Chapter 2
Chapter 2
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Our Dream
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『Super Long Hiatus Notice! After CSAT, Myth will come baaack!!!』
With six months left until CSAT, Myth announced a long hiatus.
The reason was simple: preparing for CSAT.
She wanted to keep streaming somehow, but the family pressure was too intense, making it impossible.
『On the day CSAT ends, I'll definitely come baaack!!!!』
Well, it was a good thing anyway.
I could hole up in my room and dive into work like a madman.
Surprisingly, in the late stages of senior year, school interference actually decreases.
The kids are all on edge, the ones who are gonna do well are handling it themselves, and the ones doomed to fail are crashing on their own.
It meant we were beyond the teachers' reach.
"Legend, you're really skipping afternoon classes?"
"Yes. You know I'm prepping for a job at my dad's company."
"Right, the 3D game company? Tell your dad to buff gun shooters, please."
"Huh, you play Last Ark too, sir?"
"Keep it secret from the other teachers."
Regular high schoolers have seven or more periods, but officially, the education office only mandates five or six.
Anything extra is the school's doing, obsessed with CSAT.
I exploited that, fulfilling just the 'mandatory class time' and heading out.
"I'm home."
"Sigh. As a mom packing lunch for a senior son who's never cracked open a single CSAT book in his life, I have no words when he sleeps all day at school and pulls all-nighters on the computer."
"Thanks for the praise, Mom. I'll work hard on the computer today too."
Basking in Mom's blessing, I entered my room.
Ignoring her plea to at least turn on the light, I lined up the cola, energy drinks, and snacks I'd bought on the way home across my desk.
The 3D modeling was mostly done, but I still poured over ten hours a day into it.
When you're giving a gift, you want it to be the best possible, right?
Days passed tweaking anything imperfect, studying shaders and textures.
The second Thursday of November arrived.
The day that draws the line for every senior in Korea.
"Son, should I wake you up on CSAT day?"
"...Mom, I'll get up on my own, at least."
"Understand a mom's feelings packing lunch for a son who's never touched a CSAT book."
"No need for lunch. I'll drop first period, leave, and grab food."
"That's great news."
The day every student trudges to the exam hall, tense in the chilly morning air, breath fogging as they go.
"Seniors! Ace that CSAT!"
"Let's go, Seongji High fighting!!"
"Whoa, Legend senior! Taking the test?!"
"Gotta pick up the admit card. They say the discount's insane."
My underclassmen were kindly cheering with songs and claps since morning.
Surprisingly, I felt zero tension.
Just the courtesy admit card and a computer ballpoint pen tucked into the pocket of my triple stripes slippers.
Entering my assigned room, a few familiar faces waved.
"Welcome, Legend of Seongji High."
"Everyone's saying this guy's our school's legend."
"Honored to meet Seongji's Legend...! Share some luck, please!"
"Scram, you punks."
I shoved past the teasers playing on my name and sat down.
Kids from other schools whispered, eyeing me.
...Yeah, 'Legend' isn't a common name.
Probably no one else in the world has it besides me.
"CSAT starting. Phones forward, kids. Anyone leaving can go after first period."
With the bald teacher's weary words, the College Scholastic Ability Test began.
'Hehe. Myth's so pretty.'
To me, it was just time to doodle her face on the answer sheet with my computer pen.
Messing with 3D tools daily must've helped—it wasn't hard to draw.
"First period over. Good work, everyone. Old lady's worry, but don't get cocky if it went well, don't lose it if it tanked. It's not three years—it's eighteen years of life on the line. Give it your all till the end."
I followed the bald teacher out as he left those words.
"Sir, where to for early dismissal?"
"...First floor headquarters. Not testing?"
"Graduating straight to job."
"Ah, got it. No issue then. Good luck."
With unexpected smooth encouragement from the bald teacher, I clutched my admit card and slipped out of school.
Careful not to disturb others' focus or draw eyes.
"I'm home~."
No one was there.
Dad and Mom at work, obviously.
Sis was probably bunking at her pro team's second squad for training.
"Hope she turns on the stream today."
I did worry she might quit streaming altogether.
She'd posted occasional updates over six months, but no streams made viewers anxious.
"...Whatever happens."
Wishing she wouldn't, I bluffed confidence and sat at my PC.
If she streamed today, it might be my last chance to tweak the model.
Time passed.
Tick.
Tick.
The analog clock's second hand, which I kept for its soothing sound, grated today.
I chugged an energy drink despite broad daylight, focusing on final touches.
Exactly 9 PM.
The alarm rang.
"Aren't you way too excited?"
A snicker escaped me.
The title screamed joy at finally streaming. I hit enter, of course.
"Whoa! What? QWER-nim, were you waiting for me?"
Myth greeted me the second I joined.
"Wow, honestly, first stream in six months—I was sweating bullets thinking no one would show."
"Psh. I said I'd come."
"But I'm different, right?"
My lips curled into a grin involuntarily.
Ah, seriously.
How does a girl with nothing but a voice make me feel this good?
Wait, not the time.
I quickly typed.
"Oh, that?"
Her voice sounded a bit hesitant.
Was she backing out now?
That'd suck a little. I'd still give her the avatar, though.
"No, no, I will do it. But with CSAT prep, I couldn't work proper part-time... didn't save enough for a commission.
Oh, not asking for money?! That's not an amount high schoolers like us can afford!
When I get to college, I'll grind harder at jobs and do it right!"
Relief washed over me.
She hadn't given up on her VTuber dream.
I kept chatting, at ease.
"What, QWER-nim? Secretly rooting for my VTuber debut, huh."
Myth laughed.
Caught red-handed, I felt a twinge of embarrassment.
But yeah, I was looking forward to her debuting with this avatar.
"Suddenly? Last time I suggested it, you refused, saying streamers and fans need boundaries."
"What reason? Anyway, cool. I wanted to too."
I added her from the Discord ID she showed on screen.
Moments later,
My all-dudes friend list gained Myth.
No hesitation—I uploaded the file.
Too big for direct send, so via a new drive folder.
"QWER-nim, not some malware, right?"
"Okay, okay. I trust you. What'd our QWER-nim prepare~?"
Thump.
Thump.
My heart pounded like it would burst.
Having the streamer I like check three years' work? Tension beyond imagination.
Didn't shake this much confessing to the prettiest girl in middle school class.
Mouse clicks, wheel scrolls, her breaths, my heartbeat—silent yet deafening moments passed.
Then,
"...QWER-nim. What is this?"
"You made it? This? You, a high schooler?"
No explosive reaction like I'd hoped.
Not expecting tears, but figured she'd like it at least.
Myth's voice sank eerily calm.
Made me wonder if I'd messed up.
"Sniff, h-hic. What do you mean lacking? Prettier than any avatar I've seen..."
That's when the wet, choked sounds hit.
Stifled sobs, sniffles, nose swallows.
Her trembling mouse on screen mirrored her heart.
Myth went silent for a while.
Couldn't speak, probably.
I waited quietly.
Composed, she asked,
"Why... why go this far?"
The second Thursday of November.
"I-I'll definitely succeed. Succeed and repay you for sure."
"No joke. Can't match its value now, but someday, I'll repay tenfold, hundredfold."
"Yeah!"
The day our dream took shape.