Chapter 102: [The Kid Who Changes The World]


    <IIIIROH-SAMAaaaaaa!?>


    As soon as the call connected, she shouted those words, supposed to be our first conversation.


    She is from Ukraine but lives in Japan. A real middle school student? A bilingual VTuber.


    <Wow?! I was surprised!>


    <Eh, ahh… I''m sorry!>


    I got thrown off guard when she suddenly called me with "-sama" attached to my name.


    I can''t let my oshi (favorite) apologize. I have to express my love!


    <No, no, don''t worry about it. I''m a huge fan of yours, Ilyena-san. Your broadcasts that make Ukraine and Japan easy to understand are always helpful and informative.>


    <No, no, no, it''s me who is your huge fan of, Iroha-san. I watch your broadcasts without fail, and other people always get relied on you. Your linguistic skills are amazing, and, above all, you''re adorable.>


    <No, no, no…>


    <Likewise, likewise…>


    It feels like we''re in a matchmaking meeting.


    And then, I snapped back to reality with a "Ha!"


    Oh no, I let my otaku side slip out in my joy of talking to my oshi.


    I was speaking incredibly fast.


    Huh? Does she, Ilyena, have the same reaction?


    If that''s the case, it''s a great honor for a VTuber.


    <Um, by the way, Iroha-sama. I wanted to ask, now that you reached out like this, does that mean you finally realized?>


    <N?>


    <There''s no point in hiding it. Yes, it''s me!>


    <Ah, nice to meet you. I''m the Trantor Girl Iroha.>


    <EEEEhhhhhh?!?!? No wayyy!? You didn''t realize it at alllll!>


    <Huh?>


    <N-no, I mean… Umm, Iroha-sama, did you notice anything?>


    <…? Come to think of it, it''s a little embarrassing to be called ‘-sama'' from the first meeting. I would appreciate it if you could use my name without honorifics.>


    <Not that!? L-look, my voice, and stuff! Do you have any thoughts about it?>


    <Um…>


    <Is that so?! Uuuhh, I thought my efforts had finally paid off since you previously said VTubers were your type. I thought it was finally happening.>


    <Ah, but… I think your voice is incredibly lovely and cute! I love it!>


    <I love you—I love you—I love you too! Kyaaahhhh~! U-um… I also really, really love you, Iroha-sama!>


    <Really?! Yaaay! I''m so happy too!>


    Both of us rejoiced together.


    Ahaha, what a wonderful moment… Oops, not a moment, but Ilyena shouted, "It''s not just that!".


    <I-I''m sorry…>


    <Ah, no! Please don''t worry about it! It''s my problem, so please don''t mind it! Yes, I know, I know. That''s fine. It''s alright. Because I adore you, Iroha-sama!>


    <Sigh…>


    <Also, I would be happy if you could speak casually with me and drop the formalnguage. I''m more ustomed to that.>


    <Is that so? Okay. Then I''ll use casualnguage with you, Ilyena-chan.>


    <No, that''s not it.>


    <Eh!?>


    <I have my pride that I can''t give up!>


    <I-Is that so?>


    While talking to Ilyena, I had a thought.


    I get thrown off when I''m talking to her!


    For some reason, it''s really hard to gauge the distance between us!


    Perhaps it''s because she''s a VTuber, with a unique sensibility.


    However, she''s also one of my favorite VTubers, and I find that endearing, quirks included.


    And if that''s what she wants, then there''s no choice.


    I''ll meet her expectations and casually talk to her, even if it''s one-sided.


    <But, Iroha-sama, if that''s the case. Why did you contact me? Your channel has over a thousand times more subscribers than mine. Honestly, it feelspletely imbnced.>


    <Ah, well…>


    I exined the situation and told her I wanted her help with information dissemination.


    Her response was…


    <Of course, I''d be happy to! That''s what I want to say, but…>


    <Guess it''s a no after all, huh?>


    <N-No! It''s not like that!>


    <N?>


    I thought she was rejecting me again and was about to give up, but she denied it.


    So, what is she going to say?


    <On the one hand, I don''t object to cooperating. However, my subscriber count is much smallerpared to yours, Irohasama, and I don''t think my content will have a significant impact. It won''t achieve the kind of effect you''re hoping for.>


    <That''s…>


    Now that she mentioned it, it was entirely true.


    Even a thousand subscribers, which is one-thousandth of mine, is a considerable number when viewed in istion.


    But my perspective gets distorted because I usually watch popr corporate VTubers.


    However, when considering my and Angu Ogu''s goals…


    It seems I had cornered myself quite a bit.


    Icked sound judgment.


    <Yeah, you''re right. No, it''s okay. But just having you coborate with me is reassuring.>


    <Is that so? I''m sorry for not being capable enough.>


    <That''s not…>


    However, the negation that came out of my mouth was quite shallow.


    Silence fell between us.


    It was Ilyena who broke the silence.


    <Um, um! Can I make a suggestion?>


    <A suggestion?>


    <Yes. My channel doesn''t have arge number of viewers. However, I have firsthand experience in Ukraine. So instead of individually disseminating information…>


    As if she had made up her mind, Ilyena said,


    <C-Can we cobs?!>