Chapter 133: Lady Luka

「Luka-ssi! As scheduled, we want to start the concert confirmation work. Have you arrived at the site?」

A world created solely for me.

For only me, a single person.

Of course, they could use the data they got from this for other members’ concerts, but I still felt the overwhelming feeling in my chest anyway.

I logged into VR World and accepted the invitation.

After the loading screen went away, what unfolded before my eyes was…

「Wow…」

Is this…what being a virtual idol like…?

As I stepped onto the stage, Manager-nim’s model—wearing a suit—waved at me.

「Hello, Luka-ssi!」

「Ah! Yes! Hello, Unnie!」

「How does the world look?」

She’d know what I was feeling just from seeing my face.

It was just, I doubt that VR could express my emotions pretty well.

「Seriously, this is amazing.」

I felt like I could use every single flattering word available.

The concert venue was designed to resemble the stages that the famous singers performed on for end-of-the-year shows. Behind me was a large standby screen displaying Luka’s illustration.

「Fans are going to be able to watch you from here, in VR, now.」

「How many people can come here…?」

「I’d have to talk to the server’s administration team before I can give you a definitive answer.」

「I see.」

「Alright, shall we look at the avatar now?」

「Yes!」

After the world, the next thing to check was the avatar.

Honestly, ever since I joined the company, the models’ quality had never disappointed me.

It was probably because I struggled so much back when I was still an indie, everything just looked pretty to me. Also, the Pink Army always cheered saying how cute everything was.

When I accepted the invite to the other world and went there, the staff members who prepared the model I’d be using were already there.

「How is it?」

「I’m excited already.」

It was true, my heart was already pounding.

There’d be two new outfits that would come out.

One had short hair, close to an apple cut—just a different from usual—while the other was the real deal.

An extremely adorable chibi avatar was wiggling its butt and dancing in front of me.

「If you use this and post some shorts, the viewers’ reactions are gonna be great.」

「Right?! Ah, my heart!」

I knew that it was weird to react this way because it was my own avatar, but it really was just so cute that I couldn’t help myself!

「Well, there’s another concert model that’s still in production, but the original song is still the top priority.」

Original song.

Something that I had to complete from start to finish, not as a group.

Since I didn’t have much confidence in my singing, I was really nervous about this, but I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t excited.

「How has it been progressing? Please say it’s going well.」

「Ah, of course. They have already recorded the instrumentals and the last thing they informed us was that they’re working on the guide now, so we’ll hear from them soon.」

「Ugh… I’m nervous…」

「I’ve told you who the composer is, right?」

「Yes! You told me it’s that famous person from that company.」

「You can look forward to it! I’ll let you know when there are updates.」

「Okay! Thank you!」

I took off my headset and stomped my feet excitedly in my computer chair.

Aahhh!

Will I be able to do well?

The avatar’s so cute, though!

Among all the Pink Army, the one I cherished most…

Oppa’s face came to mind.

So I picked up my phone and called him.

「Hello.」

「Hm? What’s up?」

「What do you mean what’s up? Can’t I call you?」

「I didn’t say you can’t! It’s just, we’re seeing each other soon, no? I thought maybe something happened.」

Today was the long-awaited hanbok date with Oppa.

I had been at the studio for work and now I needed to hurry back home and get ready to leave again.

「Oppa.」

「Yeah?」

「The solo concert is going to be totally amazing!」

After I let him know how excited I was, I could hear his happy laughter from the other side of the phone.

「Really? So, did they release something new?」

「I saw the new avatar today, and it’s like, reaaaally well made! Literally so kawaii.」

「…Did you take pictures?」

He asked in a greedy voice.

「Nope. Got nothing. Sorry.」

「Fine. Anyway, I need to be out by 2, right?」

「Yes yes. See you in front of the house later.」

「Alright~ I’m gonna go shower!」

「Bye!」

After hanging up, I quickly grabbed my padded jacket and rushed home.

There, I showered and dried my hair.

It wasn’t like there’d be any filming shoots today, but since I planned to take lots of pictures, I wanted to put in extra effort.

The base seems good enough, and light would probably suit a hanbok better, right?

After quickly drawing my eyebrows, I finished with a light pink tint for color.

That looked good enough. Everything would be perfect once I put on the hanbok.

Having happy thoughts about what hanbok to put Oppa in, I headed outside and waved at my tall boyfriend standing in the distance.

“Kim Eojin-ssi!”

I greeted him with a cruel joke.

“Ah! Luka-tan!”

And he immediately attempted a counter-gank.

Since we confirmed no one was around before joking, we burst into laughter as soon as we saw each other’s faces.

“Hey, who told you to call me that?”

He said, kneading my cheeks like they were rice cakes.

“Ah, I just did my makeup! Let them go!”

I put so much effort into it too!

After checking my face once more with a hand mirror, I looked up at him angrily.

“Let’s go.”

He extended his hand to me.

“Okay.”

When I grabbed his hand, that was when I noticed the bag that he carried.

“What’s the bag for?”

He didn’t normally carry a bag, so I was curious about what was inside.

“I want to do something with you later.”

…Something he wants to do with me?

“What is it?”

“Nothing special.”

“If it’s nothing special, then tell me.”

“100 Questions.”

I tilted my head at the unexpected answer.

“100 Questions?”

“Yep. The company said I’d be doing a YouTube video with this.”

“Ooh… Really…?”

So, Oppa’s new activities were starting!

Though it was a small-scale drama, the reviews about Oppa were good.

There was the school violence issue, but the malice hadn’t spread yet.

Well, we decided to trust YM to handle it well.

“Then, after we put on the hanbok and have all our fun, let’s do it at a cafe!”

“Sounds good, I was gonna suggest that anyway.”

After a 20-minute bus ride, we got off right in front of the palace.

“At least the weather isn’t that cold, so that’s good.”

Like, it’d be terrible to pay money to wear a hanbok, and have to shiver the whole time.

Maybe the heavens understood that and made the sunny weather somewhat less cold than usual.

“Yep. Anyway, let’s hurry and rent them.”

Since there were many shops that overcharged as they were targeting foreigners, we made reservations at a place we researched beforehand.

As we entered the rental shop, a staff member came out to greet us.

“You can choose from here to here. If you want to try anything on, just let me know and you can change over there!”

I grabbed Oppa’s wrist, planning to choose first what I wanted him to wear.

“You’re gonna wear what I pick.”

“Why?”

“Since you decided on mine, it’s only natural that I do the same.”

Now that there was no room to object, Oppa obediently let me lead him back and forth to the fitting room.

“…How is it?”

Haa… Seriously… This…

“Oh my! It suits you so well!”

The staff member’s praise made the corners of my mouth twitch.

Haa… My Oppa was just way too handsome.

Seriously, he was way too handsome.

I should be used to it by now, but he still looked like someone who came out of a manga to me.

Not wanting to show my expression, I covered my face with one hand and answered in a small voice.

“Let’s just go with that one.”

With that light purple hanbok he was wearing, he looked like someone that you’d only see in Eastern Fantasy webtoons.

“If you don’t like it, you can try something else?”

He walked toward me slowly.

I averted my gaze, avoiding eye contact due to my heart beating so fast, but then he pulled my chin with his hand to face him.

“Young lady, where do you keep looking?”

…Did they teach him this at the acting school?!

“J-Just wear that!”

My face turned bright red. Since I couldn’t stand it, I pushed him away and ran toward the women’s hanbok section.

I tried to find a jeogori that looked as similar as possible to the Luka hanbok Oppa had requested.

Revenge…

I will get my revenge, Han Taemin.

Just watch, I’ll hold you responsible for tormenting a maiden’s heart so cruelly, my lord.

“You’re wearing that one?”

After choosing the hanbok, Oppa, who was standing behind me, sent me a rather mischievous look.

Look at that! He was smiling foolishly because I told him I’d do this for him! This wicked lord!

“Yes. I’m gonna put this on quickly, so can you wait right in front?”

Having thought of a good way to tease him, I forcibly stationed Oppa in front of the fitting room.

I took off my clothes and put on the undergarments.

Following the staff member’s instructions, I roughly put on the skirt and jeogori, and cleared my throat.

“A-Ahem! Oppa, can you help me for a moment?”

“Huh? What, you need help?”

“Yes, just come inside for a moment.”

My voice was just loud enough for Oppa to hear, but quiet enough that the staff member wouldn’t hear, probably.

When Oppa slipped inside, I gave him the most seductive smile and look that my eyes could manage.

“Can you tie this maiden’s ribbon?”

His gaping mouth showed no signs of closing.