Chapter 50

Ŕｅаⅾ​ ​оո ḰɑｔŔｅα​ԁɩηｇĊ​аϝε

First Stream (3)

From then on, the stream went fairly smoothly.

Well, as “smooth” as it could be when I kept dying over and over because of the oversized keyboard and mouse.
Still, once I got a little used to things, I managed to dodge the traps decently—and after some time, I even got close to clearing it.
Just like now.

“Ah, ahh, ahhhhhhh…”

Isn’t she being a little too dramatic? lol

How many game overs is that now?

At this rate, we’ll finish asking everything about Nacchan and still have time left lol

That was the closest she’s been to clearing it so far though

So close, Nacchan!

lol

Honestly, I wasn’t that devastated.
It was just… so close, you know? That kind of disappointment hits hard.
Still, I wasn’t really upset even with the teasing from the chat.
I was a little tired, sure, but not drained or anything.

“This time, I’m definitely going to clear it!”

No way, lol

That last one was lucky, let’s be real

I don’t think she’s got what it takes to finish this lol

Nacchan is so bad at games ww

Maybe I really couldn’t clear it.
But if they were going to call me bad at games, then I had to beat it—no matter what!

“I will clear this! Let’s go!”

I might not win, but this time… it felt different.
A faint sense of clarity blooming from the fatigue.
I latched onto that single thread of focus and honed in on the game.
I could do this. I could do this—Ichinose Natsu!

“Uuuuuhh… huh— I did it! CLEARED! WAAAAAH!”

[GAME CLEAR!]

Congrats, Nacchan!!

clap clap clap clap clap clap

I knew you could do it, Nacchan!

She finally cleared it lol

Don’t most people go easy on debut streams tho? lol

Wait, it’s already been four hours?!

What?! She actually finished it…

I really thought she wouldn’t clear it today lol

But seriously, congrats Nacchan!

With fanfare ringing out and a big GAME CLEAR on screen, I threw both arms into the air.
Finally! I finally cleared it!

The chat, which had been teasing me nonstop, suddenly erupted with celebration. It felt… weirdly good.
Hmm, okay. Since they’re congratulating me now, I’ll forgive them. Just this once.

“Anyway! That’s going to be the end of the stream for today. Bye bye, everyone~”

Bye bye, Nacchan~

Thanks for the fun today!

O-natsukare~

O-natsukare? lol

O-natsukare~
[STREAM END]

—

[Natsu’s debut stream dropped yet? lol]
[Would I be posting if it didn’t? lol]

ㄴ[But seriously, why did she just start with a game?]
ㄴ[She got completely swallowed by the concept lol]
ㄴ[Isn’t that game popular with IRL streamers? Is she from that scene?]
ㄴ[ㄴOther VTubers have played it too, yeah]
ㄴ[Also, answering questions every time she dies? That’s kinda creative]
ㄴ[Calling themselves “Gamers” and then actually starting with a game lol]
ㄴ[She even turned the Q&A into a game lol]
ㄴ[At this rate, everything is gonna be settled through games]
ㄴ[You can already tell she’s got the spark lol]
ㄴ[Lowkey, the positive vibes are making me come back for more]
ㄴ[Though… for someone in Gamers, she’s not that good lol]
ㄴ[She did fine, honestly]
ㄴ[Natsu trying her best is the cutest]

[Excuses: ON]
[(Clip of Natsu saying her keyboard and mouse are too big to show her real skills.MVI)]
“It’s a valid excuse, but still kinda sad lol”
ㄴ[She’s cute even when making excuses]
ㄴ[It’s like my little cousin whining—adorable]
ㄴ[If her voice wasn’t this cute, I’d be tempted to flick her forehead lol]
ㄴ[You can tell she’s really trying to keep herself in check]
ㄴ[Wait—is she really an adult? No joke?]
ㄴ[ㄴWouldn’t she have to be, to debut under a company?]
ㄴ[ㄴThere’s no way she’s actually 7 years old lol]
ㄴ[ㄴIt’s only better because she’s legal lol]
ㄴ[ㄴ(Inari PedoStrikeZone Emote)]
ㄴ[ㄴ(Inari PedoStrikeZone Emote)]

[Q&A Summary from Natsu’s Stream.TXT]
[Too many questions to organize neatly, but most importantly: we got her height and weight]

ㄴ[How tall/what weight?]
ㄴ[ㄴ116cm, 20kg]
ㄴ[ㄴWait, she’s really that small?! lol]
ㄴ[ㄴEven in the debut stream, you can tell. She’s like half of Toya lol]
ㄴ[ㄴSeriously tiny]
ㄴ[ㄴ(Inari “nothing is too small” emote)]
ㄴ[All those questions came from her dying in the game lol]
ㄴ[ㄴStill, she never gave up and cleared it in the end—props to her]
ㄴ[ㄴEven after dying so much, her energy stayed up and she stayed cute lol]
ㄴ[ㄴDoctor, I think I’m addicted to Ichinose Natsu…]

[Natsu finally beat the game lol]
[(Image of Natsu throwing both arms up in celebration.jpg)]
“Why is she so freaking cute lol”

ㄴ[It’s like when your little sister beats a game after you go easy on her, and she gets so proud of herself lol]
ㄴ[The fact that someone smaller than an elementary schooler is acting like this is wild]
ㄴ[ㄴDude, what’s wrong with you…]
ㄴ[ㄴYou’re a certified weirdo]
ㄴ[ㄴBe thankful she’s not Korean or you’d be in jail]
ㄴ[ㄴBut what if she was Korean? And on a domestic VTuber forum?]
ㄴ[ㄴThen she’d be raking in pensions from the NatsuGallery lol]

—

It had been so long since my last stream, and it was so much fun.

For someone who’d spent nearly their whole life streaming, from just before adulthood to now, maybe I’d taken that joy for granted.
But sharing time with others… it really made my heart pound in the best way.
Even now, I could still feel it thumping in my chest.

I pressed my hand against my heart and smiled.
‘This must be my fate.’

What was I even thinking when I said I wanted to quit?
When I thought about how lifeless I’d been not long ago, it made me laugh at myself—just a little.
Even if my body ached from sitting for so long, I was still so happy.
Today’s stream had been packed, in a good way.
For a “rookie with experience,” I think I did pretty well for a first stream.

“You did great, Yeoreum.”
“…How was it? Was it okay?”

Oh, right. Toya had been watching.
I’d been so focused on the game and chat that I kind of forgot.

Perfect—since she was here, I might as well ask.
When it comes to things like this, sometimes it’s more important to hear what someone else thinks than judging for yourself.

“It was amazing. And you were adorable!”
“…Really? You’re not just saying that ‘cause it’s me, right? You really mean it?”

“Of course I do! Now, here comes your reward pat-pat~”
“Eep…”

…Maybe I should’ve asked someone else.
Toya would probably praise me no matter what I did, so she’s not exactly the most objective critic.
…Not that it mattered.

I leaned into her hand as she smiled and gently patted my head.
I thought I would be the happiest one after my debut, but looking at Toya now, I wasn’t so sure.

“That game you played today—you played it way back, right? Back then, didn’t you have unlimited obstacles?”
“I did? Wait, you remember that? Wait, you watched my streams?!”

“You have to watch your oshi’s streams! If I miss the live, I at least catch the archive!”
“…So you really meant it, huh?”

I never doubted her, but hearing it directly from her made it hit differently.
She really had been watching me. Every day.
The thought alone made my heart race—and maybe my face a little warm.

Embarrassing. No—more like…

“…What, are you falling for me?”
“…”

—A little warmer. A little deeper. Like that.

“…I don’t know.”
“Uh-oh, someone’s blushing~ Hehe, Yeoreum always shows it on her face. That’s what makes you so cute!”

As Toya leaned in with that teasing grin, I turned my head away.
Her playful tone tickled at my ears.

Okay, enough of that for today, yeah?
Anyone would get flustered if someone said something like that so suddenly, right?

And as I turned my head, she poked at my cheek with her finger, making me pout.

“I’ll stop teasing you if you tell me how you really felt about me when we first met.”
“Ah.”

And just like that, the embarrassment came rushing back.
…Oh no. I knew I forgot something.

Fables