Category: Oshi Dream Life

“Interesting. I approve.” (Maya)

“Seriously?” (Souma)

“……good.” (Mafuyu)

It was the evening of a weekday in July. The sun was setting and the sky turned red.

I had brought Mafuyu-chan with me to the [Virtual Real] HQ for the first time in two days.

Apparently, Maya-san is unbelievably busy this week and only has 15 minutes of free time. It was fortunate that this time happened to be after our classes.

“…Are you sure about this? I mean, Mafuyu-chan isn’t technically my sister.” (Souma)

“It’s just a matter of changing the family register¹.” (Mafuyu)

“Could you please be quiet for a moment, Mafuyu-chan?” (Souma)

I held Mafuyu-chan back as she leaned forward eagerly. Things would get messy if she kept cutting in on the conversation and we went over the time limit.

…Maya-san was responding so quickly that I began to feel anxious. Well, maybe she wasn’t really listening at all. If she had been listening, there’s no way she would’ve agreed. After all, Mafuyu-chan isn’t my sister.

For the first time, Maya-san lifted her face from the laptop she had been busily typing on. Her gaze wandered, and then her focus landed on Mafuyu-chan.

“Hey there… Mafuyu-chan, right? I don’t mind if you join the stream, but can you promise me one thing? When you’re on the stream, act as the perfect little sister. If you can promise that, I’ll allow your participation. I can even prepare a 3D model for you if you want.” (Maya)

“Being his sister is my specialty.” (Mafuyu)

Mafuyu-chan replied without hesitation to Maya-san, who was examining her with a stern gaze.

Is that really her strong suit?

The little sister that Mafuyu-chan was portraying up until now clearly deviates from the norm for siblings. Either that or real-life little sisters love their older brothers way more than I assumed.

I have a feeling if I asked a brother with a little sister about this, they would strongly deny it. Maybe I should ask Keisuke next time.

“In that case, this discussion is over… Souma, I’m expecting a lot from you. You don’t need to act any differently than you normally do. Your natural self is likely to be the most appealing. As for the little sister thing, gradually incorporate it based on the viewer’s response. And… I’ll continue to rely on you for the ‘EtteMeal’ thing. It’s been getting really popular. Ever since Henrietta moved to Tokyo, the increase in numbers has been quite noticeable.” (Maya)

Maya-san’s cheeks relaxed ever so slightly.

…Could that have been a smile just now? Her mouth barely moved.

I had already informed her that I couldn’t be active frequently due to my university and cooking commitments, and she had graciously accepted it. The EtteMeal must have played a role in her decision. Personally, I felt much more at ease knowing that I could prioritize my life over VTuber activities.

If you want to become popular, it’s probably better to stream more frequently… But honestly, I don’t have that desire. I’m not too keen on changing my daily routine. I feel sorry for the people who are doing their best to get into my position.

“I understand… um, can I ask one thing?” (Souma)

“What is it?” (Maya)

The sharp gaze behind the glasses gleamed with intensity.

“It’s about the character thing… Can I go for a hard-boiled type of character?” (Souma)

“Rejected. It doesn’t suit you.” (Maya)

“No way…” (Souma)

…Maybe Maya-san really isn’t listening to what people are saying. There’s no way a hard-boiled² character wouldn’t suit me, right?

◆

“Hm… Hehe… Hmm~♪” (Mafuyu)

On the way back to the apartment.

Mafuyu-chan was unusually cheerful, humming a tune and walking with a light, almost dancing step.

“You seem to be having fun, Mafuyu-chan.” (Souma)

“Do I look that way? …Then maybe I am.” (Mafuyu)

It’s not just that it looks that way… She’s practically radiating happiness from head to toe. Does she not realize it?

“But anyways, it’s great that we can stream together now.” (Souma)

“Yeah. If it didn’t work out, I would have had to resort to threatening Shizuka.” (Mafuyu)

“Threatening… Just don’t bully Shizuka too much, okay?” (Souma)

“Well, that depends on her, doesn’t it?” (Mafuyu)

As Mafuyu-chan continued talking, we arrived at our apartment building. I wonder what’s wrong with Shizuka and Mafuyu-chan. As a guy, I don’t really understand these things, but maybe this is how women get along. I can’t imagine a scene where these two fight and Shizuka would win, so if it ever came to that, I might have to step in and help Shizuka.

“Well, just get along with each other.” (Souma)

I playfully pat Mafuyu-chan’s head. Her black hair always has a glossy shine to it, and if I let my guard down, it makes me want to touch it. It’s so smooth and pleasant to the touch.

“─Onii-chan, let me tell you one thing.” (Mafuyu)

“What is it?” (Souma)

Mafuyu-chan reached up and playfully tried to catch my hand which was swaying back and forth. After a few back-and-forths, she finally grabbed my hand.

“You know, girls… prefer this over being petted on the head.” (Mafuyu)

Mafuyu-chan’s slender fingers intertwined with mine.

If I remember correctly, the term for holding hands with fingers intertwining with each other is called…

“…But Mafuyu-chan, aren’t you supposed to be my little sister?” (Souma)

“I remember you calling me your girlfriend, onii-chan.” (Mafuyu)

“I already told you it’s not like that…” (Souma)

I wonder when she’ll forget about that incident from back then.

“Fufu, if you want to blame someone, blame that sinful mouth of yours?” (Mafuyu)

Mafuyu-chan, while still holding my hand, swung it back and forth playfully as she walked. It seemed like she was in a good mood after all.

…

Come to think of it… We used to walk like this, holding hands when we were kids.

Despite growing up, the sensation of those hands hadn’t changed, and I couldn’t help but reminisce about the past.

---

TL notes:

Thanks for reading!

Oh please, there is no way she’s gonna forget that like ever.

MC’s sister gonna get a VTuber model too? FuwaMoco is that you? Well, I don’t actually watch them so I am assuming their settings are sisters or something. I wonder if this chapter came out after FuwaMoco, than the author might have gone with the duo VTuber concept.

---

Footnote:

1. Family register is a official document that records and certifies the identity and family relationships of Japanese citizens on the basis of family law.
2. Hard-boiled means tough and cynical. I’m putting this footnote again cause I actually forgot the definition xd

“────And that’s how I ended up becoming a VTuber. From now on, there might be times when I can’t cook dinner but I’ll try my best to avoid it.” (Souma)

During dinner, I divided the shrimp stir-fry into small plates while confessing to everyone about what happened today.

“Hehehe” (Shizuka) 

“Souma-kun became a VTuber? Isn’t that quite amazing?” (Hiyori)

“Onii-chan is…?” (Mafuyu)

Ignoring Shizuka, who for some reason had her arms proudly folded, Hiyorin looked genuinely happy about my debut.

“As a matter of fact, I’m planning to open my own MeTube channel soon. It would be great if I could collaborate with Shizuka-chan and Souma-kun someday.” (Hiyori)

“Oh, is that already finalized!? I’m looking forward to it!” (Shizuka)

“I immediately consulted with my company after the stream, you know? I just received the green light not too long ago.” (Hiyori)

Shizuka sure looks happy to hear the news.

But then again… Hiyorin on MeTube, huh. I wonder what kind of content she will make. Maybe she will even talk about Zanimasu.

“…………Mafuyu-chan?” (Souma)

Mafuyu-chan wasn’t the type to talk much when all four of us were together. She occasionally threw a sarcastic comment at Shizuka, but apart from that, she mostly ate silently. So, it wasn’t particularly unusual for her to be quiet now either. Still, for some reason, it felt different from usual, and I decided to check in on her.

“What is it, onii-chan?” (Mafuyu)

Mafuyu-chan, who turned towards me and replied, seemed unchanged from usual. Maybe it was just my imagination after all?

“Hehehe… Mafuyu, you must be feeling lonely. Your beloved onii-chan turned into a VTuber and you’re left all alo──── Ouch! Hey, no kicking my shins!” (Shizuka)

Shizuka who had provoked Mafuyu-chan received a counterattack and started teared up. Honestly, I can’t tell if these two have a good relationship or not anymore.

“But… she has a point. Shizuka-chan and Souma-kun are VTubers, and I’ll be active on MeTube too… Mafuyu-chan would be left out. Shizuka-chan, do you think it’s possible to make Mafuyu-chan a VTuber too?” (Hiyori)

“Well… umm…” (Shizuka)

After watching the interaction, Hiyorin made that suggestion to Shizuka.

It’s true that Mafuyu-chan is the only one without such activities. I hadn’t really thought deeply about it, but could she be feeling lonely as a result of that? But Mafuyu-chan doesn’t strike me as someone who would be eager to participate in this kind of stuff. Well, then again, I guess the same can be said for myself.

“We do hold auditions from time to time, but… putting personal feelings aside, I don’t think Mafuyu is cut out for it. She would probably snap back at the viewers if they said something, and… Ouch! Did you kick me again!?” (Shizuka)

Shizuka yelled out loudly and buried her head under the table. She’s probably checking the affected area. I hope it’s not turning blue.

“Don’t get me wrong. I have no intention of becoming a VTuber. Besides, I’m not feeling lonely. I’ll be appearing on onii-chan’s channel.” (Mafuyu)

“…………Huh?” (Souma)

I feel that Mafuyu-chan said something ridiculous with her usual poker face. While was calmly eating the shrimp stir-fry as if to say that her previous statement was already a done deal, I couldn’t stay silent any longer.

“Wait a minute, Mafuyu-chan, what do you mean?” (Souma)

“Exactly what I said, just take it at face value. There shouldn’t be anything strange with a little sister appearing.” (Mafuyu)

“You’re not my little sister in the first place…” (Souma)

I knew it – once Mafuyu-chan made up her mind about something, there was no changing it. If I keep refusing her, she might just force her way in. She’s got a spare key to my house after all.

“Well… hmm, but is it really okay?” (Souma)

To be honest, I don’t have any problems with Mafuyu-chan joining me. It wasn’t my intention for her to feel left out, and if we can all have fun together, that’s even better.

“…………Oww… If you explain it properly to the viewers, well, I guess it will be fine… probably. But I think it’s better to get permission beforehand.” (Shizuka)

Just as I was about to ask Shizuka, she responded while lifting her head from under the table.

“Are you sure it’s okay? I haven’t really heard of many people doing this kind of thing.” (Souma)

“Family members occasionally make appearances or play games together. If you’re someone who talks about family stories, the viewers might end up requesting their appearance. It ultimately depends on whether the viewers accept them or not, so you need to handle it well.” (Shizuka)

“I see…” (Souma)

So, it’s not like there are clear rules; it’s more about what the viewers think. If that’s the case, well, it might work out somehow.

“For now, I’ll try consulting with someone. I wonder who I should talk to.” (Souma)

“You don’t have a manager yet, right…? In that case, I think you should talk to Maya-san from the other day. She’s Zeria-chan’s manager, but she has a lot of influence since she is quite active in various parts of the agency. Should I ask Zeria-chan to help you get in contact with her?” (Shizuka)

“Thanks, that would really help.” (Souma)

“Don’t mention it. After all, I’m the one who invited you. As Mafuyu’s onee-chan, this much is expected, right?”

As soon as she said that, Shizuka tensed up in anticipation of a reaction from Mafuyu-chan. She must have thought she was going to get kicked again. If she knows that, she should just avoid saying anything that might upset her.

However, Mafuyu-chan didn’t react. She slowly met Shizuka’s eyes.

“Shizuka, thank you.” (Mafuyu)

“Uh, uhh… Y-you’re welcome…?” (Shizuka)

Still caught off guard by Mafuyu-chan’s deadpan expression, Shizuka was left flustered. Shizuka really does act like the youngest after all.

“Hehe… sure is nice to be young, huh?” (Hiyori)

Watching the two of them, Hiyorin happily took a sip of her beer.

And so, the Souma-kai continued its usual routine, once again today.

---

TL notes:

Thanks for reading!

I didn’t expect Mafuyu to be joining Souma’s streams. I don’t even want to imagine what’s gonna happen when you put her in front of tens of thousands of Souma’s future fans.

I think the last 2 illustrations are exclusive to the LN so yeh. On other news, volume 2 of the LN just came out. So I’ll see if I can find the illustrations somewhere. I found the vol 1 illustrations on a chinese websites lol cause apparently chinese websites have everything.

---

Footnote:

1. None

[Shizuka PoV, in a voice call with Zeria]

“(Hey, did you tell Tendou-san about that matter?)” (Zeria)

“(I could tell him, but I don’t think he’ll do it. Souma-kun is just an ordinary person, and he seems busy.)” (Henrietta)

────That matter.

Since the off-collab stream, Zeria-chan has been obsessed with this topic.

“(For now, I want you to try inviting him. Actually, I already told our manager that ‘I got an idea’.)” (Zeria)

“(Ehh… you’re deciding things on your own again…)” (Henrietta)

First with the off-collab and now with this… Souma-kun, I’m so sorry for always involving you.

“(I’m ok with going along with what you want, but please don’t involve other people on your own. This is just like last time.)” (Henrietta)

“(I’m sorry… but I suggested that off-collab based on the idea that Ette was the one preparing the dishes…)” (Zeria)

“(Ugh… I’m sorry about that…)” (Henrietta)

Right… Well, that was my fault.

“(Anyway, I’m begging you! Tendou-san can definitely do it!)” (Zeria)

“(Well, first of all, I don’t think he will be interested…)” (Henrietta)

I looked at the email I received from the manager a while ago.

────『Announcement on Establishment of [Virtual Real] Male Talent Division』

“… I wonder if he will really accept it.” (Shizuka)

Souma-kun as a VTuber?

…I can’t really picture it for some reason.

But if he does debut in [Virtual Real], there is a chance that we can play together. That means that we could spend more time together. 

We can be a close-knit duo—maybe people will even ship us. That… yeah, that sounds nice.

“(……Hehe.)” (Henrietta)

“(Ette? What’s going on?)” (Zeria)

“(Oh, sorry, it’s nothing! Anyway, I’ll go ask him!)” (Henrietta)

“(Thank you! If Tendou-san becomes a colleague, I can legally go eat at Ette’s place!)” (Zeria)

“(Is that your real motive…)” (Henrietta)

I opened Rime and searched for Souma-kun’s name.

◆

[Souma PoV]

“────Me… as a VTuber?” (Souma)

A topic that far exceeded my expectations caused my hand, which was busy picking up trash, to involuntarily pause. Shizuka continued while casually stuffing small pieces of garbage into a plastic bag.

“Actually, our agency is planning to establish a new division for male talents. It’s not formally announced yet, but I think auditions will start soon. However, they reached out to us first, asking if we had anyone in mind.” (Shizuka)

Up until now, there had only been female talents in [Virtual Real]. There were some agencies with only male talents, others with only female talents, and some with both, but it’s quite rare for them to change halfway through like this.

“So… you’re recommending me?” (Souma)

Shizuka nodded. She acted as if her decision was the most natural thing in the world… I don’t understand what Shizuka was thinking.

……When they say ‘anyone in mind’, I don’t think it means that she is supposed to just introduce any guy she knows. I’ve heard that those who become VTubers are usually people who already have experience with streaming. I am sure this is especially true for top agencies in the VTuber industry like [Virtual Real].

I’ve never done any streaming, let alone debates or speeches. It’s not like I’m particularly bad at public speaking, but doing it in front of tens of thousands of people is a different story. I don’t know what the recruitment process for VTubers is like, but wouldn’t it mostly involve being rejected through applications or interviews?

“I’m sorry, but that’s impossible. Do you really think I can do it, Shizuka?” (Souma)

I don’t think so.

Naturally, I expected that response to come back. I had only asked on a whim, thinking that would be the end of the conversation.

However, Shizuka’s response was different.

“………I don’t know if you can or not. But I just thought it would be nice if I could play with Souma-kun.” (Shizuka)

Upon hearing this unexpected response, I turned to look at Shizuka who was gazing at me.

When our eyes met, Shizuka blushed slightly and gave a shy smile.

“If something happens, Zeria-chan and I can support you. How about giving it a try?” (Shizuka)

Shizuka extended her hands toward me.

────Perhaps it was because her expression was oddly reassuring.

… Even though we were both holding trash in one hand, which didn’t exactly create the most elegant scene, I grasped Shizuka’s hand in return.

I probably won’t make it past the interview stage anyways, so I guess it’s okay to at least listen to what they have to say.

◆

“Passed.” (Talent Manager)

“Eh…?” (Souma)

…Perhaps there wasn’t even a formal interview at all.

Because, without being informed of the details, I was brought to the [Virtual Real] HQ in a prime location within the business district by Shizuka and Miyabi-chan. Although the two of them said I didn’t need to bring anything, I took it upon myself to consider it an interview and stashed my resume in my bag just in case. It’s still in my bag by the way. In fact, it hasn’t even been a full minute since we met face-to-face.

“What does that mean…?” (Souma)

“It means that you passed. Congratulations, you are now part of the first generation of the [Virtual Real] Male Division.” (Talent Manager)

Seated across from me in the clean but sterile meeting room, the woman in a suit repeated the word “passed”. Her glasses had a plain design that seemed to erase any personal flair¹. By the way, Miyabi-chan and Shizuka are waiting outside the meeting room.

“Passed”… as in, THAT kind of passed?

The kind of “passed” you get in entrance exams, tests, and assessments… that one?

“H-hey, wait a minute. I haven’t────” (Souma)

“To be honest, I had already decided from the beginning. After all, Zeria and Henrietta were really pushing for it. In my mind, it was almost a done deal at that point. There were no other candidates either. So, the plan was to give you the green light as long as there were no issues when I saw you.” (Talent Manager)

“Wait… is it really okay to be this casual about it?” (Souma)

In response to my question, the woman replied without changing her expression.

“It’s not exactly casual. I did ask them about various things. For example… that you’re the one who makes Ette’s dishes. And it seems you were present during the off-collab. I did scold them about taking risks with that matter… but you did quite well supporting them.” (Talent Manager)

“I see…” (Souma)

While I understood the woman’s explanation, I still couldn’t fully comprehend it. What exactly led to my acceptance? Could it be that they would have accepted anyone who was an acquaintance?

“You seem to have strong household skills. The main target audience for the male division is women, and in that regard, it’s a valuable asset. Men who can handle household chores are well-received by women. It also helps garner empathy from them. Even my ex-boyfriend at first────well, maybe that’s not relevant. Anyway, you have some strong attributes. For a referral-based recruitment, you’re more than qualified.” (Talent Manager)

I didn’t understand what “referral-based recruitment” meant, but in summary, it seems that she has judged that I have what it takes to be a VTuber.

“Well, but… to be honest, I don’t have any experience with streaming.” (Souma)

Right, that’s the main issue. I have no experience with streaming.

I don’t want to get scolded later for not being upfront about this, so I need to mention this.

“So you’re worried about that. Have you ever watched the debut stream of any of our talents?” (Talent Manager)

I thought she would be surprised, but the woman in front of me remained unfazed.

“I’m sorry, I haven’t.” (Souma)

“I see… To be honest, debut streams are quite tough. Even our talents who can handle tens of thousands of viewers now were all tense and stiff back then during their debut streams². This is true even for those with past experience with streaming. So, having some streaming experience or not doesn’t really make much of a difference. I believe it’s more important to have some strong qualities.” (Talent Manager)

“Is that so…” (Souma)

I could only vaguely nod in response.

If someone at the forefront of the industry says this, then it’s probably true. I don’t have any experience in the industry after all.

“Maya-chii, what happened!?” (Miyabi)

“Wait a sec, Zeria-chan!” (Shizuka)

*Bang* The door in the room bursts open, and Miyabi-chan and Shizuka rush in hastily.

“Of course he passed. Zeria, Henrietta, you found a golden egg.” (Maya?)

“Yay! See, Ette, I told you it’d be fine!” (Miyabi)

“No way…! Souma-kun, congratulations!” (Shizuka)

Shizuka rushes over to me. I smile back at her, still not quite grasping what’s going on.

In the overly relaxed atmosphere of the meeting room, I couldn’t help but feel oddly embarrassed and out of place, especially considering how I brought my resume with me for nothing.

---

TL notes:

Thanks for reading!

Shizuka quite pushy with this one eh~?

If there is one thing I don’t watch on a VTuber channel, it’s the debut stream. It tends to be kinda cringe or maybe it’s just me. The only exception to this is the “A” clip.

I don’t really know about the male VTuber industry, so maybe MC will indeed be appealing to the female audience just like the talent manager said. They usually train you for like a couple of months before a debut, so probably don’t have to worry too much about the lack of streaming skills.

Btw, It was never mentioned who that lady was, so I just assume she’s the talent manager.

This is actually the end of the first WN volume. The second volume is still ongoing btw, so that is like the remaining 60+ chapters.

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Footnote:

1. Flair means stylishness and originality.
2. If you’re not into VTubers, then I’ll give a bit of an explanation. The first live stream VTubers usually do is called a debut stream. Basically during this stream, they introduce themselves, their character setting, their mama (person who created their model), and maybe sing a song.

── The time is 10:00 PM.

I’m in the living room of Hiyorin’s house, which has a faint smell of alcohol, dimmed lights, and the glow of a large LCD TV.

Leaning back on the two-seater sofa, I took a sip of the highball that Hiyorin had made for me.

…Yep, it’s strong.

As I continued to accompany Hiyori during her evening drinking session, I came to realize that the highballs she makes definitely have a higher proportion of whiskey. Probably something like 2.5 carbonated water to 1 whiskey. Generally, the ratio of 3:1 or 4:1 is considered delicious.

“…How is it?” (Hiyori)

Hiyori, sitting next to me, asked in a whispered tone.

The sofa at Hiyori’s house wasn’t that wide, and because of that, our shoulders were touching. The area where we were touching felt oddly warm, but maybe that was because I had been too focused on that sensation.

The room’s dim lighting prevented me from making out Hiyorin’s expression, but I could tell from the tone of her voice that she had been looking forward to today.

“It’s pretty good.” (Souma)

“I see… I’m glad.” (Hiyori)

Hiyorin’s glass made a light sound as she picked it up and drank the pale golden liquid inside. The barely audible sound of her drinking in the dark was somehow quite alluring.

“…Phew.” (Hiyori)

After setting the now-empty glass on the low table, Hiyorin turned towards me.

I noticed that her cheeks had a faint rosy hue, and her eyes were slightly droopy.

“Alright then, Souma-kun… Shall we start?” (Hiyori)

◆

An upbeat idol song started playing and instantly turned the alcohol-scented apartment into a live concert venue.

“Yeaaah!” (Souma)

“Yaahoo!” (Hiyori)

The two glowsticks we were swinging around painted the pitch-black room with a shade of rainbow.

That’s right. Today is the day of the Zanimasu LIVE viewing party we had discussed before.

Having drunk alcohol before this, our excitement had reached its peak from the very start.

“Wow, this is quite nostalgic. It’s been two years already.” (Hiyori)

Hiyorin squinted her eyes sentimentally, gazing at her past self singing and dancing on the screen.

“Hiyori-san, wasn’t Kotori your first main character role?” (Souma)

Hoshino Kotori is a character in Zanimasu who Hiyorin voices. By the way, Kotori is also my oshi. I still remember that after I saw Hiyorin’s impressive performance in the first live, I became a fan of both Hiyorin and Kotori.

“Yep. That’s why I’m grateful to Zanimasu… Because of them, I got to see this beautiful scenery from the stage.” (Hiyori)

On the screen, countless glowsticks can be seen lighting up the venue.

I can only imagine what it is like to be on stage and see those countless lights. If I were her, I would probably cherish this moment too.

“Speaking of which, I’m the one who should be grateful. The Hiyorin-san that I saw on stage was really amazing. I can still vividly remember it.” (Souma)

“Come to think of it, you did say that you started liking me after the first live.” (Hiyori)

My face grows warm at the word “like”.

Calm down me, this “like” means being a “fan”. It’s not love.

“…That’s right. During the second chorus of [Milky Way], there’s that choreography where you pretend to shoot with your fingers, remember?” (Souma)

“Um… You mean the part that goes, ‘I am going to see you~♪’?” (Hiyori)

Hiyorin starts to hum lightly.

…Oh wow, I just heard her sing live!

Recently, being around Hiyorin has become a normal part of my life, but when I really think about it, this situation is still quite unbelievable…

“That’s right. During that segment, Hiyorin-san was actually quite close to me. You aimed it in the direction of my seat and I was captivated when that happened.” (Souma)

“Fufu, so you were there, Souma-kun.” (Hiyori)

Hiyorin seems to be reminiscing about that moment, gazing absentmindedly at the screen.

Hiyorin murmured while looking into the distance on the screen as if revisiting memories from beyond it.

“At that time, of course, I did not know about you, Souma-kun… but to think that I would meet the person who was right at my fingertips two years ago. If someone told me back then that I would be eating the food made by that same person, I wouldn’t have believed it for a second.” (Hiyori)

Saying that, Hiyorin laughed.

“You never know what life has in store for you, right?” (Hiyori)

“…That’s true. I never even dreamed that I would become such good friends with Hiyorin-san like this.” (Souma)

That was a lie. Actually, I had dreamt about it a lot.

The only thing different in my imagination was that Hiyorin’s tolerance for alcohol wasn’t so bad.

“Oh, it’s [Milky Way].” (Souma)

We both forgot to wave the glowsticks; our eyes were fixed on the screen. I have a feeling that we were both waiting for the same scene.

As the first verse ended, there was no time for us to compose ourselves before the second chorus began. On the screen, Hiyori was dancing energetically while singing.

As the chorus was closing in on the end, Hiyorin forms a gun with her fingers, aiming it towards the audience, and then shoots.

…No matter how many times I see it, it’s so cool. I even momentarily thought that Kotori was actually on stage. Not only that but I was also reminded why Hiyorin is my oshi.

“…Fufufu. I just turned Souma-kun into my fan, didn’t I?” (Hiyori)

“That’s right… you got me.” (Souma)

We exchanged words and found ourselves naturally laughing together.

…I never imagined that I would be watching this scene with the person herself.

Someday, this relationship I have with Hiyorin will come to an end, but I’ll never forget today.

I’m convinced of that.

“…『Souma-kun』” (Hiyori)

“…Huh!?” (Souma)

Suddenly, the shock of hearing my name directly in my ears leaves me speechless.

“…That—!?” (Souma)

“…Hehe, it’s a little thank you for becoming a fan.” (Hiyori)

I wanted to ask about what just happened, but Hiyorin buried the lower half of her face in the cushion she was hugging against her chest and turned back to the screen, so I couldn’t bring myself to say anything more.

…This isn’t a dream, right…?

Just now, I heard [Hoshino Kotori] called out to me.

There’s no mistaking it.

…I won’t be able to forget today for the rest of my life.

“…And… for always keeping me company when drinking… thank you.” (Hiyori)

I felt like Hiyorin muttered something.

However, Hiyorin had her mouth pressed against the cushion, so her words were muffled. Moreover, the next song had already started on the screen, and I hadn’t fully processed the fact that Kotori had just called my name. So, I couldn’t catch what she said.

---

TL notes:

Thanks for reading!

I’m surprised that Hiyori is pretty chill about watching this. I mean, I can never stand watching a video of myself, especially with someone else. I guess Hiyori is pretty used to this or something.

Sorry if the translation quality sucks this time, actually it’s probably more of an editing problem. Idk how to phrase the words together. A lot of very weird descriptive words were being used, so I had to cut it out to not make the sentences sound weird.

Also, I forgot to put the illustration for the previous chapter. It’s there now.

---

Footnote:

1. None

“────S-Surprise! We have a special guest with us today, the voice actress Yasumi Hiyori!” (Henrietta)

Shizuka spoke rapidly, managing to keep the conversation going somehow. Hiyorin seemed to immediately understand the situation, her expression showing a momentary realization of “I messed up.”

Shizuka clasped her hands together and desperately bowed to Hiyorin.

Miyabi-chan didn’t seem to understand to situation, but she appeared to be enjoying herself somehow.

……

I quickly sent a message to Hiyorin.

“(It’s Ette-sama’s off-collab right now. Zeria-chan is with her. Please act as if I’m not here.)” (Souma)

When I pointed to my own smartphone and tried to signal her to check her messages, Hiyorin pulled out her phone… then she gave me the “ok” hand signal.

Comments: 『!!!???』
Comments: 『Hiyorin?!?』
Comments: 『Seriously!?』
Comments: 『Is that really Yasumi Hiyori?』
Comments: 『What’s the relationship between the two of you!?』
Comments: 『God-tier collaboration confirmed』
Comments: 『Oh sh*ttttttttt!』

With the unexpected appearance of a popular voice actress, the comment section was showing an unprecedented level of excitement.

“Um, well, good evening! I’m the voice actress Yasumi Hiyori! I’m sorry, I didn’t know that this was an off-collab and ended up visiting Ette-sama’s house!” (Hiyori)

Comments: 『Was this really a coincidence? LOL, this is crazy!』
Comments: 『I didn’t know that there was a connection between Ette-sama and Hiyorin.』
Comments: 『This is getting quite exciting!』

“Well, um, I’ll just say it. Hiyori-san and I are actually neighbors in the same apartment building. We hang out quite often.” (Henrietta)

Shizuka confessed the relationship between her and Hiyorin with a resigned face. After hearing this, Miyabi-chan chimed in with a surprised “Ehhhhh” along with the comments.

Comments: 『This is unbelievable.』
Comments: 『Is there really such a dreamlike place in this world?』
Comments: 『I want to live there too.』

“Um… I’m sorry for disturbing all of you. I’ll be heading back first…” (Hiyori)

Comments: 『Noooo don’t gooooo!』
Comments: 『As a Hiyorin fan, I need to see the rest of this interaction.』
Comments: 『Since you’re already here, you should enjoy yourself.』

Like a fish getting caught, the chat is desperately trying not to let this rare opportunity slip away.

“…Wow, I didn’t know about this. Ah, nice to meet you, I’m Zeria from [Virtual Real]! I look forward to working with you!” (Zeria)

“Ah, nice to meet you. I’m voice actor Yasumi Hiyori.” (Hiyori)

Both of them bowed to each other.

“This might be out of the blue, but we’re in the middle of an off-collab stream right now. Would you like to join us too, Hiyori-san?” (Zeria)

“Huh… Is it really okay for me to just join in?” (Hiyori)

“Absolutely! The chat is also excited about having you here!” (Zeria)

Comments: 『Nice!』
Comments: 『Casually inviting a voice actor you just met, your social skills are off the charts lol』
Comments: 『Zeria’s mental strength is pretty strong after being subjected to too much [Zeria Torture].』

“Well then, I’m looking forward to working with you… I guess?” (Hiyori)

“Yay! Well then, everyone, we’re going to mute our mics for a quick meeting, just for 5 minutes! See you!” (Zeria)

Comments: 『Understood!』
Comments: 『Got it!』
Comments: 『Roger!』

◆

“I’m really, really sorry!” (Hiyori)

“No, it’s not your fault, Hiyorin-san. It’s because I forgot to tell you that Souma-kai was canceled for today.” (Souma)

“Well, well, it doesn’t really matter who’s at fault right now. Anyways, Tendo-san, good job with the cooking.” (Miyabi)

Despite the emergency situation, Miyabi-chan’s laid-back attitude somehow eases the tension in the air.

“You’re welcome. By the way, I guess I’m not really needed here anymore, huh?” (Souma)

“Yep~ If anything, things could get worse if another accident occurs. It’s probably better if you come back after we finish. Sorry, we are gonna have to borrow your place for a while.” (Miyabi)

“No worries at all. Well then…” (Souma)

I could just stay holed up in my room… but it would be hard for me to relax.

While considering options for passing the time outside, I thought of a good place.

“…I’ll be heading out. Once you’re done eating, you can leave the dishes in the kitchen. I’ll clean it up when I get back” (Souma)

“Got it!” (Miyabi)

“Souma-kun, thank you for today.” (Shizuka)

“Don’t worry about it, Shizuka. Enjoy your off-collab. Bye!” (Souma)

I left the house with two keys in hand.

One of them was my house key.

The other one was───

◆

“Ojamashimasu!” (Souma)

Never thought the day would come when I had to use Mafuyu-chan’s spare key.

Entering the living room, I found Mafuyu-chan lying on the sofa with her laptop placed on her belly.

“────Onii-chan. Seems like things are quite tough over there.” (Mafuyu)

“Mm…ah, were you watching?” (Souma)

On the screen of her laptop was the ongoing off-collab stream in my room. Since I had informed Mafuyu-chan about the off-collab, she is probably watching out of curiosity.

“Here, sit down?” (Mafuyu)

Mafuyu-chan got up from the sofa and moved to the side, making room for me.

“Thanks. Well then, don’t mind if I do.” (Souma)

The soft sofa cushioned my rear comfortably. I could feel Mafuyu-chan’s body heat left on the sofa, which oddly excited me a bit.

“Onii~chan♪” (Mafuyu)

As soon as I sat down, Mafuyu-chan clung to my arm. It was probably deliberate, but her chest was pressing firmly against my arm.

Whether intentional or not, I can’t help but enjoy it. I guess men are just not made to be able to resist this softness.

I placed the laptop, which had been pushed to the corner, on my lap. The stream seemed to have resumed.

“Hey, Mafuyu-chan, you’re really close. Let’s just watch the off-collab.” (Souma)

“Buu, just when onii-chan came over to my place…” (Mafuyu)

While saying that, Mafuyu-chan directed her gaze to the laptop while continuing to use my arm as a pillow.

…Since I’m the one bothering her, it should be okay to lend her my body a bit. But could you please stop sandwiching my hand between your thighs?

It’s getting a bit too vivid. With the warmth and all that.

“(Uwaaah, sooooo deliciouuuus! Ette’s cooking is sooo goood! Seriously, you could open a restaurant with this!)” (Zeria)

“(Zeria-chan, you’re exaggerating a bit too much. But thanks!)” (Henrietta)

“(No, I also think you could open a restaurant too. I can’t live without Ette’s cooking anymore.)” (Hiyori)

“(Hiyori-san, do you always eat Ette’s cooking?)” (Zeria)

“(I get to eat it occasionally. It’s my secret to staying in good shape.)” (Hiyori)

“(Lucky! I might come over to eat too!)” (Zeria)

Earlier, Hiyorin was caught off guard, but now she had completely switched to streaming mode.

Comments: 『Hiyorin is the number 1 trending topic LOL』
Comments: 『Is she really trending already?』
Comments: 『Looks so deliciooouuusss』

“Wow, it’s true.” (Souma)

When I checked the trending topics on Twitter, Hiyorin was at the top. Well, it’s natural for people to start making a fuss when a popular voice actor suddenly joins in. Just by doing a quick search, there were many posts like “Hiyorin unexpectedly broke into Ette-sama and Zelia’s off-collab LOL”.

” …Onii-chan, you’re not allowed to do that.” (Mafuyu)

“What do you mean?” (Souma)

Mafuyu-chan muttered discontentedly.

“Souma-kai is already full. There’s no space to sit anymore.” (Mafuyu)

” ? …Oh, right. I’m happy that she wants to eat with us, but it would probably be inconvenient for her to come all the way here.” (Souma)

It seemed like Mafuyu-chan was concerned about Zeria-chan’s comment about coming over to eat. But I also didn’t have any intention of adding more people. Souma-kai had naturally grown in size, but that didn’t mean it was open to just anyone.

It’s just that the people who happen to live next door are the ones who make me feel that “I want to cook for this person.”

“…I’ll only tell you about this, Mafuyu-chan. At first, Souma-kai was actually quite tiring for me because I had already gotten used to eating alone. Although it’s enjoyable while we’re eating, after we disband, I will feel exhausted.” (Souma)

Mafuyu-chan didn’t interrupt. But I could tell from the atmosphere that she was listening.

“But you know, recently, I’ve grown fond of the space that we share. It’s not just because I’ve gotten used to eating with a group, but also because everyone in Souma-kai is special to me. So, I don’t plan on adding more people. No matter who they are.” (Souma)

“…Special.” (Mafuyu)

Mafuyu-chan muttered softly.

“Special… does that include me?” (Mafuyu)

“Of course. You’re special to me too, Mafuyu-chan.” (Souma)

“I see… Then, that’s good.” (Mafuyu)

Gyuuu I felt a gentle squeeze around my arm.

When I stole a quick glance at her… Mafuyu-chan had a very serene expression on her face.

……

The computer was playing loud audio, but it didn’t really register in my ears. The peaceful time I am spending with Mafuyu-chan right now feels much more comforting.

Though we hadn’t exchanged many words afterward… I feel that Mafuyu-chan felt the same way.

For some reason, I was confident of that.

◇

…By the way, during that stream, they were apparently having a serious discussion about Hiyorin potentially launching a MeTube channel. This would also become relevant to me, but that’s a story for a bit later.

---

Illustration of Mafuyu hugging MC’s arm

“As soon as I sat down, Mafuyu-chan clung to my arm. It was probably deliberate, but her chest was pressing firmly against my arm.”

---

TL notes:

Thanks for reading!

LMAOOO MC told Mafuyu about the off-collab but not Hiyori. This is an even bigger slap in the face.

This story that he mentioned at the end isn’t actually that far away. Just like a few more chapters.

EDIT: Sorry, I forgot put the illustration.

---

Footnote:

1. None

Since I am now involved in the off-collaboration between Ette-sama and Zeria-chan, I decided to search for “off-collab cooking” on MeTube to get a sense of how the off-collab might go.

At the top of the search results was an off-collab video between “Mamimume Memo” from [Virtual Real] and an independent VTuber named “Hyuuga Koori”. If I remember correctly, Koori-san is well-known for being good at the recently popular battle royale games.

“(What are you putting on it, Koori-chan!?)” (Memo)

“(What do you mean… It’s sauce. I only approve of sauce on my fried eggs.)” (Koori)

“(That’s not how it works! Normally it’s suppose to be ketchup lol)” (Memo)

“(Ketchup…? This is the first time I’ve seen someone put ketchup on fried eggs.)” (Koori)

Amidst the lively atmosphere of their daily life, the back-and-forth banter of the two can be heard.

…Usually, in VTuber streams, there is hardly any background noise. At most, you might hear some sounds of eating or drinking during casual chat streams.

However, in the off-collab video, all sorts of sounds from cooking were present. Sounds of opening and closing the fridge, sizzling of something being cooked, stirring noises, even footsteps—everything was being recorded to the point where it felt like you were right there with them.

“It’s a lot more lively than I thought… But is this really gonna be okay?” (Souma)

I held my head in my hands.

Until I watched the video, I thought that the streaming would be done at Shizuka’s house, and I would just bring the final product over at a suitable time. However, it seems that things won’t be that easy.

If you were to cook during an off-collab, it would be necessary to provide commentary on the process. Naturally, background noises during cooking would also need to be included.

“Does this mean I have to cook at Shizuka’s house while she is streaming…?” (Souma)

Impossible. There is no way I can cook at Shizuka’s house. She doesn’t have any cooking utensils, and besides, the air there was contaminated and not suitable for cooking.

That means that we have no choice but to do it at my place.

Realistically, it seemed like the only way to recreate this atmosphere was for me to silently cook while Shizuka and Miyabi-chan commentated next to me.

“Well, for now, let’s discuss this with them.” (Souma)

I’m not familiar with the streaming process so let’s leave it to them to decide whether it’s feasible or not.

◆

“────Tendou-san, you absolutely must not speak. Since Ette has publicly announced that she moved, you can’t use excuses like it was my ‘father’ or ‘brother’.” (Miyabi)

“Got it. Shizuka, you too, absolutely do not call me. Remember that you’re the one making the food.” (Souma)

“Y-Yeah. I’ll be fine…” (Shizuka)

It was the day of the off-collab.

Miyabi-chan had brought in and started setting up various streaming equipment inside my living room. I can feel the tension steadily rising as we got closer to the start of the stream.

…Thousands of people, no — tens of thousands of people are going to be watching. Even if I tried to pretend that they were not there, it would be extremely difficult. If I were to mess up something… I don’t even want to think about what kind of disaster will happen. It would be Shizuka and Miyabi-chan who would suffer the consequences.

“The camera should be okay in this angle, and the microphone seems to be working fine too.” (Miyabi)

Miyabi-chan managed to finish setting up the equipment relatively quickly. It seems that she had done off-collabs many times before. Shizuka, on the other hand, seemed a bit lost and fidgety, walking around the living room.

“Anyways, I’m really looking forward to this! After seeing the ‘EtteMeals’, I always wanted to try the Acqua Pazza.” (Miyabi)

As requested by Miyabi-chan, tonight’s menu includes Acqua Pazza with red snapper. But just having that alone would be a bit boring, so to make it more visually appealing, red snapper carpaccio was also part of the menu. It’s basically a red snapper fest today.

“I hope it suits Miyabi-chan’s taste. For now, the cooking side is going well, so if you need me, just call me.” (Souma)

“Got it!” (Miyabi)

Having finished the preparations in the kitchen, I retreated to my own room and waited for them to finish their stream intro.

Surrounded by the familiar air of my room, I could finally relax.

After a while, the voices of the two could be heard from the living room. Not their usual voices, but their  VTuber voices. It had begun.

“Hey everyone, it’s Zeria! Can you hear me!?” (Zeria)

From just beyond the door, I could hear Zeria-chan’s voice, completely different from before.

…

Unable to sit still, I turned on silent mode on my phone and began to check the stream of comments. Since I could directly hear the audio, being on silent mode wouldn’t be an issue. What a luxury that was.

Looking at Zeria’s stream, since it was Ette-sama’s first offline collaboration, the number of viewers had crossed 30,000. The chat is being overwhelmed with a lot of comments.

Comment: 『Hii!』

Comment: 『Hello!』

Comment: 『IT’S HERE!』

“It seems like you can hear me! It’s everyone’s favorite mischievous little devil VTuber Zeria here, and today, guess what—! …I am currently streaming live from Ette’s house!” (Zeria)

Comment: 『LET’S GOOO!』

Comment: 『Ette-samaaaaaa』

Comment: 『I have been waiting for this!』

“Well, you know, this was only possible because Ette moved to Tokyo, so I’m really, really happy! Anyways, without further ado, I’ll hand it over to Ette-san!” (Zeria)

“Hey there, Henrietta desu. To be honest, Zeria-chan just went ahead and decided on this off-collab on her own, and I only just found out about it. So, I’ll be sure to take part in the Zeria Torture later~” (Henrietta)

“I already apologized! Stop it~~~!” (Zeria)

Comment: 『She only knew after the announcement lol』

Comment: 『As expected, Zeria’s head is crazy sometimes』

Comment: 『Even so, Ette-sama is too kind to go along with it.』

…Miyabi-chan is really something else. Normally, you would work out the details beforehand and then make the announcement. If Shizuka had been told beforehand, she definitely would have suggested going somewhere else for the off-collab.

However, if it had been done at Miyabi-chan’s house, I wouldn’t have been able to cook the ‘EtteMeal’. When I think about it like that, my house is probably the most suitable place.

“Well, I’ll do my best to survive later, but as I mentioned on Twitter, I came here today to have a taste of the ‘EtteMeal’, you know? So, Ette, I hope you’re ready cause I’m quite hungry.” (Zeria)

“Wow, this person’s acting all big when she’s a guest in someone else’s house. Well, it can’t help, I’ll play along with you.” (Henrietta)

“Yay~! Thank you~!” (Zeria)

Comment: 『EtteMeal!』

Comment: 『I can imagine Zeria-chan getting scolded behind the scenes.』

Comment: 『ZeriEtta… Doesn’t sound that bad.』

Is it almost time…?

As I prepared myself, the door to my room slowly opened, and a nervous-looking Shizuka gestured for me to come out.

…Alright, let’s do this.

◆

“Wait, what’s that!? Are you going to fillet it!?” (Zeria)

“This is red snapper. Since we are making Acqua Pazza and Carpaccio today, I thought I would give filleting a try.” (Henrietta)

“Oh wow, this is the first time I have seen someone who can fillet fish, LOL” (Zeria)

“Nonono, there are plenty of people who can do it normally.” (Henrietta)

With me in the middle, Shizuka and Miyabi-chan started their back-and-forth banter.

I have set up my laptop in the kitchen so I can keep an eye on the comments. This way, I should be able to handle suspicions or unforeseen situations to some extent.

Comment: 『It’s amazing that she can fillet fish.』

Comment: 『Ette-sama would definitely make a great wife. Just like a princess.』

Comment: 『Right now, we have the combination of the person who fans least want to marry and the person who fans most want to marry in the same stream.』

…Alright, things seem to be going well for now.

Taking a breath of relief, I used a knife over the sink and worked on removing the scales from the red snapper. The larger scales were coming off in satisfying chunks.

“Wow, there are so many scales falling off. But is it really necessary to remove the scales?” (Zeria)

“Of course. If you don’t remove them… well, it becomes quite a hassle, you know.” (Henrietta)

Shizu probably didn’t know the specific reasons for removing the scales, so she gave a vague response.

Scales are covered in bacteria, smell unpleasant, the texture is unpleasant, they are hard to cut with a knife, and removing them is just generally better.

After finishing the scales, I cut off the fins and then proceeded to cut off the head starting from the pectoral fins. Following that, I opened up the belly to remove the internal organs and gave the whole fish a thorough rinse under water.

“Wha— oh my god, the organs just came out, that’s gross, eww!” (Zeria)

“You know, if you keep saying things like that, you won’t be able to cook, right? It’s no big deal once you get used to it.” (Henrietta)

Impressive, Shizuka managed to put herself up on the pedestal while showing off her imaginary skills. Is this the power of a popular VTuber’s acting skills?

Comment: 『Zeria, is basically the entertainment lmao. Can’t you help with something lol』

Comment: 『Apparently, Ette-sama doesn’t just have high feminine power, but also high motherly power.』

Comment: 『It’s like a child bothering a mom while she is cooking in the kitchen.』

With the rinsing done, all that was left was to fillet the fish into three parts and then remove the skin. I inserted the knife along the dorsal fin, successfully extracting the clean flesh. The skin was peeled away quickly as well.

“Alright, we finished preparing the fish.” (Henrietta)

“Woww, it looks like the ones you buy at the supermarket!” (Zeria)

“One portion will be used for Acqua Pazza and the other for Carpaccio.” (Henrietta)

The recipe for Acqua Pazza was the same as when I made it back then, so there was no need to worry about that.

I silently worked, turning the white wine into soup.

“Uwah, using white wine for cooking… Should I start calling Ette the Chef from now on?” (Zeria)

“That’s embarrassing, so please don’t.” (Henrietta)

Comment: 『Chef』

Comment: 『Chef sounds good』

“Chef” sounds nice. It’s probably the worst kind of insult for Shizu.

I should call her that next time.

With these natural interactions between the two of them, we were reaching the end of the cooking part without any major suspicions.

“It’s ready. Shall we eat in the living room?” (Henrietta)

“Wow, the presentation of the Carpaccio looks like it came right out of a restaurant! It even looks like a flower! Such high femininity!” (Zeria)

The two of them moved to the living room with the dishes while chatting excitedly.

Surrounded by a pleasant sense of fatigue, I watched their backs as they left.

…Ah, thank goodness everything went smoothly.

There was not a single comment that thought anything was suspicious. Everyone believes that Ette-sama made the dishes.

With the weight off my shoulders I…

…At that moment.

“Ojamashimasu” (Hiyori)

“!?” “!?” “……?”

The voice that reached us from the entrance almost made both Shizuka and me jump.

Was that voice… Hiyorin!? 

As Hiyorin entered the living room, she looked at Miyabi-chan and tilted her head.

“Wa~ it smells good… Wait, who might you be?” (Hiyori)

…Oh no! I completely forgot to let Hiyorin know that today’s Souma-kai was canceled!

Comment: 『Who’s that?』

Comment: 『A special guest!?』

Comment: 『I feel like I’ve heard that voice somewhere.』

“……!!” (Shizuka)

Shizuka looked at me for help with an expression that seemed to say “What are we supposed to do?!”

…I’m sorry, but I have no idea.

---

TL notes:

Thanks for reading!

“The air there was contaminated”, lmao what a savage.

Them forgetting to tell the others about this is such a big slap in the face… I mean, I expected this to happen but I thought it would be Mafuyu instead. Imagine Mafuyu coming in and saying “onii-chan” out loud, lol what a disaster that would be.

I’m sorry but the cooking part is just cancerous to translate without any cooking knowledge. I wish I could vet and give more explanations but I have no idea what it means.

Okay, so I’m about to throw you a curveball. Remember Mafuyu’s university friend Arisa from all the way back in chapter 4? She is actually “Mamimume Memo” LOL. She is from a different series created by the same author, along with “Hyuuga Koori”. This collab did actually happen in one of those chapters.

---

Footnote:

1. None

“So, this is what you decided.” (Souma)

On a Saturday afternoon, seated at the usual table, were Shizuka and a special guest.

She had orange hair which extended all the way to her shoulders and a hair ornament shaped like a star that seemed to be constantly sparkling. This child, who seems like the cheerful type, had been invited to dinner by Shizuka. 

“Nice to meet you! I’m Zeria, a VTuber affiliated with [Virtual Real]. My real name is Honna Miyabi!” (Miyabi)

“Nice to meet you, Miyabi-chan. I haven’t watched your streams, but of course, I have heard of you. I’m Tendou Souma.” (Souma)

“I see. Well then, starting today, I hope you’ll watch my streams!” (Miyabi)

“Sure, I’ll consider it.” (Souma)

From just that exchange, I could tell that she was as cheerful as she looked.

Even though she is probably younger than me, she doesn’t seem intimidated by being around an older guy like me whom she just met. She is most likely one of those types who believe that there is nothing to be afraid of in this world.

“So, Miyabi-chan, what brings you here?” (Souma)

“I want you to meet my colleague,” was the only information I had received from Shizuka.

I didn’t really understand why I had to meet a VTuber, but I assumed it might be related to the off-collab and It seems that my assumption was correct.

“Mmm, is it true that you’re the one who made all the ‘EtteMeals’ Tendou-san?” (Miyabi)

When I glanced at Shizuka, she gave a slight nod. She probably already revealed the truth to her.

“Yeah, that’s me, but… what about it?” (Souma)

I wondered if there might be some kind of rule in [Virtual Real] about interacting with the opposite gender or something like that. Maybe Miyabi-chan was here to confirm the facts… Nvm, that theory is a bit too far-fetched.

“I want to try one of those ‘EtteMeals’ too! I was wondering if Tendou-san can make one for the off-collab.” (Miyabi)

Miyabi-chan’s eyes started sparkling and she leaned forward in her chair while making that request.

“If that’s all you’re asking for, it’s a simple request, but…” (Souma)

A cooking request. That’s not an issue in itself.

However, there is something I need to confirm before agreeing.

“Miyabi-chan, is it safe to assume that you’re willing to support ‘EtteMeals’?  I would prefer if you could let Shizuka continue, if possible.” (Souma)

“Souma-kun…” (Shizuka)

Shizuka looked at me apologetically.

Miyabi-chan glanced between me and Shizuka, then strangely grinned.

“Of course, I’m totally on board with it! It’s my first time meeting ‘Ette’, but I consider us to be close friends.” (Miyabi)

“I see… Yeah, in that case, I’ll prepare something luxurious for the ‘EtteMeals’. Is that okay with you too, Shizuka?” (Souma)

“Yeah, sure… Thank you, both of you.” (Shizuka)

“Yay! EtteMeals~ EtteMeals~!”  (Miyabi)

Watching Miyabi-chan celebrating with both hands in the air, I secretly became convinced, “This girl is definitely a good kid…”

◆

” …There’s a scent of an unfamiliar woman.” (Mafuyu)

“Don’t say scary things, Mafuyu-chan. This world is full of unfamiliar women.” (Souma)

Lately, Mafuyu-chan has been entering my house so naturally that I wonder if she’s mistaken it for her own.

*Huggg~~ (gyuuu~~)*

” …What are you doing, Mafuyu-chan?” (Souma)

“Overwriting the scent.” (Mafuyu)

I can feel Mafuyu-chan’s warmth against my back.

Her hands are wrapped around my stomach, and gently caressing me through my apron.

Um… this is kinda erotic…

“Mafuyu-chan, that tickles.” (Souma)

Her hand doesn’t stop.

The hand that had been moving between my chest and stomach, whether intentionally or accidentally, started heading lower. So, I caught her mischievous hand.

“I’ll have to punish naughty kids, you know?” (Souma)

“Okay… Please punish me…” (Mafuyu)

While she whispered that in my ear, her breath tickled me.

“…In that case, I won’t make you dinner tonight.” (Souma)

“Eh…? That would be troublesome, sorry.” (Mafuyu)

My body has finally been released.

“If you want dinner, go and wait quietly in the living room.” (Souma)

“Yes.” (Mafuyu)

Without turning around, I could hear her footsteps getting further and further.

“……” (Souma)

She didn’t notice that I was getting nervous… right?

Mafuyu-chan’s level of skinship occasionally crosses certain boundaries, and it’s a bit hard for me to react to it…

“Wait, Mafuyu-chan!? Why are you trying to enter the bedroom!” (Souma)

Her footsteps were moving in a different direction than I predicted, so when I turned around, I saw Mafuyu-chan attempting to enter my bedroom.

“Isn’t it the girlfriend’s privilege to smell her boyfriend’s bed?” (Mafuyu)

“I keep telling you, I’m not your boyfriend…” (Souma)

Mafuyu-chan is still holding onto that incident from before. No matter how many times I explained it, she refused to understand, giving me a headache.

I could only watch as Mafuyu-chan disappeared into my bedroom, with her fingers idly pressed against her lips. I was currently busy with cooking, so my hands are currently tied to the kitchen.

“Onii-chan’s scent… Once you finish dinner, wake me up, okay?” (Mafuyu)

“Oi, if you’re going to sleep, do it at your place.” (Souma)

Without paying any attention to my words, Mafuyu-chan stopped talking after that.

“…Well, there’s nothing I can do about it.” (Souma)

I couldn’t bring myself to push away my younger sister (imouto) who had become more demanding than before. Maybe this is what they call codependency.

In fact, I have already become used to waking up in the morning and finding a half-naked Mafuyu-chan next to me… Maybe I’m the one who doesn’t want to leave her… that can’t be it, right?

---

Illustration of Miyabi

“Nice to meet you! I’m Zeria, a VTuber affiliated with [Virtual Real]. My real name is Honna Miyabi!”

---

TL notes:

Thanks for reading!

I thought that the boyfriend thing got resolved by the end of that chapter but I guess not. The MC is so slowly succumbing to Mafuyu’s shenanigans.

Is it me or do all yanderes have the innate ability to smell other women? I swear this is always brought up at one point or another in every novel.

Next chapter is like twice the length of this one, although it’s mostly cooking stuff.

---

Footnote:

1. None

[Souma PoV]

“Let me be clear. It’s impossible.” (Souma)

“No way…” (Shizuka)

Seated at the usual table, Shizuka dropped her head like a scolded child in front of their mother.

“(I have something important to tell you)” ── When I received that message from Shizuka, I quickly returned home, only to be presented with an outrageous story.

“I could help with cleaning the room and all, but no matter how you look at it, turning Shizuka into a good cook is an impossible feat. Have you even held a knife before?” (Souma)

“Etto… Maybe the last time was during elementary school cooking class… but that got taken away too…” (Shizuka)

“It already started back then, huh? You’re really experienced.” (Souma)

Elementary school cooking classes are taught based on the assumption that the students lack cooking experience to some extent. What on earth did you do to have the knife taken away? You weren’t swinging it around, were you?

“Maybe it would be better to explain the situation to Zeria-chan and get her help for this off-collab?” (Souma)

Shizuka and Zeria-chan had never met in person, but they seemed to have a good relationship. If Shizuka told her the truth, she might be willing to cooperate.

“Ugh… Is that really the only option?” (Shizuka)

Shizuka groaned deeply, clearly reluctant. I understand that it’s embarrassing, but there is no other way.

Cooking isn’t a game. It involves handling knives and other tools. If I taught her half-heartedly and Shizuka got hurt, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself.

“It’s for Shizuka’s sake too, you know. If you want to take your time and learn, I’m more than willing to teach you.” (Souma)

“…I guess that’s fine.” (Shizuka)

Is it really okay?

Thinking that women should be the ones to cook is an outdated idea nowadays, but I still think it could be helpful to at least learn some cooking skills.

“Anyways… The extent of my help goes only as far as tidying up your room. Based on that, decide what you want to do next.” (Souma)

“Ugh, fine…” (Shizuka)

Shizuka collapsed onto the table with a face that seemed to say the world was ending.

Well, I figured this day might come sooner or later.

◆

[Shizuka PoV]

“(EHHHHHHHH?! You can’t cook at all?!)” (Zeria)

“(Y-Yeah… Sorry for lying…)” (Henrietta)

On that evening, I decided to tell Zeria-chan the truth. We were currently in a voice call, this time it is not for the purpose of the usual stream.

“(Man~ I’m a bit… I can’t believe it. I mean, looking at your tweets, you were totally into it, weren’t you?)” (Zeria)

“(Ugh… I got a little carried away… Haha…)” (Henrietta)

[Today’s dinner is Mapo Eggplant♪ The hidden touch of sansho pepper makes it perfect for a hot day like today! #EtteMeal]

[Today, I made Potato Galette~. It’s my first time making French cuisine, but I’m relieved it turned out delicious! #EtteMeal]

[Once in a while, I make Japanese food. Today, it’s Nikujaga (meat and potatoes stew)! Are you Team Curry or Team Nikujaga? ♡ #EtteMeal]

…I want to die.

Now that the truth was out, I felt the urge to erase my past tweets from Zeria-chan’s mind.

Ugh… It’s too embarrassing…

“(Seriously~ I can’t believe you weren’t really making those dishes… Are? If you didn’t make them, then who did?)” (Zeria)

“(Well, my neighbor helped me…)” (Henrietta)

“(Hmm~~ Ah! Is it the same person who helped you unpack your stuff when you moved?)” (Zeria)

“(Eh!? Yeah, but… you still remember that?)” (Henrietta)

I think I mentioned it on the day I moved.

“(Yeah~ but you said it was a guy, right? They must be quite feminine to be so good at cooking…)” (Zeria)

“(Right… Sometimes I feel that our gender roles are reversed…)” (Henrietta)

Although I said that, I didn’t really think so.

I know a lot of masculine things about Souma-kun. No matter how skilled he is at household chores, in my mind, he’s a pretty cool guy.

“(Heh~ So does that mean you’re having dinner at this person’s place every night?)” (Zeria)

“(Yeah, something like that…)” (Henrietta)

“(…Are you guys, like, dating?)” (Zeria)

“(D-Dating?! Wh-Why would you say something like that all of a sudden!?)” (Henrietta)

Zeria-chan’s sudden remark caught me off guard, and I almost choked on the café au lait I was drinking.

“(Well, I mean… If you think about it, it kinda looks that way. Are you just going to cook for someone you’re not interested in? That’s not normal.)” (Zeria)

“(Huh…)” (Henrietta)

Is that true…? Does Souma-kun see me that way…?

Come to think of it, he told me that he enjoys being with me. I think he mentioned something about liking me at one point.

Hehe~ that makes me happy…

“(I-Is that so? That might not sit well with someone else though… Hehe~)” (Henrietta)

“(Someone else? What does that mean?)” (Zeria)

“(Ah, there are four of us eating together. HIm, plus two other women…)” (Henrietta)

“(Huh!? W-What’s up with that, is this some kind of harem anime or something?! Ette, when did you become part of a harem?)” (Zeria)

“(H-Harem…?)” (Henrietta)

Is it like that…? Although, if it means that I could be in a relationship with Souma-kun, I don’t really mind being part of a harem…

“(I’m getting kind of interested in this guy. Since you need my help with the EtteMeal thing, can you introduce me to him?)” (Zeria)

Lured in by the promise of her cooperation for the EtteMeal, I ended up inviting Zeria-chan to my apartment.

---

TL notes:

Thanks for reading!

…And the cats out of the bag. Big takeaway here is that Shizuka approves of a harem and Zeria gonna meet MC next chapter. It’s basically Harem or yandere wins at this point.

---

Footnote:

1. None

[Shizuka PoV]

I’m good at lazing around.

I was especially good at lounging around on my bed, and back in my hometown, no one could beat me at that. I’m confident that I could easily compete with the top loungers in Tokyo as well.

“(Hii, so how’s life here so far?)” (Zeria)

After an hour of lazing around on the bed, not doing anything in particular, I received a message from Zeria-chan.

Zeria-chan was a VTuber genmate¹ from the same agency as me, [Virtual Real].

Her character was a “mischievous little devil who got lost in the human world”. Features of her 3D model include a black frilly dress, small horns, and tiny wings.

As a mischievous devil, her outfit was intentionally designed to have a modest feel, which could be described as cute or, in a less flattering way, somewhat trivial. This style seemed to match well with a content series called “Zeria Torture”, where she would attempt various challenges for entertainment. Apparently, there was no shortage of fans who wanted to see her suffer in a playful way. I looked it up out of curiosity and found a lot of fanfiction along those lines, which made me chuckle.

Since Zeria-chan and I debuted in the same generation, we collaborated with each other quite frequently. On top of that, we were on good enough terms to chat like this in private. It may not be far-fetched to say that we might have one of the closest bonds within [Virtual Real].

“(Heyy, things are going quite well.)” (Henrietta)

“(Looks like you’re enjoying living alone. And your ‘#EtteMeals’ seem to be getting pretty popular too.)” (Zeria)

“Ahaha…” (Shizuka)

The little lie that started with “Ette-sama is quite feminine” ended up becoming common knowledge among [Virtual Real] fans.

It’s too late to say, “Just kidding” and it’s making me anxious about what to do at this point.

“(By the way, can I come to your place? Let’s hang out!)” (Zeria)

This is probably what Zeria-chan wanted to talk about. She continued to send messages without giving time for me to reply.

“(I want to hang out, but… at my place?)” (Henrietta)

I looked around my streaming room and bedroom from my bed.

—On the computer desk, empty coffee cups and plastic bottles were scattered around, along with energy drink cans. What couldn’t fit there had ended up on the floor.

—Around the bed, candy wrappers were scattered everywhere. If I tried to get off the bed, I would end up stepping on them, causing most of them to flatten.

—The floor was practically impassable due to the abundance of hamburger wrappers, though in my defense, it’s not my fault that their burgers are just too delicious.

“I guess I can’t invite her over…” (Shizuka)

No one would ever see this room and say “Ette-sama is so domestically capable”. If someone did, that would be pretty terrifying. Clearly, it would seem like I have grown up in a very twisted environment.

Souma-kun always came over during weekends to help clean up, but his efforts were undone in an instant. I guess I’m just not cut out for this.

Yeah, it’s impossible. There is no way I can invite her over. If we are going to hang out, doing it outside would be better.

“(Let’s hang out! But how about not at my place? It’s a bit messy due to the moving stuff.)” (Henrietta)

Well, it’s more than just “a bit messy”, but in my mind, the current situation doesn’t quite qualify as “messy”. So, in a sense, I’m not lying.

By the way, I wonder what kind of person is Zeria-chan. We voice-called a lot, but I have never actually met her. She might be more of a mature older sister (onee-san) type… Nah, there is no way.

While I was busy thinking about this, I was suddenly brought back to reality by her unexpected suggestion.

“(I want to go Ette’s house… or rather, how about we do an off-collab! I want to try Ette’s cooking! Or rather, I might have already blurted it out on Twitter lol)” (Zeria)

“Huh!?” (Shizuka)

An off-collab refers to VTubers coming together in real life for a stream. It usually takes place at someone’s house, giving a glimpse of the life behind the screen. It’s like a festive event where the chat gets really lively.

Back when I lived in the countryside, I never experienced it before. When I moved to Tokyo, I did have thoughts about trying an offline collab since it looks fun…

But!

“Why did you say that!” (Shizuka)

I hastily checked Twitter.

Zeria-chan… Zeria-chan… Zeria-chan…

“Ugh.” (Shizuka)

【 [Announcement] Is Ette really domestically capable!? I’m heading to Ette’s place to uncover this mystery! [Off-collab happening!] 】

“What is this ~~~~~!!!” (Shizuka)

Zeria-chan’s latest tweet was something else entirely. I couldn’t help but hold my head in my hands and gaze upwards.

“(Don’t decide things on your own~~~!)” (Henrietta)

“(Eh~ But you said before that I could come over and hang out.)” (Zeria)

“(That’s true, but I never agreed to an off-collab!)” (Henrietta)

“(My viewers kept asking me for an Ette collab lol. Well, I eventually give in since I wanted to have a taste of your homemade dishes hehe.)” (Zeria)

Zeria-chan’s tweets had already gathered thousands of likes and retweets. There were plenty of comments stating that they were eagerly anticipating the event, I probably can’t just ignore this tweet.

And if I stubbornly refuse, it might sour the atmosphere with Zeria-chan, and it’s not like I don’t want to hang out with her. I just don’t want to be misunderstood.

“(I’ll decide the schedule!)” (Henrietta)

With tears welling up, the only thing I could do was wait for Souma-kun to return from university.

---

TL notes:

Thanks for reading!

No. Zeria isn’t a heroine, or at least that’s the impression I get so far. But, I am looking forward to Zeria and Souma meeting each other. We all know it’s gonna happen.

---

Footnote:

1. New VTubers in agencies tend to debut in batches. When they debut at the same time (same generation), they consider each other as genmates.

The national university that Mafuyu-chan and I attend is about a 10-minute walk from the station, in the direction further away from the entertainment district.

The usual path to the campus is usually pretty empty, with the only exception being before the first class.

The narrow road along the university is currently crowded with students who either have classes from the first period or are unlucky enough to take compulsory courses during the first period. 

In the midst of everything, Mafuyu-chan and I are walking together.

“*yawn*… I’m… sleepy…” (Souma)

During the rainy season, the morning air feels a bit hazy, and a bigger yawn escapes from my mouth than I expected.

“It’s unusual to see Souma-kun yawning. Were you up late?” (Mafuyu)

While walking beside me, Mafuyu-chan, who is in her university mode, tilts her head and peers into my face.

Today, Mafuyu-chan is wearing a white blouse with gray straight-cut tailored pants, a style suited for those with long legs. Because of that, her chest is subtly emphasized at the edge of my view. I make an effort to focus on the scenery ahead.

“Well, I went to bed at the usual time.” (Souma)

After getting into bed, I often end up watching MeTube, so I can’t determine when I actually fell asleep. Unless there is a special reason, I always try to get at least six hours of sleep.

…Or rather, the reason for my sleepiness is pretty clear.

The drop in sleep quality is undoubtedly due to Mafuyu-chan sleeping next to me.

Given that Mafuyu-chan possesses the modesty of a preschooler, I’m sure she played some pranks on me while I was asleep.

I thought of saying that but… I stopped myself.

Because we are currently attracting quite a bit of attention.

The people passing by give us quick glances as they overtake us. Those walking on the opposite side of the road is often pointing at us. And I can hear whispers from all around us.

*whisper* “(Don’t they look mismatched?)” *whisper*

Shut up. We’re not even dating to begin with.

“……” (Souma)

I feel like I can sympathize with Mafuyu-chan now. It’s uncomfortable to be whispered about by strangers or become a topic of conversation for others when you’re not around.

In the few months since coming to the university, she has endured such gazes many times. Mafuyu-chan’s stress right now must be immeasurable.

I glance sideways to see if Mafuyu-chan is okay. Her expression is as usual, but her lips seem to be curved up slightly.

…Why?

Has becoming the subject of such gossip turned into a form of pleasure for her?

Mafuyu-chan’s level of modesty is suddenly far beyond that of a preschooler. She has basically surpassed that of an average person and reached the realm of an expert. Another victim of the times, it seems.¹

“Souma-kun, let’s go.” (Mafuyu)

Mafuyu-chan increases her pace, transitioning from a leisurely walk to a brisk walk.

“Wai-” (Souma) 

I was about to say “Wait”, but my words got cut off.

Without me even realizing, Mafuyu-chan is holding my hand firmly ─ and of all the ways, she’s holding it like lovers would ─ and I find myself being pulled through the gaps in the crowd.

“There’s the Shootdown King of the Engineering Department.” (Passerby A)

“Whoa, so the rumor about him having a boyfriend is true? Who is the boyfriend, though?” (Passerby B)

“I want to hold hands too… damn, her butt is kinda lewd.” (Passerby C)

“Nah, it’s her chest man. I’d pay 10,000 yen just to touch it.” (Passerby A)

“Just thinking that she’s letting him do things to her every night makes me depressed.” (Passerby B)

…Whispers are five times as loud now.

“……What the hell is wrong with them?” (Souma)

The ones gossiping are probably people unrelated to Mafuyu-chan and have never even talked to her before. Yet, they’re freely talking about her with vulgar words.

Seeing them do that… really made me angry.

“Mafuyu-chan, hold on a second.” (Souma)

“Eh?” (Mafuyu)

I let go of Mafuyu-chan’s hand and turned back towards the group of three guys we had just passed.

Various people had been gossiping, but these guys were the worst. They intentionally made obscene remarks loud enough for Mafuyu-chan to hear.

“Can I talk to you for a moment?” (Souma)

“Huh? ” “Us?” “What?”

The three of them are probably freshmen; I can tell by their atmosphere.

Once you get into university, everyone gets somewhat crumpled and beaten up in their own way. Like a sixth grader’s school bag covered in countless scratches. But these guys still have that fresh, shiny behavior. They remind me of first graders’ school bags.

I glare at the guy who seems to be the leader. He’s got a custard-like hairstyle. Seriously, he dyed his hair blonde right after entering? Also, don’t leave it like that. Dye it once every two weeks, you moron.

“Hey, could you stop saying weird things about my girlfriend?” (Souma)

“Huh? W-Well, I didn’t really say anything.” (Passerby A)

The custard-head guy was initially confused, but I guess he had to put on a show since he was with his friends.

He’s making an unnatural effort to lower his tone at the end of his sentences as if he’s trying his hardest to show his displeasure.

Totally pointless.

“Forget about that. I’m not looking for a fight or anything. I’m just telling you to stop making dirty jokes that Mafuyu-chan can hear. Just give me a straight answer: Do you understand or not?” (Souma)

If it comes to a fight, I’m fine with that. At the very least, I’m not worried about losing against these guys even if it’s three against one.

As the four of us were arguing in the middle of the pathway with Mafuyu-chan standing behind me, a lot of people passed by with annoyed looks on their faces. Almost all of their gazes were directed at the custard head trio.

I’m not sure if the contents of our conversation were audible, but it seems pretty obvious to those around us why we’re having a dispute.

“…Lame. Why are you getting so worked up? I never cared in the first place… Hey, let’s go.” (Passerby A)

Perhaps unable to withstand the surrounding stares, Custard Head gives off an air of indifference and walks past me. The remaining two follow him with awkward expressions.

I considered making them apologize to Mafuyu-chan properly, but going too far might cause her unnecessary trouble.

Well, they have embarrassed themselves enough in the middle of the street like this. I doubt they’ll ever bother Mafuyu-chan again.

“Sorry, Mafuyu-chan…” (Souma)

I turn around and call out to Mafuyu-chan.

I called out to her, but when I turned around… I could see hearts in Mafuyu-chan’s eyes, leaving me speechless.

“Can you stop saying weird things about ‘my girlfriend’?… ‘MY girlfriend’… hehe…” (Mafuyu)

Mafuyu-chan repeats the line I just said like it’s a chant.

Uh oh… I didn’t have any other way to phrase it, so I instinctively referred to her as my girlfriend, and now it’s backfiring.

“Ah, um… Mafuyu-chan? When I said ‘girlfriend,’ I meant like… going with the flow of the situation… or a figure of speech (kotoba no aya)…” (Souma)

In an attempt to clear up the misunderstanding, Mafuyu-chan sharpened her gaze at me.

“Aya? Who’s Aya? Souma-kun, you’re my boyfriend, so don’t talk about other girls.” (Mafuyu)

Figure of speech (kotoba no aya) doesn’t refer to a girl!

And I’m not your boyfriend!

…From today onward, the rumor that “Someone managed to shoot down the Shootdown King of the Engineering Department” has turned into “Apparently, her boyfriend is the third-year student, Tendou Souma.” But that’s a story for another time.

---

TL notes:

Thanks for reading!

D-Did Mafuyu just win? Huh, here we see MC naturally protecting his future wife. Good job MC, but I need to hear the continuation of this story… Don’t leave me on a cliffhanger! Damn it, well guess I’ll hear this story in vol 3.

Shizuka PoV and Zeria’s return next chapter.

P.S. Started a new series cause I got some free time. Feel free to check it out. Ah but ODL chapters will continue as per normal.

The new series is called “I Reincarnated as an Incompetent Noble and Somehow Became the [Shadow Hero] ~The Villainous Heroines Who Should Have Had Worries Thank Me for Saving Them and Pledge Their Loyalty, But Why?~“.

---

Footnote:

1. I don’t really know what this means. Actually I don’t really understand this entire paragraph, but I guess there’s no need to think too hard about it.