Ch. 212 MTF-Chapter 212
by AfuhfuihgsChapter 212
Once Again (1)
“Haa–aahm…”
I slept like a rock.
As I rubbed the grit from my eyes and stretched, warm sunlight greeted me. Honestly, I figured I’d be out until evening, but I must have built up more stamina than I thought—no trace of that usual half‑awake grogginess.
“Sleep well, Yeoreum?”
“Oh, Toya.”
Toya had gone to bed even later than I did, yet she was bursting with energy. Guess that’s the difference in constitution. When I took her outstretched hand she gave a little tug and pulled me right out of the covers.
“You sure were on fire last night—feeling okay?”
“Well… yeah, I guess?”
“Atta girl, atta girl. Mom is so proud.”
“Wh‑who’re you calling Mom?!”
She patted my head like she might burst into proud tears, and a sharp protest sprang out before I could stop it. Okay, yes, be happy for me—but not like that. My cheeks felt hot, so I turned away and harrumphed. Ugh. Embarrassing.
“Can’t believe my little Yeoreum can stay up late and still wake up fresh.”
“Maybe it just means I’m improving?”
Life really does come full circle. Back when I first started streaming I hit my physical limit and took up exercise; now I’d done the same, and here I was again. Hard work doesn’t guarantee change, but without it nothing changes at all. Even if it feels like nothing’s moving, the little gains pile up until you find a better version of yourself.
“By the way, what were you building in that mansion? I logged off and you all kept going.”
“Hmm… that’s a secret~♬”
“If I told you it’d spoil the fun—just log in and look,” Toya said. Which, of course, made me want to log in right now. She’d never disappointed me with surprises before. But I’d set my stream schedule together with the listeners, so I would hold out until showtime. Following Toya toward breakfast, I daydreamed: just how big, how detailed did twenty‑nine seasoned veterans make that mansion, working late into the night?
[We Love Each Other, Our Sky of Happiness~♪]
We both turned at the sound—some music‑variety show was playing on the TV.
“Isn’t that a bit on‑the‑nose, pushing me like this?”
“Not pushing—just giving you something to reference,” she replied.
Ever since my solo‑concert outline took shape, Toya had been like this: suddenly cranking up the number of karaoke streams, queuing other VTubers’ live stages on YouTube, leaving music shows on whenever I passed the TV. How excited was she for my live?
“Keep that up and I’ll open with ‘Little Devil Revolution.’”
“Fine, but then you have to sing every song I want.”
“You already have a list of twenty‑plus requests!”
Maybe because it wasn’t a once‑in‑a‑lifetime chance, Toya intended to milk it for all it was worth. Realistically ten songs would already be a lot.
“Well, if Yeoreum gives me a personal concert, maybe it’s okay~”
“Later. I’ll do it later.”
“Later? When later? Ahh, I can’t wait—Yeoreum’s private live~♪”
She hugged me tight. What Toya wanted wasn’t my public stage but me singing her favorite songs—preferably live on a fully decked‑out stage. Someday I would sing every one of her picks on that stage.
“By the way, they’re starting to run ads soon.”
“Already?”
We’d only talked about the live a couple of days ago, and it was already ad time. I pictured the subway posters and my heartbeat sped up. Ads… yeah, that was how it went last time, too.
“You okay, Yeoreum?”
“Yeah, just nervous.”
It felt surreal. Back then I stopped being ‘Han Yeoreum’ right when the concert ads went up. Round and round, and now I’m back here. Reversion to the starting point, you might say. This time I want to face the “after” that I couldn’t face before.
“You’re getting another shot at the dream you missed.”
“…Yeoreum.”
“Too corny?” I laughed awkwardly and looked away, worried my face was a messy mix of negative thoughts and swelling hope.
“Come on, food first. You can’t eat with your head bowed.”
“…Okay.”
Toya cupped my cheeks and rubbed the corners of my eyes with her thumb. I’m not crying, alright? I’ve chewed these thoughts over a lot; by now I’m mostly sorted. “Can I do it?” is long gone—now it’s “How well can I do it, how much can I enjoy it?”
“Thanks for the meal, Toya.”
“Just don’t eat while crying.”
“I’m not crying!”
She teased me right to the end; I knew it was her way of loosening my nerves, but lately she teased so much it was hard to bear. I let it slide because we were at the table—really, I did.
Growl‑l‑l.
“Heh, someone’s hungry. Let’s dig in, Yeoreum.”
“…Yeah.”
After all that singing and gaming last night, no wonder. Same as back then—except this time Toya was beside me, so I felt zero anxiety.
“Thanks for the food, Toya.”
“Eat up, Yeoreum.”
She flashed me a bright grin, and my heart fluttered. Nothing like the sickly racing of my heart condition—this was something else entirely.
[Toya’s awake]
(image: Toya whispering that Natsu’s still asleep)
Why is the gal‑boss still asleep? Didn’t SHE turn in first?
ㄴ Gal‑boss is a kid; kids need lots of sleep…
ㄴ Stop spouting nonsense and go live, Han Yeoreum.
ㄴ Honestly Toya’s the only one who keeps us updated on Yeoreum stuff, lol
ㄴ So Yeoreum herself doesn’t interact?
ㄴ Gal‑boss is sleeping.
ㄴ lol
ㄴ Can’t Toya just wake her?
ㄴ Toya’s basically her guardian—lets her do whatever she wants.
ㄴ Except exercise—she forces that daily.
ㄴ The boss should pray to Toya once a day for that, haha
ㄴ (Toya: “Exercise now!” kon)
ㄴ (Natsu: “End me…” kon)
“Isn’t it annoying when some VTubers almost never interact off‑stream?”
“Except Han Yeoreum.”
She dumps all her energy into the stream, eats the meal Toya sets out, stays up a bit, then crashes. Doesn’t mean zero interaction—she tells us everything important, does voice streams when sick. Ends on time, starts on time. Used to clock in and out like a salarywoman, but lately her streams run long. Feels like the old Han Yeoreum is back and I love it. If it were me, I’d be milking those tears for all they’re worth tbh.
ㄴ Honestly we should treat Natsu and old Yeoreum as separate now, right?
ㄴ She’s a corporate VTuber; best to avoid past‑life talk.
ㄴ People hardly bring it up outside fringe forums.
ㄴ Yeoreum herself doesn’t mention it either.
ㄴ Watching her show more emotion lately got me weirdly touched.
ㄴ Toya must’ve given her major mental‑health support.
ㄴ Yeoreum helped Toya when she was struggling; now Toya’s paying it back.
ㄴ You never know how ties between people will turn out, lol
ㄴ They’re living together now.
ㄴ Living together is practically family, right?
ㄴ Maybe not family, but definitely housemates.
ㄴ “Old Han Yeoreum” reminds me of that solo live subway ad…
ㄴ I was hyped back then, damn it.
ㄴ But thinking she’ll redo it as Ichinose Natsu kinda heals that wound.
Gal‑boss just posted a wis!
(photo: two hands making a V‑sign over empty rice bowls)
Those hands are tiny…
ㄴ Next to it is Toya’s?
ㄴ Yup.
ㄴ Side‑by‑side really shows how small hers are, lol
ㄴ Can she even hold a spoon with those?
ㄴ Bet Toya fed her, haha
ㄴ She’s ex‑IRL‑streamer, so showing her hands is no big deal.
ㄴ If you dig deep enough you can find her real pics, right?
ㄴ Seriously?
ㄴ Not under Han Yeoreum—search “Korean fairy,” maybe.
ㄴ Uh‑oh, that’s red‑pill territory—shut it.
ㄴ How did “VTuber red pill” turn into “fairy,” lol
ㄴ I saved every archive of creeps who harassed her and sent them to VSPE…
ㄴ Please have mercy!
ㄴ Mercy…!!!
ㄴ (Inari: “Pedo‑eradication strike!” kon)
Fables
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