Now That I Have Become a Woman, I Am a Vtuber - Chapter 5

Among women around 170cm tall, she seems to have a fairly tall structure with a small face like an idol, and her facial features are so sharp… To the extent that I’ve never seen anyone prettier than me while going to school, submitting a dropout application and documents, and even coming near the vocal academy.

If there’s anything uncomfortable, it’s just the fact that people around me stare at me, right?

When I was a guy, I didn’t know, but now that I’m a girl, I understand it instinctively.

I can feel the glances flickering.

When I was a guy, did the girls I glanced at feel these kinds of stares? Am I paying the price for it now?

Even just a guy in front of me looks at me sneakily while looking at his phone.

With quite a tall structure, a handsome face that anyone would agree on, dressed as if caring about fashion, and a guy who meticulously touches his hair like that while staring at me, it feels a bit strange.

Moreover, after adjusting his collar a bit and checking his hairstyle in the phone screen… Huh… Why is he coming this way?

“Excuse me. Could I have your number…?”

As expected, my unhappy premonition hit the mark.

“Oh, I lost my phone.”

“Then how about Instagram…?”

“I don’t use Instagram.”

“Maybe KakaoTalk…?”

“I exchange letters.”

“Then your address…”

“Excuse me?”

What’s with this guy?

At this point, he should take the hint and back off, but he’s persistent.

“Haha… I understand if you feel burdened. However, at first sight…”

“………”

I stared back at the guy’s eyes with a sigh.

Look at those eyes full of confidence.

He probably has never been turned down after asking for a number since he was born.

Then I should let him experience it at least once.

That’s what adults with principles should do.

“You’re not my type.”

The guy’s expression freezes at my words.

Well, he’s undoubtedly a handsome guy that everyone would agree on, but is it just that feeling?

I don’t feel any fluttering in my chest.

“Haha… It’s my first time being rejected like this.”

“Looks like it. Well then.”

The guy doesn’t try to hold onto me, seemingly shocked.

“Ha…”

I sigh as I turn away from the guy and exit the station.

This is already the fifth time today.

I didn’t even dress up, just followed the memory of Kim Suhyun, the makeup was of girls, but my clothes are similar to when I was a guy.

Just a simple all-black outfit with patterned oversized black sweatpants and a black hoodie, with a cap pulled down. You know, that kind of all-black coordination you see once or twice on the street.

And yet, the guy is intrigued… What kind of life has Kim Suhyun lived?

Maybe there’s a reason for her to avoid going out… There isn’t.

Kim Suhyun has always been a homebody since elementary school.

***

“Is this it?”

The vocal academy was confidently located in the downtown area just a short walk from the station. It’s 3 p.m. now.

After receiving counseling, I’ll meet Hyejung and spend some time at a café before heading to the promised barbecue place.

It’s strange, but I suddenly feel that Kim Suhyun is really beautiful.

***

“Welcome!”

As I went up to the 2nd floor where the academy is located, a young receptionist sister standing at the counter greeted me.

“Hello.”

When I greeted the receptionist at the counter, they looked at me once and then focused on the monitor intently.

“What’s your name, by any chance?”

“I’m Kim Suhyun.”

“Ah! I see~ You’re so beautiful that I thought you came from some agency~”

“Haha…”

Receiving such direct praise felt oddly strange again.

“Would you like to come inside for now? The director is waiting.”

“Yes.”

Following the receptionist’s guidance, the path to the director’s office was lined with various pictures and autographs. Among them were pictures of singers and idols I knew, which surprised me quite a bit.

The reviews were good, but were they this good?

Following the receptionist inside, we arrived at the director’s office.

“You can go in here.”

The director’s office we entered through the door opened by the receptionist was just like any ordinary academy director’s office.

Various awards and pictures hung on the walls, and in the center, there was a table for consultations with sofas on either side.

And the director… was younger than I expected.

He looked like a male actor in his late thirties to early forties, sitting on one of the sofas.

“You’re Suhyun, right? Nice to meet you.”

I shook hands with him as he rose from his seat and sat down opposite me as guided.

“Um… first of all, there are two ways to learn singing.”

The director got straight to the point and handed me a pamphlet.

“There’s an advanced class for those who really want to pursue this path, and then there’s a hobby class for regular people. So, which one are you interested in, Suhyun?”

“Um… what should I say?”

Just a hobby? But then, what about becoming a pro if I get accepted?

Should I start with a hobby and then move on to advanced if I pass? No, that wouldn’t make sense.

It’s an academy where you register assuming you’ll pass the audition, so does it make sense to take a hobby class?

“I’d like to go for the advanced class, please.”

“I see… Which direction of singing are you interested in?”

Direction??

Oh… because of being a VTuber…

“Um…”

“..?”

“Japanese? I mean, a bit of Japanese songs…”

“…Ah, J-pop, you mean.”

At first, there was a chill in the air in the room, but the director nodded promptly, pointing at the pamphlet.

“Here, see? We teach J-pop well. Even among those who come for hobbies, sometimes people want to learn that.”

“I see…”

“Yes, for now, would you like to try singing in the recording studio? We need to know how you sing to tailor the education.”

“Ah, yes, I understand.”

“Follow me.”

Following the director, we left the office and went straight to the recording studio next door. When I saw the space that seemed suitable for singers to record, I felt excited. At that moment, the director pointed inside the recording studio booth.

“Please go in there, and do you have a song prepared by any chance?”

“Ah, I don’t have anything prepared…”

“Then, please sing a song you’re confident in. Preferably a J-pop song, please.”

“Uh? A Japanese song?”

“We need to hear how you sing in that style to understand better.”

“Ah, right…”

True… But a Japanese song? The only thing I’ve properly sung is that embarrassing fan song from the audition.

For a moment, I considered mentioning the title, but then I quickly regained my composure.

Being a VTuber was my own decision, and Japanese songs were the ones my VTuber persona mainly sang.

Being reluctant to say this meant I wasn’t worthy of being a VTuber.

“The… the title is…”

“The title…?”

“Uh… ‘Hoo Hoo Love…'”

“Ah… uh… I’ll look for the MR…”

However, seeing the director’s stern expression, the urge to just vanish grew stronger.

But if I feel embarrassed here, I’ll really become a weirdo. If I act confidently, people around me will change their attitude.

I straightened my back even more and stood, waiting for the MR to start playing.

“Ah, I found it. Then, you can sing.”

Following that, she sang according to the distorted MR. It was her first time properly singing and catching the rhythm in the recording space, but since she was confidently under hypnosis, she felt like her voice sounded even better than usual.

“Hmm…”

After the song ended, the director listened earnestly to the recording of the song I sang.

It’s a bit embarrassing… to listen so seriously, but the lyrics… No, it’s not embarrassing at all.

On the contrary, wouldn’t it be disrespectful to the lyricist who wrote the lyrics if I felt embarrassed about them?

While trying to stay as nonchalant as possible, time passed, and the director nodded seriously after listening to the earnestly recorded song.

“Oh~ It’s good. Since your voice is good… you just need to refine your vocalization and technique, right?”

Fortunately, praise came from the director’s mouth, and my expression brightened involuntarily.

“Oh, really? Is my singing okay?”

“Yes, among ordinary people, you’re doing well.”

So, my singing is okay? I feel like I want to record what the director just said and share it with the community comments I saw earlier.

“Then, will you register?”

“Yes, I’ll do it right away.”

That way, I successfully completed registration at the academy and walked out.

***

“Oh~ Are you going here?”

As I left the vocal academy, Hyejung waved and approached me.

“When did you get here?”

“Just now, you told me to come this way. But now you’re attending this academy?”

“Yeah, it turned out that way. Starting from next week?”

“Wow… Are you serious?”

“I am, I just handed in my withdrawal letter today.”

“To that extent? What if it doesn’t work out?”

“Retake the exams? Maybe I’ll go to a science and engineering university.”

Although I joked like that, retaking exams… I absolutely don’t want to do that. I’d rather challenge myself to become a fashion model since I have a decent height and good proportions.

Well, I’m only 21 years old, so if things don’t work out, I can always find something else.

I’m not going to the military, anyway.

It’s like having two more years than male Kim Suhyun.

Thinking that I don’t have to go to the military makes me naturally happy, and I’m smiling happily when Hyejung, who was walking next to me, frowns and looks at me.

“Why?”

“Just because you’re making jokes about getting into that unreachable university and being all smug about it makes me want to hit you.”

“You don’t understand that.”

“What?”

“Never mind, where’s the cafe?”

“Oh, there’s an Instagram-worthy cafe around here.”

“I don’t use Instagram though…”

“I do, don’t I?”

“Do whatever you want.”

“Yeah…”

“Quickly, come on.”

***

The Instagram cafe that I followed Hyejung to was surprisingly decent.

The Instagram aesthetic cafes I knew of usually had uncomfortable low tables compared to the chairs, expensive prices, and bizarre interior designs, but here, the prices were reasonable and the tables were ordinary. The only difference was that the interior exuded a slightly dreamy atmosphere of a forest, and seeing the carefully decorated atmosphere, I readily acknowledged it.

“It’s a pretty cafe.”

“Right? It’s famous, you know.”

As Hyejung said, the place was almost packed, and she and I ended up sitting in one of the few remaining seats, ordering drinks and chatting.

“At that time, my brother… Yunjae…”

“Oh, really? But…?”

Usually, when Hyejung talked about her stories, I would react, but time passed quickly than I expected.

“Oh, right. Do you know about that?”

“About what?”

“Originally, this gathering was supposed to be for ten people, but it turned into twenty?”

“Why… Oh, I see…”

I momentarily questioned it, then immediately understood. If a woman resembling Kim Suhyun’s appearance was coming to the gathering, even I would go.

“Isn’t it unfortunate that I know right away?”

“Well, I’m not exactly average-looking either.”

“Wow! Seriously! Are you crazy?”

I shrugged my shoulders at Hyejung’s incredulous reaction and teased her before getting hit lightly.

“Anyway, let’s start getting up now.”

“Where was the store again?”

“It’s right next door.”

I got up from my seat, following Hyejung.

Schoolmates…

Both Kim Suhyuns, the male and the female, went to the same elementary, middle, and high schools.

So naturally, there would be some among those who came out of there who were originally friends of the male Kim Suhyun.

I briefly pondered how to deal with them, but soon felt at ease.

‘Where’s the friendship between a man and a woman?’

I silently sought forgiveness from my friends.

‘I’m sorry, but we’re cutting ties with you guys.’

From now on, my friends will only be cute girls with fragrant scents, not smelly guys with hairy legs.

‘Good luck, and have a safe military service.’

I walked outside feeling refreshed.