Memories I Wanted to Forget
Slightly uneasy but still cautious, I checked the message content.
The app must've gotten a lot better lately— it translates the moment they send a message.
"Sigh."
What the hell kind of weird noise was that? Anyway, I was curious what she'd said to Suihwa, so I asked carefully.
The moment I asked, a reply came shortly after.
Yuu replied cheerfully.
'..She really didn't say much.'
What was that about, then? There was no reason for Suihwa to get so flustered. Hmm. Or maybe Yuu was hiding something.
"Hehe."
Seeing her smirking faintly from afar, I figured she wouldn't tell me even if I asked, so I gave up.
With that lingering unease, I followed Suihwa around Anicon.
"Ughhh..."
I'm a guy and all, but that doesn't mean my stamina's any better than a girl's. I never liked exercise to begin with, and both my major and hobbies keep me holed up in a dark room all alone.
'Streaming ain't easy.'
Honestly, I'd thought it was just a cushy gig where you tag along with Suihwa, toss out some casual chit-chat, and viewers shower you with cash. But following her around like this made it clear.
This ain't work for normal people. Especially not for a low-stamina shut-in like me.
Sure, if it was just streaming games from my room, I could manage somehow. But Suihwa's hyperactive style? No way. Not that I'd ever want to, but if I did stream, it'd probably just be drawing or gaming from my room.
Anyway.
"Sorry about this..."
I felt bad for Suihwa. I'd come to Japan under the pretense of helping her out, with her covering tickets and expenses, but here I was, laid up with a cold and barely mobile.
I'd have to treat her to a proper meal later. It bugged me personally too.
As I wallowed in those thoughts in the fancy hotel, my phone chimed—ding! A message from Yuu, and I was getting used to the sound by now.
The thought that hit me immediately upon reading that.
...Does this girl have no friends?
We'd only met a day ago, but she'd already tacked "chan" onto my name like we were super close. I couldn't exactly tell her not to.
'Asking if she really has no friends would be too harsh.'
Asking someone with zero friends if they have any could be straight-up cruel. Lucky for me, I had two people I could kinda call friends; without them, a question like that would've wrecked me.
A reply came right away.
Sigh. Yesterday, looking at the massive lines for autographs, it didn't seem like she'd have any spare time at all. She was clearly squeezing it out somehow—but
'She says it's fine, so whatever.'
There wasn't much I could do. If Kashio Yuu wanted someone to chat with, I'd oblige.
Like I'm supposed to believe that. Anyway.
I'd been asked to do the cover but hadn't gotten an exact deadline, so I was curious. Maybe a month?
The bewildering reply. Wait, hold up. Sure, one illustration doesn't take forever, but this was for a Kashio Yuu work. For the cover, no less. And only a week?
Sigh. No arguing with that. Editors hold massive power in the Japanese manga world. Anyway.
'So right after I get back home, I gotta draw it and send by Friday.'
Factoring in revisions, Wednesday would be safer. Difficulty just skyrocketed. But it was a big gig—no way I'd back out.
Chat! ...I'd been planning to sketch cover poses while chilling in the hotel, but now I had to keep her company. Eh, it'll work out somehow.
Scribble scribble.
Back home after the flight, I was going at it like mad in my apartment, hands flying so fast they blurred.
"Argh..."
Never answering Yuu's messages right away again. I'd figured casual replies would wrap it up quick, but nope.
If I didn't straight-up say "stop," the texts kept coming.
Like a middle-schooler with her first friend—total hyperactivity. For a shut-in like me whose energy's drained from drawing in my room, I couldn't keep up. Had to ignore some.
Scribble scribble.
How long had I been at it?
"...Not bad."
I was really pleased with the result. Not quite cover-ready yet, but a bit of coloring and it'd be perfect.
'Wanna post this on X-Net.'
Not fully done, and revealing the collab would pull aggro, so since Yuu kept messaging anyway, I replied.
A bit later.
Yuu dragged up a past I'd rather forget.
The day before Anicon ended.
"Phew... fits great."
I tried on the cosplay outfit again. The green-haired character from that famous anime. Glasses perfect too. Oppa said it looked good last time, so this should be fine for streaming.
'...Kinda embarrassing though.'
The fabric clung too tight, showing off my figure completely. Good thing I'd been working out; otherwise, even a little belly pooch would've shown. Still, it was cute, so whatever.
'Phew...'
Deep breath, then I cautiously opened the door. There was Oppa, glued to his phone right outside.
'...He never used to be on his phone that much.'
Lately, he'd been on it constantly—practically addicted. Fingers flying non-stop; clearly chatting with someone. Wanted to ask, but held back. Didn't wanna make things awkward.
Pushing those thoughts aside, I spoke up carefully.
"Oppa, zip this up for me."
"Oh, sure."
Zippp.
Maybe from all the walking, I'd lost weight—it went up easier than last time.
"Oppa, how's it look? Good?"
"Yeah, good good."
After tweaking based on his feedback last time, the reaction was way better. Felt a little happy—
> Broadcast has started!
I fired up the final Japan stream.