Chapter 3: My chest felt flat… It swells magnificently.

The Korean internet broadcasting scene can be seen as largely divided into two pies after a foreign mega-platform pulled out due to ISP issues.

One is the giant platform that maintains its unshakable number one position, AfreecaTV.

“Kkiyoooooot!”

…You know, the place famous as the idol of every soy sauce brand.

This place leads in every aspect, including scale, number of broadcasters, and viewer base size.

And the other one is Twitch, which is evaluated to have absorbed more than half of the viewers from the foreign platform after it left Korea.

Of course, the rest were all snatched up by the dopamine paradise, AfreecaTV…

Anyway, since this place absorbed even the culture of the platform that was practically its parent company, it established a broadcasting culture quite different from AfreecaTV, which is famous for female streamers (yeocam) and provocative content.

A broadcasting culture that could be called, so to speak, otaku-oriented.

If I had to compare it to AfreecaTV, that place is the underground ‘insider’ position, while Twitch should be described as the underground ‘outsider’.

There are other platforms, but they are mostly focused on adult broadcasting or have such small shares that they aren’t mentioned much.

Because of this, the virtual group ‘Bellus’, which couldn’t possibly go to AfreecaTV and thus made a powerful debut shocking the otakus who migrated with Twitch’s opening, has, whether by luck or something else, been hitting miraculous jackpots for over half a year since their debut.

[Upvote if you’re proud of our babies kekekeke.jpg]

(Bellus 1st Gen Group Fanart)
It’s a brand new platform so there were no floaters and it was chaotic, I was so f*cking worried they debuted at the wrong time
But they succeeded like this kekekekeke
I’m so happy, guys..

Recommended: 146 Not Recommended: 21

• What’s with the downvotes
  └ Seems like they swarmed from somewhere

• I really want to pat the kids’ heads alotㅋㅋ

During the relay broadcast of the four debut members, the average viewership was a staggering 30,000…!

No matter how much of the foreign platform’s pie it absorbed, and even though it launched intentionally by recruiting several large corporate streamers, it’s almost impossible to find a case where a rookie broadcaster on a new platform achieved this level of success.

Actually, Haruka’s role as the first starter was huge in achieving these abnormal numbers.

Her ultra-high note shout, as if declaring that all other VTubers were beneath her and she was the best, is still talked about as a legendary debut broadcast.

And the other members who received the baton also showed their individual charms, displaying talent remarkable enough to make VTuber otakus who watched mainland VTubers widen their eyes and join the fan cafe.

This was quite an achievement, because, fundamentally, the mindset of those who watch mainland VTubers is deeply ingrained with the perception that ‘Korean VTubers are spiteful and not true VTubers’.

The reason is, of course, that in Korea, there’s an overwhelming number of unorthodox VTubers, such as Dullahan VTubers who only show an avatar, female streamers who just use partial face cams to attract attention, and part-time VTubers who grab quick cash and then ‘graduate’, rather than the mainstream VTubers from the mainland.

Therefore, the mainstream VTuber group Bellus, which is overflowing on the mainland but rather unique in Korea, shattered this prejudice and absorbed the otaku pie like crazy, setting a remarkable record that even so-called ‘major corporate’ streamers couldn’t easily achieve.

[Hey ㅋㅋ Heard your house went bankrupt?]

Twitch peak concurrent viewers 100k kekekekeke
You call this a competing platform? The rival is more than three times larger?

Ahkekekekekekekekekekekekekekekeke

Recommended: 5 Not Recommended: 17

• Argh, mod;

• Really not doing your f*cking job

• It hasn’t even been a year since launch, is this supposed to be a compliment…

• Fighting over viewer numbers isn’t our culture here kekeke

(TL Note: The censored word ‘g**ji’ is derived from the Japanese word ‘shougaiji’ (disabled child) and used as a slur meaning someone is pathologically obsessed with something, in this case, numbers/stats.)

However, inherent limitations also clearly existed.

That is, Twitch’s position as the perpetual runner-up, trailing behind AfreecaTV, the number one in the Korean industry in terms of scale.

It might be an overly harsh assessment for a platform not even a year old, but since it’s losing viewers to AfreecaTV rather than taking them, it’s not exactly wrong either.

In fact, although the internet broadcasting pie exploded due to the COVID issue, it had been shrinking daily as people returned to society after the pandemic.

Consequently, the viewer pie was also shrinking, and the group Bellus was no exception.

Having shown continuous growth right after their debut, they started showing a slight decline recently. At this point, CEO Kim Kanghyun’s announcement of recruiting a 2nd generation was enough to make even the fans tilt their heads in confusion.

[Seriously, the pie itself is shrinking, and you want to split it further here?.jpg]

(Pepe the Frog with question marks)
Even now, 4 members are sharing a pie of just over 20k, and you’re adding at least 6 more to split it even more? Is Kim Kanghyun in his right mind?

Recommended: 5 Not Recommended: 28

• This is an unconditional positivity gallery (totally positive). If you don’t like it, get lost.
  └ Even with unconditional positivity, you expect us to endure this too? ㅋㅋ
  └ Do you not know what unconditional positivity means;
  └ Yeah, if you’re unconditionally positive about even this, Bellus will fail ㅋㅋ
  └ They won’t fail, you dmbass
  └ This is a fan gallery, sir..

• Fighting over viewer numbers isn’t our culture in the first place, where did you come from?

• Mod, delete this post
  └ Come to the suggestion box
  └ No, you b*stard, delete the post instead of replying;
  └ Ooh.. our mod is slow..

(Featured)[Stop making a fuss ㄴㄴ]

Did we know the kids would be this successful?
Back then, we thought even 1000 viewers would be a huge success.

Haven’t you heard the story about how the kids cried during a phone call with the manager after their first broadcast?
Nobody knows what will happen in the future, so why make such a fuss?

Besides, Kanghyun-hyung also said before that the kids’ schedule was too tough and they’d probably need to recruit more, so it was bound to happen someday.

Recommended: 52 Not Recommended: 8

• Seriously, even if it drops more from here, it’s still beyond imagination.

• The kids are practically being overworked, I wish they could rest a bit..

[But where did one mod go]

He worked almost alone without complaining, did everything, had no ego, brought news about the kids even before notifications popped up, and even handed out burgers. He was a good guy, where did he really go?

Recommended: 5 Not Recommended: 17

• You b*stard, you miss the burgers, don’t you?
  └ You caught me

• Don’t mention dead people ㄴㄴ

• Calling him a named figure is too much, but seriously, where did he go?

• Since he’s gone recently, the gallery frequently turns to sh*t ffs

While those expressing doubts like this were a minority, and most were likely trolls anyway, even the fans offering unconditional support were worried internally just the same.

But they also know.
That their oshis are hitting their limits.

Even with plenty of rest, they only take one day off a week, release cover songs monthly, occasionally release original songs, sometimes group songs, participate in external events, advertisement broadcasts, internal events, internal and external collaborations, large-scale collaborations… Honestly, even ten bodies wouldn’t be enough for this schedule.

Moreover, rumors with no source are spreading, speculating that Haruka, who played a significant role in the group’s success story and naturally bears increased pressure as a founding contributor, is no longer singing perhaps due to overwork.

Thus, there was indeed a need for other members who could let them rest even a little.

“Heheh… My wives should take it easy with work. Oops, I only have Haruka…!”

Of course, the person spewing this frustrating nonsense has now disappeared from the gallery.

Anyway, the fans’ gazes, mixed half with anxiety and half with anticipation, became focused on the 2nd generation, confirmed to debut within a few months.

….

‘Sh*t…!’

It’s a good thing I woke up this early morning; if I had woken up in the afternoon, I would have been immediately disqualified from the interview…!

When I first opened the email, I internally cursed the ego of this body’s original owner, Woo Seowoo, but thinking about it carefully, this was an opportunity I couldn’t miss either.

Maybe if I go to the interview, I might accidentally run into a member visiting the headquarters for a recording schedule or some other business?

For a man, this is a definite go.

“The kids’ red pills (*real-life appearances) were incredibly pretty…”

Of course, mentioning the red pill is taboo among the fandom, and a true VTuber otaku should perceive the avatar itself as a person and not be interested in the person behind it.

But you get curious anyway, don’t you?

If that wasn’t the case, terms like ‘avatar’ or ‘red pill’ wouldn’t have even been created. Yep…

Especially since I was a moderator of the fan gallery, and kids who came to stir up trouble sometimes brought the red pills, I unintentionally saw them more than once or twice.

Honestly, we call them red pills for convenience, but they all had looks stunning enough to make you stare blankly, like the bluest of blue pills.

It seems the saying that VTubers these days are also chosen based on looks in preparation for their red pills being leaked is true.

Anyway, if I could glimpse their real selves even by chance, wouldn’t it be okay to die that day?

If I got a little greedier, maybe somehow pass and with the members…

“Eheheh…”

Hmm.

I quickly looked around, but thankfully, no one reacted to my creepy laugh.

“Phew.”

I let out a sigh of relief and dashed into the subway station.

I’m currently heading towards Daegu, where the headquarters is located.

I thought the headquarters of a group like Bellus would be in Seoul, but thinking about it, although overshadowed by their massive success, it’s a group run solely by the CEO and former streamer Kim Kanghyun without receiving any investment, so their capital must be quite limited.

Still, the house Woo Seowoo lived in was also in Daegu, so being able to travel just by subway was quite lucky for me.

And it was also fortunate that there were clothes suitable for an interview in that shabby studio apartment.

I almost went to the interview wearing a white t-shirt and dolphin shorts.

Reflected in the large mirror at the subway station now, the clothes draped on my body were just a cheap-looking blouse, a white t-shirt, wide-leg slacks, and a somewhat mismatched cheap handbag, but this should be okay, right?

There was actually a suit skirt, but that’s a bit…

Still, it’s good I’m wearing pants; the feeling of my meager chest bouncing inside the bra, the sensation of the thin, soft panties brushing against my skin, and various other things felt incredibly awkward.

Earlier, the feeling of something brushing between my thighs felt strangely good, and I unconsciously rubbed my thighs together.

Though when I snapped out of it, my cheeks burned, surprised I was doing that in the middle of the street.

Anyway, I managed to leave the house and get on the subway, but maybe because of the clothes or the long, flowing hair, it was too hot.

This d*mn body is so short that walking briskly makes me tire out incredibly quickly.

Moreover, Woo Seowoo’s field of vision is much lower than my original body’s, so I keep misstepping and have almost face-planted on the ground more than once or twice.

“No… the stairs are too high…!”

With every step down, my weak knees tremble like aspen leaves.

My body definitely feels much lighter than before, but it seems even my bones have become lighter than necessary.

If a physically fit man threw a low kick, this body would probably shatter…

Grumbling internally like that, I slipped into the subway train just as the doors were closing.

“Pant, pant, hua…!”

Exhaling hot breaths, I pushed my bangs back with one hand, and with the other, I fanned the chest area of my t-shirt, letting in some sacred air.

The gazes inside the subway focused on me.

What are you looking at, you dirty Korean dudes?

…Saying that would cause big trouble, right?

Even though I used to be a Korean dude, right now I’m a cute girl.

There might be some perverts out there who enjoy being scorned by a mesugaki who looks like this, but it seemed unlikely they were here.

(TL Note: “mesugaki” is a Japanese internet slang term and character archetype. It literally translates to “female brat.”)

Besides, I find that kind of thing disgusting and couldn’t do it anyway.

As I tried hard to avoid their gazes and cool down my sweat, the situation I wanted to avoid most approached.

He looks like an ordinary office worker.

Lunchtime just passed, what’s up? Ah, was today Saturday?

As expected of a company run by a streamer, even the interview date is completely arbitrary.

Anyway, I thought it was quite pitiful that the person was wearing a suit even on a Saturday.

Of course, I would have kept thinking that if he hadn’t approached me with his eyes fixed on me.

‘No way, right? Really?’

Regardless of my silent screams, he indeed came up to me, gave an awkward smile, and held out his smartphone.

“Um… I really like your style. If it’s not too much trouble, could I get your number…”

“……I’m a guy.”

“……What?”

The man looked me up and down, bewildered.

Why, what is it?

First off, my mind is male, and this body’s chest is small too.

Anyway, please stop looking at me like that. It really feels like bugs are crawling all over my body, it’s so creepy I feel like I might scream involuntarily.

Since becoming like this, I’ve become overly conscious of people’s gazes.

…D*mn it. Where did all the confidence I had as a physically fit man go?

“Ahaha… S-sorry.”

“……Yeah.”

He returned to his seat with the same awkward smile as when he came, muttering something.

“A trap? Femboy…? Looks like a girl…… but she does seem really small. Is it… possible?”

What is that crazy pervert b*stard saying?

I deeply hate myself for understanding all of that.

What kind of life have I lived?

Anyway, seeing me reject the approaching man in such a bizarre way, the other men around also quickly averted their gazes, allowing me to travel in a more comfortable posture.

Right. Standing with my weight on one leg, leaning one short arm against the subway pole, now this feels a bit more like a man.

“Hmm. She is kinda cute.”

Pushing back the bangs definitely makes her look much prettier.

Although her chest is a bit, no, very lacking, her hips are quite wide, and compared to her short stature, her limbs are long, giving her excellent overall proportions.

If she had wanted to, she could have been quite popular… well, I saw her graduation photo.

Like a narcissist, I kept looking at myself in the mirror, fiddling with my clothes and hair.

Finally, I got off the subway and headed to the address provided in the follow-up email.

I really wanted to just grab a taxi, but the owner of this body had almost no money in her bank account.

She could barely afford the subway fare.

No wonder there wasn’t a single piece of merchandise at home…

She was good at drawing too, did she not work as an illustrator?

It seems she didn’t have a part-time job either and foolishly just drew fan art.

Now I’m the one suffering after somehow ending up possessing this body.

After grumbling while battling the heat for a long time, I finally arrived at the address mentioned in the email.

“Is this Haruka’s headquarters?”

My chest felt flat…

It swells magnificently.

Still, perhaps because it was built in the province, it’s quite a flashy-looking 4-story building.

Mhm. I think my heart is starting to pound.

“Alright… Is this where the bond between me and Haruka begins?”

The ceremony can be held in the central hall?

The wedding could be a 3D concert format. It’s a bit tacky because it requires motion capture, but exchanging kisses with her amidst the cheers of tens of thousands of fans would be amazing.
Yep. Because I’m a cute girl.

“Okay. To cuddle tightly with Haruka under the same blanket and sniff sniff…!”

Taking a deep breath and psyching myself up, I entered the headquarters.