I Joined the Agency as a Manager to Support a Vtuber, but Somehow I Ended up Becoming the Face of the Company as an Official Staff Member? - 24-25

Chapter 24: Hollow Echo Anything-Goes Commentary Thread Part 3

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387 Anonymous Hollow Squirrel

Anyone who watched Una-chan’s “apology” video (lol), gather up.

388 Anonymous Hollow Squirrel

≫387 You called, boss!?

389 Anonymous Hollow Squirrel

I’m done being a fan of Una-chan. Traitors should just disappear.

390 Anonymous Hollow Squirrel

I thought it was an apology video, but it turned out to be a declaration of war against the unicorns—LMAO.

391 Anonymous Hollow Squirrel

Aren’t you normally supposed to say something like “I won’t associate with men anymore” in these situations? Where’s the actual apology?

392 Anonymous Hollow Squirrel

≫389 ≫391 She straight-up said she doesn’t want anything to do with people like you, lololol.

393 Anonymous Hollow Squirrel

≫392 Huh? Shut the hell up, trash.

394 Anonymous Hollow Squirrel

I mean, she’s a talent, so it’s natural she’d meet all kinds of people through the agency. And it was already announced that the male narrator would be joining the company.

395 Anonymous Hollow Squirrel

Exactly. You’re all just jealous that some guy got to train under Una-chan.

396 Anonymous Hollow Squirrel (ID: MusclePower)

That narrator’s really putting his training to use in his voiceovers. Also, damn, he’s got a nice voice. I’m a guy but wow, I think I might fall for him.

397 Anonymous Hollow Squirrel

Honestly, he already had female fans just from narrating that prank video before.

398 Anonymous Hollow Squirrel

Hah. As a hardcore voice acting otaku, I can tell you he’s just a slightly polished amateur.

Anyone could do that level of narration.

399 Anonymous Hollow Squirrel

≫398 Take a look at this, please:

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Kanon Kirihuzi/ HoloEco 1st Gen @ Celebrating Anime Debut!

Replying to: @hollowecho_Official

When did management find someone with such talent!? I really wanted to mentor him myself!

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HoloEco Official @hollowecho_Official

Replying to: @kanon_kirihuzi

We’re sorry. Due to the urgency of the timeline, we decided Unabara-san, who was available that day, was the best fit. Also, there’s message from your manager:

“Get your submissions in, ASAP.”

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anon Kirihuzi / HoloEco 1st Gen @ Celebrating Anime Debut!

Replying to: @hollowecho_Official

I’ll get started right away!

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Even Kanon-chan, an active voice actress, called him “a talented individual.” Maybe he went to a voice acting vocational school or something?

400 Anonymous Hollow Squirrel

That’s obviously just empty flattery.

401 Anonymous Hollow Squirrel

Everyone, calm down.

402 Anonymous Hollow Squirrel

Still, that last part really hit me. From now on, I’m gonna support Una-chan purely and sincerely!

403 Anonymous Hollow Squirrel

Yeah, same here. We can’t be the ones bothering Una-chan. We really need to stop meddling with her right away. 

404 Anonymous Hollow Squirrel

So yeah, unicorns, go find a new host to latch onto, please.

405 Anonymous Hollow Squirrel

Seriously? How annoying. What even is this??

406 Anonymous Hollow Squirrel (ID: MusclePower)

Oh my? Does someone want me to top them?

407 Anonymous Hollow Squirrel

Uweh, it’s Marimo!

408 Anonymous Hollow Squirrel

What if a male VTubers actually debuts after all this…? I mean, there’s no way, right?

409 Anonymous Hollow Squirrel

#DoYourJobKirihuzi!

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Chapter 25: Long Story Short, The Spring Employee Who Flew Into the Flame

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“My stomach huuuurts…”

“You okay, Hiori-kun? You’re acting like me after posting one of my cover songs.”

It was lunch break. As I groaned, buried myself in a bean bag in the break room, Kurama-san spoke to me from above.

“I’m just… I’m really anxious about how people are reacting to my voice… My stomach…”

“You don’t need to stress that much, Hiori-san. The response has been very positive.”

Aihara-san, who seemed to be there with her, offered words of encouragement.

“Really?”

“Really. Ever since you started appearing with your voice, the number of female listeners has gone up.”

“Huh? But HoloEco’s fanbase is mostly male, right? Shouldn’t we focus on increasing male fans instead?”

“I don’t think so. If we want to boost revenue and merchandise sales down the line, we’ll need to start cultivating a female audience too.”

“Feels like someday we might get an all-male VTuber unit under HoloEco.”

“If that happens, maybe I’ll be the manager for the male talents.”

“Nope. Hiori-san is my manager.”

“I think I’d want Hiori-kun as my manager too. You manage schedules well, and you really listen to what I have to say.”

“Thank you very much. I’ll keep doing my best.”

There was nothing more rewarding than the trust of the talents. My motivation just shot back to full!

“Hiori-kun, are you in here?”

Just then, the break room door opened, and our company’s CEO, Iketani-san, stepped in.

“Ah, Ikejun.”

“He’s right here.”

“Oh, you’re buried. I do the same thing when everyone’s gone home.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I end up dozing off pretty fast, though. Anyway, I’d like to talk with you for a bit. Do you have time?”

“Of course.”

Not many people would say no when their company’s top boss says they want to talk.

“Ikejun, did Hiori-kun do something?”

“No, no, nothing like that. I’m not here to scold him. It’s just about that last video.”

“The way you said that makes it sound like he did something wrong.”

“Oh? That so? Well, anyway, let’s talk.”

Saying that, Iketani-san grabbed one of the bean bag I was buried in, plopped down next to me, and laid back.

“Well, we’re heading out now. See you later, Hiori-kun.”

“Bye-bye, Manager Hiori.”

The two talents didn’t have anything left scheduled, so it looked like they were heading home. My stomach started to hurt again.

“First off… Thank you. I heard you gave Unabara-san some advice after her viral scandal.”

“It wasn’t anything major. I just told her what I thought after watching her debut stream.”

“I saw her earlier. She looked like a completely different person compared to a few days ago. She’s totally full of life. That’s definitely thanks to you. I appreciate it.”

“If I was able to help a talent, there’s nothing more I could ask for.”

“Now, here’s the real reason I came.”

“Yes?”

The atmosphere shifted. I sat up, ready for what he had to say.

“I’d like you to officially debut as the third member of our official staff.”

“I refuse.”

I shot down the CEO’s request without hesitation.

“You really don’t hold back, huh? It kinda hurts when you reject it that fast.”

“I’m a manager. I don’t have the appeal of a talent. Putting me out front doesn’t make any sense.”

Also, I’m a HoloEco fan. If I end up appearing on official shows and meeting talents face-to-face, I might literally faint.

“That’s not true. I looked into your background a bit, and your career experience includes stuff people normally wouldn’t get in a lifetime.”

“No way.”

“Let me ask—how many times a month did you get to go home at your previous job?”

“Maybe… Twice?”

“Exactly! That’s it! See, here at HoloEco, a lot of our talents are students, either freshly out of high school or still in college. Nukumizu-san joined right out of school when we started, and Madobe-san too.”

“So, since none of the talents have prior job experience, you think I’m technically qualified for the job too?”

“Exactly. As you know, our official staff have a separate channel from the main one, and they do their own streams, so—”

“It sounds like you’re planning something, but I’m telling you now—I won’t do it. No way.”

“Why are you so dead set against it? This is something only you can do. In this early phase with so few male VTubers, if we don’t get more talented men out there, the whole space might wither away. You were chosen. Only you can pioneer this uncharted territory of VTubing!”

“You sound like some cult recruiter trying to hype me up.”

“By the way, I’ve got a joint recommendation from Unabara-san and Nukumizu-san.”

“Am I already past the point of no return?”

“Answer yes or yes. Will you stream as an official staff member?”

“That’s not a choice! What happens to my manager work, then?”

“We’ll respect your wishes, of course. Nukumizu-san and Madobe-san will still handle most of the official streams. You’ll only appear if they’re shorthanded or if a talent specifically requests you. Otherwise, you’ll continue your regular work. How’s that?”

“…And the salary?”

“We’ll bump it up, of course. You’d be juggling two roles, after all.”

Well, if I’m getting fair compensation… Yeah, I guess I could maybe do it… Besides, no matter how much I protest here, the CEO won’t back down.

“…Fine. I just hope I never get called on.”

“Thank you! I’ll get in touch with an illustrator right away! And I’ll let you know when it’s time to record the announcement video!”

“…Okay…”

It’s over… I’m just like a summer insect flying straight into the flame… Though, well, it’s still spring and I’m just an ordinary company employee. But, yeah… I’m going to crash and burn for sure…

“To be honest, one of the reasons I chose you is because you have a high tolerance for backlash. Most regular employees would probably quit if they got flamed online.”

“…Well, I’m confident I can take whatever the internet throws at me…”

I got used to being flamed back in my student days. Getting insulted by a bunch of emotionless characters on a screen didn’t faze me in the slightest. 

“Just make sure to take care of the other staff too, alright?”

“Of course. That’s my duty as someone in charge.”

With that, Iketani-san stood up and left the room. And just like that, I—entirely against my will—somehow ended up becoming an official staff member.

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