Chapter 204

R​ead​ on ​Ka​tReadin​gCafe

Return to Square One (3)

“…So, h‑how… was that?”

—Ooooh…
—Wow…
—Pretty sure I just heard something amazing ww
—Best take so far! ww
—She keeps getting better with time 草
—Honestly, this might be on Toya’s level wwww
—Not empty praise—it was really good!
—Nat‑chan! Nat‑chan! Nat‑chan! ×10

I knew they weren’t just flattering me—
because I felt it too. That last take really had clicked.
Exhaustion aside, a rush of pride flooded in—I did it.

—You could be a pro singer at this rate!
—A voice that rivals angels…
—Seriously, you could top the charts.
—Did you grab the mic at your first‑birthday party or something?
—How about launching a music career now?

“Um—w‑well, that’s a bit…”
The compliments snowballed into pure teasing.
Praise is nice, but overload is embarrassing. My face felt hot.

“I‑It wasn’t that good…”

—Ah, she’s blushing ww
—So cute, Nat‑chan www
—We only teased you to see that shy face 草
—Watching her smile turn bashful = priceless (笑)
—You’re all terrible, you know wwwwww
—草

Figures. Nat‑sumin have always loved messing with me—even when I see it coming it still makes me squirm.

“A‑ahem. Anyway, I think… I’ll stop the singing portion here.”

—Eeeeh…
—That’s it?
—She has sung a lot today.
—Wait, stream’s not ending too, right?
—No way, right? Only an hour in!

They panicked, thinking I meant the whole stream. I shook my head—
I was tired, but not done. I still had things to say.

“So—what do you all think about me singing? I mean, I am in V‑Spe Gamers, but, um…”
Words tumbled out jumbled.
Would it be weird for a Gamers member to pursue music? That’s why I’d avoided it—no solo lives, no original songs.
But now things were different.

“Your health has improved a lot. As long as you keep up light training, you’ll be fine.”
That’s what the doctor told me recently.
I’m not normal yet, but I’m out of danger.
No more hacking cough when I sing, no gasping for air on long walks, no stabbing pain from a simple hiccup.

[¥1000 Super Chat]
—Totally for it!
—Gamers or not, Nat‑chan’s the only member anyway wwww
—Just graduate into Gen 1 already?
—So we finally get an original song?
—But Nat‑chan has loads of originals.
—Ah… right…

“…There are… copyright—no, uh…”
I smacked my lips—almost spilled something dumb in the heat of the moment.
Teasing devils, all of them.

—Did we just hear her tapping her lips? 草
—wwww
—Well, you could always get permission and belt it out!
—First‑time viewer here ww

“Anyway, from now on I’d like to do some music activities too. I’ll keep it health‑friendly, so don’t worry.”
I’d already cleared it with the president—I’d get scolded to oblivion if I hadn’t.
Actually, the president was the last hurdle after everyone else’s worry parade:

“Are you sure you’re okay, Yeoreum? No overdoing it?” – President
“Nat‑chan, aren’t you pushing yourself?” – InaRi
“Natsu‑san, please don’t strain.” – Yuzu‑chan
…and so on.

They’d seen my condition firsthand, so the concern was justified.

“It’s official—I have the president’s approval.”

—What about Toya?

“Toya too.”

—Ragu‑Mama?

“I got the okay from Ragu‑Mama—and InaRi, Nagisa, Yuzu‑chan—everyone.”

—Thorough as always, Nat‑chan wwww

Yep— specifically so chat couldn’t throw extra names at me.
Well… there are some people left to ask, but—

“…That’s why I’m telling you: you are the last ones whose permission I need.”

—Full support here! wwww
—No Nat‑sumin would refuse Nat‑chan ww
—She’s a grown girl; she knows what she’s doing 草
—With so many people watching her health, it’ll be fine.
—Time to break my savings for Nat‑chan’s CDs ww
—Merch drought is finally ending 草
—As long as she doesn’t overdo it, 100 % yes!

Relief washed over me—mostly positive, a few cautious but supportive. If they’d opposed it, I might have dropped the idea.

“Thank you for giving me the green light.”

—No need to thank us ww
—Nat‑chan always does what she sets her mind to anyway ww
—Better to see you enjoy yourself.
—But don’t ditch gaming, okay?
—You’re in Gamers, remember…
—Feels like we’re parents granting a daughter’s wish ww
—Any Nat‑sumin older than Nat‑chan here? Probably all middle‑aged dudes lol

C’mon…

Back in the Han Yeoreum days my audience skewed student‑age… surely not all middle‑aged now—

[Every time I watch Nat‑chan I think of my daughter; I can’t help it.]
Clip: Nat‑chan asking chat for permission
“Feels like when my girl sang lead at her school festival then ran into my arms.”

ㄴSo… you’re married?
ㄴMarried and wholesome, wow wwww
ㄴNat‑chan does trigger protective dad instincts…
ㄴI’ve only got sons—wish I had a daughter like her.
ㄴShe’s older than my kid, yet I worry way more about her ww
ㄴBecause if Toya wasn’t around we’d all ban her from singing 草
ㄴI have no kids but Nat‑chan taught me fatherly love wwww

[Seems lots of married folks in Nat‑sumin?]
Chart: Nat‑sumin age poll—30‑40s dominate

ㄴAfter work, only Nat‑chan’s stream relaxes me…
ㄴMy daughter loved her first, so I started watching with her 草
ㄴMy son plays that game ‘cause Nat‑chan does ww
ㄴNow he searches YouTube for her covers.
ㄴSafe even for kids—bless 草
ㄴTurns out my wife’s a Nat‑sumin too wwww
ㄴWhole family’s Nat‑sumin here.
ㄴPlanning a family trip to her eventual solo live 草

[Nat‑chan running around collecting approvals is adorable ww]
Clip: “You’re the last permission I need!”

ㄴProps for getting everyone’s OK ww
ㄴAfter Toya, InaRi, Yuzu, the president, then Nat‑sumin = final boss 草
ㄴProbably asked us last because we’re the easiest?
ㄴNo—because we’re the biggest crowd 草
ㄴFeels like a daughter chasing her dream… 草
ㄴHer happiness when we agreed warmed my heart.
ㄴSolo live within the year??
ㄴNo way… (laughs nervously)
ㄴEven earliest next year, right? ww

Fables