Cancel That... Right Now!!

"Cancel that... right now...!!" Noa’s eyes started blazing the moment UMO got called boring. The chat window ignited just as fast.

The reactions were way off from what I expected. Flustered, I muttered under my breath without thinking.

"No... I mean, it's just a card game ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at best..."

"What?? Just a card game at best??"

Did that hit the freakout button again? Noa’s face twisted like an oni demon’s, and she bellowed at me.

"Gal(喝)!!!!!!!!"

"......"

...What the hell? We were getting along fine just a minute ago. Why the sudden meltdown?

But judging by the chat, I must've stepped in it somehow. Noa kept going, rapping at me at machine-gun speed like some rapper.

"WebCaster, you gotta respect UMO. It's been the most played card game worldwide since it dropped in 197X, translated into over 80 languages..."

"...Breathe..."

"What the hell is UMO that you're going this hard over?"

"Ahh, great question. What is UMO, you ask?"

In response to my question, Noa’s eyes gleamed blue as she answered.

"To me, UMO is 'murder.'"

"......"

She's a lunatic. The kind of clown you'd spot on the street and pretend to take a call to dodge. Unfortunately, I was collabing with her, so there was no escaping.

"Alright, 'Slaughterfest' time."

Noa continued. "Kill each other from now on."

"......"

"......"

Latte unnie and I stared at her like she was a madman. Anyway, that's how UNO began.

It's frigid. A dagger flies straight into my chest. But don't worry. This game was mine to win from the start anyway.

My turn first: one yellow, one red.

Then another red on top, two yellows...

"Quiet down, everyone." I brushed off the viewers' nonsense and refocused on the game.

Current hands: I had a massive advantage. Just 2 cards left against their double digits.

Heh heh... idiots.

Victory was all but sealed. I smirked silently, sneaking a peek at Noa’s reaction for my next turn.

And then—

"Joker draw."

Thud!

A wild card pops out of nowhere. Before I could react, the field shifted green, turn passing.

"...Ha."

Lucky break. My remaining cards? Green +2 and a wild. As long as Latte unnie didn't change the color, no one could stop my solo run.

"......"

But for some reason, Latte unnie stayed silent. Even on her turn, she just let time tick without playing.

"......?"

Something's off. A chill crawls up my spine—like stumbling on a crossdressing guy's 19+ cosplay meme on Y.

...No. Impossible.

Latte unnie couldn't block me. No way she had the cards left for that.

Right...? Unless she had a...

'Special card'...

"Sorry, Yume-ya."

Then Latte unnie spoke. "Please, just die."

Thud!

"W-Wait a se──"

"KITSAMAAAAA!!!!"

Turn skips me, straight to Noa.

Noa’s green reverse. Turn bounces back to me, but getting antsy, I play my only attack: green +2.

But.

"......?"

They counter my attack with identical +2s like they were waiting. Now my hand's just a wild card. I screamed.

"KRAAAAAAGH!!!!"

Six cards slam into my hand in seconds. In just two turns, my lead evaporates.

The game ramped up.

Four back-and-forths in a flash. But they just traded between themselves—my turn never came.

And then.

"You bi──"

KABOOOOOM!!!!

A flash blasts out. Vision whites out in an overwhelming explosion of mass and sound. My scream drowns as my body shatters to dust on direct hit.

Latte unnie murmured low.

"Reiiki Tenkai."

──────!!

Red domain expands from the card, swallowing everything in sight. The world flips upside down.

Noa scoffed mockingly at the sight.

"Baka..."

Turns skipped. Once, twice. Skipping both me and Latte unnie.

Noa drops her last card.

The universe blinked out for a moment.

The collab wrapped up successfully. Short runtime, but we squeezed every drop out of it. Two demon VTubers going all-out? Expected.

Of course. Board games are just role-playing at heart. Idol life hones your acting chops inevitably. You'd see performers all the time in broadcasts.

Anyway. At Noa’s words, I cut to the chase.

"Then, Noa."

Reason I accepted Noa’s collab invite? Simple: connections. Ten days post-debut, I had zero fellow streamers. My one link was Latte unnie.

Was gonna expand through her, but...

This unnie's social circle was trash. Cyber outcast vibes. Fame gave her acquaintances, but real collab buddies? Fingers on one hand.

Noa, though? Capybara of the collab scene. Weaker numbers than Latte, but network width? Untouchable. Even had a crew-like thing: TRPG Pod. Regular streamer group for tabletop RPGs.

And that's why I said yes to her UNO collab.

I said meaningfully, "Open a session for me."

The speaker erupted with overly hyped response from the other side.

"......?"

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was baffled. What...? Why's she so thrilled...?