After Accidentally Helping a Famous Streamer Who Forgot to Turn Off Her Dungeon Stream, I Began to Go Viral as a Legendary Explorer ～ The Introverted Me Accidentally Dominating with My Mysterious Skill 'Ignore Rules' - Chapter 54: Hearing Miyu's True Feelings for the First Time

Chapter 54: Hearing Miyu’s True Feelings for the First Time

It’s been almost ten years since Miyu’s father caused a rampage accident. 

Until then, the Ayatsuki family had been an ordinary one, but their life collapsed in a day. Smiles disappeared from their home, they lost financial comfort, and the media hounded them relentlessly. Although things have calmed down since then, the scars of that incident still linger in the Ayatsuki household.

Even now, as Miyu has become a famous streamer, her mother doesn’t rely solely on her income, juggling two jobs.

“I can’t put all the responsibility on my daughter,” seems to be her reasoning, striving to increase her own earnings as much as possible.

“Looking back, I think that’s also why I started streaming.”

It was 7 p.m. We were sitting opposite each other in her room, with a table between us. Her mother was at work, leaving just the two of us at home.

“My mom started working more, and even when she fell ill, she would still go to work every day… I always thought that I wanted to help her, at least a little.”

However, being a student, there were limits to how much money she could earn.

The safest option was part-time work, but that wouldn’t bring in much income. She needed more money, not just to make amends to the victim’s family but also for her mother. It was then that she thought of becoming a streamer.

The revenue model based on view count was very appealing to Miyu at the time. 

Indeed, among the already famous streamers, there were boys and girls not much older than Miyu. She knew that only a handful become celebrities and the chances of success were extremely low. 

Yet, seeing her mother working hard every day, she felt compelled to do something. That’s how she started dungeon streaming.

“Ha, it feels nostalgic thinking about it now… Dungeon streaming was a trend back then. I jumped on the bandwagon and hit the jackpot, especially after being blessed with the ‘Sword Saint’ skill. From there, it was non-stop hard work.”

Indeed, that might have been the case. 

Suddenly, a streamer named Miru Ayatsuki began posting videos, and she was uploading at an incredible frequency.

Moreover, as she continued, her editing skills improved, so it was natural that she gained fans, including those like Distoria-san.

“That’s why… I have a lot of things to apologize to Tsukushi-kun for.”

“A lot…?”

“Yes.” 

After a few seconds of silence, she looked at me with determination and spoke, 

“First, I’m sorry for turning a blind eye to the bullying you faced, Tsukushi-kun. Even though we were in different classes, I could have helped…”

“…”

“It’s… bad, right?”

“No, no… not bad, just… I’m a bit surprised…”

It’s not something I’m still worried about, but Miyu’s insistence on apologizing is just like her.

“Rather than turning a blind eye, I think you were avoiding everyone. Despite being popular, you didn’t interact much with friends.”

“…”

“I think it was because you were a streamer and worried about getting caught up in a scandal if the accident came to light. Am I wrong?”

“…”

Miyu blinked rapidly for several seconds.

“Ah, haha… I’m surprised you saw through me like that.”

Miyu scratched her cheek as if caught off guard.

Well, it’s not for nothing that I’ve always been a loner. 

Especially at school, with nothing much to do, I naturally became good at observing people.

“…Then, this is my real sorry.”

Miyu spoke again after a moment.

“Just like you said, Tsukushi-kun, I kept to myself in the corner. Even though I wanted to hang out with friends, I held back, worrying about causing trouble because of my past. But I ended up involving you, almost dragging you into a scandal…”

“…”

“Thankfully, it didn’t blow up, but it was still something I shouldn’t have done. I’m really sorry.”

“…”

—Recently, she seems a bit anxious… Like during yesterday’s Emergency monsters, she tends to do reckless streaming… So please, I hope you can support her. 

—I’m sure with you around, Miru-chan will be safe…

Suddenly, words once spoken to me by someone flashed in my mind.

I think it was during the conversation when Miyu first took me to a hair salon. I was nervous about the new experience, and the female hairstylist asked me this.

Though it wasn’t that long ago, it feels like a distant memory, perhaps because these past few days have been so intense and meaningful. Ever since meeting her, every day has been truly significant.

“Ha, that’s not like Miyu. You were the one who told me to have confidence in myself.”

“Eh…”

“I kind of guessed the reason… Well, I don’t really like saying this, but ‘Miru Ayatsuki’ was struggling with viewership, and that’s why she’s been looking for something to win back the viewers, right?”

For Miyu, a decline in views was literally a matter of life and death.

It would mean she couldn’t make amends to the victim’s family or lessen her mother’s burden.

That’s why she had to break out of her shell and reach out to me—even if it meant selling herself out or forcing cooperation.

“But, that’s why I don’t want you to apologize. I’ve changed too, thanks to you, Miyu. I’m really glad I met you… I mean it.”

“Ah…”

At that moment, her cheeks tinged a faint cherry blossom pink.