Chapter 18: Becoming a YouTuber makes money!

Life never goes as planned.

Life doesn’t follow plans, and no matter how thoroughly you prepare, it always rolls in unexpected directions.

My life has been like that too.

It’s always been so full of unexpected events that I can barely remember if it ever went the way I wanted.

Setting aside the gloomy circumstances of my childhood, let’s look at the relatively recent event of me accidentally being drafted as a sub-moderator.

From that point on, my life diverged completely from the small wish I had of simply enjoying a normal VTuber fan life.

At first, I was just a very pure and innocent newcomer VTuber fan who knew nothing.

I just heard Haruka’s song, thought, ‘Huh? This is insanely good? This is a VTuber…?’, fell for her singing, and became a fan out of pure admiration.

With that burning passion, I wandered through various sites and ended up in the Belus fan gallery, a hub of raw information and dopamine hits.

I complained about the sub-moderator not doing their job properly and got dragged into it like a salt farm s*ave.

Anyway, after that, I grew to love the group Belus itself. Maintaining the fan gallery, which was like a ticking time bomb, as a sub-moderator, I lived a rather satisfying life, but then I suddenly found myself in Wooseo Woo’s body.

This too was a situation I never expected or wanted.

Just like that, life never goes as planned.

This means that no matter how hastily I make up my mind and try, a miracle like my singing skills suddenly improving drastically won’t just happen.

“Singing is like martial arts.”

“Martial arts…?”

Trainer Lee Jia said.

No matter how well I can imitate Haruka’s high notes, if the inner power supporting it isn’t solid, it will eventually crumble.

That’s right.

I lack experience and foundation, way too much.

Using the martial arts analogy, the vessel itself to contain the energy called vocal ability is just too small.

Perhaps because of that, contrary to my firm resolve before entering the recording booth, I ended up getting harshly criticized during the lesson.

The only silver lining, perhaps, is that I’m now starting to find the pitch somewhat.

I’m struggling to produce low notes.

It seems unlikely to be because of my memories as a male…

When I was a man, I didn’t have to consciously think about low notes; they just came out fine.

But trying to hit them as a woman makes me flustered, causing me to consciously apply too much force and excessive breath, leading to constant voice breaks.

The habit of consciously mixing nasal sounds to lower my voice when doing a ‘moe voice’ likely contributed as well.

Moreover, my musical sense as a man was, putting it mildly, not good, so perhaps repetitive training is the only answer.

Anyway, to eliminate the voice breaks, I practiced chest voice, one of the famous internal cultivation methods in the vocal world.

Thanks to that, the stability in the lower register seems to have improved quite a bit.

“Chest voice is similar to how men normally speak…”

“Ah- Ah- Like this?”

“…You got it right away?”

Lee Jia was actually surprised that I could use head voice, a technique supposedly only usable by those walking the supreme path, from the start, blaming herself for overlooking something so basic.

But since I didn’t know much about that part, I just had to continue practicing silently.

‘But I used head voice?’

“Wooseo Woo, this talent freak.”

“Calling yourself a talent freak. Seriously, not a single normal person here…”

“Eh.”

Still, perhaps Wooseo Woo’s talent reached the heavens, because once I became conscious of it, the practice itself was easy, which might be fortunate.

But this time, a problem arose in transitioning to high notes.

Trying to hit high notes while maintaining chest voice didn’t work because of something called a pitch break, and then they talked about vocal register transition and tension, but I couldn’t understand, so the lesson ended just like that.

Still, I received encouragement that I have great potential for improvement and shouldn’t be disappointed, so maybe that’s fortunate… right?

‘Will I be able to meet Haruka and become friends?’

“Sniffle.”

“Are you still crying…?”

Next to me was Azusa, who had waited instead of leaving first.

Even though she kept fixing her makeup until my lesson ended, her tears had smudged it so much she now looked almost like a raccoon.

Honestly, walking together was extremely embarrassing, but how could I abandon someone nice enough to wait for me?

My timid solution was just to walk about a meter apart.

“Um… This might be rude, but is there a reason you won’t change your singing style?”

This isn’t like me.

I’m usually not the type to meddle in things like this.

Normally, I’d be hunching my shoulders with my neck turtle-like, just like Bocchi, unable to even speak easily.

Perhaps being with someone who seems even more mentally distressed than me makes me more talkative.

Or maybe it’s the effect of my period making me strangely emotional.

“Sniffle, it’s nothing serious.”

“If it’s nothing serious, you should change it.”

“It’s nothing serious, but it’s also not nothing serious.”

“Wow…”

That way of speaking really gets on one’s nerves.

Even though I’m genuinely not a violent person, I really wanted to give her just one flick on the forehead.

‘How does Miyuki manage to hang out with this person?’

‘…Perhaps the secret is relieving stress by snatching her snacks.’

“Um… let’s stop by a cafe first. Fix your makeup too.”

“Ung…”

First, I called Ari to explain the situation and then stopped by a cafe.

Normally, we should go straight back to the headquarters without detours, but at this rate, she looked like she might burst into tears again in the middle of the street, so I had no choice.

Ari understood, so it should be fine.

She also said she’d come pick us up right here, so we can just go back together.

‘By the way, isn’t this the first time I’ve been to a cafe, combining my previous body and this one?’

‘The forum said cafes are gathering places for insiders…’

Suddenly, my vision blurs.

The cafe’s interior lights reflect and flash, obstructing my sight.

The numerous tables and chairs dizzy my mind, and the feeling that all the packed people are staring at me roots my feet to the spot.

‘Where on earth is the counter?’

As I stood stiffly at the entrance like a nail hammered in place, Azusa looked at me and tilted her head.

“What are you doing? Sniffle… Let’s go.”

“W-W-W-W-Wait.”

She grabbed my hand and led me to what looked like the counter.

I had vaguely seen a kiosk, but it seems we came here because there were too many people.

The uniformed employee flinched slightly upon seeing Azusa’s raccoon eyes but maintained a business smile and said.

“Welcome. Would you like to order?”

‘What do I do?’

‘How do you order coffee?’

‘I’ve only had convenience store coffee and coffee from the machine at the gukbap place.’

‘The few times I bought coffee on the street, I always paid using a kiosk, so I’ve never actually talked to an employee.’

I quickly turned back to Azusa and sent an SOS.

‘Help me! Raccoon girl!’

“I didn’t bring my phone or wallet…”

‘Oops.’

‘Right, Azusa just grabbed her snacks and followed me.’

‘Come to think of it, I’m also running out of money now, so if things go wrong, I might starve for the rest of the training camp.’

Meanwhile, the employee’s expression is steadily souring.

I don’t know what to do.

A sense of urgency, feeling like I had to do something, began to dominate my mind.

As I anxiously pondered what to do, something I had forgotten in my panic came to mind.

‘Commission… gifticon!’ (TL Note: Gifticon = mobile gift voucher/coupon in Korea)

“Um…! I have a gifticon…!”

“Ah, you can just show it to me.”

‘That’s the answer!’

The employee’s face brightened instantly as they scanned the barcode and asked.

“Would you like that to go?”

‘Ugh.’

‘What should I say to this?’

This time, I looked at Azusa with an even more desperate expression. She had stopped crying by now and burst out laughing with a ‘Pfft’.

“We’ll eat here.”

“Okay, please take the buzzer and head up to the second floor.”

“Hul.”

‘It was this easy?’

‘What kind of life have I been living…?’

As I slouched my shoulders in dejection, regretting my past life as an introverted, shut-in loser who couldn’t even go to a cafe, Azusa led me towards the second floor.

Fortunately, there was a partitioned seat available, so we went in, put down our things, and headed straight for the restroom.

‘I never thought I’d participate in one of the quintessential female bonding activities: going to the restroom together…’

“Kotori, you have a cute side.”

“Eh.”

“Is this your first time in a cafe? Are you a natural monument~?”

‘Calling someone a natural monument isn’t exactly a compliment, is it?’

Feeling bewildered, I watched Azusa fix her makeup in the mirror. Her eyes met mine.

Perhaps due to her reddened eye rims, moist eyes, and the beauty mark beneath them, she exuded a certain sexiness.

“Come to think of it, you don’t wear makeup?”

“Uh… I only use sunscreen.”

Since I have absolutely no idea how to apply makeup, I couldn’t help it.

Even this, I force myself to wear just to protect Wooseo Woo’s delicate skin; something I would never have imagined doing when I was a man.

“I’m jealous… My skin breaks out, so sunscreen doesn’t cover it. But what shade do you use? Ah, right. You said you only wear sunscreen~”

“……”

‘Did I unknowingly start a 기 싸움 (ki ssaum – subtle power struggle/nerve war)?’

‘But even if you say that, I wouldn’t know.’

‘Anyway, shouldn’t you avoid makeup if your skin is breaking out?’

‘…I don’t really know.’

‘I’ve never done it.’

“Should we head out? The buzzer might ring soon, so let’s go down early~”

Azusa approached me with light steps and naturally linked arms with me.

We walked out of the restroom like that.

“……?”

‘Wait, what is this skinship that feels like getting pickpocketed in broad daylight?’

“What’s wrong?” (TL Note: ‘왜 구램?’ is a cute/slangy way of asking ‘왜 그래?’ – What’s wrong?)

‘Is this how women are supposed to initiate skinship so naturally?’

Sumire and Mao also initiated a lot of skinship with me, but this feels different.

Like a giant vine slowly tightening its grip…

“Pfft… You’re really funny.”

“I’m… not funny.”

“You are, you are!”

Azusa patted my shoulder lightly and giggled.

‘I don’t know anymore.’

‘I feel like I’m going to die from energy drain.’

I listlessly followed Azusa down, picked up the coffee and a slice of cake, and then listlessly returned to our seats.

Dealing with her excited chatter on the way felt like it aged me 10 years.

‘Is this really the same person who was sobbing pitifully on the street earlier?’

“But you know. Miyuki is too much, right? Yesterday she stole my snacks and lied about it, and today she just blatantly took them!”

“Sooo~ I couldn’t let her take my last Choco Boy snack! I thought about going to the restroom… but that felt wrong, so I went down to the first floor. The desk happened to be empty…”

“Are you listening?”

“Yeees……”

As I blankly watched my soul drifting out of Wooseo Woo’s body, Azusa reached her hand across the table and waved it in front of my eyes.

‘Wow, this cake is delicious.’

“But then you came and asked for Choco Boy snacks, so I was a little sad? Like the whole world was after my snacks.”

“And you know… I want to teach that gyaru who hangs around you every day how to do makeup. She has such a pretty base face, why does she do it like that.”

“Ah! Am I being scatterbrained? I have a bit of ADHD… I think I might have bipolar disorder too, but they won’t give me medicine. Have you ever been to a psychiatrist?”

I sighed, letting her endless chatter flow in one ear and out the other.

‘When on earth is Ari coming…?’

“…You asked earlier why I don’t change my singing style.”

“…Yes?”

It’s hard to follow the flow of conversation.

Still, thanks to her bringing it up first, I managed to recall the reason we came to this cafe.

“It’s really nothing serious. Just… I wanted to show someone I like that I could succeed with this.”

“Someone you like…?”

“This is a secret between just us two, okay?”

Azusa winked one eye and continued.

‘Wait, but having someone she likes is unforgivable for a true unicorn VTuber fan.’

‘I think my horn is about to break…’

“I used to be an Utaite.”

“Wait…!”

‘Are you allowed to say that?’

I quickly looked around.

The room is enclosed by glass windows, so conversations probably don’t carry well, but Ari will be here soon…

‘Anyway, seeing her break the rules so easily, has she told other people too?’

“Pfft! I can totally see what you’re thinking. Don’t worry, I’m only telling you.”

“Why me…?”

‘Why do I have to be the accomplice?’

‘We weren’t even that close.’

As I grumbled inwardly, she smiled, looking at me intently.

“You don’t seem like the type to gossip. You look pure.”

‘…My face might look like that, but inside, I’m a former admin from a dark corner community buried deep underground.’

“Well… anyway, that scene is more stagnant than you think? Most people who’ve been active for a long time follow each other on Twitter… contact each other, meet up, and socialize.”

It was a common enough story.

She loved an Utaite’s song she found on MeTube so much that she started activities imitating their style. Just as she began gaining some fame, she got a mutual follow and even started contacting the person she admired.

They got closer and even promised to meet soon, but then that person suddenly went silent.

“So I thought! Why did they suddenly disappear? Of course, I heard they had ‘reincarnated’ several times before, so maybe it was that again… but then I remembered a famous saying in the Utaite scene these days.”

“A famous saying?”

“That is… ‘VTubing makes money!’”

“Eh?”

‘What kind of saying is that?’

“That person also had some VTuber experience, so if they disappeared around this time, I figured they must have applied to Belus, where the money is best right now… so I applied too.”

“Being an Utaite doesn’t pay. Hehe.”

“Hul…”

That’s a reason for applying just as ridiculous as mine, coming here to meet Haruka.

“So… did you meet that person?”

“I did! They don’t seem to have noticed yet… but this kind of development is thrilling and exciting…!”

“…C-Congratulations.”

‘Well, that turned out well.’

‘Anyway, meeting them means they’re among the current trainees?’

‘If they have a similar ‘pure’ singing style to her, then it must be Sumire…’

“Hul.”

‘It’s a relief it’s not a guy… but is it really a relief?’

Anyway, I offered a silent prayer for my Mamang.

‘She’s got a troublesome stalker attached to her…’

“So… do you want recognition from that person? Or do you just want to meet them?”

“If you just want recognition, you could have continued as an Utaite. You wouldn’t have had to force yourself to change your singing style to debut, you could have kept it.”

“Hmm…”

She placed a hand on her chin and began to think deeply.

As I blankly watched her black-painted nails tap rhythmically against her lips, she removed her hand and shook her head.

“At first, I insisted on the singing style because I wanted recognition… but talking to you made me rethink, and maybe I don’t need to be so stubborn about it!”

“That’s a relief.”

“Ung! Talking to you just now helped me realize my feelings… Recognition wasn’t what was important to me. Hehe.”

‘Then what is?’

‘…Don’t tell me.’

“…I have a question.”

“Ung?”

“By any chance… are your preferences… that way……?”

“If it tastes good, I like anything!”

“……”

Ah, I see.

I subtly pushed my chair back.

Normally, if someone this pretty also had obsessive traits, I’d welcome it with open arms… ah, but I have Haruka.

Anyway, knowing her personality, it feels a bit iffy.

‘What if she stabs me with a knife if I pretend not to know until the end?’

“Where are you going?”

“Ari said she’ll be arriving soon…”

“You didn’t look at your phone.”

“…I received a telepathic message.”

“Ahahaha! You’re really funny!”

‘Whoa, don’t come closer.’