Chapter 119
Chapter 119
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: Mass Kidnapping Special (2)
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DreamLive's marquee star and one of the world's top three VTubers.
Mika's day always began in the afternoon.
She streamed until dawn, and afterward, rather than crashing from exhaustion, she rode the high from broadcasting to work on planning and organizing ideas without sleeping, only hitting the sack right before sunrise and waking up just before dinnertime.
Of course, DreamLive was a company packed with off-stream work, so there were plenty of days that didn't follow this routine.
"Hmm. Wonder if anything came in today."
The moment she opened her eyes, she washed up, brushed her teeth, stretched once, and sat down at her desk. From what she'd heard, Myth unnie started every day with a trip to the gym for a workout, but that was inhuman.
Mika had tried mimicking Myth unnie's routine once, heading straight to the gym upon waking, and she'd been left shaking her head in disbelief. She still couldn't fathom how anyone could live like that.
"Is love really that powerful?"
She'd loved one person for seven years, living solely for her. The gym routine was probably part of that devotion.
Sigh.
Mika let out a breath as she realized she'd spent yet another day lost in thoughts of Myth unnie.
Don't get the wrong idea. It wasn't yuri or anything romantic. It was close to admiration, but not quite that either.
As a VTuber closer to Myth unnie than anyone else in the world—holding second place— she knew all too well that she could never surpass her.
- Whoa...!!
Before she knew it, Mika's hand had moved on its own, replaying footage of Myth marveling at the map made by QWER—Mr. Legend.
Mr. Legend had created several works since waking up, but the one that stirred Mika's soul the most was this field of white flowers.
Every leaf, every petal unique—an absurd pinnacle of craftsmanship, a dizzying violence named love that took her breath away just looking at it.
A normal person would click their tongue and be overwhelmed by such heavy love, but watching Myth smile purely within it made Mika feel like she lived in a different world.
Was it because she received so much love that she could smile even amid this violent affection?
"How do you beat someone like that?"
It was probably the final turning point, the last chance where she could've pulled ahead. Even her new avatar had been a product of far too much effort from QWER to call it a mere 'click,' but it had been shattered by his genius anyway.
All that remained was mockery calling it a stunt, pity from her fans, and her own burnout.
"I haven't felt like this in years."
Damn. No matter how she racked her brain, no ideas, no passions, no path to victory came to mind.
In frustration, Mika hurled her mouse away and flopped onto the bed.
Depression and a touch of self-loathing crept up her back. She'd poured her all into everything, yet every effort was stonewalled by the name 'QWER.' She had no clue what to do next.
Naturally, she picked up her phone.
She was too awake to sleep, and staring at the ceiling counting spots wasn't an option—it was too spotless from good maintenance.
And above all, her dopamine-saturated modern brain wouldn't allow it.
X.
Even if it had cooled off overseas, Japan still buzzed with opinions—especially on subculture—mostly posted there, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Mika's vacant eyes scrolled through reactions and comments about herself.
The flood of fervent praise poured in the moment she opened the app.
Seeing it melted Mika's heart. Right, wasn't that why she'd started streaming in the first place—to hear words like these?
Then, one comment caught her eye.
Oof.
Mika clutched her chest. She'd sensed her own burnout, but this was the first time someone had jabbed at it so directly.
No ideas for planning thanks to burnout, groaning at her desk all day with nothing to show, crashing exhausted—yet still streaming by picking any game for a collab.
The comment was spot-on, without a single flaw.
That made it pierce her heart all the sharper. If it were baseless hate or smears, she could've laughed it off, but facts like this dug deeper.
They're fighting. Fighting over me.
Because I'm lacking, my fans are at each other's throats now.
Sigh.
The company advised ignoring stuff like this and pushing forward. No creator—no, anyone in content creation—could please everyone.
So ignore it, stay resolute on your path if you believe it's right. Results would follow.
"Damn it."
But having been humbled and her confidence shattered, Mika scowled and chucked her phone.
The phone, flung far away, started ringing the instant it landed.
"Ugh, if you're gonna ring, do it before I throw you."
Venting nonsense in anger, Mika got up and snatched the phone from its corner in the sofa. No matter how pissed or drained she was, work came first.
The world never stopped for personal struggles.
Eight emails had arrived simultaneously, all from DreamLive management. Probably collab or ad schedules.
Mika, utterly uninterested and planning to flat-out refuse any ads until her burnout lifted, froze as she went to open them.
"...What?"
A collab invite from a place she never imagined.
『The Label inquired about your interest in collaborating on this project, so we're checking in.』
『The Label is recruiting quickly, so they request a prompt reply.』
『It's a prize-based planning event, with the winner receiving—』
『An outfit personally designed by QWER for their avatar.』
Ring. Riiiing...!!!!
Mika's fingers flew in a frenzy.
▶
"Phew. I've contacted all the requested talents, but are you sure about this, Mr. Legend?"
"About what?"
In the Label president's office.
The president sighed as she asked Legend, who was secretly prepping this project even from Myth.
No, dropping a project like this out of nowhere on the Label—which lacked big content aside from Myth—they'd kiss his feet in gratitude, but questions lingered.
"Excluding special cases like HighWatch, Sara's was a map, but this could be the first time one of your works ends up belonging to someone outside in VTuber history."
"Ah, yeah, true."
Legend nodded. But his face showed no anxiety, no worry.
Back with Sara's case, he'd fretted that his work might aid others and harm Myth, but now he trusted her.
A mere outfit wouldn't shake Myth's position.
And if it did—
"Then I'll just have to up my game."
"Coming from someone who actually can, that's all the more terrifying and weighty. Alright, I'll update you once the other MCNs and agencies respond."
"Sounds good. I'll head out then."
"Oh, Mr. Legend, one more thing I'm curious about."
As Legend rose to leave, Shin Yuri suddenly called him back.
"I get everyone else, but why invite Mika specifically? Any reason?"
"...Well, that's because."
Legend explained carefully, a bit embarrassed.
"—that's why. Ugh, kinda embarrassing. Anyway, I'm off."
He bowed shyly to the president and slipped out quickly.
Alone in the office, the silence shattered with genuine laughter. Shin Yuri burst into guffaws.
"Ahahaha!! Ahahahaha!!!!"
Forgetting her presidential dignity, she clutched her stomach, laughing until tears welled up. She wiped one away and nodded repeatedly.
"Phew. In the end, it's all for Myth."
What a ridiculously cute couple.
Maybe start saving for their wedding gift. Smiling, Shin Yuri dove back into work.