Chapter 21 - Crisis Management Meeting

“Oh, Manager-san. Good morning.”

 

“Good morning, Botan-san.”

 

Two days after the uproar. With the management’s strategy finalized, a full-fledged discussion took place at Denjirasu’s office.

 

It’s quite fast, isn’t it? While it’s true that the speed and effectiveness of such measures are proportional, seeing the industry giant Libra involved in this incident, the speed of decision-making shown here is remarkable.

 

At its core is probably regret. The efficiency stemming from bitter experiences in the past is both reliable and somewhat sad.

 

Well, I shouldn’t dwell on that. It’s the right choice as a professional to quietly follow Manager-san’s lead. There are things in the world that shouldn’t be discussed.

 

“Please wait here. Others will be joining us soon.”

 

“Understood. Um, what about this one? Is it okay to leave it in the corner of the room?”

 

“Meow.”

 

And then, there are things that need to be addressed. In this case, it’s about the kitten squirming inside the pet carrier I’m holding.

 

“Oh, is that the one?”

 

“Yes. He’s the kitten, in a sense, who became the catalyst for all the commotion.”

 

In a gesture of introduction, I raised the carrier, and Manager-san peered with interest through the mesh. Confirming the movement of the kitten inside, her cheeks visibly softened.

 

Whether she’s a cat lover or just fond of cute things, it’s undeniable that the kitten has captivated Manager-san.

 

“As I mentioned earlier, he’s still on milk and hasn’t been weaned yet. So, I can’t leave him alone at home.”

 

“For now, could you just put him by your feet during the meeting?”

 

“Understood. I’m sorry for the trouble.”

 

“It’s okay. I can’t leave such a cute little one all alone anyway. You wouldn’t want to be lonely, would you?”

 

“Mew.”

 

It’s not about loneliness; it’s just that he still needs constant attention due to his age. He’s so small that it wouldn’t be surprising if he weakened while I was away. …But I guess it’s better not to mention that.

 

Manager-san seems quite smitten indeed. Well, objectively speaking, the kitten is a striking tabby, so anyone who likes cats would surely adore him.

 

Still, it’s a bit different from what I expected. To have Manager-san call him my family… I understand that’s how he’s generally perceived, but hearing it directly like this feels strange.

 

I occasionally watch videos of rescued cats, but I never thought I’d end up actually keeping one. I like animals, but I always felt that admiring a friend’s pet from afar was just right.

 

Well, it’s said that cats can feel stressed if they’re given too much attention, and at his young age, it’s not good for him. So, I thought this level of interaction might be just right.

 

“…It’s unforgivable that such a small kitten is being attacked online, isn’t it?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Even though I don’t feel it as strongly, the fact remains that the kitten is under my protection. So, I strongly agree with Manager-san’s murmur.

 

“More than cats that have nothing to do with us, I wish they had used their potions on our favorites. I understand how you feel, so I wouldn’t mind if you just laughed it off… but…”

 

“…!?”

 

Oops, that was unintentional. A bit of frustration seemed to have slipped out, and Manager-san’s cheeks twitched slightly.

 

But really, it’s a bit annoying. Sure, there have been various defamations before, like “pickup artist,” “harem guy,” “scammer,” “criminal,” “die,” and so on. But they were always directed at me, and I just admired their guts while collecting screenshots.

 

But this time, it’s different. There are many haters spreading hate towards the kitten, like “let the kitten die” or “I hate the kitten rescued instead of Utan so much I want to kill it.”

 

“─ That’s crossing the line, isn’t it? Regardless of the circumstances, it’s unbelievable how people can spit venom towards a life that someone saved.”

 

That’s something I can’t just overlook. Saving a life means taking responsibility until the end. At least, that’s how I see it, and I’ve been demonstrating that even in my tweets.

 

Yet, there are so many idiots out there making aggressive comments towards the kitten. Some of them are even saying things like “I want to kill the cat.”

 

Taking responsibility means protecting them firmly. As a guardian, I have an obligation, but do they even understand that?

 

It’s just plain unpleasant. What kind of nonsense are they saying about someone else’s pet? Maybe because the defamation against me was ignored before, they think they can say anything they want? Just because I calmly took appropriate measures doesn’t mean I’m defenseless. Despite the management clearly stating their stance on defamation?

 

Also, I don’t like how those idiots are using Utan’s name, and by extension, Libra’s name. We’re more than ready to take action without you shouting about it.

 

Yet, they still cause unnecessary commotion. They’re irresponsibly causing trouble by putting someone who may not even be conscious, let alone capable of dealing with it, on a palanquin. They’re causing trouble for our favorites.

 

“We’re sorry to keep you waiting, Yamano-sa…!?”

 

“Wha…!?”

 

The door opens, and the three who entered gasp. The young woman even lets out a short scream.

 

…Oh no, that’s not good. The growing discomfort seemed to naturally show on my face. Despite not having a particularly intimidating appearance, I seem to exude a strange sense of intimidation when my mood sours, perhaps due to my background of fighting monsters.

 

I’ve been trying to be more careful since a friend pointed it out, but I seem to have been a bit careless this time. Keep calm, keep calm.

 

“Uh, good morning. Nice to meet you today.”

 

“Yeah, uh, nice to meet you, Yamano-kun.”

 

Smiling, I greet them. Then, our company president responds. Despite being so young for a company head, he’s quick to switch gears, probably because he’s carrying the weight of the employees’ lives.

 

“Well, let me introduce these two. Sato-san from Libra’s legal department and Mizuno-san, the manager of Irohane Uta.”

 

“I’m Sato from Libra’s legal department. We apologize for the trouble caused by one of our affiliated VTubers.”

 

“I’m Mizuno, Uta’s manager from Irohane. I’m deeply sorry for causing trouble.”

 

“Yamano Botan here. No need for apologies. It’s just unfortunate timing for everyone involved. Libra is also a victim in this.”

 

I convey strongly that I’m not bothered by their deep bows.

 

But they’re very humble. It’s hard to believe they’re from the industry leader. Although we were informed beforehand, it seems that Libra is taking this incident quite seriously.

 

Of course, it’s only natural. It’s a crisis involving one of their main forces, a VTuber with over a million subscribers. In such a dire situation where they could potentially lose one of their top earners, they wouldn’t want any extra trouble.

 

Especially when the other party is me. Even though my agency’s track record as a VTuber is far below theirs, I’m currently the only key person who can bring this to a satisfactory conclusion.

 

Given that our relationship with them is on the verge of being strained due to an outsider’s rampage, it must be tough for Libra.

 

So, Libra is on our side. At least, they should be able to synchronize with us.

 

“Anyway, let’s discuss this properly. Let’s carefully consider our future actions.”

 

“Y-Yes!”

 

“Please, let’s work together!”

 

…Huh? Despite trying to convey a sense of alliance and smiling as gently as possible, why does Libra seem a bit hesitant? Also, the president and Manager-san too.

 

“…Kitten. Am I really that scary?”

 

“Mew!” 

 

…Did he just nod?