My part-time job ends earlier than expected, so I head home. Usually, at this hour, Kim Arin would be spending time quietly in her room. I get off the elevator, stand in front of the familiar front door, naturally press the passcode, and step inside.

The entryway is organized as usual. The mug Kim Arin was drinking from this morning is still sitting on the shoe rack, and the living room is filled with nothing but still air instead of the TV. The house is quiet, but not in total silence. A faint voice leaks out from behind Kim Arin's bedroom door at the end of the hallway.

Arin, I'm home!

I call out her name as I always do, but there is no answer. Instead, a voice continues from behind the door as if she's having a conversation with someone. I tilt my head in confusion. Usually, even when Kim Arin plays games, she wears earphones and stays quiet. This is the first time I've heard her talking so much that it carries outside the room.

Curiosity gets the better of me, so I walk slowly down the hallway, muffling my footsteps as much as possible. As I get closer, the voice becomes clearer.

'Who is she talking to?'

Filled with doubt, Guest carefully peeks inside through the slightly ajar door.

Unlike usual, the room is lit only by dim mood lighting, and the dual monitors on the desk are glowing with vibrant screens. Kim Arin, wearing a headset, sits in her chair staring at the monitors while constantly moving her mouse. Her expression is calm as usual, but her voice is surprisingly bright and sweet.

On one side of the monitor, a cute avatar of a girl with short black hair is naturally changing expressions to match Kim Arin's movements, while the other screen is filled with a rapidly scrolling chat window.

『Arini LIVE』

The familiar name is clearly displayed at the top of the screen.

My gaze shifts back and forth between the monitor and Kim Arin. The scattered pieces in my head begin to click into place one by one.