The Saintess Next Door is a Super Popular VTuber – Chapter 16
The Saintess Next Door is a Super Popular VTuber Whose Character was Designed by Me
Tonari ni Sunderu Seijo-sama wa Ore ga Chara-Design o Tantoushita Daininki VTuber deshita
Chapter 16 – The Saintess’ Trashy Thumbnail Sense
“Awful! Ukamaru’s thumbnails are just awful! Seriously, they’re so lame. Trash, T-R-A-S-H.”
“I can even make high-quality thumbnails like yours if I put in some effort,Yoyo-san!”
(They’re both entertaining, after all.)
One night, behind the streaming screen that Iori played as BGM for work, two VTubers were arguing.
Today’s stream was a free talk collaboration between Asumi (Hyouka) and her senior at the agency, Mahiru Yoyo.
Yoyo had the appearance of a black-long-haired older sister, with her left shoulder exposed from her loose T-shirt and white mesh accents in her hair, giving her a design reminiscent of a neat character.
She was one of the few streamers who reached a million subscribers in her fourth year of streaming.
Her streaming style was similar to Asumi’s, but the difference lay in her relationship with her listeners.
While Asumi was more an idol-like, it would be more accurate to describe Yoyo as a comedian-like talent.
She often engaged in wrestling matches with her listeners, disguised as arguments.
So the comments towards her were often quite harsh, but it was also clear that she was loved.
“You think you can beat me, the world finest thumbnail craftwoman? Don’t underestimate this NEET.”
“I compete with my content! Don’t underestimate this HS girl.”
Yoyo widened her eyes and swayed from side to side, provoking, while Hyouka made an angry expression in response.
[Huh? Ukamaru’s thumbnails are PEAK, though?] [Because senpai didn’t teach her.] [HUUH?] [I’m sorry for this trash, Hyouka-chan.] [Don’t bully your junior.] [HUUH?] [Burn this person.] [Yes, let’s set her on fire.]
The comments were in chaos, and if first-time viewers saw this, they would mistaken the chat was in the middle of a riot.
But this was the norm, and Yoyo also accepted it as part of her style.
The topic of the day was thumbnails, which referred to the images displayed in represent of videos and streams.
This could be said to be the part that corresponded to the cover of a novel or manga.
This was a very important part, as it contained information about the streams and videos, and depending on the quality, it could make a difference in the number of views and viewers.
Yoyo was proficient at designing thumbnails, while Hyouka, was the opposite, she was inept that could only created shitty or trashy thumbnails. The two of them were a contrasting pair within the PROGRESS.
“It’s really funny. I should leave a comment too.”
Just listening to them made him chuckle, and he almost lost focus. It was a good BGM for work, although it’s a drawback that his hands stopped each time.
[But, Mama loves Hyouka’s thumbnails, you know!”
Even while drawing, occasionally Iori also commented, and the chats got excited when a heavenly illustrator appeared.
[Mama!?] [Mama’s watching.] [You! D*mn NEET!] [Mama’s d*mn right!] [Mama’s watching!] [Work, you scum!] [Mama’s here, KUSA]
“Mama! Yoyo-san is bullying me. Please help me!”
“Isn’t it embarrassing for a grown-up like you to go running to Mama?”
When Hyouka found Iori’s comment, she quickly picked up on it. In contrast, Yoyo was very careful in her move, knowing what behavior she was expected to behave and inciting the possible.
Iori observed their tactics and how they expanded the conversation during their streams, using them as a reference for the future when he appeared in his own streams.
If it were two years ago, he wouldn’t have been able to confidently join in this exchange and tease Yoyo, but now he was used to it.
“Don’t bully my daughter! Shall I turn you into a doujinshi?”
“Mama, please warn her more.”
[Choose. Would you rather be ravaged by orcs or be hypnotized by a creepy otaku?]
“I’m sorry. Please stop with that.”
As Iori responded with a comment, Yoyo admited defeat and apologized.
This was Yoyo’s style, which is different from that of Asumi’s, and the reason why she was so popular with her characters with her adeptness at handling the situation.
The idea of making a doujinshi was just one of the jokes in the community that one illustrator came up with. It was just a joke, and besides, due to the contract with PROGRESS, Iori couldn’t turn Yoyo into doujinshi.
To be precise, the contract only applies to the streamers who belong to SeiunLive Co., Ltd., the company that runs PROGRESS, and the illustrators in charge of their character designs was prohibited from creating dojinshis of them.
(TLN: 青雲 (Seiun) means “Blue Sky”. So, SeiunLive → “C⁎v⁎r”; while PROGRESS → “H⁎l⁎Live”. The role was reversed.)
This was because it involved the image of the affiliated streamers’ production and copyright issues, so restrictions were placed on the creation of doujinshi and goods by the illustrators in charge of character designs.
Of course, as long as they follow the guidelines, individuals unrelated to SeiunLive could create works designated for all ages as well as R-18 works.
“Well then, Ukamaru, next time let’s make the best thumbnail for the livestream.”
“Understood! I’ll do my best.”
“Okay, as part of the “Streamer Kankitsu” plan, let’s invite him and have him create thumbnails.”
[Don’t drag Mama into this.] [Unlike you, Mama is busy.] [Doujinize her!] [I’m cheering for AISU.] [You worthless NEET.] [Good luck, Uka-chan!] [Mama can just refuse her.] [You can make it.]
As the livestream progressed, it came to an end with Asumi studying to improve her thumbnail designing skills, and would showcase them in the next livestream.
And somehow, Iori was also involved, even though he wasn’t even a streamer herself.
***
“Today was really fun! Thank you for making the livestream enlivening.”
“I only threw a comment, though.”
“Even so… Ah, this Shougayaki is delicious.”
After their collab-stream, Asumi visited Iori’s room as usual, and they sat around the dining table.
Furthermore, she had been coming to help clean his room every few days since her offer to help the other day.
And when his illustration work reached its busiest, she would treat him to a meal.
For now, Iori was still treating Asumi to dinner.
“But what should we do about the thumbnails?”
“I think I can handle it. If it’s a gaming livestream, I can draw the character myself, and I always think about composition in my illustrations, so the thumbnails should be fine.”
“That’s definitely an advantage you have.”
“But your crappy thumbnail skills are also good. Maybe we can sell it as a mother-daughter thing.”
“I see. You have a point.”
Asumi made pretty lame thumbnails.
It started when she didn’t have enough time and streamed with a lame thumbnail in the early days.
Because it received a good response from her viewers and became a joke, she continued streaming with thumbnails that were called “trashy thumbnail” as a joke.
If that’s the case, then Iori noticed that it might be interesting if Hyouka’s Mama, Kankitsu were in the same boat as her.
The mother-daughter synergy was also part of the fan service.
But still, it was strange to see a beautiful girl eating the food he made in front of him and being called “Mama” on streams and the internet.
Iori wondered if his fetish was starting to get twisted.
“I know it’s a little late for this, but it feels weird having you call me “Mama”.”
“Is it? But from my perspective, you cook for me, so it completely doesn’t feel strange, Mama.”
When Iori conveyed his thoughts to Asumi, she started to show a mischievous smile.
She was ready to tease him.
“Stop it, stop it. My fetish will be broken.”
“Mama’s cooking is really delicious. Thank you very much, Mama.”
“You little brat. It’s so embarrassing.”
Asumi, with a mouthful of gingerbread and a twisted corner of her mouth, enjoyed teasing Iori.
She was having a lot of fun with it.
Iori, who had come in contact with a bizarre fetish, shook his shoulders, trying to endure the embarrassment.
“Fufu. It’s your fault for exposing your weakness.”
And Asumi laughed happily, covering her mouth with her hand.
