I Became a Member of My Favorite Group! - Chapter 4

I burned out… completely.

Like a boxer from a manga who had given his all, I slumped down as I returned to the waiting room.

I couldn’t remember anything from the interview.

From the very beginning, my slip-up made it impossible for anything else to register in my mind.

Thud thud—

‘Ughhhh!’

As the memory of that moment resurfaced, I grabbed my head and thrashed around.

Da-jeong, you’re such an idiot.

“Love for the members”? What kind of charm is that supposed to be?

Did you really think that kind of nonsense would work in an interview where the members haven’t even been decided yet?

Of course, the interview result doesn’t matter.

The outcome was already set from the beginning, and I didn’t apply to become a VTuber in the first place.

But still.

It’s so embarrassing to have said something so cringe-worthy and then sink into despair on my own.

Right now, they’re probably roasting me in the interview room.

Ugh, I want to die.

“Those who have finished their interviews may leave now. Thank you for your hard work.”

“Thank you!”

As I covered my face and tried to cool down, the female employee I had seen earlier opened the door and announced that we were free to leave.

Alright, let’s just go home.

I’ve achieved what I came for, so I’m satisfied.

It would’ve been nice to see the other members too, but that’s probably asking for too much.

Now, all I have to do is eagerly wait for the debut date and prepare to dive into fangirling.

But first, I need to replace my old, creaky computer desk.

Every time I sit down, it screams, “Save me!” and it’s starting to weigh on my conscience.

Just as I was about to sneak out of the waiting room like a cautious squirrel, gripping the strap of my waist bag tightly—

“Da-jeong.”

“Y-Yes?”

A pleasant voice suddenly called out to me.

Realizing it was calling my name, I turned around in surprise.

There stood Erin—no, Jia—looking at me with slightly startled rabbit-like eyes.

“If you’re not busy, would you like to go to a café and chat? I’m curious about how your interview went too.”

“A café?”

A café… that place.

Where girls gather, sipping on drinks that cost 6,000 to 7,000 won each, laughing and chatting away.

I’ve never been to one, but I know about them from manga and such.

It doesn’t seem like a place I’d fit into.

“Ah, um… I’m sorry. I need to get home quickly today…”

A one-on-one fan meeting with Erin herself? Of course, I’d love to join.

But my awkward conversational skills would only make Erin uncomfortable.

I’m a fan who knows when I’m being a nuisance.

So, I made a flimsy excuse and declined.

Jia looked visibly disappointed.

It’s not like spending time with someone like me would be fun anyway.

“Ah, I see. Does your house have a strict curfew too?”

“Curfew…?”

I tilted my head at the unfamiliar term, and Jia added,

“Yeah, like parents telling you to come home early… I had that when I was in college.”

“Ah.”

So that’s what a curfew means.

Come to think of it, I’ve heard that some girls have curfews at home.

It’s probably for those with stricter households.

But that doesn’t apply to me.

“That’s not it. I don’t have parents.”

“…Huh?”

Ah, I shouldn’t have said that.

It’s not a big deal to me, so I answered reflexively, but I immediately regretted it.

Jia stared at me with wide eyes.

Feeling the atmosphere grow heavy, I grabbed the strap of my waist bag tightly and said,

“I-I was really happy to meet you today. I hope you pass, Jia!”

I clenched my fist and bolted out of the waiting room like I was running away.

Behind me, I could hear Jia calling out, “W-Wait a minute!” but I pretended not to hear.

Huff, huff.

Why is this body so weak?

Just going down three flights of stairs is exhausting. I really need to start exercising.

＊＊＊＊＊

After the first offline interview for the Blue Project.

Kang Ha-neul, the woman sitting at the head of the conference room, flipped through the self-introduction sheets one by one.

Known online as Haneulbom, she was a top female streamer and the head of the company.

“What do you think, CEO? The four you mentioned earlier seem perfect.”

“Right. As long as there are no disqualifying issues, we can probably finalize them…”

As the male employee who had joined the interview spoke, Kang Ha-neul nodded quietly.

From the beginning, the Blue Project had planned to select four members as the final lineup.

It’s the most common number for VTuber groups debuting together.

Having an odd number often leads to someone being left out in group content.

Too few members, and the chemistry might feel lacking.

Too many, and it becomes hard to manage, with members potentially overshadowing each other. So, four seemed just right.

And the four self-introduction sheets she held were the ones she had marked as the finalists.

The first member had a background in dance, giving her a solid foundation.

At first, she seemed calm and quiet, but once she started talking, she turned out to be a chatterbox.

Ha-neul thought she’d excel in “Just Chatting” streams once she got used to broadcasting.

The second member was a so-called “reincarnated” VTuber.

She had been a VTuber before but didn’t achieve much success and graduated, only to apply here.

She had no issues with her previous company’s contract, which was a plus.

Her prior streaming experience would be a big help.

She also had a lively personality and seemed full of variety potential.

The third member was uniquely of mixed heritage.

Her father was from Ireland, if she remembered correctly.

She had no rough edges and exuded a reliable older sister vibe, making her seem like a good leader for the team.

Her background in vocal training was another point Ha-neul noted.

The fourth member was what you’d call a “tsundere” type.

Her personality and way of speaking oozed charm, to the point where it was noticeable even during the interview.

Ha-neul was even surprised to hear this member had never had a boyfriend.

Overall, these four members seemed to balance each other well and could complement each other’s strengths.

However, even though the members were practically decided, there was one self-introduction sheet Ha-neul couldn’t let go of.

It belonged to a girl named Jeong Da-jeong.

“I’m confident that no one can beat me in loving the members!”

“Pfft.”

As the girl’s voice replayed in her mind, Kang Ha-neul couldn’t help but laugh.

If she had just left it at that, it would’ve been fine, but the way she panicked and floundered after realizing her mistake was as cute as a squirrel losing its acorn.

And there was another reason why this girl stood out so vividly in Ha-neul’s memory.

• “Ah, and you didn’t write anything about your family in the self-introduction… Is there a reason for that?”
• “W-Well, it’s because I don’t have a family. I’m sorry…”
• “Ah…”

That’s right.

That girl was, in fact, alone in the world.

If she had simply said her parents had passed away, it might have been less jarring.

However, “I don’t have a family.”

The decisiveness of that statement and the loneliness it conveyed pierced Kang Ha-neul’s heart.

It wasn’t something she should’ve had to apologize for.

If anything, it was our fault for not being more considerate and forcing her to reveal it.

The awkward smile and apology on her face lingered in Ha-neul’s mind.

“Come to think of it, her clothes were a bit shabby too.”

Recalling the girl’s outfit, Ha-neul fell deep into thought.

A white T-shirt and short denim pants that reached her thighs.

It was a very functional outfit.

The kind of clothes you could wash and wear countless times, suitable for both home and going out.

Of course, she knew it was rash to judge someone based on their appearance.

But given what she had just heard, it was hard not to let her thoughts wander.

“Still, she was cute, though.”

Even so, the girl’s striking appearance and cuteness couldn’t be overshadowed.

No, to be blunt, it only made her more endearing, but that probably wasn’t a good thing for the girl herself.

“Maybe her family situation isn’t great.”

She couldn’t bring herself to ask further, as it might’ve been too intrusive.

The girl’s face kept swirling in Ha-neul’s mind.

The song recording she had sent along with her self-introduction also came to mind.

It was a voice that perfectly captured the loneliness of someone left alone in the world, unable to even muster the strength to express sorrow, singing with forced calmness.

But perhaps that was only possible because it was her own story.

As all the pieces fell into place in her mind, Ha-neul’s expression softened.

“A love for the members that no one can surpass…”

That girl didn’t even know who the members of the Blue Project would be.

She hadn’t even seen their avatars, let alone met them.

Yet, she had spoken with such confidence, without a hint of hesitation, her eyes shining with what seemed like pride.

Perhaps, just maybe, there was a chance.

This girl could become the final piece of the puzzle, someone who would cherish and care for the members more than anyone else.

As that small hope surfaced in her mind, Ha-neul made her decision.

Rustle—

The four self-introduction sheets she held in her left hand.

A new sheet was placed on top of them.

Soon, a large red circle was drawn over it.

The two employees, who had been watching without much thought, were stunned.

The meaning of that action was simple.

“I’ve made up my mind. The Blue Project will have five members.”

Looking at the employees, Ha-neul announced her decision firmly, yet with a gentle smile.

Today, the stars that would fill her treasure box had finally been decided.