Real and Fake

I don’t know if it was the right thing to do, but it feels right. So I don’t regret saying what I did to Sena that day.

If there was anything to question this decision by, it would be the assumption I only did it because she’s Mimie. That couldn’t be further from the truth though. I’m friends with Sena, despite all the odd quirks about her. It’s doesn’t make any sense, but just how it is.

What does make plenty of sense is her texting me during my lunch break at work. If we’re going to be friends, then obviously we were going to exchange contacts. I don’t want her dropping by the store unannounced and doing something that makes me look stupid in front of the rest of the store.

“I have a question that I’m sure you know better than anyone else I know.” She says in her message. Just a tiny bit of me wonders if the only reason she associates with me is due to my personal skills. It’s useful for someone like her, but given her personality, I doubt she has ulterior motives. “Do you know about VR?”

“As in, virtual reality?” I reply. She confirms the term, even though I’m not aware of anything else that’s VR, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. “We don’t sell that stuff at the store, but I can help you set things up, if that’s what you mean.” I shoot back another message in response.

She only sends one of those stickers that our messaging app has to indicate celebration. Again, I would’ve thought she was too old to want to use those things, or maybe I’m the one still stuck in the past here. After all, I’m younger and I don’t use any of those things when I message someone.

The rest of my day goes by normally. I thought I wouldn’t hear from her again until she needed to make a purchasing decision. So I’m surprised when she pops up at the store right as I’m about to get off work.

“I’m about to leave.” I say, not even wearing the work apron anymore. “So if you do need anything, can’t you just ask one of my coworkers?” It’s not like I don’t want to help her, but I’m not on the clock anymore. It’s been a long day and I’d like to go home now.

“Actually, I was going to ask you to come to my place after work.” She informs me, to which my fellow coworkers overhear.

“Ooooh.” They loudly make a noise in response to this with the obvious implications for this invitation.

“Can you guys just shut up.” I tell them. “We’re not in high school anymore.” It’s like I’m surrounded by a bunch of idiots. “Considering what you messaged me before, I get the feeling I already know what this is about.” I get back to her, remembering our short lunch conversation. Knowing her, she already went and bought a VR headset without consulting me.

I follow her out of the store, still hearing the snickering of those I work with behind me. I swear, one I’m going to be boss and I’ll remember this.

“You know, you’ve never told me where you live.” She says as we walk.

“Yeah, and I’m not telling you now.” There’s a reason for that. The first is obvious, I literally live below her. It would be annoying to have her come by unannounced, knowing that’s exactly what she’d do with that information.

I do have another reason that’s unrelated to anything about her. Having people know where I live is uncomfortable. I’ve heard the horror stories of people getting stalkers and the like. And while I don’t consider myself one to be attractive or desirable enough to get one. It’s something that’s on the back of my head.

With someone like Sena, who plays the role of a popular streamer online. I’d imagine the risks are much higher. I’m surprised she isn’t more apprehensive on knowing that I’m one of her biggest fans. She should be more cautious, but it’s like she’s inviting me more often instead.

“I hope you do one day.” Thankfully she doesn’t attempt to push harder on me for this. “You’ve been to my place so many times, I’d love to see where you call home.” It wouldn’t be anything special to her. After all, we live in the same exact layout. I just happen to have a cleaner home.

“Speaking of me coming, what exactly do you need with this VR stuff? Don’t tell me you already bought something without asking for my advice.” I ask, reminding the two of us that this isn’t some simply get together for a pair of friends.

“Heheh, maybe I did do something like that.” Her playful laugh does little to play things off for me as I give her a dead look on my face. “I already looked at what most people were using. I asked the other VTubers and they all told me they used this one.” Well, it’s hard for me to argue against people using these for so-called professional work. If it works on their streams, then it should for her.

“I see now.” I reply. “You just want me to set it up for you.” I wish she’d figure this out on her own, but it’s not entirely bad. Sure, being inside that sorry excuse of an apartment is suffering. However I don’t mind being with her either.

Huh, the way I put it. Actually makes it sound pretty bad at the end of the day.

“I’m sorry, it probably sounds like I’m just using you or something.” She hangs her head down, but not in that much of a shamed mood. “I’ll let you use it first, if that makes you feel better.” That hardly sounds like paying me for this favor I’m doing, but honestly I don’t need anything from her anyway.

“Guess it wouldn’t hurt to try.” I say. “I’ve never used one of those things before and with your computer. I bet the games would work great on it.” Despite being someone who works in a computer store. I don’t have some super great computer. It’s just something I took some discount items from the store to cobble it together for a simple cheap machine.

Once again I’m inside her apartment and it seems worse than the last time I was in here. Probably because those dishes have stacked up once again in the sink. I swear, she needs to hire a maid or something to take care of this place. It’s hardly fitting for someone of her status, whether that’s the office lady or the VTuber.

That’s something I also can’t tell when it comes to this woman. What does she view herself mostly as when it comes to her work? I assume she’s been working at that office since coming out of college, it’d make sense seeing she had that education for some reason.

Not to mention that she only debuted a couple years ago as a VTuber, so it should be a side job. However she’s very popular online, enough that many would assume it’s her primary source of income. So why does someone with both the jobs she has, live in such a sorry state?

I can’t help but feel bad, but it’s entirely on her. There’s no reason for her to continue to stick around like this. Where’s all that money she’s getting going, if not for improving her own life? “You know what? I can’t work like this.” I have to at least put a stop to some of this mess.

“Huh? What’s wrong? Did I do something to upset you?” She asks, dumbfounded by my proclamation.

“It’s your apartment.” If we’re going to consider ourselves friends, then it’s time for me to be honest. Maybe that’s why I don’t have many friends, now that I think about. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know how you live like this.”

“I already told you, I’m just real busy with work and streaming and all that is just tiring.” A good excuse, but not good enough to be living like this.

“Well this can’t stand.” I tell her as I see dread growing in her eyes.

“Y-you’re going to make me clean all this?”

“I’m going to clean it.” I say. If I’m going to keep visiting, then this can’t be this mess that makes me feel that I’ll contract numerous deceases just from staying here. With that, I get right to the dishes.

Now, I understand that me doing the cleaning seems strange. After all, this is her place and she literally just asked with fear that I’d order her to do it. But it’s precisely because it’s her home that I have to do it like that. With someone whom she only has known for a little bit is now doing chores in her house. So that guilt will eat at her and she’ll

“I’ll get a vacuum and trash can.” She says, heading right to her closet. Yep, she’s going to help and make this way quicker. This works every time.