Became the Mother of Virtual YouTubers - Chapter 90
“Honestly, this is quite good…”
Rei tilted her head slightly and purposefully acted a bit petulant.
She continued speaking with a somewhat regretful expression.
“I think it would be nice if we could modify it just a little bit more…”
As Rei vaguely trailed off, Jin Ha tilted her head in confusion.
“What part do you feel is lacking? Please let me know if you have any feedback. I will implement any changes right away.”
Jin Ha’s response was still very nonchalant.
No, it felt almost insensitive.
In that moment, Rei felt an inexplicable annoyance bubbling up inside her.
If it were any other artist, they would never have such a relaxed demeanor.
How picky she was being.
How ridiculous her feedback was.
Did Jin Ha even realize this?
“…The current stage is beautifully designed, inspired by the heavens, but to be honest, I think it will be hard for the audience to feel something beyond the song as it is.”
Rei trembled her lips slightly and started to enumerate her “minor modifications.”
“I would like to infuse a ‘story’ into the stage.”
First, she hoped to include a portrayal of part of the stage collapsing.
She wanted to maximize the contrast between mystery and human imperfection.
Also, she hoped for a representation of the struggles and conflicts between humanity and divinity.
Rather than just depicting herself as a fairy or a perfect celestial being, she wanted to capture the conflicts between divinity and humanity.
“For example, I would love to have a dramatic portrayal where the light from the sky darkens at the climax of the song, only to overcome that and regain its dazzling light.”
She wanted the audience to not only listen to the song but to feel a narrative, like in a musical, and presented various ideas.
“…Did my opinion perhaps put you in a difficult spot, Jin Ha?”
Rei carefully asked Jin Ha after taking a breath.
Having become somewhat agitated, she had poured out her thoughts haphazardly as feedback.
But now that she listed it all out, she wondered if she was being too spoiled.
In NiseLive, it was said that no one ever complained.
Even Rei herself found it quite agreeable.
Moreover, all the unreasonable techniques she requested had been perfectly implemented in this stage.
Was it even reasonable to provide feedback on such a result?
What if Jin Ha felt displeased…
“Um, if we follow your suggestions, the stage will become much richer.”
However, Jin Ha was actually impressed by Rei’s creative ideas.
“Definitely a good direction. Let’s work on improving it based on your feedback.”
Contrary to her expectations, Jin Ha responded positively, and Rei frowned in surprise.
“…Don’t you feel angry about this, Jin Ha?”
Rei raised her voice, which was unusual for her.
“In a way, it feels like you’re trying to overturn a stage you worked hard on. Don’t you feel upset? It’s one thing to be angry, but shouldn’t you at least show some annoyance?!”
Rei’s avatar glared at Jin Ha with a furrowed brow.
Jin Ha, however, chuckled slightly at Rei’s expression.
That laughter ignited a fire in Rei’s heart.
No, why is he so relaxed?!
“Don’t laugh! I’m not joking! I’m asking sincerely!”
At this point, she was almost throwing a tantrum.
Jin Ha watched Rei for a moment before speaking in a soft and calm voice.
“Rei.”
Jin Ha’s unique languid and gentle voice slowly soothed the tense atmosphere of the virtual space.
“To be honest, if you suddenly asked to change the direction or modify something for unreasonable reasons after the results had already been finalized, I would certainly be upset too.”
“…”
“But the modifications you suggested, Rei, were all quite understandable.”
After all, this was a draft of the stage.
For the sake of a better outcome, it was a work that could be changed as much as needed.
Jin Ha continued with a gentle smile.
“Above all, the protagonist of this stage is not me or any of the other staff at NiseLive; it’s you, Rei.”
It was a solo concert for Kamishiro Rei, one where she would bear full responsibility under her name.
So…
“In the end, the most important thing is your opinion, and my role is to support that opinion as much as possible. Does that explain why I can say so nonchalantly that I would change the stage configuration?”
“…”
Hearing Jin Ha’s words, Rei was momentarily speechless.
She felt startled.
Although she had worked with countless staff members, no one had ever accepted her opinions with such ease as if it were natural.
And she had assumed that such acceptance was the norm.
In a large corporation like NiseLive, her voice had surprisingly little power.
Going back further, when she had been an independent VTuber in a small “new company,” she had often been ignored.
Because of the company’s circumstances.
Due to lack of manpower.
Lack of funding.
Lack of time.
No matter how hard she worked and struggled, nothing changed.
Yet she had still tried to hold on to the end.
What returned to her were graduation notices…
As the memories of her past briefly flashed through her mind, invisible moisture gathered over Rei’s avatar’s eyes.
“…Why.”
Rei muttered in a soft voice.
It was a monologue that slipped out thoughtlessly.
“Why wasn’t there someone like you when I was at CosmoLive…?”
Rei’s voice carried the weight of past wounds.
The memories she thought she had overcome were surfacing again from deep within her heart.
Jin Ha quietly watched Rei with a gentle gaze, waiting silently.
His calm silence felt like an even deeper comfort.
*
Late in the evening, an izakaya near Gangnam Station, usually bustling with office workers, was quiet today.
Light jazz music flowed serenely in the small shop.
In a corner table, Jin Ha and Daon sat across from each other.
“What’s going on? It’s unusual for you, Daon, to treat me to drinks instead of Young-Jun.”
“This is bribery, bribery. Don’t get too close to NiseLive.”
With Daon’s lighthearted joke, Jin Ha chuckled and raised his glass.
The transparent drink smoothly flowed down his throat.
Daon gazed out at the dark night street for a moment and then continued speaking.
“So, how have things been lately? Are you getting along well with NiseLive?”
“Well, there are plenty of annoyances here and there, but I’m working somewhat happily.”
“What are you working on there?”
“Um, I’ll pass on that. It’s a place that pays a lot of attention to security.”
Jin Ha shrugged and changed the subject.
“By the way, I saw that a notice for Kamishiro Rei’s solo concert came out last night.”
“…”
“Your ID was prominently displayed as the head of stage production, right?”
“…Hahaha.”
But Daon already knew everything.
“Have you had any conversations with Kamishiro Rei?”
“She was very proactive in giving feedback. It seems she has high aspirations for the stage.”
It seemed the embargo had lifted, so Jin Ha spoke more casually.
“Ahaha—I figured as much. She’s always been the type to say what’s on her mind.”
After a brief laugh, Daon’s smile turned somewhat bitter.
Jin Ha hesitated, wanting to say something, but merely moistened his lips with the drink.
He understood why Daon’s expression changed.
“Uh… Jin Ha.”
Daon nervously handled her glass with both hands, letting out a quiet sigh before speaking.
“Do you know what the first thing Jun did when he joined CosmoLive was?”
“…I’m not sure, what was it?”
“It was graduating us first-generation members, the Nova kids.”
Jin Ha looked at Daon with a nuanced expression.
It was a well-known anecdote in the industry from the early days of CosmoLive.
But now, what Daon was bringing up was quite a private story, different from the official stance at the time.
“To be honest, I, the staff, and the Nova kids… all knew it would be hard to succeed.”
As Daon twirled her empty glass with her fingertips, she continued.
“The first generation really had a tough time. Back then, the whole concept of VTubers was so unfamiliar… it was truly serious, you know? Hahaha.”
It was fortunate if they were criticized at all.
Amidst disinterest that was more painful than hate comments, CosmoLive was slowly dying out.
Daon had been the one keeping the entire company afloat.
Had it not been for her, CosmoLive would not exist today.
“Fortunately, Otherworld Idol hit big and interest in VTubers grew, but there was still no escaping the imitation treatment.”
The moment they tried to gain any fame, they were immediately labeled as “Otherworld Idol knock-offs” or derogatorily referred to as “the girl hiding behind the avatar.”
“In the end, Jun made a cold judgment. It was less painful for the company and the kids to stop Nova’s activities and let them graduate… Of course, I knew that was the right call, but… still…”
Daon trailed off.
She filled her glass again and downed it in one go.
As the alcohol warmed her throat, Daon bared her honest feelings.
“When I actually had to inform them of their graduation, I couldn’t bear to see their faces properly.”
“…”
“Especially Byeol… no, she’s Kamishiro Rei now. Anyway, I still can’t forget her expression.”
While trying hard to smile and assuring everyone that it was okay.
There was a part of her that wanted it all to stop.
After turning off the camera, she had poured out her heart, not realizing the microphone was still on, and had cried.
…Daon’s heart remained heavy.