Chapter 122
Chapter 122
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: Sleeping in the Same Bed with Rine-chan!
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A luxurious shower room the size of my entire bedroom. After washing up there...
I sat on the edge of a bed big enough for two people.
My eyes kept drooping, my head nodding forward.
【Pfft, how is even her sleepy face this cute?】
【Ah, Rine-chan...】
Rine-chan, fresh out of the shower, watched me dozing off with constant nods.
She smiled, came over, and looked at my damp hair.
【Want me to dry your hair? You should dry it even if you're sleeping.】
【Huh? Really?】
Ever since becoming a girl, drying my hair had been my biggest personal hassle.
I knew all too well how much of a chore it was.
So Rine-chan's offer was touching, but I felt a little guilty.
Her own hair was still wet, after all.
Was I making her go out of her way?
【Of course. Sit on the chair. I'll grab the hairdryer.】
【Thanks, Rine-chan.】
Normally, I'd refuse and handle my own hair.
But today, I was so sleepy that I just nodded, wanting to finish quick and lie down.
Click-
Rine-chan soon returned with the hairdryer, plugged it in.
With a whirr, warm air blasted onto my hair.
【How's that? Feels good, right?】
【Yeah, it feels amazing. Your touch is so gentle... I could fall asleep right now.】
【What an honor.】
It wasn't flattery—Rine-chan's touch was incredibly delicate.
When I dried my own hair, tangles hurt sometimes.
But she parted it with her fingers first, untangling knots.
Then she brushed, letting me relax completely.
Ooh, so this is how you properly dry hair.
Learned something new.
Fingers first to sort, then brush.
【Da-jeong, your hair texture is so nice.】
【R-Really?】
【Yeah, super soft. Got any special care routine?】
【N-No... Just shampoo and done.】
【Just shampoo? No conditioner or anything?】
【Condi-what?】
Condi... tioner? What's that?
Sounds familiar.
Oh, like rinse?
Ugh, no thanks.
It feels slippery and sticky.
No fresh feeling after washing.
Tried it once and quit.
【Oh, yeah. I skip that stuff.】
【Seriously? That's not fair. I use conditioner and oil and still don't get results like this...】
She twisted her silver hair around her finger.
For the first time, Rine-chan pouted with a dissatisfied tone.
【Ehehe... I think your hair is gorgeous too, Rine-chan.】
【Even if you say that, it's just flattery. I've never seen hair this soft.】
【Really? I hate how curly mine is... I wish I had pretty straight hair like yours or Ji-ah unnie's.】
Curly or straight, each has pros and cons.
But I prefer straight.
Mine isn't just wavy—it's full-on frizzy.
I try styling seriously for outings.
But these strands stick out everywhere.
People might think I just woke up.
Woo...
Lately, I prefer ponytails.
Less messy that way.
【Anyway, all done. Da-jeong, sleep if you're tired. I'll dry mine and fiddle with my laptop a bit before bed.】
【Laptop?】
【Just checking clips from editors. Vacation or not, better get work done early.】
Ooh, cool.
Smells like a successful career woman.
Rine-chan can't fully relax on breaks either.
Maybe we're alike there.
On my off days, I roll around bed then check Discord or chats for staff approvals.
Still sleepy, though...
But leaving her and sleeping alone feels off.
Not just hogging the host's bed.
We part tomorrow—ending the night like this feels regrettable.
Even if I'm the one nodding off.
【R-Rine-chan.】
【Hm? What's up, Da-jeong? Need something?】
I reached out toward Rine-chan's back as she sat at the chair with her laptop.
She turned, asking softly.
Something awkward to say.
Might interrupt her busy work.
But sleeping now feels wasteful.
【Um, if you're not too busy... can we sleep together?】
【Together... sleep?】
【Y-Yeah. We have so much to talk about... I wanna lie in bed, chat, and fall asleep.】
She looked shocked, like she misheard.
Half-burying my face in the bed, I shyly explained.
My cheeks are probably beet red.
【Da-jeong, where'd you learn to talk like that?】
【E-Eh...? S-Sorry. Did I say something wrong?】
Was it rude?
Suddenly she stood, walked over thud-thud.
Scary face, so I apologized frantically.
【That's basically begging to be pounced on!】
【Kyaaah?!】
With baffling words...
Using her 20cm height advantage...
She tackled me—we ended up with her hugging from behind.
【Great, tonight I'll savor Da-jeong's warmth while sleeping.】
【Ugh, weird phrasing...】
She rested her head on mine.
Draped arms over my shoulders, locking me in.
Her excited voice rang out.
Easy to misinterpret.
I reflexively complained.
But she ignored it, beaming and stroking my hair nonstop.
Pathetic that I feel good from it...
【So, what'd you wanna talk about?】
She brought her face near my ear from atop my head.
Her gentle voice tickled.
I squirmed instinctively.
【N-Nothing specific... Don't you have stuff to tell me, Rine-chan?】
【Stuff to say? Tons. So many it'd take till morning to list.】
【T-That much? Like what?】
Curious about even one.
I asked carefully; she pondered, then spoke.
Opposite her prior energy—serious yet kind.
【Remember that collab accident recently?】
【Y-Yeah. Sorry about that.】
Already apologized, but...
Hearing it again stirred guilt.
I said sorry; she shook her head.
【No need. But rewatching old clips after, I thought... You're as kind to others as you're harsh to yourself.】
【Ah...】
Yuna said the same.
Rine-chan noticed too.
【I know self-discipline matters. I do it too. But whipping yourself and not loving yourself are different. Get what I mean?】
【...Yeah, I do.】
Her cautious tone; I nodded faintly.
Watching members or external VTubers like her...
They push hard, self-criticize.
But they love themselves most.
Shining brightest in their eyes.
Pride-bound folks.
【So I want you to realize your charm, your loveliness. You'll start cherishing yourself more naturally. The one who should love you most is you, not others.】
【Thanks, Rine-chan. Yuna said something similar then. Why don't I cherish myself more.】
【Yuna? Yukiko-chan, right? Nice friend you got.】
Exactly.
Not just Yuna.
President, other members—treat me like treasure.
I thought they were just nice to everyone, even me.
Still kinda think that.
I'm the weakest link, so must try harder.
But maybe their kindness stems from...
Knowing my inner thoughts, deliberately cherishing me more.
You're precious, kid.
You're a good person.
Always saying, embracing.
Hoping I'd reflect on myself.
【Honestly, I still don't get it. If I'm worth that love. If I'll like myself as much as I like others.】
Not self-pity.
Blue LUV in my memories...
Other great VTubers like Rine-chan...
They shone like stars—intimidatingly grand.
Even as a VTuber now...
I can't see myself as equal.
But my view's shifted a bit.
【But if people I like like me back, that means I have worth somewhere. So I'm good now. Won't go back to old me.】
Others might call it dumb.
Liking myself because people I adore cherish me.
But not self-deprecation.
If my favorite people treasure me most...
There must be value there. I just believe that.
Until I fully believe in myself...
I'll lean on others' faith, step by step.
One foot at a time.
【Yeah, that's enough. Change bit by bit. Not just me—Blue LUV members think so too.】
【Hehe... Yeah.】
She affirmed my silly answer.
I turned, hugged her tight face-to-face.
Fluffy bed?
Her sweet scent?
Day's fatigue crashing?
Her warm words, peaceful?
Dunno why.
Just wanna close eyes, sleep easy.
【Goodnight, Da-jeong.】
Like a mom in a US drama kissing her daughter goodnight.
She nuzzled my hair.
My mind fogging, I wriggled deeper into her arms.
Thanks for today, Rine-chan.