The Teaser

So this person composed this song?

If I had to describe the feel of it, it was easy-listening city pop.

That said, while the vocals stayed soft and gentle, the sound backing them up was anything but easy-listening, so it never felt dull.

…And I'm the one singing this? It does seem like it'd suit me, honestly.

Then again, I suppose anything would suit me.

This song was probably a famous singer's track, back in the day.

Did this song make them famous? It's all hazy…. My memory on that point was murky.

"Hmm… it's a good song, but… I'll have to think about it."

"Please! I'm begging you, work on it with me!"

"Hmph…."

Honestly, I wasn't thrilled about it.

I was already perfectly content with my VTuber life. Was I really going to expand beyond streaming just for this?

The song was great, sure, but I already had more than enough with our group's music, didn't I?

Worse, if I got caught, that would be chaos incarnate.

But was there a return worth shouldering that risk?

Then the composer's words swayed me.

"Then how about this! I'll write one more group song for Solana!"

Oh? Another song from a talent like him? For the whole group?

…Let me think this over for a moment.

By pre-regression standards, our group's first full album had gotten good reviews on sales — the fandom had grown and the numbers were even better — but the songs themselves were judged to be a step down in quality compared to our first single….

Which meant that if I accepted this offer, that verdict might never come to pass, wouldn't it?

Hmm…!

With that, it becomes doable.

Worst case, I just don't get caught, right?

"Get the company's approval, and I'll do it."

"Thank you so much!"

Well, it's not even my song — just a feature. It should be fine.

And I can produce a different vocal tone, so no one will notice.

It's not like I'm exposing my identity or anything.

Hold on, now that I think about it… this song originally didn't have a featured artist, did it? So he just never managed to find one?

And it was still considered a masterpiece even without one. If I joined in, would it get even better?

Ah, whatever. None of this matters until I get approval anyway. Why am I agonizing now?

No point in thinking about it before things are set in stone. Moving on.

As I was untangling the mess of thoughts piling up in my head, the composer spoke up.

"Then, could I get your phone number?"

"Ah, please contact me through the company."

"…Understood."

You don't just hand out your number willy-nilly.

What am I supposed to do if some stranger starts pestering me when I don't even know anything about him?

If he tried anything handsy, I was confident I'd smack him on pure reflex.

…Turns out he's a married man?

I'm sorry for doubting you…!

If there's a next time, I'll do my best to record it in even better quality!

A few days later.

"Oh, you actually approved it?"

"Is it? I'm still a VTuber, you know."

Just like during the interview after I passed the audition — she really did want to pull me into show business.

"No."

"No."

Every penny I earn is already going into stocks and crypto that are guaranteed to moon. Why would I be strapped for cash?

We were already in the black, thank you very much.

"But even if singing makes sense, why acting?"

Not singing or idol work — acting?

Have I ever acted in my life?

Acting…?

…Uh. If that counts as acting, then I guess I did act….

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"…I see."

It didn't quite convince me, but I'll just let it slide….

In her eyes, apparently, I'd shown a spark of talent.

"You'll send me the finalized schedule, right?"

Awesome.

"Sure."

That wasn't going to happen anytime soon.

Though if I ever got sick of VTubing, I could always bring it up then?

Time flew by, and the release of our first single was fast approaching.

All that tedious work in the meantime — the re-recording, the review passes on the MV illustration designs — was finally coming to an end!

When they had me come all the way to the office just to record sound effects and breathing noises, I remember thinking, can't this be done from home?!

And once this was done…! Oh right, the feature.

…The feature is still a ways off. No point suffering over it in advance.

Ah, come to think of it, does that mean the first full album comes right after the feature?

…Damn it.

Anyway. Today was the day the teaser dropped.

Which meant I was scheduled to promote it on stream.

"Today, we're doing a girl-group song Ideal Type World Cup."

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Since it was content with guaranteed basic entertainment value, the viewers were responding enthusiastically.

"Then let's start with the round of 64."

"You want me to sit here listening to songs all day? Listening to full tracks in a round of 64 is the cleaner format. You prefer hearing only the first verse of 128 songs?"

Once I laid out the argument, the majority opinion shifted toward the round of 64.

"Alright, shall we begin?"

"Oh, these two songs are up. I've listened to both of these a lot myself."

On the left was a girl-crush concept track; on the right, a fresh-faced, pure concept song.

"Folks, you're supposed to LISTEN to the songs before voting. What are you fighting about already?"

Both were famous tracks, so the viewers were throwing out their picks before either song even played.

So much for my bet on left, huh.

"Oh, donations were turned on. Let me shut that off."

Donations popping up mid-song could ruin the listening experience, so I'd preemptively switched them off.

"Alright, let's give the first one a listen."

Matching its girl-crush concept, it was a great song that showcased raw, powerful charisma.

"Yes, first song, nicely done. The chorus on this one just explodes, so I used to sing it at karaoke all the time."

I'd sung it plenty back when I was a man, and apparently just as often as a woman.

Well, same taste in music either way — makes sense, doesn't it?

"Now for the second one."

The second song was a bright, refreshing track with that pure-and-innocent concept.

I remembered singing this one a lot too.

"Hmm… my personal taste goes to the first one — the one with the thick, layered sound."

I've always believed a song needs that rich, full-bodied sound for it to be satisfying.

How should I put it — that rumbling sensation in my headset when I listen? I love that.

And so the tournament rolled on — until something unusual came up.

"Wait, aren't these the idol seniors from our company?"

One of our agency's flagship idol groups had made it into the bracket.

"It's not like I'll ever run into them. Why would I worry about it? I'm going with the second one."

I'm a VTuber.

These people exist in the real world.

Discipline only gets handed out if you actually cross paths.

And even if we did bump into each other at the office, nobody would have a clue who I was.

Like that was ever going to happen.

"Alright, next track?"

And with that, I diligently steered the tournament to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠its conclusion.

"So this song is our champion."

I'd picked the song closest to my own taste.

Genre-wise, I suppose you'd call it rock?

"Right, that's just my taste. Doesn't mean the other songs were bad, so watch what you type in chat. Our company's legal team collects PPAP."

Seems they understood the joke just fine.

"Now, then!"

"Did I say I was ending?"

"We've got a song coming out next week."

Time to fulfill the original purpose — promoting the song.

A leak? You people think far too little ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of me.

"The teaser just went up on the Solana channel. Right about now."

I'd timed it perfectly.

Hm, they get it.

Choosing the World Cup as today's content had been worth it after all.

Huh? That's a strange thing to say.

"It's been mentioned plenty on the other members' streams. Maybe watch more than one show?"

Why watch mine alone?

The group exists precisely so you can rotate through us.

Hm, that one's a bit of a gray area….

I'll let it slide.

"That's why I'll be wrapping up early today, so you can all go watch the teaser."

"Sure, that'd be nice for you, but plenty of people watch it once on my stream and never again. No can do. Do you have any idea how important view counts are?"

Since this was our first song, especially, the teaser's view count was the key metric for gauging public interest — which made it an extremely valuable data point.

"Anyway, go sign up for a music streaming app in advance, everyone."

Hm? Why's the reaction like this?

"Because we're S-ming, obviously. You're not going to?"

Ah — right, back at this point, S-ming a VTuber's song wasn't yet standard practice among fans, was it?

"Well, once you try it, it's more fun than you'd expect. Just keep it in mind."

So… am I about to start a trend?

Interesting.

It's not something I'd ever thought about, so I felt a flicker of excitement.

Well, whatever they said now, when the day came, the ones who'd do it would do it.

The whole atmosphere would practically demand it.

"Then, bye-bye, everyone. Ro-bye."

Today's stream had been a solid one, I thought, as I hit the end-stream button.

What was left on the schedule until the song's release — one more promo stream, was it?

I hoped the response then would be as good as it was today….