Chapter 208
Chapter 208
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 208
Chapter Title: I've Prepared My Heart to Welcome the 2nd Generation Members!
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Not long after, the members arrived.
I was still sitting there in a daze, my eyes wide and blank.
The members buzzed with energy, waiting eagerly for the President to continue.
"Sorry for calling you all so suddenly today, but I have some important news—part anniversary prep and part something big I need to share."
"Oh, something huge incoming?!"
"What is it, President?"
As always, Park Chae-yoon unnie and Yuna gazed at the President with eyes sparkling with anticipation, their energy at max.
"Truth is, we're planning to bring in some 2nd gen members soon. The announcement should drop next week."
"Whoa, 2nd gen already?"
"That soon? Wait, no, it's not 'already'—we've been around for a year now."
"It's sooner than I expected. I thought you'd wait a bit longer."
"The timing does feel right, though. Even if we start prepping now, they wouldn't debut until late this year or next."
As the President's calm words continued.
The members' eyes went wide, each reacting in their own way.
Still, they all seemed to accept that it was about time for 2nd gen members.
"Well, since we've got the momentum... To be honest, I never planned on adding a 2nd gen originally."
"Huh? Really?"
"Don't most virtual agencies keep debuting newbies nonstop?"
"True, but we're not some big corporate MCN like Prism Company or Season Academy. Blindly scaling up would just stretch us too thin—we wouldn't be able to care for them properly. My original plan was to focus on raising just you all."
Everyone reacted with shock to the President's candid confession.
Everyone except me.
And how could I be surprised?
Because what she was saying matched exactly what I'd heard her say on a broadcast back in my old world.
It was her response to a viewer asking if there were no plans for a 2nd gen.
And true to her word.
In that previous world, the President never launched a 2nd gen.
She poured all her focus into Blue LUV alone, growing it into one of the world's top mega virtual groups.
That's why I'd assumed there wouldn't be a 2nd gen in this world either.
"But you all claimed your spot faster than I expected... And maybe because of that, the domestic virtual scene is starting to grow a bit."
"Yeah, there are so many new indie Virtual YouTubers debuting lately."
"Exactly—it's partly your positive influence. I never dreamed Virtual YouTubers in Korea would hit 300,000 subs in just a year."
That's right.
We've all surpassed 300,000 subscribers now.
There's some variance between us, but it's still an impressive number.
Of course, Mityube is full of absolute monsters these days.
300k might not seem huge in comparison.
But as the President said, in this tough domestic market where surviving as a Virtual YouTuber is a battle, hitting 300k in one year is genuinely astonishing.
"That's what got me thinking. I can't guarantee the 2nd gen will grow this steeply, but isn't it worth a shot?"
I see.
Yeah, in my old world, Blue LUV didn't grow this fast.
We barely cracked 100k in our first year.
Then around 300k in year two.
But from year three, we skyrocketed, securing an untouchable position in the Korean Virtual YouTuber scene.
This world is different, though.
I don't know why, but our growth here is nearly three times what it was back then.
It's only natural the President would start thinking this way.
After all, she's the President.
She has a duty to grow this company and nurture it further.
From that perspective, sticking to just caring for the 1st gen forever might seem a bit complacent.
"We think it's great! Honestly, we're more shocked you weren't planning on it."
"Right? I've been waiting forever for some juniors!"
"Yay! Finally, some rookies to tease!"
"Chae-yoon! It's not about teasing—think about teaching them first!"
After hearing the President's honest situation, the members responded positively.
All of them sounded like they couldn't wait for the 2nd gen to arrive.
"......"
But I couldn't join in.
It wasn't just because the future had changed.
On one hand, I was happy that the Blue LUV I loved was evolving.
But it also felt strangely distant, leaving me all mixed up inside.
What is this feeling?
The Blues growing this fast should make me thrilled.
Yet it felt weird, like some stranger I didn't know was intruding on 'Blue LUV'.
Truth be told, I was the first one to show up for this Blue LUV—and the one who fit the least.
Feeling this way now was so stupid and pathetic.
"Anyway, now you know. Shall we talk about 1st anniversary prep next?"
"Ooh, another big one!"
Soon, the 1st anniversary news I'd been dying to hear came up.
But it went in one ear and out the other.
Unlike the excited members, I spent the whole time with my head down, fidgeting with my hands.
"......"
Maybe that's why.
I didn't even notice the President staring at me silently for a long while after the meeting ended.
With the meeting finally over, we started packing up to head back.
It wasn't an off-day, so everyone had streams to prep for.
Naturally, I was grabbing my bag to go home with Ra-hee unnie next door.
"Da-jeong, mind staying back a sec? The rest of you can go."
"Huh? You mean me, President?"
"Yeah."
At the President's sudden call, I froze like a statue.
I glanced around awkwardly for a moment before quietly sitting back down.
Seeing this, Chae-yoon unnie and Yuna made a huge fuss like it was about them.
"Gasp...! Da-jeong, what'd you do wrong?"
"President, don't bully Da-jeong...!"
"You two, who said anything about bullying? I just want some one-on-one quality time for once."
"Wahh, favoritism for Da-jeong only! Wahh!"
Whether here or there, they kept making a scene.
The President seemed to give up persuading them, letting out a sigh.
She waved her hand like she was shooing away pesky merchants, basically telling them to scram already.
"Unnie, you go ahead. I can take a taxi."
"Sure, I'll make sure she gets a cab, so don't worry, Ra-hee—head out."
"Got it, see you later, Da-jeong."
"Yeah."
Screeech—
Even Ra-hee unnie, who I'd planned to go with, left like that.
The President beckoned me over.
It felt a little scary somehow, but I dragged my chair right up to her.
"Da-jeong, are you disappointed?"
"Y-Yes? Disappointed?"
Suddenly, the President spoke in a soft tone, but with unexpected words.
I jumped, eyes going wide.
She stroked my head and continued.
"You've always had such a strong attachment to Blue LUV. Your face earlier, your reaction when I first mentioned it... I wondered if you felt uneasy about new members joining."
"C-Can I be honest?"
"Of course. That's why I sent the others away."
I see.
Yeah, I could never say this in front of the members.
No—actually, not even in front of the President.
Yet she'd made time just for me to open up.
"...Honestly, it's not disappointment. I'm actually happy about it. It means we've grown so fast, and that you trust us enough."
"Exactly. You all are doing so well now, you don't need me hovering as much."
She's right.
If the President didn't trust us.
Or if she thought we still had a long way to go.
She never would've debuted a 2nd gen.
Not the President I know, anyway.
"But like you said... it just felt weird. Good but bad, all bittersweet... And I hated myself for having such silly thoughts."
"No need for that. If any other member said it, I'd be surprised, but coming from you? I get it."
"Really?"
"Yeah. The others love Blue LUV too, but yours runs deeper."
The President paused, humming 'Hmm...' as if searching for the right words.
Then she smiled, like she'd found it.
"How to put it... We always say we're like family, but with you, it's even more so. I often feel like you truly see the members that way."
"Family... Yeah, that might be the perfect word."
Family is something long gone for me.
Maybe that's why the members feel even more like family.
"In a way, it might feel awkward at first, like your family is getting bigger. But I'm expecting the most from you."
"From me?"
"Yeah. I wouldn't say this without the others here, but... without you, Blue LUV never could've grown this fast."
Normally, such lavish praise would embarrass me.
But her eyes, looking straight at me, screamed sincerity.
I couldn't say a word, just stared into them.
"The Verdi collab, the first Last collab, the Hyper War tournament—all thanks to your hard work for Blue LUV. Above all, you helped the members bond better."
Listening to her warm words, I nodded quietly.
I never thought I'd done anything special.
But knowing she'd watched it all from afar made my heart swell a little.
"So when the 2nd gen arrives, I'm counting on you most. They might struggle to fit in at first, but I know you'll guide them well."
"Ah..."
I see.
She trusted me.
That's why she could make the bold choice to launch a 2nd gen.
"Don't feel burdened or awkward about new family joining. Just keep being the member who loves Blue LUV more than anyone. That's more than enough."
"Yes, President."
Even I, lacking in confidence, know I'm second to none in that one thing.
I nodded firmly.
The fog clouding my heart just moments ago lifted.
And in its place, a ray of excitement shone down.