episode_0150

After the meeting, Sua was lost in thought.

“Broadcasting? Me? Alone?”

Her heart was in turmoil.

It was a mix of excitement and feeling overwhelmed. But the worry didn’t last long. The suas within her stood up in vehement opposition.

—No way. Absolutely not. —I don’t think it’s a good idea either.

“…Is it that bad?”

Sua could only scratch her head and ask again. She didn’t realize it was something to oppose this strongly.

Gentle Sua stepped forward to represent them.

—Of course! Why was Sua-sunbae okay at the filming set? Image management focused on her appearance and skill proven by acting a role. There were two things.

“That’s true, isn’t it?”

—But what will happen if you just stand there with a panel and broadcast? Sua-sunbae’s appearance won’t be visible, and there’s no script to act out. —Your true self will be revealed as is. —In principle, it’s a disaster. —No! No!

Even Steel Sua and Sohee Sua came out to stop her, for once. Well, Sua couldn’t disagree.

‘Self-awareness is important.’

Even though it’s only a one-day broadcast, she can’t use her special privileges, so she’s not exactly competent. So, Gentle Sua’s words are a hundred times right…

…No! Don’t admit it so easily, Lee Sua!

Sua gets fired up!

‘Compared to before, I’ve become quite clever, and I have a few special abilities through privileges. If I somehow utilize them…’

—Even if you’ve developed, you’re still below average. —It’s like a monkey becoming a caveman.

‘…’

Hmm, is that so?

Gentle Sua continued.

—Shall we imagine it once? The news that NeoLive’s maknae is coming attracts huge expectations, and people are waiting. Let’s say about 30,000 people gather.

“Oh?”

—Imagine 2,000 people leaving every time Sua-sunbae says a word. Hmm. It’s not impossible.

‘…’

Sua made a disgusted face without realizing it.

That might be a little scary. And I’d get hurt a lot.

That’s when it happened.

“Lee Sua!”

Deer—Go Eunbi—greeted Sua, tapping her gently.

“How was it?”

“Huh? Oh, oh.”

Sua nodded vaguely.

“The avatar is so pretty. Thanks.”

This was sincere.

She understood today after Eunbi had asked her various things she liked a while ago, she thought it was for the avatar. The character was that pretty.

But Go Eunbi shook her head.

“No, no, that’s nothing. I was asking about your company life. Has it gotten better than before?”

“Why the company all of a sudden?”

“We made you unable to express your emotions, right? I thought something would have changed after that? Or not?”

“Ah.”

Sua blinked.

“Thanks to you, I overcame a crisis. Thank you.”

“Good, good. It feels good to hear you say thank you.”

Sua hesitated for a moment.

“Hey, that, me broadcasting for a day, I mean.”

“Yeah.”

“You know? I’m not really confident in things like communication. Is it okay to just play games and reveal my identity?”

At this moment, Sua could ask honestly. Go Eunbi is a friend who has known her for a long time, after all.

However, Go Eunbi shrugged.

“Originally, that would have been okay, but now the scale has gotten so huge, right? You won’t even have time for that.”

“…The scale has gotten so huge?”

The old Sua would have been excited to hear this, but not now. She had heard the truth from the Sua Association that broadcasting is dangerous. Because of that, she became quite anxious.

“What, what? How much bigger has it gotten?”

“Do you know Minecraft?”

“Minecraft. I know it.”

Sua nodded.

It’s a full-body VR game. You mine materials using tools like pickaxes and shovels, build houses by stacking blocks, and later you can even hunt monsters.

Sua continued with a reluctant face.

“It’s a really boring game to play alone, right? Usually, it’s the kind of thing that a guy with lots of internet friends does.”

“That’s right. This time, Pajijik is participating in an event called ‘Everyone’s Playground’ with 100 streamers.”

“100 streamers are playing Minecraft? Then how many viewers are there?”

“All the viewers of the 100 streamers are watching.”

“…Huh? But why are you suddenly telling me this?”

Sua said sincerely.

Why suddenly Minecraft? It was as if steam was already coming out of her head from receiving too much information.

“Listen for a second. The day you’re broadcasting for a day is the first day of ‘Everyone’s Playground.’ You have to participate too.”

“Me?”

“On the outside, you’re NeoLive’s maknae, right? Of course.”

“Ugh.”

“And ‘Everyone’s Playground’ has a talent show for streamers on the first night. This is important. NeoLive is determined to take first place no matter what.”

Sua’s head started to crackle.

“…”

She was pretending to be fine on the outside, but the Sua inside her had already gone cross-eyed and was gaping her mouth open.

“…Take first place? Aren’t you guys already in first place?”

“Hey, Lee Sua. We’re just in first place among Vtubers. This time, a lot of general streamers are participating.”

“Huh?” Sua tilted her head.

“Why even classify them? Aren’t they all streamers anyway?”

“They’re divided because the people who mainly watch them are different. The viewers of general streamers don’t get along with Vtuber viewers. Their inclinations are very different.”

“It must be a bit of a shame from your perspective. If everyone got along, both sides would have more viewers.”

“Exactly!”

Go Eunbi even snapped her fingers and rejoiced.

“They’re aiming for first place in the talent show in order to be friendly with general streamers and absorb all of their viewers. There’s no more certain way than that.”

“You become friends by taking first place?”

“Of course. ‘Everyone’s Playground’ is a kind of social gathering. If we take first place, all sorts of streamers will come to talk to us, right? Because they can clip it.”

“Ah, so you talk and become friends like that.”

“That’s right. The more we’re exposed on general streamers’ screens, the more the viewers there will reduce their aversion to Vtubers, and it all fits together perfectly.”

“Oh…”

Crackle!

But around this point, Sua’s brain stalled.

“…?”

When she thought about it, she didn’t understand.

“But why do I need to know about the talent show? I’m just supposed to be quietly there and reveal my identity, right?”

“You have to go out for the talent show. Win first place.”

Deer said casually.

“The maknae who won first place in the talent show turned out to be Lee Sua? My goodness, is there anything more newsworthy than that? We’ll both enjoy a huge promotional effect, and NeoLive will also prove its ability to scout you.”

“Hmm, so, it’s a good thing for me too?”

“That’s right, that’s right. Our Sua is smart as always.”

“How do I take first place?”

“Don’t you have any talents? You used to brag about being good at singing?”

“Ah, singing.”

The two of them faced each other and smiled brightly.

Sua suddenly grabbed the deer by the collar.

“…Hey! Are you crazy?”

◈◈◈◈◈

Hong Yeji’s house.

Minami Sawako was in the middle of revisions.

The girl, who was only a middle schooler, was doing her best. Even though her health wasn’t good enough to concentrate for long.

Typety-tap─

Thanks to Hong Yeji switching the keyboard to Korean/Japanese settings, Sawako was working on the keyboard. Right now, she was working on Hong Yeji’s script here and there.

At some point.

Sawako took her hands off the keyboard and folded her arms.

“あの、先輩.” (Excuse me, sunbae-nim.)

Hong Yeji, who was lying on the sofa, urgently turned on the translation app. What was she doing until just now? She was sleeping…

“I just turned on the translator. Please say it again.”

“I’m sorry. Did I disturb your meditation?”

“I wasn’t meditating.”

“…Sunbae-nim, you’re a very considerate person.”

Hong Yeji thought. What is she saying?

“So, what did you call me for?”

“Ah, the problem stems from a question I have about the protagonist. I still don’t know what kind of person this protagonist is.”

“Just fill it in as you please.”

“Yes. I learned another thing thanks to sunbae-nim.”

“What?”

“When I actually tried to fill it in as I pleased, I realized that it was also quite difficult. My imagination is shallower than I thought. Please help me get a grasp on it.”

“Grasp?”

“A kind of hint. What kind of person is the protagonist?”

Hong Yeji scratched her stomach for a moment and thought.

“Let’s depict her as being exceptionally good at singing and playing instruments.”

“Ah.”

Sawako nodded as if she understood right away.

“That’s persuasive. The protagonist is the daughter of a wealthy family, right? It wouldn’t be strange if she had received in-depth arts and physical education.”

“Yeah. Well, that’s right.”

Of course, Hong Yeji’s true intentions were different.

‘The bigger the gap between the script and the actor, the harder the filming becomes. In other words, the higher the probability of quitting.’

Who would agree if she suddenly demanded a perfect level of singing and playing instruments? They wouldn’t be able to participate.

‘Sua-ssi, she’s not good at singing, is she?’

She worried for a moment.

‘…There’s no way.’

She’s never even seen her make a loud noise, let alone sing.

“Sunbae-nim, then I’ll concentrate again.”

“Yes. I’m rooting for you.”

Hong Yeji laid her phone horizontally and moved her thumbs busily. Of course, it was a rhythm game.

Typety-tap─!

…Hmm, should I try becoming a professional rhythm game player?