From VTuber♂ to VTuber♀ - Chapter 193

Vacation. (1)

> [1000¥]
>
> – By the way, Nacchan, aren’t you going on any vacation?

“Vacation, huh…”

I guess I have been going non-stop.
Broadcasting almost every single day with hardly a break.
But I mean, it’s not like I need a super long break, considering all I do is stream from my room.

If I think about it, streaming is basically my kind of relaxation anyway.
It started as a hobby in the first place.

> “Being here with all of you is my vacation, you know?”

– Great that you feel that way, lol

– For us, watching Nacchan’s stream is our break, too!

– Still, maybe you should take some time off once in a while.

– If you keep going day after day, you might get burned out.

I understand what they’re worried about.
Lately, quite a few Vtubers have taken long breaks due to burnout.
They’re worried I might do the same, abruptly announcing a long hiatus.

‘…Maybe I should consider a short rest, just once.’

Reassuring my listeners is one of my responsibilities as a Vtuber—
Understanding their desire to keep watching me for a long time, and letting them know they don’t have to worry.
And with spring around the corner, maybe it’d be the perfect time to take a break.
I don’t have any specific plans, anyway.

“Since you’re all so worried… maybe I should.”

– Just make sure to let us know the dates in advance, haha

– Come on, Nacchan wouldn’t disappear without a word, would she?

– Well, she did vanish without notice once…

– Ack.

– Ah…

– That was… unavoidable, haha

They hit a sore spot.
It felt like my heart got stabbed with a spear.
My thoughts drifted to the day I suddenly stopped streaming and even announced my retirement, after my body had changed.
I really messed up back then.
Even now, I just feel guilty about it toward my listeners.

“Understood. I promise. I’ll definitely let you all know the schedule for any time off.”

– That’s good enough, haha

– Oh, but please don’t leave this month. I want to heal by watching your streams, lol

– I’m calling next month!

– I call the month after that!

– …How about just not taking a vacation at all? I want to stay with Nacchan forever.

– This is so contradictory, haha

– First they say ‘Go rest,’ then ‘Don’t go.’ Make up your mind, folks! lol

—

“…What should I do?”

“So, you’re thinking you will take a break?”

“Mmm, yeah… I guess so? Not sure when, but since we brought it up, maybe it’s better to get it done soon.”

“Vacation, huh…”

I watched Toya, who seemed lost in thought, while flopping down on the bed.
Vacation… a vacation.
What do people normally do on vacation?

Even thinking about it felt like a chore.
For someone who streams for relaxation, it’s pretty tough to voluntarily stop streaming.

“How do I take time off in a way that people say, ‘She really got a good rest?’ Ugh…”

“Come to think of it, I have some vacation time coming up, too. Want to rest together?”

“Huh? You have time off soon? Why?”

“Well, it’s just that time of year… that’s all.”

Surprised at the news, I shot upright.

Vacation? Out of nowhere? Why now?

I had half a mind to spend my future break just watching Toya’s streams…!
With a pout, I looked at Toya, who just giggled and patted my head.

“It’s nothing worrisome. It’s just, you know, time for it.”

“…Oh.”

Right, I guess Toya does usually take a vacation around this time of year.
It feels like so long ago.

When I lived with her, Toya never took time off, so I didn’t really think about it…

“So let’s rest together, Yeo-reum.”

The soft, stroking motion loosened the little knots in my hair.
Huh… if it’s with Toya, I guess it’s fine.
If I were alone, I’d probably just lie around watching iTube or playing games all day.
But still…

“If we both disappear at once, won’t people get upset?”

“My Totomo viewers keep telling me to rest, too. They were like, ‘You normally go on vacation this time of year—why not last year?’”

“I-I’m feeling a bit guilty. Like maybe you skipped it because of me.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine~ I’m resting whenever I’m with you, Yeo-reum.”

Ding—

“Hmm? Hang on…”

We paused our conversation for a moment.
I glanced at my phone, which just chimed—there was a text from the boss.
A quick read, basically telling me, Go on a trip and have fun.
And they also said Toya could take off at the same time, so we could enjoy ourselves.

“…Toya, looks like we don’t need to ask for permission. Boss is cool with it.”

“Perfect, perfect~”

“Should we start planning, then…?”

Even thinking about planning made my head spin.
On my days off, I usually just sleep or look for the next game to stream.
I guess Toya would be okay with that if I suggested it, but I’d feel too guilty.

It’s not every day you get a vacation—seems wrong to waste it cooped up in my room.

“Then how about we travel overseas?”

“Overseas?”

“Don’t you miss your hometown at all?”

Oh, that overseas.
Well… from Toya’s perspective, it is overseas, I guess.
Honestly, I hadn’t really thought about it.
The people I keep in touch with, I talk to them on the phone anyway, and there isn’t really anyone else I’d go see if I went.

I guess if I head to Korea, it’s basically a domestic trip for me, but from Toya’s side, it’s international.

“If that’s what you want, Toya.”

“My opinion doesn’t matter. It’s your decision, Yeo-reum.”

“…That’s a lot of pressure.”

At least it’s Toya. If it was anyone else, I’d probably just throw the decision back to them.
All right. It’s not like we do this often. Seems like Toya wants to go, too. Let’s do it once.

Slowly nodding, I felt Toya pat my head with a proud expression.
Like I’d done something praiseworthy.

“What about lodging? Where should we stay?”

“Lodging… right. Probably somewhere easy for traveling back, I guess.”

“In that case, I’ll leave it all up to you!”

Now my burden’s doubled.
Sure, I know more about Korea, but I’m basically a shut-in, so I barely even know what’s near my old place.
I’ll have to rely on the internet for everything—where to go, what to do…

I guess Toya would be content if there was a PC bang near the hotel.

“Oh, right, I heard there’s going to be a subculture festival in Seoul.”

“A subculture festival?”

“Yeah, kind of like Japan’s Comiket, I guess…?”

“That sounds fun!”

The scale might be smaller, though…
I used to go from time to time back when I was just Han Yeo-reum, but it’s gotten bigger now.
I’m not great with large crowds.
Maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned it.
But with Toya’s eyes sparkling like that, I couldn’t bring myself to say no.

Well, what’s the worst that can happen?

—

[Comment Section Snapshots]

[Galju’s taking time off?]

> (A notice announcing a 5-day vacation.jpg)
>
> My life will be on pause for 5 days…

└ (Reply) [You think she’s unwell again?]
└ └ [Doesn’t seem like it.]
└ └ [Probably just the fans freaking out, haha]
└ └ [Nacchan’s taking a break because the fans keep insisting, I guess.]
└ └ [(“Natsu: time to rest, right?” emoji)]
└ └ [Not a permanent break, right…?]
└ └ [Gah, bad memories…]

└ [Come to think of it, ever since Galju joined V-Spa, she hasn’t actually taken a real vacation, right?]
└ └ [She’s taken a day off here and there, but never this long.]
└ └ [True, wow…]
└ └ [Nahuang, so hardcore…]
└ └ [She was burning herself out streaming for us… We’ll never forget, Nahuang…]
└ └ [She’s not dying, geez, haha]

—

[Why’s Toya off, too?]

> (A notice about Toya’s vacation.jpg)
>
> So now you’re on break, too?! What are we supposed to watch… Kim Toya!!!!!!!!

└ (Reply) [Stand at attention, Kim Toya…]
└ [Maybe the two of them planned a trip together?]
└ └ [Probably going overseas or something?]
└ └ [If they come to Korea, haha…]
└ └ [Like they’d go to that “hell Joseon.” Calm down, haha]
└ └ [But they’re good friends, it’s possible?]
└ └ [Doesn’t matter, one of them is literally Korean, haha]
└ └ [So we’ve got a pro-Japan Vtuber and an anti-Korea Vtuber…? Wait…]
└ └ [Pro-Japan (a Japanese) and Anti-Korea (the Korean)? haha]
└ └ [lol]

└ [Never thought I’d end up watching Inari’s streams, but here we are haha]
└ └ [They’re actually more fun than I expected.]
└ └ [Another oshi incoming, huh…]

—

[Galju & Toya’s visit to Korea – Station Ad Project]

> (Fan-drawn illustration of Natsu and Toya.jpg)
>
> Special thanks to artist Ragu! We plan to post this ad at XX Station from XX/XX to XX/XX.
> If interested, please reach out!

└ (Reply) [So Galju’s coming to Korea?]
└ └ [She did say on stream she’s thinking of going back home for a visit, haha]
└ └ [Wasn’t her hometown in Japan?]
└ └ [I heard she said “I might go to my old place” and apparently that’s in Korea…]
└ [Galju, welcome! Galju, welcome! Galju, welcome!]
└ [Think she’ll do a fan meetup?]
└ └ [It’s a vacation—why would she do that, haha]
└ └ [Use your head, fans…]
└ [But obviously everyone recognizes Galju—how’s she gonna walk around unnoticed?]
└ └ [I wonder about that, too, lol]
└ └ [She’s probably got friends there, so maybe she’ll travel with them, haha]

—