Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Memories of a Spring Night (1)
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"Wow...! This Korean apartment complex is huge!"
"Aren't the buildings in New York all tall too?"
"Not many are laid out in a complex like this. Seeing all these modern-style buildings lined up side by side is something you almost never see in America. I live in a house myself."
"Ah, yeah. I guess from American videos, most places are houses."
"Unless you're a busy career woman, living right in the heart of New York is just pure waste of money. I live on the outskirts too. And I have a cute little dog."
We got out of the taxi and strolled toward home, chatting away.
Sara looked around curiously, clearly fascinated by the Korean apartment layout.
Korean-style apartments must seem really novel in America. I filed away this new info in my head.
If I'm making maps, I should think about having different backgrounds for each country.
We walked through the apartment grounds and rode the elevator up. Now we stood facing each other in the hallway.
Obviously, since Sara was a woman, she'd sleep with Myth, and I'd be on my own.
"Well, good night, Myth. Sleep well, Ms. Sara."
"Yeah, Seol. See you tomorrow."
"Hmm? You two usually sleep separately? Even though you're lovers?"
Whoa. Myth and I both froze at Sara's words.
Don't lovers normally sleep together even without being married?
This was the first relationship for both Myth and me.
Myth had probably at least heard about dating from her life experiences, but what would a high schooler like me—who went through all-boys middle and high school—know about romance?
"Uh, w-well..."
My fluster cut off my words, making it impossible to form a proper sentence.
What should I say here?
"Our schedules are different, so we tend to sleep separately on purpose. I mostly work at night, and I've recommended that Seol work during the day."
"Ah, I see. That makes sense."
"Come to think of it, I've never even been inside your place, Myth."
"Eep?! Ah, yeah, right. Come over sometime."
Myth reacted noticeably to my offhand comment.
What? I don't think I'd said anything worth that strong a reaction.
For now, we nodded to each other, and I headed into my apartment.
It's probably nothing.
▶
Legend entered his apartment first, and Sara followed Myth into hers.
"Ah, Sara. You know you have to take off your shoes when you come in, right?"
"...For real?"
"I'm not kidding. You really didn't know?"
"I seriously didn't, sis."
Sara reluctantly slipped off her shoes.
The sensation of her socked feet touching the floor wasn't something she could easily get used to, honestly.
Separated from Legend now, this was Myth's home.
Shoeless, Sara looked around the room with wide-eyed curiosity.
She knew it wasn't polite to scrutinize someone else's home like this, but wasn't this the home of that 'Myth sis'?
What would the place of the top VTuber look like?
Sara couldn't contain her pounding excitement.
The home of the VTuber with the highest cumulative sponsorships and sales...!
To her surprise, there was really nothing there.
Well, of course, it was a lived-in space, so there were things, but could you even call this a 'home'?
Sara had her own philosophy: a person's solo living space usually oozed with their tastes and personality.
America might amplify that, but it was generally true.
Like how her animal-loving friend had her place plastered with pet stuff, or how her own ceiling—back when she was sickly and yearned for the outside—had been wallpapered to look like the sky.
So what should she call this place?
Filming gear, cameras, audio interfaces, capture boards, countless monitors, keyboards, mice, sponsored products.
Myth sis's home was a veritable flood of equipment.
Even a mid-tier gear shop wouldn't have just this much stuff.
"The living room is a massive studio, the small room is a sound booth, no ingredients in the kitchen—just broadcast plans and idea notebooks... My god, sis. What kind of life have you been living?"
"Haha, honestly, until Seol woke up, I was obsessed with streaming. Now I finally feel like I can breathe."
It went beyond boring or stark—there was no 'self' here.
This home had no 'Myth' in it.
All it had was an obsession with broadcasting... and chill.
Was this really a place where someone lived? This wasn't a home.
It was a studio wearing the shape of one.
Sara clicked her tongue at the faint madness emanating from this home-shaped thing.
"Even so, this is too much. You should've at least put up a photo of someone you like."
"Ah?! Uh, yeah. I should do that tomorrow."
Myth awkwardly averted her eyes.
What? Is there something I don't know?
After washing up, they sat on the sofa, watching Nutube together to pass the time.
"Korean shower setups are amazing. I've only seen water this hot come out this fast in hotels."
"Korean apartment complexes often have great plumbing. Not everywhere's like this."
"Still impressive. Hooah... Feels so relaxed."
"You know 'nogonhada' too?"
"Learned it watching your streams, sis. You're the idol of all us VTubers."
"Haha, flattery won't get you anywhere, Sara. Want something to drink?"
Maybe because they'd both showered with hot water, steam rose gently from their bodies, bringing a pleasant warmth.
"But Sara, aren't you feeling the jet lag? The time difference between America and Korea is pretty big."
"I was super sleepy during the day. I'm wide awake now, though."
"Really? You don't want to sleep?"
"Hmm... Honestly, it'd take a while to fall asleep if I tried."
Unlike Myth, whose eyes were starting to droop, Sara flailed her arms energetically to prove her alertness.
Myth pondered.
Should she just head to bed like this?
No, she'd brought a guest home—she couldn't do that.
Maybe sensing Myth's dilemma, Sara sidled right up to her.
"Don't mind me, sis. You can go to sleep."
"Nah, I can't do that no matter what. I'm not that weak stamina-wise."
"If you trust me, you could always sleep next to Mr. Legend."
"Huh?"
It took a few seconds for it to sink in, and Myth's face flushed bright red.
Sara giggled at the sight.
"Oh my god. No way, sis. You two are lovers and you've never slept together even once?"
"I-it's just that the timing never worked out...! What about you, Sara—you don't have a boyfriend either!"
"True, but if I get one, I'm going all in right away!"
"That's just because you've never had one, Sara. Once you do, you won't say stuff like that."
Sara and Myth started bickering playfully.
They didn't get to see each other often due to the distance, but their bond was solid.
"For starters, Mr. Legend seems kinda young at first glance, so sis, you're the one who should take the lead. If you hesitate, things'll progress suuuper slowly."
"Urk!"
Sara's blunt, piercing remark hit home.
Myth felt it too.
Seol had only been awake a short while and still felt a bit young.
He rarely took the initiative.
He got plenty of avatar gifts born from fan admiration and affection, but in reality? There wasn't distance, exactly, but he was a tad passive.
That was why Myth always had to steel herself and charge in physically.
If she didn't, they'd never make any progress.
"How far have things gone? Can't be far if you haven't even slept together."
"...Kissing?"
"...You've known each other since seven years ago, and he's been awake for four months, right?"
"Seven years ago doesn't count—it happened right when we met!"
Before they knew it, the conversation had shifted to Myth getting love advice from Sara.
Myth—who had a boyfriend—seeking dating tips from Sara, who had zero experience.
But Sara, steeped in America's open mindset, surprisingly handled the consultation well.
"Four months, and two full-grown adults who can't live without each other have only gotten to kissing? That's not normal."
"Ughhh?! But Seol's still young, and I have to protect him..."
"That's exactly the problem with your mindset, sis."
Snap.
Sara flicked her fingers.
Her long, Western fingers pointed at Myth, who stared blankly at the fingertip.
"Of course you've been sweet to Mr. Legend, sis. It's love you waited years for, the person you love more than anything."
"Uh, y-yeah? Right?"
"But sis, you deserve reciprocation too!"
Sara clenched her fist tight.
Overwhelmed by Sara's fiery intensity, Myth flinched back a step.
"Waiting seven years for one person—that's not something just anyone can do. And visiting the hospital every day? Not something anyone can pull off."
"I got something in return, so it was just what I had to do. What I wanted to do."
"No, no, no! Absolutely not, sis."
Tsk tsk.
Sara shook her head.
Of course, Myth sis's actions weren't wrong, but that didn't mean she had to be eternally on the receiving end.
Love shouldn't have a top and bottom to begin with.
"Sometimes, just follow your heart, sis."
"Follow my heart...?"
Sara lightly tapped Myth's shoulder with her fist.
Follow her heart, follow her heart.
What did she want right now?
Her tired mind, her languid post-shower body, and the love always filling her chest all conspired against reason.
Myth opened her mouth, and Sara beamed widely.