First Audition (Part 1)
Click. Click.
Now that I was finally free, no one could stop me. I wanted to savor this hard-earned peace to the fullest. No more annoying juniors, group projects, or classmates and underclassmen bugging me. Things would probably stay quiet for a while.
So, once I wrapped up the bare minimum of what I had to do, I spent the entire day glued to my laptop. Why? Because...
The first audition for Rie was coming up soon. The primary focus was self-introduction and showing off your unique talents. The key was whether you could charm the viewers within the time limit and demonstrate basic singing ability. After all, the foundation of the VTuber Academy was to cultivate virtual idols.
Virtual idols needed certain essential qualities, and one was solid basic singing skills. If you couldn't sing at all, you couldn't do covers or release albums—it was a given. Plus, character appeal. Virtual idols were comprehensive entertainers. They had to handle albums, streaming content, NewTube management, and more, so a distinctive personality was crucial.
Could Rie pull it off? She had a pretty funny side once she relaxed, but the problem was she got tense around crowds. A big corporate audition like this was bound to draw a ton of people. To score well, confidence was key for her.
But...
"Uh, uh... So many people today too...! N-Nice to see you...!"
I could only sigh as Rie's voice stuttered out from the speakers.
We're screwed... It was an obstacle right from the start.
With the first audition just three days away, I racked my brain over how to help her shine. "Have confidence!" Yeah, right—that wasn't gonna fly. If someone changed overnight, it wouldn't be Rie; it'd be a total stranger in her body.
But just letting it slide would probably mean a safe elimination. What to do... I tapped the desk in the lecture hall with my index finger, frowning deeply in thought. There had to be some clever solution.
Scraaaape!
As I scowled in concentration, my seatmate junior arrived. Our morning greetings had become routine, so I waved naturally.
"Hey, you're here? Kinda late today."
"..."
"...?"
Something felt off. It was like the distance from our first meeting all over again. What was it? Bad mood? Looking closer, her eyes were narrowed in exhaustion, dark circles hanging heavy underneath. Probably hadn't slept and was in a funk. Maybe too tired to catch my greeting. That seemed the logical conclusion.
I waved at Han Seol again.
"You look wiped today?"
"...Uh... Hi, sunbae."
"Didn't sleep?"
"...Because of someone..."
"Huh?"
"N-No, nothing. Sorry."
Han Seol shook her head side to side. She looked like some anime character, but it was probably just her habit. I let it slide. Lecture started, and I decided to focus—or rather, I tuned the professor's voice to white noise while zoning out on Rie thoughts.
But then—
Thud!
All eyes turned. The source? Right next to me. Han Seol. She'd slammed her forehead on the desk and was rubbing it. Realizing the attention, she ducked her head and shrank into herself. The professor warned her, and she apologized in a trembling, embarrassed voice.
What the hell was keeping her up so late?
After class, I sighed and headed out. I couldn't just leave my exhausted junior like that. I grabbed a cool canned coffee from the vending machine.
What a great sunbae I am. Feeling self-satisfied, I approached Han Seol, who was now face-down on the desk in the emptying lecture hall. Her neatly parted hair revealed a glimpse of pale neckline. For a split second, I considered pressing the cold can there, but we weren't that close, and with her man-hating vibes, I held back. She'd probably glare at me like I was a bug. Even I might get hurt.
Instead, I tapped her elbow with the can. She jolted upright at the sudden touch, startling me too. Calming my racing heart, I set the coffee in front of her.
"You that tired?"
"This is..."
"You looked beat. Coffee okay?"
"I-I'm fine with this kind of..."
"I told you before—it's not a big deal, so don't feel burdened. Oh, and no need to repay me like last time. Just drink up."
"Ah, no, that's not it... N-Never mind! Thank you."
She clasped her hands politely and took the can. All this fuss over a cheap coffee? Must be the price of being popular. I gave a wry smile at her earnestness.
Yeah, she's been through hell—who could blame her? Recalling past incidents, I could guess the toll. Dealing with creeps at that bar near school... pity welled up.
"...W-Why are you smiling?"
"...Huh?"
"You just smiled. Something good happen?"
"Nah, nothing."
"..."
She eyed my smile suspiciously, clutching the can and turning away. She looked like a little animal hiding snacks, which only made me grin more.
What do I do... It seemed Jiyeon-unnie was right after all. Han Seol recalled her all-night chat with Jiyeon.
Han Seol had done exactly that with Suhyeon—holding the canned coffee tight, praying it wasn't true. But there he was, lips curved up as their gazes met.
Confusion hit hard. She'd thought he was the one for a normal relationship, but he liked her? Emotions didn't bend to will, but this shocked her. She'd pegged him as different from the rest.
In the end, same as everyone... No, wait. He never looked at her with lust. He avoided things she hated, encouraged her, even protected her from guys... And now, just handing over coffee with no strings, telling her no repayment needed... He wasn't the same.
Yeah, that'd be rude to assume about sunbae. He was a totally different type. But how to treat him? Lumping him with others ignored all his help. Even she couldn't repay kindness with enmity.
But sexual attraction? No way. Just human liking. Good guy. That's it. She couldn't return romantic feelings.
Yet ignoring him felt wrong... Guilt pricked at the thought of him still chuckling behind her.
Is this what they call stringing someone along? She despised people who toyed with emotions, but facing it herself was unbearable.
Han Seol was already swamped. The first audition loomed. Her most precious fan expected great things—she couldn't half-ass it. She wanted to deliver results, meet those expectations. For the one who'd approached her isolation, comforted her lows, stayed when no one else did.
She wanted to repay him. Now worries piled up. Audition prep wasn't enough; relationships too? She'd never imagined this. Forming real bonds... Her past self would've scoffed.
She clutched her hair, soft strands slipping through fingers. Audition first, then sunbae.
She nodded. Prioritize the important stuff. With that, Han Seol resolved to tackle the audition head-on.