The Dragon's True Form
“As expected, Sia is great at streaming.”
I lie on my bed, watching the broadcasts of Sia and Momona. I find myself envious of how they carry on without a hitch, as if streaming is just in their nature.
Do I lack that kind of talent? I wonder if the only reason I’m even able to stream right now is because the other members are doing so well that I’m just catching the overflow of their demand.
I can’t deny that I’m feeling a bit worn out. It’s only been a little over a year since I started, but having nothing to show for it in terms of real results makes it hard not to struggle.
My streams are called easy to listen to, friendly, and approachable. But when I compare myself to the other members, I can’t help but feel I’m lacking.
“…Maybe I really don’t have any talent.”
“That’s not true at all.”
At the voice from beside me, I tilt my head to look. It’s Ha-yun, or MPG as she’s known. She’s the creator of the new model and the person who came over today to help with the stream. She seems to have watched my broadcasts quite a bit, but it never really felt like she was helping.
I heard she’s constantly sending content ideas to Momona, but she never did that for me. I assumed she just didn’t watch my streams or have any interest in them, so I took her words as nothing more than empty comfort.
“You think so?”
“Of course. Rin, your streams are wonderful.”
Looking up at her default avatar, I honestly wonder if that’s really the case. My streams are the kind you could find anywhere, even if you went to other streamers’ rooms instead of mine.
Chatting, drawing, the occasional game—these are things anyone can do on any stream. I don’t know what’s supposed to be so good about mine.
I sink further into the bed, burying my face in the pillow. I want to do well, too, but it just doesn’t work out. I don’t know what to do when everything I try feels insufficient.
Something only I could do… if I had that, I wouldn’t be worried. But I guess I really am… untalented.
“I know what you’re worried about right now.”
“Huh?”
“You’re worried because you think your stream lacks impact, that it doesn’t have a ‘killer move,’ right?”
“…You knew?”
“Well, you said something similar when I asked if there was anything you wanted when we were discussing the additional features.”
Her smile makes me feel a bit embarrassed. Now that she mentions it, I did say that. I had mentioned that I wanted to show off something unique, like the other members.
Since the content I do with my dragon RP is so calm, I couldn’t help but think it was a bit boring.
If it had been a more ordinary RP, I wouldn’t have thought this way. Even though I asked for something normal, I couldn’t help but feel a little resentful toward the company for giving me this kind of RP.
“Don’t worry. I’ve definitely prepared something incredible for today.”
“…That secret feature?”
“Yes, the secret feature I didn’t tell you about.”
She says it with a smile, but honestly, I’m more worried than excited. The boss gave the green light, but since they didn’t tell me what it was, I have no idea what’s going to pop out.
They said it would work well on stream, but couldn’t they have at least told me?
The idea that it’s only fun if I do it without knowing anything… honestly, it feels like a bit of a burden. I’m not that good, so I feel like they’re expecting too much of me.
“Can’t you tell me?”
“Hmm… I think the reaction will be much better if even you don’t know about it, Rin.”
“Ah…”
“More importantly, how’s the tail? Does it feel natural?”
At Ha-yun’s words, I turn my head from the pillow to look at my backside. The tail swaying above my hips is so natural that I hadn’t even realized it was there until now.
Swish, swish. It’s fascinating to see my plump dragon tail move exactly as I intend.
With my previous avatar, I had to manually operate the tail if I wanted it to move, but this one moves exactly how I want it to, based on my thoughts. I wonder how she even made it like this.
I wonder if she tortured an alien to make it, but when I think of Ha-yun’s true self, that’s impossible. She’s like me—someone who likes being alone and is timid. A person like us capturing an alien and torturing it to steal its technology? We’re the type who couldn’t even talk to an alien if we met one, so that’s out of the question.
“It’s comfortable. It moves so naturally that I almost feel like I’ve had a tail in real life.”
“I’m glad. Everyone feels comfort differently, so I was worried, but it doesn’t look like it needs any more adjustments, right?”
“Not really? But it is a bit uncomfortable to lie on the bed.”
I couldn’t lie on my stomach before, and now I can’t lie on my back either.
Well, I usually don’t lie flat anyway because my chest makes it suffocating, but since it’s hard to roll around, I find it a bit inconvenient.
Also, if I zone out for a second, it moves on its own and hits my back. It doesn’t hurt, but it’s… strange. The feeling when it hits me is just odd.
“I didn’t think of that. I’ll add a transparency function for the tail part next time. That way, it won’t get in the way during collaborations.”
“That’s great… Wait? Can I touch other people with this tail?”
“Hm? Of course. It would be strange if there was an object that couldn’t interact with anything, wouldn’t it?”
Hearing that, the tail looks different to me. Using a part of me that I can’t handle in real life to play pranks on the other members… I think this could be great for the stream.
“Ah.”
I said streaming was hard and that I had no talent… but streaming had already taken up a huge part of my life. Even when I thought about quitting or taking a break, thoughts about the stream would always come first.
Did she come to talk to me because she knew that? …No, that couldn’t be it. I just smile at the fact that a situation came up where I could rethink my mindset, and I slowly lift my body from the bed.
I can’t just brush this off lightly. I love streaming, and I don’t want to treat it like it’s nothing.
“Then, Momona’s stream is ending soon. Will you help me prepare?”
“Ah… uh, sure. But there isn’t much to prepare, so you could rest a bit more.”
“I just feel like preparing more now. Is there anything else I can show on stream?”
“Hmm. What I’ve prepared for today should be enough.”
I nod at her confident smile. The creator is telling me that, so I have no choice but to trust her.
If that’s the case, I guess I’ll rest a little longer.
Since she’s telling me that much, it’s probably better to rest. I wonder if there’s some exhausting feature involved. Even if I’m anxious, maybe I’ll be excited now?
I watch the streaming screen turn on. I’d been lying on the bed for quite a while, but I don’t feel stiff at all.
My shoulders move well, my tail moves well, and everything is ready.
I watch the number of viewers coming over via hosting as Momona’s stream ends.
There are so many. I think this is the highest number of viewers I’ve ever seen since I started streaming. Usually, it’s around 1,000 at most, but today it’s already over 5,000 and still rising.
Seeing the viewer count climb makes me nervous, too. I thought it would be fine since it’s not real life, but knowing so many people are watching makes my body tremble.
“Ahem…”
Still, I have to do what I prepared, so I look at the camera and smile, shaking off the tremors.
“Hello everyone~ I overslept again today. It’s an important day, oh my~ it’s an important day, but you’ll forgive me since I’m here, right?”
I greet them, looking playfully at the camera. There are a lot of people watching? But there’s no one in front of me. Right, there’s no need to be nervous.
As if the tension from a moment ago was nothing, the trembling disappears. I chuckle, sit on the edge of the bed, and wave my hands and tail.
Seeing the comments about my tail in the chat, I intentionally wag it more and look at Ha-yun. I don’t think I need to keep the private mode on for long, so I signal her with my eyes to show it quickly.
I feel the black veil covering my avatar being removed, and I make my signature mischievous expression, sticking my tongue out slightly.
“How is it? I’m pretty, right? I already knew that, though. I’m pretty even when everyone sees me, right?”
Seeing the viewers enjoying it makes me laugh, too.
Since there are so many comments about the tail, I turn my body to show it off properly. Each scale is expressed in such detail that it looks real.
If dragons existed in reality, I wonder if they would really have a tail like this. I manipulate the camera to follow the movement of the tail.
I sway it back and forth, wrap it around my legs, and then release it to show how free it is and how it moves according to my will.
“Of course. I’ve been a dragon from the start, so I have a tail. I don’t know why you’re asking such obvious questions.”
I laugh and hug my tail, lying down on the bed, ignoring the questions from people who are so amazed they’re forgetting my RP. It feels better to hold than I thought.
Now it’s time to slowly show off the new features of the avatar. Since dragon-like features have been added, there’s a lot to show.
There are various magic features I haven’t even memorized yet, breathing fire from my mouth, and so much more to display.
I slowly clear my throat, drawing their attention as if I’m about to show them something. Just as I’m about to gather their attention with some simple magic, I look at the transparent avatar moving in front of me.
Hmm? I’m flustered as I watch her gesture for me to prepare, and then I feel my perspective suddenly rise.
What is it? What’s going on? Is this the secret feature she mentioned? I couldn’t understand what kind of feature it was.
Suddenly, my perspective is higher, and my body movements feel a bit uncomfortable… no, wait, it feels too comfortable. It feels like I’ve found my original body.
I roll my eyes to look at the streaming screen. What on earth… Eh?
I’m flustered by the sight of the dragon on the screen. Is this… me? I glance down. Seeing Ha-yun looking up at me with her thumbs up as if to say it’s perfect, I realize this must be the prepared feature… but I really wanted her to tell me if she was going to do something like this.
It was so sudden that I was a bit taken aback, but… I quickly pull myself together. Right, I can do this much!
“Oh my? I accidentally revealed my true form~ But I’m pretty, right? I don’t show this to just anyone, you know?”
I naturally captivate the viewers and smile. Even though I was flustered, it was fun. It felt like… I finally had a proper character identity.
I think this really is the best gift. Now, I should show off the other features. But… how does this work?