After the Collab: Editors' Push and the Apron Welcome
Part 1 of the scheduled collab stream was pretty much wrapped up, so it was time to call it a night. The other members who'd streamed together suggested running one more team ranked match as an afterparty, but I politely turned them down. I could've done it if I really wanted to, but I just felt like logging off early and crashing tonight.
"Alright, rest up."
"Bye unnie!"
"Can't wait for tomorrow's stream!!"
"Guys, no stream from me tomorrow. Chicken delivery!"
I closed Discord. All that was left was to wrap up the stream properly.
"Okay, everyone, did you enjoy the stream? That's it for today. See you tomorrow. TTYL!"
The chats kept scrolling up relentlessly. I stared at them blankly for a moment before firmly hitting the end stream button.
The instant the stream went dark, I let out a deep sigh and slumped back in my chair. Part of me wanted to crawl straight to my room, flop onto the bed, and pass out. But I couldn't. The streamer Sena's day was over, but Vtubing Sena still had work left to do.
Half-reclined in my chair, I stretched out my limbs, which had started to feel a bit stiff, then grabbed the mouse. I opened a different chat program from the one used for the collab.
"Ah, can you hear me?"
"Ah, boss is here?"
"Great stream today too, boss."
"Yeah."
"So.. how was today's stream? It was good, right?"
"Whoa, it was insane. I was dying laughing watching it."
"Such perfect Vtubing acting, as expected from the boss."
"Ahem, praise me more."
"It was so natural I didn't even realize it was acting? It was acting, right?"
"O-of course. Don't you know surgical? Surgical?"
"Aww, yeah, I know. I know."
We bantered lightly for a bit to loosen up the mood, then dove right into the meeting. The topic came up while I was deep in discussion with the game video editor about how to edit today's collab footage.
"But boss."
"Yeah? What?"
"That.. little bro thing."
Another Yuhan mention. My face twisted slightly, but the oblivious editor kept going.
"Can we.. include him in this upload?"
"No."
Was that even a question? Irritation surged up, and I felt my brows furrow hard, so I pressed my fingers there firmly.
"I told you, he's a normie. He barely even watches Vtube?"
"B-but.."
"No buts. No."
In this industry, everyone pulls every trick for higher views. It was a cutthroat world, and selling a family member's face for clicks wasn't anything special. There were even cases of people abusing innocent animals for views and getting caught. A quick face cameo was nothing. The editor was probably thinking the same.
But not me. At least, not me.
"Absolutely not."
I tried to wrap it up there, but today they were all extra persistent. Even the thumbnail artist jumped in to convince me. I wanted to scream at them to shut up with the bullshit.
"I said no."
"Don't be so negative about it, boss.."
"I said no."
"You've been worried about the channel stagnating lately. Maybe your little bro is the answer."
The standoff dragged on between the persuaders and the unpersuaded, until one comment hooked me. And I hated myself for it. I'd sworn no matter what, but one line shook me.
But I couldn't help it. It was true.
The Vtube channel I'd started after establishing myself as a streamer had grown steadily since day one. Even when subs were under 10k, past 100k, even after hitting the monumental 1 million. The upward graph had plateaued at some point. No scandals or screw-ups, just stagnation.
At first, I didn't sweat it. After nonstop growth, a plateau was normal. But I didn't just sit on it—I consulted editors, changed editing styles, tried new content. Nothing. Perfect stagnation. No gains, no losses. It went on for months, like a whisper: you're done here.
I had to talk editors out of quitting, blaming themselves. Some might call me ungrateful for wanting more, but I wasn't satisfied. Efforts changed nothing, and despair was creeping in..
Until the editor's words hit home.
"Boss, no, Sena unnie."
They knew me too well after years together—spotted my hesitation in the silence.
"I get what you're worried about."
The calm persuasion continued.
"But can't we at least ask him?"
"Exactly~"
"And more than that.. since he agreed to the live guest spot, maybe he's interested in streaming?"
"No way.."
Impossible. That's what I meant to say. Yuhan always hated the attention on him.
But that tiny possibility stopped me. Really impossible? Really?
Normally, I'd shut it down. But not today. His agreement lingered in my mind.
"Fiiine.."
"Stop agonizing and just go ask him now while you're at it."
"Yeah. If he says no, we drop it clean."
"A-and while you're asking, see if it's okay to use his cameo for the thumbnail too.."
"Whoa, trying to get it for free now?"
"Conscience real?"
"Got anything better for a thumbnail? Spill if you do."
"Uh, no.."
"See? So boss, when you ask, don't forget to beg for that too."
"While you're at it, ask if he'd date a Vtube editor—I'll bow 108 times before every edit from then on."
"Talking about whose conscience exploded.."
"Won't pay me forever, but can I rehire as boss's yes-man..?"
"Quitting end of month?"
"Mercy.. I apologized in 3 seconds.."
I snorted at the headset chatter.
"Ugh.."
I scratched my head vigorously.
These bitches who bicker nonstop during meetings were syncing perfectly today. Anyone would think they'd planned it—
Wait.
They'd all been waiting when I joined..
"Girls."
"Yes?"
"Yeah?"
"Did you plot while waiting for me?"
"..Haha, no way. It just means your bro's prime Vtubing bait."
"Exactly~. Would we trick you, boss?"
"Doubting our loyalty.. hurtful?"
"You plotted."
"Busted!!"
"Run!!"
A brief commotion, but we settled on at least asking Yuhan. With them pushing that hard, blind refusal felt off.
"Fine. I'll ask. I'll ask."
"Kiyoooooot! Game part victory!"
"Damn, why'd heaven birth her not me..!"
"Jealous? Take game edits then."
"Even then.. I break out in hives watching bad gamers."
"Ah.. uh.."
They chattered excitedly through the headset, but I had no bandwidth. Just headache over how to broach it with him.
"Fiiine.."
While Sena huddled on her chair, racking her brain, what was the cause of her worry—Yuhan—up to?
Heh heh heh.
Nothing at all. Blissfully unaware he was the reason Sena was stressing over her laptop and Vtube channel, he was just idly watching her uploaded videos, killing time.
After laughing his ass off at the laptop screen for a bit, Yuhan checked the time and stood up.
Time flies.
Market research done. To time it for Gayeong's return, he needed to hustle now.
It was past 10 PM. A normal salon would've closed hours ago, but Gayeong's shop was peak closing time. As one of the biggest in the neighborhood, it drew crowds daily, staying open late unlike most local spots.
She'd close up, head home, and eat a late dinner to end her day. Jina had mentioned it offhand.
He planned to set the dinner table for her. And stand by it in an apron to greet her.
How would that look to Gayeong? Like her doting son filial piety, of course. To her, Yuhan wasn't a man, but her son.
But was that all? Wouldn't greeting her apron-clad like a husband welcoming his weary wife after a long night hit different?
That was the goal. One shot might not be enough.. but keep at it till it works.
What would she like?
She'd be starving, so hearty Korean fare? Or light since it's late?
Pondering intensely, he headed downstairs to the kitchen and went straight for the fridge..
"Huh? Whatcha making?"
Jina popped up—had she been working out in the living room?—sweaty and glistening, halting him in his tracks.