Chapter 52: Whiny Baby Compilation

My steps toward the stage were light.

After being pushed onto stage by others so many times, it was impossible not to get used to it.

One by one, the other generation members began rising from their seats and gathering in front of the stage behind me.

‘…Maybe I shouldn’t have done this.’

I spoke confidently, but inside I sighed. Still, the water had already been spilled—it was too late to scoop it back up.

I used to have a hard time standing in front of people, but now? Whatever.

‘Let’s just do it.’

There are no incompetent normies here. And no illustrators either. Only the virtual idol named Yuwol.

An idol. A job most people have probably dreamed of at least once. Even if it’s in a virtual space, an idol is still an idol.

And idols are supposed to make people happy. Not that I have a strong sense of duty or anything toward the job.

But still, I’m a hero. So I have to do it.

I climbed onto the stage and stood in front of the stand mic.

After taking a deep breath and scanning the stage, I saw 45 other idols looking at me with curiosity. Once I’m done, I guess someone else will come up next.

Bearing the weight of their gazes, I opened my mouth.

“The party felt a little too quiet because of me, so I came up here… Would it be okay if I sang a song?”

As soon as I said that, cheers and applause erupted from the others. VR chat lit up with encouraging messages, and the voices of about 40 VTubers gave me a strange boost of confidence.

Before starting the song, I asked Tsupi for the MR and glanced at the stream chat.

• —The youngest has it so rough…

“Pfft!”

A funny comment popped up and made me laugh weakly.

Nodding to that chat, I replied.

“It’s not really that rough. I came up here because I wanted to.”

I looked again at the seniors seated below the stage. So many of them had shown me interest and kindness that I found courage I didn’t even know I had.

“Then, I’ll start with something simple—‘See You Again Next Time.’”

Still, I was going to start with one of my own songs. I wasn’t going to compromise on that.

After my mini-concert ended, generation members started coming up to the stage one after another.

Once someone breaks the ice, it makes things easier for the next person.

I stood in front of the stage and watched the other members’ mini-concerts up close.

“Elainé-sunbae sings pretty well, huh…?”

• ?
• What do you mean by that, Yuwol, Yuwol dear…
• Wait, isn’t she an idol too? Wol-ah
• ?? lol
• How low must the expectations have been for that comment lolololol
• Tsupi: lololololol
• She may not look it, but she’s a plant mage ㅇㅇ She grows plants with songs
• You really said “pretty well” to a senior lolololol

“No, that’s not what I meant…”

I felt wronged, but thinking back, I guess it did sound kind of bad. Yeah… my bad on that one.

Honestly, how often do I hear the other gens sing?

Between work and streaming… I’ve been too busy to even check out their broadcasts.

Sure, I’ve had some streams playing in the background while working, but I’m the type to let it go in one ear and out the other. So I didn’t really remember hearing any songs.

‘Wait, wasn’t today also something else?’

As Elainé stepped down and Angela went up on stage, the thought hit me.

Aside from the exchange meeting… there was something else going on today. What was it again?

‘…Oh, right. It’s Kanu’s birthday.’

I let out a low sigh and held my forehead. No wonder I’d been feeling off.

There wasn’t a particular reason I knew Kanu’s birthday. I just happened to hear it once while watching her as one of the VTubers I was interested in.

Of course, I don’t need to go out of my way to celebrate her birthday. It’s true I like Kanu the most out of the gens, but we’re not especially close or anything.

Still, now that we’re in the same group and I’m her junior, a gift wouldn’t be a bad idea.

‘What would be good? A new outfit, maybe? Hmm…’

I’ll ask her about it later. I can’t give only Kanu a new outfit—that’d look like special treatment. Might even get me scolded by Märchen.

But then… what can I give her?

I’m kind of useless. The only thing I know how to do is draw.

I glanced toward where Kanu was and saw her chatting with her fellow genmates.

Gen 5 is a group of five: Kanu, Inyu, Mash, Kadera, and Mopin. A relatively large group compared to the others.

I watched them huddled together and laughing for a moment, then turned my head away.

I’ll ask her during Part 2. Now’s probably not the time.

Still, maybe I should tell the viewers. Some of them probably know already, but—

“Hey, did you all know? Today’s Kanu-sunbae’s birthday.”

• Yes! We know!
• If you don’t know, you’re basically a spy lol
• Just her birthday donations today are already in the thousands ;;
• The mysterious Gen 5 member with 2 million subs…
• Huh? Today’s her birthday?
• Oh, that’s why I saw a Kanu banner in the subway earlier. It makes sense now
• Wol, did you prepare a gift for Kanu?

“…Of course I did.”

• lolololololololol
• You were one beat too late, Hero
• Oh oh, look at her avoiding eye contact. Did she really prepare anything?
• Eh tsk tsk, back in my day, we’d rent out the White House a month in advance for a senior’s birthday

“How would you even rent the White House.”

More and more people were teasing me these days. Not that I really minded.

I stepped away from the stage and returned to the spot I’d been sitting earlier. Thankfully, no one was there. Everyone was too focused on the stage to care about this corner.

I liked the quieter, more subdued atmosphere here better than the stage area.

“We’ll just hang out here. You all prefer playing with me too, right?”

• eeeek
• agreed
• Gotta play with awkward baby Yuwol
• Who else will play with Wol if we’re not here…
• Tsupi: Want me to come sit next to you?
• eeeeek
• This is the vibe we’re here for

“Managers aren’t allowed. Go hang out with the other managers.”

• Tsupi: Gasp
• lolololololololololol
• Ack lol
• For real lol, managers should entertain themselves
• They’ve got like 22 people anyway;;
• Our Wol says she likes being alone

“Still, I can’t just chat forever. Should I sing something now and then? There probably won’t be any background music though, is that okay?”

• Wow
• eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
• eeeeek
• Yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes
• KYAAAAAA I’m so glad I watched today’s exchange meeting!
• BIG YUWOL
• Wait, is this a second concert??
• I hit record
• Will this be uploaded later?

“Probably? But I’m not really sure how my YouTube works. Tsupi will probably upload it.”

Even though it was technically an exchange meeting, I was spending it alone, choosing to talk with the viewers.

I filled the time by singing a little here and there.

Before I knew it—

It was time for Part 2 of the exchange to begin.

——–[KR Märchen Live Gallery]——–

[Title: Part 1 Stage Highlights Before We Head Into Part 2 of the Exchange]

(Yuwol stage video)
(Akira stage video 1)
(Akira stage video 2)
(Elainé stage video 1)
(Elainé stage video 2)
(Angela stage video)
(Sion stage video)
.
.
.

One last one before I vanish.

(Video of Yuwol singing acapella at her seat)

No edits ㅇㅇ and yet it sounds like something off a playlist. Enjoy the next hour.

Likes: 9183 / Dislikes: 2

• Thank you, kind stranger…
• The spirit of the strong still lives on
• Akira omg lolololol her high notes gave me full-body chills
  • For real;;; her vocal technique is peak Märchen-tier
  • Hmm, is she that good though?
• Yuwol kicking off the concert was honestly the move of the night
  • No joke lol she was so cool
• Märchen2: Yesss, something to listen to on my way home
  • ??? Aren’t you unemployed??
  • Märchen2: Shut up you @#% basement rat lololol
• So… you are unemployed?
  • Märchen2: Yeah, I’m a home security guard
  • But then wtf do you mean “way home” lolololol
  • LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
  • Märchen2: The path to bed is my commute home lol
  • You absolute clown lolololololol

[Title: ???: The seniors are streaming their hearts out, what’s the junior doing?]

(Chat from Tsupi during the exchange, appearing on Yuwol’s stream)

Yuwol: Like I care

lololololololololololololololololol

Bro what can the manager even do lol
She already gave us two mini-concerts

Likes: 3812 / Dislikes: 0

• For real lol
• Wol did everything she needed to lol
• “Like I care” had me howling lolol
• Senior gens really have been slacking lately ㅇㅇ time to rally behind our baby
  • For real, so true
• Dude she gave us everything already!
  • Holy Yuwol…

[Title: Part 1 Exchange Meeting – Baby Moments Compilation]

(Video of Yuwol humming)
(Video of Yuwol happily eating leftover strawberry pie)
(Video of Yuwol singing a children’s song)
.
.
.

If I send this to Märchen, would they upload it on Wol’s sub-channel?

Likes: 4913 / Dislikes: 0

• Oh damn…
• How’d you even get this footage? lololololol
• -Not even official highlight clips are this good lol
• Tsupi’s probably gonna ban you, bro, this is some next-level creep vibes
  • But that’s the best part
  • What
• Please please please please please please please upload this to the sub-channel…
• Märchen2: Oh snap, this is the one for today
  • ?
  • Uh… what do you mean “this”?
  • Märchen2: My lullaby
  • lolololol wheeew…
  • Märchen2: What were you guys thinking… bunch of pervs!
  • Oh my god lolololololololol