Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: End of Summer
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“How is it? Pretty cool, right?”
-Anonymous
-A bit fancy? lol
-Wow, how much did this cost?
“I don’t know how much it cost. The company took care of everything.”
-Kya lololol
-Big league stuff
-The Six is the real deal lol
“Right? I was pretty surprised too.”
I hadn’t expected anything like this. It’s way better than my first album.
The Six really is a solid company.
So what if they take a bigger cut? They’re doing all this for me.
If I’d been streaming solo, I’d probably still be chatting with a handful of viewers instead of putting out an album.
…Though that wouldn’t have been so bad either? Of course, I never would’ve gotten results like this.
“This song is seriously good, so everyone, look forward to it.”
It was composed by that talented composer and recorded with effort from all the members. No way it’s anything less than great.
-Expectations contained? Nah.
-Hmm... that so?
-Kinda meh?
“Anyone from the future, I’m deporting you back~”
-Gasp
-Should I just bang my head?
-Teacher, my hand’s up!
“Keep it raised.”
With that, she fired up Civilization.
Now that all the announcements were done, it was time to do her thing.
???
-No way teacher my hand’s up ffs
-What’s with Civ?
-Turn that off and I won’t watch the MV tomorrow
“…We’ve gotta end the war, right?”
And so that day, she ignored the viewers’ pleas, played Civilization, and ended the stream.
The next day.
She woke up around early afternoon and immediately got ready to head out.
“Off somewhere again?”
As I bustled about preparing, Mrs. Jang, who was running the vacuum in the living room, tossed out a comment.
I hardly ever went out before, but lately I’d been doing it more often, so maybe that’s why it surprised her?
“A friend’s place.”
“What? Who? You have friends?”
“I do?”
“I thought Hyejeong was your only friend.”
What does she think of her daughter?
That Hyejeong’s my only friend?
Ridiculous….
“Yeah, yeah, you’re right about that.”
“What’s with that tone?”
Come to think of it, she’s spot on.
Sure, before becoming a woman, I had a decent circle of friends, but since then, the only close one I regularly met or talked to was Hyejeong. But.
“I’m different now that I’ve started working.”
How much has my network expanded since I began streaming?
From the Heavenly Realm Project members to Manager Il-da.
And Hyunsu, the band at his studio… composers… yeah.
That’s about it?
Over ten people, so I’ve built up quite a bit.
“Good for you.”
“Yeah, anyway, I’m heading out. Might not come home tonight.”
Since I was going anyway, I figured I’d sleep over, so I said it casually, and Mrs. Jang nodded without hesitation.
“Sleepover?”
“Yeah.”
“Alright.”
She’s my mom—doesn’t she worry a little too easily? I’d even prepared a photo to prove who it was, expecting pushback.
“You’re okay with this too easily?”
“You’re still a girl no matter what. It’s not like you’re going to some other streamer friend’s place, right?”
“Sharp….”
“Act like it.”
Is this what they call inner strength? Amazed at how she nailed it, I left the house.
I peeled off Boksil, who clung expertly, exited the gate, and walked following the location info I’d received.
Summer was fading into autumn, so a cool breeze brushed my skin.
Just a few months ago, even a short walk had me sweating buckets, but now, after quite a trek, it just felt refreshing.
Keeping at it, a new villa building came into view.
“This the place?”
The map she sent said yes….
I messaged that I’d arrived and waited downstairs.
About a minute later.
The villa’s front gate opened, and a woman came out.
“Mi—no, Suhyun!”
“Yeah, I’m here.”
She’s still huge in every way.
Well, it’d only been less than a week since we last met.
“Come on in!”
“Yeah, show me inside quick.”
“Got it.”
And so I followed Maho, whom I was reuniting with, into the building.
“Oh.”
Maho’s place wasn’t huge, but it was dreamy.
With character figures here and there and sleek interiors, if Suhyun’s room was the Otaku Despair Edition, this was the Hope Edition.
“Door closed?”
“Huh? Of course it is?”
Why ask if the door’s closed?
And the moment I thought that, Maho pounced.
“Eek!”
“You! How did you take that photo!”
Photo? What photo… Oh!
Come to think of it, I’d posted a pic with actor Moon Chang-sik in the group chat yesterday.
“You didn’t even answer how you met, just posted the pic to tease us!”
“W-wait a sec!”
“Fine, I’ll give you one last chance to defend yourself.”
“How about you take this and cool off first?”
I’d planned to give it later, but better now to calm her down.
I pulled the autograph I’d gotten from Moon Chang-sik yesterday out of my bag.
“What’s that…?”
“His autograph. See, your name’s on it.”
She saw the signature and the “Maho-hyun, be happy—” below it, and her anger meter visibly dropped from her expression.
“You like it that much?”
“Yeah, how much do you think I love Chang-sik?”
“Really?”
What? Isn’t Maho supposed to be an Otaku like me? Liking a real-life actor like some normie….
“Why the look? I like dramas and movies too.”
“So you watch everything?”
“Yeah, created works are great.”
I get that sentiment fully, but….
“Anyway, no more threats now, right?”
“I never threatened you… So how’d you meet?”
If I explain from the start, I’d have to mention going to the composer’s studio and the new song….
What should I say?
“Uh, you know the composer?”
“Our Heavenly Realm Project one?”
“Yeah, he did the guide vocal for my new song last time.”
“Right? You nailed it.”
A little white lie mixed in works fine.
“So he asked me to come by again this time.”
“And…?”
Oh, wait, was Moon Chang-sik filming a movie a secret? Or was it that he’s the lead?
Something was supposed to stay secret, but what?
Couldn’t recall, so I glossed over it.
“He and the composer are close. He happened to be there, and we bumped into each other.”
“No way, really?”
“Yeah, so I got the autograph and we took a pic.”
“Wow… How was he in person?”
How was he?
Come to think of it, since I knew nothing about him, maybe I saw Moon Chang-sik the most objectively?
My overall take on him was….
“Straight up honest?”
“Yeah, I’m braced for anything, spill it.”
Maho nodded like she was ready, so I gave my full assessment.
“Kinda… weird guy?”
“You done?”
“You told me to be honest.”
Yeah, kinda weird.
A guy who pulls out his phone mid-convo to jot notes and zones out on inspiration isn’t normal.
“But professional.”
Though that part was weird, I had to admit he was a pro.
“In what way?”
“Lots of things, but biggest is this.”
I showed her the photo we took then.
“Ha… such a pretty pair… So what?”
Maho muttered a bit dejectedly at the pic, but that wasn’t the point now.
“See the expressions here?”
“Yeah.”
“He was frowning before.”
“What? No way?”
“But when we took the pic, his face totally changed. Kinda freaky, right?”
“No, more like why was he frowning?”
Uh, how to explain this?
To cover why he frowned, I’d have to explain not recognizing him at first and our meal convo after—that’d take forever.
“Seemed like his stomach hurt or something?”
“Oh, I see… Looked bad?”
“Nah, not really.”
Sorry, Moon Chang-sik…! But I didn’t say anything bad!
“Anyway, let’s prep the stream?”
“Oh! Right.”
We headed to Maho’s computer. Premiere was still a bit off, but since I was here, we figured we’d stream together.
“Surprising, though?”
Maho said that as she sat at the desk and booted the PC.
“What is?”
“You coming over.”
“Why? We’re close.”
Last night.
Maho posted in the group chat looking for someone to watch the premiere with.
Other members couldn’t make it due to distance or whatever… but I’m close and have no issues.
“Thought you were a total homebody?”
“True, but I came to stream together.”
And didn’t the members show up right away for Miro 24 Hours?
I’d have gone if any other member asked.
“PC’s on, log in.”
“Me?”
“You came all this way, so your account.”
“It’s your place, use yours.”
She seems considerate, but seriously, it’s fine. Actually, I was hoping she’d host.
“Why? Streaming on yours is good, right?”
“My viewers are a bit unstable right now. If we start in your room, they might hold back?”
Anyone who wants to come will, once I announce I’m guesting on her stream instead of mine. I mentioned it at end of last stream, so most should show.
“Unstable? Like seriously?”
Maho worried at my words, but… honestly, it’s my own doing, so I had little to say.
“Not that bad, just need a little time.”
“Got it… I’ll host then.”
Maho swiftly set up the stream.
Her PC too—monitor, tower, everything’s cute.
Mine’s drab black; real women are different, huh?
Come to think of it, first time in a single woman’s room.
No weird thoughts. Just curious.
Wonder how it’d feel if I were still a guy.
Maho’s pretty, so maybe heart-pounding?
I watched her back as she set up, lost in such thoughts.
She’s way more skilled than me.
Firing up programs smoothly, prepping the stream.
“What for the title?”
“Title?”
“Yeah, Miro-style it.”
Hm.
What to go with? Nothing jumping out.
Then it hit me.
Summer’s basically over, right?
Perfect timing for a song release….
“End of Summer.”
“That work?”
“Yeah, let’s close out summer with our song.”
“Ooh, poetic.”
Title set.
The long, hot summer was now over.