From VTuber♂ to VTuber♀ - Chapter 198

Familiar Faces. (1)

[Ah, come on! How could you go have fun all by yourself…!]

“It’s not like that—”

[What do you mean ‘not like that’?!]

“…Toya went with me too.”

[That’s not what I meant, dummy!]

—After we got back from the sub‑culture festival, Koyuki’s scolding poured through the phone and I hunched my shoulders.
But I’d promised it would be just the two of us, right?
Koyuki was on the verge of tears because I’d left her out, and I was no less teary listening to her fuss.

[I wanted to go to Korea too!]

“N‑Next time let’s go together, okay? Next time.”

[…Hmph.]

Even from far away—with an ocean between us—I could feel her disappointment.
It kept me from lifting my head. Maybe I really should’ve brought Koyuki along.
But regret always shows up too late; I’ll just have to take her the next time.

“I’ll bring back tons of souvenirs.”

[Hmph… !]

Really now…
If Koyuki were a cat, her tail would be flicking in irritation.
Anyway, that ended the call—if Ragu‑sensei hadn’t called me from the side just then, she might’ve kept nagging forever.
Looks like I need to buy a lot of gifts.

“Did the call go okay?”

“Yeah, more or less…”

“Koyuki must’ve been really bummed. She’s always saying she wants to visit Korea with you.”

“…Guess so.”

“Of course, I’m happy it’s just the two of us on this trip!”

With that, Toya hugged me tight.
In one corner of the room lay a mountain of merch we’d bought today.
We’d only been out exploring for a single day, yet our baggage had already grown that huge—who knew how much worse it would be by the time we left.
…Can we even carry it all back?

“What should we do tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow… I figure tomorrow‑us can decide.”

“What’s that supposed to mean, pfft. Well, I do like these no‑plan trips—especially when it’s just the two of us.”

“Isn’t that too positive…?”

The only thing we’d planned ahead was the sub‑culture festival.
After that, we had no itinerary whatsoever—pure spontaneity.
A random “Wanna go to Korea~?” turned into actually coming to Korea, and a “Heard there’s a festival—wanna check it out~?” turned into us going.
But what about next?

“Come to think of it, you’ve got quite a few acquaintances in Korea, don’t you?”

“I do, but…”

I trailed off.
I actually had more connections in Korea than in Japan, if you counted them.
Still, it felt rude to show up first after I’d left for Japan without warning.
I felt guilty.

“Want to visit them? Since you’re back, at least say hi.”

“…You sure? You don’t know them.”

“Hey, even strangers can become friends.”

“I kind of miss the old Toya who barely talked to newcomers.”

“Pfft, what’s that supposed to mean!”

Back when we first met, Toya had been so quiet…
She picked me up and paced all around the room while I sighed heavily.
Even if we did visit someone, whom should I call first? Who should we see first?

“Ah, I just remembered someone.”

“…?”

“Someone who’s your acquaintance and someone I know too.”

Someone like that?
I tilted my head; Toya lifted the corners of her mouth in a triumphant grin—eyes saying, You know exactly who I mean.
A face popped into my mind—along with a No way, seriously?

“…Grandma?”

“Bingo!”

“Waaah!” She hoisted me clear up to the ceiling; I nearly smacked my head before she stopped.
Even if you’re excited, that’s dangerous…

“Is it okay to drop in without warning?”

“It’ll be fine.”

“Proper manners say we should call first.”

Maybe I should phone her right now?
We talked occasionally, but the thought of meeting in person made my heart pound.
Nnngh, we really should let her know first—how do I do this, how…

“Then how about this? We go, and—surprise!”

“‘Surprise,’ she says…”

“Like a surprise visit?”

Isn’t that kind of rude?
I looked at Toya with all that meaning in my eyes; she shook her head as if I’m wrong.
I pouted reflexively. What if Grandma doesn’t like sudden guests?

“Who could dislike a visit from someone as cute as you?”

“Easy for you to say when it’s not your neck on the line.”

“Eheh, how could your business not be my business? She’ll be thrilled—I guarantee it.”

“…”

Right. If not for this push, I might never work up the nerve to see Grandma, out of guilt for the favors I owe her.
Toya was only saying this for my sake; my business truly is hers.

“…Okay. We’ll do it your way.”

“Yay! Good choice!”

“But.”

“But?”

“…If she doesn’t really like it, you have to comfort me.”

“You got it—I’ll spoil you rotten!”

Toya flashed a bright smile, utterly confident in her ‘comforting.’
What’s that supposed to mean—as if she expects I’ll need consoling.
Her words somehow made me even more anxious.
Though honestly, Grandma wasn’t the type to be upset about a sudden visit…

A day in the life of a working adult is always hectic—
endless tasks, pressure from every side, overtime that bleeds into weekends.
But today felt good—because today I got off early.

Kriiick—

“Grandma, I’m here~”

“Oh my, looks like you finished a bit early today.”

“Yeah, well… sorta?”

I scratched my head, awkwardly grinning at Grandma’s disapproving stare.
She clearly didn’t like me spending my limited free time visiting her—
always telling me, “Go home and rest instead of coming here!”

“I brought bananas on the way. Want some?”

“Spend that money on another savings plan, I keep telling you. Tsk tsk tsk…”

“Aww, these cost next to nothing~”

“Nothing, she says! Fruit’s worth its weight in gold these days, ayoo…”

She sighed on the bed; I could only laugh weakly.
At least she looked stronger every visit—good enough that she could probably leave the rehab center soon.
Mom was still worried, but…

Knock knock—

“Who is it?”

“…May I come in?”

Just then, while Grandma and I were chatting, someone knocked.
A voice I’d never heard—or had I? A faint familiarity tugged at me.
A visitor for Grandma?

“Grandma, were you expecting someone today?”

“No one I called for…”

She trailed off, unsure herself. The voice sounded young.
Maybe my aunt’s daughter? No, she doesn’t speak that fluently.
So who is it? Curiosity burned.

“Come in~”

Kriiick—

“….”
“….”

The door opened, and the first thing I saw was stark‑white hair.
Next came crimson eyes, and a small stature.
If you ask whether I’d seen her before—the answer is definitely yes.
I’d seen her two years ago—actually, even if it wasn’t that day, I had been seeing—watching—her ever since.

“Um, hello…?”

“Yeoreum, is that you?”

“Yes, Grandma. It’s me.”

“For a second I thought I’d gone senile. Come here, child.”

Grandma beckoned, and Yeoreum shuffled forward, stiff with nerves—probably intimidated by Grandma’s stern face.
Honestly, scaring such a cute kid…

Just as I was about to offer a comforting word to the half‑tearful girl—

Hug!

“Sorry it took me so long to visit.”

“‘Took long,’ my foot. You came, and that’s what matters.”

…Looks like my worry was misplaced.
The two of them hugged tighter than family reunited after ages apart—it felt almost too touching to intrude.

“So then, what brings you here, Yeoreum?”

“Uh… People told me to take a vacation, so I came. I’m here to rest.”

“By yourself?”

“No, I came with a friend.”

A friend—of course. One person came to mind, and I had to twitch my lips to hide a grin.
Ugh, I can’t stop smiling. I covered my mouth with my hand, stealing glances at the adorable bundle before me.

“Well now, since you’re here after so long, you oughta eat lots of good food before you leave…”

“I’ll eat tons! Actually, I eat Korean food a lot in Japan too. My friend is great at cooking it.”

“Is that so? Good, good.”

Grandma kept patting her head, and Yeoreum blinked those big round eyes, chatting away happily.
Though—she’s picked up a slight Japanese intonation, huh.

“…Is it because she streams in Japan?” I murmured.

“Pardon?”

“Eh?”

Ah. I’d let that slip out loud.
Yeoreum looked startled; I felt guilty. She came to relax, and here I was saying needless things.
I wanted to smack my own mouth, but that’d look crazy, so I restrained myself.