Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: Izakaya Sake
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Izakaya Sake.
Anyone who's heard even a little about this industry has no choice but to know her—she's the undisputed number one.
Her nicknames include Living Legend, something like King God Emperor, Goddess of VTubers, and a slew of other titles. She's the real deal, a top-tier VTuber.
"The name's a bit weird, right? I like sake, so..."
"Uh... I'm Korean, so it doesn't sound that strange to me."
It might come off odd to a Japanese person since it literally means pub booze, but to me, a Korean, it just sounds like a normal Japanese name.
"Oh—well, that's a relief then."
"More than that, your Korean is really good?"
Tenshi-san had mentioned she knew some Korean, but I was surprised at just how fluent she was.
"I'm a huge K-pop stan."
K-pop suddenly feels even more impressive.
Should I start worshipping it or something? Thanks to it, I'm chatting with the Goddess of VTubers without any language barriers.
"Anyway, are you here to record?"
"Yeah, that's right."
That was the real reason I'd come to Japan.
I'd come to record footage for Tenshi-san's upcoming live stream.
I'd even practiced at home beforehand.
"Oh... I see."
"Is... there a problem or something?"
When I asked because she seemed to be looking at me oddly, she gave a slight smile and declared confidently.
"Mind if I watch?"
**
"Oh—Senpai?"
Tenshi-san, who came in afterward, looked a bit surprised to see me with Sake-san.
"Tenshi-chan!"
Ignoring that, Sake-san pulled Tenshi-san onto her lap and stroked her head.
Seeing them like this, Tenshi-san really does look like some cousin, though Sake-san has that mature, working-woman vibe.
"Um..."
After that, I just watched as Sake-san and Tenshi-san chatted in Japanese.
Hmm, no idea what they're saying.
Anyway, while munching on the Japanese snacks I'd eyed earlier and waiting, the two of them got up, and Tenshi-san turned to me.
"Let's go!"
"What about Sake-san?"
"Senpai said to watch too! Let's show her!"
Wait, really? I'm not confident...
But I couldn't exactly say no... Fine, she'll watch.
And so we headed to the studio in the building for the main recording.
But...
"Whoa."
This is no joke.
It's huge, and the equipment is all shiny and top-notch.
Didn't I act impressed when Tenshi-san visited our studio?
That was all lip service, apparently.
I'd felt it when we entered the building, but the level is just different.
The Six has a long way to go!
"Here! Change into these!"
Since I don't speak Japanese, Tenshi-san handled all the instructions.
I changed into the recording gear and dove into the actual shoot.
The song we were doing with Tenshi-san this time wasn't K-pop like last time—it was a Japanese song.
I'd struggled to memorize the lyrics.
Luckily, it was a famous one I'd heard plenty of times.
Anyway, the recording itself went super smoothly.
I'd gained some experience by now, so I was pretty confident in my positioning and dance moves.
Of course, there were NG takes, but not as many or as long as last time.
And with that, the recording wrapped.
"You did great!"
Clap clap!
As we came out, Sake-san, who'd been watching, gave us a round of applause.
...Feels like I should be kowtowing in gratitude.
More than that, I'd been wondering since earlier—why was Sake-san at the company?
Did she have some work?
I'd missed the timing to ask her directly, so I asked the relatively easier mark, Tenshi-san.
"Um—Senpai? She's my guest too!"
"A guest?"
"Yeah! I went on her stream last time, so she's returning the favor this time!"
Oh, right... Come to think of it, they're from the same agency and senpai-junior, so of course she'd guest.
"So when does she record?"
"After Suhyun!"
"Huh?"
"Mind waiting a bit?"
Hold on, after me?
Won't this invite comparisons?
I mean, Sake-san... no.
You have to see the long and the short to know which is which, right?
And who am I?
Slim Gold featuring.
Originally, it was Slim Gold's album featuring Lee Hyun-jun from Beasts, who'd beaten Sake-san.
Since I did it too, in a rough binary, we're equals.
With that spark of rivalry, I watched Sake-san's recording.
And...
"Whoa."
I was genuinely awestruck.
This is the Goddess of VTubers?
Even though it's just recording, it feels like the character is right there.
And I'm not even someone who follows Izakaya Sake closely.
I kept my eyes glued until the very end, thinking I was learning just by watching.
After the recording ended.
"Suhyun!"
Tenshi-san, drenched in sweat from back-to-back recordings, came over, and I gently pushed her away.
"Huh?"
"Go wash up."
"Eh?"
Tenshi-san, looking a bit shocked, headed straight to the shower, and I ran into Sake-san, who'd been following.
"Uh... should I go shower too?"
"Nah, you're good, Sake-san."
She didn't look like she'd sweated that much.
"More than that, how was it?"
"Uh... the recording?"
"Yeah."
How was it? No need to say...
"It was really good."
I gave her a thumbs-up, and she smiled softly.
I'd thought her face was plain, but smiling, she looks different again.
"For real? Then Miro, you go shower too."
"Huh?"
"You sweated too, right?"
"Oh."
Come to think of it, I shouldn't have pushed Tenshi-san away.
My stamina is efficient enough to wring out sweat in just one recording.
I followed Tenshi-san, who was trudging off to the shower in the distance, showered, and changed.
**
"Ahh, feels so refreshing!"
"Right?"
After showering, Tenshi-san's energy was back up, and as we came out, we saw Sake-san waiting.
"Huh? Senpai?"
"All clean?"
"Yes."
"Then let's head out? Have you two eaten?"
"We had lunch!"
As we chatted, a weird feeling hit me.
They're both using Korean because of me, right?
Two Japanese people and one Korean conversing in Korean.
...Should I really learn Japanese?
I'm confident I could pick it up.
"Didn't you book a hotel?"
Sake-san said that as we left the company, glancing at my carry-on.
"Nah, this is light. Didn't pack much."
Tenshi-san loves shopping anyway, so I'd planned to buy clothes here and hadn't brought much.
"Hmm... really?"
After I said I hadn't booked a hotel, Sake-san looked back and forth between me and Tenshi-san before casually suggesting.
"Then wanna come to my place with Tenshi-chan?"
"Huh? Is that okay?"
Is it really?
I prefer a home over a hotel, but going on a first meeting feels a bit much, so I glanced at Tenshi-san, who was already nodding.
"Sure."
...Well, why not.
Saves money, no hotel hunt—two birds with one stone.
And I get to see Izakaya Sake's house, even better.
At her invitation, we headed to Sake-san's home.
The place we arrived at was surprisingly ordinary.
It was a nice building, but not overly flashy or huge.
Of course, the furniture and stuff looked expensive.
"Make yourselves at home."
"Yes!"
Well, thinking about it, it's just a single woman living alone—no need for it to be massive.
Just keep streaming well.
More striking were the goods scattered around the living room.
Dolls and figures of a white-haired character, sake glasses, posters everywhere.
All her own merch—must feel like a high every time she steps into the living room.
As I admired the living room, Sake-san, who'd taken off her coat, made a casual offer.
"Wanna see my room?"
Her room?
The living room's already packed with goods—wonder if the room is too?
"Sure."
The room we entered... honestly shocked me.
"Wh-what is all this?"
"Ahaha."
The room was stuffed full of goods too.
Not her own, but guys' merch.
"Told you I'm a huge K-pop fan?"
No, I heard, but not to this extent...
And surprisingly, there were faces I recognized.
"Um—Korean, so you know? Beasts?"
"...Of course I do."
"Oh... as expected! I love them so much. Meeting them once is my dream."
Of course I know Beasts.
Unlike Tenshi-san, who prefers girl groups, she's into boy idols.
Makes sense—they're big overseas.
More than that...
"Meeting them is your dream?"
"I missed their last fan sign event, so it bugs me."
But... couldn't you meet them if you wanted?
They've competed for number one on music charts, and something must've happened at awards shows or whatever.
Ah, VTuber thing—can't go?
"But since you know each other, there might be a chance, right?"
"Oh... do Beasts even know me?"
...?
"They... do, right?"
"I hope so."
Why'd she suddenly lose confidence?
She's the Goddess of VTubers. What are Beasts... uh...
Are Beasts on a higher tier?
VTubers suddenly feel a bit small-scale.
Still, I couldn't let our industry's rep get down like that, so I pumped her up.
"Have some confidence! Beasts know you, Sake-san. You beat their streaming rank once, right?"
"R-really?"
"Yeah, I heard it, so don't worry."
"F-for real? Did they say it on a live? I didn't hear."
She's such a stan she watches their lives too?
But this info is solid.
Because...
"I heard it when we met last time."
"...Huh?"
"Eh?"
Not just Sake-san—Tenshi-san too—stared at me in shock.
I realized I'd slipped, but the attention was already on me.
But whatever...
What's the harm in saying?
We're pretty friendly, I think.
I've even bet on it.