Streaming on My Own Terms

Honestly, putting together a broadcast exactly how I wanted... it felt amazing. Like, really amazing. And it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wasn't just anyone's art—it was Yuu's. Kashio Yuu, whose name every manga fan in Japan knows. Getting personally close to her was wild enough, but receiving custom art just for me? No way.

'Even if she did the tankobon cover, I never imagined she'd go this far.' Yuu had this image of doing whatever the hell she wanted, more than any other artist. Hell, there were even rumors that her editors got on their knees begging her. Impressive stuff. I snapped a careful photo of the drawing and sent it to her.

Even I thought the tankobon cover turned out super clean. I'd poured a ton of time into it, after all. No wonder Yuu was reacting like that.

Anyway.

'Gotta post this on X-Net.' I usually avoided uploading non-art stuff to my Sino account, but custom hentai art from Yuu? Irresistible. She hadn't told me not to share it or anything.

...Plus, I really wanted to brag.

With that in mind, I snapped a photo and uploaded it to X-Net.

Likes started pouring in like crazy. Way faster than before. Ding-! Ding-!

"Whoa."

Ever since the Yuu and Rito stuff, my followers had been steadily climbing, and now they were reposting my upload at insane speeds. Even compared to the Rito collab post, this was unreal. Kinda scary.

'Followers are double what they were back then, so it's not that weird...' Still, it didn't feel real. Curious, I checked my current follower count.

630K followers. Before the Rito link-up, it was just 340K. Insane growth for an account that only draws high-level hentai.

'Good thing I never draw direct exposures.' No nipples or genitals outright. Back in the day, I avoided it fearing a ban, and now? Best decision ever.

While thinking that, I checked the comments on the post.

"Way more Koreans than before."

Koreans had commented occasionally in the past, but not like this. Followers spiked once after Rito, again after Yuu, then kept climbing steadily. More followers didn't mean cash, but it felt good. Like clearing game quests. The growth was addictive.

'Still can't believe it.' Yuu sending every tankobon she'd ever drawn on, each signed with custom art for me? Past me would've told current me to get lost. Sitting on the floor, it hit me again how insane this all was.

'Suddenly got a ton to read.' Just Yuu's tankobons would eat up days.

*

The next day.

I fired up the stream. Tons of Yuu's tankobons left to read, but I wanted to broadcast more.

Viewers jumped in right away.

Last time, zero for a whole hour. Unreal growth.

'Do I actually have streaming talent?' Daydreaming that, I spoke up.

"Hey everyone."

"Gotta do weeb talk today too. I don't really game."

I could if I wanted, but all day gaming? Nah. Better chat anime or draw.

Huh? Chat exploded outta nowhere.

Weird. I checked viewers.

Ah. Someone dropped coordinates again. No other way it'd spike like this. From 2 to 23 instantly? Gotta be.

Wondering where, I said:

"Mork vs Crimson? I'll prep proper materials and cover it later. Thought about it solo yesterday, and one side just seems unbeatable."

Chat was gearing up for another argument fest despite me saying later, so I jumped in.

"We'll dive deep on that next time. For now, I've got something prepared today."

"This."

I hooked up my tablet to the stream. Screen split neatly: tablet main, chat in corner, current song bottom right.

"Was gonna draw yesterday, but some asshole dragged Mork-Crimson into chat."

I started sketching away. Not bragging, but my speed beats most pros. Detailing takes time, but skipping minor stuff lets me keep pace with weeb talk.

"Everyone see Yuu's latest chapter? Was fun."

Three years ago, reading latest Japanese manga meant slogging through pirate sites. But some corporate exec's whim—or hardcore otaku vibes—birthed a legit platform importing raw chapters. Flipped the game. That's why I could talk latest chapters openly. I pay for all of 'em.

'...Felt guilty about past piracy, so I rebought everything legit.' Not a saint, but as an artist, it bugged me. Spent it all, lived on cup ramen, no regrets. Clears the conscience.

"Oh, and to shut up any pirates doubters, here's proof."

I pulled up Ink Stage, showed purchase history.

Proof like that? No more pirate jabs. Or they'd die quick anyway. Relieved, I drew a char from Yuu's latest: lion head, perfect curvy body. Unique design made it easy. Sketch sketch.

Quick lineart added, I continued. "So if she'd betrayed the protag in the final battle like this, plot would've gone totally different."

"Body's hot af..."

Throwing in nonsense here and there. Not serious. For real.