Basement-Dwelling Loser VTuber

“Mina, they’re recruiting new students for the second generation at Star’s Flow, you know? How about you apply?”

Suddenly, my thoughts froze.

“…What?”

Why did the name Star’s Flow come out of Mom’s mouth?

The only Star’s Flow I know is a VTuber agency.

But I just can’t imagine Mom knowing about VTubers.

I sipped my drink while glancing at her.

Her neat black hair and brown eyes.

When she wears a suit, she has a very dignified vibe, basically the definition of an OL (Office Lady).

It’s impossible for my mom, who seems completely out of touch with subculture, to know about Star’s Flow.

I must have misheard her.

“We’re planning to recruit new students for the second generation at Star’s Flow.”

Well, that delusion didn’t match reality.

“Really, huh?”

“Yeah. So how about you give it a try? I’ve prepared the paperwork, so all you have to do is apply.”

Mom pointed to an envelope in the corner of the table.

What is that, Star’s Flow application papers?

“How on earth do you know about VTubers?!”

In my bundle of questions, Mom tilted her head and looked at me.

Her expression was so stoic that it made me almost swallow my breath.

But after living with Mom for 15 years, I know.

She wasn’t mad at all; she just had no particular thoughts on the matter.

“Hmm. Is it strange that I know my daughter’s hobby?”

“That’s not it… but isn’t this a bit different from just knowing a hobby?”

“What do you mean?”

Mom looked at me with a blank expression.

This slightly clumsy mom has appeared on TV and is quite capable too.

The disconnect is strong.

“Knowing a simple hobby is one thing, but knowing internal news like recruitment is different…”

“Oh, you didn’t know? Star’s Flow is a subsidiary of my company.”

“…Huh?”

“Mina, I started studying once I learned that your hobby is watching VTuber broadcasts. But once I studied, I understood it clearly. While the VTuber industry was indeed in a slump, it’s still a market with enough potential.”

Star’s Flow is a subsidiary of the company Mom works at?

I knew the company she worked for dealt with games, anime, comics, dramas, and many other fields.

But to venture into the VTuber industry from there?

“So I suggested to the company that we should dive into the VTuber market. That’s how Star’s Flow was established.”

Wait a second.

That means…

“Mom.”

“Yeah?”

“Have you ever talked to Natsune?”

“If by Natsune, you mean Nanase?”

“Yeah!”

“Well, I actually recommended Nanase. She was a cute girl.”

How envious.

I’m so envious I could bite down hard!

But my favorite was actually debuted because of Mom.

Could she be my benefactor?

No, even without that, she’s still my benefactor.

“Anyway, how about trying to apply for the second generation at Star’s Flow?”

Ah, right.

That was the topic at hand.

“But why are you suggesting I apply for the second generation?”

“VTuber, it’s your hobby, right?”

“That’s true…”

“And it’s your dream?”

“…Huh? What do you mean?”

“Hmm?”

Mom looked like she had a hard time understanding what I was saying.

I probably look just as confused.

“You’ve been watching history and gear prices for VTubers late at night while leaving the computer on, right?”

I was just curious!

“Yeah, that’s when I realized you want to be a VTuber and that there’s value in the market. I wanted to be able to help you later.”

Today, I discovered an astonishing fact.

The Star’s Flow associated with Natsune was established to help a mom with her daughter’s dreams!

“I just enjoy watching VTubers; I’ve never thought about wanting to be one.”

“…Really?”

With my answer, Mom lowered her gaze and took a sip of tea.

Though she seemed indifferent, after developing a skill for interpreting Mom’s expressions over 15 years, I could tell.

Right now, Mom was seriously disheartened.

That slightly protruding lip, barely noticeable unless you pay close attention, was evidence of that.

“I must have been mistaken.”

She had indeed been mistaken.

“I thought you’d like it.”

What is this?

“How unfortunate.”

I felt a sudden pang of guilt.

“If it was your misunderstanding, I won’t really push you. But Mina, can you at least think about it once?”

“About what?”

“About applying for the second generation at Star’s Flow.”

As she spoke, Mom definitely wore a gentle smile.

“A VTuber doesn’t directly broadcast their face, but rather streams according to their character’s concept, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Then it’s something you can do even if you’re shy. You could improve that while broadcasting.”

On my report card, naturally, there were standard notes on my personality and friendships that Mom was fully aware of.

“You mentioned before that you wanted to change that personality, right?”

“Yeah…”

“Then it’s okay to give it a try, that’s what I think.”

There are quite a few people claiming to be introverts who pursue broadcasting to change their personalities.

Watching those people, I always wondered where such an introverted person could be.

In front of people whose faces you don’t even know, how could an introvert showcase so much content?

If there’s a black cat asserting that, I’d boldly ask, “Do you have a talent for being an extrovert?”

So, to be honest, it meant I don’t have confidence.

I have no confidence in broadcasting as an introvert.

Even if I were to try, it wouldn’t fix my personality.

“So just think about it once, okay?”

But…

“…Okay.”

With Mom saying all this, how could I refuse?

I nodded and quietly took the application envelope she offered.

“But if it’s your company’s subsidiary, isn’t it essentially a free ride?”

“Don’t worry. Star’s Flow is a gathering of people who are serious about VTubers, and they won’t care about my position. If you don’t prepare properly, you might fail.”

“Ugh.”

“Seriously. They had a lot of different opinions when selecting Nanase. When they read those documents, they probably didn’t even know you were my daughter. At most, the representative would know, but that’s it.”

Well, if Mom is that adamant, I guess it’s true.

By the way, the decision about selecting Nanase had differing opinions.

Star’s Flow. It might actually be a shady company…

★

There are various genres in manga and novels.

Among them, there’s school romantic comedies.

While attending school, characters meet various people, events happen, and relations develop, that’s the genre.

Do you know the characteristic of the protagonists of such romantic comedies?

It’s simply the spot of the protagonist.

The very back seat by the window.

Only those who are filled with youthful school life can sit in that spot.

And I have the memories of a previous life that others don’t have.

That’s the ultimate symbol of a protagonist.

So there was a time when I thought I could definitely sit there…!!

“Thank you for your hard work!”

“Yeah, everyone go home.”

Of course, I’ve already come to a complete realization of reality.

Currently, my seat is in the central rear diagonal right.

It’s a position suitable for Extra A, a self-proclaimed? introvert!

“What club activities are you going to do?”

“I want to try joining the cooking club.”

“I’m still thinking about it.”

Scary, the extroverts.

It’s only been a day since we met, and they’re chatting nonchalantly like that.

Well, at one point, I dreamed of being like that.

Club activities?

I, of course, go home right away.

In other words, I’m a member of the go-home club.

I need to return home as fast as possible to watch OnTube and catch up on the anime and light novels I’ve missed.

What? “Escape being an introvert?”

The fact that I messed up my high school debut from day one means I could never pull that off.

I’d be way too embarrassed.

“Hey, Kayanoh?”

As I was packing up to leave the classroom, someone called my name from behind.

“…Huh?”

Calming my racing heart, I turned around to see a classmate, a girl with a slightly stiff expression looking at me.

She was definitely sitting in the very back, among the top tier of the school cast… what was her name again?

“Hey, we’re all meeting for class unity today, how about joining? Originally, we wanted to do it yesterday, but you left before Kayanoh could say anything.”

Class unity?

Of course, I want to participate, but wouldn’t a person like me end up ruining the mood instead?

But I also felt it wouldn’t be right to refuse such an invitation.

“I-I… um, have….”

As I tried to say I had no plans and it was okay, she interrupted.

“Oh, if you have plans, that’s alright. Then we’ll count you out for today.”

The girl retreated, saying she was disappointed.

Then, she joined the group of kids, blushing, and started chattering and squealing.

“Seems like you have plans…”

“Considering how she hurriedly left yesterday…”

“After all, it’s like that…”

“I heard from a friend who went to the same middle school as Kayanoh…”

Not at all sounding disappointed.

Considering she didn’t even finish her sentence before leaving, it must have been a formal inquiry, right?

It’s always been like that.

It’s not a lie; I’m really a pretty girl.

Sometimes when I look in the mirror, I’m still amazed at how pretty I am.

Yet, between my previous life and the ten years that passed, I often wondered if the standards of beauty had changed.

Even with such social skills—or lack thereof—I thought I would at least make some friends because of this appearance.

However, upon reflecting on all 15 years of this life, I couldn’t particularly name anyone I considered a friend.

In other words, perhaps all the standards of beauty had shifted, and what I once considered my lovely facade had become an ugly visage instead.

Of course, seeing the faces of entertainers on TV made me quickly realize the sad truth.

The reason I’ve been alone and without friends is that my communication skills are notoriously terrible.

Well, a few boys approached me, but their intentions were obvious, so I rejected them.

Over the five years since recalling my former life, the pattern has always been the same.

New classmates would speak to me on the first or second day.

“Hey, we’re gathering for class unity, wanna join?”

And when I hesitate…

“Oh, it’s not mandatory, so if you can’t, that’s fine.”

They would backtrack my indecision.

And when I was about to say I had no plans, they cut me off with…

“If you’ve got a commitment, then I understand.”

Then, from the next day on, nobody spoke to me again.

Even if I totally fumbled my self-introduction, the chance for me to escape being an introvert thanks to my absurd beauty vanishes just like that.

So sadly, it means today I also got fooled again like a fool.

But even knowing that, responding with hope is an introvert’s habit.

“Ugh.”

Could it be that I’m emitting such strong introvert energy that nobody can hide from it?

Everyone must be sensing it and quickly fleeing.

…When I get home, maybe I’ll cry a little and then watch Nanase’s clips before today’s stream starts.

★

Three weeks passed in the blink of an eye.

And during that time….

“Today, Natsune is as cute as ever.”

Of course, I haven’t changed at all.

Going to school, I occasionally answered teachers’ questions but otherwise kept my mouth shut, spending time alone, then returning home to watch VTuber streams or enjoy manga and anime.

“Ugh.”

[Well, I’m the type of person who streams when I’m usually lonely. Because I think everyone watching these streams are friends, I can open up comfortably.]

As I sighed in melancholy, suddenly, Natsune’s voice resonated in my ears.

Everyone watching the stream are friends, huh…?

“…Should I give it a shot?”

Yeah. When you think about it, there’s a saying, “I have friends online.”

Maybe applying wouldn’t be so bad.

Thinking further, there might be things I can talk about because I don’t know their faces?

Most importantly, the viewers watching the live streams of VTubers are probably all introverted otakus like me, right?

So there are likely many stories we can relate to.

There must be others like me in this wide world.

And moreover, it seems like Mom wants me to do this…

“Ugh.”

It’s not something I want to do…

I’m satisfied with my current lifestyle…

I’m not like that black cat…

It’s all Mom’s idea…!

I let out a sigh and reached for the Star’s Flow application papers I had previously shoved on the bookshelf.

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