Became the Mother of Virtual YouTubers - Chapter 101
Seo Ah’s fingertips, extending the business card, looked graceful and sophisticated.
The dignity of a professional was evident in each and every finger.
Hyo In accepted the business card without thinking, her expression flustered.
Before she knew it, the noise of the airport faded far away.
Only the neatly printed name on the business card caught her eye.
It was surprising, but this business card was a fake card that Young-Jun had personally made for her.
He encouraged her to go, fight (?), win (?), and come back victorious, generously providing her with a plausible title.
“Ah… Yes, hello.”
She responded reflexively, but her mind was in chaos.
She had many questions, but the biggest one was, why was this person here?
“Uh? If it’s CosmoLive…!”
Ye Rin, who accepted the business card along with Hyo In, widened her eyes in surprise.
Her voice, which burst out unconsciously, was mixed with excitement and astonishment.
“It seems you know about our company. Do you watch a lot of internet broadcasts?”
“No, I can’t watch broadcasts much. I’m busy with lab work… But instead, I listen to songs often!”
Ye Rin waved her hands in embarrassment.
“Especially, I often listen to Merry and Winter’s cover songs. Please tell them I’m really a fan!”
At that moment, the corners of Seo Ah’s mouth subtly twitched.
“Puhut! Really? Would you like me to get an autograph for you?”
“Excuse me?”
“No, I mean, should I get their autographs for you?”
“Really? Thank you!”
Seo Ah bit her lip and barely held back the laughter that was about to burst out.
It felt strange standing in front of a fan while hiding her true identity.
“Yes, I will make sure to deliver it.”
When it came to Jin Ha, she finally turned her head and quietly started to chuckle.
Holding the red pill in her hand and precariously balancing on the line matched Jin Ha’s comedic style perfectly.
She barely managed to hold back one stack, but as it piled up to two stacks, it became increasingly difficult to endure.
When Winter does a story-telling content later, she would definitely have to share about today.
“…”
Unlike the three who were smiling, Hyo In couldn’t find it in herself to laugh.
Seo Ah’s presence was very concerning, making her feel uneasy.
“Seo Ah, if you don’t mind, may I ask what you’re going to the conference for?”
Eventually unable to contain herself, Hyo In quietly opened her mouth.
“It seems that VTuber companies are doing separate paper reviews these days.”
Though a slight thorn was mixed in Hyo In’s words, Seo Ah responded with a smile as if it were nothing.
“I don’t know about other places, but our CosmoLive tries to keep up with the latest research quickly.”
That’s why she was able to make contact with someone like Jin Ha quickly, and she subtly moved closer.
“And… Jin Ha is a very important partner for our CosmoLive. So this time, as the ‘closest person,’ I’m also taking on the role of manager.”
“Is that so? I’ve known Jin Ha for a long time, but I’ve never heard of you, Seo Ah.”
She was saying it politely, but to put it bluntly, this was it.
Who are you to say you’re the closest person to Jin Ha?
Seo Ah slightly lifted her eyes for a moment before softly smiling again.
“Oh my, I see. Well, since it’s a personal matter, it’s not something I would usually share with a coworker.”
To summarize with a slight fabrication, the ex-girlfriend (?) should stay out of it.
Naturally, sparks flew between the two’s gazes.
“Uh… should we move our seats first…?”
Ye Rin, caught awkwardly between the two, felt out of place.
“Right. It’s better to look around the duty-free shop inside than to be late for no reason.”
Jin Ha, who had provided the reason for the conflict, seemed unconcerned.
*
After completing the exit procedure, in front of the boarding gate.
Seo Ah said she had to take an urgent work call and briefly left her seat.
Ye Rin, feeling unwell due to extreme nervousness, hurriedly headed to the restroom.
In other words, only Jin Ha and Hyo In were left here.
“Uh… Jin Ha.”
With the two left alone, Hyo In cautiously spoke up.
“What kind of person is Seo Ah?”
At Hyo In’s anxious question, Jin Ha let out a light sigh internally.
She had anticipated that Hyo In would ask about Winter and Seo Ah, but she couldn’t easily figure out how to answer.
She couldn’t disclose another side of Seo Ah.
Even if she did, it would be right for Seo Ah to reveal it herself.
If Seo Ah had decided to hide her identity as Winter, Jin Ha had to align with that.
To state that fact would be rude to a VTuber.
“As Seo Ah said earlier, she’s here in a role similar to my manager.”
Thus, Jin Ha could only respond with a smile as naturally as possible.
But Hyo In’s face looked somewhat uneasy.
“Are you really her manager? It seems a bit…”
The two appeared far too comfortable with each other.
Feeling like it would come off too jealous to call it out directly.
To put it bluntly, as Seo Ah said, Jin Ha and she were merely former lab colleagues, nothing more and nothing less.
Hyo In swallowed her words with effort.
Instead, she changed the topic and asked a more pressing question.
“That aside, does Seo Ah know? That Jin Ha was originally a man.”
“Of course… she wouldn’t.”
At those words, Hyo In’s face slightly brightened.
“So that person was ultimately in a business relationship after all.”
What? So close? Not even knowing the most secret of secrets!
An unwarranted sense of superiority made her shoulders lift slightly.
“As I mentioned before, it might be worth saying…”
“I know. Initially, they wouldn’t believe whatever I said, and especially in the lab, I have to be cautious… But I still need to tell Ye Rin at some point.”
“Well, that’s something to look for an opportunity for.”
Suddenly, Jin Ha thought that her situation was no different from a VTuber’s.
“After all, I’m also hiding the red pill in my life…”
Just as VTubers stand behind a perfectly created virtual avatar while hiding their real selves.
Jin Ha was also living in reality in a form not unlike an ‘avatar.’
“Then what am I…?”
She suddenly felt a sense of floating.
As if she were detached from reality.
The surrounding scenery began to look like a live stream.
A sense of reality…
Gradually… vanished…
“…Sister? Jin Ha!”
“Uh, um?”
“Is something wrong?”
“Uh… huh?”
“You suddenly look like you have a lot on your mind…”
Jin Ha blinked vacantly but then stifled a laugh and muttered.
“I just thought that I’m no different from a VTuber.”
Hyo In thought carefully about Jin Ha’s words.
Now that she mentioned it, maybe it was true.
Perhaps, in reality, she was living the life of an avatar.
But soon Hyo In gently smiled and said.
“Still, Jin Ha, you have something fundamentally different from a VTuber.”
“…Hmm?”
“A VTuber is a presence beyond the screen, but you are here in reality, right next to me? And…”
Hyo In continued to speak while tightly hugging Jin Ha’s arm, smiling.
“Regardless of gender or appearance, Jin Ha is still Jin Ha.”
At Hyo In’s words, Jin Ha let out a laugh.
“Exactly. Whether man or woman, I am me.”
Finally, a little reality returned.
The blurry scenery at 144p resolution came into sharp focus at 1080p Full HD.
Her body, which seemed like it would collapse as if the body tracking connection had been cut off, regained its place.
“By the way! You still have to keep your ‘lines’ well, right?”
“Hmm? Lines?”
“You’re not getting too close to Seo Ah or other girls without boundaries, right…?”
Hyo In narrowed her eyes and asked, as if pressing her with a cheeky tone.
“…Of course not. I’m being considerate in my own way.”
Jin Ha sighed slightly, seemingly sulky.
She didn’t understand why she had to provide such an explanation.
If one were to be fair, wasn’t it Hyo In who directly entered the changing room of the clothing store?
…That thought didn’t need to be voiced.
Instead, she added another justification that wasn’t really a justification.
“I even booked our room separate from Seo Ah’s this time.”
“Really?”
Only then did Hyo In’s face soften a bit.
“Yeah, I’m serious.”
“Jin Ha, you still have some conscience, huh?”
Hyo In laughed playfully, then changed the subject.
“By the way, how did you manage to find such a nice hotel? The price is a bit high, but it’s close to the conference venue and has excellent reviews.”
She thought Jin Ha would pick just any random place.
Surprisingly, she praised Jin Ha for having good taste.
For a moment, Jin Ha’s expression became strange.
With an awkward look, she scratched her head before slowly opening her mouth.
“Ah, um… Actually, I didn’t make the reservation.”
“…What?”
Hyo In’s expression froze.
A foreboding feeling crossed her mind.
After a moment of hesitation, Jin Ha eventually confessed honestly.
“The hotel and flight were all booked by Seo Ah.”
She smiled sheepishly, thinking that fulfilling the manager role involved that.
“…What did you say?”
Hyo In’s eyes began to shake again.
But before she could question further, a bright voice came from afar.
“Did you two have some fun talk?”
It was Seo Ah. The timing of her return was impeccable.
Ye Rin was also there with her.
“Just talking about various things… Ahaha…”
Hyo In quickly forced a smile, but it was difficult to hide her awkwardness.
A sense of unease settled in one corner of her heart.
She felt as if something bad was about to happen.
No, it already seemed to have happened.
*
The ominous premonition.
Why has it never been wrong?
“Are you saying… there’s only one room booked?”
In front of the front desk, behind Jin Ha and Seo Ah, who wore bewildered expressions.
Hyo In clutched her throbbing forehead.