It Feels Like a Dream
Well, honestly, I had to admit she had a point. After my editing skills improved, looking back at my old videos was downright mortifying.
"That said, the editing I saw in the unreleased videos you attached to your portfolio this time... I wouldn't call it outstanding, but I thought it was decent."
Just like she said, my videos were "decent" at best. If you wanted to be picky about it, they weren't anywhere near a professional's level.
"You uploaded a video recently, too. The fact that your skills jumped this much in such a short time told me you'd worked incredibly hard — and that you had a real passion for becoming my editor."
I'd give her that much. When it came to wanting to be her editor, my passion could go toe-to-toe with anyone's.
Of course, I hadn't exactly earned those skills through hard work so much as... well, I'd kind of cheated my way into them?
No, wait. I'd worked harder than anyone to raise those stats, so that still counted as effort, right?
"I've looked for an editor a few times before. A lot of fans applied every time. But I never once hired someone from my fanbase. I'm grateful they like me, of course, but most of the fans who applied had zero actual skill — it was painfully obvious they just wanted an excuse to meet me."
She was smiling as she said it, but it made one thing crystal clear: Dayeon-nuna drew a hard line between her personal life and her work.
"But you were different, Dohyun. The fact that you never applied before and only applied this time... I figured it was because your skills had actually improved enough that you felt ready."
She wasn't wrong. I'd seen her editor job postings before, but I'd never even dreamed of applying. With skills like mine back then, there was no way I would have stood a chance.
"That's what made you feel genuine to me. And also... I've always really enjoyed the fan videos you make. They're fun. I used to think a lot about how, if your editing just got a little better, I'd love for you to become my editor."
She... she'd been thinking that?
Every time I uploaded a fan video, she'd leave a comment on the fan cafe saying it was fun. Finding out those weren't empty words — that she'd meant them from the heart — made me so happy I could have cried. So this was what people meant when they said they felt like they could fly.
"So, what do you think, Dohyun? Do you want to work with me?"
"Yes, of course! Absolutely! Just give me the chance and I'll work my hardest at anything you need...!"
I shot up from my seat as I said it, practically begging her to hire me, and nuna laughed.
"Hehe. Maybe it's because you're still young. That's cute. So full of energy."
"Come on, I'm only two years younger than you."
I glanced around with an embarrassed look, then quietly sat back down.
Ahem. I wasn't normally this much of an attention-seeker...
I'd just gotten so happy I couldn't help myself...
"So when can you start? I'm guessing you have a job right now, so wrapping that up will take some time, right?"
I hadn't expected to be quitting my part-time job this soon. Since I hadn't given my manager any kind of heads-up, I put on a thoughtful expression, trying to figure out how long it'd take to hire a replacement and do a proper handover.
"I'd probably need about a month, all things considered. Hiring someone and getting through the handover period."
If it were up to me, I'd have told her I could start tomorrow. But I couldn't just leave the manager who'd been so good to me in the lurch.
"Hmm, I like that. Responsible, too. A month. Okay."
"Are you sure that's alright?"
Honestly, I'd been worried that asking for a whole month might make her cancel the offer. She needed an editor now, after all.
"Of course. If you're going to work in the real world, a sense of responsibility is essential. If anything, I like that about you even more."
The fact that she even liked this about me... I was almost overwhelmed.
"I'll tell them first thing tomorrow when I go in, and I'll contact you as soon as everything's settled."
"Perfect. Then we'll meet up again then to sign the contract. Hmm, there's one more thing I need you to decide on, though."
She looked a little hesitant.
"What is it that's making you hesitate like that...? Oh, is it about the salary or something?"
I was a beginner editor, after all. Maybe there was a probation period, and the pay would be significantly lower during that time?!
"No, the salary will be exactly what I listed. There'll be a probation period, but no pay cut."
Whoa. She was treating me on the same level as a professional. Okay, that was actually pretty exciting...!
"That's not it. I was going to ask whether you want to come into the office or work from home."
"Oh, isn't remote the usual setup?"
"It is, generally. But I have a separate streaming studio. Everyone can either gather there to work or work from home — whatever's more comfortable."
Dayeon-nuna's streaming studio...? I could work there...?
"If you choose to come in, I'll provide a work computer. A pretty high-spec one, too."
Hold on. Just working at her streaming studio was already enough to make me happy, and she was throwing in a computer on top of that...?!
"And once you're done with work, I don't really care if you game or do whatever else there. You're free to use it however you want."
On top of that, I wouldn't just be working — I could freely play games or do other stuff too. I was thinking there was nothing to even hesitate about when—
"But, uh... haah. One of the editors I have right now has a bit of a personality problem."
Ah. So that was the real issue. She was right — if it weren't for a downside like that, there wouldn't even be a choice to make. Coming into the office would be the obvious answer.
Or... was that just because I was a fan of Dayeon-nuna?
"If you decide to come in, I'm planning to set you up in a separate room. But you'll still run into each other more than you would working from home. You'd have to share the bathroom, things like that."
Since we'd be editing completely different videos, if I worked from home, the odds of ever crossing paths with that editor would be basically zero. But giving up the office for something like that...? For me, coming in had way too many upsides.
"I'll come into the office."
"See? I figured you'd go with remo— wait. What?"
"Huh?"
She'd clearly assumed I'd pick remote. Was the current editor's personality really that bad? Bad enough that she'd just assumed I'd want to stay away?
"Are you serious? You want to come in?"
"Uh, yeah."
"R-right! Okay, then you'll come in. And if you ever need to switch to remote later, that's always an option. If anyone gives you a hard time, you tell me immediately, okay?"
If she was going this far, the editor she currently worked with must have a seriously nasty personality. Was this someone who went around bullying people? Like some kind of workplace thug?
"Got it."
"Alright. Then I'll get a computer and everything else ready for you ahead of time. Oh, and you're welcome to come by and visit before you start — just to look around, or even just to hang out!"
H-hang out...?! Not going there for work — just casually dropping by her streaming studio to hang out...! W-was this real? Was this actually happening right now...?!
"Whoa, there's that look again. You're totally smitten."
"H-huh? I-is it that obvious...?"
"Hmm... yep! Super obvious!"
Ah, damn it... I'd thought I was hiding it pretty well. Apparently not.
Ugh. Fine. Just talking with her like this was already more than I could handle... How was I supposed to control my face on top of that? If I'd known I'd need that kind of skill, I would've become an actor.
"Want to come by this weekend? I'll be the only one there, though."
"I-I can come...? When it's just you...?"
Wasn't that a little dangerous? A young man and a young woman, all alone...!
N-no, I mean, it's not like I was planning to do anything...! Definitely not...!
"Of course. Hmm, what's this? Did you just have a dirty thought?"
"Wha— absolutely not. No way...!"
"Hehe, I'm kidding. Anyway, let's say you'll come by this weekend. Shall we wrap it up for today? You should head home and get some rest, too."
Honestly, I wouldn't have minded staying up all night talking with her and then heading straight to work... but she probably would, so I decided to send her off properly and stood up from my seat.
"Yes! Then I'll walk you to the door!"
"We're going to the door anyway, though?"
"Ah — then, uh, where are you headed...? The bus stop? The subway...?"
"Heheh... ah, you're really cute, Dohyun. It's fine. It's a short walk."
A short walk. So the studio must be nearby.
"Want me to walk you there? It's getting dark out."
"Oh my, I like this kind of thing. Hehe. But I'll just take the thought."
I put on a thoroughly disappointed face as we walked out of the cafe together.
"Hey, that person... isn't that her?"
"Who? Someone you know?"
"That game streamer, Dayeon or whatever... that one."
Voices that seemed to recognize her drifted to my ears.
"No way. Why would someone like that be here?"
"Come on, streamers are people too. She could've just come for coffee!"
"Then go talk to her."
"H-huh? N-no, that's a bit... what if it's not her?"
They didn't sound completely sure — more like they were debating whether it was actually her or not. Still, once you hit around a hundred thousand YouTube subscribers, I guess people started recognizing you out in public.
"Nuna, do people recognize you a lot when you're out?"
"Hmm, I wonder? There are quite a few people like those just now who aren't quite sure, but almost nobody ever actually comes up to me."
Whoa. As expected... she was amazing.
"Alright, I'll get going. Get home safe, Dohyun. And let me know tomorrow how things go with your job."
"Ah, yes! Take care!"
I folded at the waist into a perfect ninety-degree bow.
"Haha! I can't wait to start working with you, Dohyun!"
She laughed brightly to the very end, leaving me with those warm words, and I stood there watching her walk away until her figure disappeared from sight.
"Hah... it really feels like a dream..."