From VTuber♂ to VTuber♀ - Chapter 191

An Unintended Substitute Broadcast. (2)

Ding—

Not long after drying my hair…

A sudden notification sound rang out. I merely tilted my head in puzzlement before blinking in surprise at Toya’s wide-eyed expression as she showed me her phone.

Huh? What’s this?

> [Ichinose Natsu: Now Live]

“…Huh?”

But I’m right here?

I glanced at Toya, then back at the phone screen in Toya’s hand.

Ichinose Natsu, live streaming now.

The text didn’t change, and my jaw dropped open.
Could my iTube account have been hacked?

“Yeo-reum, do you happen to know how to do the Shadow Clone Jutsu or something?”

“Shadow Clone Jutsu? Come on, that’s obviously not possi—”

—Actually,  could it be?

A sudden realization flashed through my mind, and I leapt to my feet.
I was still pretty tired from working out, but curiosity won out over fatigue.

‘Wait, now that I think about it, it is possible. For example…’

Koyuki, maybe?

But does Koyuki know my account info?
Very few people know my iTube login—only a handful of V-Spa employees who manage the streamers’ schedules.

“It doesn’t seem like she just started it on a whim, right?”

“Yeah, besides, I doubt Koyuki even knows my account.”

I wasn’t sure what was going on, but one thing was certain: something interesting was happening.

In fact, this sounded like a broadcast concept I might have pulled for an April Fools’ stream. It’s a bit sad that such a fun idea was being used up so unexpectedly…
But still, no denying it’s very interesting!

“Should we head to the broadcasting room?”

“…Um— Actually, no. Let’s watch a little first, then go.”

“You sure, Yeo-reum?”

“Nothing to worry about. I trust Koyuki can handle it.”

You could say Koyuki is one of the biggest Natsu fans—someone who knows me better than anyone.
It’d be more fun to watch for a bit before swooping in to stop her. Right, let’s see…

> [Hello, everyone! This is Ichinose Natsu from V-Spa Gamers! Kon-natsu~]

– Kon-natsu!

– Wow, you’re earlier than expected today!

– I never imagined Nacchan—who’s always perfectly on-time—would show up early, haha

– Is there something special going on?

– A rare sight: Nacchan not sticking to her usual starting time, lol

The chat was just as flustered as we were—after all, I normally stream exactly on schedule.
If I started later than scheduled, I’d be breaking my promise, and if I started earlier, viewers who planned on arriving at the scheduled time might miss part of it.
I didn’t like either scenario, so I always stuck to starting right on time.

Anyway.

“Yeo-reum, you’re not playing a pre-recorded video or anything, right?”

“It’s that similar?”

“Completely identical.”

Just the opening line alone had a huge impact.
People who don’t know better might think, Oh, it’s the same old Nacchan as usual, but Toya and I, who do know, were stunned.

…This doesn’t sound like someone who’s only watched my streams for a day or two.

> [Oh, why am I starting earlier than usual? Well, there was… sort of a special reason. Ahaha…]

– Did Toya push you to start early or something?

– Maybe you skipped your workout today? lol

– Don’t neglect exercise, Nacchan. The older you get, the more you need it.

– Everyone’s just concerned about Nacchan’s health, huh lol

– Well, her health is a big deal…

– True enough lol

In reality, all that applies to Koyuki just as much, maybe more so.
So keep working out, Koyuki!

> [1000¥]

– Nacchan, so how was your workout today?

> […It was… okay, I guess?]

Yes, exactly.
She started out working out with me, but she got tired quickly and went off to wander the building.
She probably stuck her nose in places it didn’t belong and got roped into the broadcast booth by some staffer.
I know the feeling—whenever I’m not with Toya, that kind of thing happens to me sometimes.

“She looks like she’s in a pinch. Should we go help her?”

“I want to watch more, but… you’re right.”

She seemed to be handling it well, but probably with her heart pounding like crazy, worried about getting caught any second.
She might start trembling or something if we wait too long, so it’s time to head over.

Creak—

“Ah, Toya-san? Natsu-san?”

“Hello~”

“Hi.”

We opened the door to leave for Koyuki’s location when we ran into a familiar face.
I’m not sure of her name, but I know she’s one of the broadcast assistants.
We’ve met enough times for me to remember her face, though not her name…

“Well, anyway…”

“Natsu-san, why are you here?! I was sure I let you into the broadcast booth… Eh? Eh??”

“Um, that person in the booth isn’t me.”

“…Huh?”

She looked at me like that made no sense.
But there was no denying the facts.
It’s not like I have superpowers to teleport, nor do I know any real “shadow clone” magic.
Look, I’m still here, yet the stream is going on over there.

“A-Ahhhh!! I-I am so, so sorry!!”

“It’s okay, really. Anyone could make that mistake.”

“Let’s go, Yeo-reum. We’ll explain later.”

“I’ll fill you in properly later, so please don’t feel too bad!!”

We were in a hurry, so as I clung to Toya, I tried to reassure her.
It seemed like a situation needing more explanation, but sorry, we’re a bit pressed!

Once Toya started running, oh man, she was fast.
I already knew that, but it felt like she gets faster every time…

“We’re here, Yeo-reum.”

“Ugh… Y-Yeah… Thanks…”

Strangely, I felt more winded than Toya did, even though she was the one sprinting.
I just got carried, but I’m the one gasping for air—maybe she ran so fast that the air around me got totally displaced?

…That’s ridiculous.

“So what’s the plan?”

“Well, let’s see… Maybe you go in first, casually escort her out, and then I slip in just as smoothly.”

That was the safest, surest approach.

Toya appears on “Natsu’s” stream, then steps out with “Natsu” for a secret chat… Then I come in, business as usual.
A perfect scenario where no one gets hurt.

—

[Comment Section]

[Galju’s acting kinda… something… today…]

> (Footage labeled: “Ichinose Natsu streaming.” .MVI)
>
> Sure it’s Galju, but there’s something different from usual…
> I can’t put it into words, but there’s definitely something off…

└ (Reply) [She’s the same as always, what do you mean?]
└ └ [No, I swear there’s a weird sense of incongruity…]
└ └ [That’s probably because she’s early. She never starts early…]
└ └ [Could be. She usually starts exactly at her posted time.]
└ [Maybe working out made her grow a bit taller.]
└ └ [If Galju’s still growing, that’s basically doomsday…]
└ └ [She did mention she’s gained some height, but said it’s not enough to shock everyone.]
└ └ [Thank goodness… I almost died of shortness of breath, haha.]
└ └ [Let’s pray she stays just as she is…]
└ └ [(“Natsu: I’m reporting you!” emoji)]
└ └ [(“Natsu: I’ll chase you down!” emoji)]

—

[Everyone’s extra giggly today]

> (A video labeled: “Natsu speaking while chat erupts with messages.” .MVI)
>
> The chat’s way more active than usual. Anyone know why?

└ [Because it’s rare for Galju to start early, obviously.]
└ └ [Exactly how rare? I’m a fairly new fan, so I’m not sure…]
└ └ [I think this might be the first time it’s happened?]
└ └ [First time? So that means every other time she was never early?]
└ └ [If she’s early now for the first time, it means up to now she’s always been exactly on time, haha]
└ [Just seeing Galju’s face makes me grin automatically.]
└ └ [She’s extra cute today, for real.]
└ └ [She’s giving off a particularly “feminine” vibe, haha.]
└ └ [At this point, I’d believe she was female from the start, haha]
└ └ [My headcanon is that Han Yeo-reum was always a girl, so it’s fine.]

—

[Toya’s here, haha]

> (A video labeled: “Toya enters the broadcast booth with a knock.” .MVI)
>
> Hey, it’s not a Galju stream without Toya making an appearance, haha

└ [At this point it’s an everyday occurrence, so nobody’s surprised…]
└ [Didn’t they say Toya and Galju usually exercise together?]
└ └ [Maybe they do it separately sometimes, who knows.]
└ [At this point, might as well merge channels into a Tona-tsu channel?]
└ └ [(“Toya: I refuse!” emoji)]
└ └ [(“Natsu: Not so sure about that…” emoji)]
└ [But why’d they come in, then leave again?]
└ └ [And Galju left with her too?]
└ └ [They’re probably discussing some secret plan—maybe about their upcoming concert?]
└ └ [I wish they’d let us in on it, haha]
└ └ [(“Toya: It’s a seeecret~♡” emoji)]
└ └ [(“Natsu: Shh, it’s top secret!” emoji)]