Chapter 22: Regarding the Ruined Debut Timing

“…Sigh.”

Soaking in the bathtub alone is truly precious. The happiness I took for granted during my years as a hikikomori… I never knew it was this hard to obtain. It’s been days since I last had a relaxing bath. The fatigue in my body melted away.

“Ahh…”

This is too good.

Ah. Life is about these small moments of happiness…

As my body relaxed, all the recent events flooded back. Ookamikko-san, who turned out to be a yakuza, the dangerous-feeling high school girl Sakura, and the crybaby Sayo…

“I met so many weird people! I’m exhausted.”

Splash! Splash!

I slapped the water’s surface, but the splashing droplets only landed on my face. Those people who ruined my mood are probably sleeping soundly right now.

Ugh, damn it. I feel bad. Like a helpless little girl. Well, I am one…

“No. But this is unfair!”

Bang!

The sound of the water exploding filled the bathroom. The result of Kang Soohyun’s serious punch. Still, how can only Sayo be normal among the people I met in Japan… well, Sayo is also a crybaby.

But compared to Ookamikko and Sakura, she’s a saint.

Why are those two so intense? Even I, who’s oblivious to such things, find them creepy. Those intense eyes were like Kang Shimjeong’s when he saw Kyuseok attacking me.

Chillingly cold and deep.

Eyes that only someone as twisted as Kang Shimjeong, who went abroad to learn martial arts from a young age, could possess. Definitely not common eyes…

“I’m already going crazy because my social anxiety isn’t getting better! How can there be no normal people around me… And how am I supposed to do broadcasts like this…?”

Wait.

Broadcasts?

“Ah.”

I completely forgot. Broadcasts…

When am I going to reveal my avatar?

“I threw out the bait and left it…”

“…So, you’re worried about the debut date?”

“Yeah. So help me out, Mama.”

I contacted Yui, the genius of debuts who could outshine any Vtuber in that department, after a long time. It’s not like I only contact her when I need something, okay? We’ve exchanged messages from time to time before.

I didn’t plan to meet Yui during my trip to Japan, so we didn’t meet… but Yui really likes me, so it’ll be fine. She has a good personality too. It would be troublesome if she got upset over this.

“I think the sooner you debut, the better? The hype around your first appearance is dying down.”

Ouch!

“I-Is that so…”

My existence is a dying hype. That hurts a little…

Although I covered my avatar’s face, I barely covered her ample chest and the outfit I painstakingly designed… did everyone forget?

Anyway, Yui. Fortunately, she’s speaking rationally. Sayo would have said, “Mama, it’s okay whenever you debut! Mama will get 10 million subscribers no matter when you debut!”

…She probably would have.

I was trying to make a joke, but I suddenly got goosebumps.

“Then, Yui. What are the things I need to consider for my debut?”

“Can you wait a moment? I want to organize my thoughts before I tell you.”

A brief silence. Occasional murmurs proved that Yui wasn’t doing anything else. The click of the pen nib coming out, and the swoosh of the pen moving across the paper.

Hmm… This is the first time I’ve seen Yui’s serious side. It’s quite cool. Soon, Yui’s silence broke, and she spoke in her usual cheerful voice.

“First, you need promotion. The bigger the promoter, the better.”

Promotion… big promoter…

“If it’s that…”

I think I can ask Sayo and Inuko-san.

Sakura, who has the biggest reach… is impossible. Yeah. Somehow, she’s dangerous. More dangerous than Inuko-san.

I feel like Inuko-san would just chuckle… but Sakura would demand something in return. Inuko-san is more lesbian-like, but Sakura is more dangerous. She’s scary as a person.

“I’ll also try my best to remind my viewers about Mama and promote you. Although it’s insignificant compared to others who will support Mama…”

“Don’t say that. Your promotion is the most helpful.”

Yui is the beginning of my monumental change. She’s the most symbolic person to me.

“Heh. That’s a bit touching.”

“Haha. It’s true.”

Kyuseok is my childhood friend, and I’ve been in contact with Sayo for years, so that’s understandable, but Yui is really special. I’m so comfortable with someone I’ve known for only a few months, not even a year.

“Well… it’s late, so I’ll hang up. See you later.”

“Yes! Next time, you have to meet me too!”

“Yeah. Definitely.”

I’ll definitely meet you, Yui.

I’m most curious about your reaction when you see me.

And I hope… you’re not a weird person.

***

Creak…

Yui sank into the much softer chair. Money is truly the best. The chair she used before wasn’t bad, but this softness was something she could no longer be satisfied without.

All thanks to one person.

“Mama is debuting…”

Hanasaki Yui tried to calm her pounding heart, but it wasn’t working very well. If Soohyun debuted as a Vtuber, the things they could do together would increase exponentially.

“Playing games together, singing… and maybe even live performances if we get a 3D model someday.”

The dream she had since her debut broadcast might actually come true. Yui couldn’t suppress the twitching corners of her lips.

“That would be fun.”

Yui, who opened her mouth with a silly grin, quickly wiped her drool. She had already been caught once this morning, and the clip was circulating, so if she did it again, it would become a meme.

To create a different image… preferably a classy, beautiful, sexy, and cute meme to cover up the intelligence issue, Yui prepared for today’s broadcast.

This time, she planned to appeal to her intellectual side with the scientific knowledge she just memorized.

“inhales”

Yui, who was initially nervous about broadcasting, was now used to it and brought her new high-end microphone, which she switched to her left hand. She also practiced her facial expressions.

“Okay. Start the broadcast…?”

Something was wrong.

Why… is Yui (in avatar form) on the screen?

The broadcast was already on

This Vtuber is slow to notice

LOL LOL

“Ah.”

Yui’s mind went blank. And Soohyun’s masterpiece, Yui’s facial expressions, vividly displayed her flustered face. It was a bad result for Yui, who didn’t want to show her embarrassment.

“Th-This… ah. Since when…?”

It’s important for Vtubers to maintain composure during broadcasts. If they waver even a little…

Surprisingly, since this morning LOL

Thankfully, she doesn’t have a boyfriend.

As if Yui would have one.

If she did, I’d pity her boyfriend

…the viewers jump on it.

Yui struggled to regain her composure amidst the mockery and spam, but she managed to focus and catch the incoming chat messages with her dynamic vision.

“Th-Then the phone call was also…”

White Palette Mama is debuting.

Unlike Inuko-san’s stream, we won’t oshihen, so don’t worry, Yui!

Mama’s voice, free of social anxiety, only for Yui, is very feminine.

Seriously amazing

“Ahh…”

The significant announcement she planned to make at the end of today’s broadcast had already been leaked. And it was fortunate that she didn’t reveal any sensitive information during the phone call…

But what was that about meeting next time?

Does Mama live far away?

It takes about a day to drive from one end of Japan to the other…

‘Thank goodness…!’

If Mama was doxxed because of this, Yui wouldn’t have been able to sleep properly due to guilt. It was ironic, considering she didn’t even know where Soohyun lived.

“Right. Mama is debuting. Since things turned out like this, let’s just talk about this for today’s broadcast…”

Yui changed the stream title, which was originally “Casual Talk~☆”. There was no need to hide it now, and changing the title could promote it to more viewers.

It was a strategic choice, not a blunder.

Really.

Tap. Tap, tap.

[Yui’s Mama is debuting! Answering listeners’ questions~! – Current viewers: 8,379]

Whoa, it changed.

Ah, she’s finally debuting.

I was curious about the face behind the mask~

“Now, ask away, trash.”

Yui, slightly annoyed that they were more excited about her Mama than her, showed a rare disgusted expression to emphasize her annoyance. She didn’t apologize, even though the creepy otakus seemed to like it.

Are you jealous?

Cute

“No. Why don’t you ask about Mama already? I only know a little, but I know more than you guys.”

Then, without further ado…

When is Mama’s debut date?

Is Yui the only one promoting her?

Her older sister’s impact for promotion is LOL

“Hey, you guys… I made up with Haru unnie, so don’t mess with her.”

Yes, ma’am.

Eh, they made up?

They did it behind our backs W

“Hmm. Mama’s debut is next Friday. It’ll be a live broadcast… and I’ll take a break that day because I have to watch.”

Damn it!! This damn woman!!!

Was this why she started the broadcast…?

I didn’t even believe it.

And so, Yui became a proper virtual YouTuber, now bickering with her viewers.