Virtual Idol

It didn’t take that long at all for the two of us to make this place into something that could be described as livable. Now it just makes me wonder if she could’ve always done this on her own if she simply put aside some time for herself. Or maybe it was too much of an ask for someone like her to expect that on her own.

“Finally.” I say, washing my hands to clean out all the grime I ended up getting from that work. “At least even if you don’t clean for a while, this will look good for at least a couple months.” That’s what I’d hope, but this got this way for a reason. The time it took doesn’t matter based on her obviously poor habits.

“I didn’t even realize this is what my apartment actually looks like.” Her eyes sparkle in the newfound light as she takes a close look at pretty much everything. “Thanks so much, I asked you to come here and you just ended up cleaning my place.” She laughs nervously on that fact. Probably because it reflects poorly on her as a person to have this done. “But at least I can say I have the best fans in the world.”

“I didn’t do it as a fan.” I respond. “This isn’t a great way to live, so it didn’t seem right that the only times I do anything for you is because of electronics.” We did say we were friends after all. And I’d hope that people don’t let their friends live in such a sorry state. “Speaking of, let me see that headset now.”

Now it’s time for me to do what I came here for. Which is to help Sena set up one of these VR headsets. While I’m the expert between the two of us, I can’t say I’m knowledgeable with this newer stuff. I don’t own one due to cost and the store doesn’t sell them either. However reading instructions is easy and I assume most of the work is connecting cables to her computer while setting up the software too.

Which is why I’m dumbfounded by all the cameras this thing came with. I know that sensors are used for movements, but I now realize the headset she got came in this massive box that also comes with numerous cameras and even stands for those cameras. It’s either using those or drilling holes on the walls to set them up and I definitely can’t do the latter.

“Wow, I didn’t realize how much there’d be to do.” She comments on the large amount of things laid out before us. “After you just did all that cleaning and got off work, now you’re really making me feel bad. You know, maybe you can just go home.”

“I’m already here, so might as well finish it.” I’m not looking forward to it, but it’s more tedious work rather than anything backbreaking. I’ve already worked it out in my head and most of it is just routing cables properly.

“Let me cook you something.” She immediately runs out of the room before I’m able to answer. I was about to say no, but seeing her pull out a pot and pan means she’s already decided on my response.

“Sure, anything’s fine.” Without a choice in the matter, I just give empty words and get right to setting up all these cameras and getting the headset to work on her computer.

It’s no surprise all her streamer friends recommended this. What I’m holding in my hands is one of the most expensive VR headsets on the market. The amount of technology behind it is insane, so not many have bought it. But for people who entertain with video games online, this might as well be just considered a business expense that’ll pay for itself in no time. Not a luxury I could ever afford.

It takes a lot less time than I expected for this all to come together, fortunately. So I’m sitting back at her desk once all the software gets installed. Good timing too as she’s finished cooking up whatever it was she wanted to make me.

“Ta-da!” She presents a dish to me that’s seen much better days. It’s not that I remember once again this is also Mimie we’re talking about. She’s mentioned numerous times that her cooking leaves a lot to be desired. Of course, I thought that was going for the klutz type for entertainment, but seeing this makes me realize that was no bit.

“Uh, thanks.” I maintain my manners and take the plate. “How about we finish testing this thing out?” In an attempt to avoid having to eat this monstrosity right away, I suggest the headset first. “Was there any games you wanted to try out first with this?”

“Like I said, I want you to get the first try since you’re the one helping me.” She replies. “Also, the others said that we should try out this virtual studio app out.” Sena points at one of her shortcuts which has the image of a girl doing a winky face on it. “That’s what we all use to model our avatars. They all told me that there’s a VR mode that lets you try out your own model to yourself.”

“Wow, cool.” This stuff is available freely on the web, albeit with advanced features locked behind a paywall. I’ve never used this before, so this should be an interesting experience. I click on it and the application opens up to a screen that already features her own VTuber. “It looks like you just put on the headset and press this button.” As she says I’m the one to get first dibs, I quickly explain the process and immediately equip the headset as soon as I hit the preview button.

It’s only dark for a few moments before my vision is given light. There’s nothing around me as I turn my head. The tracking seems to be working perfect as I look around, then down. “Whoa, I’m Mimie now!” I no longer see my own body as it’s now replaced with a perfect replica of her VTuber.

Heh, I’ve always liked the model for Mimie. She’s rather well developed at her chest region and getting this view from above gives me a nice sight of her cleavage. I almost get lost in staring until Sena suddenly speaks up.

“Wow, it looks really cool. You do look like Mimie in there.” She says, which prompts me to take off the headset to see how she can make a comment on that. That’s when I see on her computer screen that she can see exactly what I’m seeing through the headset.

Embarrassed about her clearly seeing me taking a good look at her avatar, I pull the headset over my eyes and pretend that I was just amazed with everything.

“Ahem, well this is pretty cool. Is that everything this studio does? I bet you’d love to be able to play yourself now.”

“Of course.” Her voice raises from the excitement. “Oooh, I can’t wait to try this out.” She says as I return to the real world hoping she doesn’t realize how perverted I was being earlier. After a few adjustments, the headset fits her head perfectly as she gets a view of how her model works in the virtual world. “Oh, oh, I’m really Mimie now.”

“Heh, you always were.” It’s funny to see how excited she is over this. While I was also impressed too. She’s an entirely different beast. It’s like she’s a child who’s mesmerized by a high budget film. “Maybe you can try out a game too. Then once we get all this worked out, you can use this for a special stream.”

I’ve got some pride knowing that I’m the one to set this up. Even though no one will know it was me to made this into a reality. I’m glad that there will be many on the internet who will get enjoyment seeing her take a new way to play some games.

“You’re right, I’ll do this one.” She takes off the headset for a minute to load up a game. I didn’t see what she clicks, but those initial loading screens don’t give me any confidence.

“Hey, what are you playing…” My voice trails off as the main menu opens up on the screen. Why did she think playing a horror game based on that popular creeppasta, the underrooms, would be a good idea?

“The others said VR makes this game so much better.” She answers as she loads up a new game. While I don’t disagree with that sentiment, it’s a bit much for someone not used how VR feels when you get into it.

“Maybe you should try something a bit easier first.” I try to warn her, but she’s not listening as I watch her continue to explore the underrooms. There’s nothing I can do now as I watch her carefully navigate the space. Sena seems nervous as she looks around carefully, but at least nothing’s happened yet.

Unfortunately what I expected happened as she runs into her first monster. It’s a pretty freaky one too as I watch on the screen. It’s some creature that’s just a blob of flesh with lots of arms. Those arms give it a lot of speed and unnatural movements as it sees her and begins to give chase.

There’s nothing she can do to escape as Sena loses all sense of composure now seeing it in a way that makes it seem like it’s actually chasing me.

“Ahh!” She screams at the top of her lungs, forgetting that this isn’t real. Sena begins running around the room, freaking out.

“Hey, Sena! You gotta be careful.” I call out as she nearly runs me over. She doesn’t listen to me as the woman continues to run as I see her get cornered by the beast as she finds herself in a corner both in game and in the real world.

“No, stop!” She yells out in genuine fear, putting up her arms as her voice breaks down.

“Sena, Sena!” I leap over atop her, perhaps a bad idea due to this being similar to what the monster is doing as it get on top of her. “This isn’t real!” I quickly pull up the headset to free her from this nightmare. Her eyes are all red from the tears as she stares at me. “It’s okay, that’s not real or anything.”

“Yuito, I… I was so scared.” She cries out as the waterworks fall down her cheeks. “It felt like I was going to die and…” Her voice trails off as the fear gets replaced with something else. “And I had a little accident…”

“Huh?” I then notice something wet seeping onto my foot as I look down. “Oh… Yeah sorry about that. We really shouldn’t have started with that game.”