The Story About How I Was Fired From My Company and Then Picked up by a Possessive Streamer With Over 5 Million Subscribers - Chapter 164-165

Chapter 164: Doubt

When I turned back toward the door, I saw Kanna standing there, looking pale.

As far as I had seen, she seemed fine today, just like always. I had been making sure she ate well too.

And yet, she looked so drained. It was probably because of… I sensed the reason in my heart, but I welcomed her with a smile.

“Good work today, Kanna. What’s wrong?”

“…Um, I wanted to talk to you, Eiji… Is that okay?”

“Of course. You’re more than welcome. But it’s cold here—let’s go to the living room.”

“…Okay.”

She really didn’t seem well.

After making sure she headed to the living room, I turned off my computer, stood up from my chair, and left the room.

“Here you go. It’s cold and late at night, so I made some hot cocoa.”

“…Thank you.”

I handed her the cup of cocoa I had prepared for myself earlier.

Kanna took it with both hands and took a sip.

“…It’s good.”

“I’m glad you like it. I made something a little different today.”

“…Eiji.”

Her relaxed expression suddenly changed. She looked a mix of seriousness and disappointment as she spoke.

“…I’ve decided to quit. I won’t dance with everyone anymore.”

“…Why?”

As expected, I wasn’t surprised. Instead, I encouraged her to explain.

Kanna gave me a sad smile and answered.

“I don’t want to bother everyone with my selfishness… I mean, I’m bad at sports, I improve slowly… It’s probably better if I don’t do it at all… That’s what I came to tell you.”

“I see… Kanna.”

“Yeah…?”

“Are you sure this is how you truly feel?”

I asked her as if confirming.

She hesitated for a moment, her eyes wavering slightly, but then she gave a small nod.

“…Yes. I don’t enjoy dancing, and more than anything, I think I’d be better off playing games instead…”

“…That’s a lie.”

“Huh?”

I said it immediately.

I let out a sigh with a bitter smile and looked at her again.

Her expression was terrible.

She wasn’t her usual cheerful, kind, and expressive self.

She looked like she was suffering, burdened with guilt, prioritizing others over herself.

“I’ll find a way to help you with the dancing. Keep going, Kanna.”

“W-Wait, Eiji!?”

“Hm? Is there a problem?”

“O-Of course there is!? Didn’t I just say I’m quitting!? The way you said that… it sounds like I’m still going to be dancing in the main event!?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

I said it as if it were obvious.

She blinked in shock and just stared at me.

“Kanna.”

“Y-Yeah?”

“You don’t have to force yourself to dance perfectly.”

“N-Not force myself…? But if I don’t, I’ll just drag everyone down—”

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

“…Huh?”

She blinked again, her mouth slightly open as she stared at me.

I continued.

“What’s important is that you enjoy it. And through that, the audience will enjoy it too.”

“…That I enjoy it…?”

“Kanna, do you hate dancing?”

She nodded. Honest as ever.

“Right… Singing while dancing must feel impossible, huh?”

She nodded again.

“…But you do want to dance with everyone. You do want to have fun… don’t you?”

She froze.

I could see it in her eyes—she was struggling, wondering if she should admit her true feelings.

After a moment… she gave a small nod.

“Then that’s enough. If that’s how you really feel, I think you should keep going.”

“…But still, I just…”

She was still hesitating.

I understood, but I felt like she wasn’t fully aware of something.

So I reminded her.

“Kanna, let me say this again… You are the main star of this project.”

“M-Me…?”

“Yes. Of course, officially, it’s a group effort, but I believe you are the real protagonist of this project.”

So don’t look so down.

If the main star is feeling discouraged, that won’t do at all.

“But if you still insist on quitting… that’s fine. In that case, I’ll drop out too.”

“Wha—!? N-No, you can’t do that!?”

“Then keep going. That’s my selfish request.”

“I—Uh, ugh… Haa…”

She finally gave in, sighing in exhaustion and exasperation before smiling bitterly.

“…Geez, you’re surprisingly stubborn, Eiji.”

“Yeah. Very stubborn.”

“…Tell me one thing. Is it really okay for me to dance with everyone? Won’t I just be a burden?”

…The answer to that was obvious.

Without hesitation, I answered.

“I’ll support you no matter how many times it takes. So just dance your heart out and enjoy yourself.”

And show me—show me the brightest smile you’ve got.

“…Alright. Just as you said, I’ll keep dancing.”

“Thank you for accepting my selfish request.”

“Seriously… This is going to cost you, you know?”

Despite her words, she was smiling softly.

Yeah. This suited her best.

“…Eiji.”

“Yes?”

“…Thank you. Somehow, I feel lighter now.”

“I’m glad to hear that… Do your best. I’ll be cheering for you.”

“…Yeah!”

It goes without saying that at that moment, her smile was the brightest I had ever seen.

—

Chapter 165: My Current State of Mind

Several days have passed since we started working toward Able’s large-scale project.

Everyone is doing their best—some are streaming in preparation, while others are dedicating themselves entirely to lessons.

Among them, one person stood out in particular…

“…Eiji. Did something happen to Kanna?”

“Hm? Why do you ask?”

“…Lately, she’s been so full of life… Look, even now.”

Following Rinmei’s gaze, I saw Kanna dancing. To be honest, her dancing wasn’t very good. But her expression was shining brighter than ever before.

“…Even Manaka and the dance trainer were surprised… They said Kanna is incredibly dedicated.”

“…Ah. So that’s what you mean.”

I had seen it too.

Even though she wasn’t skilled, she was constantly trying to improve. She would ask the two of them for tips on how to make her dancing look better, and during meetings, she actively engaged in discussions. It was clear that she was giving it her all.

Maybe something inside her had finally been set free that night. I thought I had been pushing my own selfishness quite a bit, but…

“…Well, it’s just a change of heart.”

“…Really?”

“Yeah. It’s true. If you’re worried, support her. Look, she’s calling you.”

Kanna was waving at us from a distance, calling out to someone. She was probably calling for Rinmei. She must have something she wants to ask about singing.

“…Alright, I’ll go.”

“Go ahead. Do your best.”

Rinmei gave me a V-sign before walking off toward Kanna and the others.

As I watched her leave, I heard a small, disappointed sigh from someone nearby.

“…Rinmei-chan… She should rest a little more…”

“There’s nothing we can do. She’s doing her best too.”

I turned to the girl—Haru-chan—and spoke as I approached her.

She was holding a plastic bottle filled with a drink, likely something she had prepared for Rinmei.

“I’ll give the drink to Rinmei later. You have work today, don’t you?”

“Oh… Y-You noticed? Then… could I ask you to do that for me?”

“Yeah. Leave it to me. Good luck with your job.”

“Thanks. I’m counting on you.”

She gave a small bow, handed me the bottle, and then quickly left the room.

Rinmei really has good friends.

As that thought crossed my mind, I glanced around.

Everyone was more serious than usual. Maybe they were trying to suppress their nerves since this was their first big project. But more than that, I could feel their strong determination to make it a success.

“It’s a good thing, isn’t it? Seeing everyone run toward a single goal.”

“…Sōji? Ah, yeah, it is. It reminds me of the past.”

I responded to my approaching friend while memories began to surface.

Back in college, when I started streaming again.

Sōji and Manaka, eager to make a name for themselves, worked tirelessly toward their goal. The way they pushed each other forward… It felt just like how everyone is now.

And for some reason, that made me happy.

“…So, are you really okay with not doing it?”

“…Me?”

His unexpected question made my eyes widen. But Sōji’s expression remained completely serious.

“Aren’t you going to stream? You used to do it in middle school, didn’t you?”

“That was… a long time ago.”

“But in college, you always looked distant somehow.”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut.

…So he noticed. No, they both must have noticed.

“Even now, aren’t you just hiding it? Yūsuke… do you really not want to stream?”

“…I don’t know.”

Sōji’s a kind guy. He says things like this because he’s thinking about my feelings.

Maybe, somewhere deep down, I was watching everyone with a hint of envy.

And yet… my heart felt calm.

“…Spending time with Kanna and the others, watching their streams, I realized something. What I truly wanted to do.”

Not when I supported Sōji and Manaka.

Not when I helped other streamers through Britia.

I had never felt it before—my real feelings.

With a slightly awkward smile, I told Sōji:

“…Turns out, I like supporting streamers.”

Streaming is something I can never separate from. It’s my job, my hobby, and a part of my life.

I’ve tried running away from streaming, I’ve felt guilty about pushing Sōji and Manaka into it… I’ve gone through so much.

But now, I’ve finally found a way to connect with streaming that feels right for me—supporting others and enjoying it.

“So, I don’t have any regrets about not being a streamer myself… I don’t really know how to put it, but that’s how I feel.”

After I said that, Sōji went silent for a moment… then let out an exasperated sigh.

“…Haah. You really are hard to understand.”

“I think so too.”

“What’s with that? Seriously… Yūsuke.”

“Hm?”

“…I don’t know what you think about it, but… Meeting you back then, streaming together… I can say with certainty that it was fun.”

“…What’s with you all of a sudden?”

Damn it.

Holding back my emotions, I put my arm around Sōji’s shoulder.

“Hey—suddenly?”

“Sorry, sorry… I just felt like doing it.”

“You… Haah. If you’re going to support us, then do it properly, okay? Best friend.”

“Of course. Just keep looking forward.”

Laughing at my exasperated friend, we stood there, watching over the streamers together.