Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Yi Yena (2)
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Opening the cafe door, Yerin stepped out ahead of Hojin and let out a sigh.
'I've agreed to Senior Hojin's proposal for now, but...'
She had no clue how to persuade Yena to bring her to the company.
If it had been easy, Yerin wouldn't have been racking her brains over Yena all this time.
Her one ray of hope was that Yena was a fan of Girls Memorial.
Whenever she'd casually mentioned Enson GT at home, Yena had shown interest, which gave her some optimism...
Lost in her thoughts, Yerin arrived at headquarters before she knew it. She pressed the elevator button and steeled herself.
'This time, for sure...'
*
An ordinary weekday evening commute, just like any other.
Yerin arrived at her place faster than usual but hesitated in front of the door, unable to go in.
Normally, she'd have strode right in, cracked open a beer, and crashed without a second thought...
But knowing she had to face Yena soon and convince her made her feet feel glued to the spot.
'How should I approach persuading Yena? Go strict? Or as gentle as possible?'
As she mulled it over, a sudden realization hit her.
'Wait, why am I agonizing out here all alone? What's wrong with me?'
Shocked at her own indecisiveness from out of nowhere, she sighed again, unlocked the door, and stepped inside.
"Yena, sis is home."
A voice came from behind the closed door of the room next to the entryway.
"Welcome back, sis! Good work today!"
As Yerin kicked off her shoes and headed in, the familiar sight of their shared place greeted her.
It was the brand-new two-room officetel they'd rented after Yerin transferred to Enson GT, so she could live with her little sister Yena.
The living room was surprisingly tidy, thanks to Yena handling all the housework instead of them living like slobs.
'Not that it's surprising, considering she doesn't chip in a dime for living expenses...'
Bang.
Snapping out of her thoughts at the sound of a door opening, Yerin turned to see Yena emerging from her room, scratching her belly.
She had wavy brown hair down to her waist, a white T-shirt, and black dolphin pants—a simple outfit.
"Sis, why haven't you changed yet?"
"Just spacing out for a sec."
"Oh?"
With that, Yena headed to the fridge, grabbed some water, and chugged it down.
Her bangs were tied back with a headband, a sign she'd been deep in manuscript work.
Yerin watched her for a moment before speaking up.
"Yena?"
"Yeah?"
"Come sit for a bit."
"Why? I gotta get back to my manuscript soon."
"Sis has something to talk about."
Yena glanced at Yerin's expression.
Instead of her usual tired post-work face, it was a blank mask that hid her true feelings.
From past experience, Yena knew this meant her sister was either troubled or annoyed.
So she sat down without protest.
"What's up?"
Yerin hesitated at the question before replying.
"Yena, you still have no plans to get a job?"
"...I told you last time. I'll go for it when something catches my eye—"
"You said the same last time and didn't apply anywhere."
"......"
Yerin shut down Yena's familiar excuse with a simple counter.
Yena started to argue back but clammed up at the chill in her sister's voice.
Silence fell over the officetel, thickening the air.
Yerin gazed at Yena, who avoided her eyes, then sighed.
"Haa... Yena."
"Yeah...?"
"I'm really curious, so answer honestly. Is it that you hate the idea of company life itself? Or is it that nothing's clicked for you yet?"
"It might sound like an excuse, but there's truly nothing that fits me..."
Yena finished and peeked at her sister's reaction.
She'd braced for anger, but Yerin's face barely changed.
"If that's really it, what if... sis recommends a place that suits you? Would you work there?"
"If it's truly a job that matches what I want, sure, why not..."
Seizing the opening, Yerin pressed on.
"Yena, you've been playing Girls Memorial lately, right?"
"Huh? Why bring that up...?"
"I know everything. Spill it."
"W-Well, yeah, but... how'd you know?"
"How could I not?"
In response to Yena's question, Yerin pulled up Bixiv on her smartphone and showed her.
"All your recent posts are Girls Memorial fan art. It'd be weirder if I didn't notice."
"Fair point."
Yena chuckled wryly at her sister's deduction.
"You're right, sis—I'm hooked on Girls Memorial. But what does that have to do with this conversation?"
Yerin laid it all out: her transfer to Enson GT and new role as Art Director, the scouting offer—everything.
Yena half-doubted at first but saw the sincerity in her sister's eyes.
"...Hold on. So, to sum up: you're the Art Director on Girls Memorial now, and Enson GT wants to hire me. Right?"
"Spot on."
"...No wonder the illustrations felt familiar. Why didn't you tell me sooner?!"
Yerin tilted her head at the question.
"Huh? Didn't you already know?"
"No! You only said you transferred to Enson GT! You never mentioned being the Girls Memorial Art Director!"
"D-Did I not?"
Yena was dumbfounded by her sister's response.
"...This is why I say you're such a space case sometimes."
Yerin deftly changed the subject under Yena's gaze.
"By the way, didn't you do a few 3D modeling gigs before?"
"Oh, yeah. A couple character 3D modeling freelance jobs. Two broadcasters and one game company, I think?"
"How'd those turn out?"
"...Not sure exactly, but I didn't screw up and get complaints. As you know, sis, if there's an issue, you don't get paid."
"True."
"But why ask about 3D modeling gigs?"
"The Girls Memorial team wants you for the 3D modeling division."
Yena's eyes widened in confusion.
"3D modeling? I thought if I joined your company, it'd be on the art side."
"Yeah, but they said 3D is where they need people most urgently right now."
"Well, if that's how it is, no helping it..."
Yerin smiled at Yena's obvious disappointment.
" bummed it's not art team?"
"Honestly, a little? Art's what I'm confident in, so starting elsewhere feels scary..."
"Don't worry. I'll stick by you till you settle in."
"...Thanks."
With things mostly settled, Yerin stretched and stood.
"Sis is making coffee. Want some?"
"Sure. But black Americano for me, no sugar."
"Americano it is."
As she watched her sister brew coffee, Yena spoke up.
"Um, sis."
"Yeah?"
"One thing I wanna ask."
"Shoot."
"Does your company let you use vacation days freely?"
Yerin pondered briefly before nodding.
"Probably? They don't nitpick unless it's right before a game launch or something. Why?"
"Just... wondering if I'd have to quit doujin work once I start."
Yerin brought over two cups and handed one to Yena.
"No need to quit entirely. Just take time off for Comiket."
"True..."
"So don't sweat the small stuff. Come to the office with me tomorrow."
"Tomorrow already?"
"Yeah. Director said just a quick interview and test, nothing to stress over. Got it?"
"Got it."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next morning.
As I settled into the office and prepped for work, my phone rang. It was Yerin.
"Hello?"
[Senior, it's Yerin.]
"Hey, Yerin. What's up?"
[About that proposal you mentioned yesterday.]
"Ah... about Yena, right?"
[Yes. Talked it over with her last night, and it went well. We're heading to the office now.]
'She did it.'
"Nice job. I'll have HR issue a temp badge. Head straight to the meeting room when you arrive. Cool?"
[Got it.]
After hanging up, I mentally pumped my fist and messaged Yumi on the company chat.
Soon, there was a knock, and Yumi entered.
"You called, Director?"
"Got an urgent interview. Set up the meeting room, please. Keep it simple since it's informal. Okay?"
"Yes, sir!"
As Yumi headed off to prep, I stepped out of the office too.
'HR first, I guess.'