They Became the Big Players Among the Hako VTubers - Chapter 26

In front of the shabby attic.

Seonwoo Taek and Aki were sitting side by side. 

They were looking at the evening night view while holding a can of soda. 

The lights that were slowly turning on were shining brightly.

Between them was a box of goods labeled ‘A’.

“….”

“….”

Aki opened her mouth.

“I told the store manager before that I used to live in Japan and became a naturalized citizen, right?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm… Then I’m an orphan… You understand.”

“Yes.”

“Then can I start from there? Uh, is there anything you don’t want to hear…?”

“I’m fine. Say as much as you want.”

“Yes….”

Among the countless lights.

A girl’s story also began to shine faintly.

The beginning of the story was dull. 

It flowed calmly and monotonously, as if it wanted to quickly get through it. 

“I don’t remember much when I was young. I just opened my eyes and I was in an orphanage. I remember well… I really went here and there, living my life… Before I knew it, I was into idol music.” 

“….”

“And then, really, by chance, the opportunity arose.”

Aki herself got a magical opportunity. 

She applied for and was accepted to the ‘K-POP Talent Development Exchange Program’. 

It felt like a pumpkin carriage from an old fairy tale.

She rode a pumpkin carriage and raced to Korea.

But….

My brief life as an idol trainee ended in failure.

“Come to think of it, Snack Bar? It was a group created to set up some kind of fake company…. They said they had no intention of debuting them from the beginning. They were on the news, and their dorm disappeared.”

“….”

“After that, I didn’t want to go back to Japan… I started looking into it, and that’s where I met my mom. I used to go to the community center to get food, so I went there often. My mom heard about it then and adopted me.”

“….”

A guardian I met by chance.

With her help, I was able to successfully stay in Korea.

But the hardships weren’t over.

“I kept applying to various companies for several years. They said that if I was over 20 years old, I was too old to start as an idol trainee… There were already many pure Koreans who were good at being dance singers, so they said I couldn’t do it.”

“….”

“But youtubers don’t care about age or nationality. That’s why I applied. But…. The company’s situation got worse again….”

“…Okay.”

Seonwoo Taek nodded.

A 23-year life full of rejection from others was calmly summarized in 10 minutes. 

But it was after that Aki’s eyes began to sparkle.

“You’re broadcasting like that! Suddenly, a huge person comes and asks for 1 billion…!”

“….”

Meeting the Big Man.

The 1 Billion Sponsorship Incident and Its Aftermath.

ABCD Project Restarted.

The story became long and drawn out.

Of course, I omitted all talk about other members or internal meetings.

At least I talked about Aki’s own feelings.

“Isn’t that amazing? I could really become an idol!”

“….”

“That’s why! I invested 100 million back into the company…! With this, I brought back 3D modeling and also gave lessons!”

“….”

“Whew…. Jeez, I talk a lot, right? But, there’s someone you really wanted to tell this story to.”

“It’s okay.”

“That’s why! I used the remaining money to take the expensive lessons I couldn’t take…!”

To her,

Idol was ‘life’.

“….”

Hearing that mad passion,

Seonwoo Taek opened and closed his mouth a few times.

Whatever.

Aki said, waving her hands and feet.

“Oh, that too… Sorry, there’s more I want to talk about!”

“You can take your time.”

What happened in just one month. 

But I talked for over 30 minutes with all kinds of emotions. By the time I finished, I was out of breath.

“Th, phew… So. How far did we go in talking?”

“Now, they said they can show the membership and the music too.”

“Well, I’ve told you everything. That’s what happened. Okay, so now I’m going to start working officially. Um… I used to be working officially, but, uh… That’s….”

“….”

Seonwoo Taek nodded quietly.

“I know what you mean. I spent a lot of time without doing anything specific, but when I started seeing real results, I felt like, ‘My real life is starting now.’”

“!”

Aki nodded vigorously.

“Yes that’s right!”

“Okay.”

They nodded in agreement and then fell silent.

“….”

“….”

Aki said sheepishly.

“I’m sorry. I’m just telling you old stories. I’m just having fun.”

“It’s okay. You can say whatever you want.”

“The store manager always says that.”

“Yes?”

“Please understand whatever I do. Don’t ask any more questions and just listen to everything.”

“….”

Aki wiggled her fingers.

“So, so… Um… uh…”

“….”

“I just wanted to tell you everything.”

“Is that so?”

The story was interrupted again.

“….”

“….”

After a while.

Seonwoo Taek opened his mouth.

“Ayoung. But this story….”

“Yes?”

“Isn’t it a bit dangerous to tell me?”

“Yes…?”

It seems like you really don’t understand.

Aki slowly tilted her head.

Seonwoo Taek spoke calmly as always.

“If you’re a youtuber, it’s a dangerous job where your identity is exposed. Since you share an office or studio, the identities of other members of the same company can also be exposed.”

“Manager, you’re watching youtuber…. That’s unexpected.”

“…That’s not what’s important.”

Seonwoo Taek continued talking.

“I appreciate that you trust me, Miss Ayoung. But telling this to just anyone… seems a bit dangerous.”

“….”

“You don’t have to tell anyone everything about your life, but I know you’re a passionate and sincere person.”

“….”

“Therefore….”

“Therefore?”

“I’ll just pretend I didn’t hear what you said today.”

“….”

Aki spoke with a snicker.

“I said this because it wasn’t ‘anyone’ but the ‘store manager’ who said that.”

“….”

“If the store manager was a reckless person, he would have said things like ‘What group are you in?’, ‘When are you debuting?’, ‘Sing a song.’… on the first day.”

“….”

Somehow.

It was indifferent, but there was a deep sense of resentment embedded within.

It was something I felt like I had actually experienced somewhere.

Seonwoo Taek mumbled for a moment.

“That….”

“Therefore!”

“!”

She spoke again and again.

“So, I wanted to tell you.”

“Why is that?”

“….”

Aki picked up the All-Star box. 

And then she came up to Seonwoo Taek, who was sitting there.

She handed it to him.

It was a simple gesture, but it made me nervous.

I declared to him once again.

Be careful not to let your pronunciation leak out.

“I came to trust ‘Manager Seonwoo Taek’ who, without saying a word, gave me space and cheered me on, saying ‘I support you.’ So, please accept this and make a promise.”

“….”

Seonwoo Taek said.

“What kind of promise is it?”

Aki laughed bashfully.

“Please continue to support us.”

“….”

“I won’t hide my dreams from you, store manager. I’m confident now. Please continue to be my friend.”

“….”

It was a terrifyingly honest and dangerous trust.

It was a trust that should not be given to someone you had only known for a month. 

Seonwoo Taek hesitated. 

And then he sighed and said.

“It’s too heavy.”

“What is it? I did some light exercise.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about.”

He spoke quietly.

“One person’s true feelings. It’s too heavy for me to bear. Even I don’t show everything. I just want to… live as an ordinary store manager and part-time worker.”

“….”

Aki smiled brightly.

Shee held the box in her hand more forcefully.

Among those who are said to be ordinary,

Do ordinary people really exist?

“The more that happens, the more the store manager should take it.”

“Yes…?”

“My mom said so.”

Her eyes sparkled as if she had discovered something precious.

“He said that it is hard to find someone in the whole world who would take your heart more seriously than money. He said that there is no one who would create a place for you to be. He said that in his 57 years of life, he has never seen anyone like that….”

“….”

“Hehe, I found it. It only took me 23 years.”

“….”

23 years of faith.

Seonwoo Taek received the box with slightly trembling hands.

He looked at the part that said ‘A’.

Underneath that was the name of the VTuber, ‘Aki’.

He read quietly.

“Aki….”

His real name before changing his name was RP.

He was a strange youtuber.

The strange Vtuber replied.

“It’s been my dream since long ago. To be active as an idol under my own name. But in Korea, my name has changed to ‘Ayoung’… So I tried it once.”

“….”

Aki was still ‘Idol Aki’.

She had been waiting for someone to open her heart for a long time.

*

The red medicine injection hurt a little.

It was even more embarrassing because it was sudden.

‘Mom’s story is fatal… .’

Excessive purity and truthfulness, 

I thought it might be some kind of emotional violence.

I just stood there holding the All-Star box.

“….”

Not [Big Man],

An ordinary convenience store owner accepted it.

She gave it to me even though she didn’t know I was a big guy.

Besides, we’ve only been dating for less than a month.

This feeling is unique.

It is ‘faith’ that has arrived after crossing one person’s life.

It’s a feeling that’s so precious it’s scary.

“….”

I looked at Ayoung. 

She was smiling brightly. 

She didn’t look tired at all, even though the story was deeply emotional.

‘It actually looks exciting.’

I said.

“How can I repay you for this?”

“Yes?”

“In such a short time, I have received so much. If I don’t balance it out….”

“….”

Ayoung burst into laughter at me. 

Then she said,

“Store manager.”

“Yes.”

“Whether it’s a company, a home, or a dream… there are places where you can be. They’re not as common as you might think. You have to cherish them.”

“….”

“So you don’t have to pay it back.”

“…Yes.”

It was a heartfelt answer from an orphan.

In that one word,

The source of the past passion was revealed.

I nodded.

“Thank you.”

“Umm… and.”

“?”

Ayoung blushed slightly.

Then, carrying her luggage on her back, she crawled forward, twisting her body, and spoke in a shy voice.

“Chae, please subscribe to the channel and like it. I’m active in Pajijik….”

“….”

“If we’re going to do it, other members too….”

“….”

Already done.

But that’s only as a big man.

‘If I reveal this now, I’ll be emotionally confused. The Big Man’s presence is too big.’

I answered as ‘Store Manager Seonwoo Taek.’

“I will definitely do it.”

“Really?”

“I will also join the membership.”

“And!”

“I’ll buy the music too.”

“Oh!”

“I’ll buy all the goods too.”

“…!”

Ayoung clapped her hands together and smiled brightly.

“Thank you! I will work hard! I will continue to work hard at my part-time job!”

“….”

Does she know?

Because of that declaration just now, 

That you have to buy the same goods twice.

‘If I count the Aki-chan boxes I received, there are three… I guess I’ll have to use them for display, storage, and decoration.’

Ayoung said urgently.

“Ah…! Today’s story should only be known by the store manager! It’s a secret that I’m a virtual youtuber!”

“No, I never talk about it.”

“Phew….”

In my personal opinion. 

If you really want to keep your secret, I thought it might be a good idea to start by dyeing your hair yellow.

It suits you, but it’s hard to hide.

‘But that too is ultimately part of her nature.’ 

“….”

At last.

I am not a big man, 

As Seonwoo Taek, I met ‘Akichan, an aspiring idol’.

“….”

‘Was it a hasty choice?’

I started to feel a little uneasy.

Because it was the first time we cheered on someone’s dream.

‘In the first place, I connected this deeply with someone… .’

It was the first time.

During all rounds, 

Others had to pass by.

Because I am a regressor.

But in this episode, ‘Seonwoo Taek’ has deeply entered someone’s life.

As a friend called ‘the store manager who cheers him on.’

It went beyond quenching the thirst of the regressor.

“….”

There are 48 days left.

Time was still flowing.

In a shrinking number,

The heart gradually grew.

Is this indeed… .

“Store manager.”

“!”

I looked ahead.

Ayoung spoke in a relaxed voice.

“Let’s eat dinner together.”

“…yes.”

It was a simple conversation, but

There was a refreshing joy that resonated in the blessings of truth.

*

《LIVE: Gamer doda Sunday Regular Broadcast – What Now? Buck Buck》

-Number of real-time viewers: 1317

The number of viewers has increased.

As the scale increases,

A broadcast notice was also established.

【Announcement】

「-No mention of other streamers or fandoms!」

「-No game training! No spoilers!」

「-If you pay attention to newbies, you’ll get in trouble.」

「-If you upload fan art to the official cafe, you will receive a gift card.」

「-Event prizes are only selected through a lottery.」

It’s been a while since the broadcast started,

Doda didn’t play games and just chatted.

“Oh, but these days, FPS games that end quickly are more fun. I like to play ranked games for an hour or two, and then turn on the console and play single-player games. Mobile? I play mobile sometimes, but the stories in mobile games these days are difficult….”

The dodders were obsessed with the sight.

-Why won’t you turn on the game? Why won’t you turn on the game? Why won’t you turn on the game?

– There’s no separate Whoopie house

– Play some shit games!

– We want to see Doda suffer more than we want to see a planned broadcast.

– How much will it cost to kill the game?

– Dodadadadadada

– Game,,, turn on,,,,!!

“….”

Even though he saw that, Doda pretended not to notice and danced on his shoulders. 

The sound of chewing on the beef jerky echoed cheerfully.

“Oh my, it’s delicious. Today’s jerky is….”

– Fuck… what the heck…

– This little brother is praying like this…!

– What kind of joke is that?

– But when are you going to play the game with 100 people?

– Shouldn’t you be diligently playing ranked games?

“!”

Doda replied.

“Ah… 100 people. That penalty thing. I was just going to play ranked games all weekend, but I decided to change things up a bit.”

-How?

– You gave up already? Lol

– Awesome lol

“I’m not giving up….”

Doda tore at the beef jerky.

“You can do it with 100 people at once.”

– ?