Mollru’s broadcast would turn on at the usual time, without any signs of it happening otherwise.
As always, between 9 PM and 10 PM. As always. Every time, normally. These were all words that did not fit with Mollru’s broadcast, but that was no longer the case.
Her irregularly scheduled broadcasts had developed a kind of regularity, and on days when nothing special happened, they would typically turn on around this time.
Therefore, viewers would often gather in Mollru’s chatroom around 8:30 PM, sharing small talk amongst themselves or spamming emoticons that knocked on the door, having fun among one another.
This was like a kind of protest to the stream moderator, the owner of the room, to start the show. Of course, nothing special would happen just because of that.
In the first place, spamming in a chatroom that the owner didn’t even look at was just a silent uproar. With no effect, it simply made the viewer feel a sense of cuteness or pity.
Some diligent ones would be there from 7 PM, and sometimes, even when the broadcast did not turn on, they would be present after the broadcast ended, constantly waiting to see if any chat would come up, waiting 24 hours.
“If you come at 4 PM, I will be happy from 3 PM.” This was something the fox in The Little Prince said.
The viewers waiting for Mollru’s broadcast were showing a behavior that exceeded this.
Even if just an announcement about the broadcast was posted that day, regardless of whether it specified exactly when, from the moment they saw that notice, they would joyfully spend the whole day waiting. No, even if there was no notice, they would be waiting for a streamer who might or might not show up, running their happiness circuits over and over.
Would they truly be as happy as the fox in a fairy tale? They might be happy if they were waiting for the broadcast and received a reward for that wait. But if there was nothing at the end of that wait? Could they still say they were happy? Even after experiencing an unreciprocated wait?
That was something nobody knew. Some might have enjoyed the wait itself and positively transformed it, while others might have harbored enormous expectations only to be disappointed by a broadcast that ultimately didn’t turn on.
Even so, one couldn’t deny the passion that came from being immersed in something.
And that also meant that Mollru, who received that passion without reservation, was an excellent broadcaster. It was no small feat to bear the weight of anywhere from 10,000 to 30,000 people.
It was not without reason that public figures expressed depression and panic. They all suffered from unique pressure and baseless malice. Occupations that thrived on people’s attention generally functioned that way.
In that regard, it was fair to consider Mollru a great broadcaster.
She demonstrated increasingly outstanding broadcasting abilities over the days, satisfying viewers as a commendable entertainer. Throughout the process, she never felt overwhelmed by the growing number of viewers or experienced burnout in her broadcasting. On the contrary, according to early viewers, the so-called founding fathers of her broadcast, it was said that she had clearly become brighter compared to her first broadcast.
Mollru led her show in her own eccentric way.
Today was no different. At the ambiguous time of 9:47 PM, Mollru appeared with the virtual avatar she hadn’t used in a while.
The reactions were not particularly positive. After all, she had revealed her face, and now that the influx of viewers had increased, what would the reactions be?
[Oh, what’s this?]
[Is this person becoming a VTuber?? Why this avatar?]
[VTuber Mollru, yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy]
[Wasn’t this a female streamer room?]
[What is this?]
[Whoa, are you back? WWWWW]
[Has the moderator dyed their hair?]
[It’s natural blonde~]
[Why this when you have a pretty face…?]
[I really don’t get it.]
[It’s habitual nonsense, please understand, newcomers ^^]
[It was great when you were always on cam, why suddenly VTuber mode?]
[Cam on, cam on, cam on, cam on, cam on, cam on?]
Of course, the reactions weren’t good. A very small number applauded Mollru’s unique attempt, but it was truly just a handful.
It was a matter of viewer preferences and tastes. Mollru had always been distant from this kind of broadcasting. There had already been a rejection when she first began, and nothing had changed.
Moreover, because she hadn’t continued to push for VTuber broadcasts, both existing and new viewers were likely unaccustomed to this form.
However, Mollru was not the kind of person who moved according to viewer reactions. She would respond, but it was just a reaction in itself; she didn’t get swayed by it.
Today was the same. Acknowledging the viewer’s reactions, her character swayed its body left and right. With her eyes focused on the chat, a small laugh slipped through the microphone.
“Everyone seems to like this, so I’m glad I brought my avatar.”
With a deflating laugh, the character’s eyes folded neatly. This action was certainly reminiscent of what one might call ‘kingly anger.’ Messages like “Don’t joke around,” “Do you think this is love?” and “I want to give you a playful punch, for real” cluttered the chat.
Mollru had behaved as she usually did, but why did such different outcomes arise?
The absence of the cam screen, which used to shine a light on her face and force viewers to find her sweet, was likely the reason.
However, Mollru had the ability to make viewers sweet even without turning on the cam.
“…Is this not good? Should I just turn the cam back on?”
The blonde beauty lowered her head with a sulking expression. It was so natural and matched her voice so well that the viewers momentarily panicked and flooded the chat.
[Huh…?]
[Why is this so cute?]
[Is this a VTuber? Is this a VTuber? Is this a VTuber?]
[Mollru is being cute… this is rare.]
[Who are you?]
[VTubing might not be so bad after all.]
[Everyone, wake up! This is the trap of brilliance!]
Mollru was an incredibly dry broadcaster. Even if she received donations, there wasn’t any special reaction like in other rooms; her voice would only rise slightly. People who had been drawn in by her pretty appearance would often be disappointed by her lack of playful reactions and leave.
Though Mollru had never intended to be a female streamer or encourage donations, people tend to have their own expectations and disappointments. Existing viewers might curse themselves for not being able to get through to Mollru while secretly harboring their expectations.
What seemed to be an unattainable expectation suddenly came true. It was no surprise that the viewers’ reactions shifted dramatically.
“Ugh… this is more embarrassing than I expected. I thought it would be fine since my face isn’t visible. But if I had been on cam, I wouldn’t have been able to do this at all.”
The sulking expression was part of the character’s function. Mollru’s only actions were lowering her head and speaking in a defeated voice. The viewers knew this, but that alone was something.
“I learned a few things from Jay. Apparently, they’re essential skills for VTubers.”
[Essential skills, I acknowledge this!]
[Wow, Jay!]
[GOAT!]
[Who is Jay?]
[From today onward, let’s appoint Jay as the number one flare!]
[Rita can stay out!]
[VTubers are the future!]
[From today onwards, the Mollma Gallery declares that they have no relation with the VTuber ‘Jay’!]
[Wowww!]
The fandom’s sentiment towards Jay was unexpectedly favorable.
“I have a few more tricks, but I don’t think I can show them all today…”
[Show us!]
[Please show us!]
[LOL, this place is good at business.]
[This anticipation is absolutely exceptional.]
“This time, I have something prepared separately.”
With the sound of clicking keys, something changed. The viewers quickly noticed the change.
-Mollru is broadcasting!
‘Singing Broadcast’
[Song? Song? Song? Song? Song? Song?]
[Wait, did the moderator eat something wrong? Why is this happening?]
[I’m really worried, LOL, but this is good.]
[What’s this singing broadcast?]
[Are there no viewers that can’t watch this live?]
[There won’t be a replay left~]
[Too spicy… teeth are rotting away…]
“Don’t expect too much, everyone… just think of it as a casual stream set up on the side.”
Mollru, worried about not being able to sing, received a few videos from Jay.
They were clips of other VTubers singing, and objectively, none of them could sing well.
Seeing that gave Mollru a bit of courage, and now was the moment for that courage to bear fruit.
[Let’s go!]
[Hurry, hurry!]
[I’m so excited!]
As the viewers urged her on, the introduction began to play, and finally, Mollru’s song started.
