Became the Mother of Virtual YouTubers - Chapter 87
“Ugh… I feel like I’m dying…”
In the lounge of the CosmoLive headquarters, Fall threw her body lazily onto the sofa after finishing the sh**t in the studio.
The fitness broadcast, which had become a fixed content, always left Fall exhausted. Once the penalty broadcast started, it lasted at least three hours, so it was natural for her to feel worn out.
“Good job today, Fall.”
Daon entered the lounge and tossed a cool ion drink to Fall from the refrigerator.
“Hey, just be honest. You’re purposely being late, aren’t you? Huh?”
“Huh… It’s not like I’m deliberately late. And I wasn’t even that late…”
“Being exactly 2 minutes or 3 minutes late is even worse, you lazy bum.”
“Ahaha…”
Fall let out an awkward laugh and took a sip from the ion drink. The label on the bottle featured Fall’s avatar with her hair tied up in a single ponytail. After pushing a sporty image, she had succeeded in securing a sponsorship deal with the ion drink company.
“…But Sachyo.”
While catching her breath with the drink, Fall looked seriously at Daon.
“Is that rumor true?”
“What rumor?”
“That Jin Ha Mama is signing an exclusive contract with NiseLive…”
At Fall’s words, Daon’s gaze wavered for a brief moment.
Recently, rumors had begun to spread around the community that NiseLive had contacted Jin Ha. Young-Jun was convinced that the NiseLive side had intentionally leaked the information, and Daon agreed with that opinion.
“It’s true that an offer has been made to Jin Ha, but it’s not what you think.”
She gently reassured Fall, saying it was just a proposal to work together on a project. Still, Fall’s expression remained dark.
“But if Jin Ha leaves…”
“Why worry about something that hasn’t even been decided yet?”
As Daon patted her shoulder, Fall managed a difficult smile with slightly red eyes.
The person who had created the new avatar for Seasons.
The one who had provided the best stage for each member to shine.
Even during tough times, always there to support from behind.
Someone who had become closer than family.
Someone she had believed would undoubtedly be by her side.
For Fall.
No, for the entire Seasons group.
Jin Ha was an indispensable presence.
***
Winter—or Seo Ah—lay on her bed after finishing her personal broadcast, staring blankly at the smartphone screen for a while.
The name that appeared in her contacts was none other than ‘Jin Ha Mama.’
After a brief moment of contemplation, Seo Ah took a deep breath and cautiously pressed the call button.
[Winter? What’s wrong?]
After a few rings, a calm voice was heard. It was quite lucky for Jin Ha to answer the phone so promptly today.
“It seems you’re not too busy today?”
[I was just taking a break while working after watching your broadcast. What’s up?]
At Jin Ha’s words, Seo Ah’s cheeks flushed.
There was something she wanted to say.
The heat rose, melting away in her throat.
“Um… the horror game we made last time! Do you know how scary it was?!”
Her trembling lips spilled out any words.
[Haha… But you cleared it, didn’t you? There were no game over elements.]
“But! It was a horror game that totally targeted Spring and me! I was so scared I thought I was going to lose my body!”
Over the smartphone, a low chuckle could be heard in response to Seo Ah’s complaint.
Imagining Jin Ha laughing brought a smile to Seo Ah’s face as well.
After a lingering moment of silence, Seo Ah cautiously started to speak.
“Jin Ha, I heard you’re working with NiseLive?”
[…I’ve only received a proposal. How did you find out?]
“Actually… my manager hinted at it. I didn’t think it was true… but it really is.”
Surprisingly, she felt neither jealousy nor anger. Instead, it was a hollow feeling of emptiness.
“It seems… like a good opportunity.”
[Well, it’s an opportunity, but I don’t feel particularly inclined towards it, to be honest. I don’t really know what to do…]
“…Does that mean you can’t turn down the offer?”
It was something she would never usually say.
But given the circumstances.
Since the other party was Jin Ha.
She unwittingly voiced a childish complaint.
“I’m just… worried that you might go to NiseLive…”
[Winter, where would I go? Just because I’m working with NiseLive doesn’t mean I’ll stop working with CosmoLive. Besides, I’m a freelancer…]
“But I still feel like it might become a little distant.”
A faint tremor marked the end of her words.
In her impatience, it felt like she was clinging too much.
Wondering if this would cause her to lose Jin Ha’s affection.
[Winter.]
“…Yes.”
[Don’t worry too much. Seasons are like my daughters.]
“…!!”
At those seemingly indifferent yet kind words, Seo Ah’s cheeks flushed bright red.
[Ah… It wasn’t meant in a special way. It means that it was discussed with Daon to take care of Seasons regularly.]
“Hehe… I know. I’m aware, but I’m just worried. So I wanted to pout a bit, Mama.”
After ending the call, Winter held her smartphone tightly in both hands for a while.
The anxiety in her chest was gradually melting away.
Like snow beginning to thaw.
***
The conference room of NiseLive’s Korean branch was impeccably tidy.
Jin Ha sat in the center of the conference room, quietly looking around.
Just as expected.
It was very neat, but that made it feel rigid.
‘We could have just met in VR chat.’
As Jin Ha yawned, the conference room door opened, and Se-yeon entered with a smile.
“I’m sorry to keep you waiting.”
In a neat black suit with perfectly styled bobbed hair.
When Se-yeon made eye contact with Jin Ha, she politely bowed her head.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Se-yeon Yoon, the head of the NiseLive Korean branch.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Jin Ha.”
After a brief exchange of greetings, Se-yeon immediately handed over some documents to Jin Ha as she sat down.
When Jin Ha lowered her gaze to review the contents, Se-yeon quietly opened her mouth.
“First, could you please fill out the confidentiality agreement? I will explain the project after you sign it.”
It was something she had anticipated. It was a necessary procedure.
However, she couldn’t help but feel a bit, just a tad, annoyed about it.
Jin Ha glanced over the agreement without showing any particular reaction, signed at the bottom, and returned the document.
Se-yeon neatly organized the signed confidentiality agreement and placed it in a file before moving on to the main topic.
“The project we are preparing this time is a solo concert for the 3rd generation, Kamishiro Rei.”
As Se-yeon spoke, the screen on the wall brightened, filling it with glamorous images of Kamishiro Rei.
Jin Ha was well aware of this VTuber.
The ace of the 3rd generation and the first from Korea to form a global fandom with the company’s active support.
‘Of all the people from CosmoLive…’
The not-so-secret secret about her past life was well-known, even among Jin Ha.
But she refrained from speaking that fact aloud.
“This project is very important for us as well.”
Se-yeon operated her tablet, displaying a 3D overview of the concert stage on the screen.
“We are planning a special 3D stage that transcends the limits of the VTuber market, bridging reality and virtuality.”
Se-yeon’s fingertips moved smoothly over the screen.
“Previous VTuber live stages simply provided screens for the live audience…”
Soon, a stunning lighting display revealed Rei’s 3D model dancing on stage.
“We aim to offer a more vivid 3D experience during this performance.”
The avatar of Rei in the screen floated out over the audience, waving her hands and naturally interacting with them.
“What you’re seeing is just one example of the ultimate goal, which is to create an immersive live experience that allows virtual artists and the audience to interact directly.”
Jin Ha watched with interest as Kamishiro Rei’s avatar moved freely over the audience in the screen.
It was a well-executed stage direction that captured the concept of a fairy descending from the heavenly realm out of curiosity about the human world.
“If you want to implement this in real-time live, it would be technically challenging.”
“That’s why I wanted to ask you for help, Jin Ha. From stage design to the natural movements of the avatar, I’m confident your expertise can make it happen live.”
Jin Ha mumbled as she scanned the stage configuration on the screen one more time.
“It certainly… looks fun.”
At Jin Ha’s brief comment, Se-yeon’s eyes lit up for a moment.
“If you work with us at NiseLive, you’ll be able to experience even larger-scale projects than this.”
At that moment, Se-yeon naturally made a proposal to Jin Ha.
“What do you think? How about signing an exclusive contract with us this time…”
“Thank you for the offer, but I cannot sign an exclusive contract. I find working as a freelancer to be more comfortable.”
There was no hesitation in her rejection.
Was she a bit hasty? Se-yeon made a momentarily disappointed expression but quickly regained her professional smile.
“I understand. Then, for now, I look forward to working on this project with you.”
There’s plenty of time to persuade her.
Determined to get close to Jin Ha through this project and somehow make her an artist at NiseLive, Se-yeon shook hands with Jin Ha.