From VTuber♂ to VTuber♀ - Chapter 199

Familiar Faces (2)

After chatting for quite a while with Grandma—someone I hadn’t seen in ages—I sensed a gaze on me.
When I turned, my eyes met those of Grandma’s granddaughter.

“Hello. Ichi— a‑hem… I’m Han Yeoreum.”

“H‑Hello… uh, I’m Isia.”

I offered my hand; she accepted it, though her own hand trembled.
Was she feeling unwell? I stared with concern until the shaking eased.
Whew—​I’d nearly introduced myself as Ichinose Natsu.

“So… Yeoreum‑ssi?”

“Yes?”

“I‑Is that right?”

“Well, not exactly…”

Most people meeting me for the first time wouldn’t call me “‑ssi,” let alone “Yeoreum‑ssi.”
Anyone could see I looked like an elementary‑school kid—if someone mistook my age I could hardly complain.
Yet here she was, using polite honorifics.

“Um… do you… know who I am?”

…What kind of line is ‘Do you know who I am?’!
Flustered, I couldn’t get the words out smoothly. Maybe I should slow down.
Isia stiffened, eyes darting everywhere.

“Or… uh, do you know about VTubers?”

……

No escape—straight through it is.
With white hair and the name Han Yeoreum, anyone who knew either Han Yeoreum or Ichinose Natsu would recognize me on sight; that’s why I’d worn a cap and sunglasses at the event earlier.

“Ah—yes, yes, I do. I watch V‑Spe a lot.”

“…Oh.”

So she does know.
Isia looked as though she was desperately trying not to shout “THE KING HAS DONKEY EARS!!”
Maybe she’d just swallowed a red pill about her favourite VTuber.

“…So, seeing me in person is… off‑putting? Creepy, maybe?”

……

Reactions differ; the red eyes on an avatar and on a living person give very different impressions.
Toya always told me they were beautiful, but even I sometimes felt they looked like fresh blood.

“What’s creepy about her? You’re the creepy one, coming here every time you get off work when you used to avoid showing your face!”

“G‑Grandma?!”

“The old woman melts down the instant she sees you.”

The ice‑thick air cracked under Grandma’s dry humour.
Okay, calm down—no slipping into negativity.
Remember Toya’s mantra: “Smile with confidence!” Maybe seeing someone from the past is why I’m nervous.

“Yeoreum‑ssi.”

“Yes?”

“You’re very cute, so there’s no need to worry about your looks.”

“Th‑Thank you.”

Her words and eyes brimmed with sincerity; all I could do was nod robotically.
Getting praised by strangers is overwhelming—especially when it’s clearly genuine.
My face felt hot.

“In fact—”

“…Pardon?”

“In facttheavatarcan’tcaptureallofYeoreum‑ssi’scutenesslikethewayyourhairsparkleswhenitcatcheslightorthosebigredeyesthatdartaroundwhenyou’renervousorthatcrystalclearskinorthosecheeksthatjustbegtobepokedandandandIwannasnapyouuphugyou—”

“Pl‑please, calm down! Calm down!!”

Isia fired off compliments like a broken radio.
Hearing them nonstop made my own head feel ready to explode; I frantically tugged her sleeve until she slowed, nearly in tears.
I’d almost died of embarrassment.

“S‑Sorry…!”

“It’s all right.”

“Your face is so red.”

“Maybe a cold? The weather’s cursed lately,” Grandma muttered.

“I‑I’m just embarrassed, that’s all.”

After that we managed a normal conversation.
I never imagined I’d meet someone here who actually watched my streams.
Whenever VTuber topics slipped out, I jolted—what if she knew my old cringe moments?

“Well, off you go now. You came all this way to play; the old crone can’t keep you.”

“I’ll come again, Grandma.”

“Sure you will.”

“Me too!”

“And you—come a bit less, will you?!”

Grandma’s scolding left Isia thoroughly wilted.
I patted her back as we stepped into the corridor. She likes you, really, my pat was meant to say.

“You know, I didn’t realise Grandma’s first grandchild was you, Yeoreum‑ssi…”

“Ah‑ha, ha‑ha‑ha…”

She used to say that long ago; I didn’t think she still did.
Anyway…

Isia clearly remembered me—but the chaos back then must’ve kept her from putting “the unusual kid” together with “Han Yeoreum.”

“Now that I’m looking, I remember. I did think you were… special.”

“Not a kid, though.”

“True—definitely not a kid. Kids can’t radiate this mature cuteness!”

“P‑Please, enough with the cute talk…”

“Ah—sorry…”

Whether from Toya or from fans, “cute” still makes me blush.
With me hiding my face, Isia apologised.

So—what now?
My goal of visiting Grandma is accomplished; should I head back?
But Isia stared at me so enthusiastically I couldn’t bring myself to leave.

“By the way, Yeoreum‑ssi—are you still in contact with anyone from Straight?”

“Eh?”

That was sudden; my eyes went wide.
I did keep in touch, though not often—mostly with the president.

“Don’t you want to see the others? I don’t know them well, but they talk about you constantly.”

“…On streams?”

“Nope—at the office.”

“The office?”

“…Ah, I never told you.”

She pulled something from her bag—
An employee ID—Straight Corporation.
I squinted, then gasped.

“I work at Straight. Only about a year so far.”

“…Really.”

“A senior talks about you all the time. Says they want to see you, talk with you, anything.”

“Your senior… must be them.”

“You know—your old manager when you were with Straight.”

…Her casual words stabbed my heart.
Manager‑nim… right. I’d never spoken to them after leaving.
I let out a long, silent sigh, remembering our last moment.

Fine. Since I’m here, let’s settle everything.
I couldn’t keep running forever.
I extended a tentative hand toward Isia, who watched me worriedly.

“Please… let me meet that senior.”

“Of course.”

The instant I said it, she raised her phone—immediately?!

Ring‑ring—click

“Hello, Senpai? Yeoreum‑ssi says she wants to see you—shall we meet?”

“A—A‑A‑Aaah?!”

“Yes, she’s right beside me. Want to talk? Oh, you’re not ready? But she says she wants to see you right now…”

“W‑Wait! Please wait—!!”

“Okay, we’ll head over there. Yes, understood.”

click

…What just happened?
Isia called my manager—manager answered—and then…
Wait. Wait, why?!

My brain overheated from the sudden data dump; clutching my head, half‑broken, I saw Isia reach out a hand.

“Let’s go, Yeoreum‑ssi.”

“Uh—er—o‑okay…”

I do get swept along easily—but this would sweep anyone away, right?
Swallowing the complaints stuck in my throat, I took her hand.
It was warm—no, hot—hotter than Toya’s.

“Um… may I ask something?”

“Anything.”

“Why are you… holding my hand?”

“Oh! In case you get lost, of course.”

…

Not five minutes ago I thought she didn’t treat me like a child, and here she is doing exactly that.
Then again, if we get separated in a crowd she might indeed lose sight of me, given my height.

Hoo—how did I end up swept up by someone like this…?
Still, it wasn’t a bad feeling.
My life is full of people who drag me along—Toya, Inari, Koyuki…