Chapter 119: A Curious Little Star

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*Next Day*

Strawberry Productions Offices…

*Nom*

In the company's management office, Yamai was typing information into the computer in front of her while taking occasional bites of a salad in a plastic container sitting on the side of her desk. Suddenly, the door burst open, and an energetic Ai strode in with large steps. 

Seeing the young brunette typing in the main chair, Ai happily spoke.

Ai: "Yamai-nee! Ai is back!" she said with great fanfare as she jumped around the young woman.

Still chewing a piece of lettuce, Yamai gave a gentle look and lovingly patted the head of this hyperactive little star.

Ai: "Oh! Another salad? Yamai-nee seems to have developed a particular liking for these things lately..." she said curiously, tilting her head.

Yamai: "Keep it a secret from your big brother, alright? I don't want him thinking I'm turning into a rabbit..." she said playfully, pinching the little star's chubby cheeks.

Ai, not thinking too much about it, happily agreed and hugged Yamai affectionately. The bond between them was strong enough that Yamai felt more like a mother figure to Ai than her own mother.

Then Ai seemed to remember something and jumped in Yamai's arms.

Ai: "Oh right! Ai saw a cute restaurant near the theater, maybe they have delicious salads, do you want to go?" she asked with bright eyes.

Yamai: "Oh! My little star has grown enough to invite her sister to lunch?" she teased.

Hearing this, Ai puffed up her small chest with pride and boasted.

Ai: "Of course! Ai is famous now! Ai has money now! Ai can buy hundreds of salads for her sister! Ai is amazing, right?" she said with shining eyes and a proud smile.

Yamai found the sight of the little star trying to act like a big boss incredibly cute, so she picked her up again and hugged her while rubbing her cheeks against the little one.

Yamai: "Of course! Ai is the best! Sis is so happy!" she said while showering the little star with affection.

Ai laughed happily.

Not long after, Ai sat on the sofa, playing with her phone while Yamai kept typing. After a few more keystrokes and a sigh of relief, Yamai finally moved away from the computer.

Yamai: "Phew… that was a bit exhausting, but everything's set." she said while stretching in her chair.

Ai: "Yamai-nee, what were you doing on that computer for so long?" she asked curiously.

Yamai: "Well, my little star, while you're the main star of this company, it was initially founded with a different project in mind, and that's the Hololive Initiative."

Ai: "Hololive Initiative?" Ai asked, her small head filled with confusion.

Yamai: "That's right. The Hololive Initiative aims to create virtual idols that can influence all sorts of audiences. While idols like you are amazing and influential, they require a lot of work, effort, and special care. There are also certain rules and inconveniences you have to deal with..." she explained calmly, teaching the little girl.

Ai raised her hand and exclaimed.

Ai: "But Ai doesn't have those inconveniences..." she said, a bit confused.

Yamai: "Hehe, that's because your big brother is very capable and can hide you from the public eye with his abilities. But if you overlook that, you would normally have to stay hidden and tread carefully to avoid the public's gaze. You'd have to be careful with how you interact, how you speak, and who you associate with..."

The little star was surprised by how rigorous and strict the entertainment world could be. Up until now, she had always been trained and protected by her older brother Tadano and had never seen this side that Yamai was referring to. Once again, the image of her older brother Tadano grew even larger in her heart.

Ai: "So, these virtual idols are different?"

Yamai: "Exactly, they are characters represented by a virtual avatar in front of the public, and they get to live their own lives outside the company without fear of being pursued or harassed. Of course, they still have some speech restrictions, but not nearly as many as a normal idol would. Also, they wouldn't need to go through rigorous training in singing or dancing, nor would they have to maintain an unnatural diet to keep up their figure. The main appeal of these idols is their personality and how they interact with the public. There are more details, but I think that would be too much for you to handle right now... hehe, even I don't fully grasp the breadth of it; your brother Tadano is more specialized in this area..."

Ai: "That... that sounds amazing! But if that's the case, what exactly was Yamai-nee doing?"

Yamai: "Well, I'm in charge of the marketing campaign as well as keeping a close eye on Nakanaka-san's progress in the software development department. You see, these idols need different programs to make everything work, so your brother Tadano and Nakanaka-san set up a small department that handles the creation and maintenance of the necessary software. So far, they've successfully developed the software [Vtube Studio] and the recording and streaming program [OBS Studio]..." she said as she made a few clicks with the mouse and opened a program.

Then she motioned for Ai to come closer.

Yamai: "Now, look directly into the screen's camera..." she said, pointing to a small camera mounted on the side of the screen.

Ai did as instructed, and after a few more clicks, Yamai spoke again.

Yamai: "Now look here..."

When Ai looked ahead, she saw an avatar of a girl with cat ears and a calm expression. Her hair and eyes were a purple color very similar to Ai's own.

What surprised her even more was that the avatar on the screen was mimicking her movements and gestures.

Ai: "Wow! This is amazing! How many avatars are there?" she asked with great curiosity.

Yamai: "Well, we currently have two that will serve as avatars for the winners of the auditions that your big brother and Ichigo-san will be holding."

Ai: "Can I see the other model?... Can I, can I?" she asked while bouncing excitedly.

Yamai, her heart warmed by the little star, couldn't refuse, and after a few clicks, an adorable girl with dog-like features and brown hair appeared on the screen.

Yamai looked at the little star and, in an educational tone, said:

Yamai: "Remember this well, little star, these two will be your Kohai in the future, so you'll have to protect and guide them as their superior, alright?"

Ai's eyes sparkled, and she couldn't help but jump in excitement.

Ai: "Really?!... *Cough* I mean... Of course! Ai will prove to be a qualified Senpai and will guide these Kohai to a bright future!" she said in a brave tone, trying to show her big-sister arrogance.

Yamai couldn't resist how cute the little star was and showered her with affection again.

When they finished, Yamai printed some documents and handed them to Ichigo, who was in her office. After that, she and Ai headed to the restaurant Ai had mentioned earlier.

…

Author's Note: "This author doesn't fully understand the impact of a Vtuber or the initial goal behind creating them for the first time. Yamai's lines are speculations with some research by the author, so please don't be mad if I'm wrong

. That said, here's the chapter. Yesterday, I couldn't release one because my schedule was changed, and I got home at dawn. Now, with a few energy drinks, I managed to write and translate this, enjoy... remember to drink plenty of water, and I love you all, sincerely your favorite depressed author."

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