Chapter 2: Voicecord
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 2: Voicecord
There had been quite a few girls who'd hit on me, so I didn't remember every single one.
Besides, I knew their confessions weren't exactly heartfelt.
What could they possibly know about me to confess like that?
Just because I was tall and decent-looking.
I figured they just thought I'd look good as arm candy.
But even so, I remembered Kim Doah's name.
Because the look on her face when I rejected her confession was seared into my memory.
Neat, straight brown hair.
Round, dark brown eyes.
Eyes welling up with tears the moment I turned her down.
Why cry when you only confessed because of my looks?
What kind of deep emotional bond did we have for you to make a face like the heroine in an anime finale and make things so awkward for me?
The memory of that day resurfaced, and I shook my head.
“Whatever... It’s been a few months anyway.”
It wasn't like Doah had intentionally picked me to be in the same group, so I had no intention of blaming her.
I could only blame the professor's ridiculously clueless randomizer program.
Pushing thoughts of Doah aside, I grabbed my mouse and started browsing through this week's new Luka clips.
Seen it.
Seen this one too.
I even uploaded this one myself.
Luka usually streamed about three times a week, saying she was too busy with her real life to do more.
Fans like me, collectively known as the Pink Army, were always clamoring for her to ditch her real life and stream seven days a week, but Luka would always ignore our demands, saying she still had to go to school.
The short stream times only made her viewers thirstier for more.
I was feeling an insane craving for Luka.
“Haa... I’ve seen them all... Dammit...”
I cupped my hands and rubbed my tired eyes.
Of course, it wasn't hard to kill time in other ways, but the fact remained that Luka was number one in my heart.
Her banter is top-notch. She gets all the otaku jokes. She even mixes in Japanese sometimes. And when her true personality slips out...
Oof... I can't resist.
I immediately went on YouTube to rewatch some clips, and I could feel a sense of peace wash over me.
Man, how great would it be to have a girlfriend like Luka-tan...
I feel like I could spend the whole day smiling...
Ping.
A message popped up in the Voicecord group chat.
[Everyone on Voicecord?]
It was Junseok, the leader of our group project.
[Yeah. I'm on.]
[I'm here too!]
Park Minji.
She was in my major, but to be honest, I'd never spoken to her before.
Since I tried my best to avoid talking to girls in the first place, there were very few female students I'd ever exchanged words with.
[Taemin and Minji are here. Just waiting on Doah?]
[She'll show up.]
[Alright, we need to decide on a topic, so let's join the voice channel when Doah gets here.]
[Okayy]
After about three minutes of idle chatter, Doah finally appeared in the chat.
[Ah, sorry I'm late. Something came up haha]
[Alright, everyone join voice ㄱㄱ]
I plugged in my earphones and clicked the voice chat button, and Junseok's voice came through.
[Ah, ah. Can you hear me?]
[Yep! Loud and clear.]
[You're coming in clear too, Minji. Hey, Taemin, say something.]
[Yeah. I can hear you.]
[Okay... Taemin's good... Is Doah late again? Why isn't she joining?]
Just then.
Doo-doong.
The sound of someone new connecting.
[Ah. Can you hear me?]
[Yeah, Doah. What took you so long?]
Junseok teased her with a playful laugh.
[Ah... I'm sorry...]
[What, were you playing a game, Doah?]
[Huh?]
[No, I mean, it says you're playing a game under your name.]
[Ohh... I just left it on from earlier today. That's not why I was late.]
As I listened quietly to their conversation, I noticed something strange.
Kim Doah.
Why is her mic quality so good?
Minji and Junseok sounded like they were using regular earphones, but when Doah spoke, it felt like all the static in the world disappeared, as if a sudden silence had fallen.
It's almost the same quality as Luka's stream just now.
[Really? What's your rank, Doah?]
[I'm not very good.]
[Silver?]
[No, I'm Bronze.]
[Hey, hey. Enough with the small talk.]
Sensing the meeting was getting sidetracked before it even began, I decided to steer it back on course.
[Right, right. Now that everyone's here, let's start the meeting. To recap the topics that came up in class...]
Honestly, I wasn't that invested in this ad production project, so I was fine with whatever direction we took.
With classes like this, just letting the group members do what they want usually led to the best results.
There was nothing to gain from taking the lead.
[So, to sum it up, I think option 1 and option 2 are our best bets. Let's go one by one and say which one you prefer.]
[I think the first one would be better for getting a good grade.]
[Okay, Minji's for option 1. Taemin?]
[Personally, I like option 2 better.]
[Okay. Doah?]
[I...]
Her voice was hesitant.
[I'm for option 2 as well...]
[I see... Then it looks like we should go with option 2. Minji, are you okay with that? Going with the second option?]
[Yep, yep. Both are fine, so option 2 is no problem! It seems like it'll be easier when we get to the video production stage, too.]
[Okay... Since it's still the first week, let's just solidify the topic and agree to find any related articles or materials before the next class.]
As expected of the first day, there wasn't much to do.
Even though it was online, I still found this time I had to spend working with Doah uncomfortable.
[So, are we done?]
[Uh... Looks like it? Does anyone have any suggestions or anything else to discuss?]
[Ah, Oppa. About next week.]
[Yeah? What about next week?]
[If we have the meeting on Tuesday or Thursday, I don't think I'll be able to make it... Is that okay?]
Tuesday and Thursday?
I couldn't help but cheer inwardly.
Because Tuesday and Thursday were the days of Luka’s virtual idol audition.
Wow... If we'd had the meeting on those days, I was planning to prop up my tablet and watch while we talked...
For any Luka fan, this was a must-watch stream.
Luka had already passed the second round.
Only the third round and the finals were left.
Though I had no idea how the finals would work, but still.
Thank you... Thank you so much... Doah...!
I had thought it would be rude to make up a weird excuse to get out of it, so I offered Doah my deepest gratitude in my heart.
[Uh... In that case, I think I'm only free on Friday. What about everyone else?]
[I can do Friday or Saturday!]
[Friday works for me too.]
[Alright then, let's plan for next Friday around seven or eight, after classes are done. Sound good?]
The world really needs people like Junseok.
Clean facilitation and organization.
A sense of responsibility for the grade.
If you put four people like me in a group, I'm sure the project would be doomed.
[Ah, thank you so much... I have something really important next week. I'll work hard!]
Doah let out a sigh of relief, as if she had something just as important as I did.
[Alright, alright. That's it for today, then! I'm heading out first.]
Ping.
Junseok was the first to leave.
[I'm gonna go too, then~]
Minji left.
Figuring it was all over, I went to the bathroom. When I came back, I was about to disconnect from Voicecord, but...
[Will the spring we spent together ever return?]
What the?
For a moment, I thought I'd left one of Luka's streams or clips playing.
But the only window open on my desktop was Voicecord.
Thinking I must have seen wrong, I scanned my desktop again. I could feel my heart starting to beat faster.
No... but...
But why... is it coming from there...?
I swallowed hard and turned my volume all the way up.
[The warm sunlight. That dazzling smile.]
It wasn't someone singing directly into a mic.
It sounded like a voice echoing from a distance, being picked up by the microphone.
But the voice was too raw and vivid to be a recording.
And yet, I knew.
There was no way I wouldn't recognize this voice.
[It's what lets me breathe, even now.]
The singing grew louder, and I could also hear footsteps approaching.
[Hm~ Hmmm~ Hmmm~]
A pleasant hum.
It was followed by the click of a mouse...
[Hello...? Taemin Oppa...?]
Hearing Doah's flustered voice, I clapped a hand over my mouth.
[Hello...?]
When there was no response after a few seconds, Doah disconnected from the call.
Thump-thump-thump-thump.
My heart felt like it was going to explode, as if I'd just run a sprint while holding my breath.
No, right...? I must have misheard, right? This...
I could only pray desperately that I was mistaken.
It doesn't make any sense...
How could Doah be her...?
If what I was thinking was true...
Then I had rejected my idol, my ideal type.
I had rejected Luka-tan.