chapter_0127

127 – It Was Really Bad

127 – It Was Really Bad

Both the first and second generation students are the same.

Momo, who hired Majiya, is always brainstorming ways to fluster her.

But it’s really not easy.

Just when they think they’ve got her, she slips away like a mouse, and in the end, it’s always them who get caught.

It feels like they’ve become the gray cat from the now-classic cat-and-mouse animation.

However, this is all happening in the realm of internet broadcasting, which is, in a way, Majiya’s area of expertise.

In other words, if they pull her out of that realm, Majiya isn’t as strong.

For instance, during these weekly meals they have every Friday after training.

Miho, who struggles with people the most, especially shines when she’s next to Jia, and she said with a smile.

“I always feel this way… when we’re not at the company or broadcasting, isn’t Jia really calm and cute? Seeing someone like me, who has a hard time with people, being able to get close so easily…”

Ena nodded as if it were obvious, and Orca, though a bit slow to react, also nodded.

Jia snorted and said, “Please say that kind of thing when I’m not around.”

Until the lecture on dealing with malicious viewers, Majiya’s personality, which struggled with compliments, was just one of her cute traits to the members…

But after being completely drained by this malicious person who looks entirely different on the outside, what do you think she would think?

Oh? If you think about it, isn’t this Jia’s weakness?

The interesting thing is that this realization has naturally passed from Momo to the first generation and then to the second generation, as if someone was giving hints along the way.

In a way, Momo’s will to enjoy the back-and-forth with the viewers and grow her broadcast has been passed on to the first and second generation.

Thus, it’s almost inevitable that Majiya, who used to hit Momo well, would also hit the kids well.

Just as Momo found a way to tease Majiya through compliments and flattery, the kids also thought of the same method.

With the two people, excluding Orca, who still sees Majiya as a somewhat scary superior, blocking Jia’s sides, it created a very natural scene where they pressed close and patted her head.

As two hands rubbed her head back and forth like petting an animal, Majiya’s large head swayed back and forth.

Even when she gets her hair done at the salon every six months, it’s less intense than this, Majiya muttered with a sigh.

She wanted to put a spoonful of gyudon in her mouth, but she couldn’t.

“Let’s eat…”

Still, Majiya, who once watched the broadcast without complaint even while being shaken in Dora’s arms, wasn’t being actively tormented by the members, so she quietly ate her meal, caught between the two.

So she munched.

Majiya diligently finished her meal with her small mouth, but she was the slowest among the members.

Meanwhile, the table vibrated with someone’s phone.

Ena, the owner, picked up her phone and fiddled with it, glancing at Majiya.

Jia noticed this and blinked in response to the question, “Why?”

“Jia, have you not been watching Talk Code lately?”

Majiya nodded immediately.

She wasn’t the type to hang around Talk Code to socialize with someone, and after the Combative Tournament, she had no reason to turn it on at all.

After all, she had been busy with the second generation debut and other things, and when she got home, she would just collapse after watching the clips of the members that Seungyeon had prepared and other Virtual Youtuber videos.

“Bajubi asked me to tell you to check your DM if you happen to get in touch with him.”

“Oh. Okay. I’ll do that.”

Bajubi.

Bajubi.

Majiya, who was about to put another spoonful in her mouth, froze.

“Oh no.”

Has Majiya forgotten something for months?

The next day, Majiya rushed to Cheon Do-hee to declare an emergency.

“What’s up? Why do you look so flustered all of a sudden?”

“I need Boss’s help.”

Cheon Do-hee frowned.

Majiya usually says this when there’s some issue related to broadcasting, but the only thing Majiya had coming up was the usual review content next week.

That means she either has a prank in mind or is making a fuss over nothing…

But still, since she’s the Boss, and since Majiya is a Favorite malicious viewer, isn’t it only natural for her to be dealt with?

So Cheon Do-hee nodded as if to say, “Go ahead, tell me.”

“I was supposed to do the Parallel World Cup with Bajubi. As you know, I don’t really watch Talk Code, right? I have all the notifications turned off.”

“I think I remember that. But?”

The relaxed expression on Cheon Do-hee’s face turned to one of shock as soon as Majiya showed her the personal messages from Talk Code.

[Personal Message]

— January 27, 2025 —

[Bajubi: I’m sorry, but Jia]

[Bajubi: Would it be okay to collaborate next month…?]

[Bajubi: If you’re busy, just let me know when you can…]

— February 19, 2025 —

[Bajubi: If you don’t have time to collaborate, please let me know!]

[Bajubi: I’m fine if we don’t collaborate…!]

— March 25, 2025 —

[Bajubi: Um]

[Bajubi: I’m really okay]

[Bajubi: You just have to say it’s hard to collaborate]

[Bajubi: I know you’re busy, but]

[Bajubi: I really want to do the Parallel World Cup, but since you proposed it, I don’t think it’s polite to do it alone]

[Bajubi: I’m sorry for being so persistent…]

Cheon Do-hee gave Majiya a solid smack on the head.

“Are you crazy?!”

“Ah.”

“Ugh. I knew it from the day I saw you throwing around empty promises during your late-night broadcast.”

“No. I really meant to do it, but I forgot.”

“Why didn’t you exchange contact information when you had a meal together in the first place?”

“I did. I thought you’d naturally talk over the phone. …But then I realized you might feel awkward making a call.”

“Ugh. Anyway, contact them right away. Tell them we should collaborate. Apologize for not seeing the messages at all.”

“Okay.”

“I don’t know if they’ll believe us… I’ve known for a long time that you don’t watch Talk Code, but others might not…”

“I don’t think the collaboration is the problem. Should we meet and at least treat them to a meal first?”

“That sounds good. After all, you two know each other’s faces. Have a meal, and if the opportunity arises, suggest a real-life collaboration. Well… managing two avatars at the same time would require your computer to handle it, but hurry.”

Majiya thought about calling right away but decided to reply via DM first.

Being a passive person who is very observant, she hadn’t been able to contact them directly and had only sent a DM.

If she just called right away, they might be so surprised that they wouldn’t answer.

[Majiya: I’m really, really, really, really, really… sorry]

[Majiya: I don’t use Talk Code much, and I always have notifications turned off, so I didn’t even know you messaged me]

[Majiya: I checked as soon as you mentioned it through Serena, but I didn’t expect you to send so many messages]

[Majiya: I sincerely apologize once again]

Fortunately, Bajubi’s reply came back very quickly.

It felt like it took less than a minute.

[Bajubi: Hello, Jia]

[Bajubi: You seem really busy]

[Bajubi: It seems like collaborating is a bit difficult, right?]

[Bajubi: Then, would it be okay if we do the Parallel World Cup tomorrow?]

You might wonder why she’s asking for permission for something like this.

The world of Hako is truly, truly harsh and cold.

They are in a position where they are tossed around by viewers more than other broadcasters.

One wrong statement can label them as strange, clueless, or rude, leading to them leaving the broadcasting world.

The reason Bajubi kept asking Majiya if she could collaborate was because she was conscious of the fluidity that followed Majiya.

They might think, “Hey? How dare Majiya promise to give us a drop and then ignore it and do it alone?” and might just start hitting her without considering the context.

If Bajubi were someone really desperate for drops, she wouldn’t have asked and would have done the World Cup alone.

She is someone who broadcasts as a hobby, and Majiya knows this very well.

[Majiya: No]

[Majiya: It doesn’t make sense that I can’t collaborate because I’m busy]

[Majiya: We even made a promise]

[Majiya: I just forgot because I was busy]

[Majiya: I’m so sorry that I want to treat you to a nice meal and collaborate, is that okay?]

[Bajubi: You really don’t have to collaborate]

[Bajubi: I can tell just from watching your broadcast that you’re super busy…!]

[Majiya: I’m not okay with that]

[Majiya: It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, so let’s meet up]

[Majiya: Please, I’m sorry]

[Majiya: A real-life collaboration is also fine; if you need any equipment, I’ll bring it]

Three months of waiting must have felt like an eternity.

Whether these few words would open her heart was uncertain.

This time, waiting for a reply that took a bit longer, both Majiya and Cheon Do-hee held their breath.

Ding.

[Bajubi: Then, would you be available on May 5…?]

The two, who had taken their eyes off the message, immediately looked at the calendar.

May 5. Children’s Day.

It’s a public holiday when everyone has a day off, and Majiya also has the day off.

The very next day, May 6, is the day when the first generation’s new song, in which Majiya participated as Fan_C, is released…

But the speculation that Majiya and Fan_C are the same person has almost faded away lately, so it wouldn’t be particularly strange if Majiya suddenly appeared on Bajubi’s broadcast.

Above all, Majiya has a perfect shield.

She can say that they promised to collaborate, but due to being too busy, it got postponed like this.

If they don’t believe it, there’s nothing she can do.

When has Majiya ever acted based on whether viewers believe her or not?

Cheon Do-hee nodded in agreement.

“Since we’re having a group break that day anyway, go and make sure to collaborate. Apologize properly too.”

“It might get chaotic with more people on Bajubi’s broadcast. Can I dance like a madman?”

“Ban anyone who causes chaos. Even if they’re our fans, we can’t tolerate them causing trouble on someone else’s broadcast.”

“Okay, I’ll do that.”

Phew, only then did Cheon Do-hee let out a sigh of relief.

“Surely, trying to juggle both broadcasting and work is causing you to miss a few things.”

“I’m only human, so it can’t be helped.”

“Now you can somewhat understand how I felt when I couldn’t keep promises, right?”

Majiya looked at Cheon Do-hee with a serious gaze and shook her head.

“Seeing you trying to sneak past like this, Momo really is the worst Favorite…”

“Hey.”

A word from the author (Author’s note)

Woo woo.