TS Vtuber Streaming Life - Chapter 99

“Ah.”

Is the refrigerator empty…?

When I opened the refrigerator door to have lunch as usual, the empty scenery inside the refrigerator welcomed me.

“The freezer… still nothing.”

“Well… there were signs a few days ago…”

Just yesterday, I made fried rice with the leftover vegetables and meat in the fridge.

“Ugh, tsk. I guess I have to go grocery shopping.”

Past me, who said I’d go grocery shopping when everything ran out, reflect on that. Aren’t I annoyed because of you right now?

“Ah, should I just order delivery?”

…No. I need to go grocery shopping. I just scolded my past self, so I decided to get ready to go out instead.

“…What should I buy?”

While changing clothes, I thought about my shopping list.

“Hmm… Should I finally have steak today?”

It’s been a while since I ate beef. Then… butter and… asparagus…

I thought about what to put in the fridge for today’s menu.

“Ah, I also want salmon.”

Then, should I eat salmon steak?

Hmm… No. Let’s have both. It’s not like I should hold back when I want to eat something.

Having finished my preparations, I stepped outside.

“…It’s cold.”

As soon as I stepped out, the unexpectedly cold wind hit me, so I zipped up my jacket, which I had thought was okay without.

“Hmm, it’s fine.”

After a little while, my body seemed to adapt, and it got better.

“Hmm… Should I walk… or take the bus…?”

Just a moment ago, I had no intention of walking, but since it seemed bearable, my mind changed.

“Let’s just walk.”

Since it’s been a while since I came outside, I decided to take a short walk. The distance isn’t that far.

I don’t want a lot for Christmas

Maybe because it’s the Christmas season, carols were playing everywhere I went, reminding me of the worries I had been putting off.

What should I do for Christmas…

Ah, broadcasting is already confirmed.

However, I still hadn’t decided what to do on the day of the broadcast.

“Sigh… If it weren’t for the 3D Avatar reveal special broadcast, I’d just fill the time with singing…”

As much as I’d like to go with singing, I’ve already decided to use that for the 3D Avatar reveal, so it’s impossible—

“Huh…?”

Wait a minute.

Couldn’t I just change the 3D Avatar reveal date to Christmas Day and then sing? The avatar is already complete, and I’m in the stage of checking if there’s anything more to amend, so it should be possible, right?

“…I’ll have to pressure the designer.”

Since the Santa girl outfit is too revealing, I guess I’ll ask them to make me a Christmas outfit instead. If they say no, I’ll at least ask for a red cloak over the basic outfit.

“Oh….”

Isn’t that a good idea, even upon reconsideration? Viewers will be twice as happy, and I’ll have half the work!

Well, if they hear my thoughts, they might yell at me not to reduce it to just one singing broadcast but to offer two. But how can they do anything about it? They wouldn’t know this fact.

“I should contact the manager.”

As matters related to the 3D Avatar are my most urgent concerns these days, I called right away.

[Hello?]

“Manager.”

[Yes, Mr. Yeon-woo.]

“I’ve decided on the Christmas content.”

[Oh, really? What did you decide on?]

“3D Avatar reveal and singing.”

[…What? The reveal date is in two weeks—Ah, I understand.]

My manager quickly grasped my thoughts, eliminating the need for explanation.

[…You’ve put some thought into it.]

“What do you mean? I just wanted to give joy to the viewers twice as much on Christmas!”

[I don’t believe you, so don’t joke around. Anyway, I understand.]

“Yes, and please ask the designer to make a rough Christmas outfit.”

[…You realize Christmas is less than a month away, right? And you’re asking me to have an outfit made in that time?]

Hmm… It might be tough…

“If you’re unable to do it, I’ll go to the company directly and ask in person.”

By the way, the designer is quite scared of me.

[…Is that a threat?]

“What do you mean threat? Could you please not slander me?”

I know they are scared of me, but it’s a legitimate request. It doesn’t feel good to be slandered like that.

[For the mental stability of our staff, I’ll relay the message. Please don’t come over.]

“Should have done that earlier.”

[Ah… I’m getting stressed, so I’m hanging up.]

“Yep.”

Click.

“Ah, I forgot to mention to exclude the Santa girl outfit.”

When I messaged to request a Christmas outfit excluding the Santa girl, a message came back from the manager saying they’re doing too much.

Hmm… I suppose I am asking for a lot by suddenly requesting it. But no matter how much it’s the avatar wearing it and not me, I can’t help but feel averse to the Santa girl.

“Oh, I’ve arrived.”

While talking about work and walking, I regained my senses and arrived near the supermarket.

All~

…This song again?

As I entered the supermarket, the carol I had just heard on my way here played again, and I mindlessly pushed a shopping cart from the entrance and slowly wandered around the vegetable section.

“Oh… Strawberries are really cheap!”

Hmm… The tangerines are cheap too…

Since it would be burdensome to carry both, I should only buy one…

“I’ll go with tangerines.”

Tangerines are the way to go in winter.

I placed a box of tangerines in the cart and also added asparagus, bean sprouts, and tofu before moving on to the next section.

“Come and try some samples~!”

Oh, dumplings?

If I grab a frozen dumpling, it’s nice to have one sometimes when I’m eating ramen, so I decided to take a bite.

“Oh—Miss~ This is really delicious— It’s, it’s delicious… yo….”

The lady frying the dumplings must have finally noticed my face.

By now, I was used to such reactions, so I ignored it and grabbed a dumpling with a toothpick.

“Hmm, it’s tasty, huh?”

“R-Right?! W-Would you like to buy a bag…?”

“Yes, one bag please.”

I added a bag of dumplings to the cart and moved on to get some meat.

Beef for steak… and salmon fillet…

Hmm… Let’s get some minced pork too.

Finally pushing the cart that felt quite heavy, I finished my shopping and headed to checkout.

“One 20… No, make it a 30L trash bag, please.”

…I bought too much.

Well, since I won’t be going grocery shopping for a while, it’s better to stock up.

After paying, I took hold of the tangerine box in one hand and a trash bag full of goods in the other.

“Surprisingly light, huh?”

The TS buff is real. Seriously.

With that, I exited the supermarket and headed to the bus stop to wait for the bus—

…The next bus is in 10 minutes?

It seems I just missed the bus going in the direction of my house.

“…Should I walk?”

Yeah, let’s walk.

If I walk briskly, I could be home in 10 minutes anyway, so I don’t feel like waiting.

All~

Ugh… I know this song is a Christmas staple, but why does it come out so often…

At least if they played “Last Christmas,” that’d be nice.

Still, it’s better than walking in silence, so this time I paid attention to the song, and I heard strange sounds mixed in.

…What is that sound?

‘Ueeh!’

Is that a cat’s meow?

Sometimes there are cats that cry like children. I once saw a kitten that cried like a newborn, and it was really fascinating—

‘Mom!’

Hmm… that wasn’t a cat.

‘Ueeh! Where are you!’

Oh no… It seems like someone has lost their way.

But if I’m not the one to help, someone else will, so I decided to keep walking.

As I continued towards home, the sound of crying grew louder.

‘Ueeh!!!!!’

…Of all times, it’s in my direction.

But really, is no one helping?

Um… I guess I’m not the one to be saying that…

“Ugh…”

With a slightly guilty conscience while walking, eventually, I saw a young boy—who looked like he was around elementary school age—sitting on a park bench crying.

“Tsk.”

…I can’t help it.

Let’s just come home a bit later.

Having made that decision and looking around, I noticed a convenience store nearby, so I set my belongings outside for a moment and went inside to buy a hot chocolate cup and filled it with hot water.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Oh, ah, ah, goodbye…!”

Hearing a trembling greeting as I left the convenience store, I suddenly felt worried.

…That kid isn’t going to cry even louder the moment he sees me, right?

Ah, I don’t know. At least if he knows I’m trying to help him, he might not cry out of fear… he—won’t he…?

Hmm… I feel like he’ll definitely cry louder.

But my worries might just be unfounded, so I decided to act.

“Hey, little kid.”

“Ugh!”

The little kid, perhaps not having heard me, was quietly burying his face in his knees on the bench.

“Hey, kid?”

I called a bit louder, and finally, he looked at me…and sadly, it was just as I expected…

As soon as he saw my face, his eyes widened in surprise, and he flinched backward in fear.

Seeing that reaction, even though I was used to being treated this way, it still stung a little.

“Ugh, ueeh!!!!!!!!!!”

Ah… my ears…

I always feel that having sensitive hearing isn’t a good thing.

“Hey, little kid.”

“Sniff! Yeah….”

Oh, finally a response.

“Where’s your mom?”

It would be nice to get at least a basic piece of information…

“Ugh, ueeh!!!!!!!!!!!”

Ah, I must have triggered something.

“Is your mom not around?”

Uh…? Wait, I might’ve worded that too strangely.

“Mom!!!! Mom is there!!! Ueeeh!!!!!!!!!!”

…I don’t get it.

He seems to respond well, so let’s keep asking in this state.

“Your mom’s not here right now, though. Where did you get separated from her?”

“Ueeh!!!!!!!!!! Mom is there!!!!!!!!!!!”

“No, I know you were with your mom. But right now, she isn’t beside you.”

…This might be interpreted oddly, too?

“Ueeh!!!!!!!!! Mom!!!!!!!!!!!”

…I sincerely apologize for unintentionally dropping some inappropriate remarks.

I had bought the hot chocolate as a simple gesture but ended up offering it as an apology while holding it out to him.

“Kid. Drink this. It’s cold.”

“Ueeh!!!!!!!!!!”

“Hey, kid.”

“Ueeh!!!!!!!!!!”

“Hey, little kid?”

“Ueeh!!!!!!!!!!”

…Is he the type that only listens when scratched?

My patience was slowly reaching its limit, so I placed the hot chocolate on the bench where the kid was sitting and picked up the things I left near the convenience store.

“Oh, you’re drinking?”

In that brief moment, it seemed like the kid calmed down a bit.

“Kid.”

So I felt relieved and moved closer—

“Ugh, ueeh!!!!!!!”

He started crying again.

…What did I do so wrong—

Ah, I didn’t intend to, and I’m not sure how it got interpreted, but I did say something that could be considered inappropriate.

That too, twice.

…No wonder he’s crying.

I barely held back a deep sigh.

Um… First, I guess I need to calm the kid down, right?

After briefly thinking about methods, I took an orange from the box and handed it over, saying,

“Hey, winter tangerines are delicious.”

“Ueeh!!!!!!!”

Failure.

Hmmm… What other methods could I try…?

Oh, it’s Christmas season, right?

“Hey, little kid. If you cry, Santa Claus won’t give you a present?”

“Sniff…! Sniffle! Sniffle!”

Oh, that’s having an effect.

But—

“However, Santa doesn’t exist. If you see one, it’s probably your parents disguised.”

I heard that lying to children is not good.

Also, I didn’t want to give false information either.

“Ueeh!!!!!!!!!!!!!”