawberry parfait, no matter what.
With that resolve, I stepped outside.
○ ●
"Stop it."
A boy—smaller than me—suddenly appeared and saved me from two delinquents.
He faced down men far larger than himself and dispatched them in seconds.
To me, he looked like a knight straight out of a storybook.
Wow... that's amazing. So cool.
"Are you okay?"
People always assumed I could handle everything alone, so having someone genuinely worry about me felt... refreshing. It had been a long time.
"You must have been scared. It's okay now."
Those simple words washed over me with incredible relief.
At the same time, the boy reached up and gently patted my head.
Ah... having my head stroked made me so happy.
My face grew hot, and my heart felt strangely warm.
"S-sorry! I just..."
He quickly pulled his hand away.
Ugh... I wish he'd kept going.
Oh, right! I need to thank him!
"Um... thank you for helping me..."
"Uh, yeah... no problem! It was nothing, really."
Is that really "nothing"?!
If I were a guy, I don't think I could stand up to two bigger men like that.
I thought it was incredible. I respected him so much.
But at the same time, I felt a little frustrated that something so special to me was "normal" to him.
Part of me wished he'd say, "I helped because it was you."
Even though I shouldn't want special treatment... I found myself wanting it from him.
"Well then..."
Wait, don't leave! I want to know more about you!
I wanted to say that, but the words wouldn't come.
As I watched his retreating back, he suddenly collapsed.
I rushed over and caught him. His hair shifted, revealing eyes that had been hidden before.
Wow... his eyes are so big, round, and cute! Why does he hide them...?
His face is small and almost girly...
"Sorry... I think I've reached my limit..."
No, no—this isn't the time to admire his face!
I panicked alone, unsure what to do.
Then a ridiculous sound came from his stomach.
Looking slightly embarrassed, he slowly said:
"I'm... hungry..."
Huh?!
Just hungry?!?!
That's so playful... so cute!!!
○ ●
In front of me sat a boy devouring his food with incredible enthusiasm.
(He looks like a little puppy... so cute!)
His name was Sakasegawa Atsumu.
(That's such a cool, strong-sounding name.)
He accepted me without judgment—even when I ate my strawberry parfait.
He treated me like a normal girl, saying it was perfectly normal for girls to love sweets.
It felt comfortable. I was happy.
I could feel myself grinning foolishly.
"Yes...! It's normal...!"
To hide my embarrassment, I dug into my parfait.
Something from our earlier conversation had been nagging at me. While eating, I debated whether to ask.
I wanted to know more about him.
Driven by that desire, once I finished my parfait, I gathered my courage and asked.
Seeing his sad, embarrassed expression filled me with regret.
It wasn't something you ask someone you just met out of mere curiosity.
I apologized immediately, but he forgave me and told me everything that had happened up to that point.
○ ●
Learning that someone as cheerful as Sakasegawa-kun had endured such unimaginable hardship... I couldn't stop crying.
He hadn't eaten proper food in so long—he'd been surviving on nutritional jelly.
It was his first time at a family restaurant.
He ate alone all the time.
He said he had no family.
So many things I'd hoped were jokes turned out to be painfully true.
I don't think I could ever forgive his family.
Watching him laugh it off helplessly, saying "it can't be helped," made me furious.
If I could speak better, I could have comforted him with kind words...
A little later, we parted ways.
Ugh... I didn't even get his contact info...
I regretted it deeply afterward.
Timid as I am, I couldn't bring myself to ask.
Ah... I rarely go out, so we'll probably never meet again.
He said he's living in this town now... maybe if I go out more, we'll run into each other?
Then... maybe I should start going out on my days off...
I want to see Sakasegawa-kun again.
With those swirling feelings, I went to bed that night without streaming.
○ ●
The next morning, as I arrived at school, classmates were buzzing about a new transfer student.
It didn't concern me, so I took my seat as usual without much thought.
Then the teacher called in the transfer student—and I was stunned.
There stood Sakasegawa-kun, the boy from yesterday.
(I'm so happy, so happy, so happy! Is this fate?)
(Ah... he's small and adorable again today... so precious!)
And then... he was assigned the seat right next to mine.
I silently thanked the teacher.
Of course, since talking to people is hard for me... I couldn't actually say it.
When the class troublemaker tried picking a fight, Sakasegawa-kun handled it smoothly and cleverly.
He's strong... and he can sew?! What kind of superhuman girls' skills are those?!
"So you're at this school too, Himeji-san. Let's get along as classmates from now on."
As soon as he sat down, he spoke to me.
Kyaa! He talked to me right away—I'm so happy!
Come on, me—reply properly!
"N-nice to... meet you... I look forward to it..."
Yes! I managed a normal conversation!
It was embarrassing with everyone watching, but I did it.
I don't want Sakasegawa-kun to hate me, after all.
○ ●
When lunch break came, Sakasegawa-kun immediately invited me to eat together, so I suggested the rooftop.
I figured we'd be able to talk freely there without prying eyes.
I usually eat lunch alone on the rooftop.
It's quiet and empty—my favorite spot.
"I thought we'd never see each other again, so finding out we're in the same school and class blew my mind!"
"...I-I was... surprised too."
Yes, I really was. Same school, same year, same class...
He has no idea how shocked I was—shocked enough to mistake it for destiny.
"By the way, why do they call you the Ice Queen?"
"Th-that's...!"
Of course he'd notice such a weird nickname!
This is so embarrassing!!
"It's strange, right? You being called the Ice Queen. I figured there must be some reason."
Watching him look genuinely concerned, without rushing me... I could feel he truly cared.
If it's Sakasegawa-kun... maybe he can save me again.
That hope loosened my tongue.
"It's... embarrassing, but..."
And so, I began telling him everything that had happened up until now.
○ ●
Thanks to Sakasegawa-kun listening kindly, nodding gently without pressure, I managed to tell him the whole story.
Carried by the momentum, I made a sudden proposal.
"I want you to... talk with me here during lunch... every day...!"
The excuse was that talking to him might help cure my communication issues since I could speak more easily with him...
But really... it was selfish. I just wanted to talk to him slowly, alone, away from everyone's eyes.
"Of course! We're friends, after all."
He agreed happily, but one word caught me.
"F-friends...?"
"Huh... we're not?"
Having no friends, being called that should have made me happy...
Yet for some reason, my chest ached sharply.
"N-no... we are friends." He stalled.
"Right?!"
"...Muu."
That's all I could say for now.
Just for now...