From VTuber♂ to VTuber♀ - Chapter 40

A Step Forward. (1)

Just because we learned each other’s real names didn’t mean the way we addressed each other changed.
Well, yeah. We didn’t actually switch how we called each other.
Though… I feel like something else might have changed a bit.

“Yeoreum~”
“Yeah, Toya.”

Ever since that day, every time Toya called my name, a fuzzy warmth fluttered in my chest.
The strange part was that, instead of feeling embarrassed, that fluttering made me feel… soft.
When I responded with a smile curling gently on my lips, Toya suddenly went quiet.
Just a second ago, she’d been trying to say something after calling my name.

“…Doesn’t it feel kind of more awkward now?”
“…I don’t know.”

When I cautiously brought it up, Toya pouted and turned her head away.
Ah. She’s sulking.

Teasing someone for sulking was usually Toya’s role, but now that she was the one sulking… well, I couldn’t help it.
Alright, this time, I’ll be the one to tease.

I gently poked at Toya’s jutting lips with my index finger.
“Toya, are you sulking? Really sulking? You’re not faking it—riiiight?”

As I dragged out the words and gave her lips another poke, Toya let out a playful “ang” and showed her teeth.
Ack… I almost got bitten there.

She didn’t actually bite hard, but the sensation of having my finger go in and out of her mouth was… well, seriously weird.
I giggled at Toya’s failed attempt to bite me, and her expression turned adorably grumpy.
What, were you that desperate to nibble my finger?

“Whoa, whoa—biting fingers is what bad kids do! C’mon, I’ll pet you, so calm down, calm down.”
“…”

I reached out and gently patted her head, teasing her as her face grew redder and redder.
How does it feel now, getting a taste of your own medicine?

Human beings really don’t like being treated like a kid—even before they become adults.
And me? I’m already 25.
If not for my changed body, I’d be at the age where it’d make perfect sense for people to start calling me “mister.”

“…Isn’t this kind of treating me like a puppy?”
“Ah.”

“…”

“S-Sorry. I didn’t mean it like that… but honestly, you treated me like a puppy way more often!”

At my protest, Toya tilted her head, clearly confused.
What? Does she really not realize all the stuff she did?

I blinked in stunned disbelief, and then Toya declared it was her turn, ruffling my hair like crazy.
Wha—Toya?!

Ah, I get it now.
The things Toya did weren’t meant to treat me like a pet or a puppy…
She just saw me as someone cute. Like how you’d treat an adorable child.

“More than that, I hope you debut soon, Yeoreum. Ahhh, I wanna collab with you again—it’s been so long~!!”
“Yeah… we used to do that a lot back then.”

When I said I’d debut using the avatar that had been sleeping in my computer, the CEO hadn’t looked too happy.
Maybe they were personally close with the person who made it. A friend, perhaps.

Honestly, I thought the whole issue was about copyright and permissions…
But it probably started when I sent in that photo of me with twin tails.

I nodded slightly, recalling a Whispy post from months ago—an illustrator who had retired suddenly announcing a comeback.

“The CEO looked really happy though.”
“Well, the person who made the avatar… is actually their ex-girlfriend.”
“Eh?”
“Shh, it’s a secret. Not even Inari knows, so you can’t tell anyone, okay?”

Toya raised her index finger to her lips. I blinked in silent agreement.

Wait a sec… if even Inari doesn’t know, isn’t that like… a huge secret? Is it really okay to tell me?

When I looked at her with that question in my eyes, she just shrugged it off, saying the CEO never really tried to keep it a secret anyway.

Still, even if it wasn’t explicitly a secret…

Anyway.

“So, if I debut, am I considered a first-gen? Or like… a Gen 1.5 member?”
“Hmm… the CEO said they’re going to make a new unit. Like… V-Spe Gamers! That kind of vibe.”

Gamers, huh…
When I was active as Han Yeoreum, I mostly focused on gaming, and most of my collabs with Toya were game-related too.

If my health was fully back, I might have tried a bunch of things, but for now, sticking with games seemed like the right pace.

…Oh. Maybe I should work out.

If I wanted to strengthen this fragile body that got sore with just a bit of movement, I had to put in the effort.

Besides, even the doctor said that if I wanted to live long, I needed to exercise regularly.

“Grrnnn—”
“Huh? What are you doing?”
“Stretching before exercise?”

I laced my fingers together and stretched my arms up high.
I could feel the stretch tug at my arms, waist, and legs.

Standing on tiptoe and reaching with all my might, a pleasant feeling flowed down my spine.

Just doing a little stretching made me feel healthier somehow.
Exercise really is amazing…

“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Oh, I just thought you were doing one of those ‘stretching to get taller’ routines.”

“…I wasn’t!!”

I mean, sure, if you asked whether I wanted to get taller, I’d be lying if I said no.
But I definitely wasn’t working out just to grow taller!

Do I really come across as that obsessed with height?

I placed my hands on my hips and raised my eyebrows high—
A pose that screamed “I’m mad!”

It wasn’t something I liked using, but when I was at the orphanage, I had to use it just to get the kids to realize I was upset.

“Even if I’ve gotten way shorter than before, I’m not trying to get taller or anything! Height grows on its own!”
“You say that, but weren’t you super bummed the other day when you said you couldn’t drink milk?”

“That wasn’t about height! I just really like milk!”

There’s nothing better in winter than a warm cup of milk from the microwave.

Back when my body was still the same, I used to drink it all the time.
Now though, with this body, I’ve got super bad lactose intolerance, so milk is totally off-limits.

A tiny bit gives me a stomachache, but half a cup or more? That’s hell.
I once drank some by mistake and thought I was gonna die. No joke.

“Sorry. Your reaction was just too cute—I teased you without thinking.”
“It’s fine, as long as you don’t make a habit of it.”

Toya’s teasing wasn’t that bad anyway.
…Though if she treats me like a baby too much, it does kinda get on my nerves.

—

[V-Spe Announcement Just Dropped!!!]

[(V-Spe New Unit Announcement.JPG)]
If it’s a new unit, is it Gen 2? But didn’t they say Gen 2’s coming mid-year? Why now?
ㄴ [If it were Gen 2, they’d advertise it as Gen 2. And they’d go all-in with marketing, LOL.]
ㄴ [Even if they’re small-scale, the CEO knows how to hype—marketing would’ve been wild.]
ㄴ [But if it’s a new unit, like… why? Is there even a reason for a new one right now?]
ㄴ [There really isn’t, huh.]
ㄴ [Maybe it’s just a new outfit or theme, and they’re calling it a “unit” for clout, LOL.]
ㄴ [That honestly makes sense, LOL.]
ㄴ [Small companies are the kings of disappointment.]
ㄴ [ㄴNot V-Spe tho.]
ㄴ [ㄴYeah, V-Spe is different.]
ㄴ [ㄴ(ALL HAIL TOYA EMOTE)]
ㄴ [ㄴ(PRAISE TOYA EMOTE)]

[Looking at the silhouettes, aren’t those just the Gen 1 girls??]
[(First Silhouette.JPG) This one’s clearly Nagisa.]
[(Second Silhouette.JPG) This is Inari.]
[(Third Silhouette.JPG) That’s Toya.]
Isn’t this just bait before the real Gen 2 drop?

ㄴ [Whoa, true;;]
ㄴ [Still, calling this a new unit with just the Gen 1 girls is kinda shameless.]
ㄴ [At least they showed off new outfits—that’s something, I guess.]
ㄴ [So is this unit actually going to do anything?]
ㄴ [ㄴMaybe a few group songs or something, LOL.]
ㄴ [ㄴIf Toya’s the main vocal, we’re good. Easy win.]
ㄴ [ㄴMain vocal Toya = guaranteed quality, LOL.]
ㄴ [Honestly, having the three of them together like this is kinda nice.]
ㄴ [Come to think of it, isn’t this the first time they’ve actually done something together?]
ㄴ [ㄴFun fact: Gen 1 only ever did a debut collab live together. That’s it.]
ㄴ [ㄴSo maybe this is their first real group project?]
ㄴ [ㄴCould be, LOL.]

[Isn’t there one more person in this image?]
[(Group Silhouette with Nagisa, Inari, Toya.JPG)]
If you look closely, it feels like there’s a fourth person in the middle?
Some parts of the silhouette don’t match the individual ones…

ㄴ [Wait, are they teasing a new member??]
ㄴ [Maybe it’s just the artist drawing everyone together, nothing deep.]
ㄴ [It kinda makes sense but also sounds like a reach;;]
ㄴ [Probably just some extra hair strands, LOL.]
ㄴ [But what if it is a new member? Like, a new Gen 1 girl?]
ㄴ [ㄴIf that’s real, I’m cutting my hair. 100%.]
ㄴ [ㄴNoted.]
ㄴ [ㄴNoted.]