Chapter 14: Kirishi-tan’s True Face

Top Chat: By the way, what about Kirishi-t—Mask Rider?
Top Chat: Oh yeah, I was wondering that too
Top Chat: After the morning stream, what happened?

"I told you up to the part where Kirishi-tan said 'no streaming until you wear something decent,' right?"

Top Chat: We heard that
Top Chat: She said Kirishi-tan out loud lol
Top Chat: We heard, but give us the details

"Alright, then I’ll start from there."

"She vanished."
"I turned it off!"

The laptop that Kirishi-tan had forcefully shut down with the power button made a little pyoong sound and went dark.

"I don’t know about your country, but sexual remarks are a total no-go on streams! Remember that!"
"I’m Japanese, though."

Kirishi-tan, now without her mask, wiped sweat from her brow as she glared up at the sun. Even though it was still morning, the temperature had already passed twenty-five degrees. No wonder biking around in that heat made her sweat.

"Want a towel? Got a new one you can use."

"Really? Then I’ll borrow it, thanks… But if you’re gonna prepare things, start with clothes."

"Don’t have any."

"What kind of life do you live to run out of clothes!?"

"Men’s clothes were enough."

"And no proper women’s clothes?"

"None. Not even panties, see?"

"W–What are you showing me!? …Ugh, you weren’t lying."

Kirishi-tan buried her head in her hands. Watching her, I noticed just how young she really was. Too youthful to be called an adult.

Thin eyebrows, large sharp-angled eyes that gave off a sense of willpower. Even without makeup, her white skin and the natural red of her lips stood out. She wasn’t beautiful yet, but you could easily imagine she’d grow into one someday.

"Haaah… I get that you’re throwing everything into your role, but there’s a limit. No streaming until you’re properly dressed. Got it?"

"Got it."

"Good answer. I’m Megumi Kirishima. Nice to meet you."

"I’m—"

"It’s fine. Even if the camera’s off, if you’re staying in character that hard, you don’t plan on giving your real name, right?"

Since she cut me off, all I could do was shake her hand.

"Do you live nearby, Kirishi-tan?"

"Yeah. When you suddenly started a reckless stream by a riverside I recognized, I nearly stabbed my throat with my toothbrush from shock."

"Sorry for worrying you."

"Don’t be. Like I said before… even if I don’t become the top archer in Gunfield, you taught me that the lambs won’t turn away from me. For that, I’m grateful."

"I see."

"Yeah."

"That’s good, then."

"…It is."

A brief silence. A lukewarm breeze passed between me and Kirishi-tan.

"Hey, Elf."
"Hm?"

"I realized… it doesn’t have to be just bows in Gunfield for me."

"That’s true."

"So… how about another collab? This time with a different game. Ah, but my agency might have conditions, so whether they can pay you a fee—"

"It’s fine."
"…Really?"

I ruffled Kirishi-tan’s hair as she looked up at me anxiously.

"I lost in Gunfield, after all. I want my revenge."
"Ahaha. Thanks, that makes me happy."

And with that, the cloudiness vanished from Kirishi-tan’s face.

"Hey, Elf."
"Hm?"
"If you’re free, maybe you and I could—"

Pirorin, pirorin, pirorin

"…Sorry, Elf. Mind if I step out for a minute?"

"And that’s when Kirishi-tan’s agency called her. After pulling a whole series of facial expressions, she reminded me again: ‘No streaming until you wear something decent,’ then headed off to the office."

Top Chat: Kirishi-tan, cockblocked from her date
Top Chat: Early morning before the shops open. Elf without clothes. Kirishi-tan living nearby. We’ve figured it out… it was about to be a home date!
Top Chat: Well, you did crash her stream yesterday and cause chaos again today
Top Chat: Can’t blame them for summoning her to the office first thing in the morning
Top Chat: …Wait. Is Kirishi-tan about to get punished?
Top Chat: All we can do is pray

"If it’s some harsh punishment, I’ll storm her agency myself."

Top Chat: What a man
Top Chat: At this point, nobody even stops you from calling Mask Rider ‘Kirishi-tan’ anymore lol