The Story About How I Was Fired From My Company and Then Picked up by a Possessive Streamer With Over 5 Million Subscribers - Chapter 28-29

Chapter 28: Showdown! KANNA vs YUSUKE

Several weeks had passed since Sayaka’s horror game stream. As a result, the trend spread online with unstoppable momentum, matching even Rinmei’s popularity, and eventually, “Tenharu Aoi’s Horror Game” became a trending topic.

Both of them quickly became known worldwide from that stream…well, Sayaka looked at her phone with a rather complicated expression. She even muttered complaints like, “What’s so good about this…?”

“Anyway, Eiji-san, we have to keep up with those two and play this game together!”

Kanna showed me a game. It was about time I responded to her before she got too frustrated. When I invited her to play, her face lit up with joy. It was the happiest I had ever seen her.

“This is…that fighting game that was popular a while ago, right?”

“Yes. Eiji-san, you played this before, right? I saw it in one of your old videos.”

Yeah, it’s that fighting game related to characters who use moves like the famous Shoryuken and Hadouken. You select characters, input commands, and defeat your opponent. It’s simple, but back in the day, its intense effects were something you couldn’t imagine, making it incredibly popular.

“In today’s stream, Eiji-san and I will face off.”

“Huh? Against Kanna-san?”

Hmm…playing against a pro gamer…though, maybe I stand a chance in this game?

“Alright, I accept your challenge.”

“Hehe, brave decision. This is going to be fun.”

Seeing Kanna smile, like some battle-crazy character from an anime, I instinctively realized—oh no, I’ve triggered something I shouldn’t have…

◇

“Oh, as expected, Yusuke, you chose that character.”

“Yeah, in the end, the standard characters are the easiest to use. Kanna, though…you picked a heavyweight character?”

“Hehe, heavyweight characters are the best! Their attacks hit hard, they have a wide range, and they can easily trap opponents in combos! They are the essence of fighting games!”

“I didn’t know Kanna was a muscle-brain type…”

As I noticed Kanna’s surprising attachment to her choice, we both prepared ourselves…and the battle began.

Honestly, it was so intense I don’t remember much of it. But according to the comments later, it seems like Yusuke was managing to keep up with Kanna’s insane skill.

“Oh, I landed a combo.”

“What? No way! Ah…my HP is dropping so fast…”

“So, is this the power of Kanna’s heavyweight character?”

“Tch…you’re good, but this is just the beginning!”

I somehow managed to win the first match against Kanna, and I couldn’t help but tease her a little.

“Huh, wait, K-Kanna? What’s with that weird step movement…”

“Hehe, it’s part of my strategy! Now, now! You don’t know when I’ll attack, do you?”

“Tch, that silly step won’t confuse me!”

I tried to attack Kanna’s character, which was making bizarre step movements, but…

“Gotcha!”

“Huh!? No way!”

She grabbed me at the perfect timing, and I got caught in a combo loop, quickly getting KO’d.

“Hehe, see? That’s the power of a heavyweight!”

“…I feel like I just lost to something I shouldn’t have.”

And that’s how I enjoyed playing the game with Kanna.

◇

“…It’s grown a lot.”

A few weeks after Kanna and I posted our fighting game video, I was checking our accounts and the growing popularity of everyone’s videos.

Rinmei’s original song, “Blue Marine,” combined with her voice, had gone viral.

Sayaka, already popular, gained even more fans and attention thanks to her horror game streams.

And Kanna, a top-tier pro gamer, attracted even more attention after our heated battle.

“Wasn’t there some talk about me too because of Kanna’s video?”

As Kanna’s friend, who could keep up with her skills, I also somehow became a topic of interest…even though I don’t stream at all.

“This is kind of crazy…seeing it like this.”

I thought the same thing with Rinmei…everyone here really is superhuman.

And yet, Kanna and Sayaka are fans of mine…How did it end up like this?

As I continued to browse through the videos, my phone suddenly buzzed.

(? Did someone message me?)

Curious, I checked my phone…and saw a nostalgic name that made my eyes widen.

“…Yuna-chan?”

It was an email from my old junior, asking, “Senpai, if you have time, can we meet?”

—

Chapter 29: Conversation With Former Junior

After seeing her email, I finished my house chores, went out, and entered the café where we agreed to meet.

According to Yuna, she was already there…Oh, there she is.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Yuna. Did I make you wait long?”

“…Ah, Senpai!”

…Is she a bit sleep-deprived? I noticed faint dark circles under her eyes, but her face lit up with a smile the moment she saw me.

“It’s been so long! Senpai…I really…really wanted to see you!”

“Y-Yuna?”

As she spoke, I could see tears welling up in her eyes.

“I’m sorry…The moment I saw you, I just felt relieved…”

“Take your time. I’ll wait until you’re calm, so just focus on sorting out your feelings…Here, take this handkerchief.”

“…Thank you.”

…Judging from how she looks, she must be going through a lot. Thinking that, I sat down across from her and ordered some coffee.

—

“Feeling better?”

“Yes…Thank you, Senpai.”

A few minutes passed before Yuna finally seemed to gather her thoughts, and she responded.

“Still, I can’t believe you knew about this café, Senpai. I didn’t think a workaholic like you would know a place like this.”

“Yeah, I found out after I quit my job…Wait, hold on. Did you just call me a workaholic? I feel like I just heard you say that.”

“…What are you talking about?”

“…Seems like you haven’t changed. That sharp tongue of yours is still the same.”

“I never planned to change it. It’s part of my personality…Do you not like this side of me, Senpai?”

“No, actually, I’m relieved. That feels more like the real Yuna.”

“…Hehe, I figured you’d say that.”

She smiled with her reddened eyes. At the same time, I got the sense that she was thinking, It’s only Senpai who would say that.

Yuna Andou was well-known for her looks, and people in the company even gossiped about her being “Brittia’s idol.”

So naturally, many people were drawn to her, but…

“It’s gross. Maybe you should fix that attitude?”

“Sorry, but I’m working right now…Actually, your existence is kind of a nuisance.”

“…You disgust me.”

With remarks like these, her sharp tongue earned her the nickname “Poisonous Witch.”

I was assigned as her mentor to help with her training.

At first, her biting remarks nearly broke my spirit, but seeing her work hard for her dreams gave me the determination to support her.

Thanks to that, I stopped taking her harsh words personally and came to appreciate them as part of her character. Eventually, we grew closer.

If I’m not mistaken, she probably holds me in higher regard than others…or at least I’d like to think so.

“So, Yuna. What did you want to talk about?”

“I wanted to discuss…the company.”

The company? So, she means AO Brittia?

“After joining the Oukou Group, I don’t have to work overtime as much anymore, and I’m able to leave on time…but.”

“…Is something wrong?”

“The environment is good now, but the problem is…we’re barely getting any job requests anymore…”

Ah…I suppose that’s not surprising.

AO Brittia’s downfall was a global scandal, and the company caught a lot of heat for it. Only someone really odd would want to request services from them now.

On top of that, the Oukou Group must be affecting things. They’re likely cutting down on the number of assignments. With all that in mind, it makes sense that there’s less work, and they can’t operate as freely as before.

“I joined because I wanted to create something that could bring joy and excitement to people who watch TV and YouTube! There are others like me with the same goals, but…they all just laugh and say how easy things have become…Why did they even join the company? Don’t they have any pride in their work?!”

“……”

“I…I just don’t know what to do anymore…”

She covered her face with her hands and started crying again. Seeing her like this, my heart ached.

At the same time, I couldn’t help but recall my own struggles before Kanna found me.

(…If Kanna hadn’t picked me up back then…)

I couldn’t help but imagine.

“…Yuna.”

Yuna may be blunt and unreserved, but she has a dream, something she wants to achieve…and she’s kind-hearted enough to move forward for someone else’s sake.

How could I abandon her now? If I did, I know I would regret it deeply.

“…Can you wait for me for a little while?”

“Huh?”

“I can’t act right away due to some circumstances. But I swear, I’ll make sure you have a place where you can work with pride…I promise.”

“S-Senpai…”

“Can you hold on for just a bit longer?”

When I said that, she wiped her eyes and responded.

“…Yes…Yes! I’ll wait for you, Senpai! No matter how hard it gets, I’ll endure it! So…!”

“…Good. That’s all I needed to hear.”

Then, I placed my hand on her head. It’s a habit of mine with her, but…she didn’t seem to mind.

“…In the meantime, I have a task for you.”

“A-a task…? W-what is it?”

“It’s not that difficult. I want you to keep posting videos every day, just like you’ve been doing. And I want you to think about how to make them interesting, how to capture people’s attention…Can you do that?”

Maybe I’m asking too much…No, I shouldn’t worry.

“…I understand. That’s something important too…I’ll do my best!”

Because she’s always been such a dedicated junior.

“…Senpai.”

“Hmm?”

“…For everything…really, truly…”

“Yuna.”

“…?”

“Let’s save those words for later. I want to hear them after it’s all done.”

“…Aren’t you being a little cheesy? That’s not like you, Senpai.”

“E-eh…What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Exactly what it sounds like…Haha, really…”

This time, her expression was not as dark as before but was rather calm and peaceful.

(…Well, I need to get moving too.)

For the sake of this girl who trusts me…and for the people who accepted me.