TS Vtuber Streaming Life - Chapter 78
“Excuse me…?”
“Oh, the mask is a bit uncomfortable.”
She must have thought something was up when I suddenly lifted my head.
“I’m a fan too. Mr. Hyunwoo. I don’t have an album to exchange since I’m a rookie.”
“Oh, I would appreciate it if you could at least accept our album instead of an exchange! Um… What should I call you…?”
…I see?
When I’m with Se-yeon, I usually call her by name, sometimes introducing her as someone who featured on my work, so I hadn’t imagined what my alternate character name would be.
…Of all things, the name listed on the music app was just a random number.
“Um… You can call me however you like.”
I tried to think of a name but quickly gave up when nothing came to mind. It’s just a temporary alternate character created for reincarnation; what does a name matter?
“Yes…?”
“Let’s just use pronouns like this person or that person, shall we?”
“Ah… Yes….”
Hmm, I guess the illusion is broken. This is why you shouldn’t talk too much when you’re going for a mysterious concept…
It’s a relief that it’s just a temporary character I’ll soon abandon.
“Hyunwoo! Let’s head back slowly! Oh… I’m sorry to interrupt your conversation… But! I’ll come back to see you after the rehearsal! I’ll properly introduce myself then! Good luck with the rehearsal!”
“Okay, see you later. Work hard on the rehearsal.”
The group’s leader took Mr. Do-hyun back with him.
I can’t remember the name…
Anyway, since they said they would come back later, I need to escape quickly after the rehearsal.
After Dynamic left and a few other people came by, Se-yeon also got ready to greet them. Initially, she was going to wait until the rehearsal was over, but since I said I would leave quickly afterward, she decided to go now.
“Ms. Se-yeon.”
“Yes?!”
“I’m curious, what is that sign on the door? Is it just as it is written?”
The front of the sign was blank, and the back said “Vacant.”
“Oh! I guess they put it up so people wouldn’t confuse whether the seat is occupied or not when going to greet others!”
Hmm… It was just as it was written.
“But! Mr. Yeon-woo, would you like to come along?! It’d be boring to be alone!”
“No, you go ahead.”
While people were coming and going, I was wearing the mask the whole time, and it started to get hot, making me sweat. I need to wipe it off quickly before the rehearsal starts.
“Sigh… I’ll be back…”
“Okay.”
As soon as Se-yeon left, I took off the mask and wiped the sweat off my forehead with a tissue.
“Phew…”
It’s hot… The heat is making me feel the effects of the lack of sleep…
I didn’t sleep well last night working on the final checks for my 3D avatar.
Hmm… Should I just close my eyes for a moment?
I said I wouldn’t sleep in front of people, but if I respond to the sound of Se-yeon opening the door, won’t I snap back to reality immediately?
Okay! Sleepy time!
If I close my eyes for a bit, there shouldn’t be any side effects of stiff neck, and instead, my mood will lift, which can only improve the quality of the rehearsal, right?
Rationalizing, I slouched in the chair and dozed off.
Ideally, I’d want to lie down on the couch next to me, but I feel like if I do that, I won’t be able to react to the sound of the door opening.
The moment I closed my eyes, I was startled awake by the sound of the door opening.
Creak.
…What? Is Se-yeon back already?
Oh, did she leave something behind?
And… it doesn’t feel like I fell asleep…
With no sensation of having slept and judging that I simply couldn’t sleep, I looked toward the door.
“Haha! Sorry-”
Huh? Why is this person here?
The person who came in wasn’t Se-yeon, but the leader of Dynamic, whom I had seen after rehearsal earlier.
“Oh.”
And of all times, why now?
I had just taken off my mask.
“Um…?”
Click!
Creak.
“Um…?”
Click!
Creak.
Click!
Creak.
“…What are you doing?”
With a face that looked like it had seen something it shouldn’t, he kept opening and closing the door.
…It’s not a door to anywhere; does he think opening and closing it will change what’s on the other side?
“Um, um, um, is this, is this Se-yeon sunbae’s waiting room, or…?”
…Could he be scared?
Noticing how much he was stuttering, it must be that my face had already made some kind of impression on him.
Holding back a sigh, I answered his question.
“Se-yeon went out to greet someone else. The sign… ah… Se-yeon…”
…It seems like she must have forgotten to flip the sign when she went out. I couldn’t help but let out a sigh despite trying to hold it back.
“The, the sign was like that, so… I, I thought the person who was wearing the mask was the one who featured…”
“Can’t you see this?”
I pointed to the mask resting on the desk.
“Th, that… you’re, so pretty… I never imagined you would cover your face…”
The social skill he had been displaying earlier seemed to take a back seat as he stammered.
It seems that a group with a skilled leader does well.
…But our group leader is Min-seo, right? Huh…? Is this theory correct?
When my recently formulated theory lacked a counterargument, I simply erased it from my mind.
“Then why did you come here? The rehearsal hasn’t even started yet?”
“Ah, I… left something behind…”
“Really?”
Oh, is that it?
Wondering whose it was, I waved my phone that I had put aside earlier in my hand.
“This?”
“Oh! Yes!”
I got up from the chair and approached him, handing over my phone.
“Please don’t lose it again next time.”
“Ah, um, yes…”
Hmm… Is he embarrassed about losing his belongings?
Since he couldn’t meet my gaze, I accepted that as my face; nonetheless, his face turned red.
Oh, perhaps he’s just hot?
Right, the heater has been cranked up too high.
Since it’s November, teetering between chilly and cold, they’ve turned it on so strongly that the air is at the point of being dry.
Even our waiting room turned warm, and we turned it off immediately, yet it still remains like this.
In any case, once that person leaves, I had planned on sitting back down and closing my eyes, yet the sound of the door closing didn’t reach me.
“…Aren’t you leaving?”
“Ah, um…”
…Is he too scared to move?
This is an interesting new type…
I realized my tired face not only has fatigue but also an element of disbelief.
“Hurry up and leave. If you could flip the sign on your way out, I’d appreciate it.”
“Ah, um, yes…”
Finally, he flinched and started moving before closing the door.
Click!
“Ugh…”
I want to sleep on the bed…
***
Wh-what did I just see…?
Dynamic’s leader Jung Woo-jin was still trying to settle his trembling heart and hands, but the scene that played out as soon as he opened the door kept replaying in his mind, causing him to fail.
At that moment, she had been sitting on the chair with a nonchalant expression, staring at him!
His heart started racing heavily, and normal thought became impossible.
“Hyung? Are you okay? Why are you spacing out?”
“Hyunwoo…”
“Huh?”
“What should I do…?”
“…What’s wrong?”
“I think I just fell in love at first sight…”
This feeling was the first time in 24 years of Jung Woo-jin’s life.
…Is this true first love and excitement?
The feelings from dating during school before debut seemed merely like children playing house.
“…Did you take drugs?”
“Drugs, drugs… Isn’t first love a kind of drug?”
If this feeling is excitement, love must undoubtedly be drugs!
Ah… But I need to work hard on idol activities….
I told the fans there’s no one else but you…
There are still four years left until the re-contract…!
“What should I do…!”
“…What’s wrong with my surroundings, is there no one normal?”
Ah! But that person is from our company, right?!
She seemed friendly with Se-yeon!
Ah, didn’t she also talk with Hyunwoo earlier?!
…That lucky guy!
“Hyunwoo, you talked with the person who featured, right?!”
“Uh? Yeah.”
“Did she mention anything she likes or something?!”
“Uh… the only thing I felt was that she’s a strange person?”
“Hey! How can you badmouth others?! Are you crazy?! Do you want to be scolded?!”
“…Did you really take drugs…?”
“Ha… No… I’m sorry….”
This feeling was so new that I involuntarily lashed out.
“Hyung… If you really took drugs, our group is done… Please get a grip and stop…”
“…I didn’t, so don’t worry.”
Lost in thoughts of her, he spaced out until it was time for rehearsal to start.
“Oh!”
I have to go watch!
Absolutely!
When I looked at the order, I remembered that Se-yeon’s stage was almost first, so I quickly left the waiting room and watched the rehearsal.
“Ah, microphone test 1, 2, 3. Can you hear me well?”
I’m not late!
But… Where is she…?
“Starting now!”
As Se-yeon signaled, the accompaniment began to flow, and the stage started.
I waited nervously for her to appear, and finally, she made her entrance.
“Wow…”
Even wrapped in thick clothes, she exuded an elegant grace in every gesture.
And even through the mic and speakers, her voice was nothing short of heavenly.
Isn’t she literally an angel descended from the heavens?!
As I stared at her in a daze, the stage concluded.
…Already?!
Snapping back to reality, I pondered how to strike up a conversation with her.
…Only three teams are left until our turn, right?
Could I possibly talk to her in between?!
Feeling my heart race with anxiety, I found myself at the door to the waiting room.
“Ahem! Ahem!”
Today, my usually reliable appearance felt oddly unsettling, so I checked my hair through the phone screen.
…If I was just as composed as Hyunwoo, I wouldn’t be feeling this anxious!
“Phew…”
Even though my body started to tremble from nerves, I can’t turn back at this point.
…How long has it been since I’ve been this nervous?
Is it the first time since debut?
Once again, summoning courage, just as I was about to knock, the door opened.
Creak.
“Oh.”
Our eyes! We made eye contact!
“…You arrived really quickly, didn’t you?”
“Uh, um, y-yeah…?”
…Am I really an idiot?!
As soon as our eyes met, many feelings surged, and I instinctively looked down, breaking the gaze.
…But what is this feeling?
It’s similar to the nervousness and racing heart I felt when I first saw her, yet something is different…
“…I’m tired, so is it okay if I just go today?”
“N-no?!”
It can’t be!
If not now, when will I have another chance to talk to her?!
Determined to ask her for her phone number to grab a meal together later, I steeled myself before looking back at her.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
“…What are you doing?”
…Am I really an idiot…?
When I lifted my head, our eyes met, and reflexively, I looked down again, avoiding her gaze.
But… she definitely has a completely different vibe than before…?
Is she really that tired…?
As I worriedly considered this, my heart began to race again.
I genuinely must have fallen in love at first sight…!
It’s devastating that my body trembled and I was so terrified, but no one could misinterpret that the fear was due to worry except for Jung Woo-jin himself.