Chapter 90: Why wasn’t there anyone like you?

“Honestly, it’s pretty good at this level…”

Rei tilted her head slightly, deliberately being difficult.

She continued, feigning slight disappointment in her expression.

“Just a little bit, a little bit more… wouldn’t it be good to revise it?”

As Rei vaguely trailed off, Jina tilted her head and asked back.

“What part do you feel is lacking? If you have an opinion, please tell me. If there’s something to revise, I’ll apply it immediately.”

Jina’s reaction was still indifferent.

No, it went beyond indifference, even feeling apathetic.

Rei momentarily felt an inexplicable surge of irritation.

Other artists would never have shown such a relaxed demeanor.

How picky she was being.

How ridiculous the feedback she was giving.

Does Jina, this person, even realize it?

“…The current stage is mystically and perfectly decorated with a celestial motif, but honestly, as it is, I think it will be difficult for the audience to feel anything more than just the song.”

Rei’s lips trembled as she began to list her ‘minor revision requests’ one by one.

“I want the stage to incorporate a ‘story’.”

First, she hoped for a production where part of the stage collapses.

She wanted to maximize the contrast between mystique and human imperfection.

Also, she wished to portray the internal conflict and struggle between humanity and divinity.

Rei, rather than simply presenting herself as a celestial maiden, a perfect heavenly being.

Wanted to also capture the conflict between divinity and humanity on stage.

“For example, I’d like a dramatic production where, as the song reaches its climax, the heavenly light darkens once, then overcomes it and regains its dazzling brilliance.”

Not just letting the audience simply listen to the song.

She laid out various ideas, wanting them to feel a story, like a musical.

“…By any chance, did my opinion make Jina uncomfortable?”

Rei caught her breath and cautiously asked Jina.

She had blurted out opinions indiscriminately under the guise of feedback because she was a bit worked up.

But now that she had laid out various things, she wondered if she hadn’t been too childish.

‘No one within Nise Live complained.’

‘Even Rei herself liked it very much.’

‘Moreover, this stage perfectly incorporates all the absurd techniques Rei demanded.’

‘Is it even okay to give feedback on such a result?’

‘What if Jina gets offended…’

“Hmm, if we do as you say, the stage will become much richer.”

But Jina, contrary to expectations, was actually impressed by Rei’s creative ideas.

“It’s definitely a good direction. Let’s try improving it based on the feedback you’ve given.”

As Jina responded positively, contrary to her expectations, Rei frowned, looking flustered.

“…Jina, don’t you get angry at this?”

Rei raised her voice, unlike her usual self.

“In a way, I’m trying to overhaul the stage Jina worked hard on, don’t you feel bad? Setting aside getting angry, shouldn’t you at least show some irritation?!”

Rei’s avatar glared at Jina, her fine brow furrowed.

Jina, however, let out a slight laugh seeing Rei’s expression.

That laughter properly ignited Rei’s heart.

‘No, why is she so relaxed?!’

“Don’t laugh! I’m not joking right now! I’m asking you seriously!”

At this point, she was practically shrieking.

Jina watched Rei for a moment, then spoke in a soft, calm voice.

“Rei-nim.”

Jina’s characteristic languid and gentle voice.

Gradually calmed the tense air of the virtual space.

“Honestly, if you had suddenly asked to change the direction of an already completed work, or requested revisions for an absurd reason, I would have been angry too.”

“…”

“But the revisions Rei-nim proposed just now were all understandable.”

‘This was a rough draft of the stage in the first place.’

‘A work that can be changed as much as needed for a better result.’

Jina continued, smiling gently.

“Above all, the star of this stage isn’t me, nor other Nise Live staff, but Rei-nim, isn’t it?”

It was Kamishiro Rei’s solo concert, for which she had to take full responsibility under her name.

So.

“In the end, Rei’s opinion is the most important, and my role is to bring that opinion to life as much as possible. Does this explain why I said I’d change the stage composition without any issue?”

“…”

Rei was momentarily speechless after hearing Jina’s words.

She was flustered.

She had worked with countless staff members before, but no one had ever accepted all her opinions so readily, as if it were a matter of course.

And she had always thought that was natural.

In a large corporate entity like Nise Live, her voice was surprisingly weak.

And going back further, when she worked as a VTuber for a small ‘startup company’.

She was often unavoidably ignored.

‘Because of the company’s situation.’

‘Because of lack of manpower.’

‘Lack of funds too.’

‘And lack of time.’

‘Even trying and struggling, nothing changed.’

‘Nevertheless, she tried to hold on until the end.’

‘But what came back was a graduation notice…’

As memories of her past life briefly flashed through her mind, through her heart.

An unseen moisture welled up in Rei’s avatar’s eyes.

“…Why.”

Rei muttered in a small voice.

It was a monologue that escaped unintentionally.

“Why, when I was at Cosmo Live… wasn’t there someone like you…?”

The wounds of the past were evident in Rei’s voice.

Old memories she thought she had overcome.

Were resurfacing from deep within her heart.

Jina gazed at Rei quietly, waiting patiently.

His quiet silence felt like an even deeper comfort.

---

Late evening, an izakaya in Gangnam Station, usually bustling with office workers, was quiet today.

A small shop where light jazz music flowed gently.

Jina and Daon sat facing each other at a corner table.

“What’s the occasion? Not Youngjun, but Daon treating me to drinks.”

“This is a bribe, a bribe. Don’t get too close to Nise Live.”

At Daon’s light joke, Jina chuckled and tilted her glass.

The clear alcohol in the glass smoothly went down her throat.

Daon gazed at the dark night street outside the window for a moment, then continued speaking.

“So, how are things these days? Are you getting along well with the Nise Live side?”

“Well, there are many bothersome things here and there, but I’m working quite enjoyably.”

“What kind of work are you doing there?”

“Hmm, no comment. They’re very particular about security.”

Jina shrugged and changed the subject.

“Come to think of it, Kamishiro Rei’s solo concert announcement was up last night~”

“…”

“Jina’s ID was prominently displayed as the head of stage direction~?”

“…Haha.”

But Daon already knew everything there was to know.

“Kamishiro Rei, have you talked with that friend a bit?”

“She gave feedback very actively. Seems like she’s very ambitious about the stage.”

Seeing that the embargo seemed to be lifted, Jina spoke more comfortably.

“Ahaha- I thought so. She was always the type to say everything on her mind.”

After a short laugh, Daon’s smile turned slightly bitter.

Jina was about to say something, then just wet her lips with alcohol instead.

Jina also knew well the reason for the change in Daon’s expression.

“Um… Jina.”

Daon fiddled with his glass with both hands, then sighed quietly and opened his mouth.

“Do you know what the first thing Jjun did after joining Cosmo Live was?”

“…Hmm. What was it?”

“It was graduating our 1st generation kids, the Nova kids.”

Jina looked at Daon quietly with a subtle expression.

In the early days of Cosmo Live, it was a rather famous behind-the-scenes story in the industry.

But what Daon was bringing up now.

Was a much more personal story, different from the official stance at that time.

“Honestly, me, the staff, and the Nova kids… we all knew it would be difficult to succeed.”

Daon twirled the empty glass with his fingertips and continued.

“The 1st generation really suffered a lot. Back then, the concept of a VTuber itself was so unfamiliar… it was really serious. Haha.”

It would have been a relief if they had at least received a lot of hate.

In the indifference, more painful than malicious comments, Cosmo Live as a whole slowly withered away.

It was fortunate that Daon managed to feed the entire company.

Otherwise, the Cosmo Live of today wouldn’t exist.

“At least JeoSeSang Idol became a hit, raising interest in VTubers, but we couldn’t help being treated as copycats.”

If they tried to become even slightly famous, malicious comments like ‘JeoSeDol knockoff’ or ‘b*tch hiding behind an avatar’ would fly in.

“In the end, Jjun made a cold judgment. Discontinuing Nova’s activities and graduating the kids was the way to cause less pain for both the company and them… Of course, I knew that was right too… But still…”

Daon trailed off.

She refilled her glass once more and emptied it in one gulp.

Amidst the alcohol flowing down her throat, Daon revealed her honest feelings.

“When I actually notified them of their graduation, I couldn’t properly look at their faces.”

“…”

“Especially Byeol… no, now it’s Kamishiro Rei. Anyway, I still can’t forget her expression.”

‘Forcing a smile, saying it’s okay.’

‘Saying she also wanted to stop.’

‘Turning off the camera like that, then crying her eyes out, not knowing the mic was still on, that voice still remains clearly in my ears.’

…Daon still felt heavy-hearted.