Chapter 34: Home Service
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 34: Home Service
By now, I could tell just by looking at her face.
Having seen Doah flustered so many times, I instinctively sensed she was in trouble.
“Ah… um…”
Doah’s eyes trembled.
If she delayed her answer any longer, I had a feeling Junseok would start getting suspicious, even if he wasn't before.
…It was my turn to step in.
As a member of the Pink Army, I couldn’t let anyone at school find out that Doah was Luka.
“Hey.”
I shot Junseok a glare, using the most abrasive tone I could muster.
Ugh. I’m not used to this.
“Yeah?”
Junseok’s gaze shifted from Doah to me.
“You’re the group leader and you didn’t even bother to look that up?”
Junseok looked completely dumbfounded by the sudden accusation.
Sorry.
I don’t mean any harm, Junseok.
“What? Do I have to know all the controls for VRWorld just because I’m the group leader?”
“Doah knows. Why don’t you?”
My tone was practically that of a third-rate punk trying to pick a fight.
But if my unreasonable nagging could buy Doah some time, I figured that was enough.
“Hey. Han Taemin.”
Annoyed by my words, Junseok clicked his tongue in disbelief.
“Do you know?”
“Know what?”
“I mean, you’re jumping on me for being the group leader when you don’t know the VR controls either. Honestly, I think that’s pretty out of line.”
His furrowed brow showed just how irritated he was.
“Oppa, what’s wrong? Class is about to start,” Minji said, trying to mediate as she cautiously eyed the suddenly frigid atmosphere.
“I already looked everything up before I came.”
“…Seriously?”
My brazen response made Junseok ask again, his voice full of doubt.
“Want me to tell you the hotkeys or something?”
Wow… I’ve never said anything like that in my entire life.
I really hate characters like this in comics.
I felt so cringe at my own words, it was like a scene with a minor villain that makes you want to hit the skip button.
“How do you set up the camera?”
“Press the menu tab, go to the camera window at the bottom, and press the top option. That should do it.”
Oh. Shit. Thank you, Lord.
Thank god it was something I knew.
The truth was, despite my confident tone, I hadn’t actually done most of this myself, so there was a lot I didn’t know.
All my knowledge came from watching Luka’s streams over her shoulder, so to speak.
If it wasn’t a feature Luka used, I would have never been able to answer.
“…Is that right?”
When Junseok turned to Doah for confirmation, she nodded twice.
“Wait. How do you know that?”
Junseok was flustered that I had actually gotten it right.
“Have you played VRWorld before? What’s the deal?”
“I took the time to study up for our group project filming, you asshole. Why are you giving me shit for being prepared when you’re the one who wasn’t?”
“You’re the one who gave me shit. And it’s not like that was something we all agreed to do.”
“It just means I’m taking this seriously and putting in the effort.”
Normally, that kind of excuse wouldn’t have worked for a second, but this project was different.
Thanks to Doah, my contribution to the group project had somehow skyrocketed, so I was in a position to say something like that.
“Anyway, if we decide to film with this, everyone will need to know how to use it, so Junseok, Minji, you two should check out the VRWorld tutorial or something.”
“Okay, okay. If the professor gives us the go-ahead after his feedback today, we’ll obviously have to,” Minji said. I could see she was trying her best to move past the topic, clearly uncomfortable with the tense air.
Usually, when other people argued, I’d just stay quiet and watch from the sidelines, but popular kids were different right from the get-go.
“Fine. That’s a good point, but from now on, don’t talk to me in that shitty tone, asking what I’m doing as the group leader.”
Junseok let out a sigh, signaling he was ready to drop it.
“Yeah. Sorry.”
I tossed the word out casually, but inwardly, I was practically prostrating myself in apology.
I’m sorry, group leader. Seriously, fucking gomen.
I’ll have to buy Junseok a snack later.
With the immediate fire put out, I could finally turn my attention to Doah.
Is she okay…
Our eyes met in the air.
Neither of us was looking directly.
With Minji sitting between us, all we could do was steal glances at each other.
But in that brief instant, we both knew that we had caught the other looking.
A faint blush appeared on Doah’s cheeks.
The moment our eyes met, she flinched and immediately stared straight ahead.
…She probably thinks I’m a weirdo.
I might have looked like the kind of person who nitpicks over stupid things just to tear someone down.
I only wanted to show her my good side…
Maybe there was a better way to draw his attention, but in that short amount of time, I felt like that was the only way I could create a diversion.
“Alright. This was the VR group, correct?”
The professor’s feedback time had returned without fail.
Sitting in his chair, the professor let out a sound of admiration as he watched the video Doah had prepared.
“Ooh…! Well, it certainly looks possible to create a video with this, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, sir.”
Junseok stuck close to his side like a secretary and answered.
“There’s someone actually moving the character inside, right?”
“Yes, yes.”
“Who was it? If you don’t mind me asking.”
At the professor’s question, Doah timidly raised her hand.
“I did it.”
“How was it?”
The Fourth Industrial Revolution, the Metaverse… do all professors get this excited about this stuff?
The professor looked at Doah with keen interest, like a child who had discovered a fun new toy.
“Um… well, it was fascinating. And I think it’s more than possible to produce a video with this.”
“Then it seems like all you need now is some good content planning. Can you move the other objects inside as well?”
“Yes. We can.”
“Excellent. Excellent.”
The professor stroked his chin for a moment, then laid out what he wanted us to prepare for next week. We diligently jotted it down in our notepads.
“Phew… Well, I guess it’s like Taemin said. We really need to learn the VR controls now, huh?”
“But will we be okay without more headsets?”
At Minji’s point, Doah spoke up.
“That will probably depend on how many actors we decide to use.”
“Ah. So if we only use one, you can just do it, Doah?”
“Yes.”
Junseok rubbed his face with his hands before nodding.
“Alright, let’s set aside another day to talk about the overall plan, not today. For now, let’s check out the maps and decide which one to use.”
“Okayy.”
Class ended just like that, and Junseok, saying he had something urgent to do, left the classroom immediately.
“Doah.”
The words, ‘How could you reveal that you’re a VR pro like that!’ were at the tip of my tongue, but I kept my expression calm as I looked at her.
“Yes.”
“If you run into any trouble while you’re messing with the VR, let me know. I really did look up blogs and stuff to learn how to do things.”
“Thank you.”
Minji, who was stuck between us, saw us and a smile spread across her face. She shot up from her seat.
“Aigoo~ I guess I was being dense~”
Minji quickly gathered her things, grabbed her bag, and whispered something in Doah’s ear.
Doah’s ears turned redder and redder.
“…Hey!”
At Doah’s shout, Minji let out a playful laugh, patted Doah on the shoulder, and said she was leaving first.
“What did she say to you?”
“…I don’t know.”
I asked because I was curious, but Doah’s non-answer only made me more curious.
“But, Oppa.”
“Yeah?”
“Were you okay studying VR without a headset?”
“I just clicked around with the mouse to see the functions, like when I was with you. That’s all.”
I want one too, but I don’t have the money, Luka-tan.
Of course, if I got a full refund for all the donos I’ve sent you, I might be able to afford one.
“Um… in that case…”
Doah’s voice trailed off.
I couldn’t quite guess what she wanted to say, so I just blinked at her.
“Would you like to try the headset?”
…Try the headset?
Is she offering to lend it to me?
When I didn’t answer, Doah added another sentence.
“I mean, you seemed kind of interested… so… yeah… if not, then it’s fine…”
“No, I’ll try it.”
I said I’d borrow it, but I thought the timing was terrible.
After all, the time I’d need a VR headset the most is when I’m doing content with Luka.
What was the point of taking the headset away from Luka?
I go to the virtual world to see you.
Entering the virtual world by myself was a complete reversal of priorities.
“Really? Then I’ll bring it to you tomorrow.”
For a second, I almost instinctively asked if she had a VR stream on Friday.
A cold sweat trickled down my forehead.
Han Taemin, you really need to watch your mouth.
“Ah, that’d be great. Uh, when do you need it back by?”
“I’d appreciate it if you could give it back before Saturday.”
So I’d get it on Thursday and have to return it by Friday.
It seemed like she needed it for the Closer collab stream on Saturday.
“Okay. Can I just connect it and use it right away?”
“Well, the initial setup can be a little difficult.”
“Oh.”
“So, it’s usually a lot easier if someone who’s done it before helps you out.”
“Then I guess you’ll have to come over to my place.”
“…Ah?”
The exclamation that often came up during Luka's streams slipped from Doah's lips.
Wondering if I’d said something weird, I replayed my words in my head…
No. Wait. Hold on.
“S-So… you mean I should really come over…?”
…Luka is coming to my house?