Whack Hammer Chemistry and Audition Triumph

Minji had been super wary of Im Haeun at first, especially after getting whacked with that hammer right off the bat. But soon enough, her mind started to ease up bit by bit.

"Here on the character screen... If I spin Oriana like this, the bottom looks so..." Whack. "Minji, that's not it."

"Hiiing."

When she streamed solo, Park Minji had to handle everything herself. Especially before starting, she'd load up on pressure, thinking, 'I absolutely can't mess up today.' But once the broadcast kicked off and Haeun kept jumping in with timely interventions, it was surprisingly relaxing.

'If it's weird, unnie will stop me.' Having someone to block her dumb moves automatically was a huge relief. It meant less to worry about—she could just go wild.

So Park Minji streamed away comfortably. "Here with Oriana's line... 'The sunset is beautiful'... The way she delivers it is so real, just so real, so the line 'What an amazing sunset' hits twice as hard..." Whack. "That's not canon, Minji. This is supposed to be a wholesome stream, remember?"

"...Just felt it on instinct. That look on your face? Dead giveaway." Whack. "Eh? Ehhh? My fault?"

At the viewers' reactions, Im Haeun pretended not to notice and turned her head away. 'Damn, I reacted without thinking.' She'd planned to just monitor silently, but maybe the built-up stress? She jumped on a topic she should've ignored.

"More importantly, that brooch on Oriana's neck—it's flashier in-game than the one I wore." Quick topic pivot from her.

"Ah, this... It's a super important item... In the lore, it's from her late mom..."

"Huh? Wasn't Oriana an orphan? ...Wait. The brooch is black? Does that mean her mom was one of the Four Heavenly Kings???"

Thanks to cosplay promos and game events—even without deep play—Im Haeun knew the basics. One line from Minji, and she pieced together the plot, gasping in shock.

The Korean version of the game lagged about a year behind the Japanese service. So it wasn't a huge spoiler—anyone in the know already knew—but Im Haeun wouldn't have a clue.

Whack, whack, whack. "Ow, owww..."

"Spoiling the game mid-stream—what're you doing!"

"B-but it's a playthrough anyway, spoilers happen!"

"Oh."

"A-anyway, let's skip ahead and play the game. Stop ogling the models."

"U-unnie, then this time... you get hit..."

"Ang?"

"N-nooo..."

Park Minji caved instantly to Im Haeun's reflexive growl. The viewers just laughed it off.

Watching Minji's stream from the living room floor with Soye, I was thrilled with Haeun's performance.

'This is better than expected.'

I'd initially slotted Haeun in just as a monitor. Send her in with the whack hammer to keep things light, but let Minji handle most of the stream.

"Hehe, they're getting along great."

"Yeah."

But Haeun reining Minji in turned it into variety show gold. Tough host and compliant sidekick—like one of those rough-around-the-edges survival shows where they crash overnight somewhere. Haeun tags, Minji takes it, and Haeun's slip-ups even sparked laughs. Perfect. Added that savory depth to the stream.

Halfway through and over 10k viewers. Way better than the day before yesterday or yesterday. We hit 10k then too, but it didn't hold steady like this. And it's still climbing.

"Next time, wanna have unnie join too?"

"Me?"

Haeun alone got this? Imagine all three—the chemistry potential is huge.

"I'd love to. But..."

"Not jumping in right away. I know next week's chaos with the Amazonia drama audition. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Focus on acting lessons till then."

...Yet here I was, lounging in their dorm living room.

"Stream looks solid now... Starting tomorrow, I'll watch from outside. Been crashing here three days straight—sorry for the disruption."

"Disruption~?"

Soye heard me and hugged me from behind. "Sejin coming to our rooms is never a bother~ We could just live together here like this~"

"That's a bit much." Mwah. She yanked my face around for a kiss, her hand slyly groping my chest already.

"Girls are still streaming."

"So? We can do it while watching."

"Mm, let's wait till it ends. Watch 'em finish and clean up..."

"Oh? Wanna do it with all three again? Naughty boy."

Jealousy flickering in Soye's eyes? She laughed it off but dug fingers into my thigh hard.

"Not satisfied with just me?"

"That's not it." Mwah. I kissed her back to soothe—deep, tongues tangling, saliva mixing, stroking her heart directly for a good while.

"...You know that, right?"

"Yeah..."

Luckily, Soye melted quick, blushing as she settled quietly beside me.

...Man, all together after stream ends. Ryokan flashbacks got me stirring.

'Play it cool for now.' A little indulgence couldn't hurt. Probably.

I tamped down the excitement and refocused on Minji's stream.

A few days later, waiting room outside a large conference room at 'MakeGreatDrama' studio. Audition hopefuls—actors, celebs, idols—crowded the spot for the role tryouts.

"Now starting auditions for Pyo Gain and the Nine Sisters roles~"

"Sounds like it's about to kick off."

Soye and Haeun were deep in script review in the waiting room. They nodded.

"Like I said on the way, they approached us ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for the audition. No big issues, you'll snag the roles. Sisters fit you two better than anyone anyway."

"What's your basis for that edge?"

Haeun grinned mischievously with her teasing jab.

"Familiar chemistry from practice, you two look alike..."

"Alike? Where?"

Soye's innocent question—I halted a chestward glance and nodded. "The vibe... maybe. Long-time practice makes you feel like family."

"Hmm, weren't thinking something pervy just now, were you?"

"Never."

Quick denial, but Haeun squinted suspiciously, and Soye caught on with a smirk.

"Waiting numbers 67 and 68, please come in~!"

"We're up first."

"Back soon."

"Fighting!"

Soye and Haeun waved casually and headed in. Five minutes later? They popped right back out.

"Whoa, that was quick. How'd it go?"

I asked anxiously, but their faces beamed.

"Went great."

"Felt good. Director and PD seemed satisfied."

"Yeah. Tested us and praised no 'idol vibes'..."

"Ooh, nice!"

Freaked at how fast, but guess no need for more looks.

Clap! Quick high-five all around, then sat them down.

"You two chill. Grabbing drinks."

Tension release had me parched. Same for them.

"Water."

"Zero Cola."

"Got it~"

Out to the hall. Saw a vending machine on the way in... Ah, there.

Water, zero cola... Huh, Pride Garlic Cola? Worth a shot?

"Sigh, what the hell's with the sudden no-show."

"I'm thrown too. Rehearsals start next week—how..."

Pondering mystery drinks, serious voices from behind. Turned—drama director and PD.

"Hello!"

"Oh, hi. You're...?"

"Lee Sejin from Da'o Entertainment, managing The Queens. My girls just auditioned for Pyo Gain and Nine Sisters."

"Ah~ Soye and Haeun! Their manager, huh."

Didn't know me but knew them? Good sign.

"Their sister chemistry was killer. Was gonna tell you later, but looks like they'll get the sisters. Hit me right away."

"For real? Thank you!"

Still actors left, but saying this? Total green light. Awesome.

"Thanks nothing—you took our request. Huge relief. Finding actors for 'similar but different' sisters is tough. Nailed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it thanks to you, haha."

"That no-show talk... something wrong?"

Directors exchanged glances. PD sighed deep and spoke.

"Well, it's like this..."