Chapter 8: New Neighbors and Streaming Challenges
Just a few steps from the entrance, and we’re already at the destination.
What?
I didn’t realize it was this close before.
It’s practically an annex, isn’t it?
Now I see there’s even a corridor connecting the two houses.
It’s basically an indoor passage, so no need for shoes, right?
Maki’s words make sense now.
It’s not like going to another house—just heading to another room.
It’s easier to think of it as one ridiculously huge house.
“Come on in!”
“We’re back~”
Apparently, they used the front entrance earlier because they had to step out briefly.
Something urgent came up right after Meiko’s call.
Well, whatever.
“Yukari’s still at it, huh.”
“Well, knowing Senpai, she’s probably…”
Akari’s wistful expression gives off an odd vibe.
What kind of person is Yuzuki Yukari to make her junior look like that?
“Let’s go. Gotta at least show our faces. Oh, IA, if you don’t want your face on stream, say so now. We can do introductions later.”
Is it a live cam stream?
Hmm, my face…
I don’t really care if it’s shown or not.
It’s not like my face is some precious commodity.
Wait, that was my old male face.
Now…
Ugh, whatever.
From what I heard on the way, all the Vocaloids have been on TV and even guest-starred on Yukari’s streams.
Besides, I’m just a nobody—they’ll forget me quick.
“It’s fine.”
“Hmm, feels like a waste to show IA-nee to the viewers.”
Whoa, that startled me.
She got so close out of nowhere.
Doesn’t puffing your cheeks like that mess up your pronunciation?
It’s cute, though.
“I’m okay with it.”
“If you say so…”
What was she trying to say?
I’m clueless.
I glance at Maki, and she gives a sly smile, urging me to hurry up.
A room bathed in dazzling lights… or not.
Under plain bright lighting, a girl was panting heavily, engrossed in something.
Sweating, her face slightly flushed, it looked provocative at a glance.
But sadly, few could see her that way right now.
[Gritting your teeth?]
[So lame lol]
Countless comments popped up on one side of the screen.
Reacting to the viewers, the girl—Yuzuki Yukari—gritted her teeth and focused.
Yukari is a Vocaloid.
But she’s also an internet streamer.
She started streaming to connect with fans and because she loves games.
It exploded in popularity, to the point where people joke that streaming’s her main gig and Vocaloid is secondary.
Even Yukari couldn’t deny it.
With no new songs or joint lives lately, Vocaloid Yuzuki Yukari is practically on hiatus.
With extra time, streaming became her main focus.
Before she knew it, she hadn’t performed in months, just streaming non-stop.
“Wait? Am I even a Vocaloid anymore?
I only sing when missions call for it…
Wait, what?”
Her brief distraction had brutal consequences.
[You Died.]
“Agh! Noooo!”
The screen turned gray as Yukari’s character rolled pathetically on the ground.
Dazed, she got one-shot by an enemy she didn’t even see.
Clutching her head and screaming, the chat exploded with laughter.
[Lmao who just zones out like that lololol]
[Yukari’s skill on display lmao]
[Collecting big data or what? Pfft!]
Viewers unite to mercilessly tease their favorite streamer when they flop.
The flood of mocking comments obliterated Yukari’s mental state.
Her eyes landed on the mission on the screen: “Get first place by tonight.”
She was playing an FPS-survival hybrid game, a restored pre-war hit now popular globally.
With so many skilled players, getting first place was insanely tough.
“Yukari…”
“Raaagh! Let’s see who dies first!
Marathon?
I’ll do it!
Get ready to stay up all night!”
Roaring with fire in her eyes, Yukari’s mental state was crumbling.
She didn’t even notice someone beside her.
“Yukari?”
“Haa, haa… I’m calm.
Next round.”
[??]
[Yukari-san?]
[Someone’s calling you.]
[They’re calling you, Yukari-san.]
“Huh?
Calling?”
Only after seeing the chat did Yukari turn her head.
She met the gaze of an oni.
“Uh, um.
Maki-san?
What’s up?”
“How many times do I have to call you?!”
“Eek?!”
Before she could start her revenge match, a small bump sprouted on Yukari’s head—her own fault.
*
“Oh, I see.
This is IA?”
Rubbing her head, Yukari looked at the girl behind Maki.
A mystical-looking girl.
Snow-white hair, blinking blue eyes, and a blank expression.
Is she an airhead?
This one’s gonna be tricky.
“Nice to meet you.
I’m Yuzuki Yukari.”
“I’m IA.
Nice to meet you.”
Her years of social experience let Yukari handle the greeting smoothly.
She was a bit surprised by the overly polite response but let it slide.
“You’re living here?”
“Yeah, no rooms left over there…
Wait, is it okay to talk about this on stream?”
“It’s fine, it’s fine.
Probably?”
“Yukari?”
“Eek!”
Maki’s face turned demonic again, and Yukari quickly took a defensive stance.
Surprisingly, nothing came.
“Ha… be careful next time.”
Maki’s unusually lenient reaction puzzled Yukari, but she quickly realized it was because of IA.
She nodded frantically.
If she teased now, it’d come back tenfold later.
Best to play it safe.
“So, how’s the game going?”
“Great!
Yukari-san’s a pro!
Watch, I’ll be eating chicken in no time.”
[?]
[?]
[Thought you were collecting hooks.]
[Who just got headshot while zoning out?]
“Agh!
That doesn’t count!
No count!
IA’s here, so it’s a reset!”
[Yukari’s too kind.]
[Blaming the newbie lol.]
Despite the chat’s jabs, Yukari puffed out her chest confidently.
IA’s gaze reflexively followed.
Compared to Maki and Akari’s hills, Yukari’s was a vast plain.
A relief?
Or a disappointment?
As IA pondered, Yukari moved to start the next game.
“Come out when the mission’s done.”
“Sure, I’ll wrap up quick.”
“Alright.”
Greetings done, no reason to stay.
As Maki prepared to lead IA away, a sudden message popped up on Yukari’s stream.
“Huh?
What?
A mission at this timing?
Let’s see…
What?
Have IA try?”
[Hope you get along!]
Yukari’s expression shifted at the viewer’s chat.
They just met.
Sure, they’ll live together and become family, so getting close is fine.
But shouldn’t that happen slowly, naturally?
As her mind leaned toward declining, she saw it—the weight of capitalism.
“What?
100,000?!”
A 100,000-yen mission.
The “get first place” mission had just crossed 60,000 with viewer contributions.
This was huge.
But the task was brutal: have IA get first place.
She looked like she’d never touched a game.
It felt like a mission designed to fail.
But with 100,000 yen on the line, not even trying…
As Yukari agonized, IA stepped forward.
“Are you calling me?”
“Uh, yeah…”
Her innocent blue eyes blinked, and Yukari’s inner angel and devil started a chainsaw duel.
The devil Yukari was obliterated instantly by the angel’s chainsaw sweep.
“Could you try just once?”
“Sure, if it’s okay with me.”
Wait, did the angel and devil swap?
No, nothing weird here.
Nothing at all.