Chapter 181: And Yet, You Enjoyed It Too.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 181: And Yet, You Enjoyed It Too.
Work on the teacher's song, "[I'll Cheer For You!]," was officially complete today, all the way through mastering.
Since that day, the recording had been done entirely online, and thankfully, Doah had managed to pull off her part.
“You worked hard, Luka-ssi. Seriously, if you hadn't been able to do it, I would've had to find someone else.”
The teacher listened to the final version one more time and nodded in satisfaction.
“Of course she did. Luka's a great singer.”
“Hey, Taemin. Aren't you bothered, even after seeing the real person behind the VTuber?”
“Bothered by what?”
“You know how it is. People fall in love with the avatar, but the illusion shatters when they see the person in real life. There are tons of stories like that.”
The words she's even cuter in person nearly escaped my lips, but I managed to swallow them back down.
“Ah. Well, something like that isn't enough to stop my love for Luka.”
“Ugh… look at you, practically oozing devotion. Seriously, it still surprises me. I don't get why a guy like you is into this stuff.”
“You like them too, don't you? Seems like you've seen plenty of real faces but you're still a fan.”
“I told you. I only like Leah-ssi. Because she's a good singer.”
“Professional singers are better, though.”
He must have seen countless amazing singers.
“There are plenty of skilled singers, but very few who have a voice that's my type. The longer you work in this industry, the more defined your preferences become.”
The teacher clicked his mouse and stretched his arms out wide.
“So. Your song is next. When should we schedule the recording?”
“Shouldn't we do it on a day you're available?”
“What? I'm gonna leave it to you and head out.”
“Huh…?”
“Hey, you watched me do it from right beside me.”
It felt like some pro gamer at an arcade telling me, "You saw how I did it, now you beat it."
“If I could do everything just by watching, wouldn't I already be a much more amazing person?”
“Don't worry. I'll check it over at the end, so just relax and record it the way you want. Besides, you'd be walking on eggshells with me here, anyway.”
He wasn't exactly wrong.
There was a definite shift in who was in charge depending on whether he was there or not. I'd always find myself sneaking glances at him, no matter what I was doing.
“Then, is it okay if I call you if I run into any problems?”
“Hey. Honestly, recording is just telling the kids to sing, stop, and do it again. That's it. What's there to call about? Just call me later when you're mixing the sound.”
“…Okay.”
“So, when's the date?”
He asked me to name two days, so I said Wednesday and Thursday.
This time, too, it was only for those who wanted to come.
Doah and Fumurin would probably come again, but I wasn't sure about the others.
“Alright. You worked hard. Let's sign the contract with the company after this Closer Project is finished. How about that?”
To be honest, it wouldn't matter if I signed now.
The situation was different from when I signed with YM.
Two things had changed significantly.
First, this was something I genuinely enjoyed and wanted to be good at.
Second, I had a reliable teacher I could lean on.
If I had to pick one more thing, I thought it was also great that I didn't have to show my face.
I already don't like people staring at me, so if I had become a full-blown celebrity, wouldn't Doah and I have had to always hide when we were together?
“Sounds good.”
“Okay. Then I'm off. I think I'm going drinking with the V-MAX team today, you wanna come?”
“Who's that?”
“Seriously. Do you really not know anything besides VTubers?”
The teacher stared at me, dumbfounded.
“I don't know all the VTubers either.”
“Anyway. There's this producer who's… not quite my rival, but whenever my name comes up, his name pops up like we're twins.”
Yep. Okay. Decision made.
“I'm not going.”
“…But I'm paying?”
“Then I should definitely not go, to help you save money.”
The cost of all the food he'd treated me to already felt like a small fortune.
“Suit yourself. Well, I'm heading out then?”
“Okay. See you~”
“Make sure you lock the office door on your way out.”
“Yep.”
After reviewing what I learned today, I closed my laptop and stood up.
I checked that all the equipment was powered off and that the door was locked, then took out my phone and called Doah.
[Hello.]
[Hah… hah… Hello?]
[What are you doing?]
[Home workout…]
Doah had started doing home workouts, saying she felt like she'd gained weight recently.
To my eyes, she was just cute, but I had no intention of stopping her if she was determined to work hard.
[Okay. I'm hanging up.]
[Aaaah… Why are you hanging up! Don't go!]
[What? Weren't you working out?]
[Actually… I really wanted to stop… but I didn't have an excuse…]
Imagining her panting and squatting in her room alone, a smile naturally formed on my face.
[You should've just not done it then. Why go through all that trouble?]
[No! Oppa! You don't understand. My belly fat is no joke, you know? It's on another level!]
[I was thinking of buying chicken for dinner.]
No answer came.
[Should I not buy it?]
[Ughh…]
It was obvious she was probably grabbing her hair and screaming in despair.
[Tell me now. If you say you're not eating, I won't bother buying it.]
[Which brand are you getting?]
So she wasn't going to say she wouldn't eat it.
[Hana Chicken?]
[…Then I'll have the soy sauce flavor.]
Doah answered in a voice that was barely a whisper.
Ah. She's so cute. It was a devastating level of cuteness.
Like a wicked devil, I whispered sweet words to her.
[The weather's nice, should we have a beer with it?]
[Ah. Beer is a no-go. Absolutely not.]
[Ah… I guess I'll have to drink alone then.]
I didn't particularly crave a drink, but teasing Doah was just too much fun.
[W-well… maybe a small can would be okay?]
That's right. Use me as an excuse and eat to your heart's content, Kim Doah.
I was already grinning, thinking about poking her tummy after she was full.
After hanging up, I arrived in her neighborhood and immediately ordered takeout from the chicken place.
Half soy sauce, half seasoned, just as Doah requested.
The smell alone was incredibly tantalizing.
Arriving in front of her house, I knocked on the door like a father coming home.
“Doah, I'm here.”
When the door opened, Kim Luka-ssi came out to greet me.
Her hair was still damp, as if she had just showered.
“Wow. That chicken smells amazing.”
“So you like the chicken more than me, is that it?”
I'm starting to feel a little hurt.
“Hey, of course not. I should get a kiss in now, before we eat.”
Doah smoothly deflected my words and gave me a kiss.
The way she stood on her tiptoes was as cute as ever.
We set up the table, opened the food, and sat facing each other as we split our wooden chopsticks.
“Ah! I split them unevenly.”
“Here. Use these.”
When I offered her my own unused pair, Doah winked one eye and looked up at me.
“Ooh~ What's with the good manners~”
“It's all part of the Doah-ssi premium service, of course.”
“Don't you dare help another girl with her food. I'm serious.”
“What? You told me not to even eat with other girls. How would I even get the chance?”
“I don't know. Anyway, it's forbidden.”
She must have been hungry, because Doah tore into a chicken leg fiercely.
“And you said you were on a diet.”
Especially when you love food this much.
“Today is my once-a-week cheat day.”
“So you're saying you won't eat anything delicious tomorrow?”
“That's right. Tomorrow is just salad and chicken breast. And fruit.”
The sight of her holding a thick piece of fried chicken instead of healthy chicken breast looked quite ironic.
“Oh, right. Doah. The recording for your group's 'Summer Records' is set for next Wednesday or Thursday. You'll get a notification soon.”
“Really? Will it be the same as last time?”
“But the teacher probably won't be there this time.”
“What? Then I'll go separately with Murin.”
I couldn't guess the reason for Doah's sudden change of plans.
“Why? It's fine if you come together.”
“No. When else will I get a chance to be alone with you there! Don't you want to be alone with me?”
“That's not it…”
“No, no. Cancel that. I should go with Leah.”
What was this sudden whim? I couldn't quite follow Doah's train of thought.
“Why? You want to go with Leah?”
“No. I'm just curious to see Leah's face.”
“Ah. Right, you said you haven't seen her.”
“Right. And I'm also curious to see how well she actually sings.”
Actions would explain it better than words. I gave her a thumbs-up.
“She's ridiculously good.”
“She is good.”
I expected her to get annoyed, but it seemed like she was going to let it slide today.
“Oppa… do you like girls who are good at singing…?”
“It's not a bad thing if they're good. But I like Luka's voice the best.”
If she wanted reassurance, I was more than happy to give it.
Kim Doah-ssi grinned foolishly with sauce on her lips.
“Hey. Wipe the sauce off your mouth before you smile.”
“Ah. I don't know. I'm just gonna drink today.”
Forgetting all about her diet, Doah gulped down her beer.
“Yeah~ Just eat and relax! Relax!”
“You drink too, Oppa! Let's drink 'til we drop!”
Of course, there was no way either of us would 'drop' from a small can of beer.
The next day, Doah whined beside me all day, blaming me for her weight gain.
…And yet, you enjoyed it too.