Chapter 94: Why me?

Every Monday is Han Ari’s regular day off from streaming.

But today is an exception.

[-Let’s gooo~]

[-Streamer, open the door!!]

[-WA! 1st Anniversary!!]

Even though only the intro song was playing, the viewer count was rising faster than ever before.

Understandably so, as special content commemorating Han Ari’s 1st debut anniversary was prepared.

The 1st anniversary is one thing.

But countless people flocked to the news that the legendary 3D designer Jina, who had never shown her face in a public setting before, would appear as a guest.

The channel waiting screen changed to a soft color palette and gradually began to brighten.

In a pastel-toned cafe background with a beach visible outside the window.

Han Ari, in light and refreshing attire, appeared.

[-Hanha Hanha~]

[-Happy 1st Anniversary!!]

[-1st Anniversary (congrats)]

“Hello, everyone.”

As soon as Han Ari greeted with a bright voice, donations celebrating the 1st anniversary poured in as if they had been waiting.

[Anonymous donor has donated 10,000 won]

[Happy 1st Anniversary!]

[Chairman of the National Han Ari Association has donated 100,000 won]

[This donation is just the beginning]

“Anonymous donor, thank you for the 10,000 won donation. Chairman, good to see you again today. Thank you always. Let’s continue to be together.”

The donations celebrating the 1st anniversary lasted for over 20 minutes.

The amounts weren’t small either. Saying they wanted to change the avatar’s outfit, quite a few people sent large donations exceeding 100,000 won.

In the early days of her broadcast, Han Ari would get flustered and her voice would crack every time her clothes changed.

But now, she had become experienced enough to smile naturally and offer thanks and additional reactions in a gentle voice every time her clothes flashed and changed.

[-Han Ari has become a streaming master LOL]

[-The passage of 1 year has turned a monster rookie into a streaming monster…]

Around the time the storm-like rush of donations subsided.

Han Ari began to introduce the special guest in a soft and calm voice.

“Shall we invite the special guest you’ve all been waiting for? The world’s number one 3D model artist and my most beloved Mama, Jina-nim!”

As soon as Han Ari’s introduction ended, Jina, who was monitoring the broadcast, immediately joined the voice chat room.

Simultaneously, on the left side of the broadcast screen, Jina’s symbolic avatar, ‘JINA’, slowly faded in and appeared.

The character, with black hair reaching her shoulders and wearing a loose shirt, exuded a languid yet sophisticated atmosphere.

Despite being a static 3D model without movement, its unique decadent appearance and exquisite modeling were enough to captivate everyone’s attention.

[-Cease fire!! It’s a female character!! It’s a woman!!!]

[-Look at the detailed character design LOL]

[-Looks like she was dragged out by force after working like crazy just moments ago LOL]

[-Ddyuddyait… Mamang…]

[-Mama who’s also serious about her own character]

The chat window began to explode with reactions once again.

Watching the rapidly scrolling chat window, Han Ari let out a slight laugh.

“Looks like everyone was really looking forward to Jina appearing on the stream? Anyone would think it’s Mama’s 1st anniversary, not mine.”

Just then, Jina’s low and calm voice flowed from the speaker.

It was a voice that possessed both a slight languor and a gentle resonance.

“Hello, this is Jina. It’s an honor to be able to greet so many of you on such a special day.”

As soon as Jina’s voice was heard, the chat window truly went wild.

[-Crazy, the voice is insane…]

[-No, was this person also a streamer??]

[-Please debut please debut please debut please debut please debut]

[Anonymous donor has donated 50,000 won]

[Day 1 of praying for Jina Mama’s debut]

“Thank you for the donation. But I have no thoughts of debuting as a streamer. I’m busy enough just carving 3D models.”

Despite the earnest requests of numerous viewers, Jina firmly drew the line.

Saying she was just here to congratulate Han Ari. That she had no thoughts of streaming.

[Daon has donated 100,000 won]

[Holding my breath until Jina Mama debuts as a VTuber! Heup!!]

“Um… Daon, you shouldn’t be doing this here. You should go stream instead of doing this.”

[-What? Is that the real Daon?]

[-DaonDaon-ah… What are you doing here…]

[-Welcome Cosmo Live 4th Generation ‘Jina’]

But the viewers, especially the industry-named president, paid no heed and continued to pour out messages filled with regret.

Of course, it had no effect on Jina.

Han Ari, watching from the side, spoke playfully.

“You’re incredibly popular, Mama? If I knew everyone would like it this much, I should have invited you sooner.”

“…If you keep teasing me like that, I’m just going back?”

“Ah, no! Without Jina, I can’t do today’s content!”

---

“Oh! Before we proceed with the content… Han Ari, I just sent you a link via email?”

“Yes? A link?”

“Could you download the file there?”

“Hmm… Hana version 3 final final real final…? What kind of file is this?”

“Still, it’s your 1st anniversary, so I couldn’t just come empty-handed. I prepared a gift. If you’ve received the file, would you like to update your avatar? I’ve added a few new features.”

When Han Ari ran the downloaded file, the screen flickered for a moment, and then the avatar was reconstructed.

“…?”

Outwardly, there wasn’t much difference from before.

Still the familiar silver-white hair and refreshing watery blue eyes.

It was the same ‘Hana’ she had been with for a year.

As Han Ari tilted her head slightly, as if wondering what the difference was, Jina, who was watching, let out a pik- laugh as if she had been waiting.

“You thought there wasn’t much change just now, right?”

“Yes…? Ah, no! No! Th-that’s not it…!”

Han Ari, flustered from being hit right on the mark, hastily waved her hands.

At that moment, the avatar’s expression changed arbitrarily, regardless of Face Rig.

Her indigo eyes darted left and right.

Both cheeks turned pale blue.

And beads of cold sweat could be seen forming subtly beside her temples.

[-Crazy expression detail, what is this;;]

[-What’s with the flustered expression LOL]

[-The realism is insane, seriously]

[-Now it’s scary, scary…]

[-The end of the human era has arrived ㄷㄷ]

Jina, enjoyably watching Han Ari and the chat window’s reactions, added an explanation in a soft tone.

“The newly added feature this time is the advanced emotion expression module. It infers emotions from Han Ari’s voice and facial expressions, allowing the avatar to express her inner feelings in real-time.”

“Yes?!”

“So, it means Hana can express the emotions Han Ari feels more honestly.”

Then she added with a small laugh.

“You won’t be able to hide anything from the viewers anymore, huh?”

“Jina-nim… Y-you’re too much, really…”

Han Ari, embarrassed, brought both hands to her cheeks.

The avatar replicated even that movement with extreme naturalness.

Simultaneously, a faint blush began to spread over her pale blue cheeks.

[-The blushing cheeks are really insane…]

[-Hoho, this is quite something, my junior is standing at attention?]

[-(Comment detected by Cleanbot for inappropriate expression.)]

[-Kraaack! Han Ari! Stop cosplaying as a VTuber!! Just admit you’re a cam girl now!!]

[Chairman of the National Han Ari Association has donated 100,000 won]

[Pasta Cam Girl #1 Han Ari]

---

“The intro was a bit long. Shall we officially start the talk show now?”

Han Ari took a slight breath and began.

“Come to think of it, this is the first time I’m talking with Jina while hearing your voice like this.”

“Indeed. It’s been a year since we first started contacting each other via email, and to think we’re only now properly talking… Haha.”

“It’s really too much. You even call others often.”

Han Ari’s cheeks puffed out slightly.

‘I’m sulking-‘ she openly showed her disappointment.

The avatar’s new feature, being used properly.

“…Actually, I was thinking I should give you my number.”

“Really?!”

Watching Han Ari cheer with an excited voice, Jina smiled faintly.

A moment of silence followed.

In that short stillness, Han Ari cautiously opened her mouth.

“Jina-nim, there’s something I’ve always been curious about.”

“What is it? Feel free to ask.”

Han Ari hesitated for a moment, then slowly began to speak.

“Why… Why did you give this avatar, Hana, to me?”

A question she had harbored in her heart since she started exchanging messages with Jina.

Words she normally wouldn’t have dared to ask and would have only thought to herself.

But because it’s the 1st anniversary, a single phrase she cautiously mustered the courage to ask.

“Back then, I was nothing… No one recognized me, and I had no potential… Even I couldn’t believe in myself…”

Han Ari took a deep breath, then added in a trembling voice.

“Why, of all people, was it me?”