Group Project Hell and Rie's Big Break

University is full of all sorts of bullshit, and one of the worst is group assignments. They're the kind of thing that lets you see every type of asshole out there.

The silver lining this time was that I'd ended up with a somewhat diligent team. Still, there was one problem.

"Seol-ah, you have to do the presentation, okay?"

Kim Minji, our team leader. She was the woman with the round glasses that stood out. She was pretty diligent, but also pretty firm.

"...I can do anything except the presentation."

"Hey, Han Seol. We've already assigned all the roles—what the hell are you gonna do?"

Because of her personality, the team's vibe was heading straight to shit. She probably just didn't like this junior who kept denying her words.

I hadn't expected to end up on the same team as that junior either. It was all the professor's fault.

Han Seol hadn't found a team to join, so even on the last day of forming groups, she was alone. That's when the professor came over to me and asked me to look after the kid next to me. Like I was in middle or high school or something. But since I'd put in a lot of effort to look good to the prof, I had no choice. Karma, I guess.

So I'd unilaterally added her to our team, but apparently, more than one or two people already had a grudge against her.

Minji was one of them. She wasn't usually the type to get so serious...

That's why stereotypes are so scary.

I sighed and jumped into the gloomy atmosphere.

"Hey, I'll talk her into it, so ease up. Let's just pick a topic already."

"...Haa... Fine, fine."

Minji still looked dissatisfied, but she slumped her shoulders and gave in.

See that, Han Seol? That's the power of social skills.

I locked eyes with her and swallowed the words I wanted to say. Our gaze held for about three seconds, and she was the one who looked away first. She didn't seem that scary up close—she actually seemed pretty timid. Maybe because of Minji's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠outburst just now, her body was trembling ever so slightly. It was subtle enough that only someone as observant as me would notice.

Lately, I'd been busy enough with Rie-land, and now I had to babysit this socially inept junior too.

A bit later, things started taking shape.

"Okay, topic's decided. Send materials wherever you can."

I grabbed my notebook with the meeting notes and stood up.

"Oppa, you eat yet? We're all going for drinks!"

"Yeah. Cafeteria food was good."

"Tch... You said you'd eat with us last time."

Places with a bunch of people always drain the life out of me like this. I waved half-heartedly and tried to make a quick exit.

"I'll make the group chat. Toss in ideas if you have 'em. I gotta head out first—got something urgent."

They all sighed at me after that, but no way was I joining drinks. If I passed out drunk, I'd miss Rie's stream for sure.

As I turned to leave, I caught Han Seol in the corner of my eye. She sat ramrod straight, her poised posture clashing with her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠slightly fierce eyes to give a strong impression—but to me, she just looked stiff. She probably hated the idea of getting dragged to drinks like this. But after raising her voice against a senior, she couldn't back out easily.

Why the hell did she sign up for a class where she knew no one?

I sighed and walked over to her. Damn my nosiness.

"Let's go."

"...?"

She tilted her head and frowned. Looked like a guy offering his hand creeped her out. I pointed at the door with the hand I'd extended.

"Come on. We need to talk about stuff too."

Only then did she slowly nod.

I threw some excuse at the others and left the lecture hall.

"...So what the hell do we need to talk about?"

Makes sense she'd think it's ridiculous. We wouldn't have work until the materials piled up anyway. Basically, I'd dragged her out for nothing. She frowned again, sensing something off—probably thinking I was up to something shady. This was getting annoying for real.

"Go on home. You hate those kinds of things, right?"

It was my conclusion based on the rumors. From how stiff she'd been earlier, I figured I wasn't wrong.

"...Pardon?"

She looked at me like I'd lost my mind, a bit dumbstruck, but it was none of my business anymore. Just think of it as a freebie for the seatmate. I waved my hand back and forth, shooing her away.

"I'll contact you if we need anything for the presentation. Go do whatever. I'm busy too."

"..."

Finally, she bowed her head slightly and turned away.

Relationships you don't need to get close to are so damn convenient. No need to sugarcoat words or make clichéd promises like "let's grab food sometime."

"I'm beat."

Having perfectly handled my busy day, I opened my laptop. With chicken, beer, and Rie-land, I could go anywhere. I cracked open a beer can with that thought.

Hiss—the cool sound echoed. This was it. This was life.

And now Rie's stream went ON. Ahh... perfect. You gotta unwind real-life stress with your hobbies. The irritation and fatigue from earlier fizzled away like beer foam.

The low viewer count meant chat scrolled slowly, but it was a bit better than when I solo-dominated it. 23 viewers. Felt like she had a solid core fanbase, but still way too few. At this rate, she'd fade into obscurity without a trace.

Even so, she streamed diligently. I loved how she put her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠all into even the little things.

She used to sing all shy and off-key, but thanks to my constant "you got this" encouragement, she'd improved. Her voice was already top-tier among VTubers I'd heard—not empty praise.

Watching her warm up her throat, I drifted into thought. 23 viewers. VTubers used to be this rare, fresh concept, but now anyone could grab a cute avatar and stream. Gaining viewers wasn't easy.

Times like this called for a spark. Some promotable event. Something to put Rie's face out there.

I racked my brain, but nothing came. What to do? I tapped my desk and gripped the mouse. Maybe surfing the net would spark an idea. Of course, I kept Rie's room open—just minimized to a popup, her voice as white noise while I searched.

Then an ad caught my eye.

Her sweet voice brushed my ear right then.

Perfect pitch, beautiful voice. With her cute avatar and upbeat gestures.

This was it.

I clicked the ad, feeling the faint melody. It was about forming an idol group of VTubers amid the metaverse boom—recruiting academy students.

I imagined Rie as an idol for a second. My beer can crumpled instantly.

"Hell yeah."

Perfect. Her spreading positive vibes as an idol in front of crowds. Just thinking about it energized me. With her singing and sense, a little polishing and she might actually make it. Even if she didn't pass, the buzz from the event would get her name out there.

Yeah, this was the play. But how to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tell her?

I pondered long enough for her karaoke to end. A solid three-hour session, but I'd been distracted and missed most of it—regretful.

After she went offline, I reluctantly opened my email. I hated meddling like this—nothing worse than puppeteering a streamer. But even if it got me banned, she needed this info. No pressure, though—just straight facts.

I screenshotted the ad, attached it to an email. Nothing else. She'd decide.

Grab the chance to soar, or stick to reality? Her call. As a mere viewer, I'd just cheer.

Either way, people would eventually notice her charm.

Ding! One minute after sending.

A reply from someone I never expected.

Streamers and viewer chats are off-limits, I swear. But her reply was enough to lift the corners of my mouth.