Chapter 155

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**Recovery (6)**

Maybe it was because I hadn’t caught an actual illness—my recovery ended up being faster than expected.

After a full day of deep rest and sleep, I felt… surprisingly okay.

In fact, I was so energetic it was almost unsettling.

For the first time in a while, I _felt_ healthy again.

Maybe this was the power of exercise or something.

“Yeoreum, are you alright?”

“Totally fine.”

Toya looked at me with suspicious eyes when I said I was better after just one day. I raised an arm dramatically to show her just how okay I was.

See? Would I be this cheerful if I were still sick?

Only then did she seem a little reassured, and honestly, I was relieved too.

If Toya gets anxious, I get anxious. And if I get anxious, so does Toya.

_Still, it’s a good thing I didn’t miss too much practice time._

Toya’s live concert was just around the corner. If I’d been sick for several days or even weeks, it would’ve been a total nightmare.

I’d gotten sick from pushing myself during practice for _her_, and because of that, I couldn’t prepare properly? That would’ve just been too tragic.

Part of me wanted to head straight to the studio and get back to practice, but I decided to observe for a bit longer—better not to overdo it right after recovering.

Pushing myself too soon could make things worse.

“Then, how about a stream together? It’s been a while~”

“Didn’t we just do one yesterday?”

“Come on, Yeoreum. You were sick yesterday.”

Okay, fair. That didn’t really count as a proper collab.

Still, before we could stream, there was one important matter to take care of—

**Grrrr—**

“Ah.”

“Right, you only had porridge yesterday… I’ll make something yummy for you!”

“…Okay.”

I turned my head sheepishly as my stomach loudly announced its presence.

Even though I didn’t look it, I had a pretty good appetite. And I’d only had porridge the day before, so it made sense I was starving.

…I wasn’t always this food-obsessed.

As I jumped out of bed, Toya watched me with an incredibly pleased expression.

I glanced at her, then casually reached out my hand.

“What? Want me to hold it?”

“Ah.”

Oops—reflex.

We’d always held hands when walking, and yesterday Toya had held my hand the whole time, so I reached out without thinking.

Well… it’s not embarrassing or anything.

…Probably.

“Here you go~ Yeoreum’s favorite hand~”

“…Don’t tease me.”

I _have_ been more into hand-holding ever since my body changed, but I wasn’t usually the type to _ask_ for it like this.

I really was turning into a kid more and more every day…

Wait—am I gonna end up like Koyuki in the future?

…No way. Right?

“Then, shall we make whatever Yeoreum wants to eat today?”

“Omurice…”

“Oh! I was craving omurice too. Perfect!”

I could’ve stayed in the room while Toya cooked, but being with her was much nicer. So I decided to wait in the kitchen.

The rich aroma of cooking oil and delicious food filled the air.

As I sniffed eagerly at the harmony of scents Toya’s cooking created, she suddenly started giggling.

Toya, laughing while cooking is dangerous.

I told her so when she started shaking with laughter, and only then did she stop.

“Yeoreum, you must’ve been _really_ hungry, huh?”

“Was it… that loud?”

“Not really—just… super cute!”

She gave me a thumbs up as she set the finished omurice on the table.

So I guess I’m saved by being cute?

My stomach growled again the second I smelled the food, making Toya burst into laughter again.

…What can I do? Appetite _is_ one of the three basic human needs.

“I made a bit extra since you said you were hungry… Think you can eat it all?”

“…If I eat slowly, maybe.”

My stomach was small, so I couldn’t eat much in one go—but I digested quickly, so I could keep eating little by little.

Especially when I was this hungry—I could probably eat more and for longer.

Not that I was trying to overeat.

Even when I wasn’t starving, I could finish this amount over the course of one to two hours.

“Ah, should we watch something while we eat?”

“Huh? Like what?”

“VTubers or something.”

“Sure. But I wonder if anyone’s streaming at this time of day?”

Even though I _am_ a VTuber, that didn’t mean I couldn’t watch others.

Actually, I probably watched more than most.

I’d learn from others, see what I could improve on—or get my dopamine fix from VTubers who were great at things I couldn’t do.

Like, I focused mostly on gaming, so I loved watching VTubers who were good at singing or drawing.

“There’s one… and even though it’s daytime, they have tons of viewers.”

“Maybe it’s a foreign VTuber?”

“Mm… I don’t think so. Here, look.”

Toya held out a tablet and showed me the screen.

On it was someone playing a game—a character with the same color palette as Natsu.

If it weren’t for the wings on her head, I might’ve mistaken her for Ichinose Natsu.

Also… she’s _really_ good at the game…

“What’s her name?”

“Uhh… Yukitoki (雪朱鷺)?”

“That means ‘snow crested ibis.’”

“Yeah, they’re mostly white with reddish tones around the eyes, right?”

Her avatar matched the name perfectly in color scheme.

But… why did she feel so familiar?

I reached out and pressed the volume button, making Yukitoki’s voice grow louder.

Hmm… hmm…?

It’s too familiar. _Way_ too familiar.

“? What is it, Yeoreum?”

“Just… feels like déjà vu.”

Maybe a reincarnated VTuber I once collabed with during my time as Han Yeoreum?

No… probably not.

I’d occasionally checked in on the old VTubers I used to know, and they were all still streaming just fine.

Then… who could it be?

I felt like I was just one step away from figuring it out…

“Yeoreum? Yeoreum?”

“Ah, yeah?”

“You were just growling a second ago—you should eat.”

“Right, right. Then, time to eat.”

After saying _itadakimasu_, I picked up my spoon.

They say watching something while eating can make you overeat without noticing—but I knew my limits well, so I wasn’t too worried.

Besides, if I started to overeat, my body would definitely let me know.

**[Ah, that’s right. Come to think of it, my little sister was feeling sick recently.]**

– Another sister story again today ww
– He said she was quiet, but talks about her the most lol
– She was sick? I heard kids take a while to recover
– Just hearing about his imouto makes me feel warm
– So, did you take care of her?
– Knowing Toki-chan, I bet he didn’t ww
– 草

**[I _wanted_ to say I took great care of her! But… her guardian was so dependable that I didn’t need to. Instead, I cheered for her from the sidelines—so I totally did my part!]**

Yup, there _is_ something familiar about this.

Maybe it’s just the similarities.

I also have a little sister with a weak constitution, so I guess it hit close to home.

The main difference was that Yukitoki’s little sister seemed quiet, while mine—Koyuki—was loud and hyperactive.

“If Koyuki had been born healthy, she might’ve become an athlete.”

“Huh? Where’d that come from?”

“Just… hearing about little sisters made me think of it.”

Not really sure why.

Anyway, the rest of the meal passed pleasantly.

The VTuber we were watching—Yukitoki—just _wouldn’t_ stop talking, which kept things lively.

If I tried to stream like that, I’d be out of breath in no time.

“I get why she has so many viewers.”

“Right? Easy to listen to.”

“And watching her play is fun too. She talks a lot, but her voice is cute and clear, so it doesn’t feel noisy.”

“Exactly~”

…Why were we analyzing a VTuber again?

I looked down at my nearly empty plate and let out a contented sigh.

I was full and happy. Toya’s cooking really was the best.

As I rubbed my now-rounded belly, Toya smiled warmly at me.

She had the most motherly expression ever.

“Toya, you’d make a great mom.”

“Really? Then what about you, Yeoreum—would you be a good dad?”

“…Huh? Dad?”

“Well… usually the dad’s job is to happily eat what the mom cooks, right?”

“…Yeah, I guess so.”

I had no idea where this conversation was going, but since Toya was smiling, I figured it was all good.

I scraped up every last bit of food left in the bowl.

I wanted to help with the dishes too, but even with a step stool, the counter was a bit too tall—so Toya ended up doing it.

Sorry, Toya. I promise I’ll work out hard and grow taller.

…If I _can_, that is.