Chapter 104
Chapter 104
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: They Said It Hurts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Somehow, watching another VTuber like this with you feels like a first for me."
"Yeah, that's true. And the chicken just arrived right on time—perfect~."
"...Is it okay to prepare this much?"
"Everything except the chicken can be saved for later. And there are a lot of us anyway."
It was 8 p.m. in our living room. Since there was no time difference between Japan and Korea, it felt just right for evening.
Myth and I had set out popcorn, various snacks, and drinks before settling into the living room.
We were watching a major agency's stream from someone who was practically a rival, but our table looked like it could pass for a full-blown party.
Of course, it pretty much was a party.
Because sitting in our living room weren't just Myth and me.
"Oh! This feels like some kind of American home party vibe. Korea doesn't do house parties much, so I've always felt a bit bummed about that."
"...Is it really okay for me to be here? I feel like I'm being a total nuisance."
"What are you talking about! We're on this level—we belong here. Oh, did I just make a Korean joke?"
"Sara. Please hold back on those weird jokes during streams."
"Ugh, come on. You're still using formal speech with me? We're older than you!"
"It's a business relationship. No exceptions."
Today's special guests.
Sara and Our Manager were joining us.
Our Manager was now also doubling as Sara's dedicated manager, it seemed.
Man, managing both Myth and Sara at the same time? Sure, the actual workload was probably light, but on paper, it sounded like some massive power player.
"This is also to celebrate Sara properly moving to Korea. Order anything if we're short on stuff—eat as much as you want. Oh, no alcohol though."
After signing with the label last time, Sara had gone through various procedures and finally moved to Korea.
Apparently, getting the visa and finding a place had been a rough journey, but the boss had handled it all smoothly.
"Officially, we're like a little judging panel—me and one other VTuber like you, plus completely civilian eyes with Legend here."
"You're holding up better than I thought, unnie. I figured you'd be at least a little nervous by now, but you seem confident? I'm actually more curious about the new outfit~?"
Sara winked at me.
She clearly had no idea I'd gone beyond just an outfit to a full new avatar.
"...So it's confirmed that I made the outfit?"
"If Legend oppa doesn't make unnie a bikini at a time like this, it'd be illegal. You didn't do any 'research' excuses to mess around with all sorts of stuff, did you?"
"Cough cough!!!"
Myth spat out her drink.
Maybe she hadn't expected such an intense reaction to her joke—Sara and Our Manager's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Really? I didn't peg you for it, Legend oppa, but you're sneakily the pushy type? Kyaa!"
Sara's exaggerated reaction rattled Myth, while Our Manager fiddled with her phone like she wasn't interested—but I could feel her glance our way.
"Whoa! Anyway, let's talk about that later! Mika's stage is starting!"
Myth hurriedly turned off the living room lights to defuse the situation.
The sudden darkness was enough to divert everyone's attention for a moment.
Or more accurately, the two of them were playing along with Myth's intent.
As intended, all eyes turned to the screen.
『Yeah. Everyone watching?』
The summer stage where the 4th gen had caused a huge stir earlier.
Behind the curtain on a stage with perfectly implemented water splash effects, someone's silhouette appeared.
Oh, how do they even do that?
Curiosity bubbled up, but with everyone hyper-focused on the video, I kept quiet.
『You've been waiting a long time, right?』
For what?
Depending on how you heard it, it could mean waiting for a new avatar or swimsuit. But mixed with Dream Live's previous post, it took on a whole different meaning.
"Nice provocation~ Hmm. Mika needs that kind of guts."
"...She's the world's number two, after all."
"Hold on, my subscriber count is higher?"
"Trying to win with subscriber numbers? You know viewership is what matters in this industry."
'You've been waiting for me to surpass Myth?'
A subtle thrill, excitement hidden in Mika's words that could be interpreted that way. It wasn't a declaration of war—it was a victory proclamation. Myth and I smiled bitterly.
"How's the chat reaction? Oh, you mean the comments."
"No need to translate—they're obvious."
Myth showed me her phone screen.
Emojis of fire, oceans, and swimsuits were literally setting the chat ablaze.
Silent pressure to reveal it now. Viewer count was, of course, in the hundreds of thousands.
Our Manager clicked her tongue in amazement.
"What day is it this year? VTuber streams hitting hundreds of thousands wasn't a thing last year."
"There was the Christmas concert."
"Excluding that. I mean planned events or personal streams."
"First one since my boyfriend reveal event."
『Alright then. Keeping you waiting too long wouldn't be fair. You can watch, just don't stare too hard.』
She steps out to show off, while subtly melting away any shyness.
Whether she was actually shy or not didn't matter.
What mattered was her mentioning a hint of embarrassment herself. Pure pro broadcaster character work—I's eyes lit up.
The blue curtain parted, and a woman burst out from behind it.
"...Wow."
An exclamation slipped out before I knew it.
Pure white bikini, sunglasses on her head, bracelet on her arm, and hairpin— all screaming innocence at first glance.
Considering Mika's usual image as a cool, scheming mastermind in Dream Live, it was a bold choice.
She even had a 'black curtain' meme for her slightly dark vibe, but exposing her white skin like this under pure white fabric brought 'chastity' to mind first.
But of course, it wasn't purely chaste.
"Wheee~ Mika went bold."
"Chastity and lewdness. Clean combo. Not Mika's idea—she hates the lewd side. This has strong designer influence."
Sara whistled, and Myth laughed as she critiqued Mika.
Dots on her chest and thighs.
Mysterious choker around her neck, sandals.
Compared to other N-gens who at least wore something frilly and floaty, Mika's outfit was shockingly bare.
Pure bikini harmony with accents to highlight it.
The mysterious band slightly squeezing her thigh, flesh folding just a bit—something to stir a man's darker urges.
And above all, those bursting brea—
"Whoa?! Myth! Eyes! My eyes!"
"...Don't stare too hard. I'll get jealous."
"No, we're here to watch you, right?"
"Yeah, but still."
I didn't know her real body, but 'Mika's' figure was the most mature among Myth, Sara, and her.
...Everything else similar, but the chest alone.
"Ahaha! Mika's got a complex about her chest, you know."
"...Wait, in reality then—"
"Oops. What I said is top secret. Gotta protect a VTuber's red pill. Big ones are fine to reveal, but small ones? Spill that and the internet lynches you."
Sara giggled.
I ignored her, deflected Myth's palm attack on my eyes somehow, and refocused on the screen.
'Now I get why she used such an aggressive catchphrase like surpassing Legend.'
The overall design caught the eye first, but what followed was a violently well-crafted avatar.
Dream Live, due to company traits, didn't pour everything into avatar quality.
Top-tier in the industry, sure, but couldn't match absolute top like Myth or Sara.
With so many VTubers, over-investing in one would spark backlash.
For such a Dream Live to unleash this high-end avatar.
One bold enough to claim it surpassed 'Myth.'
"...Our Manager. What's the reaction?"
"Top-notch. Nothing more to say. Every cringey line Legend imagined, times ten in praise intensity, flooding in."
It deserved it.
Even I could see 'Mika' far surpassing 'Myth.'
Watching a stage that made the prior 4th gen performance feel like child's play, chills ran down my spine.
...Though she still couldn't sing.
"...Whoa. Didn't expect them to drop the final boss like that. Aren't we in trouble?"
Sara, genuinely flustered, whipped her head around to check me and Myth's reactions.
Her face showed worry for Myth facing such a massive rival.
But on the contrary—
"...Hmm. Who knows."
My mind was calmer than ever.
Maybe reading something in my expression—Sara's eyes widened as she looked at me, finished some mental calculation, and shot to her feet.
"W-Wait a sec, Legend oppa!!! D-Don't tell me it's what I'm thinking?!"
I nodded.
Sara was a huge Myth fan too.
She couldn't hide her excitement, jumping around like she'd forgotten this was apartment-packed Korea, not America.
"What did you make?"
Even knowing, Sara demanded the answer.
Wanting to hear it straight from me. Our Manager had put down her phone, eyes on me too.
I smiled and obliged.
Using the massive-screen Mika dancing beyond as backdrop.
"Myth."
I gave them the answer they wanted.