Colds Are the Real Enemy

Just one week after the collab restrictions lifted, and colds had to rear their ugly head. During that time, I did three more collabs with Tsupi, and now collabs ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with other generations were finally allowed. But before I could even try that, a new schedule popped up.

I wrapped up my stream right before midnight when a text from Tsupi came in.

Curious what this was about, I logged into Cream, and profiles of tons of VTubers popped up. That was the main screen. What I wanted was somewhere else.

A small piece of content in the bottom left corner caught my eye.

"Right, this was a thing."

KR Maerchen Live put out one major content event every upper and lower half of the year. Twice a year total, each running for a month—comprehensive game servers. This time, it was a server for Minecraft, the globally popular game known as Mark.

Anyway, since she said so, I figured I'd peek at the prelim info.

I checked the conditions section first.

It ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠seemed complicated but was actually simple. I could use something like this in Hero's Maerchen later—might be fun.

Doesn't this mean I can join without an invite? With one rep per generation, as the sole 11th-gen, I'd automatically qualify.

'Starting with a packed server would be hard to manage.'

Sorry, but I'd never joined one of these servers or even watched a stream. Work was the main reason, among many. So I'd never checked out KR Maerchen's big servers, and had no clue about the format or participation.

"Since I'm the only 11th-gen, I just apply and done."

Voting for myself to be rep and applying? Felt weird.

Conditions were already met ages ago, so nothing much for me to worry about.

'So initial entrants total 21? 11 gens = 11, plus 10 external streamers. Then as KR Maerchen fills up and they invite more...'

'...at least 100, probably way more. Even for Maerchen, server management sounds tough.'

I had no reference since I'd never seen other Maerchen servers. But that wasn't my problem. I'd just chill, farm, and heal in the server.

Was Tsupi joining? I asked.

Oh well, nothing to be done. I'd heal extra hard for her share too.

*

A few days after applying to the Playground Server. Even though I could've collabed with seniors, I didn't. Couldn't.

"Sniff."

I'd caught a cold. A nasty one. Streams and work ground to a halt.

I wasn't one to slack over a mere cold, but Tsupi and Jiu forced me to rest.

"So bored."

My raspy voice made me sound pitiful, but I felt fine. Totally fine. No fever, no sore throat. Just rhinitis acting up. Colds always wrecked my nose, making breathing annoying.

It didn't hurt, but I wouldn't have minded someone by my side.

That wish fizzled soon after the cold hit.

Knock knock.

I mumbled a hoarse reply and pulled the blanket up. In walked a stunning beauty.

"Brought porridge. Sit up."

"Don't wanna eat..."

"You need to eat to get better. Come on, sit."

"Urgh."

As I squirmed in bed, she—my sister—set the packaged porridge on the desk and hauled me upright.

Don't ask why sis was here. I had no idea.

A couple days ago, I'd laid down for some sleep when the front door opened. Wasn't shocked, though—only family knew the passcode.

'No clue why she came.'

I'd planned to visit her this time. Anyway, when she heard about the cold, she insisted on staying over.

What if she caught it?

"Broke as you are..."

"Porridge money's in the budget."

I sniffed and eyed the package sullenly. She snorted back.

Sis dragged a small side table from the corner to the bed and opened the porridge pack.

"Ahh."

"I can feed myself."

"Sis's arm'll fall off. Hurry."

"...Ahh."

Honestly, it was awkward. Awkward as hell. We weren't close, barely talked. Maybe ten words a year. Last call? Two years back?

Zero overlap, basically.

I took the spoonful at my lips. Sis flinched oddly but scooped more and fed me.

A few times like that.

"Done eating."

"Not even half. Why?"

"Full."

"Eat more. You'll recover faster. And gain some weight—you're too skinny."

Yeah. The awkwardest part was sis's attitude. Her being here was fine, but all this attention? Weird.

Were we this close? Memories said she wasn't this warm.

Thinking that, I took another spoonful.

A few more.

"Seriously full."

"Your stomach's tiny."

Half was plenty. The container was huge anyway.

Sis cleared it and returned.

"Sleep more. Saw ginger in the fridge. I'll make ginger tea."

She shut the door and left.

'...What the hell.'

This unfamiliar sis creeped me out a bit. People change with terminal illness, but... nah, not her. She's tough as nails.

I sighed inwardly and scratched my head.

Body swap merged memories, same life. No changes there. So why the attitude shift? Not the body swap.

No way.

"Grown up?"

"What?"

"...Nothing."

I muttered seriously, and sis was suddenly right there. When'd she come back?

"Drink."

"Yeah. Thanks."

I took the glass gratefully. The ginger ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tea was sweeter than expected. How much honey? Drank it all anyway—didn't wanna hear it.

"Need anything else?"

"Nah."

"Really...?"

Her sidelong glance made me turn away. So awkward.

"Lie down. I'll tuck you in."

"What kinda crazy talk."

"Don't call it crazy to your sis. Hurry up."

Why was she like this? I stared weirdly; she finally looked away.

"Just... wanna get closer from now on."

"Failed another exam?"

"Get over here."

She was serious. Bizarre.

Thought she'd flunked the civvie exam again as a jobless prep. Nope.

Sis just wanted to bond for real.

"Found out last week you've been sending money. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Felt bad."

Guess there'd been a misunderstanding between us.