Chapter 1: The Girl Behind the Screen

The journey to the Kusobaki family residence took almost an hour.

I stood inside the crowded train, holding my work bag with one hand. In my head, I kept repeating the information Aoyama had given me—about the conglomerate’s daughter, about failure, about tutors who had given up.

In the middle of my thoughts, a cheerful voice suddenly came from beside me.

“Minna-san! Welcome to today’s stream~!”

I glanced over briefly.

A passenger nearby was watching a live stream on their phone.

On the screen, a VTuber with golden-blonde hair and cat ears smiled brightly. Her eyes were vivid blue, her voice cute and full of energy.

IRIS_0 — Iris Zero.

Comments flowed rapidly.
Gifts and donations appeared one after another.

“Eh?! Another donation?!”
“Thank you so much~! You’re all too kind!”

Her small laugh sounded sincere.

The passengers around smiled. Some even watched along.

I stayed silent.

I didn’t understand that world.

To me, it was just brief entertainment—someone smiling on a screen, and people feeling saved by it.

Not long after, the train stopped.

I got off at my destination station and walked toward the address Aoyama had given me.

The Kusobaki family house…
was more accurately described as a mansion.

A tall gate.
A vast yard.
A magnificent building that felt like a different world.

A servant greeted me and led me inside.

In the living room, a middle-aged man was already waiting.

His face was stern. His gaze sharp.

“Are you Tatsuo Mishizuma?”

“Yes, Kusobaki-san.”

He nodded briefly.

“I am Masato Kusobaki.”

We sat facing each other.

He went straight to the point.

“My daughter failed to enter the university I targeted.”

His tone was flat, yet filled with pressure.

“Repeatedly.”

He clenched his fist.

“Her grades are always poor, even though I have provided every facility.”

I stayed silent, listening.

“I have hired many private tutors.”
“All of them gave up.”

He looked straight at me.

“But I see you… as different.”

I did not respond.

Not long after, Masato Kusobaki stood up.

“Iroha!”
His voice echoed.
“Come down.”

Footsteps sounded from the stairs.

And that was when I saw her.

Softly falling pink hair.
A beautiful face with cold blue eyes.

For a moment—
I was stunned.

“What are you staring at?”

That single sentence instantly shattered my expectations.

Her gaze was sharp. Her tone rough.

I fell silent.

“Iroha!” her father barked. “Be polite!”

“Hah?”
She clicked her tongue.
“What’s the point of being polite to a tutor who’s just going to leave again?”

The atmosphere grew tense.

That same day, whether she liked it or not, Iroha sat in front of me with a lazy expression.

“Make it quick,” she said.
“I’ve got other things I want to do.”

Masato Kusobaki was about to get angry, but I raised my hand.

“It’s fine,” I said quietly.
“Let’s just start.”

Iroha looked at me for a moment—confused.

That was the first time…
she was actually willing to study.

The lesson that day ended earlier than expected.

But for her father, it was enough.

He looked at us with tearful eyes.

“Thank you,” he said sincerely.

That very day, I was officially accepted.
The advance payment was given immediately.

Iroha looked at me with displeasure before going up to her room without a word.

I… felt a little relieved.

The next day, on the same train—

I heard that voice again.

“Good morning, everyone~!”

Iris Zero.

I turned without thinking.

And my heart stopped for a moment.

Her voice.

Her tone.

It was… familiar.

I shook my head slightly.

Impossible.

When I arrived at the Kusobaki residence, the servant informed me—

“Miss Iroha is usually out of her room by this time.”

But that day… she wasn’t.

I went upstairs.

Stood in front of her door.

Knocked.

Knock.
Knock.

No answer.

I hesitated for a moment… then pushed the door, which turned out to be unlocked.

And that was when—

I saw her.

The monitor was on.
The microphone was active.
The VTuber model on the screen—smiling brightly.

And behind that screen…

Iroha Kusobaki.

Her eyes widened.

Her face turned red.

“GET OUT!!!”

She screamed as she panicked and shut the screen.

I froze.

All the pieces—

finally came together.