Chapter 149: [Throat Troubles]
"Iroha… Your voice!?"
"D-Did something happen to Iroha-chan's throat!?"
"No, no, I'm fine… cough Ah…"
"That's right, both of you. Don't worry too much; it'll make Iroha-chan more anxious."
Angu Ogu and Mai were looking at me with worried eyes.
At times like these, Ah-nee was dependable.
She might usually do nothing much.
But when it mattered, she was like a real onee-chan.
"But you know… Iroha, it doesn't feel like a cold or anything."
Yesterday, after the stream ended, we all slept together.
However, we had the air conditioner and humidifier on.
Our health doesn't seem particularly bad.
So, the only thing that makes sense is…
"I'm so sorry! It's because Mai and I got too excited!"
"I'm sorry, Iroha. It's our fault."
"No, no! It's not either of your faults! cough… Lately, I've been doing lessons, preparing for the move, and recording ahead of schedule. Maybe that's why I caught something."
"Indeed, Iroha-chan, you seemed busy lately."
I was never the type to stream every day.
I didn't have the time between school and wanting to watch my favorite streamers live.
As a result, I rarely found myself in situations that strained my throat, and I hadn't had this kind of trouble before.
So, I was more like, "Has it finally come?"…
Huh? Wait a minute.
Could it be that watching my favorite streamer has a miraculous effect on curing all ailments because it forces them into involuntary "rest"?
Anyway!
Throat issues like this seem like an occupational hazard for streamers.
It can't be helped.
Yes, it's just something that I can't help!
Alright!
If the diagnosis suggests it, I'll focus on watching streams for a while…
"Iroha-chan, you're not thinking this is an excuse to take a break, are you?"
"………(Shakes head violently!)"
I vehemently denied it with gestures.
N-No, it's not because it hit too close to home!
This is strictly for the sake of resting my throat, yeah.
Ah-nee looked at me and said with a wry smile.
"Well, it's better than being down in the dumps, I guess."
"Anyway! Mai has school, right? And Ogu has a reservation for an apartment viewing. I'll go with you, so for now, let's disband! Iroha-chan, tell your mom to take you to the hospital!"
Ah-nee gave out instructions briskly.
Without giving us a choice, we disbanded.
***
"It looks like you're starting to develop vocal cord nodules."
"Oh…"
I had come to the hospital with my mother.
Because of the throat troubles, I had come to the ear, nose, and throat specialist instead of our regular doctor.
It was a place recommended by Ah-nee's manager, and they were known for their expertise.
So, soon after arriving, they stuck a tube through my nose and delivered the diagnosis.
"Um, what exactly are vocal cord nodules? Is it something that can't be cured?"
"Oh no, not at all. Please don't worry, Mom."
I already had some knowledge about this illness.
After all, it was a condition my favorite streamer had once suffered from.
"In simple terms, it's a condition where bumps develop on the throat due to friction. Since you mentioned it came on suddenly this morning, I thought it might be a polyp."
"A polyp?"
"It's something like a blood clot that forms when the blood vessels in the throat rupture. If you had overstrained your throat and that had happened, surgery would have been necessary."
"So, what now?"
"Fortunately, your symptoms seem mild, so let's monitor your condition with medication. We're aware of your situation, but please take a break from streaming for a while. No – stream – ing!"
"…(Nods repeatedly!)"
I nodded repeatedly at the doctor's stern expression.
They didn't need to threaten me like that.
I'll take a proper break.
"Haha, sorry about that. Many of our patients here won't rest, no matter what we say."
"…"
Whether you're a streamer or a creator… not just me, everyone probably feels the same way.
If you don't keep providing content, will people forget about you?
Will they abandon you?
It's that anxiety and fear.
I want to tell them.
"My love for you isn't so shallow!"
I'd be happiest if you took a good, long rest and then made a comeback.
But not everyone has the same amount of love.
A certain number of fans might drift away.
It's not anyone's fault.
It's just the harsh reality.
"I think you should get better in about two weeks if all goes well. However, if your condition worsens or lingers, we might have to consider surgery. During that time, you should also receive voice care training…"
I nodded deeply at the doctor's words of "rest".
***
Come to think of it, taking such a long break from streaming is a first for me.
I've had a few longer breaks before, but nothing like this.
In the end, I didn't even take an extended vacation after that incident.
Now that I think about it, maybe this was a good opportunity.
"Iroha, you've made everyone worry. Please keep them updated."
I gave a thumbs-up to acknowledge her.
Somehow, my vocabulary of gestures seems to be expanding during this period of I can't speak.
"But you, on top of that. Of all times, right before your study abroad."
My mom mentioned it, but I felt the opposite.
I thought that precisely because of the timing and how busy I had been, it led to this.
Any illness or health issue could happen.
That's why it's crucial not to push yourself too hard, especially in truly critical situations.
In that sense, I consider myself lucky.
This timing allows me to fully recover before starting my study abroad.
It seems like all that extra work I did ahead of time might had a different purpose.
With these thoughts in mind, I contacted Mai and the others through my smartphone.
"Oh, by the way – I heard you might have other health issues with? Should we also see your regular doctor while we're at it?"
Oh?
The conversation just took a different turn, didn't it…?
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