I May Be a Virtual Youtuber, but I Still Go to Work - Chapter 64

Dragged out like a cat caught by the scruff of its neck, I saw the first-year trainees puffing their cheeks and striding towards me.

Just when I thought I’d be laid down and get a good smack on the back, guess what happened?

“Hey, sis! If you’re gonna prepare stuff like this, at least tell me in advance!”

“Right?!”

“Seriously gave me a scare~.”

“I was a bit peeved, but it was good. So good!”

Four of them hugged me from all sides.

It felt like I was getting ambushed from every angle.

“Help me out, guys!”

Being short meant I was struggling to breathe.

“Guys, I can’t breathe!”

With my mouth covered, I couldn’t even speak properly, when suddenly, at the boss’s word, they all stepped back.

At 140 centimeters, I felt like I’d been hit right in the chest. I almost choked to d*ath back there!

Once I shook my head to clear my thoughts, Maru dropped her voice low.

It sounded eerily similar to when she apologized after our ‘I’m Wolf’ collaboration last week.

“Sorry… I almost hurt you trying to pull a hidden camera prank…”

“A hidden camera?”

“I was just messing with you while we were eating. If that upset you, I’m really sorry. It was all my idea, so I take the blame…”

Majia, pulling a mysterious victory there.

So that was her idea of a prank.

I was just enjoying some nice, well-cooked shrimp in peace.

No way was I being bullied back in school too?

I thought I was voluntarily avoiding people!

Regardless, seeing Maru looking all sad made me instinctively blurt out an apology.

Chapter 1 of Maru Management.

When Maru cries and apologizes, lie and say it was both your faults.

Fortunately, I had a surprise gift prepared too, so I had something to say.

“No, I tricked you too to show you this. So it’s all good.”

But I couldn’t do much to lift her spirits when my own body felt like a mess.

I had recovered a bit thanks to the shrimp, but the accumulated fatigue from all the praise earlier in the day still weighed me down.

Feeling slack, I was dozing off, my eyes fluttering.

As I rubbed my eyes with my palm, Maru subtly placed her hand on my shoulder and asked, “Are you sleepy?”

“Yeah, I’m getting there.”

“Already?! No way. Just stay a little longer.”

“…Is there still something left to sh**t?”

At those words, Maru hesitated, fidgeting with her hands as she replied.

“Well, not exactly… But we have something special prepared…”

They wouldn’t have done something special for my birthday, would they?

I guess the others also had something planned for our anniversary, then.

It makes sense.

Fireworks and stuff, that’s what you do for an anniversary, right?

Vlogging would be boring if filmed only during the day; we need pretty night views as a backdrop too.

“Do you need my help? Just say the word.”

Then, the boss shook her head from afar.

Maru echoed her sentiments.

“No, it’s fine. Just sit here and take a rest.”

I was a bit bummed that my help wasn’t needed, but if the boss said to stay put, then that’s what I’d do.

“Okay, I’ll stay right here. Call me if you need anything.”

* * *

Majia sat before the crackling campfire, engrossed in the flames.

That was finally the signal for the other six to commence their surprise operation.

Majia, who had been running around and avoiding this moment, was now aware of her role as the protagonist.

The six of them set the cake on the table at a distance from Jia and began gathering gifts they had prepared.

Rain grinned widely.

“Totally a mood! I thought it was gonna flop, but this is cool, isn’t it?”

Komari laughed incredulously.

“Well, I didn’t think it was going to go perfectly from the start.”

“Are you trying to blame me again?”

“Why are you limping when I didn’t even say a thing?!”

Dora, watching the banter between Komari and Maru, muttered, “At least we’re able to do this~. Let’s hurry and give the presents! I hope Jia likes them. Hehe.”

Then Dohui and Team Leader Kang moved toward Majia, carrying a disposable table with the cake.

The others followed, singing a cheerful tune.

“Happy Birthday to you~.”

Jia, who had been lost in thought while sitting in a chair, jolted to attention.

Seeing the cake lit with candles approaching her, she looked surprised.

As she blinked at the cake with wide eyes, she glanced around and started clapping in time with the rhythm.

At the sight, smiles spread across everyone’s faces.

“Happy Birthday to you~.”

So this was the climax of the birthday song.

Beloved Jia, Majia, Jia the Wonderful!

Names called out in various tones mixed into one, but who could forget Jia? She always could distinguish sounds while watching multiple broadcasts simultaneously.

Only then did Jia realize the cake was meant for her as her eyes darted around nervously.

“Is this for me?”

As Dohui placed the table down, she ruffled Jia’s hair and said, “Yes! Now blow it out and make a wish.”

At Majia’s words, everyone sighed in unison.

“This isn’t the anniversary cake.”

As if that held more significance than a birthday cake.

Everyone wanted to say something but felt silly bringing it up, so they shifted the focus back to Dohui.

Sighing, Dohui took the lead and asked, “Would you still say that if you were watching us bring presents?”

“Aren’t we supposed to prepare random gifts for each other for the anniversary?”

“?”

“…?”

Dohui stared fixedly at Jia while the first-year trainees exchanged glances but ultimately could only look at Majia.

Honestly, Majia’s statement made zero rational sense.

I mean, it’s her birthday.

She can see the cake and presents being prepared.

So how does she not even consider they might be for her?

Dohui frowned, exhaling dramatically.

“If we were going to exchange gifts, we would’ve told you to prepare something too…”

“Why should I? I’m not even a first-year trainee.”

“Oh, come on! Why do you think Team Leader Kang and I prepared something?”

“Because you see the kids so often…”

“Exactly! And you do too! Right now, the only people who see the four of them in person are you, me, and Team Leader Kang!”

Dohui was starting to get a headache. She took the gift basket Maru was holding and plopped it on Jia’s lap.

“Just take it. It’s your birthday present.”

“Uh, no—.”

Majia’s attempt to refuse was overwhelmed by a flood of gifts.

“Shut up and take it.”

“Just accept the gift!”

“Birthday bonus~.”

“Yay, Happy birthday!”

Congratulations, Head Trainee Jia!

Hugging an armful of gifts, Majia murmured, “But I don’t have hands to carry these. My bag is full…”

“Ugh!”

Dohui huffed, rummaging through Majia’s about-to-burst bag to pull out a holographic projector and battery pack.

She set the empty bag next to Jia and said, “This projector is nice. I’ve been wanting to buy it second-hand to set up a safety mechanism at the company entrance. Oh, now the bag’s empty, you can put your gifts in there, right?”

“Huh? No, that’s my projector.”

“I’m buying it. How much? Just tell me the price.”

Seeing Majia finally break into a smile after hefting all those gifts, she finally said, “If you come to the gaming room with me this weekend, I’ll just give it to you all.”

“Crazy! Just unbox the gifts first.”

“Well… I’m not sure my reaction will be that great. Can I just open them at home and respond to the letters later?”

Dohui squinted her eyes.

Letting Majia talk for too long felt like the birthday party would turn into a session of persuasion.

“Open them here, say thank you, and you can read the letters at home.”

It was a huge relief that Majia at least listened to Dohui.

“I’ll open them here.”

* * *

The gifts I ended up receiving reflected each person’s uniqueness.

Dora got me a warm and fluffy animal onesie with adorable cat ears and a tail.

Rain gifted me some sweet champagne that he said goes well with rap, soul, and groove; perfect for the kids to enjoy.

Komari gifted me a game coin card for the package game platform Sitdim, which I could use freely.

Maru handed me a wide flat paddle brush and high-end hair essence, explaining that my hair needed to be brushed often to maintain its state, though it seemed like it could double as a ping pong paddle if flipped.

Team Leader Kang got me a comfortable set of a headband and hair clip, remarking how she always noticed my bangs falling into my face while I worked.

And finally, the President just gave me paper.

… Well, if it had only been plain paper, I wouldn’t have liked it.

But compared to any other gift, this one held the most value.

[Cheon Dohui Free Pass]

[Expiry date: Until next year’s Majia’s birthday]

I carefully stored it in my phone case.

I planned to save it until before next year’s birthday, and use it then.

Anyway, I thanked everyone, but who knows if it was truly conveyed?

Everyone seemed happy, but…

People who are used to receiving gifts know how to express their gratitude so that the other side feels good too.

Someone like me, who isn’t used to receiving things, can only repeat thanks like a parrot.

Thank you, I appreciate it, I’ll use it well.

Those were the extent of what I could express my gratitude.

Maybe that’s why…

I just couldn’t seem to fall asleep.

It was partly because Maru and Komari were crowding me on either side, but it was also because that thought kept spinning in my head.

I’m sure others like Maru would feel hurt if I’m casual about expressing my thanks. Isn’t there a way that suits each person’s feelings?

To think about these things, my body needed to be a bit more free, so I got up cautiously from the tent, trying not to step on anyone’s foot as I stepped outside…

“What? You looked tired, so why are you up again?”

The boss was sitting in front of the dying campfire, leaning back and staring at the stars in the sky.

Feeling silly, I pulled out the letter from the boss I’d tucked away in my jacket pocket, wanting to joke around.

“Hey. If you read that here, you might actually d*e.”

“Just kidding.”

“…Read it at home. It’s embarrassing.”

With a smirk, I put the envelope back and dragged a camping chair over to sit next to her.

I wrapped an unused piece of firewood in a few sheets of newspaper and plopped it on the glowing red embers.

Whoosh.

The fire licked at the paper and slowly spread to the dry wood.

I lounged back next to the boss and casually asked, “Getting gifts is so hard.”

“Why?”

“If I don’t like a gift, it shows on my face. After a few times as a child, my friends started keeping their distance.”

The boss paused for a moment, but then I could tell her windbreaker rustled as she turned her body towards me.

“Well, you didn’t show that today.”

“I guess I’ve socialized more. I can manage a little ‘thank you’ fib now.”

“Good for you.”

“True, but I still struggle with expressing gratitude. If it’s a gift I really love, I can say a few words… but for everything else, it’s just ‘thank you.’”

The boss chuckled, turning her head back to the fire.

“That’s enough. Why should you do more?”

“Short phrases fall short compared to the effort someone put into a gift.”

Hmmm.

After a small groan, the boss offered an example.

“How many times do you think I should say thank you when you send gifts?”

“You don’t have to say anything at all, really.”

“Exactly. That’s it. Just you coming means more to me than any response.”

“That’s true.”

“It’s the same for everyone. They give you gifts because they like you. Just saying ‘thank you’ is enough. If you think, ‘Wait, but I gave them a gift only to be brushed off with just a thank you? They’ll get mad…’ then that’s just darkening your mood.”

“Oh, I see now.”

But as I listened, more thoughts came to mind.

“But that’s only when it’s for Oshi or a similar context. I’m not a streamer, so I can’t become everyone’s Oshi.”

“Even among regular folks, a similar concept exists. Like someone you’re really grateful to or a benefactor.”

“Is that so?”

The boss sighed deeply and patted my head.

“What do you think we’ve gone through all this trouble for?”

“For friendship chocolate or something…?”

“Seriously? Who does all this for mere friendship chocolate?”

The boss then grabbed my cheeks, squeezing both sides tightly.

“Simply put, you’re kinda like our Oshi!”

“……?”

“If you don’t get it, just know it’s true. I mean, it’s hard for me to explain. It’s complicated, you know?”

Then she hurriedly stood up, scooped some sand with a small shovel from around the campfire, and hastily put it out.

As soon as the fire was extinguished, the cold winter wind hit us.

The moon in the sky illuminated our shivering selves.

“… Anyway, let’s go back in. It’s late.”

Honestly, I still didn’t get it.

I was doing my best for the boss, for the company, purely out of my own desires, and somehow that turned into something to be grateful for.

And to think I was being compared to an Oshi?

Even after the boss went inside the tent, I sat in a camping chair for a while, lost in thought.

It was something I just couldn’t wrap my head around.

Eventually, when I finally crawled into my sleeping bag out of the cold, I came to a personal conclusion.

‘So, I’m kinda like an Oshi, huh.’

An Oshi is not something someone aims to be.

It’s like getting hit fiercely by someone to the point where you turn your head, and then you’re smitten at first sight; that’s when you realize you’ve become an Oshi.

So, you can’t ask people not to like you. Don’t look at me.

The fans don’t become that way on purpose either.

I, for one, reached this point because I followed the boss.

To forcibly break that feeling? That makes no sense.

In other words, despite any denials, I’ve clearly become something akin to the Oshi of the VTubers the boss mentioned, and denying it won’t change anything either.

But I still felt inadequate.

I was a lacking person.

An Oshi is someone to be admired. I didn’t think I was worthy of that admiration.

… But I wouldn’t run away.

I was in Parallel, and I would stay in Parallel.

For the second, third, and fourth generation. Until the day I’d see us at Bachu Bachu, shoulder to shoulder.

So even if I can’t be perfect, I shouldn’t become a disappointing person to those who saw me as something akin to their Oshi.

That’s something I can learn from a role model.

My favorite, hardworking Oshi.

Someone like Momo, who tries to show the viewers everything and makes an effort to interact with them.

I flipped my phone over and stared at the birthday present from the boss, tucked inside the case.

[Cheon Dohui Free Pass]

[Expiry date: Until next year’s Majia’s birthday]

… It seems people don’t just become lucky fans out of the blue.

Following in the footsteps of an Oshi seems to lead naturally to that path.

The next day, I handed out makeshift coupons to the six of them.

[Majia Free Pass]

“Just say the word whenever. No time limit, no restrictions on usage.”

The six of them, momentarily speechless, sat across from a bubbling pot of ramen.

Feeling their stares bore into me created an automatic need to mirror-check myself.

So, this is how it feels when you give a gift and get no reaction.

“… If you don’t want it, feel free to return it.”