chapter_0117

117 – Actually, there were four second-year students

117 – Actually, there were four second-year students

It’s really difficult to hear Majiya speak informally unless you’re younger than her.

But once you cross that hurdle, Majiya becomes very generous.

Now, we can take Maru as an example, who now casually exchanges informal language with her, and even trades insults if necessary.

It felt like a kind of On/Off switch.

Once she allows it, she’s always open, but if she doesn’t allow it, she remains stiff and cold.

Of course, even when she uses informal language, it’s mostly to match the atmosphere the other person wants, so it’s hard to say she’s fully opening her heart.

The other person usually feels it too.

That this person wouldn’t normally do this, but is putting in a lot of effort for us.

So, the 2nd generation, who were already quite close except for Majiya, became rapidly closer.

Orca and Majiya are the same age, Ena is one year younger, and Miho is two years younger.

Unlike the 1st generation, where the age difference between the oldest Rain and Komari was five years, they’re all around the same age.

Once even Majiya started speaking informally, they became almost like friends.

It wasn’t comparable to the 1st generation, who had been through thick and thin together for over a year, but the speed at which they were catching up was unusual.

Thanks to that, the 2nd generation barely managed to clear the 4th mission 2 minutes before the deadline of 5 o’clock, and were able to have a grand dinner.

It’s hard to imagine how a grand banquet is possible in a zombie apocalypse world. But the concept was ‘a table prepared for officers who sensed their death, but no one ever ate,’ so it was understandable.

Plus, the relief that the attractions were temporarily suspended for the hour of dinner.

Perhaps because it was a meal after suffering, pasta, bread, and steak went down easily.

Except for one person.

Only Orca showed discomfort and stopped eating first.

It was a considerably small amount compared to the bowl of ramen, dumplings, and kimbap she had at the rest stop before coming to the pension.

It seemed to be because the restaurant background was a senior officers’ dining hall.

Miho, who had been screaming and begging to be saved the whole time, was completely relaxed and even sucked up the food Orca had left, saying.

“But is the military that hard?”

It was the kind of thing that would have caused a stir if she had said it during a broadcast after her debut.

But it’s okay now.

Even Miho wasn’t trying to make fun of Orca, she was just curious about ‘how hard’ it was.

“My younger brother is in the military right now. My parents and I take turns visiting him every two weeks? But every time I go, he looks like he’s about to die.

I feel sorry for him, so I bring him all sorts of things… but there’s something I can’t understand, so I feel bad… Even if I ask him if it’s hard, he just tells me I don’t need to know.”

Orca chuckled at those words.

“There’s nothing to understand. It just sucks.”

“Wow, strong language.”

“It really sucks… Just being in there makes everything uncomfortable. At first, I couldn’t understand the active-duty soldiers at all. But after a month of being assigned, I was cursing at the officers with the other guys. I even apologized for not understanding you guys.”

After that, realistic stories poured out.

Miho looked absolutely disgusted as she listened.

She seemed to feel sorry for her younger brother going through such hardships.

“I don’t think I could do it… How did you even think about going to the military…? I respect you…”

“It’s not like I wanted to go. But it surprisingly suited me.”

“Maybe… are your parents soldiers?”

“That’s right.”

The two of them continued to chat like that throughout the meal.

Majiya, watching them, just had a happy expression, like she was in early access to the 2nd generation’s collaboration.

But unlike Majiya’s desire to just observe, from the moment she started using informal language, Majiya was also in a state where she could be drawn into the conversation at any time.

Just like how she was surrounded without hesitation after going on a trip with the 1st generation.

Sure enough.

Seeing Majiya, who had neatly eaten only half of her steak and pasta, Miho asked.

“Jia, are you already full?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, you’re small, so you probably can’t eat much… Can I eat what’s left?”

“It’s what I was eating, but if you’re okay with it.”

“I’m a little tired of pasta, but I can’t resist meat… Hehe…”

And with that, the half-eaten steak went into Miho’s mouth.

Watching that, Orca asked Majiya.

It was a great development, considering Orca hadn’t spoken to Majiya separately unless it was related to education for the past five days.

“How do you do so much work all by yourself while eating so little?”

Majiya’s table wasn’t in the position where the homeroom teacher should be, but next to the members, so every Team Leader who came by said something similar.

‘Are you trying to rest a bit this time? Good thinking.’

Even the elderly accounting director left a word using the latest meme, saying, ‘Majiya’s working hours will finally be normalized after a long time.’

So, with such a person not eating well all the time.

Except for special situations like now, Orca, who always makes sure to eat, was worried and also curious.

“It’s manageable because the work is usually done sitting in a chair. It’s very different from soldiers who have to use their bodies a lot.”

“Even so. Aren’t you going to collapse? I eat like this, but I fainted during training once and had to be carried away…”

“I’ve collapsed too, but I go to the hospital often these days, so I’m okay.”

“Hmm. I thought so.”

Anyway, with Majiya naturally being kidnapped into the conversation like this, the picture of Ena taking over the role that Majiya was supposed to play was also completed.

In a way, it felt like she had naturally taken her place in the core role of the 2nd generation, which Majiya had been hoping for.

The experience of having debuted once was enough to play the role of a senior in life between Miho and Orca.

In fact, Ena was imagining the future of a four-person debut as she watched the three of them talking.

Orca, who is strict but sets clear standards.

Miho, who plays around those standards and teases the line.

Majiya, the collaboration cheat key, who always creates amazing scenes when placed among people.

Ena mediating between them would probably be harmonious.

Just like how the 1st generation always picks Dora as their mental support and Komari as their game bus driver.

Within the 2nd generation, Ena and Majiya could each fulfill those roles.

Moreover, it’s one thing if they were just Virtual Youtubers.

Aren’t they company founding members presumed to be Boss Momo’s closest aides? (Presumed)

The fact that Ena and Orca didn’t react much to Majiya’s playful debut story.

The fact that they were shy but started talking comfortably as soon as they allowed informal language.

It’s because they have high expectations for Majiya.

She would have been good enough as a manager, but a Virtual Youtuber? Even a peer?

It was like having a thousand reinforcements.

However, Ena was worried on the other hand.

Majiya keeps sending signals to Ena.

Don’t doubt that I’m going to debut.

The act of repeatedly trying to reassure someone is also proof that they’re hiding something.

‘I just hope she’s not debuting because of something I said…’

Ena is someone who switched from being an idol to a Virtual Youtuber.

She’s very satisfied with the job of a Virtual Youtuber now, but until she met Majiya, she was vehemently opposed to ‘debuting against one’s will.’

If she’s really going to debut, Ena wants to help.

Isn’t Ena’s father a talented person in the industry who deliberately tried to get out of the spotlight?

If she asks him to give her a boost, he’ll package it so that it can at least break even, even if the business isn’t very profitable.

However, only if Majiya debuts of her own free will.

Ena just hoped that what she said when she was flustered after seeing only three successful applicants on Monday didn’t put pressure on Majiya.

“Jiya.”

“Hmm?”

Ena whispered in Jia’s ear.

“You remember how I wanted to be an idol loved by people, but I couldn’t, so I debuted as a Virtual Youtuber, right?”

“I remember.”

“But I’m really happy as a Virtual Youtuber now? In a way, it might be because you’re helping me. It’s very different from then and now. It’s a situation where debuting against my will has changed to debuting of my own free will.”

“That’s right.”

“So, what about you? Including us, is it not that you’re doing it because people around you keep talking about it to the point of being annoying…?”

Compared to Ena, who had asked the question with difficulty after much deliberation, the answer came out too quickly.

“I’m doing it because I want to. I know what you’re worried about. Don’t worry about it.”

The determined expression that shows is Majiya’s transparent true feelings.

That will is conveyed to Ena, and it makes her have confidence.

That she’s really going to move forward with her debut of her own free will.

With a relieved expression, Ena said.

“Okay. Let’s work hard together on the fifth mission after we eat!”

Majiya usually tries not to do things she doesn’t like.

But she does what Cheon Do-hee tells her to do, even if she doesn’t like it.

This has been a belief that has continued for three years of working at the company, so it’s now too natural.

…However. The burning will that Ena just witnessed was a little different from the usual ‘I will work like a dog for the Boss and Parallel!’

After all, today’s attraction wasn’t something Cheon Do-hee told her to do.

She just jumped into debut preparations with the 2nd generation because she was worried.

Unlike the 2nd generation, who are in the process of fulfilling their dreams, debut is just one of Majiya’s tasks.

As a result, the speed at which fatigue accumulates was much faster than usual.

In other words, Majiya just wanted to finish the attraction quickly and get back the phone she had returned so she could watch the missed broadcasts.

There’s no one as desperate as an office worker whose hobbies are being controlled.

With a more energetic voice than usual, Majiya shouted.

“Fighting!”

* * *

Some people who are skilled in human psychology are very disappointed when they fail to guess the other person’s feelings.

Ena was exactly that kind of case.

So, how would she feel after clearly knowing Majiya’s ambiguous feelings?

She was looking forward to the future activities of the 2nd generation, and she was filled with the expectation that she could do anything happily, like walking among blooming flowers.

So, on the way home the next day.

Ena was talking to Maru, who had called to ask if the escape room went well, and she unknowingly revealed her friendship with Majiya without holding back.

[— We ended up failing the last mission and sleeping in sleeping bags. Jia was cold, so I wrapped her up like a banana. And then Jia’s expression became comfortable, so I felt a little relieved.]

And that properly triggered Maru’s jealousy sensor.

Originally, it was impossible for seniors and juniors to meet separately before their debut without the company’s permission, so she was going to discuss borrowing Majiya’s time when they all gathered together in the future.

But Majiya suddenly participated in the escape room attraction, and she became very close with Ena.

“… Really? When we did it, she just watched us roll around in the pension and smirked.”

[She was trying hard in her own way? She didn’t want to say it directly, so she kept using me as a shield. And do you know what? Jia is secretly scared. She doesn’t scream, but she grabs my jacket at every jump scare, which is kind of cute.]

Of course, Ena had no intention of showing off to Maru.

Even if they’re friends, she doesn’t know the internal situation perfectly, so she just thought, ‘Jia and the 1st generation are very close!’ after hearing Maru’s words, and she just shared it with the feeling that she had fun playing with Jia too.

Maru was the only one about to be K.O.’d by the barrage of unintentional flexing.

She had been watching for a whole year to speak informally.

Even the process of speaking informally was terribly difficult.

The 2nd generation just laughed and chatted and started speaking informally?

How…?

Of course, Maru’s sensitivity exploded all day that day.

Unfortunately, Maru is the type who doesn’t hesitate to share her feelings with viewers.

Before proceeding with the content, she would explore cafes with viewers, and she would carefully read all the thousand-won donations during the chatting time…

:: Anonymous donor donated 1,000 Clouds! ::

:: So what’s Majiya doing these days? ::

Thanks to this timely donation.

She added another line to her leak history, which boasts the number one spot in Parallel.

“They’re busy preparing for the 2nd generation’s debut right now. It seems like the four of them, including Jia, spent some quality time together on the weekend. It looked so fun that I’m jealous…………”

Of course, if you only look at what she said, it wasn’t like she leaked any great information.

You can just interpret it as Majiya is working hard, and the 2nd generation is also receiving good training.

However, Maru’s voice became so damp that it sounded like she had lost a precious friend to someone.

Naturally, the rumor spread again through the community.

It properly pressed the buttons of the vicious Majiya lovers, who were already extremely excited because they hadn’t seen Majiya for a month.

… ─ — Parallel (Virtual Youtuber) Gallery ─ ─ — …

[Something’s weird?]

Maru just said 4 people including Majiya, not 4 people excluding Majiya

Why 4 people including Majiya

Shouldn’t there be four people debuting?

[Comments]

— Parallel853: Isn’t it just a mistake?

— Parallel095: ~excluding ~etc. is a common mistake

— Parallel251: Huh? That’s right?

… ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ …

… ─ — Parallel (Virtual Youtuber) Gallery ─ ─ — …

[I know exactly what it is]

Majiya is also debuting as the 2nd generation, so it’s 4 people including Majiya.

That makes sense.

Three people selected through auditions + Majiya as the 2nd generation.

[Comments]

— Parallel194: Wow, are you a genius?

— Parallel804: If you think about it, Maru has never said anything wrong every time she leaked

–
Parallel055: You have to admit her accuracy ㅋㅋㅋ

–
Parallel280: As expected, Parallel’s Inter-Korean Loudspeaker Cheon Maru

— Parallel099: Wow, if this is real, it’s so creepy ㅋㅋ

— Parallel735: Guys, do you know what? Actually, there were four people in the 2nd generation…

— Parallel946: Please let Majiya debut and broadcast for 240 hours a week

–
Parallel744: How can you do 240 hours in 1 week lol

–
Parallel900: Understand that the guys who watch Majiya have been starving for a month and are going crazy

–
Parallel052: Wow, involuntary fasting

–
Parallel255: Oh dear…

… ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ …

Author’s Note (Author’s Afterword)

Mmeing, who worked on the emoticons, drew a congratulatory illustration

I forgot to mention it yesterday!

You can check it in the emoticon announcement, so please give it lots of attention…!!!