Chapter 92: Our Hanari, Absolutely Not Air
by AfuhfuihgsTime flowed quickly, and the day of Kamishiro Rei’s solo concert arrived.
The university gymnasium, scouted by Nise Live as the concert venue, was filled with a strange tension.
“Just how long has it been since I came to Anam…”
Jina, attending the final rehearsal, sat in the exact center of the audience seats, looked around, and muttered.
“The last time I was here was for a university event as an undergraduate, so it’s already been almost 7 years.”
Chewing on one of the few ‘insider-like’ memories she barely even remembered anymore, she checked the stage setup.
At the end of Jina’s gaze, Rei’s avatar could be seen, lightly warming up here and there under the spotlight.
Unlike a few weeks ago, she now looked quite relaxed.
After seeing the final stage production, Rei’s attitude towards Jina had changed significantly.
As if some hidden wall had crumbled, she showed not only friendliness but even a slightly playful demeanor.
For example.
“Jina Mama~ Am I pretty right now?!”
Suddenly, from the stage, calling Jina ‘Mama’ and shouting with a bright smile.
As Rei’s cheerful voice echoed through the concert hall, all the surrounding staff were startled and stared intently at Jina.
Jina, momentarily flustered, frowned slightly, then a smile of disbelief appeared on her lips.
“Haven’t I told you repeatedly? I didn’t design Rei’s avatar.”
As Jina spoke with an indifferent expression, Rei pouted her lips a bit exaggeratedly.
“The nickname ‘Mama’ isn’t just for the person who made the avatar, is it?”
“…Was I mistaken?”
“If I trust and rely on you like a mother, isn’t that essentially Mama?”
“Haha…”
Jina lowered the tablet screen and looked at Rei on the stage again.
Unlike her usual aloof and noble appearance.
She was making an expression like a daughter seeking affection.
Rather than feeling burdened or unpleasant…
A very subtle ticklish feeling was felt.
“I don’t mind, but… please refrain during the actual performance. People might misunderstand.”
As Jina replied with a joking voice, Rei covered her mouth with her hand and let out a chuckle.
In just a few weeks.
People can change so much.
The final rehearsal began.
The lights dimmed, and the entire gymnasium sank into deep silence.
Soft cloud objects began to rise from below the stage, along with a heat haze.
Simultaneously, Rei’s avatar slowly floated into the air.
In time with the elegant flight motion, the wings of her robe and her hair slowly, gently swayed as if dancing underwater.
A splendid celestial stage.
The lights changed as if alive, according to Rei’s beautiful singing voice.
Soon, bright spotlight beams poured down like a waterfall.
“Position 1, designated screen production confirmed.”
“Position 2 also has no production issues.”
“Position 3, there’s a slight delay. Adjusting object resolution.”
“Don’t just lower the resolution recklessly; assign the preset according to the designated LOD value.”
“Yes, Jina!”
Amidst the fantastical stage, Jina focused on checking the technical aspects.
“You’re working hard until the very end.”
Nise Live Korea’s Branch Manager, Se-yeon, approached Jina.
She watched Rei on stage for a moment, then smiled and spoke.
“Thanks to Jina, Rei seems to have brightened up considerably. Honestly, I was a bit worried at first because she was on edge…”
Jina, still keeping her gaze fixed on the stage, nodded indifferently.
“She was cooperative about the stage from the very beginning. Rather, thanks to her active feedback, I think we achieved a much better result.”
Se-yeon gazed intently at Jina.
‘Indeed, a coveted talent.’
Delivers top-tier quality results faster than anyone.
Not only that, but the VTubers she works with all call her ‘Mama’ and trust and follow her.
Where else could such a person be found?
“Um… Jina-nim. Perhaps, you still don’t have any thoughts about working more closely with us at Nise Live?”
Therefore, Se-yeon once again proposed to Jina in a meaningful voice.
“I think it would be great to work on a larger project together with us. What do you think?”
Jina listened quietly to Se-yeon’s proposal, then smiled gently and shook her head.
“Se-yeon-nim, I think things are just right for me now. I’m enjoying my work sufficiently even without being exclusive.”
“It’s truly a waste. Besides Rei, wouldn’t it be more fun to work with many more ‘daughters’?”
“Rather than belonging somewhere, don’t you think being a freelancer allows me to meet more daughters?”
Of course, at Jina’s words that collaboration opportunities were always open, Se-yeon swallowed her disappointment and nodded.
It seemed faster to persuade the higher-ups at headquarters who kept clamoring about that darn security than to persuade Jina.
“I’ll visit at the same time tomorrow. Everyone, sweet dreams.”
[-Hanba~]
[-Good work, Han Ari-nim!]
[-Bye-bye~]
The moment she pressed the end broadcast button, the usual quiet silence filled the room.
After turning off the microphone and putting down the headset, a familiar fatigue settled in Ari’s fingertips as she removed the tracking equipment one by one.
The chat window, which had been bustling with over ten thousand viewers just moments ago, was now quiet as if nothing had happened.
It’s always the same day.
Today, too, as usual.
She had long since adapted to this routine, repeated for nearly a year now.
“Hooah…”
Ari leaned back in her chair and let out a long sigh.
Just then, an email notification sound echoed from the monitor.
At the notification sound she hadn’t heard in a very long time, Ari’s fatigue-ridden expression brightened up hwak.
“…Jina Mama?!”
She recognized it immediately because she had set a notification sound for when emails arrived from Jina’s email address.
Ari immediately leaned forward and checked her mailbox.
[Han Ari-nim, congratulations in advance on your 1st debut anniversary.]
Ari slowly blinked her eyes and read the subject line again.
“Already… Has it been that long?”
Honestly, it didn’t feel real.
It felt like just yesterday that she started broadcasting under the name Han Ari.
To think it’s already the 1st anniversary…
Clicking the email, Jina’s characteristic short and polite sentences unfolded on the screen.
At the calm yet affectionate sentences, Han Ari felt her nose tingle for no reason.
“If it wasn’t for Mama… how would I be living now?”
Looking back, it felt distant.
It was a time when, far from success as a VTuber, her future life itself felt bleak.
Because she had failed properly as Minari.
She was anxious about whether she could do well as Han Ari.
But the reason she could overcome all that anxiety was, indeed, thanks to Jina.
Thanks to the avatar Jina gifted her.
Below another monitor screen.
Ari’s avatar, ‘HANA’, was smiling brightly at her.
It felt strange every time she saw it.
Even though they had been together for nearly a year.
She still wasn’t used to such a national-treasure-level avatar mimicking her expressions and gestures.
“No matter how many times I thank her, it’s not enough…”
But separate from her grateful heart.
She also felt a very small sense of disappointment at the same time.
“Everyone else contacts Mama by phone, and sometimes even meets her in reality… Only I still use email…”
It was true that a corner of her heart ached whenever she heard news of Jina contacting others frequently, especially Seasons.
At the subtly rising jealousy, Ari unknowingly let out a pik- laugh.
She felt ridiculous for being upset about something like this now.
“I really am childish, even I think so.”
Even while saying that, she couldn’t completely hide her inner feelings.
…Still, it’s almost the 1st anniversary.
[Ah, and one more thing. Is there any content you’re preparing for the 1st anniversary?]
[Please tell me anything. If it’s something I can help with, I’ll accommodate as much as possible.]
And Jina also said at the end of the email to tell her anything she wanted.
“Wouldn’t it be okay to be a little greedy?”
Ari let out a small sigh, firmed her resolve, and slowly began to write a reply.
After sending the email as if possessed by something, worry and tension mixed and rushed in.
‘Did I ask for too much? What if she feels uncomfortable?’
As time passed, her mind went blank. Her heart pounded, and her fingertips grew cold.
How many minutes had she waited in such anxiety and nervousness?
Jina’s name lit up in her mailbox again.
[Okay, Han Ari. Would you like to set a schedule?]
“…Really?”
A smile gradually spread across Ari’s lips as she confirmed the email from Jina.
“Really really really?? Jina is really going to appear on the stream?!”
Kyaaaaah-!!
Ari, without realizing it, shot up from her chair, clenched both fists tightly, and let out a cheer of joy.
She jumped up and down in place, then dived straight onto her bed, kicking the blankets pang pang.
“First collab with Jina… with Mama…!”
Then, suddenly feeling her own actions were ridiculous, Ari blushed and sat up straight on the bed.
Nevertheless, she couldn’t help the silly grin spreading across her face.
“I wish the collab day would come quickly…!”
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