Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Debut Song Reactions
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"The debut song's out today?"
"Yeah, they'll send it over midday."
After successfully wrapping up yesterday's collab stream, the next day, I headed out to the city early in the morning with Hyejeong for the first time in ages.
I'd been too busy with this and that to meet up, so this was the best we could do for some time together.
"What do you think it'll be like? Excited?"
"A little? But it's from a famous composer, and the company seems to have shelled out some real money."
"Whoa~ What if your track ends up as homework material?"
Hyejeong was in the dance department. Sure, she spent more time partying than practicing, but she managed to keep her grades up somehow.
"That'd be nice."
If the song got famous enough to be used in college assignments, wouldn't that be great?
I answered with that in mind, but Hyejeong gave me a strange look.
"What? Why that face?"
"No, it's just... you're totally serious about this."
"Since when? I'm even taking vocal lessons now."
"You seem more desperate than before? Or maybe passionate is the word? You used to be so laid-back."
Laid-back? Me?
I thought about it, and yeah, she had a point.
I'd always figured if I failed once or twice, I could just switch paths.
But now...
"I've got motivation from my groupmates, you know? It's not just me that'll crash and burn."
They were all so nice.
In the end, no one had called out my profile pic as anime during the stream, so there wasn't much to be sensitive about.
I was just trying not to make it obvious I was holding back, worried some community troll might spin it into bait.
"Yeah, you've always had a sense of responsibility, at least."
"Nothing else?"
"You're good at drawing?"
"Ah!"
"What?"
Drawing reminded me—I'd planned to practice after yesterday's stream but totally forgot.
"You've got a pen and paper, right?"
"I've got class later, so yeah. Why?"
"Lemme see. I wanna test something."
Strike while the iron's hot—time to check my current skill level.
"Here, what'd you need it for?"
"Just sit still."
"What, you're gonna draw me? You never drew anyone else before."
Did female Kim Suhyun do that? Digging through memories, yeah, I'd avoided drawing others.
"They kept bugging me, and even when I did draw them, it'd end up crumpled on the classroom floor a few days later."
"Ahh..."
"Anyway, stay still. Gotta see if my skills have rusted from not drawing lately."
Female Kim Suhyun's specialty was illustration.
So, time to character-ize Hyejeong's face.
It had a unique style, so I could compare to past works and check for any decline.
I glanced at Hyejeong's face and lightly sketched the outline on the notepad.
No underdrawing, but the lines flowed smoothly—kinda amazing. I drew lines, glanced at her face, drew more.
The seamless lines built into shapes, gaining depth and form.
"Ooh... your skills haven't dulled at all."
Hyejeong just admired it, but I was straight-up shocked.
It was almost identical to female Kim Suhyun's skill from my memories.
Even with 21-year-old male Kim Suhyun taking over, her drawing talent was unchanged.
The body remembered the lines, the brain recalled the rules.
If anything, since male Kim Suhyun could barely doodle stick figures, it might've kept things from getting muddled.
Ten minutes later, Hyejeong's face and upper body were taking shape on the page.
In a cute 2D style, no less.
"Ooh... it's cute."
Hyejeong called it cute, but I found it fun.
The process of drawing.
I got why female Kim Suhyun was hooked.
Seeing what's in your head come to life through your hands? How could that not be fun?
"Can I show this to the girls at school?"
"Knock yourself out."
As Hyejeong tucked the notepad into her bag, I couldn't help but grin, joy bubbling up.
"What? Why the creepy smile?"
"What should I do?"
"About what?"
"I've got a pretty face, nice voice, sing well, game well, and now I draw well too—what are the other VTubers supposed to live on besides me?"
"...I wanna say something snarky, but damn, that's a lot of strengths."
"I'm like the ultimate optimized talent, right?"
It hit me instantly.
Streaming while drawing, chatting with viewers, raking in superchats—easy mode.
Infinite rotation of League, drawing, and ideal type World Cup?
That's the holy trinity, isn't it?
"But has your singing improved a ton? I always thought you were good."
"You're tone-deaf, so you just got distracted by my natural voice."
"Wanna die?"
"Finish this coffee and I'll show you at karaoke."
"Hah, I never back down from a challenge."
So off we went to the coin karaoke with Hyejeong.
"Whoa, fuck."
Hyejeong let out a pure exclamation at my improved skills.
***
After parting with Hyejeong and heading home, I opened the debut song that had just arrived in my email.
"Man, I'm kinda nervous."
This song could change my fate going forward.
The company had invested heavily, so I didn't think it'd suck... but who knows.
Even famous singers flop new tracks sometimes. How would we fare?
Carrying all that anxiety, I hit play.
Soft instrumentals swelled, followed by the guide vocal.
After about four short minutes...
I quietly mulled it over.
"Better than I expected...?"
I'd figured it'd be J-rock since we're VTubers, but it leaned more K-pop.
With a touch of Japanese band vibe, though.
I wasn't an expert, but I'd heard plenty of songs. Imagining the members singing it...
No way it'd get trashed as crap.
Bzzz— bzzz—
The group chat blowing up right now was probably having the same thoughts, right?
As I mused, my phone rang.
Hyejeong? Nope—different name.
[Mahohyun]
Mahohyun, nickname Maho, my groupmate.
First direct call from her...
I picked up casually, and an excited voice burst through.
[Suhyun! You heard the song yet!?]
"Yeah, just did."
[Eh?]
"Yeah?"
[Your voice sounds different?]
"Oh, yeah, definitely."
Come to think of it, on calls with the members, I'd been mic'd up and spoke in stream mode naturally.
Real calls would sound different, obviously.
My former manager—now just Manager—seemed used to it and hadn't commented.
[This is nice too...! So calm and mature!]
"Stream voice isn't good?"
[No! That's brighter? Anyway, your voice is no joke...]
"Unnie's voice is nice too."
[Gasp...]
"Why?"
[Can I really have someone with a voice like that call me unnie?]
"Haha... you're overreacting."
Mahohyun's voice was top-tier compared to normals.
That's why she passed auditions.
[But seriously, the song's amazing, right??]
"Oh—yeah, it's really good."
[So, Suhyun, where do you live?]
"Huh??"
[I heard from the manager last time—apparently we can meet the composer in person for recording? Their studio's top-notch with instant feedback...]
"Oh, wanna go together?"
[Yeah! Asked in the group chat, others said they'd go separately.]
Hmm... yeah, the others might find real-life meets awkward already?
Mahohyun might be the opposite—nervous to go solo, so calling me up.
We'd bonded quick over otaku chats...
"Sure. When?"
No big deal meeting up.
[Gasp! For real? No backing out.]
"Yeah, whatever... I'd be nervous solo too, so text me when.]
[Tomorrow! Lunchtime tomorrow work?]
"Fine by me. Where?"
[Uh... meet at the station closest to the studio?]
"Got it."
[Yup, thanks!]
And so, I set a date with Mahohyun.
***
The next day, I headed out early for the meetup.
Weather's warming up. Outfit: oversized short-sleeve tee, not-too-short shorts, hat pulled low.
Basking in morning sun, past rush hour, I sat on a quiet subway, wireless earbuds in, memorizing lyrics and melody of the debut song for tens of minutes till my stop.
Arrived early, parked at a cafe by the station exit. Appointment time neared.
Bzzz—
Right on schedule, Mahohyun called.
"Hello?"
[Yup, Suhyun, I'm here—where are you?]
"Right in front at the cafe. Coming out."
[No no! Stay put—I'll come in!]
"Gotcha, I'll chill inside."
[Haha! Yeah!]
Hung up, sipped my drink. Soon, a woman entered.
Long black hair to her waist, wavy at the ends, hat low hiding her face—but pale skin stood out.
And... big.
Tall as the guys around her, she scanned the room, tilted her head, pulled out her phone.
I stifled a laugh and stood, approaching her.
I'm tall for a girl, but she looked 5cm taller—I looked up, waving.
"Hyeon-unnie, right?"
Her eyes widened under the hat brim. I chuckled.
Four more reactions like this to come?
Worth changing the profile pic.