Chapter 38: Talent
"I forbid you from appearing in live broadcasts or video streams together with her."
"Why the hell not!?"
The story goes back a day earlier. Before Elf caused chaos in the game center rankings—back when she was still out shopping for clothes in town. This was inside the office building housing the VTuber agency 《2.5D》.
"Why can’t I do a collab with Elf!?"
VTuber Kirishima Megumi, better known by her nickname Kirishi-tan, slammed her palms against the glass table in the agency's reception room, her voice sharp with anger.
But the slender young man sitting across from her didn’t flinch. He merely brushed the hem of his well-tailored jacket with his fingertips, perfectly composed.
"It’s simple. She’s far too captivating."
"…What’s that supposed to mean? If I collaborate with someone captivating, wouldn’t the stream be more exciting?"
"Yes. It would."
"Then what’s the problem!? What, are you saying you want to exclude Elf just because she’s not signed under 《2.5D》? That’s ridiculous. Elf is going to blow up. Her popularity’s only going to grow from here!"
"I agree with both points."
"…Then we should work with her, shouldn’t we?"
"No."
Just as Megumi fell silent from frustration, a staff member set down two cups of tea before them.
"Here’s some herbal tea. I thought it might help you relax."
"…Thank you, Segai-san."
The woman in the suit, whom Megumi had addressed as Segai, bowed lightly and stepped back behind the young man.
"Give me an explanation I can accept."
"She’s too captivating. So much so that if you’re on screen together, 『Daimyō Kirishi』 would be completely overshadowed."
"—!?"
At those words, Megumi finally understood.
"If you do a collaboration stream with her, I predict your viewers will start drifting toward her, and your audience numbers will fall. That’s why, as your agency president, I’m forbidding it."
After all, a viewer’s time and money are finite.
Naturally, they’ll gravitate toward what’s more entertaining, cuter, more fun, and more fulfilling. Elf might not be a VTuber, but in terms of streaming-based entertainment, their audiences overlap considerably. In fact, even Megumi’s loyal viewers—the so-called “Lambs”—had been watching Elf’s streams without hesitation.
On one hand, you have Elf, a naturally intense personality who’s been snatching headlines all over the industry. On the other, there’s herself—someone who never made it big in her previous life, who had to create the “Bow-Specialist” persona just to stay relevant in the industry.
The young president’s concern wasn’t baseless. Even Megumi couldn’t deny that.
But—
"I understand where you’re coming from, President."
"Then you’ll comply?"
"I refuse."
For the first time, the young president’s composure faltered.
His slightly widened eyes reflected the sight of Megumi, staring straight back at him, unyielding.
"Elf is captivating. But just because I collab with her doesn’t mean my Lambs will abandon me."
"And why are you so sure of that?"
"Because being with Elf is fun for me. And when I’m having fun, my Lambs will enjoy it too. I finally figured that out."
The young president blinked, as though dazzled by something bright.
"…You’ve gotten stronger."
"? President, did you say something?"
"Just talking to myself. If you have the resolve, then let’s try it—just once."
"Try…?"
"Yes."
He downed the herbal tea in one go and set the cup aside.
"You may stream with her whenever you like. But if your subscriber count doesn’t grow enough, it will be strictly forbidden from then on."
"I can’t fail… absolutely…!"
That’s why Megumi—Kirishi-tan—chose a horror game as the main feature for her collab with Elf.
A classic genre for female streamers. Plenty of highlights could be captured, and the in-person collab made the interactions visually appealing. She even guided the viewers’ choices to favor this outcome. Success was guaranteed. She had that confidence.
"Then… why…!?"
Top chat: Elf-san is funny, but the pace is getting a bit dull.
Top chat: Kirishi-tan’s reactions are sharp, but the game flow feels repetitive.
Top chat: It’s more fun when Elf goes completely wild.
"Kirishi-tan, is something wrong?"
"…It’s nothing. Come on, Elf, let’s continue the game."
Two monitors illuminated Kirishi-tan and Elf.
.
.
.
On Kirishi-tan’s streaming screen, her subscriber count was barely increasing.
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