Chapter 137: Protagonist (2)
Chapter 137: Protagonist (2)
Jo Seo-hee had been in a good mood lately.
It was because Seo-yeon, who had seemed a bit miffed before, had been acting quite affectionate recently.
Is it because we went to that high-society party together?
She couldn't be sure of the exact reason.
However, it was clear that her favorability had risen.
The frequency with which Seo-yeon answered her calls had increased, and if things continued at this rate, she might even get her to use casual speech soon!
And the preparations I’m making with Lee Ji-yeon are progressing steadily.
To be honest, Seo-hee hadn't been very interested in what Ji-yeon had suggested.
At least, not at first.
She had thought of it as nothing more than an internet streamer using a strange avatar. But...
It actually has some marketability.
That was the thought she had after getting a better grasp of the situation.
The biggest advantage is that your face isn't exposed.
For a broadcaster, it was natural for their face to become public knowledge.
However, with this "VTuber" thing, there was no risk of that.
Since it was almost impossible for one's identity to be specified, even if a controversy arose, it would end at the "avatar" level.
It wouldn't deeply affect one's personal identity or life.
At least, that was how it looked to Jo Seo-hee, a professional celebrity.
...I suppose you could call it a place where you can receive the audience's attention while under relatively less stress.
As a streamer, it was impossible not to receive any stress at all.
However, the ability to communicate with viewers while hiding her identity felt like a massive merit to Jo Seo-hee.
VTuber.
Avatar.
And the anime art style.
These elements didn't really matter to Jo Seo-hee.
In fact, she didn't feel much of anything toward them.
She simply thought, I guess this is how they do things here.
If anything, she thought they were cute.
She figured it would be good to spend some money to make a pretty one.
That was the extent of Jo Seo-hee's impressions.
In truth, people like Seo-hee and Ji-yeon didn't really care if someone watched anime or VTubers. Most of the time, they just accepted it for what it was.
"Hey, Jo Seo-hee. Aren't you spending way too much money?"
Ji-yeon was horrified as she watched Seo-hee conduct intense market research and prepare her avatar with even more fervor.
She had recommended it because it seemed fun, but she hadn't expected Seo-hee to prepare with such passion.
"It looked like a good side job for days when I don't have filming."
"Well, that's true."
There weren't many outlets where one could comfortably communicate with viewers.
Of course, Ji-yeon was hiding the fact that she was the "Actress Lee Ji-yeon," but it was convenient to subtly ask for the public's reaction.
For example, if she asked, "I heard that one drama is fun, has anyone seen it?" she would get immediate feedback.
Of course, the viewership didn't overlap perfectly, but she could ask about all sorts of things.
And for a celebrity, communicating with viewers fulfilled something deep within their hearts.
Though she had learned about VTubers through Seo-yeon, this aspect provided Ji-yeon with a lot of comfort.
I thought she'd be interested, but...
Jo Seo-hee was preparing and researching much more than Ji-yeon had expected.
In fact, it felt like Seo-hee knew more than she did now.
Unlike herself, who had received help from the "Wizard" in various ways, Jo Seo-hee seemed to have used her family's influence to scrape together every bit of information available.
"By the way, Seo-yeon likes this, right?"
"...Seo-yeon?"
Ji-yeon looked puzzled by Seo-hee's strange tone.
"Since that party the other day, we've been speaking comfortably."
"Both of you?"
"...Well, just me."
Jo Seo-hee huffed and crossed her arms, glaring at Lee Ji-yeon as if asking if she really had to point that out.
But she soon slowly lowered her gaze.
Though Jo Seo-hee was often told by others that she was scary, she thought Lee Ji-yeon's appearance was more frightening.
If her own looks gave off an overbearing vibe, Lee Ji-yeon had the kind of face that made people reflexively reach into their wallets to give her money.
Usually, that type of person led groups of female students.
Ji-yeon denied it, but Seo-hee was still suspicious.
There aren't any school violence controversies hidden away, are there?
"...You look at me with a really annoying expression sometimes."
"It... it must be your imagination."
This girl.
She's too quick. Jo Seo-hee cleared her throat and looked away.
Anyway.
I have a good feeling lately.
Seo-yeon supposedly liked these VTubers.
If she appeared through "Ramiel" and showed a friendly side, Seo-yeon would surely love it.
Furthermore, Jo Seo-hee had already watched Ramiel's broadcasts several times.
Including the scenes where a person presumed to be Seo-yeon poured massive amounts of money into the stream.
Ramiel usually responded by banning that version of Seo-yeon.
Or, at most, she would occasionally acknowledge her words.
Me too.
Ji-yeon said she would guide Seo-yeon to watch Seo-hee's broadcast.
Then, wouldn't she be able to communicate with Seo-yeon just like Ji-yeon did?
In other words, Ju Seo-yeon would become her fan!
Thinking about it that way gave her a strange sense of pride.
At this rate, we'll be best friends in no time.
That was what she had been thinking lately.
"Ahem, hem. Um, Seo-yeon. Let's work hard on today's shoot, okay?"
Hyper Action Star.
This was the final shoot to determine which actors from Group A would pass.
Once this was over, all that remained were the quarter-finals, the semi-finals, and finally, the finals.
Since it was a significant milestone, she intended to avoid betraying Seo-yeon today if possible.
No matter how close they were, betraying her here might result in more than just a pout.
As she greeted Seo-yeon with such a refreshing mindset...
"..."
Ju Seo-yeon's gaze was strangely sharp.
She looked Seo-hee up and down, examining her from various angles.
"W-what is it?"
When a flustered Jo Seo-hee asked, Seo-yeon simply shook her head.
No matter how I look at it, it has to be Jo Seo-hee.
The person Ji-yeon had been associating with most frequently lately was Jo Seo-hee.
It was only natural to be suspicious.
Of course, there was the question of why Jo Seo-hee would ever become a VTuber.
However, Seo-yeon's intuition pointed directly at Jo Seo-hee.
Seo-yeon's intuition was notoriously sharp and usually hit the mark.
"Hoooom."
Just when did she get so close to Ji-yeon?
It was a very complicated emotion.
Of course, Seo-yeon didn't feel much about Ji-yeon making friends.
Ji-yeon had always had many friends.
But if that person became a friend of Ramiel, the story changed.
This is unfair.
Seo-yeon's hands trembled.
I'm the one who's been watching Ramiel since she was a small-time streamer.
I communicated more fervently and liked her longer!
To have Jo Seo-hee suddenly swoop in like a hawk and boldly take the spot next to her—it was only natural for her hands to shake and her eyes to fill with jealousy and all sorts of emotions.
Of course, Ji-yeon would be horrified if she knew, but how could she ever imagine her friend was this over-invested in "Ramiel"?
But regardless of that.
I have more VTuber friends now.
That was a part she liked.
If Jo Seo-hee really was that silhouette...
If she really had taken an interest in VTubing and joined Ji-yeon...
Wouldn't they be able to have conversations about it?
Of course, she wouldn't talk about Jo Seo-hee's "avatar."
It would be a personal conversation.
In truth, she couldn't have those kinds of talks with Ji-yeon.
She tended to categorize Ramiel and Ji-yeon as separate entities.
But Jo Seo-hee would likely be the one to bring it up first.
Even if it wasn't about the avatar, she'd bring it up in some other way.
Then they could naturally talk about that world.
She was looking forward to that a little.
But regardless of that.
"Today's final mission for the preliminaries is a large-scale fight scene."
The final mission for the Hyper Action Star preliminaries was very much to Seo-yeon's liking.
Aside from being pleased with the mission...
A fire was still burning within Seo-yeon's heart.
"W-why are you looking at me?"
At the mention of a fight scene, Jo Seo-hee looked at Seo-yeon with a tense face.
The look Seo-yeon was giving her felt incredibly ominous.
And then.
As if being repaid for all her betrayals thus far, Jo Seo-hee was put through the wringer.
She rolled and tumbled with all her might.
And because Jo Seo-hee "sold" the hits quite well, it created a very convincing picture.
Though it was unclear if she was doing it intentionally.
"Now, we will announce the final qualifiers for the preliminaries."
The Round of 16.
These were the ones who had reached the Round of 16 first, proving not just their action skills but their acting ability.
Min Do-ha let out a sigh of relief as she waited for actor Cha Min-gyu's announcement.
It's finally over.
Strangely enough, Seo-yeon hadn't chased her today.
Because of that, she was able to participate in the shoot with a relatively relaxed mind.
Yes, this was a shoot.
What she had been doing until now wasn't filming or acting; it was real life.
Everyone was talking about method acting and whatnot, but it was all nonsense.
Min Do-ha had truly been running for her life.
To survive that monster of a girl.
But now, she was saying goodbye to that monster.
I suppose I was relatively boring today.
She felt she hadn't matched the impact she'd shown while being chased by Ju Seo-yeon.
Well, this is as far as I go.
Through this audition, Min Do-ha had felt her limits.
She had been confident that she could move her body well and act to some degree, but there were plenty of actors like that.
She couldn't match Jo Seo-hee's intelligent acting, nor could she find a way to make herself shine like Han So-yu.
He was just average.
She wondered if her name would have even been mentioned if it weren't for Ju Seo-yeon.
Yes, so it's right for me to stop here.
Min Do-ha muttered that to herself once more as she looked at Cha Min-gyu.
To find out who the final qualifiers for the Round of 16 were.
"Ju Seo-yeon, Jo Seo-hee, and finally, Min Do-ha and Han So-yu."
"?"
"It is these four. Congratulations!"
Applause erupted from all sides.
Applause to congratulate the winners.
Or applause for those who didn't make it.
However, no one thought it was unfair that those four were the ones who passed.
Everyone accepted it.
"Do-ha, congratulations."
"That was a truly incredible performance. I learned a lot."
The actors who had worked with Min Do-ha in the final mission sent her rounds of applause.
Of course, Min Do-ha felt like she was going to cry.
In many different ways.
*
KMB Broadcasting Station.
Drama Department Meeting Room.
Several PDs were gathered, discussing the upcoming broadcast schedules and programming.
Which shows to push during prime time.
And how to release them to match the changing preferences of recent viewers.
"Let's decide on this first."
The one who spoke with a bright smile was PD Baek Tae-soo.
He was the one who had previously shielded Writer Im Jin-ha during Dream Future.
He quietly looked at PD Lee Min-hwa, who was in charge of Sky Garden, and opened his mouth.
"Sky Garden. What do you all think of this?"
"Well..."
The other PDs trailed off at Baek Tae-soo's words.
If Drama Director Ha Tae-oh had been there, they would have said it was "good."
But Ha Tae-oh was not present at today's meeting.
To be precise, he couldn't attend.
He had stepped out briefly for personal business.
Since everything would be reported to him anyway, it didn't matter much.
Regardless, that was why PD Baek Tae-soo could speak with more authority.
Baek Tae-soo's power within KMB was immense, and there were few with similar seniority.
He was effectively in a position to aim for the next Drama Director spot.
Naturally, the other PDs had to watch his mood.
"Honestly, there are many areas of concern."
"Exactly."
PD Baek Tae-soo looked at PD Lee Min-hwa again.
Because of that, Lee Min-hwa's eyes narrowed slightly.
As if enjoying the reaction, Baek Tae-soo's eyes curved softly.
"You used many good actors. You've even cast a large number of the most talked-about actors lately. For example... like Ju Seo-yeon."
She only had two works under her belt.
But she was a young actress who had left an impression far beyond that.
She was one of the actors the market was currently paying close attention to.
On top of that, this was the second "youth drama" following Dream Future.
"Actually, it's hard to even call it a youth drama. Since it's a social satire."
Baek Tae-soo wasn't simply slandering Sky Garden.
In fact, the other PDs clearly shared his unease.
"I heard the script was originally intended for a general programming channel?"
"...Yes."
"I suppose it's because it lacks romance."
It wasn't just lacking; it was non-existent.
This was a fatal issue for a public broadcast station.
At least, that was how the higher-ups tended to think.
"The writer is also essentially on their first project. Of course, I think the way they filled the holes for Writer Im Jin-ha in Dream Future was excellent. I believe they will be a writer who achieves great results in the future."
However.
"There's no guarantee that it will be this project."
The risk of a debut work was that high.
But Sky Garden couldn't be undervalued simply because of that.
The level of the cast was exceptionally high.
"Are you going to put romance in it?"
"They said that's absolutely out of the question."
"Hmm..."
"There are many other good projects besides Sky Garden right now."
"But it seems the Director is pushing for Sky Garden."
"The Director's opinion has already been heavily reflected. But this is another matter..."
The PDs spoke while glancing at Baek Tae-soo.
Currently, there were three major dramas KMB was pushing.
One was Sky Garden.
But in the eyes of the higher-ups, it was a drama with a strong element of gambling.
Then there were the other two.
One of them was a drama PD Baek Tae-soo was personally in charge of.
The cast was top-tier.
The writer was Kim Myung-yeon, who had produced hit after hit.
And it was a drama infused with romance, exactly what the higher-ups liked.
"What do you think? Which drama should we put our weight behind?"
Baek Tae-soo's words weighed heavily on the KMB Drama Department meeting room.