Chapter 93

Re​ad on KatRe​adingCafe

**”Natsu is ‘Yeoreum’ in Japanese. (5)”**

“Hello… CEO.”

Just a little while ago, Toya had brought me to the company, hand in hand.

Toya wanted to come into the CEO’s office with me, but after I insisted, she agreed to wait outside.

No matter what this was about, it was ultimately my responsibility.

It wasn’t about drawing a line, but there was no need to drag Toya into this.

“Hello, Ms. Yeoreum.”

“…”

The CEO’s demeanor was the same as always.

Only… it was just the _demeanor_.

One look at the dark circles under their eyes, and I could tell just how much stress they’d been under.

And what kind of thoughts were weighing on them.

Because they had the exact same expression that my previous CEO—Straight’s CEO—used to make.

‘Still, maybe it’s a good thing I mentally prepared myself.’

I had already considered this might happen.

Even though I hadn’t directly said anything, it was basically a self-reveal of my past life without the company’s consent.

…In other words, I’d caused trouble again.

Just like how I felt so guilty toward my old CEO…

“CEO, I…”

“Are you okay?”

“…Ah.”

But I quickly realized this wasn’t what I thought it was.

That expression. Those eyes. Even that cautious way of speaking.

They were all out of concern for _me_. Asking if I was okay, worrying about how I felt.

This CEO… and the former one too…

_What… what have I done…_

I clenched my hand, and cold sweat began to pour down my back.

That wasn’t an expression of someone trying to fire me. It was the expression of someone who was worried—despite saying “there’s no choice.”

Suddenly, I couldn’t breathe.

I’d always been selfish, and the ones hurt by that were the people around me.

“I-I’m sorry. For doing that kind of stream without permission…”

“It’s fine. This is something I can handle on my end, so please don’t stress too much. What matters most right now is how _you’re_ feeling.”

“…I’m really sorry for causing trouble.”

Their unexpected kindness made me instinctively lower my head.

I’m sorry. I’m _really_ sorry.

I bowed deeply, and the CEO waved their hand, saying it was okay.

“I’m glad you’re doing better. Honestly, we were pretty worried when Straight contacted us.”

“…Straight did?”

“Yes, they were really concerned about you. I think they sent a manager over at some point and were shocked to find out your address had changed.”

Oh, right…

That must have been during the time I was staying at Grandma’s house. Even if they came to the old place, they wouldn’t have found me.

…I really caused a lot of problems, didn’t I?

I let out a slow breath, and the CEO poured a drink into a glass and slid it over to me.

“…Thank you.”

“Take your time.”

_Gulp, gulp, gulp—_

The cold drink helped soothe the heat in my chest, and I started to feel a little better.

_I really did something awful…_

As I fidgeted with my fingers and sighed again, the CEO reached out their hand.

They gently began to pat me on the head—

…Honestly, isn’t _everyone_ a little too comfortable patting my head?

“A-Ah, I’m sorry. I did that without thinking.”

“…It’s fine. Toya does it to me all the time anyway, haha.”

I was a little flustered, but the CEO looked even more embarrassed, so I decided to just play it off naturally.

They must’ve done it unconsciously.

“To be honest, part of the reason I called you in was because I was worried you might quit. It’s not easy to find a talent as gifted as you, Ms. Yeoreum.”

“Then—”

“If you’re not planning to quit, let’s wrap up today’s meeting here. Honestly, Toya’s not the most reliable person… Ahem. Forget I said that. If she hears I said that, she’ll definitely whine again…”

Their face still looked tired, but they were clearly smiling.

It was a smile a lot like Toya’s. Or rather, maybe Toya inherited that smile from the CEO.

Anyway, I bowed repeatedly to thank them and left the office.

Before I left, they handed me a box of cookies that had been sitting on the guest table, and I took it with me—though it looked like too much to eat on my own, so I figured I’d share it with Toya.

—

**”…So? How did it go?”**

“How did it go… well…”

Thanks to the CEO’s understanding, the whole situation around that broadcast seemed to have been smoothed over.

Of course, I couldn’t erase what had happened.

Who knows what might come next—but this was my choice, so I’d just have to take full responsibility.

I placed the cookie box from the CEO into Toya’s arms as she patted my shoulder, and she tilted her head.

“Why cookies all of a sudden? And fancy ones too.”

“The CEO gave them to me. They were on the guest table, and they packed them up for me before I left.”

“Really? When I went, there were only cheap snacks~”

“…These are expensive?”

Toya thought for a moment, then suddenly raised her index finger.

She seemed to remember something.

“These cookies cost like… 10,000 yen, I think?”

“…Really?”

That number felt strangely familiar. I glanced back toward the CEO’s office.

I imagined the CEO behind the closed door, then shook my head with a sigh.

Come on, Han Yeoreum. That’s way too much of a fantasy.

Hugging the cookie box tightly, I slowly began walking.

_…Maybe I’ll stream again. It’s been a while._

Today, I really wanted to see my listeners.

—

**[I’m rewatching Yeoreum’s “Thank You” stream right now.]**

**[Watching it alongside Natsu’s recent streams really shows how similar their movements are, lol.]**

ㄴ[The reason no one noticed is because the gender change completely threw people off—same habits and everything though.]

ㄴ[Movements that looked totally normal when he was a guy suddenly look super cute now that she’s a girl.]

ㄴ[ㄴBro… gay…]

ㄴ[ㄴShe’s a girl now, so it’s not gay.]

ㄴ[ㄴSeriously though, this really shows how much gender changes perception, lol.]

ㄴ[Were all those TS (gender-swap) April Fools streams Yeoreum did foreshadowing this?]

ㄴ[ㄴNo way.]

ㄴ[ㄴI doubt even Yeoreum knew their body would change.]

ㄴ[Even old Yeoreum fans are suddenly popping back up.]

ㄴ[Didn’t realize so many people watched Yeoreum back then, fr.]

**[Knowing Natsu used to be a guy just killed it for me…]**

**[Switching oshis, later.]**

ㄴ[That’s literally the appeal, what are you talking about.]

ㄴ[She’s just peak femininity now.]

ㄴ[ㄴThat’s proof Toya’s training was successful.]

ㄴ[ㄴNot training—just caring a lot, it seems.]

ㄴ[What did Toya even see in Yeoreum to treat her that well?]

ㄴ[ㄴEven family wouldn’t go that far, lol.]

ㄴ[ㄴToya would. She doesn’t get along with her family.]

ㄴ[ㄴGasp.]

ㄴ[ㄴGasp.]

ㄴ[ㄴ(_Won’t forgive even Toya’s parents_ reaction emoji)]

ㄴ[ㄴLOL]

ㄴ[Honestly, if I had a cute girl like Natsu around, I’d totally feed and house her too.]

ㄴ[ㄴCould you, knowing it’s Yeoreum inside?]

ㄴ[ㄴDon’t care. She’s a cute girl _now_, that’s what matters.]

**[Did Yeoreum post a Weeps update?]**

**[(Screenshot of Weeps post about contract termination with Straight.)
Says the CEO and staff are all good people, so they’d appreciate it if folks stopped trash-talking.]**

ㄴ[Real one.]

ㄴ[Voice and character? She’s the GOAT…]

ㄴ[She even asked people not to insult Straight when she announced retirement.]

ㄴ[ㄴSome folks just want to be mad, lol.]

ㄴ[Straight was kind of a victim too. They backed her with livestreams and ads, and then she had to break the contract.]

ㄴ[ㄴStill, I doubt Yeoreum even had to pay a penalty.]

ㄴ[ㄴIf that’s the case, then both sides are honestly just decent people.]

ㄴ[I wonder what would’ve happened if she had just come out and re-debuted as female Yeoreum.]

ㄴ[ㄴProbably would’ve faced pushback from higher-ups, lol.]

ㄴ[ㄴThat’s probably why Straight’s CEO had no choice but to end the contract.]

ㄴ[ㄴYeoreum’s mental state was too broken to keep going anyway.]

ㄴ[ㄴReally makes you realize how bad things are in Hell Joseon when orphans don’t even get basic health screenings…]

**[Wait, is the streamer back on?]**

**[(Screenshot of Ichinose Natsu’s channel showing a livestream started.)
SHE’S BACK!!!]**

ㄴ[Let’s go~ Let’s go~ Let’s go~]

ㄴ[Thought she’d take more time off, but she went live again lol.]

ㄴ[I was seriously worried she’d get kicked out of the agency again.]

ㄴ[ㄴObviously she got permission from the company first, lol.]

ㄴ[ㄴStill felt kind of impulsive, didn’t it?]

ㄴ[ㄴShe could’ve just brushed off the gaming part, but she _answered_ a red superchat, which makes it undeniable.]

ㄴ[ㄴThat red superchat reply might really come back to bite her lol.]

ㄴ[ㄴHopefully not. Her exit from Straight wasn’t messy, and she didn’t directly say she was Yeoreum.]

ㄴ[Honestly, who cares. As long as she streams, I’m happy. Upvote.]

ㄴ[ㄴUpvote lol.]

ㄴ[ㄴLet’s gooo~]

—