Chapter 130.3 - SS 7
SS 7. [Becoming A Vtuber For 0 Yen ~ PC]
"I got it! But where did you get it from!?"
I exclaimed, looking at the desktop computer sitting in front of me.
Mai-san confidently answered.
"Oh, it's from Mai's onee-chan!"
"What?! Is that okay?"
"It's totally fine. It was just gathering dust in the closet. Onee-chan even said, ‘Please take it if you want!'"
"But…"
Can I be this lucky?
And to get it from someone I usually bicker with.
"If you feel guilty about it, you can let me have Iroha-chan as a Christmas present this year, Mai."
"Oh, no, that won't do."
"Huh?!"
That's a different matter altogether.
I can't give up on Iroha-sama.
If I could give up something like that here, I wouldn't have aspired to be a VTuber.
Maybe Mai-san wasn't expecting that response as she quickly switched topics, saying, "Well, it's okay then.".
"This computer was used by my sister when she made her debut, so it's quite old now."
"Is that so? It looks nice and clean though."
"The important thing with a computer is what's inside."
Mai-san started talking about the computer.
After all, a computer is a consumable item.
"Generally, people replace their computers every 4 to 5 years. Well, it's too late if it breaks down. Even Appol's products have support end after about 5 years since release."
"Hmm, I can't tell if that's a long or short period."
"Same for me. And honestly, many people end up using them for much longer."
"What's that called again?"
"Self-responsibility, I guess?"
I couldn't even imagine what my life would be like 4 years from now when I couldn't even predict what happens next year.
Will I still be in Japan, or will I return to Ukraine, or…?
"In terms of performance, it's like a middle-spec gaming PC from a few years ago, I guess?"
As she said that, Mai-san pulled out a tattered "flyer".
It had some crude writing with a name and price listed.
OS: Windoms 10
CPU: Iutel Core i5-8400
Memory: 8GB × 2
Storage: SSD 256GB, HDD 1TB
GPU: NVIoIA GeForse GTX 1060 3GB
"What does this mean?"
"Let's see… Roughly, it says ‘PC gaming and streaming for 100,000 yen! (Just barely)'?"
"I see. I understand now."
"Right?! If it wasn't for my allowance being on the line, I wouldn't have bothered getting this knowledgeable!"
Mai-san suddenly got excited and approached me.
Tears of hardship were visible in her eyes.
She looked at me, urging me to ask, "Listen to me." with her ask.
I had no choice but to ask, "Is something wrong?".
"Originally, my onee-chan bought this computer during her student days using her part-time job earnings… or rather, she asked me to buy it for her as a favor, saying ‘I'm going to work, so please buy it for me!'."
"Isn't that a bit too demanding? But it's not that big of a deal, right?"
Mai-san murmured something under her breath.
I couldn't catch it and asked, "Huh?".
"I didn't have enough money! It's not enough!!"
"Huh!?"
"[You can use the leftover amount as Mai's allowance!] No! It turned out that I ended up having to chip in!"
"Really? What happened?"
Mai-san's sister often collaborates with Iroha-sama, so I know she can be extravagant… but still.
It's fun to watch her, but having her around in person must be tough.
I felt a little sorry for Mai-san.
"Oh, sob… Besides what's written here, you also need a motherboard, power supply, and case. Replacing a computer is inevitable, so it's good to have some knowledge about it."
"Y-Yes, but honestly, I'm not sure if I understand…"
"At times like this, there's a recommended magic spell!"
"Magic spell?"
"Yeah. It's ─ ‘[Ask the store clerk for their recommendation!]'."
"Whaaat!? Is that okay?"
Then what was all the explanation before for!?
You don't need to remember that, huh?
"However, as a caution, it's better to ask at a PC parts store rather than an electronics store. They'll help you choose something with good cost performance while discussing the prices."
Mai-san told me about the benefits of asking a store clerk.
They can recommend parts that match the increasing requirements of PC games, check the compatibility of each part, advise on assembling, and so on.
"If you have a specific game in mind, it's easier. Just buy parts that are slightly above the recommended specs for the game, and you're good to go."
"Did you do that too, Mai-san?"
"Nope. I didn't have enough money, so I bought it online."
"Whaaat!?"
"If you have some curiosity and time to research, buying a BTO (Build To Order) PC online is very cost-effective."
"B-T-O?"
Another unfamiliar term.
New words keep coming one after another, and my head is spinning.
"It stands for Build To Order. You place an order, they build it, and they deliver it to you. Professionals assemble it. So you could use it right away… and most importantly, it's cheap!"
"I see. Well, is it okay to just go with that?"
"Just be aware that it takes time to arrive. The specs of computers decrease relatively over time… so whether it's better or not depends on the person."
"I see."
Because it's custom-made, it takes time, but it's cheaper…
It might be better to go with BTO when I decide to replace my computer in the future… that seems to be a good idea.
"And this. I brought the mouse, keyboard, and cables that I had lying around… so yeah."
"Thank you very much. But wait, something is missing."
Mai-san is looking at everything laid out.
It seems like something essential is missing.
"Wait, aaah!? There's no main unit!?"
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