Chapter 10: Let’s Talk Freely.

Whoosh…

The broadcast background animated with Live2D. Strange plants that should be rolling around in the American West, withered trees, wooden buildings. Various buildings bathed in the dawn sunlight, each with its own vibrancy, but strangely devoid of any human figures.

And in that empty space, a lone, awkwardly placed illustration of Shiori Haru, and Inuko’s lively avatar. The broadcast host takes the avatar form, while the accused is represented by a single illustration.

That’s right. It was judgment time.

Inuko spoke to the motionless Sayo in a low voice.

“What’s your name, junior baby?”

She tilted her head, and her pointed ears perked up. The red eyes between her swaying black hair were eerily intimidating, largely due to the gun in her hand.

Hatred and War.

An old model, but a famous Smith & Wesson Model 27 with its characteristically attractive appearance, its barrel gleaming. The revolver, clearly a loaded weapon, was the very image of death, threatening to anyone.

“Ugh…”

Sayo knew it was just a lump of data floating on the screen. But the moment it fired, she knew her punishment would be decided.

Bang, bang! Two gunshots, and a senior’s nickname was fixed to “I will never again play pachinko with a fellow Vtuber’s money” for a month. If her nickname changed to “I will never again try to steal a Mama”…

She might lose to that Yui girl.

Gulp.

Haru was genuinely nervous. Trying to calm her racing heart, a feeling completely different from love, Sayo answered.

“Shiori Haru. 19 years old.”

That’s a lie

Whirl…

The revolver spun in Inuko’s finger, tracing a full moon. Seigino Inuko’s signature move. ‘A beautiful girl spinning a gun.’

Inuko spun the gun stylishly and chuckled with a smug look.

Current viewers: 51,497. A blockbuster number for Inuko, whose usual viewership barely reached 10,000. And it was still climbing. At a rapid pace. It was unbelievable, but maybe… she could aim for 100,000 viewers, Inuko thought.

She could hear the sound of money rolling in. But Inuko wasn’t a worshipper of money. She only loved a f*ck ton of money. The corners of Inuko’s mouth, a loyal person obsessed with money, crept upwards.

“Ahem. I see. Listeners, why was Haru-chan called here today?”

Inuko’s sharp eyes scanned the live chat. Fortunately, there were no creepy otakus typing in genuine anger. It was no different from her usual chat window, overgrown with weeds.

Ruined a newbie independent Vtuber’s debut stream.

A nuisance, whining and acting like a Mama when she’s not even qualified.

Always pretending to be young

“The last one seems a bit too much, but… yeah. Is that so?”

Click!

The spinning revolver stopped, pointed at Shiori Haru’s illustration. Sayo unknowingly held her breath. She had received a rough script, but actually experiencing it was nerve-wracking.

“Defend yourself, Haru-chan.”

“It’s unfair! It’s unfair! White Palette-san is really my Mama! Please refer to document number 3!”

Sayo’s desperate voice pierced through the illustration. This broadcast entirely depended on Sayo. Clearing her name was one of her goals, but the most important thing was Soohyun’s media exposure. Limiting it just enough to be mysterious and intriguing without seeming too short.

She initially thought that just revealing her voice would be enough, but after thinking about it, it wasn’t that simple. While her voice was her strongest weapon, if her personality wasn’t properly established, it would just be the voice of a villain.

She had to reveal enough information about Soohyun to clear up misunderstandings, but not so much that it damaged her mystique.

Eh, sending documents?

Do you know what ‘refer’ means?

Isn’t she drunk…?

Haru’s treatment is too much

The pressure Sayo was feeling didn’t reach the chat, of course. Sayo found herself laughing. She wondered if they would still be laughing after hearing Soohyun’s voice. Sayo was certain the chat window would freeze.

“Um, Haru-chan. Document number 3 is a picture of Hanasaki Yui. Is this the right one?”

“Ah. Oh! Number 2. Number 2! I got confused!”

Of course, the pressure did lead to mistakes. Thanks to that, reclaiming her title as a smart woman was impossible today as well.

As expected, the same old Haru

Her head is full of flowers LOL

The chat is a weed field LOL

While the chat mocked Sayo, Inuko displayed the document Sayo presented. The DM she exchanged with White Palette three years ago. A screenshot of what could be considered the highlight.

“This is…”

Inuko’s eyes widened slightly. The scent of a hot topic.

[WhitePalette: I’ll support your dream. I hope your steps never stumble on a stone.]

A supportive message written by Soohyun during her high school days, overflowing with chuunibyou-like sentimentality. Her cringey words, which might have been ridiculed in other broadcasts, were fortunately revealed on a Vtuber’s stream.

Eh, she’s a good person.

Cool words.

It makes my heart flutter…

“Mama supported my dream! She just didn’t know it was to become a Vtuber!”

Sayo excitedly added. The flow of the chat was clearly a good sign. Vtuber fans, considered the peak of otakus, loved these cringey yet sentimental lines. At this point, she was certain of her innocence.

She shouldn’t have been.

“Hehehe…hehehe.”

Inuko chuckled creepily and moved. The revolver wasn’t pointed at ‘Shiori Haru,’ but Sayo felt like the muzzle was aimed at her.

Unease.

She thought about the cards she could play to turn this situation around.

Other colleagues who could vouch for her usual behavior? No way. They’re all probably asleep.

Juniors…? There probably weren’t any juniors who would dare to cross Sayo, known for holding grudges.

It was unlikely that seniors would appear either. She hadn’t interacted with the 1st generation Vtubers since she splashed drinks on them at a company dinner when they tried to pressure her.

The only 0th generation Vtuber at Prism Entertainment was Inuko. The other possibility…

“Hmm, Haru-chan. Only thinking about your own dream. That’s too selfish, isn’t it? You should also listen to the other person whose dream was ruined.”

“Eh. Don’t tell me…”

That’s right.

She’s setting up the flags too much

Please show yourself, Yui-chan!

Creak!

With a door opening sound effect, a black silhouette emerged from a wooden building in the background. A long-haired, girlish figure covered in flower patterns. Anyone who wasn’t an idiot would know who she was.

“You guessed it. Mama Thief!”

Hanasaki Yui, the blonde-haired, green-eyed beauty. Making an unprecedented record by appearing on a broadcast to roast her idol for her first collab!

“She said to appear when the time is right… She said she’d set the stage…”

Set the stage? The mood for that is completely gone.

Since Yui’s appearance, Sayo and Yui have been engaged in a legal battle for thirty minutes. High-quality evidence suddenly appeared, and they used sophisticated legal terms.

Did they only watch courtroom dramas? Why are they so serious? What made my relaxing body tense again was a message from someone I just met.

Ding!

[Seigino Inuko: The stage will be set in 5 minutes. Standby.]

“Huh? 5 minutes?”

That seems impossible. Right now, Sayo and Yui are engaged in a deep discussion about the definition of copyright and ownership. 5 minutes? It’ll probably take another 5 hours…

“Mama drew me first! I was the one who thought of turning it into a virtual design! I’m the oldest daughter! I’ll acknowledge you as a daughter too, but I was first!”

“Huh? Then ask her! Let’s see what Mama herself thinks!”

Ta-da!

A sound effect of the stage being set. I don’t know how she prepared it, but it’s quite… artificial. Is it really okay for me to appear? It seems like it’ll only backfire.

Uh, so. My throat is fine. There won’t be any TS beautiful girl-like incidents of biting my tongue while talking. I just need to clearly say the single line I’ve been practicing to avoid being triggered by my trauma.

It’s easy.

In front of 100,000 people I’ll never meet. I just have to say what I have to say. With this palette-shaped mask, meant to prevent avatar spoilers, placed like a face.

Is it really okay for me to overcome the illness I’ve suffered from for so long with something this easy?

Click.

My silver-haired avatar, wearing a suspicious mask, stands in the wasteland, taking all the praise and criticism I’ll receive. The girl in the gothic lolita dress didn’t reveal any skin. The only thing the viewers could see was my avatar’s silver hair.

The viewers were surprised, as everyone expected.

I expected it, but really?

I didn’t think she’d appear herself.

She never replies to DMs on SNS.

A typical reaction.

Just surprised. Amazed.

Turning this into respect and love is what defines talent as a broadcaster.

‘The true beginning is the voice. Hit them with it while they’re admiring the high-quality illustration. Use that terrifying weapon.’

“Hello. I’m White Palette, Yui and Sayo’s Mama. Ahem…!”

Huh? Just now?

Amazing voice.

Did she bite her tongue?

Her first media appearance is an accident www

I see who Yui takes after.

F*ck.

I bit my tongue after all.