Chapter 187
Chapter 187
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 187
Chapter Title: RuRu-chan's Birthday Cafe is Open!
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May, thick with the scent of spring, had passed.
June, with the sun gradually growing hotter, was skipped over.
Finally, July arrived in full force, buzzing with the energy of early summer.
This July held great significance for Blue LUV fans, collectively known as the Pista.
It was none other than the release date of the first original song by Blue LUV's maknae and ultimate sweetheart, RuRu.
As everyone counted down the days one by one toward early July,
on July 6th, one day before the original song's debut,
a bombshell teaser finally dropped, enough to flip the fan cafe and Virtual YouTuber communities upside down.
【RuRu │ ‘Will You Love Even a Me Like This?’ Teaser】
Views: 52,179 | Likes: 1,360
The comments were overwhelmingly positive with high expectations.
Not just because it was RuRu's first original song.
Even a brief glimpse of the teaser showed the MV and music blending perfectly, drawing people right in.
With the birthday cafe schedule announced,
some fans expressed envy toward the Cherry Squad members who would enjoy the new song together live.
Naturally, complaints erupted about why the capacity was limited to just 300,
but in truth, everyone knew.
The company had put in tremendous effort even for these 300 spots.
For a single rented cafe, it was a huge crowd.
Some even voiced concerns about whether one cafe could handle that many.
Of course, those worries eased a bit once it was revealed they'd booked a massive cafe in Seoul—second to none in size.
And so, with RuRu's birthday and original song release just one day away,
the clock hands began to move slowly once more.
To deliver the day everyone awaited.
July 7th.
Tanabata, known as the day the Weaver Star meets the Cowherd Star.
For the Pista, this day carried a different meaning.
It was the day their most beloved girl was born into the world.
To celebrate this joyous occasion,
even the usually lazy Pista moved with unusual briskness today.
Precisely, the 300 chosen Pista.
Solely to participate in RuRu's birthday cafe event,
to watch the new song debut alongside fellow Pista comrades.
Pista from all corners of the country converged on the gathering spot.
Even the scorching early July sun couldn't stop them.
"Haaah, huff..."
And like a dog standing in the blazing midsummer heat,
one woman—Jang Ji-won—belonging to that very category, panted roughly as she barely dragged her feet forward.
'This kinda heat ain't gonna stop me...!'
How could it, after she'd won the draw.
This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
She wasn't some weak-willed Pista to back down from a little heat.
In fact, back when Lilith's birthday ad was up at Hongdae Station,
she'd gone to check it out and unwittingly swallowed the red pill.
Even so, her fandom for Blue LUV—more precisely, RuRu—didn't diminish.
No, if anything, that day deepened her love even more.
How could the tiny, precious figure she'd seen on screen
be so lovable in real life too?
Try as she might to forget, that image of RuRu—or rather, Da-jeong—kept popping into her head.
Perhaps even the heavens acknowledged her fandom, now bordering on fanaticism.
She'd won a spot in the seemingly impossible birthday cafe draw.
That's how she was here today.
"There it is..."
Maybe she should've taken a taxi.
Feeling a twinge of regret, she muttered to herself and approached the large building before her eyes.
The venue for RuRu's birthday cafe was a pretty famous spot in Seoul.
A massive two-story house renovated into a cafe, with a huge building
and, above all, a vast garden that made it renowned for sightseeing spots.
She'd never been, but she'd heard the name on SNS.
'Fewer people than I thought?'
She figured a long line would await her at the cafe entrance.
But the surprisingly quiet street made her puzzled as she headed to the staff at the door.
And rightly so—the new song reveal was at 4 PM.
Each person got one hour inside the cafe.
So, entering just before 4 meant she could comfortably watch the debut with the other Pista.
'Are they all shy or something?'
She'd expected a massive rush around this time, and she herself had timed it that way.
But not all Pista thought alike.
Or maybe there were many coming from far away or the provinces.
Either way, the scene was surprisingly calm.
"Welcome. Could I please check your ticket and membership once?"
"Sure."
After showing her phone for ticket and membership verification,
the staff fitted her with a wristband like those at amusement parks.
To the right of where the staff sat stood a small RuRu doll holding a sign with precautions.
"Hngh, so cute..."
The doll's teary-eyed, pitiful expression, as if pleading to follow the rules,
and the final line made Jang Ji-won blurt out admiration as she stroked the RuRu doll.
"Right?! Way too cute...! I wish they sold this doll as merch."
At that moment, the guarding staff nodded vigorously in fervent agreement.
Jang Ji-won felt briefly overwhelmed by the intensity,
but quickly snapped out of it and realized the situation.
'All the staff here are Pista too.'
Whether recruited from fans or company employees,
it was clear the staff adored RuRu just as much.
"Oh, for commemorative photos, head over there with RuRu."
"Huh? With her... Oh."
Feeling a strange sense of pride, she turned,
but the staff's direction momentarily flustered her.
She'd glimpsed that real RuRu from before flashing by in her mind.
Snapping back, she checked to the left.
Then she understood.
There stood RuRu's life-size standee against a cool beach backdrop.
'Can't resist that!'
RuRu was already famous for being weak to cuteness and aegyo.
But RuRu striking a half-heart pose?!
And you could take pics with it?!
Her fan heart igniting, Jang Ji-won hurried to the standee.
The photo staff approached, sweating buckets in the heat.
She felt a pang of pity.
"Ready? Smile big and match poses with RuRu!"
"Got it."
But pity was pity.
She still had to seize the moment.
So Jang Ji-won stood beside the RuRu standee, completing the half-heart with her own hand.
Apparently sized to match RuRu's real proportions,
she had to crouch a bit for the slightly undersized standee.
But that made it feel even more like real RuRu was next to her—perfect.
Click-!
"Here you go. There are more photo spots inside the cafe too, so check them out later."
"Really? Thank you...!"
The freshly printed Polaroid emerged from the rare camera.
Receiving it, Jang Ji-won followed the kind guidance into the cafe.
Cool AC air and a cozy interior greeted her.
And if she had to sum it up in one line:
The whole world was RuRu.
Posters and frames on the walls.
Acrylic stands and cute merch on wall shelves.
The largest wall featured RuRu illustrated with the Blue LUV members.
"Wow...!"
Jang Ji-won couldn't hold back her awe.
If only she could decorate her own home like this.
It sparked such hopeful dreams—the setup was that impeccable.
"Need help ordering?"
"Ah, yes. That... RuRu-chan's favorite special frappuccino..."
"Got it. We'll notify you via vibrating pager when ready."
After a bit of browsing, she ordered at the counter.
She usually stuck to coffee and considered an Americano,
but the menu names pulled her in reflexively.
Bzzz-
Soon, the pager in her pocket buzzed.
Heading back to claim her drink, she was greeted by a tray piled high with goodies.
Limited merch gifted to birthday cafe visitors.
"Holy..."
Jang Ji-won's mouth spilled something close to profanity in amazement.
And how could it not?
There were RuRu photocards not even in the official shop, SD stickers, cup coasters, and a physical birthday cafe visit ticket.
What stroke of luck was this?
"It's almost 4 o'clock. Pista here to watch the new song debut together, please head to the second floor. We'll also stream on the first floor and outdoors, so feel free to stay if you prefer."
"Oh, already 4?"
"Finally...!"
As she stuffed the merch into her eco-bag,
a male staff member appeared out of nowhere with polite guidance.
Everyone lit up and stampeded up the stairs to the second floor.
Naturally, Jang Ji-won was in the mix.
The second floor's open layout felt even roomier than the first.
A single curtain partitioned it into a drinking area and a separate space.
Beyond the curtain: a large screen and chairs.
As the visiting Pista filled the seats one by one,
hearts pounding with anticipation, waiting for 4 PM...
Fwoosh-
『Everyone, can you hear me?』
"Huh?"
"W-what?!"
"That's RuRu-chan's voice?"
Suddenly, light hit the screen.
A familiar voice echoed from somewhere.
Jang Ji-won scanned around with wide eyes.
That instant.
『Hehe, hello! It's hot out, but thank you all for coming to celebrate my birthday!』
"Gasp!"
"RuRu...!"
"Whoa, insane...!"
The light on the screen sharpened.
Soon, not her usual 2D avatar,
but a 3D RuRu rendered in real engine appeared.
No overalls this time.
A light, summery dress fitting the season.
A-jjang, her ever-present hair partner, perched atop her head.
Pat-pat-
As if knowing her own cuteness,
she approached shyly and adorably, hands behind her back.
Leaning into the camera, she flashed a beaming smile.
'Ah, I'm done for.'
The moment Jang Ji-won saw it, she knew.
Her life probably ended here.
But it had been a damn good one.