Chapter 123

Ｒｅａｄ ｏｎ ＫａｔＲｅａｄｉ​ｎｇＣａｆｅ

**Guerilla Stream. (3)**

“Ah! I just had an idea!”

– What idea?

– Her tail shot up when she said that LOL

– Toya is so cute. So cute. So cute.

– She’s tall, but her movements are super cute ww

– Damn it, Toya, how far are you planning to go with this cuteness?!

– ww

– Did some kind of plan come to mind?

“Today’s stream will be the _Yeoreum Medley_! Or something like that?”

…Is it okay to just say that out loud?
Well, people would figure it out anyway once she started singing, so maybe it didn’t matter.

But the moment Toya mentioned singing _my_ songs, the chat absolutely exploded.

Though honestly, I think what got everyone more excited than the idea of her singing was the fact that she said “Yeoreum-ssi.”

– Is Yeoreum-ssi not singing with her?

– Duet with Yeoreum-ssi please ww

– Now that I think about it, it’s been a while since Toya sang Yeoreum-ssi’s songs…

– It’s been like a year, yeah ww

– What _is_ Yeoreum-ssi to Toya anyway?

– Wait, the backing track already started LOL

Without even giving herself a countdown, Toya kicked off the music—causing the chat to grow wild with 草.

I wanted to sing along, of course…
But with my body the way it is, that wasn’t possible—so I settled for clapping along instead.

Not sure if my mic would pick it up, but whatever.
I just wanted to show my support.

The sound of rhythmic clapping filled the room as Toya’s voice rang out.
Listeners who had probably expected some flashy choreographed number thanks to the 3D stream… surprisingly still enjoyed the more relaxed song.

“You know, I feel like I sing better when I’m in 3D.”

“Toya, you always sing well.”

“Really? That makes me happy~”

– Tonatsu teetee moment

– So Nacchan, what did you think? Did you enjoy it?

– I mean, obviously she did—she’s praising her as always ww

– Honestly, the song sounds like it fits Toya better than Yeoreum-ssi 草

– It really feels like a breakup song…

– Sounds like a Korean-style ballad.

– Wait, how did people react when Yeoreum-ssi originally sang this?

When _I_ sang it…?

Hmm. Honestly, not the best memories.

It was kind of a breakup ballad, and since it was coming from a VTuber, the reactions were pretty much what you’d expect.

Stuff like:
_”Does this guy think he’s some kind of idol?”_
_”Trying to act like he can sing when he can’t.”_

That kind of thing hurt back then.
Now… well, I chalk it up to experience.

“This song would’ve been even better if it were Toya’s original.”

“Come on, don’t say that! It suits _Yeoreum-ssi_ way more than me, you know? Fuhee~”

“…Thanks.”

– This is so sweet it’s rotting my teeth.

– Is this a new sugar substitute? I’m writing a paper on it.

– I thought aspartame was the only sugar alternative… guess not ww

– Yeoreum-ssi could’ve never imagined this kind of reaction www

– Nacchan is too cute!

– Toya sings it beautifully, but I feel like it’d suit Nacchan too 草

– Hoping we can hear Nacchan sing her own songs again someday…

Everyone knew Ichinose Natsu _was_ Han Yeoreum.

But they still treated us like two different people—probably to be considerate.

That small act of kindness was why I found myself thinking:

_I want to sing again, and show them all what I can do._

And since I already had a plan in my head, I figured I’d start putting it into action right away.

That was how I used to be—Han Yeoreum, who jumped into things the moment they came to mind.

“You know, I’d rather my live concert completely bomb if it means Natsu gets healthier.”

“That’s not fair to the Totomos, Toya. They’re your family too, aren’t they?”

“Yeah, but—Natsu is my _family_.”

Family, huh…

Toya couldn’t even _see_ me with her eyes, and yet it felt like she was looking right at me.

I wanted to throw myself into her arms—but I reminded myself that we were _streaming,_ and barely held it together.

God, why’d she have to say something so embarrassing in front of everyone?

I let out a soft huff of air, half-whining, and Toya let out a little laugh.
When I smiled at her despite myself, I saw her smile back in the exact same way.

“…Toya, you can’t see me right now, right?”

“Hm? Nope, can’t see a thing.”

“Feels like you can, though…”

“More importantly! Since I sang a song, I _have_ to explain it, don’t I?”

Explain it? What’s there to explain?

I tilted my head in confusion—then Toya took a breath and _launched_ into it.

“I really loved how the beginning captured that fluttery feeling of meeting someone new~”

“…Is this a song review now?”

“I’m just sharing my thoughts.”

– LOL

– Nacchan, if you get embarrassed, just cover her mouth. With _your_ mouth.

– Don’t review the song in front of her, Toya www

– So _this_ was why Yeoreum-ssi released that unexpected breakup-ish ballad, huh 草

– Is this bringing back trauma memories? wwww

– 草

So it turns out Toya had just decided to give a full-on _emotional breakdown_ of the song.

And you know what? That’s fair.
It’s natural to share your thoughts after listening to a song.

But—okay, listen—

_Did it really need to be that long?!_

It felt like she talked for _three times_ as long as the actual song runtime.

At one point she started theorizing what kind of emotions I must have been feeling while singing…
And by then, my soul was practically leaving my body.

Like—_please stop already…_

“Toya, that’s enough…!”

“Ah, sorry. I got a little carried away, huh?”

“That’s… not what I meant, but…”

She looked at me like a sad puppy, her lips drooping.

At that point, I couldn’t say anything more.

They say no child can beat their parent—but I guess in my case, it’s that _I_ can’t win against Toya.

…Not that she’s my child or anything!
More like… you know. That kind of feeling.

—

**[Today’s song theme is apparently Yeoreum-ssi songs ww]**

**[(Toya singing Yeoreum’s original song.MVI)**
Same song, but in a different language and voice—it feels so fresh.]

> [Toya is literally an angel.]
> [How did Yeoreum-ssi end up singing a song like this? Was it a breakup with a lover?]
> ↳ [Didn’t Yeoreum-ssi say he was a forever-single type?]
> ↳ [That’s putting it nicely.]
> ↳ [More accurately, an eternal virgin lol]
> ↳ [LOL “eternal virgin”]
> ↳ [Apologize to Yeoreum-ssi right now wwww]
> [Still, Yeoreum pulled it off somehow.]
> [Toya’s voice is amazing.]
> [Toya’s best when she’s singing, no doubt. 草]
> [Her emotional delivery is unreal…]
> ↳ [What are you trying to say?]
> ↳ [Nothing, just facts ww]

**[Tonatsu sugar levels are lethal…]**

**[It’s like my brain is marinating in syrup from all this sweetness 草]**

> [Honestly, I had a bad day, but this stream made me forget all about it ww]
> [Maybe it’s the 3D, but everything feels so real and warm.]
> ↳ [Would’ve been even better if Nacchan did 3D too, though.]
> [I want to see Toya lifting Nacchan up again like in her debut… 草]
> ↳ [That moment was so iconic ww]
> ↳ [Didn’t think Nacchan would actually be _that_ tiny www]
> ↳ [But tiny is great. One’s tall, one’s small—perfect balance (笑)]
> [Tonatsu is always sweet, but today’s just on another level. Maybe because it’s Yeoreum-ssi’s song?]
> ↳ [The OG Tonatsu teetee…]
> ↳ [OG? They’re still the original lmao]
> ↳ [They _are_ the blueprint 草]

**[Toya reviewing Yeoreum’s song]**

**[(Toya explaining what she felt listening to and singing the song.MVI)**
Yeoreum-ssi—no, Nacchan—is probably making a super pouty face right now www]

> [Wasn’t this song a lowkey black mark on Yeoreum’s past?]
> ↳ [A song about heartbreak from someone who’s never even dated wwww]
> ↳ [Why did Straight give him a song like this anyway…]
> ↳ [Still, it came out surprisingly well, so it’s fine 草]
> ↳ [If Yeoreum hadn’t sung it, we wouldn’t get Toya’s cover now—so thanks, Yeoreum-ssi ww]
> [This review is _so_ long…]
> ↳ [But Toya looks so happy, it’s hard to complain.]
> ↳ [Meanwhile, Nacchan’s probably close to tears ww]
> ↳ [Imagining pouty Nacchan is part of the fun 草]
> ↳ [I want to see teary-eyed Yeoreum—no, Nacchan.]

Fables