Usahime Karin Becomes a VTuber!

[Overseas VTuber Minor Gallery] 

[General][Third-gen’s first stream is already a flaming disaster, lolololololololololololololol][142] 

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Started streaming out of nowhere about an hour before debut.  

Viewers who were waiting were completely confused by the sudden broadcast.  

She didn’t seem to know the stream was on and just started shaking her head wildly before narcissistically calling herself cute.  

I watched it too, and honestly, she was kinda cute lol.  

After shaking her head like crazy, she blinked her eyes a lot by herself, then noticed they blinked simultaneously and admired it.  

"Wow, a big company is different, huh? My eyes blink at the same time. If I were indie, my eyelashes or something would be shaking all over the place. Money really is the best!"  

Flaming comment LOL.  

The problem here is that the cheaper the model, the worse this issue gets.  

Indie VTubers, who have to handle everything without company support, obviously have less money.  

So, this basically comes off as a new corporate VTuber flexing on indies.  

Right now, people on the main forum are split between those saying it's disrespectful and those saying,  

"She wasn't even trying to diss anyone, she was just happy by herself. What's the problem?"  

They’re fighting like crazy LOL.  

I titled the post as flame bait, but honestly?  

I don’t think she did anything wrong.  

If anything, hinting at a past life is the bigger issue lol.  

If you're mad, go join SakuEn and get a high-end model yourself LOL.  

[Comments]  

[People flame over anything now, huh?]  

└[The main forum's VTuber fans get mad over literally nothing.]  

[I just thought she was cute. What's the issue? lol]  

[Past lives are standard now… That’s not even flame-worthy unless she’s getting exposed.]  

[I don't care about the drama. She’s just really cute.]  

[She did it on purpose lol. You think it's natural that she didn't know the stream was on? She went for almost an hour without a single slip-up. You guys are idiots.]  

└[She literally made a slip-up, which is why the post exists. Did you not read?]  

└[She really looked clueless on stream. Did you even watch it?]  

[Hah, small-time VTubers won't get views anyway~~~~ If you’re mad, go join SakuEn~~~~~~~~]  

└[(But she’s not even in SakuEn, she's in Kon.)]  

[Maybe it's because of the controversy, but she's already past 300k subs. Insane.]  

[For a first stream, she wasn’t nervous at all, and she barely made any mistakes. She was super smooth. I was surprised a rookie was this good.]  

└[Yeah, her banter with chat was great.]  

└[This 3rd Gen might be the best yet.]  

[General][Getting flamed for streaming early vs. Getting flamed for not streaming at all][47]  

(Lady’s archive capture image)  

(Last stream date: 4 months ago)  

Lady, you btch!!!!  

Even newbies stream at least twice after debut!  

Please just go live!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

[Comments]  

[Her not streaming is normal, so why is this drama?]  

[Yeah, your "Lady" is busy screwing dudes in a motel right now.]  

[Don’t insult our Lady.]  

[You're not a real Butler huh? Real Butlers already reached enlightenment ages ago.]  

└[Why is she even popular? She barely streams at all.]  

[Our Lady is totally streaming tomorrow. For real this time.]  

(Butler: Fan name for ‘Lady.’)  

[General][Who is SakuEn’s next “King”?][52]  

(Usahime Karin.jpg)  

The 3rd Gen that’s making waves.  

Admiral of the Kemono Pirate Crew.  

"Usahime Karin."  

[Comments]  

[The color already says it all.]  

[Blue is… the color of a king…]  

[I don’t know how good the others will be, but she’s definitely going to blow up. Her voice is just broken-tier.]  

└[Yeah, and just from watching, you can tell she’s a natural at streaming.]  

└[It’s only her first stream, though lol. Who knows what’ll happen?]  

[First stream hitting 300k subs is insane.]  

"Not bad."  

The day after my first stream.  

I was ego-searching—looking up myself online—on the high-spec streaming PC provided by my company.  

Even though I was in Japan, I scrolled through Korean VTuber communities instead.  

I had only seen Japanese forum sites in memes and had no clue how to actually use them, but Korean communities felt familiar.  

Of course, I was also checking Twitter.  

On Twitter, you just need to type a tag, and everything pops up in a neat list.  

Most importantly, VTubers have officially designated tags to make ego-searching easier.  

I told my viewers—UsaMin—about these during my first stream.  

For example, my live streams use the tag "#KarinLive."  

Fanart gets tagged with "#UsaArt."  

And there’s also a tag for Kirinuki clips.  

By the way, "Kirinuki" refers to highlight clips, similar to what’s commonly called "clips" in Korea.  

Unlike other YouTubers, VTubers don’t upload edited videos on their own channels.  

The only thing that gets archived is the full, unedited stream.  

Because of that, both agencies and indie VTubers can’t make money from highlight clips.  

Seems like a loss, right?  

But there are pros and cons.  

The downside is that they can’t monetize edited videos.  

The upside is that anyone can upload Kirinuki clips, not just the official channel.  

Of course, the details depend on the company.  

Anyway!  

Thanks to this, Kirinuki clips spread VTubers worldwide, created by fans both domestically and overseas.  

That’s the deal…!!  

Now, back to ego-searching….  

Tags make searching easy, but since VTubers themselves can see them, the real opinions often don’t have tags.  

But… is there even a need to check those?  

If they don’t use the official tag, it probably means they’re saying bad things.  

Let’s only look at the good stuff. Only the good stuff.  

The official tags are all positive by default.  

That’s more than enough.  

(Total Positivity: Meaning they unconditionally support everything about the VTuber.)  

"Alright then… What should I eat for lunch today?"  

Satisfied with all the praise, I was about to grab a late lunch when—  

A creepy sound rustled from the corner of my room.  

This sound… No way….  

I had encountered countless monsters from my past possessions,  

So most grotesque creatures didn’t faze me anymore.  

But…  

There was one creature no human could ever get used to—  

One thing impossible to adapt to—  

Shasha-shak—  

It was…  

"$^@!$#?&─────!!!?"  

It was a cockroach.  

***

'My turn is in three days, huh….'  

On a weekend afternoon, Hiiragi Yuika lay on the sofa with earbuds in, watching a VTuber’s video.  

[You guys! Don’t tease the newbie who just debuted like that!]  

The VTuber on screen was none other than SakuEn’s 3rd Gen, Usahime Karin.  

For the past two years, Yuika had been studying at SakuEn’s internal academy, which was implemented the year before last.  

There, she learned everything needed to be a VTuber—how to use broadcasting equipment, how to project her voice, and more.  

Modeled after an idol trainee system, the academy was part of SakuEn’s initiative to train VTubers in line with the company’s philosophy.  

Since it was structured as a school rather than a job, even Yuika, who was a middle schooler at the time, could legally enroll and learn a wide variety of skills.  

And so,  

She debuted as part of the 3rd Gen right after graduating from the academy.  

Her assigned avatar was Inari Yui (稲荷 ゆい), a cherry-blossom-colored fox girl with ears and a tail.  

Among the 3rd Gen members, who were scheduled to debut one per day under the “Kemono Pirate Crew” RP theme, Yuika was the last, the fifth in line.  

'This person… is definitely skilled at streaming. Way more than me.'  

As Yuika watched her genmate’s debut stream through the archive, the first emotion that arose in her was jealousy.  

If Usahime Karin had been a former indie or had VTubing experience at another company before joining SakuEn, Yuika wouldn’t have felt this way.  

But from what she had heard, Karin was a total newbie with zero broadcasting experience.  

And that wasn’t all.  

Karin’s recruitment into SakuEn was highly unusual.  

SakuEn had long stopped scouting talent, yet Karin was personally brought in—  

By the company’s president, no less!  

How could she not feel jealous?  

But that feeling didn’t last long.  

Since 3rd Gen was grouped under the “Kemono Pirate Crew” RP, their bond as genmates was naturally emphasized.  

Even before debut, they had plenty of time to chat and get to know each other through virtual messaging apps.  

'I want to be friends with her….'  

At first, it was jealousy.  

But now, it had turned into admiration.  

More than anything, Yuika wanted to get closer to Karin.  

After exchanging DMs and discovering they were the same age, their friendship had developed quickly.  

But Yuika knew.  

Most VTubers found talking to people in real life uncomfortable!  

No matter how high-energy or talkative they seemed on stream…!  

In the end, most of them were doomed to remain socially awkward shut-ins!  

She had learned this undeniable truth through two years at the academy, interacting with various trainees and senior VTubers.  

'She’s still a bit ambiguous, but I think Karin-chan might be the same type….'  

Yuika had already experienced it before.  

A friendship that flourished over DMs, only to become awkward in person, where words dried up, eventually leading to sporadic and distant messaging.  

Karin was someone Yuika admired.  

A genmate she wanted to be closest with.  

She didn’t want to repeat the same mistake.  

Would Karin push her away if she got too close too fast?  

Since they were genmates, wouldn’t it be better to take things slow?  

With these thoughts in mind, Yuika began carefully plotting out a step-by-step approach to deepen their bond.  

Just as she was lost in thought, her mother suddenly yanked out one of her earbuds.  

“Yuika!”  

“Wah! You scared me—what the heck, Mom….”  

“I called you several times, and you didn’t answer. Here, take this.”  

“Haa….”  

What her mother handed her was a basket filled with side dishes in plastic containers.  

Another errand for that idiot, huh….  

Mom and Dad were both the same.  

I really don’t get it.  

Why do we have to take care of her just because she’s “pitiful”?  

She’s already in high school—  

She should be able to cook for herself.  

“Mom….”  

“Hm?”  

“No, but seriously. Why do we have to…? I get that she’s struggling, but isn’t this too much?”  

“…We’re having this conversation again?”  

To be honest, I don’t like Karin.  

Not Usahime Karin, my genmate—  

I mean Shibuya Karin.  

It’s crazy how two people with the same name can be so different.  

That girl is just… weird.  

Like something’s missing in her head.  

Everything she does is completely out of the ordinary.  

At first, for about a month, I didn’t really think much of it—  

I already knew Mom and Dad loved to meddle in other people’s business.  

But…  

“This is going way too far….”  

It had been over three months since Yuika started interacting with Shibuya Karin.  

They weren’t exactly on bad terms,  

But they weren’t close either.  

It wasn’t friendship, but it wasn’t quite nothing, either—  

A strange, ambiguous connection.  

Yeah, I get it.  

She’s had it rough. She’s been through a lot.  

But if we’re being honest, she’s not the only one.  

There are tons of people like her in the world.  

It’s not like we can take care of every single one of them.  

Right. I’ll say it.  

This is the last time.  

I’ll bring this food over, then tell Mom and Dad that she said, “You don’t have to help me anymore.”  

…Even if I feel guilty about it.  

'It’s just something that has to be done….'  

Steeling herself, Yuika arrived at Shibuya Karin’s house.  

And the first thing she saw—  

Was Shibuya Karin, curled up in front of her own door, trembling in fear.  

“…Oi, Baka-rin.”  

“Ah! …Oh, it’s just you, Yuika.”  

“What are you doing out here? Did you lose your key?”  

“I put my key in the window frame, just like always!?”  

“Wait—don’t yell out important information like that, you idiot!!”  

(Baka-rin: A nickname combining “Baka” (idiot) and “Karin.”)  

She was as empty-headed as ever.  

Can just a single different surname make that much of a difference?  

…Wait.  

“W-What? Why are you staring at me like that?”  

Her voice… kinda sounds similar….  

“…No. Never mind. That’s impossible.”  

“What’s impossible?”  

Usahime Karin and Shibuya Karin are completely different.  

Just from watching her debut stream, Usahime is clearly brilliant.  

Her comedic timing, her ability to banter,  

Her sharp wit and quick reactions—  

“Oi~. Hello? Yuika? Hiiragi-san?”  

Skills that the idiot in front of me could never possess.  

Yeah. Just think back to January.  

There’s no way this girl and that person are the same.  

Dismissing her absurd hunch,  

Hiiragi Yuika recalled something that had happened that January.  

That winter was particularly dry, so under Mom’s meddling, we gave Shibuya Karin an old humidifier we had at home.  

I didn’t mind. We already had a brand-new one anyway.  

The problem came afterward.  

About two weeks after giving her the humidifier—  

As usual, I went over to Shibuya Karin’s place to drop off some side dishes from the Hiiragi household.  

That’s when she told me this:  

["Yuika. About that humidifier you gave me… I think it’s broken."]  

["Huh? Really?"]  

At the time, I just thought, ‘Well, it was old, so it wouldn’t be surprising if it broke.’  

But you know, it’s human nature to want to check things out yourself.  

Just in case, I decided to open the water compartment first—  

And was so dumbfounded that I was at a complete loss for words.  

["You… didn’t put water in this?"]  

["Huh? Water? Why would I put water in it?"]  

["What do you mean, ‘Why?’ Are you serious right now?"]  

Is she an idiot?  

After giving her a very basic explanation of how humidifiers work,  

This was the response I got:  

["So… you’re supposed to put water in a humidifier?"]  

Yeah.  

There’s no way they’re the same person.  

And listen—if you really pay attention, their voice tones are slightly different.  

Absolutely impossible.  

"Of course, of course… There’s no way… that kind of idiot…"  

"…I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I highly doubt it’s anything flattering."  

"Anyway. So? If you didn’t lose your key, why are you just sitting out here?"  

"Well… A cockroach showed up…."  

"…Hah?"  

What the—  

Over something like that…?  

…No, well.  

I mean, I also find cockroaches gross, but….  

"Just kill it."  

"I did kill it!?"  

"Then go inside. What’s the problem?"  

I honestly didn’t care whether Karin was scared or not.  

We weren’t on bad terms, but right now, I had a very important reason to deny the possibility that she and Usahime Karin were the same person.  

And thankfully,  

Shibuya Karin shut down my inner conflict in just a few words.  

"I definitely covered it up with a tissue properly. But at some point, it disappeared! How the hell am I supposed to go inside, you idiot?!"  

"…………."  

…Is she for real?  

Is she seriously saying this right now?  

While I stood there in stunned silence, a man walked into the narrow apartment hallway.  

"Shibuya Karin-san."  

"Huh? Who are you?"  

A man in a sharp black suit—looking like some kind of government agent—politely addressed Karin.  

She hesitated to answer, sneaking a glance at me.  

Seeing her hesitation, I started to get suspicious, but then Karin let out a small, knowing sigh.  

"…Ahh~."  

"So you remember. That’s good."  

"Anyway, great timing!"  

The moment she recognized the man from the government’s Returnee Management Division,  

She immediately handed him a tool to catch the cockroach and shoved him inside first.  

A short while later—  

"…You can come in now."  

Once she got confirmation that the filthy brown menace had been eliminated,  

Karin finally entered her apartment with a relieved expression.  

"This is what happens when you don’t clean."  

"Yes, yes. More nagging. Seriously… Yuika-chan, are you my mom or something?"  

"Hah!? Like hell I’d ever be your mom!?"  

Of course, I followed her inside too.  

The government guy looked a little uncomfortable but didn’t say anything as Karin casually gestured for him to continue.  

A cramped 4.5-tatami-mat-sized room.  

With Karin, me, and the government guy squeezed inside.  

The tiny space felt even more suffocating.  

Confirming that Karin had no intention of kicking me out,  

The man let out a small sigh and finally got to the point.  

"Shibuya Karin-san."  

"Hmm?"  

"You turn fifteen this year."  

"Yeah, I guess~."  

"And so… you need to enroll in high school."  

"…Eh? High school?"  

Karin’s eyes widened as the man informed her that, since it was April, she needed to start high school.  

"Wait, why?"  

"As I just said, you turn fifteen this year."  

"No, no, no, no—there’s zero reason for me to go. High school is completely pointless."  

"Wait… Don’t tell me… You’ve never gone to school before?"  

"Hah? Of course not. Think about it for a second. Are you an idiot?"  

"No, I think being a middle school dropout makes you the idiot."  

"Sorry, Hiiragi-san, but I never graduated middle school."  

"…Haaaaaah~~……???"  

Listening to their absurd conversation, my brain started to hurt.  

While Karin and I, two so-called “high school girls” (well, one of us wasn’t yet), had our little chat,  

The man pulled out a pamphlet containing information about the school she’d be attending.  

"There was some delay in the paperwork, so it will technically be a transfer, but there shouldn’t be any issues with enrollment."  

"I. Said. I. Don’t. Need. It."  

"…Are you refusing to undergo social reintegration?"  

"……."  

"Wait, social reintegration…? What the hell—do you have a criminal record or something…?"  

Since I had no idea that Karin was a Returnee and that this guy was some government handler assigned to reintegrate her into society, my question was totally reasonable.  

Fortunately, the man seemed to see me as Karin’s friend.  

Not wanting to risk her losing a friend, he quickly denied it—but didn’t explain anything either, leaving me utterly confused.  

"Haaaah…."  

Karin knew exactly what would happen if she refused this whole “social reintegration” thing.  

So, in the end—  

She had no choice but to agree to the high school debut.  

"Good. Here’s your uniform."  

"Eh? It’s cute~."  

Seeing the neatly pressed blazer-style uniform, I completely abandoned all my complicated thoughts and started pestering Karin to try it on for a photo.  

"It’s not cute. It’s just a normal uniform."  

"Baa~ka. This is from a school that’s famous for having a cute uniform, okay? Look. Super cute. Just wearing this instantly boosts your femininity."  

"Wow. Your standards are so low."  

"Hah? No, your femininity is what’s low."  

While we two actual high school girls (both of us, this time) continued our banter,  

The government guy, momentarily overwhelmed, finally composed himself and cleared his throat.  

"Ahem. There is one more thing."  

"Hm? What is it?"  

"This is an instruction from above…."  

As proof of social reintegration, you are required to make at least three friends.  

Leaving those final words behind, the man stepped out of the apartment.  

While I stood there bewildered,  

Shibuya Karin, having just received this sudden government-assigned quest, thought to herself—  

Eh? No way.  

"There’s absolutely no way I can do that!!"  

"Yeah, I figured."  

By late April,  

As the last of the cherry blossoms fell along the school road,  

Shibuya Karin became a real high school girl.