Vol 1 Chapter 77 – This is the Akihaba Family【Vol 1 – Turning Point】

That day, I started my livestream just a little bit late.

“Nii-chan, nee-chan! Thank you for coming! Today, I need your advice, okay?”

This is too big of a burden for me to decide on my own. So many people have praised this voice. So many people have come to love it. And I might lose it. No, I couldn’t make a decision that had such a high probability of losing it.

      Gin: What’s wrong?

      Rinna＠Gal: You can tell us anything

      Dedede: If you stay quiet when you’re suffering, your viewers will be livid, you know?

      Sa-ya: Of course we’ll listen! Go on, say it.

      Mike: The fact that you’re even asking us for advice makes me happy.

      Alen: This.

      Osio: We’ll listen, of course.

      Hatsubread: There’s no option not to listen.

      Ryu: Don’t say lonely stuff like you’re not gonna tell us, you hear?

      Micchi-Mama: Thank you, everyone…

Ah, this is the Akihaba Family. The viewers were part of the Akihaba Family, too. That’s why it’s so warm here. I was sure that no matter what I said at this point, that would never change.

“Um, so I had an exam at the hospital a little while ago. It turns out… I’m intersex. My body is biologically male, but my chromosomes are female. That’s the kind of mismatched body I have.”

I wasn’t even finished, but the chat immediately sped up.

      Sa-ya: Seriously? So that’s why you’re so small?

      Gin: At least it wasn’t because of malnutrition. That’s a relief.

      Dedede: I can’t stand the thought of you being abused, Rin-kun

      Mike: Intersex, huh… That’s a tough one.

      Osio: So that’s why you have a voice like a woman.

      Hatsubread: Would it be inappropriate to call you a natural castrato?

“And… as I am now, I’ll never be able to have children. But, they said there’s a chance I could if I get testosterone injections.”

Becoming a father. I think that’s something every man dreams of.

Hearing that, the more knee-jerk comments said I should get the injections. But one person was different.

      Sa-ya: You’re worried because there’s a high probability your voice will change with the testosterone injections, right?

Sa-ya-san is so sharp.

“It’s just like Sa-ya-neechan says. My voice might change. I might not be able to produce this high voice anymore…”

I only know how to sing with this voice. I can’t imagine being able to sing the same way after it changes.

Maybe being a man is a disadvantage for singing. You spend your childhood developing a high-pitched singing method, only to lose the ability to use it as an adult. Your voice changing… I think it’s a cruel thing. It would have been better to just be born with a low voice from the start.

      Osio: Is singing your only weapon, Rin-chan? That makes me sad. You’re forgetting the guitar.

      BetoBen: And the violin, too. There are few people in the world who can play so beautifully.

      Mike: You’re captivating even without singing. Simon said so too.

      Gin: Don’t forget your looks! You’re so cute I want to get closer to you myself!

My weapons were listed out one after another. Before I knew it, my voice was just a single element among many.

“Even if my voice changes… will you all still like me?”

I was so happy, tears started to fall. I couldn’t hold it back; my heart was trembling.

The response was a storm of affirmation. But above all else…

      Alen: If your voice changes now, so what? You’re our most beloved little brother, Rin-chan.

That said it all.

I am loved. This deeply. To receive this much unconditional love from so many people… I’m so glad I became a VTuber.

“Then… I will start testosterone therapy! My voice might change, and I might not be able to sing like I used to! But I love all of you so much! I can’t take it anymore! Having all of you here, loving me and supporting me like this! There’s no greater happiness anywhere!”

What made me laugh through it all was a comment that was so typical of the Akihaba Family.

      Dedede: Guess it’s almost time for his voice to change, huh

      Rinna＠Gal: wait, this is making me emotional! a little bro’s voice changing hits right in the feels!

That was it…

“We’re a real family!”

I thought, as a flood of comments that all seemed to agree streamed past.

I laughed while crying. A kind of laugh that was overflowing with unbearable happiness.

I would never betray people like this. I want to answer their expectations. I want to keep meeting them, no matter what.

Because I’m the youngest brother of the Akihaba Family.

Even if I’m no longer a diva, that alone will not change. It cannot change. And I don’t want it to change.

“I’ve decided! Until my voice changes! I’ll carve this voice into the world! I’ll keep singing! So I’m going to write a ton of songs! First, listen! ‘Frostbite’!”

And then I sang. A song that, one way or another, I would one day become unable to fully express, even if my voice didn’t end up changing.