FUWAMOCO's Great Misunderstanding War: The Answer to Love Tastes Like Berries - FUWAMOCO, Still Going Strong Today!? ~A Small Crack After the Stream~

"Everyone~! Sorry to keep you waiting~! Today too, we're starting Fuwamoco Time with lots of energy~!" On the screen, Fuwawa laughed, her big white dog ears twitching and bouncing. Her fluffy long white hair swayed with its light blue streaks. Her large, pale blue eyes shone gently, as if she were speaking to each of the tens of thousands of listeners on the other side of the screen. "Fuwawa~! Let's play together again today~!" Sitting beside her, Mococo waved her hand with just as much energy, refusing to be outdone. She had a fluffy white short bob with pink streaks, and two white dog ears on top of her head, just like Fuwawa. Her round pink eyes sparkled, reflecting her emotions as they were. She was about six centimeters shorter than Fuwawa. But the energy radiating from her small body felt so much bigger than her sister's. This was downtown Los Angeles. In a corner of the business district lined with high-rise buildings, on the fifth floor of an office building, was the studio exclusively for hololive English -Advent-. Eight soundproofed streaming booths. Two studios for music recording. One dance practice room. About thirty staff members supported the talents' activities every day. Fuwawa and Mococo were streaming today as well, in one of those rooms. The twin unit "FUWAMOCO." More than a year had passed since they debuted as members of hololive English's third-generation unit "Advent." Their combined channel subscribers totaled about 1.2 million. They were now one of the most popular units representing hololive English. "Hey Mococo, you're even more hyped than usual today~? Did something good happen?" When Fuwawa tilted her head, her light blue hair ribbon swayed softly. She wore an outfit with lots of frills in white and light blue, and her slender, delicate frame made her gentle atmosphere stand out even more. On her left wrist was a matching bracelet with Mococo. The woven blue and pink threads were clearly visible even through the screen. "Because today, you know, I've been looking forward to it since morning! Streaming with you, Fuwawa, makes me happy no matter how many times we do it~!" Mococo said that and entwined her arm with Fuwawa's. On screen, their avatars did the same. Motion capture technology reflected their actual movements onto the avatars in real time. The accuracy of the face tracking was over ninety percent. That's why Mococo's delighted expression and Fuwawa's embarrassed smile were shown on screen almost exactly as they were. "Oh, Mococo. We're streaming right now, so calm down a little~" Even as she said that, Fuwawa's tail was wagging happily left and right. Her fluffy white tail was honest about her feelings. Comments like "Her tail is happy" and "The older sister's tail can't lie" flowed in one after another. "Fuwawa's tail is wagging so much~! It's so obvious you're happy~?" "Huh!? I-It's not like that! This is, um, just going along with the stream's vibe...!" Fuwawa hurriedly tried to hold down her tail with her hands. That gesture was adorable too, and the comment section erupted with "lol," "Older sister is cute," and "I want to fluff that tail too." ──This was their everyday life. Virtual talents, commonly known as VTubers. Entertainers who stream videos and live broadcasts through avatars. Born in Japan, this culture had now become a major industry with about fifty thousand VTubers worldwide. The top tier earned over a hundred million yen a year. The average annual income was about four million yen. It looked like a glamorous world, but in reality, it was a fairly harsh competitive society. But for Fuwawa and Mococo, streaming felt a little different from "work." Of course, since they were being paid for it, they had a responsibility as professionals. But more than that, the time they could spend together was fun. "So today, I'm thinking we'll play a new horror game! I actually practiced alone yesterday, but I couldn't get anywhere... so today I'll do my best together with you, Mococo!" "Eh, horror!? Wait a second, I'm not good with that kind of thing!?" "It's fine, I'm right here with you~! Besides, if we're together, it won't be scary, I'm sure!" "Uuu... if you say so, Fuwawa... but don't let go of my hand, okay...?" "Of course. Here, hold your big sister's hand." Mococo gripped the hand Fuwawa held out. Their avatars held hands the same way on screen, and the comment section went wild with "Fuwamoco is precious," "Best sisters," and "I can eat three bowls of rice just from this hand-holding." Once the game started, their back-and-forth became even livelier. While Fuwawa tried to calmly progress through the game, Mococo was jumpy but had big reactions, and that gap was a hit with the listeners. "Hiii! What was that!? Footsteps!? Those were footsteps, right!?" "Calm down, Mococo. It's okay, still okay. ...Ah, crap, it's coming." "No no no! Fuwawa, help me! Big sister! Big siiiisteer!" "Hey, don't scream that loud~! It's okay, I'll protect you~! ...Wait, uwaaaah!?" In the end, the two of them died together in the game. "GAME OVER" appeared on screen. The comment section was engulfed in laughter with "Sisters dying together," "This is Fuwamoco quality," and "Too close for words, lol." "Ahaha... we lost, didn't we~" "Geez, you were screaming too, Fuwawa! It wasn't just me!" "Th-That's... it can't be helped, I was startled!" The two looked at each other and laughed in unison. Moments like these were the happiest of all. The stream continued smoothly after that, and an hour before the scheduled end time, the chat was overflowing with warm comments like "Today was the best again," "Fuwamoco will save the world," and "Looking forward to next week too." "Well then everyone, thank you for watching until the end again today~! Let's meet again in the next stream~!" "Bye-bye~! See you~! I love you~!" When the two said their farewells in unison, the screen went dark. The stream-end buzzer sounded. The studio's silence rushed back all at once. "Good work, Mococo. Today was fun too, wasn't it~" Fuwawa smiled at Mococo beside her as she removed her headset. In the booth lined with streaming equipment, the two were actually sitting right next to each other. Just like their avatars on screen, Fuwawa's long white hair flowed and Mococo's short bob swayed as she smiled. "Yeah, good work. ...Hey Fuwawa, let's check the comments for a bit. I'm curious about today's reactions." "You're right~. There were especially many comments today. ...Um, let's see." Fuwawa moved the mouse and scrolled through the comments on the stream archive. Warm words from listeners were lined up there. "Fuwamoco is the best!" "I was healed again today." "The sisters' bond is precious." "I could watch their back-and-forth for hours." Fuwawa's finger stopped on one of them. "The two of them are so precious, like sisters playing at being lovers." The moment she saw that comment, Fuwawa's heart jumped. She didn't know why. But the instant she read those words, something stirred deep in her chest. "W-What is this...!? Hey, this comment...!" Fuwawa's voice cracked. Beside her, Mococo peered at the screen. "Which one? ...Ah, this one. 'Like sisters playing at being lovers, so precious'... Huh." Mococo's voice felt just a little lower. But Fuwawa didn't notice. No, she didn't have the leeway to notice. "Th-This is rude! We're properly sisters! It's not like we're playing at being lovers or anything! Right, Mococo!?" Fuwawa denied it desperately. She didn't even understand herself why she was so flustered. She just didn't want Mococo to see this comment. No, that wasn't it. She wanted to make this comment not exist. At that moment, the expression vanished from Mococo's face. "...That's right. We're sisters, after all." It was a cold voice. A voice with no warmth, unlike anything Fuwawa had ever heard. Fuwawa instinctively looked at Mococo's face. Mococo averted her eyes from the screen and began gathering her things. "Mococo...? What's wrong? Are you angry about something...?" "Nothing. I'm not angry. ...Let's go home." Mococo said that and quickly started walking toward the booth door. Fuwawa hurried after her. "Wait, Mococo! Did I say something wrong...?" Mococo didn't answer. The two left the studio in silence. Los Angeles at dusk. The route from downtown to their apartment was about fifteen minutes by car. But today of all days, they decided to walk home. No, Mococo started walking first, so Fuwawa silently followed. A sky dyed orange. The setting sun pouring through the gaps between buildings cast long shadows on the ground. Car horns passing by. Sirens heard in the distance. The city of Los Angeles was as noisy as ever. But between the two of them, there was silence for the first time. (Did I say something wrong...?) Fuwawa thought over and over as she watched Mococo's back walking ahead. (That comment thing from earlier...? But that's not something I shouldn't have denied. Because we really are sisters. ...But why did Mococo make such a cold face?) Fuwawa had the temperament of a caring older sister. She had a strong sense of responsibility and couldn't leave someone in trouble alone. But she was very insensitive to her own feelings. Especially when it came to Mococo, her worrywart nature took over and she couldn't think calmly. (If Mococo is even a little upset, I worry about it all day... Will today end like this too, without me being able to ask anything?) Fuwawa touched the bracelet on her left wrist. The matching bracelet with Mococo, woven from blue and pink threads. They bought matching ones the day their debut was decided. "...Mococo." She gathered her courage and called out. But Mococo didn't turn around. "...What?" That voice was cold, as expected. "...I'm sorry. Did I say something that hurt you? ...I don't really understand. But when I see you making that face, Mococo, my chest hurts." Fuwawa honestly conveyed her feelings. So sincere that it was almost clumsy. But Mococo didn't answer. She just walked a little faster. (Why...? What should I have said...?) Fuwawa bit her lip. Even after they arrived at the apartment, the two were silent. The big sofa in the living room. The TV. Their home, with streaming equipment concentrated in one room. Fuwawa loved the time she spent here. But today, the air was heavy. "...I'm taking a bath first." Mococo said that, put her things in her room, and headed to the bathroom. Fuwawa sank onto the sofa and looked up at the ceiling. (Did I do something...?) Those words repeated in her head over and over. (Did Mococo feel bad seeing that comment? Was she uncomfortable being told it looked like we were playing at being lovers? ...But I denied it. And yet, why...) Fuwawa closed her eyes. Behind her eyelids, Mococo's cold face floated up. She'd never seen that expression before. (Could it be... Mococo wasn't bothered by that comment, but rather angry that I denied it...?) When she thought that far, Fuwawa shook her head. (What am I saying? There's no way Mococo would get angry over something like that. Because we're sisters, and...) The rest of the words wouldn't come out. Sisters. That word echoed in her head in Mococo's voice from earlier. "That's right. We're sisters, after all." That cold voice. (What was Mococo thinking at that moment...?) Fuwawa felt a dull ache deep in her chest. Meanwhile, Mococo, soaking in the bathtub, was curled up small, hugging her knees. (...Why did I say it like that?) Regret slowly soaked into her heart. (Fuwawa isn't at fault. Denying that comment in a panic is only natural given Fuwawa's personality. Serious, sincere, a little clumsy. ...Those are the things I love about her, and yet.) Mococo buried her face in her knees in the bathtub. (But at that moment, something deep in my chest stung. The instant Fuwawa said "We're properly sisters." ...Why? I'm Fuwawa's little sister. That's a fact. And yet, why d

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Name: FUWAMOCO's Great Misunderstanding War: The Answer to Love Tastes Like Berries
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