The dark room was silent except for the rhythmic clicking of my mouse. On the screen, a grotesque monster crept through a digital hallway. Suddenly, a screech blasted through my headphones, instantly followed by an incredibly loud, agonizing shriek from the discord call."Oh my god, Kenji, shut up!" I yelled, ripping one side of my headset off my ear."I am fighting for my life here, okay?!" my older brother barked back.This was a normal Tuesday night for me. To the internet, my brother was SunKenji, a massive Vtuber known for his chaotic energy and loud gaming sessions. To me, he was just the guy who stole my cereal and convinced me to stream with him whenever his chat demanded a "sibling reality check." My own avatar—a simpler model designed to match his aesthetic—swayed on my second monitor, mimicking my exhaustion."You died to a literal pixelated spider," a smooth, calm voice chimed in. That was DoctorDeath, Doc for short. He was another Vtuber Kenji had dragged into the lobby, and his unbothered, surgical precision contrasted perfectly with my brother's pure panic."It snuck up on me, Doc! Tell them!" Kenji defended himself, his avatar flailing its arms. "Sister, back me up here.""I'm legally obligated to pretend I don't know you when you act like this," I muttered into my mic.A sudden, wheezing laugh erupted from the fourth person in our voice call. "She completely read you, bro. It's over. Pack it up."That laugh belonged to Kai. I hadn't shared a stream with KaiVtuber before tonight, but within two hours of playing this terrible horror game, he had already become my primary ally. While Kenji screamed and Doc analyzed the game mechanics, Kai and I had spent the last thirty minutes actively sabotaging Kenji's character, closing doors on him, and stealing the only flashlight."Hey, watch your back," Kenji warned Kai, narrow-eyed. "I brought her into this world, I can take her out.""You didn't bring me anywhere, we share parents," I reminded him."Boom. Roasted again,
