Chapter 59: Crossed Good Intentions
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 59: Crossed Good Intentions
[Hello, members of CLOSER!]
[Finally! The official release date for our first CLOSER music video has been announced!]
After receiving the message from Manager unnie, my heart started pounding just from looking at the screen.
Of course, I hadn't actually participated in much of the music video shoot itself.
For the dancing, most of it was motion-captured from professional dancers, and I only did some of the acting.
That was because the company said they would handle the rest of the technically difficult parts.
[Whoa. Awesome. When is it?]
Leah, who wasn't much of a talker, was the first to reply.
As expected of the one most passionate about music among us, Leah had a tendency to get more excited than anyone whenever teasers like this dropped.
[The full version is scheduled for December 1st, and the teaser will likely be released in the last week of November!]
[Kyaaaa! I'm so exciteddd!]
Murin, who was always the most dramatic whether we were streaming together or not, expressed her joy to the fullest in the chat.
[So is there anything we need to do separately?]
When I asked to confirm, Manager unnie just told us to please, please refrain from any spoilers.
[Ahem... ahem!]
As if she had something to feel guilty about, Clover unnie sent a crying emoji.
I knew we shouldn't, but I could also understand Clover unnie's situation.
I think we sang the same part over 100 times a day.
A moment of carelessness…
…was highly likely to be the moment we'd let a spoiler slip.
[Anyway! Everyone, please! Refrain from spoilers, and I'll update you immediately as soon as any additional schedules are confirmed!]
As soon as Manager unnie's announcement was over, the members said their goodbyes as if on cue.
[Thank you!]
[Thank yooou~]
[Good work, everyone!]
Closing the Voicecord window, I pushed my chair all the way back and leaned back.
I placed a hand on my forehead.
Our song is coming out.
Honestly, I had no idea how well it would do, but the simple fact that our song was being released felt so surreal.
Because I was just a completely ordinary person.
The kind of person who just carried a backpack to school like everyone else, and chugged energy drinks to cram for midterms.
The fact that someone like me was releasing an album as a singer felt completely unreal.
Still, I was happy.
I picked up my phone and opened my recent calls list.
[Han Taemin Oppa]
...Does that look too impersonal for a boyfriend?
The name saved in my contacts seemed a little dry to me.
We're a couple now, it would be nice to have nicknames or terms of endearment...
The list of things I want to do keeps growing.
Take today, for example.
Alcohol...
After hearing that Oppa does aegyo when he drinks, I instinctively felt that I absolutely had to go drinking with him.
Kim Doah, the heavy drinker.
It wasn't widely known, but I was someone who took quite a bit of pride in my tolerance for alcohol.
I can handle about two bottles of soju without a problem.
Based on the results from when I tested myself at home, I figured it would be more than enough to handle Oppa, who's a lightweight.
And I was really looking forward to it.
Just what kind of aegyo did he do that made Yoonje oppa guard it as such a top secret?
If it really contains some kind of devastatingly cute charm, then drinking in front of other women is forbidden for Oppa.
Absolutely forbidden.
Because if he went around spreading his aegyo with that handsome face, it was obvious all sorts of women would flock to him.
As I nodded to myself, making my own little plan, I also thought that something about it was kind of funny.
I mean, I do aegyo in front of thousands of people every day.
Most of the time, I even get paid for it.
A sense of guilt I'd never felt before seemed to be poking at me.
Streaming is streaming. Real life is real life.
My wicked boyfriend, Lucario-ssi, who had infiltrated both my streaming and real life, would have to pay the price for unsettling my heart.
I slid my thumb over and pressed the call button.
[Hello.]
Like most people, Oppa's voice changes slightly when he's on the phone.
It gets a little deeper, I guess.
[Hello.]
[Yeah. What's up?]
...I don't like it.
Even though we'd decided to date, I didn't like that tone of his, as if he was asking for my reason for calling.
It makes it seem like I'm the only one who wants to talk.
[...I just called.]
[Oh, yeah?]
[What were you doing?]
I had to take care of some CLOSER-related work after coming back from school during the day, so I hadn't been able to spend time with Oppa.
[Me? Uh... um...]
Oppa trailed off.
I could feel my internal radar perk up.
[You were watching something weird, weren't you.]
[No, not at all.]
[Then why didn't you answer right away?]
[That's because...]
[No, what is it? It's more suspicious when you don't say anything.]
Oppa was silent for a moment.
[...ka.]
[Huh?]
[I was watching Luka...]
I wasn't sure how to feel about that.
Should I be happy that he was at least thinking of me?
[Uh... what were you watching?]
[You know, like those compilations of clips other people have edited together.]
[Yeah.]
[I was watching one of the older ones.]
[...Instead of watching that, you could have just called me.]
He can contact me whenever he wants.
His favorite, Luka-tan, is me, so why doesn't he contact me first!
[I figured you'd be busy, that's all.]
As Oppa tried to laugh it off vaguely, I emphasized my point again.
[From now on, every time you want to watch a Luka clip, text me.]
[I don't think your phone's vibration motor would survive...?]
[I don't care.]
If he texts, I'll just call him right away.
Realizing just how much Oppa liked Luka, a small sense of greed bloomed inside me.
[...Oppa.]
[Yeah.]
[Should I tell you a secret?]
[What is it?]
Truthfully, if Oppa was someone who was serious about CLOSER, then I was a person who knew way too many things he'd be curious about.
[Promise. Promise you really won't tell anyone anywhere.]
[Yeah. Promise.]
Oppa must have been incredibly curious about what I had to say, because he repeated my words like an obedient puppy.
[We, CLOSER...]
I dragged it out intentionally.
Building anticipation is, after all, a basic skill for any VTuber.
As I drew out my words, Taemin Oppa let out a pained sound, as if he couldn't stand the wait.
[Ah. What is it? Tell me quickly.]
I should stop teasing him.
[We're releasing a song in Decembeeeer!]
[Whoa. Holy crap. Wait. Was this announced? I don't think I saw it.]
[No, Oppa. If it had been announced, would I be calling it a secret?]
[...Good point.]
Hearing his dumbfounded voice, I let out a small chuckle.
[You have to keep it a secret.]
[Wow... so that day is really coming!]
Oppa let out a deep exclamation, as if overcome with emotion.
He seemed even happier about it than I was.
[Ah. I was seriously starting to think next year would come before it was released.]
[Aww~ It wouldn't have taken until next year~]
I had predicted it would be released within the year at the latest.
[Um... then, Doah...]
The flirtatiousness contained in that low voice.
I instinctively knew Oppa was about to ask for something.
[Yes?]
[Could you maybe sing just one line for me?]
Oppa's unexpected request sparked a fierce internal conflict within me.
...I already spoiled it, should I just sing it for him?
No. But what if he's disappointed after hearing it?
Gotta lay the groundwork first.
[But my voice is a little hoarse right now, so I might not sing it well...]
[That's okay.]
[It's been a while since I practiced for the recording.]
[I'll love anything you sing for me.]
...Does this person even know what he's saying?
Of course, he might have been saying it to the idol Luka from the virtual world, but his words were more than enough to make my heart burn.
[Then... I'll do it...?]
Right. I've sung this song a thousand times.
But I was more nervous singing for this one person, Oppa, than for thousands of viewers.
[A faintly warm memory]
[A memory that spreads like watercolor]
So far, so good.
[On the street where we were together]
Please don't let my voice crack!
[Today, again, I wait for you~]
Ahh... I did it...!
Thinking I'd gotten through the part I was most worried about, I let out a sigh of relief internally.
Now it was time to hear Oppa's reaction.
With a nervous heart, I told him that was the end of the preview.
[Uh... how was it? I didn't sing it well, right? When I was recording, it was definitely...]
[No!]
My excuses, which were starting to ramble on out of embarrassment, were cut short.
[It's so good!]
In an excited tone, Oppa continued to shower me with praise.
[No! Just hearing that part alone is amazing!]
[This is it. Once it's out, it's guaranteed to blow up.]
[Haa... Luka-tan... seriously, how can you be so...]
I had been lost in the sentiment of singing a song for my boyfriend, but the more we talked, the more Pink Army emotes started to cloud my mind.
[It feels nice to be praised by you, Oppa. Heh.]
Still, I was happy.
[Ah. I seriously, completely love you. Luka-tan.]
...What?