From VTuber♂ to VTuber♀ - Chapter 37

—

Nice to Meet You. (1)

Today was a special day.
It was the day I held Toya’s hand and went to the VSPE company to meet the CEO.

Toya had offered to call for me, but I said I’d make the call myself and got the number.
I expected the same businesslike tone I heard before, but what came back was a surprisingly kind voice.
When I told him I wanted to become a VTuber, he responded with such an excited tone that it made me feel at ease.

“Hoo…”

“Nervous? Hmhm, don’t worry—I’ll be right here with you, so don’t shake too much, okay?”

“Yeah. I’m really glad you’re with me, Toya.”

“Gasp…”

When I nodded at Toya’s words, she suddenly covered her mouth and started trembling.
…Did I say something weird?

I gently patted her waist and asked if she was okay, and she quickly shook her head as if to say it was nothing.
Was she feeling sick? Or nervous?

I was the one who should be nervous, but since Toya was the one reacting like this, I somehow ended up feeling totally calm.

Knock knock—

“CEO~ We’re coming in~”

Even when we arrived at the CEO’s office door, I wasn’t particularly nervous.
It just felt like I was here to do something natural—something I was meant to do.

When we heard the voice from inside telling us to come in, I gently opened the door.
Sitting at a guest table inside was the CEO, greeting us with a soft smile and a table full of snacks.

“You’ve got great taste, sir.”

“…Toya. I didn’t put those out for you, you know? Let Yeoreum have them.”

“Here, try this! I bet it’s right up your alley, Yeoreum.”

Toya ignored his words and peeled open a snack, placing it in my mouth.
Wait—since she fed it to me, does that count as her listening to him…?

As I chewed the sweet treat, I quietly took a seat.
The atmosphere was so laid-back, I felt no different than if I were at home.

“So, you’re here today to discuss a contract, correct?”

“Yes.”

There was no hesitation.
Once a path is decided—once I decide—then I’ll follow it.

And this wasn’t even my first time, but my second. I had even less reason to hesitate.

I wasn’t sure why he looked so emotional hearing my answer, but hey—no harm in that.

As the CEO got up to bring the contract, I quietly let out a breath.

Finally.
Or rather, just now, at last.

“Here, please sign right here.”

“May I read it over first?”

“Of course. Take all the time you need.”

It wasn’t because I didn’t trust him.
It’s just that… now that the moment to sign had come, it didn’t quite feel real.

I began slowly reading over the contract on the table when I heard a small laugh from beside me.

I turned to see Toya waving her hand as if to say it was nothing.

“I was just smiling ‘cause I’m happy.”

“…You really just say stuff like that, huh, Toya.”

I felt my face heat up a bit, and quickly signed the paper.
It was my first time signing with these smaller hands, so the writing came out all messy—but it was enough just to see my signature on the line.

Nothing had changed yet, but I knew a lot would change soon.

“Yeoreum, you’ll be debuting as part of the second generation—”

“No way! If Yeoreum debuts as a second-gen, that makes her my junior! She should debut as soon as possible!”

“Toya, no matter how stubborn you are, some things just aren’t possible. There’s no pre-made avatar, and Yeoreum needs prep time too.”

“I don’t mind.”

And with that, we moved on to the next stage.

The contract was the obvious first step for my return.
Now, it was about whether I’d debut with the second generation or sooner.

Honestly, I didn’t care much about being second-gen—
But since Toya hated the idea, I didn’t have a choice.

It was childish logic.

But if it was Toya making that kind of fuss, I genuinely wanted to support her however I could.

“Besides, there’s already an avatar, right? One that really suits Yeoreum.”

“…”

The CEO fell silent at Toya’s words.

Toya met his stare head-on with a confident look, as if to say, Yeah, I brought that up.

At this point, it was no longer something I could chime in on.

As the two started talking, I quietly picked up a snack from the table.

It was the same one Toya had fed me earlier—a crispy biscuit with chocolate.

“That avatar was scrapped, Toya. It might be fine now, but it could be an issue later.”

“If it turns out fine later too, then will you give us permission?”

“…Toya.”

“Just trust me one more time, sir. Please.”

“…”

The CEO frowned slightly but then sighed and gave a small nod.

I didn’t know the backstory, but since he agreed, it didn’t really matter.

As Toya thanked him, I thought to myself, Well, all’s well that ends well~

And if you ask whether I was curious… yes, I was—a little.

“Let’s go, Yeoreum.”

“Mm.”

The last image I saw was the CEO massaging his temples like he had a headache.

Take care, sir.

At my quiet farewell, he lifted his head with a start and sent us off kindly.

…Alright, I guess that’s everything we had to do today.

Even though we hadn’t done much, I felt a faint wave of exhaustion.

—

“So, what were you two talking about earlier? It sounded kind of serious.”

“Oh, that? Hmm, I wouldn’t say it was serious—wait, maybe it was?”

After we got home and washed up, I asked Toya as she kneaded my hands in her lap.

She said it was nothing, but hey—curiosity doesn’t just go away that easily.
And since it involved the avatar I’d be using, I figured I ought to know.

“The person who made that avatar retired due to a wrist injury.”

“…Ah.”

Originally, VSPE’s first generation wasn’t supposed to be four members. It was supposed to be five.
If the person who made that model hadn’t retired, there would probably be four members now instead of three.

“Wanna see it? I know you’ll love it, Yeoreum!”

“Okay.”

How well does it suit me that Toya’s this hyped?

To the point she’s eager to pass me an avatar made by someone who quit…

She gestured for me to follow her into the stream room, saying she still had the files from the original creator.

“Here, sit here. Just think of this as a test run.”

Toya adjusted the motion capture sensors around me and began loading the avatar file from a USB drive.

1%, 2%, 3%… As the numbers climbed, I watched blankly.

Toya held her hands up against mine and commented, “Your hands are so tiny~”

Hmph, before my body changed, they were way bigger than this, you know?

Of course, that was a childish thought, so I kept it to myself.

“All done! What do you think?”

“…”

Once the download finished and the avatar appeared on screen, Toya asked with a subtle, expectant smile.
It was the kind of smile you make when you’re waiting for someone’s honest reaction.

And sure enough, the avatar was amazing enough to justify it.

Twin-tailed white hair. Red eyes. A short skirt that just covered the thighs, and a top that showed the midriff.

The model looked just like me.

I slowly raised my hand—and the avatar did the same.

“…It really does look like me.”

“Right?! It’s fate! I’m so glad I remembered it…”

If my eyes in real life had a slightly emotionless look, the avatar’s eyes were round and soft.
When I was Han Yeoreum, my avatar had different hair and colors, so it never felt this uncanny before.

Wait… even eyebrow movement is tracked?

I blinked wide a few times and marveled as the avatar’s brows moved in sync.

Technology these days is seriously amazing.

“I’m glad you like it. Oh—hang on, be right back!”

“Okay, take your time.”

How did she even know I liked it?

Was it that obvious on my face?

I tugged at the corners of my lips with both index fingers, and the avatar copied me perfectly.

Hmm… maybe I was smiling after all.

Either way—

“Nice to meet you.”

I greeted the avatar, the one that might be with me from now on.

And on screen, the avatar smiled brightly—like it was happy to meet me too.
As if to say: Looking forward to working with you.