Chapter 195: Fun Overseas Filming (1)
Chapter 195: Fun Overseas Filming (1)
To put it simply, Seo-yeon was miffed.
She could overlook the hidden camera prank itself.
At the time, she had been too flustered to think straight, but she had seen Korean celebrities go through similar things a few times before.
In fact, since they were filming at a ryokan, she really should have questioned why there were no staff members around.
However, there was no reason for them to ignore her so heartlessly while she was being chased by a ghost.
"I saw it while I was desperately running away from that ghost. I saw you, Sora, trying the hardest to close that wall."
Seo-yeon spoke bluntly.
Sora, who had fainted on the spot and only woken up ten minutes later, felt wronged by Seo-yeon's words.
Desperately running? When exactly?
Thinking back, she did feel like something else had been following behind Seo-yeon.
The problem was that Seo-yeon had been crawling toward them at such an incredible speed that Sora couldn't remember the details clearly.
"B-But why did you pick up an axe?"
"To protect myself in case the ghost attacked me."
"……."
Of course, the axe was a prop made of somewhat sturdy plastic.
Even so, hadn't she been chasing them while slamming it against the floor?
Sora wondered how such a thing was even possible, but she didn't dare ask further.
Seo-yeon was currently huffing and puffing in annoyance.
How could they ignore a cute girl running for her life?
Actually, it wasn't just Sora.
When Seo-yeon had barely managed to grab the closing wall and pull it open, she had seen the male actors running away with her.
At least they weren't as scary because their ghost makeup had mostly rubbed off while they were fleeing.
"I was so scared my legs gave out."
"Ah, so that's why..."
"I had to crawl with all my might using just my arms to escape."
Normally, people can't crawl that fast using only their arms.
Was it only possible because it was Seo-yeon?
Moreover, crawling that quickly should have left her legs scraped and bruised, yet there wasn't a single scratch on her.
「Wow, you really got us there.」
The day after the hidden camera filming ended.
Producer Nanjo Katsuo, who had watched the entire situation unfold, spoke with genuine surprise.
「To think you'd realize we were setting up a prank and pull a counter-prank on us instead.」
「Right?? It was like she was saying, 'Since when did you think I wasn't in on the prank?' or something.」
「That ghost acting you did to scare us back was truly magnificent. It was the best. Simply the best.」
Seo-yeon stood there blankly, not knowing how to respond to PD Nanjo's praise-filled remarks.
I have no idea what he's saying.
She thought her listening skills were decent because she watched anime, but listening to a native speaker was a completely different story.
Specifically, she knew PD Nanjo could speak Korean, so she wondered why he couldn't just speak to her in Korean.
Furthermore, she couldn't tell if the other people were Japanese actors or staff members.
Please translate.
Seo-yeon signaled Sora with her eyes.
Of course, in Sora's eyes, Seo-yeon's gaze felt more like: 'Hey, Translator. Aren't you going to translate?'
Sora hurriedly translated Nanjo's words for Seo-yeon.
"Uh, well. He says the reaction to the hidden camera prank was great."
"Really? Honestly, I was running away so frantically that I'm not sure. Um, please tell them that the actors did a great job playing the ghosts."
If Sora mentioned anything about a "counter-prank" or "acting like a ghost," Seo-yeon would undoubtedly get upset again.
Thus, Sora had no choice but to soften Nanjo's words appropriately.
After all, the Seo-yeon who looked like something out of a nightmare was, in her own mind, just a "cute girl (self-proclaimed)" running for her life.
"By the way, when will the prank be aired?"
「It will probably air in three days. There isn't much to edit. We were originally going to put something else in, but it's better to split this into two episodes.」
The conversation flowed naturally through Sora's translation.
It really is convenient having a native speaker around, Seo-yeon thought.
Anyway, the reaction seems good, so I guess it's fine.
That aside, she thought the level of hidden camera pranks in Japan was quite impressive.
In Korea, there were so many things you weren't allowed to do on variety shows lately that this type of program was practically impossible to make.
While Japan could be excessively extreme at times, she felt that the "pure entertainment" aspect pursued by variety shows remained intact.
Though sometimes it's a bit too much.
She had been genuinely, incredibly startled by this prank.
"Come to think of it, this isn't the only variety show we're filming in Japan, right?"
After parting ways with PD Nanjo, Seo-yeon moved to the accommodation they had booked for their stay in Japan.
She had heard they would be staying for about two weeks, and there was no way they would just be playing around the whole time.
"Huh? Seo-yeon, didn't you check the schedule?"
"I did, but some parts were a bit vague."
To be precise, she had heard they were only doing one thing.
But since they did the hidden camera prank yesterday, hadn't they already done one?
"That was a new addition. The one we originally planned to do is an interview-style variety show."
"Aha."
"And if we have time, it might be good to film one more?"
What should she say about Japanese hotels?
They were just... hotels. There wasn't a massive difference.
I liked the ryokan better.
Was it called a ryokan?
Anyway, Seo-yeon found that place more interesting.
Even if it was a fake one.
If it's an interview show, is it because of Dream Future?
Come to think of it, Ma Yeon-woo had said something like this when they met a few days ago.
"Dream Future is quite popular in Japan these days."
"What? That show?"
"……Hey, 'that show'? That's a bit harsh."
"No, I mean. It just didn't feel like the kind of drama that would work overseas."
Since Golden Duckling, MDC had been in constant contact to get Seo-yeon on other variety shows.
Seo-yeon was also interested, so her visits to MDC had increased lately. That was when she ran into Ma Yeon-woo, who was waiting to appear on a music show.
"It feels like it fits the Japanese sensibility perfectly. And your popularity there is quite something."
"Really?"
"Your appearance is exactly the kind of visual they like over there."
Is that so?
Seo-yeon did feel that there were many anime characters with a similar style to her.
They called it Yamato Nadeshiko, a traditional image of beauty pursued in Japan. Apparently, her image fit that perfectly.
"Image-wise, I mean. Just image-wise."
"……Why are you emphasizing that so much?"
"No reason, just saying."
Wearing his usual cocky smile, Ma Yeon-woo crossed his arms confidently.
Perhaps because JustX's song was a candidate for first place on today's music show, his confidence was particularly prominent.
"Since you're here, watch the show before you go."
At his words, Seo-yeon suddenly thought of the other members of JustX.
The guys who caused a lot of trouble in various ways.
The time for them to cause a major incident is approaching.
Seo-yeon glanced at Ma Yeon-woo.
In any case, for Ma Yeon-woo, who took great pride in JustX, wouldn't it be quite bad?
They probably wouldn't even be able to promote properly starting next year.
"Yes, I understand."
With those thoughts, Seo-yeon watched JustX's performance before heading home.
Setting aside their personalities, their stage presence was certainly impressive.
They weren't top idols for nothing.
"Seo-yeon?"
Snapping back to reality, she saw Park Eun-ha looking at her. Seo-yeon had gone quiet in the middle of their conversation.
It seemed she had been lost in thought for a moment.
"No, anyway, let's do one more show if the reaction to that hidden camera thing is good after it airs."
Of course, Seo-yeon didn't care much about that.
Honestly, all she remembered was running away with all her might.
Naturally, Seo-yeon had no idea what she looked like at the time.
To her, she had simply done her best to escape the ghost chasing her from behind.
I wonder if there's even enough footage for the broadcast.
So, Seo-yeon worried about the show.
If her first Japanese variety appearance flopped because there was nothing good to show, it would be a problem.
Since Seo-yeon secretly planned to visit Japan occasionally under the pretext of filming, she hoped the Japanese broadcast would do well.
Of course, Seo-yeon's worries were entirely unnecessary.
*
Sato Isami, a part-timer at a Japanese convenience store, was guarding the counter while yawning.
It had been an exceptionally busy day with many customers, leaving her quite exhausted.
I wish people would stop coming in.
Her legs were starting to ache, and she wanted to go home.
If it weren't for her boyfriend's present, she wouldn't even be working this part-time job—just as she was thinking that, the convenience store door opened.
Whoa.
The person who walked in was a striking beauty.
A beauty with a clear, refreshing aura that reminded Isami of a forget-me-not.
Isami reflexively rubbed her own face with her palm.
The beauty before her eyes had skin that was on a completely different level.
It's a win just getting to see a beauty like this.
Was she an actress? Or an idol?
She had the aura of a celebrity.
But since it was a face she hadn't seen before, Isami was staring intently when the door opened once more.
"!!"
It was another woman.
However, the moment Isami saw her, her eyes widened.
The woman who had just entered was also a beauty, but she was entirely different from the first.
It wasn't just her looks; her atmosphere was completely different.
It was a serene atmosphere, or perhaps an aura that set her apart.
The moment she stepped inside, Isami could see the eyes of all the other customers browsing the store shift toward her simultaneously.
Isami's eyes naturally followed her movements.
In particular, a man who had been picking up a pudding was now mindlessly grabbing several more without even realizing it.
Long, straight black hair.
Snow-white skin that contrasted sharply with it.
Her eyes had a faint, mysterious reddish tint.
It was a beauty that felt unrealistic.
She was talking to the woman who had entered first.
Were they friends?
Do beauties only hang out with other beauties?
However, the woman she had initially thought was a beauty seemed to lose her luster strangely when standing next to the girl who had just arrived.
Isami probably wasn't the only one who felt that way.
Even though they were standing together, one's gaze was drawn only to one side.
As Isami stood there dazed, following them with her eyes, the black-haired girl suddenly stood before her.
For some reason, the other woman behind her was watching the girl with an anxious expression.
Seeing as her hands were empty, she hadn't come to pay for anything.
Did she have something to ask?
Why?
When Isami looked at the woman with that question in mind...
"……."
The girl silently stared at Isami.
As if she were contemplating what to say.
"Customer……?"
When Isami asked out of curiosity, the girl's sharp eyes fixed directly on her, as if she had finished her thoughts.
She had beautiful eyes.
But her expression was so cold and aloof that it was a bit intimidating.
Isami thought this must be what people meant by "frighteningly beautiful."
As she stared blankly, the girl's mouth slowly opened.
"Oi, onna." (Hey, woman.)
"?"
Isami froze instantly.
The words that flowed from the girl's mouth were of a completely unexpected variety.
*
Seo-yeon was enjoying a happy sightseeing trip in Japan.
She didn't need to wake up early.
When she did wake up, she would eat and then immediately head out to Tokyo for sightseeing.
"U-Um, didn't we go there yesterday too?"
However, the part that was quite distressing for Sora was...
Why does she like Akihabara so much?
Seo-yeon's Japanese trip was heavily biased toward one specific area.
In truth, it was because Seo-yeon wasn't the type to enjoy looking at overseas scenery or landscapes.
And most of what Seo-yeon wanted was concentrated in Akihabara.
Anime, gacha games, and even VTubers.
Japan has so many second-hand shops.
There were many things that were difficult to find in Korea.
Moreover, it was surprising how easy it was to access adult content.
She had accidentally walked into a section, seen the countless adult doujinshi there, and run away screaming.
Even Seo-yeon would be startled if she encountered such things without preparation.
I-I don't have any immunity to that kind of stuff.
But once she left, it lingered in her mind.
Maybe she should sneak back later without Sora.
With those thoughts, she spent two days touring Akihabara.
Then, something suddenly occurred to her.
I haven't been to a Japanese convenience store yet!
Aren't convenience store foods also famous in Japan?
Of course, the quality of Korean convenience stores had improved lately.
Still, many people said Japanese convenience store food was still superior.
Naturally, Seo-yeon was interested.
More than anything, convenience stores were a "duty" for Seo-yeon.
After all, she was the type to go on regular convenience store tours.
She had to go in Japan as well.
Most importantly...
They said they're selling chocolates collaborated with VTubers, right?
In Japanese convenience stores, products collaborated with anime or VTubers were released from time to time.
Seo-yeon already knew this.
She planned to sweep them all up while she was at the convenience store.
As a result of that visit...
"……From now on, I'll just do all the talking."
She ended up receiving that advice from Sora.
Japanese is hard.
Seo-yeon had simply spoken exactly as she had heard in Japanese anime.
However, because PD Nanjo had told her, "Seo-yeon, you talk like a gyaru high schooler~," she had tried to change her tone a bit.
Since he said 'Kisama' is a no-go.
Seo-yeon had simply tried to say, "Excuse me, lady."
Well, if you don't call a woman a woman, what are you supposed to call her?
Seo-yeon was genuinely curious.
Anyway.
As Seo-yeon's Japanese sightseeing continued...
The next day, at 6:00 PM.
Seo-yeon's first Japanese variety show was broadcast.