Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: How Do You Know This?
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“How do you know about this?”
Why does the Dance Instructor know about this?
More than that, the video’s view count is insane. Have I gotten a bit famous?
“Right?”
I nodded to confirm, and the Dance Instructor gave me a knowing look.
“No wonder you haven’t been dancing!”
“Ahem.”
As if I’d be dancing in that video.
It’s not even a real video, honestly.
It’s just Kim Yuna sitting on the stairs behind me, cheering her on while she dances. That’s it.
But with this face of mine and the Chuseok vibe, doesn’t it have charm?
A super pretty cousin cheering on her middle school cousin’s dance.
I figured it’d hit that sentimental spot people love, and it looks like it did.
“But how did you end up seeing my cousin’s video?”
Did the algorithm just recommend it?
“Oh, she signed up for my class.”
“What?”
“I was recruiting for a new class aimed at middle and high schoolers, and she applied. So I checked out her profile to see what kind of kid she was, and there’s this familiar face, right?”
She applied for a class?
She finally got permission from her parents.
But this kid… if she’s applying for something like that, she should’ve reported it to her big sis right away.
I even gave her allowance last week, and now I feel so pointless.
“But does she dance well?”
Hoping she’d improved a bit, the Dance Instructor nodded.
“She’s putting in the effort, so she’ll improve fast.”
Hmm, so not amazingly good yet.
“Well, she hasn’t been at it long.”
“Oh, no. I’m not just saying it—she’s really working hard.”
“What?”
“Look at the number of videos here.”
Number of videos?
I tilted my head and peered at the smartphone screen she showed me.
How many could she have uploaded…?
“Whoa.”
What the heck?
It hasn’t been that long since Chuseok, but there are a ton of videos uploaded.
“Sometimes she posts up to five a day. That kind of dedication is impressive, right?”
“Oh….”
She didn’t say much, but she’s been grinding away.
What a good kid.
“Whoa, is this Suhyun’s little cousin?”
That’s when the members, who’d been eavesdropping, started gathering around.
“She’s cute~”
“How old is she?”
“She’s in middle school.”
“Really? That’s the best time….”
Anna, saying that, looked at Kim Yuna with real envy.
Yeah, at 15, even I’m jealous—how much more for Anna?
Times like this really show age is a thief.
“But she dances well?”
“Yeah, better than us.”
“Really?”
I don’t remember her being that good back then? The instructor didn’t say she was great either.
With that thought, I watched Kim Yuna’s dance video.
But yeah… she’s good.
What? Her skills shot up fast?
“The kid’s young, so she’s full of energy….”
Just like Anna muttered, Kim Yuna danced with overflowing vitality.
“Right? Not super technical yet, but her passion is so admirable.”
“Oh….”
Still, she’s my cousin, so getting praised feels nice.
“More than that, there’s a video with Suhyun in it too?”
“Oh, yeah, here’s the one with Miro-nim….”
The members ended up crowding around to watch the one with me in it too.
Seeing them all watch like this is embarrassing.
“Wow, she’s pretty even on video.”
“Looks like barely any makeup, insane.”
“It’s like a drama scene or something.”
The barrage of compliments after that left me a bit flustered.
It’s really nothing special, though.
“But Suhyun, why’d you film a video? Didn’t think you’d do that kind of thing.”
“Oh, well….”
They’d seen it all, so I explained the situation to the members.
“…And that’s how it happened.”
But the members stared at me like they couldn’t believe it.
What? Why that look?
“For real?”
“Yeah, why?”
Do I have any reason to lie here? It’s all true.
“You’re really 21?”
“Damn, so deep.”
“Do that depth with us too.”
Ah, was I too mature for a 21-year-old?
Well, counting memories, I’m a hybrid 21-year-old who’s lived 42 years total, so it’s hard to gauge.
“All of you erase half your age and come back. Then I’ll treat you like my cousin.”
“…You call that a response?”
“Ha, wish we could.”
Oops, was the age talk a mistake? They’re all early to mid-20s at most, but getting all gloomy about age is kinda ridiculous.
Even the Dance Instructor next to me isn’t saying much.
Or… is she looking a bit bitter?
“More than that, Suhyun’s cousin is impressive all over again. What was I doing in middle school 2?”
That’s when Mile muttered with a hollow look.
But don’t middle schoolers just live without thinking? No, puberty means overthinking instead.
“I was belting out 2AW songs back then.”
“Huh? In middle school?”
Anna reminisced about her middle school days, and Haru’s eyes widened in surprise as she responded.
Uh…, I was a bit shocked too but didn’t show it….
“Huh?”
“Oh.”
Then silence fell.
No way, is Haru clueless? Just gloss over it—why make her feel the generation gap and bum Anna out?
“Haha, what about you, Miro? What’d you do in middle school?”
Maho broke the awkward silence.
“Me? Hmm….”
As a guy, comic book cafes. As a girl….
“Stayed home watching anime.”
“What, didn’t play outside?”
“I got along fine in class, but went straight home after.”
“From middle school?”
“Yeah, well….”
Thinking about it, girl Kim Suhyun was kinda a shut-in from then.
I didn’t show it, but during puberty, when everyone’s self-conscious about stares, the attention felt burdensome, so I dove into 2D.
In there, I just watched—no one watched me.
Of course, post-puberty, the pressure faded, but I never climbed out of 2D.
“You should’ve played at that age.”
“Watching anime then made me a VTuber now.”
That’s how I see it.
Times I now think were wasted all led to this path, right?
Of course, I’m satisfied now, so I think that way.
“Hmm… is that good?”
“No, Suhyun, you… Never mind. If you’re happy, that’s what matters.”
But the members thought differently, looking at my face like they wanted to say something but stopped.
I know what they’re thinking.
That I’m too good for VTubing, probably?
“I’m the VTuber the instructor picked. Don’t make that face like you weren’t.”
If I lacked talent, fine—but even this instructor watches my streams among us members?
I think it’s my calling.
“That’s cheating!”
“Yeah, minus the face.”
“Voice too.”
“Then what’s left?”
“Uh… game skills?”
“Pfft.”
“Did you just laugh??”
“No, uh, results came out yesterday?”
To go pro in games, Haru got wrecked by me yesterday.
Recalling that, Haru looked dazed.
“Huh? What am I better at than Suhyun? Maybe VTuber Haru is just a downgrade Miro?”
She seemed to sink into self-doubt for a sec.
Sometimes shock therapy beats half-assed comfort.
“They call me Unlucky Miro otherwise.”
“Gahhh!”
And down goes Haru.
“Suhyun, you!”
“Haru! Snap out of it!”
Leaving collapsed Haru behind, I stood up.
My stamina had recovered enough to move now.
Standing, I looked down at the people around me.
“Now I stand in the heavens.”
“Heavens my ass!”
“Eek!”
Maho grabbed me, and I crashed to the floor.
“Apologize to Haru right now!”
“Ow!”
“Alright! Let’s finish the dance lesson!”
Luckily, before I suffered more, the Dance Instructor clapped to gather everyone.
Break time over already? Thank goodness.
“Alright, let’s power through the rest!”
The lesson ended smoothly after that.
Tiring, of course.
After the lesson.
After showering in the shower room, changing into the clothes I brought, I went to the Dance Instructor while she packed up.
“Instructor.”
“Oh, Miro-nim. What’s up?”
“So, what about my cousin?”
I couldn’t ask during break, so it bugged me.
Personally, I see the instructor as an amazing mentor.
I’d love for Kim Yuna to learn dance from her.
“Oh, not pressuring you. If she’s not ready, no worries.”
Of course, not a backdoor deal.
Like I thought before, she should earn it on her own and stand tall.
I can’t help forever.
“Feels like a favor anyway? Hmm….”
Jokingly, she pondered then nodded.
“I’m thinking of taking her on. Her passion’s overflowing.”
“Oh, great.”
“But Miro-nim, no thoughts on learning more dance?”
“Huh?”
“You’ve got talent. Stamina’s low, but you pick it up fast.”
Eh… pitching this to me suddenly?
“What do you say? Do it with your cousin? With your visuals plus dance… damn, you’d crush most celebs. Plus, make you our academy’s star.”
“That’s the real pitch?”
“A little? So, what?”
Her words were playful, but her eyes were serious.
“Promote us a few times, and lessons are free. Not an easy offer.”
Now her eyes gleamed with ambition as she stepped closer.
Oh no, that’s the hungry look.
Like Moon Chang-sik or Hyun-su.
I fell for offers like that twice before….
“Gahhh, get away!”
Am I crazy?
Heavenly Realm live dance practice nearly kills me—more dance here?
I turned and bolted.
“Miro-nim!”
I ignored the voice behind me.