Now That I Have Become a Woman, I Am a Vtuber

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To be honest, I got a little cocky.

No, to be precise, I underestimated this virtual Industry.

Well, a normal person wouldn’t think of broadcasting with a 2D flat character, right?

But no, that wasn’t the case.

There were people with cheap Avatars belting out vocals that rivaled professional singers, while others were effortlessly performing demanding musical numbers.

On top of that, I was completely unaware of just how many talented voices existed in the world.

I was confident in my looks and voice as Kim Soo-hyun (Female), but in the end, could I really shine without showing my appearance?

With just my pure voice, I couldn’t overpower the other participants who were quite formidable.

Fortunately, I passed the first round, but I felt a sense of crisis.

‘… Am I really going to make it like this?’

When I thought about it, even though I knew Kim Soo-hyun (Female) pretty well, I only had a viewer’s perspective. Plus, I’m Kim Soo-hyun (Male), who knows nearly nothing about this side of things!

No matter how I think about it, I feel like I can’t go on like this.

I felt the need to shape my own Character a bit more.

Basically, I could tell my character was meant to be a playful older sister vibe, which was aligned with Kim Soo-hyun (Female)’s intention…

But it felt a bit lacking…

I mean, the audition I’m participating in is for a Virtual YouTuber, but it’s still an idol audition.

As someone who’s lacking in singing ability compared to the other participants, I needed to compensate in other areas.

What should I say—uniqueness? I need something that can catch the viewers’ eyes or stand out when I’m among others.

‘Hmm… what could it be?’

Kim Soo-hyun (Female) thought everything would work out just fine, but little did I know I’d be faced with such high-level competition, so I hadn’t prepared anything.

‘It needs to be a style that guys would like.’

Naturally, the primary viewer demographic for a Virtual YouTuber is mostly male.

So, my image needs to appeal to those male otaku types who would chuckle and spend money while gazing at a 2D character on their screens.

After pondering this for a bit, a few ideas came to mind.

First, I need to create points of relatability.

This part, I could showcase, since Kim Soo-hyun (Female) was practically an otaku herself; I just need to make that clear.

But if the concept is too overdone, it might give off an unpleasant vibe…

“Ha… this is so bothersome…”

Being a Virtual YouTuber isn’t easy after all.

I slouched back in my chair and put a cigarette in my mouth.

“Can’t smoke here…”

Then I got up from my seat and stepped outside.

Sometimes, when the urge to smoke hits, I find it hard to resist.

But I know that once I start smoking in my studio apartment, it’s like crossing an irreversible river.

From that point on, my clothes and the place start soaking in that smoke scent, and once the limit breaks, the room fills up with cigarette butts…

Having seen my friends’ studio apartments like that too many times, I praised my patience for making it outside, moved a little away from my unit, and squatted down in an alleyway to light up.

When I was a guy, sitting like this made it hard to keep my balance, but as a girl, there’s no better position to smoke comfortably.

As I was enjoying the nicotine filling my lungs, a shadow fell over me.

“..?”

Turning my head at the sound of footsteps, I saw a guy approaching hesitantly.

“Uh… I live in that villa over there.”

The guy lifted his hand, pointing to the villa next to where I was smoking, and I quickly extinguished the cigarette and got to my feet.

“Oh, did the smoke waft over? I’m really sorry!”

I had smoked without thinking much, but did it really go in? As someone who used to be a non-smoker, I knew just how annoying that situation could be, so I apologized on the spot, but the guy waved his hands in negation.

“Oh, no! I smoke too, so it’s fine!”

“Really? Then what’s the issue…?”

At that moment, I felt a familiar vibe coming from this guy that I couldn’t quite place.

Not so much from his appearance, but from his mannerisms.

His slight fidgeting fingers, his glancing gaze, and the phone he was holding in one hand.

As Kim Soo-hyun (Male), I didn’t get what he was up to, but Kim Soo-hyun (Female)’s big data had already predicted his next move, and his subsequent actions confirmed my expectations.

“Uh, since this is a coincidence, could I get your number…”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I have something urgent to attend to, so I’ll be going now.”

I jumped in shock and immediately tried to leave in response to the guy asking for my number.

‘What the hell!’

Of all people, this guy wants my number? Sure, it had happened frequently enough in Kim Soo-hyun (Female)’s memory, but experiencing it firsthand felt utterly disgusting.

“Now, where can I smoke…?”

Should I just switch to using my car or smoke inside?

But the feeling that a cigarette gives… hmmm… I don’t know.

Instead, I realized something.

Kim Soo-hyun (Female) had guys asking for her number even when squatting down outside someone’s house.

Yeah.

To be more precise, if I look like this, whether I’m smoking outside or doing whatever, guys are going to get interested.

Why had I forgotten that fact as someone who was male?

And voice is the second face, while actions are the third face.

So, I’m the type of person who would attract guys just by being myself.

Well, more precisely, if I subtly reveal the experiences Kim Soo-hyun (Female) had gone through, the viewers would build an image and expectations of my true self.

And even if I get exposed? I’d actually welcome that.

I don’t plan to get caught on purpose, but with this face, wouldn’t it be considered ordinary?

With regained confidence, I headed back to my studio apartment.

I had the second-round interview for the audition tonight.

Originally, I had planned to create a concept, but I put that thought aside.

After all, a hastily created mask is bound to crack and break quickly.

I planned to answer as freely as possible, using the questions as they came, or more precisely, based on Kim Soo-hyun (Female)’s memories.

That was my mindset, yet…

That’s how I felt…

I squeezed my eyes shut and sealed my lips tightly.

And the voice of the interviewer resonated through the speakers.

[Do you have a favorite anime or manga that you consider to be your life work?]

For Kim Soo-hyun (Female), the answer would undoubtedly be “Demon Slayer,” which has been trending and had a tremendous box office success.

But…

But…

‘Isn’t that a bit basic?’

Honestly, isn’t “Rurouni Kenshin” or “Bleach” way superior in terms of sword-fighting manga?

There are plenty of other works that I would rate much higher based on their quality.

Considering that Kim Soo-hyun (Female) typically watched those mindless mainstream anime, of course, she’d think “Demon Slayer” was a masterpiece. From her memories, she even cried while watching it!

However…

From the memories of being “Kim Soo-hyun (Male)”—sitting at the comic shop, reading manga with the neighborhood boys…

No matter how I think about it, my answer was set in stone.

I brought my mouth closer to the microphone and released the answer that was in my head.

“..Slam Dunk.”

Kim Soo-hyun (Female) is out of the question.

What a total newbie.

***

“Oh, the recent movie came out, right? Were you impressed by it?”

Taesan, the interviewer for the ‘Celestial Realm Project’ and a mid-level streamer himself, nodded in agreement at Miro’s response.

‘Slam Dunk is indeed a classic.’

As someone in his thirties, he reminisced about the days when he read the Slam Dunk manga with friends during his school years, so he found Miro’s answer relatable. Moreover, didn’t the recent movie make it even more widely recognized?

“No, I haven’t seen the movie yet; I’ve only read the manga.”

And you’re not just saying you watched the movie, but strictly mentioning that you’ve only read the manga? The sheer nostalgia overflowing made Taesan nod along, and the chat was buzzing.

-Kyaa lol

-So classic

-Is that a hot take or what?

-That’s a classic smell lol

-Slam Dunk is a must

-I heard the movie is decent

-Hmm.. really that good?

“Oh… Miro is the first participant to choose Slam Dunk as their life work; is there a reason behind that?”

After breezing past the chat’s reactions, Taesan tossed out a prepared question, but Miro’s reaction was a bit strange.

“… Haven’t you watched Slam Dunk, interviewer?”

“Uh? No, I haven’t,” he replied.

“Then why are you asking?”

‘… Is he a total rookie or what?’

In that moment, Taesan was momentarily taken aback, but as a seasoned mid-level streamer, he quickly regained his composure.

He smiled and responded to her question.

“I just value Dragon Ball more? How about you? Let’s talk about it!”

In a typical audition, participants and interviewers wouldn’t engage in banter, but since this was an Internet broadcast conducted informally rather than a formal audition, Taesan believed that a bit of fun could lighten the mood as it turned into Q&A.

“Anyway, among everyone here, I’d say I’m the most knowledgeable,” he added.

“Huh… You seem quite confident?”

“Yes, I’m a manga expert.”

Although Miro’s avatar remained expressionless as usual, the Kim Soo-hyun behind the screen was smiling.

It was impulsive, but wasn’t that a pretty good character?

She sincerely thought it was fortunate that this streamer was so welcoming.