Ch. 43 MtF – Chapter 43
by AfuhfuihgsChapter 43
A Step Forward. (4)
Today’s stream had been a huge success—well, even if it wasn’t my stream.
“Then, I’ll see you at your debut, Totomo-chan.”
“Y-Yeah, I’m in your care going forward…”
Maybe it was from the rush of singing so joyfully, but even Nagisa-san’s usually composed face was a bit flushed.
Debut.
That’s right, my debut was just around the corner.
It had all happened so quickly that it still didn’t feel real.
When I bowed my head and thanked Nagisa-san, she let out a gentle laugh and reached out to ruffle my hair.
…Why does it feel like everyone I meet ends up patting my head?
It was only for a moment, but the warmth lingered on my crown for quite a while.
Toya and Inari were still rowdy, saying they were going to do a part two of the stream.
Nagisa had to leave first because of her curfew, so the stream ended there.
A curfew… she really is like a noble lady.
Even when Inari offered to walk her home, Nagisa politely declined and headed out alone. I saw her off, then returned to the room.
“You know, I’ve never seen Nagisa pat anyone’s head before. She’s not usually one for physical affection.”
“Doesn’t that just mean our Yeoreum is that cute? Fufu~”
So Nagisa wasn’t the type to do skinship, huh?
Getting a headpat from someone like that must be… a good thing, right?
Still, with Toya calling me cute right next to me, I couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed.
Being called cute… yeah, that’s still tough to handle.
“Yeoreum—wait, should I start calling you Natsu-chan now?”
“…If possible, call me Ichinose-san.”
“Eh? Why?! That makes us sound so distant all of a sudden!”
“I’m joking.”
“Oh, it was a joke! Wait—why are you still being so formal with me?!”
This is exhausting…
Sure, her reactions were fun to watch, but they were also a lot.
Toya was energetic, but Inari? She had this… unhinged spark in her eye.
If there was ever a poster child for “smiling madwoman,” it’d be her.
“We’re not that close yet.”
“Aw…”
“So let’s work on becoming closer from now on.”
“…Totomo-chan…!!”
Easy. She’s so easy to read.
Of course, just because I said that didn’t mean I disliked Inari or didn’t want to get closer.
Toya once called her “a weirdo, but not a bad person”—and honestly, that was spot on.
It was just… my nature. I wasn’t the type to quickly grow close to people I’d just met.
“Alright, Inari? Time for part two. Get ready.”
“Okay! I’m in! Totomo-chan, are you joining too?”
“Hmm…”
Now both Inari and Toya were staring at me with sparkling eyes.
That’s a lot of pressure…
But I wasn’t sleepy yet, so I figured I might as well.
Besides, even if I went to bed now, I’d be sleeping in the stream room anyway—same place as them.
“I’ll stay with you.”
“Yay! Really?! I’m so happy~!”
Toya was so thrilled, she picked me right up.
Wasn’t that way too easy?
I was suddenly face-to-face with Toya from above, and my lips instinctively pouted.
What was this, airplane ride for kids?
At first, the height scared me, but I’d been lifted so often by now that I was totally used to it.
Oh—suddenly, I got curious.
“Toya, how heavy a dumbbell can you lift?”
“Hmm… about 15kg with one hand?”
“…I see.”
My body weight was around 19 or 20kg now, so yeah… Toya could lift me effortlessly.
Somehow, hearing that made me realize all over again just how small and light I’d become.
“I wanna hold Totomo-chan too… I wanna hold Natsu-chan… I wanna hold Yeoreum too!!”
“Toya.”
“Yap.”
“Eek?!”
Sensing that Inari was about to go on a rampage, I calmly called Toya’s name.
A sharp karate-chop hand strike flew out instantly.
The blow hit Inari squarely, and she crumpled with a short scream.
Oh. Toya’s still holding me with one arm.
To me, that detail was much more important than Inari getting smacked down.
“Let’s go, Yeoreum.”
“Ah, wait for me!”
Recovered quickly as always, Inari hurried after us into the room.
Somehow, I had the feeling we’d be up really late tonight.
—
[Today’s V-Spe stream was absolutely loaded, LOL]
[Toya, Inari, Nagisa singing, and a second stream with Toya, Inari, and Totomo-chan—amazing]
ㄴ[It was so packed I might explode LOL]
ㄴ[Just hearing the three of them sing was enough, but they actually kept going? Insane.]
ㄴ[It was past midnight and their energy was still sky-high]
ㄴ[Putting loud person + louder person = zero chance of quiet, lol]
ㄴ[I hope they keep doing regular collabs now that they’ve finally gathered like this.]
ㄴ[Especially Toya! Please sing more often!]
ㄴ[Someone get Inari to keep provoking her regularly, lol]
ㄴ[Totomo-chan’s still up pretty late tonight, huh.]
ㄴ[She looked really energetic watching them sing lol]
ㄴ[Energetic Totomo-chan is so cute.]
[Is Totomo-chan asleep?]
[(Clip of Inari asking if Totomo-chan is sleeping.MVI)
She’s not answering… is she really asleep?]
ㄴ[Just a second ago they were talking about the new unit, and now it’s all about Totomo-chan lol]
ㄴ[Even with the noise, she doesn’t wake up. Impressive.]
ㄴ[Means she was really exhausted~]
ㄴ[Inari’s totally twitching, dying to poke her cheek right now.]
ㄴ[I wanna see Totomo-chan sleeping too.]
ㄴ[Why do only Toya and Inari get to see that??]
ㄴ[Kids really can’t stay up too late, huh]
ㄴ[INFO) Totomo-chan is the same age as Toya.]
ㄴ[Wait, did they say that?]
ㄴ[They’re friends, so probably same age lol]
ㄴ[(Toya Cute~ Emote)]
[Why Totomo-chan became our queen.]
[Toya said she was bringing her friend on stream.
Then we heard that friend’s voice and it was incredible.
Turns out she was a former VTuber planning to return.
She interrupted Toya’s puzzle game and made her do her first 2025 singing stream.
<— That’s our queen.
And that’s how Totomo-chan became our oshi.]
ㄴ[Above all: she’s cute.]
ㄴ[(Toya Cute~ Emote)]
ㄴ[(Toya Cute~ Emote)]
ㄴ[Everyone who’s seen her says she’s cute—what does she look like?!]
ㄴ[Didn’t even Nagisa say she was cute on her own stream?]
ㄴ[Nagisa saying someone is cute = 100% verified truth]
ㄴ[Getting Toya to sing = Queen behavior lol]
ㄴ[The elegance of an oshi!]
—
Ah… I dozed off.
At some point, while I was nodding along to Toya and Inari’s lively conversation, I must’ve passed out.
Still, I lasted until after midnight, so maybe that counts as progress?
Anyway, when I opened my eyes, I saw a familiar ceiling.
It was the ceiling of the room Toya and I slept in together.
As expected, I was lying in bed.
“You’re awake?”
“…Yeah. I’m up.”
“Tada~ I’m here too!”
“…Ugh.”
I thought it was just Toya, but Inari was right there too, and I flinched.
Inari looked completely heartbroken.
No, wait! That sound wasn’t because I saw her face—I was just holding back a hiccup!
Hiccups were my mortal enemy.
If I got them, it always led to coughing fits, and that combo was hell.
“I’m sorry! I made that sound because I was trying to stop a hiccup. I really can’t get hiccups…”
“Oh, if that’s the case, I get it. Toya told me a bit about your health yesterday!”
I didn’t know what Toya told her, but if it meant she’d be considerate, I was grateful.
Toya had been with me long enough and heard directly from my doctor, so it was fine for her to know…
But other people weren’t like that.
My body was barely hanging on—just healthy enough to get by.
Like a machine with rusted, broken parts, somehow held together and looking fine on the outside.
“Here, I’ll help you up.”
“I can do it myself—”
“But Yeoreum is weak in the morning.”
As I tried to sit up, Toya effortlessly lifted me.
She does this every morning, even when I tell her I’m fine…
Though honestly, I am thankful.
Fables
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