I Became a Member of My Favorite Group! - Chapter 71

 Misaligned, but Sincerity Reconnects

[Domestic VTuber Gallery]

  • I just got here, what’s with the trending post? Did Lulu-chan collapse?
  • What the hell is going on? I’m scared, CEO Kang, post an announcement quickly!!!
  • She’s been busy preparing for collabs lately…
  • My first oshi graduated due to health issues too… This is giving me PTSD…

The sudden accident, broadcast live, quickly spread across the community.

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Title: Brought clips that suggest Lulu-chan has been overworking herself recently

Author: BlueLUVLifetimeFan

(Clip of Lulu dozing off during a game a week ago)
(Clip of Lulu finally eating her first meal just before ending the stream 5 days ago)
(Clip of Lulu dodging questions about whether she ate 3 days ago)

At first, I thought she just slept less that day or was too lazy to eat, but now it seems like she’s been pushing herself way too hard to save even that little time. During the stream, she kept saying she prepared a lot for the collab and asked us to look forward to it, saying she’d make it fun this time. Whether it was due to pressure or something else, it’s clear she overworked herself. Honestly, even if the stream is a little less fun, I just wish she wouldn’t push herself so hard. I can’t live without Lulu-chan…

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  • Oh no… Seeing this again makes me feel so bad for her.
    • It seems like her professionalism is too strong, and that’s what caused this.
      • I want to say that being professional also means taking care of your health, but I can’t bring myself to say it.
        •  it’s hard to say anything to someone who worked so hard.
          • I just hope she comes back healthy.
  • I hope it’s nothing serious.
    • I’ve seen too many VTubers graduate due to health issues, so I’m really praying it’s not that.
      • Streaming seems to have a lot of these incidents… Maybe because their day and night schedules are flipped, and they’re just streaming from home, it’s hard to manage their health.
        • That’s definitely a big factor.
  • Watching today’s collab, you could really feel how much effort she put into it.
    • The simultaneous translation system and the content felt like they were prepared with insane effort.
      • No wonder CEO Kang was worried…

As Lulu’s recent strange behavior during streams was re-examined, most people speculated that it was due to overwork and health issues.

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Title: CEO Kang’s announcement is up!

Author: SlaveOfTheSky

(Full text of the announcement posted by CEO Kang)

Quick summary for VTuber fans:

  • She was immediately taken to the hospital and is still unconscious.
  • According to the doctor, it’s shock caused by overwork and slight malnutrition.
  • The test results show no other major health issues, so please don’t worry and wait patiently.
  • Updates will be posted as her condition progresses.

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  • Overwork is one thing, but malnutrition? Did she not even eat properly?
    • Even before moving, she said she only ate tofu and cabbage once a day. She probably never even thought about eating properly.
      • Damn, that’s even sadder…
        • Tears are blocking my vision…
          • Lulu-chan, please be happy…
  • Please just come back healthy…
    • I won’t beg you to stream more, just please…
      • Even if you only stream 3 times a week for an hour with no content, just come back…
        • I’d be fine with once a week, Lulu-chan…
  • Yukiko-chan looked so shocked, she cried while ending the stream. I hope she’s okay.
    • Yukiko-chan must be heartbroken… They’ve been together every day preparing for the collab.
      • It must hurt knowing she didn’t notice even though she was right there.
        • Lulu-chan probably hid it on purpose, but it’s still heartbreaking.

Fans could only pray for her safe return, hoping this moment would pass without further incident.

*****

Ugh…

Something feels off.

The texture of the bed I’m lying on feels a little different than usual.

In my faintly awakened consciousness, I felt a small sense of discomfort.

I carefully opened my eyes what greeted me was an unfamiliar ceiling.

“Da-jeong! Are you awake?!”

“…Huh?”

Before I could even guess where I was a familiar voice suddenly reached my ears.

When I turned my head to the side, I saw CEO Kang’s face.

Behind her, the members were gathered in a small group.

Huh, why is everyone here?

Wait, is this… a hospital?

Thud-

The moment I realized where I was lying something warm enveloped me.

Feeling like my thoughts were unusually slow today, I turned my head with difficulty to see Yuna.

For some reason, she was crying pitifully.

“Sniff, Da-jeong…! Da-jeong…!”

“Yu, Yuna? Why are you crying all of a sudden…? What happened?”

As if she would never let go.

Yuna hugged me tightly, crying, and my shoulder grew warm from her tears.

Still not fully grasping the situation, I hugged Yuna back, confused.

I glanced at CEO Kang, who was standing awkwardly behind her.

When our eyes met, she made a deeply regretful expression, her lips twitching.

She seemed to have a lot to say but was holding back.

“…Da-jeong, do you remember anything?”

“My memories? Well, up until the end of the collab…”

…Huh?

As I answered CEO Kang’s question it felt like an error in my brain, a crackling sound as two thoughts collided.

Now that I think about it, what happened after the collab ended?

I clearly remember seeing Verdia-chan off.

Then Yuna and I were doing a short post-stream talk, and I was about to end the stream…

“You lost consciousness and collapsed during the stream.”

“Me, me…?!”

As I tried to piece together my memories.

CEO Kang revealed the truth, and I opened my eyes wide in shock.

Now that I think about it, I remember Yuna asking me about my thoughts on the collab at the end but for some reason, I can’t remember how I answered.

Does that mean I really lost consciousness all of a sudden?

I really did push myself too hard; I thought I was keeping within my limits, but I guess not.

It seems I didn’t notice the screams my body was making.

“W, wait a minute, CEO Kang. So, you’re saying me collapsing was broadcast live…?!”

The moment that thought crossed my mind I felt a chill run down my spine and urgently asked CEO Kang.

Collapsing suddenly without any warning.

That means it was broadcast live for everyone to see; it’s a huge incident.

Just the fact that the members had to abruptly end the stream and rush here shows how serious it was.

Nod-

Without saying a word the CEO just nodded in response.

Seeing that, I quickly apologized.

“I, I’m sorry, Yuna. I ruined the stream because of me…”

Of course, I feel sorry to everyone but Yuna was the most directly affected.

So I decided to sincerely apologize to Yuna first.

Squeeze-

“Why, why are you saying that…?”

But for some reason despite my apology, Yuna seemed even more upset.

She tightened her embrace and muttered in a tearful voice…

“Is the stream the problem right now…?! You collapsing is the bigger issue! Do you think I want an apology for something like that?!”

Her face flushed red as she raised her voice in anger.

It was the first time I’d seen Yuna get this genuinely angry.

I stared at her in a daze for a moment before finally opening my mouth to explain.

“B, but… I ruined the collab you were so excited about because of me…”

“That’s what I hate! Why don’t you ever think that you’re more important to me than the collab?! Why, why…!”

Thud-

Unable to finish her words.

Yuna’s head slumped onto my shoulder.

“Why do you always talk like that…? As if it doesn’t matter what happens to you… To me, Da-jeong, you’re never someone like that…”

“Ah…”

Her words, spoken as if she was desperately holding back her emotions pierced deep into my chest. It’s hard to put into words what that feeling was but at least now I realize that the things I’ve been saying so casually could have been hurtful to Yuna.

I see.

For Yuna, for the members, for Blue LUV, I thought it didn’t matter what happened to me as long as I worked hard.

However, from the members’ perspective that’s not what they wanted at all.

Now that I’ve put myself in their shoes, I understand Yuna’s feelings.

If one of the members I love so much said things like, “someone like me” or “it doesn’t matter what happens to me.”

It would really make me sad; to Yuna, I was that kind of person.

Somehow, it feels a little strange.

Honestly, I never even thought I could be someone important to anyone.

“Let’s step out for a bit.”

“Huh? B, but CEO Kang…”

“I think you two have a lot to talk about right now. We’ll come back later.”

Creak-

Seeing the conflicting emotions between us CEO Kang took the members and left the room for a while.

Since it’s a private room, once the four of them left only Yuna and I remained.

The air felt a little awkward but now it was my turn to speak, so I finally opened my mouth and faced Yuna.

“Yuna, I’m sorry.”

When I offered a sincere apology.

The anger in Yuna’s eyes seemed to soften slightly.

“…Will you take better care of yourself from now on?”

“Yeah, of course.”

“…And you won’t say things like ‘someone like me’ or other weird stuff?”

“I’ll… try.”

“Tch.”

I nodded confidently to the first question but to the second, I hesitated and nodded awkwardly.

Seemingly dissatisfied with my response, Yuna clicked her tongue…

Yeah, just let me off this once.

After all, people can’t change overnight.

Even though I’ve realized my mistake, I don’t think I can fix it right away.

I’ve lived with this mindset for so long; that someone like me doesn’t matter, that I could never be someone important to anyone.

So it’s going to be a little hard, I can’t promise to suddenly become a confident Jeong Da-jeong right away.

But I can promise that I’ll gradually change.

Not for my sake.

Because saying things like this, thinking like this, I’ve realized there are people who feel sad for me.

For their sake, I can’t keep being like this.

I don’t want Yuna or the members to cry like this.

I don’t care about realistic sayings like “people can’t always be happy.”

I just want these people to have a happy, laughter-filled life every day.

So not for my sake but for the people I love most, I’ll change.

“I mean it. If you don’t believe me, should I pinky promise?”

“Tch, I’m not a kid.”

“O, oh? Then what should I do…?”

I made a firm decision and stuck out my pinky but Yuna still pouted and gave a curt response.

If not this, how else can I make a promise?

Is there no way to show Yuna my determination?

As I was pondering this.

Clink-

“…Just this once. If you do this again, I’ll really get mad.”

“O, okay. Hehe, thanks, Yuna.”

Yuna hooked her pinky with mine.

Returning to her usual self, she gave me a warning along with her trust.

I was so happy.

Without realizing it, I smiled like a fool and shook our intertwined fingers up and down.

Yuna smiled back at me, shaking her finger in response.