Something Feels Off About My Agency Coworkers (1)
Impulsively applying to Unimori's third generation after watching the Raymari collab! I was sure I'd get rejected, but somehow I made it all the way to the final interview? What on earth is going to happen to me from now on?! …If I were to sum up the past few days like an anime plot, it would probably feel something like that. But even so, I didn't really feel like my life had dramatically changed. My VTuber debut was scheduled for next year. There was no need to rush out and buy a microphone or frantically practice streaming. I didn't even have my virtual avatar yet. It was still a time when I could take things easy. So for now, my status was simply that of a Unimori third-generation trainee. I'd been chosen based on my potential for growth rather than my current skills. I'd need to train so I could at least handle the basics later. 'Most of the costs seem to be covered by the company… My shoulders feel heavy.'
Surprisingly, I even received a salary during this trainee period. And not a small amount either—it was on the level of an average office worker. The company had sifted through countless applicants, selected the best, and invested in their training. They probably didn't want anyone quitting because of money and jumping to another agency. They figured they could recoup this level of spending after debut. After all, even just the donations Marie received on her birthday were equivalent to several months of an office worker's salary. The fees from merchandise and donations alone would likely be recovered quickly. Of course, I had no confidence that I'd be loved by people the way Marie was! In any case, the amount was far more than what an ordinary high school girl would consider pocket money. As someone who had never experienced adulthood—even including my previous life—I'd handed all of it over to my mom. 'If I end up getting cut after all this, I won't even be able to laugh.'
Incidentally, my VTuber debut still wasn't confirmed. I had a trainee contract, but no official debut stamp yet. If I broke my promises, showed laziness, got caught telling malicious lies, or leaked confidential information, I was warned that the president could fire me even the day before debut. Well, it would be troublesome if a member's Red Pill got spread on social media or something. That kind of thing could even lead to lawsuits from a corporate standpoint. I had to be careful. 'That's why they told me not to expect to meet Unimori's official members during the trainee period… Actually, I'd rather not meet them.'
Maybe it was because I'd learned during the in-person interview that Marie was an incredibly hard worker. In my heart, she had already become the image of a perfect superhuman, a goddess worthy of respect. But what if her Red Pill turned out to be some yankee covered in full-body tattoos who hung around with guys…? Yeah, I'd immediately fall into misanthropy and lock myself in my room. One person would die. So this policy was actually a protective barrier for me. I hoped it would stay in place. Though once I actually debuted, we'd have to collab, so it would become meaningless anyway. The day I'd meet Marie both excited and terrified me…
As I mulled over these thoughts and solved problems in my workbook, a soft voice like honey spread over my ears suddenly reached me.
"Seolhwa. The math teacher asked me to check—could you lend me your math homework?"
This voice…! Smiling brightly in my heart, I suppressed my expression as much as possible and turned my head to the side. There stood a cute girl with the impression of a fluffy strawberry cake. Her name was Cha Yu-na. Class president of Class 1-1, and one of the rare people who spoke to me first. You could call her the healing-type angel of our classroom. Her warmth was at a lethal level—heart-achingly so.
"Sure. Here."
"Thanks. You must be busy studying, so sorry for bothering you."
"…It's fine."
I'm the one who should be sorry for making someone like you talk to me! Thanks, angel Yu-na! Holding back the urge to gush, I turned my gaze back to my workbook. According to my little sister, my usual way of speaking was far from that of an ordinary high school girl. To make the most of what little facial advantages I had, I apparently needed to put on some act of innocence. It was… an undeniable opinion. If I chattered away without brakes, it would just repeat what happened during the online interview. Honestly, I wanted to graduate from kicking my blanket at night while regretting the past.
"Well then, good luck studying!"
Unfortunately, after receiving the homework, Yu-na smiled brightly and quickly walked away. Seeing the stack of papers in her hands, she probably had to collect homework from other students too. Ah, my only source of joy at school had disappeared. What a sad thing… I vented my frustration by tearing apart the difficult math problems in front of me. Die, die, die.
'Haah, school life is still going nowhere… It's already the end of April. Is this right? Maybe I have zero charm after all? Was thinking my face looked pretty in the mirror just a simple delusion? How embarrassing!'
Usually, charming people have others approach them first. So why was there not a single person who wanted to get close to me?! …Well, even as I said that, I already knew the reason. There were three incredibly beautiful girls in this classroom who made someone like me look ordinary. The so-called Trinity of Baekryeon High School! This Trinity consisted of three beautiful girls representing the lake, the moon, and the sun! It sounded like some absurd setting from a shoujo manga, but if even an outcast like me knew about it, the story must have spread to the entire student body. I had no choice but to accept it.
"Yu-na, are you busy after school? Want to go to karaoke with everyone?"
"Yeah, I'll go! We're all going together, right?"
"Yu-na, can I ask you about a difficult problem?"
"Sure. Which part was hard?"
First, the peaceful lake of the Trinity was handled by class president Cha Yu-na. The beautiful girl who had just spoken to me… Unlike the fake version of me, she was a genuine social butterfly in every sense. With soft, long waves reaching her waist and a constant smile, she was like an angel. But it wasn't just her face that was pretty. She had become class president by unanimous vote excluding her own ballot—an idol of the classroom with genuine popularity! That voluptuous figure, visible even through her thick school uniform, would surely torment countless male students today… Since she spoke to me without hesitation despite my late transfer and outsider status, she must have grown up receiving so much love. She really was a good kid.
"So-hui, the teacher wants to see you for a moment…"
"Got it. I'll go right away. Thanks for telling me."
"It's nothing…"
"Nothing my foot. As thanks, how about we grab a coffee later?"
"S-sure!"
Next was Ju So-hui, the cool-type beauty in charge of the Trinity's moon. While Yu-na was the class president, this athletic girl had joined the disciplinary committee despite being a first-year. She was a slightly androgynous beauty with a cool aura. Though she looked cold at first glance, she was actually quite kind when you talked to her. Unlike Yu-na, who was popular with both genders, she received particular support from female students. However, she often had a worried expression whenever I ran into her in quiet places. Maybe she carried concerns she couldn't easily show others. Not that I was particularly interested…
"Lady Se-rin, you look incredibly beautiful today as well!"
"Lady Se-rin! I brought this famous chef's cake as a gift! It's small, but please accept it…!"
"Thank you. But you don't have to use honorifics. We're all the same age, so feel free to just call me Se-rin."
"Kyaa! You're too noble…! Such noblesse oblige…"
"I'd die for Lady Se-rin…"
Last was Lee Se-rin, the strongest of them all—the sun of the Trinity. She wasn't just at the level of a high school student. Her true identity was none other than the Imperial Princess of the Korean Empire! She was practically a celebrity who occasionally appeared on famous TV programs. I didn't understand why someone like her was breathing the same air as me in the same classroom. Even with special blood, did she still have to attend high school normally? Unlike the other two beautiful girls, I'd never spoken to her even once. Though Se-rin had an appearance believable as an actress and was kind to everyone who approached, there were always people around her… Students from other classes even came to see her. So if I approached without reading the room, I'd probably burn up like Icarus approaching the sun. A princess, of all things… How could such a unicorn-like being exist in modern society! If I accidentally scratched her face, I was terrified some knights might come and arrest me. '…Haah, if only I hadn't caught the flu, I would've boldly approached on the first day. Trying to get close now would seem like I have some shady ulterior motive.'
Anyway, with Baekryeon High's Trinity all gathered in one class, there was no way anyone would pay attention to an average-looking girl like me quietly sitting in the back. It was like fireflies flying under the sun going unnoticed by people. Of course, I didn't care about friends anymore either. Next year I'd become a VTuber and completely graduate from being an ordinary high school girl. Even if I begged them to be my friend then, they wouldn't listen! 'Still… I'm lonely. Damn it, anyone is fine—just be my friend!'
Today, my school life flowed quietly as usual. A calm existence like duckweed floating on water, receiving little attention from anyone. It was the complete opposite of what I'd resolved during winter break while getting smacked on the butt. "…"
"…?"
Then suddenly, I felt like someone in the back of the classroom was looking at me. But there was only Lee Se-rin, chatting with the other kids. Was it just my imagination? I tilted my head.
*
Depressed by my unchanging loner life, I finally got a weekend. Called in by the president, I headed to the office early in the morning. The reason I'd been summoned today was none other than character creation. In other words, I was going to brainstorm my VTuber avatar together with the assigned artist. I'd thought VTubers just acted according to pre-made avatars. But Unimori created avatars that matched the actual person as much as possible to increase immersion. Especially things like height and bust size were better matched. To prevent the tragedy of 3D hands sinking into the body. Yeah, if something like that got captured in video or photos, it would be embarrassing. Fortunately, I was fairly confident in my figure, so I didn't have that particular worry.
"Um, but why is the president… Aren't you busy?"
Surprisingly, the president was waiting for me in the meeting room I'd been guided to. I knew she was a former broadcaster but too busy to even start her own stream. She'd come for the interview last time too—why did it feel like I kept running into her? When I asked while taking a seat, she answered with an incredibly refreshing smile.
"I can't miss out on creating your virtual avatar. And… somehow, I felt like if I left you alone, you'd go out of control in a weird way."
"No matter how I think about it, the latter part is your real reason! Is my credibility that low?!"
"No, it's the opposite—I'm trusting you. You might not realize it yourself, but you have quite an eccentric personality."
"I think I'm pretty normal!"
What on earth was this person worried about! Today was just about brainstorming the character design with the artist. A short conversation wouldn't produce some strange result. I looked at the president with a sulky face, feeling wronged. But she just calmly sipped her coffee as if this was her role. It was an adult's Americano. I couldn't understand what taste she got from drinking it. As I pondered how to get revenge on the president, the artist who'd been left on hold through the call hesitantly spoke up.
[ "Um, um… Can I speak now?" ]
"Ah, of course. Sorry for talking among ourselves."
[ "Ah, no! I didn't think that at all! It's just… you two seem to get along well… so…." ]
The artist in charge of my VTuber avatar had a somewhat timid-sounding female voice. Her pen name was Pipiko. She was an incredibly popular illustrator with hundreds of thousands of VStar followers. When I looked her up online on the way here, she seemed even more famous in certain circles… I vaguely remembered searching for her account without thinking earlier and immediately scrolling the screen down. No, it wasn't just that the drawings were suggestive—they moved? What if someone exercised?! I was really shocked! …Ahem, but regardless, her art style was definitely at a professional level. If someone this amazing was going to be my assigned artist, it was something to welcome with open arms.
"So… what should I do now? If I tell you what I want, does it go that way?"
"Hmm, actually, we're thinking of pushing a generation concept for this third generation. So if possible, we'd like to decide within that framework."
Generation concept? Tilting my head at the unfamiliar term, the president wiggled her finger and kindly added an explanation. Unimori was basically roleplay. In other words, each character had their own setting. For example, Marie was a mage concept who manifested magic through song, and Reine was a sacred puppy god concept. But if you looked closely at each of their worldviews, there were clearly points where the settings conflicted. An ancient demon and a high-performance robot vacuum in human form in the same generation just didn't mesh well. So for this third generation, they planned to have everyone share the same worldview by sharing an RP concept.
"Ooh, so what concept are you thinking of?"
"That is…"
[ "Y-you're going with a youkai concept, right…? I-I heard about it…." ]
"Youkai?"
"Yeah. This third generation will be ghosts, spirits, monsters—beings from stories you've heard somewhere. Don't you think that's charming?"
I finally got a sense of it. That meant unifying everyone's race as non-human. It didn't sound bad. I was surprised by "youkai" for a moment, but it probably wouldn't be an actual monster appearance. As long as the setting wasn't too hard to immerse in, it should be fine. But was there a youkai that suited me? Ah, if there was something like a shadow youkai, that might fit! As I pictured youkai similar to my image in my head, the president, who had been smiling at me, spoke with an eye-smile that somehow felt pressuring.
"Seolhwa, right now you're thinking of a youkai with as little presence as possible."
"Hiek! Wh-what… D-did you learn mind reading?!"
"To reach this position, you need to see through people's inner thoughts to some extent."
She's scary, seriously! I'd never play Mafia with the president! With goosebumps rising to my scalp, I rubbed my prickled shoulders. But even if it was a youkai, I didn't really know which one would be good. After racking my brain for a while, I looked at the president as if it was too difficult. My gaze said, "Can't you just recommend one that suits me?"
"Right, this is something the person themselves doesn't know well. A recommendation…"
The president glanced at me with a slightly troubled expression. Then, after moving her gaze from top to bottom, she spoke as if tossing it out.
"How about a Seolnyeo?"
"A Seolnyeo?"
"When you're still, you have a cold impression. Something like a Seolnyeo suits you."
A cold impression when still? Mulling over those words in my head, I asked her the question that came to mind.
"President. I'm a VTuber, you know."
"I know that."
"…Then what does my actual appearance matter?"
I tilted my head, genuinely puzzled. The president blinked for a moment, then slightly averted her gaze from me. Maybe even she thought it was a bit strange. No, it was an obvious point. …Still, a Seolnyeo felt surprisingly ordinary. Thinking of the president I'd seen on broadcasts, her naming sense and such weren't lacking. I'd been worried about how to refuse if she suddenly suggested something weird like a chupacabra, but a Seolnyeo was a youkai with a generally beautiful image. There was no particular sense of rejection. I also didn't particularly dislike the cold, and winter wasn't unpleasant for me either.
"Still, I like the Seolnyeo itself. Though I'm not that kind of personality."
"Pipiko. Could you draw a simple sketch then? Height 159cm. From the top, 91…"
"Pfft, President! That's my personal information…!"
[ "Eh? So… roughly this body type, then?" ]
Scratch scratch. While I was startled by the president casually spilling sensitive information, Pipiko, sharing the screen via call, drew at an unbelievable speed. It was so fast it felt less like drawing and more like fast-forwarding time. Even I, who had been about to yell at the president, was surprised enough to stare blankly at the screen.
"Th-this is…"
"As expected of Pipiko. Still incredibly skilled."
[ "Hehehe, r-really?" ]
What appeared on the screen was a Seolnyeo character girl slightly bowing her head as if embarrassed. Even though it was just a light line sketch without color, it felt alive with presence. The only thing that bothered me was that the face somehow felt familiar…
Alternating my gaze between the drawing and the president, I asked with a confused expression.
"President, did you send Pipiko my photo?"
"I wouldn't do something like that."
[ "…Yes?" ]
Was the similar atmosphere between the Seolnyeo on screen and my face just a coincidence? Even though it wasn't finished yet, somehow I had a feeling I'd debut with this exact vibe.
*
How long had the three of us discussed my virtual avatar? The details would be carefully worked out over time, and the conversation wrapped up. Hmm, a Seolnyeo, huh… Even though it didn't have a name yet, I was already feeling attached to my avatar. The VTuber activities that had only felt burdensome until now somehow started to feel a little exciting.
"I still have work left, so I'll go first. Do I need to see you off?"
"Ah, no! I can go by myself!"
"Hmm… I'm a bit worried though. If anything happens, make sure to contact me. I'll assign you a manager soon."
"Yes…"
Hee, so I'll get a manager later. Nodding with a curious feeling, I parted with the president and left the office. Still, it was fortunate that the distance between home and the office wasn't far. On the way back, I'd listen to Marie's songs and take a quick nap. Just as I thought that and took out my wireless earphones from my pocket, about to step out onto the street, I ran into someone truly unexpected right in front of the office.
"Eek."
"Oh? You are…"
A beautiful voice I'd definitely heard somewhere before. A tall stature that naturally made me look up, and long, model-like legs. An upright posture with not a hint of crookedness, reflecting her usual personality. A powerful presence that could be recognized immediately even with a hat and sunglasses on. Her identity was Lee Se-rin, the princess of Korea and my classmate.