[Kimakura Utopia. Talk Room (Private)]
[Momotarou]
What do you want?
I’m busy. Keep it short, old hag.
[Behind the Shadow]
Who the hell are you calling an old hag, brat?
You need to stop this nonsense already.
[Momotarou]
Which part are you referring to?
[Behind the Shadow]
It’s about Memeko-chan!
Release her already!
[Momotarou]
Release?
Are you talking about that loan agreement between me and her?
If that’s what you mean, it was a transaction made with mutual consent, so you have absolutely no right to interfere.
[Behind the Shadow]
How dare you say that, you evil merchant!
It was the same with Kuma-tan.
I bet you’re charging outrageous interest rates and tormenting Memeko-chan!
[Momotarou]
“Too,” huh?
I’ll tell you something, old hag.
I don’t remember lending Kuma-san a single damn cent.
[Behind the Shadow]
Then you must have something on her, right?
Or else there’s no way that girl would suddenly abandon Alkali like that.
[Momotarou]
I wonder
If you’re that concerned, why don’t you ask her yourself instead of some brat like me?
[Behind the Shadow]
Yeah, after I asked, she never actually gave me an answer.
Even though I doted on her so much.
But that was her answer.
[Momotarou]
She should have made an official announcement.
About leaving Alkali and joining Momo Finance
[Behind the Shadow]
…Yeah, enough about Kuma-tan.
But Memeko-chan is different.
She didn’t officially leave Arukaru.
She said it was a temporary withdrawal and she’ll return once she pays off her debt.
Therefore, I have every right to complain to you.
You’re unfairly shackling Memeko-chan and making her work.
[Momotarou]
You’re free to call our deal “unfair,” but like I said before, this is a contract both of us agreed to.
She made her own choice.
She chose to borrow money from me and work for my clan during the repayment period.
[Momotarou]
And you, you seem overly concerned about her, but have you actually asked about her lately or talked to her?
If you had, you wouldn’t be butting in like this.
After all, Miss Memeko doesn’t appear to be entirely displeased about working as a finance member.
[Behind the Shadow]
Ugh…
Shut up, you brat!
No matter what excuses you make, the fact remains that Memeko-chan is still related to me.
Anyway, I didn’t contact you today to have this pointless argument.
[Behind the Shadow]
3 million? 4 million? 5 million?
[Momotarou]
…Huh
[Behind the Shadow]
Tell me, the amount she owes, the total including interest
I’ll pay it all off
I’ll tear that ridiculous contract to shreds
[Momotarou]
I have one question
Why are you so fixated on her?
[Momotarou]
Even if one or two clan members leave, it’s no big deal. The scale of your clan is huge. It won’t hurt a bit.
Why are you willing to sacrifice yourself to get her back?
Do you really think she’s worth that much?
[Behind the Shadow]
That’s
[Behind the Shadow]
Because we’re comrades!
Because we’re friends! That’s obvious!!
[Momotarou]
Lol
Although you seem to be putting on airs about your noble ideals,
the fact remains that she chose to join my clan and enjoys it to some extent.
Given that, such words are nothing but hypocrisy.
[Behind the Shadow]
What are you talking about, kid?
[Behind the Shadow]
Leaving my clan is fine.
Going to Momo Finance is fine, too.
[Behind the Shadow]
I will say it plainly: if she’s leaving the clan for good, she should do it properly—because we’re comrades, because we’re friends.
Your so-called “contractual relationship” is just getting in the way.
I want to wipe all that clean, stand on equal footing, and hear what she truly feels.
Of course, if her debt to you is holding her back, I’d help her out.
But if she’s being held back by me, by us…
[Behind the Shadow]
I want to settle that too.
[Behind the Shadow]
If there’s a reason, it’s because I want closure.
This is about my feelings.
You middle school kid probably wouldn’t get it, though.
[Momotarou]
32.6 million
[Behind the Shadow]
…Huh?
[Momotarou]
The total amount of Miss Memeko’s debt, including interest.
32,603,000 Kima
[Behind the Shadow]
………………
[Momotarou]
You’re going to cover it for her?
Honestly, I don’t care who does it, as long as the payment is fulfilled.
[Momotarou]
If you want, I can send someone over right now.
Where would you like them to go?
Your clan home?
[Behind the Shadow]
………………な
[Behind the Shadow]
Why the hell is that kid drowning in debt like that?!
Th-th-thirty million!?
Unbelievable! Impossible!
Where on earth did she spend all that money in Kimakura… Oh, real estate!?
Could she possibly be taking out a loan to build a new house with that money!?
[Momotarou]
Clothes.
[Behind the Shadow]
Huh
[Momotarou]
Clothes.
Memeko-san borrowed 30 million yen from me to buy clothes.
[Behind the Shadow]
Clothes… Boutique-san!?
Is she planning to buy up all the skill-attached items!?
No way, Meme-chan! If she does that, she’ll get hate from different sides…!
[Momotarou]
To add to her credit, the 30 million is just for funding a single outfit.
I guess it’s an item worth that much to her.
[Behind the Shadow]
Are you stupid!?
Momotarou, what kind of lie did you feed her this time!?
[Momotarou]
That doesn’t sound nice.
You always try to make me the bad guy.
I was just being kind, giving her a little advice.
[Behind the Shadow]
Advice, you say?
[Momotarou]
Yeah
Shadow-san probably knows
that she used to aim to be an idol
and still can’t quite give up on that dream, letting it smoulder inside her heart
[Behind the Shadow]
…I think I’ve heard she was doing that kind of activity
[Momotarou]
That’s why I suggested it
Why not just become an idol in this world instead?
[Momotarou]
Yeah, as a Kimakura-oriented streamer, a Vliver.
They call it Vliver these days, right?
[Momotarou]
She’s got talent.
Her gestures, her behaviour.
I’m not familiar with that stuff, but she’s got a charm that draws people in.
She’s been in the spotlight a few times as a beautiful girl who masters special skills, and apparently, she’s super popular with the guys in my clan, too.
[Behind the Shadow]
I get it.
Memeko-chan is adorable.
Not just her looks, but her voice, her gestures, the way she talks—everything is cute.
[Behind the Shadow]
But stuff like this… I don’t think it’s something someone like you, who doesn’t know her well, should casually recommend.
The Vliver world is pretty tough.
It’s hard to get enough viewers when there’s so much competition, and above all, it’s exhausting. Streaming is volatile.
Even though Meme-chan knows livestreamers exist, she hasn’t done it until now because
She’s anxious about that reality
[Momotarou]
Hmm, talking to you makes my head go haywire.
Please stop shifting the focus.
[Momotarou]
Anyway, I recommended that 30 million yen item along with that little bit of advice.
I thought it might help her achieve her dream.
And she agreed, of her own free will.
[Momotarou]
And then
[Momotarou]
Continue from what we were talking about earlier
You’re paying for it, right?
32.603 million Kima
[Behind the Shadow]
………………
[Behind the Shadow]
Hey, I’ve got a question for you too
[Behind the Shadow]
Why are you so fixated on Memeko-chan?
It was the same with Kuma-tan, right?
I don’t think you’re the type to go out of your way like this to pull one member over to your side.
I kinda get this… sense of malice towards me
[Momotarou]
Me? Are you saying I’m concerned about you?
Cut it out.
[Behind the Shadow]
I’d like to say that, but
[Momotarou]
I see. If that’s how you feel, then maybe there is some truth to it.
You’re saying something unusually interesting, Shadow-san.
I have noticed one thing.
[Behind the Shadow]
Don’t beat around the bush. Just say it.
[Momotarou]
You see, I dislike two types of people.
[Momotarou]
People who act on emotion and people who let their talent go to waste
[Momotarou]
That’s the thing.