SWNOVELXO Chapter 107
“S-Sorry…! I’m late…!”
Inagika called out with a trembling voice.
They were in a café.
Specifically, a café near Chel’s place.
Inagika was meeting Chel there, just the two of them.
“Yes.”
Normally, someone would reassure her that she wasn’t late, but Chel only gave a curt response, as usual. Inagika thought they’d grown fairly close, yet Chel’s communication skills were still severely lacking….
“Uh… sorry for being late….”
Inagika bowed her head and promptly took a seat.
Inagika didn’t know much about Laura or Sora, but lately, she had been spending quite a bit of time with Chel.
Chel, who once seemed to reject the whole world, had softened a bit since temporarily staying at Laura’s place. Inagika felt it was easier to deal with her now than before.
Because of that, Inagika had suggested trying out a TRPG (Tabletop Role-Playing Game).
-“Sure.”
-“I was interested.”
Chel was a VTuber known for her voice acting. And VTubers like her were often especially interested in streaming TRPGs.
Actually, Inagika was preparing for a TRPG stream.
The thing was, though she liked TRPGs, she hadn’t actually played them much. Being quite introverted and a bit of a loner, she had always been interested but hadn’t often had the chance to play.
So, she planned to try participating in an external TRPG collaboration. But the idea of joining strangers, especially other VTubers, made her a bit nervous.
Not long ago, she managed to convince Chel to join her for an external TRPG collaboration. Since then, Inagika felt they had become closer.
“Uh…, but is it just the two of us…?”
“Yes.”
Chel nodded in response to Inagika’s question.
“Sora isn’t coming.”
“…Oh, really?”
“She said she was busy.”
That was a bit disappointing, but it also seemed like it might be for the best….
It was, after all, a gathering of their sixth-generation members, excluding Laura.
Laura probably wouldn’t get upset over something like this, but still… the thought made Inagika feel a bit guilty.
In that sense, it felt better to meet just with Chel. If Sora had come, it might have seemed like they were excluding Laura.
“So, what about the draft? How’s it going…?”
“Laura was selected.”
Chel showed her the stream.
Cerberus, Gryphon, and Leviathan—three teams had all selected Laura.
“Wow… Did all three teams pick her…?”
Inagika marveled.
Chel had recently suggested they watch to see if Laura would get chosen in the Fantasy League draft.
The Fantasy League was, after all, the largest event in the VTuber industry. If Laura joined it, it would be huge.
‘…It feels like she’s getting even more distant.’
Even when they first met, Laura felt like someone on a higher plane.
Someone like a star—radiant, far away, and seemingly out of reach….
Still, Inagika and Chel were able to stay close to Laura because they were from the same company and the same cohort. That’s what kept their connection alive, she thought.
However, since the Fantasy League drew participants from various countries, it was no exaggeration to say that Laura was now stepping into the realm of global stardom.
It was wonderful to see her friend rising, but it also made her feel a bit lonely.
That was why she hadn’t mentioned it to Laura and was instead watching Laura’s multi-selection stream with Chel, just the two of them.
“But… what happens if three teams select her…?”
“They do a lottery.”
Chel explained.
And just as she said, a lottery was conducted to determine Laura’s team.
A handsome man who looked like a celebrity, a scruffy man with an unshaven face, and a young woman appeared to draw lots.
…Didn’t know there were female pro gamers too. That’s new.
Inagika didn’t know much about the Fantasy League. She hadn’t been an avid viewer of the “Streamer League” from the past two years.
Maybe she’d watched a bit when it popped up in her recommendations. But this year, with Laura participating, she’d likely follow it closely….
“So, why did three teams pick Laura…?”
The question crossed her mind, and she also thought it might be a good way to get closer to Chel.
Inagika hesitantly asked.
“Because Laura’s amazing.”
“Uh, yeah… but, we’re all rookies, right…? Isn’t it unusual for three teams to choose a rookie?”
“Because Laura’s amazing.”
Chel nodded with an expression that, though blank, somehow seemed proud. …Was she set to repeat this on loop?
In fact, Chel didn’t know much about the Fantasy League either.
She simply assumed it must be an incredible event since Laura was participating…!
“Uh, y-yeah… Laura is amazing…!”
Inagika reacted awkwardly.
What is this…? A Laura fan club? Isn’t this praise a bit one-dimensional…?
If they were going to watch the draft, it would be more interesting to discuss why each team picked each person…. But neither of them really knew much about the Fantasy League, so they had no choice.
【Team Cerberus 1st Tier Pick: ‘Vincent Edward’ from Serenade of 23 O’clock】
【Team Behemoth 1st Tier Pick: ‘Asahina Hikari’ from Individual VTuber】
【Team Gryphon 1st Tier Pick: ‘Son Narin’ from Serenade of 23 O’clock KR】
【Team Leviathan 1st Tier Pick: ‘Aurora’ from EYEAI】
In the end, Laura was chosen by Team Leviathan.
Cerberus and Gryphon, unable to secure Laura, picked other streamers.
“This… this is where it gets interesting, right…?”
Actually, whether Laura was chosen or not was the biggest part, but Inagika had arrived a bit late, so she missed all the good moments.
“From 2nd tier onward, Laura’s t-teammates will be chosen….”
“That’s right.”
Chel agreed with Inagika.
And the second tier results were as follows:
【Team Cerberus 2nd Tier Pick: ‘Kanto Akito’ from Da Capo Andante】
【Team Behemoth 2nd Tier Pick: ‘Mashina’ from Serenade of 23 O’clock KR】
【Team Gryphon 2nd Tier Pick: ‘Shinomiya Yuki’ from Serenade of 23 O’clock】
【Team Leviathan 2nd Tier Pick: ‘Hanabane Rui’ from Ink Palette】
“R-Rui and Laura are on the same team…!”
“Yes.”
“Rui’s in Labyrinthos… D-Do you think she’ll be okay…?”
“I’m not sure.”
“….”
“….”
An awkward silence hung between them.
‘…Maybe I chose the wrong person.’
Even though Rui’s teammate was selected, it was hard to tell if they’d be a good fit. Neither of them had kept up with the Streamer League…!
‘If I’d known, I would’ve tried inviting Senior Rinco…. She would have explained it well….’
But that was just wishful thinking.
There was no way Inagika would have had the courage to invite a first-generation VTuber.
“That, Hanabane Rui… isn’t he Senior Anna’s ‘oshi’…?”
Oshi.
‘Oshi’ in Japanese is written as ‘推し,’ using the character for “push” (推), meaning someone you “support.”
In Korea, it’s often translated as “favorite,” but there’s quite a difference between the meanings of “oshi” and “favorite.” It’s not an exact translation.
Of course, Senior Anna probably knew this distinction but seemed to refer to Rui as her “favorite” to Laura on purpose. Laura didn’t know much about subculture, after all.
“So, she’s Senior Anna’s oshi? I didn’t know.”
“….”
What do you know?
It was quite well-known in EYEAI that Senior Anna was a big fan of Rui.
[Wow! Laura and Rui! My favorites on the same team! Wow!!!!!]
[I get how you feel, but lower your voice. You’re hurting my ears.]
[How could I be calm! This is amazing!]
See? Anna was practically losing her mind while co-streaming with Laura.
Even though she usually listened to Laura, Anna couldn’t contain herself this time. How could Chel not know…?
‘…Chel really is a free spirit.’
On the other hand, Inagika felt a small boost in self-esteem.
Like she was, somehow, doing a bit better than Chel.
【Team Cerberus 3rd Tier Pick: ‘Shiroki Anna’ from EYEAI】
【Team Behemoth 3rd Tier Pick: ‘Orga Hansen’ from Serenade of 23 O’clock EN】
【Team Gryphon 3rd Tier Pick: ‘Kuroko Lambert’ from Horizon Air EN】
【Team Leviathan 3rd Tier Pick: ‘Barubara Rian’ from Individual VTuber】
[Aaargh!! Why!!!]
Anna continued to lose her cool after the 3rd tier picks.
[W-Why?! Why Cerberus??? Laura is on Leviathan! Rui is on Leviathan! I wanted to be on Leviathan too!! Why didn’t Leviathan pick meee!!]
A tantrum.
It was pretty funny from a third-party perspective, but Inagika, of course, kept her thoughts to herself. After all, Anna was still her senior.
“Ah, Senior Anna got picked too…. They’re on different teams, but it’s still good to be chosen, right?”
“Yes.”
It seemed Fantasy League participants often collaborated. Even if they were on different teams.
It’s probably one of the goals of the league.
The event brought together VTubers from different countries, including some major corporate VTubers.
Just one collaboration could be a huge boost in subscribers. If they built connections, it could be even better.
So getting drafted wasn’t easy, but Anna had managed it, even if it was on a different team.
‘I’m not sure why Senior Anna was picked, though…’
If it were Leviathan, it would make sense, since she could team up with Laura, but it was curious why Cerberus selected her.
Still, pro gamers must have had their reasons.
Some familiar names came up, but from the 4th tier onward, they were less well-known VTubers. Inagika found it a bit less interesting.
4th Tier Picks
– Team Cerberus: ‘Choi Changyoung’ from Serenade of 23 O’clock KR
– Team Behemoth: ‘Muraya Rei’ from Horizon Boys
– Team Gryphon: ‘Yoshino Aina’ from Horizon Air
– Team Leviathan: ‘Inui Kirin’ from Serenade of 23 O’clock
5th Tier Picks
– Team Cerberus: ‘Ushimi Jin’ from Da Capo Andante
– Team Behemoth: ‘Elenoa’ from Serenade of 23 O’clock KR
– Team Gryphon: ‘Merry Arma’ from Horizon Air
– Team Leviathan: ‘Kaga Mero’ from Blizzard Spot
6th Tier Picks
– Team Cerberus: ‘Kazama Izumi’ from Ink Palette
– Team Behemoth: ‘Suzuki Tooru’ from Individual VTuber
– Team Gryphon: ‘Michelle Antique’ from Horizon Air EN
– Team Leviathan: ‘Ayanokouji Sora’ from EYEAI
….
…Huh?
“…Sora?”
Inagika blinked at the sudden appearance of Sora’s name.
Anna’s jealousy was set to explode in 5 seconds.