Prologue: Between Two Worlds
The chat was alive with a cascade of pings and a torrent of scrolling messages, an electrifying buzz surging through the screen as I adjusted the mic. My wrist gave a faint, lingering throb—a stubborn souvenir from my recent trials—but tonight wasn’t about dwelling on that. It was New Year’s Day, my long-awaited comeback stream, and I wasn’t about to let anything stop me. I’d promised my fans I’d appear, even if just for five minutes. I needed to assure them I was alright.
Leaning into the warm glow of the camera, a grin teased its way onto my lips. The light caught the subtle shimmer in my jade-green eyes—an intriguing contrast to the playful flick of the brown rabbit-like ears drooping at the sides of my head. Strands of white hair framed my face, brushing close to something faintly... peculiar. Then again, my antlers had already made it clear I wasn’t entirely human. I silently thanked Fate for bringing me to the world of Vtubers. I would never have to feel lonely again.
“Alright,” I began, my tone light but tinged with a mischievous edge. “It’s been... forever, hasn’t it? Did you miss me?”
The reaction was immediate, a flurry of messages lighting up the feed:“OMG, she’s back!!”“Where have you been???”“Mawi, we thought you quit streaming!”“Spirit realm trip?? Tell us everything!”
I laughed softly, my ears twitching as I scrolled through the tidal wave of comments. “You caught me,” I admitted, feigning guilt. “Yeah, I was in the spirit realm. And let me tell you, time there is... strange. What felt like an eternity to me? Probably just a few months for you guys. Lucky me, right?”
The messages poured in, but one made me pause:“So why’d you leave in the first place?”
I blinked at the screen, my smirk faltering momentarily. “Fair question,” I said, tilting my head. “It’s kind of a long story, though.”
But the chat wasn’t letting me off the hook:“We’ve got time!”“Start at the beginning!”“Don’t leave us hanging, Mawi!”
Chuckling, I leaned into the mic. “Oh, you think you’re ready for the full tale? Alright, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. Let’s go all the way back. Like, before I was even born.”
With a playful wink, I added, “And if you’re hoping for spoilers about how it all turns out... well, where’s the fun in that?”
The flood of messages surged with excitement, and I let out a dramatic sigh. “Alright, picture this: it’s 2005, September 18th. Two festivals happening at the same time, under the same full moon.”
I gestured animatedly, setting the stage. “First, there’s Oktoberfest in Bavaria—the second night of the biggest, rowdiest celebration imaginable. Beer, music, laughter... Humans everywhere, revelling like it’s their last night on Earth. But what most didn’t realize was that they weren’t the only ones there. Spirits mingled seamlessly with the crowd, hidden in plain sight. And among them? My dad.”
Chat lit up like fireworks:“Wait, YOUR DAD??”“Spirits at Oktoberfest?? That’s insane!”“Tell us about him!!”
I leaned closer. “He’s a Wolpertinger. Ever heard of them? Mischievous creatures from Bavarian folklore—part rabbit, part bird, part deer. Tricksters with wings, antlers, and a penchant for chaos. That’s my dad to a T.”
More responses came fast:“I NEED fan art of this!”“Wolpertinger dad is my new favorite character.”“Can he out-drink a Bavarian?”
I snorted. “Probably, but there he was, soaking in the mayhem, pulling his usual stunts. Then something incredible happened. He heard a melody—soft, haunting, and utterly enchanting—carried on the wind from far away. And just like that, he was gone. Spread his wings, crossed mountains, oceans, and even parts of the spirit world, chasing the music all the way to Kyoto, Japan.”
I let the silence linger, the shift in tone hanging in the air. “And that’s where my mom comes in.”
The chat buzzed with anticipation:“Tell us about her!!”“Was she the one singing?”“Kyoto AND Oktoberfest? Talk about opposites!”
“Exactly,” I said, a soft smile spreading. “While Oktoberfest was chaotic, Kyoto was serene—like stepping into a dream. It was the night of the Lunar Festival, with lanterns floating into the night, cherry blossoms drifting on the breeze, and flute music weaving through the crowd. Humans were honoring the moon, sending their hopes and prayers skyward.”
My voice softened as I continued. “And my mom? She wasn’t human either. She was a rabbit geisha spirit. Graceful, timeless, and radiant... with a voice so captivating it felt like the world stopped to listen. She was dancing beneath the blossoms.. And yes, she was the one singing. That’s the song my dad heard, all the way in Bavaria.”
The chat exploded:“OMG this is SO romantic!!!”“A rabbit geisha spirit? ICONIC.”“Did your dad sweep her off her feet??”
“Well,” I said with a smile, “he certainly tried. Showed up at the Lunar Festival, all antlers and swagger, and promptly embarrassed himself with the cheesiest pick-up line imaginable. I think she liked him before the race was over, though.”
The chat clamored for details:“DID THEY KISS???”“Who won the race??”“Wait, race??”
“Oh, did I forget to mention that part?” I teased. “Yeah, Dad couldn’t resist throwing down a challenge. He pointed to Mt. Fuji and said, ‘Let’s race to the summit’.”
I leaned in, lowering my voice. “Let’s just say... the moon had plans of its own.”
Leaning back, I let the suspense linger. “That’s where it all began—the bond between my parents, the promise they made under the full moon. And although they didn’t know it then... me.”
The chat erupted again:“WAIT, WHAT??”“Baby Mawi origin story?!”“This is the best stream EVER.”
“Glad you think so,” I said, laughing. “But that’s just the beginning. If you want to know what happened next, you’ll have to wait until next week. Let’s just say... the real adventure is only beginning.”
With a wink, I ended the stream, leaving chat alight with excitement and curiosity. My past might have been steeped in myth and mystery, but the future? That was ours to create.
