Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: Going to Japan
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This was my second trip, but unlike the first time with my family, I was heading out alone.
So from the morning, I grabbed my suitcase and headed to the airport by myself.
Even though it was early, since it was the beginning of the year, there were quite a few people at the airport.
This appearance of mine draws eyes wherever I go, but dragging a suitcase alone made the stares stick even more.
Ever since I got amazed looks after that makeup session last time, I've been putting on a bit more, and it feels like I'm getting even more attention than usual.
They think they're whispering quietly, but I could hear bits about whether I'm a celebrity or not, so to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings, I bought some sunglasses and put them on.
Then...
"Hey, aren't you...?"
Now they were approaching with almost half certainty, so I took the sunglasses off again.
Wearing them seemed to draw even more eyes.
To avoid causing a scene, I headed to a corner of the airport and waited for my flight.
Come to think of it, didn't Kang Hana say she travels abroad a lot?
Unlike me, as a real celebrity, the airport must be super inconvenient for her.
Thinking how tough it must be for celebrities too, I boarded the plane.
Sitting by the window in my pre-assigned seat, the plane took off soon enough.
It wouldn't take long to Tokyo, so we'd arrive quickly.
Staring blankly out the window at the scenery.
Suddenly, I got nervous.
This trip was more about work than vacation, right? And I'm visiting Tenshi-san's studio too.
The Six might be sad to hear it, but the scale here in the home country is probably on another level.
Plus, I wondered if I could even find the studio in the city.
What if I got lost coming from the airport?
I'd gotten somewhat used to the Japanese subway, but the airport was a different story.
Full of worries, I arrived at the airport.
But...
"Oh."
Seeing someone far off shaking her light purple hair, jumping up and down on her small frame to hold up a placard high, all my worries melted away like snow.
"Suhyun!! Over here!"
Tenshi-san had come to pick me up at the airport.
Holding a big placard, no less.
[Welcome to Japan! Suhyun!]
Hmm... the placard was pretty standard, if a bit oversized and flashy.
"Whoa, you even came to pick me up at the airport. Thanks so much."
I meant it sincerely since I was truly grateful, but Tenshi-san looked at me like what are you talking about.
"Didn't you say you'd get lost if I didn't come get you?"
"Haha, it wasn't pressure or anything."
It was a joke, but she took it seriously... Well, honestly, I was hoping she'd come.
Even if Japan feels friendly, not speaking the language properly makes being alone in a foreign place scary. Nothing's more reassuring than a local picking you up.
"Come on, just follow me!"
Unlike her petite build, Tenshi-san said the most reliable words and started guiding me smoothly.
Without any hiccups, we got tickets at the station, and just following the back of her head as she strode ahead confidently, we made it from the airport to the city effortlessly.
...This is what a local is like? Now I get why you hire local guides.
So convenient.
The city we arrived in was truly impressive.
The city from my family trip last time was cool too, but Japan's urban core, minus the tourist vibe, felt refreshingly different.
Is this how Tenshi-san felt when she came to Seoul?
Now I understand why she kept looking around.
"Ahem, what do you think? The forest of skyscrapers in greater Japan?"
"It's nice, and the people are interesting too."
The skyscrapers were fascinating, but the crowds filling the streets were intriguing as well.
In Korean winters, everyone's in puffer jackets, but here coats were everywhere.
"Huh? You find Japanese people interesting?"
"Whoa, watch what you say. So, where to now?"
"Let's grab some food first!"
Food? I was getting hungry, sure, but I figured we'd head straight to the studio. Unexpected.
"We don't need to go to the studio right away?"
"Whoa, Koreans run on food power, right? Let's fill up from the inside!"
Who was the Korean and who was the Japanese here?
Her pronunciation was spot on now—she was basically fully Korean.
We wandered the city and entered a shop Tenshi-san had reserved.
There was a line outside, so it seemed pretty popular...
"It's super tasty here!"
"With that line, it looks like it."
"You'll be shocked once you try it."
The tonkatsu that came out lived up to her hype.
What can I say—thick tenderloin inside, crispy batter. Not super gourmet, but perfect for an average person like me.
"Wow, this is delicious."
"Right?!"
And maybe it tasted even better knowing Tenshi-san hunted it down and booked it.
Food flavor comes from the cooking, sure, but also price, atmosphere, and the host's effort.
In that sense, this first meal of the trip was super satisfying.
After eating, I thought we'd head to the studio, but...
"Come on! This way!"
Tenshi-san led me somewhere else entirely.
"Where's this?"
"A dessert shop!"
Yeah, I could tell at a glance...
"We really don't need to go to the studio?"
No need? I came here to work.
"We can go later!"
Well, if Tenshi-san says it's fine, it must be.
Not working and playing sounded good to me.
"Next, photo time! Over there!"
We roamed the city excitedly, having fun.
...Though her phone kept buzzing periodically, so maybe it wasn't entirely fine.
**
"Here we are! The studio!"
After playing around so much I wondered if this was okay, we arrived at a small building slightly off the main city streets.
The clean exterior suggested it was new.
"Oh, is this the building with the studio?"
It was short in height but wide in footprint—not small at all. As I admired it, Tenshi-san grinned.
"This whole building is the studio!"
"...Pardon?"
The whole building?
What...
"Haha, well, it's company and studio combined!"
No, so the company owns this entire building?
It looks brand new too.
"Wow..."
The home country's scale really is different.
How much do you have to earn as a VTuber to own a small building?
Whether they bought or built it, either way it's impressive.
With a bit of daze, I followed Tenshi-san inside.
Unlike the outside, the warm interior felt really clean and stylish.
Starting to get intimidated—this home country scale. Can we keep up?
"Come on—reception room! I texted the manager earlier!"
Ignoring my awe, I followed her brisk steps to what looked like the reception room.
Hmm, the reception room's not much different from ours.
Just a table with some snacks on it.
I eyed the Japanese snacks you don't see in Korea for a moment.
Clatter!
A woman rushed into the reception room.
For some reason sweating in this winter, she adjusted her slipping glasses, then our eyes met.
"Uh, Mi, Miro-sang?"
"Ah... hai."
Figured I'd answer in Japanese since she's Japanese. She looked a bit surprised, then whipped her head to fix on Tenshi-san nearby.
"Tenshi!"
Her loud voice honestly startled me.
She seemed hurried but calm with the glasses, yet her voice was booming.
"Eek!"
And Tenshi-san next to me jumped too.
"Th-that... who is she?"
Since they seemed to know each other, I asked, and Tenshi-san, sweating bullets, whispered.
"Ma-manager-nim..."
"Oh."
Hearing that, I realized the situation.
The playing around in the city earlier.
Guess that was a no-go?
After getting an earful from the manager, Tenshi-san asked if I could wait a bit, then got dragged off.
Apparently being late messed up the schedule, so they needed an urgent meeting.
Anyway, I ended up floating alone in the reception room.
More than that, Tenshi-san... gets dragged around by her manager.
I thought she was professional about work, but she's got a ditzy side.
Or maybe she got too excited reuniting after so long?
Anyway, with time to kill, I was teasing the members by sending Japan cityscape photos from earlier when.
The reception room door opened.
"Oh, you're here?"
For someone dragged off to an emergency meeting, she returned quicker than expected, I thought, lifting my head.
But it wasn't Tenshi-san standing there—it was someone else.
"Eh... dare desu ka?"
Round glasses, somewhat plain-faced woman in a coat.
Totally unexpected stranger—I was a bit startled.
And the woman across from me seemed startled by my looks too.
But...
To put it bluntly, maybe rude, but she's plain.
Average height, fashion like the three I saw on the way here.
Not bad, of course. Actually, gives a friendly vibe.
"Uh, etto..."
Friendly doesn't mean my meager Japanese improves.
As I fumbled, she looked puzzled for a sec and said.
"Korean?"
Her Korean caught me off guard.
"...You speak Korean?"
"You're Korean after all? I know a little."
She nailed it right away? Guess I look Korean.
Well, fashion and makeup give it away.
"More than that, what brings you here?"
"Uh, well... came with an acquaintance."
Since she's here, probably company staff?
Whatever, she seems related, so I said that, and she looked surprised.
"Your acquaintance wouldn't be Tenshi-chan, by any chance?"
"Uh... yeah."
How'd she know?
"As expected! The guest she said she'd bring today?"
Oh, right—Tenshi-san must've checked with the company before bringing me.
Makes sense if she's staff.
"Heh—then you're Miro-sang?"
"Yes, that's me."
"Exactly!"
She beamed, approached, and stuck out her hand.
I shook the suddenly extended hand, and she smiled even brighter.
Plain face for sure, but the aura of confidence startled me a bit. Then she introduced herself.
"Welcome to Japan! I'm Izakaya Sake!"
"Pardon?"
Who?