Ch.127122 – Going Out

People escaped the scorching sun one by one, taking the escalator down underground.

Among the crowd, NoName walked through the underground passage, grumbling to herself about how unusually hot it was for April.

Her long hair, braided into two plaits, nearly touched the ground now.

Occasional glances were cast at the girl with child-model looks and rare hairstyle waiting alone for the subway, but NoName paid no attention and focused only on her phone screen.

After opening the map app and memorizing which station to get off at and which exit to take, she sat down in a corner seat on the subway, pressing herself against the wall.

The subway began to move quietly without the usual rattling noise, reaching the next station in an instant.

As if it wasn’t time to get off yet, NoName closed her eyes and used the soft white noise as a lullaby to ease her lingering fatigue.

[The train will depart shortly.]

Despite the announcement, the subway doors remained open. Being a transfer station, many passengers were entering and exiting.

People took the empty seats one by one, and soon someone sat down next to NoName.

“Excuse me…”

NoName opened her eyes at the troubled voice of a young man. He was pointing at the seat beside her.

“I’m sorry.”

“No, thank you.”

NoName gathered her hair that had been boldly occupying the adjacent seat, rolling it up and holding it in her arms.

The young man, barely holding back a smile at her doll-like cuteness, hurriedly sat down and placed his luggage on the floor, afraid of losing the seat.

NoName tried to fall back asleep with the white noise in the background, but her attempt was soon thwarted by an unwelcome visitor from the next car.

“You damn bastards! Get lost, you pieces of shit!”

An elderly man with an unkempt appearance, scruffy beard, and clothes so tattered they might as well be rags, shouted as he pushed through the crowd.

The subway passengers frowned deeply, averting their eyes as if wanting nothing to do with him.

“What’s with him? Must be mentally ill.”

“Shh, just ignore him.”

The man, staggering as if drunk, looked around and hurled more insults at those watching him.

Just when it seemed he would pass by safely, unfortunately, he made eye contact with NoName and stopped in his tracks.

“What are you staring at, you little brat? You think I’m funny too? I’ll gouge your eyes out!”

“…”

“You’re another spy sent from North Korea to watch me, aren’t you? I need to catch and punish all you worthless spies—”

“Hey mister! What are you doing to a child! Leave now before I call the police!”

The young man sitting next to NoName suddenly stood up to stop the man threatening her.

“You young punks coming at me in pairs…!”

“If you continue, I won’t stay quiet either.”

The old man raised his arm as if to strike, but the young man immediately grabbed his wrist roughly. As he applied pressure, the old man’s body trembled.

*Clatter*

In the commotion, the young man’s file folders fell to the floor, scattering everywhere.

It seemed like a confrontation might break out, but the old man apparently couldn’t bring himself to challenge the young man’s larger build and left with a disgruntled expression, to the silent applause of the other passengers.

“Line 2 really has all kinds of villains. Hey kid, are you okay?”

NoName, who had already been picking up the file folders, gathered them together and handed them back to him neatly.

“Yes, I’m fine. Thank you.”

“Oh, you didn’t have to pick those up, but thank you! I wonder if that guy even tapped his transit card properly before getting on.”

“Are you… going to a protest?”

“Oh, this?”

The young man looked at one of the file folders with its cover showing and gave an awkward smile.

“It’s nothing special. To use an analogy, it’s like I ordered food I like, but the restaurant didn’t make it properly. So we’re going as a group to let them know we’re upset. Do you know the game World of Arsheria? Maybe you’re too young to know?”

“I know it. I know it well.”

“Oh, you do! Actually, this is my first time attending something like this, so I’m a bit nervous. I prepared a script in a hurry, and I’m not sure if I wrote it well…”

“Isn’t showing your genuine feelings what’s most important?”

“Huh?”

“You said you like the game. I think if you just speak honestly, you’ll do fine. I need to get off here, so I’ll be going now. Good luck.”

“Oh, right…! Thank you so much, friend!”

The subway stopped with a slight lurch during the emergency braking, but people handled it skillfully.

As the subway doors opened, hundreds of people exited, and hundreds more entered.

Though the same space was now crowded with new people as if it had become a different world, it transformed back into a familiar space when a woman in baggy clothes raised her hand high to call over the seated young man.

“Oh, found car 7-2 correctly! Hey hey. Mr. Representative, I wonder if you prepared well? I heard you stayed up all night?”

“Don’t even mention it. Until just now, I was contemplating suicide.”

“Hahaha! And now?”

“I got encouraged by an incredibly cute little kid who cheered me on for the protest, and it gave me strength. Did you see her on your way here? She looked like a first grader.”

“Hmm? I was just looking at my phone while walking.”

“Man, you should have seen her. I thought she was an actress? Maybe she really was a child actress? She spoke so articulately too. I should have asked for her autograph.”

“What’s the point of getting an autograph when you don’t even watch movies or dramas? Let’s just fangirl over our cute NoName together.”

“I’m telling you, that kid was way cuter!”

The young man pounded his chest in frustration at his lack of expressive ability.

“Hey, you probably don’t know because you only watch her VTube content and not NoName’s live streams, but her main avatar is seriously cute too! What if NoName is cuter? Want to bet?”

“That’s just an avatar. What I saw was a real person. You can’t compare them like that.”

“Someone who spends more time in virtual reality sure is picky…”

“What?”

“Anyway, I’ll show you. Don’t just sit there, come and see.”

“But we’re still far from our station…!”

* * *

“I couldn’t have come to the wrong place.”

The location of “Gamgol Cafe” that So Ma-ru sent via message was definitely here.

But all she could see were an empty building and cement bags.

After walking around the building, she finally discovered that the cafe had recently relocated.

However, information about where it had moved to seemed to have blown away in the wind, as she couldn’t find any trace of it, which was troublesome.

She decided to contact So Ma-ru again and start walking rather than just standing around blankly.

“Excuse me, miss, sir.”

She stopped a passing couple and showed them her phone.

“Do you know how to get to Gamgol Cafe? It seems to have moved recently, but it’s not showing up on the map.”

“Oh my…! Wait, where did Gamgol Cafe move to… Honey, do you remember?”

“No? I heard they were remodeling, but when did they move?”

“The owner told us last time! Let’s call Sunwoo. Call them quickly.”

“Kim Sunwoo? Oh, Park Sunwoo? Right, we went there with them.”

“Can you wait a moment, sweetie? I’ll ask my friend right away!”

The woman, seemingly excited at being called “miss,” clapped her hands and earnestly tried to help with the request.

While the call was connecting, the three of them stood awkwardly under the sun.

“What’s your name, sweetie?”

The woman in a long black skirt crouched down and asked her.

“I’m NoName.”

“Wow, what a pretty name! How old are you, NoName?”

“Almost eight.”

“Oh, you’re eight and came here alone? Where do you live?”

“Not too far. About two or three stations away.”

“NoName, you’re amazing! You even know how to take the subway by yourself.”

“They’re not answering. Should I try calling Yubom? NoName, can you wait a little longer?”

Since it would probably be faster than waiting for So Ma-ru’s reply, she nodded slightly.

The woman seemed quite delighted for some reason, staring at her intently with a big smile.

“Her eyelashes are so long. Don’t you think so, honey?”

“NoName, this lady thinks you’re very pretty.”

“Ahaha…”

“Are you tired of hearing that you’re pretty?”

“Just look at her! NoName must be super popular! Do you have a boyfriend?”

“No, I don’t have a boyfriend.”

“Why not? I bet lots of people like you.”

“Well, that’s…”

“Kyaaah! How can you be so cute!”

Fortunately, the couple’s fawning didn’t last long.

After receiving the location information from the woman, NoName bowed her head in thanks.

It wasn’t too far, just in the next block.

With apartment construction sites all around looking identical, she felt like she was navigating through a maze as she walked.

[Gamgol Cafe]

Upon finally finding and entering the cafe, the cool air conditioning breeze brushed against her forehead, cooling the beads of sweat that had formed.

“Welcome!”

“Hello.”

After returning the cheerful greeting from the young female employee at the counter, she found a seat in the farthest corner.

Despite having minimized her luggage due to her weak constitution, her shoulders still ached.

She placed her bag on the adjacent chair and took out file folders and various capsule recording memories, arranging them on the table.

Just then, she received a message from So Ma-ru.

[Right, Gamgol Cafe isn’t updated on the map yet, so the location will be different! I’ll send you the exact location right away. I’ll be there in 5 minutes!]

That was quick.

Regardless, she took out paper and pen from the file folder and aligned them at the perfect angle under the perfect lighting.

[VTube Joint Business Contract]

“Would you like to order?”

The employee looking at her was too tall. The menu board was even higher.

She had to stretch her upper body and tilt her head way up to see the entire menu at once.

After some deliberation, she placed her order with the smiling employee who was waiting.

“Caramel Frappuccino with whole java chips added, please. Extra espresso whipped cream, and add mocha syrup and caramel drizzle. I’ll order more when my companion arrives.”

“Ah, yes? Yes, order received! Just… one moment!”

“Take your time. No rush.”

She craved something sweet on days like this. Actually, she craved sweets regardless of the day.