The Villainess VTuber Rips People Apart-Chapter 143: Outsider

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[General] Did a collaboration stream start?

【Collaboration】 Anna and Inagikabo’s friendship stream 【Shiroki Anna/Inagikabo/Aurora】

It’s up.

[Comments]

?At this hour?Seriously, a collaboration in the middle of the night, hahahaI have work tomorrow, damnHow did I miss the broadcast announcement?

ㄴ (author) It’s a guerrilla stream

ㄴ A guerrilla collaboration stream at 2 AM? What the hell...

"Collaboration with Inagikabo?"

At my suggestion, Anna tilted her head.

"Why Inagikabo?"

"How many people do you think are awake at this time?"

"Well, that’s true... but then can’t we just do it tomorrow afternoon?"

"Wouldn’t it be urgent even by then?"

"Ugh..."

Anna shut her mouth at my words.

Anna’s objection wasn’t exactly wrong. After a nap, she could invite someone else in a more reasonable state of mind.

"But there’s no one better for this than Inagikabo."

"Really? What makes you say that?"

"The fact that you’re not close with Inagikabo."

I said that.

A date, in the end, is about winning someone's heart on a first meeting.

In that sense, I know what Anna likes, and Anna knows what I like. We’re so close that practicing a date with each other wouldn’t make sense.

So, it’s best to face someone with whom Anna isn’t close.

In that sense, for example, Sora would be a bit of a gray area. It seems like Anna is jealous of Sora, but from my perspective, the two have become somewhat close.

On the other hand, I know Anna isn’t close to Inagikabo at all.

The only time Anna met Inagikabo, as far as I know, was during the “never-ending karaoke event until Aurora achieves Master,” and that was probably the first and last time they met. I don’t think I’ve seen them get close either.

Thinking about it, it makes sense.

Inagikabo tends to shrink back when there are too many people around, and Anna isn’t the type to approach others first.

There was simply no opportunity for the two to get close.

"Right... I guess because I’m not close with Inagikabo, this could actually be some good practice."

Anna nodded, seemingly convinced by my explanation.

──Well, it’s all just an excuse, though.

I wasn’t lying, but my true goal was somewhere else.

‘Can I get Inagikabo exposed a bit more here and there?’

In order to have a 6th-generation live stream someday, we all need to get 3D avatars, which means we need to raise the recognition of the 6th generation.

Sora and I are fine since we’re scheduled to get 3D models, but Chel and Inagikabo are the problems.

Chel is at least one of the participants in the “Aurora Battle for the Master,” so that’s somewhat helpful, but Inagikabo isn’t even in that category.

So, I figured it would be best to feature Inagikabo on Anna’s stream for now.

【MyaMori has donated 1,000 won】

【Phew, I survived because I’m unemployed】

【Shen has donated 1,000 won】

【Officially broadcasting with disdain for office workers】

【TanBulYakChimGoBun has donated 1,000 won】

【I was on night shift but this is so sweet hahaha】

As donation messages appeared one by one, Inagikabo thought... How did it come to this?

Inagikabo reflected on how it all started.

Suddenly, a message from Laura had appeared on the 6th generation Discord server.

Aurora

[@Inagikabo]

[Join my room, and get into VR.]

As usual, Laura’s message was short and direct.

A collaboration at this hour? Why?

‘Wait, maybe Laura wants to hang out with me...?’

Inagikabo thought.

Laura had been doing Dungeon Seeker streams recently, along with Mero, who was a pretty famous VTuber in the industry.

But it seemed like Mero had gone home, as she had been posting food pictures on SNS lately.

So Laura might be doing Dungeon Seeker alone now. Or perhaps she was planning to do something else like Asher Salad?

While pondering that, Laura suddenly called for her.

And now, Laura suggested a collaboration... Wasn’t this basically an invitation to hang out?

‘Am I just a substitute for Sora or Mero...?'

In the late hours, thinking there was no one else to call, maybe she picked me?

For some reason, it felt like a playful Gold Taeyang saying, ‘There’s no one else to call, so why not just invite her?’...

But Inagikabo had decided to accept it, realizing something.

...Becoming someone’s #1 is never easy.

For Laura, I might not be her closest friend, but being invited at this time... doesn’t that make me at least #3 in her list of friends?

I wasn’t the closest, but being #3 was enough for me... Because I was still her friend.

──That’s what I thought as I joined VR, and there Anna was.

"..."

"......"

An awkward silence passed between Anna and Inagikabo.

This was VR My Room.

A cafe-like place with classical music playing.

The interior was quite old-fashioned, but of course, Laura didn’t make it. There’s no way Laura would do such things as architecture.

It was clearly a free My Room preset from the store.

These days, free presets were actually quite decent and used often in various broadcasts.

The downside was that other VTubers and streamers were using the same presets.

So, while it wasn’t the most original place, Inagikabo didn’t feel any familiarity with it.

Inagikabo clasped her hands on her knees... shrinking back.

Her head wasn’t fully down, but just slightly, as she stared at the table.

Foll𝑜w current novels on fɾēewebnσveℓ.com.

Looking up was too scary.

She was afraid that their eyes might meet.

...People who are socially active probably don’t understand how nerve-wracking eye contact can be.

Sometimes people say, "I’m eating alone, so I’m an outsider too!" but it’s laughable. That doesn’t make you an outsider by a long shot.

Inagikabo gathered all the courage she could, like 10,000 years' worth, and slightly raised her gaze.

She managed to sneak a glance at Anna’s condition.

Fortunately, their eyes didn’t meet.

Anna, too, couldn’t hide her awkwardness.

She avoided eye contact slightly and, looking like she was uncomfortable sitting there, tightly pressed her lips together.

Ugh, I’m suffocating.Is this a still frame?The frame drops are so bad.What kind of collab is this, hahahaha

The comments were coming in.

Inagikabo, once again, found herself wondering... How did it come to this?

“Anna and I are supposed to get along, right? Wasn’t this a collaboration with Laura?”

Anna being socially awkward... but I’m also not exactly a social butterfly.

If I had known this would happen, maybe I should’ve rejected the collab.

"Anna, aren’t you going to start the broadcast?"

Then, the host of the collab – Laura – spoke confidently, arms crossed and legs crossed, as though trying to prove that this was Anna and Inagikabo’s conversation.

The only one in this room who was relaxed and a bit arrogant.

Seeing Laura like that, Inagikabo thought... I could never refuse Laura’s collab.

If I had the courage to refuse her collab, I wouldn’t be in this situation.

"Laura-chan, can’t you take over? You’re the one who set this up..."

Anna said that with difficulty.

Even though the broadcast was happening on Anna’s channel, the channel owner was passing the task on to the guest.

Laura, as if it couldn’t be helped, said,

"Anna, you’re a 5th generation, right?"

"Uh... yes?"

"And Inagikabo and I are both 6th generation. In military terms, you and I could be considered seniors and juniors, don’t ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) you think?"

Not wrong, but why the military analogy, hahahaWas the special forces story real?Anna was the senior?I think it’s been consumed already...

"And seniors and juniors usually spend a long time together in the military, right? So, it’s advantageous to get close to people from the same class."

"...I’d like to say something about that, but I think the VTuber agency and the military are a bit different..."

"That’s true. But still, the closer the class, the easier it is to rely on each other."

"That’s true."

After Anna nodded, Inagikabo also nodded, though she didn’t say a word.

...Inagikabo was silent, but she was trying to show that she was participating in the broadcast.

Anyway, Laura’s point wasn’t entirely lost.

VTubers don’t have strict seniority lines, but respect based on debut timing is very real.

For example, Laura is still in her first year of debut.

However, soon she’ll be friends with Rinko, who is in her 5th year. She’ll even speak informally with Rui, who will be in her 8th year in a few months.

On the other hand, Sora, who debuted at the same time as Laura, is still intimidated by Rinko and Rui.

Actually, Sora’s reaction is more normal. She’s just debuted, how would she casually speak to her much older seniors?

‘And Sora was friends with Anna...’

Even from Inagikabo’s point of view, Sora didn’t seem to have trouble with Anna.

There wasn’t much of a gap in their debut years, after all.

And frankly speaking... among the seniors at EYEAI, Anna was the easiest to approach.

That’s why, if Sora were ever in trouble, she’d likely lean on Anna more than Rinko.

From that perspective, it wasn’t a bad idea for Inagikabo to get closer to Anna.

"Um... so, uh, hello?"

Anna gathered her courage and spoke to Inagikabo.

Inagikabo, startled, responded.

"Uh, uh... Hello..."

"I'm Shiroki Anna, 5th generation..."

"Ah, yes... I know..."

Haha, you know!What?! I thought she wouldn’t know!They sang a duet at karaoke last time, but now it’s so awkward, hahahaAre they going on a date?

"Can I call you Inagikabo-chan?"

"Ah... uh, yeah... I think it’s fine..."

"I think it’s fine" hahahaDoesn’t sound like it’s fine, hahaha"I think it’s fine"—what’s that?Don’t bully the junior, hahaha

"......"

"........."

This is so uncomfortable...

Wasn’t Anna a social butterfly? She was all over the karaoke last time. Why is she not leading the conversation now?

Sometimes people misunderstand. Outsiders think that insiders avoid them, and when outsiders meet, they assume they’ll get along right away.

Half-right.

Outsiders do avoid insiders.

But just meeting another outsider doesn’t mean you’ll hit it off.

Outsiders can’t lead a conversation.

In fact, outsiders are terrible at giving proper answers.

Inagikabo suddenly remembered her university days. Her cousin had asked, “Could you help out at the doujinshi sales booth?”

She helped, and when the group went to a BBQ restaurant afterward, her cousin ditched her to hang with the other team members. The four awkward people at Inagikabo’s table barely spoke, all of them just glued to their phones.

It was a complete failure at making friends.

Inagikabo swore she’d never help with doujinshi sales again after that.

What outsiders need isn’t another outsider.

They need someone who can lead the conversation, an insider.

And there’s a catch.

You can’t communicate with insiders who talk about stuff like “Have you ever dated?” or “Need cosmetics recommendations?”

Only insiders who understand outsiders and share common hobbies can help.

At this point, Inagikabo and Anna knew each other’s level, so naturally, they both looked at Laura.

"Help, please..."

“Did you just ask for help after talking a little bit?”

“Anna, if you’re a senior, you should lead Inagikabo.”

Anna said that with difficulty.

Even though it was Anna’s channel, she was passing the hosting to the guest.

Laura said it as if it was inevitable.

"Anna, you’re a 5th generation, right?"

"Uh... yeah?"