After quickly tidying himself up, Rin Ito and Little Bocchi left the Fairy's house and arrived at Sagiri's front door next door. Since it was the weekend, Rin Ito didn't open the door directly but knocked.
"Ugh..."
Each knock of the doorbell sounded like it was hitting Little Bocchi's head, forcing a short whimper from her throat. He wouldn't trick me into a basement where no one can find me and use me as a 'hot weapon' just like Eiri, would he!?
Wait... being locked up in a basement where no one can find me doesn't sound too bad either.
While Little Bocchi's mind was running wild, the door opened. Little Bocchi quickly hid behind Rin Ito. Seeing Sagiri's older brother, Rin Ito smiled. "I brought a friend to play with Sagiri."
Masamune Izumi looked at the timid Little Bocchi hiding behind Rin Ito and understood the situation immediately. "Did you tell Sagiri beforehand? Come in." Masamune stepped aside, ushering the two into the house. He still couldn't see what Little Bocchi looked like, only catching a glimpse of pink hair floating out from behind Rin Ito.
"You two go up and find Sagiri yourselves. If you need anything, just let me know in the living room." Having extensive experience dealing with social anxiety, he didn't pry further. He just sincerely felt that Rin Ito was a truly good person, not only helping Sagiri leave the house but also diligently helping others with social anxiety.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Rin Ito walked up to the second floor and knocked on Sagiri's door.
"It's me."
Hearing Rin Ito's voice, Sagiri's door opened a tiny crack. A pair of eyes vigilantly glared at Rin Ito and Little Bocchi hiding behind him. She looked like a super-fierce little cat.
"I told you about her before, a friend with social anxiety just like you." Sagiri stared at the pink hair peeking out from behind Rin Ito through the crack for a long time before finally opening the door.
Just like before, until Rin Ito closed the door, Little Bocchi deftly used Rin Ito's body to block Sagiri's line of sight. When Sagiri moved left, Little Bocchi moved left too. Seeing Little Bocchi constantly avoiding her gaze, Sagiri frowned. Left, right, left, right. Sagiri and Little Bocchi cleverly circled Rin Ito, playing the 'be seen and die' game. Then... Rin Ito seized the opportunity. As he stepped aside, he grabbed both of their slender shoulders and pulled them in for a hug.
"Wuh!!!"
Instantly, intoxicating softness enveloped Sagiri's cheek, while Little Bocchi, pressed into Sagiri's chest, was so embarrassed she nearly melted on the spot. Rin Ito released them a moment later.
"Are you trying to humiliate me!? Damn it... she's a hidden bust, I didn't think someone so inconspicuous would be so big!!! Take it off! Take off that ugly tracksuit!!!"
"Eek!!!!" Little Bocchi once again hid against Rin Ito.
"Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on..." Rin Ito pulled Sagiri away. "Let me introduce you. Hitori Gotoh, you can call her Little Bocchi. This is Sagiri Izumi, and Little Bocchi, you can call her Erotic Manga Sensei."
"Nobody calls me Erotic Manga Sensei!" Sagiri instinctively retorted, then calmed down a bit.
Rin Ito had them sit facing each other at the low table, while he sat in the middle of the two, explaining his intention. Although Sagiri had successfully left the house and gone to a convention, and her social anxiety had somewhat improved, it was only somewhat and still needed further treatment.
Speaking of treatment, Sagiri gave Rin Ito a fierce kick under the table with her pale, small foot, her cheeks flushing crimson. "You... you aren't going to..." The last time she went to a convention, she climaxed more than once in public. If she hadn't been wearing a diaper, it would have run down her pant legs and into her shoes. He wouldn't try to do the same thing again, would he?
"What are you thinking about?" Rin Ito grabbed Sagiri's small, bare foot and gently tickled it. "I meant to say... how about live streaming!"
"Live streaming!?" Sagiri's face grew even redder. "You mean you want me to... while... while... while..."
Rin Ito tapped Sagiri's head, who was clearly getting the wrong idea.
"I mean... have you heard of VTubers, Virtual Streamers?"
Both girls nodded. Sagiri already streamed her drawing, and Little Bocchi was a streamer with tens of thousands of followers; they had both heard of virtual streamers. A virtual streamer is someone who streams using a virtual avatar, allowing for all sorts of settings, like a fallen elf princess or a corporate slave OL. Streaming with a virtual avatar is an ideal way for them to practice their bravery. For some people, putting on a mask is equivalent to taking off their mask. Hiding behind an avatar will allow them to loosen up and gradually get used to, and even enjoy, interacting with people.
Both of them already had a certain fan base, so they wouldn't be like low-tier streamers talking to themselves and getting excited over a single comment. As for their avatars, both Rin Ito and Sagiri could draw their own. For the rigging and software, there were plenty of tutorials online, or they could find people online who specialize in rigging avatars for streamers.
"So, what do you think? Want to give it a try?"
"I can do it." Sagiri nodded. She had wanted to try it before when she was streaming. Her social anxiety was limited to face-to-face interaction; online, she was a social butterfly who would even ask her fans to send her panty pictures. With another layer of an avatar, she could be even more uninhibited.
Little Bocchi shook her head frantically. No! Even avatar streaming is a no-go. Even through a screen, talking in front of so many people... Absolutely not!!!!!
"Don't worry, Little Bocchi. If you don't dare to speak, you can just silently play your guitar. After all, with a screen and an avatar, no one can see you." Rin Ito paused, a wicked smile playing on his lips. "If you don't stream..."
"Eek!!!!"
Although Rin Ito didn't explicitly say it, his expression was identical to the one he had when he was using Eiri's mouth as a cup! I'm going to be turned into a hot weapon, definitely going to be turned into a hot weapon!
"Ugh... a-alright." Little Bocchi nodded weakly.
"Excellent. Now, let's design your virtual avatars. Little Bocchi, what kind of avatar do you want?"
"I... I want an image of a confident, popular band girl." Little Bocchi looked at Rin Ito with a slight expectation. That was the image of her dream self.
Rin Ito handed Little Bocchi paper and a pen. "Little Bocchi, draw a rough sketch of the image you want. I'll refine it later... Actually, let Sagiri refine it. Sagiri can stream herself drawing the avatar, and you two can mutually promote each other and drive traffic."
Both girls nodded in agreement with Rin Ito's plan, but... Rin Ito kept some of his plans to himself. Speaking of V-Tubers, the "top donator" under the desk was a classic trope, after all.