Chapter 13: Heterosexual.
Movers are unloading items from a truck.
TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, and various furniture.
High-end brand products, obvious to anyone, pour out in a steady stream.
All of them are being moved into my place.
“I picked these out on my own since asking about each one might be a hassle, but if there’s anything you don’t like, let me know. I’ll get replacements,” Yusia said with a bright smile.
It sounded like something a chaebol heiress from a drama would say.
“You’re practically setting up a whole household… Is it really okay to accept this?”
I couldn’t possibly complain.
She got me everything I couldn’t afford myself.
“It’s a gift from a fan, so don’t feel burdened.”
“It’s a bit much for a gift.”
“It’s ten years’ worth of gifts.”
Is she that big a Scarlet fan?
But it’s probably like getting attached to a manga character.
Before I went to the demon world, when there were only three first-gen members, Yusia was in elementary school.
Her feelings stem from pure innocence, nothing like the rumors floating around online.
“Thanks.”
I don’t have memories of receiving gifts from fans, but I decided not to refuse.
It’d be rude to make her cover the cost of hauling them back.
“All moved in. Take care!” the movers called out as they left.
We went inside to look around.
The folding table was replaced with a proper dining set.
The floor mat was now a plush mattress and bed.
Did she pick that pink bedding to match my image color?
She even considered decor, adding a few stuffed animals.
I’d never have bought these myself.
“Thanks to you, it feels like a real home.”
“It’s nothing.”
They say generosity comes from wealth, but this is next-level.
It shows how deep Yusia’s love for Scarlet runs.
Feeling awkward just receiving, I prepared some snacks.
“This might sound weird, but is Sia from a rich family?” I asked Haeun Gil, who came along for the housewarming.
“Rich among the rich! Probably a hundred billion in her account! Her name’s Princess for a reason!” Haeun said in her lively tone.
“Stop saying that. I’ll get mad,” Yusia warned.
“Scary! You’re the one who asked if you should buy me a house to save on rent!”
“Lily, she’s joking, don’t take it seriously.”
After seeing the gifts, it didn’t sound like a joke.
“Well, the more money, the better.”
It all started with my stream.
Aside from the sleep stream, it was my first real one, and Yusia was apparently shocked by my bare-bones setup.
“I can’t just watch a first-gen magical girl who’s been through so much struggle like this!”
That’s when she decided to support me.
“Have you seen the computer? Sia doesn’t know tech, so I set it up with the latest specs. No budget limits made it fun to build! My own rig’s a relic, though,” Haeun said excitedly.
“Lily is Scarlet. Show some respect,” Yusia chided.
“No need for that. You both look older, and officially, you’re my seniors.”
It’d look weird to others otherwise.
Let’s keep it natural.
“We look older? That’s harsh!” Haeun protested.
“That’s not what I meant…”
“Just kidding, hehe.”
Haeun flashed a mischievous smile.
“Lily’s a great senior. We should use honorifics,” Yusia said, ever polite.
Is she being too formal?
“I don’t mind. Do what’s comfortable.”
“Lily-senpai’s the best! So generous! Totally cool!” Haeun cheered.
I knew from her streams, but Aurora Lora’s full of energy.
The opposite of Yusia, yet they mesh well because of it.
“Don’t spoil her too much,” Yusia said.
“Senpai said it’s fine, so what’s the big deal?”
“That’s what spoiling means.”
“Oh, you’re jealous, aren’t you? Worried I’ll steal Lily from you?”
“No, that’s not it!” Yusia flustered.
Their bickering reminded me of old times.
Stella and Spica used to squabble like this.
“Don’t call me senpai in public, Haeun or Sia.”
“Got it~.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
That’s the one thing to watch.
“By the way, any thoughts on a collab stream?” Haeun suggested.
“Even with a small fry like me?”
“It’s a hobby; doesn’t matter. Wouldn’t it be fun?”
I know the concept.
As magical girls, good chemistry could boost the vibe.
I wasn’t entirely uninterested…
“I want to go solo for now. I’m still getting the hang of interacting with viewers.”
Too much, too soon.
Greed can backfire.
I need time to adjust.
Thinking of my 90-degree bow for a donation made my face burn.
I jumped into streaming without prep.
“Aw, I wanted to collab with Scarlet Lily…” Haeun pouted.
“Pushing too hard could ruin the stream.”
“That’s the kind of chaotic fun I’m hoping for!”
“It’d be trauma for me.”
Haeun would probably cover well, but still.
“When you’re ready, let me know. I’ll make you go viral!” she boasted confidently.
Maybe because she knows streaming’s my only income.
“Very kind of you.”
My honest thought made Haeun blush.
“W-Well, just keep that in mind…! I’ll be waiting!”
She looked away, shy from the praise.
She’s got a cute side.
Haeun was on her computer.
T-shirt and shorts.
Sitting cross-legged, scrolling through a community site.
[Title: Third gen seems kinda weak lately]
The dinosaur’s one thing, but wasn’t the monkey manageable?
If Scarlet Lily’s gone, Korea’s done for.
[Dinosaur makes everything else look like small fry lol.]
[Monkey was S-rank.]
[On par with the dinosaur, but Scarlet Lily took it down.]
[Not quite on par.]
[S-rank look like chumps to you?]
Her hobbies are streaming and web surfing.
But Haeun lurks mostly in male-dominated communities.
[Dinosaur’s rank was unmeasurable. Even all of Korea’s magical girls couldn’t take it.]
[That’s just lack of data; it’s S-rank.]
[Everyone knows it’s S-rank. Point is, it’s a different league.]
[What’s Scarlet Lily then, one-shotting it?]
[Might be kept secret on purpose.]
[Dinosaur didn’t shoot beams, so maybe weaker than the monkey.]
[Beams wouldn’t even scratch dinosaur skin.]
[Beams that destroy buildings?]
[It didn’t shoot because it died first.]
Typical guys.
Love versus debates.
Heated discussions on topics rare in female-dominated communities.
“If it’s a monkey, call the dinosaur a lizard!” Haeun cracked open a beer and chugged.
“Pwah!”
Drinking after a day’s work is a ritual.
She typed while sipping.
[Third gen’s not weak; the monkey was strong. More dangerous than the dinosaur.]
Defending herself, she hit enter.
A small attempt at swaying opinion.
[Really? lol]
[Dinosaur would squash it lol.]
[Nonsense.]
No agreement, just pushback.
Haeun didn’t back down.
[What’d the dinosaur do? Break a building?]
[Could’ve leveled a city.]
[I could say that too.]
[Got a grudge against dinosaurs? Stick to facts.]
[Fact: the monkey caused a nationwide panic.]
A bit of a keyboard war, but she brushed it off.
Was it called a monkey because it seemed weak?
People were quick to downplay it.
[No. Fact: everyone thinks the dinosaur’s stronger.]
A new rebuttal.
“I know that!” Haeun downed the rest of her beer.
“Ugh!”
The debate started because Scarlet Lily’s too strong.
If she’d defeated it after its terror was known, opinions might differ.
No proof it’s a different class, so rumors spread.
It’s good no one was hurt, but being compared stung.
To clear her head, she browsed another post.
[Title: Why’s Scarlet Lily not streaming?]
What’s she up to?
Doesn’t seem active on SNS either.
[Busy serving 3 million won’s worth.]
[lol]
[Serve at night, stream by day!]
[So that’s why she’s busy lol.]
From jokes to light innuendos.
This community pounces on anything to tease.
“Now that I think about it, she didn’t like the yuri talk.”
When they met Scarlet Lily, it came up.
She didn’t outright dislike it but worried it’d give Frozen Princess a weird image.
“Guess I’ll help a bit.”
Tap tap.*
She typed a comment.
[She’s an active magical girl; none of that. Scarlet Lily’s straight.]
“Hehe~.”
Repaying a small debt to her great senior.
Not that anyone believed her.