CH 104

Chapter 104. [And The World Trembled]

The collaboration livestream with Ilyena was about to begin after she did her introductions.

Questions started coming in through the comments.

>But being from Ukraine must be tough

>It’s good that you could evacuate to Japan (U.S.)

>Are your family and friends okay?

“Yes, that’s right. I consider myself truly fortunate. I’m still very worried about my friends who stayed in my hometown. Several of my school friends have already been killed in the bombings.”

“That must be hard.”

>Seriously, Russia sucks

>They should just burn the Russians with nukes

>But even Ukrainians are using cheap drones to kill innocent Russian civilians, so it’s tit for tat

“We mustn’t confuse the issue between Russia and Ukraine with the issue between Russians and Ukrainians. Russians are living in Ukraine, and Ukrainians living in Russia.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. Japan is an island country, and it may be hard to imagine since it’s predominantly Japanese.”

Ilyena explained.

The areas like the Crimean Peninsula and eastern Ukraine that Russia has occupied due to the invasion have a higher proportion of Russians.

>Do you hate Russia? (U.S.)

>They’re your enemies, after all.

>Do you want to retaliate with nukes?

“I…”

“Wait, everyone. That’s a bit too harsh of a comment. Ilyena-chan, you don’t have to force yourself to answer just because there are many viewers. I didn’t propose this collaboration to make my oshi suffer.”

“Yes, let me say it. That’s the reason why I came here. I live relatively close to Russia. So I have both Ukrainian friends and Russian friends. That’s why I can’t choose one side.”

“Oh… I see. That makes sense.”

At this late stage, I regretted agreeing to collaborate with her.

I finally realized how cruel it was to pose such a brutal dilemma to Ilyena.

What kind of determination did she have when she stood in this position?

She must have been prepared for criticism and condemnation.

“I don’t know which side is right. But there’s one thing that I’m certain is wrong. It’s when people get hurt and die because of this.”

Ilyena’s voice was mixed with sobbing.

“My Ukrainian friends died in Russian bombings. And Russian friends died in Ukrainian drone attacks. Enough! I don’t want the people I care about to get hurt in this fight!”

I was silent, unable to utter a word, as I listened to her words.

The chats, too, fell silent as if a calm had settled.

“I hate war! I don’t know anything about Ukraine or Russia. I don’t want the people I care about to get hurt anymore! Is it wrong for me to think that way? I just, want to laugh and have a normal life with everyone!”

That was about the only truth that existed in this world.

Ah, how shallow my words have been until now.

Politics, which party is right.

Territory, compensation, retaliation, nuclear.

Ego, self-preservation.

I have only been able to speak of the surface of such things.

That’s not my true feelings, but speaking out of convenience.

That’s not what VTubers are about!

I was trying to remember why I got hooked on VTubers in the first place.

It was because they were cute and, above all, “real”.

Anime characters alone weren’t enough.

The true hearts of “humans” can only be seen through the filter of characters.

Their genuine expressions.

I’ve been captivated by them all along.

Yes, what I should have spoken about was the more honest part.

“I don’t want anyone to get hurt anymore… uueeeeen!”

Ilyena burst into tears, crying loudly.

That was the start, and the comments section quickly became active

>She’s right (U.S.)

>I’m sorry for saying we should haphazardly launch nukes

>This is my first comment. I live in Russia. I had anger toward Ukraine and NATO, and I thought the invasion was justified. But maybe using nukes was too much (Russian)

>Anyone can say they don’t want to fight

>Then why do we keep fighting? (Ukrainian)

>Why are we doing something that even children can understand is wrong? (US)

>It’s easy to say that from the safe zone called Japan (Ukrainian)

>It became a war because the dialogue wasn’t enough, right? (U.S.)

>Nevertheless, I think we need dialogue again

>What about the hatred for having our families and friends killed? (Russian)

>Ilisha is the one who represents that hatred, isn’t she?

> Amid that hatred, sadness, and anger, she’s saying she doesn’t want war (Ukrainian)

It was in motion.

I felt it. Right on my skin.

“I don’t know which side is right. But, because I have oshis in both Russia and Ukraine. I want a future where both of them can smile!”

Ilyena was already unable to speak.

I spoke my true feelings like that and concluded the stream.

And a big wave was about to happen.

The world was about to change.