The Youngest Mama's Grand Reveal
'It's a bit awkward that my name is listed among the mamas too.'
Thinking that, I watched the live stream from the corridor outside the set. They were giving me a little prep time before I had to go in.
"I'll head in now. Any spots that feel uncomfortable?"
I nodded at the staff's words and stepped up to the set entrance.
"Having five moms must be nice, right? Manager! Ban that kid!"
"Whoa whoa, calm down Sara."
"Talking casually to unnie like that."
"Puhahahahaha!!!"
As I approached the set entrance, lively voices from the 1st gens echoed from beyond the door. Honestly, it was kinda funny they were doing this now, but my body felt a little stiff.
Well, can't be helped...
I'd been a bit tense earlier, and with the collab right in front of me, my body had gone rigid. But luckily.
"Oh? She's here now?"
"You'll be shocked when you see her."
"Seems okay to come in now."
"My mom's legal loli!!!"
"Rumi!!!!!!! Please shut up...!"
Thanks to the people inside waiting for me, my shoulders lightened a tad. Even if Rumi's shout turned it into total chaos.
"Alright, then, I'll head in."
"Yes. Thank you."
The staff personally opened the door and ushered me into the set. It was the same set as before I went to the waiting room, but now the 1st gens were there in their tight mocaps like me. Six chairs sat on the green chroma key backdrop, with mine just added.
My image hadn't hit the screen yet, so it was natural for viewers' curiosity to spike.
"Ah, don't come over here yet... Hmm. Could you just wave?"
"Unnie, that kinda hurts..."
"Eh, eh? No! I didn't mean it like—!"
"Wuu. Calling me daughter with this."
"Hey now."
Anna stopped me from entering. From a broadcasting angle, slowly revealing made sense... but really? Anyway, per Anna, I just extended my hand into camera view. No opening my mouth, obviously. Voice alone would give it away.
I glanced briefly at the chat reactions, then slipped my hand back into the 1st gens' conversation. This was kinda fun. While they chatted about my presence, I teased by showing my hand bit by bit on stream. No feet—shoes might give it away.
"Aaa~. Who could it be? No idea~."
"But can't we reveal now?"
"Then what does that make me."
While they goofed around, the 1st gens gestured me over. Time to go in?
"Then, let me introduce!"
Anna stretched both arms up with a grin. I stepped into the chroma key area.
"It's the hero dragged to the company on a Friday when she could've been off."
"Wait, I was supposed to say that first...?"
"Ah."
As my avatar, Uwar, appeared on stream, the mood shifted. Most had expected a new face, but out pops a total baby hero. No wonder they were flustered.
"Anyway! KR Maerchen's outfit illustrator and 11th gen hero Uwar!"
"Not quite."
"Eh? It's not?"
"Yes. Muil and Uwar are distinctly different entities."
Anna nodded and smiled at my words. She totally didn't get it.
"She says so."
Just gloss over it like that? A quick peek at chat showed they were still confused.
Chat reactions varied wildly—some pieced together Muil and Uwar's connection, others had already guessed, and plenty were baffled by the weird family dynamic.
"Well... I really was dragged here today. Muil thing was gonna come out eventually anyway, so might as well upfront."
"Did you guys know? We just found out Uwar is Muil-nim too."
"Mom's 14... Ehehehe."
"Please Rumi..."
We came for chit-chat, but somehow it turned into Uwar's debut backstory. Not something to hide, so I answered their questions steadily. Plenty doubted if I was really Muil, or why a mama was debuting. But that was easy to answer. Sans Tsupi's involvement, of course. No answers that might spill later either.
"Just... wanted to try it once. Working in VTubing and all. Plus I was a fan."
Obviously, heavy workload meant I hadn't watched properly. But I'd always streamed them while working. To match outfits to characters, concepts, personalities, vibes.
"So yeah, made me wanna try it myself. Not full debut, just an experience."
I shrugged and spun a tale. Chat turned into a sobfest.
...Not quite. Tsupi basically shoved me into applying.
Viewers were solidly misunderstanding, but no need to correct. Might even be better this way.
Forced into employment or not, it's pretty nice. Deadlines were longer now—practically a perk?
"What... so that's it?"
"Yes?"
"Mooooom!!!!!!!"
"Eh, huh?"
Wait, something felt off in the flow...?
*
Before long, as the collab wrapped, the mini-concert viewers had awaited finally kicked off. 1st gens' opener was naturally Re:Maerchen. Its explosive popularity had chat chanting encores.
"Encore. Encore."
"Could you infuse some soul...?"
"Ah."
I waved a virtual lightstick alongside, joining the crowd.
The 1st gens' mini-concert started with Re:Maerchen, two group songs, then solos per member. As it neared the end.
"Phew! Feels too soon to end like this, right? Cremees."
"Yesss!!!"
"Right right. One more."
"Huaa. I'm dying."
Anna flipped her hair and grinned at me. ...Why this ominous vibe?
I quietly set down my lightstick and stood.
"I, uh, sudden errand came up—."
"13k viewers waiting? For real?"
"...One song then."
Couldn't resist the 1st gens' pressure, grabbed the mic. Can't report this as workplace harassment?
Thinking that, I asked staff to queue up "Hero".