Chapter 495: Don't Change the Channel

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"Ah—, ah—, can you all see me? Don't change the channel! From TV You-Gotta with love, Sasahara Eito's Channel 8! It's starting now—!!"

Snap! The moment the woman—sporting a brilliant smile—snapped her fingers, a swarm of shooting stars rained down within the studio that was supposed to be a real-world space, forming a pop-design logo right above her head.

"Look at this! Look! Even I didn't know the details, but since today is a special edition, we're broadcasting from TV You-Gotta's Second Studio instead of our usual spot! Amazing! It's full-projection AR!!"

Spinning around, the woman... the rising idol Sasahara Eito, raised her index finger and moved it in a spinning, swirling motion, and a tiny galaxy was birthed as if chasing her finger.
This wasn't Full-Dive VR; it was a technology adopted by corporations capable of solving the massive financial hurdles of a tech that had lost to VR in terms of spreading to general households due to cost issues.

That is AR—so-called "Augmented Reality."
If VR is the technology to create a world within cyberspace, then AR is the technology to color the real world more vividly—and thanks to the machinations of a certain individual, "Sasahara Eito's Channel 8!", which was originally supposed to be recorded in a tiny studio, had achieved a massive breakthrough: a live broadcast during golden time in a large-scale studio equipped with one of the few AR machines even within the TV You-Gotta building.

"No, really, I seriously haven't been told any details... if this is a prank, please tell me early so Eito-chan's mental health can be protected?"

『※ This is seriously not a prank. by Director』

"Hieee! Spatial projection cue cards?! This is special-broadcast-tier stuff right here...! Ah, I can even pick up comments from the stream... Even the viewers are making their AR debut! Amazing... what an era... the future is here!"

Whether operated by the staff or not, a UFO flew behind Eito. Perhaps the staff's tension was also spiking due to the top-tier equipment, but Eito—who seemed a bit flighty—composed herself and beamed a smile at the camera.

"Today, we have invited some very special guests! Personally, I suspect they might know something about this situation... Let's have him come out right away! Pro gamer, Uomi Kei-san—!!"

The next moment, the man... Kei, appeared from behind the set, having been cleverly hidden from the camera via AR technology. His entrance was embellished in real-time by the AR system, and to those watching the program, it likely looked as though he had suddenly teleported onto the spot.

"Hahaha... hello, hello."

"We met during the GGC... so it's been about three months? Long time no see!"

"That's right... Hello everyone, I'm Uomi."

Kei gave a pleasant greeting while watching the stream comments projected into the studio space instantly become a torrent of text.
Compared to regular athletes, pro gamers—who operate in situations similar to TV appearances where their gameplay screens are watched—are essentially half-celebrities.

Kei's conduct as he turned a business smile toward the camera was well-practiced, and the program was proceeding smoothly... at least, for now.

"So, Uomi-san? I was told by the director out of the blue, 'It's sudden, but this week's Channel 8 will be a special broadcast using the Second Studio,' with absolutely no prior briefing—are you going to explain this to me?"

"No, no, while I'm certainly not unrelated to this, I'm a victim here too, okay? It's a long story... Right, remember how I told you before, Eito-san, that I might bring a secret guest?"

"Right! That's it! Actually, the request did come from Uomi-san's side asking if it was okay to bring a secret guest! Is it that person?"

"Well... the circumstances got even more complicated from there... or rather, two more people were pretty forcefully shoved in along with that secret guest..."

"Hm? Does that mean there's three in total?"

"One of them is seriously redundant... well, let's just call them out! Entrance effects, please!!"

Eito didn't know, but through the operations of the backstage crew—those who knew the sudden circumstances behind the program's production—three entrance effects were projected via AR. And from them, three silhouettes appeared.

One, possessing a small, seemingly girl-like body and wearing a mask that only covered the eyes—which could hardly be said to contribute much to hiding her identity—was Sylv... a mysterious person.

One, who in contrast to the masked girl was tall enough to rival a man yet possessed a physique that didn't sacrifice femininity, wearing a Hannya mask for some reason, was Ameli... a mysterious person.

One, hiding his face with a full-face helmet likely meant for cosplay modeled after a hollowed-out pumpkin, and for some reason carrying energy drinks hanging from his waist, was Sunra... a mysterious person.

"Um, Uomi-san? I feel like I'm probably acquainted with at least two of them, and if I'm not mistaken, isn't that person over there a pretty incredible big name..."

"They are Mysterious Silver Mask-san and Masked Hannya-san."

"Eh, no, um..."

"There's no way the #1 in America would appear on Japanese TV while on vacation, hahaha. Their official name is Mysterious Silver Mask."

"Miss Eito! Long time no see!"

"Whoa, Eito-chan's hosting skills aren't high enough to handle a killer pass from someone with zero intention of hiding themselves!?"

"Yeah, my heart isn't steady enough to follow up on that either... Hahaha, hey now, don't comment 'Uomi-kyun's dead eyes are profound,' damn it."

Eito's smile twitched slightly as she recognized Kei, whose eyes were glazed over with a look of genuine, non-acted resignation, following the direction of her gaze.
But she was an idol nonetheless, and this was her own show. In order to somehow bring the flow back to herself, she turned her gaze from Sil—rather, the Mysterious Silver Mask—to the remaining two...

"Are you No Face?"

"............"

Sasahara Eito felt the premonition of a storm unlike any she had ever encountered in the rough-and-tumble entertainment industry as she beheld the sight of Am—rather, Masked Hannya—staring at No Face with single-minded focus without even considering how she looked on camera, and No Face, who was glaring back in silence while touching the energy drink at his waist with his right hand as if in prayer...

Author's Afterword
A program where you'd usually call idols from the same agency or game voice actors to play games in a friendly atmosphere is suddenly a live golden-time broadcast featuring the US #1 and #2, and some unknown masked guy as guests for a hardcore battle broadcast.

Two minutes until the viewer count, including domestic and overseas, increases tenfold.