Chapter 1
Chapter 1
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Since I've Become a Woman, I'll Be a VTuber
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I thought I was living pretty damn well.
Sure, "pretty well" might be underselling it a bit, but starting around elementary school, I excelled at both studies and sports.
Thanks to that, I was surrounded by friends everywhere I went, and that didn't change through middle or high school.
Once my grades came in, I gritted my teeth and studied even harder, smashing the college entrance exam and getting into one of Seoul's top universities in the engineering program.
The university I got into turned out to be tougher than expected with its brutal assignments and classes, but I think I enjoyed it in my own way.
Going on MT trips, hanging out with department folks, pulling all-nighters on group projects with friends... I'd say that puts me in the top 1% of people.
So why...?
I stared at my reflection in the mirror.
Long black hair framing dark eyes, a small face, and cherry-like lips.
My height had shrunk by about 10 cm from before. Ironically, though, the clothes I was wearing fit my body perfectly right now.
"Ah."
A beautiful voice—no, an incredibly beautiful voice—slipped from my lips.
"O."
It was so good I let out an involuntary exclamation.
"Hmm..."
I deliberately made some noise, crossing my arms just to hear it more.
"Is this a dream?"
I'd gone to sleep and woken up as a woman.
An extremely pretty one with an amazing voice, at that.
***
Embarrassing as it is, I once got hooked on lucid dreaming.
Back in my reckless puberty days, I worked hard to make my dark fantasies come true in my dreams.
Thanks to that experience, I knew a few ways to check if I was dreaming. I tried every single one, but the more I did, the clearer it became: this was reality.
"This is insane. What the hell?"
And the weirdest part? This room was definitely my room, but somehow... off.
The closet was stuffed with women's clothes instead of my men's stuff, and I was even wearing women's underwear, top and bottom.
It felt like someone was messing with my brain. In this absurd situation, I grabbed my phone, unlocked it, and started checking everything.
"Ha... fuck, this is real?"
All my guy friends from my ballsy days? Gone. Replaced with chat histories full of girls I'd never seen before, but who somehow felt familiar.
Worse, the department group chat that should've said [S Univ CS Class of '22] now read [G Univ Design Class of '22].
"Aaagh! Fuck!"
Seeing that made curses fly out of my mouth.
The S Univ CS spot I'd earned by studying till my nose bled in my senior year of high school? Gone?
No way this is a dream, right?
My KakaoTalk profile pic, which used to be a group shot with my buddies, was now some girl in a black cap, pajama pants, holding a canned beer outside a convenience store.
...Damn, she looks fucking gorgeous.
Kinda gives off cool, tough big-sis vibes?
Realizing that was my face now, the boiling rage inside me settled down.
And then.
"Ugh..."
A sharp headache hit, and unfamiliar memories flooded my mind.
"Ah, ah... fuck!"
The pain was so intense I stumbled to the bed and collapsed. When I opened my eyes again, my head was packed with a massive new set of memories.
"Fuck, was I a guy? No, a girl?"
I was in total chaos.
***
I don't know which one was the original, but I had been a guy.
Now I was a girl.
Both sets felt too real to dismiss as fantasy—actually, the guy memories felt even more vivid—but since this body was female, it balanced out somehow.
My name was the same either way: Kim Suhyun.
Elementary, middle, high school? Same schools as before.
The difference? The path diverged a bit.
In this world, female Kim Suhyun was what you'd call... an otaku? A hardcore anime fan? Something like that.
She looked like she might've chewed some gum and had a tattoo or two, but her school days were pretty smooth. More like the type who bridged the gap between regular girls and the otaku girl cliques—a bit of an influencer in her own right?
Girls kinda dig that tough big-sis style, right? Awkward to say it myself, but to the guys, she was unapproachable, the kind they wouldn't dare confess to. To the girls, not a rival, just a pretty girl they wanted to be friends with.
No dating history, though. A blessing in disguise?
If she'd dated a guy, my male ego might've puked.
...Does that mean I'll never date for the rest of my life?
Anyway, setting that aside, ignoring the whole "body turned female" thing, I had two main problems now.
One: This new major, design—I had no clue about it.
The memories were there, but I'd always been far from design stuff.
How to put it? If my original state was black paint, white got mixed in, turning it gray? I gave it a test run, but compared to female Suhyun's skills in the memories, I couldn't produce anything decent.
Practice might fix it, but... no passion for design, so no drive to bother.
The other: All my friends had changed.
Parents were the same, thankfully, but my chat list was full of totally different girls instead of my old crew.
I did have some girl friends as a guy, but these were completely new... or rather, girls I barely knew by name or exchanged a few words with in school, now my close pals.
[Hyejeong: Whatcha doing?!]
Even now, a text popped up.
Hyejeong... In my male memories, just "one of the girls in class." But in female Suhyun's life, she was fun, loyal—a great friend.
I'd reply later. For now, to sort my chaotic head, I reached for a cigarette.
"Huh, what?"
No luck in my jacket or on the desk. Then it hit me late: female Suhyun didn't smoke.
Male Suhyun picked it up freshman year; she never did.
"Sorry. But it's my body now, right?"
No choice—time to buy some.
Who said addiction's a brain thing?
Nah, it's a heart thing.
I threw on a jacket, tugged on a black cap, and headed out.
Luckily, the apartment was the same as my guy days, so I knew the area. My height now around 170 cm made the view feel off as I walked, but the convenience store came into sight quick.
'Wait, isn't this a cliché?'
A memory from female Suhyun flashed up: protagonist turns female, hits the convenience store, clerk freaks at her looks...
Why'd she even consume that stuff?
TS stories? Gender-swap novels? I clicked my tongue at female Suhyun's tastes.
'Beyond imagination.'
She was deep into everything: comics, anime, even Japanese VTubers—no corner of otaku land untouched. Terminal case.
Design? Picked it up in middle school after watching anime, started drawing.
Kinda like a dark evolution of Kim Suhyun?
Dark evolution fits?
Objectively comparing male and female Kim Suhyun's lives, I'd pick the male one... but female Suhyun seemed to have more fun—from kid watching Japanese anime, teen dipping into light novels, high school VTubers.
Well, with looks like that, how could she not?
Lost in thought, I reached the store, secretly hoping for the clerk's reaction. I pushed open the door.
Who was the clerk again? Memories said some average guy...
'Oh...'
"Welcome!"
Not what I expected—the clerk was a girl.
A very pretty, young one.
"Uh, hi. One pack of Mild Seven, please."
Shorter than me, with sharp, cool cat-like features opposite my icy vibe—more like a warm puppy beauty.
Cozy, maybe?
"Sure~ Could I see some ID, please?"
"Here. Oh, and a lighter too."
Her beaming smile was cute; as male Suhyun, it'd have my heart racing all the way home.
But hey, girl now, right?
Quick greeting, grabbed the smokes, and left.
"Whew... kuhak! Cough!"
Lit up right outside, took a deep drag—but my body reacted like a first-timer, throat closing, eyes watering.
"Keok! Hack! Ugh..."
Lost the taste instantly. Tossed the butt, shoved the pack roughly in my pocket.
"Fuck... hack! Cough! Damn..."
'Gotta take it slow.'
Or quit altogether. Grumbling, I headed home.
The outside air was chilly; stepping inside wrapped me in warmth.
[Hyejeong]
As I flopped on the bed, my phone buzzed.
"..."
Lee Hyejeong.
Female Suhyun's friend, a college girl who knew her way around makeup.
Same G Univ, influencer type in the dance department.
I rifled through memories for how to handle her, then picked up.
"Hello?"
[Suhyunie~]
High-energy voice hit me right away.
But it didn't feel off.
"Yeah, what's up?"
[What? Do I need a reason to call?]
"Not like that."
Doesn't she? Male Suhyun couldn't grasp it, but female Suhyun's memories said it checked out.
[Anyway, why'd you ignore KakaoTalk yesterday?]
Yesterday?
I checked the date—different from expected.
"Oh, I was wiped, slept all day."
Apparently absorbing her memories and passing out took a while. Realizing that, hunger hit.
[Slept all day?? What'd you do yesterday??]
"Yesterday? Uh, couldn't sleep, messed around till late."
[Anime or novels again? Seriously, is that fun?]
...What kind of life did female Suhyun live? Memories were packed with too much karma to judge.
Housebound to the point I wondered how she still had friends.
[Eaten yet?]
"Nope."
[Wanna go out? Grab food.]
"Sure. What're we eating?"
I'd said it to bond, but a surprised yelp came through.
[What? For real? No backing out?]
"Yeah? Where?"
No way she'd react like that to food... Guess it made sense.
Female Suhyun dodged even casual neighborhood hangs with excuses.
[At my place. Get ready, meet in 30!]
Her place? Nearby, then. Why not eat together more?
30 minutes it was—what to do till then?
I pondered, then remembered what female Suhyun did for fun.
Anime... novels... uh...
Weird bit: she devoured both BL and yaoi, no discrimination.
Communities too—not super niche, mostly lurking.
SNS as well.
Less Insta, more that harmful bird, Bluebird.
Stuck home all day, bored, tried everything.
'...So just go out?'
No trauma in memories; she had fun when she did. Just didn't.
Total homebody constitution.
Kinda get it.
'I read comics too.'
Middle school, followed a bro to the bookstore—several volumes. Even as an adult, hit manga cafes sometimes.
Plenty to enjoy at home.
Male Suhyun stuck to 90s-00s black-and-white stuff; female, latest anime—generational gap?
'Same age, though.'
Anyway, fiddling with thoughts, I opened Bluebird on her phone.
Mostly art posts. Her skills? Objectively top-tier. Tons of likes, comments, shares.
Memories said she loved the attention.
And then...
"...Huh."
Evidence of a flame war with some Sailor Moon fan.
- Isn't sexualizing young girls too much?
ㄴ Your mom lol
ㄴ Didn't learn manners? Why padrip?
ㄴ Your mom lol
ㄴ Sigh that's why normies get hate
ㄴ I'm a girl? Like your mom lol
ㄴ Fuck off
...More padrip than debate?
Female Suhyun took pride in her art. Only time she posted text was flaming art haters.
So much so...
[Artist who padrips if you diss her art.jpg]
It became a Bluebird meme. She screenshot and saved it proudly.
I mulled over this enigmatic female Suhyun, then realized our meetup time was near. Quick basic makeup, and out.
...Tried to just go, but her memories held me back.
Gray hoodie, black slacks—walked out, spotted Hyejeong approaching from afar.
Casual white tee, jeans, beige cardigan. She waved wildly when she saw me.
"Suhyun!"
Nickname that'd earn a punch from same-sex guy friends back then—no biggie now.
"Hyejeong, hey."
Waved back casually; she pouted.
Oops, too stiff? Gender switch messing with me...
"Again? Picking up lines from the net?"
Ah, female Suhyun was more chill than I thought.
Memories confirmed: loved home, but not introverted.
More like outspoken, Coca-Cola Kim vibe?
Gorgeous looks, knew makeup, great voice.
Friends stuck around sans outings.
Walking side-by-side with Hyejeong, I glimpsed myself in a window.
Baggy pants and hoodie, yet airport celeb shot vibes—poised.
Stats and personality playing separate games?
If she'd liked outside more, total influencer life by now?
"So, what to eat?"
"That place?"
Her question—pointed instinctively at my old guy-days haunt, blood sausage soup joint.
Shit—too late, but she nodded.
"Yeah, haven't had soup in ages. Good call."
Phew, she liked it too.
Ding-a-ling~
Familiar bell as we entered. Clean wooden interior caught the eye.
"Welcome! Party of two?"
"Yeah."
Sat, scanned menu, ordered my usual special.
"One special blood sausage soup."
"Got it~"
"You sure you can finish the special?"
Her comment on my order furrowed my brow—right, girl vs. guy portions. Buff adult male to slender woman—appetite drop obvious.
"Kinda hungry."
Fasted overnight-ish, should manage.
"I'll do regular."
Orders in, we chatted till food arrived. Female Suhyun homebody, scant topics; no guy stories—so I listened to Hyejeong's.
"Then Yunjae said what? To me..."
Yunjae: her boyfriend. Met at hagwon in high school, five years now? School drama, assignments, troll teammates, asshole customers—juicy tales. Phone buzzed.
Vrrr~ Vrrr~
Unknown number. Hesitated, answered. Young guy's voice.
[Is this Kim Suhyun's phone?]
"Who's this?"
[Oh~ I'm department head Kim Chaehun. Why'd you skip today?]
Kim Chaehun? G Univ not my old school—all on female Suhyun's memories.
Recalled: blond, loud dude.
"Oh, too tired to go."
[Tired? What'd you do yesterday?]
Brushed it off, planned to mull school later—but persistent.
Were we that close? Memories: face-to-face only. First call vibe.
"Who?"
Hyejeong, watching intently.
"Department head."
"Your department?"
"Yeah."
Replied to her, hung up. Hyejeong gawked.
"Why?"
"Just, hanging with a guy weird? Fine to cut off like that?"
"Eh, dropping out anyway."
"What??"
Snap decision post-major peek.
Worse school, no skills or interest.
Weird strong gut feeling: this body forever.
Time to replan life quick?
21 still. No military.
Honestly... what couldn't I do?
"So what then?"
"Dunno... retake entrance exam?"
"You?? You hate studying."
Did I? Thought of CSAT prep again—nausea.
"Yeah, retaking sounds awful."
"Right? Why drop a good school."
"Hmm..."
"Yeah. And internet streaming? What about that?"
"What?"
Internet broadcasting?
News to me—tilted head, memory hit.
Watching VTubers in her room, saw donations, got tempted.
Not total shut-in.
Bought mic, face cam, avatar...
Wait, bought?
Checked phone—Coupang, out for delivery tonight.
Old memories first, recent lag—only now noticed.
"What? You applied for that audition!"
"Me??"
"Drunk promise or what?"
"No... audition... yeah, did that..."
...How far does this go? Headache from enigmatic her—suppressed urge to grab head. Then: not bad idea.
Voice top-tier. Still awed saying it.
I was guy once; she's otaku pro.
Perfect for cooking otaku dudes.
Trembling at my own mad idea, set down spoon.
Memories: in gender-swap genre she read, protag always streamed.
"Ha... Hyejeong."
"What? You okay?"
"Think I picked a career."
"What?? What is it?"
"Idol."
A 2D world idol.