Since I Became a Woman, I’ll Do Cosplay - Chapter 80

“Haaaa! Done!”

It was 11:10 AM. Hong Seo-hyun cheered triumphantly.

After over two hours of crash-course training, she had finally managed to set up the virtual facial tracking and streaming software herself.

Of course, this test stream was on a private account. Scarlet’s main account already had over 500 followers, thanks to some viewers who had spread the word in online communities.

“Turn it off once you’re done. It’ll be awkward if someone stumbles upon it.”

“Okay, okay.”

A Vtuber’s debut stream is a sacred event for the fandom.

Respecting their culture, Hayoon quickly ended the private test stream before any viewers joined.

After two hours of struggle, Hong Seo-hyun was finally ready to stream with a single click.

Looking at the monitor displaying the dull default background after the test stream ended.

“Whew….”

“It’s tough, isn’t it? Setting everything up was hard for me too. Streaming is a lot of work, even if you’re just studying it on your own.”

“I’m hungry.”

“Huh?”

“I’m starving…”

A sudden wave of hunger hit her.

Come to think of it, Hayoon was starting to feel a bit peckish too.

“Want me to make some ramen?”

“Sure.”

Hayoon readily agreed to Hong Seo-hyun’s offer.

She could cook herself, but it felt awkward to do so in someone else’s home. She’d just enjoy Hong Seo-hyun’s cooking for now.

“Hmm, hmm…”

Hong Seo-hyun hummed, frequently checking the time as she started cooking. Well, it was just ramen, but…

“550ml of water, a paper cup of scorched rice… boil for 5 minutes to make porridge, then wait 3 minutes…”

Seeing her making ramen with such meticulous measurements, it felt appropriate to call it cooking. As the aroma of the scorched rice porridge filled the air.

“Add the seasoning and noodles…”

She added the seasoning and noodles.

“3 minutes…”

Then she waited for another 3 minutes. After precisely 3 minutes, without a second’s deviation.

“Let’s eat!”

As if she had prepared a grand feast, she proudly placed the pot of ramen on the table with a smug look. Then, she set out bowls and chopsticks for Hayoon, who could only sit and watch since she wasn’t at home.

“It’s going to be delicious.”

She gave Hayoon the first bite, her expression full of anticipation.

“Hmm…”

Hayoon slurped a large mouthful of noodles in silence.

“Oh…?”

She couldn’t help but exclaim.

It was delicious.

It was ramen, but not just ramen.

The scorched rice added a depth of flavor that instant seasoning couldn’t replicate, and the small grains of rice stuck between the noodles added a unique chewy texture.

Immediately.

“How is it? Delicious, right? That’s the flavor from boiling the scorched rice and letting the porridge simmer.”

Hong Seo-hyun grinned, sounding like a grandmother sharing her cooking secrets.

Hayoon wanted to wipe that smug look off her face, but she couldn’t lie.

“It’s delicious. You’re a top-tier wife material.”

“It’s just ramen. I can cook much more than this.”

Hayoon’s compliment was partly genuine, partly motivated by annoyance at Hong Seo-hyun’s smugness.

Hong Seo-hyun, unfazed by the lukewarm response, happily served herself a bowl of ramen.

Silence followed.

Only the clinking of utensils and the sound of swallowing occasionally broke the quiet. The two finished their ramen and sighed contentedly.

Then.

“That was really good. If you can make something this tasty with just ramen and scorched rice, I’m curious about your other dishes.”

Hayoon expressed her sincere gratitude, apologizing for her earlier curtness.

She had been hungry, and good food was always welcome.

It was a proper thank you for the delicious ramen.

“Let me know if you want more. I’ll make you something else delicious next time.”

Hong Seo-hyun grinned, pleased with Hayoon’s desire to try more of her cooking. Cooking is like that. It’s more satisfying to watch others enjoy your food than to enjoy it yourself. And hearing them express their enjoyment is pure bliss.

It was natural that Hong Seo-hyun couldn’t stop smiling.

“Oh, the stream…!”

But her smile soon disappeared. Lost in the deliciousness of the ramen, they had forgotten that Hong Seo-hyun was debuting as Vtuber Scarlet at noon today.

She couldn’t be late for her debut stream, so she quickly checked the time.

“It’s still 11:45. We have plenty of time.”

“But just in case, shouldn’t we start the stream early and display the waiting screen? We can connect the virtual avatar at 12.”

“Th-That would be better. We don’t want any delays from technical difficulties…!”

They still had time, but this was a once-in-a-lifetime debut. There was no room for error.

Hayoon, who had helped Hong Seo-hyun set up the stream, waited on the bed, ready to assist if needed.

Ten minutes before noon.

Hayoon put on her noise-canceling Bluetooth earphones and accessed the Scarlet channel on her phone.

The waiting screen Hayoon had drawn was currently displayed.

In ten minutes, at noon sharp, Scarlet, the Japanese, Korean, and music expert, would appear against a dark green chalkboard background.

“inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale…”

Faint breathing sounds could be heard. Hong Seo-hyun took deep breaths, preparing for the stream. She had already started the broadcast and taken two calming pills. She was struggling to calm her nerves.

‘The scent…’

Hayoon was lost in thought, lying on the bed.

She couldn’t be caught on Hong Seo-hyun’s facial tracking camera, so she was hiding under the covers on the bed behind the computer desk.

‘Is that strawberry? Is it the scent of body wash on the bedsheets…?’

Due to her position, the scent inevitably reached her nose.

Hayoon closed her eyes tightly, trying to maintain her composure.

She was here to help with the stream, not to sniff the bedsheets.

She regained her composure and turned her attention to the stream chat.

-Is something big happening?

-Is it happening?

-Eight chickens confirmed so far.

-600 followers and 200 viewers, sweet.

-Finally, a feast. Hehehe.

Since Scarlet hadn’t appeared yet, the chat was mostly about the chicken giveaway.

Those who came for the event were basically freeloaders, so they flocked in as soon as the stream started, making chicken the main topic of conversation.

-What’s a Vtuber anyway?

-What’s so good about a moving drawing?

But this wasn’t a bad thing. Hayoon was grateful for the chicken talk.

Thanks to the chicken-related buzz, the trolls who were rampant in the early days of the Korean Vtuber scene were less noticeable. In this atmosphere, Hong Seo-hyun would have an easier time moderating the chat.

“Remember, you don’t have to read every chat message. Don’t let the trolls get to you.”

“I-I’ll try.”

The microphone was still off. Hayoon gave Hong Seo-hyun one last piece of advice before the stream officially started.

Finally, noon arrived.

“Hello! Hello!”

Hong Seo-hyun, or rather, Scarlet, brightly greeted the viewers, her signature red hair swaying. And the viewers’ reactions.

-Oh, this is…

-The drawing is moving. What is this?

-Is her hair really red?

-Wooo! Nine chickens!

…were varied. The guy counting the chickens was a bonus.

“Nice to meet you all! I’m Dr. Scarlet, your expert in Korean, Japanese, and music!”

Hong Seo-hyun steadily progressed with her prepared script. RP was… a strange thing. Korean viewers weren’t quite accustomed to Vtubers with elaborate backstories like aliens or isekai characters.

That’s why she chose “Dr. Know-it-all,” a slightly comedic and more relatable concept, for her introduction.

-Dr. …what?

-Vtubers… hard to understand…

-What the hell is this?

Amidst the chaotic atmosphere, Vtuber Scarlet’s debut stream began.