Final Acceptance
[So, what should we do today?]
Her lively voice, one I'd never heard before, set the chat ablaze. It was proof of just how dramatic Rie's transformation had been.
[Then for today's content! Let's do some viewer participation!~]
She'd poured everything into analyzing VTubers. What made people like them, how to bring joy. The answer was simple: interaction with viewers. A direct approach.
[Alright kids, let's dive in~]
People naturally assumed Rie would mess up. Even if her appearance had changed, the person inside hadn't. Memories of her constant blunders were still fresh.
But.
[Okay, we'll pick via roulette. Whoever gets chosen, just give me your voice number and I'll call you myself.]
Flawless handling, smooth progression. Decisiveness in shutting down weirdos, fun interactions with viewers. It was clearly a world away from before.
People chase fun. From the primal thrill of bullying someone to the vicarious satisfaction of watching growth. The spectrum is wide. So it was inevitable that interest would spike.
The cute voice and avatar, enduring viewer pressure and rising from the ashes to bear fruit. Word spread like wildfire.
Public opinion formed.
Most opinions turned positive toward her. Influxes picked up.
No one saw Rie as a dropout anymore. A competitor, rising steadily from the bottom to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with top streamers. Unwelcome news for rival VTubers, but viewers went wild.
It wasn't just her personality that changed. Ditching the timid act made her content, ad-libs, and quirks shine.
The old Han Seol would've crumbled under mounting pressure. But not now. She was already shining—from the moment he'd been by her side. Spreading radiant wings. It just took time to realize.
Han Seol saw this outcome as natural. The old her was gone. Now she was Rie. An idol. Brighter than anyone. Bringing smiles and joy.
So she shouted with vigor. Her heart ablaze.
And.
[Hello!]
The stream began. As always. Nothing had changed.
I've been on cloud nine lately.
[Hello! Rie stream, starting now.]
This is life. This is it.
If I graphed my mood swings, it'd be a straight line. Upward, of course.
Honestly, I didn't expect this level of change. Since our email exchanges, she seemed like a different person. Proof in that bright voice she'd never shown before. She'd grown. Massively.
Overwhelmed by uncontainable emotions, I sent a donation.
Rie reacted intensely.
[...Th-thank you, but you don't have to donate! R-really...]
This was fun too. For some reason, her reactions to donations had gotten more intense lately. And maybe it was my imagination, but it peaked when I donated. Felt special. Like we were connecting. Fun.
Hakko escape was all but certain, but I couldn't kick this addiction. Just a bit more... stay in her stream a little longer.
Someday, when my chats and donations get buried. When I'm no longer special, that's when I'll quit Rie's stream.
For now, savor the afterglow. Just watching her chat happily satisfied me.
Time passed. Viewers grew. Her stream expanded. Day by day.
In three weeks, Rie's stream soared.
Now, only the final results remained. About 11 candidates left—some dropped mid-audition.
Alfa's stream went live.
The group: five total. They'd lead the VTuber industry as fresh talent.
Alfa revealed the pre-made list. One by one, slowly.
Nari, Suryeon, Miho. Names dropped, joy and sorrow clashed. The stream heated up, chat exploded.
I tried calming my racing heart. Before the audition, I hadn't been this desperate. Probably because I'd sunk deeper into Rie.
My coffee shook in my hand.
Only the result would validate her efforts now. And I firmly believed: she'd become an idol.
Soon.
The final name appeared.
Rie.
No mistake.
Bam! I slammed my coffee mug down, spilling everywhere, but who cared.
Yeah, the start. Endless possibilities ahead, impossible to predict, but she'd advanced a step. Rie's story was just page one.
That joy was overwhelming.
Finals tomorrow, but cheers first. Tomorrow's me can handle the exam.
The next day.
Exams finally over. I'd chugged soju like water—something I never touch—and my body was wrecked. Clutching my pounding head, I slumped into my seat.
If I drink again, I'm a dog. A dog.
Pain faded into a grin thinking of yesterday. Comedic, really. But what can you do—good stuff's good.
"Senior, something good happen?"
I jumped at the sudden girl's voice.
"...Seol?"
Han Seol, leaning in, hands in her hoodie pockets. Right next to me. Damn, when'd she sneak up? At least make some noise.
"Hi. You look happy, senior."
"Uh, yeah..."
"That happy?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
I nodded, satisfied with her question. Then the disconnect hit.
"Wait... why?"
"Huh? Just figured something awesome happened. I came this close and you didn't even notice. You never would've missed it before."
She smiled faintly, calm as ever.
Was I grinning that hard? Probably looked ridiculous to others.
I shrugged it off.
"Yeah, exam results weren't bad."
"...Really? Good for you."
She pulled out a chair and nodded.
"Me too—thanks to you, I think I did okay."
"Glad to hear it."
"Yeah... thanks."
What was this? She'd softened up big time in days. Smiling more too. Makes sense—exams done, worries solved, good mood.
Yeah, perfect time to bring it up. I recalled Jonghyeon's advice: carve out personal time, chat one-on-one.
Who knows when the vibe shifts. Seol's moodier than she looks.
Better now than in awkward tension. Her faint smile next to me screamed perfect timing.
"Seol, remember when I gave you my notes? You said you'd do anything."
"Yeah. Decided?"
"Movie then. Feels like we haven't talked much."
"...Wait, hold on."
She pressed her forehead, voice dragging.
"You said... what? J-just the two of us?"
Her shoulders trembled, eyes wide in disbelief. I tilted my head.
"Why, don't wanna?"
"...N-no, not that... too soon? No, not that either...! It's... it's ju... ju...!"
She stammered forever, then bowed her head.
"Sure... yeah..."
Always such a reactor.