Now That I Have Become a Woman, I Am a Vtuber - Chapter 33

A basement studio in Gangnam.

A man approached Hyunsu, who was holed up in the studio from the morning on the weekend, finishing up his album.

“Hey Hyunsu, are you coming today?”

“Yes, it should be about time now.”

The tall man with long hair tied loosely behind him was Kanghyuk, the owner of the guitar that Suhyun played last time.

“You told me about it, so I checked it out a bit, and it was amazing.”

“Really?”

Kanghyuk said as he slumped down on the sofa behind the PC where Hyunsu was working.

“Oh, the wording in the comments.”

Kanghyuk had looked up the person Hyunsu mentioned would come tomorrow to discuss the album cover.

He also came to the studio alone on a weekend, when others would be sprawled out at home, because he was worried the person might say something unnecessary to Hyunsu.

“Still, a trustworthy person recommended them.”

“A trustworthy person? The woman who’s doing the featuring?”

“Yes, she’s pretty decent.”

“Kang Ahyoung said she’s incredibly beautiful. I should have come to the studio earlier that time.”

“Haha, right.”

The day after Suhyun came, Kang Ahyoung boasted about Suhyun’s appearance to everyone gathered in the studio.

She didn’t even show the photos she took then, as if teasing them.

“Is she really that pretty? Who does she look like, some celebrity?”

“Well… I’m not familiar with celebrities, so I don’t know who she looks like. But she does look like a celebrity.”

“That much? You’re handsome too.”

“Hahaha..”

At that time, Kanghyuk didn’t think much of it, but as Ahyoung kept bragging so he became curious.

“Hah… why does she make people so curious…”

As Hyunsu and Kanghyuk continued their conversation, someone knocked on the studio door.

“Oh, was the door locked? I’ll get it.”

Kanghyuk, considering Hyunsu who was working, stood up to open the door. Hyunsu, also curious about the person Suhyun recommended and sent, got up late and followed Kanghyuk.

“Yes, I’m coming!”

As the door opened, there stood a woman wearing a cap pulled down low and a black mask.

The woman, with a tall stature and a large guitar bag on her back, slightly lifted her cap and glanced at the man in front and Hyunsu behind him, then said,

“Nice to meet you. I’m here about the album cover.”

She gave a slight hint with her eyes to act as if they didn’t know each other, but Hyunsu was already surprised.

“Oh! You must be the person coming today. Please come in.”

Kanghyuk, who saw her for the first time today, was more composed than Hyunsu.

I didn’t know someone could be this beautiful, but isn’t it good to be beautiful?

“Come on in!”

With that, he welcomed Suhyun warmly and guided her inside, while Hyunsu, who hadn’t yet grasped the situation, hesitantly followed us inside.

“Uh, the Slim Gold person…”

When Suhyun trailed off, Kanghyuk pointed at Hyunsu right away.

“This friend is Slim Gold! Young, right?”

“Ah, nice to meet you.”

“Oh.. oh, yes..”

Hyunsu, noticing that Suhyun was pretending not to know him, decided to play along.

“Yes, nice to meet you.”

“Shall we head inside?”

Thinking Suhyun was playful as she usually was on her broadcasts, Hyunsu followed her inside.

The original plan was to surprise him as soon as we went in.

However, since Kanghyuk, the owner of the guitar I borrowed last time, seemed to see me for the first time, I decided to play a little prank.

Just as Miro and Kim Suhyun are different, so are Kim Suhyun and ksh, aren’t they?

Hyunsu didn’t expect me to come despite seeing the Bluebird ID, which was surprising.

Though he unintentionally played along with my prank, it would be a good memory for him.

Anyway, I had to focus on work.

I put down the guitar case and took out a notebook and writing tools.

“Why did you bring a guitar, by the way?”

At that moment, Kanghyuk, who had been watching, asked.

I had wanted to learn a bit if Ahyoung was around, but since she wasn’t, I just made something up.

“Just interested, and it helps me think of good images.”

“Oh, I see.”

After satisfying his curiosity, Kanghyuk stepped back.

His intention not to interfere during work was clear, and I appreciated it.

“So, how would you like to create the album?”

“Uh.. um.. just a moment.”

Hyunsu seemed unsure if I was here for work or a prank but decided to proceed with explaining the album.

“The title of my album is ‘Fantasy’…”

Hyunsu then explained the album from start to finish, and I was impressed by how meticulously planned it was.

“So you want it to be designed that way?”

“Yes, with a feeling that lies on the subtle boundary between fantasy and reality…”

Although Hyunsu had difficult requests both when giving song feedback and now, fortunately, I had a clear image in my mind this time.

The experiences from working on Wonderland seemed to help here as well.

I sketched the image lightly in my notebook.

“Like this?”

In the notebook, I drew a boy with a calm feeling on one side of a central boundary line in a realistic style, and a boy in a fairy-tale style on the other side.

The background of the fairy-tale boy had musical notes floating, while the real boy’s surroundings had a notebook and writing tools floating.

“Oh… yes, that’s it… exactly that feeling.”

Hyunsu alternated between looking at the quick sketch I made and me, nodding with an enigmatic expression.

“Do you like it?”

Though it was just a sketch, my drawing was intuitive enough to convey the feeling.

“Yes… It looks like it will turn out the way I wanted.”

“Shall we proceed with the contract?”

At this moment, it felt more like an interview. This situation wasn’t typical, but still.

When I think about it, didn’t I get this good opportunity through someone I knew?

If Hyunsu becomes famous later, my career will also rise for having drawn his album cover.

I have no intention of quitting broadcasting, but having a lucrative side gig isn’t a bad idea.

“Yes, then… I look forward to working with you.”

“Thank you.”

We finalized the contract. This will make me busier, but my bank account will see a nice increase again.

“Oh, um…”

Just as I was about to get up, Hyunsu, checking to see if Kanghyuk was around, approached me carefully.

“We need to put a name on the Wonderland track. How should we credit you? Are you registered on any music sites?”

“Oh, a name?”

A name… I suppose I could just use Kim Suhyun?

But will I have any future songs as Kim Suhyun?

“I’m not registered.”

“Then…”

“Just credit me as ‘Part-timer.'”

Well, if necessary, I could register, but since this is a one-time thing, I don’t see the need to use my real name.

“What?”

“I participated as a short-term part-timer for this. Since it’s just this one time, it feels awkward to use my real name, and I don’t need to create a stage name. Just say you featured a part-timer; it could be a talking point if I become famous later.”

“Are you serious?”

Hyunsu looked puzzled by my suggestion, but I was sincere. I don’t plan to build a career as the singer Kim Suhyun.

“Yes, but make sure my real name is on the album cover.”

Featuring was just a side gig, but the album cover is different. That’s part of my professional work.

“Alright, but… I can’t believe it’s really you.”

“Didn’t you expect it at all?”

“I had my doubts.”

“Sometimes doubts lead to surprises. I’ll be going now.”

With that, I left the studio.

Now that I think about it, I had some questions about the guitar… I’ll just ask Ayoung via text.

***

On my way home from the studio.

Walking under the scorching sun, I regretted bringing my heavy guitar when I received a call.

“Hello?”

[Good afternoon, Miro.]

It was the manager, as expected.

After all, if it’s not Hyejung, most calls to my phone are from the manager.

“What’s up?”

[Are you available to talk now?]

“Yes, I am.”

It’s tough under the hot sun, but it’s manageable.

[We’re gathering opinions from the members regarding the new song.]

“Opinions?”

[Yes, this time, we are actively accepting the members’ opinions, aren’t we? We plan to use the members’ ideas right from the initial planning stage.]

“Wow, this time it’s different, huh?”

Indeed, compared to last time when we only added our voices to already completed songs, this is a whole new level.

Asking for ideas from the beginning like this.

[That’s right. So, do you have any preferences for the song, Miro? You can tell me right now. I called to ask for your thoughts.]

“You want me to tell you quickly, right?”

[Haha… Well, it would be convenient in terms of scheduling.]

“Good. I have two ideas that come to mind right now.”

Fortunately for the manager, who wanted to get things done quickly, something immediately came to my mind as soon as they asked for ideas.

[What are they?]

“First, individuality.”

[Individuality?]

“Yes, I played our last song to a friend, and they said the members’ individual personalities didn’t come through well. So, I thought I’d mention it next time.”

This was something Hyunsu had said. He said that bringing people with different singing styles and different life experiences together made the song sound too generic. I think I softened his words a bit, but that was the gist of it.

[Got it. What’s next?]

“The second one actually just came to me…”

[That’s okay. An idea is an idea.]

I wiped the sweat off my face and looked up at the sky.

To be exact, I looked at the hot sun that made me sweat just by walking, even though it wasn’t quite summer yet.

“Freshness.”

[Sorry?]

“It would be nice if the song had a sense of freshness.”

Since it’s so hot this summer, wouldn’t it be good to release a song that matches the season?

“So, those are the two for now.”

[Alright, understood.]

And so, I shared my thoughts without much consideration.

Completely unaware of what kind of results this would bring.