The next day, early morning.
Soyo, reluctant, watched Mutsumi leave.
…
Noon.
Myamu woke, sore from hiking, filming, and drumming.
Massaging her limbs, she thought, No wonder I'm aching.
Good news: her performance video with Hotaru and Kairin went viral.
Edited and uploaded overnight, it hit hundreds of thousands of views.
Surprised and thrilled, her efforts paid off.
Checking comments:
"Is this Folt in Shinjuku?"
"Shinjuku Folt? Heard a band there smashes beer bottles, lead singer steps on people."
"I know the bassist, skilled mercenary for over 30 bands."
"Keyboardist's smooth, melodies elegant."
"Drummer's ambidextrous, flashy!"
"What's the band's name? Wanna follow."
"Envious of that guy, I want a band too."
Sure you just want a band?
Myamu replied to high-engagement comments.
As a streamer, fan interaction was key.
Tokyo Anon, her top supporter, commented: "Myamu, love your videos! You're great at makeup and drumming. My classmates and I are starting a band, but no drummer (crying)."
Myamu replied: "Anon-ko, ganbatte! You'll find a great drummer!"
Tokyo Anon: "Taking Myamu's wishes!"
Myamu's followers hit 70,000, but many comments weren't about her—focused on light novel author "He Huo Huo," who followed her yesterday.
Comments:
"Streamer, what's with Teacher He Huo?"
"Urge him to update!"
"He Huo hasn't updated, but followed you. Know each other?"
"Trade a bass for his contact."
"You're pretty!"
"Love your drumming!"
Some followers came via He Huo.
Myamu knew of him, read some novels, but wasn't a fan.
She embraced the luck, replying: "Flattered by Teacher He Huo's follow! Love his work. If I get the chance, I'll urge updates!"
Fans flooded with "onegai"s.
Myamu checked her following list.
He Huo followed her same time as Kairin and Hotaru.
Kairin used her real name.
Clues aligned.
Staring at "He Huo Huo," Myamu realized: He + Huo = Qiu.
Hotaru.
She searched online; He Huo was a student, new author, scant info.
…
Hotaru's home.
Hotaru checked his phone, frowning at a flood of backend messages.
Did I anger the internet?
He opened the backend, stunned.
Myamu? Why linked to her?
Reading comments:
"Tell us, what's with Myamu?"
"Old scoundrel, you follow streamers but don't update?"
"When's the next volume?"
"Please update, I'll do anything."
"Onegai, watashi!"
Hotaru sighed.
Myamu's viral video wasn't the issue.
He'd used his author account (300,000 followers) to follow Myamu, not his personal one.
His inactive author account, tied to Unkillable River Bunko, drew fans' attention.
They flocked, urging updates.
Myamu messaged: "Aki-kun, 'He Huo Huo' is you, right?"
Hotaru's mouth twitched.
Speak of the devil.
Hotaru: "If I say it's not me, would you believe?"
Myamu: "Hahaha, no! Helping me get traffic? So touched."
Hotaru: "…"
Hotaru: "It's me. Didn't tell anyone, right?"
Myamu: "Lips sealed!"
Hotaru wasn't convinced but urged: "Keep it secret. People want to expose me…"
Myamu: "Let's collaborate more. You wouldn't want…"
Hotaru's eyes widened. Calm down, netizen.
Ending the chat, he sighed. One mistake, endless regret.
Keep following Myamu or unfollow?
Only she knew for now.
Ding-dong! A message from Chihaya Anon.
No way, Anon too?
Hotaru checked.
Chihaya Anon: "Hotaru-kun, how'd you get with Myamu?!!"
Hotaru: "Saw her video?"
Chihaya Anon: "Uh-huh! I'm a fan!"
Hotaru pouted. You too, like Ikuyo? Myamu's popular with outgoing girls.
Hotaru: "One-time collaboration, small accident."
Chihaya Anon: "Get Myamu for our band's drummer?"
Hotaru: "Overestimating me?"
Chihaya Anon: "Ehehe, right! Myamu's got 2.5x Guitar Hero's followers. You got lucky!"
At Anon's home, she lay on her sofa, red phone case in hand, dreaming of performing with Myamu, gaining fans, showing off to classmates.
Hotaru thought, Stinky pink-haired girl, underestimating me? I'm He Huo Huo, 10x Guitar Hero's followers, 4x Myamu's.
But Myamu exposed him; he couldn't reveal to Anon.
Hotaru: "You know Guitar Hero?"
Chihaya Anon: "Yeah, learning guitar from her, super diligent."
Hotaru: "Good luck."
Heading to eat, Hotaru considered asking Kairin to join Anon's band as bassist, even temporarily.
Myamu's band idea had sparked Kairin's interest.
------------------------------
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