Vol. 2 Chapter 57 – Going Viral (2)

The video ended, and the screen switched back to the studio.

This video! Can you believe it, it had "300,000 likes" by the time the show started broadcasting!

Sounds of “Ehh~” and “Wow~” echoed from the commentators.

…What is this?

Why did that video blow up like Hashimoto Kanna’s “miracle shot”?

It was originally posted on Tiktak yesterday, but it went massively viral there! It was then reposted on other social media, and the current total view count is... over 10 million views! Today, the Buzz Video Investigation Team will be digging deeper into the girl in this video!

A large panel on casters was rolled over to the announcer.

Okay, first... let's look at her name! Ta-da!

She placed her hand on a sticker covering part of the panel, ripped it off dramatically, and the name ‘Asahi Hikaru’ appeared underneath.

Her name is Asahi Hikaru-chan! Did everyone know her?

In response to the announcer’s question, the celebrity commentators shook their heads.

Although she’s popular among the younger generation, as a teen model, she might not yet be well-known to those over thirty.

As I watched, thinking this, one young female guest timidly raised her hand.

Asahi Hikaru-chan... that's her, right? The tennis player who also models. Yes! That's right! This Asahi Hikaru-chan... is actually a tennis player... and she's ranked number one in the domestic junior rankings!

Another sticker on the panel was peeled away, revealing the words ‘#1 Domestic Women’s Junior Ranking’.

And that's not all! As Tono-san just mentioned, she also works as a model concurrently... and she even graced the cover of Nanateen released last month!

Once again, cries of ‘Wow~’ filled the studio.

So, while she was already well-known among the younger generation, the video posted yesterday went viral beyond belief, finally marking her national, all-generation debut! I just learned about her today, but I'm already a fan!

A regular comedian on the show said, in a tone that made it hard to tell if he was joking or serious.

The large panel also displayed reactions from the internet.

Who is this girl!? Too cute! Not just gachi koi, I'm seriously in love. Please marry me. She's a tennis player but as beautiful as an idol or actress! I want to stan her, please tell me where to send money!

The fervor conveyed by the text made it clear this was a genuine massive viral hit.

And what's more! Today, we are connected live with the very person at the center of this huge, huge buzz!

“…Huh!? Live!?” (Reiya)

Connected live.

The words made me gasp in astonishment.

Hello to everyone watching Good Afternoon! It's Asahi Hikaru!

The screen switched to the remote camera feed, showing Hikaru in extreme close-up.

Perhaps joining during a break from practice, she was wearing tennis attire.

Nice to meet you~! I'm Sasayama from TVS! Nice to meet you too! I always watch you on TV! (Sasayama)
Thank you! Right away, about this huge viral moment! How are you feeling about it yourself? Ehh... I was surprised, but I'm really happy that so many people got to know me. Though, I have to admit, it's also a little embarrassing. (Hikaru)

She’s used to the spotlight.

That phrase wasn’t nearly enough to describe how confidently Hikaru was speaking.

It felt like she’d become an even more distant existence, beyond just being on the other side of the screen.

Now, about Asahi Hikaru-san! Her mother is actually *that* Takayama Mitsuki-san!

The words from the announcer’s mouth drew more gasps from the studio.

Takayama Mitsuki-san, you mean the former tennis player, right?

Yes, that's correct!

The very same Takayama Mitsuki who caused the "Micchan Fever" twenty-five years ago! Although, I don't know much detail myself...

Yoshimoto-san, you're from that generation, right? What was it like back then?

The announcer turned to a male commentator who seemed to be around Hikaru’s mother’s age.

Oh, it was really incredible back then. Exactly what you'd call a massive viral hit today. There wasn't a day you didn't see her on the news. She was more of an idol than any idol of our generation, so it was a huge shame when she retired young. (Yoshimoto)

So, Hikaru-san, you're carrying on your mother's legacy then?

Yes... is what I'd like to say, but actually, that's not it. (Hikaru)

Eh? N-Not it?

Leaving the slightly confused announcer behind, Hikaru continued.

Yes. When I decided to aim to become a pro tennis player, the first thing my mother taught me was "First, play for yourself." So, for me, it feels more like I was just playing the tennis I love, and somehow ended up here. (Hikaru)

I see~... That embodies the saying "What one likes, one will do well," or rather, I think that's a wonderful story.

Thank you. Ah, but recently, there's also a little bit of feeling that I'm working hard because I want a certain someone to watch me. (Hikaru)

Through the screen, my eyes met Hikaru’s.

A certain someone...?

Yes, that person tells me I look coolest when I'm playing tennis! (Hikaru)

The studio members seemed slightly bewildered by Hikaru’s very personal story.

The hundreds of thousands, maybe millions, of people watching this show right now probably felt the same way.

Only I, in the entire world, felt like I had just received another confession via the public airwaves.

Well, that's all for today's Buzz Investigation Team! Asahi-san, thank you so much for joining us today!

Okay! Thank you too! I'll do my best to get featured on the sports corner next time! (Hikaru)

While I was in this happy yet embarrassing state, Hikaru’s segment ended, and the live feed was cut.

I can’t believe that video went that viral…

Thinking that, I opened social media and checked Hikaru’s account, and sure enough, the number of ‘likes’ on the video in question was astounding.

Moreover, likely due to the effect of the show just now, ‘Asahi Hikaru-chan’ was trending high.

Looking at related posts, it was overflowing with words of praise like ‘Too cute,’ ‘Became a fan,’ ‘Definitely stanning her face.’

I felt like I was witnessing the very moment Asahi Hikaru was ascending to national stardom.

Did you see it?

As I sat there stunned, unsure how to feel as a party involved in this abnormal situation, another message arrived from Hikaru’s mother.

I saw. I was surprised. (Reiya)

Sorry about that. Even as her mother, she was just too cute, so I couldn't resist uploading it. (Mitsuki)

You asked me to take it, so that's fine, but... (Reiya)

The video had been cleverly edited, subtly erasing my presence.

It didn’t look like a boyfriend filming his girlfriend at all, more like a PR video shot with that concept.

Good. Asking you to film it was the right call after all. Thanks to that, inquiries have been flooding in since yesterday. If things go well, we might even gain sponsors from industries we haven't had contact with before. (Mitsuki)

Along with that message, a smiling sticker was sent.

She’s one shrewd mother…

But, as a former top-level pro, she probably keenly understands the importance and difficulty of gathering sponsors.

But why did it go so viral...? Honestly, to me, it just looks like a normal video of Hikaru being her usual self... (Reiya)

After sending the message, I replayed the video in question on my phone.

Smile? Is my smiling face the cutest? Alright then, just for you, here's my best smile... Yay! Peace!

Along with the lighthearted BGM, Hikaru charmed the camera at close range.

Sure, she’s incredibly cute, but I couldn’t see it as a video with the kind of special quality that would warrant going this viral.

It was just a completely natural video of the usual Hikaru, filmed during a break from practice.

Well, of course it would look like a normal video to you, Reiya-kun. (Mitsuki)

What do you mean? (Reiya)

That you're the luckiest person in the world. (Mitsuki)

Even being told that again, the words didn’t quite click, and I tilted my head.

What does she mean? As I pondered, my stomach growled as if remembering its duty.

On my phone screen, the words ‘Asahi Hikaru-chan’ continued to climb the trend rankings.