143 centimeters tall, with twin red tails and a love for games bigger than herself—Nekomiya Hinata is a VTuber on the rise, affiliated with the agency Stella Link and beloved by nearly a million subscribers. When Xenogram Games, the developer behind the hit tactical FPS *Waltsturm*, offers to host an official esports tournament bearing her very name—the "Hinata Cup"—it feels like a dream come true. A chance to prove that the girl once told she was "too small" and "too slow" could stand at the ce
Hinata's Little War - The cold, ruthless charisma, and the shadow of a wavering best friend.
Shibuya's morning moved with the same restless energy as yesterday.
On the way to Kanade Building, Hinata checked her phone screen over and over. No notifications. Koyori's reply had been frozen since that night.
*(Koyori, what are you doing right now?)*
Something deep in her chest tightened. It had been two days since she'd heard about the transfer. Koyori hadn't shown her face at Stella Link's office. No messages, not even a read receipt.
Hinata let out a small breath and passed through Kanade Building's automatic doors. The seventh-floor entrance. The receptionist, Sonoda Yuki, greeted her with her usual smile.
"Good morning, Hinata-san. It looks like you have a meeting in Conference Room Luce at nine."
"Conference room... again?"
Hinata tilted her head. Today's schedule was only supposed to be a streaming meeting in the afternoon.
"It seems the president called the meeting directly. Mio-san is already inside."
The president. At those words, Hinata's feet stopped for a moment. Stella Link's CEO, Hiiragi Seiichirou. In the four years since Hinata's debut, she'd spoken to him directly only a handful of times. That man with the narrow eyes who only ever talked about numbers.
*(What is this? I have nothing but a bad feeling.)*
Hinata nodded quietly and headed toward the conference room.
Inside the glass-walled Conference Room "Luce," several staff members were already seated. A man from the sales department, a woman from PR, and by the window seat—Aoba Mio. Her long, blue-black hair was tied neatly into a single ponytail, and she was staring at the documents in her hands through black-rimmed glasses. The usual profile, impossible to read.
When Hinata opened the door, Mio looked up. Her deep indigo eyes caught Hinata for just a moment, and she gave a small nod.
"Sit."
Short. But in that voice, Hinata felt a little relief.
Hinata sat down in the seat next to Mio. On the table, thick documents were arranged for each person. The cover read: "Hinata Cup Operations Meeting Materials."
"Good morning."
Hinata greeted in a small voice. The man from sales gave a slight bow. The PR woman was on her phone and didn't look up.
The air was heavy.
Before long, the conference room door opened once more.
"Everyone's here."
A low, resonant voice. Hinata straightened her back.
Hiiragi Seiichirou. Forty-one years old. His jet-black hair was slicked back, with a few strands of white mixed in. His narrow, thread-like eyes were squinted as if seeing right through whoever he looked at. His 178-centimeter frame instantly dominated the room's atmosphere. A silver ring on his middle finger. With every step, the sound of his leather shoes echoed unnaturally loud.
"We don't have time. I'll get straight to the point."
Hiiragi sat in the seat of honor and used the remote in his hand to turn on the large wall monitor. A graph appeared on the screen.
"This is Nekomiya Hinata's streaming data from the past three months. Concurrent viewers, average watch time, Super Chat revenue. Also merchandise sales and corporate deal amounts."
Hinata stared at the screen where her numbers were laid out bare. Monthly Super Chat revenue averaged around 1.8 million yen. Merchandise sales were 24 million yen per quarter. Corporate deals came three to four times a month, at 800,000 to 1.5 million yen each.
*(Being reduced to numbers... it feels strange.)*
Hinata clenched her small fists on her lap.
"The success or failure of the Hinata Cup is directly tied to the agency's sponsor contracts next term. Not just our relationship with Xenogram Games—other game companies will also decide whether to advertise with us based on the results of this tournament."
Hiiragi operated the remote and moved to the next slide. This time, it showed Stella Link's stock price trends and a comparison graph with Nova Crest.
"I'll be honest. Right now, we're falling behind Nova Crest. Talent count: 32 versus 85. Annual revenue: 1.8 billion versus 5.2 billion. This gap isn't something we can close overnight."
The conference room fell completely silent.
"That's exactly why the Hinata Cup is our chance for a comeback. If it succeeds, Stella Link's standing in the industry will change overnight. If it fails, our sponsor contracts next term will be drastically reduced. Worst case, we'll have to consider cutting talent."
Cutting talent. Those words pierced Hinata's chest.
Hiiragi looked directly at Hinata for the first time. His thread-thin eyes fixed on her, appraising her like prey.
"Nekomiya Hinata."
"Y-yes."
Hinata's voice cracked slightly.
"Your value can be measured in numbers. Right now, it's high. But if the Hinata Cup fails, your value drops. Consider your contract renewal next year not guaranteed."
A cold voice. Emotionless—the voice of a businessman.
Hinata was at a loss for words. The back of her head went numb. At the edge of her vision, her streaming data on the monitor felt impossibly distant.
*(Ah, I see.)*
*(To the agency, I'm just a product.)*
She'd thought she understood. But being measured in numbers to her face like this, being notified of the possibility of being discarded—she could feel her chest growing cold.
"President."
Suddenly, a voice came from beside her.
Mio had risen to her feet. Her sharp, narrow eyes were fixed directly on Hiiragi.
"I'll handle the rest of this meeting with you. There's no need for the talent herself to be present anymore."
Hiiragi slowly turned his gaze toward Mio.
"Aoba, the meeting isn't over."
"I have a full grasp of the operational numbers. Hinata has stream preparation this afternoon. There's no reason for her to be here."
Mio didn't back down an inch. A cold, tense atmosphere flowed between the two of them.
Hiiragi stared at Mio for a while, then let out a small breath.
"...Fine. Nekomiya, you can leave. But don't forget what was said today."
All Hinata could do was nod.
Mio gently pushed Hinata's shoulder.
"Let's go."
Hinata stood unsteadily and, guided by Mio, left the conference room.
The moment she stepped into the hallway, the strength drained from her legs.
"...Mio-san."
Hinata's voice was so small it surprised even herself.
Mio wrapped an arm around Hinata's shoulders. Her slender fingers enveloped Hinata's trembling shoulders.
"Don't worry about what the president said."
Mio's voice was as calm as always. But the warmth of the hand on her shoulder was just a little gentle.
"That man can only see things through numbers. But your worth isn't just numbers."
Hinata couldn't lift her face.
*(I know. I know, but—)*
*(Even so, I really am just a money-making tool for the agency.)*
The trembling wouldn't stop.
Mio said nothing more. She just stood there quietly, holding Hinata's shoulders.
――――
Afternoon.
Hinata was in Roppongi.
Crest Tower. A twelve-story building, Nova Crest's headquarters. Number one in industry share, 85 affiliated talents, 5.2 billion yen in annual revenue. A giant among VTuber agencies, on a scale Stella Link couldn't compare to.
Today, a joint VTuber industry press session was being held here. Representatives and flagship talents from the industry's major agencies gathered to be interviewed by the media about the industry's future and upcoming events. Hinata was scheduled to attend as Stella Link's representative talent.
"Nervous?"
Mio, walking beside her, asked without turning her head.
"...I want to say I'm not, but I am."
Hinata answered honestly.
"You'll be fine. You just need to stand there. I'll answer the questions."
"Yeah..."
On the first floor of Crest Tower, there was a showroom-café called "Crest Café." A stylish space whose signature menu was character lattes with latte art. Hinata glanced at it out of the corner of her eye, but now wasn't the time.
The venue was the multipurpose hall on the third floor.
Inside, numerous members of the press and people from various agencies had already gathered. Camera flashes went off intermittently. Hinata instinctively half-hid behind Mio.
"Nekomiya Hinata-san, this way."
She was guided to a seat at the edge of the stage. Next to her sat Stella Link's sales director. Beyond him, talents from other agencies were seated.
*(Ah, I want to go home.)*
Hinata muttered in her heart.
Before long, the venue lights dimmed and a spotlight illuminated the stage. The emcee took the stage and declared the opening in a light tone.
"Thank you all for gathering here today despite your busy schedules. Let's begin by inviting the representatives of each agency to the stage."
Applause broke out.
Representatives from each agency came up to the stage one after another. And the last to be introduced was—
"Nova Crest's CEO, Kiryu Kai-san."
The atmosphere in the venue stirred.
Kiryu Kai. Thirty-eight years old. His brown-dyed center-parted hair fell in loose waves, and his bright, almost golden-brown eyes narrowed as he stood on the stage. A tall 182 centimeters. A small cross necklace at his neck. A man who never let his smile fade—but whose eyes never smiled.
"Hey there, I'm Kiryu from Nova Crest. Looking forward to working with you all today."
Light. Flashy. And yet, strangely, it didn't feel unpleasant. That was probably this man's charisma. Seeing Kiryu Kai up close for the first time, Hinata felt an unidentifiable pressure from him.
The press session proceeded in a friendly atmosphere. Representatives from each agency answered questions about future prospects and industry challenges, mixing in witty banter. Among them, Kiryu Kai's conversational skill was in a league of its own.
"Man, the VTuber industry still has so much room to grow. Because it's way more interesting than everyone thinks."
"Specifically, where do you see potential?"
"Let's see. For example, music. And esports. Those two areas still have a lot of untapped potential. Especially talents who can sing, like our Usada Koyori-chan—they're precious."
Hinata's heart lurched.
Koyori. That name came out of Kiryu's mouth.
"Speaking of Usada Koyori-san, her transfer from Stella Link to Nova Crest was announced the other day, wasn't it?"
"That's right. I want to let her do music more freely. Stella Link is a fine agency, but when it comes to music, we have more know-how."
A cheerful remark that nonetheless, unmistakably, belittled Stella Link. The atmosphere in the venue shifted slightly.
"Right, Nekomiya Hinata-san? Don't you think so too?"
Suddenly, Kiryu turned toward Hinata.
Every gaze in the venue converged on her. Camera lenses pointed her way all at once.
"The Hinata Cup is amazing, you know. A tournament bearing your name—that's a first in the industry. If it succeeds, Stella Link's flagship position is secure."
A smile. But his eyes weren't smiling.
"...Thank you very much."
Hinata forced her best smile and answered. She clenched her fists on her lap so her voice wouldn't tremble.
Kiryu smiled with satisfaction and moved on to another question.
Hinata just stared straight ahead, feeling her heart pounding violently.
――――
The session ended, and she stepped backstage.
Hinata leaned against the wall and took a deep breath. Her palms were clammy with nervous sweat.
"Good work."
Mio offered her a plastic bottle of water.
"Thank you."
Hinata took the water and drank a sip. The cold water slid down her throat.
At that moment.
"Hey there, Nekomiya Hinata-san."
A voice came from behind her.
She turned to find Kiryu Kai standing there. The same smile as always. But perhaps because of the dim backstage lighting, his expression looked eerily sinister.
"Kiryu-san..."
Hinata instinctively stepped back.
Kiryu approached her. The distance closed to less than a meter.
"You're smaller than I thought. Much smaller than you look on screen."
"...I get that a lot."
"I like it. Makes me want to protect you."
Kiryu leaned in close to Hinata's ear.
"Stella Link will crush your talent."
Hinata's body went rigid.
"That agency only looks at numbers. They treat you as nothing
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