The One and Only同期
"Ito-san, I have two pieces of good news for you."
"Oh, really?"
After enjoying the meal Reiko had prepared for me today, I was rolling around on the floor when she said that. Good news? For me, anything that could be called good news was pretty much limited to stuff related to streaming, so it wasn't hard to guess. And sure enough, what Reiko brought up didn't stray from my expectations.
"Congratulations. Your debut has been confirmed."
"Waaah..!"
I jumped up from my spot and clapped furiously with my tiny hands. It was great just knowing I could finally start streaming, but debuting as a corporate VTuber like this... it opened up the possibility of real success, and it felt like my abilities were finally being properly recognized. That's why I was so thrilled. I'd been working toward this all along, and I'd figured it'd take at least another six months of grinding before I'd even be in the running. It was almost surreal.
I kept clapping away until I remembered there was another piece of good news, so I asked Reiko about it. She answered right away.
"The other news is that you'll be debuting alongside someone in a similar position—your 同期. And interactions with her have also been approved."
"Uh.."
I stopped clapping as I listened to the rest of what Reiko said. Wasn't that... not exactly good news..?
I thought Reiko and I had gotten pretty close, and I could feel how I barely stuttered anymore when talking to her. Words came out naturally now without much tension. But with people I was meeting for the first time, or when ordering at a shop, I still shook like a leaf and stammered. So I hadn't really improved at a fundamental level. In other words, I was still extremely shy around strangers..
"You don't have to make that face. The person you'll be meeting—Yukihiro-san—is incredibly kind and wonderful. You'll relax the moment you meet her, Ito-san."
"R-Really..?"
"Yes. At the very least... she's a pure-hearted soul."
S-Saint? It felt like something out of a novel or anime, but I didn't need to point that out to Reiko. Still, what can I say..? Compared to me—and maybe it's rude—but Reiko seemed like the type who was full of complaints and suspicions about everything. Put nicely, she was meticulous and proactive; put harshly, she was a worrywart who fussed over needless things. For someone like her, who seemed to distrust people, to say something like that... maybe she really was a genuinely good person. No, calling anyone a "bad person" felt kinda silly to begin with. It wasn't like we were living in some villainous dystopian city..
The seniors I'd met before—like Sakai-san and Matsuura-san—had been super kind to a total stranger like me, going out of their way to accommodate me. Matsuura-san even went so far as to say I could call her "sis" instead of her name... Not that I'd ever have the guts; it was way too embarrassing..
..Come to think of it, I'd been calling Reiko by her first name this whole time without a second thought. Her family name, Yagami, just didn't roll off the tongue, but Reiko felt soft and natural right from the start. She never objected, so I'd kept it up... Should I change it? But switching suddenly might make things weirder.. I remembered most people called her Yagami-san... Hmm.. No idea..
.
.
.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Yukihiro Tsukiyo. Looking forward to working with you."
"I-I-Ito Yui. P-Please take care of me.."
At the meeting spot—where I was 80% worried and 20% excited—she was a beautiful big sis with the kindest smile, proving Reiko right to some extent. Her ample chest, not quite as massive as Matsuura-san's but still impressive, stood out clearly even under her modest blouse. Her wavy brown long hair perfectly matched her gentle, soft aura, doubling her charm. Like a kindergarten teacher, maybe? My limited vocabulary could only go that far... She was cute, with sweetness, maturity, and grace shining through everywhere.
When this beauty met my eyes and smiled warmly, I couldn't help but grin like an idiot.
..What was this? Why were all the people I met such stunners? I was a little flustered.
Okay, Reiko made sense. She worked with people, so her polished looks probably factored into evaluations during interviews or whatever. I could buy that, whether it was true or not. But Sakai-san, Matsuura-san, and now Yukihiro-san in front of me... Even though Yukihiro-san hadn't debuted yet like me, all three were VTubers—a job with basically zero relation to looks—and they were gorgeous.
Matsuura-san especially; she could be a gravure model or idol right now, no question.
Of course, I didn't think VTubing was just for people insecure about their looks. The world was full of hot guys and girls who just didn't want to show their faces on media. That's why so many streamed without revealing themselves. It wasn't always about lacking confidence or avoiding hate... Exposing your face online took real guts, something I knew better than anyone.
And here I was, a lovable cutie even I could barely comprehend, wondering why all these other streamers were so beautiful... It was kinda funny when I thought about it.
That led to the opposite realization—at a more fundamental level. There were just so many good-looking people. I didn't go out much, but whenever I stepped out for the convenience store, I'd notice passersby had ridiculously high-level appearances. It didn't match my common sense at all. That's just how it was here..
Anyway, Yukihiro-san and I went into a nearby café and ordered coffee with a small cake. Luckily, it was a foreign chain, so Americano was on the menu. As the buzzer went off and I reached for it, she snatched it with a bright smile and grabbed our stuff before I could say anything.
"Th-Thank you.."
"Hehe, no problem at all."
Her smiling face seemed to glow, making this simple errand feel like some noble act of self-sacrifice.
"Ex-Excuse me.. Yukihiro-san.. Um, I-I'm 21 this year.. H-How old are you..?"
"I'm 28. Sorry? Your 同期 is some old lady.."
"N-No! N-Not at all. Y-Yukihiro-san is.. so b-beautiful.. N-No way you're an old lady.."
"Oh, you're so sweet.."
Yukihiro-san smiled warmly, taking my hand in hers. Feeling her soft skin and warm touch, plus that angelic smile, I let out a goofy "ehehehe."
It wasn't flattery or lip service—it was just true. She was too young and stunning to call an old lady. You'd need to be at least mid-thirties for that.
"Y-You can call me by my family or first name, whatever. And s-since I'm younger, feel free to talk casually.."
"Oh.. Is that really okay?"
"Heh, hehe. Of c-course.."
"Then, with your permission... How about Yui-chan?"
"Y-Yes..!"
Perfect. Something warm and indefinable filled me up. All the worries that had muddied my brain—the harsh realities of the world, whether I'd really debut, if I'd screw up and get canceled, if anyone would even like a nobody like me—felt washed clean. Maybe I'd lived this long just to meet Yukihiro-san..
"Yui-chan?"
"Y-Yes?"
"If it's not too rude... Why did you decide to become a VTuber? You don't have to answer if it's too much."
"Uh, umm.."
Of course she'd ask. I fiddled with my mug, pondering. Why did I want to be a VTuber? Even I didn't have a clear answer. For money? To laugh and chat with other streamers? Some other goal? I still didn't know what drove me or why I'd chosen this.
When I stammered it out, her response was unexpected.
"Yui-chan... you're amazing."
"Eh, ehh?"
"If that's true... you worked so hard without even knowing your purpose. Isn't that even more impressive?"
"R-Really..?"
What was this hyper-positive machine? It sounded convincing, but I didn't feel that way.. In her head, I was apparently some bold, independent, admirable newbie crushing it in society.
Maybe because she'd asked me, Yukihiro-san started sharing her own story.
"For me... um, it's a bit embarrassing, but I thought it'd be easier on my body. My old job was tough."
"Y-Your previous job was..?"
"Not really an office gig—I helped with housework. My family runs a bento shop near the station... It gets insanely busy at peak times. I started to help my parents, but I couldn't keep up... My arms, back, legs ached so much. While recovering, I looked for something else.."
"I-I see.."
"Pretty pathetic, right?"
"N-No way! Y-Yukihiro-san is the amazing one!"
A bento shop might sound easy, but it's self-employed restaurant work near a station—brutally hectic during rush hour. Places like college-town burgers or crowded alley eats pay way more per hour. Why? 'Cause no one sticks around otherwise. It's that grueling. So Yukihiro-san helping her parents without extra pay... that was incredible.
"S-So.. you must be amazing at cooking too, right..?"
"Well.. Not brag-worthy, just shop-menu stuff."
"I c-can't cook at all.. People like Yukihiro-san seem so impressive. I admire you.."
"R-Really? Kinda embarrassing.."
I clenched my fist and ranted enthusiastically. She fanned herself shyly, her kind face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and distress—utterly adorable.
We kept chatting after that. Since we were in public, we avoided VTuber specifics or secrets, sticking to daily life stuff. Yukihiro-san was especially interested in mine. My scrawny build and zero cooking skills must've hit a nerve.
When I explained Reiko cooked sometimes, otherwise it was convenience store food, takeout, or Uber Eats, her face fell like the sky was collapsing. Her lecture—starting with "You're so tiny, if you've eaten like this since you were little, later on~"—went on until my coffee went cold. Pure goodwill and concern; how could I refuse? I just said "Yes, sorry, I'll do better." She even got my mansion's address and said she'd visit often. Turns out she lived nearby.
"Reiko-san is super busy as a higher-up... Taking care of Yui-chan must be tough for her. You've been so grateful so far, but tell her it's okay now. Be honest about the situation."
"Y-Yeah.."
A two-hour round trip was close or far depending, but knowing she did that every time felt burdensome. And with a mountain of debts owed, not being a nuisance anymore was a relief. Even if it just shifted from Reiko to Yukihiro-san.. For someone like me, clueless about chatting with older women, this wasn't exactly a green light. Maybe learning cooking and chores from her would get me my independence license..